11 Life-Changing Puppy Care Tips For Bringing Your New Pup Home

Do you know the best puppy care tips that can help take the stress, worry, and anxiety out of caring for your brand new little bestie?

While parenting a new puppy is no walk in the park, being prepared and knowing what to expect can be a huge confidence booster in those early days of being a new pet parent.

Let’s talk all about a few puppy care pointers that will guarantee your first pooch experience is always fun, constantly amusing, and extremely entertaining!

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Puppy care tips include the best puppy essentials, a great puppy care schedule, puppy health, socializing your puppy, potty training, puppy dental care, puppy biting, naming your puppy, collars, leashes, and harnesses, puppy overnight care, and puppy care at 8 weeks.

You did it! You have finally decided to add a new fur baby to your family.

You’ve done your puppy care research and picked out the perfect pooch. You have been puppy proofing your home like a pro and getting all ready for the big day.

And now, after eight long weeks of waiting, it’s finally time to go pick up your new furry bundle of cuteness!

But are you ready? How do you take care of a puppy in the beginning? What is a good daily routine for a puppy? How do you take care of an 8-week-old puppy?

In this post, we are going to answer those questions and more.

You are going to learn all about new puppy care, a puppy care guide week by week, how to take care of a puppy at night, and a few great puppy care hacks.

After learning about all of these amazing puppy care tips, you will be extra prepared so that you and your new cozy canine can live in perfect pet harmony!

This post is all about the best puppy care tips that will make the transition for you and your new furry housemate as peaceful and comfortable as possible!

1. First Stop For Puppy Care – Puppy Essentials

Before your new teeny-weeny tot arrives at his forever home, make sure you are completely stocked with the prime puppy essentials. This will make the first few hours at home much calmer and less stressful for both of you.

Here are a few things that you may want to pick up before your tiny cuddly canine arrives.

• Crate (if you’re a crate person … some are, some aren’t, and that’s ok!)

• Comfortable, snuggly bedding

• Chew toys

• Leash and collar/harness

• ID tag

• Puppy food (a sample should be given to you by the breeder)

• Food and water bowls (stainless steel is best because it collects fewer bacteria)

• Cleaning products for accidents

• Mat for underneath food and water bowls

• Puppy training pads

• Small, safe treats

• Grooming brush

• Puppy shampoo

If you are a first-time puppy owner, you will soon realize that, while you may not necessarily need more things, you must have more things. You will strive with all your being to make sure your precious pooch is able to fashionably keep up with the other furry neighbors.

It’s the rule of the cul-de-sac.

Yes, you will eventually be that person. And that’s ok.

Your bubbly baby can’t be the only one without a new outfit for the holidays. Or what about that most popular doggie harness that’s all the rage at the local dog park? Your furry bestie can’t possibly be the only one without!

But in the beginning, these puppy essentials will get you through until, well, you become that person.

Puppy Care 101 – Lots And Lots Of Bonding

This is a very important time for your nervous, worried, frightened little pup. Everything is new — including you.

What they experience and learn from you at the beginning of your relationship will shape their future behavior and how they see the world.

But, no pressure, right?

How do you take care of a puppy in the beginning? When you first get home with your new furry housemate, your main focus is bonding, of course, and his basic needs — eating drinking, sleeping, playing, pooping, and peeing.

Know that he will be a bit clumsy, vulnerable, and will require supervision. Some go through a puppy fear stage so make sure you take extra time with him, especially during those first few nights.

The ideal transition for your pup is if you can spend a few days at home with him to help him get acclimated to his new surroundings. This will be the perfect bonding time for you and your new cozy canine.

If possible, take home a blanket from the puppy’s first home. This will help give him familiarity, comfort, and security in the beginning.

Be kind and patient and soon he will begin to feel safe and secure with the most important person in his life — you.

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2. Puppy Care Schedule – Eating And Drinking

Hopefully, by the time you pick up your new cuddly canine from his first home, your pup would have already been eating healthy puppy food for about two weeks.

Be sure to talk with your breeder ahead of time to see what kind of food your pup has been eating so you can already have the same kind of food at home and be ahead of the game.

Although, your breeder should be prepared to give you a sample just in case. You may even receive a puppy care package from your breeder.

If, for any reason, you decide to change your pup’s food, don’t do it right away. Your precious pooch will have enough anxiety trying to adjust to you, his new environment, and being away from his momma for the first time.

You don’t want to do anything to add to his stress.

If, after a few days, you choose to change his food, do so very carefully to avoid too much stomach upset. Believe me, puppy diarrhea is no fun!

Start out slowly by introducing small amounts of the new food mixed in with his familiar food. Then gradually continue to add more new food and less of his other food.

