Supplies

Possible Puppy Supplies with Links Provided to help with examples or purchase:

​ ROOM

Interesting note: Until they are 5 months old, puppies sleep 18-20 hours per day. So, it is good to have a comfortable and out of the way shelter for them to relax and rest in while they are using all their excess energy for rapidly growing. It also means, you will still have time for yourself while you are starting to teach them, in their short bouts of wakefulness, how to behave in your house and with you and your things. 

 ~ Crate with a removable divider 

       (My preference is 40-42inch in length and 31-33 inches in height "Mid West" brand. Note: adult dog size will be 40" long from rump to extended nose and 24" heigh at shoulder with a walking head height of 30".  A 36" long crate is ample for denning in as dogs curl and do not have their nose outstretched.) 2 door Crate 

Note: A divider can be made by filling half the crate with a large cardboard box or other filler. The purpose of making the crate smaller until the pup grows is to make him/her feel more secure/ less alone AND to only provide room for resting and not room for a potty area. Pups will then wait until brought outside to relieve themselves and become house broken this way.

ALSO: Facebook Marketplace has a LOT of second hand dog crates in great shape. Take a look before buying to help recycle. 

  ~ Dog Bed (Do not super invest in a long term plan here. Pups are hard on beds so you can upgrade when they are past the shredding stage.) Simple Crate Dog Bed

    ~ Play/Exercise pen - 30" or more in height. This can be used as an attachment to the crate or used in a separate space when ever pup is not being supervised.   Exercise pen 

   ~ Child safety Gates/ Pet containment Gates where needed (like to block off a hall, room, or stairs) -- Shop by personal preference and need. Aim for 30-36" in height.  (Pro tip: If you lift a puppy up and over a fence/gate, you teach them that they should go up and over it. Take the extra time to open the fence/gate so they learn to wait and not climb.) 

  ~ Potty Bells or button for door to outside-- so dog can alert when they need out.

WARDROBE 

~ Collar (M Sized 10+ inches by eight weeks of age)

   ~ I.D. Tag with Puppy name and 1-2 phone numbers for contact (if not engraved on collar) 

   ~ Pup will also come with an AirTag holder that slips on a collar if you would like one. 

   ~ 4-6 foot Leash (NON-Retractable, please) Keep the leash short while teaching a pup to  walk with and follow you. Generally, collars and harnesses have matching leashes if you want to shop for a set. 

   ~ Harness (TrueLove brand, Ruffwear, Rabbitgoo & Voyager are among the top brands)

​   ~ Furminator Deshedding Tool for large dogs 

~ Bath Robe -- These are helpful after a bath when you want to discourage shaking water all over the house or when getting into the car after beach/lake/river/pool time. 

Extra Supplies you may want or need:

   ~ Bedding and Pet Bed cover -- personal choice

   ~ Toy Bin

   ~ Latex Gloves (stash them with your first aid stuff, under the sink, or in a cleaning cupboard for an unexpected dirty job.)

   ~ Lint Rollers (several to stash around the house or in the car) 

   ~ Bitter Apple Spray (to deter destructive chewing)

   ~ Nature's Miracle Spray Cleaner

​   ~ Clorox/Lysol Cleaning Wipes

   ~ Hand Sanitizer

Tonya's favorite product for addressing odors is Kennel Odor Eliminator or KOE. They make it in various scents now. I can only vouch for the original as I love it and have not changed. It has a faint clove type scent. The biggest bang for the buck is the 128 oz/gallon size of concentrate. It costs $90 but will make 512 gallons of cleaning solution (@ $0.18 a gallon) which should get you through a few years for a dog. You can get smaller bottles as it comes in a 16 oz size for $25 as well that makes 64 gallons (@$0.39 a gallon). 

You can put some in a spray bottle or drizzle some into the mop water when washing down crates and floors. It even helps to spray onto car seats or walls and mist over carpets. I put an ounce or two into my rug shampooer when I run it just "in case" something needs addressed. I put a splash into the washing machine when washing dog toys and bedding. But-- the real piece de'resistance is a half teaspoon in a water base diffuser. GAME CHANGER! (Simply put: I remember my breeding life in two parts. Life before KOE. Life after KOE.) 

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                        JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER FOR OTHER PLANNING DETAILS

Please remember to:

~ Select a vet if you do not have one. 

 ~ Research Pet Insurance to see if it is a good fit for you. Each puppy will arrive with transition coverage for 30 days through Trupanion. You are welcome to continue with them or switch to another provider. 

~ Register your puppy's Microchip (After your puppy comes home with you)

    There will be details and notes on this in your take home packet