I have a few suggestions that will help get your new puppy relationship off to a good start, on the day you pick up your puppy.

• Bring a crate with you, preferable the one the puppy will be sleeping in when you get home
• Bring an old T-shirt or sweatshirt that you have recently worn and put that in the crate. It helps the puppy identify their new human.
• Bring a hot water bottle, and if possible a thermos. I will load you up with hot water when you are ready to leave.
• I will give you some of the lambskin bedding that the puppies have been sleeping on, so that the puppy will have some familiar smells.
• Also bring some old towels and probably some paper towels as well for any cleanups.
• Let us know what time you plan to take your puppy home, as we need to alter the feed schedule so that your puppy won’t eat right before you take off in the car.

You might also want to consider the book or DVD from “the Monks of New Skete on Raising your Dog”. It can help you to build a better relationship with your new puppy. I found this very helpful and added many of their ideas to raising my own dogs.

Dogs need to belong to a pack (family). The family can consist of anyone and anything (people, cats, goats - you name it). Dogs do not like to be alone, and do not have the mindset to be happy alone. If you work and will be gone for long stretchs of the day, make sure there is another pack/family member to keep the puppy company (a human, cat, bird, or better yet... another dog. Oh, probably fish won’t cut the mustard).