Essential checklist for welcoming your first dog

Essentials for day one

Prepare fresh water, an appropriate food supply, a safe resting area, a lead and suitable walking equipment. Remove hazards before the dog arrives.

Before the dog arrives, ask the rescue, breeder or previous carer about its usual food, feeding times, health information and routines. Sudden food changes or too many visitors can make the first days harder. If children live at home, set simple boundaries: do not disturb the dog while it eats or sleeps, and never force hugs or contact.

Look around the home from a dog's height. Keep medicines, cleaning products, unsuitable foods, loose cables, small objects and potentially dangerous plants out of reach. Check doors, windows, balconies and garden boundaries rather than assuming a young or small dog cannot escape. Plan safe transport from the collection point to your home.

A practical starter kit includes stable food and water bowls, appropriate food, a washable bed, a correctly fitted lead and walking equipment, waste bags and a veterinary contact. Choose easy-to-clean items and avoid toys with small detachable parts. You do not need an extensive shopping list: safety and predictable daily care come first.

Products to choose once you know more

Avoid buying numerous accessories before understanding the animal’s size, preferences and needs. Choose durable essentials and upgrade only where useful.

Beds, harnesses and carriers may need adjusting once you know the dog's actual size and preferences. Buy essentials first, keep receipts and check product measurements. A growing puppy may need replacement equipment, and heavily advertised products are not necessarily right for your dog.

Choose toys by watching how your dog plays. An item that works for a gentle dog may not withstand powerful chewing. Supervise new toys, remove damaged ones and use simple forms of enrichment, appropriate chewing or food puzzles. The aim is meaningful activity matched to your dog's needs rather than collecting gadgets.

Before buying cameras, automatic feeders or trackers, identify the problem you want them to solve. Technology cannot replace company, identification, safe supervision or veterinary care. Check subscriptions, ease of use and privacy implications when assessing digital accessories.

The most important things cannot be bought

Patience, predictable routines, supervised exploration and time together support the transition. Seek professional help if major difficulties appear.

Keep the first week calm, limit visitors and establish predictable routines. Let the dog explore and rest at its own pace without constant demands for interaction. Some animals settle quickly; others need longer. Look for signs of discomfort, including withdrawal, a tense body or persistently poor appetite.

Arrange appropriate veterinary advice based on the dog's age and history; confirm identification, parasite control and vaccination needs. Keep emergency contacts available and work out who can help if you are ill, away or working late. Your plan should also include food, veterinary bills, prevention, consumables and savings for unexpected costs.

A good relationship grows through consistency. Reward desired behaviour, provide undisturbed resting places and tailor walks to the dog's fitness and age. Do not expect a new dog to understand house rules immediately. The early weeks are about learning the individual dog's needs and adjusting expectations—more valuable than buying expensive accessories.

Make the home safe, room by room

Explore the home at dog height and identify hazards that are easy to miss when standing. Store medication, cleaning products, loose electrical cables, small swallowable objects and dangerous foods securely. Check doors, windows, balconies and gates. Some common houseplants are toxic to pets; identify your plants and ask a veterinarian if you are unsure.

Set aside separate areas for rest, meals and hygiene. A quiet space with washable bedding and easy access to water can support settling in. Avoid draughts, strong heat and constant foot traffic. If you use a crate or an indoor pen, introduce it gradually as a safe place, never as a punishment. Do not leave toys that can break into small pieces available without supervision.

Plan transport, too. In a car, an appropriate restraint system helps reduce distraction and risk. Check size, secure mounting and comfort rather than improvising with a loose lead. Puppies explore quickly, so prepare unsafe rooms before giving access.

What to buy now and what can wait

Before arrival, prepare age-appropriate food, stable food and water bowls, washable bedding, a lead, a correctly fitted collar or harness, waste bags, a few safe toys and cleaning supplies. If possible, keep the food the dog was already eating at first and discuss any transition with a veterinarian to avoid an unnecessarily abrupt change.

A brush suited to the coat and dog-specific hygiene supplies may be needed early. Choose toys that suit the dog’s size and chewing habits, and remove damaged items. A contact tag is a useful extra layer of identification but does not replace a microchip. Keep adoption or purchase paperwork and the veterinary records provided with the dog.

Extra outfits, multiple expensive beds, large toy collections and smart feeders can wait. Learn the dog’s routines, size and preferences first. The goal is not to buy everything: it is to provide what is necessary while avoiding waste.

Veterinary care and paperwork in Portugal

Choose a veterinary clinic before arrival and book an initial health appointment to review diet, vaccination, parasite prevention and any individual health needs. Bring all available records. Preventive care depends on age, history and exposure; do not simply copy another dog’s medical schedule. Ask how to recognise urgent symptoms and where to seek help after hours.

In Portugal, the DGAV states that dogs, cats and ferrets must have a microchip and SIAC registration. For animals born after 25 October 2019, identification and registration must be completed by 120 days of age. If adopting an already identified dog, confirm the change of registered keeper and contact details. In Portugal, changes of keeper must be reported to SIAC within 15 days of the transfer. Check any applicable municipal licensing and additional requirements.

Keep a physical or digital folder containing the animal identification document, vaccination details, veterinary contacts, medication information and insurance documents if relevant. Correct records and up-to-date contacts are as important as equipment. See the official DGAV guidance.

The first seven days: fewer demands, more observation

Keep the first days relatively quiet. Introduce rooms gradually and establish predictable times for meals, suitable walks, rest and toilet trips. Do not force interactions with guests or introduce too many unfamiliar animals at once. Socialisation should be positive, gradual and consistent with your veterinarian’s advice about vaccinations and exposure.

Watch the dog’s body language: seeking distance, a stiff posture or repeated stress-related behaviours may indicate discomfort. Reward desired behaviour and allow uninterrupted rest. Agree on household rules and never punish accidents during toilet training. Learning takes time, especially when the environment is completely new.

If the dog stops eating for a concerning period, vomits repeatedly, struggles to breathe, shows significant pain or becomes unusually lethargic, contact your veterinarian. The most valuable part of the first week is building trust and noting questions about routines, noises, exercise and rest.

Budget and backup plan

The initial shopping list is only a small part of the commitment. Budget for food, vaccinations and preventive care, veterinary visits, hygiene, replacement supplies, possible insurance and help during holidays. Make room for unexpected veterinary expenses. Use the ALÉM DA TRELA cost calculator and the readiness test if you are still deciding.

Decide who feeds, walks and looks after the dog if you are unwell or away. Identify a trusted person or suitable boarding option. Keep emergency contacts accessible and revisit the plan whenever family routines change. For additional preparation advice, see the PDSA checklist.