The first 30 days with your new dog
A free, day-by-day course from the Puppy Year One editorial team. It works for puppies and newly adopted adult dogs alike: go at your dog's pace, and repeat any day that needs it. Bookmark this page and come back each morning.
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Week 1: Landing softly
Day 1 - Homecoming, quietly
Keep the first day boring on purpose. Show your dog their water bowl, their potty spot, and their bed, then let them explore at their own pace. Feed the same food they were eating before, even if you plan to switch.
Day 2 - Book the vet visit
Schedule a wellness exam within the first week. Bring any vaccine and deworming records, ask about microchip registration, and write down the weight they record - it is your first data point.
Day 3 - Start the food transition
If you are changing food, mix 25% new with 75% old. Sudden switches are the number-one cause of first-week stomach upset. Watch stool quality; it tells you how the transition is going.
Day 4 - Potty routine clicks in
Take them out after every sleep, meal, and play session, plus once an hour for young puppies. Reward within two seconds of them finishing outside. Accidents are information, not misbehavior - clean with enzymatic cleaner and tighten the schedule.
Day 5 - Make the crate a good place
Feed meals near or in the crate with the door open. Toss treats in, let them wander out. Short, happy sessions. Never use the crate as punishment; it should feel like their bedroom.
Day 6 - Name and attention
Say their name once, and when they look at you, treat. Five-minute sessions, a few times a day. You are teaching the most useful word they will ever know: their name means 'good things are coming.'
Day 7 - Let them sleep
Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep a day; even adult rescues sleep far more than people expect. Overtired dogs get bitey and wild, so enforce nap time like a toddler's. End the week early and keep the evening calm.
Week 2: First skills
Day 8 - Socialization starts
The socialization window is precious. Let your dog see and hear the world at their own pace: traffic, umbrellas, bikes, hats. Carry young puppies to safe spots before full vaccination, and keep every new thing paired with treats.
Day 9 - Gear check
Fit a flat collar or harness so two fingers slide underneath. Add an ID tag with your phone number today, not eventually. Check that the microchip is registered to your current contact info.
Day 10 - Puppy biting, handled
When teeth touch skin, say 'ouch,' go still for a few seconds, then offer a toy. Everyone in the house plays by the same rules. Consistency now is what turns a land shark into a polite adult by 5-6 months.
Day 11 - Alone time, five minutes at a time
Practice tiny departures: step out for a minute, return calmly, repeat. Calm hellos and goodbyes teach that leaving is no big deal. This is the single best investment against separation anxiety.
Day 12 - Grooming tolerance
Touch paws, ears, and mouth daily, treating after each touch. Run a brush over them for two minutes. A dog who accepts handling makes every vet visit and nail trim for the next decade easier.
Day 13 - Food hits 50/50
Move to half new food, half old, if stool has stayed firm. Weigh your dog and jot it down. Steady, gradual growth matters more than any number on the bag.
Day 14 - Sit happens
Lure with a treat from nose to above the head; as the head rises, the rear drops. Mark and treat. Three reps, three times a day, is plenty. End every session while they still want more.
Week 3: The world opens up
Day 15 - First dog friend
Arrange a calm meeting with a friendly, vaccinated adult dog you know. Keep it short and loose-leash. One good experience beats five chaotic ones.
Day 16 - Leash basics
Start indoors or in the driveway. Reward your dog for being near your left or right side, whichever you pick. Pulling gets you nowhere - literally stop walking, wait for slack, continue.
Day 17 - 'Drop it' and 'leave it'
Trade games teach both: offer a toy, then trade it for a treat. For 'leave it,' cover a treat with your hand, wait for them to back off, then reward from the other hand. These two cues can save a life.
Day 18 - Home vet exam
Run your hands over your dog the way a vet will: lift lips, hold paws, look in ears, feel the belly. Thirty seconds, lots of treats. Do it weekly forever.
Day 19 - Food at 75/25
Continue the transition. If anything has been off - soft stool, itchiness, low energy - note it and mention it to your vet rather than switching foods randomly.
Day 20 - Car rides to nowhere
Short drives that end somewhere fun (or nowhere at all) teach the car is boring and safe. Secure your dog with a harness or crate, and never leave them alone in a parked car.
Day 21 - Recall games
In a hallway or fenced yard, call their name plus 'come,' then throw a tiny party when they arrive. Never call your dog to something unpleasant; go get them instead. A recall that always pays is a recall that works.
Week 4: Routines that stick
Day 22 - Socialization review
Count what your dog has met: people of different ages and outfits, surfaces, sounds, other animals. Fill the gaps gently. Socialization never really ends - it just gets easier.
Day 23 - Alone time grows
Stretch departures toward 20-30 minutes. A pet camera is optional but reassuring. If you hear distress, shorten the next session rather than pushing through.
Day 24 - Teething survival
For puppies, months 3-6 bring teething. Rotate chews, offer a frozen damp washcloth, and keep shoes in closets. Anything on the floor is, by puppy law, a chew toy.
Day 25 - Food transition complete
If stool is firm, you can finish the switch to 100% new food. Re-check the portion guide against your dog's actual weight, and adjust with your vet based on body condition, not the begging face.
Day 26 - First real groom
Do a full session: brush-out, ear check, and a nail trim or grinder touch. Short and sweet, with treats. If nails scare you, a groomer or vet tech can do it while your dog builds tolerance.
Day 27 - Down and stay
Lure from a sit down to the floor for 'down.' For 'stay,' count two seconds before releasing, and build slowly. Five minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday.
Day 28 - Dog-proof audit
Get on the floor and look around: cords, trash, shoes, houseplants, human food. Many common foods are dangerous for dogs - check anything uncertain before sharing. Prevention is the whole game.
Day 29 - Lock in the schedule
Write down your real feeding, walk, play, and sleep times - the ones you can keep on your worst Tuesday, not your best Saturday. Dogs relax when life is predictable.
Day 30 - Celebrate, then plan
Take the photo, weigh them, and scroll back through a month of notes: you both learned an incredible amount. Set the plan for days 31-60: training class, new walking routes, and the next vet milestone.