10 Essential Labrador Supplies & Products: 2024 Update
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Is it almost time to bring home your new Labrador? Whether you’re adopting an older dog or bringing home a new puppy, it’s important to have all the supplies that you need before your new family member arrives.
To help you prepare, we rounded up a list of the essentials for Labradors.
The 10 Essential Labrador Supplies
Comfort Supplies
1. Crate
A good crate is essential for training and keeping your dog safe. Dogs that are crate trained see the crate as their den where they can retreat from the chaos of the house. For puppies, crate training is critical to potty training. Having a safe space to put your dog when you can’t supervise them will also give you peace of mind, knowing they are safe and contained.
A crate should be large enough for your Lab to stand up and turn around. If you are bringing a puppy home, a crate with adjustable dividers is ideal. We recommend the Frisco Fold & Carry Single Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate. It folds up for easy storage and has a movable divider to adjust as your dog grows.
3. Bedding
- Our Pick: Frisco Cooling Orthopedic Dog Crate Mat
Your dog will need a place to sleep. You can use the dog crate or buy your pet a dog bed. Either way, they will need bedding to keep them comfortable.
There are several bedding options to keep your Lab comfortable. You can use a soft blanket or a bed, but Lab puppies are chewers, so they either need a chew-proof dog bed or must be supervised with their bedding until they are trained not to chew it. It is a good idea to choose a bed that can easily be washed and dried in case of an accident.
We recommend the Frisco Cooling Orthopedic Dog Crate Mat. It can be used as a standalone bed or as a crate liner, and the orthopedic foam provides a cool, comfortable surface for relaxing or sleeping. The removable cover is machine washable, and the polyester material is difficult for dogs to chew.
Food & Feeding Supplies
3. Food and Water Bowls
Even if you have multiple dogs, your new Labrador will need their own food and water bowls. Labs are large dogs, and they’ll need bowls big enough to accommodate the amount of food that they eat.
We recommend the Pawfect Pets Elevated Feeder Raised Dog Bowl Stand. It is made of sturdy materials and is tough to knock over. Elevated feeding bowls can also prevent digestive problems in large dogs.
4. Food
Dog food for Labradors should be specially formulated for large breeds to support their joint health. We recommend Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed for adult dogs and Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Puppy for pups under 1 year old.
This food is nutritionally complete and packed with antioxidants to protect your dog’s immune system.
Walking Your Dog Supplies
5. Collar or Harness
Dog collars are a necessity for clipping on an ID tag. You’ll want a durable collar that fits properly and adjusts as your dog grows. We recommend the Buckle-Down Scooby-Doo Personalized Dog Collar. It’s fully adjustable, and you can personalize the collar with your name and phone number in case your dog is lost.
You can use a harness for walking your dog instead of a collar. The type you purchase depends on your preference. Front-hook harnesses enable you to attach the leash to your dog’s chest. They are also called “no-pull” harnesses because they discourage your pup from pulling on the leash. The PetSafe Easy Walk Dog Harness is an excellent example of a front-hook harness.
6. Leash
- Our Pick: Logical Leather Dog Leash
We recommend a strong, durable leash for your Labrador, like the Logical Leather Dog Leash. A leash should be between 4 and 6 feet long. Retractable leashes should only be used for dogs that are well-trained for leash walking and don’t run off. Maintaining control of your dog with a retractable leash is much harder.
7. ID Tag
Having your personal contact information attached to your dog is important if they get lost. An ID tag is the best way to ensure that your dog can be returned to you. The Dog Tag Art Personalized Dog ID Tag can be engraved with your personalized information and includes a strong key ring to attach to your dog’s collar.
Entertainment
8. Toys
- Our Pick: KONG Squeezz Stick Dog Toy
Several dog toys are available, but some aren’t suitable for Labrador Retrievers. Labs are chewers, and it’s best to buy durable toys that don’t break easily. Balls, ropes, and chew toys are all great options. The KONG Squeezz Stick Dog Toy is a particularly good choice for your new Lab.
9. Training Treats
- Our Pick: Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Puppy Treats
If you’re bringing home a puppy, you need a good supply of healthy training treats to use as motivation. We recommend Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Training Treats. They are soft, easy to break into bite-sized pieces, and have essential vitamins and minerals to support healthy growth and development.
Cleaning Supplies
10. Cleaning Products
Having a pet means cleaning up smells, stains, hair, vomit, and more. You can add to your pet clean-up routine with the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray. It permanently removes the worst smells and stains.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now know which essential supplies you need for your new Labrador. We listed the most important items, but you’ll probably buy other products as your Lab grows. Having everything ready will make it easier for your pup to adjust to their new home, and we’re confident they’ll love the products we suggested.
Once you've stocked up on the basics, there's one more pet supply you may want to consider: pet insurance! A personalized plan from Spot may be able to help you keep your pet and wallet healthy and happy.
Featured Image Credit: Olya Maximenko, Shutterstock
