Bernese Puppy Checklist: Everything to Buy Before Day One

By the Riverside Berner Guide editorial team
Last updated November 7, 2026

The Bernese puppy supplies you need before day one are simple: a crate with a divider, gates or a pen, a collar with an ID tag, a leash, bowls, the breeder’s current food, chew toys, grooming tools, cleaning supplies and a folder for vet records. Set them up a week or so early, so the first day is about your puppy, not a store run. Book your vet, too, before pickup day.

We don’t recommend brands or products, and we have no affiliate links. Every item below comes from guidance by the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) and veterinary schools. You choose the specific products that fit your home and budget.

Bernese puppy supplies: the short list

Print this or keep it on your phone. Each item has its own section below.

• Crate with a removable divider, plus washable bedding
• Baby gates or an exercise pen to block off rooms
• Collar with an ID tag, and a plan to register a microchip
• Leash, and a harness if you like
• Food and water bowls
• A few days of the breeder’s current food, and small training treats
• Chew toys and teething toys
• Grooming tools: brush, nail trimmers, dog toothbrush and toothpaste
• Cleaning supplies: enzyme cleaner, paper towels, waste bags
• Records folder: breeder’s contract, pedigree, vaccine and deworming records, your vet’s number

The AKC’s guide to preparing for a new puppy names most of these, from crate and gates to bowls, treats, grooming tools and cleaning supplies. It also puts puppy-proofing on the list of things to do before your puppy comes home.

A crate and a bed

A crate gives your puppy a safe place to sleep and helps with house training. The AKC’s crate training manual says it should be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lie down, but not much larger.

That last part matters. The AKC’s potty training guide explains that a crate that’s too big lets a puppy soil one corner and sleep in another.

Plan for a big adult

Berners grow into big dogs. The BMDCA’s 2024 FAQ puts adult males at 25 to 27½ inches at the shoulder and 80 to 115 pounds, and females at 23 to 26 inches and 70 to 95 pounds.

So a crate that fits your 8-week-old puppy won’t fit for long. The AKC manual suggests a crate with a removable partition for a growing puppy, so the space can grow with the dog. It also says metal is easier to clean than canvas, and that any crate should be well ventilated.

Bedding and a familiar smell

Line the crate with washable bedding. The AKC manual has a tip worth planning ahead for: give the breeder a towel or blanket to keep with the litter. That towel goes in the crate and can help your puppy settle during the first nights away from its mother and littermates.

Expect some crying the first night or two. The AKC manual says that’s normal while a puppy adjusts. Our guide to Bernese puppy training covers how to make the crate a happy place.

Gates, a pen and a puppy-proof home

Your puppy shouldn’t have the run of the house at first. The AKC suggests baby gates to keep a puppy in safe areas, and suggests gates that attach to the walls with tension, since you’ll likely need them only for a while.

An exercise pen does the same job in an open room. The AKC’s new puppy checklist suggests opening up more of the house gradually, using crates and gates to set the limits.

Puppy-proof before pickup day

Get down to puppy height and look around. The AKC checklist names the main hazards to remove or lock away:

• Medicines
• Electrical cords
• Toxic plants
• Cleaning products
• Small things a puppy could swallow

A trash can with a lid helps too. If you ever think your puppy swallowed something harmful, call your vet right away.

Keep your Berner cool

Plan for heat, especially if you live somewhere warm. The BMDCA’s FAQ says the breed does not do well in hot, humid weather. It calls shade and water essential and prefers air conditioning in extreme heat.

Collar, ID tag and microchip

Buy a collar and an ID tag with your phone number before your puppy comes home. Puppies grow fast, so check the fit often and size up as needed.

Texas A&M’s veterinary school explains why the tag matters. A tag lets anyone who finds your dog contact you directly. But a collar can slip off, so the school recommends adding other ID as well.

Register the microchip

A microchip is a tiny chip placed under the skin. Texas A&M’s microchip article says it’s about the size of a grain of rice and needs no battery. A vet or shelter reads it with a scanner.

The chip is only as useful as its registration. The school says to register it with the chip company under your name and phone number, and to update the record if you move or change numbers. It still recommends a collar even for a chipped pet.

Ask the breeder whether your puppy is already chipped and which company holds the record. If not, ask your vet about chipping at an early visit. A chip is not a GPS tracker, Texas A&M notes, so it can’t show where your dog is.

Leash and harness

A plain leash is enough to start. The AKC checklist says a harness can help a puppy learn to walk on a leash without pulling on its neck. It adds that reflective gear makes a puppy easier to see in low light.

Skip any tool that works by pain. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) advises against choke chains, prong collars and shock collars. For leash skills later on, see our guide to Bernese Mountain Dog training.

