Im getting a labrador puppy AM I MAD?

[OnlyWantsOne]

We collect her next week, she'll be 8 weeks.

She's a white lab, we've called her Tahlulla...

Am I mad?

We have a 9 week old black one - and haven't gone mad yet.

It'll be exhausting, you'll be on tenterhooks not letting her out of your sight and you'll probably benefit from an extra large order of kitchen roll, poo bags, rubber gloves, disinfectant and biological washing powder. You'll be up a few times in the night, wandering around the garden in your pjs waiting for wees and poos.

But. It'll be masses of fun, they are just gorgeous. We already have adult labs which I work and have added the puppy to the mix.

Do you have a crate for the pup? I'd almost say it's essential; it gives you somewhere safe for the puppy where it can't cause chaos or hurt itself.

I think the recognised colours for labs are only referred to as yellow, black or chocolate - yours must be a yellow? But v pale? Yellows have a really wide variety of colour from almost white through to fox red I think.

She is a yellow yes, but so pale she's cream... :) she is lovely.

We've bought her from a friend of a friend who works his labs, and they are kenneled outside, so I have a feeling she'll have no concept of going out for a wee!!

Borrowing a puppy crate and we've bought a bigger one for when shes larger to have a place to keep her safe from kids and so she can have her own space - as we are expecting a baby and have a 4 yr old.

What happens when we bring her home?

Jabs? Vets? Microchips? Can we take her out?

Utter insanity!

How long have you got between puppy and baby arriving, just out of interest???? You need to think about training and doing classes with her right from the start - labs are cheeky dogs and very exuberant and you need to get her in check eg. house trained, not chewing, not jumping up, not getting on furniture and coming back when you call her (cannot over emphasise how crucial this last one is). All this is even more important with a young child and baby on the way. If she is reasonably settled and under control before baby arrives it will make it all much easier for you.

Treat having a puppy a bit like having a baby. They don't just "sort themselves out", they need very near constant supervision for the first few weeks and months. They really are a 24/7/52 commitment. My DH persuaded us to get one, but he often works long hours so a lot of her care and walking etc all falls to me. And they need a lot of walking!

Having a crate for her is brilliant though, as you always have somewhere she can go if it all gets a bit much for either you or her. She has her quiet spot, and if you cannot supervise her, you can put her out of the way... but don't over use the crate.

Also, if you drive, and she is likely to come with you at all, think about how she will travel in the car. Ours comes everywhere so we have a proper car crate (at vast expense!) but it is brilliant for her and means she doesn't just jump around the car... If it helps, our lab adores a car journey. In DH's car she actually just sits curled up on one of the empty seats as good as utter gold. Sometimes when his car is open on the drive, she just runs out and gets in, like a safe haven for her. Also, if we go out and she is already in the car, she knows we cannot leave her behind!!

She should be jabbed at 8 weeks, but there might be a second set of jabs you need to take care of. Find your local vets and get registered immediately. Microchipping is very highly recommended, your vet can do it if it has not already been done.

We picked up our lab pup a bit older for various reasons, and her jabs and chip had all been done, but possibly at 8 weeks the breeder has not done all that yet.

Once she has had her jabs, she can be taken out.

Don't get me wrong, she is utterly gorgeous but be totally realistic about what is involved.

Oh, and also remember, don't mean to state the bleedin obvious but some labs get REALLY big. Ours happens to be a small dog, but some we know are absolutely huge. Just something to bear in mind in terms on making sure your dog is not a jumpy up dog.

We took ours for her first jab on the day we brought her home, but if she'd seemed at all stressed we would have delayed the appointment for a day or two. She can be chipped at that point too.

Mostly, we watched her a lot the first day she was here. Her reactions to carpet, grass, toys were all fabulous to see. We also started work on the recall immediately. Rewarded her with bits of kibble every time she showed us she knew her name. And every time she had a wee or poo outside.

You can take her anywhere you like, but you'll have to carry her! She can't walk on the ground in a public place until about 10/14 days after her second jab (depends on the vets advice) - which will be not far off a month after you've bought her.

If you know any dogs which have up to date jabs, then your pup can play with them in a known garden, but I wouldn't run the risk of an unknown garden or anything. There are some big pockets of parvo virus about at the moment which will kill a puppy if they catch it.

It's important to take your pup out a lot when she's tiny (makes for very achy arms though) to socialise her - to make sure she is familiar with sirens, tall people, short people, people with hats, with sticks, motorbikes, shop shutters, cars, busses, lorries etc, etc,etc. It goes a long way to ensuring you have a steady, bullet proof older dog which you can confidently take anywhere.

