The Ultimate New Puppy Set Up

My Recs

Crate

• Divider (usually comes with crate)

• Absorbent washable crate pad (2-4 of them)

• Lick mat like Kong, Pupsicle, Lick bowl, or Diggs attachment

 

Use the crate for both daytime naps and nighttime crate training. Start by inserting the divider so your puppy has just enough room to turn around and comfortably lie down. A good rule of thumb is to begin with about 25% of the kennel space and gradually increase it as they progress.

 

Crate pads may get chewed or soiled while your puppy is learning, so starting with something inexpensive is ideal. Having a couple on hand is helpful so you can rotate while one is in the wash.

 

Drape a crate cover, old blanket or old towel (they can tend to chew on them through the crate so don’t use your favorite items for this) over the crate to create a cozy, dark, den-like environment and block out outside stimulation during naps. Add a Snuggle Puppy and soft lullabies, and you’ll have the perfect setup for calm, quiet rest time.

 

During the day, the crate can be placed inside the playpen, and in the evening it can stay there as well if that works for your setup. Otherwise, place it in an area where any initial whining won’t disturb you or other family members, and in a room that isn’t too warm or too cold. Puppies tend to run warm, so a slightly cooler environment is ideal for rest.

 

I also like to use a dog camera or baby monitor (or something similar) so you can keep an eye on your puppy without disturbing them.

 

Video to explain how to use lick mat.

 

Playpen for in the house

Option 1 Option 2

• 24-32” minimum height

• Absorbent washable base pad 48x48 or the size of the playpen (2-4 of them)

• Little wolves potty tray

  • 22x22 Potty pads

  • Pine pelletized bedding (I will provide a sample)

  • Alfalfa pellets (I will provide a sample)

• Donut bed

• Snuggle puppy (I will provide)

• Toys

• Chews (I love antlers or bully sticks. Bully sticks are smelly but don’t typically cause tummy troubles. Everything else I’ve tried gives them loose stools)

• Food bowl

• Splash proof, dig proof water bowl

 

The play pen is your puppy’s safe place any time you can’t give them your full attention. Puppies should not have free run of the house early on doing so almost always leads to more accidents, more bad habits, and a longer potty-training process. The play pen sets clear boundaries and helps your puppy succeed.

 

Some puppies will protest being confined to a play pen instead of roaming freely. That’s normal. What’s important is not giving in to the protest. If whining or barking earns freedom, they’ll quickly learn to repeat it. Consistency here pays off big time.

 

When you can’t actively engage with your puppy, offer appropriate enrichment inside the pen. Kibble puzzles, snuffle mats, and lick mats are great tools that teach them how to self-soothe and entertain themselves. This is a skill they’ll carry with them long after puppyhood.

 

Food and water bowls can be placed inside the play pen. This is especially helpful in homes with young children where bowls might otherwise be tipped or played with. It’s also great if you have another dog in the home that you don’t want getting into the puppy food and vise versa. Just be mindful to pick water up a bit before naps or bedtime to help prevent accidents.

 

The potty tray is also a helpful addition during the early weeks while puppies have very small bladders. As your puppy grows, they’ll naturally be able to hold it longer between potty breaks. The potty tray isn’t meant to be permanent (the goal is always outdoor potty training) but it’s a useful transitional tool for catching frequent potties and reducing accidents while your puppy is still learning.

 

Keep the play pen stocked with just the essentials: safe chew toys, enrichment items, a cozy crate, and enough space to move around comfortably without overstimulation. A calm, predictable setup helps your puppy settle faster and builds independence, confidence, and good habits from the very beginning.

 

Playpen for the yard

Option 1

Option 2

A small outdoor playpen is perfect for potty breaks, especially in the early days. Keeping the space limited helps your puppy learn faster through scent recognition, clearly defining their new potty area. It also keeps them safely contained so they don’t wander off, get into trouble, or end up covered in mud, especially as we head into spring.

 

For even stronger scent association, you can sprinkle a few of the pine or alfalfa pellets in the area. This reinforces where they’re expected to go and helps make potty training more consistent.

 

Carpet/rug protection

Repellant material to place over any rugs or carpet you don’t want ruined.

 

Cleaners

This spray helps eliminate the odor so your puppy can’t smell the accident again and create scent recognition in the wrong place

Buy a spray mop with removable pad just for cleaning up puppy messes. I like to remove most of the mess with paper towels and spray then go over again with the spray mop.

This little machine is wonderful for cleaning up messes on carpet or upholstery and has a self cleaning function.

Gloves can often be overlooked but are so useful when you’ve got a big mess. Especially helpful when cleaning the potty tray.

 

At Home Grooming

This soap is great.

These are the only brushes you need. Slicker metal comb

A fine tooth comb is helpful to get any eye boogies out, or poop that’s stuck to their feet, behind, or coat.

A trimmer is great to have to keep extra hairs away from their sanitary areas. Dingleberries are a real thing with doodles since their hair grows so close to that area. 😅

Nail clippers and filer

Scissors to trim hair out from eyes in between grooming appointments.

 

My new puppy schedule currently:

• Wake up

• Take puppies to outside playpen

• Fill food/water bowls

• Bring puppies in for breakfast

• Eat

• Play/train

• Potty break

• Puppies spend time in playpen while I get things done and can’t be supervising them

• Potty break

• Nap in playpen or crate

• Potty break

• Lunch time training session with lunch portion of food

• Play

• Potty break

• More playpen time with sound desensitization playing in background(it’s okay for them to be left alone. This instills independence and teaches boundaries)

• Potty break

• Nap

• Potty break

• Play

• Potty break

• Playpen time

• Potty break

• Supper for puppy while we do supper as a family

• Potty break

• Big nighttime play/training session

• Potty break

• In the crate for bedtime

• Clean playpen area so it’s fresh for morning