Puppy Shopping List

This list may seem overwhelming, but please remember this is a general guideline. Not all items are mandatory; this is simply a list of our favorite products. You are certainly welcome to finish your puppy shopping once your new puppy comes home; however, we have found that being set up for success from the beginning can help tremendously with the transition into your home. We are happy to answer any questions about our experiences with a particular product. Most links below are to Amazon, but Chewy is also a great source.​ These are NOT affiliate links.

Puppy Food

DIAMOND NATURALS SALMON is an all-life stage food and what we feed all of our dogs. We have found the most consistent success in this formula. We will send home a small baggy of food so that it can be mixed into the new food and transitioned over at least a few days, should you decide to change foods. However, we recommend purchasing a bag of the food your puppy is eating and keeping him/her on that food for the first month or so. Transitioning to a new home is stressful enough. Changing foods immediately may cause more stomach upset and make potty training difficult. PROBIOTICS We raise our puppies on daily probiotics and highly suggest continuing them throughout your dog's life for intestinal health. Doodles tend to have sensitive stomachs, which can be especially helpful during high stress. Our favorite include pumpkin, which is also great for stomach upset.​

Food Bowls

STAINLESS STEEL DISHES don't harbor bacteria; they are easy to toss in the dishwasher and are nearly impossible to break. We prefer them with a rubber ring, as they are more difficult to knock over and/or push around. Slow feeders or interactive toys filled with food are also a great alternative for bored or greedy pups. We do not recommend using raised dog dishes as studies have shown that it may contribute to bloat, a common condition in Standard Poodles.

Collar & Leash

We will send your puppy home with a free harness and leash for safe travel. However, we understand that new puppy shopping is half the fun! We recommend starting out with a harness for both ease of training and safety. They’re difficult to slip out of and offer a bit more control. This is our favorite HARNESS AND LEASH SET. When they go home at 8 weeks, our puppies are generally around 5-7 lbs and wear the XS, but feel free to ask for the weight of your individual puppy. Don’t forget to create a name tag and register your puppy's microchip!​

Grooming Supplies

We recommend having your puppy professionally groomed every 6-8 weeks, depending on his/her coat type and your preferences. Here are a few tools to keep them looking nice in between grooms. Please note: if you cannot comb your doodle’s coat, your groomer cannot run their guard combs through it. Please be sure to brush your puppy thoroughly at least a few times a week.

• SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

• SLICKER BRUSH

• COMB SET

Basic Maintenance

Don't forget your puppy’s teeth, ears, and nails! Your groomer will likely pluck and/or clean your puppy’s ears and trim their nails with regular grooming; however, it is important to maintain their basic hygiene between appointments. This will ensure a more pleasant grooming experience for your puppy in the long run.

• TOOTHBRUSH & PASTE

• EAR CLEANER

• NAIL DREMEL

Health Related Items​

Here are a few helpful items to keep your new puppy healthy and happy for life:

Heartworm, flea, and tick medication is a mandatory preventative measure, especially in warmer climates. Your vet will likely prescribe these at 12-16 weeks of age. Please note that our dogs are tested clear for the MDR1 gene, commonly found in Aussies, so they can take Ivermectin safely. We keep our dogs on Selamectin (the most common name brand, Revolution).

We deworm at 2, 4, 6, and sometimes 8 weeks of age and send our puppies home with a clear fecal test. However, we suggest following up at 12 and 16 weeks and keeping your puppy on a regular preventative schedule. Puppy parasites are very common. They are extremely opportunistic and can take advantage of stressful events like traveling and adjusting to a new home. We deworm with Pyrantel and Fenbendazole (the most common name brand, Safeguard).

Crates, Gates, and Pens

We suggest purchasing a large wire crate with a divider. This way, the crate can “grow” with your puppy, and you won’t have to purchase multiple. Our favorite size for our more medium-sized dogs (30-50 lbs) is 42". We recommend limiting your new puppy's space to wander throughout the house. This will significantly reduce both potty and chewing accidents. Both baby gates and puppy pens can be helpful tools when used together, depending on your preferences and home layout. Creating boundaries and setting limitations is very important to the training process.

If you cannot let your puppy out every 3-4 hours for the first few weeks, we suggest considering a potty tray. This will make the transition to potty training much easier for your puppy in the long run, as they cannot hold it for that long in their crate yet. You can place the potty pan inside an exercise pen and attach it to their crate. This will create a space for sleep, play, and a potty area and help them continue to associate their crate with a safe, clean den. It may help to cover the crate as well. We would suggest an old towel or something that is easy to wash for bedding, as large beds tend to be cumbersome to wash if they have accidents.

• WIRE CRATE

• BABY GATE

• PUPPY PEN​

Toys, Chews and Treats

Interactive, durable, and stimulating toys are a must. They significantly reduce boredom and destructiveness. Here are just a few of our favorites:

Always remember: a tired puppy is a good puppy. We cannot stress this enough.

• KONG CLASSIC (must have)

• BULLY STICKS (must have)

• CHUCK IT

• LICK MAT

• SNUFFLE MAT

• INTERACTIVE PUZZLE GAME

• HIDE-AND-SEEK TOY

• TRAINING TREATS (must have)​​