Hi! I’m about to be the owner of a gorgeous Labrador puppy! He’s currently 3 weeks old and so I have another 5 weeks to go (both eek and argh!) I’m very lucky in that I work in a school (pastoral not teaching) and my headteacher has agreed that I can bring him to work every day... obviously this is both brilliant because he won’t be on his own but also terrifying as I’ve got to manage him differently to a pup in my own home. Fingers crossed he will be trained up as a therapy dog for both the children in the school (there is a queue of children who want to read to him!) and my son who has ASD and is 12. We have a 11 year old GSD/BC who is obidence trained and I’m both excited and wary about how they wil integrate! So far I’m busy writing list upon list of what I need for both home and work (kongs and snuffle mats at the ready!) Any tips gratefully received! Will attach the obligatory picture I don’t actually know which pup is mine yet as the breeder is helping us choose depending on their emerging personalities so that we get the best pup for the job!
Forgot to mention I’m currently reading the Labrador handbook after devouring ‘the golden bridge’ - have got total recall in my next pile! I’m a total book nerd
Hi Leanne, welcome to the forum. Hope you have The Happy Puppy Handbook on your list too. No doubt there will be challenges and there will be tears, but it sounds like you are going to be prepared anyway! It's such an exciting time. Best tip - make sure you bank some sleep and involve your family in reading the puppy handbook if you can. SO much easier if you are singing the same song right from the start. Good luck! jac
Welcome from Holly and me in Wales. It sounds like you're very organised, which is always a good start. I think I'd add the Happy Puppy handbook to your reading list!
I’m good at organised... I remember when I got my dog Leo.. he was horrific. First dog and a border collie mix? I was absolutely bonkers. He chewed EVERYTHING. I came downstairs once and he had eaten through my handbag and ate my purse, my mobile phone, my sat nav and £50 in cash. The insult was when he threw up it was literally 5p pieces. Sod the notes obviously! He’s a good lad now though... we previously had a GR Milo who was adored but sadly died about 6 years ago now... he wasn’t much for chewing but his version of recall was ‘yes yes in a minute there is something over there I must see first!!’ Leo’s recall has always been fantastic, but only because he’s totally ball obsessed.
Shropshire's a big place! We're in Monmouth. There's a group of us who meet up every few weeks to walk together, usually in the Wye valley or Forest of Dean. Its great for socialising our dogs, and nice to meet up for a chat with other Labrador owners. Maybe when your pup's a bit older you'd like to join us.
That sounds great! We will bear that in mind! Your 1hr and 10 minutes away from me according to google maps
Hi and welcome from me and my two. Exciting times ahead! Make sure you take loads of photos, they grow up much too quick.
I have a 12 week old who will also be a school dog! We had hoped, rather naively, that we would be able to take him with us by this point, but no. He's too hyper and needy. The atmosphere would be too overstimulating for him and it would end in disaster. We are now hoping for after summer holidays when he is 8ish months old. Do you have to do any testing for him to be allowed to take him? We have several teachers who bring their dogs to school, with varying levels of freedom depending on the levelnof training the dog has passed. Our lab won't be a true "school dog" as here that is a dog who actually lives in the school and belongs to the school, but we aim to train him as a "companion dog" which means he can go off lead into our classrooms and interact freely with the students regardless of their age.
I I think due to the fact that I don’t have a class (I’m a therapist and specialise in mental health) that it MIGHT be easier in that I’m in my office all day where there will be a crate etc. Puppy can come with me to classrooms etc to visit them but won’t be having too much direct work with the children till the biting stage is over! *crosses fingers* We have very high insurance for him and I have been booked on to the dogs for therapy course as well as having a 1:1 guide dog trainer once a week! I’m hoping I’ve covered all bases...
Oh and the standard puppy classes obviously! Poor boy is going to be trained to within an inch of his life lol
Hi @Leanne82 , welcome to the forum from me and Cassie, who is 2 this week, in neighbouring Herefordshire. What part of Shropshire are you in? Sounds like your puppy is going to have a very full life, I look forward to hearing all about it as he develops.
Sounds great - loads of training! I didnt know you could get guide dog trainers for such young puppies, I might look into that! Do you mean high insurance for him to cover him healthwise or do you mean high liability insurance? What do you consider to be high if I may ask?
Wow, you sound very well prepared! Dogs and schools are a great mix, I hope it works out for you both
High liability insurance and pet insurance (school are paying insurances and I’m covering ‘usual’ costs) I think it’s around £60 a month
