A puppy learns through repeated experiences, and small daily habits shape life together. You do not need to teach everything in the first week. Start with comfort, safety and a routine the household can follow, then build skills gradually as the puppy grows.

1. Prepare before arrival

Choose a quiet sleeping area, a safe play space and a clear toilet plan. Remove accessible cables, small objects, medicines and unsafe foods. Check gates and the route outside before the puppy explores, and have a secure way to travel home.

Agree on who handles meals, overnight waking and daytime care. A written plan prevents missed tasks and makes the first days less confusing. Keep the breeder’s or rescue’s feeding and care information with the veterinary records.

2. Feed for healthy growth

Choose a complete puppy diet appropriate to expected adult size and individual needs. Measure the daily portion and divide it into suitable meals. Ask your vet for help with growth and body condition rather than adding supplements or extra food to make a puppy bigger.

Provide clean water and count training rewards within the feeding plan. Keep the original food initially when possible, and make agreed changes gradually. Tell every caregiver what has already been fed.

3. Build toilet habits with rewards

Offer frequent opportunities after sleep, meals and play, and reward immediately after toileting in the chosen place. Young puppies cannot follow an adult schedule. Ask your vet where outings are safe while vaccinations are in progress.

Clean accidents calmly and use a short log to find patterns. Scolding does not explain the correct location and can make a puppy hide. Adjust the routine so the next attempt is easier to get right.

4. Protect rest

Give the puppy an undisturbed place to sleep and teach children to leave it alone there. A busy household can accidentally keep a young dog active long after it needs a break. Alternate outings and games with quiet time.

Introduce any crate or pen as a comfortable, positive space. It should not be used to force long periods of isolation or prevent necessary toilet breaks. Arrange help when your absence exceeds what the puppy can manage.

5. Teach handling gently

Practice a few seconds of comfortable touch around the shoulders, feet or ears, then reward and pause. Introduce brushes, towels and nail tools gradually. Stop before struggling begins and ask for a demonstration if you are unsure how to perform a care task.

Do not clean deep inside ears or apply products without appropriate advice. A puppy that suddenly resists touch may be uncomfortable. Check the cause rather than holding it down more firmly.

6. Start dental care thoughtfully

Ask your vet to show you how to introduce toothbrushing with a dog-safe product. Begin with comfortable contact around the mouth and build slowly. Human toothpaste is unsuitable, and a branded chew does not replace a complete dental-care plan.

Choose chews appropriate to age, size and chewing style, and supervise them. Remove pieces that could be swallowed. Avoid very hard objects that may damage teeth and check age guidance on any dental product.

7. Offer safe exercise and exploration

Use short, age-appropriate games and opportunities to sniff and investigate. Do not force a growing puppy through long runs or repeated high jumps. Watch movement and enthusiasm, and ask your vet about activity if you notice pain or persistent reluctance.

Use secure areas for early recall practice and well-fitted equipment for outings. Physical activity is only part of development: finding food, learning a cue and calmly observing the world can also be valuable.

8. Socialize with care

Plan positive, manageable exposure to ordinary people, sounds, surfaces and suitable animals. Follow veterinary guidance on local disease risk and appropriate classes. The AVSAB puppy socialization statement explains why early experience deserves attention.

Do not assume an unfamiliar adult dog will be gentle with a puppy. Choose known, appropriate partners and supervise. If either dog is overwhelmed, create space. Socialization should build confidence rather than force endurance of frightening contact.

9. Reward useful behavior consistently

Practice name response, coming when called, calm greetings and settling on a mat in short sessions. Have household members use the same cues and rules. Reward small successes instead of waiting for perfect performance.

Do not hit, frighten or physically dominate the puppy. If biting, fear or guarding becomes difficult to manage, seek qualified reward-based support early. A good plan explains what to teach and how to prevent repeated trouble while learning takes place.

10. Keep veterinary care and backup plans ready

Arrange an early examination and an individual plan for vaccines, parasite prevention and later care. Keep the clinic and emergency service details accessible. Ask what changes should prompt a call and record the puppy’s food, weight and any treatment.

Prepare instructions for a backup caregiver and revisit the routine as the puppy grows. Adolescence may bring new distractions and a need to practice earlier skills again. Patience works best alongside a practical plan that continues beyond the first enthusiastic weeks.