We often have people asking the question, “What do I need to have on hand when I bring my new puppy home”. We have a list of recommended items that we consider the top 10 “must haves” for you to purchase as you prepare for your new furry family member!

1.  Collars and leashes

Your puppy will need a collar and leash the day you bring her home. The collar should fit snugly so it won’t slip off, but should not be too tight. You should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and the pup’s neck. As your puppy grows older, you can expect to buy several additional collars as she outgrows them.

We recommend using a short leash for walks initially as it gives you better control of your puppy as she becomes accustomed to walking on a leash. A longer leash is good for yard time and training, so you may want to purchase several lengths.

2.  Crates and containment

A must have for all puppy owners, crates and containment devices keep your puppy in a confined area where you can monitor and housetrain him. You will need a dog crate and an exercise pen, or puppy gate, when you bring your pup home.

When choosing a crate, make sure your puppy can stand up, lie down, turn around, and stretch inside. You want the crate to be big enough for the puppy to be comfortable, but not too large, or the puppy will be more prone to potty in a corner of the crate. We recommend the “Midwest wire crate” as it comes with a divider panel that you can adjust as the puppy grows.

3.  Beds

You’ll want a thin bed or a blanket for the crate, one that’s easily washable in case of an accident. However, most pups also love a plush raised bed to lounge in during the day. As a reminder, a puppy should never be left unattended on the sofa as jumping on and off the sofa can lead to joint issues in a growing puppy. Instead, we recommend purchasing a “sofa” of their own where they can lounge and just “hang out”. We recommend the “Calming pup” dog bed for this purpose.

4. Water bowls

There are so many different types of bowls to choose from! We personally prefer a ceramic or stainless steel food and water bowl, as they’re easy to clean and very durable.

5.    Food and treats

We feed and recommend “TLC all life stages”. See our “Food and Supplements” section where we discuss the benefits of TLC food. It is all natural, nutritious, and has a holistic approach. We had been feeding another brand which was also high quality and had good ingredients, but we found some pups developed stomach sensitivities from it down the road. We had a hard time finding another food to switch to as we didn’t want to compromise on quality, but since we’ve switched to TLC we haven’t looked back! It has very high quality ingredients, no corn or other empty fillers, and has never had a recall! It promotes healthy coats, healthy joint growth and development, and protection against allergies. For training treats we use the TLC biscuits. We (and our dogs) love it!

Whole Life Dog biscuits

6.  Grooming supplies

We absolutely adore that Doodle coat! However, both Bernedoodles and Cavapoos require a lot of grooming to keep their coats in good condition and free of matts and tangles. We recommend a good slicker brush along with a metal comb. We also recommend a heavy duty blow dryer. Along with that, you’ll want nail clippers, a toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, and a conditioning spray. I have a list of our favorite grooming supplies below.

For shampoo and conditioner, as well as a conditioning spray and an ear cleaner, we use and recommend the Nuvet products. They’re made with all natural ingredients that won’t harm or dry out the skin, and they smell amazing! Use code 48542 at checkout.

7.  Toys

Puppies love (and need) lots of chew toys to keep their minds and those sharp little teeth occupied! We listed some of our favorites below!

8. Nuvet supplements

Puppies go through an enormous amount of changes in the first year of life. Added to that they still have an immature immune system and are actively growing. On top of all that they need a series of vaccines, which, although necessary, further stress and compromise their immune systems. To support them through all these changes we have them on the Nuvet Vitamins, an immune boosting supplement and recommend that you continue it at least through the first years of life. They boost the immune system and promote healthy joint development as your puppy grows, using a holistic approach. Check out our food and vitamins page for more information. Use code 48542 at checkout.

9. Flea and tick prevention

We give our dogs “Brewers yeast with garlic tabs” as a flea and tick prevention and have found it to be a more effective deterrent than any conventional flea or tick prevention. We love the fact that it’s all natural and non toxic. As a bonus, our dogs love them and think they’re treats!

10. Stain and odor removal

For times when accidents happen, you’ll want to have a stain and odor removal! Nuvet has an organic stain and odor removal that’s definitely our favorite. Use order code 48542 at checkout.