Your life is about to get 10 times cuter...and about 100 times more complicated. Your shoes are currently safe, but without a solid game plan, that won't last past Tuesday. Preparation is everything; the key to transitioning from overwhelmed to overjoyed is having your essentials ready before you pick up your pup.
To help you stay focused during the pre-puppy jitters, we’ve organized this guide into a timeline of essentials. From stocking your pantry to setting up vet visits, here is your roadmap for a successful first week and beyond.
Essential Puppy Supplies: The Non-Negotiables
One trip to the pet store will show you just how big the puppy supplies market it. While your new puppy will require a lot of items, there are some that are more important than others. Here are what’s considered the non-negotiable items on a new puppy checklist.
Feeding Essentials
A healthy puppy requires a healthy diet with all of the accessories necessary for feeding it.
High quality puppy food: Speak to your veterinarian or the breeder for recommendations. To make the transition as smooth as possible for your pup, consider starting off with the same food they’re currently eating and slowly transition them to what your vet recommends.
Stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls: According to Today’s Veterinary Business, plastic may not be the best choice for puppies because it can be damaged by chewing, which allows bacteria to grow.
Small treats for training
Sleeping Setup
Puppies need to sleep as much as they need to play. Set them up for quality sleep with a few necessary items.
Comfortable bed: Get a size that will accommodate your puppy when they’re full grown to avoid needing to replace it later on.
A quiet place: Okay, so you can’t find this at the pet store, but your puppy needs an out of the way area where they can get some uninterrupted rest and scheduled times to do so.
Bathroom Needs
House training is one of the first activities you and your puppy will partake in. Make it a little easier with these essentials.
Crate: Training your puppy to use a crate can help with house training as well as keeping them safe and giving them a comfortable and familiar place to go when they feel insecure.
Puppy pads: Even if you intend for your puppy to use the great outdoors, keeping some puppy pads handy can help them when needing to go becomes an emergency.
Cleaning supplies: There will inevitably be accidents. Make sure you have an enzymatic cleaner and some paper towels handy.
Safety Basics
Puppies are known to get into trouble, some more than others. You can help keep them safe with these puppy essentials.
Collar/harness: Your puppy should wear some form of identification when out and about. A collar with accurate ID tags is a good way to go. If you have a brachycephalic breed, consider using a harness.
Leash: Training your puppy to walk on a leash provides them with the freedom to safely venture on walks outside. When choosing a leash, retractable leashes often aren’t recommended for puppies based on what the Santa Barbara Humane Society has to say. Choose a simple leash to start with until your pup has had some training in polite walking.
Microchip: An ID tag is great and all, but it can’t replace the permanent security that a microchip provides. The security far outweighs the cost of microchipping. This $25-$60 investment may be the difference between your puppy getting home or not if they become lost.
Health and Grooming Must Haves
A puppy’s little body needs quite a bit of care. So, get your grooming and healthcare bases covered before their arrival.
Basic Grooming Tools
Every puppy needs at least a brush. Some, depending on their haircoat, may need a whole lot more. All puppies need:
Short-bristle brush: This helps remove debris and spread natural skin oils.
Gentle dog shampoo: Consider bathing your puppy once a month or when overly dirty.
Dog toothbrush and toothpaste: That’s right, dogs need their teeth brushed too. Brushing your dogs’ teeth is much easier if you start them as a puppy with a proper dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Considering that a dog dental cleaning cost can be between $300-$600, this is a worthy investment.
Combs, rakes, deshedders: If your puppy has a long or thick haircoat, additional grooming tools may be necessary. Speak to your veterinarian or groomer for advice.
First Aid Essentials
Puppies are going to find trouble which may mean minor injuries. Invest in a commercial kit or make one at home using guidance from the American Animal Hospital Association to make sure you have the supplies you need if your puppy gets injured.
Health Records
Though your veterinarian typically takes care of this, you should have a copy of your puppy’s health records as well. This is important if you need to travel or visit another clinic in an emergency. Know your puppy vaccine schedule and store any vaccine certificates, treatment records, or other health info in a known location.
