First Week with Your Cavoodle Puppy: Day-by-Day Survival Guide

You’ve been on a waiting list for months. You’ve bought the supplies, puppy-proofed your home, and now the day has finally arrived. Your Cavoodle puppy is coming home.

The first week with your Cavoodle puppy is exciting, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming. At WoofSpark, we talk to new Cavoodle owners every day, and the same questions come up again and again: Is this normal? Am I doing this right? Why won’t they stop crying?

This day-by-day guide covers exactly what to expect during your Cavoodle’s first week home. We’ve drawn on our experience grooming thousands of Cavoodles and the feedback from countless puppy parents to create the guide we wish everyone had.

Before Pickup Day: Final Preparation

If you haven’t already prepared your home, do these things the day before pickup:

Essential Supplies Check

• Food: Same brand the breeder uses (ask them specifically)
• Water and food bowls: Stainless steel, non-tip
• Crate or playpen: 24″ crate suits most Cavoodles
• Bedding: Comfortable bed that fits in crate
• Toilet supplies: Puppy pads, enzymatic cleaner, poop bags
• Collar and lead: Lightweight, adjustable puppy collar with ID tag
• Grooming basics: Slicker brush, metal comb, puppy shampoo
• Toys: Chew toys, comfort toy (heartbeat toy helps at night), interactive toys
• Treats: Small, soft training treats

Set Up the Puppy Zone

Choose a quiet area of your home for your puppy’s space. This should include:

• Their crate with bedding
• Water bowl (always accessible)
• Designated toilet area (puppy pads if inside)
• A few safe toys
• Baby gate to contain the area if needed

Keep this space away from high-traffic areas initially. Your puppy needs a calm retreat where they can rest undisturbed.

Prepare for the Journey Home

• Bring a secure carrier or have someone hold puppy safely
• Pack paper towels and plastic bags (accidents happen)
• Bring water and a small bowl
• Bring the scent blanket from the breeder
• Keep the car cool and calm – no loud music

Day 1: Arrival Day

The first day with your Cavoodle puppy is about one thing: letting them decompress. Everything is new, strange, and potentially scary. Your job is to make this transition as gentle as possible.

The Journey Home

Your puppy may cry, whine, or be sick in the car. This is normal. They’ve just been separated from their mother and littermates for the first time. Stay calm, speak softly, and keep the journey as smooth as possible.

If the drive is longer than an hour, stop for a toilet break. Put them on grass (if they’ve had their vaccinations) or on a puppy pad. Offer a small drink of water.

Arriving Home

First stop: Toilet spot. Before going inside, take your puppy to where you want them to toilet. Wait patiently. If they go, praise them enthusiastically. This begins toilet training immediately.

Then bring them inside to their prepared puppy zone. Let them sniff and explore at their own pace. Don’t pick them up constantly or pass them around. Give them space to adjust.

Day 1 Do’s and Don’ts

The First Night

The first night with your Cavoodle puppy is often the hardest. They will likely cry. This is completely normal – they’re scared and missing their littermates.

Set up for success:

• Place the crate in your bedroom so they can sense you nearby
• Put the scent blanket from the breeder in the crate
• Add a warm (not hot) water bottle wrapped in a towel
• Consider a heartbeat toy that mimics mum’s heartbeat
• Take them out for a final toilet break right before bed

When they cry:

• Wait a few minutes before responding – they may settle themselves
• If crying continues, a gentle “shhh” or putting your hand near the crate can help
• Take them out for a toilet break if it’s been a few hours
• Don’t take them out of the crate to cuddle – this teaches them that crying gets them out
• Stay calm – they can sense your anxiety

Expect minimal sleep on night one. It gets better.

Days 2-3: Establishing Routine

Days two and three are about establishing the routines that will guide your Cavoodle’s life. Puppies thrive on predictability.

