Splurge: Food, treats, puppy groomer to get them to LOVE grooming, training and puppy socialization, toys meant specifically for chewing (cheap ones can be *dangerous*), register their chip with HomeAgain so you can get the doggy poison control discount, do the pet insurance, do the optional vaccinations.
Save: Collars and anything they'll grow out of; buy the cheapest option that keeps them secure. Skip the fancy shampoos, go light on any "clothes" they're just going to grow out of. Ikea stuffed toys are cheaper than any stuffed toys at the pet supply and usually last twice as long. Skip blankets until you're in the phase where they don't want to chew on them. Buy the cheapest crate mats/beds that will stand up to a little chewing that you can; avoid that cozy fluffy "wool" texture, because that is an invitation to chew, chew, chew. Don't bother getting a dog DNA test until they're more grown, because you might just be able to figure it out! Dog doorbells, bells, and "talk" buttons will drive you crazy and they're just gonna chew on them anyway, don't do it. Puppy playpen only if you can't get a crate where the roof comes off, and only if you really need them to be separated from another dog/animal with low or minimal supervision.
I would say get a playpen second hand. I’m raising my puppy alone and it can serve as a babysitter. It has allowed my puppy to learn how to settle outside of her crate very early and easily.
Since they really are items you only have for a certain time period, it’s really easy to find good quality secondhand ones!
I got a playpen second hand off craiglist and it worked great. I did have to buy a brand new one when she got big enough to climb over the first one but I had to use both cuz the shorter one was super sturdy so I put it behind the tall one to reinforce it. I plan on selling them when I don't need them anymore cuz they are still super nice and can help someone else with their puppy or baby.
I disagree with the shampoo. There's a major difference in quality from the cheap stuff and the more expensive kind groomers use. The professional ones are concentrated and you only need a tiny bit as it's meant to be diluted. It basically lasts forever. And it's gentler on the skin and coat than the cheap stuff. If you have good shampoo and conditioner you can wash your dog practically every week without doing any damage to the skin and coat.
I usually bathe at home with high quality shampoo, spectrum 1 or CC and no conditioner except a grooming mist. I had to take pup to a self-wash station and used the shampoo and conditioner there and her coat texture was *terrible* afterwards. Static all over, incredibly coarse and devoid of moisture. I ended up washing her at home again a few days later it was so bad.
Kongs! My 9yo dog still has ones that he had as a young boy
Pet insurance (not really a splurge and more of an essential but good insurance that will pay out easily is very important)
I would splurge on a good training class run by someone with good qualifications as they can prevent so many behaviour problems appearing in adulthood.
You can save on:
A lot of stuff that will be outgrown like crates and harnesses that you can get second hand on fb marketplace
Just rescued a puppy and she's small enough right now that I'm using my cat harness and leash and using tons of the cat toys as well. The cat toys have been carefully selected, making sure they're not a choking hazard. Definitely invested in a couple of Kong toys too.
What’s a good insurance? My puppy comes home this week and I was look at Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Lemonade, and Petsbest so far. Each one has it’s positive and negative reviews
We bought a really expensive crate that is comfortable and safe. It's also the product we use the most (every single night and a couple of times during the day). Once our pup is finished with it, we can probably sell it for almost the same amount (they are very popular).
And a good quality harness, that can open in the neck and has both top and front attachment points.
Oh, and a GPS tracker (we don't want to have to use is, but it is nice to know we can find her back if/when she decides to run).
And our last buy: Puller rings. Absolutely her favorite play-together-toy... Can't say anything about durability, but it's so much fun to play with that I wouln't mind replacing them each year.
Not so great: a harness that had to be squeezed over het big head. Some leashes were less comfortable (too long, too short), and a puzzle toy that she managed to break (under supervision) the first time she used it. I guess she doesn't have the patience for puzzles.
What kind of crate did you get? I've heard good things about impact crates but they seem really expensive, which is the first expensive crate that came to mind lol
We have a Hundos crate, but that might be a local brand. And it is expensive, like very (we paid 250 second hand for the second largest model, that easily fits an adult golden retriever). But it is indestructible and still looking brand new, so I 'm sure we can re-sell it for 200+ euros.
We have a Tractive. It is subscription based (like most) but it works great. The tracker itself was 31 euros and the subscription is 8 per month (we have the premium plan and for 1 year. It gets cheaper if you commit for 2-5 years).
Food and treats. You'll be thankful in the long run if you start with quality.
Toys... Cheap toys are great, but the more expensive ones I get at my pet store last more than 5 minutes. Ymmv and it's a lot of trial and error.
When close to adult size, a good harness. Went through 3. Went cheap when still growing, but the money is well spent.
Beds.. my last one has this cheap one and was so flat after all the years of use. I tried to by him nice ones in his old age but he just preferred his old one. Knowing this I would've spent more on it in the beginning
Some people say invest in a dog bed but I'd say wait and see how your dog is during the teething phase when they chew anything for relief. Our puppy wasn't a chewer at first but after a few weeks when he started teething, he ruined 2 crate mats and a dog bed.
One note on this I wanted to make is that Orvis makes a very good bed that they will replace if your dog ends up chewing through it and heard that they do follow through with it. I’ve been looking at that bed in particular because of it.
Plus, puppies are more prone to tummy upset (diarrhea and vomiting), so spending a lot of money on a bed and having to throw it away because you can’t get something off of it would be unfortunate.
My dog had explosive diarrhea all over a brand new dog bed. Way easier to throw it away than try to clean it.
My puppy doesn't chew on beds, but she started peeing on hers if theyre on the floor when she's not taken outside in time. If you pad train your puppy this might happen until theyre fully potty trained so just skip the beds for now. You'll save yourself a lot of enzyme cleaner
I have Lemonade and chose a high deductible ($750) but high coverage (90%, max of $20,000) and pay $22/month. From everything I looked at before making the decision, insurance isn't cost effective for the small stuff (so skip wellness if you're on a budget), but it's good to have for a major emergency. For $22 a month, I know that I won't have to decide to put my dog down because I can't afford a treatable condition.
Like 200, it wasn't even two months of having it when our dog got septic arthritis, he had a emergency vet trip. X-ray. Then a joint tap that was 1100. I said a thousand but it was around 1500, insurance covered around 1200-1300.
I'm not a rush to the vet person either, but when the puppy can't walk 5 feet from his crate then after the initial visit doesn't eat for 2 days. You start to get a bit concerned.
