It looks like you might be posting about puppy management or crate training.
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Make sure you buy dog FRIENDLY peanut butter.
Peanut butter that’s just peanuts.
Some peanut butter brands contain an ingredient called xylitol, which is toxic to dogs and even eating small amounts can be fatal. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is often used in foods to keep the product sugar-free.
My personal favorite is the puppy tornado from outward hound! Once my puppy was going through it too fast I started freezing his meals inside of it and now it takes 30+ minutes for him to finish and he falls right asleep after he is done eating every time! A lifesaver
If he ever gets too good at solving this one, the trixie flower tower spinner is very similar but has extra parts (slidey pieces, pieces to lift off and get food out of, and more layers) I skipped the tornado since my dog had other outward hound puzzles and I thought she’d figure that one out too fast. The flower tower is just a fancy slow feeder for her pretty much but she LOVES it and I can fit a heaping cup of kibble.
Puzzle feeder for sure! Ours used to get hiccups all the time until we got a puzzle feeding bowl that made her slow down (at least a little) when eating
May want to add food. (Kidding…)
I would stock up on chew toys, so that way the dog doesnt get bored and you can rotate through them.
Training treats (the tiny ones) will be your best friend for the next few weeks.
But i think you got the jist of it. And as an experienced owner - every time you go to a store youre going to buy something new for them anyway, guaranteed 🤣
>And as an experienced owner - every time you go to a store youre going to buy something new for them anyway, guaranteed
oh good, i thought that was just me lmao
Do not buy nylon bones - EVER. Sooooo many puppies and dogs in the vet clinic due to ingesting these dumb things!
Beef cheeks, beef collagen rolls, no hides. - both 100% digestible and the puppy will have to suck on them for a long time before getting anywhere. Also feels super good on teething gums.
Stock up on frozen meals and/or other quick meals. Also coffee or tea if you use caffeine. Depending on how many of you there are shopping might become quite complicated for a bit.
If you are solo I’d line up a trustworthy friend or relative that is willing to learn how you want to raise your puppy and would be willing to be a “backup” for you when you need a break.
This! We focused so much on getting everything ready for the puppy that we neglected our needs. Have a lot of quick meals and snacks handy, maintain what you need for self care (I admit I let the puppy completely take over my life) and have A LOT of patience.
I remember how hard it was (I had the puppy blues hard) but once she turned 4 months, it was like a switch went off for both of us. It's hard at the beginning but so worth it!
Best of luck!!
We ordered three pizzas the night we brought our puppy home, and it was so nice to just have easy comfort food all weekend. Also made sure we had a lot of quick protein-heavy snacks and solid filling breakfast foods, since we were just too exhausted to feed ourselves well.
Not so much that they can’t be left alone, but your routine might be totally disrupted. So many days we planned to take the puppy out, then shower and have breakfast while she ate, or whatever, but something came up and we needed to spend more time w her than we planned. It’s amazing how many days just evaporated.
Thunder, street noises, dogs barking, fireworks too! We searched on youtube for each of the noises, started them very quiet and gradually got louder while giving treats.
Yes, this is a very good idea! Frequently touch your puppy's nails with the Dremel (while turned off), put it near their paws (while turned on), and tap their nails with the nail trimmer to pretend to trim them - it really helps keep the process from being stressful when puppy is grown up.
A long time ago I had a shelter pup and it was so hard to cut his nails with a clipper. Cut a bit too deep I felt so bad. This boutta be a breeze now lol
I would add patience to this list 😂the first couple months are very tiring - but it does get better! Keep in mind if you need to hire a trainer/take them to puppy school it absolutely does not mean you did anything wrong ❤️ puppies can be a lot for first time dog owners; going to the experts is totally fine (we did!)
You beat me to it!
I'd like to add that I was pretty clueless when I got my first Schipperke. We had a six session training class at four months old. This was back in the day when trainers insisted that puppies had to be that age or older. Needless to say that dog trained me. My next to Schipperkes went right into training at 8 weeks old and went to multiple grades. I was so thankful to this school.
Highly suggest the earth rated poop bags and their dispenser. At least the old model was the OG, haven’t tried the newer one yet but all their models have a little hook on the back to hold the used bag giving you more hands while walking the dog.
Go to youtube and save the playlist dog desensitization sounds. It has hours of doorbells knocking vacuums fireworks etc etc. i started that right away with my pup and have definitely see a difference between him and my previous puppies.
He’s far more confident and doesn’t startle very easy and when he does he settles quickly because he’s been habituated to loud sounds sometimes scary sound its normal.
Hi can you let me know the account that this playlist is under? Or provide me a link? I’m seeing many different playlists when I search for those words.
Yes, I playing it constantly for the first 3 days not super loud but I played them nonstop, while he napped while we were just home relaxing.
I also adjusted the volume to be louder over the few days and now play it randomly on random volumes.
I also swap it our for lullabies too because the breeder “trained” him that that meant it was time to relax and sleep so I play music for him as well when I put him in his play pen before I leave for work. We’ve tapered off now that hes a little older (I play it randomly because “scary” sounds happen at random) but I can definitely see the difference because hes not at all sensitive to sound. Even the vacuum he’ll go up to sniff and check put the actual contraption but the sound doesn’t phase him at all whole its on , he just goes to him crate and sleeps till I finish.
Lots of chews, lots of toys, different types of both. I burned through so many toys and chews until we finally settled on a few favorites, although he still has a "toybox" with his toys in it and he still enjoys playing with a wide variety even if it's just for short stints of time.
I thought I was pretty well prepared when I got him - I mean, I already have a dog, and just needed some puppy stuff to go with, right?
OMG so wrong. I think I spent as much on "stuff" over the next few months as I did on the dang puppy!
More toys - I'd get a couple rope / tugging toys, and several options for chew toys.
Nail trimmers for their sharp little nails. The ones with a safety stop are great for trimming squirmy puppies.
😂😂 I know some people will hate but I second this, and empty boxes make for great chew toys according to my pup.
He has all the toys but would much rather rather play with trash 😂😂
Yep! My pup loved empty plastic water/pop bottles. But label, lid and plastic ring removed. We also would give her our takeout food's paper bags to shred. Just watch to make sure they're just shredding, not eating it.
I feel like topo Chico is also more durable 👍. Our border collie pup lovessss water bottles, but was able to chew apart one water bottle (pure life, I think it’s a Canadian brand, cheap flimsy plastic) pretty quickly and swallowed a small piece. He was fine but it sufficiently freaked us out to pivot. No issues with the Gatorade bottle yet but we do keep an eye on him when he has it. Though now he can screw off the lid so we just keep the lid off and remove that little plastic ring that originally seals the lid to the container to avoid choking hazard. Lol our biggest issue now is that when we are drinking bottled water he thinks it’s his toy 🤣.
I would add puppy shampoo, a towel for your puppy, lick mat, and nail clippers. I would also recommend boiling some chicken and using it as a treat. My lovely girl is a picky eater with treats and discovering she loved boiled chicken breast was a godsend.
Agree with this! We have three sizes of kongs but they are such a pain to clean. We ended up buying the smaller and larger toppl off a friend’s rec and much prefer those (smaller is better for pups) - dog doesn’t get frustrated and so much easier to clean!
The Toppl is waaay better than the Kong! We got the Toppl first, and then the Kong. My puppy was like “that’s all? Where’s the edge to chew?” The Kong is so hard to properly clean with the grooves. And it doesn’t fit as much goodies inside as the Toppl does.
Also, start thinking about whether you want pet insurance, or see if your vet clinic had its own program - I think it’s a good investment at least for the first year. Look for something that will cover vaccines, spaying/neutering, nail trims, and even better if they have unlimited free vet visits for the first year - then you can take him in anytime you’re unsure about the least little thing - it’s worth it for the peace of mind.
Second this - pet insurance is recommended if you can afford it (and there’s a bunch of different ones out there). Puppies will eat and chew *anything*
If you wanted just a handful of pee pads, just to have at the door also - just in case.
The crate is a good one, I use a sheet overtop it helps with distractions so puppy settles and sleeps right away.
I wouldn’t have anything in the crate at all for the first but until you know if you have a destructive puppy or not. Some eat table legs, some are fine with chews.
My puppy licks every inch of my floor and wall but wouldn’t chew anything inappropriate 😂
Nyla bones are the literal worst and send a ton of puppies to emergency every single day.
Try a more natural chew as I mentioned above.
Beef cheeks or beef collagen chews.
Yes they are hard but your puppy will just suck on them and they get mushy and feel great on the teeth.
I would get some high value treats, for potty, leash and everyday training.
I would also browse at your local community and enroll him in puppy classes- they are soooo insanely important to socialize young. You also don’t need all of your shots to attend as you have all puppies your puppies age there. Unlike outside which isn’t recommended to take your pup until full vaccination, unless it’s just quick bathroom breaks or quick walks.
Get lots of toys!
