We often get customers visiting the shop in advance of the arrival of their new puppy. Some come with a shopping list and others need a bit more help. We generally say – don’t go daft! We know it’s an exciting time (we’ve been there!) but there is no need to fill your trolley in the beginning. We have compiled what we hope will be a handy check list of essentials and good-to-haves.
Before you start…
Our favourite puppy book is Steve Mann’s Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy. Honestly, it’s been a long time since a new puppy book this good has come out. So easy to work through and you’ll have something at hand when you need some quick guidance. Kid friendly too and I have to say I love the nostalgic large font! Steve Mann is a positive trainer and the founder of IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers).
Essential Guides from one of the Worlds Top Trainers – and they are free!
We always recommend referring to Dr Ian Dubars guides “Before You Get Your Puppy” and his second free guide “After You Get Your Puppy“. These are great invaluable resources. These guides cover all the essentials with everything from socialisation, chew toy training, house training, bite inhibition and more.
Need something more bespoke? Check out our list of Dog Trainers or come and speak to us for personalised recommendations. All the professionals on the list are either people we know personally and trust or that have come highly recommended by our customers. We only recommend trainers who practice positive reinforcement techniques, are kind to dogs (and are kind to people too) and who demonstrate that their training methods are modern and up-to-date.
ESSENTIAL ITEMS
Collar and lead – Although it is now a legal requirement for all puppies to be micro chipped, they are required to wear an ID Tag when outside. By law, your surname and address (or house number and postcode) must be displayed on the tag and a phone number or two is always a good idea. We generally recommend a nylon collar and lead to start with and our Red Dingo range is a perfect start. They are very light weight (so as not to have something too cumbersome around your pups neck), they are easy to adjust as your puppy grows and they are inexpensive.
Your pup will do a lot of growing in those first few weeks at home, so we recommend buying a size that has some growing room, or waiting until closed to the 11 week mark to make your purchase.
Harnesses are a really popular choice for young puppies, as there’s no pressure or strain around the neck area. As with collars we’d advise waiting until your pup is a bit older before getting excited and splashing out, especially if their a large breed as you won’t believe the growth in those first 6 weeks! At 12 weeks old, your pup will be fully vaccinated and allowed to get their paws on the ground, so this is really the time to make sure you have the right kit from here onwards and that it fits.
We do have options though if you want to get your dog used to the harness ahead of time. The Puppia range make a lovely first harness due to their lightweight and comfortable fabric. And you’ve maybe hear of the Perfect Fit harness, which comes in three parts and grows with your dog as they get older and bigger. It’s hands down our favourite harness and we’re proud to say that we are one of very few stockists in the Edinburgh area.
Our best advice is to come in for a chat and a fitting with your pup (at any age is fine, as we can fit them on our table) and you can decide what works best. No appointment is required, we just ask that you allow yourself around 20 minutes for a fitting. It’s also a great opportunity for your pup, getting used to being handled, taking in the sights and smells and to make some new friends, furry or human!
Bowl/s – You will need at least one dog bowl to allow your dog to have access to water during the day and for feeding time. Most people prefer to have separate bowls for food and water. Which bowl to select is very subjective as they all have their advantages and disadvantages but do make sure you don’t select one that has too high a lip otherwise your pup may struggle to reach the inside of the bowl! Ceramic bowls are not so easily tipped up but if they are they can break. Stainless steel bowls are easy to clean and inexpensive but some dogs don’t like the noise they make (especially if their tag hits the side) and plastic bowls are inexpensive but can be easy to crack and slide about, but a feeding mat is a good pairing in this case.
Something to sleep on/in – There is no absolute right suggestion for this one. It will be a personal judgement. We generally don’t recommend that you purchase a fluffy, fibre filled bed to start with, and especially not an expensive one! Some puppies will have accidents in their bed initially and the bigger, fibre filled beds are more difficult to wash and dry. Also, puppies tend to be chewy and their beds can bear the brunt of this – especially if they are filled (how fun!). If you are set on a bed, then ask us in store about a particular supply of beds we have that are inexpensive and washable.
Instead, we often recommend towels and/or blankets for your pup to nest in to start with. They are less likely to be chewed and are not so expensive to stock up or replace as and when. We sell Vet bedding as well which is specially designed to stay dry on the top if there are any accidents. All of these options are quick and easy to dry, hygienic and comfortable.
Puppy food – We generally recommend that, at least for the first couple of weeks, that you keep your dog on the food that the breeder gave you a supply of. Because the first few weeks of being in a new environment can be a bit stressful for puppies, keeping their digestion calm is a good idea and being on a food that they know is usually a sensible idea.
If the food is not suitable for budgetary, quality or accessibility reasons going forward we always recommend gradually introducing a new food to their diet. Whilst some dogs can handle a complete change of diet immediately, others can get an upset tum. Generally speaking, a change in food should be gradual between 1-2 weeks. You would ideally start with 80% of the current food, and 20% new, for a couple of days, then 60% and 40%, and so on. This is dog dependent and for the best idea of how its going, your biggest clue is in the poo!
At Just Dogs we try very hard to offer good quality foods and they all have their own good qualities. Each food has a variety of ingredients and whilst one set of ingredients may be no better or worse than another certain dogs, like humans, can have ingredients which work better for them than others.
We recommend steering clear of foods which do not have named ingredients (i.e. those composing of generic cereals and meat and animal derivatives).
