Buy a dog?! Prerequisites first

Let’s start from the very beginning! First of all, it is always important to think about whether a dog really fits into your life. At the end of the day, a dog is, quite simply compared, like a small child. Little children want to be kept busy all the time! They want to eat, they want to play, they want you to pay attention to them.

Your first dog & puppy: Do you have time?

So if you are going through a stressful period in life, working a lot and maybe even single, you may not have enough time, after all, your dog will easily live to be 12 years old, maybe even 15 years or 16 years old, depending on the dog breed and conditions. Accordingly, you have long responsibility for the little creature. Or, can you create the time? Why? You need to go out several times a day so that your dog learns to do his “business” outside. While we’re on the subject, in the first six to twelve months, your puppy will do a lot in your home. Simply because he or she doesn’t know how to do it yet. But, your puppy will learn, with enough patience, on your part!

If you can create enough space in your life and take the necessary responsibility, your dog will be a loyal soul with whom you will have a lot of fun!

So that you can prepare yourself optimally for your dog, the tasks and living together, you can find our free guide for dog owners here! This includes top lists, for example for good dog groomer recommendations, as well as checklists, for example for your puppy basic equipment. Continue with our little guide: What happens in the first weeks?

Buying a dog: Puppy moves in!

Buying puppies – What accessories do you need for your puppy around leash, bowl, sleeping place and food? Every year millions of little puppies are born and find a new home!

Walking the dog, staying alone & Co.

We also have one or two little puppies now: Neppa & Peppa. You are thinking about buying a dog? If you have time to spare and love, then a little puppy is something wonderful. But, what do you have to consider?! Learn here about the daily life with a little puppy: My first day with Peppa (Dwarf Spitz, or Pomeranian puppy), my first week and my experiences. If you’re thinking of getting a dog, here are the ultimate tips for the first week with your puppy and a few insider tips, like puppy pads, tips for walking and staying alone – all in the first week!

• Buy a dog – puppy moves in!

Tester: Peppa! Our editorial dog

By the way, this is Peppa(Pomeranian), our editorial dog and our official tester. Her main job is to eat and play. That’s why she is perfect for the job of the official FIV tester!

Basic equipment puppy: 6 Must Haves

Buying Puppies: Basic Supplies for Your Dog – No matter what breed of dog or type of mixed breed, there are exactly 6 things you need when buying your first dog or puppy! So to speak, the basic equipment for your puppy and the first days together in the house or apartment.

Food, bowl, leash, collar, blanket, … – Checklist

With this checklist, you have all the essentials! The right food for puppies, two bowls for food and water, a leash with collar and / or harness (safer), toys and very important, especially if you do not have a garden or live on the first floor: Puppy Pads! Learn all the essentials here, with tips for times to eat and other interesting checklists for beginners and novices. Simply explained and free! Here’s the nuts and bolts for the first trip, from breeder to home, and the first few days with your puppy, from my experience.

• Dogs basic equipment

Dog food: wet food, dry food, treats

Dog Food – What is the best dog food on the market? What is the best dry / wet dog food? Which snack is the tastiest? I’m on the hunt for tasty snacks for my puppy pretty much every weekend. Since I’ve basically bought out my favorite dog specialty store a few blocks away, I’ve been on the hunt online. Here I am collecting new, interesting brands and snack ideas for you. My puppy is currently 5 months old, so you’ll be discovering more here as time goes on!

• Dog food

Organic dog food?! Small test

Everyone loves organic, but does my dog? Food for your dog has effects on the coat, but also on digestion, well-being and energy, whether puppy or older dog. Organic is an important topic for many, it’s about farming methods and animal welfare. But it is also about taste and a better feeling when buying. That’s why I also like to buy organic products at a fair price. Now the question: Are there also good organic alternatives for dog food and snacks? With this question I came to Yarrah. Yarrah is the largest supplier of organic dog food. Summer is starting and by now my dog has had enough of the supplies from the supermarket and pet supply store. So I need some new treats and snacks for my dog, in my pantry. This week I ordered from Yarrah for the first time, and everything arrived today. What can organic from Yarrah do? Our little taste test!

• Organic dog food?! Small test

Dog groomer: tips from a professional

The way to the dog groomer of your confidence, belongs to the absolute basics for dog owners. Especially for puppies that still have a top coat.

Dog groomer: first dog, puppy, procedure and training

Dog groomer – The first dog, the first encounter every new dog owner of longhair or shorthair dogs asks himself the same question. When do I go to the groomer? Do I need one at all? We asked our dog expert and asked these questions. Here you will find out everything from getting used to a blow dry, training to a trial day. So that you can distinguish between wire hair, rough hair and smooth hair with your puppy so that your dog gets the perfect care to the fur.

• Dog grooming: procedure and training

Dog groomer near you: Tips and no-go’s!

