19. Your Puppy's First Week: What To Actually Expect (The Reality)

You survived the first 24 hours. Congratulations. Now comes the real challenge.

Week 1 is absolute chaos for most people. That's normal. Don't worry.

The Reality Of Week 1

Day 1: Your puppy may be quiet, overwhelmed, or overstimulated. Neither is wrong.

Days 2-3: The honeymoon ends. Reality hits. Your puppy cries more, has more accidents, shows more personality (including naughty bits).

Days 4-7: You find your rhythm. Still exhausting, but patterns emerge.

What Most People Experience

Sleep deprivation. Multiple daily accidents (don't get angry, they can't help it). Endless crying and whining (even if you're standing right next to them).

Another thing owners don't talk about is doubt.

It's completely normal to feel that you're in over your head, especially when they're chewing your laces. Just don't worry. This is only a phase.

If You Can Do These Things, You're Doing Better Than 99% Of Owners

Establish a toilet routine. Start crate training. Begin name recognition. Handle basic care (nails, ears, teeth).

That's it. That's all you need to focus on in week 1.

Feeling overwhelmed by first-week challenges? Our community has week-by-week guides and experienced owners sharing what actually helped versus what was a waste of time. Join our Q&As if you're struggling at 3am.

The Four Common Challenges

Problem 1: Your puppy won't eat

Stress is normal. Try hand feeding. Add warm water to kibble. Use half their meal as kibble during training. If it persists, call the vet.

Problem 2: Diarrhoea

Stress-related is common. Monitor for blood or lethargy. Keep them hydrated. Call the vet if severe.

Problem 3: Biting everything

Puppies don't have hands. This is their way of finding out what everything is.

Use redirection onto a toy with the same material as the item they're chewing. Never use hands as toys or encourage teething.

This is acceptable up until 16 weeks. Then your attitude as an owner changes.

Problem 4: Excessive crying

Distinguish need from want. For crying at night, go into the room and walk around but don't engage with your puppy.

Set alarms to make sure your puppy has had a wee break. Do respond to genuine distress.

The Timeline You Can Actually Expect

Most people get the full experience in their first week.

You're sleep-deprived. You're cleaning up accidents multiple times daily. You're questioning every decision.

By day 4-7, you find your rhythm. It's still exhausting, but patterns emerge.

What Nobody Tells You

It's completely normal to feel doubt. It's normal to wonder if you've made a terrible mistake. It's normal to be overwhelmed.

This doesn't mean you're a bad owner. It means you're a realistic owner dealing with a challenging situation.

Join one of our Q&As if you're struggling. You'll find dozens of other sleep-deprived owners going through exactly the same thing.

Get Ongoing Support For Your Puppy Journey

Week 1 is survival mode. Having support as you navigate the chaos makes all the difference.

That's why we created our free Skool community - to give you continuous support every step of the way.

Inside the community, you'll get:

• Weekly live Q&A sessions where you can ask about YOUR specific first-week disasters and get practical advice
• Complete puppy courses with detailed week-by-week expectations
• A supportive community of other week-1 survivors who understand the chaos
• Troubleshooting help for crying, accidents, and refusing to eat
• Updated resources including daily routine planners and week-1 trackers
• 24/7 forum access for those 3am moments when you need reassurance

Best part? It's completely free. No subscription. No catch. Just dog owners helping dog owners.

Join The Toe Beans Co community today and get the ongoing support you need to survive week 1 and build the foundation for a well-adjusted puppy.