First week with a toy poodle: day by day

A toy poodle is small, quick, and already attached to people. The first seven days are for feeling safe, not for a long lesson.

Before pickup, have a small crate, a pen, washable pads, the food they already eat, a shallow water bowl, a blanket that smells like the litter, enzyme cleaner, a light harness, and a soft chew.

Day 1 is decompression. Keep visitors out. Show the pad or the door, the water, and the bed. Use the name softly. Take them out every 30 to 60 minutes. Accidents are normal. If they cry at night, put the crate beside the bed.

Day 2 starts the clock. Same meal times. Out after waking, after eating, and after play, and again every 45 to 60 minutes. Praise the outdoor win like it matters. It does.

Day 3 is a short crate, not a sentence. Feed near it. Toss a treat in. Five to ten minutes while you are still in the room. Wait for a quiet second before you open the door, so crying is not the key.

Days 4 to 7 add one new room, one short walk in the yard if vaccines allow, and one nap in the crate while you leave the house for a few minutes. Stop while they are still willing. Call us at (442) 348-7224 if the crying or the stomach does not settle.