Favorite Products
Our puppy families often ask for recommendations, so we’ve provided convenient quick links based on our research, experience, as well as insight from Luke, our puppy trainer. We hope these suggestions help prepare you for your puppy’s arrival, and for future supplies!
In full disclosure: we earn small commissions from affiliate links, which support our program.
Items available on Amazon
Books:
Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love: This is our all-time favorite book and a must-read for every puppy family and dog owner! Best-selling author and respected Golden Retriever breeder Kerry Nichols offers invaluable insights into raising puppies with a focus on their mental and emotional development, strengthening the bond between you and your dog at any age. From understanding puppy behavior and training tips to topics like spaying/neutering, socialization, housebreaking, crate training, and our passion…insight into therapy dog certification, this book is packed with practical advice to help you and your dog thrive together.
Respect Training for Puppies: 30 Seconds to a Well-Behaved Puppy: This puppy training book offers a comprehensive guide to respectful training and building a bond between you and your puppy through positive reinforcement and clear communication.
A Kid’s Guide to Dogs: Delivers the basics of caring for and training a dog to develop good canine habits with humor and creativity. In addition to learning about dog health and preparing for the arrival of a new dog at home, kids will discover fascinating tips on decoding a dog's body language and how to teach a dog simple tricks.
Daily Routine
Crates – Luke prefers a wire crate for more airflow and visibility. You can always cover the crate with a cover or blanket to make it more like a den. We suggest the size of crate that will fit your puppy when they are full grown, so for a Golden, a 42” crate should work well. Use the divider that it comes with to make it smaller and increase the space as your puppy grows. Your puppy should be able to stand up and turn around. Please plan on crate training your puppy while they are young! Even if you do not like the idea of a crate, you want to be sure in case of an emergency that they are comfortable in a crate (spending the night the vet, etc.), and it keeps them out of mischief and provides a safe place until they are older.
Dog Crate: MidWest Homes for Pets Newly Enhanced Double Door iCrate
Dog Crate Cover: MidWest Homes for Pets Privacy Dog Crate Cover
Exercise Pens – Ideal for daily use when you’re nearby but unable to constantly supervise your puppy. They allow your puppy to safely participate in family life while preventing mischief, and helping them adjust to household activity. Place the pen in an area that you spend the most time.
Two good options are below. Or, you can look on Facebook Marketplace for a used one!
FXW Rollick Dog Playpen for Yard, RV Camping│Patented, 32 inch 8 Panels
MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Exercise Pen & Playpen
Free Standing Pet Gate - This is an attractive and functional free-standing gate that is much easier to navigate than the plastic or wooden ones that wedge in the doors.
Richell Wood Freestanding Pet Gate
Dog Beds - Orthopedic dog beds help relieve pressure on the spine, muscles, and joints when resting and relaxing on the pet bed.
Orthopedic Waterproof Dog Bed with Removable Washable Cover
Harnesses
Freedom or Easy Walk Harnesses – If you want to use a harness, these are the best type of harnesses because they attach to the leash at the chest, rather than in the back. Harnesses that attach at the back are essentially sled dog harnesses and encourage pulling. The harness is not for around the house, so don’t leave it on your puppy in their crate or pen because they will be able chew through it, or could get stuck.
GoodBoy Dog Head Halter with Safety Strap: For a head harness/collar style, we like this one since it has padding on the nose. Size 3 typically fits an adult Golden. See a size chart in the images.
Canny Collar: We love this head harness/collar! We typically use the GoodBoy head halter for most of our dogs, but one of our girls dislikes that it pulls from underneath the chin. This one pulls from the back instead, so for her, it was a game changer. Very sturdy construction, so worth the $$. We ordered size 6 for Sky and it fits well.
Collars and Leashes
Blueberry Pet Essentials Personalized Dog Collars with Name Tag: We don’t like dog tags that can get caught on objects and be choking hazards. We prefer an ID collar like this one.
Max and Neo Nylon Martingale Collar: (6 months +) This collar is for walking and supervised use only, do NOT leave on outside of walking, or in the crate or pen! It is a collar designed to prevent your dog from slipping their head out, so we do not want them getting caught on the crate or pen when you are not around. A collar is donated to a Dog Rescue for every collar sold!
Reflective Dog Collar and Leash: Make sure the flat collar has a safety buckle. And, never have a collar on your dog while in the crate.
USB-rechargeable Flash Dog Necklace Light for Safety: LED dog collar enables your dogs to be seen at night.
Long Leash Waterproof Training Longline: Outdoor long dog leash great for recall training (Luke uses in his training with the “special word” , beach, yard, play, etc.
Covers
Mancro Dog Car Seat Cover for Back Seat: Waterproof car seat protector with side flaps. Scratchproof, durable, nonslip dog hammock for sedans, trucks, SUVs.
