New Lab Pup

[puppygalore]

Hi all I've been following the July/August threads to prepare for collecting our first dog and we picked up our new Lab yesterday. Oh my goodness, she's gorgeous but I'm already exhausted from last night! Someone please tell me night 2 is better

[Wolfiefan]

Congratulations.
Dog training advice and support on FB have great advice for new pups.
It does get easier.

[puppygalore]

Thanks wolfiefan, I joined that group a while back to prepare and have worked through many of the early units. Some of it contradicts the puppy handbook I read though (like letting pup cry it out/go to her, allow mouthing or not and some other things). I think it's like before having kids though, nothing you read can really prepare you properly until you do it!

We had a lot of false alarms through the night, I wasn't sure which cries were for toilet or for being lonely, so I just kept taking her out each time she cried. Then taking around 40 mins to settle, so I'm really hoping tonight we'll get some longer stretches of settled sleep

[puppygalore]

Sorry forgot the puppy tax! Here's my new lovely little ddog

[muckandnettles]

You'll soon get to know your pup better. I will say that month 2 is better, not sure about night 2! Gorgeous puppy photo!

[foofooyeah]

Beautiful. It will get better. Promise.

[ProperVexed]

Beautiful! Our labs only cried once in the first night...then were fine! Good luck tonight ( and ignore any crying)

[Roselilly36]

She is gorgeous, fingers crossed for a better nights sleep tonight.

[Wolfiefan]

Hoping you do get more sleep.
Cry it out is bad advice.
Puppies mouthe. It’s how they explore the world. It’s not a case of not allowing it. But rather constantly directing it onto what allowed to be chewed! Ie. Not you!!!!
Bless that face!!

[Groundhogdayzz]

Aww, gorgeous pup! The kids slept in with our pup the first few nights and then moved out once he was more settled. It seemed to make the transition from mum and siblings to completely on his own a bit smoother.

[Greenmarmalade]

Ours slept through from night 4, and was much better from night 2. She sleeps in our teenage dd’s room though. We carry her downstairs for one wee in the night.(It’s the puppy biting im dealing with now, at 10 weeks!)

[RiaRoth]

Easy peasy puppy squeezy best puppy book ever

[puppygalore]

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. I'm constantly reading contradictions like ignore crying and it'll settle, or don't ignore, she's just a baby. I'm not sure what to do for the best. I can't really let her cry anyway as don't want her to wake the whole house up.

I'm giving her a toy whenever she tries to mouth/nibble but nothing seems to interest her more than my feet and slippers! I've read to say 'ow!' in a loud yelp when she nips like a littermate would do, and I've also read to make no sound, ignore and move away. I suppose it's a case of figuring out what works best and hopefully with nights we'll fall into some kind of pattern.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

The Pet Gundog by Lez Graham is a great guide. She's an inventive and sensible trainer.

[villainousbroodmare]

Seconding the Pet Gundog book. Excellent even if you never work her.

[puppygalore]

Thanks so much, I'll take a look at those recommendations.

[Paranoidmarvin]

I would never let them cry it out.

[CupcakeLady06]

Gorgeous puppy!! We have a 7 month black lab! It all definitely gets easier, ours was a real struggle to get to sleep through the night In the beginning. She was from a litter of 10 and I think she was just really lonely :( we let ours mouth, it teaches them how hard they are allowed to bite. Feel free to PM if you need someone to listen through any tough parts :)

[puppygalore]

@CupcakeLady06 thank you that's really kind! I will definitely bear it in mind but try not to bother you.

Update in case anyone else is reading while despairing after a bad first night! Last night was so much better, bedtime wee at 10, tried her again at 11 but she didn't need to go, I noticed she became overly aggressive in playing once we came back in. I'm assuming that may be a sign she was overtired. Tonight I'll try 10pm as final bedtime. Anyway at about 11.15 I settled her with a nylabone and strokes in the crate, then amazingly no noise from her til 2, she did so well! Then after a little wait she did a wee, but wasn't bursting to go so I'm thinking that's a really good long time for her to be holding it at this age.

When I settled her it only took 10 mins to stroke her through the bars, as opposed to night 1 which was 30-40 mins each time. After that my husband took over (we have a baby monitor on her so I gave it to him, which meant I could mentally switch off - last night I was trying to do it on my own and couldn't fall asleep in the short gaps between her cries as I was too alert) Then she did a 5am wee and poo. But the daft bloke made the mistake of having all the lights on and a playtime with her afterwards instead of right back into the crate as I'd requested, so she didn't go back to sleep til I got up at 7.30 by which time she should have been having breakfast!

I've done 2 little clicker and treat mini training sessions with her yesterday and this morning and she seems to be understanding 'sit' already, not sure if that's even possible so soon but I feel really positive! I've ordered the book reccs, thanks everyone for your help.

[Broondug]

Hello, joining this thread. Our wee 8 week old pup was so distressed last night. His first night. I’ve been really struggling with the conflicting advice. Some people say cry it out some people say soothe. Don’t know whether I’m coming or going. What I do know is I’m exhausted! Hoping for a more settled night. I’ve no idea how I’d cope as a mother of a newborn when I’m completely frazzled After 1 day with pupper.

[puppygalore]

Hi @Broondug I hope tonight goes better! Night 2 was so much improved for us, fingers crossed as he's more familiar with you now then tonight will be calmer for you all. I know what you mean about coming and going, there's so much conflicting advice. Just as an anecdote I didn't want to do cry it out and I'm hoping I won't need to. Some books say do, others don't, and it was the same when I had my DC totally opposing advice so I'd say pick what feels right for your situation.

[Broondug]

I’m so happy I could cry. Had such a settled night. Went to sleep about half 11. Cried at 2 for a pee so we went out. Straight back to bed without barely a word and just stroked him until he was asleep. Was convinced I’d hear him again. Woke up in a panic at 4:45 and couldn’t believe the time. The longest he had ever been without the toilet. He was awake but only just. Out to the garden for a well needed pee and a poo and just having a nice sleepy cuddle after some food. Il keep him up for the toilet again and hopefully he will go back to bed for another few hours. Hope all is well in the puppygalore household x

[puppygalore]

Hurray @Broondug that sounds great! Night 3 for us wasn't as good as night 2. She peed at 10, cried at 11 but nothing when I took her out. Then 1am I heard a little whine and went downstairs too slowly - found pee and poo on her bed and all over her littermates' scent blanket. Poor thing. I felt so horrible and cleaned up as best I could, just hoping it's a one off and the scent won't encourage it again. Settled her by about 2.30. She slept til 5.30 but didn't need to toilet until just after 6, which was her longest stretch so hoping we are on the right track despite the accident.

[JuiceyBetty]

Beautiful pup! Come join our puppy survival thread :)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/4011356-Puppy-survival-thread-September?watched=1