mom's scent

[Kristin A.]

Hi everyone.  We are so excited to pick up our puppy on Sunday!  I'm wondering if I should bring a toy or blanket to get her mom's scent on it.  Has anyone done this? and do you think it helped?  If you have any other ideas to make the transition easier I'd love to hear it.  Thanks!

[Leigh & Allie]

I highly suggest a snuggle puppy. You can find them on amazon around $25. I actually had them deliver it directly to my breeder. That way she could get the mom's scent and the litter mates scent as well. The snuggle puppy has a "heart" you can put in it and it duplicates the mom's heart beat. I call it Allie's "baby" and at 9 months old she still drags her baby around occasionally. She never cried at night and I am sure the snuggle puppy definitely helped.

[Abbey]

The first night for our puppy was really hard. The second night we changed the position of his crate so he could see us (first night he was @ the end of the bed, second night he was at the side of the bed). I also put a ticking clock in a pillow case that was rubbed all over his litter mates (the second night). Things went A LOT better the second night!
He hated being crated the first few times we tried (for short periods during the day) but I leave the radio on for him (still - I don't know if it actually helps him?), put the clock in his crate and put a special treat (little biscuit with a little turkey) in it for him. He hops in now because he know he gets a treat.
It was really hard to hear him cry but be strong! The second day I crated him and left for work, I was about 5 minutes from my house and realized I forgot to take off his collar so I turned around and when I got home, I actually had to wake him up to take it off.
It took two or three days and now going into our third week with him he is sleeping through the night and isn't crying when we crate him to leave.

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

I second Leigh's suggestion of a snuggle puppy - in fact, she may have been one who endorsed the purchase of one when I questioned it! I ordered it on line, brought it with me to the breeder when we made puppy selection and left it there to get momma's scent as well as the littermates. I truly feel it made Bosco feel secure in his crate, the only place we leave his puppy so it helps to make his crate home even more welcoming whenever he goes in it. An addition to the battery operated heartbeat, it also has warming inserts for additional effect. Well worth the price of purchase!

[Leigh & Allie]

Hey Susan, I can't remember if I replied to your post but I am glad it worked for you as well! I think they are great and I am soooo glad I had it when I picked up Allie. I think it was the most important purchase I made.