Essential Products for New Dog Owners

Food / Water Bowls – Buy a food bowl four times the volume of your dog’s meal. So, if you feed one cup of food, purchase a food bowl big enough for four cups of food. It’s smart to buy a Water Trapper Mat to put under the bowls to keep water and kibble crumbs off the floor.
Collar & Leash – A sturdy collar or harness and leash help you keep your dog under control, and we offer several options we’ll personalize for free.
Dog Bed – Orvis dog beds are known as some of the best money can buy. If you want your new family member to enjoy the most comfortable sleep, look at our Memory Foam and ComfortFill-Eco beds.
Crate – A durable crate with a cozy crate pad gives your dog her very own den in the comfort of your home. A crate she loves can be her special place to recharge when she needs to or a safe space to contain her if you need to be away from home for a few hours.
Toys – One of the most enjoyable aspects of bringing home a new dog is figuring out which toys are her favorites. It’s a fun process of trial-and-error to discover whether it’s going to be the plush squeaky or the bouncy ball that will ignite the joy in her eyes.
Poop Bags – It’s a known fact that dogs never poop twice on a walk unless you bring only one bag. It’s important to include extra biodegradable poop bags in her stash of health and grooming supplies so you’re never without a bag when you really, really need one.
First Aid Kit – You’ll need a supply of products for an active dog. Chief among these is the ever-important first aid kit specifically designed to respond to canine injuries. We recommend a travel first aid kit for your glove box as well as a full first aid kit for your home and hunt lodge.

Opt for healthy, wholesome treats for your new dog. You’ll find a wide selection of healthy dog treats at Orvis.

For a standard dog collar, use a measuring tape to find the circumference around the base of your dog’s neck, near the shoulders. Add an inch for small dogs and two inches for large dogs. That total gives you the size collar your dog needs. If you’re buying a Martingale collar, measure the top of your dog’s neck, under the chin and ears, to obtain the proper size.

Choose the right size dog bed based on your dog’s size. Small beds suit pups up to 40 pounds, medium beds are for dogs up to 60 pounds, large fits dogs up to 120 pounds, and extra large beds are made for canine companions 120 pounds or more. If you have a dog who likes to sprawl, you may want to choose a size up. Use our dog bed selector to help you find the best match for your new family member.

Since you and your new dog will spend the first few months getting to know each other, have a small assortment of toys on hand so she can figure out what she likes. If you’re bringing home a puppy, make sure to offer her puppy-appropriate toys that are the right size and don’t present any choking hazards. If you’ve adopted an older dog or senior dog, choose some durable plush toys, a firm rubber chew toy, a fetch toy, and a stimulation toy so you’ll have options as you learn how she likes to play.

Your dog first aid kit needs full supplies to handle basic injuries like broken nails, cuts, dehydration, and overheating. Include veterinary-grade bandages, anticoagulant, antibiotic wipes or spray, sterile gauze wrap or pads, cool packs, and a field-ready emergency blanket. If you’re in the field, keep bottled water in the first aid kit for hydration as well as cleaning wounds or eyes. Add a few packets of dog hydration supplement to the first aid kit in case the day ends up being hotter or more strenuous than anticipated. Scissors and forceps help with dressing wounds as well as removing ticks or barbs like porcupine quills. Keep a general guide to dog first aid in the kit for reference.

Top-Quality Essential Products for New Dog Owners

Our Essentials for New Dog Owners collection includes collars, leashes, training aids, and other basic supplies you’ll need for your new furry family member. If you or someone you know has or will soon become a new pet parent, heartfelt congratulations are in order: Dog ownership is among life’s most rewarding experiences. But that joy also brings challenges, and for those, we offer several solutions. You’ll find the basics every dog needs in this collection, including our popular side-release buckle collar and leash. Let us personalize a collar with your new dog’s name and your phone number—it’s the best first layer of security for your companion, offers peace of mind for you, and it’s free. Our collection also includes options in the Orvis ToughChew® Dog Bed, ideal for a new puppy or an adult dog with destructive habits, but if you’d like to explore other types of Orvis dog beds, our Dog Bed Guide will help winnow down the choices. We offer attractive and sturdy options in furniture protectors and dog throw blankets fabricated with innovative textiles to stay put and absorb moisture, all of them machine washable. Using furniture protectors in your home’s living areas also expands your new dog’s sleeping options and helps her feel more comfortable and welcome. Training is part and parcel of dog ownership, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pet parent. Our collection includes healthy dog training treats made with all-natural ingredients dogs love, ideal for more productive sessions. And you’ll find tough squeaky toys to engage your new dog and to satisfy her natural urge to chew. There’s more to explore, including dog feeders, crates, gates, and car seat protectors. Any of the products in this collection also makes a thoughtful gift for the new dog owner on your list. Consult our Guide to Dogs for informative articles about training your new friend, traveling with a dog, safety, nutrition, and the special needs of older dogs. And if you’re still on the fence about inviting a dog into your family, try our Dog Breed Selector to see which type of dog might be a good fit for you. There are fewer life experiences more satisfying than the companionship of a dog—let Orvis help make it a reality for you.