What Accessories Does a New Puppy Need? The Essential Checklist

Bringing a puppy home is one of the most fun and enjoyable things you can do. It's also one of the most overwhelming — especially when you start thinking about everything you need to have ready before they arrive. The good news is that the list is more manageable than it looks.

Here's everything a new puppy actually needs, without the fluff.

Collar, Lead & ID Tag

The first things you need, before anything else. Choose an adjustable collar that fits snugly now but has room to grow — puppies grow fast. Avoid retractable leads for puppies: the thin cord can cause cuts, burns and entanglement, and they make training much harder. A standard flat lead gives you much better control.

Get an ID tag engraved as soon as possible and attach it to the collar before your puppy's first outing. In many European countries, microchipping is also legally required — check the rules in your country if you haven't already.

Food, Water Bowls & Puppy Food

Choose bowls appropriate for your puppy's size. Fast eaters benefit from slow-feeder bowls with ridges or mazes that make them work for their food — better for digestion and a good early mental exercise. For food, your vet is the best first port of call on what to feed your specific breed and age.

Keep food in a sealed container — puppies, other pets and small children are all remarkably good at getting into things they shouldn't.

Crate

A crate is not a punishment — used correctly, it becomes your puppy's safe space, their den. Choose one that's not too large (puppies feel safer in snug spaces) but has room to stand, turn and lie down comfortably. A divider panel lets you expand the space as they grow, saving you from buying multiple crates.

To make the crate feel calmer and more den-like, a washable cotton crate cover blocks visual distractions and helps anxious puppies settle faster. Darker patterns keep light out best for early risers.

Puppy Bed

Every puppy needs a comfortable, familiar-smelling place to sleep outside the crate too. The Molly Mutt approach — a washable cotton dog bed cover stuffed with your old clothes and blankets — is particularly good for new puppies. The familiar scent of their new family is genuinely calming during those first unsettled nights.

When the cover needs washing, it goes straight in the machine. When the filling gets flat, you swap it with more things from home. No need to buy a whole new bed.

Puppy Pads

Puppies don't develop full bladder control until around four months old, so accidents are inevitable. Puppy pads give you a designated area to direct them while training is ongoing. Avoid disposable pads — washable versions are widely available and much better for the environment long-term.

Toys

Puppies need three types of toys to cover their different needs:

• Chew toys — essential during teething (3 weeks to 7 months). Without them, your shoes, furniture and lead become the chew toys.
• Puzzle toys — keep energetic puppies mentally engaged and help reduce separation anxiety.
• Chase and interactive toys — great for burning energy when you need a break from playing yourself.

Grooming Basics

Even short-haired, low-shed breeds need occasional brushing — and starting early makes grooming a positive experience rather than a battle later. A basic brush and dog shampoo are worth having from day one. You never know what a puppy will find to roll in.

Cleaning Products

Accidents happen. A good pet-safe stain and odour eliminator is one of the most practical things you can have in the house during those first few months. Enzymatic cleaners work best — they break down the proteins in urine rather than just masking the smell, which helps stop puppies returning to the same spot.

One Thing Above All

Of everything on this list, the thing that makes the biggest difference to a new puppy's first nights is having somewhere that smells like you to sleep. Our washable cotton dog bed covers and mesh stuff sacks are designed exactly for this — fill with your old pillows, jumpers and blankets, and your puppy has a bed that smells like home from the very first night.