Puppies
The First Fourteen Days With a New Puppy
The first fortnight sets the tone for everything. A calm, practical plan for sleep, toilet training, alone time and those needle-sharp teeth.
Security before obedience
A new puppy is a baby animal in a strange place without its mother for the first time. The goal of the first two weeks is not obedience — it is security. A puppy that feels safe learns fast; a frightened one struggles.
Days one to three: keep the world small
A quiet, predictable start beats a busy, exciting one.
- Set up a pen or small room with a bed, water, toilet area and safe chews
- Keep visitors to a minimum and let the puppy sleep as much as it wants — puppies need 18–20 hours
- Start a simple routine: toilet trip after every meal, nap and play session
- Feed the food the breeder sent, changing diets only gradually over a week or more
Sleep and nights
Expect broken nights at first. A crate or pen beside your bed, a warm wrap and a ticking clock or heartbeat toy help many puppies settle. Take the puppy out to toilet quietly at night without play, then straight back to bed.
Toilet training from day one
Carry the puppy to its toilet spot after eating, sleeping and playing, and praise warmly the moment it goes. Never punish accidents — clean them with an enzymatic cleaner and supervise more closely. Most puppies are reliable by four to six months.
Biting and chewing
Mouthing is normal puppy behaviour. Redirect to toys, pause play when teeth hurt, and enforce naps — an over-tired puppy bites far harder. See our bite inhibition exercise for the full method.
Alone time and socialisation
Practise seconds of separation behind a baby gate from the first week, building gradually. Carry the puppy out to see traffic, people and everyday noises before vaccination is complete — socialisation cannot wait, but keep paws off public ground until your vet confirms it is safe.
Book the first vet visit early. A check within the first few days confirms health, starts the vaccination plan and gives you a chance to ask every question you have collected.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I let my puppy cry at night?
- Brief grizzling while settling is normal; sustained panic is not. Comfort a distressed puppy — you cannot spoil a baby animal with reassurance, and panic practised becomes separation problems later.
- When can my puppy go for walks?
- After vaccination cover begins — your vet will confirm the timing for your area, usually a week or two after the second vaccination. Until then, carry the puppy out for socialisation and use the garden for toilet trips.
References
- The Kennel Club — puppy advice — https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/puppies