CWB Puppy Check List! 

 

Many families ask for puppy item suggestions. Feel free to add your own here, but these are some things that will get you started. They truly don't need much!  You can go as crazy or as simple as you prefer! These are just some ideas to aid in the transition and products that we use and love. 

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Dog crate: I like the ones that have an adjustable panel so that you can shrink it down when they're little and that have 2 doors. We use 42" and 48" crates for our 44# poodle, 65# bernedoodle, and 95# BMD. They all fit in either size, but the 48" crate definitely gives them more room to move around should they need to remain it for any extended period of time. For sleeping purposes only, the 42" is more than sufficient. Check out the dimensions and use that to research which crate you like best and will fit in your homes. It's helpful to only have to purchase one and allow puppy to grow into the space over time. Smaller breeds would be fine with the 30”-36" ones. 

https://amzn.to/3w7bESh

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Collars: We do sell CWB personalized collars. They are available in black/white plaid or B/W plaid with gold accents. They’re durable and super cute! $15/each. Usually fit  our full size pups around 4 months of age. We do not have any for our minis yet. 

I LOVE these reflective starter collars, plus they're  inexpensive, durable and adjustable! (Typically puppies fit in a small first, but some mini’s might need the xs. This is one of the reasons that I go with a very inexpensive option for the first one, because they will all grow it quickly!) Most dogs need a small collar to start. https://amzn.to/3HG1dIb

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These No-Pull Collars are a total game-changer and must have for everyone! It took me years to learn about them but they make leash training SO MUCH EASIER!!!!! I don’t even use a harness anymore because of these!!! Find what works for you, but I highly recommend getting this to try! https://amzn.to/3j2TsPL

 

Harness: This is an inexpensive first harness, but there are TONS of styles/brands. Remember, puppy is going to grow fast, so don't go too crazy on the first one or two. https://amzn.to/48ffKpb (Typically puppies fit in a small first, but some mini’s might need the xs)

 

Leash: I use a variety of styles depending on what I'm doing with my dog/puppy. A long thin leash is handy in the house to keep puppy close to avoid accidents/mischief. A 2 handed leash is necessary for teaching leash walking. 

2 handed leash: https://amzn.to/42psZlv

Thin leash for tethering in the house: https://amzn.to/3QGpj7x

Small lead for leash training if you did not order a no-pull collar: https://amzn.to/3UvqCvw

 

Grooming: 

Brushes: This brush is literally worth it's weight in gold: https://amzn.to/2OSc9KK (It's an investment, but if you plan to keep the long teddy bear look, this will help you get a nice smooth coat texture!!!)

I ALWAYS use this detangler spray with my Chris C Brush (above) and it makes them feel SILKY SOFT (Just be careful! Wherever your dog lays on your smooth floor will be slippery! I speak from experience lol): https://amzn.to/37eNOIi

I use this on my dogs! It's cheap and effective!!! You need to use something like this brush or a metal comb ALL THE WAY TO THE SKIN, especially under the ears to avoid matting:  https://amzn.to/3eXiXSi OR https://amzn.to/3PKEa14

Shampoo: I LOVE the smell of this shampoo and I don't use anything else with all my dogs! It smells great, really makes their WHITE POP!!! https://prf.hn/l/jPmbo3z

Our groomer uses the following products to best clean and brush all dogs: 

Bath brush: https://amzn.to/48WGZFX

Dual flex undercoat brush: https://amzn.to/3Sgh9FQ

Conditioner: https://www.chewy.com/isle-dogs-lush-coating-conditioner/dp/119903

Facial shampoo for staining: https://amzn.to/3SPocXL

Detangler spray: https://amzn.to/47XVFTV

Undercoat control: https://amzn.to/48dMq2l

A high powered blow dryer is really helpful in blowing off dirt and sand after outdoor play. You will also want this if you plan to do any bathing in between grooming. It really helps fluff up their fur and is quite handy to keep by your back door! https://amzn.to/3BgrPLY

