Puppies are wonderfully adorable, and if you’ve taken the bold step of bringing a new puppy into your home, you’re probably full of questions about where to start — from socialising to feeding to house training. This guide should help.
Elisha Fahy RVN DipCABT shares her advice for first-time puppy owners.
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Advice for New Puppy Owners
From food to where they sleep, to routines and socialising, there’s a lot to get used to as a first-time puppy owner. Here are some new puppy tips to help you navigate the new arrival.
The Importance of a Puppy Diet
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A huge amount of research has gone into life-stage diets, which are formulated specifically for the nutritional needs of pets at different stages of life. These are widely available from vets and pet stores.
Puppy diets matter because they often contain extra supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints, along with antioxidants that promote a healthy immune system and help protect brain cells.
Try to feed your puppy the best quality food you can afford — it’s an investment in their health and happiness.
When it comes to treats, natural options like carrots or broccoli work well, or choose high-quality treats made with healthy ingredients.
Make a Puppy Room
Just like preparing for a new baby, a few practical tools make life easier with a new puppy. Baby gates, for example, come in very handy. If there are rooms you don’t want your puppy in — at least until they’re house-trained — set up a “puppy-safe room” for them to explore.
Along with their crate, bed and some water, add a few toys for them to play with and chew on.
It’s simply not possible to supervise a new puppy 24 hours a day, so having one safe space for them when you can’t watch them closely is a sensible move.
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Socialising Your Puppy
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Socialisation is a vital part of raising a puppy and helps prevent behavioural problems later in life. Pets that are poorly socialised can go on to live a life of fear.
Early in life, all animals go through what’s known as a “sensitive development period”, when they first encounter the world and learn to accept what they find. In puppies, this period starts at birth and lasts until around 14 weeks of age. Whatever a puppy experiences during this time becomes part of its normal, accepted world. After this age, unfamiliar objects and experiences can trigger a fearful response — sometimes an extreme one — which can eventually lead to aggression.
It’s important, therefore, for owners to introduce their puppy to as much of the environment and everyday life as possible, as early as possible.
Learning to interact normally with adults, children, other dogs and other pets is called socialisation.
Getting used to household noises, appliances, cars, and a range of environments — from countryside to city — is called habituation.
#### Why Socialisation and Habituation Matter So Much
More young dogs are put to sleep because of behavioural problems than die from the diseases we vaccinate against. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these behavioural problems stem from poor socialisation.
For example, if a puppy has never met a postal worker or a child and encounters one for the first time as an adult dog, they can become extremely fearful. A frightened dog with no way to escape may respond with aggression.
Proper habituation helps prevent similar problems. Imagine taking a dog who has never experienced a car on a journey for the first time — the poor animal may be sick with fear, and could become aggressive as a result.
And if a puppy hasn’t been gradually accustomed to being separated from their owners during this sensitive period, they may, later in life, bark, whine, lose toilet control, or become destructive whenever they’re left alone.
Get Your New Puppy into a Routine
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Just like children, puppies benefit from a consistent routine where they learn what’s expected of them.
Build a routine around feeding times, play time, training time and, of course, cuddle time.
House Training Your Puppy
Puppies only gain full control of their bladder at around 12 weeks of age, so expect some accidents while you house-train them.
Take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, after eating, after playtime, after a nap, and before bedtime. Praise them warmly each time they go in the right spot.
Our dog trainer recommended choosing one spot in the garden and consistently encouraging your puppy to go there.
If you need to leave your puppy home alone, pop them in their crate while you’re out — this encourages bladder control and also keeps them from chewing on things they shouldn’t.
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Correct Behaviour Early
Keep in mind that some “cute” puppy behaviour can become annoying, or even risky, as your dog grows. Jumping up on people, or getting used to being carried and held, are good examples.
Now is the time to gently correct these habits, before they become entrenched.
Puppy Training
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Either bring in a dog trainer for home visits, or enrol your new puppy in training classes — both you and your puppy will benefit. They should learn to be obedient and follow basic commands such as “Sit”, “Down”, “Come” and “Wait”.
Teaching them to walk on a leash without straining is also well worth the effort.
If you opt for classes, your puppy gets the added bonus of socialising with other puppies too.
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Grooming and Cleaning Your New Puppy
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Get your puppy comfortable with showering, teeth brushing and grooming early on — you’ll be glad you did. Depending on the breed, they may need regular visits to a dog groomer, so bring them along as a puppy for their first nail trim and to get used to the new setting.
Also get them used to you looking in their mouth and running your fingers over their gums, to prepare them for tooth brushing later on.
A dog brush is a good early investment — gently brushing your puppy gets them comfortable with being groomed.
Wash them gently with some warm water in the shower, too. You’ll be grateful for this the first time they roll in something unpleasant on a walk, so getting them used to being showered now is a smart move.
Hopefully these tips for first-time puppy owners are useful. A bit of common sense and plenty of love go a long way. Enjoy the puppy stage while it lasts — just like your kids, puppies grow up in the blink of an eye.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start socialising my puppy?
As early as possible. The key socialisation window runs from birth to around 14 weeks, so gentle, positive exposure to people, other animals, everyday noises and new places during this time makes a real difference to your dog’s confidence later in life.
How often should I feed my puppy?
Puppies generally need more frequent, smaller meals than adult dogs. A good quality puppy-specific diet, recommended by your vet, will support their growth, joints and immune system at this stage.
When will my puppy be fully house-trained?
Puppies only gain full bladder control at around 12 weeks old, so accidents before then are completely normal. A consistent routine of toilet breaks after meals, play and naps will speed things along.
Should I take my puppy to training classes?
Yes, if possible. Whether it’s a trainer coming to your home or group puppy classes, both routes help your puppy learn basic commands and, in a class setting, give them valuable socialisation time with other dogs.
What’s the best way to introduce grooming to a new puppy?
Start gently and early — brushing, gentle handling of their mouth and paws, and a calm first shower all help your puppy get comfortable with grooming before it becomes a necessity.
Related Articles
- 10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got a Family Dog
- Top 10 Dog Breeds That Will Love Your Kids as Much As You
- 7 Top Tips to Have a Clean House with a Dog
- 7 Expert Tips for Puppy Training with Children
- 9 Reasons why Getting a Family Dog is the Best Idea Ever
Save These Puppy Tips for Later
Bringing home a new puppy is a big (and busy!) family moment. Save this article or share it with anyone else in your house who’ll be helping with puppy duties, so everyone’s on the same page with routine, training and house training.
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