New Puppy Checklist: What Do I Need Before My American Bully Comes Home?
Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, and a little planning makes the first week much easier for you and your puppy. Here is our complete checklist of what to buy and what to do before your American Bully or French Bulldog comes home.
The shopping list
Crate
A crate is your most useful tool for potty training and keeping your puppy safe. Choose a sturdy wire crate with a divider so you can make it smaller while your puppy is little and bigger as they grow. Bully puppies are strong chewers, so skip flimsy fabric crates.
Bedding
A washable crate pad or old towels work well. Some puppies chew bedding, so watch closely at first.
Food and bowls
- The same puppy food your breeder has been feeding. Read our puppy feeding guide.
- Stainless steel bowls, which are easy to clean and hard to chew
Collar, harness and leash
A flat collar with an ID tag, plus a harness for walks. Many owners prefer a harness for bullies and Frenchies so there is no pressure on the neck. Get a 4 to 6 foot leash.
ID tag
Put your phone number on it. Ask your vet about a microchip too.
Chew toys
Bully puppies chew a lot, especially while teething. Buy tough rubber toys made for strong chewers. Avoid cooked bones and small toys that can be swallowed.
Potty supplies
- Puppy pads if you plan to use them
- Enzyme cleaner for accidents, which removes the smell so your puppy does not go in the same spot again
- Poop bags
Grooming supplies
- A rubber brush or grooming mitt
- Gentle dog shampoo
- Nail clippers or a grinder
- Pet wipes for skin folds, especially for Frenchies and wrinkly bullies
See our 7 tips for a better dog bath.
Baby gates
Gates help you block off rooms and keep your puppy in a safe area while you are busy.
Puppy-proof your home
Get down at puppy level and look around. Then:
- Move electrical cords out of reach.
- Put shoes, socks and kids' toys away.
- Lock up cleaning products, medicines and chemicals.
- Keep trash cans covered.
- Remove toxic plants. Many common Florida landscaping plants, like sago palms, are dangerous to dogs.
- Check your yard fence for gaps.
- Cover or fence pools. Bully breeds and especially Frenchies are often weak swimmers.
Book your vet visit
Schedule a vet appointment for the first few days your puppy is home. Bring the vaccine records and health certificate from your breeder. Your vet will plan the remaining vaccines and start flea, tick and heartworm prevention.
Plan the first day
- Pick up early in the day so your puppy has time to settle before bedtime.
- Bring a crate or a helper for the car ride home.
- Go straight to the potty spot when you get home and praise your puppy when they go.
- Keep it calm. Too many visitors on day one can overwhelm a young puppy.
Plan the first night
Your puppy may cry the first night because they miss their littermates. Put the crate near your bed so they can hear and smell you. Take them out to potty once during the night if needed, then right back into the crate. Most puppies settle within a few nights.
Set a daily routine
Puppies feel safe with a steady routine. A simple day looks like this:
- Wake up, potty break
- Breakfast, then potty
- Play and short training
- Nap in the crate
- Potty, lunch, potty
- Play, nap, potty
- Dinner, potty
- Calm play, final potty, bed
Read our potty training guide for more tips.
Start socializing right away
The first few months are the most important time for socialization. Let your puppy meet new people and hear new sounds in a calm way. Our socialization and training guide explains how to do it safely before vaccines are finished.
Quick checklist
- Crate and bedding
- Puppy food and bowls
- Collar, harness, leash and ID tag
- Chew toys
- Puppy pads, enzyme cleaner and poop bags
- Brush, shampoo, nail clippers and wipes
- Baby gates
- Vet appointment booked
- Home and yard puppy-proofed
Common first-week mistakes
- Too much freedom too soon. Keep your puppy in a small, safe area and let them earn more space as potty training improves.
- Skipping the crate. The crate is your best friend for potty training and safe naps.
- Too many visitors. Let your puppy settle for a few days before big introductions.
- Changing food right away. Stick with the breeder's food at first.
- Long walks in the heat. Puppies overheat quickly in Florida. Keep walks short and early.
Budget for the first month
Plan for a crate, food, toys, grooming supplies, a first vet visit and flea, tick and heartworm prevention. Buying the basics before pickup day means you can spend the first week focused on your puppy instead of running to the store.
Ready for your puppy?
See our available American Bully puppies and French Bulldog puppies. Every NMG Bullies puppy comes with vet vaccinations, a health certificate and registration papers. Call or text 561-714-2477 with any questions. We are in Greenacres, Florida.