Today is a great day, and the new puppy you are expecting will be arriving in a few hours ahead.
We know that while you are excited to welcome the baby pup as a new member of your family, you are also worried and anxious about all sorts of things.
Will you be doing great with the puppy?
Will the puppy be comfortable?
What should you prepare for the puppy’s meal?
Where will the puppy be sleeping?
What to buy for a new puppy?
Please relax, Dearest Future Pet Mommy and Daddy. Searching and reading this article means you are starting on the right path already.
Getting a new puppy might seem trivial for most ordinary people. Only true pet parents fully understand that it is always an enormous deal to have a new pet joining your family.
Why? Because it means you will be getting a lot of work to do!
Like most babies, puppies are adorable, but you will get through some exhausting process at first before reaping the amazing result in the end.
Therefore, being proactive and preparing all the necessary puppy supplies will be helping a lot.
So again, if you are looking for new puppy shopping checklist, there are several things you have to prepare before your adorable new puppy arrives at your home.
Don’t worry! we will help you get through all of them one at a time.
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Best Puppy Starter List for Young Pooch in 2022
1. Puppy Food
The first thing that comes in your mind when considering what to buy for a new puppy might be with what kind of food you need to feed them.
The easiest thing to do is to continue the same brand of dog food the breeder or shelter was feeding. You can then transition to a new food if you want.
You will need to do it gradually, though, because rapid food change can significantly affect your puppy.
Moreover, dog foods designed for puppies are always recommended as they are more nutritious than regular dog food.
You can choose puppy food based on your dog breed because there are different nutritional needs between small-breed and large-breed dogs.
You can try Purina Pro Plan Dry Puppy Food
or Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Organic Puppy Food.
2. Stainless Steel Dog Bowl
Dog bowls made of sturdy and durable stainless steel are always highly recommended, especially for puppies.
Compared to plastics or ceramic dog bowls, stainless steel dog bowls are easier to clean and disinfect. Moreover, they are basically indestructible — you know how puppies are!
For now, you will probably need only one for the food.
Most breeders usually suggest that smaller puppies drink from a water bottle instead of a water bowl, but you will need one as they grow later.
The KEKS or ASFROST dog bowls are two of our recommended stainless steel bowls as they are equipped with a silicone mat to prevent the bowls from skidding and scratching the floor.
You can also try the larger GPET stainless steel dog bowls consisting of two separate bowls you can save if you don’t need it yet.
3. Dog Treats
Treats are extremely essential, even more during early training.
A beginner future pet parent might soon realize that you will need lots and lots of them because they are one of the most effective training aids.
Besides, treats are also an excellent supplement for your puppy’s healthy growth.
You can start with the Old Mother Hubbard that is oven-baked and contains a variety of natural ingredients like carrots, chicken, oats, and apples.
Furthermore, there is also the famous Wellness’ Natural Grain Free Puppy Training Treats that comes with two different flavors: Soft Lamb & Salmon…
…and Crunchy Chicken and Carrots.
4. Dog carrier and crate with beddings and pads
As a good pet parent as you are, there is no way you will be able to supervise your puppy all the time.
This is why you have to prepare the best dog crate with the appropriate size for your puppy.
You will find crates to be very beneficial for limiting your puppy’s access to your home, as well as transporting your puppy in a car.
The best puppy crate must be large enough for your puppy to comfortably lie down and move around, has a durable, leak-proof floor that is easy to clean, in addition to being easily (dis)assembled according to your needs.
You can get either a traditional look dog crate like MidWest metal dog crate
..or a more modern one that could also work like a nice dog carrier, thanks to its top handle, such as Petnation Port-A-Crate soft-sided dog crate.
You can decide what to buy for a new puppy based on your needs.
Most importantly, the crate should be equipped with sufficient pet beddings and pads to give your puppy comfort, as well as convenience for you.
We recommend Quiet Time Deluxe’s Ombré Swirl Pet Bed for ultra-plush puppy bedding that has no skid bottom surface and comes with various sizes to fit different crates.
As for the puppy pads, you can start with AmazonBasics Pet Training and Puppy Pads.
5. Puppy Chew Toy
You have to understand that getting a puppy means going through a long period of chewing, and it gets even out of hand when teething begins.
They will most certainly chew on everything on sight: shoes, furniture, etc. Thus, it is best to prepare lots of puppy chew toys to manage the situation.
You can supervise and intervene when they start chewing your belongings and direct them to your well-prepared chewing toys.
Various chewing toys are available from KONG’s treat-dispensing chew toy that comes with different sizes for your puppy…
…to N-Bone Puppy Teething Ring Chicken Flavor that is edible and digestible with Calcium and Omega 3 Fatty Acid added.
6. Dog Gates
What is more, the fierce chewing period requires you to puppy-proof the house.
They might not be as clever as your human toddlers, but they can get tricky too at times when you are not looking.
If you already have a certain area in your house where the puppy is allowed to play freely, you might simply need to purchase a dog gate to prevent them from reaching the places they are not supposed to.
Therefore, you can use common baby gates that are sturdy and durable like Regalo’s, a regular human baby gate that is also adored by pet parents.
…Or you may prefer the adjustable, Retractable Safety Gate, which you can roll in when it’s not used.
Both of them are sturdy, secure, and easy to use, perfect to safely secure your furniture from your frenzied adorable little chewing monster.
