11/25/2020
Surprise! We are getting a golden retriever puppy in TWO DAYS and we could not be more excited. His name is Nashville and he is the most adorable thing we have ever seen, we can’t wait to love him forever.
Getting a puppy entails a lot of preparation, and we have been hard at work getting our little apartment ready with everything the puppy could need over the past month. I did a ton of research to make sure I had everything covered, but wish there had been a comprehensive list of everything I needed, so I am going to make one here!
1. Crate. Full grown golden retrievers will need a 42 inch crate, so we went ahead and got that with a divider so that we can expand it as the puppy grows. This one also folds down and collapses into an easy to transport version.
2. Bed. We got ours from Petco because we wanted to touch and feel it before committing. We got a big version that fits in the large crate so that we don’t have to buy a new one when the puppy grows!
3. Cord protector. We have several cords around the living room where the puppy will mainly be hanging out. We added cord protectors to all of them and taped them to the wall as well to avoid chewing as much as possible.
4. Dog collar. We got a small size that expands up to 12 inches, but we know he will grow out of that quickly! This one was just simple and cheap!
5. Leash. A matching black leash to use just while we are practicing going on walks. We will likely upgrade after the puppy grows and gets better at more complicated walks and hikes.
6. Name tag. We got a personalized one from Petco with his name and our phone number on the back.
7. Cabinet locks. We plan to keep our pup in the kitchen sometimes while we are gone, so we had to make sure that he can’t get into any of the cabinets and make a mess!
8. Car seat hammocks. We got 2 of these, one for each of our cars. Hopefully this will avoid potty accidents, hair, mud/dirt, or car sickness ruining our seats.
9. Food & water bowls. We got this nonslip version that we will keep in our kitchen to avoid messes as much as possible.
10. Apple bitter spray to deter chewing on furniture.
11. Treats. Training treats, mini milk bones, greenies, and some fun ones from a recent bark box!
12. Dog camera with two way audio and an app to check in on the pup if we have to leave him alone.
13. Grass pad for the balcony. We live on the third floor in an apartment and we are going to try to avoid letting the pup go outside in the complex until all his vaccinations are finished.
14. Training bells. We plan to use these to help the pup learn to tell us when he needs to go to the bathroom outside!
15. Christmas clothes! Sweaters, mittens, bandanas, and matching pjs. We have gotten some from TJ Maxx (or similar), and got some custom bandanas from a friend.
16. Air purifier. Brandon has allergies so to avoid him getting sick from all the new hair, we are going to keep this air purifier in our bedroom.
17. Blanket. In blue because “It’s a Boy!”
18. Hiking water bottle. This version also comes with some collapsible travel bowls.
19. Christmas stocking. Because, duh, we are very merry.
20. Training clicker. This is supposed to be helpful when learning all the essential obedience skills!
21. Air tight food container. We are keeping this in our pantry. We got ours from TJ Maxx.
22. Dry food. We decided to go with Purina One because it can be found at the grocery store and is a cheaper but still high quality option. We got the large breed puppy version!
23. Pet gate. We got it from TJ Maxx and it’s actually kind of cute! We will use it to keep pup in the kitchen while we are gone, and maybe to protect our Christmas tree if needed.
24. Dog shampoo & brushes from Petco. We are planning to keep him very well groomed to avoid as much shedding as possible.
25. Playpen. We will use this to keep him contained especially when we are at other people’s houses!
26. Roomba. We asked for one of these handy vacuums for Christmas because they are pretty pricey, but we think it will be very helpful!
27. Toys! We have an assortment of stuffed animals, tennis balls, chew toys, and some fun holiday themed ones from Barkbox.
28. Cleaning supplies. We got 2 versions of stain and odor remover for when the pup inevitably pees on the carpet.
29. Pee pads! These will go in the kitchen if we have to leave him alone, and in the car for long rides.
30. Paw wipes. We have one pack in each of our cars and one right when you walk into our apartment to hopefully avoid muddy footprints!
