Dog Stuff

These aren’t affiliate links, just things I’ve found (mostly on chewy.com) very useful in transitioning from a home with two known quantity adult dogs, to a home with a very young puppy. Hope they’re helpful to, well, anyone. Prices are what I paid at the time, not current pricing.

Puppy Phase

Potty Training

  • Washable puppy pads ($16 for 2). I don’t like disposable stuff if I can help it.
  • Nature’s Miracle laundry additive ($10) (or this SKU for $8). For washing the reusable puppy pads.
  • Nature’s Miracle spray ($10). Accidents will happen.
  • Bissell Pet Stain Eraser portable shampooer. I found the best pricing ($50) on Bissell’s eBay store. (This one’s not just useful when house breaking, but it’ll definitely get a lot of use then!)
  • Rug Doctor - Corded Upright Deep Cleaner. A bit large and awkward but this thing really sucks. I’ve used other home carpet cleaners, none can touch this one, in the price range ($235 on sale).
  • Astroturf potty ($36) (I also got a spare piece of astroturf ($21) so I could wash one and leave it to dry, and have a fresh one to swap in.) (Even though it’s “medium” it was enough for my puppy through about 6 months, at which point a switch flipped and he would wait until we went “outside” for everything.)

Crate 

Some folks use a crate beyond the puppy months. I don’t. When my guy was using a crate, I had a whole little “apartment” setup for him:
  • 48" Crate ($75) (with an interior divider to make it smaller while he was potty training as a very small puppy; also, two doors)
  • Crate mat ($33) 48"
  • Wire pen ($37), 30", that I had attached to the crate, and which wrapped around food/water bowls and his astroturf potty.

Other Barriers

While he’s still getting into and destroying things he shouldn’t, I’m using these to limit his access to areas I don’t want him to be unsupervised:
  • Freestanding pet fence ($60), I have one keeping him from going behind the loveseat (I have a desk back there with cords underneath, etc), and used another to keep him from going under the dining room table (which I’d shoved up against a wall to make room for his crate-apartment).
  • Step-through gate ($38), I have this at the entrance to the hallway off the living room that leads to the bathroom, some hall shelves / closet, and the bedroom.

All Life Phases

Training

  • Treat bag ($6)
  • Charlee Bear Cheese and Egg treats ($6), for training at home. No better bang for the buck.
  • Soft and Chewy Training Bits ($3), for training on the go. My trainer recommends treats that are “small, sticky, and stinky,” and these fit the bill. I buy several bags at a time as the 4oz size doesn’t last long.

Grooming

My dogs are easy, but benefit from:
  • ZoomGroom ($6). The rubber nubs feel like vigorous scritching, they love it and lean into it! Helps get rid of the fur they were going to shed everywhere...
  • Flea comb ($5) never hurts to check.
  • Dremel 7300-PT 4.8V cordless pet grooming kit ($35) just the thing for their nails

Slow Feeder

My Labrador eats incredibly quickly. Too quickly. I tried this inexpensive slow feeder gizmo: https://www.chewy.com/loving-pets-gobble-stopper-slow/dp/47359 Not recommended; it’s a lot smaller than it appears to be, doesn’t stay put, and my Lab started eating it. I’ve since switched to:

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