Congratulations! Your new Cavapoo puppy is finally home after weeks or months of waiting. You imagined a joyful day of playing and giving hugs. So why are they hiding behind the couch and refusing to eat? Why isn’t it working? Stop. Take a deep breath. These feelings are normal.

At Blue Diamond Cavapoo, we have assisted hundreds of owners through this very scenario. Those first few days with a new puppy are a shock to your system—and theirs. It’s hard. No one wants to hear it’s hard, but we feel the need to be honest. It’s part of our brand promise to you, our customer. But here’s the thing!  Those first few days are setting the stage for the rest of your lives together. When you understand what’s going on in your puppy’s mind in this adjustment period, you can parent with calm instead of panic.

In this article, we will explain what to expect in those critical first few days.

What’s Happening In Your Puppy’s Mind

Up until the day you brought them home, your Cavapoo puppy’s world had been incredibly limited to their mom, littermates, us, and the sights, sounds, and smells of their first home here at our farm. That’s it, for 8 to 12 weeks at Blue Diamond Cavapoo, every night they slept nestled into a pile of siblings. Every morning, the same routine, the same faces.
Imagine that for a second. Wake up one day, and you are in a completely alien place.  That’s how it feels for your puppy right now. The people are strangers, their beloved mother and littermates have disappeared. Your puppy is likely scared and unsure what is going on.

Puppies also react very differently to major life changes than adult dogs. When under stress, a puppy’s hormone levels go way up. This throws their appetite, bathroom habits, sleeping patterns, and more out of balance. That happy, curious puppy you met on your visit or video call is in there, but just buried under a massive flood of new stimuli to process.

The good news is that puppies are also extremely adaptable. Their brains are designed to accommodate these kinds of changes. Most puppies will have adjusted within 48 to 72 hours. In fact, with Blue Diamond Cavapoo puppies, that time frame is usually even shorter. Each of our puppies receives Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) from days 3 to 16 of their life. During that time, we do 5 specific exercises every day. While ENS was developed by military working dog programs to create tougher, more resilient dogs, one of its less-discussed effects is to better equip puppies to handle stressful situations. ENS puppies bounce back 1-2 days faster on average, which makes a world of difference in those 3 a.m. wake-up calls.

Why Your Puppy Is Acting Strange and What To Do

We promise that most of the challenging behaviors you may see over the first 72 hours will self-correct. Here are some explanations for some things you might see.

Food Refusal

We can’t emphasize this one enough: don’t panic over your puppy not eating. Your puppy may sniff the food, or take a bite or two, and walk away. They may not eat for 12 or even 24 hours.
Stress is a powerful appetite suppressant. And even though you might be using the same brand of food we sent home with you, your puppy’s brain is interpreting everything else about feeding time as “danger, don’t trust.” That instinct isn’t always entirely accurate, but, for survival reasons, it won’t let them relax.
We suggest trying smaller portions more frequently. Hand-feeding often works when a food bowl does not. Warming kibble with a little water can release its aromas, making the food more appealing. Remember, Cavapoos are food-motivated dogs, so refusal usually only lasts 48 hours at most. If your puppy has not eaten within 24 hours, especially if they’re lethargic or vomiting, contact your vet or us.

Extreme Sleepiness

Your puppy may sleep long and hard after arrival. When they’re awake, they may move and react slowly.
Sleep is a healing power. It will help your puppy recover from the emotional shock of their new circumstances, as well as, in many cases, the physical trauma of a flight or long drive. Interrupt sleep as little as possible. As long as your puppy wakes up alert when they do wake, responds when you speak, eats some, and seems normal during awake periods, they are fine. You only need to worry if they are unresponsive when you try to wake them, or won’t wake even when you offer food.

The First Night and Crate Anxiety

This one’s tough. The crying, the whimpering when you walk away, the lonely wails that pierce your heart at 3 a.m. It is not your puppy being difficult. Your puppy is genuinely scared. They’ve spent 8 or more weeks of their lives never sleeping by themselves. In fact, they’ve spent almost no time at all apart from their littermates, except for short periods. It’s instinctively telling them that something is terribly, horribly wrong.

This is where that Sibling Scented Heartbeat Puppy Pal, which we offer with every Blue Diamond Cavapoo puppy adoption, comes in handy. That soft toy has been living with your puppy’s littermates, collecting all their smells. The heartbeat mechanism will remind your puppy of sleeping next to their mother and littermates. You will be amazed at how effective it is.
Place the Puppy Pal in the crate each night. Avoid washing it for the first 2 weeks; that scent is doing valuable work. Put your puppy’s crate near your bed where they can smell you, too. When crying occurs, check potty needs first, offer quiet reassurance, then walk away. Let them cry it out. This is always the hardest night, but day 2 will be better, and day 3, 4, or 5 will see longer stretches of sleep. Be patient.

Shadowing and Attachment

Some puppies, especially on the very first day, may attach themselves immediately and very closely. They follow you around the house and may panic when you leave the room. They want to be with you all the time.

