The Ultimate New Puppy Checklist
Disclosure: Sheer Shannanigans blog is reader-supported. If you purchase items through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
So, you’re getting a puppy? Congratulations! There’s nothing quite like the joy (and chaos) of welcoming a new furry friend into your home. But before you get lost in the excitement of puppy cuddles and zoomies, you’ll want to make sure you’re adequately prepared for your new furry friend.
Trust me, I’ve been there—thinking I had everything I needed, only to realize at 2 AM that I was missing the most crucial item (spoiler: it was more paper towels). To save you from last-minute pet store runs and unnecessary stress, I’ve put together this must-have list of everything you’ll need before your puppy even sets paw in your home.
Let’s make sure you’re ready for this adventure, because once your pup arrives, the real fun begins!
Adjustable Collar & Dog Tags
Collars are more than just accessories, they are essential for your pup’s safety when paired with an informative dog tag. Make sure to have an updated address and phone number etched on the dog tag! Just a few days after we brought home our puppy, she got startled and slipped her lead during a 4am potty break and we searched for her for over an hour. Accidents happen, and puppies don’t come fully trained - so always make sure people will know where to return them to if they ever run off. Keep in mind your puppy will grow, and most likely outgrow their first collar, so no need to splurge on the first collar purchase (unless you want to). The most important thing is finding a well-fitted collar with some room to grow, and a dog tag with your contact information.
I personally love the “no jingle” customizable dog tags (Amazon). These are the ones we use for both of our dogs! Aside from being much quieter alternatives to the standard dog tags, they are also less likely to get caught on things. And just from personal experience, they don’t tend to get scratched and worn out like the traditional dangling dog tags do. Along with these no-jingle dog tags, we also equip our dogs with Fi collars which track their location, steps and sleeping patterns through a convenient mobile app. I would not qualify a GPS tracker as a bare essential per se, but I wanted to add this to list (unsponsored) because we just love these!
Water & Food Bowls
Your pup will of course need water and food bowls to eat and drink out of - it doesn’t need to be anything fancy, but I would personally recommend an option that is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning! We opt for a larger water bowl to leave out for both of our pups throughout the day, and smaller bowls for their breakfast and dinner feeding.
A Durable Crate
Crates are essential, not only for puppy potty training, but also to keep your pup safe when they are unsupervised. When I adopted my first dog, I was adamant that I would not be crating my dog. But after an emergency vet visit, and a good deal of research, I quickly realized this was the best way to keep her safe when I couldn’t be there. Crates also make potty training infinitely easier!
When considering a crate, you may want to look into getting a larger crate with a movable dividing panel (similar to this one on Amazon - NOTE: Make sure to find a size that makes the most sense for your dog). This way you can move the panel as your pup grows and the crate can “grow” with your pup! Otherwise, anticipate needing to buy a larger crate as your four legged friend grows. During potty training, a sliding tray at the bottom of the crate is an absolute must for easy cleaning.
Our second pup loved her wire crate, but my first dog was much pickier and an escape artist. We arrived at the conclusion that she prefers a darker and cozier spot to decompress, and she loved her travel dog crate (Amazon - this one is similar to the ones we use) - even going in there to get away from her sister or take a nap with the crate door open occasionally. As she got bigger, we found that covering the back half of a wire crate with a blanket also did the trick!
Baby Gates (or a Play Pen)
We still use baby gates around the house, even though our dogs are 2 and 4 years old now. Baby gates are a very convenient way to separate areas of your apartment or house and can be used for so many different functions. My first dog loved going through kitchen cabinets (I can’t say I loved it as much), so I used a baby gate to close off the kitchen in my apartment. In more open concept kitchens, consider puppy proofing with cabinet baby locks (there are tons of different types and not all baby locks will work for all cabinets/drawers so be sure to inspect your kitchen before purchasing - These are the two types I used that worked well for us: Invisible Childproof Latch Locks & U-Shaped Adjustable Drawer Safety Locks). Another area that often has low cabinets are bathrooms - often with harmful cleaning chemicals and medications that can be potentially dangerous to a curious pup. To save yourself some money in emergency vet bills, and the heart break, I’d definitely recommend puppy proofing with gates and child locks as your puppy is learning the rules of the human world!
As our pups have gotten older, we’ve used baby gates to keep them within certain areas of the house when we leave - areas that are safe for them to be unsupervised. Our pups are past the stage of chewing on furniture and dry wall (and yes that really happened!), and can now be safely left alone with more room to wonder. But we continue to use baby gates, shut doors and child locks in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room to prevent accidents from happening.
A play pen can also be a great way to confine your pup to a certain area while you’re busy doing other things around the house - and it gives them a little bit more wiggle room than a crate. For puppies and small dogs this can be a great and safe alternative if baby gates do not work well for your house lay out. There are a large variety of puppy pens that range in size, portability and durability - so be sure to keep your puppy’s potential size in mind when you choose the right one for you.
