UPDATE with puppy pictures! Buying Puppy Supplies

[Jess & Stewart]

I have just about a month before I bring my guy home! I'm hoping it goes by quickly! I'm starting to buy supplies/essentials. I want some opinions on types of toys to get without going overboard.

I was thinking of getting one or two of each type of toy (chews, plush, squeaker, fetch) and see what he goes for most, like a pack of kong tennis balls, plush toy, kong, rope toy, nylabones, bully sticks. I don't want to get tons of things, but figured I'd maximize what I do buy.

I also bought a 36 inch crate even though my pup is an F1B mini, the 30" looked small & I figure it can't hurt to have a larger size, right? Since it'll give more room once crate/house trained.

I just received 4 week pictures! They're so cute! I like both these males--I'm waiting to see what my breeder says about their personalities. 

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Great idea on the enzyme cleaner!
Cheapest and " funnest" ( must be a word, Cuz I heard it on the news !). Is a plastic bottle. Enzo has been playing and destroying water bottles since the day she arrived.
Mini tennis balls were a hit when she was younger. She couldn't carry the normal size balls...now that she is older, we've taken the smaller ones away, for fear she could lodge one in her throat,
There are a number of toys on the market, that can be frozen. Great for all the teething.

[Wendy and Myla]

I agree - we had a lot of toys for Myla too, but she always played with the water bottle (we put a bit of gravel in it to make a rattle noise) - she always swatted it around, picked it up by the mouth of the bottle and carried it awhile and always tried to wrap her mouth around the middle of the bottle. For the longest while, we might as well not have had any toys around cause she only played with that and a stick she chewed on.  Now she would demolish a water bottle in seconds!!!

[Jess & Stewart]

I have a crate, snuggle puppy, potty bells & a dog bed already. I still need toys, cleaners, paper towels etc. I'm spacing out when I buy things so it takes up the month. I figure I'll be really excited to keep getting packages, lol!

Did any of you buy food bowls online or did you go to a store? I'm wary of buying everything online..

[Kris and Sawyer]

I bought my food bowls online. Stainless steel. Our crate came with the gear to attach bowls. So we keep the bowls raised up on the crate door. Love the stainless bowls. They wash well and I am a clean freak when it comes to the pets so I wash them every day.

[Jess & Stewart]

Did you buy a specific brand? There are so many, I'm not sure which one to pick! Same with dog beds, it took awhile before I just picked one, lol!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Maybe others have had a different experience, but dog beds didn't mix with my 2 as puppies. Both destroyed their beds and I was concerned about pieces being swallowed. The older one, Lucy, stopped destroying her beds at about 1 yr old. I haven't tried introducing them back to Oscar, the 13 mo. old. Both their crates (and yes, we still use crates when we leave the house for any period of time) are completely bare right now, and it doesn't seem to bother them one bit.

[Jess & Stewart]

Did they have bare crates as puppies? I'm not sure about leaving anything in the crate once I go back to work since I can just imagine him getting stuck, choking on a toy, or having to sit in feces/urine if he goes on his bed, but I don't want to feel bad about leaving him in a bare crate.

I'm sure nothing would happen, but I don't want to worry when I'm at work.  

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Well, yes, they did have bare crates as puppies, especially once I learned they destroyed their beds. I know a lot of people leave things like stuffed Kongs and the like to pacify the puppy while they're gone, but we've never left anything in their crates, not antlers, not Kongs, nothing. Maybe I'm overly protective, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Besides, as soon as they go in their crates they immediately lie down and ready themselves for a nap. Will you be coming home mid day or have someone come in to take the puppy out while you're at work?

[Jess & Stewart]

I'll be coming home midday and I may get a dog walker for times in between. I will be gone from 7:45-11:45 then again from 12:45-1ish until around 4:45. I typically have lunch 12-1 but it starts as a daily meeting ends-depending on the length of the meeting, I can usually leave for lunch around 11:45. 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Many of us use the Fiesta Ware ceramic bowls. They are made in the USA and there is no risk of rust that some metal types can eventually have. Most stores with housewares usually have that brand or you can get on Amazon. Fiesta has very nice and different colors too so it's fun to get several.

[Jess & Stewart]

I love the Fiestaware bowls! Which size would you recommend?

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

except for the white markings, I would not be able to tell them apart!  Looks to me like you can't go wrong with either of these two cutie pies!