When would be best to collect puppy?

[BettyBo33]

Looking for advice on when to pick up our new puppy. She turned 8 weeks old today and is a 2 hour drive away. DC aren’t aware at all. I can either collect her this Friday or Saturday. Tell the kids, have them help prep the house,buy the bits etc or I can wait until next Wednesday when I will tell them and collect pup the same day. So no chance to build up excitement or help prep. DC are 7,10,15. My issue is if I pick up puppy Fri/Sat the kids can be more involved with bringing her home but my younger two are off to stay with grandma on Sunday-Tuesday. Is it a bit unfair to get puppy and then expect DC to go? (Can’t be changed grandma has booked days out etc) or would it be better for puppy to have that staggered time without all 3 DC at once as she settles? Or do I wait till Wednesday?’ What would you do? Thanks

[BiteyShark]

Given that it's a big enough change for the puppy I think bringing puppy home when there are less DCs gives you and puppy time to settle in with less fuss and excitement.

[BettyBo33]

Thanks biteyshark. Just looking for opinions as I can’t make a decision on my own ha!

[Egg]

I think the two that are off to grandma will become reluctant to leave the new puppy (sorry grandma) and it could make it awkward for poor grandma feeling they’ve gone to her when they’d rather be at home. I’d wait until Wednesday.

I collected our new puppy while my kids were at school and she met them all en masse when they got home. They were quite young so a bit giddy but it went fine.

[DogInATent]

Any chance you could pick-up on Sunday? Get the pup settled for a couple of nights and have the kids come home to it. You'll have to manage the initial excitement of the younger children on Tuesday but you'd be staggering the events for the benefit of the pup.

The only issue then is the family politics of the 15yo being involved whilst the two others are with granny, and avoiding 15yo viewing the privilege as being nine-tenths possession in terms of the pup. Only you know whether or not that might have lasting ramifications or whether it will be a case of puppy-forgives-all.

[DogInATent]

@BettyBo33
So.... how's it going? What did you do in the end?

[BettyBo33]

Hey! In the end I got her on the Friday. I did all the prep myself and told DC Thurs night so they woke up excited to collect her :) def the best choice. It means we’ve had a few extra days and with the DC going off they all got quality time without overwhelming puppy. Now I’m the middle of toilet training!

[BiteyShark]

Good luck with the training