Bringing a puppy home is one of life’s most exciting moments — and one of the most overwhelming for both you and your new companion. Your puppy has just left their mother, littermates, and everything they’ve ever known. How you handle the first 7 days sets the foundation for your entire relationship. This guide gives you a night-by-night, day-by-day plan based on current UK veterinary and behavioural guidance.
Before Collection Day
- Puppy-proof one room — remove cables, toxic plants, small objects. Think from floor level
- Essential kit: crate (sized so puppy can stand/turn/lie down), veterinary-grade enzyme cleaner, puppy pads, food & water bowls, collar with ID tag (legal requirement), harness, appropriate chew toys, comfortable bedding
- Ask the breeder for: a blanket/cloth with their mother’s scent, the exact food they’ve been eating (keep using it for at least 2 weeks), vaccination records, microchip details, worming schedule
- Register with a local vet before collection — book a health check within 48 hours of arrival
Day 1: Arrival
- Collect puppy at least 1 hour after their last meal (reduces travel sickness)
- Bring: carrier or secure travel crate, puppy pads, water, the scent blanket from the breeder
- On arrival home: carry puppy to their designated outdoor toilet area first. Wait calmly. Praise immediately when they go
- Introduce to one room only. Let them explore at their own pace. No visitors, no excitement
- Offer their familiar food in a quiet spot. Don’t worry if they don’t eat much — this is normal
Night 1–3: The Hardest Part
- Place the crate right next to your bed — your puppy can hear and smell you, which dramatically reduces crying
- Put the breeder’s scent blanket inside the crate. A ticking clock or heartbeat toy can mimic littermate comfort
- Last toilet trip just before bed. Set an alarm for halfway through the night (approximately 3–4 hours) for a silent, boring toilet trip: lights off, no talking, no play. Out, toileted, back in crate
- If puppy cries: a calm “shhh” or placing your hand near the crate is fine. Do not pick them up or bring them into your bed — this creates a pattern that becomes extremely difficult to reverse
- By night 3, most puppies are settling significantly better
Toilet Training Schedule
Puppies have tiny bladders and cannot “hold it” for more than 1–2 hours at 8 weeks. Take them outside:
- Immediately on waking (every time — including after naps)
- After every meal
- After play sessions
- After excitement (visitors, handling)
- Every 2 hours during the day as a minimum
- Last thing before bed
Use a verbal cue (“be quick” or “toilet”) every time they go. Praise and treat immediately as they finish — not when they come back inside.
Accidents will happen. Clean with enzyme cleaner (not bleach — bleach contains ammonia which smells like urine to dogs). Never scold a puppy for toileting indoors — they will learn to hide from you to toilet, not to toilet outside.
Days 2–7: Building Routine
Puppies thrive on predictability. Establish a daily pattern:
- Feeding: 3–4 small meals per day at the same times. Use the breeder’s food initially
- Sleep: Puppies need 18–20 hours of sleep per day. Enforce naps in the crate — an overtired puppy is a biting, crazy puppy
- Gentle handling: Begin touching paws, ears, mouth daily — preparing for vet visits and grooming
- Short training: 2–3 minute sessions only. Name recognition, eye contact, sitting for food
- Alone time: Begin leaving the room for 30 seconds, then 1 minute, then 2 minutes — building independence gradually
FAQs
Can my puppy go in the garden before vaccinations are complete?
Yes — your own private garden is safe and essential for toilet training, provided no unvaccinated dogs or foxes regularly access it. Your puppy cannot go on public pavements, parks, or any area where other dogs walk until 1–2 weeks after their second vaccination (typically around 12–14 weeks). You can carry your puppy in public places to begin socialisation — they just cannot touch the ground.