So, where should you start? Let’s break it down.

🏡 The Settling-In Period

Every puppy adjusts to their new home at their own pace. A lot of this depends on their genetics and the experiences they had with their breeder before coming to you. Puppies start learning about the world as early as three weeks old, so what happens during those first weeks plays a big role in shaping their confidence and behaviour. A great breeder will have already introduced the puppies to key experiences, such as crate training, sounds and novel objects, spending short periods alone, gentle handling, car rides and meeting new people. If your breeder did not begin these things your puppy may be more shy and take longer to adjust.

🚽 Toilet Training Basics

Your puppy doesn’t automatically know where to go to the toilet (or how to hold it!). At first, they’ll just go whenever they need to, so your job is to take them outside often—especially after they wake up, eat, play, or get excited. Expect accidents, and don’t punish them for mistakes! Just discreetly clean it up (using a specialist, enzymatic cleaner) and have a think about what signals you can look out for next time. Focus on creating a routine and rewarding them for getting it right.

😴 Sleep, Sleep and More Sleep

Puppies need a lot of rest—anywhere from16 to 20 hours a day! If they don’t get enough sleep, they can become irritable and extra bitey. Make sure your puppy has a cosy, quiet spot where they can sleep, and expect them to need a nap after about an hour of being awake. Most puppies need to be near you to feel safe enough to sleep, so keeping their bed close by will help them form good sleep habits. Independence can come later.

🐶 Learning to Be Alone (Gently!)

At first, your puppy won’t be comfortable being alone—it’s completely natural! They’ve just left their mum and litter mates, and they need to feel safe with you before learning to spend time on their own. Some people might say to ignore a crying puppy so they "learn to be independent," but this can actually make things worse, leading to stress and separation anxiety. Instead, focus on helping them feel secure, and introduce alone time gradually when they’re ready.

🐕‍🦺Socialization & Habituation

You’ve probably heard that socialization is important, but what does that actually mean?

🔹 Socialization is about learning to interact with other dogs and people in a healthy way.
🔹 Habituation is about getting used to different environments, objects, sounds, and experiences so they feel normal rather than scary.

The most impressionable period for puppies is before 12-14 weeks of age. Since most puppies aren’t fully vaccinated by then, you’ll need to get creative! Carry your puppy in safe places, let them experience new sights and sounds, and introduce them to positive experiences as soon as they are settled in with you

Quality Over Quantity

Socialization isn’t just about meeting lots of people and dogs—it’s about making good and appropriate learning experiences. Your puppy doesn’t need to say hello to every dog or person they see. In fact, too much excitement can lead to over-dependence on social interactions or even fearfulness. Instead, focus on calm, positive introductions with people and dogs, but also learning to watch from a distance and pass without interacting.

When carrying your puppy, avoid letting random strangers approach and reach out to touch them. Puppies absorb a lot of information about people simply by being around them, so it’s best to allow your puppy to interact more closely with individuals you’ve carefully chosen. This way, you can ensure that these interactions are positive

Carefully select the dogs your puppy interacts with to ensure positive and constructive social experiences. Adult dogs with good social skills are ideal mentors, as they can help your puppy learn appropriate behaviours. Avoid large, unstructured puppy playgroups, as these can lead to undesirable outcomes. Some puppies may develop a fear of other dogs, while others can become overly excitable and fixated on play. Structured, controlled interactions are key to fostering healthy socialisation.

For habituation, you can introduce your puppy to new experiences without even leaving the house—get creative! Even something as simple as a cardboard box can be an excellent learning tool. Consider all the different objects, textures, and sounds your puppy will encounter as they grow. To help them build confidence with noises, you could try activities like scattering treats on old pan lids, placing crumpled brown paper in a box with treats hidden inside, or filling a plastic bottle with pebbles for an interesting sound experience. Just be sure to supervise your puppy closely during these activities to keep them safe and ensure positive experiences.

