Your First Week With a New Puppy: A Day-by-Day Checklist

In the first week with a new puppy, focus on four things: a safe space, a predictable routine, frequent potty breaks and a first vet visit. Keep the house calm, let your puppy sleep a lot, and start gentle, reward-based training from day one. Big outings, lots of visitors and long walks can wait.

Every puppy is different, so use this as a checklist rather than a script, and ask your veterinarian about anything specific to your puppy’s age, breed or health.

Before your puppy comes home

Have the basics ready so the first day is about settling in, not shopping. Our new puppy supplies checklist goes into more detail.

• Crate or puppy pen sized for your puppy, with a divider if it is a large crate
• Bed and washable blankets
• Food: the same food the breeder or shelter used, at least for the first days
• Food and water bowls
• Collar or harness, leash and ID tag with your phone number
• Chew toys suitable for the puppy’s size
• Enzymatic cleaner for accidents
• Baby gates to limit access to stairs and rooms

Puppy-proof the house. Move electrical cords, shoes, medicines, cleaning products, houseplants and small objects out of reach. Some common plants are toxic to dogs; ask your vet or check the ASPCA toxic plant list. Keep trash cans closed and human food off low tables.

Day 1: arrival

1. Go straight to the potty spot when you arrive and praise calmly if your puppy goes.
2. Show the safe space: the crate or pen with a bed, water and a chew.
3. Keep it quiet. Limit visitors, avoid passing the puppy around, and let it explore one or two rooms at its own pace.
4. Feed the familiar food at the times the breeder or shelter used.
5. Plan for the first night. Many puppies settle better if the crate is near your bed at first. Expect at least one overnight potty trip for young puppies.

Days 2-3: build the routine

Puppies thrive on predictability. A simple daily rhythm might look like this:

Take your puppy out after waking, after eating or drinking, after play, and every hour or two while awake at first. Reward with a treat and praise right after it goes. Our guide to house training a puppy explains schedules and how to handle accidents.

Days 3-5: first vet visit

Book a vet appointment within the first few days, even if your puppy seems healthy. Bring any paperwork from the breeder or shelter, including vaccination and deworming records.

At the visit, your vet will usually:

• do a full physical exam;
• review and plan vaccinations. Under AAHA guidelines, the puppy series commonly starts between about 6 and 8 weeks and continues with boosters every few weeks until around 16 weeks of age, but your vet sets the exact schedule;
• discuss parasite prevention (worms, fleas, ticks and, where relevant, heartworm);
• check or place a microchip, and remind you to register it with your details;
• talk about food, growth and when to discuss spaying or neutering.

Ask your vet where it is safe to take your puppy before vaccinations are complete. Our puppy vaccination schedule explains the basics.

Days 5-7: gentle training and socialization

• Start name recognition and simple cues like sit, using tiny treats and very short sessions of a few minutes.
• Teach the crate is a good place by feeding meals and giving chews there, with the door open at first.
• Handle paws, ears and mouth gently for a few seconds at a time, followed by a treat, to prepare for grooming and vet visits.
• Introduce new sounds and people calmly, keeping experiences short and positive. Ask your vet how to socialize safely before vaccinations are finished.
• Redirect mouthing onto a toy rather than scolding. Puppy biting is normal and usually fades with consistent redirection.

Use rewards, not punishment. Yelling, physical corrections or rubbing a puppy’s nose in accidents can make it fearful and slow down learning.

Sleep and quiet time

Young puppies need a lot of sleep, and overtired puppies often get bitey and wild. Build regular naps into the day, ideally in the crate or pen in a quiet spot. Children in the house should learn to leave a sleeping puppy alone.

House rules to agree on early

• Is the puppy allowed on furniture or beds?
• Which rooms are off-limits?
• Who feeds, walks and takes the puppy out at night?
• Which words will everyone use for cues like sit, down and potty?

Consistency from everyone in the household helps a puppy learn faster.

When to call the vet right away

Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately if your puppy:

• vomits repeatedly or has diarrhea, especially with blood;
• stops eating or drinking, or seems very lethargic;
• has trouble breathing, collapses or has a seizure;
• may have swallowed something toxic or a foreign object.

Young puppies can become seriously ill quickly. For possible poisoning in the US, you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

Bottom line

Keep the first week calm and simple: a safe space, a predictable routine, frequent potty breaks, plenty of sleep and an early vet visit. Start reward-based training in tiny steps and save big adventures for later.

FAQ

Should my puppy sleep in my bedroom?

Many owners find a crate near the bed helps a new puppy settle and makes night potty trips easier. You can move the crate gradually later if you prefer.

Is it normal for a puppy to cry at night?

Yes, especially in the first nights. Make sure needs are met, take it out to potty if needed, and keep night trips calm and boring so it learns night is for sleep.

When can I walk my puppy outside?

Ask your vet. It depends on your puppy’s vaccination status and local disease risks. Carrying your puppy to see the world can help in the meantime.

Should I change my puppy’s food right away?

No. Keep the familiar food for the first days, then switch gradually over about a week if you want to change it.