​

Puppy Care

​

Our goal is to give you the healthiest puppy possible and to provide you with basic information that will help you care for your new doodle puppy.

Here are some of the basics.

​

​

1. HEALTH CHECK:  Take your new doodle to your vet as soon as possible. We recommend within the first 3 days. WE have gone to great lengths to ensure that your puppy is healthy, and we want you to have peace of mind that this is truly the case. Have your vet do a thorough health check. Take the shot record with you to the vet.                                                                                                                                                          

2. ROUTINE: your puppy is used to waking up in the morning at about 9 a.m. He/She is taken directly outside to the potty area to go “Potty”. At this point, the puppy is still being CARRIED outside for this first potty of the day. If you let him/her out of the kennel to walk on his own, I guarantee he/she will do their business on the floor! Once outside remember that walking helps the bowels get moving, so allow plenty of time for the puppy to complete even the big business! Let him/her play, romp, potty and move the bowels. Give plenty of verbal praise, clapping, and cuddles after successfully going potty.                                                                             

3. FEEDING: Immediately after the first potty of the day your puppy gets fed. We use a “controlled feeding environment.”  To assist with the potty training regimen. I put weight appropriate amount of chow in the bowl. We use Purina Pro Plan puppy food recommended amount. Of course, have water available also. When the puppy walks away from the feeding bowl he is full. Take the bowl away. Do not leave for the puppy to free to feed all day. Now immediately take your puppy back outside to the potty area. Repeat the instructions above. If you choose to feed twice daily, do it early in the evening so the puppy has several hours of opportunity to empty the bowels before bedding down for the night.                                                                                                                                               

4. DIET: Do not change your puppy’s diet or feeding routine. We assure you that we make sure our puppy has been passing healthy, softly formed stools, with no constipation or diarrhea. If you change the diet or feeding times, it can induce gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. Just the stress alone of leaving the only home your puppy has known thus far can cause some anxiety, which sometimes manifests as diarrhea. Don’t compound this with sudden diet changes. If stress-induced diarrhea manifests, be patient. Stick to your routine and it will pass in a few days as your puppy begins to feel safe and secure. After your puppy has acclimated to your home (in a month or so) you can slowly transition to a different brand of puppy chow if you desire. Do this by mixing in a tiny bit of the new dry puppy chow with the regular puppy chow, gradually increasing it over the course of the next few weeks. This should be a VERY SLOW TRANSITION! You should NEVER give people food to your pup! Dogs are very sensitive to people's food.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

5. GROOMING: Goldendoodles are fairly easy keepers. Because Goldendoodles don't shed profusely, they do need to be brushed regularly to remove dead and dying hair and prevent matting. A bath every few months can help keep their skin and coat in good condition, especially when they are groomed regularly between baths. 

​

Here are some helpful training tips we found very useful!! 

 

 Here we go!

I have to smile when I read posts by brand new Goldendoodle puppy owners. I know you are looking at your new puppy jumping in the air, nipping everything in sight, “killing their stuffed toys,” zooming around like they are demon-possessed… You are just waiting for their head to start to spin… At those moments you wonder: “Is my doodle an exception to the awesome temperament doodles are purported to have? Do I have a behavioral mutant from the litter? Maybe re-homing isn’t such a bad idea after all…”

Rest assured, every one of us has had those thoughts.
What often happens is the expectations of our baby-doodles are unrealistic. AFTER ALL, these are DOODLES… We chose them because of their “perfect pet” reputation. We have read all the oohs and ahhhs testimonies and seen the charming photos.

The Reality…

Just like kids, puppies get crazy at times. They have toddler stages and teen years. Unlike kids, they grow out of them in a matter of weeks rather than years.

So don’t be dismayed…There will be far more “Ahhhh isn’t she sweet!’ moments” than those times when you are looking in the yellow pages for a good DOG EXORCIST. (Hey, maybe that’s what behaviorists do?)

