Soon to be New Doodle Mom

[Phoebe's Mom]

We are in countdown mode..9 days until Phoebe's arrival! I was hoping to benefit from some sage advice from the experienced owners on DK. What would your best advice be to help transition our new puppy--and our children to that puppy--to her new home? I have been reading lots of books and articles on the web but who knows more than the doodle owners themselves? Thanks in advance.

[Phoebe's Mom]

Thanks for the good wishes. I already have her vet appointment set for the day after she arrives so I plan to ask about training/obedience classes and when we can start. I have already looked into classes in both Petco and Petsmart but our vet is associated with a wellness center/ resort and spa which offers classes as well which I might prefer. My oldest son and I plan to take the classes together and then come home and train the rest of the children and Phoebe together. If I can make it through those first nights, I am sure we will be very happy together. My children are on cloud 9 knowing we are so close to her arrival and yet I think I am even more excited!

[Phoebe's Mom]

That was great advice about whoever opens the crate door first. Of course, that gives me a LOT to think about given all of us dying to be 'the first one.' Our plan, based on info gleaned on DK, was to open the crate in our house for the first time, not at the airport first. I wish it were tomorrow that we were getting her so that we could just get started. I truly give my children a lot of credit as they have been handling this long wait much better than I have!