Puppy "Nesting"

[Bonne Bouche]

Hi everyone! I'm a fairly new member here, and I don't even have my pup yet! We pick him up in 2 weekends and we are so very excited.

 

My husband and I are getting a black male GD from a breeder in southeastern, PA. We've been married for just about six months. I've been raised with dogs for my entire life, and not having a dog of my own for the past few years living apart from my family and with him has been hard. I've been looking forward to getting our first dog, and the time has finally arrived. My husband has never had a dog, so this will be a very fun time for us to share.

 

Since we're starting from scratch I thought I'd share my list of things we have, and see if anyone can suggest anything we might need thats not on our list.

 

Crate (small to start, larger one when he grows)

food (TOTW) and whatever his breeder feeds to transition

food/water Bowls

Nylabone (circle and bones)

Kong

soft toys

balls

"bed"

treats

Brush

Shampoo

leash & harness (around shoulders)

"puppy" towels

 

Going to get:
Bitter Apple (is that the best brand?)

Nature's Miracle (again, any better suggestions?)

 

Anything else we're missing?

[Aimee Santa Monica]

That's about the size of what i have.    My new pup is a med. She'll get to 40 lbs.  She is now 17 in at the shoulders at 18 weeks.

[Bonne Bouche]

awww this is so cute!!! ;-]

[BG and Gavin]

If you have carpeting in your house do yourself a huge favour right now and get a Bissel Spot Bot Pet or Little Green Machine (more budget friendly).  Holy what a life saver for puppy pee and barfing incidents that last beyond the puppy stage.  Worth it's weight in gold.  Seriously.

[Bonne Bouche]

All hardwood floors except for a few rugs (which we'll temporarily roll up), but when we get a new vacuum those both sound like good suggestions.

 

Thanks!

[Mandy Hazen]

We got a bell to hang on the door for Sophie and within three days she was ringing it to go out to potty. Also some nail clippers! Also start collecting plastic water bottles- they make great toys especially if you put them inside a sock and tie it up! And easy to slip on shoes for the middle of the night potty breaks :)

[Sandy Aicher and Bailey]

odor free bully sticks from bestbullysticks.com. (They are so much cheaper online!)  They are wonderful for them to chew on.  We used them right away when Bailey was a puppy.  You hold the bully stick while you are petting them and they will chew on them instead of you---puppy teeth are very sharp!  We also used them when we would brush her..give your puppy the bully stick when you start to brush and they will chew on it and not really pay attention that you are brushing them.  It keeps them occupied.  Don't leave them laying around when your puppy is young, it was better to pick them up and then when you bring it back out to give to your puppy it is something new and different.  Good luck with your new puppy! :)

[Bonne Bouche]

really great website thank you, good prices and excellent quality! Thanks!

[Bonne Bouche]

Excellent! Love those tips! Waterbottles and milk cartons -- perfect to start collecting now! ;-] Never thought about the sock idea, but that really changes it up, I bet you could even put something in it to make it rattle even more!

[Aimee Santa Monica]

Wow, looks like you thought of everything- good work!

My pup did not take to the kong.  And i just love Nature's Miracle!    We also have a doggie toothbrush & toothpaste. Nail trimmers . My husband trims pups nails every other week! I'm not good at that, i just finish off nails by filing!  :)   

 

Paper towels- lots-   and candles,  room air freshener???    :)    

 

Good hand lotion--    my hands got dried out from all that hand washing-  and even started to crack!    Yikes!  :)

[Bonne Bouche]

Ahh, good reminder on the toothbrush/paste and nail trimmrs! ;-] Thanks!

[Aimee Santa Monica]

good small shears to trim inside paws.

[Lynda Kamrath]

One additional thing you may want to consider is a playpen for your puppy.  If you are planning to leave him in a crate while you are away each day, you will probably want to crate train him.  However, if you are home most of the time, you can use a playpen to keep him contained during the day and for sleeping at night.  I, personally, do not like crates in my small house, but a playpen works out well.  You can see a photo on my photo pages.  Also, how do you plan to transport him??  You can use a crate in your vehicle, and some people like doggie car seats where they are strapped in.  Nature's Miracle is great.  Get large bottles of it for those inevitable accidents in the house.