Picking up my new lab puppy tomorrow! Tips?

R. Macleod & Son - The Best Hunting Companion
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Ben23

Well-Known Member
Morning all!

As per the title, I’m picking up my new black lab puppy tomorrow, which is very exciting. She’s to replace my old bitch who died aged almost 16 this summer.

I just wondered if any of you chaps/lasses had any tips on what to look for when going to collect a new pup? Naturally she’ll likely be utterly irresistible as a tiny puppy, so keeping a level head will be unlikely :rofl: but she’ll only be my second dog, so if anyone has recommendations on what to keep an eye out for, I’d love to hear it!

I’m very good at buying cars, due to having done it 20+ times.... but puppies, not so much. I should be able to meet the mother, but the Sire is a working gundog and may be in the field, so may not be able to meet him.
 
With all livestock you never know what they are going to turn into.
Just pick the one you get a feeling for and go forward from there.
I assume you have seen the bitch pups before or are you going to buy from the first litter you have seen ? Hip and elbow eye tests all done ???
It’s a shock having a puppy again but have fun and slowly turn your pup into a dog your proud of
I personally would not turn up and buy without seeing at least 3 or four litters
 
Thanks all!

Hips and checks all done I believe, and I always think it’s a bit of a gamble, as you say Splash! Some of the ‘best bred’ dogs have awful problems, as do badly bred pups, so hard to know if you’ll win or lose without knowing the parents very well!
 
Wish you joy of your new puppy and well done on nursing your old girl to nearly 16!

I look for Active but not manic, engaged and curious but not precocious, affectionate, playful but not aggressive and quietly confident. Does she respond best to human contact or her “puppy pack”I would advocate if she is a lone dog in the household that her orientation towards humans is more important.

Its almost impossible to tell at 8/9 weeks what she’ll be like as an adult, parents/ bloodline are the best indicators.

Training for her new life starts on day one.
The only way to train a dog is with kindness and patience
Build trust and remember she’s only wee,
Consistency consistency consistency.
Ensure she knows her place in the pack and keep her secure in it.

Enjoy every minute of your time with her!

Good luck
 
Herne has given you good advice the only thing I would add is to spend at least half an hour alone with the pups without the mother and you will see more of their character coming out. Interact with each one separately and as a group and I would favour the one that is keenest to interact with you but is still outgoing and confident. Good luck.
 
For my current lab puppy Flo - that was my 10 year old son who was distraught when our old girl passed away.

Driving home from Donside in snow drifts 2 feet deep either side, cradling his precious new friend on his lap in a blanket, he suddenly stiffened and said “ I thinks she’s just wee’d on me - and I don’t care”!
 
Welcome to the club of owning possibly the most loyal friends a man can have I work away and as soon as im home he doesn't leave my side ive had possibly 70 dogs and the lab is possibly the most loyal
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I’ve never chosen a puppy. Every dog I’ve had has been the last one available or chosen for me by a friend. I don’t think it’s ever made any difference. As long as it’s a good litter, I’d be pretty happy with any of them.
 
My advice would be:

1). Brush your hand through the hair the wrong direction to check for puppy mites.

2). Look to see if the dew claws are still on, not that it will make much difference now. Some say on, others say take them off.

3). Look for broken teeth and bones before you walk away with the pup.

4). Look for cherry eye, it is like a little pink fold of skin in the eye between were the lids meet. Sign of inbreeding.

5). Check for split pads between the toes.

6). Don't freak out if your pup has worms, just get a wormer. Givign the wormer make sure your pup is well away from your best rug.

7). Leave your jumper on its bed that night and keep changing it every few days so your pup begins to associate and bond with your scent.

8). Plenty of time for your pup to be put away each day and let it sleep.

9). Watch were you put your shoes and slippers from now on. Everything above waist height.

10). Get all the paperwork sorted before you leave the breeder's house. Do not leave without some kind f paperwork and definitely get them to give you the injection booklet for that specific pup. Your jab booklet MUST match the name on your kennel club cert! You send away the cert to KC who issue you a new one.

11). Make sure for definite you get the microchip information for your pup, what organisation microchipped it, how to change the owner address (should be an application form on the back of your dogs ID information.

12). Have the patience of a saint. When the novelty wears off still love your pup when it chews your kitchen units, tv remote control, your boots, trousers and all things precious. It is never the pups fault, it is always the handlers fault.

13). I had to add this bit as I forgot so apologies for the later edit*. Your pup can begin trail training (5m trails) at 12 weeks old. It was told to me and I didn't believe it until I tried it. A bit of bacon pulled "always in a straight line" for about 5m with it first running behind it. Then try it by laying a trail in the garden, always a few days a apart if needing to use the same place. Set the tiny 12-13 week old pup down gently and watch it go like a wind up bath toy! It is hilarious to watch because they are so young, they love it!
 
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I was in your same shoes 9 months ago. Those who have commented above probably know way more than me and have offered you some very good advice. It's the best decision I've ever made and I'm sure you'll have years of utter joy ahead with your dog.

My only advice to add (I dont know if you've paid a deposit on a specific puppy) is this: we very wisely visited a breeder to look at a sizeable litter. The dogs were kept outside in kennels and everything was in order. However both the breeder and the mother seemed surprisingly disinterested in the litter. They in turn seemed wary of humans and instead of coming up to us tails wagging as we'd expected, actively tried to avoid any close contact. I politely told the owner 'no thank you' and we left. It just didnt feel right.

Weeks later we had the choice up just 2 puppies that the breeder brought to us at home at the beginning of lockdown. Both the breeder and her son were all over them and asked us lots of questions. The puppies nearly fell out of the 4x4 to get our attention. We chose the less boisterous one (the one that didnt actually fall out of the vehicle!) And shes been adorable.

Go with your gut after heading everything said by other members and you'll be just fine. Good luck!
 
Always made pups sit before feeding them. Food in one hand and open hand sit. Once kept a pup back for a shooting friend who was going on holiday when the pups were ready so it was ten weeks old when he collected it. He could not get over how I had got it to sit with a hand signal. Good luck with the pup but you will have heard the saying Labs are born half trained. So don't mess it up
 
Good for you sir! a lab pup is fine friend, so much good advice above all I can add is be patient, kind and basic obedience before other tasks. What they know at 8 am will need re taught by 10 and 2 and 4 . One day the brain just clicks and a finer dog you will never have. My friend Sam was smarter than I, most of his training was me learning to trust his instincts. To all that put up pics, a fine bunch of dogs that could ride with me anytime.
 
I recommend the use of a cage in the house. Maintain a familiar home and scent for the pup over the first few months. It also lets them become familiar with the term “bed” but don’t use this as a negative / punishment. Bed is just bed, it’s their place.

Also don’t be worried about it having the ***** for a few days, especially at night. This is just nerves from a new environment. Can be solved with a bit of brown rice in the food. On food stick with what the breeder has been feeding.

thereafter I recommend Royal Canin Maxi food. It’s pricey but very good for a lab. Mine gets 1 feed a day.







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willyroe said:
I recommend the use of a cage in the house. Maintain a familiar home and scent for the pup over the first few months. It also lets them become familiar with the term “bed” but don’t use this as a negative / punishment. Bed is just bed, it’s their place.

Also don’t be worried about it having the ***** for a few days, especially at night. This is just nerves from a new environment. Can be solved with a bit of brown rice in the food. On food stick with what the breeder has been feeding.

thereafter I recommend Royal Canin Maxi food. It’s pricey but very good for a lab. Mine gets 1 feed a day.







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What a fantastic picture.
 
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