Shopping For Your New Puppy.
Essential Shopping List:
Food - We feed Purina Pro Plan Focus All Stages Lamb & Rice. There are many good quality dog foods, we are happy to discuss your options.
Bowls - We start with these bowls for puppies. For our grown-up dogs, we use the Iris Pet Elevated Feeder.
Collar - Lupine is one of our favorite brands. And, we also love these cute personalized ones from HarmonMae Pups
Leash and Halter - We love that this Pet Industries Premium leash has a rechargable reflective function for nighttime walks. If you are using a halter as part of leash training, Think Pet halter is great for puppies.
Crate - We support crate training for puppies. When done correctly, it can be a big help with house-training and establishing bedtime. There are lots of crate-makers, but we really like Midwest iCrate , especially because it comes with a divider panel that helps adjust the size of the crate as your puppy grows.
Shampoo - Any good dog shampoo will work. We use Wen for Pets. (Don’t let the price tag scare you - a little goes a long way. And, we think it’s the best for detangling poodle and doodle coats.)
Pin Brush & Metal Comb - You will need both to keep your pup free of mats. We use the JW Pet metal comb and the Chris Christensen brush (ours has NEVER fallen apart, unlike most pin/slicker brushes)
Bed - Having a good dog bed can help your pup identify a safe, cozy space that is all their own. We use beds from Comfy K9. They are a little more expensive than some others, but they last a long time and wash up nicely in the laundry.
Bully Sticks - They are the safest and least-smelly natural chews. Puppies love them and they really help during teething/mouthing period.
Toys - A good bouncy ball and a chew toy are is a good way to learn what your pup likes best. We find that toys and balls from Kong last longer than anything else.
Extras You Might Want:
Clippers -Many poodle and doodle owners find DIY grooming works well for them, and it’s definitely easier on the pocketbook. Andis is our favorite brand of clippers - they have a wide range of products from affordable models all the way up to Professional Grooming Clippers. Be sure to get some Clipper Guards if you want to keep your pup’s coat a bit longer. ***Here’s a great video on grooming a doodle from Zoom Grooms. *Please Note: We appreciate doodle-friendly professional groomers, our dogs visit Pawsitively Paradise for expert cuts a few times per year. Between visits, we do our own touch-up grooming.
Dremel’s nail grinder tool for pets works great. (We prefer it to clippers)
Safety-End Scissors to safely trim hair near the eyes
Zymox is, by far, our favorite ear treatment. It works and really helps prevent issues. We also use and recommend Pet MD ear cleaning pads.
Elastic Hair Ties that are strong and will not break. If you want to put your pup’s hair in a ponytail, topknot, or manbun, these are the best.