Do you think start of October is a reasonable deadline, as I’d be doing the socialising and house training in that month? I don’t want to be doing that in November through January it feels a bit unnecessary for a younger puppy given I have no experience

Your advice is very helpful and reassuring thank you. I’ve thought if I don’t find a puppy I love by October I’d wait until February next year, I don’t want to force a young puppy outside for toilet training/socialising when it’s so cold

I’ve read not to ever let a dog unsupervised and was planing on having it on a lead when in the garden until properly trained. Thanks for your reply, I was more concerned someone would have experienced something like this before and had negative outcome. I’m more than happy to spend extra on training the puppy as well

Thanks for the replies its very helpful. I know 100% their dogs can’t get through the fence. They mostly stay in a patio area in their garden and our fence is high, no holes and cement slabs at the bottom.

I am prepared to spend a lot of money on training so that I can do this right, the type of dog I’d like is a Golden Labrador

They already can’t see through I have high fences and there’s no way they can possibly get into my garden but it’s the noise of us opening our door or walking that sets them off. I know it’s not their fault they must be bored out of their minds. I worry any dog I got would be scared or distracted too much by them