Home / Adoption / Adoption Checklist
Dog Adoption Checklist: Supplies, Home Prep and Questions
Most first week stress is really missing-item stress: no ID tag, no gate, no idea what food the dog was eating. This checklist closes those gaps. Work through it before pickup day and your first week with your rescue dog becomes the calm one it is supposed to be.
Supplies to have ready
- Food: a bag of the exact food the shelter, rescue or foster carer is feeding now. You can transition to a different food later, gradually, once the dog has settled.
- Bowls: one for food, one for water, heavy enough not to skate across the floor.
- Collar and ID tag: with your phone number engraved. The ASPCA recommends proper ID tags on the collar from the start.
- Leash and harness: a standard lead, plus a harness if the dog pulls or has a delicate neck. Bring both to the pickup.
- Bed and safe space: a washable bed, and a covered crate or quiet corner where the dog can retreat undisturbed.
- Chews and toys: a few sturdy chews and a puzzle toy. Preparing frozen stuffed toys ahead of time gives you a calm-down tool for busy moments.
- Cleaning kit: enzymatic cleaner for accidents, paper towels, poop bags. Accidents in week one are information, not defiance.
- Gates or barriers: baby gates to close off rooms the dog has not earned yet, or to give the dog personal space when visitors come.
Home preparation
- Walk the fence line. Fill gaps, check gate latches, and look at the garden from dog height.
- Move cleaning chemicals, medicines, rodenticides and laundry pods into closed cabinets.
- Lift or secure loose cables, chargers and small objects a nervous dog might chew.
- Decide the rules now: which rooms, whether sofas, where the dog sleeps. Everyone in the house applies the same rules from day one.
- Choose the toilet spot outside and the route to it. You will walk it in the rain at 6 a.m.; pick accordingly.
- If you have a resident dog, read our second dog introduction protocol before pickup day, not after.
Questions to ask the shelter or rescue
- What is this dog's known history: stray, surrender, transfer? What reason was given, if any?
- How does the dog behave with men, women, children, strangers, other dogs and cats, as far as you know?
- What is the dog's energy level across a whole day, not just at playtime?
- Is the dog house trained, partly trained, or unknown?
- What medical care has the dog had: vaccinations, spay or neuter, microchip, parasite treatment, any ongoing medication or condition?
- What food, and how much, is the dog eating now?
- Does the dog have any known fears or triggers: thunderstorms, brooms, hats, being grabbed by the collar?
- What is your return policy if the match fails, and how long is the trial period?
- Who do I call, day or night, if something goes wrong in the first week?
Paperwork and first appointments
Before you leave with the dog, confirm you have the adoption contract, the medical record, and the microchip number, and ask how to transfer the chip registration to your name. Book the first vet visit for the first week or two, and set a phone reminder for any vaccination or parasite treatment the record shows as due. Finally, save the organization's number and your vet's number in your phone. If you are still at the deciding stage, our step-by-step adoption guide walks the process that leads up to this checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What should I buy before adopting a dog?
The essentials are food, bowls, a collar with an ID tag, a leash, a harness if you will use one, a bed, a crate or gate if you plan to use them, a few chew toys, poop bags and cleaning supplies for accidents. The ASPCA recommends having bed, toys, treats, leash, harness and collar ready before the dog arrives.
What questions should I ask the shelter about a dog?
Ask about known history, how the dog behaves with people, children and other dogs, energy level, house training, any medical conditions or medication, what food the dog is eating, and what the organization knows about behaviour in a home if the dog was fostered.
Should I dog-proof my home before or after adopting?
Before. Move cleaning chemicals, medicines and small chewable objects out of reach, secure loose cables, check fence lines and gate latches, and set up the dog's sleeping and feeding area. A home check by the rescue will flag anything you missed.
Do I need a crate for an adopted dog?
Not always, but a covered crate in a quiet corner gives many new dogs a safe den of their own, and the ASPCA suggests exactly that setup for the transition. If you use one, introduce it with treats and open doors first; the crate must be a refuge, never a punishment.
What paperwork will I receive when I adopt?
Expect an adoption contract, the dog's medical record showing vaccinations and spay or neuter status, and microchip details. Ask how to transfer the microchip registration into your name, and do it the same week.
How much should I budget for the first month?
Beyond the adoption fee, budget for the starter supplies, a first vet visit, and a month of food. Our cost of a dog calculator gives a realistic monthly figure for ongoing care once the one-off purchases are done.
Please read this first
This page is general information drawn from the published guidance of the organizations listed under Sources below. It is not veterinary advice, and it does not replace your own veterinarian, who knows your dog. If your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 straight away. A consultation fee may apply on the helplines.
Sources
Last updated: November 2026. How we work: our methodology.