"Next week we bring home our new puppy - a 12-week-old black spaniel we’re calling Audrey. We’ve stocked the treat cupboard, set up her crate and faithfully promised that puppy nap times are sacred and never to be interrupted."
We’ve put together a list of the important dos and don’ts – from the first big haul and setting up your house, to laying down household rules, planning a routine, and adopting the right mindset for those “what have I done?” moments that all Puppy Loyalists experience.
1. Do your first big shopping trip - buy less, keep it simple
In that new puppy excitement, it’s tempting to buy everything in the pet store. In reality, you just need some key items:
A properly sized crate
It should have room for your pup to stand and turn around, but not so much space they can potty in one corner and sleep in another. Crates support house training, build independence and prevent destructive chewing. Make sure it’s introduced positively, however, and never used as punishment.
An exercise pen or baby gate
This allows you to give your puppy freedom gradually; too much space too soon can lead to accidents and bad habits.
A few safe chew toys
Those puppy teeth need to gnaw. Select toys that are the appropriate size and softness for a teething puppy, and be sure to avoid anything that might damage their teeth.
Food and water bowls
Choose stainless steel bowls which are durable and more hygienic than plastic bowls – which can harbor bacteria and retain smells.
Puppy food
Buy a complete and balanced puppy formula that’s appropriate for your dog’s breed and size, and familiarize yourself with feeding guidelines. And make sure you ask your breeder or rescue about the puppy’s current diet, to avoid any abrupt changes. They should give you a few days’ worth to take home with you so you can transition food gradually over the course of a week.
A handful of training treats
These are a critical part of the learning process. You might be tempted to stockpile treats in advance, but it’s best to first see what your puppy enjoys, and how they respond to training styles.
Enzyme cleaner
Puppies have tiny bladders, which means accidents are inevitable. These kinds of cleaners can help prevent repeat marking, and make sure your floor doesn’t hold onto lingering odors.
Collar, ID tag, leash
You might imagine your puppy with an extensive wardrobe of colors and styles, but to begin with they just need a plain flat collar, an identification tag to go on it, and a standard, non-retractable leash.
Once you’ve got to know what your puppy loves (and doesn’t!) you can embark on a full shopping spree, safe in the knowledge that nothing will be wasted.
2. Get your home ready – remember, puppies are toddlers with teeth
Puppies explore with their mouths – and at this age, they want to explore everything.
Assess your home and backyard with an eagle eye, and think about what might need rearranging or removing. If things can be chewed, swallowed, tipped over or sniffed with a curious nose, then you’ll need to rethink them with a determined puppy in mind.
Here’s a quick to-do list:
- Use cord covers or block access to electrical cords – these are at nose level, and electrical burns can often be missed.
- Relocate the remote control so it’s out of easy reach. Children’s toys and anything else precious (and temptingly chewable!) will also need to be off the floor and out of the way.
- Secure the lids of trash cans and laundry baskets. Food wrappers, bones and socks are very appealing for young dogs, and can cause foreign body obstruction.
- Install baby gates to control how much of the house your puppy has access to – at least to begin with.
- Set up your crate in a calm, low-traffic area so they have a ready-defined space to sleep.
- Designate your outdoor potty zone (and then get ready to spend a lot of time there).
- Check your backyard for any mushrooms or toxic plants and ensure fencing is secure.
3. Set household rules – for dogs and humans
Puppies thrive when they have positive experiences, gradual socialization and consistency in their day-to-day lives.
Before the puppy arrives, agree on whether they’ll be allowed on furniture, what cues you’ll use for training, and where they’ll be sleeping. Then make the whole family – and any visitors – promise to stick to them. Some of the most important rules to follow:
- No waking the puppy while they’re sleeping – however adorable they look. Puppies need their full 16-20 hours a day.
- No carrying the puppy unless absolutely necessary – being allowed to explore builds their confidence during this critical period, and lets them encounter the world without always turning to their Pet Loyalist for reassurance. Picking up your pup might, however, be helpful in unsafe environments, and before they’re fully vaccinated.
- No tight hugs – we know, we know, it’s hard to resist, but dogs can feel stressed if they don’t feel in control and can’t easily move away. Even very tolerant dogs may feel unhappy in this situation.
- No indoor chasing games – save your energy for when they’re bigger and know the house rules.
- Only one person at a time interacting – it’s important not to overwhelm your new pup.
- Finally, if you already have other pets, get them ready. A couple of weeks before your new pup arrives, support a more peaceful pet household (and ease the transition) by introducing WellJoy Calming+ supplements for cats and for dogs.
4. Finally, set your mindset - the puppy blues are normal
It’s our job, as Pet Loyalists, to teach puppies how to behave – but it’s also important to remember that they’re babies. They won’t arrive knowing the house rules, they won’t understand no, and they won’t automatically know how to walk on a leash.
You can avoid some of the frustration this creates – and those occasional feelings of puppy blues – by setting your mindset beforehand:
Be understanding
Puppies may feel unsettled when you first adopt them. They’re in a place of new smells and new people, and their mother and littermates are nowhere to be seen. Everything is novel, and while some puppies settle within days, others might need weeks to really relax.
Be patient
Bladder control takes weeks and months to develop, with many puppies only achieving reliable consistency around six months. Taking them outside every time they wake up, drink water or eat can help with this. Regression in behavior is also very normal. It can help to track the wins over time, even if it’s small milestones like longer naps, softer biting, and a quicker response to their name. Expect progress to be gradual, not dramatic.
Be consistent
Puppies learn by doing the same thing over and over again. Be prepared to stick to your household rules – and to make sure everyone else in the family does too. Mixed messages slows learning and increases stress for everyone, including the puppy. And by the way, that consistency means structured nap or quiet time every single day, to avoid an exhausted puppy behaving like a tiny demon (you’ll thank us later).
Be realistic
Your new puppy is going to have accidents – like peeing behind the couch for the sixth time or chewing up your shoes or generally testing boundaries (and your patience). You might feel like they’re doing it on purpose, but this is normal puppy behavior. If you’re feeling truly overwhelmed, puppy classes can offer much-needed guidance, and so can your veterinarian. Puppies are hard work, and asking for help makes you a responsible Pet Loyalist, not a failure.
5. A final note
WellJoy is formulated for adult dogs, so we recommend waiting until your veterinarian says you’re ready to start an adult diet before you introduce treats or supplements. When you, and your dog, are ready, we’ve put together a guide on how to incorporate WellJoy treats and supplements into their regular routine.
We’re proud to say that all of WellJoy’s content is fact-checked and verified by a Pet Loyalist team, including a veterinarian trained in companion animal nutrition and a PhD board-certified companion animal nutritionist.