Dog groomers near you – The cooperation between the dog, the owner and the groomer is the be-all and end-all if you want well-groomed fur for your dog. However, many don’t even know how to find the perfect groomer for themselves and their puppy. The choice is not big, but there are huge differences between the dog salons. However, since cooperation and trust is the most important thing when choosing a groomer, we asked our dog groomer for her top tricks, no-go’s and experiences.

• Dog groomer near you: Tips

Dog Fur & Dog Breeds: Differences

Labrador, Chihuahua, Miniature Spitz or German Shepherd – here you will find the most important facts about undercoat, coat and care from our dog groomer. We have grabbed the most popular dog breeds and have taken a short statement from our expert for you. Learn even more about dogs and your dog!

• Dog Coat & Breeds

Interview with our FIV expert

Dog hairdressers in Cologne – We have met one of the best dog hairdressers from Cologne and a small interview with the owner and expert of the salon Fellgeflüster. She tells us how she came up with the idea to open a dog salon in Cologne. With YouTube videos she started to build up her small business and to teach herself everything about undercoat to the perfect cut. At the age of 30 she founded her own salon Fellgeflüster. Now she has built up her regular customers in her own shop has her own insider tip and has a selection from pink harnesses to cute duck leashes.

• Dog groomer interview

Pomeranian / Dwarf Spitz: Q&A

You want to buy your first puppy? Maybe even a small Pomeranian for you or your family? Then you surely have many questions! Here you will find the answers, among others to questions like “how much does a Pomeranian cost?”, “what do you have to look out for in a Dwarf Pomeranian?”, “how much does a Pomeranian shed?” and “how do you groom a Pomeranian?”. – First of all, Pomeranians are really cute as sugar. Grown up they are only 25-30 inches tall and as a puppy, barely a handful of dog. Walking, peeing, Pomeranian care, our little guide to your first puppies!

• Pomeranian / Miniature Spitz

Buying puppies, equipment and the first car ride

My everyday life has changed, but we are getting more and more used to it! This is how our mornings start since the purchase: So the A&O is 1) love, 2) food and 3) walking. Much more about that later, in Day 3. First, we’ll talk about the basic equipment for your puppy from the specialty store and buying from the dog breeder, from getting to know him, to the price, to the first car ride to your new home!

Before buying: Off to the pet supply store

Some breeders will give you a small starter kit. But it’s even better if you prepare well for the purchase of your puppy. So before we really get to Day 1, your journey as a future dog owner begins at the pet supply store. Don’t worry, you won’t need much, but you will need a little. More specifically, 6 things you can use to keep your day 1 pup happy and provide a beautiful new home. Up front though:

More important than all the toys and accessories is you! Take your time to cuddle, walk, comb the fur, wash and much more. This is what makes you and your “teamwork”!

A puppy, like human babies, is playful, sleeps a lot and does his business when he has to. You are the “rock in the surf”, the calm soul. So you will quickly become a good team!

So now, before you buy, let’s get to the basic equipment for your puppy. I write here from my experience with Peppa! Peppa is a small Pomeranian, or dwarf Spitz puppy. Pomeranian, by the way, is simply the international, English term for the dog breed dwarf spitz. Since I travel a lot, very practical, because you can take dogs up to 7kg, for example, quite easily on the plane, in the hand luggage. We met, I fell in love with the little one and bam! My first day and the first week as a dog owner went by quickly, because everything is new, for her and for me.

So that you have a great start with your puppies, here is my guide, for you! With tips for your puppies basic equipment for house and apartment, tips for walking, staying alone, pee outside, go to sleep. Everything important for your first days.

This is little Peppa:

Basic equipment: 6 things you must have on day 1!

Buying Puppies: Basic dog supplies – There are exactly 6 things you need when buying your first dog or puppy! So to speak, the basic equipment for your puppy and the first days together in the house or in the apartment. With this checklist, you have everything important! The right food for puppies, two bowls for food and water, a leash with collar and / or harness (safer), toys and very important, especially if you have no garden or live on the first floor: Puppy Pads!

Basic equipment for your dog:

1. Lining (dry and wet)
2. Bowl (food and water)
3. Leash, collar and harness
4. Blanket (sleeping place)
5. Toys (chewing and distraction)
6. Puppy Pads

Learn all the essentials here, with tips for times to eat and other interesting checklists for beginners and novices. Simply explained and free! Here is the A&O for the first trip, from the breeder to home and the first days with your puppy.

• Basic equipment puppy & dog

Toys and distraction for home

As you learned in the basic kit for your first puppy, it’s not important to have a lot of toys. Just three or four things for your puppy to chew on when he or she is busy. The most important thing for a puppy is you, the owner.

My little Pomeranian loves sticks, for example. Very simple pieces from the meadow!

