The Complete Expert Guide to Bringing a Puppy Home

May 2022

A free, downloadable guide written by puppy training experts

As a first time pet parent, you might be feeling worried about the different things that need to be done before your puppy reaches their new home.

To ensure a smooth transition - we’ve created a complete guide that covers everything you should do to prepare for the arrival of pup.

A comprehensive, downloadable guide which will help your puppy settle in comfortably and get the best start in life.

Who is this guide for?
- You're considering buying or adopting a puppy
- You’re waiting to bring a puppy home
- You’re a first time dog owner looking to learn the ropes
- You’ve recently bought a puppy and need more information
In this free puppy guide you’ll discover:
- A checklist of puppy supplies you need to buy
- How to prepare your home for the new puppy
- How to safely bring your puppy home in a car
- What to do when first bringing a puppy home
- Advice for sleeping and supervising your puppy
- Puppy socialisation and training tips
- Information and remedies for teething in puppies
- Help with puppy toilet training

Preparing for your puppy

In the months leading up to your puppy’s arrival, your focus should be on making sure you have everything ready and waiting. The more organised you are, the less worried you’ll feel about establishing routines once your puppy gets home.

We know there’s a lot to think about, which is why we want to keep it as easy as possible for new dog owners to get all of the information they need in one place.

Our downloadable guide explains how to make the day your dog comes home as relaxing and stress-free as possible, which will help to prevent any fears or anxiety developing at an early age.

Bringing a puppy home for the first time

If this is your first time owning a puppy, the most important thing to remember when you bring him or her home is that they have just left their mother, littermates and familiar environment.

Your puppy is coming to a new home, with smells and people that are unfamiliar. Obviously this can be quite a scary and stressful experience for a young dog, so don’t be surprised if your pup seems a little anxious in the beginning.

To help your pup with the transition, make sure that everyone stays calm and respects your puppy’s personal space. If you have children in the house, explain to them the importance of being gentle and quiet with pup.

What should I buy before I bring my puppy home?

Before bringing a puppy home, you'll need to go shopping for all the necessary puppy accessories. These must-haves include a puppy collar, lead, bed and food.

How long is it before a puppy goes home?

Puppies are usually brought home between the ages of 8 - 10 weeks. The optimal age for a puppy to leave its mum and littermates and go to a new home is eight weeks. The reason for this is that eight weeks is considered long enough for socialisation to have taken place between puppy and mother, and by this point they are seen as ready to move to a new environment.

Is ten weeks too old to get a puppy?

Although the most common age to bring a puppy home is eight weeks, many breeders prefer to wait until a puppy is slightly older at ten weeks before allowing it to leave the nest. Again this comes down to allowing for enough time for the puppy to develop skills with its birth family.

What can I expect for my puppy’s first night at home?

Your puppy’s first night at home isn’t necessarily going to be smooth sailing. It can be a difficult adjustment for pups and owners, so don’t be surprised if it takes time for your dog to settle down and become comfortable.

For the first night with puppy, their crate should be placed in your bedroom so that you’re closeby to provide comfort if they wake up and starts to cry.

Remember that you should not let your pup sleep in the bed, no matter how tempting it may be! If you allow this, even just for the first night, your puppy will expect it moving forward which will make sleep training even harder.

Top Tip: A heat pad or hot water bottle can mimic the effect of their mother’s body warmth, which can help to provide security and reassurance.

Our complete puppy guide provides more tips that will help your dog get into a good sleep routine over the weeks to come. It also reveals everything you need to know about puppy-proofing your home, socialisation, teething, toilet training and more.

Like what you read?