New puppy: your first 30 days, a checklist for Indian homes

The first 30 days are about safety, routine and paperwork: puppy-proof the house, book a vet check-up in the first few days, and start the vaccination and deworming schedule your vet sets out ¹²³. If you bought him, the breeder or shop must give you the vaccination and deworming dates in writing ⁴⁵; register him with your city under the rules for where you live. Keep the first nights calm, handle him gently, and agree one set of words and one feeding chart as a family ¹².

Shopping list: Crate or bed, two bowls, a puppy food, collar and tag, lead, toys, a brush, and puppy pads for indoor accidents¹²
First vet visit: Within the first few days home, for a check-up and to plan vaccines and deworming; many breeder contracts already build in a vet exam within 3 days²³
If you bought him: The breeder must give the vaccination and deworming dates in writing; a pet shop's receipt must show the vaccination details⁴⁵
Puppy-proofing: Lock away cleaning products, medicines and anything he shouldn't chew; check the balcony, grilles and garden for gaps and poisonous plants¹²
First nights: A crate or a cosy bed in a quiet, draught-free corner where he won't be disturbed¹²
Family rule: One set of command words, and one chart for who feeds him when, so the whole family is consistent¹²

Prints on one A4 sheet, without the notes and sources.

Shopping list, before he comes home

Crate or a bed ¹²
Two bowls, for food and water ¹
A complete puppy food ¹²
Collar and tag ¹
Lead, and a harness if you use one ¹
Toys, a brush or comb, and dog shampoo ¹
Puppy pads, for toilet training or a flat with no garden ¹

Puppy-proof the house

Cleaning products, medicines and anything he shouldn't chew, locked away or out of reach ¹²
Electric wires and cords tucked out of reach ¹
Balcony grilles and nets checked; a small puppy can squeeze through more than you'd think ²
Poisonous plants moved off the balcony and out of the garden ²
A baby gate for any room or staircase you want him to stay out of ¹

The first vet visit

Book a check-up within the first few days of bringing him home, even if he seems healthy ²³. Many breeder contracts in other countries already build in a vet exam within 3 days of pick-up, as a safety net for both sides ³.

The vet confirms he's healthy, checks for worms, and plans the vaccination and deworming calendar for the weeks ahead. See the usual puppy vaccination and deworming schedule for the pattern most vets follow; your own vet sets the exact dates for your puppy ²³.

Papers, if you bought him

A breeder must give you, in writing, the dates of vaccinations and deworming, and the name and address of the vet who looked after him ⁴.
A pet shop's receipt must show the pet's vaccination details ⁵.
Keep these with the vet's own card; they're the start of his medical record. See what counts as a valid vaccination paper.

Register him with your city

Most Indian cities ask for a dog licence, usually online, with a vet's rabies certificate as the main document. See dog registration rules, fees and documents by city for how your city does it.

Sleep, and the first nights

Set up a crate or a cosy bed in a quiet, draught-free corner where he won't be disturbed or in the way ¹².

A blanket that still smells of his mother and littermates can help him settle for the first few nights, if the breeder can spare one ².

Gentle handling and socialising

From 8 to 12 weeks, let him meet other healthy, fully vaccinated dogs and cats, and people of different ages, calmly and in short doses ².
Gently get him used to the car, grooming, and having his ears, eyes, paws and mouth checked, so vet and grooming visits are easier later ².
Give him time alone too, even though it's tempting to spend every minute with him ².

One set of words for the family

Pet's name
Words we all use (sit, come, leave it, toilet)
Who feeds him, and when
Who takes him out, and when
Vet's name and phone

Get the printable checklist (PDF)

One A4 page for the fridge: the shopping list, puppy-proofing, the first vet visit, papers, registration and the family's rules, in one place. Leave your Play Store Gmail and mobile number below and the download starts right away.

Not fully clear yet

Official sources disagree or leave gaps on these. Confirm before you rely on them.

We found no Indian vet body stating exactly how many days after arrival the first vet visit should be; this page follows UK and US veterinary advice (RSPCA, AKC) since Indian guidance on this specific point wasn't available ²³.
The written-papers rule applies to breeders and pet shops covered by India's 2017 and 2018 rules; an informal or unregistered seller may not follow it, so ask to see the vet's own certificate too ⁴⁵.

Last checked 5 Oct 2026. Facts checked against the official sources below by Thapki. Written with AI help from the sources below and checked against them line by line; the Thapki team reads and approves each page before it goes live.

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Sources

New puppy checklist · PDSA · seen 5 Oct 2026
Caring For Your Puppy – 6 weeks to 12 months · RSPCA · seen 5 Oct 2026
What to Expect at Your Puppy's First Vet Visit · American Kennel Club (AKC) · seen 5 Oct 2026
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017, G.S.R. 496(E), rule 8(2) (PDF) · Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, via Animal Welfare Board of India · seen 5 Oct 2026
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018, G.S.R. 844(E), rule 7(13) and Form IV (PDF) · Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, via Animal Welfare Board of India · seen 5 Oct 2026

From thapki.app/guides/new-puppy/first-30-days/ · facts last checked 5 Oct 2026. Guides share public information; they are not a substitute for your vet's advice.