New Puppy Checklist: Everything You Need Before Day One

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

1. Pick ONE potty spot outside before the puppy arrives — consistency is 80% of housetraining
2. Crate goes in the bedroom the first two weeks (they sleep better hearing you breathe)
3. Tape cables, move plants (many are toxic), and get trash cans behind doors

More free guides

• Your Puppy's First 30 Days: A Day-by-Day Survival Plan
• Toxic Foods for Puppies: The Fridge List That Saves Lives