Our Picks!
Puppy Necessities!
Dog Crate: The smaller the space your puppy has at the beginning, the better. The ones with the dividers in them work well, as you can customize your pup's crate size as he grows! Our Pick
Toys: It's important for your new puppy to have a variety of items to play with that are his designated toys. Having playthings that are specifically his will help in training him not to play with and chew your things- like shoes and cords.
I recommend some textured crinkle toys to help with sensory stimulation like this bunny, these sea creatures, or this little fox and raccoon.
Next, try for some plush squeaky toys like these sushi squeakers, gummy bears, or these fruits and veggies.
Of course, you'll want some classic balls- try some with different textures- some rubber, some tennis, and we really like these super easy to pick up ones too. These teeny tiny ones are adorable too.
Next we have bones/chews. We like these tripe twists, and these antler chews. You can get raw bones in bulk, shipped frozen as well. Then pull out one at a time for a delicious and nutritious treat! And bonus, raw bones are GREAT for your dogs' teeth! We like these ones!
Other great for teeth options- these freeze dried chicken necks, these Himalayan yak chews, and these beef sticks.
We LOVE dog toys that are the dog version of human things- I think they are hilarious! and oh so cute! I'm including some of my favorites just for fun-
and Bacon
This "Jamuttson" , these "Hound Noons", and this "Star Pups Coffee" are especially funny to me!
Okay, I'll move on.
Leash: A short, light weight 4 or 6 foot lightweight leash (we usually get the “small” 6 foot leash or the “medium” 4 foot leash) like this or this. This brand is handcrafted in the USA. No extendable leashes... they hinder your puppies training because they do not establish boundaries and can lead to accidents when walking in areas with lots of traffic.
Collar: Collar and leash sets are very convenient, just aim for XS or Small sizes when shopping for your new pup! More often than not, pups are right in between those sizes when heading to their new homes. Some good collar brands that we like- Hugo and Hudson, Blueberry Pet, and Found My Animal.
A harness and leash set will also work, like this one. I like that one for the customizable leash options.
Bowls: We like basic ceramic like these SunDog Bowls. Or a simple stainless steel food and water bowl will also do the trick.
Puppy Comfort: blanket/towel for your puppy’s crate. It’s easiest to start with a towel or blanket, in case of accidents. Later on switch to a dog bed that fits the size of your crate!
Flea & Tick Meds: We like K9 Advantix for our puppies! Make sure you talk to your vet before applying any flea/tick meds on your puppy. Always make sure and consult your vet and find the best option for your puppy for your area- some fleas and ticks are resistant to some products!
No Chew Spray: We like Grannicks Bitter Apple Spray. Puppies like to bite and chew anything and everything. Bitter Apple Spray will help deter your pup’s nibbly behavior on certain items.
Poop bags! Preferably biodegradable. Our pick.
Puppy Shampoo: We like Burt’s Bees for Puppies.You don’t want to use harsh human products or even a dog shampoo might be too much for your puppy’s delicate skin. Burts Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo
Grooming:
You need a good nail trimmer of course. We like this ConairPRO for adults and the size small for pups.
Grooming Shears: ConairPRO
Dog Brushes/Combs:
Depending on the breed/breed combo you may need specialized brushes and combs to keep a well groomed coat. If not, your dog’s fur can get knotted in a very short time (not really an issue with the Cocker Spaniels, more so with poodle coat type breeds) We have 5 brushes/combs we use with our Cocker Spaniels, Cockapoos and Poodles:
Basic Two-Sided Pin Brush – we have used with all of our dogs.
Slicker Brush – for removing mats and tangles our Miniature Poodles/Cocker Spaniel’s long coat.
Zoom Groom – mostly used with our Lab.
Furminator – we’ve had ours for years and use it with all our Cocker Spaniels to help reduce the amount of fur flying around the house.
Paper Towels: We like to grab a roll of paper towels for everything. We use a combination of microfiber towels and paper towels to keep things clean around the house.
Gate: We like Regalo Baby Gate: Gates are a great way to keep your puppies confined to only certain rooms in your house. It’s easier to train if you let the pup only have access to small parts of the house and then slowly graduate to larger areas. The key to potty training is confinement to smaller areas of the house at the beginning.
Puppy Chow - Our Puppy Weaning Process: From Birth to You!
Our puppies start out fat and happy on their momma's milk, but at about three weeks it's time to begin the weaning process! We start with raw goat's milk, green tripe, and ground bone-in chicken. We then introduce a small amount of PawTree Chicken and Sweet Potato, as well as a raw beef and chicken ground blend from BJ's Raw at around four weeks. We then bone-in chicken wings. Next, liver and other secreting organs and PawTree's Superfood Seasoning. By the time our pups are fully weaned, they are ready to be transferred to either a complete raw diet or to PawTree Chicken and Sweet Potato blend. The Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe is a complete nutritional source with the correct ratios of protein and fats, so we usually recommend that our puppy families continue to feed this recipe for approximately one year. Afterwards, an evaluation can be done to see if the pup could benefit from a lower fat recipe, or additional protein source. Of course, any of the different Superfood Seasonings can be added on top of the pup's food for a dash of flavor and nutrients!
pawtree.com/cooperfamilycockapoos/myrecommendation/Cooper-Family-Cockapoos-Picks
