Taking Care of your Puppy
Feeding
Your puppy has been fed WholeHearted Beef & Brown Rice Dog Food from Petco. Another good, veterinarian recommended food is Purina ProPlan food. We currently feed them at 6:00 am, 1:00 pm and between 6:30-7:00 pm.
Bath & Grooming
We have used Oster Oatmeal Essentials 4-in-1 Shampoo on the puppies, combed them with a metal comb and dry them with a pet dryer.
Be careful with their ears, keeping them dry, wiping with a damp rag and protecting them from the dryer. Most puppies hate the dryer, but will have been around the noise and experience of the dryer to let them become acquainted with it.
The puppies will need to be combed every 2-3 days, getting them used to being brushed. Most groomers recommend having their first grooming visit as soon as they complete their puppy shots. The first visit is mainly to get the puppy used to the process of grooming.
Most goldendoodles need to be groomed every 6-8 weeks. We generally bathe our dogs every 2 weeks between grooming, making sure to comb them out completely before and after bath, drying them completely.
DIY Conditioner Spray
Maya has a tightly curly coat and using this simply DIY conditioner spray is helpful in combing her out before her bath.
Make a spray bottle with 1 tablespoon of conditioner and a cap full of vinegar mixed with water. Spray on fur and brush out.
Be sure to inform your groomer of how you want your doodle to be cut. There are many fun looks!
Shots & Worming
Your puppy will had his/her first set of shots at 6-8 weeks and a veterinarian wellness exam. Puppies need their next set of shots at 9-12 weeks and at 12-16 weeks of age. Puppies are curious by nature, eating many things outside and will need to be wormed often to keep them parasite free. We worm them at 2,4,6 and 8 weeks using Nemex-2 at weight based dosages. You will need to continue to worm your puppy every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks old and then every 3 months after that.
Potty Training
The puppies have already begun to associate the smell of grass with potty time. We use alfafa pellets in their pen to train them where we desire for them to potty. Most puppies will need to poop within minutes of eating. To simplify, we feed them outside next to the grass so they can finish potty time outside. Most dogs need to urinate within minutes of waking from sleep and every 15 minutes during play time.
We have had great success with bell training - placing a bell hanging on the doorknob of the door you want them to exit to potty. Shake the bell and say “potty” when you take them outside, praise the dog when they go in the designated are and give a treat as soon as they finish. You can also use their paw to swipe the bell, then say “go potty” as they exit the door.
With carefully planned potty breaks and great attention to the dog’s behavior, some dogs can be successfully trained in as little as a week. Goldendoodles are very intelligent, respond well to praise and want to please their owners.
One of the best ways to clean up any accidents is Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover. Spray the area to keep your dog from repeating accidents in the area with Nature’s Miracle No More Marking.