New Puppy Checklist & First Week Guide

Bringing a new puppy home is exciting, but the first few days can feel overwhelming. This complete first-week guide brings the essentials into one place: what to buy, how to settle your puppy on the first night, crate training, sleep, toilet training, feeding, socialisation, first outings, grooming and the UK vet timeline.

It is written with toy and small-breed puppies in mind, including Maltipoos, Cavapoos, Cavapoochons, Pomeranians, Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Maltese, Toy Poodles, Miniature Dachshunds and similar breeds. Always follow your own breeder and vet where their advice is specific to your puppy.

New Puppy Checklist: What You Need Before Bringing Your Puppy Home

You do not need to buy everything marketed for puppies. Focus first on sleep, food, toilet training, safe travel and a few good-quality enrichment items.

1. Crate and bedding: create a calm puppy den

• Dog crate: usually 24, 30 or 36 inches depending on breed and expected adult size.
• Crate mattress: supportive, washable and sized closely to the crate.
• Crate cover: useful for reducing visual stimulation and creating a clear bedtime cue while keeping ventilation open.
• Soft blanket: useful for warmth and scent transfer. A cloth or blanket carrying the breeder or litter scent can be especially reassuring in the first few nights.

Most-bought starting point: our black double-door puppy crate is available in 24, 30 and 36 inches and can be paired with the cover and mattress style you prefer.

2. Eating and drinking

• The same puppy food your breeder has been feeding, enough for the first week.
• Shallow or appropriately sized food and water bowls for a small muzzle.
• Tiny, high-value training treats. Keep treat portions small because puppies have small stomachs.
• If you use a digestive supplement or probiotic, choose one suitable for puppies and check with your vet if your puppy has diarrhoea, vomiting, poor appetite or any medical condition.

3. Toilet-training supplies

• Enzyme cleaner for accidents.
• Puppy pads if you need them as a temporary back-up, particularly in flats or for travel.
• A consistent outdoor toilet spot if you have a safe private garden.

4. Walking and travel

• Well-fitting puppy harness, collar, lead and ID tag.
• Poo bags.
• Secure carrier, puppy sling or suitable car restraint.
• A warm layer for very small or fine-coated puppies when needed.

5. Training and enrichment

• Safe chew toys.
• A few soft toys or puzzle toys, rotated rather than left out all at once.
• Treat pouch for short training sessions.
• Food toy or stuffed Kong-style toy for calm crate sessions, if appropriate for your puppy.

6. Grooming and care

• Soft brush plus comb suitable for your puppy's coat.
• Puppy-safe shampoo and microfibre towel.
• Pet-safe face and paw wipes.
• Nail clipper or file, or a plan for your groomer to handle nails.
• Dog toothbrush and enzymatic toothpaste: start slowly and make handling positive.

What Size Crate Does My Puppy Need?

Your puppy should be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. For toy and small breeds, buying for the expected adult size is usually more practical than buying for the puppy's current size. If a crate is much larger than the puppy needs, a divider can help during toilet training.

24-inch crate: toy breeds and very small dogs

Often suitable for Toy Maltipoo, Toy Cavapoo, Toy Cavapoochon, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Maltese, Toy Poodle and Miniature Dachshund puppies, depending on expected adult measurements.

30-inch crate: small and miniature breeds

Often suitable for Miniature Cavapoo, Miniature Cavapoochon, Cockapoo, French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Miniature Poodle, Boston Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies.

36-inch crate: medium breeds

Often suitable for medium Cockapoos, larger/standard Cavapoos or Cavapoochons, Springer Spaniels, Border Collies, Whippets, Beagles, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and similarly sized dogs.

Breed names are only a starting point. Adult height, length and build vary significantly, especially in Poodle crosses. If you are unsure, ask your breeder for the parents' sizes and your puppy's expected adult weight.

First Night With a New Puppy: How to Help Them Settle

The first night is a huge change. Your puppy has left their mother, littermates and the place they know. Aim for reassurance and predictability rather than expecting independence immediately.

1. Keep the first evening calm. Avoid a stream of visitors and over-exciting play.
2. Offer a final toilet break immediately before bed.
3. Put the crate near you at first. Many puppies settle better in or near the bedroom because they can hear and smell you.
4. Use familiar scent. A safe cloth from the breeder or an item carrying your scent can help.
5. Dim the sleeping area. A properly ventilated crate cover can reduce stimulation and create a consistent sleep cue.
6. If your puppy wakes and may need the toilet, keep the trip boring. Out, toilet, quiet praise, then straight back to bed.
7. Respond to genuine distress. Calm reassurance is appropriate for a very young puppy. Independence can be built gradually once they feel safe.

Many puppies begin managing a longer night-time stretch by around 12–16 weeks, but there is a wide normal range and some need toilet trips for longer.

