New Puppy Checklist!
Bringing home a new puppy is like bringing home a new baby, except that you don’t get to have a nice shower and registry where family and friends gather and gift you some of the essentials. You may think what does one need other than a leash and food, but you would be surprised at just how much you need. Below is the puppy checklist of most of the essentials you will need. While Pet Insurance and a good Training Program are essential (read 5 Essentials To Make Bringing Home Your New Dog a Success), the checklist below is of the tangible sort.
Amazon and Chewy will be your best friend for the next couple of months.
Also be sure to download the free blank checklist printable at the end of the post to make sure you have everything you need!
Crate/Pen/Gate
Whether or not you decide to crate train at night you will want a place where you can keep pup contained, whether you are going out or need to actually accomplish something. A puppy should not be left to have free reign of the house unattended as it will inevitably get into something. If a crate isn’t for you, or you don’t want to have to continue to buy different sizes as your dog grows, a pen is a great alternative, you can even use it outside when you want to enjoy your backyard. A baby gate is another alternative to keep a puppy in or even out of an area.
Bed
When your dog is not its crate, you will want a soft place for it to take a nap. You can also place its bed within the pen or gated-off area if that is how you are containing your dog. Beware that some dogs are chewers and may chew or rip apart their bed. In that case a raised bed may be best.
If you sign up for Bark Box today you can get a free dog bed while supplies last! Up to a $67 value!
Food and Water Bowls
Self explanatory. In the beginning go with the basics. As you learn more about your pup and its habits you can seek out slobber stoppers and slow feeders.
Food
Consult with your breeder and/or vet on what to start feeding your pup. Dry kibble is usually what you will start off with. Keep it simple in the beginning when pups stomachs are still sensitive and they are yet to be super picky so they will pretty much eat anything you give them. Make sure you are getting the puppy formula of any food.
Poop Bags
You will never have enough. You will find them in every coat pocket. Beware of some of the compostable type bags in winter. When you pick up a lot of snow with the wast sometimes the bags tend to disintegrate before garbage pick up day.
Leash/Collar/Harness/Poop Bag Holder
At the very least you will want a 4’ leash and collar. Harnesses help with walking and protecting the pups neck/throat from pulling but you will need to buy a few as they continue growing. As pup gets more comfortable you will want a 6’ leash and even longer if you decide to train recall and off leash. Bag holder isn’t necessary but will be very helpful. Going for matching and cute colors is all part of the fun, but chew proof is also important.
Treat Pouch/Purse
Your pockets will always have treat crumbs in them. You will always need treats because you will always be training and reinforcing good behaviors. Have you ever carried a stinky salmon treat in your hand or pocket in the middle of summer? Get a treat purse. Also the purse style one listed is so cute I would literally use for an everyday errands purse minus the dog treats.
Treats
Repeated from above, you will always need treats. Always. Get 3 levels of treats. Normal everyday treats, medium goodness and a treat so delicious and given sparingly it will make even the most stubborn of pups come when called.
Paw Balm
Hot pavements burn puppies paws. Cold snow and salty roads also burn puppies paws. Get a good protective balm to rub on their delicate paws at night or before going out for a walk.
Butt Wipes
Trust me. That’s all I will say. Can double down as paw cleaning wipes as well.
Kongs
These will be your lifesavers for whenever you want to get something done or get some peace.
Fill with a little dog safe (no xylitol) peanut butter and plain yogurt, or even a little canned pumpkin, freeze and give to your pup and get some much needed peace. If you really want to utilize them you can feed your pup one of their meals in the Kong. Make sure if you feed dry kibble that you wet it a little before putting in the kong so they can lick it out. No need to freeze the kibble.
Rope Toy
Great for tug of war, which is an excellent form of bonding. They can also chew the toy for teething.
Plush Toy
Some dogs prefer nice soft toys with the squeaker. Always good to have a few kinds of toys to establish how your dog likes to play.
Chew Toy
Your puppy will want to eat and chew everything. A good chew toy can save your favorite pair of sneakers.
