Bringing a New Puppy Home: The First-Week Checklist
Everything to prepare before your puppy arrives and a day-by-day plan for the first week: sleep, potty training, feeding, vet visit and socialisation.
By Muhammad Junaid · · 4 min read
The first week sets the tone for everything after it. You don't need to teach your puppy much yet — your job is to make them feel safe, start good toilet habits, and keep life predictable.
Before your puppy arrives
Get these ready a few days early so day one is about the puppy, not a shopping trip.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Crate or playpen | A safe den for sleep and for times you can't supervise |
| Bed and an old blanket | Ask the breeder or shelter to rub a blanket on the litter — the familiar smell helps |
| The same food they eat now | Switching food straight away is a common cause of upset tummies |
| Food and water bowls | Stainless steel or ceramic are easy to clean |
| Collar, ID tag and lead | A lightweight collar with your phone number on the tag |
| Enzyme cleaner | Removes the smell of accidents so the puppy doesn't return to the same spot |
| Chew toys | Teething puppies chew — give them something allowed |
Puppy-proof the house: lift cables, shoes and plants off the floor, close cupboards with cleaning products, and keep medicines and foods that are toxic to dogs well out of reach.
Day 1: arrival
- Toilet first. Carry your puppy straight to the spot you want them to use outside. Wait quietly; praise calmly when they go.
- Keep it quiet. One or two people, not the whole family and the neighbours. Let the puppy explore one or two rooms at their own pace.
- Show them the crate with the door open, a soft bed and a treat inside. Don't force them in.
The first nights
Crying on the first nights is normal — your puppy has just left their littermates.
- Put the crate beside your bed so you can reassure them and hear when they need the toilet.
- Take them out once or twice in the night at first. Keep these trips boring: no play, no lights, straight back to bed.
- Most puppies settle within a few nights. Then you can move the crate a little further away over a week or two, if you want to.
Potty training basics
Puppies have small bladders and little control. Your goal is to get them outside before they need to go:
- Straight after waking up.
- After eating or drinking.
- After play or excitement.
- Every 1–2 hours during the day at 8–10 weeks.
Praise and reward the moment they finish outside. If there's an accident indoors, clean it with enzyme cleaner and don't punish — punishment only teaches puppies to hide when they go.
Tip
Keep a simple log of toilet times for the first week. Patterns appear fast, and you'll start predicting when your puppy needs to go.
Feeding
Keep the same food and feeding times the breeder or shelter used for at least the first week. Most young puppies eat three to four small meals a day. If you want to change food later, mix it in gradually over 7–10 days.
The first vet visit
Book a check-up within the first few days. Take any vaccination and deworming records you were given. Your vet will:
- check your puppy over and confirm their vaccination schedule,
- talk about deworming, flea and tick prevention,
- scan for a microchip, or fit one.
Read our guide to the puppy vaccination schedule before you go so you know what to ask.
When to call your vet
Call your vet the same day if your puppy has diarrhoea with blood, repeated vomiting, won't eat for more than a day, or seems unusually weak or sleepy. Young puppies get dehydrated quickly.
Socialisation starts now
Veterinary behaviour experts say the period up to about 14–16 weeks is when puppies learn most easily that new people, sounds and places are safe. Even before vaccinations are complete you can:
- carry your puppy to watch traffic, people and other animals from a distance,
- invite calm, vaccinated, adult dogs you know for short meetings,
- gently get them used to handling: paws, ears, mouth, brushing.
Keep every experience short and positive. If your puppy looks scared, give them more distance.
Your first-week plan at a glance
- Day 1: toilet spot, quiet home, crate introduction.
- Days 2–3: routine for meals, naps and toilet trips; short play sessions.
- Days 3–5: first vet visit; start handling practice.
- Days 5–7: carry-out socialisation trips; teach their name and "sit" with treats.
Above all, be patient. A tired, overwhelmed puppy isn't being naughty — they're a baby in a brand new world.
Frequently asked questions
Should my puppy sleep in my bedroom the first night?
Many trainers suggest it. A crate or pen beside your bed lets you hear when the puppy needs a toilet trip and helps them settle. You can move the crate gradually once nights are calm.
How often does a puppy need to go outside to pee?
A common rule of thumb is roughly one hour per month of age, plus straight after waking, eating, drinking and play. An 8-week-old puppy often needs to go every 1–2 hours in the day.
When can my puppy go for walks in public places?
Ask your vet. Many vets advise avoiding areas used by unknown dogs until about a week or two after the final puppy vaccination, but carrying your puppy to see the world before then is valuable for socialisation.