I am often ask what item new owners will need for their puppies. I have made a small list of things that I am using and things that I find helpful when bringing a new puppy home. To keep things simple and super easy, I have linked everything to Amazon, and I do not sell any of these items. I just created this list to help new owners!
***The dog food: I am always researching foods and talking to specialist about the food choices. I am currently feeding Royal Cainin and will send the puppies home with a starter pack****
UPDATE: I am now starting the crate training with my own crates while I'm training them. I think it simplifies things a great deal for everyone! Now we don't have to worry about shipping issues and exchanges! I will provide a blanket and or toy for each puppy and that is what they puppy will go home with along with a few extras...treats etc we have for them.
The puppies will be used to the blanket and toys and settle right in to his/her new environment with the familiar things that they bring to their new home with them
IMPORTANT PICK UP INFO:
****Depending on where we are at,
(Oregon or Washington) when the puppies are born will depend on where the puppies will be picked up at when they are ready for their new homes. Hood River is located about an hour east of Portland. Our home in Washington is around 30 minutes from White Salmon, near the base of Mt. Adams..*****
***The dog food: I am always researching foods and talking to specialist about the food choices. I am currently feeding Royal Cainin and will send the puppies home with a starter pack****
UPDATE: I am now starting the crate training with my own crates while I'm training them. I think it simplifies things a great deal for everyone! Now we don't have to worry about shipping issues and exchanges! I will provide a blanket and or toy for each puppy and that is what they puppy will go home with along with a few extras...treats etc we have for them.
The puppies will be used to the blanket and toys and settle right in to his/her new environment with the familiar things that they bring to their new home with them
IMPORTANT PICK UP INFO:
****Depending on where we are at,
(Oregon or Washington) when the puppies are born will depend on where the puppies will be picked up at when they are ready for their new homes. Hood River is located about an hour east of Portland. Our home in Washington is around 30 minutes from White Salmon, near the base of Mt. Adams..*****
A Crate. This crate is the Petmate Compass, you can find it at Petco as well as on Amazon. Sometimes you will see a picture of it with a handle and some show it without. Mine do not have a handle, I don't really mind, but everyone is different. The size that is smaller than the one I have comes with a handle. I use the 28L x 20W x 19H. (This bed, 24"size, fits this size perfectly)
For my adults and puppies. It will list that size as a 20-30 pounds. I love the fact that this crate has a door that can be opened from either side!
For my adults and puppies. It will list that size as a 20-30 pounds. I love the fact that this crate has a door that can be opened from either side!
I like to use this style of mat in the crate. They wash up really nice and feel like they would be fairly comfortable for them as a basic pad. The ones I have are Midwest Quiet time pet beds, here is another that I have used and find durable, it is much more padded. If you are ordering the bigger size crate for your puppy the 30" mats are too big. I also absolutely LOVE these lambskin fleece mats, you need to order the small size, it will link you to the medium and that is HUGE! I have about 10 of them and they last YEARS!! They are extremely durable and wash up very nice and are much softer and more padded than the Midwest pad, these are my #1 choice for crate mat. I order medium size for the larger crate size. My dogs will drag these out of their crate and lay on them, that says a lot! The puppies nestle in them and fall asleep. Almost everyone asks me "Where can I get one!" They also come in almost every size of crate there is which makes it easy to find one to fit in your crate. I use them with our puppies when crate train them an have been very happy with them, wash after wash they stay soft. Here is one of my favorite dog beds. It looks good, fits them nicely and I really like how it keeps a nice shape. My dogs LOVE it, I have ordered several over the years, they last and look extremely cozy! |
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Combs are ideal for fluffing, de-tangling and removing dead hair. These are my go to grooming tools, I find that if I start with this comb and then follow up with a medium size slicker brush they never get mats. There are all kinds of brushes and combs to choose from, pick something that is comfortable for you to use because they LOVE to be brushed! In the spring when they start to shed, I use an undercoat rake to remove all the dead hair. It makes a huge difference, especially for those cavaliers who have a heavy coat. Here is my FAVORITE shampoo for Cavaliers. I have tried several others and have never liked them as much as this one! This is what I use on our puppies! Everyone always ask me what me secret is :)
