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Owning a Labrador Retriever is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. It can seem a bit daunting as a new dog owner to know what Labrador products will be best for your best four-legged friend.
After owning Labrador Retrievers for nearly a decade, I’ve had a lot of experience with different products and services for dogs. Additionally, my experiences have put what is needed to keep your Labrador both safe and happy into perspective as well.
What products do you need for a Labrador?
If you’re a new dog owner, you may be wondering what all you will need for your new dog. This is a comprehensive list of Labrador products – essentials you will need for your new pup.
- Dog food
- Dog treats
- Food and water bowls
- Collar with nametag
- Leash
- Poo bags and holder
- Crate
- Dog bed
- Toys
- Dog first aid kit
- Car safety items (seatbelt, harness, etc.)
- Flea and tick preventative (as prescribed by your veterinarian)
- Heartworm preventative (as prescribed by your veterinarian)
Having these essential items for your dog are absolutely imperative. But there are a lot of other items that can be helpful as well for Labrador owners.
Other helpful supplies and accessories for Labrador owners
While these Labrador products listed below aren’t mandatory to have, they certainly are helpful for Labrador owners.
- Dog / Baby Gate
- Dog shammy or towel
- Waterproof mat for bowls
- Blankets
- Dog cot
- Collapsible bowls (for travel)
- Harness (for walking – can be the same one you use for car safety, or different harness)
- LED light collar (for nighttime walking)
- Training collar
- Grooming tools (brush, shampoo, nail trimmer, etc.)
- Dog booties
- Dog water bottle
- Paw washer
- Travel bag
- Ice pack
- Enrichment toys and puzzles
- Chew toys
- Raised bowls / feeders
- Slow feeder bowl or insert
- Dog toothbrush & toothpaste
- Dog toy baskets
- Pet Insurance
What are the best Labrador products?
In my experience, I’ve found that sticking with tried and true brands for most products is the best way to get the most value.
While you don’t have to buy name brand of absolutely everything, there are some brands that I’ve grown to really like and trust over the years. These are some of my favorite brands & stores for dog products:
- Kong brand, for toys
- Fluff n Tuff brand, for toys
- Barkbox brand / service, for toys and treats
- Treats Unleashed store, for treats, toys, and all kinds of dog essentials
- Petsmart store, for toys and all kinds of dog essentials
- Rural King, Tractor Supply, and other farm stores, for dog food, treats, toys, and other dog essentials
- Amazon online, for toys, accessories, supplies, and other dog essentials
Top 10 List of our Favorite Labrador Products
Below is a list of some of our favorite products for our Labrador. For a full list of our Amazon favorites, be sure to visit Gunner’s Instagram & click on our Amazon Storefront.
1.) Raised Dog Feeders & Water Bowls
Our Favorite: The Neater Feeder
Why we love it: This raised food and water bowl has a couple of different models for different heights of dogs, which is great! In addition to that, the Neater Feeder is mess proof, no-spill, non-slip / tip, AND the bowls are stainless steel. So for sloppy drinkers and eaters, this is a great option to keep the food and water from ending up on your floor.
2nd Favorite: URPOWER 2-in-1 Elevated Slow Feeder with No Spill Dog Water Bowl
Why we love it: This elevated bowl set combines many great features all in one. Because the legs are adjustable, it’s suitable for most dogs during all growing stages. The slow feeder bowl is made to help prevent fast eating which can lead to digestive upset & issues. Lastly – and our favorite feature – the no spill bowl includes a floating disc that prevents even the messiest of drinkers from slopping water all over the floor! An added bonus is that it is more affordable – about half the price of the Neater Feeder.
In summary, we’ve used both of these feeders, and loved them both. We currently are using the URPOWER feeder because our pup is VERY messy with his water, and it’s been perfect for preventing those messes.
2.) Leashes
Our Favorite: Max and Neo Double Handle Traffic Dog Leash Reflective
Why we love it: This is a strong leash with two padded handles to allow you to have more control over your pup. It has reflective stitching for enhanced safety for night time walks. But our favorite part about this leash is that they donate a leash to rescues for every leash sold!
2nd Favorite: PetSafe Nylon Leash
Why we love it: It’s an affordable everyday leash that comes in several different lengths / widths, and colors. It’s easy to use, and has a swivel clip for easy movement.
BONUS: Don’t forget to grab some poo bags, and a poo bag holder – these are a must have to add to your leash!
3.) Harnesses
Our Favorite for Walking: 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness
Why we love it: This harness is made to help prevent pulling while also being comfortable for your dog with its velvet padded straps. With it’s double ring design, you can attach the double ended leash (which is included with the harness linked above) to both the front and the back O-ring. This design makes it a much less stressful walking experience, especially if your dog is a puller.
Our Favorite for Car Safety: Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Dog Harness – Crash Tested Car Safety Harness for Dogs
Why we love it: This harness is one of the few that have been crash-tested and approved. Because of its design and comfortable material with added steel safety components, it’s a great harness for all of the car rides with your pup. In comparison to some other crash tested harnesses, this Kurgo Tru-Fit harness comes at a much more affordable price. It also includes a pet safety belt that attaches to both the harness, and your car’s backseat seatbelt. It comes in multiple sizes & colors as well!
The Crash-Tested Safety Top Pick: The harness that has come out as the top pick for crash-tested safety is the Sleepypod ClickIt Sport. While it was the top pick, this harness costs over $130 as of the time I’m writing this. After doing a lot of research, we ultimately went with the Kurgo Tru-Fit for our Labrador.
