What You Wish Someone Told You About New Puppy...

[Jenny Williams]

The day is almost here! Our sweet Leia, F1B Goldendoodle, is only two days away from being ours! So, I thought it would be helpful to hear what you think the best advice would be for a family bringing home a new puppy :) What is that one thing you wish someone would have told you before your new puppy came home? I've been reading and freshening up on having a puppy, basic training, etc., but any advice is welcome :) 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Good question!  I guess how hard it would be to discipline loveling!  It's a slippery slope!  firm, not mean, but get your point across in ways the pup can understand!!! - reward when it is right...so as not to enforce what is not...so many things that depend on the moment and that cannot be "taught" to either you or your pup....so dependent on both personalities!  But I would say, enjoy the new pup more than anything and try to understand the pup's point of view  and then hopefully rest will flow....

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Love your answer Lori, so true!

[Wendy and Myla]

This is soooo true!  What a great reply!

[Christy&Riley]

Take lots of pictures right away. I had no idea they grow so fast!

[Moe]

So true, great advice.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Very true, good advice!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

I guess it would be that no one told us "how much we would love this little Doodle"!  She has our hearts and owns us and she is the best dog we have ever had.  Now for one other thing they did not tell us!   How much they chew on things the first year! LOL   Enjoy your baby and welcome to Doodle puppyhood!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Lock up the dirty diapers.

I think my worst nightmare was when I was a young mother. Puppies chew. It happens.  They chew on kids toes. 

Dont get a puppy when you have a crawling baby. Ever.

If you make it through the first year with both baby and puppy, lock up the diapers.  Nothing is so grand for a puppy than to take your dirty diapers and SHAKE!   

[Jenny Williams]

Haha! I bought all trash cans with LIDS this time around! I learned that lesson with a previous pup ;) And no diapers around here anymore... I told my kids there would be no puppy until we were diaper-free :) Although feminine hygiene products can still be an issue... but again, LID ON TRASH CAN! LOL.

[Moe]

Puppies need to go out every 20 minutes or so at 8wks old. They are also up all night. They are so needy I thought I'd made a huge mistake. This stage passes quickly. I had read about 4-5 books on puppies and thought I had everything worked out. Turns out puppies have their own ideas and personalities. You have to do what works best for your pup.

Congrats!!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I wish people had reminded me that little puppies are like newborn babies and that they might be lonely for their mom and littermates for a while, that they can't be trained in days, and that they are going to go through some sucky behaviors that I will need to train them out of.  Then I will remember that this too shall pass and I will have a wonderful calm, loving dog.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Keep things quiet and simple for the first week or so to let the puppy acclimate--not too many activities or new people until the pup is used to you and your routine--then start socializing like crazy!