Written by copywriter & proofreader, Natasha Adlam

Instagram: @natasha_adlam_copywriting

Getting a dog is one of life’s great pleasures.

A completely, hopelessly devoted companion (and that’s just you) with the best greetings when you’ve stepped through the front door, even if you only left to take the bins out.

There are a few things to think about before you get your own furry pal, and luckily for you, Lawoofs of Devon have got you covered.

Firstly, the basics.

1. Bedtime

Every pup needs a place to sleep, and more often than not it’ll be anywhere and everywhere. The back of the sofa, at the end of (or even in) your bed, a nice stinky washing pile, or randomly under your office chair. But, not all dogs sleep in as random places as my Ruby (a Yorkie with a larger-than-life personality, who’s not much bigger than a guinea pig. Not an exaggeration, a friend of mine once asked me if she was a guinea pig) so a bed should be pretty high on the shopping list.

Lawoofs have got all sorts, from nests and mattresses to donuts, ready for your perusing.

2. Feed me, Seymour

As long as you’ve got a bowl for food, and one for water, you’re set.

Depending on the size of your pup, you’ll need to have a think about how big the food bowl should be (a Great Dane and a Chihuahua aren’t going to be eating the same amount, unless the Chihuahua is some sort of monster). And if your dog is bouncy, you’ll probably need to get heavier bowls, so there’s less chance of them skidding across the floor.

On the other hand, my grandma’s dog was always convinced that her food was poisoned, so she’d lean right in and gently sniff it before carefully testing each bit, so a small bowl was fine.

3. It’s walkie time!

‘It’s walkie-porkie time’ is what my mother often says, and that’s just to get my dad off the sofa. Whether it’s ‘walkie-porkie time’, ‘leady time’, or just straight-up ‘walkies’, there are a few bits you’re gonna need. To start with, a collar and a lead.

Obviously brand-new pups won’t be going outside for the first few weeks, so now’s the perfect time for a home fashion show to work out which lead and collar colour combos take your fancy. Ruby’s definitely got her eye on a new lead…

You’re also going to need poo bags (I’d recommend having at least one in every pocket and every bag). When they come home covered in mud (and god knows what else) it’s probably a good idea to have some dog shampoo and a microfibre towel on standby.

And for the uber classy? Dog perfume.

4. Toys

Much like a child, the toys you buy for your pup will potentially stay with them for the rest of their lives, unless they do slightly creepy things like chew their eyes out (I have no idea why Ruby does this, especially when the eyes are only stitched on) or if they maul their toys in the first few seconds.

Your dog is probably going to want to chew everything in your house. Your shoe laces? Delicious. The edge of the carpet… did you say buffet? So, the earlier you get them chewing on toys, the better.

Lawoofs have got a fab range of durable toys, and some even have puncture-proof squeakers, so you’ll be able to listen to them squeaking away to their heart’s content.

5. Treat yo’pup

If dogs love anything, it’s a treat. The fact that Scooby Doo is willing to do anything for a Scooby Snack is no exaggeration. Ruby loves chicken more than anything, so I’m hoping to use it to train her to unload the dishwasher and make tea, so we’ll see how that goes.

More bizarre things to consider

Apart from purchases, there are a few other things you might want to ponder before you start viewing puppies and ultimately get suckered in to buying one (even though you told your partner you only wanted to go and have a look…). 

- A name.

But really, whatever name you choose will rarely be used, as you’ll have a million nicknames instead. Even some that have literally nothing to do with your dog, and you’ll forget where the name came from. For example, Ruby is more often known as ‘Rupert’ and none of us can remember why.

- Your dog is possibly going to have some weird quirks.

You’ll love them for it, but they’ll be bizarre. Ruby is hardcore obsessed with feathers. Not really sure why. But she’ll sit and stare at a feather for hours if we don’t get to it quickly enough to throw it away. She’s also really sensitive to specific sounds. Not fireworks - she couldn’t care less about those. But if you have hiccups? She’ll shake like a jelly and run for the hills.

- You might also need to invest in some dog bum wipes. Don’t ask. Just get some.

‘Love me, feed me, never leave me’. That’s Garfield’s motto, and even though he’s a stupid cat (Ruby’s words, not mine) it’ll apply to your furry friend too. Have fun with your new pal!

 

© Natasha Adlam Copywriting, 2021