How to prepare for your new puppy
In addition to shopping for all the essentials and getting ready for training, there are certain preparations you need to make and things you should consider when bringing home a new puppy. Follow these guidelines to help make the transition as smooth as possible. Set up your home. Dedicate a room or space in your home for your puppy and their things. This space should include a feeding area and a crate. Make sure it’s close to where you and your family usually congregate e so your puppy doesn’t feel isolated and alone. Use puppy gates to block off potentially dangerous areas such as stairways or basements. Make sure to puppy proof your home by securing cabinets, tucking away wires and removing any toxic plants from areas your puppy can access. Find a veterinarian. Your puppy should be seen by a veterinarian shortly after you bring them home,even if a shelter, rescue group or breeder has given your puppy a clean bill of health. Look for a licensed veterinarian in your area and make an appointment so that your new veterinarian can meet your puppy and provide a general exam. Set up your schedule. A new puppy requires a lot of dedication and attention. Establish a routine and schedule with other family members, and designate duties so everyone knows their responsibilities. If you have to be away from your puppy for extended periods of time for work, consider hiring a trusted dog sitter, who can come to your home and let your puppy out for playtime and potty breaks.
“Not Quite As Essential” New Puppy Checklist
These items are not quite as essential or you probably have an alternative you could use temporarily at your house. Basically, you’d probably want to pick up most of these items during your first weeks with your puppy, but you probably don’t need them the day you bring your puppy home.
We like this Frisco Pet Bedding for the crate
We don’t always have bedding for our crate and find that blankets, towels, and bed sheets can all be a good alternative. We even had one friend build us bedding for our crate using those egg crate foam. A word of warning: not all, but many of our puppies have decided the pet bedding would make a good chew and shred toy.
We like the Frisco Dog Bed
Again blankets, towels, bedsheets, and even pillows can be used as a dog bed. Several of my puppies have loved the sofa-style dog beds. Actually, Stetson has taken over our sofa. One thing we’re looking for in our next dog bed is one that is easily washable. As you might imagine, puppies often have accidents on their dog beds.
We train all of our puppies to potty outside. However, I know that potty training outside is not always an option. So, when do we use pee pads? We use them when Raven has a litter of puppies.
We like Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags
We don’t use them as much now that we have a large backyard and pooper scooper. However, whenever we’re out and about with Stetson or Raven we grab our favorite Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags. Remember always to have something to scoop the poop when out in public.
Gates are a great way to keep your puppies confined to only certain rooms in your house. We’ve been using pet gates around the house since our first kid, Emma was born over 5 years ago Guess what? The pet gates work well with babies and doggies!
We like Carlson Portable Pet Pen
Not essential, but if you can’t keep a close eye on your puppy and you don’t want to crate him then take a look at the Carlson Portable Pet Pen. An ex-pen would also work well in the house.
Our Carlson Portable Pet Pen came in handy when Raven had her puppies. New Puppy Checklist – Item #23 – Puppy Playpen
We like Dremel Cordless
We don’t recommend cheap pet nail trimmers. We even tried a “Pet” nail trimmer made by renowned brand Dremel, but we felt it did not think live up to the Dremel standard. However, we love and use this cordless Dremel with all of our pups. We’ve also tried several nail clippers, but prefer the trimmers/grinders to the clippers.
We got a travel kennel for when we take our dogs on the road. We mainly wanted something that was collapsible and easier to carry than our regular crate.
QUICK TIP: Be careful with a travel kennel especially if your puppy is not yet crate trained because they may decide to chew through the mesh lining destroying your expensive investment.
We like Arm & Hammer Toothbrush Set
We like getting our pups used to the toothbrush and toothpaste, but usually don’t introduce them on day one. When we get a new puppy we always buy the toothpaste/toothbrush/finger brush combo pack for our pup.
We like Frontline Plus for Dogs
Linus was loaded with parasites when he came home. Make sure you talk to your vet before applying any flea/tick meds to your puppy.
QUICK TIP: We’ve actually gone back in forth between Frontline Plus and Advantage II. At one point the fleas became immune to the Frontline Plus so make sure and consult your vet and find the best option for your puppy.
Heartworm can be a deadly disease. Make sure you talk to your vet about heartworm prevention.
