When Is the Best Time to Get an Australian Labradoodle Puppy?

One of the most common questions prospective puppy owners ask is:

“When is the best time to bring a puppy home?”

The honest answer is that there is no universally perfect month, season, or stage of life to welcome a puppy into your family. Instead, the best time is when your lifestyle, commitments, and home environment allow you to give a puppy the time, structure, and consistency they need to thrive.

As exciting as it is to imagine life with a puppy, it is worth taking a step back and thinking practically about the realities of those first few months. The decisions you make before your puppy arrives can have a significant impact on how smoothly that transition goes for everyone involved. This blog post has been written to help you consider the timing element to welcoming a puppy into your home.

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Consider Your Work Commitments

If you are a working professional, it can be helpful to look beyond your diary and think about your year as a whole.

Many industries have natural peaks and troughs. For some people, the first quarter of the year is incredibly busy. For others, the run up to Christmas, year-end reporting, summer events, or school admissions periods create particularly demanding seasons.

Before bringing a puppy home, ask yourself:

• Are there times of year when work consistently becomes more intense?

• Do you regularly travel for work?

• Are there major projects, deadlines, or organisational changes on the horizon?

• Will you realistically have the mental capacity to support a puppy through their transition?

  
  

Puppies require far more than simply being physically present. They need consistency, patience, supervision, and guidance. Choosing a quieter period in your professional calendar can make a significant difference to your experience and your puppy’s.

Consider Your Children’s Ages and Schedules

For families, the conversation often becomes less about the time of year and more about timing within family life. Children and puppies can form incredible bonds, but both require supervision, support, and energy from the adults around them.

A question I often encourage families to ask themselves is:

Could I confidently leave my children to occupy themselves for an hour while I focus on the puppy if needed?

If the answer is no, it may be worth considering how you will balance everyone’s needs during those early weeks.

Puppies require:

• Frequent toileting trips

• Training sessions

• Supervised play

• Structured rest periods

• Careful introductions to new experiences

  
  

At the same time, children still need attention, support, lifts to activities, help with homework, and opportunities to enjoy life as normal.

School Holidays Are Not Always Easier

Many families assume school holidays are the ideal time to bring a puppy home.

Sometimes they are... Sometimes they are not!

Whilst it can be lovely having children available to participate in the puppy’s arrival, school holidays can also create a busy, stimulating environment that is difficult for a young puppy to navigate.

Term time often provides:

• More predictable routines

• More opportunities for puppy rest

• Greater ability to supervise interactions

• Less chaos and overstimulation

  
  

This is particularly helpful during those first few months when puppies are learning how to settle, regulate themselves, and navigate their new environment. It can also reduce the likelihood of accidental nipping, over-excitement, or frustration behaviours negatively impacting the relationship between children and puppy.

If You Already Have a Dog

This is one of the most overlooked aspects of timing. Many people ask whether their existing dog would like a puppy. A more useful question is:

How would my dog cope with a puppy right now?

Notice the emphasis on right now.

Not a year ago.

Not when they were younger.

Not when they last lived with another dog.

Today.

Consider:

• How your dog currently responds to energetic young dogs

• Their patience levels

• Their mobility

• Their overall health

• Any signs of cognitive ageing

• Whether they genuinely enjoy puppy interactions

  
  

Dogs change as they age. A dog who happily tolerated young dogs several years ago may find the same interaction exhausting today. That does not necessarily mean a puppy is inappropriate. It simply means you need to plan carefully.

Think About Management

Successful introductions are often less about the dogs themselves and more about the management systems surrounding them.

Before bringing home a puppy, consider:

• Can you separate areas of your home when needed?

• Can your existing dog choose to opt out of interactions?

• Do they have access to quiet spaces?

• Can they retreat to another room?

• Can they access elevated resting areas such as sofas if appropriate in your household?

Adult dogs should never feel trapped with a puppy.

Being able to create space and provide opportunities for rest is one of the greatest gifts you can give both dogs during the adjustment period.

Summer Puppies vs Winter Puppies

Prospective owners often ask whether one season is better than another.

