The first month sets habits for life. This guide covers day‑one setup, a realistic daily schedule, housetraining/litter box success, confidence building, and safe socialization—tailored notes for both puppies and kittens.
Before Arrival: Prepare the Home Base
Essentials Checklist
- Crate/carrier sized for current body (adjustable divider helps puppies).
- Playpen or gated “safe room.”
- Food/water bowls, breed/age‑appropriate food, treats.
- Bedding, puppy pads or litter + box (unscented, low sides for kittens).
- Chew toys/teethers (puppy) or wand toys/scratchers (kitten).
- Enzymatic cleaner, poop bags/scooper, brush, nail clippers.
- ID tag, microchip registration details ready; harness/leash (puppy).
Pet‑Proofing
- Secure cords, toxic plants, meds, and chemicals.
- Block small gaps behind appliances/furniture.
- Stow string, hair ties, and small chewables (kitten hazard).
- Trash cans with lids; shoes and laundry out of reach.
Choose one quiet “home base” (pen or small room) with bed, water, and toilet area—this reduces overwhelm
and speeds training.
Day 1–3: Calm Landing
- Go straight to the home base. Offer water and a toilet opportunity (potty spot/litter box).
- Keep visitors low; let the new pet nap freely—sleep may reach 16–20 hours/day.
- Start the feeding schedule; same food as previous home for 3–5 days to avoid stomach upset.
- Begin name recognition: say the name once, mark with “yes,” and treat.
- Short crate/carrier intro with treats and chews; door open at first.
First vet check within the first week: exam, vaccine review, deworming/flea prevention plan, microchip
scan.
Daily Schedule Template
Puppy (8–16 weeks)
- 06:30 Potty, breakfast, 5–10 min training play.
- 07:30 Nap in crate/pen (60–90 min).
- 09:00 Potty, chew/enrichment, short walk (after vaccines cleared).
- 10:00 Nap.
- 12:00 Potty, lunch (if on 3 meals), light play/training.
- 13:00 Nap.
- 15:00 Potty, sniffy walk/yard time, social exposure.
- 17:00 Potty, dinner, calm chew.
- 19:00 Potty, quiet play, settle routine.
- 22:00 Final potty; overnight crate sleep. Expect 1–2 night breaks early on.
Kitten (8–16 weeks)
- Morning: Meal, play burst (wand toy), litter check/scoop.
- Midday: Meal or snack, short training (targeting, sit), nap time.
- Afternoon: Meal, play burst, handling practice (paws, ears).
- Evening: Meal, big play burst to chase zoomies, settle with perch/window time.
- Overnight: Access to litter, water, safe room; remove string toys.
Young animals cycle: play → potty → eat → sleep. Protect naps—overtired puppies/kitten can get mouthy or
hyper.
Housetraining vs. Litter Training
Puppy Potty Training
- Take out on wake‑up, after meals/play, before/after crate; roughly every 1–2 hours early on.
- Pick one potty spot; praise quietly during and reward after.
- Accident protocol: interrupt calmly, escort out; clean with enzymatic cleaner (no scolding).
- Crate guideline: hours between breaks ≈ months old + 1 (max 4–5 early on).
Kitten Litter Success
- One box per cat + one extra; low entry for tiny kittens.
- Unscented clumping litter; scoop daily, full change weekly.
- Place boxes away from food and noisy appliances.
- Accidents: add an extra box where accidents occur; never punish.
Crate/Carrier Comfort and Alone‑Time Training
- Feed meals in the crate/carrier with door open; add a stuffed chew (puppy) or soft blanket (kitten).
- Close door for 1–3 minutes while calm; gradually extend, release before fussing escalates.
- Practice 2–3 short alone sessions daily with camera monitoring; start at 1–5 minutes.
- Use a predictable “leaving routine” (lights, sound machine) and varied durations.
Gentle Handling and Grooming Foundations
- Daily 2–3 minute “touch and treat” sessions: paws, ears, tail, mouth.
- Introduce brush and nail clipper presence → touch → single nail → jackpot reward.
- Pair vet‑like handling (lift lip, check ears) with tiny treats to build positive associations.
Socialization (Weeks 8–16 are Gold)
The goal is positive exposure to novelty—never flooding. Keep it brief, safe, and paired with food or play.
Puppy Social List
- People: varied ages, hats, glasses, mobility aids.
- Dogs: friendly, vaccinated adult role models; avoid dog parks early.
- Surfaces: grass, gravel, metal grates, stairs.
- Sounds: traffic, vacuum, thunder recordings at low volume.
- Places: car rides, vet lobby walkthroughs, pet‑friendly stores (carried if not fully vaccinated).
Kitten Social List
- People handling: different gentle handlers, short holds.
- Cats: calm, vaccinated resident cats via scent swapping then gates.
- Environments: carriers, car rides, different rooms/heights.
- Sounds: kitchen clatter, doorbells, hairdryers at a distance.
- Play styles: wand chase, food puzzles, scratch posts (vertical/horizontal).
“1–2–3 rule”: 1 new place, 2 new people, 3 new surfaces/sounds per day—in tiny, happy doses.
Basic Training: 5 Minutes, Twice Daily
Puppy Skills
- Name/attention, sit, down, hand target.
- Leash intro at home; reward position by the side for loose leash.
- Drop/leave‑it using trade games; start with boring items.
Kitten Skills
- Target stick or finger target to shape movement.
- Come when called (name → treat at close range, then across room).
- Carrier mat training: treat on mat, build duration, then move mat into carrier.
Weeks 3–4: Expanding the World
- Increase walk length/play complexity gradually; add puzzle feeders.
- Puppy class/kitten social sessions once vaccination schedule allows.
- Practice calm greetings; teach “go to mat/bed” for visitor times.
- Short field trips (hardware store garden area, café patio from a distance).
Health, Safety, and Red Flags
- Vaccines and deworming per vet plan; flea/tick/heartworm prevention as recommended.
- Spay/neuter timeline discussion; microchip registration finalized.
- Call vet for: diarrhea >24h, persistent vomiting, lethargy, refusal to eat, coughing, eye/nose discharge, limping, or itching/hives.
- Teething (puppies) and zoomies are normal; redirect with chews/play and protect rest.
Sample 30‑Day Milestone Tracker
Week 1
- Home base established; first vet visit booked/completed.
- Crate/carrier accepted for short rests.
- Puppy: 70% success to potty spot. Kitten: consistent litter use.
Week 2
- Alone‑time up to 10–20 minutes calmly.
- 2–3 short positive social exposures daily.
- Basic cues responding indoors; handling tolerated.
Week 3
- Walks/play sessions lengthen; puzzle feeder introduced.
- Visitor practice with “go to bed” routine.
- Potty/litter near 90% success; fewer accidents.
Week 4
- Stable daily rhythm; predictable naps and mealtimes.
- Calm crate/carrier for 30–60 minutes.
- Graduation plan: new skills goals for months 2–3.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Night crying: Move crate near the bed; last potty right before sleep; white noise.
- Mouthing/biting (puppy): Trade for chew, end play briefly on hard bites, resume when calm.
- Zoomies (kitten): Big evening play + puzzle feeder; lights low after.
- Accidents returning: Tighten schedule; limit freedom; rule out UTI/parasites with vet if sudden change.
- Fearful reactions: Lower intensity/distance; pair with treats; avoid forcing contact.
