Whether you’re bringing home a new puppy, or any dog, it’s so important to have on hand the right supplies and items to make your new dog as welcome as possible, and make your own life less stressed.

Sure, everyone knows you need a leash, collar, food and a crate, but there are other essentials that you should have on hand, that you don’t think about until you really need them.

I’ve taken the guesswork out from what you’ll need.

The essentials checklist covers items you’ll need for:

Identification
Exercise/Playtime
Feeding
Sleeping/Resting
Training/Cleaning
First Aid/Health
Grooming

In addition to the checklist, check out My Favorite Things, all items that I have personally used for my dogs.