We use these to allow our puppies a little more freedom without losing control. We have 10, 20, and 30-foot-long lines which work great when working on recalls.
We like PetSafe Easy Walk No Pull Harness
Since our days with Archer, we started using the no-pull harness to help puppies that like to pull on walks. The Easy Walk Harness has been one of our favorites.
We like PetSafe Gentle Leader Head Collar
When we raised Adelle for Canine Support Teams they had us start her with the Gentle Leader when she was a wee pup. The Gentle Leader is a great tool if you have a puppy who pulls on a leash.
We have dozens of clickers. We prefer our clicker to have a wristband so we can let it hang freely when working with our pups.
QUICK TIP: While we recommend this FRISCO clicker we also recommend having a variety of clickers. Box clickers are usually fairly noisy and you’ll also notice there are very quiet clickers for sensitive dogs. Depending on your pup he/she may respond better or worse to different clickers.
For the past eight years, we’ve been clicker training all of our puppies. It’s a very effective way to train and communicate with your puppy, but if you want to clicker train you’ll need a clicker and a….
Tried and true. We love the hinge that holds the pouch open for easy access to treats. However, we also hate the hinge because once it breaks we have to get a new treat pouch.
If you’re going to clicker train your puppy then get a treat pouch. We tried using our pockets a few times and it gets messy and guess what? One time I left a few crumbs in my pocket and Stetson chewed through the fabric to get those last few niblets. New Puppy Checklist – Item #33 – Treat Pouch
We like Airtight Pet Food Container
We like having a food container to keep our dog food fresh. Our container is a little dated and I’m not so sure it’s still airtight. I think after 10+ years that happens. I’m on the search for a new improved dog food container…stay tuned…
QUICK TIP: Did you know that it’s a good idea to keep your food in the original bag? The bag is made specifically to store dog food for long periods of time. You’ll also be able to maintain the instructions, expiration date, and if there’s a recall you’ll know the lot number of your bag.
We like Puppies for Dummies
Learn everything you can before, during, and after bringing home your puppy. We have stacks of books on training puppies, dogs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and every bit of information we can get to learn how to have a better relationship with our dogs and puppies.
Puppies for Dummies is a great starter book and will give you a solid foundation in puppy training basics.
We like Our Blog or Doggy Dan’s Online Dog Training
We’ve shared all of our experiences raising and training service dog puppies for over 14 years now! Our blog is a great resource for new puppy owners.
Unfortunately, we know our blog is not terribly organized. We plan on getting everything into a concise puppy training program including a handbook, video lessons, and a workbook.
One dog training program we like and recommend is Doggy Dan’s Online Dog Trainer program. If you are raising a puppy check out the Project Moses section which shows Doggy Dan training Moses from 8 weeks old to 1 year. Definitely worth the price of admission.
We like (currently testing) Four Paws Pooper Scooper
We never had a pooper scooper living at the condo because the pups always went potty on their walks and we’d pick up with poop bags. At our house with a backyard the pooper scooper is essential.
We buy Baby Wipes in bulk for Emma and the twins. Honestly, I didn’t have baby wipes in the early days. Now that I have babies I can’t imagine what I’d do without baby wipes for puppies and babies.
These are not puppy products, but instead a list of a few contacts you should have before or shortly after you bring home your puppy.
Hamilton Animal Hospital was our go-to vet from day one with Linus. We liked the vets and staff and continued to take him there even after we moved to a different city. Also, make sure you have the phone number and address for your closest 24 hr Emergency Vet Office.
Before we brought home our first puppy Linus we knew he would be going to local pet trainer Sue Myles. It’s a good idea to have a training plan and a good dog trainer ready to help you when your puppy is not being an angel.
QUICK TIP: Even though we’ve been training puppies for over a decade we still take our pups to group training classes. It’s important for your puppy to not only learn obedience but to learn how to properly socialize with other puppies.
Sometimes it just takes talking to friends, family, and neighbors about getting a little help when you’re at work or need a break from your puppy. If those aren’t options there are online services, individual pet sitters/walkers, or even check with your local doggy daycare facility.
