Bringing home a new puppy for the first time is an incredibly exciting experience for the whole family. If you plan ahead, you can make those early days as stress-free as possible.
You probably can’t wait to welcome your new puppy home, but have you thought about what comes next? Devising a plan can help make things as stress-free as possible — for you and your new pet. Here’s what you need to consider for the first 24 hours.
Before you bring your new puppy home, use our checklist to make sure you and your family are as prepared as possible. Your preparations should include discussing training techniques, agreeing on where your puppy will sleep, and puppy-proofing your home.
The first 10 minutes: head outside
The very first thing you should do when you arrive home with your puppy is to take them to their newly designated ‘potty spot’. They’ll probably need to relieve themselves, and it’s never too early to start toilet training!
The first hour: settling in
Bear in mind that everything is very overwhelming for your puppy right now. They’ve just left their mother and littermates for the first time and are coming to terms with their new surroundings, complete with new smells and people. This may make some puppies a little scared or fearful – which is a completely normal reaction.
Even if your home is puppy-proofed, it’s a good idea to restrict access to one or two rooms for the first day. Giving them access to the whole house straight away can be confusing and scary. Whichever rooms you’re using, make sure your puppy has a designated area for food and water, in addition to a cosy bed. Make sure you’ve also secured any cables which your new puppy might be tempted to chew or get tangled in.
Time for a toilet break
Puppies have small bladders, and usually need to go to the toilet every hour or two. Make sure you take your puppy outside to their potty spot at least once an hour. You may decide to put some puppy pads down inside your house just in case of accidents as well.
The second hour: gentle introductions
Everyone in your home will be very excited to meet their new friend – but loud noises and being passed from person to person may make your puppy feel stressed and uncomfortable. It’s a good idea to limit greetings to immediate family for the first day, then slowly introduce new people when your puppy seems ready. Keep an eye on your puppy’s body language and be sure to give them plenty of breaks as they meet the family.
If you have other pets, introduce them to your puppy in a careful and sympathetic way. There are all kinds of strategies you can try, including scent transference, meeting on neutral territory, or using a baby gate to separate your pets while still allowing them to interact.
Time for a nap
Puppies have a lot of energy, but they also tire quickly. You might find your puppy drops off to sleep in some strange places! It’s best to just let them sleep rather than move them to their bed. Over time your puppy will learn where their bed is and start napping there more often.
Time for food
All that activity means your puppy will soon start to feel hungry! You should start by offering your puppy three measured meals each day. Your puppy’s breeder may send some food home in their puppy pack, or you can ask what brand they feed and buy some of the same. Sticking to the same food for at least the first few weeks and weaning your puppy off it gradually can reduce the risk of an upset tummy.
The rest of the day: exploring their new home
During the rest of your puppy’s first day at home you can allow them to explore their new home, spend time with their family and generally get more comfortable with their new surroundings. You can also start to set a routine around going outside to the toilet and feeding times. Make sure you supervise your puppy at all times — it doesn’t take them long to find or create trouble!
Your puppy’s first night at home
The first night with a new puppy can be difficult, so don’t expect them to settle down to sleep straight away. There are a few steps you can take to make things more comfortable.
Whether you’re going to crate train your puppy or put their bed in a quiet corner of a room, adding a hot water bottle can mimic the effect of their mother’s warm body and help reassure them for their first night alone. If you are going to use a crate, you’ll need to work up to them spending time in the crate slowly.
During the night, you’ll probably need to check on your puppy every few hours. You might be tempted to bring your puppy into your bedroom — or even allow them to sleep in your bed. But be aware this isn’t recommended, especially if you’re expecting them to sleep somewhere else later on. In terms of puppy milestones, most should be able to sleep for up to seven hours at night by the time they’re four months old. By eight months old, they should be able to let you know they need the toilet and hold their bladder for the entire night.
Starting training
As your puppy settles into their new home, you can start to think about training. While it’s never too early to introduce basic commands like sit and stay, more formal puppy training classes and advanced techniques can wait until they’re around three months old. You should always wait until your pup has had all their vaccinations.
Hopefully, you’re now feeling better prepared for the first 24 hours with your adorable new puppy. If you’ve got any tips to share, we’d love to hear them. Use the #PethoodStories tag on social media and let us know!