Food, bowls and water

Ask the breeder which food your puppy eats now, and buy the same one. The AKC suggests breeders send a few days of the current food home with each puppy. The BMDCA’s first-year guide also says the breeder should recommend what food is best, and how much.

What growing Berners need

Steady growth matters more than fast growth in a big breed. Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center advises a commercial large-breed puppy food that meets AAFCO standards for growth. It says not to add calcium, vitamin D or protein to a complete diet, and to keep growing puppies lean.

The BMDCA’s first-year guide says puppies are usually fed three times a day until at least 3 to 6 months of age. It warns that one large meal can raise the risk of bloat, and that fresh water should be out all day. For portions and timing, see our Bernese puppy feeding chart, and ask your vet before you change foods.

Bowls

Any sturdy, easy-to-clean bowls will do: one for food, one for water. The AKC checklist mentions that adjustable bowls can suit a puppy that will grow quickly. To track size along the way, our Bernese growth chart explains what the sources do and don’t say.

Chew toys and training treats

Puppies chew, and Berner puppies are no exception. The AKC checklist says teething puppies need teething toys as well as regular chew toys.

Some toys need you watching. The AKC says soft toys and tennis balls are fine under supervision, since a puppy can tear them apart and swallow the pieces. Take away any toy that’s breaking up.

Food-stuffed toys

A hollow toy you can stuff with food is worth buying. Ohio State’s veterinary behavior guide suggests stuffed chew toys to steer chewing away from hands and feet. The AVSAB says time alone with toys like these teaches puppies to amuse themselves.

Treats

Buy small, soft training treats. The AKC checklist calls them positive reinforcement. You can also use part of your puppy’s daily food as rewards, so treats don’t upset the diet.

Grooming tools for a double coat

A Berner’s coat is easy to keep neat but sheds a lot. The BMDCA’s FAQ describes a double-coated breed with considerable shedding. It says frequent brushing and a periodic bath keep the coat looking good.

Your starter grooming kit:

• A brush suited to a thick, long double coat
• Dog shampoo
• Nail trimmers
• Cotton balls or gauze for wiping ears
• A dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste

The AKC lists grooming tools among the basics and says to choose brushes by coat type. Its checklist adds that brushing teeth early helps a puppy get used to it.

Make grooming a good experience

Short, gentle sessions work best with a young puppy. The BMDCA’s first-year guide says regularly checking weight, teeth, nails, coat, eyes and ears helps you notice how your dog is feeling. Pair handling with treats so your puppy learns to enjoy it.

Cleaning supplies

Accidents will happen. Stock up before day one:

• An enzyme cleaner for pet messes
• Paper towels
• Waste bags for walks
• A lint roller or a good vacuum

The AKC’s potty training guide says lingering smells draw puppies back to the same spot. It recommends enzymatic cleaners, used as the label directs.

Plan for hair, too. The BMDCA says daily sweeping or vacuuming may be needed through much of the year in a tidy home.

Vet records and the first appointment

Choose a vet before you pick up your puppy. The BMDCA’s first-year guide says to arrange vet care before buying a pup. It adds that the purchase agreement should give you several days to have your own vet check the puppy.

Paperwork to collect from the breeder

The AKC suggests breeders send home:

• The pedigree and the breeder’s contract
• A feeding and daily routine guide
• Medical records, including vaccines, deworming and the date of the next vet visit

Keep these in one folder and bring it to the first exam. The BMDCA says your vet will review the vaccine record and may want to vaccinate right away. Our Bernese puppy vaccine and vet schedule explains what comes next.

Parasite prevention

Ask your vet which flea, tick and heartworm prevention suits your puppy and where you live. The AKC says your vet will likely recommend preventives and suggests marking the dates on a calendar. Product choice and dosing are your vet’s call.

What can wait

You don’t need everything on day one. Some things make more sense once you know your puppy:

• A bigger crate or bed. Buy for the size your puppy is now, with a divider, and upgrade as it grows.
• Training classes. Puppy class can start early, but Ohio State suggests reward-based obedience classes from shortly after 6 months.
• Extra gear. Wait until you see what your puppy actually uses.

Supplies are only part of the cost. The BMDCA says the true cost of a Berner lies in ongoing care, such as vet visits, food, training, a crate, toys and grooming tools. Our guide to the cost of owning a Bernese helps you plan a budget.

Set up the house before day one

A day or two before pickup, put everything in place. Set up the crate where the family spends time, put up the gates and fill the bowls area. Keep the records folder and your vet’s number by the door.

Agree on house rules as a family. The AKC suggests deciding on a routine for feeding, potty breaks and walks, and who does what. It says to introduce family members one at a time and to keep the puppy in sight for the first days and weeks.

For the bigger picture, from price to the first year, start with our main guide to Bernese Mountain Dog puppies. If you’re still choosing, see how to pick the right Bernese puppy from a litter.