We frequently get asked to suggest what to buy for new puppies. This page is our response. These are products that we use ourselves, ones we have researched as being effective, or are ones that have been used and loved by our fur families. All come highly recommended as you prepare for your new puppy’s arrival.* The links will take you to Amazon.
Have fun shopping for your new puppy!
Sleep and Contain:
Snuggle Puppy:
Our customers that have used Snuggle Puppies rave about how well their puppies settle in and sleep in their crates at night! What’s a Snuggle Puppy? It’s a doggie stuffed animal with the heartbeat and warmth of a litter mate.
Crate:
A 30″ crate is a good size to get for a puppy that will be around 15-25 pounds full-grown. This crate comes with a removable, adjustable divider panel so that you can shrink the crate down while your puppy is tiny, and expand his floor space as he grows.
Play Area:
While not quite as necessary as a crate, this is the foldable pen that we use in our dining room. It can be attached to a crate to allow both a sleep and a play area. We love how roomy it is, and so do the puppies.
Snuggle Nest:
Out and About:
Puppy Stroller:
Not totally necessary, but a puppy stroller, is recommended for the early weeks. For proper socialization, it’s advisable to take your puppy out in public to get them used to a variety of environments and people in the early weeks. That’s when they are the most open to new experiences that they’ll ever be!
Puppy Backpack:
Are you more likely to be hiking uneven trails, attending local festivals, or traveling with your puppy while he or she is still small? Then you might appreciate a puppy backpack where your little one can safely and comfortably ride around on your back. When you get to your destination, this backpack also doubles as a portable dog kennel!
As stated above, young puppies’ immune systems aren’t fully built yet. Please keep them off public grounds until 16 weeks of age to protect them from nasty viruses such as parvo.
Grooming:
Flea and Tick Control:
Fleas and ticks. Nobody wants those! We use Advantix ii to make sure our dogs stay flea and tick free. We buy a 6 month supply and administer it each month from spring through fall (unless the winter is mild, then we go year-round). If you don’t use it all up in one year, it should keep just fine until the next year.
Brush and Comb Set:
For extra soft puppy hair, this double sided brush is a great option as it will be gentle on the fur and skin. (We use one very similar to this on all the babies.) Bonus: It comes with a comb for detangling.
Detangling Comb:
Use this metal comb with caution. It is helpful if mats occur, just go gently.
Slicker Brush:
No, this is not the cheapest brush on the market, but it is well recognized as an excellent investment by breeders, groomers, and Doodle owners. (Just be careful that its bristles don’t scratch that sensitive baby skin.)
Nail Clippers:
Power Nail Trimmer: If the thought of clipping your puppy’s nails (and potentially cutting into the sensitive quick-Ouch!) makes you squeamish, you might prefer this quiet, gentle nail grinding tool for trimming nails instead. This one has excellent reviews.
Snowball Whisk: Goldendoodles are prone to millions of tiny snowballs collecting on their fur when they play outside in the winter. Simply whisk them away with this sturdy whisk.
Cleaning:
Fur and Skin:
Shampoo: Yes, this shampoo is for babies, and fur babies! It smells good, too! It’s so gentle, and dries their fur and skin less than other products we’ve tried. This is what we use and love for the puppies. Your puppy can have a bath about once a month, with spot cleaning as needed in between baths. Any more than that and puppy could end up with itchy, dry skin and fur.
Ears:
Ear Cleaner: Hopefully, you won’t need this. But, if you do, it’s nice to know that EcoEars is an excellent option that we’ve used. Every once in a while a dog’s ears can get red, irritated, and itchy inside. EcoEars is gentle, natural, and effective. Use only as needed.
Household:
Carpets, furniture, clothes, and flooring: Accidents happen, we get it. The important thing is that when they do, you clean up the mess with a cleaner that will break down any residue so that your puppy is not tempted to mark the spot again. This Enzymatic Cleaner will safely and effectively remove stains and odors by feeding on ammonia crystals and organic matter from the spill until they are completely eliminated.
