Getting our first puppy on our own, meet Rye! Looking for all the advice!

Hi everyone! My husband and I are bringing home a Golden Shepherd puppy at the end of February, and his name will be Rye.

We rescued our current dog, Ginger, about 3 years ago. She came to us as an adult and is fully crate trained, so this will be a very different experience… and we’re bracing ourselves for the adorable chaos. 😂

I grew up with puppies in my childhood home, but this is my first time raising one on my own as an adult, so I’m taking a full week off work once we pick him up to establish routines and get everything started the right way.

Since this is my first puppy as an adult, I would LOVE to hear your best advice. Some questions I have: Crate training: Any do’s and don’ts for setting up a solid foundation? First night tips — what should we expect, and how do we make it as smooth as possible? Potty training schedule: What does a realistic timeline look like? Feeding routines: How strict were you with timing when they were tiny? Introducing Rye to Ginger: Any tips for introducing a puppy to a resident adult dog who is sweet but used to being the only one? Chewing / biting: What worked best for redirection? Socialization: What are the must-do experiences during the early window? Sleeping arrangements: When did your pup start sleeping through the night? Alone time training: How early did you start working on this? General supplies: Anything you bought that you wish you hadn’t… or something you wish you had?

We are SO excited and want to set Rye up for success from the very beginning. Any advice, checklists, or “I wish I knew this sooner” stories are super appreciated!