Already on the third day she took a little stick home with her and since then she grabs a stick almost every time and if not, I take the one she liked the most while walking. She then chews on it for hours.

The stick doesn’t cost me a euro, it’s super fun for her and it’s an absolutely natural product.

Don’t buy your little puppy 20 or 30 plastic toys, take your own time and work with small things, a rope, a small soft toy and of course the good old sticks.

And now comes your very first day, you are back from the breeder and believe me your little puppy is absolutely knocked out! Everything is super new, including you, the entire environment, mom and siblings are gone. So focus right on one thing, a comfy place to sleep!

Warm and cosy, the sleeping place:

Sleeping, sleeping place and going to sleep

As you may have learned in the basic dog stuff, it doesn’t have to be a very creative sleeping spot either, for example, my little miniature Pomeranian sleeps on a simple fur. Of course, this is also especially cute because Pomeranians are super fluffy. Fluffy fur, fluffy Pomeranian, perfect and absolutely sufficient.

Optional: dog gate for the night

Build the sleeping place directly near you, so that your dog can see you, you also get when something happens. Now there are basically two options, one option is that you let your puppy, like me just sleep on a fur or that it is the second option, you buy a small dog gate.

The great advantage of such a dog gate is that your puppy can not move freely overnight in the apartment or in the house. Accordingly, his or her radius is very limited and you have quick access to all activities. More importantly, your dog is not housebroken to begin with. How could it be, it’s still a baby! So your puppy will have to learn how to go to the bathroom little by little. One thing I can promise you, you will clean up a lot of pee and a lot of poop, but it’s your dog and in fact, all of a sudden it doesn’t bother you at all. In the past, I would never have touched poop! But when your little pup poops, you just can’t stay mad at him or her.

Tip: Always clean up puppy’s little messes inconspicuously, so that you don’t pay any special attention to them. Your puppy will gradually learn to do his business outside when you take him for a walk. Your task is to have enough patience!

That’s why it’s so important to take your puppy outside regularly, right from the start. This way the little dog learns to do his business outside of the room he or she lives in. But more on that later! Let’s stay with day 1 for now.

Making wee-wee: Poop Piles & Co.

You brought your little puppy home safely from the breeder, you bought the basic equipment for your dog, your puppy had delicious food, enough water, a warm place to sleep and some toys.

Day 1 is something completely new for both of you and after you wake up, the, so to speak, real first day together begins!

Purchase, price and delivery

Our first day together was a Monday! Shortly after lunch break I took the time to pick up little Peppa from the breeder. When we got to know each other, her mum was also there.

The handover of the little ones took about 30 minutes, from the first hello, to the first caresses, to the official purchase contract. In the contract of sale, various details are recorded, of course the data of seller and buyer, as well as times of deworming or vaccination. By the way, breeders reserve a right of repurchase. If the puppy does not do well with the new owner, they can get the little dogs back quickly and easily.
So that you are well prepared for the first ride home, you should buy the most important accessories right away.

• Time: Handover approx. 30 minutes to 1 hour
• Purchase price: 2.500 Euro (Pomeranian, Miniature Spitz)

This is what your 1 day looks like!

That’s kind of what your first day looks like! She or he will be super knocked out and sleep a lot.

How long does it take for your dog to grow up?

Before we get to the basic equipment, here’s a question you ask yourself right from day 1, how long will it take for your dog to be fully grown? As a rule, you can expect a year, then doggy is fully developed. That is, from puppy to adult dog, you have about 1 year of joy with your puppy – that is: play, sleep, play, sleep, sleep, play and sleep!

This is my little Peppa! Pomeranian (dwarf spitz) as a puppy on the first sunny day:

My little Pomeranian was white on day 1, like a little polar bear. Now after 10 days it is slowly getting a little more reddish. Let’s see if the little one looks like a fox later!

This is how my puppy might look one day, as an adult Pomeranian (dwarf spitz):

Get to know each other, go out & buy accessories – Day 2

From now on, it’s about you guys getting to know each other and spending time together.

The first night: puppy is restless

The first night my puppy was super active and woke me up every hour. What to do? My tip for you: Talk in a calm voice and gently bring your little puppy back to sleep. If he or she refuses to sleep, let your puppy do it and be a good role model, keep sleeping. You’ll develop teamwork and your dog will learn from you too. Be a role model during the day, acting calm and level-headed, and in the evening too.

Your little puppy will get used to sleeping at night extremely quickly. Already on the second day she was much calmer and woke me up only 3x. After a week, she only made herself noticeable briefly, early at 5 o’clock.

By the way, this is also an indicator for you to say, “I have to pee! When your puppy gets restless, it can be a sign that he or she needs to relieve themselves. As a dog owner, you should ideally go out immediately, especially if you don’t have a garden and live on the 3rd, 4th, or even 5th floor.

