Collecting puppy on Thursday. Terrified!

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Cedars

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Hi guys,

Looking for some confidence please! We're collecting our black lab puppy on Thursday. My boyfriend has two horses but this is my first pet and I'm TERRIFIED I'm going to mess up and do something wrong.

Is it as easy as people make it look?
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Her breeders are only 20 mins down the road and they said ring them if there is ever a problem so thats good.

Eek.

Hannah
 
You'll be fine! I think dogs are much easier than horses.

Just remember to take a towel with you for the ride home as it may be his first car journey so he might be a bit sick. Then let him settle in and explore.

Labs are the most gorgeous easy going dogs in my experience, not like when I brought a spaniel tornado home in January, he will probably settle right in
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Be calm, kind and consistent and you'll be ok.

Enjoy it, and take lots of photos - as you know this is the law on HHO
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Will definitely take LOADSS of photos, I'm very excited.

Good advice about the towel, I really hope she isn't sick but I suppose we'll find out!

Will she wanna spend time on her own when she gets home or with us? Should I show her the house and garden or try and introduce her to things slowly over the next few days?

Hannah
 
You have had good tips with towel but waterproof sheet might be needed.My pup peed on my lap with nerves.That was eleven years ago and sadly we lost him last month but I wish you lots of fun with your new friend.
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Find good puppy training clinic it will help no end,they normally start about 5months of age.
 
Ooops - her, not him! Sorry
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She might be ok, Barney was ok but better safe than sorry!

I would be inclined to let her explore quietly the areas that she will be allowed into, go with her but don't rush her let her sniff around a bit and just keep everything really chilled. She might well need the loo when she gets home so I'd start with the garden so she can go in an 'authorised' place and get off on a good footing with you and her new home.

It's been a while since I settled a puppy though so others might have more up to date info!
 
As soon as you get home, straight into the garden, lots of fuss when she does something, then let her mooch about keep an eye but don't crowd her.
Once she has done something back into the house and just let her mooch about. If she isn't allowed on the furniture then make sure it is that way from day one, if you want to speak to her sit on the floor. Don't let her out of your sight, but don't stalk her round the house
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Back outside at regular intervals (eg. every half hour/hour) and also any time she wakes/eats/drinks/etc, lots of fuss when she does something! If she goes to squat, pick her up and straight out, don't make a fuss of her until she has dones something. If she does actually have an accident then don't tell her off, it will only make her scared to go in front of you, not scared to go in the house.

Stock up on kitchen roll and antibac spray!!
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The key is consitancy, make sure anything that you do want her to do is not allowed from day one and wanted behaviour is rewarded!

Most importantly have fun and take lots of pictures!
It's not that scary, but it can be hardwork
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They are worth it though
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You can't beat a good black lab
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Just take your time and enjoy your puppy :0 Labs are terribly easy gonig dogs and very easy to train as all they wish to do is to please you
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We use our labs as gundogs and honestly I have never worked with more pleasing dogs in my life.

Definitely introduce things slowly as not to overwhelm her. The same goes for people coming to visit. I know everyone gets excited about a new pup, but keep the visits to a minimum for first few days to let her settle in.
 
You'll be fine, a lab is a lovely easy-going first dog and you'll pick it up in no time.
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When you first get her home, let her have some quiet time on her own if she looks nervous or stressed, but if she wants a cuddle then that's good too! Dogs are quite good at letting you know when they need something so you should be fine, especially with the breeders there to offer you advice. I haven't had a puppy in a few years but you're bound to be able to find lots of advice on house-training and socialising and stuff if you Google it, and the people on here are obviously very helpful! I hope you enjoy your new friend!
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You are sooooooooo gonna pay for that Hen! I bet if you met my labs you would love them
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Especially my little blonde bimbo Midget. Who now answers to Midget instead of Cindy
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[ QUOTE ]
I bet if you met my labs you would love them
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[/ QUOTE ]

I bet I would actually
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Otto seems to like them too, he goes all squiggly and wormy whenever he meets them out walking
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Whereas Cocker Spaniels are ignored
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Strange dog
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He has yet to meet another Springer, but I'm sure they would be his favourite
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Thanks so much for the advice guys, feeling a bit less scared now!

Did all your puppys cry the first night? I know you have to leave them to it but its gonna be awful if she does!! =[

Hannah xxxx
 
Beastie dog, my schnauzer did.

Cindy, my most recent pup didn't. Although she was out with Tina, my older lab so had her as a 'mother' figure. Much to Tina's horror
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Barney (lab we had from a puppy) never made a squeak - although on his first night he did stage a jailbreak through the baby gate and had a good gnaw on the wellies. He was put off a repeat performance when he tried it the next morning after breakfast and got stuck!
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Henry (spaniel, collected as a grown dog) kept me awake for two nights with his special 'vocal and drum solo' routine
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So I ignored him and he now sleeps in the kitchen quite happily.

Go figure!
 
[ QUOTE ]

Henry (spaniel, collected as a grown dog) kept me awake for two nights with his special 'vocal and drum solo' routine
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So I ignored him and he now sleeps in the

[/ QUOTE ]

Cocker Spaniels have a special talent for vocals, didn't you know??
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Otto squeaked very quietly but constantly the first night we had him, I gave in
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and he slept in his crate in the bedroom without any issues. Now he sleeps sprawled over my OH in bed
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Haha about the jailbreak thats hysterical! We havent got a babygate, we were just going to shut the kitchen door. Is that a bad idea? We houseshare with my boyfriends mum and so i dont really want to start installing baby gates everywhere!!! xxxx
 
Thats what I'm worried about - she'll cry, I'll give in and then she'll never sleep downstairs again lol! xxxx
 
You'll have loads of fun!!! There is nothing like a puppy to cheer you up.

