Helping a new pooch settle in to their forever home.
Whether you’ve got a new puppy or decided to rescue, introducing a new pooch into the household can be nerve wracking, stressful and exciting all at once! Two became three in our household when we rescued our newest pack member Pomegranate back in February, so we decided to put together our “New fur baby check list” all available at our favourite London Pet store, Pet Pavilion.
First things first, FOOD! Do your research and make sure your dog or pup is on the right type of food for their size, age, weight and breed. You may have tips or recommendations from breeders or rescue centres as to what suits them, but rest assured, Pet Pavilion have a huge range of brands both in store and online, from wet, dry, tinned, pouches or raw for you to ensure your pooch is fed as best they can be! Initially its wise to purchase small amounts of food, as you wouldn’t wan t to waste it if for some reason your dog doesn’t like it or it doesn’t suit them. Don't forget, you can get your doggy feeding accessories here too, including food and water bowls, slow feeder bowls, scales and scoops!
Treats!
Its so important that you have a range of tasty treats in stock for when you are getting to know your new fur baby. Whether you have a pup or and older rescue, treats are a great way to train your dog and reinforce positive behaviour, to help them understand what you like as an owner. Pet pavilion have a massive range of treats large and small! Our dogs are obsessed with the bite sized Pet Pavilion lamb and chicken chipolata treats, so we use these for training, positive reinforcement during walks and toilet training with Pomegranate. These are also great stuffed into puzzle toys as they smell super tasty! We also stock up on natural, long lasting chews. Pomegranate loves the pigs and cow ears, which keep her busy for hours and really help ease any anxious behaviour. Last but definitely not least, all three of our dogs really love the pet pavilion hand baked dog biscuits. They come in four flavours but the bedtime biccies are our number one, as they contain camomile to calm the pooches as night and they absolutely love them!
Toys.
Its important that your pooch has toys of their own, for different purposes. Pups can be destructive and will crave something to chew on during teething, and other doggos, like Pomegranate like small squeaky toys, puzzle toys for enrichment and fluffy toys, like her rope fox toy, which she used for both tug of war and as a comforter. Puzzle toys and brain training exercises are also vital to help your pooches development, and they are great for their self esteem and confidence.
Grooming
Depending on the type of dog you have, you may need a repertoire of grooming gear, especially during lock down when your cant visit a professional groomer.
Pomegranate is a long haired Pomeranian cross, so we had to get a variety of combs, brushes, wipes, ear cleaners, detangling sprays etc, but even short haired pooches like our other two, Puggy and Pops will require shampoo, conditioners, grooming mitts and perfumes etc… We took advice from our favourite Pet Pavilion groomer who recommended that in between professional grooms we should start brushing and grooming Pomegranate straight away, with lots of praise and treats. At first it was a challenge as she was very nervous, but now it’s become part of our daily routine, and we absolutely swear by the pet pavilion grooming mitt and detangling spray. She looks and smells incredible and daily grooms have helped us bond very quickly.
Cosy blankets and dog beds
A new pooch whether it’s a puppy or a golden oldie will naturally be anxious when they arrive at their new home and are thrown into new routines with their new family. It’s common for a dog to come with a blanket or a toy from their previous home, which will be a great comfort to them initially, but as their new owner, you will need to provide them a space to rest and relax. You might choose to give your dog a crate, a fluffy bed, a cave bed or heaps of fluffy blankets, whatever suits you, your dog and your house hold. But rest assured that pet pavilion have a wide range of beds and blankets at different sizes and price points to suit every need and every interior.
Collar and lead
Of course, you will need a lead , collar and/or harness for your new fur baby - and dont forget to get those tags engraved with your details! Pet Pavilion will happily help fit your pooch with a harness or collar perfect for their size and needs, alternatively, you can find the whole range online, including this gorgeous premium rolled leather lead, collar and matching poop bag holder that we absolutely adore.
Poop bags and poop bag holders
Don't get caught short - its the worst!
Pet pavilion have a range of poop bags and super stylish poop bag holders which clip effortlessly onto the dogs lead. Our favs are the bio degradable ones with hearts on!
Now this list is purely the basics, and if you’re anything like us, your collection of doggy gear, clothes, toys, products etc… will grow rapidly. But never forget that Pet Pavilion are always there for help and advice and their products are available online 24/7.
