Welcome home
The day they arrive.
Quieter than you're imagining, and slower than you'd like. That's exactly right. A new dog needs very little on day one beyond calm, water, and somewhere of their own.
The first day
Six things, and nothing else.
Keep it quiet
No welcome party. Just the people who live here, speaking normally.
Show them their bed
Take them to the place that's theirs, and let them come back to it in their own time.
Water, then food
Water straight away. Food when they've settled a little, and the same food they had before.
Let them explore
One room at a time, off the lead, with you nearby and not hovering.
Keep the world small
The house and the garden are plenty for one day. Everything else can wait.
Start watching
When they need out, where they choose to sleep, what makes them uneasy. This is the beginning of knowing them.
The first week
Then, gently, a rhythm.
Most dogs need two or three weeks to show you who they really are. Don't judge anything in the first few days — not their appetite, not their toilet habits, not their character.
A gentle routine
Same times for food, walks and bed. Predictability is what settles a dog fastest.
Their name
Say it, and reward them for looking at you. Nothing more complicated than that yet.
The first small lessons
Coming when called, and being comfortable alone for a few minutes at a time.
Toilet routine
Outside after sleeping, eating and playing. Praise the moment it happens, never scold the accidents.
Sleep
New dogs sleep an enormous amount. Let them. Puppies need most of the day.
Meeting the world
At a pace that suits their age, and in line with your vet's advice on vaccinations.
Being together
Sitting quietly in the same room does more for a bond than any exercise.
Noticing
Appetite, toilet habits, energy. You'll know what's normal for them faster than you think.
When to ring the vet
And then
This is where My Dog begins.
Everything from here — food and portions, training sessions, weight, vet visits, walks and the whole week — lives in one place, built around your actual dog. Set up their profile and anything you've already told us comes with you.