New pet - Hit me with the essential items/recommendations!

[Guest]

So this little cutie will be joining us at the end of the month - as with a baby it’s very easy to get carried away and purchase a lot of stuff we don’t need so please hit me with the essential items/recommendations.

[Tracy]

Biggest advice I can give is Don’t bother with puppy pads start as u mean to go on and take outside they pick it up Really quickly x

[Dalziel]

Looks like my benny, a little cavapoo. We have just been using puppy pads just now. Got lots of small training treats he is doing well. We have him on our bed at night, not in a crate and he sleeps well now. First couple nights he was up and down. Be prepared to groom, purchase some grooming scissors, curved at the end to cut the hair that goes over their eyes. Be prepared for separation anxiety - these dogs love their owners and people in general. Really sociable. My pup has a lickimat when we go out and I put paté, primula cheese and dog peanut butter on it.

Keeps him busy for a while. We have an older dog too so he has company. Good luck!

Just to add, Yak milk treats are amazing they last ages and are really worth the money.

[Stacey]

If u have a garden I say don’t use puppy pads as it’s more confusing to the pup we used them with our first dog and it took so much longer to train as one minute your saying it ok to pee in doors as long as it’s on the mat then next it’s not because you would rather them be outside hopefully that makes sense so our second dog never used them just put in the garden every 20/30 mins after each meal /drink and any sleep he had he was trained so much quicker !

Definitely recommend crate training did it for both ours and will help if ever need to be kept at vets or in kennels etc ! Root wood (safe wood) if puppy likes to chew lots which when teething they will this Will hopefully save your sideboards etc

[Stephanie]

Crate, small harness for car journey, plug in pheromone to settle, little bed, bowls, food, some puppy safe toys. This is our little cavalier cocker poo now at 9 weeks.

Weve just borrowed a little dog sling so we can walk him around before he can go out on the floor. X

[Kellie]

Don't be tempted to buy rubbish kibble ! Research food and its ingredients, raw is best as are natural treats. No gravy bones or dentastix as these are full of derivatives and other nasty things.

Also, good insurance. I hope you have many years of fun and love with him -- ours is 16 in a few weeks and she has given us so much over these years x

Explore these too: My Hoover doesn't pick all the pet hair up!

[Emma]

Don’t buy a harness unless for the car!

Do get a crate and toys and clicker to train, purchase some training sessions and go and get advice from vets they may know a trainer.

[Annika]

You need a clicker, (can get off Amazon) so when he wees/poos outside instantly click reward with treat same when he sits for you or anything like that.

If you can go to puppy classes you learn so much put the effort in now and your life will be easy. I see so many people shouting at their dogs for things that clearly they haven’t been taught how to do hard to watch xx

[Anne-Louise]

Don’t bother with puppy pads. Just take him out after a sleep, after a play and after food and give lots of praise. Puppy safe training treats are worth stocking up on. Start simple commands on the garden while playing. Lots of different textured toys to chew (avoid rawhide- it’s really dangerous for dogs)

[Sarah]

Really don’t like crate training I know others recommend it but I’ve had dogs all my life and was never a thing until recent years.

I don’t recommend puppy pads as like others say it makes them think they can wee indoors, essentials include organising flea and worming treatment, puppy classes when they are ready will make your life so much easier, good lead and collar, it’s easier to be drawn in by all the nice looking ones but you need to make sure they don’t rub their neck, get a dog tag for the collar, even though it’s chipped in case it runs off etc as easier to get in contact with you, you can also get dog trackers, metal food bowls better than plastic, bed lots of toys that are good for chewing, take out as soon as possible to encourage socialising, seat belt clip for lead when in car Pooh bags, treats