If needed, your vet can give you some great suggestions for healthy puppy food, especially if your pup is showing signs of a possible allergy upset.

Most puppies will eat small amounts of food three or four times per day. Try to space these out evenly so that your pup feels full and happy throughout his busy day.

Finding the right puppy food can get you started on the perfect puppy routine schedule, which makes life much easier for both of you.

New Puppy Care – What Is Leptospirosis?

It is vitally important for you to provide your new furry family member with clean, fresh, water every single day.

Dogs, and especially puppies, can develop Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that enters your pup’s bloodstream, causing him to become extremely sick, and can even be fatal.

Leptospirosis is caused by your little buddy drinking from standing water, puddles, or ponds.

Our puppies were diagnosed with Leptospirosis during our first puppy care check-up with our veterinarian and both were placed on antibiotics.

Both of our pups were kept inside, given fresh, clean water several times per day, and presented with no problems or indications that they were sick. We had a clean bill of health from the breeders’ veterinarian, yet both still tested positive for Leptospirosis.

Had we not taken our precious pups to our own veterinarian early on, the outcome could have been completely different. But thankfully, after a few rounds of antibiotics, they were given a clean bill of health!

Puppies are just like babies. Small issues can turn into dangerous ones very fast!

Remember, if you are ever concerned about anything with your new pup, always call your vet right away. Don’t wait!

Staying on top of new puppy care and following the puppy routine schedule that you mapped out could save the life of this precious little creature that depends on you for absolutely everything.

{RELATED POST: 13 Life-Saving Puppy Proofing Pointers Every Pet Parent Should Know}

3. Puppy Health – Check-Ups And Vaccinations

Your lovable canine will need his first check-up and first puppy shots between six and eight weeks old.

Vaccinating your new pup is one of the most loving investments you can make for your new furry family member.

Hopefully, your pup’s first home, or breeder, will have already done this step and given you a medical health records booklet in your puppy care package for your new pup.

This booklet, or puppy care sheet, should have the date of their first veterinarian visit, dates of first shots given, weight, and any other pertinent medical information that you will need for your new puppy.

Even though you’re armed with all of this great medical information on your new handsome housemate, make sure you take him to your vet – his new baby doctor – within the first few days of getting him home.

You want the comfort of knowing that your healthiest small dog breed is in tip-top shape!

Your veterinarian will want to know your cute canine’s vaccination schedule, so always take your health record booklet with you on all your vet visits. Your veterinarian may also want to add any important health notes to your babies’ records.

Be sure to continue with the vaccination schedule your veterinarian recommends, and other check-ups and care (heartworm prevention medications, flea and tick medications, etc.).

Around the age of 18 weeks old, your pup should have had all his core vaccinations … and you can RELAX!

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4. Socializing Your New Pup

Socializing your new charming canine early on and introducing him to new things in his environment will help him gain the confidence he needs to stand tall.

But until your pup is fully vaccinated, around 18 weeks old, you want to make sure you do your best to prevent any outside exposure to disease.

Following a puppy care schedule will keep you and your new bestie on the right track.

Waiting to go for walks in public areas or interacting with unfamiliar animals will help keep your new pup safe and sound.

If you do decide to introduce your adventurous little fur bundle to other puppies before that tender age of 18 weeks, there are a few things you can do to ensure your puppy stays safe.

• Play with puppy friends that are healthy

• Puppy pals should be fully vaccinated

• Puppy buddies should be dewormed

When working on socialization skills with your new shy pup, make sure you don’t ever force him to accept a situation that may scare him.

If there is an incident that scares him, remain calm and act as if the situation is routine. He will follow your lead and, if you’re calm, then he will be calm. This teaches him that if you’re not worried, then he shouldn’t be worried either.

Although we all want our puppies to be little social butterflies, try not to push it. We don’t want to overwhelm him with too many people, places, sights, or sounds immediately.

Start out slowly and work your way up. He’ll get there!

{RELATED POST: 21 Surprising Signs Of Anxiety In Dogs – Helping Your Pup Live A Happy Stress-Free Life}

5. The Dreaded Potty Training

A great puppy care schedule centers around house training your new perfect pooch. Although the earlier the better, it’s best to go slowly and expect a few accidents in the beginning, especially at night.

Most puppies are unable to control their bladder until they are at least 12 weeks old.

How do you potty train a puppy? When this all-important training does start, make sure you stick to a schedule and be consistent. Give this puppy routine schedule a try.

• take him out when he wakes up in the mornings

• when he wakes up from his nap (they nap a lot!)

