New Puppy Checklist
Bringing home a new puppy is both exciting and overwhelming! With so many products out there, it can be hard to know what you actually need. To make things easier for you, I’ve put together a list of my favorite puppy-raising essentials and doggy must-haves that I use and love!
Last Updated: 6/6/26
Food & Nutrition
Food (kibble): We feed all of our dogs Life's Abundance dog food. We trust Life’s Abundance because their food has never had a recall, and we believe in giving our dogs high quality nutrition. Every puppy leaves our home eating the blue bag of Small/Medium Puppy Food, and when they reach about a year old, we recommend slowly transitioning them to the green bag of All Life Stages Dog Food.
https://lifesabundance.com/Home.aspx?realname=20964779
Fresh Food: For our pregnant and nursing mommas, we allow them to free-feed kibble so they can eat as much as they need, and we supplement with fresh Farmers Dog food for an extra boost. They absolutely love it! For your pets, you don’t need to feed both though. Life’s Abundance and Farmers Dog are each complete, balanced diets on their own, so either option will fully support your dog’s nutritional needs.
https://www.thefarmersdog.com?ref=O2YM9GB3QWDQ
Supplements: All of our dogs (breeding dogs, pets, and puppies) get NuVet supplements every day. Our adults get one wafer, and our puppies get a scoop of the powder on top of their food. NuVet is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support immune health, digestion, and overall wellness, helping our dogs stay healthy at every stage of life.
Probiotics: Along with the NuVet supplements, we also give our dogs a scoop of Terra Biota probiotics every day because it's great for overall gut health. Sometimes probiotics can even help reduce tear stains by supporting digestion and lowering inflammation that can contribute to staining.
https://www.biostarus.com/products/terra-biota-k9
Stool Firmer: If a puppy has loose stool, a teaspoon of FirmUp a day helps tremendously. It’s an easy, effective way to get their digestion back on track.
https://www.amazon.com/Diggin-Your-Dog-Original-Supplement
Food Bowl: We like using a classic stainless steel bowl for our dogs. The stainless steel is durable and easy to clean, and the silicone bottom helps keep it from sliding around while they eat.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH9DST18?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1
Water Bowl:
We use the Slopper Stopper dripless water bowl because it helps keep floors dry, holds plenty of water, and can even help reduce beard staining. One of our favorite features is that puppies can't easily tip it over, which means less mess and fewer water spills around the house. We highly recommend them to puppy families looking for a simple way to reduce water messes.
Like any food or water dish, it's important to wash it regularly. We recommend cleaning it every 2-3 days to keep it sanitary and safe for your dog.
For local families or those picking up their puppy in person, we're proud to be a breeder partner with Slopper Stopper and can send one home with you when you pick up your puppy. We can get you $10 off the plastic version, $15 off the stainless steel version, and $5 off the bowl stands. Because I keep a limited inventory on hand, please text or email me as soon as possible if you'd like one so I can make sure I have a bowl in stock and ready for pickup day.
https://www.amazon.com/Slopper-Stopper-Breeds-Plastic-Assembly
Treats, Chews, & Toys
Treats:
Our all-time favorite treat is Stella & Chewy Meal Mixers. We love them because they can be broken into tiny, rice-sized pieces which is perfect for training and giving small rewards. They’re made in the USA and are healthy, packed with real meat and nutrients to support overall wellness.
https://www.amazon.com/Stella-ChewyS-Freeze-Dried-Chicken-Patties
Our second favorite are Spot & Tango training treats. These are already small, so there’s no need to break them up. They’re also made in the USA and healthy because they're 100% freeze dried beef liver.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2F7QNKX?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1
A couple other things we often use as training treats are plain, boiled chicken and cheese. They’re simple, high-value rewards that our dogs love.
Chews:
Farm Hounds Rawhides are our favorite chews ever. They are the only rawhides we ever give our dogs because they're made from a single source, without bleach or chemicals, so they’re fully digestible, unlike typical store-bought rawhides that are full of chemicals and aren't digestible. The XL rolls last forever with our adult dogs, but the 4x4 chips are perfect for young puppies that love to chew.
