Alfie Has Arrived!

As I warned you about, I became a puppy mom the week of Christmas! Alfie (short for Fettuccine Alfredo-- formerly thought to be short for Sir Alfred) is such a joy. I picked him up from Nancy at Dandydox Dachshunds, and he was a snuggle bug from the very moment I held him, and I have no doubt he will be an amazing friend for years to come. 

A note about why I chose a breeder over adoption: I am VERY pro-pet adoption, and have rescued 5 cats in my life. I chose to purchase from a reputable breeder, only due to the fact that I live in a small apartment, and wanted to be 100% sure about the breed, and know that I would be able to provide ample space and exercise for him, with the space I have and life I live. If I lived in a place with a yard, I would have adopted. Trust me, I would love to have saved the money WHILE saving a life. 

In this post, and more to come about life with Alfie, I am going to go through some of the products I have used with him and give you the skinny on what got stamped as #dbsobsessed!

No. 1 find is in fact an app! Puddle + Pile has been so helpful for potty training! Because it forces you to keep on top of your dog's trips to the bathroom, you find yourself getting used to when he or she needs to go out, and it really is super helpful.

FREE Shipping on $49 (Includes Dog & Cat food, other exclusions apply.)

Full disclosure, I just wrote an amazing and long section here and it didn't save. Please take a moment to feel my pain. THANKS.

Moving on: Admittedly, I went a bit overboard when prepping to get my puppy. Having grown up with animals, but never being fully responsible for one on my own, I wanted to make sure to do it right.

One of the first purchases I made was for the book on CD, The Art of Raising a Puppy. Written by the Monks of New Skete, a group of monks in New York who raise German Shepherds, this audio book allowed me to study the 'art' of raising a puppy while I was out and about in my car. Since few of us have an abundance of spare time to dedicate to reading and studying up on puppy care, I found this to be the most convenient time and place to learn. The book is full of great information on what to expect when you get a puppy, and is very approachable. I am definitely #dbsobsessed with this one.

I also needed to get a collar for the little guy, and picked up this affordable and adorable little number from Blueberry at Amazon.com. I LOVE this collar. 

Pet Carrier: This one does not get a hashtag of approval, because it is so cheaply made. However, that being said, I am ok with the purchase, because I got one too small for when he is full grown, and it works for now.

Crate: A basic crate that is approved without a doubt. This Home On-the-Go product is durable and a perfect place for Alfie to sleep. Add this pet bed to the bottom and you are good to go.

Kong's Marvin the Moose is a winner. Not easily destroyed, cozy AND complete with a durable squeaker. Alfie is #obsessed.

Skip this leash. While the size is small, as requested, it is too small to comfortably hold. I have a small dog, not teeny tiny human hands...

These puppy bones sounded like a great idea! HOWEVER, Alfie was only interested in the Bacon flavored edible bone (he got it from his momma). As it turned out, so was my parent's Airedale, Waffles. So, Alfie didn't get all of that one. 

**Update: it took some time for him to realize it, but he does LOVE these and they are excellent for when you want something for pup to chew on, without feeding him more treats. Also, the price is MUCH better than at a brick and mortar store.**

Not to be pushed around, he stole several of her dipped bones, and is a huge fan of these, as am I! They last forever with a little guy like FiFi.