Should I cover my puppy's crate at night?

Many puppies settle better with a partly covered crate because it reduces visual stimulation and creates a den-like feel. Use a purpose-made breathable cover, make sure air can circulate freely, and leave enough of the crate open for ventilation, especially in warm weather. Covering should make the space calmer, never hot or stuffy.

Where should I put the puppy's crate at night?

For the first few nights or weeks, close to your bed is often easiest. Once your puppy is sleeping confidently, you can gradually move the crate towards its permanent location rather than moving it suddenly.

The First Week: Build a Simple, Predictable Rhythm

A puppy does not need a packed schedule. Most young puppies need a great deal of sleep and do best when the day repeats in a simple pattern:

Wake → toilet → food or play → toilet → short training/socialisation → rest.

Morning

• Toilet immediately on waking.
• Breakfast.
• Another toilet opportunity shortly after eating.
• Short calm play or 2–5 minutes of training.
• Nap.

Midday and afternoon

• Toilet after waking, eating, drinking, energetic play and excitement.
• One or two small positive socialisation experiences.
• Several protected naps.
• Very short handling practice: paws, ears, mouth, brushing and harness.

Evening

• Dinner at a consistent time.
• Calm play rather than very exciting games close to bed.
• Final toilet break.
• Same short bedtime routine each night.

How much should a puppy sleep?

Many puppies sleep roughly 16–18 hours in 24 hours, and some sleep even more. Overtired puppies often become mouthy, frantic, noisy or harder to settle. Protecting naps is part of training, not wasted time.

How Do You Crate Train a Puppy?

Crate training works best when the puppy learns that the crate predicts rest, comfort, food and safety. The crate should never be used as punishment.

1. Introduce it with the door open. Let your puppy sniff and investigate without being pushed inside.
2. Make it comfortable. Add a fitted mattress and safe blanket.
3. Toss treats just inside. Let the puppy choose to enter.
4. Feed meals near the crate, then inside it. Move the bowl farther in only as your puppy becomes comfortable.
5. Close the door for very short periods. Start with seconds or a minute while your puppy is calm.
6. Build time gradually. Do short daytime sessions and calm naps before expecting long periods.
7. Use the same bedtime cues. Low lights, toilet, calm voice, cover partly down and no exciting play.

When should I start crate training?

You can start positive crate training on the first day home. Early introduction usually makes the crate feel like a normal part of the puppy's environment.

How long does crate training take?

Some puppies settle within a few days; many take one to three weeks to feel genuinely relaxed. Sensitive puppies can take longer. Progress is not perfectly linear, so reduce the difficulty if your puppy becomes distressed.

How long can a puppy stay in a crate?

A commonly quoted daytime guide is roughly one hour per month of age, but this is only a rough ceiling, not a target or guarantee. Very young puppies often need toilet breaks more frequently, and awake time in a crate should be balanced with exercise, social contact, training and free movement. Overnight sleep is different because a settled puppy may naturally sleep for a longer stretch.

What should I put in a puppy's crate?

Keep it simple: a fitted washable mattress, a soft safe blanket and, for suitable daytime sessions, a puppy-safe chew or food toy. Avoid loose items your puppy can shred and swallow. Water access depends on duration, temperature and your puppy's needs; for longer daytime periods puppies should have appropriate access to water.

What if my puppy cries in the crate?

First check the obvious reasons: toilet, temperature, pain, hunger, illness or genuine fear. If a toilet break is needed, keep it calm and return to bed. If your puppy is distressed, reassure them quietly rather than leaving them to panic. What you want to avoid is turning every small whine into playtime. If crate distress is persistent, shorten sessions and rebuild the positive association more gradually.

Can crate training help with toilet training?

Yes. Puppies usually prefer not to soil their sleeping area, so a correctly sized crate can make toilet timing easier to predict. Take your puppy directly from the crate to the toilet area after waking, after meals and after naps, then reward immediately when they finish in the correct place.

Do I need a crate for my new puppy?

No. A crate is not compulsory. However, many owners find it useful for sleep routines, toilet training, safe downtime, travel and giving the puppy a familiar place to relax. If you use one, it should feel like a comfortable retreat, not long-term confinement.

What are the main benefits of crate training?

• Creates a clear sleeping and resting area.
• Helps build a predictable bedtime and nap routine.
• Supports toilet training.
• Provides a familiar safe space for travel and overnight stays.
• Gives your puppy somewhere calm to switch off when the home is busy.

House-Training a Puppy: The Fastest Reliable Method

• Use a timer: young puppies need frequent opportunities.
• Go after every trigger: waking, eating, drinking, play and excitement.
• Use the same spot: take your puppy to one toilet area and wait quietly.
• Add a simple cue: say “toilet” or your chosen word while they are going.
• Reward immediately: quiet praise and a tiny treat as soon as they finish.
• Clean accidents with enzyme cleaner: do not punish or scold. Punishment can make a puppy hide toileting rather than understand where to go.

