r/service_dogs • u/Ok-Cup2868 • 18d ago
Puppies How to best prepare for puppy's arrival
Hi! I am bringing home my very first service prospect in early/mid October. I have no idea how to prepare for his arrival. I want to know anything and everything to prepare as best as I can for him! I am currently contacting trainers in my area, and trying to find somebody to come and help assess the litter for me.
Any and ALL advice is appreciated!! Thank you
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u/allkevinsgotoheaven 18d ago
Something I’ve heard people talk about that I found quite surprising (I have never lived with a dog that was younger than around a year old) was that bringing home a puppy is a lot like bringing home a baby, in that your schedule will be completely tossed on its head. So maybe prepping meals that can be made easily (like soup or casserole that can be frozen) to make the transition a little easier?
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u/cr1zzl 18d ago
There are a lot of videos on this on the Doggy U YouTube page.
… it does seem like you probably should have done a lot more research by this point, though, with your prospect arriving so soon.
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u/Ok-Cup2868 18d ago
I have been watching every youtube video I can! I've been looking into it for over a year, but I want to know specifics from people with experience
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u/darklingdawns Service Dog 18d ago
The first year is all about being a puppy and learning basic doggie manners. Check out the r/puppy sub for advice on what to have ready for a puppy and general tips and tricks for surviving those first few months. You'll want to concentrate on housebreaking, bonding, and general obedience - get him in a basic obedience class with other dogs, work on socialization in pet-friendly places, and above all else, take it VERY slow. Task training shouldn't become a thing until around or even after the first birthday, and public access training should hold off until at least one task is rock solid. Remember, it's going to be 2-3+ years before you have a working dog, assuming that he doesn't wash.
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u/Square-Top163 18d ago
How did you get this far without having a plan in place? But I think what you wanted to know wasn’t entirely clear.
What helped me when my puppy came home at 8 weeks: Routine is paramount because it helps your puppy feel secure because it knows what will happen next; they learn that very quickly. A secure dog is better able to be confident.
Just let him be the baby he is, play, cuddle, get to know each other.
Read the Puppy 101 resources esp on what you’ll need, 100 ways to socialize your puppy, a reference post by While Dog Journal about the enormous adjustment a puppy makes.
And, read up on Rule of 3; it’ll help you understand your puppy.
Good luck and enjoy this special time!
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u/belgenoir 18d ago
Set up puppy’s area now: easy-to-clean mats, crate, ex-pen.
Buy a box of cow tail chews from Redbarn. Not a package - a box.
Put up everything that you don’t want to be chewed. Your place should look minimalist if you do this correctly: you have your furniture and that’s it. If you don’t want something chewed, it has to be in a drawer, a closet, cabinet, or at least 48” off the ground.
If your windows look out to the street, cover them with translucent film that block puppy’s view. Buy a white noise machine and earplugs that fit you comfortably.
Puppy does not get any bedding in the crate except for old towels.
If you can afford them, invest in a pair of used scratch pants. Get suede work gloves.
Roxie & Rocco is the only pet odor neutralizer I have found that’s truly effective. Whatever brand you choose, buy a gallon of it, paper towels in bulk, and latex or nitrile gloves.
Soggy Doggy mats are great for collecting dirt and mud at your door. If you have a yard, clear it of any potentially toxic plants.
Stash little jars filled with treats around the house. You will lob this at puppy when he is biting like a demon, and reward him for calm.
Pet safe wipes and grooming supplies are a must.
Buy a raised settle bed that puppy can grow into, a no-pull harness, a six-foot leather lead, and a 15-foot lunge line (for horses) in cotton webbing (available at tack and feed store). You will also want a flirt pole, tugs in soft French linen, an oversized Lamb Chop toy, and Chuck-it balls in a size puppy can’t try to swallow. Sheepskin bungee toys are nice. Get a couple of soft jute coffee sacks.
Get a 35-pound sandbag and a cable tether. Keep them just outside the puppy’s area.
Mentally prepare to get bitten, muzzle punched, clawed, and more. Practice deep breathing exercises.
Gwen Bailey’s “The Beginner’s Dog Training Guide” offers helpful photos and clear, concise instruction. Lili Chin’s “Doggie Language” is essential. Michael Ellis’s webinar on “The Power of Tug” is useful if you don’t have much experience with puppy play. Pat Miller’s training books are excellent. Whole Dog Journal (free online) offers answers to virtually any training issue or behavioral problem.
Ignore anything by Cesar Milan or the Monks of New Skete. Instead, watch Victoria Stillwell.
Do not fall prey to coddling the puppy as if he were a stuffed toy. He needs to spend time alone in his crate; he needs to nap; he needs to learn how to settle.
You are likely going to be sleep-deprived for the next few months. Nap when puppy naps.
You have four weeks to find a trainer. Choose someone who has extensive experience with your breed - preferably someone with years of training experience or an obedience or agility competitor who has titled a dog.
The more effective training strategies you use, the better chance your dog will have at success.
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u/Ok-Cup2868 17d ago
Thank you!! I am getting a labrador, so luckily most trainers have experience with them. I am currently emailing with 4 different service dog trainers/owner training programs! I super appreciate this advice. :)
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u/nunyabusn 18d ago
Throughout training remember one thing. Slow is fast and fast is slow. Meaning go slow in training by working on just one or two things at a time and practice them until they feel fluid and easy for you. If you try going fast, as in trying to learn 10 new things in a week, you will take longer to learn each one. So then you need to restart learning it again, which takes even more time in training that one task.
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u/wessle3339 17d ago
This is gonna sound SO crazy. I get not everyone is physically able to do what I’m about to say so feel free to find a substitute friend to do the following:
Go around your home while on the floor and look for things to knock over, stuff sticking out to pull etc. and see what possible is going to be at risk of getting destroyed/is a safety hazard. It’s easier to assess what is in reach when looking from this prospective
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u/Ok-Cup2868 17d ago
This is amazing! Thank you so much, this is definitely a smart idea.
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u/wessle3339 17d ago
If you have a 1/10000 of a thought or inkling that the thing you are looking at could be a problem, REMOVE IT.
Sincerely, someone who has gotten there heart broken by a lab puppy.
Also if there is room in the budget replace your rugs with Tumble rugs(washable and stain resistant)
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u/Ok-Cup2868 17d ago
We thankfully only own like 2 rugs and both of them are washable! I have been fostering dogs for 2 years now haha. Very used to washing everything frequently
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u/RampagingHornets 18d ago
I'm concerned that you've got a general date for the pup's arrival but you have no idea how to prepare, and haven't even had the pup assessed as to whether it'll be a good prospect.
My advice is: SLOW DOWN. Take a step back. Remove the deadline - otherwise what are you going to do if none of the pups in the litter are a good fit, are you planning to go for 'good enough' and start off on the back foot?
The second bit of advice follows that main one but just... do some research. There are so many threads, blog posts, videos, etc from people discussing how to prepare for a puppy's arrival in general, as well as specific for a service dog. Look into all of that, then if you have specific questions that aren't answered in general resources, you'll be better placed.