Clear Supplies, Calm Setup

Our puppy essentials guide helps families prepare the first-week setup without overbuying, guessing, or missing the routines that make Go-Home day easier.

  • First-week setup explained
  • Crate, feeding, and travel basics
  • Grooming and enrichment guidance
  • Safety notes before you buy

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Start With the Essentials That Matter Most

Preparing for a Goldendoodle puppy should involve more than filling a cart with cute products. A new puppy needs a setup that is calm, clean, safe, easy to repeat, and built around the routines your family will use every day.

The best puppy essentials make life simpler before Go-Home day: predictable potty breaks, steady meals, crate naps, grooming comfort, safe travel, supervised chew time, and a home setup that keeps everyone from guessing when the puppy arrives.

This guide groups our favorite Goldendoodle puppy essentials by purpose: health and vet-guided care, walking, travel, crate setup, feeding, grooming, chews, and enrichment, so families can prepare the important pieces first without overbuying.

Health & Vet-Guided Care

Health & Vet-Guided Care essentials.

Dewormer product
Health

Dewormer

This dewormer is one of our preferred products for broad internal parasite coverage. It is effective against tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms, and we use it under veterinary guidance as part of our puppy care plan.

Overview →
Flea, heartworm, and tick preventative
Health

Flea, Heartworm, and Tick Preventative

For puppies and dogs that spend time outdoors, flea, heartworm, and tick prevention is an important part of long-term health. This is one of our preferred options because it offers broad protection in a simple format and should be selected with veterinary guidance.

Overview →
Omega 3 supplement
Health

Nutramax Welactin Omega 3

Omega-3 supplements can support skin, coat, eye, and brain health. This is one of the options we like for families who want to add a quality supplement to their dog’s routine.

Omega Soft Gels →
Ear cleanse
Health

TrizULTRA + Keto

Ear care matters, especially for dogs with floppy ears. This is one of the products we like for helping families maintain clean, healthy ears as part of a regular care routine.

Ear Cleanse →

Walking, Travel & Safety

Walking, Travel & Safety essentials.

Dog collar
Walking, Travel

Blueberry Pet Essentials Classic Collars

These collars are durable, affordable, and available in a wide range of colors. We like them because they’re practical for everyday use and easy to size as puppies grow.

X Small Version here →
Dog leash
Walking, Travel

Blueberry Pet Essentials Classic Leashes

These leashes pair well with the matching collars and are a practical everyday option for puppies and small adult dogs. We like them for their durability, color options, and ease of use.

5 5/8" Version →
Dog harness
Walking, Travel

PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness

These harnesses are one of our favorite options for everyday walks and early leash work. They’re durable, available in multiple sizes, and work well for many smaller Goldendoodle sizes.

Official Harness →
Car harness
Walking, Travel

EzyDog Drive Safety Dog Car Harness

For families who travel often, a quality car harness is worth the investment. We like this option because it is designed with safety in mind and offers a more secure setup for car rides.

Small →
Travel carrier
Walking, Travel

Mr. Peanut's Expandable Airline Approved Pet Carrier

This carrier is a strong option for families who plan to travel with smaller dogs. It offers a roomy design, good ventilation, and a more comfortable carrying experience than many basic carriers.

Overview →

Home Setup, Crate & Rest

Home Setup, Crate & Rest essentials.

Soft dog crate
Home Setup, Crate

AmazonBasics Collapsible Soft Crate for Crate Training

We like this folding soft crate for supervised indoor and outdoor use. It’s practical for temporary containment, travel, and creating a comfortable puppy space outside of a traditional wire crate.

26" Version →
Dog crate
Home Setup, Crate

MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate

A quality crate is one of the most important puppy essentials. It helps with house training, safe confinement, routine building, and giving your puppy a secure place to rest.

30" Version →
Dog bed
Home Setup, Crate

Kuranda Aluminum Chew Proof Dog Bed

We like this elevated bed because it works well indoors and outdoors, is easy to clean, and offers a more durable option for puppies that are hard on bedding.

Bed →
Puppy play pen
Home Setup, Crate

MidWest Homes For Pets Puppy Play Pen

A play pen can be a huge help during the early puppy stage. It creates a safe zone for supervised play, rest, and gradual freedom while your puppy is still learning the home routine.

30" Version →
Dog bowls
Home Setup, Crate

Basis Pet USA Made Stainless Steel Dog Bowls

We prefer stainless steel bowls because they are durable, easy to clean, and practical for everyday use. This brand stands out for quality and long-term reliability.

Dog Bowls →
Treat container
Home Setup, Crate

OXO POP Container

A good airtight container helps keep food and treats fresh and easy to access. This is a simple but very useful item for everyday puppy care.

