New Puppy - help me compile a list of must-have things!

[Dappled]

After putting off getting a dog for 5 years, until we felt the DCs were old enough to be sensible around one and until our elderly and sensitive cat had passed away, we will be finally getting our long-awaited puppy in February. I feel I've been researching this for months/years, but now it's getting close I'm worrying I will forget to prepare something essential and obvious! (My DH had a family dog growing up but neither of us have owned a dog as adults). I've got things like a crate, playpen, stairgates (to help with slow intros with our cats - hopefully) on the list, but tell me, what things were essential for you when you brought your puppy home? Or non-essential but useful? Or things you bought that turned out to be a waste of time? Also any recommendations for specific products e.g. brands of crate (have been wondering if the Pets at Home ones are any good?)
Any suggestions to add to this exciting shopping list will be much appreciated!

puppy pads ( home bargains do packs of 50 for £4.99 www.homebargains.co.uk/products/15407-puppy-training-pads-pack-of-50.aspx , we layered them over some sticky back bedwetting protector pads, which we left down by the door until they got dirty and needed changed- if the puppy missed the pads etc.) get more than you think you will need!

Kitchen roll. ENDLESS amount of kitchen roll, and stain/odour remover from any pet store will be your friend for the first few weeks! For my most recent dog I bought a couple of metres of vinyl floor matting from home base and put that down as the pen floor since it wiped easily clean.

There’s a brilliant group on fb called dog training advice and support - there are loads of units to read about settling in a new puppy, training and is run by trainers and behavioural experts.

Nylabones! Wear old clothes as those needle teeth make holes in everything, enrichment games and balls for feeding. Ours also likes his snufflemat for feeding

In case it helps, with mine when tiny I've used a soft, zipped crate with room for a good cozy bed and nothing else, and everything being at their size, and I kept the proper sized crate for when they were older. It's been very helpful for making sure they were warm enough at night, and feeling safe where the big crate was too much space, and also when they were tiny it was a clear signal of sleep time compared to bumbling around playing in the big crate when they were overtired and getting bitey and needed to stop. Also helped with toilet training since they won't wee in their bed, so they tell you when they need to come out. I've always had the little soft crate beside the bed or near me when they were napping so as soon as they woke I could take them straight out. Only used for a few months each time, but very helpful!

Don’t use puppy pads - you teach your dog it’s sometimes ok to piss inside, and other times not. It confuses them and makes toilet training more difficult than it is. Just take pup out every half an hour and after every nap/feed/sleep/play - plus if you catch them squatting.

Teething toys, Kongs, rope etc are good to direct them to bite toys instead of you.

Enzyme cleaner for accidents in the house.

YouTube videos of things like fireworks, drilling, people shouting etc to okay loudly (get louder gradually and treat a lot when they don’t react) to desensitise them to noises that they may not hear when young.

A long line so you can start recall/heel work in the garden as soon as you get them home.

PATIENCE. Endless patience. You are more than likely going to think ‘omfg what I have done’ a good few times in the beginning. I don’t know a dog owner that hasn’t! But it does pass.

Keep on top of training, using positive reinforcement rather than getting frustrated. And don’t forget about the teenage phase where they like to forget everything you’ve taught them and become little shites. That also passes!

Good luck!

Got puppy in October
Crate
Food bowls
2 vet fleeces for crate
Toys
Kong
Yak bone
Find out what puppy is being fed by breeder so you can order some
Soft bed
We have a rubber mat under feed bowls as he likes swimming in his water - less so now.
Collar & lead
We have a playpen - used for cats to keep food separate now but handy to pop in if needed.
Research training, decide what you want them to learn first (along with toilet training) - use treats/chicken/cheese depends how well they ‘get it’ we use a code word and reward him & give treat he does in same area of garden each time. We are doing zoom online classes until f2f start up again as ours had to be cancelled due to lockdown.
Read the puppy threads it’s good to have an idea what to expect and explain to your kids re mouthing etc and how to react.

Never used puppy pads as didn’t want any excuse for pup to ‘go’ in house we take him out as soon as he wakes up, after meals, after play, and he’ll cry a little sometimes if he wants to go out they will give you cues before they ‘go’ so keep eyes peeled.

Less is more. Get the basics then you can get more once pup is home. You sound like you’re well prepared

You don't need puppy pads, they just confuse the issue.
You do need: quality kitchen roll (loads and loads), Pet accident spray (with enzymes to break the wee down), vet bed and cheap fleece blankets to go in the crate, biological washing powder to wash the fleeces, a zillion chew toys to strew everywhere so you always have one, crocs to keep at the door where you'll be taking the puppy out, a really warm dressing gown with a hood so when standing at 2am in the garden waiting for them to wee you aren't freezing, beanie hat with LED light built in (also for standing in the garden), small towels to keep at the door to put said crocs on and wipe puppys paws (you'll thank me in Feb when you aren't tracking mud in seven million times a day as even the doormat is overwhelmed), and gin. Lots of gin.

Pets at home do puppy toys. Great for early days! You haven't said which breed which will determine how heavy duty a bigger toy you will need... Nerf do robust ddog toys!

Split antler for chewing.

fb called dog training advice and support - it's a really good site.

The Happy puppy Book is really good.

You don't need too much to be honest. Reading up before the puppy arrives and making the house puppy safe would be time well spent.

We didn't use puppy pads. But a friend put them down at night so the puppy weeed at night on them and it saved her getting up and going outside. She doesn't think it made any difference to toilet training. I wouldn't be keen on using them in the day though.

Decide where the puppy is going to sleep but don't leave it on its own or to cry it out in the first week. It's all so strange and new to them when they first leave their litter.