The Daily Schedule

Create a consistent daily routine. Here’s a sample schedule for a young Cavoodle puppy:

Time	Activity
6:30am	Wake up, toilet outside, breakfast
7:00am	Play time (15-20 mins)
7:30am	Toilet, then nap in crate
10:00am	Wake, toilet, small snack, play
10:30am	Toilet, then nap
12:30pm	Wake, toilet, lunch
1:00pm	Play/training (short session)
1:30pm	Toilet, then nap
4:00pm	Wake, toilet, play
5:30pm	Dinner
6:00pm	Family time, gentle play
7:00pm	Wind down, last toilet
8:00pm	Settle for bed
~2:00am	Toilet break (if needed)

Key points:

• Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep per day
• Take them to toilet after every meal, nap, and play session
• Keep play sessions short – overtired puppies get bitey and crazy
• Feed 3-4 small meals per day at this age

Toilet Training Begins

Consistent toilet training starts now. The golden rule: take them out more often than you think necessary.

Take them to the toilet spot:

• First thing in the morning
• After every meal
• After every nap
• After play sessions
• Every 1-2 hours during awake time
• Last thing before bed

When they go in the right spot: Praise immediately and enthusiastically. Give a small treat. Make it a celebration.

When accidents happen (they will): Clean up calmly with enzymatic cleaner. Don’t punish – they don’t understand. Just increase your supervision and toilet breaks.

Vet Visit

Book a vet appointment within the first 48-72 hours. Bring:

• Vaccination records from the breeder
• Any health information about the puppy
• List of questions you have

The vet will do a general health check and discuss the vaccination schedule, worming, flea/tick prevention, and desexing timeline.

Introducing Handling

Start getting your puppy used to being handled. This makes future grooming and vet visits much easier.

Each day, gently:

• Touch their paws and toes
• Look in their ears
• Lift their lips to see teeth
• Touch their tail and back end
• Run your hands all over their body

Keep sessions short (30 seconds to a minute) and reward with treats. If they resist, don’t force it – try again later.

Days 4-5: Building Confidence

By days four and five, your puppy should be settling into the routine. Now we can start building their confidence with gentle new experiences.

Introducing Grooming Tools

As professional groomers, this is where we see owners make a critical mistake: waiting too long to introduce grooming. Start now, while your puppy is still in their critical socialisation period.

Day 4-5 grooming introduction:

• Let your puppy sniff the brush – give a treat
• Touch them with the brush (don’t brush yet) – treat
• Make one or two gentle strokes on their back – treat
• End on a positive note before they get fussy

That’s it. We’re not trying to brush them properly yet. We’re building a positive association with the brush.

Sound Desensitisation

Start exposing your puppy to household sounds at low volume:

• Vacuum cleaner (run in another room)
• Hair dryer (from a distance)
• TV and music
• Doorbell (if you have one)
• Kitchen appliances

Pair these sounds with treats or play. If your puppy seems scared, increase the distance or lower the volume.

Basic Training Begins

Start teaching their name and one simple command.

Name recognition:

• Say their name in a happy voice
• When they look at you, mark with “yes!” and give a treat
• Repeat throughout the day
• Only use their name positively – never for scolding

Teaching “sit”:

• Hold a treat above their nose
• Move it slowly back over their head
• As their head goes up, their bottom goes down
• The moment they sit, say “yes!” and give the treat
• Keep sessions to 2-3 minutes maximum

Days 6-7: Expanding Their World

By the end of the first week with your Cavoodle puppy, they should be noticeably more settled. Now we can carefully expand their world.

Controlled Introductions

Your puppy can start meeting new people – with rules:

• One or two calm visitors at a time
• Have visitors sit on the floor and let puppy approach them
• No picking up the puppy unless they’re calm
• Keep visits short (15-20 minutes)
• End while things are still positive

Important: Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, they shouldn’t meet unknown dogs or go to public areas where dogs frequent. Ask your vet about safe socialisation options.

Increasing Grooming Practice

Extend your grooming sessions slightly:

• Brush for 2-3 minutes on their back and sides
• Gently touch (don’t brush yet) ears and face
• Practice lifting paws and holding briefly
• Introduce the metal comb – let them sniff, reward
• Always end on a positive note

The goal is to make grooming a normal, positive part of life before their coat becomes more challenging to maintain.

Building Alone Time

Cavoodles are prone to separation anxiety. Start building independence early:

• Leave the room briefly while they’re calm in their crate
• Return before they get upset
• Gradually extend the time you’re out of sight
• Don’t make a big fuss when leaving or returning
• Give a special treat or toy when you leave

This isn’t about leaving them alone for hours – just teaching them that your absence is temporary and not scary.

