Congrats! Welcome to dog mom or dog dad life! If you made it this far, I’m sure you know that raising a puppy will be hard work. It’s going to take a lot of your time, patience, and money. Although it can be overwhelming, I promise you that it’ll all be worth it! If you’re bringing home a new puppy, I’ve got the ultimate puppy checklist and guide for you. I’ve also included free downloadable, printable checklists and a special wall art at the end of this post to get you started on being the best dog mom ever!
Must-Do Before Bringing Home a New Puppy
Puppy-proof your home
Please do this before bringing home a new puppy! ? Put away ALL items you don’t want your puppy to chew on because they will find ANYTHING to bite or chew on when they’re teething. If you want to read about how I dealt with puppy biting, you can read it here. Make sure there’s nothing toxic to your pup in your home.
Pet Health Insurance
I’ve always been an advocate for pet insurance. If you think it’s a waste of money and your dog won’t need it, you’re wrong! Too many times, I’ve read from Facebook groups that someone’s pup got into an accident or has developed an illness and needed surgery or treatment that will cost them thousands of dollars. Some weren’t able to afford it and had to euthanize their dog. Please don’t let this happen to you. I don’t want your heart to break ?. Some pet insurance plans cover accidents and wellness visits too. You’re going to be saving yourself a ton of money in the long run. If you need more information, I wrote a detailed blog post about why you need pet health insurance.
Food
Take the time to learn and figure out what you want to feed your puppy. Most breeders and adoption sites will tell you to feed kibble that’s formulated just for puppies. I made the mistake of feeding Gatsby kibble before transitioning him to real food at six months old.
If I could turn back time, I would have made homemade meals for him or fed him a raw diet from the very start. I want to kick myself for feeding him kibble! Don’t let big pet companies and their marketing psych strategy get to you. Humans will not thrive and survive on just cereal and nutritional bars alone. The same thing goes for dogs. They need real food to thrive. Please read about what I feed Gatsby here. Your pup will thank you!
Veterinarian
Start looking for a vet around your home and make an appointment for your puppy’s first health visit. Your pup will need vaccines before going outdoors. The last thing you want is your pup to catch the Parvovirus, which can kill your puppy in 48 to 72 hours once they are infected! I also recommend getting your dog microchipped. It’s also a good time to figure out if you want to use a traditional vet or vets that follow a holistic approach. Make sure you look for the nearest 24-hour emergency vet! Write it down and share it with everyone in your household.
Must-Have Supplies Before Bringing Home a New Puppy
Crate
Crate training will be necessary when you potty train and when you need to leave your pup home alone or even if you decide to travel one day. The best crate to get is one that has a divider because if the crate has too much room inside, your puppy may choose to relieve themself in one corner and sleep in the other. You can use the divider to adjust the interior space to grow with your puppy. Once your pup is potty trained and is free from any separation anxiety issues, you can get them a fancy crate, but a regular crate will do just fine for now.
I also don’t recommend getting a crate pad or a plushy bed for the crate just yet. Save that money for now because your puppy will most likely chew right through it or can pee and poop on it since they’re not yet potty trained. Also, leaving anything in the crate can be a choking hazard. Once your pup is over the teething phase, you can get a durable crate bed like Gatsby’s one from K-9 Ballistics.
Dog ID Tag
If your pup ever gets on the loose, an ID tag is one of the best chances that someone can help return your dog to you. Two Tails Pet Company has the cutest tags!
Dog Collar
Attach your dog’s ID tag to a collar. I prefer to use a martingale collar because if the dog pulls on the leash, it will tighten around the neck but not so much where it will choke your dog or harm their neck in any way. We’ve been using Mimi Green brand personalized and durable collars since Gatsby was a little pup.
Bungee Leash to Absorb Shock
Perfect for absorbing shock, especially if you have a Siberian Husky or a large dog breed who loves to pull. It’ll make walks much more enjoyable for you and your dog. Ruffwear’s six-footer bungee leash is our favorite and we switch back and forth with this heavy-duty bungee leash from Amazon.
Harness
Using a harness is more comfortable for your dog and can help avoid harm to their trachea. If you have a Siberian Husky, get ready for the heavy pulling! A harness is more comfortable for your dog and prevents your dog from slipping out. Make sure you get a harness that won’t restrict your dog’s breast bone and is plushy on their chest.
Seat Belt
According to this article, if a car crashes at a speed of just 25 mph, an unrestrained dog can be projected forward at a force equal to 40 times its weight. A large-size dog weighing 75 lbs. can achieve an impact force of 3,000 pounds in a car crash, which could be deadly for both a passenger and the pet. Get a seatbelt to keep your pup safe!
Health and GPS Tracker
Track your pet’s health and have your pup tracked when you’re out. If you have a Siberian Husky, they are escape artists. Once they run, they won’t come back. Whistle Labs Go Explore tracker gives you peace of mind. Gatsby has been wearing that since he was just a tiny pup and we love the features and app! Read bout my review of the tracker here.
First Aid Kit
Accidents, big or small, can happen. Always keep a first-aid kit in the car and one in your home. Adventure Medical First Aid Kits are the best I’ve seen and also have a range of kits for you to choose from.
