Perfect Puppy Essential Equipment (Trainer-Approved)

New puppy incoming? 🐶 Congratulations… and commiserations. It’s hard work. But having the right puppy equipment makes life easier, safer and a lot less bitey.

Over the years (& more money than I’d like to admit), I’ve tested a lot of gear. This guide pulls together my perfect puppy essential equipment list so you can skip the trial-and-error and go straight to the good stuff.

You can get cheaper alternatives (I’ve bought them), but these are my top picks for comfort, safety and ease of use. As with most things, you tend to get what you pay for.

Contents

• Treat Pouch
• Dog Lead
• House Line
• Padded Collar
• Walking Harness
• Pens & Bedding
• Grooming
• Gut Health
• Cleaning Essentials
• Calming & Anxiety
• Agility & Garden Fun
• Fashion & Weather Gear
• Chews
• Interactive Feeders
• Training & Recall Treats
• Toys
• Travel

Treat Pouch

Dog Gone Good Treat Pouch: I would never leave for walkies without my treat pouch on. I’ve been using these for years. They have a structured, quick-release opening for easy access to treats (avoid draw-string pouches) and a handy compartment for Earth Rated poo bags.

Dog Lead

Halti Double Ended Training Lead: In my opinion, the best lead on the market. Comfortable in the hand, versatile, and very good value. The double-ended clips mean you can attach to both front and back of a harness or clip around your body for hands-free training.

House Line

This lightweight house line is brilliant for exploring puppies who’ve decided the sofa, coffee table, or cat are their new hobbies.

Instead of physically moving your pup with your hands (which can create negative associations or trigger a bite), you can gently guide them away using the line. It also helps with early recall so you’re not standing in the garden shouting their name ten times over.

Padded Collar

Halti Padded Collar: If your dog could choose a collar, it would probably be this one. I usually leave Bear’s collar on with his ID tag—just in case someone leaves the back gate open and he fancies taking himself walkies.

The collar is reflective and made from soft neoprene, making it far more comfortable than stiff leather. The quick-release fastening makes it easier to take on and off than a buckle.

Watch: Correct Collar Fitting to make sure you get the size just right.

Walking Harness

Ruffwear Front Range Harness: Simply one of the best everyday harnesses on the market. The Y-shape keeps shoulders free, padding adds comfort, and the two connection points help with control and loose-lead walking.

There’s also a lightweight version for smaller or more sensitive breeds.

Watch my Faff Free Harness Fitting video and read why to avoid horizontal strap harnesses.

Pens & Bedding

Generally I recommend a large pen instead of a tiny crate. This gives your pup more room to exhibit natural behaviours—stretching out, playing with toys, and moving between bed, chew and toilet areas.

GO BIG. The bigger the pen, the more flexible it is, and the less likely your puppy is to launch themselves over the top.

VetBed is perfect for a cosy sleeping area and also works really well in the car.

One of my best toilet training tips is to invest in a dedicated toilet pen by the back door. It keeps your puppy safe before they’re fully vaccinated, stops them gardening or eating half your borders, and helps establish a solid toileting routine much faster.

Grooming

Dual Grooming Brush: Brilliant brush from Furminator. It keeps your dog looking their best, reduces loose hair around the house and gets them used to being touched and handled—which your vet and groomer will thank you for later.

Read more handling and grooming tips in my full Grooming article.

Gut Health

Pro-Kolin: MOST diarrhoea is caused because dogs eat EVERYTHING and have no idea what’s good for them.

We’ve all been there, mopping up when the dog has a dodgy tummy. Keeping a tube of Pro-Kolin in the cupboard is a great way to restore balance to the force—simply squirt over their meal.

I also use Protexin Synbiotic, which includes both pre and probiotics to support a healthy gut—especially useful for new puppies adjusting to a new home, food and routine.

Cleaning Essentials

Simple Solutions Extreme: For toilet accidents you want an enzyme-based cleaner which breaks down stains and odours properly—otherwise your puppy will keep returning to the same spots.

For solids, I prefer handled poo bags—have a look at Earth Rated Poo Bags.

Calming & Anxiety Support

Anxiety can show up in lots of ways—car travel, fireworks, separation, visitors. Start with good training and realistic expectations. For extra support, read my articles on Tips For Separation and Fireworks.

There are some helpful products too, such as ADAPTIL plugs, Pet Remedy Spray and ThunderShirts. Always pair these with kind, force-free training for best results.