Sleep in the bed? By the way, my puppy is not allowed to sleep in the bed. For hygiene reasons, for one, and also later I don’t want my dog to sleep in the bed with me. She should have her own place. As described above, I bought Peppa a soft fur that lies next to my bed, about arm’s length, so that in the evening, when she wakes up, I can stroke her briefly, look down and we’ll go back to sleep.

Sleep rhythm of the puppy in the first week:

1. Day – Restless, wakes you up every hour
2. Day – Calmer, wakes 3x, 4x
3. Day – 7th day, wakes only 1x, 2x

While we are on the subject of “restless” and that this can be an indicator for “walking the dog”. Every morning you have a new job: walking the dog.

The first visit to the meadow, the park, the forest

Your first visit together in the green, no matter if garden, meadow, park or forest is something new for both of you, like every day in the first week with your puppy.

Tip. Keep your walk times the same length (extending is ok)

From my experience, it’s best if you always take 15-20 minutes. Why? Your dog should learn to do his business outside, so that you don’t find pee and poo in the apartment. So don’t go back immediately after your puppy has done his business. If you do that, your dog knows “ok, if I wait longer to do it, I can stay outside longer”. So regardless of whether he or she has already done it, stay outside for a certain amount of time.

As a businessman I like to use the time to check the news, I look at current stock market prices and give her time to run around freely. Of course on her leash and in my radius (meadow). But she is free to play wherever and however she wants, with sticks, daisies, also with other dogs and people.

Getting to know dogs and other people

Puppies are cute! That’s a fact. So you will be approached by people, or rather your puppy and also dogs will say hello directly when you meet them. Dogs are curious, especially puppies.

It is very important for dogs to interact and play with other dogs. Dogs are pack animals and seek social interaction with people and with other dogs. I usually kneel on the ground when a dog comes and shows that he wants to go towards my puppy. This way my pup can retreat protectively if she wants, but can also sniff or even play with the other dog if she wants. So offer your puppy protection, but also let him or her choose quite freely if you judge the other dog to be harmless to him or her.

Tip. Especially for small dogs it is important, protect them from big dogs.

For example, let’s say a German Shepherd meets a Miniature Spitz puppy. Even if the adult sheepdog just wants to play, the puppy’s neck is still extremely sensitive and the consequence can quickly be that your puppy dies in the big dog’s play. My little Peppa still fit easily in my hand at 3 months old.

The first visit to the meadow, in the park, in the forest is thus certainly a complete success for both of you. And now guess what: Afterwards your puppy is knocked out again and will sleep for a long time.

Peeing Outside, Staying Alone & Co. – Day 3

New day, new challenge. Today we continue to get used to each other, to the walk and I leave the little one alone at home for the first time.

Morning routine: checklist

Start into the day! Day 1 was getting to know each other and picking them up from the breeder, day 2 we got to know the new home and the meadow in front of the apartment building. Today we want to solidify our routine. The day starts like this:

1. Cuddling after getting up / watching breakfast TV, about 30 minutes
2. Getting ready for the day / food (wet food) for her, getting dressed and brushing my teeth for me.
3. Put the harness on, put the bowl away and go outside.
4. Walking on the meadow, about 20 minutes with cappuccino for me
5. Way to the office, mostly worn, sometimes she already runs

That’s how our morning starts since then and until today. So the A&O is 1) love, 2) food and 3) walk.

Walk and pee cookies

You need to practice this process with your puppy every day. The sooner he or she gets used to you being out of the house on a regular basis, the sooner the little one will adapt to this possibility. Therefore, as with food, routine is important. Regular times will help your puppy become housebroken much faster.

In the beginning it is therefore worth going out every 2 hours. Of course, this is super easy if you have a garden. If your dog is already used to the green from the garden at the breeder, your puppy will go out almost automatically. If you’re not so lucky, train and walk frequently. Don’t worry if you can’t make it every 2 hours, I didn’t always have the option either. First, because we had 2 days of snow in April and it was just too cold and wet for the little one. She stayed indoors all day and I only carried her when, in my arms when going out. Nevertheless, it was important to me to go out, because so she learns, we are always outside.

At least (that’s how I do it) for small dogs:

1. In the morning after getting up
2. Noon
3. Evening
4. At night, before going to bed

Everything else is currently solved by the Puppy Pads or my dog toilet with meadow. For little Pomeraians this works well, after all their pee is so little, it would easily fit in a bottle cap. Their poop piles are, well, more like little chocolate bons from the grocery store. If you have a slightly larger puppy, such as a German Shepherd or Labrador, then you’ll definitely want to go out a little more often to keep your apartment or house clean.

Ideally, medium and large dogs:

1. In the morning after getting up
2. Morning
3. Noon
4. Afternoon
5. Evening
6. At night, before going to bed
7. During bedtime

Stay at home alone

How long can you leave a puppy alone? If you provide a safe environment, water in the bowl, you can practice being alone from the beginning. I also started on day 3 to take 30 minutes time out in the evening. Since then I always go for a walk alone in the evening.

