The First 24 Hours 

The first 24 hours with your new puppy can be some of the best, but also some of the most nerve-wracking, especially for first-time dog owners. But don’t worry! You’ve got this!

Before Bringing Your Puppy Home

For the easiest transition, we recommend getting everything ready for your puppy to arrive before you pick them up. Puppy proofing is a lot like baby-proofing your home. Tuck things that are breakable away, check for any tempting wires, cords, or outlets, make sure there are no rodent or insect traps that they can get into, and close any doors to block access to any rooms they won’t be allowed in right away (or at all). Also, remember that your puppy is still learning to navigate stairs, and gates are great for helping keep them from tumbling downstairs.

If you have a fence, remember to double-check the perimeter to make sure they can’t escape through any holes or openings. Puppies can be notorious escape artists!

We also suggest having everything you need ready to go - have their crate/kennel set up, any new toys easily accessible, and determine where you want your puppy’s “home base” to be. Your puppy will be teething, so we suggest a variety of chew toys as well as any other toys you might like. We also recommend deciding where you’d prefer they go to the bathroom and the route to get there (remember, when they need to go, they need to go now!).

Having everything ready to go makes the transition so much smoother and less stressful. Again, you’ve got this!

Upon Bringing Your Puppy Home

We send you home with everything you need for the first twenty-four hours with your new pup (except a leash, because we know owners tend to prefer to pick their own). In your puppy’s backpack, you’ll find a gallon Ziploc of the kibble they’ve been eating, a stuffed toy and blanket with the scent of their mama and siblings, a sock filled with rice (we’ll get to that in a minute), a chew toy, and a set of bells for potty training.

Begin calling your puppy by their new name as soon as you can (we know it may take a few days to choose the perfect name!). If you have chosen beforehand, we’ll start calling your puppy by their new name while they are with us. They learn quickly!

As soon as you get your new pup home, take them to where their “potty spot” will be. You can use a command like “go potty” or “get busy” if you’d like, then simply wait until they do their business. When they eliminate, make a big deal of it - lots of praise and a treat or two. Try not to talk to them until after they’ve gone potty, as it can be a distraction. After your puppy is inside, plan on potty breaks every few hours, immediately after eating, right before bed, and right when they wake up from a nap. Try not to wander around when you’re beginning potty training - you don’t want your puppy to confuse a walk with potty time (you’ll thank us later when it’s cold and snowy outside and your little pup knows it’s potty time and not adventure and frolic through the snow time). Not wandering around the yard also has an immediate practical use as well: your puppy will associate that specific spot with their own scent and be more likely to eliminate in that area. Remember that accidents are often inevitable - be patient and keep some cleaning supplies close at hand. Check out our potty training page for more detailed potty training tips!

Once inside, immediately show your puppy where their crate is - this will be where they will learn to hang out and be comfortable, especially when tired, overwhelmed, or nervous. A crate is meant to be a safe space for them, especially during training and as they grow. Crate training and potty training are two parts of a whole. Your puppy’s natural instinct is to never eliminate in their ‘den’ - and that’s what their kennel is! They will already be familiar with a kennel and comfortable sleeping in a kennel with an open door, but in case they need a little coaxing, you can toss a few treats in to entice them in. Make their crate a warm, inviting space with a blanket and perhaps a toy. And this is where the rice-filled sock comes in! When it comes time for bed, put the rice sock in the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up the smallest bit. The weight, size, and warmth mimic snuggling with another puppy which can help soothe your puppy.

Many families set up a playpen to keep their new puppy in a certain place when they aren’t being watched. You can fill this area with any toys you’d like, their crate, a little bowl of water, and other cozy, puppy-friendly items. It’s a good idea to have this in a space that is easy to clean in case there are any accidents.

For the first 24 hours, plan to keep it pretty chill. Your puppy is going through a big change! They’ve left their mama and siblings, so now is the perfect time for lots of reassuring cuddles and a little bit of play. It’s tempting to invite everyone over to meet your puppy, but now is the perfect time for some bonding time. And naps! Your pup will be tired from all the adventures they’ve been having between traveling, exploring their new home, and bonding with their people. Use your own judgment on when/how to introduce your puppy to any other animals - this doesn’t have to happen on the first day! Make the call based on how your new puppy is settling in and the personality/temperament of your other pets (Also, make sure that you are limiting their interaction with other dogs outside of your home until they’ve received all of their vaccines to avoid them getting sick).

