[CJay]

So my puppy was born YAY!!!! And now I feel like I can officiall start shopping. This is going to be the longest 12 weeks ever!

I am looking for advice on thing to purchase... Not so much the obvious (food bowls, crate etc) But what things did you not think to purchase until after the fact? Also what items did you purchase that just went to waste??

What items should I wait until the very last min to buy??

 

[Aimstew22]

I bought the typical tennis balls at the pet store that have the fuzz covering on them - that was a mistake. All my pup wanted to do was sit and try to rip and chew the fuzz off of them. I didn't want her swallowing and eating all of that so I instead bought her rubber raquet balls, oh man does she love these!! They are a bit bouncier and mroe fun for playing fetch and she will still sit and just chew on them without me having to worry about her swallowing a bunch of fuzz!!

 

[Gally]

What I didn't think to purchase right away:
-an xpen or baby gate so he could play in a safe area
-a couple of fleece blankets for his crate instead of the dog bed

What I wish I hadn't purchased:
-a dog bed, he just wanted to chew it up and destroy it
-puppy pads, I recommend training to go outside from day one

Things I wouldn't have survived without:
-crate
-xpen
-bullysticks
-puppy kindergarten

 

[doxiemommy]

A variety of toys is nice. Not just a few of the same type, but balls, and rope toys, and chew toys, and stuffing free soft toys. That way, you get a chance to find out what type of playing your puppy really enjoys! I assumed my first puppy wasn't too much of a player, because he wasn't interested in balls or stuffies, but when I finally bought some rope toys - oh boy! He loved them.
Pet wipes came in handy, too. You don't want to bath them too often at a young age, but you do want them to be clean!

 

[CJay]

Thank you!! I will add all these to my list!

I've heard similar things about dog beds but I really wanted to get one. A lot of poeple say they don't use them though!

 

[Kyllobernese]

What kind of a puppy are you getting? I have dog beds for my Shih Tzu x Maltese from the time they are puppies and they just love them. I have never had them destroy any of them so guess it depends on the dog.

 

[kadylady]

A variety of toys is nice. Not just a few of the same type, but balls, and rope toys, and chew toys, and stuffing free soft toys. That way, you get a chance to find out what type of playing your puppy really enjoys!

This ^^

Kongs = LIFESAVERS!!!
Nylabone: Both my pups did a lot of chewing on the nylabones when they were teething.
Babygate: We had a baby gate with pup #2 and it was so helpful in keeping her in less of the house so we weren't constantly having to chase her down.
Use towels or blankets in the crate to start instead of a dog bed, easier to clean up messes.
We used martingale collars for both our pups, it prevented them from slipping out of their collars backwards. Zoey liked to run to the end of the leash and run, jump and twist.
Something to clean up accidents (I know a lot of people recommend Nature's Miracle)
A good vet
A puppy class

ETA: We never put dog beds in either of our dogs crates, both for easier mess cleanup and for no chewing. We do have a dog bed in the living room and they use it occassionally. It is nice to have for them to have a spot to go to. Luke also has a bed in our bedroom, Zoey still sleeps in her crate.

 

[CJay]

What kind of a puppy are you getting? I have dog beds for my Shih Tzu x Maltese from the time they are puppies and they just love them. I have never had them destroy any of them so guess it depends on the dog.

This ^^

Kongs = LIFESAVERS!!!
Nylabone: Both my pups did a lot of chewing on the nylabones when they were teething.
Babygate: We had a baby gate with pup #2 and it was so helpful in keeping her in less of the house so we weren't constantly having to chase her down.
Use towels or blankets in the crate to start instead of a dog bed, easier to clean up messes.
We used martingale collars for both our pups, it prevented them from slipping out of their collars backwards. Zoey liked to run to the end of the leash and run, jump and twist.
Something to clean up accidents (I know a lot of people recommend Nature's Miracle)
A good vet
A puppy class

ETA: We never put dog beds in either of our dogs crates, both for easier mess cleanup and for no chewing. We do have a dog bed in the living room and they use it occassionally. It is nice to have for them to have a spot to go to. Luke also has a bed in our bedroom, Zoey still sleeps in her crate.

I'm getting a Papillon. I will try with a cheaper bed at first and if he seems to like it I will keep it. Ultimately I would like him to sleep with me but also have his bed for naps when I'm not home!