Portable Water Holder
If you have any plans on taking your dog away from the house for any length of time you puppy will need water.
Blanket or Mat
Either to protect your couch or to provide a nice play for puppy to take a nap when it doesn’t have access to a bed, such as a day in the park. Also provides warmth and comfort in its crate or anywhere really.
Car Hammock
Protect your car from mud, scratches, dog stink, slobber, hair etc. Pre Will I had a pristine beautiful car. It is no longer, but would be absolutely worse if it wasn’t for the car hammock. It also keeps them from coming up front.
Seat Belt Clip/Harness
I don’t really use this anymore, though i probably should, but in the beginning I used it every time Will was in the car with me. I knew he would stay put and also would be safe with any sudden car stops or god forbid an accident.
Puppy Safe Bones and Chews
Another way to occupy them, soothe them and ease teething issues. I hope for your sake that your puppy doesn’t have the same affinity for the most expensive bones ever like Will does.
Less Essential but Super Helpful
Back up Leash/Collar
Your leash and collar will inevitably get wet, muddy and stinky and you will need to wash it. You will want a back up one. If you are anything like me you will have a basket of leashes and collars, you know…options.
Treat/Feeding Puzzle
More enrichment and peace keeper!
Holee Roller
Puppy will love to chew it, chase it, play tug with it and you can stuff it with paper and treats for enrichment games.
Training Clicker
Super helpful for positive reinforcement training. Many people swear by the clicker as it is a reward marker, instead of having to say “yes” all the time your dog does something good.
Portable Crate or Carrier
Great for overnights or if you want to drop puppy off at grandmas so you can get a break. Carrier’s are good for airline travel, vet visits and pre vaccinated outings since you don’t want them touching the ground very much.
Jacket/Sweater
Puppies are still small and don’t have a lot of weight to them so they can get cold, especially in winter. A good jacket, especially one that protects them from rain is good to have on hand.
Brush/Comb
Getting them used to grooming while young is key and is also a great way to build a bond with puppy. Create a night time grooming routine and use treats to help them enjoy it.
Toothbrush
Again a really good habit to start while they are young. Incorporate into your night time grooming routine. And not I had no idea that a dog needed their teeth brushed either. I thought stinky breath was just par for the course.
Carpet Cleaner
There will be accidents and you will need this. Make sure it is an enzymatic one to really remove the odors that dogs can smell otherwise they will think it is ok to go there again.
I am sure there are a million other things that could be added to this list, but these are what helped me survive the first couple months of a new puppy. Hold on to your wallets!
Download Your Free Printable Puppy Checklist Today!
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How to Plan the Best Birthday Party for your Pup!
Whether it is your pup’s 1st or 10th birthday, your very best boy or girl deserves to have a celebration of their special day!
Will at a Puppy Party!
Party planning for humans is hard enough, but how do you plan for a dog who can’t tell you what they want, and also will your friends and family think you are weird for doing this? Well first off, your dog will love anything you plan for them, because they love you and the attention you bestow upon them. Second, if your friends or family think you are weird for this, do you really want to call them friends? Just kidding. Just make sure to have human cake served as well and everyone will be happy. Or if you really feel funny, just keep the party to just you and your pooch or maybe have a couple of their favorite dog friends come over.
So what are the ingredients for a great dog party?
Games and Activities
Decorations fit for a King or Queen!
Birthday Cake and Treats
Presents, Presents, Presents
Keeping the Memory Alive
Games and Activities
Personally I am happy to stand around and mingle at a party while sipping wine and I absolutely abhor group activities. Will on the other hand would love nothing more than to have multiple games, activities and tons of play time. As an introvert I really wish someone told me what life was going to be like with an extremely extroverted dog! Anyways to make your party a success whether your dog is the only dog there or his neighborhood friends are stopping by you have to create some fun things to do. These are my top 3 favorite activities and depending on your monetary or time budget you can do a lot of these DIY.
1. BALL PIT
Fill a kiddie pool or any large container with colorful plastic balls. Easy enough and your dog will love to jump around in them. For added fun, hide treats or toys amongst the balls and let your dog find them!
