Week 7 · small wins, before the big move
Confidence at this age doesn’t look impressive. It’s a puppy figuring out, “That was new, and I was fine.” The weeks before a puppy moves to a new home are full of chances to teach that. Or, by accident, the opposite.
A confident puppy isn’t the loudest one. It’s the one who can notice something new, make a choice, and bounce back.
Keep it smaller than the puppy
- A new person sits on the floor and waits for the puppy to come over
- A paw gets touched for a second, then a treat, then stop
- The puppy stands on a new surface and is free to step off
- A normal house sound happens while someone calm is nearby
- A collar or leash gets sniffed, nothing more
If the puppy leans in, sniffs, and shakes it off, you got the size right. If they freeze or scramble, it was too much. Next time, make it half as big. Don’t repeat the hard version “so they get used to it.” That usually teaches a puppy to shut down, not to be brave.
People, not a crowd
Filipino homes are rarely empty. That’s a good thing, as long as everyone says hello the same calm way.
- Sit down. Standing over a puppy is a lot
- Let the puppy climb into your lap, or not
- No squealing, no grabbing
- Leave the puppy a way back to their dog bed
No passing the puppy around like a package, and no holding them up for a photo while they’re stiff. If a puppy wriggles free, they told you the truth. End it there.
Handling they’ll like
Gentle handling now makes nail trims and drying off after a rainy walk much easier later. Touch a shoulder, stop, reward. Touch a paw, stop, reward. A quick look in an ear, then let go. Lift for two seconds with full support, then put them down before they complain.
Always stop while the puppy is still comfortable. The socialization window runs to about 14 to 16 weeks, so there’s time. The free Socialization Checklist has more short ideas.
Bouncing back is the skill
Every puppy startles. A pot lid drops, someone sneezes. Watch the next ten seconds. A puppy who looks, checks in with you or a sibling, and goes back to playing is learning to recover. Help by staying normal. A big fuss can make the noise seem bigger.
If a puppy can’t bounce back, make the day smaller. Quiet room, familiar smells, no extra visitors. That’s not failure. That’s protecting the confidence they already have.
Week 7 checklist
- New things stay smaller than the puppy’s comfort
- People sit and let the puppy choose
- Handling is a second, then a break
- You stop while they’re still comfortable
- A rough day gets quieter, not busier
- Nobody scolds a puppy for saying no
Next week
Week 8 moves into your home: where the puppy sleeps, potties, and chews, before the first night.
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