First time dog owner Checklist – Everything You’ll Need as a First Time Puppy or Rescue Owner
Here’s a checklist of things you’ll need to think about before you buy a puppy or rescue.
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- How much do I want the puppy or rescue?
- How do I want to live with the puppy/rescue?
- What kind of socialization will the puppy have?
- What kind of training and obedience classes/courses are available?
- What kinds of games and treats will be available for play with the puppy/rescue?
Even more, Every dog owner has a checklist before they bring their new dog home.
For example, they might have a checklist of things to do in the first couple of days to ensure that your new puppy is happy and settling in.
Or maybe they’ve already been through this checklist several times and have already made sure that your vet is on the same page as you.
But what happens when the new puppy arrives home? Having done all the work to prepare for the arrival of your pup but having no clue what to do or how to care for him?
If you’re a first time puppy owner, you need a checklist that answers these questions:
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- What should I do with my new puppy?(These are all things we’ve covered in detail here.)
- Can I use my old toys with my new pup? (That also covers toys.)
- Is it okay if he chews on/puts his paws on/lays on my bed? (Again, these are all things we’ve covered here.)
- How often should I feed him? (That also covers feeding and cleaning.)
- When should I change his litter box? (These are all things we’ve covered here.)
- What can I do if he wakes up screaming at night? (These are all things we’ve covered here.) How much stuff can he carry around with him? (These are all things we’ve covered here.)
- How will he learn not to jump on me and bite me?
- How much training do I need to do before he comes home with us?
- What should I feed him when he eats out of his bowl at restaurants or restaurants where there is food waste or food left over from other meals but not from me or my family’s meal yet?
The importance of a checklist
A well-written checklist will help you to stay on track and avoid the pitfalls that many new pet owners confront. As a pet owner yourself, I’ve written several pet-related checklists, but one of my favorites is this one:
The most important things to bring with you when your new pup arrives are: leash collar with carabiner; food bowl; water bowl; blanket; toy (or treat pack); 1 cup of baby food; collar and leash; leash leash; printable puppy bedding chart (if it’s more than one color); big blanket so people don’t bump into each other while they’re feeding their child puppy – and make sure they know where it is! Make sure they know it’s theirs as well! It’s hard enough trying to get a new parent focused on feeding their baby without them bumping into each other while they’re trying to feed their baby!
A lot of people don’t realize how important a checklist can be for new dog owners. It is better to start over than to end up with a dog that may not be the right fit for your lifestyle.
The following checklist is designed for new dog owners, but it can be useful for most pet-owning people. If you’re feeling lazy, skip the first four items and go straight to the last, which will turn you into a pro in no time!
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- I feel like I need to buy all these things…
- Now that I have bought these things, I need to buy their names…
- Does my puppy have any special needs? Should I get another puppy?
- Have I already got all my money out before taking on any other duties?
- Do I have enough money to take care of this puppy if it becomes sick or injured?
Considerations when choosing a dog breed
A new puppy owner’s first decision is to choose a dog breed. This decision can be fraught with difficulty and there are a number of factors which need to be taken into account.
The difference in choice between breeds varies depending on the age of the pup, with puppies becoming more representative of the breed at a given age than adults.
First, you need to take into account that your puppy will be around other puppies (which means he’ll be exposed to new dogs more often). It’s not uncommon for even puppies as young as 5 months old to have been exposed to an adult dog and this can have an impact on their behavior towards other dogs. For example, if your puppy is being raised by a very dominant adult dog, he may have learned that it’s ok to show aggression towards other animals (including humans) if necessary, even if they don’t mean it. Such behaviors are likely to carry over when your puppy is left alone with older siblings or children; so carefully supervise him when he gets older and make sure he doesn’t start play fighting or biting without warning.
First time puppy owner Checklist:
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- Brush your dog regularly (no matter what schedule — many breeds shed heavily during this time). This will ensure that his coat in good condition and also decrease the chances of him developing allergies or skin problems as he grows older. A good brush every few days should do the trick
- Food & water sourced from local sources (this is important because some foods and drinks can cause problems for certain breeds) • Make sure your local vets understand that you’re looking for a particular breed
- Check all vaccines with a vet before introducing your puppy into the household
- Have all medical records ready BEFORE introducing your pet into the house
Deciding what to feed your puppy
Of all the things you might want to buy for your puppy (dog or kitten), food is probably one of the most important decisions.
