ePuP Advice · New puppy
Your puppy’s first week at home.
The first few days should be calm, predictable and reassuring. Your puppy has left everything familiar behind, so focus on helping them feel secure before expecting perfect behaviour.
Prepare a calm home base
Give your puppy somewhere quiet where they can eat, sleep and retreat without being disturbed.
- Set up a comfortable bed or crate in a quiet part of the home before your puppy arrives.
- Remove electrical cables, medicines, cleaning products, toxic foods and small objects that could be swallowed.
- Use stair gates or closed doors to limit access until your puppy becomes familiar with the home.
- Give children clear rules about gentle handling and allowing the puppy to sleep undisturbed.
Keep food familiar at first
Sudden changes to food can cause digestive upset during an already stressful transition.
- Ask the breeder, seller or rescue exactly what food the puppy has been eating and how often.
- Keep the same feeding routine initially unless your vet recommends otherwise.
- Provide clean drinking water throughout the day.
- If changing food, introduce the new diet gradually rather than changing everything at once.
Arrange a veterinary appointment
Establishing a relationship with your veterinary practice early gives you a useful health baseline.
- Arrange an initial health check soon after bringing your puppy home.
- Take vaccination records, microchip details and any breeder or rescue health documents with you.
- Discuss vaccinations, parasite prevention, diet, neutering and breed-specific health considerations.
- Ask the vet to confirm the microchip can be detected and make sure the keeper details are transferred correctly.
Start toilet training immediately
Consistency matters much more than punishment.
- Take your puppy to the chosen toilet area after waking, eating, drinking, playing and before bedtime.
- Praise calmly when they toilet in the correct place.
- Expect accidents. Clean them thoroughly without frightening or punishing the puppy.
- Watch for signs such as sniffing, circling or suddenly wandering away from play.
Protect sleep and build a routine
Young puppies need a large amount of sleep and can become difficult or excitable when overtired.
- Build predictable times for meals, toilet breaks, play, training and sleep.
- Let your puppy sleep when tired rather than constantly waking them for attention.
- Keep bedtime calm and avoid turning nighttime waking into a long play session.
- Introduce short periods of separation gradually so being alone does not suddenly become frightening.
Reserved for a warm branded home scene showing a puppy resting safely with its bed, toys and new family nearby.
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Begin gentle training and socialisation
Early experiences should build confidence rather than overwhelm your puppy.
- Begin with simple skills such as responding to their name, coming towards you and calmly accepting handling.
- Use short, positive sessions with rewards rather than harsh corrections.
- Introduce household sounds, surfaces, people and safe experiences gradually.
- Follow veterinary advice about infection risk and when your puppy can safely explore public places.
Keep your paperwork together
The first week is also the right time to finish the practical ownership changes.
- Complete the microchip keeper transfer and verify the contact details are correct.
- Store the purchase or adoption agreement, receipts, vaccination records and health certificates safely.
- Consider suitable pet insurance and read the exclusions, excesses and waiting periods carefully.
- Save the breeder, seller, rescue and veterinary contact details in case you need them later.