Adopting a new dog? Check out our essential puppy checklist and make sure you have everything you need for a healthy and happy furry friend! Puppies bring such joy to a family, but like babies, they need a lot of stuff! Okay, so maybe not quite as much stuff as a new baby, but it’s just as important to be prepared with everything your puppy needs! I suggest buying as much as you can before you adopt your new dog. That way, you don’t have to rush out to get everything when he gets home. Here is your essential list for bringing home your new puppy!
Essential Puppy Checklist
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Basics
- Collar and Tag: Make sure that your puppy is identified as yours, with Fido’s name and phone number on it!
- Leash or Harness: Having a leash or dog harness makes taking your puppy for walks a breeze. Puppies have tons of energy, and exploring the neighborhood is a wonderful way to channel that energy while you bond!
- Crate: Crate training can help your puppy feel secure, so if you decide to crate train your puppy, make sure you have the right size crate
for your dog.
Food essentials
- Food: There are so many brands of dog food available, so you might want to talk to your veterinarian to see what brands they recommend. However, do make sure that you choose a formula specific to the nutritional needs of your growing puppy!
- Food And Water Bowls: I recommend some sort of no-spill pet bowls
!
- Treats: Treats are a great way to reward your puppy for good behavior, and can be used for all kinds of training purposes – just don’t overdo it, of course
Training essentials
- Training Treats
- Books and videos with training tips
- Bones Toys or other Chew Toys: Chewing on bone toys
is great for puppies! Chewing is good for your puppy’s teeth; can alleviate boredom; and can satisfy your puppy’s instinctual urge to chew!
- Puppy Pads: Not all dog owners use puppy pads
, but they can be an invaluable tool when you are training Fido not to do his business in the house!
- Gate: Some pup owners find gates
can be helpful in the home, so that Fido cannot access areas of the home that are off limits (open concept homes, for example)
Nice to Haves
- Dog Bed: As wonderful as it is to cuddle up with your new pup, it’s important that your puppy has a bed of their own to have some quiet time alone. If you’re not crate training (or even if you are), a dog bed
in a quiet place is a great thing to have.
- Toys: Puppies really love to play, and unless you want your puppy chewing everything in the house, provide toys that your puppy will learn are OK to go crazy with!
- Brush: Make sure your puppy is brushed regularly
- Shampoo: Different dogs have different types of fur and skin; so make sure you know what kind of shampoo your puppy needs!
- Nail Clippers: A puppy’s nails can scratch, so make sure they are kept short with nail clippers. You can also use a Dremel
if you’re afraid to cut!
Printable New Puppy Checklist
Print out our new puppy checklist to take to the store as you shop for your new furry friend! Just click the pic to bring up the full-size list!
In addition to all of the items you need when welcoming home your puppy, it’s very important to have a local veterinarian that can take care of your puppy’s health needs.
