The First Week With Your New Puppy

The first week after bringing a puppy home is often the most challenging for new owners. Many people search for advice about things like puppy crying the first night, why their new puppy seems nervous, or how long it takes for a puppy to adjust to a new home.

The truth is that the first week is simply the beginning of a normal adjustment period. Your puppy is learning about an entirely new environment, new people, new sounds, and a completely different routine.

Understanding this adjustment period ahead of time can help owners remain patient and give their puppy the support they need to settle in successfully.

Quick Tips for New Puppy Owners

• Expect an adjustment period of 3–4 weeks (sometimes longer)
• Keep the first week calm and quiet with limited visitors
• Let puppies approach people at their own pace
• Start with a small area of the home to prevent overwhelm
• Begin leash training indoors first
• Establish a consistent routine for feeding, potty breaks, and sleep
• Be patient — puppies need time to bond and build confidence

Expectations vs. Reality

You’ve seen the breeder’s photos and videos. The puppies are social, relaxed, playful, and quiet in their pen. Everything looks perfect, and you bring your puppy home feeling excited and prepared.

Then the first few nights arrive. Your puppy may cry in the crate, leaving you a little tired and wondering what happened. The happy, social puppy you saw with the breeder may seem hesitant when meeting the half-dozen excited friends who came to visit. They might feel overwhelmed by playful children or suddenly refuse to walk on a leash.

Many new owners start to wonder, “What happened to my perfect puppy?”

The truth is — this adjustment period is completely normal.

A Big Change for a Little Puppy

Your puppy has been in the breeder’s home since birth. They had their mother and often their littermates nearby. They knew their routine, understood the expectations around them, and were completely comfortable in their environment.

Now suddenly they are placed in an entirely new world. Imagine being dropped into a country you’ve never visited before. The language is unfamiliar. The trees, animals, smells, temperature, and people are all different. On top of that, your routine has changed, strangers appear wanting to interact with you, and people expect you to do things you’ve never been taught before.

It would feel overwhelming for anyone. This is very similar to what a puppy experiences when they arrive at their new home.

How Puppies Show Stress

Just like people, puppies handle stress in different ways. During this adjustment period you may notice things like:

• Reduced appetite
• Hesitation to play or greet people
• Nervousness when strangers reach for them
• Uncertainty at the veterinarian’s office
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Seeming quiet or withdrawn

While these things can be concerning for new owners, they are often simply signs that the puppy is adjusting to a big life change.

Helping Your Puppy Settle In

There are several simple ways you can help your puppy feel safe and comfortable during this transition.

1. Give Them Time

Most puppies take three to four weeks to fully adjust to their new home.

Yes — three to four weeks, sometimes even longer.

Not just a few days.

This is one of the most important things to remember. Building comfort and confidence takes time.

2. Keep the First Week Calm

It’s natural to want to show off your new puppy, but the first week is best kept calm and quiet.

Try to limit visitors during the first week and consider waiting one to two weeks before inviting people over.

When guests do visit:

• Ask them to sit down on the floor
• Allow the puppy to approach them on their own
• Avoid squealing, grabbing, or crowding the puppy

This allows the puppy to build confidence at their own pace.

3. Create a Predictable Routine

Puppies feel much more secure when they know what to expect. Establish a simple routine for feeding, potty breaks, playtime, and sleep. Consistency helps them settle in faster.

4. Start Small in the Home

Restrict your puppy to a small area of the house at first. This keeps them from feeling overwhelmed and allows you to supervise them more easily.

5. Be Patient With Leash Training

An 8–13 week old puppy usually doesn’t understand how to walk nicely on a leash yet.

Instead, begin practicing in your home where they feel comfortable:

• Let them drag the leash around safely
• Use treats to encourage them to walk alongside you
• Keep sessions short and positive

If your puppy refuses to walk, that’s okay — give them time.

