Goldendoodle Puppy Training and Care Tips
PLEASE keep in mind that Goldendoodle puppies are usually high energy and need lots of exercise and time! If you are not an active family, or if you are living in an apartment, you should consider whether a Goldendoodle is the right fit for you and your lifestyle. We prefer owners that are active, take their dog places, and have a support system set up (dog trainer, dog sitter, dog walker, vet, friendly neighbors, access to playing with other dogs/puppies).
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU NOW HAVE A BABY!
This list we will continue to add to - we use our experiences and things that our puppy owners have told us to know what would be helpful information for new Goldendoodle puppy owners. There is no special order/priority.
1. Keep the backend area trimmed or you'll end up with a poop dam when they get super fluffy.
2. Eye boogers should be swiped by your finger or a baby wipe every morning and then they won't build up. (super pet peeve of mine...dogs with eye boogies - I even by instinct clean the boogies off stranger's dogs that I say hi to - I just can't help myself!)
3. If you have kids, have THEM feed the puppy....use your hand when they are little....all helpers here put our hands in the puppies' food just so they know it's ok and keep food aggression at bay. Sometimes puppies will growl when taking away something very special to them (like a bully stick) - my vet says, "why are you giving them something and then taking it away?" - so be realistic with your expectations. If you ever try to take my creme brûlée, I'm going to growl at you.
4. If you are not comfortable trimming nails, drop in on your groomer or vet - they will usually do this on a drop in basis for a small fee.
5. Do not give your puppy the chance to see that you don't mean it when you use the word "come" - don't use the word unless you know they will succeed - set your puppy up for success by keeping him/her on a leash during the first month or so at home (if you want more detail on this, dm or email me). Dogs that have high prey (squirrel chasers, ahem Benji) instinct will be harder to get to come back to you than those that are loyal. When in an emergency, run AWAY from your pup...most the time they will freak out that you're leaving them and run to you. Chasing your puppy teaches them it's a game and they'll never come to you after a good game of chase/keep away. If you have kids and your kids enjoy chasing the puppy, good luck training "come."
6. Trust me...even though you may have had dogs before and you might know a lot about dog training, take your pup to puppy school. It's more for the puppy's growing mind and social development than anything else (although it is good for you - and your kids if you have them - to learn or be refreshed).
7. Many of you have asked about the balance of keeping the puppy inside while young and not having all shots and getting socialized - the advice is conflicting. If your puppy does not have all of her/his shots, be careful in public places. Do not put your puppy on the floor at the vet. Do not let your puppy go into areas that lots of other dogs pee. Most will tell you that you should socialize your puppy more than worry about shot coverage - I think you need to socialize but be smart and thoughtful. Lepto can be found on a drop of rabbit pee on a blade of grass - so be careful.
8. If they have runny mushy poo when they go home to you, they might just be nervous...use a scoop of canned pumpkin in their food - they will love it.
9. Dogs with floppy ears (goldendoodles) are susceptible to ear infections...clean them weekly with Eptioptic solution. If you take your dog swimming, definitely clean with the solution after.
10. If a puppy is biting....I promise you, it is just a stage. There is a lot of advice out there how to stop it, but the best is "be patient and persistent." Say "no biting" and don't engage in rough play. Try replacing your hands with a toy. And don't swat at their face, even in play - their mouths are their hands and they love to use their mouths to discover things and for play.
11. If you want your puppy to pee immediately upon going outside (a handy trick if you live in the city and for during storms), do not play with them or even talk to them...stand with your arms folded and don't make eye contact. When they pee, be so super excited...like you won the Powerball. This is also handy if you are potty training and need to get up at 3 am....do not play or they'll think it's always playtime.
12. Do not give up on crate training. Do not. ;-)
13. Use Nature's Miracle (see the list of what to get your puppy on this site) and bleach.
14. If you are in the city and having trouble getting your puppy to go potty outside, find grass. Puppies naturally like to pee on grass. This is not scientific information, this is just my observation from taking many pups outside.
15. If you have bought your pup a big fluffy dog bed, don't use it while they are little. Many of them love to pee on fluffy things - and to chew the stuffing out. Get a small, flat one or use towels that are easy to wash and you don't care if they get chewed on. I use a towel and they are so much easier to throw in the wash than a big dog bed and I don't have to worry about them swallowing stuffing. When they are somewhat house trained, then try giving them a fluffy dog bed. I am definitely saving you some money here! They like to chew - it's fun and makes their teeth feel good.
