But given how “ruff” (ahem) the competition is, we didn’t actually know we'd be bringing Sophie home until about 36 hours beforehand. As new dog parents we were extremely unprepared. My partner and I grew up with dogs and had some idea where to start, although neither of us had ever owned dogs in a city (read: without a backyard).

We then found ourselves wading through every new dog checklist we could find, reading countless reviews about new dog necessities on Trustpilot, and texting all of our dog owner friends and family for their essential recommendations on what to get for our new pup.

The below is not a comprehensive list of what your particular pooch might need, especially if you're adopting a puppy or a dog with special needs, but we did find these essentials helped make the first few weeks of dog ownership manageable:

• Collar, leash, and harness

• Beds and crates

• Food

• Toys

• Treats

• Veterinarian

• Pet insurance

• Shampoo and brushes

• Paw wipes

• Dental care

• Pet hair vaccum

• Dog walking and boarding

The absolute first things you are going to need before you are even able to take your dog home is a collar, leash, and probably a harness. Make sure you have these before you get your dog, or plan to purchase them onsite if you are getting your dog from a place with pet supplies for sale.

And unless your dog is perfectly leash trained, your dog probably needs a harness to help manage their walking and comfort.

You’ll also want to get a tag for your new dog with your contact information. Dogs are less likely to have strong recall skills when in a new home, so make sure your pup can get home should they get loose. Most pet stores make pet tags but you can also order them online from places such as Boomerang Pet ID Tags.

Some may not include a bed on a new dog checklist but I’m not willing to have this argument with you unless you’ve ever gotten a good night's sleep on the bare floor.

Aside from being comfortable, a bed helps prevent joint pain, pressure wounds (especially in big dogs), and serves as a dedicated sleeping space. Dogs instinctively seek out warm, comfortable spots so you may find them trying to get on furniture or in other unwanted areas if they don’t have their own bed.

There are all kinds of beds that serve different pooch needs, such as the elevated Kuranda bed for orthopedic support, or Casper’s machine-washable and durable memory foam dog bed.

You’ll also need to find a suitable crate so you can begin training your dog immediately. Crates also let dogs know they have a safe space they can retreat to if they’re overwhelmed or anxious.

Like beds, crates come in all styles and sizes. The Omlet Fido Studio Dog Crate is sleek and has inconspicuous dog accessory storage, while Lords & Labradors have crates in all manner of colors and sizes. If you’re not sure what you need, you can read reviews on Trustpilot to see what businesses have a crate that will suit you and your pet’s needs.

I’ll start by saying I am not going to recommend a specific dog food. There are too many medical or dietary needs to consider with each individual dog and you should talk to your vet about what’s best for your pup.

That being said, you should be aware of risky ingredients and understand any allergies your pet may have before picking a food. Unfortunately you may discover allergies or sensitivities after you’ve purchased a food so it’s best to buy a small amount and see how your dog fares before committing to a bulk purchase (I learned this one the hard way). You may also consider food delivery services like The Farmer's Dog or Maev that deliver pre-portioned meals for your pup and offer discounted trial periods to see if they enjoy it.

Still overwhelmed? Below are a list of questions and considerations to start with when selecting a food:

• The age, breed, and size of your pet. There are plenty of foods that are specific to each of these factors.

• Does your pet have a food allergy or sensitivity? There are brands that eliminate agitating ingredients.

• Is your dog high or low energy? High energy dogs need more food and more protein.

• What does your dog like? Like humans, dogs have taste preferences.

This is the list I would give to a friend if they came to me for advice on this topic. But then I would tell them to talk to their vet, and you should do the same. A vet has accreditation, and all I have is a dog who likes beef-flavored kibble.

Most new dog checklists will tell you that a happy pup has plenty of toys, so my opinion on toys may seem unpopular but hear me out: don’t buy too many toys...at first. Unless you’re getting a dog from someone or somewhere who can speak to their love of toys, it’s best to wait to see what kind of toys a dog will like, or if they will like them at all. (Written while staring a basket of adorable, untouched toys.)

The one must have toy for a new dog is a durable rubber toy that allows you to fill the inside with treats, such as a KONG. These toys help dogs understand appropriate chewing behavior and can distract from boredom-related mischief.