Our pup was also bred by a working kennel and hadn't spent any time inside a house when we got her - and I don't want to get your hopes up, but providing we watch her like a hawk, she's clean during the day. She has a particular pre-wee walk and tiny squeak which we've learned to look for.

At night, she's cried in her crate if she needs to go out and only a week and a bit after we got her, she's managed to go all through without needing to go out - from about 1030 until 5.45. I can't quite believe how good she's being. She hasn't had a single accident at night yet.

If yours, like ours, is bred to be a working dog, she'll be bright and bidable. I've found this pup picks up on things v quickly indeed. But when over-tired goes manic and crocodile stylee - at that point we've taken our lead from the adult dogs who bugger off upstairs and leave her looking puzzled at the bottom . We walk off or pop her in her crate to have a bit of a rest.

Oooh. Sorry. That's really long .

im loving the tips... any more?

i was told having paper in the house on the floor to train her is bad... and should just take her out reguarly?

Agree, lots of socialisation is a great idea.

Also, don't be scared of being firm with her. Use short easy commands and above all be consistent. Make sure every one uses the same commands. Sit, Down, Come, Leave it, Crate. Don't be tempted to "talk" to her. Long sentences will just confuse her. And as Daisy says, rewards for doing as you ask are vital. If there is something in it for her, then she will most likely cooperate and learn quickly..

The joy of a lab is that they want to please, they adore humans, crave company and affection, so use all that to your advantage.

If you want her not to go in certain parts of the house, then instigage this right from the start - again, all about consistency.Stick to your guns. With our lab, she knows if we give an inch she will take the piss out of us, so we have to be very firm with her if she gets over excited, enforce the rules and she remembers who is boss.

Oh, yes, and remember YOU are her boss. Don't let her rule you!

Does all this sounds like bringing up a child in some respects?!?!?!?!? Well, it is! Mutual respect and love, consistency and boundaries will foster a healthy relationship between you all.

We are putting a baby gate on hall door to stop her going near the front door, so we can bring shopping in etc without her escaping, and will stop her from getting in down stairs loo, where the cat has its tray etc - will also stop her going near the stairs.

What apart from the crate do I need?

what are the best treats? Bedding (vetbed?)

Awwww. Yabvu if you don't post lots of photos. :o

Oh, and of course lots of "good girl" said in your cheeriest possible voice. Tone of voice when you use commands will mean a lot to her, ie. firm with your firm commands and all yey, yippee happy when she has done well.

We have Tuffies beds - brilliant but not cheap. Our lab didn't chew as a puppy APART from her bed, which she destroyed very quickly. Just get something inexpensive to start with, no doubt you will need to get bigger one later anyway, so something softish to fit in her current crate will be fine for now.

treats - we mostly used kibble to start with, then graduated her up to larger biscuits (Winalot shapes or Tesco own brand of the same) as she got bigger. But keep the treats very small for now as you will be giving her treats a lot (hopefully!) in the early weeks as you train her.

Also, if you can bear it, cooked liver into tiny pieces used to mean our lab would do absolutely anything. Cook it until it is quite well cooked, almost hard, and then dice up. Chicken liver is very cheap and it worked wonders for us.

Cuddly toys for snuggling are best - as are nice chew toys.

Little treats are nice, but not too much (tempting when they give you 'the eyes :) )

I would, whe you pick her up, take something with you (old blanket or something) and let the other pups/parent dogs scent it a bit so that it's a comforter for her when she gets home (be prepared for sleepless nights!! Just as bad as having a new baby!)

I would say newspaper is fine (used it with all my dogs and it works - you are just wanting something disposable that can be moved closer to the front door as you housetrain her).

Remember to take lots and lots of photo's. Very little photo's exist from our boys puppy days - my biggest regret!!

Oh, they also like routine - try and get mealtimes/walks sorted asap. And set out your expectations asap. Resist the urge to snuggle her in your bed to sleep just to get some rest (it is knackering!) or you WILL end up with a lab in bed forever!!!

Enjoy!! Congrats on the new addition. I am uber jealous

No you are not mad - labradors are lovely.

