Welcoming a Puppy to Your Flat: The First Days

October 22, 2026

A puppy's first days at home are full of joy, and of small worries. They find themselves in a new place, without their mother or their brothers and sisters. With a little preparation, you can help them find their feet gently.

Before they arrive: make the flat safe

A puppy explores with their mouth. Walk round the flat at their height, on all fours if you need to.

Put away or protect electric cables, chargers and lamp wires.
Put household products, medicines and foods that are dangerous for dogs, such as chocolate, grapes or onion, out of reach.
Check your houseplants: some are toxic. Your vet can tell you which ones to remove.
Put away shoes, children's toys and small objects they could swallow.
Check the balcony: a puppy can slip between bars that are too far apart.

Preparing their own corner

Before the day they arrive, set up:

a bed in a quiet corner of the living room, near you;
a water bowl that is always full and a bowl for meals;
a few chew toys suited to their age;
a cloth that carries the scent of their litter, if the breeder or shelter can give you one.

For a small puppy, a bed with a raised edge helps them feel surrounded. The Nino bouclé bed, size XS, measures 70 × 55 cm and suits dogs up to about 8 kg, according to the maker. Its zipped cover washes at 30 °C, which is very handy while you are house training. For a breed that will grow large, you can also go straight to the adult size. Our guide to choosing the bed size helps you decide.

The day they arrive

Keep this day calm. Avoid inviting friends to meet them: they already have a lot to take in.

Provide a place for their toilet needs: outside if your vet allows it, otherwise a corner with puppy pads.
Let them explore one or two rooms at their own pace, under supervision.
Show them their bed, their water and their toys.
Give them the same meals as at the breeder's or the shelter. If you want to change their food, do it gradually, over several days.

Starting house training

A young puppy cannot hold on for long. They do not do it on purpose: their bladder is small, and they are learning. Take them outside, or to their pad corner:

when they wake up, including after a nap;
after every meal;
after a play session;
as soon as they sniff the floor while circling.

Praise them straight away when they go in the right place. If they have an accident indoors, clean up without saying anything, using an enzymatic cleaner that removes the smell. Scolding them afterwards teaches them nothing and can frighten them.

The first nights

The first night away from their litter is often hard. Put their bed near your bed, or in the same room as you. They can hear you breathe, and you can hear them if they need to go out. Afterwards you can move the bed away bit by bit. We cover this step in our guide to teaching a puppy to sleep in their bed.

The vet and the first outings

Make an appointment with the vet in the first few days. They will check the puppy's health, go over the vaccinations and tell you when your puppy can go out on the street and meet other dogs. Until then, get them used to their collar or harness at home, in short sessions.

Easing into everyday life

Sleep: a puppy sleeps a lot. Let them rest, and ask children not to wake them.
Noises in the building: lift, vacuum cleaner, doorbell. Introduce them calmly, with rewards.
Being alone: from the first week, leave the room for a few minutes, then come back without a fuss. They learn that your absences are normal.
Rules: decide as a family what is allowed, such as the sofa or the bedroom, and apply the same rules for everyone.