Here are recommendations & links to products I use and recommend
Food – I feed Loyall Life by Nutrena. I also recommend Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice formula. I buy my dog food at Tractor Supply Store; it’s all natural, no wheat, no corn, and no soy. It's an all life stages food so no need to buy a special puppy food.
Toys/Treats – NO RAWHIDE. I provide empty plastic water bottles with no lids, labels or plastic rings on them. The puppies love to make noise with these. Tug toys are great as well as stuffed toys. For chewing I give cow hooves, they last a long time and don’t break off in chunks which can cause a blockage however, once they get to small they need to be thrown away. For treats I give Pupperoni brand treats, my dogs love them. They can be purchased at Wal-Mart. ALWAYS SUPERVISE YOUR PET WHILE PLAYING WITH ANY TOY.
Containment – I recommend the use of an Exercise pen (ExPen). You can buy them from Petsmart/Petco but they are cheaper on Amazon.com, Wayfair.com most of these places provide free 1 or 2 day shipping. I use this in my own home for puppies. Puppies are like having a 18 month old baby around all the time, if you can’t watch the baby you put them in their playpen. Exercise pens are like playpens for puppies. If you can’t watch your puppy put him/her in the exercise pen. You can purchase a lid for it as well. I consider Ex Pens a MUST HAVE!
Crate – I recommend wire crates simply because of air flow. I don’t like the plastic crates to use on a regular basis. Plus it’s easier for your puppy to see you in a wire crate.
Pee Pads – You will need pee pads until you have transition your puppy to outside. Place the pee pad in the ExPen. The key to potty training your puppy is not allowing him/her to roam in too large a space to soon. Another reason Expens are a must have. – I NO LONGER USE PEE PADS FOR POTTY TRAINING. I LITTER TRAIN MY PUPPIES
Litter Training – I use a large cat litter box or shallow storage tray about ¼ full of alfalfa pellets. I feel this is the best way to potty train small puppies. I keep it in their Ex Pen close to their bed. I buy the alfalfa pellets at my local Tractor Supply store, they are also sold at livestock feed stores.
Grooming – If you are going to do your own grooming you will need a slicker brush, pen brush, comb, nail clippers, forced air dryer for dogs, grooming table, grooming arm, nice smelling shampoo & conditioner, rechargeable dog grooming clippers, a good pair of scissors, ear powder, a product called QuikStop (used in case you cut a nail to short). I recommend watching YouTube videos and purchasing the book: Poodle Clipping and Grooming: The International Reference by Shirlee Kalstone. This book is great and it has step by step photos of many different Poodle clips. It took me a couple of years of grooming my own dogs before I felt that I could really make them look nice. Do lots of research and watch lots of videos. If you have a chance to go to a show or grooming seminar that helps too, there are grooming schools that offer Poodle grooming seminars so keep an eye out for those as well.
Collar/Lead – When your puppy is just 8 weeks old you probably will have to use the smallest collar you can find. Once he/she is older you can buy a permanent collar. By the time your puppy is 5 months you should be able to get a collar that’ll last him/her a while. I also like a harness because they are harder for your dog to escape if you go somewhere and they get scared. A collar that does not fit properly will slip off over his/her head and your dog can get away, especially if they get scared while out on a walk. I like to use FlexiLeads when walking my dogs to potty. If I’m going to take them to an outing I use a 6 foot nylon lead to have better control in case we are approached by strange dogs.
Training – Your puppy can start obedience training as soon as he/she has received all his/her immunizations. I recommend finding a good trainer and signing up for a class. You can start the basics as early as 8 weeks. I recommend going to http://leerburg.com/ and purchasing some of his videos on puppy training. There are tons of articles, podcasts and eBooks on the website too that are a great source of information.
Things to AVOID! – When taking your puppy to the vet DO NOT place him/her on the floor. The dog next to you could have Parvo! Keep your puppy safe and keep them in their carrier elevated on the office chairs. I never place my puppies or their carrier on the floor at the vet office. Don’t let them sniff the dogs next to you and don’t let other dogs sniff your puppy.