I am glad I can go toy crazy!! I think I will get 5-6 different toys at first and see what he likes and take it from there! Kongs are on my list!

 

[LilasMom]

Nature's Miracle, paper towels, and poop bags

 

[cookieface]

old towels to clean wet, muddy feet
depending on the layout of your house, you might want two soft areas for sleeping - one in the bedroom, one in the family / living room

 

[hargyle]

chew toys So many toys (have back up toys for when they get ruined) ! ... the BEST thing ever was an old towel; wet it and put it in the freezer - soothes teeth when sore and its easy to chew on and cheap to replace! I feel like I live at the petstore ever since we got him. I found that training collars when little dont do much - he grew out of it so fast that he didnt even have time to get used to it - waste of money until they are a bit older (personally). something to clean up potty mistakes - natures miracle, white vinegar and LOTS of paper towel.

 

[hargyle]

OH and I just thought of this (how appropriate) a bell or something to put on your door for house training. Not sure what your plan was - but we used two dixi cups on the door as a "bell" every time we went out he had to touch them to go out - now its his signal! And a toy box - makes like must easier dealing with all those toys hes going to have all over the house!

 

[CJay]

Nature's Miracle, paper towels, and poop bags

I was looking at the poop bags in petsmart... Are they really worth it?? I don't generally keep plastic bags from the grocery store handy because I use reusable ones! Do you know of anyplace I can get them in bulk?? Tips on making them last longer??

OH and I just thought of this (how appropriate) a bell or something to put on your door for house training. Not sure what your plan was - but we used two dixi cups on the door as a "bell" every time we went out he had to touch them to go out - now its his signal! And a toy box - makes like must easier dealing with all those toys hes going to have all over the house!

Do you have bells in the cups or is that a noise free option? I like that!

I added paper towels to my list! Being so "eco friendly" I usually use microfiber towels but I see I am going to need to grab a pack from bj's for my little pup!

 

[RonE]

I was looking at the poop bags in petsmart... Are they really worth it?? I don't generally keep plastic bags from the grocery store handy because I use reusable ones! Do you know of anyplace I can get them in bulk??

It's getting harder to find small bags in the grocery store that aren't zip-loc but, if you can, they will be a fraction of the price of the special pet ones. They won't be scented (your dog will take care of that) and they won't come on a neat little roll dispenser, but they will work.

Tips on making them last longer??

You mean like re-using them? Owners with multiple dogs with synchronized poops sometimes learn to pick up both piles with one bag, but that's about the extent of bag conservation. After you've had a dog for a short time, you'll find bags (empty ones, if you're lucky) in the pockets of every garment you own.

The single most important thing about bags is, "Don't leave home without them." I once walked a friend's dog, who had giardia, and found myself without a bag. I almost called 911.

 

[Elliebell]

I think it really depends on your dog as to what you should get. Neither of my dogs are chewers, so Kongs and Nylabones are a total waste of money on them. Other people would die without them - it really depends on the dog.

The one toy thing I feel the need to point out is that the hard rope toys they sell at the pet store are no good. Both my dogs love tug, but not with those. We took some old leftover fabric, cut it in strips and braided it and they love that. We also had some leftover old cotton rope, and they love that too. The key seems to be that they only want something they can get their teeth into.

You will need poop bags. You can buy them at the dollar store in rolls and they're pretty cheap, or packs of sandwich bags at the grocery store. If you buy the biodegradable dog bags, be careful. Some of them will start degrading in the box and no one wants a poop bag with a hole in it. There isn't really anything you can do to conserve poop bags other than using one bag for more than one poop. That requires walking around with a bag full of poop, though. Not really my cup of tea. We do hold off on picking up poop in the backyard, though. Every once in a while we go back and pick up like 20 poops in one bag. That's pretty efficient.

Do you have bells in the cups or is that a noise free option? I like that!

There is no 'noise free option' with bells. The point of the bell is to make noise

Anyhow, best of luck with your pup! It's an exciting time, buying all the puppy stuff. We can help you the best we can, but there will inevitably be things you buy your pup doesn't want. One more thing- never underestimate the power of leftover toilet paper rolls, boxes, plastic bottles, etc. My dogs LOVE to play with that stuff.

 

[CJay]

I think it really depends on your dog as to what you should get. Neither of my dogs are chewers, so Kongs and Nylabones are a total waste of money on them. Other people would die without them - it really depends on the dog.

