Getting a new puppy is an exciting time. You can’t wait to get the home and start playing with them but there’s a lot of stuff you need to do before that. Owning a dog isn’t all fun and games and you’ve got a responsibility for that animal. When you first get them, there are a lot of things that you need to buy for them that people often forget about. Here’s a quick checklist for new dog owners so you don’t forget anything.
Fence
If you’re planning on letting your dog out in the backyard, which you should be, you need to sort your fence out. Dogs are curious and they want to explore the world. They’re incredibly persistent when it comes to getting through fences and when they’re young, they’ll be able to get through the smallest of gaps. Before you bring them home, make sure that you fix any holes in the fence and consider making them a little taller, otherwise, they’ll escape.
Flea Treatment
They won’t be able to go out for a while until they’ve had all of their vaccinations but that doesn’t mean you should skip out on protecting them against fleas. Once they get them, they’ll be in the house and even if you get rid of them, they’ll come back and you’ll get stuck in a bit of a cycle. Make sure you speak with your vet first because certain products aren’t right for puppies so you need to seek advice before putting anything on your dog.
Crate
People that don’t own dogs often think that putting them in a crate when they’re a puppy is cruel. However, it’s an important part of their training and if you don’t do it, you’ll have no end of training problems later on. When they first come home, you need a solid crate made of wire or plastic so your dog can’t chew through it. But when they get used to it and they’re more well-behaved, you can switch to a cloth one. They shouldn’t need to be in a crate for that long but if you don’t use one at all, you’ll struggle to get them to sleep properly without waking you up.
Baby Gates
One of the big decisions you need to make when you first get a new dog is where in the house they will be allowed to go. You might decide that you don’t mind and they can go wherever, in which case, you don’t need any baby gates. But most people do have areas of the house that they want to keep separate from the dog for a couple of reasons. They’re going to shed hair all over the place and remember, when they’re young they’re going to start chewing on things a lot so it’s best to keep them out of certain rooms. Get some baby gates and put them up over the doorway of every room that’s out of bounds. You have to do this from the beginning because once they’re a bit bigger, they might start jumping over the gates pretty easily.
Exercise Pen
The exercise pen goes hand in hand with the baby gates. If you want your dog to be able to run around a bit, but you don’t want them to have free reign over the house or garden, put them in an exercise pen. They’ll have the space that they need and you don’t have to worry about them going places that they shouldn’t. This is also great for traveling with your dog because they can often try to run off if they’re in an unfamiliar place. The exercise pen stops that from happening so you don’t need to worry.
Bed
Dog beds range from cheap ones to very expensive ones. You could also just use a box and a couple of blankets. Whatever you decide to do, don’t go for an expensive bed right away. For the first couple of months, they’re going to chew pretty much everything that they can, including their bed. You’ll go through a couple of beds in those early months so don’t bother spending loads of money on an expensive one until they’ve stopped.
Collar
A good collar is important for a few reasons. Firstly, it ensures that they’re secure on their leash and they can’t get off when you’re taking them for walks. It’s also important because if the worst does happen and they do get out, people can help them find their way back to you. Make sure that you get one engraved with your phone number and name on there so if anybody finds them, they can call you right away.
Brush
People don’t always think that brushing a dog is that important, especially when they’re a puppy and their fur is quite short. However, when they get older and their fur gets longer, they’re going to need grooming from time to time. If they aren’t used to it they’ll kick up a fuss and the whole experience will be more difficult than it needs to be. If you get a brush and start using it while they’re young, they’ll get used to being groomed and when you need to start taking them when they get older, it won’t bother them.
Toothbrush
Dog’s teeth are often neglected but they need just as much care as yours do. You need to clean them from time to time so get them a toothbrush. There are specific dog ones but a child’s toothbrush will work just fine. However, you absolutely can’t use normal human toothpaste because it’s not designed to be swallowed. Instead, you can buy specific dog toothpaste that is safe for them.
Owning a dog isn’t all fun and games, it can be pretty expensive because you need to get all of this stuff for them when they first arrive home.