Our dogs love these Earthly Natural Bully Sticks. They're great because they aren’t stinky and are perfect for crate or pen time, helping our dogs see those spaces as a positive place.
https://www.amazon.com/Earthly-Maplewood-Smoked-Regular-Thickness
We use a Bully Buddy holder to keep our dogs safe while they chew bully sticks. It helps prevent them from choking on the last bit and lets them enjoy their treat safely.
https://www.amazon.com/Bow-Wow-Labs-Safety-Device
Enrichment Toys:
The Woof Pupsicle is one of our favorite enrichment toys. It's perfect for keeping puppies busy during crate time, helping them learn to settle, and providing mental stimulation. We love that you can use the pre-made refills or make your own frozen treats with dog-safe ingredients at home. We often use yogurt, pumpkin, peanut butter, goat milk, or wet food to create simple, puppy-friendly fillings. Use code RUTU10 for 10% off your order!
https://mywoof.com/?rstr=22005
The Bob-A-Lot is the best interactive feeding toys. We use it to make mealtimes more engaging, provide mental enrichment, and help distract busy puppie. Simply fill it with kibble or treats and let your puppy work to get the rewards out. Our favorite feature is that you can adjust the size of the holes, making it harder or easier for them. We love the size L.
A classic Kong is the enrichment toy that every puppy should have. We love stuffing them with kibble, wet food, yogurt, pumpkin, or peanut butter and freezing them so they last longer. They're perfect for crate training, encouraging calm behavior, and keeping puppies occupied. Size S is great for puppies, and M works well for adult dogs!
Fun Toys:
If we could recommend just one toy, it would be this Squishy Face Flirt Pole. It's our favorite way to exercise puppies, build confidence, and burn off energy. It's especially great for young kids because it keeps little fingers away from sharp puppy teeth while still allowing them to play and interact safely. We've yet to meet a puppy that doesn't love it!
Crates & Beds
Crate: We’re big advocates for crate training. It gives dogs a safe, comfortable place to be when you can’t always watch them, and it helps them feel a little more at ease if they ever have to stay overnight at a vet or boarding facility. Our favorite crates are from Diggs. Not only are they gorgeous, but they're also designed with dogs’ safety as the number one priority. Plus, they're super easy to collapse for storage or travel. Our adult dogs all fit comfortably in a size Medium Revol and Enventur. The Revol crates are our favorites for regular use, and the dogs always travel in the car in the Enventur crate unless they're buckled in with a crash tested harness.
Crate Pad: These crate pads are super durable, easy to wash, and come in a few fun colors!18x24 fits in a size S Diggs crate and 21x30 fits great in a M. We like the canvas-canvas pads.
https://www.fmsdogbeds.com/collections/tuff-pads/products/tuff-pads
Dog Bed: This bed is really cool because it can unzip to become a blanket (which works great as a couch or bed cover), making it super easy to wash in your washing machine! The cover is nice to have too to discourage your pet from chewing on the zipper! Use code RUTU for 15% off!
https://www.washnzippetbed.com/?ec_coupon=RUTU
Donut Bed: This bed is super cute and has a convenient removable, machine washable cover!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBP2Q42Z
Elevated Bed: Elevated beds are great for keeping your dog out of the dirt when you're outside, but they’re also a really helpful training tool for teaching your dog “place.”
https://www.amazon.com/b/?ie=UTF8&node=17051202011&ref_=sv_petsupplies_12
Collars & Leashes
Our dogs are well loved and like to wear cute collars, leashes, and accessories! Puppies will fit into 8”-12” collars, and most adult dogs will fit into a 10"-14" collar. Even though your dog is microchipped, always be sure to keep some sort of ID tag or plate on them too! We also always keep our dogs on leash when outside of fenced areas to keep them safe.
Collar: We love that all of the Mimigreen collar buckles are engravable so there's no more noisy, jingly tags! The 12”–15” x 1” size usually fits all of our adult dogs, but it’s always a good idea to measure your dog’s neck just to be sure. The Biothane (“Waterproof Leather Alternative - Heavyweight”) collars are our favorites because they’re waterproof so they don’t get smelly, they’re super easy to clean, and they’re very durable.
https://www.shopmimigreen.com/designer-dog-collars/
Tractive GPS Collar:
This is one of my favorite dog safety products and something I recommend to all of my puppy families. It's affordable, easy to use, and gives me so much peace of mind. I love the virtual fence feature that alerts you if your dog leaves a designated area, plus it tracks activity and health right from the app. A great feature is that it slides onto any collar, so you don't have to buy a specific kind for it.
https://tractive.pxf.io/KB43Ay
Hands-Free Leashes:
We absolutely love using hands-free leashes. They make both training walks and regular walks so much easier because you’re not juggling a leash, treats, a clicker, and anything else at the same time.
