You’ve finally taken the leap into bringing home an adorable puppy! Although you probably didn’t have a puppy shower to make sure you got all the essentials, it’s not too late! We’ve compiled a list of everything you need for a happy puppyhood.
Here’s a checklist to ensure you get everything you need for your new puppy:
- Beds: Make sure to get several comfortable beds for your pup to rest in around the home. At this age, we’d recommend sticking with more affordable, easy-to-clean options as they’re likely to get chewed on.
- Blankets: Select soft blankets to put in your pup’s beds and crate. These items can provide comfort to your puppy in the future if they need to be boarded or stay with friends or family. Be sure blankets are free from holes or strings, to prevent entanglement.
- Crate: Your crate should be large enough for your puppy to stand, lie down and turn around. As tempting as it is, don’t use a crate that matches your puppy’s intended full size at this time. If they have enough space, potty-training may get more complicated as they turn half of their crate into a bathroom.
- Carrier or seat belt for travel: For their safety and yours, your puppy shouldn’t be allowed to roam freely in a moving vehicle. Puppies who are not restrained in a car can distract drivers, injure themselves or others by falling in the car or through open car windows, or be seriously injured in the event of an accident.
- Food and water dishes: Select washable dishes. Consider bowls that are designed to resist flipping over to avoid spills in the home.
- Toys: Your puppy deserves a variety of toys! Pick safe chew toys, squeakers, puzzle toys, balls, and more. Speak with your VCA care team if you’re unsure if a toy is safe for your puppy.
- Leash: Avoid retractable leashes. Be sure to check leash laws in your area, as some jurisdictions have maximum leash lengths.
- Collar: Consider a breakaway collar to reduce the risk of choking. You may need to get a larger collar as your puppy grows. When determining how big the collar should be, you should be able to fit just two fingers under the collar.
- Puppy food: Make sure to choose a food that is AAFCO-approved for growing puppies or for all life stages. If your puppy is a large or giant breed, look specifically for food made for large/giant breeds.
- Treats: Treats are so important for good training. Look for small training treats or treats that can be broken into smaller pieces to avoid giving excessive amounts.
- Treat pouch: This will make taking treats on training adventures and walks much easier.
- Dog-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste: Don’t use human toothpaste for your puppy! The VCA care team can provide recommendations for appropriate brushes and toothpaste.
- Nail trimmers: You can also consider looking at nail grinders. Get your puppy started on nail care early to prevent fear later on.
- Brushes/combs/other grooming supplies: Some of this will depend on the type of puppy you’ve adopted. We’d recommend speaking with your VCA care team or a dog groomer to determine what might be helpful to have at home.
- Carpet cleaners and enzymatic sprays: Your puppy is going to have accidents. You’ll want to be prepared with cleaning supplies before they occur.
- Training/potty pads: You may want potty pads to line your pup’s crate for easier accident clean-up. If you’ll be training your puppy to use a potty pad instead of going outside, these are also a must-have.
- Dog shampoo: Puppies like to get into things, so don’t be caught unprepared for bath time! Choose a dog-friendly shampoo. You should not use a human shampoo on your pup.
- Safety gates: If there are areas in the home you don’t want the puppy to go, consider getting safety gates to block these spaces off. This is also a good way to give your new pet a safe space away from children or other animals.
- Poop bags: This one is self-explanatory. Consider looking for environmentally friendly poop bags, such as biodegradable bags rather than plastic ones.
- Grooming wipes: Include eye wipes for puppies with tearstains.
- Harness: You can control your puppy with a collar and leash, but if they’re a puller, a harness is an option to keep them from injuring their neck. Some harnesses double as seatbelts and can be useful for safe transport of our puppy in the car.
- ID tags: Don’t forget to get your pup a tag with their name and your contact information in case they become lost.
- Food containers: A latching bin to put your food bag in is a great idea. This is a way to keep your pets from getting into the food and gorging themselves.
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