Here are some products I recommend for your new pup!
(with links!)
  1. Safe toys
    1. RedBarn filled bones
    2. Kong toys (stuff with food/treats, freeze, and give to your pup in their crate)
    3. Toppl toys (same concept as Kong, a little easier for them to get to so I use it for feeding meals)
    4. Deer antlers with the points sawed off
    5. Squeaky toys (unstuffed if your pup is a shredder)
  2. Collar + ID Tag.
    1. Don't bother spending a lot of money on a puppy collar because they will certainly outgrow it in a few months. Puppies will typically be a "Medium" size when they leave for their new homes at 8 weeks. 
    2. We buy the leather collars from JeffersPet because they are inexpensive and nice quality for our adult dogs. 
  3. Nail clippers and/or dremel. 
    1. This style of clippers 
    2. Dremel​
  4. Area rugs/runners for the areas and hallways the dog will frequent
    1. We like the machine-washable Ruggable rugs
  5. Crates:  one for the house, one for the car
    1. 42” LifeStages wire crate for the house
    2. If you do any amount of traveling with your dog, we recommend investing in a quality plastic crate for the car, to keep your pup safe and contained. RuffLand kennels are crash-tested and nice because they contain the dog hair in your vehicle so you have less of it stuck to your carpet. The "Large" size is sufficient for females, the "XL" may be necessary for some of our male Labs. 
  6. Boot tray for underneath the water bowl (...Labs are messy drinkers!)
  7. Stainless steel water bowls
  8. Slicker brush like this one
    1. I don't recommend a "furminator" type de-shedding brush, because it damages the skin & coat and can really hurt them! 
  9. A puppy playpen and/or dog gates for doorways/staircases so you can limit your puppy's access to certain areas of the house during house training
  10. Aluminum-framed Kuranda Bed in size 40 x 25 (they make beds that fit in crates, too).
  11. Vinyl crate pad (these work nicely inside the RuffLand kennels)
  12. ​Large-breed, grain-inclusive puppy food. We recommend all of the following brands:
    1. NutriSource Large Breed Puppy, Chicken & Rice
    2. Royal Canin Labrador Puppy 
    3. Purina ProPlan High Protein Large Breed Puppy, Chicken & Rice
  13. Probiotic such as Intesto-Guard or Purina FortiFlora to help promote healthy gut flora. We recommend probiotic use with each meal the first few day in their new home, as the stress of leaving their littermates can cause mild GI upset. After that, you can use them as needed (i.e. when your pup gets a mild case of GI upset/diarrhea, goes through a stressful event, or has to be on antibiotics for some reason).
  14. A bottle of *unexpired* 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
    1. Emergency emetic (induces vomiting). This handy old trick can be life saving if your puppy accidentally eats something toxic. It only works within 30 minutes of ingestion of said toxic item. Dosage information can be found on Google, but I recommend calling your vet for directions prior to using it.  There are some situations where induction of vomiting is harmful, and too much hydrogen peroxide can cause stomach ulcers. 
  15. Benadryl (the normal pills, NOT the liqui-gel caps)
    1. I use Benadryl for mild allergic reactions in dogs, such as mild swelling after a vaccine or an insect bite. 
    2. Liqui-gel caps contain xylitol which is toxic to dogs, so just buy the normal candy-coated pills.
    3. Call your vet for directions before use. The dosing is different for dogs than it is for humans! 
  16. Dechra DermAllay Oatmeal Shampoo for non-itchy dogs, or Dechra MiconaHex+Triz Medicated Shampoo for itchy dogs! 
    1. Use COOL to LUKEWARM water and be sure to rinse ALL of the soap out, otherwise your dog's skin will become dry and itchy after a bath! If you are using the medicated shampoo for itchy dogs, let it sit on the skin/coat for 10 minutes before rinsing out for best results. 
  17. Ear Flush (TrizUltra)
    1. After a swim or a bath, it's a really good idea to squirt some ear cleaner in each ear & dry them out with a cotton ball. This helps dry out the ear canal so there is a decreased risk of an infection setting in. 
  18. Zymox Enzymatic Ear Solution with Hydrocortisone
    1. Great for mildly inflamed ears, which will happen to floppy-eared dogs from time to time, especially during the summer months or when it's humid or they're swimming a lot. 
    2. Make sure to clean the ear out with a good ear flush, and then dry the ear canal thoroughly before application. 
  19. Dental treats​
  20. Eicosa 3FF SnipCaps
    1. This is a daily skin, coat, and joint supplement that supports healthy skin and may help dogs that shed a lot.
  21. Cosequin joint supplement
    1. Giving joint supplements daily starting at 6-12 months promotes joint health
    2. Cosequin is the best one out there, a lot of the other "hip and joint treats" do not have sufficient levels of glucosamine/chondroitin/etc to do anything.
  22. Urine cleaner with enzyme (we use Nature's Miracle brand) 
  23. Rescue disinfectant wipes - these kill Parvo, Lepto, Bordetella, etc