Complete Buying Guide for New Dog Owners

When it comes to preparing everything for a new furry friend, it can be easy to overlook some of the more important things. With this complete guide for new dog owners, we take all the stress out of searching for important items you need and have compiled everything into an easy-to-follow guide. 

Getting a new dog is exciting, but also stressful – especially if it’s a new energetic little puppy that’s eager to explore and cause all kinds of trouble. It’s important to be prepared! 

The first one to two weeks are critical, and it helps tenfold if you have everything ready to go well before your pup comes home. There are some things that stick out as clear necessities when you get a dog, or any pet, such as the food and water dishes, food, toys, etc. These must-haves are imperative to have, ideally before you bring your new best friend home. You can easily forget staple items such as dog food in the excitement. Don’t forget their dog tags and local registrations as well! 

There are some things that stick out as clear necessities when you get a dog, or any pet, such as the food and water dishes, food, toys, etc. These items are imperative to have, ideally before you bring your new best friend home. You can easily forget staple items such as dog food in the excitement. Don’t forget their dog tags and local registrations as well! 

This one should be obvious, but you would be surprised what you forget in the excitement of bringing home a new pet. For puppies and dogs of any size, it’s good to get heavier-set bowls that have grip on the bottom so that they don’t go flying around the house while they eat. There are also slow feeders designed to help your dog eat slower if they tend to scarf their food too quickly, and food bowls that come with stands for further stability. Experiment and find what works best for you and your dog!  

It may not be something you initially think of, but puppy-proofing your home is an important aspect to not overlook. Keep your sanity and the well-being of your new best friend in mind with these products. 

Of course, treats and toys are a necessity when it comes to enriching your dog’s life and can help deter them from destroying other things in your home such as the couch, bed, or other furniture. 

It’s important to take care of your new friend by brushing them and making sure that they’re healthy! You might not notice any skin issues or otherwise if you don’t regularly brush them, and unless your dog has very short fur – matting and other issues can be major problems and cause terrible infections and pain. Be sure to brush and clean your dogs, and if you don’t have the time – take them to a professional groomer for a spa day every month or so! It isn’t frivolous, it’s for their health. 

When you’re going out for walks every day, you want something that’s stable, comfortable, and gives you more control while you go about your day. If they get distracted, you don’t want to be choking your dog with their collar or having them accidentally get hurt. A harness and leash combo are fantastic for safe and cozy walks. An adjustable collar is especially important if you have a puppy – they grow fast and it’s helpful not having to buy a new one every few weeks! 

It is inevitable that your new dog will have accidents in the home and will use the bathroom outside while on walks, that’s just the facts of owning a pet. Don’t forget to include potty training pads and poop bags before you bring your new dog home! 

It might seem like you don’t need to take care of your pets’ teeth and gums, but just like us, they can have costly issues and painful problems with their teeth if they aren’t taken care of and looked after. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and even just using dental treats can make a fantastic difference in their health. These are some easy ways to start: 

Training your new dog can be as simple or complex as you like, and of course the basics such as stay, sit, and how to recall your pup should be top of the list to make your life easier and to make theirs safer, especially if you live in a city or are around other animals often – teaching them some proper training while safely on a lead can make a huge difference. 

You want your new best friend to be comfortable and have spaces and things that are their own, not just yours, such as the couch or your bed. Having their own comfortable dog beds and blankets will help them feel safe, secure, and like they belong. 

It’s inevitable that your new dog will accidentally cause a mess around the house, that’s just part of owning an amazing pet. Don’t forget these essentials before you need them – better to have and not need, than need them and must try to find them later. 

It’s important to have a safe place to let your dog rest and recharge, sleep, and to be put in in case there’s an emergency or you must take them to the vet. Carriers are essential and crates/kennels are a perfect place for dogs to have their own ‘room’ inside your house. Crate training your dog is a great way to get them to learn that they’re okay when you’re not around and it gives them a safe place to go. 

If you don’t already have a veterinarian lined up before your dog comes home, be sure to do research in your area and find one that is taking new patients/new pets. You don’t want to have an emergency and not have a vet or pet emergency number on hand, causing extra stress or time wasted. 

Vet Strategy is a good place to start, along with simply using Google to look up vets in your location. 

 Pet insurance is another topic that is important to have, especially in the long run when something happens, and it can save on check-up bills as well depending on which insurance you’re purchasing through, or which plan you have. It might not seem important upfront, but if something does happen and you end up needing thousands of dollars – pet insurance is worth the costs every month or year. 

TruPanion is a top-rated pet insurance since that is available for all Canadians for their pets, dogs and cats. 

How long does it take for a dog to adjust to a new owner? 

How long it takes for a dog to adjust will depend on their personality, past, and how you welcome them into their new home! For some dogs it’s right away, others take more time, patience, and love.  

What are some signs your new dog is adjusting?  

Signs that your new dog is adjusting can vary, but overall fit into the same scheme. 

• Relaxed and calm posture / attitude. Your dog/puppy isn’t hiding, acting out, or otherwise showing signs of stress or fear. 
• Healthy appetitive and are eating and drinking water normally. 
• Expressive and make eye contact with you, like being around you, and sleep near you such as in the living room or your bedroom. 
• Puppies can be destructive in general, but if they’re otherwise behaving and not causing any intense problems, they’re most likely adjusting to you and their new home. 

How to make a dog feel comfortable in a new home?  

Making a dog feel comfortable in a new home is a top priority since it’s where they’ll be spending most of their time. Ensuring that they have a safe and cozy place to go and lay down such as a crate or kennel is perfect and most dogs love having their own little space. 

Toys, blankets, and dog beds are another perfect thing to get to make your new best friend feel right at home. It’s important that they have their own toys and things so that they don’t destroy yours – especially if they’re puppies. 

What are the most common first-time dog owner mistakes? 

The most common first-time dog owner mistakes vary from small, easy to make mistakes to large ones that can affect your dog in the long-run, and these are best avoided. 

• Being inconsistent with rules is a major first-time owner mistake, as it can lead to your dog not listening to orders or behaving in the future. An example of such would be telling your dog they aren’t allowed on the couch, scolding them when they do, and then another time letting them on – and repeating this cycle. They don’t know whether they’re allowed or not. You need to stick to your own rules and be consistent with training. 

• Letting your dog ‘lead the pack’ or always call the shots with roaming around, causing trouble, etc. Dogs are pack animals and must learn that you’re their pack leader – we know how hard it is not to coddle your new furry friend, especially if they’re a cute puppy. You can still give them tons of affection and spoil them – but they need to know who’s in charge, and that’s you. When it comes to training and teaching them, you need to be consistent. 

• Obedience classes are a great prevention tool, especially for puppies. They can learn how to behave with other dogs, people, and how to behave correctly which will help them (and you) in the future – and can keep them safe when situations arise, such as needing to recall them in a busy area if they ever escape their leash, etc. or are around other dogs that may be less trained. 

• Skipping proper crate training is a first-time owners mistake, and there are many misconceptions about what crate training means. It isn’t putting your dog into a kennel and leaving it there – it’s about giving your pup a safe and comfortable place to sleep and learn to be okay by themselves when you’re not around. 

It’s best to start small, leaving them alone for short periods of time to start and working up from there. Some dogs may have anxiety with confined spaces and need extra love, time, and patience.