Best Puppy Products
If you are thinking of adding a puppy to your family congratulations! They certainly bring a huge amount of joy into your family’s lives, but they also come with responsibility. By ordering these items before the arrival of your pup, you will ensure a smooth transition to your home and safe quite a bit of money since they are cheaper through Amazon.com. Here are some products that every puppy needs right off the bat:
1.Midwest iCrate. Crate training is the key to successful and quick potty training. The Midwest iCrate comes with a removable panel so that your crate can expand with your puppy’s growth. Keep your puppy out of mischief while you’re gone and create a healthy sleeping schedule by getting your pup used to the crate asap. For more information on potty training visit this page on my training blog. You may want to consider purchasing the Midwest Quiet Time kennel bed to go in the crate to make it most comfortable for your pet. If you decide to not get a formal crate liner bed, just a towel will suffice.
2. Bitter Apple Spray. All puppies will have the inclination to chew as their teeth come and their baby teeth fall out. Having this bitter-tasting spray on hand will help communicate to your pup what is and is not appropriate items to chew on. Safe for all surfaces from wood to plastic to your slippers to even your pup’s own fur!
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3. Kong. I think every dog should have a kong, but especially a puppy. It is absolutely indestructible and can be filled with treats or peanut butter to occupy your pet! Safe to place in the crate with your dog to occupy him while you’re away. A great alternative to destructive chewing.
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4. Rope Chew Toy. Ropes are great to aid in removing tartar from teeth and also a great alternative to chewing your shoes! Puppies should have several toys to chew on and this is another great choice. This particular rope is nice because it holds up very well and doesn’t have any plastic pieces that your pup might choke on.
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5. Petmate Stainless No-Skid Bowl. Your pup will need two bowls; one for food and one for water. I especially like these because they don’t show much dirt and don’t skid on the floor. They come in black or blue. The stainless steel bowl is removable and dishwasher safe.
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6. Adjustable Collar. You’ll need a very adjustable collar for your puppy’s growth. It’s best to start leash training early, so don’t succumb to purchasing a harness unless you purposefully choose not to teach your dog to resist leash tension. I liked this collar because it’s adjustable, has metal in the holes to prevent fraying and is very inexpensive (under $2).
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7. Dog Leash. Puppies have to be trained how to behave on a walk with a leash and collar, so I do not recommend getting a retractable leash as it will only confuse your puppy (gets longer and shorter, teaches them to pull, rewards lagging, etc). Believe it or not, leashes can be a tricky thing to purchase because of the huge variety in styles, lengths, and materials. This leash is 3/4″ wide, made of nylon, and 6 feet long. I find leashes that are 1″ thick to be uncomfortable to hold and if they are too short or too long, they can result in frustration.
8. Food. Please read this article on the importance of choosing a proper food for you dog. I especially like Purina One Smartblend and Orijen.
9. Lastly, I would suggest exploring training methods and options (private vs. Petsmart class, positive reinforcement vs. intervention or both, etc). I also think it would be helpful to sit down as a family and decide what rules you will enforce in your home before the puppy arrives so that you can all be consistent with training from the get-go. Check out Cesar Milan’s book How To Raise the Perfect Dog for some great ideas about rules and developing a well-balanced, obedient pup!
