New puppy checklist: the first weeks
Bringing a puppy home is a happy blur. This checklist keeps the important parts in one place: the paperwork, supplies, the first vet visit, the microchip and a routine everyone at home can follow.
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Before you pick them up: paperwork to ask for
- UK: buy or adopt directly from the breeder or a reputable UK rehoming center, and meet the puppy with its mother where it was born. GOV.UK says a responsible seller never sells a puppy younger than 8 weeks, shows their licence number if licensed, and gives you medical records such as vaccination certificates, microchip records, neutering status and evidence of worming and flea treatments. A puppy born abroad needs a pet passport or veterinary certificate.
- US: ask for the sale or adoption contract, the health records so far, the microchip number and how to transfer it to your name, any registration application, and the name and amount of the food the puppy eats now.
The microchip and ID tag
In the UK, all dogs must be microchipped and registered by the time they are 8 weeks old, and you are responsible for keeping the microchip details up to date with the database company. In public, a UK dog must also wear a collar and tag with your name and address. In the US, microchips are recommended but not federally required, and dog licenses depend on your city or county. In Northern Ireland, dogs also need a licence.
The first vet visit
Book a check-up soon after your puppy comes home; many breeder contracts ask for one within a few days. Take every record you were given. Your vet will tell you which vaccinations and parasite treatments your puppy needs and when, so write your questions on the sheet and the dates your vet gives you in the table.
New puppy checklist
Paws & Days · pawsanddays.app/guides/new-puppy-checklist/Paperwork to collect at pickup
Supplies at home
Book in the first weeks
Routine everyone follows
Contacts
Questions for the first vet visit
For example: vaccinations, parasite treatment, neutering, when they can go out and meet other dogs, how much to feed.
Dates from the vet
Write what was done and the next date exactly as your vet gives them.
| Date | What was done, as written by the vet | Next date the vet gave |
|---|---|---|
Their first weeks, for the records
Free from pawsanddays.app. For organizing information only, not veterinary advice. Follow your vet’s instructions.
The first week, simply
- Start with one quiet room and a bed or crate they can retreat to.
- Keep the same food at first; ask the breeder or shelter for the name and amount.
- Keep a predictable routine for meals, toilet trips, naps and short play.
- Agree on the same words for cues, so everyone at home says the same thing.
- Write down the firsts. You will want them later.
Photos you will be glad you took
- The drive home and the first nap.
- A photo in the same spot every week, so you can see them grow.
- Their paws next to your hand, their first toy, their first walk outside.
Start their dog health record on day one. First time away from your puppy? Use the dog sitter checklist.
Questions people ask
What paperwork should I get with a new puppy?
The sale or adoption contract, vet records so far (vaccinations, worming and flea treatments), the microchip number and database, any registration papers, and the name and amount of their current food. In the UK, GOV.UK lists what a responsible seller provides.
Does my puppy need a microchip?
In the UK, yes: all dogs must be microchipped and registered by the time they are 8 weeks old. In the US, microchips are recommended but not federally required.
Who updates the microchip details?
You do. Contact the database company where the microchip is registered and update the keeper details to your name and address.
Do I need a dog license?
In Northern Ireland, yes. In the US it depends on your city or county. England, Scotland and Wales do not have dog licenses.
When should my puppy see a vet?
Soon after they come home; many breeder contracts ask for a check within a few days. Your vet will plan vaccinations and parasite treatment with you.
When can my puppy go for walks?
Ask your vet. It depends on your puppy’s vaccinations and health, so this checklist leaves it to them.
What should I buy before bringing a puppy home?
A bed or crate, bowls, the food they already eat, a collar with an ID tag and a leash, chew toys, poop bags and cleaner, and gates to block off hazards. The supplies section above lists them.
Sources: GOV.UK: get your dog microchipped · GOV.UK: buying a cat or dog · nidirect: dog licensing and microchipping · Dogs Trust: puppy checklist · AKC: puppy’s first vet visit · CDC: pet preparedness kit
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