Get her vaccinations done asap and then you can join a puppy class which is great for socialisation, advice and fun!
 
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Thats what I'm worried about - she'll cry, I'll give in and then she'll never sleep downstairs again lol! xxxx

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I gave in to Beastie and she now sleeps on my bed
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She's already 14 weeks so she's had both sets of vaccs which is great, means she can be outside and things. Havent been looking very hard but havent heard of a puppy class near our area - Nailsworth, GL6?

Anybody got any ideas about whether shutting the door on her when we're in bed is back? During the day we'll have it wedged open, just not at night because if she chews the grand piano I'll be killed....xx
 
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Cocker Spaniels have a special talent for vocals, didn't you know??
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Well I do now... but strangely enough the rescue place didn't mention that gem of a fact...
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Henry has the voice of an angel... going through a mincer
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Thats what I'm worried about - she'll cry, I'll give in and then she'll never sleep downstairs again lol! xxxx

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Otto is actually fairly good
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He comes onto the bed for a cuddle while we read and then gets off when I tell him and goes to his own bed. Then he either stays in his bed all night or if it's cold he sneaks back onto the bed at some point
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When he stays with my Parents he sleeps downstairs, on his own, without any fuss.

I would have ignored his whining, but we live in a flat and the walls are paper thin, and I like to sleep too much!
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Anybody got any ideas about whether shutting the door on her when we're in bed is back? During the day we'll have it wedged open, just not at night because if she chews the grand piano I'll be killed....xx

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My Parent's puppies used to be shut in the kitchen, but because we had adult dogs that needed to go in the kitchen to get to their water, we had a bit of plywood wedged in the doorway, so puppy couldn't get out but the adult dogs could jump in.
You just have to make sure it's high enough so puppy can't escape!
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Ask the breeder where she as been used to sleeping, or where she is left when unsupervised, if she has been used to being with another dog, she is going to be more stressed when left alone, and a big space all alone to a little puppy is very daunting, so I would maybe think about buying her an indoor puppy crate, 1, to keep her safe, and 2, to get her used to a routine and of being confident in her own space/company.
When u get her, establish a routine asap, do not allow her to spend every waking minute with u, then suddendly go out and leave her, this must be done gradually and u must practice the same routine when u are in, aswell as out, so place her in the kitchen/crate when u are pottering around the house, this way she does not assosoiate being put in it, with u leaving her.

Feed her in the crate, give her safe, long lasting chews when she is placed in there, and give her a teddy bear sibling, roughly the same size, minus eyes and nose(she may chew them off), for her to cuddle into, this gives them a little comfort and mimics company when alone.
Cover the crate at night, to help u get a lie in
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when the dawn breaks and leave the radio on low, so she cannot hear every little bit of noise, same when u are going out so she cannot ear u leave and re-enter, when u do get up to let her out or get home from being out, make NO fuss, simply release her to the garden, tis is her reward for u returning home and part of her toilet routine, if u make a big fuss, she will simply anticipate your return for a big comotion, and it's more likely to make her inpatient and anxious, ask everyone to stick to the same routine.
Always tire her out before placing her in the crate for longer periods, by tiring her out in the garden or a short walk whilst she is still young, gradually building up to lengthy walks, she is a lab, she will need it
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I would assume she is fully house trained, but if not, restrict her access for now, to the rooms u are in, so u can scoop her up, as Hen suggests and take her to designated pooh spot, the garden
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, otherwise if she is left to wonder and u cannot see where she is passing her motions, u will never correct her.
Try not to feed her a substantial meal b4 leaving her for te longest periods, as she has to keep it in, don't forget, so small snack, then bigger meals when u can let her out more frequently in the beginning.

The hardest thing is te first few night, as she is in a strange place, if u can try and establish a routine as suggested above, it will get easier quicker, aqlso as suggested by Hen, the crate in the bedroom for a few nights covered, then back down stairs whe she is settled, she won't know she has been moved at all, and it's an easier way to settle them if u have problems, esp when others are sharing the house, it means u can us her the first few nights without traipsing uo and down stairs.
Labs can be destructive, so a good leave alone routine and gradual buid up of exercise as she gets bigger is essentail

Have fun
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I can totally understand where you are coming from! We picked our 9 week old black lab up yesterday!

Our experience so far:

Travelling - he whined a bit for the first 20 minutes then slept for the next 2 hours home! I was on the back seat with him next to me on some vetbed. We have just taken him out for a 5 minute drive in the boot of my car with the dog guard and he was very whiney but settled just as we got home.

Getting home - Gillie seemed really confident, we took him for a short walk together (as recommended by the Dog Whisperer!) before going into the house. He had a mooch about, played with some of his toys and then ate his lunch. He has eaten every scrap since!

Night time - not so good! We started off with him in his crate in the kitchen but you would think someone was murdering him! We consulted the Dog Whisperer book and that suggested having the crate in the same room as you for the first few nights. Once we moved the crate into our room he settled after about 20 minutes, woke up at 2.30am and I took him out for a pee and then back to bed where he settled after 10 minutes and slept until 5.30am.

Have fun, they are the best!
 
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