The internet is filled with websites telling you what you need to buy before you take your new puppy home. A lot of them definitely list the essential must-haves – but very few of them are breed specific. So here is my view on what you need before you bring home your Cocker Spaniel puppy… and, well, I guess it also goes for other breeds, especially Spaniels in general. Here we go!
💡Pro tip: don’t use all of your money buying stuff before the puppy arrives. You will figure out what you really need along the way. Don’t waste your money on expensive gear that you will never use. Most puppies will survive without 4 beds, 10 toys, and 3 different leashes.
🐾Collar: I would recommend you buy a collar made of nylon or a material alike, with a buckle that is easy to adjust in size. I would assume a Cocker Spaniel to be around 20 centimeters in circumference around the neck if you pick them up at 8 weeks, of course very much depending on the bone structure of the puppy. Don’t buy a collar that is too expensive. They will quickly grow out of it, and when the dog stops growing, somewhere around 9-12 months, then buy a nice leather collar, or whatever you like best. I would not recommend a harness for Cockers. It will mess up their coat way too much, and there are so many pros and cons to using a harness that it’s impossible to figure out if it’s good or bad for the dogs anyway.
💡Remember that a dog tag is legally required
🐾Leash: wouldn’t most just like a matching leash for the collar? At least that’s what I would do, and then wait a year or so to buy the leash and collar I would like them to have when they get older. Remember, they will probably bite the leash at some point anyway as a puppy, and leather is too tempting for baby Cocker Spaniel teeth. So wait to buy expensive leather goods if you don’t want them to be chewed. I would recommend a leash of around 2 meters that is adjustable in length.
💡 DON’T buy a flexi leash. Start off with a regular leash, and if you feel like you need it at some point, such as when you are on the beach or in the forest, then buy it at that time. A flexi line is not suitable for regular walking of your dog, especially not a spaniel, so I would not recommend starting their life with a flexi leash.
🍽Food and water bowl: the ones in stainless steel aren’t always the prettiest, but they will last a lifetime and they are easy to clean. A puppy needs an “open” bowl, so not too high and narrow.
💡 Your spaniel will drool on the floor and I have not found any wonders that fix that problem. Only companies are trying to sell me a product that claims it will fix the issue. But you could buy a mat to put underneath the water bowl. That will catch some of it.
🍖Food/kibble: Ask your breeder before buying anything. Most breeders will give you some food that matches what they are feeding the puppies for the first weeks or so. So actually, you don’t need to buy anything before the puppy arrives. It’s important that you don’t change the food right when you get the puppy home, as it will disrupt their digestion. If you insist on switching brands, then do it slowly. But all in all, there’s no need to buy any food if you know you will get a starter kit from your breeder. You can buy some training treats and some chewing snacks. Nothing too big, and try to find something natural from your pet food store, not from your local grocery store.
🛏Bed/blanket/basket: whatever you like! Don’t buy anything too big, as they probably like to snuggle up in something smaller anyway. I think the basket or dog bed we buy mostly depends on what we as people would like to look at and what fits into our home decor. So your puppy will most likely be happy with whatever you find for them. But you shouldn’t buy a wicker basket for your puppy; they will probably just tear it apart. It is very nice chewing material!
🏠Crate: In my mind, this is essential for many occasions. You need it in the car, sometimes at home, or maybe when you are visiting friends, where you need to bring your dog in a crate (I will write some more about crate training later). I think the best crate to buy is one made of metal, not plastic and not “soft-sided.” The reason for this is that the plastic crate is made for airplane transportation, and they are a bit clumsy and not foldable. The soft crates are nice as well and fully functional for the purpose. But the reason why I don’t recommend these is that they are less safe in the car, and if your dog is “too” clever, they can find a way to escape these soft crates, either by destroying them or, if you haven’t closed them 100%, they can open them. So a metal crate will last a lifetime; they are easy to transport, and you can always cover them with a blanket if they need to get dark and cozy. Buy a size that will fit the dog when it grows up as well. A minimum size is somewhere around L76 x B47 x H54. Measure what fits into your car and elsewhere you need it.
💡 You can buy a crate that is used from Facebook Marketplace or on other platforms. Just remember to give it a good clean before you start using it to prevent potential infections.
⚾Toys: this is often where the shopping goes crazy. Because every puppy needs 10 different toys, right? For Cocker Spaniels, I would say: no. Buy a couple of toys and figure out what your dog likes. Often a sock with a knot on it will be enough! It is more beneficial for your puppy to search for kibble or snacks rolled into a towel or engage in some other activity than walking around with a squeaky toy. Not that you shouldn’t have anything, but don’t go crazy. And please, don’t buy any tennis balls for your Spaniel, as you potentially create a very stressed-out ball fanatic.
💡 Why not buy a dummy or a bird’s wing for training purposes instead? Though it is not a toy but something you, as the human, “own.” Use it wisely to work on your collaboration with your puppy.
✂Coat Care: Please read my earlier post here about coat care for adult Cocker Spaniels. Here you have some basic knowledge. For your puppy, I would recommend you buy the same tools as mentioned earlier, but specifically for your puppy, you should get a comb with wide tooth spacing where you can put a household rubber band between the teeth to pull off the puppy coat (when it is ready for it). Also, in the link shared with you above, you have two recommendations for slicker brushes, and you definitely need a slicker brush. For your puppy, I would start off with the brush from “Doggyman” as it is a bit smaller than the one from Chris Christensen. These two things you need from the start. The other tools you can buy along the way, but remember you need to train as well, so don’t buy them too late.
💅Nail scissors & toothbrush: Again, training is important. So you probably don’t need to either brush their teeth or clip their nails before they get older, but the training starts immediately.
So, this list is the essentials! I know you can think of a lot of other stuff you personally need for your puppy, but if you start off with the above, I’m quite sure you have got what you need to start off a good puppy life. If you cannot control your shopping lust, then here you have a couple of “nice to have” as well:
- Activity toys: The market is filled with plenty of these, but you can also find a lot of creative solutions to make some yourself.
- Need to puppy-proof your home?: Maybe you need to buy a baby gate for the stairs or to block off some rooms, or you need to fence the garden
- Blanket for picking up the puppy: When you pick up the puppy, it’s probably the first or second time they will be in a car. So have a nice blanket ready for them, so you can make sure they feel safe on the way to their new home.
- Poo bags: We are all responsible dog owners, so this is a no-brainer.
- Shampoo and conditioner: probably not something you need very soon, but a good idea to have. Buy shampoo and conditioner for dogs; don’t use whatever you use for your own hair, as there is a difference between human hair and dog coats. Go to your local pet store or buy something online—maybe even something organic or without too much perfume?
- What have you bought to spoil your puppy that I have forgotten?
I hope you can use this list to buy your most essential must-haves for your new Cocker Spaniel puppy 🤎
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