Again, the secret is silence. Don’t make a drama out of goodbyes and reunions. Simply put, be “cool” about the situation. When you’re leaving the apartment or house, take advantage of a moment when your pup is distracted, such as playing or sleeping. When you come back, pet your dog and say hello, then go on about your usual business. Just follow through, it’s the best way for your dog to get used to the fact that when you’re not there, it’s not a drama, it’s just normal.

Again, I try to incorporate a little routine, the evening. She has played during the day, we have spent a lot of time together and just before going to bed, we will again spend a lot of time with each other.

Regarding the question: How long can you leave a puppy alone?

• Up to 1 hour, from my experience
• Start with small units of 5, 15 or 30 minutes
• Routine helps with habituation, example every evening after walking when the puppy is asleep.

Tip. If you are a cautious type yourself, you can also start like this: Leave the room for 5 minutes, for example, just make yourself a snack in the kitchen while the dog has no access, for example, because you have closed the living room door. Then come back, just as calmly and continue as if nothing had happened.

This is the fastest way to get your puppy used to being alone!

Teamwork, Love and Routine – Week 1

The rest of the first week you get to know each other. So that you understand in the next weeks already much better, “how the other ticks”. The most important tip, I hope you have also read out, you are master and mistress! The time you invest in the beginning, you save in the coming weeks.

One week vacation

So that you really have time and not distracted or even annoyed by hectic office life, maybe buy your dog exactly when you have taken 1 or 2 weeks off anyway. That way you can get up together, you can spend the day together and also the evening. Another 2 hours of cuddling in the morning? No problem! Reminder: you can a puppy, cuddling is at the top of the agenda.

The dog gets to know you, but even better, you get to know your pup too:

Leave me alone! Learn together

Your puppy is getting to know you and you are getting to know your puppy. Just like we talked about before, you can tell by restless actions (easiest case, your dog scratching at the door) that she or he needs to go for a walk. At first puppies are super affectionate, but after day 5, 6, 7, they also slowly develop a “leave me alone” attitude, which is great because that way you know it’s not going to be a full time job forever!

My favourite example: Peppa is sleeping and I want to stroke her. Immediately she stretches her legs, wiggles them around until I take my hand away again. Clear sign for: “Let me sleep”.

In such cases, just let your dog be a dog. He or she is not a stuffed animal and wants to have his or her peace and quiet, just like you. Be happy, because now you have time to do something for yourself.

Food for puppies: dry & wet food

Food for puppies – number 1 is food, especially for puppies. Later your dog gets food 3 times a day. In the morning, at noon and in the evening. Regularly, so that surely the little one gets used to the times and knows that there is food regularly.

Here directly a tip: Do not spoil your dog too much! That is, buy simple food, dry food (brackets) and wet food (food in cans) and do not change too often with “specialties”. If your dog only gets used to “delicacies” and constantly changing “delicacies”, he or she will quickly become picky. That is, keep it simple! Your dog needs you, your attention, love and care, not a 5-star menu.

Listen to Ella’s experience as a podcast here:

Wet food: morning and evening

In the morning and evening, give your puppy wet food, usually canned. Most dogs get meat, but vegetarian alternatives are also important.

• Wet food in the morning and evening
• Chicken, lamb, beef …
• Dry / wet food with vegetable content

For beginners, this is what wet food looks like in the bowl:

Dry food: noon

At noon you give your little puppy dry food, i.e. brackets. You mix the dry food with a little water. Similar to cooking rice, about 50:50, so the little brackets will be a little softer. This is important because your little puppy still has milk teeth.

• Lunchtime dry food
• Mix with 50% water

Bowl: food and water

Bowl – For food and for water your puppy needs two small bowls. The water bowl should always be well filled and constantly filled, so your dog can drink whenever he or she wants. Clean the bowls daily so that germs do not build up. Especially when your dog is young, you should make sure the environment is relatively clean. Again, though, it’s important to keep it simple. You don’t need a hygiene spray or anything else. After all, your dog will quickly get to know the first meadow near you and anyway constantly come into contact with the environment. The bowls you simply clean with water, so that they are clean and without residues when there is new food.

You need for your puppy:

1. Bowl for water
2. Bowl for food

What about treats?

What about treats? Again, the rule is, don’t spoil your dog. When you first buy treats, use them sparingly. Maybe only 3, 4 a day and only 1 at a time. Whenever your dog does something that you can reward. For example, when he pees on the absorbent mat (we’ll get to that in a minute), when he walks a few feet with you, or when he or she puts on the collar without complaining.

