Two weeks to go - what do we need?

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

Two weeks til our pup comes home with us. He will be 11 weeks old.

What do we actually need? Kids and I had a mooch around Pets at Home today and there was so much stuff! We have bought him a bowl and a collar, plus a couple of toys. We have a crate on loan. We have poo bags. We have a short lead and a big water bowl. We know we need stair gates - anything else?

Insurance.
Appointment with vet for check up and discuss vaccinations/flea/worming etc.
Bed.
Food unless some is coming with puppy. Treats suitable for pup.
Head torch for nightly trips out for toilet.
Name tag for collar.
Cleaning spray and kitchen towel (lots) for any accidents. If carpets then special enzyme cleaner.
Brush so they can get used to you brushing them a bit at first.

I'm sure there are lots of other things I have forgotten but will post if I remember.

His own pillow for your bed!!

Our 14 week old puppy has a waterproof mat covered in fleecy blankets in her crate, but then also a bed with a blanket on in the lounge so she can join us in there - although she's currently under the tv cabinet as this must be the coolest place she's found!

Blankets and things to make a den out of the crate as your new home will be scary. I actually bought an igloo bed which was his den for many weeks until he got too big to fit in it (I put it in his crate).

You might want to consider getting a playpen. We had one that also opened up which was handy not only to put him in it if you could not supervise but also to open up so that we could cordon things off so he couldn't get to them.

Check with the breeder what food he is on so you can continue that at home for a while. I think a relatively cheap and non destructible bed until he is out of the chewing stage and then a decent more expensive bed after that (bitter experience..) Have a look at the 'Simple Solution' range at Pets at Home, if you have carpet they do a powder that you sprinkle on to soak up wee accidents and then hoover up. They also do a spray for carpet or hard floors to get rid of the smell. Depending on the size and breed some chew toys or a Kong. Please please please get your insurance sorted ASAP, although the pup may come with 6 weeks cover already. Enjoy and show us some pics!

A harness so that the lead does. It go on his collar

Thanks

We have food - the breeder gave us a big sample bag of what he uses and that will last a week.

Need to find the right bed. Going to use Vetbed in the crate I think

Outside light will come on for nighttime toilet trips

I think DH has lined up insurance

A play pen has been the best thing we bought for our pup. We put her in there when we can’t supervise her. It prevents her weeing everywhere or chewing things she shouldn’t. I put it on top of a waterproof ground sheet so any accidents are easily mopped up.

So many more chews and treats than you think you'll need.
Another lead for when she chews through the first one.

Don't bother with puppy pads - just take straight into the garden to toilet. All puppy pads do is teach them that it's okay to go in the house.

Enrol her in training classes ASAP and go religiously - it will massively benefit both of you. Do regular training sessions at home as well.

A harness - lots of dogs do not like being walked on their collar as it pulls at their throats.

Get the best insurance you can - you want lifetime cover and as much coverage as possible!

Enzyme cleaner for when she inevitably goes on the carpet/soda/bed.

Child locks for kitchen cupboards and the bin, stair gates for rooms she isn't allowed into.

We saved cardboard boxes in the weeks leading up to magic puppy coming home so that he could chew them up and dig at them. We completely avoided any destructiveness by doing this. Especially when getting used to being left alone we’d leave boxes with treats hidden in, Kongs, frozen treats etc.

Think other posters have covered everything else except a large supply of wine, which i found made puppy look cuter and more forgivable again at times of intolerable-ness.

We got puppy pads
A harness to walk
Treats
A bed which she no longer uses (however it was great for her as a puppy)
We had spare blankets but if you don't grab some from primark, they come in useful
A brush (we have a long haired)

Yy to good quality puppy classes. You won't be able to take puppy until he's had his jabs, but you want to book on now as (a) good classes often fill up
(b) classes may only start every 6 weeks or so, so you need to find out course start dates

Dog training is totally unregulated as an industry - absolutely anyone can call themselves a trainer (or behaviourist). So, you need to look for someone who is accredited by an appropriate body - APDT ideally. Dogs Trust Dog School is another good option, and has semi nationwide cover. IMDT accredited if you can't manage either of the above. Run a mile from anyone who advocates pack leadership theory, any form of punishment (this can be dressed up as "corrections" or "balanced" training).

Toys! And kongs! Low fat cottage cheese i
Frozen in a kong is very popular particularly during this heat wave. A training book comes in useful, really handy to have sit, down etc down to a tee.