New Puppy Checklist (2026): 20 Essentials to Buy Before Day One
Everything to buy before bringing a puppy home, and what can wait: crate, bed, cleaning, toys, training and grooming. Free printable.
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Bringing a puppy home is exciting — and the first night goes much better when everything is already in place. This checklist covers what a new puppy actually needs, split into day-one essentials and things that can wait a week or two, with a recommended pick for each and who it’s not right for.
Three things are deliberately not here: food, vaccines and flea/tick treatment. Keep feeding what the breeder or shelter used for the first weeks, and ask your vet about vaccinations, parasite prevention and any food change.
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Quick checklist
📄 Prefer paper? Download the free printable checklist (PDF) and tick items off as you go.
| Item | Why you need it | When | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| MidWest iCrate Double Door Folding Crate | A safe den and the fastest route to house-training | Day one | Check price |
| Smart Pet Love Snuggle Puppy | Calms the first nights alone | Day one | Check price |
| MidWest Quiet Time crate bed | Washable bedding for the crate | Day one | Check price |
| Stainless steel bowl set | Food and water bowls that stay clean | Day one | Check price |
| Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover | Removes the smell that invites repeat accidents | Day one | Check price |
| Earth Rated poop bags | Every walk, from the first day | Day one | Check price |
| KONG Puppy | Teething relief and alone-time job | Day one | Check price |
| Wellness Soft Puppy Bites | Small, soft training treats | Day one | Check price |
| Amazon Basics Pet Training Pads | Overnight and apartment backup | Day one (optional) | Check price |
| Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl | Slows down puppies who gulp | Week one | Check price |
| Nylabone Puppy Chew | A second teething texture | Week one | Check price |
| PetSafe Clik-R Training Clicker | Clear marker for training | Week one | Check price |
| Regalo Extra Wide Walk-Through Gate | Keeps the puppy out of trouble rooms | Week one | Check price |
| MidWest Foldable Exercise Pen | A safe play area when you can’t watch | Week two | Check price |
| Earthbath Puppy Shampoo | Gentle first baths | Week two | Check price |
| Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste | Start tooth-brushing habits early | Week two | Check price |
Plus a collar with an ID tag, a 6-ft leash and a harness — see Walking below.
Sleeping and the crate
Not sure which size? The dog crate size calculator works from your puppy’s expected adult weight.
Best first crate
MidWest iCrate Double Door Folding Crate
A folding wire crate is the standard for good reason: it’s ventilated, easy to clean, folds flat for travel, and the iCrate includes a divider panel, so you can buy the size your dog will be as an adult and shrink the space while it’s a puppy. Two doors make it easier to fit into a room.
Pros
- Divider panel — one crate from puppy to adult
- Folds flat; removable plastic tray for cleaning
- Two doors give more placement options
Cons
- Wire crates are noisier than plastic ones when the puppy moves
- Some escape-artist puppies learn to push at the doors — check the latches
- Add a cover if your puppy settles better in a den-like space
For the first nights alone
Smart Pet Love Snuggle Puppy
A plush toy with a battery-powered “heartbeat” and an optional heat pack, designed to mimic sleeping next to littermates. Many owners use it to help a new puppy settle in the crate at night.
Pros
- Heartbeat and warmth can calm a puppy missing its litter
- Machine-washable once the heartbeat unit is removed
- Useful for the first weeks of crate training
Cons
- Not a chew toy — remove it if the puppy starts chewing it
- Batteries need replacing
- Doesn’t replace gradual crate training
Washable crate bedding
MidWest Quiet Time crate bed
A simple fleece crate pad sized to fit MidWest crates. Puppies have accidents and chew, so cheap and machine-washable beats expensive in the first months.
Pros
- Sized to fit standard crates
- Machine-washable and quick-drying
- Inexpensive enough to own two (one in the wash)
Cons
- Not chew-proof — swap for a bare tray or vet bedding if your puppy shreds it
- Not orthopedic; upgrade later for large breeds (see our orthopedic bed guide)
Feeding
The easy-clean default
Stainless steel bowl set
Two bowls, one for food and one for water. Stainless steel is light, unbreakable and dishwasher-safe, and doesn’t scratch and hold bacteria the way plastic does. Choose a non-slip base so a playful puppy doesn’t push it across the floor.
