Bringing Home a New Puppy : The Ultimate First Week Checklist
Few things are more exciting than bringing a new puppy home.
It’s also a huge change — for you and for the puppy.
Your new companion has suddenly left behind their mother, littermates and familiar surroundings and entered a completely new environment.
The first week is about helping them feel safe, establishing routines and giving them time to settle in.
Before your puppy arrives
Prepare their space before they come home.
You’ll want to have:
Food and water bowls
A comfortable sleeping area
Puppy-safe toys
Appropriate chew items
Cleaning supplies
A collar and identification
A lead
Age-appropriate food
A secure area for resting
Puppy-proof the house by removing anything they could chew, swallow or knock over.
Remember that puppies investigate the world with their mouths.
Give your puppy time to settle
It can be tempting to introduce your puppy to everyone immediately.
Try not to overwhelm them.
The first few days should be calm and predictable.
Let them explore their new environment at their own pace and make sure they have somewhere quiet to retreat to when they need a break.
Establish a routine
Puppies thrive on consistency.
Try to keep regular times for:
Meals
Toilet breaks
Play
Training
Rest
Bedtime
Your routine doesn’t have to be perfect.
Consistency simply helps your puppy understand what happens next.
Start toilet training immediately
Don’t wait for your puppy to have accidents before beginning toilet training.
Take them outside regularly, particularly:
After waking
After eating
After playing
Before bedtime
When they show signs that they need to go
When they get it right, reward them calmly and positively.
Accidents are normal during puppyhood.
Avoid punishment — your puppy is still learning.
Keep training sessions short
Puppies have short attention spans.
Instead of expecting a long training session, try several short sessions throughout the day.
Simple behaviours such as responding to their name, sitting and coming when called can form the foundation for future training.
Don’t forget sleep
One of the biggest mistakes new puppy owners make is assuming a puppy needs constant entertainment.
They don’t.
Puppies need plenty of sleep and rest.
If your puppy becomes unusually wild, mouthy or unable to settle, they may simply be overtired.
Book a veterinary check
A new puppy should receive appropriate veterinary care, vaccinations, parasite prevention and general health checks.
Your veterinarian can advise you on the appropriate schedule based on your puppy’s age and circumstances.
Give them time
Your puppy doesn’t need to learn everything during their first week.
They are learning where they sleep, who their family is, what their new home smells like and what their new routine looks like.
The best thing you can give them is patience, consistency and plenty of positive experiences.