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I use these chewies: Nylabones are great, some are more "rubber" like and others are ones they can eat but it will take them a while. And most importantly, they can't choke on them like they can with a lot of the rawhides. I like these and "kongs" a lot, they come in all shapes and sizes, if I want the puppy to play by themselves for a bit these are perfect. You can buy the "stuffers" that fit in the kongs or you can break up treats and put them in there, it is all fun for them. They do actually make things that are sized treats that fit in the kongs so you don't have to worry about finding stuff that will. Watch that your order the right size treat for the for the size of kong you get. My other all time favorite are bully sticks. They get that teething urge satisfied and they are all natural. I haven't had a puppy who was very excited to have a bully stick or a braided bully stick. It keeps them chewing away and busy when you can't play with them and they couldn't be happier. If you have children, I highly recommend getting these BEFORE your puppy comes home! When the puppy starts to nibble on fingers have them hold a bully stick and redirect them. It works!! I do buy these every time we have puppies. They last a really long time and they like this flavor a lot. These training treats are the perfect size! This lets the puppy know
I really like this brand of food a lot. It is called Canidae. I really like their products. They also have a food that is called "All Life Stages" it is a really good food and my dogs really love it and do great on it as well. I have spent a lot of time researching a good food for my dogs and this brand is excellent, because it is so nutrient dense they don't need to eat a ton of it to get full!
I have had great results starting the puppies on this.
I do like to switch my dogs now and then so they don't get tired of eating the same thing all the time, I wouldn't like that! PLEASE check and see what I am feeding the puppies before you get a bag of food.
I do recommend that new owner get at least a small bag of the food the puppies are currently eating so if they do intend to switch, they can do it slowly so as to not upset the puppies tummy. You can find this food at Petco and most high end feed stores, honestly, it is usually cheapest on Amazon. I will also link it to amazon. Here is the company website where you will find a lot of information about how they make their food.
This is another brand I have been really happy with. I change them to this without any issues.
** ALL PUPPIES WILL GO HOME WITH A SMALL BAG OF FOOD MIXED WITH PROBIOTICS TO HELP THEIR TUMMIES DURING THE TRANSITION .**
I have had great results starting the puppies on this.
I do like to switch my dogs now and then so they don't get tired of eating the same thing all the time, I wouldn't like that! PLEASE check and see what I am feeding the puppies before you get a bag of food.
I do recommend that new owner get at least a small bag of the food the puppies are currently eating so if they do intend to switch, they can do it slowly so as to not upset the puppies tummy. You can find this food at Petco and most high end feed stores, honestly, it is usually cheapest on Amazon. I will also link it to amazon. Here is the company website where you will find a lot of information about how they make their food.
This is another brand I have been really happy with. I change them to this without any issues.
** ALL PUPPIES WILL GO HOME WITH A SMALL BAG OF FOOD MIXED WITH PROBIOTICS TO HELP THEIR TUMMIES DURING THE TRANSITION .**
I will admit that I am not really a fan of a collar on small dogs and puppies. When people ask me I always recommend getting a soft harness to start with. Cavalier puppies are around 5 pounds when you pick them up, and you diffidently want to have control of them. They can move fast when they want to! I personally just don't feel comfortable having a collar on them till they are use to a leash and are able to walk with you and really keep up. Everyone is different so whatever you feel most comfortable with. Collars are great for tags and identification, but not the best for walking your puppy. They usually wear a size small.
I am always ask what toys I like to use with the puppies. These dental toys are ALWAYS a favorite with the puppies. Every time we have a litter I order these. I am not sure what it is about them they like so much, but there is always a puppies or two who is playing with them. These are fun too!
