What to Expect in a Puppy's First Week
Well, you’ve made it home with your new puppy! What can you expect in the first week? For starters, you can simplify your puppy's first day by showing him his free-play zone, the room he’ll call home until he’s grounded and potty trained.
Speak to your puppy softly and don’t correct him or respond if he has an accident or chews on something he shouldn’t. In the beginning, he’s too disoriented to retain anything; he’s just getting familiar with his new surroundings and denmates (as you are), so you’ll only frighten him. Relax.
Surviving the first 24 hours with your puppy
Prepare yourself and your family for the fact that the first day home with your puppy can be a little odd. After all the anticipation and preparation, your puppy is home. He may jump right into the mix, or he may pass out for days.
Your puppy might sleep straight through the night, or he may be up all night whining. The puppy may be rough, sweet, or completely aloof. Don’t take anything personally. This adventure is all very new, and he’s just trying to get a handle on what’s going on.
Bring your puppy into the puppy free-play zone the moment you come home; wait to introduce him to the other rooms of the house until he’s potty trained. Enclose him in the room and just observe, reflecting his interests calmly. Get down on his level, if possible. If he sniffs something, you sniff it too. If he acts startled, stay calm. If he’s interested in looking out the window, join him.
If your puppy wants to rest, be a quiet presence. You’re showing him that this new space is okay, and acting like an adult dog will give him reassurance. Try not to overwhelm him with your interests or affections. He needs time to adjust.
Adjusting in days two through seven
The first week is very progressive. By day two or three, you’ll notice your puppy watching you and getting excited when you walk through the door. You may be surprised to note the different reactions, but remember, his emerging personality is a sure sign that he feels safe and welcomed.
Establish a feeding schedule and stick to a routine. Remain patient with accidents or exploratory chewing, especially if he’s in his infant stage (younger than 14 weeks of age). If you notice your puppy chewing furniture or wires, use a distasteful spray like Bitter Apple to discourage him, or tape the wires out of reach.
Puppy-proof each area you share by placing objects such as dish towels and shoes out of reach. Avoid loud or physical interference because it will only overwhelm your puppy and discourage bonding. Running and shouting “No” to a puppy may make him stop in the moment, but you’d stop too if someone shouted at you.
During these early days, the most important lessons for your puppy are:
Helping your puppy learn his name: Fill a plastic container with some of his puppy food or favorite treats. Shake the cup and reward your puppy until he makes the association between the sound and the reward. Then call his name as you shake the cup and reward his focus. Always use his name to get his attention for positive interactions.
Teaching him where to go to get each of his needs met (eating, drinking, sleeping, playing, and going to the bathroom): Assign words to each routine so he begins to recognize your voice and connect words to actions.
Make these lessons the focus of your puppy's first week, and you’ll be well on your way to a wonderful life together!
Dogs Glossary
A-B-C assessment
Checking a dog’s airway, breathing, and circulation.
Dogs Glossary
animal shelter
1. An animal control agency run by local government to protect people from animals, take in strays, and manage animal issues and problems within the community. 2. A privately run shelter managed by individuals who want to protect, advocate for, and find homes for animals.
Dogs Glossary
BARF diet
A method of feeding dogs as closely as possible what they would eat in the wild: raw flesh and bones, along with vegetable matter from the stomachs of their prey. The acronym stands for either Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
Dogs Glossary
blow out
A twice-yearly shedding of a dog’s undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
blue slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
breeder
A person who raises, sells, and often shows dogs of a specific breed. Reputable breeders screen parent dogs in an effort to produce healthy dogs that conform to breed standards.
Dogs Glossary
castrate
The removal of a male dog’s testicles to render him infertile.
Dogs Glossary
clicker
A small hand-held device that makes a sharp cracking sound when pressed. Paired with a food reward, an effective dog-training tool.
Dogs Glossary
cohesive bandage
A stretchy wrap that clings to itself used to cover and secure gauze bandages without tape.
