Bringing a puppy home is easier when the supplies, the vet and the house are ready before pick-up day. This checklist runs from planning and shopping, through puppy-proofing, to the first night and the first three months.
It avoids medical advice. Wherever a health question comes up, such as vaccinations, food changes or neutering, the task says to check with your vet. Rules on microchips and ID tags vary by country, so look up the current ones where you live.
Copy it into Tatask and the tasks are dated from today. Move pick-up day if your date is further out.
What's in this plan
See every step
Decide and prepare(day 0)
Plan the household(day 0)
Agree who does feeding, walks and night duty
Write the rota down. Puppies need several trips outside a day, so shared jobs stop one person burning out.
Check your lease or landlord allows a dog
List your weekly hours away from home
A young puppy should not be left alone for long stretches. Ask your breeder or rescue what is realistic, and plan cover for your working days.
Book time off for the first week home
Choose where the puppy comes from(day 3)
Read the breeder or rescue's own guidance on choosing responsibly
Check the advice from the RSPCA or your country's equivalent. Ask to see the puppy with its mother.
Ask the breeder or rescue what the puppy has already had
Ask for health and vaccination records, and what food it eats now. Check anything medical with your vet.
Write down the pick-up date and time
Set aside a budget(day 5)
List the one-off costs: crate, bed, bowls, collar, lead
List the running costs: food, insurance, vet, training, grooming
Prices vary by breed and area, so get current quotes rather than relying on a general figure.
Get 3 pet insurance quotes
Compare what each covers and excludes, not just the monthly price.
Buy supplies(day 7)
Feeding(day 7)
Buy the same food the puppy is eating now
A sudden food change can upset a puppy's stomach. Check any later switch with your vet.
Buy two bowls, one for food and one for water
Buy a non-slip mat for the bowls
Sleeping and safe space(day 8)
Buy a crate that fits the puppy's adult size
Many crates come with a divider so you can make the space smaller for now.
Buy a washable bed and 2 spare covers
Buy baby gates or a playpen
Walking and ID(day 9)
Buy a lightweight collar or body strap that fits
Check the fit often, because puppies grow quickly.
Buy a lead and a spare
Order an ID tag with your phone number
Many places require dogs to wear a tag in public. Check the rule where you live.
Buy poo bags
Play, grooming and cleaning(day 10)
Buy 4 chew toys of different textures
Buy a brush or comb suited to the coat
Buy an enzyme cleaner for accidents
Buy puppy pads or a washable floor cover
Puppy-proof the home(day 10)
Room by room(day 10)
Move shoes, cables and remote controls out of reach
Puppies explore with their mouths. Lift anything chewable to a height they cannot reach.
Check house and garden plants against a pet-safe list
Look up the plants you own on a trusted source such as your vet's website or the Dogs Trust, and remove any listed as toxic.
Store cleaning products, medicines and food on high shelves
Cover gaps behind furniture and under stairs
Garden and outside(day 12)
Walk the fence line and fix any gaps
Cover ponds, pools and open water
Lock away garden chemicals and tools
Set up the crate and gated area in a quiet spot(day 13)
Vet and admin(day 7)
Register with a local vet(day 7)
Choose one close to home and ask what they need for a first visit.
Book a first check-up within the first few days(day 7)
Check with your vet about timing, and bring the puppy's paperwork.
Ask your vet what vaccinations and parasite treatments are due(day 7)
Do not guess dates. Your vet will set the schedule for your puppy.
Ask your vet about microchipping and register your details(day 14)
Microchip rules differ by country. Check the current requirement where you live.
Start the insurance policy on pick-up day(day 14)
Find the nearest out-of-hours emergency vet and save the number(day 14)
Pick-up day and first night(day 14)
Bring a crate or carrier, towels and a lead to pick-up day
Take a blanket from the breeder to leave in the bed
A familiar smell can make the first nights easier.
Take the puppy to the toilet spot as soon as you arrive(day 14)
Show the puppy its bed, water and quiet space(day 14)
Plan where the puppy sleeps the first night(day 14)
Plan toilet trips for the night(day 14)
Young puppies often need to go out during the night. Set alarms and keep trips calm and brief.
First week home(day 15)
Pick a toilet spot and take the puppy there after meals, naps and play(day 15)
Set 3 or 4 mealtimes and keep them the same each day(day 15)
Write a daily routine for meals, play, naps and outings(day 16)
Puppies need a lot of sleep. Build quiet rest into the day.
Start name recognition games for 5 minutes a day(day 17)
Practise short time alone, starting with a few minutes(day 18)
Build up gradually. Ask a trainer if the puppy seems distressed.
Take photos of the puppy for the vet and your records(day 18)
First three months(day 21)
Find a puppy class near you and book it(day 21)
Ask your vet, friends or the Association of Pet Dog Trainers for local reputable trainers. Check what vaccination requirements the class has.
Practise meeting new sounds, surfaces and people, one at a time(day 28)
Keep it calm and positive. Check with your vet about where a puppy can safely go before vaccinations are complete.
Practise sit, down and recall for 5 minutes a day(day 28)
Get the puppy used to handling, brushing and nail checks(day 35)
Ask your vet about neutering and worming plans(day 56)