Basics when buying a puppy

Here are some basic items needed when starting out with a puppy.

  • Crate/Kennel – Buy one that is big enough for them as an adult, put cardboard boxes in it to make it smaller and give them just enough room to get in, turn around and sleep.  If they get to much room than they could pee on one end and sleep on the other.  There are some wire kennels that have a wire/metal barrier that moves within the kennel to divide off the kennel. When I send home your puppy, they will have been sleeping in the plastic kennels. I don’t use the wire kennels as they are airy and I don’t think the puppies feel like they are in a den.
  • Dog Bed
  • Stainless steel bowls; 1 for water & 1 for food
  • Slicker brush
  • Nail trimmer
  • De-mating comb/tool
  • Ear cleaner
  • Puppy shampoo
  • Pee neutralizer
  • Kong toys (kong balls, wobbler, wubba, frisbee and many others)
  • Treats (some to be given when kenneling and some small treats for training)
  • Treat bag
  • Leash
  • Collar
  • Poop bags
  • Pet stain remover and rags to clean accidents up with
  • Raw meaty bones (can be found at the butcher shop, grocery store or some pet stores in the freezer section) Be sure not to give them any bones that have been cooked or sit on a shelve at a pet store as they are brittle and can create intestinal problems if they splinter. Antlers are also a very brittle bone and I don’t recommend them