Labrador Puppy - top tips

[FrankieMcGrath]

After years of pestering, I’ve finally given in to the DCs & we’re getting a dog - Labrador puppy. It’s from a family friend, so we know the mum & dad & no concerns about the breeder!

Puppy is due to come to us in a few weeks, so asking for top tips on what’s been most useful / waste of money, that we should prep before arrival?! TIA!

Make sure your vacuum cleaner is up to it!

His little pink tummy 🥰

We praise as he starts weeing.

I think he now understands the cue word and is weeing when you say it (obviously when we think he’s likely about to wee anyway).

We haven’t previously bothered with naps in crates… but I do think it’s been helpful this time. Even for the simple things like I can go and make a cup of tea/put a wash on or whatever and know he’s not going to wake up in that moment and then wee or start chewing things he’s not meant to. When he’s awake (or occasionally fallen asleep on kitchen floor whilst I’m cooking etc) I haven’t felt able to leave him incase he wakes and doesn’t have someone to guide his behaviour and makes choices I’d rather he did not! But realistically I couldn’t watch him all day for 12 hours straight even if I wanted to. I’d never get showered/dressed/fed etc and the house would be a war zone.

Labradors are amazing. Start training straight away. They are so bright and eager to learn. Blue Cross have some good videos if you are new to dog ownership. Little and often and always fun and positive. Make sure your puppy gets lots and lots of sleep (check the guidance on how much - it's a lot!) and has a place to go where they know they will be quiet and undisturbed such as a crate. Be ready for a terrible bitey stage where their needly sharks teeth shred your clothing and your toes. I remember wearing winter boots indoors through the summer months and wearing only old t-shirts and fleeces. Be ready for some very early rises in the first weeks for toilet training. Things like licky mats and kongs with peanut butter (for dogs), liver pate etc are great for calming and distracting. Also scattering kibble round the garden slows down their eating and is a fun engrossing task for them. Worth teaching from the get go walking past other dogs and people without any interaction. We got our dog at the tail end of covid and were so delighted to see anyone we didn't do this, and had to train it later as she had the expectation that everyone was a friend and wanted to play. Carry amazing high value treats when practicing recall so you can get them back. Best to practice in a safe area that is enclosed and not near roads or other hazards. Go to puppy class. Mainly, just enjoy and know that it will be hard work to start with but so worth it.