Puppy Supply Guide for New Owners

Before bringing home your new puppy, do not forget any of the following 8 items, as they are the necessities for your growing puppy.

1. Quality dog food. Research ahead of time before bringing your puppy home about the top rated dog foods based not only upon reviews, but the ingredients. Do not just ask employees at pet stores. Buying poor quality dog food could lead to more health problems in the future. Be sure to read labels because some dog foods are not for puppies.

2. Collars, and identification tags. These can be obtained at most pet supply stores, and are important in case your pet gets lost. If they have their identification on them, then that increases your chances of seeing them again.

3. Two food bowls. The best would be either stainless steel or ceramic. Depending on how big the puppy is, you might also consider getting a food bowl stand where you can place both bowls.

4. Bed and/or airline approved travel crate. You can put the bed in the crate for them to sleep in while you are gone. These are useful for puppies especially so that they feel more safe at home in such a big, new area. Also if you intend on ever traveling with your puppy, you can use the crate to board planes. The crate could also be used for teaching them how to potty on puppy pads.

5. Hygiene supplies. These include nail clippers, a stiff bristle brush, toothpaste, toothbrush, and dog shampoo -- be sure to choose the right shampoo. There are a lot of shampoos made just for puppies and for dogs that have different coats.

6. Stain remover. It will come in handy for any accidents on the carpet like soiling or vomiting.

7. Safe chew toys. Look for the ones that are recommended for puppies that ease chewing.

8. Treats. These also should be researched and should be nutritional too.

Bringing home a new puppy should be a fun learning experience for you and your family. They need a lot of attention, care, and patience just like human babies. If you are concerned about any behavior that you believe to be abnormal, do not hesitate to call your vet. Congratulations on your first new puppy!