This German Shepherd puppy checklist exists because of a phone call we get every litter, usually on the evening of go home day, usually about a crate that turned out to be the wrong size. Buying for a Shepherd puppy is not the same as buying for a small breed, and getting it right the first time saves you money and a rough first night.

Freda is due at the end of September, so families on our fall 2026 list have about ten weeks to work through this.

Crate and Confinement

1. A wire crate sized for an adult Shepherd, roughly 42 inches, with a divider panel so you can shrink it for a puppy
2. A divider that actually locks in place, because a puppy with extra room will potty in the corner
3. A second crate or travel crate for the vehicle
4. An exercise pen for supervised free time indoors
5. A baby gate for the kitchen or hallway

Feeding

6. Whatever food your breeder is feeding, enough for at least two weeks so you can transition slowly
7. Stainless steel bowls, far easier to keep clean than plastic
8. A slow feeder bowl if your puppy inhales meals
9. A food storage container that seals
10. A measuring cup, because guessing portions with a growing large breed puppy goes wrong quickly

Collars, Leashes and Identification

11. An adjustable flat collar that fits now, not the one it will grow into
12. A six foot leather or biothane leash for training
13. A long line, fifteen to thirty feet, for recall practice in open ground
14. An identification tag with your phone number, ready on day one
15. A well fitted harness for car rides and early leash work

Chewing and Enrichment

16. Durable rubber chew toys you can stuff and freeze
17. A variety of textures, because Shepherd puppies are opinionated about chewing
18. A snuffle mat or food puzzle for mental work on rainy days
19. A tug toy, which becomes one of your best training rewards with this breed
20. Appropriate natural chews, sized so they cannot be swallowed whole

Grooming and Cleanup

21. An undercoat rake and a slicker brush, because the shedding is real
22. Nail clippers or a grinder, introduced early rather than at six months
23. An enzymatic cleaner for accidents, since regular cleaners leave scent markers behind
24. Puppy shampoo, used sparingly

Health and Paperwork

25. A veterinary appointment booked for within the first few days, plus a folder for the vaccination record, microchip number, AKC paperwork and health guarantee your breeder provides

What to Skip for Now

Save your money on the plush bed, which will be shredded. Skip the retractable leash entirely, since it teaches pulling and offers little control with a strong breed. Hold off on the expensive collar until the puppy stops growing, which will take a while. The AKC puppy resource hub is a reasonable place to compare gear opinions before you spend more.

Set Up the House, Not Just the Cart

Before pickup day, walk your home at puppy height. Move cords, secure trash, close off the room you are not ready to supervise, and decide as a household where the crate lives and who handles the overnight potty trip. Deciding that in advance prevents most first week friction.

Then plan the first three days as quiet ones. No visitors, no long outings, just routine, sleep and short sessions. Our post on German Shepherd puppy training covers exactly what to work on during that stretch, and the AKC training timeline shows what comes next.

What Comes From Us

Every puppy leaves with current vaccinations and deworming, a microchip, AKC registration paperwork, health records, feeding instructions and a written summary of what the puppy has already been exposed to. Read about our raising protocol on the puppy page.

If you are working through this German Shepherd puppy checklist because you are hoping for a puppy from Freda’s fall 2026 litter, the waitlist is open now. Reserve your spot and we will send you our full go home packet as the date gets closer.