The Ultimate New Puppy Checklist: Everything You Need Before Bringing Your Puppy Home

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of bringing a new puppy home. Those tiny paws, sleepy cuddles and that unmistakable puppy smell make it very easy to get carried away buying everything you see!

But before your new arrival comes home, it’s worth taking a little time to make sure you have the essentials ready. From somewhere cosy to sleep to the practical things you might not have thought about, being prepared will help make those first few days calmer and more enjoyable for both of you.

At The Artisan Dog Co, we believe that puppies deserve beautiful, comfortable things from day one. So, we’ve put together our ultimate new puppy checklist to help you prepare.

🐾 New Puppy Essentials Checklist

1. A Comfortable Puppy Bed

Your puppy is going to sleep a lot — sometimes 18–20 hours a day — so creating a comfortable sleeping space is one of the most important things you can do.

Choose a bed that is:

• Comfortable and supportive
• The right size for your puppy
• Easy to wash
• Made from durable materials
• Suitable for your puppy’s sleeping style

Don’t worry if your puppy doesn’t immediately use their beautiful new bed. Puppies often need time to settle and may choose a different spot initially.

Tip: Don’t make the bed too large for a very young puppy. A cosy, secure space can help them feel more settled.

2. A Crate or Safe Space

If you’re planning to crate train your puppy, have the crate set up before they arrive.

Make it a welcoming place rather than somewhere your puppy associates with being shut away. A comfortable crate mat, a safe toy and perhaps a lightweight blanket can help create a cosy little den.

Your puppy should always be able to move comfortably, stand up, turn around and lie down inside their crate.

Remember that crate training should be introduced gradually and positively.

3. Food and Water Bowls

You’ll need separate bowls for food and fresh water.

Stainless steel or ceramic bowls are generally easy to clean and are less likely to retain odours than some plastic alternatives.

Ask your breeder or rescue centre what your puppy has been eating and, if you want to change their food, introduce the new food gradually rather than changing it overnight.

4. Puppy Food and Treats

Have enough of your puppy’s usual food ready for the first few days.

You’ll also want some small, puppy-appropriate training treats. Tiny treats are perfect for rewarding good behaviour without overfeeding.

Remember that treats count towards your puppy’s daily food intake, so moderation is important.

5. A Collar and Identification Tag

Your puppy will need a correctly fitted collar and an identification tag.

Check the fit regularly as puppies grow surprisingly quickly!

Your puppy should also be microchipped in accordance with UK requirements. Your vet can advise you on the process and make sure your puppy’s details are correctly registered.

6. A Lead and Harness

A lightweight lead and properly fitted harness are useful additions to your puppy shopping list.

Some puppies take to wearing a harness immediately. Others need a little time to get used to it, so introduce it gradually and reward your puppy for wearing it calmly.

You don’t need an enormous collection of leads when you’re starting out — one good-quality everyday lead is plenty.

7. Puppy-Safe Toys

Puppies love to explore the world with their mouths!

Have a small selection of suitable toys available, including options for chewing, playing and gentle enrichment.

A few different textures and types of toys can help keep your puppy interested.

You don’t need to give your puppy everything at once. Rotating toys can keep them exciting and help prevent your home from becoming completely covered in toys!

Always supervise your puppy with toys and replace anything that becomes damaged.

8. Puppy Training Essentials

The first few weeks are a wonderful time to start building good habits.

You don’t need complicated equipment. Some tasty treats, patience and consistency go a long way.

The first commands many owners choose to teach include:

• Sit
• Stay
• Come
• Down
• Leave it
• Their name

Keep training sessions short and positive. Puppies have very short attention spans, so five minutes of successful training can be much more useful than a long session that leaves them frustrated.

9. Puppy Training Pads and Cleaning Supplies

Even if you’re planning to toilet train your puppy outside from day one, accidents are inevitable.

Stock up on puppy-safe cleaning products and plenty of kitchen roll or washable cloths.

Try not to get frustrated when accidents happen. Your puppy is learning, and consistency and positive reinforcement are key.