This is not a long-term behavior for most puppies, but it is okay for the first few days. You have become the safety anchor in a strange new world. This is a good sign, actually; they are bonding with you. Cavapoos are companion dogs bred to bond with people. It’s part of the sweet and affectionate Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Poodle mix that makes a Cavapoo a Cavapoo. They’re also intelligent, and sometimes more so depending on Poodle influence. These characteristics will become apparent as your puppy grows, but it’s okay if you have a shadow dog for the first week or two. It will wear off naturally as your puppy gains confidence and trust in their new family and their new home.

Retraction and Fear

On the other hand, some puppies react to stress by becoming extremely withdrawn. They find a corner or space under furniture, where they refuse to leave, and it seems like it will take forever for them to even begin to explore the world around them.

Temperament is highly variable, even among littermates. That’s why at Blue Diamond Cavapoo, we do professional temperament testing on all our puppies before placement. We match dogs to families based on personality, activity level, and lifestyle as best we can. If your puppy is one of the more shy ones, they just need some time to decompress and feel secure. Try not to force your puppy to interact. Give them a space, a crate, a pen, or a corner in a quiet room along with the Heartbeat Puppy Pal, water, and some toys. When they’re ready, they will emerge. When they do, reward exploration with calm praise. Most shy puppies will open up fully within a few days, just a little longer than their peers.

Potty Training Regression

Stress impacts the bladder and bowel control in puppies. Your puppy is also suddenly figuring out an entirely new set of routines, spaces, and signals for pottying. The place where they now need to go to the bathroom looks and smells nothing like what they knew before. Young puppies also have very small bladders and need to go to the bathroom a lot. You’re going to have to plan on taking a lot of puppy breaks. Every hour, while awake, as well as immediately after every meal, every drink, every nap, and every play session. Use enzymatic cleaners like Nature’s Miracle or similar on any accidents. Normal cleaners just hide the odor but don’t remove the scent that marks “bathroom” to a puppy. Be patient and consistent, and this will pass quickly.

Personality Changes in Your Puppy

Oddly, some puppies seem to act like a totally different dog when they first come home compared to when you met them during your visit. The confident, bold explorer is now cowering and shy. The happy-go-lucky, mellow cuddler is now restless and anxious. 

The stress hormones are also hiding your puppy’s true personality. This is temporary. You are seeing your puppy’s self-preservation instincts in overdrive. That personality will resurface within a week. Every puppy we have ever sold, from the boldest, most adventurous to the shyest, most reclusive, has done this. And each one of them returned to their true character.

Day by Day: Your Adjustment Period Timeline

What you’re going through is hard, but it does get better quickly. Here is what you can expect during those first 72 hours, broken out day by day.

Day One: Overload

If they’re not asleep, the first few hours will be full-on sensory overload for your puppy. Everything they look at, hear, and smell is completely new and interesting. You will see a lot of staring and processing, both in stillness and a little frenzied exploring. Also, remember they don’t know where they are supposed to go potty when you first bring them home.  It is best to bring them right to the spot in the yard where you want them to potty, even before bringing them inside your home.   When they are young, there will be some accidents. You need to be patient and reinforce potty outside by taking them out every hour consistently.
Try to keep this day as low-key as possible.  Let them sniff around at their own pace, and introduce one person at a time rather than all your household members at once.

Hours 3-6: This is my new life? Oh crap!

Sometime between hours 3 and 6, usually a bit later, the information your puppy is processing clicks in, and it hits them that this is their new life. They soon realize this is not just a visit and that they are not going back to the kennel and their siblings.  The crash nap you’ve been waiting for will follow shortly. When they wake up, they may cry and refuse to eat. This is normal.

Offer a small amount of the food you have on hand. Continue to show them the potty spot. Introduce the crate with the Heartbeat Puppy Pal inside of it, but keep everything as calm as you can.
Day one evening and the first night are the hardest times for anxiety, usually peaking around 3 am. The separation from their littermates is setting in. Your puppy’s Heartbeat Puppy Pal will be put to work tonight.
We suggest setting up the sleeping area with the crate near your bed. Cover the puppy crate with a lightweight blanket to create a den-like feel. It will help a lot.
The first night is always the worst. Your puppy will likely cry. You will likely go out a couple of times to check on potty needs. When crying starts, check for potty needs first, if they don’t need to go out, offer quiet reassurance without taking them out to play. Let them cry it out. By day two, it will get easier. By day three, it will be much easier. By day four or five, most puppies sleep longer stretches.

Day Two: The Small Wins

Day two will usually show some improvement by morning, as your puppy slowly adjusts and recognizes the routine. They are starting to trust that this is their new normal. Watch for signs of your puppy’s true personality breaking through. A happy wag for greetings, interest in toys, and more exploration of their world.

You can also begin to lay down a routine now. Potty break when they wake, then food, then a short play session, then nap time. Consistency will help your puppy feel safe. Keep play times short (5 to 10 minutes) and let them nap in between.
Food will often improve in the afternoon. Personality will usually start to shine through. Document today with photos and videos. Trust us, a month from now, you will love having a record of just how far they’ve come from day one.

