New owner advice?

[Kelly H]

Hi! We are going to be new Doodle parents in 3 weeks! I was wondering you any of you had any tips/advice for us. Thanks!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Congratulations!  You must be incredibly excited.  We'll all be waiting for pictures...we LOVE puppies here.  I would definitely agree that you'll get some wonderful advice in the Puppy Madness group.  Here are just a couple of hints...

• I think the first few days home are such important bonding times.  If possible, I'd schedule nothing during those days other than acclimating your puppy and making him feel loved and comfortable.
• As soon as he's had his shots and you get the okay from the Vet, start with the socialization.  This is a critical period for that.  He needs to be out and given play time with other dogs.  Of course, you'll need to control that.  Many of the puppy training classes offer socialization periods before and after.
• Get ready to take your puppy out A LOT.  We had a schedule and during the day, we took the Doods out ever half hour....always to the same spot and always on a leash.   I also agree that you want to use a "word" for potty and when they go....lots of praise and reward.
• Definitely stock up on Nature's Miracle....and plan for accidents.
• Whenever you can't watch the puppy, I liked to tether them to me or crate, especially during the first couple of weeks.
• Decide up front how you'll handle the puppy nipping so that everyone interacting with the puppy can handle it the same way....same for the jumping.
• If you're trying to decide what food to feed....check out the Food Group.  There is wonderful information there.

Good luck, sleep now, and enjoy this incredible experience of a new Doodle puppy!  There's nothing better.

[shelly]

EXCELLENT advice all around, Jane!  And THAT'S why you have that prized HDA trophy now!

:o)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Ha Ha Ha, thanks Shelly.  I think the reason I have the trophy now is because I LIVE here on Doodle Kisses.

[shelly]

Jane ~ Welllll, maybe... but it's your advice and support that we ALL treasure !!!

[Dori & Rua]

In case no one mentioned it yet get some Nature's Miracle (LOL - I had that around long before I had a dog...my DH might had knocked over a glass of red wine before).  For accidents on carpet, I use a Bissell SpotBot pet carpet cleaner!  I already had it and add the Nature's Miracle to it.

 

Be patient and be consistent.  Dogs love and need routine.  What you allow your puppy to do is what your puppy learns how to do well.

 

Touch...from the very first moment we got her, I worked on touch with her.  I massage, rub, touch, snuggle, and pet her all over.  She will stand on the washer and let me lift her ears up and clean them with no fuss.  I do "Zen Puppy" with her every morning in bed.  She'll sit on me while I am laying down in bed in the dark (at 5:45AM after she goes out for "potty" and "poo") and I will massage her...it is our special time in the morning together. 

 

Record information on DK and blog...it is great way to remember.  Check out my page...I record her stats and events.

Take lot's of pictures and post them.  One of the things I wish I would have done is take pictures at the milestone marks (brought home, 3 months, 4 months, etc.) in the same place using something that would allow me to visually compare the growth easily.  I can remember when I first got her, she would stand up and still couldn't look into the waste basket.  Now, she can walk up to it and stick her head in and pull stuff out.

 

Oh, that reminds...put everything up one shelf higher.  Repeat every month!  LOL

 

Get rested up!  It has been almost 3 months since we brought Rua home and I can say I now see the light at the end of the tunnel.  My life has changed so much in those 3 months...but I just love her to pieces.  She is such a sweatheart.

[shelly]

You too, Dori!  Great advice!  All this new puppy advice gives me 'that itch' again!  I'm getting off now before he overcomes me! (I'm outta' here!) LOL

[Kate MacKenzy]

Im sure youre very excited. My piece of advice is to a) play with your puppies feet and nails from the get go while youre cuddling, this enables you to groom when you need to later without a wrestling match. b) from the get go, if you encourage him to sit at the exit door, until you have gone through it, it will pay dividends in the long run. Good Luck

[Lynda Kamrath]

Nature's Miracle!  You will be needing it.  Select the place you want to be the potty place and take him(her) there as soon as you go outside and place her on the ground.  Then decide on the words you want to use for pee and poo and say them to her.  Later you can start putting her down on the ground and tell her to go pee or poo and she can walk over to the selected place to do her business.  I never leave my dog have the run of the house until he is thoroughly potty trained.

[Dave & Marlene]

Hell-o Kelly,

 

We will be welcoming "our" little one home Monday, 12/27/2010.  I am so anxious that I start to get gittery all over. I just hope I do well especially in the beginning. It has been a little more than a year since we lost our last dog and I do not want to do any comparison's.

I will be a faithful reader to this site, that is for sure. Thanks to all who have contributed already! Greatly appreciated to us (beginner's). The little one appreciates the info also. 

Everyone take care~

Merry Christmas to all~

Marlene & Dave

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Marlene & Dave, welcome to DK!!! I can't wait to see photo's of your new family member and hear of all your adventures!!

We went through something similar, being "dogless" for some time before bringing  home our first ever puppy!   You and  Kelly have received some great advice here in this discussion! Enjoy the puppy years-they go by all to fast!! 

[Sandi]

A tired puppy is a good puppy!
Be consistent.

[ej]

Oh if yours is standard doodle, my tip is carry him/her as much as you could while you are still able to.  I miss lifting K up and cuddle/hug him tight like a baby.  He grew so big and so fast, and before I knew, he became too big to be lifted.