We’re lucky when raising guide dog puppies we have the option to board our pups at the school free of charge. However, there may be a time when you need to board your puppy. Start researching facilities in your area or start checking with family, friends, and neighbors to see if they might be able to board your puppy when you need a vacay.
QUICK TIP: If you’re working a full-time job then you may need to make an alternate plan for your puppy. Your puppy could end up with behavior problems if you leave him home alone for extended periods of time during the day.
We like Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
We did our due diligence and researched many different pet insurance companies and narrowed our search down to Healthy Paws. Why? Our close friends rang up bills of over $50K for their current puppy. If not for Healthy Paws they would not have been able to afford the bills and the puppy would have been put down.
Puppy Supply Buying Guide
An adjustable collar with an easy-release clasp is for everyday use. Being adjustable is key, so your puppy can grow for a while before you need to buy a new one. This is especially true for large breeds that grow a lot in their first year.
Choose a collar that is snug yet loose enough that it isn’t constricting your puppy’s neck. Many puppies do well with standard, flat, nylon adjustable collars. They are lightweight and very affordable.
Pro tip: When fitting a collar, you should be able to fit two fingers in between the collar and the puppy’s neck. Be prepared to check the fit frequently as your puppy grows and adjust it.
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An adjustable harness is great for walks as it gives you more control when leash training, especially if your puppy likes to pull. They also protect your puppy’s neck and back if a squirrel appears and your puppy tries to bolt after it.
Harnesses come in several designs for different purposes. Choose a flat, standard harness with the leash clip on the back. It should fit well through the chest and shoulders, but not tight enough to constrict or rub under your puppy’s legs. When you can fit two fingers in between the harness and the body, it’s a good fit.
Pro tip: Find a harness with chew-resistant material – you’ll thank us later!
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When your puppy learns to walk on the leash and you trust them to wander, a retractable leash is okay, but while your puppy is young, you’ll want to keep them close and focused. For this reason, a standard 6-foot flat, nylon leash works best.
When choosing a leash, consider the size and weight of your dog. If you have a tiny dog like a Maltese or Yorkie, you don’t want a large thick leash and fastener, and if you have a large dog like a German Shepherd or Labrador Retriever, a small, thin leash won’t cut it.
Pro tip: Human hand comfort matters, too! Look for a leash with a comfy handle to spare your hands when your dog lunges or pulls.
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Pet Pro Tip: When shopping for products for your puppy, make sure to also help protect your fur baby with best-in-class puppy insurance plans for accidents & illnesses.
Some breeders and shelters will include microchipping as part of the adoption process, but many do not. Having identification tags with your contact information and your dog’s name is essential in the event your pup escapes. Not only is it an adorable (and life-saving) accessory, but will give you peace of mind!
Pro tip: Dog ID Tags can be custom-made and engraved by most pet supply retailers such as your local Petco.
We reccommend:
As you endure the highs and lows of potty training and crate training, a bag of puppy training treats will be your best friend! It’s important that you look for training treats specifically – they’re typically smaller and softer so your dog can gobble them up quickly, and move on to their next command without a hitch. Anything bigger or harder to chew, and your dog may get distracted and fall off course.
Look for healthy ingredients, soft texture, and stock up on a variety of flavors that will aid in positive reinforcement.
Pro tip: Too much of any treat will become boring after a while. Keep things fresh by mixing in different treats if you notice your dog getting bored/distracted.
We recommend:
Check out the rest of our favorite training treats!
From cute, colored plastic bowls to hand-painted ceramic bowls, there are a plethora of food and water bowls available at pet retailers.
Plastic bowls aren’t the best choice for a puppy’s food and water dishes, as you run the risk of a chewed-up bowl when they begin to teeth. Ceramic bowls are heavier and great for puppies who like to push their food bowls around. Plus, keeping them clean is a breeze since they’re dishwasher-safe. Many dog parents consider stainless steel bowls the best option. They are lightweight, easily cleaned, and pretty indestructible. They might not be as cute, but they get the job done!
Pro tip: Even with the most careful handling, ceramic bowls can chip or crack, making them unsafe for your puppy. Check them regularly and discard damaged bowls.