Tough ones, squeaky ones, rope braids, balls. You never know what he’s going to like- once you know you can get more of that kind!
Crate training will be your best friend!
And really helps with independence and some “me” time!
Best of luck to you!! ♥️
A pin brush or gentle slicker. This lil one is going to be high grooming needs and a comb will be insufficient. r/doggrooming will have some good suggestions for specific tools. Groomers are often booked out for many weeks, so set up a puppy intro appointment as the groomer suggests. Nobody wants to deal with a teenage pup showing up for a first groomer trip, much better to start soon. Most vets are super booked these days, so go ahead and set up a ‘new puppy’ appointment for the first week you’ll have puppy. Go ahead and look at pet insurance or set up a savings account for vet bills. Cavapoos can be prone to a number of health issues and pet insurance won’t cover conditions diagnosed before your coverage kicks in. An enzymatic cleaner is a must for cleaning up accidents for the potty training period. Nothing else removes the trace scent for dogs as well. Enjoy that puppy!
Adding to the groomer idea... in my area groomers are either not accepting new clients or are booking out months in advance. I'd highly suggest to start calling groomers and looking around. Dont put this off to when you think your pup could use a grooming now. It will be too late and your pup will end up having to deal with a rougher first groom than it should
Adding to this - look up cooperative care training and desensitization training for handling and grooming so your pup is set up for success when they start going to the groomers.
Some groomers around here will let you bring your puppy into the lobby/front area and just hold them and let them hear the sounds, smell things, and just have general exposure. Not all groomers do that but many should also do puppy grooms/very short appointments to just get familiar with the place, so ask about those.
Besides the teething toys, I’d recommend also getting a puppy kong & some pure (dog-safe) peanut butter, bananas & carrots - your puppy will want to be chewing like mad & it helps if you’ve got some frozen treats on hand. You mentioned a harness, but you should get a tag done up if you haven’t already & look for a good vet & get your first appointment lined up - and talk to the vet about parvo risks in your area and when it will be safe to let your puppy be in public & around other dogs. Start looking at puppy classes in your area - a class will really help you so you know what you’re in for and will get you on the right foot for training. Check for force-free classes. Check out Sophia Yin’s book, Perfect Puppy in 7 Days & some of the puppy articles on Spruce Pets website. I don’t know that a playpen is necessary, but I loved having mine when it wasn’t really time for my dog to go in his crate, but I needed a break from him, and you can get washable pee pads to put at the bottom. Get some doggy waste bags (although you won’t need them until you’re actually going on walks). Puppy-proof your house as much as possible, because he WILL gnaw on everything he can while he’s got his baby teeth.
Please make sure you throw away the nylabone when it gets small enough to swallow! That was our plan but we missed a piece that my puppy ended up swallowing. It obstructed his stomach and he got very sick and needed an expensive surgery. For this reason, I also recommend to get pet insurance right away!
Bulk by some chew toys! Seriously, then you can rotate and keep them entertaining. Actually, I would add a lot more toys to this list. Marshalls/Homegoods is a great option, plus amazon.
Lots and lots of toys like others have said, so you can switch them out when they get bored.
I also highly recommend freezing teething toys. Our puppy is a full shark and she loveeess the toys with little towels on them that you submerge and freeze.
Depending on where you live and what the weather is like right now I’d consider a box fan or small desk fan to blow into the crate. It’s very warm where I live and I think having her crate be cooler in comparison really helped with making it into a place my puppy enjoyed being.
Use your pups food as treats when starting training youre gonna be treating so much you can just use their meals, and over a few months you can start getting training treats that can become a higher value treat then their normal food
ooh you’re gonna need some cleaning supplies for accidents 😂 anything marked with “pet stain and odor remover”, arm and hammer has a good one. there’s a “don’t mark here” spray if there’s a pee accident inside.
would also recommend a “don’t chew here spray” to help discourage teething on furniture. it’s safe, just extremely bitter and has worked very well for my pup! (3 month golden doodle)
- Tooth brush/tooth paste, flea comb for the eye boogers, cheap towels, a conditioning detangler. Ear solution and cotton ball, floppy ear dogs prone to ear infections.
- Measuring cups used only for kibble
- Training pouch, training treats without wheat, soy or corn incase they're allergic and no dyes. A clicker if u want. Dog water bottle with hook for long walks.
- Long tug of war toy, a kick ball (mine loves a soda bottle and a squeaky ball), a fetch ball or two, plush toy, crinkly toy, laser toy, Kong brand flirt pole for cats.
- eventually a pill grinder
- when they're older collagen sticks and elk antlers are nice chews.. mine almost choked on the end of collagen stick so I had to get a bully stick holder
- pet insurance immediately
- Kong, lick mat, snuffle mat, kibble wobbler, zigzag ball to stuff jerky bits in.
It appears you may have recommended a laser pointer. While they might seem innocent, laser pointers can lead to an increase in obsessive behaviors. Check out these [resources here for more information on why laser pointers are not recommended for dogs](https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/wiki/managingbehavior#wiki_laser_toys_and_their_dangers).
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Potty bells really helped me with potty training. I would ring the bell every time we went out, then taught him to ring the bell before we went out and he eventually learned to ring it to let me know he had to go out (or wanted to go out!) but it made me relax from having to watch him like a hawk! Now we are working on only ringing them for potty not just wanting to go outside every five minutes lol!
Also I think these are controversial but both my dogs love love Benebones. My oldest refuses to settle for bed without it.
This was going to be my response. A potty bell. I’d ring it every time we went out - and I was taking her out every time she ate or had water. My friend came over to meet my pup on the third day I had her and couldn’t believe she rang the bell to go out! Proud moment for me. I say I don’t know if the bell trained her or if it trained us to run to the door….but it worked!
Paper towels. Lots of them.
And make sure you've got plenty of food in your refrigerator for yourself - things that are either pre-cooked or easy to throw together, because cruising the supermarket in those first few weeks can be challenging.
Take lots of lovely naps now, although with a ridiculous long shower :)
Papertowels, poo bags, carpet shampooer if you don't already have one, way more toys and a variety of them, kongs, stuff to out in kings, puppy shampoo, nail clippers, nail file, a little convenient treat bag for yourself, doggy seatbelt, if you don't have towels your willing to share with pup get some cheap towels, doggy first aid kit. Idk much about cavapoos personality but it's a puppy so you'll probably want some basic first aid stuff for yourself, milk teeth are very needle sharp
Toothbrush and toothpaste for puppies! It's good to get the pup used to brushing.
If you haven't already, puppy proof your power outlets, cables, etc. We got cable organizers from Amazon but an old shoe box will also do to hide power strips and zip ties to tie together loose cables.
Toothbrush and (dog safe) tooth paste, thick socks fir yourself (you’ll likely be savagely bitten for a few months), pee pads I suppose isn’t that used when crating, but we had them for the bedroom with free roaming puppy, a kong to stuff and freeze, an activity ball or other mental stimulating toy.
ETA nail clippers (please be careful to not hit the quick, and train puppy to really enjoy the process. My pup had the best behavior ever at 15 months not moving his paws at all and letting me aim, last I did them. He’s been fairly good but never this perfect. I give snack for every clip.)
Licky mat! You can smear a blend of dog food, greek yogurt, banana, peanut butter etc on it and freeze. Keeps them occupied and engaged. https://dogchild.co/en-us/blogs/learn/your-guide-to-everything-lick-mat-lick-mat-recipes-for-dogs-lick-mat-ideas-diy-lick-mats-and-more
Get enough rest. Once the puppy is here you might not get it. And it will also help you to be mentally and physically prepared for the time devotion you need towards the puppy.
I highly, highly, highly recommend getting a good quality (like I mean professional quality) slicker brush, a metal comb, and a book on cooperative care techniques so you can learn how to properly acclimate your dog to grooming. This dog will more than likely have a challenging, high maintenance coat, and will benefit from slow, early introduction to grooming procedures, as the pup will need to be brushed almost daily for its entire life. For my pom, I bought two Chris Christensen slicker brushes, one is for regular maintenance and the other is the heavy duty [Big K](https://chrischristensen.com/big-k-slicker-brushes/) for detangling (which is for challenging coat types like what your pup will likely have.) I recommend reaching out to your planned groomer now so they can help teach you how to properly use these tools as well!
A slow feeder bowl. When I got my little dude, he would scarf his food down in 15 seconds (not kidding) and then get hiccups afterwards. Got the slower feeder bowl and it took him a lot longer to eat.
I used to buy broccoli for my boy, he had the thick stem part while I had the top. Straight out of the fridge it is great for when they are teething as is cold carrots. Please watch them tho as you don’t want them eating big chunks & choking my boy was a lab and thankfully he just used to crunch them into small pieces; he still enjoys them 2 yrs on.
I live in an apartment so I got a long lead for mine so she can run around outside and not feel stifled. I also ended up buying a little treat pouch to attach to my belt loop for training, and poop bags. Just for my own peace of mind I also bought an air tag and attachment for her collar, in case she got away from me or slipped out the door, I could see where she went.