When it comes to your puppy’s first meals at their new home, give them the kibble they are used to. We send you home with kibble so that you can slowly transition them to the food you prefer. They might be ravenous when it comes to dinner time, or they might not eat much at all. Don’t worry about it for the first day! They are still getting used to the lay of the land. If you are really worried, you can definitely feed them pieces of kibble as you play with them as well. Feed them their first meal where they’ll typically eat their dinner, whether that is in the kitchen, in their crate, etc. It’s all about establishing a routine!

(That being said, don’t be surprised if your pup has some loose stool for the first few days - this is common as they adjust to a new home. Loose stool is a common sign of stress in dogs, but especially in puppies. If your pup has loose stool, trying giving him/her a bit of plain canned pumpkin. Also, check out our Health & Grooming page for more tips!)

Bedtime. Don’t get too nervous! Establishing a bedtime routine starts on day one. Puppies are like human babies - they’ll wake up a few times, but they’ll learn what the routine is fairly quickly. Make sure their kennel has their comfort items (their blanket, a soft toy to snuggle against, and their rice sock if you’d like to use it). Be prepared for your pup to wake you up a few times (we recommend hitting the hay a little earlier than normal). The best technique we’ve found is to put their kennel where they can see you and you can reach out to reassure them or give them a little comfort.

Introducing Your Pup to Other Furry Family Members

One of the most anxiety-inducing parts of bringing a puppy home can be introducing them to your other cat/dog - for you, your family, your pup, and your other fur babies! Remember that dogs easily pick up on your anxiousness, so trying to remain calm is crucial. Always reward good behavior, and avoid punishing “bad” behavior because you don’t want to have your puppy associate repercussions with your dog/cat.

Introducing Your Puppy to Your Dog

If you have a dog at home, we recommend introducing the puppy and your dog(s) at a neutral place like a park or a friend’s backyard. Doing this helps mitigate your older dog’s instinct to protect their turf. Anticipate giving them a decent amount of time to become comfortable with one another before walking them into your home together. There still may be a little protectiveness on the part of your older dog, but be patient! It’s also important to provide both dogs their own space to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed during the first few days (a puppy pen really comes in handy here to keep your new pup safe and separate). Make sure to shower your older dog with just as much love and attention as the puppy, too!

A few other tips to help the transition go well:

• remove toys/food bowls when the dogs are together to avoid any territorial/guarding behavior

• feed the dogs separately (again, to avoid guarding)

• do not hold the puppy during the introduction - put him/her on the ground and stay nearby

• allow them to interact for the first few weeks under direct supervision

• keep an eye on body language, especially your older dog’s - you will know his/hers better

• remember that your puppy is still learning body language and will not know when playing turns into badgering the older dog - step in when your older dog is done playing

• build your puppy’s new routine off of your older dog’s routine to maintain normalcy for your older dog

Additional Resources:

Bringing Home a Second Dog (Dog Time)

How to Introduce Your Dog to a New Dog (American Kennel Club)

Introducing Dogs & Puppies (The Spruce Pets)

Introducing Your Puppy to Your Cat

Introducing your puppy to your cat will go a little differently. Luckily, your Live + Love Doodle pup already has some familiarity with cats and kittens!

We recommend separating your cat and puppy by placing your cat in a room where the door can be closed or gated (provide your cat with all its necessities) so they can get acquainted via scent and sound first. Putting a blanket or towel with your puppy’s scent in the room with your cat can also help with the transition. You can have them swap rooms a few times to help with them being comfortable with one another’s scent as well.

Once they are comfortable with the sound and scent of one another you can introduce them with a barrier between them (either a gate or one of them in a carrier/kennel). Reward your puppy for calm behavior and always allow your cat to leave the situation if they want/need to. You can then transition to having the puppy on a leash with the cat in the room. Always provide an escape route for your cat if they get overwhelmed as you want to avoid them feeling trapped or cornered.

Just like with introducing your pup to an older dog, never leave the two unsupervised until you are confident there won’t be an issue. Additionally, always provide your cat a perch or place to escape a puppy’s attention as needed.

Additional Resources:

Introducing a New Puppy to a Household with a Cat (PetMD)

How to Introduce a Dog to a Cat (Best Friends)

A Simple Guide to Introducing a Puppy to a Cat (The Happy Puppy Site)

Remember you can always reach out to us!