Puppy Pick-Up Day: Bringing Your Puppy Home

Jan 1, 2024

3 min read

The day you’ve been waiting for is finally here! Bringing home your puppy marks the beginning of a wonderful new chapter, and it’s completely normal to feel a mixture of excitement and nerves.

A little preparation will help make the day calm, comfortable and memorable, both for you and your newest family member.

What happens at pick-up?

Before your puppy is ready to leave, we’ll organise a collection date and time for you to visit our home.

When you arrive, we’ll sit down together and go through your puppy’s folder, including their important information, documents and resources. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and make sure you feel comfortable with what comes next.

You’ll also have time to spend with Mum and the puppies, enjoy a few last litter cuddles and take some photos before heading home. There’s something very special about this moment, and we want you to enjoy it!

What should you bring?

Having a few essentials ready will make the journey home much easier:

A suitable travel crate or puppy restraint, securely fitted in the back of the car.
Towels or blankets for comfort, plus spares in case of accidents.
Water and a small bowl, particularly for a longer journey.
Poo bags and a few cleaning supplies.
Another person to help, if possible.

If someone can come with you, they can sit near your safely secured puppy and offer gentle reassurance while you concentrate on driving.

The journey home

For your puppy, this is a big day. They’re leaving familiar people, smells and littermates behind, so the car journey may feel a little strange at first.

Some puppies settle and sleep quite quickly, while others may cry or take longer to relax. Keep the car comfortable, speak calmly and give them time to settle.

Have your towels handy for any little accidents, and plan ahead if you have a long drive. Ask us about suitable stops before leaving so you can balance your puppy’s needs with avoiding busy areas used by unfamiliar dogs.

The first moments at home

When you arrive, take your puppy straight to the spot where you would like them to toilet. Give them a little time to sniff around, and offer gentle praise if they go.

Next, offer some fresh water and let them begin exploring a small, puppy-safe area. There’s no need to introduce the whole house at once!

Keep things relaxed and allow your puppy to investigate at their own pace. Familiarising themselves with new smells, sounds and surroundings is already a big activity.

Their first meal

Once your puppy has had some time to settle, offer their usual food according to the feeding information we’ve provided.

They may be a little distracted or less interested in that first meal after such an eventful day. Keep mealtimes quiet and familiar rather than offering lots of different foods to tempt them.

If your puppy continues to refuse food, seems unwell or you’re concerned, contact us and your vet for guidance.

Keep the first day simple

It can be tempting to invite everyone over to meet your new puppy, but those first hours are best spent quietly getting to know their immediate family.

Give your puppy plenty of opportunities to rest, take regular toilet breaks and gently begin the routine you plan to follow. They don’t need a busy day of activities or lots of training.

Children should be calm and gentle, with an adult supervising their interactions. Introductions to other pets should also be gradual and supervised, with space for everyone to take a break.

There will be plenty of time for visitors and adventures once your puppy has settled in.

A little patience goes a long way

Your puppy has experienced a huge change in just one day. They may want to stay close, need reassurance or take a little time to feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

You don’t need to have everything figured out immediately. Focus on helping them feel safe, meeting their needs and enjoying those first little moments together.