Puppy Supplies:

​   ~ Crate with a removable divider 

       (My preference is 40-42inch in length and 31-33 inches in height "Mid West" brand. Note: adult dog size will be 40" long from rump to extended nose and 24" heigh at shoulder with a walking head height of 30".  A 36" long crate is ample for denning in as dogs curl and do not have their nose outstretched.)

Note: A divider can be made by filling half the crate with a large cardboard box or other filler. The purpose of making the crate smaller until the pup grows is to make him/her feel more secure/ less alone AND to only provide room for resting and not room for a potty area. Pups will then wait until brought outside to relieve themselves and become house broken this way.

    ~ Play/Exercise pen - 30" or more in height. This can be used as an attachment to the crate or used in a separate space when ever pup is not being supervised.  An example is found here: Exercise pen 

   ~ Child safety Gates/ Pet containment Gates where needed (like to block off a hall, room, or stairs)

   ~ Dog Bed

   ~ Food (Taste of the Wild -- Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe)  

You will be provided with some starter food to take with you if you have not acquired a bag of the kibble. I will also provide a list of foods you could switch to after the pup is well settled into your home. For now, keep the food source constant.

~ Bottled Water for the first 2 weeks of transition to your house water. Puppies can get sick from new water sources more readily than a switch in food. Bottled water will help ease the transition from tap water sources and cause less digestive stress to their systems. 

   ~ NuVet Plus (Immune System booster with Vitamin Supplement) -- NuVetLabs.com 

I feed these to my own dogs as I feel it fills in gaps where nutrition is cooked away in kibble. From 2002-2024 I purchased only as a buyer and did not register as a breeder. I began a breeder account with them in 2024 and now I also receive a kick-back on orders that use my breeder code which represents a (disclosure worthy) conflict of interest when recommending, and a potential caution to buyers of MLM pressure.  Some breeders require ordering these to keep a contract intact. I find this practice to be beyond a conflict of interest and a pure presumption into your rights as a pet owner. I will not be tracking who does and does not make use of the discount provided by my code. It has no bearing on the strength of my contract commitment to you for the health of your dog. Do check out their site and claims to see if you think they are a worthwhile investment in your pet. They cost $50 for a 90 wafer supply that lasts 3 months. That is about $200 per year to subscribe. You can order on your own with no affiliation to me, or use Order Code: 731821 

   ~ Food Scooper (a 2-cups plastic measuring cup works well if you intend to treat and train with food from  the daily portion)

   ~ Food/Water Dishes (Stainless Steel highly recommended)

   ~ Collar (Sized 10+ inches by eight weeks of age)

   ~ I.D. Tag with Puppy name and 2 phone numbers for contact

   ~ Leash (NON-Retractable, please) 

   ~ Harness (TrueLove brand, Ruffwear, Rabbitgoo & Voyager are among the top brands)

​   ~ Furminator Deshedding Tool for large dogs 

   ~ Bells for your door (for your puppy to communicate with you when he/she need to use the potty outside. Make sure you like the sound of it. You may be hearing it a LOT over the next many years.)

   ~ Nail Trimmers (consider a grinder and look for one that boasts that it is quiet. A light at the end is nice.) 

   ~ Ear Cleaner (Epi-Otic ~ Found on Amazon.com)

   ~ Toothbrush/Toothpaste (any fluoride free toothpaste is fine)

   ~ Shampoo (Oatmeal based as retrievers have sensitive skin issues)

   ~ Toys ~ "Kong"(Medium or Large)

    ~ Small sized tennis balls to start retriever training. 

   ~ Chews ~ (Marrow bones from the butcher, Bully Sticks, Deer antlers, pig's hooves)

   ~ Treats (TLC treats, Blue Dog Bakery treats or pieces of your puppy's food to start)

   ~ Pooper Scooper (for your yard)

   ~ Poop bags/Dispenser (for walks) Note that there are options which attach to the leash.

Extra Supplies you may want or need:

   ~ Bedding and Pet Bed cover

   ~ Toy Bin

   ~ Latex Gloves (stash them with your first aid stuff, under the sink, or in a cleaning cupboard for an unexpected dirty job.)

   ~ Lint Rollers (several to stash around the house or in the car) 

   ~ Bitter Apple Spray (to deter destructive chewing)

   ~ Non-Stick floor mat (for underneath food/water dishes)

   ~ Nature's Miracle Spray Cleaner

​   ~ Clorox/Lysol Cleaning Wipes

   ~ Hand Sanitizer

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                             Transporting your Puppy

​

PLEASE Remember not to allow your puppy to touch any surface that another dog has touched, that you DO NOT KNOW the vaccination history of.  (Parvo virus is highly contagious and is your puppy's greatest risk.) 

Short Distance Driving Transport (Less than Three hours)

​    ~ Travel crate or Laundry Basket or plain old box

    ~ Puppy pads 

    ~ Garbage bags

    ~ Old towels/paper towels

    ~ Hand Sanitizer

    ~ Clorox wipes (for your vehicle ~ just in case!)

Long Distance Driving Transport (Three hours or more)

     ~ Above list for short distance

​​    ~ Water & Food dishes

    ~ Bottled water

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                        JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER FOR OTHER PLANNING DETAILS

Please remember to:

~ Select a vet if you do not have one. 

 ~ Research Pet Insurance to see if it is a good fit for you. Each puppy will arrive with transition coverage for 30 days through Trupanion. You are welcome to continue with them or switch to another provider. 

~ Register your puppy's Microchip (After your puppy comes home with you)

    There will be details and notes on this in your take home packet