Bringing Home Your New Labrador Puppy

The week before pickup

• Buy supplies (see the care guide checklist).
• Pick a vet and book a "well puppy" check for 3–5 days after pickup.
• Puppy-proof: low cords, plants out of reach, baby gates installed, trash bins secured.
• Choose the crate spot. Choose the potty spot outside.
• Stock your puppy's current food — we'll tell you the exact brand.

Pickup day

• Bring water, a towel (for the car), and a calm adult to ride with the puppy.
• Use a crate or carrier in the car. Loose puppies are unsafe and stressful.
• Plan a potty break every 60 minutes if it's a long drive.
• Skip stops at busy parks or rest areas — your puppy isn't yet fully vaccinated.

Hour 1 at home

• Carry the puppy straight to the potty spot. Wait 5 minutes. If they go, praise like crazy.
• Walk into the house calmly. No greeting party. Just 2 adults to start.
• Offer a few sips of water. Show them their crate with a treat inside.
• Let them explore one room only for 30 minutes, then nap.

The first night

Place the crate next to your bed. Expect 1–3 nights of whining. Keep a hand near the crate for reassurance. Do not let the puppy out for crying — wait for a quiet moment, then take them out for a potty break (no play, no fuss), and back to the crate. Most Labs sleep through within a week.

Days 2 – 7

• Routine: same potty times, meal times, nap times, every day.
• Introduce family members one at a time — calm greetings only.
• No visitors yet. No dog parks. No leashed walks in high-traffic areas.
• Start name recognition and crate work (see training tips).

Week 2 – 4: gentle socialization

Per your vet's go-ahead, start exposing your puppy to:

• Different surfaces (grass, tile, sand, wood, gravel).
• Different sounds (vacuum, doorbell, traffic — at safe distance).
• 5–10 calm visitors of different ages and looks.
• Car rides to non-vet locations.
• A positive-reinforcement puppy class (best investment of year one).

Common first-month problems and fixes

Whining in the crate

Make sure they aren't hungry, thirsty, or needing potty. Move the crate next to your bed. Add a worn t-shirt with your scent.

House-training setbacks

Go back to taking them out every 30 minutes. Clean accidents with enzyme cleaner only — regular cleaners leave a scent that says "potty here". Reward huge for outside successes.

Sharp puppy teeth on hands

Stop play, walk away. The play ended because the bite happened — they learn quickly. Always have an appropriate chew toy within reach.

Refusing food on day 1

Normal. They are stressed. Offer the same food they were eating with us. If still refused after 24 hours, call us — that's what the health guarantee support is for.

30 days in

You should have: a puppy that sleeps through the night, knows their name and "sit", goes potty outside reliably with supervision, and tolerates the crate calmly for 1–2 hours. If you're not there, message us. The Everhome Labradors support line does not end at pickup.