Some Advice:

Breathe deeply and relax – This stage will pass. Get a good book on dog training… It will give you the assurance that all is normal and give you helpful hints on how to help your puppy grow into a responsible family member. (Suggestions: The Dog Listener, Dog Training for Dummies, and The Monks of New Skete books.]

Patiently train the basics… There are differences of opinion on how to train, but the key to all is consistency.

The Basics…

•    NO BITE 
•    SIT
•    STAY
•    COME
* Weigh advice – but find what works for you – and don’t worry about the multitude of “other ways” to do it.
* Get/create lots of toys there are many ideas and products out there, Remember a bored puppy is a destructive puppy.
* Remember: You are the boss, establish that fact gently and consistently. Your puppy must learn to fit in with your life.
Take heart! This stage will pass quickly.
Savor this fleeting season of being able to completely hold them in your arms as they sleep. Sadly, this too will pass quickly.

​

​

NEVER STRIKE your dog in anger!!!! This breed is a very loving breed and eager to please. They do not need harsh punishments to correct behavior. Hitting them may cause emotional and neurological problems.

​

​

CRATE TRAINING AND HOUSEBREAKING MADE EASY: HOUSE TRAINING A PUPPY

Bydogtime

House training a puppy can be hard, but nobody likes cleaning up doggie accidents–especially when they’re in your own home. Here are some tips to help train your dog to avoid making those messes in the first place.

A Crate Idea

Whether housebreaking a pup or an adult dog, the first step is taking advantage of the dog’s den instinct (their desire to curl up in a snug, protected place). A crate, when properly introduced as a happy and rewarding place, provides your pet a secure haven of its very own. It’s invaluable for housebreaking because most dogs will not soil their sleeping quarters. (An exception might be a dog from a puppy mill situation, who has been forced to potty in the same area where they sleep. It can take these dogs a bit longer to understand the difference between their living quarters and their potty areas.)

What size crate do you need? Start with one that’s smaller than you may use later on–one that is just big enough for the dog to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. If the crate is too big, the pup may feel he can potty and still get away from it. An easy-to-clean plastic crate works well, or you may opt for a wire crate, which can be covered with a towel or blanket, if needed, to make the dog feel more secure.

Introduce the crate in a positive manner. Get your pup used to go in the crate by tossing in small treats while the door is open. Most dogs will venture in to get the treats. Once they are comfortable going in to eat the treat, you can briefly shut the door, stand right in front and hand your dog treats through the door, then open it and let them back out. If you also use the crate to feed your dog his regular meals, he will quickly associate it as a pleasurable place.

You’ll also need to outfit their crate with some bedding. If the dog does not chew fabric or soil bedding, you can use a towel or light blanket inside the crate. Newspaper is not a good idea, as it may send the message of “potty here,” especially if the dog was previously trained to go on paper. A few dogs will urinate in a crate if bedding is provided. If your dog does this, remove the bedding until the pup starts to understand that bedding is for sleeping–not for a potty pad!

Whenever your dog is not directly under your supervision in the house, it should be in its crate or kennel. Preventing potty mistakes by not allowing an accident to happen will help the dog understand these concepts much quicker. Whenever you take the pup out of the crate, make sure you immediately go to the potty area, every single time, even if your pup was crated for only 15 minutes. When you reach the area, set your pup down, or if the dog is on a leash, put a little slack in the leash, and say a phrase such as “go potty” or “do your business.” When your pup actually begins to go, repeat the phrase quietly while he is going. Don’t use a loud, excited voice, as this may cause the pup to become distracted and forget what he or she is doing.

Consistency is key! Be consistent even in which door you use to go outside, and be consistent with feeding schedules, go-potty phrases, and places, as well as exercise schedules. Even if your dog just came back inside, if it drinks a lot of water or starts doing something they were not before–take them back out to potty! Sniffing the floor, circling, whining, wandering away, or heading toward the door are often signals that your pup needs to go, which means you need to be quick in taking them outside!