• as soon as he finishes eating

• after he drinks

• after he plays

• before bedtime

• set your timer — successful potty training requires letting your fur baby out every 30 minutes

After a few weeks of this puppy care schedule, your sweet pup will begin to have better bladder control and you will be a few pounds lighter from getting out of your comfy chair every 30 minutes!

The Bell Method … Does it Really Work?

At the beginning of our potty training procedure, we let our pups out during all of the above times, but then slowly started introducing them to the bell method.

I have to admit, I wasn’t completely sold on this potty training technique. Basically, you have a bell that is on a long rope. The idea is to hang that on the doorknob of the door that you want your pee-loving pooch to use for potty time.

We would set the timer and we would ring the bell every 30 minutes before taking our pups out to potty.

I was amazed at how well, and fast, this worked! It was a true miracle and has been working like a charm for the past two years without fail.

I am now a true believer in the bell method!

All pups learn at a different pace. Remember to always use positive reinforcements when training your fur baby. Be aware of their limitations and above all, BE PATIENT.

Establish rules and a routine. Reward good behavior, like going to potty outside, and ignore bad behavior.

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6. Puppy Dental Care – Teething

While getting out of your soft, comfy chair every 30 minutes for potty time, be sure not to step on those tiny, razor-sharp baby teeth that your pup may have left behind.

Your canine’s baby teeth may start falling out between 8-12 weeks. While you may notice signs of teething around 12 weeks, adult teeth will usually start showing up around 16 weeks of age.

During this time, you may notice more drooling and chewing. And don’t be alarmed if you notice a little bit of blood left behind on his chew toys during teething.

This is the perfect time to introduce freezable teething toys to help ease gum pain.

7. Expect a Little Puppy Biting

The pain of those tiny, razor-sharp puppy teeth digging into your skin is not a happy thought. And how about that energetic, adorable little face, looking up at you as you scream in agony from the playful nip of your little angel, while he wonders, “what in the world is wrong with my human?”

These are the moments that memories are made of. And why is it that this phase seems to start the second we get our little furry angels home?

Want a great puppy care tip? Remember that adorable, loving, little face on that precious creature during these moments. Be patient, this is completely normal behavior for your new puppy. And know that, this too, shall pass.

Puppies will eventually grow out of their puppy biting phase — usually between 3-5 months.

Puppy Care Hack – Redirect Your Little Nipper

When your lovable bundle of cuteness starts chomping on you while playing with you, try redirecting him with chew toys, Kong treats, or freezable puppy teething toy rings.

Try not to squeal in complete terror and pain because this will only excite your determined little pup and encourage more vigorous play.

Plus, yelling and screaming at your little buddy while you are bleeding profusely from his cute little shark-like teeth embedded in your arm may make you feel better, but it will scare him and may make him lose trust in you.

Instead, anticipate these episodes and manage them in a safe and helpful way.

And it may not hurt to have a small medkit handy during this adorable little phase!

Another puppy care tip is to look for any temptations. Nothing is more fun for your adventurous little fur buddy than to catch and bite our furry, moving, house slippers as we walk.

But there is a silver lining at the end of this painful puppy-biting chapter. Once your pup realizes that biting isn’t working, he will eventually redirect himself to something else.

At least that’s the plan in a perfect puppy world!

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8. Naming Your New Pup

Your new puppy will have his own unique personality. Try to pick out a name that goes well with his cuddly charm and stick with it.

What name sounds better as it’s rolling off your tongue? Which one will not embarrass you as you scream it at the dog park? And which one “just sounds like your pup looks”?

Experts advise that you avoid names that sound too much like commands. “Ray” may sound too much like stay, while “Bo” sounds a lot like “go”. This could be very confusing for the eager-to-please little pup that is trying his very best to learn your language and make you proud.

Doggie professionals also advise that you stick to a name with one or two syllables in order to quickly grab your pup’s attention, and one that you don’t mind saying repeatedly.

When I was growing up, my cousins had a precious little pooch they named “momma”. Momma would get out of the fence sometimes and my two small cousins would walk the streets, hollering, “momma where are you?” and, “momma please come home”.

Need I say more?

9. Collars, Leashes, and Harnesses

Although it is recommended that you and your new bestie refrain from long strolls until he has finished with his vaccinations, having him get accustomed to wearing a collar is definitely a good idea and a great start to your puppy care plan.

And I say this from experience because we failed miserably at this valuable puppy care tip.

So now, at almost two years old, when we attempt to put a collar on our precious little canines in order to go for a nice family walk around the block, our babies go into a complete puppy meltdown.

Our Maltipoo, Max, proceeds to go into some kind of alligator death roll, while our Shihpoo, Maggie, heads to her bed to settle in because she thinks she has had surgery.

