Must Have List
36in crate
Natural Balance Dog Food
Chews
Leash, Collar, Tag & Microchip
Bowls
Food Storage Bin
36in crate
Natural Balance Dog Food
Chews
Leash, Collar, Tag & Microchip
Bowls
Food Storage Bin
The Reasons
MUST HAVES
- 36in Wire Crate - Try looking on Craigs List or Amazon for a better deal, If you get it off of Craigs list make sure you bleach it before using it with your puppy. This crate is big enough to house the dog for its entire life yet small enough that your puppy will see it as a den and not potty in it while house training. We like the wire as it is easy to store and take with you when traveling and allows for better ventilation in hot summer months.
- Natural Balance Adult Dog Food- There are many acceptable premium foods on the market and while we do not feed Natural Balance we have recommended it for years with great success. The reason we do not recommend what we feed is for two reasons 1) It is very hard to find in most areas and cannot be ordered online, 2) it has very high fat & protein percentages which our dogs need to live in the large pack on the ranch but your dog is not likely to need in a pet home environment.
We do not recommend using a puppy formula as we find that the calcium and phosphorus are not adiqatly balance in most brands for a border collie which causes them to grow to quickly resulting in crocked front legs. An adult formula will help slow the growth. Your puppy will still reach full size it will just take a bit longer to get there, we have been using adult formulas on our dogs for over ten years now with nice results.
Note: There are many online companies that will home deliver Natural Balance for cheaper then you can get it at Petsmart or Petco and they often do free shipping. When the puppy is 6-8 month he/she will be eating about a large bag a month before that it is easier to just go and pick it up but after that the home delivery is nice. Try Chewy.com if you are interested.
- Things to Chew on - If you don't know what it was when it was alive don't feed it to your dog when its dead! Over the years there have been a lot of bad thing pop up on the market, from poor quality ingredients to items being marketed that are deadly to dogs, because of this we recommend you only buy treats manufactured here in the USA.
-DO NOT FEED - Greenies, Nylabones or Rawhide - All have been known to cause blockages in the intestines.
Some Recommended Chewing Items:
Long lasting - Cow hooves, large knuckle bones, horns, antler (splits - the ones that have been cut to expose the middle),
A few minutes to an few hours - Pig ears, pig snouts, bully sticks, lamb ears,
Treats - For training we mostly use cheap Bar S hot dogs, they are human grade cheap and the dogs love them. We do also occasionally give good old fashioned milk bones in various flavors but if weight is an issue limit these as they are high in calories. Many dogs also love fruit and veggies and shrimp tails just google if it is poisonous to dogs first but many are ok and very healthy.
Below is were I order from, keep in mind I mostly order in bulk.
Antlers - http://www.michiganantlerart.com
Bones - https://www.chewy.com/redbarn-meaty-knuckle-bones-dog/dp/109123
Hooves - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040V8V2O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Bully Sticks - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JHN8D2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Leash - We typically recommend you buy a nice 6ft leather leash for training. Yes they are a bit pricier but a good quality leash is worth it. Do not let your puppy chew on this or any leash.
Collars - the good the bad and the ugly...
Flat Collars - lots of colors and styles but they will break the coat and can cause matting so make sure you take them off to brush underneath. This is what we train all puppies under 4 months old in but they are a poor choice to train an adult in.
Rolled leather - less likely to break the coat but cheap ones can bleed there color into the dogs white collar if it gets wet.
Choke Chain-least likely to break the hair and cause matting but if caught on something might not break away. This is what we train all of our dogs in after 4months of age. If you are going to have your puppy wear a flat collar regularly or you are afraid of him getting out then it is best to not only get tags but also pick a collar option that allows you to print your phone number directly on the collar. That way if the tags get pulled away from the collar your dog will still be identifiable.
Tag - Even with the invent of microchips we still recommend a good old fashion tag. Keep it simple - get a silver tag as the color rubs off the colored ones making hard to read. We recommend just a phone number so it winds up good and big. If someone has to read it at a distance the bigger the better. Rounded edges help keep the tag from snagging on something and ripping off. Remember a tag is a life and death option if you want dog jewelry buy a fancy leash.
Microchip - We do not chip our puppies but are happy to insert a chip for you if you buy and bring it with you when you come to pick up your puppy, which is a much cheaper option then your vet. This chip will work in the USA but is not an over seas chip, if you think there is a possibility you might travel overseas with you puppy let us know and we will get you different information.
https://www.amazon.com/HomeAgain-Microchip-Implant-Administration-Veterinarian/dp/B0002YFROI/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1476911911&sr=1-2&keywords=microchip
Food bowls and water buckets
We recommend stainless steel because the plastic pet dishes hold bacteria and can cause a nose fungus and the glass can break easily. Below is a link for a food bowl:
https://www.amazon.com/Bergan-Stainless-Steel-Bowl-17-Cup/dp/B004WA9O9M/ref=sr_1_14?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1476913286&sr=1-14&keywords=dog%2Bfood%2Bbowls&th=1
For outside water we recommend a large(13qt) light colored metal bucket as they are much easier to keep clean. The large size helps keep it cool in the summer.
https://www.amazon.com/Indipets-Heavy-Stainless-Steel-13-Quart/dp/B0033PR796/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1476913447&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=stainless%2Bsteel%2Bdogbucket&th=1
Food bin
Notoriously dog food bags rip and get all over or if kept in a garage can encourage rodents so we always recommend a food bin. We like the ones with flip lids as opposed to screw on. These can be picked up at WalMart or Target or order on Amazon and are relatively in expensive.
