Checklists, routines and worksheets for the first year. Open a sheet to tick things off on screen, or hit Print and stick it on the fridge. Every sheet prints on its own page.
Fridge emergency card
Your vet, two 24-hour ERs, the poison lines and the Three Doors, filled in and printed. Start here.
The short shopping list and the jobs to do before pickup day.
See the sheet (tick boxes work here too)
Before Puppy Comes Home
newpuppy.vet
Tick it off the week before. Almost everything else can wait for a birthday.
The short shopping list
The food he's eating now (ask exactly what it is, and get a small bag even if you'll switch later)
Two bowls, stainless steel or ceramic
A crate or pen sized for the grown dog, with a divider for now
Bedding you won't mind seeing chewed
Flat collar with an ID tag (your phone number on it)
A snug harness and a plain 6-foot leash
Two baby gates (kitchen and stairs is a good start)
Enzyme cleaner for accidents
A few safe chews and toys, nothing harder than his teeth
Brush, nail trimmer, dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste (never human toothpaste)
Poop bags. More than you think
A crate that's strapped down in the car, or a crash-tested harness
Before pickup day
Book the first vet visit for the first few days home
Ask the breeder, shelter or rescue for every record: shots, deworming dates, anything with a date on it
Find your nearest 24-hour emergency clinic and fill in the fridge card
Puppy-proof at puppy height: cords, socks, shoes, kids' toys, medicines, trash and anything with a small battery
Move the cat's litter box out of puppy reach
Check that your other pets are up to date on shots and parasite prevention
Pick the crate spot (next to your bed is best at first) and the potty spot outside
Can wait, or skip
A retractable leash (a plain one teaches better manners)
A fancy bed before the chewing phase ends
Supplements and calming gadgets, unless your vet suggests one
Raw or homemade puppy diets
A mountain of toys (keep three or four out and rotate)
General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.
First Two Weeks Routine
The daily loop, potty times, bedtime and a 14-day health log.
See the sheet (tick boxes work here too)
First Two Weeks Routine
newpuppy.vet
Quiet, boring and predictable is the goal. You're also the early-warning system.
The plan
When
What
Days 1 to 3
Same food he came with. Fresh water always. A quiet sleep spot and lots of naps. Visitors can wait.
First few days
First vet visit. Bring every record, the food bag (or a photo) and a fresh poop sample.
Week 1
Parasite prevention started. Deworming on your vet's schedule. Next shot date on the calendar.
Week 2
Safe socializing begins: carried outings, calm vaccinated dog friends, new sounds and people.
The daily loop: eat, potty, play, potty, nap, repeat.
Potty trips: take him out
Right after he wakes up, from any nap
Right after he eats or drinks
Right after play
Last thing before bed
Bedtime
Crate or pen right next to your bed for now
A calm potty trip just before bed
Warm bedding and a T-shirt that smells like you
Overnight trips short, dark and boring. No play, no party
Never punish crying. It fades within a week or two for most puppies
14-day health log (a tick means normal; write a word if not)
Item
Eating
Energy
Poop
No cough or sneeze
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Call your vet if he won't eat (sooner for toy breeds), is flat or hard to wake, has diarrhea that lasts or comes with tiredness, coughs, or strains to pee. Weak, wobbly or a swollen belly: go now.
General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.
Puppy Rules for Kids
Ten fridge rules for kids, plus Be a Tree.
See the sheet (tick boxes work here too)
Puppy Rules for Kids
newpuppy.vet
For kids. Grown-ups, read it with them.
The rules
Let the puppy come to you.
Pet his back and his side, not his face.
No hugs and no kisses. He'd rather have a treat.
Don't pick him up. Sit on the floor instead.
Let him eat in peace.
Let him sleep. Sleeping puppies are busy growing.
If he bites or jumps, be a tree.
If he walks away, let him go.
Wash your hands after you play.
See poop? Get a grown-up.
Be a Tree
Stop. Freeze like a tree.
Fold your branches. Cross your arms and tuck your hands in.
Look at your roots. Look at your feet, not the puppy.
Stay still until he wanders off or a grown-up comes.
Boring trees don't get chased. Be a Tree comes from Doggone Safe, a nonprofit that teaches kids how to stay safe around dogs.
For the grown-ups
An adult in the room and paying attention, or a gate between them
His crate or bed is his kid-free bedroom
Short play sessions, then a break
Kids never take food or toys from him. A grown-up trades
Dropped, stepped on or hurt? Call your vet and head in, even if he seems fine
General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.
After the Visit
What's normal and what's a call after shots, deworming, a microchip and surgery.
