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If you’re getting ready to bring home a new puppy, first of all: congratulations! There is truly nothing better than those early puppy days — the cuddles, the kisses, the funny little personality starting to come through, and the sweet chaos that somehow takes over your entire home almost immediately.
There is also a lot to think about before your puppy arrives. What crate should you get? Do you need puppy pads? What kind of harness is best for a puppy? What are the safest teething toys? And why does every new puppy checklist on the internet make it seem like you need to buy half the pet store before your dog even comes home?
When we brought home our dachshund Django years ago, we learned very quickly that puppy life is adorable, exciting, and also a little overwhelming. Since then, we’ve helped countless dog owners find comfortable harnesses, leashes, dog carriers, jackets, and everyday gear for their puppies and adult dogs.
If there is one thing I can say confidently, it’s this: you do not need everything. You just need the right puppy products to make those first few weeks safer, easier, cleaner, and a little less stressful.
This guide walks through the puppy products you actually need before bringing home a new puppy — including what to buy for sleeping, potty training, feeding, walking, teething, grooming, travel, and everyday life with your new dog.
We’ll also be honest about what can wait. Because yes, puppy shopping is fun. But your puppy does not need a full wardrobe, five beds, and a mountain of toys on day one.
Quick Answer: What Puppy Products Do You Actually Need?
The most important puppy products to buy before bringing home a new puppy are a properly sized crate, puppy bed or blanket, puppy playpen or gates, potty training supplies, food and water bowls, puppy food, training treats, a soft puppy harness, leash, collar with ID tag, safe chew toys, grooming basics, and an enzyme cleaner for accidents.
You may also want a dog carrier bag, puppy raincoat, waterproof leash, and cold-weather jacket depending on your puppy’s size, breed, where you live, and how often you plan to travel or be out and about together.
The goal is not to buy everything. The goal is to set up your home so your puppy can sleep safely, potty train successfully, chew appropriate things, learn basic routines, and explore the world with you in a safe and comfortable way.
Puppy Products You Need: Your New Puppy Checklist
Before we get into the details, here is a simple new puppy checklist to help you see what you may want to have ready before your puppy comes home.
New puppy essentials checklist
If that sounds like a lot, do not worry. You do not need to buy every possible puppy product at once. Start with the essentials, then add what makes sense based on your puppy’s size, breed, personality, chewing habits, weather, and lifestyle.
A quick note before you shop
Every puppy is different. A tiny dachshund puppy, a wiggly golden retriever puppy, a French bulldog puppy, and a nervous rescue puppy may all need slightly different setups. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then adjust as you learn what works best for your puppy.
1. Crate, Bed & Sleep Essentials
One of the best things you can do before bringing home a new puppy is create a safe, cozy place for them to rest.
Puppies sleep a lot. They also get overstimulated easily, especially in the first few days when everything is new. Having a calm, consistent sleep space helps your puppy settle, nap, and begin learning that your home has a routine.
A properly sized puppy crate
A crate can be incredibly helpful for puppy sleep, safety, and potty training. When used thoughtfully, it gives your puppy a quiet little “home” of their own and helps prevent unsupervised chewing or accidents when you cannot watch them closely.
For most puppy owners, a simple wire crate with a divider panel is the most practical option. The divider is especially useful because you can start with a smaller space when your puppy is tiny, then expand the crate as they grow.
Your puppy’s crate should be large enough for them to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. It should not be so large that your puppy can potty in one corner and sleep in another.
If you want something that blends more beautifully into your home, a furniture-style dog crate can also be a nice option once you have a sense of your puppy’s chewing habits and crate training progress.
Prettier crate option
If you prefer a crate that looks more like furniture, this pretty furniture-style dog crate is a more home-friendly option to consider. I would still be mindful with very young puppies who are teething or likely to chew.
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A washable bed or blanket
You do not need to spend a fortune on your puppy’s first bed. In fact, I would be careful about buying anything too expensive until you know whether your puppy is a bed chewer.
A soft, washable blanket or simple puppy bed is usually enough for the early stage. Washability matters because puppy life is messy — little accidents, wet paws, chew marks, treat crumbs, and all.
