101 questions for new pup

[TheHumancatapult]

We are getting lab puppy end of january after having to wait till breeder had pups but want some help advice to make sure am fully prepared been a very long time since had a puppy.But i am at home most the time and if not ds1 /ds2 is

if anyone can spare time to read and add anything else i have forgotten /need to do and help would be grateful and aware that every thing i have planned may not happen so will need to rethink nothing set in stone other than not on beds

Am planning to use a crate so ordered one and also a divider as aware it will be to big at first
planning on clicker training

Have found by word of mouth what seems good training /socialisation puppy class,they also do follow on class and agility etc if decide to go down that route. Have also booked couple of 1-1 lessons at home first so make sure on right track but any more tips.
Can i take pup out but carried from 8 weeks or need to wait ?

vaccinations( breeder will do first) and microchipping is booked
planning Harness not collor/lead as easier for both of us from my wheelchair

recommendations for first chew toys etc
Will check what food breeder uses and obviously plan to continue to use that at least at first .But what others do people recommend was thinking wainwrights.would one for large puppy breeds be better ?

Puppy will sleep downstairs but as I do to not sure best way for nights to mange and if best to put pup to bed in her crate at night to signify bedtime .House is open plan downstairs but will make sure no gaps and all wires are out of reach or covered

Rule wise and my older children have been told .sofa is fine don't mind ,bed not allowed .
Puppy can go upstairs am not worried about that will also let them play in my lift so are used to it and not scared and will be shown where it goes so can meet me upstairs rather than think i vanished
will with their help come up with words that plan to use for any training etc so all the same ( ds3 may add his own version due to speech issues )

[TheHumancatapult]

sorry should add thank you if got to end of that

[MostAmused]

Sounds like you're really thinking ahead, so you're off to a good start already. We've only had our pup 7 weeks so i'm no expert but I have learnt a lot!
Not sure if you've clicker trained an animal before but I've dabbled in it with 15 week old dpup and I find it quite difficult. Like patting my head and rubbing my tummy! So wish I'd practiced without the puppy or with a friend's dog first.
We use hand signals with most of the regular commands and he seems to respond better to this than vocal cues anyway so that might help to keep things constant for him.
We carried our pup around everywhere before he was vaccinated. As long as his feet don't touch the ground and he isn't in contact with unvaccinated dogs he should be ok. It gets them used to sights and sounds but it will still be a new experience when they're on the ground themselves, just less overwhelming. Have a google of the Puppy Plan for a guide to socialisation.
It might be best to teach your pup to only get on the sofa via invitation if he's going to be big? Otherwise he might jump up when you have a hot tea in your hand etc. This is just how we do things though. I have noticed everyone is different when it comes to sofa rules.

[TheHumancatapult]

Thank you

Will carry pup on my lap when outdoors.Will hold on to them obviously with my free hand( used to holding wriggling niece so should be ok )and will look up the puppy plan

Yes good idea about inviting up on sofa as his dad is a big chunky lab and yes will try using hand signals to .Have ordered a clicker so will practice

We did try a older rescue dog before deciding to go down the puppy route but it was all to much for them with noise of my lift and with my manual chair indoors and size sound of my powerchair.Aware wont be plain sailing with a puppy but think they will take to it a lot more easier than older dog

[tabulahrasa]

I find you need two hands free for clicker training, one for the clicker and one for treats...and a wristband is handy so you always have the clicker on you.

A lab puppy shouldn't really be going up and down stairs btw, it's not fantastic for their joints.

Large breed puppy food - I'm 50/50 on that tbh, I can't help thinking that it's a bit of a con, the most important thing is that you don't over feed and that they don't put on too much weight...which normal food should do just the same, but I'm sure wainwrights do a large breed one anyway.

Going out - you want to take it everywhere you possibly can do, just not on the ground.

[TheHumancatapult]

Thank you
At what point are lab puppies safe for stairs ?.

Looks like they will get to jump in lift with me .Be half expecting pup at some point when faced with stairs look round for a lift

[TheHumancatapult]

Thank you
indoors that be fine as will just sit still in my chair but outdoors when on the go obviously not going be an option as need hand to drive . but if in park siting still training wise yes will have spare hands

Yes will keep eye on portion /size weight as aware labs tend to be greedy about food .planning to use some of weighed food for the treats rather than extras

[Hippychick73]

If you want the sort of dog that you can take to pubs /restaurants, travel well in cars and get on with other dogs then between 8 -16 ( even before jabs- just carry ) then take them into as many different places as possible and in / out of the car.

Get them used to every day life and noise , traffic, people and other animals
Get them used to be left on there own for a few minutes each day as well


The more you do now the better adult dog you will have in a few years time

[Collaborate]

OP: We're picking up our lab puppy in 2 weeks and have been told by the breeder that we MUST avoid stairs or the dog leaping down from, say, a car boot, until her bones are fully formed (12 months). You mustn't let them jump down from anything in that time, as it will damage their bone development. Same for enforced exercise (5 mins for every month of age until 12 months).

[tabulahrasa]

The growth plates close from about 18 months...

It's not that I'd carry them until then, because that's a little impractical, lol, but I would be careful about how often they're doing stairs.

The clicker training - it's absolutely fine to mix with just a voice marker or whatever for when the clicker isn't convenient. The really important rule is to never click without a reward, but rewarding without the click is ok.

[TheHumancatapult]

thank you

fortunate we have through floor lift so dog can use that ,when either I'm home alone and wants to follow me upstairs or to big to carry .Also tail lift in van anyway .Ponders teaching dog how to press lift buttons

Yeah I knew about the not overwalking and fortunate have places very close by especially when to big for my lap or to be carried .Am planning on taking the pup out and about on lap at first to see buses/cars/trains etc and introducing her to my mums dog who fully inoculated