Congratulations on your new bundle of fluff! There’s nothing like puppy packages waiting by your front door to heighten the excitement! Here are some essentials that are good to have on hand as you prepare for your new furry family member:
- Snuggle puppy – It’s a good idea to have a scent item that your puppy can sleep with prior to joining your family and then take home as a familiar friend. You may opt to bring a piece of material to hold the familiar, comforting scent of littermates (i.e. a wash cloth), but an even better option is a Snuggle Puppy. We have families tell us that their dog continues to sleep with Snuggle Puppy friend even as an adult dog. Snuggle Puppies are specially designed for puppies: the tag is hidden away inside the pocket and there aren’t any eyes or noses that can be chewed off and swallowed. Additionally, there isn’t any stuffing in the ears or tail to prevent your pup from accidentally ingesting the white fluffy stuffing usually found in stuffed animals. I personally prefer the small size snuggle puppy and not white, as it’s hard to keep white clean with a puppy!
- Toys – It’s good to have a variety of toys on hand. Stuffing-free dog toys are a good option because your puppy will enjoy the softness without risking swallowing stuffing. Longggg dog toys are another type of fun that’s good to have on hand. These toys are longer because it helps keep your hands a little farther away from those sharp little puppy shark teeth during play! Octopus toys are nice for that same reason, and they’re also fun if you have two dogs or puppies that might enjoy playing tug-of-war together. Squeaky toys are also a favorite! Sometimes dogs figure out how to squeak them on their own and have fun entertaining themselves. Many of our puppies love balls, so having a pack of doggie tennis type balls on hand will help encourage that natural retrieving instinct. Be cautious of the mini tennis ball size, as you don’t want something so small that your puppy may accidentally swallow it. Finally, treat dispensing toys can give your pup fun, mental stimulation, and dinner all packaged in one activity.
- Chews – puppies love to chew, particularly until about 8 months of age. To help set both you and your puppy up for success, select a few long last items that your puppy is allowed chew. Split elk antlers are always a favorite as are water buffalo horns. Benebones are also a good option. For split elk antlers, we like RidgeRunner. Use the code TR15 for 15% off. Always be sure to monitor your puppy when she’s playing with a toy or chewing.
- Irresistible chews for crate time – Select an AMAZINGLY tasty chew or two that your puppy ONLY gets in her crate. We find that puppies love buffalo or pigs ears, but it can be challenging to find ones produced in the USA. You may be able to find some at a local feed and supply store. Another good option is Nature Gnaws, available at Target as well as Amazon. Nature Gnaws has a variety of single ingredient chews that your pup will enjoy. Choose something that is very tasty and that will take your pup some time to devour.
- Collar – Your mini puppy will likely need a 14”-16″ collar when full-grown (the collar will probably adjust from 13″-19″ like this medium one) but may benefit from the extra small size at first. She has been wearing a collar that is adjusted to about 9″-11″ during her last few weeks with us. Even though your puppy will go home with a microchip, it’s always a good idea to have an external ID on her to make it easy to identify her (without a microchip reader!). I really like that these collars can be embroidered with your phone number. Dog tags hanging from the collar also provide an external ID, however they can become caught on things, so the embroidered collar is a safer choice for your pup.
- Harness – the Julius harness is a great option that keeps your puppy from pulling on her trachea (neck) when she seems something exciting on a walk. A harness is also helpful for keeping your puppy safe in the car. It’s safer to hook a doggie seatbelt to a harness than a collar.
- Doggie seatbelt attachment – Having your pup restrained in the car keeps both you and your puppy safe! Use a seatbelt attachment for happy car rides!
- Flat lead – Pick out a sturdy flat lead that is 3/4″ wide that’s 4′-6′ long. Flexi leads are not the best choice for young puppies. A poop bag pouch that hooks to your pup’s leash is also helpful for keeping walks tidy.
- 30″ or 36″ Crate – We primarily use metal crates with our dogs, as they are easier to clean, but plastic crates give the den-like feel and are a good option as well. A crate cover can give a metal crate the den-like feel yet you can still toss it in the washer if needed. Consider purchasing a 36″ crate with dimensions for medium puppies. Mini goldendoodles may be comfortable in a 30″ crate. You may prefer to use a smaller crate can be used while your puppy is little or use a divider to make the crate a little smaller. We primarily use 30″ metal crates in crate conditioning the pups during their time with us, although we also try to introduce them to plastic crates.
- Food puzzles & games – Dogs are natural foragers, and sometimes, eating out of a bowl can be a little…. boring. Have a few more entertaining feeding options available for your pup such as a snuffle bowl, slow feeder bowl, and wobble feeder. These types of interactive food games take mental energy and problem solving, which helps a puppy use that puppy energy in a productive, fun way. Kongs are another great food toy. Simply put plain yogurt and kibble inside and your puppy will be in for a fun time! You can even freeze the filled Kong to extend the length of fun.
- Dog bed – What dog doesn’t love a comfy place to relax and enjoy a good chew? It’s good for your puppy to have a place that is her own spot where she can relax or snooze and not be in danger of being tripped over, and a dog bed is just perfect for that. Some puppy training classes will help you teach you puppy the “place” command, which is a very useful command that allows you to tell her to go to her dog bed during opportune moments such as when guests arrive or when you are enjoying a meal.
