New Puppy Survival Checklist

Preparation is everything. Before bringing your new family member home, you need to puppy-proof your space and gather essential supplies.

🛒Essential Supplies

• ●High-quality puppy food (ask the breeder what they've been eating)
• ●Food and water bowls (stainless steel or ceramic are best)
• ●Appropriately sized crate for sleeping and training
• ●Comfortable bedding
• ●Collar, ID tag, and lead
• ●Puppy-safe toys (variety of textures)
• ●Enzymatic cleaner for accidents
• ●Treats for training

🐶Puppy-Proofing Your Home

• ●Secure loose cables and wires
• ●Move toxic plants out of reach
• ●Store chemicals and medications safely
• ●Block access to small spaces where puppies can get stuck
• ●Remove or secure items that can be chewed

Don't overwhelm yourself with gadgets. Start with the basics and add things as you understand what your specific puppy needs.

The first day sets the tone for your relationship. Your puppy has just left everything they knew - their mother, littermates, and familiar environment. Expect some anxiety and adjustment.

📖What to Expect

• ●Whining or crying, especially at night
• ●Accidents (they're in a new place)
• ●Reluctance to eat (stress suppresses appetite)
• ●Lots of sleeping between bursts of energy

📖What to Do

• ●Keep things calm and quiet
• ●Introduce your home gradually, one room at a time
• ●Show them where their crate, food, and water are
• ●Take them outside frequently to establish toilet spots
• ●Let them rest - they need it

🚫What to Avoid

• ●Overwhelming them with visitors
• ●Forcing interactions
• ●Leaving them alone for extended periods
• ●Scolding accidents (they're learning)

Your job on day one is simple: help them feel safe. Everything else can wait.

Dogs thrive on routine. From day one, start building predictable patterns that will make training and daily life much easier.

📖Daily Schedule Template

• ●Morning: Outside immediately, then breakfast, then playtime, then rest
• ●Midday: Outside, lunch (if feeding three times), play/training, rest
• ●Afternoon: Outside, play/exploration, rest
• ●Evening: Outside, dinner, calm play, wind-down routine
• ●Night: Final toilet break, then crate time

🔑Key Habits to Establish

• ●Same toilet spot every time (helps them learn faster)
• ●Meals at consistent times
• ●Crate time for rest (prevents overtiredness)
• ●Short, positive training sessions (5 minutes max at this age)

🎯Training Priorities This Week

1. Toilet training consistency 2. Crate familiarity 3. Their name (say it, reward when they look) 4. Gentle handling (touch paws, ears, mouth)

Don't rush. Week one is about building trust and establishing patterns, not perfecting behaviours.

Now that your puppy is settling in, you can start more structured training while continuing to build on week one's foundations.

🤝Socialisation (Critical Period)

Between 8-16 weeks is your puppy's socialisation window. Expose them positively to: - Different surfaces (grass, tiles, carpet, metal) - Various sounds (vacuum, doorbell, traffic) - People of different ages and appearances - Other vaccinated, friendly dogs - New environments (carry them if not fully vaccinated)

🎯Training to Introduce

• ●Sit (use food lure, mark and reward)
• ●Coming when called (start indoors with no distractions)
• ●"Leave it" basics
• ●Loose lead walking in the garden

💪Managing Common Challenges

• ●Biting: Redirect to toys, withdraw attention if too rough
• ●Crying in crate: Ensure needs are met, then wait for quiet before opening
• ●Jumping: Turn away, reward four feet on floor
• ●Toilet accidents: Increase supervision, clean thoroughly, adjust schedule

Remember: puppies have short attention spans. Keep training sessions brief, positive, and end on success.

Your puppy is becoming more confident. This is when you'll see their personality really emerge - and when consistent training pays off.

📖Building Independence

• ●Practice brief separations while you're home
• ●Encourage self-play with appropriate toys
• ●Don't always be in physical contact
• ●Use the crate or playpen for enforced rest

🎯Advancing Training

• ●Longer duration for "sit" and "down"
• ●Recall practice in secure outdoor spaces
• ●Introduction to lead walking outside
• ●Basic impulse control games

5️⃣Common Week 5-8 Challenges

• ●Testing boundaries: Normal adolescent behaviour, stay consistent
• ●Fear periods: May suddenly seem scared of familiar things, don't force exposure
• ●Increased energy: Mental stimulation becomes as important as physical

📈Signs of Progress

• ●Fewer toilet accidents
• ●Settling in crate without fuss
• ●Responding to name reliably
• ●Beginning to understand household rules

This is a marathon, not a sprint. You're building habits that will last a lifetime.

Keeping your puppy healthy is fundamental to their training and development.

💉Vaccination Schedule

Work with your vet, but typically: - 8 weeks: First vaccination - 12 weeks: Second vaccination - 16 weeks: Third vaccination (if required) - Annual boosters thereafter

📋Before Full Vaccination

• ●Carry your puppy in public spaces
• ●Socialise in safe, controlled environments
• ●Avoid dog parks and areas with unknown dogs

🍖Nutrition Basics

• ●Feed puppy-specific food appropriate for their expected adult size
• ●Three meals a day until 4 months, then transition to two
• ●Fresh water always available
• ●Avoid human food and toxic items (chocolate, grapes, onions, xylitol)

🐕Parasite Prevention

• ●Worming schedule from your vet
• ●Flea prevention as recommended
• ●Check for ticks after outdoor adventures

🏥When to Contact Your Vet

• ●Vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours
• ●Refusal to eat for more than a day
• ●Lethargy or unusual behaviour
• ●Signs of pain or distress

Prevention and early intervention are always better than treatment.

The first 60 days are just the beginning. Here's how to build on this foundation.

📖Mindset Matters

• ●Progress isn't linear - expect good days and challenging ones
• ●Puppies are individuals, not robots
• ●Comparison to other dogs is unhelpful
• ●Patience and consistency trump intensity

📖Continuing Education

• ●Puppy classes can be valuable for socialisation
• ●Read widely but apply carefully (not all advice suits all dogs)
• ●Find training approaches that align with your values
• ●Consider breed-specific resources if you have a guardian or working breed

📖Building Your Support Network

• ●Reliable vet you trust
• ●Trainer or behaviourist for when you need guidance
• ●Pet sitter or trusted friend for emergencies
• ●Community of other dog owners

🏆What Success Looks Like at 60 Days

• ●Puppy understands basic house rules
• ●Toilet training is mostly reliable
• ●Comfortable in crate and with brief separations
• ●Responds to their name
• ●Foundation for recall and basic commands
• ●Positive associations with handling and grooming
• ●Beginning to understand what's theirs to chew

You've got this. The investment you make now shapes the dog you'll have for years to come.