Country-Side Breeders
Puppy Checklist
It’s the most wonderful day of the year! Not Christmas, or New Years”’ or even your birthday although any of them might coincide. It’s the day you get to bring home your new puppy!
You picked out the pup and did all of your research. You’ve got new toys and a collar with their name in shiny new letters on a tag. You’ve booked an appointment at the vet and figured out the best place to take him/her to play. Everything is ready for your new furry friend to come to his/her new home!
This may be a time of planning and expectation for you but for a puppy, it’s all very new and while exciting, can also be very scary. Never fear! There are lots of things you can do like his new person and family to help ease the puppy into this transition and help him (and you) adjust to his new life!
Having a dog is one of the most rewarding and sometimes frustrating experiences. Hopefully, this new puppy checklist helps you feel a little bit more prepared for your new puppy or dog.
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Food: Every dog needs food! Start your puppy on the food they’re used to eating and gradually change brands (if you want to) to avoid upsetting their stomach.
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Bowls: Your puppy is going to need something to eat that food from. You’ll need two bowls, one for food and one for water.
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Collar and leash: Your pup might not be able to go on walks until fully vaccinated, but you’ll want a soft collar and leash to get them used to it around the house and in the garden.
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ID tags: Even though your puppy is microchipped, it’s always best to have ID tags, too. Plus, in some areas they’re required by law. These should have your name, address and phone number on, plus your dog’s name if you want.
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Harness: Many owners are now choosing harnesses over regular collars, which can damage a dog’s neck if they pull on the leash. Something to think about.
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Bedding: Your pup will need a comfortable bed to call their own. You can decide whether to choose a puppy-sized one or one that they can grown into.
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Crate: If you decide to crate train your dog, you’ll need an appropriately sized crate. To avoid buying more than one crate, you can get one big enough to fit your adult GSP and make it puppy-sized using dividers.
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Poop bags: You’re going to need a lot of these, not only from when your puppy starts going on walks, but right away, to clean up your garden and any little accidents around the house.
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Toys: You’ll want to get a range of toys to keep your puppy entertained. Chew toys are essential to help direct chewing away from your belongings. Balls to play fetch and treat-dispensing toys are also nice to have. Choose appropriately-sized toys that aren’t small enough to lodge in your puppy’s throat.