Getting Ready for a New Dog: Top Essentials You Need to Prepare

Getting a new dog is one of the most exciting and joyful experiences you can have. You are getting your new best friend and it is an adventure that can provide you with an infinite amount of happiness. Dogs are definitely the most amazing animal companions you can have in your home and they will always give you their unconditional love and loyalty, which is why you should be able to give back exactly the same.

However, preparing for a new dog is not all fun and games. You need to be able to provide your pet with the best possible conditions it can live in and make sure it never wants for anything. Taking care of any pet comes with quite a lot of responsibilities, so you need to make sure you are truly ready for it.

You need to make sure you can provide it with a home in which it will feel comfortable and happy, which includes providing it with all the necessary essentials. Take a look at the essentials you need in order to ensure your fuzzy little bundle of joy has everything it needs for a happy life.

Identify Your Dog

Before you start thinking about dog food and everything else your dog will need, you should buy your dog a collar with an ID tag showing your name, home address and phone number, so that you can be easily contacted if your dog ever gets lost. No matter how careful you are, you need to be prepared for every possible situation and providing your dog with an identification tag will give you peace of mind and ensure your dog will be returned home safely if it goes missing.

However, collars can easily break or slip off, so having your dog microchipped by your vet is an additional safety measure you should consider. If your dog has perhaps already been microchipped, make sure the breeder or rescue home registers the chip to your name and home address.

Get the Necessary Supplies

You need to provide your dog with proper bowls that it is going to use for food and water. The best options to go for are stainless steel and ceramic bowls, but stainless steel can certainly last longer and it is much easier to clean.

You also need to get a dog bed, so that your lovely little furrball can have its own place where it can curl up and relax. Dog crates can be used as beds and they also provide additional security, not to mention that they promote positive dog behaviour.

You will need to get an appropriate leash for your dog, which can be excellent for training and teaching your dog to walk right next to you whenever you take it someplace. You should also get your dog different toys to play with, such as balls, Frisbees, safe rings, tugs, slings and many more. A lot of dog toys can be used for training as well and they can make your training sessions more exciting and fun.

Don’t forget about grooming your dog as well, so make sure you have a proper dog grooming kit with all the necessary brushes, combs, nail clippers and shampoos.

Buy the Proper Food

In order to make your dog feel safe and secure when it arrives at its new home, you should start by giving it the same food it was used to eating. Getting a new home is a big change for your dog, so you must ensure it feels welcome. Afterwards, you can gradually change its diet if you want to, so make sure you purchase dog food and treats that will be appropriate for your dog’s age and lifestyle.

Dogs love having something to chew on, so you should buy it various chews if you want to protect your furniture and, well, your shoes. You just need to make sure the chews are not too tough for your dog’s teeth and that they are non-toxic.

Final Words

Providing your new dog with a happy home is extremely important, but the most crucial thing is to really be sure you are ready for a pet. If you’re not, it would be best to wait a bit longer, because it really takes a lot of responsibility. However, if you know getting a new dog is really what you want, then you can be certain you are in for the most wonderful adventure of your life.