New Puppy Checklist: Your First Week & Month

The first month sets the tone for everything that follows. This is a plain-English, week-by-week plan you can work through at your own pace — get the essentials ready, keep the first days calm, and build good habits early.

Before your puppy arrives: the supply checklist

Having the basics ready before pick-up day makes the first night far smoother. You don't need everything at once, but these cover the essentials:

• Food — a complete puppy (growth) diet. Ideally match what the breeder or shelter was feeding, then transition slowly over 5–7 days.
• Bowls — separate food and water bowls; stainless steel or ceramic are easy to clean.
• Crate and/or pen — a den-sized crate for sleep and safe alone-time, plus a playpen for daytime containment.
• Bedding — washable, chew-tolerant. Avoid anything your puppy could shred and swallow.
• Collar, ID tag and a lightweight lead — plus a harness for early lead training.
• Toys — a mix of chew toys, soft toys and a food-puzzle; teething puppies need appropriate things to gnaw.
• Toilet supplies — enzyme cleaner for accidents, and puppy pads if you're using them.
• Grooming basics — a soft brush, puppy-safe shampoo and nail clippers.
• Baby gates and a look around the house to puppy-proof — hide cables, secure cleaning products, and move anything toxic or chewable out of reach.
• A booked vet appointment and, if you plan to, pet insurance sorted early.

Week 1: settle in, first vet visit, deworming

Week one is about safety, calm and a clean bill of health — not training milestones. Puppies are tired, overwhelmed and adjusting to a new home away from their litter.

• Keep it low-key. Limit visitors and noise for the first few days. Let your puppy explore one or two rooms rather than the whole house.
• Establish a routine. Regular meals, toilet trips, nap times and short play sessions help your puppy feel secure and speed up house-training.
• Book the first health check. Most vets like to see a new puppy within the first few days. They'll do a nose-to-tail exam, check for parasites, discuss the vaccine and deworming plan, and confirm microchip and diet.
• Deworming. Puppies are commonly wormed on a schedule (often every two weeks until around 12 weeks, then monthly for a while). Flea and tick prevention is usually started too. Your vet confirms products and timing.
• Start crate and toilet training gently. Take your puppy out after every sleep, meal and play session, and reward toileting in the right spot.
• Expect broken sleep. Overnight whining and one or two toilet breaks are normal early on.

Weeks 2–4: vaccines, socialization, feeding and house-training

Once your puppy has settled, the focus shifts to protection, gentle exposure to the world, and building habits.

First vaccines (DHPP and more)

The core puppy vaccine is DHPP — distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus and parainfluenza — usually given as a series of doses every three to four weeks, starting around 6–8 weeks and finishing around 16 weeks. Rabies is typically given around 12–16 weeks where it's required by law. Depending on where you live and your puppy's lifestyle, your vet may also recommend non-core vaccines such as leptospirosis, Bordetella (kennel cough) or Lyme. The series needs finishing for full protection — a single early shot isn't enough.

The socialization window

Roughly 3 to 14 weeks is a critical window when positive experiences shape a confident adult dog. The trick is doing this safely before the vaccine series is complete:

• Introduce new sounds, surfaces, people and gentle handling at home.
• Meet healthy, fully vaccinated dogs you know, in clean spaces like your own garden.
• Carry your puppy in public to watch the world without walking on high-traffic ground.
• Ask about puppy classes that require proof of vaccination.
• Keep every experience short, positive and reward-based — never force it.

When can they walk outside and meet strange dogs?

Vets generally advise waiting until about one to two weeks after the final puppy vaccine — often around 16 weeks — before walking in public parks, pavements and other places unknown dogs use, because of diseases like parvovirus. Your vet will give you the green light for your individual puppy.

Feeding

Feed a complete puppy diet and follow the label for your puppy's age and expected adult weight. Most puppies eat three to four small meals a day until around four months, then drop to two to three. Keep fresh water down at all times and adjust portions using body condition, not just the bag. Our guide to how much to feed your dog and the dog feeding calculator walk through the numbers.

House-training basics

• Take your puppy out first thing, after meals, after naps, after play, and last thing at night.
• Reward the moment they go in the right place — praise or a small treat, immediately.
• Supervise indoors and use the crate/pen when you can't watch closely.
• Clean accidents with an enzyme cleaner so no scent lingers; never punish accidents.

Puppy schedule: age → what's typically due

This is a general reference for a healthy puppy. Exact products, timing and which non-core vaccines apply are decided by your vet.

A printable first-month checklist

Work through these as you go — no need to do it all at once:

• ☐ Puppy-proof the house and set up crate, pen and beds
• ☐ Buy food, bowls, collar, ID tag, lead and toys
• ☐ Transition food slowly over 5–7 days
• ☐ Book and attend the first vet health check
• ☐ Confirm microchip and register your details
• ☐ Start the deworming and flea/tick plan your vet advises
• ☐ Begin the DHPP vaccine series and note the next date
• ☐ Start a calm routine: meals, toilet trips, naps, short play
• ☐ Begin safe socialization (sounds, handling, known vaccinated dogs)
• ☐ Start crate and house-training with reward-based methods
• ☐ Ask your vet when public walks and dog-meets are safe
• ☐ Diarise the rest of the vaccine series and the ~6-month spay/neuter chat

Tavi's guides are informational and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always follow the schedule and recommendations your own veterinarian gives for your puppy — when in doubt, contact your vet. Sources include the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) canine vaccination guidelines, the American Kennel Club (AKC), PetMD, Preventive Vet and the Merck Veterinary Manual.