The First Night With Your New Puppy: A Complete Guide

Most puppies go to their new homes when they’re about 8-10 weeks old, and their world changes instantly. Until now, they’ve been snuggled up with their mom and littermates. 

Suddenly, they’re in an unfamiliar place surrounded by smells, noises, people, and perhaps other animals.

As your puppy gets used to their new environment, you’ll encounter lots of whining, howling, crying, and barking. But fear not — this is normal behavior for a young puppy, and as they settle in, this behavior will stop. 

In this article, you’ll learn how to prepare for your first night with your future best friend. Learn what to do on the first day and night of bringing your puppy home so you can give them the best possible welcome experience.

Your puppy’s first night: Step-by-step

Once your pup is home, life will get busy fast. So, to make the transition experience as easy as possible for the puppy (and you), there’s plenty you can do before they arrive. 

1. Shop for puppy supplies

Make sure you tick all the boxes on your puppy supplies checklist. Some basics are: 

• High-quality puppy food and water bowls
• A leash and collar
• Toys (chew toys, snuggle toys, balls, tug toys, etc.)
• A dog bed
• A puppy crate  with enough room to stand, turn around, and lay down
• Training treats

Keep in mind that a puppy’s digestive system is still developing, so they can get an upset tummy from many things. To avoid surprise vomiting or diarrhea, it’s best to keep feeding them the same puppy food they’ve been eating. 

Most breeders will send them home with some food, but if not, be sure to buy an additional pack of the same food so you can keep feeding it to them. Later, you can change their food by gradually mixing the new food with the old food over 7 days. 

Remember: If your future pup isn’t fully weaned yet, then it’s too soon to take them away from their mama!

2. Set up a safe puppy zone (and home)

You’ll want to create a safe and comfortable space for your puppy to play and sleep without getting into trouble. Enclose this puppy zone with a small playpen or gate the area off. It should be large enough to hold their belongings and accommodate independent playtime.

The puppy zone should contain lots of puppy toys, a bed, a pee pad, a crate, food, and water. 

Note: Young puppies sleep about 15-20 hours per day, so you must set up their puppy zone in a quiet place so they can rest.

Also, for times your puppy will be outside of the puppy zone, it’s best to make your home puppy-proof by removing any hazards: 

• Picking up small objects they can chew on or swallow
• Moving electrical cords
• Taking away poisonous plants and anything else that might cause injury

3. Prepare your car for safe puppy travels

How will you travel with your new puppy? 

There’s tons of great travel gear for dogs, but a crate is always your best option. It provides a safe space for your pup to observe the new world around them. Put a blanket or pad in the crate so your puppy can snuggle up to nap if needed.

Better yet, you can bring along a friend or family member to keep your puppy company during the drive home. For long drives, provide bathroom breaks or bring some doggy diapers. These little ones will need to go often, especially when anxious.

Pro Tip: When you go to pick up your pup, bring a blanket or towel to pick up the scent of their mom and littermates. Giving them the blanket will make them feel comfortable and safe and help soothe those puppy cries with a familiar scent.

4. Consider puppy insurance

New puppies are naturally energetic and curious, so they often get into little scrapes and tumbles, which can sometimes mean unexpected vet visits. As all pet parents know, vet bills can add up. 

Getting pet insurance early can be a smart way to protect your new pup and your wallet. Since pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, you’ll get the most coverage by starting when your pup is young.

Tips for your puppy’s first night at home

Those first days and weeks with your new pup are all about bonding, establishing a routine, building their confidence, and avoiding bad habits. Your puppy will need lots of physical activity, training, and a healthy dose of patience and love.

Let’s dive into the play-by-play of your puppy’s long-awaited arrival.

Arriving home

As soon as you get home, take your puppy to their designated potty area and set them down. 

Say their name and whatever word or phrase you plan on using for potty training, such as “Go potty.” Give them some time to wander and sniff around (they won’t go far). 

It can take up to 15 minutes for your pup to figure out what they’re supposed to be doing. When your puppy finally pees or poops, give them lots of praise.

After your puppy has taken care of business, let them inside to roam around the house. They should sniff out their new environment, but keep a close eye on them at all times.

Feeding them

Your puppy will appreciate a small meal when they first arrive home. Anxiety can create a tummy ache, so offering a tiny meal will solve a hunger problem without an upset stomach. 

