Getting a puppy is one of life's great joys — and one of life's great panics. The list of things you need seems endless, the advice is contradictory, and the puppy is arriving in three days. Here's the Thorncombe definitive NZ puppy checklist, stripped of the fluff.

Before They Come Home

The best time to get everything sorted is before your puppy arrives. Setting up the crate, washing the bedding, organising the supplies — you don't want to be doing this with a puppy bouncing off the walls.

🛏️ Sleeping & Comfort

• Vet Bed / Dry Bed — the single best bedding investment for a puppy. Wicking keeps puppies dry, it's machine washable, and it lasts for years. Get enough to line the crate with extra for washing rotation. Shop Vet Bed →
• Crate or playpen — essential for safe confinement and toilet training. Size up: puppy should be able to stand, turn around, and lie flat.
• Crate cover or blanket — makes the crate feel more den-like and settles puppies faster.

🍖 Food & Treats

• Puppy-appropriate food — ask your breeder what the puppy has been eating and maintain that for at least 2 weeks before transitioning.
• High-value training treats — small, soft, and smelly. Our bulk natural treats can be broken into tiny training-sized pieces. You'll go through a lot.
• Slow feeder bowl — puppies eat fast. A slow feeder extends mealtimes, improves digestion, and reduces the risk of bloat in larger breeds.
• Goat milk powder — gentle on puppy digestive systems and excellent as a treat or lick mat base.

🎾 Enrichment & Toys

• Puppy KONG — start them young on stuffed KONGs. Frozen ones are also excellent for teething pain. The habit you build now will last their whole life.
• Lick mat — soothes anxious puppies, occupies them during crate settling, and makes nail trims and baths much easier. Shop Lick Mats →
• Puppy puzzle toy — start on level 1. Mental stimulation tires puppies out better than physical exercise, which should be limited in young dogs to protect developing joints.
• Tug toy — interactive play builds the bond fast and burns energy safely.
• Plush toy — gives the puppy something appropriate to carry and comfort. Accept that it will be destroyed.

✂️ Grooming

• Soft puppy brush — start grooming early so it becomes a normal part of life. Plush Puppy brushware includes puppy-appropriate options.
• Puppy shampoo — Plush Puppy makes formulas gentle enough for puppies. Introduce bathing early and make it a positive experience (lick mat on the bath wall = game changer).
• Nail clippers or grinder — get them used to paw handling from week one.

🐕 Out & About

• Collar with ID tag — required by law in NZ once microchipped. Measure carefully; puppies grow fast.
• Flat lead (not retractable) — retractable leads teach puppies to pull. Start with a regular flat lead.
• Harness — once they've mastered basic lead walking. Front-clip harness options help with pulling.
• Poop bags — you need more than you think. Always.

🏥 Health & Safety

• Vet appointment booked — in the first week. Health check, vaccination schedule, microchip verification.
• Pet first aid kit — our first aid range covers the basics. Know where it is before you need it.
• Puppy insurance — consider from day one. Veterinary costs in NZ can be significant.