Your puppy's week by week development
Bringing your new puppy home for the very first time is a fun adventure. But it can be daunting too. Here we've laid out what to expect from your first year with a series of videos and helpful guides, so you can stay on top of your training, keep your pup healthy, and help them settle in to their new life.
Before you bring your new puppy home
It's always good to be prepared, here's a couple of things to think about before bring your puppy home.
- 1
Has your puppy been microchipped?
Dogs must be microchipped by the time they're 8 weeks old. You should get the paperwork with your puppy so you can change ownership.
- 2
Look into insurance
Puppies get up to all sorts of mischief, and you can insure your puppy from the day you collect them.
- 3
Prepare your home!
Bringing your puppy home is extremely exciting, but can also be a bit daunting. So here are some tips to prepare.
When do puppies open their eyes?
Unlike human babies, puppies aren’t born with their eyes open. Here’s what to expect as a newborn puppy’s eyes develop.
When do puppies stop growing?
Your puppy may seem tiny when you get them home, but when do they stop growing?
Weekly tips to support your puppy's first year
- 1
Settling your puppy in [video]Weeks 8 to 9
Settling in
Bringing your puppy home is a really exciting time for you and all the family, but it’s easy to forget that for your puppy, the whole world is changing. It’s up to you to make the homecoming positive, help them feel safe and give them the very best chance to settle into your family.
- 2
Toilet training tips [video]Weeks 9 to 10
Toilet training
If your pet hasn't quite earned a gold star for this yet, behaviourist and trainer, Carolyn Menteith, has some great advice to help.
- 3
Tummy upsets in puppies [read more]Weeks 10 to 11
Early health problems?
At your puppy's young age, there are certain health problems that can be more common, such as vomiting and diarrhoea. Knowing the signs to look out for, and how to prevent it, will help you to keep your puppy fit and well.
- 4
Puppy crate training [video]Weeks 11 to 12
Crate training
Crate training your puppy can help simplify toilet training and also provide a safe haven when needed.
- 5
Vaccinations [video]Weeks 12 to 13
Importance of vaccinations
When, how and why should you vaccinate your puppy? And why is it so important to ensure your puppy is vaccinated? What are the vaccinations for? It can all be a bit confusing, but this video should help make things much clearer.
- 6
How to train 'watch me' [video]Weeks 13 to 14
Training 'watch me'
Here's the most important thing you'll ever teach your dog! It isn't a sit, or a recall, but a simple "watch me!". This will set the foundations for a great relationship with your dog and make training other things much easier too.
- 7
Recall training [video]Weeks 14 to 15
Training recall
After mastering 'Watch Me', recall is the next skill on your puppy's list. Training your puppy to reliably come to you when they're called can help you get more of out of your time together.
- 8
How to brush your dog's teeth [read more]Weeks 15 to 16
Brushing your puppy's teeth
Tartar, tooth loss and other dental diseases can often be prevented by regular tooth brushing. Daily tooth brushing can detect disease in the dog's mouth at an early stage, as dogs rarely clearly show pain from the oral cavity. It's good to get your puppy accustomed to the toothbrush early on. Here are some useful tips on how to brush your dog's teeth.
- 9
Teaching your puppy life skills [read more]Weeks 16 to 17
Teaching your puppy life skills
Help your puppy enjoy life even more by teaching them useful social skills. Training your dog not to jump up or beg at the table is important. Then you’ll want to make sure they can visit new places, meet new people and relax and settle. All of this helps with your puppy’s development and makes your time together more fun!
- 10
How to bathe your puppy [read more]Weeks 17 to 18
When and how to bathe your puppy
As soon as you bring your puppy home and start to take your puppy out and about in the world, you will probably notice they love to get dirty! They also often love discovering smelly things to roll in. Chances are, you will need to give them a bath at some point. Here's how.
- 11
Puppy exercise [video]Weeks 18 to 20
How much exercise should your puppy get?
The growing bones and joints of a puppy just can't cope with long walks. So, to keep your puppy protected from long-term damage, Carolyn offers advice on how long they should be walked for. Depending on your puppy's breed, they may need a little more or less exercise. If you are unsure, please check with your vet.
- 12
Stop puppies biting [read more]Weeks 20 to 22
Is your puppy biting?
When thinking about how to deal with puppy biting, it’s important to understand why it happens - and why, while we may not like it, it is entirely natural. If your puppy is biting, this useful blog by trainer and behaviourist, Carolyn Menteith, will help you understand the reasons why and how to manage it.
- 13
Separation anxiety [read more]Weeks 22 to 24
Dealing with separation anxiety
What is separation anxiety and what can you do to prevent your puppy from suffering with it? It is important to spend as much time working on home-alone skills as you do on exercise, training and games to ensure that your dog is happy to be alone for short periods of time. Trainer and Behaviourist, Carolyn Menteith, shares some tips.
