These six products are great for dog moms and dads to make your lives easier and more enjoyable with your puppy. When I first brought home my cockapoo Rye Lee, I didn’t know about these products, but now these are staples that I bring with us everywhere we travel. I hope they will improve your lives too!
1. Classic KONG Extreme
Fill the Classic KONG with the KONG Stuff’n Easy Treat, one of KONG’s homemade stuffing recipes or simply peanut butter to occupy your pup for over 15 minutes. This is our highest reward treat. I put the filled KONG in the freezer before giving it to Rye Lee to make the treat last longer. The KONG is great to give your dog when you leave him alone or if you need him to be distracted while on a Zoom call. You can buy different Classic KONG options depending on how aggressive of a chewer your dog is. I had the light blue Puppy version in the beginning and then upgraded to this black Extreme version as Rye Lee grew and become a more aggressive chewer. (You can see in the photo above that Rye Lee was eventually able to chew through the Puppy version, so I recommend starting out with a more durable version.)
2. Hands-free Leash
I use this hands-free dog leash several times a week. It’s great for running with your dog or ensuring your puppy stays close while at the beach, an outdoor restaurant or family gatherings with young kids. I also used it a lot while living in my apartment when going from the parking garage to the apartment. I wouldn’t have to worry about holding Rye Lee’s leash while also carrying luggage, packages, etc.
3. Dog Harness
The dog harness not only adds style, but is great for going on walks or controlling your puppy when he gets excited around new people. Having the leash hooked to Rye Lee’s collar makes him choke himself, but when the leash is hooked to the harness, it pulls on his whole body instead of his neck. My favorite harnesses are from Lucy & Co. because they are high quality, reversible and have cute patterns. You can find the Royal Garden Reversible Harness Rye Lee is wearing above here. For 15% off Lucy & Co. products, use discount code LCRYELEE. (Note that a dog harness may not be the best option for control if you have large dog with the strength to pull you.)
4. Dog Water Bottle
This dog water bottle is great for traveling in the car, hiking or beach days. I was tired of bringing a water bowl and separate water bottle for Rye Lee that he kept spilling on the floor of the car or getting sand in while at the beach. A leak-proof, portable water bottle allows your puppy to drink what he wants and then return what’s left back into the bottle without wasting any water. There’s lots of great options out there, but here is the one I bought on Amazon from MalsiPree. I like that it has a lock so water doesn’t accidentally spill in your bag.
5. Vetoquinol Pro-Pectalin Tablets
Our cockapoo puppy started to have a sensitive stomach at about 6 months old. When I took him to the vet regularly for diarrhea or vomiting issues, the vet would prescribe these tablets every site. I later learned you can buy a pack of 250 tablets on Chewy for much cheaper than what the vet charges for the small doses. You do not need a prescription. I add a tablet to Rye Lee’s food whenever he has runny stool.
6. Dog Camera
I face a camera towards Rye Lee whenever I leave him alone at home. It gives me peace of mind to check on him while away to make sure he’s okay and not destroying the house. I purchased this Wyze camera that has two-way audio and motion alerts, but there are a lot of great options out there. If you’re willing to spend more and want the treat tossing feature, the Furbo Dog Camera is a great option.
Comment below with your favorite products for dog parents!
Rye Lee and Me 