So, you’ve made the decision to extend your family by four little paws. While you’re waiting for your pup to arrive, a trip to the pet shop is well on the cards.
This will be very exciting trip indeed. Dogs are so lucky nowadays with a lavish range of beds, collars, toys and even clothes available. It’s easy to get sucked in and walk away with a very expensive haul, so the question is, what does your new furry family member really need?
We’ve compiled a list of Wooflinks’ 5 absolute necessities for your new pup.
- Collar and Tag
Legally, all dogs must wear a collar and ID tag when out in public, which must detail their owner’s name and address, including postcode. Your pup will likely arrive to you with a collar on from the breeder, but these are designed to identify your pup in and amongst the litter, not intended for long term use.
Holland’s Country Clothing based in Cheshire UK stocks this beautifully designed and durable leather collar by Pampeano. They come in a range of sizes and designs, and you can buy matching leads for them too.
Make sure you purchase a tag to attach. Most local cobblers provide and engrave them and on the whole they are relatively inexpensive. A tag is the first things somebody will look for if they find your dog, and should include the following:
- Dog’s name
- Your contact number
- Microchip information or at least a message to say “I am microchipped”
- If applicable, any medical needs or allergies
2. Lead
A good lead is an absolute essential. Some prefer a standard lead, but there are also retractable leads, adjustable leads and slip leads to choose from. We go into more detail about what lead is best for your dog here: (blog)
Once you have decided about which lead will suit you and your dog best, here are some of Wooflinks’ local, UK based recommendations for each of the above:
Standard Lead:
These are custom made to order by a local business in Sussex called Neluco Hounds and can be made in a huge range of rope and hardware colours.
Retractable Lead:
https://www.dfordog.co.uk/kong-retractable-dog-lead-terrain.html
KONG is a solid and recognisable brand, but true to Wooflinks’ promise to enable local businesses, we’ve selected a local retailer for you to buy from. This one also comes in a range of colours and sizes which DforDog have helpfully outlined on their site.
Slip Lead:
https://mokiandblu.co.uk/collections/all-leads/products/handmade-slip-rope-lead-option-1
Another custom-made slip lead with high quality hardware that is fully customisable to your taste. These are made by a local Yorkshire business Moki and Blu and can also be made into a figure of 8 lead to help with pulling dogs.
3. Toys and sensory activities
Toys for your dog are a necessity, not a luxury as they are essential for the stimulation of your dog’s mind, relieve boredom, aid their development and provide them with comfort.
Foraging toys complement your dog’s natural instincts to hunt, problem solve and play. Snuffle mats are very popular among new puppy owners. This one from Hugo and Ted is made up from offcuts from their other UK handmade products, so tackles a sustainability hurdle whilst supplying exciting brain stimulation for your pooch.
https://www.hugoandtedltd.com/shop/p/snuffle-mats
4. Chews for teething
In order to save your hands and ankles from little puppy punctures, we strongly recommend something to help with their teething.
This natural hemp rope toy from Smug Mutts is environmentally friendly with no added dyes or chemicals and is hand made in the Cotswolds, UK. This great for new puppy teeth to gnaw on and away from your shoes and skirting boards (hopefully!) This one also doubles up as fetch toy.
https://www.smugmutts.co.uk/products/knot-twice
5. Bed
You may or may not want to buy a crate for your dog. There can be many benefits to crate training; we’ve gone into more detail in our new blog: To crate or not to crate
In any case, you can also provide a nice comfy bed to either go inside the crate or in another spot in your home that belongs to them. It provides them with a safe space that they can retreat to when they feel tired.
Manchester, UK based dog brand Ivy and Duke designs and creates high quality dog beds that are durable, machine washable and excellent in quality and aesthetic. The lounger comes in a range of sizes and materials that you can personalise to your taste.
https://ivyandduke.co.uk/product/the-lounger/
You may also want to get in a few blankets especially for your pooch. These will be handy if travelling to and from walks, particularly if you are bringing back a soggy doggy to protect your car.
For more helpful articles like this one, check out our blogs page!
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