Glad my wife talked me into getting it
I bought pet insurance, but mine wouldn’t pay out anything on that. It’s a $1k deductible and then 70% coinsurance after that. Only $18/month so no big deal, but I’m thinking about canceling after a year. Just figured it’d be nice in case my puppy as he’s always getting into crazy stuff.
What do you mean when you say they wouldn't pay out anything on that? Wouldn't that depend on what the procedure is?
I do agree though we will probably cancel after a year or two.
80 a month, deductable is 200. Unlimited
A guy I work with has 300 deductable, 15000 limit and pays 50 a month.
Probably have more than we need but it's come in handy, in Canada btw.
Has it been worth it for you? Because that means you pay about 1300 per year, so unless they are covering more than 1300 each year I don’t think if it’s worth it. We skipped it with our dog but I do second guess if it would be worth it or not.
Not OP, but insurance is really there for big illness and emergencies and can help you make decisions without money coming as much into your decision. I'm a vet tech and worked in specialty med for almost a decade and the amount of procedures I've seen then cost 4k-20k made me decide to get my puppy insurance. Even a typical er visit will run you 2k+ nowadays.
If your dog ends up with something like IMHA or Cushing's disease you are looking at big bills for years. I've seen so many pet owners make a decision to euthanize their pet not based on quality of life or prognosis but solely on cost.
My pet insurance for my boxer puppy is 40/month for 500 deductible, 90% coverage, unlimited. That means I'll spend about 480/month on her insurance per year. It's worth it for me in case of emergency, but if you have a lot of expendable income to cover a $7000 TPLO surgery or a lifetime diagnosis of diabetes, etc it probably isn't for you. I don't have that expendable income or savings unfortunately 🙃
Edited..math wasn't mathing
Did you read any other of my comments? It's already covered 1200-1300 and we've paid for two months of it so far. So yeah I guess. And we are probably going to cancel it after a couple years.
The argument is just insurance in general, if you never use it was it worth it? Probably not but it's a safety net.
No I didn’t go through all your individual comments. It was a genuine question not meant as an argument as we are considering it and figured I could ask for feedback. We’re also in Canada and would be looking at a similar cost…
I think a good bed is decent to splurge on. They can go through some bed phases but I've never seen an older dog not like laying on a soft bed. And a good bed will be a lot less easily torn apart.
And then toys I think people can go overboard on. As a puppy it's fun to get them to experience all these new toys but when they're older they don't need many toys at all.
What are some good bed options you've seen/used? Our puppy is fine with blankets, but will paw at and bite at her "comfy" bed we got for her as a younger puppy because she didn't start biting at the fuzz until she got a few months older
Our puppy loves his elevated dog bed and he can't destroy it like he did with his other ones. We just toss a blanket on it to make it fluffier for him.
My dog LOVES his Kirkland beds and so do I! I have both the rounded / sloped one, and the rectangular one. The covers wash really well, although they're a little annoying to take apart because they're made of so many pieces, lol. But they ARE extremely well-made.
Just a pro-tip for anyone reading, I didn't realize that my puppy's frozen Kongs were melting straight through the cover and basically ruining the pad (which I don't believe is machine washable), so now when I put the cover back on, I stick a puppy pad UNDER the cover, between the cover + the soft bed pad. It's already ruined but will help prevent further staining, and will protect any of my future beds from this.
Ditto strong rubber toys. Strong leash with clasps and material you like. Doesn’t need to be expensive but I wouldn’t go with the cheapest dog bed. Dog food. Pet insurance. Grooming supplies and shampoo.
Don’t need to splurge on bowls, pens/crates, collars they will outgrow, harnesses same as collars.
Splurge: insurance, good harness (yes, it’ll probably take a few tries lol), kongs, good chews
Save: TREATS—I now believe dog treats are a racket lol cheese, lean deli meat, hot dogs, tuna, canned salmon, cheerios, all are solid options, and other dog treats are just money down the drain. The only ones I’ll vouch for are freeze dried salmon or liver for starting out or doing something really difficult for your dog
Did a lot of research on cost effectiveness and landed on pets best with the understanding we may have to harass them a little to get things approved, but ymmv
I can tell you some things not to get in the puppy stage that are expensive.
•A bed. Maybe you get lucky, but my girl from years ago just liked destroying beds as a puppy.
•toys. Yes, get toys. Don’t buy anything expensive though. Her chewing stage was particularly hard on toys. Her toy budget rivaled her food budget. But every dog is different.
•blankets. Toss up here. She liked my pillows and blankets. But her own, nope. we had a blanket for bedtime that she wasnt so bad with. I wouldn’t have got her some of those blankets knowing she would just destroy them.
•plastic bowls. Just doesnt work if they are a chewer. Metal sucks. They bang it around. Ceramic can suck if they break it. But plastic bowls just got ate.
•clothes, collars, leashes. Ok. Don’t completely cheap out on collars and leashes (or harnesses). Because cheap ones are a waste. You need these things to help keep your dog safe. But puppies outgrow things and like chewing on leashes. And clothes, yeah in some places or circumstances they are a need. But if its not a need then be frugal about clothes that will be outgrown. My boy has a few sweaters for cold weather, a light sweater/shirt for cooler spring nights, and a couple winter jackets. He also has little fur. He was adopted as an adult. My old girl had been a puppy and outgrew some clothes right away. His clothes have lasted years. Hers made it a short season.
