We inherited Lucy's leash (leather) from my parents' late dog. Her harness is an Easy Walk with a martingale loop on the chest to keep her from pulling (the Bean might not have this issue, being a smaller pup). We don't shampoo her (the groomer does that), but when she gets filthy outside, we just squirt some Dr. Bronner's soap in a bucket of warm water, grab a rag, and scrub her down. She eats Nutro's Natural Choice High Energy food. The vet says we need to start brushing her teeth, so that's sure to be an adventure. She loves her Kong, but tennis balls are chew- and chase-worthy too. A comfy dog bed is essential...though Lucy seems to prefer our bed. Good luck with your info-gathering. :)

That T-Bean is too adorable!
Anyway, my dog slipped on hardwood stairs when I brought him home. I stapled those carpet square runner things to the stairs and he has been fine ever since.

We feed our puppers Blue Buffalo brand dog food. It is a little more expensive, but it has great natural ingredients, and they don't participate in animal testing like many of the other dog food brands do. Our doggies love it, and I feel good about it!

My puppy mill rescue doesn't have too many requirements beyond food (Science Diet) and a comfy bed. She's not very interested in toys but she does like Moo! bully sticks (tried Nylabones first but she wasn't having it). She inherited a crate to sleep in at night.

As poodle owner you'd have to find a groomer you trust and some basic supplies to have at home. I find that a good quality dog comb does the job to prevent mats. You can buy eye wipes or just use a wash cloth to keep the face clean.

After owning indoor cats for years, the biggest surprise for me was how expensive flea and heartworm products are, but prevention is certainly easier than dealing with those problems after they arrive.

It will be fun to take Teddy out shopping at the pet store once he gets brave enough.

Personally, I prefer a collar with a regular buckle. I just don't trust the plastic clips. I'm also not a fan or retractable leashes, because I've seen too many big dogs break them and get loose. I'm sure many people will disagree with me. To each their own :)

I agree with Suzy. My dog was VERY skittish when I brought her home and she slipped her clip-buckle collar a bunch of times. She's never slipped the real buckle one I got for her- I think it looks better too. :)

For shampoo, I don't know very much about poodles (I have a short haired, low shed dog) but I've always used baby shampoo because Maisy has sensitive skin. It makes the hair soft and she's never had a reaction. I've used Head and Shoulders in a pinch, too, but I like the baby stuff better.

Food wise, I like carrots as a treat. She likes the crunchy and I like that it's healthy. Everyone wins.

I feed my dogs purina puppy chow until they are 3 months old and change to Purina Complete Dog Chow after 6 months. Read the contents of the dog food label, some lower priced dog foods provide the same nutrtion as the high priced food. I provide my dogs with nylabones and soft toys. My favorite leash is a cotton web leash. They are not pretty, but are easy on your hand. You can buy a seatbelt harness that also acts as a collar. I hope you keep the "BEAN" you are very patient and would provide a good home for the dog. Good luck. elaine from Clarion

As a kitty mom, I don't have any doggie advice for you Jill. However, I do recognize the very familiar tan cat hair lining Bean's nap spot. While Bean's a definate cutie, tan boys still rule!

Dogs really don't need that many accessories, but we totally love buying them anyway!

Food- Wellness or Natural Balance. Just make sure at least the first 2 ingredients are meat (and not meat byproduct or meal). A lot of the common brands are quite unhealthy actually, like Beneful and Puppy Chow.

Collars: Martingales work for me, because my big guys destroy buckles collars really quickly.

Treats: Bully stix (but order online, they are so expensive in the stores), piggie ears, and pressed rawhide. Human food is good too; my pups love watermelon rinds and it cleans up their teeth. Baltimore Dog Bakery of course has great treats.

Toys: The Kong Wubba or any toy from the Fat Cat Company. Those last FOREVER.

Shampoo: just an oatmeal one.

Since he's a poodle, a hair clipper would save you on trips to the groomers.

For a good, local dog food, you might want to check out Verus. Both Abby (dog) and Cassidy (cat) love it!

I am the proud mother of a poodle puppy mill rescue and those little muffins really melt your heart. I also own a pet boutique/grooming salon so feel free to email with any questions.
Food - the best on the market is Orijen. Grain free, meat used is fresh, never frozen, locally sourced fruits and vegetables. my dogs eat better than I do. Puppy mill dogs have had bad nutrition growing up so feeding them a high quality food can really add to their overall health. If you cannot find Orijen where you live, try Canidae Grain Free.
Treats - Put down the beggin strips :-) There are tons of treats out there that are much healthier. If you have a locally owned pet supply store near you, they will fall all over themselves to help you. That is the best part of our job- helping new pet owners!
Groomer - Be very careful where you go the first time. Do not go to a place where they are grooming tons of dogs and yours will sit in a cage all day because the bean might think he is going back to the mill. Find a small store with an experienced friendly, gentle groomer.
My puppy mill lived me with for over a year before he ever played with a toy but he has gotten into that to so you never know what may come.
Off my soap box - Good luck!

I use baby shampoo on my dog, too. You may want to include doggie toothpaste (chicken flavor?) and a tiny toothbrush (my dog has Dora the Explorer version). Having a dog's teeth cleaned by the vet does amazing things for the breath, but apparently we're supposed to keep up in between.