How to Prepare for Bringing Your Labrador Puppy Home

Bringing home a Labrador puppy is one of the most exciting days you'll have as a dog owner. It's also a massive change for your new puppy.

At around eight weeks of age, your puppy is leaving the only home they've ever known. They're leaving their mum, littermates and familiar surroundings to start a new life with your family.

A little preparation before you bring your puppy home can make the transition much easier for everyone.

At Sumapark Labradors, we've helped many families welcome a Labrador puppy into their homes. Here's our straightforward advice on what to organise before pickup day and what to expect during the first week.

How to Prepare for a Labrador Puppy Before Pickup Day

One mistake new owners sometimes make is waiting until their puppy arrives before buying supplies or setting up the house.

Try to get the basics organised beforehand so you can spend the first few days helping your puppy settle in rather than rushing around the shops.

Before pickup day, we recommend having:

• The same puppy food your breeder is currently feeding

• Food and water bowls

• A comfortable and washable bed

• A suitable collar and lead

• Puppy-safe toys

• A crate or secure sleeping area

• Cleaning supplies for the inevitable accidents

• Safe and durable chew toys

• A suitable car restraint or puppy carrier

You don't need to buy everything in the pet shop. Start with the essentials and work out what suits your puppy and your home from there.

Create a Safe Space for Your Puppy

Everything will be new to a young puppy, including the people, smells, noises and layout of your home.

Having a safe and quiet area where your puppy can rest is important during the first few weeks. This could be a crate, a puppy pen or a secure section of the laundry or living area.

Your puppy's space should include:

• A comfortable bed

• Access to fresh water

• A couple of safe toys

• A quiet place away from constant household traffic

• Flooring that can be cleaned easily if there's an accident

Puppies need plenty of sleep. It can be tempting for everyone in the family to constantly play with the new arrival, but your puppy also needs time to rest without being disturbed.

A safe space gives them somewhere familiar to return to when they're tired or feeling overwhelmed.

Puppy-Proof Your Home

Labrador puppies are naturally curious. If something can be picked up, chewed, carried away or investigated, there's a fair chance your puppy will find it.

Before bringing your puppy home:

• Move electrical cords out of reach where possible

• Put shoes and clothing away

• Secure rubbish bins

• Remove or relocate toxic plants

• Pick up children's toys and small objects

• Store medications and cleaning products safely

• Check fences, gates and outdoor areas

• Block access to areas where the puppy could become trapped

• Keep food and household chemicals out of reach

It's worth getting down to puppy height and looking around the house. You'll often notice things you wouldn't normally consider a problem.

Labradors are clever, active and usually very food motivated, so secure storage will save you plenty of headaches later.

Bringing Your Puppy Home Safely

Your puppy needs to be properly secured while travelling home.

Depending on the animal restraint requirements where you live and the type of vehicle you have, this may involve a pet carrier, travel crate or suitable restraint attached to a properly fitted harness.

Try to keep the drive home calm. Your puppy may feel uncertain, become tired or experience some travel sickness, particularly if they haven't spent much time in a vehicle.

Bring a towel or washable blanket with you just in case.

If your breeder provides a blanket carrying the scent of the puppy's mum or littermates, keep it with your puppy during the trip and place it in their sleeping area when you arrive home. A familiar smell can help provide some comfort during the transition.

The First Few Hours at Home

When you arrive home, give your puppy a chance to toilet before taking them inside.

Keep the first introduction fairly calm. It's understandable that family and friends will be excited, but having too many people handling the puppy at once can be overwhelming.

Show your puppy:

• Where to toilet

• Where their water is

• Where their bed or crate is

• The areas of the home they're allowed to explore

Let them investigate at their own pace.

You don't need to show them the whole house immediately. Starting with a smaller, secure area often makes it easier for a puppy to settle and helps with toilet training.

The First Night at Home

The first night is often what new owners worry about most.

Many puppies will cry when left alone during their first few nights. This is normal. For the first time in their life, they're sleeping away from their mum and littermates in completely unfamiliar surroundings.

Keep the evening calm and relaxed. Give your puppy a chance to toilet immediately before bed and make sure their sleeping area is safe and comfortable.