Soft puppy bed
An Orthopedic Dog Bed can give your puppy a cozy place to nap during the day. Look for something washable, comfortable, and not so expensive that you will be heartbroken if tiny puppy teeth get involved.
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A puppy playpen or gated safe space
A crate is helpful for rest, but your puppy will also need a safe place to play, chew, and spend short periods of time when you cannot give them your full attention.
This is where a puppy playpen or gated area can be a lifesaver.
A playpen gives your puppy a controlled space where you can place a bed, water bowl, safe toys, and — if needed — a potty pad outside the crate area. It also helps prevent your puppy from wandering into another room and finding a shoe, rug corner, phone charger, or mystery object to chew.
New puppy tip
Before your puppy comes home, consider putting away nice rugs, baskets, shoes, kids’ toys, and anything low to the ground that looks even remotely chewable. Puppies are adorable, but they are also tiny chaos machines with teeth.
2. Potty Training Products
Potty training is one of the first big challenges most new puppy owners face. It is also one of the easiest areas to prepare for before your puppy comes home.
You do not need a complicated setup, but having the right potty training products nearby can make accidents less stressful and outdoor potty breaks much easier.
If you want a full step-by-step guide, we recently updated our how to potty train a puppy article with practical tips for schedules, crate training, puppy pads, apartment potty training, and more.
Enzyme cleaner
If you buy one cleaning product before your puppy comes home, make it an enzyme cleaner.
Regular household cleaners may make an accident look clean to you, but puppies can still smell leftover odor and may return to the same spot again. An enzyme cleaner helps break down pet messes more thoroughly, which is especially important during potty training.
Puppy pads or underpads
Puppy pads can be helpful in some situations, especially if you live in an apartment, have a very young puppy, are dealing with bad weather, or need a temporary backup while your puppy is still learning.
That said, if your ultimate goal is outdoor potty training, going straight outside is usually the clearest path. Puppy pads can sometimes make things confusing if your puppy learns that going potty indoors is also allowed.
Should you put puppy pads inside the crate?
In most cases, no. A properly sized crate helps with potty training because puppies naturally try not to go where they sleep. Placing a potty pad inside the crate can blur that lesson. If you use pads, it is usually better to place them in a puppy pen or designated potty area outside the crate, not inside your puppy’s sleeping space.
Poop bags
This one is simple but very necessary. Keep poop bags near the door, in your car, in your walking bag, and attached to your leash if possible.
Potty bells
Potty bells are not required, but they can be incredibly helpful if you want your puppy to learn a clear way to tell you they need to go outside.
We taught Django to ring a bell when he needed to go potty, and I still remember the first time he did it on his own. He walked over to our NYC apartment door, sat down, and banged the bell with his little doxie nose. It was one of those tiny puppy moments I will never forget.
You can read our full guide here: Dog Bell Training: How to Train Your Dog to Ring a Bell to Go Potty Outside.
A soft harness and leash for fast potty breaks
When your puppy needs to go, every second counts. You do not want to spend five minutes wrestling with complicated walk gear while your puppy is already circling by the door.
A soft, easy-on harness and comfortable leash can make those early potty trips faster, safer, and less stressful.
For quick puppy potty breaks
DJANGO’s soft, adjustable puppy-friendly harnesses and leashes are perfect for those early (and chaotic!) puppy months — from fast potty trips to early walks to everyday adventures as your little one grows.
3. Food, Bowls & Training Treats
Before your puppy comes home, ask the breeder, rescue, shelter, or veterinarian what food your puppy is currently eating. Even if you plan to change foods later, it is usually best to transition gradually instead of switching everything at once.
New home, new people, new routine, new sounds, new smells — that is already a lot for a tiny puppy. Keeping food consistent at first can help avoid unnecessary tummy trouble.
Food and water bowls
For bowls, simple is best. Stainless steel, ceramic, or silicone-based options are usually easy to clean and practical for daily use.
Food and water bowl option
This Feeding Mat Bowl Set has a waterproof silicone base, which can be especially helpful for messy puppies who splash water, push bowls around, or somehow turn every meal into a small event.
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Puppy training treats
Training treats are incredibly helpful during the first few months. You will use them for potty training, name recognition, crate training, leash practice, basic commands, recall, and rewarding calm behavior.
