Puppy & Young Dog
Puppy first-weeks checklist
An interactive, printable list for sharing practical care tasks. A tick means checked or planned, not proof that your puppy is healthy or that every item is a legal requirement.
Plan the first weeks
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Your location matters
Training principles are shared; vaccination exposure, professional services and legal duties depend on location. Any UK-specific rule or register is labelled as UK guidance. Follow local veterinary and public-authority advice.
Continue with your puppy’s needs
Puppy & Young Dog · What should I teach my puppy? · Puppy first-weeks checklist
Share care and avoid missed tasks
Agree one adult for meals and water, toileting, supervision, training and absence cover in each care period. Children may help in age-appropriate ways, but adults remain responsible. Confirm a backup if the named carer becomes unavailable.
Before handing over, record the time and amount actually fed, last toilet opportunity, next task and any health concern. The next carer confirms receipt. Agree the same cues and rewards; check the record before feeding again. Keep prescribed medication instructions with the existing care plan.
A new puppy in a busy household
Evidence and review
Reward-based learning is supported by behavioural evidence. Welfare guidance informs the advice about comfort, management and gradual exposure. The programmes and progression criteria here are practical editorial recommendations, not independently validated schedules or guaranteed outcomes. Evidence for exact age-based exercise and sleep rules is limited. These pages have not been clinically reviewed by a vet. Source publications may be in English.
About this guidanceReview details and sources
Share care and avoid missed tasks
Household advice editorially reviewed 15 October 2026. Sources checked on that date. General guidance, without individual veterinary assessment or clinical review. Routines, handovers and scenarios are practical editorial examples, not validated schedules. Adapt care to individual needs and local veterinary advice.
Evidence and review
Editorially reviewed 5 October 2026. General guidance; not an individual veterinary, behavioural or legal assessment.