#New labrador puppy checklist full#

#New labrador puppy checklist full#

Until they’ve had their full primary course of vaccinations, it’s important to keep them in places where no other unvaccinated dogs have been so they don’t pick up any nasties. Your puppy is unlikely to be fully vaccinated when you first get them. Puppies are still growing, which is tiring! Some can sleep 18-20 hours a day, so don’t be surprised if your new addition prefers to nap, especially after playtime.

Short playtime sessions are absolutely fine, but remember that your pup will tire out quickly so keep them short and sweet. Puppies are playful and curious, with a lot of energy (when they’re not napping). Give your puppy the chance to go out to the toilet regularly and give them lots of praise when they go in the right place! It’s especially important to take them out after mealtimes and naps as this is when they’re likely to need it most. The breeder or rehoming centre can let you know when, what and how much your puppy normally eats. It’s probably best to avoid visitors for a few days while your puppy adjusts.įor the rest of the day, we’d recommend following our top tips: Make sure you keep your home (and everyone in it!) nice and calm. Too much too soon can get them over-excited or stressed, so slow introductions to new things is key. We’d recommend avoiding giving your puppy access to your whole house on day one. It’s an exciting day for any owner (especially if you’ve been waiting for the puppy for a while), but it’s easy to overwhelm your new friend with so many new people and experiences. It’s really important that everyone stays calm when your puppy first arrives.

Showing them where their bed and food/water bowls are straight away will help them get used to their new surroundings and learn where the important things are! A new home will be a lot for your puppy to take in, so it’s best to introduce them to each room slowly. When you take your puppy inside for the first time, try to take them to their space first. Remember to give them lots of praise or even a treat when they go to the toilet in the right place – for more information, visit our toilet training guide. Puppies will need to go to the toilet regularly, so giving them the opportunity straight away will help before they go inside. When you bring your puppy home, the best thing to do first is to take them to their toilet area (especially if you’ve had a long journey!). It can also help to keep your puppy away from potential hazards, like stairs, before they’re ready to deal with them. Putting in baby gates can be a great way to slowly introduce your puppy to the rest of the house and keep them out of rooms they’re not allowed in. Make sure anything that could be harmful to your puppy is well out of paws’ reach – our list of poisons and hazards is a good place to start if you’re not sure what could harm them. Imagine how confusing it will be for your puppy if they’re sometimes allowed to do things like sit on the sofa but other times not! Just like for us, it’s much harder for your puppy to break a habit than make a new one. You need have these rules set and make sure they aren’t broken.

You need to set some rules and make sure everyone at home knows what they are – and sticks to them! Consistency is key when training any dog and your puppy will be learning all the time. Will they be allowed on the sofa? Are there certain rooms they can’t go in? Are they allowed on the bed? Set some ground rulesīefore your puppy comes home, you have some decisions to make. Growing is thirsty work, after all! Ideally you want this near to their quiet area and bed. Your puppy’s food and water area should be somewhere they can easily get to at all times. Take a look at our guide on crate training for more advice.

If you do decide to get your puppy a crate, remember they might not be used to one so you will need to take your time introducing them to it to make sure they are comfortable and happy with it. All the family needs to know that this is the puppy’s space, and to leave them alone when they are in it. This will be an area they can go and take naps in, chill out in when they want a bit of alone time and generally feel safe in. Bed/chill out areaįirst of all you need to choose where your puppy’s bed and personal space will be. Before you even bring your puppy home, there's a lot you can do to prepare! Remember to make sure to get all the supplies you need first - our new puppy checklist can help you decide what to get.