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Welcome Home, Tiny Tornado: A Dog Trainer's New Puppy Checklist
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items As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. A new puppy is a tiny tornado with a heartbeat, and it will find every shoe you own by Tuesday. After years in the dog training business and seven dogs of my own, this is what I'd want on hand...
Sections
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Everyday Puppy Basics
Potty Training Must Haves
Training and Routine Helpers
Teething and Chewing Survival
Bath Time for the Wiggle Worm
Everyday Puppy Basics
Start with the basics that make everyday life with a new puppy smoother. These are the items you’ll reach for constantly in those first few weeks.
Simple, sturdy bowls are one of those basics you use all day, every day. I like options that are easy to clean, hard to tip over, and sized right for smaller mouths.
Puppy Bowls
A good crate can make puppy life feel much more manageable. It helps with routines, rest time, and giving your puppy a safe place to settle.
Dog Kennel Furniture
Puppies need a cozy place to rest, and washable is the key word here. I always think practical comfort wins when accidents and muddy paws are still part of daily life.
Fully Washable Forgiveness™ Dog Beds
One of the first things I’d grab for any new puppy. Go for something lightweight and comfortable so it feels easy for them to wear as they get used to it.
GoTags: Pet ID Tags, Personalized Dog Collars & Custom Cat Collars
The crate is for sleeping. This is for the hours you need to cook supper without a puppy under your feet. Toys, a water bowl and a pad in one corner, and they've got a safe little yard right in the kitchen. It folds flat when they outgrow it.
Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Puppy Playpen, 24-Inch
Potty Training Must Haves
Potty training gets a lot easier when you have the right setup. These picks help keep cleanup simpler and routines more consistent.
Whether you use them short term or for a specific setup, puppy pads can be handy in those early days. I like keeping them on hand just in case, especially during transitions.
Charcoal Puppy Pads
This is one of those products every new puppy owner ends up needing. A good cleaner makes accidents less stressful and helps keep the house feeling fresh.
Odorcide, Thornell KOE Kennel Odor Eliminator Concentrate
Perfect for rainy days, muddy yards, and puppies who somehow find dirt every single time they go outside. I love anything that helps save floors and furniture.
Dog Paw Cleaner with Handle
These can be such a helpful communication tool for puppies learning how to tell you they need to go out. It adds a little consistency to the routine.
Dog Bells to Go Outside & Puppy Potty Training
I bought this one myself, no brand sent it. You mix the powder with water and spray the spot, and the enzymes go after the smell instead of just perfuming over it. One tub makes a lot, which matters, because a new puppy will give you plenty of practi...
Nature's Pure Edge Enzyme Powder Concentrate, Sunny Citrus
Training and Routine Helpers
The early puppy stage is really about habits and routine. These are practical training tools that help make daily life more structured and less chaotic.
A treat pouch makes training so much easier because rewards are right there when you need them. It is one of those simple things that helps you actually stay consistent.
Mighty Paw Dog Treat Pouch
Small, easy-to-chew treats are perfect for quick rewards during puppy lessons. I like keeping plenty nearby for name work, recall, and all those little wins.
Training Treats for Dogs & Puppies – Elk & Venison Protein Puppy & Dog Treat
A marker can really help with timing when you are teaching something new. It is small, inexpensive, and easy to keep handy for short puppy sessions.
BARKIE Dog Training Kit - Treat Pouch, Pet Training Fanny Pack, 2 Puppy Training Clickers, Ultrasonic Silent Whistle
A lightweight leash is a great starting point when puppies are just learning how to walk with you. I prefer something simple and easy to handle without a lot of bulk.
Taglory Rope Dog Leash 6 FT with Comfortable Padded Handle,
Teething and Chewing Survival
Puppy teeth are tiny little needles, and they will test every shoe, chair leg, and ankle you own. These are the chews and toys that give those teeth a better job.
The puppy version of the classic, made with softer rubber for baby teeth. Stuff it with a little kibble or peanut butter and freeze it. That buys you enough quiet to drink a Dr. Pepper in peace.
KONG Puppy Teething Toy
Lots of little nubs and ends for sore gums to work on. Hand them this instead of your fingers. Your fingers will thank you.
Nylabone Puppy Teething Pacifier
For the stuff they keep going back to. Baseboards, chair legs, that one shoe. One taste and most puppies decide it's not worth it. Pair it with a chew they ARE allowed to have.
Grannick's Bitter Apple Anti-Chew Spray
Wet the fabric part and pop it in the freezer. The cold helps those sore, swollen gums, and it's a lifesaver on the cranky teething days. Keep two so one's always frozen.
Nylabone Chill & Chew Puppy Freezer Toy
Bath Time for the Wiggle Worm
Puppies roll in things. It's their whole job. Getting them used to baths, brushing and nail trims while they're little saves you a wrestling match with a 60-pound dog later.
Tearless matters, because no puppy holds still for a rinse. Shampoo and conditioner in one bottle means one less step while you're holding a soapy, wiggling baby in the tub. Keep a towel on the floor. Trust me.
Burt's Bees Tearless 2-in-1 Puppy Shampoo
Brush them for a minute while they're sleepy, not while they're zooming. Short and calm teaches them brushing is no big deal. Push the button and the hair slides right off the pins, so you're not picking fluff out with your fingers.
Swihauk Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
Start with one paw and a treat, every couple of days, long before the nails actually need it. Let them hear it and sniff it first. A grinder takes a little off at a time, so you're a lot less likely to hit the quick than with clippers.
Casfuy Quiet Dog Nail Grinder
For the days a full bath isn't happening. Muddy paws, a messy back end after potty training, a little drool on the chin. Keep a pack by the back door and another in the car, because puppies don't care where you are when they step in something.
Pogi's Dog Grooming Wipes, 100 Count