2. AGILITY COURSE
Let your dog try their hand at a little agility and run through some obstacles. A little treat incentive is all you need to get them going. Keep it fun, no need to get it perfect or imagine all the championships you will win. You can buy some simple obstacles, or get creative and use things lying around your house like milk crates and broom sticks or an old hula hoop.
3. SCAVENGER HUNT
So this is actually one of my favorite winter time things to do to keep Will occupied, but to make it Birthday Party special, either up the ante on what you are hiding, like better treats, or perhaps even a delicious bone as the jackpot, or expand the perimeters of the hunt. If not great weather, hide stuff throughout the whole house. If the weather is good take the hunt outside and utilize grass and bushes as great hiding spots.
I keep Will in a ‘down stay’ while I hide the goods. Once everything is hidden I tell Will to “go find them!” and off he goes! For step by step instructions on how to implement a scavenger hunt, plus 4 other games and level ups I do have my Ultimate Guide to Dog Games available for download.
Decorations Fit for a King or Queen!
Will is not yet quite a King but he is DEFINITELY a prince so his birthday decorations should match how spoiled/special he really is! This is where you can get really DIY and use stuff around the house, but my mind is not creative like that so I prefer to buy ready made. Etsy is a great resource for some unique and personalized finds, but if you are last minute like myself these are my favorite Amazon picks:
Birthday Cake and Treats!
Just like a human party, the cake and treats are probably the most important part of the Birthday party! If you are having human guests then you must have human treats as well. I would either get a cake with a photo of your pup on it, or even better find a bakery that can produce cookies that look like your dog. If you consider yourself a baker, Etsy does sell custom cookie cutters to look like your dog.
But obviously this is a party for a dog so we need dog friendly treats. If there are no dog bakeries around you I have listed some online options for you. Or sign up at the bottom of this post to download our free dog cake recipe that uses all dog friendly ingredients. If you really want to get fancy and make your pup the most popular dog on the block, get some custom dog cookies to hand out to the neighborhood dogs!
Presents, Presents, Presents!
Is it really a Birthday party if no presents are given? As I said before, Will is a prince so he gets presents very often, so for his birthday I like to give birthday themed gifts, or the SUPER expensive bone and also wrap them in paper, because what dog doesn’t like to shred paper. Since it is their special day I do like to get a birthday themed wrapping paper, but old newspaper and Trader Joe bags work just as well. Below are my favorite birthday themed toys and wrapping. If you really want to up the ante on a great gift a subscription to Bark Box might be just the thing. I find that the toys are incredibly durable and the themes are so cute and witty. The toys for dogs that like to thrash are Will’s favorites and he especially loves to whip them dangerously close to me!
Keeping the Memory Alive
Now that you have spent all this time and money on making your dog have the Best Birthday Ever!, don’t you want to remember this day forever! Your dog may not care about photo’s but you will and if you have family members, like Grandma and Grandpa who go just as gaga over your pup, they would love a memento as well. The easiest and most cost effective way to do this is to just capture the moment on your cell phone camera and use a photo service like Shutterfly to upload your photos and have hard copies printed and sent to you. I used this service to create some Christmas ornaments of Will and they were a huge hit for the grandparents. If you want to get extra fancy purchase a photo preset off of Etsy to give your pics a professional look. This preset is one of my faves and only costs $3.99 and you can continuously use it on all future photos.
Also BONUS topic, don’t forget to make sure your little buddy dresses for the occasion!
Now you have all the ingredients to make sure that your pup has the most special day ever! But honestly don’t we try to make every day of their lives extra special :)
Download Your Free Dog Friendly Birthday Cake Recipe!
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5 Training Tips For A Well Behaved Dog
Before I got Will I swore that when I got a dog he would be the most well behaved pup on the block. I would train Will from the very beginning and I would know what I was doing because I looked at some youtube videos that showed me what to do.
