Starter kit for a dog. How to welcome a new family member?

Before we take a puppy or an adult dog from a shelter, we need to prepare the house for its arrival. What products and accessories are necessary when we want to take a pet under our roof and take good care of it? What should a dog starter kit contain? Here are some suggestions!

Carefree fun in the park, jogging in the morning and long walks in the fresh air. Dogs love to spend time with their owner on games and activities that will cover all their needs for movement. However, before you decide to go out together, you must equip your little friend with a few basic accessories, such as a collar. Usually, when choosing it, we are guided by their age and race. The best products for puppies are made of materials that are safe for their delicate skin, for example, leather. What else is worth remembering? First of all, the collar should not painfully tighten around the neck or restrict movement. It shouldn’t be too wide either.

Older pets can develop various harmful habits, such as pulling and tugging on the leash. When we adopt a new family member from a shelter, we cannot be sure what it has learned from previous owners. Special braces with a place to fasten at the front are the answer to this problem. Leading and controlling the dog will not be difficult, and we will also avoid tiring and dangerous for its health tugging. Attention! Disturbing sounds made by the quadruped, such as wheezing should be the cause for concern.

At the beginning of your adventure, the pet will certainly return to its habits. Even if itstarts to pull on the leash again, thanks to the appropriate equipment, you will prevent choking, suffocation or a sense of discomfort.

Puppies may still be prone to chewing, nibbling and grabbing everything they come across with their teeth. Although this behaviour is completely natural, it can cause us some problems when choosing a leash. It is best to invest in products made of soft, flexible and durable materials that do not provoke the youngest family members with their smell. Strong and large animals, on the other hand, are recommended thicker, solid leather leashes that will hold their weight and will be resistant to damage.

There are various interesting solutions available on the market, thanks to which the quadruped can move away a considerable distance and freely explore the area. These include, among others, automatic leashes with a long cord and an unrolling blockade. As in the case of the collar, this element of the dog’s starter pack must be adapted to the age and temperament of the new household member. Are you considering a model with an adjustable option? Remember that their use can in some cases reinforce problems with pulling and tugging. They are therefore usually dedicated to adult pets that don’t exhibit such behaviour anymore.

Also read: How To Keep Your Dog Happy And Healthy? 10 Things To Always Remember About

When travelling with your dog, you should take appropriate precautions. If you didn’t bring a carrier with you on the city bus or train you will have to muzzle your pet. It will probably also become indispensable during a visit to the vet, or a long walk in a national park. The best for a dog are plastic accessories that do not press the nose area and do not bounce around during movement. Before you decide to engage in joint activities, it is better to double-check that the muzzle is the right size and that your pet is unable to remove it on its own in a few simple movements. You know you’ve hit the jackpot if your dog can open its mouth to cool itself down and regulate its temperature when needed.

When preparing a starter pack for a dog, we must of course not forget about a comfortable and cosy bed. How to prepare a sleeping place for a puppy or junior of a large breed? Even if you don’t want to replace it too often, it’s better not to buy the bed in the target size right away. The basic criteria, such as the size and shape of the product, require familiarization with the current dimensions of the pet. The dog bed must not be too thin either. Especially if your pet sleeps in a cool room. The filling must then provide thermal insulation from the floor. What else should you pay attention to?

The materials used during production should be durable, resistant, easy to keep clean and safe for dogs that suffer from allergies. The best would be the bedding with a removable cover that can be washed in the washing machine.

Have you decided on a dog from a shelter who is just recovering from an injury, has health problems or needs special support for joints and muscles? The solution in this case may be an orthopaedic bed, which is filled with a special memory foam that adapts to the shape and weight of the body. And if you often travel with your dog, play with it in the garden or take it on trips to the forest, you can buy additional accessories, such as special car cushions and carriers. Some beds can be successfully used both at home and outdoors. They are then made of even stronger and waterproof fabric, they also have a protected bottom.

Also read: How to choose a dog bed? Practical tips

Healthy, happy and well-groomed dogs have a strong desire to play throughout their lives. Whether you’ve adopted an adult dog from a shelter or a playful and energetic puppy, you should choose some useful accessories, such as balls, chew toys or tugging toys. Intellectual entertainment that engages all its senses and helps to train concentration is also becoming more and more popular. Remember, however, that all toys should be adapted to the health, abilities and character of the pet. Sometimes rubber or natural chewing products will be useful while relieving tension and calming down. If there are no contraindications to a longer, intense effort, it is worth finding gadgets useful in learning to fetch.

Before buying, however, make sure that they do not consist of small, easy-to-swallow elements that the new household member could choke on. All kinds of balls, teethers and strings must be made of durable and health-safe materials.

Also read: How to play with your dog?

Cookies and candies for quadrupeds not only taste good but are also very useful when learning basic commands or sleeping in a bed. However, they should be treated like any other meal and might require a reduction of the daily portion of food. Remember that a puppy, an adult dog and a senior should be fed differently. Whichever method we choose, we should take into account their health, energy needs, level of physical activity, and their race. The most important thing is to choose high-quality products that have a natural, carefully developed composition. When buying both wet and dry food, you should also check the expiration date.

A dog’s starter pack will not be complete without comfortable, matching bowls. You should buy at least two: for fresh drinking water and for meals. Cleaning after each feast will be facilitated by special pads. It is best to choose models equipped with a special coating that effectively prevents the containers from moving around the room.

All cosmetics that we use for washing and combing the dog should be prepared specifically with its needs in mind. Since puppies should not be bathed in the traditional way until they are at least six years old, a soft, damp cloth will be sufficient. What else can be useful? In specialized stores, you will find various types of conditioners, shampoos and products that make combing easier, divided according to the age or coat of the quadruped.

In regular care, brushes, gloves and trimmers are useful, as well as oils, liquids or preparations that should be used to wash around the eyes and ears. Dogs living in houses will also require regular claw trimming. In winter, you should also trim the hair between their toes.

Adopting from a shelter often means adopting a traumatized pet that has special needs and requires loving care. How to choose accessories for a dog in this case? Some things, such as food, are best discussed with a specialist. Remember that sudden changes in your diet can lead to further health problems. If you want to switch to a different food or introduce new foods, try to do it gradually.

It is also very important to protect your pet against fleas and ticks, for example, sprays, tablets, special collars or drops for the neck. A pet from a shelter may also suffer from dermatological problems. It is then necessary to choose the right care products that will help get rid of stubborn dandruff or itching and restore the shine of the coat.

See also: Orthopedic pet beds. How do they work and when to choose them?