Taking Care of a puppy:
Your 1st Night Together

Taking care of a puppy is a lifetime commitment that starts with your first night together. Remember, the first night with your new puppy is exciting for you but may be scary and overwhelming for a dog who has either been taken from his mother and siblings or who has had a less than perfect beginning in a shelter.

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting but it’s important to be calm and make your puppy feel as safe and comfortable as possible.

10 Important tips for the first night with your puppy:

Show him his potty area as soon as you get him home.
Make sure you have puppy-proofed the house and that his new environment is safe and comfortable.
Show him his bed. It’s a good idea to start him out in a crate. Once he’s potty trained you can let him sleep in your bed if that’s your preference.
It's best to keep his bed or crate in the same room with you at night. If that's not possible, make him feel secure by leaving a familiar item with him like a shirt or a blanket. You can leave a nightlight on or some low music to soothe him.
Play with the puppy before bed to get him nice and tired.
Don’t give any food or drink close to bed time to reduce your puppy’s need to go to the bathroom.
Make sure he eliminates just before bedtime.
Your number one goal in the first few nights is to make your puppy feel safe and loved. This is a time to bond with your new puppy and gain its trust.
Don’t overwhelm your new puppy by introducing too many people or things on the very first night. Understandably, you want to show off your new dog, but do it slowly.
Relax. We often underestimate the amount of work required in taking care of a puppy. But on your first night together, just stay calm and try to enjoy your new companion. If you are relaxed and happy, your puppy will be also. Dogs pick up easily on our emotions, so being anxious or overwhelmed is the last thing you want to show your new pup.