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When you pick up a new Rottweiler puppy, you may be surprised by the number of items you need. Puppies need a lot of equipment, especially when they are as active (and potentially destructive) as a Rottweiler. For this reason, we highly recommend that you stock up before you even bring your puppy home.
Of course, it isn’t enough to simply pick up random products from your local pet store. Instead, you need to invest in the best products for your puppy. While the quality and price don’t always match, be on the lookout for good value for money and quality products.
Below, we’ll take a look at some of the necessary Rottweiler supplies that you should stock up on ASAP. We’ll also take a look at our suggested products in each category.
The 10 Essential Rottweiler Supplies to Get You Started
Food and Feeding
1. Quality Puppy Food
Your puppy is growing, so it’s vital that they are provided with the proper nutrients to grow well. Without the proper nutrition, your dog may suffer from health problems later. This fact is especially true with larger puppies like Rottweilers, who are known to be affected by diet-linked health problems if they are not fed properly as a puppy.
You will need to invest in a large-breed puppy food like this one by Diamond Naturals. This food contains high-quality ingredients, as well as special nutrients specifically for large breed puppies. It includes salmon as the first ingredient, which is not a common dog allergy.
2. Food and Water Bowl
- Our Choice: Frisco Stainless Steel Bowl
You will need something to put your dog’s food and water in. While this may seem like a simple decision, there are a few things to keep in mind. Stainless steel is recommended, as it’s not likely to get scratched. A scratch on a food or water bowl can harbor bacteria, which can make your dog sick.
Therefore, we recommend that you choose a quality stainless steel option that is likely to last for much of your dog’s lifespan. They can be messy when eating and drinking, and no tip bowls can help reduce the clean-up.
Treats and Toys
3. Training Treats
- Our Choice: Merrick Power Bites Soft & Chewy Dog Treats
You should start training your puppy as soon as they come home. And, for that, you will need training treats of some kind. We recommend choosing meat-based treats. Simple freeze-dried chicken can go a long way and is generally pretty healthy. However, many people skip the treats altogether and simply use their puppy’s kibble, which is a good option as well.
If you want to go the treat route, Merrick power bite treats are highly recommended by pup owners. They are easy to break apart as necessary, though they come in very small sizes. Plus, they have quality ingredients.
4. Toys
- Our Choice: KONG Classic Dog Toy
You’ll probably need to invest in many different dog toys for your puppy. Rottweiler puppies are known for having high chewing needs, so they typically need durable toys. We recommend the Kong brand for easy chew toys that will help get your puppy through teething. However, your best bet is to try multiple toys and stock up as much as possible.
Most toys are not terribly expensive, so you should not have a problem stocking up on multiple options.
Walking
5. Collar
- Our Choice: Carhartt Tradesman Dog Collar
Your puppy will need a collar with an ID ASAP. In the event that they get lost, this collar is one of the few ways that a stranger may figure out how to contact you. Even if you also get your dog microchipped, we recommend getting them a collar, too. Most people do not have scanners for microchips at home, and your dog may not end up at a vet or shelter with a scanner.
Invest in a collar as soon as you know what size your puppy is. A quality collar is vital, as you don’t want it falling off should your dog get lost.
Comfort
6. Bed
While beds are not absolutely necessary, we do highly recommend picking one up for a few reasons. Firstly, a bed provides your dog with its own space. Puppies may not be able to jump onto the couch or bed to sleep, so having their own bed that is easily accessible is important.
As they grow, they can develop elbow calluses from lying on hard floors, and having a bed will help to reduce this.
Plus, you can also use the bed to teach a variety of different commands. For instance, you can teach the “place” command to instruct your dog to go to their bed when someone comes to the door. When it comes to managing your dog, this command can be extremely useful.
7. Safety Features
- Our Choice: Summer Extra Tall & Wide Safety Dog Gate
It is important to look at your house and yard and look for any dangers that your pup may come across. Then, make a plan to mitigate these dangers. It may be that you need a pool cover or dog ramp, stair safety gates, or barriers. Investing in a dog crate that can be a safe place for your dog is a popular training tool, too. Tidy up wires that can be chewed and make your yard dogproof to avoid escapes.
Cleaning
8. Stain Remover
Potty training a puppy can be challenging, even for a larger puppy like a Rottweiler. For this reason, you’ll likely need a stain remover at least once while training your puppy—and probably a few times after that, too. We recommend this spray by Simple Solution, but there are several other options on the market that will work, as well.
You may want to invest in puppy training pads to reduce the clean-ups.
Grooming
9. Brush
- Our Choice: KONG Dog ZoomGroom Multi-Use Brush
We highly recommend a good brush for any Rottweiler out there, even puppies. It is vital that you start grooming your puppy from day one, otherwise, they may not grow used to the routine. If you want brushing your dog to be easy in the future, it is vital to start early.
For this reason, we recommend the Kong Zoom Groom multi-use brush. It is gentle enough to use with most puppies, but it also does a pretty good job of removing excessive fur. It can be used to help lather up shampoo when washing your pup and provides a massaging action, too.
Of course, as your dog gets older, you may need to invest in more brushes, such as a comb for tangles. However, for now, the Zoom Groom is likely all you need to start your grooming routine.
10. Dog Shampoo and Conditioner
You should not bathe your dog all that often. It can dry out their skin and lead to all sorts of problems. However, you do need to have shampoo on hand in case your dog gets dirty. The last thing you want is for your dog to roll in the mud, only for you to figure out that you don’t have any dog shampoo available.
Conditioner is not absolutely necessary, but it can improve coat health. It typically isn’t terribly expensive, so we recommend picking up some of it too.
Summing Up
There are many items that you absolutely need for your Rottweiler. Many of these items should be purchased before you bring your dog home. However, you may need to run out and purchase some items after your dog is home, like a collar.
Stocking up on the right supplies for your pet is important, but don’t forget about pet insurance! If you’re interested in a balanced plan personalized for your pet, you may want to consider Lemonade.
When possible, stock up on everything you need beforehand so that you have less to worry about after you bring your dog home.
While stocking up for a new dog can seem overwhelming, we hope that this article helped you sort through what you need (and provided quality items in each category).
Featured Image Credit: Zachtleven, Pixabay