The other thing they seem to like a lot are these rings. It has a crinkle sound in the little fabric pieces that they like to hear while they are attacking it! They also really like little soft things to carry around and lay on like little soft animals. Here are a couple other things that we find the puppies really like. A good toy is a toy that will keep them busy playing and entertained when you can't. These all fit the bill! **I could recommend hundreds of great toys , this one is SO MUCH FUN!! We watched a past puppy while the family was on vacation and they brought this with them. It was a HUGE hit with all the dogs (AND my kids) Everyone loved this thing, It is hilariose to watch them. We had a cat one but this is SO much more fun, thanks Tonya!! I could link and link toys that I have found over the years, but this is a great start!
These are the vitamins I use and I LOVE the results I get from them. I have done tons of research and these are, in my opinion, the best you can buy. I start the puppies on them at about 5 weeks of age, they get 1/4th of a tablet and gradually go up. They also are easy to crumble over their food if you wanted to do it that way. By the time they go home they can have 1/2 a tablet. All of my dogs and puppies love them. They are more like a treat to them than a pill.
I send every puppy home with a few vitamins, at least enough for a week if you want to order some. They are NOT that expensive and well worth the extra few dollars for me to make sure they are getting everything they need to grow up and stay healthy.
THIS WOULD BE MY #1 MOST HELPFUL THING TO GET!
I really like these Iris pens. I put the puppy's crate or puppy bed on one side and have a food and water dish in there with them. They come in different sizes and heights. They have a 4 or 8 panel set up and offer a top if you are worried about the puppy jumping out which is wonderful! I find these to be a huge help if I am doing things with the kids and need to keep track of the puppy. I would recommend getting the 6 panel set up and if you want, you can always go back and get more panels but the 6 panel set up is the most helpful I have found. It is also a great place for the puppy to stay if you are going to be gone for an extended period of time. Their bladders are very small, if you know you will be gone for several hours you can put the puppy in here with a chewie or a kong like I mention above. He will be able to run around and play and if you have a potty pad down, or if you use the fresh patch, he will be able to go potty on that instead of in their crate.
Another good pen option if you want them to have a bit more room to play. THIS IS MY FAVORITE! Very versatile and holds up great! I have this in my house, it is what you will see when you come meet the puppies.They come in all different heights, choose one that you think is best for your house. I use the 24" or 30".
I lay down a pad like this one, you can get several - and then place my pen on top, so if they spill their water or potty on the edge of the potty pad, my floors don't get dirty. These pads are really great, The top layer wicks away the moisture and the bottom is basically water proof. You can throw them in the washing machine and they come out looking brand new. I probably have 15 of these in all different sizes, They work great! If you are looking for water bowls, these are great! Spaniels love to play in the water, these will stop them from tipping them over and showing you how much fun it is! I get the 20oz size, but all are great.
I really like these Iris pens. I put the puppy's crate or puppy bed on one side and have a food and water dish in there with them. They come in different sizes and heights. They have a 4 or 8 panel set up and offer a top if you are worried about the puppy jumping out which is wonderful! I find these to be a huge help if I am doing things with the kids and need to keep track of the puppy. I would recommend getting the 6 panel set up and if you want, you can always go back and get more panels but the 6 panel set up is the most helpful I have found. It is also a great place for the puppy to stay if you are going to be gone for an extended period of time. Their bladders are very small, if you know you will be gone for several hours you can put the puppy in here with a chewie or a kong like I mention above. He will be able to run around and play and if you have a potty pad down, or if you use the fresh patch, he will be able to go potty on that instead of in their crate.
Another good pen option if you want them to have a bit more room to play. THIS IS MY FAVORITE! Very versatile and holds up great! I have this in my house, it is what you will see when you come meet the puppies.They come in all different heights, choose one that you think is best for your house. I use the 24" or 30".