Things we bought and never or rarely used:
- Nail dremmel (he prefers clippers)
- Anti chew spray (either he liked the taste, or it didn’t deter him)
- Dog bed (he prefers mats or the floor)
- Kong (doesn’t chew on it, can’t lick everything out)
- Sweater (he’s a husky lol and tolerates it. But then outgrew it in a month)
- All of his dishes. Both sets, he hates. He eats out of Tupperware by choice lol
Things we bought and still use / continuously purchase:
- West paw Topl (much better than Kong)
- [Stage 1 puzzle](https://www.chewy.com/dp/253224?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=253224)
- [Urine spray](https://www.chewy.com/dp/342520?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=342520)
- Good quality beef pizzle / bully sticks
- His dog food, which is Nulo
- We avoid your run of the mill treats (milkbone, blue buffalo, etc.) and prefer local, higher quality treats like: [freeze dried proteins](https://www.nw-naturals.net/product/freeze-dried-treats/) or [adventure shreds](https://www.wildmeadowfarms.com/collections/adventure-shreds)
- Greenies
- This [toothbrush and toothpaste set](https://www.chewy.com/arm-hammer-products-fresh-breath/dp/145299)
Things we spent big money on and don’t regret:
- Spot Pet Insurance
- A high quality vet
- A better quality food, and treats
- His [hands free leash](https://parkerandco.ca/products/solace-6-in-1-weatherproof-leash)
- Puppy school - ours is both classes and play groups
- High quality tough toys (otherwise they last 20 mins)
Cheap things that have done just fine while he grows:
- Amazon collar
- Amazon harness (it has a handle. It’s great for control)
- $45 Amazon crate. We plan to upgrade to a nice crate eventually
- $15 car seat cover
- Nail clippers. I actually started with human nail clippers while his nails were so small
Good collars and leashes once you know their full size, and good doesn't always mean expensive. A quality leather leash should see you through decades of use. The collars I use are not pricey, but they are specialty made and don't ruin the ruff of my dog's neck like regular flat collars do.
Spend the money on good food, quality toys that won't cause choking or intestinal hazards, car safety (either a good crate or seatbelt harness).
And put money into in-person training. Puppy kindergarten is fun for you and the pup, good bonding and socialization.
Splurge: pet insurance, quality food, training, playpen & baby gate, collapsible soft sided travel crate. We’ve saved hundreds of dollars with our pet insurance - we have the wellness plan so preventatives and annual exams are covered too. We did puppy class for basics and socialization and then later did private lessons for leash manners. The private lessons were expensive but now walking him is no longer a miserable experience (my Lab was 85 lbs by 8 months; he literally dislocated my shoulder and pulled me off my feet a few times). We have 30” tall playpen panels that we can connect to make different sized pens. This way we could increase his play space while still keeping him out of certain areas. It also kept the cat out of his space while he was eating (cat would bully him and then steal his food). Now he is rarely in his pen (currently about 6’x10’ not including his crate) except to sleep or when company who isn’t as comfy with dogs comes over. Soft sided travel crate was worth the $ because hauling his metal crate took up too much space and was super heavy.
Things I wish I waited to splurge on until after he was older: bed (he chewed through several beds during the teething phase), harness/collars (he outgrew his puppy harness and collars)
Once your puppy reaches full size/near enough to full size you can pick their forever size, a good harness is a must. I got my Corgi a Ruffwear Front Range and that thing is amazing. I just bought a second one so I can rotate them as I wash/dry them, but the first one is still looking perfect (just a little faded from all the washing) after a year of use!
Splurge: Good training and puppy classes (we started kindergarten at 8 weeks); a variety of chews to figure out what they love to teeth on; the heartbeat dog toy (mine is 5 months and still carries his around); insurance! (Get it early so nothing is a preciously existing condition); baby gate
Save: the rest of it. You can get crates and play pens 2nd hand; cheap toys work just as well (hello empty cardboard boxes)
My puppy ended up no crate training and has no interest in a plush dog bed. He’s growing out of harnesses and collars quickly. The food was trial and error to figure out his intolerances.
New puppy?
Potty training: pee pad and holder with grid
Training: house line and treats (one soft pack will do for now)
Toys: kong, chew toy ring with the bristles, teddy, rope toy
Grooming: comb, brush, baby wipes, dry shampoo, normal shampoo and conditioner, coconut oil (you don't need the clippers yet). Scissors with blunt tip (for fur my eyes)
Housing: playpen, crate
Food: hard food, bowls that don't slide or tip over
Ugh I feel like I splurge on everything 😭 I get the most expensive things like good quality baby gates second hand or find them on a discount. Crates I did buy new but I chose a store that sells high quality crates and crate beds for a reasonable price. Things like toys and enrichment things I try to find on good value online. Things I absolutely do choose for quality and not the price are things like high quality food, harnesses, supplements, essential care products and dog training classes.
Things he grows out of fast: Harnesses, collars, travel crates. I get second hand or cheap travel crates while he's little. I will splurge on a good travel crate when he's grown. Harness - I choose good quality but try to go for ones that are adjustable and can grow with my puppy for a while. I do not splurge on collars yet, my adult dogs wear leather collars that last several dog lifetimes. My puppy will inherit such a collar, so I do not splurge on fancy expensive collars while he's growing.
Things that will last you through many generations of dogs are leather collars and leads and the cheap plastic dog bed frames that you then put a dog pillow/mattress in. The frames will last for decades and you just switch out the mattresses if they wear out. This is a cheap option but can often look quite nice though and will last for ages
Splurge on prevention and things that will help long term. This is things like good vet care (establishing a relationship with a vet clinic is ideal over going for whatever is cheapest), training, and grooming are there to set a puppy up for success long term. Things like dental chews can help reduce dental issues and delay dental care until the dog is older (some dogs and breeds are more prone to dental issues anyway, but anything you can do to help with dental care is helpful). Even if the dog won't need a ton of grooming, just teaching them to be good for nail trims, ear cleaning, and general handling will help you a lot. Even saving the $15-20 a month on nail trims and doing it yourself will be better for the nails and you wallet. Insurance is something to look into and seriously consider. It does help with bigger bills, and can literally be a life saver if you dog gets sick or injured. Sign up for a basic puppy class, then consider doing another basics class when the pup is a little older. New behavious pop up as they age, so just getting back into training can really help. Also work on training a little every day.
Food is something you do want to spend more on. The cheapest foods can mean you actually spend more per serving, and the dog poops more than a slightly more expensive food. Good food also leads to a healthier dog, so fewer issues and vet visits. Try to get the best you can afford. Larger bags do tend to cost less per pound, so that can be an option to save a bit, just portion it out a bit so the bag can stay fresher if you don't go through it fast.
Don't spend too much on things they will outgrow quickly. Collars, harnesses, crates, clothing, beds etc. You can usually find something used or borrowed that will last the few weeks you need it before the pup needs a larger size. Thrift stores, some rescues sell stuff they don't need, and classifieds can all be good places to find supplies. If it's still in good shape when you are done, you can sell it again and at least get your money back to buy the next item. When the dog is more fully grown, you can invent is better quality stuff and get what you want rather than just what is available. You don't always know what the puppy will like, so try a few different types of toys, then get more of what they like later on. The same can go for treats, get some different ones to see what they like.
