New Puppy Checklist Canada (2026): What to Do First

Quick Answer

The new puppy checklist has four parts: buy the setup kit, plan a calm first week, book the first vet visit, and sort the money — including insuring while your puppy is young and healthy. Get the supplies in before the puppy arrives, keep the first days quiet and consistent, and put the grown-up decisions (vet, microchip, insurance) on the calendar. Here's the full run-through.

Before you bring the puppy home — the setup kit

Have these in place first so day one is calm, not chaotic:

Crate + bed (a divider lets one crate grow with the puppy)
Food & water bowls, and the same food the breeder or shelter used
Collar, ID tag, and leash
Poop bags (you'll use a lot)
Chew toys and enrichment (cheaper than replaced furniture)
Coat-appropriate brush; dog-safe toothbrush and toothpaste
Baby gates for safe confinement while house-training
A puppy-proofed space — cords, cleaners, and small swallowable objects out of reach

Assign who buys what — and split the daily care across the family — with our free Family Pet Care Planner.

The first week

Keep it calm and consistent — a regular feeding, potty, and sleep routine helps a puppy settle fastest.
Start house-training immediately: frequent trips outside, praise for success.
Introduce the crate as a safe, positive space (never punishment).
Begin gentle handling and short socialisation as your vet advises.
Book the first vet appointment for the coming days.

The first vet visit

This is the foundation of a healthy start:

Full health check
Core vaccine series (started or continued) and deworming
Spay/neuter timing discussion
Microchipping and registration
Parasite prevention (flea, tick, heartworm) plan

See kitten and puppy first-year vet costs for what year one runs.

The money steps (don't skip these)

Budget the running costs — food, preventatives, routine vet care. See cost of owning a dog in Canada.
Insure early. A puppy has no medical history, so this is the cheapest, most complete moment to get pet insurance — before anything becomes a pre-existing condition. It's the single grown-up task worth doing right at the start.
Decide insurance vs. a dedicated emergency fund — or a smaller version of both. See is pet insurance worth it.

Keep going

New to all this? Read what you need before getting a dog for the full care-and-cost picture, give the kids age-appropriate chores, and browse the getting a pet in Canada hub.

Split the puppy care with the family → Before you get a dog

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to buy for a new puppy?

The core kit: a crate (sized for now, or a divider for growth), a bed, food and water bowls, the food the breeder or shelter was using, a collar with an ID tag and a leash, poop bags, chew toys, a coat-appropriate brush, dog-safe toothpaste, and baby gates for safe confinement. Start on the current food and transition gradually to avoid stomach upset.

What happens at the first puppy vet visit?

A full health check, the start (or continuation) of the core vaccine series, deworming, and a discussion of spay/neuter timing, microchipping, and parasite prevention. It's also the moment to sort pet insurance — enrolling while the puppy is young and healthy, before anything becomes a pre-existing condition.

When should I get pet insurance for a puppy?

As early as possible. A puppy has no medical history, so this is the cheapest and most complete point to insure — everything is still coverable. Wait until a problem appears and that condition is excluded permanently as pre-existing, which is why insuring early is on this checklist.

How much does the first year with a puppy cost in Canada?

Commonly $5,000–$7,000, higher for a purebred from a breeder. The first year carries the setup kit, the vaccine series, spay/neuter, microchip, and training on top of the normal running costs. See our first-year puppy costs guide for the cited breakdown.

New puppy checklist for Canada