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Bringing a Border Collie puppy home is exciting — and busy. The first week sets the tone for the rest of your puppy’s life: their understanding of your routines, their relationship with you, their toilet training, their confidence in their new world. This guide is a practical checklist for getting that first week right.
Before Your Puppy Arrives
The week before pickup or delivery should be spent preparing. A few hours of setup now saves days of stress later.
Shopping list (must-haves)
- Crate — appropriate size for adult Border Collie (medium, around 91cm length); use a divider to make it smaller for the puppy
- Bed or vetbed for inside the crate and a secondary spot in your living area
- Stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls (avoid plastic — bacteria-prone and easily chewed)
- Puppy food — initially the same food the breeder has been using to avoid stomach upset, transitioned slowly to your preferred brand over 7–10 days
- Lead, collar, and harness — harness is recommended for early walks to avoid neck strain
- Identification tag with your phone number
- Enzyme cleaner for accidents (e.g. Urine Off, Nature’s Miracle) — regular cleaners don’t remove the scent markers that draw puppies back to the same spot
- Puppy pads if you’ll use them as a transition
- Chew toys — variety of textures: rubber (Kongs), rope, dental chews, soft toys
- Puzzle feeders — slow eating and provide mental work; e.g. Kong Wobbler, snuffle mats
- Treats — small, soft, low-value training treats (a portion of their daily food works too)
- Puppy shampoo (mild, dog-specific)
- Grooming brush — slicker brush plus a comb for the longer coat areas
Puppy-proof your home
- Cover or remove electrical cables within puppy reach
- Move shoes, kids’ toys, and valuable items off the floor
- Block off rooms you don’t want the puppy in (baby gates work well)
- Remove or secure toxic plants (check the ASPCA toxic plant list)
- Lock cleaning chemicals and medications behind cupboard doors
- Check your yard for fencing gaps — Border Collie puppies are athletic and curious
- Identify your puppy’s safe zone (a corner of the living room with crate, bed, water)
Book the vet
Schedule a vet check within the first week. This both establishes a relationship with your local vet and gives you a baseline health record. Bring any paperwork from the breeder.
Day One: Arrival
The first day is overwhelming for a puppy. They’ve just left their litter, their mum, and the only home they’ve known. Your job today is calm, not exciting.
Keep it low-key
- Limit visitors — let your puppy meet their immediate household first
- Show them the toilet area, water bowl, and their safe zone
- Allow plenty of nap time — puppies sleep 18–20 hours a day at this age
- Hold off on big training sessions for the first 24–48 hours
Start the toilet routine immediately
Take your puppy outside (or to the toilet area) every 30–60 minutes during the day, plus:
- After every nap
- After every meal
- After every play session
- Before bed
- First thing in the morning
When they toilet in the right place, calmly praise. Don’t make a big celebration — Border Collies are sensitive and can find loud excitement off-putting.
The first night
The first few nights are usually the hardest. Some advice that helps:
- Place the crate in your bedroom so the puppy isn’t alone in a new house
- Use a warm covered hot water bottle and a soft toy with the breeder’s scent (most breeders send one home)
- Expect crying — it’s normal. Comfort with a calm hand near the crate door, but don’t let them out for crying or you’ll teach them to cry to be released
- Take the puppy out for a toilet break once or twice through the night for the first few weeks
Days 2–3: Settling In
By the third day, your puppy will start to relax and show their personality. Now you can begin building routines.
Establish meal times
Border Collie puppies should be fed 3–4 small meals per day at this age, dropping to 3 meals around 4 months and 2 meals around 6 months. Feed at consistent times and use mealtime as training currency.
Begin name recognition
Say your puppy’s name when they’re looking at you, then immediately reward with a small treat. Build the association: my name = good things. Don’t overuse the name yet — save it for moments when they’re focused on you.
Introduce the lead and collar
Let them wear the collar around the house first to get used to the feel. Then attach a lead and let them drag it (supervised) so they learn the weight of it before you start guiding them with it.
Days 4–7: Building Routine
By the end of the first week, the puppy should have a clearer sense of where they sleep, where they eat, where they toilet, and who their people are. This is the foundation for everything that follows.
Start basic training
Short, positive sessions of 3–5 minutes, multiple times a day. The basics for week one:
- Name recognition — they look at you when you say their name
- Sit — easy first cue, lure with a treat above the nose moving back
- Crate — positive associations with calm rest inside the crate
- Toilet routine — consistent outdoor breaks
Begin gentle socialisation
Even before full vaccinations, you can socialise safely:
- Carry your puppy on short outings to expose them to sights and sounds
- Have calm visitors meet the puppy in your home
- Introduce friendly, fully vaccinated adult dogs you know are healthy
- Expose them to different surfaces: tile, carpet, grass, wood, gravel
- Play different sounds (vacuum, doorbell, traffic) at low volume
The first 16 weeks are the critical socialisation period — what they’re exposed to now shapes their adult comfort with the world.
Start grooming routines
Brush gently every day or two, even if the coat doesn’t need it — you’re building tolerance for handling. Touch ears, paws, mouth, tail base. Make it positive with treats.
What’s Normal in the First Week
- Some crying at night and during alone time
- Occasional toilet accidents
- Variable appetite as they adjust
- Loose stools (mild and brief) — if persistent or with blood, call the vet
- Sleepy puppy who plays in bursts and crashes hard
- Curiosity about everything; chewing on things they shouldn’t
What’s Not Normal (Call Your Vet)
- Persistent diarrhoea, especially with blood
- Vomiting more than once or twice
- Refusing food or water for more than 12 hours
- Lethargy that lasts more than a sleepy afternoon
- Coughing, sneezing, or eye discharge
- Difficulty breathing
- Pale gums
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a Border Collie puppy to settle in?
Most puppies start to relax by day 3 and feel at home by the end of week one. Full adjustment usually takes 2–4 weeks, with some sensitive individuals taking longer.
Should my Border Collie puppy sleep in my bedroom or another room?
For the first few weeks, in your bedroom (in a crate) is usually best — it reduces nighttime anxiety and helps with the bond. You can transition to a different room later if you prefer.
When can my Border Collie puppy go on walks?
Short walks in public areas are safer after the full puppy vaccination course is complete, usually around 16 weeks. Before that, you can carry the puppy outside for exposure, walk in your own yard, or walk where you know the area is safe.
How much exercise does a Border Collie puppy need in week one?
Less than you’d think — short play sessions and exploration, not structured exercise. The “5 minutes per month of age, twice a day” rule is a reasonable guideline for formal walks. Overexercising young Border Collies can damage developing joints.
Welcoming Your Prime Collies Puppy
Every Prime Collies Australia puppy comes home with a starter pack including familiar food, a blanket from the litter, and a familiar-scent toy. We’re available throughout the first week (and beyond) for any questions about settling in, feeding, training, or behaviour. Get in touch any time — we want your first week to go smoothly.
Browse our available Border Collie puppies or learn more about our breeding programme.
