Essential Supplies
Your new pup will need a set of basic supplies to help her settle into your home. First of all, a crate is very important. This is a metal or plastic cage that serves as your pup's bedroom. She 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! For this reason, make sure the crate is big enough for your pup to lie comfortably and turn around in, but not so big that she can divide it into an area for messing and an area for sleeping.
A crate can be moved around your house so your pup can still be involved with the family, even at night or during mealtimes, and it also serves to keep your pup safe. If you are busy and can't be watching her closely, your pup could be chewing on poisonous plants, biting into electrical cords, or eating dangerous household items. Tucked into her crate with a blanket and a chew toy, she 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. For them it is a safe den — a quiet retreat from guests, too much activity, and other pets.
As you might guess, there are different types of crates on the market, as well as various options when it comes to other dog essentials. Refer to the following chart as you begin to collect the main items your new dog needs.
Item |
Material |
What's Best? |
Crate |
Plastic or wire |
A plastic crate offers privacy and is good for air travel. A wire crate provides good ventilation and can be folded for storage, but it's not suited for air travel. |
Collar |
Leather, canvas, nylon, or chain |
Choose a collar with a buckle, plastic snap, or safety release — not a chain or prong collar. Slip chains, prong collars, and head halters may all be useful for a teenage “juvenile delinquent” dog but are not appropriate for a young puppy. They should only be used under the guidance of your veterinarian or an experienced trainer. |
Leash |
Leather, canvas, nylon, or chain |
Leather and canvas are easiest on the hands. Flexible and retractable leashes are not good for use with puppies. These retractable leads can be good for exercising a dog that has been trained not to pull. Do not let a dog on one of these leads get around a corner or where you can't see him. |
Bed |
Anything from a cedar-filled pillow to an old comforter |
Go with what your pup prefers, as long as it's washable. |
Food and water bowls |
Stainless steel, plastic, glass, or ceramic |
Stainless steel is nonallergenic (unlike some plastics), durable, and easy to clean. Avoid anything that could break under the foot of a clumsy puppy. |
Item |
Details |
Brush |
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. |
Nail clippers |
To clip a dog's nails, you need special dog nail clippers. Styptic powder is also a good idea in case of bleeding. |
Toothbrush |
You can buy toothbrushes for dogs, but a child's soft toothbrush will work just as well. |
Toothpaste |
Human toothpaste does not appeal to dogs and is not meant to be swallowed. Instead, get some special dog toothpaste in a choice flavor, such as poultry. |
Cotton balls |
Cotton balls can be used for routinely cleaning your dog's ears. Lightly moisten the cotton before gently wiping the outer ear. |
Towels |
It's good to have some extra “dog towels” to dry her off after a walk in the rain or an encounter with the sprinkler. |
Once you have a collar, you need to add identification tags to help your pup return home if she gets lost, and a rabies tag, once she is vaccinated. Microchips, which are inserted under the skin with a needle, are another identification option. 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 with 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 coat brushed, nails clipped, teeth brushed, and ears cleaned. The following list on the next page contains useful grooming tools you need for your dog
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.
