What Do I Need For My New Puppy?

So, you have decided on the breed, picked your puppy from the litter and decided upon a name. In four weeks time you will be picking him up. What exactly do you need to get organised in those four weeks?

Firstly, there are the basics like a bed, bowls, toys & food. Your shopping list may look something like this:

• Bed/blankets

• Water Bowl/Food Bowl

• Toys • Food

• Collar & Lead

• Chews and teething aids

• Poo bags.

• Toilet training pads.

• Grooming tools

• Training treats

• Crate

• Travel harness

The first three things can be purchased from any pet shop, the choices are endless. You may need to put aside an afternoon just to decide on a bed! In regards to toys you are best to go for some from the teething range. Your puppy will want to chew; this is a fact so the best option is to provide some toys which he can chew on to this hearts content. Better that than your favourite pair of shoes gets ruined! Food is a slightly more complicated matter. Many people will ask what the breeder is feeding them and stick with that. Many will already have a favourite and choose to introduce this to the puppy. Whatever food it is you decide upon, be it wet or dry, always make sure it is suitable for the age of the puppy.

Once you have kitted your house out with a bed, bowls, toys and have lots of food in the cupboard you must think of the more practical things. Insurance is an important issue. There is no law that states you must have insurance for your pet but you must stop and think whether you are in the position to be able to afford a large vets bill should anything happen to your beloved pet. Insurance comes in many different levels but for peace of mind it is always worth having. Remember, that once a condition appears in your dog, you will not be able to get insurance for that condition. It is a good idea to have insurance right from the start so that you can be sure you will be covered in every eventuality.

The next item on the list must be Pet Dog ID Tags. It is a sad fact that thousands of pets go missing every year and can not be returned to their owner due to the fact that they have no form of identification. As animals cannot speak for themselves, it is extremely important for a loving and caring owner to know that they are properly identified so that if the situation arose, when the animal is found, they can be returned to their pleased owner as quickly as possible.

The Control of Dogs Order 1992 mandates that any dog in a public place must wear a collar or tag with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner on it. A telephone number is optional but advisable. Owners can be fined up to £5,000 if their dog does not wear an identification tag.

Pet Dog ID Tags these days do not need to be a boring, plain engraved tag. PS Pet Tags have many cool, unique designs which make an ID tag a fashion accessory as well as a safety mechanism. You can choose from a military style camo design or a Union Jack Flag. We have medical ID tags, funny ID tags, patterned ID tags, cute ID tags & many more. Engraving is sooo '20th century', with printed tags offering much cooler & many more designs with the flexibility of having a large amount of custom text. These tags are 100% waterproof, made to last and so stylish.

Once you bring your puppy home you will need to register him with a vet. You may like to talk to other dog owners and get opinions on the best vets local to you. Remember that the vet could play an important role in your pets life so it is important you are happy with their service.

Lastly, remember to have fun with your new puppy! Puppies are hard work but completely worth it. They can bring so much happiness into a home. Your puppy will always love unconditionally and make you smile on a bad day!