Your Puppy's Basic Supplies
Your new pup will need a set of basic supplies to help him settle in to your home. A crate is very important. This is a metal or plastic cage that serves as your pup's bedroom. He will sleep in this at first, take naps here, and rest safely while you are busy or away from home. A crate can double as a safe carrier on car trips or airline flights. It will also help with housetraining — puppies don't like to mess in their room, even if they don't mind going on your best rug! A crate can be moved around your house so your pup can still be involved with the family, even at night or during mealtimes.
A plastic crate gives your dog some privacy and is necessary if your pup will be traveling by air at some point. A wire crate provides good ventilation and can be folded up for storage, but it's not suited for air travel. Wire crates can be covered for privacy.
A crate also serves to keep your pup safe. If you are busy and can't be watching him closely, your pup could be chewing on poisonous plants, biting into electrical cords, or chewing on dangerous household items. Tucked into his crate with a blanket and a chew toy, he is safe and so is your house! It is very sad to learn of puppies left tied out behind the house alone because they did damage in the house. That is a much crueler fate than resting in a crate for a few hours. Many dogs will go into their crates for a rest even as adults with the run of the house. For them it is a safe den — a quiet retreat from guests, too much activity, and other pets.
Collars and Leads
The collar should be one with a buckle, plastic snap, or safety release — not a chain or prong collar. The collar should have identification tags to help your pup return home if she gets lost, and a rabies tag, once she is vaccinated. When it comes to a leash, a leather or canvas lead is easier on your hands than a chain or nylon one. Also, for now at least, stay away from flexible or retractable leads. These are not good for puppies. You don't want your pup to learn to pull on the leash, and retractable leads always have some tension. It is also easy for people and dogs to get tangled up and hurt by the thin line.
Microchips are an additional form of identification that are inserted under the skin with a needle. Each tiny chip has a unique number that can be read with a scanner. This number is linked to the information necessary to return your dog home. With a collar and tags and a microchip, your dog is doubly protected if she gets lost. Tags are visible, but they can fall off or be removed. A microchip provides backup identification if this happens.
Grooming Tools
Grooming equipment varies among different breeds, but every dog needs to have her nails trimmed, ears cleaned, teeth brushed, and coat brushed. A thin hound cloth works for dogs with short, tight coats, such as greyhounds, while a long-coated dog like a collie may need a slicker brush and a pin brush. Talk to your breeder or the shelter staff about the right brushes for your pup. Soft cotton balls, a child's soft toothbrush, and some dog toothpaste (not the people kind — that is designed to be spit out, plus it doesn't come in great flavors like poultry) are important. It is also nice to have some “dog towels” for quick drying after a walk in the rain.
Toys
Favorite toys will vary from dog to dog. A tiny Chihuahua pup may not be interested in a tennis ball, while a Labrador retriever will be thrilled. Make sure the toys are “puppy safe,” that is, filled with nontoxic stuffing. Plastic that will break is not safe. Make sure your pup doesn't swallow any squeakers if she is tearing up a toy. With the exception of toys like Kongs and Gumabones or Nylabones, which are exceptionally tough, very few toys should be left with an unsupervised pup.
Other Supplies
Your pup will also need a comfortable bed and bowls for food and water. Her bed can be an elaborate cedar-filled pillow or a comforter purchased at a garage sale. Above all, it should be soft, fluffy, and easy to wash. When it comes to bowls, stainless steel is nonallergenic (unlike some plastics) and easy to clean. Beautiful pottery bowls should wait until your pup is a bit older. You don't want her chewing on and breaking her bowls.
