Puppy first year: the journey hub

The first year decides the dog you live with for the next decade. It is also the year owners are most tired. This hub breaks the year into honest stages so you always know what matters now and what can wait.

The first year checklist

Vaccinations, socialization windows, training milestones and money tasks, month by month, in one printable list.

What year one costs

Run your numbers in the cost calculator with the puppy year one toggle on, before the puppy comes home if you can.

The shape of the year

Weeks 8 to 12: house training, sleep, gentle handling, and the socialization window flying by. Experiences now echo for life.
Months 3 to 6: teething, basic training, first groomer and vet confidence visits, recall and leash foundations.
Months 6 to 12: adolescence. Hormones, selective hearing and energy arrive together. Training continues kindly and consistently; this stage passes.
Month 12: adult food transition for most breeds (giant breeds stay on growth food longer, ask your vet), and a review of insurance, weight and training goals.

Last updated: November 2026. Checked against the sources on our methodology page.