New Puppy Checklist
| Updated
Plan for time off work
Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting adventure, but it comes with unique responsibilities. One crucial decision that can significantly impact your puppy's well-being and your bond is taking time off work during the initial adjustment period. Here's why it's so important:
Building a Strong Bond: Those first days and weeks are vital for creating a lasting bond with your puppy. Your presence helps establish trust and affection, making your puppy feel secure and loved.
Successful House Training: Housebreaking a puppy requires consistent training and supervision. Being at home enables you to reinforce good bathroom habits and minimize indoor accidents.
Establishing a Routine: Puppies thrive on routine. By being present, you can maintain a consistent schedule for feeding, playtime, exercise, and training, promoting stability.
Early Socialization: Early socialization is essential for a well-adjusted adult dog. Being at home allows you to introduce your puppy to various people, animals, and environments positively.
Training Opportunities: Puppies are eager to learn, and starting training early is vital for preventing undesirable behaviors. Your presence allows you to teach basic commands and address issues promptly.
Health Care: Puppies need regular veterinary check-ups and preventive care. Taking time off work ensures you can schedule these appointments and monitor your puppy's health.
Separation Anxiety: Many puppies experience separation anxiety when leaving their littermates. Gradual acclimation to being alone with your presence reduces anxiety.
Safety and Supervision: Puppies are naturally curious and can get into mischief when unsupervised. Being at home allows you to prevent accidents and ensure their safety.
Set up a safe space for your puppy
Create a designated area where your puppy can feel safe and secure when they first arrive, such as a crate or a puppy-proofed room.
Puppy Proofing the Home
Prepare your home by puppy-proofing it to ensure the safety of your new pet. Remove or secure any potentially hazardous items, block off access to certain areas, and secure loose cords or wires. See Puppy proofing checklist.
Veterinary Care Research
Select a veterinarian in your area who specializes in puppies/dogs, and schedule an appointment. Most veterinarians will want to examine the new puppy within a week of bringing them home. Review the necessary vaccinations and preventive care with your veterinarian clinic in advance so you know what to expect, and get appointments scheduled. Discuss spaying or neutering your puppy with your veterinarian.
House Training and Behavioral Training
Potty Training: Research and understand effective methods for potty training your puppy. Choose a designated area outside for bathroom breaks, or prepare a puppy pad elimination area in advance. See Potty training a puppy.
Basic Training
Learn about positive reinforcement training techniques and consider enrolling your puppy in a puppy training class or hiring a professional dog trainer.
Socialization
Puppies need proper socialization to become well-adjusted adult dogs. Arrange opportunities for your puppy to meet other dogs and people in a controlled and safe manner. See How to socialize a dog.
Costs for Supplies
Here is a general dog gear cost checklist. You will need to customize it based on your specific circumstances and the needs of your chosen dog.
Carrier/travel cage $30-$70
Dog Crate (metal) $35-$200
$26-101 Depending on the size ordered - Foldable Metal Crate
- Dog Crate Cover $15-42
Crate Cover - Machine Washable
- Dog/puppy playpen $30-$200
$30 Puppy Playpen - Soft Sided
Food and water bowl (Stainless steel or heavy ceramic are ideal). Two bowls needed for indoor. Consider an extra bowl for outside in warm weather
Stainless bowl favorite. These are sleek, shiny, with a silicone bottom to prevent being pushed around by your pet.
$13-$30 Stainless dog bowls non slip bottom
Ceramic bowl favorite. These come in white, black, and several other colors to customize the look.
$28-$35 ceramic dog bowls non slip bottom
Nail clipper/trimmer or nail grinder (Dremel) $5-$70
Nail clipper with LED light
$19.99 nail clipper with light on Amazon
Dremel nail grinder/trimmer
Grooming brush/grooming glove $10-$30
Small dog brush/deshedding slicker brush
Dog combo brush
What we like:
- Two brushes and grooming actions in one
- Easy to hold and maneuver
- Protective coating on the tips of the pins for your pets comfort
- Affordable choice $6.36-$7.80
Buy this SMALL combo brush tool on Amazon
Buy this LARGE combo brush tool on Amazon
Tool for deshedding a dog that has a (double coat)
What we like:
- Reduces shedding greatly in your home with use on a double coated dog
- Dual head design for deshedding and dematting
- Rounded blades are more comfortable for your dog
- Comfortable grip handle
- Affordable choice $14.95
Buy this deshedding tool on Amazon
Yearly dog license $5-$35 Tip: Look up your state/county for annual dog licensing requirements
Name tag with identification/contact information (to attach to collar) $3-15
Adjustable collar with a quick buckle release
What we like:
- Multiple colors and sizes to choose.
- Durable
- Reflective, helps to see your dog at night
- Soft and comfortable, neoprene padded
- Affordable $9.99-$12.69
- Extra ID tag ring for attaching dog charms or tags
Harness, adjustable $15-$50
A good quality leash $6-$75
Baby Gate if needed to section off room of house $40-$80
Poop bags $7-$15. Tip: Consider buying certified compostable dog poop bags that are friendlier to the environment
Pooper scooper $18-$30
Dog bed $10-$300
Healthy dog food. Fresh delivery foods can be $2-$12 per day depending on the size, age, and activity level of your dog (Example for a medium dog that is 30 pounds can be $5.35 for 2 meals/day which is $160.59/month. One of the popular dry kibble foods can be $56-$78 for a 30 pound bag
Healthy dog treats $5-$15
Training treat pouch $10-$30
Enzyme spray for accidents $10-$25
Dog toothpaste $7-$25
Dog toothbrush/finger brushes $5-$25
Tearless puppy shampoo $10-$20
Dog brush $7-$30
Dog chew toys $5-$30
Dog proof trash can $50-$200
Dog care books $12-$30
Nice to have/optional items to purchase
Mess proof dog bowls
Travel dog bowls/water bottles
Water fountain
Ramp if your dog is a short breed and needs help getting up/down stairs or on/off furniture
Roomba/pet vacuum/portable spot cleaner
Puppy room camera
Pet doors that allow dogs easier access to the yard
Pet health and wellness book/Binder for vet records