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The Go-Home Guide
Your Labrador Puppy’s First Night and First 72 Hours Home
The ride home, the crying, and the three days that set the tone for everything after.
By Dr. Paul Borosky, DBA, MBA. Family-raised Labradors in Sanford, FL.
The bookThe Go-Home GuideFrom Chapter 4: Go-Home Day and the First 72 Hours.See it on Amazon
The short version
- Crying on night one is normal. Opening the crate to crying teaches her to cry.
- Loose stool and a small appetite on day one are common from the stress of the move.
- Puppies sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. Crate naps are not a punishment.
- Call the breeder for the normal stuff. Call the vet for anything that looks like illness.
Go-home day is a blur of photos, kids and excitement. Then the house goes quiet, the lights go off, and a puppy who has never slept away from her littermates starts to cry. What you do in the next three days matters more than most owners realize.
Dr. Paul’s rule for the first 72 hours is blunt: either you train the puppy or the puppy trains you. There is no third option.
The ride home
Bring a helper if you can. One drives, one holds the puppy on a towel in the lap or on the floorboard. Driving alone? Use a small travel crate on the seat. Pack paper towels, a spare towel and a trash bag. Accidents happen.
Do not feed or water the puppy in a moving car. Wait until you stop. On a longer drive, stop every two hours for a quick potty break on grass away from where lots of dogs go.
The first afternoon
She is the star of the show. Everyone wants a turn. That is fine for a while, but watch the clock. After a couple of hours of play, she needs a nap, and she needs it in the crate. A tired puppy left loose while everyone winds down starts learning bad habits right away.
The American Kennel Club notes that puppies usually sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. That sleep supports a growing brain, immune system and muscles.
Source: American Kennel Club
Take her outside the moment she comes out of the crate, every time. That is how going potty outside becomes a habit.
Night one
Keep the first night simple:
- Water up an hour before bed. Last potty trip right before lights out.
- A covered crate in a quiet spot. Nothing to eat or drink inside it overnight.
- One or two calm night trips the first week. Out, praise quietly, straight back in.
The crying
She will cry. It is the hardest part of the first week, and it is where most owners cave. If you open the door the moment she cries, you teach her that crying is the button that opens the door, and she will push it for weeks.
You can check on her once or twice to be sure nothing is wrong. Open the door only when she is quiet. Most Lab puppies settle within a few nights when the rule never changes.
What is normal in the first 72 hours
| Usually normal | Call your vet |
|---|---|
| Crying or whining at night | Vomiting more than once, or diarrhea that lasts past a day or two |
| Loose stool from the stress of the move | Blood in the stool or vomit |
| Eating little on day one | Refusing food and water for a full day |
| Sleeping most of the day | Weakness, trouble breathing, or a hard, swollen belly |
Call your breeder for the normal stuff. Call your vet for anything in the right column, and anytime your gut says something is wrong. Our Labrador first aid guide covers emergencies.
Day two and day three
Start the schedule now. Same wake-up time, same potty spot, same meal times, even on the weekend. The schedule is what turns a scared puppy into a settled one. Our next guide lays out a full daily Labrador puppy schedule.
Keep visitors to immediate family for the first few days. Bigger socialization comes soon, and our socialization guide shows how to do it safely.
Dr. Paul’s worst first night
His first night with Dunkin ended with Dr. Paul on the bathroom floor, then giving up and putting the puppy in bed. They both woke up on a wet sheet. No crate plan, no routine. Everything on this page is what he wishes someone had handed him that night.
Common Questions
Is it normal for a Lab puppy to cry the first night?
Should my puppy sleep in my bed the first night?
How often should a puppy go out at night?
Why does my new puppy have diarrhea?
Raising a Borosky puppy?
Our next litter is Luna x Louie, white and cream English Labradors due at the end of November 2026. Deposits open once the puppies are born. Every family gets this same playbook at pickup, plus Dr. Paul’s phone number.
See upcoming littersCall (321) 948-9588