POP Container →

Food, Training Treats & Feeding

Food, Training Treats & Feeding essentials.

Puppy food
Food, Training Treats

Purina Pro Plan Puppy Food

This is one of our preferred puppy foods because it offers a strong nutritional profile for growing puppies, including support for digestion, brain development, skin, and coat health.

Puppy Food →
Lickimat feeder
Food, Training Treats

Lickimat Dog Feeder

A Lickimat can help slow feeding, reduce boredom, and provide a calming enrichment activity. It works well with pumpkin puree, peanut butter, or other puppy-safe food options.

Feeder →
Dog treats
Food, Training Treats

Orijen Original Dog Treats

These are one of our favorite higher-value treat options. They’re useful for training, enrichment, and rewarding focus during puppy learning sessions.

Dog Treats →
Training treats
Food, Training Treats

Pupford Training Treats

These are a practical training treat option for short sessions, photo moments, and everyday reward-based learning. We like them because they’re easy to use and work well for many puppies.

Training Treats →

Grooming & Coat Comfort

Grooming & Coat Comfort essentials.

Shampoo and conditioner
Grooming

Buddy Wash - Shampoo+Conditioner

We like this all-in-one shampoo and conditioner because it’s practical, easy to use, and works well for maintaining a soft, clean coat.

Lavender and Mint →
Dog brush
Grooming

BioSilk Eco-Friendly Dog Brush

A good brush is essential for coat maintenance, and this one is a nice option for regular brushing and spreading natural oils through the coat.

Brush →

Chews, Teething & Enrichment

Chews, Teething & Enrichment essentials.

Chews
Chews, Teething

Earth Animal Beef and Chicken Chews

These chews are a nice option for puppies that need safe, engaging chew time. We like them because they are long-lasting and useful for supervised enrichment.

Beef and Chicken Chews →
Bully sticks
Chews, Teething

Natural Gnaws Bully Sticks

Bully sticks can be a useful supervised chew option for puppies that need something durable and engaging. We like these for their simplicity and long-lasting chew value.

Beef Bully Sticks →
Power chews
Chews, Teething

Nylabone Power Chews

Providing a variety of safe chew options can help redirect puppies away from household items and support healthy chewing habits.

Power Chews →
Soothing chew
Chews, Teething

Nylabone Puppy Soothing Chew

These soothing chews are a useful addition to a puppy chew rotation, especially during teething.

Chew →
Bob-A-Lot toy
Chews, Teething

Bob-A-Lot

This toy combines feeding and enrichment in a way that keeps puppies mentally engaged and physically active while they work for their food or treats.

Large Version →
Puzzle Snoop Orb
Chews, Teething

Puzzle Snoop Orb

This treat-dispensing puzzle toy gives puppies a fun way to work for rewards while staying mentally engaged. It can encourage licking, nudging, and problem-solving, making it a useful enrichment option for puppies that need low-impact activity.

Orb →
Benebone Wishbone Chew
Chews, Teething

Benebone Wishbone Chew

With bacon, chicken, and peanut butter flavor options, these chews give puppies a durable and engaging chew outlet. They’re a useful addition to a chew rotation and can help redirect chewing away from shoes, furniture, and hands.

Small →
Wooly Snuffle
Chews, Teething

Wooly Snuffle

A snuffle mat is a great enrichment tool because it encourages natural foraging behavior and gives puppies a fun way to work for food or treats using their nose. It’s especially helpful for slowing down fast eaters and adding calm, sniff-based work.

Snuffle →
Hound Game Brick
Chews, Teething

Hound Game - Brick

This puzzle toy is a strong option for puppies that need more mental engagement. It helps reinforce problem-solving, encourages focus, and gives families another way to add structured enrichment beyond standard toys and chews.

Brick Game →
Interactive Puzzle Casino
Chews, Teething

Interactive Puzzle - Casino

This puzzle adds another level of challenge by requiring puppies to unlock and open compartments before they can access rewards. It’s a fun way to build focus, patience, and problem-solving while making enrichment more engaging.

Casino Game →
Puzzle Toy Tornado
Chews, Teething

Puzzle Toy - Tornado

A classic interactive puzzle toy, the Tornado gives puppies a fun way to work for treats or food while staying mentally engaged. It’s a great option for rotating enrichment activities and preventing boredom.

Tornado Game →

Why Families Choose Us

Real Family Feedback, Loved Goldendoodles

  • Health-tested parents
  • Transparent pricing
  • Posted Go-Home dates
  • Owner reviews and videos
  • Family-raised from birth
  • Simple reservation steps
Video testimonial from an ABCs Puppy Zs family

Listen to Them

Real Stories From Forever-Home Families

Hear what the process felt like after Go-Home.

Read Owner Reviews