A First Week Essentials Kit for New Puppy Owners

Buying and getting a new puppy is a wonderful (and sometimes challenging!) experience. And one that we’re very used to here at the Pet Shop!

Every week, we have new puppy owners popping in with questions about what essentials they should be stocking up on, ready for when they bring their new puppy home.

There is an array of toys, training tools, food and treats out there, so it’s no wonder it can get a little overwhelming. So this is our ultimate guide to what you might need in those first few weeks, with a few little training tips thrown in for good measure.

The most important things to remember are that overwhelm is actually normal. You don’t need to be the perfect pet parent to care for your puppy. You just need to be willing to be patient, and it will all come together. Many of us learn as we go. A bit like parenting!

This guide will help set you up in your first week as a new puppy owner and hopefully help you to stop overspending on things you don’t necessarily need.

If you’re just in those first buying stages, then we’ve got a whole blog on what to look for when looking for puppies for sale. Not one to miss, as we give you a great list of questions and things you should be asking to make sure you get a happy and healthy puppy.

First nights with your new puppy

The first thing to think about is where your puppy is going to sleep on their first night.

We’d recommend that wherever they are, they’re in a ‘contained space’ – that is, they’re not left to wander the house, so that you can take them out for toilet trips and help them to feel safe at night. Don’t forget your puppy is away from their littermates for the first time, so they’re likely to be scared and cry a little.

Crate

You might want a crate next to the bed for your puppy to start with, and then slowly move it out of the bedroom. You can move it into the living areas during the day. Crates come in different sizes, like this 36-inch Trixie Black Crate (bear in mind how big your puppy is likely to get), with plenty of room to stand up, move around and stretch out comfortably when sleeping.

Room

If you have a small room, such as a utility, you might prefer to pop your puppy in there at night. If they settle well, it might be a great option. But bear in mind you might not be able to hear them crying, so you are more likely to wake up to accidents in the night.

Everyone is different, so do what works for you and your puppy.

Bedding

Lots of puppy owners opt for a bed in the first week, only to realise that it’s chewed to pieces fairly quickly! Puppies chew. A lot. So we’d recommend starting with something like the Vet Bed Crate Mat, which comes in a range of sizes to fit the crates. Easy to wash and lovely and soft.

But if your puppy is experiencing a lot of anxiety, they might prefer a cosy bed like the Trixie Anti-Anxiety Bed.

Puppies need a LOT of sleep. Between 18 and 20 hours. So, it’s a good idea to make sure their sleeping space is away from other pets so they’re not disturbed. A tired puppy is a bored puppy, and it doesn’t take long for them to find something to get their teeth into.

What will your puppy eat in their first week?

To begin with, a lot of breeders will give you food to keep your puppy fed for the first few days, and you can either continue with that or gradually move them over to something else.

Some of the options we have at the pet shop are:

Pet Stop Puppy – Chicken Turkey and Salmon

Natures Menu – Puppy Beef Nuggets

Harrington Puppy Dry Food

Puppy toilet training

Your puppy is going to need some help working out where to toilet. They’ve got teeny tiny bladders that need emptying regularly. We know that when accidents happen in the house, unless cleaned up properly, they tend to return to the same places to pee and poop again.

If they do have an accident in the house, use a disinfectant spray that’s safe and designed to eliminate those odours, like the Simple Solution Dog Spray.

Some people use puppy pads in training inside the crate to help with accidents. Different trainers may advise different things. But we do stock puppy pads too if you need them.

First Walks with your Puppy

Puppies can go for a walk about 7 days after their second set of vaccinations. However, it’s always best to follow your vet’s advice. You can still carry them outside so they get to experience sights and sounds.

Keep those first walks short. You’ll find it’s a bit like walking a toddler, you won’t get very far and will involve lots of exploring! But that’s good and all part of socialisation. Keep it quiet  – no need to overwhelm them with busy country parks just yet!

When to comes to walking gear we can help you fit a hardness on your new puppy so make sure it’s secure enough that they can’t wriggle out.

You might want to start with the harness and lead in the house to get them used to the lead. To start with puppies have no idea what this new fangled contraption is and decide to play with it!

Here are some of our favourites:

Pet Pooch XS Collar

Trixie XS Lead

Training Line

Puppy Play

Puppies… love… play. And if you want toys you’ve come to the right place!

But let’s talk about play super quickly, because there are good and bad ways to play!

Play can:

• Teach self-control
• Build a bond with you and your puppy and improve your relationship together
• Build confidence

But if you do TOO much play, it also makes your puppy super overtired and bitey and a little zoomy gremlin that can look like ‘bad behaviour’.

Some tips for you:

• Keep play sessions short (5-10 minutes is plenty)
• Follow them up with a calming activity like a chew or filled kong.
• Notice when they stop playing with the toy and start to get nippy, zoom or totally ignore you.

Rest and learning to stop playing is all about self-control and a super skill to teach your puppy.

Check out our HUGE selection of toys here.

Your New Puppy First Week Essentials Checklist

There is SO much more we could go into when it comes to Puppies and their first weeks with you, so here is a little checklist. You don’t need to buy the whole shop – here is a list of the basics we’d suggest having in the house. And don’t forget, you can come and see us at the pet shop in Market Deeping (near Peterborough and Stamford) and we’ll give you a hand.

Feeding Essentials

• Puppy food (the same brand they’re already on)
• Food and water bowls
• Training treats (soft and puppy-safe)
• Measuring scoop or cup (if you’re feeding dry food

Sleeping & Rest

• Puppy bed or crate mat
• Crate or safe sleep area
• Blankets (one with familiar smells from the breeder)
• Optional crate cover to create a calm and cozy den.

Collar, Lead & ID

• Adjustable puppy collar and/or harness
• Lightweight lead
• ID tag with your contact details (we have an engraver in the shop)

Grooming & Handling Basics

• Soft puppy brush
• Nail clippers or grinder (even if just for desensitising)
• Puppy-safe shampoo

Cleaning & Puppy-Proofing

• Enzyme cleaner (regular cleaner won’t cut it)
• Baby gates (optional but useful to keep puppies out of trouble!)

Chews

• Rubber chews (KONGs are great and can be stuffed)
• Natural puppy chews (age-appropriate like pizzles  or safe wood – we’ve got lots of chews in the shop you can check out)

Toys & Play

• Soft toys
• Tug toys
• Ball or fetch toy
• Snuffle mat or puzzle feeder

Practical Bits

• Vet registration details
• Vaccination record
• Insurance
• Emergency vet contact saved in your phone

Things You Can Wait On

• Fancy beds
• Lots of outfits
• Excessive toys

Final Reminder

Your puppy doesn’t expect you to be perfect!  What they do need is safety, consistency, and patience.  You’ve got this. Your puppy is very lucky to have you.