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Embarking on the journey of adding a dog to your family is both thrilling and rewarding. As someone who has cherished the companionship of two beloved dogs, each for significant periods of their lives – 17 years and 11 years respectively – I understand the importance of thoughtful preparation. Whether you’re a seasoned pet parent or venturing into dog ownership for the first time, ensuring you have the essentials in place is crucial for a smooth transition. Below are fundamental items and considerations for welcoming your new furry friend into your home with open arms and wagging tails.
- Dog health insurance: We utilized Banfield’s pet insurance for both of our dogs for the entirety of their lives. I truly believe that our dogs lived as long as they did because of Banfield’s annual comprehensive visits, which were thorough examinations of their internal and external health.
- Crate: You may be okay with your dog sleeping in bed with you but if you’re getting a puppy, crate training is an effective part of their bedtime routine. We crate trained our dogs initially and then gradually allowed them to sleep with us once they were trustworthy. A simple dog crate like this is perfect for crate training.
- Dog playpen: For peace of mind, your puppy or new dog needs a safe space to play and rest during the day or when you’re not home. We preferred a playpen like this when our dogs were puppies.
- Bully sticks: You may not want to look at what a bully stick is made out of but they were extremely helpful in curbing our puppy from chewing things he wasn’t supposed to. They aren’t the cheapest chew option though. We typically got ours from Costco.
- Toys: Have a few chew toys, balls, and stuffed animals (for dogs) on hand when your puppy or new dog comes home. These will also help curb your puppy from chewing things they’re not supposed to. One great toy we always liked for our dogs was the Kong rubber chew toy that you add peanut butter or one of the Kong spray treats to. They could chew on it and burn off energy by trying to get the peanut butter out of the inside.
- Food and water bowl: You’ll need a food and water bowl for your new puppy or dog. Eventually you may decide your dog needs a food bowl that encourages slower eating but a simple bowl for each will suffice in the beginning.
- Puppy food: We always mixed dry and wet food but it’s certainly not necessary. You may decide to start with just dry food for convenience.
- Obedience training: We took our second dog to obedience training at Petsmart. We were pleased with his progress but if you’re looking for something like protection training, you’ll want to do some research for independent programs in your area.
- Collar, tag, and leash: Have your puppy or new dog’s collar, tag, and leash ready when they arrive. You won’t be able to walk your puppy outside until they have their initial vaccines but you can at least practice leash training in the house.
- Puppy pads: Your puppy will have accidents in the house. Be prepared with puppy pads placed in their safe spaces, like their crate and playpen.
Good luck, and remember, the puppy phase is just that, a phase!
