I'm getting my first dog! What supplies and preparations do I need?

Great questions! The most important tip I have is to have a dog fund, money set aside for your puppy's heath care. I would budget to spend at least $500-$1000 a year, but I would save more than that for emergencies. Dogs need regular health care just like humans, and you need to make sure you have the funds available to provide that care. The puppy you get should be at least six to eight weeks of age, any younger is too young to be separated from their mother. Keep in mind your puppy will need vaccines, deworming treatments, flea treatment, heartworm treatment, and should be either neutered (boy) or spayed (girl) when they are old enough. You will also need a leash, food bowl, water bowl, dog bed, and puppy toys. I would have your puppy see a vet as soon as you get it for a health check and to discuss the vaccine schedule. I hope this helps :-)

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! What an exciting time. You would need to start by getting a high quality diet (I like the Purina Pro Plan diets though there are plenty to choose from). Also, a dog bed and toys will be important as well. I recommend that you check with your veterinarian to get him in for initiation of vaccines and to start other preventative care medications such as flea and tick preventatives and heartworm preventatives. Good luck and enjoy your pup!

Congrats! I would just schedule a wellness visit with your vet soon so they can make sure he is healthy and no obvious issues. I would make sure he is on a large breed puppy food and that he is eating 2-3 times per day. I would go ahead and start crate training him if you are planning to do this to help house break him. See link below for tips. If his 1st set of shots were given before he was 6 weeks old, then there is a good chance your vet may want to repeat his 1st set of shots simply because any shots given before 6 weeks technically don't count. I hope this helps! https://www.petco.com/content/petco/PetcoStore/en_US/pet-services/resource-center/new-pet/Puppy-and-Dog-Crate-Training.html

Hello, and thank you for your question. I really like veterinarypartner.com as a trusted resource for pet owners. All the articles are written by vets in easily understandable language. I found some relevant to your questions: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2343 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1089 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1129 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1379 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1384 I hope these helps! Good luck and congratulations on your new puppy!

A collar and leash would be a great idea! But know that it takes time for puppies to get used to a leash - I just want her to be safe! A small carrier if you do not plan to hold the puppy the whole trip. Usually the breeder will tell you what kind of food that Ginger has been on so you can purchase some ahead of time. If you want to switch the food, gradually mix them together to transition her to the new food over 2-4 weeks. Ask for any records of shots or dewormers that the breeder has given so you can take them to Ginger's first vet appointment. I recommend a checkup with a vet within the first few days to test Ginger for intestinal parasites and any obvious congenital problems (like a heart murmur or abdominal hernia). Some puppies can become car sick, but it should wear off within a few hours of being home. She may also miss her litter mates and be sad for a few days. Here area couple PetCoach articles to get you started! https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-proofing-checklist-preparing-your-home-for-a-new-puppy https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-101-everything-you-need-to-consider

Congrats on your new addition! Ideally, she should be physically examined by your veterinarian within 3 days of arriving home to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any preexisting conditions. At the very least, she will likely need to be dewormed. Vaccines can start around 6 weeks of age and will continue every 4 weeks until about 16 weeks of age. Discuss monthly parasite prevention with your vet to protect against worms, fleas, ticks and heartworm. Feed a good quality puppy food. Look for brands such as Canidae, Acana or Merrick. You can feed according tot the directions on the bag, just know that each puppy is different and you may need to adjust the amount if Coqueta is gaining too much weight or not enough weight. Avoid store or discount brands as these may contain low quality ingredients and more fillers. Puppies typically need to go about about 20-30 minutes after eating, sleeping or playing. Expect accidents, they are going to happen. Since dogs thrive on routine, start a consistent schedule for potty breaks; first thing in the morning, midday, evening and before bedtime to begin with. Choose one spot in the yard and use it for bathroom training. She can have a short walk or playtime after she does her business. Praise and reward her each time. Avoid areas with other dogs and dogs of unknown vaccine status until she has at least 2 rounds of vaccines. Visit the PetCoach Educational Center for additional information. https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-first-week-with-a-new-puppy-what-to-expect https://www.petcoach.co/article/puppy-101-everything-you-need-to-consider/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/everything-you-should-know-about-pet-vaccines/ https://www.petcoach.co/educational-center/

Hello. I would start with having a good health exam done by your veterinarian. He/she will recommend any diagnostic tests such as a fecal, starting appropriate vaccinations, recommend when to neuter ( if you desire ), & heartworm preventative. Congratulations on your new puppy. Hope for many happy & healthy years. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.