Golden Retriever Puppy Checklist: What to Buy Before Day One

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About the health information here: it comes from vet groups and vet schools, but we’re dog owners, not vets, so for anything about your own puppy’s health, check with your vet.

The short answer: Before your golden puppy comes home, get a wire crate sized for an adult with a divider, a crate bed, stainless bowls, the food your breeder uses, a collar with an ID tag, a 6-foot leash, puppy chew toys, an enzymatic cleaner, a slicker brush and nail clippers. Book the vet and a puppy class now. Everything else can wait.

In this guide

1. What do you need before your golden puppy comes home?
2. What should you buy now, and what can wait?
3. What size crate does a golden retriever puppy need?
4. What should a golden puppy eat?
5. Which collar, leash and harness should you get?
6. What do you need for potty training?
7. What chew toys are safe for a teething golden?
8. Which grooming tools does a golden puppy need?
9. How do you puppy-proof your home for a golden?
10. What should you book before day one?
11. How we chose
12. FAQs
13. Bottom line

What do you need before your golden puppy comes home?

About a dozen things: somewhere to sleep, bowls and food, ID, a leash, chew toys, cleanup supplies and two grooming basics.

These are picks that fit a golden, based on the sources at the bottom of this page and a golden’s adult size. We haven’t tested them ourselves.

Item	When to buy	Pick that fits a golden
Wire crate with divider	Before day one	MidWest iCrate Double Door 42″
Crate bed	Before day one	K9 Ballistics Chew Proof Armored crate bed
Stainless bowls	Before day one	Neater Pet Brands Non-Tip Stainless or Loving Pets Bella Bowl
Puppy food	Before day one	Whatever your breeder feeds, then a large-breed puppy food
Collar and ID tag	Before day one	Lupine collar + GoTags stainless tag
6-foot leash	Before day one	Any plain 6-foot leash (no pick yet)
Chew toys	Before day one	KONG Puppy or Nylabone puppy teething toy
Enzymatic cleaner	Before day one	Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain & Odor
Poop bags	Before day one	Earth Rated, unscented
Training treats	Before day one	Zuke’s Mini Naturals
Slicker brush and steel comb	Before day one	Chris Christensen Big G Slicker
Nail clippers	Before day one	Millers Forge Large
Exercise pen or gate	Before day one	MidWest Exercise Pen, 36 inches or taller
Front-clip harness	Can wait (first weeks)	Ruffwear Front Range or 2 Hounds Freedom No-Pull
Puppy shampoo	Can wait (first weeks)	earthbath Ultra-Mild Puppy
Long line	Can wait	dogIDS Biothane Long Line
Slow feeder	Can wait	Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl, Large
Undercoat rake	Can wait	Safari Double Row Undercoat Rake
Nail grinder	Can wait	Dremel PawControl 7760-PGK
Car safety harness	Can wait	Sleepypod Clickit Sport
GPS tracker	Can wait	Tractive Dog 6
Puppy pads	Optional	Chewy Made Training Pads (formerly Frisco)

What should you buy now, and what can wait?

Buy the sleep, food, ID, cleanup and chewing gear now. Leave the rest until you know your puppy’s size and habits. On a budget? The “can wait” rows are where you save.

What size crate does a golden retriever puppy need?

Buy for your golden’s adult size, with a divider. Your puppy should be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably, and the divider keeps a big crate snug for now.

Adult males stand 23 to 24 inches and weigh 65 to 75 pounds. Females are 21.5 to 22.5 inches and 55 to 65 pounds.

Owners split between 36 and 42 inches. A 42-inch with a divider covers both.

Pick that fits a golden: MidWest iCrate Double Door 42″ (1542DD). It’s about 42 x 28 x 30 inches, rated for 71 to 90 pound dogs, and comes with a divider and a leak-proof tray. Wirecutter recommends it as a lighter-weight wire crate.

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A bed for the crate

Puppies sleep 18 to 20 hours a day, so the bed gets a lot of use.

Pick that fits a golden: K9 Ballistics Chew Proof Armored crate bed. Its aluminum frame covers every edge and corner. Don’t mix it up with the brand’s Tough Ripstop bed, which the maker says is built for “diggers, scratchers, and occasional chewers.” We couldn’t find an independent review of either.

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Setup and first nights: what size crate for a golden retriever? (puppy and adult) and how to crate train a golden retriever puppy (including the first nights).

What should a golden puppy eat?

Start with whatever your breeder or shelter already feeds, and stay on it for at least two weeks. A sudden change can upset your puppy’s stomach.

