Getting a new puppy is an exciting time, but once you start thinking about all the things you need to do and get when becoming a new pup parent, you can begin to feel overwhelmed. Before bringing your new puppy home, you want to ensure that you’re well prepared and have everything you need for a smooth, stress-free transition.

Puppies require a lot of time, care, and attention, so having a list of everything you’ll need and having it all on hand when bringing your pup home is essential. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! This article will cover everything you need for your new puppy to make life with your new furry friend a breeze.

The Basics

Before bringing your new puppy home, it’s important to make sure you already have all the essentials and basic accessories on-hand, such as a leash, food, and more.

Dog Tags, Leash, & Adjustable Collar

You’ll need a collar and leash to bring your new puppy home, and it’s also a good idea to get a dog tag for your puppy’s collar as soon as you can, just in case they get loose. For collars, you want to make sure you get a comfortable adjustable collar that’s suited for your dog’s size and can adjust as your puppy grows while still remaining comfortable until they grow out of it.

For leashes, you probably will be thanking yourself later for investing in a good quality leash now. Not all leashes are created equally. Puppies are notorious for chewing on things, and leashes are no exception. Most puppies first see their leash as another chew toy when leash training. Make sure you pick a durable leash that easily helps you handle your puppy. It’s also important to note when choosing a leash for your new puppy that retractable leashes are best to stay away from. Retractable leashes can be damaging for both your puppy and you. The thin rope-like cord on retractable leashes has been known to cause severe rope burns, cuts, strangulations, and entanglement.

You also want to make sure you go through the proper steps required to get your new puppy their ID tag so they can easily be identified if they get lost. Make sure they’re properly registered and their ID tag is securely attached to their collar, so it doesn’t come off.

Food & Food Accessories

Food and water bowls may seem simple and interchangeable, but some puppies might require special food and water bowls, so it’s important to know before bringing your new pup home. Puppies may need specific bowls depending on their size, eating style, or medical needs. For example, puppies that are fast eaters may benefit from food bowls with mazes or puzzles to help them slow down when eating or ergonomic food bowls to make eating more comfortable for puppies with unique needs.

Another obvious is puppy food. You want to make sure your puppy has healthy food and treats to get the best nutrition for them. Not every puppy will have the same food requirements. To find what your puppy likes best, you may have to experiment with different types of puppy food, such as dry food, canned food, raw food, and grain-free food. You can also ask your vet what they recommend.

Don’t forget about food storage! Puppies can get into everything, but so can other free-roaming pets, small children, and pests. You’re going to want to make sure you have food storage that remains sealed. There are many options there for types of food, size, and budget.

Puppy Pads

One of the biggest challenges with new puppies is potty training. Your new puppy won’t be house-trained overnight, so it’s good to have puppy pads on hand to make cleaning up accidents a breeze. Puppy pads are also helpful as a training tool to ensure your puppy is going potty in a controlled area if they can’t make it outside.

There are a wide variety of different types of puppy pads to suit your preferences as well. If you’re looking for more sustainable options so you don’t have to keep buying packs of disposable puppy pads you can buy washable puppy pads or turf puppy pads that you can easily hose down to clean and then reuse. You can also get puppy pads specifically made for crates to make crate accident clean up easy as well.

Puppy Bed

Every puppy needs a comfortable place to sleep. You want to get a puppy bed that’s comfy and durable—just in case they think their bed is a chew toy while learning what not to chew on. There are many different beds available, from memory foam beds to stuffable beds. You’ll want to get a bed made for the breed's size that your puppy can grow into.

Puppy Crate

Having a good quality crate for your puppy, whether you plan to crate train or travel with your new puppy, is essential. You’ll want something that’s not overly large for your puppy, but one that isn’t too small and becomes cramped for your pup as they grow.

If you want to invest in a crate that will grow with your puppy instead of buying multiple if you plan to continue using a crate when they become an adult, then you might want to consider a life stages crate. These crates are designed to be used throughout your puppy’s life by using moveable barriers inside that you can adjust as your puppy grows.

You may also want to consider adding some accessories to make the crate more calming and comfortable for your puppy. You can purchase a crate pad to give your puppy a comfortable surface to sleep and relax on inside their crate. If you’re worried about your puppy getting anxious in their crate, it may be beneficial to purchase a crate cover as well to help provide a sense of security in their crate.

Puppy Toys

Puppies have a lot of energy, and every puppy needs lots of playtime. Having the right selection of toys will make sure your puppy gets the right stimulation they need and uses up their energy.

Calming Toys

While puppies have a lot of playful energy, learning a new world, their first night, and being in a new environment can be stressful. You can be proactive and provide your new puppy with toys designed to help calm anxiety and help keep your puppy calm as they adjust.

Puzzle Toys

Puzzle toys are a great way to keep energized puppies entertained. They’ll keep your puppy mentally engaged, help lessen separation anxiety, and enrich their day.

Chew Toys

When you first bring your new puppy home, they’ll think everything is a chew toy. Having a few actual chew toys around is essential for fulfilling your puppy’s need to chew while training them to learn what they can and can’t chew on. If your local pet store has a boring selection of dog chew toys, we reccommend you browse HuggleHounds chew toys here.

Chase and Interactive Toys

For puppies that have what seems to be unlimited energy, toys that they can chase around or interact with are perfect for when you just don’t have the energy to keep up with your puppy. Chase toys will help your puppy get out excess energy, and interactive toys are there to take over while you take a break.

Miscellaneous Puppy Accessories

There are various other accessories that are handy to have to make your new puppy experience easier.

Dog Brush

Some dogs are excessive shedders or have longer hair that’s more high-maintenance. Even if your new puppy is a short hair and low-shed breed, they’ll still need to be brushed every now and then. Consider finding a good quality brush that will last a long time and get the job done.

Dog Shampoo

Muddy pups? No problem when you have dog shampoo on hand! You never know what your puppy will get into. It’s a good idea to have a dog shampoo already on hand to keep your puppy clean and smelling fresh.

Cleaning Products

Even the best puppies have accidents outside of their designated areas. Ensure you have a good cleaning product on hand, such as a pet stain and odor eliminator, to clean up any accidents on your soft, fabric surfaces such as carpets and rugs.

Conclusion

Getting a new puppy is an exciting time, and having all the accessories you’ll need ready to go will make your bonding experience even easier. At Molly Mutt, we know you and your pup are a match made in heaven. We create sustainable dog products made to last a long time, provide comfort to your pup, and be functional for you. We have a variety of accessories perfect for helping you welcome your new puppy home, from dog beds and crate pads to crate covers and collars. Check out our accessories collection to shop our eco-friendly dog accessories today!