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Healthy dog food that is age-appropriate is puppy essential. Most puppies come home with a small portion of the food they were eating. If you plan on changing to different food, make a slow transition to avoid any tummy upset. Your veterinarian is a great resource for helping you choose healthy food for your pup and making a safe food transition.
Pro Tip: In a multi-dog household, keeping adult dogs away from the puppy bowl can be a challenge. Puppy food has more fats than adult dog food, making it very appealing. Feeding your new pup an “All life stages” food can solve that problem. They have enough nutrients in them for puppies (even large breed puppies) and won’t cause excessive weight gain in adult dogs.
We recommend:
Check out the rest of our top puppy food picks!
Though you can just scoop puppy food straight out of the bag with a plastic cup, you may want to invest in a food storage container. You’d be surprised how quickly your pup can catch on and find their food’s hiding spot, which makes it easy for them to get into mischief and overeat. Not only does a food container prevent this from happening, but many pet owners say it keeps their food fresher for longer.
Pro tip: This is especially useful if you live in a multi-dog household and buy kibble in bulk. Buy an XL container so you can store multiple bags of food at once.
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While you can (and should!) puppy-proof your house, this will only do so much to protect your pup. A crate gives your puppy a place to sleep, calm down, and prevents them from getting into trouble.
There are many types of crates available, however, a wire crate is best. Not only does it give your pup the best view of their surroundings, but they also can’t chew through it like they can with a plastic crate. A soft mat or a puppy blanket in the crate can enhance your pup’s comfort.
Pro tip: Crates should be large enough for your puppy to enter without crouching, stand up in, turn around, and lie down. If you have a large breed puppy who’s going to do a bit of growing, there are crates with dividers to increase the space as they grow.
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These are a must-have for all puppy parents. Puppies need quiet time and a place they can be safe when unsupervised. Creating a play and sleep environment for daytime lets them take those all-important naps their little bodies need, eliminates potty accidents, and gives you peace of mind.
Pro tip: Playpens also come in handy for keeping puppies separate from any older pets in your household.
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Dog beds come in all shapes and sizes and range in price. You can go as standard or as luxe as you’d like, but the most important thing is that your puppy fits in it!
While your new puppy may sleep in their crate during the night, they’ll nap many times throughout the day and prefer to be near you. Having a dog bed where you spend most of your time will encourage puppy naps while allowing you to keep up with your day-to-day activities.
Pro tip: If your plan was to let your dog sleep on your bed, please reconsider. Your pup may pee or poop on the bed while you sleep. Young puppies or small dogs can also fall off the bed resulting in injury.
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Check out the rest of our favorite dog beds!
Which travel kennel you choose will depend on how you are traveling, but the most important factors are size and safety features. We recommend waiting a couple months to buy this item, as your pup will have some growing to do, and they shouldn’t be traveling too much as a young puppy anyway!
Make sure you read reviews carefully, as the last thing you want to do is feel uneasy traveling with your pup. Some standout safety features to look for: sturdy, element-repelling exterior, strong carry handles, tie down straps, and back up safety latches.
Pro tip: If you plan on air travel, choose a crate that is airline-approved. If you’re planning to travel with your dog on the plane, the crate will need to fit under the seat during the flight.
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Check out our favorite dog travel gear here!
Your youngster may need to pee or poop every 30 minutes in the beginning, so pee pads will be a life-saver. Pee pads can keep feces and urine off the floor and carpet while you’re working on puppy training. Pads come with attractants on them, letting dogs know where to go when you aren’t around or miss their cue.
Pro tip: Try to move your puppy’s pee pad a foot or two closer to the door everyday. Eventually, move it outside to create a smooth transition for potty training.
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Picking up puppy poop is not fun, but it’s necessary. Parasites are found in poop and the ground for a long time, leaving your puppy to reinfect itself if you don’t clean up that poop. No matter where you go with your puppy, you’re expected to clean up after them, so it’s a good idea to keep a roll of them at home, in your car, or in your bag on-the-go.
Pro tip: There are poop bag holders that connect to leashes, which is a great way to ensure you always have one on hand.
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Even with pee pads aplenty, there’s bound to be lots of accidents in those first few weeks (and months!) Enzyme cleaners keep the urine smell out of the carpets, beds, and blankets when accidents happen. If the smell remains, your puppy will use that area again, so it’s extremely important to clean it as soon as possible. This stuff is magic!
