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What You Already Have

Your Cornwell Labrador puppy has received 8 weeks of science-based development that most puppies never get. This is what happened every single day before they came home:

This foundation means your puppy is already ahead. The first few days will involve some adjustment—that’s normal—but you’re not starting from scratch.

What to Expect This Week

The first 3-5 days are about maintaining the momentum we’ve built. Your puppy knows routines exist—you’re just establishing YOUR versions of them.

Crying at Night (Nights 1-3)

Your puppy went from sleeping with 8 siblings to sleeping alone. This is the biggest adjustment they’ll make. Put the crate in your bedroom so they can hear and smell you. Comfort them through the crate bars if needed, but resist taking them out unless it’s clearly a potty break (restless, circling, whining intensifies when you approach). By night 4-5, most Cornwell Labrador puppies settle.

Eating Patterns

Cornwell Labrador puppies were raised with a relaxed approach to food—no competition, no stress, no rushing. This builds a healthy relationship with eating and prevents food anxiety. Now that your puppy is home, you’ll establish scheduled meal times. Some puppies pick at their first meal or two in a new environment—that’s just transition adjustment, not lack of interest. Keep meals on schedule, offer food for 15-20 minutes, then pick it up. You’ll see their natural appetite settle in within a few days.

Potty Training Progress

Your puppy understands the concept of eliminating in appropriate places—now you’re teaching them YOUR outdoor spot and preventing indoor accidents through timing and observation.

Proactive timing is everything: At these intervals, pick up your puppy and bring them outside BEFORE they even try to go inside: immediately after waking from any nap, within 5-10 minutes after eating, right after play sessions, and every 45-60 minutes during active time. Don’t wait for them to signal—you create the routine by controlling the timing.

Watch for pre-elimination body language: If you see these signs, immediately pick them up and go outside:

• Head low to the ground, sniffing intensely in a focused way
• Circling or walking in tight patterns
• Sudden stop during play to sniff the floor
• Moving toward a corner or away from the group
• Restless movement after being calm
• Whining or scratching near a door (this comes later, but watch for it)

These behaviors mean “I’m looking for a spot RIGHT NOW.” Pick them up mid-search and get outside. The foundation is there from our litter box introduction—you’re just redirecting the behavior to your yard.

Sleep Needs

Puppies need 16-20 hours of sleep daily. Cornwell Labrador puppies were raised with enforced nap times, so crate rest isn’t foreign to them. Use this to your advantage—structured sleep prevents overtired meltdowns and speeds up learning.

Your First Week Wins

Instead of overwhelming yourself, focus on these simple goals. Each one builds on the foundation your puppy already has:

• Establish meal times — Feed at the same times each day. Consistency helps your puppy adjust to a schedule
• Create a potty routine — Same door, same spot, same reward. Make it predictable
• Maintain nap schedule — Awake 45-60 minutes, then crate nap. Prevents overtired chaos
• Practice name recognition — Say their name, treat when they look at you. 10 reps daily
• Continue handling — Touch paws, ears, mouth daily with treats. Maintains what we started

That’s it. These five things will carry you through the first week successfully.

Buddy & Billie Jean: What to Expect

Your puppy is the product of intentional breeding decisions. Here’s what Buddy and Billie Jean typically pass to their offspring:

These aren’t guarantees—individual personality varies—but these are the traits we selected for and see consistently in our puppies.

If You Have an Adult Dog at Home

Your puppy has experience with adult dogs—they’ve been learning from Buddy and Billie Jean since week 3. Adult dogs are excellent teachers, and what might look or sound scary to you is often completely appropriate canine communication.

Normal and Healthy Adult Dog Corrections:

• Growling or low rumbling – This is a warning that means “you’re being rude, back off”
• Lip curling or showing teeth – Visual warning before escalation, gives puppy a chance to correct behavior
• Air snapping (snapping near puppy without contact) – Controlled communication, not aggression
• Stiff body language or freezing – Adult is saying “I need space” in dog language
• Brief correction with noise but no injury – A quick “knock it off” that sounds dramatic but causes no harm
• Walking away or blocking puppy access – Setting boundaries peacefully

This is actually GOOD: Your adult dog is teaching your puppy critical social skills—how to read body language, respect boundaries, and self-regulate. Puppies who never receive these corrections from adult dogs often become rude, pushy adolescents that other dogs don’t want to be around.

What Crosses the Line (When to Intervene):

• Pinning puppy down and not releasing – Correction should be brief, not sustained
• Repeated corrections when puppy is trying to retreat – Puppy should be able to disengage
• Any injury – Blood, punctures, limping means it went too far
• Puppy is terrified and won’t approach adult dog – Corrections should be educational, not traumatic
• Adult dog stalking, fixating, or resource guarding aggressively – This is fear or anxiety, not teaching
• No breaks in intensity – Adult dog should allow puppy to calm down between corrections

Your job: Supervise interactions, give your adult dog breaks when they need space (crate the puppy, separate rooms), and step in only if corrections are sustained or injurious. Most of the time, what sounds scary is actually exactly what your puppy needs to learn.

Not sure if what you’re seeing is normal? Text me a video. I can tell you immediately whether your adult dog is teaching or if intervention is needed.

Everything Else You Need

Your comprehensive Puppy Information & New Owner Guide has the detailed protocols:

You don’t need to memorize it—just reference it as questions come up. The foundation is already in place.

Your Cornwell Labrador puppy is healthy, well-socialized, and prepared for success. The work we’ve done over the past 8 weeks has given them a significant advantage. Now it’s about maintaining that foundation while they adjust to your home.

You’ve got this. And if you don’t feel like you’ve got this, text me—I’ve got you.

— Caroline