Doodle Puppy - Advice for a first time owner

[Kerry]

Hello everyone,

Newbie here. We are hoping to adopt a double doodle next month. We are going to view one on Saturday and hopefully pay deposit. Our minds are pretty much made up though unless there are any alarm bells on Saturday.

Neither of us have owned a dog as adults but I grew up with dogs and there's numerous dogs in my family. Spoken lots of friends/relatives and done lots of reading so now I'm looking for some advice from Doodle Owners. What essentials do I need before she comes home? (I have a list but just in case I missed anything) How often do you take your doodle to the groomer? Any advice you think would be helpful really.

Than you!

[Paula Shawber]

Having a crate is important and clean up products for the messes.  I used potty training pads when Roxy first came home.  Roxy also has allot toys, I don't know if this is why she has never chewed on anything in the house or not but I'm thankful that she didn't.  I suggest not getting a doggie bed until the puppy is fully potty trained.  I learned the hard way.  She went on the bed every time.....I washed it sometimes three times a day before I just threw it out.  Once she was trained though it was never an issue.  I hope I helped you some.  Good luck you are going to love your Double Doodle.  I have a DD also and she is awesome!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Random thoughts:

Your puppy is a baby - an infant, so do not expect it to be immediately housebroken, not to chew/nip or demand attention. It cannot be crated for hours and hours during the day without breaks, but it will need naps (like any baby). Doodles are smart dogs, people dogs, active dogs.

Hopefully the breeder will send the puppy with a blanket or towel with the mother's scent, that you can put in the crate. It can give the puppy some comfort at first.

When checking out the breeder did you use this as a guide?:  https://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder     It is pretty important to purchase the healthiest puppy you can and the best way to do that is to purchase from a breeder who health tests the adults and doesn't breed them until they are age 2.  Do not get a puppy before it is at least 8 weeks old - in many states that is the law.

Having cleaning supplies on hand at home are important.  Limiting the dog's access to smaller areas in the house for quite a while is important - you need to be able to watch them so that you prevent accidents (whether potty or getting into things).

Potty pads are fine, but if you live in a house with outdoor access, it is easier in the long run to take them out.  At first you take them out about every 30 minutes during the day. At night they can go much longer while crated if the crate is not too large (if too large, they will potty in one corner rather than trying to hold it).

When picking up the puppy from the breeder, be sure to bring clean up supplies with you if the drive is of any length at all.

[Paula Shawber]

I was against potty pads at first but doodles are so smart that the potty pads held allot!  And when I took the pads away it was all good.  I also used a bell on the door that Roxy learned to ring within 24 hours of bringing her home. I have since taken the bell away (she's seven months now).

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Absolutely one can use the pee pads, you can even train your dog to use both outdoors and the pad when outdoors isn't available. It isn't a big deal - in the old days we used layers of newspaper. Those of us lucky enough to live in homes with backyards can more easily take the puppies out (every 30 minutes at first, then stretch it out as they learn more bladder control and where you want  them to eliminate) than those with less access to a potty area.  I think the bells are a great idea also. And I am most impressed with people who teach their dogs to go to a certain area in their yard to pee and poop. I never accomplished that skill with my furbabies.

[DonMarie and Picco]

Check out the Puppy Madness group!    Grooming depends on your doodles hair and how short you want to keep it.  I do my own (self-taught) and average once a month in summer.  I let him get shaggier during cooler months. If you are curious, some of us do our own grooming and there is lots of advice about that here. 

Also, Doodles insist on being one of the family.  Don't expect a Doodle to lay around in the corner of the room or growl when someone comes near you when your out and about - it's your job to protect them!  They need attention (and like to play) just like having another kid around (and like to play).  They are very playful and love to snuggle too!    Sooo much fun!

[Kerry]

I'll need to have a look, I'd definitely be interested in advice about grooming myself. Thanks for your help!

[Kerry]

Thank you very much for the advice everyone. I've been doing lots of reading the last few weeks but thought it was a good idea to come and speak to some doodle owners and see what things you all thought were 'need to knows' so I really appreciate it.

I didn't use that guide, just a generic one I found online but I've had a look at that one so lots of things to keep in mind when we go to view tomorrow. So far, we are pretty happy with the breeder. I've spoken to them quite a bit but obviously until we go you can never know 100%. Adults are health tested and she'll be 8 weeks old by the time we can get her. We have a crate already have been told we'll get a blanket with the mothers scent so that's good.