Tip: Don’t just buy small treats that your puppy will eat right away. There are also great snacks to chew on that will take your dog a long time, that he and she will have a lot of fun with, and that won’t fill him up so much. With the Pomeranian, chewing on a snack like this will last for days:

Dog insurance: illness and liability

You buy your first puppy and have no experience with dogs? Then you should think about one thing above all: insurance for your little four-legged friend. Just as you need health insurance in case something goes wrong, you should also have provisions for your dog. There are many good providers for this – read more here.

My tips, experience and recommendation:

• Insurance dog

Leash, collar and harness

Leash – number 3 in your basic equipment for the little puppy, is a leash with a collar or harness. Dogs react very differently to being put on a collar and/or harness in the first few days. Your leash should be relatively short for the first few weeks so that your dog is always in your control circle. Depending on where you live, rural or big city, there are different sources of danger. Puppies are active and want to learn about the world. If they are always near you, say a maximum of 3 meters in radius, you can see all the dangers, for example, even broken glass on the floor.

Get your puppy used to the collar right away

Work from day 1 with a collar and leash, so your puppy gets used to wearing it right from the start. So you have less difficulties later. Your puppy will, as a rule, wear a collar or harness from early to later. The sooner you get your puppy used to it, the better.

Tip: Work with harnesses as early as possible. Especially the region around the neck is delicate, especially with Pomeranians (Miniature Spitz). Collars are directly on the important vertebrae and a sudden, strong jerk on the leash can already cause injuries. So try to get your puppy used to a harness as early as possible.

• Collar in the first days and / or
• Dog harness as early as possible
• Short leash with maximum 3 meters

Harness: safety and stability

As you can see here in the picture, a dog harness provides even more protection for your pup:

Blanket and sleeping place (short)

Very important, of course, is a retreat, or the sleeping place for your puppy. It must be comfortable, safe and warm. But it does not have to be a big, special box or a dog basket, in fact is enough from experience a simple blanket, or what is also very nice, fur! Fur (artificial, of course) is especially nice if you have a small dwarf spitz, which is very fluffy in the first weeks, it looks especially cute. At the same time fur keeps nice and warm and provides a cozy base, whether carpet, stone or tile.

For the first ride, from the breeder to home, you should have at least a fluffy blanket.

Your puppy will most likely be separated from its mommy for the very first time today, most likely from its siblings as well. In addition, your dog may also be leaving the apartment and / or its own house and garden for the very first time. Your puppy is also for the very first time, for a longer time outside, especially if the way to the breeder is further.

So you should directly offer a cozy, warm feeling, a new home.

Toys (chewing and distraction)

Once you’re home with your pup, he or she will most likely be sleeping!

But as soon as they wake up, they want to be kept busy. That’s why you should have two or three small toys for your puppy at home right from the start. Again, I recommend simple toys, nothing too elaborate, not too much plastic.

Sticks from park & forest, instead of much plastic

You’ll be amazed how much dogs love simple sticks, for example, from the meadow (city) or from the forest if you live in the countryside.

No invented toy can compete with good sticks! The very most important thing for puppies, they want something to chew on. Something like a small rope, maybe a small plush toy. That’s enough, for the first days and weeks.

So you don’t need a lot of toys at all to make a dog happy, usually 2, 3, 4 toys are enough in the first few weeks.

The important thing in the first days and weeks anyway is that you (!) take time for the puppy!

Briefly summarized

• 2-4 toys for the start
• Later 5, 6 small toys are enough
• Puppy friendly, simple and chewable

Play, eat, sleep and routine: teamwork

Tip. It is also a good idea to take a few days off. This way you can get in tune with each other, from the morning routine, through the day and into the evening.

After only 7 to 10 days, you will get more and more used to each other as a team. For example, you will develop more and more a sense of when your little puppy wants to go to the toilet. Your puppy knows when to eat. You will see how your puppy sleeps and when he or she is active. The better you develop your Team Work already in the first days, the faster and easier it will be the further weeks, months and years!

And very important, for the first few weeks, is this:

Puppy Pads: absorbent pads for puppies

I myself have only heard of Puppy Pads in the pet supply store, from a friend. She said …

This is the ultimate insider tip for all puppies!

She was so right!

Puppy Pads are simple, absorbent mats that you can lay out (1x) at your home. When your dog pees on them, he will smell his pee the next time and will most likely use the same spot for his business.

The pads come in packs of 10 each and they last a few days. On the top they are absorbent for puppy urine, also for poop piles and on the bottom they are leak proof. Perfect for any type of home, from an apartment in the city to a detached house with a garden in the countryside.

What is at night? Dog gate

Puppies do in the apartment, be sure of it. Also, never be angry, just ignore it, do not pay attention to it. If you go out regularly with your puppies, or let him or her in the garden, they will automatically do little by little, outside their own home, their own retreat.