Frozen tea towels, frozen carrots, kongs etc are great to have in the first few days. Snuffle mats/treats in closed over empty loo rolls are good to keep them occupied.

Expect biting! It's normal. Teach the kids not to react to it. Turn your back or ignore for a few seconds and the puppy learns it's not a game.

If you get a Kong get a puppy one, they are softer for baby teeth.

Get a fluffy fleece blanket and sleep with it for a few days before pup arrives so it smells of you. It will save you having to give up your fleecy dressing gown in the middle of night 2 never to be recovered!

This is all brilliant! Thank you so much. Have printed all this info, bought the recommended puppy book (thanks @BlackDogBlues), requested to join the fb group (thanks @BPCoveredInSpots and @BlackDogBlues)...can't wait to get started....

A dog-owner friend actively recruited to have on speed-dial for moments when you think you're going to lose your mind!

Puppy blues are real and @Ostryga is right, you're going to have your patience tested big-time – an empathetic outsider to vent to is gold dust.

I'd say also don't make the mistake of buying loads of stuff before pup comes home. You'll learn what they (and you) like and need along the way and it may not be what you expected!

Don't buy a dog bed yet - a cardboard box will do. Mine sleeps in his crate inside a box the size of A4 paper open at the top and the front. He sometimes tears a bit off and when it's wrecked I replace it with a new one.

My pup doesn't like his Yak chew but he loves buffalo horn.

Ready meals or ingredients for easy meals...your time will be taken up dealing with puppy
Boots to wear indoors or thick knee socks for the biting of ankles from nippy pup stage

White vinegar

Looking back, puppy pads would have been good, certainly better than pup peeing on floor all the time...he still learnt to go outside.

A very comfortable temporary bed arrangement for downstairs you will inevitably spend first three weeks sleeping next to puppy, or else it will be in someone's bedroom, in which case you really will need puppy pads for first week. I know this is frowned on by Mumsnet, but getting up in middle of night to go outside from Upstairs in midwinter is quite a gruelling thought

Here was me thinking you'd upped your game & posted a photo.

You're a disappointment.

🤣please post a photo 🐶💐

Puppy blues will be lessened by reducing demands on your time, increasing nice experiences...ie cuddling up on sofa with dvd and puppy, time to engage in pointless play, able to supervise kids unstressed (plan for schoolwork?) And above all getting enough sleep...naps for you?

Are you letting dog on sofa? If so, plan for big throw.
Crate or carrier for car which can be secured.
Some pups stretch out rather than curl up when they sleep, so need bigger dog basket than you think, compared to a cat who curls up...

Mine absolutely loved climbing into his dog bed..sweetest thing to see him clambering over the soft sides. I put a blanket in it made of wool mix for warmth and ease of washing .accidents, sick etc.

Vet appointment for first vaccines and general health check.
Collar and lead - just habituate the puppy to both so that the lead isn't a terrible shock in the first outside walk.
Slide tag with your contact info. They can be used with buckle (not clip) collars and don't get lost anything like as often as the dangling sort. Search 'brass pet slide tags' and they should come up. Our pup's has phone numbers on one side and address and vet info on the other - making it hard for anyone to casually find out where she lives (two friends of friends have had dogs stolen in the past year).

Don’t get antlers yet, I think the recommended is 6 months. We did use puppy pads she had one in the crate overnight. We only ever needed one big box.

Start training straight away we use clickers.

I got our crate off Facebook marketplace for £15 - obviously gave it a good clean. I wouldn't worry too much about brand but check out recommended sizing for your breed. Its surprising how quickly our c9cker spaniel puppy grew into his (he likes to sleep stretched out).

I got a pack of compostable dog wipes on Amazon - we use a microfiber towel on paws to dry, but pups often step in their pee so I also use the wipes otherwise he gets very stinky very quickly!

I also got a small waste bin with a locking lid (meant for kitchen waste) for outside the back door so we don't bring poo bags in (our wheelie bin isn't easily accessible).

We don't use puppy pads - they can make toileting confusing. We take him out regularly. I sectioned off a bit of the patio using an old guinea pig run, as he hasn't finished his vaccine course yet I didn't want him on the grass and I can clean the slabs.

Puppy pads, it makes cleaning the crate much easier if they have an accident when you’re asleep. Also a must if you don’t have a garden, our puppy moved from using pads to going outside when he was old enough easily, we just had a different command.

Crate big enough for when they are an adult.

Vet bed or fleece over puppy pads in the crate, if they do wee before you take them out in the night it means they aren’t having to lay on a wet bed.

Puppy pen/safe area you can leave them in for a few minutes, they’re also great when there are toys being used that aren’t puppy safe/friendly.

Small training treats.

Tag with address and phone number on all collars/harnesses.

Poo bags that are compostable.

Ruffwear collar/harness/lead/walking bumbag.

Folder for insurance document (preferably a decent lifetime policy with someone like petplan), microchip details and vaccination card. This means that every 12 months you won’t have a panic while searching for their vaccination card.

When you buy toys triple the amount you think you will need.

Bravery by the bucket load, puppies love biting, puppies can bite really hard with their very very sharp teeth.

Bell on the inside of the door, we taught our pup to ask for the toilet by ringing the bell, he rarely needs a wee in the night now, but if he does the bell wakes me up.

Old towels to clean muddy dog (you won't want to use your good ones). It's useful to have some in the car for minimising the mess if you drive to walks.

Something to secure the dog when being driven in the car.

A dog ramp so that dog doesn't have to jump in and out of the car. Very useful when they get old, or if they're injured, and can't jump.

Nail clippers.