Bringing Home a Puppy Checklist
Everything to prepare and do in the first days with a new puppy, at a glance.
Everything to prepare and do in the first days with a new puppy, at a glance.
Buy before arrival
- Puppy food (the brand it is already eating)
- Bowls, collar with ID tag, and leash
- Crate sized for the adult dog, plus a bed
- Safe chew toys, waste bags, enzymatic cleaner
- A gated safe area
First days
- Keep the first day calm; limit visitors
- Start a bathroom routine (after waking, meals, naps, before bed)
- Introduce the crate positively as a den
- Begin gentle socialization within the vet-cleared window
- Reward good behavior; never punish accidents
Health
- Book a first vet visit and start the vaccination series
- Start flea, tick, and heartworm prevention as advised
- Microchip and register your details
- Ask your vet about spay or neuter timing and nutrition
Introduce new food gradually and confirm your puppy's vaccination and socialization plan with your vet.
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FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
Puppy food, bowls, a collar with an ID tag, a leash, a crate sized for the adult dog plus a bed, safe chew toys, waste bags, enzymatic cleaner, and a gated safe area.
Keep the first day calm and limit visitors, start a bathroom routine around waking, meals, and naps, introduce the crate positively as a den, and reward good behavior instead of punishing accidents.
Begin gentle socialization within the vet-cleared window your veterinarian recommends, once the puppy has enough vaccine protection.
Book a first vet visit soon after arrival to start the vaccination series, begin flea, tick, and heartworm prevention as advised, and microchip and register your details.
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