Hi all! I posted in the Welcome Mat thread last week but just to recap, I'm getting a pup from a breeder in Maine who breeds 1-2 litters/ year to add to her sled team. We've been chatting for a bit now and I feel the most comfortable with her, and she gives great answers to my questions, on board with Raw feeding etc. We're on the waiting list for a pup. First litter due in 8/15 and the last is due around 9/9! I'm so excited. I'm trying to contain my puppy purchases until the litters are born and I know what I'm getting sex, color wise. (I did break down n buy a Fluff n Tuff alligator yesterday though  )

Anyway, I already know I'm going to wind up buys multiple collar/leash/harness combos but we'll need something to pick him/her up with as we don't have a fenced in yard. I have read and re-read all the threads about this exact topic but I'd like to throw it out there again to have it in one place! So thanks in advance for the input.

Mind you we will be getting the pup around 8-9 weeks old:

As far as harness I've narrowed it down to the premier, WYDWL and the ezydog quickfit. Just unsure of sizes for pup. I know that I will need to upgrade eventually to a bigger size.

For a collar I like the Ezydog double up and checkmate. RW top rope, chain reaction. Just not sure on whether I should wait a little for a martingale collar on a baby or start out with one from the get go. I'm fairly certain I will use a harness at least until he/she is a bit older.

What's YOUR favorite leash??

I would suggest a Lupine they have a life time warranty even if your pup was to chew it if you mail it to them they will replace it free of charge.The website is Lupinepet.com

Thanks! I'll look it up now

Orion came with a limited slip collar from the breeders - she has lovely ones made for each puppy to go home with which I thought was such a nice touch. She said that she finds the limited slip collars safest for her dogs especially as squirmy puppies who may not be keen on wearing the collar or lead and try to back out of it, I just made sure to be extra diligent in adjusting it as he grew. He is now on his second limited slip and I'm pretty sure I will continue with them since they work so well I found some gorgeous ones online from a company called Mini Green the other day which I love now I just need them to ship to New Zealand...

kelly foster ford wrote:

I would suggest a Lupine they have a life time warranty even if your pup was to chew it if you mail it to them they will replace it free of charge.The website is Lupinepet.com

Found a local pet store that sells them! Bought a peacock pattern one

 

GeorginaMay wrote:

Orion came with a limited slip collar from the breeders - she has lovely ones made for each puppy to go home with which I thought was such a nice touch. She said that she finds the limited slip collars safest for her dogs especially as squirmy puppies who may not be keen on wearing the collar or lead and try to back out of it, I just made sure to be extra diligent in adjusting it as he grew. He is now on his second limited slip and I'm pretty sure I will continue with them since they work so well :)I found some gorgeous ones online from a company called Mini Green the other day which I love now I just need them to ship to New Zealand...

That is so cute! Thanks i will check it out

I would second the lupine, they replace for life with any damage. Ive actually upgraded to an inch collar from 3/4 and they only made me pay the difference. I anticipated my puppy being much bigger than she was when I got her so I would go with a small collar at first which can be adjusted. I went for the martingale (lupine calls it a combo collar) so she wouldn't be able to slip out which was my major concern as she used to try to back out of her collar.

On a side note what's the name of the breeder? Just curious cuz I know a couple different breeders up there

I got the I got a size small I think! I will look when I get home. I figured either way he/she will grow into it if it's too big! Her name is Rachel Arnold she owns Kennedy sled dogs in South Berwick. Have you heard of it?

Yup! I've met her a couple times at sled dog events there's a big one in New Hampshire in October. I know the breeders the dams and sires are from too. Arrows breeder actually lives in Maine as well now, sibersong sled dogs. All the dogs come from good caring breeders.

Arrow is one of the two having litters! She's beautiful. Rachel is so patient with my thousands of questions. I feel really good about getting a pup from her. She's been great and neither litter had even been born yet lol

i wish the lupine had more designs, they look nice but seems limited in selection

I'm happy you got the lupine! I would also suggest getting a lupine harness if you are going to get a harness while it is a puppy at least until they are done growing. I just found it so useful to be able to give them back when he chewed them up, which I think Nikolai did like 5 times? But now that he is older and knows not to chew, I got a real harness from Alpine Outfitter, but I think the harnesses that you listed above are great companies too but I just would wait. Plus as stated above, with Lupine, I was able to upgrade the harnesses with his growth and only had to pay the difference. My favorite leash is ruffwear knot a leash, its amazing and I love the locking carabiner at the end to make sure he is fully attached, and I know they make a small and a large leash. I actually stuck with the lupine collars since my dogs were puppies, because we just have never had to replace them so its worked out really well and they are super tough!

To be honest when I saw the lupine online I wasn't all that excited but when I saw them in the store I liked them way better. What size harness do you think I should get for a baby?

Yeah, I mean they aren't the greatest harnesses but with a puppy you never know if they will chew it or not and I figured I mind as well save myself the money since they have an awesome return policy. I got the roman harness when Siku was a puppy and I will try to find the inches that it was when I get home. They adjust really well, so the larger ones you can actually make tiny. I was able to use his harness for months.

Nice! Always good to save some money. They only had the step in harness where I was but i will keep my eyes open when I go into Portland later n see what the other stores carry.

I think you should get a medium. He will grow VERY fast. I had Juneau wear an EZYDOG Chest Plate Harness when she was about 3-4 months and a medium fit her just fine. It's adjustable.

http://www.wag.com/dog/p/ezydog-chest-plate-harness-199167

It kept her secure in my car with a seatbelt attachment. Beware, he may chew through your seatbelt! Juneau did. -.-

My favorite collar is the knot-a-collar. http://www.ruffwear.com/Knot-a-Collar-Adjustable-Rope-Collar

I paired it with a knot-a-leash. http://www.ruffwear.com/Knot-a-Leash-Rope-Dog-Leash?sc=2&category=15 I got the thicker one. It has a locking carabiner on it.

​http://www.flyingdogcollars.com/

​http://www.shopmimigreen.com/designer-dog-collars/classic-mimi-green-dog-collars?limitstart=0&limit=50

Cute collars.

I like the chest plate harness a lot. Oh man, my pup is going to be just as spoiled as my kids!

Ashley&Kaia wrote:

On a side note what's the name of the breeder? Just curious cuz I know a couple different breeders up there

Just curious as to the other breeders in maine you know of? I had a hard time locating any

I have always use a harness as soon as she was big enough for one that she can grow into. I get the mesh petco ones... It helps with all the pulling! lol