Coming off the heels of having a Doberman puppy live with us for a month, we gained a wealth of experience. We learned, above all, that these are the Doberman puppy supplies you absolutely need and should always have on hand.
This is the second guide in the Doberman Puppy Guide series. I published a guide on puppy pick-up day detailing what to expect when you go to pick up your puppy. This guide explains each puppy supply you’ll need and having them on hand at all time will make your life easier.
Table of Content
- Paper Towels
- Puppy Training Pads
- Doggy Bags
- Enzymatic Stain and Odor Remover
- Ultrasonic Training Device
- Treats
- Carpet Cleaner (optional)
Paper Towels
Yes, your usage of paper towels will increase, so keep a steady stock in your house and available at all time. Your Doberman puppy will have accidents, sometime multiple throughout the day. You will see your newly replaced paper towel being used up in real time
I recommend Amazon brand, Presto! paper towels. They are cost effective and just as effective as any other store bought name brands.
Puppy Training Pads
No doubt you’ll crate train your puppy as part of its housebreaking regimen. Forget lining the crate with a crate bed or blanket on the mean time. If you work and don’t have a pet sitter, it is guaranteed to be soiled. And it’ll cost you more in water and electricity bill having to wash it every time it happens. Instead, line the crate tray with a disposable pet training pad.
We use AmazonBasics Heavy Duty Regular Pet Dog and Puppy Training Pads.
Doggy Bags
This is a given. You should have a box or two supply of doggy bags that should last you several months. I would go as far a put in an Amazon subscription. Not only will you get a steady supply on a set interval, you may also receive a discount for the subscription.
I prefer Earth Rated brand because the bags are pretty solid, thick and tear resistant to a certain degree. The scented bags are pretty strong and it hides the stinky poop smell pretty effectively.
Enzymatic Stain and Odor Remover
Without a doubt, your best friend during the first month of puppy companion is your enzymatic stain and odor remover. As mentioned before, your Doberman puppy will have accidents. There’s no ands, ifs or buts around it. An enzymatic stain and odor remover spray will come in very handy, especially if you have carpet. I recommend purchasing a spray bottle plus a gallon jug of the enzymatic cleaner to refill as needed.
Ultrasonic Dog Trainer*
An ultrasonic dog training device is useful tool to have. Such a device emits a sound wave that human ears cannot pick up but will easily grab your puppy’s attention. It can be used to stop your puppy from barking incessantly. It can also be used to train your puppy to stop engaging in undesirable behaviors, such as digging, nipping or repeatedly going to an area it shouldn’t. You can even use it to stop your puppy on its track from pottying in your home. Ideally, you want to use the device at the very minute you see your Doberman puppy copping a squat.
The device sends a sound wave that startles your puppy. It doesn’t hurt the puppy. When using it to correct a behavior, always reward your puppy with praise or a treat if it corrects its behavior. Use it as negative reinforcement for undesirable activities.
*Note that this device is ineffective to dogs with hearing impairment.
Puppy Treats
In addition and conjunction to the ultrasonic training device, we use treats as positive reinforcement for good behavior. We’ve gone through a variety of treats, some with good results, some not so good, and one that gave Atlas loose stool. We’ve ordered some organic bake-it-yourself treats from Knead Love Bakeshop. Turns out Atlas particularly enjoy treats from this company. His favorite flavor is their Carrot & Cheese flavor and especially their limited edition Beef Jerky & Cheese recipe.
We bake the batter in silicone dog bone mold, not the paw mold, and they come out in the perfect size. We store the finished treats in the Knead Love container. I usually break the treats in half or into 4 pieces and can train Atlas to do specific commands in no time. I will write a full detailed product review for Knead Love Bakeshop product in the near future.
As Atlas grew older, we switched to dehydrated meat treats such as Freeze-dried liver bites from XDog.com or the treats from Peach and Stella’s.
Carpet Cleaner
A carpet cleaner is entirely optional and only necessary if you have a carpeted home. If you do have carpet in your home, especially where your Doberman puppy will spend most of its time, it is a great investment. I would even go as far to say it is a necessity.
You may alternatively rent a Rug Doctor from a local grocery store (for about $45 / a day plus $9 in cleaning solution), but a high performing carpet cleaner, such as a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro carpet cleaner, 1986, will pay for itself after 4-5 use.
And take my words for it, if you have carpeted floors with a Doberman puppy, like we do, you will definitely put it to use. We personally own this carpet cleaner and it works like absolute magic. We invested in the Bissell specifically because of Atlas but now we’re wondering why we didn’t invest in one earlier! The Bissell Antibacterial 2-in-1 Carpet Cleaner is an absolute must have companion for any carpet cleaners. The carpet cleaner itself includes a trial size bottle good for up to 3 cleanings. If your Doberman puppy urinates on your carpet multiple times a day, throughout several weeks or months, a spot stain and odor remover can only do so much.
Besides, who can argue against using your own carpet cleaner at your own leisure in the comfort of your own home? No contracts to sign for equipment rental, no (refundable) security deposit, no time limit for usage (24 hours), no hassle of loading and unloading it into and from your car (the Rug Doctor is heavy and heft). Until Atlas is completely housebroken, we use this carpet cleaner at the beginning of each month under Max Clean mode.
A Happy Puppy is a Happy You
And there it is, the Doberman puppy supplies that you absolutely need. Raising a puppy is a challenge in itself, make it easier on you by having all the supplies listed in this guide on hand – at all time.
I will create another guide detailing essential toys, chews and games for a Doberman puppy. These essential items will stimulate your Doberman puppy’s mind, alleviate its energy indoor and outdoors. They will also curb destructive behaviors such as chewing on objects not meant for chewing.