If this is your first pet, congratulations! Your life will never be the same again in the best way. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the “must-have” essentials you see on Amazon for pet parents, we’re sharing from our own experience of owning dogs for three decades of the most basic/essential items you should have to get started. 

A Crate That Is Your Dog’s Size

A good rule of thumb is that if your dog can comfortably stand up and turn around in the crate, it’s a good size. Chewy.com recommends that you measure the top of your dog’s head while sitting to its paws for height, and then measure their nose to the base of their tail and then add four inches for height and width of the crate. 

For our Bernese Mountain Dogs,  we usually have crate sizes at around  40″ x 26″ x 30″H to give them plenty of space.

Also, make sure you put on a comfortable blanket or towel to make it feel homier. For convenience’s sake, if you ever travel, we recommend you get a collapsable crate like this one.

A Favorite Chew Toy

This will take a bit of trial and error because some dogs are harder on toys than others. For example, buying a stuffed animal for your dog that likes to rip things will not be the best option, so try range until you find the right fit. Always make sure you are supervising your dog while introducing them to a new toy, especially if you have an aggressive chewer.

A couple of options to try:

• Frisbee or retrieving toy
• Tug-of-war/rope toys
• Balls
• Plush
• Squeakies (non-plush)

A Hair Removal Tool

Unless you have a non-shedding animal, (as is often the case with Bernadoodles) such as a  Poodle, this tool will be your best friend. Even if your new pet spends a lot of time outside, it’s amazing how much pet hair finds its way into places you never thought possible. One of the best ways to keep it under control (in addition to regular grooming), is to have a tool like this one on hand for furniture.

These are just 3 items, but they are tried and true! If you have other essentials that you think are a must, please share with us so we can add them to the list we recommend for first-time pet parents!