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Congratulations! Chances are, if you’re reading this, you have either brought home, are planning to bring home, or are considering bringing home a new puppy! How exciting!
As a veterinarian with over a decade of experience in animal health, I know how fun the puppy stage can be — but I also remember how exhausting and overwhelming it can sometimes feel.
I built this starter checklist to help make sure you have everything you need to help your puppy be happy, healthy, and integrate well into your family.
Step 1: Set Up a Wellness Checkup with Your Veterinarian
As soon as you bring your puppy home (or as soon as you know if/when you’ll be getting a puppy), you should call your veterinarian to schedule a wellness examination and vaccinations.
Puppies under six months of age usually need several rounds of vaccinations to develop adequate immunity against common diseases — so don’t assume they’re fully covered until you talk to your vet.
Additionally, heartworm, flea, and tick prevention is needed in most areas starting around 8–12 weeks of age. You should purchase these preventatives from your veterinarian to ensure they are safe and appropriate for your dog.
Step 2: Give Your Puppy Their Own Room
Your puppy should have a designated area — such as an unoccupied bedroom or another quiet place where they can rest away from the hustle and bustle.
Laundry rooms, basements, or bathrooms can also work in a pinch. I do not recommend setting this up in your bedroom, especially at first.
Ideally, your puppy needs a kennel or enclosed space stocked with food, water, puppy pads (if you’re using them for potty training), blankets, and toys.
I recommend kennel training for several reasons:
- It helps keep your puppy safe when you’re not supervising them.
- It aids in potty training.
- It teaches independence.
- It makes post-vet visit or post-surgery recovery much easier.
Kennels shouldn’t be too large; you can find expandable ones at pet stores or online. The kennel should be just big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. A kennel that’s too big may encourage accidents inside.
Step 3: Puppy-Proof Your Home
You should thoroughly puppy-proof any room your puppy will spend time in — especially if they’ll ever be left unsupervised.
Puppy-proofing tips:
- Remove any toxic plants (inside and outside) or place them out of reach.
- Store medications, illicit substances (like marijuana), and ashtrays securely — ideally in locked cabinets or drawers. Never dispose of marijuana or cigarette butts outdoors where your puppy could ingest them.
- Secure electrical cords and sockets. Puppies often chew cords, which can cause electrical burns, heart damage, or worse.
- Protect furniture, walls, baseboards, and other chewable household items. Kennel training also helps with this!
- Store food properly. Keep it in cabinets or on high counters — especially foods like grapes, chocolate, or sugar-free gum with xylitol, which are toxic to dogs.
- Pick up toys, socks, underwear, and baby items. Socks are one of the most common objects veterinarians remove during surgery for swallowed foreign objects.
- Make sure kids understand how important it is to keep nonfood items out of the puppy’s mouth!
- Identify anything else potentially dangerous (or destroyable!) and take precautions.
Step 4: Go Shopping (Online or at Your Local Pet Store)
Here’s what I recommend picking up:
- Dog Kennel: (see above!)
- Puppy Food: Most of my patients do well on Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE, Hill’s Science Diet, or Royal Canin. This is one of my favorite brands.
Feed a food formulated for puppies or labeled “for all life stages” for at least the first year. - Leash, Collar, Harness: Start leash training early! Choose a properly fitting collar/harness and a non-retractable leash. Retractable leashes can be unsafe and don’t teach recall properly. Don’t forget poop bags!
- Treats: You don’t need a huge variety. Use dog kibble or high-value treats like jerky (torn into small pieces) for rewards.
- Chew Toys: Chew toys are critical, especially during teething. I recommend Kong toys — tough but tooth-safe. Avoid bones, rawhides, or extremely hard toys. Nylabones are okay if you monitor for breakage and replace them when worn.
- Other Toys: Your dog’s preferences will vary, but avoid toys with small, detachable parts. Always supervise your puppy during playtime.
- Potty Pads and Cleaning Supplies: Helpful during housebreaking! Enzyme cleaners are a must for accidents.
- Grooming Supplies: Needs vary by breed, but most dogs benefit from an aloe/oatmeal shampoo, brushes, and a toothbrush with pet-safe toothpaste.
- Identification and Microchip: Microchip your puppy when they’re old enough, and keep your contact info up to date. ID tags on their collar are also a must for quick identification, especially since a special scanner is needed to read a microchip.
Step 5: Remember to Breathe… This is Supposed to Be Fun!
Much like parents of a new human baby, welcoming a puppy is a joyful — but sometimes exhausting — experience.
Just remember: this stage is temporary, and all your hard work now will pay off when you have a trained, happy, well-adjusted canine family member.
Comment below if you have any questions! Experienced pet owners- what is your best piece of advice for new puppy owners?