New Puppy Checklist: Supplies to Have Before Day One

The essentials to have before your puppy arrives are a crate or playpen, a bed, a collar with an ID tag, a harness and leash, bowls, puppy food, chew toys, treats, poop bags, cleanup supplies and baby gates. The American Kennel Club groups new puppy gear into walking, sleeping, eating, training and safety, and this checklist follows a similar order. A printable version is at the end.

The Short Checklist

Sleeping: crate or playpen, washable bed or blanket
Walking: collar with ID tag, harness, 6-foot leash, poop bags
Food and water: washable bowls, puppy food, small treats, food storage container
Toilet training: cleanup supplies, enzyme spray, pads if you plan to use them
Grooming: dog toothbrush and toothpaste, nail clippers or grinder, brush, dog shampoo
Toys: a mix of chew, puzzle and soft toys
Safety: baby gates, a puppy-proofed home, car restraint
Paperwork: adoption or breeder records for the first vet visit

Before you shop, it helps to decide on house rules. Humane World for Animals suggests agreeing in advance on who walks the puppy and when, how often meals happen, whether the puppy is allowed on furniture, where it sleeps and which rooms are off limits. It also recommends bringing a puppy home when you will be around for a few days, so the first week can stay quiet and consistent.

Sleeping and Crate

A crate or playpen gives your puppy a den and gives you a safe place to leave it when you cannot watch. VCA Animal Hospitals and Humane World both say the crate should be big enough for the puppy to stand up, lie down and turn around. Do not buy a crate sized for the adult dog and expect it to work right away, because VCA warns a puppy may turn one end of an oversized crate into a bathroom.

Our dog crate size guide explains how to match a crate to your puppy, and where to put a dog crate covers placement around the house.

Bed or blanket

Every puppy has different sleeping preferences, and the AKC notes you may need to try a few styles. Bolster beds, raised beds and thick beds suit some puppies, while others prefer a thin bed or blanket close to the floor. VCA suggests having a few beds that are easy to wash, since puppies tend to chew them. Choose blankets without holes or loose threads that could catch a puppy.

If you are comparing styles, how to choose a dog bed walks through the options. Keep in mind that a puppy who chews bedding may need a plain, washable blanket in the crate for a while.

Car travel

VCA says a puppy should not ride loose in the car. A loose dog can distract the driver, fall, go out a window or be badly hurt in a crash. Use a secured crate or a car safety harness, and check the maker’s instructions for how to fit and fasten it.

Walking Gear: Collar, ID, Harness and Leash

Humane World for Animals recommends having ready a flat-buckle or martingale collar with an ID tag, plus a harness and a 6-foot nylon leash. ASPCA also lists a leash and a collar with ID tag among the basics.

Collar and ID tag

Put the puppy’s name and your contact information on the tag. VCA suggests you consider a breakaway collar to reduce the risk of choking. It also says the collar should fit with about two fingers of room, and you will need a bigger size as the puppy grows. Check the fit often during growth spurts.

Harness

The AKC says a harness is useful while a puppy learns to walk on a leash, because it takes strain off the neck when the puppy lunges ahead. A reflective harness is easier to see in the dark. VCA adds that a harness is a good choice for puppies who pull, and some double as car safety restraints.

Puppies change size quickly, so read how to measure your dog for a harness before ordering. If you are still deciding what to use, dog harness vs collar compares the two for everyday walks.

Leash

Start with a standard 6-foot leash. VCA advises avoiding retractable leashes and checking local rules about leash length. The AKC says a longer training leash can give a puppy more room to roam in a yard, but a puppy on any leash should never be left unattended. Humane World also cautions against rushing a new puppy into busy parks or stores in the first week.

Food and Water

Get washable bowls, and VCA suggests choosing ones that resist tipping. Buy a small bag of whatever food the puppy is already eating. Humane World says that if you want to switch foods, you should mix the new food in gradually.

When you pick a puppy food, VCA says to look for a product that meets AAFCO standards for growth or for all life stages. For large and giant breeds, it recommends a formula made for large breeds. Ask your veterinarian which food and how much to feed for your puppy’s breed and age.

Treats and storage

Training treats are useful for positive reinforcement, according to the AKC. VCA suggests treats that are small or can be broken into small pieces, and a treat pouch makes them easy to carry. A food container with a latching lid, as VCA points out, helps prevent a puppy from overeating if it gets into the food.

Toilet Training Supplies

Humane World recommends treating a new puppy as if it knows nothing about going to the bathroom, and taking it outside every few hours. The AKC notes that a crate can help you keep a schedule. Beyond the crate, stock up on these items:

Poop bags for every walk and yard visit
Puppy pads if you plan to train on pads, or to line a crate, as VCA mentions
Enzyme spray and carpet cleaner, because VCA says accidents are certain, so be ready before the first one
Wipes and old towels for muddy paws and quick cleanups
A urine-detecting light, which the AKC lists as an option for finding spots you missed

Grooming

Starting grooming routines early helps a puppy get comfortable with handling. The AKC recommends early dental care with a dog toothbrush, dental wipes or a finger brush. VCA says to use toothpaste made for dogs and never human toothpaste. Nail clippers or a grinder are worth having, and VCA advises introducing them early so the puppy does not become afraid of nail trims later.

