The Essential Shopping List For Puppy’s First Day
September 14, 2020
Getting ready for your puppy’s first day/night at home takes some planning and preparation. But the fun part is you get to go shopping for lots of new and cool doggie stuff.
If you have made the decision to adopt a puppy then you will want to be prepared so that you can enjoy all the antics of the first 24 hours. This preparation is important not just for you, but for your beloved puppy too. Transitioning seamlessly into his or her new home will make them feel more at ease in their strange, new surroundings.
Most puppies are curious and happy-go-lucky and will welcome this new adventure, but having everything ready for when they arrive will ensure that you don’t instill anxiety into your pet on their first night at home.
Make a list of puppy essentials
Stopping off at the pet store on your way home from the rescue shelter or breeders is not a good idea. Not only is your young puppy susceptible to infections before they have had all their shots, but too much activity all at once can overwhelm them and put them into a tailspin (pardon the pun!)
Plan ahead, make a list, and take a trip to the pet store to stock up on some essentials:
- High quality puppy food (get ‘puppy’ food and avoid food labelled ‘all stages’. Your puppy is going to grow at a rapid rate and the better quality the food, the healthier their development will be).
- Food bowls (stainless steel is best and can be sanitized by soaking it in very hot water for 10 minutes).
- Stainless steel water bowl (make sure puppy has fresh water every day and that food and water bowls are cleaned and sanitized every day as well).
- A relatively short leash (until they are trained to walk properly, a shorter leash measuring about 4 feet will keep them close by your side and reduce their natural urge to wander and pull).
- Adjustable collar that will take you into the first couple of months of puppyhood.
- ID tags with your address and phone number.
- Lots of poop bags (you can never have too many!)
- Comfortable, washable dog bed.
- Just a couple of toys to start (try not to go overboard and avoid hard chew toys like Nylabones. Baby Kongs are a good idea and a squeaky toy).
- Doggie crate (get one that they can grow into, preferably one that will accommodate their full size. This will help in their training and give them a safe place of their own to hang out in).
- Pee pads for house training.
- Puppy gates to secure safe areas in the house and keep them from falling down stairs.
- Puppy treats (nothing too hard; you don’t want to break a tooth).
It’s a long list and it’s going to set you back quite a bit, but being prepared and having all the essentials you need to make puppy’s first night at home as safe, secure, and anxiety-free as possible will give you more time to enjoy with your beloved pet.
It’s also a good idea to plan your puppy’s first night around some vacation time, so you can both transition into your new life as a dog owner with ease. Besides, the first few nights are going to be restless and you’re not going to be getting much sleep at all. And chances are you’ll be up with the rooster taking them out for their very first tinkle outside.
Such an exciting time! Enjoy!