This Strange Tails one is especially cool because it comes in two separate pieces, so you can switch between hands-free and a regular leash in seconds. It's always the first one I reach for. If you couldn’t tell already, we’re a little obsessed with Biothane... so of course this leash is Biothane.
https://shopstrangetails.com/products/classic-biothane-leash
https://shopstrangetails.com/products/handsfree-leash-adapter
Another of our favorite biothane hands-free leashes are these ones from Guardian Gear! We get a 7ft long and1/2" wide leash. Adding on a traffic handle is nice, but not neccesary.
https://www.guardian--gear.com/product-page/hands-free-leash
This hands-free rope leash from Amazon is great too and is a little more affordable.
https://www.amazon.com/Multifunctional-Hands-Crossbody-Nylon-Breeds
Longlines: Longlines are awesome for letting your dog run and explore without feeling restricted, but still giving you the control you need. They’re especially handy when you’re working on recall because your dog gets the freedom to roam, and you get the peace of mind knowing they can always make their way back to you.
https://www.guardian--gear.com/product-page/long-line
https://www.amazon.com/lynxking-Training-Tracking-Braided-Medium
Harness: This is our current, favorite harness. It's super easy to put on and take off, there's a ring to clip the leash on the front or the back, and the handle on the back is a bonus too.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0792X4B29?
I was in a car accident with my dog last year, and I'm SO thankful he had a harness on and was safely buckled in. I cannot stress the importance of keeping your dog in a crash-tested harness and buckled securely in the back of your car while driving.
This is Sleepypod one is our #1 favorite and trusted crash-tested car harness.
https://sleepypod.com/products/sport-bundle?variant=41113076170788
This Kurgo one is a little more affordable, and is also crash-tested which is great.
Training
Online Puppy School: Baxter & Bella is an online dog training school with tons of helpful resources for every stage of dog ownership, from puppy basics to advanced training. They offer a variety of free resources, but their Lifetime Membership gives you access to an extensive library of training videos, courses, and step-by-step guidance. We especially love their detailed video demonstrations and the option for one-on-one online coaching when you need extra support. It's a great resource for building a strong training foundation with your puppy and having expert help available along the way. Use code Rutu for 25% off!
Clicker: A small, simple tool that helps clearly mark good behavior during training using positive reinforcement. We like to keep a few on hand since they’re small, easy to lose, and it’s helpful to always have one nearby.
Books:
The Whole Puppy: This is a great all-around guide for raising a well-adjusted puppy with simple, practical training and socialization tips. https://amzn.to/49VpBUP
Clicking With Your Dog: Easy intro to clicker training and building clear communication with your dog using positive reinforcement. https://amzn.to/4uW9ZIX
Cooperative Care: This helps you teach your dog feel comfortable with grooming, vet visits, and everyday handling. https://amzn.to/4u964ak
Canine Enrichment: this book has so many fun ideas to keep your dog's brain stimulated https://amzn.to/3SfLaJq
Little Wolves Potty Tray: These are the potty trays we use here with our puppies and have found them to be veru helpful keeping our puppy pens clean. That said, if you have access to a fenced yard or outdoor space, we strongly recommend not using potty trays and start on outdoor potty training right off the bat rather than relying on indoor potty systems long-term. Puppies learn best when they develop a consistent habit of going outside. However, if you live in an apartment or don't have convenient access to grass throughout the day, these trays can be a great option for keeping messes contained and giving your puppy a designated potty area while they're still learning. You can use code KENNEDYMEAD for 10% off! https://littlewolves.com?sca_ref=11397367.J92hzCsSih
Grooming
Keeping your pup well groomed isn’t just about looking cute, it’s also an important part of keeping their skin and coat healthy. Doodles especially need regular grooming every 4 to 6 weeks, plus some maintenance in between. We start getting our puppies used to the grooming process when they turn 5 weeks old. Each week, they get a gentle bath, blow dry, nail trim, paw trim, sanitary trim, and a light face and ear trim. This helps them learn that grooming is normal and nothing to be scared of.
Once your puppy goes home, it’s really important to keep up with those puppy grooms. Bringing them to a groomer (or doing simple mini-grooms yourself) each week helps them stay familiar with the process and grow into dogs who are comfortable and confident rather than stressed during grooming.
