Puppy arrival equipment checklist

Getting a new puppy is an exciting time!  Make sure you are fully equipped and ready for its arrival.

Having the right food, supplies and equipment will help maximise your enjoyment of your first few days with your new family member. We have put together a checklist of all the supplies you will need to prepare yourself for your puppy’s arrival. We suggest that you print it out and use it as a shopping guide.

Basic Supplies

• Food dish
• Water dish
• Dog bed
  Ensure you get one that will fit your dog once it is fully grown and make sure that the bed and its covers are washable!
• Collar
  Get a collar that allows you to adjust the size as your puppy grows. The collar shouldn’t be too heavy for your dog’s neck and should sit snuggly so that you can fit two fingers underneath it.
• ID tag
  Choose a quality tag from Bow Wow Meow, your local vet, or order online at pet-tags.com. Get your dog’s name and two numbers engraved on your tag (in case you can’t be contacted on one of them).
• Lead
  Invest in a good lead with a size appropriate clip that is not too heavy. It should last 2-4 years.
• Car harness or car seat buckle
• In some states you are required by law to keep your dog secured in the car. Your safest options are a car seatbelt buckle, harness or crate.

Food

• Food for meals
  Ask what food the breeder has been feeding the puppy. We suggest you keep using the same brand, but if you do want to change brands please do so gradually otherwise your puppy may get an upset stomach if transitioned too fast to a new food.
• Training treats
  We recommend using natural, dry treats that you can keep in your pockets. Use these for toilet training and also for reinforcing good manners and behaviour.

Toys

• Puppy chew toys
  You will need at least two chew toys to help your puppy lose its milk teeth and relieve itchy gums. Choose toys recommended for your puppy’s age.
• Fluffy toys
  Get a few fluffy toys as puppies will often destroy them, and rotating toys will help to prevent boredom.
• Food enrichment toys
  These are great for mental stimulation, e.g. Kong or Bob-A-Lot

Grooming

• Dog shampoo
• Brush
  Get a soft one for short haired dogs or a wire one for long haired dogs. Even if you are planning to get your dog groomed regularly, you will still need to brush your dog in between grooming to avoid its fur getting matted.
• Nail clipper
  Buy one if you want to clip your dog’s nails yourself. If not, we suggest you take your puppy to your vet or groomer.

Miscellaneous

• Toilet training pads or pet loo
• Baby gates or puppy play pen
• Enzymatic stain cleaners
  The best ones to buy are from pet stores because they eliminate the stain as well as the odours that are undetectable by humans.
• Paper towels to soak up urine
• ADAPTIL collar or dispenser
  This can help some puppies settle into their new home during the first few nights. Read more.
• Worming tablets
  Puppies need to be wormed regularly. Please follow your vet’s recommendation for the best tablets and correct dosage.
• Flea and tick treatment
  Please follow your vet’s recommendation for the correct treatment and dosage.
• Pet insurance
  Puppies can be very adventurous and accident prone, and often end up hurting themselves whilst they are still growing. It is important to take out insurance from the very start to ensure your puppy is always covered. Get 2 months free for when you sign up your puppy with Bow Wow Meow². Get a quote.

Download our Puppy Guide

We know that bringing home and looking after a new puppy can be a big challenge! Get more tips from puppy experts about all aspects of looking after your new puppy, including toilet training, socialisation, health and much more.

Download Guide

Get 2 months free pet insurance for your puppy!

Congrats on your new bundle of joy…