Bringing a puppy home is exciting—but being prepared is key to a smooth transition. Here's a checklist of must-have items to get before your new furry friend arrives:

🛒 Puppy Essentials:

• • Food & Water Bowls: Stainless steel or ceramic is best.

  • High-Quality Puppy Food: Choose a formula made specifically for puppies.

  • Crate: Helps with potty training and provides a safe space.

  • Bed: Soft, washable, and cozy for their growing body.

  • Collar & Leash: Adjustable collar with ID tags, and a lightweight leash.

  • Puppy Pads: For house-training support.

  • Toys: Chew toys, plush toys, and puzzle toys for stimulation and teething relief.

• Grooming Supplies: Puppy shampoo, brush, nail clippers, and toothbrush.

• Cleaning Products: Enzyme cleaner for accidents.

• Vet Contact Info: Schedule an initial wellness check in advance.

Being fully stocked before your puppy arrives ensures a safe, comfortable, and happy homecoming for both of you!

Puppies grow quickly and need frequent meals to stay energized and healthy. Here's a general feeding schedule based on age:

🍽️ Puppy Feeding Guide:

• 6–12 weeks old: 4 meals a day

• 3–6 months old: 3 meals a day

• 6–12 months old: 2 meals a day

Make sure to feed high-quality puppy food, as it contains the right balance of nutrients for growth and development. Always follow your vet’s recommendations and the feeding instructions on the food label (based on your puppy’s weight and breed).

💧 Don't forget: Fresh water should always be available!

Vaccinations are crucial for protecting your puppy from life-threatening diseases. Most puppies start their vaccination schedule at 6 to 8 weeks old, with boosters continuing every 3–4 weeks until about 16 weeks of age.

💉 Core Puppy Vaccines Include:

• DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)

• Rabies (required by law in many areas)

• Bordetella (for kennel cough, often required for daycare/boarding)

Your vet may also recommend optional vaccines based on your location or lifestyle, like Lyme disease or Leptospirosis.

📅 Tip: Don’t delay—puppies are especially vulnerable to illness before vaccinations are complete. Keep them safe by avoiding public places until your vet gives the green light.

Potty training takes time, patience, and consistency. Most puppies can be mostly house-trained by 4–6 months of age, though some may take up to a year to fully master it—especially smaller breeds with smaller bladders.

🐶 Key Potty Training Tips:

• Take your puppy out frequently—especially after eating, drinking, playing, or waking up.

• Use a consistent spot outside and reward them immediately after they go.

• Stick to a routine—puppies thrive on structure.

• Watch for signs they need to go: circling, sniffing, whining, or heading to the door.

• Accidents happen! Stay calm and clean up thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner.

Crate training can also help by teaching bladder control and encouraging your puppy to hold it until they’re outside.

With patience and praise, your pup will get the hang of it—just don’t expect perfection overnight.

Early socialization is vital for raising a confident, friendly dog. The ideal socialization window is between 3 and 14 weeks of age, but safe socializing should continue well into their first year.

🐾 Safe Socialization Strategies:

• Controlled Playdates: Invite vaccinated, friendly dogs for supervised interactions.

• Expose Them Gradually: Introduce your puppy to new sights, sounds, and surfaces—cars, bicycles, doorbells, grass, stairs, etc.

• Positive Experiences Only: Use treats, toys, and calm praise to make each new encounter fun and stress-free.

• Puppy Classes: Once vaccinated, enroll in a basic puppy class for structured socialization with other puppies and people.

• Don’t Overwhelm: Go at your puppy’s pace. Too much too soon can backfire.

Socialization isn’t just about meeting dogs—it’s about preparing your pup for the world around them. The more safe, positive experiences they have early on, the more well-adjusted they’ll be as adults.