Just be aware labs are mouthy dogs and Willow will take anything that looks and feels like a blanket to her bed including solied puppy pads. We tried a rubber mat under her water bowl as she gets it everywhere after having a drunk this ended up in her basket water bowl as well.
I thought I would let you all know that we are going to get her. We know how much work is going to be involved as our friends have guided us since they have had both their labs from pups. Looking at a different breed wouldn't make any difference as I love Labs and always wanted one for as long as I remember. Least this way I am getting one from people I trust and dogs I already know. I know this isn't going to be easy but we have fallen in love with her already and she will be well looked after and loved.
Good luck with your pup. My pup is just approaching 6 months and she has really tried my resilience and 'my dog skills' at times. Our best purchase has been a crate for her to sleep in at night, giving her training and mental tasks throughout the day also helps. I wasn't prepared for the level of biting we had ( I have had lots of dogs in the past but the level she did her puppy biting was a surprise) and still have to some extent at nearly 6 months, read up on this as its only now she is becoming less bitey. At nearly 6 months she is now becoming too heavy for me to carry up and down stairs and she is a small working lab weighing approx. 12kg. She and we loved going to puppy school too, was good to brush up on my puppy training skills even though I've had dogs all my life and she just loves a training session! all the best.
So your mind is made up and your heart is set so YES Go for it! Good news is you will be able to keep in mind all of the things that were said to you here, and you will be a little more realistic about what having this puppy will look like. I think that helps a lot when first working with and training your puppy! If I may be so bold. Do not use the puppy pads. Use a crate for house breaking this puppy. Yes, Carry her up and down the stairs as long as you can. When we got our puppy that we have now, it was the middle of winter and where I needed her to go to the bathroom was out of our basement door (other doors get snowed in). So in essence in the night it was 2 flights of stairs. Most of the day we were on our middle floor so one flight of stairs. I carried her probably until she was about 14 weeks and honestly in the end it was pretty hard, she was heavy and I worried about falling down the stairs. I am 54 though Anway, from that point on we took it very slowly on the stairs and only use them when we have to. Soooo Im sure your puppy will be fine and honestly, I never ever thought about some of these things when I got my first Lab 30 years ago, so in my book you are ahead of the game!! enjoy!
Our mind is 100% made up and we are now proud Lab parents!!! Cannot wait until 6th August and we can bring her home We are both 28 and would say very level headed. We have done loads of research and would never want to do anything that would hurt an animal. Even the owner has asked all the questions with the vets so we know she is going to be okay
"we are now proud Lab parents!!! Cannot wait until 6th August and we can bring her home " Congratulations!! What color and boy or girl?? Have you picked a name?
Congratulations. I think you can succeed and maybe even enjoy it Find yourself a pair of shoes/slippers that you can slip into that has a non-skid tread. NOT flipflops. At some point the puppy is going to pee on the stairs so have paper towels and enzyme cleaner at hand. If somebody sells pre-moistened enzymatic wipes that would be great for nocturnal clean up. Pictures please?
Thanks for the advice! I ordered the crate/pen/bedding etc on Amazon last night. Not sure how to upload any pictures. I will try change my profile picture to her.
Picture is Luna 3 days old. Out of all the pups we held she is the one who fell asleep in my hands and have been in love with her ever since!