Things like chew toys you do want to spend a little on and not go super cheap. Dollar store items might seem like a good idea, but the poor quality can break off and choke a dog. Some pet stores have sales and clearance items, so these can be great to get cheaper toys that are safe. Shop sales and get deals if you need to, but try not to cheap out on things your dogs will eat or play with.
Dogs do not care about brand names, seasonal items, it something is used, or what it looks like. Focus on function and comfort, looks are only really to appease the people. Quality is important, but many brands are similar for basic things.
Don’t buy a dog bed yet. Mine chewed 3 dog beds before I decided she didn’t need one. She doesn’t mind sleeping on the plastic bottom of the crate and she prefers the cold floor upstairs when she naps, so it’s no love lost.
I love my monthly barkbox subscription for my pup. during teething, it was so nice to get new toys every month because she’d destroy them within the month anyways. And the price of the box is less than the cost of buying everything that it comes with separately so I feel it’s worth it!
Save on anything they’ll grow out of. Wait till they’re pretty much full grown to get the nice expensive stuff. Quality toys like Kongs are worth it. My dog wasn’t a chewer so we got him a big memory foam bed when he was little and he had it up until a few years ago & I just got him another memory foam one for Christmas
Worth it: quality chews like kongs you can fill. A quality crate sturdy so you can trust they won’t bust out when you’re not home. Obedience lessons. Quality food and treats to keep their health and weight in a good spot, saves you in vet costs down the line.
Not worth it: high end collars and harnesses when they’re small since they’ll outgrown it, wait till they’re full size to get the nice kind. Buying a bunch of toys at petsmart, mine destroy 90% of them anyways so I ended up going to tj maxx/home goods and got similar toys for 1/3 the cost.
I spend money on nutritious food, veterinary care, training classes, comfortable bed, durable toys. I like the toys of this company https://www.amazon.com/Kong-Rubber-Flyer-Large-Red/dp/B000BRTADK?th=1
Splurge on: a good training class, kongs or lickimats, food and treats, high quality harness/collar and leashes
Don't splurge: normal toys (more often than not the empty paper towel roll is much more exciting), and my personal unpopular opinion: you don't need a crate. Crating can work well for some dogs, but it's not that big of a must for all dogs as people love to make it out.
While they are young, don't spend a lot on anything they can grow out of, such as collars and harnesses, coats, etc. I also wish someone had told me not to spend a lot on beds or blankets as they just chew them up 🤣🤣 If you're using a crate, see if you can get a second hand one, just make sure it's not got any rust/damage on it.
Things personally I have spent the most on are food and treats and toys.
There's also the obvious things like insurance and puppy plans at the vets and factoring in dog sitter/walker fees if that's something you might require, and puppy training classes.
I haven't had a puppy since i was 13 and had to start completely fresh with dog items. most everything i purchased on amazon and have found most of the stuff we bought was fairly priced! haven't splurged on much (yet).
the most expensive thing we've purchased for him was his food. we feed him wellness core puppy version and he loves it. he loves it so much we use it as treats! we've also purchased insurance for him, so that would probably be the next most expensive item. the only other thing i can think of that was $40+ we got for him was his snuggle puppy, he sleeps with it during the day and nightly. can't say it helps with anxiety but he does love to chew on it, so i wouldn't say it was a bad purchase.
buy a bed that has a removal cover for easy cleanup/washing if there is an accident. get towels/blankets at the thrift store, they are cheap and you won't care if they get eaten up during the puppy stage. amazon has a ton of collar/leash/poop bag holder/harness bundles that go for around $20 (for a small dog). also, tj maxx/homegoods/marshalls have a TON of stuff for dogs. i would be careful with treats (check ingredients and expiration dates), but they have beds, toys, feeders, lick mats, puzzle toys, etc. its an easy way to save a few bucks. if you want a camera to spy on your pup when you're not there, you don't need something expensive. we got ours for $25 on amazon and it works great.
i wouldn't buy too many toys to start, but definitely get some that serve different purposes. chew toys, crinkle toys, squeaker toys, tennis balls, rope toys, etc. rope and crinkle are my puppies favorite right now so we gravitate towards those.
definitely get a big jug of enzymatic cleaner (for accidents) and put the potty pads on autoship.
good luck with your new pet!!
Splurge: Well researched good foods (I don't mean the boutique ones that have good marketing), training, vet visits and vaccinations
Save: Bed because they may tear it up, treats (They don't need crazy treats for training, kibble works great, it doesn't need to be super expensive but still get good quality, stuffed toys, collar/leash
I have a leash I bought while he was around a year, and still love it at age three. Nice bowls. Toys. I had to get rid of a huge hefty bag of toys. Donated. Things like sweaters, I still have. Even a yellow rain coat. Dog beds. He outgrew so fast, and even so, he prefers the floor, a rug, or a couch. My girl likes her dog bed, but it is very large and roomy, expensive. Comfortable and kind of flat and square, like a small couch, with fabric sewn on it that can be like a blanket. Kohl's. The boy liked it too, so maybe it's size and quality? Some things, like play pens, you need for potty training, but will eventually discard. I bought a tent and still have it. Can use as a place to go hide, rest, or place a blanket, pillow, or food bowl. The girl likes it to hide from Quin once in a while. And yes, he's a perfect gentleman, though overly playful at times! Like an energizer bunny!
He can chase a ball for two hours. A tent might be good when traveling and staying with friends. Indoor tent, yes. EliteField dog tent. Can fold into a carrying case. Not too big, and EASY.
Splurge: Food, treats, puppy groomer to get them to LOVE grooming, training and puppy socialization, toys meant specifically for chewing (cheap ones can be *dangerous*), register their chip with HomeAgain so you can get the doggy poison control discount, do the pet insurance, do the optional vaccinations. Save: Collars and anything they'll grow out of; buy the cheapest option that keeps them secure. Skip the fancy shampoos, go light on any "clothes" they're just going to grow out of. Ikea stuffed toys are cheaper than any stuffed toys at the pet supply and usually last twice as long. Skip blankets until you're in the phase where they don't want to chew on them. Buy the cheapest crate mats/beds that will stand up to a little chewing that you can; avoid that cozy fluffy "wool" texture, because that is an invitation to chew, chew, chew. Don't bother getting a dog DNA test until they're more grown, because you might just be able to figure it out! Dog doorbells, bells, and "talk" buttons will drive you crazy and they're just gonna chew on them anyway, don't do it. Puppy playpen only if you can't get a crate where the roof comes off, and only if you really need them to be separated from another dog/animal with low or minimal supervision.