Let’s just say when I saw my pup running down the street to visit the neighbor who of course also happened to be the HOA president, trampling through her just blooming peony bushes before he bolted off to visit another neighbor friend where he proceeded to jump on them with his fresh dirty paws (from those freshly trampled peony bushes) that I was very much humbled…..and mortified.
The thing is, training is actually really hard. It takes a LOT of patience, time and consistency, which piled on top of the craziness of having a new puppy or a misbehaving older dog, can be incredibly overwhelming. I was completely in over my head, even though I thought I had gone in eyes wide open.
But as hard as it is, training is an absolute NECESSITY! It keeps your pup safe, builds their confidence, strengthens their bond with you and of course keeps your neighbors and their gardens happy!
In this post we will discuss the Training Tips and Tricks that helped me the most:
Find a Training Program that Works for You
Creating your Non Negotiable’s
The Core Cue’s Your Dog Should Know
Set backs happen/Consistency is Key
What is Your Dog’s Ultimate Reward?
So let’s get started!
find a Training Program that Works For You
I have gone through zoom training classes during the height of the pandemic, in person classes and 1:1 personal training with Will. I researched all different types of training methods and techniques, becoming completely overwhelmed on what to do. Eventually I found a program that worked the absolute best for Will and I called the Brain Training for Dogs, an online positive reinforcement program that uses their intelligence to get rid of unwanted behaviors. The program was an absolute life saver and that I talk about in more depth here.
Before I found the correct training program for us though, I felt like I was just treading water. Will was starting to test boundaries, becoming increasingly stubborn, not listening and was losing interest in our training sessions. I am glad that I did not give up and re-home my dog like I would think about night after night while I cried in bed. Instead I tried different methods before we finally landed on Brain Training for Dogs. I also knew I did not want to go the corrective tools route. Will had such a sweet, trusting personality and I did not want to potentially ruin that with improper use of tools such as E-Collars or Prong collars. I’m not against the use of those tools at all, they can definitely serve a purpose for the right dog, but you need to work with a certified and highly experienced trainer one on one to make sure they are introduced and used correctly. But for me I knew that positive reinforcement training was the route I wanted to go.
Get the Brain Training for Dogs today!
Overall the most important thing is to find a trainer or program that works for you and your pup, something or someone that you can connect with and feel comfortable with and it may take some trial and error. But do not go on your training journey alone, you need the help of trained professional, whether online, in person or through a guide book. If you don’t feel comfortable committing to a training program just yet I did also get some really good tips from Zak George’s book Training Revolution which also utilizes the positive reinforcement method.
Creating Your Non Negotiable’s
Now that we talked extensively about utilizing a training program, before you even start the program sit down with anyone else that will be involved with your dog and come up with a list of everything you do or do not want your dog to do. Highlight which one’s are your absolute non negotiable’s.
For instance do you want to make sure your dog is never in the kitchen when you are cooking because you don’t want them underfoot? Do you care if your dog begs? What about getting on the furniture? Do you want your dog to always sit and wait for permission before they walk through a door? How do you want them to behave around guests? Once you have your list, make sure EVERYONE in your family is on board, because a dog will never learn if one person enforces the non negotiable and another does not. The dog will just learn to do or not do that thing around the person who enforces it.
The Core Cue’s Your Dog Should Know
Whether or not you decide to use the Brain Training for Dogs program or employ the use of a private trainer you will still want to make sure your dog knows the basics for his or her safety and yours. All dogs should know the following:
Sit/Down
Stay or Wait
Drop it and Leave it
Off
Come or any form of Recall
With these training cues you can have a well behaved and safe pup who can go to public places with you and be around other people and other dogs. You can sign up below to get my free “3 Basic Dog Commands” worksheet that teaches you how to train three different commands. Recall is probably the most important cue on the list above because it can save their life. Practice this recall over and over and use a high value reward for when they do it.