16. A few times we have heard from our puppy owners that have females that their genital area is fluffy and can get wet - this wetness creates a stain on the fur and also can become an infection called vaginitis. Blisters can also form on their sensitive belly skin. The solution is to take a baby wipe and wipe them after they pee. Also, vets say that it will stop when they get spayed.
17. Even though we deworm them when they are with us, puppies are susceptible to getting parasites off anything - so, have your vet deworm them whether anything shows up in a fecal analysis or not. Sometimes things are dormant. Usually once they are a little older they can hold off parasites and the heart worm preventative that you will give monthly (prescribed by your vet) also has a dewormer baked into it.
18. If a puppy is misbehaving a lot, it is probably because you are not exercising them enough. We have heard that doggie daycare does wonders!
19. Kong with peanut butter in them that are put in the freezer last a little longer. Also, try wet washcloths formed into a ring that are frozen for while they are teething. You can also buy canned dog food of the brand you are feeding and use this with the Kongs (and freeze in them too).
20. An empty bottle of water without the cap and label is great, cheap, amusing toy.
21. Puppies love things that crackle or make noises - be careful of rope toys and things with stuffing and squeakers - you don't need to totally eliminate these things, just be careful. They usually get better about not being 'destroyers' as they get past the 1 year of age mark.
22. Use RVD's private owners Facebook group as a resource - everyone is supportive, friendly, and WANTS to hear updates - we have been told that some people said they didn't know what they would make it through the first few months without the groups support and advice.
23. Do not run MILES with your puppy while they are growing. It is good to exercise them a lot but you will hurt their joints if you go too far while they are young. I don't know the scientific rule, but I would say 3 miles is too much for a pup under 8 months old. With that said, they do need a lot of exercise or they will misbehave - you should be prepared to walk them a lot and to also arrange puppy playdates so they can get their energy out.
24. When you first get your puppy, you will want to show him/her off. It's hard to do, but limit how much you're doing. Puppies are babies. Their immunities are like a babies. I have had a couple of instances where owners took their puppies out and about A LOT the first week and the puppies got a cold or ran down. Just think, she/he has only been here on the earth for just a couple of months and has only been seeing/hearing for a month (if you get them at 8-9 weeks).
25. Don't let your puppy have a bad experience during car rides or the car sickness will last longer. I have discovered that those that have happy experiences young, do better on car rides as they get older. Most will LOVE love car rides after they are a few months old. Their ears do not fully develop (the balance) until 8 months old! This matters when dealing with motion! Don't give your puppy a chance to have a bad experience - even though you've heard dramamine can make a puppy sleepy, that is not always the case and it is worth giving to them at first so they don't vomit and feel bad. IF they feel bad they will associated their first car rides with that sore tummy feeling, and then be anxious going forward on car rides. Take them with you on short car rides and drive smoothly. If you live in NYC, try having a friend with a car practice before you get in a taxi that is going to toss your pup around and establish a bad experience for them.
26. LISTEN to your pup. If your pup has a sore tummy, he is upset or nervous or ate something not fitting with his stomach, etc. It doesn't mean it is a big emergency. It just means he doesn't feel so great and you might be contributing to it. Maybe he is not happy with the food he is on (try canned pumpkin), maybe that bully stick had something gross on it, maybe he chewed on a pine tree branch (they will usually vomit after). Sometimes they just have bad days. But, start paying attention to his bad days and try to figure out how to make them good. I do not let my dogs chew on pine branches after learning that they almost always vomit after. I also keep them away from rhododendrons. If they eat a lot of grass, guaranteed, they are going to vomit it up. It's okay. As long as it isn't prolonged, a little vomit isn't a big deal. But keep your eyes open for anything super dangerous. Swallowing rat poison is really, really BAD and is a vet phone call and visit. Antifreeze is another horrible poison. Avoid grapes, chocolate, turkey, and alcohol....a small amount they will probably just have a tummy ache.
27. Do not let your children hurt or smother the puppy. Staring directly in their eyes, grabbing their faces, hugging them too hard, stepping on tail, tripping over them, pushing them, yelling at them, or startling them while they are sleeping is going to add up to a pup, of any breed, feeling unsafe and possibly growling and nipping. Your puppy is a living soul too and deserves to feel safe. If you have younger children, perhaps you should rethink if the time is right to get a puppy. ALL children in the household should meet with a trainer that comes to the home and shows them how to treat the puppy. Children often do not listen to their parents when they are excited, but the changes of them listening to a trainer are better.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU NOW HAVE A BABY!
