Your puppy's first six months, with Kira

Kira's puppy guides

Month by month, what to expect with a new puppy, and a short printable guide for each common problem.

Kira, an American Akita puppy, sitting and turning her head to follow the bone.

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Ten guides, one problem each. The first one is ready now.

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  • Table of contents page of the planner
  • Day 1 page of the planner
  • Day 1 worksheet of the planner

First 14 Days Puppy Routine & Priority Planner

Your day is already full, and you do not know what to do first.

What is inside

  • Three priorities for each day, at the top of the page.
  • A short optional exercise, only when your puppy is at ease.
  • A busy-day version for most days.
  • A review page for your notes, and one thing to adjust tomorrow.
  • Pages to read before your puppy arrives.

Who it is for

First-time owners, especially with a busy week ahead.

Limits of this guide

General education. Not veterinary advice, and not a professional training plan. For health or pain, call your vet.

$9.99 USD

Puppy Potty Pattern & Household Handoff Workbook

Accidents most days, even with frequent trips outside, and nobody sure of the timing.

What is inside

  • A daily log of trips out, meals, naps and accidents.
  • A review of what happened just before each accident.
  • A weekly review to spot patterns in your own notes.
  • A handoff page so everyone at home follows the same routine.
  • Signs that call for your vet, listed in one place.

Who it is for

New owners who take their puppy out often but cannot see a pattern yet.

Limits of this guide

General education. Not veterinary advice. If your puppy seems unwell, or accidents change suddenly, call your vet.

Coming soonJoin the list

Puppy Mouthiness Trigger & Reset Workbook

Your puppy mouths hands, clothes or objects, most when excited or tired, and your answers keep changing.

What is inside

  • A log of tiredness, excitement and what was happening at the time.
  • A simple choice for each moment: redirect, give space, or rest.
  • A reminder of nap times and quiet time.
  • House rules, so everyone at home answers the same way.
  • A review page to see which triggers come back.

Who it is for

First-time owners who hear different advice from each person at home.

Limits of this guide

General education, not a professional behavior plan. Aggression, serious bites, intense fear or self-harm need a qualified professional.

Coming soonJoin the list

Loose-Leash Progression & Distraction Log

Your puppy pulls, stops or gets distracted on walks, and you are not sure how to move on.

What is inside

  • Steps from indoors to the yard, then to a quiet street.
  • Criteria for moving to the next step, written in advance.
  • Short repeats, so each walk stays easy for both of you.
  • A distraction log with the level and the number of steps on a loose lead.
  • A rule for going back a step when things get hard.

Who it is for

Owners whose walks feel like a chore or feel unsafe.

Limits of this guide

General education. Walks take practice, and sometimes help from a trainer in person. For pain or limping, call your vet.

Coming soonJoin the list

First Alone-Time Micro-Steps Planner

Your puppy cries when you leave the room, even for a few seconds.

What is inside

  • A log of short absences, with the length and what you saw.
  • A comfortable starting length, then small steps up.
  • A rule for going back to an easier step.
  • Questions to bring to your vet or a behavior professional if things do not improve.
  • A plan to check before any return to work.

Who it is for

Owners who cannot leave the room yet, or who will soon return to work.

Limits of this guide

General education, not a treatment for separation anxiety. If crying or distress is intense or lasts, call your vet or a qualified professional.

Coming soonJoin the list

Seven-Night Settling Routine Log

Crying at bedtime or during the night, with conflicting advice about how close to stay.

What is inside

  • An evening checklist, from the last trip out to the last quiet moment.
  • A log of night trips, crying, and any signs of pain or distress.
  • A calm response plan, reviewed each week rather than changed every night.
  • Notes to share with your vet if the crying lasts.
  • Room for your notes on what helped.

Who it is for

Tired new owners who want a calm, consistent bedtime routine.

Limits of this guide

General education. No promise of a full night's sleep. Pain, illness or lasting distress needs your vet.

Coming soonJoin the list

Safe Puppy Socialization Planner & Exposure Log

You do not know which experiences to offer during the vaccination period, or how to avoid overload.

