Your puppy's first week home

Keep it calm and the same

Humane World for Animals suggests the whole family agree on the routine before the puppy arrives: who walks the puppy, how often it eats, and which rooms are off limits.

Feeding, walking, and leaving for work at the same times each day helps. The first week or more should be quiet and steady, and settling in can take a few weeks.

• Skip busy parks, dog parks, and pet stores for now
• Do not rush the puppy into new places

Give the puppy its own space

A crate or enclosed playpen can be the puppy's den. VCA says to use a crate or pen that cannot be escaped whenever nobody is watching, and to never use it as punishment.

VCA also says to put the puppy's bed in a kitchen or bedroom, where people are, instead of a basement or laundry room, and to let the puppy sleep in its own bed or crate.

Start potty routines on day one

Humane World says to assume a new puppy is not house trained and to keep a steady routine. VCA says to begin house training as soon as the puppy comes home.

Start learning and meeting the vet

VCA says training should start right away, using rewards like attention, food, play, and walks, and not physical discipline.

Humane World says to take a new dog to the vet within a week for a health check. For shots, the WSAVA publishes vaccination guidelines for vets. Ask your vet what schedule fits your puppy.