What to bring to pick up puppy?

[Yelena]

Hey everyone! I just joined yesterday and am so glad I found this site. After a 2 month search, my boyfriend and I finally settled on a Goldendoodle puppy. We are picking him up from the breeder this Saturday. He will be 8 weeks old. It's an hour and a half from our house. I was wondering what we should bring to pick up the puppy? This is a first dog for both of us so we're really new at this. I'm worried that he'll get car sick or have an accident in the car or something during the trip. It's also really hot here. Should we have the AC on or the windows open or have water for him....?

Also, do you guys have any suggestions for what we should do during Leo's first weekend home to make him comfortable and not home-sick?

Thanks! 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

When we brought Luna home it was about 1.5 hours away from us and we were driving at night.

Things we brought with us:

- A collar and leash

- Water (she wouldn't drink, but just in case)

- A box with some blankets in it (She was calmer on my lap, though)

- Paper towels and some cleaning supplies (in case of accidents) - I would bring Nature's Miracle as your cleaning solution (it also removes odors)

Things I would recommend after he's home:

- Socialization is extremely important.  Invite as many people as you can to see him in his first few weeks home.   After his 12-week shots, he can start venturing out to places where other dogs have been, but don't let him interact with unknown dogs until after 16 week shots.  If you have family/friends whose dogs you KNOW have been fully vaccinated and are healthy, they can interact with him right away, but on his own turf.

- When people visit, I would advise them to only interact with him if he's NOT jumping on them.  This way he will realize that people are nice but he has to be calm if he wants some affection.

- Crate train him from his first night home.  There are several discussions on here about crate training - you will thank yourself later!  Don't leave him in his crate for more than about 2 hours at a time for the first week.  He will have a very little bladder!

- Don't change his food for at least a month after you get him home.  That way you can rule out food if his digestion is off.

- Be firm and consistent with your training and start right away.  Make sure you and your boyfriend are clear on the training methods you will use (clicker, positive reinforcement techniques etc.) and the commands.

- Goldendoodles are little mouths with feet for their first 6 months or so - it's good to establish the biting ground rules early.  Luna was nicknamed "land shark" while she was teething for a reason...what worked with us is that mouthing was ok, but if it hurt AT ALL (she put pressure into the bite) then we would yelp and give ourselves a 30 second "time out" by hiding in another room.  Some people don't want their dog's teeth to touch skin at all - you can do the same technique but  do the time out anytime his teeth touch skin.

Above all else - lavish your pup with lots of attention (but not treats!) and have fun!

[Yelena]

Thank you for your suggestions! 

[Sue & Lily Grace]

The picture of Leo is adorable. Congratulations. This site is wonderful. So many helpful suggestions. I am waiting for an ALD that is to be born the end of August, but I have been waiting for months already so I am very excited for you. Let us all know how he does.

[Yelena]

Thanks! He is sooo cute! I am counting down the days. I can't wait to see pics of your puppy :) 

[Amy & Cosmo]

Have a trash bag handy! I draped a towel over my lap and had paper towels and the bag ready. It was a good thing because he did throw up, but I caught it. We had an hour drive.

[Christine & Macey]

We brought our 10 week puppy home about 10 days ago.  We had a 3 hour drive home and she threw up twice.  Be ready for it!  

Good luck with your adorable new pup!  

[Yelena]

Thanks for the advice. The breeder said he won't feed leo that morning so hopefully that will help....

[Yelena]

I just spoke to the breeder about this and his philosophy is that this is a bad idea. I was surprised since several people recommended rubbing something on the mom or siblings. He says that this makes the puppy more anxious since he'll miss the kennel even more. He said the puppy should focus on the smells of his new home.

[Wendy and Myla]

That's interesting.  When we picked Myla up at 8 weeks our breeder had a small blanket in our puppy pack.  She said that some people liked to rub the mother and siblings and others didn't, so she left it up to us.  We did and put it in her crate with her at night time.  Now she is 17 weeks old and doesn't use the crate at night time but every night when we go to bed (she sleeps in our bedroom) she goes to her toy box and grabs the blanket and her favourite teddy (two trips) and brings it to bed with her!  It's hilarious!

It was a six hour drive to pick up Myla so we drove our motorhome and camped with her the first night to break up the drive.  She never threw up at all.  I had her on my lap and she slept most of the time while driving.  We  did stop often for potty breaks. 

