The first weeks with a puppy shape the entire life of the dog. During this period your puppy gets to know their new family, settles into your home and gathers countless new impressions. At the same time, many questions arise, about nutrition, training and health. With this overview we would like to give you initial guidance and link to our detailed guide articles where you can read up on each topic in depth.
The first weeks — settling in, house-training, education
During the first days after moving in, calm is the most important thing. Your puppy leaves their mother and siblings and has to get used to a completely new environment. Give them time to explore the home at their own pace and provide a fixed retreat where they can sleep undisturbed.
Puppies need a lot of sleep, often more than owners initially expect. Overstimulation through many visitors, long walks or constant play can quickly overwhelm a young dog. From the very beginning, make sure there is a calm daily rhythm with sufficient periods of sleep.
House-training is also one of the first topics. It is a matter of practice and succeeds with patience and consistency: take your puppy outside regularly after sleeping, eating and playing, and praise them when they relieve themselves there. Punishment is not helpful — puppies learn fastest through positive experiences.
You can find more details in our guide articles The arrival of a puppy, The first weeks of the puppy, Rest matters for the puppy, House-training the puppy and Training a puppy.
First vet appointments — first examination, vaccinations, deworming, microchip
We recommend bringing a new puppy to the practice shortly after they move in. At this first appointment we examine your pet from head to paw: heart and lungs, eyes, ears, mouth, abdomen and musculoskeletal system. We discuss with you how to build up the vaccination protection, when the next deworming is due and whether your puppy is already identified with a microchip.
The basic immunisation against infectious diseases is given in several steps during the puppy stage and is refreshed regularly later. Which vaccinations are sensible depends on age, lifestyle and living conditions. You can find an overview of our preventive care and vaccination offer on the page Preventive Care & Vaccination. Background on the vaccination schedule is explained in our guide Vaccinating the dog — protection through prevention.
The first vet visit should also be a calm experience for your puppy. Feel free to bring a few treats and don't plan an exciting day around it. This way your puppy gets to know the practice as a pleasant place from the start.
Teething & milk teeth
Puppies are born without teeth. The milk teeth come through during the first weeks of life. The change to the permanent teeth then usually starts at around three to four months of age and is often complete by six to seven months. During this time many puppies chew more — suitable chew toys can help.
Sometimes a milk tooth remains in place alongside the permanent tooth. Such persistent milk teeth can lead to misalignments or gum inflammation and should be assessed by the vet. A broken milk tooth is also a reason to come by the practice. Further reading: our guides The milk teeth of the dog and Dog — complications during teething.
Nutrition for puppies
Puppies grow quickly and have an increased need for energy, protein and certain nutrients. A high-quality puppy food tailored to the size and breed forms a good basis. It is important to stick to the recommended feeding amounts and to spread meals evenly over the day. Young dogs benefit from several small portions per day.
When changing food, for example when transitioning from the breeder's food. We proceed gradually so as not to upset the gastrointestinal tract. We are happy to advise you if you are unsure what suits your puppy. An individual assessment in the practice is always more valuable than blanket recommendations.
Safety at home — swallowed objects, poisoning, puppy protection
Puppies explore the world with their mouths. Whatever is within reach quickly ends up between the teeth, and sometimes in the stomach. So go through your home once from a puppy's perspective before they move in: cables, small objects, medication lying around, cleaning products and toxic plants are typical sources of danger.
It is also worth taking a look in the garden: some ornamental plants are toxic for dogs, and there are further risks in bodies of water. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol and some other foods can be dangerous for dogs. You can find an overview and a practical calculator for chocolate amounts on our page Chocolate calculator for dogs.
If your puppy has eaten something suspicious or may have swallowed a foreign object, please call the practice promptly. Do not try to induce vomiting without veterinary advice, some substances cause additional damage if vomited. You can find an overview of acute situations on our page Practice and at First aid for dogs & cats (German page).
A note on the term "puppy licence": it is often used in everyday language but does not describe reliable behaviour of adult dogs towards puppies. When meeting unfamiliar dogs, always pay attention to the body language of everyone involved and interrupt situations in which your puppy feels uncomfortable.
Special days such as New Year's Eve or birthdays with many guests can also overwhelm a puppy. You can read tips on this in our guide Safe holidays with a dog.
Further reading — our guides around the puppy
We have covered the most important topics in detail. Browse at your leisure and read up on what is on your mind right now:
- Puppies — a good start in life
- The arrival of a puppy
- The first weeks of the puppy
- Puppy in the family
- Training a puppy
- House-training the puppy
- Rest matters for the puppy
- Puppy home alone — training
- The milk teeth of the dog
- Dog — complications during teething
- Vaccinating the dog — protection through prevention
- Safe holidays with a dog
Please note: this page does not replace a veterinary examination. If you are unsure whether something is wrong with your puppy, please feel free to book an appointment. We take time for you and your new companion.