Now that we’ve had Meadow for a few months I feel like I can finally publish this blog post since we have learned a lot! Getting a pup is by far the best decision we’ve made but also very challenging – puppies are NOT easy but SO worth it.

I’ve put together the list below of all the items we benefited from having when we brought Meadow home and things we’ve learned she loves since then!

Crate & Crate Necessities

• Crate – I got the one with 2 doors and a divider. Buy one and adjust the size as your pup grows
• Blanket – It helps the crate feel more cozy and dark so they will sleep better.
• Snuggle Puppy – I wish we had this the first night we brought Meadow home. We tried to introduce it a week later and she hated it. BUT it has a heartbeat and heating pad so it makes them feel like they are still with their litter mates. I have so many friends who swear by it!
• Crate Bedding – I recommend going cheap since they will likely chew it up. We bought a small bathmat from Target that works great!
• Litter Scent – If you are getting your pup from a breeder ask them if they can give you a piece of fabric with your pups litter/moms scent on it and put it in their crate. It will help keep them calm and not feel alone.

Puppy Pen

Since you shouldn’t use a crate for punishment and we spent good money remodeling our house on top of paying for new furniture we wanted to protect our investments! We use our puppy pen for time out when Meadow is being naughty and to block off rooms.

Potty Accessories

1. Poop Bags – I opted for compostable bags because I found a company in Denver that picks up dog waste and composts it. A full blog post on this in more detail to come!
2. Door Bells – When Meadow needs to go potty she rings the bells to let us know!
3. Poop Scooper – I found that the ones with a rake work best!

Chew Toys & Bones

We have an assortment of chew toys all over the house. They don’t require supervision so they are great for independent play and keep your pup from chewing things they shouldn’t (hopefully). For bones I try to do the flavored ones, real bones made her breath smell AWFUL.

Plush Play Toys

Keeping play toys hidden until you want to train or have interactive/supervised play is key! There are a couple different kinds I recommend:

1. Plush Toys with Squeakers – try to find brands that are filled with recycled materials!
2. Puzzle Toys – Meadow LOVES these.
3. Rope Toys – Cut off the fringe and keep a close eye on your pup. They LOVE these but once they start to fall apart your puppy will not hesitate to eat it.

Meals & Treats

When we are short on time I love putting her meals in a puzzle feeder to keep her busy and work her brain! Kongs and Quizzles are fun for

Collar, Harness & Leash

1. Step In Harness – we bought one that had to be slipped over her head and she hated it. A step in harness is key!
2. Collar – a friend gave us their puppies collar to save money and up cycle. Be eco-friendly if you can!
3. Leash – buy cheap nylon leashes to start…your pup will likely chew them. No sense in buying cute expensive ones until they are leash trained.
4. Name Tags – there are so many cute customizable tags out there. We got Meadows on Etsy!

Grooming & Accessories

I brush Meadow’s hair and teeth every morning! It’s part of our little routine. And the CHI dog products smell AMAZING.

Cleaning

We don’t have all of these products yet but the Chom Chom is a MUST!

I hope I didn’t leave anything out! After typing all of this out I am reminded just how expensive dogs are 🙂 Enjoy your new puppy!!