Agility & Garden Fun

Setting up some basic agility equipment in the garden is great fun and provides mental and physical exercise. Trixie do a great range of reasonably priced kit including jumps, weave poles, tunnels and hoops.

Your dog should usually be at least one year old before starting formal agility, but simple poles and tunnels in the garden can help with body awareness (proprioception) and provide fun socialisation experiences much earlier.

Fashion & Weather Gear

Who doesn’t love a bit of canine couture? There are coats, jackets and jumpers for every occasion—just make sure your dog can move freely and isn’t overheating.

Take a look at my seasonal guides: Summer, Winter and Evening wardrobe recommendations.

Chews

Chewing is the buffet of life. It’s a natural dog behaviour and should absolutely be encouraged—on appropriate items.

The more suitable chewing outlets you provide, the less likely your dog is to chew the things you’d rather they didn’t (fingers included).

Have a read of my full Chewing article and prepare yourself with the right chew for the right job. You’ll also find my top picks in the Chews section of the online shop.

I always keep a bag of Pizzle Sticks (tightly sealed!) in the cupboard as a high-value chew, plus a selection of long-lasting options on rotation such as Bamboodles and Benebones.

Interactive Feeders

Bear has NEVER eaten from a plain bowl. They’re so old-fashioned. I’ve always fed him from a variety of interactive feeders.

Read: Ditch The Food Bowl to learn why they’re such a game-changer for most dogs. For food, I tend to recommend an 80/20 dry food such as AATU, but you’ll find more independent suggestions in my Dog Food guide.

When he was a puppy, Bear loved his Snuffle Mat and Kong Activity Balls. Now he’s older, he’s obsessed with his Gnawt-a-Rock, and I regularly use a Green Feeder because it’s so quick and easy to use.

When I leave the house, I’ll often give him a well-stuffed Kong—it lasts the longest. Watch my Killer Kong video for how to get the most out of them. It can take him around 1.5 hours to finish!

Check out the Interactive Feeders section of our online shop for the full list.

Training & Recall Treats

In the early days I primarily use the pup’s normal diet to reinforce good behaviour (apart from toilet training). But once you start getting out and about—or coming to class—you’ll need something a bit more exciting.

I still see owners turn up with heavily processed, low-value rubbish. Always read the label; dog food marketing is very good at hiding poor ingredients.

Check out my articles Does Your Dog Have Selective Hearing? and Dog Not Coming Back? for more on why treat choice matters so much.

It really helps to have a clear difference between your everyday training treats and your special recall treats. Read: Using The Right Treat For The Right Job—honestly, it’s a game changer.

Variety is the spice of life. By rotating your treats, your dog is always wondering, “Ooooh, what’s in the goody bag today?”—and is more likely to keep checking in with you.

Sprats are my go-to “training treat” with Bear, along with JR Fresh Meat Treats. For particularly fussy dogs, I use Thrive Pro Reward—they call it the “professional’s secret” for a reason.

For recall treats, you can’t go wrong with the Pet Munchies options I’ve chosen in the Online Shop. I also love JR Chicken Pâté and JR Meat Sticks for top-tier value.

You can view the full range of tried and tested treats on our Online Shop.

Toys

Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely LOVE Tug-E-Nuff toys. I think Bear practically has the whole collection.

Different toys serve different purposes. The Rabbit Skin Pocket Squeaker and Pocket PowerBall Magnet are perfect for walks—small enough to fit in your treat pouch or pocket for quick “Find It” games or recall rewards.

Dogs love to chase, so chaser toys like the Sheepskin Bungee Chaser are brilliant for giving that natural urge a safe outlet. They’re also fantastic when your legs and feet are under attack by blood thirsty puppies. If that’s you right now, read my Ultimate Guide To Surviving Vampire Puppies.

And if you know Bear, you’ll know he’s rarely seen without his favourite ChuckIt! Ultra Ball. Remember: always go BIG with balls—watch this to see why tiny balls can be so dangerous.

You can see the full toy selection in the Toys section of our Online Shop.

Travel

Dogs should always be properly secured in the car—either with a crash-tested harness or in a suitable crate. On the back seat, the CarSafe Harness is one of the only crash-tested options on the market.

Dogs can also develop fear around the car if journeys are stressful or they feel unwell. For all my tips on motion sickness, car confidence and the best travel kit, read my article Car Travel.

These are the products that have helped me most over the years—both with my own dogs and countless puppies I’ve worked with.

By choosing the right tools for the job, you’ll get better results, more quickly, and with far less stress for everyone. Do let us know how you get on—and I’d love to hear some of your own recommendations too. x

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