THINGS YOU DEFINITELY NEED WHEN GETTING A PUPPY

We all know that getting a puppy, especially when you have work or school, can be very stressful. That's why you should get your puppy sometime in the holidays, maybe on the weekends. If you get one in lockdown that's even better as you'll be home 24/7. Now, when you make that life-changing decision to get one, your heart starts beating so fast and you're so overwhelmingly happy that you tend to overlook some things that you need to buy. This happened to me, which is why I'm sharing my experience with you. So, without further ado, let's get started!

SOME GOOD-QUALITY DOG FOOD.
Now, my dog's vet says that they should be given kibble all the time, with no other foods whatsoever. Although this is a healthier and safer option, your dog is bound to feel bored of eating the kibble at some point. Mine started refusing food when he was around eight months. Anyways, you should probably give your dog the wholesome meal he needs, so be sure to ask your vet or nutritionist before making any decisions about his meal. (If you prefer homemade, then chicken, vegetables, lentils, and rice is probably one of the best options.) So go to a store (or Amazon) and buy some kibble!!

2. A HARNESS 
A lot of you might think that you don't need a harness as you won't be taking your puppy for walks until he's vaccinated, but believe me, if you have a big house, then your puppy will DEFINITELY get lost without a harness and leash. It also comes in useful if they're biting something and you want to get them away from it. So buy one that fits your dog. If your dog is medium-sized, get a harness accordingly, and so on.

3. A COLLAR WITH NAME TAG
This is what you should get if you don't want a harness. A recommended type of collar is a Martingale one, which you can find plenty of either on Amazon or at a pet store.  A name tag is also important as you can identify your dog if he runs away. Be sure to put your phone number along with the dog's name on the collar and you're good to go!

4. A LEASH
Duh! You need a leash with a harness and a collar.Now, you can either clip the leash to a belt you're wearing or simply hold it in your hand. This will be helpful when you're taking the dog to its pee/poop spot after it has eaten its food.

5.  PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT - PEE PADS!!!!
Okay. Now we're moving on to pee pads. You know, I can't even tell you guys how important these are. So, what you need to do with these is that you should keep them in one designated spot in your house. Every time your puppy eats or drinks, take them to this spot and wait until they pee or poop. Do this for some time, gradually they will both smell the pee in that pad or become used to going in that spot. P.S - You don't only keep one pee pad! You change it. You can find many tutorials on how to use pee-pads on youtube. For example, Zak George's channel!

6. STAIN AND ODOUR REMOVERThis is also very useful when you're cleaning poop and pee. It not only cleans the area well but also removes the smell so that dogs don't smell their pee in that area and go in the same place. You get plenty of good ones on Amazon. 
7. BOWLS
Why do I even need to write this? It's one of the most obvious things. Bowls. Now, the question is, what kind of bowls should you get and how many? Here's the thing: NEVER get plastic or ceramic bowls. If you get a plastic one, your dog may chew on the bowl and destroy it, and if some of those plastic pieces enter his or her stomach, they would have to be removed painfully through surgery. If you get a ceramic one, chances are that it will chip off quite easily, especially since puppies have a tendency to dig at their bowls, or even play with them!! So that leaves us with steel bowls. These are the BEST. They usually never break, they are so durable, they can withstand anything and they're easy to clean!! You should get around 2-4 of these bowls.

8. GOOD-QUALITY DOG TREATS
I stress good quality because it is vital that you get your treats from a well-known brand. Once, I got some chewy milk bones for my dog from Amazon, when I didn't know the brand, and his stomach went for a toss. Try to get treats from Heads Up for Tails, or other well-known brands like Pedigree. Please do not get rawhide treats or adult dog treats when you have a puppy, and the same goes for older dogs if you're adopting or fostering. 

9. TOYS, TOYS, TOYS, TOYS, TOYS!!!!
You should DEFINITELY get some toys. Most puppies are playful and tend to destroy things when they are bored. So, get them toys that'll keep them chewing for hours, or play with them yourself! After all, what better way is there to bond with a puppy than with a good old chew toy?

9. A BED
Now we're getting to the things that are not required IMMEDIATELY but are still required. If your dog is going to sleep with you in your bed, don't get this. This keeps them warm, especially in the winter, and it can also be their place of comfort.

11. CRATE
Every puppy, or dog, for that matter, needs some alone time. They should spend this recreational part of the day in their crate. Buy your crate as per your dog-s size, but don't just shove them in and close the door. Make it nice and comfy, maybe put a blanket, some toys, even a bowl. if you have a big house, then you can also get a playpen and keep the crate inside the playpen. This way, you can even keep bowls of water and food in it so that the dog starts to like the place. 

So, today we learned about the necessities required for a puppy. I hope this was helpful and that you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for reading!!!

A/F/F,Sneha