Below is a list of recommended items to have on hand and some safety information, please do not feel you need all of these items and if you are already a dog owner you will already have a lot of these things. Use the list as a guide.
Crate. Choose from a wire or hard-sided airline type. Do not use a soft-sided crate as puppy may chew his way through. The crate should be big enough for puppy to stand up, turn around freely and stretch out but not so big as to go potty at one end and sleep at the other. A good size to start with for a whippet puppy is an intermediate size about 21"X 28"X 22"H. You will need to get a larger one as puppy grows. Some larger wire crates come with dividers which grows with puppy. You may also want a smaller crate for your car to transport puppy. (Crates are used to help housebreak/ potty-train puppy- never used as a extreme confinement or punishment.)
Crate bedding. Crate sized mats or use an old towel or blanket until puppy gets past the shred-everything stage. An old t-shirt with your scent on it can be comforting to puppy, too.
Collars. Buckle style and a martingale. Buckle collars are best and come in leather or nylon. Martingale collars are modified choke collars and keeps puppy from backing out of it's collar when on a leash. I like to use martingales when puppy is older. (Note: NEVER attach dangling I.D. tags to the center ring of a martingale collar. This ring is for the leash only.) Get puppy used to wearing a collar right away. No wearing a collar while in a crate, it can get caught and become a hazard.
Leash. Six feet length. Get several. Keep one by the front door, one by the back door, one near his crate (out of reach of puppy) and one in the car. Nylon is less expensive than leather but a good leather leash will last a lifetime provided it doesn't get chewed on- don't let puppy get in the habit of biting his leash.
Food & water bowls. Stainless Steel is always a good choice.
Storage bin for puppy's food (dry kibble). I use a large plastic storage bin with a snap on lid. I keep the kibble stored in it's original bag, not dumped into the container.
Puppy treats. Soft type and crunchy type. Soft are good to train with.
Toys. Toys with squeakers. Toys without squeakers. Toys that talk. Toys should be fun! Plush toys hold scent and are great to cuddle against. Hard toys rubber toys, soft Frisbees, balls are great for hard play. One can go nuts buying toys. Keep toys to a minimum at first so to not overwhelm puppy. Rotate toys to keep them 'new' and 'fresh' to puppy. Have outside toys and inside toys. Supervise puppy when playing with toys.
Chew toys. Chilly bones, Gumabone, etc. Toys meant to chew on. Avoid rawhides. Supervise and check chew toys often for wear and tear.
Toenail clippers. A MUST have. Handle puppy's feet daily; trim (tip) puppy's toenails at least once a week.
Doggie toothpaste and toothbrush. Puppy will be losing his baby teeth but this gets him used to having his mouth messed with for when he gets his permanent teeth in.
Puppy shampoo.
House bed. Whippets love Cozy Cave beds! Dr. Foster & Smith sells them on their website. Every year on the day after Thanksgiving on Black Friday they have them for sale 1/2 price so we buy them then. Large is a good size for a Whippet.
Enzyme Odor Remover. Nature's Miracle, Simple Solution, etc. for any accidents
Bitter Apple spray. Use on anything you don't want puppy to chew on. Get the large. (Note: a few puppies find these bitter deterrents yummy, if so, Tabasco sauce works pretty good.)
Pooper Scooper. Or you can use a hand held garden spade or sandwich size zip-top bags in an emergency (turn bag inside out to scoop poop.) Always pick up after your puppy.
Baby gates. Get a good dog gate. Minimum 24" high. Do not get baby gates meant for human babies- the plastic mesh type. Puppy will chew through these. You may need more than one depending on the openings you want blocked.
Exercise pen or ex-pen. Useful as a puppy 'playpen' in the house or, when opened up, makes a extra, extra wide baby gate.
Doggie first aid kit. Should contain stretch bandages (VetWrap), gauze pads, eye wash for dogs, alcohol prep, foil blanket, triple antibiotic cream, instant cold pack, tweezers, etc. Check with your vet for more info. Keep a kit at home and a smaller one in the car. Check contents often for expiration dates.
Sign up for Puppy Kindergarten. Usually around 16 weeks old or after the final round of shots.
Doors. All doors to your house leading to open unfenced areas need to be regarded as a safety hazard area to be cautious around with your new pup until he gets older and secure that this is his home. TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND EVERYONE THAT COME TO YOUR DOOR that they absolutely CANNOT let your dog out of the doors and they need to slide in carefully so not to leave space for the whippet to dash out and MAKE SURE ALL THESE DOORS ARE THEN SECURELY LATCHED after exiting or entering!
Outside gates. If you have a gates, I highly recommend you padlock them when you are not using the gates. Have a sign on the gate that says "please keep the gate closed at all times". But do not depend on all humans to take the signs seriously, therefore padlocks will give you peace of mind.
Walking. Make sure anyone who is taking the puppy for a walk, especially children, understands they must always keep a secure hold of the lead. As a sighthound with a strong prey drive they can find things like squirrels, birds, and rabbits irresistible to chase. They can dart forward quickly if they spot something. Be careful to not lose hold of the leash. Your puppy could be down the street or in the road before you know it.
Puppy Supply List
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