What No-One Tells You About Preparing for a New Puppy..
Bringing home a puppy is one of the most exciting things you’ll ever do. You’ve likely Googled the checklists, stocked up on toys, and maybe even bought a cute little bed with their name on it.
But as a dog trainer who works with puppies every day, I can tell you this: most of the advice out there focuses on things — bowls, beds, harnesses — when what you really need is a plan.
Here’s what no one tells you about preparing for your new puppy — and what I wish every new dog owner knew before that first night at home.
Puppy need structured routines and enrichment, not hundreds of toys…
You Don’t Need 20 Toys — You Need Structure
Of course play is important. But a puppy doesn’t need an overflowing basket of squeaky toys. They need:
A calm space to sleep
A rhythm to their day
A consistent way to learn what’s expected
Instead of spending £100 on random chews and plushies, invest in a crate, a puppy collar, a house line, and a couple of durable enrichment toys like a Kong or LickiMat. These are the tools that help create calm routines — which are far more valuable than 10 minutes of wild play.
👉 Trainer Tip: I’ve handpicked the essentials in my Puppy Training Kit — no fluff, just what works.
2. Sleep is Training, Too
Puppies sleep a lot…..
Around 18–20 hours a day. But without a proper rest setup (crate, quiet space, boundaries), many new puppy owners unintentionally encourage overstimulation, leading to nipping, zoomies, and meltdowns.
Puppies sleep a lot — or at least, they should. Around 18–20 hours a day. But without a proper rest setup (crate, quiet space, boundaries), many new puppy owners unintentionally encourage overstimulation, leading to nipping, zoomies, and meltdowns.
Let go of the guilt around crate training. You’re not being “mean.” You’re providing safe structure, and that’s exactly what your puppy craves.
3. You’ll Wish You Had a Plan for Toilet Training
Toilet training isn’t just “take them out a lot.” It’s timing, reinforcement, and patience. You’ll need to:
Take your puppy out before they show signs, every 30 minutes to an hour
Reward them immediately for toileting outside
Know how to clean up accidents (hint: with an enzymatic cleaner )
👉 That’s why I include the Ultimate Puppy Training Guide in my Puppy Training Starter Kit. Because the sooner you get it right, the calmer your home becomes.
4. Confidence Outside Starts at Home
One of the biggest mistakes I see? Owners rushing their puppy into the big wide world too fast.
A confident adult dog isn’t made by early exposure alone — it’s built through:
Safe, calm early experiences
Controlled socialisation (quality > quantity)
Predictability at home
Build confidence at home first. Use a house line to guide. Reward curiosity. Don’t worry about park walks until your pup is ready.
5. You’re Going to Doubt Yourself — That’s Normal
You’ll wonder if they’re sleeping too much… or not enough. You’ll google “puppy biting” at 10pm and panic about crate crying. You’ll feel like you’re getting it wrong.
But here’s what matters: you’re showing up, you care, and you’re learning.
Having the right tools and support in place can make all the difference — for you and your pup.
💛 Ready to Set Your Puppy Up for Success?
I created the Doodle Doggies Puppy Training Kit to take the guesswork out of those early days. It includes:
My must-have tools: crate essentials, chews, enrichment toys, puppy collar and house lead
A downloadable training guide covering crate training, toilet training, biting, and calmness
A trainer’s structure — right from day one
Here’s a closer look at what’s included in the Doodle Doggies Puppy Training Starter Kit — everything I recommend to my 1:1 puppy clients for a calm, confident start.
From the Bramble & Co collar and lead to the Scrumbles treats, LickiMat, Tug-E-Nuff toy and clicker, each item has been carefully chosen to support crate training, teething, enrichment, and early focus.
🦴 You’ll also find a Nylabone chew set for healthy teething and a downloadable training guide covering everything from toilet training to calmness foundations.
✨ Whether you’re preparing for your first puppy or just want a simpler start, this kit takes the guesswork out of what to buy — and gives you trainer-approved tools that actually work.
📦 Colours and toy types may vary slightly depending on availability, but every kit is packed with care and backed by years of hands-on puppy experience.
