Welcome to the exciting, and sometimes overwhelming, journey of puppy parenthood! This isn’t just another generic guide to puppy preparedness. While puppy-proofing and stocking up on chew toys are important, we’re going to delve into the unexpected challenges and the simple, yet profound, truths about what truly matters in your first week with a new puppy. Understanding the Puppy Training Basics The First Week is crucial for a smooth transition for both you and your furry friend.
I’m Jake, and alongside my wife Erin, we’ve spent years as dog trainers and shelter staff, supporting thousands of new puppy parents through this transformative period. We’ve witnessed firsthand the common pitfalls, the secret anxieties, and the mistakes that can make life harder than it needs to be. More importantly, we’ve identified the key principles that empower you to catch your breath and lay the foundation for a lifetime of adventure with your new best friend. Let’s get started on setting the stage for success.
The Very First Thing to Do: An Exercise in Empathy
This might sound like a surprising starting point, but trust us, it’s foundational. While puppies are undeniably delightful, and raising them can be an incredibly rewarding experience, the first step is to shift your perspective. Take a moment to truly put yourself in your puppy’s tiny paws and recognize the immense stress and change they are undergoing.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Your Puppy’s Experience
For most puppies, moving to a new home is far from a purely joyful event. Imagine a toddler suddenly separated from their entire family – their mother, siblings, and familiar environment – never to see them again. If they came from a shelter, this adds another layer of fear and instability to an already tumultuous experience.
They are now surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar place, bombarded with new smells, sounds, faces, and a completely new set of rules that make no sense to them. Seriously, really sit with this thought for a minute. Many adult humans would struggle immensely with such a dramatic upheaval, yet we expect puppies to simply “roll with it.” We anticipate instant cuddles, immediate bonding, gratitude for their rescue, charming entertainment, sleeping through the night, perfect potty habits, and an eagerness to learn obedience commands.
This isn’t to say getting a puppy is a bad decision, but in our excitement (or amidst the “puppy blues”), we must honor the profound experience of the tiny being sharing this journey with us. Our core advice to all students is: Let empathy be your guide.
Empathy isn’t just a warm, fuzzy feeling; it’s a powerful strategy that can prevent you from feeling stuck or overwhelmed. When you approach puppy care with empathy, many challenges become more intuitive, and setbacks are easier to navigate. Remember, your puppy hasn’t even had a chance to catch their breath yet, even if you’re eager to jump into activities and training. When impatience or frustration arises, recall how incredibly young they are. And if they don’t immediately want to cuddle or listen, remember they don’t know you yet. That bond will grow.
What to Expect When You Bring Home a Puppy
You Might Experience a Honeymoon Phase
Initially, you might enter a brief, almost magical period where your puppy seems surprisingly calm, sweet, and gentle. This “honeymoon phase” often lasts only a few hours or days. Your new companion appears well-behaved, but as they settle in and become more comfortable, they may become… less calm and well-behaved.
It’s important to understand that they aren’t consciously “being good” or trying to manipulate you during this phase. They are simply in a state of shock, doing very little as their world has just been turned upside down. As they relax and gain confidence, they start exploring, testing boundaries, and doing more “puppy things.” Eventually, your puppy might chew a shoe, nip at a child, or frighten another pet. They might also realize you’re their new parent, and puppies naturally seek attention, sometimes through vocalizations. This often leads to the next phase.
The “What the **** Was I Thinking” Phase
Let’s call it the “WTFWIT” phase for short. This is where things might feel overwhelming, and you might question your decision to get a puppy. Often referred to as “puppy blues,” this term, in my opinion, doesn’t fully capture the genuine desperation and despair some people experience.
Not everyone goes through this phase, but enough do that it has become a significant area of focus for us as dog trainers. If you find yourself in this state, know that you are not alone, and it is a common, though challenging, part of the puppy journey.
You’re Gonna Think They Have Separation Anxiety. They Probably Don’t.
