If you are looking to get a puppy or have a puppy and want to make sure you have everything needed to take care of your puppy then this list is for you.  A puppy needs a lot of patience, love and care, so make sure you have all the essentials to help take care of your new little addition, that way you can spend more time loving on you puppy and less time making trips back and forth from the pets store.

1. A crate – a lot of trainers swear by crate training your puppy. While it might be hard at first to put your adorable little puppy in the crate you will be thank full that you did later. A crate gives them their own place and once they get comfortable they will have no problem going into their crate. A petmate dog crate is a good brand to look into purchasing for your puppy.

2. Baby gates – gates are a great way to help keep your puppy out of rooms or areas you don’t want them in. Just like a baby, puppies what to wander and explore. So if there are rooms you don’t want them to go in or areas they should stay away from help your puppy know this and set up baby gates.

3. Pet Stain and odor remover- accidents happen, this is unavoidable especially if you have a puppy. So during the potty training phase it’s a good idea to keep pet stain and odor removers handy. That way you can help reduce permeate damage and stress.

4. Dog collar/ id tag and or a microchip- Getting a dog collar and an id tag is a no brainier. However, something that is becoming more and more popular is microchipping your puppy or pet. This is a great idea for any pet owner. That way if for some reason your puppy gets lost and if for some reason does not have his tags on, the chances of getting him or her back increases dramatically. It also helps alleviate any confusion that this is in fact your puppy.

5. Dog beds – no matter what size your puppy is there is a dog bed out there for him. In fact I was quit shocked by the variety of dog beds that they offer. They have everything from an orthopedic pet bed to nestling beds and lounging beds. With a great variety like this you are bound to find a bed that your puppy loves.

6. Food and Water Bowls – they have special food and water bowls for puppies but in general if you get a bowl that fits your puppies soon to be size, in general that should be fine. However, what you should consider buying is travel food and a pet food dispenser. These are great not only for weekend getaways but also to keep in your car just in case you need to feed your dog or give them water on the go.

7. Harness and a leash – A harness is a great thing to look into buying your puppy primarily because they support the puppy better than just a collar when using it with a leash. If you plan on doing a lot of walking or running with your puppy a harness might be a better alternative than a collar for physical activities where he or she is going to be on a leash for long periods of time. When it comes to leashes they have a wide variety to choose from. My favorite are the leashes that come with doggie doodie bags attached to the leash. That way my hands are free and know where the bags are at all times.

8. Dog toys- it’s important for your puppy to play with toys, not just so they leave your stuff alone but also because it helps them develop. Not all toys are liked by all puppies. Some puppies prefer squeaky toys, chewing toys or retrieving toys. Also the material they are made out of can make some toys more favorable to your puppy. So try a couple different types of toys out to make sure you find ones that your puppy loves.

9. Dog car seat – I love these products. Anything that helps protect my car and keep my puppy or dog safe, I am all about. Depending on the size of your puppy they offer a wide range of items from car seats, to harness that act like a seat belt or hammocks that help protect your interior as well as providing a barrier between the front seat area and your dog. The pet hammock is designed for larger dogs so if your puppy is not quite there yet you might want to look into a dog car seat until they reach full size.

10. Contacts for a reputable trainer & dog walker – While this is not a tangible item it is none-the-less important. If you want to have your puppy professionally trained then ask around dog parks, pet stores or even your fellow pet loving friends for references. Also if you are like most of us and have to work away from your puppy or dog make sure that they get a walk in at least a couple times a week. A dog walker is a great way to do so, check your neighborhood for local dog walkers, or now that it’s summer,  maybe some of the neighborhood children are looking for a summer job. This would be great for both your puppy and them. Just make sure they are old enough to responsibly take care of your puppy or dog.

So whether you are looking for new ideas for your puppy or are looking for puppy essentials for a future puppy hopefully this list helps. If you have any other suggestions or ideas feel free to comment below. Also check out this other puppy list for more puppy essentials Top 14 Puppy Supplies- Shopping List.

-Alisha