Your Puppy Starter Kit
It’s time to get ready - your new puppy will be home soon, and we couldn’t be more excited for you! To help make the transition smooth and stress free, we’ve created a thoughtfully curated Puppy Starter Kit designed to give both you and your puppy the very best beginning.
This kit includes essential items your puppy is already familiar with, helping ease the adjustment and provide a comforting sense of continuity as they settle into your home. It’s our way of saying thank you and setting you up for a confident, successful start together.
Your Puppy’s First Week
To help your puppy transition smoothly, we’ve introduced them to the “umbilical tether method”—a proven approach where your puppy stays gently leashed to you when out of their crate. This helps prevent potty accidents, discourages unwanted chewing, and teaches appropriate behavior through calm, consistent guidance. It also reinforces that your hands are used for affection and reward, creating positive, trusting interactions from the very beginning.
As your puppy becomes consistent with potty training and begins ringing the potty bell to go outside, the need for constant leashing will gradually decrease and eventually no longer be needed.
To support you, we’ve provided a helpful collection of YouTube training videos under the “Training Videos” section of our website. These walk you through the same methods we’ve already started, helping you continue your puppy’s training with confidence and consistency.
Be sure to watch the video below for helpful tips on creating a smooth and successful first week at home!
Feeding Your Puppy
Your puppy is currently eating Life’s Abundance All Life Stages dog food, a premium formula designed to support steady growth, healthy digestion, and overall development.
You have two feeding options moving forward:
Continue with Life’s Abundance - this is the food your puppy is already accustomed to and is recommended for the smoothest transition and best results. You’ll receive access to order at preferred pricing.
Choose your own food - If you prefer a different brand, we ask that you select a high quality food with 27% or less protein to support slow and steady growth and to help avoid digestive upset.
To determine how much to feed:
It’s normal for puppies to feel a little unsettled during their first few days and occasionally hesitate to eat. To help, use a non-tip bowl placed in a quiet area or crate. If needed, add a small spoonful of the provided canned food and a bit of warm water to soften the kibble. Most puppies settle quickly and resume normal eating within a few days.
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Presented By Pat Hastings - Structural Evaluator
Order Vitamins
Your puppy has been started on NuVet Plus vitamins to support a strong immune system healthy skin and a soft, shiny coat.
We typically begin with the powdered form for easy mixing into meals during early development. As your puppy grows, many transition to the tablet form, which most dogs enjoy as a treat.
While NuVet vitamins are not required to maintain your Okefeild Acres health warranty, they are a supplement we’ve found helpful in supporting overall health and long-term wellness.
If you’d like to continue with this supplement, you can order directly using the link below and enter order code 21317 at checkout.
Order Dog Crates
Crate training is one of the most effective tools for housebreaking - and we’ve already laid the foundation for you! Your puppy will come home with a strong start, having been gently introduced to crate time and gradually conditioned to rest comfortably. While a short adjustment period is normal in a new environment, most of our puppies are sleeping through the night within their first week home.
If you’re flying in or choosing personal air delivery, your puppy will also be introduced to an airline-approved soft-sided travel crate in the days leading up to the flight.
Below, you’ll find our most recommended crate options - including soft-sided airline carriers, durable plastic crates for car travel, and adjustable wire crates for home use. We’ve included sizing guidance to help you choose the best fit for your puppy’s stage and size.
Apartment Potty Option
For families in apartments or high-rise living, having a practical indoor potty option can be very helpful during the early stages of training.
One option is a puppy apartment-style setup, which uses a divided crate design with a designated sleeping area on one side and a separate potty area on the other. This creates a clear, consistent space for your puppy to rest and relieve themselves when quick outdoor access isn’t available.
This setup can be especially useful as a temporary solution while your puppy is still developing bladder control and learning a routine. As your puppy matures and becomes more consistent, you can gradually transition fully to outdoor pottying.
