Puppy SuppliesWhat Will My Puppy Need?Loading
You will need a selection of puppy supplies before you can bring your new puppy home. This page covers the very basic essentials as follows:
Puppy Supplies: Good Quality Puppy Food Good quality puppy food: probably the most important thing your puppy will need to help him grow strong and healthy. Your breeder will have given you a diet sheet, and perhaps a small supply of puppy food which will contain a careful balance of nutrients necessary for a growing puppy.
We recommend that you continue with this particular dog food so that you don't interrupt your puppy's development. However, if you decide to change brands later, we recommend that you check the ingredients of the new brand to ensure your puppy is still getting the correct nutrients. Please note, this is very important while your puppy is still growing. Your puppy may not be too happy if you suddenly change from one brand of puppy food to another. However, if you feed your puppy with a mixture of both new and old, and gradually replace the old puppy food with the new, your puppy won't notice any change in his diet. Puppy Supplies: Food And Water Bowls On our puppy supplies list you'll find a food bowl and a specially shaped bowl for your puppy's drinking water. The sides of the water bowl slope inwards so that the pup's long ears don't dangle in the water when he drinks. Ceramic bowls are better as they can't be tipped over very easily. Puppy Supplies: A Friendly Vet Hopefully your puppy won't need to visit the vet too often (other than for vaccinations and regular health checks), but you should take some time to choose a vet you feel comfortable with. Many good breeders recommend that you arrange to have your puppy examined by your veterinary, usually within 24 hours of bringing him home, to check that he's healthy. In the unlikely event that there's something wrong with your puppy, you are entitled to a full refund under the Sale of Goods Act 1979. Before deciding which veterinary practice you're going to use, telephone a few and ask to speak to a vet. You may be asked to call back later when it's quiet and the vet has more time to talk. Choose a vet that you feel comfortable speaking to, and who will listen to you. It's best to aviod those who make you feel intimidated, or stupid. Find one who will take the time to explain to you what he's doing, and why. Most important of all, your vet should take a genuine interest in your puppy and handle him gently and kindly. We highly recommend that your puppy has a crate to sleep in. To some, a crate sounds cruel, but I promise you - it's not. Your puppy will soon feel safe and confortable inside his crate. It's likely your breeder has alreadt kept the puppies in a crate, so your puppy should feel totally relaxed about sleeping in a crate in his new home. A puppy will often use its crate as a 'safe haven' away from humans when things get too much for it, particularly if there are loud excited children around. You can also put a puppy in his crate if you need to go out for a couple of hours, or need to do some housework. You can be safe in the knowledge that your puppy is out of harms way.
Make sure you site your puppy's crate away from cold draughts, and in an area where there will be a lot of traffic; the kitchen is ideal. Learn how to crate train your puppy. Puppy Supplies: Comfortable Bedding We recommend you consider using veterinary bedding for a young puppy. It's a machine-washable thick pile made from strong double woven polyester fibres, which make it harder to chew, and it's non-toxic, non-allergenic, and resistant to bacteria. It has a latex-coated open-weave backing which lets moisture through, keeping your puppy dry. You can buy veterinary bedding from any pet shop, or your vet may stock it. It can be expensive, but its strength and durability mean it can last for quite a long time. In addition to domestic use, it's also used in veterinary clinics to provide warmth and comfort for sick animals, or for those recovering from surgery. You can get it cut to size and line your puppy's crate with it; I'd recommend at least two pieces - one in use and one ready to use. As your puppy grows, you could consider treating him to a comfortable pet bed - when he's a little older and past the chewing stage. Puppy Supplies: Grooming Accessories Puppies should be groomed as early as possible. Not only will it help your puppy get used to the feel of a brush and a comb, and being handled frequently, it will help its coat to stay clean and shining, and tangle-free. Grooming is particularly important in Cocker Spaniels because their feathers seem to be a magnet for burrs and twigs, and will need regular attention. Initially all you'll need will be a soft puppy brush and perhaps a small metal comb, however as your puppy's coat and feathers develop you'll need a larger selection of essential grooming tools. Learn how to groom your Cocker Spaniel puppy.
Your puppy will need some toys to play with and to chew. Please check that any puppy toys you buy are designed especially for puppies or they may be able to bite off small pieces and choke. Puppy Supplies: Collar and Lead A small puppy collar and a soft pliable lead can be introduced to your puppy when he's settled into his new home. We recommend that you put a collar on your puppy as soon as you get him home, let him wear it during the day, and then take it off at night. You may also want to introduce your puppy to the feel of being on the lead, but take this gently and slowly. Your puppy will soon become used to the feel of his new collar and lead, and will let you put them on and take them off without any fuss. Puppy Supplies: Identification Tag Of all the puppy supplies listed, your puppy's identification tag is probably the most important. It's a legal requirement that your puppy wears an identity tag on his collar. The tag must be engraved with your name, address and postcode. It seems strange that your telephone number is not required by law, but I would highly recommend that you do include a contact number so that you and your dog may be re-united quickly if lost. If you don't want to give your full address, you can simply give your house name or number, and your postcode. It's your choice whether you add your puppy's name or not. If you don't comply, you may be fined up to £5,000.
When buying a puppy you'll need to understand what paperwork is involved, as you'll need documentation relating to your purchase. There are certain papers that you need to ensure you have in your possession before you leave the breeder's premises with your new puppy. Click here to learn what they are and find out what paperwork is essential when buying a puppy.
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