The 3 Essentials Every Pup Needs: Fresh Food, Walkies, and Cuddles

Is there anything better than bringing home a sweet new pup? There’s just something special about those slobbery kisses and curious head tilts that make every early morning wake-up and torn-up shoe absolutely worth it.

However, when you become a dog mom, there’s a lot you need to consider — like how your time and budget will take to the new family addition. If you don’t have a pet-friendly schedule, it’s going to be tough for you to provide your dog with everything they need. I know I had a tough time transitioning schedules when I adopted Martini and Frank, at least. I learned nearly immediately that I’d need some help to steal some time back, and Ollie was there to provide that help with their fresh, human-grade dog food delivery.

We all know that dogs are the best cuddle bugs around, but they also need time to go outside, socialize, and just enjoy life! Plus, you’ll also have to put toys, treats, veterinary care, equipment, and of course, food at the top of your list, too. If you’ve ever owned a dog before, you know that these costs add up!

If you just adopted a dog and are curious about what kind of commitment you’ll need to provide, I’m here to guide you through it. Whether you’re an aspiring dog mom or a new dog mom (even a fur-mom-in-distress!) I’ll give you all the tips you need to keep those dog bellies full and those tails wagging.

Here are the three essentials every pup needs — fresh food, walkies, and cuddles!

The 3 Essentials Every Pup Needs

Dogs require a lot of care and attention. Before you sign up to become a dog mom, make sure you consider these three essential elements. If you recently brought home an adorable ball of fluff, congratulations! Here’s what you need to know:

1. Fresh Food

Did you know that, in the first five months of a dog’s life, they need to eat an average of three-to-four times per day? Yup, consistency is key; but even more important than the amount of times they eat per day is the food itself. Thankfully, food quality is never something I have to worry about with Ollie.

Feeding your dog a high-quality diet is the best way to keep them healthy. Although both dry and canned dog food can provide your dog with the right amount of nutrition, I prefer feeding fresh dog food that’s made with complete, balanced, and human-grade ingredients, like the ones offered by Martini and Frank’s favorite dog food brand: Ollie.

For me, feeding my dogs on a schedule has always worked best — especially when they were puppies. This worked out perfectly because, like the food we eat, Ollie’s human-grade dog food shouldn’t sit out for more than 2 hours if it’s not all eaten in one sitting (as if they don’t scarf it down in a matter of minutes anyway). Once I got into a routine with both Martin and Frank, I found that feeding them twice a day with pre-portioned healthy foods was the best way to keep their health on track.

Dog moms, listen up. Just go with Ollie now and thank me later. Not only do they take care of my fur babies’ nutrition, they bring it right to my door on my schedule. If you’re a new dog mom, you’ll soon understand the true value of that. Ollie dog food delivery checks dog food off my list for good, so I’m free to keep things moving.

2. Walkies

Puppies need to be taken out for potty breaks every two hours. Besides those potty breaks, they also need lots (and lots!) of exercise and time to play. Before you bring your dog home, you should make sure you have the patience to handle the energy of a puppy. That energy, mind you, can last for quite a while. Some sporting dogs are slow to mature, having puppy-like minds even when their bodies look quite grown up.

Don’t leave your puppy alone for more than three or four hours at a time — yes, that means putting vacations, late nights on the town, and weekends away on hold for the time being. It also means you might need to adjust your work schedule a bit while you get used to having a pup at home. Even when your dog is older, you still need to fit in time for at least one or two daily walks. You can give your dog appropriate dog toys to help exercise and entertain him, but the walk is still essential to keep them healthy.

If you can’t sneak away from work to make sure your dog gets a walk in, you may want to find other ways for your pup to get outside. Consider having a dog walker come by or send your dog to doggy daycare.

3. Cuddles

Dogs need plenty of time with humans and other dogs. The exact amount of time they need, according to the American Kennel Club, isn't really something that can be easily quantified. It varies by the individual pet so you can’t make generalizations based on the age or breed of a dog.

Some dogs just need more social interaction than others. At the very least, you should try to provide your dog with at least two hours of dedicated social time with humans or other dogs every day. Keeping your dog isolated is not only unkind to them, but it’s also a recipe for disaster. Dogs are social animals!

Cuddling with your dog is one of the best things you can do for them (and yourself!). It helps build loyalty and respect — and it strengthens the bond between you and your pet. Dogs crave attention and affection like we do, so make sure you take the time to snuggle your pup as often as you can (I know, I know — twist my arm, right?).

Give Your Dog the Life They Deserve

Before bringing home a new dog, make sure you do your due diligence. After raising Martini and Frank, I realized that my life was going to be a lot easier if I could come up with a schedule that worked for us all. We couldn’t have done it without Ollie’s dog food delivery, plenty of walks, and cuddles. Not only is Ollie’s human-grade dog food made out of real, easy-to-identify ingredients, but their team delivers it right to my door.

That’s huge. As a dog owner, my schedule is already jam-packed. I’ve got walks to squeeze in, vet visits to schedule, and yes, lots of cuddles to enjoy. Who has time for those inconvenient and constant trips to the store? Those foods prioritize shelf life anyway, not the actual ingredients. With Ollie, you get the convenience of at-home delivery and top-of-the-line fresh ingredients so I can spend more time taking care of everything else involved with pet-care.

Sure, caring for any pet is a labor of love; but by following the tips outlined herein, you’ll be sure to limit all the labor without skimping on the love. Best of luck, pet parents!