Surviving Puppy's First Night: Tips for a Smooth Transition

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This is a really memorable time for you so take it slowly and do everything you can to help your puppy acclimatise to their new home.

Remember that this is the first time your puppy has been separated from their mother and the rest of their litter, and your home is a strange new environment for them.

Obviously, everyone within the family will be excited to welcome your new addition, especially younger children, but try not to overly fuss.

The more sedate and relaxed the introduction to your home, the less anxious your puppy will be.

Here's our simple guide to help you master your first day and night with your puppy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Puppy's First Day : Puppy's First Night

1. First Things First - Straight to the Toilet Spot!

2. Let the Sniffing Begin - Exploring their New Home

3. Time to Eat - Puppy's First Meal at Home

4. Winding Down - The Last Task Before Bedtime

5. The Big One - Surviving Puppy's First Night 💤

6. Beyond the First Night - What to Expect

Puppy's First Day : Puppy's First Night

1. First Things First - Straight to the Toilet Spot!

When you first get home and BEFORE you bring your new pup into your house, take them to their ‘toilet spot’ outdoors.

This helps to get toilet training started straight away and your life together doesn’t begin with cleaning up a puddle on the floor!

Take your puppy outside at regular times (initially you'll need to go outside every half hour) to show where it’s acceptable to use the bathroom and be patient, this will take time.

Consider a dog doorbell. They are proven to help toilet train your puppy.

There are three main designs - a traditional hanging bell, a push button and a digital push button.

All three options are reviewed in-depth in our article on Best Dog Doorbells : Puppy Toilet Training along with additional guidance on how to use them successfully. The cheapest of the three options is the hanging doorbell.

2. Let the Sniffing Begin - Exploring their New Home

Now it's time to introduce them to your house. Let your puppy explore their bed area first and get comfortable before introducing other areas of your home. 

Getting a puppy doesn't mean they need access to the whole of your house.

Allow them to explore these new surroundings at their own pace and restrict to 1 or 2 rooms within the house to begin with. Giving access to the whole house on their first day may be confusing and scary for a young puppy.

A simple way to restrict puppy access to the rest of your house is installing a stair gate or room divider.

This not only keeps puppy safe but protects the rest of your house from toilet accidents and chewing disasters (think sofas, rugs and skirting boards!)

Standalone room dividers are available but the cheapest and probably safest option is a standard stair gate.

This pressure fit safety gate by Muchkin is available with extenders to fit openings from 76cm - 117cm. It can be fitted quickly and easily and offers excellent value. They offer a wide range of sizes, extenders and colours including white, black and wooden.

Browse Munchkin Stair Gates on Amazon

 PRO TIP  If you've bought lots of gorgeous puppy toys, consider keeping them in a basket out of reach. Puppies are particularly attracted to new toys, so one simple solution is to rotate the toys on the pretext they are fresh and interesting.

Trust me, it saves you money and enables you to attract their attention when necessary.

3. Time to Eat - Puppy's First Meal at Home

It’s best to maintain a consistent diet in the first couple of weeks or months to avoid tummy upsets – moving to a new home is adjustment enough without changing their food as well.

Check with your breeder what food they have chosen to feed your puppy and continue with this until you feel they are relaxed.

Once your puppy has settled into your home and their routine, then consider changing foods if you feel your puppy would benefit. Just remember to change the food gradually.

If you're considering changing foods at some point, we'd recommend our article on choosing the best food for your dog which has a wealth of information. We also offer reviews on some of the best puppy foods on the UK market including deep-dive reviews on dry, raw, delivered, air-dried and grain free.

The All About Dog Food website is a fantastic resource and provides lots of nutritional information about 100's of dog foods.

Back to your first day.....

About three hours before bedtime, give your puppy one last meal of the day and plenty of water to drink. Many pups don't eat much from a bowl for the first couple of days. Try not to worry too much.