The reality is that both have advantages.

Benefits of a Summer Puppy

Summer puppies benefit from:

• Longer daylight hours

• More opportunities for outdoor training

• Easier toilet trips

• Greater access to outdoor environments

• More social opportunities

  
  

However, summer can also bring increased stimulation, busier environments, and a temptation to do too much too soon.

Benefits of a Winter Puppy

Winter puppies often enjoy:

• A naturally quieter environment

• Fewer social obligations

• More focus on bonding and routine

• Greater opportunities to develop calmness indoors

  
  

Whilst toilet training during winter can require more commitment from owners, many families find they naturally spend more focused time with their puppy during the colder months. Neither season is inherently better. The most important factor is how well prepared you are to support your puppy throughout the transition.

Consider Upcoming Holidays

One factor that is often overlooked is planned travel. As a general rule, I ask families not to have holidays booked where they will be separated from their puppy within the first three months of bringing them home.

Ideally, I would extend that to four or even five months where possible.

This is because those first few months are crucial for bonding, attachment, routine building, and helping your puppy understand where they belong.

I often refer to the Rule of Three:

• Three days to decompress

• Three weeks to begin settling

• Three months to truly feel at home

Whilst every puppy is different, the principle remains the same. Early consistency helps create confidence and security. If you have a holiday planned that your puppy will accompany you on, that may be entirely appropriate. However, holidays involving kennels, pet sitters, or extended separation shortly after arrival are generally best avoided wherever possible.

So, When Is the Best Time?

The best time to bring home an Australian Labradoodle puppy is not determined by a calendar.

It is determined by capacity.

The right time is when:

• Your work commitments are manageable

• Your family has space for the adjustment

• Your existing pets are ready

• Your home can support good management

• You have no major disruptions planned

• You can commit time, patience, and consistency to those important early months

Puppies do not need perfection. They simply need a family who has thoughtfully considered whether now is truly the right time! That thoughtfulness is often one of the strongest predictors of success.

Written by Bethany Webb - Owner of Lily Hill Australian Labradoodles, council licensed breeder and on the Board of Directors for WALA (Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association), NHS Midwife and student of canine behaviour, breeding, litter socialisation and welfare.

FAQ’S

When is the best time of year to get an Australian Labradoodle puppy?

There is no universally “best” time of year. Australian Labradoodle puppies can thrive in any season. The most important factor is choosing a time when your routine is calm, stable, and allows you to be consistent in those early weeks. You can read more about how puppies are raised and prepared for this transition on my Puppy Process page.

Is it better to get a puppy in summer or winter in the UK?

Both seasons have advantages. Summer can make toileting and outdoor socialisation easier, while winter often provides a calmer, more home-based environment that supports bonding and routine. The right choice depends on your lifestyle rather than the season itself, alongside how your puppy has been prepared before going home.

Is it a good idea to get a puppy during school holidays?

Not always. While having children at home can seem helpful, school holidays can be busy and overstimulating for a young puppy. Many families find that bringing a puppy home during term time creates a calmer, more structured environment, particularly in those early weeks.

How do I know if my current dog is ready for a puppy?

Focus on your dog as they are now. Consider how they respond to energetic dogs, their physical comfort, and their ability to disengage. It is important that your existing dog has space to rest and can comfortably opt out of interaction. Thoughtful matching, as outlined in my Puppy Process, also plays a key role here.

How long should I stay home with my new puppy?

Ideally, you should have a few weeks of reduced commitments to help your puppy settle. The first three weeks are particularly important for building routine, confidence, and early training foundations.

Can I go on holiday after getting a puppy?

It is best to avoid holidays where you will be away from your puppy for at least the first three months. This allows your puppy to properly settle, bond with you, and feel secure in their new home.

What should I consider before choosing when to get a puppy?

Look at your work schedule, family commitments, existing pets, and any upcoming travel. The best time is when you have the capacity to be present, consistent, and responsive to your puppy’s needs. If you are thinking ahead, you can view upcoming availability on my Planned Litters page.