.... and if this doesn’t put you off - nothing will!

You can however, ease the pain considerably, by buying at a “Championship” Show or one of the bigger “Open” Shows - most accessory suppliers have stands there - choice is good and prices will be “as good as anywhere”. For “on-line” shopping, see ...

The Bed. - very important - this will become your dog´s own little area - call it private territory, or kingdom if you wish - but respect it. The first piece of advice is...Don’t buy your little puppy a lovely basket, lined with a duvet, covered by Colefax and Fowler! You’ll come down one morning to find the whole thing in shreds. Keep that for later - if you can still afford it. All young things - humans included - love to chew, and indeed it’s good for the teething process, but for this, see later under “toys”. In our opinion, the best beds are made of a reinforced, heavy duty plastic. They´re draft free, easy to scrub out, virtually indestructible and should last a proverbial lifetime. They´re “bean” shaped, and come in several colours and sizes - and that brings me to... “What size?”- the secret here is that a bed that is too big for a puppy, can be padded out with old blankets and towels, and within a year, be a really nice fit for a fully grown dog. Remember young children and how small they looked in their first real bed? Having said all that - you’ll need to “pen off” the area around the bed - so why not combine the two?.....

Puppy pens .... and “cages”. In the wild dogs live in dens - the entrance to which is limited. To allow your puppy free access around the house - or the car for that matter - is not only very bad for it, but it’s also dangerous. In our opinion, almost all puppies actually prefer the security of a cage or pen in the house, and definitely a cage in the car. Our picture shows the “side opening” door version - you may find the “up and over” door more convenient. They pack down when not required, so it’s a good idea to get the largest that you can fit into your kitchen - or wherever the little person is going to live. To make it really like a “den” - you could put it in a corner - with a sheet of wood on top - a useful storage place for toys, treats and brushes. All in all - it’s a rather expensive option for labradors - you’re going to need that “big bed”- within a year! The problem that many people have is finding a draught free spot in the kitchen - where you’re unlikely to keep tripping over the bed. This picture shows an excellent idea from one of our puppy owners - the bed is tucked into a corner - under a work-top - from where the dog can safely watch the world go by.

Bedding. Most puppies - at the time they’re collected - will have been used to sleeping on a product called “Vetbed”. There are cheaper imitations, but for at least the first few months, we recommend using the real thing - for all sorts of reasons. You’ll need at least four pieces, each at least the size of the base of the bed - and preferably all the way up the sides and over the top to form a “pillow”.

Hot Water Bottle. An ideal item to have around to put under the bedding of  a new puppy, a sickly dog - or one recovering from shock. “Snuggle-Safe” is solid hot water bottle without the hot water, about the size of a small dinner plate - non toxic, virtually indestructable and easily heated in a micro-wave - giving warmth for up to 12hrs.

Food and Water bowls - with stands - please! Don’t waste your money on cute little puppy bowls - buy full size stainless steel dog bowls. There are two types of bowl stands, screw in the wall, and free standing. If you’ve no wall to screw into, then you have little choice other than to buy two “shorter” ones at around 3 months old, and then two taller ones a few months later. Why buy a stand? - because it eases digestion, and reduces the strain on the puppy’s back and elbows when lost in that world of “food - glorious food!”
 For a fully grown dog, a 15” stand with a 10” bowl is ideal.

Toys and Chews. I once saw a kitchen chair leg that had almost been eaten through by a puppy - great for the mother-in-law, or the rentman, but no use to anyone else! Seriously though, puppies do chew, so the answer is to give them the right thing to do it with.  As with children, “squeaky” toys are fine and great fun, provided the nasty bits don’t come apart and get swallowed. The National Canine Defence League have a good choice - and the profits go to a good cause. Hide chews are very good, not only for young puppies - and their teeth, but for dogs of all ages ... see ...

Collars and Leads. In the old days, dog collars were made of leather and had to be fairly chunky to withstand fair wear and tear. Nowadays, there’s a very good selection of lightweight and brightly coloured collars and leads made of a nylon based webbing. The collar has only two purposes - to attach a lightweight lead, and to carry a small disc with your name, full address, post code and ‘phone number on it,  but not your dog’s name.

Brush and Comb. Don’t buy your little puppy a brush with teeth that would burst your car tyres! A child’s medium bristle is ideal. Yes - they do need brushing - and if you start at an early age, will absolutely love it and enjoy the“cuddles and fuss”- and  the “bonding” that goes with it.........and probably chew the brush handle.

Puppy food and creamed rice ... see ...
Car cage and window shades ... see ...
Baby powder and towels ... see ...
Insurance ... Often overlooked - but very important. We don’t allow puppies to leave until they at least have temporary cover. Your breeder will probably be able to arrange this.
The period of temporary cover gives you a chance to shop around for a policy that suits you, and your particular needs

 Any questions?- don’t be afraid to ask - any caring breeder will be only too pleased to help.

  ... It’s about time for ........ should be good fun!