Consistency is Key
I honestly could just use that one line as the whole paragraph as it says it all. You cannot teach your dog off and then never utilize it until they start jumping on your guests. Practice often. When they are first learning, practice it daily during short training sessions of about 5-25 minutes each depending on your dog’s age and interest. When you think they have it down you can move on to something else, but still pull that cue card out 1x a week to keep it fresh in their mind. Your dog will at some point regress and act like they haven’t learned a thing. Dont throw up your hands and give up. Instead, that is the time to go back to the basics and reinforce the training.
Consistency also means once they have learned the cue you need to follow through with the cue. Meaning if you trained the cue “off” for when they go counter surfing, A.) don’t all of a sudden use “down” the next time they do it, your dog will get majorly confused. Stick with one word. And B.) don’t decide not to even use the cue when you see them up on the counter because it’s cute and they give you sad dog eyes or you don’t want to be “mean”. Training your dog is not being mean. You are setting them up for success and giving them confidence.
What is Your Dog’s Ultimate Reward?
If your dog is food motivated then you will have the easiest time with positive reinforcement training. However if your dog could not care one bit about a piece of cheese then you need to find other rewards. Does your dog love toys? Going for walks? Maybe it is a digger? Those components are going to be your rewards. Instead of giving your dog a treat for completing the cue you can give them 5 minutes of tug of war, or go for a hike after training sessions, or create dig pit or sand box that your dog can only use as a training reward. Once you have figured out your dog’s biggest motivator then you need to create a reward hierarchy system. The highest value of treat such as beef liver or the most loved toy, needs to be used for the highest valued cue, like your recall. Then you need a mid tier reward for cues such as stay, heel and off, maybe cheese or the ability to chew an old sneaker. Lowest level of reward, can be kibble or any normal treat that they get regularly, or maybe a minute of tug on the rope toy and you can use these for any over and above training like tricks such as paw, or sit because it is one of the easier cues to learn and you will be doing it a lot.
Top 5 Training Treats:
Beef liver - High Value (beware! these are so highly valued, other dogs on the block jump on me when these are in my pocket).
Orijen Six Fish Freeze Dried Treats - High Value
Stella and Chewy Freeze Dried Weenies - Medium Value
Charlie Bear Cheese and Egg - Normal Value
Merrick Power Bites - Normal Value
Conclusion
Training is a life long work in progress that will be both frustrating, humbling and also incredibly rewarding.
I hope that these tips and tricks will be helpful in your journey. I highly recommend the help of either a trainer or a program such as the highly recommended Brain Training for Dogs which is such a great value that you honestly cannot go wrong. But if you are not ready to commit to a training program just yet download my free basic commands worksheet at the bottom of this blog. Best of luck!
Click here for all my amazon favorites!Read my full post here on the training program I loved!Sign Up Below to Get Your Free Basic Dog Commands Worksheet!
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5 Essentials To Make Bringing Home Your New Dog A Success!
So you have actually gone done it! You have decided to add a furry new member to you family! Hold on tight as you are in for quite a ride!
All kidding aside, whether you are bringing home a new puppy or rescuing a more mature pup, the transition period of bringing home your new family member into the household and creating a new routine will be emotionally draining, exhausting and yet also exhilarating and some of the best moments of your life as you embark on your dog’s new adventure with you!
Will at 10 weeks
When I brought home Will I had no idea what was in store for me when I brought that 8 week, 10 pound furry bundle of fluff into my home. I knew it would be hard work with a few sleepless nights, but I had no idea the challenges that lied ahead for me and just how many tears I would shed in the weeks following.
Luckily I had done my research and prepared myself with some new dog essentials that really saved me both physically and emotionally in those first few weeks and that I will be sharing here in this blog post, such as:
Pet insurance, a number one must have
Bedtime and Crate Training; Where and How your Dog will Sleep
Creating a training roadmap and outlining your expectations
Feeding time; the when and how of it all
Helping your dog feel at home
Learning these essentials ahead of time will help to make your life as a new dog parent easier so you can spend less time worrying and more time loving and bonding with your new best friend!
