Checklist For The New Puppy Parent
/Making the decision to get a puppy can be life-changing. When we first brought Hazel home it was like all of the planning and preparation suddenly went out the window. Here we were with a brand new puppy that looked at us as if we were aliens and honestly we kind of felt like we were.
The first few weeks and months as a new puppy parent can be an emotional rollercoaster. From not getting enough sleep to random crying burst, I wanted to create a puppy checklist to help new puppy parents have the essential items to make this transition as smooth as possible. This is something I wish I would have had before we brought Hazel home and hope it helps you welcome your little fur friend into your life smoothly!
1.) Crate Training
Making sure you have a place for your puppy to be safe and call his/her own place is important. Two great options are a crate and playpen. You can have them separately or together. You want to choose a place that is quite for your puppy to help them get use to it.
Food
Choosing the right type of food for your puppy is important. Wet or dry food, brand, size of kibble, the list can go on. Depending on where you get your puppy and what they are being fed plus a chat with your veterinarian will help you make a great choice.
We discovered pretty early on that Hazel had an allergy to chicken, and after a few trial and errors we’ve been feeding her Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon Dry Dog Food for the last two years and it’s been amazing for her digestion and skin.
Treats + Toys:
Having the right leash, collar, and harness will help make your walks outside together be safe and better with your new puppy. I like colors that are bright so you can find them and are comfortable for you to put on your puppy. We started with a nylon collar and ended up making the switch to a faux leather collar. We love it’s durability, especially with how much Hazel loves playing in the snow. Whenever we take her on walks, the harness is a must! We’ve been rocking a harness since the beginning and it truly makes walks more enjoyable on both ends.
Beds/Mat/Carrier
As a new puppy parent you want to make your puppy comfortable with a nice bad or wanting to train them to go on a mat. Also, if you are taking your puppy in the car having a carrier may be another great option. We decided to crate train Hazel from the start and I’m so happy we did! Yes, the beginning days were pretty awful but she loves her crate and usually opts to sleep in it each night now.
Potty Training
When potty training your puppy I think have supplies in a container near where your puppy will be in your house will help to clean up any messes. Also, having a leash ready to go get your puppy out fast is essential too. We’ve had more accidents than I thought was humanly possible, so make sure to stock up on your favorite cleaning supplies as well.
Here are our favorite essentials for traveling with your puppy.
Cleaning Supplies
Puppies can be sweet and cute but they can be messy. Having the right cleaning supplies on hand will lessen the frustration of cleaning up the messes you will have with your puppy.
Cleaning supplies to have on hand are:
Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover for Dogs, Enzymatic Formula Dog Stain & Odor Remover
Grooming
Getting your puppy use to being brushed, trimming your their nails, checking the ears, or even learning to brush the teeth of your puppy is important to start doing from day one.
Here are some grooming tools to have for your puppy:
A brush: since Hazel is a doodle it’s so important that we brush her every other day to avoid matting. Here is our favorite brush!
Wipes: I know that may not seem like an obvious one but they are useful in wiping your puppy’s face, paws, or anything else that may get dirty in a safe way. Nature’s Miracle Deodorizing Bath Wipes could be a great choice for you to buy for your puppy.
Nail trimmers: Having nail trimmers will help to get you and your puppy use to nail trims and make them easier from the start. BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers and Trimmer with Safety Guard to Avoid Over-Cutting Nails & Free Nail File could be very helpful for you and your puppy.
Traveling Together
Whether you’re going to the dog park or on a road trip, having an easy to bring water bowl is a must! We also love packing her dog bed and blankets for road trips, anything to help make it a comfortable ride.
I hope this blog post was helpful to show what you need right now with your new puppy. It does not have to be everything right away as well as complicated. The biggest thing is to be prepared with the basics and just know it’s a learning process!