Puppy Shopping List
One of the best parts about getting a new puppy is the "nesting phase" - getting everything that you need so that you are prepared for their arrival! Here are a list of products that we love, recommend, and use here in the Seelenvoll home all the time.
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If you are buying Dog Food online instead of locally, please go through Chewy.com instead of Amazon. The Amazon warehouses just don't seem to be as safe for dog food as the Chewy ones. We've had a few bags of kibble that was very obviously moldy or tainted by something that could hurt a dog if they ate it!
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We love Chewy.com !
It is a dangerous place, but a great place to start with your puppy shopping.
We are not sponsored, we just love them!
Crate
Crate Training can help keep your puppy safe. You can't be vigilant while sleeping, or when you are out of the home, so a crate or exercise pen can provide a safe place for your puppy ... and help save the couch when you aren't around.
Our dogs all eat in their crates so that we know everyone is getting what they are supposed to. They also love to sleep in the crate and can oftentimes be found passed out with the door open.
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We recommend getting a 36 or 42-inch crate, which is the adult-sized crate. The new ones come with a divider in them so that you can make the area available to your puppy smaller - no potty opportunities in the back of the crate!
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While slightly more expensive, the double door is a nice feature so that you can have more options for fitting the crate around your home.
Exercise Pen (optional)
Exercise pens are a great way to create a play area if you are gone for an extended time. You can have a designated potty area tucked away, and attach it to the crate for a 3-part system. Potty, Play & Sleep.
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After 8 weeks shepherd puppies are tall enough to test the standard 30 inch height, so I recommend getting at least a 36 inch pen. We have all different sizes and types here for indoor and outdoor use, depending on how we are using them.
Puppy Food
We Feed Inukshuk 26/16 by Corey Nutrition Pro. We purchase it by the pallet, but it is now available through Chewy! We do send your puppy home with enough food to help them transition to a new food type.
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If you want to switch to a different kibble, I recommend researching through Dogfoodadvisor.com
(order through Chewy)
Probiotics
Your puppy's whole life is about to change. From changing environment, food, and even water - it is all enough to make their gut a little uneasy! Adding a little probiotics to their food is a great way to keep their insides working smoothly so that their outside can continue to be a happy and healthy puppy. We have a few different brands that we think work well!
Lupine Collars
This is our favorite brand because of their lifetime warranty! If something happens to the collar and it can no longer be used, they will replace it. We do recommend taking collars off during any play time with other dogs so that it doesn't get caught on teeth.
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For an 8-week-old puppy, I recommend the 1/2 inch 10 - 14 inch adjustable version. Their designs come with matching leashes as well.
Toys, Toys, Toys!
Toys are addictive and fun to collect. We always have so many around! We do recommend NEVER using toys that are made of/using ropes - it takes one major surgery after they swallow them to make you want to start a campaign against them, believe me!
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A fun way to keep introducing new and fun toys into the repertoire is BarkBox! Otherwise I recommend Kong brand toys - they are made tougher, and seem to last longer!
No Rope Toys!
Nail Clippers
It is SO important to keep handling puppy paws. Not handling their paws can lead to them being resistant to nail trims as adults. When they are puppies, we are handling their paws every day - trimming them a little bit every week. Tuesday is Toes-Day!
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This Safari brand is a pair of clippers that has kept the smooth cut over the years, so we highly recommend them! I have tried many different brands, but this one isn't as loud and tends to cut more like you are going through butter than "crushing" like some others do. Our older dogs are also used to their nails being dremmelled for a more rounded, less harsh finish.
Dog Brushes
German Shedders - I mean Shepherds - are notorious shedders! In the first 8 months there isn't as much hair as when they are older, but that double coat will start coming in.
Basic brushes that are similar to human hair brushes are wonderful to day - to - day. I do not recommend brushes like the Furminator for every day use, as it takes off top hair as well as the undercoat. We do use Undercoat rakes with the "teeth" during the major shedding that happens during teething stages.
Puppy Shampoo
It is very important that they do not get flea shampoo! It is not safe to use in general, but can be very dangerous for puppies. We recommend Burt's Bees or Nature's Miracle for brands, as they are some of the safest when it comes to larger brands.
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I wouldn't recommend bathing your puppy very often with shampoo - any more than every 2 weeks at most - as it strips the natural oils and can cause them to be itchy.
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We will use Johnson's Baby Shampoo (for humans) with the added moisture for their faces or if they need to be bathed more often.
Baby Gate
This is a great way to gate off a room or a stairway while still allowing airflow to that area. Sometimes it's easier to have a mudroom that the dog can dry off in, or a computer room that a puppy can't go in and munch on cords. It is a great way to teach barriers for dogs as well. There are different options available for different situations.
We have a handful of these three types on hand, and if we see any at a thrift store we grab them !
Doggie First-Aid Kit
Whether you are an avid hiker with your dog, or your average pet owner, having a dedicated First-Aid kit on hand for emergencies is so important.
Things happen - sometimes your pup may step on something sharp - keeping a wound clean while en route to the vet can help save the skin and make repair easier.
Newspapers or Pee-Pads
We highly recommend Newspaper over puppy pads. For some reason the fluffier the pee-pads, the more Corgis want to sink their teeth into them and rip-shred-tear! While that can still happen with newspaper, it has less padding and less to obstruct their intestines if swallowed. If we use pee-pads, we use ones that aren't as fluffy.
We get newspaper from our local dump/transfer station, but there are also stores that have old issues and aren't sure what to do with them.
