Tips for Your Puppy’s First Week

Your new puppy is here! …And now what?

Your puppy’s first week is all about helping them settle in, start gentle routines, and feel safe in their new home. First, let’s wipe that worried look off your face. We’ve got your back. Raising a puppy’s a massive commitment that involves a lot of heart. It’s often likened to bringing home a new baby.

In this article, you’ll find everything you need for your puppy’s first week. It’ll be great. Just watch your step over the next few days, because there may be a few accidental poops along the way.

We’ll go through the checklist you need before they arrive, how to bring your puppy home, how to help them through their first night, and what to focus on during those first seven days. You’re well on your way to a joyful life with your new companion. All this effort’s part of building a wonderful bond together. 

Your puppy’s first week

Your puppy’s first week sets the tone for everything that follows. In this section, we’ll cover the essentials. This includes what to prep before the big day, how to handle the first journey home, and how to settle them in for a peaceful first night.

Puppy first week: at-a-glance guide

If you’re wondering “what should I focus on during my puppy’s first week?”, this table gives you a clear overview.

Stage	What to Focus On	Why It Matters	Helpful Tips
Before arrival	Puppy-proofing & supplies	Creates a calm, safe environment	Set up the crate, bedding, bowls, and puppy pads
Car ride home	Comfort & safety	Reduces stress after leaving mum and littermates	Use a familiar-smelling blanket and secure travel
First hours at home	Exploration & settling	Builds confidence in a new space	Let your puppy explore at their own pace
Toilet training begins	Routine & consistency	Encourages good habits	Take them to the same toilet spot regularly
Meeting the family	Calm introductions	Prevents overwhelm	Let your puppy approach people when ready
First night	Sleep & reassurance	Supports emotional security	Place the crate near your bed
During week one	Training, play & socialisation	Builds lifelong skills	Keep sessions short and positive
Vet visit	Health & familiarity	Sets the tone for future visits	Make it calm and reward-based

Before they come home

Before your puppy comes home, having the right essentials in place helps them settle faster, supports early training, and reduces stress during their first week. Get your wallet ready.

• Crate – A safe space, not a prison. Brilliant for toilet training and giving your puppy a calm, dedicated chill-out zone.
• Puppy playpen – A secure area where your puppy can play safely without getting into mischief.
• Comfortable bedding – A good night’s sleep matters. Washable, soft options like Vetbed are a cosy classic.
• Heat pad – Helps replicate the warmth of mum and littermates, which can be very comforting in the first few nights.
• Enzyme cleaner – Accidents are part of puppy life. Enzyme cleaners properly remove smells so your pup isn’t tempted to reoffend.
• Puppy pads – Useful while you’re getting to grips with toilet training routines.
• Adjustable collar – Choose something soft, lightweight, and easy to adjust as your puppy grows.
• ID tag – A legal requirement in the UK, even for young puppies.
• Training lead – A lightweight 2-metre lead is ideal for early training and short walks.
• Puppy food – Start with what your breeder used and transition gradually to avoid tummy upsets.
• Chew toys – Essential for teething and puppy biting. Puppy-specific chews are safest and most effective.
• Puzzle toys – Great for mental stimulation and helping puppies learn to settle.
• Training treats – Small, tasty rewards (like dehydrated meat treats) help keep your puppy engaged during short training sessions.
• Treat pouch – Saves your pockets and makes rewarding good behaviour quick and easy.

Bringing the puppy home

The Car Ride Home

Leaving mum and littermates is a huge milestone for your puppy, so the journey home should be calm, safe, and comforting.

To make the transition easier, ask your breeder for a blanket that smells like mum or their littermates. Familiar scents can be incredibly reassuring during your puppy’s first week and help them settle more quickly.

Before setting off, decide exactly where your puppy will sit. If you have a passenger, they can carry your puppy on their lap with a blanket for comfort. If you’re driving alone, secure a crate or carrier on the passenger seat so you’re close by — but never drive with a puppy on your lap.