Pro tip: Make sure you soak the stain with the enzyme cleaner, let it sit covered with a towel and a weight, and vacuum it up once it’s dried. For extra bad odors and stains, you may want to let it sit for up to an hour.
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You may not have considered brushing your dog’s teeth, but it’s critical for preventing dental disease which is way more common than you think. Brushing your dog’s teeth is a daily, or at least twice per week, home dental care routine that’s best started from day one of your dog’s new life.
Choose a dog toothpaste over human toothpaste, and talk to your vet about which brush is best for your little one.
Pro tip: If you can’t carve out time to brush everyday, there are plenty of other healthy dental alternatives such as dental chews or chew toys designed specifically for dental health!
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Depending on what breed of puppy you have, the type of brush you use and how often you brush your dog will vary. If your puppy has a thick coat or heavy undercoat, you might want a slicker brush for controlling shedding and matting, whereas if they have a thin coat, soft bristle brushes will eliminate loose hair and bring out the shine in your dog’s coat. You can purchase combo brushes to get the best of both worlds as well!
Pro tip: Combs will detangle hair and smaller mats. There are flea combs to remove fleas and flea eggs as well.
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Though it can be nerve-wracking at first,trimming your dog’s nails is an essential part of puppy care. You’ll want to keep your dog’s nails from overgrowing, as it can result in injured tendons or splayed feet. If you have a small puppy, you might only need scissor clippers whereas if you have a large dog, you might want strong guillotine clippers. If you still can’t get the hang of nail trimming or your dog is too erratic to do it safely, you can contact your groomer or vet to help.
Pro tip: Styptic powder can stop bleeding fast in the event you trim your dog’s nails too short!
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Puppy shampoo is essential for bath time, but also when you notice your pup tracking mud through the house! You want your puppy’s shampoo to be gentle on their sensitive skin yet effective and thorough. It should be easy to shampoo in and rinse out and be free of any dyes, drying alcohol, or parabens. As your puppy grows and bath time becomes more routine, you might find you need more specialized shampoos such as flea shampoos or detangling shampoos, but start with something clean and simple, and when in doubt, consult your veterinarian and groomer!
Pro tip: Never use a human shampoo on your dog as it will strip the natural oils from your dog’s skin.
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Puppies explore their world with their mouths, which means they chew everything! Getting chew toys will save your furniture, shoes, and carpets from those sharp little teeth. Just be sure to leave the heavy-duty, indestructible chew toys, for later in life when their puppy teeth have fallen out and permanent teeth have grown in.
Pro tip: Puppies that like to chew or are teething, can benefit from edible chews like bully sticks. Supervision is required as they may try to swallow it. Discard the chew when the length gets smaller than the width of your pup’s mouth.
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Puzzle toys such as the Kong and snuffle mats provide busy activities that require little supervision. These toys provide lots of mental stimulation which is especially important for more active, high-energy breeds. These toys are not only fun to play with but help them burn off some of that boundless energy.
Pro tip: Once your pup establishes a feeding schedule, try putting their morning meal worth of kibble in the toy and let them play with it while you get ready for your day. Yay for multi-tasking!
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Soft, plush toys can provide comfort for a puppy used to cuddling up with their mom and littermates. Beware: As your puppy gets older, they may insist on chewing it up and taking the squeakers out of the toy, making a mess, so we suggest getting one with a squeaker, and one without.
Pro tip: There are also comfort plush toys that include heartbeats for that young puppy that cries out for mom at night.
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For more ideas, check out our list of puppy toys sure to keep your little one busy!
10 Things You’ll Need For Your New Puppy
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Before you welcome a new puppy into your home, you’ll need to make sure your space is ready for them. Puppies require a lot of attention and care, so making a checklist of what you’ll need is suggested, and picking up these basics for your new puppy is a great place to start.
This starter set of puppy and other essentials from Chewy includes six top-rated products that new puppy owners will greatly appreciate. With everything from a fun toy that’s perfect for teething to potty training necessities, this makes a great gift.
The box has a perfect five-star rating, and reviewers rave that their pups enjoyed the treats and toys.