New Puppy Shopping List: Essentials to Prepare for Your New Arrival

Choosing the right breed for your lifestyle

Before you dive into the excitement of getting a puppy, it’s crucial to ensure you’ve selected a breed that fits your lifestyle. The success of your relationship with your new dog heavily depends on this choice. We have several blog posts to guide you in making the best decision:

Additionally, visit our breed section on the website, where we regularly update key points on different breeds, aiming to provide a comprehensive resource to help you make an informed decision.

Can you afford the ongoing costs of owning a dog?

Beyond the initial expenses, owning a dog comes with ongoing costs such as pet insurance, food, training, and vet bills. It’s important to set realistic expectations about these commitments. Another thing to consider here is that size significantly impacts the cost of dog ownership. Larger dog breeds tend to be more expensive to care for, as the costs for food and medications increase with the size of the dog. To assist with planning, check out our free budgeting downloads available in our online shop, which can help you prepare for all aspects of dog ownership.

Is your home environment suitable for a puppy?

Consider whether your home is ready for a new puppy. Do you have safe spaces where the puppy can play without getting into trouble? A crate or playpen can provide a secure area for your puppy, offering a safe zone away from children and other pets when needed.

Time for some fun: shopping for your new puppy!

Now that we’ve covered the serious considerations, let’s get to the exciting part—shopping for your new puppy! Below are some links to Amazon and other sellers of essential items to consider. Some of these may also be available at your local independent pet shop, so remember to #supportlocal!

1. Collar

You will need a small collar for your pup to start getting used to wearing one. I wouldn't recommend anything too expensive as they will quickly grow out of them. You can search Etsy for some really beautiful collars or head to Amazon for something more practical whilst they are small and will quickly outgrow anything you buy them.

2. ID Tag

It is a legal requirement to have a physical ID tag on your dog's collar containing the following information:

• Owner's name (first name or initial and surname)

• Address (house number and postcode).

  
  

This law came into force in 1992 and is now slightly outdated. It is also very useful to include the following details:

• 1 or 2 contact phone numbers

• Your local vet's name.

  
  

Whilst your pup is small they will probably need a smaller tag, something like this customizable option from Amazon is a good idea. However, I find my dogs can lose these tags fairly quickly when racing around outdoors so as adults I now use flat tags that attach with a rubber band, so far my dogs have not been able to lose these and I like the look of them. Find them here on Etsy.

3. Harness

A harness can make it a lot easier to guide your pup around where you want and prevent sudden jerks on the neck as your puppy gets used to being on lead. Again I wouldn't recommend anything too expensive here as your pup will quickly outgrow what you buy. There are some good ones from Amazon here.

4. Lead

Here I would advise having a few different types of lead.

• Traditional Short Lead: This is your go-to lead for everyday use and for teaching your puppy to walk nicely by your side. It's perfect for situations where you need close control, like in busy areas or during training sessions.

• Long Line: A long line is great for giving your puppy more freedom while still maintaining control. You can let it trail behind them during walks, especially when practising recall. It allows your puppy to explore while you have the security of being able to reel them in if needed.

• Extendable Lead: These are handy for outdoor walks where your puppy can safely roam a bit further. However, they aren't ideal for indoor use, such as in the house or at the vet, where close control is necessary. Also, be cautious, as grabbing the leash quickly can cause friction burns on your hands.

5. Crate

Opinions on crates and crate training vary, but I've found them to be an essential part of my dogs' lives. When used positively, crates can provide a safe and calming space for your dog. A dog that's comfortable in a crate will adapt more easily to new environments, whether it's travelling, staying overnight somewhere, or even during a vet visit. This can make life much easier for both you and your dog.

• A hard crate is most useful for your home. I also have a crate from Pets at Home which I do think is slightly better quality than the Amazon ones. I also use a blanket to drape around/over the crate to create a cosy den-type atmosphere.

• A soft crate is more portable for travelling or can be used in the backseat of a car. But take care here as a determined puppy can chew through these.

• For a price, you can achieve a more bespoke solution over at The Pet Carpenters website. They make beautiful pieces of furniture to house dog crates and I have been lusting after their work for a long time.

6. Bedding

Every puppy has their own preference when it comes to bedding. I suggest beginning with a basic pad-type bed for their crate, paired with a fluffier, cozier option for snuggling. By observing which one your puppy prefers, you can better determine the type of bed they'll enjoy as they grow into adulthood.

