Dog Adoption Checklist

Congratulations on adopting a dog! You are on the path to a wonderful and rewarding relationship. Because adopting a new dog comes with a lot of change for both them and you, we’ve compiled a checklist to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

General Questions

• Do you have other pets and how will they react to a new pet?
• Is your home suited to the dog you’re considering?
• How will your social life or work life affect your ability to care for a dog?
• Do you have a plan for your pet during vacations?
• How do the people you live with feel about having a pet in the house?
• Are you intolerant of hair, dirt and other realities of sharing your home with a pet, such as allergies?
• Does your household/family have health issues that may be affected by a dog?
• What dog breed is the best fit with your current lifestyle?
• Is there tension in the home? Pets quickly pick up on stress in the home, and it can exacerbate their health and behavior problems.

Dog Size Considerations

• What size dog can your home accommodate?
• Will you have enough room if your dog grows to be bigger than expected?
• Do you have another pet to consider when choosing the size of your dog?
• How big of a dog can you travel with comfortably?

Dog Items

• Food and water bowls
• Food (canned and/or dry)
• Collar
• Four to six-foot leash
• ID tag with your phone number
• Hard plastic carrier or foldable metal crate
• Dog bed
• Doggy shampoo and conditioner
• Nail clippers
• Canine toothbrush and toothpaste
• Brush or comb (depends on your pet’s coat length and type)
• Super-absorbent paper towels
• Sponge and scrub brush
• Non-toxic cleanser
• Enzymatic odor neutralizer
• Plastic poop baggies (biodegradable ones are best) or pooper scooper
• Absorbent house-training pads
• Variety of toys (a ball, rope, chew toy and puzzle toy are good starts)
• Variety of treats (such as small cookies, larger rawhides, etc.)
• First-aid supplies
• Baby gate(s)