There’s nothing quite like having a new puppy in the house. You have a new baby to cuddle, snuggle with and teach the ropes of what it means to be a good family member. And the process of getting ready, shopping for what you’ll need, is so much fun.  In my last post, I compiled a new dog owner checklist of the essentials, which I hope was helpful. Here, I’m stepping back into Bark and Swagger’s fashion arena to find some gorgeous gear for you to start his or her wardrobe. So let’s take a look at the must have’s for a well dressed pup!

Puppies Have Special Needs

Whether tiny or hardy, puppies require special gear to protect them from the elements and from themselves! They don’t yet understand what is edible and not and, especially if they’re small, can get cold very easily. Here’s a checklist with suggestions of a starter puppy wardrobe:

Puppy Blankets

• A cuddly blanket – when we first brought Sophie home, I found this really cute pink leopard shaggy blanket for her and she laid across that thing all the time. We still have it, three years later, and it’s now been adopted by Lola, our cat. Investing in a cuddly blanket is worthwhile. I would choose one you can throw in the machine, because you’ll probably have to do that often. Here’s one that is really cute and comes in pink, blue or brown. It’s super soft, eco-friendly (all dyes used are AZO-free) and it comes with a matching plush bone toy, filled with material made from recycled plastic bottles. Puprwear. $29.95

Classic Camel
Blanket Fleece

Leopard Fleece

Fashion School Hoodie

• A t-shirt, fleece or hoodie – if you live in a colder climate, a fleece is going to be important to keep a new puppy warm, even in the house if it’s drafty or you keep the thermostat down. I love this little leopard fleece for girls and the classic camel plaid for either. Both are great looking, super soft and anti-pilling. Puprwear Leopard Fleece. Camel Plaid  Each $23.95  And check out this Fashion School red plaid hoodie by Ruff Ruff Couture. Great colors, soft, stretchy velour and a very fashionable school girl patch!

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  Puppy Collar

  A puppy collar/leash – so many choices, so hard to choose! I love this one from Susan Lanci Designs. It’s for teacup and small dogs and comes in lots of colors. Made from upholstery grade ultra suede and a sweet bow and matching leash, they are soft, comfortable, breathable, washable and colorfast. Puprwear. Sizing: fr 5.5″- 16.5″. Collar: $35.95. Include leash: $43.95 

• A warm jacket/temperate climate – I think it’s a good idea to get your puppy used to wearing a jacket early so they don’t protest once they get older and bigger. Especially for small dogs and dogs with a thin coat of hair, wearing a coat or jacket will keep they warm when the thermometer drops. If you live where it gets cool but not freezing cold, this Red Thriller Dog Motorcycle Jacket is an absolute must! Adorned with real metal studs, a belted waist feature, a snap and a zipped pocket, it can’t get much cooler than this. Velcro closures at neck and chest. Harness/leash opening at back. Wipe clean or hand wash. Puprwear. Sizing: 8″-16″length. $69.95 – 75.95
  

  Red Motorcycle Jacket

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• A warm jacket/cold climates – for larger breed puppies, I love the Canine Styles Horse Blanket Coat. It comes in a beautiful, reflective blue, pink or red. Made from water and snow proof nylon with a very warm faux shearling lining, this well-made coat features a criss-cross strap system that is fully adjustable and customizable for your dog’s shape. Metal buckle fasteners and sewn in D ring. Machine washable in cold water, hang to dry. A great choice. Puprwear. Sizing: fr 10″ – 30″ length. $59.95 – $94.95. For smaller breed puppies, I like the Fouski Reversible Waterproof Ski Parka. It’s like getting two ski jackets in one and I love the color combinations – bright blue/neon orange, teal/yellow and fuchsia/purple – which is very on color trend for 2014. These ski parkas have cushy quilting for extra warmth, a satiny sheen finish to the 100% waterproof nylon outer shell, drawstrings at the back for a good fit and a reflective strip at the neck. Puprwear. Sizing: S (8″-10″); M (10″ – 12″). $36.95 – $38.95

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  Giraffe PJ’s

  

  Sleeping Teddy PJ’s

  PJ’s – for little pups that need extra warmth, I’ve found two pj’s that I think are adorable. A cream and black giraffe printed cotton flannel with soft pink ribbed trim and a sweet sleeping teddy print cotton pj with cornflower blue ribbed trim. Snap closures make for easy on and off. Custom is available if your baby is hard to fit. Machine wash, hang to dry. Sizing: XS (7.5″ length) – XL (15″length). PuprwearGiraffe: $26.95. Custom: $34.95.  Puprwear Teddy: $22.95. Custom: $30.95

•  A great carrier for small dogs/men’s – if you like to take your dog everywhere with you, having a carrier that doesn’t scream “there’s a dog inside here!” is really important, especially if you want to go into stores and some restaurants. The messenger bag style is a great option for men carrying small dogs and I love this one for its great look and practical pockets, compartments and other amenities. The Cambridge Pet Carrier (the warm brown color is awesome!), features a padded, adjustable, removable shoulder straps in a complimenting color. A comfy pet padding interior, a safety strap leash and even a poop bag pull through slot makes this pet bag the ultimate in detailing. Top and side netting is concealed under flaps that roll up and the fold over bag flap is even removable! Puprwear. Sizing: 15” W x 11” H x 6.5 ” D. Other color options: Black, Grey, Caramel. $205.95.
  

  Cambridge Carrier

   

• A great carrier for small dogs/women’s – I think a great carrier for women is a bag that has all the pockets and compartments you needs to avoid having to carry an additional purse, and it has great style, looking like a handbag instead of a dog bag. If you can afford to get a couple of them, then you can play with color and try out new things. But if you are going to have one staple, make it black or brown so it goes with everything, and make it classic. This Classic Tote has good sized front zipped pocket, top and side ventilation, a faux fur pad to make it comfy for your dog, fully lined and a stylish faux leather quilted fabric with a substantial leather/chain link strap and comfort padded shoulder piece. PoshPuppyBoutique. Sizing: 8″ (L) X 10.5″ (W) X 11″ (H) inches. $228.00
  

  Classic Tote

   

I can just see it. You, curled up with your new pup, toasty in his or her fresh, new pj’s or laying across her soft, cuddly blanket. His sweet puppy breath in your ear and soft tongue kisses on your cheek. So delicious! What’s your favorite piece of new puppy gear and why?

Until next time…