A new Shih Tzu puppy does not need a house full of accessories. They need somewhere safe to rest, familiar food, patient supervision, and people who agree on the routine. Prepare those basics before pickup day so you can spend the first week learning about your puppy.
This checklist is for a puppy already coming home from a breeder or rescue. It is an organizational guide, not an individual feeding, vaccination, or treatment plan.
Before pickup: get the information as well as the supplies
Create one folder for the handover records. Ask for the current food and feeding routine, vaccination and parasite-treatment records, microchip details, and any known health concerns. Write down who to contact with questions and arrange veterinary registration.
Add three household decisions beside those records: where the puppy sleeps, where toileting happens, and who covers care when you are busy. A shared plan prevents the puppy receiving different rules from every person.
The practical shopping checklist
The PDSA new-puppy guide recommends preparing essential supplies and a secure home before arrival. Use this shorter working list:
| Ready before arrival | Your decision |
|---|---|
| Current puppy food and two stable bowls | Where meals and fresh water will be available |
| Washable bed and a quiet resting area | How everyone will protect uninterrupted rest |
| Suitable lead, collar identification, and harness | Who will check fit as the puppy grows |
| Safe transport restraint or carrier | How pickup and veterinary trips will work |
| Puppy-appropriate toys | Which toys require supervision |
| Waste bags and appropriate cleaning supplies | Where they can be stored out of reach |
| Coat-appropriate brush or comb | Who will demonstrate gentle technique |
| Gates or other safe boundaries if needed | Which rooms are accessible initially |
There is no need to buy every optional accessory immediately. Keep a second list for things you discover you actually need after observing the puppy at home.
Prepare one manageable area
Check the room from puppy height. Secure cords, medicines, cleaning products, small swallowable items, and accessible trash. Check gates and outdoor boundaries for gaps. Our household-hazards guide helps you review common risks.
Give the puppy somewhere to retreat without being followed. Explain to children that a sleeping or retreating puppy is left alone, and supervise interactions. Expand access to the home as supervision and confidence allow.
Arrival day and the first night
Keep the welcome small. Show the puppy the designated toilet area and resting place, then allow exploration at their pace. The PDSA first-day guide recommends a calm introduction and support during the first night.
Plan who will respond to overnight toilet needs. Distress is a reason to check what the puppy needs, rather than assume they are being difficult. Avoid turning the first evening into a sequence of visitors, baths, photo sessions, and unfamiliar outings.
A simple first-week record
This is a planning template, not a timetable every puppy must meet:
| When | What to organize | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Quiet introduction and supervised exploration | Handover questions and settling observations |
| First few days | Consistent meals, rest, and toilet opportunities | What helps the puppy relax |
| Throughout the week | Brief, positive handling and age-appropriate play | Comfortable experiences and things to revisit gently |
| By the end of the week | Review the routine and veterinary arrangements | Supplies to adjust and questions for the appointment |
Reward toileting in the intended place and supervise to reduce accidents. Avoid punishment for accidents. Keep notes brief: the aim is to notice patterns, not score the puppy’s progress against an arbitrary deadline.
Socialization means comfortable experiences
The PDSA socialization guide explains the value of positive introductions to everyday experiences. Start gently, allow distance, and stop before an experience becomes overwhelming. Meeting every dog or being held by every visitor is not a requirement.
Ask your veterinarian how to balance early experiences with infectious-disease precautions in your area. Vaccination status, setting, and local risk matter; a generic internet age should not decide when your puppy visits public dog areas.
Shih Tzu routines to discuss early
Ask a groomer about gentle coat care and a veterinarian about eye, mouth, and breathing concerns. Our grooming schedule explains how coat length changes maintenance. Use the exercise guide to prepare questions about appropriate activity rather than adopt a fixed walk target.
A record of observations can help at appointments, but it cannot tell you whether a health change is safe to wait on. Contact your veterinary team about concerns and ask them for an emergency plan during the handover period.
Your final pre-arrival check
- Supplies are ready and hazards are secured.
- Everyone knows the rest, feeding, and supervision plan.
- Handover records and contact details have a home.
- Veterinary registration and the first appointment are arranged.
- The first day has room for quiet time.
You can keep this list on paper, in a shared note, or alongside care records in LittleLion. The useful part is having one plan the household can actually follow.
Sources and further reading
General education only. Your veterinarian should advise on your puppy’s health, diet, vaccination, and local disease risks.
