Most “must-have” lists try to sell you a pet store. Mine is shorter: something to walk him on, somewhere to sleep, food, cleaner and a few toys that last.
Everything on this page is gear Kai tested.
The everyday gear
Freedom harness and short leash. Walks are on the Freedom harness. It works well. Kai has chewed through a few, and the chew warranty (a small fee per replacement) makes it well worth it. Collar for tags, harness for walks.
Long line when ready. Distance and recall practice on the Viper long line.
Crate with divider. Sizing is in the crate guide. Ours is the MidWest iCrate. I used the divider to crate train Kai and moved it back as he grew, and it’s great quality. First nights were easier with the Snuggle Puppy, which we sent to the breeder so it picked up his mom’s scent.
Training treats. Soft bites: Kai’s go-to treats.
Food setup. One consistent puppy food. Notes on Food.
Clean-up and chew toys. Enzyme cleaner, plus a toy rotation from the toys hub.
Add when needed
Gates. Our Regalo puppy gates came after Kai came home. You don’t need them on day one if you supervise closely.
Coat tools. A gentle brush early. The Maxpower undercoat rake once the shedding gets real. Amazing product, great price.
Where to buy
Each item above links to its own page. My full list is the Owner’s Kit. More on Gear, and ideas for gift givers on Gifts.
What did not make the list
Retractable leash for a baby Aussie. Novelty gadgets that promise a trained dog without reps.
If you want it all in one place, the Owner’s Kit has it.
Fit-check the harness after growth spurts, using the checks in my guide to the best harness for Australian Shepherds. Tiny treat pieces keep the reps coming (Kai’s go-to treats). A Kong Classic after walks helps the off-switch.
Start with a couple of toys he loves instead of a bin of squeakers (toys hub). Gear helps training. It doesn’t replace it. Browse: Gear. Gifts for others: Gifts.
Day-one vs later
Day one: crate, Snuggle Puppy (Kai still loves his), harness, food, cleaner and a couple of toys. Later: puppy gates after Kai came home, coat tools when shedding got real, longer line work on the Viper long line when recall practice needed space.
ID tags on the collar from the start. Microchip conversation with your vet if not already done. None of that replaces the daily walk and training reps.