Your should choose your Vet as they will need their next set of shots 2 to 3 weeks after they go home. Make sure you have both their business hour number and also the after hour urgent car numbers. Some vets will have their own after hours care and others will refer you to an Urgent Care facility.
Here is our recommended basic shopping list:
- Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Lamb & Rice Dry Kibble (available at any pet store, Amazon or Chewy.com) – for toys use the one for under 20 lbs and for for minis the one that isn’t labeled for a particular size
- NuVet Plus Wafers (you can order these on www.nuvet.com/42901 or at 800-474-7044 and using code 42901)
- Food and Water Bowls
- Brush or comb (we like the metal soft bristle brushes and steel combs)
- Puppy Shampoo (we recommend a gentle soap free puppy shampoo)
- Natural non-greasy puppy treats (some families use Cheerios)
- Chew toys – just make sure you watch to make sure they can’t get pieces off them that they can swallow or get choked
- Balls for Playing Fetch (nothing smaller than a tennis ball) – we like JW Pet Hol-ee Roller Dog Toy
- A Crate (one with a Divider will grow with your puppy if they are approximately 30x21x24) – some families will use a hard-sided travel crate just get a smaller one to start with when they go home
- Washable Bedding for the Crate
- A Stuffed Animal (or 2 or 3) for inside the crate just get ones with nothing they can get off that they can choke them (hard eyes or nose). This can helps the puppies sleep better the first few nights. Some families have gotten a Snuggle Pet that has a heartbeat and warmth that seems to help.
- A Leash and Collar. A Collar that will go as small as 9″ and expands usually works for the puppies. If you live in a more urban area or will walk where there is traffic, we recommend a harness which will give you better control.
Some puppies won’t eat or drink as well as we want them to when they are settling in to their new home. It is very exciting for them just as it is for you so they can get distracted or even a little tummy upset for a day or two. A few things you can have on hand just in case you need to entice them are listed below:
- A few cans of Purina Pro Plan Puppy Chicken & Rice or Turkey & Rice (this can be mixed into their kibble or by itself)
- Low sodium chicken broth (you can add this to food or water)
- NutraCal which is a high calorie past you can put directly in their mouth or in their food
If you’re picking up your puppy, bring along a bowl, bottle of water and leash. We recommend that you don’t stop at rest parks on your way home. Until your puppy has had all of its puppy shots, we don’t recommend you go where other animals have been that may not have been vaccinated. Many families will just hold your puppy on your lap for the way home but if you are coming alone we recommend some sort of crate.
Puppy proofing your house and yard is important to ensure nothing is accessible to them that they can choke on or will block them and checking the home & yard for possible toxins. Some items they can choke or eat and become blocked include toys, socks, washcloths and children’s underwear. Some food and plants that are highly toxic include Xylitol (used in sugar-free gum and candy), chocolate, wild mushrooms, grapes, tobacco, Sago Palm, tomato plants, Aloe Vera and several flowers. You can google a complete list of toxins on the web to see if you have some in your home or yard.