My First Goldendoodle.... Lots of Questions!

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new to this forum and a brand new Goldendoodle owner. I just picked up my puppy last night. She will be 8 weeks old tomorrow and her name is Aspen. I would love to hear your opinions on the name, I have received mixed responses to her name from friends and family. Some love it and some hate it. What do you think? Be honest.

There is so much I have to learn and I'm hoping some of you will be able to help me out. :) The breeder I got her from was feeding her Diamond Naturals and gave me a 1 week supply so that I can ease her into the food of my choice. I didn't see this brand listed on the recommended food list so I'm a bit concerned. What should I feed her? I need to order food tomorrow so that it arrives soon. I was looking at Earthbound Holistic as it seemed to work within my price restrictions. Do you recommend this? If not, what do you recommend? I want to be sure Aspen is getting good nutrition and the right food.


She is doing great so far with her crate training. The first night was really rough and I got about 1-2 hours of restless sleep. I work from home so I kept her crate in my office during the day so that she could be around me. She did great with this. She whined the first few times I put her into the crate but after a couple of tries she took to the crate and ever since she's been sleeping it in really well! I move the crate to my room at night and she is currently asleep in it right now. Everything does seem to be getting easier on the second night already. Is this a good way to crate train or will I confuse her by moving the crate around? So far she seems very versatile and in no stress whatsoever. She is extremely social and loves to be around me.

I would also like your opinions on training classes. I want to be sure I invest all of the time and money needed now so that she will have a good foundation and I won't have any regrets in the future. Are training classes helpful?

I was reading somewhere that vitamins should be incorporated into puppies diets. Do you recommend adding calcium or other vitamins?

I'm so sorry for this long post. I really do appreciate anyone who is taking the time to read this and respond!

Please feel free to share helpful tips and notes. I already love my little Aspen and want to provide a great home for her!

Thanks again!
Stephanie

[M Kol]

I love the name Aspen, it seems snowy, like her beautiful light color.  We have had only had Kona a little over a month, so I don't know how much I can really say about food. I would think starting her on what she's used to and  slowly switching her is the right thing which is what you're already doing.  We gave Kona a choice between two high protein grain-free brands, putting both out in front of her and seeing which she would feed from first.  She seemed to like both, but one she definitely chose over the other so we are staying with that for now.  It turns out she liked the one with the highest protein content, although both had good reviews. Kona recently graduated from basic training, and she is going through more training.  

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Hi Stephanie and Aspen and welcome to Doodlekisses,

First thing you need to  do is join the groups on DK called Puppies, Food, and Training.  You will find lots of information.

Karen and Jackdoodle are the acknowledged experts on food on DK.

Next find a vet, a good one in your area.  Take Aspen for her first visit and get her vaccination schedule.  Establish a relationship with the vet and staff.  I, personally, would not feed extra Calcium unless my vet thought it was a good idea.

Start on training immediately.  The easiest thing to start with is "sit".  Hold a very small treat right in front of Aspen's nose and move it slowly, - slightly up and back.  Say "Aspen" sit while you are doing this.  If you need to, use your other hand to push down on her rump.  If she sits say  "good girl" and give her the treat.  If she doesn't sit try again. It won't take long.

The rest of the time work on potty training.

After she has all her vaccinations you and Aspen can go to a trainer or training group.  Your vet may have some local trainer recommendations.  You can also check the regional group on DK that is where you live for trainers others have used.

I don't think you will confuse her moving the crate around.

Lastly - I love the name Aspen.

Enjoy your puppy!!

 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

What a beautiful puppy. Truly, as long as you are happy with her name then that's all that matters. Best advice I can give is to join the Food Group (no matter what food she came home on do not switch her for two weeks is best practice) and the Puppy madness group for a start. Don't be shy and ask questions or do a search here. There is a great list of recommended foods in the food group which are honestly based on the best info anywhere.   DK is the best. Oh, and if you haven't already got Pet Insurance you should look at that immediately (unless you have lots of money aside for anything that might crop up!)   Good Luck.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I love her name.  I had people balk on my "AnnaBelle's" name as well but I love it and think it suits her perfectly.  You didn't get her to please everyone else, just to please you so don't worry about it.  Sounds like you are establishing a great start for her and that you are getting good advice below.  I'd just pick a food that is recommended in the food group and go with that.  Do a slow transition.  Karen recommends not switching a puppy's food for two weeks as they are having so many other changes already.  One thing I would add for you to consider is since you work from home, you might want to get an ex-pen for her to be in with you during the day.  It is a little more room than a crate, so she has a little more play area but you can still keep an eye on her.  We did this and just sat it on top of some rubber backed rugs that we could toss in the washer if she had an accident.  Join the groups mentioned below.  You might also do a search on DK on the food you mentioned and see if Karen has talked about this food previously (if it isn't on the recommended list, I didn't look).  Best wishes.  Enjoy, take lots of pics as she is going to grow so quickly.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

You've already got some great advice, and I think Nicky makes a great point about Pet Insurance.  It has more than paid for itself with my two Doodles.  The Food and Puppy Madness groups have lots of great information.  When she's had her shots I would enroll her in a Puppy Training/Socialization class.  In the meantime you can concentrate on housebreaking and teaching her to focus on you.  I do agree with Maryann that teaching a puppy "sit" using treats as a reward is a great way to start your training.  I have never given my Doodles vitamins.  If they're eating a good food, that should be enough IMO.  Finally...I really like the name.  Congratulations on your puppy....wishing you many years of Doodle love.