If you have a safe private garden that is not used by unvaccinated dogs, toilet training outdoors can begin from day one. If you live in a flat or cannot reach a safe toilet area quickly, puppy pads can be a temporary bridge rather than the final goal.

Feeding a New Puppy in the First Week

Keep the diet as consistent as possible during the move. Sudden food changes plus the stress of leaving the litter can trigger an upset stomach.

• 8–12 weeks: many puppies do well on four small meals a day.
• 3–6 months: many move to three meals a day.
• 6+ months: many eventually move to two meals, depending on breed, body size and the food used.

These are general patterns, not a replacement for the feeding guide on your puppy's food or your breeder/vet's advice. Very small toy-breed puppies may need particularly careful meal timing because they have tiny energy reserves.

If you change food, transition gradually over roughly 5–7 days unless your vet tells you otherwise. Keep treats small and simple; tiny pieces of a suitable cooked meat can work well for training.

Socialisation in the First Week: Quality Over Quantity

Socialisation does not mean exposing your puppy to everything at once. It means helping them learn that everyday life is safe.

• Introduce one or two new experiences at a time: household sounds, surfaces, umbrellas, hats, calm visitors and car journeys.
• Keep enough distance that your puppy is curious rather than frightened.
• Pair new things with food, play or calm praise.
• Do not force interaction if the puppy wants to watch from a distance.

First Outings Before Your Puppy Is Fully Vaccinated

Your puppy still benefits from seeing the world before paws-down walks are appropriate. Carrying them in public lets them hear traffic, see people and experience new environments without being placed on potentially contaminated ground.

A secure puppy sling can be especially useful for toy breeds because it keeps the puppy close, warm and off the floor.

Popular for the journey home and early socialisation: Oatmeal Teddy Fleece Sling · Ivory Teddy Fleece Sling · Oatmeal Sling + Blanket Starter Set · Ivory Sling + Blanket Starter Set

Before full vaccination protection, avoid putting your puppy on the ground in busy public dog areas. A safe private garden can be different; ask your own vet about local disease risk and your puppy's vaccination status.

Keeping a puppy pad in your carrier can be useful for emergencies when you are away from home.

Warm knitted puppy jumper

Very small, young or fine-coated puppies can become cold quickly. A light jumper can be useful indoors or outdoors when the weather calls for it, provided it fits safely and the puppy cannot overheat.

Harness, Collar and Lead: What Size for a New Puppy?

A harness spreads pressure across the chest rather than concentrating it on a delicate puppy neck. Fit matters more than the label, so check the neck/chest measurements and re-check weekly while your puppy is growing.

Teacup: designed for many young Toy Maltipoos, Toy Cavapoos/Cavapoochons, Pomeranians, Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Maltese and Toy Poodles.

Petite: designed for many Miniature Cavapoos/Cavapoochons, Cockapoos, Miniature Dachshunds, Miniature Poodles, Cavaliers, Cocker Spaniels, Pugs and similar small-breed puppies.

Start with a few minutes wearing the harness indoors. Add the lead indoors, reward calm walking, then practise a sit at the front door before the first proper walk.

Grey Heritage Stripe First Walk Set · Taupe Stripe First Walk Set · Cream Bouclé First Walk Set · Ivory Monochrome First Walk Set

Grooming From Day One

Early grooming should be about teaching your puppy that handling is normal, not achieving a perfect groom.

• Brush for 2–3 minutes after a calm period.
• Touch ears, paws, face and mouth briefly, rewarding relaxed behaviour.
• Introduce tooth brushing gradually.
• For Poodle mixes and other high-maintenance coats, arrange a gentle groomer introduction when your groomer and vet say it is appropriate.

UK Puppy Health, Microchip, Vaccines and Vet Timeline

Microchipping: in the UK, dogs must be microchipped and registered by 8 weeks old. The breeder should be the first registered keeper, and the new keeper's details then need to be updated on the database.

Vaccination: there is not a UK law requiring a puppy to have had a first vaccine before being sold. Vaccination schedules vary by vaccine product and individual circumstances. Many primary courses start at around 8 weeks and involve two or sometimes three doses. Your vet should set the timing for your puppy.

• Register with a vet as soon as your puppy comes home.
• Take the breeder's vaccination/health card to the appointment.
• Ask the vet exactly when the next vaccine is due rather than changing the interval yourself because of breed or body weight.
• Follow your breeder/vet plan for worming and flea treatment so doses are not duplicated.
• Arrange insurance early if you plan to use it; new conditions that arise before cover starts may be excluded.

When can my puppy go for normal walks?