This list we will continue to add to - we use our experiences and things that our puppy owners have told us to know what would be helpful information for new Goldendoodle puppy owners. There is no special order/priority.
1. Keep the backend area trimmed or you'll end up with a poop dam when they get super fluffy.
2. Eye boogers should be swiped by your finger or a baby wipe every morning and then they won't build up. (super pet peeve of mine...dogs with eye boogies - I even by instinct clean the boogies off stranger's dogs that I say hi to - I just can't help myself!)
3. If you have kids, have THEM feed the puppy....use your hand when they are little....all helpers here put our hands in the puppies' food just so they know it's ok and keep food aggression at bay. Sometimes puppies will growl when taking away something very special to them (like a bully stick) - my vet says, "why are you giving them something and then taking it away?" - so be realistic with your expectations. If you ever try to take my creme brûlée, I'm going to growl at you.
4. If you are not comfortable trimming nails, drop in on your groomer or vet - they will usually do this on a drop in basis for a small fee.
5. Do not give your puppy the chance to see that you don't mean it when you use the word "come" - don't use the word unless you know they will succeed - set your puppy up for success by keeping him/her on a leash during the first month or so at home (if you want more detail on this, dm or email me). Dogs that have high prey (squirrel chasers, ahem Benji) instinct will be harder to get to come back to you than those that are loyal. When in an emergency, run AWAY from your pup...most the time they will freak out that you're leaving them and run to you. Chasing your puppy teaches them it's a game and they'll never come to you after a good game of chase/keep away. If you have kids and your kids enjoy chasing the puppy, good luck training "come."
6. Trust me...even though you may have had dogs before and you might know a lot about dog training, take your pup to puppy school. It's more for the puppy's growing mind and social development than anything else (although it is good for you - and your kids if you have them - to learn or be refreshed).
7. Many of you have asked about the balance of keeping the puppy inside while young and not having all shots and getting socialized - the advice is conflicting. If your puppy does not have all of her/his shots, be careful in public places. Do not put your puppy on the floor at the vet. Do not let your puppy go into areas that lots of other dogs pee. Most will tell you that you should socialize your puppy more than worry about shot coverage - I think you need to socialize but be smart and thoughtful. Lepto can be found on a drop of rabbit pee on a blade of grass - so be careful.
8. If they have runny mushy poo when they go home to you, they might just be nervous...use a scoop of canned pumpkin in their food - they will love it.
9. Dogs with floppy ears (goldendoodles) are susceptible to ear infections...clean them weekly with Eptioptic solution. If you take your dog swimming, definitely clean with the solution after.
10. If a puppy is biting....I promise you, it is just a stage. There is a lot of advice out there how to stop it, but the best is "be patient and persistent." Say "no biting" and don't engage in rough play. Try replacing your hands with a toy. And don't swat at their face, even in play - their mouths are their hands and they love to use their mouths to discover things and for play.
11. If you want your puppy to pee immediately upon going outside (a handy trick if you live in the city and for during storms), do not play with them or even talk to them...stand with your arms folded and don't make eye contact. When they pee, be so super excited...like you won the Powerball. This is also handy if you are potty training and need to get up at 3 am....do not play or they'll think it's always playtime.
12. Do not give up on crate training. Do not. ;-)
13. Use Nature's Miracle (see the list of what to get your puppy on this site) and bleach.
14. If you are in the city and having trouble getting your puppy to go potty outside, find grass. Puppies naturally like to pee on grass. This is not scientific information, this is just my observation from taking many pups outside.
15. If you have bought your pup a big fluffy dog bed, don't use it while they are little. Many of them love to pee on fluffy things - and to chew the stuffing out. Get a small, flat one or use towels that are easy to wash and you don't care if they get chewed on. I use a towel and they are so much easier to throw in the wash than a big dog bed and I don't have to worry about them swallowing stuffing. When they are somewhat house trained, then try giving them a fluffy dog bed. I am definitely saving you some money here! They like to chew - it's fun and makes their teeth feel good.