Some puppies do well with four to six meals a day at first, whereas others are fine with three to four. Regardless of where your puppy falls, follow dietary recommendations and get them into a regular feeding schedule.

Pro tip: You can also use kibble as training treats to avoid any tummy troubles.

Meeting the family

Kids get very excited when a new puppy arrives, and rightfully so. Plan on supervising their playtime for a while until your kids learn how to interact with their new pup safely.

Puppies like to chew, nip, and bite when exploring or playing, so it’s important to help your children understand this natural behavior. 

Also, only allow your small kids to hold the puppy while sitting. It’s never a good idea for them to carry a puppy, as it can easily cause the pup to get hurt.

Meeting other animal friends 

If you have other household pets, it’s essential to socialize them early on. 

Your other pets may not welcome your rambunctious new puppy at first. They may growl, snarl, or ignore the puppy if they’re territorial. During those first days and weeks, it’s a good idea to separate them and let them play for only short amounts of time. 

The puppy zone will especially come in handy in this instance. Giving your new puppy and your other pets space from each other can help their relationship safely progress.

Don’t forget regular bathroom breaks

Young puppies have underdeveloped bladders. Some need to pee every hour, and others every 15-30 minutes. 

Nerves and anxiety will also affect how frequently your puppy needs a bathroom break. Setting 30-minute alarms on your phone can help you avoid accidents.

Routine times to take your puppy for potty breaks are:

• First thing in the morning
• After meals
• After a nap
• After playtime
• Before bedtime

You’ll also learn your puppy’s body language relatively quickly and know when it’s potty time. 

Always reward your puppy when they pee or poop outside and clean up any accidents inside without comment. 

Puppies don’t distinguish between good and bad attention, so discipline when an accident happens can confuse them. Positive reinforcement for good behavior goes much further.

Limit visitors

Though you want to show off your little one to the world, the first days after your puppy arrives are not the time for visitors. 

In fact, until your puppy is vaccinated, you should avoid public places and strangers, as their immune systems are very fragile. Many people make the mistake of taking their puppies to the dog park too early, risking exposure to parasites and illness.

Questions to ask before your puppy arrives

Your puppy’s first day will likely fly by, and before you know it, it’s time for bed. Here are some useful things to know about your puppy’s first night at home, including where they should sleep, what to do when they cry, and more. 

Where is the best place for your puppy to sleep? 

Your puppy will sleep better if you provide a bed or crate within your sight and smell range. You are your new puppy’s family without mom and siblings, so they’ll find comfort in your presence at night.

Crate or puppy bed?

A crate works well to keep your pup calm and prevent them from wandering or relieving themselves while you sleep. 

It also provides a cozy area for your puppy to relax during the day and take those important naps. A bed won’t prevent wandering and accidents during the wee hours of the night. 

Can your puppy sleep with you? 

As hard as it might be to resist those puppy cuddles, you shouldn’t let your puppy sleep with you — especially before housebreaking is complete. Puppies wake up during the night and can be restless. If on a bed, they can fall off and injure themselves. 

Should you leave a puppy to cry in the crate? 

Leaving a new dog or puppy to cry during the night is not a good idea. It’s heartbreaking and causes extreme distress for both you and your puppy and can even cause behavioral issues like separation anxiety later on.

Place the blanket or towel with their mom’s or littermates’ scent inside the crate to calm them down. The familiar smells will help your pup relax and fall asleep, especially during the first week.

Provide a plush, snuggly toy for your puppy to curl up with. Puppies sleep curled up with their littermates — so a good toy can simulate this experience. Amazon carries some plush toys with heartbeats for times like these.

If those tricks don’t work, you must establish a bedtime routine. For example, a final toilet break and a few calm moments before bedtime can help your puppy understand it’s time to settle down. 

Should I take my puppy for potty breaks during the night? 

Your puppy will need potty breaks during the night. Taking them for a just-before-bed potty break is a good idea so they can go longer without having to go potty again. 

When your pup wakes up at night, take them outside for a potty break and return them to the crate. Don’t treat them to enter the crate or play with them. This is quiet time, and your pup will soon learn to sleep through the night.

Puppy parenting isn’t easy, but it’s worth it

Being a new puppy owner can be chaotic but also enormously rewarding. Your puppy’s first days with you are bonding, establishing routines, and building confidence. 

Exercising patience, establishing consistent routines, and being persistent with puppy training can help your new puppy build the confidence they need to become the canine companion of your dreams.

FAQs

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