So you have decided to adopt a puppy or dog. Congratulations! While this is a very exciting time it can also be very stressful. Here is a list to help you get started on your journey! I promise you, it will be something you never regret.
1. Food and Water Bowls:
Your dog does need to eat and drink out of something. Stainless steel or ceramic bowls are best regarding hygiene. I always recommend a good collapsible bowl for on the go situations. Especially if you are a big hiker or just on the go with your doggo a lot.
2. Dog Food:
Now the specific type of food you are going to want to choose will depend on what breed you plan on getting. Choosing a high-quality food is recommended. Asking your vet is always a good idea as well! I recommend also doing a thorough search and do some research on food that is good for your specific breed.
3. Collar and Leash:
Every dog needs a leash and collar. If you are getting a puppy you can expect to be getting a new collar pretty quickly depending on how fast your dog grows. To start, get a lightweight collar as well as a lightweight leash. You can upgrade your leash as needed or just buy multiple.
4. Bed or Crate:
The bed can be easily acquired. You can choose if you want to go with a bare crate or have a bed or blankets in there. The crate is very important in my opinion. It’s always good to create a safe space for your dog they can call theirs. If you are getting a dog that you expect to grow exponentially in size there are crates out there that come with dividers so you can slowly increase the space in the crate for your dog.
5. Toys:
The fun part… toys. Going out and getting a variety of toys to start is smart. You can quickly learn what your dog likes and doesn’t like and expand your dog’s toy collection. As you start looking I’m sure you will be overwhelmed by the selection of toys like I was. You will also find out fairly quickly how big of a chewer your doggo is.
6. Grooming Supplies:
This is very important for the hygiene of your dog. You may need a Brush depending on what type of coat your dog has. A must for all dogs are nail clippers, shampoo, toothbrush & paste, ear cleaning solution and your basic dog wipes. Keeping a stock pile of all of these items is a must.
7. Poop Bags:
Every dog does it, and lemme tell you it’s a lot better to be prepared than to not be. Buying in bulk is the most practical and recommended. Please pick up after your dog!
8. Training Pads:
If you are getting a puppy some training pads will be a huge help getting your doggo going where you want them to go. The goal is to not have to use these at all, or use them for training purposes.
9. Pet-safe Cleaning Supplies:
Enzymatic cleaners are great for accidents. Lint rollers are always a must for the shedders. My personal favorite is a wet vac too. Absolutely amazing for accidents and general cleaning purposes.
10. Health and Wellness Items:
It is a great habit to get into using Flea and tick prevention as it will help protect your dog from fleas and ticks. Getting your dogs heart-worm prevention is also very important. Now this last piece is highly recommended by me as you never know when you will have a dog emergency. Get a dog first-aid kit!
11. Training Treats:
These are so helpful when it comes to anything training wise and for walks. You can get any size but I do recommend sticking with smaller treats to keep calorie count low. More training time!
12. Treats:
Another very important thing is treats in general. Your puppy will start to teeth eventually so you will want to make sure you have tougher puppy treats for your dog. There is also a very wide variety of dog treats out there. Doing some research on healthy choices is highly recommended.
13. Puppy Gates:
Depending on your household a puppy gate may be a good idea to limit your dog from going into certain rooms or keeping them in a certain space.
14. Car Safety Harness or Carrier:
This to me is very important. You wear a seatbelt when you drive don’t you? Well then why shouldn’t your dog? I recommend figuring out how you want your dog to ride with you in the car and can figure out a seatbelt or carrier from there. This is for the safety of your dog!
Hopefully this list can help you get started on your journey as a dog owner!