How often do they need to go out? Pups normally eliminate a few minutes after eating or drinking, and again about 20-30 minutes later. Keep in mind that some dogs will actually poop twice in one outing, so walk them long enough to make sure everything is taken care of before coming back inside. Also, when dogs have been playing and drinking water, they will have to go out more often, sometimes even every half hour if they are out with you instead of sleeping in their crate.

 

 

When Accidents Happen

When an accident does happen, first use a rag or paper towel to soak up urine and/or pick up feces. Clean the spot with a good carpet cleaner, and then follow up with an enzyme cleaner formulated to neutralize odors. Once the spot is at least partially dry, spray it with a dog repellant spray such as Boundary™, or with a vinegar solution, to discourage future accidents in the same area. Be sure to put your pup out of sight as you clean, so you do not unintentionally “punish” when they have no idea what has been done wrong. Never scold a pup after the fact, and never scold for crate accidents. If you catch the pup just beginning the event, a quick “no” in a calm voice, followed by a rushing pup outside can sometimes be helpful.

Having problems housebreaking an older pup or adult? First, rule out a medical condition (such as a urinary tract infection) by a quick trip to the vet. If everything checks out okay, make sure you are truly observing the rule of keeping the dog right beside you whenever they are out of the crate (so you do not miss any signals).

If you are dealing with a male who was not neutered at an early age and has a desire to mark territory even after being neutered, then you may find a “belly band” helpful. Almost all small dogs accept them quickly. These can be ordered in pet supply catalogs or over the internet, or for small dogs, it is easy enough to make your own with a tube sock and Velcro™. Just wrap it around the dog’s middle, with a sanitary pad in the place where the dog would urinate.

For female dogs, purchase doggie panties, which are used for females in season, and use them in the house, taking them off just before you take the dog outside to potty (the same way you would if using a belly band for a male dog.) Be sure to change the pad if the dog does urinate on it. If you are consistent enough to prevent accidents through the use of the bands or panties, plus you are continuing to take the dog outside on a regular basis, most dogs get the idea within a month or so.

Some pups will urinate from excitement when greeting people, or when showing submissive behavior. These dogs do best if you ignore them when you first arrive and then let them come to you later after you have sat down. Do not scold for this behavior, as this can make the problem worse. If you ignore it, usually it is outgrown. If the behavior continues past the age of 6 months, your vet may prescribe some medication to help solve the problem, and you may also wish to work with a behavior counselor to make sure that your pup’s confidence is increased (which will lessen urinating that is related to submissive behavior.)

Keeping it Comfortable

Don’t forget your dog’s social needs! The best place for your new dog to be crated the first few nights is directly beside your bed, close enough that you can stick your fingers in if needed for comfort. Keep in mind that puppies are especially prone to fear being alone, as they have always had plenty of “company” from their Mom and littermates.

If you have another dog, be sure to leave it crated beside your new pup, or at least have it in the same room with your pup’s crate whenever you leave the puppy alone. This helps prevent the feeling of “social isolation” when you are away. If you do not have another pet, then try leaving a radio or TV on in the room, at low volume. If you must be away all day at work, arrange to have a neighbor or relative come walk the dog in the middle of the day, or hire a professional dog-sitter. Doggie daycare can also be a good option if you have an experienced trainer in your area who offers this service. Always check with your veterinarian’s office for references.

Last but not least, always make sure that your pup gets a quick walk after he finishes going potty outside, and don’t immediately put him back in his crate the second he comes inside. If the fun always ends (they have to go right back to their crate) as soon as they “go,” some pups will prolong going so they can stay outside in the fresh area and enjoy your company a bit longer!

Source: Adapted from the Humane Society of the United States

Read more at http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/815-crate-training-housebreaking-easy-hsus#Y4Uwtrji9sF0Poed.99

 

Want more great info? 

​

​

​