Family
New Puppy Checklist: Everything You Need for Your New Dog
As a mom of three young kids, I thought it would be a good idea to add more chaos to our home. So we recently adopted a rescue puppy. I did a ton of research on the best products to get us through the puppy stage and beyond. Now that we’ve had her for a few weeks, I want to share some of my favorite puppy essentials. So far, potty training has been the hardest part. But we’re working on it, and giving lots of positive reinforcement when she goes outside. Second would be chewing, so I’ve really leaned into safe chew toys. We’re working on some basic training commands, and it’s a lot of work, but she’s so sweet.
The Ultimate New Puppy Checklist
It’s been more than 17 years since I’ve had a puppy, and we are tired. I thought it might be helpful to share everything we’ve relied on to take care of a puppy. From my favorite brand of puppy food, to the best playpen, here are the most important puppy essentials that have gotten us through the first few weeks of puppy ownership.
Gates and Crates
Your puppy needs a safe space, like a crate or pen (or both) to keep them from chewing everything from rugs to electrical cords. The Diggs crate came highly recommended, but I had a feeling we’d fail at crate training, so I opted for something less expensive. I know crate training is a good idea, but my rescue boy of 17 years slept with me every night, and I knew we’d end up doing the same with Dottie. She will hang out in her crate for a little bit, but prefers her pen, which gives her enough space to move around a little bit. I like that it’s a cozy space with a bed and some safe toys, too. As long as your puppy is in a safe area, they’ll be ok.
We had some extra baby gates and put one up by the back door so she won’t bolt out the door or chew on shoes. Dog gates are great for keeping your puppy out of rooms you don’t want them to destroy.
Sleep
I hoped we’d have some luck with the crate, but we picked Dottie up late at night, and she needed some extra snuggles that first day. I bought what feels like a giant bed for our puppy, but she will grow into it. I was between both of these beds and ended up going with the Mark & Graham bed because I loved the pattern.
Wear
ID tags with one or both owner’s phone numbers are a must. I found the prettiest tags at The Foggy Dog which quickly became one of my favorite stores for Dottie.
Walks and On-The-Go Essentials
I decided to avoid puppy pads because we didn’t want to teach Dottie to go in the bathroom inside. We’ve had lots of accidents, but I suppose that’s to be expected those early weeks. House training is the least fun, but we’re doing our best to get her outside every hour, and reward her with a small treat every time she goes outside. She’s definitely improving!
I started getting her out as soon as she was fully vaccinated, and she’s done great on walks and in the car. It helped that we worked on walks in our yard before venturing out into the real world.
Food and Treats
The food you choose is very important to your puppy’s health. I knew exactly what puppy food I’d be feeding our puppy. It’s the same one that gave me extra years with my first rescue dog, Buddy. The woof treats are the best training treats! We tried a few, and these are by far her favorite. She has all eyes on me when we are out on a walk, and we’ve mastered basic commands like “sit” and “come.”
Health, Care, and Cleaning
I set up pet insurance for our puppy before she came home. We were given her vaccination schedule before picking her up, so I scheduled a vet appointment that first week. It’s really important to consider how you’ll keep your puppy clean, from dental care to dog shampoo. Taking care of puppy’s teeth will save you from very expensive teeth cleanings and extractions in the future.
Puppy Toys and Chewing
Choose a variety of dog toys, from stuffed toys to chew toys, to keep puppy busy. I really focused on safe chew toys that would keep her busy . These toys are the best way to keep your puppy from chewing on things they shouldn’t. Dottie loves her pancake, but the Woof ball has been the biggest hit. I put peanut butter and raw pumpkin in the silicone mold. Then I pop a frozen treat in the ball each day, which keeps her busy for at least 15-20 minutes.
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