Hi, I am expecting our lab puppy in 5 weeks and obviously doing as much prep reading as possible. I am keen to take her out for socialisation but in everything I have read I have not come across an answer; if out for a few hours where do I put my puppy to go to the toilet? As I don't want to put her on the ground in public places I am unsure of how to take her out for longer periods of time. Thank you in advance!
Oh, a tricky question..... A place where you wouldn't find other dogs. Or possibly take a puppy pad with you and lay it down before popping her on it. She may not want to stay on it..... Its surprising how long puppies can hang on if they are being held or carried (as long as they are 8-9 weeks old)
Generally, you wouldn't want to be socialising your puppy for that long. Ten to fifteen minute trips are more than sufficient. You want to ensure you don't overwhelm your puppy.
Definitely build it up. We did a 35 min car journey with a pee before we went, a pee on a bit of "safe" grass, a 40 minute nursing home visit, about half of it being held, pee on the safe grass again, and further 35 min in the car back home - this was an 11 week puppy who had had her 1st set of jags. She was pretty good, and she was a bit of a pee-er I think they can do pretty well, just be prepared, and try and relax a little!
Agreed. We do ten or fifteen minutes, it could get to half an hour if we went in the car. If I think the pup is desperate I go in a public loo, put a puppy pad down. If the puppy uses it, good. If it uses the floor the puppy pad is used for mopping it up. I always take the pup, however young, to Church and fat club and I do the same in the loo in both places Welcome to you from Mags, Tatze and Keir from Manchester UK Tatze is my pet dog, a black Lab and she's four years old. Tatze means 'paw' in German. Keir is my fifth Guide Dog puppy, a yellow Golden Retriever/Flatcoat cross and he's seven months old.
Hi and welcome from me and my boy Bailey who is nearly 2 years old. When we got Bailey at 8 weeks old he had had his first set of jabs before he came home to us. We carried puppy pads with us or used safe areas. We did short trips or on a Sunday when I was working behind the bar at the rugby club my OH would have charge of Bailey and sit in outside on the patio area with him (during the nice weather) with a stack of puppy pads. We had to be quick to pick them up after use as Bailey much preferred ripping them to pieces after dragging them around for a while - fine with unused ones but with used ones . An exciting time for you, no matter how much you prepare don't be hard on yourself if things go to pot over the first few weeks - these little bundles of fur do like to throw us curve balls!
I carried our pup in a rucksack on my front for socialaition trips (it worked for a 3 weeks, then she was too big and heavy!) I folded a small towel in the base with a pad over it, & mostly it stayed dry. I did try putting the pad on the ground, but she never did anything on it!
Thank you all so much for your responses. I think puppy pads will be a useful investment! I will keep outdoor exploring to a short window to begin with. I must say I am loving this forum already!
