©Jessica Death

When you bring your puppy home, you’ll be feeling excited, but your puppy may be feeling stressed and anxious. This might be the first time that they have been apart from their siblings and mother. To help your puppy to feel calm and to settle in, try not to overwhelm them with too many smells, sounds and sights. Slowly show them round your house, room by room, giving them time to sniff about and get used to their new surroundings. Gradually introduce them to other family members. Show them where they can go to the toilet, and where they will be sleeping. Make sure your puppy has access to fresh water at all times and lots of dog toys to keep them amused.

As soon as your puppy has had the complete course of vaccinations, you can begin walking them outdoors. Your puppy will have lots of energy but should not be overexercised while their joints are still growing. This is important for all dog breeds but more so in large dogs as they take longer to fully mature. How much exercise your puppy needs depends on age, breed and size. Puppies should be gradually introduced to exercise, starting with short sessions and allowing plenty of time for rest when they need it. You can speak to your veterinarian for further advice on exercising. Before taking your puppy for a walk, you'll need to make sure your puppy is used to wearing a collar and/or harness with a lead attached. Get them used to wearing it in the house and garden first. Take some treats with you to reward them for good behavior, such as walking nicely on lead. Take it slow on your walks so that your puppy has time to take in the new sights, sounds and smells without getting spooked by them.

Before taking your puppy home, check with the breeder what their current feeding schedule is. It's best to stick to this routine at first to help your puppy settle in. You don’t want to change too much at once for them. If you do decide to change their food to a different brand, make sure you do it gradually to avoid upsetting their tummy. Mix a small amount of the new food with the old food, gradually alter the ratio of new and old over a couple of weeks, until you're feeding only the new food. Make sure you feed your puppy food that is specifically designed for their age and contains all the nutrients that they need to grow and develop. There’s no need to supplement minerals or vitamins as their food and water will provide everything they need. The size of the breed will affect what type and amount of food they have, so keep an eye on the food packaging for guidance. Puppies only have small tummies so should be fed multiple meals (ideally 4 times a day) rather than one big meal. If you need further advice, you can ask your veterinarian or a veterinary nurse. Get your puppy weighed regularly to make sure they are eating the right amount of food.

Grooming your puppy will help to keep their coat in great condition and gives you a chance to check for any skin problems. If you start grooming from a young age, your puppy will soon get used to it and enjoy being groomed. They will see it as affection in the same way that they see stroking. Your puppy will also need their nails checked regularly to check if they’re too long. To avoid cutting the quick (part of a blood vessel), only cut off small amounts. You can ask a veterinarian, veterinary nurse or professional groomer to show you how to cut nails safely before doing it yourself. You can also book them in for nail cuts if you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself. It is important to not force your dog to be groomed or have their nails trimmed. Allow your dog to choose to opt in and leave if they need a break. Incorporate lots of small, healthy, yummy treats to make grooming an extra enjoyable experience. Dog’s teeth need brushing daily to prevent plaque build-up and dental issues. Because they are teething until about 6 months of age, their gums and mouth will be sensitive. Get your puppy used to having their mouth handled and teeth gently touched by pairing it with treats but wait to start brushing the teeth vigorously until teething has stopped. If the puppy experiences pain (due to teething), it may never be comfortable with having its teeth brushed.  Make sure you use a dog-friendly toothpaste and toothbrush.

You can begin housetraining your puppy as soon as they arrive into your home. Give your puppy regular opportunities to toilet in the correct place, and then praise your puppy every time they get it right. Don't punish them for accidents. When your puppy is in control of its toileting, they will let you know when they need to go outside. Crate training is one of the most effective toilet training methods and provides a safe place for your puppy. The crate should be large enough for your puppy to turn around and lie down in but remember that your puppy will grow fast so buy a crate big enough for the breed’s adult size. Crate training works as a method of toilet training because a dog will not want to go to the toilet in the area that they sleep or eat. It doesn’t take long for puppies to learn where their “safe place” is – somewhere they can retreat to if they want to sleep or feel secure. Crates are also a great way to protect your puppy should you need to leave them alone, for example when you’re out or in bed. Your puppy will not be able to get to any household dangers, therefore reducing the risk of accidents. Leaving toys in the crate will keep your puppy amused and stops them from chewing on things they shouldn’t. During mealtimes, place the food bowls inside the crate and then make sure you take your puppy to their toileting area straight after.

You can begin basic training as soon as you bring your puppy home. Positively reinforce their good behavior with treats, praise and encouragement. Never shout at or punish them. Puppies love to chew to help with their teething pains, so make sure you have lots of chew toys and food puzzles for them to use. Otherwise, they may decide to chew your belongings. Play biting is normal behavior when puppies are playing. There are preventive measures to take to minimize puppy mouthing and nipping. Even with prevention, some play biting is expected to occur.  If preventive measures have failed, address play biting and mouthing with a combination of briefly ignoring the behavior and response substitution. See the fact sheet about Nipping and mouthing for more information. Socializing your puppy from a young age will help to build its confidence so that they don’t find new things so scary. A great way to socialize your puppy is to take them to a well run puppy socialization preschool, which are hosted by some veterinary practices or dog training groups. Your dog will get a chance to interact with other puppies and you’ll get lots of tips on caring for your puppy. Puppy training and socialization will lead to a well-behaved and friendly adult dog.

Breeders usually arrange for puppies to have their first vaccinations around 6-8 weeks of age, before going to their new homes. The second course is due at 10-12 weeks and must be done in this time frame otherwise the vaccination course will need to be restarted. When the full vaccination course has been completed, they will have immunity against the diseases and more extensive outings can occur. Prior to complete vaccination, caution should be taken when exposing your dog to environments. A puppy should not be confined to just the home, but smart choices should be made regarding exposure outside the home until your puppy is fully vaccinated. Now that your puppy is venturing outside and socializing with other dogs, they may pick up some common illnesses. If your puppy has diarrhea or is vomiting, encourage fluid intake and feed small, plain meals. Most cases clear up by themselves but speak to your veterinarian if your puppy seems unwell, isn’t eating, the tummy upset doesn’t resolve quickly, or you are concerned. Worming treatment should be given every 2 weeks otherwise your puppy may become a host to parasitic worms. These can be passed from dog to human, and dog to dog. Their first flea treatment should be given at this age. You can speak to your veterinarian about what treatment options are best for your puppy. They will make recommendations based on the puppy’s age and weight. You’ll need to remember to regularly treat your puppy with flea and worm treatment, so it’s a good idea to set up calendar reminders.