Puppy Checklist

This is a rough checklist for a new puppy owner to help ensure you have thought of all the things you may need for the first couple of weeks of puppy ownership.

Fresh clean water should always be readily available- a heavy metal or china bowl helps prevent spillages! Aim for a high-quality puppy food that is breed appropriate and initially continue with the same brand used by the breeder to prevent tummy upsets. However, after a few days you can slowly introduce a new food over at least 2 weeks. Puppies should have 3-4 evenly spaced meals throughout the day. Treats can be used to aid with toilet training but don’t use too many different types initially as this can lead to diarrhoea.

Consider where you would like your puppy to sleep at night - you may want to crate train them (some puppies love having a safe space to retreat to if worried). Bedding should be easily washable and not easily destroyed! You may want to use puppy pads for accidents overnight but don’t rely on these too much - if you train your puppy to go to the toilet on pads it can then be more difficult to retrain them to go outside.

It is important to get your puppy used to wearing a collar, choosing a soft light one that can be easily made bigger as the puppy grows. If your puppy is used to a collar, it will make it much easier to start exercising it once it is allowed outside. An ID tag should be attached to the collar - this is a legal requirement (as well as a microchip) and should show the owners name and address as a minimum. It is a good idea to fit a car harness for safe car travel - again it is a legal requirement under the Highway Code to keep your dog suitably restrained while driving.

A suitable brush is required - this will depend on very much on the type of coat your puppy has. Grooming should be introduced as early as possible, so your puppy gets used to being handled. A dog toothbrush and toothpaste are other good things to introduce at an early age - just start by using a finger brush around your puppy’s gums and reward with treats to make tooth brushing fun experience. Poo bags are another essential purchase for any responsible dog owner!

Age and breed appropriate toys are great for chewing and mental stimulation and will help with bonding to your new pet. Ensure toys are safe and discard any that get badly chewed so your puppy can’t swallow any bits.

Ensure you register with a vet as soon as your puppy arrives - many clinics offer a free puppy consultation. Your vet can advise you on flea, tick and worming treatments as well as giving them a thorough health check.

Finally consider getting your puppy insured- many breeders will provide 2-4 weeks of free pet insurance.