I lay down a pad like this one, you can get several - and then place my pen on top, so if they spill their water or potty on the edge of the potty pad, my floors don't get dirty. These pads are really great, The top layer wicks away the moisture and the bottom is basically water proof. You can throw them in the washing machine and they come out looking brand new. I probably have 15 of these in all different sizes, They work great! If you are looking for water bowls, these are great! Spaniels love to play in the water, these will stop them from tipping them over and showing you how much fun it is! I get the 20oz size, but all are great.
This is a microwavable heat pad, though it is not a must it is SO nice to have. The puppies are so tiny and they get cold very easily. This is the best heat pad I have found that is microwavable. I have used others but they didn't stay as warm for near as long. This is chew, water and mess proof you can just wipe it off with warm soapy water if it gets dirty. There are no chords to worry about and the best part is that it starts warm for 6- 8 hours! Every one of my dogs has their own personal heat pad. When it is chilly out I pop this in the microwave, put the cover back on and slip it under a blanket on the couch or wherever they are at the time, they LOVE it!
These are NOT soft, they are a very hard plastic disc. I was picturing a "squishy" circle when I first got them, these are not. It works great though and I use them almost daily, most importantly though the dogs love them after their bath or at night in the winter.
I also like this and this. I think they are great! When I raise a litter of only one puppy, this is a must. Even my adults seem to gravitate toward it.
These are NOT soft, they are a very hard plastic disc. I was picturing a "squishy" circle when I first got them, these are not. It works great though and I use them almost daily, most importantly though the dogs love them after their bath or at night in the winter.
I also like this and this. I think they are great! When I raise a litter of only one puppy, this is a must. Even my adults seem to gravitate toward it.
Ear care, is a question I get a lot. Spaniels, in general, are prone to ear issues so understandably so. I will say that I have NEVER had an ear infection in my dogs (knock on wood) I use these products on my dogs and ALWAYS have something similar in my house!! Ear infections are most commonly caused by bacteria and or yeast. This product will help with both of those. I tell EVERYONE- Ask your Veterinarian to show you how to properly clean your puppy's ears. It is NOT the same as cleaning human ears and you don't want to create a problem! PLEASE GET AN EAR CLEANER BEFORE YOU BRING YOUR PUPPY HOME. YOU WILL NEED IT AND WILL BE GLAD YOU HAVE IT!
Here is a very good product that is carried on Amazon and one more that I have used and recommend often! All three are great choices.
My dogs get bathed weekly and ears and teeth are done at that time as well. As I am blow drying them on the grooming table I make sure that their ears are always dry inside and out before they are allowed down. I will lift up their ears and from a safe distance, fan the blow dryer over their ears while on the cool setting. This makes sure that any water left in their ears after I have toweled them is minimal and they aren't left with their ears laying down with water stuck in them. Ear infection can cause a LOT of problems and they can get harder and harder to get rid of. My philosophy with ears is keep them clean and keep them dry. This is important and this is what I have found works for me. I have recommended these products to a lot of people with different breeds and they have told me how well they have worked for them. As soon as they are out and about, running through the yard and going on family outing with you, I would start making sure that their are cleaned often. Puppies seem to need their ears cleaner often so I would get in a habit of doing this with your puppy, once a week is a good idea. Yeast is common in little ones and you can easily nip this before it causes a problem if you have these products on hand.
If you have a dog that is experiencing ear issues I highly recommend THIS product! I use it when we take in a rescues. Some of these dogs have NEVER had their ears cleaned properly! It is amazing at cleaning all the bacteria and yeast out of ears safely and there is NO NEED to flush and treat, you just treat daily and leave them alone. I use this on my dogs after camping trips or swimming if I feel they have extra dirty ears or if they have had water in them.
Here is a very good product that is carried on Amazon and one more that I have used and recommend often! All three are great choices.
