Labrador Puppy

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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.

awww - well done you! Are you famly still as against her now? I bet they have melted...... so she didn't disturb you in the night? That's fantastic! I bet the children are thorouhly enjoying her. Can't wait for your next blog!

The children absolutely adore her and so far are extremely gentle, even when I'm just peeping through the door as supervision.

My family will probably always have reservations. They haven't met her yet as I want her to settle and get used to us first. No doubt they'll meet her by the end of the week, cats bum face included. Iknow they don't like big dogs but I've always had big dogs so I'm much more accustomed to the idea of her growing.

She cried most of the night but we dealt. Hopefully tonight there will be a little improvement now she knows that we wake up.

careful about going to her in the night. from my understanding you could be encouraging bad habits

She was next to our bed in the travel cot and could see me and hear me. I didn't pick her up, talk to her directly or touch her. I eventually fell asleep and DP said she was crying at 2am when DD1 woke up to see what all the fuss was about but he came and slept downstairs then.

Well done. I think you did just the right thing last night. She had a lot to cope with, so I'm not surprised she cried in the night. Some of it was likely leading up to the poos - they do try to get away from their beds to do them.

And puppies are noisy! A whole litter make sooo much noise. She will quieten down if you ignore the noise.

I think the most important thing you can do over the next couple of days is house training and to make sure that nipping doesn't start. If it does, while she's this tiny and uncertain of herself, be very firm with a no and completely disengaging from her. Give her a toy instead.

Puppies do bite and quite hard, it is quite normal behaviour, but it hurts. And it gets worse as they get bigger and stronger so don't let it start. She'll be very used to biting her siblings - and leaping on them for fun but make sure that from the very start she learns that is not at all OK with people. The more she gets away with doing it, the harder it'll be to stop her.

And make sure she gets some down time - she will probably need careful management because she'll be running on excitement and adrenaline today. And an over excited tired puppy is not a nice thing to be!

She does nip a little but we say ?Off? and praise when she kisses or chews a toy. So far, so good.

A question: She sleeps on a pillow during the day on the sofa but she jumps down herself and kind of skids a little on the hard wood flooring. Is this okay? We carry her up and down the stairs and on and off the sofa where possible but sometimes she just goes for it.

Can you put something on the floor for a little while to stop her skidding?

It'd be better to give her a bed and encourage her to sleep in that during the day. You'll need a bed for her when the crate arrives, so it'll be important that she's happy and used to the bed and not pining for the sofa when you're trying to get her used to the crate.

Avoid unnecessary impact on joints as much as you possibly can - especially at the moment. Her joints are unformed and she won't have any muscle tone either , so it is important, especially now.

You won't be able to control all of it - she is a pup and needs to enjoy being a baby but do as much as you can!

She has a bed and we put her in it every time she seems tired or has fallen asleep but she rarely sleeps there more than a few seconds before she wants to sleep closer to me. Even at my feet it isn't close enough for her. I'm sure she'll get used to it eventually but it'll take time as with the crate at night.

She hasn't touched her water since she's been here although she pops her nose in to see it's there and is eating properly. Weird or will she go when she's ready? It's always available when she needs it.

I have a duvet rolled up so she falls on to a soft surface and it's not too far down for her but I just want to start as we mean to go on with the health issues.

All sounds fine to me!

She should drink by herself - and she's on wet food, which often reduces their need to drink.

But, you could try dipping a finger in water and letting her lick the drop off - that should help get her used to it. The water might smell different to her when compared to her previous home - the change in water can upset a puppies tum, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if she is a bit puzzled by it.

If she hasn't had a drink by lunchtime, give the breeder a ring and ask about her drinking habits.

Oooh and don't bet that she'll stop trying to get close to you 3 of mine just can't get close enough - and the baby (very nearly a year old now) is still a press herself right into you sort a gal. No matter where you are or what you're doing.

Last weekend, while crawling around the garden weeding, she decided her best bet was to stand at right angles to me, on top of me and sort of snooze on my back. She was soooo happy. All 27kg of her.

Oh yes - your pup is likely to grow at the rate of 1kg a week for the next 4 or 5 months, so don't forget to increase her food accordingly. And wait to take her off the breeders food until about the weekend. And then do it bit by bit.

Thank you. I'm so excited about her progression. Her first vaccinations are next week :o. How many Nylabones and/or Kongs will she need roughly? At £6-10 a pop I can't afford to get loads but I want to get her enough.

No more than 2 puppy kongs and one nylabone will be more than enough for now. A tennis ball to chase would be good too. And a couple of old soft toys will be well loved - charity shop ones are good as long as you make them safe by cutting off anything hard and sewing up the holes.

Old milk containers or plastic bottles are much loved in this house - especially with a bit of kibble in when she's older.

She has a stuffed toy but no specified dog toys yet. The milk container is a great idea. Do you cut a small hole and fill it with kibble and just let it fall out as she plays?

You could - or just leave the top off and the same thing will happen, although while she's tiny she'll need a bit of help to work it out.

A little update. She's had a few accidents but is mostly going outside when we take her out or catch her in time. She's still as loveable as ever however our crate which should be arriving today is now not arriving until Friday. :(

sounds likwe she is doing great! Has she settled at night time?

Loving your blog pics revolution

Ive been reading tonnes of stuff before ours arrives on Sunday, was wondering what advice youd been given on socialising her lots? I was reading you should try and make sure they meet 3 new people a day...given you cant take them out initially it seems like a lot of house guests....!?

You can take her out if you carry her but don't let her down in areas where other dogs may have been. 3 new people a day sounds like a lot. So far Sadie has only met our children and me and DP. She was asleep when SIL came over. I'm hedging my bets that she will be just fine.

She cried a little last night but when I fell asleep she was quiet. DP said she was crying at 7am so he got her up with the children and she cried until I came downstairs at 7:30am.

She's still sleeping lots, having ten or fifteen minute awake periods and then back to sleep but I've heard that's normal at 7 weeks old. Anyone corroborate that?

I will get around to decent photos today, I promise. I've been so overwhelmed with it all I've just captured them on ny phone and my camera that I charged for her has been lingering in the drawer. :o

Not much. DP had to come home from work at lunch (he only works around the corner, luckily) as I had to go to DD1's easter parade in nursery and didn't want to leave her alone yet. We're basically all about the home right now. She's all about weeing outside but not pooing outside much the cowbag. She's very clingy to me too. She'll go to DP if he's the only one around like just now when I was in the bath but as soon as I get in the room it's all whines until I pay her some attention and she can get at a right angle to me :o

You are her new mummy

She is just so, so great with my children. I forgot to mention it in my latest blog post as I was a bit miffed by the end but I am thoroughly delighted with how she's taken to them and them to her. DD2 still needs a little supervision with her and they know not to pick her up but I'm cobfident that we'll be a big, happy family unit quite soon.

Gillybobs, Sunday is swifty approaching! How are you feeling?

Glad to hear things are going well. Love the pics so far.

I'm excited/terrified in equal measure I guess. Her crate is ready with her bed and 2 toys in it. I keep walking past it and smiling to myself. 3 sleeps....