New puppy

[Shakespearesglobe]

We have finally decided to take the plunge and get a puppy (well DH and I have decided , kids unaware yet in case it doesn’t happen!)

I work from home on a Monday - and we were planning on using puppy daycare for Tuesday to Friday as we cannot guarantee that we will be around enough otherwise. I have found a lovely daycare place and the owner said this would be fine but am conscious that it’s their business - are puppies really okay with 4 days in day care?

Timings wise, we were planning on getting the puppy at 10 weeks. Should I then take 2 weeks off so that they can get their jabs before going to puppy day care?

If those two weeks are over Xmas is that a really bad idea? We have quiet Xmas at home so we would be around then with lots of time for puppy but don’t want to time it wrongly.

When should we start doing puppy training classes?

My parents had dogs all my life but my mum didn’t work so things were less structured for them.

Any help appreciated. Am trying to get this right and not make mistakes!
Thanks x

[BiteyShark]

My puppy went to daycare 3 days a week at 12 weeks.

We used a dog walker who essentially had him in their home but left him in a crate when they walked other dogs at lunch time. They carried on the training and he still goes there but now goes on all the walks with the other dogs.

It can work out but it's a risk as others have said and we just lucky landed on our feet with our daycare.

[Motorina]

I'm going to give the flip side. My newest pup was in day care three days a week from that age. They were superb with her. Gently introduced her to other dogs, enforced downtime and naps.

I had no issues with housetraining (in fact, she's been by far the easiest of the three I've had), and is super socialised and brilliant with other dogs and people. She is very definitely my dog, and our bond is really close. We do a lot together the rest of the time - walks, trips to the beach, one or two training classes a week, little bits of training daily, she sleeps in the bed - so she gets a lot of me inspite of being in daycare. And she views the day care staff as an extended family, which I only see as a plus for her.

It worked well in part because my day care are great, and because she's always been super confident. I don't think it would be right for all dogs. But the benefits have been overwhelming and its really added to her confidence, her dog social skills, and her quality of life.

I do think you need a back up plan in case it's not right for your particular pup, but I also don't think it's a nonstarter, either.

[Motorina]

I'll add that some breeds very much bond to an individual, which might have been more tricky. I have beagles, who happily bond to an extended family group (particularly if it comes bearing treats) and I'm very happy that she can both love me and love the daycare team without either detracting from the other.

[Shakespearesglobe]

Thank you so much all for the input - and apologies mustardscreams, I was probably feeling defensive too so took it a bit harshly.

We have the option of me having 6 weeks off in the summer which sounds like it might be a better settling in period. Or I can do 2 days from home plus some holiday so it’s a longer period of not being in daycare. I also perhaps need to continue looking to find a v quiet day care/walker who will take him. Lots to think about and glad I asked early on (and before I said anything to the children!). Breed wise we are planning to go for a Labrador

[Shakespearesglobe]

We also have the option of a family member (who has 2 dogs already ) and who is retired. But I discounted it as I thought continuity would better? They have said they are happy to take him any amount from 1-4 days

[Shakespearesglobe]

And actually thinking about it another friend who lost her dog wanted very much to help and have him for a day. I just didn’t want to be cheeky and was happy to throw money at it rather than rely on favours from others. And assumed it would be worse for bonding than just paying a professional for consistency. At what age can they join in ‘normal dog walks’ as I know that they are limited exercise wise for quite a while so assumed I’d need to use day care for at least a year before they could join in linger dog walks?

[Motorina]

House training involves an awful lot of hanging around waiting for the little darling to pee. Much more pleasant in spring/summer than January. If you have the opportunity to wait till then then I would.

[Yamihere]

Ex doggy daycare worker here. Things to check: are the staff trained specifically in managing dogs, (not just a college animal care qualification)? People that care about dogs will do multiple hours of CPD a year, ask what was the last seminar/webinar, etc they attended. Also, what do the staff know about puppy development (make sure they know about fear/sensitive periods and the damage that can be done to limbs by jumping before growth plates are fully developed); and, VERY important, are puppies taught how to be calm in a daycare environment. Ask lots of questions.
Make sure that they don't control the dogs with fear or pain as that will make the pup grow up to be a bite risk to your kids. This means no yelling, squirting with water or shocks. Positive reinforcement is what your potential future dog needs to be well adjusted. Also, I would never send my dog to a daycare that did not have cameras that I could check she was being treated well. Especially in the rest/bed/crate room.

[Shakespearesglobe]

Thank you yamihere - I will def check those things

[Girlintheframe]

Our pup went to daycare from 13 weeks. He went and still goes an average of 2/3 days a week. He absolutely loves it. He is very bonded to us so it can work.
We sought out daycare before we got pup. They had a special puppy section, staff very knowledgeable etc
Re walking pup, he won't be able to go on adult walks with other dogs until he has fully grown, so minimum a year but will depend on the breed as some breeds will be closer to 18 months/2years.
Re training, I used to play pup socialisation sounds from you tube. So sounds like fireworks, sirens, baby crying etc. Now over a year on pup is not fazed if he hears any of these things. Pup also went and still goes to training classes weekly. We found ours through the KC website.

[Coldonthecoast]

We got our cocker spaniel puppy at 8 weeks. We had 6 weeks off between us (summer holidays).
At 14 weeks she went to daycare 5 days a week. She absolutely loves it. She’s so well socialised and has learnt so much from the big dogs.
She is delighted to see me when I pick her up though and is certainly very bonded to me.
It has worked out really well for us and i’m Sure your pup will be fine with it too. We were hoping by now at 6 months we could leave the dog at home while we work and get a friend to walk her for an hour, but she loves going to daycare so much and he takes her all over and does bits of training with her. We’d feel mean stopping her going now.
Could you maybe stretch the time you have off work a little bit? Just to give you a really good chance to bond and get toilet training started?

[CurryAndCobra]

I'd just get a rescue dog. Something that's under 18 months and train him. You'd be doing a good thing while making it easier for yourself. Get an easier breed like a Lab.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Personally I would skip the puppy stage and go straight for an adult dog.

Puppies are cute but so much hard work.

My ddog as a puppy was very hard work and having read other people’s experiences I don’t think i had a particularly harder time in comparison.

I would actually take the sleepless nights of a new born over toilet training a pup.

If I got another dog (I have 5 cats atm) I think a rescue fully grown dog would be my preference.

If you are going to use doggy daycare and you work then an adult dog would be a better fit

[Shakespearesglobe]

Thank you all, we will look into rescue dogs as well. And make sure if we do get a puppy that we have both a longer period off and then work from home more for the first couple of months so that he doesn’t go into daycare (whether professional or family looking after) before 14 weeks or so and then for no more than 3 days. I have budgeted for daycare for his entire life so if he won’t be happy with just a dog walker when he is older we can carry on with that. Lots of v helpful things to think about and change our plans with in this thread, thank you