Preparing for Home

Today we are about 10 days away from the puppies being 8 weeks old, which will be our first chance for a pick up weekend for our puppies' families!

Here is what I tell families as they're preparing their home for their new pup.

As you move around your house and yard this week, keep in mind what might be tempting to a puppy. Kind of like baby proofing! Cords laying out, chewable decor within puppy reach, unblocked kids' toy bins at puppy height. Your job now is to set up your puppy for success and help them avoid things that will get them in trouble or could cause them harm. Puppy proof your house!

Basic supplies you'll need on day 1. For feeding, you'll need a water bowl, food bowl, and puppy food (we feed them SportsMix Puppy food from Chewy.com and will provide you with a bag of this to transition over to whatever food you choose). Your bag of puppy food will tell you how much to feed your puppy by weight, and your vet can help you determine what's best, but please ensure the food is formulated for puppies as they'll still need the extra nutrients for their quickly growing bodies! Water bowls can be anything from glass Tupperware (or even a plastic one while you're shopping for a permanent one). We love the Slopper Stopper dipless water bowls for them as adults, but they're pricey and not necessary! Food dishes can be whatever you like too. As they grow you might like a slow feeder bowl similar to this one: Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl, Slow Feeder Dog Bowl, Medium/Mini, Turquoise https://a.co/d/1ZKaCx3

Training treats are great motivators as you're working through potty training and basic commands, but use these sparingly, labs are classic over consumers!

You'll likely consider a crate or kennel for night time or whenever you're away. This can be a medium-sized kennel at this point. Depending on your long term plans for crate training/needs, you might consider a grow-with-me type kennel for large breeds, something like this: MidWest Homes for Pets Newly Enhanced Single & Double Door iCrate Dog Crate, Includes Leak-Proof Pan, Floor Protecting Feet, Divider Panel & New Patented Features https://a.co/d/8ZPsoCM

The divider panel will allow you to keep their space small and reduce accidents while potty training, and then increase their space as they grow to allow them comfort to live around.

You may consider a dog bed and a few toys so that they have their own safe area in addition to their kennel.

They will be sent home with their current collar, but of course you might want a personalized collar! They will need a leash, and tags. You can order a personalized collar tag online, or have one printed in many pet stores (Petco or PetSmart have printers in store) to ensure your puppy's collar has your contact information in case they do get lost. Always better to err on the safe side!

Register your dog with your county or township as required as well.

You'll get vaccine tags from your vet once they reach the age to administer tagged vaccines like rabies. They're not ready for many additional vaccines yet, as they're fully vaccinated at 6w. At this prep stage, start researching vets in your area and call around to find one accepting new patients. You should schedule their first appointment within 10 days of bringing them home.

Your AKC registration papers will be included in your pick up packet. If you do choose to register, this doesn't need to be done immediately. You can hang onto the papers and decide later too.

Start researching and thinking about how you want to approach potty training, leash training, and basic commands. You will thank yourself for starting early and staying consistent! Labs are highly motivated to both get treats and make you happy, so they are very trainable!

Their name should be selected by about 18 weeks of age. This is when they really start cementing things in their minds - including their connection to you and their place in your family!

These things are top of mind right now, but please reach out with any other questions! We love your questions and helping to make this a joyful and smooth experience for you!

All our best,

Amy