The one toy thing I feel the need to point out is that the hard rope toys they sell at the pet store are no good. Both my dogs love tug, but not with those. We took some old leftover fabric, cut it in strips and braided it and they love that. We also had some leftover old cotton rope, and they love that too. The key seems to be that they only want something they can get their teeth into.

You will need poop bags. You can buy them at the dollar store in rolls and they're pretty cheap, or packs of sandwich bags at the grocery store. If you buy the biodegradable dog bags, be careful. Some of them will start degrading in the box and no one wants a poop bag with a hole in it. There isn't really anything you can do to conserve poop bags other than using one bag for more than one poop. That requires walking around with a bag full of poop, though. Not really my cup of tea. We do hold off on picking up poop in the backyard, though. Every once in a while we go back and pick up like 20 poops in one bag. That's pretty efficient.


There is no 'noise free option' with bells. The point of the bell is to make noise

Anyhow, best of luck with your pup! It's an exciting time, buying all the puppy stuff. We can help you the best we can, but there will inevitably be things you buy your pup doesn't want. One more thing- never underestimate the power of leftover toilet paper rolls, boxes, plastic bottles, etc. My dogs LOVE to play with that stuff.

I was trying to see how that worked! So you put bells inside of the cups! Neat idea!!

I am sending a puppy care package to my breeder with a variety of toys to see what kinds of things he likes! Anything he doesn't use that I buy I can always donate to the shelter! I hope my puppy like Kongs! I want to use them for feeding when people "pet sit" for me but there are always other options! Thanks a bunch for all your suggestions!!

 

[AConklin03]

My dogs all love their dog beds..but I didn't put them in their crates until they were old enough to be trusted with them. My puppy uses cheap fleece blankets in hers right now.

Dog toys...it depends on the dog. When I got my pug as a puppy she wasn't much into toys at all. Even today she only has toy she really plays with. Other than that she's always preferred actual bones rather than a toy. I got her a kong but she was never into it and just ignored it.

My other two dogs LOVE toys. My elkhound loves stuffed toys and ropes, and my weimaraner puppy loves ropes, stuffed toys, kongs, chew toys..basically ANYTHING. When we got her we brought her to petsmart and showed her different toys to see what piqued her interest. If she grabbed it it was hers, if she just ignored it we put it back on the shelf.

Crates and baby gates are a must, for us anyway. An ex-pen is helpful. We used one with the pug a lot since she was so little.

The poop bags I like are the ones in the dispenser that hook to the leash. I prefer this to using just regular plastic bags because I never forget them that way. I also then tie the filled bag to the dispenser for the walk home and don't have to carry the poop bag.

 

[Bordermom]

A portable carpet cleaner is handy, as is a clean up kit for that sort of thing - I use a bit of laundry detergent, vinegar and water in my machine. A can of pumpkin frozen into ice cube trays would be good too. Start looking for events in your area over the summer you can take him to for socalizing....

 

[CJay]

A portable carpet cleaner is handy, as is a clean up kit for that sort of thing - I use a bit of laundry detergent, vinegar and water in my machine. A can of pumpkin frozen into ice cube trays would be good too. Start looking for events in your area over the summer you can take him to for socalizing....

What is the pumpkin for??

I have been trying to find some socialization things for him... I hope to have him in doggy daycare at least once a week so he can play with other dogs but that won't be until fall!

 

[KaywinnitLee]

I went hog wild getting toys before meeting my rescue dog and guess what?? She hates them!!! I donated them all to the rescue I got her from so they went to a good cause but I wish I had known...I could have saved a lot of $$$. I'd recommend getting 3-4 different toys before stocking up to see what your dog thinks of them.

Get a good carpet cleaner (ie - Nature's Miracle) to clean up messes. Definitely get poop bags...I got around 500 baggies for $10 during a local pet sale at a shop near me. You can get good deals by searching. A crate is a necessity and I found a baby gate to be really useful in separating the dog and cat until they could be left alone together.

Find a good vet and a good e-vet. I'd also recommend health insurance on your pup depending on your situation. Do NOT get pee pads as they only send mixed messages to dogs!!! Do get good training treats to help your dog learn to go outside. This one took me awhile because my dog is so picky she only likes one type of treat (chicken meatballs broken into small pieces).

Definitely sign up for a training/socialization class after your pup has been vaccinated and fixed.

Good luck, and be sure to post pics of the pup!