Taking your dog to dog parks, PetSmart, PetCo and other pet stores is taking a huge risk with your puppy/dog. You risk disease, parasites and attacks. I never take my dogs to any of these places because other people don’t always have control of their dogs, especially large breeds. Your puppy is small and it would only take a second for him/her to be seriously injured or killed by a dog attack. Dog attacks can happen so quickly you don’t even realize what’s happening until it’s too late. Here’s an article on why going to dog parks is a bad idea: http://leerburg.com/dogparks.htm
Even as an adult I don’t take my dogs to these places because of the risk of disease. I stopped going to pet stores years ago because every time I went with one of my dogs I would bring home kennel cough. If you decide to take your puppy on these outings things to make sure you do are: DO NOT place your puppy on the ground, keep him/her safe by carrying him/her or placing him/her in a shopping cart.
LINKS
The dog food I buy:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/nutrena-loyall-life-all-life-stages-chicken-rice-dog-food-40-lb-bag
I buy these for my dogs to chew. NO RAWHIDE:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/jones-natural-chews-co-beef-hooves-pack-of-10?cm_vc=-10005
These are the alfalfa pellets I buy for the litter box:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dumor-alfalfa-pellets-50-lb?cm_vc=-10005
Here's a link to the xpen I use. Your puppy will be used to staying in this and I highly recommend having one available. This way you have a place for him to stay when your not home or when you can't watch him....you can put his food/water down and have his litter box available for him:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H904WI/ref=twister_B07FV3PPL2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Link to a slicker brush. I buy my grooming products from a different place but these are basically the same things I use. To use on coats less than 2 inches long:
https://www.amazon.com/Hertzko-Slicker-Grooming-Dematting-Removes/dp/B077JVB51X/ref=sr_1_21?keywords=slicker+brush&qid=1560092203&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-21
Pin Brush.....for longer coats or to use after using a slicker brush:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OGLMZWU/ref=twister_B07KRJDGD6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Poodle Comb....after using a slicker brush/pin brush use the comb to make sure there are no mats. You have to go to the skin or there will be mats unless you keep your puppy shaved down: https://www.amazon.com/Andis-2-Inch-Steel-Comb-65730/dp/B004UTDHP2/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=poodle+comb&qid=1560092420&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-7
Toys/Treats – NO RAWHIDE. I provide empty plastic water bottles with no lids, labels or plastic rings on them. The puppies love to make noise with these. Tug toys are great as well as stuffed toys. For chewing I give cow hooves, they last a long time and don’t break off in chunks which can cause a blockage however, once they get to small they need to be thrown away. For treats I give Pupperoni brand treats, my dogs love them. They can be purchased at Wal-Mart. ALWAYS SUPERVISE YOUR PET WHILE PLAYING WITH ANY TOY.
Containment – I recommend the use of an Exercise pen (ExPen). You can buy them from Petsmart/Petco but they are cheaper on Amazon.com, Wayfair.com most of these places provide free 1 or 2 day shipping. I use this in my own home for puppies. Puppies are like having a 18 month old baby around all the time, if you can’t watch the baby you put them in their playpen. Exercise pens are like playpens for puppies. If you can’t watch your puppy put him/her in the exercise pen. You can purchase a lid for it as well. I consider Ex Pens a MUST HAVE!
Crate – I recommend wire crates simply because of air flow. I don’t like the plastic crates to use on a regular basis. Plus it’s easier for your puppy to see you in a wire crate.
Pee Pads – You will need pee pads until you have transition your puppy to outside. Place the pee pad in the ExPen. The key to potty training your puppy is not allowing him/her to roam in too large a space to soon. Another reason Expens are a must have. – I NO LONGER USE PEE PADS FOR POTTY TRAINING. I LITTER TRAIN MY PUPPIES
Litter Training – I use a large cat litter box or shallow storage tray about ¼ full of alfalfa pellets. I feel this is the best way to potty train small puppies. I keep it in their Ex Pen close to their bed. I buy the alfalfa pellets at my local Tractor Supply store, they are also sold at livestock feed stores.