• Crate bed

• Cosy bed

7. Puppy Pen

While not absolutely necessary, a puppy pen can be incredibly useful. Here is one from Amazon. By attaching it to your crate, you create a safe space where your puppy can sleep and play when you are not supervising. This setup allows them to move around freely without access to anything harmful, dangerous, or valuable. A puppy pen helps keep them safe from ingesting toxic items and can also provide a secure area away from children when you can't supervise.

8. Toys

I tend to separate toys into three categories.

• Toys that can be left with your puppy to chew on in their bed or playpen. I really like most toys made by the Kong brand. Some examples are their kong toy, teething stick or goodie bone. I also recommend Nylabone chews.

• Soft toys that can be destroyed easily and should be supervised. Kong have good examples of these too like their Wubba Puppy toy, Comfort Kiddos Bear or Wild Knots Bear.

• Interactive high-value toys that should only be used when YOU play with your puppy. This teaches the puppy how rewarding YOU are and will help build the foundation of a really solid recall and desire to stay close to you out on walks. A classic example of these types of toys would be a squeaky tennis ball, a squeaky tennis ball on a rope or there are some great interactive toys from a company called tug-e-nuff.

9. Bowls

Food and water bowls will be next on your list. You might need to consider a few different types.

Food Bowl

• Standard food bowl

• Slow feeder if your puppy tends to inhale their food too quickly

Water bowl

• Standard water bowl for your house

• A water bowl for their crate, one that attaches to the side of the crate is incredibly useful.

• A collapsible water bowl to take out on walks with you in case you need to offer a drink out and about.

10. Grooming Kit

The amount of grooming your puppy needs will largely depend on the breed you've chosen. Regardless of the breed, it's important to start grooming early. Make each session a positive experience by keeping it short (under 5 minutes) and rewarding your puppy with treats and praise.

• Brush: A good starter brush can be found here. As your puppy grows, you may need to switch to a breed-specific brush. One highly recommended option is the Furminator brush which is great at removing undercoat.

• Toothbrush (standard or finger brush) and Toothpaste: Keeping your puppy's teeth clean is essential for their overall health, so make sure to introduce brushing early.

• Shampoo: In general, you shouldn't need to shampoo your puppy more than once a month. My adult dogs only get bathed after they've rolled in something unpleasant or returned from a very muddy walk. Their coat and skin naturally stay clean, so it's best not to overdo it. A good shampoo option can be found here.

11. Cleaning up

Owning a puppy comes with the responsibility of keeping your home clean, both inside and out. Here are a few essentials you’ll need:

• Poo bags

• Carpet cleaner for those inevitable indoor accidents

While puppy pads are an option, they aren't essential. I’m not a big fan of them for puppies. The best approach is to give your puppy plenty of opportunities to go outside, so they don’t feel the need to use a pad indoors. Over-reliance on puppy pads can confuse your puppy and make them think it’s acceptable to toilet inside the house leading to difficulties in toilet training.

12. Car Restraint

According to the UK Highway Code, when travelling in a car, your dog must be properly restrained to prevent them from distracting the driver or causing injury to themselves or others. Suitable options for restraining your dog include:

• A seat belt and harness (this is often used alongside a backseat hammock)

• A pet carrier on the back seat

• A dog cage

• A dog guard (a barrier between the front and rear of the vehicle), is what I use as it provides my dogs with the most space in the boot of my car. I use a guard from Travall, which I have found to be really good quality. It is important to note with this setup, I've dedicated significant time to training my dogs to stay in the boot until I give them a verbal cue to exit. It can be extremely dangerous if your dog tries to jump out as soon as you open the boot (they could run into traffic or any dangerous situation), so this method requires careful training and attention.

• Recently I have also discovered a brand called The Dog Den, who produce travel crates made in England that look to be of incredible quality. You can find their website here.

13. Books

There are lots of good books out there to help with your new puppy journey. Some good ones I like are the following:

• Game on, Puppy! by Tom Mitchell and Lauren Langman

• The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey

• Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy by Steve Mann.

14. Further resources

If you found this shopping list helpful, be sure to check out the new puppy guide available from our online shop. This 17-page ebook covers all the essential information you need to know. We cover everything from vaccinations and microchipping laws to training and feeding, helping you fully prepare for your new puppy.