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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

What to buy before puppy comes home?

15 replies

NewtoCornland · 27/07/2016 22:06

So after years of waiting and dreaming we have finally got ourselves a puppy!! He won't be ready to come home until Sept 10th so I want to use the next few weeks preparing for Bertie's arrival Grin. He is a short haired Jack Russell.

What do I need to buy for him?? It's obvious he'll need a bed, bowls, car harness......but what else??

I cannot convey how excited we are to welcome Bertie into our family Grin

OP posts:
SmileAndNod · 27/07/2016 22:11

Name tag, chewy toys, vet bed, brush. A crate? Book vets for a check up, check out puppy classes if you've not already done it.

I bought loads for our pup. I got a bit carried away!

Good luck for your new arrival, it's so exciting!

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 27/07/2016 22:18

Thank you Smile

Bertie isn't having his jabs and chip before he comes home, the owners of his parents are not breeders by any stretch of the imagination and I think Bertie may have been an accidental pup, so I will need to take him straight to the vets when we pick him up so will have him checked out then.

I've just been checking out insurance, never realised it would be so reasonable!!! What type of insurance do you go for? Lifetime? Accident? Time Limited?

OP posts:
SmileAndNod · 27/07/2016 22:24

We went for a lifetime policy with petplan - was recommended by the breeder (and think we had 6 weeks free) and also when I asked on MN. I remember feeling very confused last October when looking.

And also remember having a few ' WTF was I thinking of getting a puppy' days. But, on the whole, it is going well. And nothing beats a doggy hug when you're having a bad daySmile

TrionicLettuce · 27/07/2016 22:25

It's actually a legal requirement that puppies are chipped before they leave their breeder, the breeder should then pass on the paperwork to you in order to put your details on the database.

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 27/07/2016 22:38

Oh I wasn't aware of that trionic and I'm pretty sure the 'breeders' are either, will have to let her know!

I was thinking lifetime....somehow made more sense.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewtoCornland · 27/07/2016 22:39

*Aren't aware

OP posts:
SmileAndNod · 27/07/2016 22:46

Yes that's what happened with us trionic - he was chipped the day before he left the litter and then our very scanned him (as did the breeder actuallyt) to make sure all the details matched up.

I seem to remember paying get details changed, but that may have been for KC registration.

Waiting for our pup to arrive was worse than waiting to give birth!

davos · 28/07/2016 06:39

We paid to register the chip in Our name. The website said the first person to register can do it for free, so the breeder (although they pay for the chip to be put in) after that it's about £20 to change the details.

Our list was

Crate/bed
Towels (just used some old ones)
Range of toys with different textures (I would recommend an antler)
Food
Water/food bowl
Collar/tag
Cuddly toy for her bed.
Soft grooming brush

I can't think of anything else. If I do, I will come back and add it.

Good luck and enjoy your new lovely puppy. How old is it?

Panicmode1 · 28/07/2016 07:03

Gin!

Aside from that, I think everyone else has the bases covered...but if you want to do puppy training classes it's worth booking in advance. Near us they get very booked up.

(I had four primary age children when we got our puppy not quite 2 years ago, so in hindsight the gin was probably on the shopping list anyway Wink)

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 15/08/2016 16:04

So I'm a few weeks on and would like a little bit more advice Blush

So far I have bought nothing (3 weeks until he can come home) but that's not through laziness!! I have visited so many pet stores with every intention then I get myself in a flap and walk out with nothing Confused My issue is that I just don't know what size bed, for example, he will need as he's so tiny at the moment but will obviously grow. Same with the toys...his mouth is dinky and the toys look massive, too big for his mouth.

The dog bowls are either tiny or huge and I don't want to over or under feed him (I am fully aware that I may be overthinking this at this point!) and there are so many different puppy foods out there that I keep choosing a brand but changing my mind normally based on what other people have said rather than knowledge

Can anyone please provide me with links of their recommendations? Just to give me an idea.

I have acheived a couple of things....he's registered with a vet, has his chip/injection/over-all health check booked, insurance sorted (well almost, he's too young to be insured at the moment but I have my chosen provider and just need to phone to start it) and I have booked him in for a 6 week puppy foundation course.

Of course you are welcome to tell me I am actually just being a twat and get on with making a decision Grin

OP posts:
Panicmode1 · 15/08/2016 19:14

Your breeder should tell you what food your pup is on, and if you want to change it, you will need to do it gradually - don't just change overnight.

I had a golden retriever puppy who started off tiny but is now monstrously big. I started off with cheap bath mats and blankets from IKEA so I could wash them often, and waited until she was bigger to buy more expensive beds (also waited until the manic chewing phase was over.

I have a huge water bowl and a smaller food bowl (if that helps at all!).

Good luck and how exciting!

TrionicLettuce · 15/08/2016 22:03

It's usual for the breeder to send home a reasonable amount of whatever food they've been fed on since weaning as part of their puppy pack so there shouldn't be any real rush to pick a food for him.

I don't bother with beds for puppies (they just get de-stuffed Hmm), I use knock off VetBed. It's lovely and soft plus it's cheap, washes really well and studier than most proper dog beds.

The size of bowl really doesn't matter as long as the puppy can reach into it. I always use either stainless steel or ceramic bowls, they seem to wash and last better than plastic.

Insurance wise the breeder should also have arranged four weeks of free insurance for you so, again, there shouldn't be a huge rush to get that sorted before he comes home.

he's registered with a vet, has his chip/injection/over-all health check booked

He needs to be chipped by the breeder before they allow you to take him or they're breaking the law. It's probably not likely they'd actually get into trouble for it but if they're not planning to have them done it would make me wonder what other corners they've been cutting.

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 15/08/2016 22:27

Thank you trionic but I'm not buying him from a breeder per sè, it was an accidental litter. I spoke to the vet when I went to register him about the chip and injection and she said that, although it is law to have a puppy chipped by 8 weeks this is generally overlooked as long as its done at just 8 weeks. They even have a 'puppy pack' that includes everything I've mentioned up thread. They also provide 4 weeks free insurance as part of the pack, I'll use that but already have a provider ready to go.

I'm not concerned about the breeder or her conduct, I have met both parents and I've seen my puppy twice in 2 weeks and have been given an open invitation to visit whenever I feel. His eyes are bright, his coat good and I don't have concerns (wish I knew how to post a photo, he's just beautiful!). He also seems a little calmer than his brothers and sisters Grin

Can I ask what a Vetbed is? That's a new one on me.

OP posts:
TrionicLettuce · 16/08/2016 12:39

If they've produced a litter then they're breeders; accidental matings happen but accidental pregnancies don't.

Have the breeders had any of the appropriate health tests done on the parents? I would guess not if they never had any intention of breeding but JRTs being bred from should have an annual eye test (to check for primary lens luxation and progressive retinal atrophy) and DNA tests for PLL, late onset ataxia and spinocerebellar ataxia. The turnaround for the DNA is only about 10 working days so there's no reason they shouldn't at least have had those done since the mating. It's not an official health test but I'd also want an appropriate vet to have had a good look at their knees, patella luxation is very common in pet bred JRTs.

Vet bedding is a special type of bedding originally produced for use by vets. VetBed is an actual brand but you can get knock off stuff much cheaper. I've always got mine from this seller on eBay and it's always been great. It's handy as you can cut it to size for crates and it's much easier to keep clean than a padded bed.

punter · 16/08/2016 14:07

good luck you will need lots of patience, good humour and a bottle of your favourite tipple. And it will be worth it. Also lots of cardboard boxes (empty) inside of kitchen rolls etc for him to play with and chew.

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