My treat philosophy follows that of my toy philosophy. Don’t go overboard until you know more about your dog’s diet and preferences. Try a few things to see what they like, then stock up.

You may want to consider specialized dog treats such as Suzie's CBD Treats (where legal) or Petlab Co. to help with things like anxiety, mobility, or sensitive stomachs.

You can also try monthly subscription services like BarkBox and Pooch Perks to give your pup some variety and understand what treats and toys they’re enjoying most.

Finding a trusted veterinarian is an absolute must have in your first few weeks of dog ownership. We started our search by asking a friend in the area for a vet recommendation, but then followed it up with reading reviews of that veterinarian to make sure we felt comfortable that they would provide good care for Sophie.

Don’t be afraid to switch vets if you feel your vet doesn’t give your dog’s well-being enough attention or doesn't take your concerns seriously. You wouldn’t continue to see a doctor you don't like and you should do the same for your dog.

Here's the deal, you need pet insurance. Regardless of how well behaved your dog is, vet emergencies often occur due to unforeseen illness or accidental injury caused by something or someone external. You need pet insurance. I’ve been lucky enough to not submit any pet insurance claims for emergencies, yet.

My brother cannot say the same. Pet Insurance saved him around $2,000 in his first year with his German Shepherd puppy who swallowed all manner of indigestible objects in her first year on this earth. So just a reminder, you need pet insurance.

Still think you don’t need pet insurance? This summary of the cost of emergency vet visits in the US and this example in the UK should convince you otherwise.

I’ll be honest and say that I love having Sophie professionally groomed. They’ve got all the tools and tricks to get her super clean, and I don’t have to deal with a damp dog running around my apartment.

But for those who have more resolve than I, there are all manner of shampoos that can work for your pooch. This article does a great job rounding up some of the best ones when considering your dog’s medical needs (flea and tick cleaning), skin sensitivities, and shedding.

Speaking of shedding, if you’ve got a dog that sheds, go ahead and get a deshedding brush. A weekly brush can save your hours of vacuuming (see below) and cleaning.

There’s not much to say on this other than that you should get pet-safe cleaning wipes for your dog’s paws if you don’t want them tracking all manner of refuse through your home. This is a city dog must have given that they share the sidewalks and parks with thousands of other dogs and humans.

If you’ve ever experienced the joy of having a dog lick your face you have likely also experienced rank dog breath. And if your dog's breath smelled as bad as Sophie’s did when we brought her home, you’ll understand why I've included it in this new dog checklist.

Some at-home fixes include dental chews or breath spray, which work to quickly freshen smelly dog breath. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can purchase a DIY doggy dental kit, but beware that this can be a challenge if you’ve got a dog that squirms.

If you need a professional solution, talk to your vet or groomer about scheduling a teeth cleaning. Or, if you have one servicing your area, you can call a pet dentist.

Welcome to the wonderful world of pet ownership where everything in your house is covered in dog hair. In all seriousness, if you have a dog that sheds (looking at you Sophie, and the blonde hair that is covering my couch) get a good vacuum and check to see that reviews specifically mention how it handles pet hair.

Hopefully, you've got family or friends that can step in and help when you can’t be around for your new dog, but if not you’re going to need a trusted dog walker and boarding facility.

If you aren’t sure where to start, you can look at services like TrustedHousesitters and Pawshake to get connected to local pet sitters and walkers.

Even though you may not need a dog walker or boarding facility immediately, the reason I’ve included this on the essentials list is because it takes time to find the right one for your dog. The boarding facility I use required a meet and greet and three separate doggy daycare sessions to make sure that Sophie acclimated to the environment before staying overnight. Make sure you allow plenty of time to vet these service providers before you actually need them.

Dog ownership is no small commitment and it's smart to think carefully about whether you're ready. If you don’t think you’re financially or emotionally prepared to care for a dog, then you probably aren’t. It’s expensive (the checklist items above are just the must-haves) and a massive time commitment. But there’s other ways to get a dose of doggo in your life such as volunteering at a shelter or temporarily fostering a rescue dog.

If you are ready to take on the commitment, hopefully you have more than 36 hours notice and have time to review this checklist and gather the above essentials before welcoming your new pooch. When making these critical new purchase decisions, you can always rely on the expertise of other pet owners when you read the review they leave on Trustpilot.

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