10 Under-$50 Dog Essentials I Can't Live Without

When you get a dog, it can be very overwhelming trying to figure out what exactly you need. With thousands of products on the market, you probably don’t know what’s worth actually purchasing. That was the case for me when I adopted my dog, Winnie, two years ago. I barely even knew where to start after I brought her home. I asked friends and family with dogs for recommendations, did some research myself and spent hours testing products. Now I have a good idea of what you actually need to keep both you and your pup happy, and I’m ready to share that knowledge.

From top-rated, good-smelling poop bags to a cute and cozy dog bed and even a treat pouch with space for your phone and keys, these are the products that I 100% recommend. And the best part? Every single thing in this list is under $50. Because owning a dog doesn’t mean you have to spend all your money (even though you might want to).

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10 Under-$50 Dog Essentials I Swear By

Best Seller: With a 4.8 out of 5-star rating and more than 237,000 reviews, it’s clear that I’m not the only fan of these Earth Rated poop bags. Not only are they super easy to open (even in the cold), but they also smell like lavender and have a reminder sticker when you’ve only got three bags left. How genius is that?
Food Topper: My pup has a sensitive stomach, and over the past couple of years, we’ve tried a few different probiotics, but this one from Fera Pets is our favorite. It has both probiotics and prebiotics to support gut health and helps keep her regular. I put one scoop on top of her dinner, and she gobbles it right up.
Checkered Comfort: Not only is this Leasure donut bed super cute with the purple and white checkered pattern, but it’s also super cozy. Winnie curls herself in it every day and loves to use the raised edge as a place to rest her head.
Matching Set: We also both love the matching waterproof blanket from Lesure. I keep it on my bed so she has a place to snuggle at night. Plus, when it gets dirty, I just throw it right into the wash.
Walk This Way: I’ve been using the same Wild One harness (in the orchid color) for the past two years. It’s super easy to put on and keeps Winnie secure on walks. I also love that it is two rings: one on the top, which I attach the leash to, and one on her chest, which I use to keep her secure during car rides.
Everyday Essential: Winnie and I head out on at least one longer walk a day, and the Wild One treat pouch is always with us. It has a large compartment where I keep treats to reward her good behavior and a smaller outer pocket where I keep my keys and phone. Plus, the built-in poop bag dispenser means I always have backup.
Rainy Days: This Frisco reversible dog raincoat was one of the first things I bought after I adopted Winnie, and I still use it to this day. It’s adjustable with Velcro straps around the neck and stomach, so it always fits her. The best part is that it folds up into the attached pouch, so it barely takes up any space when not in use.
Training Tool: No matter if you’ve got a puppy or an older dog that doesn’t listen too well, it’s always a good idea to have an agility lead leash. I’ve got the 30-foot one that I use to let Winnie run free, but stop her if she happens to spot a squirrel.
Playtime Fave: If your dog loves to play fetch, the Chuckit! dog ball launcher is a game changer. It comes with a ball, but also works with a tennis ball, and lets you throw farther so your dog can run more. Plus, you don’t have to touch a slobbery ball when they bring it back.
Easy Travel: I recently picked up this food storage container as I wanted to keep some of Winnie’s food at my boyfriend’s house, and now I never want to travel without it. It holds a good amount of food and has an easy-pour spout with an attached cup, which makes measuring out dinner a breeze.