Some advice please before I bring new golden retriever home

[letswiggle]

I'm planning to pick up our new pup on 4 May - she'll be nearly 4 months old. What do I need to get in advance? I'm planning to get a crate, and it seems to make sense to get one that I can put in the car too, so I can take it to bring her home.

Are pop up crates strong enough - or do I need a metal one, or is there a brand you recommend?

what should I buy to feed her - I'll obviously ask the breeder, but would appreciate mumsnet wisdom too!

Any particular toys I should get?

Will she eat literally anything at all she can get at? Does this mean mobile objects or include furniture and rugs and the like?

can I use a litter tray on the balcony at the beginning (we live in an apartment) or do I actually have to plan to take her down to the street at night?

Any particular kind of collar and lead I should have for the puppy stage that's different from the grown-up stage?

Anything else???????

bump?

I'll try and answer your questions from my exprience (I have Rhubarb, nove scotia duck tolling retriever aged 2 and Thistle, Border terrierX aged 7mths)
Both my dogs have crates, they are great. Get a metal one, metal base is better too, in case she chews, make sure it has 2 catches on the doors, not one as they are more secure.
For the car I had a fabric crate when mine was tiny but he grew out of it very quickly, I then got a small metal crate for the car, and now they are both loose in the boot (aged 2 and 7mths).
Coming back from the breeders it might be better to have someone else with you in the car to reassure the puppy. With Rhubarb I brought him home alone, he was sick and had an upset stomach and then took ages to get used to car travel, with thistle a friend came and stroked him in the crate all the way back and Thistle has always been fine in the car.
Feed what the breeder says, mine were both on Royal Canin which is pretty good. But if you change from what the breeder feeds do it gradually over the course of a couple of weeks.
Toys, Kongs are great, mine both love balls on ropes, and chew toys like nylon bones etc..
Mine both had nylon webbing collars and leads as puppies, Rhubarb got a leather collar when he was 1 and Thistle will have the same.
I really don't know about litter training a dog! Mine have always gone in the garden, I did have to spend ages waiting for them to go, but I imagine you could train them to use a litter tray ok.
She may chew everything, she may be selective, you don't know! Hopefully she'll grow out of it quickly. Give her her own toys to chew, and you can buy a spray which is supposed to stop them chewing(spray it onto what you don't want them to chew - I sprayed furniture), I do think it helped with mine.
Anything else - plenty of spare old blankets to line the crate with, in case of accidents or spilt water.
Spray for your carpet which gets rid of urine smells so the dog doens't go there again.
Book in at the vets for vaccinations, microchipping, worming and flea treatment.
Find a good puppy training class (You can ask at your vets for a recommendation).
Get a good book, and take your puppy everywhere for the first few months so that it gets really well socialised - carry it before its had all its vaccinations. Mine used to ride in the hood of the pushchair or tucked inside my coat!
And have lots of fun, I grew up with a golden retriever, Willow, she was a brilliant dog.

Thanks LittleB. I've been a bit put off the whole thing by some of the threads in this section tbh.