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Once you make the decision to bring a new puppy or dog into your home, you’ll want to start planning for his or her (their?) arrival. To help you assemble everything you’ll need to properly welcome them, we put together the following checklist of the supplies you might want.
Before we jump into what you’ll need, this is a good time to introduce what is known as the 3-3-3 concept if you’re not already familiar with it:
- 3 Days. Puppies or dogs that are new to your home should be allowed to spend the first three days decompressing in a quiet space. They may be nervous and uncertain, so be mindful not to introduce them to new people outside of your home right away or try to immediately start training them.
- 3 Weeks. After the decompression stage, it generally takes three weeks for your puppy or dog to learn new routines and household rules. This is when you’ll start to see their true personality start to shine. If you notice any behavioral challenges, you might want to consider working with a trainer or behavioral specialist at this point.
- 3 Months. It takes up to 90 days (sometimes more) for a new pup or dog to fully settle into their home. At that point they should now know all the routines and have built strong bonds and trust with their new family.
This is a flexible rule though and the timing is different for every animal. The bottom line is, give your new pet the benefit of the doubt and don’t give up hope on them. Forgive them if they have accidents or cry at night. Things should improve over time.
Okay, now you’re ready to get started!
Bowls
You’ll need a few bowls for your new pet, including a food dish for each animal and a water dish. Since many veterinarians recommend that you wash dry food and water dishes daily, and moist food dishes after every meal, you may want to purchase several bowls so you have a spare set while the others are in the dishwasher or drying rack. Even if you purchase a water fountain with a filter for your pet, it is generally recommended that you clean it at least once a week.
Why the need for cleanliness? Pet food and water bowls can create a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Residual moisture in bowls can also produce mold and mildew which can create mycotoxins that are harmful to both pets and humans. Bacteria, mold, and mildew can also cause your pet to develop skin or allergy issues.
What about raised bowls? Some believe that raised bowls help to eliminate extra air from getting ingested with food, which can lead to severe issues such as bloat. While this theory has not yet been scientifically proven, raised dishes are beneficial for older pets with orthopedic issues, joint disorders, or arthritis. Raised bowls are also good for holding bowls in place so they don’t scoot across the floor while your pet is eating, and they can help keep things cleaner for you if you have a messy eater/drinker.
Speaking of which, you may want to protect your floors by using a mat that’s good at absorbing water drool and splashes. Just make sure to wash and dry it thoroughly on a regular basis to avoid bacteria and mold from growing.
Food
You should consult your veterinarian on which foods are best for your pet. Puppies may respond well to moist food or dry food that has been softened in water, especially if they have recently weaned off mother’s milk and while they have their baby teeth. Puppies also need specially formulated moist and/or dry foods that contain extra nutrients for growth.
Adult dogs may enjoy both dry food and moist food, although your vet may recommend cutting back on some dry foods that contain a high percentage of carbohydrates if your pet tends to overeat and needs to lose a few pounds. Also, if your dog is a fast eater and it causes stomach issues such as throwing up right after eating, you might want to try a slow feeder.
Carriers, Crates, Pens, And Runs
A pet carrier is convenient for taking puppies and smaller dogs to the vet appointments or other pet-related visits such as going to a groomer. A carrier will help keep your pet contained while you drive, and it makes it easier to transport the animal in and out of the businesses you are visiting.
Crates are a safe space for dogs and puppies, especially while they are adjusting to their new home and routines. Crates are essential for containing your pet when you need to leave the house and they will be home unsupervised, and at night when you are sleeping and not keeping an eye on them. Crates are also good for potty training puppies. As your puppy gets older, and as your dog understands the rules of the house, you may not need the crate anymore, but it is definitely recommended when bringing a new puppy or dog into your home. Crates come in a variety of sizes. To help you pick the size that’s right for your new pet, check out this guide from PetMD by Chewy.com.
Pens are normally indoor enclosures that offer a larger space than crates to keep puppies contained in one area while providing a little extra room to move around. A pen is also beneficial to safeguard puppies if you have other older dogs in the house that also need time to adjust to your new family member.
Runs or kennels are larger outdoor enclosures that can be useful if you want your puppy or dog outside to get some fresh air or to do their business, especially if you don’t have a fenced-in yard. A run is also good for a puppy that may be in danger of predators like hawks if you can’t be outside with your pet to keep an eye on things—for example, if you need to go back inside for a bit to clean the pen or crate to get it ready for when your pet comes back in.
NOTE FOR FOSTERS: If you are fostering a litter of puppies, we have had success in the past with attaching a pen to a crate, so the pups have a place to sleep, but also have an area to walk around in if they need to go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, or just need some space from siblings.
Bedding And Training Pads
Puppies tend to be a little destructive and messy, so it’s probably best to stick with inexpensive beds that are small enough to throw in the washing machine easily, or just some blankets you can put in their crate or pen to cushion them from the hard floor.
Adult dogs may appreciate a nice, comfortable bed that you can put in your bedroom, so they have a secure place to sleep that’s near you if you don’t want the dog to sleep in bed with you. Older dogs with joint or muscle issues and can’t jump up into bed anymore can benefit from an orthopedic bed that’s large enough for them to stretch out while they snooze.
