Week 8 · your home, before the puppy
Getting ready isn’t about a perfect setup. It’s about a few decisions you don’t want to make at midnight. Where does the puppy sleep? Where’s the potty spot? What can they chew? Who’s actually home tomorrow afternoon? Sort those out before the puppy walks in, and the first week gets a lot easier.
The free Puppy-Ready Checklist covers the same ground: rest, potty, chew, and the first quiet days.
Pick four spots
You don’t need a big house or a garden. One calm corner, used the same way every day, beats a big house with no plan. Decide these and show everyone at home.
- Sleep. A dog bed in a quiet corner, out of the direct aircon, where the puppy can see people but isn’t in everyone’s way
- Potty. One spot to start. A tray by the door, or the same patch outside. Not three options
- Chew. A small basket of safe chews near where you sit
- Water. One bowl, one place
All four can be in one room. Close the doors to the rest of the house for now. Freedom comes after the puppy knows the layout, not on hour one because the relatives want a tour.
Puppy-proof
Get down on your knees once and look around. That’s the puppy’s view.
- Cables and chargers off the floor
- Slippers, socks, and plastic bags out of reach
- Bins covered, cleaning products shut away
- Bags and umbrellas on a hook that’s actually high
- A gate, a pen, or a closed door, so “not yet” is easy
Agree on the rules now
Puppies don’t get confused by the size of the house. They get confused by mixed rules. Say the plan out loud before the puppy arrives.
- No scraps from the table, not even “just once” from a guest
- Same potty spot and the same happy word for everyone
- Nobody wakes a sleeping puppy for a photo
- The first days are quiet. Friends can visit later
- Accidents get cleaned up. No scolding
The Rule of 3 poster is a good one for the fridge: about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn the routine, three months to feel at home. On night one you only need the first part. Let the puppy land.
The first night
Arrive, offer water, and go straight to the potty spot. Keep it to one room. Show the dog bed, sit on the floor, and let them sniff you. Keep their food the same as before. Potty again after eating, after play, and before sleep. Then lights down. A worn shirt near the dog bed can help.
Expect some noise. Staying close is fine. Starting a game at midnight isn’t.
Same setup for any size. Just match the dog bed and the chews to the puppy.
Week 8 checklist
- Sleep, potty, chew, and water each have one spot
- You’ve actually gone through the Puppy-Ready Checklist
- Cables, slippers, bags, and cleaners are out of reach
- Everyone agrees on scraps, naps, and no scolding
- The first night is one room, not a tour
- Food stays the same on arrival day
Next week
Week 9 is the first real teaching: name, settle, potty spot, chew, and the leash. Minutes, not marathons.
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