Poodle Puppies by florida's best

You just found the perfect puppy. The stage is set and your new doggo will be coming home with you next weekend! But, are you ready??

Here are Cooki’s best 3 must-have items when bringing your Poodle puppy home for the first time.

Cooki’s decades of experience and best-practice acumen give you an edge when becoming first-time dog parents.

Slicker Brush

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Your new Poodle puppy should be brushed every single day.

Depending on the breed of your puppy, their fur can matte, tangle, or knot very quickly if they are not properly brushed at least once per day this can be very painful for your new fur-baby and as a new dog mom or dad it is crucial that you DO NOT forget this.

Another reason for daily brushing is to get your puppy used to being touched and groomed. This is a very important part of their training. A puppy's first haircut is generally recommended for 11 weeks old. If your fur baby is not used to being brushed every day they may act unruly whenever you take them to the groomer. Prepare your puppy for these types of interactions by brushing them daily, adding to their confidence and encouraging good behavior.

One final note on daily brushing is that it will keep your puppy’s coat healthy and strong. Just like with us humans, good hygiene is always encouraged!

Wire Crate

Just like you, your new Poodle puppy could prefer their own space. This is particularly the case when they’re already used to having their own ‘home’ with their littermates.

As is the case with Poodles by Cooki, each puppy goes home crate-trained to sleep through the night. This means your puppy is comfortable in their crate to stay in during the day and sleep throughout the night without making a peep! This also means that while your dog is still a puppy (and likely as an adult), they will find solace in their crate even when you’re not at home with them.

Single or double door is your preference, and each offer 360 degree visibility inside and out — that visibility matters! A physically enclosed puppy may become exactly that, as it is likely to affect their personality or disposition if their change of scenery is so drastic as a dark enclosed space that they are not at all used to.

A double door is easier to access for new puppies, while a single door can be difficult. If your puppy scoots to the far end, they are hard to get to. In the case of a single door you’d have to get down and try to reach the back of it in order to get your puppy, which proves difficult for some. Having two doors will make your puppy accessible from either side and is ideal for when your little one is avoiding their vet appointment!

The size of your puppy’s crate depends on the size of your dog when fully grown and how many hours a day your dog will be crated. If you are home with the puppy most of the day then you don’t need a larger crate, but if you are away for hours at time then a larger crate is recommended, it will serve as a playpen and give extra room for movement. For small toy Poodles a 24” or 30” inch wire crate is adequate. For mini’s and large mini’s (13+ lbs.) a 30” or 36” inch wire crate would be great. Again, the size of the crate should depend on two factors: the amount of time your doggo is crated and the expected size of your dog when full-grown.

Some final advice from Florida breeder Cooki is that she believes it is SO important that your puppy’s crate be located in a central part of your home where your puppy will see you and hear you. She advises, “please don’t put your puppy in a laundry room or a bedroom that is located in the back of your home. The puppy will hear you and begin to feel anxious because they’re too separated from you, which may result in crying, barking, and also create a stressful environment for everyone else in the house. Always be sure your puppy has food and water in their crate at all times, particularly in the puppy stages.

Floor Grate

In life, as in puppies, accidents will happen!

Although Poodles by Cooki puppies come home to you ‘potty-aware’ or even completely house-trained, there may be times during their potty-training stage that they just can’t hold it. Enter the floor grate. A genius addition that will save you the mess.

The floor grate might be Cooki’s most essential part of your puppy’s care — A grate that you buy separately to go inside your puppy’s crate.

The floor grate sits on top of the plastic floor pan at the bottom of the crate and has slats that when the puppy goes potty, the mess flows through the slats onto the paper or potty-pad lined plastic pan underneath. The purpose of this is to not have your new Poodle puppy in the mess, they will stay clean and you don’t have such a mess to clean. Cleanliness is most important while training your puppy. A Poodle puppy from Cooki is already trained on this system when they leave her. Each of her puppies are fully adapted to the floor grate at 4 weeks old.
Be sure to buy the floor grate from the same manufacturer that makes your puppy’s crate as these grates are not interchangeable. Also be sure to order the same size as the crate at the same time.

BONUS - Teething Toys *hints on teething*

Since your new puppy no longer has their littermates to play with anymore, you have to be sure that they’re entertained, because if your puppy gets bored then they will most definitely find other things to chew!

Remember, when you first get your puppy they are beginning to get their teeth. It may be "cute" in the beginning to let your puppy lick and chew on your finger, but as they get a little older and the teeth come in, their bite is stronger and their teeth sharper.

When you are holding your puppy and they start to chew, tap on them on their nose and firmly say “no”, and then give your puppy a chew toy (i.e., Booda Bone, Chew Ring, etc.).


There you have it — Cooki’s 3 must-have items you’ll need before bringing home your new Poodle puppy.