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New Puppy Shopping List!

Items we recommend for the first ride home:

Especially if you have a long drive, these items will make things much easier! Click here to read a little more about the trip home.

  1. The Royal Canin Puppy Mousse – We recommend if you have a drive home of longer than an 2 hours. Puppies sometimes get nervous and very often get sick tummies. This mousse is something almost all puppies will eat, even if not feeling well. It may help raise your pup’s blood sugar if he’s having problems. This can be especially important for small dogs. (Another option is this 4Health Lamb recipe. It’s sometimes a little easier to find and is usually less expensive.) An essential item if you have a trip home with your new puppy, and it’s not a bad idea to keep a few around the house just in case of emergencies!
  2. Puppy crate – Recommended for two reasons. First, it’s a safer way for the puppy to travel. Especially if you’re coming alone to pick up your puppy, it’s much safer to have him in his crate in the seat next to you than to risk being distracted while driving. It’s also much safer for the puppy should you have to stop quickly. (Be sure to use a seat belt to strap the crate in securely!) Additionally, we strongly recommend crate training for a long-term, happy, healthy relationship with your pup! Click here to read our 3 part blog post about crate training.
  3. Puppy pads & baby wipes – Just in case you have a mess on the drive home! (Baby wipes are gentle and are perfect for messy faces!) Puppies are like humans: some get motion sickness and some don’t! We believe that it’s better safe than sorry, so pick some up for the trip home, and for all future trips as well!
  4. Don’t forget plenty of paper towels!

Supplies for Home:

Dog beds.

A good dog bed should be a priority. A quality dog bed will keep your dog healthy by providing excellent support and protection for his joints. Also, your pup will quickly learn that the bed belongs to him and it’ll become a place for him to rest, quietly, when necessary. 

We recommend Kuranda Dog Beds. Their simple design, sturdy construction (chew proof and scratch proof, guaranteed for 1 year) makes for a terrific bed for dogs of all sizes. And they’re easy to clean, too! They also offer a terrific chew-proof crate bed. Click here to read our blog post about the Kuranda Beds.

Kuranda Dog Beds

If you’re not ready for the Kuranda bed, here are two less expensive options that dogs love:

  1. The Original Calming Donut Dog Bed (70k ratings)
  2. Furhaven Orthopedic Dog Bed with Removable, Washable Cover – (100k ratings)
  3. Orthopedic, Waterproof Dog Bed (35k ratings)

Crates & Crate Pads.

With crates, you get what you pay for. Some crates are a little more expensive than others, but we’ve noticed that they often tend to be a bit more durable. Latches, hinges will last longer. Be sure to use a pad in the crate to help take care of your pup’s knees, elbows and hips as they grow! (A pad also prevents slipping and sliding.) You can read more about crates and crate pads here

CRATES:

  1. MidWest Homes Double Door iCrate Dog Crate – First, for general crate use we prefer the foldable, collapsible wire crates. They’re easier to store and transport if necessary and have just been easier to use. We HIGHLY recommend a double-door crate, and we recommend getting a crate that comes with a divider. This allows you to purchase a larger crate when your dog is a puppy and use the divider to help with potty training. Feel free to ask about this. We’d love to help!
  2. MidWest Homes Elevated Floor Grid for Crates – Another reason we prefer Midwest cates is because you can add this raised floor. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND this for all young dogs and puppies. The crate and crate training doesn’t change, but this floor makes cleanup significantly easier! Accidents will happen! Trust us, this will make life easier!
  3. Wooden End Table Dog Crate, Chew Resistant with Double Doors – This is a nice option if you want your dog’s crate to blend in better in your home. We also love it because it has a solid top. 

CRATE PADS:

  1. Anti-slip, Washable Dog Crate Bed (13k ratings)
  2. Orthopedic Dog Crate Bed with Removable, Washable 
    Cover (45k ratings)
  3. INDESTRUCTABLE Dog Crate Pad from K9 Ballistics – Amazing! And they have a ton of very cool products.

Chew Toys.

These are a few of the chew toys we’ve used. There are many, options, but these are all good starter toys to try. Puppies are a lot like kids: what one puppy loves, another couldn’t care less! Sometimes it takes a few tries to find what your puppy loves, but whatever it is, it should become an integral part of training your puppy. Teach a puppy to love toys and you’ll solve the “puppy biting” problem much more easily!

