T-minus 6 days till our puppy comes home with us!

[SnoopDougyDoug]

Our sweet golden retriever puppy Snoop Doug (we'll probably just call him Snoop) will be coming home with us on Sunday!!! I cant really think about anything else. We've got our playpens and shopping all sorted and this week is all about puppy proofing. I've longed for a dog all my life and this feels like a dream come true. His whole litter are just the most confident and contented little bunch and their mum is so friendly and lovely, I'm so happy we chose this breeder (and she chose us!). Have met grandma and aunty as well as the breeder has them too and they're all such lovely dogs. Annual leave booked, vet booked, puppy training booked. I think we're almost ready. I just wanted to come online and shout about it!!!

Name changed for this so I keep my non-dog related stuff separate.

@SnoopDougyDoug this is how it begins! They lure you in with their sweetness, and then the next thing you know you’re clinging to the side of your bed, covered from
head to toe in golden fur, unable to sleep but also exhausted because they’ve made you play with them all day whilst they drag you around by your wrist….

Best dogs ever!

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that @saveforthat. 💐

@SnoopDougyDoug he sounds like he is doing amazingly. Poops in the garden are a good sign. Generally goldens do not take long to toilet train. They are smart and want to please so the most minimal praise for peeing where they should is generally enough.

If the Land Shark phase comes then I can thoroughly recommend the wearing of leggings for a few weeks (no flappy material) and also wellies if it comes to it. I still have the scars but she is now the most docile, placid, loving dog with not an ounce of aggression.

And yes @saveforthat I’m also so sorry. That must be hard to deal with. 14 years is a long time to have a floof in your life, and to say goodbye 💔. Worst thing about having a dog. I’m glad your golden oldie made a good old age though, and presumably had a really happy life. Lots of dogs don’t.

Oh my god he's just the best little chunk. 3 days in and his toilet training is going brilliantly, he has got 'sit' when he's not distracted, he's sleeping his little head off and we all just LOVE him.

He’s so CUTE! Goldies are the best dogs. I’d never have any other type apart from maybe a Border.

They are such quick learners. Is he bitey yet? Prepare for the vampire stage 😂 Although they are quite variable on that score. Not all are bitey: the ones that are can be absolutely rabid for a few weeks and then it all just fades away. Your little chap sounds quite chill so I hope you will be spared ;)

Also that looks like a cozy little setup for him. Water and blankets and a nice contained safe space. If he is ok away from you when sleeping (ie anything other than under your feet) this also bodes very well for his resilience and ability to be left alone. Yay!

Ahhhh thanks @Gattopardo . He's started being a tiny bit bites but we've found so far that a firm no and then getting or just standing still puts him - that or just holding a chew toy next to his mouth. And so far he doesnt bite at all hard. Let's see how that goes...
We've set up a playpen in the kitchen with his crate inside, blankets toys and food/water. So far he's very happy to sleep in there but has no interest in the actual crate. Not quite sure whether to try to put him in the crate or not, I keep tossing a bot of kibble in there to give him.some thing to sniff out and make him feel at home there . We're just letting him.sleep in the pen roght now though. At night I sit up with him till he falls asleep, then go to bed. We have a nannycam and so when he wakes up I go downstairs to let him out for a wee and then sit quietly with him till he falls.asleep again. That seems to be working well so far, he's sleeping fine and not waking very often at night (tonight he was asleep from 10-3, I've just left him asleep hence my.late post!). Yesterday night he slept from 10-6!!! He's just a lovely little dude and so funny.