- 14
Training your teenage puppy [read more]Weeks 24 to 25
Training a teenage puppy
You may start to notice as your puppy heads towards becoming an adolescent (six months plus) he training seems to go out the window. This isn’t your dog being rebellious but is simply to do with teenage hormones kicking in. Smells, other dogs, and anything that moves, become far more appealing than you!
- 15
Socialisation and habituation [video]Weeks 25 to 26
Socialisation and habituation
Does your puppy know how to handle meeting new people and dogs, going to new places and seeing new things? Behaviourist and Trainer, Carolyn Menteith, explains the difference between socialisation and habituation for young dogs and why it's important for their development
- 16
Throwing sticks [read more]Weeks 27 to 28
Should I throw sticks for my dog?
What dog owner doesn’t love to spend some quality time together playing a game of fetch? But what many owners don’t realise is that this innocent game can lead to severe injury and hefty vet bills if it involves sticks.
- 17
Dangers of grass seeds [video]Weeks 28 to 30
Grass seeds
For something so small, grass seeds can become a big problem! In this video our Senior Veterinary Advisor, Robin, talks about the signs to watch out for that your puppy may have a grass seed stuck somewhere, and what to do next.
- 18
Puppy poisons [video]Weeks 31 to 33
Keep your puppy safe from poisons
Poisoning is one of the most common reasons pet owners contact our vets through the Agria app, and as with most things, prevention is better than cure. Being aware of food and products that are toxic to your pet and keeping them out of their reach is essential.
- 19
Puppy first aid [video]Weeks 34 to 36
Out and about first aid
In this video our Senior Veterinary Advisor, Robin, talks about some useful items you can take on a walk with you in case something happens to your puppy and what to do next...
- 20
Can my dog eat fruit? [Read more]Weeks 37 to 38
Can your puppy eat fruit?
Like humans, dogs are omnivores, which means they can eat both meat and fruit; and a little fruit can make a nice healthy treat for your puppy. Some fruits are better for them than others, and there are even some which, although safe for humans, can be dangerous to dogs. Here’s a guide to some of the most popular fruits and their benefits for dogs, as well as some to avoid.
- 21
Lumps and bumps on dogs [read more]Weeks 39 to 41
Lumps and bumps
Swellings and lumps on our pets can be a real worry and often assume the worst! But, more commonly, that's not the case. Find out what to do if you find your puppy has a lump or bump.
- 22
Puppy oral health [video]Weeks 41 to 42
Looking after teeth and gums
Gum disease in dogs is very common and can be extremely painful and unpleasant. With the right care, you can help your puppy to avoid the discomfort and upset caused by teeth in poor condition - and the great news is, it's not that hard! Our Senior Veterinary Advisor, Robin, explains how easy it is to care for your dog's smile in this simple guide.
- 23
Why dogs eat poo [video]Weeks 42 to 44
Does your puppy eat poo?
Whilst we might find the behaviour disgusting, Coprophagia, or eating poo, is actually fairly natural one for dogs. If your puppy does this, find out what's going on and how to prevent it in this useful video from behaviourist Carolyn Menteith.
- 24
Car laws and safety [read more]Weeks 44 to 46
Travelling safely
Your puppy is part of the family, so it's natural to take them with you on some journeys you make in your car. Our dog car safety guide covers all you need to know about car journeys with your dog, to make it a safe and happy experience for all involved.
- 25
Cutting your dog's claws [read more]Weeks 46 to 48
Cutting your puppy's claws
When do you need to clip your dog’s nails? And how do you do it at home? Here’s our step-by-step guide and top tips for keeping your dog’s claws in good trim.
- 26
Login to Agria RewardsWeeks 48 to 50
Looking for the perfect birthday gift?
Your puppy is nearly a year old! What better way to celebrate, than with a little gift? Agria insurance customers can head to Love Louie and enjoy a special on a super birthday box for them, saving you over £18! Inside you'll find lots of treasures from KONG, a birthday cake and, of course, some well-earned treats.
- 27
Your puppy's milestones [read more]Weeks 50 to 52
Your puppy's first year milestones
Can you believe your puppy is nearing their birthday, and almost a grown-up! They have done so much growing in this first year, learnt so many new things, and hopefully, you have had a fantastic time together as you’ve got to know each other. So, what better time than now to reflect over this first year together and see what they have achieved!
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Agria's dog insurance is a 2025 Which? Best Buy
We're a Which? Best Buy for our Lifetime, Lifetime Plus and Lifetime Premium dog insurance products.*
* Which? policy score ratings are based on an analysis of policy cover levels conducted in November 2024. Best Buy providers have a high policy score and a good track record for paying claims. Read the article on the Which? website.
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