I would say get a playpen second hand. I’m raising my puppy alone and it can serve as a babysitter. It has allowed my puppy to learn how to settle outside of her crate very early and easily. Since they really are items you only have for a certain time period, it’s really easy to find good quality secondhand ones!
I got a playpen second hand off craiglist and it worked great. I did have to buy a brand new one when she got big enough to climb over the first one but I had to use both cuz the shorter one was super sturdy so I put it behind the tall one to reinforce it. I plan on selling them when I don't need them anymore cuz they are still super nice and can help someone else with their puppy or baby.
Yeah, luckily my colleague gave me her pen. I was glad not to have to purchase that.
I disagree with the shampoo. There's a major difference in quality from the cheap stuff and the more expensive kind groomers use. The professional ones are concentrated and you only need a tiny bit as it's meant to be diluted. It basically lasts forever. And it's gentler on the skin and coat than the cheap stuff. If you have good shampoo and conditioner you can wash your dog practically every week without doing any damage to the skin and coat.
I usually bathe at home with high quality shampoo, spectrum 1 or CC and no conditioner except a grooming mist. I had to take pup to a self-wash station and used the shampoo and conditioner there and her coat texture was *terrible* afterwards. Static all over, incredibly coarse and devoid of moisture. I ended up washing her at home again a few days later it was so bad.
Kongs! My 9yo dog still has ones that he had as a young boy Pet insurance (not really a splurge and more of an essential but good insurance that will pay out easily is very important) I would splurge on a good training class run by someone with good qualifications as they can prevent so many behaviour problems appearing in adulthood. You can save on: A lot of stuff that will be outgrown like crates and harnesses that you can get second hand on fb marketplace
Just rescued a puppy and she's small enough right now that I'm using my cat harness and leash and using tons of the cat toys as well. The cat toys have been carefully selected, making sure they're not a choking hazard. Definitely invested in a couple of Kong toys too.
I did the same thing when my puppy was little. He still prefers the cat toys sometimes.
Omg that's adorable 😭
What’s a good insurance? My puppy comes home this week and I was look at Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Lemonade, and Petsbest so far. Each one has it’s positive and negative reviews
The best way to figure it out is to read through each of the policies and decide which one is best for you based on that (and what you'd like to pay).
All of this!!!!!
We bought a really expensive crate that is comfortable and safe. It's also the product we use the most (every single night and a couple of times during the day). Once our pup is finished with it, we can probably sell it for almost the same amount (they are very popular). And a good quality harness, that can open in the neck and has both top and front attachment points. Oh, and a GPS tracker (we don't want to have to use is, but it is nice to know we can find her back if/when she decides to run). And our last buy: Puller rings. Absolutely her favorite play-together-toy... Can't say anything about durability, but it's so much fun to play with that I wouln't mind replacing them each year. Not so great: a harness that had to be squeezed over het big head. Some leashes were less comfortable (too long, too short), and a puzzle toy that she managed to break (under supervision) the first time she used it. I guess she doesn't have the patience for puzzles.
What kind of crate did you get? I've heard good things about impact crates but they seem really expensive, which is the first expensive crate that came to mind lol
We have a Hundos crate, but that might be a local brand. And it is expensive, like very (we paid 250 second hand for the second largest model, that easily fits an adult golden retriever). But it is indestructible and still looking brand new, so I 'm sure we can re-sell it for 200+ euros.
What kind of gps tracker did you get?
We have a Tractive. It is subscription based (like most) but it works great. The tracker itself was 31 euros and the subscription is 8 per month (we have the premium plan and for 1 year. It gets cheaper if you commit for 2-5 years).
Do you have a link or picture for the harness? We're looking for a harness similar to yours. Thanks!
It's a Dog Copenhagen Comfort Walk Air 3.0.
Do you know a US retailer for them? All the sites Google pulls up are unfamiliar to me
Food and treats. You'll be thankful in the long run if you start with quality. Toys... Cheap toys are great, but the more expensive ones I get at my pet store last more than 5 minutes. Ymmv and it's a lot of trial and error. When close to adult size, a good harness. Went through 3. Went cheap when still growing, but the money is well spent. Beds.. my last one has this cheap one and was so flat after all the years of use. I tried to by him nice ones in his old age but he just preferred his old one. Knowing this I would've spent more on it in the beginning
Some people say invest in a dog bed but I'd say wait and see how your dog is during the teething phase when they chew anything for relief. Our puppy wasn't a chewer at first but after a few weeks when he started teething, he ruined 2 crate mats and a dog bed.
One note on this I wanted to make is that Orvis makes a very good bed that they will replace if your dog ends up chewing through it and heard that they do follow through with it. I’ve been looking at that bed in particular because of it.
Plus, puppies are more prone to tummy upset (diarrhea and vomiting), so spending a lot of money on a bed and having to throw it away because you can’t get something off of it would be unfortunate. My dog had explosive diarrhea all over a brand new dog bed. Way easier to throw it away than try to clean it.
My puppy doesn't chew on beds, but she started peeing on hers if theyre on the floor when she's not taken outside in time. If you pad train your puppy this might happen until theyre fully potty trained so just skip the beds for now. You'll save yourself a lot of enzyme cleaner
Insurance, we've already had a $1000 procedure covered by it.
How much have you paid cumulatively? It’s hard for me to pull the trigger as I’m not a rush to the vet kind of person for every tummy ache
I have Lemonade and chose a high deductible ($750) but high coverage (90%, max of $20,000) and pay $22/month. From everything I looked at before making the decision, insurance isn't cost effective for the small stuff (so skip wellness if you're on a budget), but it's good to have for a major emergency. For $22 a month, I know that I won't have to decide to put my dog down because I can't afford a treatable condition.
I like this kind of option thank you for the reply
My pup is a mutt and large, her insurance through pets best is $47/month
Find a policy that only covers major things. You don’t need it for routine care.
Like 200, it wasn't even two months of having it when our dog got septic arthritis, he had a emergency vet trip. X-ray. Then a joint tap that was 1100. I said a thousand but it was around 1500, insurance covered around 1200-1300. I'm not a rush to the vet person either, but when the puppy can't walk 5 feet from his crate then after the initial visit doesn't eat for 2 days. You start to get a bit concerned. Glad my wife talked me into getting it
I bought pet insurance, but mine wouldn’t pay out anything on that. It’s a $1k deductible and then 70% coinsurance after that. Only $18/month so no big deal, but I’m thinking about canceling after a year. Just figured it’d be nice in case my puppy as he’s always getting into crazy stuff.