When you switch, mix old and new food over five to seven days. Your vet should OK the new food and the amounts.

Check the label for “large-size dogs”

The label will say the food covers growth “including growth of large-size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult)” or “except for” them. You want “including.”

Large-breed puppies are more sensitive to too much or too little calcium. Have a girl? Females weigh 55 to 65 pounds, but some experts use 50 pounds as the cutoff, so check the label for girls too.

Foods that show the large-size wording:

• Purina Pro Plan Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Rice. Purina’s feeding statement says “including growth of large sized dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).”

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• Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy. Made for goldens from 8 weeks to 15 months. Royal Canin’s statement says “including growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).”

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Meals, bowls and treats

Feed four meals a day from 6 to 12 weeks, three from 3 to 6 months, and two from 6 to 12 months. Large breeds usually switch to adult food at 12 to 14 months. Ask your vet how much per meal.

Go stainless for bowls. It’s durable, easy to clean and hard to break.

Picks that fit a golden: Neater Pet Brands Non-Tip Stainless or Loving Pets Bella Bowl. Both have a removable rubber base. The Neater is all stainless, and the Bella is stainless inside with a resin shell.

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Can wait: Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl, Large. Only if your puppy inhales meals.

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Treats: Zuke’s Mini Naturals. About 2 calories each, per the maker, so you can use lots in training.

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More in best food for a golden retriever puppy (how to choose, plus picks).

Which collar, leash and harness should you get?

A flat collar with an ID tag and a plain 6-foot leash before day one. A front-clip harness can wait until you’re walking regularly and can measure your puppy’s chest.

Collar and tag: Lupine adjustable collar and a GoTags stainless ID tag. Even if your puppy’s microchipped, nothing replaces a collar with current ID. Lupine backs its collars with an “Even If Chewed” guarantee.

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Leash: any plain 6-foot leash works. We haven’t verified a pick yet, so we’re not naming one. Can wait: dogIDS Biothane Long Line for recall practice later.

Can wait: Ruffwear Front Range or 2 Hounds Freedom No-Pull harness. Ruffwear lists chest sizes from 13 to 42 inches, and 2 Hounds goes up to 44. Wirecutter names the Front Range one of its top dog harness picks.

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Car harness and GPS tracker (both can wait)

Sleepypod Clickit Sport. It’s on the Center for Pet Safety’s certified list, and Sleepypod recommends it for dogs from 18 to 90 pounds, so check your puppy’s weight first. Sleepypod’s own store now lists it as the Clickit Sport Plus.

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Tractive Dog 6. Wirecutter names it the best GPS tracker for dogs. Fi Series 3+ and Halo Collar 5 cost more, and all three need a paid plan.

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What do you need for potty training?

Poop bags, an enzymatic cleaner and a plan to take your puppy out a lot.

How long can your puppy hold it? Two rules of thumb, and they don’t quite agree:

• The AKC’s month-plus-one rule: age in months plus one is the most hours your puppy can wait.

• Ohio State’s rule: one hour per month of age, give or take an hour. So a 3-month-old might hold it 3 to 4 hours.

Take your puppy out when they wake up, 5 to 30 minutes after meals, after drinking, during or after play, and whenever activities change. Puppies hold it longer while asleep, so do a last trip before bed and keep the crate near your bedroom.

Enzymatic cleaner: Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain & Odor (dog formula). Leftover scent pulls puppies back to the same spot, so use a cleaner that removes it. The maker says not to use this one on untreated hardwood, leather, suede, silk or wool.

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Earth Rated unscented poop bags. Made with 65% post-consumer recycled plastic, per the maker.

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Optional: Chewy Made Training Pads (formerly Frisco). Outside is best, but pads can sometimes play a role.

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A full sample day is in golden retriever puppy schedule: a sample day at 8, 10 and 12 weeks.

What chew toys are safe for a teething golden?

Rubber or nylon toys made for puppies, with you watching every chew session. Buy two or three, because your golden will be teething for months.

Adult incisors start replacing baby teeth at 3.5 to 4 months, and most dogs have all 42 adult teeth by 6 to 7 months.

Picks that fit a golden: KONG Puppy and Nylabone puppy teething toys. KONG Puppy uses a rubber formula made for teething gums, and the Large size is listed for 30 to 65 pounds. Buy for the size your puppy will be soon, not just today.

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Puppy biting is normal, and it’s its own topic: golden retriever puppy biting: what’s normal and how to stop it.

Which grooming tools does a golden puppy need?

