Soon to be a doodle parent

[Rosella T]

Hi Everyone!

I am brand new to this site. I happened to stumble upon it while searching for information about crating. In 4 weeks I am going to welcome a little 9 week-old mini golden doodle into my life. I can't wait!!!! This will be my first time owning a golden doodle but not my first experience with dog ownership.

I had a beloved schnoodle for 16 wonderful years. His name was Chico and he was my best friend. Chico was an amazingly smart dog. I loved him with all my heart and losing him 11 months ago was very very sad. I always knew that I wanted another dog after him and I think I will be as ready as I'll ever be next month. I did a lot of research to find a reputable breeder of golden doodles because I wanted another smart dog but not one who looked too much like my schnoodle so a mini goldendoodle seemed like a good choice. Plus I find them irresistibly cute!

I should mention that I also have a cat. She is a gorgeous 7-year-old grey tabby named Charlotte who we rescued from a shelter. She was very upset when Chico died as they were very close. Chico was blind for the last year and half of his life and Charlotte was his seeing eye cat. 

I have to say that I've read a few posts here in the forum and I am just blown away at how wonderful you all are! So nice to find such a lovely and positive corner of the internet. 

I have a question about crates. I plan on crating my puppy to facilitate house training and then when he is fully house trained I plan on weaning him off the crate. I am wondering what size crate to get. The breeder says he is a small F1B mini so will probably weigh from 20 to 30 pounds. The mother is 37 pounds and the sire is 14 pounds. I was thinking I should get the 24" by 18" crate like the one pictured here: http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Life-Stages-Double-Door-Folding/dp/B0...

As I said I don't plan on crating the pup past house training or until he is at least 7 months old. Any advice on crate size or any other tips you all think I should know would be greatly appreciated! My profile pic is of the little guy so you can see what he looks like.

THANK YOU, DOODLE LOVERS!

xo

[Rosella T]

Sally, thanks for your advice. I really appreciate it. I am going to go ahead and order the crate. How big is your mini? The breeder told me that ours is a small mini and would be between 20 and 30 pounds but I suspect he could be bigger. When I got my schnoodle I was told he'd be 15 pounds and he ended up being a big little boy at 23 pounds. 

I'm so sorry about your other doggies. Sounds like you are a very good dog mom! And you're right life without a dog doesn't feel right, not to me anyway.

As for puppy names I have been all over the map from Carmine to Martin to Cosmo to Omar and beyond. I guess I will have to make the final decision when I meet him!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

When we brought Quincy home at 11 weeks, we only used the crate when we could not directly supervise him.  Eventually we allowed him the run of the house, but not until he was well trained to ring the bells on the door to go out to potty.  I still always have a sense of where he is and what he is up to-just like a toddler-since he still likes to find a sock or get into the bathroom wastebasket!  We have tried to allow him roam of the house when we are at work, but we had a "who ate the pillow" incident that has led us to use the crate.  However, he goes right in with his treat and sleeps the whole day away when we are at work. 

As for size, we started with a small one and when he got too big to be able to turn around easily, went to a very large one that someone had given us.  I hate it in the house, but it's in a room we don't use much. 

We lost our lab several years before we brought home Quincy -  we waited too long!  He has done much to heal our hearts.  As was said, some people are not meant to live without a dog!  

The pup is adorable and we look forward to lots of photos!  You found a great site! 

[Rosella T]

Lori, thank you so much for sharing your experiences with me! I appreciate the advice. Quincy is super cute! 

I haven't had a puppy in so long that I forgot about how they like to get into the garbage or steal socks. I'm sure it will all come back to me as soon as I bring the little guy home.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Hi Rosella, welcome to DK and congrats on your new family member.  So sorry to hear of your loss. Tara is also a doodle that filled a big hole in my heart that I thought would never heal after losing my last dog. Doodles are special that way. :)  Tara is a mini Australian Labradoodle and weighs 20 pounds as an adult.  I used the crate that you are showing in your link.  Two doors and an adjustable panel. It worked very well but did end up being a bit tight when she reached her full size but it was time to stop using it anyhow (she still slept in it at night for a couple of years).  Now she is on the bed with me and we are both much happier! :)

[Rosella T]

Hi Ricki, your little mini Australian labradoodle is absolutely adorable! She reminds me a little of my schnoodle Chico but he was black. 20 pounds is a great size! I'm glad that Tara helped to heal your heart. It gives me great comfort to know that. I still miss Chico every single day. 

