Congratulations—you're bringing home a puppy! 🎉
The next 7 days are both the most exciting and the most exhausting of your journey together. What you do this week sets the foundation for everything that follows.
Don't worry. This day-by-day guide will walk you through exactly what to do, when to do it, and what to expect. You've got this.
Before Puppy Arrives: The Prep Checklist
🛒 Essential Supplies
- Appropriately sized crate
- Food and water bowls
- Puppy food (same brand breeder was using)
- Collar, ID tag, and leash
- Puppy-safe chew toys
- Enzymatic cleaner (for accidents)
- Puppy pads (optional)
- Comfy bed or blankets
- Baby gates or exercise pen
🏠 Puppy-Proof Your Home
- Hide electrical cords
- Remove toxic plants
- Pick up small objects (choking hazards)
- Secure trash cans
- Block off dangerous areas
- Remove shoes and valuables from puppy reach
Homecoming Day: Keep It Calm
Goal: Help your puppy feel safe in their new environment without overwhelming them.
What to do:
- Bring puppy straight home—no stops at pet stores or friends' houses
- Let them sniff around one small area (not the whole house)
- Take them outside to potty immediately, then every 30-60 minutes
- Show them their crate with the door open, treats inside
- Keep voices calm and movements slow
- Limit visitors—no parties or excited kids crowding them
First night: Puppy will probably cry. Put the crate next to your bed so they can smell and hear you. Don't give in and let them in bed (unless that's your long-term plan).
Establishing Routine
Goal: Begin creating the schedule that will guide your puppy's day.
Sample schedule for 8-10 week old puppy:
- 6:00 AM – Wake up, immediately outside to potty
- 6:15 AM – Breakfast
- 6:30 AM – Outside to potty (puppies need to go after eating)
- 6:45 AM – Supervised play time
- 7:30 AM – Nap in crate (puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep!)
- 9:30 AM – Wake up, potty, play, training, nap
- Continue 2-hour cycles throughout the day
- 10:00 PM – Last potty, bedtime
💡 Potty Training Rule: Take puppy out after every nap, every meal, every play session, and every 30-60 minutes when awake. Celebrate like crazy when they go outside!
Beginning Basic Training
Goal: Start teaching simple behaviors using positive reinforcement.
What to introduce:
- Name recognition – Say their name, when they look at you, treat! Repeat dozens of times.
- Sit – Hold treat above their nose, move it back toward their tail. When their butt hits the ground, say "sit" and treat.
- Come – Get low, open arms, say their name + "come!" in an excited voice. Big celebration when they arrive.
Training rules:
- Keep sessions SHORT (3-5 minutes max)
- Always end on a success
- Use high-value treats (small, soft, smelly)
- Be patient—they're babies!
Socialization Begins
Goal: Start exposing puppy to new experiences (carefully—they're not fully vaccinated yet).
Safe socialization activities:
- Carry them around the neighborhood (don't put them down where unvaccinated dogs may have been)
- Let friends visit (calm, gentle interactions)
- Introduce different sounds (vacuum from a distance, doorbell, TV)
- Different surfaces at home (tile, carpet, grass in your yard)
- Gentle handling of paws, ears, mouth
💡 Socialization Window: The period from 3-16 weeks is critical. Positive exposures during this time shape their confidence for life. But keep it safe—no dog parks until fully vaccinated!
Common First Week Problems (And Solutions)
😢 "My puppy won't stop crying at night"
This is normal. They just left their mom and littermates. Solutions:
- Crate next to your bed so they know you're there
- A warm water bottle wrapped in a towel (mimics littermates)
- A ticking clock or heartbeat toy
- Take them out once during the night for potty (they physically can't hold it 8 hours yet)
It usually improves within 3-5 days.
💩 "Potty training isn't working"
It takes weeks, not days. At this stage:
- 100% supervision when out of crate
- Take out more frequently (you can't take them out too often)
- Clean accidents with enzymatic cleaner (regular cleaners don't eliminate the smell to dogs)
- Never punish accidents—they don't understand and it makes things worse
🦷 "My puppy bites EVERYTHING (including me)"
Totally normal. Puppies explore the world with their mouths. To reduce it:
- Always have a toy ready to redirect to
- When they bite you, say "ouch!" and remove attention for 30 seconds
- Provide appropriate chew toys
- Make sure they're getting enough sleep (overtired puppies are extra bitey)
😴 "My puppy is TOO calm/sleeping all the time"
That's actually great! Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep per day. A well-rested puppy is easier to train. Enjoy the quiet moments.
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Learn More →Week 1 Expectations: Reality Check
By the end of week 1, your puppy should:
- ✅ Know where their crate/bed is
- ✅ Be starting to recognize their name
- ✅ Have a rough routine for potty, food, sleep
- ✅ Be getting used to the sights and sounds of your home
Your puppy will NOT:
- ❌ Be potty trained (that takes weeks/months)
- ❌ Sleep through the night reliably
- ❌ Know any commands perfectly
- ❌ Stop biting
That's all completely normal. Adjust your expectations. You're building a foundation, not finishing a house.
The Most Important Thing
This week is about one thing above all else: building trust.
Your puppy is in a strange place with strange people and strange smells. Everything they knew is gone. Your job is to show them that you are safe, that this place is safe, and that good things happen here.
Be patient. Be consistent. Be kind. The bond you build this week will last a lifetime. 🐕
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