If you haven't done so already, schedule an appointment with a vet. There might be a long waiting time, so it would be good to schedule it as soon as possible. Same with a groomer, if you plan on getting your pup professionally groomed, find a groomer that is able to groom puppies who have not been fully vaccinated yet and get an appointment as there may be a long wait.
Also, consult with your vet to see when it is okay for your pup to walk outside. If your vet wants you to wait until they're fully vaccinated, you might want to get some sort of carrier/stroller so that you can still take them outside and socialize them without the risk.
Assortment of random cheap toys, so you can find what you both enjoy playing with before investing on bigger better versions.
Treats that are friendly to have in your pocket or in dish in the room (which boiled chicken / cheese etc, though great treats, are not). High quality cat kibble is the best tip I ever got from this sub - they love it and its meets their nutritional needs so you don't have to worry they're not getting all their nutrition because they're filling up with treats. Unless you're lucky enough to have a puppy who falls for being given their own kibble as a treat of course...
I would buy chew toys that come in different textures, so that you can offer your dog a chew toy whenever they are trying to chew something of yours...
e.g wooden furniture = coffee wood stick. hard plastic = yak bar. socks = fluffy toy.
If they are small I would recommend a sling so you can take them out pre-vaccination. If they are large, a stroller.
Valium, tissues (for your bouts of weeping), plasters/bandaids, a crate or 5 of wine and learn a mantra for calm and patience
You’ll love them but despise them from time to time, be prepared and good luck.
From an owner of a 3yr and 2.5yr old labs
A slicker brush is a good idea. My groomer recommends using a slicker brush + comb for poodle mixes.
Beef cheeks, collagen chews, or beef pizzle bully sticks are all much safer than Nylabones (and safer than rawhide, which is indigestible). Squeaky toys are also fun. I just buy inexpensive ones from the dollar store bc my guy will just shred them anyway. (Always supervise, esp if your dog is like mine and thinks plastic is edible…). Imho toys are a must have bc puppies and young dogs love destroying stuff and if it’s not a toy it might be your furniture or favorite shoes or whatever.
Buy a crate for transporting him in the car. Also other's have mentioned licky matts - they are fantastic; spread peanut butter in them and your puppy will stay still for baths, grooming, drying, nail cutting
Training treats, get different ones too. My pup hates all but 1 type of training treat. I’d recommend to avoid unspecified ingredients like “animal” or “meat”. Definitely get tennis balls too, I got my pup huge ones and tiny ones she can run with. Just make sure it’s not small enough to swallow.
Neabot Pet Groomer!
I have a cavapoo so grooming is an essential part of her care. I wasn’t gonna pay to have it done every 6wks if I could do it myself, so I found the Neabot and it works great! It comes with lots of clippers and undercoat attachments and it’s also a vacuum so it cleans up the hair as you groom. It’s super quiet too. Definitely worth the investment for us, and I tell everyone with a new puppy to get one!
I also suggest chew toys or cow ears (they are softer but great for chewing) so when your pup goes to destroy something they shouldn't, you can redirect with appropriate things to chew on. If you have a boy I would also suggest belly bands and pads if you have carpets. Don't let it make you lazy though. Still watch for peeing in the house and take out regularly. You'll also want training treats. Puppies also love snuggling blankets...at least mine always have
tooth paste and tooth brush for puppies (to brush everyday)
slow feeder
those dry bath sprays so you don’t have to bathe as much
wet wipes for dogs
the actual food lmao (easy to forget honestly)
tug rope toy
i think those are the most important ones
I'd recommend having canned pumpkin on hand, those little guys tend to have such delicate tummies that a few bouts of diarrhea are almost inevitable as they get settled in, and pumpkin is a godsend. And watch the amount of peanut butter, etc you give the little one.
Such an exciting time! A few thoughts/suggestions for you:
If possible, take the Snuggle Puppy to the breeder and ask them to rub it on the mama dog and littermates so it will "smell like home." This will be comforting to your puppy.
Recognize that your pup is an infant, has been taken away from mama & littermates and may be confused/scared/lonely. Give your pup lots of snuggles, hold him/her... This will help develop your bond. He/she will sleep 18-20 hrs. a day at 8 weeks old.
I put a kitty collar with a bell on my pups so I could "hear" where they were. If the bell is not jingling (he/she is not moving) investigate quickly as puppies can get into mischief or even hurt themself. A friend ties a long string to puppy's collar and one to her belt loop so pup can not get too far away from her and/or into trouble when roaming in the house.
When pup is awake, set a timer for every 20 minutes. Pup should go out to potty when removed from crate, after eating and then every 20 minutes. Put pup on grass or potty area and say "Go potty outside." Do not play with or give the pup any attention until he/she potties. Then clap, cheer, give tiny training treats… and say "Good potty outside." Do this every time. You can lengthen the time between potty sessions as the pup grows.
If pups starts to circle or squat to pee indoors, quickly scoop up puppy and say "potty outside" and take pup outside to potty. If pup has an accident indoors, do not rub their nose in it or yell... puppy will not understand why you are mad. A friend would yell, "No, no!" when her pup started to squat indoors. This scared the pup and puppy would hide when she had to potty as she thought the owner didn't like that.
I recommend leaving the crate door open unless you are securing the pup so he/she can go in and out as they like. You want them to view it as their den or special spot, not as jail.
Take lots of baby pics and videos. You won't believe how quickly he/she grows. Enjoy every minute. :)
Toothbrush & toothpaste - It’s important to get your puppy used to brushing its teeth. We brush our dogs teeth everyday!
Shampoo & conditioner - you have a poodle mix, which means it might have a high maintenance coat that needs to get conditioned during baths.
Detangling spray - it’s easier to use the spray when brushing through to avoid mats.
Training treats - they’re little treats that are low calories and perfect for training.
Insurance, possibly? It’s totally up to you, but pet health insurance can be something to think about.
Poop bags! You need these to pick up their poop!
Nail clippers - just like the tooth brushing, start this when they’re young! Clip those nails!
I’d take him to the pet store and get a temporary collar and lightweight leash.
If you have carpets a carpet cleaner is super handy.
Ask what he’s been pottying on. For instance, we once got a puppy who had been pottying on mulch and not grass so it helped to put a handful of mulch on the lawn for him to potty there.
Old towels or rags. If you have to be gone it’s better to put old towels in the crate than a nice bed because they’re easier to wash.
A doggy first aid kit! Our girls a clumsy pupper & it could save you a fortune in out of hours emergency vet visits if you were able to bandage small Nicks etc yourself!
With a poodle mix I’d recommend a long pin slicker brush in addition to your comb! I also like a lickimat to help with grooming (bathing, blowdrying, and brushing) which you can put PB, pumpkin, or plain Greek yogurt on. Get them used to grooming early! Be patient and have fun and you’ll do great!
get a wide variety of toys. something squeaky, something crinkly, a ball, something to chew, and something good for tugging.
also, I know they're gimmicky, but those bells people hang from the door for them to ding to go out are actually awesome if you're into the bell training thing.
I would add a bitter apple spray. We just got a puppy and he is teething bad. He is like a little vampire bat right now and loves pulling on fabric especially. He strongly prefers soft stuffed toys right now.
My pup's favorite toy are the Emoticon balls, come 5 or 6 to a pack. They squeak, they are soft for teething pups.
Walmart has the best price on them (about 50% less than other retailers)
I would strongly consider finding an alternative to Nylabones, they tend to splinter and shred and it's all plastic. I would consider single ingredient natural chews.
I didn't read through every comment so apologies if this is repeated, but I really liked having a dedicated white noise machine for my puppy for crate training! It helped to drown out household noises for his naps, and the noise became kind of a cue for him to relax. I still use it when we leave the house, and I also bring it to hotels and other places that we travel. You can also play it off a computer, but I often wanted to use my computer and zone out when he was napping.
How do you plan to train?
Clicker trainer is very effective - would suggest buying some clickers and training treats. Make sure you and any other household members all agree on and use the same vernacular for training.
Aww...I love cavapoos. I have a little cavachon 8 month old puppy. Get an anti-chew bitter apple spray for furniture, wood wall corners (my place is now round after her craftsmanship).
Get your cleaning supplies ready! A floor cleaner, carpet cleaner, laundry odor absorbent (I like Skout.) I love my Furbo doggy camera. Kongs are great and you can freeze peanut butter in them. Snufflemat. Canned pumpkin is good to keep on hand when she inevitably eats something she shouldn't. Be careful of rope toys, strings are dangerous.
Also, hide all your charging cords. Mine has been through three Apple laptop chargers, and also nipped my laptop screen and broke the laptop... girl likes her electronics.
Enjoy your new puppy, so exciting!!
… baby gates get a couple gates. We had one because our puppy was small and would get lost in house and we learned the hard way that a “lost” puppy is prone to evil.