Almost every new puppy parent suspects separation anxiety at some point. Your puppy screams when you step out of sight, wails in their crate at night, or has a meltdown if you leave the room for mere seconds. It’s natural to panic, thinking, “Oh no, my puppy has separation anxiety! My life is over!”
However, this behavior is usually normal. Puppies need to be taught how to manage alone time and confinement. Being alone, especially in a crate, is not an innate skill; it’s something they must learn, just like house training or understanding commands. Alone time training is as standard a part of puppy-raising as potty training and socialization. It’s often overlooked, leaving well-prepared adopters scrambling to manage a noisy disruption to their lives.
Many express concerns about disturbing neighbors, being unable to concentrate while working from home, or feeling utterly overstimulated by constant noise. If new puppy owners understood this was a common developmental stage, they could plan for it. So, don’t panic. It’s likely not separation anxiety; think of it as a rite of passage.
Nothing is Going to Go the Way You Plan or Expect
I considered myself the most prepared first-time dog owner. Then came day two with my first puppy, and I realized she hadn’t read the same training books I had. I genuinely felt lost.
Your puppy won’t behave exactly as you envision. They won’t be like your previous dog, nor will they respond to training precisely as the demo dogs in online videos do. That meticulously planned daily schedule? They probably won’t care about it. This isn’t a negative; it’s simply reality. It’s life with a young, developing creature.
It’s Also Going to Feel Different Than You Expected
You won’t be happy every moment. You might feel frustrated, bored, sad, regretful, or even resentful – and then guilty for feeling that way. This is a profoundly intense emotional experience, capable of unearthing all sorts of complicated feelings, often amplifying existing emotions like depression, ADHD symptoms, or grief.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a dog if you’re going through personal challenges. Many of life’s most meaningful experiences aren’t purely “fun.” It simply means you must be prepared to ride these emotional waves instead of fighting them or concluding that low moments mean you’re not fit for puppy parenthood.
What to Do First
These steps are ideally done before your puppy arrives, but can still be implemented afterwards.
Set Up Your Puppy Base Camp
Puppies have a charming habit of leaving a trail of destruction, from chewing everything to having accidents and fearlessly launching themselves at other pets. This is why you need a system for containment, not just a crate or a playpen tucked away. While those are helpful, remember your puppy will likely cry when separated from you.
Do yourself a favor and cordon off an area where you and your puppy will spend most of your time. The living room is often ideal. This way, when exhaustion hits and you collapse on the couch, you won’t have to leap up three seconds later because your pup has wandered into another room to cause mischief.
A small puppy sitting calmly within a designated living room basecamp, created with baby gates.
You can use baby gates if your home layout allows, or an opened-up playpen to create a secure fence-like barrier. This base camp should be set up to encourage good choices and prevent bad ones. Puppy-proof the area thoroughly: remove or block access to anything you don’t want chewed or that could harm them, such as shoes, books, children’s toys, cleaning supplies, and electrical cords. For valuable items that cannot be removed, consider using a bitter-tasting deterrent spray like Bitter Apple, testing it first on an inconspicuous area for staining.
Gather Your Puppy Survival Kit
A crucial part of your puppy containment system should be a crate and/or a playpen. Both, if possible, offer the most flexibility. A crate provides a completely secure containment option when you cannot supervise directly.
Stock up on chew toys – lots of them! Fill your puppy’s base camp with a variety (squeaky, plush, Nylabone-type) to encourage good chewing habits and help you discover what your puppy prefers. Puzzle toys, especially Kong-style ones that can be stuffed with treats, are excellent for keeping your pup mentally stimulated and busy. Training treats, soft and chopped into pea-sized pieces, are essential for rewarding good behavior.
A high-quality puppy-pee remover is a must. Enzymatic cleaners, like Nature’s Miracle, are vital because they effectively eliminate the scent, preventing your puppy from returning to the same spot. Keep plenty of paper towels on hand. Having a good supply of cleaning products can actually make it easier to handle inevitable accidents without self-reproach.