Tip: Amazon carries tall heavy duty round pens that an adult dog can use as adults, a great option when they are housebroken but need to be contained.
Order Grooming Supplies
Your puppy will come home freshly groomed and ready to impress! To keep them looking and feeling their very best, we recommend scheduling a light bath and trim about three weeks after coming home, followed by a full grooming appointment every six to eight weeks.
If you plan to do some grooming at home, we’ve put together a list of trusted products we personally use with our own Goldendoodles. These tools make brushing, bathing, and maintenance much easier and more effective. Click below to explore and order the items we know and love!
Vaccines /Health Care
Once your puppy is chosen, a copy of their health chart will be texted to you so you can conveniently schedule upcoming veterinary visits based on the recommended timeline.
Your puppy will have received a 4 week Neopar Parvo, 5 and 10 week Bordetella, 6, 8, 12 and 16 week 5 way Parvo (depending on go home date), rabies, if received 12 weeks or older, de-worming every 10 days since birth, Totrazuril twice and a microchip.
Our vaccination schedule is thoughtfully spaced to support optimal health while minimizing unnecessary stress on your puppy’s developing immune system. While some veterinary offices may recommend administering multiple vaccines in a single visit - including Lepto and Corona vaccines, or RNA based vaccines —we encourage following the schedule we provide, based on years of experience and a more conservative approach.
By following the recommended schedule, you’re helping reduce the risk of sensitivity during early growth and helping your puppy build a strong and stable foundation for long-term health.
Important Note:
Full protection against Parvovirus is achieved one week after your puppy receives the 12-week Parvo booster. Until then, it’s perfectly fine to attend puppy classes in clean, controlled environments. However, we recommend avoiding dog parks, pet stores, and other public areas where unknown dogs may have been.
Final Vet Check
At seven to eight weeks of age, your puppy receives a full physical exam and fecal test. A health record will be included in your puppy’s health folder.
As part of our program, all puppies are placed on a spay/neuter agreement to support long-term health, temperament, and responsible placement.
You have two options:
Early Spay/Neuter (completed by us)
This is performed at 7–8 weeks of age during your puppy’s final veterinary visit and is included in the purchase price. Puppies recover quickly at this age and are typically back to normal activity within a day.
Spay/Neuter by 7 Months (completed by your veterinarian)
If you prefer, you may choose to have the procedure completed by your own veterinarian by 7 months of age.
If an umbilical hernia is present, it can be repaired at the same time. Our veterinarian provides appropriate pain management, and puppies are closely monitored during recovery.
Flea/Tick Prevention
And Lawn Care
Your puppy’s long-term health is incredibly important to us, which is why we take a more natural and cautious approach to flea, tick, and lawn treatments. We recommend avoiding chemical-based preventatives such as oral or topical medications, flea collars, medicated shampoos, and chemically treated lawns. Instead, we encourage using safer, natural alternatives that support your puppy’s overall well-being.
We’ve had excellent results using Wondercide, a natural alternative that is both safe and effective. Their yard and pet products help eliminate fleas and ticks at all life stages while also repelling future pests—without exposing your puppy to unnecessary chemicals.
To learn more about the products we trust and recommend, visit the link below.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and can pose serious health risks to your puppy. To protect them, it’s important to use a monthly heartworm preventative during seasons when mosquitoes are active.
When selecting a product, we recommend speaking with your veterinarian about a heartworm medication that does not include combined flea and tick treatments, as these added ingredients can sometimes cause sensitivity in young puppies.
Some puppies may experience mild digestive upset, such as loose stools or stomach sensitivity, when first introduced as a preventative. If this occurs, your veterinarian can help you choose an option that your puppy tolerates well.
Enjoy Preparing!
These are the most important areas to understand as you prepare for your new puppy, and that makes all the difference. With the right start, your puppy will transition smoothly into your home - and Janet will be here to guide you every step of the way as you have questions, our team is here to help!