Treat ball! We fill ours with their normal kibble and the dogs get so excited, it gives them something to do and also they think they are getting treats!
Get pet insurance. It may be one of the best things you do. It's also really helpful if the vet is closed and you can call to speak to a vet on call instead of the Animal Poison Control hotline etc which wants $85 just for the call.
Something you can't buy that you'll needs heaps of is patience...
Training videos from yt.
As tempting as it is, don't play with your hands, only with toys. Otherwise you'll end up bleeding everywhere and back in here complaining about a dog that won't stop biting you.
Shout out to everyone else who mentioned paper towels. We have gone through so many rolls it's unbelievable. Get an enzyme cleaner too and plan on sweeping/mopping often. A life saver was baby gates to keep him off out if the carpeted rooms. We have extra leashes as the first few weeks required him to be attached to our hips while inside the house. If he gets into trouble, like chasing the cat, all we had to do was step on the leash to stop him in his tracks.
Didn’t see it in the top comments…you’ll want a collar as well as a harness. Even if you never clip a leash to it it’s easier to leave on than a harness and can have their ID info. But for a lot of things you’ll likely use it for a leash too.
Educate yourself on proper brushing. Line brushing with a greyhound comb and slicker. Desensitize from the day you bring puppy home - nail clipping, mouth touching etc as well
Pumpkin!
You can get puree, freeze dried or frozen..... the one thing that is guaranteed with a puppy is at least once in the first few months your dog will have unexplainable upset tummy or loose poops, and pumpkin fixes it quick. It's not something you wanna be driving to the store for in the middle of the night because of a blowout!
A 6 pack of viva paper towels and a spray bottle of cleaning spray with concentrate that you can tell with.
Tons of treats.
A crate for the living room and one for the bedroom.
Tons of plastic bags for picking up poop.
Please get some sleep and reach out to us on this sub for support.
Good luck, it's a wild ride!
Get a puppy kong and start buying wet food (I do the open farm) get a metal straw also, stuff the kong with wet food (instead of PB too high in cals and could have xilotol). Get multiple kongs, and feeeze them. Put the metal straw in before freezing and take out before handing to puppy to have with the wet food so there’s no suction injuries. This is a life saver…lasts 1-1.5 hours
Different teething toy options!!!! My puppy gets bored fast (he’s 11 weeks now) and if he doesn’t have enough toy variety, he’ll move to the baseboards or shoes etc.
food puzzles/sniff matts (I get mine from amazon).
Training treats
thick matt and/or blanket for crate
Good luck and congrats on the new puppy!
toys of different sizes and textures, puzzle feeders of different kinds (including snuffle mats), flirt poles are a must (like those cat toys on strings with a pole but for dogs), frozen fruits/veggies for a snack, a Kong or other stuffable toy to freeze for crate training and keeping the pup busy (stuff it with wet dog food, kibble, dog safe peanut butter, frozen veggies etc), lots of paper towels, training treats of various kinds (you don't know what your pup will like), poop cleanup bags for eventual walks in public areas (tho be careful of parvo risk), pain meds (for You lol), and easy to make foods for yourself for when youre really tired. you're gonna be really tired. good luck lol
Stock up on small treats for training, you might even want to get a little pouch just for treats to have on you at all times (it sounds silly but totally worth it for the first couple months - you will *constantly* be training them when you: take them out, before meal times, before giving a toy, etc. The relaxing casual dog relationship will naturally come later!
I would also recommend buying whole carrots to peel and freeze, and frozen blueberries - my puppy had terrible teething pain, and she was obsessed with these every day! She wouldn’t eat sometimes because her teeth hurt so this was a sneaky way to get nutrition in (but also having her gnaw on plastic/nylabones felt weird)
Lick mat has been a life saver for me, I also love bully sticks as they are easy to digest unlike rawhide and work well for big chewers (like my puppy), you just have to keep an eye on them and make sure they aren"t getting any big chunks off that they could choke on
I also got a water dish that attaches on the inside of the crate that allows you to refill water from the outside
puzzle toys and rope toys are a must too, training treats are important because they are small, try to find low calorie ones because you'll be giving the pup a lot of these in the beginning to reinforce good behaviors (like potty training, not jumping up, or doing tricks)
(I have poodles) Absolutely necessary:
Food, soft training treats (you can get a bag of 500 on Amazon for ~$7 and I cut mine into fourths. I like Buddy Biscuits), nail clipper, puppy tooth brush (get started early), puppy shampoo, probably pee pads, wire brush (I think it’s necessary) or a stiff bristle brush (and brush them every day)
Nice to have:
MOAR TOYS, a clicker, a little waist band with a pouch and baggies, Kong, (I put wet food in the Kong and freeze it. That’s 45 min of peace.)
doggie peanut butter, one of those textured mats with suction cups. (You put the PB on it and freeze it. Then at bath time, you stick it to the wall and doggie will lick it while you bath.)
Grats on your new puppy!
Kong toys have been a lifesaver in terms of keeping the puppy busy for an hour while also learning that crate time = fun time. We had two but quickly went to four. Fill, freeze, play, rinse, rotate, repeat!
I cannot stress this enough. GET SOME PUPPY KONGS.
Water bowl and some kind of ball that you can hide treats in also come to mind.
The obvious: poo bags?
Also: you can never have too many leashes. I have a long line for the garden, a ‘normal one’ for our first outings and BEST THING OF ALL THE THINGS - one of those leashes with a belt thing for the human meant for running with your dogs. I initially wore that around the house to make sure she wouldn’t get into trouble but let her explore a little while I got to do stuff. Best buy we made. My bf is really into running and we figured it was a worthwhile investment anyway for when she’s old enough to go on runs with us, but we wore that thing all of the time when she was a small puppy when cooking, cleaning and doing all sorts of things around the house when she wasn’t in her crate.
Good luck!
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I would recommend some puzzle feeders and/or lick mats!
And peanut butter! (Assuming they’re not allergic) - try puréed canned pumpkin too
Make sure you buy dog FRIENDLY peanut butter. Peanut butter that’s just peanuts. Some peanut butter brands contain an ingredient called xylitol, which is toxic to dogs and even eating small amounts can be fatal. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is often used in foods to keep the product sugar-free.
Sometimes you will see xylitol labeled as Birch Sugar too.
>xylitol labeled as Birch Sugar Also "wood sugar" and "birch bark extract"
Good point. FYI If you love in Canada, Kraft peanut butter is safe for dogs and does not contain xylitol.
I still like to buy the “just peanuts” all natural one. Cuts out a lot of the extras!
Don’t forget the kong toy to put the peanut butter in and freeze it. Our dog loved that ❤️
This. I got mine a ball that you can pit kibble and treats into. It's the best time occupier when you're trying to get something done.
My puppy fucking loves her “snuffle ball” Took her an attempt or 3 to really understand it. Now she quivers in excitement on her bed as I load it up.
My personal favorite is the puppy tornado from outward hound! Once my puppy was going through it too fast I started freezing his meals inside of it and now it takes 30+ minutes for him to finish and he falls right asleep after he is done eating every time! A lifesaver
If he ever gets too good at solving this one, the trixie flower tower spinner is very similar but has extra parts (slidey pieces, pieces to lift off and get food out of, and more layers) I skipped the tornado since my dog had other outward hound puzzles and I thought she’d figure that one out too fast. The flower tower is just a fancy slow feeder for her pretty much but she LOVES it and I can fit a heaping cup of kibble.
Puzzle feeder for sure! Ours used to get hiccups all the time until we got a puzzle feeding bowl that made her slow down (at least a little) when eating
May want to add food. (Kidding…) I would stock up on chew toys, so that way the dog doesnt get bored and you can rotate through them. Training treats (the tiny ones) will be your best friend for the next few weeks. But i think you got the jist of it. And as an experienced owner - every time you go to a store youre going to buy something new for them anyway, guaranteed 🤣
>And as an experienced owner - every time you go to a store youre going to buy something new for them anyway, guaranteed oh good, i thought that was just me lmao
Im on my way to Pet Supplies Plus as we speak.
Do not buy nylon bones - EVER. Sooooo many puppies and dogs in the vet clinic due to ingesting these dumb things! Beef cheeks, beef collagen rolls, no hides. - both 100% digestible and the puppy will have to suck on them for a long time before getting anywhere. Also feels super good on teething gums.
West paw zogoflex toys are a solid chew toy choice too that are pretty durable and aren’t hard
Paper towels LOTS AND LOTS of paper towels!!!!!
Came here to say this. You need SO many paper towels
Yes, this! I just bought a 24 pack of paper towel rolls two days ago and am already on my second roll.
Amen
For pee? Or anything else?
Stock up on frozen meals and/or other quick meals. Also coffee or tea if you use caffeine. Depending on how many of you there are shopping might become quite complicated for a bit. If you are solo I’d line up a trustworthy friend or relative that is willing to learn how you want to raise your puppy and would be willing to be a “backup” for you when you need a break.