7. Puppy Playpen
On the other hand, if you don’t have, and yet you want to give a specific limited area for your puppy to play freely, a puppy playpen will be much more suitable for you.
Choose the one that is strong and long-lasting since you are going to use it as the puppy grows. It has to be easily foldable as well when you are not using it.
Our most recommended puppy playpen is the Midwest Foldable Metal Exercise Pen.
You can choose from its various sizes depending on your puppy size and breed.
Additionally, you can also try Parkland Pet Portable Foldable Playpen, which you can use both indoor and outdoor, and easily carried around as you travel with your puppy.
8. Bitter Spray
You may have given them chew toys and secure your house with gates and a playpen, but during teething, your puppy might still go on overdrive.
One slight miss and your shoes and furniture are ruined, and experiencing it on a daily basis could probably irritate you to death.
This is why you can try spraying bitter sprays on places you don’t want them to bite. Commercial bitter sprays like Grannick’s Bitter Apple Spray
…or Bodhi Dog Bitter Lemon Spray are mostly safe and organic, so it is safe even if your puppy tries it out and lick them.
Or, you can always try making one yourself by mixing 2 cups of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and 1 cup of white vinegar in an empty spray bottle.
You have to be consistent in reapplying them, so your puppy gets the message and avoid the areas, in which you have sprayed the solution.
9. Leash and Collar
One of the most enjoyable “what to buy for a new puppy” moments is choosing your puppy’s leash and collar.
There are lots and LOTS of cute and stylish leashes and collars that it is just impossible not to buy them all.
Yet, aside from their appearances, you need to find a leash and collar that are both safe and comfortable for your puppy.
Your puppy will be wearing the collar most of the time. Thus, choose one that is soft and adjustable because your puppy will quickly grow.
Check if the collar fits your puppy well: you should be able to slip your two fingers comfortably underneath the collar.
Try the adjustable, break-away PetSafe’s KeepSafe Break-Away Collar with sturdy and reusable buckles to prevent collar accidents.
Moreover, it is also highly important to equip the collar with a collar tag, in case your puppy is lost.
The collar tag should have all your contact information, as well as emergency backup contacts, and even a GPS tracker if needed.
It is best if your tags are made of solid stainless steel material like the ones from GoTags for more durability,
and a tag from Paw Prints, which is featured with a GPS tracker as well.
10. Puppy Shampoo
Your best quality moment with your puppy, besides playtime, is when you are bathing and grooming them.
That is why you might want to select a high-quality puppy shampoo that can provide the gentlest and the best conditioning for your puppy’s skin and fur.
Even more when you have a puppy with thicker fur.
Our best recommendation is Burt’s Bees All Natural Tearless Dog Shampoo and Conditioner.
Also, the USA’s best PET CARE Sciences Dog Shampoo is an exceptional choice as well.
11. Puppy Brush
After enjoying moments of bathing your puppy, next comes when you have to dry and brush their soft fur.
To delight at this moment as well, you need to find the best brush or comb, suitable for your puppy breed and fur type.
Usually, a soft bristle brush is best for puppies. This is so they can get accustomed to handling and grooming, and gradually get adapted to your touch and brushing as something common and natural.
The GripSoft Double Sided Brush from JW Pet Company is one of the most valued brushes for puppies.
Whereas FURminator Dogs Undercoat Deshedding Tool is best if your puppy sheds a lot. It features different sizes for puppies of different breeds and fur length.
12. Enzyme Cleaner
Another horrific stage in the process of training your new puppy is the numerous toilet “accidents” happening around your house.
While traditional cleaners can wash away odors and stains, there is a chance that they might cause health issues for puppies and children.
Moreover, these traditional cleaners may still leave residuals remaining that only puppies can smell.
This is why your puppy tends to return to the places where they have “taken care of their business.”
Relax, you can solve this problem by using the Enzyme Cleaner. Enzyme Cleaners make the most of good bacteria and enzymes to decompose odors and tough stains.
It eliminates any residuals remaining, so your puppy forgets that they have done their businesses in those places.
You can use Rocco & Roxie Stain and Odor Eliminator …
…Or OdoBan Disinfectant and Odor Eliminator.
13. Puppy Nail Trimmer
We all know that dogs’ nails are amazingly sharp, not to mention that they grow in a miraculous speed!
And unless you like spending money like a Rockefeller by taking your baby to the salon just for trimming their nails, you will most definitely need the best quality dog nail trimmer.
Our best recommendations are Safari Professional Dog Nail Trimmer, and…
Fur Goodness Sake Dog Nail Clipper, all come with a safety guard so you can easily cut your puppy’s nails without worrying about hurting them.
14. Dog Stroller
Okay, you might feel weird when you think about buying a dog stroller. But once you know the benefits of having it, you’ll think about it differently.
However, if you are not sure yet. Don`t worry!
You can read our article about: the best dog stroller for small dogs first. And see whether you really need it or not!
Final Thoughts on New Puppy Shopping Checklist
So, are you ready to embark on a new adventure with your new puppy now?
Among other things, besides the above puppy supplies regarding what to buy for a new puppy, there is one most crucial, most important part that your beloved puppy will truly need: YOU.
Yes, you.
After being separated from their mother and their comfortable, familiar environment, your puppy’s well-being is now your responsibility.
They can only depend on you, as you are their parent, their family, their home.
You are their whole, whole world.