Some puppies settle quickly. Others take a few nights.

The main thing is to decide where your puppy will sleep and be consistent. Constantly changing the routine can make settling more difficult.

Your puppy may need to toilet during the night. Young puppies have small bladders, so accidents can still happen even when you're doing everything right.

Patience and consistency are the key. Most Labrador puppies adjust quickly once they realise they're safe and this is now their home.

Feeding Your Labrador Puppy

One of the most common questions new owners ask is what they should feed their puppy.

When your puppy first comes home, continue feeding the same food and the same approximate amount they were receiving from the breeder.

Pickup day is already a stressful change for a young puppy. Suddenly changing their diet at the same time can contribute to an upset stomach.

Your breeder should provide information on:

• What food the puppy is eating

• How much they're being fed

• How many meals they receive each day

• When any future feeding changes may be required

If you decide to change foods later, make the transition gradually rather than changing everything in one meal.

Fresh water should always be available.

Labradors generally love their food, but avoid giving too many treats or extras during the first few days. Give your puppy's stomach a chance to settle into the new environment and routine.

Start Toilet Training From Day One

Good toilet habits start as soon as your puppy comes home.

Take your puppy to the chosen toilet area:

• After waking up

• After eating or drinking

• After playing

• Before bedtime

• Whenever they begin sniffing or circling

• Regularly throughout the day

When your puppy toilets in the correct area, calmly praise them.

Accidents are a normal part of raising a puppy. They haven't done it to be naughty, and punishment won't help them understand what you want.

Clean the area thoroughly and continue with the routine.

Consistency will get better results than getting frustrated. Labrador puppies are generally willing learners, but they still need time to understand the rules of their new home.

Choosing Safe Puppy Toys

Labrador puppies love to carry things and chew. Providing suitable toys gives them an appropriate outlet and may help protect your shoes, furniture and other belongings.

Look for toys that:

• Are suitable for the puppy's age and size

• Cannot be easily swallowed

• Don't have loose pieces that can be chewed off

• Encourage appropriate chewing

• Can be cleaned easily

• Are durable enough for a Labrador puppy

Check toys regularly and throw them away if they become badly damaged.

Rotating a few toys every couple of days can also help keep them interesting.

Vaccinations and Your Vet

Your breeder should let you know when your puppy's next vaccination is due and provide you with a vaccination record before pickup day.

Rather than rushing off to the vet as soon as your puppy comes home, check when the second vaccination is due and book your appointment accordingly.

This allows your puppy to settle in while ensuring they remain on track with their vaccination schedule.

That appointment is also a good opportunity to establish a relationship with your local vet and discuss parasite prevention, feeding, growth and general puppy care.

Until your puppy has completed the vaccination schedule recommended by your breeder and veterinarian, be careful about where you take them and which unfamiliar dogs they interact with.

What to Expect During the First Week

Some Labrador puppies appear confident from the moment they arrive. Others need a bit more time.

During the first week, you may notice:

• Plenty of sleeping

• Some crying at night

• Toileting accidents

• Cautious behaviour in new situations

• Changes in appetite

• Increased curiosity as confidence grows

• Chewing and exploring with their mouth

• Short bursts of energy followed by a nap

Keep the first week fairly simple.

Your puppy doesn't need to meet every friend, relative and dog in the neighbourhood straight away. Give them time to bond with your household and become familiar with their new routine.

Avoid expecting too much too soon. They're still a very young puppy learning about an entirely new world.

Enjoy the Puppy Stage

The puppy stage goes incredibly fast.

There will be accidents, interrupted sleep and moments when your puppy tests your patience. You may lose a shoe or two along the way as well.

There will also be plenty of laughs, cuddles and memories you'll never forget.

Labradors are well known for being affectionate, loyal and family-oriented dogs. With preparation, patience and a consistent routine, you'll be giving your puppy a great start in their new home.

Before long, they'll feel like they've always been part of the family.

About Sumapark Labradors

This article was written by Toby and Chantelle Webb of Sumapark Labradors, based on our experience breeding and raising Labradors in Orange, NSW.

We aim to provide straightforward and practical advice that helps families prepare for life with a Labrador and gives every puppy the best possible start.

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