Grooming – If you are going to do your own grooming you will need a slicker brush, pen brush, comb, nail clippers, forced air dryer for dogs, grooming table, grooming arm, nice smelling shampoo & conditioner, rechargeable dog grooming clippers, a good pair of scissors, ear powder, a product called QuikStop (used in case you cut a nail to short). I recommend watching YouTube videos and purchasing the book: Poodle Clipping and Grooming: The International Reference by Shirlee Kalstone. This book is great and it has step by step photos of many different Poodle clips. It took me a couple of years of grooming my own dogs before I felt that I could really make them look nice. Do lots of research and watch lots of videos. If you have a chance to go to a show or grooming seminar that helps too, there are grooming schools that offer Poodle grooming seminars so keep an eye out for those as well.
Collar/Lead – When your puppy is just 8 weeks old you probably will have to use the smallest collar you can find. Once he/she is older you can buy a permanent collar. By the time your puppy is 5 months you should be able to get a collar that’ll last him/her a while. I also like a harness because they are harder for your dog to escape if you go somewhere and they get scared. A collar that does not fit properly will slip off over his/her head and your dog can get away, especially if they get scared while out on a walk. I like to use FlexiLeads when walking my dogs to potty. If I’m going to take them to an outing I use a 6 foot nylon lead to have better control in case we are approached by strange dogs.
Training – Your puppy can start obedience training as soon as he/she has received all his/her immunizations. I recommend finding a good trainer and signing up for a class. You can start the basics as early as 8 weeks. I recommend going to http://leerburg.com/ and purchasing some of his videos on puppy training. There are tons of articles, podcasts and eBooks on the website too that are a great source of information.
Things to AVOID! – When taking your puppy to the vet DO NOT place him/her on the floor. The dog next to you could have Parvo! Keep your puppy safe and keep them in their carrier elevated on the office chairs. I never place my puppies or their carrier on the floor at the vet office. Don’t let them sniff the dogs next to you and don’t let other dogs sniff your puppy.
Taking your dog to dog parks, PetSmart, PetCo and other pet stores is taking a huge risk with your puppy/dog. You risk disease, parasites and attacks. I never take my dogs to any of these places because other people don’t always have control of their dogs, especially large breeds. Your puppy is small and it would only take a second for him/her to be seriously injured or killed by a dog attack. Dog attacks can happen so quickly you don’t even realize what’s happening until it’s too late. Here’s an article on why going to dog parks is a bad idea: http://leerburg.com/dogparks.htm
Even as an adult I don’t take my dogs to these places because of the risk of disease. I stopped going to pet stores years ago because every time I went with one of my dogs I would bring home kennel cough. If you decide to take your puppy on these outings things to make sure you do are: DO NOT place your puppy on the ground, keep him/her safe by carrying him/her or placing him/her in a shopping cart.
LINKS
The dog food I buy:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/nutrena-loyall-life-all-life-stages-chicken-rice-dog-food-40-lb-bag
I buy these for my dogs to chew. NO RAWHIDE:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/jones-natural-chews-co-beef-hooves-pack-of-10?cm_vc=-10005
These are the alfalfa pellets I buy for the litter box:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dumor-alfalfa-pellets-50-lb?cm_vc=-10005
Here's a link to the xpen I use. Your puppy will be used to staying in this and I highly recommend having one available. This way you have a place for him to stay when your not home or when you can't watch him....you can put his food/water down and have his litter box available for him:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H904WI/ref=twister_B07FV3PPL2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Link to a slicker brush. I buy my grooming products from a different place but these are basically the same things I use. To use on coats less than 2 inches long:
https://www.amazon.com/Hertzko-Slicker-Grooming-Dematting-Removes/dp/B077JVB51X/ref=sr_1_21?keywords=slicker+brush&qid=1560092203&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-21
Pin Brush.....for longer coats or to use after using a slicker brush:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OGLMZWU/ref=twister_B07KRJDGD6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Poodle Comb....after using a slicker brush/pin brush use the comb to make sure there are no mats. You have to go to the skin or there will be mats unless you keep your puppy shaved down: https://www.amazon.com/Andis-2-Inch-Steel-Comb-65730/dp/B004UTDHP2/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=poodle+comb&qid=1560092420&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-7