In this post you'll find a free download of a New Puppy Checklist PDF!
Bringing home a new puppy is such an exciting time! When I first brought my puppy home I had nothing... I literally had to stop at the pet store on the way home to get her a collar and puppy food. Then I went back to the store to get everything else I forgot later that night. It was a mess.
Now after a few years of practice of bringing foster puppies and new dogs home, I know exactly what things you'll need for your new puppy to feel at home and to make sure you can focus on welcoming your new puppy rather than running to the store!
This post will go over all the things you will need for your new puppy plus you can grab a free download of a new puppy checklist at the bottom of this post.
New Puppy Checklist PDF
Quick tip: See this list on amazon!
Related: 15 Puppy Training Tips Your Puppy Class Didn't Tell You About
New Puppy Bundle
1. Collar and Leash
One of the favorite things to buy for your new puppy is ever essential collar and leash combination. There are so many cute designs out there so you are bound to find something that fits you and your puppy's personality!
Martingales collars (picture on the left) are really a good tool as well because they won't slide off if your puppy tries to pull out of it. Don't forget to monitor your puppy as they grow, because this type of collar slides on and off. And you don't want to have to cut it off of your dog.
Biothane 6' Leash
Martingale Collar
Slip Leash
Every dog owner should have a good, quality, slip leash in their home. These are great for training your puppy and teaching them how to respond to leash pressure (so they don't pull when they grow up!)
Related: How to Use a Slip Leash
2. Harness
A harness is great for hiking and allowing your dog to explore. However, they can encourage a dog to pull, so it's best to do any training or leash walking in slip leash and collar in order to teach the dog how to respond to pressure.
New Puppy Guide PDF
3. Dog Bed
Dog beds can be tricky with puppies until they learn that this is not something they can chew! For that reason, it's best to start with a cheap bed (with minimal stuffing!) until you are sure you can trust your puppy to take care of a more expensive one.
4. Crate
Crate training is a super important skill for your puppy to learn and will expedite your dog's potty training, decrease destructiveness and decrease risks for behaviors like aggression, separation anxiety and barking.
Your puppy should sleep in the crate until they are potty trained, and be crated while you're not home until at least a year or two of age depending on other training success.
Crates with two doors offer more versatility for placement within your living room or bedroom. This one features a side door and a front door, which can be beneficial when rearranging the furniture to allow for more layouts.
Two Door Crate
Furniture Style Crate
5. Blankets
Blankets are nice to protect your bed, couch, car and covering dogs who enjoy being tucked in from the cold. This can be a good alternative for puppies who want to tear up dog beds in their crate.
Make sure you have blanket(s) designated for dogs only. You may have some old ones in your house to start with. These blankets are going to get messy especially while potty training is going on.
Related: 19 of the Best Cheap Blankets for Dogs That We've Ever Found Online
6. Toys
Your puppy's favorite toy will depend on their personality! When they're young it's a good idea to try getting a variety of toys so you can figure out what they like and don't like. So, I'd recommend starting with a rope toy, squeaker toy, bottle toy and an interactive toy so you can get a better idea of what they love most!
ChuckIt! Ring Chaser
This ChuckIt toy is perfect for dogs who enjoy a long chase where they can sprint after something on the ground (and then tug later).
No-Stuffing Toys
Save yourself from picking up stuffing from all over your living room with these no-stuffing packs.
Amazon New Puppy Checklist
7. Toy Storage
Most of the time toys will be scattered across the living room, but having a designated space for dog toys can keep your home feeling under control.
8. Waste Clean Up
Whether you're doing clean up as you go or once a week, clean up is an essential part of responsible dog ownership.
9. Puppy Food
Hopefully, your breeder or adoption agency will send you home with a few days of food, but you'll want to check to see what food they've been on.
If you plan on switching your dogs food, just be sure to do it slowly over 4 days to avoid an upset stomach.
Some reputable brands of food for puppies are Purina, Hill's Science Diet, Iams and Royal Canin.
As your puppy gets older, it's a good idea to consider specific diet needs based on age, breed, individual health and genetics.
Personally, I have seen awesome results with Darwin's Raw food for my dogs. Click here to receive 10 pounds of food for under $15!
10. Food and Water Bowl
Regular Price: $22
Seems obvious right? A good quality food and water bowl will keep your puppy healthy and happy longer.
Healthy Puppy Checklist
11. Tie out or Long Line
Long lines are one of the most underrated tools that dog owners miss taking advantage of. Long lines are great for allowing your dog to feel off leash, without being off leash, and therefore offers a way for you to hold them accountable while teaching recall.
Additionally, long lines offer opportunities for you as a dog owner to grow as a dog handler and learn to correct and move your body using only your space (rather than just the leash)
33 foot long lines are the perfect distance for training recall, practicing obedience and perfecting your handling abilities.