If it’s a long journey, plan to stop every 30 minutes for a quick toilet break. Accidents can happen, and that’s completely normal, so don’t stress if things aren’t perfect straight away.

First few hours with the puppy at home

Take it slow and let them explore! Those first few hours can feel a bit daunting for everyone involved. Your puppy is trying to make sense of a brand-new world, so there’s no need to rush introductions or activities.

Let your puppy explore calmly at their own pace while you supervise. Keep things quiet, familiar, and relaxed – the goal is to help them feel safe, not overwhelmed.

Puppy toilet training beginnings

Going to the Loo

Before you even arrive home, decide where your puppy’s toilet area will be. A small, enclosed outdoor space with grass or a soft surface usually works best.

As soon as you get home, take your puppy straight to their designated toilet spot. After the journey, they’ll likely need a wee. Place them gently down, wait patiently, and when they go, praise them calmly. This sets the tone for positive, fear-free toilet training from day one.

Be Their Toilet Guide

During your puppy’s first week, you’ll essentially be their toilet guide. Taking them out regularly and returning to the same spot helps them understand what’s expected.

Some owners find it helpful to keep a simple toilet diary for the first few days. Tracking patterns can make life easier while your puppy learns the ropes.

Meeting the family 

Your puppy has plenty of time to meet extended family and friends later. During the first week, it’s best to stick to the people living in your home.

Allow your puppy to approach family members when they feel ready, rather than having everyone crowd around for cuddles at once. This helps your puppy stay calm, confident, and well-socialised from the very start.

First Night With Your Puppy

This is where the crate really comes in handy!

Place the Crate Next to Your Bed

During your puppy’s first week, sleeping close to you helps them feel safe after leaving their mum and littermates. Having the crate next to your bed provides reassurance and can significantly reduce night-time stress. Our guide for puppy crate training will be of great help.

Stay Half Awake

It’s normal to sleep lightly on the first night. Listen out for little squeaks or restlessness, which often means your puppy needs the toilet.

If that’s the case, take them straight to their toilet area, keep things calm and quiet, and settle them straight back into bed. Sometimes they simply need to know you’re still there, so gentle reassurance can go a long way.

Things to do in the first week with the puppy

• Begin socialising: Socialising your puppy isn’t about inviting the whole neighbourhood over for a coffee. It’s simply about teaching your pup how to think about the world and behave properly within it. You can start off easy by getting them used to everyday domestic sounds like the vacuum cleaner. Our training programme is designed to help you through all these aspects of socialisation and habituation so you both get started on the right foot.
  
• Start your training schedule: You can start training pretty much as soon as you waltz through the door. In the Zigzag app, we build a personalised, tailored programme for you and your pup with three simple daily tasks to complete. This focus on positive, fear-free methods helps you tackle the essentials like toilet training, crate training, and sleep without feeling overwhelmed.

• Trip to the vet: It’s a good idea to get your pup to meet their vet right from the start. They’ll be seeing each other quite often, so it’s important they feel comfortable together. We want to keep things stress-free and positive, ensuring your pup feels like they’re in a safe pair of hands during every check-up.

Beyond puppy’s first week

The first week with your puppy can feel intense – new routines, early mornings, and a lot of learning for everyone involved. Once you’re through it, the most important thing is to keep the consistent routines you’ve started, including training, playtime, feeding, and regular toilet trips.

As your puppy grows, those routines will become second nature. If you’d like to refine things further, our guide to the Ideal Daily Puppy Routine breaks it all down step by step.

This really is just the beginning. Over the coming weeks, you’ll see your puppy become more confident, curious, and settled – taking on the world one piece of kibble at a time.

Puppy First Week: Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Your Puppy’s First Week

Your puppy’s first week is all about security, consistency, and connection. With calm routines, gentle training, and plenty of reassurance, you’re giving your puppy the best possible start in life.

And remember – the Zigzag app is there to support you with personalised training plans and expert puppy coaches whenever you need a bit of extra help.

You’re not just getting through the puppy first week. You’re building a bond that’ll last a lifetime 🐾