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Here is a consolidated list of all the items and things you will need when welcoming a new puppy to your home. Please remember that these are for puppies. Adult & senior dogs would have different requirements.
When we first got Arashi, i placed one giant order from Chewy. Everything came together from one trusted vendor. Chewy also has an exceptional customer service so it was really easy to keep things organized. So for the sake of keeping things less chaotic for you, i will be sharing the product links from Chewy.com. HOWEVER, there are some items that i will link from other vendors that Chewy doesn’t carry such as cable covers, and Orvis collars. I highly recommend Orvis collars because you can get free personalization AND they last a really long time.
Using the below list, you will have everything you need. You won’t even need to have random trips to the pet store because you forgot something or think of ‘better’ way of things to do in an adhoc manner because we got you all covered.
Because these are for puppies, i will be linking size Small – Medium dog gear but please ensure you assess your dog’s size before purchasing things like collars and harnesses. There is a huge difference between a 3 months old Aussie vs 3 months old Bernese Mountain Dog!
Puppy Proofing
Puppy Gate by Frisco
Reason: If you have stairs and your puppy will be mainly upstairs, you need to make sure your dog is safe. Moreover, gates are used widely for potty and socialization training.
This product: Fits most door gaps and has an automatic close. It also has a pressure mount if you do not want to drill into your walls or move the gate elsewhere.
CABLE COVERS
Reason: Puppies love chewing on cables and things that are lose or dangling. It is attractive to them. Cover your cables with this cable cover so its less attractive.
This product: we ran these across the wall and floors. Covered our wifi cables, laptop chargers. (My friend didnt have internet for 3 days because her Aussie puppy chewed her internet cable!)
I am linking this from Amazon just because Chewy doesn’t sell cable covers.
Dog Gear
ORVIS PERSONALIZED Collar
Reason: You must have a personalized collar for your puppy. Puppies are small, flexible and can squeeze through little gaps in your fence when you are not looking. They can also get out of their harnesses and break free from leashes so please be extra careful when you are outside with your pup. Always put their collar on first thing in the morning.
This product: Orvis provides free personalization so you don’t need to pay extra for a tag (add on tags also break and fall off and can harm your pet). This is a no choke collar because most dogs shouldn’t wear a harness for the first few months to not harm their backs. This no choke collar won’t harm your puppy’s neck if they pull on the leash.
This collar is a bit more ‘expensive’ compared to other brands but there is a reason (1) great design (2) embroidered personalization (3) durable material (4) sizing is always consistent so check your puppy’s neck measurement before ordering.
Leash Walking & Training Leash
Reason: This is kind of obvious i know! Although we want our dog’s to follow us wherever we go, in public spaces and parks, we must ensure our dog’s are on a leash!
This product: This is a 6-in-1 leash. It can be hands on/off and can be extended up to 6 ft. Its an excellent leash for training your puppy to walk on a leash. Its also reflective which is great for evening walks! I highly recommend this leash.
Puppy Harness
Reason: Although you might not use a harness the first few months, its a must to use when transporting your dog. This harness is crash tested and comes with a seatbelt. We made a video about it too, watch it here.
This product: Comes with 5 adjustment points, secure nested buckles, comfortable padding, keeps dog safe in the car. It has 2 leash attachments which makes it for both car usage and everyday usage. (we use it everyday!) This is definitely a more ‘high-end’ harness but its 100% worth the investment.
Poop Bags
Reason: You must always pick up your dog’s poop when outside.
This product: To be honest, i tried a bunch of poop bags and noticed that many poop bags stank even after tying the bag. Your puppy will have pretty stinky poop and will have diarrhea too. This poop bag option was the only one that tolerated Arashi’s poop. Its also more economical than all other options. HOWEVER, i don’t recommend the poop bag dispenser cause its wonky and breaks easily. I recommend the below poop dispenser.
