New Puppy Care Guide

Every puppy adjusts at their own pace, but this rough timeline helps set realistic expectations so you don't misread a nervous first week as a bad fit.

If things feel harder than this timeline suggests, that's worth a conversation with us before assuming it isn't working out — see section 7 below.

Before or right after bringing your puppy home, it helps to have a few basics ready:

• A quiet, low-traffic "home base" room with water, a bed, and a few chew-safe toys
• Food matching what we were feeding, at least for the first week or two, to avoid stomach upset
• ID tag and, if not already done, an appointment to confirm microchip details are registered to you
• A secure leash and a properly fitted collar or harness, checked for a good fit before the first walk
• Puppy-proofing — securing trash, cords, small objects, and anything toxic to pets out of reach

We recommend a vet check-up within the first one to two weeks, even if your puppy seems perfectly healthy. This gives you a baseline and catches anything that might not have been visible during an earlier exam.

• Bring the medical records and vaccination history provided at pickup
• Ask your vet about a parasite check, dental health, and confirming what's already been done (core vaccines, deworming, microchip)
• Use this visit to ask any breed-, age-, or condition-specific questions about your particular puppy

Consistency helps a new puppy feel secure. A steady routine for feeding, walks or potty breaks, and quiet time gives them something predictable while everything else is new.

• Feed at consistent times, and if you switch food brands, do it gradually over 7-10 days
• Keep exercise and play light at first, building up as your puppy's confidence grows
• Give your puppy a way to opt out of attention — a crate, bed, or room they can retreat to without being followed

Some hesitation, testing boundaries, or the occasional accident is common in a new environment and usually fades as routines settle in.

• Use positive reinforcement — reward the behavior you want rather than punishing mistakes, which can undermine trust during this fragile period
• Introduce new people, animals, and situations gradually rather than all at once
• If you're seeing persistent fear, aggression, or house-training struggles past the first few weeks, a certified trainer or behaviorist can help before small issues become bigger ones

Slow, supervised introductions tend to go best. For other pets in the home, that usually means separate space at first, scent swapping, and short supervised meetings before free access to shared spaces. For kids, teach gentle handling and give the new puppy an escape route they can use if they need space.

It's normal to have questions, and reaching out early is almost always easier than waiting until something feels urgent.

• Contact your vet for anything health-related — vomiting, diarrhea, limping, changes in appetite, or anything that seems physically off
• Contact us for behavior questions, general advice, or if you're wondering whether something feels off — we know this puppy's history and want it to work out for both of you
• See a vet urgently for anything that seems like an emergency — difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting, suspected poisoning, or a serious injury

Most rough patches smooth out with time, patience, and the right support — but if a genuine health issue comes up covered by our health guarantee, our refund & return policy covers how that process works.