My dogs get bathed weekly and ears and teeth are done at that time as well. As I am blow drying them on the grooming table I make sure that their ears are always dry inside and out before they are allowed down. I will lift up their ears and from a safe distance, fan the blow dryer over their ears while on the cool setting. This makes sure that any water left in their ears after I have toweled them is minimal and they aren't left with their ears laying down with water stuck in them. Ear infection can cause a LOT of problems and they can get harder and harder to get rid of. My philosophy with ears is keep them clean and keep them dry. This is important and this is what I have found works for me. I have recommended these products to a lot of people with different breeds and they have told me how well they have worked for them. As soon as they are out and about, running through the yard and going on family outing with you, I would start making sure that their are cleaned often. Puppies seem to need their ears cleaner often so I would get in a habit of doing this with your puppy, once a week is a good idea. Yeast is common in little ones and you can easily nip this before it causes a problem if you have these products on hand.
If you have a dog that is experiencing ear issues I highly recommend THIS product! I use it when we take in a rescues. Some of these dogs have NEVER had their ears cleaned properly! It is amazing at cleaning all the bacteria and yeast out of ears safely and there is NO NEED to flush and treat, you just treat daily and leave them alone. I use this on my dogs after camping trips or swimming if I feel they have extra dirty ears or if they have had water in them.
Yes, Toothpaste! I know what you are thinking, but believe me it is super easy and once you get the puppy use to it, it only take about 1 minute to do! On bath day I brush my dogs teeth, I use a soft toddler toothbrush for the job. Once a week the dogs get a bath, this is when I brush their teeth. Cavaliers want to be on your lap ALL the time and no one likes bad dog breath, yuck! After I brush their teeth and give them a bath I give them a dental chew like this or this. These two choices are wonderful for puppies.
You can get these at Costco or here and they are AMAZING, they are too big for puppies but (I just break them in half) when they get bigger, these are my go to dental chews. My dogs get them from puppies till adult. Check out their website for more information. I do TONS of research and won't buy anything that isn't PROVEN. These are my favorites. My Vet is always telling me how great my dogs teeth look. After finding out that it can cost $300.00-350.00 plus to have their teeth professionally cleaned, I have no problem spending a little bit of extra time once a week to make sure my dogs teeth and breath are healthy and smell good. If you start when they are little they learn fast that it is no big deal, and they will just stand their while you brush away, plus they love the treat at the end! My dogs don't mind and our kids love to do it. You can start brushing their teeth at any age and after they loose their puppy teeth and get their adult teeth, it is really important to establish a routine of doing it often. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is an organization that evaluates and studies products to see if they meet specific standards for reducing tarter build up and plaque. When choosing a product for your dogs teeth, choose one that has the VOHC seal, then you know research has been done to back up the claims they are making. I am big on researching everything (could you tell?) Look for a seal of approval on all your dental chewies. Here is another favorite of mine, they call them bully sticks. They are proven to get the plaque off of your dogs teeth and they love them! They can chew on one of the sticks for weeks as a puppy and they keep them busy when you have to be gone. I never run out of Check ups or Bully sticks!
If you find it easier, there is an additive that you can add to your pets drinking water-AND IT WORKS! It alters the ph of the dogs saliva to control tarter production . If the thought of brushing your dogs teeth is not appealing to you, this is a very simple and effective way to keep those teeth plaque free and breath smelling fresh. YOU STILL NEED TO USE THE DENTAL CHEWS but this is less involved. I have personally use an additive and they are effective!
For us it is fun, the kids play dentist and we have a day of grooming and teeth brushing. I understand that for some it is isn't high on their list of fun things to do! Cleaning your pets teeth is an important part of owning a dog. Teeth that are not taken care of can lead to Periodontal diseases which can cause an infection of the heart valves. People often ask me " Which is better, brushing, the dental chews or the additive?" I always answer the same- They each have their good point and work best if you use a combination of the three. BUT THE REAL ANSWER IS - Which ever one you will stick with!!
Time to start puppy shopping? Here's a link to Amazon's dog supplies page!
THANK YOU to all of those who have emailed me telling me this page has helped you with your new dog or puppy, whether it was a puppy from me or not!! I am glad it was helpful, it is a lot of work and I am constantly trying to add to it! I appreciate the kind comments!!
I will be adding to this list as time allows...
