Getting Ready To Welcome Your Puppy Home
What You Need For A New Puppy
We are often asked by new families, “What will I need to have before my puppy comes home?”
Below is a basic list of items we recommend, along with where you can find them.
Crate
We recommend a PP40 crate. These can often be found on Marketplace or Gumtree and will usually have had very little use, often at up to a third of the new price.
Before use, clean the crate with a solution of 17ml bleach to 500ml cold water. This will kill any unsafe viruses. The same applies if you purchase a brand-new crate.
Crate Bedding
Old cotton sheets and doona covers are perfect. Avoid synthetic fabrics as they can make your puppy uncomfortably hot.
Food And Water Bowls
Good quality stainless steel bowls are ideal as they are easy to keep clean. Any pet supply shop will stock these.
The water bowl should hold at least one litre.
Food
Our puppies are eating a raw diet and chewing raw bones when they leave us. We recommend continuing with raw feeding and have our own recipe book with meals that are easy to prepare and freeze in advance. We also sell packs of the supplements that we use.
If you are unable to prepare food at home, there are some excellent pre-made raw options available, including Lyka, Pet Mince Direct and Leading Raw.
Raw Bones
Raw bones are the best natural teeth cleaner. Ask your local butcher to cut bones to between tennis ball and softball size. Keep a supply in your freezer.
We source our bones from Echo Valley Farm. If you are in Brisbane, you can order bones online from them with weekly delivery.
A small upright freezer can be a helpful addition so you can store your dog’s food easily.
Some families choose to purchase a mincer to make food at home. If you do, make sure it can mince chicken wings with the bone in, as well as whole carrots.
Lead And Collar
We do not recommend using harnesses for walking. Harnesses tend to teach puppies to pull on the lead. They are suitable only for securing your puppy during travel.
Your puppy will go home wearing a high-quality Blackdog Wear collar in the colour assigned at birth. It will also have an ID tag hand-engraved with your puppy’s name and your phone number.
We stock and sell Blackdog Wear leads and collars, which we use for our own dogs. These can be purchased at puppy pick up if you wish.
Beds
There are many options here. We love Snooza Futons for general day beds.
Toys
Choose toys that are durable and appropriate for chewing.
There is so much fun to be had preparing for your puppy. Puppy shopping really is the best.
Puppy Development Stages And Behaviours
All puppies move through developmental stages from birth right through to their senior years. These are our observations based on raising our own puppies.
Birth To 9 Week
Puppies are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut. They rely on smell to find mum, especially the milk bar, and on warmth to regulate their bodies.
Within 24 hours, puppies can locate the heat pad in their whelping box if mum steps out briefly. Warmth is essential at this stage as it supports digestion.
At around 10 days, their eyes open and are still blue, so we avoid harsh or direct light. At around two weeks, their ear canals open and they begin responding to sounds and movement.
By three and a half to four weeks, puppies are walking more confidently and starting to play with each other.
At around five weeks, we begin introducing solid food alongside milk. Meals are messy, but mums are wonderful cleaners.
By five and a half weeks, puppies tell us they need to start toileting outside. By six weeks, they spend their days outdoors and return inside at night to sleep.
At around seven and a half weeks, puppies transition into individual crates at night. This helps build independence from mum and from each other. Mum is also actively weaning them at this stage.
Early Adolescence: 14 To 16 Weeks
This is when puppies begin transitioning from puppy behaviour to early adolescence. Behaviour often changes noticeably. Puppies become bolder, more vocal and explore the world with their teeth.
This is the stage where guidance is essential. Without it, puppies can become destructive, noisy and pushy. This is often the most challenging stage for families.
Later Adolescence: 5.5 To 6 Months Up To 2 Years
With consistent early training, puppies begin to settle during later adolescence. Pushy behaviours reduce, and listening improves, though boundary testing continues.
From two years of age, dogs transition into adulthood. This is where families really begin to enjoy the rewards of their early work as their dog becomes a reliable and enjoyable companion.
Senior Years
From around twelve years onward, dogs begin transitioning into their senior years. They slow down and require more care and attention. These years are precious. Older dogs still want to enjoy life, just at a gentler pace. They truly are the heartbeat at our feet.
Most of a dog’s life is spent in adulthood and senior years. The effort invested early shapes everything that follows.
What Tablets And Medication Should I Have
Parasite Control
There are two separate parasite control regimes you should follow. The medication that controls heartworm and paralysis ticks does not control hydatid tapeworm, which is transferable to humans and can cause cysts in internal organs.
General Worm Control
We use and recommend Canine All Wormer, available online. This is given every three months.
Your puppy must be weighed to ensure the correct dosage. Dosage should always be rounded up, as underdosing can lead to parasite resistance.
For example, if one tablet treats a 10kg dog and your puppy weighs 5.5kg, you would give three-quarters of a tablet.
Heartworm And Tick Prevention
Our vet recommends monthly Nexgard Spectra, available from pet stores such as Petbarn.
These tablets are weight-based, so we suggest purchasing packs of three as your puppy will grow quickly. The 3.6kg to 7.5kg range is usually suitable to start.
Gastro Support
Peptosyl and a 5ml syringe are very valuable additions to your dog first aid kit. At the first sign of vomiting or diarrhoea, administer according to your dog’s weight.
Dogs have an uncanny habit of getting gastro late on a Saturday afternoon when vets are on after-hours rates. Early treatment can prevent discomfort and sometimes avoid an emergency visit.
Dogs dislike the taste. Hold the muzzle gently and administer down the side of the mouth, holding the head slightly up to ensure the full dose is swallowed.
Hydration
Vytrate sachets are animal electrolytes. If your dog experiences significant gastro, dehydration can occur quickly. Vytrate can be given in place of water for at least 24 hours alongside Peptosyl.
This does not replace veterinary care if symptoms persist.
Digital Thermometer
Keep a digital thermometer clearly marked “Dog” in your dog's first aid kit.
Temperature is taken rectally. Apply a small amount of lubricant, such as olive oil, before inserting.
A temperature above 39.2 degrees indicates a fever and is important information to share with your vet.
I hope this helps you feel prepared as you wait to welcome your puppy home.