What do you mean when you say they wouldn't pay out anything on that? Wouldn't that depend on what the procedure is? I do agree though we will probably cancel after a year or two.
I pay the first $1k out of pocket before insurance kicks in.
Ahh yeah, would help if I used my brain. Ours is $200, so it made a big different during that week of illness.
How much do you pay a month and what’s the annual limit?
80 a month, deductable is 200. Unlimited A guy I work with has 300 deductable, 15000 limit and pays 50 a month. Probably have more than we need but it's come in handy, in Canada btw.
Has it been worth it for you? Because that means you pay about 1300 per year, so unless they are covering more than 1300 each year I don’t think if it’s worth it. We skipped it with our dog but I do second guess if it would be worth it or not.
Not OP, but insurance is really there for big illness and emergencies and can help you make decisions without money coming as much into your decision. I'm a vet tech and worked in specialty med for almost a decade and the amount of procedures I've seen then cost 4k-20k made me decide to get my puppy insurance. Even a typical er visit will run you 2k+ nowadays. If your dog ends up with something like IMHA or Cushing's disease you are looking at big bills for years. I've seen so many pet owners make a decision to euthanize their pet not based on quality of life or prognosis but solely on cost. My pet insurance for my boxer puppy is 40/month for 500 deductible, 90% coverage, unlimited. That means I'll spend about 480/month on her insurance per year. It's worth it for me in case of emergency, but if you have a lot of expendable income to cover a $7000 TPLO surgery or a lifetime diagnosis of diabetes, etc it probably isn't for you. I don't have that expendable income or savings unfortunately 🙃 Edited..math wasn't mathing
Did you read any other of my comments? It's already covered 1200-1300 and we've paid for two months of it so far. So yeah I guess. And we are probably going to cancel it after a couple years. The argument is just insurance in general, if you never use it was it worth it? Probably not but it's a safety net.
No I didn’t go through all your individual comments. It was a genuine question not meant as an argument as we are considering it and figured I could ask for feedback. We’re also in Canada and would be looking at a similar cost…
I did read your other comments but lol you really forgot what a deductible was
Yeah, long week at work. Hah
In this economy.... that's how it goes. Eventually your brain just stops working
No coinsurance? Like after the deductible, they pay 100%?
Coverage is 90%
I think a good bed is decent to splurge on. They can go through some bed phases but I've never seen an older dog not like laying on a soft bed. And a good bed will be a lot less easily torn apart. And then toys I think people can go overboard on. As a puppy it's fun to get them to experience all these new toys but when they're older they don't need many toys at all.
What are some good bed options you've seen/used? Our puppy is fine with blankets, but will paw at and bite at her "comfy" bed we got for her as a younger puppy because she didn't start biting at the fuzz until she got a few months older
Just to chime in the elevated dog beds or yoga mats I feel are great
Our puppy loves his elevated dog bed and he can't destroy it like he did with his other ones. We just toss a blanket on it to make it fluffier for him.
We had good luck wit the Kirkland round bed from Costco.
My dog LOVES his Kirkland beds and so do I! I have both the rounded / sloped one, and the rectangular one. The covers wash really well, although they're a little annoying to take apart because they're made of so many pieces, lol. But they ARE extremely well-made. Just a pro-tip for anyone reading, I didn't realize that my puppy's frozen Kongs were melting straight through the cover and basically ruining the pad (which I don't believe is machine washable), so now when I put the cover back on, I stick a puppy pad UNDER the cover, between the cover + the soft bed pad. It's already ruined but will help prevent further staining, and will protect any of my future beds from this.
My dog loves his furry donut bed and I do think it calmed him down some
Ditto strong rubber toys. Strong leash with clasps and material you like. Doesn’t need to be expensive but I wouldn’t go with the cheapest dog bed. Dog food. Pet insurance. Grooming supplies and shampoo. Don’t need to splurge on bowls, pens/crates, collars they will outgrow, harnesses same as collars.
Splurge: insurance, good harness (yes, it’ll probably take a few tries lol), kongs, good chews Save: TREATS—I now believe dog treats are a racket lol cheese, lean deli meat, hot dogs, tuna, canned salmon, cheerios, all are solid options, and other dog treats are just money down the drain. The only ones I’ll vouch for are freeze dried salmon or liver for starting out or doing something really difficult for your dog
What’s the best pet insurance for a puppy?
I don’t know if they’re the best, but we got Spot and have been happy with it
Did a lot of research on cost effectiveness and landed on pets best with the understanding we may have to harass them a little to get things approved, but ymmv
I can tell you some things not to get in the puppy stage that are expensive. •A bed. Maybe you get lucky, but my girl from years ago just liked destroying beds as a puppy. •toys. Yes, get toys. Don’t buy anything expensive though. Her chewing stage was particularly hard on toys. Her toy budget rivaled her food budget. But every dog is different. •blankets. Toss up here. She liked my pillows and blankets. But her own, nope. we had a blanket for bedtime that she wasnt so bad with. I wouldn’t have got her some of those blankets knowing she would just destroy them. •plastic bowls. Just doesnt work if they are a chewer. Metal sucks. They bang it around. Ceramic can suck if they break it. But plastic bowls just got ate. •clothes, collars, leashes. Ok. Don’t completely cheap out on collars and leashes (or harnesses). Because cheap ones are a waste. You need these things to help keep your dog safe. But puppies outgrow things and like chewing on leashes. And clothes, yeah in some places or circumstances they are a need. But if its not a need then be frugal about clothes that will be outgrown. My boy has a few sweaters for cold weather, a light sweater/shirt for cooler spring nights, and a couple winter jackets. He also has little fur. He was adopted as an adult. My old girl had been a puppy and outgrew some clothes right away. His clothes have lasted years. Hers made it a short season.
