New Puppy Shopping List: The Basics
What Items Should a New Puppy Owner Purchase Beforehand?
Sep 18, 2008
On average, a new dog owner will spend $300 on pet supplies when adopting a new puppy. It's certainly not cheap, but understanding exactly what's necessary can help pet owners better navigate a pet supply store like Petco or PetSmart on that big puppy supplies shopping excursion.
A Dog Crate
A dog crate is among the most important items that a new dog owner should have on hand when bringing a new puppy into the home. A crate will serve as the dog's "den," a safe zone, a place where the dog can comfortably sleep, eat and rest. The crate will also help with housebreaking the puppy, and if danger ever strikes, a quality dog crate will be necessary to safely house a dog during a storm evacuation or other emergency.
A Dog Bed
The type of dog bed an owner purchases will greatly depend on where the dog will sleep. If the dog's primary sleeping location will be inside the crate, opt for a rectangular crate pad-style bed. If the dog will spend a great deal of time sleeping outside of the crate, opt for a cushion style bed. When purchasing a dog bed, opt for a bed with a water-proof, removable and machine washable cover. Puppies have bathroom accidents, they get upset stomachs, and they make a mess with foods - the ability for an easy clean up is vital with a puppy in the house.
It's not advisable to purchase the expensive, fancy space foam beds for a puppy - puppies like to chew and shred fabrics when they're teething and a dog bed is going to be a prime target. So wait until the puppy teething stage is over until you purchase a posh, expensive pet bed.
Puppy Toys
It can be tempting to bring home a batch of soft, cute, cuddly stuffed dog toys, but resist the urge. Once teething begins, puppies tend to shred these toys faster than any dog owner wishes to supply them. And the fabric bits can be ingested, causing intestinal obstructions. If the urge is simply too great, purchase just one or two of these stuffed fabric dog toys and allow the dog to play with them only while you supervise.
The best types of puppy toys are hard rubber. Kong puppy toys are widely considered to be the most durable and most enjoyable puppy toy, as they'll stand up to gnawing from sharp puppy teeth and they can also occupy the mind since many are hollow, with a spot to insert cream cheese or peanut butter as a treat. Avoid hard bones, like Nylabones - there have been many reports of the bone shards causing intestinal obstructions and even death.
Interactive toys are also great for puppies. These include toys used for fetch, like ball launchers and treat-dispensing balls.
A Dog Food Bowl and Dog Water Bowl
When selecting a dog bowl, opt for a stainless steel or ceramic model. Plastic dog bowls are less expensive, but they develop tiny scratches that harbor bacteria and cause facial infections and trigger cases of puppy acne. Also, when shopping for the dog's food bowl, keep the dog's adult size in mind to avoid purchasing a new food bowl down the road because Fido has outgrown his puppy bowl.
For a small breed dog, a large bowl will suffice for water. But for a puppy that will some day grow into a large or giant breed dog, opt for a jug-style water dispenser, with a large jug that supplies a reservoir. This will ensure that the dog always has a fresh supply of water - a vital element of good dog care.
Puppy Food
A high-quality puppy food is vital to a dog's development and growth. Opt for a premium dog food like Science Diet, Royal Canine or Wellness. These brands are more expensive, but the dog needs to eat less to get the necessary nutrients. When looking for a puppy food, seek a food with meats as the first several ingredients (the first-listed ingredients are the most plentiful). If grains like corn are listed at the top of the ingredient list, opt for a different food. A dog's digestive system is not designed to process grains, particularly in large amounts, and this can lead to digestive problems and malnutrition. Grains are typically used as a less expensive "filler" in lower quality dog foods. Pet owners can also opt to make their own homemade dog food, which is a more time consuming, but when done properly, it's a much healthier option for puppies and dogs of all ages.
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