Hindsight is 20/20................

[Terri, Murfee & Emily]

Good Day Doodle Lovers, 

I am very excited to be traveling to Tennessee from Charlotte on Saturday, March 23 to bring home my little buddy Bentley. I don't recall being this excited about something since being a kid at Christmas time. Giddy on the inside, adult on the outside!  

So I believe that I am well prepared; his crates all made up for him, leash/collar with his name, heart beat puppy for his nighttime, bowls, food to transition after week 2, appointment with the vet on Monday the 25th, ready to place his insurance in force , bottled water (he's currently on well, I am a city girl), toys, etc. 

But I feel as ready as I am, I am sure I will look back in say 6 months to a year, and realize I could have done something differently to ease my transition into puppy Momma. After all, it has been 9 years since I have had a puppy! I will be traveling 4 hours with him and need some wisdom there. Do I let him only pee on a piddle pad while traveling? Do I feed him or just skip his lunch? Offer water freely?

Perhaps it was a "material" thing I should have purchased, or routine I should have changed up to help both of us out, introducing the pup to his 9 year old sister ,Golden Retriever , Emily. The 1st days to help him not be so scared, well you get where I am going.  So please,  help me out if you have some hindsight to share. I promise to "pay" it forward.

Terri 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Are you bringing Emily with you to pick up her sister? If not, it is a good idea to introduce the pup to the resident dog in a neutral territory. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

aw! you have already put so much thought and caring into your planning-I just think you will know what is right by your instincts.  Lucky for you if you have specific questions there are sooo many kind, knowledgeable and patient DK members here to help, guide and just let you vent when your new puppy is making you nuts!  Lots of good times ahead for you, relax now and enjoy and don't forget to post pictures!  

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Did you remember to get some extra sleep?  lol     Look forward to lots of pictures.

[Terri, Murfee & Emily]

Ask me in a week! Somehow I think that this non sleeping talk is being exaggerated by all you Doodlers!  LOL! I just know my little dude will be snoring soundly through the night!!! This is coming from a woman who never had children, so of course I know what I am talking about.  After all, don't all babies sleep through the night from day one?!!!! ;)

ROFL!!

[Jessica Girardot]

Actually, you could luck out with a good sleeper. My girl is 12 weeks today and has been consistently sleeping through the night for 5 nights now. When I got her at 7,5 weeks, she never yelled loudly in her crate and would sleep soundly for at least 4 hours at a time- with only one potty break per night. She clearly started crate training with the breeder, and I thank her a million times over for that! Good luck and here's to hoping you have a similar experience!

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

I thought the same thing...Bank those sleeping hours, its like having a newborn in the house for the first couple of weeks..

CAn't wait to me him!

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Well, for you Terri, it was 9 yrs.....for me 17 since puppy baby training!!
Yikes....very different now!! Just like child rearing is different today.so different, I am expecting my Doodle, Derby, to one day ask for her own iPad.
We brought her home 12 days ago. She had a 3 hr. ride /slept in my arms & DH's the entire ride
I don't think she ever opened her eyes. She slept thru nite first nite...I think she was just knocked out from all the changes that day. Next nite not, ever since ..all thru. No aids, no snuggle puppy, although I did buy the almost obligatory faux animal. My breeder did emphasize her pups do best in travel kennels at nite Not crates...she came on pretty strongly, and we weren't in the position to argue...and glad we took that approach. We have had so many great experiences with her in such a short time...I'm THREATINING my family I'm going to write a Doodle blog....NOT.. I have no time... Between taking her out, training her not to nip my feet & trying to coax her to eat a little more than she has been. She does love her water tho. She's a "micro" doodle" suppose to be around 10-15 lbs...I think her daily mantra is.."2 steps forward...1/2 step back.
But she rivals evenl my grandchildren for "most adorable"
I want to add...she has maintained a very calm, confident persona.She never shakes at new experiences or places/people. seems to take them in her stride and is a very friendly pup. I think at this point she is very adjusted to her new family....however Spring Vacation starts Sunday...and we will be adding 5 new people to the mix...even a 1 yr old human. Truly a great test for her coolness!!
Best of luck to you with the new pup....I'm sure it will be a happy & busy experience.

[Terri, Murfee & Emily]

Thanks Rodney. Wow, 17 years since your last puppy. You still have a positive outlook, so I will take that as a plus. 

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

You said it beautifully and honestly Rodney!  Puppyhood is the best and the worst at times, but looking at those little Doodle eyes makes it all worth it:)

[Wendy and Myla]

Wow, I can still remember how excited I was to pick up Myla last May!  It is the best feeling!  You sound sooo prepared.  I found this site shortly after Myla was born and I swear I lived on it until we picked her up!  I learnt so much and we had already had a goldendoodle before her.  We had a six hour drive to pick up Myla and we brought our motorhome so we could split the drive for her and also make a camping trip out of it.  We did have a crate for night time but during our driving time, I put a big towel on my lap and held her while DH drove, just in case she threw up or peed.  She did neither.  We had asked our breeder not to feed her before we picked her up and we just made lots of stops at parks for her to play and pee and at that time we fed her small amounts of water.  She loved running around and funny thing is she found a stick at the first stop that she played with and we still have it - we call it her "yankee stick" as we are from Canada and we got her in the States.  We also call her our "Yankee Doodle" - I hope that term doesn't offend as it is a real term of endearment!!!!   We did put her in the crate at night time but we did at home also.  She was a real trooper and still loves the motorhome - when we start packing it with food, she is laying right in front of the door so we don't "forget" to bring her!!!!  I'm sure Emily will love Bentley (I love that name BTW) and it looks like you have everything under control and nice thing is, when you get home, if there's any questions, guess where you can go for answers!!!!!  Have fun and I'm so excited for you!!!! 

[Terri, Murfee & Emily]

Wendy, of course I sound under control. I am good at reading everything here and other resources on raising a doodle. I am just afraid that once you add a live 8 week old puppy to the mix, I will totally lose it !! I am so thankful that Emily will be here to keep us all calm :) And of course, all of my new Doodle fans to keep me off the ledge!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

It sounds like you are ready!!

I would send the breeder a tee shirt or a towel and ask her to rub it on him, his litter mates and Momma to get their scents on it. It might make the transition a bit easier if he smells them around him, especially at night.

You didn't write that you have a new SD card and camera charged! WOL!!!