Newly expecting parents with lots of questions..HELP!

Well it sounds like you are well prepared, as much as you can be with a young puppy! Having a back up plan is a good idea, as even the best laid plans can go awry.
In the time between your new puppy arriving, read as much as you can, you can access some great articles here on the labrador site:

http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppies/

An invaluable resource is the "Happy Puppy Handbook" written by Pippa Mattison, also the editor of our forum.

We found a crate or crate and playpen scenario worked well, there are lots of examples on the forum, and I think most of our members have used this set up with success, especially combined with a playpen offering a pup somewhere to toilet if they are left more than a hour, young pups have little control over their bladder up to around 13 weeks, although this does vary. Accidents are not uncommon right up to around 6 months. On that note of leaving a pup, if you are likely one or two days to be out of the house for 4 hours, having a well -vetted dog walker pop in for 30 mins or so to occupy and take pup out to toilet will help.

No- one will be judgemental, saying that we do have differing views and opinions, you will find however, we are a very helpful and supportive forum

 

Hi and welcome. It's great that you are thinking in advance about how to look after your puppy while you can't be at home - prior preparation prevents poor performance, as they say It also shows that you care. There are many of us here on the forum who work full- or part-time, and we have all had to find ways to adjust our lives to our puppy's needs. I think the key is to gradually get him used to being alone, working up from a minute or so to a maximum of three to four hours (though I would avoid that, if at all possible, until he is around six months old). Looking forward to seeing and hearing more from you, and I will be sharing my experiences as we are also bringing a new pup home on Sunday. Eeek!

 

Just to offer another perspective - I don't think that this is what the OP was asking for. I'd say that in asking for advice the OP was asking for constructive suggestions of any kind and wasn't ruling out being counselled against any aspect of his plan. He wasn't asking for a support-fest He was just asking that the advice (either pro or against his plan) be presented in an objective, polite way, not in a judgemental or harsh way. A fair thing to ask for (especially when the OP's goal is to identify and then do the best thing for the puppy).

 

My wife and I are both in the medical field and we work long erratic hours. Trying to figure out a schedule that would work for a young puppy at 8 weeks was pretty complicated. We did have some help from my nieces and the rest of the family during those times we weren't home and bringing in a dog sitter during the day to feed and potty him greatly helped. We were pretty lucky that Sparky did not really have any separation anxiety issues and took to crate training well.

My suggestion to you guys is to stagger your vacations. You can take the first week off and then your wife can take the next week off. or however long you two are planning to go. The first week is rough almost requiring you to take him out to potty every 30 mins or so with consecutive weeks gradually building up to longer times. By the time your vacations should be over, it should be more predictable how long he can stay in the crate to hold his pee/poo, and will setup you up to get a dogsitter. We didn't crate Sparky for the night until midnight or so so that he can last long enough in the crate for the morning and then he was up at 5 am. As he got older, I started moving up his crate time earlier and earlier as he lasts longer.

When you go back to work, you can go break up his day when u come home from lunch and then have the dogsitter/walker come in a couple hours after that. I'd have a main sitter and a couple of back ups just in case.

Keep a routine with meals and toileting and communicate with each other when was the last poo/pee and set a timer especially for pee.

 

Welcome from me, Wispa (5) and Tuppence (3). It sounds as if you're well prepared for your new puppy, but what works well in practice will depend very much on Cooper's character. You'll soon be able to judge whether or not you need to call in help from family or friends for those longer periods when he'll be alone. Keep us posted and take lots of photos!

 

Hi Nick , hope you are finding the advice you are receiving helpful.

I have had to find a way through working 2 or 3 days a week and having a young puppy. It isn't always straightforward but with commitment it can be done.

In my experience success depends on two things, one is the temperament of the puppy concerned and the other is having the right people to give the care when you can't be there.

Building up gradually is also key, kongs are so helpful aswell. When my Cassie was tiny (she's 12 months now) I used to make sure she was ready for a sleep before I left her, there were days I'm sure she didn't know I'd left the house. When I was building up the time that is.

You've had dogs before so you know what is involved, making the early weeks and months work is not easy but can be done and then you have your lovely adult dog

 

Welcome my Chocolate is a cooper also...