best-dog-supplies

Best Dog Supplies from Our Experience

These are the best dog supplies we’ve discovered by trial and error. The chief testing dog is my picky Akita, Kiyoshi. She has very refined tastes and is not easily impressed, so her top gear picks are really woof-worthy.

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Kiyoshi’s Best Dog Supplies

You can check out Kiyoshi’s top dog gear at Kiyoshi’s Top Dog Picks on Amazon. For each item, I am including the link to the product on Amazon as well as Chewy and direct merchant sites.

best-dog-supplies

Our Picks for Dog Walking Supplies

Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags are a bestseller on Amazon for a reason - they’re lightweight, eco-friendly, and easy to use for picking up dog poop on walks. Whether you’re traveling with your pup or hiking, these convenient poop bags are a lifesaver for leaving no mess behind.

We have tried many dog harnesses, and the best one for my large dog that I’ve found is RC Pet Products Momentum Dog Harness in X-Large. This harness is sturdy and comfortable and fits her well. It can be surprisingly hard to find a dog harness for large dogs (and my dog is even small for an Akita), and I’m so glad we found this one.

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Kiyoshi’s RC Pet Products Momentum Dog Harness is the best.

Dog leashes are essentials you’ll need for your pup. The Pawtitas 6 FT Pet Puppy Leash Reflective Dog Leash is a sturdy and cute 6-foot leash with reflective strips to keep your pup visible at night. Pawtitas is a small business, which is also great for supporting fellow small business owners.

Dog collars come in many varieties. Some even have personalization options. Since I use a harness to walk Kiyoshi, she only needs a dog collar for her ID and tracking (which is optional). I got her a basic black dog collar after having different colored ones that I got sick of over the years. The Country Brook Petz - American-Made Dog Collar is an adjustable and affordable collar that’s perfect for keeping my dog’s tags on her. The collar comes in many color and size options so you can pick what works best for your pup.

Best Pet Supplements

There is no one perfect supplement for every dog, but these are our top picks for dog supplements. Once again, a lot of these recs are based on Kiyoshi, who is a very picky eater who doesn’t like most dog treats. The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Daily Boosts Instant Beef Bone Broth with Turmeric for Dogs is a nutritious food topper with a tantalizing flavor that my dog loves. The human-grade ingredients and lack of additives make it even more appealing.

Zesty Paws Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil Formula for Dogs & Cats delivers the benefits of salmon oil in a convenient bottle. Salmon oil can improve your dog’s skin and coat health as well as boost brain health and improve mobility. This is a natural way to enhance your dog’s health and prevent issues like dry, flaking skin and coat.

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My dog has done well with these supplements.

Kiyoshi has EPI, which affects her food digestion. Her vet recommended the Nutramax Proviable Digestive Health Supplement Multi-Strain Probiotics. These probiotics have helped her digest food better and I highly recommend them if you need probiotics for your pup (check with your vet to get their advice).

Grooming Supplies for Discerning Dogs

Bath Supplies

My dog’s foster mom is a groomer, and she recommended this sensitive skin shampoo for Kiyoshi- Davis Melaleuca Tea Tree Oil Pet Shampoo. I love the gentle formula and light scent that’s not overpowering. It's great at getting rid of pet odor and giving your dog a gentle cleaning.

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Kiyoshi’s grooming supplies keep her fluffy and fresh.

To complement her sensitive skin shampoo, my dog’s groomer also recommended Vetrolin White N Brite Color Brightening Shampoo for the white areas of her coat. This is actually a horse shampoo but it works really well for giving my Akita a bright, white coat. Her paws can get very grimy from the streets of New York, with a greyish tinge, and this shampoo take the grey veil off to reveal bright, white fur.

The KONG - Zoom Groom Dog Brush is the best bath brush I’ve tried. This convenient rubber brush can help you coat your dog in shampoo while giving your pup a pleasant massage. Every self-wash grooming place we’ve been to also supplies this Zoom Groom brush for baths.