Dogs Glossary
come into season
The advent of a female dog’s term of fertility.
Dogs Glossary
dead ring
The stationary ring on a training collar that pulls on the collar, not the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
double coat
Two layers of fur — a top coat of stiff guard hairs and an undercoat that serves as insulation.
Dogs Glossary
dropped ears
The term for hanging or drooping dog ears.
Dogs Glossary
Elizabethan collar
A wide, cone-shaped plastic or cardboard collar that prevents a dog from being able to scratch her head. Used to prevent further injury or hasten healing.
Dogs Glossary
euthanize; put to sleep
To kill an animal to relieve suffering.
Dogs Glossary
fall
Hair that extends over a dog’s eyes.
Dogs Glossary
feathering
Long hair that runs from armpit to paw on the backs of a dog’s legs.
Dogs Glossary
free-feeding
Keeping a constant supply of dog food available so that the dog can decide when and how much to eat. It works best in single-dog households where there’s no competition for food.
Dogs Glossary
heartworms
Parasites that live in dogs’ hearts and cause heart failure. They’re transferred through mosquito bites.
Dogs Glossary
heat
The period when a female dog is fertile.
Dogs Glossary
heel
A command and position in which a dog walks at your left side staying with you as you change direction or pace.
Dogs Glossary
hip dysplasia
A painful malformation of a dog’s hip socket. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to the condition.
Dogs Glossary
hot spot
A localized area of skin infection. It’s usually round, red, and warm to the touch.
Dogs Glossary
live ring
The floating ring of a training collar. Attach a leash to this ring for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
neuter
A general term to describe either spaying or castrating a dog to render it infertile. Neutering and castrating are often used interchangeably.
Dogs Glossary
pantaloons
The tufts of hair on the backs of a long-haired dogs legs that make him look like he’s wearing bloomers.
Dogs Glossary
pedigree
A diagram of a dog’s ancestors for three or more generations that lists the registered names of the dogs and the titles they earned.
Dogs Glossary
pinch collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
praise
A verbal reward for a dog , such as an enthusiastic “good dog!”
Dogs Glossary
prong collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
pulse
Normal dog pulse is between 70 and 120 beats per minute. The pulse of a puppy ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute.
Dogs Glossary
puppy mill
A place that supplies puppies to pet stores, usually without screening for possible genetic defects or properly socializing the puppies.
Dogs Glossary
registration certificate
The paper certifying a dog’s registration with an accredited organization.
Dogs Glossary
registration slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
release word
A word that lets a dog know that she is free to move.
Dogs Glossary
rescue group
A network of animal lovers who rescue and find new homes for their favorite breeds or animals.
Dogs Glossary
reward
To give a dog a treat for a correct response while he’s still in the desired position.
Dogs Glossary
ruff
The long, thick fur around a dog’s chest, shoulders, and neck.
Dogs Glossary
separation anxiety
A condition in which your dog becomes anxious and stressed when you leave him.
Dogs Glossary
shed
A twice-yearly process of casting off the undercoat in a double-coated dog.
Dogs Glossary
single coat
A single layer of hairs that comprises a dog’s fur.
Dogs Glossary
spay
To remove of both the uterus and the ovaries of a dog to render her infertile.
Dogs Glossary
stripping
Plucking the dead hairs from a dog’s coat.
Dogs Glossary
titer tests
Tests that check a dog’s immunity levels to determine exactly which vaccinations are needed.
Dogs Glossary
top coat
The top layer of a double-coated dog composed of stiff guard hairs that tend to be naturally water-repellant. The top coat protects the dog’s skin and undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
training collar
A collar that enables you to guide your dog and to check her as necessary — a brief, sharp tug tightens the collar around the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
treat cup
A plastic container filled with small treats or dog food. Shake it and give treats from it as a reward as you train a dog.
Dogs Glossary
undercoat
Fleecy or downy fur shorter than the top layer of a double-coated dog. The undercoat serves as insulation.
