Your Labradoodle Puppy's First Week Home, Day by Day

Your puppy's first week home sets the tone for everything after. For your puppy, it's a huge change: new people, new smells, no littermates. For you, it's exciting and sometimes exhausting. Here's a day-by-day plan to help both of you settle in.

Before day one

Have everything ready before pickup: crate, food, bowls, gates, toys and enzyme cleaner. My new puppy checklist covers it all. Decide where the crate will go (next to your bed is best for now) and where your puppy's potty spot will be outside.

Talk with your family about the house rules. Is the puppy allowed on the couch? Who takes the first night shift? Consistency from day one makes training much easier.

Day 1: The drive and the first evening

The drive home. Keep it calm. A crate secured in the car, or a helper holding your puppy on a towel, works well. Some puppies get carsick, so skip a big meal right before the ride.

Arriving home. Carry your puppy straight to its potty spot and wait. When it goes, praise it warmly. That's your first potty-training win.

Keep it low-key. It's tempting to invite everyone over, but save the visitors for later. Let your puppy explore one or two rooms with you nearby. Offer water, a small meal and a quiet place to nap.

The first night. Put the crate beside your bed and place the blanket with its littermates' scent inside. Take your puppy out to potty right before bed. Expect to get up once or twice in the night for a quick, boring potty trip: no play, no lights, straight back to the crate. Some crying is normal. Your hand near the crate often helps.

Day 2: Start the routine

Puppies feel safe with a predictable schedule. Start one today:

• Potty first thing in the morning
• Breakfast, then potty again
• Short play, then nap in the crate or pen
• Potty after every nap, meal and play session
• Repeat through the day
• Last potty right before bed

Keep feeding the same food your puppy ate with us, at the same times.

Day 3: Vet visit

Most families schedule their first vet appointment within the first few days. Bring the vaccination and health records we gave you. Your vet will continue the vaccine series, set up parasite prevention and talk with you about microchipping and spay or neuter timing.

Bring treats to make the visit a good experience.

Day 4: Gentle handling

Start getting your puppy used to being touched all over. A few minutes a day, gently handle:

• Paws and toes, which helps with nail trims later
• Ears
• Mouth and teeth
• Tail and belly

Brush the coat briefly with a soft brush and reward calm behavior. Australian Labradoodles need regular grooming for life, so early practice pays off. See my grooming guide.

Day 5: First lessons

Your puppy is ready to start learning. Keep sessions short, about five minutes, and fun:

• Name recognition: Say its name and reward when it looks at you.
• Sit: Hold a treat over its nose and move it back slowly. Reward when it sits.
• Come: Crouch down, say "come" happily and reward big.

Australian Labradoodles are smart and eager to please, so you'll likely be surprised how fast they learn.

Day 6: Gentle socialization

The first few months are when puppies learn what's normal in the world. Introduce new experiences calmly and at your puppy's pace:

• Different surfaces like grass, tile and carpet
• Household sounds like the vacuum, doorbell and TV
• Calm visitors, one or two at a time
• Short car rides

Until your vet says vaccines are far enough along, avoid dog parks and public places where many unknown dogs go. Carry your puppy if you go out.

Day 7: Alone-time practice

Your puppy needs to learn that being alone for short periods is okay. Put it in its crate or pen with a chew toy and leave the room for a few minutes, then come back calmly. Slowly build up the time. Don't make a big fuss when you leave or return.

What's normal in the first week

• Crying at night for the first few nights
• Lots of sleeping, often 18 hours a day
• Potty accidents
• Nipping and mouthing, which is normal puppy behavior. Redirect to a toy.
• A little clinginess

Call your vet if you see vomiting, diarrhea that doesn't clear up, refusal to eat, lethargy or trouble breathing.

Call me anytime

Every Doodle's Kennel family gets lifetime breeder support. If you're unsure about anything, call or text me at 281-923-9266. I'd much rather hear from you early.

If you're still planning for your puppy, start with our puppy application, check Available Litters, or read our FAQ.