What is inside

  • Categories for people, sounds, surfaces and places.
  • Short, positive examples for each category.
  • A reaction log for each outing.
  • Signs that mean stop and take a break.
  • A list of questions to ask your vet before each new step.

Who it is for

Owners planning new experiences who want a short, clear list.

Limits of this guide

General education. The right timing depends on your vet. Nothing here guarantees that fear or aggression will not happen.

Coming soonJoin the list

Recall Distraction Ladder & Session Log

Your puppy comes back in a quiet room but ignores you once a cat, a smell or another dog is more tempting.

What is inside

  • An audit of your recall word and your signal.
  • A ladder of distraction levels, from a quiet room to a quiet street.
  • A long line and a safe space for practice.
  • Criteria for each level, written before you start.
  • A session log, and a rule for going back a level.

Who it is for

Owners who want more freedom on walks and in open spaces.

Limits of this guide

General education. No printed guide makes a recall reliable. Keep your puppy on a long line in open places until practice is steady.

Coming soonJoin the list

Calm Guest Greetings Protocol & Visitor Cards

Every visitor becomes a jumping session, because family and guests react differently.

What is inside

  • A plan to prepare before the doorbell rings.
  • A calm alternative behavior to offer instead of jumping.
  • A role for each person at home.
  • A short card to give to guests.
  • A test log with friends who agree to help.

Who it is for

Owners who have family, friends or deliveries, especially with children or fragile guests.

Limits of this guide

General education. Not a safety plan for children or guests. A dog that bites or cannot settle needs a qualified professional.

Coming soonJoin the list

Puppy Training Help Comparison & Budget Workbook

You cannot easily compare methods, qualifications, formats and total cost of help for your puppy.

What is inside

  • Questions on methods and qualifications to ask any trainer.
  • Class size, follow-up and homework, side by side.
  • A total cost sheet, including the extras.
  • Warning signs to notice before you sign up.
  • A page to note what your vet suggests before you choose.

Who it is for

First-time owners weighing a PDF, an online course, a group class or private sessions.

Limits of this guide

General education. This workbook does not name a best trainer. Check qualifications yourself, and ask your vet about your puppy.

Coming soonJoin the list

Checkout

Month by month

Keep scrolling to move through the months

  1. Month 1: Arrival and the first routine

    Your puppy arrives, and the days fill up fast with potty trips and naps. Each day, the planner helps you choose three priorities.

    First 14 Days Puppy Routine & Priority PlannerAvailablePuppy Potty Pattern & Household Handoff Workbook

  2. Month 2: Nights and the first short times alone

    Nights may be broken, and the first short times alone begin. Keep both short and calm, and note what helps.

    First Alone-Time Micro-Steps PlannerSeven-Night Settling Routine Log

  3. Month 3: Play, mouthing and new places

    Play gets livelier, and mouthing shows up most when your puppy is tired or excited. Add new people, sounds and places in small steps. Ask your vet about timing around vaccines.

    Puppy Mouthiness Trigger & Reset WorkbookSafe Puppy Socialization Planner & Exposure Log

  4. Month 4: Walks and visitors

    Walks become regular, and pulling can make them tiring. Each visitor can turn the doorbell into a jumping game.

    Loose-Leash Progression & Distraction LogCalm Guest Greetings Protocol & Visitor Cards

  5. Month 5: Coming back when called

    Practice the recall in a quiet room first, then add distractions one step at a time. Go back a step when your puppy struggles.

    Recall Distraction Ladder & Session Log

  6. Month 6: Choosing help with training

    You may wonder whether a class or a private trainer fits. Compare methods, qualifications and total cost before you pay anyone.

    Puppy Training Help Comparison & Budget Workbook

Meet Kira

Kira is an American Akita. These photos cover her puppy years and her adult years.

The photos in this section are real photos of Kira. The other images on this site are generated.

See the guides
Kira as a puppy chewing an orange plush toy on a wooden floor

about 2 months

chewing a toy on the floor

1 / 8

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