Wait until your vet confirms your puppy is protected. A common recommendation is around one to two weeks after the puppy completes the primary vaccination course, but the exact timing depends on the vaccine used and local disease risk. Until then, carry your puppy in public and use only safe private areas your vet considers appropriate.

When should I contact a vet urgently?

Seek veterinary advice promptly for marked lethargy, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, blood in vomit/stool, refusal to drink, difficulty breathing, collapse, a swollen or painful abdomen, or any sudden change that worries you. Young toy-breed puppies can deteriorate quickly, so it is better to ask early.

Common First-Week Problems and What to Do

Puppy crying at night

Repeat the same calm wind-down, check toilet needs, keep the sleeping area comfortable and reduce stimulation. White noise can help some puppies. If the puppy is genuinely distressed, reassure them calmly and make the next crate session easier.

Puppy biting and chewing everything

Teething and mouthy play are normal. Redirect to a suitable chew or toy, keep hands still if teeth touch skin, and end the interaction briefly rather than turning biting into a game. Cold puppy-safe teething toys can help sore gums. Avoid using fear or physical punishment.

Separation

Practise very short absences while your puppy is calm: step away for seconds, return, then build gradually. The aim is to return before the puppy reaches panic, not to wait through prolonged distress.

Puppy-proofing the home

• Block access to wires, stairs and small swallowable objects.
• Move medicines, cleaning products, human food and unsafe plants out of reach.
• Use baby gates to create a manageable safe area.
• Do not assume a tiny puppy cannot reach something; climbing and chewing skills improve very quickly.

Introducing children and other pets

Supervise every early interaction. Teach children to sit calmly and let the puppy approach rather than chasing, lifting or grabbing. Introduce resident pets gradually and use distance, barriers and rewards where needed. For dog-to-dog meetings, follow your vet's advice about vaccination safety.

When should I start teaching sit, stay and other cues?

From day one. Keep sessions short—often 2–5 minutes is plenty—and stop while your puppy still wants more. Reward generously with tiny treats, toys or praise.

At-a-Glance First-Week Checklist

• Crate in the correct size.
• Crate mattress, breathable cover and soft blanket.
• Same food as breeder + appropriate bowls.
• Enzyme cleaner and toilet-training plan.
• Safe chews, toys and simple enrichment.
• Harness, collar, lead, ID tag and poo bags.
• Secure sling/carrier or car restraint.
• Brush, comb, puppy-safe shampoo and dental-care basics.
• Vet registration, microchip transfer details, vaccination record and insurance decision.

New Puppy First Week FAQs

How do I settle my puppy on the first night?

Keep the evening quiet, toilet immediately before bed, place the crate near you, use familiar scent and keep night-time toilet trips brief. A dim, well-ventilated sleeping area usually makes settling easier.

What do I need for the first week with a puppy?

Prioritise a safe sleep setup, the same food as the breeder, bowls, toilet-training supplies, a harness/collar/lead, a secure carrier, a few safe chews and basic grooming products. You do not need a house full of puppy products before day one.

How do I crate train a puppy kindly?

Leave the door open at first, use food and treats to build a positive association, feed inside the crate, then practise very short closed-door sessions and increase gradually. Never use the crate as punishment.

Why is a calm environment important in the first few days?

A young puppy is processing a completely new home. Lower stimulation supports sleep, helps prevent overtired biting and makes toilet and crate routines easier to learn.

How often should I feed a new puppy?

Many 8–12-week puppies eat four small meals, many 3–6-month puppies eat three, and older puppies may move towards two. Follow the food instructions and your breeder/vet, particularly for very small toy breeds.

How long should a puppy sleep during the day?

Often 16–18 hours across a full day, sometimes more. Short awake windows and protected naps are normal for young puppies.

When will my puppy sleep through the night?

Many begin managing a 6–7 hour stretch somewhere around 12–16 weeks, but some do earlier and others need toilet breaks for longer. A consistent routine helps, but bladder maturity varies.

When can my puppy go outside?

A safe private garden may be usable from day one if it is not used by unvaccinated dogs and your vet is happy with the risk. For public paws-down walks, wait until your vet confirms your puppy has adequate vaccine protection.

How do I socialise a puppy before the second vaccination?

Carry them in public, let them see people, traffic and everyday life from a secure sling or carrier, invite calm visitors home and arrange only appropriately safe dog interactions on your vet's advice.

How do I stop a puppy biting?

Redirect onto an appropriate chew or toy, stop play briefly when teeth touch skin and make sure your puppy is getting enough sleep. Overtired puppies are often much mouthier.

When should I take my new puppy to the vet?

Register promptly after bringing them home and have the breeder's records checked so the vet can schedule vaccines and preventive care correctly. Contact the vet earlier if your puppy seems unwell.

This guide provides general information for new puppy owners and is not a substitute for individual veterinary advice. Vaccination timing, disease risk, feeding and medical care should be tailored to your puppy.