Collect GR puppy tomorrow! Advice on first few hours...

[NicInBetween]

This is a first for us. I pick up our GR bitch tomorrow, she's 11 weeks old. Any advice on coping with/dealing with the first 24 hours would be so much appreciated. We have a large puppy pen, and a lovely soft basket. I'm hoping she will have enough bladder control for us to ensure she only goes outside but i know this is no way guaranteed. She 'lives' in a large pen at the moment and is not, as far as i know, crated - which is why in the end we decided against crate training.

I understand from various reading that one of us needs to sleep with her the first night or so. But all advice, suggestions, warnings, etc will be appreciated. Very excited but very daunted. Thankyou!

[ImBrian]

What's a GR? My pup went in his crate in my room the first night home (and ever since) and apart from a few squeaks but settled really well. Mine didn't need to go out for a wee at all over night and he was 11 weeks. I think I spent a fortnight stood in the rain over Christmas though!

[NicInBetween]

Sorry, Golden Retriever! The problem i'm find is (and i meant to put this in my first post) that everything I read online about the first night assumes you have a crate, not an 'open' bed. Which isn't much help!

[Heyheyheygoodbye]

The Puppy Handbook is a great book - but I think it too assumes a crate, sorry!

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Ah so cute.

Honestly our lab was fIne. One or two days to settle.

We had a crate. Puppy into crate when we went to bed. First one or two nights If she wimpered we'd go and comfort.

That was it.

[GinIsIn]

You really will want a crate - sorry! Everything is going to be very new and overwhelming for them so try and keep things quiet and calm- if you have DC, you may want to keep them away for the first day/night. Wrapping a hot water bottle in a blanket and popping it in with them helps them settle as the warmth reminds them of the rest of the litter.

[Noitsnotteatimeyet]

A crate is a wonderful thing - with a comfy bed inside and a blanket over it it becomes the puppy's own private den, its safe space

We took it in turns to sleep on the sofa downstairs next to the crate for the first few nights. The first night our puppy went for a wee twice, once the second night and slept from midnight to 5:30 the next. A couple of times there'd be a little whimper but because we were right there we could shush him back to sleep in a few moments

We kept things very quiet for the first week or so with no visitors

He slept quite a lot and didn't eat much at all for a couple of days but quickly got used to his new home

I hope your pup settles quickly - have fun!

[littlehayleyc]

Hope all goes well with your new addition. We have had our golden retriever x flatcoat pup for 2 weeks. He's 10 weeks old now and tends to sleep from about 11am until around 6am. The first night he cried for about 20 mins but by the 3rd night he didn't cry at all. We collected him first thing in the morning so he had plenty of time to settle, and tried not to crowd him too much. We were given a peice of vet bed with the mum and puppies scent on, so we put that him his bed. He had been well socialised by his breeder so seems to have taken everything in his stride so far. He's met lots of people and been to other people's houses. He's lovely, but hard work!

[Panicmode1]

We had a crate for our GR pup too (with her bed in it). Kept her safe from the four children who always wanted to be holding/playing/stroking etc the pup and gave her a place to retreat to when she needed a break. We didn't sleep near her; the first night I checked on her relentlessly but she never made any noise and has been a brilliant sleeper from day 1. Only thing we did do is have something from the breeder (old towel) which smelt of her mother and left that in the crate with her for the first few nights.

Good luck, have fun and enjoy the mayhem!

[NicInBetween]

Well, I can honestly say Cassie is utterly gorgeous and easier (so far) than i expected (except for toileting). She is completely unfazed by the transition from living in a 'nursery' - to a family of six. For both nights she has been on her own, and with no whining/barking at all. Even when i came down in the morning she was quiet but excited to see me! She's learnt to sit already, and to fetch. Not chewing. No major problems.

But she's weeing/poohing inside and out - and we have no warning that's what she's about to do. We put a training pad down the first night which ended up in her basket and there was pooh on the carpet. Last night we made the pen smaller and the mat was still in the 'right' place and v wet - so an improvement. But day time it's tough so all advice welcome please.

She's getting used to her collar so tomorrow i'll start her on the leash and see how she goes with that. She seems pretty laid back...

[frostyfingers]

You will need take her out what seems like every 5 minutes - and watch her like a hawk, bit like potty training children really! Lots of praise when she gets it right is essential too. I've never used the training pads but I think some people feel they don't work and you're better just getting her outside as much as possible. Ours were all kept in the utility room at night, not caged so widdled on the floor which stopped reasonably quickly.

[jigster01]

We didn't use a crate for our GR just a bed and a gate in the kitchen ..night time we put pads by the back door and he was very good but yes keep taking outdoors ..you can tell if they sniff the ground and go round in circles that it is wee wee time as we called it and he soon caught on and then lots of praise when done .I posted a photo of him on here ..he is beautiful !!!!

[WaitrosePigeon]

Pics or it didn't happen

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

I'm going to report this thread as it's against the rules to post about a puppy without photos.

[whatwoulddexterdo]

I need to see pictures of your pup before I can help!
Disclaimer, I have no useful advice but goldies are my fave, I have one of my own

[NicInBetween]

how do you post pics on here?!