The day your puppy comes home is exciting, and it is also the biggest change your puppy has ever experienced. A little preparation removes most of the stress for both of you. This guide covers what to set up before collection day, how to handle the first few hours, and a simple schedule for the opening week.
Quick answer: key takeaways
- Prepare one quiet rest area before your puppy arrives, not after.
- Keep the first 48 hours deliberately boring — no visitors, no big outings.
- Offer the same food the breeder or rescue used, changing it slowly over a week.
- Toilet trips every 45–60 minutes while awake, plus after sleep, food and play.
Prepare your home before collection day
Decide where your puppy will sleep, rest and eat before you collect them. Puppies settle faster when the layout of their world stops changing.
- A puppy-proofed room or pen area with non-slip flooring where possible.
- A bed or crate in a quiet corner away from doorways and radiators.
- Water bowl, food bowl and the same food they are currently eating.
- Cables tucked away, houseplants moved, small objects lifted out of reach.
- A safe chew or two, and a soft comfort item that can be washed.
Collection day and the first few hours
Travel with a second person if you can, so your puppy is not alone in the car. Take an old towel, kitchen roll and water.
When you arrive, go straight to the garden or toilet area, then let your puppy explore one room at their own pace. Sit on the floor, stay quiet and let them come to you rather than passing them around.
A simple first-week schedule
Puppies need far more sleep than most new owners expect — often 16 to 18 hours a day. A repeatable rhythm of short activity followed by proper rest prevents most of the over-tired biting and frantic behaviour people worry about.
- Evening: toilet, dinner, quiet time with the family, wind-down, bed.
- Morning: toilet, breakfast, short calm play, nap.
- Midday: toilet, gentle handling practice, sniffing time in the garden, nap.
- Afternoon: toilet, short training moment of two or three minutes, nap.
Visitors, children and other pets
Delay visitors for the first few days. When people do come, keep greetings low-key and let your puppy choose whether to approach. Children should sit down to interact, and existing pets should meet the puppy briefly, on lead where appropriate, with an easy escape route for everyone.
What is normal, and when to seek help
- Loose stools, reduced appetite and unsettled sleep in the first days are common while your puppy adjusts.
- Contact your vet if you see repeated vomiting, blood in stools, lethargy, laboured breathing or refusal to drink.
- Follow your vet’s advice on vaccinations before walking your puppy in public areas.
Helpful essentials for home preparation
Chosen because they make the first week calmer and safer. Nothing here replaces veterinary advice, and any commercial links are clearly marked.
- • A baby gate or playpen to create a safe rest area
- • Puppy-safe storage for food and chews
- • Simple, easy-clean feeding bowls
Week 1 Puppy Settle-In Guide
A gentle seven-day plan covering routines, rest, toilet trips, feeding and short training moments.Get this free guide