You can buy most of these at local pet stores or look on Etsy!!

Training Resources (Puppy Culture)-Jane Killion has so many amazing videos and books on how to properly train your new puppy into the superstar it is meant to be. It is beneficial to purchase these resources to continue the puppy culture after they have left here. The puppy will get so much more out of the program, and be that much easier to train. Here is a link to the puppy culture website that has a bunch of information about puppy culture, and why I go through the program with each of my puppies!

Toys-I recommend getting a variety of different toys with different textures and noises. I rotate my toys so they never get bored or play with the same toy. I try to add in a new toy often. This helps with housebreaking, as it limits their desire to chew shoes, furniture, etc. As your puppy grows you'll learn what toys they enjoy best, every puppy is different. Pet stores have excellent sales on their holiday toys once the holiday is over! 

Leash/Collar/Harness- I recommend a rolled leather collar or a soft flat collar. A nylon collar can cause matts around their neck. As far as harnesses go, I have never used a harness. Harnesses can cause matts on the chest and in the armpits. If you need an alternative to pulling, I recommend using a Gentle Leader. It goes around the dogs head and gives the owner excellent control and prevents pulling better than a harness. Plus, it doesn’t create matts!

Crate-A crate is a necessity for dog training. Crates teach dogs how to hold their bladder, but also gives them a space of their own. Crates should never be used for punishment and should be a place your dog enjoys going. My puppies are trained to learn not to potty in their crate before going home, but as a puppy their bladders are only so big. A crate helps to teach them how to hold it for longer periods of time as they get older. I recommend a wire crate with a divider. The size depends on the estimated size of the dog. For my miniature aussiedoodles I recommend a medium, for small standards a large, but you can never go wrong with too big. The divider is used when the puppies are young and don't know how to hold their bladder yet. You gradually make the crate space bigger by moving the divider back as your puppy grows. The crate space should only allow your puppy to lay down and turn around.

Clicker-Clickers are an easy training tool to teach your puppy basic and advanced commands, easily. Since the Aussiedoodle is so smart and loyal, they catch on very quickly. Here at Old Mills Aussiedoodles, I start them on basic clicker training so they know the concept when they get home. My puppies go home with a clicker, and I highly recommend sticking with the clicker! Here is a video about Clicker Training, and how to use it as a training tool.

Puppy Class-I highly recommend enrolling in a puppy class. It is a great way for you to bond with your new puppy while he learns basic manners. I recommend Baxter and Bella, which is an online puppy training school. It is fantastic, as it has classes for families to take before getting their puppy so they are well prepared! I talked with the owner of Baxter and Bella on the phone, and he loved Old Mills Aussiedoodles that he has given me the opportunity to share a 25% discount on their membership! Use the Code: OLDMILLS. I still recommend getting your puppy in a class to develop a good foundation with the distractions from other puppies. Aussiedoodles tend to do well with positive reinforcement techniques, and puppy culture sets them up to succeed with this style of training.

Shampoo/Soaps-I recommend the TropiClean Puppy Shampoo. It is all natural, smells fantastic, and keeps their hair super soft! To make their hair even softer the TropiClean Conditioner works well, too!

Cleaner-A multi surface cleaner is essential to taking care of your new puppy. Whether they leave dirty paw prints around the house or make an accident or two a good cleaner is nice to have on hand. I recommend the Love Home and Planet brand. It is all natural, so if your puppy licks their paws after walking on it, there is no harm done.

Bed-All dogs are different when it comes to bedding. Some dogs would rather sleep on hardwood floors (or bathtubs), where others like a memory foam bed. My dogs, personally, prefer the square/rectangle cuddler beds with the sides on them. Here is a link to an example! In their whelping box, I use the Wash n Zip Pet Bed. It is a versatile bed that can be unzipped into a blanket. It is machine washable and dryable, so it works great for puppies. You can use my code OLDMILLS for 15% off!

Food/Water Bowls-Elevated dishes are best for puppies ergonomically but are hard for puppies to eat out of if they are too tall. I would purchase a cheap dish for the first couple of months, and then get an elevated bowl when they are able to reach.

Brushes- WetBrush just came out with a PetBrush by Wetbrush exclusively at Petco. This brush is fantastic. It is very gentle and is a good maintenance upkeep brush! When I want to do a deep brushing, I recommend a wire slicker brush. If your puppy's hair gets long a dematting comb is the best!

Treats-While here at Old Mills Aussiedoodles, your puppies are eating raw frozen hamburger as their treat. They love love these, and they are inexpensive. I take 96%/4% ground hamburger and place tiny pieces on a baking sheet and put it in the freezer for 24 hours. As they get older, I introduce new treats. My dogs love the brand TrueChews, freeze dried treats, cut up hot dogs, and cheese!! The smellier the better:)

Bones-I recommend giving your dog raw femur bones. You can buy these from a meat market and some grocery stores offer them. You may have to ask the butcher behind the meat section if they don’t have any on display. These bones are not processed and are in the form they would chew on them in the wild. They also have some meat and bone marrow in them which dogs enjoy and is really good for them. DO NOT FEED RAWHIDE BONES, they are heavily processed and can cause damage to the stomach. 

Food-My puppies are weaned to Purina ProPlan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon Puppy Food. Once they turn one year, I recommend transitioning them to the same line Purina ProPlan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Adult Dog Food. I choose the sensitive skin and stomach line because it helps keep their gut healthy and their coat shiny. It is awesome for dogs with or without allergies! My dogs enjoy the Salmon Flavor! If you choose a different food, I would recommend a dog food that ISN’T Grain-Free as recent research has proven it to cause heart problems. Some dogs have an intolerance to Chicken, so I prefer to just stay clear and choose Lamb, Beef, or Fish as my dog's source of protein.

Flea and Tick-To keep my dogs healthy and free from ticks and fleas, I recommend using ProVecta Advanced or Frontline Plus. Some Aussiedoodles may be allergic to Ivermectin, so make sure you choose a brand that doesn’t contain that ingredient. Don’t forget monthly heart worm prevention medicene! We use Setinol.

Just for Fun Links:

The Buddy Bandana: (get matching scrunchies/headbands and bandanna's for your new pup)

          Use code: FINNILA for a percentage off!!

Ruffwear: (durable hiking gear, dog coats, and leashes/collars) - definitely recommend if you enjoy going on adventures!!

OneBigFurryWorld on Etsy: Super cute bandannas with custom names embroidered on them<3

StampOutLoud on Etsy: Hand stamped dog tags that last forever and don’t fade since they are indented!