How to handle the first 24 hours with your puppy

07/11/2023

Welcoming a new puppy into your home can be both exciting and daunting, and it would be strange not to experience those first-day nerves! We’re breaking down everything you need to know about your first day with a puppy, covering all bases from how to prepare for their arrival to what to do when your puppy first comes home, so those initial 24 hours are as smooth sailing as they can be.

Preparing for the first day with your puppy

In the wise words of Benjamin Franklin, failing to prepare is preparing to fail, and making sure you’ve got everything ready for your puppy’s first day is essential.

New puppy checklist: items you'll need before bringing your puppy home

• A small travel crate
• Food and water bowls
• High-quality puppy food
• Treats for puppies
• Poop bags
• Pee pads
• A dog bed 
• A puppy crate
• Chew toys 
• An adjustable collar
• A leash
• ID tags

Top tip: Taking a blanket or a t-shirt from the pup’s previous home can help make them feel more comfortable in their new place. You can also give the breeder an item of your clothes before you bring them home to let them familiarize themselves with your smell. 

What to do before bringing home a new puppy: tips for puppy-proofing your home

Once you’ve got everything from the new puppy checklist, preparing your home for an influx of furry paws will make the transition easier for everyone involved. 

Remove any hazards 

Electrical wires, cables, and small choking hazards must be kept out of reach of prying paws, and medication, cleaning products, and sharp items should be safely locked away. Check your houseplants to see if they’re poisonous for dogs and keep food away from areas your furry friend will be able to get to.

Close all windows and doors

Make sure your home is escape-proof and consider whether you need to make any areas out of bounds. 

Prepare the car

You’ll likely pick up your new fur baby in the car, so it’s important to make sure your vehicle is comfortable, welcoming, and puppy-safe. Arrange for someone to accompany you so you can focus on your furry friend from the start. Adult dogs usually travel in the trunk of the car, but for your fur baby’s first journey, they may be more comfortable on the back seat. Make sure they’re contained in a small travel crate that can be secured to the seat, and sit beside them so you can stick your hands through the bars to comfort them. Place a washable mat inside their travel crate to keep them comfortable and soak up any accidents, and come prepared with poop bags, water, and a bowl. Try to take the quiet route where possible, avoid traveling in the heat of the day, and if you’ve got a long way to go, be prepared to take regular breaks. 

Bringing home your new puppy

First day with your new puppy: what to expect

Getting a new puppy is super exciting, but the transition can be tricky for your new furry friend so it’s important to stay calm. A new home, new smells, new faces - with so much to learn and so much to get used to, your new fur baby will need to take things slowly! Some pups may show signs of stress and anxiety, while others may be ready to play from the get-go! Either way, moving house is exhausting, and your furry friend will need lots of time for rest and recovery - puppies sleep an average of 18-20 hours a day!

What to do: first day with your puppy

The first day home with a new puppy is all about introducing them to their new environment. But showing your fur baby the entirety of their new home may be a little overwhelming! Start by showing them their space, which should be away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house and filled with a cozy bed, a water bowl, and of course, lots of snuggly toys and chews. Let them dictate how things will go after this - allow them to explore, climb, and retreat to their own safe space whenever they need to. Some furry friends will be playful and curious from the start, but others may just need a little more time, so don’t force anything. 

Day one with your puppy: establishing routines and training

It’s a good idea to begin encouraging good habits and training from day one. It’s important for everyone in the household to be on the same page from the start - allowing your fur baby to jump on one of the sofas but not any of the others can be confusing. This is also the time to begin establishing some sort of routine with your furry friend. They will need to eat three meals a day, and creating a feeding schedule will help when it comes to less predictable details like potty breaks. You can start potty training your puppy from the moment they come home with you - every time they eat, drink, wake up, or play, take them outside and give them lots of praise and a treat if they go in the designated spot. It can also be helpful for the pet parents and the fur baby to establish some sort of bedtime routine at the start, putting your furry friend to bed around the same time each night will get them used to the concept of bedtime.  

Bringing a puppy home: tips for a smooth transition

Now you know what to do with a new puppy, here are some new puppy tips that will help make the transition as smooth as possible.

• If you can, help your puppy settle in by canceling everything in your diary for the first few days. This will allow you and your fur baby to spend as much time as possible getting to know one another. 
• Have a clear understanding of the house rules and boundaries you’re going to set with your fur baby before they come home. 
• Take things slow and don’t expect too much from your furry friend, they need time to build up trust and feel secure. Give them lots of praise and encouragement for every step they take in the right direction, no matter how small it is!
• Reduce the chance of accidents by taking your furry friend to go potty every 30 minutes.
• Be respectful of how your furry friend’s feeling - don’t chase them, make any sudden movements, or introduce them to loud noises. Children in particular may need to be taught how to handle new pups gently.
• Give your pup plenty of time to settle in before inviting your friends and family over to meet them, no matter how many times they ask! 

The first night with your puppy

Puppy's first night at home: what to expect

Getting to grips with a new home during the day is one thing, but things can feel a little different after dark. Be prepared to be woken up a number of times throughout your pup’s first night, whether it’s to comfort your crying fur baby or take them out to go potty. Some furry friends get a case of the zoomies right before bed - this is actually in your favor as it should tire them out so much that you all get a more restful night’s sleep. 

How to make your puppy’s first night comfortable

Help your new furry family member adjust to their new life by establishing a regular sleep routine for them. Take them to go potty just before bedtime and place a blanket from their fur mama’s home in their bed to make it smell like home. Many pet parents choose to put their fur baby’s bed in their own bedroom for the first few nights as it makes it easier for them to keep an eye on them, plus it can help comfort the pup if they’re missing their furry family. Some people like to put the radio on or have heartbeat sounds playing in the room as background noise to help settle their puppy. 

Getting over the first 24-hour hurdle isn’t always easy but it’s extremely rewarding! We hope these new puppy tips have helped; if you’re looking for more information about puppy training techniques, check out our post on how to teach your puppy to sleep at night.

Meet our veterinary expert, Emma

This article has been checked by veterinarian Emma Chandley, BVetMed MRCVS PGCertSAS. Emma graduated from the Royal Vet College in London in 2011. She has a keen interest in surgery and went on to do a postgraduate certificate in small animal surgery and was then awarded advanced practitioner status in the same discipline.