New puppy - where to start?

[Newpuppyterror]

After much family deliberation we will be collecting our labradoodle puppy in 4 weeks.

DH had dogs as a child but has never owned one as an adult and I'm a total (total!!) beginner.

I've ordered a book recommended by the breeder - How to raise a Superpup. This should arrive soon.

But I'm completely ignorant. What does Day 1 look like? We are planning to get a crate. Does this go in our bedroom or in the kitchen? Do I need to set an alarm for toileting? What are puppy pads for?

What do you wish you'd known? What should I read/watch?

Another vote for Pippa Mattinson book. You don’t need to follow anyone religiously as long as you take the bits you want from different places. Start as you mean to go on: choose commands, always use them consistently across the family. Jumping puppies are cute. Jumping big dogs are less so.
ours slept downstairs in a crate-her safe place. She told us (and we could hear) when she was unhappy/wanted to go out. Yes a lead-toilet at night should be purely functional, up, wee, back in. Also keep sandals by back door. And a torch. Good luck. Also I’d have given mine back at least once a day every day for the first 6 weeks. So much responsibility, so much to learn-me as much as her! She’s 4 now and I’m very glad I didn’t.

She's here!

She’s gorgeous @Newpuppyterror

She's very cute!

How did the first night go? Are you totally in love with her yet?

She gorgeous.

Placemarking as getting a puppy lab In September. Will re-read this thread properly after work.

I’m in a similar situation to you - dh had dogs in the past but I’m a newbie.

It was a tough first night but expected. She's totally velcro at the moment and wants to be sitting on my feet all the time (or chasing me or DH around the garden).

I had an airbed in the kitchen and basically slept there all night. I managed to sneak back to my bed for an hour or so but basically it was barely worth it.

She had a couple of wee accidents on her special vet bedding (designed for the purpose) despite me taking her out 3 times during the night, but no poos, so I'll count that as a win.

I'm already feeling sleep deprived and it's taking me back to the early days of having a newborn!

She's gorgeous!

Are you crate training?
With my pup for the first week I put him to bed. Then waited for him to settle before leaving the room. If he woke and cried I lay next to the crate but didn't give him attention. He needed the security of knowing I was there, but giving him fuss and attention would make him associate crying at night with getting cuddles.

He went for a wee at 11pm, I set an alarm and took him out at 2.30am and again at 6am. Important not playing! Lots of good boy when he did his wee and then back to bed. He was sleeping through and not needing middle of the night weed by the end of the week two and we've never had an issue since at night. Never toileted in his crate.

We have a den rather than a pure crate - it has her bed and her food at one end and a puppy pad at the other.

The big problem I'm having is she sleeps beautifully during the day - on the kitchen floor! So she's not really associating sleep with her den.

I spent 11.30p.m.-3 a.m on the airbed in the kitchen, and was back again at 5.15, when I took her out and she did a poo. She was up for the day by 6.

She's doing really well with toileting so far - only puddles when it's our fault for not taking her out often enough (and using the puppy pad at night), and no poo accidents at all.

Have teddies ready to hand over for any time your puppy decides to chew on anything/anyone(!) and always remember the calmer and happier you are the easier they will be relaxed and start listening to you/calm down. And remember they’re just like a baby and are just trying to figure this place out and your job is to give them a happy life (and so yourself one too!!!!)

I would ditch the puppy pads. You should be aiming to get pup out for every toilet time!

Agree re puppy pads you’re teaching them it’s ok to go inside plus they give off a smell to encourage peeing
we did last pee and 1030ish or whenever they went then up at 430 for a week or so then they went 1030-630 after that only with only occasional wake ups
we had the crate in our room as pup slept so we slept

now they sleep on their bed in our room

Does anyone have any tips for getting her to sleep in her den during the day? She has her water and food in there and toys, and she's happy to go in, but she prefers to sleep during the day on the kitchen floor and struggles to settle in it at night.

Is it a crate? You need to crate train her which could take weeks, though some dogs take to it much quicker.

We never crated ours and it's certainly not essential.

It's a playpen with a bed at one end.

She may be sleeping on the kitchen floor because it's cooler. My Border Collies have always taken to the tiles in hot weather! Maybe a cooling mat for her? She will have a thick undercoat and that will make her very warm.

Dogs are polyphasic sleepers and don't tend to sleep curled up in one position - they like being able to move around so she may feel too restricted when she's enclosed in a playpen.

Also if you're putting puppy pads in there, she won't like being made to sleep in the same area she's being encouraged to pee and poo. Dogs only pee and poo in their beds when they have absolutely no other choice.

I would remove the puppy pads completely and think about giving her enough room so she can choose between bed, floor and under blankets if that's what she prefers.

Look at dog training advice and support on FB. They have advice on crate training etc. ideally you should be sleeping near the crate.

Looks very sweet.

Also, one training element especially important for bigger dogs don’t let her jump up now - my friend’s dog does this and it’s quite intimidating.

Not to blame her either, as strangely we had private puppy classes and wasn’t something I thought about as our dog is small, and the trainer didn’t cover it! He’s better now but wish I’d thought about from day 1.

Also, even before vaccines take pup out to a garden centre, train station, cafe (carrying not walk). Go to see other dogs you know have been vaccinated and introduce to children.

Good luck! Mine will happily sleep to 8am now!