What are the items you used for a new puppy?

Question

I'm getting a puppy and just want to make sure I have everything I need for her. : ) I've grown up with animals my entire life but never had a young puppy (except when I was really young). I just need ideas of what to get, especially what you found useful! I know collar, leash, dishes, crate, and what else? I'm making a list as well (using the internet and a book) but any other advice that I may not have thought of would be very much appreciated! Thanks in advance!!

Any other tips/ advice about having a puppy would be useful as well. I'm not going into this completely ignorant, just making sure I didn't miss anything and I don't want to put everything I do know on here (as that would take all day). I'm not getting her for at least a month.

Answer 1

New puppies are so adorable it is sometimes hard to do what needs to be done to ensure you and your pet have a long and healthy relationship.  Behavior issues begin early, so a good puppy class should be high on your to do list.  Most trainers begin classes at 10 or 12 weeks and they can help with potty training and many other issues.  That being said, the single most important thing you can do for you new pup is get him/her vaccinated.  Your local vet will begin puppy vaccines at 6 weeks, and will boost the shot every 3 weeks until 18 weeks.  Parvo is a VERY dangerous virus to puppies and is expensive to treat.  Not only that, but many pups die from it in spite of treatment.  The next thing you will need that you haven't already mentioned is treats and toys.  Use soft treats for training as you can break them easily and the pup does not have to chew them up before going on to the next command.  Be sure that you do not give rawhide to your new puppy.  Rawhide is difficult to digest for an adult dog, and it is easily sheared off and your pup may choke on the pieces.  Some may suggest puppy training pads, but I do not reccomend them since most want their puppies to go potty outside.  If you train them to the pads, then you end up training again to go outside.  That is twice the training to do and is confusing to the puppy.  Make sure you are feeding a quality puppy food.  If you want a good puppy food, go to your local pet store.  Walmart is not the place to go shopping for puppy food.  Be sure to select a food that is appropriate for you size and breed of dog.  One last thing.  Take your pup to the vet as soon as you get it for a checkup and vaccinations.  Even if the breeder tells you the vaccines have been given, do not trust it unless the vaccination was given by a licensed veterinarian.  A lot of breeders will get vaccines from a feed store.  Vaccines are temperature sensitive and must be refrigerated.  If the feed store or breeder left them out for any length of time they may be ineffectual.  Oh and one more thing.  If you are getting a breed that requires grooming (haircut) on a regular basis, the earlier you get them used to it the better, but generally wait until at least the second set of vaccines have been given.

Answer 2

Okay John, first of all, she didn't say anything about getting her from a breeder. and if she did, not ALL breeders are bad. (i'm not saying there aren't some really bad guys out there, but not all of them are terrible) so chill okay?

anyway, umm, food. a dog needs to eat.

chew toys. she's gotta play right? i'm not sure what kind of dog it is, so maybe a "BoBo" from pet smart. they have various sizes.

LOTS of "spot shot" or a carpet cleanser of your choice.

Dog shampoo. gotta have a clean puppy.

i'll edit if i think of anything else.

Answer 3

crate

toys

food

time for play and cuddles

and money for vets and grooming

Good luck with your baby

Answer 4

One of the best books I have ever read is "How to be your dog's best friend", by the Monks of New Skete. They train dogs without words. And the information in the book really gives you insight as to how the dog "thinks"..... and their pack mentality. You need to be the "alpha" in training. Good luck!

Answer 5

Toys for when she gets bored,

food of course,

a brush (you need to groom her daily)

a harness is something to consider, it doesn't put a strain on her neck like a leash and collar does during walks

Flea and tick medicine (just in case)

Make sure you give the new puppy alot of attention when it arrives. It will miss its mum and litter mates. On the first night give the puppy a warm (not hot!!) water bottle wrapped in a cloth and a ticking clock. This is supposed to soothe it. You can also have soft music on so it wouldn't feel alone.

If you have any other dogs or animals introduce them on neutral ground, ie. a park. Make sure both are secure and if any signs of aggression, separate them and try again after awhile. It would take some time for the old animal to get used to the new one.

I think a good method of training is the clicker method. Check some videos on youtube.

Don't let your puppy bite you. This could cause behavorial problems later in life. They wouldn't know the difference if they are biting you as a pup and biting you as an adult. Don't beat her. Move your hand and give her a toy instead. If you puppy cries for seemingly no reason ignore her. This means do not look at her or touch her. Turn you back. Give her praise when she is quiet so she will learn that she gets attention not for being loud, but for being quiet. This will avoid annoying barking that will disturbe others who are mean enough to call the police.

Don't entertain any behaviour that you would not like an adult dog to do. If she is jumping on the couch and you don't want your dog on the couch, put her on the floor and give her praise. If she jumps on you turn your back and when she has all four feet on the floor give her praise.

Don't beat your dog if she messes where she isn't supposed to, like on the carpet. It's not her fault that she wasn't taught properly. When you see her sniffing around like if she's about to go, the put her on a newspaper or outside. Let her out after her meals, drinking water, when she wakes up, and before she goes to sleep. This will help to avoid messes inside.

Answer 6

find a good groomer...crate bowels toys blanket bed leash find a good vet...brush or comb deoending on the breed topicals for flea preventatives training books read then buy...always a smart move but usually done backwards..lol..who can help it..doggie insurance?? for your own personal well being...a lot of love!!