Brushes & Combs:
A slicker brush and a metal comb are must-haves for maintainng your dog's coat between grooms.
https://www.amazon.com/Paw-Brothers-Extra-Slicker-Brush
https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Removing-Professional-Grooming
This dematting brush has saved many dogs from being shaved down due to matting. Be very careful though, it's really sharp!
https://www.amazon.com/Safari-Matting-Pet-Supplies
These flea combs are great for removing eye boogers or clingers off dogs' booties.
https://www.amazon.com/Double-Sided
Shampoos:
We love iGroom’s dog shampoos because they’re high quality, smell amazing, and leave our dogs feeling incredibly soft.
Squeaky Clean: Our overall favorite
Argan: Makes their coats super soft
True Color Brightening: Great for brightening up and whitening any yellowed areas of fur
Tearless Facial: Perfect for the face and around eyes
https://www.igroom.com/collections/shampoos
Blow Dryer: Even if you don't plan on grooming your dog yourself, having a blow dryer is great for drying your dog off post bath, blowing stuck snowballs of their legs, and keeping them comfortable with it for your groomer. This one is nice since you can take the cap off, making it less intense for young puppies and drying around dogs' faces.
https://www.amazon.com/SHELANDY-Stepless-Adjustable-Grooming-Blower
Cologne: Colognes aren't necessary, but we never finish a groom without a spritz of one. If you get your puppy and ask what we use to make them smell so good, it's this Vanilla Silk one from Espree.
https://groomersmart.com/product/espree-colognes/
Ear Cleaners:
Always be sure to clean your dog's ears after they're had a bath, played in the rain, or have gone swimming to minimize the risk of ear infections.
This is our favorite deep cleaning one. I groom dogs as well as breed dogs, and I see dogs come in with ear infections often. I recommend this to the pet parents and it has saved them from having to go to the vet for expensive ear drops. It's also great if your dog has yeasty paws or hotspots! If I were to choose one ear cleaner over the other, it would be this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Vet-Organics-Multi-Action
We love this one as a regular ear cleaner. It smells so fresh!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07657TQ5X/ref=twister_B076581D71?_encoding=UTF8&th=1
Nail Clippers: Dogs' nails should be clipped once a week to keep their quicks from growing out and causing pain.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002RJM8C?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_BCCCX8V3HAHYTZKDFGGM&th=1
Nail Dremel: Dremeling their nails isn't necessary but it helps smooth out the sharp edges after clipping them. Some dogs also prefer the dremel over regular nail clippers.
Kwik Stop: I always keep a jar of this on hand in case I accidentally cut or grind a nail too short.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002H3RBU?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_JPA5DH31XAXBKYHWA63B_1
*If you plan to groom your dog yourself, all the items below (as well as the ones above) are must-haves.
Grooming Table:
https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Dog-Grooming-Table
Groomer's Helper: This little tool seems unnecessary, but trust me when I say it's a game changer. It's so helpful when grooming wiggly puppies, especially if you don't have anyone else to help hold them still.
https://www.amazon.com/Groomers-Helper-Classic-Starter-Set
https://groomloop.co/collections/waterproof-loops
Shears: For years, the only pair of shears I used for grooming are a pair of curved shears. I now have curved shears, thinners, and chunkers. The thinners and chunkers are great for details and smoothing things out, but you can do it all with just a pair of curves if you want.
These Kenchii shears are a bit pricey, but are so worth the investment!
https://www.amazon.com/Kenchii-Handed-Grooming-Scissors-Professional
These Fenice Peak ones work pretty well too and are more affordable.
https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Grooming-Scissors-Stainless-Trimming
Clippers:
We love these cordless Wahl KMC clippers. The cordless feature makes it super easy to maneuver without having to worry about a cord getting in the way.
https://www.chewy.com/wahl-kmc-pet-clipper-sage
These Andis ones are just as good, but do have a cord.
https://www.chewy.com/andis-agc2-2-speed-detachable-blade
Mini Clippers: We recently found these 4-1 CODOS mini clippers and fell in love. They're amazing for paw pads, sanitary areas, and under the ears. They're quieter than the big clippers so they're great to help us ease the puppies into the grooming process.
https://www.groomersupplyhouse.com/products/codo-t9-clipper
Blades: Grooming blades can get hot after a long time of being in use, so be sure to feel them every little bit to make sure you don't give your dog clipper burn. Typically the shorter the blade, the quicker it gets hot.
3/4" or 5/8" for the body and legs
#7 for between the eyes, belly, armpits, and inside of back legs
#9 or #10 for sanitary areas and under the ears
#30 for between the paw pads
https://www.buttercut.com/stainless-steel.html
https://www.cherrybrook.com/geib-buttercut-stainless-steel-clipper-blades/
https://ryanspet.com/geib-buttercut-clipper-blades