Last time we talked about preparing your home before your puppy arrives. Now let’s look at the equipment you’ll actually need.

One of the biggest mistakes new puppy owners make is buying everything they see online. The truth is, your puppy doesn’t need the most expensive bed or the fanciest accessories. They simply need equipment that’s safe, practical and appropriate for their age.

Bed

Choose a bed with a removable, washable cover.

Soft, supportive bedding helps your puppy sleep comfortably, while a washable cover makes life much easier during toilet training. Accidents happen, and you’ll appreciate being able to remove the cover and put it straight into the washing machine.

Choose a bed that sits low enough for your puppy to climb in and out safely without jumping.

Bowls

Heavy ceramic bowls are my preferred choice.

They’re stable, easy to clean, dishwasher safe and less likely than plastic bowls to cause irritation around the mouth.

Choose a water bowl large enough to provide fresh drinking water throughout the day, particularly during the Australian summer.

Playpen

A playpen is one of the most useful purchases you’ll make.

It provides a safe area whenever you can’t supervise your puppy and helps prevent them from practising unwanted behaviours around the house.

Plastic playpens are my preferred option. Choose one at least 70 cm high, without horizontal bars and with ventilation openings no wider than 3 cm.

Toy Poodle puppies are astonishing little escape artists and can squeeze through surprisingly small spaces.

Fabric playpens are not recommended, as puppies may chew and swallow pieces of fabric.

Metal playpens can also work well, provided your puppy cannot climb them.

Crate

I strongly recommend purchasing a crate before your puppy arrives.

For most adult Toy Poodles, a crate measuring approximately 55 × 45 cm is an ideal size. It provides enough room to stand, turn around comfortably and lie down while still feeling cosy and secure.

Toilet Equipment

By the time our puppies leave for their new homes, they have already started their toilet training. They’re introduced to using an indoor toilet area and are also encouraged to toilet outside whenever possible.

Whenever possible, I recommend taking your puppy outside rather than providing an indoor toilet. This helps avoid confusion and usually makes house training much easier in the long run.

However, if you live in an apartment or don’t always have immediate access to a garden, an indoor toilet may be necessary during the first few weeks.

I don’t recommend disposable puppy pads. Many puppies quickly discover that they’re great fun to shred, and unfortunately some decide to swallow pieces of the absorbent material.

Instead, I recommend washable reusable pee pads. Choose one designated toilet area and keep it consistent while washing the pad as needed.

Another option that many owners like is a real grass toilet. Puppies usually take to natural grass very quickly, although it does require a little more maintenance than reusable pads.

Finally, I highly recommend buying an enzymatic cleaner before your puppy arrives. Unlike ordinary household cleaners, enzymatic cleaners break down the proteins in urine rather than simply masking the smell. This greatly reduces the chance of your puppy returning to the same spot again.

Toys

Your puppy will come home with a starter toy, but you’ll probably want to add a few more over time.

Choose toys made from different materials and textures to provide plenty of variety, and always read the label. Many inexpensive toys are marked “Not intended for chewing,” making them unsuitable for puppies.

If you’d like to buy a ball, choose a high-quality ball specifically designed for dogs rather than an ordinary tennis ball. Dog balls are generally more durable and made with materials that are better suited for chewing.

Inspect every toy regularly. As soon as a toy becomes damaged, starts coming apart or has loose pieces, throw it away without hesitation. Replacing a toy is far cheaper than an emergency visit to the veterinary clinic.

One little tip from the show world: carrying a correctly sized ball can be a useful exercise for puppies with a slightly narrow lower jaw. Holding the ball encourages the puppy to keep their mouth open naturally and may help support normal jaw development in these puppies. The ball should be large enough that it cannot be swallowed, but small enough for your puppy to carry comfortably.

Collar and Lead

Your puppy will already come home wearing their first collar and lead.

I recommend a soft, flexible collar and a lead approximately 1.2–1.5 metres long.

Harnesses are generally not my first choice for Toy Poodles. They can damage the coat and often encourage pulling. If you choose to use a harness, make sure it fits correctly, doesn’t restrict shoulder movement and doesn’t rub the coat.

Later, when you begin recall training, you’ll also want a lightweight long line around 5–10 metres long.

Always remove collars, leads and harnesses when your puppy returns indoor.

Preparing for a puppy isn’t about buying the most expensive equipment or creating the perfect puppy nursery.

It’s about choosing practical essentials, removing unnecessary risks and creating an environment where your puppy can learn safely and confidently from the very first day.

The more preparation you do now, the more time you’ll have to simply enjoy those precious first weeks together