 

I was worried that Myla would be homesick the first week also and was prepared for a few sleepless nights with whining but she didn't.  She was from a litter of twelve though, so maybe she was grateful for some peace and quiet and her own space - LOL.  She was with us constantly though and during the night, if she woke up whimpering I got up and took her outside potty and then put her back in the crate - she would whimper a bit longer and then go back to sleep.  I really believe a crate at night time makes them more secure - it's like their own little den.  Myla used a crate until last week as she outgrew it.  We did get her a bigger one but it takes up a lot of room in the bedroom and I didn't really like it so we put down a dog bed and she is fine with it. She starts off sleeping beside DH side of the bed and in the morning she is on her dog bed.

 

This is such an exciting time!  It looks like you are  picking her up today!  I still remember how excited I was to pick up Myla - It seems so long ago and it was only two months ago!

Have fun and post some pictures!

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

Congratulations!!!  

J & Luna have hit on just about everything I can think of.   Hurley flew to Nv from SC so he had a very long trip.  When  I opened the door to his travel kennel he was huddled in the back with a look on his face that was certainly one of wonder and fear but also there was quite a connection between Hurley and me.  One that will be forever planted in my memory and continues to keep us close.  Your puppy will probably look at you with instant love and desire to be loved.   Dh held Hurley on our drive home from the airport freight area.  Our drive was a lot shorter than yours so it was relatively safe.  Since your drive is so long it might be better to leave him in his crate.  Hurley did not pee or poop in his kennel on his trip across the US and he didn't go right away when we got home so we took him out very frequently until he went.

For a few weeks we kept him in his kennel at night.  I put it on a stool next to the bed so he could see me and know that I was close.  He did fine with that approach.   Gradually I went from on the stool near the bed to father away from the bed to finally on the floor.   Hurley just about slept through the night from the start so we didn't take him out every couple of hours.  But at night when he started to get restless is when one of us would take him out side.  We always had a leash on him when going out and would say 'potty, potty' in an excited voice so he would get the idea that going out side to potty was a good thing.  We do not let him dally outside when we going out to potty so he would learn those trips were only for him to do his business.   We have bells on a ribbon (bought on Amazon.com) attached to the door so whenever we took him out, when saying 'potty, potty' we would show him how to tap the bells so he could learn how to let us know he needs to go out.  We always go out with him when it is to potty so we keep reinforcing that business time is not play time.  It did not take but a day or so for him to learn to hit the bells when he needs to go potty.  And we always respond with 'potty, potty' as we take him out.  Even then, because he was a puppy, we would 'ask' and take him out starting at every 2-3 hours, moving to more and more time between times that we take him out or from when he rings the bell and goes out.  

But you might prefer keeping your puppy in another room in his kennel.  It is a personal thing.   Hurley sleeps in our bed with us now.  Once we started that, which was about the 4th-5th month, we would put him in his night kennel avery couple of nights so he stays familiar with being in the kennel at night.

During the day, even when we are home, we put him in his daytime kennel for an hour or two at the most while we are getting stuff done around the house.  He can see us from the kennel.  We did not give into any whining or barking but rather ignored him or told him 'enough'.  It only took a couple of times before he would just play with his toys and relax in his kennel.  When putting him in the kennel, we guide him all the time saying 'kennel. kennel' so he understands that when we say 'kennel' he is to go in his kennel.   Didn't take long before he started to go to his kennel when we speak the word.

From the start pet him, talk to him, brush him, touch his ears so it would make it easier to clean his ears, touch/rub the bottom of his paws so he gets used to your touching them which should make it easier for you to cut his nails or trim the coat between the pads down the road.

Think of having a puppy like having a new baby in the house.  Lots of work and lots of fun and lots of love for all.  

The doodle owners/lovers on this web site are wonderful caring people that will help you in anyway they can with your questions. 

Sorry for going on so long.  It is all suggestions.  You may find other techniques that work better for you.

Enjoy your doodle!  Hurley changed our lives in so many loving and special ways.  I am sure your doodle will also.

[Yelena]

Wow. Thanks so much for your advice. We set up leo's kennel in my office, across from the bedroom. We don't plan on him sleeping in our room. But i might change my mind about that once i bring him home! Haha. I'm so glad i found this site! Now i'm a little less nervous about being a first time doggy- mom :)

[Karen Ruhl]

Yelena,
Leo is a cutie! I am picking up my 8 week old Labradoodle puppy on the 12th so I am curious to see people's answers. This site has been helpful in a lot of ways so far.
I am bringing a crate as I plan on crate training him like I did my other dog. Water of course and air conditioning if it's hot. He will be comfortable if you are- just remember he has a fur coat too! You need to have food at home that is like what he was on at the breeders so his tummy isn't upset in the transition. Be prepared for a new "baby" at home! They are a lot of work. You won't be getting much sleep at first- but I know that it is worth it in the end! Good luck!