New Puppy Checklist 2026: Everything You Need for Your Dog's First Month in India

Getting a new puppy is one of life's most joyful experiences — and one of its most overwhelming. The first month sets the foundation for a lifetime of health, happiness, and good behaviour. This checklist covers everything you need to know and do in your puppy's first 30 days.

📍 Week 1: Settling In

Day 1–3: The Homecoming

  • Set up a designated puppy space — A crate or playpen in a quiet corner. This becomes their safe zone and is essential for crate training.
  • Puppy-proof your home — Secure electrical cables, toxic plants, small items they can swallow, and anything you don't want chewed.
  • Keep it calm — Limit visitors for the first 48 hours. Let your puppy adjust to just the immediate family first.
  • Start name training immediately — Use their name every time you interact. Positive association with their name is the first training milestone.

Day 3–7: First Vet Visit

  • Book a vet appointment within the first week for a full health check
  • Start vaccination schedule — Ask your vet about the India-specific puppy vaccine protocol (6-week, 8-week, 12-week schedule)
  • Discuss deworming — Most puppies need deworming at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, then monthly until 6 months
  • Discuss tick and flea prevention — Essential in India's climate
  • Get microchipped — Highly recommended for identification

📍 Week 2–3: Routine Building

Feeding Schedule

  • Puppies 8–12 weeks: 4 meals per day
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals per day
  • 6 months+: 2 meals per day
  • Use age-appropriate puppy food. Consult your vet for breed-specific recommendations.

Toilet Training

  • Take your puppy outside (or to their designated spot) every 2 hours, after meals, after naps, and after play
  • Praise enthusiastically when they go in the right spot. Never punish accidents — just clean up calmly.
  • Expect accidents for 4–8 weeks. Consistency and patience are everything.

Basic Commands to Start

Start sit, stay, come, and no in week 2. Keep sessions to 5 minutes, 3 times a day. End every session on a success with a treat.

📍 Week 4: Socialisation

The socialisation window (8–16 weeks) is the most critical period in your puppy's life. Expose them to as many new people, sounds, environments, and experiences as possible in a positive way. This shapes their temperament for life.

  • Invite different people to meet the puppy (different ages, genders, uniforms)
  • Introduce them to different sounds: vehicles, vacuum cleaners, rain, crowds
  • Carry them outside before vaccinations are complete (don't let them walk on public ground until fully vaccinated)
  • Start puppy classes after vaccination is complete

👕 When to Introduce Clothes

Week 3–4 is a perfect time to introduce a soft bandana or light cotton tee to your puppy. Starting early means your dog grows up comfortable with clothing — making every festival season and photoshoot effortless.

Start with just a bandana for 5 minutes. Treat generously. Build up slowly. Read our full clothes introduction guide here.

📋 Quick-Reference First Month Checklist

  • ☑️ Vet visit and health check
  • ☑️ Vaccination schedule started
  • ☑️ Deworming done
  • ☑️ Microchip registered
  • ☑️ Feeding schedule established
  • ☑️ Toilet training routine started
  • ☑️ Basic commands begun (sit, come, no)
  • ☑️ Socialisation started
  • ☑️ First bandana introduced

👉 Shop Puppy's First Bandana →

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