Look for small, soft, easy-to-chew treats that your puppy can eat quickly. Large treats can interrupt training because your puppy has to stop, chew, drop crumbs, sniff around, and forget what just happened.
A dog water bottle for outings
Once your puppy is old enough for longer walks, safe outings, travel, or outdoor adventures, a portable water bottle is a simple product you will use more than you expect.
New puppy food tip
If you are changing your puppy’s food, ask your veterinarian about the best way to transition. Puppies can have sensitive stomachs, and changing food too quickly can sometimes cause digestive upset.
4. Best Harnesses for Puppies
A good puppy harness should be soft, comfortable, secure, and easy to put on. It should protect your puppy’s neck, distribute pressure more safely across the body, and adjust well as your puppy grows.
This is especially important because puppies do not walk politely at first. They dart, bounce, pull, freeze, hop sideways, try to eat leaves, and suddenly become very interested in a piece of mulch.
A collar is still important for ID tags, but for leash walking, potty breaks, and early training, a harness is usually a better choice for most puppies.
For very tiny puppies: a soft beginner harness
If your puppy is extremely tiny, still growing quickly, or chewing everything in sight, a simple soft mesh puppy harness can be fine for the first few weeks. This can be especially useful while you are figuring out your puppy’s size, shape, and early walking habits.
Just keep in mind that many very soft beginner harnesses are not especially structured or adjustable. They can work well temporarily, but they may not be the best long-term option once your puppy is walking more, pulling more, or ready for daily adventures.
For small puppies and dogs up to 25–30 lbs: DJANGO Adventure Dog Harness
For small puppies, small breed dogs, and many dogs up to 25–30 lbs, the DJANGO Adventure Dog Harness is a wonderful everyday option.
It is lightweight, padded, supportive, and designed to help protect the neck if your puppy pulls strongly, suddenly, or erratically. This matters because puppies are still learning how to move with you on leash, and those early walks can involve a lot of unexpected lunging, stopping, and zig-zagging.
The Adventure Dog Harness is especially popular for puppies, small dogs, dachshunds, and other little adventurers who need a soft and comfortable harness for everyday walks.
Best soft harness for small puppies
The DJANGO Adventure Dog Harness is lightweight, padded, and easy to wear — a great choice for puppies and small dogs who need a comfortable everyday harness.
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If you have a dachshund puppy or long-bodied small dog, you may also find our best harness for dachshunds guide helpful.
For bigger puppies, stocky puppies, and dogs 10–100 lbs: DJANGO Tahoe No Pull Dog Harness
If your puppy is already 10+ lbs, growing quickly, stocky, strong, or expected to become a medium or large dog, the DJANGO Tahoe No Pull Dog Harness may be a better fit.
The Tahoe No Pull Dog Harness is soft, padded, adjustable, and more structured than a lightweight puppy harness. It includes both front and back leash attachment points, making it a great option for growing puppies who are learning leash manners and need a little more support.
This is the harness I would point new puppy owners toward if they have a golden retriever puppy, lab puppy, bully breed puppy, large doodle puppy, or any growing dog who needs a secure and supportive everyday harness.
Best harness for large breed puppies
The DJANGO Tahoe No Pull Dog Harness is a soft, padded, supportive harness for puppies 10+ lbs and dogs up to 100 lbs. It is a great choice for bigger puppies, strong puppies, and dogs who need more structure on everyday walks.
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If your puppy has a broad chest, deep chest, or tricky body shape, our guide to the best harness for deep-chested and broad-chested small dogs may also be helpful.
How should a puppy harness fit?
A puppy harness should be snug but not tight. You should usually be able to fit two fingers under the straps. The harness should not rub behind the front legs, press into the throat, or slide around so much that your puppy can back out of it. Since puppies grow quickly, check the fit often.
5. Puppy Leashes, Collars & ID Tags
Your puppy’s leash and collar setup does not need to be complicated, but it does need to be safe, comfortable, and practical.
A collar with ID tag
Even if you use a harness for walks, your puppy should have a properly fitted collar with an ID tag. Make sure the tag includes your phone number, and ask your veterinarian about microchipping if your puppy is not already chipped.