During the day you can accompany your puppy well in the, as soon as it becomes night and you sleep, there are only 2 options:

1. Absolute freedom
2. Tip. Cage or dog guard

Why? If you give your puppy freedom, you have the disadvantage that in the morning small mishaps will be distributed in the apartment / house. The advantage of the cage for the night or the small enclosure with fence, your puppy is always close and makes fast, no longer in the immediate vicinity. So a dog gate gives protection and helps to get used to times to pee.

So if you have a particularly active puppy, or you prefer to be a little more cautious than indulgent yourself, consider buying a grid for the evening. Many buy a grid for the first few weeks, especially at night, where the puppy spends time until morning. This has several advantages, one is you control where your puppy moves when you sleep. Also, as described, dogs don’t like to do their business nearby, so they also get used to holding out until morning.

I like fluffy fur and freedom

My little Pomeranian has, as described, only a fluffy fur to lie and that is absolutely enough. However, you have to live with the fact that you will find some traces of the night in the morning. So no poop and wet spots.

However, your little puppy will gradually get used to doing outside if you walk regularly. Puppy Pads, absorbent mats that you lay out, also help. Due to the fact that dogs look for places that have been marked before, there is a good chance that your dog will make to this mat more often.

Here’s what I do about that:

• Going out regularly, at least 3-5 times a day, depending on the weather conditions.
• Puppy pads for the business at home
• Tip. Dog toilet with meadow

Dog toilet with meadow

My little last secret tip for those who buy a puppy for the first time! There are toilets with artificial grass. On the one hand, it looks fancy, almost like a square, flat flower pot with freshly cut grass. On the other hand, it is like meadow for the puppy and accordingly your puppy likes to do his business here. Super practical. Likewise for cleaning. Once with the water hose or shower over it and it is ready for use again.

Very important here, you will also learn in the article, the first days with your puppy.

If your little puppy ever makes mistakes and pees or poops on the carpet, never be angry or yell.

After all, they are puppies, they can not yet control themselves as adult dogs. It’s exactly the same with us humans.

You should always stay calm so that your puppy gets used to peeing and pooping near you. This will also be important later when you walk your puppy. Little mishaps happen, just make them go away and don’t pay much attention to it.

Checklist: 6 things you must have on day 1!

These were my tips, from my experiences, for your puppy.

From the set up food for your puppy, wet food for eating in the morning and evening, at noon there is dry food (mixed with water). You have a bowl for food, one for water. With a leash and collar or harness you can go out with your puppy for the first time and for the night everything is safe at the sleeping place. For small mishaps, you have puppy pads.

Basic equipment for your dog:

1. Lining (dry and wet)
2. Bowl (food and water)
3. Leash, collar and harness
4. Blanket (sleeping place)
5. Toys (chewing and distraction)
6. Puppy Pads

Puppy moves in! Your first week

Buying puppies – What accessories do you need for your puppy around leash, bowl, sleeping place and food? Every year millions of little puppies are born and find a new home! Also with us there is now one, respectively two little puppies: Neppa & Peppa.

Walk the dog, stay alone & Co.

Thinking about getting a dog? If you have time to spare and love, then a little puppy is something wonderful. But, what do you have to consider?! Learn here about the everyday life with a little puppy: My first day with Peppa (Dwarf Spitz, or Pomeranian puppy), my first week and my experiences. If you’re thinking about getting a dog, here are the ultimate tips for the first week with your puppy and a few insider tips, like puppy pads, tips for walking and staying alone – all in the first week!

• Puppy moves in! Week 1

Dog as a pet: XXL Guide

Dog moves in! You have decided to get a dog, as a single, with your partner or even the whole family and you are thinking about getting a dog? There are millions of dogs in this country. They are among the most popular pets. Dogs breeds such as Labrador, French Bulldog, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Pomeranian or Chihuahuas. How much does a dog cost? What does a dog like best? How does the dog realize that you love him? Many questions, here you will find the answers. From dog grooming and the first coat, to dog food (wet and dry), organic alternatives, but also tips on initial equipment, around leash, bowl & Co.

• Pet dog

Dog food: The big test

I currently feed my puppy three times a day, morning, noon and night. Between the meals there are then of course still small snacks! Especially small dogs are very active in the first months and years! They like to play, they like to bark. We have two puppies at the same time, brother and sister, accordingly they are the whole day at the romp and also hungry, at noon, in the evening and in the morning.

Variety is a must! Nobody wants to eat the same thing every day, not even your dog.

Dog food: regular feeding besides snacks

Before we get to the snacks, here’s a little look at what my little pup likes best!

Dogs love anything from the animal – If you’re going to buy your first puppy, be sure, dogs love pretty much anything with and from animals; no matter what you think. Even if you’re a vegetarian yourself, dogs love dried ears (yes), feet, little wound up skewers, pretty much any scraps left over from the animal.

Wet food or dry food?