You will still need to continue taking them out frequently, every waking hour, plus after meals, drinks, naps, and play sessions. Be consistent with your command word and with praise for using the correct spot. It’s also a good time to start gentle handling now, to prepare them for grooming. Cavapoos have coats that require regular grooming throughout their lives, so it’s important to make sure your puppy is comfortable with being touched all over.

The second night is almost always easier. There will likely still be some crying, but less intense and shorter. Sleep stretches will be longer. Continue your bedtime routine established the night before.

Day Three: The Turning Point

Day three is when you should begin to see. positive changes. The nervousness is starting to ease up.  Their confidence starts to return. Your puppy’s personality emerges, play becomes more natural, and they begin to explore on their own. Eating is better, and nighttime sleep will lengthen. It will be obvious that they are making the adjustment.
It’s okay to increase stimulation now. Other family members can spend time with your puppy now. Start short training sessions. Cavapoos are intelligent and very eager to please, because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle breeds in their mix contribute those traits. Start name recognition and recall (“come”) training now. Your schedule should continue for security.

After 72 hours, these are the signs you’re looking for to know your puppy is adjusting to their new home. They are eating 3/4 or more of each meal. They are playing spontaneously and with less fear. They are eagerly greeting you and other family members. They are following you through the house confidently, rather than anxiously shadowing you. They make eye contact with you, know their name, and come when called. And you are beginning to see your puppy’s real personality shining through, the one we wrote about in their individual placement information. If, by Day Four, your puppy hasn’t made some of the progress described above, call us. Let’s troubleshoot. But the vast majority of puppies are clearly adjusting by now.

Your Blue Diamond Cavapoo Advantage

As proud as we are of our puppies, it’s not a coincidence that we have such high confidence in the adjustment period. We are deliberate in our breeding practices and puppy-raising methods to produce resilient puppies that are adaptable and able to cope well with change.
At Blue Diamond Cavapoo, each puppy gets ENS from day 3 through 16 of their lives. We do 5 specific exercises daily during this critical time period. Research from military working dog breeding and training programs shows that ENS results in puppies with stronger cardiovascular systems, greater tolerance to stress, better problem-solving skills, and greater confidence. They handle those tough first nights a lot better, and you’ll appreciate having an ENS puppy then.

Extensive socialization starts at three weeks of age. Multiple people handle each puppy daily. They are exposed to many sounds around the kennel, such as vacuums, garbage cans, and phone calls. They meet other adult dogs aside from their mother. They walk on carpet, tile, grass, and gravel. They meet and interact with children of all ages. When you bring your puppy home, there will be very little that is entirely foreign, because we’ve worked very hard to prepare them for variety.

Professional temperament testing helps us make smart matches between puppies and families. We test each puppy for confidence, sociability, energy level, and sensitivity, then match personalities to family lifestyles and activity levels. Active families receive active puppies. Calmer, homebody households get milder puppies. First-time puppy owners get the most cooperative, people-pleasing temperaments we can. The right match from the start significantly reduces adjustment stress.
And finally, remember we are here for you after the adoption. We absolutely want you to call us during the first week (or longer if needed) to see how you and your puppy are adjusting. Questions, concerns, just need reassurance, that’s what we are here for. You may not need us, but your puppy’s success is our success.

When To Call the Vet

The vast majority of adjustment period challenges are temporary and resolve on their own. But there are some symptoms you should never ignore, and you should contact your vet immediately.
If your puppy repeatedly vomits, especially with blood. Diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours, especially with blood in it. Lethargy so severe that you can’t wake them. Difficulty breathing or excessive panting at rest. Seizures, collapses. Yelping in pain when you touch or lift them. Refusal to drink water for more than 12 hours.
These symptoms indicate a medical issue beyond a normal adjustment period, and you should trust your instincts. If you feel something is genuinely wrong, it probably is. Seek veterinary help.

Call Us First for All Other Questions and Concerns

For everything else, call us first. Overwhelmed, exhausted, and need to vent? Call. Don’t know if something is normal or not? Call. We’ve done this hundreds of times and know what’s normal and what’s not. And we take supporting you through the adjustment period as part of our job and our commitment to every puppy we sell. Asking for help is the smart thing to do.

Moving Forward

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the toughest part of bringing home your new Cavapoo puppy. You will be tired. You will probably be frustrated. You will sometimes feel like you might have made a mistake.
Don’t give in to those feelings. These issues are temporary, and time will pass. You’re laying the groundwork for the rest of your life together right now. You’re proving to your puppy that they can trust you. That this place is home. You’re helping a young, developing brain cope with a major change in life circumstances.

This work matters enormously, even when it’s exhausting.

Every Blue Diamond Cavapoo family has gone through these transitions. They all ended up with confident, joyful, well-adjusted companions who stopped crying, were eating well, and had their personalities back to normal.

Three months from now, that difficult first week will be just a distant memory. You’ll watch them sleeping on the couch and will barely remember the crying. You’ll see them playing and forget there was ever a timid puppy hiding behind furniture. You’ll just feel their soft, warm weight against you and wonder how life ever made sense without them.

You’ve got this. Your puppy has got this. And we’re with you every step of the way. Welcome to the Blue Diamond Cavapoo family.