Bringing Your Pet Home
The first few days with a new puppy
The first week sets the habits you will live with for a decade. Prioritise sleep, toileting rhythm and calm — training tricks can wait.
By Marcus Vance · Reviewed by Dr. Priya Anand, DVM, DACVIM · Updated 2026-08-02 · 9 min read
Sleep is the priority
Puppies need 18–20 hours of sleep a day. Most 'hyperactive' or nippy puppies are simply overtired. Enforce nap time in a crate or pen after every 45–60 minutes awake.
House training rhythm
Take the puppy out after waking, after eating, after play and every hour in between. Reward outdoors within two seconds of finishing. Never punish an indoor accident — it teaches the puppy to hide, not to hold.
Socialisation before 16 weeks
The primary socialisation window closes around 12–16 weeks. Prioritise calm exposure to surfaces, sounds, handling and a small number of stable adult dogs — quality over volume. Carry the puppy in public spaces until the vaccination course is complete.
Feeding and vet care
Keep the breeder's food for at least a week, feed three to four meals a day until four months, and book a vet check within 72 hours of pickup.
Frequently asked questions
- Should a puppy sleep in my bedroom on night one?
- Yes — a crate beside the bed for the first weeks reduces night distress and makes it easy to hear a toileting cue.