Puppy's first week home: the setup by day, not by aisle

The pet store aisle wants to sell you forty things. The puppy needs about eight, and it needs them arranged into a routine more than it needs any of them individually.

Day one: sleep and a friend

A defined bed in a quiet corner, and the corduroy donkey ($25). Every puppy chooses one soft toy as an emotional support colleague; owners tell us the donkey wins the job more often than not. First-night crying drops when there is something warm to curl into.

Day two: the toilet plan

Training pads ($69) near the door, moving progressively closer to the final toilet spot. The routine matters more than the gear: after waking, after eating, after playing.

Day three onward: teeth and dinner

Puppy teeth need legal targets: the rope toy 5 pack ($29) gives five of them so your shoelaces stop being interesting. And if dinner disappears too fast, the Slow Feeder Bowl ($19) builds mealtime manners from the start.

The one-cart version

Bed, donkey, pads, ropes, slow feeder. That clears free shipping and covers the whole first week. Start in the shop or read the rest of our guides.