The puppies of the summer of 2010 are just beginning to leave their first home.  Yesterday Fletcher left on a red eye flight to Detroit.  Rick and Carla called this morning to say Fletcher arrived safe and happy.

This next week we will have 11 more puppies leave.  I would like to share with you my suggested Puppy Shopping List

New Puppy Shopping List

Bandit George

• Food and water dishes. I suggest stainless steel or ceramic dishes for easier cleaning. You will want to wash your puppies dish a couple of times a week.

• Food. Your puppy has been eating Science Diet Puppy Formula by Hills. You may choose to change the food, but do it slowly. I would also suggest Royal Canine dog food. Your puppy will need to be fed this 3 times a day until he is 5 months old. At that time, go down to 2 times a day and switch to an adult formula.

• Treats. There are many high quality biscuits available. Also training treats. And a favorite treat, that sounds gross is cow hooves. This is great chewing for teething puppies!

• Grooming Tools. You will need a nice mild shampoo or soap, a good brush, and nail clippers or nail grinder such as Pedi Paws. We prefer the Les Pooch Brush.  Because this breed has floppy, hairy ears, it will be important to clean the dogs ears and possible pluck hairs out. Your vet will probably have an ear cleaning solution they recommend. We also have a video on our site about cleaning and plucking ears.  We sell a nice grooming kit in our General Store.Binky at the groomers

• Toys! Your puppy will be doing a lot of chewing the first year. Have available lots of toys designed for dogs. Avoid toys made of plastic that a puppy might be able to shred and ingest. Stuffed toys or plastic children’s toys are not made for puppies! Your puppy will come with two toys, a Puppy Kong and a soft toy.Rosa and a puppy kong

• Collar and Leash. Your puppy will come with a collar and a basic leash. Puppies grow fast, so be prepared to be buying a new collar in the near future. You may want to check with your dog trainer about their suggestion for leashes. There are many options.Skittles being trained

• Crate and bed. I highly suggest you start with a crate (bench) . It makes house training easier and also gives your puppy their own “den.” A nice cozy bed is nice to have near where the family relaxes. The crate your puppy will come with if it is being shipped is a plastic crate required by airlines. I think a wire crate, big enough for your dog as an adult is nice to have during this training period.  Having another bed, in your home where you spend a lot of time is nice also.  The puppy will then feel welcomed to crash and nap in a nice soft place.

• Paper towels. You may need lots of them to do clean up with.

• Carpet cleaner/deodorizer. If you have carpet, you may have a few accidents, so be prepared!

Of course there are many, many other things you could, or already bought for your puppy, but here are just a few to get you started.