Plush Donut Collar
When your pup gets neutered or spayed, they’ll need to wear a donut collar to prevent them from licking the stitches area. Get them a comfortable one.
Bowls for Food and Water
At first, you may want to get all the pretty and cute bowls. But some materials can collect bacteria and mold very quickly or can even be toxic in the long run. I use a simple glass bowl for Gatsby’s water and a ceramic bowl for his food.
Mat for Food Bowls and Water
Get a mat that’ll be easy to clean. Puppies are messy eaters, and you also don’t want water to get under the mat. Over time, all the spilled water will cause damage to your hardwood floors.
Filtered Water Dispenser
The best thing you can do is give your pup fresh water. Water filters remove any contaminants or any bacteria that might be present in your tap water. It’s essential for dogs with weaker immune systems and delicate digestive systems. This filtered water dispenser is the one I have and it’s big enough so both you and pup can get fresh water at all times.
Poop Bags
Earth Rated’s poop bags are certified compostable bags so it’s better for the environment. They are extra-thick, strong, locks in odors and 100% leak-proof.
Potty Training Pads
These potty training pads are extra-large and ultra-absorbent.
Flea and Tick Control
Please speak to your vet and see what they recommend for flea and tick control. If you want to go down the holistic route, Wondercide’s spray is an option for your dog and around your home.
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
I never understood why some people think it’s unnecessary to brush a dog’s teeth. You have teeth, and they have teeth. If you brush your teeth, they need their teeth brushed too! If you don’t brush your pup’s teeth, plaque builds up, putting your dog at risk for bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay. It’s going to cost you money to get their teeth cleaned at the vet. So, prevent that from happening. Although they’ll lose their puppy teeth, get them used to teeth brushing while they’re young. This is the toothbrush and vanilla mint toothpaste Gatsby’s always using.
Brush for Grooming
Brushing your dog removes loose hair and helps distribute oils around their body. This rake brush is great at removing all of Gatsby’s loose fur from his thick coat!
Ear Cleaning Wipes
Cleaning your puppy’s ears will prevent them from getting an ear infection. I clean Gatsby’s ears once a week. For floppy ear dogs, you’ll probably need to clean them more often. Speak to your vet and see what they suggest. I only use PetPost’s ear cleaning wipes with coconut oil and aloe vera because they don’t contain any harsh chemical medication or irritants.
Nail Filer
If you’re not careful with using nail cutters, you can risk cutting into your pup’s veins (the pinkish part), and it will be hard to stop the bleeding unless you have styptic powder. That’s why I prefer to use a nail filer instead.
Shampoo
I highly recommend bathing your pup instead of taking them to a groomer. Have you ever heard of the horror stories where pet parents take their pups to Petco/Petsmart, and they end up sick or die? You can read about that here or Google it for yourself. Or what about the groomers who shaved a Siberian Husky? You should NEVER EVER shave a Siberian Husky because their coat regulates their body temperature. I have never or ever will let anyone bathe Gatsby. Kin and Kind, Earth Bath, and 4 Leggers are the brands we trust because they’re natural and non-toxic. Using the Zoom Groom will help easily lather the shampoo all over your puppy’s body while giving them a little massage.
Paw Balm
Musher’s Paw Wax is going to prevent your pup’s little toe beans from getting cracked and will create a barrier for hot pavement, hot sand in the summer, and salt during the winter months.
Healthy Treats for Training
Freeze-dried treats have only one ingredient, which means no carbs or ingredients you can’t even pronounce. Below are the ones perfectly sized for training.
Toys for Mental Stimulation
Your puppy will have spurts of energy. I learned from Gatsby’s trainer: “Tire the mind, tire the body.” Toys that are designed to stimulate your pup’s mind will help fight boredom and excess energy. My mental stimulation blog post can give you more info.
Chew Toys
Your puppy will go through the teething phase. They’ll want to bite and chew everything because their gums are sore and swollen. Make sure you get durable chew toys for your pup, so they don’t use your arm. If you need help with the puppy teething phase, you can check out my blog post about how I dealt with puppy biting.
Pet-safe household cleaners
You’ll need this to clean up the messes while potty training your pup. Make sure you choose products that are non-toxic to use around your dog. We only use plant-based non-toxic cleaning products in our household. We get all our cleaning supplies from Grove Co. because we trust them in curating only the safest products for our household. It’s great because it’s a subscription service so you can get all your products delivered straight to your home. Less time at the stores means more bonding time with your pup.
Enzyme cleaning products are also essential for cleaning up stains and odor from your pup’s pee or poop during potty training. Fizzion and Nature’s Miracle are both great at eliminating odors including feces, urine, vomit, and blood without any harsh chemicals.
New Puppy Shopping and Puppy Proofing Checklist
Bringing home a new puppy is such an exciting time in your life! While you’ll sometimes feel overwhelmed and frustrated, everything will be OK. Remember that your puppy is still a baby, not with their mother or siblings, and doesn’t speak your language. Be patient, shower them with lots of love, and watch how beautiful life with them can be!
I created free downloadable printable checklists to help you be prepared and a special wall art (a promise to your puppy) so you can frame in your home! Take a look below.
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