Pet Insurance, a number one must have
Before I went to pick up Will I had done tons of research so I knew that I wanted to have a pet insurance policy in place for at least the first year of having Will as I already aware the first year was going to be very costly and I didn’t want to also experience a surprise vet bill for any puppy mishaps. A friend of mine who had gotten a puppy prior to me chose not to get pet insurance. A few weeks in and the dog ate a sock, as many tend to do and had to have it surgically removed. She was met with a $3000 vet bill! It was then that she decided to go ahead and get pet insurance. However when her puppy ate another sock a mere 3 weeks after the first, it was not covered yet because it occurred during the waiting period. Luckily the dog passed this sock on it’s own, otherwise my friend would have been on the hook for another 4 figure bill.
I took my friends story as a warning and made sure that I had the pet insurance on day one! I was lucky in that Will never ate a sock or have any major emergencies that first year, but it did help pay for all his other normal puppy illnesses such as Conjunctivitis, ear infection, skin rash, leg injury and even offset the cost for his neutering which is at least a $500 bill. There are so many options out there today for pet insurance with a variety of coverages, wellness supplements and prescription options that you need to figure out ahead what would work best for your budget and your puppy’s lifestyle. You may choose to have a lower monthly premium but a higher deductible if you are adopting an older pup who may not get into as much trouble as say a lab puppy who is known to hoover anything in sight. My favorite option is Trupanion and most people I talk to also have nothing but good things to say about this company. Embrace and Nationwide also came recommended to me. And for reference, the emergency surgery my friend’s pup had to have would have been covered 90% had she had insurance at the time.
Bedtime and Crate Training; Where and How your Dog will Sleep
So I am going to tell you a secret, I am a crate training failure. I had Will’s crate all set up next to my bed along with the blanket with his mother’s scent and his snuggle puppy. But after he wailed each time I put him in there that first night, I was so tired and just wanted to sleep, so I put him in bed with me and he stopped crying. So that is where he slept for the next 4 months. Will never had an accident at night, though I did wake him up at 2 am to go out potty for the first 2 months, and I actually loved having him with me at night since he was quiet and cuddly, something he was not during the day! But I do wish I was more prepared with a crate training plan, as it would have saved me at other times when I wanted to leave him during the day, or have him be contained and relaxing when I was cleaning or cooking and not able to watch him around the house. One of the plans I wish I followed was this Crate Training Guide.
If your dog is older or you are not crate training, have a plan on where you want your dog to sleep and also have a few options on what your dog will sleep on. Will tends to run hot so he likes to sleep on this cooling mat during the summer. I love it because it stays cool, has decent thickness and can fold up to either store under the bed, or bring with you if you travel. I would also make sure to have a couple types of beds for your pup to see what they like best. Having a memory foam type bed like this one is great for more senior pups, while raised beds like this are another option for pups that run hot or perhaps tend to tear up a bed with filling. Much like Goldie Locks it may take some trial and error to find the right bed for your pooch, but having a cozy place to lay their head will make all the difference in having a happy well rested pup.
Creating a training roadmap and outlining your expectations
Training your dog is the pinnacle of having a confident happy dog that fits right in with your family. But training is a hard and long process that is both rewarding and frustrating. Having a roadmap outlined ahead of time will help cut out a lot of the confusion and frustrations that come. Know what training style appeals to you most and will work best for the breed and age of your dog. Positive Reinforcement is the method many use and it’s because it works, though that is not to discount other methods. I utilized a local trainer with limited success, plus it is very hard to get into local classes right now due to high volume. Your next best bet is online based training and I love the Brain Training for Dogs program. You can read my thoughts and more details on this program here.
I also highly suggest having a list of your non negotiable’s written out with all members of your family so you are all on the same page. Meaning, if you absolutely do not want a dog that begs, write it on your list and make sure all family members are on board, because consistency is the only way training will be successful. I have a much more detailed post on training here, but it is definitely a must to have a roadmap planned ahead of brining pup home.
