Bringing home your first puppy: the honest checklist

Worth having on day one

A small, boring kit beats a big exciting one.

• Flat collar or step-in harness, plus a light two-metre lead.
• Crate with a washable mat and a spare mat for accidents.
• The food your breeder or rescue was using — change it slowly, later.
• Enzymatic cleaner, not bleach, for toilet accidents.
• Two or three safe chews and one puzzle feeder.

The first 72 hours

Expect a quiet puppy who then turns into a whirlwind on day three as they settle in. Keep visitors to a minimum, keep the house calm, and carry them to the same patch of garden every hour, after every nap, meal and play session.

Toilet training is a numbers game: reward outdoors within two seconds of finishing, never scold indoor accidents, and clean up without fuss.

A routine that works

Puppies thrive on a loose, repeating rhythm rather than a rigid clock. Ours looks like this and repeats through the day.

• Toilet break, then five minutes of play or training.
• Ten to twenty minutes of chewing or a puzzle feeder.
• Nap in the crate for one to two hours — enforced, not optional.
• Meal, toilet break, and repeat.

What to skip for now

Long walks, dog parks, retractable leads, squeaky toys that come apart, and a wardrobe of coats. Spend the money on a decent crate, good chews and, if you can, a well-run puppy class that keeps groups small.

Ask for help early

Growling over food, nipping that draws blood, or a puppy who cannot settle at all are all worth a conversation with your vet or a qualified behaviourist in week one rather than month three. Early help is short help.