When I first take puppies to town, walking one small block can sometimes take an hour and a half. We move forward only when the puppy feels ready, because they need time to explore and take in their surroundings.

6. Build Your Bond

Your puppy also needs time to see you as their new family.

Training can be a wonderful way to build that bond. It helps your puppy learn to look to you for guidance while strengthening your relationship together.

7. Supervise Children Closely

Children can unintentionally overwhelm small, fragile puppies. Always supervise interactions and help ensure that play stays calm and gentle.

Remember: Patience Is Key

Early outings with a puppy rarely look the way we imagine them.

You might picture a relaxing walk around the lake, but your puppy may only manage a short distance that day. Many outings involve standing still while the puppy carefully observes their surroundings.

And that’s perfectly okay.

Patience is key.

Puppy Teething and Breathing Changes

Shih Tzu are bred to have flat faces. The flatter the face, the more likely it is that a young Shih Tzu puppy may experience temporarily tight nostrils while teething.

Just like human babies, swelling can occur during the teething process. In Shih Tzu puppies, swelling may affect the gums, ear canals, bronchial tubes, and nostrils.

Because Shih Tzu puppies have many teeth in very small mouths, this swelling can sometimes cause their nostrils to appear tight or pinched during teething.

Shih Tzu puppies also tend to teethe slowly. Some puppies may still be teething at around six months of age. During this time, the nostrils may appear narrow, but they usually widen and open back up again as the puppy grows and the teething process finishes.

While teething, you may notice your puppy making sounds such as snoring, snorting, sniffing, or other unusual noises. Some puppies may also develop watery eyes or a clear runny nose, sometimes with small bubbles.

These symptoms can look unusual to new puppy owners, but they are often simply part of the normal teething process in some Shih Tzu puppies. Over the years, we have seen many Shih Tzu puppies go through this normal teething stage.

It is also important to remember that not all Shih Tzu puppies experience these symptoms. Some may show none at all, some may show only one symptom, and others may show several during the teething stage.

Normal Teething vs. Signs of Illness

Temporary tight nostrils during teething are very different from stenotic nares or signs of illness.

A teething Shih Tzu puppy will usually:

• Not have a fever
• Play and behave normally
• Maintain a normal appetite
• Have clear nasal discharge, if any
• Rest comfortably and sleep peacefully
• Enjoy chewing on toys or objects

However, if your puppy becomes lethargic, stops eating or drinking well, develops a fever, or the nasal discharge changes color, this may indicate an infection or illness.

If this happens, the puppy should be examined by a veterinarian.

What You Can Do to Help During Teething

Teething can be uncomfortable for puppies, but there are a few simple things you can do to help them through this stage.

• Provide safe chew toys to help relieve gum discomfort
• Monitor your puppy’s breathing and general behavior
• Keep their environment calm and comfortable
• Make sure they continue to eat, drink, and stay active

Chewing is a natural and important part of the teething process and often helps relieve pressure in the gums.

The Good News

Most Shih Tzu puppies grow out of these temporary breathing changes once their adult teeth come in.

As long as your puppy is active, playful, eating and drinking normally, and behaving like a happy puppy, these teething-related symptoms are usually nothing to worry about.

For most Shih Tzu puppies, everything settles down once the teething stage is complete.

A Final Thought

If your puppy seemed confident and happy at the breeder’s home but now seems unsure, it doesn’t mean anything is wrong.

It simply means your puppy needs time, patience, and gentle guidance while they learn about their new world. During this early stage, puppies may also go through normal developmental phases such as teething, which can temporarily cause changes in behavior or small physical symptoms that usually resolve as they grow.

Provide positive experiences, keep your expectations realistic, and remember that every puppy is an individual. Try not to compare your current puppy to past dogs or assume they will handle things the same way.

Most importantly, try to see the world from your puppy’s perspective and adjust situations accordingly.

With patience, consistency, and understanding, your puppy will settle in and grow into a confident and happy companion.