For new puppy and rescue owners
Your first 30 days with a new dog, in order.
What to do this week, and what can wait: from the quiet first days to the first leash walk.
Build my dog's free plan1-minute quiz · your dog's name and real dates · free
How it works
A plan for your dog in about a minute
1Answer 7 quick questions
Puppy or rescue, when they come home, and what worries you most.
2Get your plan + free Welcome Pack
A one-page plan with your dog's name and real dates, plus four printables.
3Do one stage at a time
Only this week's jobs. The rest can wait, and that's the point.
The first 30 days
Five stages. One at a time.
Most new-dog advice is right. It's just in the wrong order. A few days ahead or behind is normal; the order is what keeps a bad day from becoming a bad month.
Days 1–3
Settle in
Stop training. Just decompress.
Days 4–10
One routine
One routine. Crate, potty, sleep.
Days 11–17
The wobble
It gets worse here. This is normal.
Days 18–24
First lessons
Name recognition, then one cue. Not five.
Day 25+
Leash lessons
Leash work starts. Not before.
Meet the book
Happy Tails: The Dog-Raising & Training Handbook
Your first 30 days with a new puppy or rescue dog, in order. Then the rest of your dog's life: choosing the right breed, body language, training with rewards, feeding, health, grooming, travel and the senior years.
- Chapter 2 is the first 30 days, one stage at a time
- Full colour, written by a dog parent for dog parents
- Kindle, paperback and hardcover
Look inside
Real pages from the book. Swipe to see more.
Free Welcome Pack
Four printables for your first month
Sent to your inbox when you confirm your email, with your dog's plan.
30-day calendar
Print it, keep it on your phone, or add all 30 days to your calendar.
Daily habit tracker
Potty, meals, naps, play and bedtime. PDF or Excel.
Vet & vaccine record
Your dog's details, vaccines, and first-visit questions.
House rules & same words card
One word per cue, so everyone at home says the same thing.
Puppy or rescue?
Same order, different pace.
A puppy
Short attention, big energy. The potty routine does most of the work in week one, and short lessons can start once it holds.
A rescue
Let them come to you. Decompression can take longer, and their real personality often shows up in week two.
Day nine
Somewhere in week two, a lot of new owners hit a wall.
You're tired. The dog you pictured hasn't shown up yet, and part of you wonders if you made a mistake.
It's common, and it usually passes. It doesn't mean you chose the wrong dog. The book has a page for exactly this day.
See where your dog is in the 30 days
Buy the book
Pick your format
Kindle
$9.99
Read on any phone, tablet or Kindle
Coming to Amazon this weekPaperback
$19.99
Full colour, 8.5 × 11 in
Coming to Amazon this weekHardcover
$34.99
Full colour, made to last
Coming to Amazon this week
US prices. The button opens your own country's Amazon store, which shows your local price.
While you wait: the free checklist and Welcome Pack
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is it for rescue dogs too?
Yes. The order is the same for a rescue; the pace is often slower. Decompression can take longer, and a rescue's real personality often shows up in week two.
And for puppies?
Yes. A puppy follows the same five stages. The quiz asks which you have and how old they are, so your plan fits.
Is this veterinary advice?
No. It's practical guidance for the first month, not a substitute for your vet. Your vet knows your dog: call them about illness, pain, or growling and snapping that gets worse.
Where do I buy the book?
On Amazon, as a Kindle ebook, a paperback or a hardcover. The buttons on this page take you to your own country's Amazon store.
What about refunds?
Amazon sells the book, so Amazon's return policy applies. Refunds
Is the Welcome Pack really free?
Yes. Confirm your email and it's yours, along with your plan. Every email has a one-click unsubscribe.