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Here’s a complete guide to help you prepare for adopting your first puppy, including must-have products, personal tips, and safety advice.
Story of how I adopted my dog
When I saw my little Dobby for the first time, I was transfixed. His huge, glossy eyes stared sweetly at the person taking his picture. He had big floppy ears, and his muzzle was tiny, framed by huge whiskers, and looked like it was just made to be kissed. He was fuzzy, cute, and chubby in the way that very small puppies are. It’s safe to say he conquered me on the spot.
I swiped through his pictures, taking them in one by one, feeling my heart swell with each one. It was an immediate connection. I had been yearning to adopt a puppy for quite some time, and used to go on pet adoption websites to look at postings and imagine my life with the little friend I’d get one day. But I didn’t really feel like I was in the right place yet. So that night I eventually turned off my phone and reluctantly went to sleep. I didn’t have the heart to close his tab in my browser.
I kept going back to his ad for a week. Every morning I’d wake up with that tiny chihuahua on my mind, and I would tell myself that he would probably be already gone, because I couldn’t fathom anyone who had their life more together than me seeing him and not adopting him on the spot. I can’t describe the relief that I felt every time I saw he was still there, and I swiped through his adorable pictures again.
Though as expected, one morning I woke up and the posting was gone. My heart sank. A burning regret weighed on me for not calling for him in all those previous days. I had so many occasions and I just wasted them. The puppy of my dreams was gone.
I glumly put my phone down and got back to work.
A couple of hours later, purely out of habit, I went back to check. And the ad was back up. To say that my heart leaped in my chest would be an understatement. I was giddy.
I put down my laptop and called immediately.
The owner told me that if I wanted the puppy, I would have to go and pick it up that same day. So, adopting little Dobby was definitely something I didn’t carefully plan out, or even had time to prepare for. That night he was in my arms and in his forever home, with a cardboard box as a crate and a blanket I took from my own bed and folded several times over as his bed.
Adopting a puppy definitely doesn’t have to be as improvised as it was for me. He still had a good time, but here’s what I would recommend if you’re preparing to welcome a puppy in your life.
Dog essentials checklist
How to prepare for a dog — The bare essentials
These you will need as soon as your puppy gets home
Dog food
Probably the most fundamental of all supplies! My vet swears by four brands: Farmina, Royal Canin, Hill’s Science Diet, and Purina Pro Plan. Be sure to pick a kibble that is specifically formulated for puppies and for the size of your dog!
My Dobby tried all of them, but ultimately settled with Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate. He enjoys the flavor and Farmina’s kibble consistently gives him perfect poops.
Puppy pads
I confess: my dog is almost two years old, but he still uses puppy pads. They’re not just for puppies! Smaller dogs may need to pee more often than larger dogs, and if, like me, you’re also a girl living alone, going for walks in the dead of night because your furry friend needs to do his business is not exactly safe. Having potty pads available in between walks is the best and safest option.
Disposable potty pads are cheap and you can get them in bulk. However, reusable potty pads are definitely my favorite. They absorb more and better, produce less waste, and are easy to clean. In the long run, washable puppy pads will also save you a ton of money!
Parasite Prevention
Parasites can carry an array of terrible diseases, so keeping your puppy protected throughout the year with parasite prevention treatment is vital.
My Dobby uses Advantix’s spot treatment, as it provides a very complete protection (and it’s also waterproof!). We are in Italy, where the climate is pretty warm, so from April to October we apply it every two weeks instead of monthly.
Remember to ask your vet for their recommendation, as they’ll be able to counsel you appropriately for the kind of parasites in your zone.
A toy
My little Dobby came home with a single toy, a little red plushie ball that he just adored. He carried it everywhere and spent his first few days playing only with that. But he was ecstatic when his new toys finally arrived! The overwhelming joy of a dog receiving a new toy is something that will never miss to make your heart swell.
Very small dogs have tiny mouths, so it’s not always easy finding toys they can play with. Dobby’s favorites are plush balls like Trixie’s Toy Balls, and plushies without stuffing. He likes sucking on smaller bits like ears or tails to relax. One of his most beloved plushies is Kong’s Wild Knots Bear. In the size XS it’s as tiny as him, and he enjoys that he can carry it wherever he wants with ease.
How to prepare for a dog — Other must-have dog products
If you don’t have these on the very first day you can improvise some substitutions, but your puppy will need them ASAP
A bed
A comfy dog bed to feel safe and warm in will be dearly loved by your dog. When Dobby received his first bed I couldn’t get him to leave it. Over the course of the last two years I bought him several, but his favorite remains the very first: a soft, fluffy, donut-shaped bed. He likes hiding his little treasures under the hem and snuggling up inside it.
Treats & Chewies
Look for treats suitable for puppies. Dobby’s favorite dog biscuits are Camon’s Minibones vanilla-flavored biscuits. He’s very picky and he won’t accept any other flavors!
Especially while teething, your puppy will also greatly enjoy having something to chew on. As usual, check that the chewies you choose are suitable for a puppy’s delicate stomach.
Bowls
During his first few days at home Dobby didn’t mind using the bowls for my morning cereal, but getting bowls specifically made for him was definitely an improvement.