A collar is not my favorite option for leash walking a puppy, especially if they pull or lunge suddenly, but it is important for identification.
A comfortable everyday leash
For most new puppy owners, a standard leash is the easiest place to start. It gives you control, keeps your puppy close, and helps you guide them during potty breaks and early walks.
Fun and stylish leash option
If you want something a little more fun and colorful, a rope leash can be a beautiful everyday option once your puppy is walking comfortably.
Hands-free leash option
A hands-free leash is not always necessary right away, but it can be incredibly useful as your puppy gets older and more reliable on leash. It allows you to wear the leash around your waist or over your shoulder, and it is also helpful for quick tie-ups when you need your hands free for a moment.
6. Dog Carriers for Puppies
A dog carrier is not always included on basic puppy supply lists, but for many puppy owners, it ends up being one of the most useful products.
This is especially true if you live in an apartment, travel often, take your puppy to the vet, run errands with your dog, or want a safe way to expose your puppy to the world before they are ready for long walks in busy places.
Always follow your veterinarian’s guidance around vaccinations and public spaces. In the early weeks, many puppy owners are careful about high-traffic areas where unknown dogs may have been. A carrier can help your puppy safely observe new sights, sounds, and environments without walking directly through every public space.
Enclosed carrier for vet visits and car travel
For vet visits and car travel, a secure enclosed carrier can be helpful, especially for very young puppies. Look for something that is well-ventilated, easy to clean, comfortable, and appropriately sized.
For car travel specifically, make sure you are choosing a setup that is safe and appropriate for your vehicle and puppy’s size.
Dog carrier tote for small puppies, apartments, errands, and city life
For small puppies, city living, apartment potty breaks, quick errands, and everyday outings, a dog carrier tote can be incredibly convenient.
When Django was a puppy in New York City, having a carrier made life so much easier. There are times when you simply need to pick up your puppy and go — through a lobby, into a cab, to the vet, onto public transportation, or past an area where you do not want your tiny puppy walking yet.
Best dog carrier bag for puppies and small dogs
The DJANGO Waxed Canvas Dog Carrier Tote is a stylish, structured dog carrier bag for puppies and small dogs. It is a great option for city life, errands, travel, vet visits, and giving your puppy a cozy place to rest while staying close to you.
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Dog carrier backpack for small dogs, travel, and adventures
A dog carrier backpack can be wonderful as your puppy gets older, especially if you have a small dog who may not be able to keep up on long outings, travel days, hikes, or full family adventures.
The important thing is to choose a backpack carrier that supports your dog properly and gives them a comfortable position inside the bag.
Dog backpack carrier for small dogs and adventures
The DJANGO Dog Carrier Backpack is designed for small dogs who adventure, travel, and explore with their people. It is especially helpful for small dogs who tire easily, senior dogs, travel days, hikes, and dog owners who want a comfortable hands-free carrier.
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If you are researching backpack carriers, you may also like our full DJANGO Dog Carrier Backpack review and our guide to the 5 best dog backpack carriers for small dogs.
7. Puppy Toys, Chews & Teething Products
Puppies need to chew. They are not being bad. They are exploring the world, soothing sore gums, relieving boredom, and learning what feels good in their mouth.
The goal is not to stop chewing completely. The goal is to teach your puppy what they are allowed to chew.
That means having a few safe puppy chew toys ready before your puppy comes home.
Puppy teething toys
Puppy teething toys should be size-appropriate, not too hard, and designed with young puppies in mind. Adult dog chews can sometimes be too tough for puppy teeth, so it is worth choosing products specifically made for puppies.
Soft toys and comfort toys
Soft toys can be wonderful for puppies, especially during naps, quiet time, and gentle play. Just supervise closely. Some puppies cuddle soft toys. Others immediately perform surgery.
If your puppy is a toy destroyer, remove damaged toys quickly and avoid leaving soft toys unattended in the crate.
Enrichment toys
As your puppy grows, enrichment toys like food puzzles, snuffle mats, and fillable toys can help keep their brain busy. Puppies do not just need physical exercise. They also need mental stimulation.
