By Abby · Ozark Aussiedoodles · September 25, 2026
Your First Week With a Doodle Puppy: Checklist From a Breeder
Our doodle puppies go home at 8 weeks already started on potty training and crate introduction — vet checked, vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped with a starter care package — so your first week is about building routine, not starting from scratch.
Printable Checklist
- Puppy food (the same brand your breeder feeds, to transition slowly)
- Food and water bowls
- A crate sized for an adult doodle, divided down for a puppy
- A crate pad or washable bedding
- Collar, harness, and leash
- Puppy-safe chew toys and a soft plush toy
- Enzyme cleaner for accidents
- A gated exercise area or playpen
- Veterinarian appointment booked for the first week
Before pickup or delivery day
Gather your supplies (see the checklist above) and choose a veterinarian. Book a wellness exam for sometime in the first week so your vet can review your puppy’s vaccine and deworming records and microchip registration.
Set up a single, puppy-proofed area — a crate plus a gated exercise pen — so your puppy has a safe place to rest and play from the moment it arrives.
Day 1: arriving home
Let your puppy relieve itself outside before going inside, then keep things calm and quiet. Offer water and a small meal, show your puppy its crate, and let it explore its gated area at its own pace.
Because our puppies are already comfortable being handled and introduced to a crate, most settle in quickly — but expect some whining the first night. Keep the crate near you and resist the urge to let the puppy sleep in your bed yet.
Days 2–7: routine, crate, and potty schedule
Puppies thrive on routine. Set consistent times for meals, potty breaks, play, and naps. Take your puppy out first thing in the morning, after every meal, after play, and right before bed — and praise enthusiastically for success outside.
Use the crate for naps and short alone-times so your puppy learns it’s a safe, restful space. Our puppies are already started on potty training concepts, so a steady schedule builds on that foundation rather than starting over.
First vet visit
Bring your puppy’s vaccine and deworming records and microchip registration details to the appointment. Your vet will do a wellness exam, discuss the remaining vaccine schedule, and answer any questions about feeding, parasites, and socialization. This visit also establishes your puppy’s file so you have a relationship before any emergencies.
Common first-week mistakes
- Free-feeding — scheduled meals make potty timing predictable.
- Too much freedom too soon — keep your puppy in its crate or gated area when you can’t watch it.
- Punishing accidents — interrupt calmly and reward success outside instead.
- Skipping the crate — the crate is a safe rest space, not a punishment.
- Overwhelming the puppy — limit new visitors and outings until your vet clears socialization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our puppies go home at 8 weeks already started on potty training concepts, introduced to a crate. They are comfortable being handled and curious and social with people.
Every puppy is vet checked, vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped before leaving our care, and goes home with a complete record of all vet visits and treatments so your local vet can seamlessly continue their care.
Book a wellness exam within the first week of bringing your puppy home. Bring your puppy’s vaccine and deworming records and microchip registration details so your vet can continue their care plan.
Take your puppy out first thing in the morning, after every meal, after play, and right before bed. Our puppies are already introduced to potty training concepts, so a consistent schedule and plenty of praise will build on that foundation quickly.
Every puppy goes home with a 2-year health guarantee, vaccine and deworming records, microchip registration, and a starter care package to help your puppy settle in.
More questions? See our full FAQ page.