What to buy before your puppy comes home
The list we'd give a friend. Get the crate, food, bowls and a chew toy sorted before pickup day — the rest can wait a week.
NuVet Plus
Every VST puppy goes home with a NuVet Plus sample. It helps with the transition to a new home and supports them right through adulthood — we recommend continuing it.
- Immune defense
- Skin & coat
- Digestion
- Eyes & ears
- Muscle support
- Bones & teeth
- Cardiovascular
- Fills nutritional gaps
NuVet Plus is only sold through breeder referral, so you'll need that order code to place an order.
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Crate & Living
- Link coming soon42" double-door crate with dividerThe exact crate we use and recommend — buy the adult size with a divider rather than replacing it three times.
- Link coming soonCrate cover (42")Turns the crate into a den. Most puppies settle faster with three sides covered.
- Link coming soonWashable crate padAbsorbent and machine-washable for the crate floor. Expect accidents early on.
- Link coming soon96oz stainless steel bowlStainless over plastic. Easier to sanitise and no chin acne.
- Link coming soonLarge-breed puppy foodLarge-breed specific matters — controlled calcium supports slower, sounder joint growth.
Grooming & Shedding
- Link coming soonPet grooming vacuumAttaches directly to a vacuum — the fastest way to deal with a German Shepherd's undercoat.
- Link coming soonHigh-velocity pet blowerProfessional-grade. Blows out loose undercoat before it ends up on your floor.
- Link coming soonDeshedding tool for heavy sheddersFor the twice-a-year coat blow. Non-negotiable with this breed.
- Link coming soonOrganic dog shampooA gentle, organic formula suited to a coat this thick.
- Link coming soon10-in-1 afterbath sprayDetangles and finishes a bath, and makes the brush-out afterward much easier.
- Link coming soonNail trimmer or grinderStart in week one, before they're strong enough to object.
Toys & Training
- Link coming soonIndestructible rubber ballSadie's favorite — about as close to indestructible as a ball gets.
- Link coming soonHerm Sprenger training collarWhat we use once basic leash manners are in place. Ask us before introducing one.
- Link coming soonLeather leashSix feet, leather, no retractable. Retractables teach pulling.
- Link coming soonBraided leather leashA heavier braided option once your dog has some pull to it.
- Link coming soonFront-clip harnessUseful during the months before loose-lead walking is reliable.
- Link coming soonSmall training treatsPea-sized and soft. You'll go through a lot in the first few months.
- Link coming soonProfessional bite sleeveFor structured protection work only — not a first-year item, and not something to introduce without guidance.
Also Worth Having
- Link coming soonPuppy playpenFor the first weeks, a pen gives them room to move without free run of the house.
- Link coming soonEnzymatic cleanerRegular cleaner doesn't remove the scent marker. Enzymatic does.
- Link coming soonNuVet supplementWe send a sample home; this is where to reorder if you continue it.
The first week
Keep it small and boring. One room, the crate, a consistent potty spot outside, and short sessions of nothing much. Puppies that get the run of a whole house on day one tend to be the ones struggling with house-training three weeks later.
Feed the food they arrive on for at least the first fortnight. If you want to switch, do it gradually over a week — an abrupt change on top of the stress of a new home is how you end up with a very messy few days.
Vaccination schedule
Your puppy leaves us with the first set at six weeks and dewormed at two, four, six and eight weeks. Your vet will continue the series. The AKC publishes a clear puppy vaccination guide worth reading before your first appointment.
Let's find out if we're the right fit.
Start with Puppy Match — about five minutes, no obligation. We'll email you to talk it through.