Establish Your Village
The new puppy parents who struggle the most are those who try to manage everything independently. Raising a puppy, when done correctly, demands significant time, energy, and a level of patience and emotional regulation that no human can sustain 24/7. You will need backup.
Your “village” could include:
- A partner, friend, or family member who can take over puppy duty, allowing you to shower or nap.
- A trusted dog sitter, neighbor, or friend who can let your puppy out for potty breaks when you’re at work.
- A “Grandma’s house” – a friend or relative who enjoys babysitting.
- A supportive, non-judgmental online or local community where you can vent, ask questions, and commiserate with others on the same journey.
- Professionals like your vet or local dog trainers for solid, reliable advice. Remember, vets are not trainers, and trainers are not vets; both are valuable resources.
The puppy adjustment period can make you feel like your freedom and sanity have vanished. Your village is instrumental in helping you reclaim both. Whether you need practical assistance (“Can you watch him for two hours so I can get groceries?”) or emotional support (“Am I the only one who sometimes dislikes their puppy?”), don’t wait until you’re in crisis mode to ask for help.
Put Together a Rough Draft of Your Puppy’s Daily Schedule
The emphasis here is on rough draft, because no plan truly survives contact with a baby animal. While routines are important for helping puppies settle and feel secure, many people overthink and stress about creating the “perfect” routine. Having some kind of daily routine is valuable, but it’s not about pre-planning every hour perfectly.
Take 20 minutes to outline a tentative routine. You don’t need a rigid, hour-by-hour breakdown; flexibility is key. However, aim to establish consistent times for key events like:
- Wake-up and first potty break
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Bedtime
Think of this schedule as being written in pencil, not ink. Treat your first week as a trial-and-error period. You might plan a 7 AM wake-up, only to discover your puppy insists on sounding the alarm at 5:50 AM precisely. Embracing this “rough draft” mentality allows you to adapt rather than spiral into frustration.
The First Week: Essential Puppy Training Basics
A cute puppy lying upside down on its back, fast asleep and looking content.
The Strategy for Success
If you’ve Googled “what to do with a new puppy,” you’ve probably encountered countless checklists that sound like a military boot camp: “Teach these 10 CRITICAL Commands! Start crate training! Master leash walking! Prevent separation anxiety! Expose them to 100 new things! And DON’T SCREW UP!” This can make you feel behind before you even begin. Relax; you’re not.
What truly matters in the first week of puppy training basics: re-establishing stability as things settle. Both your life and your puppy’s life have just undergone a massive change. Your puppy doesn’t yet know you’re the best thing that ever happened to them. Before worrying about obedience or training milestones, focus on making them feel safe and understood.
Think of this week as an orientation period, not a training program. You are showing your puppy what life in your home is like: when things happen, where the bathroom is, and that you are a predictable, trustworthy source of good things. Go slow and keep things low-key. Friends, relatives, and neighbors will want to meet your new pup, and they absolutely should – but not yet. Avoid overwhelming your puppy. They need to get to know their immediate family first. Explain to everyone that they’ll be invited to meet the pup next week, in small groups.
Be kind to yourself. Your carefully crafted plans will likely crumble. You’ll experience unexpected emotions. You’ll be too exhausted to be your best self. All of this is perfectly okay.
Now, let’s discuss how to put these puppy training basics into practice. (This article is already quite extensive; our comprehensive online puppy training program offers all the step-by-step guidance you could desire.)
What to Do on the First Day with Your New Puppy
- First stop: the puppy’s designated bathroom area.
- Offer water.
- Allow them to meet all household humans. Humans should sit down (on the floor if comfortable) and let the puppy approach them.
- If the pup shows interest, offer a snack or meal.
- Provide quiet time for rest. This was a lot for them to process!