Poop BAG DISPENSER
Reason: It keeps the poop bag organized and intact
This product:. I would advise you to buy like 3 of these and keep them in different places (car, sunroom, front door, SO house etc). Its really embarrassing to take your dog out and realize you can not pick up your dog’s poop!
Food, Vitamins, & Upset Tummy
Food and Water BOWL
This product: Puppies are wild eaters and they will 100% make a hot mess after eating and drinking. Make sure you get this one because it keeps bowls in their place, and catches all the mess.
SLOW FEEDER
Reason: Puppies eat fast and that can be too heavy on their little tummies. Slow feeders will reduce the likelihood of bloat since the dog swallows less air as they eat. It also helps with mental stimulation because the dog must think about how to get all the food out. Read about why bloating is really bad for dogs, here.
This product: This is a dishwasher safe and exciting slow feeder. Have a few of them with different designs ready so that your puppy is eating slow and excitingly!
PUPPY FOOD
Please make sure you consult with your vet to get food fitting for your dog. Anything to be digested on a daily basis must be assessed very carefully. Failure to give your dog the right amount of nutrients could result in growth deficiencies. According to The American College of Veterinary Nutrition , a dog’s unique nutritional requirements will depend on age, size, health, and breed.
This product: We used TLC Puppy Food because it had a balanced quantity of all the nutrients Arashi needed. Puppy diet is different than dog diet, it needs more protein, fats, amino acids, and vitamins. We wet his food with water before giving it to him (like cereal). They ship super fast to US and Canada and you can do autoship. After sometime, your puppy graduates to TLC Dog Food. Unfortunately, this brand is not available on Chewy but would be fitting for all breeds. You can find it here if you would like to try it.
AKC (American Kennel Club) also features a food option from Acana. It is available on Chewy. Please note – I did not try this brand as Arashi is on a consistent diet from TLC Dog Food; however, looking at the ingredient structure, this option is really good. Price wise they are similar with TLC puppy food offering about 5lbs more for a few cents less.
DAILY VITAMIN
Reason: – Just like humans, dogs need daily vitamin intake too. Consult with your vet and see what they recommend too! I am a little iffy about going with just any brand as the pet market is getting saturated but below are the two that I would recommend. Don’t go with trendy but healthy is my go to mindset.
This product: Nuvet brand isn’t available on Chewy.com but it has an autoship so once you set it up, you don’t need to worry anymore. We have been using NuVet Plus vitamin option that is all natural and full spectrum. This daily vitamin was great for Arashi’s immune system, and coat! You can find NuVet PLUS here.
Another great one is by Pet-Tabs Vitamin-Mineral Dog Supplement. This option is pretty well recommended by a lot of vets and the brand has been there for a while. Its available on Chewy.com too.
DIARRHEA PROBIOTIC
Reason: – Because your puppy will eat lots of iffy things and will have diarrhea more than you think. Buying these from the vet is going to cost and arm and a leg. Keep these in your dog stash.
This product: This is a probiotic supplement that will help ease your dog’s tummy. Of course consult your vet if your dog isn’t feeling well but if they try to sell you some, just tell them you already have some. When Arashi has random diarrhea, i just sprinkle a sachet into his food and give him a bland diet for a day. If symptoms persist or were “strange” to begin with I call his vet immediately. (PLEASE NOTE: It’s always good to consult your vet immediately if you see something off about your puppy. Sometimes there is no need to wait.)
Puppy Training
Crate
Reason: Crate training is one of the best things you can teach your puppy. It helps with anxiety, destructive behavior, and even potty training. Don’t feel bad crate training, it will be a safe place for your dog.
This product: This brand makes one of the most durable crates i have ever seen. It is well thought and good quality. They have a great customer service too. Make sure the size you buy is your dog’s ‘mature’ size.
Potty Bells
Reason: Always teach your dog how to tell you that they need to potty instead of guessing the reason behind barking and whining. As a puppy, they won’t hold their bladder for long so begin bells training asap.
This product: Honestly, it doesn’t matter as long as it does the job. Just make sure you put this where your dog can reach.
