Day 1: Home introduction
Straight from car to designated potty spot. Small water. Quiet exploration of one room. Introduce crate as a positive space. Bedtime near you — puppies transition better with proximity, not distance.
Days 2–3: Sleep, potty, repeat
Every 2 hours to the potty spot, especially after eating, playing, or waking. Praise heavily. Sleep will be broken. This is normal.
Days 4–5: First vet visit
A wellness check with your own vet within the first 72 hours (many breeders require this). Bring the paperwork the breeder sent home.
Days 6–7: Settling in
Personality starts to show. Establish a consistent feeding schedule (3 meals per day at this age). Begin gentle handling exercises. Do NOT introduce lots of new people yet — critical socialization is quality over quantity.
Common first-week concerns
Soft stools during transition (normal for 3–5 days), whining at night (position the crate close), reduced appetite (normal for a day or two — if it lasts longer, call your vet).