Start with a slicker brush, a steel comb and nail clippers. Shears and a dryer can wait until there’s a coat to tidy.

Get your puppy used to the bath and dryer from about 7 weeks old. And skip electric clippers. The breed club says they have “no place” in a golden’s kit.

Slicker brush that fits a golden: Chris Christensen Big G Slicker. The breed club lists a slicker brush, but not this brand.

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Nail clippers: Millers Forge Large #767C. Clippers or a grinder, either one is on the club’s list. Can wait: the Dremel PawControl 7760-PGK grinder, the Safari Double Row Undercoat Rake for the adult coat, and earthbath Ultra-Mild Puppy shampoo, which the maker says is tearless and soap-free.

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How do you puppy-proof your home for a golden?

Get down at puppy height and remove anything chewable, toxic or swallowable:

• Tie electrical cords up out of reach

• Lock cleaning supplies away or store them up high

• Keep shoes in a closed closet

• Switch to garbage cans with lids

• Check the yard for holes in the fence and toxic plants

Keep these foods away from your puppy: xylitol (in some sugar-free products), grapes and raisins, chocolate (the darker, the riskier), onions, garlic and chives, macadamia nuts, alcohol, yeast dough and caffeine. Xylitol can cause low blood sugar and possible liver damage, and grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage.

If your puppy eats something on this list, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

If your puppy has to be left longer than they can hold it, skip the crate and use an exercise pen or a baby gate to give them a slightly larger area.

Pick that fits a golden: MidWest Exercise Pen, 36 inches or taller. Prefer a gate? Check the label. The Regalo Easy Step gate is labeled for “small to medium pets,” which may not hold an adult golden.

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What should you book before day one?

Three things: a first vet visit, a puppy class, and microchip registration in your name.

1. The first vet visit. The UK’s Royal Kennel Club suggests going a few days after you bring your puppy home. Bring your breeder’s or shelter’s records. Your vet sets the vaccine schedule, and current vet guidelines start core shots at 6 to 8 weeks. The full timeline is in golden retriever puppy schedule: a sample day at 8, 10 and 12 weeks.

2. A puppy class. Your puppy’s first three months are the most important time for socialization. Classes can start at 7 to 8 weeks, once your puppy’s had a first deworming and at least one set of vaccines 7 or more days before class. It matters: more dogs under 3 die from behavior problems than from infectious disease.

3. Microchip registration. A chip only helps if the registry has your details. If your puppy’s already chipped, ask your breeder or shelter for the chip number and registry, then keep your info current.

Also worth a look: pet insurance, before the first vet notes go into your puppy’s record. Policies often exclude pre-existing conditions.

How we chose

Every product here is a pick that fits a golden, based on published recommendations and a golden’s adult size of 55 to 75 pounds. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and nobody sent them to us.

The crate follows the AKC’s buy-for-adult-size advice, the grooming tools follow the Golden Retriever Club of America’s kit, the foods show the large-size growth wording, and the car harness is on the Center for Pet Safety’s certified list. We checked every maker spec on this page against the maker’s or retailer’s listing in October 2026.

What we do have is one adult red golden. With them we use a collar, walking gear (a leash and harness) and a brush. If a pick doesn’t hold up, it comes off the list.

FAQs

Should I get a 36-inch or 42-inch crate for a golden retriever?

Many owners buy a 42-inch crate with a divider so it grows with the dog. A smaller female may fit a 36-inch crate, so measure your dog. More in what size crate for a golden retriever? (puppy and adult).

Is my 8-week-old golden the right size?

Ask your vet, who’ll weigh your puppy at each visit. Popular weight charts disagree, so we don’t publish one. The best large study we found is the Waltham growth standards.

When should I cut off water before bed?

Ask your vet. We didn’t find a reliable source for a cutoff time. Do take your puppy out last thing before bed.

How do I burn off energy before vaccines are done?

A puppy class, from 7 to 8 weeks. Go easy on exercise. The popular “5 minutes per month of age” rule has no science behind it, so limit jumping, twisting and skidding. For large breeds, the AKC advises no leash running until 12 to 18 months.

Bottom line

Get the day-one basics, puppy-proof at floor level and save the ASPCA hotline, (888) 426-4435. Book the vet, a puppy class and your microchip registration now. Everything else can wait until you know your puppy.

