Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time! Whether you're welcoming your very first dog or adding another four-legged member to the family, those early weeks are full of new experiences for both you and your puppy.

From helping them settle into their new home to establishing good habits and protecting their health, there's plenty to think about. The good news is that you don't need to have everything figured out straight away. With patience, consistency and the right advice, you can help your puppy grow into a happy, healthy and confident adult dog.

At Vet Cross, we're here to help you and your puppy get off to the best possible start. Here's our guide to caring for your new family member.

Before your puppy arrives, take some time to prepare a safe, comfortable space for them to explore and settle into.

A few essentials to have ready include:

• Food and water bowls: Choose sturdy bowls that are easy to clean.
• Puppy food: Find out what your puppy has been eating and introduce any dietary changes gradually.
• A comfortable bed: Provide a quiet place where your puppy can rest undisturbed.
• A collar, harness and lead: Choose appropriately sized equipment and introduce it gradually.
• Toys and chews: Provide suitable toys to encourage play and help redirect chewing.
• Cleaning supplies: Accidents are a normal part of puppyhood, so have a pet-safe cleaning product handy.
• Identification: Make sure your puppy's microchip details are registered correctly and kept up to date.

It's also important to puppy-proof your home. Secure electrical cords, keep medications and cleaning products out of reach, and remove access to toxic foods, poisonous plants and small objects that could be swallowed.

In the garden, check fencing, gates and potential escape routes. Puppies are naturally curious, so supervise them closely while they explore.

Moving away from their mother and littermates into an unfamiliar home is a big adjustment. Your puppy may feel unsettled during the first few nights, even if they seem confident during the day.

Give them time to become familiar with their new surroundings. Keep the first few days relatively quiet, introduce new people gradually and establish a predictable routine for meals, play, toilet breaks and sleep.

Your puppy will need plenty of sleep to support their growth and development. Provide a comfortable resting area away from excessive noise and activity, and allow them to sleep when they need to.

Some puppies may whine or cry when left alone. Rather than assuming they are misbehaving, consider whether they need reassurance, a toilet break or help becoming comfortable in their new environment. Gradually introduce short periods of separation while ensuring your puppy feels safe.

Remember: Settling in takes time. Be patient, offer reassurance and avoid expecting your puppy to adjust to everything at once.
For more practical advice, read our Puppy Crate Training Guide.

Puppies grow quickly, and good nutrition is essential for healthy development.

Choose a complete and balanced puppy food appropriate for your puppy's age, expected adult size and individual needs. Follow the feeding guidelines on the packaging as a starting point, adjusting portions with advice from your vet as your puppy grows.

Young puppies generally need several small meals throughout the day. The appropriate feeding frequency and quantity will depend on their age, breed and individual requirements.

A few feeding tips:

• Establish regular meal times.
• Provide fresh, clean drinking water at all times.
• Introduce any new food gradually to help avoid digestive upset.
• Avoid excessive treats, which can contribute to weight gain and unbalanced nutrition.
• Keep chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol-containing products and other potentially toxic foods well out of reach.

If you're unsure which food is suitable for your puppy, our veterinary team can help you choose an appropriate diet.

Toilet training is one of the first challenges many new puppy owners face. The secret is consistency, supervision and rewarding your puppy for getting it right.

Take your puppy outside regularly, particularly after waking, eating, drinking and playing, and before bedtime. Choose a designated toilet area and reward them with praise and a small treat immediately after they go in the right place.

Accidents will happen, especially while your puppy is still developing bladder control. Avoid punishment, as this can make your puppy anxious about toileting in front of you.

Instead, clean up accidents thoroughly and consider whether your puppy needs more frequent toilet breaks or closer supervision.

Training takes time, and every puppy learns at a different pace.

For a step-by-step approach, read our Puppy Toilet Training Guide.

Puppies learn about the world quickly, making their early experiences especially important.

Positive, reward-based training helps your puppy learn how to behave while strengthening the bond you share. Start with simple skills, such as responding to their name, coming when called, sitting calmly and learning to walk comfortably on a lead.

Keep training sessions short, fun and rewarding. Praise and reward the behaviours you want to encourage, and redirect unwanted behaviours rather than relying on punishment.

Socialisation is equally important. It involves helping your puppy become comfortable with a variety of people, sounds, surfaces, environments and everyday experiences.

Introduce new experiences gradually and positively, allowing your puppy to approach things at their own pace. Avoid forcing interactions if they appear frightened or overwhelmed.

You don't necessarily need to postpone every new experience until your puppy has completed their vaccination course. However, young puppies are vulnerable to infectious diseases, including parvovirus.

Ask your vet which socialisation opportunities are appropriate for your puppy's age, vaccination status and local disease risks. Avoid high-risk public areas and contact with unknown or unvaccinated dogs until your vet advises it is safe.

Puppy Preschool is a great opportunity to help your puppy develop confidence and learn important early skills in a supportive environment.

At Vet Cross Bundaberg, our Puppy Preschool program helps puppies and their owners with socialisation, basic training, common puppy behaviours and general health care. It's also an opportunity for owners to learn practical skills they can continue using at home.

Our classes are suitable for puppies aged 8-16 weeks who have received their first vaccination, subject to the program's health and attendance requirements.

Give your puppy a positive start in life. Contact Vet Cross Bundaberg on 07 4151 5044 to enquire about upcoming Puppy Preschool classes and availability.

You can also read more in our Puppy Preschool at Vet Cross Guide.

Regular veterinary care helps protect your puppy's health as they grow. Your vet can recommend a preventative health plan tailored to their age, lifestyle and local risks.