I try to feed wet food in the morning and evening and at lunchtime they have a bowl of dry food. But when it comes to wet food they also like small carrots, peas, sbe4 but noodles and of course rice in the meals.

Besides your regular feedings, there are of course little treats.

Snacks and treats: recommendations

I like treats best that my puppy can chew on for a long time, for example chew sticks. Because, now it’s not just about food, it’s also about activity. Trust me:

Dogs love to chew. It calms them down!

On a single chicken foot, my little dog can nibble for up to five, six hours. Sometimes she nibbles for two hours at a stretch without a break.

In general, I make sure that my dog doesn’t get too many snacks, in addition to her regular meals. I don’t want her to get used to having food all the time. Sometimes I give her treats because she did something great or to cheer her up in between meals. But usually I give a maximum of five small snacks (mini-snacks) and maybe two bigger ones (chew sticks) in between. That is easily enough for my little Pomeranian!

How many snacks and treats your dog can tolerate should depend on your dog and his personality. Are you out and about a lot? Is your dog big or small? Have more questions? Read all about it here:

• Buy puppy
• Puppy basic equipment

Now let’s get to my big snack test!

Snack test: These treats give my dog

As you’ve read, I’ve bought the pet supply store down my street before. That’s why I sometimes go on the search for new little snack ideas for my dog during my lunch break. I want to share a few treats that she particularly enjoyed with you here.

Organic dog food?! Yarrah ordered & tested

Summer is starting and by now my dog has had his fill of the supplies from the supermarket and pet supply store. So I need some new treats and snacks in my cupboard. This week I took a look at Yarrah. They’ve been producing Organic-Organic since 1992, what’s the advantage of organic products? The manufacturer produces pure organic certified food. That means no chemical fragrances, colors, flavors, pesticides, or GMOs (genetic engineering).

Everyone loves organic, but does my dog? Food for your dog has effects on the coat, but also on digestion, well-being and energy, whether puppy or older dog. Organic is an important topic for many, it’s about farming methods and animal welfare. But it is also about taste and a better feeling when buying. That’s why, for example, I also like to go for organic products at a fair price.

Now the question: Are there also good organic alternatives for dog food and snacks? With this question, I came to Yarrah. Yarrah is the largest supplier of organic dog food. Summer is starting and by now my dog has had enough of the supplies from the supermarket and pet supply store. So I need some new treats and snacks for my dog, in my pantry. This week I ordered from Yarrah for the first time, and everything arrived today. What can organic from Yarrah do? Our little taste test!

• Organic dog food from Yarrah

Buying your first dog: XXL Guide

Great snacks, a fair price and organic production since 1992. The delivery was fast. All in all: 4.7 / 5.0 from our tester! Plus, the good feeling and purely organic certified, so without chemical fragrances, colors, flavors, pesticides and GMOs (genetic engineering). Read more about Yarrah here and find these and new snacks for your dog online:

• Yarrah organic food

Your first puppy: guidebook

Buying puppies – What accessories do you need for your puppy around leash, bowl, sleeping place and food? Every year millions of little puppies are born and find a new home! Also with us there is now one or two little puppies: Neppa & Peppa. You are thinking about getting a dog? If you have time to spare and love, then a little puppy is something wonderful. But, what do you have to consider?! Learn here about the daily life with a little puppy: My first day with Peppa (Dwarf Spitz, or Pomeranian puppy), my first week and my experiences. If you’re thinking of getting a dog, here are the ultimate tips for the first week with your puppy and a few insider tips, like puppy pads, tips for walking and staying alone – all in the first week!

• Your first puppy: guidebook

Basic equipment for your puppy

Buying Puppies: Basic Supplies for Your Dog – No matter what breed of dog or type of mixed breed, there are exactly 6 things you need when buying your first dog or puppy! So to speak, the basic equipment for your puppy and the first days together in the house or apartment. With this checklist, you have everything important! The right food for puppies, two bowls for food and water, a leash with collar and / or harness (safer), toys and very important, especially if you have no garden or live on the first floor: Puppy Pads! Learn all the essentials here, with tips for times to eat and other interesting checklists for beginners and novices. Simply explained and free! Here’s the nuts and bolts for the first trip, from breeder to home, and the first few days with your puppy, from my experience.

• Puppies basic equipment

Pomeranian! Pomeranians as a pet

You want to buy your first puppy? Maybe even a small Pomeranian for you or your family? Then you surely have many questions! Here you will find the answers, among others to questions like “how much does a Pomeranian cost?”, “what do you have to look out for in a Dwarf Pomeranian?”, “how much does a Pomeranian shed?” and “how do you groom a Pomeranian?”. – First of all: Pomeranians are really cute as a button. Grown up they are only 25-30 inches tall and as a puppy, barely a handful of dog. Walking, peeing, Pomeranian care, our little guide to your first puppies!

• Pomeranian! Pomeranian