Vetbed is very good. My mum has used the cheap white version for years for her dogs. The dog will need its own basket and put a piece of VetBed in the bottom. It washes in thw washing machine very well. Yes you will need a large crate too to put her in if visitors come. Its nice to have a dog around but sometimes its just to much with vistors and especially if you also have a child and they need to be contained while you are occupied. My mother bred dogs for years always said that she would never ever leave a young child or baby with a dog - not even for a second.

Otherwise I agree with what anonymousbird says. A labrador is a working dog with a nose and a brain and a strong body and it really needs work to be happy. Obedience classes, even retriever training and generally being out and about with you as much as possible.

Dont let the children plague the dog - its not fair on the dog and may make it snappy in the end. I hope you enjoy your dog though. My Dad had a black lab years ago called Bruce. He was a fantastic working dog and just lived to go shooting with my Dad.

yes

Can I be honest and say yes I think you are mad. To get a puppy when you are expecting a baby and have a 4 year old that I expect is already taking 100% of your time.

Can I ask Why now? There will be other dogs and you will enjoy it so much more when you can give the puppy the time and attention it deserves. I guess you will enjoy the baby more too if you have more time for them rather than having to keep a bouncy pup out of the way when you are feeding, changing had little sleep and you have to go out for 2 hour walks a day.

Are you sure?

What minimu said.

At the risk of sounding bloody rude you appear to be a novice dog owner, or at least unprepared as you are asking for advice as to what you'll need etc AFTER having decided upon getting her. IME and IMHO this is often a recipe for disaster and frequently results in someone like me ending up in assisting the rescue and rehoming of the dog when the owners conclude that they can't cope or have a hissy fit because the pup is bouncing/licking/knocked toddler over/growled at child who pulled her ears/not housetrained/whatever.

As minimu said, are you sure?

It will be bloody hard especially if baby is due very soon. Some people change towards their pets when a baby is born unfortunately. Are you a genuine animal lover who views pets as part of the family?
Having said that you are aware that your pup may need space from the children so that's a good sign.

You haven't thought this through and please don't say you have.

I am horrified that you are picking up a puppy in a week and have no idea of even vaccination schedules.

And a working lab, that has only been kenneled for a first time owner with a baby on the way.

Please re-think, poor puppy.

Had dogs before, DP and I decided that now was a good time - shes from a good breeder who we trust, shes a good puppy, my daughter is confident with her, and we have enough space to not all be competing for room.

DP is so looking forward to having her, to be able to walk her etc and stuff.

Have a read of the New Puppy owners thread. Should be some tips on there.

Yes please do come and read the new puppy owners thread and see how hard we are all finding it and how nearly all of us have been reduced to tears of frustration at one time or another and how we are all knackered.

And none of us has a baby as well.

Maybe think of it this way, if you can't cope with both are you prepared to give your baby away? After all the puppy came into your family first.

I hope it all works out for you, but make sure you are 100% commited to keeping this puppy no matter how hard things get, even on the day when he has chewed up some of your older childs favourite toys and then thrown up on the carpet, knocked your child over scratching them in the proccess and now they are sobbing, ran off with a dirty nappy, spreading the contents everywhere, maybe accidently steped on the baby and made it scream.

Puppies are hard and labs are big and heavy and clumsy.

My FIL trained the family dog which they got when DH was very small. In order to protect DH, he trained the dog not to "argue" back with him.

e.g. Giving dog a piece of food, then trying to take it back from him. If the dog so much as growled, he got a smack on the nose. Repeat ad nauseum until dog gets the message that even if he's eating something, it's fair game.

Drop bits of food on floor on purpose - but seasoned with tabasco sauce. Result: Dog will not eat dropped food.

May sound harsh, but essential training for dog with little ones around who will not understand that the dog has the potential to hurt them.

comtessa your FIL was very lucky not to be bitten. No-body in their right mind would train a dog like that now.

I wouldnt give any dog of mine some thing to eat, then try and take it back

The dog will learn it is not allowed to steal, or mump around the table begging for food. Simple.

"Giving dog a piece of food, then trying to take it back from him. If the dog so much as growled, he got a smack on the nose."

That is not only a cruel and unacceptable method of training, its a bloody stupid and irresponsible thing to suggest, ESPECIALLY to someone with a child, a baby on the way and who hasn't done their research PRIOR to getting a puppy.

"mump" around the table, Only? Like that! That's s new expression to me! :o

OP - you are mad!

By tomorrow lunchtime we will have survived 3 weeks living with a lab pup. It is 2 steps forward and 1 back at the moment... My dd is 12, and can physically cope with a nipping tornado. I'm glad we waited until she was older.