The day you've been dreaming about is finally here. You're about to bring home your cute little bundle, but you're worried about the nonstop crying, poop clean-up, and nonexistent sleep you keep hearing about from other parents. Of course, you're thrilled about the first night with your new puppy, but what's the best way to get through it?
Six Things to Expect During Your Puppy’s First Night at Home
In many ways, surviving your first night with a new puppy has a lot in common with parents experiencing the first night home with their new baby. There's a lot of whining, confusion, laughs, cuddles, and chaos.
Knowing what to expect and having a few tips to handle the inevitable can help you make it through with minimal mishaps and maybe even a little shut-eye. Here are the most common things you’ll experience during the first night at home with your pup.
1. Plenty of Whining and Crying
Your cute little fluffball is likely used to being with their brothers and sisters. When you bring your puppy home, they’ll miss the familiar scents and sounds of their littermates and surroundings. Therefore, the experience can be a bit intimidating, making your puppy feel anxious, uncertain, lonely, and scared.
In response to these feelings, your puppy will whine and cry, looking for attention and reassurance. It’s going to be very tempting to pull your little puppy into bed with you, but it’s best to resist.
Not only will this set up the expectation, but it isn’t safe, especially if your puppy is very small. It will also make other things, like working on potty training, difficult.
Instead, bring your puppy’s crate into your room and keep it near your bed so they feel close to you. To help create a den-like environment, you can drape a lightweight blanket or crate cover over the kennel.
2. Restlessness
In addition to plenty of whining and howling, your puppy will have some trouble settling down and relaxing. The same reasons that make your pup feel nervous and scared will also contribute to them pacing or remaining standing instead of sitting or lying down.
Keeping them close to you and covering the crate can help them feel more secure. When your dog starts to feel more at ease and safe, they will begin to settle. However, this can take some time, so be patient and don’t fuss or fret if your pup won’t lie down readily.
3. Multiple Potty Breaks
Unless your puppy is already 6 months old when you bring them home, expect to make a lot of potty trips. A general rule of thumb is that the hours a puppy can hold their bladder equals their age in months plus one. Once your pup is 6 months, they should be able to control their bladder fully, and you can sleep through the night.
However, until that time comes, plan to take your pup outside to go potty every couple of hours. Overnight, plan to make at least one or two potty breaks. Watch your puppy for “I gotta go!” signs, like circling, sniffing, and whining.
To improve your potty-training success, keep bathroom breaks simple and boring. In other words, no playtime or toys, just get down to business, literally. Stick to a potty schedule, reward success, but don’t punish accidents.
4. Your Puppy Might Not Have a Big Appetite
Since your puppy is likely going to be anxious and stressed during their first night, don’t panic if they don’t eat. Offer your dog some food and a bowl of water, but don’t force them to eat anything.
Also, stick with whatever food your puppy has been eating at the shelter or with their breeder before transitioning your dog to a new food. As your puppy settles in, they should start to eat, but if they don’t eat anything for over 24 hours, it’s best to consult with your vet.
5. Training Starts Right Away
It’s critical to begin training your puppy immediately. Even though they feel scared and nervous, it’s important not to feed into these negative emotions. If you do, you could inadvertently reward undesirable behaviors.
In addition to potty training, start crate training right away. It helps your puppy feel more secure. Eventually, they’ll come to love their crate, seeing it as a calm, safe zone. But the first few nights are usually rough, with plenty of scratching, barking, and pleading.
As long as you know your pup has pottied and isn’t hurt, resist giving in to these cries. Instead, wait for them to be calm, then reward them with treats and praise.
A T-shirt or towel with the scent of their littermates or mama can also help since it provides them with some familiarity. You could also try playing white noise or classical music to calm your dog and make them feel more comfortable. Try a few things to see which ones seem to work the best.
6. Expect to Get a Bad Night’s Sleep
Don’t go to bed on your puppy’s first night home expecting to sleep well. If you go in with eyes wide open, pun intended, you’ll have a lot less frustration.
It’s really like having a newborn baby in many ways. You get up and down all night long, hear lots of crying, and are always listening for movement. You’ll also likely spend quite a bit of time cleaning up accidents.
If possible, adjust your schedule for your puppy’s first few nights at home so you can take a nap during the day. It might not be ideal, but it can help take the edge off of not getting a good night’s rest for a few days.
Stay Calm and Carry on During Your Puppy’s First Night at Home
Keep things low-key when you bring home your pup, and stick to a simple routine. Yes, your puppy is super cute, and you want to do all sorts of things with them. But too much too soon can overstimulate your sweet pet. Therefore, avoid having a lot of people over, even though you want to show off your cutie pie.
Instead, remain calm, maintain a peaceful environment, and stay on schedule. Let your dog know what to expect right from the start. Feed them at regular times and set regular play sessions and training times. Create a potty schedule that focuses on bathroom breaks after eating and drinking, playtime, and naps.
It’s okay to start showing your puppy a few things on their first night, but focus on basics. For example, their food dish, bedding, etc. Ideally, it’s best to plan for your puppy’s first night by staying home as much as you can. One of the best things you can do is make sure you don’t leave your puppy alone too much.
Expect the Unexpected During the First Night With Your Puppy
Overall, even though there are undoubtedly things you can count on during your pup’s first night, there are also a lot of unknowns. After all, every dog is different, so your puppy may react in unique ways. Stay patient and consistent. Prepare for the things you can expect, but don’t forget to expect the unexpected.
Get more fun tips about pet care, activities you can do with your furry friends, and other useful insights in the Neater Pets blog.