We met Ryder yesterday!

[CountryWolf07]

Ryder is finally 4 weeks old and we had time to go meet him yesterday. First impression we got from him was, he is a big boy. He was also the calmest puppy (and quietest) of the bunch - he was the only boy out of all 7 puppies. He's also a light red, but we think he'll darken when he gets older. His muzzle & ears are dark. We can't wait to bring this boy home. Mike will be taking a couple days off from work so he can have his time with Ryder before he has to go to work then it will be all me housebreaking & training him. He'd do mornings and I'd do late mornings/afternoons and LATE nights (if needed) while Mike does nights too. I've already ordered two dog tags - a extra so just in case if he loses it or chews it up pretty good. Alright, I took a couple pictures but I didn't realize how difficult it was to with a iPhone and they move around nonstop! So I promise, next time, which probably would be when we bring him home, I will have a lot of pictures to share!

(I know I won't be able to do this forever so it just really shows you how big he is, compared to me at 4'9")

[cassiesmom]

Ryder is absolutely adorable! What a cutie! Congratulations, again!

[Karen]

He is adorable - and yup, the color of their ears as pups is usually the color their coat will be when they are adults! That works for Labs and Goldens!

[Sowa]

He's soo cute! I can't wait for more pictures when you bring him home

[pomtzu]

Awww - cute-cute-cute! I love those baby wrinkles on his face.

[happylabs]

Sweet! I just want to take him from the computer screen and hug him and hold him.

[kaycountrygal]

Oh My Goodness! What a cuddly sweet baby boy! He is so cute!! I bet it seems that time is going very slowly and you can't wait to bring him home. What an adorable puppy!!

[Freedom]

Oh goodness PUPPEEEEE!!! Look at those paws! Remind me breed please?

[CountryWolf07]

Oh goodness PUPPEEEEE!!! Look at those paws! Remind me breed please?

He is a Labrador Retriever. (but English, he'd be more stocky and has a blocky head.)

[Freedom]

Thanks! What a lucky pupper!

[CountryWolf07]

I plan on teaching him sign language as commands along with verbal commands. I think it would be fun to have a dog who'd recognize sign/hand commands.

[wolf_Q]

He's so cute! I taught all of my dogs their commands with voice and hand signals (not ASL I just made up my own hand gestures for stuff) and let me tell you the dogs respond better to the hand signals. Other people will be telling them to sit or lay or whatever and they just look at them (even though I know they know the words too) I have to show them my signals then they respond right away. I have a hand signal command for "come" and you can tell Nebo come in every voice/way you want and he will just look at you....do the command and he comes running (brat).

This is probably something you already thought about I just thought I'd mention it. Since you will be home with him a lot make sure you get him used to being alone too. I just know a few people who have brought their dogs everywhere with them/always been home with them thinking that was the best thing....and now those dogs can't be left home alone at all or they freak out, they have separation anxiety. My old boss has to bring her husky to my work and leave her there if she goes somewhere (even just for an hour or less) and can't take the dog, kinda ridiculous to have a dog that can't be home alone at all. She brought her to work with her every day as a puppy and never got her used to being home alone.

[Freedom]

This is probably something you already thought about I just thought I'd mention it. Since you will be home with him a lot make sure you get him used to being alone too. I just know a few people who have brought their dogs everywhere with them/always been home with them thinking that was the best thing....and now those dogs can't be left home alone at all or they freak out, they have separation anxiety. My old boss has to bring her husky to my work and leave her there if she goes somewhere (even just for an hour or less) and can't take the dog, kinda ridiculous to have a dog that can't be home alone at all. She brought her to work with her every day as a puppy and never got her used to being home alone.

Excellent advice, good job picking up on that!

As for the visual, dogs are much more into visual and body language, so we always train a sign command as well as the word. They DO pay more attention to the visual, at least most of them do.

[Casper]

Those eyes! Those wrinkles! Ryder sure is an adorable little guy.
I'm glad you finally got to meet your new baby.

[CountryWolf07]

He's so cute! I taught all of my dogs their commands with voice and hand signals (not ASL I just made up my own hand gestures for stuff) and let me tell you the dogs respond better to the hand signals. Other people will be telling them to sit or lay or whatever and they just look at them (even though I know they know the words too) I have to show them my signals then they respond right away. I have a hand signal command for "come" and you can tell Nebo come in every voice/way you want and he will just look at you....do the command and he comes running (brat).

This is probably something you already thought about I just thought I'd mention it. Since you will be home with him a lot make sure you get him used to being alone too. I just know a few people who have brought their dogs everywhere with them/always been home with them thinking that was the best thing....and now those dogs can't be left home alone at all or they freak out, they have separation anxiety. My old boss has to bring her husky to my work and leave her there if she goes somewhere (even just for an hour or less) and can't take the dog, kinda ridiculous to have a dog that can't be home alone at all. She brought her to work with her every day as a puppy and never got her used to being home alone.

Great advice, Amy. I do have two questions. At what age do you allow for socialization? Also, when should I start working on Ryder on being used to home alone, etc.? It has been so long since I've really had a puppy, since Rosie. Hank doesn't count, I was in college when my parents raised him.