Shopping for Your New Puppy

So, you have decided to get a new puppy. Before bringing your new puppy home you will need to go shopping to buy supplies for him/her. You will need to buy a crate for your new puppy. The crate should be large enough to accomodate your puppy when they become fully grown but not too big. When housetraining your puppy it is important to not allow your puppy too much room in their crate, in order to discourage relieving themself in their crate. Puppies should not be left in their crate for extended periods of time while they are being potty trained. It is important to allow them the opportunity to relieve themselves in the correct location to acheive successful housetraining. Most crates today come with a divider that will allow you to purchase a crate that will be large enough for your puppy when he becomes fully grown yet still limit the space for the puppy while he is still growing.

You will also need to have proper bedding for your puppy. You should provide your puppy with a soft mat or blanket to line their new crate. This will give the puppy a comfortable place to sleep and thus make their crate a more welcoming place for them to be. This bedding will not replace the feeling they had when they were with their littermates, but it will give them a soft warm place to snuggle.

You must buy toys for your new puppy also. Puppies go through a teething stage just like babies and thus have a natural need to chew. It is important for them to have the appropriate items to chew on in order to discourage them from chewing on items like shoes, walls, carpet, etc. Your new puppy should be supervised with all new toys to determine if they are safe for them. After you feel comfortable that the toys are large enough to not be swallowed and safe for the puppy, he can be allowed to play with the toys with minimal supervision.

You will also need to buy a leash and collar for you puppy. The best choice for puppies is a nylon leash which is both strong enough to withstand chewing, which should be discouraged from the start, and also safe for your puppy. A nylon collar is also a good choice for your new puppy. When buying a collar for your puppy you should make sure it is the correct size for them. A correct fitting collar should not be too tight nor too loose around your puppy's neck. You should be able to fit one to two fingers between the collar and your puppy's neck. A harness can also be used for small dogs where a correct fitting collar is not available.

Your new puppy will also need food and water bowls. You can choose between the plastic and stainless steel variety of bowls. Beware of the plastic bowls if your puppy loves to chew as they are easier to chew. For larger dogs you may want to consider a bowl stand to raise the bowls to a more comfortable position for the dog and help eliminate bloating.

You will unfortunately need cleaning supplies for your home while your puppy is being housebroken. Accidents will inevitabally happen as your puppy does not have control over their bladder and bowels until 5-6 months of age. Despite this fact, it is still important to use proper housetraining from the start. The earlier you start the easier it will be for your puppy to learn.

These are many of the basic necessities you will need for raising a puppy. Along the way you are likely to discover that you will need more supplies than just those noted above. You may need grooming supplies, bathing supplies, gates, medication, etc. Remember your puppy is always learning so keep your eye on them and discourage incorrect behavior immediately. With proper training and supervision you will have hours of endless fun with your new well behaved puppy.