In just a few hours, we will be dog owners. 1 piece of advice on first day?

[christina m]

In 2 hours, we will finally bring home Nicky. What's one piece of advice you wish you were given on your first day?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I started with one, then had two and now three so I'll just say Here are a few pieces of advice I would pass along to you ... just take it slow.  Don't overwhelm on the first day.  Just give her time to adjust to her new environment before every family and friend within 20 miles comes to visit.  Additionally from this day forward when you are just sitting quietly, play with her feet and paw pads and in between her toes as well as her ears and belly so that she will be used to you touching every single part of her.  This will help a great deal down the road with grooming.  Have fun.  Take lots of pictures because the time is going to go so fast.  Additionally, start now with "no jump" and "no bite".  Don't even let it begin.  Make it unacceptable from day one!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

GREAT advice!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree. Even though it's the weekend and even though everyone is excited to see the new puppy, keep visitors to a minimum and keep to a normal household routine starting today. Every single thing in her world is changing, give her time to learn about her new environment and her new "pack".

Resist the urge to carry her around, too.  

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Perfect advice! My only additions would  be to BE PATIENT with your new puppy and start early with training. There will be lots of frustrating times taking the puppy out for potty breaks and lots of time spent 'just standing around' waiting for something to happen, only to come inside to an accident. We had both our new puppies in the Winter months, and standing around in the elements wasn't the most fun thing, but we survived it!

Start with the basic commands from day 1. Puppies are like a sponge and will pick up on training quickly. Its never too early to start training, and if there's some household rule you'll insist on later, start teaching that day 1 too. For example, our older doodle, Lucy, was use to her own water bowl, so we taught Oscar early to drink from his own bowl.

No one warned us about how exhausting a new puppy can be the first few weeks. It does get better. Promise!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Great advice already given!  Pictures, Patience, Protection, Training and Touching and have fun! 

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

I will just add...  ENJOY!!!

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

One thing that really helped us with potty-training was to keep a pad of paper by the door and write down the time that you take Nicky out and a note of whether he did #1, #2 or both.  Time passes quickly, and though you think you will remember and be able to keep to a schedule, you will likely forget.  Also, with two people taking Nicky in and out, this way you won't need to keep asking each other when Nicky went out last and what he did.  So, that's my one piece of advice.  Oh, and a BIG congratulations!

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

We've had yogi almost 2 months now. Enjoy every minute and don't be frustrated, just know that time goes so quickly.
They are sponges at this age, teach them as much as you can, and know they can learn bad habits as quickly as good habits. They as such wonderful dogs. We love our yogi so much. Best dog ever! Oh yeah, socialize, socialize.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

As the "first day" is slowing becoming the "First Night" I can add a few ideas. Of course if the breeder gave you something that has a scent of his litter, use that in his crate. Have the crate close to your bed, so he can hear you and some actually put their hand near them so they can smell you. I kept mine covered with a sheet, to make it dark and cavelike, and both my pups did better with that. I also had a ticking clock outside the crate, covered for a muttled sound like a heartbeat and although there are expensive stuffed puppy toys for this, my good ol clock worked just fine.
Of course if he wakes, bring him out immediately and only for potty, no play, no drinking, just do his business and get back to the crate.
This is all I have for the moment, it;s been over three years since I had a puppy, but I do remember the first night as being our biggest challenge. How lonely they must have felt? My DH slept with Murphy on his chest the second night, and honestly, ours were in our bed by the first or second week and we never had an accident in our bed. Good luck tonight

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Patience is a Virtue! ;)

[Carol and Banjo]

You've received great advice.   One thing I can add that seemed to work for us is, when collecting puppy from his crate to bring him outside to potty….never let his feet hit the floor.    We'd get ourselves ready to go outside, and then open the crate, attach leash, scoop puppy into our arms and not put him down until he was outside.   This guaranteed he couldn't have a mistake on the floor.    

[Lynda Kamrath]

Lots of love and a lot of touching.  You are setting the stage for your whole lives together.  I love to snuggle with puppies but no running around the house on his own.  Into his playpen or crate when you are not actively involved with him.  And I would say to carry him out to where you want him to eliminate, then praise, and carry back into the house.  Unsupervised running around (inside or out) is fun for your puppy but not good for training him to be the little companion you are looking for.  That can come later.