And thanks for the crate advice too!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Welcome to DoodleKisses - the best website around for doodle lovers everywhere.  I think you made a good choice of a mini goldendoodle.  Do you live in the city?  I think city dwellers are getting more of the smaller dogs these days.  They work better for being in the house with you, but they do need lots of exercise.  That actually is great, because you get more exercise also.

What a cute little pup.  I'm sure she will complete your family.  I am not a good person to ask about crates, because I do not like them.  I used them in my vehicles when my dogs (I am on my third doodle) were small, but when they got too large for their crates, the crates went.  I never have had crates in my home because I just don't like them.  I use a baby playpen for their home when they are small until they are totally house trained.  Then they are free to go wherever they like in the house and sleep where they like also.  Take a look at the photos on my page and I think one of the playpens in there.  Most people like crates, but they are just not to my taste.

BTW, my doodles are 50 pounds (ALD) and 85 pounds (goldendoodle) and I had a 105-pound labradoodle.

[Rosella T]

Hi Lynda, I do live in the city. Right now I am in London but I'm going home to Montreal soon and then moving to NYC in less than a year. I have sort of been living in New York part time for a while now so I am very familiar with all the dog parks and I loved walking my dog Chico there. He adored NYC, it was pretty cute. I plan on walking a lot with the new puppy too! I can't wait. Walking the dog is one of the things I miss most since Chico died. 

I checked out some of your pictures and both your dogs are absolutely adorable! I'm sorry to hear about your huge labradoodle. :( Glad that you have such sweet fur babies now. They're quite big! My puppy is a small F1B Godlendoodle and supposed to weigh between 20 and 30 pounds. 

I don't plan on crating him past the housetraining phase. Once he's housebroken I will stop. Thanks for the welcome! I am very happy that I discovered this site. Everyone is SO NICE! :)

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Congrats Rosella!

We have a "mini" goldendoodle. He is currently 5 1/2 months and weighs 27 1/2#'s
His mom was 48# and dad 18#. He is projected to be 35#.
Anyway, at his current weight of 27# he fits very nicely in his crate that is 30L 21W 24 H.
We had a 24/18/19 size crate at first, but it is way too small now, and has been for a while.

Hope this helps.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

For what it's worth, we used the crate at night when we brought Yogi home, but not during the day because one of us was always here. He eventually got so he didn't want to go in at night either. He is out all day and night now, we just keep our bedroom doors closed and he has run of the rest of the house and he is very good (also uses potty bells).
Our only problem is I worry that when he may have to be in a crate for whatever reason, he will not be comfortable in it. So if I had it to do over, I would have him in the crate more during the day to see if it would make him fall in love with the crate like some dogs do.

I don't know for sure though, maybe he is a dog who would not like the confinement. It was just a thought I wanted to share.

[Rosella T]

Thanks for the advice, Leslie! It is very much appreciated. I don't plan on crating my little guy beyond house training as that is what I did with my schnoodle Chico and it worked out well. Chico never liked the crate but he was a quiet dog so I assume he just sulked in it. I lived in a tiny apartment when I got him 17 years ago and no one ever complained. The walls were paper thin too.

Thank-you for letting me know about your dog's weight as well. The puppy I am getting has a 37-pound mom and a 14-pound dad so I was thinking he'd be about 25-28 pounds. 

You've been a great help. Everyone on this site is soooooooooo nice! :)

[Barb & Aria]

Hi Rosella, im looking on your profile pic and that make me wonder? If im getting my puppy from the same breeder?

Dreamdoodle?

[Rosella T]

Yes! When are you getting you puppy? I am in England right now but going home on March 8th so I'm picking up the little guy on the 10th. I simply cannot wait! What a coincidence. Who is your puppy's mom? Mine is from Zeva's litter.