Pros
- Dishwasher-safe and hard to damage
- Doesn’t hold smells or scratch like plastic
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Can be noisy when pushed around — pick a rubber base
- Size up later for large breeds
For puppies who gulp
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl
A maze-pattern bowl that slows eating. Fast eaters can choke, vomit or swallow a lot of air; a slow feeder turns a 30-second meal into a few minutes.
Pros
- Slows down fast eaters
- Adds a little mental work to every meal
- Several sizes and difficulty levels
Cons
- Harder to clean than a plain bowl
- Not needed if your puppy already eats calmly
- Some determined chewers chew the plastic — supervise
Potty training
The accident essential
Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover
Accidents happen. Ordinary cleaners remove the stain but not the smell your puppy can still detect, which invites repeat accidents in the same spot. An enzyme cleaner breaks down the odor itself.
Pros
- Enzyme formula targets urine odor, not just the stain
- Works on carpet, floors and bedding
- The single most useful house-training purchase
Cons
- Needs time to work — follow the directions, don’t wipe straight away
- Spot-test on delicate fabrics first
For every walk
Earth Rated poop bags
Thick, leak-proof poop bags on rolls that fit most leash dispensers. You’ll use several a day, so buying a bulk pack once saves trips.
Pros
- Thick and leak-resistant
- Rolls fit standard leash dispensers
- Unscented and lavender options
Cons
- You’ll need a dispenser for the leash (often included in starter packs)
Overnight and apartment backup
Amazon Basics Pet Training Pads
Absorbent pads with a leak-proof layer for the floor or a pen. Useful for very young puppies, overnight, or apartments high up without quick outdoor access.
Pros
- Inexpensive in bulk
- Handy overnight backup in the pen
- Helpful in apartments
Cons
- Can slow outdoor house-training — puppies learn indoors is allowed
- Some puppies shred pads; use a pad holder if so
Walking
Three basics: a flat collar with an ID tag (your phone number on it from day one), a 6-ft leash, and a harness for walks so leash pressure isn’t on the neck. Fit is everything with puppies — measure the chest and re-check every few weeks as they grow.
- Small breeds: our best harnesses for small dogs
- Large breeds: our no-pull harnesses for large dogs
See puppy collar & leash sets on Amazon →
Chewing and teething
The first chew toy to buy
KONG Puppy
The puppy version of the KONG Classic uses softer rubber made for baby teeth. Stuff it with some of the puppy’s food, freeze it, and it becomes a soothing, long-lasting job — ideal for crate time.
Pros
- Softer rubber suited to puppy teeth
- Stuff-and-freeze soothes sore gums
- Keeps a puppy busy in the crate
Cons
- Not for adult power chewers — switch to the classic or Extreme KONG later
- Size up if unsure; too small is a choking risk
A second teething texture
Nylabone Puppy Chew
Puppy-specific nylon chews with textured nubs. Giving a puppy two or three legal chew textures is the easiest way to protect shoes and furniture.
Pros
- Made specifically for puppies
- Textures help with teething discomfort
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Replace when worn down to a swallowable size
- Supervise — no chew is fully indestructible
Training
Small, soft training treats
Wellness Soft Puppy Bites
Small, soft treats (about 6 calories each) you can give dozens of times in a training session without filling the puppy up. Small and soft matters: hard, crunchy treats slow training down.
Pros
- Small and soft — ideal for repetition
- Made for puppies, with DHA
- Several flavors
Cons
- Count treats toward daily food to avoid overfeeding
- Check ingredients if your puppy has a sensitive stomach
A clear “yes”
PetSafe Clik-R Training Clicker
A clicker marks the exact moment a puppy does the right thing, which makes training faster and clearer than a voice alone. The Clik-R has a finger strap so it stays on your hand.
Pros
- Consistent, precise marker sound
- Finger strap keeps it in hand
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Only works if you “charge” it first (click, then treat, repeatedly)
- Some sound-sensitive puppies need a softer clicker
Safety and space
Puppy-proof the house
Regalo Extra Wide Walk-Through Gate
A pressure-mounted gate keeps the puppy out of rooms you can’t puppy-proof (or away from stairs) without having to shut doors. The walk-through door means you don’t have to climb over it.
