Your First Days Together
You made it through the trip home and that exciting first day. Now comes the part where you and your puppy start figuring each other out.
The first few days are a big adjustment. Your puppy has left the only home, routine and littermates they've ever known. Even a confident puppy can react to that change.
You may see a little less appetite, softer stools, extra sleeping, whining or a puppy who seems completely comfortable one minute and a little unsure the next.
Give them a few days. Keep things simple, predictable and calm.
Keep Things Calm for the First Few Days
For the first 3–7 days, I recommend keeping your puppy's world fairly small.
You don't need to start checking off every socialization experience the minute you get home.
Keep visitors limited, avoid busy environments and give your puppy plenty of time to eat, sleep, play and begin learning your household routine.
There will be plenty of time for adventures.
๐ด Sleeping... and More Sleeping
We talked about this on the previous page, but it's worth repeating:
Let a sleeping puppy sleep.
Your puppy may sleep much more than you expected during those first few days. Between normal puppy growth and the excitement of a completely new environment, that's not surprising.
Don't wake them because you think they should be playing or interacting with the family.
They'll wake up soon enough. ๐
๐ฝ๏ธ Eating May Look a Little Different
Some puppies arrive home and eat like nothing happened.
Others are distracted or don't eat quite as enthusiastically at first.
You've changed their home, people, smells, water and daily routine—all at once.
Keep meals consistent and avoid immediately introducing a bunch of new treats, chews and foods.
For complete feeding information → What Your Puppy Is Eating & Feeding Schedule
Let's Talk About Poop
Yes... we're going to talk about poop.
You'll quickly discover that puppy owners spend a surprising amount of time looking at it. ๐
The stress and excitement of going to a new home, a change in routine or changes in food and water can sometimes affect a puppy's stool.
A slightly softer stool can happen during the transition. Keep an eye on it, pay attention to how your puppy is acting, and don't start changing foods or adding a bunch of new treats trying to “fix” one soft poop.
If it becomes repeated watery diarrhea, you see blood, or your puppy isn't acting like themselves, that's different—and it's time to call your veterinarian.
Keep an Eye on Water
Make sure fresh water is available and pay attention to whether your puppy is drinking normally.
With everything changing during those first few days, it's a good time to pay attention to what
is going in as well as what's coming out.
๐พ Potty Training Starts Immediately
Accidents are going to happen.
Your job during these first days isn't to expect perfection—it's to start building the routine.
Take your puppy out frequently, especially:
After waking up • After eating • After drinking • After playing
• Before going into the kennel • Immediately after coming out
Use the same potty area and begin using the same words each time.
And remember: catching the puppy doing it right gives you something to praise.
Need more help? → Puppy Owner Daily Routine Guide
The Puppy Teeth Have Arrived
Your puppy explores the world with their mouth.
Hands, pants legs, shoelaces and anything else within reach can suddenly become fair game.
That doesn't mean you ignore it because “they're just a puppy.”
Start redirecting inappropriate biting and chewing from the beginning.
Remember our rule from Step 2:
What's cute at 10 pounds may not be cute at 100 pounds.
๐ฅ Watch: How to Handle Puppy Biting & Chewing →
๐ฉบ What's Normal—and When Should I Worry?
Some adjustment during the first few days can be expected. But don't assume everything is simply stress from going home.
Call your veterinarian if your puppy has repeated vomiting, significant or persistent diarrhea, blood in the stool, marked lethargy, refuses food and water, seems painful, or simply doesn't seem right to you.
And because these are young puppies, I'd rather have someone ask their veterinarian about something that turns
out to be minor than wait on something that isn't.
You're Both Learning
Your puppy is learning your schedule, your voice, your expectations and what life in your home looks like.
And you're learning your puppy.
Don't expect to have everything figured out in three days.
Keep your routine consistent. Keep your rules consistent.
Praise the things you want to see again. Give your puppy plenty of rest.
Before long, what feels new and slightly chaotic right now will simply feel like normal life together.
Next Stop: Step 4 — Start Building Good Habits →
Now we'll start turning those everyday routines into good habits—potty training, crate training, manners, handling, socialization and the beginning of your puppy's training.
