Days 1–2: arrival and quiet
Keep the house quiet. Skip visitors, big errands, and long car rides. Let your puppy explore one or two rooms on their own time.
Set up a small pen or gated area with water, a soft bed, a chew, and the crate door open. This becomes their safe base.
Take them outside every 45–60 minutes while awake, and immediately after sleep, play, eating, or drinking. Reward potty outside with a tiny treat the second they finish.
Days 3–5: gentle routines
Start a simple rhythm: potty, play 10–15 min, short training (2–3 min), chew, nap in the pen or crate. Puppies need 16–20 hours of sleep — over-tired puppies bite hard and melt down.
Hand-feed part of every meal. Say their name, mark with a soft 'yes,' and feed a kibble. You're paying for attention without any pressure.
Introduce the crate with food. Toss treats inside, let them walk in and out freely. Never close the door on a panicking puppy.
Days 6–7: tiny first lessons
Sit and a hand-target ('touch') can be taught in 2-minute sessions. Use small, soft treats. Stop while they still want more.
Carry your puppy (or use a sling) to one new, calm place a day — a quiet café patio, a friend's porch — just to watch the world. This is socialization, not interaction.
Write down what worked. You'll see patterns: their best nap times, their cranky window, their favorite chew. That's the start of your training plan.