How To Spend Your First Week With Your Puppy

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Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting—and daunting—time. There’s a lot to do, from getting the right gear to establishing the right schedule. All while working on bonding and training with your new best friend.

To help new puppy parents acclimate, we’ve asked experts what needs to happen in week one and how to go about it.

Paige Gordon, a certified professional dog trainer with SpiritDog Training, tells us how to get started on training, while professional Woofz dog trainer Annie-Mae Levy offers insights on routines and boundaries. And Dr Nell Ostermeier, DVM and veterinary advisor at Figo Pet Insurance, sets pet parents up for success with the “3-3-3 rule.”

Essential Supplies

Puppies need a lot of supplies, but they don’t necessarily need all of them at once. Here are the basics you’ll want to have on hand for your first week with your puppy.

Must-have supplies

The “must-haves” meet your puppy’s basic needs: food, shelter, and play. Make sure you have the following on hand:

• Food and water bowls. We like stainless steel and dishwasher-safe materials for easy cleanup.
• Puppy food that meets FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines. We suggest buying a small bag until you know what food your puppy likes—and what agrees with their stomach.
• A collar. New puppies grow fast, so an adjustable collar is a good investment.
• A crate with a divider. Not everyone chooses to crate train, but if you plan to, starting right when you get home can make it a lot easier.
• A puppy-safe toy. Heartbeat toys are especially popular for puppies adjusting to being away from their mum and siblings.

Puppy-proofing supplies

You will want a few basic items to keep your puppy (and home) safe during the first week. That usually means:

• A puppy bed and blanket. This will help your puppy settle into their own space.
• A dog gate or dog pen. It’s a good idea to keep some rooms off limits, and you’ll want to keep your puppy in an area that’s easy to supervise.
• Puppy pads. These come in handy as your dog learns the basics of toilet training.
• Pet-safe cleaning supplies. Accidents will happen, and when they do, you want an enzymatic cleaner on hand.

Training

To get started, you’ll need a basic 1.8-metre (six-foot) lead for training (and a backup wouldn’t hurt). Puppy training treats will also make your job a lot easier.

Grooming and health

Most grooming supplies can wait until week two. To get started right away, begin with a puppy brush and puppy-safe wipes. If you suspect an emergency puppy bath might be in order, get some puppy-safe shampoo.

Socialisation Dos and Don’ts

During the first week, your puppy will be taking in lots of new sights, sounds, and smells. As they adjust to their new environment, puppy parents can help set them up for success by getting them used to some of the stimuli they will encounter frequently.

This process is called “socialisation,” and it’s best to tackle it when your puppy is young and receptive to new things.

Sights, sounds, smells, and textures

In their first week, your puppy’s goal is to learn about the sights, smells, and feelings of their new home. Do work on:

• Getting them used to their name
• Getting them used to common noises. Ms Gordon recommends playing puppy desensitisation soundtracks during their meals
• Letting them sniff, walk on, and feel new textures

It’s tempting to include the garden, but don’t plan on going outside just yet. Depending on your puppy’s vaccination status, you might need to wait for their immunity to kick in.

Brushing and hygiene

During the first week, start to introduce the hygiene routines you expect to follow. Get your puppy used to being brushed by letting them sniff the comb and gently running it over their coat. You can do the same thing with a puppy toothbrush and a pet-safe wipe.

Don’t worry about doing a great job of grooming. The goal is just to get your puppy comfortable with the sensations and process.

People and pets

In the first week, start by carefully introducing your puppy to the household, including kids, dogs, and cats. That might involve:

• Picking your puppy up gently to get them used to being handled
• Gentle puppy games and play
• Slow, supervised introductions to other pets

Don’t extend socialisation beyond the immediate family yet. As Dr Ostermeier points out, your puppy might not have enough vaccinations to meet other dogs and people, and things are overwhelming enough.

Crating

Crates can be a helpful tool for training and establishing routines. During the first week, introduce your puppy to a comfortable and quiet crate (preferably with a removable divider to help with toilet training). Blankets with familiar smells can help your puppy acclimate.

Don’t rush the crate training process or assume your puppy will be comfortable staying in their crate alone immediately.

Leaving a Puppy Alone: Dos and Don’ts

It can be hard during the first week, but it’s important to leave your puppy alone for short periods. If they’re old enough, Ms Gordon recommends leaving your puppy alone for 30 minutes every day in a safe crate or pen with a chew to keep them busy. This helps them acclimate to being alone and reduces the risk of separation anxiety as they grow.

Don’t leave your puppy alone for too long or in a way that prevents their needs from being met. Puppies need lots of opportunities to go to the toilet in the right place (and puppies have small bladders), interact with people, and exercise.

Toilet Training Dos and Don’ts

Toilet training is one of those milestones that takes patience and consistency. Start off with a consistent schedule to establish good toilet habits. You’ll want to:

• Establish a routine and stick with it! This includes a schedule, a cue word, and, as your puppy grows, options for them to signal to you that they need to go to the toilet (such as a training bell).
• Give your puppy ample opportunity to go to the toilet in the right place.
• Exercise patience and reward enthusiastically for the right behaviours.
• Get puppy gear that helps you and your puppy succeed, such as a crate with a divider, washable bedding, and puppy pads.

There are also some key mistakes to avoid, including:

• Getting frustrated, raising your voice, or using negative feedback
• Withholding food or water in an attempt to get your puppy to go longer without needing to potty
• Allowing your puppy to explore without supervision
• Using a crate that’s too big, since that can encourage your puppy to go to the toilet in it

Training Dos and Don’ts

As Ms Gordon notes, puppies are little sponges! They absorb everything around them, so during the first week at home, puppy parents can take advantage and begin very basic training.

You can set boundaries (like rules around furniture), start teaching basic cues (like sit and down), establish routines, and set a “marker” word like “yes” to teach your puppy when they’ve done the right thing.

Here’s what to do:

• Keep each session short and simple—no more than ten minutes, two to three times a day.
• Focus on only one objective during a session.
• Use encouragement and positive feedback.
• Be patient! Remember that your puppy is a baby and is experiencing these routines for the first time.
• Take a break if you or your puppy are showing signs of fatigue or frustration.
• Be consistent.

Here’s what not to do:

• Don’t use negative feedback or raise your voice.
• Don’t get frustrated—your puppy can read your body language.
• Don’t let training sessions run long, even if you’re having fun—your puppy will get tired fast.

Sleep Training Dos and Don’ts

Ms Levy recommends that puppies spend their first night crated in your bedroom, with plans to gradually move them to the area where they will be sleeping. This arrangement allows you to wake when they need to go to the toilet. It’s also possible that this is your puppy’s first night away from their mother and siblings—having your friendly presence nearby may help your puppy sleep through the night.

During their first week, your puppy should also have scheduled rest or nap times. They may not sleep, but they still need a rest and a break from stimulation.

There are also some things that can hinder sleep training. Here’s what to avoid:

• Don’t put your pup to bed when they’re wound up. Try to establish a period for your puppy to wind down before they go into their crate.
• Try not to respond to every whine (unless your puppy needs to go to the toilet).
• Don’t wake or bother a sleeping puppy. Let them rest!

Have Fun and Bond

According to Dr Ostermeier, the first week is all about developing your bond with your puppy. Take advantage of this quiet week to learn about your puppy: figure out what they like and don’t like, start developing a routine, take lots of pictures, and play with them.

Don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect. There will be times that are stressful (the puppy blues are real), you will lose some sleep, and accidents will happen. Don’t let it get you down, and enjoy what you can!