GOOD TO HAVES
Training Treats – At Just Dogs we like to promote positive reinforcement as an ideal technique for training. There is no one treat that is best for puppies. When rewarding your pup think of the treats in terms of low value up to highest value treats. Lower value treats may be pieces of your dog’s dry kibble and these would be used when your puppy is practicing commands such as sit and down in the house with limited distractions. Higher value rewards are used for rewarding new behaviours, for rewarding difficult commands or for when you are working under distraction i.e. recall in a busy park.
The natures-menu treats are our best selling reward treats in the shop and this variety is made for puppies. They are soft and meaty and can be broken into small pieces to make them spin out further. Another firm favourite (and one used by dog trainers) is JR Pate. We love that it’s a single protein so you can get to know what your puppy likes the most and also importantly what meats agree with their tummies. You can chop it up to any size as well, so its suitable for all sizes of dog/puppy.
Our favourite ultimate high value treat has got to be Trixie Paste. Our top tip is to only use this for recall, as it really grabs their attention and forms a very strong, tasty memory! Lots of flavours on option here as well so you can mix things up. And because you feed straight from the tube, there’s no mess.
Chews – Now these are important! Puppies love to chew, and it’s our job to make sure they’re chewing the right things. Management is key, so make sure they don’t have access to rooms out of sight or to things that are appealing (yummy table legs) or dangerous (cables, garden debris). We’d always recommend heading home with some natural chews for your pup to try and see what they like the most. A taste/sniff test in store is always a fun and reliable way to do this! Most natural chews are suitable for pups of all ages and sizes, as they are chewed until they’re soft before being swallowed. They’re easy to digest and gentle on the tummy.
As well as satisfying the urge to gnaw and get some relief on the gums, chewing reduces the heart rate, produces happy hormones and promotes calmness. It also creates good habits and encourages calm behaviours, for example allowing you to eat your dinner in peace, so providing chewing time should be a part of your daily routine. Natural chews, are by far the most engaging chews out there, and will get you through some otherwise challenging moments with your puppy.
Ordering online? We’ll put together a selection for you with our age appropriate Puppy Bundles!
Clicker – “Clicker training uses a distinct and consistent signal to mark a desired behaviour in real time and then follows that signal with a motivating reward. Because animals understand precisely which action earned the click and their reward, they learn new behaviours quickly, easily, and enthusiastically” Karen Pryor. For more information on using a Clicker for training check out Karen Pryor’s site Clickertraining.com
Toy/s – We generally recommend that when you are purchasing some toys for your new pup not to by too many until you have seen what sort of play they reserve for their toys. Some pups like soft toys but see them as something to “kill” so unless you want to be replacing them often this may not be the toy for your pup. Other puppies “baby” their soft toys and they act as a comforter for them.
Some pups are real power chewers and this is when our tough toy selection may be good (including Nylabones for example). Some dogs, even power chewers, lose interest in Nylabones though as they are very tough and for some the challenge is in the destroying!
Some dogs are motivated by squeaks and our JW range of rubber toys offer a good in between option – they are not completely indestructible but are much tougher than soft toys.
Classic Kong Dog Toys and Lickimats are also well worth considering as they are tough and adaptable. We like to have multiple at hand in the freezer to use as and when we need it. You can use your dogs meals for this, or Forthglade meat is really easy to work with and puppy friendly… It doesn’t have to be complicated! If you want to though, find your dog’s favourite and check out the Recipes on the Kong website.
We LOVE this article from the great doggy website DogStarDaily. It lists 50 things to do with the Kong Toy to keep your dog entertained.
This Video is also a fantastic guide on how to introduce a stuffed Kong (or Lickimat!) to your dog by increasing the challenge gradually.
Training Crate – At Just Dogs we believe that a crate can be a marvellous tool. A dog can learn to be patient and to calm themselves whilst in a crate and it can be a place that they see as a safe haven. There are a number of situations in which a crate can be a good management tool. It can help when leaving dogs or puppy for a short time on their own as they can be taught to relax and rest in their crate. It can also be safer than letting a pup roam in a bigger space when they may get themselves into trouble or mischief. It can also help with toilet training. Whilst we think it can be a marvellous tool we would also stress the importance of using it correctly. A Crate is not an appropriate tool to use for leaving a dog in for long periods of time when you are out or a place to put your dog as a punishment! It is also not essential, so if you have a dog that is worried about it, even with training, then do not feel under pressure to push your dog out of its comfort zone.
We are a huge fan of Ian Dunbar and the DogStar Daily website and think this link offers some useful advice for introducing a dog to a crate
Puppy Pads – Puppy pads can be a useful addition to your puppy starter shopping list. Not only do they encourage your pup to toilet in one place, rather than all over the house, they are also super absorbent making it easier to clean up after little accidents and protecting your floor! You won’t believe how much puppies pee, especially for those first 4-5 months, after which their bladder will mature. Mostly puppies will grow out of them around this age, so don’t be afraid to use them especially if you’re in a flat. They are also ideal for in the car if your dog suffers from travel sickness or is a nervous traveller.
Whether you use pads or choose not to, an essential buy is Simple Solution enzymatic cleaning spray. Accidents will happen and you need the right formula to prevent any remarking. Its suitable for flooring and carpets too, and smells pretty good! We also provide refills in store for £3.99, just bring your bottle and we’ll top it up as and when you need it!
Copyright Note – We are happy for these articles to be shared but would ask that these are credited to us as it has taken us a long time to pull together all this information and research and it is our own wording so we would be upset to see this being reproduced without the appropriate credit.