Throughout the Day
Supervise your puppy closely. Use management tools like playpens to prevent them from chewing inappropriate items or harassing other pets. Most puppies are somewhat dazed on day one, so they might not get into too much trouble initially.
Aim to avoid potty accidents, but expect them to happen. The first time your pup pees on the floor is often when the surreal “oh crap, this puppy thing is real!” feeling sets in. This is normal. Take them to the bathroom frequently, at least once an hour while they are awake.
Throughout the First Week: Key Puppy Training Basics
Two playful puppies, River and Merlin, mid-zoomies in an indoor setting.
Watch Out for Hyper Attack Mode
This is our term for when puppies seem to lose their minds and go completely wild. They might start biting like crazy, tugging at clothes, or frantically searching for things to destroy, and everything you try seems to make it worse. People often describe it as their puppy being “possessed,” “defiant,” or “attacking for no reason.”
As shocking as it can feel, don’t worry: it’s not aggression, and your puppy doesn’t hate you. Hyper attack mode occurs when a baby animal’s stress, excitement, or exhaustion reaches critical mass. It usually indicates one (or more) of the following:
- They are overtired. This is the canine equivalent of a toddler’s meltdown.
- They are overstimulated. Too much play, chaos, noise, or touching.
- They are under-exercised. All that pent-up energy needs an outlet.
- They need a snack or a potty break. Basic physical needs can quickly turn an angel into a gremlin.
- They are finally feeling safe enough to “let loose.” While inconvenient, this is actually a positive sign of comfort.
- It’s around 6 PM. The “puppy witching hour” is a real phenomenon.
When this happens, don’t take it personally. This is simply how puppies behave when a need isn’t being met. The best response is to remain calm and help them address that need. While our program details how to stop and prevent Hyper Attack Mode, a safe bet is that your little pup desperately needs a nap.
Prioritize Sleep
One major reason puppies become wild and obnoxious is chronic sleep deprivation. Ensure their environment is comfortable and conducive to sleep: dark, relatively quiet (but perhaps not too quiet; some white noise like a fan can help), and a pleasant temperature. You might consider draping a blanket over their crate.
When your puppy sleeps, let them be. I know it’s incredibly tempting to touch a sleeping puppy, as they are among the most adorable creatures, but resist the urge.
Start House Training
Our program outlines about nine elements for successful potty training, but here are the top three puppy training basics for house training:
- Close supervision to prevent accidents. Watch your puppy diligently when they are roaming the house.
- Frequent trips to the bathroom. Puppies lack the physical control to “hold it” for long periods.
- Reward good potty behavior. When they go in the right place, offer praise and a few treats.
Don’t Worry About Alone-Training Just Yet
While it’s true that puppies need to learn to be alone, and it’s an important skill, the first week is generally not the time to focus on it, unless you absolutely have no other choice but to leave your puppy unsupervised for extended periods.
During this initial week, the best thing you can do for their long-term independence is to help them feel safe and secure. The primary factor in preventing separation anxiety is forming a secure attachment – a strong bond with a caregiver (that’s you!) who always has their back. So for now, don’t stress about sneaking out of the room or staging mini departures. Keep them close, comfort them when they’re upset, and allow that vital bond to begin to grow.
Catch Them in the Act… of Doing Something Right
“Okay, random internet dog trainer, if I’m not supposed to focus on intensive training this week, how do I start teaching my puppy good habits?” Excellent question, random blog reader! The answer is simple:
Throughout the day, pay close attention to your puppy and actively notice when they do something you like. Then, reward that behavior, typically with a small food treat. This might require some mental reprogramming at first. We’re often conditioned to only notice when our dogs do something we don’t like. This is understandable; with busy lives, as long as our dogs aren’t misbehaving, they tend to fade from our immediate attention.
Consider this scenario: A family is watching TV, and the puppy is quietly playing or resting on the floor. If the puppy is not jumping on or biting a child nearby, this is FANTASTIC behavior! Yet, often no one is paying attention to the puppy. Until the puppy gets bored and decides to nip at the child, suddenly, the child makes a fun squeaky noise, and everyone is paying attention to the puppy. We need to flip this script.