You could try hand-feeding to encourage your pup to eat whilst building a bond. Hand feeding helps establish trust between the two of you and shows your puppy that you have lots of tasty treats to offer.

4. Winding Down - The Last Task Before Bedtime

Start winding down the fun about an hour before you want your puppy to settle for their first night with you and take puppy to the toilet about 10-15 minutes before you head to bed. Then, when relaxed, calmly put your puppy in the sleeping area or crate, and walk away.

A crate can provide a sense of security for your puppy. Try to think of them less like a cage and more like a den where they can feel safe.

You can buy a whole range of accessories for dog crates including beautiful beds, mats and crate covers to create a gorgeous dog den.

Ellie-Bo offer a wide range of crate sizes and have taken out the guesswork by teaming up their dog crates with the perfect sized dog bed.

We explore the best crates on the UK market along with some gorgeous and great value accessories.

Read our full Best Dog Crates and Accessories Review

5. The Big One - Surviving Puppy's First Night 💤

Puppy's first night at home can be really hard, but try to ignore any barking and whimpering, unless you think your puppy needs the toilet.

Heartbeat Toys

These heartbeat toys are extremely popular with new puppy parents. The idea is that the built-in heartbeat device mimics the mother's heartbeat to keep your puppy calm and help relieve any anxiety.

The toy is made from soft, plush fabric so your new puppy can snuggle up and the heartbeat device can be removed.

View on Amazon

Music

Numerous scientific studies and research have shown that music is a great way to help reduce stress and separation anxiety in our furry friends.

Research from the UK wellness brand for dogs, Pooch & Mutt, has discovered the perfect formula for curating a calming playlist for your dog. If you have Spotify, Pooch & Mutt’s data-driven playlist is called -

Relaxed Pooches

Camera

Another option for anxious parents is a dog camera. Working like a baby monitor, you can watch your puppy from your phone to make sure they are settling well.

⭐️ Furbo 360° - Probably the best known dog camera on the market, it's a premium pet specific camera designed to allow you to not only monitor but interact with your dog from afar using an app on your phone. Check out our in-depth review - Furbo 360°

Crate Position

Many dog lovers believe that it's far easier to set up a puppy crate in your bedroom and allow the puppy to sleep in it for the first few days. If you chose this method, try not to touch or cuddle your puppy if they wake during the night.

When the penny finally drops that they won't be picked up or petted when they whimper, puppy will soon begin to sleep through without waking up. Once settled you can move the crate out of your bedroom to where you would ideally like your puppy to sleep.

Whichever method you choose be prepared to get up very early the next day to give your puppy a toilet break before their first breakfast in their new home.

6. Beyond the First Night - What to Expect

We won't sugarcoat it, the first night is often the hardest, but please don't lose heart if night two and three aren't much better either! I

t's completely normal for puppies to take anywhere from three days to two weeks to fully settle into their new home and sleep through the night. Every puppy is different, some surprise you and sleep soundly from night one, whilst others take a little longer to find their feet.

The important thing is to stay consistent. Stick to the same routine, the same sleeping spot and the same approach each night. Puppies thrive on predictability, and the more consistent you are, the quicker they'll feel safe and secure enough to relax.

If things do feel like they're improving, even just slightly, that's a really positive sign. You're doing brilliantly. 🐾

A Note on Separation Anxiety

Some puppies settle beautifully within a few days, whilst others take longer and can develop signs of separation anxiety, excessive whining, destructive behaviour, or distress when left alone even briefly. If this sounds familiar, try not to panic.

Separation anxiety is very common in young puppies and in most cases can be managed with patience, a consistent routine and gradual alone-time training. A calming bed, a heartbeat toy or even a worn piece of your clothing in their crate can all help in those early days. If you're genuinely concerned that your puppy's anxiety goes beyond normal settling-in behaviour, it's always worth a quick call to your vet or a qualified dog behaviourist for tailored advice.