- 36in Wire Crate - Try looking on Craigs List or Amazon for a better deal, If you get it off of Craigs list make sure you bleach it before using it with your puppy. This crate is big enough to house the dog for its entire life yet small enough that your puppy will see it as a den and not potty in it while house training. We like the wire as it is easy to store and take with you when traveling and allows for better ventilation in hot summer months.
- Natural Balance Adult Dog Food- There are many acceptable premium foods on the market and while we do not feed Natural Balance we have recommended it for years with great success. The reason we do not recommend what we feed is for two reasons 1) It is very hard to find in most areas and cannot be ordered online, 2) it has very high fat & protein percentages which our dogs need to live in the large pack on the ranch but your dog is not likely to need in a pet home environment.
We do not recommend using a puppy formula as we find that the calcium and phosphorus are not adiqatly balance in most brands for a border collie which causes them to grow to quickly resulting in crocked front legs. An adult formula will help slow the growth. Your puppy will still reach full size it will just take a bit longer to get there, we have been using adult formulas on our dogs for over ten years now with nice results.
Note: There are many online companies that will home deliver Natural Balance for cheaper then you can get it at Petsmart or Petco and they often do free shipping. When the puppy is 6-8 month he/she will be eating about a large bag a month before that it is easier to just go and pick it up but after that the home delivery is nice. Try Chewy.com if you are interested.
- Things to Chew on - If you don't know what it was when it was alive don't feed it to your dog when its dead! Over the years there have been a lot of bad thing pop up on the market, from poor quality ingredients to items being marketed that are deadly to dogs, because of this we recommend you only buy treats manufactured here in the USA.
-DO NOT FEED - Greenies, Nylabones or Rawhide - All have been known to cause blockages in the intestines.
Some Recommended Chewing Items:
Long lasting - Cow hooves, large knuckle bones, horns, antler (splits - the ones that have been cut to expose the middle),
A few minutes to an few hours - Pig ears, pig snouts, bully sticks, lamb ears,
Treats - For training we mostly use cheap Bar S hot dogs, they are human grade cheap and the dogs love them. We do also occasionally give good old fashioned milk bones in various flavors but if weight is an issue limit these as they are high in calories. Many dogs also love fruit and veggies and shrimp tails just google if it is poisonous to dogs first but many are ok and very healthy.
Below is were I order from, keep in mind I mostly order in bulk.
Antlers - http://www.michiganantlerart.com
Bones - https://www.chewy.com/redbarn-meaty-knuckle-bones-dog/dp/109123
Hooves - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040V8V2O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Bully Sticks - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JHN8D2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Leash - We typically recommend you buy a nice 6ft leather leash for training. Yes they are a bit pricier but a good quality leash is worth it. Do not let your puppy chew on this or any leash.
Collars - the good the bad and the ugly...
Flat Collars - lots of colors and styles but they will break the coat and can cause matting so make sure you take them off to brush underneath. This is what we train all puppies under 4 months old in but they are a poor choice to train an adult in.
Rolled leather - less likely to break the coat but cheap ones can bleed there color into the dogs white collar if it gets wet.
Choke Chain-least likely to break the hair and cause matting but if caught on something might not break away. This is what we train all of our dogs in after 4months of age. If you are going to have your puppy wear a flat collar regularly or you are afraid of him getting out then it is best to not only get tags but also pick a collar option that allows you to print your phone number directly on the collar. That way if the tags get pulled away from the collar your dog will still be identifiable.
Tag - Even with the invent of microchips we still recommend a good old fashion tag. Keep it simple - get a silver tag as the color rubs off the colored ones making hard to read. We recommend just a phone number so it winds up good and big. If someone has to read it at a distance the bigger the better. Rounded edges help keep the tag from snagging on something and ripping off. Remember a tag is a life and death option if you want dog jewelry buy a fancy leash.
