Puppy Care Guide
We've put together a comprehensive guide to everything you need to take care of your Goldendoodle, Bernedoodle, or Cockapoo puppy. From the moment you take them home to the first few months, our guide will help you get the most out of your adoption and feel confident with your doodle. Remember, you've got this!
TAKING YOUR PUPPY HOME
Puppies typically do great traveling. Of course, this is a little scary for them. They love snuggles and to be reassured. It is said that a puppy can hold it for half the number of hours of how many weeks they are.
If your puppy is 8 weeks old, he/she should be able to hold it for at least 4 hours etc. Puppies should not be fed until you are finished traveling for the night. This will help with tummy issues that can happen when they have a full belly. Small amounts of water is okay.
FIRST NIGHT
Puppies are used to being warm and snuggled by their siblings. To make the transition to being alone as easy as possible, put him/her in a crate covered by a blanket or a towel all around except for the gate to help them feel secure. Place something soft like a towel or a blanket down and make sure the divider is in place so your puppy has just enough room to turn around.
Puppies should not potty in their place of rest but if their place is too large, they will dedicate one section for potty which is not ideal. You may place an oversized stuffy, or a heated rice pack to help them feel safe. Crying is normal as your puppy gets used to his/her new surroundings. The best thing that you can do is to keep the same routine and allow your puppy to learn.
After an ample amount of time to get all the potty out, Allow your puppy to cry themselves to sleep if needed. Set an appropriate amount of hours that you will not go get him or her up until then and stick to it. When your puppy cries, help them to go potty, making sure to say and interact very little so they don't think it's time to get up and play. After putting puppy to bed again, follow the same pattern. If you stick to it, the crying and awake times will get less and less.
Another approach is to not get your puppy through the night. Your puppy may not be able to hold it but this will teach him/her that you will not be coming during the night and they will learn quickly that it is no use to cry. Do what is best for you and your puppy.
FIRST FEW MONTHS
It is important to protect your puppy from outside germs until he or she is fully vaccinated. Your puppy will need a second shot 3-4 weeks after the first (given while in breeders care) and then a 3rd shot 3-4 weeks after that. At the time of the 3rd shot, your puppy will also need a rabies vaccine. Once your puppy is fully vaccinated, you may enjoy time at the park, out on walks, and pup playdates!
Carefully choose a good veterinarian. Get recommendations from friends with pets and then call and ask questions before you choose. Keep your puppy on your lap or in a crate while at the vet. You do not want to expose your puppy to nasty germs while there! Per contract, please have your puppy examined by a licensed Veterinarian in the first 3 weeks after taking him/her home. Our vet found them healthy and it is important that if your vet finds something different, we can address it as soon as possible.
Your puppy needs to eat high quality puppy food for the first year. Split Mountain Doodles loves Loyall for Life Puppy. We love the great ingredients, that it's appetizing, and how consistent it makes their stool.
Your puppy is used to eating 2x per day. You may free feed (keep food out in an automatic feeder), or put out food for a 15-20 minute period and allow puppy to eat as much as he/she wants before taking it away. Again, do this at least 2x a day. Your puppy needs access to water at all times.
TREATS
We do not give treats to our puppies. When/ if you use treats for training, do so gradually so that it does not cause an upset stomach.
There are many options for training rewards such as praise, love, toys, and treats. You do what works best for you and the puppy.
Health Treatments: Spaying & Neutering, Deworming, Heartworm
SPAYING & NEUTERING
You are not required to spay/neuter your puppy. However, we do recommend it. it's important to know that intact females will have heat cycles where they will bleed. Spaying her will reduce chances of breast cancer and she will be less likely to develop urinary tract infections. Males who are intact are more likely to mark, roam, fight, and more likely to develop testicular cancer. Spay aNeutering is recommended at approximately 6 months of age.
DEWORMING
Your puppy will be dewormed every 2 weeks while they are with us. Puppies naturally carry a small amount of protozoans in their gut flora. Stress can throw off the balance. The first sign is typically loose stool. During the days of transition, this is completely normal. After a couple weeks, if your puppy still has loose stool, you may want to discuss it with your veterinarian. A simple inexpensive medicine will clear it right up.
HEARTWORM & SUPPLEMENTS
We do not give other supplements or medicine during their first weeks of life. Please discuss with your vet for recommended care.
Grooming & Hygiene
It is your choice how often you take your puppy to the groomer. We do, however, recommend that you are brushing your puppy 2+ times per week and bathing no more than every 2 weeks. A good brush, comb, and dog approved shampoo is highly recommended for keeping the hair nice, clean, and without mats. See shopping.
Doodles’ ears need some regular care. You may clean out with a baby wipe to prevent wax build up. Keep the ear clear of excess hair that can trap dirt and debris.
PUPPY TRAINING
Doodles are extremely smart and will catch on to training quickly at a young age. It's very important for you and your family to be consistent with lots of positive reinforcement.
Discuss as a family what keywords you will use such as, go potty, it's time to go, or go outside. Make sure you are all using the same verbiage. Again, consistency is the key to success! You and your family are going to be great dog owners!
POTTY TRAINING
All puppies from Split Mountain Doodles are doggie door potty trained. This teaches them that they should potty outside, and not inside. If you don’t have a doggie door, do not worry. Use the same door for letting your puppy out to go potty and say the same verbiage. With that and frequent potty breaks, you will get to know each other’s cues in no time!
Many puppies have success with a bell. Place the bell on or near the door. Each time you let your puppy out, tap his or her paw on the bell before opening the door. Within a few days, your puppy will start hitting the bell when he or she needs to go potty.
CHEWING
Puppies chew because they are either teething or bored. Puppies lose their baby teeth around 3-4 months old. They will need things that are safe and okay to chew on.
If you see your puppy chewing on something that they shouldn’t, simply say no and take the item out of their mouth and replace it with a toy that is theirs.
ALPHA Instincts & Family Life
Canines are pack animals. They must learn their place in your family or "pack". If you do not teach them, some will naturally try to take on the alpha roll. This does NOT mean that they are aggressive or just a bad dog, this is natural canine behavior. It is your responsibility to teach them! If they are allowed to do that, you will have a "problem child".
You get out of a puppy exactly what you put into your puppy. Positive reinforcement and consistency in training are essential to a well behaved dog of any breed. Having a puppy wait to eat until you tell them, exit a door after you give them the "ok", etc. are good ways for the puppy to know that you are the leader. These are small things but they are very important training and behavioral tools and should be done routinely and consistently.
LEASH TRAINING
Wait to do a leash until your puppy gets to know you. Your puppy will follow who he/she trusts. When trust is there, try the leash. Never pull on the leash. Take a step or two forward and then stop and encourage the puppy to follow. When he/she does, gather the slack and praise him/her! Continue doing this until your puppy learns to follow you and stop when you stop.
YOU'VE GOT THIS!
No one expects you to be a master dog trainer. Do your best. Get to know your puppy and let your puppy get to know you. Have as much positive reinforcement as you can. When you feel frustrated, step back and take a deep breath.
Remember your puppy is a baby. It takes time but I promise your hard work will pay off. You will get as much out of your puppy as you put in. Enjoy that love and loyalty that a human cannot match up to. You are the most important person in your puppy’s life. You’ve got this!