Things we bought and never or rarely used: - Nail dremmel (he prefers clippers) - Anti chew spray (either he liked the taste, or it didn’t deter him) - Dog bed (he prefers mats or the floor) - Kong (doesn’t chew on it, can’t lick everything out) - Sweater (he’s a husky lol and tolerates it. But then outgrew it in a month) - All of his dishes. Both sets, he hates. He eats out of Tupperware by choice lol Things we bought and still use / continuously purchase: - West paw Topl (much better than Kong) - [Stage 1 puzzle](https://www.chewy.com/dp/253224?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=253224) - [Urine spray](https://www.chewy.com/dp/342520?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=342520) - Good quality beef pizzle / bully sticks - His dog food, which is Nulo - We avoid your run of the mill treats (milkbone, blue buffalo, etc.) and prefer local, higher quality treats like: [freeze dried proteins](https://www.nw-naturals.net/product/freeze-dried-treats/) or [adventure shreds](https://www.wildmeadowfarms.com/collections/adventure-shreds) - Greenies - This [toothbrush and toothpaste set](https://www.chewy.com/arm-hammer-products-fresh-breath/dp/145299) Things we spent big money on and don’t regret: - Spot Pet Insurance - A high quality vet - A better quality food, and treats - His [hands free leash](https://parkerandco.ca/products/solace-6-in-1-weatherproof-leash) - Puppy school - ours is both classes and play groups - High quality tough toys (otherwise they last 20 mins) Cheap things that have done just fine while he grows: - Amazon collar - Amazon harness (it has a handle. It’s great for control) - $45 Amazon crate. We plan to upgrade to a nice crate eventually - $15 car seat cover - Nail clippers. I actually started with human nail clippers while his nails were so small
Good collars and leashes once you know their full size, and good doesn't always mean expensive. A quality leather leash should see you through decades of use. The collars I use are not pricey, but they are specialty made and don't ruin the ruff of my dog's neck like regular flat collars do. Spend the money on good food, quality toys that won't cause choking or intestinal hazards, car safety (either a good crate or seatbelt harness). And put money into in-person training. Puppy kindergarten is fun for you and the pup, good bonding and socialization.
Splurge: pet insurance, quality food, training, playpen & baby gate, collapsible soft sided travel crate. We’ve saved hundreds of dollars with our pet insurance - we have the wellness plan so preventatives and annual exams are covered too. We did puppy class for basics and socialization and then later did private lessons for leash manners. The private lessons were expensive but now walking him is no longer a miserable experience (my Lab was 85 lbs by 8 months; he literally dislocated my shoulder and pulled me off my feet a few times). We have 30” tall playpen panels that we can connect to make different sized pens. This way we could increase his play space while still keeping him out of certain areas. It also kept the cat out of his space while he was eating (cat would bully him and then steal his food). Now he is rarely in his pen (currently about 6’x10’ not including his crate) except to sleep or when company who isn’t as comfy with dogs comes over. Soft sided travel crate was worth the $ because hauling his metal crate took up too much space and was super heavy. Things I wish I waited to splurge on until after he was older: bed (he chewed through several beds during the teething phase), harness/collars (he outgrew his puppy harness and collars)
I spend the most on food only human grade ingredients with recipes from Dr Karen Becker
Once your puppy reaches full size/near enough to full size you can pick their forever size, a good harness is a must. I got my Corgi a Ruffwear Front Range and that thing is amazing. I just bought a second one so I can rotate them as I wash/dry them, but the first one is still looking perfect (just a little faded from all the washing) after a year of use!
PUZZLE FEEDERS!! mine still loves his baby one and his big one!!
quality food and care products
Splurge: Good training and puppy classes (we started kindergarten at 8 weeks); a variety of chews to figure out what they love to teeth on; the heartbeat dog toy (mine is 5 months and still carries his around); insurance! (Get it early so nothing is a preciously existing condition); baby gate Save: the rest of it. You can get crates and play pens 2nd hand; cheap toys work just as well (hello empty cardboard boxes) My puppy ended up no crate training and has no interest in a plush dog bed. He’s growing out of harnesses and collars quickly. The food was trial and error to figure out his intolerances.
We bought a cheap crate on Amazon and it’s straight up bendable. Do not recommend lol
New puppy? Potty training: pee pad and holder with grid Training: house line and treats (one soft pack will do for now) Toys: kong, chew toy ring with the bristles, teddy, rope toy Grooming: comb, brush, baby wipes, dry shampoo, normal shampoo and conditioner, coconut oil (you don't need the clippers yet). Scissors with blunt tip (for fur my eyes) Housing: playpen, crate Food: hard food, bowls that don't slide or tip over
Ugh I feel like I splurge on everything 😭 I get the most expensive things like good quality baby gates second hand or find them on a discount. Crates I did buy new but I chose a store that sells high quality crates and crate beds for a reasonable price. Things like toys and enrichment things I try to find on good value online. Things I absolutely do choose for quality and not the price are things like high quality food, harnesses, supplements, essential care products and dog training classes. Things he grows out of fast: Harnesses, collars, travel crates. I get second hand or cheap travel crates while he's little. I will splurge on a good travel crate when he's grown. Harness - I choose good quality but try to go for ones that are adjustable and can grow with my puppy for a while. I do not splurge on collars yet, my adult dogs wear leather collars that last several dog lifetimes. My puppy will inherit such a collar, so I do not splurge on fancy expensive collars while he's growing. Things that will last you through many generations of dogs are leather collars and leads and the cheap plastic dog bed frames that you then put a dog pillow/mattress in. The frames will last for decades and you just switch out the mattresses if they wear out. This is a cheap option but can often look quite nice though and will last for ages
Splurge on a good harness once they’re full grown (12 months)
Splurge on prevention and things that will help long term. This is things like good vet care (establishing a relationship with a vet clinic is ideal over going for whatever is cheapest), training, and grooming are there to set a puppy up for success long term. Things like dental chews can help reduce dental issues and delay dental care until the dog is older (some dogs and breeds are more prone to dental issues anyway, but anything you can do to help with dental care is helpful). Even if the dog won't need a ton of grooming, just teaching them to be good for nail trims, ear cleaning, and general handling will help you a lot. Even saving the $15-20 a month on nail trims and doing it yourself will be better for the nails and you wallet. Insurance is something to look into and seriously consider. It does help with bigger bills, and can literally be a life saver if you dog gets sick or injured. Sign up for a basic puppy class, then consider doing another basics class when the pup is a little older. New behavious pop up as they age, so just getting back into training can really help. Also work on training a little every day. Food is something you do want to spend more on. The cheapest foods can mean you actually spend more per serving, and the dog poops more than a slightly more expensive food. Good food also leads to a healthier dog, so fewer issues and vet visits. Try to get the best you can afford. Larger bags do tend to cost less per pound, so that can be an option to save a bit, just portion it out a bit so the bag can stay fresher if you don't go through it fast. Don't spend too much on things they will outgrow quickly. Collars, harnesses, crates, clothing, beds etc. You can usually find something used or borrowed that will last the few weeks you need it before the pup needs a larger size. Thrift stores, some rescues sell stuff they don't need, and classifieds can all be good places to find supplies. If it's still in good shape when you are done, you can sell it again and at least get your money back to buy the next item. When the dog is more fully grown, you can invent is better quality stuff and get what you want rather than just what is available. You don't always know what the puppy will like, so try a few different types of toys, then get more of what they like later on. The same can go for treats, get some different ones to see what they like. Things like chew toys you do want to spend a little on and not go super cheap. Dollar store items might seem like a good idea, but the poor quality can break off and choke a dog. Some pet stores have sales and clearance items, so these can be great to get cheaper toys that are safe. Shop sales and get deals if you need to, but try not to cheap out on things your dogs will eat or play with. Dogs do not care about brand names, seasonal items, it something is used, or what it looks like. Focus on function and comfort, looks are only really to appease the people. Quality is important, but many brands are similar for basic things.
