Hi, we are picking up our Labrador puppy at the end of June ... She will be 8'weeks old. Very excited and starting to make preparations for her arrival'. I have a question relating to puppy toileting. Our house is located in a Marina and has a small concrete terrace at the rear. There is no lawned area and I am wondering if anyone has a similar issue. What would be a good solution... Newspapers or toilet pads outside? Any comments would be greatly appreciated
Hi Angela and welcome to the forum. What an exciting time for you, waiting for your new bundle of fun. Is this your first dog/puppy/Labrador? I live in an apartment (ground floor) with a large terrace. No grassed area. When we brought Willow home at 8 weeks, she was used to going on pads at night and grass during the day. For the first short while, I put puppy pads down outside to encourage her to go out there. She soon got the idea that was her toileting area and I eventually stopped using the pads. She wasn't massively accurate with them, anyway, so I was washing down the terrace a couple of times a day even when I used them. At nine months, they (I now have two pups) generally go to the toilet when we're on walks rather than at home, but I do still let them out if they ask to go out during the day for a wee. If you don't have it already, I can heartily recommend getting a copy of The Happy Puppy Handbook. I read it a couple of times before picking up Willow at 8 weeks and a couple more times after bringing her home. It's an invaluable resource and helps you to prepare your home and your expectations. This forum is also amazing, so pop along to the Introductions section and tell us a bit about yourself, whether you have a name, what colour she is etc etc etc. When she arrives, we especially need to see pictures!! Best wishes, Fiona, Willow and Shadow
Hi and welcome! The lack of grass is not a problem as pups can learn to toilet on any surface. The only thing I'd do is introduce them to a variety of surfaces as soon as you can, so they learn that concrete is not the only surface it is ok to toilet on
Just another thought.... If you pup wees on the concrete a lot it will soak into the concrete and smell, so perhaps think about making a sand tray or large tray with some (washable) fake grass in it that your pup learns to wee in, to avoid peeing a lot on the concrete. I has this thought as a friend of mine keeps her Border Collie in a paved (with bricks) backyard patio area during the day and her dog pees in it and it absolutely stinks in warm weather. Barbecues in her backyard are not quite as nice as they used to be!!!.... So, something to stop pee and poo contacting the concrete might be worth considering.
Hi Angela, how exciting for you, I would definitely get The Happy Puppy Handbook. I read it twice before Mabel arrived, I found it invaluable. I'd also really recommend Total Recall which is also by Pippa. I didn't buy that until Mabel was 16 weeks old and I really wish I'd read it before she arrived. Again this forum is brilliant. I don't have any friends with dogs, so when I have a bad day it can seem so lonely then I have a little read or write something on my training log and suddenly it's all good again. Best wishes Claire and Mabel (6 months old tomorrow) xx
Hi and welcome to the forum. It's so exciting waiting to bring your puppy home and getting everything in preparation. As already recommended get a copy of The Happy Puppy Handbook, an excellent start to life with your puppy. Also get anyone else who will be closely involve with the puppy to read it as it helps consistency of approach with your new family member.
Hi and a warm welcome from me and my two dogs . Exciting times ahead, look forward to seeing photos , we love puppy pics
Hi Angela,I'm another Angela we've got a yellow boy called Dexter who is nearly 3 so I don't think we are going to end up with namesake dogs if you are waiting for a little girls arrival! Welcome to the Forum,Fiona has given you some really good reading recommendations ,looking forward to seeing you around the boards x
