First Week Home Checklist for Puppies

First Week Home Checklist: Your Day-by-Day Guide to Puppy Success

Bringing a new puppy home is one of life's most exciting moments—and potentially one of the most overwhelming. Those first seven days will set the foundation for your entire relationship with your new furry family member. With the right preparation, clear expectations, and a solid plan, you can transform what might be a chaotic adjustment period into a smooth, positive transition for both you and your puppy.

This comprehensive guide provides a customizable, day-by-day checklist approach to your puppy first week home. By understanding what to expect and preparing accordingly, you will be able to focus on what matters most: building a strong bond with your new puppy while establishing healthy routines that will serve you both for years to come.

Whether you are a first-time puppy parent or an experienced dog owner, our interactive First Week Home Checklist tool will generate personalized recommendations based on your puppy age, your home environment, and your experience level. The result is a tailored roadmap that addresses your unique situation—because every puppy and every home is different.

Why the First Week Matters

The first week with your new puppy is critical for several key reasons:

1. Transition Trauma: Your puppy has just left their mother, littermates, and everything familiar. This significant life change creates stress that can manifest as crying, anxiety, or behavior issues if not properly managed.
2. Neural Development: Puppies brains are still developing, and experiences during this period can have lasting impacts on their behavior and temperament. Positive experiences now build confidence for life.
3. Habit Formation: Dogs thrive on routine and predictability. The patterns you establish in week one often become long-term habits—both good and bad.
4. Bond Building: The foundation of your relationship with your puppy is largely formed during these early days together.
5. Training Groundwork: Basic expectations and household rules begin from day one, setting the stage for all future training.

Research shows that puppies who experience structured, positive transitions into their new homes demonstrate fewer behavior problems, reduced anxiety, and stronger bonds with their owners. By approaching this critical week with intention and preparation, you are making an investment in your puppy lifelong wellbeing.

Before Puppy Comes Home: Preparation Checklist

Proper preparation before your puppy arrives can significantly reduce stress and create a smooth transition. Here is a comprehensive preparation checklist to complete before bringing your new family member home:

Home Puppy-Proofing Guide

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, making puppy-proofing your home an essential first step:

• Secure electrical cords by hiding them behind furniture, using cord concealers, or temporarily taping them to baseboards
• Remove toxic plants including lilies, azaleas, rhododendrons, and sago palms (see ASPCA complete toxic plant list)
• Store household chemicals including cleaning supplies, antifreeze, and medications in inaccessible cabinets
• Remove small choking hazards such as coins, buttons, children toys, and anything small enough to swallow
• Secure trash cans with locking lids or in closed cabinets
• Protect furniture by removing valuable or antique items from puppy-accessible areas
• Create safe boundaries using baby gates to block off areas that are not puppy-proof
• Cover electrical outlets with safety plugs to prevent curious noses from investigating
• Secure loose wires from blinds or curtains which can be strangulation hazards
• Remove access to tight spaces where a puppy could become stuck

Beginner Tip: Get down on your hands and knees to see your home from your puppy perspective—you will be surprised at what hazards become visible from this vantage point!

Advanced Tip: Create a rotating schedule of safe puppy zones to provide environmental enrichment while maintaining safety. This prevents your puppy from becoming bored with a single safe space.

Essential Supplies List

Having the right supplies ready before your puppy arrives prevents last-minute scrambling. Here is what you will need:

Feeding Supplies:

• High-quality puppy food (preferably the same brand they have been eating)
• Stainless steel food and water bowls (2 sets)
• Treats for training (small, soft pieces work best)
• Treat pouch for training sessions

Sleeping Arrangements:

• Crate sized appropriately for your puppy adult size with divider panel
• Washable bedding (at least 2 sets for rotation during cleaning)
• Snuggle puppy with heartbeat (especially helpful for puppies under 12 weeks)
• Blanket with mother/littermate scent (if possible)

Bathroom Essentials:

• Puppy pads for indoor potty training (if applicable)
• Enzymatic cleaner for accidents
• Poop bags and dispenser
• Potty bells (optional)

Grooming Tools:

• Puppy-safe shampoo
• Soft brush appropriate for coat type
• Nail clippers designed for puppies
• Puppy-safe toothpaste and toothbrush

Play and Training:

• 5-6 safe puppy toys of different textures (no small parts)
• Puzzle toys for mental stimulation
• Long-lasting chews (appropriate for puppy teeth)
• Bitter apple spray to discourage inappropriate chewing
• Clicker for training (optional)
• 2 leashes: 6-foot standard and long-line training lead
• Properly-fitted harness and/or collar with ID tags
• Portable playpen for supervised containment

Health and Safety:

• Veterinarian contact information
• Local emergency vet information
• Pet first aid kit
• Pet insurance information (if applicable)

Setting Up Key Areas

Creating dedicated spaces for your puppy essential activities helps establish routine and boundaries:

Sleeping Area/Crate Setup:

