Being a puppy parent means lots of responsibilities for 15 years. To give them the best experience, you need to have certain items in your household. And these items will help give you the best experience too.
A lot of these items would have come in handy when I first got Shakira, a little wired-hair/Staffie rescue mix (we think). She had a broken hip, and because hips don’t lie, we named her Shakira.
So let’s dive right in:
1) Toys. Specifically KONG Toys
These Kong Toys are the best thing since sliced beef steaks for dogs. Especially, like Shakira, for dogs who like to chew and chase things. They are strong, durable and really bouncy. They really are indestructible.
Other cheaper “tennis” ball alternatives only lasted two weeks before they were in two halves. This ball lasts forever. And you can even insert delicious treats inside (continue reading for treat ideas) so they entertain themselves.
2) Other Puzzle Toys For More Fun
Want to give your dog extra mental stimulation? Try out these Puzzle toys. Your dog will stay out of mischief and you can get to do things you need to do. Or you can play with your dog for a wonderful bonding session.
This game will improve their IQ and cognitive skills. The vibrant blue, red and yellow colours on this interactive dog toy will captivate your dog’s attention and motivate them to find their dog treats. And once they master this game, check out these other ones to create more of a challenge.
3) Dog Camera For When The Puppy Parent Is Out
No puppy parent wants to leave their dog alone for the day, but sometimes it is unavoidable. These cameras are great for you to keep peace of mind. It has a full HD Wifi camera and 2-way audio.
With its bark sensor, you will be notified on your smartphone if anything disturbs your pooch. You can then watch and talk to your dog wherever you are using just your phone. If they are being a good boy/girl, you can even throw a treat for them.
4) Food Containers For Protection
If you stay in a similar place to where I stay, you may also struggle with ants and flies getting into your dog’s food. When we eventually got an airtight container, things got so much easier. Especially not having to clean up ants all the time.
A bonus was that it kept the food fresh for longer, so our little girl was happier to continue eating it a few weeks after opening. Having the extra storage for treats is also very useful. Now all you have to do is to learn how to sneakily open the container without them hearing.
5) Slow Feeder Food Bowls
Dogs love their food. Sometimes a bit too much. They devour all their food in seconds and then look at you like “Uhm… where is more, please?” To prevent this, you could get a food bowl that slows them down and work for their food.
It promotes healthier, slower eating. It helps prevent obesity, bloat, regurgitation and overeating. By making your dog work for the food, your pooch is stimulated and this then makes your dog too tired to chew on furniture.
I wish I knew about this when I got little Shakira, she just gobbled down her food.
6) Yummy Treats To Fill Your Treat Bucket
Now that you have your container, you need delicious treats to fill it with. Treats are very useful for training and rewarding. They will love it just as much as you love watching them eat it. Thankfully they are not as unhealthy as human treats may be.
Thanks to their all meat and no artificial flavours and preservatives you, as a puppy parent, can rest assured that your dog will not be eating anything unfriendly for them.
7) Dog Bed And Crate
This is where we all like to spoil our pooch children. We want to go to sleep knowing they are also sleeping comfortably. It also gives them somewhere to nap during the day while you are busy with other things.
These beds are comfortable, soft and easy to care for. They have a non-slip plastic bottom so your pooch can run as fast as they like into bed. It has convenient cleaning with the zippered cover.
If you need something a little more personal for your pooch, consider getting a crate. It can also be used to provide extra comfort when there are loud noises, such as fireworks. It is like their own little private clubhouse for getting away.
If you are travelling a lot and want to take your dog with you, these crates are very convenient to keep your dog safe in the car.
8) Dog Harness For All Activities
Whether you want to take your dog for a walk around the block, play at the park or go for training a harness is the best thing for comfort and stability. They are no pull, no choke and breathable. So you can safely walk your dog.
This one even has reflective bands to enhance your pooch’s visibility. They are perfect for every puppy parent that wants to take their dog out for anything.
And don’t forget a LED collar light for extra visibility if you want to go out early in the morning or late in the evening.
You also will need a leash to walk your dog. Well, an extendable leash is very convenient to keep control while letting your dog have the freedom to run, sniff and leave messages for other dogs while you carry on walking.
9) Training Clicker
A training clicker is very useful for training your dog. Clickers have been proven to be a very easy and efficient way of training your dog. There are ways to train your dog without them, but that is just harder.
Having a helpful hand in training your dog is very handy. Check this training course out to get your dog to be the most obedient dog on the block, they will get your dog to be a genius:
10) Poop Scoop And Poop Bags
Going for a walk is great for your dog, especially because it gets their bowel movements going. But they don’t understand that it is your duty to pick up after them. So be prepared with a poop scoop and poop bags.
You don’t want to be caught walking your dog, or even just in your house, without one of these tools. Don’t let your dog leave its mark, everyone will appreciate it.
Eco-friendly bags are great for poop bags because it is just so much better than plastics. These are made with corn starch, which is very environmentally friendly.
11) Travel Water Bottle
Hydration is very important. Travelling with your dog means that you need to provide water for them. And there is no easier way to do this than with a travel water bottle for dogs.
It has a convenient button to let the water into the bowl. And if your dog does not finish the water in the bowl, you don’t have to throw it away, just press the button again to let the water back into the bottle. So now you don’t have to worry about giving your dog water wherever you go.
12) Grooming Brush
Having dog fur all over your house is a mission to clean. A grooming brush is very helpful to collect the fur in one place even before it has come off your dog. Read this article on Dog Shedding: Know All The Fur About It.
And a bonus is that your dog will love it. The only thing we can’t promise is how to solve your dog nagging you to keep brushing them.
13) Potty Training Pads For The Young And Old
Every puppy parent knows the struggle of doing potty training. And when they are old, they sometimes also struggle to control their natural systems. These training pads are super-absorbent and leak-proof.
The dogs are drawn to the pad because it has a natural attractant. Therefore, it is easy and quick to potty train puppies. And when they are done, it is easily cleaned up. So you don’t have to spend all your time cleaning up after your pooch and more time playing with them.
14) Calming Treats
There are lots of stressors in your dog’s life. Separation anxiety, thunderstorms, barking, strangers and travel are a few that can cause stress. These calming treats help calm them.
The great thing about these treats is that you do not need a prescription for them and can give it to your dog as needed.
15) Pill Pockets For Easy Medication
We have all created very innovative ways to give medication to our dogs. Sometimes we have been left frustrated when the pill pops back out. Well, no longer, with these pill pockets, you can easily and effectively give your dog medication.
They are also delicious for your dog. With these, you will feel more comfortable giving your dog medication.
These items are amazing to have in your house, it will make the most of your dog’s life. It will also help you have the best experience of having a dog. If you found this useful, please share it with your friends and family.
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