Pros
- Pressure-mounted — no drilling for most doorways
- Walk-through door for people
- Widely used and easy to find
Cons
- Check the width range fits your doorway
- Large, athletic breeds may eventually jump standard-height gates
- Pressure gates are not safe at the top of stairs — use a hardware-mounted gate there
A safe play zone
MidWest Foldable Exercise Pen
A folding metal pen gives the puppy more space than the crate when you can’t watch it closely — with the crate, water and a pad inside, it becomes a safe “puppy apartment”.
Pros
- Folds flat; several heights
- Bigger safe space than a crate
- Can link to the crate door
Cons
- Choose a height your puppy can’t climb or jump as an adult
- Needs a floor protector on hardwood
Grooming and health
Gentle first baths
Earthbath Puppy Shampoo
A mild, tear-free shampoo formulated for puppies. Puppies don’t need frequent baths — but when they roll in something, a gentle formula is kinder to young skin.
Pros
- Mild formula made for puppies
- Pleasant, light scent
- Widely available
Cons
- Don’t over-bathe; ask your vet if your puppy has skin issues
Start dental habits early
Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste
Dog-specific enzymatic toothpaste in flavors dogs like. Getting a puppy used to having its mouth handled now makes lifelong dental care far easier. Never use human toothpaste.
Pros
- Made for dogs — safe to swallow
- Flavors dogs accept
- Builds a handling habit early
Cons
- Needs a soft brush or finger brush (often sold as a kit)
- Takes patience the first few weeks
For nails, see dog nail clippers vs. grinders — start handling paws in the first week so trims never become a fight.
What can wait
You don’t need these on day one: a big orthopedic bed (puppies chew beds), lots of plush toys, an automatic feeder, clothes, or a large stock of food before you know what suits your puppy. Buy them once you know your dog’s size, chewing style and routine.
Bottom line
- Absolutely day one: crate with divider, washable bedding, bowls, enzyme cleaner, poop bags, collar + ID tag, leash, a KONG Puppy and tiny training treats.
- First week: gates, a slow feeder if your puppy gulps, a clicker, a second chew.
- First month: exercise pen, grooming and dental basics.
- Ask your vet: food, vaccines and flea/tick protection.
Browse puppy essentials on Amazon →
Bringing a puppy home to young children? Our picture book Max and the Snowy Mountain is a gentle story about a girl and her German Shepherd puppy (ages 3–7, paperback coming soon).
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to buy before bringing a puppy home?
The essentials for day one are a crate sized with a divider, a washable bed or crate pad, two stainless steel bowls, the food the breeder or shelter has been feeding, a collar with an ID tag, a leash, an enzyme cleaner for accidents, poop bags, a few puppy-safe chews and small training treats. Gates, an exercise pen, grooming tools and toys can follow in the first weeks.
What size crate should I buy for a puppy?
Buy the crate for the size your dog will be as an adult and use a divider panel to shrink the space while the puppy is small. The puppy should have just enough room to stand, turn around and lie down — too much space encourages it to use one end as a toilet. Move the divider back as the puppy grows.
Are puppy pads a good idea?
They’re useful for very young puppies, apartments without quick outdoor access and overnight backup, but they can slow down outdoor house-training because the puppy learns that indoors is acceptable. If your goal is outdoor potty training, use pads only as a short-term backup and take the puppy outside often.
What should a puppy chew on when teething?
Chews made for puppies, such as the softer-rubber KONG Puppy or puppy-specific nylon chews, sized so they can’t be swallowed. Avoid hard bones, antlers and adult power-chewer toys that can damage baby teeth, and supervise chewing. Freezing a stuffed puppy KONG can soothe sore gums.
How much does it cost to get ready for a new puppy?
For a full first-year budget, try our puppy cost calculator.
It depends on the dog’s size and how much you buy up front. The crate and gates are the biggest one-time costs; bowls, chews and cleaning supplies are small. You can spread costs by buying the day-one essentials first and adding grooming tools, more toys and an exercise pen over the first month.
Related: Best Gifts for Dogs · Best Dog Harnesses for Small Breeds · Best Orthopedic Dog Beds · Dog Nail Clippers vs. Grinders
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