16. A few times we have heard from our puppy owners that have females that their genital area is fluffy and can get wet - this wetness creates a stain on the fur and also can become an infection called vaginitis. Blisters can also form on their sensitive belly skin. The solution is to take a baby wipe and wipe them after they pee. Also, vets say that it will stop when they get spayed.
17. Even though we deworm them when they are with us, puppies are susceptible to getting parasites off anything - so, have your vet deworm them whether anything shows up in a fecal analysis or not. Sometimes things are dormant. Usually once they are a little older they can hold off parasites and the heart worm preventative that you will give monthly (prescribed by your vet) also has a dewormer baked into it.
18. If a puppy is misbehaving a lot, it is probably because you are not exercising them enough. We have heard that doggie daycare does wonders!
19. Kong with peanut butter in them that are put in the freezer last a little longer. Also, try wet washcloths formed into a ring that are frozen for while they are teething. You can also buy canned dog food of the brand you are feeding and use this with the Kongs (and freeze in them too).
20. An empty bottle of water without the cap and label is great, cheap, amusing toy.
21. Puppies love things that crackle or make noises - be careful of rope toys and things with stuffing and squeakers - you don't need to totally eliminate these things, just be careful. They usually get better about not being 'destroyers' as they get past the 1 year of age mark.
22. Use RVD's private owners Facebook group as a resource - everyone is supportive, friendly, and WANTS to hear updates - we have been told that some people said they didn't know what they would make it through the first few months without the groups support and advice.
23. Do not run MILES with your puppy while they are growing. It is good to exercise them a lot but you will hurt their joints if you go too far while they are young. I don't know the scientific rule, but I would say 3 miles is too much for a pup under 8 months old. With that said, they do need a lot of exercise or they will misbehave - you should be prepared to walk them a lot and to also arrange puppy playdates so they can get their energy out.
24. When you first get your puppy, you will want to show him/her off. It's hard to do, but limit how much you're doing. Puppies are babies. Their immunities are like a babies. I have had a couple of instances where owners took their puppies out and about A LOT the first week and the puppies got a cold or ran down. Just think, she/he has only been here on the earth for just a couple of months and has only been seeing/hearing for a month (if you get them at 8-9 weeks).
25. Don't let your puppy have a bad experience during car rides or the car sickness will last longer. I have discovered that those that have happy experiences young, do better on car rides as they get older. Most will LOVE love car rides after they are a few months old. Their ears do not fully develop (the balance) until 8 months old! This matters when dealing with motion! Don't give your puppy a chance to have a bad experience - even though you've heard dramamine can make a puppy sleepy, that is not always the case and it is worth giving to them at first so they don't vomit and feel bad. IF they feel bad they will associated their first car rides with that sore tummy feeling, and then be anxious going forward on car rides. Take them with you on short car rides and drive smoothly. If you live in NYC, try having a friend with a car practice before you get in a taxi that is going to toss your pup around and establish a bad experience for them.
26. LISTEN to your pup. If your pup has a sore tummy, he is upset or nervous or ate something not fitting with his stomach, etc. It doesn't mean it is a big emergency. It just means he doesn't feel so great and you might be contributing to it. Maybe he is not happy with the food he is on (try canned pumpkin), maybe that bully stick had something gross on it, maybe he chewed on a pine tree branch (they will usually vomit after). Sometimes they just have bad days. But, start paying attention to his bad days and try to figure out how to make them good. I do not let my dogs chew on pine branches after learning that they almost always vomit after. I also keep them away from rhododendrons. If they eat a lot of grass, guaranteed, they are going to vomit it up. It's okay. As long as it isn't prolonged, a little vomit isn't a big deal. But keep your eyes open for anything super dangerous. Swallowing rat poison is really, really BAD and is a vet phone call and visit. Antifreeze is another horrible poison. Avoid grapes, chocolate, turkey, and alcohol....a small amount they will probably just have a tummy ache.
27. Do not let your children hurt or smother the puppy. Staring directly in their eyes, grabbing their faces, hugging them too hard, stepping on tail, tripping over them, pushing them, yelling at them, or startling them while they are sleeping is going to add up to a pup, of any breed, feeling unsafe and possibly growling and nipping. Your puppy is a living soul too and deserves to feel safe. If you have younger children, perhaps you should rethink if the time is right to get a puppy. ALL children in the household should meet with a trainer that comes to the home and shows them how to treat the puppy. Children often do not listen to their parents when they are excited, but the changes of them listening to a trainer are better.