Our Editors Made A Checklist For New Puppy Owners

This year has been crazy so far, but a piece of good news worth sharing is that pet adoptions are on the rise. The last few month’s stay-at-home experience left many longing for a new companion, and of course, a new pet is the perfect option.

Some rescue shelters even ran out of dogs and cats following a 10-fold increase in applications to foster and adopt earlier this year. Our editors want to give new pet parents the best start, so we’ve compiled a puppy checklist, filled with everything your new pup needs:

1. Pre-Puppy Essentials

First, you’ve got to make sure you have all the essentials for your new pup. These things will prepare you for your pup’s arrival and keep you prepared for new puppy antics:

• Collar & leash & ID tags
• Food bowl, water bowl, & healthy dog food
• Waste bags & puppy pads
• Dog bed

2. Welcome Home, Pup!

Grooming is a huge part of taking care of our furry friends. Some love being groomed and some hate it, but with the right tools, it can be an easy process.

• Soft bristle brushes & grooming wipes
• Dog toothbrush & toothpaste
• Dog shampoo
• Nail clippers

And the fun part: Toys, training, and travel!

• Puzzle toys, chase toys, & chew toys
• Training treats & training clicker
• Car seat cover

3. Becoming part of the family

• Veterinarian: It’s important to stay on top of annual exams, vaccinations and preventative care to keep your new pup stays happy and healthy. Make sure you look into where your local vets office is and keep their contact information handy in case of emergencies.

• Pet insurance: For this one, we’re looking at Pumpkin. It’s great for new pups since it has one of the best preventive plans on the market, as well as emergency and protective care. Even if your dog is young and healthy, you can help ensure protection against conditions into his later years with Pumpkin.

Pumpkin’s add-on preventive care pack fully covers 3 yearly essentials on every vet’s list: annual wellness exams, vaccines, and select lab tests to detect parasites & dangerous diseases they cause. Pumpkin really takes care of your pet, not just when they get ill and need treatment, but helps you ensure your pet stays healthy. Top-quality care comes at a cost, so having pet insurance can save you a lot in the long run.

Their quiz only takes a couple of minutes, and their site clearly highlights the aspects of pet insurance that catch most people out, like comparing what’s covered and what’s not, what’s in the fine print, waiting periods & discounts. They are so confident in their plan that they even compare their plan against other pet insurers on their website so you can make an informed decision.

• Dog groomer: Sometimes, some dogs are just too difficult to groom yourself. You may need to get help from the professionals, so it’s worth looking into some in your area.

• Dog trainer: There are plenty of resources out there to help you to train your dog yourselves, but in some cases, you may need some extra help in this department. So finding a good dog trainer could be really beneficial to you and your pup.

Congratulations on becoming a new pet mom or dad! Use this list to guide you through your pet parenting. Our biggest highlight today is definitely Pumpkin pet care, so check out their website if you’re in the market for pet health insurance. Good luck!

Update: Take charge of your pet’s health! Follow this link to get started today!

Pumpkin Company Info: Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. (Pumpkin) is a licensed insurance agency, not an insurer. Insurance is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, a Crum & Forster Company and produced by Pumpkin. Pumpkin receives compensation based on the premiums for the insurance policies it sells. For more details visit pumpkin.care/underwriting-information. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not an insurance policy. It is offered as an optional add-on non-insurance benefit. Pumpkin is responsible for the product and administration. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/customer. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not available in all states. Paid Endorsement – Pumpkin Insurance Services, Inc. is responsible for this advertisement.