The First 30 Days: A Week-by-Week New Puppy Plan (Potty, Crate, Sleep, Socializing)

Your new puppy's first month, planned week by week.

Bringing a puppy home is exciting, and then the accidents, the crying at night and the sharp little teeth start. This guide gives you a simple plan for the first 30 days, built on guidance from the American Kennel Club and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

Why you need this guide

• ✅ A shopping and puppy-proofing checklist so you're ready on day one
• ✅ A potty-training routine with the timing, signs and rewards that make it click
• ✅ Gentle crate training, step by step, and a plan for the first nights
• ✅ Safe socializing during the most important learning window, with a printable checklist
• ✅ Week-by-week goals, troubleshooting, and the signs that mean "call the vet"

What's inside (19 pages)

1. Before your puppy comes home
2. Day one and the first nights
3. Potty training, step by step
4. Crate training, step by step
5. Socializing in the first weeks
6. Biting, chewing and jumping
7. Your 30-day plan
8. Troubleshooting
9. When to call your vet
10. Printables: daily schedule, potty log, socialization checklist
11. Sources and further reading

Good to know

• Instant download: a PDF for your phone, tablet or printer.
• General education, not veterinary advice. Your vet is your partner for vaccines, food and health questions.
• Independent guide: not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations whose guidance it summarizes.
• Not useful to you? Contact us within 30 days for a refund.

Pairs well with: Home Alone, Calm, our step-by-step plan for dogs who panic when you leave. Get both, plus a free sitter handover kit, in The Dog Owner's Bundle (US$24).

Try it free first: download the First-Week Puppy Checklist, a one-page sheet based on this guide.