Feeding:
Puppy Food:
As of July 2023, we have switched our puppies to Purina Pro Puppy Food. In an effort to continue to improve our program, and in response to the preferences of our customers and puppies, we have stopped using TLC Dog food (below). Purina Pro is well regarded by many vets, and our dogs are enjoying it.
TLC Dog Food: This is the food that our dogs and puppies had been eating up until June 2023. The ingredients are excellent, but some of the dogs didn’t prefer the flavor. Order directly from the company and it quickly ships to your door. (This food is only available directly from the company.) Click the coupon, or underlined TLC text above, to go to TLC and order your food.
Adult Food:
Ready to move beyond puppy food? This is what our moms and dad have been eating since June of 2023. The ingredient profile of Purina Pro Sensitive Skin and Stomach is rich in whole foods, with minimal fillers, much more so than the other versions of Purina Pro. It includes fish oils which support hearth health, and Omega 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and lustrous coats. Our dogs are loving their meals, and they are healthy and vibrant.
Food and Water Dishes:
Stainless Steel Bowl: This bowl is a nice small size with a rubber backing to keep it from slipping on the floor. A Mini Goldendoodle will never eat more than 2 cups in a serving, so the small one will work well. For a medium sized Goldendoodle, you might want to size up eventually.
Slow Feeder Bowl Insert:
Here is a solution for a dog that eats too quickly. This slow feeder bowl insert will help slow your dog down and make him or her work a bit for a meal. Slowing down the feeding rate gives your dog a chance to chew more completely before swallowing.
Play and Training:
Online Puppy Training School:
Did you know you can train your puppy at home by enrolling in an online puppy school with Baxter & Bella? Whether you want to sign up for the full course and receive lifetime support, or simply take advantage of the free training podcasts, please check them out.Make sure to use our special code, NYDANDY, to get 25% OFF the price of puppy school.
Treats:
These treats are a nice, small size, and made of “good for them” ingredients. They’re perfect for use as rewards when training your little puppy.
Puppy Kong:
Puppies love to chew on a Puppy Kong and chase after its wildly erratic bounce when the Kong is tossed across the room. This version is a soft rubber and is perfect for teething puppies in the first 9 months. Kong makes firmer, sturdier versions for stronger and heavier chewers, too.
Adult Kong:
Kong makes firm, sturdy versions for adult dogs, too. Order the Adult Kong for dogs over 9 months old.
Kong for Agressive Chewers:
Kong even makes an even firmer, sturdier versions for the heaviest of chewers. Order this Kong for dogs that think they have titanium teeth.
Wubba:
Kong also makes a rugged favorite of our dogs called the Wubba. It has tough, dangly strips that are fun to chew, and it is also exciting to chase when thrown through the air.
Chuckit:
Squeaky Chuckit Balls I love how dog owners are eager to share with each other. I learned about these amazing balls from a fellow shopper at Marshall’s when I was checking out the dog toys on display. Sadly, Marshall’s didn’t have any that day. We hunted them down, and they are fantastic! Super durable, and oh so fun! Check out their ball launcher, too…
Quiet Chuckit Balls Because, sometimes silence truly is Golden…Doodle. If noisy toys drive you crazy (you’re not alone!), these Chuckits don’t squeak. Super durable, and dogs love ’em! Also, they float! The Amazon description says that they squeak, however, the reviews indicate that they do NOT squeak.
Hol-ee Roller:
Hol-ee Roller Our neighbor’s Goldendoodle is obsessed with this ball. She carries hers everywhere, and will even drop it in the pool so swimmers will throw it for her. Our Pebbles loves his Hole-ee Roller, too. It’s durable, flexible, and can be stuffed with a treat and turned into a brain game in addition to being a squish-able toy for carrying and fetching.
Identification:
These are the Engraved ID Tags we buy for our dogs and attach to their collars. Note: Collars should be removed before crating your dog so that the collar and tag do not catch on the crate wires!
*Disclosure Statement: Please note that we may receive a small commission if you click on these links and decide to purchase any of these items. This will NOT result in any additional charges to you.
Thank you for shopping with us!