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New Puppy Checklist

January 13, 2020 by Mary Telesz

Have you recently become a parent to an adorable new puppy? Then you know how exciting and happy this time can be for new puppy parents. However, this time can also be filled with anxiousness to get everything that your new furry friend will need. If you do not have any other pets, this process may be especially overwhelming. Read on to learn a new puppy checklist.

new puppy happy inside new crateWhether you were just going to the local shelter or pet store to scope out which dogs you might like, or you were ready to adopt your puppy that day, you may end up bringing home a pet that you weren’t expecting. Those puppy dog eyes are hard to say no to. But if you are not prepared for bringing home your new pup then you will need a few things to prepare your home for the little rascal.

The New Puppy Checklist

If you need a checklist to ensure that you are getting all the items that you will need to prepare for your puppy, then read our list below. This will tell you all that you need to know about what products you should start with, and which ones you can wait on. If you already have your pet, but want to double-check that you have everything, give this new puppy checklist a once over so you can rest assured that you are giving your puppy the best!

A Dog Crate

The biggest item that you should have for your new puppy is a dog crate so you can crate train them from day one. Crates can give the dog a space of their own so they begin to feel at home whenever they are in it. Crate training can also help reduce the anxiety that the dog may feel when you leave for work. This is one of the best things that you can do for your puppy when you first get him.

Dog Toys

A new puppy will have plenty of new things to look at and start sniffing as soon as they get inside your home, but you should also have a few dog toys ready for them too. Getting them started playing with plush toys and textured toys can get them started on the teething process early on. Place one or two inside their crate so they fall asleep with some by their side on their first nights when they might not get to sleep as easily.

Bones & Chews

new puppy chewing on a fresh boneBringing home a new puppy will eventually lead to something of yours getting chewed up by puppy teeth. Although this is pretty inevitable, you can help curb this habit early on by giving your puppy bones and chews to gnaw on. This will keep them busy on the item you give them, which will have a texture that they will love, and keep them away from your shoes and furniture until they learn better.

Collar & Name Tag

This is important to get right away because a puppy can take off quickly, and end up far down the road before you have time to catch up. If this happens, having a collar and a nametag with your information on it will let neighbors know where to bring them. If they do not have any collar, it may take longer to find them, which could be emotional when you begin to think of the worst-case scenarios of what could happen.

So, get a basic collar and name tag from your local pet store, so your pup will be safely brought back to you. Puppies will grow fast, so they likely outgrow their first one quickly, so do not spend too much time and effort finding the perfect option. You will have to buy a new one down the line anyway.

Leash

Dogs live for their walks, so getting a leash that you can take them around the block on is a key item to purchase. You should have two options to use, one for walks, and another for when you are training them. This will let them know when you are getting down to business and train them to listen intently when you are starting their training time.

Dog Food

You cannot have a puppy without proper food. Getting the right choice for them may take some time, but typically something that is more natural and can easily be soaked in water for a few minutes before feeding will work nicely. Once you find out what the like, you can switch it up.

Speak To A Professional Dog Walking Company

happy new dog being walked by dog walkerIf you live alone and do not have someone who can walk your new puppy while you are at work during the week, then hiring a dog walker may be something to consider. Puppies have lots of energy, and if they do not get the chance to release that energy on walks, they will likely cause more problems at home. If you are interested in finding a reliable dog walker, then contact Local Paw Pals for more information and to schedule their dog walking service.

Filed Under: Pet Adoption

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Office Location

Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Monday
9am - 5pm
Tuesday
9am - 5pm
Wednesday
9am - 5pm
Thursday
9am - 5pm
Friday
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Saturday
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Areas Served

Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

Google Rating
4.9
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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