The First 30 Days

A calm, force-free plan for your new puppy's most important month.

What you do in a puppy's first four weeks home matters more than almost anything you'll do later — it's when habits form, confidence is built, and your bond takes root. This gentle, week-by-week plan walks you through potty training, crate and sleep, safe socialization, biting, and first cues using kind, reward-based methods, so you prevent the problems most owners spend years trying to fix.

What you'll learn

• Why the first 30 days are critical — and how to make the most of the socialization window before it closes
• How puppies actually learn, and how to train with rewards instead of fear or punishment
• Potty training and crate, sleep, and alone-time routines that prevent problems (including separation anxiety)
• How to socialize safely — even before vaccinations are complete — with a ready-to-use checklist
• How to handle biting, mouthing, and chewing, and teach the first useful cues (name, come, sit, leave-it, handling)
• A simple week-by-week plan, a sample daily schedule, and a do's-and-don'ts guide

Educational information only, not veterinary advice. See your vet for health, vaccination, and safe-socialization guidance, and a certified force-free professional for hands-on training support.