Bringing Home a Puppy: Choosing Well and the First Weeks

Choosing a Puppy

• Pick the breed or type for your life, not just its looks: size, exercise, grooming and lifespan. Our breed pages help.
• See the puppy with its mother where it was born, and ideally the father or his details.
• Ask for health test results for both parents, for the tests that breed's kennel club recommends.
• Expect questions back. A good breeder or rescue wants to know about your home and will take the puppy back if things go wrong.
• Consider a rescue. Puppies and young dogs come into rescues too; see rescue vs breeder.

Before Day One: Puppy-Proofing

• Choose one or two puppy-safe rooms with an easy-clean floor.
• Lift cables, shoes, medicines, cleaning products, plants and anything chewable out of reach.
• Fit baby gates on stairs and doors.
• Set up a crate or pen with a bed, water and a chew. See crate training.
• Ask the breeder or rescue what food the puppy eats and buy the same to start.
• Book a vet check for the first week and look into pet insurance.

The First Day and Night

Bring your puppy home when you'll be around for a few days. Take it straight to its toilet spot, then let it explore quietly. Keep visitors to a minimum. At night, many people put the crate beside the bed for the first weeks, so the puppy feels less alone; expect a toilet trip in the night for a young puppy. Some crying is normal at first.

The First Weeks: Routine Is Everything

• Toilet training at regular times; see toilet training a puppy.
• Plenty of sleep. Young puppies sleep much of the day; overtired puppies bite more.
• Gentle socialization with people, sounds and places; see puppy socialization.
• Short training games: name, sit, come, settle on a mat.
• Handling practice: paws, ears and mouth with treats; see cooperative care.
• Short spells alone from early on, so being alone is normal.

The First Vet Visit

Take your puppy for a check-up in its first week, with any paperwork from the breeder or rescue. Your vet will examine your puppy and talk to you about vaccinations, parasite prevention, neutering, diet and when it can safely go out in public. Check the microchip is registered in your name with your current details.

Vaccinations, worming and flea or tick treatments: see your vet or a pet supply store with trained staff. Your vet will set a plan for your puppy's age and where you live.