 

Food/water dish: Food dish can be anything, unless you feel like the puppy eats too fast. If so, you can get slow-feed dishes. You will REALLY appreciate a slow drink water dish!! Tons of styles, but here are some that we use: https://amzn.to/42qcGVy  

https://amzn.to/42lgBmA AND https://amzn.to/3ozpdDg

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Chewing: I love Bully sticks, but they can be pretty stinky and your pet will chew through them fast. Too much can also cause diarrhea. As an itty puppy, you won't notice much of a smell and it's a great nutritional source for puppies, but as your dog ages and they consume more, you'll notice an odor.  You definitely want options, tho, so they don't chew up too many of your favorite things.  

Bully sticks (these THICK ones are the ONLY way to go! They last so much longer!): https://amzn.to/3OtNMyJ

REAL BONES: Check your local vets offices and any butcher shops/farm stores. PLEASE DON'T GIVE RAWHIDE or any cooked bones the stores sell. They're AWFUL for dogs and can cause major health concerns. Your pup's teeth will really appreciate quality bones. The bigger the better. If you have hunters in the family, fresh antlers are AMAZING!! I LOVE these elk antlers from chewy and they last forever! NEVER purchase the split ones! They are too brittle and will break off/dry out too quickly. https://amzn.to/47XQzqP

 

I love Kong/Sumo toys for filling with peanut butter to make crate training easier. There are different styles, but these are my favorite. Be sure to stock up on peanut butter! I prefer the Aldi brand. It doesn't have any bad additives that can cause diarrhea and I know it's safe from personal use!  In our house we have dog peanut butter (Aldi) and human peanut butter (JIF).  But get whatever works for you. Don't bother with the small size- order a medium or large!! https://amzn.to/3SHimHC

****IF YOU HAVE A PEANUT ALLERGY IN THE HOUSE, BE SURE TO REMIND ME SO I CAN KEEP THAT IN MIND MOVING FORWARD!!!****

 

Dog food: All our bernedoodle puppies will be started on TLC Puppy Food and Bernese will go home on Royal Canin. I will send links to adoptive families or you can use the link to our TLC store on this page. RC is a little different- so just ask! I live by a "2 Bag Rule"- I always have 2 on hand, so when I open my second bag, I reorder! That way I never run short! This food is only available by delivery (which is free!!), so be sure you re-order your food if your autoship isn't soon enough!

Food storage: I store all my dog food in this bin. It's air tight and really easy to open! I'd encourage you to get something similar to preserve your food and keep puppy OUT.  https://amzn.to/3SHz0XO

*Please note- TLC food comes in 15# bags so if you only want to open one bag at a time, get the 15# bin. RC comes in 30# bags, so you’ll want the bigger bin if this litter is going home on RC or you want to put an entire case into the bin at a time. For larger breeds, this is incredibly helpful considering how fast they go through food. 

 

TOTALLY OPTIONAL but will make your life easier...

Play pen: Depending on how much you want to invest, having a play area for your puppy for those first few months will make your life A MILLION TIMES EASIER. You can set it up in your living room so that puppy is still a part of your daily life and routine, but don't have to constantly be watching and wondering what he's getting into and peeing/pooping on! LOL You can even get potty pads/litter box options. Piece of advice- just putting a disposable pad down will not work. They will shred it and make a huge mess of it! My suggestion if you want to go all out would be the playpen of your choice, BIG washable pads for under the whole area (depending on the size of playpen you get, you will need one or two washable pads), and a potty area of some sort. (If you are going to get a playpen, try and at least get the 42" tall panels, or they will learn to escape very quickly and easily with the shorter ones!) Here are some suggestions:

Playpen: https://amzn.to/3HE6Ne9

Potty area: NOT EVERYONE should set this up, but if you know you will need to leave puppy for extended periods during the day during the first couple months, you may want to invest in this system. This is our current litter box setup. We will go over this in greater detail in the Private Facebook group, but if you think you will need to utilize a litter box, this is the only one I would recommend. 

