1. It's okay to feel overwhelmed
Between the new routine, the broken sleep, and the work of getting to know each other, the first few weeks are a lot. This is the hardest stretch, and it eases as you and your puppy find your rhythm.
2. The hard stuff isn't personal
Accidents, chewing, and crying at night are normal puppy behaviors, not a sign of a bad puppy or a bad owner. They're how puppies learn the rules of a new environment, and they pass with time and consistency.
3. Socialization matters early
The first 14 to 16 weeks are an especially important time for safe, positive exposure to people, sounds, surfaces, and new environments. These experiences help your puppy build confidence and resilience as they grow. It's a short window, so it's worth using well.
4. Young puppies sleep most of the day
Sixteen to twenty hours is normal in the first few months, including all the naps. Sleep is when they consolidate what they've learned and recover from growth. Overtired puppies often get bitey, wild, and harder to settle, so it's worth protecting their rest even when they're at their cutest.
5. Build alone time in early
Even if you're home all the time. Five minutes of practice a day — like stepping into another room while your puppy settles with a chew — helps prevent separation anxiety, which is one of the most common behavioral issues in dogs and much harder to fix later.
6. Set your puppy up to succeed
Exercise pens, crates, leashes indoors, picking things up off the floor — these aren't shortcuts. Puppies build habits from what they get to practice, so the less practice they get at mistakes, the easier the early months are for both of you.
7. Adolescence is real, and it's temporary
Around 6 months, many dogs seem to forget their training, test boundaries, and become harder to manage. This is a normal developmental phase, not regression. Stay consistent and it passes.
8. Find your vet and trainer early
A good vet and a positive-reinforcement trainer are two of the most important relationships you'll build in your first year. It's easier to find the right fit when you're not in the middle of a problem.
9. Take pictures. Lots of them
The tiny phase passes faster than you'd believe. You'll want to remember how small they were, how they slept curled into impossible shapes, how they looked at you when everything was still new.
10. You're doing better than you think
Caring about doing right by your puppy is most of the work. The rest is patience and time.
You won't get everything right, and you don't have to. The puppies who turn into great dogs are the ones whose owners kept showing up, kept learning, and went easy on themselves along the way.
A real person on the other end.
Every Kid’s Best Doodle family gets lifetime breeder support — from first-night questions to routine, food, crate transition, and emotional adjustment. You will not be guessing your way through anything alone.
