Puppy Supplies Checklist: What You Need Before Pickup Day

For day one, you need puppy food, washable bowls, a collar or harness with an ID tag, a leash, a safe place to sleep, chew toys, and cleaning supplies for accidents. Add grooming basics and a puppy-proofed home, and you are ready.

Shop before pickup day if you can. The first few days go better when you are not racing to a store with a tired puppy in the car.

Food, bowls and treats

Start with the food your puppy has been eating, so their stomach is not hit with a sudden change. Ask the breeder or shelter what they use and how much. Choose a food made for growth or for all life stages that carries a nutritional adequacy statement from AAFCO. Large and giant breeds need a formula made for their size. Our puppy feeding schedule explains how often to serve it.

You will also need:

• Two washable bowls, one for food and one for water, ideally stainless steel and sturdy enough that they resist tipping
• Small, soft treats, or ones that break into small pieces, for training
• A treat pouch to carry them
• A latching bin to store the food bag

Sleeping and safe spaces

A crate gives a puppy a safe place to rest when you cannot supervise, and it supports house training. It should be big enough for your puppy to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably, but not so large that one end becomes a toilet. A crate with a divider can grow with your dog. Read our crate training guide before the first night.

Also plan for:

• A washable bed or two, because puppies often chew them, and soft blankets without holes or loose strings that could tangle around a paw or mouth
• A playpen or a baby gate to close off a safe area that you can keep separate from children or other pets
• A carrier or travel restraint for the car, because a puppy should never roam loose in a moving vehicle

Collar, harness, leash and ID

A lightweight collar with an ID tag that shows your phone number is the first thing to put on your puppy. VCA suggests a breakaway collar because it lowers the choking risk, and says you should be able to slide two fingers under it. Puppies outgrow collars fast, so check the fit often.

A harness is a gentle alternative, particularly for a puppy who pulls, because it spares the neck. A standard leash is the simplest option. VCA advises avoiding retractable leashes. Check what leash length your area allows.

AAHA says choke, prong and shock collars should never be used for training, and recommends discussing microchipping with your vet if your puppy does not have one yet.

Toys and chews

Puppies explore with their mouths and need something legal to chew. Stock a mix:

• Soft chew toys and teething toys for sore gums
• Puzzle toys and food-stuffed toys for brain work
• Squeakers and balls for play

Choose toys that suit your puppy's size and age, and rotate them so they stay interesting. Ask your vet if you are unsure whether a toy is safe. If your puppy keeps mouthing your hands, our guide on how to stop puppy biting shows what to offer instead.

Potty and cleanup supplies

Accidents are part of the deal, so have these ready:

• An enzymatic cleaner for the carpet and floor
• Puppy pads, if you plan to use them, to line a crate or pen
• Waste bags for walks (VCA suggests looking for environmentally friendly ones)
• Paper towels and a scrubbing brush

Grooming and health basics

Buy a brush or comb that suits the coat, nail trimmers or a grinder, and a dog shampoo. Use only products made for dogs, since human shampoo and toothpaste are not meant for them. Pick up a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste, and start nail care and tooth brushing early so your puppy gets used to them before they matter.

Book a vet visit for the first week. AAHA suggests bringing any medical history you have and discussing vaccines, parasite prevention and microchipping. It also recommends looking into pet insurance or setting aside an emergency fund. Our puppy first week checklist covers what to do once your puppy is home.

Puppy-proof the house

Get down to puppy level and look around, and see our guide to puppy-proofing your home for a room-by-room check. The AKC suggests removing medications, electrical cords, toxic plants, cleaning products and small objects that could be swallowed, and AAHA adds keeping food and household chemicals out of reach. Set up a quiet spot where your puppy can retreat whenever they like. AAHA also suggests agreeing on house rules before your dog arrives, such as access to furniture and where your dog sleeps, and it helps to decide who handles feeding and bathroom breaks.

Plan to have someone home for most of the day during the first few weeks, since a young puppy cannot be left alone for long and needs frequent potty breaks. Never leave children and a puppy together unsupervised, and give your puppy a child-free zone to retreat to.

What can wait

You do not need everything on day one. Some items are easier to buy once you know your puppy better:

• A second or larger bed, once you see where your puppy likes to sleep
• Dog stairs or a ramp, if your puppy will need help reaching furniture or the car
• Specialty grooming tools, after you have learned your puppy's coat type and asked a groomer or your vet's team what is worth buying
• Bigger collars and harnesses, which you will need as your puppy grows and can buy when the first ones get tight

Frequently asked questions

What do I absolutely need on day one?

Puppy food, washable bowls, a collar or harness with an ID tag, a leash, a safe sleeping space such as a crate or pen, chew toys, and cleaning supplies for accidents. Everything else can wait a week or two.

Should I buy a crate sized for my puppy's adult size?

Only if it comes with a divider. A crate that is too big can make house training harder, because the puppy may use one end as a toilet and sleep at the other.

Do I need a harness or a collar?

Many owners use both. A collar holds the ID tag, while a harness can spare a puppy's neck on walks. Whichever you pick, check the fit regularly as your puppy grows.

What should I avoid buying?

Skip retractable leashes, which VCA suggests avoiding, and choke, prong or shock collars, which AAHA says should never be used for training. Also avoid human toothpaste and shampoo, which are not made for dogs.

Updated Oct 30, 2026 · Editorial policy

Sources

1. VCA Animal Hospitals: New Puppy Checklist
2. AAHA: New dog checklist: Your step-by-step guide to a successful start
3. AKC: New Puppy Checklist: Gear You'll Need for Your New Dog