Morning!

I am soon to get a new puppy (haven't had a dog for quite a few years!) but working out when the pup is ready to come home, I have found out that this particular week my husband is away on a course for work (only one in the 9 years we've been together) and the kids (4!) are going to my parents for a weeks holiday.!!

Is this a good time to bring the pup home when it is just me there or should I delay picking up the pup until everyone gets back from their hols/courses etc?  I can get time off work (I only work for a couple of hours each evening when my husband gets home from his work) so I can concentrate on settling the pup in.

Obviously bringing the pup home is going to be stressful for the pup being away from her mum and the rest of the litter and I really don't want to make it any more stressful.  I just didn't know whether everyone being home would be an overload for the pup or if I waited till they were back, would it just be prolonging the stress and having to go through all of it again when they return?

ld love to hear your views.
Kerri

Hi Kerri...congratulations!!

There are 2 very opposite thoughts on your problem.  1 says to bring the pup home when you can devote your time to it, the other says to bring the pup home and go about your routine as it would be normally.

It is only my experience that bringing home a puppy and keeping to routine eases the transition from mother to new home.  I've tried to bring home a puppy and take a week off before returning to my normal routine and it didn't work well.  The puppy got used to me being there all of the time and then was confused when I wasn't.

So...to shorten my answer before I go on and on...if I were you, I'd wait until everything was back to normal in your household before bringing home your new pup.  ;)

Congratulations Kerri, I was in your situation last June. I can't advise about the family being there but I'm sure forum members with busier households will be on soon.
I just wanted to share my experience regarding work. I heard that following your usual routine was the best way to go and for me that meant going to work for a short time every day. He had the weekend with us home all day, but I had to leave him Monday morning. He was absolutely fine - I stood outside to make sure he settled. I have the most relaxed and confident dog in the world when it comes to being on his own. No separation anxiety here. (fireworks and vacuums are another story!). 
Good luck with your new family member.

Hi Kerri,
When we got Floyd we took time off to settle him in, but probably should have carried on with our usual routine as the others have said.
He was actually worse at being left alone if we were in (ie in another room) than he eventually was when we went out. He would cry for England if he knew we were near, but once we had actually left and he was a lot quieter and happier.
Now he is used to our coming and going times he is totally fine about being left - I think changing your routine will only confuse him when you change it back to normal again.
Good luck and enjoy your new addition to the family,
x

Hi Kerri

I think it's a good idea to get the pup then.  With husband and kids away, you can focus on the pup, get to know her and her needs and then it will be easier for you to figure out how everyone's routines can fit together when everyone else returns.  I also think that 1 week isn't really long enough for her to learn your routine, so it won't be too confusing when everyone comes back. 

Get her 1st vaccination done as soon as possible - I think getting the 1st jab done the day after you get her is a good idea. 

And think about what you're going to do to socialise her during that week you have with her: www.deesdogs.com/documents/dogsocialization.pdf

Carry her around in a shoulder bag and let her meet all kinds of people. 

Have you looked into training classes for her?  Whereabouts do you live?

Hi 123

I must admit that I was thinking of doing this but the other postings seemed against it.  Apart from 4 kids, we also have a cat and I just thought this was the ideal time to introduce one another:rolleyes:!  Should be interesting!  We already have a vets sorted as obviously our cat is already registered there so I was going to ask them about classes when I took the pup (no name sorted yet) for her 1st jabs.  Tried searching but the web has keeping throwing up some really weird sites that have nothing to do with them!! (live in Fareham - between Portsmouth and Southampton).

As I wont have to do the school runs that week as the kids aren't here (not celebrating too much :D), I was just planning on walking around (we live on a very busy through road and only a couple of mins from M27) and also popping to the local school around chucking out time (kids go to another school nearby).

My brother in law and his wife have a dog (beagle)?  Can I visit them with the pup before her final jabs?

I am sure as long as the other dog is up to date with all jabs and that there have been no other un vaccinated dogs in their garden/house then I'm sure that will be fine.
I think that it will be a good idea to get the pup too, like 123 said a week isn't long enough for her to learn any routine.
We got our pup whilst the kids were away.( just moved to a new house and got him the day after we moved, kids came back about 5 days later) he was ok, a little bit shy, but then having 8 people suddenly appear in your house that you  don't know, I think i would be!! I just made sure that nobody made a b-line for him and just sat and ignored him till he was ready to come out of his crate and greet everyone... (mental note to self, wish it was that easy now :rolleyes: )
Just enjoy that little pup and socialise as much as you can, that window in their life is so short and will turn him into a well rounded adult dog if done properly :-)

Hi kerri

Yes, you can visit the beagle for sure - as long as he's up to date with jabs and as long as they play in someone's garden and not out in a public place.

Just be careful that the play stays equal - one should chase the other, then the other should chase back again.  Don't let the pup pester the beagle if he doesn't want to play - that might result in the beagle snapping at the pup and that wouldn't be a good socialisation experience.  Keep the play session short to prevent it getting too rough - if you pick the pup up every few minutes and hold her to interrupt the play that should help prevent it getting too hyped up.  (Sometimes when play gets too rough it suddenly tips over into fighting and you don't want that to happen, so best to interrupt rough play - besides which you don't want your pup to learn to play like that because not all dogs will like it.)

As for classes - I don't think the vets are the best place to find out about them - my own vet's, although an excellent practice, recommend a terrible trainer who uses horrible methods - I can't imagine why.  I've spoken to them and told them about this trainer too.

Anyway I would recommend you look at: www.puppyschool.co.uk and see if there's a trainer from there in your area.

Otherwise I would suggest you have a look here: http://www.apdt.co.uk/trainers_area.asp?area=Hampshire

I would strongly advise you to go and watch as many classes as you can, before you get your puppy.  This is for several reasons - firstly you can only choose the best class in your area if you've watched them all.  Secondly, new puppy owners often have nothing to relate their puppy class to and so can't judge it.  If you have seen several, you will know if yours is a good one.  Third, it is free to watch puppy classes and you will learn lots by doing so.  When you get your puppy and before she has had her jabs, you can be teaching her all these things at home, as you've watched in the puppy class.  And lastly, it's much easier to learn when you don't have a wriggling bundle of puppy at your feet, so you will actually find it easier to concentrate if you go and watch classes now, before you get her.

Almost all good trainers will allow people to watch their classes - just say that you're getting a puppy soon and is it ok to watch a class.  It's actually good fun watching too.

I'm with onetwothree; I'd pick him up as soon as possible. My comment was that it would probably be OK to go to work as usual if the puppy would normally be home alone at that time. I wish I had picked my pup up earlier; he was already almost 10 weeks and I missed out on early introductions to traffic, trains, etc.