Tails of Toy Aussies

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Bringing home a new dog is equal parts joy and “wait, what do I need for a puppy, exactly?” This is the starter kit I keep on hand for my own toy Australian shepherds, and the gear I point my puppy families toward when they ask. Nothing here made the list because it’s trendy. It earned its spot through litter after litter of toy Aussies.

A safe space to settle in

A crate gives your puppy a safe place to rest and helps with house training. I spring for a double-door crate to stay flexible depending on how my puppy area is set up, but a single door works just fine and saves some money. A 30-inch will be plenty big for most of our toy dogs to grow into, and the divider lets you shrink it while your pup is little. Learning to settle in a crate is a skill, and for energetic working breeds especially, it’s usually one that has to be taught.

For baby puppies I stick to bedding that washes easily, which is why I often use bath mats as crate bedding. They come in just about every size and color, they’re non-slip, and dogs seem to find them plenty comfy. Best of all, they go straight into the washer and dryer.

Keeping your puppy in a puppy-proofed area matters for their safety and for your house. If you have other pets, a dedicated puppy zone also gives your older animals a break from puppy antics. I use an ex-pen and a baby gate to keep puppies away from rugs, furniture, stairs, and anywhere else they can’t be trusted yet. One safety check: make sure a gate doesn’t have gaps your puppy can fit his head through.

Food

I feed Purina Pro Plan and send each puppy home with a baggie of the food they’re already eating, so you can transition on your own timeline. When you need to restock, that’s the one.

Grooming you’ll actually do

You don’t have to become a professional groomer, but a Toy Aussie does need some basic upkeep to look and feel his best. A slicker brush and a pin brush will get you most of the way to a tangle-free coat. The spots most prone to matting are behind the ears, under the legs, and around the britches and tail. The slicker is where I’d actually splurge: my dogs tolerate this one far better than others I’ve tried. If you’d rather save, my budget slicker is still pretty good. For pin brushes, here’s the one I splurge on and a solid budget pick.

Nail trimming intimidates a lot of people, and honestly, this grinder makes it easier than clippers. It has a light so you can see what you’re doing, which makes you far less likely to catch the quick. Nails left too long can hurt your dog’s orthopedic health, so please ask for help if you’re struggling with them.

I like a gentle shampoo for puppies, and you can dilute it with water to speed up rinsing and keep bath time positive. A lick mat smeared with some canned food makes a great distraction in the tub, too.

Chews for teething and settling

Giving your pup something to sink his teeth into protects your hands and your furniture from needle teeth, and it gives him a calming job to do while he settles in his crate or pen. My go-tos are Himalayan yak cheese chews and beef tendons.

For accidents and upset bellies

House training is a process, and there will be accidents. A good enzyme cleaner breaks down the bacteria behind lingering smells and stains. OxyClean works wonders on rugs, and for hard surfaces I mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water. Store that mix in an opaque bottle, since hydrogen peroxide breaks down in light.

Baby puppies sometimes have delicate stomachs, and little ruins a day faster than runny poop. I keep Pro-Pectalin on hand for minor GI mishaps. The paste is easy to give, since most of my dogs just lick it straight from the tube, and the kaolin, pectin, and probiotics settle things quickly.

This is the kit, not a rulebook. Build your puppy’s setup around your home and your own dog. And if you’re waiting on a pup from me and want a hand sorting out what to get first, just ask. I’m always glad to talk it through.