Mini F1B Goldendoodle coming home end of August!

[Regan and Indy]

Hi everyone!

I've been a lurker here for a while, but I feel it's finally time for me to join DK now that I've officially reserved my doodle to come home at the end of August!  He's a mini F1B Goldendoodle and his name is going to be Indy (short for Indiana).  He's six weeks old now but the breeder is going to give him a month of training before he comes to live with me to make everyone's lives a bit easier. Pictures from the breeder are below.

This is such a wonderful, warm community and I am thrilled to be a part of it!  Now I'm off to continue my list of puppy necessities--recommendations of must-haves are welcome (I've read many of the other discussions, but you never know if someone's forgotten to mention some toy or tool they absolutely love).

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good luck with your adorable pup.

[Regan and Indy]

Thank you!

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

Puppy is absolutely adorable. A good grooming comb is essential. No rawhide please. Kongs you can fill with treats are great. We like all natural peanut butter or cheese. I buy the antlers at petco. Our dood goes at it for a long time. Trust your vet. They will be your best defense on any dangers too. Best wishes. Oh. Almost forgot. Get a rolled leather collar. The fabric type broke her neck fur so bad took months to grow back!

[Regan and Indy]

Great list, thank you!  I didn't know about the rolled leather collar--I'll look into that.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Donna just a heads up about antlers. I know many DK'ers give them to their doodles but there have also been several doodles who have cracked or broken teeth on them. So...a bit of a controversy. Tara's vet is a dental specialist and says no antlers for Tara. :)

'

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I think it depends on how aggressive a chewer your doodle is.  Luna basically destroys anything that's not as hard as an antler, but she doesn't chew hard enough (or long enough) to damage her teeth.  She has a very soft mouth and won't "crunch" full force into anything too hard.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I think that's probably true. Tara is not an aggressive chewer either. In fact before I spoke with the vet I bought her an antler and she wanted nothing to do with it...or nyla bones...or Himalayan chews. I have a drawer full of rejected chews. Bully sticks are her chew of choice. They are softer than antlers but still not approved by her vet. :( But I'm not concerned about her breaking a tooth on one.

[Anita - Thunder, Noodle, Sparky]

Do you worry about the dogs swallowing bully sticks that are 2 inches or smaller? I'm always rushing to throw them away, and sometimes don't get to them soon enough and they end up as poop-covered bully sticks in the back yard.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Anita, yes I try to watch her closely when the bully stick gets small. She is a mini so I worry about it getting stuck in her throat. She will chew them until they are just a little piece of mush though so I think she digests the ones that I miss. I'm surprised yours are coming through whole though I thought they were supposed to be digestible.

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

I am tossing the antler today. Thank you for the warning!

[Kevin]

We're also getting our pup in a week, so excited. Yours looks adorable.

[Regan and Indy]

Congratulations!  I can't wait to hear about your experiences.