The Ultimate New Dog Owner Survival Guide

Getting a new BFF? If you’re reading this because you’re about to get a new dog - congratulations! You’re about to have a brand new best friend! We know it's a tad daunting to get a new pup, which is why we've created the ultimate new dog owner survival guide. Ready to feel perfectly prepped for your new pup? Read on!

Getting a New Dog: The Start of a Beautiful Friendship

You and your new dog are about to start a long and beautiful friendship that is more nourishing for the soul than a chicken soup recipe. Even though your friendship is inevitable, you’ll still need to put a healthy amount of effort into your relationship with your new dog if you want them to be a loving, caring and kind friend. It’s through the love and compassion that we show our dogs that they learn how to treat us and others around them. And whatever love you give to them they’ll pay it back many times over down the road.

There are some basics to cover in preparation for your new dog’s arrival:

• First, you’ll want to have the physical items you need to help care for them. These are the basic things you’ll use everyday to help your dog stay healthy and happy.
• Next, it’s important to establish and research how to support your dog’s mental and behavioral development in order to best train them into a happy friendly pup.
• Also, you’ll need to mentally prepare yourself so you know what to expect and how you’ll go about accomplishing the goals that you set out for your pup.

Photo: @boopitsharper 

Getting a New Dog: Essential Purchases

There are some things that are simply essential for a dog owner. Your dog will need these basics in order to thrive:

1. Tag

Your dog's tag will have their name, your phone number, your address, and any special medical conditions that someone who finds them should know about. Dog tags are helpful to have because in the unfortunate event that your pup gets lost, someone can help them find you again pretty quickly, without needing to scan for a microchip.

2. Microchip

Getting your pet microchipped is a foolproof way to keep them linked to you. If they somehow manage to get lost or runaway and don't have their collar and/or tags on them, a microchip is like a digital version of those identifiers that link your pup to you. You can update the information on a microchip with a phone call or online and they usually last for a pet's entire life!

3. Walking Essentials

If you’re going to take your dog for walks, and you certainly should, then you’ll need a collar and a leash. Most dogs are happy with a regular leash and collar but your pup might need more specialized items like a harness. A collar and leash is a good place to start and you’ll learn as you go!

Another must-have item for walks is plenty of poop bags. You can never have too many of those!

4. Food

You'll need to have a plentiful supply of food, particularly if your pup is on the larger side like a Great Dane! 

It's a good idea to start feeding your new dog the exact brand that they were being fed at the rescue or breeder that you received them from. Then you can slowly transition them away from that food toward your preferred brand. Otherwise you might stress their digestive system and you don’t want to be on the receiving end of the resulting smells!

You also need to make sure you're aware which foods dogs can and can't eat. Check out our post 16 Common Foods That Could Harm Your Pup for an overview of foods they should stay away from.

5. Food and Water Bowls

While you can just dump your dog's food on the floor, a much better way to dole out their meals is in a food bowl. If you have a puppy, you can hand feed them to start but you’ll eventually need to transition them to a bowl.

You’ll also need a separate bowl to put their water in. You gotta keep your dog hydrated. How else are they going to have enough fluid in their body to pee on everything?

6. Treats

Unless you’re a tyrant, you’ll also need treats! You can’t really go wrong with these. Over time, you’ll be able to tell which are your dog’s favorites, but it’s good to start with a few simple ones to get the ball rolling.

Treats will be used during training, as rewards, as persuasion, and just because you love your dog and want to make them happy. Just remember not to give them too many, as obesity is a common problem and really bad for their health.

Homemade treats are a great option - fun to make and you know exactly what's gone in them. Give our homemade dog biscuit recipes a whirl or try out these Greek yogurt dog treat recipes.

7. Dog Bed(s)

It's a great idea to start your pup off with their own bed. Make sure you get something that fits them and if you know they’re going to grow, you can buy a bed that they’ll grow into.

If you’re picking up a puppy, it’s helpful to take a few blankets that have the scent of your pup’s mom and put them on your dog’s bed to help create a comforting environment for them.

8. Grooming Essentials

Other things that might not be absolutely necessary for the first month of caring for your dog, depending on breed and age, but will soon become an essential include grooming tools like a brush, a toothbrush, and shampoo. Dogs will find creative and surprising ways to get dirty!

