Most people’s first comment when they walk into our house is “wow, your dog has so many cushions”. It’s almost as if there’s a rule about how many cushions a dog needs but when it comes to cushions, you can go crazy. Nevertheless, there are pet essentials you’ll need to consider for both dogs and cats.

Basic Needs 

Just like us, dogs and cats need to know that they are safe and that they have food and water. It might sound obvious but their sense of safety isn’t always clear to us because our definitions are slightly different. 

This is especially true if you’re caring for a newly adopted senior dog

When it comes to pet essentials for new or existing pets, make sure you have a safe space for them in a corner. You might need to play around with where you place their cushion. For instance, any noise or outside light might impact their state of mind.

For example, some years ago, I adopted an 11 year old from the shelter and it took me some time to find the right spaces for him at home. I also soon realised that he was uncomfortable with large spaces. He would therefore never sit on a cushion in the middle of a room. 

The trick is to observe what they naturally do as this will give you clues as to where they feel safe. 

pet essentials - raised food bowls

Other basic pet essentials to remember:  

Well-Being Needs 

Dog and cats present different joys and challenges, as expected. Generally, cats can keep themselves entertained but even they need mental stimulation and contact with others.

Dogs are social animals and whilst we all have busy lives, it’s important to remember that they struggle when left alone. In fact, the UK charity, Bluecross, recommends not leaving them for more than 4 hours in their blog on separation anxiety

Of course, we’re all different and there will be some cats who don’t like to be alone and some dogs who need to be more active. For instance, border collies are renowned for being constantly on the go and some rarely sleep during the day. 4 hours alone would be too long for them.

All this shouldn’t be overwhelming because working out well-being pet essentials is a bit of a trial-and-error experience. The more fun you make it, the more you’ll all get out of it. 

pet essentials - well-being

Determining your pet essentials for optimal well-being: 

Health & Safety Needs 

We all have our different approaches to healthcare. That includes the level of ownership we take versus simply letting the doctors take charge, all of which depends very much on who we are. 

In fact, recent research on personality and health-care decision-making style shows that those who are conscientious and open-minded tend to take a more active role in their medical decisions than those who are neurotic and agreeable. 

Similarly when considering pet essentials for healthcare, every dog guardian has a different approach. 

Nevertheless, whilst most dog carers follow the annual check-up routine, did you know that semi-annual health check-ups are equally important?

As an Australian vet explains in his article on semi-annual health checks, 6 months is the equivalent to around three human years. 

Of course, most of us don’t do annual health checks when we’re younger. Nevertheless, as we get older, those checks become more critical. It’s the same for dogs after the age of around around 6 or 7, depending on their size. 

For a more accurate picture of how old your dog is in human years, check out this article by the American Kennel Club on how to calculate dog years

Alongside regular health checks, don’t forget these other pet essentials: 

pet essentials - happiness

Final Thoughts on Getting Your Pet Essentials 

If you’re like me, you’ll constantly research and optimise what works for your pet to keep both of you happy. It’s all part of the journey and fun of living together.

Simply remember the key pet essentials such as regular health checks and mental stimulation along with a registered microchip and you’ll work out the rest together. Just enjoy the companionship. 

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