If a few short hours we’ll be leaving to go and visit the Labrador Retriever breeder and hopefully pick out a new puppy!
For a while we thought we might have to delay our trip. We had freezing rain several times yesterday which of course resulted in icy streets and then it snowed, and snowed and snowed some more. Not that a lot of snow built up or anything, but with the intermittent freezing rain it created a heavy ice covered crust over the snow and it was generally miserable to be outdoors yesterday.
We weren’t sure if it would have cleared up enough today for our long drive to the dog breeders. We have to drive West towards Niagara Falls, and setting aside weather conditions, driving out that way on a Friday, a US long weekend (shopping weekend) no less, and we’re bound to end up being in heavy traffic.
Chris wants to wait until about 7 pm to leave so that the traffic will hopefully have died down. So we won’t get to the breeders until about 9 pm and if all goes well it will be around that time that we’ll be setting eyes on our new dog for the first time!
I think we’re just about ready. We tidied up the house last night so there will be fewer things for a puppy to get into when it gets here.
I also cleaned our old medium sized pet carrier. I think we’ll use that as the puppies crate until we get a proper training crate. It’s a good size for a puppy. We’re also going to bring the pet carrier with us when we go tonight. I plan on holding the puppy when we drive back so it won’t be scared, but since it’s so cold out I feel better having a safe place to put the pup just in case the car breaks down or something happens along the way.
The puppy bed is set out as well and I cleaned the toys we purchased too. I also cleaned the food and water dishes that we bought and have them in place and ready for us.
All I’d like to do before we leave the city this evening is perhaps hit a pet store and maybe get some of those puppy training pads so we’ll have them on hand as soon as we bring the puppy home.
Perhaps while we’re at the store we’ll look at dog gates. The baby gate that Chris purchased the other night is held up by pressure mounts and it’s just not sitting securely enough. I’d rather return it and get one that actually attaches to the wall and has a swinging gate. We’ll probably be going to PetSmart. I’ve already checked out their online store to see what kind of dog gates they have and I think I know which one I’d like to get. So maybe we’ll pick that up too if we make it to the store before we leave and if we can decide on one quickly enough.
Now, all you experienced puppy/ dog owners out there … maybe you can give me some advice on dog food? The breeder has apparently been feeding the puppies Purina puppy chow so we already bought a small bag of that in order to be sure the dog will eat when it’s here, but what kind of puppy dog food would you recommend? I know I’ll probably get several different brands recommended, but I’d just like to know if there’s anything wrong with feeding the puppy the Purina puppy chow of if we should be feeding it something better?
Also if you have any more tips for me – especially about traveling in a car with the puppy for the first time (2 hour drive!) I’d love to hear from you! I was reading on a site that the puppy will do better and be less frightened if it’s held and reassured.
Wish me luck on finding a healthy puppy to bring home!
BTW if we get a puppy I’ll post photos as soon as I can!
Looking forward to the puppy pics!
Hello,
I’m happy for you about your new addition, but saddened to hear you purchased from a breeder, You have a public blog with readers, and I just wish you would encourage adopting from shelters – good or bad breeder, the fact is, it’s breeder and pet stores that are hugely responsible for the thousands of unwanted and euthanized dogs every year. I won’t get into the reasonings as I’m sure you already know.
That being said, enjoy your new fur baby but please think about it if you ever purchase another dog!
Maria 🙂
so what would be the name of the puppy
Is the puppy in the house????
We feed our dog Iams. That’s what the military fed their dogs when Rob was a K-9 handler, and he says it’s one of the better foods – so that’s what she gets. I’m not highly educated on dog foods myself, though.
Best wishes on your new puppy! 🙂
We started ours out in Science Diet (it’s what the breeder was feeding the pups). Our puppy was getting bad gas and so we’ve tried a few different foods. We’ve finally settle on a Nutro Max. She seems to like it and her gas issues have been greatly reduced. We feed her their dog biscuits too which she really likes. They sell both at PetSmart.
We got a new puppy a couple of weeks ago so I can relate.
We took her to our vet, as soon as we got her home just to get her checked out, and it turned out she had ear mites! Good to know before putting her around our other dogs.
Best wishes
it’s Sunday already and still no sign of Tricia! i bet the new puppy has made you busy?
looking forward to see the puppy pics!
thanks tricia for replying to my query. i’d already removed my nofollow tag from my journal.
really? you’re getting a puppy? wow! im so excited to see how your new “baby” looks. i bet it’ll be super cute..
btw, can i link you up? heres a link to my journal: http://seaprincess72.livejournal.com
thanks again for the help. have a nice day.
Hey Tricia!
You’ve been tagged. Visit my blog for more info 🙂
You must be enjoying your new pup by now! … Can’t wait to see pics!
We feed all three of our dogs Pro Plan and they love it! Two get Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach and the other one gets Pro Plan Senior. One of our dogs itches, so we tried the sensitive skin and stomach formula made with Salmon and he doesn’t scratch anymore. Congrats on the new puppy!
i just got my german shephard pup who is 8 weeks old and not to sure what to feed him
I agree with KT, since we started feeding our dogs Pro Plan they’re doing much better
Congrats on your new puppy! A labrador retriever brings alot of love into a household. I found your page in Google!