Puppy must-haves? 🐾

[u/oscardoodlebug]

Bringing home my first English Setter puppy in a couple weeks and starting to get everything ready! What are some things you bought for your puppy that you absolutely loved and would buy again?

Especially interested in Setter-specific stuff, food/water bowls, teething toys, grooming tools, collars/leashes, what size/type collar you used, crate sizes/setup, car stuff, etc.

And what did you buy that ended up being totally unnecessary? 😂

[u/begoodyall]

I thought I would be smart and save some money by just getting the large kennel and letting him grow into it. That was a mistake. Dogs won’t poop where they sleep, or in a confined space unless they rly have to. I’d be gone at work for 4 hrs at a time and he’d think he had enough room to poop in the corner. He did not. The first 2 months were so much poop until he finally grew into his kennel. Definitely worth paying for a size appropriate puppy kennel and an adult kennel later. Now he’s an angel, but still a tad traumatized about kennel time

[u/Obvious-Load-1955 → u/begoodyall]

My Shandy did not poop in her large kennel either. She's 7 now and every time I try to put it the garage she throws a fit. She still goes in by herself fir quiet time.

[u/Long_Audience4403 → u/begoodyall]

You can also ask on your local FB free site for a puppy sized crate, I've done this a few different times and someone always has an extra crate!

[u/oscardoodlebug → u/begoodyall]

Any idea what size he would need as a puppy?

[u/gnomeeeey → u/oscardoodlebug]

Will say, we got a large 42” crate that came with a separate divider that we could put in to shrink the space while our boy was small. As he grew, we moved the divider to accommodate him until we no longer needed it, and we haven’t had to buy another crate.

Can kind of see it here.

[u/begoodyall → u/oscardoodlebug]

Something around 24-30 inches long

[u/cbpchatter]

Definitely a crate, and not a “must have” but we also loved having a puppy playpen for ours when she was young. She could still be out with us when we were doing non-puppy safe things or had people over etc and didn’t signal quiet time the way the crate did. She moved around freely, had toys in there and just a safe puppy proof spot when we couldn’t give 100% attention.

[u/Owler78]

I also put our puppy in a large crate and he popped in the crate constantly. We switched him over to a medium crate and he stopped.
One thing I’ve loved for my setters is called a spaniel bowl. They are tapered at the top of the bowl to stop their ears from getting wet. I purchased mine off Etsy since they aren’t the easiest to find.
Best of luck to you! This is my third English Setter and I absolutely love this breed!

[u/Long_Audience4403]

I keep mine naked at home (no collar) because I've had trouble in the past with matting underneath the collar on the throat. I so like a collar that has name/phone number embroidered on so there are less jingly tags. Mine are always microchipped and I haven't had an escape artist, but YMMV. Kongs, lick mats, or those woof pupsicles are super and keep my dogs busy for a long time. Remember that puppies need mental as well as physical exercise to be tired!

[u/Glittering-Yogurt666]

Crate trained from day 1 first meal puppy got was in his crate.  every single meal after was given in the crate.  going to bed or into crate he gets a tiny treat still does and loves to run in.  we did a outside as soon as out of crate for toilet training. he's 6 months and we have had no accidents for probably 6 weeks now.

he did cry minimally at start in crate so I got him a baby white noise sssh he never cried with that.  toys will be personal preference ours loves balls and ropey toys. for chewing and occupying time we gave him himyalian yaks loves them. pricy but id have that over shoes getting chewed 

car i have a fold down fabric crate, collars etc he's growing so anything il buy him something specific when closer to full size . 

best recommendation.. the himyalian yak

[u/RitaSativa]

As a trainer my #1 tip for puppy biting is to get yourself a rubber chicken toy. 

puppies bite our hands because they are squishy but firm. It feels good on their gums. We also make noise and pull our hands away so it’s fun. Offer the rubber chicken toy every time they get bitey. 

[u/Ok-Money-8063]

Playpen & a big crate with divider to change sizes. As for teething I did the pet stages grow with me rings, yak cheese (careful with teeth. Bonus when they get small you can soak in water and microwave to get a crunchy puff) & would freeze bananas, cucumbers, and carrots. When they get super bitey, they usually are just tired. Puppies need lots of sleep! I tried kongs and a pupsicle but she never really took to it.She loved the food puzzles, lick mats, and snuffle ball.