Hi everyone, After 4 years in the planning (18 for me!), husband and I have today found our breeder and put our names on the waiting lists for 2 bitches due to come into season next month. It's a long, uncertain road ahead, with mating, due dates and (hopefully) securing a pup and finally finding The (mutual) One all to get through. However, I am desperately trying to contain my excitement! So to manage this I thought I would get practical, and indulge in my lab life fantasy while preparing for ensuing chaos. I grew up with dogs and we've dog walked our friends' dogs for years but this will be our first dog. I've done a lot of reading on importance of socialisation (found a puppy training place nearby and friendly neighbours with dogs), not overexercising, vet jabs and health tests etc. I'm also not going to crate train. But reading and experiences are very different and I would love to hear any thoughts - what advice do you wish you had been given (or followed) before getting your lab pup? Is there anything I could/should be doing over the next few months to prepare for the carnage? Any tips on dealing with the wait when pup isn't even a twinkle in their mum/dad's eye?! Thanks in advance, OB.
Pretty much identical question asked recently here you might like to look at: https://thelabradorforum.com/threads/what-would-you-do-differently-if-you-had-your-time-again.28607/ Good luck with everything that lies ahead. We ourselves are at about the same point in a journey to find our next pup too. Let's all hope that coronavirus restrictions enable us to socialise our pups when we do get them!
This is our first time with a puppy after having three adult rescue dogs. It is totally different! I would say buy all of Pippa Mattinson’s books. They are great. And very specific advice all grounded in lots of experience and science. Then start looking for a dog trainer or some online classes you can do. And ask how much experience they have with training puppies and what they base their methods on. We had one for the first few weeks of having our puppy who turned out to not be very experienced and said a lot of things directly opposite to most of the things I have read in Pippa’s books. So we are four weeks in and starting all over again. And start buying stuff early on. There is so much stuff to buy! Good luck!
Thank you both for your advice and clearly great minds with the other post! Will keep my eyes peeled... Good luck to you at your very different stages! OB.
