Here are tips for the most common challenges to help end your puppy stress and frustrations.
DOWNLOAD our Great Start puppy guide to find several more tips and reduce your frustration as you develop an emotionally stable member of your family.
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🌟 Day 1: First 24 Hours Home
Bringing your puppy home is a HUGE transition. Keep things simple and calm.
✔️ Arrive home early in the day
✔️ Let your puppy explore quietly
✔️ Start your crate and potty routine right away
✔️ Remove food/water by 6 pm for smoother nights
A calm first day sets the tone for everything else.
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🌟 Day 2: Potty Training Basics
Success = timing + consistency + supervision.
✔️ Take your puppy out immediately after waking, eating, and playing
✔️ Go to the same door and same potty spot
✔️ Repeat your cue word (“go potty”) calmly
✔️ Calmly, verbally praise puppy while in the act of going potty
Routine builds confidence!
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🌟 Day 3: Creating Crate Comfort
Your puppy’s crate should feel like a safe den—not a punishment.
✔️ Put the crate in a quiet but social area
✔️ Add safe toys or bones to create positive associations
✔️ Cover with a light blanket to reduce stimulation
✔️ Toss treats inside for calm behavior
Only open the crate when your pup is calm—this alone teaches impulse control.
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🌟 Day 4: Sleep & Soothing
Puppies sleep 18–20 hours a day! Overtired puppies = biting + meltdowns.
✔️ Use the crate for naps
✔️ Keep nap time predictable
✔️ Offer a small blanket or towel for comfort
✔️ Keep interactions calm before bedtime
A rested puppy is a trainable puppy.
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🌟 Day 5: Potty Training Troubleshooting
Most potty issues come from too much freedom too fast.
✔️ Supervise 100% of the time
✔️ Use a crate, pen, or tether to prevent roaming
✔️ If your pup has an accident, it’s a management issue — not stubbornness
✔️ Puppies often pee twice — wait for the second release
Small adjustments = big wins.
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🌟 Day 6: Mealtime & Feeding Routine
Food is one of your BEST training tools.
✔️ Feed 2–3 meals per day
✔️ Use meals during training to build engagement
✔️ Don’t free-feed
✔️ Monitor water intake to help with potty training
Structure around food builds focus and prevents picky eating.
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🌟 Day 7: Switching Foods Safely
If you’re transitioning food, slow and steady wins.
✔️ Mix new food gradually over 1–2 weeks
✔️ A slower transition = less stomach upset
✔️ If your puppy skips a meal day one home, that’s normal—stick to routine
Predictability builds a confident eater.
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🌟 Day 8: Puppy Biting 101
Biting is normal — but your response matters.
✔️ Puppies bite more when tired, overstimulated, or bored
✔️ Redirect to a tug toy — don’t yank your hand away
✔️ If your puppy bites during cuddles, end the interaction calmly
✔️ Reward when they let go on their own
Teach, don’t punish. They’re learning!
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🌟 Day 9: Managing Excitement Levels
An overstimulated puppy can’t make good choices.
✔️ Keep play sessions short and structured
✔️ Lower excitement in the environment for calmer behavior
✔️ Use a crate or pen for decompression breaks
✔️ Reward calm moments generously
A calm puppy learns — a wild puppy can’t.
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🌟 Day 10: Freedom & Structure
More freedom = more chances for mistakes.
✔️ When not supervised, puppy should be crated, penned, or tethered
✔️ Freedom grows as your puppy can handle more options
✔️ Structure prevents potty accidents, chewing, and biting
✔️ Small spaces = big success
Controlled environments create confident dogs.
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🌟 Day 11: Socializing the Right Way
Socialization is a process — keep it short and positive.
✔️ Introduce new people, sounds, textures, and surfaces slowly
✔️ Pair everything new with high-value food
✔️ Handle paws, ears, tail, collar, mouth daily
✔️ Avoid dog parks or high-dog-traffic areas until fully vaccinated
You’re building a stable adult dog one experience at a time.
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🌟 Day 12: Your Daily Puppy Routine
A predictable routine helps puppies relax and learn faster.
Here’s the basic rhythm:
✔️ Potty → Short walk → Meal → Training → Rest
✔️ Repeat this cycle throughout the day
✔️ Keep sessions short (5–20 mins)
✔️ Lots of naps and controlled freedom
Consistency transforms chaos into confidence.
Full House Dog Training is ready to help you add a new puppy to your live with less stress and more enjoyment.
DOWNLOAD our Great Start puppy guide to find several more tips and reduce your frustration as you develop an emotionally stable member of your family.
