The first month with a puppy sets the tone for the next decade. Get the basics right now and you'll save yourself months of correction later.
Week 1: Routine over rules
Same wake time, same meal time, same potty spots. Puppies learn through repetition, not lectures. Predictability lowers anxiety.
Week 2: Crate training
A crate isn't a cage — it's their den. Make it cozy with a soft bed, feed meals inside, never use it for punishment. Most pups self-settle within 10 days.
Week 3: Socialization window
Between weeks 8 and 16 a puppy's brain is wide open. Expose them to 10 new things a day — surfaces, sounds, people, gentle dogs. This window closes fast.
Week 4: Basic cues
Sit, down, come, stay. 3 minute sessions, 3 times a day. Use high-value treats and end on a win. Long sessions = bored puppy = bad habits.
What to avoid
- Yelling — they don't connect it to the behavior
- Long absences — separation anxiety forms early
- Dog parks before vaccines are done
- Skipping vet visits — schedule the first within 72 hours of arrival
The 30-day investment pays back for 12+ years. Don't rush it.