Puppy toy safety tip
No puppy toy is truly indestructible. Always choose toys that are appropriate for your puppy’s size, chewing style, and age, and supervise playtime — especially in the beginning.
8. Grooming & Cleaning Supplies
Even if your puppy does not need regular haircuts, basic grooming supplies are helpful from the start.
The earlier you gently introduce brushing, paw handling, baths, and nail care, the more normal those routines will feel later.
Brush
The right brush depends on your puppy’s coat type, but having a gentle grooming brush on hand is a good idea for most puppies.
Puppy shampoo
Puppies do not need constant baths, but when they do get dirty — and they will — a gentle dog shampoo is helpful to have ready.
Dog wipes
Dog wipes are one of those products you may not think you need until suddenly you really need them.
They are helpful for paws, little messes, drool, dirt, post-potty cleanup, and quick freshening up between baths.
Towels by the door
This does not need to be fancy, but it is worth mentioning: keep a towel near the door.
Wet paws, muddy bellies, rainy potty trips, and water bowl incidents are all part of puppy life. A simple towel by the door will get used constantly.
9. Puppy-Proofing Products
Puppy-proofing is one of the least glamorous parts of getting a puppy, but it is one of the most important.
Puppies explore with their mouths. They chew cords, grab socks, drag shoes, nibble furniture, steal kids’ toys, and somehow find the one tiny object you did not notice on the floor.
Before your puppy comes home, get down at puppy level and look around. What can they reach? What can they chew? What could they swallow? What would you be very sad to find destroyed?
Baby gates or playpen
Baby gates or a puppy playpen help create safe boundaries so your puppy does not have full access to the house too soon.
Too much freedom too early often leads to potty accidents, chewing, and overwhelm. A smaller space is easier for your puppy to understand and easier for you to supervise.
Cord protection
Cords are extremely tempting to puppies and obviously something you do not want them chewing.
Whenever possible, tuck cords away completely. For cords you cannot fully hide, cord protectors may help reduce risk, but supervision is still key.
Other puppy-proofing steps
- Move shoes, socks, kids’ toys, and small objects off the floor
- Secure trash cans and laundry baskets
- Move medications, cleaning supplies, and chemicals out of reach
- Check houseplants and remove any that are unsafe for dogs
- Block stairs if your puppy is too young, tiny, or unsteady
- Put away nice rugs during the early potty training stage
- Keep bags, purses, and backpacks off the floor
Real life puppy tip
If you care deeply about it, do not leave it within puppy reach. This includes shoes, rugs, phone chargers, stuffed animals, homework, wooden furniture legs, and anything that looks boring to you but extremely exciting to a teething puppy.
10. Puppy Raincoats, Jackets & Weather Gear
Not every puppy needs a jacket right away, but weather gear can be incredibly helpful depending on your puppy’s breed, coat type, size, and climate.
Some puppies are completely unbothered by rain, cold, or wet grass. Others step outside, feel one raindrop, and decide the outdoors is no longer for them.
This matters because potty training and walks still have to happen when the weather is less than perfect.
Puppy raincoat
A lightweight raincoat can help keep your puppy more comfortable during rainy potty breaks, wet walks, and muddy spring or summer weather.
Cold-weather puppy jacket
If you live somewhere cold, have a short-haired puppy, small puppy, senior dog, or dog without a thick natural coat, a warm dog jacket can make winter walks much more comfortable.
Small puppies can get cold quickly, and some breeds simply need more help staying warm in chilly weather.
Does every puppy need a coat?
No. A fluffy cold-weather breed may not need a jacket for normal walks, while a tiny short-haired puppy may need extra warmth quickly. Watch your puppy’s comfort, consider your weather, and ask your veterinarian if you are unsure what is appropriate for your dog.
11. What Puppy Products Can Wait?
One of the best things you can do as a new puppy owner is give yourself permission not to buy everything at once.
Your puppy will show you what they need.
Some puppies love soft beds. Others destroy them. Some puppies adore plush toys. Others only care about chew toys. Some puppies need rain gear immediately. Others barely notice bad weather. Some puppies love a carrier. Others need a little time and training to get comfortable.
