Day one with your new puppy: what to expect and how to prepare

You’ve probably done plenty of research into whether to get a dog , sorted out your puppy insurance and maybe even done a bit of new puppy shopping too, but it’s a good idea to actually think about what you’ll be doing in that crucial first 48 hours. Oli Juste is a dog trainer and behaviourist, who has offered his expertise in Channel 4’s Puppy School. “Socialisation starts as soon as you bring your pup home,” says Oli. “Puppies need exposure to different situations, environments and ‘things’ to help develop a happy and confident dog. “From car trips , automatic doors at the supermarket, the vets to hoovers, children and other dogs – pups need to be exposed to as much as possible in a calm and positive way.” And while you want to settle your puppy calmly in to your new home, that socialisation should really start as soon as possible. “Socialisation should take place before they’re 16 weeks old and can shape their behaviour well into adulthood. If your puppy has missed the critical window, be patient and introduce them to familiar environments slowly, says Oli. What you’ll need for day one Before you go to pick up your puppy, get ready for training success by making sure you have these essentials: Four puppy lessons to start on day one These are Oli’s other top tips for pet parents to build the foundations of training a happy, healthy pup, right from that first day and beyond Lesson one: toilet training Dogs are contextual learners – they learn by doing and experiencing. These are some tips, but you can also check out our full puppy house training schedule . Lesson 2: Discourage jumping Jumping up is a common problem for puppies and dogs. Lesson 3: Puppy biting Puppy teeth are very sharp and while their nibbles aren’t usually a sign of aggression, they need to learn that biting or chewing people (or furniture) isn’t a good behaviour. Lesson four: prevent separation anxiety On day one, it’s probably best to make sure you’re available for your pup all day. But sooner or later, you’ll have to leave the room - and the house - without them. Puppy schedule Puppies need short bouts of activity and plenty of rest. This is what a typical day might look like for your very young puppy: You can use this schedule as a basis for your day, but adjust it to your own puppy. They might need more frequent garden breaks, or you might want to do more training and less playtime - or vice versa. The main thing is to have a plan ready for that crucial first day - then you can adjust and adapt as your puppy grows.

Day one with your new puppy: what to expect and how to prepare

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