Your puppy will come with a collar and leash, a blanket, a few toys, a week supply of raw food that they have been weaned on, and other assorted goodies. These are a few of the things you will need when you take puppy home:
- Crate. “Baby size” for the first few weeks, then graduating to the next size up. You will more than likely go through 3-4 crates before your dog’s adult crate, but you don’t need them all to start. **If you purchase crates second-hand, be sure to bleach them several times**
- Stainless Steel bowls for water and food. SS are preffered for raw feeding, but you can also use glass. Plastic is not advised.
- Food for your puppy - we can talk about raw diets, or another apropriate choice
- Toys and treats for training. Your puppy will be started on clicker (marker) training, and it will be easy to continue on. Marker training is a wonderful way to encourage new behaviours and train the dog you want to live with. Small treats are what you want. Tiny bits of beef, chicken, pork, dried apples, bananas, or berries. You can also use commercial treats such as Zukes, or a high quality kibble. There are lots of options available.
- Nail clippers, and a dremel. Your puppy was started on nail care at a few days of age, and it is important to keep it up. We advise trimming and filing every 2-3 days.
***I have started adding an additional package to my regular puppy pack. This package covers the basics of grooming supplies (brushes, combs, nail clippers), first crate, feeding supplies for raw feeding, and additional training supplies. This package is sold at cost; it is just to make it easier for the new owner taking their new puppy home***
It’s a good idea to plan to bring puppy home when you have a few quieter days, or at least days where you can dedicate yourself to your puppy. I am the queen of “have puppy will travel” when it comes to bringing puppies home, but I still make sure that while I am bringing puppies - safe - places, that I also have the time and the resources to give them what they need. When I brought Faith home I was house-sitting for a good friend, then we went to the gliding field, then a few days later it was a 3-day canoe trip. At all those things I was able to either keep her close by or safely crate her. Caoimhe was much the same as it was the same time of year; her first weekend home was a 3-day canoe trip! Caoimhe was a different puppy altogether than Faith, so there were some adjustments that needed to be made, but she did very well. You don’t want to overwhelm your puppy; don’t be fooled by those that say you need to bring your puppy everywhere to socialize them. Socialization is a cultural understanding, not a cocktail party!
Your puppy from Heeling NRG