New puppy shopping checklist
12. Treats
Training treats will be your very best friend when you bring a new puppy home! Plus, having easily accessible storage so you can grab some treats ready to go will make life easy!
Zuke's Training Treats
These mini training treats are great for puppies and dog's! You can even split these into 2-3 pieces each.
Merrick Power Bites
These treats are bigger, but you can split them up into 2-5 pieces easily. These treats are some of the most affordable on amazon and come in chicken, beef, turducken, salmon, and rabbit.
Dehydrated Liver Treats
These are great high value treats to save for rewarding your puppy for things like drop it or come.
Treat Storage
Regular Price: $11
Don't crowd your pantry with bags of treats. Use a cute container to easy access for treats!
13. Treat Pouch
A treat pouch is 100% worth the investment. Pockets get old really fast when you're training a puppy. This treat pouch has enough pockets for treats, poop bags, a spare leash, high and low value treats and anything else you might want!
Puppy Training Checklist PDF
14. Cleaning Supplies
Accidents are bound to happen until your new family member understands the routine. Better just buy the extra pack.
Dyson Vacuum
Enzymatic Cleaner
Bissell Carpet Cleaner
Paper Towels
15. Education
We always do the best we can with what we know. The good news is we can always do better with learning more!
Check out these books/audiobooks on dog ownership.
The Forever Dog
The Forever Dog is one of the most essential reads for dog owners who want their dog to live longer. It's a great book for anyone, regardless of their pre-existing knowledge of dog nutrition.
The Other End of the Leash
This is an essential read for anyone who wants to have a better relationship with their dog. This book teaches you all about how your dog sees the world and how they see you.
16. Schedule Obedience Classes
Puppy classes fill up FAST! Make sure you are looking into puppy classes as soon as you know when your puppy will be coming home so you can plan accordingly.
17. Schedule Vet Appointment
Similarly, scheduling is the same with veterinary appointments! Some veterinary clinics book out 3-4 weeks in advance for routine visits. Usually puppies need to be vaccinated against parvovirus every 3-4 weeks until four months of age and you don't want to fall behind on this vaccine!
Plus, by scheduling routine care with your vet you'll save a ton of money once you're an established client if your puppy gets sick. This way you can avoid emergency veterinary fees.
Related: New Puppy Vet Schedule Checklist | 13 Must-Ask Questions for your Veterinarian
18. Dog Seat Belt
Depending on who you talk to and what research you look at seatbelts are about 50/50 on whether they are recommended. A dog seatbelt for your puppy is a generally good idea, especially if there's any risk that they won't stay in the backseat while you're driving.
19. Car Seat Cover
Regular Price: $34-$65
Having a car seat cover will save you and your car from dog hair, mud, dirt, accidents and lots of dog slobber.
20. Travel Water Bowl
Regular Price: $34-$65
These are an essential if you're going to be hiking or backpacking with your puppy. These are also great for dogs who have an active lifestyle!
Free Printable New Puppy Checklist
21. Grooming Supplies
Depending on your dog, grooming supplies are going to vary greatly. Depending on your dog's coat, some tools may be better than others. Alternatively, you'll want to make sure you set your puppy up with appointments at the groomer's.
Long Hair Brush
Puppies with curly or bristly hair (like collies and doodles) will love this brush!
Undercoat Brush
Huskys, labs, shepherds, and collies will also love this brush!
Undercoat Brush
This is the ultimate brush for short haired dogs, especially pitbulls and bully breeds who have short hair that weaves itself into your clothes and furniture.
22. Baby Gates
Baby gates are nice to have around for a variety of reasons, especially if there are areas of your house you want to keep dog free. These are also great for sectioning off the house while doors are open, guests arrive, or if you need a safe space for your cat, other pets or kids.
23. Dog Camera
For hundreds of years people have left their dogs home alone unsupervised. But now that we're living in the future, you can keep an eye on Buddy or Bella while you're at work, on vacation or just in another room.
This is a really fun tool to have around especially for training things like counter surfing. There's a camera for every budget.
New Puppy Vet Checklist
24. Dog First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is often overlooked, though most things in a human first aid kit can provide some relief to your pet in case of emergency, but not everything. So, here are the basics of a dog first aid kit:
25. Preventatives
You'll definitely want to keep up with monthly heartworm and flea and tick preventatives, especially if you live in an area with year round mosquitos. It needs to be at least 42 degrees outside for fleas, ticks and mosquitos to come out.
These topical or oral preventatives are usually prescribed by your veterinarian. Heartworm preventative can't be purchased over the counter, though some non-prescription brands of flea prevention can.
Additionally, you'll want to touch base with the adoption agency or breeder to find out when the next round of dewormer, heartworm preventative and flea and tick preventative are due. This is a monthly medication.
26. Nail Trimmers
If you're comfortable doing your dog's own nails, or if you are eager to learn, having your own nail trimmers will pay for themselves in two trims.
New Puppy Checklist