TRAINING CLICKER
Reason: Many people opt in for clickers to tell their dogs they did well. I opted in for “Good!” but sometimes in the excitement of things, your wording can change. Clicker allows things to be consistent and is preferred by many trainers.
This product: Basic clicker that you can tie to your wrist which is easier than having one around your neck.
Training Pouch
Reason: Having a pouch is an excellent way to train your dog on the go, especially when walking, and hiking. The one heads up i would give is to put the treats in a ziploc bag and then put in the pouch to keep the inside of the pouch clean.
This product: This is the exact one i bought, its multi functional. You can wear it around your shoulder or tie it around your waist. It also has a section for poop bag dispensing.
Training TREATS
Reason: Stinky, yummy treats will get your dog excited and motivated to do well in training.
This product: All of the below have been tried and tested. They. are gentle treats that are really light in calories. Check out this video of us using Zuke’s Mini Naturals
Mental Stimulation & Entertainment
Teething Toy
Reason: Yep, dogs need one too. The bumpy texture will help them scratch their teeth!
This product: Simple, and useful. If it breaks, make sure you take it from your pup.
Puzzles
Reason: Many dogs need mental stimulation and exercising their brains. These puzzles are great at keeping your pup busy!
This product: Easy/Intermediate level puzzles that is easy to start for your pup. Make sure you show your pup how to do it so that they understand!
KONG TOYS
Reason: Instead of your dog teething on your belongings, use the Kong toys to keep them busy.
This product: Great toy because its indestructible for puppy teeth, mentally stimulating to get the treatos out, and keeps your puppy busy when you are in a meeting!
Chuckit! Balls
Reason: because fetch. is the best game ever!
This product: I love these balls because they last forever and can not be destroyed. For puppies, medium size is sufficient. I am not a fan of ‘tennis’ balls because the hairy texture is attractive to puppies who often eat them. Arashi had a tennis ball and his poop was florescent green once! We then found this ball option and have a TON of it right now in difference sizes. Its a good investment.
Grooming & Lifestyle
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Reason: Its imperative for you to brush your puppies teeth, otherwise rotten teeth will cause a lot of pain and further health issues for your dog.
This product: This toothpaste is great because even if you don’t get all of your puppies teeth, it will still work because the enzymatic nature will breakdown the tartar.
The brush as you see is simple. These are easy to use when you are getting your puppy used to brushing teeth.
Comfy Bed
Reason: I mean.. you have a couch, why wouldn’t your pup have one too?
This product: I like this one because (1) you can wash it (2) made from memory foam (3) is waterproof (4) hard to tear.
Stainless Steel, Insulated Water Bottle
Reason: When you take your dog out to the dog park or hiking, or camping they will need a lot of water. I hate giving Arashi water from the hose at the park so i always make sure to bring my own.
This product: I love this bottle because it lasted me a long time and comes with a bowl so it’s easy to pour water. Its 33 oz so it contains enough water for the day, and keeps water cold! I have the black one.
Crate bed
Reason: The crate bottom can get really cold and hard for your puppy.
This product: This fits perfectly into the Midwest Homes crate and is so comfortable. Make sure the size of the bed matches the size of the crate.
GROOMING RAKE (LONG COATS)
Reason: If you have a long coated dog or a dog with double coat like Arashi. You need this.
This product: A simple grooming rake for long/double coats. Use this every other day to avoid matting.
NAIL CLIPPER
Reason: You should keep your dog’s nails cut to avoid scratching you, your kids, or even the floors.
This product: A simple nail clipper with a safety clip. Don’t go beyond the white area of your dog’s nail to avoid bleeding.
Home Cleaning
Stain and odor remover
Reason: You dog will have accidents. Trust me.
This product: This has been great on all surfaces including carpet and couch. Read instructions. and test before using. TIP: Don’t pick up your dog’s accident when he is watching!
ARASHI APPROVEDᵀᴹ 
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