9. Toys

A small selection of toys is ideal to help keep boredom at bay for your new pooch, such as Kongs that can be filled with treats - that should keep them quiet for a while! Frozen Kongs with cooling treats are also a great way to cool your pooch down in the summer. Some dog breeds need more stimulation than others, so it's worth checking out the requirements for your new pup.

Getting a New Dog: Optional Purchases

1. A Crate

You might want to consider crate training your dog. This can help with potty training and provide them with a space that is all their own, where they feel safe and happy.

2. Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is an important thing to consider, as it provides peace of mind in case your pup is to become ill. While this is something none of us like to think about, it's vital we ask ourselves what we would do if our pup gets injured and if we'd be able to afford the vet bills. It's certainly worth looking into and shopping around before you make any decisions. 

3. Matching Apparel

One of the fun things about getting a dog is getting your hands on some apparel showing off your love for your furry friend! Use our Find My Breed tool to find your pooch's breed and browse our dog apparel to kit out your closet!

Getting a New Dog: Preparing Your Home 

Beyond these essential and optional things that you’ll need or want to acquire, there are some additional preparations that you’ll need to make for your new pup’s arrival.

First off, it’s a good move to take a tour of your house and start considering the layout from your pup’s perspective. Pet proofing your home and backyard if you have one is important.

Do any wires look delicious and chewable? Puppies often chew anything they can find, so you need to look for any potential dangers hiding in plain sight in your home. They might not stop at just biting items in your home too! Read How to Stop a Puppy From Biting.

Are there any gaps in your fence that a wily little dog could wriggle through? It’s impossible to know if your pup will be doing impressions of Steve Mcqueen from “The Great Escape” or if they’ll be content to hang out at home. Some dogs are natural escape artists (huskies, we're looking at you!) so take a moment to make sure they aren’t going to be running wild the second you leave them alone.

Getting a New Dog: Research

Once you know you’re home is in good shape it’s time to think about where else you’ll take your new dog.

You’ll want to have a short list that you can refer to of places such as:

• Dog parks
• Walking routes
• Training classes
• Veterinary offices

Do a bit of research to find out which of these in your area come with top recommendations. Ask any friends who own dogs where they go and do a bit of light research online to get an idea of what people in your area recommend and start with those. You can always make a change based on experience and you and your pup’s preferences once you get to know them.

Just having a basic list of places to start from can be helpful when you first get your pup. It’s easier to frontload this work rather than balance all of the decisions at once on top of caring for your new dog.

Breed Research

If you're looking at a specific breed, it's very important to carry out research into the breed to see what requirements and demands they'll have. Some requirements you'll need to research include:

• How often they need to be groomed.
• Exercise requirements. 
• Easiness of training.
• Mental stimulation needs
• Whether they're good with children.
• Whether they're good with other dogs.
• If they're suitable for apartment living or need a house with outdoor space.
• Any common health issues.

Getting a New Dog: Assemble Your Team

Training

It’s always a good idea, whether you’re getting a puppy or a shelter dog, to bring them to training classes. These aren’t so much meant to train your dog, but to train you! These classes will help you understand how to interact with your dog in order to encourage behaviors that you desire. Training classes are also great for socializing puppies so they grow up used to being around other dogs and people.

Know that training is a large part of getting a new dog and won’t be a quick and simple process. Training a dog properly takes persistent effort every day. Here are 8 commands you'll want to prioritise teaching your dog.

Vet

Having a vet examine your new pup will help you understand any medical needs they might have and give you an opportunity to set up an appointment to spay or neuter them if needed.

Dog-Sitter

If you think you'll be staying away from home at some point in the future without your dog, it's best to plan ahead from the get-go and make sure you've got someone reliable who will happily look after your new best friend. It helps to have a plan B too, just in case something comes up for your planned dog-sitter at the last minute. Taking it in turns with a close friend who has their own pup could be a useful idea, as long as your dog is happy to be around other dogs.

This might seem like a lot of work, but it’s all worth it. Once you have your new dog, most of this won’t really feel like work anyway - it'll be a joy to spend time with your new best friend. Each and every day, you’ll get to learn more about each other, your bond will strengthen, and your dog will love you more and more. The amount of time, effort and love you put into training and caring for your new dog will be paid back many times over in the love and affection they show you. So congratulations and best of luck on this incredible new journey!

Know someone who might find this article helpful? Share it with any new dog owners to give them a helping hand on their new journey! 

Photo: @ofpawsandpines