- Crate bedding – While dogs love having a large, comfy bed available outside of a crate, I find that they often prefer not to have a big one inside of their crate. Having a blanket or towel in your crate allows your puppy to adjust her bedding how she wants it so she can move it to the side if she becomes hot or snuggle up on it if she wants a little more warmth. I find that fleece blankets are always a favorite. I also like that blankets are more easily washable than beds, making it easier to keep your puppy’s space clean.
- Puppy food – Your puppy will be used to eating TLC Puppy Food, so order a bag from TLCpetfood.com and they’ll ship it to your home, where it will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of your newest family member. You will receive an email directly from TLC when your puppy is about 5 weeks old. We love TLC for a variety of reasons, a few of which are: multiple protein sources (helps reduce the risk of developing food allergies), low legume content (reduces the risk of developing dilated cardiac myelopathy), included pre & probiotics (helps keep the intestines happy), no corn or soybeans (ingredients that are likely to be genetically modified), no recalls ever (we want to keep our dogs healthy & safe), and the food is fresher than store bought foods since it is delivered directly to your home.
- Dog food storage container – You’ll want a sturdy container for your pup’s food to help keep it fresh.
- Soft training treats – Treats should be soft, small, and easy to chew quickly. Purebites dog treats are a good option as are Smart Cookie single ingredient treats. They are made with just one ingredient (i.e. lamb liver) and don’t contain ingredients such as BHA that you do not want your puppy to consume.
- Training treat pouch – it’s helpful to have a handle little storage pouch for your pup’s training treats, so they are easily accessible when you need them. A treat pouch makes it easy to have rewards on hand when you go for a walk or when guests come to the front door.
- Basic dog grooming supplies – Even if you don’t plan to groom your doodle yourself, it’s beneficial to have a few basic grooming supplies on hand to help keep your pup looking her best between grooming appointments. Blunt tip scissors are handy for trimming those adorable little hairs that like to cover her eyes. A metal comb is a great tool for curly coated Goldendoodles and a grooming rake works well for wavy coated Goldendoodles. These will help keep in undercoat free from tangles. Also purchase a curved slicker brush for fluffing the outer coat on your goldendoodle. A pair of grooming clippers can be good to have on hand for trimming your puppy’s fluffy bottom between grooming appointments. Finally, you’ll want a cordless dremel for trimming your puppy’s toenails – it’s a matter of which you prefer. Your puppy will have had it’s nails trimmed prior to going home and your vet & groomer will likely offer to trim her nails when you take her in for appointments, but it’s still important for you to trim her nails at home. It’s also a good idea to have styptic powder on hand just in case you trim your puppy’s nail a little too short. For more information about grooming, read through our goldendoodle haircuts posts.
- Baxter & Bella Online training program – Baxter & Bella is a unique online puppy raising resource that is IMMENSELY helpful. Not only will you have access to the myriad of videos and training tips, but membership also includes chats with professional trainers. If your puppy enters a new stage and you’re not quite sure how to navigate it, just talk to a trainer to get the tips and tricks you need to help your puppy. Baxter & Bella helps new owners with everything from preparing your home to basic manners to make a socialization checklist. Use the code Timberidge for 25% off Baxter & Bella!
- Doggie doorbell – A bell is handy for housebreaking, so your goldendoodle has a way to tell you when she needs to go out. Any bell will work, it doesn’t have to be a bell specifically for dogs, however we have multiple past puppies who use this doggie doorbell and love it. Baxter & Bella has tips for helping to teach your pup to use a doorbell, so be sure to check it out!
- Baby gates and/or puppy pen – you may need a gate or two to section off your house during the housebreaking and chewing phases. Depending on the layout of your home or if your puppy will be alone for extended periods of time, a puppy pen will come in handy for giving your puppy a safe place to play. I find black metal puppy pens more attractive although they are also slightly pricier. The plastic and metal options both work well, and it comes down to a matter of ascetics. Finally, puppies shouldn’t have free access to going up and down the stairs when they’re little, so you may find it helpful to place a gate at the bottom of your stairs. We use use one.
- Carpet cleaner – accident happen, so have some odor eliminating carpet cleaner on hand for when you need it.
- Pooper scooper – You want your pup to potty outside, but you also don’t want little poo bombs scattered around your yard, so a pooper scooper comes in handy for keeping your grass clean & tidy. Accidentally stepping in poop and then having to it off of shoes is the worst!
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Food & water bowls – Look to purchase stainless or ceramic bowls, as they are healthier for your puppy and easier to clean than plastic. It’s a good idea to purchase an extra water bowl, as an extra will allow you to regularly throw your puppy’s water bowl in the dishwasher. We also have stainless water buckets that hook to the inside of our dogs’ crates so they can have access to water overnight. While you may not want your puppy having access to water overnight initially, a stainless water bucket is something that will be good for your puppy to use a few months down the road.
service & therapy prep
If you plan to do service or therapy work with your puppy, the harness introduction Baxter & Bella video gives you some helpful tips for introducing your puppy to wearing a therapy dog vest. It’s good to get her used to wearing her vest at a young age so she is comfortable working in it. In addition, consider what environment(s) you’d ideally like to go on therapy visits and make a list of things your puppy might encounter there. Will you puppy meet people in hoodies with the hood up? Will you puppy meet people in lab coats or masks? Will your puppy encounter mobility assistive devices? As you prepare for your new puppy, check GoodWill or Facebook Marketplace to find items such as a cane, crutches, walker, wheel chair, strollers, etc. that your puppy may encounter during therapy visits. You’ll want to familiar your puppy with those items beginning at a young age.