How to Take Care of a Puppy at Home – Real Tips for New Owners

Bringing a puppy home is one of the happiest moments in life. But along with the joy comes responsibility. A puppy is not just a small dog — it’s a small personality that is learning everything from scratch.
A lot of pet owners make mistakes in the first few weeks, and those mistakes become habits later. This guide is based on real-life experience, not generic advice. If you follow these steps, your puppy will grow healthy, confident, and less anxious.

1. The First 72 Hours: The Calm Phase

Most people think the first few days are all about food and sleep. Actually, the first 72 hours are about adjustment.

What your puppy feels:

• New home = scary

• New smells = confusing

• New sounds = stressful

• No mother or siblings = loneliness

What to do:

• Create a quiet corner with a bed and a blanket.

• Avoid loud music or TV.

• Let the puppy explore slowly.

Important: Don’t force affection.
Many owners pick up the puppy all the time. The puppy then starts thinking:

“I will only be safe if someone holds me.”

That leads to anxiety later. Let the puppy feel safe on its own.

2. Puppy-Proof Your Home (More Than Just Wires)

Puppies chew everything — not because they are naughty, but because they are learning.

What they chew and why:

• Shoes: smell of owner

• Plastic bags: texture is interesting

• Curtains: they feel like hanging toys

• Cables: chewable and hidden

• Furniture edges: teething relief

Preventive steps:

• Keep shoes in a closed cupboard.

• Use cable covers.

• Remove plastic bags and small items.

• Give a designated chewing toy (not a random stick).

💡 Real tip:
If your puppy chews something wrong, don’t shout.
Instead, gently remove the item and replace it with the chewing toy.
This teaches them what is allowed.

3. Feeding: The Routine is More Important Than the Food

Puppies need routine more than fancy food.

Best feeding schedule:

• 8 AM

• 1 PM

• 6 PM

For very young puppies, you can add a small meal at night.

Food choices:

• Avoid giving homemade food all the time.

• Dry kibble + occasional boiled chicken or rice is fine.

What not to do:

• Don’t change food suddenly.

• Don’t mix too many things.

• Don’t give milk daily (most dogs are lactose intolerant).

📌 Real-life issue:
Many puppies get diarrhea because owners keep changing food every few days.
Consistency is the key.

4. Water: How Much is Too Much?

Puppies should always have water available, but too much water at night causes problems.

Best practice:

• Free water during the day.

• Reduce water 1–2 hours before sleep.

This helps with:

• toilet training

• better sleep

• fewer night accidents

5. Toilet Training: The Simple Truth

Toilet training is not about punishment. It’s about timing and routine.

Take your puppy out:

• After waking up

• After eating

• After playing

• Before sleeping

How to teach:

• Take them to one specific spot.

• Stay there for 5 minutes.

• Reward them with a small treat.

If they don’t pee: don’t panic.
They are still learning bladder control.

Common mistake:

People use pee pads inside the home.
This makes the puppy think indoors is okay.

Instead:

• Use outdoor training from day one.

• If you live in an apartment, use a balcony area or a small turf mat.

6. Sleep: Puppies Need 18–20 Hours of Sleep

If your puppy is hyperactive, it’s not because they have too much energy.
It’s because they are overtired.

Sleep schedule:

• After playtime, allow a nap.

• Create a calm sleeping environment.

Night time:

Keep the sleeping area slightly warm.
If the puppy cries at night, it might be because of:

• loneliness

• cold

• hunger

Instead of picking them up immediately, give a calm voice and let them settle.

7. Grooming: Start Early to Avoid Future Problems

Even if your puppy has short hair, grooming matters.

Basic grooming routine:

• Brush 2–3 times a week

• Clean ears weekly

• Trim nails every 2 weeks

The big mistake:

Owners start grooming when the dog becomes older and aggressive.
When grooming starts early, dogs accept it naturally.

💡 Real tip:
Touch their paws daily for 10–15 seconds.
This makes nail cutting easier for life.

8. Training: Start With Simple Commands

Training does not mean complicated commands.

First training goals:

• Name recognition

• Eye contact

• Calm sitting

Reward system:

Use treats only 3–4 times a day.
Don’t overfeed.

Avoid:

• Using punishment

• Shouting or hitting

Training should feel like a game.

9. Socialization: The Most Important Step

A puppy that is not socialized becomes:

• fearful

• aggressive

• anxious

Socialization tips:

• Introduce your puppy to family members

• Introduce to other vaccinated dogs

• Introduce to sounds (car, traffic, TV)

Don’t do this:

• Don’t take them to a crowded park before vaccination.

Socialization can be done at home too:

• Guests visiting

• Different rooms

• Different surfaces (tiles, carpet, grass)

10. Health: Vet Visits Are Non-Negotiable

Many owners think vets are only for illness.
But vet visits are for prevention.

Basic health routine:

• Vaccination schedule

• Deworming

• Flea/tick prevention

• Regular checkups

Hidden truth:

A healthy puppy is not only about food.
It’s about:

• vaccines

• hygiene

• clean water

• proper routine

Final Thoughts: The 3 Rules That Always Work

If you remember only 3 things, remember this:

1. Routine beats everything

A consistent schedule makes the puppy confident.

2. Calm leadership, not control

Puppies follow calm energy better than strict rules.

3. Love with boundaries

Too much attention creates dependency.
Balanced love creates trust.