Keep reading: golden retriever puppy schedule: a sample day at 8, 10 and 12 weeks · what size crate for a golden retriever? (puppy and adult)

Sources

1. American Kennel Club, “Time to Get a New Puppy? Here’s What You Need to Know”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/puppy-information/preparing-for-a-new-puppy/

2. American Kennel Club, “How to Crate Train a Puppy”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-crate-train-a-puppy/

3. Golden Retriever Club of America, AKC breed standard: https://grca.org/about-the-breed/akc-breed-standard/

4. Golden Retriever Forum, “Crate size 36 or 42”: https://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/threads/crate-size-36-or-42-urgent-need-help.422881/

5. Golden Hearts, “What size crate for a golden retriever”: https://goldenhearts.co/what-size-crate-for-golden-retriever/

6. American Kennel Club, “How Much Do Puppies Sleep?”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-much-do-puppies-sleep/

7. American Kennel Club, “How to Safely Change Your Puppy’s Food”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/safely-change-puppys-food/

8. Tufts Petfoodology, “Confused about what to feed your large breed puppy?”: https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2017/02/24/confused-about-what-to-feed-your-large-breed-puppy-new-rules-may-help/

9. Tufts Petfoodology, “Breed-specific diets”: https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2018/08/02/breed-specific-diets/

10. American Kennel Club, “Puppy Feeding Fundamentals”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/puppy-feeding-fundamentals/

11. American Kennel Club, “Choosing the Right Dog Bowl”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/choosing-right-dog-bowl/

12. AVMA, “Microchipping FAQ”: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/microchips-reunite-pets-families/microchipping-faq

13. Center for Pet Safety, certified products: https://centerforpetsafety.org/cps-certified/

14. Wirecutter, “The Best GPS Pet Trackers”: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-gps-pet-trackers/

15. American Kennel Club, “Puppy Potty Training Timeline”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/puppy-potty-training-timeline/

16. Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative, “Housetraining Dogs”: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/dogs/puppy/housetraining-dogs

17. American Kennel Club, “How to Potty Train a Puppy”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-potty-train-a-puppy/

18. American Kennel Club, “The Ins and Outs of Potty Pad Training”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/the-ins-and-outs-of-potty-pad-training/

19. VCA Animal Hospitals, “Retained Deciduous Teeth (Baby Teeth) in Dogs”: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/retained-deciduous-teeth-baby-teeth-in-dogs

20. American Kennel Club, “What Your Puppy Can Safely Chew”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/what-puppy-can-safely-chew/

21. Golden Retriever Club of America, “Grooming Your Golden” by Joanne Lastoka: https://grca.org/about-the-breed/articles/grooming-your-golden-joanne-lastoka/

22. ASPCA, “People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets”: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets

23. Royal Kennel Club, “Your puppy’s first visit to the vet”: https://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/your-puppys-first-visit-to-the-vet/

24. AAHA, 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines, core and noncore vaccines: https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/recommendations-for-core-and-noncore-canine-vaccines/

25. AAHA, 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines, rabies: https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/rabies/

26. AVSAB, “Position Statement on Puppy Socialization”: https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Puppy-Socialization-Position-Statement-FINAL.pdf

27. AVMA, literature review on socialization of puppies and kittens: https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/avma-lit-review-socialization-puppies-kittens-0924.pdf

28. Salt et al., “Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes,” PLOS ONE, 2017: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0182064

29. PDSA, “Exercising your puppy”: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/exercising-your-puppy

30. American Kennel Club, “Puppies: Mental and Physical Exercise”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/puppies-mental-physical-exercise/

31. Wirecutter, “The Best Dog Crate”: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-dog-crate/

32. Wirecutter, “The Best Dog Harnesses”: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-dog-harness/

33. Purina Pro Plan Vet Direct, “Pro Plan Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Rice Formula” (feeding statement): https://www.proplanvetdirect.com/canine-pro-plan-large-breed-formula-puppy

34. Royal Canin, “Golden Retriever Puppy Dry Dog Food” (nutritional adequacy statement): https://www.royalcanin.com/ca/dogs/products/retail-products/golden-retriever-puppy-3979

35. American Kennel Club, “How to Stop Puppy Biting and Train Bite Inhibition”: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/stop-puppy-biting/

36. ASPCA, “Mouthing, Nipping and Biting in Puppies”: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mouthing-nipping-and-biting-puppies

37. NAIC, Pet Insurance Model Act (preexisting condition definition): https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/model-law-633.pdf

38. NAIC, “A Regulator’s Guide to Pet Insurance” (2019): https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-pin-op-pet-insurance.pdf

39. AAHA, 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines, canine parvovirus: https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/canine-parvovirus-cpv/

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