NOTE: I would not recommend using the puppy pen instead of a crate when you are not home, puppy pens simply add a little extra safety for when they are not under direct supervision but you are still close by!
Dog Toys with Different Textures
I cannot express enough - dog toys are not just for your dog to enjoy; they also help prevent destruction of your belongings. When I got my first dog, I was equipped with lots of stuffed dog toys, but I didn’t understand the importance of getting dog toys with varying textures. My dog chewed up shoes, books, and plastic kitchen utensils, and I couldn’t understand why she insisted on destroying my things when she had so many toys (this was all before I learned the importance of puppy proofing and crate training). A dog trainer once told me that the objects a dog chews on tells you what kind of toys to buy. Are they chewing on shoe laces or their leash? Get them rope toys. Chewing rubber boots? Get them hard rubber chew toys. Books, twigs or pinecones? Get them wood grain toys (I still buy these on a regular basis - they are life savers). Tearing up pillows? Get plush toys. Plastic kitchen utensils? Nylon dog bones (another must-have purchase for our pups). This was arguably some of the most helpful advice a trainer gave me when I felt overwhelmed by my pups destructive tendencies. It totally worked! So make sure you’re equipt with different types of dog toys, so you can be ready to offer them a replacement when they go for your common household objects.
Another thing I wish I knew about are how many different tools there are for mentally exercising your dog. As someone with two very high energy pups - nothing tires them out more than mental exercise. I’ll write another blog post specifically about ways to add mental enrichment to your pups routine, but one of my favorite straightforward products is the Snoop. I actually have two different sizes for my dogs - one large enough to hold all of their kibble for a single meal, and a second one that is smaller for dispensing treats. When I need something to distract them for some time while I’m trying to get something done, I’ll take a piece of doggie turkey jerky that is just slightly too big for them to get out of the snoop by flipping it over, so they lick the treat until it is smaller and can fall out of the snoop (this buys me about 30 minute per jerky slice!).
A Dog Bed
I put a dog bed here just because I think all dogs should have a bed - but to be honest, my pups relax more often on the carpet in front of their dog beds than on the actual dog bed themselves. Yet we still have a dog bed in just about every room of the house. When choosing your puppy’s first dog bed, I’d caution you to choose something that is not too expensive and that you are not too attached to - I have two reasons for this: 1. Your dog may outgrow their first dog bed and it will need to be replaced & 2. My dog destroyed her first two dog beds by chewing holes in the lining. As you are teaching your pup that their bed is in fact not a chew toy, I’d recommend getting something functional and relatively inexpensive to start, and upgrade later.
Puppy Training Treats
I cannot emphasize this enough: it is never too early to start training your puppy. I went through countless bags of training treats in the initial phases of training our dogs, and now would be a great opportunity to start stocking up! If you’re interested in saving some money and making your own training treats - take a look at my Peanut Butter & Banana Training Treat Recipe that you can make easily from the comfort of your own home! Be sure to be mindful of any dietary restrictions or sensitivities your pup may have before feeding them any new treats.
Dog Safe Cleaning Materials (and lots of paper towels)
Puppies are unpredictable at times, but one thing I can say for certain is there will be potty accidents. Young puppies often mistake the texture of rugs for grass, and also have very limited bladder control. To make matters worse, they have a tendency to potty in the same spots where they smell urine. So if you do not clean carpet well enough to eliminate the odor for your furry friend with a super sense of smell, you’ll find yourself continuing to clean up after accidents again and again in that same spot. We use the Stain & Odor Eliminator by Rocco & Roxie Supply Co., and it works wonders for getting rid of the urine smell!
And you’d be amazed how many paper towels you’ll go through with a potty training pup. If you’re like me and you have a tendency to get the cheapest paper products on the shelf, I’d encourage you to upgrade while potty training is underway. A durable paper towel will make all the difference for cleaning up accidents, leave you with far less paper debris buried in your carpet than the cheaper options.
Puppy Food
I added this at the very end because I would actually recommend not buying a bag of food until you find out what food your dog has already been eating. To minimize stomach upset, it is best to continue feeding your puppy the same food they are used to - and if you’d like - start to transition them to your preferred food by slowly introducing it into their diet. But on the way home with your pet, I definitely recommend stopping by a pet store and purchasing a bag of puppy food. For puppies who get bored of their food, consider adding a topper or mixing in pumpkin puree or plain apple sauce to entice your pup to finish their meal!
Final Thoughts
Bringing home a new puppy can be a very exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) experience! With the right preparation, you can keep your puppy safe and stock up on essentials that will help you have a smoother transition into puppy parenthood. With some cuddles, consistency, and lots of patience you’ll find that welcoming your furry friend is a worthwhile experience for all involved!