Lucy's FIRST Week With US

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Just wanted to give an update on Lucy, our F1b standard labradoodle puppy. She turned 8 weeks old last Friday. We've had her home for 1 week today. She's learned 'sit' and does them consistently (with or without treats). Her 'hurry, hurry' (to go pee) is down pat too, but her 'busy, busy' (for poo) doesn't seem to compute. We're working on 'down', and 'leave it', but those seem to be difficult concepts for Lucy right now. Her 'off' is really good. The first few days after her arrival she bounced all over us. Now not so much. During a couple of the 'off' commands she hit her nose on the palm of my hand while jumping and I think that really deterred her. She comes when called 90-100% of the time, uses the potty bells about 50% of the time to go potty, and 50% of the time just to go outside. Her favorite games are retrieving a ball (yes, she's retrieved since the day we brought her home), chasing mom and dad, and chasing balls rolled between mom and dad. She likes chewy and squeaky toys too. She weighed 10-1/2lbs last Wed., but I swear she's gotten heavier and several inches longer and taller in just the past few days (I need to weigh her). She's growing before my very eyes! She's a joy and quite a handful.

Oh, btw, she completely ignores our 23yr old cat... amazing! She's met our 2 cockatoos as well, without any incident. She pretty much ignores them too, but she scavenges around their cages for crumbs and tidbits they throw out. The birds are slow to warm to Lucy, but they no longer scream at her. They've only been together (in the same rooms) for the past couple days, so it will take another week or so before everyone is comfortable together.

Our major challenge is knowing when to anticipate her need to go poo. Sometimes its 30 minutes after eating, sometimes just 2 minutes. Unlike with her need to go pee, she gives no warning whatsoever with her need to poo (more specifically, the first one in the a.m.. This morning it was pouring down rain outside, and standing in a mud hole (which is basically what our backyard lawn has become this past week with all the rain we've had) for 30 minutes was not an idea I relished. But, as luck would have it (or not, as the case may be), Lucy's urge came just 2 minutes after eating and she ran behind the kitchen island for no more than 5 seconds to do her business, and I was not even aware it had happened until I found it 2 minutes later (while getting ready to take Lucy out to go poo!). Anyway, enough about the details...lol... we have our challenges to be sure, but we are STILL totally in love!

[cheryl & oliver]

Awww, she is sooo cute, and these trying puppy days will be a tging of the past. U think Lucy is doing remarkably well with all she has learned for one so young...I used to take Oliver out every twenty minutes for the first few months if he didn't do his business, and once he did, I would take hm hourly. He really drove us crazy with housebreaking, but he is 9 mos now and he goes to the back door, and stares at us, lol...he doesn't bark to let us know he has to go out to this day. I have bellls on the door and tried to him to use them, but he doesn't, so we do it his way, and now that he is older there are no accidents, and he goes out 3-4 times a day, and once before bedtime...Just keep up with what u are doing and yes they grow sooo quickly, so enjoy this little puppy, before long she will be a big wonderful dog...Doodles are the best....Cheryl

[Lona and Bogart]

A Doodle is the purest kind of love. Enjoy her!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

She sounds so smart. The poo thing was an issue for us also - I swear, I thought I would die - she pooped on average 8x/day for the first few weeks. It will get much bettter!!!!

[Kathy Spyker]

It sounds like she is ahead of the game. She is really doing well for her age. They do grow before your eyes, so take alot of pictures, because it will soon be hard to remember how little she was.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

What a wonderful little girl!! She has learned so much in such a short time!! Just keep it up - as Karen said, consistency is the key. Have fun!!! and take tons of pictures and videos. They grow so darned fast!!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Wow, it sounds like she is learning very quickly. I'm impressed that she's already using the potty bells...that took Guinness months. You're doing a great job, and Lucy is a smart little girl!

[Karen & Lucy]

Sounds like you are all off to a good start. Keep up the good work, consistancy consistancy consistancy consistancy............. You get the picture :-)