🚗 Car rides can also be a great way to introduce new experiences! Take your puppy on short car trips to new places to expose them to different environments. Even sitting in the car in a supermarket car park can provide valuable learning experiences—there’s the movement of slow traffic, the variety of people to observe, and the sound of trolleys and other objects. Another great idea is to let your puppy watch a children's play area from a distance. The sight and sounds of children running, climbing, and playing will help them become accustomed to this common scenario.

If your puppy feels anxious about car travel, you can work on this gradually at home, starting with short sessions in the car on your driveway. Break the process down into small, manageable steps and make the car a positive, rewarding place before attempting any longer drives.

🔑 The Golden Rule

Every experience should be positive. If your puppy seems scared (freezing, backing away, cowering, growling, or hiding), take a step back and go at their pace. The goal is to help them learn to be confident—not to overwhelm them.

🐕 Introducing Walking Equipment & Grooming

Start Early! Many people make the mistake of waiting until their puppy’s first walk to put on their collar, harness, and lead or only bring out the brush when it’s time for grooming.

In reality, this approach can be too late. Introducing these things at the moment you need them can overwhelm your puppy. Often, puppies are made to wear a collar and left to scratch and struggle with it, which can lead to them associating the feeling of something on their body with discomfort. It's far better to start introducing these items gradually from a young age to ensure they become familiar, positive experiences for your puppy.

Walking equipment should be introduced slowly and gently, well before you actually need to use it. Start by holding the collar near your puppy’s neck for a few seconds while offering a tasty treat, then gradually increase the time you hold it in place while continuing to reward them. Next, move on to fastening the collar, taking your time to ensure your puppy is comfortable with each step.

This same approach can be applied toother equipment like harnesses and leads. Break the process down into small, manageable steps to make sure your puppy has a positive experience every time.

Handling & Grooming: When it comes to handling and grooming, it's important to remember that your puppy will face a life time of being touched, undergoing health checks, having vaccinations, and receiving treatments like eye drops and ear cleaning. On top of that, they'll need regular grooming, which can include brushing, bathing, drying, trimming and clipping—plus, don’t forget about nail trimming!

Puppies aren't born understanding why all of this is necessary or how to tolerate it. If they have negative experiences early on, particularly if they feel forced, it can lead to them avoiding these situations in the future. The key is to make these experiences as positive and gradual as possible, so they grow up feeling comfortable and relaxed during grooming and medical care.

💡 Try this: Touch your puppy’s paws, ears, and body while giving treats so they get used to being handled. This will help make future vet visits and grooming much less stressful!

Essential Life Skills

Teach Your Puppy to Play (The Right Way!)

Playing is a fantastic way to bond with your puppy! Use long toys for tug games and praise them when they grab the toy instead of your hands. Avoid rough wrestling, as it can encourage them to use their teeth on you—something that won’t be as fun when they’re bigger!

Chewing Is Normal (But Guide It!)

It’s perfectly normal for puppies to chew and bite—it's how they explore their world! Your goal isn’t to stop them from chewing, but to guide them towards appropriate items (rather than your furniture, clothes, possessions, or skin). Prevention is key here; if things are within your puppy's reach, they’ll likely chew them. You can’t expect your puppy to make the right choices if everything is accessible.

Until they’re older, keep anything off-limits out of their reach, and make sure they always have access to safe, chew-friendly items. Offer a variety of toys with different textures and sizes to keep them engaged. Be sure to praise your puppy whenever they choose the right thing to chew on—it’ll help them learn the difference!

Build a Relationship Based on Trust

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that your puppy learns to trust you. Training things like "sit" and "stay" can come later—what really matters in these early weeks is that your puppy sees you as a safe, predictable, and fun person to be around.

Don’t expect to know everything! Seeking the help of a professional can make a big difference when raising a puppy. Even if you’ve had puppies in the past, every puppy is unique, and this one is no exception! As a puppy specialist, it’s my job to treat each pup as an individual and offer tailored advice to help them reach their full potential. Now is the perfect time to invest in your puppy’s future with expert guidance—after all, it’s much easier to prevent problems than to fix them later on.

Enjoy these early moments—they grow up so fast!

Blog written by Claire Mcknespiey of Educating Paws