New puppy guide · 04
Stock up on puppy supplies
These are the supplies Cocoa Doodles has found helpful over many years of raising dogs and puppies. Whatever you choose, look for quality reviews and a comfortable, puppy-safe fit.
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Our recommendations may change as products evolve, but this list gives you a strong, practical starting point.
Food, bed & bowls
- Puppy food: Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food.
- Dog bed: consider two so one can be cleaned or kept on another floor. Favorites include the Veehoo Cooling Elevated Dog Bed and Furhaven Orthopedic, Cooling Gel, and Memory Foam Pet Beds.
- Bowls: stainless steel or ceramic bowls for food and water.
Toys & crate
- Choose toys your puppy cannot swallow. Cocoa Doodles favorites include the KONG Extreme Dog Toy, KONG Wubba, and KONG Cozie Spunky the Monkey.
- Dog crate: we highly recommend crate training. Look for a crate with a divider; the divider is important as your puppy grows. The Ovation Folding Dog Crate is one option.
Treats & training essentials
- Treats are vital for training. Options include Zuke’s Puppy Naturals Training Dog Treats, Old Mother Hubbard Classic Crunchy Natural Dog Treats, Bil-Jac PBnanas, and Bil-Jac YappleNanas.
- Treat pouch: the PetSafe Treat Pouch Sport edition is a handy choice for keeping rewards close during training.
Walking gear
- Cocoa Doodles supplies a starter leash and collar. Plan to choose a more durable collar and leash as your puppy grows around 12–16 weeks; options include the Vivaglory Traffic Padded Two-Handle Leash and Pet Dreamland Hands-Free Dog Leash.
- Harness: Cocoa Doodles recommends the PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness as a helpful walking tool.