Plastic tray (necessary to keep raised shelf from slipping): https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/rotationally-molded-plastic-tray-38-x-26-x-2-1-2-gray

Metal shelf (necessary to keep puppy from shredding potty pad AND to allow poop to fall under): https://www.webstaurantstore.com/regency-24-x-36-nsf-chrome-wire-shelf/460EC2436.html

Disposable pads for under potty tray---these fit under the litter system shown here (always be sure to tuck the non-absorbent edges UNDERNEATH): https://amzn.to/3Oo7mfR

Washable pads: THESE ARE MY FAVORITE and I've tried lots! They wash up perfectly and don't smell at all! I just add a little bleach to each wash cycle. Get the right size for whatever pen you get (typically people order the 72x72 pad)  https://amzn.to/39STW6v

 

Dog bed: Get something cheap and know you will likely wash it a few times and have to toss it after a few months!  I like to put a washable potty pad over the top and then cover it with a blanket so I can wash those things, not the bed. Puppy will likely chew up anything you give them, so don't be surprised when your favorite things get destroyed! LOL I have bought our dogs every kind of bed on the market and they find ways to destroy them all as a puppy. The 40" ones are what we have for the dogs in our home: https://amzn.to/3HOAo4l

AND, for a raised bed I like these https://amzn.to/3SGtzrS (These can be nice to keep them off a warm floor, if you don't have cool floors. Also helpful in teaching "place")

I love these cooling mats! You'll definitely want to invest in one of these- just watch those puppy teeth: https://amzn.to/3OMLtEe (check the correct size for your breed)

 

Toys: Be REALLY careful about the toys you give your puppy. I read reviews. Do they fall apart easily? Are they highly processed treats? If they're meant to be a chew toy, how durable are they- do parts fall off fast? If they do, ALWAYS throw those immediately-- puppy teeth are razor sharp and ingesting parts of toys can be very scary.  Loose rope pieces are never a good idea. Frayed rope can be ingested and get stuck in the stomach and intestines. I like ropes that are looped back into the toy, but if those ropes become frayed, toss the toy immediately! Ropes can be a great asset for play tug of war, helping sooth teething pain, and just general play-- but always use caution. ALSO- if the toy can be rolled up and fit into a toilet paper roll, TOSS IT! That can be ingested and lead to a bowel obstruction! Never use small toys, even if they seem long enough! 

These are one of my pack's favorites: https://amzn.to/3UvrUGS

 

Ear care: This is REALLY IMPORTANT. All poodles have hair in their ears, so your doodle will need to have his/her ears cleaned and likely plucked frequently. Proper ear care will prevent painful ear infections. I made a post on Facebook regarding ear care. For more detailed descriptions, see the post here: https://www.facebook.com/567697643614627/posts/1603080896742958/

Ear wash: https://amzn.to/3BxSh5w

Yeast ear cleanser: https://amzn.to/3UncEvK

Ear drops: https://amzn.to/3vjVTUP

Ear powder (for plucking): https://amzn.to/3vLFuZV

 

Diarrhea support: EVERYONE SHOULD ORDER THIS!!! This is liquid gold if you have a dog. I keep this on hand always to cure diarrhea FAST. All puppies should remain on a daily probiotics for the first year of life, but especially when on antibiotics or after deworming. Be sure you switch up your probiotics periodically. 

Proviable: https://amzn.to/3jMQY8p

Probiotics: https://amzn.to/49hsyfv AND https://amzn.to/48TG8pu

 

Lastly, DON'T buy one of these adorable Snuggle Puppies! Every one of our puppies will go home with one to help with the transition!! If you want to have an extra on hand or if yours is loved a little too much and needs to be replaced, here's a link to order a new one later!  https://amzn.to/2Y0C97T