Crates

Lets start with crates. One of the most important things that you will need for your dog. I suggest having one crate for the car and one for the house. You can get by with just one crate but it may get annoying carrying it back and forth. I use RuffLand Kennels in the car and a combination of RuffLand, Wire, and Basic plastic crates in the house. 

 

I highly recommend crating your dog in the car for it's entire life. It is way safer than any other option. A lose dog is a potential projectile if you are ever in an accident. The crate is similar to a car seat for a toddler, you wouldn't put your toddler in the car without a carseat, a crate for a dog should be a similar concept. Some other benefits to car crating is you have somewhere to contain the dog mess (hair, dirt, etc), they can't be destructive if crated, they're not a distraction while driving, and you have a safe, out of sight place to leave the dog if you are out and about and can't bring them inside.  

 

I personally prefer RuffLand Kennels for my own dogs in the car. They are much safer than a wire or basic plastic crate in the car. They're easy to wash out, they don't take up a ton of space, aesthetically pleasing, fit nicely in my car, and do not rattle like wire crates. They are more pricey so that's really up to you if you choose to make that investment. For the car, smaller is better. If you're in an accident it is safer for dogs to have less space to be jostled around on impact. I prefer the Intermediate size for all Aussies. Now for at home the bigger boys (+60lbs) might prefer a Large if they like to sprawl out, but I've found that most Aussies will curl up in their crates anyways. If you're fine with just the plain white colored crate Scheel's is the cheapest I've found them new, or if you live near a Cabela's I've learned that they will price match Scheels if you show them the web price. 

 

For wire crates, right now they are all using 24" crates. You can buys a puppy crate and then upgrade to an adult size crate when they grow out of it or get the adult size and use the included divider until they grow bigger. I do suggest keeping the crate to only enough room for them to stand up, turn around and lie down. Any bigger and you may run into issues with them going potty in the crate. I suggest getting a 36" crate for their adult crate.​

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• 24" Wire Puppy Crate

• 36" Wire Adult Crate

• 28" Plastic Puppy Crate

• 36" Plastic Adult Crate

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X-Pens

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I really want to emphasize how important this tool is. These puppies do not have the bladder control that my last litter had at this same age. They are not sleeping through the night yet. Setting your puppy up in an x-pen with a litter box overnight or when you are gone from the house for more than 2 hours the first couple weeks will be a game changer. There is no shame in slowly acclimating your puppy to longer periods of time in the crate and eventually phasing out the x-pen for bedtime or when you are gone. You will all be happier and better rested using an x-pen at first. 

 

I also suggest using an exercise pen for when your puppy is young, even for puppies fully crate trained. This gives them a controlled environment, limited accidents or destructive behaviors while giving them more room to move around than a crate when you aren't directly supervising them. These are also great for traveling/camping/dog shows if your dog might need a space to move about but you don't want to be stuck holding them on leash the whole time. I have found that 36" height is adequate for most dogs. 

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• X-pen with door (Amazon Link)

• X-pen with door (Chewy Link)

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Litterbox/Litter

​I don't use beds in their crates at this age. They tend to pee on them or dig around in them. If I do get puppies a bed I get them a primo pad with the tie downs. It's the only bed that survives in their crates during puppyhood. Instead I use beds to teach place or for them to chew their bones on throughout the house or in their x-pen. These are my 3 go-to bed options for puppies.

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• Litterbox

• Pine Wood Litter
  You can get this at a local feed store in 40lb bags as well. It's just called pine pellet bedding. Pine is the best route for litter as it is non-toxic if they eat it.

• Litter Genie
  Game changer for easy clean-up but might not be necessary if you end up phasing the litter box out quickly

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Beds

​I don't use beds in their crates at this age. They tend to pee on them or dig around in them. Most don't ever use a crate bed do to getting to hot, but usually even if they like beds they can't be trusted with them until about 2 years old. If I do get puppies a bed I get them a primo pad with the tie downs. It's the only bed that survives in their crates during puppyhood. Instead I use beds to teach place or for them to chew their bones on throughout the house or in their x-pen. These are my 3 go-to bed options for puppies.

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• Midwest Crate Bed
  For crate beds I find most puppies either prefer the plastic crate pan as they run hot. Some do like beds though and I prefer these basic beds for in their crate. they are cheap and easy to wash.

• Primo Pads
  For an easy to clean bed that is durable and keeps your dog cool, Primo Pads are my go-to.

• Coolaroo Elevated Bed :
  My dogs love these beds. It's one of the few they consistently use. They also love to play on them and are great for place training. I have several in the house and backyard. Easy to clean, I usually just hose them down. 

 

Bowls/Water

​I suggest feeding these puppies from elevated bowls until 18 months. This helps strengthen the pasterns (ankles) while they are growing quickly. Their mother had weaker pasterns as a young dog and feeding her elevated helped her pasterns. It also makes them less likely to mess with the bowl. I also use these water buckets in various sizes for in crates at home and in the car. 

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• MidWest Stainless Steel Snap'y Fit Dog Kennel Bowl :
  Great basic bowl. I use stainless steel bowls only as they're easy to clean and sanitize, they don't absorb harmful bacteria like ceramics and plastic can. Once they are older and not needing to eat elevated I usually remove the clip on part and just use the bowl on the floor.

• Indipets Heavy Duty Pail with 2 Hooks, 1-qt
  I have at least a dozen of these pails. I hang them on x-pens or crates for easy water access. Really great for offering water while traveling. They do work on RuffLand doors too. 

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Grooming

​While they are young I suggest giving puppies a bath once a week or every other week minimum. It is very important to get them used to grooming as much as possible while they are young. This will make your job (or your groomer's job) SOOO much easier as they get older. After 6 months I switch to monthly baths and at about 18 months every 4-8 weeks. Nails should be trimmed or dremeled every 1-2 weeks throughout their whole lives.

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• #1 All Systems Super Cleaning and Conditioning Shampoo :
  I like this shampoo for in between shows. Has a great scent and helps the coat stay healthy and hold good texture.

• Pin Brush :
  Good for daily body brushing.

• Greyhound Comb :
  You'll use this more than any other comb/brush. Perfect for linebrushing and combing out the undercoat. I use a greyhound comb more than anything else in my grooming kit.

• Nail Clippers
  I suggest trimming nails weekly

• Ear Rinse 
  I suggest cleaning ears weekly or at a minimum every 2 weeks.

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Ear Gluing Supplies:

• Tear Mender Glue
  This is the glue I use. It is a fabric glue that works well. I will teach you how to glue their ears.

• Uni-Solve Wipes:
  I use these to remove the glue. It also comes in a bottle but I prefer the wipes.

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