Dog bowls are commonly in plastic, stainless steel or ceramic. You can choose whichever material is the most practical for you. I use ceramic bowls for Dobby, as my vet recommended the switch after he got a bad rash around his mouth from using stainless steel bowls.
Leash and Harness
When it comes to walking gear, my only goal is safety. That’s why I use Hurtta’s Razzle Dazzle Y-Shaped harness and Wilderdog’s Small Carabiner Rope Leash for Dobby. Both products are of excellent quality, sturdy, adjustable and reliable.
Naturally my dog has a microchip implant, but as an extra safety measure I also attached an identification tag with his name and my phone number to his harness.
Your vet may recommend that you don’t walk your dog outside until its first cycle of vaccinations is complete, so check with them to understand when it’s the proper time to start with walkies.
A blankie
Ideally, more than one. When he was little, Dobby would pee a little whenever he got excited. Lots of blankets were washed for that, ahahah! Puppies need warmth and love having a little blanket of their own to snuggle with.
A toothbrush
Even if your puppy still has only its baby teeth, the sooner you create the habit of brushing, the better. Brushing at least once a day is important for all dogs, but especially for those on the smaller side: small dogs have crowded mouths and tend to suffer from a lot of dental problems.
If your dog is tiny like mine, a traditional toothbrush may be hard to maneuver, so they may prefer a finger brush.
A hairbrush
Depending on your dog’s type of coat a hairbrush may be more or less necessary. But, as with tooth brushing, establishing a habit earlier on will always be best. Long-haired breeds can get awfully big knots without regular brushing.
Wet wipes
Used to freshen up, clean dirty paws and poopy butts… wet wipes are a must with a dog of any age. Personally, I carry disposable wet wipes only on walks (you never know when it’s gonna be runny poop time). At home, to clean up after walks, I simply use… a wet microfiber cloth! Exactly the ones you probably use to clean your house too. They’re great at picking up dirt, dust, and bacteria, they’re easy to clean, and this way you’ll produce way less waste.
Dog Shampoo
Don’t use your own shampoo! Using shampoo specifically formulated for dogs is important to prevent disrupting their skin barrier and causing irritations. You should also avoid bathing your dog more than once a month, as that can be equally detrimental to their skin and coat health.
Remember that puppies can’t self-regulate their body temperature, so ask your vet before you wash your baby dog: they may recommend you don’t bathe your puppy before a certain number of weeks.
Poop bags
As soon as you start walking your puppy, you can’t be caught without poop bags. If you get them in bulk you can usually save some money. You should also get a poop bag holder to carry them around and access them easily.
How to prepare for a dog — Nice-to-have dog supplies
Not strictly necessary, but surely useful!
Stairs or Ramps
If your dog is a small breed, having a set of steps or a small ramp they can use to climb on the sofa or the bed can be beneficial. Jumping from heights all the time is exhausting and there’s a risk that they might injure themselves over time.
A hoodie
Small dogs tend to suffer from the cold more, but once the colder season starts approaching, a warm hoodie will be dearly appreciated by most dogs. You can visibly see how they relax when you wrap them in a soft, cozy hoodie.
My favorite ones are from Sparkpaws – I can’t recommend them enough! I had a sizing problem with my very first order and the customer service was just stellar.
A playpen
Now, this is something I never needed for Dobby. I worked from home so I was always there to keep an eye on him, and he was also tiny as a flea and very calm, so he didn’t go around making messes or chewing things he shouldn’t (not that his mouth was capable of much damage anyway…). But puppies are unpredictable! Especially if your job will have you leave them alone for longer stretches of time, having a playpen to contain them can be safer both for your puppy and your furniture.
A probiotic
Did I say that puppies are unpredictable already? Well, a puppy’s poopy times can be special kind of unpredictable. You never know when something will disagree with their delicate stomachs and a runny poop will strike. Stocking a probiotic at home will let you intervene without delay. For Dobby I’ve always used the Purina Pro Plan Fortiflora probiotic, as he likes the taste and it’s very effective.
If your puppy has diarrhea with blood or that lasts more than a day, don’t hesitate and bring them to a vet immediately.
Puppy adoption tips from a dog mom
Book a vet visit in advance
I got my Dobby in a hurry, and when the next morning I called my vet to book his first visit, he didn’t have a single available spot for the next three days. Dobby was alright with waiting, but once you know when you will be getting your puppy, definitely book a vet visit in advance so that you can get your little buddy in there as soon as possible. The vet will check that everything is okay with your puppy, tell you how to proceed with its vaccinations and microchipping, and give you some tips. It’s also an occasion for you to ask any questions that you may have about taking care of your little friend.
Train your puppy from the get go
Learning tricks can be fun and stimulating for very small puppies too! I started with Dobby just a couple of days after he came home. Just start with the simplest tricks so they don’t get frustrated if they don’t get it yet.
Take lots of pictures
You can never take enough pictures of your puppy’s first days.
Those times when my Dobby was at his tiniest and we were just getting to know each other will never come back. But I have a huge amount of pictures and videos from back then that I happily revisit from time to time (we’re talking tens of thousands… my phone storage hates me).
Pet stores recommendations
If you don’t know where to get supplies for you dog, here’s a list of stores for pet products that you can check out to get everything you puppy needs:
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