For the outdoors, you may want to consider getting a sling cot your dog can rest in to elevate your pet off the ground for greater comfort. Some even come with a canopy to protect them from direct sunlight.
For new puppy owners, training pads are essential for protecting your floors from messes. These are absorbent pads that you can place on the floor or inside the crate or pen to collect messes when they happen. NOTE: If you have a bed or blanket in a crate with a pad underneath, be sure to leave some of the pad exposed for your pet if it needs to go to the bathroom.
HELPFUL HINT: Puppies are good at moving pads around, especially when they are playing. We have found it helpful to tape pads together to create “blankets” for the pen that are more difficult to move around. If a puppy makes a mess, instead of throwing out the whole blanket, just throw a fresh pad over the mess area (after picking up any poo first). To build a blanket, lay down enough pads to cover the space you’ll need to protect (for example, you might need a 4 x 4 pattern or a 3 x 2 pattern depending on the size of the pads). Then, turn the pads over and tape them together (we use duct tape).
Walking Materials
Dogs and puppies require regular exercise, so it’s a good idea to make walks a routine part of your day. You’ll need a good, sturdy leash and harness, and it’s also a good idea to put a collar on your pet that are personalized or with ID tags that have your contact information in case the dog gets loose. You may also want to invest in a GPS tracking device that will help you locate your pet if it does manage to break free from you.
When walking your dog or puppy, please be a responsible pet owner and pick up after them when they grace you with a poo.
Treats And Toys
Treats are important for a variety of reasons: they can be used for training, to help disguise any medicine(s) you may need to give your pet, and to lure them into crates and pens. There are special treats for puppies that are teething, to help keep them occupied without damaging their sensitive mouths.
Puppies and dogs love toys, especially items they can play tug-o-war with. Many stuffed toys for dogs come with squeakers or crinkle cellophane that piques their interest even more. If you buy these kinds of toys for your pet, just be sure to pick up and discard the squeakers before they get chewed up. They are made of plastic which your puppy or dog may ingest as they chew it, and some of the parts of the squeaker are very small and can present a choking or intestinal blockage hazard. Tennis balls are also great for dogs that like to play fetch but be careful not to buy cheap balls that are easily destroyed by your dog and crumble quickly, as your pet can ingest the rubber pieces during the destruction process.
For young puppies, there are toys and beds that are engineered to mimic a mother dog’s heartbeat, which can be soothing for your pup, especially when they first arrive in your home or when they need soothing, such as during a thunderstorm.
To keep your puppy or dog occupied, especially if you need to leave them alone for any stretch of time, you might want to consider a Kong toy and food. There are different sizes of Kongs, ranging from puppies to big dogs, and even for dogs with exceptionally powerful jaws, and there are a variety of Kong food flavors, including one formulated just for puppies. Treat puzzles are also a great way to keep your pet occupied and busy.
Miscellaneous
There are a variety of other things you’ll want to have on hand for your new pet, including:
- Puppy or dog shampoo.
- Cleansing wipes for puppies and dogs for spot cleaning.
- Waterless shampoo for quick deodorizing.
- Disinfecting wipes for cleaning up messes, especially in crates.
- Carpet shampoo.
- Pet coat brushes.
- Nail clippers.
- Ear cleaner.
- Teeth Cleaner.
- A good vacuum cleaner that specializes in pet hair.
- A mop or steamer for cleaning hard-surface floors.
- Diapers for female dogs if your little lady goes into heat before she is scheduled to be spayed.
- Belly wraps for older male dogs with bladder control issues.
- A night light also may be comforting to a new puppy and can be beneficial for a senior dog with vision problems that can use the extra guidance if he or she gets up in the middle of the night for a drink of water.
NOTE: If you are not comfortable with cleaning and grooming procedures, your vet most likely offers all of the services you may need. There are also grooming salons that can take care of your pet, and you may be able to find a vet tech near you that would be willing to come to your home when they are off duty. If bathing your dog in your bathtub is too difficult on your back, there are some dog washing centers that have raised tubs you can use.
FINAL NOTE: It is vital that you immediately establish a connection with a veterinarian to make sure that your puppy or dog receives annual checkups, recommended vaccines, and proper care when your pet is injured or ill. If your new pet is unaltered, you’ll also want to schedule to have her spayed or him neutered as soon as your vet deems it safe to do so. Please don’t contribute to the overpopulation of unwanted animals because of an “accident.”
Your vet can also provide you with recommendations on food, toys, treats, and so many other things. Also be sure to ask about preventatives that come in collar form, pills, chewables, or topicals to fight fleas, ticks, mosquitoes (heartworm), and other parasites. In addition, if your pet is having loose bowel movements while adjusting to his or her new food, surroundings, etc., your vet may also recommend a probiotic to help naturally return things to normal.
Obviously, this is just a quick-start guide. If you have adopted a puppy or adult dog before and have anything to add to our list, please feel free to comment below.
Do you know someone who recently adopted and you’d like to congratulate them with the perfect gift? How about a gift card they can use to buy some of the supplies they’ll need!