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As a dog foster mom I am frequently providing suggestions to new dog parents for what they need to get for their new dog. I find myself recommending the same things over and over – so I thought I would write this blog post to help my wonderful adopters get what they need! Anyone (not just people adopting a dog) can use this list of starter items.
Here you go! Have questions this doesn’t answer? Ask it in a comment below and I will help as best I can.
DOG FOOD
I feed my dogs Instinct Be Natural Dry Dog Food, Raw Coated – Salmon Flavor. My foster dogs are small dogs so I feed them Wellness Complete Health Small Breed.
Some dogs get special diets, in those cases I communicate the specific food to the new owner.
I feed my dogs once in the morning and once at night.
CRATE
My foster dogs sleep in a 30″ MidWest crate. Crate training your new dog is very important – even if you don’t plan to keep them in the crate while you’re gone or at night. Dogs end up in crates for all kinds of reasons – travel, trips to the vet, and if they are neutered or spade or injured and need to limit activity.
A crate helps keep your dog safe when you’re not around to monitor them and keeps your home from potentially being destroyed if they are left out to their own devices.
DOG BEDS
You will need to get a bed for the crate so your dog is comfy cosy. I bought this 30″ crate bed that fits perfectly in the MidWest 30″ crate, but as of today they are unavailable. I am hoping they restock but just in case they don’t you could also try this one.
You’ll probably also want to get a dog bed for them to enjoy while they are not inside the crate. I recommend Molly Mutt dog bed covers – they are incredibly durable and have lasted through both my dog’s puppy times and are still going strong today. I suggest buying a waterproof cover as well (I bought this one) so you can easily wash the cover without worrying about anything leaking into the bed’s stuffing.
Whichever dog bed you decide to buy, just make sure it’s easy to machine wash!
DOG HARNESS
Personally I think a dog harness is mandatory. Others might disagree with me but I’ve used harnesses on both my dogs and every foster dog I’ve had with no trouble. Walking a dog by the collar is dangerous – many dogs easily slip out of the collar and pulling the leash pulls the collar which then presses on the dog’s throat potentially harming their vocal cords. There are many dog harnesses out there to choose from but I recommend the WonderWalker harness. In Seattle they are sold at most pet stores including All the Best and MudBay. My foster dogs wear a size XS (I always take the same size of dog).
DOG COLLAR
I don’t have any specific recommendations for collars – just make sure it’s a quick release safety collar like this one. If your dog has some behavioral issues he or she might require a special kind of collar – ask your vet or dog trainer what is the best option for your dog.
Remember to get a tag with your dog’s name and your contact info on it – if you’re getting one of my foster dogs the dog will be microchipped but it makes it a lot easier for people to return the dog to you if the information is right there.
LEASH
Again, most leashes are totally fine but I recommend getting a 5 ft. long leash for regular walking. DO NOT get a retractable leash. They are incredibly dangerous – read about why here.
FLEAS & TAPEWORMS
Gross. But a reality.
I treat my foster dogs with a topical flea treatment – this one. I suggest putting your dog on a flea preventative of some sort. I give my own dogs Sentinel tablets by mouth once a month. You will need a prescription from a vet to get them.
If my fosters have worms (very common) I spring for the Bayer Tapeworm Dewormer. It’s more expensive than other options but it works FAST.
aussiedoodleadventures.com 