[Deeann Roesser]

Hi Stephanie and welcome to DK!  I love the name you chose.  She is a little cutie!  Once Aspen has her vaccinations, you may want to find another dog/puppy in your neighborhood she can play with on a daily basis, or as often as possible.  Socializing and training are very important at this age.  I take Ginger everywhere I can so she gets used to many different experiences.  She is the best dog I have ever had.  That's not to say she didn't go through the usual puppy stages, nipping, guarding treats, chewing up anything she could get her puppy teeth on.  She is 1 year old now and we can't imagine being without her.

Good luck on this new adventure for both of you!

[Amy and Annabelle]

I love the name, being from Colorado, Aspen is one of my favorite places. Another Annabelle here and people kind of turn their nose up at it, but I don't care, it is the name I had chosen for years before I actually got her. Break any bad habits like mouthing your hands and fingers as soon as they start, the longer it goes the harder it is to break her of it. Also get her accustomed to having her nails trimmed, start off massaging her feet and nail area before you do it. I did this a couple of weeks before I actually trimmed her nails. Also whatever tool you are going to use whether it be a dremel or clippers let her get used to the sight, sound and feel of those too. Then she won't be so afraid when she has it done. Congratulations on your little cutie.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Welcome to DK!  Aspen is beautiful - her face reminds me a lot of my Eloise when she was the same age.  And I like the name, too.  One of my old neighbors had a black lab named Aspen and she was such a beautiful, well-behaved dog, so that name makes me smile. 

You've gotten lots of great advice from everyone here already.  Don't be surprised if she turns into a little hellion in another couple weeks - and I mean that in the nicest way. :)  It happens, and that's when the puppy madness group will become invaluable (if not already).  You have the right mindset with the training - start right away (and that means at home/daily even before she goes to puppy class) because building that foundation is so important and it WILL pay off.  Also, do use the search feature here on DK - just about everything under the sun has been discussed at some point and there are lots of great things to learn from reading older posts, too - I love it!  (If you're on a computer, the search box is in the upper right-hand corner.)

It sounds like you're off to a great start with Aspen!  Good luck and enjoy your sweet puppy!! 

[Shoney & Ruby]

Aspen is a wonderful name. I live in Colorado---and have met children named Aspen. 

Please ask your vet for a suggestion on food and changing Aspen's diet. We switched gradually with Ruby and she was fine. We went with Core Wellness Puppy Chow. We add a spoonful of organic pumpkin to her food daily [we started with a teaspoon every morning and now she "requires" it with most of her servings]. Also our vet suggested the right vitamins and probiotics. Our vet leans towards natural things which works well for us.

Crate training...Ruby has always loved her crate. We started her out with a blanket that had her mother's scent on it and a stuffed moose [that came in a gift Bark Box] which she still sleeps with. During the day we don't put her in the crate but leave the door open for her to use as she likes--and she does go into it sometimes for a little rest or just to hang out. We never used her crate as a "punishment"  but as a retreat. Now that she is 9 months sometimes when she is being really crazy or testy [terrible teens] I point to her crate and she goes in, almost relieved--I can see the bubble above her head saying "Finally, I'm going to calm down." She also will steal any dropped vegetable, this dog is obsessed with eating veggies, and run into her crate to eat them.

Be patient with her. She's a baby. We snuggled and played with Ruby on the floor a lot when we first got her and tried to anticipate when she would need a potty break and thankfully she never had an accident.

We took her to puppy kindergarten when she was 4 months old and she learned everything very quickly. We have socialized her but as I've written in my blog she's just not that into other dogs. She doesn't believe she's a dog. 

I wish I had known that I wasn't combing her deep enough because recently the groomer said she had mats and needed to be shaved----I will blog about this--all I can say is never again. There are many opinions on this but I would never have her shaved again and wouldn't have if I hadn't been so caught off guard. I'm studying the grooming site carefully and working hard to do daily grooming in a way to prevent this. Get her used to having her fur combed daily so that she loves it.

Aspen looks like a wonderful puppy. Enjoy her! This stage doesn't last forever.

[Deb Reed]

Annie is my first puppy and she is going to be 1 next week.  I had sooo much to learn but a few things that really stick out in my mind are: take her in the car when she's young, even if it's just to drive around.  This will spare her from being afraid of the car when she is older.  Take her for training when she is young.  I took Annie before she finished all her shots, if you wait till she is completely thru with shots I think you miss a very important time frame for socialization.  I took her to a trainer who I trusted with very few dogs that never came in contact with each other.

Expose her to lots of people, children. The more she is exposed to the less fearful she'll be. 

Give her lots of love...

I love the name....makes me think of skiing in Aspen! 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Welcome and what a beautiful pup. I love her name. Dogs do not need extra vitamins if they are on good food. I see you have been referred to the food group.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

The nippy thing is very common.  I like a sharp yelp which is what she would have heard from her litter mates when she got too rough. I prefer only to use the name to get their attention in a positive way at this stage. I would also keep a toy handy that you can redirect her mouth too. If she gets too rambunctious I would give her a few minutes crate time. Not as a punishment but just so she calms down.  I love clicker training at this very early stage and you can easily teach it yourself. You will finds lots of training videos on Youtube. It's great for sit/stay/wait/drop it/liedown/gotoyourcrate..wait to eat until I say, etc! The training group is the best place for these questions for future ref!   PS take her everyhere to meet as many people and situations as possible. You may have to be very creative while you wait until it is safe to put her down until after shots.