Puppy - what to buy...

[Strawberryshortcake40]

It's been 6 years since I had a puppy and I need help on what to buy. The essentials and what makes life easier with a new addition!

Have got a crate and bed today. Think a puppy pen might work well too.

Any other suggestions?

Congratulations...very exciting! Harness is a good idea. I like the Mekuti balance harness, you can either clip it on the back, for 'sniffy' walks, or front and side while you're teaching your puppy to walk nicely. Also a clicker, so you can communicate EXACTLY what you want when you're training. Also kong toys that you can stuff with food, when pup is in it,s crate.

Multiple vet beds. They are easy to wash and dry and having a spare or two is always useful in cases of accidents overnight: you can just switch them over and wash in the morning.

Slip on shoes or slippers - for quick dashes to the garden. In this weather you'd want something a bit robust and waterproof.

A torch if your garden doesn't have good lighting. So you can see whether or not he has weed or pooed at night.

Plenty of kitchen roll and an enzyme cleaner to clean after indoor accidents.

The Happy Puppy Handbook by Pippa Mattinson which is awesome.

A small variety of toys so he can investigate them all and start to discover what he likes to play with.

A soft brush so you can practise grooming early to get him used to it.

Some rice to keep in store in case of upset tummies.

Baby gates to shut off access to stairs and front door (if your house needs them).

Plenty of healthy training treats dotted around the house so you always have one to hand to recognise good behaviour.

Recommendations for a good vet - and an appointment within the first couple of days of getting the pup, for a check up.

A lightweight collar with a good range of expandability because puppies grow quickly. A little dog tag.

Some nice bubble bath for when it's been a long day filled with doggy muck and all you want is to relax and feel clean and human again

Hadn't got any vet bed. Have got a hard bed and soft cushion covers that fit onto it (with micro heat pad instead!). Would vetbed be better?

Will get that book!

It will be in the kitchen mainly so hard floor thankfully.

Technically it is to be my daughters puppy so I've ordered her some new wellies to go by the back door!

It's a flat faced breed so I didn't think they should wear collars but I'm not sure what to do about a tag?

Need to get a harness.

Have a brush. Do I need a toothbrush? Nail clippers?

This is worse than having a baby I think!!

Should I take it to the vet the day we bring it home? Or wait a few days?

Have a good look into insurance now so you’re ready to activate it before the free insurance from the breeder runs out. Given the puppy is a brachycephalic breed I’d suggest going for the absolute best cover you can. A collar is fine for just attaching a tag to (make sure the tag is legally compliant) but you’re right that for such breeds a harness is much better as it puts less pressure on their airways/eyes.

There are some good puppy related resources on this thread, particularly this collection of articles/guides.

Poo bags. Long line could be useful.
I hope your DD is an adult or you're joking about it being her dog though.

A really warm dressing gown, pref fleece with a hood for when you stand outside in the rain at 2am.
You can slide in and out of crocs much faster than wellies - vital for getting pup out asap when they are showing signs
regina blitz kitchen roll is best for mopping up imo
A mop with several microfibre pad heads - makes a quick floor clean without it being too wet
Simple solution spray to get rid of the smell
I prefer cheap fleece blankets to vet bed - poo shakes off easily and they wash and dry very easily and quickly

Definitely get started early with a toothbrush and nail clippers. A finger brush is probably the easiest to start with, Logic Oral Hygiene Gel is great stuff and each tube comes with a decent finger brush. There’s an excellent FB group called ‘Nail Maintenance for Dogs’ which has got lots of great information about teach dogs to be happy having their nails done and how to do it.

I’d leave it a few days before going to the vet. Will the puppy have had any of their vaccinations by the time they come to you? If so you need to check whether your vet uses the same (or a complimentary) brand or it may mean starting them over again.

Insurance sorted as I will use the same company as for current dog.

Not quite sure why I would be joking about it being DDs dog? Obviously she won't be taking it out at 2am but it will be her dog and she's old enough to take responsibility for it when she's asked for one for two years!!

Will check re the vaccinations.

Because only an idiot would buy a dog for a child.

Really? I had a dog as a child. I think for an older child who is responsible and has wanted their own pet for a long time it's fine. It's also fine with the breeder.

I of course will have ultimate responsibility but it will be DDs dog. She already feeds/walks/grooms the current dog. And has found some puppy classes to take new dog to.

If the pup is from a breeder you may find your contract states you have to take it to the vet within the first 2-3 days to have a check over. This is so that, if any health problem are found, you can return the dog for a healthy one (if you choose to). The sooner you do this, the better. Leave it too long and you will have fallen in love with the puppy and find it too hard to exchange it if there are issues.

I like vet beds and have 3 on the go for my puppy. They wash easily and dry within a hour of being left out the washer.

Even on a hard floor you'd want an enzyme cleaner, I think. It gets rid of any tiny amounts of smell that could confuse the dog into thinking indoors = toilet.

Wolfie - normally I think your advice is bang on the money but I read this as the OP being the ultimately responsible person, even if the puppy 'belongs' the her child. I think that is fine, so long as an adult is ready to assist and guide and be the back up carer if the child misses something, grows bored or gets in wrong. By being here and checking through everything required, that suggest to me that the OP does feel this way.

I had a dog as a child/teenager and quite happily fed and walked him before school, took him to classes in the evening when he was young and did other activities/walks with him after school and at weekends when he was older. That didn't mean my parents were totally hands-off or didn't consider themselves overall responsible for the dog (and me ). Eventually I took him to uni with me where he became the dog in a house of girls who all came from dog homes and LOVED being the centre of everyone's attention.