Mancro SUV Cargo Liner: Water-resistant dog seat cover with bumper flap protector.
Furniture Cover: Gogobunny dog bed cover/blanket for sofa or couch. 100% waterproof, double-sided, reversible.
Bowls
URPOWER Raised Adjustable Dog Bowls: 2 stainless steel food bowls and non-slip stand.
Coldest Dogs Bowls: Heavy duty, anti rust, insulated water bowl.
Deep Stainless Anti-Slip Food & Water Bowls: 2 bowls per pack, available in several sizes.
MalsiPree Dog Portable Water Bottle: Leak proof and lightweight, with bowl.
Clippers and Brushes
Millers Forge Dog Nail Clippers
FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Brush for Dogs
Toys
Snuggle Puppy (Keep in Crate) - All of our puppy families go home with a Snuggle Puppy as part of our Puppy Starter Kit. We rub it on the Mama and littermates. It is a great comfort to puppies in the first weeks/months away from their littermates. We get reports of our adult dogs still carrying the Snuggle Puppy around years later!
Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat Stuffed Toy for Dogs - Pet Anxiety Relief and Calming Aid
Stuffed Toys – We recommend choosing a stuffed toy one size larger than the recommended size to reduce the risk of your puppy swallowing small parts. Additionally, stuffed toys should only be given under supervision, as puppies may tear them open and ingest the stuffing or squeaker.
Zippy Paws Unstuffed Chew Toys
Chase Toys – a fun way to tire your puppy out and engage their prey drive.
Fetch Toys – For fetch, we suggest the Chuckit! or Wobble Wag toys. Tennis balls can get torn and lodged internally, which can be dangerous for your dog.
Slow Feeders, Chews, Food Toppers, Training Treats, Supplements
Slow Feeders – Turn mealtime into a game! Slow feeders and freezable toys engage dogs in problem-solving engaging their brain, and reducing boredom, and helps them slow down so they don’t inhale their meals. Licking behavior reduces anxiety and stress.
PetSafe Chilly Penguin Freezable Dog Toy: Tip: add 10 pieces of kibble, 1 tablespoon of hot water, soak for 20 minutes, add another tablespoon of water, and freeze. As a variety add a few blueberry’s and a thin slice of banana (on the green side). This helps with teething and is great to add for crate time!
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl
Edible Chews - Great for when you need to keep them occupied in their crate or pen. You can also freeze them so that they feel good on their teeth. Avoid rawhide!
Rawhide-Free Bully Sticks (15 count, 5-6”)
Cadet Toro Bully Sticks (12 count, 9”-12”)
Chewmeter Yaky Cheese Dog Chews for Aggressive Chewers
Chews - For times when you want your puppy to relax and stay occupied, as well as learn what they can chew on. These can be given in the pen or crate if they do not have pieces that can break off.
KONG Extreme Tires: KONG's Most Durable Natural Rubber Chew & Fetch Toy
KONG CoreStrength Bone: Dental Chew Toy for Enrichment Play & Dental Care
Food Toppers, Training Treats, Supplements
Olewa Dehydrated Carrots: This is a LIFESAVER for puppies with loose stools. Highly recommend! Feed as a topper, solo or mix in at least twice per week for digestion and skin and coat support, and/or as needed if diarrhea.
Blue Buffalo Chicken Recipe Bits for Training: Semi-moist, chicken flavored. Also supports joints and digestive health.
Krilex Concentrate Formula Supplement: Fish oil supplement promotes healthy skin and shiny coat. We like this one since it does not give off a fishy smell as some do through the dogs pores.
Origins 5-in-1 Dog Supplement: Powdered Food Topper w/Natural Omega 3 Fish Oil. Supports healthy digestion, skin, and coat. Helps Reduce itching & joint inflammation (2 lbs).
Cleaning/Odor/Stain Removers
Whip-Pet - Whip-Pet products are plant-based and safe for animals and humans. Excellent for various household purposes including pet related cleaning tasks, including: stain & odor removal, cleaning pet beds, toys, general surface cleaner and much more. We use these products for everything, even mopping hardwood floors. The laundry detergent is great for dog beds, other pet-related AND people laundry. And, the stain remover is amazing; it even gets rid of permanent marker!
Whip It Cleaner, Multi Purpose Stain Remover
Whip-Pet Pet Odor Eliminator and Stain Remover
Whip-It Fresh Scent Laundry Detergent
Medical
Muenster products (direct from Muenster)
Muenster Freeze Dried Liver/Beef Treats: This is a high-value treat recommendation. Plus, you get 35% off your first order!
NuVet products (direct from NuVet using code)
NuVet offers daily supplements for immune support and other health benefits. Give once daily for the first year of a puppy’s life. We give these to our dogs daily, including in our puppies’ mush once they are weaned. Call 800.474.7044, or order online at www.nuvet.com, using Alpine Sky’s access code: 856406.