Preparing your home for a puppy can be overwhelming, and with an ever-expanding range of gadgets, accessories and other bells and whistles on the market, it can become needlessly expensive. Toilet training pads and nutritionally complete food are a given, but what else does your new arrival need to feel safe and secure in their new environment? Clare Hemmings, scientific communications manager at pet food manufacturer Royal Canin, shares her 10 essential pieces of puppy kit.
A crate
The idea of crate training can be daunting but, if prepared correctly, it will be the dog’s space for comfort. It’s also an essential part of house training your pup as dogs don’t like to soil the environment they sleep in – so sleeping in a crate will slowly teach them to hold their bladder (although it’s important to be vigilant because they can’t hold their bladders or bowels indefinitely). Crucially, the crate should never be used as a form of punishment, but rather a place where your dog can feel safe and secure.
