Bringing a puppy home without a plan means three emergency store runs in the first week. Here is the checklist we give every new puppy parent — including the things you should not waste money on.
Buy before day one
- Crate — sized for adult weight with a divider, not a tiny "puppy crate" you'll replace
- Two bowls — stainless steel, not plastic (plastic scratches harbor bacteria and can cause chin acne)
- The food the breeder/shelter used — switch brands later, gradually over 7 days
- Flat collar + ID tag + 6-ft leash — skip retractable leashes for puppies entirely
- Enzyme cleaner — regular cleaner leaves odor that invites repeat accidents in the same spot
- Chew variety pack — one rubber, one rope, one soft; you're learning their preference
- Puppy pen or baby gates — freedom is earned room by room
Skip for now
- Expensive beds (they chew them) — use washable blankets for months 1–6
- Puppy shoes, strollers, and outfit sets
- Bones, antlers, and rawhide — too hard for baby teeth, choking and blockage risk
Set up the house
- Pick ONE potty spot outside before the puppy arrives — consistency is 80% of housetraining
- Crate goes in the bedroom the first two weeks (they sleep better hearing you breathe)
- Tape cables, move plants (many are toxic), and get trash cans behind doors