Essential Tips for Bringing Home Your New Puppy This Holiday Season

maggiebixler
Dec 8, 2025
3 min read

Bringing home a new puppy during the holiday season can be exciting and overwhelming. Between the joy of welcoming a furry family member and the challenges of potty training, crate training, and helping your puppy adjust to your household, it’s easy to feel unsure about where to start. With the right approach, you can set your puppy and your family up for success from day one. Here are practical tips from Maggie, an experienced dog trainer serving the south Denver metro area, to help you navigate this special time with confidence.

Establish a Consistent Schedule With Your New Puppy

Puppies thrive on routine. Setting a clear daily schedule helps your puppy learn when to eat, play, rest, and go outside. This consistency reduces accidents and builds your puppy’s confidence.

Feeding times: Offer meals at the same times each day. This helps regulate digestion and predict when your puppy will need to eliminate.
Potty breaks: Take your puppy outside frequently, especially after eating, drinking, playing, or waking up. A good rule is every 1-2 hours for young puppies.
Play and training: Schedule short (10min) , positive training sessions and playtimes to build good habits and strengthen your bond.
Rest: Puppies need plenty of sleep. Provide a quiet, comfortable space for naps to avoid overstimulation.

By following a schedule, your puppy learns what to expect and when, which reduces stress for everyone.

Make the Crate the Best Place in the World To Your New Puppy

Crate training is a powerful tool for safety, potty training, and helping your puppy feel secure. The key is to make the crate a positive, inviting space rather than a place of punishment.

Introduce the crate gradually: Start by leaving the door open and placing treats, toys, or a soft blanket inside.
Feed meals in the crate: This creates a positive association with the space.
Keep crate time short at first: Begin with a few minutes and slowly increase the duration as your puppy gets comfortable.
Use the crate for naps and quiet time: This helps your puppy learn to relax independently.
Never use the crate for punishment: The crate should be a safe haven.

A well-trained crate helps your puppy feel calm and secure, making transitions easier for the whole family.

Reward Your New Puppy Outside Immediately After Elimination

Timing is everything when it comes to potty training your new puppy. Reward your puppy the moment they eliminate outside, not after you come back indoors. This clear connection helps your puppy understand what behavior you want.

Use high-value treats: Choose small, tasty treats your puppy loves.
Praise enthusiastically: Use a happy tone to reinforce the behavior.
Be consistent: Always reward immediately after your puppy goes potty outside.
Watch for signs: Learn your puppy’s signals for needing to go out, such as sniffing or circling.
Keep outings calm: Avoid distractions and play during potty breaks to help your puppy focus.

This method speeds up potty training and reduces accidents inside your home.

Level Up by Training with Maggie

You wouldn't not send your child to Kindergarten, right? Your puppy needs to learn the basics as well. Call Maggie today at 785.633.4939 to start dog training and set your entire household up for success early. Explore puppy training services here: https://www.maggiescanineconnection.com/about-9

Let the Training Begin: https://www.maggiescanineconnection.com/contact-8