Bringing your Cavoodle puppy home is exciting - but a calm, structured first week makes an enormous difference to how quickly they settle.
Day 1: Arrival
Keep the car trip home calm and secure, with your puppy in a crate or carrier. Once home, take them straight to their toileting spot before entering the house, then let them explore their puppy zone quietly - avoid overwhelming them with visitors on day one.
Days 2-3: Establishing Routine
Begin your feeding, toileting and sleeping routine, using the food and blanket sent home in their puppy pack for familiarity. Expect some whining at night as they adjust to sleeping away from their littermates - a crate near your bed can help.
Days 4-5: Gentle Introductions
If you have other pets, begin slow, supervised introductions on neutral ground. Start very short, low-key handling exercises - paws, ears, gentle brushing - to build comfort with grooming and vet visits ahead.
Days 6-7: Building Confidence
Introduce short car trips, a couple of new (but calm) household sounds, and begin very short, food-motivated training sessions - "sit" is a great first cue.
What's Normal in Week One
- Some toileting accidents - this is completely normal and part of the process
- Nighttime whining for the first few nights
- Periods of both intense play and long naps - puppies sleep 18-20 hours a day
- A short adjustment period before their full personality shows through
When to Call Your Vet
Book your puppy's first local vet visit within the first week or two, particularly to align with the vaccination schedule outlined on their take-home paperwork.
