Your Goldendoodle Puppy’s First Week at Home
By Pat & Sonny Heino, Bittersweet Goldendoodles, Newport NH
The first week with a new puppy is magical and exhausting. Your puppy is learning a whole new world, and so are you. Here is what we tell our families to expect, and how to make the first week a good one.
The ride home
Bring a crate or a helper to hold your puppy, along with towels in case of carsickness. Keep the ride calm and quiet. Many puppies are nervous on their first trip, and some will cry or drool.
Take your puppy to the potty spot as soon as you arrive home. Then let your puppy explore one room at a time, with you close by.
Setting up the routine
Puppies thrive on routine. Wake up, potty, breakfast, play, nap, repeat. Having set times for meals, walks and sleep helps your puppy feel safe and speeds up housetraining.
Write the schedule down and share it with everyone in the house so each person does the same thing. Consistency is the kindest thing you can give a young dog.
Sleeping through the night
Expect a few restless nights. Put the crate next to your bed at first so your puppy can hear you breathing. A warm blanket and a safe chew toy can help.
Take your puppy out right before bed and again if it wakes in the night. Keep night trips quiet and boring so your puppy learns that night is for sleep.
Feeding in the first week
Keep your puppy on the same food it was eating before, in the same amounts, spread over several small meals. Fresh water should always be available.
If you want to change foods, mix a little of the new food in and increase it slowly over a week. A sudden change can cause an upset stomach.
The first vet visit
Schedule your vet visit within the first few days. Bring your puppy’s health certificate and vaccine record. Your vet will check your puppy over and set up the next vaccines and parasite prevention.
Ask your vet about when your puppy can safely meet other dogs. Until vaccines are complete, avoid public dog areas.
Introducing family and pets
Let everyone meet the puppy calmly, one at a time. Teach children to sit down and pet gently, and never let a young child carry a puppy. Introduce other pets slowly and always supervise.
Our puppies are used to people and other dogs from birth, so they usually adjust well. Still, give them time and space.
Starting training and play
Begin with short, happy sessions on name, sit and potty routine. Keep play gentle and give plenty of naps. A tired puppy is a good puppy, but an overtired one gets cranky.
If you have questions in the first week, call us at 603-543-7012. We are always happy to hear how your puppy is doing.
Common worries in week one
It is normal for a puppy to cry, nip, have an accident or refuse a meal on the first day. A new home is a big change. Most puppies settle within a few days with a calm routine and plenty of reassurance.
Call your vet if your puppy seems lethargic, will not eat or drink for a day, or has ongoing vomiting or diarrhea. If you ever have a question about how your puppy is doing, call us at 603-543-7012.
Handling and bonding
Spend time just sitting with your puppy. Gentle touching of paws, ears and mouth now makes vet visits and grooming easier later. Keep handling short, calm and rewarded with treats.
Resist the urge to invite everyone over in the first week. Let your puppy bond with the family first, then meet friends one or two at a time.
Looking ahead to week two
By the end of the first week you will have a routine. Keep going: continue crate training, potty trips, short walks in safe places and quiet training sessions. Plan your puppy classes and your first grooming visit.
Take lots of photos. Puppies change quickly, and you will want to remember every stage of this time.
Keeping a puppy diary
Many families jot down meals, naps and potty trips for the first week. It helps you spot patterns, makes housetraining faster and gives your vet useful information if a question comes up.
It also becomes a lovely memory. Add photos and notes about funny moments, and you will have a keepsake of your puppy’s first days at home.
Be kind to yourself
You will be tired, and you may wonder if you made a mistake. Almost every new puppy owner feels that way in the first few days. It gets easier quickly, and soon your puppy will be curled up beside you. Ask for help from family and friends, and call us if you need advice.
A sample first-day schedule
Here is a simple day to copy. Wake up and go straight outside, then offer breakfast and another potty trip. Play for ten or fifteen minutes, then crate for a nap. Repeat that cycle through the day, with the last potty trip right before bed.
Adjust it to fit your household, but keep the order the same. After a few days your puppy will start to predict what comes next, and that predictability is what makes a new home feel safe. Write it on the fridge so every family member follows it.
Ready to meet a puppy?
See our available mini Goldendoodle puppies, read the 100 most common Goldendoodle questions, or visit our contact page for directions to the farm. The quickest way to reach us is to call 603-543-7012.