Before they come home
Have these waiting, and the first night feels a whole lot calmer for everyone.
- A cosy bed or crate in a quiet corner, sized for the dog they will become.
- The same food the breeder or shelter has been feeding, so little tummies stay settled.
- Food and water bowls that will not tip over mid wiggle.
- A soft collar, an ID tag with your number, and a lightweight lead.
- Chew toys for teething and one comfort toy that smells like their litter.
- Puppy pads or a plan for frequent toilet trips outside.
- A soft brush and puppy shampoo for the first gentle grooming sessions.
The first vet visit
Book it within the first few days of homecoming. It sets up everything that follows.
- A full health check, heart, eyes, ears, teeth and tummy.
- A vaccination plan mapped to their age and your area.
- Worming and flea schedules with the first doses dated.
- Microchip details checked or arranged, with your contact details registered.
- The questions you have been collecting all week, written down so you remember to ask.
The first month at a glance
A gentle rhythm for the earliest weeks. Your vet may adjust the dates, and that is perfectly normal.
| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| First week | Settle in, first vet visit, start the toilet training rhythm. |
| Weeks 2 to 3 | Short happy outings in arms, gentle handling of paws and ears. |
| Weeks 3 to 4 | Vaccine boosters as advised, first short walks once your vet agrees. |
| Ongoing | Weigh ins, worming doses and feeding notes kept in one place. |
The records worth keeping from day one
Future you, at a new vet or with a new sitter, will be so glad these were written down.
- Every vaccine name and date, plus the next due date.
- Worming and flea doses with the product used.
- Weight at each visit, so growth stays easy to see.
- The food brand and amounts, especially any changes.
- The little milestones, first night through, first sit, first wobbly stairs.
Good questions
What does a puppy need in the first week?+
A safe sleeping spot, food and water bowls, the food they are already used to, a collar with an ID tag, a lead, a few chew toys, and a vet visit booked within the first few days. Everything else can arrive slowly.
When should a puppy first see the vet?+
Within the first week of coming home is ideal. Your vet will check their general health, map out the vaccination series, and set up worming and flea plans that match your pup and your area.
What do most new puppy parents forget?+
Writing things down. Vaccine dates, worming doses, the food brand the breeder used, and the little milestones all blur together fast. A simple record kept from day one saves a lot of guessing later.
Start their story on day one
PetWrite keeps the first vaccine, the first weigh in and the first ridiculous nap in one warm timeline from the very first day. Add a record once and the next due date takes care of itself.
Request beta accessKeep reading
How often growing pups eat at each age, and how to move from four little meals to two.
The honest rhythm of checkups for puppies, adults and wise old seniors.
The week by week shot series every puppy walks through in their first months.
This checklist is general guidance, not veterinary advice. Your vet knows your puppy and your region, so let them set the final plan for vaccines, worming and food.