What do I need to buy before bringing a puppy home?

A crate sized for the adult dog with a divider, a low sided food and water bowl set, a soft collar with an ID tag, a 1.5 to 2 meter lead, and a well fitted harness cover the basics most puppies need from day one.

A couple of appropriately sized chew toys, an enzymatic cleaner for accidents, a soft brush suited to the coat type, and a small bag of the puppy's current food to transition gradually all make the first week smoother.

A basic starter setup, crate, bed, bowls, collar, lead, harness, a few toys and initial food, typically runs somewhere between 80 and 200 depending on the puppy's expected adult size and whether you buy budget or premium versions of each item. Larger breeds cost more upfront since crates and beds scale with size.

Order everything at least a week before collection day where possible, since delivery delays are common and arriving home to an unset up crate on day one adds unnecessary stress to an already big transition. Set the crate up and let it air out any packaging smell for a day or two before the puppy arrives.

Skip buying a full wardrobe of toys or beds before you know your specific puppy's preferences and chewing strength. Starting with two or three items and adding more once you understand what your puppy actually enjoys and what survives contact with its teeth avoids wasted money on things that go untouched or get destroyed within a day.