Why the first days matter so much
Puppies have a critical socialisation window between roughly 3 and 14 weeks of age. During this window the brain absorbs experiences with a plasticity it will never recover. What they learn (or don’t) at this point shapes their behaviour for life. When yours arrives home at 8-10 weeks, the window is still open: there are a few golden weeks left to get it right.
The first days: calm before training
Your puppy has just lost their mother and litter mates. They have changed smells, environment and social group all at once. Your first job isn’t to teach commands — it’s to help them feel safe.
- Set up a quiet zone of their own: a covered bed or a crate where they can retreat.
- Limit the number of people who interact with them in the first days. Big visits stress puppies.
- Keep meals, toilet breaks and sleep on a fixed routine from day one.
- Do not tell them off for indoor accidents — they don’t yet know they shouldn’t, and punishment now creates fear, not learning.
The first nights: the whining
Most puppies cry the first few nights. It’s normal — they miss the warmth and smell of the litter. Things that help:
- A soft toy or piece of bedding with the mother’s smell (good breeders provide this).
- A ticking clock or heartbeat plush near the bed — mimics a heartbeat.
- Have the bed near your room for the first few days, then move it gradually.
- Don’t scoop them up every single time they cry (that teaches whining) — but don’t ignore them entirely in week one either.
House training
Take them out every 1-2 hours, and always after eating, sleeping or intense play. The whole process can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months depending on breed and method.
- Whenever they wee or poo outside, reward immediately with a treat and genuine enthusiasm.
- If there’s an indoor accident: clean it without drama (use an enzymatic cleaner to remove the scent that tells them to go again).
- Don’t drag them to "show them" the puddle. It does nothing and increases anxiety.
Socialisation: the most important job
During those first weeks at home, expose your puppy in a controlled way to:
- People of different ages, builds and wearing hats, glasses or umbrellas
- Other dogs (only fully vaccinated and calm in temperament)
- Urban sounds: cars, motorbikes, building works, fireworks (use a low-volume sound app)
- Different surfaces: grass, tarmac, metal grates, water
- The vet — positive visits with no procedures: just so they associate the smell with treats and praise
The golden rule: always at a pace the puppy can handle without fear. If they freeze or flee, take a step back. The aim is for the world to feel safe — not exciting or threatening.
First vet visits in the UK
Between 8 and 16 weeks they will receive their first vaccines (DHPPi + L4, usually two jabs). While the course is incomplete, limit contact with unknown dogs in high-traffic dog areas. They can still go outside if you carry them or stick to known clean areas. They’re safe to walk freely one week after the second jab (around 11-13 weeks).
What NOT to do in the first weeks
- Don’t leave them alone for more than 3-4 hours in the first days (build up gradually)
- Don’t over-stimulate with constant play — puppies need 16-18 hours of sleep a day
- Never use physical punishment
- Don’t allow hand or clothing biting even when they’re tiny — this is the moment to teach bite inhibition
- Don’t over-protect them — over-shielding creates fears just as fast as over-exposure
How CanAI helps
Track vaccinations, milestones and socialisation exposures in CanAI. Ask the AI chat for puppy-specific advice by breed and age.