Dental Care

Kiyoshi’s favorite dog toothpaste is Virbac CET Enzymatic Toothpaste. She loves the chicken/poultry flavor and acts like she is eating a treat that I am inconveniently putting on her teeth when I brush them. (It also comes in other flavors - incouding beef and seafood). All jokes aside though, my dog loves this toothpaste and it works very well. I use it once a day to keep plaque from forming on her teeth.

To supplement toothbrushing, I also use these Petkin Cat and Dog Dental Wipes, which allow me to use my finger to really scrub my dog’s teeth from different angles and get areas that may be harder to reach with the toothbrush. Kiyoshi does not like the mint flavor of these too much but she tolerates me cleaning her teeth with them, which I do about once a week.

best-dog-supplies

Virbac Enzymatic toothpaste works well and my picky dog likes the taste.

Dog Toys

Dogs need a variety of toys for mental stimulation and playtime. My dog loves plush toys and these are some of her favorite stuffed dog toys:

The fun squeaky toy called Multipet Loofa Dog 18" Plush Dog Toy has a soft, plush exterior and is fun to throw for your dog. These toys are also inexpensive and have been durable for my dog. Note, my dog is not a heavy chewer so if your pup is, I am not sure how long this toy will last.

Multipet's Officially Licensed Lamb Chop Jumbo White Plush Dog Toy is another plush stuffie with a squeaker that my dog loves to play with. Once she’s tired out, she enjoys cuddling with this toy.

best-dog-supplies

This Lamb Chop plush toy has a squeaker and soft fur.

Dog Clothes

I have always owned medium to large dogs with long fur, so I didn’t feel the need for pet clothes until more recently. With the increasing amount of rain storms we now get, and some surgeries and fur shaving that my dog has had, I realized she sometimes needs extra protection from the elements. These are Kiyoshi’s top picks for comfortable and protective dog clothing.

Suitical Recovery Suit for Dogs is a game changer for post-surgery pups. This comfortable, fitted onesie has snap closures on the back and a flexible, soft material for comfort. My dog had emergency bloat surgery and this was the best clothing I found for her to stay covered up and clean and prevent licking after surgery. You can even use this instead of a cone in many instances. I only wish I’d found the suitical sooner, as she had previously had to be in a cone after surgery, which she hated. This versatile clothing can also be worn as a casual onesie as it’s very stylish (giving a turtleneck, Steve Jobs vibe) and comfortable.

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best-dog-supplies

The Suitical was a lifesaver after my dog’s bloat surgery. It’s soft and comfortable and prevented her from having to wear the cone of shame.

Top Dog Beds

Dog beds can be very individual, just like human beds. Your dog’s chewing habits (or lack thereof) and comfort preferences will come into play when you choose a bed. Since my dog is getting older, I wanted an orthopedic bed. However, being her picky self, she completely ignores regular dog beds, refusing to sleep in them. She loves my parents’ shaggy carpet in their sunroom, which made me realize she would probably like a furry bed.

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Kiyoshi loves her fur beds.

My dog loves PAW Brands Puprug Faux Fur Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed, which is a rectangular luxury dog bed with a plush, furry covering that’s washable and a memory foam mattress. She also loves the same bed in a different shape, PAW Brands PupRug Orthopedic Dog Bed with Fluffy Soft Faux Fur. These beds are easy to clean as you can unzip the fur covering and throw it in the washer and dryer. They are also plush and comfortable and come in different sizes to suit every pup.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is a must if you can’t afford surprise emergency vet visits that can cost upwards of $10,000. I have tried different pet insurance companies and finally found Spot Pet Insurance, which I love. They always reimburse me for our vet visits and they cover older dogs, unlike many companies. The claims process is quick and easy.

Related: Spot Pet Insurance Review Based on My Experience

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Pet Supplies for a Happier Pup

What are your top dog supplies to keep your pup healthy and happy? Check out our related posts for more dog care tips and insights from Kiyoshi:

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