The right brush or comb depends on the coat, so ask your veterinarian or a groomer which to buy. Use a shampoo made for dogs rather than a human shampoo. VCA also reminds new owners to ask about flea and tick prevention, so raise it with your veterinarian at the first visit.

Toys and Chewing

Puppies explore with their mouths, so plan on several kinds of toys. VCA suggests a variety, including chew toys, squeakers, puzzle toys and balls. The AKC says to choose chew toys that suit your puppy’s age for the teething stage, and to rotate them so they stay interesting.

Humane World recommends toys that are hard to swallow until you know whether your puppy shreds or swallows things, and it does not recommend rawhide. Toys you can stuff with treats and puzzle bowls give a puppy something to do when you go out. If you are unsure whether a toy suits your puppy, ask your veterinary team.

Puppy-Proofing and Gates

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center suggests getting down on your knees to see your home from a puppy’s level. Then work through these steps:

Pick up small objects such as board game pieces, hair ties, coins and plastic bags.
Check your houseplants, because many can be poisonous and puppies explore with their mouths.
Electrical cords are the biggest danger, because a puppy that chews through one risks electrocution. Bind them out of reach. Trim or tie up curtain cords and other long cords too.
Close cabinets that hold medications, cleaning products, trash or rodent poison, and consider child locks.
As the puppy grows and reaches tabletops, move items higher.

If you suspect your puppy swallowed something poisonous, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Baby gates

The AKC suggests limiting your puppy to a small area at first with a crate and puppy gates, then expanding the space gradually. VCA adds that gates can give a puppy its own space away from children or other pets. Choose gates that fit your doorways and keep them closed when the puppy is on the other side.

First Vet Visit

Humane World for Animals recommends taking a new dog to the veterinarian within a week for a general checkup, vaccinations and flea and tick prevention. If your puppy is not yet microchipped or spayed or neutered, ask the vet about those too. Humane World also notes that booster vaccinations continue throughout a dog’s life.

This guide does not cover a vaccine schedule. Ask your veterinarian what your puppy needs and when. Bring any paperwork from the shelter, rescue or breeder, and write down your questions about food, parasite prevention and behavior before you go.

What You Can Skip at First

You do not need to buy everything on day one. These items can wait or may not be needed at all:

An adult-size crate. A right-size crate for the puppy now works better for toilet training.
A retractable leash. VCA advises against them, so a standard leash is the better first choice.
A large stockpile of food. Start with a small bag and see how your puppy does.
A big pile of toys. A handful that you rotate is enough to start with.
Several expensive beds. Puppies chew and have accidents, so a couple of simple washable ones are a sensible start.
Outfits and accessories. Add them later if you want them.

Printable New Puppy Checklist

Print this page or copy the list below and tick items off as you go.

Sleeping

☐ Crate or playpen that fits the puppy now
☐ Washable bed or blanket (no holes or loose threads)
☐ Car crate or car safety harness

Walking

☐ Collar with ID tag (name and your contact information)
☐ Harness
☐ 6-foot leash
☐ Poop bags

Food and water

☐ Washable bowls
☐ Small bag of the current puppy food
☐ Small training treats and a treat pouch
☐ Latching food container

Toilet training

☐ Enzyme spray and carpet cleaner
☐ Puppy pads (optional)
☐ Wipes and towels

Grooming

☐ Dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste
☐ Nail clippers or grinder
☐ Brush or comb for the coat type
☐ Dog shampoo

Toys

☐ Chew toys for the puppy’s age
☐ Puzzle toy or stuffable toy
☐ Soft toy or ball

Safety and home

☐ Baby gates
☐ Cords tied up and cabinets closed
☐ Plants checked and small objects picked up
☐ Poison control number saved: (888) 426-4435

Paperwork and planning

☐ Vet appointment booked for the first week
☐ Adoption or breeder records ready
☐ House rules agreed with everyone at home

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to buy before bringing a puppy home?

At a minimum, have a harness, leash, crate, bed, bowls, puppy food, chew toys, treats, poop bags and basic grooming supplies. Add a collar with an ID tag, cleanup supplies for accidents, and baby gates to limit the puppy’s space.

Why does the crate size matter for a puppy?

A crate that fits the puppy gives it a safe place to rest and helps with toilet training. VCA warns that an adult-size crate may let a puppy use half of it as a bathroom. The puppy should be able to stand, lie down and turn around.

How do I puppy-proof my home?

Look at each room from a puppy’s level. Pick up small objects, tie up cords, close cabinets with medications and cleaners, check plants, and use gates to keep the puppy in a limited area at first. If you suspect poisoning, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

When should a new puppy see the veterinarian?

Humane World for Animals recommends a visit within a week of bringing the dog home. Bring any paperwork from the shelter or breeder, and ask your veterinarian about the vaccine schedule and parasite prevention.

Sources

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Best Pet Supplies Guide

Best Pet Supplies Guide publishes research-based buying guides, size guides and care how-tos for dog, cat and pet home supplies, using manufacturer specifications and guidance from reputable pet-care organizations.