Meet our new family member, Enzo! He’s an English Mastiff and has turned into a handsome, sweet boy. When we lost our first mastiff, Atlas, to cancer it took us awhile to be ready for another one. We didn’t want to feel like we were trying to replace him.

But now that we’ve raised two giant breed dogs, I feel like I can share the best products that helped us as large breed puppy parents.

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1) DOG CRATE

I highly recommend crate training your new puppy. It makes potty training easier and both of my mastiffs enjoyed their crate as their own special den space, especially with a blanket thrown over it to help them feel cozy and safe. Also, they were both sleeping through the night by the third night in their crate.

This MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate is the crate I used for both of my large breed dogs, though it comes in different sizes for whatever size your puppy is. Not only is in inexpensive, but it is build really well. It comes with a divider, which we used for a few months. Enzo’s one now and still happily sleeps in his crate.

2) SMARTPETLOVE SNUGGLE PUPPY

This Smartpetlove snuggle puppy isn’t just a stuffed animal, it contains a heat pack and a simulated heartbeat to help your puppy transition to their new environment. Remember, they’re used to sleeping in a pile of other warm puppies and hearing their siblings’ and mother’s heartbeat as they go to sleep. Enzo snuggled with this in his crate and it’s still one of his favorite toys.

3) DOG NAIL GRINDER

This Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder is hands down the best purchase I made for Enzo. With my first mastiff, I made the mistake of trying to use nail clippers, which worked until his nails got too big and thick for any brand clippers. Plus, mastiff nails are black. So, I ended up cutting the quick by accident, and it was a struggle to cut his nails after that. Have you tried to trim the nails on a 170 lb dog that doesn’t want you to? Not a pleasant experience. This time, I took a different approach and purchased this grinder. I am so impressed with this pet nail trimmer! Not only is it quiet, it is still able to grind Enzo’s nails down now that he’s one and has those thick, black nails. He now happily chews a bone while he gets his pedicure.

4) KONG

If you’re an experienced puppy parent, you’re probably already familiar with the KONG CLASSIC TOY. But, it’s such an important tool, I had to mention it. Not only is it a durable toy, it’s great for teething and feeding your puppy some of his or her meals. I still use this toy (though the XXL version) when I need to keep Enzo busy for awhile. You just soak their regular food in water for a few hours until it’s mushy, then stuff it in the Kong and freeze it. Your puppy will enjoy the game of licking the food out of the center.

5) PUPPY TRAINING

Training and socializing your new large breed puppy is extremely important. They grow so fast so start from day one! I found this MY SMART PUPPY book to be really helpful, even as an experienced dog owner. It also comes with a DVD.

If you want a more advanced training system, this SECRETS TO DOG TRAINING system comes with a 250 book and audiobook, a video training program and a members area with unlimited consultations.

Hope that helps you get prepared for your new large breed puppy!