Bringing a dog home is exciting - and a little overwhelming. These ten habits will help your first weeks go smoothly for both of you.
1. Prepare before they arrive
Set up a bed, food and water bowls, a collar or harness with an ID tag, a leash, a few chew toys and poop bags. Puppy-proof the areas they can reach: cables, shoes, cleaning products and houseplants.
2. Book a vet visit in the first week
Your vet can check overall health, set up a vaccination and parasite-prevention plan and answer questions about diet and neutering.
3. Keep the first days calm
A new home is a lot to take in. Limit visitors, give your dog a quiet spot to retreat to, and let them explore at their own pace.
4. Stick to a routine
Feed, walk and put your dog to bed at roughly the same times each day. Predictability helps dogs settle and makes house-training much faster.
5. Start house-training straight away
Take your dog out after waking, after meals and after play. Praise and reward them the moment they go outside. Accidents happen - clean them up without scolding.
6. Use reward-based training
Short, fun sessions of five to ten minutes work best. Reward the behaviour you want with treats, toys or praise, and start with the basics: name, sit, come and leave it.
7. Socialise gently
Introduce your dog to new people, sounds, surfaces and calm, vaccinated dogs a little at a time. Positive early experiences build a confident adult dog.
8. Choose the right walking gear
A well-fitted harness spreads pressure across the chest instead of the neck and gives you more control, especially with pullers. Measure your dog rather than guessing the size.
9. Exercise body and brain
Daily walks matter, but so does mental work: sniffing games, puzzle feeders and chew toys help prevent boredom and destructive behaviour.
10. Be patient
Most dogs need weeks, sometimes months, to fully settle. Consistency, kindness and a sense of humour go a long way.
This guide is general information. Always follow your vet's advice for your own dog.