So, you’re thinking about getting a dog? Buying a puppy for the first time can be an exciting process, but in order for it to go as smoothly as possible, you’ll need to do your research! Buying a puppy is a life-changing decision; they require constant care, love, and attention. But it’s also probably the best decision you’ll ever make – so here’s everything you need to know before you gain an additional family member!
Research the Breed
Here at Pretty Pooch, we love every breed! However, there are certain things to take into account when choosing your new four-legged friend. It’s important that the breed of dog you choose suits your lifestyle. For example, if you have a busy, work heavy routine, a puppy that requires a lot of exercise may not be the right one for you. Alternatively, if you lead an active and fast-paced lifestyle, a small dog that needs a limited amount of exercise can equally be a problem. Make sure to research the needs of your chosen breed to ensure you can always provide it with everything it will require to keep it fit healthy, happy, and fit!
Although a dog should never be left for more than 8 hours, there are breeds that cope better with being left alone than others. For example, Bassett Hounds and French Bulldogs are known to cope with the absence of their owner much more than Bichon Frises and Toy Poodles! Depending on how long you’re at work or away from home, will impact your decision massively. Not researching the breed enough may result in your puppy being very unhappy, so make sure you are able to fully support your new family member as often as you can!
Grooming
If you’re thinking about buying a puppy, it’s important to know how often they need grooming and how to do so properly! Some breeds require more grooming than others, particularly dogs with a long or fluffy coat. To help you understand how to groom your new puppy (and how often to do it), we’ve put together a step by step guide to follow – ensuring you have everything you’ll need!
Washing: On average, we recommend that you wash your dog at least once every couple of months. Although certain breeds may need washing more regularly, this ensures that your dog will always remain clean and tidy! Otherwise, use your own judgement. When you notice your puppy becomes a bit smelly, wash them! To wash your dog, simply use warm water and our gentle Pretty Pooch Shampoo to remove dirt and bacteria, leaving your dog smelling clean and fresh! Safe to use after for all pups over 6 weeks old, our special formula is sensitive to the skin and suitable for all breeds and coat types!
To keep your dog smelling fresh in-between washes, our Doggy Deo is perfect! Paraben and alcohol-free, this spray will keep your dog’s fur sweet-smelling in between washes - perfect for dogs that seem to get stinky quickly!
Brushing: Brushing your dogs’ hair regularly will prevent knots, tangles, and matting. We recommend brushing your pup twice a week to ensure they remain tangle-free! Depending on the type of coat your dog has, brushing can also prevent moulting and shedding. In turn, you can keep on top of that fur that seems to go everywhere, keeping your home dog hair free!
Ear Cleaning: In order to reduce the chance of skin irritation and infection, it’s important that you keep a close eye on your dog’s ears. Like humans, dogs also experience a build up of ear wax that can become extremely uncomfortable for your furry friend. To help prevent irritation, our ear wipes are made using an all-natural eucalyptus oil solution that will remove dirt and wax from your puppies ears, leaving them feeling and looking clean.
Tear Stains: Although many dog breeds aren’t prone to tear stains, for some, it can be a persistent problem for some! Tear stains are caused by an excess of tears that contain porphyrins, leaving red marks behind. Left untreated, these can become very uncomfortable for your pup and can lead to infections and irritation around the eye area. Our Pretty Pooch tear stain wipes are designed to gently remove the stains, leaving the eye area clean and fresh! Designed to be pH balancing and conditioning, our wipes are sure to leave your doggie’s eyes gunk free!
Teeth: Many dog owners are unaware of how important brushing your dog’s teeth really is! Just like us, dogs develop plaque on their teeth that (if left untreated) can cause rotting, irritation and can even cause tooth decay. In order to make tooth brushing something your puppy becomes used to, you’ll need to set up a routine early! An everyday brush is ideal, but even three times a week will make a huge difference to the overall health of your dog’s mouth!
Puppy-proof Your Home and Garden
One of the most important things you must do when preparing for your furry friends’ arrival, is to ensure your garden and outdoor space is safe and clean! Puppies are adventurous and curious little animals and they’ll be wanting to fully explore their new living space! This will allow them to come to terms and feel comfortable in their new environment, making them feel comfortable and relaxed in their new home!
At first, it’s important that your puppy can roam around freely, so tidy away any cluttered areas of floor space! Once the area is tidied from bulky items, you’ll need to pay close attention to any little items that are still on the floor. Whether this is food, children’s toys or crumbs – your dog is sure to find them! To prevent them from eating something they shouldn’t, make sure your floor space is mess-free!
Puppies will need plenty of space to explore, so preparing your garden is a great way to start. If you’re lucky enough to have artificial grass outside, it’s important that this is cleaned before and during their arrival. This will help clean away any dirt and bacteria for a clean outdoor space. Our artificial grass cleaner is perfectly safe for dogs to come into contact with once dry, so that you can keep your outdoor space to a high hygiene standard for you and your furry friend to enjoy all year long!
No matter how cute your new puppy may be – he or she will probably want to chew everything in sight! From shoes and sofas to cushions and carpets, you don’t want your new furry friend to destroy your most loved possessions! To avoid this, why not try our chew deterrent spray? Designed to be foul-tasting to prevent your pup from wanting to chew the area, you can keep your belongings chew free, as well as preventing your puppy from eating something that could be harmful to them!
Training
If you want your dog to be well behaved, you’ll need to invest some time in training him/her. Some dogs are simply easier to train than others, so it’s important that you have patience and stick to a strict routine. Depending on the level of training your dog requires, you might want to search for a professional dog trainer who will help train your dog to be obedient and do many tricks and show you how to do so successfully! This is something to take into account in terms of cost, so research your desired breed to see how easy they are to train in advance.
Shopping List
So, if you’ve read everything and you’re still wanting to get a puppy, here’s all the things you’ll need to get your puppy off to a great start in life!
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Collar and lead: These will ensure your puppy can go on walks and be safe wherever you both venture off to! Many dog owners also like to use harnesses to make sure their dog never feels discomfort around their neck when out on walks.
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Bowls and food: To make sure your pooch will grow up strong and healthy, investing in high-quality dog food is essential. Many dog foods are full of waste products that are deemed unfit for human consumption. At Pretty Pooch we believe every dog should be given the best possible upbringing and having healthy, good quality food is a great place to start.
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Toys: Much like babies, puppies are playful and adventurous little things! To keep them entertained and happy, toys are a must. They provide puppies with something comforting and entertaining in a new and strange environment, as well as giving them hours of fun as they start to mature! -
Grooming products: As previously stated, grooming is extremely important. Make sure your puppy has everything it needs to remain clean and fresh by browsing our large range of grooming products today!
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Dog bed: Sleep is something your new puppy will need a lot of! Their small size means that they become tired very easily, so providing them with a comfortable and safe place to sleep will make them feel much more settled.
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Poo bags: Although they’re not the most glamorous of products, poo bags are essential! You’ll never want to be caught short when you’re enjoying a long walk with your pooch, so make sure you bulk buy poo bags to save you any mishaps in the future!
