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Puppy's First Night cover image
Samson Katt/Pexels

How to Survive the First Night with Your New Puppy

Updated February 28, 2024 | Miscellaneous
By Elisabeth Geier
Updated by Nia Martin

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  • This review contains affiliate links. Read more here.

Vet reviewed by Jenny Alonge, DVM, FFCP on 1/31/25

The first 24 hours with your puppy can be an adventure. Some puppies are angels, likely due to the stress and exhaustion of new environments and senses. Others are more fearful, having been uprooted from all they’ve known. All these new experiences can affect a puppy’s first night at home, determining if you’re going to have a rough or silent night.

No matter how in love you are with your new furry friend, you’re going to face some challenges. Read on for a guide on how to survive the first 24 hours with your new puppy.

Table of Contents

  1. First Night Tips
  2. Toys & Scents
  3. First 24 Hour Tips
  4. No Guests
  5. Potty Training
  6. Puppy-proofing
  7. Time Off
  8. Puppy Checklist
  9. Get Help
  10. Read More

Preparing For Your Puppy’s First Night

The most important tip we have for bringing your puppy home for the first day is to relax and enjoy the process. Puppies are resilient and will adapt as they grow. If you don’t have everything, don’t fret—there’s plenty of time to get your supplies the next day.

But if there are two things you must get for your puppy on the first day, it should be a crate or puppy pen and a heartbeat toy. Let your puppy take as many naps as they need. Puppies need anywhere from 10 to 18 hours of sleep a day.

Then before you and your puppy go to bed, follow these actions:

  • Give dinner three hours before bedtime to limit nighttime potty breaks.
  • Get your puppy to potty before they go to bed.
  • Choose where your puppy will sleep and stick to it.*
  • Keep their bed area snuggly and warm with a heartbeat toy and a blanket that smells like you or their mom.

*It’s okay to have the crate in your room for the first few nights and then gradually move it further away if you want them to sleep in another room. Sleep training for puppies requires consistency. This means your puppy can learn to sleep anywhere—downstairs, upstairs, in another bedroom—as long as you remain firm on the location.

Boost your puppy’s comfort with these heartbeat hacks

Hide a ticking clock under their bedding. The steady tick-tock will remind them of their mama’s heartbeat. Or, get a SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy, which mimics the sound of a beating heart and comes with a disposable heating pad for extra comfort.

SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy

SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy

Give your puppy this soft friend, which comes with an insertable ticking heartbeat, to mimic mama’s heart, plus a disposable heat pad for added comfort.

Find on Amazon

Scent is also your puppy’s strongest sense, and you can help make them feel at home by placing a mama-scented t-shirt or towel in their crate.

Pro tip: Ask the breeder in advance if you can take some of the mama’s bedding home with your new pet. If there is none to spare, bring your own blanket and ask mama to lay on it for a bit.

What to Do With Your Puppy’s First 24 Hours

Keep the first day chill and visitor-free

When you get a puppy, it’s tempting to invite all your friends over to meet her right away. Of course, you want to show off your new best friend to the world!

But remember, your puppy just went on a scary car ride and is in a brand new place with people she doesn’t know.

Make your puppy’s first day safe, quiet, and easy. There’s plenty of time for visitors later. For now, let your puppy settle into her new digs—and her new family—in peace. Besides, she’ll probably want to sleep. A lot.

Show the puppy where to pee

Potty training your puppy begins the minute you have them in your arms. As soon as you get home, take your puppy outside to a “potty spot.” When they eliminate, praise them right away with lots of positive vocalizations and a treat.

After your puppy is inside, plan on potty breaks every 15 to 20 minutes after playing, eating, or drinking water. This sounds like a lot, but puppies don’t have control of their bladders. They may not even have a desire to control it! The best thing you can do is establish a schedule right away and give them lots of praise when they pee in the right place.

Establish physical boundaries

Up until they are six months old, your puppy will constantly test boundaries. In fact, they may do this well into a year old, as they enter their adolescent phases. Setting an early foundation and clear expectations of how you want your puppy to behave will go a long way, even during their rebellious phases. You’ll want to make sure you have:

  • Installed dog gates to limit their access and keep other pets away until they are more familiar with each other
  • Built a puppy zone or puppy room for your dog where they can feel safe
  • Set up a crate (and start your puppy’s crate training by feeding meals in the crate)
  • Dog toys in their play area, especially where they will sleep
  • A routine for meals, alone time, dog training, and play

Show your new puppy their home base as soon as they get home, and throw some kibble or treats in so they enter it of their own accord. The more fun you can make it, the more likely they are to settle in quietly.

Take a day or two off

Taking care of a new puppy takes lots of time and energy. If your work and life schedules allow, plan to take off at least one full day when you first bring your puppy home. In fact, work from home for a few days if you can.