Pet Insurance
Veterinary costs can be high, so consider investing in puppy health insurance for your new arrival. These policies help cover the costs of unexpected illnesses and injuries as well as management of some lifelong diseases. By securing coverage the moment you bring your puppy home, you ensure that:
Pre-existing conditions are avoided: Enrolling early, before any symptoms appear, ensures your puppy is covered for life-long conditions.
You never have to choose between your wallet and your pet: Insurance provides the financial freedom to say "yes" to life-saving treatments or specialized surgeries.
Unexpected accidents are covered: From broken bones during play to accidental ingestions, you’re protected during your dog’s most vulnerable stage of development.
Investing in a policy now means you can focus on training and cuddles, knowing that Embrace has your back when the unexpected happens.
Wellness Plan
Unexpected veterinary visits aren’t the only healthcare costs your puppy will accrue. A puppy wellness plan can help you budget for preventative care costs such as wellness visits, vaccinations, and flea and tick medications.
Preparing Your Home: Safety and Enrichment Setup
You may already have the puppy essentials on this checklist, but you’re not fully ready until you’ve prepared your home as well.
Puppy Proofing Your Home
Puppies shouldn’t be given full run of the house. There are dangers there that should be avoided. Consider gating off or closing doors to stairs, the kitchen, bathroom, or children’s bedroom. Locking garbage can lids and safety latches for lower cupboards may be good ideas as well. You’ll also want to be sure to remove toxic plants from your home and yard.
Training Supplies
Training a puppy can start immediately, especially if you have the supplies at the ready. Keep a stash of bite-sized treats on hand to reward your puppy for a job well done. Have a crate, collar, and leash ready as well. If you plan on participating in an obedience class or dog socialization training, consider enrolling beforehand to make sure you have a spot saved.
Play and Enrichment Supplies
Puppies love to play, especially if you’re involved. Look into a variety of toys that offer fun for both you and the puppy, such as tug of war or fetch toys. Get some that the puppy can play with alone, like interactive puzzle games, for when you need to be away.
Timeline Guide: From First Week Through Puppyhood
A puppy’s needs change as they grow, so here are some considerations to make sure you’re prepared for all stages of puppyhood.
First Week Essentials
Using the new puppy checklist, make sure you have everything on hand well before your puppy arrives. Start house training, socialization, and basic commands immediately and get your puppy started on a schedule.
Age-Specific Needs
As they grow, you may need to switch out different toys, bedding, or other supplies based on your puppy’s needs. Soft toys may not be suitable for teething puppies, while a plush bed may not hold up to a young puppy’s wear and tear.
Critical Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest issues I come across as a veterinarian seeing a new puppy is the owner waiting to start training. It’s easier to set boundaries for obedience when a puppy first arrives than when they’ve already become set in their ways after several weeks of living in your home.
Also, don’t wait to see your veterinarian. Get your puppy in within the first week of moving to your home. This gives them a chance to get used to veterinary visits and lets your vet become acquainted with your puppy’s health.
Want to keep this handy? Download our free New Puppy Checklist PDF and have these essential tips ready whenever you need them.
Preparing Your Family
Even if the new puppy technically “belongs” to one family member, all who live in your home are going to be affected. Make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to specific duties as well as how to interact with a puppy.
Delegate Responsibilities
Before bringing your puppy home, decide who is going to cover which responsibilities. You’ll also want to settle on a schedule. Everyone in your home needs to know:
Who feeds the puppy and when
Who walks them and when
What the puppy is allowed to do and not do (i.e., be on the furniture, have treats, etc.)
Potty break schedule: when and where
Socialization and obedience plans
Make sure your children know how to interact with a puppy, which can include not feeding them from the table, how to safely play, and when to leave the puppy alone.
Final Preparation Checklist
Getting a new puppy is not a decision to be taken lightly. It shouldn’t be an impulse purchase/adoption, so you should have plenty of time to get your new puppy checklist together. Start by getting the essentials, such as food and water bowls and food, bedding, a collar and leash, crate, and pet insurance. From there you can look into additions such as treats, toys, and grooming supplies. Your veterinarian or the breeder/shelter are great partners in this new relationship, so be sure to use them when you have any questions.