What to Expect During the First 7 Days With Your Puppy

(Toy Poodle and Imperial Shih Tzu in Montreal)

Bringing a puppy home is a highly anticipated moment. Yet, within the first few hours, many families notice a small gap between what they imagined and what they’re actually experiencing. The puppy sleeps more than expected, eats less, cries at night, or seems hesitant. In a city like Montreal, where daily life can be fast-paced and environments more stimulating, these reactions often raise questions quickly.

The good news is that in the vast majority of cases, everything you’re observing is completely normal.

At eight weeks old, a puppy is going through one of the biggest transitions of its young life. It leaves its mother, littermates, and a stable environment to discover a new home, new people, new smells, and an entirely different routine. Your puppy’s behavior during the first few days does not reflect its future temperament—it simply reflects its ability to adapt.

The First Day: Observation and Caution

On arrival day, most puppies are calmer than families expect. They explore gently, take frequent naps, sometimes eat less, and stay close to their humans. This behavior is not a sign of sadness or a health issue. It’s a period of observation.

Your puppy is assessing its environment: sounds, movement, faces. Above all, it’s trying to determine whether this new place is safe. In small breeds such as the Toy Poodle or Imperial Shih Tzu, this phase can be even more noticeable, as these puppies are often more sensitive to change.

The most common mistake at this stage is trying to do too much—too much stimulation, too many visitors, too many new experiences. Simplicity is your best ally.

The First Nights: A Normal Adjustment

The first nights may include some crying or periods of restlessness. This is not a tantrum or an attempt to manipulate. Your puppy has just gone from the constant warmth and presence of its litter to a completely new environment.

Responding with calmness, presence, and consistency helps your puppy understand that it’s not alone. Contrary to some beliefs, comforting an eight-week-old puppy does not create bad habits. On the contrary, it supports a faster and more stable adjustment.

House Training: Learning, Not Forgetting

Accidents in the house during the first few days are inevitable. At eight weeks old, bladder and bowel control are still developing. Your puppy is not doing it on purpose, not testing limits, and not “forgetting” anything. It is learning.

The key is routine: frequent potty breaks, consistency, and patience. Excessive corrections or constant worry often slow the learning process rather than speed it up.

Nipping and Exploration

By the second or third day, many families notice an increase in playfulness and nipping. This phase is normal. Puppies explore the world with their mouths and develop coordination this way.

Toy Poodles, known for their high intelligence, may go through this phase more intensely because they learn quickly. Imperial Shih Tzus may show it more gently, but it is just as normal. In both cases, redirecting toward appropriate toys is the best approach.

The Bond That Forms

As the week progresses, your puppy begins to recognize its surroundings. It anticipates routines, follows its humans, and seeks contact. This closeness is healthy. It shows that the puppy feels safe.

Many families worry that their puppy is becoming “too clingy.” In reality, a puppy that feels secure is more likely to develop independence later on. Emotional security comes before autonomy.

Small Signs That Worry—Without Reason

Certain signs are common during the adjustment period: slightly softer stools, a quieter day, or an isolated episode of mild vomiting. The stress of change can temporarily affect digestion, especially in small-breed puppies.

As long as your puppy is eating, drinking, playing, and staying alert, these signs are usually temporary. What matters most is observing overall behavior, not focusing on a single detail.

The True Goal of the First 7 Days

The first seven days are not about evaluating your puppy or expecting results. They are about establishing a foundation: a predictable, safe, and kind environment. Once this foundation is in place, training and learning become easier, faster, and more lasting.

At Maxanimo, we support families in Montreal and surrounding areas in responsible puppy adoption. Our puppies—whether Toy Poodles or Imperial Shih Tzus—are prepared for this transition through early socialization, daily handling, and an established routine. This preparation greatly eases their arrival in their new homes.

If you feel like your puppy is teaching you just as much as you’re teaching them, that’s perfectly normal. It’s also a sign that the relationship is being built on the right foundation.