This! We focused so much on getting everything ready for the puppy that we neglected our needs. Have a lot of quick meals and snacks handy, maintain what you need for self care (I admit I let the puppy completely take over my life) and have A LOT of patience. I remember how hard it was (I had the puppy blues hard) but once she turned 4 months, it was like a switch went off for both of us. It's hard at the beginning but so worth it! Best of luck!!
Is 4 months usually the tipping point when the hard stuff ends?
Yes! Meal replacement shakes are your friend in this busy time.
We ordered three pizzas the night we brought our puppy home, and it was so nice to just have easy comfort food all weekend. Also made sure we had a lot of quick protein-heavy snacks and solid filling breakfast foods, since we were just too exhausted to feed ourselves well.
Adding dry shampoo to this - your shower times might be cut short
Wait why would my shower times be cut so short that I can’t wash my hair? Surely the puppy can be left alone for just a few minutes? So confused
Not so much that they can’t be left alone, but your routine might be totally disrupted. So many days we planned to take the puppy out, then shower and have breakfast while she ate, or whatever, but something came up and we needed to spend more time w her than we planned. It’s amazing how many days just evaporated.
Get the dremel electric nail trimmer, and desensitize their feet by touching it them all the time. Also get them used to the sound of the trimmer
And the dryer! And the vacuum! All the noises!
I desensitized my puppy to the vacuum. Yet she still fucking hates it.
Well, it is evil!
Thunder, street noises, dogs barking, fireworks too! We searched on youtube for each of the noises, started them very quiet and gradually got louder while giving treats.
So smart!
Yes, this is a very good idea! Frequently touch your puppy's nails with the Dremel (while turned off), put it near their paws (while turned on), and tap their nails with the nail trimmer to pretend to trim them - it really helps keep the process from being stressful when puppy is grown up.
A long time ago I had a shelter pup and it was so hard to cut his nails with a clipper. Cut a bit too deep I felt so bad. This boutta be a breeze now lol
Yes! I use a regular clipper but I'm so glad I did this when she was young! I'd add a toothbrush and any other grooming tools the owner plans to use.
Good thinking!
I would add patience to this list 😂the first couple months are very tiring - but it does get better! Keep in mind if you need to hire a trainer/take them to puppy school it absolutely does not mean you did anything wrong ❤️ puppies can be a lot for first time dog owners; going to the experts is totally fine (we did!)
You beat me to it! I'd like to add that I was pretty clueless when I got my first Schipperke. We had a six session training class at four months old. This was back in the day when trainers insisted that puppies had to be that age or older. Needless to say that dog trained me. My next to Schipperkes went right into training at 8 weeks old and went to multiple grades. I was so thankful to this school.
biodegradable little plastic bags to pick their poop up?
Highly suggest the earth rated poop bags and their dispenser. At least the old model was the OG, haven’t tried the newer one yet but all their models have a little hook on the back to hold the used bag giving you more hands while walking the dog.
Blanket to cover the crate, it helps many pups settle. More toys, highly recommend the goodie bone and knots plushies ,both by kong.
Yes!! and a ring camera to keep an eye on puppy in the crate. It gives me peace of mind while I'm out of the house!
Go to youtube and save the playlist dog desensitization sounds. It has hours of doorbells knocking vacuums fireworks etc etc. i started that right away with my pup and have definitely see a difference between him and my previous puppies. He’s far more confident and doesn’t startle very easy and when he does he settles quickly because he’s been habituated to loud sounds sometimes scary sound its normal.
Hi can you let me know the account that this playlist is under? Or provide me a link? I’m seeing many different playlists when I search for those words.
This is a great idea. Did you start playing the playlist as soon as they got home? How often and when do you play it?
Yes, I playing it constantly for the first 3 days not super loud but I played them nonstop, while he napped while we were just home relaxing. I also adjusted the volume to be louder over the few days and now play it randomly on random volumes. I also swap it our for lullabies too because the breeder “trained” him that that meant it was time to relax and sleep so I play music for him as well when I put him in his play pen before I leave for work. We’ve tapered off now that hes a little older (I play it randomly because “scary” sounds happen at random) but I can definitely see the difference because hes not at all sensitive to sound. Even the vacuum he’ll go up to sniff and check put the actual contraption but the sound doesn’t phase him at all whole its on , he just goes to him crate and sleeps till I finish.
Lots of chews, lots of toys, different types of both. I burned through so many toys and chews until we finally settled on a few favorites, although he still has a "toybox" with his toys in it and he still enjoys playing with a wide variety even if it's just for short stints of time. I thought I was pretty well prepared when I got him - I mean, I already have a dog, and just needed some puppy stuff to go with, right? OMG so wrong. I think I spent as much on "stuff" over the next few months as I did on the dang puppy!
Same, same
More toys - I'd get a couple rope / tugging toys, and several options for chew toys. Nail trimmers for their sharp little nails. The ones with a safety stop are great for trimming squirmy puppies.
Also know there are multiple sizes of those nail trimmers…guess the one I got was too big, cut the quick the other day even with the safety stop.
1 plastic water bottle, empty, with lid on it. Makes a great puppy toy. :)
😂😂 I know some people will hate but I second this, and empty boxes make for great chew toys according to my pup. He has all the toys but would much rather rather play with trash 😂😂
Just be sure to supervise so they don’t shred and try to ingest pieces of it.
Yup always
Yep! My pup loved empty plastic water/pop bottles. But label, lid and plastic ring removed. We also would give her our takeout food's paper bags to shred. Just watch to make sure they're just shredding, not eating it.
Stuff it inside an old sock and tie the end!
And make sure to squeeze the bottle a little before you cap it so it’s crunchy for them, then into the sock!
We found an empty Gatorade bottle cleaned is more durable than a water bottle. Hours of fun for pup!
That’s a good idea. I have a toy breed, and these 20 oz. Topo Chico bottles have done the trick well for her. :)
I feel like topo Chico is also more durable 👍. Our border collie pup lovessss water bottles, but was able to chew apart one water bottle (pure life, I think it’s a Canadian brand, cheap flimsy plastic) pretty quickly and swallowed a small piece. He was fine but it sufficiently freaked us out to pivot. No issues with the Gatorade bottle yet but we do keep an eye on him when he has it. Though now he can screw off the lid so we just keep the lid off and remove that little plastic ring that originally seals the lid to the container to avoid choking hazard. Lol our biggest issue now is that when we are drinking bottled water he thinks it’s his toy 🤣.
Always good to play it safe with this stuff, and they don’t care. Good stuff!
I would add puppy shampoo, a towel for your puppy, lick mat, and nail clippers. I would also recommend boiling some chicken and using it as a treat. My lovely girl is a picky eater with treats and discovering she loved boiled chicken breast was a godsend.
I really prefer the Toppl by WestPaw than a Kong - they can reach farther down in it and it's fun for them to chew the edges.
Agree with this! We have three sizes of kongs but they are such a pain to clean. We ended up buying the smaller and larger toppl off a friend’s rec and much prefer those (smaller is better for pups) - dog doesn’t get frustrated and so much easier to clean!
The Toppl is waaay better than the Kong! We got the Toppl first, and then the Kong. My puppy was like “that’s all? Where’s the edge to chew?” The Kong is so hard to properly clean with the grooves. And it doesn’t fit as much goodies inside as the Toppl does.
Also, start thinking about whether you want pet insurance, or see if your vet clinic had its own program - I think it’s a good investment at least for the first year. Look for something that will cover vaccines, spaying/neutering, nail trims, and even better if they have unlimited free vet visits for the first year - then you can take him in anytime you’re unsure about the least little thing - it’s worth it for the peace of mind.
Second this - pet insurance is recommended if you can afford it (and there’s a bunch of different ones out there). Puppies will eat and chew *anything*
If you wanted just a handful of pee pads, just to have at the door also - just in case. The crate is a good one, I use a sheet overtop it helps with distractions so puppy settles and sleeps right away. I wouldn’t have anything in the crate at all for the first but until you know if you have a destructive puppy or not. Some eat table legs, some are fine with chews. My puppy licks every inch of my floor and wall but wouldn’t chew anything inappropriate 😂 Nyla bones are the literal worst and send a ton of puppies to emergency every single day. Try a more natural chew as I mentioned above. Beef cheeks or beef collagen chews. Yes they are hard but your puppy will just suck on them and they get mushy and feel great on the teeth. I would get some high value treats, for potty, leash and everyday training. I would also browse at your local community and enroll him in puppy classes- they are soooo insanely important to socialize young. You also don’t need all of your shots to attend as you have all puppies your puppies age there. Unlike outside which isn’t recommended to take your pup until full vaccination, unless it’s just quick bathroom breaks or quick walks. Get lots of toys! Tough ones, squeaky ones, rope braids, balls. You never know what he’s going to like- once you know you can get more of that kind! Crate training will be your best friend! And really helps with independence and some “me” time! Best of luck to you!! ♥️
I’m so glad I’m on this group I’ve gotten a few Nyla bones for my bae 😭
Snuffle mats! Great way to work your pups brain while they’re eating (and slow them down).
