Puppy supplies: what do you need for a dog?

Are you getting a puppy soon? Great! Make sure that you have all the necessary items beforehand. What do you need? We’ve made a handy puppy checklist, with all the necessities for your dog.

Puppy supplies checklist

A leash. A food bowl. A basket. And oh wait, a crate of course! What do you need when you get a new dog? Orientate before your new dog comes, on what you would like to have. Once your puppy is in the house, you have little time for that! We will help you with a handy shopping list.

Food & drink

• Nutrition (kibble, frozen fresh meat meals), complete meals especially for puppies
• Feeding bowl and drinking bowl (possibly with stand and placemat)
• Snacks (in moderation!)

Sleeping

• Basket
• Bench
• Pillow/blanket for in basket/bench

Play

• Sufficient toys. Alternate toys so they remain interesting for your puppy!
• Special chewing material

Training

• Treats to reward your dog (tip: reward your pup with small cubes of Prins NatureCare sausage!
• Reward bag

Out and about

• Collar, leash and/or harness
• Poop bags
• Address tube for on your dog’s collar
• Safety jacket for in the dark

Grooming

• Brush (get advice on which brush suits your pup's coat best)
• (Flea) comb
• Dog shampoo and possibly a cleansing/ conditioning spray
• First aid kit, including nail clippers and tick tweezers
• Toothbrush and special dog toothpaste
• Remedy against worms, fleas and/or ticks (ask your veterinarian for advice!)

Before you get your puppy, arrange for a good veterinarian and dog school. They are, just like a good breeder, worth it! They will give you the right guidance with a lot of knowledge and fun.

Are you ready for a puppy?

The moment has come: you are going to buy a dog. To prepare you as good as possible, we have listed some points of interest for you below. Have fun together!

How do you prepare yourself?

It depends on the character of your dog how quickly he feels at ease in your home. A new home is a big change for him. So give your puppy the space and time to feel at ease. Be consistent right from the start, so that it is clear to your dog what the rules are in your home. If something is allowed one week and not allowed the next, it will be very confusing for your four-legged friend. A dog also needs his own space, so make sure it is ready when he arrives at your house. Including all the puppy supplies!

Perhaps a somewhat unexpected tip, but a very important one: act normal when your puppy comes into the house, and provide a quiet environment where your puppy can feel safe and secure. Often we immediately put our new arrival in the center of attention. After all, he is so cute! And sweet! And funny! Let him be! But in doing so, we often provoke behaviors, such as biting and jumping up, that may later turn out to be not so very helpful and funny after all.

What puppy supplies should I buy?

To create a place of your own for your dog, it is important to get a dog basket with a good cushion in the house. You may also choose to purchase a crate. This is especially useful for young four-legged friends who still need to learn a lot. The dog basket or bench must be large enough for the dog so that he can lie easily and comfortably.

A dog also needs a feeding bowl and drinking bowl. And chewing material is also indispensable to maintain healthy dog teeth. You can buy different types of chews, bones and sticks. Give this to your four-legged friend in moderation. There are also nylon bones available, for example, to meet the chewing needs, but these do not provide extra calories. Finally, get fun dog toys in the house, so your puppy can have a good time.

Puppy-proof your home

Take a good look around your home before you get a puppy. Is there a vase that you don't want broken? Move it. An accident can happen at any time. Dogs are curious and like to explore, so keep this in mind. Some plants, such as ficus and crocuses, can be very toxic to dogs, so make sure they can't reach them. Leaving a plate on the table after eating can also suddenly be a danger to dogs, as some of our food can be poisonous. Read more about preventing poisoning in your pet.

Puppy food

Usually you get a bag of food from the breeder or previous owner so you can go ahead with the dog food that your four-legged friend was used to. This is very important, because a sudden change of food is not good for your dog. How much food your puppy needs depends on the breed, his activity and the size of your dog. You should be well informed about this in order to find out what the best food is for your dog. For example, you can contact the Prins CareTeam for free, tailor-made advice. In addition to nutritious meals, sufficient fresh water is also important, so a good drinking bowl should not be missing from the puppy checklist.

How do I transport my puppy?

Finally your new housemate can go home! What's the best way to go about it? Take a co-driver along for the ride so you can hold your puppy on your lap or use a travel crate.

If you use a crate, make sure it can be safely placed in the car and is securely fastened. A dog should be able to sit upright in the car and look outside, even in a crate or kennel. You can also transport your dog in the back seat. Make sure that you click his harness into the belt. There are special extenders for this.

Take a paper towel with you in case your puppy unexpectedly pees on the road or suffers from car sickness. Ask the breeder if you can take a blanket or cuddly toy from the litter to give the puppy a familiar feeling.

Walking your dog for the first time

To be able to walk your dog you need a number of things; a collar, a leash and/or harness, a light for when it gets dark and of course poop bags. In the Netherlands, it is mandatory in many places to clean up your dog's poop, so don't forget poop bags on your puppy checklist, as you can be fined for not carrying a bag for the removal of dog poop. This can easily cost 90 euros. The fine for not cleaning up dog poop is now 140 euros. So make sure you’re always prepared.

It's also important to buy the right size collar for your puppy. An address tube or tag on the collar is also useful, so that your contact details are always available if anything happens to your dog. An address tube or tag often works faster than a chip that has to be checked at the vet.

What do you need for the right dog care?

Against parasites

To begin with, you need to be sure that your puppy is protected against fleas, worms and ticks. There are different agents for this that can be applied in different ways. To check your dog for fleas, there is a special flea comb.

Coat care

A regular brush is also important, especially if you have a long-haired dog. Do you have a dog that likes to jump in puddles and mud outside? You can also buy dog shampoo for your dog, because using regular shampoo on a dog is not the way to go.

Oral care

In addition, his oral hygiene is important to keep up with. A dog also needs to brush his teeth and there are special dog toothbrushes and toothpaste for this purpose. Put these on your shopping list with puppy supplies, because the sooner you start with dental care the better.

First aid for dogs

Another thing you should buy for your puppy is a dog first aid kit. If something happens, you can immediately administer first aid. In this kit you will find, for example, a pair of tick tweezers, tape and disinfectant wipes. Good to have at home in case something happens.

Home with another pet

Are you bringing your puppy into a home where you already have another pet? Let them get used to each other gently and don't force anything. Dogs among themselves, as well as cats, need to get used to each other. Therefore, slowly let the animals get used to each other. Give them space. It may also be wise to feed the animals separately from each other. The cat needs to be able to hide if it doesn't feel safe, so don't lock them up together. Do you think the dog is going to chase the cat? Stop this immediately!

Familiar scent

Do you already have one or more dogs? Prepare them for the arrival of their new housemate! You can do this by exchanging scents via towels. To do this, regularly take home a towel that has been in your puppy's litter. This gives the already present dog(s) the chance to get acquainted indirectly, but also ensures that your puppy has a familiar scent waiting for him when he comes to live with you.

There is much more!

We would love to overwhelm you with even more information, because there is so much you need to know about puppies! We will limit ourselves to a few important points, but we can imagine that you, as a future or brand new puppy owner, will be full of questions. Our Prins CareTeam will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to call us!