Lucky you! If you are reading this, there is a good chance you have already gotten your dog! I had only 12 hours to prepare the essentials before Happy comes home. I was not prepared and wasted money to buy unnecessary items.
The objective of my sharing is to share my personal experience so that you do not need to squander money and time away like what I did. Why guess when you can know from someone who has done it all before.
Here is a list of things you need to take care of before the arrival of your new puppy/dog
1. Crate / Play Pen
I was shamed very badly in a Facebook group when I shared a picture of Happy in a playpen and crate a crate. While there are groups of people who dislike crate training, I found it useful to settle Happy. It took her one night to feel secure and comfortable. The first thing that I reached home with Happy was to place her in the playpen (instead of a house tour).
2. Food / Water Bowl
Your puppy will need food and water every day while growing, so its feeding and water bowl should be something familiar to them. Initially, I used a plastic bowl, which Happy mistakenly took as a toy and liked to play with it. Stainless steel or ceramic bowl would be a good choice for your puppy (which I eventually learned about here). It is always important to provide fresh water for your dog at all times.
3. High-Quality Puppy Food
Happy started with BARF. We have been to a few veterinarians who recommended switching to specific brands of puppy food to meet the specific nutritional needs of growing puppy’s dietary needs. The painful experience that I want to share with you here, essentially, I feel that it is important to find a food that contains the right balance of proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
4. Dental Toys
Dogs are born to chew. A job for your puppy gives him/her something to do and keeps them busy. This is especially so for puppies in the teething stage. Dental toys are a must and the most appropriate for your puppy at this stage of development. You will be saved from unwanted behaviours. Read here for the different types of toys.
5. Pee tray / Pee pads
Many have not heard of a pee tray and its usage. In gist, the puppy can relieve itself indoors in a designated area for toileting, keep the rest of the house urine-free. I trained Happy on pee pads before training her to go outside as part of my toilet training. Read more of Happy’s toilet training here
6. Used Towels / Blankets
Contrary to many advice to get a dog bed, I welcome Happy with lots of used towels/blankets. There are benefits to use used towels instead of a bed. Towels and blankets are used to line the bottom of the play pen/crate. Dogs like to curl up, so the towels and blankets will not only give them warmth, they will also provide them comfort. Plus, they are easy to wash in times of potty accidents!
7. Wet Wipes
Dog wipes are such a life-saver for so many dog owners. You can quickly clean up a dirty dog, removing dirt from their paws or goop from their eyes. You can spend extra dollars on dog wipes or use odour-free baby wipes to save that few bucks.
The above sums up the seven essential items you need to prepare before the arrival of your new puppy/dog. Take your time for the rest of the other items. Shopping for other non-essential items (grooming tools, collar, name tag, etc.) is another therapeutic way to relieve your puppy blues.