Puppy Starter Kit
Puppy Starter Kit: Everything You Need Before Pickup Day
The weeks before your puppy comes home are exciting — and it is very easy to overbuy. Walk into any pet store and you will find approximately four hundred products all claiming to be essential. Most of them are not. This list is what we actually recommend — the things that will genuinely make your life easier and set your Collie puppy up for success from day one.
We have split it into essentials and nice to haves so you know exactly where to start.
The Essentials
Housing & Containment
Crate
We recommend the Midwest 36 inch crate for a Collie — it is the right size for a fully grown adult and comes with a divider panel so you can make the space smaller and more appropriate for a puppy in those early weeks. A crate that is too large too soon gives a puppy room to toilet in one corner and sleep in another, which works against house training. Start small and expand as they grow.
[Amazon link — Midwest 36 inch crate with divider]
Exercise Pen
A Midwest exercise pen gives your puppy a safe contained space when you cannot have eyes on them but do not want them fully crated. Set it up around the crate to create a small puppy zone — crate for sleeping, pen for awake supervised time. It is one of the most useful things you will buy in the first few months.
[Amazon link — Midwest exercise pen]
Pee Pads
Keep a supply of pee pads on hand for the early weeks — inside the exercise pen, near the door, and anywhere your puppy spends unsupervised time. They are not a long term solution but they save a lot of cleanup in those first weeks while house training is getting established.
[Amazon link — pee pads]
Feeding
Food
We raise all of our puppies on Nature's Protection All Life Stages — and we recommend you continue with it when your puppy comes home. Changing food abruptly causes stomach upset, so starting with what they already know makes the transition to their new home much smoother. If you ever want to switch foods down the road, do it gradually over ten to fourteen days.
[Amazon link — Nature's Protection All Life Stages]
Bowls
Stainless steel, full stop. They are easy to clean, do not harbor bacteria the way plastic does, and last forever. Get two — one for food, one for water. Nothing fancy required.
[Amazon link — stainless steel bowls]
Grooming
This is where we have the strongest opinions — because starting grooming early and doing it correctly sets your dog up for a lifetime of easy maintenance. A Collie that learns grooming is normal and pleasant as a puppy is a joy to groom as an adult. One that learns it is stressful is a different story entirely.
Start handling your puppy's coat, ears, and feet from day one — even before there is anything to actually groom. The goal in those early weeks is not a perfectly brushed coat, it is a dog that is comfortable being touched everywhere.
Pin Brush
Tauro Pro Line Your primary brush for working through the coat. The Tauro pin brush is well made, comfortable to hold, and gentle enough for a puppy coat while being effective on a full adult coat. This is the brush you will reach for most often.
[Amazon link — Tauro Pro Line pin brush]
Soft Slicker Brush
Tauro Pro Line Use the slicker for finishing and for working through any areas that need a little extra attention. Softer than a standard slicker — important for a puppy who is still learning that brushing is not something to worry about.
[Amazon link — Tauro Pro Line soft slicker]
Wide Tooth Comb
Tauro Pro Line Run the comb through after brushing to check your work. If the comb passes through freely, the coat is truly tangle free. If it catches, go back with the brush. The comb does not lie.
[Amazon link — Tauro Pro Line wide tooth comb]
Conditioning Spray
Tauro Pro Line Always — always — mist the coat with conditioning spray before you brush. Never brush a dry coat. The conditioning spray reduces static, protects the coat from breakage, and makes brushing more comfortable for your dog. A light mist, work through in sections, and you are done.
[Amazon link — Tauro Pro Line conditioning spray]
Shampoo & Conditioner
Tauro Pro Line Hydrate For bath time, we use and recommend the Tauro Hydrate shampoo and conditioner. Formulated for double coated breeds, gentle enough for regular use, and leaves the coat in excellent condition. Remember — your Collie goes straight to the tub, never brush a dirty dry coat first.
[Amazon link — Tauro Hydrate shampoo]
[Amazon link — Tauro Hydrate conditioner]
Nail Tool
Two recommendations depending on your own confidence level with nail care — because here is something most people do not tell you: your puppy takes their cues entirely from you. If you are nervous or hesitant, your puppy will decide there is something worth being nervous about. It does not matter how gentle the tool is if the person holding it is tense.
If you are comfortable with nail grinding and feel confident handling it from the start, the Ryobi cordless Dremel is our top pick — powerful, consistent, and easy to use once you have your technique down.
If you are new to nail care or know yourself well enough to admit you might be a little apprehensive at first, start with the Tauro nail grinder. It is quieter, less intimidating, and gives you time to build your own confidence alongside your puppy's. Once you feel comfortable and your puppy is completely relaxed with the process, you can always graduate to the Ryobi.
Either way — introduce the tool gradually before you ever touch a nail with it. Turn it on near the puppy, pair it with treats, let them sniff it. Make it boring before it becomes functional. A puppy that grows up thinking the nail grinder is just a normal unremarkable thing is a dog you will be able to maintain for life.
[Amazon link — Ryobi cordless Dremel]
[Amazon link — Tauro nail grinder]
Enrichment & Play
Kong Toys
Kong is the brand we trust and the one we recommend without reservation. They are durable, safe, and endlessly useful. A stuffed Kong in the freezer is one of the best tools you have for crate training, settling a puppy, and giving a busy mind something to work on. Buy several, rotate them, and keep a few stuffed and ready in the freezer at all times.
[Amazon link — Kong puppy] [Amazon link — Kong classic]
Training
Training Treats
Small, soft, and smelly — that is the general rule for training treats. They should be tiny enough that your puppy can eat one in a second and immediately be ready for the next repetition. Leave room for your own preference here and ask your vet if you have questions about ingredients.
Puppy Training Class
We strongly recommend enrolling in a puppy class within the first few weeks of bringing your dog home. Not because your puppy needs to learn to sit — they will pick that up in about five minutes — but because a good class exposes them to new people, new dogs, new environments, and new distractions at exactly the right developmental window. It is socialization with structure, and it is invaluable.
Our recommendation is to contact your local AKC kennel club for class options in your area. Classes run through kennel clubs are typically taught by experienced breeders and trainers who know working breeds well — and the quality tends to be excellent. You can find your nearest kennel club through the AKC website.
[AKC Kennel Club Finder link]
Nice to HAVES
These are not essential from day one — but you will probably want most of them eventually.
Puzzle Toys and Snuffle Mats
Great for mental enrichment and tiring out a puppy brain on days when physical exercise is limited.
Grooming Table
Not necessary but genuinely useful if you plan to do regular coat maintenance at home. Having your dog up on a table changes the dynamic and makes grooming easier for both of you. A non-slip surface is essential.
[Amazon link — grooming table]
Slip Lead
Handy for vet visits, quick trips, and situations where you need a secure lead without fussing with a collar and clip. Keep one in your car.
Tauro Waterproof Pad Crate
Accidents happen. A waterproof liner makes cleanup much easier in those early weeks.
[Amazon link — waterproof pad]
Long Line
A fifteen to thirty foot long line is one of the best training tools available for teaching a reliable recall in an open space before your dog is ready to be fully off leash. Light, inexpensive, and worth every penny.
[Amazon link — long line]
A Note Before You Shop
You do not need everything on this list before your puppy comes home. Focus on the essentials — crate, exercise pen, food, bowls, grooming tools, and a few Kong toys. The rest can follow as you figure out what your particular puppy needs.
And if you have questions about any of these recommendations — or anything else about preparing for your new Collie — reach out. We would rather you ask ten questions now than run into something avoidable later. That is what we are here for.
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