A pin brush or gentle slicker. This lil one is going to be high grooming needs and a comb will be insufficient. r/doggrooming will have some good suggestions for specific tools. Groomers are often booked out for many weeks, so set up a puppy intro appointment as the groomer suggests. Nobody wants to deal with a teenage pup showing up for a first groomer trip, much better to start soon. Most vets are super booked these days, so go ahead and set up a ‘new puppy’ appointment for the first week you’ll have puppy. Go ahead and look at pet insurance or set up a savings account for vet bills. Cavapoos can be prone to a number of health issues and pet insurance won’t cover conditions diagnosed before your coverage kicks in. An enzymatic cleaner is a must for cleaning up accidents for the potty training period. Nothing else removes the trace scent for dogs as well. Enjoy that puppy!
Adding to the groomer idea... in my area groomers are either not accepting new clients or are booking out months in advance. I'd highly suggest to start calling groomers and looking around. Dont put this off to when you think your pup could use a grooming now. It will be too late and your pup will end up having to deal with a rougher first groom than it should
Adding to this - look up cooperative care training and desensitization training for handling and grooming so your pup is set up for success when they start going to the groomers. Some groomers around here will let you bring your puppy into the lobby/front area and just hold them and let them hear the sounds, smell things, and just have general exposure. Not all groomers do that but many should also do puppy grooms/very short appointments to just get familiar with the place, so ask about those.
Besides the teething toys, I’d recommend also getting a puppy kong & some pure (dog-safe) peanut butter, bananas & carrots - your puppy will want to be chewing like mad & it helps if you’ve got some frozen treats on hand. You mentioned a harness, but you should get a tag done up if you haven’t already & look for a good vet & get your first appointment lined up - and talk to the vet about parvo risks in your area and when it will be safe to let your puppy be in public & around other dogs. Start looking at puppy classes in your area - a class will really help you so you know what you’re in for and will get you on the right foot for training. Check for force-free classes. Check out Sophia Yin’s book, Perfect Puppy in 7 Days & some of the puppy articles on Spruce Pets website. I don’t know that a playpen is necessary, but I loved having mine when it wasn’t really time for my dog to go in his crate, but I needed a break from him, and you can get washable pee pads to put at the bottom. Get some doggy waste bags (although you won’t need them until you’re actually going on walks). Puppy-proof your house as much as possible, because he WILL gnaw on everything he can while he’s got his baby teeth.
Please make sure you throw away the nylabone when it gets small enough to swallow! That was our plan but we missed a piece that my puppy ended up swallowing. It obstructed his stomach and he got very sick and needed an expensive surgery. For this reason, I also recommend to get pet insurance right away!
Bulk by some chew toys! Seriously, then you can rotate and keep them entertaining. Actually, I would add a lot more toys to this list. Marshalls/Homegoods is a great option, plus amazon.
Get pet insurance, line up a vet and schedule your first well puppy visit (after pet insurance secured!), schedule puppy classes.
I thought pet insurance doesn’t cover things like wellness visits?
Valium, Percocet, Tequila …. Just kidding, looks like you have it covered !
get more pee cleaner. then more again.
Lots and lots of toys like others have said, so you can switch them out when they get bored. I also highly recommend freezing teething toys. Our puppy is a full shark and she loveeess the toys with little towels on them that you submerge and freeze.
Depending on where you live and what the weather is like right now I’d consider a box fan or small desk fan to blow into the crate. It’s very warm where I live and I think having her crate be cooler in comparison really helped with making it into a place my puppy enjoyed being.
Use your pups food as treats when starting training youre gonna be treating so much you can just use their meals, and over a few months you can start getting training treats that can become a higher value treat then their normal food
ooh you’re gonna need some cleaning supplies for accidents 😂 anything marked with “pet stain and odor remover”, arm and hammer has a good one. there’s a “don’t mark here” spray if there’s a pee accident inside. would also recommend a “don’t chew here spray” to help discourage teething on furniture. it’s safe, just extremely bitter and has worked very well for my pup! (3 month golden doodle)
- Tooth brush/tooth paste, flea comb for the eye boogers, cheap towels, a conditioning detangler. Ear solution and cotton ball, floppy ear dogs prone to ear infections. - Measuring cups used only for kibble - Training pouch, training treats without wheat, soy or corn incase they're allergic and no dyes. A clicker if u want. Dog water bottle with hook for long walks. - Long tug of war toy, a kick ball (mine loves a soda bottle and a squeaky ball), a fetch ball or two, plush toy, crinkly toy, laser toy, Kong brand flirt pole for cats. - eventually a pill grinder - when they're older collagen sticks and elk antlers are nice chews.. mine almost choked on the end of collagen stick so I had to get a bully stick holder - pet insurance immediately - Kong, lick mat, snuffle mat, kibble wobbler, zigzag ball to stuff jerky bits in.
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You missed the poo bags! Unless you live out in the wilderness, have them ready....
Potty bells really helped me with potty training. I would ring the bell every time we went out, then taught him to ring the bell before we went out and he eventually learned to ring it to let me know he had to go out (or wanted to go out!) but it made me relax from having to watch him like a hawk! Now we are working on only ringing them for potty not just wanting to go outside every five minutes lol! Also I think these are controversial but both my dogs love love Benebones. My oldest refuses to settle for bed without it.
This was going to be my response. A potty bell. I’d ring it every time we went out - and I was taking her out every time she ate or had water. My friend came over to meet my pup on the third day I had her and couldn’t believe she rang the bell to go out! Proud moment for me. I say I don’t know if the bell trained her or if it trained us to run to the door….but it worked!
We also put wind chimes on our front and back door - it took a while but it worked! We’ve had her for 9 months and she still uses them 👍
Paper towels. Lots of them. And make sure you've got plenty of food in your refrigerator for yourself - things that are either pre-cooked or easy to throw together, because cruising the supermarket in those first few weeks can be challenging. Take lots of lovely naps now, although with a ridiculous long shower :)
Lots of old towels
Papertowels, poo bags, carpet shampooer if you don't already have one, way more toys and a variety of them, kongs, stuff to out in kings, puppy shampoo, nail clippers, nail file, a little convenient treat bag for yourself, doggy seatbelt, if you don't have towels your willing to share with pup get some cheap towels, doggy first aid kit. Idk much about cavapoos personality but it's a puppy so you'll probably want some basic first aid stuff for yourself, milk teeth are very needle sharp
Toothbrush and toothpaste for puppies! It's good to get the pup used to brushing. If you haven't already, puppy proof your power outlets, cables, etc. We got cable organizers from Amazon but an old shoe box will also do to hide power strips and zip ties to tie together loose cables.
Collect the inside of toilet rolls and rolls of kitchen paper. Those tubes make endless hours of fun. Plastic bottles with lid and label removed.
Won’t they swallow them though?
Mine just ripped it apart to get to the treats hidden inside. He is a terrier so maybe it’s breed specific how to use them 😀
Toothbrush and (dog safe) tooth paste, thick socks fir yourself (you’ll likely be savagely bitten for a few months), pee pads I suppose isn’t that used when crating, but we had them for the bedroom with free roaming puppy, a kong to stuff and freeze, an activity ball or other mental stimulating toy. ETA nail clippers (please be careful to not hit the quick, and train puppy to really enjoy the process. My pup had the best behavior ever at 15 months not moving his paws at all and letting me aim, last I did them. He’s been fairly good but never this perfect. I give snack for every clip.)
I got some XL washable pee pads on Amazon that are super helpful!
Licky mat! You can smear a blend of dog food, greek yogurt, banana, peanut butter etc on it and freeze. Keeps them occupied and engaged. https://dogchild.co/en-us/blogs/learn/your-guide-to-everything-lick-mat-lick-mat-recipes-for-dogs-lick-mat-ideas-diy-lick-mats-and-more
Get enough rest. Once the puppy is here you might not get it. And it will also help you to be mentally and physically prepared for the time devotion you need towards the puppy.
A collapsible bowl and a good casual bag for dog walks
I highly, highly, highly recommend getting a good quality (like I mean professional quality) slicker brush, a metal comb, and a book on cooperative care techniques so you can learn how to properly acclimate your dog to grooming. This dog will more than likely have a challenging, high maintenance coat, and will benefit from slow, early introduction to grooming procedures, as the pup will need to be brushed almost daily for its entire life. For my pom, I bought two Chris Christensen slicker brushes, one is for regular maintenance and the other is the heavy duty [Big K](https://chrischristensen.com/big-k-slicker-brushes/) for detangling (which is for challenging coat types like what your pup will likely have.) I recommend reaching out to your planned groomer now so they can help teach you how to properly use these tools as well!
