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Whether this is your 1st or 5th puppy, this list will be helpful to you. It is a list we have compiled of things that will better prepare you and your home for a new puppy! |
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Premium Large Breed Puppy Food
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Do not free feed this to your new puppy! Follow the directions listed on the bag for your puppy's weight/age. You should feed this food until 1 year of age and then switch to a Large Breed Adult food. The large breed puppy formula allows your puppy to grow slowly at a healthy rate so that he doesn't develop hip problems. The adult formula contains glucosamine to maintain healthy joints. We have found brands such as Purina Pro Plan, Orijen, Taste of the Wild, and others are an excellent choice for a great dog food!
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Body Balance and FlexeoPlus (daily liquid whole food supplement)
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This product has proven itself to be an amazing vitamin, mineral, trace mineral, and phytonutrient supplement for dogs. There are many many success stories with these products and we LOVE them for our dogs and puppies! You can order by clicking on the pictures below!
 
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You will want to get a crate to continue crate training your new puppy. Some people prefer the wire crates, but the plastic ones are also effective and give the puppy a stronger sense of "security" because the walls are solid. The plastic crates are also the cheaper option in most cases. If you are getting a larger crate right away, you will need something to divide it in half so that it is not too big. If it is small enough, your new puppy will not be as prone to accidents. After the puppy is completely potty trained, you can put a crate bed inside for additional comfort.
Along with the crate you will want to get carpet cleaner and/or tile/hardwood floor cleaner for accidents in the first few weeks. You will want a cleaner that will completely erase the smell so that the puppy does not think that he can go there again.
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You will want to get a few different textured toys for your puppy as he loses his baby teeth especially. You should have a rubber toy, a cloth toy, and a rawhide bone for him to chew on. Stick to small treats at this time and do not give him too many per day! Encourage him to play with his toys and continue to reprimand him when he chews on shoes, furniture, etc. This will teach him what is okay to chew on and what is not.
Kong toys are GREAT for puppies! They keep them entertained while still providing a "teething" toy to chew on!
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Your new puppy will need a size small collar to start. Make sure to update your collar as needed. You should be able to slip two fingers between the collar and your puppy's neck. You may also prefer a harness for your new puppy. There are a variety of leashes you can use as well. Walk your new puppy on a leash regularly to get him used to walking with you. If you do not live in a busy neighborhood you will be able to walk him without a leash later in his life.
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Enroll in Puppy Kindergarten Classes |
There are many many benefits to enrolling and participating in puppy kindergarten classes... even if you do not continue to intermediate and advanced classes. The kindergarten class will help with socialization at a critical age. It will also teach first-time puppy owners many things about house-training, etc. And of course the obvious; the classes will teach your puppy excellent behavior for life.
We recommend PetSmart's classes. We know from personal experience that they are effective and offer a wealth of information along with coupons for in-store items.
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When your puppy first comes home, you will only need a softer brush because he will still have "puppy" hair that does not require too much grooming. You may want a comb for small mats or tangles. You will want a gentle puppy shampoo to bath once per week. You may want some puppy bath wipes to have a convenient method of cleaning muddy/dirty puppies in a hurry or if he just had a bath. You will need a few towels and/or a blow dryer for bath time as well.
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Flea/Tick Treament & De-worming medication |
We use Advantix for our dogs and recommend it for your puppy. Use it as recommended by your veterinarian. We use Pyrantel Pamoate for our de-wormer with much success. Stay Away from Hartz de-worming products! A friend of ours lost an entire litter of puppes from feeding Hartz wormer. The Hartz company said "it happens" and there was nothing they could do about it when our friend confronted them about the problem.
We strongly recommend K9 Advantix! Their products are super effective and really last for 30 days!
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Not all vets are good. Look for an animal hospital certified by AAHA that seems to truly care about you and your new puppy. Building a good relationship with your vet is imperative for the health of your puppy. You want a vet that you can trust if something goes wrong. You want a vet who is going to try everything they can to make sure your puppy is healthy and happy for life.
If you are from the central PA area, we recommend Lewisburg Veterinary Hospital on Fairground Road in Lewisburg. Their staff is friendly and their vets are knowledge and caring!
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