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
Elevated dog bowls ($30 for stand and two bowls).After reading up on how elevated bowls can contribute to bloat, I no longer use them for my dogs.- VittlesVaults ($26/ea). As each of my puppies are on different foods, I have a 35 lbs container for each (though the Royal Canin Labrador Puppy 30 lbs bag doesn’t quite fit; I usually have a bit of food left in the bag for a couple of days).
- A Dyson. I’ve got the V10 Absolute. I want one of the big corded ones, eventually ($too much).
- Collars. I like ones with their name and phone number in big letters, like these ($19).
- Kongs! Always Kongs. Load ’em up and they’ll be engaged for hours.
- Classic ($13), for adult dogs (though the puppy certainly won’t turn away from it)
- Teething sticks for puppies ($11) (as they become more active chewers, these will disintegrate, watch for that)
- Peanut butter filler ($7)
- Bacon and cheese filler ($7)
- Peanut butter filler, tube style ($3), not as convenient as the aerosol version, but cheap!
- Puppy filler ($7)
- Treats to stick in the end of the “classic”-style Kongs ($5)
- Bullysticks, these are the most affordable option I’ve found ($8)
- Good2Go Seatbelt Adapters ($13) for safe travels, especially in a convertible
- SENSE-Ation harnesses (about $30)
- Hemp leashes ($19)
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:
- Durapet Slow Feed Small Stainless Steel Dog Bowl, 7.58" L x 7.58" W x 1.97" H, drops right into the bowl in the elevated set (see above) ($10)
- I later picked up this bowl for a trip to St. Louis;
it won’t work with the elevated bowls I have at home,but objectively I think it’s a better slow feeder bowlif you don’t need to adapt to that setup: QT Dog Brake-Fast Stainless Steel Dog Bowl (5-cup model; $20). In use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOdF7jrtHMM.
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