The Top 12 Things You Need For Your New Puppy

Luna was Robert’s and my Christmas present this year. I can’t believe she is finally 6 months old! What we were thinking getting a second dog, I just don’t know. Actually, I do know, Springer, our 4 year old Golden Retriever, was the easiest puppy and is now the goodest boy.

Springer potty trained quickly and learned all of his tricks within a few weeks. I thought he was extremely smart then but now that we have Luna, I’m beginning to think he’s a genius. I’m not saying Luna is dumb I just think she’s not as motivated to please us. She also just does whatever the heck she wants. If she doesn’t want to “lay down” she probably won’t unless you have a piece of yummy chicken jerky in your hands.

Back in December, Luna reintroduced us to the joy and the work that a new puppy brings to the household. We quickly realized how much out of practice we were. I’m not going to lie, the first two months were rough with us having to spending constant energy watching her around the clock. Those first two months were spent going on tons of walks, potty training, crate training, correcting her, playing with her, and teaching her not to chew on everything in sight.

We found that the items below eased our sanity and also helped Luna learn more quickly.

Top 12 Puppy Must Haves:

1. Adjustable Crate – crates are extremely important for a puppy. The crate becomes her “den” and helps her feel safe and keeps her safe. Crating prevents her from getting into anything in the house that she could destroy or that would harm her. Also, crating helps with potty training as dogs learn to hold their bladder and bowel movements as they do not want to soil their “den”. Getting a crate that is adjustable is especially important. You want the crate to grow with the puppy’s size. If the crate is too big, your puppy may feel she has enough room to potty in her crate.
2. Paws and Pals Exercise Pen– this play pen was a life saver for Luna! As her crate stays in her a permanent place in the house, the pen allowed us to give her a bit more freedom while still being able to prevent her from running wild around the house. We often use it block her in the living room which gives her a break from the crate and allows her to play with Springer and her toys while we can keep our eyes on her. It’s easy to fold and move, so it’s very useful in the house or to take on short day trips away from home.
3. Neater Feeder– if you are unaware, when a dog takes a drink of water, especially a large dog, that water goes almost EVERYWHERE but their mouth. The water splashes everywhere and then it drips from their mouth leaving small puddles all over your kitchen and dining room. Maybe that’s just my experience? Anyway, this Neater Feeder keeps the mess to a minimum and the elevated feeding position is supposed to be better for digestion.
4. Wahl Cleaning Wipes– because accidents will happen no matter what, having pet friendly wipes on hand is a great idea. You don’t want to dry out your puppies’ skin by giving her too many baths so using these wipes for cleaning up after small accidents is great idea. Plus, the coconut lime verbena scent smells amazing and leaves your puppy smelling so fresh and clean.
5. Wahl Doggie Dedorant– this deodorant almost acts like a dry shampoo for your puppy. It’s a great refresher in between baths. We love the Eucalyptus and Spearmint scent!
6. Wahl Oatmeal Shampoo– We like using an oatmeal shampoo that won’t dry out our dog’s skin. The Wahl Oatmeal shampoo cleans their fur and leaves them smelling great for days!
7. Boshel Nail Clippers– your puppy’s nails will grow quickly and man are they sharp! To trim their nails quickly and safely, try these nails clippers. The Boshel nail clippers are easy to use and have tons of positive reviews on Amazon.
8. Sporn No Pull Harness– instead of a collar we prefer to walk Springer and Luna with a harness. They rarely pull when we walk them on a harness unlike a collar where Springer pulls so hard I think he’s going to choke and pass out. This harness is also great for a puppies because you can adjust it as they grow.
9. BAAPET Strong Leash or Taotronics Retractable Leash-along with a harness you need a strong leash that will allow you to teach your dog to walk with you and not pull you. We use both of these leashes interchangeably. We typically use the BAAPET leash for short walks in the neighborhood and the Taotronics leash for long hikes when we have more room to roam and when we need more control.
10. Antlers– dogs love to chew on everything and if you have a mouthy dog like Golden or a Labrador it’s especially important to give them something to chew on or they will resort to chewing on things they shouldn’t, like your hand or your dining room table legs. We love Antler Man antlers as they are sold by the pound and usually contain three to four pieces. Our dogs love these and one antler usually lasts for three months.
11. Outward Hound Invincible Snakes– rarely do any dog toys hold up to our dog’s teeth, but these snakes last forever. The dogs love to chew, tug, and play fetch with them. They also have squeakers, which the dogs love to squeak with abandon. The Invincible snakes are stuffing-less too so, if your dog does chew through them you don’t have to worry about them ingesting harmful stuffing.
12. Top Chews Chicken Jerky -the dogs absolutely love these all natural chicken jerky treats. I can tell they prefer these treats above all others and they may prefer these even more than peanut butter! When torn into small pieces they make great training treats too. You can find these on Amazon, but you can find them cheaper at Costco for $20.

Above all, the number one thing you need for your new puppy is PATIENCE.

Puppies are a lot of work, they take a lot of your time, (a lot of your money), and if you’re lucky, a lot of your heart. Dogs have a way of becoming not just household pets, but members of the family.

Springer and Luna are so worth the time and effort. They bring so much happiness, joy, and light to my world and I couldn’t imagine my life without them.

I hope your new puppy brings you as much joy! Let me know if you have any questions or if you have any suggestions on things that worked for you!