Microchip - We do not chip our puppies but are happy to insert a chip for you if you buy and bring it with you when you come to pick up your puppy, which is a much cheaper option then your vet. This chip will work in the USA but is not an over seas chip, if you think there is a possibility you might travel overseas with you puppy let us know and we will get you different information.
https://www.amazon.com/HomeAgain-Microchip-Implant-Administration-Veterinarian/dp/B0002YFROI/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1476911911&sr=1-2&keywords=microchip
Food bowls and water buckets
We recommend stainless steel because the plastic pet dishes hold bacteria and can cause a nose fungus and the glass can break easily. Below is a link for a food bowl:
https://www.amazon.com/Bergan-Stainless-Steel-Bowl-17-Cup/dp/B004WA9O9M/ref=sr_1_14?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1476913286&sr=1-14&keywords=dog%2Bfood%2Bbowls&th=1
For outside water we recommend a large(13qt) light colored metal bucket as they are much easier to keep clean. The large size helps keep it cool in the summer.
https://www.amazon.com/Indipets-Heavy-Stainless-Steel-13-Quart/dp/B0033PR796/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1476913447&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=stainless%2Bsteel%2Bdogbucket&th=1
Food bin
Notoriously dog food bags rip and get all over or if kept in a garage can encourage rodents so we always recommend a food bin. We like the ones with flip lids as opposed to screw on. These can be picked up at WalMart or Target or order on Amazon and are relatively in expensive.
Optional Items List
- 28in travel crate with two side doors
- Toys
- Crate Games Video
- 28in travel crate with two side doors
- Toys
- Crate Games Video
The Reasons
28in crate - we know that most people don't want to buy one crate let alone two and thats fine each to there own. But if you are willing to crate train buying a second crate for travel is not a bad idea. We find this crate fits better in hotel rooms and cars and so we have added it as an option. Another option is to just get this crate so you have it for travel and puppy house training and skip the larger one.
Toys - there are literally millions of toys on the market everything from toys to keep your puppy busy by himself to toys that are interactive with you. If you think it might be fun its probably out there and it 18 different colors. We personally don't offer many toys to our puppies as we have a lot of other dogs for them to play with and prefer that they focus on us during training as opposed to a toy. Talk with your trainer early on about using a toy reward as opposed to food and decided if you want toys in your house and how many. Special Note: plush toys - if you are leaning towards being a toy household (which most are) start out with just one well made plush toy. If your puppy doesn't shred it then you can get more however if he does then don't buy they as the chance for choking and ingestion is higher.
Crate Games Video - I waved between putting this on the must have list but you can really You Tube a lot of the infer that is in it. This video is filled with good games to do during that time before your puppy is fully vaccinated and stuck at home. It also teaches a dog to be calm and that a crate is his/her own personal space (which we all need sometimes). I know many people are opposed to crate training especially when the puppy doesn't like it at first but after 25+ years training I can tell you that having it as a skill just incase is a very good idea and that your window to train a dog to like and behave well in a crate decreases after puppyhood. Below is a link were you can order it from, sometimes it can be found on Amazon:
https://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=dta287
Toys - there are literally millions of toys on the market everything from toys to keep your puppy busy by himself to toys that are interactive with you. If you think it might be fun its probably out there and it 18 different colors. We personally don't offer many toys to our puppies as we have a lot of other dogs for them to play with and prefer that they focus on us during training as opposed to a toy. Talk with your trainer early on about using a toy reward as opposed to food and decided if you want toys in your house and how many. Special Note: plush toys - if you are leaning towards being a toy household (which most are) start out with just one well made plush toy. If your puppy doesn't shred it then you can get more however if he does then don't buy they as the chance for choking and ingestion is higher.
Crate Games Video - I waved between putting this on the must have list but you can really You Tube a lot of the infer that is in it. This video is filled with good games to do during that time before your puppy is fully vaccinated and stuck at home. It also teaches a dog to be calm and that a crate is his/her own personal space (which we all need sometimes). I know many people are opposed to crate training especially when the puppy doesn't like it at first but after 25+ years training I can tell you that having it as a skill just incase is a very good idea and that your window to train a dog to like and behave well in a crate decreases after puppyhood. Below is a link were you can order it from, sometimes it can be found on Amazon:
https://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=dta287
Travel Items
24 or 36 in x-pen
Bleach
Spray Bottle
Size 300 or bigger Plastic crate
Shavings or Pellets
Wet wipes
Trash Bag
4-5 old or dog towels
24 or 36 in x-pen
Bleach
Spray Bottle
Size 300 or bigger Plastic crate
Shavings or Pellets
Wet wipes
Trash Bag
4-5 old or dog towels
Reasons
Traveling with a dog is much like traveling with a child. having the proper equipment especially for that first (most stressful) trip can be a real help. These are some items that are very helpful if you are traveling to pick up from longer distances. Like children traveling becomes easier as the puppy get older.
If the puppy needs to go potty on that first car ride home it won't be as easy as just putting a leash one him because he has not been leashed. If you try and leash walk him not only are you potentially exposing him to all kinds of diseases but he is also likely to completely forget all about potting as he struggles to get free of the leash. So your other two options are to get an x-pen, which is basically a portable fence, or set a crate up so he can potty in it.
Please see Gotcha Day for more instructions on set up of these two option.
If the puppy needs to go potty on that first car ride home it won't be as easy as just putting a leash one him because he has not been leashed. If you try and leash walk him not only are you potentially exposing him to all kinds of diseases but he is also likely to completely forget all about potting as he struggles to get free of the leash. So your other two options are to get an x-pen, which is basically a portable fence, or set a crate up so he can potty in it.
Please see Gotcha Day for more instructions on set up of these two option.