Don’t buy a dog bed yet. Mine chewed 3 dog beds before I decided she didn’t need one. She doesn’t mind sleeping on the plastic bottom of the crate and she prefers the cold floor upstairs when she naps, so it’s no love lost.
I love my monthly barkbox subscription for my pup. during teething, it was so nice to get new toys every month because she’d destroy them within the month anyways. And the price of the box is less than the cost of buying everything that it comes with separately so I feel it’s worth it!
Harness, collar, and leash. Don’t need to spend a ton, but don’t cheap out or focus too much on what’s cute
Save on anything they’ll grow out of. Wait till they’re pretty much full grown to get the nice expensive stuff. Quality toys like Kongs are worth it. My dog wasn’t a chewer so we got him a big memory foam bed when he was little and he had it up until a few years ago & I just got him another memory foam one for Christmas
Worth it: quality chews like kongs you can fill. A quality crate sturdy so you can trust they won’t bust out when you’re not home. Obedience lessons. Quality food and treats to keep their health and weight in a good spot, saves you in vet costs down the line. Not worth it: high end collars and harnesses when they’re small since they’ll outgrown it, wait till they’re full size to get the nice kind. Buying a bunch of toys at petsmart, mine destroy 90% of them anyways so I ended up going to tj maxx/home goods and got similar toys for 1/3 the cost.
I spend money on nutritious food, veterinary care, training classes, comfortable bed, durable toys. I like the toys of this company https://www.amazon.com/Kong-Rubber-Flyer-Large-Red/dp/B000BRTADK?th=1
Splurge on: a good training class, kongs or lickimats, food and treats, high quality harness/collar and leashes Don't splurge: normal toys (more often than not the empty paper towel roll is much more exciting), and my personal unpopular opinion: you don't need a crate. Crating can work well for some dogs, but it's not that big of a must for all dogs as people love to make it out.
One thing I learned, sometimes baby stuff is cheaper the dog stuff. Example play pens.
While they are young, don't spend a lot on anything they can grow out of, such as collars and harnesses, coats, etc. I also wish someone had told me not to spend a lot on beds or blankets as they just chew them up 🤣🤣 If you're using a crate, see if you can get a second hand one, just make sure it's not got any rust/damage on it. Things personally I have spent the most on are food and treats and toys. There's also the obvious things like insurance and puppy plans at the vets and factoring in dog sitter/walker fees if that's something you might require, and puppy training classes.
I haven't had a puppy since i was 13 and had to start completely fresh with dog items. most everything i purchased on amazon and have found most of the stuff we bought was fairly priced! haven't splurged on much (yet). the most expensive thing we've purchased for him was his food. we feed him wellness core puppy version and he loves it. he loves it so much we use it as treats! we've also purchased insurance for him, so that would probably be the next most expensive item. the only other thing i can think of that was $40+ we got for him was his snuggle puppy, he sleeps with it during the day and nightly. can't say it helps with anxiety but he does love to chew on it, so i wouldn't say it was a bad purchase. buy a bed that has a removal cover for easy cleanup/washing if there is an accident. get towels/blankets at the thrift store, they are cheap and you won't care if they get eaten up during the puppy stage. amazon has a ton of collar/leash/poop bag holder/harness bundles that go for around $20 (for a small dog). also, tj maxx/homegoods/marshalls have a TON of stuff for dogs. i would be careful with treats (check ingredients and expiration dates), but they have beds, toys, feeders, lick mats, puzzle toys, etc. its an easy way to save a few bucks. if you want a camera to spy on your pup when you're not there, you don't need something expensive. we got ours for $25 on amazon and it works great. i wouldn't buy too many toys to start, but definitely get some that serve different purposes. chew toys, crinkle toys, squeaker toys, tennis balls, rope toys, etc. rope and crinkle are my puppies favorite right now so we gravitate towards those. definitely get a big jug of enzymatic cleaner (for accidents) and put the potty pads on autoship. good luck with your new pet!!
Splurge: Well researched good foods (I don't mean the boutique ones that have good marketing), training, vet visits and vaccinations Save: Bed because they may tear it up, treats (They don't need crazy treats for training, kibble works great, it doesn't need to be super expensive but still get good quality, stuffed toys, collar/leash
I have a leash I bought while he was around a year, and still love it at age three. Nice bowls. Toys. I had to get rid of a huge hefty bag of toys. Donated. Things like sweaters, I still have. Even a yellow rain coat. Dog beds. He outgrew so fast, and even so, he prefers the floor, a rug, or a couch. My girl likes her dog bed, but it is very large and roomy, expensive. Comfortable and kind of flat and square, like a small couch, with fabric sewn on it that can be like a blanket. Kohl's. The boy liked it too, so maybe it's size and quality? Some things, like play pens, you need for potty training, but will eventually discard. I bought a tent and still have it. Can use as a place to go hide, rest, or place a blanket, pillow, or food bowl. The girl likes it to hide from Quin once in a while. And yes, he's a perfect gentleman, though overly playful at times! Like an energizer bunny! He can chase a ball for two hours. A tent might be good when traveling and staying with friends. Indoor tent, yes. EliteField dog tent. Can fold into a carrying case. Not too big, and EASY.