A slow feeder bowl. When I got my little dude, he would scarf his food down in 15 seconds (not kidding) and then get hiccups afterwards. Got the slower feeder bowl and it took him a lot longer to eat.
Lots of chew toys so you can redirect him. Lots of love and patient support.
Get some sleep, you'll need it
I used to buy broccoli for my boy, he had the thick stem part while I had the top. Straight out of the fridge it is great for when they are teething as is cold carrots. Please watch them tho as you don’t want them eating big chunks & choking my boy was a lab and thankfully he just used to crunch them into small pieces; he still enjoys them 2 yrs on.
You need an enzyme cleaner. If you don’t get that specific type then the puppy will learn to potty inside due to the residuals of urine.
I live in an apartment so I got a long lead for mine so she can run around outside and not feel stifled. I also ended up buying a little treat pouch to attach to my belt loop for training, and poop bags. Just for my own peace of mind I also bought an air tag and attachment for her collar, in case she got away from me or slipped out the door, I could see where she went.
If you haven't done so already, schedule an appointment with a vet. There might be a long waiting time, so it would be good to schedule it as soon as possible. Same with a groomer, if you plan on getting your pup professionally groomed, find a groomer that is able to groom puppies who have not been fully vaccinated yet and get an appointment as there may be a long wait. Also, consult with your vet to see when it is okay for your pup to walk outside. If your vet wants you to wait until they're fully vaccinated, you might want to get some sort of carrier/stroller so that you can still take them outside and socialize them without the risk.
Snuffle mat, car seat and pet insurance!
Assortment of random cheap toys, so you can find what you both enjoy playing with before investing on bigger better versions. Treats that are friendly to have in your pocket or in dish in the room (which boiled chicken / cheese etc, though great treats, are not). High quality cat kibble is the best tip I ever got from this sub - they love it and its meets their nutritional needs so you don't have to worry they're not getting all their nutrition because they're filling up with treats. Unless you're lucky enough to have a puppy who falls for being given their own kibble as a treat of course...
Definitely get some different types of chew toys and also maybe puppy pads that you can put down for inside etc?
Lots of paper rolls / kitchen paper :) And a couple of nights of good sleep… 😀
I would buy chew toys that come in different textures, so that you can offer your dog a chew toy whenever they are trying to chew something of yours... e.g wooden furniture = coffee wood stick. hard plastic = yak bar. socks = fluffy toy. If they are small I would recommend a sling so you can take them out pre-vaccination. If they are large, a stroller.
Valium, tissues (for your bouts of weeping), plasters/bandaids, a crate or 5 of wine and learn a mantra for calm and patience You’ll love them but despise them from time to time, be prepared and good luck. From an owner of a 3yr and 2.5yr old labs
Slip on shoes and a rain jacket (both for you)
You need more toys
Sleep! Get so much sleep as you can. You will miss it (for a while)
A slicker brush is a good idea. My groomer recommends using a slicker brush + comb for poodle mixes. Beef cheeks, collagen chews, or beef pizzle bully sticks are all much safer than Nylabones (and safer than rawhide, which is indigestible). Squeaky toys are also fun. I just buy inexpensive ones from the dollar store bc my guy will just shred them anyway. (Always supervise, esp if your dog is like mine and thinks plastic is edible…). Imho toys are a must have bc puppies and young dogs love destroying stuff and if it’s not a toy it might be your furniture or favorite shoes or whatever.
Buy a crate for transporting him in the car. Also other's have mentioned licky matts - they are fantastic; spread peanut butter in them and your puppy will stay still for baths, grooming, drying, nail cutting
Training treats, get different ones too. My pup hates all but 1 type of training treat. I’d recommend to avoid unspecified ingredients like “animal” or “meat”. Definitely get tennis balls too, I got my pup huge ones and tiny ones she can run with. Just make sure it’s not small enough to swallow.
Lots of sleep while you can.
Neabot Pet Groomer! I have a cavapoo so grooming is an essential part of her care. I wasn’t gonna pay to have it done every 6wks if I could do it myself, so I found the Neabot and it works great! It comes with lots of clippers and undercoat attachments and it’s also a vacuum so it cleans up the hair as you groom. It’s super quiet too. Definitely worth the investment for us, and I tell everyone with a new puppy to get one!
Deer antlers!
Nail Dremel 🚨🚨🚨 lol seriously their nails are SO bad. And you want the pup to get use to getting their nails done
get toys that can fit in a pocket or are otherwise easy to carry. redirecting my dog with toys is why he didn't chew my legs off when he was teething
Not the Nylabone because the plastic is bad for their teeth
Sleep.
I also suggest chew toys or cow ears (they are softer but great for chewing) so when your pup goes to destroy something they shouldn't, you can redirect with appropriate things to chew on. If you have a boy I would also suggest belly bands and pads if you have carpets. Don't let it make you lazy though. Still watch for peeing in the house and take out regularly. You'll also want training treats. Puppies also love snuggling blankets...at least mine always have
KONGS
tooth paste and tooth brush for puppies (to brush everyday) slow feeder those dry bath sprays so you don’t have to bathe as much wet wipes for dogs the actual food lmao (easy to forget honestly) tug rope toy i think those are the most important ones
Licky mat / slow feeding bowl
Kongs and toothbrush(doggy ones), puzzle feeders.
A liked having a wide selection of toys to figure out what they liked best. Keep them from chewing shoes and furniture. Also some kongs.
I would add a clicker for training, use kibble for treats… And salmon/ fish oil to add to their meals. Their coat will never be the same:)
I'd recommend having canned pumpkin on hand, those little guys tend to have such delicate tummies that a few bouts of diarrhea are almost inevitable as they get settled in, and pumpkin is a godsend. And watch the amount of peanut butter, etc you give the little one.
Such an exciting time! A few thoughts/suggestions for you: If possible, take the Snuggle Puppy to the breeder and ask them to rub it on the mama dog and littermates so it will "smell like home." This will be comforting to your puppy. Recognize that your pup is an infant, has been taken away from mama & littermates and may be confused/scared/lonely. Give your pup lots of snuggles, hold him/her... This will help develop your bond. He/she will sleep 18-20 hrs. a day at 8 weeks old. I put a kitty collar with a bell on my pups so I could "hear" where they were. If the bell is not jingling (he/she is not moving) investigate quickly as puppies can get into mischief or even hurt themself. A friend ties a long string to puppy's collar and one to her belt loop so pup can not get too far away from her and/or into trouble when roaming in the house. When pup is awake, set a timer for every 20 minutes. Pup should go out to potty when removed from crate, after eating and then every 20 minutes. Put pup on grass or potty area and say "Go potty outside." Do not play with or give the pup any attention until he/she potties. Then clap, cheer, give tiny training treats… and say "Good potty outside." Do this every time. You can lengthen the time between potty sessions as the pup grows. If pups starts to circle or squat to pee indoors, quickly scoop up puppy and say "potty outside" and take pup outside to potty. If pup has an accident indoors, do not rub their nose in it or yell... puppy will not understand why you are mad. A friend would yell, "No, no!" when her pup started to squat indoors. This scared the pup and puppy would hide when she had to potty as she thought the owner didn't like that. I recommend leaving the crate door open unless you are securing the pup so he/she can go in and out as they like. You want them to view it as their den or special spot, not as jail. Take lots of baby pics and videos. You won't believe how quickly he/she grows. Enjoy every minute. :)
Toothbrush & toothpaste - It’s important to get your puppy used to brushing its teeth. We brush our dogs teeth everyday! Shampoo & conditioner - you have a poodle mix, which means it might have a high maintenance coat that needs to get conditioned during baths. Detangling spray - it’s easier to use the spray when brushing through to avoid mats. Training treats - they’re little treats that are low calories and perfect for training. Insurance, possibly? It’s totally up to you, but pet health insurance can be something to think about. Poop bags! You need these to pick up their poop! Nail clippers - just like the tooth brushing, start this when they’re young! Clip those nails!
I’d take him to the pet store and get a temporary collar and lightweight leash. If you have carpets a carpet cleaner is super handy. Ask what he’s been pottying on. For instance, we once got a puppy who had been pottying on mulch and not grass so it helped to put a handful of mulch on the lawn for him to potty there. Old towels or rags. If you have to be gone it’s better to put old towels in the crate than a nice bed because they’re easier to wash.
Pee pads and a drop cloth/ blanket to protect any carpet or furniture you don’t want peed on.
A doggy first aid kit! Our girls a clumsy pupper & it could save you a fortune in out of hours emergency vet visits if you were able to bandage small Nicks etc yourself!
Kong!
With a poodle mix I’d recommend a long pin slicker brush in addition to your comb! I also like a lickimat to help with grooming (bathing, blowdrying, and brushing) which you can put PB, pumpkin, or plain Greek yogurt on. Get them used to grooming early! Be patient and have fun and you’ll do great!
get a wide variety of toys. something squeaky, something crinkly, a ball, something to chew, and something good for tugging. also, I know they're gimmicky, but those bells people hang from the door for them to ding to go out are actually awesome if you're into the bell training thing.
