A first-time owner in Rose Bay called Luke Buchanan on day three, convinced her puppy hated the new home because he wasn't eating a full bowl and seemed subdued. By day six, he was back to normal, playing and eating well. What she was seeing was a completely typical adjustment curve, not rejection or illness, and knowing that range in advance would have saved her a genuinely stressful week.
Luke Buchanan, Owner of The Toe Beans Co and Sydney's Puppy Trainer, walks new owners through what the first week actually looks like, because the gap between expectation and reality is where most of the anxiety comes from.
Days one to two: adjustment, not personality
Reduced appetite, subdued behaviour, and more sleep than expected are all common in the first day or two. Your puppy has just left the only environment it's ever known. This isn't a preview of its personality, it's a short adjustment period that typically passes within 48 to 72 hours.
Days two to four: testing the new environment
Appetite usually returns, and your puppy starts exploring more confidently. This is also when accidents tend to be most frequent, not because the puppy is failing to learn, but because everyone, puppy and owner, is still working out the toilet routine together. Consistency in taking the puppy out at key moments matters more in these few days than in almost any other stretch of the first month.
Days four to seven: the real personality starts to show
By roughly the end of the first week, most puppies have settled enough that their actual temperament, playful, cautious, independent, clingy, becomes clearer. This is also often when the first real testing of household rules happens, jumping on the couch, nipping at hands during play, since the puppy has enough confidence now to start exploring boundaries.
What's normal versus what's worth flagging
Normal: some crying at night for the first few nights, reduced appetite for a day or two, occasional accidents even with a good routine in place, and a puppy that seems to "forget" things it did well on day one as it adjusts. Worth mentioning to a vet: appetite that hasn't returned at all by day four or five, lethargy beyond typical settling-in tiredness, or any vomiting, diarrhoea, or signs of pain.
What to actually focus on in week one
Environment and routine over formal training. Get the toilet routine, feeding schedule, and sleep location consistent before worrying about teaching commands. The 5 Golden Rules, calm greetings, structured feeding, controlled access, matter more in week one than any specific trick, since they set the leadership foundation everything else builds on.
Keep the week calm rather than eventful. Limit visitors, avoid big outings, and resist the urge to show the puppy off to everyone immediately. A quiet, consistent first week gives a far better foundation than an exciting, chaotic one.
What most new owners get wrong in week one
Panicking at normal adjustment behaviours as if something's gone wrong. Trying to start formal obedience training before the environment and routine are settled. And allowing a chaotic stream of visitors and outings before the puppy's had a genuine chance to decompress from what is, for a very young animal, an enormous change.
Want to know what's actually normal for your puppy's age and stage?
The Toe Beans Co runs a free SKOOL community where Sydney dog owners get training guides, Q&As, and direct support from Luke. It's free to join.
Upcoming Puppy Schools Across Sydney
Luke runs regular puppy schools right across Sydney, from the Lower North Shore through the Eastern Suburbs and out to Campbelltown. Check upcoming dates and book your spot.
Frequently asked questions
Q: My puppy isn't eating much on day two. Should I worry?
A reduced appetite for a day or two is common during adjustment. If it hasn't returned by day four or five, or is paired with lethargy or vomiting, check in with your vet.
Q: When should I start actual training?
Environment and routine come first, toilet training, feeding schedule, sleep location. Short, gentle command work can start straight away too, but don't expect or push for formal obedience progress in the first few days.
Q: Is it normal for my puppy to seem to forget things day to day?
Yes. Consistency across the week, not a single good day, is what actually builds a lasting habit. Small regressions in the first week are typical, not a sign of failure.