See the sheet (tick boxes work here too)
After the Visit
newpuppy.vet
Stick it on the fridge on vet days. Not sure which line you're on? Call your vet.
After shots
What you see
Normal
Sleepy, a little sore, a bit off his food or a mild fever for the first day. Let him rest.
Watch
A small, firm, painless bump where the shot went. Call if it grows, gets sore, or is still there after about a month.
Call today
Still not himself after one day.
Go now
Face or eye swelling, hives, repeated vomiting, trouble breathing or collapse, usually within minutes to hours.
After deworming
What you see
Normal
Worms in the poop for a day or two, maybe a soft stool. Gross, but it means it's working.
Call
He vomits soon after a dose. Ask whether to repeat it.
Call today
Diarrhea that won't settle, or he's tired and pale.
Go now
Tired and flat with vomiting or diarrhea, especially before his shots are done.
After a microchip
What you see
Normal
A little tenderness and a tiny bump for a day or two. A drop of blood can happen. Register the chip today.
Call
Swelling, discharge, or he won't let you touch the spot.
Next visit
Ask your vet to scan it and check the number matches your papers.
After a spay or neuter
What you see
Normal
Groggy and a bit dramatic the first evening. A little pink at the incision edges. A small firm bump under the line.
Call today
Swelling that keeps growing, heat or soreness, discharge or a smell, a gap or loose stitches, not eating by the next day, vomiting, still very tired the next day, or licking past the cone.
Go now
Bleeding that keeps coming, pale or white gums, collapse or weakness, a swelling belly, something poking out of the incision, or trouble breathing.
Surgery week: cone on whenever you can't watch him, leash walks for potty only, no baths, and a look at the incision once or twice a day. A photo on day one gives you something to compare.
General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.
Weekly Home-Care Routine
Teeth, nails, ears, coat and a one-minute check, on one card with tick boxes.
See the sheet (tick boxes work here too)
Weekly Home-Care Routine
newpuppy.vet
A little every day now means a grown dog who lets you (and your vet) handle him.
How often
What to do
Every day
One-minute handling with treats: paws, lips, ears, belly, a gentle hold. Brush teeth, or at least lift the lips and touch the teeth while he's teething.
Every week
Look in and sniff both ears. Check the nails (clicking on the floor means trim). A quick brush. A hands-on check for lumps, ticks or sore spots.
Every week or two
Trim a little off each nail, or have your clinic or groomer do it.
As needed
A bath with dog shampoo when he's dirty, then dry the ears. Grooming visits for coats that keep growing.
Tick it off
Item
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Handling practice (most days)
Teeth (most days)
Ears checked
Nails checked
Brushed
Lump and tick check
Found something that isn't normal, like a smelly ear, a lump, a broken nail, a sore tooth or a spot he won't let you touch? Call your vet.
General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.
First Birthday Checklist
The 12-month visit and the grown-up jobs, ticked off in one go.
See the sheet (tick boxes work here too)
First Birthday Checklist
newpuppy.vet
He made it. So did you.
Book the 12-month visit
Bring his vaccine records and a list of questions
Ask which boosters are due, and when the next round is
Ask whether it's time for his heartworm test
Ask whether to bring a fresh poop sample
Ask whether his body condition is where it should be
Ask when he should switch to adult food
Big breeds: ask about the spay or neuter plan
Check that his microchip has your current phone number
Refill prevention and set reminders for the year
Top up the emergency fund (Bucket 2)
Take the birthday picture and put it next to his first-week one
Notes from the visit
Weight today
Next boosters due
Food plan
General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.
First-Year Cost Worksheet
The Two-Bucket plan with blanks for your own local prices.
See the sheet (tick boxes work here too)
First-Year Cost Worksheet
newpuppy.vet
Fill it in with prices from your own clinic, store and emergency hospital. One or two phone calls beats any national average.
Bucket 1 is the planned stuff you can budget like a car payment. Bucket 2 is a separate emergency fund for the surprises (swallowed socks, a limp, a cough the week of your trip). Start Bucket 2 small and automatic. A good first goal is your nearest emergency clinic's exam fee, plus a cushion.
Bucket 1: planned
Your price
Notes
Puppy exams and the vaccine series
$
How many visits?
Poop tests and deworming
$
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention (12 months)
$
Goes up as he grows
Spay or neuter
$
What's included?
Microchip and registration
$
Food (12 months)
$
Supplies
$
Puppy class
$
Grooming
$
Bucket 1 total
$
Divided by 12 = $______ a month
Bucket 2: surprises
Amount
Emergency clinic exam fee (nearest)
$
Emergency clinic exam fee (backup)
$
My Bucket 2 goal
$
I'll put in $______ every ______
General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet's plan for your puppy comes first.
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