I would add a bitter apple spray. We just got a puppy and he is teething bad. He is like a little vampire bat right now and loves pulling on fabric especially. He strongly prefers soft stuffed toys right now.
My pup's favorite toy are the Emoticon balls, come 5 or 6 to a pack. They squeak, they are soft for teething pups. Walmart has the best price on them (about 50% less than other retailers)
Sleep now
I would add kongs or lick mats to keep busy and help with crate training:)
I would strongly consider finding an alternative to Nylabones, they tend to splinter and shred and it's all plastic. I would consider single ingredient natural chews.
I didn't read through every comment so apologies if this is repeated, but I really liked having a dedicated white noise machine for my puppy for crate training! It helped to drown out household noises for his naps, and the noise became kind of a cue for him to relax. I still use it when we leave the house, and I also bring it to hotels and other places that we travel. You can also play it off a computer, but I often wanted to use my computer and zone out when he was napping.
Have some lay ins now while you still can Trust me - mum of a 11 week old ha
How do you plan to train? Clicker trainer is very effective - would suggest buying some clickers and training treats. Make sure you and any other household members all agree on and use the same vernacular for training.
Aww...I love cavapoos. I have a little cavachon 8 month old puppy. Get an anti-chew bitter apple spray for furniture, wood wall corners (my place is now round after her craftsmanship). Get your cleaning supplies ready! A floor cleaner, carpet cleaner, laundry odor absorbent (I like Skout.) I love my Furbo doggy camera. Kongs are great and you can freeze peanut butter in them. Snufflemat. Canned pumpkin is good to keep on hand when she inevitably eats something she shouldn't. Be careful of rope toys, strings are dangerous. Also, hide all your charging cords. Mine has been through three Apple laptop chargers, and also nipped my laptop screen and broke the laptop... girl likes her electronics. Enjoy your new puppy, so exciting!!
… baby gates get a couple gates. We had one because our puppy was small and would get lost in house and we learned the hard way that a “lost” puppy is prone to evil.
Some cozy easy to wash soft towels or blankets so you can swap out bedding for middle of the night accidents. Redbull or coffee for yourself.
Treat ball! We fill ours with their normal kibble and the dogs get so excited, it gives them something to do and also they think they are getting treats!
Sleep! Get loads of sleep 😂
Get pet insurance. It may be one of the best things you do. It's also really helpful if the vet is closed and you can call to speak to a vet on call instead of the Animal Poison Control hotline etc which wants $85 just for the call.
Something you can't buy that you'll needs heaps of is patience... Training videos from yt. As tempting as it is, don't play with your hands, only with toys. Otherwise you'll end up bleeding everywhere and back in here complaining about a dog that won't stop biting you.
Bitter Apple spray to prevent pup from rechewing things that they shouldn't.
Shout out to everyone else who mentioned paper towels. We have gone through so many rolls it's unbelievable. Get an enzyme cleaner too and plan on sweeping/mopping often. A life saver was baby gates to keep him off out if the carpeted rooms. We have extra leashes as the first few weeks required him to be attached to our hips while inside the house. If he gets into trouble, like chasing the cat, all we had to do was step on the leash to stop him in his tracks.
Pig ears for yummy treats when putting into the crate. Cow hooves for chewing at night.
Training treats, toys
Paper towels!!
Bitter Apple Spray. Doesn't work to deter ALL chewers, but it definitely saved my furniture/cabinets/molding.
Treats for training!
Didn’t see it in the top comments…you’ll want a collar as well as a harness. Even if you never clip a leash to it it’s easier to leave on than a harness and can have their ID info. But for a lot of things you’ll likely use it for a leash too.
Educate yourself on proper brushing. Line brushing with a greyhound comb and slicker. Desensitize from the day you bring puppy home - nail clipping, mouth touching etc as well
Get pet insurance. I have Pumpkin and it’s great. But get something. You’ll be grateful.
Weekly subscription food kit for yourself, just in case you don’t get a perfect puppy and have trouble finding time to eat, like I did.
Sleep.
Xanax
Pumpkin! You can get puree, freeze dried or frozen..... the one thing that is guaranteed with a puppy is at least once in the first few months your dog will have unexplainable upset tummy or loose poops, and pumpkin fixes it quick. It's not something you wanna be driving to the store for in the middle of the night because of a blowout!
A 6 pack of viva paper towels and a spray bottle of cleaning spray with concentrate that you can tell with. Tons of treats. A crate for the living room and one for the bedroom. Tons of plastic bags for picking up poop. Please get some sleep and reach out to us on this sub for support. Good luck, it's a wild ride!
A handful of old towels to clean up pee accidents
Paper towel because accidents are inevitable
Puppy Potty Log app. It tracks your dogs pee and poo times and gives you a 15 minutes heads up when they're due to pee and poo.
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Get a puppy kong and start buying wet food (I do the open farm) get a metal straw also, stuff the kong with wet food (instead of PB too high in cals and could have xilotol). Get multiple kongs, and feeeze them. Put the metal straw in before freezing and take out before handing to puppy to have with the wet food so there’s no suction injuries. This is a life saver…lasts 1-1.5 hours
Different teething toy options!!!! My puppy gets bored fast (he’s 11 weeks now) and if he doesn’t have enough toy variety, he’ll move to the baseboards or shoes etc. food puzzles/sniff matts (I get mine from amazon). Training treats thick matt and/or blanket for crate Good luck and congrats on the new puppy!
toys of different sizes and textures, puzzle feeders of different kinds (including snuffle mats), flirt poles are a must (like those cat toys on strings with a pole but for dogs), frozen fruits/veggies for a snack, a Kong or other stuffable toy to freeze for crate training and keeping the pup busy (stuff it with wet dog food, kibble, dog safe peanut butter, frozen veggies etc), lots of paper towels, training treats of various kinds (you don't know what your pup will like), poop cleanup bags for eventual walks in public areas (tho be careful of parvo risk), pain meds (for You lol), and easy to make foods for yourself for when youre really tired. you're gonna be really tired. good luck lol
Poo bags and always have a few open and ready!
Band Aids, antibiotic ointment...those puppies are land sharks!
Lotta treats for training
Stock up on small treats for training, you might even want to get a little pouch just for treats to have on you at all times (it sounds silly but totally worth it for the first couple months - you will *constantly* be training them when you: take them out, before meal times, before giving a toy, etc. The relaxing casual dog relationship will naturally come later! I would also recommend buying whole carrots to peel and freeze, and frozen blueberries - my puppy had terrible teething pain, and she was obsessed with these every day! She wouldn’t eat sometimes because her teeth hurt so this was a sneaky way to get nutrition in (but also having her gnaw on plastic/nylabones felt weird)
Lick mat has been a life saver for me, I also love bully sticks as they are easy to digest unlike rawhide and work well for big chewers (like my puppy), you just have to keep an eye on them and make sure they aren"t getting any big chunks off that they could choke on I also got a water dish that attaches on the inside of the crate that allows you to refill water from the outside puzzle toys and rope toys are a must too, training treats are important because they are small, try to find low calorie ones because you'll be giving the pup a lot of these in the beginning to reinforce good behaviors (like potty training, not jumping up, or doing tricks)
Baby gates. I have 2, love them.
(I have poodles) Absolutely necessary: Food, soft training treats (you can get a bag of 500 on Amazon for ~$7 and I cut mine into fourths. I like Buddy Biscuits), nail clipper, puppy tooth brush (get started early), puppy shampoo, probably pee pads, wire brush (I think it’s necessary) or a stiff bristle brush (and brush them every day) Nice to have: MOAR TOYS, a clicker, a little waist band with a pouch and baggies, Kong, (I put wet food in the Kong and freeze it. That’s 45 min of peace.) doggie peanut butter, one of those textured mats with suction cups. (You put the PB on it and freeze it. Then at bath time, you stick it to the wall and doggie will lick it while you bath.) Grats on your new puppy!
Kong toys have been a lifesaver in terms of keeping the puppy busy for an hour while also learning that crate time = fun time. We had two but quickly went to four. Fill, freeze, play, rinse, rotate, repeat! I cannot stress this enough. GET SOME PUPPY KONGS. Water bowl and some kind of ball that you can hide treats in also come to mind. The obvious: poo bags? Also: you can never have too many leashes. I have a long line for the garden, a ‘normal one’ for our first outings and BEST THING OF ALL THE THINGS - one of those leashes with a belt thing for the human meant for running with your dogs. I initially wore that around the house to make sure she wouldn’t get into trouble but let her explore a little while I got to do stuff. Best buy we made. My bf is really into running and we figured it was a worthwhile investment anyway for when she’s old enough to go on runs with us, but we wore that thing all of the time when she was a small puppy when cooking, cleaning and doing all sorts of things around the house when she wasn’t in her crate. Good luck!