For first-time dog owners

Your first year with a dog, one calm step at a time.

Step-by-step guides for new dog owners: puppy training, feeding, health basics and gear — written plainly, checked against veterinary guidelines.

A young puppy resting on a blanket beside its new owner at home

Latest guides

An Australian Shepherd puppy voluntarily walks into a padded metal crate while its owner crouches beside it holding a treat reward, candid training moment in a naturally lit living room.

Training & Behavior

Crate Training a Puppy: A 7-Day Step-by-Step Plan

A calm 7-day crate training plan for puppies, with session lengths, positive-association steps, how long puppies can stay crated, and whining fixes.

9 min read

A young woman sits on the floor in a softly lit living room at dusk, a newly adopted corgi puppy yawning on her lap beside an open crate and a small blanket, candid real-life shot with shallow depth of field.

Puppy Basics

The First 24 Hours With Your New Puppy: An Hour-by-Hour Plan

An hour-by-hour plan for your puppy's first 24 hours, from the car ride home to the first night, plus what to skip on day one.

9 min read

A beagle puppy curled up asleep on a gray knitted blanket beside a plush toy, lit by soft side window light in a quiet, warm setting.

Puppy Basics

How Much Should a Puppy Sleep? Sleep Needs and Schedules by Age

Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep a day. See typical sleep by age, a sample nap schedule, why overtired puppies bite, and when to worry.

9 min read

A hand uses a measuring cup to pour puppy kibble into a bowl on a kitchen counter beside a kitchen scale and an open food bag, while a golden retriever puppy on the floor looks up waiting to eat in natural window light.

Feeding & Nutrition

How Much to Feed a Puppy: Calories and Cups by Age and Weight

Learn how much to feed a puppy using calories and cups by age and weight, with the RER formula, puppy multipliers, a worked example, and body scoring.

8 min read

A spacious living room corner with a metal wire dog crate beside a plastic travel kennel, and an Australian Shepherd puppy standing between them looking curious in natural light.

Gear & Home

How to Choose the Right Dog Crate: Size, Type, and Divider Tips

Learn how to measure your dog for the right crate size, compare wire, plastic, soft, and furniture crates, and use a divider as your puppy grows.

9 min read

A German Shepherd puppy tugs a rope toy held in its owner's hand on a wood floor in natural light, an action close-up of real photography.

Training & Behavior

How to Stop Puppy Biting and Nipping (Without Yelling)

Stop puppy biting without yelling: redirect to toys, use short time-outs, manage overtired zoomies, and know the timeline and when to call a trainer.

9 min read

Free tools

Quick answers, worked out for your dog.

Plug in your dog's age and weight and get a starting point you can take to your vet.

Puppy Food CalculatorDaily calories and cups by age, weight and food.Dog Age CalculatorYour dog's age in human years, by size.

Puppy Basics

Getting ready, the first weeks, and what a dog really costs.

All puppy basics →

A cozy living room floor neatly arranged with new puppy supplies—a padded crate, stainless steel food and water bowls, a leash, chew toys, and a bag of puppy food—as a curious eight-week-old golden retriever sniffs a toy in warm afternoon window light.

New Puppy Checklist: What to Buy and Set Up Before Day One

A new puppy checklist with grouped buys, US price ranges, and a 48-hour home setup plan so you're ready before pickup day.

8 min read

A low-angle view of a modern kitchen where a Labrador puppy stands on the floor looking up at a cabinet fitted with a child safety lock, with a baby safety gate on the floor nearby in soft morning light, realistic home photography.

How to Puppy-Proof Your Home, Room by Room

Puppy-proof your home room by room with this practical checklist covering cords, toxic plants, meds, xylitol, and a 15-minute eye-level crawl-through.

9 min read

Training & Behavior

Crate, potty, leash and manners — with day-by-day plans.

All training & behavior →

A border collie puppy in a harness walks on a loose leash at its owner's left side on a quiet neighborhood sidewalk, looking up at the owner, with autumn leaves and warm afternoon light.

Leash Training: How to Teach Your Puppy to Walk Without Pulling

Teach your puppy to walk without pulling using simple gear, indoor practice, the be-a-tree and direction-change methods, and short daily sessions.

8 min read

A golden retriever puppy finishes toileting on a dewy backyard lawn at dawn while its owner crouches to give a treat in soft morning light.

Potty Training a Puppy: A Schedule That Works and How to Fix Accidents

A clear puppy potty training schedule by age, plus signals to watch, reward timing, enzyme cleaning tips, and how to fix accidents and regression fast.

9 min read

Feeding & Nutrition

How much, how often, and how to read the label.

All feeding & nutrition →

A handwritten feeding schedule taped to a kitchen wall above two food bowls on the floor, with a schnauzer puppy eating in soft morning light.

Puppy Feeding Schedule: How Many Meals a Day at Each Age

A simple puppy feeding schedule by age: how many meals a day, a sample timetable, how meals link to potty training, and a treat budget.

8 min read

Health & Care

Vaccines, vet visits, teething and the warning signs.

All health & care →

In a bright veterinary clinic, a gloved vet gently holds a beagle puppy for examination while the owner softly strokes the dog, documentary medical photography in soft light.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule: Which Shots and When

A clear puppy vaccination schedule from 6-8 weeks to 16+ weeks, covering core vs non-core shots, rabies, boosters, side effects, and safe outings.

8 min read