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It depends onyour puppy.

Puppy-S writes guides for first-time puppy owners. When the honest answer depends on the puppy in front of you, a guide says so, and shows you how to work it out.

Find your situation ↓ New puppy at home? Start with the first 30 days →

  • For first-time owners
  • Some guides say what they leave out
A black dog with a collar sits at a window, looking out at a red garden chair.
Photo: “Julian Gazes from his Prison Cell” by Glenn Beltz, Flickr, CC BY 2.0, cropped

Editor’s note: There is no universal puppy timeline.

By situation

Find your question

Start with the moment you are in, not the one you expect. Each one opens to its guides and a short checklist, and some guides say what they leave out.

  1. The first night feels longer than expectedA puppy of about eight weeks, in an apartment (small breed)

    The First Night With a Puppy: What to Expect and What to Do

    You will learn how to guide your puppy through their first night in your home with calm, practical steps.

    1. Set up one quiet room with the crate and bed before arrival.First night guide
    2. Choose one outdoor spot and take the puppy there after waking, eating and play.
    3. Keep a log of trips and accidents for seven days.
    4. Book the first vet visit.Puppy Vet Checklist
    How to Crate Train a Puppy, Step by Step

    You will learn how to introduce a crate so your puppy chooses to use it, and what to do when the door closing does not go smoothly.

    An 8-Week-Old Puppy’s Day: A Realistic Routine

    You will not find a timetable here. Instead you will learn the cycle your puppy repeats all day, so you can recognize what is normal and stop guessing.

  2. Everything within reach has become interestingA puppy of about ten weeks, with a garden (medium breed)

    Set up the garden and the house before the chewing starts, and keep to one routine while you do.

    1. Set up a toilet spot in the garden and keep to the same route.
    2. Start with short, calm walks around the house before any outdoor walk.
    3. Prepare a chew set for teething.
    4. Write down the vet’s emergency number.First night guide

  3. Which bed or product is worth buying?What matters in a bed, and how to spot an overhyped product

    How to Choose a Puppy Bed That Lasts

    You will learn what actually matters when picking a puppy bed, so you can judge any bed in front of you without needing a list of names.

    How to Spot an Overhyped Puppy Product

    You will come away able to sort the claims on a product page into two piles: the ones you can check, and the ones you cannot.

    “This is not a way to decide which products are good.”

    See crates, beds and supplies on the Puppy Essentials page

  4. What will my puppy cost in the first year?The first-year figures, and what they cannot tell you

    How Much Does a Puppy Cost in the First Year?

    You will learn what the published national figures actually say about a puppy’s first year, and why the shape of the spending matters more than any single average.

    “No figure here is a quote for your own puppy.”

    Is Pet Insurance Worth It for a Puppy?

    You will come away able to work out what a policy actually does and what question decides whether one fits your household.

    “This page will not tell you whether to buy it.”

    Plan first-year costs on the Insurance and Vet Costs page

Start here

If your puppy has just come home

First 30 Days Puppy GuideYour puppy’s first month lays the groundwork for routines that suit your puppy. Follow this practical roadmap for routines, sleep, potty training, feeding, socialization, and vet basics.Read the First 30 Days guide

About the guides

General guidance, written for first-time owners

The guides are general information. They do not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your puppy seems seriously unwell, contact your veterinary clinic straight away.