• Position the crate in a quiet, low-traffic area that is still within family living space
• Cover three sides of the crate to create a den-like feeling
• Place washable bedding inside (nothing too expensive for the first week)
• Add an item with familiar scent if possible
• Keep the area draft-free but not too warm
• Consider placing the crate next to your bed for the first few nights

Feeding Area Setup:

• Choose a consistent, quiet location away from high traffic
• Use a washable mat under food/water bowls
• Keep feeding area separate from sleeping area
• Ensure the area is easily cleaned
• Consider elevated bowls for larger breed puppies (consult your vet)

Play Area Setup:

• Designate a specific space with washable flooring
• Provide a variety of appropriate toys
• Remove valuable items and choking hazards
• Consider a playpen for contained play sessions
• Install baby gates as needed to create boundaries

Potty Area Setup:

• Indoor potty area (if needed): Place puppy pads in a consistent, easily accessible location away from food and sleeping areas
• Outdoor potty area: Identify a specific spot in the yard that is easily accessible and will be acceptable long-term
• Ensure outdoor areas are secure and free from toxic plants
• Have cleaning supplies easily accessible for accidents

Establishing House Rules for Family Members

Consistency is crucial when bringing home a new puppy. Before arrival, ensure all family members agree on:

• Who will handle specific puppy care tasks and when
• Where the puppy is allowed (furniture, beds, rooms)
• Consistent commands for basic training
• How to respond to jumping, nipping, and other puppy behaviors
• Feeding schedule and treat policies
• Who will handle night-time potty breaks
• Protocol for visitors during the first week

Beginner Tip: Create a shared digital calendar for puppy care tasks to ensure nothing is forgotten and everyone knows their responsibilities.

Advanced Tip: Develop a puppy journal system where family members can log behaviors, training progress, and health observations to maintain consistency in approach.

The time invested in preparation before your puppy arrives will pay dividends in a smoother transition period and fewer challenges during that critical first week.

Day 1: Homecoming Day Checklist

The day you bring your puppy home sets the tone for your entire relationship. By focusing on making this transition as stress-free as possible, you will help your puppy build trust and confidence in their new environment. Here is your Day 1 checklist:

Transportation Safety Tips

Bringing your puppy home safely starts with proper transportation:

• Secure travel crate positioned away from airbags and securely fastened with a seatbelt
• Familiar-scented item from breeder/shelter placed in the crate for comfort
• Travel buddy to monitor puppy while you drive (if possible)
• Potty break supplies including puppy pads, paper towels, and cleaning spray
• Water and small treats for positive reinforcement during the journey
• Temperature control to ensure the car is not too hot or cold
• Plan for stops every 1-2 hours for potty breaks on longer journeys
• Minimize loud music or other stressful stimuli during the drive

Beginner Tip: If possible, schedule pickup early in the day to allow maximum adjustment time before the first night.

Advanced Tip: For anxious puppies, use a pheromone spray (like Adaptil) on bedding in the travel crate to create a calming effect.

First Introduction to Home

Your puppy first impression of their new home matters tremendously:

1. Start with potty area: Before entering your home, take your puppy directly to their designated potty area. Wait patiently until they eliminate, then offer calm praise and a small treat.
2. Enter calmly: Keep the initial home entrance low-key and quiet—no excited greetings or loud voices, which can overwhelm a nervous puppy.
3. Limited space: Introduce only one room initially (preferably the main living area), keeping doors closed to other parts of the house.
4. Supervised exploration: Allow your puppy to investigate this limited area while you quietly observe. Do not force interaction—let them set the pace.
5. Show essentials: Gently guide your puppy to their water bowl, crate, and designated play area.
6. Minimal handling: Limit picking up or excessive petting during the first few hours.

Apartment Dwellers: If you live in an apartment, take your puppy to their potty area (indoor pads or community pet relief area) immediately before entering your unit.

Rural Home Owners: For homes with large properties, create a small, contained outdoor area for initial potty training rather than overwhelming your puppy with too much space.

First Night Sleeping Arrangements

The first night is often challenging, but these strategies can help:

1. Exercise before bedtime to promote tiredness (gentle play, not overexcitement)
2. Last potty break immediately before bedtime
3. Consistent bedtime location (ideally crate near your bed for the first few nights)
4. Comfort items including heartbeat toy or warm water bottle wrapped in towel
5. White noise machine or soft classical music to mask unfamiliar sounds
6. Minimal interaction during night potty breaks (no play or excitement)
7. Early morning wake-up (prepare for 5-6 AM awakening)
8. Patience with crying (may last 10-45 minutes but should improve each night)

Beginner Expectations: Prepare for interrupted sleep with 1-3 potty breaks through the night for puppies under 12 weeks.

Advanced Strategy: Place the crate at bed level the first night, then gradually move to desired permanent location over subsequent nights.

Remember that Day 1 is about establishing safety, building trust, and beginning basic routines. Keep your expectations realistic—your puppy is experiencing a completely new world, and some stress is inevitable. Your calm, consistent presence will help them navigate this significant transition.