Short answer: a puppy needs less than the store shelves suggest. Get a bed, a safe resting space, a few toys and chews, bowls, a collar with an ID tag and a leash and harness. In week one, focus on toilet trips, comfortable rest and learning their name. Introduce other small, positive experiences at your puppy's pace, and ask your vet about safe socialization and outings.
The gear that earns its place
Dogs Trust suggests a cozy bed, a den away from the busy parts of the house, a blanket, a mix of toys, a Kong or puzzle feeder, bowls, cleaning products for accidents, a collar and tag, and a leash and harness. Put the harness on for a minute at a time so it feels normal, even if you cannot walk outside yet. A pen or baby gate helps when you cannot watch. A crate is optional. Some puppies settle in one and some do better in a pen or a quiet corner, so watch what yours does.
Pick chews that suit the puppy's age and size, skip very hard ones, and stay close while they chew. Your vet can tell you what is safe for unsupervised rest.
A flexible first-week plan
Start with comfort: keep it small. Offer a toilet trip after sleep, meals and play, and praise when it happens in the right place. Accidents are information, not a reason to scold. Keep visitors for later and let your puppy rest a lot. Our first night guide covers the 2 a.m. crying.
As your puppy settles: teach the name game. Say the name once in a happy voice, and when your puppy looks at you, give a treat. Never use the name to scold. Build comfort in the sleeping space in daylight. Leave the door open, toss a treat inside, and feed a meal there. When little teeth find your hands, hand over a toy and play for a few seconds. If biting is the main struggle, the Landshark guide goes deeper.
When they are comfortable: add gentle handling. Briefly touch a paw only if your puppy is comfortable, reward, and stop before they pull away or become worried. There is no fixed duration or daily quota. Book a first vet visit and ask which outings and puppy classes are right for your area. Sudden changes in appetite, vomiting or tiredness are a vet question, not a training one.
Keep the days boring and the rewards tasty. Calm repetition now makes the harder months easier.
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Sources & care notes
Sources: Dogs Trust, "How to help your puppy get settled into your home": https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/puppy/new-home.
This article is general education, not veterinary advice. If your dog seems unwell, is in pain, or something changed suddenly, call your vet. If it could be an emergency, do not wait.
Frequently asked questions
What gear actually earns its place?
A bed, a safe resting space, bowls, a collar with an ID tag, a leash and harness, and a few age-suitable toys and chews.
What do I train in the first week?
Comfort first: toilet trips after sleep, meals and play, rewarded in the right place, plus short calm settling.
How do I choose chews?
Match them to age and size, skip very hard ones, and stay nearby while the puppy chews.
Do we need training classes this week?
No. Keep week one small and quiet, and let the puppy settle before adding new places and people.