  1. EcoKind Himlayan Yak Chews – (18k ratings) Yak chews are our favorites. They’re clean, safe, healthy and we’ve had more dogs love these than any other chew item. 
  2. Nature Gnaws Elk Antlers – Another great option are antlers. They’re natural and many dogs love them. These might be good for more aggressive chewers, and especially for older dogs. *Note – we’ve heard of puppies cracking teeth on these, although we’ve never experienced this with our dogs.
  3. Kong Classic Dog Toy – Kong offers a wide variety of chew toys for puppies and dogs of all sizes. They’re durable and terrific for aggressive chewers. We recommend stuffing them with a healthy snack

Training Supplies.

Doodles are the products of the smartest dogs on the planet! We’ve had doodles catching frisbees at just a few months old and learning basic commands at just a few weeks old. And we even had one family tell us that their Doodle knew upwards of 35 commands before their puppy was 4 months old! And our AKC English Labs aren’t dummies either! There’s a reason why they’re perhaps Anerica’s most popular AKC breed!

  1. Grain-Free Peanut Butter Training Treats, from Raw Paws Pet Food – 33% Savings right now! Most dogs love the flavor of peanut butter. We recommend you give these a try! (Lots of other terrific options at Raw Paws.)
  2. Adjustable, Reflective, Quick Release puppy/dog collars – (17k ratings) We find the quick release buckles very handy at times.
  3. Voyager All-Weather Mesh Harness – (67k ratings) If you prefer a harness, rather than a collar.
  4. Padded, Reflective Training Leash with Handle – (12k ratings) We love these, especially as starter leashes. We love the handle to help with training after the puppy gets a little stronger. With older, especially larger dogs, we use these slip leashes (24k ratings). 

Grooming Supplies (Especially Doodles).

The downside of a low shedding dog is that you must take care of his fur! If you don’t plan for regular trips to the groomer, here are a few items that are must-haves.

  1. Andis Professional, Detachable Blade Clipper – (2k ratings) This is another item that you usually get what you paid for. We’ve learned this the hard way – we’ve owned many varieties. These are what we use now. Be sure to pick up this Detachable, Ceramic Blade (stays cooler and stays sharp longer) and this Lubricating Oil for the blades! (Use often!)
  2. Burt’s Bees Natural, Tearless, Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner – (32k ratings)
  3. The Doodle Brush Slicker Brush – Fairly expensive brush, but it’s a favorite for Doodle owners.
  4. Nail Clippers – (74k ratings)
  5. PetMD Dog Ear Cleaner Wipes – (54k ratings) Keeping your dog’s ears clean is very important! (Especially Doodles!)
  6. Arm & Hammer Super Deodorizing Spray for Dogs – (22k ratings)
  7. Earth Rated Plant Based Dog Wipes (lavender scent) – (44k ratings) A handy item to have around because it helps to quickly clean a dog’s paws, belly, bottom and other potentially stinky, dirty areas! Have friends coming over and no time for a dog bath? These work in a pinch!
  8. Angels’ Eyes Gentle Tear Stain Wipes for Dogs (& cats!) – (21k ratings) – Are you getting a white, cream or light colored puppy? Sometimes their little tears can leave stains on their sweet faces. Keep some of these around to clean them up quickly!

Recommended Food.

There are many fantastic foods to choose from. We’ve tried lots of them! We’ll recommend a few below that we use and love, but remember, every dog is a little different than the other. Some have food allergies and some are just picky! So don’t worry if you have to try different brands or different proteins in order to find the perfect fit!

Two important things to remember when shopping for food. First, if you’re buying for a puppy, be sure to get either puppy food or a food that is branded for “all stages”. Also, if you have a puppy that will grow into a large or giant dog, be sure to get a puppy food specific to large breeds. This is very important. Send us a message if you have questions.

Note: Most of the companies we recommend will ship food to you with free shipping, usually when the order amount exceeds a certain number, like $50. Also, most have autoship programs so you don’t have to worry about reordering. AND, you get a discount with autoship.

  1. Muenster Pet – We’ve written quite a bit about their company and their food. We love them! (Be sure to use coupon code LOSTCREEK55 to save 55% on your entire first order.)
  2. 4Health Lamb Formula Puppy Food from Tractor Supply.
  3. Diamond Naturals All Life Stages Formula (5k ratings)
  4. Raw Paws Raw Dog FoodThis is an option to consider! There’s a lot of science suggesting that a raw food diet is best for our 4 legged family members. Raw Paws will deliver exceptional food to your door. If you’re considering a raw food diet, we love the idea. We highly recommend you read this book => Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs: The Definitive Guide, by Lew Olson.

Other Cool Items:

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