Feeding time; the when and how of it all
Now if this was a list of essentials for how to keep me happy then feeding would be at the top! And if it was up to your dog this would be his number one priority as well. Having a good feeding schedule set ahead of time will be key to a smooth transition. Puppies will want to eat three times a day and you will need to figure out their wake up, last call and also your daily schedule to figure out a good feeding timeline. Download the free puppy schedule printable at the bottom of this post to assist with this.
Adolescent dogs will go down to 2 times a day and your vet can let you know when that should happen. Older dogs can stay at twice a day or if they are like Will, and are not really interested in food in the morning, you can go down to one time a day. Now how to feed your dog is a whole other ballgame with a ton of varying opinions, but again you will figure out what works best for you and your dog. When Will was an adolescent and still had some puppy energy, on the days he wasn’t going to daycare I would give him his morning meal in either a food puzzle, lick mat or kong or via training or scavenger hunt because it would work his brain and tire him out while giving him his nutritional needs. In the evening he would be fed via his bowl. Some trainers recommend hand feeding one or all meals. This method would not work for me and my trainer never mentioned it so I never researched it in depth.
In terms of what food to feed, if you are bringing home a puppy your breeder or rescue will most likely send along a bag of food that the pup has been eating and is used to. I would stick with that until the pup decides they do not like it any longer or other nutritional needs have to be met. Otherwise you will be dealing with that tricky food transitional period that can wreak havoc on a dog’s digestion system bringing other unpleasant issues that you definitely do not need at the beginning of your puppy journey. If you were not sent home with anything and were not given feeding instructions then I would ask your vet what they recommend. You can always change this as you get to know your pup, figure out their eating habits and likes/dislikes. There are a million and one food options and diet types (boutique fresh food, raw diets, DIY, kibble only) so choose a basic option and then as you learn more about your pup you can select a different food. I think the best basic option to begin with that is recommended by many breeders and vets is Purina Pro Plan Salmon and Rice. That is what Will ate and loved until one day he decided he was done with it. For a higher grade option, and what I give Will as supplement feeding to this day (read about How to feed a picky eater here) is Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Lamb and Blueberry and I cannot recommend it enough. High grade quality ingredients such organic spelt and oats, vegetables, fruits and vitamins and baked at a lower temperature with no preservatives or GMO’s and created with cruelty free research.
Helping your dog feel at home
So we have the basics down, insurance, sleeping, eating, training. But your dog needs to feel spoiled and loved as well to feel a part of the family! Now you don’t have to go overboard, although let’s be honest, I’m sure most of us have or will, but you should have one or two toys for your pup to play with, not too many as you do not want to overwhelm, but a couple nice options for them to choose from and claim as their own. The first toy I bought Will before I even picked him up with this squeaky monkey rope toy. It was really sturdy and great quality and held up to puppy chewing for over a year, and he loved it so much that when he finally did destroy it I had to buy him another one. A soft blanket is a must have as well. Something you can put on the couch if they are allowed up, or on the floor or in their bed. And finally a good leash and collar will also be essential for walks and potty time and I love these personalized ones from Chewy. They really hold up well and if you already have a name picked out you can have the dog’s name and your phone number stitched on, perfect in case your pup gets loose and also eliminates the need for noisy tags. If you are looking for something more stylish check out the ones from Wild One. They have matching leashes, harnesses and poop bags in fun, stylish modern colors. You can get 15% off your first purchase of $75 or more with code WODOGS15.
Conclusion
So as you can see there is a lot to consider when you first bring your new dog home and it will eliminate a lot of stress if you have these essentials covered or at least thought about ahead of time. I HIGHLY encourage getting your insurance policy ahead of time, it will not start until you have the dog but the waiting period can then start on day one of when you bring your pet home. The first year of my policy paid for itself, after that you can decide whether or not to lower coverage or increase the deductible. The next takeaway is to just have a flexible plan in place for sleeping, eating and training. Also, if you haven’t already, check out the Brain Training Course, she offers a free preview so you can see if it is a program that appeals to you before you purchase. You can now be prepared before you bring home puppy which is an overwhelming time, and are also educated on your options if you need to change things up. But most importantly have fun, enjoy the chaos and remember to love and spoil your new family member!
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