I'll have two weeks off work when we get here and my partner and I will have a half day each. My mum also has 2 days where she doesn't work and has said she'll be around. She's actually got a week off work just when I go back so we will be able to train her to be alone without having to crate her and leave her alone for hours at a time without breaks. 

Our drive is about an hour and 20 minute/an hour and a half. Stupidly wouldn't have thought about cleaning stuff on the drive so thanks for that! I am a little concerned about the drive, she'll have had her first jags by then but not her second so I know that I can't take her anywhere where other dogs will be so what should we do about toileting then? Sorry that probably sounds like such a silly question.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Just one additional thought . . . I'd ask for evidecne of the health testing and wouldn't be satisfied with having the breeder say that the parents are health tested without seeing the documents -- and I'd want to see testing results or a few generations and not just for the mother and father. Good luck!!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

For that ride, the puppy will most likely be absolutely fine - basically sleeping, but as soon as you have no way to clean things - your pup will pee or poo or throw up in your lap!

For our drive, which was 250 miles, Ned was either on my lap on a beach towel or on the floor on a towel behind my seat. We tried crating him for the drive, but he cried so .....   He got 'antsy' once during the drive and we found a grassy place that was not the usual gas station, restaurant etc - but a seldom used grassy area in an industrial area. If you do stop you do NOT want it to be in an area where other dogs have been - lots of bad germs hanging around that could be dangerous to a pup.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I have an almost 8 month old puppy.  She is our tenth dog.  Puppies are a lot of work and a lot of fun too.

Remember that you are going to live with and love this dog for up to 15 years if you are lucky.  Every minute that you put into a puppy before she turns three will be returned many times over.  Train everyday and train often.

1. Look for a puppy socialization class immediately.  Now. Signup.  Practice everyday.  If you have a Karma dog training near you they are nationwide and pretty good. I find taking a training class once a week for a year (a minimum of six months) keeps me honest in putting the training time in everyday. Also I have someone to help me problem solve right as the problem starts and not a year later when it is driving me crazy. 

2. When puppy is out of the crate, she should be on a six foot or longer leash with a person on the other end.  This helps attach her to you, makes house training easier, not chewing easier.  Close her in the room with you or tie her to you or something near.  Put toys, nature's miracle, paper towels or old towels in every room that you will be visiting with the puppy.

3.Take puppy out every 30 minutes to potty. Teach her go pee and go sniffers,  You will be glad you did.

4.  Reward success, ignore failure.

5. Play/train puppy in short intervals ( 2-15 minutes increasing time as she matures).  It is more than okay, it is safer and less frustrating for you both to crate your puppy when you cannot supervise her.

6. Keep new and used "Antlerz"  and frozen low fat cream cheese stuffed Kongs  on hand for those times that you just have to have a break.  Eating them chewing them can be on a towel or old bath mat if you do not want it on your floors.

7. Find a good trainer, shop around if necessary.  I think I mentioned training before, but a trainer is better than a book. although books, and videos are helpful also.

8. Have fun.  Laugh.  Enjoy your puppy.  Make mistakes and don't stress out.

9.  The first two weeks are the hardest so hang in there.

10. Use a leash in the house until at least 5 or six months (Murphy still occasionally ends up on a leash if she just cannot calm herself).  Find a good trainer and Have Fun. 

  

[Christine]

Hi,

I, like you, grew up with a dog and my family has a dog, but Nala was our first puppy for our family.  I had no experience whatsoever with a pup, but what I can say is they are so smart and always watching and learning. I am not kidding when I tell you Nala understands everything I am saying.  Seriously.  

I think I got super lucky with Nala because she made everything so easy. Learned lightning quick and just amazes me every day with her intelligence.  I read so much before she came home, but if I have to be honest much of it went out the window the moment I met her.  Like I said, not the best dog trainer and a bit on the soft side. Lol. 

As a pup Nala was trained exclusively to the pads for the first few months, and then taught to potty outside to a certain area in our yard.  She rings potty bells to go out.  She still can use the pads if I need her to.  I have potty bells at my family’s homes and she uses them there too.  

This is a great place for information and I have learned so much from the people here on DK. 

Best of luck!

christine & miss Nala 

[Kerry]

I very much appreciate all the help and advice you have all given me. We went to see pups on Saturday, saw evidence of health testing, fell in love, paid our deposit and are now just waiting until she's old enough to come home. In that time we're trying to equip ourselves with as much knowledge as we can in the hope that we'll get things 'right'. Though of course there will be mistakes!

Christine, I had actually really liked the name Nala for our up but my partner preferred Bailey which I also liked so that's what we decided on. I love Nala though.