Poo Pals NJ
Dog waste removal · Dog walking · Yard treatments
poopalsnj.com
(609) 766-5262
New Puppy in NJ — the first 90 days
Week-by-week vet schedule, NJ-specific vaccine timing, potty training, and yard waste management. Written from the perspective of a service that has cleaned up after thousands of NJ puppies.
Updated 2026-05-17 · ~9 min read · Central & South Jersey
NJ-specific things to know: NJ has endemic parvovirus in green spaces (no sidewalk walks until two weeks after the third DHPP), endemic Lyme/tick disease (prevention starts at 8 weeks), and endemic heartworm (prevention must be active by May). These three timelines drive everything below.
Week 1Days 1–7
Settle in, set the schedule, do not skip the vet visit
🩺 Vet
- ·First wellness exam within 5 days of bringing the puppy home (most NJ vets require this for the breeder/shelter health guarantee).
- ·Confirm vaccination records: most 8-week puppies have only their first DHPP. The next vaccines are due weeks 10–12.
- ·Fecal test on day 1 — roundworm and giardia are extremely common in puppies, even from reputable breeders.
🎓 Training
- ·Crate introduction (door open, fed inside, never used as punishment).
- ·Name response, sit, look-at-me — 3 sessions/day, 90 seconds each.
- ·Decide the pee-spot in the yard and use the same path every time.
🐾 Potty & Yard
- ·Out every 60 minutes during the day, immediately after eating, immediately after waking, and right before sleep.
- ·Expect 5–6 piles per day from a small puppy, 7–9 from a large breed.
- ·Pick up every pile the same day — fresh puppy waste contains the highest parasite-egg load and dries into the lawn fast.
🌳 NJ-specific
- ·NJ municipal scoop laws apply to puppies too — even in your own front yard if it's visible from the street. Check your township's specific ordinance.
- ·Lyme-vector tick season starts as early as March in South Jersey. Ask the vet about Nexgard / Bravecto eligibility (most start at 8 weeks or 4 lbs).
Weeks 2–4Days 8–28
Second vaccine, socialization window, walk schedule
🩺 Vet
- ·Second DHPP at week 10–12. Bordetella (kennel cough) if planning daycare or boarding within 6 months.
- ·First nail trim — most vets and groomers will do it free at this stage to build comfort.
- ·Heartworm prevention starts at 8 weeks in NJ (heartworm is endemic statewide — this is not optional).
🎓 Training
- ·Socialization window closes around week 16. Expose to 5+ new people, surfaces, and sounds per week.
- ·Leash introduction in the yard before sidewalks.
- ·Reward eye contact at every meal — pays off forever.
🐾 Potty & Yard
- ·Out every 90 minutes — bladder control extends quickly during this phase.
- ·Pile count drops to 4–5/day for most breeds.
- ·Start picking up immediately, not at end of day — the habit sets your long-term yard hygiene.
🌳 NJ-specific
- ·DO NOT walk on public sidewalks until 2 weeks after the third DHPP shot (typically week 18). Parvovirus is endemic in NJ green spaces, especially Central Jersey parks.
- ·Backyard play is fine; dog parks are not — even fenced ones.
Weeks 5–8Days 29–56
Third vaccine, structured walks, yard becomes the main play space
🩺 Vet
- ·Third DHPP at week 14–16. Lepto (recommended in NJ — bacterial disease from wildlife urine, present statewide).
- ·Rabies at 12–16 weeks (NJ law requires by 7 months; most vets do it at 16 weeks).
- ·First flea/tick prevention dose if not already started.
🎓 Training
- ·Loose-leash walking in the yard, then driveway, then sidewalk after vaccinations clear.
- ·Drop-it and leave-it commands — critical for NJ yards where roundworm eggs and dead small animals are real hazards.
- ·Start brushing teeth daily (yes, daily) — periodontal disease is the #1 health issue in adult dogs.
🐾 Potty & Yard
- ·Out every 2–3 hours. Bladder control matches adult capacity by week 16.
- ·Pile count down to 3–4/day for most breeds.
- ·Yard cleanup cadence: still daily for the first 8 weeks of puppy ownership. After that, weekly is sustainable for most NJ households.
🌳 NJ-specific
- ·Tick check after every yard session, especially nape, ears, between toes. NJ deer-tick density is among the highest in the country.
- ·Mosquito exposure starts in May in NJ — heartworm prevention must be active by then.
Weeks 9–12Days 57–84
Full vaccination, public exposure starts, lock in routines
🩺 Vet
- ·Final puppy vaccine series complete by week 16–18.
- ·Schedule the spay/neuter consult (typically 6–9 months for small breeds, 12–18 months for large breeds — recommendations vary).
- ·Set up the lifetime vet schedule: annual wellness, annual heartworm test, annual fecal test, annual dental.
🎓 Training
- ·First puppy class — week 12+ is the sweet spot (boosters in, socialization still open).
- ·Recall (come) drilled in the yard with high-value treats. Never call the dog for something they won't like.
- ·Begin alone-time tolerance: short crate sessions while you're in the next room, building to 1–2 hours by week 12.
🐾 Potty & Yard
- ·Out every 3–4 hours during the day, full overnight by week 12 for most breeds.
- ·Pile count stabilizes at 2–3/day.
- ·If you're working full-time outside the home: midday walk or yard break is needed until at least 6 months.
🌳 NJ-specific
- ·Sidewalks, neighborhood walks, and low-traffic trails are now safe with full vaccinations.
- ·Dog parks are still risky for any puppy under 6 months — focus on 1-on-1 supervised playdates instead.