Welcoming a new puppy into your home is incredibly exciting. You can’t wait to get your new furry friend situated into their new digs and start making memories with them that are sure to last a lifetime. While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, it’s also important to make sure that you’ve got everything that your puppy needs to feel comfortable and safe as they adjust to its new environment. There are the essentials, like dog bowls and leashes, as well as fun, customizable toys and treats to be picked out and prepped for your dog’s arrival. If you’re a first-time dog owner, it can be overwhelming to know everything that you’ve got to have to ensure that your puppy lives a happy, healthy life. Luckily, we’ve got your back with a list of everything that new pet parents need to keep their canine companions happy.
Dog Bowls
One of the most important things that your new puppy will need is a good set of dog bowls to eat and drink out of. If you have more than one dog and already have a set of dog bowls for them, you’ll still want to get new ones for your puppy to ensure that they have their own separate food that won’t get eaten. It’s essential that puppies get enough nutrients to grow, so you don’t want any of their doggy siblings trying to snack on their meals.
Getting dog bowls made of dishwasher-safe stainless steel are a great choice to make cleaning them a breeze. Additionally, you can customize your dog bowls to suit you and your new pup’s style. Stainless steel dog bowls often have built-in silicone bases that come in a variety of different colors, so you can choose a shade that you think would be your pup’s favorite if they could pick a go-to hue. (Fun fact: all dogs are colorblind!). It’s also easy to customize the silicone cover with your dog’s name, or a series of fun, pup-centric emojis to denote that it’s their bowl.
A Collar and Leash Set
Getting a collar for your dog is just as functional as it is fashionable. A collar allows you to display a dog name tag around your pup’s neck that should include pertinent information like your phone number and address in case your dog gets lost. Collars come in a variety of materials, colors, and patterns so you can easily choose one that you like the best. For instance, if you’re a fan of simple, understated styles, you could opt for a brown leather collar. Or, if you’ve got a more out-of-the-box sense of fashion, you could get your pup a neon green collar to suit its bright personality.
Given how versatile collars are, it makes them easy to pair with a matching leash, which you’ll need to take your dogs on walks. You can choose a leash that clips indirectly to your dog’s collar, or you can opt to get your dog a harness, which is a fabric vest-like garment that goes around your dog’s torso and can easily be attached to a leash. Harnesses are a great choice for dogs who get easily excited on walks and like to tug on their leashes, as they provide less strain to the neck when the leash is pulled back.
A Dedicated Sleeping Space for Your Pet to Snooze In
Your puppy will need a sleeping space that’s just for them. You could get them a dog bed to lay near your actual bed or get them a crate with a dog bed. Crates are popular as a means of puppy training, as they act as an enclosed space that your puppy can safely stay in without supervision.
Plenty of Toys
Puppies need a whole lot of stimulation and attention which means: you’ll need to get them plenty of toys! In order to keep your pup entertained, you’ll want to get them a good variety of toys of different textures and shapes so they can have fun interacting with a variety of new materials. For indoor toys, consider squeaky plushies that they can chew on and cuddle, rope toys that can be used for a fun game of tug-of-war, and puzzle toys that stimulate your dog’s brain while they try to unlock the treats inside. For outside toys, be sure you’ve got plenty of bouncy calls on hand for many games of fetch.
In Conclusion
When welcoming a new puppy into your home, you want to be sure that your house is stocked with a variety of canine essentials including dog bowls, a collar and leash set, a dedicated sleeping space, and plenty of toys. By giving your dog the items that it needs to thrive, you ensure that it’ll make a smooth transition into its new forever home.
