Labrador Puppy

[revolutionconfirmed]

Hi all. I'm a long time lurker but first time joiner and poster.

I have three young children (ages from 16 months to 4 years) and we've just purchased a gorgeous gold pedigree labrador bitch. She is arriving on Monday and at the moment she is six weeks old. The breeders told us that she has been eating puppy food and drinking whole milk as well as feeding from her mother.

I've had dogs before but this is the first time I've had a labrador and the first time I've had a puppy of my own. What do I need to know? I thought I'd ask here as you all seem to be the most experienced I've read.

Thanks for any answers.

Do you have any tips on how to start recall training?

Thank you. I'll do some reading on training in depth tonight.

Whereabouts are you revolution? I have a lab sized crate you could borrow for a few nights if you're near.

I'm in South Wales, close to Cardiff.

I'm in Glos - but I guess that's too far? Let me know should you be heading this way to pick up pup.

I have no transportation so it's too far, I'm sorry. Thank you for the offer though!

Revolution
Just wanted to say that I was in your position at Christmas - had a lab puppy coming and trying to get everything sorted.
I did get a little stressed that it was a HUGE commitment, and would we cope, but it's actually been a lot easier than I expected.
He was in his crate in the kitchen from the word go, and after a few squeaks during the first couple of nights, he settles down beautifully. Also let's us know when he wants to go out, and has been enjoying wandering around the garden on his own.
We've been feeding him dry food (Royal Canin) following on from his breeder, and it's been fine. We do the idea of keeping a bit back from his feeds, to act as treats. Everything with him is food motivated.
I was the 'non' dog lover in our family, but even I've grown to love him - although he's not allowed to boss me around like he does the rest of the family!

are you ready to roll OP?! Bet you are excited now

I am! The rest of my family aren't happy though. They think a big dog is dangerous and vicious, that she'll rip our rented house up, that she'll eat us out of a house and home, that vet bills are expensive (we have insurance) etc.

Ffs. They have to ruin my happiness even when I know none of it is true.

ignore them - make her your precious dog. Stuff 'em! I bet they will all fall in love with her when she arrives. Who could possibly not?!

I'm sticking by my guns. I am a grown woman with a fiance and two children. I've lived alone for four years, raised my children for that long and my tenancy agreement does not state no pets. It's not like I'm an irresponsible owner or don't know responsibility. They're just weird folk who like small dogs and cats. My dad owned an alsation from my childhood so he'd understand a well trained gentle giant.

I'm so excited reading this thread, our labradoodle puppy is coming home with us next Sunday and I'm having all the same questions and anxieties as the op. great advice on here, you are all so helpful and knowledgeable.
Good luck op, I will def read your blog if you decide to start it! Can't wait to see how you get on

The blog is: sadieandme.tumblr.com

I need to sort a layout for it tonight but that's the url and I'll start posting from tomorrow.

Gillybobs Ooh! How cute are Labradoodles?! What sex is it? Do you still have anxieties?

Oh fantastic, really looking forward to reading it. When does Sadie arrive?

We have chosen a golden coloured labradoodle bitch who is very very lab-like at the moment, think she will be shaggy rather than curly. We have decided on Amber as her name (Amber Skye will be her Sunday name ). I live with DH and 2 Dss so it was important to even out the male/female numbers a little

Spent a fortune today buying all her bits and bobs. Just ordering a crate tonight. My DSs are 13 and almost 11 so they will be very involved in caring for her which is a big part of my motivation, its hard to get 13 and 11 YOs outside at times....soon they will have no choice

Just a little anxious about her settling in well/night times I guess.

I'm more anxious about her training at the moment. I'd like her very trained so she can run off lead and have perfect recall. It's especially important as some of DH's family members are very small and petite so we don't want her jumping up and knocking someone down.

DD is almost 4 and it's her responsibility to feed her her biscuits. She specifically asked for this job. I give her a weel before she gets bored :o.

Gah, just lost a post

Jist of it was that Im hoping my boys are a little more committed given their ages....deluded? ; )

And yy, recall so important for us too, so the kids can eventually take her out on their own

SO glad I found this thread today, feeling a little less alone with this puppy business. Roll on your blog

The first post is up on sadieandme.tumblr.com

Pictures to follow asap tomorrow (she should arrive here by 4:30pm).

I'm very excited. DP has gone to the pub in true male fashion to 'celebrate our new arrival'. Yes, yes, DP - now off you fuck. Bring me back a gin.

Not deluded. A little optimistic, perhaps? I was ten when my dad brought home Solo, our Alsation puppy. I helped out until I left home at 19. Solo has just died a few months back. If your children love and care for the dog, they'll help as they'll want to. It's especially fun in the summer to do family walks and a swim for the dogs in the river.

Great first post revolution

Have a great day tomorrow

I love your first blog!!!! I am almost as excited as you now. I cannot wait to see the pics and hear all about the mayhem she causes. Lovely little Sadie who is going to be sooooo spoiled (oh, and well trained of course ) Good luck tomorrow. At least with a puppy you don;t get back ache, heartburn, swollen ankles and stretchmarks. Bless her fiurry little paws

I'm getting so excited now. I'll be bouncing around the place all day tomorrow just waiting but I have nothing else to do and it's supposed to rain tomorrow. Damn my boring life.

Lovely first post (but now we know your true first name... that means we can cast spells upon you ,) but will you have time to post more when Sadie actually gets here?

I hope so. I do a lot of blogging from my phone so I'll end up writing a lot of sentences throughout the day, compiling them and making a shambolic blog post about it at some point. We'll see how much she sleeps and how much attention she needs tomorrow evening, I guess!

How do you know it's my real first name? deflects spells. I would welcome a spell to make me more efficient.

Aaah how exciting revolution! Not to worry about the crate, it was just an idea on the offchance that you were local.