What do you wish you had bought (or you're so GLAD you bought) for your puppy when he/she came home?

[Alissa Edwards]

I'm doing our Amazon shopping this week - (we live in a tiny town, no Petsmart here) and here's what I've bought so far 

large crate
large crate bed
large crate cover

food

food water dish

treats

What else do I need? Any toy recommendations? I was thinking a kong, nylabones, maybe that "hide a squirrel" toy...Help I only have a few days!

Also - I'm freaking out about this polar vortex. How in the world am I going to potty train in this cold? I will be home most of the time with my young daughter who won't leave my hip - and trying to carry her and take the puppy out every 30 minutes I must be nuts!

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

Bonnie, after our last experience the need for this was really underscored but I'm afraid I've no clue where to start. Do you have any you'd recommend?

[Bonnie and Kona]

I have Petplan. There are lots of discussion here on pet insurance. Most people here highly advocate it. 

We didn't have any emergencies until 2013. The dogs are 3 and 6. We have had a tumor removed, the tail taken off because the surgery wouldn't heal, both dogs in the ER for dehydration and one eyelid surgery. I say yay to pet insurance!!! 

Here is a recent discussion about pet insurance:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/pet-insurance-yay-or-nay

[Pam Thomas]

What insurance is the best?

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

We have petplan.

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

 I agree with the Snuggle Puppy. I got one for for our first Labradoodle nearly 4 years ago and had brought it to the breeder when we went to the select the puppy, leaving it there for the scent of his mother and litter mates. I think it really helped ease the transition home as we'd place it in his crate with the heartbeat and warmer. It was one of the first things I ordered when we decided to get our next puppy and have it there now with the breeder. I'm well prepared this time with plenty of chew toys, a gate wide enough to fit my large living room entrance, plenty of pads and clean up spray, and the proper grooming products along with Poochie Bells which were invaluable. 

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

You have been given a lot of great suggestions.  You will find somethings will work and others will not.  It sounds like you are well supplied.  I found the Kong toys to be the toughest and last the longest.  I did not use treats to train Hurley.  I give him treats now but not related to any training.   

When we picked Hurley up at the airport I opened the kennel he flew in and it was an instant connection between him and me as we looked at each other.  He has been my friend, my confidant, my solace and my exercise buddy.  

What we did the first few nights is put his kennel on a stool next to the bed where he could see me and I could see him.  He slept through the night from the start.  After a few days of being right by me I put the kennel, still on the stool, a little ways away.  After few more days I put it further away and finally not on the stool but on the floor at the foot of the bed.  But I actually missed him not being close so I would put him on the bed at night and easily taught him he had to stay on the bed with us until given permission to get down.  That went on for a long period of time.  When he could jump on and off the bed on his own I used the command 'bed, bed' at 8:45 every night and he would go jump on the bed and settle in.  In the mornings he could leave the bed when told it was ok to do so.   He no longer sleeps on the bed as he prefers the tile in the kitchen but he still crashes at 8:45 every night.  

Don't know it that will give you a little insight into training an how close you easily can become with your puppy.   

[Camilla and Darwin]

These were our most valuable items! I wish we had gotten a snuggle puppy!

-A crate

-Chew toys

-A slicker brush and steel toothed comb!

[Jennifer and Milo]

Wow! You will definitely have your hands full! We got our little guy a snuggle puppy with the heartbeat you can turn on. He did settle in for the night really well with this and he still plays with the soft puppy now at 4.5 mths.  They are a bit pricey but for a good nights sleep it's well worth it!!  Good luck to you & I hope the weather warms up soon where you live :) 

[Lynn Weaver]

Petstages ORKA tennis size dog ball. I just got two of these and all other balls are going in the trash! My pup loves them!
She also loves her "goDog Flats Lamb Mama Plush Dog Toy". Both toys are highly recommended in reviews.

[Kris and Sawyer]

Snuggle Puppy! Sawyer slept fine in his crate from day one with his Snuggle Puppy.

[Marcia & MoneyPenny]

Same here, small town, no Petsmart. I would add a pooper scooper for a lifetime of easier cleanup, an Easy Walk harness & an Elk/moose antler bone. Penny never took to the kong toys but I had some large beef bones from previous dogs. I stuff it with peanut butter & this is the treat she gets whenever she goes into her crate, except to sleep at night. She knows the sound when I get out the peanut butter jar & runs to the crate. Her favorite treats are the freeze dried from Amazon, they come in a white plastic bucket, I cannot recall the name. They are healthy, no additives, just freeze dried meat.
As for housebreaking, I'd put your daughter in a safe place & take the dog out. Too difficult to manage both especially in this weather & you won't have time to get everyone appropriately dressed. The colder it is, the faster Penny takes care of business.
Good luck!

[Debbie Daniels]

It didn't take me long to see I needed everything strong and large :) I can't give Miss Beasley a bed because she chews them up : I did buy a leather leash and tags with my # number only is one of the first things I would urge anyone to buy :)