Puppy First Week Checklist: What to Do Before and After Homecoming

Your puppy's first week is about safety, routine and calm. Puppy-proof your home, book a vet visit within the first week, keep a predictable schedule for meals, play, rest and toilet trips, and let your puppy settle before you push training or visitors.

Everything is new to a young puppy, including the smells, the floors, the sounds and the people. A clear plan helps both of you. Use this checklist before you bring your puppy home and through the first seven days.

Before your puppy arrives

Do the preparation first so you can focus on your puppy once they are home.

• Choose a vet. Call ahead and book a first appointment for within the first week.
• Collect records. Ask the breeder, shelter or rescue for vaccination and deworming records, the food and treats your puppy has been eating, and any medications they have been given.
• Buy the basics. You will need a crate or pen with comfortable bedding, a collar or harness with an ID tag, a leash, bowls, puppy-appropriate food, chew toys and treats. Toys for children to use with the puppy are useful too, so they do not play with their hands.
• Decide the rules. Agree as a household on where your puppy sleeps, what is off-limits and who does which job.
• Pick a toilet spot. Choose the outdoor area you want your puppy to use so you can take them straight there.

Puppy-proof your home

Puppies chew and swallow things. Get down to puppy height and look around.

• Secure or remove toxic plants, small objects that could be swallowed, electrical cords and household chemicals from any area your puppy can reach.
• Store medications, cleaning products and anything with xylitol out of reach. Our can dogs eat xylitol page explains why that sweetener is so dangerous.
• Close off stairs, balconies and any room you cannot make safe with a baby gate or pen.
• Keep shoes, socks, remote controls and children's toys out of reach.
• Know your emergency numbers: your vet, the nearest emergency clinic, and in the US ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).

Day 1: arrive quietly

Keep homecoming low-key. Take your puppy to the toilet spot first, then let them explore one safe area on a leash or in a pen while you stay close. Offer water, a small meal if it is time, and a chance to rest.

Teach trust before obedience. Basic commands matter, but your puppy should first see you as safe. Sit on the ground with your knees up so your puppy can retreat to you, and let them come to you rather than grabbing them. Use calm voices and gentle hands, and hold off on a stream of visitors until your puppy has settled.

Set up a daily routine

Puppies do best with a predictable day. Set consistent feeding times and build in regular play and rest periods. A steady timetable also makes toilet needs easier to predict.

Puppies usually need to go to the toilet after eating, after sleeping and after playing. Take your puppy out:

1. First thing in the morning.
2. After every meal.
3. After waking from a nap.
4. After play.
5. Last thing before bed.

Supervision is the most important factor in house training. Someone responsible should always be able to see the puppy and take them outside before an accident happens. Watch for signals such as sniffing and circling.

Reward right away, with calm praise and a treat, when your puppy goes in the right place. Do not punish accidents. Clean up calmly and give your puppy more chances to get it right. Our puppy weight calculator is handy later for checking growth.

Book the first vet visit

Schedule the first visit within one week of bringing your puppy home. The sooner the visit, the sooner your vet can start a health plan against diseases such as parvovirus and distemper.

At the visit, expect your vet to weigh your puppy, check their temperature, listen to the heart and lungs, and examine them from head to tail for congenital problems such as heart murmurs or hip dysplasia. They will also scan for a microchip, review the history and medications, and recommend a diet.

Bring:

• Health records from the breeder, shelter or rescue, so the vet does not repeat care you have already paid for
• Any medical forms the clinic sent ahead
• Notes on the food, brand and treats you use at home, and any medications given
• A fresh stool sample
• A list of questions
• A leash, collar or harness, a chew toy and small treats
• A carrier or crate lined with a towel or shirt that smells like home

Ask your vet about vaccine timing and when it is safe to meet other dogs and visit public places.

Vaccines, parasites and prevention

According to PetMD, all puppies should get rabies, distemper-parvovirus (DHPP) and leptospirosis vaccines, and Lyme and Bordetella vaccines may be added based on lifestyle. If your puppy already has some vaccines, your vet will review the records and plan the rest.

The stool sample is tested for intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. Deworming is given even when the test is negative, because parasite eggs are shed intermittently, and puppies usually need several doses over their visits. Your vet will also explain flea, tick and heartworm preventives, and PetMD stresses year-round coverage. Heartworm blood testing is done for puppies 6 months or older. A microchip is recommended so a lost puppy can be returned, although puppies from shelters or rescues may already have one.

Start gentle socialization

Socialization means teaching calm, relaxed behavior around people, dogs and new situations, not just playdates. Quality matters more than quantity.

• Keep dog meetups brief and positive, and start controlled puppy meetings only once your vet says it is safe.
• On walks, let your puppy watch other dogs and people without pressure. Carry your puppy or use a stroller where unvaccinated dogs may be present.
• Introduce something new at home each day, paired with treats or play.
• If your puppy does not engage after 5 to 10 minutes, end the session and try again another day.
• Learn body language. Pulling toward something or leaning forward suggests confidence, while backing away, a tucked tail or a worried brow suggests unease.
• Supervise every interaction with children, and have them use toys rather than hands.

Introduce the crate and sleeping setup

A crate at night is optional. If you use one, make it a comfortable, positive place with the door open, treats inside and a chew toy. Never force your puppy in or leave them to cry it out, and do not close the door until they rest there by choice. Many owners keep the crate near the bed for the first nights so a young puppy is not alone and so they can hear when it is time for a toilet trip. Our guide to crate training a puppy covers the steps.

Expect some night wakings. Take your puppy out for a quiet toilet trip, put them back to bed, and keep it calm and dull.

End-of-week check

By day seven, aim for a puppy who knows where they sleep, eats at set times, is starting to use the toilet spot, has had a vet check and has met a handful of new things at a gentle pace. If you are worried about your puppy's health at any point, call your vet promptly.

It is normal for progress to be uneven. Meeting your puppy's needs for play, novelty and gentle socialization helps prevent later anxiety and reactivity. Stay consistent, reward what you want to see, and build from there. It also helps to choose a few trusted sources for training advice and to check the credentials of any professional you hire.

Frequently asked questions

When should a new puppy see the vet?

Book the first visit within one week of bringing your puppy home, so a health plan against diseases such as parvovirus and distemper starts right away. The vet will check your puppy over, review any records and set up vaccines, deworming and preventives.

How much should I handle my puppy in the first days?

Keep it gentle and calm. Aim to be your puppy's safe place, let them come to you, and supervise every interaction with children, who should use toys rather than hands.

Can my puppy meet other dogs right away?

Ask your vet. Vaccination status and local health risks decide when it is safe to start controlled puppy meetings. Until then, carry your puppy or use a stroller around dogs whose vaccination status you do not know.

How long until my puppy sleeps through the night?

It varies, and reliable overnight holding can take several months. Expect some sleep deprivation, especially in the first month, and share nighttime toilet duty if you can.

Updated Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial policy

Sources

1. AAHA: What to Do When You First Bring Home a New Puppy
2. PetMD: How to Prepare for Your Puppy's First Vet Visit
3. AKC: How to Crate Train a Puppy