‘I’m a vet and on day one of bringing your puppy home you must do one thing’
You need to make sure you register with a vet (Image: Getty Images)
A vet has outlined nine crucial things every pet owner must do immediately after bringing their treasured puppy home.
Welcoming a puppy home is an exhilarating and frequently overwhelming experience, and according to Jen Wormleighton, Head of Veterinary Services at Animal Friends, the initial few months of a pup’s life represents a critical window for establishing behaviour, habits and long-term health.
What every new puppy owner should know…
According to Jen, focusing on a few fundamental essentials can help owners prevent common early mistakes.
1. Know Your Puppy’s Stage Before They Arrive
Puppies need to be socialised from day one (Image: Getty Images)
By eight weeks, most puppies are weaned, exploring, and ready to learn. It helps to verify your puppy’s precise age with the breeder or rescue centre so you understand what they require when they arrive home. It also enables you to organise things like training, feeding, and early routines with confidence.
2. Book Their Vaccinations, Flea and Worming Treatments Straight Away
If your puppy hasn’t received their initial vaccinations, book them the moment they step through your front door. Keep up with boosters every 2-4 weeks and stay on top of their flea and worming treatments too. These preliminary measures help safeguard them as they mature and explore their new environment.
Prior to your puppy arriving home, register them with a vet so you’re equipped for routine care, guidance and emergencies. Ensure they are microchipped, then update your contact information with the relevant database, such as Pet Database, to keep records current. If you’re adopting, your puppy ought to have already received a health assessment and vaccinations, but it remains worthwhile understanding the continuing responsibilities, so you feel prepared for the journey ahead.
Puppies need special attention from day one (Image: Sally Anscombe via Getty Images)
4. Start Socialisation from Day One
Puppies aged between eight and twelve weeks are like tiny sponges. It’s the perfect window to gently introduce new people, sounds, objects, and everyday handling. If they’re not fully vaccinated yet, carry them outside so they can safely observe the world going by. These modest early experiences help develop a confident, composed pup.
5. Establish a Simple Toilet Routine
First thing in the morning, following naps, meals, and playtime and roughly every hour in between, take your puppy to their toilet area. Select the same location each time, such as a patch of grass, and reward them when they succeed. Little and often delivers excellent results.
6. Begin Gentle Training on Day One
You can begin teaching basic commands as soon as your puppy comes home. Short sessions with treats and praise will help them master sitting, coming, and accepting treats politely. Keep it fun, keep it relaxed, and finish on a positive note.
7. Offer Chews to Redirect Nipping
Teething happens early, and those little teeth can be razor-sharp. Have several safe chew toys readily available and substitute them when your pup begins gnawing hands or clothing. It shows them what’s appropriate to chew and helps ease painful gums.
Puppies need lots of attention (Image: undefined)
8. Limit Walks Until They’re Fully Vaccinated
Once your puppy has received their vaccinations, start with brief, gentle walks. Before that, stick to carrying them outdoors for fresh air and sights without any danger of infection.
9. Establish a Daily Routine Early On
Feeding, toilet breaks, naps, playtime, and training function best when they happen at roughly the same time each day. A straightforward routine helps your puppy feel secure and makes learning simpler for both of you.