Here are a few puppy products that can usually wait:
- Expensive dog beds until you know your puppy is not a bed chewer
- Too many toys before you know what textures and styles your puppy likes
- A full dog wardrobe unless your weather or puppy’s coat type makes apparel necessary
- Retractable leashes, which are usually not ideal for young puppies learning leash manners
- Complicated training tools before you have mastered the basics
- Large treat collections before you know what agrees with your puppy’s stomach
- Oversized crates without a divider, especially during potty training
Final Thoughts: What to Buy for a New Puppy
The best puppy products are the ones that make your puppy’s first weeks safer, calmer, and easier to manage.
Start with the basics: a crate, safe sleep space, potty training supplies, food and water bowls, training treats, soft harness, leash, collar with ID tag, safe chew toys, grooming supplies, and a good cleaner for accidents.
Then add the products that fit your actual life — a dog carrier bag if you live in a city or travel often, a waterproof leash if your puppy is constantly in wet grass, a raincoat if your puppy hates bad weather, or a more supportive harness if your growing puppy needs extra structure on walks.
You do not need every puppy product on the internet. You just need the right ones for your puppy, your home, and your everyday routine.
Explore puppy-friendly DJANGO gear
From soft puppy harnesses and comfortable leashes to dog carrier bags, raincoats, and cold-weather jackets, DJANGO designs premium dog gear for everyday life with your pup.
Puppy Products You Need: FAQ
What products do you need for a new puppy?
The most important products for a new puppy include a crate, soft bed or blanket, puppy playpen or gates, potty training supplies, enzyme cleaner, food and water bowls, puppy food, training treats, collar with ID tag, soft puppy harness, leash, safe chew toys, grooming supplies, and poop bags.
What should I buy before bringing home a puppy?
Before bringing home a puppy, buy the essentials you will need right away: a crate, bed or blanket, puppy food, bowls, treats, leash, harness, collar with ID tag, potty training supplies, poop bags, safe chew toys, and cleaning products for accidents. You can add extras like a dog carrier, raincoat, or winter jacket depending on your puppy and lifestyle.
What are the most important puppy essentials?
The most important puppy essentials are the products that support sleep, safety, potty training, feeding, walking, chewing, and basic grooming. A properly sized crate, puppy-safe chew toys, a soft harness, leash, training treats, food and water bowls, and enzyme cleaner are especially helpful in the first few weeks.
Do puppies need a harness or collar?
Puppies should have a collar with an ID tag, but a harness is usually better for leash walking. A soft puppy harness helps distribute pressure across the body instead of the neck, which is helpful for puppies who pull, jump, stop suddenly, or are still learning leash manners.
What is the best harness for a puppy?
The best harness for a puppy is soft, lightweight, adjustable, secure, and comfortable. For small puppies and dogs up to 25–30 lbs, the DJANGO Adventure Dog Harness is a great everyday option. For larger breed puppies, stocky puppies, and dogs 10+ lbs, the DJANGO Tahoe No Pull Dog Harness offers more structure and support.
Should I use puppy pads?
Puppy pads can be helpful for apartments, very young puppies, bad weather, or temporary backup during potty training. If your goal is outdoor potty training, use puppy pads thoughtfully because they can sometimes make the rules less clear for your puppy.
Should I put puppy pads inside a crate?
In most cases, puppy pads should not go inside the crate. A properly sized crate helps with potty training because puppies naturally try not to go where they sleep. If you use puppy pads, it is usually better to place them in a puppy pen or designated potty area outside the crate.
Do I need a dog carrier for a puppy?
You may not need a dog carrier for every puppy, but it can be extremely helpful for vet visits, apartment living, city errands, car travel, public transportation, and safe early socialization. A dog carrier bag is especially useful for small puppies who cannot walk long distances yet or are not ready for busy public spaces.
What toys are best for teething puppies?
The best toys for teething puppies are size-appropriate chew toys designed for puppy teeth and gums. Puppy chew toys, teething toys, and supervised soft toys can help redirect chewing away from shoes, furniture, cords, and household objects.
What puppy products are not worth buying right away?
You can usually wait on expensive beds, large toy collections, full dog wardrobes, retractable leashes, complicated training tools, and too many treats until you know your puppy’s size, chewing style, routine, and preferences. Start simple and add what your puppy actually needs.