Puppies require a course of vaccinations to help protect them against serious infectious diseases. The timing of vaccinations and any additional vaccines recommended will depend on your puppy's circumstances and local risks. Read our vaccine guide here.

Book your puppy's initial health check and discuss their vaccination schedule with your vet. They can also advise when it is appropriate to explore higher-risk environments and activities.

Welcoming a puppy also means preparing for the unexpected. Even with the best preventative care, puppies can experience accidents, injuries or illnesses that require veterinary treatment.

Pet insurance is worth considering while your puppy is young and healthy. Depending on the policy, it may help cover some of the costs associated with unexpected veterinary treatment.

Policies can vary considerably, so take the time to compare coverage, exclusions, waiting periods, excesses and annual limits before choosing a policy. Pre-existing conditions are generally excluded, which is another reason to explore your options early.

Having a plan in place can provide greater peace of mind if your puppy ever needs unexpected veterinary care.

At Vet Cross we provide GapOnly insurance claims, to look through a list of eligible insurers click here.

Puppies can be affected by intestinal worms and external parasites, including fleas and ticks. The appropriate preventative products and treatment schedules depend on your puppy's age, weight, health and lifestyle.

In Queensland, it's particularly important to discuss local parasite risks with your vet. Ask which flea, tick, intestinal worm and heartworm preventatives are suitable for your puppy, and when treatments should begin.

Always use products specifically suitable for your puppy's species, age and weight. Never assume a product intended for another animal is safe to use.

Microchipping provides a permanent form of identification that can help reunite you with your puppy if they become lost.

Check that the microchip is registered in the correct owner's details and update the information if you move house or change contact numbers.

You should also check the dog registration requirements that apply to your local council.

Read about the Bundaberg Regional Council registration guidelines here.

Desexing is an important decision to discuss with your vet. The most appropriate timing can vary depending on your puppy's breed, expected adult size, health and individual circumstances.

Your vet can explain the potential benefits, risks and recommended timing so you can make an informed decision.

Getting your puppy comfortable with gentle handling from an early age can make future veterinary examinations, grooming and dental care easier.

Gradually introduce activities such as checking their ears, handling their paws, brushing their coat and looking at their teeth. Use praise and rewards, and keep sessions short and positive.

Ask your vet about appropriate dental care, particularly as your puppy's adult teeth begin to come through.

Like to know more about Vet Cross grooming services, click here.

Puppies need opportunities to play, explore and exercise, but they also need plenty of rest.

Choose activities that suit your puppy's age, breed and development. Short, enjoyable play sessions, gentle exploration and reward-based training can help meet their needs without overwhelming them.

Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise. Enrichment activities encourage natural behaviours such as sniffing, exploring, chewing and problem-solving. Try introducing food puzzles, snuffle mats, treat-finding games and interactive toys to keep your puppy's mind busy.

Enrichment doesn't need to be complicated or expensive. Even scattering a few pieces of their daily food for them to sniff out can provide an enjoyable activity.

For more ideas, read our Pet Enrichment Guide for ways to keep your dog mentally stimulated and entertained.

Avoid forcing a growing puppy to undertake strenuous exercise or repetitive high-impact activities. Your vet can advise on suitable exercise as your puppy develops.

Remember that every puppy is different. Watch their behaviour and allow them time to rest between activities.

Chewing, mouthing, jumping up and occasional toilet accidents are common parts of puppy development. These behaviours can be frustrating, but they are opportunities to teach your puppy what you would like them to do instead.

Chewing: Provide suitable chew toys and redirect your puppy away from furniture, shoes and other inappropriate items. Supervise chewing to reduce the risk of swallowing pieces.

Mouthing and nipping: Calmly redirect your puppy to an appropriate toy and reward gentle interactions. Avoid rough play that encourages biting hands or clothing.

Jumping up: Reward your puppy for greeting people with four paws on the floor, and encourage calm interactions.

Being left alone: Gradually teach your puppy that short periods of separation are safe. Build up slowly and seek professional advice if they show persistent signs of distress.

Consistency is important. Try to ensure everyone in the household responds to behaviours in a similar way.

If you're struggling with a behaviour or your puppy seems unusually fearful or anxious, speak with your vet or a suitably qualified reward-based trainer.

It's normal to have questions when you're raising a puppy, and your veterinary team is there to help.

Arrange regular health checks to monitor your puppy's growth, development, vaccinations and preventative care.

Contact your vet promptly if your puppy develops persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, loses their appetite, becomes unusually quiet, develops a cough or seems unwell.

Puppies can deteriorate quickly, so seek urgent veterinary advice if you notice difficulty breathing, collapse, repeated vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, severe weakness or other signs of serious illness. If you suspect your puppy has eaten something toxic, seek veterinary advice immediately rather than waiting for symptoms.

If your puppy is not fully vaccinated, tell the clinic before arriving if you suspect an infectious illness so the team can advise on safe arrival arrangements.

When in doubt, contact your veterinary team for guidance.

Puppyhood can be busy, messy and occasionally exhausting, but it's also a wonderful opportunity to build a lifelong bond with your dog.

Focus on establishing good habits, creating positive experiences and providing the health care your puppy needs as they grow. Celebrate small milestones and remember that learning takes time.

You don't have to navigate it all alone.

At Vet Cross, we're here to support you through your puppy's early development and beyond, from health checks and preventative care to advice on training, nutrition and general wellbeing.

Have you recently welcomed a puppy into your family? Contact your nearest Vet Cross clinic to arrange a health check and discuss the best start for your new companion.

We're looking forward to being part of your puppy's journey!

Book your puppy's first health check here.

Written by: Vet Cross marketing team

Last reviewed: November 2026