You’d think that buying a bag of dog food would be a simple enough decision, but it is anything but. There are quite a few different kinds available on the market and they vary in what they contain and how much they cost, so it’s wise to know exactly what you are getting yourself into before you buy.
It’s not just the price that can be confusing; there are many different ways of doing things with dog food. For example, some brands will give your pup as little or as much kibble as you want him to eat; others will get him to eat along specific lines like his bedtime snack (which is important because sometimes puppies don’t want their kibble after dinner). The truth is that there isn’t one “best” for every puppy or every owner — so having an experienced guide who can help you decide what you really need will always save time and money in the long run.
A list of things you will need as a first time dog owner
It’s important to take the time to get familiar with your dog before you bring him home. An exhaustive list of things that you will need is below. If you aren’t comfortable giving any of these items to your dog, or if you don’t feel like dealing with them (terrible as it may be for friends to see your dog all wound up, and potentially painful for the dog), skip them — it all just doesn’t matter.
1) Proper First Aid Supplies
For dogs, first aid supplies are not just for human emergencies. While a lot of human-only first aid supplies can be something you can throw in a bag and go, some dog-specific products (like Band-Aids) are too big and bulky, so they have to be broken down into more manageable sizes (for example, one should never have to use a Band-Aid larger than one inch). Some products are so small that the owner simply cannot carry them around with them all the time; but even then, nobody wants to see a large Band-Aid hanging out of their pocket when they go out for a run or jogging.
Some things that should be included in every first aid kit:
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- A good flashlight/flashlight clip (this can also double as a pet light or for other uses — such as checking under cars)
- A whistle/bell (especially if your dog is an early riser and requires being called in early)
- A small basket that fits in your pocket or purse (for storing band aids)
- Small plastic bags (for holding band aids in place)
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2) Basic First Aid Supplies
If you have bought any kind of basic supplies at Petco , Chewy, Chewy and Amazon , here’s what they should include: A small box of treats: The treat jar should be small enough so that it doesn’t take up too much room when not being used; but still big enough so that it can keep treats inside without getting lost inside. There should also be enough treats left over for snacks/food too! I prefer purchasing my food only from brands whose products I trust — I’m also very picky about which brands I buy from because their ingredients are “natural”/”organic”/”vegan”/”hypoallergenic”/”allergen free”. Also check this out
Take your puppy for a walk
Puppies are so cute. You can’t help but drool over them, but you know you’re never going to get one of your own. You’ve seen the ads, read the books, and searched the internet for information, but nothing has really prepared you for the actual moment when your new puppy comes home.
What’s it like? So far it’s been a dream come true! I’ve read all this helpful advice on how to take care of a new puppy; how to feed and train it; how to potty train it. Your best friend is now a member of your family and you can’t wait to show your family his or her first steps (or lack of) at home. And as soon as they grow out of their baby clothes they’ll be starting their own family (they won’t hesitate to give birth in your living room), so there’s that too! Of course, when you think about puppies as babies, things don’t look quite so rosy…
They’re very cute and cuddly , but they’re also very weak and needy . If you let them out badly enough without watching where you’re going, or give them something big enough for them to swallow (a balloon or a teddy bear) they’ll choke on it! Likewise if they have an accident in the house, like when running around with those squeaky toys they love so much… (oh yes…) There are lots of tips on how to take care of puppies , which is good stuff; there are also lots of other websites with lots more advice on what not do when taking care of puppies . But none will prepare you for having a puppy in your home — not even that little bit that tells you what kind of snacks to buy , or which kind of litter box works best.
Let the dog socialize with other dogs and people
Let the dog socialize with other dogs and people
Half of the world’s population is dog-savvy, but many new puppy owners aren’t. Adopting a dog is often a huge adjustment to their routine, and can be even more so if they have never been on two legs before or adopted one out of necessity. It’s hard enough for a first time owner to make the transition to a furry companion; it’s going to be infinitely harder if they also have never socialized with them before.
So, what do you need to do? Here are some things you should buy or rent for puppies and dogs, plus a couple of things you may want to consider for your own first time pet (or rescue) ownership:
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- A good walker [for those who don’t have one]
- Plenty of pet supplies [which means wet food, treats, toys, etc.]
- Good books [for your pup]
- A good leash [to keep the puppy from running off]
- Some sort of toy/dangle / harness that allows the puppy to play with other dogs (as well as dogs in general) along with getting some exercise while learning how to walk on their own
