Good Advice
Bringing a puppy home is an exciting time, full of new experiences for the whole family. It’s also the start of an important journey together, where a little preparation and care can set the foundations for a happy routine and a strong bond. Here are a few tips to help you and your puppy settle in, establish a routine and enjoy this special stage.
Feeding
Most families find it easier to feed their puppy in a crate, and at this stage your puppy will need four meals a day. Establishing a regular routine is helpful for both of you - if their first meal is after 6.30am and their last no later than 6.30pm, it encourages a toileting pattern that fits naturally around bedtime and helps your puppy rest for longer overnight. The two meals in between can be arranged around your day, ideally spaced as evenly as possible to support a steady routine.
When your puppy first comes home, they’ll usually still be eating the food provided by their breeder. Once they’re settled, you may want to move them onto the food you’ve chosen gradually. Unless your vet advises otherwise, the best way to do this is with a gentle changeover, slowly reducing the breeder’s food and introducing yours, so your puppy’s digestion has time to adjust.
|
|
Breeder's food |
Your food |
|
Day 1 |
100% |
0% |
|
Day 2 |
80% |
20% |
|
Day 3 |
60% |
40% |
|
Day 4 |
40% |
60% |
|
Day 5 |
20% |
80% |
|
Day 6 |
0% |
100% |
Using a puppy crate
You may have come across different opinions about using a crate, so let’s be clear: when introduced in the right way, a crate is never a punishment. Instead, it’s a safe, cosy space where your puppy can relax and feel secure.
Just as their mother was given a quiet place to care for her litter, a crate offers your puppy the same sense of comfort and reassurance in a new environment. Over time, it becomes their very own den — a familiar spot for resting, sleeping, or simply watching the world around them with confidence.
Click the link for more information on setting up and using a crate.
Sleeping
Before your puppy comes home, it’s a good idea to have a crate ready for them to sleep in. Choose one that gives enough room to stand, stretch out and turn around comfortably, and consider using a divider so the space can grow with your puppy. Line the crate with warm, washable bedding. Some pups like it with a blanket draped over the top to make it extra snug. A piece of bedding from their breeder, or one the litter used to sleep on, can help your puppy feel at home with something familiar.
Always take your puppy out to the toilet before settling them in their crate. This helps avoid accidents and builds the idea that the crate is a clean, safe space. Keep the crate simple overnight with just bedding and water, and remove collars or anything that might cause a hazard.
To help avoid separation anxiety, it’s best to have your puppy’s crate in your bedroom for the first few weeks. Once they’re comfortable and more settled, you can gradually move it to the place you’d like them to sleep long-term. When bedtime comes, put your puppy in the crate, leave them to settle, and head to bed yourself. Covering the crate with a blanket can also make it feel snug and cosy, like a den.
In the early days, plan to put your puppy to bed a little before you’re ready to sleep. This way, you can give them 20–30 minutes to settle down quietly while you read or relax, and then be reassured they’re calm before you turn in for the night. Avoid TV or radio during this time, as extra noise can be distracting and may encourage your puppy to stay alert instead of winding down.
At night, gently take your puppy out at regular intervals to toilet, gradually lengthening the time between outings as they grow. If they wake or whine, check they’re safe and comfortable, then offer calm reassurance before letting them settle back down. In time, this gentle routine helps them sleep through the night with confidence.
Toileting
Your puppy should be taken into the garden every time:
• they wake up
• after they have eaten
• after they have had a good play
Young puppies need the opportunity to toilet every 30 minutes or so. Every puppy is different, and you’ll soon get to know your pup’s habits and routine. In the early days, it can be helpful to keep a note of when your puppy last toileted, especially if more than one person is supervising during the day.
It is vital to ignore any accidents and instead reward correct toileting in your garden with verbal praise and a small treat. Punishment never helps to teach your puppy, but positive reinforcement will encourage them to learn quickly and develop good habits.
Vets
Make sure that you register your puppy with your local vet on the day, or before, your puppy arrives as your vet will need the puppy to be registered with their practice before they can examine them.
All the information your vet will ask you about your puppy can be provided by your breeder, and your puppy’s health record is where everything health-wise should be recorded and should always go with them when you visit the vet.
It is important that you know where to take your puppy in case of an emergency. Some vets don’t operate 24/7 and they will give you details of the vets who do and who will accept your dog in that case.
For more information read more about the first vet visit.
Spending time with your puppy
Between meals, playtime and toilet breaks, your puppy will need plenty of rest. Creating a calm, quiet atmosphere helps them to settle, and one of the most important things they can learn at this stage is how to be calm themselves. Puppies take their lead from us, so by setting a relaxed environment you become their role model.
Vaccinations are essential to protect your puppy against serious and sometimes fatal diseases. Until your vet advises otherwise, it’s best to keep your puppy at home and in the garden. Full protection only develops once the vaccination course is complete, and until then your puppy should be kept away from unprotected dogs and areas where they may have been.
After a couple of weeks, once your puppy has started to settle in, you can begin introducing visitors. Keep visits small and manageable, and ask guests to remove their shoes and wash their hands before handling your puppy.
In these early weeks, don’t feel pressured to start structured training. Focus instead on building trust, getting to know each other and establishing a routine together. These foundations will support everything that follows.
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