If you’re going to keep it:

-make sure your DH takes at least 2 weeks off or will be wfh so he is in charge of potty training

-rub his nose in the pee to teach him a lesson. I mean the DH.

Puppies should never ever be surprise gifts :/

Dog foster here.

A. You rehome NOW, as in, today or tomorrow, before the kids get too attached.
Either you bring it back to the breeder, or you contact a rescue such as this one:
LDCRF Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation, VA. They might have a spot. I foster for them
https://www.lostdogrescue.org/rehoming/

OR

B. You all commit, with your husband being the main person.

How old is the puppy and are you starting from scratch with potty-training?

Potty-training:
Starting NOW, he has to leash the puppy to him, observe his body signals (circling, sniffing the ground, etc) to suss out when he needs to pee, and scoop him up and take him outside. Take him outside anyway every hour. Reward with treat every time business is done successfully outside the house. Admonish every time business is done in the house. No hitting, but displeased tone of voice. They have short memories, so it serves no purpose to scold if not caught in the act. Hence the leash and attention on the dog ALL DAY. He's staying home with the puppy for the duration of potty-training, RIGHT?

Crate-training: crate must be small enough, or partitioned, so that the puppy will not want to go where they sleep. Do not leave a puppy in there for more than 4 hour increments during the day, or without first voiding bladder, otherwise they will learn to pee in there. Husband needs to GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT to get the puppy to pee outdoors if the puppy is less than 4 months old. A 4 months old puppy can generally hold it in for the night, if he's voided right at bedtime.

But honestly? I wouldn't indulge an grown man's impulsivity in this way. Even if I wanted a dog myself. The dog goes back, because such decisions should only be taken after serious discussion, and you're going down a slippery slope if you allow this transgression. Your husband is a giant baby, and I assume this is the least of his issues.

It's a cute lab puppy, it will be snapped up by another family very quickly, OP.

OP did he get the puppy from a breeder, or from a rescue organization?

If he got it from a rescue organization, has he actually adopted it, or has he become a foster?

Labs are the best dogs. But only if the owners put in a *lot* of work. OP we can give you advice if you give us more information.

Live animals and vehicles should never be surprises.

Anonymous wrote:Giant pee pads to cover the rugs. Amazon has huge ones. And baby gates. We got a dog and I did not want one but he does most of the work and all the walking. She just hangs out and cuddles with me.

Some dogs are easier and require less work than others. Labs are a working breed and require a lot of exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. Your situation sounds great, but I don't know if that's realistic for OP. At least not for a few years.

Giant pee pads to cover the rugs. Amazon has huge ones. And baby gates. We got a dog and I did not want one but he does most of the work and all the walking. She just hangs out and cuddles with me.

Anonymous wrote:DH just brought home a lab puppy. I’m beyond mad. I’ve never had a dog before and have no idea what to do. We also have two kids, 7 and 9. The kids are thrilled. The puppy is very cute, but he’s already peed on our new carpet. DH is an idiot.

Oh no! Make sure you stay mad and punish everyone! Remember the world is just about you!

Anonymous wrote:I love dogs but I'd be furious. A pet is a family commitment, not a gift or a surprise.

OP, please treat this the same as if he brought home a human infant - either commit 100% without resentment, for life, or have him return the puppy immediately. Like an infant, the puppy will be fine if returned tomorrow, but won't be ok if you rehome in 6 to 18 months or 4 years or whatever.

If you commit, that means you do the work too. It's not possible to raise a puppy with one person in the household abstaining from involvement.

+1 This is good advice.

I love dogs but I'd be furious. A pet is a family commitment, not a gift or a surprise.

OP, please treat this the same as if he brought home a human infant - either commit 100% without resentment, for life, or have him return the puppy immediately. Like an infant, the puppy will be fine if returned tomorrow, but won't be ok if you rehome in 6 to 18 months or 4 years or whatever.

If you commit, that means you do the work too. It's not possible to raise a puppy with one person in the household abstaining from involvement.

I'm sorry, OP. I got my dog when he was 1.5 years old, precisely because I did not want to deal with the puppy stage. Puppies are damn hard work. Does your husband at least know what he's in for, or is this his first dog too? Also, I agree with pp about a dog trainer. I'd do a board and train; they will teach your puppy all the basics plus more. Of course, the work doesn't stop there; once your puppy his back home you have to practice all the training commands. But a board and train will make this process tons easier.

Oof. A puppy is a lot of work. I would be pissed. What is his plan for potty training, exercise (not too much at first, but a tired dog is a happy dog), and obedience? A well trained lab will be a great dog in a year or so. A poorly trained one is 10-15 years of misery. Either way the first year is rough. With that said my parents got rid of the lab puppy they got when I was around your kids' age and I am still a little sad about it, so I hope your husband is able to work this out.

Anonymous wrote:Oof I grew up with labs and we have a lab now. I'd be furious. No real advice other than DH better be spending tonight looking into and booking a dog trainer and he better be the one handling the messes and handling the brunt of training.

Oh and while I hate hate the advice of surrendering a dog, a lab puppy is going to be scooped up pretty quickly by someone else. So if a puppy is something that absolutely will not work for your family right now, the dog will be ok. And DH needs to take 100% responsibility with the kids for why they can't keep the dog.

Oof I grew up with labs and we have a lab now. I'd be furious. No real advice other than DH better be spending tonight looking into and booking a dog trainer and he better be the one handling the messes and handling the brunt of training.

That’s pretty terrible without discussing it first. What a jerk. However, not the dogs fault -so learn to live the new member of your family. Train it to pee in his shoes.

DH just brought home a lab puppy. I’m beyond mad. I’ve never had a dog before and have no idea what to do. We also have two kids, 7 and 9. The kids are thrilled. The puppy is very cute, but he’s already peed on our new carpet. DH is an idiot.