[Labradorable]

***UPDATE*** He's home and I love him! Pictures soon, I promise. Right now he's sleeping ... he is such a love (remind me of that when he's eating my shoe ).

We are going to pick Dozer up from the breeder tomorrow at 6pm ... so in less than 36 hours he will be ours forever! My daughter (she's 5) has been giving me the number of sleeps left each morning when she wakes up. I said to her this morning "How many sleeps until we get Dozer?" and she got the cutest look on her face, it started out a shy smile and then burst into the biggest smile I've ever seen, "one sleep Mom!!" My oldest son, age 7, is excited as well of course. My youngest son will adore the puppy when he gets here, but he has no clue as to the timeline.

As for me ... Oh.My.Maude ... I am so excited. Today and tomorrow I'm making sure I put the finishing touches on puppy proofing. As well as I can puppy proof with three kids and a husband living under the same roof as Dozer and I.

Question: We have a small crate for him, but it won't be too long before he outgrows it, but our bigger crate is too big for a pup ... what is the best way to put a divider in it so he doesn't have too much space?

 

[BigBrownDog]

Congrats! The arrival of a new puppy is really the BEST!

I did not bother dividing the large crate we use for Blaise. He never had a problem with the concept of keeping his "den" dry and clean.

 

[blackjack]

When BJ was a puppy I used a cardboard box and some rolled up towels to fill the extra space.

Can't wait to see more pictures of Dozer!

 

[sandyriver]

congratulations on your new addition

 

[jzgrlduff]

So exciting!!!!!!! I can't wait to "meet" him!

 

[BauersMom]

Congrats! How exciting! Make sure that you divide the crate with something that he can't chew on (I wouldn't use a cardboard box). Maybe a cooler or a plastic tub (with lid on). Congrats again, I can't wait to see pictures.

 

[Labradorable]

Congrats! How exciting! Make sure that you divide the crate with something that he can't chew on (I wouldn't use a cardboard box). Maybe a cooler or a plastic tub (with lid on). Congrats again, I can't wait to see pictures.

My husband thinks a piece of plexiglass will work best because its chew resistant and easy to clean.

 

[Kate3jays]

Oooooh I know that excitement only too well, we just had 2 pups in 2 years after a gap of 11 years it is almost unbareable the nearer the time comes, I had a 42" crate for mine and didn't use a divider, they were both really good and kept it clean and dry, I had a bed one end and lots of toys the other.

Enjoy every minute tomorrow, the time flies by and soon you wonder where your baby went~

 

[Clanceycanuck]

Ohhhhhhhhh the excitement. Can't wait for more pics of Dozer !

 

[Bob Pr.]

Congratulations -- and thanks for sharing the anticipation.

I'd not had a Lab for about 20 years and thought -- mistakenly -- that a dog would restrict my life too much.

But one Sunday morning a fellow choir member bummed a ride home from me and said his college age son was "temporarily" leaving a Lab puppy with his wife and him. When we got to Bill's home, his wife Diana came out to meet us holding the Lab puppy. When I took it to hold for a bit, it reached up toward my face and licked me and I was instantly a "goner."

I started searching for reputable Lab breeders and finally found one a month or two later. Puff and I have been pretty much inseparable ever since -- and my life much richer.

Re: crates -- you might look at small, previously used crates, at garage sales, 2nd hand shops, etc. Disinfect them thoroughly, of course.

A cardboard box could work with some pups and not with others -- it's unpredictable. When my Bess had her only litter of pups (4), they were 4 legged piranhas. I sometimes gave them a large cardboard box from supermarkets, one that toilet tissue rolls or paper towels came in. Those 4 would reduce it to a pile of confetti within 20 minutes.

 

[Rushpuppy]

Ohhhh just think, 1 more day!!! Now you know we expect, no demand a lot of pictures!!

 

[sadiemom]

Puppy breath!

 

[Labradorable]

Thanks everyone. I promise to post pictures! My house is clean, puppy proofed and the laundry is all caught up ... only two more things to do to get ready, but I have to wait for hubbers to get home. My desk is currently in the dining room because I like a lot of light when I work, but we're going to be moving it to another room because Dozer won't be allowed in the dining room and i can't work with him beside me if he's not allowed in my "office". LOL Also hubby has a piece of decking to screw into place so Dozer can't get under the deck. Cybil wouldn't fit under there but a puppy sure could!

Bob, as always you have a great story and a tonne of advise. I had a cat named Puff when I was a kid. He was a great cat with an even better name!!

I'm SO excited. YAY!

 

[myfavoritedog]

My husband thinks a piece of plexiglass will work best because its chew resistant and easy to clean.

If you use a divider, this sounds like the best choice. My crate came with a wire divider. I used it until Tal was about 4 months (I think) and never used it with Barney. It is really too big for Barney but I got it before bringing Tal home and got the large size rather than getting a small one then in a couple of months having to turn around and buy a larger one. Never had any problems with either of them using part of the crate for a potty!

 

[vickig]

Gus had no problem with an entire crate when he grew out of the little one we brought him home in. Of course he had Bo to give him instructions on how to behave

 

[Baloo317]

Awesome! I may have missed it, but where abouts is he coming from? Anywhere around here?

 

[Snowflake]

Can't wait for all the pics!!!!

 

[justine]

I actually bought a bigger sized crate that came with a divider, so even though Abbey was a puppy, I could still use it.

I think the normal divider size is just enough room for the dog to stand, turn around and lay down. Anything more than that and the dog could pee/poop in a corner and lay where it's clean. For the most part, dogs don't want to defecate where they sleep, so they'll hold it.. but if there's enough room, they'll go somewhere and lay down somewhere where it's clean.

 

[joflake]

I can't wait to see pictures! We'll be looking for them in the morning.

 

[YellowJakesMom]

Have fun!!!