10. Grooming Supplies

What you’ll need will depend on your puppy’s breed and coat, but basic grooming supplies might include:

• A puppy brush or comb
• Puppy shampoo
• Nail clippers or a suitable nail file
• Dog toothbrush and puppy-safe toothpaste
• Towels

Getting your puppy used to gentle grooming from an early age can make future grooming appointments much easier.

11. A Puppy Blanket

A soft blanket can be surprisingly useful.

You can use one in your puppy’s bed, crate, car or favourite resting spot. A blanket carrying familiar smells can also help your puppy feel more comfortable when they’re settling into their new surroundings.

And, of course, puppies have a wonderful habit of finding the softest thing in the house and claiming it as their own! Why not have a look at our New Puppy range?

12. A Puppy Planner or Diary

The first year goes incredibly quickly.

Keeping a record of your puppy’s important milestones is a lovely way to remember those early days.  We have a curated range of Puppy Planner, Journal and beautiful milestone cards to record every step! See here >

You might want to record:

• Their first night at home
• Their first walk
• Their first visit to the park
• Their first trip to the beach
• Their first café visit
• The first command they mastered
• Their first night sleeping through
• Their first birthday

Taking photographs alongside these milestones makes the memories even more special.

🏡 Preparing Your Home for Your Puppy

Before your puppy arrives, get down to their level and have a look around your home.

You might be surprised at what suddenly looks interesting!

Secure electrical cables, move cleaning products and medicines out of reach, keep small objects off the floor and check that plants around your home are safe for dogs.

Think about doors and stair gates too. A puppy can disappear surprisingly quickly!

It’s also a good idea to decide where your puppy’s bed, food and water will live before they arrive. Having a little routine from the beginning can help them settle.

🚗 Don’t Forget the Journey Home

Your puppy’s first journey is an exciting one, but safety should come first.

You’ll need a secure way to transport your puppy, whether that’s a suitable crate or a properly secured travel harness.

Don’t forget a soft blanket or travel mat to protect your car and give your puppy somewhere comfortable to sit.

And it’s always worth keeping some kitchen roll and cleaning supplies close by — just in case!

❤️ The Most Important Things Aren’t Things

It’s easy to think that preparing for a puppy means buying everything under the sun.

It doesn’t.

Your puppy needs somewhere safe to sleep, nutritious food, fresh water, appropriate toys and the essentials for keeping them healthy and safe.

But most importantly, they need time, patience, consistency and lots of love.

The first few weeks can be tiring. There may be sleepless nights, accidents on the carpet, chewed shoes and moments when you wonder what you’ve done!

But there will also be those tiny moments you’ll remember forever — the first sleepy cuddle, the first wagging tail when they see you, the first successful sit and the moment they finally fall asleep in their new bed.

Those are the moments that make it all worthwhile.

🐶 Your New Puppy Checklist

• ☐ Puppy bed
• ☐ Crate and crate mat, if using one
• ☐ Food and water bowls
• ☐ Puppy food
• ☐ Training treats
• ☐ Collar and identification tag
• ☐ Harness and lead
• ☐ Puppy-safe toys
• ☐ Puppy-safe cleaning products
• ☐ Puppy pads, if required
• ☐ Grooming supplies
• ☐ Puppy blanket
• ☐ Car-safe travel equipment
• ☐ First-aid essentials
• ☐ Vet appointment arranged
• ☐ Microchipping arranged
• ☐ Pet insurance arranged
• ☐ Puppy training booked or researched
• ☐ Plenty of patience and cuddles!

Welcome Home, Little One

Bringing a puppy home is the beginning of an incredible adventure.

There will be plenty to learn along the way, and you don’t need to get everything perfect. Your puppy is learning about their new world just as you’re learning about them.

Create a safe and comfortable space, establish gentle routines, celebrate the little milestones and enjoy those precious puppy days — because they really do pass far too quickly.

Welcome to the wonderful world of puppyhood. ❤️

Discover The Artisan Dog Co Puppy Collection

We’ve created a collection of beautiful, practical pieces designed to make those early days a little more special — from cosy handmade puppy beds and blankets to puppy milestone and training cards.

Because every little milestone deserves to be remembered.