What Kind of Behavior Should You Reward?
Anything you want to see more of! This includes, but is not limited to:
- Playing quietly in their pen.
- Interacting with children without jumping or biting.
- Being near another pet without chomping them.
- Approaching you on their own without being called (this “checking in” is a great training foundation).
- Choosing to lie down calmly instead of restlessly exploring the house.
You Can Also Play Some Puppy Training Games
A screenshot from a puppy training video, showing a hand offering a treat to a small puppy.
These casual games offer a fun, no-pressure way to introduce good manners, expend energy, and strengthen the bond with your family. They are a great way to start with training a puppy basic commands.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Fetch: A timeless classic. To teach your pup, use two toys. Throw one, and when your puppy grabs it, wave the second toy to entice them back. When they return, gently take the first toy and throw the second.
- Flirt Pole: A fun toy often described as a giant cat teaser, essentially a dog toy on a rope. Excellent for puppies who need encouragement to chase. Even dogs who aren’t keen on fetch often love this game. You can buy one or easily make your own.
- Chase: Get down to your puppy’s level, gently nudge them, then run away. Let them “catch” you, then praise and offer a toy or treat. This naturally builds beginner “come when called” skills. These are basic command training for dogs taught through play.
Puppies love to play, but they have very short attention spans. Plan for several 2-10 minute play sessions throughout the day. In the first weeks, some puppies may be too shy or overwhelmed to play. This is perfectly fine. Proceed at their pace; they will eventually come around. My shy puppy, Jonas, took several days before he would play with me, but he eventually became very enthusiastic about fetch and tug-of-war.
If you believe your puppy is unusually fearful or barks at strangers, consult resources on helping scared or reactive puppies. For best commands to teach puppy, remember that play can be a powerful learning tool.
Schedule a Vet Visit
The golden rule of pet adoption: take them to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet can advise on necessary vaccinations, check for worms, and identify any potential health concerns.
Crucially, this is also an opportunity for early socialization. If your budget allows, consider an initial “establishing care” appointment where no vaccinations or invasive handling occurs. The focus is purely on building a positive foundation for one of the most important relationships in your dog’s life: with their doctor. Make it a positive experience: offer treats and perhaps play with a toy in the exam room.
Play!
Last but certainly not least, play! This is, after all, a major reason you got a puppy. Plan for plenty of play; it’s the best way to exercise and bond with your new pup. Beyond the puppy training games mentioned earlier, explore other fun activities. Even simple games contribute to basic agility training for dogs by building coordination and confidence.
Beyond the First Week: Building on Puppy Training Basics
A young, attentive dog sits patiently, looking forward, with soft lighting highlighting its fur.
Once you’ve navigated the whirlwind of week one, it’s time to build on these initial puppy training basics:
- Expand their world and prepare them for life’s experiences with a solid socialization plan.
- Reclaim some of your freedom and build their confidence with short, structured periods of alone time.
- Begin teaching the communication skills that will make life easier and more enjoyable for both of you.
The same principles that guided you through the first week will continue to carry you forward: empathy, clear communication, and a proactive focus on preventing problems. This is the essence of our PEACE method for puppy-raising:
- Prevent the Chaos
- Enrich Their Life
- Acknowledge the Good
- Communicate Clearly
- Empathy First
This framework helps puppy parents raise the adventure companion of their dreams without harsh corrections, guilt trips, or impossible standards. You’ve already started implementing these pieces during your first week. Now, it’s about learning how to expand and build upon them.
If you’re seeking further guidance and a supportive community of people who truly understand what you’re going through, you’ll find it all within our Puppy Survival School in the 3 Lost Dogs Academy. We’ll equip you with the exact strategies of the PEACE method, transforming your journey from “oh my god, what was I thinking?” to “okay, we’ve actually got this.”
