Hi we are taking possession of a new puppy in a few weeks time. Of you experienced owners, is there anything that you would say is a must have, other than what's listed on the Internet. Any little tips and tricks are appreciated. Thanks Matt
Invest in a copy of the Happy Puppy Handbook. Read it several times and make other family members read it - helps save on the arguments Get as much rest as you can now, you will need it when puppy arrives home . Apart from that tell us more about your little puppy. Name, sex, colour and photos if you have them
Exciting times ahead but they can be daunting too , this little scrap is going to be fully dependant upon you , so you do right to read up and digest before he/she arrives . New pups are wonderful , like little Velcro sponges, stuck to us like glue and soaking up all the information we show them . Enjoy this special time , they grow up so quickly
Definitely jeans, I didn't use tight sleeves but a fleece jacket so those sharp teeth got that and less of my skin. Oh and it was summer so I did get a bit hot Enjoy and tell us all about him/her, including photos.
Something. ....anything for him/her to chew on!!! We got a new puppy 3 days ago...I had NO idea how sharp her teeth would be!!! It's all part of being a pup of course but blimey it hurts! I asked the breeder to put an old towel or blanket in with mum and the litter so as to pick up the scent...mine sleeps soundly on that blanket and...touch wood...we are not getting any crying..she's sleeping straight thru till. 6.15 when we get up.It does seem to have been a comfort. It's a wonderful experience, I hope you enjoy it as we are...despite being exhausted !
I have the happy puppy book already on order. Just waiting for delivery. We are get a little black lab a boy, going to name him blade. He is still with mum at the moment I have seen pictures of the whole litter, we are going on Friday to choose him. Can't wait. I have been doing lots of research already, but all the advice passed on I will listen. We will take ownership in about a month, as holiday and work commitments. Then I have two weeks off to bond with him. I post pics after Friday. Thanks again. eady
Hi we got our bundle of joy nearly 4 weeks ago...yes puppy teeth are sharp and they do hurt. I got a load of chew toys but my boy seems to prefer destroying cardboard boxes, ripping up paper and tissues to shreds and taking the heads off all the flowers in my garden! we have enjoyed having Bailey join us, he really is our fur-baby. I am sure you will enjoy your little bundle too.
Exciting times ahead! I bet you can't wait. Hope we get some pics from your visit. I'd probably be working out a plan for what you're going to do to make sure your pup has enough company once you go back to work. For us that involved day care and dog walkers (though for a puppy it'd be more like 'play time' than an actual walk). You will love the Happy Puppy Handbook - best puppy book out there by far.
I'm back to work, but my wife will be home with our little girl. So all being well, with plenty of reading and bursting everybody's head on here with questions we should be fine.
Not sure what you read on the WWW but a: Crate A portable pen A child/pet gate A fenced back yard My personal favorite a dog door to the yard. (you won't use this for a while, but it really makes life easier after about 3 months.) One or two dog beds Lots of toys and treats Small Collar Lite Leash A camera
When you go to pick him/ her up wear old clothes, take an old towel and lots of kitchen paper towel, they frequently don't travel well. Ask breeder not to feed them just before you leave with them. If you get the opportunity give the breeder something with your smell on for the puppy before you collect it. I slept with a dog toy before I took it too the breeder. Forget sandals and shorts this summer, they have incredibly sharp teeth and nails. Also, forget dressing gowns unless you want a pup dangling off the hem. Accept now that how quickly they toilet train will largely be down to you. They really do need yo go outside every 20 minutes. Buy some enzyme cleaner for the inevitable accidents. Ordinary cleaners do not remove every trace of smell. You won,t be able to smell it, but pup will and it will scream "this is the place to pee" at it. This will turn your life upside down. You will be sleep deprived. You won't have time to think. Even dashing out to the shops will need planning.
Great idea to take a couple of weeks off work. I actually Slept on the sofa near Luna for a week when we first got her to take her out in the night for a wee and make sure she didn't miss her mum! It worked really well and she was dry during the night very quickly. I really second the no flappy clothes rule, I was surprised at how bitey lab puppies are and anything flapping around was just to tempting for her. And come on here lots for lots of support!
Also, I don't know how old your little girl is but you will have to make sure you supervise any interaction and try to encourage her not to get Blade too excited. I have a little boy who is 3 and that has been the most difficult thing. We are getting there and I think actually they are going to be great friends but we have had lots of tears and holes in clothes. Despite all of that she is starting to calm down (15 weeks) and we absolutely love our dog!
Besides all of the above, I found Your Labrador Retriver Puppy- Month by Month a very helpful book. I consulted it a lot.
Also...l just thought...a Kong! It is a toy you stuff with food and they can chew, it stimulates them as well as being indestructible!
Hahaha! This is what I need as I have a VERY bitey boy. Wonder if it comes in kids' sizes? I second the advice about cardboard boxes etc - start saving them up! If you have a real chewer, they are invaluable. My favourite thing (well, Nugget's) is the inner cardboard tube in foil or clingfilm. It's really tough and takes a while to chew up. Plastic bottles too - the 2 litre lemonade ones are popular here and so are the large milk bottles.
I fear Matt is now reconsidering the whole puppy business! We've had Molly nearly 4 weeks and it's been much harder than I imagined. I'm glad I went with the pen and puppy pad option for night time as it meant no night time wake ups. I gave the breeder a blanket to put in with mum and pups before we collected her, which she slept with, I also put a large cuddly toy in her bed, whether it was that or we were just lucky with the nights I don't know but she didn't cry at night. Its almost impossible for my 4 yr old to play with her as Molly just gets to bitey, we've all had blood drawn....
