These are a few of my favorite items to purchase before your puppy comes home. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions. Full disclosure: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
Food
YOUR PUPPY IS EATING A PUPPY RECIPE Whole Grain DRY DOG FOOD. **WAIT TO PURCHASE AS IT MAY CHANGE DEPENDING ON HOW THESE PUPPIES HANDLE THE FOOD**
I will provide a small bag of food for the first few days. You can purchase this at your local quality pet food store or order a large bag and have it shipped right to your door from here: Acana Wholesome Grains Puppy Food
We chose this food as it is highly rated and has not had any recalls. Pricewise, for a high-quality dog food this is reasonably priced. There is a significant difference in quality so please don’t risk feeding your pup foods that may be recalled or source ingredients from China where quality may not be the same as in the US. Puppies should stay on a high-quality puppy food until they reach 12 months.
Dog Food Advisor gives this dry large breed puppy food 5 stars in March 2025. You can review it here: Dog Food Advisor Review of Acana Wholesome Grains Puppy Food. Whole Dog Journal gives this food a 5-star rating for 2025. It has a high meat content, uses whole vegetables and fruits, and does not use fillers and artificial preservatives.
Bowls
Choose sturdy, non-slip bowls for your puppy to prevent them from sliding across the floor. Stainless steel or ceramic bowls with a rubber base work well, as they’re durable and help keep mealtime mess-free. Opt for two bowls—one for food and one for water—and select a size that suits your dog as they grow. For puppies prone to eating too quickly, consider using a larger bowl with a cup placed in the center to slow them down, or try a specialized “slow feeder” bowl, like those from Outward Hound.
Crate
Midwest Life Stages Double Door Folding Crate (or similar type)
Recommend Medium-Large to Large size which will hold a full grown dog of up to 50# and your puppy will grow into 20″ to 22″ tall at the shoulders. Two size options suggested include:
Bed
Choose a dog bed that fits the crate size you’ve selected to keep your puppy comfortable during crate time. We highly recommend the Wash’nZip Bed—it’s durable, easy to clean, and a favorite among my doodles! This bed unzips effortlessly, so you can toss it in the washer and dryer for hassle-free cleaning. Use discount code RRD for 15% off!
Leash
For training you may want a 30 foot at some point, but 6 foot is
sufficient to work on training at home. Your puppy will come home with a collar that should fit through a few months of growth.
Toys
Nylabone, Outward Hound, Benebone, Kong, StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy, Chuck-It Pro are some of my favorite brands for dogs that are for teething and to keep them busy.
AVOID any rawhide type products! Bully Sticks are OK only occasionally with supervision as dogs may swallow whole and you could end up in the emergency room as a surgery candidate removing the item from your puppy’s gut.
Enrichment Toys: Outward Hound has some great puzzle toys which your puppy will have been introduced to during their time in our home.
Training Treats
I generally recommend that you utilize your puppy’s kibble as treats for the first month or so. Any change from their normal diet can cause stomach upset and diarrhea, so proceed cautiously.
When you are training, it helps to offer what is referred to as a “high value treat.” This can be tiny pieces of any of the following: string cheese, all beef hot dogs, apple squares, or sweet potato squares, organ meat pieces such as dried heart or liver, dried salmon pieces – Something your dog doesn’t get often but they really love!
Training Resources
- Baxter & Bella Online Training. Use CODE RRD for 25% off!
- Training the Best Dog Ever: A 5-Week Program Using the Power of Positive Reinforcement by Larry Kay and Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz
- The Puppy Training Handbook: How To Raise The Dog Of Your Dreams by Kaelin Munkelwitz
- How to Train Your Labradoodle: A Witty Guide to Pawsitive Training by Ashleen Hawthorne
Grooming
- The Distinguished Doodle Probiotic Shampoo/Conditioner
- Chris Christiansen Pin Brush (Expensive, but a great brush).
- TropiClean Pet Shampoo and Conditioner (Made in USA)
- Pet Grooming Scissors with Round ball tip.
- Lick mats (Dog Slow Feeder Mat for Bathing Grooming Nailing Trimming, Food-Grade)Probiotic Shampoo/Conditioner
Other Suggestions
- Ultra Absorbent Microfiber Dog Door Mat, Durable, Quick Drying, Washable, Prevent Mud Dirt, Keep Your House Clean (Sizes: Medium, Large) I LOVE these and they keep my floors cleaner!
- Resolve Pet Oxi Advanced Carpet Stain Remover – I wish I could say you will never have an accident :<) Better to be prepared
- eCloth Pet Cleaning and Drying Towel – Super absorbent microfiber
- Midwest Exercise Pen & Playpen 24″ X 30″ – great to surround your kennel and provide a little more “safe” space to play in your home
- Snuggle Puppy – New puppy anxiety buster
**Prep kids (and adults) to pick up things they love like socks, underwear, favorite toys and books. Dogs love these human flavored items. These can be very expensive as often surgery is required to remove from dog’s gut. **