New puppy checklist: what to buy before your puppy comes home
Food, a bed, a collar and lead, something to chew, and the South Australian paperwork, all in one list.
Before your puppy comes home, have these ready: the food they’re already eating, food and water bowls, a washable bed, a crate or a safe sleeping spot, a collar or harness with an ID tag, a lead, poo bags, a few chew toys, small training treats and a urine spray for accidents. In South Australia your puppy also needs to be microchipped, registered on Dogs and Cats Online and, if born after 1 July 2018, desexed. You’ll find everything on this list at our shop in Angaston.
Food and bowls
Start with whatever your puppy is eating now. Ask the breeder or shelter for the brand and how much they feed, and keep to it for the first few days while your puppy settles in. If you want to change food later, do it gradually.
The RSPCA’s guide to feeding a puppy says the basis of the diet should be a high quality, balanced, premium commercial puppy food that suits your puppy’s life stage. Puppies should be offered food at least four times a day to begin with, gradually dropping the number of meals as they grow. Fresh water should always be available, but the RSPCA says not to give puppies milk, because it can upset their stomach. Your vet can tell you how much to feed.
Our food range includes LifeWise, Cherish, Grover, Black Hawk, Prime100 and Big Dog BARF. Ask us which of these come in a puppy formula. If your breeder or vet recommends a food we don’t have on the shelf, we can try to order it in. We also stock food and water bowls, including plug-in and rechargeable water bowls.
A bed, a crate and a quiet spot
Puppies sleep a lot, so give them a comfortable bed in a quiet corner where they can rest without being disturbed. Accidents happen in the early weeks, so a bed that goes in the washing machine makes life easier. Every bed in our beds and blankets range is machine washable, with calming, waterproof, indoor and outdoor, and orthopaedic styles from Snooza, Mini Jumbuk, Ezy Dog, Rover Australia and Kazoo. Our guide to choosing the best dog bed explains the differences.
Many owners also like a crate as a safe den and somewhere for the puppy to sleep at night. We stock training crates and mats in the bedding room, and you can ask us to show you the sizes.
Collar, harness, lead and ID tag
Your puppy needs a collar or harness that fits now, with room to adjust as they grow, and a lead for walks once your vet says they’re ready to go out. Our harness, collars and leads range includes Rogz, Ezy Dog, Huskimo, Halti, Max & Molly, Dizzy Dog, Cocopup and Lilly & Dash. Ask us and we can help you find a good fit.
Add an ID tag with your phone number. A microchip is the law, but a tag means a neighbour can call you straight away if your puppy gets out. We stock Red Dingo ID tags, along with poo bags, treat bag holders and seat belt restraints for the car trip home.
Toys and chews for teething
Puppies explore the world with their mouths. The RSPCA notes that a puppy’s permanent teeth appear between four and six months of age, and that puppy-specific chew toys and healthy chewable treats can ease teething and draw their attention away from your shoes and furniture.
Our toy wall has Kong, Outward Hound, Starmark, Kazoo, Tuffy and more. Rotating a few toys keeps them interesting. A LickiMat or a Kong with part of your puppy’s usual food is a good way to settle them, and our lick mat and enrichment ideas have easy fillings. Always supervise a puppy with a new chew until you know how they handle it.
Training treats
Small, soft treats make training much easier. We carry chewy training treats, including our chewy kangaroo and parsley training treats in 1kg bags, as well as single-protein, preservative-free natural treats. Treats should be a small extra, not part of every meal, so keep them tiny. You’ll find more on our treats and special orders page.
Grooming and clean-up
A soft brush and a pair of nail clippers are worth having from day one, so your puppy gets used to being handled. We stock brushes, nail and trimming scissors and clippers, and shampoos from Essential Dog, Drool and Animology. For toilet-training accidents, CSI urine spray helps clean up so your puppy doesn’t keep going back to the same spot.
Fleas, ticks and worms are another early job. Talk to your vet about what suits your puppy’s age and weight, and read our flea, tick and worming basics for an overview of the products we carry.
The South Australian paperwork
A new puppy in South Australia comes with a few legal steps. Puppies must be microchipped before 12 weeks of age, before they’re sold, or within 28 days of a new owner taking them home. Dogs must be registered on Dogs and Cats Online once they’re three months old, or within 14 days of you getting them. Dogs born after 1 July 2018 must be desexed before six months of age unless an exemption applies. Our guide to registering your dog or cat in South Australia covers the details, including the Barossa Council rules.
Your puppy shopping list
- The food your puppy already eats, plus food and water bowls
- A washable bed, and a crate if you plan to use one
- A collar or harness, a lead and an ID tag
- Poo bags and a treat bag holder
- Two or three chew toys and an enrichment toy
- Small training treats
- A brush, nail clippers and urine spray for accidents
- A seat belt restraint for car trips
Puppy supplies in the Barossa
We’re at 24 Murray Street, Angaston, open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 9am to 3pm. Plenty of our customers come in from Nuriootpa, Tanunda and around the Valley, and our pet supplies for the Barossa page shows how to find us. Phone orders are welcome on 0468 378 344, or send an order enquiry and we’ll have your puppy’s first shop ready to collect.
Common questions
What do I need to buy for a new puppy?
The food your puppy already eats, food and water bowls, a washable bed, a crate or safe sleeping spot, a collar or harness with an ID tag, a lead, poo bags, chew toys, small training treats, a brush, nail clippers and a urine spray for accidents.
How often should I feed a puppy?
The RSPCA says puppies should be offered food at least four times a day to begin with, gradually reducing the number of meals as they grow. Your vet can advise how much to feed.
Can puppies drink milk?
The RSPCA says not to give puppies milk because it can cause stomach upsets. Make sure fresh water is available at all times instead.
When does a puppy need to be registered in South Australia?
Dogs must be registered on Dogs and Cats Online once they are three months old, or within 14 days of you getting them. Puppies must also be microchipped before 12 weeks of age, before sale, or within 28 days of a new owner taking them home.
This is general information only, not veterinary advice. If you’re worried about your pet’s health, please see your vet.