End of Week Reflection

By the end of week one, take stock of where you are:

• Toilet training: Fewer accidents? Going to the right spot more often?
• Sleep: Are nights getting better?
• Eating: Consistent appetite? No digestive issues?
• Energy: Appropriate periods of play and rest?
• Confidence: Exploring more? Less timid?

If something seems off – excessive diarrhoea, refusing food, lethargy, or unusual behaviour – contact your vet.

Week 1 Complete Checklist

Print this checklist or save it to your phone:

Day 1

• ☐ Toilet at arrival
• ☐ Show puppy their space
• ☐ Offer food and water
• ☐ Keep things calm – no visitors
• ☐ Set up crate for bedtime
• ☐ Final toilet before bed

Days 2-3

• ☐ Establish feeding schedule (3-4 meals)
• ☐ Consistent toilet routine
• ☐ Vet appointment (within 72 hours)
• ☐ Begin handling exercises
• ☐ Enforce nap times
• ☐ Practice crate time during day

Days 4-5

• ☐ Introduce grooming brush (positive only)
• ☐ Sound desensitisation begins
• ☐ Name recognition training
• ☐ Start teaching “sit”
• ☐ Extend handling exercises

Days 6-7

• ☐ Controlled visitor introductions
• ☐ Increase grooming practice (2-3 mins)
• ☐ Begin alone-time training
• ☐ Review progress and adjust
• ☐ Book puppy school (for after vaccinations)
• ☐ Book first professional groom (12-16 weeks)

Common First Week Problems

They Won’t Stop Crying at Night

This is the most common issue. It usually improves by night three or four. Make sure:

• The crate is in your bedroom
• They have a scent from the breeder
• They’re tired (enough play during the day)
• They’ve had a final toilet break
• You’re not rewarding crying by taking them out

If crying persists beyond a week or seems extreme, consult your vet or a behaviourist.

They’re Having Lots of Accidents

You’re probably not taking them out often enough. Increase toilet breaks to every 30-45 minutes during awake time. Supervise constantly when they’re out of the crate. Accidents are a supervision failure, not a puppy failure.

They’re Biting Everything

Puppies explore with their mouths. When they bite you:

• Make a sharp “ouch!” sound
• Remove your hand and ignore them briefly
• Redirect to an appropriate chew toy
• If biting continues, end play and give them a nap (they’re probably overtired)

They’re Not Eating

Some puppies are too excited or stressed to eat much in the first day or two. Offer food at regular times and remove it after 15 minutes. Don’t leave food out all day or add too many toppers. If they refuse food for more than 24 hours or seem unwell, contact your vet.

What Comes Next

The first week with your Cavoodle puppy is just the beginning. Here’s what to focus on in the coming weeks:

Week 2-4:

• Continue toilet training consistency
• Extend training sessions (still short)
• Increase grooming to daily short sessions
• More sound and handling desensitisation
• Safe socialisation experiences

Week 5-8:

• Puppy school (after vaccinations complete)
• More varied socialisation
• Basic commands: sit, down, come, stay
• Grooming becoming routine

Week 12-16:

• First professional groom (book this early!)
• Vaccinations complete – broader socialisation
• Lead walking practice
• Building longer alone time

Final Thoughts

The first week is intense. You will be tired. There will be moments of frustration. But these seven days are an investment that pays off for years to come.

Every positive experience, every gentle handling session, every patient toilet break is building your Cavoodle into a confident, well-adjusted dog. The effort you put in now makes everything easier later – including grooming, vet visits, and daily life.

At WoofSpark, we see the difference between Cavoodles who had thoughtful first weeks and those who didn’t. The dogs who were introduced to grooming early, who learned routines, who had patient owners – they’re the ones who come to us wagging their tails, ready for their groom.

You’ve got this. And your Cavoodle is lucky to have an owner who cares enough to prepare.

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Related Guides

• How to Prepare for a Cavoodle Puppy (before they arrive)
• Cavoodle Care Guide (comprehensive resource)
• Cavoodle Grooming Guide (coat care details)