Skip to Content

New Puppy Checklist with FREE printable

Bringing home a new dog can be a wonderful experience, but make sure you get your new puppy essentials and grab this puppy shopping checklist to make the experience even better.

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.   As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Check out my privacy policy for more info.

We got a new puppy!  Yay!  He’s so fun and cute, but boy, puppies sure need a lot of stuff!  I wish I had a new puppy checklist before we got him.  We’ve had a puppy before, but you forget everything they need.

I’ve made at least three trips to the store in the past four days for puppy supplies! PLEASE learn from my mistake. We spent so much money on all this stuff because we didn’t plan. We didn’t get to shop around for the best price or something cute that I would rather have. Isn’t he the cutest thing EVER?

super cute airedale terrier puppy sitting with blue bed in background and rope chew toy

New Puppy Checklist of Essentials

Rocky is an airedale terrier and the second one we’ve had. I’m allergic to dogs and he’s hypoallergenic. He doesn’t shed so there’s no hair in the house to make me sick. Airedales are full of energy so I spend a lot of time walking him and getting out his energy. He gets into a lot of trouble if I don’t, pretty similar to children.

Are you a new puppy owner too? Below is everything you’ll need when you bring your new puppy home to your family. Make sure to scroll down to the bottom and get the instruction on how to print out this shopping list.

Collar

Puppies don’t stay in their collars long because they grow so fast.  This is an inexpensive one since you’ll probably be buying a bigger one soon.

Leash

Even if you already have a dog, you’ll need another one of these! Make sure you get one that’s not too long. You’ll want to train your dog to walk beside you.

Puppy food

There are so many different kinds of food out there. We are using what I linked above. Not sure if we’ll stick with it, but that’s what were are using for now.

You can get discounts if you use Subscribe and Save from Amazon or Chewy. I like using these kinds of services because it saves me a trip out AND I don’t have to lug a huge bag of food around in a shopping cart and into my car.

Food storage container

There are a ton of different containers to choose from. We use a Rubbermaid storage bin that closes tight but I’m thinking about changing it to make it easier to get the food out and store it nearby.

The one above has an easy open top and looks like it can be stored easily in your cabinet or pantry.

Puppy shampoo

You’ll want to purchase some shampoo. You may not use it much, but you never know when you’re going to need it.

Training treats

You’ll probably start dog training almost immediately so these dog treats are good to have right away. Remember dogs don’t know how to walk with a leash. you have to teach them the very basics.

Pee pads

These are perfect for puppy training and save a lot of work on cleaning your floors. Hint:  You’ll use more than you think. Potty training will be a priority.

Crate

Depending on the grown size of your dog will determine the size crate you need. If you have a large breed dog then you may have to purchase more crates as they grow larger.

Toys

Make sure you get lots of chew toys for your puppy when you first bring him home. Puppies love to chew and you don’t want any furniture ruined (or remote controls or sunglasses from experience).

Name tag

These are a great price at Amazon- way cheaper than pet stores! You can get them at Petsmart and Petco in a vending machine at the front of the store. The machines are easy to operate and have a wide variety to choose from.

Dog bed

This isn’t a new puppy essential because puppies never sit still so you may or may not want to purchase this first thing. Our dog only lays in his when the family is watching TV and that’s the only time. He lays on the floor at night

Water and food bowls

Make sure to get the appropriate sizes. I personally like the stainless steel bowls because they are easy to wash in the dishwasher and they can’t break. They hold up very well. We’ve been using the same ones for over 15 years!

Baby gate

You may choose not to block off your new pet from areas of your house, but I can’t imagine not having one. You may not want to crate your dog while you’re showering or running out for a second so it’s nice being able to contain your dog to one area that you know is safe.

Update: Our pup is 4 years old now and we still have a gate blocking him from getting to our upstairs.

Dog chews

If you are a first time pet parent, then you should know that puppies like to chew on things. A LOT! Here are some teething rings that are perfect to keep your new puppy entertained.

Poop bags

You will definitely need these. Our neighborhood has waste bags in the poop stations which is great for me, but you will use these a lot if you are taking your dog out with you.

You can also buy a pooper scooper for the house. My kids loved using them but they didn’t hold up very well.

Brush

Depending on the type of dog will determine the kind of brush you get.

Stain remover and LOTS of paper towels

Don’t forget cleaning supplies! It’s not fun to have wet pee stains everywhere and you probably will.

Pet Insurance

I don’t have insurance on my pet, but I do know that a lot of people do and it’s gaining in popularity. Update: Our puppy that had just turned one, jumped our fence and broke his knee. Just the consultation with the dog surgeon was $750! I sure was wishing for that insurance when that happened!

Print out this New Puppy Supplies List

It’s really easy to print out this pdf.  I store all my printables on dropbox because the files are so large.  I can give you a higher quality image without slowing down my site.  All you need to do is click here or on the image below and it will take you straight there.  

Once you get there, then you can download it to your computer, print it out, or both. You don’t need an account or anything like that.

preview of new puppy checklist pdf to print out

You may like this pet post too!

Pet Sitter Checklist