Being there as much as possible in the beginning will help solidify your bond. You’ll be grateful for the time to help your puppy settle in. You’ll also appreciate the chance to recover from possible sleeplessness on your puppy’s first night. You’re both learning, after all!

Can’t take more time off work? Enlist the help of a dog sitter who can stay with your puppy for a few hours. During this time, you can have the sitter enforce your puppy’s potty training schedule.

Puppy Supplies Checklist

It’s a good idea to set up everything your puppy needs before the first 24 hours even start.

See our comprehensive guide for puppy supplies and check out a few of our recommendations below:

  • Adjustable collar and leash
  • Collar tags with contact info
  • Food and water bowls
  • High-quality puppy food
  • Poop bags and holder
  • Dog bed and maybe a blanket
  • Toys and treats (start simple—you’ll learn your puppy’s preferences the longer they’re with you)
  • Playpen and gates
  • Crate

Leash for 3 a.m. potty walks

Do not make the mistake of letting your puppy out without a collar and leash on the first day they are home. No dog comes with perfect recall, so a leash ensures they won’t run away.

ThunderLeash Nylon Dog Leash

ThunderLeash Nylon Dog Leash

Attaching around the torso, this sturdy training leash is great for pullers and made in the U.S.

Shop on Chewy

Adjustable collar for midnight walkies

Blueberry Pet Classic Solid Nylon Dog Collar

Blueberry Pet Classic Solid Nylon Dog Collar

This affordable and adjustable collar comes in a range of sizes and colors to suit your pooch.

Shop on Chewy

ID tags, just in case

GoTags Personalized ID Tag

GoTags Personalized ID Tag

Personalize up to four lines of text on this stainless steel ID tag.

Shop on Chewy

Food and water bowls for late night thirsts

Reserving a little water and food for the night is not harmful, especially if your puppy is not food motivated. Access to food at night may help with potential food insecurity.

Pet Fusion elevated dog bowls

Pet Fusion Elevated Dog Bowls

Elevated to aid digestion, this stainless steel bowl set comes in an anodized aluminum frame in two different heights.

Find on Amazon

Puppy food for night snacking

The amount of food depends on the breed and size.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection dry puppy food

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Dry Food

Formulated especially for puppies, with real chicken, brown rice, and wholesome fruits and veggies.

Shop on Chewy

Poop bags so you don’t forget in the morning

Pick up your poop immediately so you don’t step into a surprise the next morning.

The Original Poop Bags® Compostable Rolls

The Original Poop Bags® Compostable Rolls

Made of plant-based materials, these bags are compostable and biodegradable.

Find on Chewy

Dog bed for puppy’s first night

K9 Ballistics Tough Rectangle Dog Bed

K9 Ballistics Tough Rectangle Dog Bed

This durable bed, made in the U.S., stands up well to digging and scratching, and features a removable waterproof cover in case of accidents.

Find on Amazon

Chew toys for teething and comfort

Nylabone Puppy Teething Dinosaur Chew Toy

Nylabone Puppy Teething Dinosaur Chew Toy

This chew toy is made for massaging the gums of teething puppies and comes flavored with chicken.

Shop on Chewy

Puppy treats for potty training

Wellness Soft Puppy Bites training treats

Wellness Soft Puppy Bites

Made in the U.S., these grain-free salmon and lamb treats are the perfect size for puppy reward training.

Shop on Chewy

Puppy gates for safety

Regalo Home Accents Extra Tall Walk-Through Gate

Regalo Home Accents Extra Tall Walk-Through Gate

Made from cherrywood and steel, this extra-tall durable gate expands to fit different doorway widths.

Shop on Chewy

Crate for puppy’s first night

MidWest LifeStages Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate

MidWest LifeStages Double-Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate

This sturdy crate grows along with your pup with a movable wire divider.

Shop on Chewy

Ask for Help When You Need it

Let’s be real: the first 24 hours with your puppy can be challenging. Puppies have a lot in common with human babies. They need company, activity, and lots of interaction. Sometimes they cry and have accidents as they learn how to be in the world.

Try not to stress and fret if everything doesn’t fall into place. Puppy blues, aka feelings of anxiety and depression that come with raising a puppy, are very common. They also tend to resolve as your puppy develops a trusting bond with you and ages out of annoying behaviors like arousal biting.

And if you need a little help, consider a loving pet sitter or in-home daycare provider for worry-free care.

More Puppy Resources

  • The Essential New Puppy Checklist
  • How Long Can You Leave a Puppy Alone?
  • Puppy Growth Chart: How Tall, How Big, and How Soon?
  • Sweet Dreams: The Very Best Puppy Beds
  • Your Complete Guide to Puppy Potty Training

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Elisabeth Geier

Elisabeth Geier

Elisabeth Geier is a writer, teacher, and animal advocate with extensive animal handling experience and a soft spot for bully breeds and big orange tabbies.


Updated by Nia Martin

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By Elisabeth Geier

Updated by Nia Martin

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