New Dog Necessities: A First-Time Guide for Pet Purchases
Bringing a new dog into your life is an exciting time. But It’s not all fun and games. Having a new dog comes with a lot of responsibilities. Before bringing home your new dog you will need to have a few essentials first. Here is a list of all of the essentials a new pet owner will need.
What you will need for your new dog:
Quality dog food: In order to keep your new dog healthy, you are going to need some quality dog food. Your dog is going to need nutritious food to keep them happy and healthy. You should consider buying your dog food online. Buying the food online is great if you’re buying in bulk and it saves you a trip to the store.
Lead and collar: You can’t get a dog and never walk it.
Identification: This is important in case your dog goes missing.
Waste bags: For accidents while walking.
Toothbrush: Dental health is very important for keeping your dog healthy. Not many people know this but you should actually brush their teeth daily! Be sure to do your research into this.
Toys: You don’t need to go crazy and buy heaps of toys but it’s important to keep your dog occupied. If you are bringing home a new puppy, you might want to consider investing in a few chew toys in order to stop them from destroying your cushions, shoes and furniture.
Minimum 2 bowls. At least you will need 1 for water and 1 for food.
A bed: Somewhere where your pet can have their own space and somewhere to sleep.
Puppy pads: If you have an untrained indoor pet.
A decent backyard or space for your dog: Your dog will need a backyard or dedicated space for them to play in and for them to be able to go to the toilet in.
Treats: These are good for training and bonding.
Grooming essentials: You will need, shampoo, conditioner, brushes and nail clippers.
Responsible dog owner checklist:
Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Having a dog comes with a lot of responsibilities. You are now in charge of an animals feeding requirements, well-being, housing and healthcare. Now that you’ve got all of the fun stuff here are the important parts.
Vaccinations: You will need to make sure that your dog is vaccinated before taking them outside and before introducing them to other dogs.
Worming and flea treatment: These common parasites are almost unavoidable. If they go untreated they can be harmful to your dog. Make sure you keep these on hand.
Register your new pet: This lets your local council and everyone else know that your pet is up-to-date with their vaccinations. Having your dog registered means that you will be notified when your pet needs up-to-date vaccinations and health checks. Be warned. If you do not register your dog you are at risk of being issued with a fine.
Take them for a vet checkup: You want the peace of mind of knowing that your new dog is healthy. Get them checked for parasites, fleas and any other problems.
Pet insurance: This is not compulsory, but getting hit with an unexpected VET bill can be a big financial hurdle. Sadly, things can happen even to healthy puppies. If you did not have pet insurance for puppies and your pet needed life or death surgery that costs thousands of dollars would you be able to cover the veterinary expenses? If not you might need to consider getting pet insurance.
Puppy school: Puppy school is essential if you are adopting a new puppy. It most cases it is very affordable and will help your new dog to learn to socialise with other dogs and learn basic discipline.
Desex your dog: If you don’t want to contribute to the excess amounts of dogs in shelters, you need to do your part and de-sex your animals.
Finally, consider your living situation: A dog should not be an impulse purchase. Are you able to provide a home for a dog for 15+ years? Are you able to afford to feed your dog for the rest of their life? Do you have enough space? Can you afford the veterinary bills if your dog gets sick? These are all things to consider.
With all this in mind, how prepared are you for your new pet?
