The first 30 days with a puppy are crucial: this is the month when the foundations of their entire future life are built. Here is the day-by-day guide to getting it right.

Before they arrive: what to prepare

  • A bed or basket in a quiet area of the home
  • 2 bowls in stainless steel or ceramic (water + food)
  • An H-harness and a fixed lead 1.5–2 m long
  • A carrier for vet visits
  • Puppy kibble from the same brand as the breeder's (gradual transition after 1 week)
  • Puppy pads and waste bags for walks
  • Chew toys (Kong, appropriate chew bones)

Average start-up cost: 200–350 €.

Day 1: the arrival

  1. Transport in a carrier with a blanket that smells of the mother
  2. As soon as you're home: out to the garden or onto a puppy pad for their needs
  3. Water available straight away, food after 2 hours
  4. Guided tour: a few rooms, not too many people, calm tone of voice
  5. Show the bed and reward the puppy if they go in on their own

Days 2–7: routine and security

Puppies need predictability to feel safe. Establish:

  • Meals: 4 per day up to 4 months of age (at fixed times)
  • Naps: they sleep 18–20 hours a day — let them rest
  • Toilet breaks: every 2 hours, after meals, after sleep and after play
  • Vet visit within 7 days of arrival

The first night

They will probably cry: it is their first night away from their mother. Some solutions:

  • Bed close to your bed (not in another room)
  • A blanket or soft toy that smells of their mother
  • A warm pack (a lukewarm hot-water bottle) under the blanket
  • Do not pick them up when they cry: it reinforces the crying

Days 8–14: socialisation

Weeks 8–14 are the critical window for socialisation: everything the puppy encounters now, they will accept for life. Expose them (positively!) to:

  • Different people (adults, children, elderly people, uniforms)
  • Sounds (vacuum cleaner, lift, traffic, recorded fireworks)
  • Surfaces (tiles, grass, gravel, stairs)
  • Vehicles, bicycles, scooters
  • Vaccinated, calm dogs

Important: before the full vaccination course is complete (around 16 weeks), avoid public parks — but do carry the puppy in your arms around town so they can experience the world.

Days 15–21: the first commands

Sessions of 3–5 minutes, 3–4 times a day:

  • Their own name (recognise and look up)
  • "Sit" (with a treat held above their nose)
  • "Come" (with a cheerful voice and a generous reward)
  • Walking on the lead indoors, then in the garden

Days 22–30: the first real outings

  • Short walks on the lead (15–20 min)
  • Meetings with vaccinated, calm dogs
  • Exposure to new places (open-air shopping centres, markets)
  • Second vaccination booster (at around 12 weeks)

The 5 most common mistakes new owners make

  1. Overwhelming them with cuddles: puppies need time alone too
  2. Punishing them for accidents indoors: they don't understand, and it makes anxiety worse
  3. Changing food abruptly: this causes diarrhoea
  4. Skipping socialisation out of concern about incomplete vaccinations
  5. Leaving them alone for too long: no more than 2 hours in the first few weeks

Ready for the next steps? Continue with positive dog training and the complete vaccination schedule.