If you’re bringing a new puppy home, I don’t want you winging it. In this video I walk you through the basic puppy essentials I use every single day while I’m currently fostering six rescue puppies under 9 weeks old—so yes, I’m in the thick of crate training, potty training, teething, and keeping tiny chaos gremlins safe. I cover what to feed a puppy (I like puppy-formulated food, and I’m feeding these pups Open Farm gently cooked puppy plus puppy kibble so they’re adjusted for adoption), and I show you my tried-and-true setup for nights and alone time: a crate, a sturdy play pen, and a nanny cam so you can actually monitor what’s happening. Then we get into the stuff that saves your sanity: enrichment. I use lick mats, lick wobble-style toys, and my favorite West Paw Toppl (purple is my weakness) stuffed with puppy-safe foods like yogurt, pumpkin, cottage cheese, or softened meals—then frozen or partially frozen so it lasts. I also share chews I actually trust (most are no bueno, in my opinion), plus simple toothbrush desensitizing for mouthy puppies. And the “most important” thing I want you to get isn’t a toy—it’s a science-based, positive reinforcement trainer, plus a vet plan and ideally pet insurance. Management and guidance keep dogs out of shelters, and that’s the whole mission: #saveallthedamndogs.