Searching for the puppy essentials you need before bringing your pup home? These are the tried and true puppy must haves!
If you are anything like me, you like being prepared. I love my lists and I wouldn’t know what to do without google at my fingertips. I’ve had the honor to be a dog mom to multiple pups, all of whom we brought home when they were puppies, and can tell you from experience — and many dog mom conversations — the products we consider essential for first-time dog moms.
It can get a bit overwhelming when preparing for a new puppy, especially with so many products on the market. But let’s be honest, puppies don’t need much when they are little. Aside from good food and water, both of which we have strong opinions about and we’ll leave for a blog post of their own, we have prepared for you the top 5 puppy must-haves you need before bringing your new puppy home. Just 5, that’s not that bad!
This post is about all the puppy must haves every new puppy owner should have.
1. Dog Crate
No, crates are not cruel. In fact, if used properly, they are one of the best things we can do for dogs. Dogs are naturally denning animals; it makes them feel safe.
But many years ago I was against them. I thought they were like jails for dogs and that my dog deserved freedom. It wasn’t until reading several books on the subject I decided to give them a try. The first time I saw our puppy choose, all by himself, to go into his crate and stay there changed the way I viewed dog crates.
One thing to always keep in mind is to never, ever, use a crate as punishment.
To us, crate training became essential to potty training. Dogs, by instinct, don’t like to soil where they sleep. Aside from making potty training so much easier, crates help to prevent destructive behaviors. The less access to making mistakes the puppy has, the less they have to unlearn through training.
At the very beginning, you don’t need a pad, bumper, or cover. Yes, they are absolutely beautiful, but making sure your dog is properly trained before using these will be best. A simple dog crate perfectly sized for your new puppy is essential. We got our dog crate on Amazon, and it was exactly what we needed.
Once your puppy is potty trained, you can add a crate pad to make the crate a little more comfortable for your pup. We personally didn’t use a bumper but did use a cover, especially at night.
If you want to know more about crate training, I recommend you watched these two videos:
Crate Training Definitive Guide – Why and How to do it
5 Crate Training Steps that ACTUALLY Work
2. Stainless Steel Food & Water Bowls
Some materials like plastic can leach harmful chemicals into the food that we eat. Some ceramic glazes are known to contain lead or cadmium among other toxic substances. Even if using lead-free glazes, there is always a risk of cross-contamination. In my opinion, companies are usually more careful when making products for humans than for dogs. For that reason, I try to play it as safe as possible when it comes to selecting products for my dogs.
That’s why it is highly recommended that you choose nonporous materials like stainless steel. The grade of stainless steel is also important. Food grade stainless steel is called type 304 stainless steel and it’s also known as 18/8 stainless steel. They are not as beautiful as other dog food bowls on the market, but are much safer for your dog and are so easy to clean. You can throw them in the dishwasher!
3. Walking Set
A dog collar, leash, and poop bag holder are essential and they come in a variety of styles. We are a little biased when it comes to these, but trust me, we love them for a reason.
a. Branni Pets Leather Collar & Poop Bag Holder
They are made with Saffiano leather, a strong, elegant and easy to care for material; and are reinforced on the back with cowhide for greater durability. They are designed in Barcelona and made in Milan and come in so many styles and colors! You can find the collar here and the poop bag holder here.
We also carry the Branni Pets dog leash and matching handle.
Don’t forget to purchase compostable dog poop bags. We buy these from Amazon and love them.
b. Max & Co Pets Marine Rope Leash
Our brand new marine rope leashes are constructed of double-braided nylon, come with adjustable knotted O-rings and 100% brass hardware. They have double-ended hooks and adjustable knotted O-rings allow for multiple wears. They are stylish and chic as much as they are durable.
4. Puppy Shampoo
A tearless puppy shampoo and conditioner is really all you need when they are little. We have tried so many dog shampoos over the years, and this is definitely one of our favorites for puppies. It’s sulfate free and gentle.
Do you need a dog conditioner? That all depends on the breed of your new puppy. We have used conditioner from the very beginning with our Labradoodles and swear by it.
How often you bathe your puppy it’s completely up to you, but here are a few things to keep in mind. Try to not bathe your puppy as soon as you bring he/she home. Smell is how dogs engage with the world and changing that along with everything else around them can be a bit overwhelming. Most breeders that I know will send you home with a blanket with the scent of your pup’s mom. This helps your dog feel safe and makes the transition a bit easier.
5. Dog Toothbrush
This is a big one, and genetics plays a huge part in your dog’s dental health. Which is something I will highly consider if we ever get another puppy in the future. If you are in the beginning stages of searching for the right puppy for you and your family, please consider asking questions about the dental health of your pup’s parents. Heck, I would even ask if I can look at their teeth!
There are so many dog toothbrushes on the market and, really, they all work. Listed here is the one we recently switched our pups to, but what is most important when it comes to dental care, is consistency!
We brushed our dogs’ teeth daily when they were puppies. We try to do the same now. But it is especially important for you to establish a routine and get them used to their mouths being handled when they are puppies. You will be so glad you did when they are older.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to dental care is the food your dog is eating. Dog chews can also be helpful in removing tartar, but not all dog chews are created equal. Please do your research before introducing a chew to your dog and try to keep to ingredients that are as natural and safe as possible.
We are very, very picky about the dog products we bring into our home. We wouldn’t recommend a product we don’t love and use with our own dogs. If you are a new dog mom and want to know the exact products we used (and mostly still use) when our dogs were puppies, we are in the process of creating a Puppy Essentials download listing with links to the products we love and trust. Check back soon or subscribe to our newsletter to know as soon as it becomes available.
Disclaimer: I’m not a veterinarian, just a dog mom who is passionate about providing the very best that I could afford for my pups. The opinions you see here are my own, and they are just that, my opinion. When it comes to the health of your dog, please conduct your own research, ask the hard questions, and then decide for yourself.
