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MUST HAVES



So in this section I am going to tell you all the things you will need for your new arrival. None of these products are sponsored. They are just what I found worked best for us!

COLLAR

The first one is pretty simple. A good sturdy collar made out of a comfortable material is going to make life better. Its important that a collar fits properly. Too lose and the dog can escape, too tight and it will be uncomfortable.

HARNESS

A harness is sometimes used with or instead of a collar. It's really up to personal choice, although depending on the breed a harness can either help or promote pulling, so make sure that a harness is right for your dog. Same rules apply as the collar, Make sure it is made of sturdy material and that the fit is right. 

I.D TAG 

In my opinion one of the most important things on this list. Whether you choose to use a harness or collar it is essential that you use an I.D tag. It is a legal requirement in the UK that all dogs are micro chipped but an ID tag must also be used. They will be used to identify your dog should it even get lost. Traditionally you would have the dogs name on your ID, however when I purchased my ID tag I was told by the staff in the pet shop that putting the dogs name on was no longer recommended due to dog thieves using this as a way to identify your dog and gain their trust. I would say use your own judgement with that one but just keep it in mind.  

FOOD

 I think that choice of food is a personal choice. Personally I feed my rescues a combination of dry and wet food, that way I know that they are getting the best of both worlds. Some dogs might not like certain foods so its just a case of trial and error to see what they prefer. Just remember to introduce a new food gradually. 

BEDS

Like food beds are a very personal choice. I bought a couple of different types of beds so that my dogs could choose their favourite ( turns out their favourite is the floor) The one thing I do recommend is making sure that they have a washable cover because your little bundle of fluff that you adore loves nothing more than rolling around in the dirt, or in my dogs case...dead rats! 

BOWLS

Bowls are pretty self-explanatory. The only thing I would recommend is buying a large water bowl. If you're looking at your bowl thinking that its too big, its not. Trust me! Dogs go through water like...well water!

TOYS

If you're rescuing a dog I would recommend only buying one or two toys to start. A rescue dog can be nervous and unsettled when it first arrives so you don,t want to overwhelm them. Another issue with too many toys is that the dog can start guarding them and showing aggression when the toy is taken from them. In terms of types of toys. Go crazy! There are so many options and chances are your dog is going to love them all.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Puppy pads
  • Grooming tools
  • Crate
  • Enzymatic odour neutraliser
  • First-aid supplies 
  • Baby gate - Can be used to separate resident pets 

In regards to the crate it really is a personal choice. Some rescue dogs will find a crate comforting whilst some will find it suffocating. Just make sure you do proper training beforehand.

In my eyes rescuing an animal makes you a hero so please don't be intimidated when you see lists like this, thinking that you have to get everything ASAP. Take your time, do your research and most importantly...HAVE FUN!

 

 



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