New Puppy Essentials Checklist + FREE Printable

This puppy essentials checklist is what you need to make sure you have everything to welcome your new puppy or dog.

We put together a list of what you will need to care for your new puppy.

Get our list of New Puppy Essentials Checklist and FREE printable down below! 

New Puppy Essentials Checklist + FREE Printable

Bringing home your new puppy can be exciting! This is a new adventure where you are making space to accommodate your new life-long friend.

Now that you’ve got your adorable furry friend, it’s important to make sure you have all of the new puppy essentials to take care of him or her.

We recently welcomed a new puppy into the Worthey household, a fun-loving and ball of energy labradoodle, affectionately named Chance.

We’ve been down the road of bringing home a new puppy a few times, so we’re sharing a list of what you will need in our New Puppy Care Basket.

See, we got you!

Hover over the image above to shop for all of your new puppy care needs!

Puppy Essentials Checklist

Food + Water Bowls

Although there are a lot of items you may want for your new puppy, there are items you just have to have! Like the right size dog food and water dish. Yup, not all dog dishes are created equal.

Big food and water bowls are for adult dogs, so making sure you have the right size-appropriate bowls is a good thing. Why? Well, for one pet owners tend to fill a bigger bowl with more dog food than their new puppy needs which can lead to overeating and unnecessary weight gain.

So basically, small dog= small bowls.

Slicker Brush

Are all dog brushes the same? Well, no! A slicker brush was designed with a couple of purposes in mind. Primarily though, this brush is used to remove loose hair and stuff that tends to end up tangled up in your puppy’s coat.

A slicker brush is especially useful for dog breeds with low to medium-length coats. For our Labradoodle, we have to groom him constantly so his hair doesn’t become matted. Using a slicker brush on this type of dog is essential. 

Dog Training Pads

Training your new puppy to do his or her business outside or in designated areas is perhaps one of the biggest challenges for almost every new puppy owner. It is equally more challenging when you work outside of the home. Or it may boil down to not being an active dog trainer.

Not everyone is a dog whisperer, and that’s why there are those that are. Seek a professional dog trainer and for those at home situations getting training pads are a must-have. We use them when we kennel our new pup.

Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Remover

This brings us to another essential you NEED to have when training a new puppy. Let’s face it; new puppies are going to have “accidents.” It’s all part of being a new puppy owner.

What? Didn’t you read the fine print? So, you don’t want those little accidents to have a lasting impression on your carpet. We use STAINMASTER®™ Carpet Pet Stain Remover because it works.

Just follow the instructions on the bottle, and soon your carpet will be back to being a carpet and not a hot mess!

Toenail Clipper Set

New puppy claws one of the most dangerous things in the world! Okay, maybe not, but that doesn’t mean they can’t use a little TLC from time to time.

And as your dog gets bigger having unkempt toenails can be an issue for not only your pet but for people as well. 

Puppy Food + Treats

All dog food is not created equally. Be sure to ask the breeder what they were feeding your puppy. Keep your puppy on that food. If you do decide to transition them to something else, do it slowly.

Also, don’t forget to reward your puppy when he or she does anything good. Positive reinforcement goes a long way to getting new puppies to understand and distinguish good behavior from unwanted bad dog behavior.

Also, dog treats and snacks should never replace a meal, because they don’t pack the vital vitamins and additional nutrients your puppy needs to be healthy.

Coffee Cup

Okay, admittedly your dog doesn’t need a new coffee mug, but there’s nothing wrong with representing your favorite pooch with a coffee cup emblazoned with the breed of dog you have.

Plus, coffee will help when you’re up at night with a crying pup. Yes, the first few nights of a puppy’s life in your new home is a transition period, and you may be up all night trying to get them settled.

{Tip: before you leave the breeder’s home, ask them to give you something with the Mom’s and/or siblings’ scent on it.}

Puppy Toys

New puppies are curious types, and it’s only natural for them to be explorers. You brought them home, and now they are going to want to discover every nook and cranny.

But you can redirect and focus their almost bottomless energy and attention on a few choice puppy toys. Dogs are smart, so providing a non-harmful and appropriate size toy for new puppies can be good entertainment. And remember small toys are a big no-no for new any dog, not just puppies. If you have questions, ask your vet.

Waste Bag Dispenser

Yes, new puppies are cute but as cute as they are, guess what? They are still going to poop. Sad, but true. So, for those number 2 moments having a waste bag dispenser nearby is a good thing.

Plus, picking up what your new puppy leaves behind is the right thing to do. So, if you are out walking your dog through the park or just outside in your front yard pick up that poop!

Puppy Shampoo

New puppies will require a bath from time to time. However, as a new pup, you don’t want to wash them as often. Be sure to talk to your vet about how many times you should be giving your new puppy a bath. Newsflash! Also, different breeds not only have different coat types taking care of the many different coats can and do vary. Some breeds require milder shampoo because of sensitive or dry skin. Again, do your homework and ask your vet if you have any questions?

Collar + Leash + Dog Tags + Chip

When selecting a collar, think about the size your dog will eventually be in six months. Initially, you may have to buy a smaller collar, then transition them to a bigger collar as they grow.

Another crucial thing you should do as soon as you get your puppy is get a dog tag with your information on it. You never know when they may jump out of your arms, run across the street, etc.

Also, think about getting your dog chipped with your information. And don’t forget a leash! 

Bed + Crate

We crate our puppies until they are fully potty trained. To me, this has been the easiest way to potty train them, plus it also keeps them in a secure place when we are not home. Buying a dog bed could be an option.

Our boys love it when the dogs can sleep with them, but each dog still has their own bed as well. 

Download a printable copy of this: New Puppy Care Checklist Printable

Other essentials you need to buy:

• Flea protector
• Ear cleaner/cotton balls
• Bitter Apple Spray

Don’t forget:

• Find a good vet (ask friends for recommendations)
• Find a dog park 
• Find a doggy care/boarding
• A dog groomer (if you don’t want to do this yourself)

Potty training your puppy will be one of the most challenging tasks.

If you’ve potty-trained kids, especially boys, you already know how this is going down. Potty training a dog is similar to potty training a child. It takes work and a lot of patience.

As I mentioned before, accidents are going to happen. Using STAINMASTER®™ Carpet Pet Stain Remover works wonders.

Not only does it remove the pet stains, but it also eliminates odors. One of my wife’s pet peeves when it comes to potty training a new puppy is the pee smell.

Thankfully, after picking up a bottle of STAINMASTER®™ Carpet Pet Stain Remover from Target, we do not have to worry about this problem. 

Overall, I have been pleased with how the STAINMASTER®™ Carpet Pet Stain Remover performs. And, it protects against future stains, because you know accidents are STILL going to happen.

Like, this morning while the boys were getting ready for school, our precious labradoodle created quite a mess on the carpet. It’s a good thing we love him and for STAINMASTER®™! 

And using this product is easy to use in three simple steps:

1. SPRAY: Spray product liberally and directly on affected areas.
2. WAIT: Wait 3-5 minutes to allow the solution to penetrate the stain.
3. BLOT: Dampen the spot with water and blot with a clean, colorfast paper towel or cloth. Repeat as necessary to remove the stain. For best results treat the stain immediately.

Did you get a new puppy recently?  Don’t forget to print your free copy of our new puppy essentials checklist. Drop us a line below and let us know some of your favorite puppy care tips!