They are a work in progress.

After a short time, and your pretty pooch is thrilled to show off her brand-new sparkly collar, fashionably displaying her name, start allowing her to drag a leash around that is attached to her collar.

This way, it will become a routine and you can avoid a complete pooch panic when it’s time for a family stroll.

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10. Puppy Overnight Care – Crates

To crate or not to crate — that seems to be the burning question and one that people are very passionate about.

If you are a crate enthusiast, the crate can become your loyal pups’ safe place by creating a den-like environment. A kind of pooch pad for your new puppy.

If you choose to buy a crate, make sure it is large enough to house your canine comfortably when he reaches full size. It should also be big enough that he can stand up and turn around.

Plan Sleeping Arrangements in Advance

Wondering how to take care of a puppy at night?

While thinking about sleeping arrangements for your new cozy canine can seem overwhelming, not knowing where everyone is sleeping on that first night home can be even more stressful.

Will you crate your new pup? Will he sleep with you? Or maybe on a soft bed of blankets on the floor beside your bed?

Be prepared and know exactly where your new furry bestie will spend his nights. This will alleviate loads of bedtime stress and anxiety — for both you and your pooch.

One way to keep your pup cozy, make sure he is not lonely, and give him a great start to his new life, is by placing a box full of comfy blankets next to your bed. Add a shirt that has your scent and, if you were able to get one from his first home, his baby blanket.

You can do the same thing if you are deciding to crate your new bundle of joy. As long as he has something with your scent and his familiar blanket, the hope is that he will feel a little less lonely.

If you are not using a crate and your pup is sleeping on the floor beside your bed, make sure your door is closed. No matter how good your puppy proofing skills are, it is never safe to let an eight-week-old curious puppy roam free through the house at night.

Taking the time to do a few preparations for your puppy overnight care will give you and your new furry housemate a better start to your first night together.

More Overnight Care Tips

Remember that your new bundle of fur is away from his fur mommy, brothers, and sisters for the first time ever. He is in a completely new environment, and scared.

Being next to you, whether it’s in a comfy box full of cozy blankets on the floor, or in a crate, can help minimize his stress and make for an easier night for both of you.

You want to be sure to get up in the night and let your pup out to potty. If your nervous puppy gets too distressed, he may get diarrhea or vomit. And you definitely don’t want that!

Even if your puppy care plan is to eventually snuggle all night with your cozy canine, it’s probably best, and safest, to wait until he’s a little older before you start this.

If your pup were to sleep on your bed at such a young age, he could possibly fall off of the bed, roll off of the bed, or get stuck behind something.

Expect your new housemate to sleep around 18-20 hours out of 24.

Hold Your New Fur Baby

Although it’s not yet safe for your eight-week-old pooch to go for a walk, there are a few things that you can do to boost your canine’s confidence.

• Carry your sweet pup around and show him the world outside. He will feel safe and secure in your arms, while at the same time, being exposed to new sights and sounds without being afraid.

• Talk to friends and neighbors while holding your precious pup outside. This way he gets acquainted with other people, and pets, around him. Your new baby will be a well-rounded, people-friendly, social butterfly before you know it.

Puppy Alone Time

Although puppies need company, they also need to learn to cope with being left alone for short periods of time. This will help to minimize future separation anxiety.

{RELATED POST: 10 Free-Spirited Dog Breeds That Can Be Left Alone – Did Your Clingy Canine Make The Cut?}

11. Puppy Care 8 Weeks

Eight weeks of age seems to be the magic number when bringing home your new furry bestie. A lot of “firsts” will begin to happen during this time.

It’s an exciting, stressful, joyful, and unsure time for both of you — all rolled up into one.

Here are is a little puppy care 101 for your puppy care timeline:

• The minimum age recommended for puppies to leave their moms is 8 weeks old

• A puppy’s immune system will not be mature enough to protect itself until he is about 8 weeks old

• Most puppies will join their new forever homes between 8-12 weeks

• Even though most puppies will begin to be less and less dependent on their mom after 3-6 weeks old, most puppies are not fully weaned until they are between 6-8 weeks old

The reality of living with your new puppy in those first few months can be quite a shock. And yes, sometimes it really does take a village to help you raise your new furry housemate.

And that’s ok.

You have your puppy care guide week by week, you’ve awesomely completed your first puppy checklist, and you are all set on your puppy routine schedule.

You are ready!

And soon you’ll realize that your life has changed for the better and all the work you’ve put into your newfound best friend will have been completely worth it!

This post was all about the best puppy care that you can give your new plush pooch for years to come!

Did you just get a new puppy? How are things going on the homefront? Let us know in the comments!

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