Start here: your first week with a new puppy

Brand-new owner? This is the short version — what to set up before pickup, the first-week routine, and the free checklist that keeps it all straight.

Before pickup day

Set up the space first

A puppy does best with a small, safe world that grows as they earn trust. Before you bring them home, get these in place so day one is calm instead of frantic.

A right-sized crate with a divider so it grows with your pup.
A gated puppy zone — one easy-to-clean room or an exercise pen.
Food and water bowls, plus the same food your breeder or shelter was using.
A flat collar, ID tag, and a light leash.
A couple of safe chew toys for teething relief.
Enzyme cleaner for the accidents that will happen.

See the full Starter Kit roundup →

A young puppy exploring a tidy home for the first time

The first week

A simple day-one to day-seven plan

You don't need to do everything at once. Here's the order that keeps a puppy calm and learning.

Days 1–2: Settle in

Keep it quiet. Show them the potty spot, the crate, and where food and water live. Let them sleep — puppies need 18–20 hours a day. Start your potty routine immediately.

Days 3–5: Routine

Lock in a feeding, potty, play, nap rhythm. Begin gentle crate training and reward every potty outside. Introduce the name and a happy “come.”

Days 6–7: First lessons

Short, treat-based sessions for sit and come. Book the first vet visit and start safe, careful socialization.

Want it on one page?

Download the free New-Puppy Checklist — the supply list, the pre-pickup setup, and the week-one routine in a single printable sheet.

FAQ

First-week questions

How soon can I start training?

Day one. Puppies are learning from the moment they arrive, so the kindest thing you can do is start a gentle routine right away. Keep sessions short (2–5 minutes) and end on a win.

My puppy cries in the crate at night. Is that normal?

Very. The first few nights are an adjustment. Keep the crate near your bed at first, take them out for a quiet potty break if needed, and avoid making a big fuss. Our crate-training guide walks through the full settling routine.

What's the single most important first-week habit?

A consistent potty schedule. Out first thing, after every meal, after naps and play, and last thing at night — reward heavily for going outside. Consistency now saves weeks of accidents later.

Ready for the next play?

Once the basics are set, the training and health guides take it from here. Start wherever your puppy needs the most help.

Open the training guides