Ever since we decided to get a puppy and possibly found a breeder to buy our new puppy from we’ve been busy trying to get ready for the new addition.

When we went to the Humane Society Tuesday night we stopped in their pet supply store before we left and looked at all the dog toys, the huge assortment of dog foods and snacks available and so on. I must admit we were pretty confused.

I mean, what kind of things do puppy need?

We decided to get a small dog collar and a leash to go with it. I know we won’t be talking the puppy out to the park until all it’s shots are finished but I want it to have a collar and we might use the collar and leash for short walks around our yard and property.

We also got a double food and water dish set. It’s on a stand so it’s less likely for a dog to make the dishes tip over and spill.

Then we stood looking at the array of doggy toys that we could purchase. We ended up picking two that would be good for teething puppies/ small dogs. We tried out some squeeky toys but we both nixed them fairly fast and they were loud! Maybe we’ll give in and get the pup one at some point but for now it’s all set with two toys to chew on.

We also got a really nice camouflage fabric doggy bed. It’s stuffed full of microfiber and if the pup doesn’t use it maybe I’ll roll it up and use it as a cushion … really, it seems pretty comfy.

Now I bet since we bought the dog a doggy bed already it will never use it!

Last night Chris came home and went right out to a department store. He had to get something from the baby furniture department. No it wasn’t one of those nice baby cribs although I hope one day we’ll get one of those too.

We’d talked the night before about what to do about our stair case. It’s a narrow staircase of only 29 inches and we opened up the one side of it in the dining room. There’s no banister which is legal since it’s such a narrow stair way … but still it could be dangerous for a small child or animal. So we talked about getting a baby gate.

We figure that the dog will likely spend most of it’s time with me and I’m on the main floor most of the time, but when we are upstairs the dog will still probably want to be near us … so when Chris went out to the store he got a baby gate that slides open.

Unfortunately since our stairway is so narrow a gate that barely slides open due to the narrowness of the opening won’t do. Chris actually expected me to get to the top of the stairs and lift my leg up over it. Yeah … try that when you’re dizzy or nauseated or maybe carrying a puppy in your arms? Uh huh. Back to the store he went!

He eventually came home (after we took a look on the internet for the kind I’d wanted him to get) with one that has a true gate that will swing open in either direction.

Tomorrow we’ll install that either at the top of the stairs or perhaps in the upstairs hallway just on the other side of the bathroom. Might as well keep it easy to get to the bathroom right, since it’s almost at the top of the stairs anyway.

What would you do? Put the gate at the top of the stairs or keep it easy to get to the bathroom and put the gate on the other side of the bathroom entrance?

Chris also picked up the kind of food that the puppies are currently being fed and some small treats to help with training.

Is there any other essentials that we really should get before we have a new puppy in the house?