Bringing home a puppy: the first weeks

Before your puppy arrives

A little preparation makes the first days much smoother. Go round your home at puppy height and look for hazards.

• Move electrical cables out of reach or cover them.
• Put shoes, children's toys, medicines, cleaning products and bins out of reach.
• Block off stairs and any rooms you do not want your puppy in.
• Check the garden for gaps in fences, toxic plants and slug pellets or other chemicals.
• Keep human foods that are dangerous to dogs well out of reach. Our toxic foods list is a useful reference.

Set up a quiet resting area with a comfortable bed, and a crate or pen if you plan to use one. Place it somewhere your puppy can rest without being disturbed but is not shut away from the household.

A simple shopping list

• The food your puppy is currently eating, so you can avoid sudden changes
• Food and water bowls
• A soft collar or harness, an ID tag and a lead
• A bed, plus a crate or puppy pen if you are using one
• A few safe chew toys of different textures
• Enzyme cleaner for accidents
• Puppy-safe grooming tools

In the UK, puppies must be microchipped by the breeder before they go home, so ask for the microchip details and update them with your own.

The first days

Moving home is a big change for a young puppy. Keep things calm.

• Bring your puppy home when someone can be around for the first few days.
• Let them explore one or two rooms at a time rather than the whole house.
• Keep visitors to a minimum at first, however tempting it is to show them off.
• Supervise children closely and teach them to let the puppy come to them, and to leave the puppy alone while eating or sleeping.
• Start a simple routine for meals, toilet trips, play and naps.

Some puppies cry at night at first. Many owners find it helps to have the puppy sleep near them for the first nights, then gradually move the bed to its permanent place. Something that smells of the litter, if the breeder offers it, can be comforting.

Feeding little and often

Puppies have small stomachs and high energy needs, so they usually eat several small meals a day. The number of meals typically reduces as they grow, but the exact pattern depends on age, breed and the food you use.

• Follow the puppy feeding guidance on your food's packaging as a starting point. It is usually based on age and expected adult weight.
• Weigh portions with kitchen scales rather than using a cup or scoop. Scoops can be surprisingly inaccurate.
• Divide the daily amount into the number of meals that suits your puppy's age.
• Keep fresh water available at all times.
• If you want to change food, do it gradually over several days to avoid an upset stomach.
• Count training treats as part of the daily amount.

The feeding tools on the Petopedia calculators page can give you a rough idea, and our guide on how much to feed your dog explains more. Large and giant breed puppies often do best on a food designed for large-breed growth, so ask your vet if you are unsure.

Toilet training

Toilet training takes patience and consistency. Most progress comes from taking your puppy out often and rewarding success.

• Take your puppy outside when they wake, after meals, after play and at regular intervals in between.
• Go to the same spot each time and stay with them.
• Use a quiet cue word while they go, then reward immediately with praise or a small treat.
• Watch for signs such as sniffing the floor, circling or heading for a corner.
• If an accident happens, calmly take them outside. Clean the area with an enzyme cleaner to remove the scent.

Never punish accidents. It tends to teach a puppy to hide from you when they need to go, which makes training harder. Many puppies take several months to become reliable, and setbacks are normal.

Sleep

Puppies need much more sleep than adult dogs, and an overtired puppy can become bitey and overexcited. Make sure your puppy gets regular naps in a quiet place during the day. If they are getting wild, a calm rest in their bed or pen often helps more than more play.

Gentle socialisation

The first few months are an important time for puppies to learn that the world is safe. The aim is positive, calm experiences rather than as many as possible.

• Introduce everyday sounds, such as the vacuum cleaner, doorbell and traffic, at a low level first.
• Let your puppy meet calm people of different ages and appearances.
• Arrange meetings with friendly, healthy, vaccinated adult dogs you know.
• Carry your puppy to see the outside world before they are fully protected by vaccinations, if your vet advises this.
• Gently handle paws, ears and mouth to prepare for grooming and vet visits.

Always let your puppy retreat if they seem worried, and keep sessions short. Puppy classes run by reward-based trainers can be helpful. Ask your vet when it is safe for your puppy to mix with unfamiliar dogs and go to public places.

The first vet visit

Book a vet appointment soon after your puppy comes home. Your vet will give them a health check and talk you through ongoing care. Use the visit to ask about:

• A vaccination plan that suits your puppy and where you live
• Flea, tick and worm prevention, and which products are safe at your puppy's age and weight
• When your puppy can safely go out in public places
• Neutering, and the right timing for your puppy's breed and size
• Diet, growth and dental care
• Pet insurance, if you are considering it

Vaccination and parasite schedules vary depending on the vaccines used, your puppy's history and local risks, so follow your own vet's plan rather than a general timetable. Bring any paperwork from the breeder or rescue.

Exercise while your puppy is growing

Puppies need play and exploration, but their joints are still developing. Short, gentle outings and free play on soft ground suit them best. Avoid long forced walks, running alongside a bike and lots of jumping, especially for large breeds. Our guide on how much exercise a dog needs covers this in more detail.

Start a weight log

Weighing your puppy regularly is one of the simplest ways to check they are growing steadily. Many vet practices will let you use their scales, or you can weigh yourself holding your puppy and subtract your own weight.

Record the date and weight each time. A steady upward trend is reassuring, while a sudden stall, loss or very rapid gain is worth discussing with your vet. You can create a free Petopedia account to keep a weight log, track feeding and note milestones in one place. Our healthy weight and body condition guide explains how to check your puppy's shape as they grow.

When to talk to your vet

Contact your vet promptly if your puppy has vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with blood or more than once; stops eating or drinking; seems lethargic or weak; has difficulty breathing; or you think they have eaten something harmful. Young puppies can become unwell quickly, so it is better to call early.