Baby number 4, for our family (not literally, that's the stuff of nightmares) arrived on 22nd July 2023.
She was one of a litter of 8 (four dogs and four bitches) golden retriever puppies in Eastbourne, East Sussex, courtesy of (Sire) Amirene Finlandia for Canina and (Dam) Sweet Millie Mai.
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Blog Post 1- Day 1
On Saturday, 16th September, my wife collected our 8-week-old Golden Retriever "Nell" from her biological Mum.
She cried in the footwell of the passenger seat for several few minutes. The puppy, not my wife, although our children can have that effect on her.
I say Nell, her "keeping everyone in the family happy" Nell-Flower-Tony-Star Macdonald
SHE WAS ASLEEP when I walked into the house to meet her for the first time. My daughter looked frozen in time, watching her sleep from the other side of the living room.
My wife was in the kitchen trying not to gag while sawing off a nugget of frozen tripe from a brick-sized block.
Advice I found on the Interweb about golden retriever puppies.
Bringing a new golden retriever puppy into your home is an exciting but challenging experience. The first night can be particularly stressful for you and your new family member.
Here are some essential tips to "apparently" make it as smooth as possible.
1) Prepare in Advance:
Before bringing your puppy home, ensure you have all the essentials ready. This includes a comfortable crate, food and water bowls, puppy food, toys, and a leash.
1) What this looked like in our house
My wife had bought enough toys, treats and blankets to amuse an army of puppies. I have spent the last month expecting a call from the "UK Pet Division of Amazon" offering us an exclusive affiliate package.
2) Create a Safe Space:
Designate a safe area or a crate for your puppy to sleep in. This will help them feel secure and reduce the risk of accidents or destructive behaviour.
2) What this looked like in our house
My wife made the whole west wing of the house "Chez Nell." You were only allowed in and out of Chez Nell having read, signed and agreed to a briefing on all elements of puppy training.
Any smuggling in of dog treats or toys would not be sanctioned by the
N.A.F.S.D.T.T.D.W.H.A.D
The National Association For Safe Dog Toys That Definitely Won't Hurt Any Dogs.
3) Gradual Introduction:
Avoid overwhelming your puppy with too much attention and excitement on the first night. Give them time to explore their new environment at their own pace.
3) What this looked like in our house
My wife gave us all, me several times, stringent guidelines about ignoring cries or barks during the night. 30 minutes after we went to bed she did a u-turn and ended up holding Nell's paw through the bars of her crate while sleeping on the sofa. It seems that irrespective of the species, my wife has a maternal instinct for all babies.
I did as I was originally asked and slept happily in the spare room. Well done daddy!
As you can see from the image below her first supper was a gastronomic triumph.
Organic "Taste the difference" Scrambled eggs, drizzled with a celebration of Guatemalan goat's milk, presented on a bed of room temperature Royal Canon dog food.
I ate two taco shells and half a bag of Quavers while I emptied the dishwasher.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hello, I'm James & in 2014, I was an overwhelmed husband & father of 3. After nearly 10 years, lots of setbacks & enough coffee to sink a small ship, I’m much happier. I'm also on a mission to help other men be the best dads they can without losing their minds.
As well as a blog about being a dad to a dog, I have written a 42-week guide to pregnancy called "First Time Dad"
Ths is now available on Amazon in paperback and audiobook.
If you would like a completely free digital copy of the book or one of my remaining promo codes for the Audiobook, please message me at mydadmissions@gmail.com to request one and also to join my mailing list.
In regards to being on the mailing list, I only send one newsletter a month, and all I would hope for is that you might find a moment to give the book or audiobook a review on Amazon.
Anyway, thanks again, and take good care of yourself.
James
email:mydadmissions@gmail.com
website: www.dadmindmatters.com
My "Dad Mind Matters" podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
#dadmindmatters #blogsaboutpuppies #blogsaboutfamilylife #funnyblogs #mentalhealth #mentalhealthpodcasts #goldenretrieverpuppy #1dadandhisdog
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