woman giving treat to puppy | Most Needed Supplies When Bringing a Puppy Home

Bringing a puppy home is one of the most exciting times in your life. The puppy breath, the puppy paws, and puppy snuggles are sure to make your heart swell with love and there are so many fun adventures ahead! However, getting everything set for your new puppy to come to their forever home can get quite overwhelming especially if this is your first puppy. Making sure that you're prepared is not only setting your puppy up for success but it's also setting you up to be a responsible puppy owner. Let's take a look at things you can be doing now to prepare for your puppy and what items you should have on your puppy supply list. All Pet Voices may receive commissions from affiliate links included in this article.

Preparation For Bringing a Puppy Home

Before your puppy sets their little paws inside your home you'll want to make sure that you've taken steps to prepare your home and family for your new canine companion.

Puppy Proof Your Home

When you first bring a puppy home they're going to normally be a little shy and intimated. They've just left the only home they've known and they've left their first family. But pretty soon they're going to be curious and they'll want to explore their brand new world with you.Before they start exploring, you'll want to do a sweep of your home to make sure that's is safe for a curious puppy. Here are a few things you'll want to do to puppy proof your home:

Make sure that your trash is contained and out of a puppy's reach
Cover and/or wrap up all cords
Make sure you don't have any poisonous plants that the puppy can chew on.
Keep toxic substances like household cleaners, medications, rodent traps, antifreeze, chocolate, and food containing xylitol in a safe and secured place.

Have a Family Meeting

It's always important to talk with your family when bringing a puppy home to make sure that everyone is on board and knows what is expected of them. If you have small children, it's a good idea to explain to them how to behave around puppies and how to respect their space. For pre-teens and teenagers, they should be involved in some areas of the puppy's care like feeding, walking, and cleaning up after the puppy.

Don't Forget About Your Other Pets

If you have other pets in the home, don't forget that they might need some additional training especially if they've been a solo pet. Speaking to a professional dog trainer or enrolling in an obedience class might benefit them and your new puppy.

Puppy Supplies

puppy in crate with toys | Most Needed Supplies When Bringing a Puppy Home

Besides getting a puppy, shopping for puppy supplies is so much fun!There are quite a few items that your puppy will need but don't worry, we've made a list for you!Many of these items you can order online or grab your puppy supply list and take the family on a fun trip to your local pet supply store.

New Supply Puppy List

We all know that puppies need food and bowls but there are a lot of other puppy essentials that you'll need to have on hand for when you're bringing a puppy home. Let's take a look at some of the things you'll want to buy for your new puppy:

Dental Chews

Puppies like to chew and they will chew on anything they can get their little mouths on including your kitchen chairs. That's why it's important to offer them several different varieties of puppy-safe chew toys.Dental chews are a great and safe option for most puppies and they can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Dog Crate

Dog crates are not only the perfect place for a puppy to nap but also offer a safe place for a puppy to be contained when no one is home. Even if you work from home, crate training your puppy is still a good idea. Choosing a dog crate will depend on your dog's breed and size so it's important to pay close attention to measurements. You can also choose betweensoft-sided crates,wire crates, andwooden crates. Midwest dog crates are a great option for larger breed puppies and they can be found online or at many pet supply stores.

Dog Bowls

Your puppy will need a food bowl and a water bowl. There are several different styles and colors to choose from. The safest food bowls are stainless steel or ceramic bowls. Plastic bowls tend to harbor bacteria and can easily be chewed.

Dog Food and Treats

In most cases, a dog breeder will send the puppy home with a few days of food but it's important that you also have food on hand too. Training treats are also a good item to have because you'll be doing a lot of training and rewarding for good behavior. Make sure to get a variety to keep your puppy's interest.

Dog Gate

puppy laying on floor next to adult dog | Most Needed Supplies When Bringing a Puppy Home

A dog gate is a great puppy item to have on hand to set up boundaries for your puppy. Gates provide a safe area for your puppy and they keep them out of areas that are unsafe. They can also be used for potty training, separating other pets, separating children and pets, and blocking stairs. Dog gates come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials.Picking out an indoor dog gate depends on the location, decor, and size of your dog.

Dog ID/Microchip

Every pet should have some type of identification even if they're going to be an "indoor-only dog". ID tags and microchips are one of the most important items on your puppy supply list so don't overlook them. There are many different forms ofpet identification solutions for you to choose from such as hanging ID tags for collars, flat tags, smart tags, and embroidered tags. For permanent dog identification, there are microchips and tattoos. Most puppies that are adopted from ethical dog breeders will already have a microchip but if your puppy does not, you should reach out to the breeder, shelter, or your veterinarian for guidance.

Grooming Tools

An important part of being a responsible dog owner is to take care of your puppy's grooming needs. Proper grooming tools will depend on what type of coat your puppy has but a goodpin brush is suitable for most breeds. Even if your dog will be visiting the groomer, you should still have basic grooming tools at home.

Stain Remover

During potty training, your puppy will have a lot of accidents so it's a good idea to have a safe stain and odor remover close by at all times. When choosing apet stain remover you'll want to make sure that you get a product that not only tackles the pet stain but also the odor.

Toys

Every puppy needs a nice supply of toys to play with and there's definitely not a shortage of them available! When choosing toys for your puppy make sure to offer them a variety of different toys to keep them entertained. Perhaps offer a teething toy,calming toy,puzzle toy,interactive toy,chase toy, andsoft plush toy to start.

Walking Gear

puppy playing with toys | Most Needed Supplies When Bringing a Puppy Home

When bringing a puppy home you'll need to have a leash and a collar or harness. When shopping for a collar orwalking harness for your puppy make sure to measure your dog and remember, puppies grow fast so they're going to grow out of their collar and harness in a few months. Don't forget to grab some poop bags too!Other things to consider when bringing a puppy home are to have a veterinarian, pet insurance, dog groomer, and professional dog trainer.

Don't Forget Patience

One puppy supply that you can't buy is patience. You're going to need plenty of that especially when you're navigating the adolescent years. Just remember that puppies don't keep long and you should try to enjoy as much of this time as possible because before you know it they'll be full-grown adult dogs!We hope that this list answered some of the questions that you have when it comes to what to buy for a new puppy.

If you brought a new bundle of fluff home recently, tell us what must-have supplies for a puppy are on your list!

About the Author:Jen is an experienced writer with a passion for sharing her knowledge of living life with big dogs. In her free time, Jen enjoys hiking, baking treats, and spending time with her husband, children, and her 2 Newfies and Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

Most Needed Supplies When Bringing a Puppy Home