Puppy Supplies Checklist
Before bringing your new puppy home, make sure you have the essentials ready:
Food and water bowls
Puppy food
Comfortable bed and blankets
Collar, harness, lead, and ID tag
Toys (chew toys, enrichment toys, comfort toys)
Play pen
Crate (if crate training)
Pet safe cleaning products for accidents
Poochy Pets Puppy Box (includes: puppy towel, puppy shampoo, puppy brush, poop bags, poop bag holder, lick mat, collapsible water bowl, puppy treats, and soft tug ropes)
Puppy Basics 101
Book Your Vet Appointments
Your puppy will need vaccinations, deworming, flea and tick prevention, and regular health checks.
Important: Puppies are vulnerable to diseases such as Parvovirus before they have completed their vaccination schedule. Avoid public parks, pet stores, beaches, and interactions with unknown dogs until your veterinarian confirms it is safe.
It is also a good idea to save your vet's contact details and the number of your nearest emergency veterinary clinic in case of emergencies.
Feeding & Nutrition
Ask your breeder or rescue what food your puppy is currently eating.
If you decide to switch foods, do so gradually over 7 to 10 days to help avoid tummy upsets.
Avoid feeding lots of rich treats and human food.
Always ensure your puppy has access to fresh, clean water.
Puppy Socialisation
Socialisation is about helping puppies build positive associations with the world around them.
Introduce them gradually to:
Different people
Sounds
Surfaces
Objects
Friendly, vaccinated dogs Positive experiences during puppyhood can help build confidence and resilience later in life.
Remember, socialisation is not about meeting as many dogs and people as possible. It is about creating positive experiences and helping your puppy feel safe and comfortable in different situations.
Find a Fear and Force Free Trainer
A good trainer doesn't just teach your puppy.. they teach you too.
Look for a trainer who:
Uses positive reinforcement
Respects your puppy's emotions
Avoids punishment based methods
Helps you build trust and communication The habits your puppy learns now will form the foundation of your future relationship together.
Household Rules
Before your puppy arrives, decide on the household rules and ensure everyone in the family follows them consistently.
For example:
Is your puppy allowed on the couch?
Is your puppy allowed on beds?
Who is responsible for feeding?
Where will your puppy sleep? Consistency helps puppies learn faster and prevents confusion.
Sleep Is Important
Many new pawrents worry their puppy is sleeping too much.
Puppies often need: 18 to 20 hours of sleep per day
Just like overtired toddlers, overtired puppies can become:
Bitey
Zoomy
Grumpy
Unable to focus Providing regular nap opportunities is an important part of puppy development.
Potty Training
Success comes from consistency.
Take your puppy outside:
After waking up
After eating
After drinking
After playing
Before bedtime Celebrate successes with praise and rewards.
Accidents are part of the learning process and should never be punished.
If you find a wee or poo inside, simply clean it up. Do not show it to your puppy, get angry, or shout. Your puppy will not understand why you are upset.
If you catch your puppy in the act, calmly and quickly take them outside. When they finish toileting in the correct place, praise and reward them.
Teething
Puppies explore the world with their mouths.
Between roughly 3 and 6 months of age they may:
Chew furniture
Chew shoes
Mouth hands
Seek out anything chewable Provide plenty of appropriate chew toys and gently redirect unwanted chewing onto suitable items.
Remember, teething can be uncomfortable. Your puppy is not naughty.. they are simply looking for relief.
Enrichment Matters
Puppies need mental exercise as well
Activities such as:
Sniffing games
Lick mats
Food puzzles
Training sessions
Chewing activities
Exploring new environments can help keep growing minds happy, engaged, and fulfilled.
A mentally enriched puppy is often calmer and more confident.
Puppy Proof Your Home
Get down to puppy level and look around.
Remove:
Electrical cords
Toxic plants
Cleaning products
Small objects that could be swallowed
Any potentially dangerous items within reach Prevention is much easier than an emergency vet visit.
Young puppies require close supervision. When you cannot actively watch them, a puppy proofed play pen or safe confinement area can help keep them safe.
Handling Exercises
Teaching your puppy to enjoy gentle handling from an early age can make grooming and veterinary visits much easier later in life.
Practice:
Touching paws
Looking inside ears
Looking at teeth
Gentle brushing and toweling
Wearing a harness Keep sessions short, positive, and reward your puppy often.
Building Trust
Your puppy is learning whether the world is safe.
Focus on:
Gentle handling
Positive experiences
Patience
Predictability Trust is the foundation of every future behaviour you want to see.
The stronger your bond becomes, the easier training and everyday life will be.
Children & Puppies
Puppies and children can become wonderful friends, but they should always be supervised together.
Remember:
Puppies use their mouths to explore and play
Young children may not always recognise when a puppy needs space
Gentle and respectful interactions only (DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD PULL AT, HUG & KISS, SMACK OR SIT ON YOUR PETS) Teaching both children and puppies how to interact appropriately helps create safe and positive relationships.
Common Puppy Behaviours
Normal puppy behaviours include:
Biting and mouthing
Digging
Barking
Zoomies
Chewing
Exploring everything A reminder that puppies are babies. They aren't being naughty, stubborn, or spiteful. They're learning, growing, teething, adjusting to a new environment, and figuring out how the world works.
What Not To Do
Avoid:
Smacking
Shouting
Rubbing your puppy's nose in accidents
Alpha rolls
Shock collars
Prong collars
Punishment based training methods These techniques are outdated and cruel and can damage trust, create fear, and negatively impact your puppy's emotional wellbeing.
Instead, focus on kindness, patience, management, and positive reinforcement.
The 3-3-3 Rule
Every puppy settles into their new home at their own pace, but many follow a similar adjustment timeline:
First 3 Days Your puppy may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or nervous as they adjust to their new surroundings.
First 3 Weeks Your puppy begins learning routines, building trust, and becoming more comfortable.
First 3 Months Your puppy starts feeling truly at home and their personality often begins to shine.
Patience during this adjustment period can make a world of difference.
From Our Hearts at Poochy Pets
Raising a puppy is an incredible journey filled with learning, laughter, patience, and plenty of unforgettable moments.
Remember that your puppy is learning every single day. Celebrate the small wins, be kind during the challenges, and focus on building a relationship based on trust and understanding.
The time and effort you invest now will help shape a confident, happy, and well adjusted companion for years to come.
We're wishing you and your new best friend many happy adventures together.