Tips for a newbie

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

 We will be getting our first doodle in late sept. I'm excited, I have been reading everything I can  about the breed and have been learning alot. I thought it would be helpful to me if all of you, who I look up to as the OZ of the doodle world, could give me a peice of advice that you wish you would have known when first bringing a puppy into your home. I  will then print it out, lamanate it, teach my family, and live by the rules lol. Thank you!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Here's my "rule" to add to the others:

Don't feed the puppy from the table.  

If you do, you'll have a dog that hovers around the table at every meal, begging.  When Sedona was a baby, during our meals she went into an X-pen placed away from the table, but where we could still see and hear her.  As she got older, we no longer used the X-pen; she just stayed away from the table.  At the end of the meal, she was given a "good girl" treat for leaving us alone during the meal. 

[Adina P]

Best to just keep the puppy away from the table.  We never fed ours from the table, but between kids and my sloppy self, they got lots from the table...haha!

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Congratulations, Laurie!  You must be sooooo excited about your new pup.

My tips would be:

1) Buy pet insurance the very first day your pup comes home.  It ends up pretty much paying for itself.  And, in our personal case, paid for 90% of our dear departed Penny's treatment for mast cell cancer (bills ended up around $20,000).

2) Socialization is key to a happy pup and a happy family.  Take the pup everywhere you can, and get it used to different situations, noises, and people.  It will make all the difference in a well-adjusted dog.

3)  Always remember that YOU are the alpha... don't let the pup rule the roost.  Discipline first, love and affection second.

4)  Teaching your pup a few "tricks" right away will also make a difference.  SIT... STAY... LIE DOWN... COME... those are key to maintaining rule of the roost.

5) I think everyone here would tell you to take photos and video like a crazy woman... can't tell you how much it means to you when you can look back and see how the pup has grown, and have reminders of some of the antics and lovely behavioral quirks that can easily be forgotten.

Enjoy!!  Can't wait to see photos!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Congrats on your new family member

I'm repeating some that have already been suggested but I wish that I had understood the:

1. Amount of grooming time involved in coat upkeep and the expense of doing so

2. The importance of pet insurance  (fortunately I got lucky and learned about it here on DK before it was needed!)

3. Understanding that the naughty but cute behaviors that you enjoy when your puppy is tiny aren't amusing when they are an adult.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure :)

4. Avoid having expectations of what your pup will look like or what their personality will be like. Each dog is a unique individual and try to encourage their own personality to blossom in constructive ways.

5. The first year is total insanity! Lot's of love, lot's of clean up, lots of crazy behavior, puppy rebellion and defiance! The best of times and the worst of times! LOL!  But understand it is all passing and if things get crazy remember that it is only temporary!

[Christine & Camus]

Always keep in mind that puppies are cute and often behavior that may seem "cute" in a puppy will be deemed obnoxious in a full-grown dog.  Don't let the "cute bug" get you!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

My biggest advice is to start training from day one, and consistently from then on. Also read and be an education consumer when it comes to what you are feeding, supplying, exposing or introducing your doodle to. Oh, and no matter what the first few months are like, it WILL get better.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Thank you Laurie for asking for suggestions. My puppy is just a week today, so I can also use all the help anyone is willing to give me. Thanks for all the suggestions!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Congrats!!

Great advice! What can I add....

Use the same words for the potty every time--like "go pee" or "go potty"--then  when it is 20 below zero, you can remind them why you are taking them outside and they get it done more quickly. 

Never give a treat or even dinner without a performance on the part of the pup--a "sit", "down" pawshake, whatever, but they "work" for their food! 

Be consistent--don't back down if you have given a command but don't repeat it--if you reach an impasse with the pup where you can not get him to do something, redirect him to do something else and then reward him.

Do not play the chase game --where the pup has something you want to get away from him and he goes running under the table to play keep away. The minute you chase after him, he wins and will do this repeatedly--like when you need to give him a bath or want to clean his ears etc. Instead, run the OTHER way and be all excited about something--go to the treat box or jar and he will surely drop what he has and follow you. Then when he gets his treat, you can grab him and give him that bath!! I just dogsat a 1 1/2 year old dog who still plays the chase game and believe me, it is a pain in the neck!!

Lots of people keep a leash on the pup when they are in the room with them (If you are not supervising him, he should be in a crate--really!!) The leash allows you to grab him if he is about to go out the door or into the toilet or whatever else he may want to get into. You can also teach him not to jump by stepping on the leash. 

That is it for now! Good luck and enjoy!!

[Gail and Bailey]

May I add to the potty advice?  After you have said  " "Fido", Go Potty,  Go Potty" and he finally goes potty...be sure to praise him like crazy and say "Good Potty, Fido!" and some folks suggest giving a treat right then as well.

Good luck with the new pup!  Most important of all is, enjoy him and love that puppy for life!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Oh yeah-that is really important! I repeat the whole phrase--"good go pee!!"

[Adina P]

The crate is not a terrible place.

The leash is not just for outdoors.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Vital points!