New Puppy Checklist from a Petco Employee

The day you bring home a new puppy is exciting. Wet puppy kisses and full body wags will melt your heart. To make the day even easier, prepare ahead of time for the arrival of your new bundle of joy. This new puppy checklist itemizes the essentials you will need to make it through the first day, and night, of being a new puppy parent.

1. Collar and Leash

Whether your new puppy is a small, medium or large breed dog, you will need to keep him under control. Those sleepy yawns won't last all day, and training him to accept a leash and collar at a young age is essential.

2. ID Tags

The moment you pick up your new puppy, attach ID tags to his collar. If he should wander off and get lost, ID tags will help him find his way home. Include a human name and phone number on the tags. Some pet owners like to include their home address, so the puppy can be returned immediately.

3. Puppy Food

Ask the previous caretaker of the puppy what type of food the puppy has been eating. If possible, ask for a few servings of the food, so you can easily transition the puppy to eating in the new home. If you aren't able to purchase the same type of puppy food, you will need the old style food to make a gradual transition to the new food. If you change a puppy's diet without a transition period, they will likely get an upset stomach and diarrhea. You don't want to deal with diarrhea while you are potty training!

4. Potty Pads and Carpet Cleaner

The days of puppy potty training on newspaper are over. Potty pads are more absorbent, odor repelling and more durable. Made of absorbent cotton, puppy potty pads resemble thin diaper material in a large square shape. Place the potty pads near the door you want the puppy to learn to use when he needs to go outside. Because the puppy won't always use the pad, be prepared for floor clean-up. Nature's Miracle carpet cleaner actually dissolves the proteins in urine and feces, so the puppy won't return to that same spot to make another mess.

5. Non Tipping Bowls

A sturdy food and water bowl should be in place the day you bring your puppy home. Choose bowls with rubber around the bottom, to avoid skidding. Heavy ceramic bowls are also a good option, when placed on a rubber pet food mat. Playful puppies will spill their food if the bowl is light weight and able to move around on the floor.

6.Grooming Supplies

New puppies that are potty training occasionally mess on themselves, or lay in their urine or feces. Bath time will be common for young puppies. Purchase puppy shampoo to keep your new puppy clean and smelling fresh. Never use human shampoo on a puppy. It will not only sting their eyes, but will strip the much needed oil out of their fur and skin. A soft bristle brush or comb after bath time will keep your puppy looking cute as ever.

7. Crate

When evening rolls around on the first day of puppy ownership, you will want a break. The puppy needs a crate. It acts like a den, and provides a safe place away from such house hazards as tasty electrical wires, fluffy absorbent carpet and unsuspecting bare feet that resemble chew toys. Place a washable blanket or towel in the crate, and a soft fuzzy toy for the puppy to snuggle. If the puppy cries, you may want to hide a warm water bottle under the blanket, or place a ticking clock near the crate. These will remind the puppy of his mother and siblings.

8. Toys

Puppies get bored quickly. A variety of chew toys, and soft plush toys will keep the puppies attention. Choose interactive toys that you can use with the puppy, and self guided toys for when he is alone. Kong toys filled with meaty paste or hard treats will become a good babysitter for your puppy when he is in his crate. Tug toys and bouncy balls can make puppy playtime fun with humans.

9. Love and Kisses

Puppies are like young children. Their bladder muscles aren't trained, they are full of energy and they are teething. Be patient with them, and give them as much love and kisses as you can. They will grow up, and be behaved, and housebroken. But, until then, enjoy those first weeks with your puppy. They won't stay so small and innocent looking forever.