Puppy supply list

Nowadays there are so many different adorable dog collars. When deciding on a collar consider your dog's lifestyle. For example if he/she is always going swimming and getting wet you will want a waterproof collar. If you enjoy taking your dog on walks at night you might want a reflective collar. I browsing Etsy shops for lots of different collar options. 

My 8 week old golden puppies usually fit in a 8in-12in  collar.

I only use a harness on my dogs or puppies when I'm okay with them pulling since harnesses typically encourage pulling. I also recommend using a harness with a car clip to keep your pups safe in the car. Never hook a car clip to a collar! When choosing a harness, it is extremely important to look for few key things especially for growing puppies! You want the harness to be v-shaped in the front. This keeps the harness from putting pressure on the trachea as the puppy pulls. You also want a harness that has a fairly narrow strip between the front legs. Harnesses with big bulky strips can rub on the inside of the front legs and push the front legs out. The other thing to look for is harnesses with the rib cage strap further back. You don't want any part of the harness touching the shoulder blades especially for growing puppies. 

Never leave the harness on your growing puppy longer than necessary. I have seen firsthand structure issues from harnesses that were not designed properly to be used with puppies and young adults that are still developing their bone structure. 

There are several anti-pole harnesses on the market that I would highly recommend staying away from. Especially the harnesses that clip from the front. Yes this turns the puppy towards you when they pull, but in my experience it doesn't stop the puppy from pulling forward (It may lessen the amount of pressure they put on pulling but they still pull ) and It ends up changing your puppy's gate. If this is used on a regular basis, it will have long lasting effects on how your puppy develops.

I have finally found a harness that actually fits a dog like it should. Anny-X harnesses come in a variety of colors, are very well made and worth the investment! I use a medium for my goldens from 4 months in. A large male might need a large.

I recommend using ID tags that are flat with the collar rather than hanging tags. Hanging tags can easily be caught on things like register events or even kennel door latches. I've heard some horror stories of dogs being strangled by their tags getting caught.

I like the ID tag linked below because it can be easily changed onto a new collar.

 I recommend a regular clip lead between 4 and 6 ft in length.

 I also like to have a slip lead handy. These do not require a collar and are nice to have by the door or even kept in the car for those unexpected moments that require a leash.

For training I like to have a long line. This allows the puppy to go out further from you without the risk of total freedom. 

If you choose to use a flexi leash I recommend only using it on a harness since the leash has a constant pressure drawing it back in.

If you want to teach your puppy to be off leash safe I would use a long line rather than a flexi because of the constant pressure the dog will definitely know when the leash is on and when the leash is off.

My favorite leashes are from Tinyhorses! They have a variety of colors and styles. I absolutely love their hands-free option, this comes in extremely handy when shopping at pet friendly stores, dining at pet friendly restaurants or just walking the dog with the kids. You can get 10% off your tinyhorse gear by following the link below. 

Is a food bowl just a food bowl? Actually there are different kinds that achieve different goals. The most important thing to remember when choosing a food bowl is easy to clean, tip resistant and food grade materials.

If you find your dog eating its food too quickly you may choose a type of puzzle food bowl to help slow them down and give them a little bit of challenge.  I personally prefer the stainless steel bowls with the rubber bottoms. These are dishwasher safe easy to stack and will not break if dropped.

The type of water bowl or bucket you choose will depend on your personal preference and your particular dog. Some dogs can be quite messy while drinking so you may choose to keep the water bowl or bucket on a mat or in a walk-in shower that the dog/puppy has access to. Remember if your dog/puppy spends time outside it is a good idea to have water access both inside and outside. It's also a good idea to keep a collapsible water bowl in your car for those trips your companies you on.

Make sure whatever bowl or bucket you choose is easy to clean, tip resistant and made of food grade materials.

Because golden retrievers tend to run hot I recommend using the wire kennels. The other benefit to these kennels is that they usually have a divider in them. This means you only have to purchase one kennel and using the divider the space can grow with your puppy. I prefer the 42in kennel.

When choosing a kennel mat make sure it is comfortable, easy to clean and safe.

If your dog likes likes to rip up their bedding I would recommend a anti-chew caught rather than a kennel mat.

Below is a link to a company I get my kennel mats from. These mats also work on the Frisco cots.

I absolutely love the frisco dog cot! They can be used inside or outside and I always take them when we go camping. They're perfect for place training puppies, easy to clean and the fabric can replaced if it gets torn. In the summertime it helps keep the dogs cool and in the winter time I use a kennel mat to give the dogs something to snuggle into.

X-pens allow us to contain puppies in what I call a safe space when they cannot be supervised. This keeps them out of trouble and prevents developing bad habits. There are several different types of x-pens and I recommend getting some that are minimum 32 in tall. 

I also use x-pens for my adult dogs when we go camping or are on a long trip. It is very nice to be able to set up a small dog yard away from home that gives the dogs their own space they can be off leash and still be safe.

When choosing toys I recommend getting a variety of sizes, shapes and textures. Every dog seems to have his/her favorites but it's good to have a variety to keep them mentally stimulated. I like to keep groups of toys that I can rotate through making the dogs think it's Christmas morning every time I reintroduce a group of toys.

Food puzzles or a great way to get your puppies brain working. There are several different varieties to choose from ranging in basic easy to work all the way up to complicated for the dogs that really need a challenge.

My favorite food stuffer is the pupsicle! I love these because you can purchase pre-made fillers or customize your own. They are also very clean and much easier to wash than a kong. 

You can follow the link below for $20 off your first order of $50 or more. 

When you choose treats for your puppy/dog try to stick with freeze dried or dehydrated one ingredient treats.

There are lots of great brands with a variety of flavors out there now and these are much healthier for your pup than a milk Bone or some of the other dog treats that are filled with dyes and preservatives.

Baby gates are a great way to keep the puppy in the same room with you and prevent him/her from getting into things he/she shouldn't. Baby gates also help make the puppies living area smaller speeding up the housebreaking process.

Potty bells allow your puppy to communicate when he/she needs to go out. These can speed up the house breaking process by giving your puppy a way to communicate with you. You should be aware of that some dogs that get bored indoors or just enjoy spending their time outside may use these to ask to go out even when they do not have to potty. The trick to teaching them specifically for potty is to take your puppy to the designated potty area every time he/she brings the Bell. Allow 5 minutes for a potty opportunity with no playing then return to the house. If your puppy is allowed to play outside when he/she rings the bell they will think the Bell means playing outside rather than having to go potty.

It's important to remember the cleaners you use in your home may not be safe for your pet. I recommend double checking labels before using any cleaner in your home. Some safe cleaners that I use in my home include white vinegar deluded with water, thieves and Thornell K.O.E. Kennel Odor Eliminator Concentrate.

For those of you who enjoy burning candles, diffusing essential oils or adding lovely sent to your home please make sure they are Pet Safe.

I know of too many stories of seemingly harmless candles or scent products being used that have caused seizures in dogs.