Welcoming a puppy: the complete checklist

A puppy arriving is joy… and a lot of questions. What to buy? How to prepare the house? How to get through the first nights? This checklist helps you get ready before the big day and start on the right foot.

The equipment to plan

Item	Tip
Food and water bowls	stainless steel or ceramic, easy to clean
Puppy food	the same as at the breeder/family, at least at first
Basket or bed	in a quiet place, not in a corridor
Collar and lead	adjustable, it will grow
Tag	with your phone number
Chew toys	to protect your shoes and furniture
Puppy pads	for the first weeks
Brush	suited to its coat
Carrier or crate	for the car and the vet

Prepare the house

Puppies explore everything with their mouth. Before it arrives:

hide electrical cables;
put cleaning products and medication out of reach;
remove toxic plants;
close off stairs and balconies;
put away shoes, socks and small objects it could swallow.

The first day

Stay calm: let it discover the house at its own pace.
Show it its spot: bed, water, food.
Take it out often: after waking, after meals, after play.
Limit visits in the first days.

A puppy sleeps up to 18 hours a day. Let it rest; it’s essential for its development.

The first nights

The first nights can be hard: it misses its mother and siblings.

Put its bed near you at first, then move it away gradually.
Put an item that smells of its old home or of you.
Don’t punish it if it cries; reassure it calmly, without overdoing it.

The first vet visit

In the first week:

general check-up;
vaccines (from 8 weeks, then boosters);
deworming and antiparasitic treatment;
discussion about the microchip and later neutering.

House training

Patience is key:

take it out every 2 hours at first, and after each meal or nap;
reward it right away when it does its business outside;
clean accidents without scolding, with a product that removes the smell (no bleach, which attracts it back);
most puppies are house-trained within a few months.

Socialisation: a key period

Between 3 and 12 weeks (and a bit after), the puppy learns what is “normal”. Show it gently:

different people (children, adults);
sounds of the city, the car, the street;
other calm, vaccinated animals.

A well-socialised puppy becomes a balanced, less fearful adult.

The budget

Plan for food, vaccines, deworming, the first equipment, neutering later, and sitting when you travel.

Common mistakes in the first weeks

Even with the best intentions, some mistakes come up often:

Too much freedom too soon: let it discover the house room by room.
Changing food suddenly: make the switch over a week.
Playing with your hands: it learns to bite. Always use a toy.
Leaving it alone too long from the start: get it used to a few minutes, then more.
Punishing toilet accidents: it doesn’t understand and may become fearful.
Forgetting to weigh it: weight shows whether it’s growing well and is used to dose treatments.
Giving in to everything: the rules must be the same for the whole family, from day one.

If you work all day, arrange for someone to take it out at lunchtime in the first months. A puppy can’t hold on for hours, and long periods alone can create anxiety.

FAQ

At what age can a puppy be taken home? Not before 8 weeks: it learns important things with its mother and siblings.

Can it go out before its vaccines? In calm, clean places, yes, for socialisation. Avoid places with many unknown dogs.

How many meals a day? Often 3 to 4 meals for a young puppy, then 2 as an adult. Follow the food’s recommendations and the vet’s advice.

Track its growth with DarPaws

In DarPaws, create your puppy’s profile: weight, vaccines, treatments, vet visits. And when you travel, find a sitter or trainer nearby.

Your puppy’s profile, ready in one minute. Download DarPaws for free on Google Play.

This article gives general information. It does not replace your vet’s advice.