Okay, now you are going to be adding a very special addition to your family.  Puppies are like human children, they need STUFF!  Well, this is a list that I have compiled (with the combined efforts of people who have purchased a puppy from Wachusett American Eskimos) that you might find helpful.  This list includes items that your puppy will be using on a daily basis and grooming items.  Links are provided at end of list for suppliers

1. 300 Vari Kennel Crate* (size:  Intermediate)
2. Car Harness (an option if you don't use a crate) (more info coming)
3. Wire Crate** (Med 30Lx19Wx22H in )
4. (2) 1 quart ProSelect X-Super Heavy Non-Tip Poodle/Cocker Bowls (2) one for Food and one for Water (This type of bowl is a MUST for an eskie! Why? Puppies love to play in water, and if they take after their mom, they will also try and tip their food dish.)
5. Flat-sided stainless steel bucket (1 quart size) for a crate or when traveling... (ZT644 ... PetEdge)
6. Simple Solution or Nature's Miracle to clean up accidents.
7. Universal Curved-back Slicker Brush (large:  PetEdge OF2)
8. 27 mm Chris Christensen OBLONG Pin Brush (Cherrybrook) (pricy, but well-worth the price, I have several and in fact I have one that I use for my OWN hair!)
9. Mini-Mite Dremel grinder (re-chargeable battery operated you can get these at Wal-Mart or at Sears, but be sure it's a Mini-Mite (5,000-10,000 rpms), as the rpm's on any other size is too high, though if you have a Dremel Multi-Pro that would work, but keep the rpms at no more than 15.  (Don't waste your money on the one advertised on TV!)
10. Quik-Stop Gel (from PetEdge Item RH30501 (1 oz size) or RH31104 (4 oz size))
11. Scissors or battery operated clippers (for clipping the hair of the pads)
12. Grooming table*** (This is easily made from materials you can get at Home Depot or probably Lowe's.  You will find that grooming a dog on a table is easier than doing it on the floor.  I have found that eskies love to be on the table... You should start them off while they are young and have plenty of treats and reward your puppy when s/he behaves well; do not reward bad behavior.) (How to make your own table [table 1] [table 2]... the size suitable for an eskie would be 24" x 30").  Another reason why it is good to train your puppy on a table... the vet visit!
13. Food
14. Vitamins/Joint Supplement
15. Red Barn BullySticks I usually buy 12 inch size and use an electric chop saw and cut them to 6 inches.

*Note:  Petmate is the manufacturer of Vari Kennel crates.  They have re-designed the crates since I purchased mine between 1995-2005.

**   ProSelect Gold Fold-Down Crate with Fleece Crate Bed #ZW259 (PetEdge)
**   ProSelect Gold Fold-Down Crates #ZW151 (crate only) (PetEdge)
*** A picnic table w/a rubber bath mat works well, don't use your dining or kitchen table!
 

PetEdge click HERE
Cherrybrook click HERE

For grooming tips click here: grooming

Shampoos

Bio-Groom Protein-Lanolin (available through PetEdge, Cherrybrook, and PetCo) 
Bio-groom Super Blue**** (available through PetEdge, Cherrybrook, and PetCo)
Baby Shampoo works in a pinch... diluted 6-8 parts water to 1 part water.
Dawn Dish Detergent works straight when trying to remove staining (grass, etc) from the hocks... Not to be used on the entire coat!

(**** Just because eskies are white dogs, doesn't necessarily mean that you need to use a blue or purple shampoo every time, in fact, I only use a blue or purple shampoo on their legs and feet and if they are really really dirty... If you use too much of either a purple or blue shampoo and you don't get it all out, the coat will have a gray cast to it.)

Toys

Absolutely NO Soft VINYL / PLASTIC  or LATEX toys!  These are major hazards to dogs, especially if they choke on the noisemakers.  

Plush toys are fine, new or used tennis balls are excellent.  Kongs are good, these are made of rubber, but do not buy any tug toys... This can turn into aggressive behavior and can also cause "bite" problems (orthodontia). Puppies are going to be doing a lot of chewing.  

Suggestion... get a milk crate* and introduce only 3 toys at a time...  the milk crate serves two purposes... 1. a place to put all of the toys at the end of the day 2. the puppy learns what are her/ his toys and where they can be found... Though I must admit Kajika loves to grab anything he can when he is released from his crate in the morning, i.e., my sneakers, slippers, he has NEVER EVER destroyed them! (What a good boy!)

*I keep a milk crate with all the toys in it and Kajika knows that as soon as he is permitted out of his crate in the morning, he makes a bee-line to his "toy box," gets a toy, runs around the kitchen island several times... I ask if he has to go out (I know that he does); he looks at me to say "No, not yet Mom, I gotta go around the island a couple of more times."  Then when he is ready, I tell him "release" and he allows me to take the toy from him or I tell him toys cannot go outside and I take the toy from him... so he has a routine, and he has also learned to release an object from his mouth freely.

Treats

1. Bullwrinkles (Red Barn Bullysticks) (NOT to be given on a daily basis)
2. Uncooked knuckle bones, when puppy is older (yes, uncooked!  uncooked bones are soft and will not splinter) will help clean their teeth... But please, after your dog is finished with the bone pick it up... I toss the bones after 2-4 days)
3. Avoid edible treats that have color additives... There's a recipe on this site to make your own.
4. Also good are rawhide chews, but be sure they are manufactured in the good ole USofA ... Your vet might even have dental chews, I believe it is available from your vet under VRx Products... CET Chews.

Other good stuff

Baby gates!  These are wonderful!  I have picked up a package of two at BJ's at for $20!  They are 24" high. You can get these in other heights at Wal-mart or K-mart.  They are probably cheaper at the discount stores than at Petco or Pet Smart.

Bitter Apple... But I have a home remedy recipe for this.  This is used to deter chewing either on wood or anything that you don't want you puppy to destroy.  I recently also sprayed straight white vinegar on something, and one of the puppies didn't like that at all!  Of course  when using any of these things test in an inconspicuous area to see if there is any color change or whatever.

White Vinegar  Another use of white vinegar is if puppy pees or defecates on the carpet, I pick it up or blot it, then spray it with white vinegar (generally to the point of saturation) then blot it up. I have used it as a chewing deterrent.

I don't use any flea or tick control on my dogs only because when they start horsing around that's usually one the places they like to grab each other.   I do have a home remedy recipe for fleas and ticks... and it works for mosquitoes, flies... AND you can even use it on yourself and children... there are no harmful chemicals in it... 

 

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