4.) Dog Seatbelts
While I would recommend that you purchase a crash-tested harness that comes with its own seatbelt attachment, you can purchase dog seatbelts separately as well. These should always be clipped to a harness, not a collar. And personally, I would only clip to a sturdy ring that’s attached to the back of the harness (one that rests on the dog’s back).
Our Favorites: Mighty Paw Dog Car Safety Belt and Mighty Paw Dog Seat Belt – Latch Bar Attachment
Why we love these: Unlike some other dog seatbelts, these are long enough that it allows for controlled movement in the backseat. This means that your dog can still enjoy the wind in his face out the window while also being restrained. The swiveling carabiner clip also helps to keep your dog from getting tangled up in the seat belt.
5.) Food and Treats
Because there is so much conflicting information about the proper dog food and treats to feed your pup, I always recommend that you speak to your veterinarian before selecting food and treats.
Dog Food
If your veterinarian directs you to dry dog food, there are likely a variety of places that carry the brand they recommend. You can shop around prices online before purchasing, but I’ve most often found that the best pricing for the least hassle is found at farm supply stores like Rural King, Tractor Supply, and Farm & Home.
Treats
There are a lot of treats out on the market, but just like dog food, not all dog treats are the best for your dog. Consult your veterinarian first for brands they know and trust. You may be able to purchase some treats (I.e., Lean Treats) through your vet. Others you can purchase at pet stores and farm supply stores, or online through services like Barkbox. (Read more about Barkbox here).
My favorite place to buy treats is our local Treats Unleashed store. In addition to having a multitude of pet supplies, Treats Unleashed makes their own treats fresh with all dog-friendly ingredients. They even make birthday cakes for your dog! While this store currently only has locations in Missouri & Kansas, you may have a similar type of store near you. Ask around or do a Google search to see if you do!
6.) Crates, Beds, and Cots
Of course, crates are essential to have for your Labrador. Crate training is recommended for many reasons – it provides a safe space for your pup, especially when you’re not home to keep a close eye on your dog.
Our Favorite Dog Crate: MidWest Homes for Pets Newly Enhanced Double Door iCrate Dog Crate
Why we love it: The double door makes it easy for your dog to get in and out. It also make it easier to clean up messes from the removable leak-proof plastic pan. It’s easy to fold up, and reassemble as well, and comes in multiple sizes.
Our Favorite Dog Bed: Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed
Why we love it: It comes in multiple sizes & colors, has a machine washable removable cover, waterproof lining, and a non-skid bottom. This bed provides a cozy snuggle place for your pup with the orthopedic support they need.
Our Favorite Dog Cot: K&H Pet Products Cooling Elevated Dog Bed Outdoor Raised Dog Bed
Why we love it: Elevated dog cots are a great way to keep your dog cool, and to keep them off of the ground – especially while outdoors. With breathable washable mesh, it’s easy to keep it clean as well. In our household, it’s been a great “time out” space without crating our dog.
7.) Dog First Aid Kit
When it comes to safety, a lot of people forget about first aid for dogs. Caring for a dog requires different first aid items than humans, so it’s important to have a dog first aid kit on hand for your furry friend.
Our Favorite: Dog First Aid Kit
Why we love it: This kit has all of the essentials you need to treat your dog or cat in the event of an emergency. The products are all pet-focused, and comes with a helpful pet first aid handbook.
8.) Flea, Tick, and Heart Worm Preventatives
For dog owners, flea, tick, and heart worm preventatives are a must. There are many out on the market, and your veterinarian will know what is best for your dog.
Please speak with your veterinarian about the best preventatives for your dog, and make sure that you give them to your dog on the prescribed schedule.
9.) Collar
When it comes to collars, there are no shortage of them on the market. If you’re looking for a simple, cost-efficient reflective collar, this Joytale Reflective Dog Collar is a great pick, especially for young or growing pups. You will need to have an ID tag made to attach to this collar in case your pup gets lost or gets out of your yard.
For our dogs, we’ve found the best option is to buy a collar with a nameplate already attached with our contact information. This helps prevent issues with tags coming loose or getting caught on things.
Gunner’s current collar is pictured above.
10.) Dog Toys
Of course, no dog-friendly list is complete without dog toys! Dog toys are our favorite part – but finding the right toys for your Labrador can sometimes be tricky. I’ve had both super chewer and moderate chewer pups, and they’ve taught me that not all toys are created equal.
For moderate to easy chewers, the regular Barkbox toys were great as far as subscription services went. Because it included both toys and treats, plus a chew – it was a great option. But if your Labrador is an aggressive chewer, you’ll want to upgrade to the Super Chewer Barkbox if you are planning on doing a subscription service.
In my experience, aggressive chewers will do best with tougher toys like the tough rated Kong Extreme toys. Plush toys will most likely not make it for more than 5-10 minutes without becoming a fluff war zone. Some of our favorite Kong toys are the Kong Extreme Dog Toy, the Extreme Goodie Bone, and Extreme Ball.
And no list of Kong toys is complete without the squeaky Kong tennis balls. While they may not be as indestructible, they are a doggo favorite – and they’re relatively cheap, so they’re a great option. Especially for fetch sessions!
Another line of toys we really like is the Fluff n Tuff brand. They’re great for easy to moderate chewers. However, heavy chewers may still end up chewing through these toys faster than you’d like – so stick with something tougher for your heavy chewer pup.
I hope you enjoyed this list of Labrador products for your pup
Let me know in the comments below what your favorite Labrador products are – we’d love to check them out!
Follow Gunner on Instagram – @Gunner.The.Good.Boy.1 .