UPDATE: Found a Breeder in SLC, UT What to Have Ready for Puppy in 4 Months

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for the welcome and advice to doodlekisses. I somewhat serendipitously found a breeder in Salt Lake City after seeing a poodle mix at dinner recently. They passed the breeder test with flying colors and I put a deposit down on an f1b red goldenddoodle puppy that I will bring home end of Dec/beginning of Jan.

What should I feed my puppy? I myself am partial to the paleo diet and lean towards raw diet in dogs but read that cab cause teeth cleaning problems.

What is the best dry food to feed goldendoodles?

What do I need for bringing home puppy?

Do you have any breeder suggestions in slc?

Do you have any groomer suggestions in slc?

Do you have any daycare suggestions in slc?

Do you have any puppy training corses in slc?

Sorry if these are answered in forums, I am working my way through them.

Thank you!

[Amy and Annabelle]

Glad you found a breeder, you are on your way, Congratulations. My vet told me soft food can cause dental issues that you want to feed kibble. I clean Annabelle's teeth with a toothbrush and enzymatic toothpaste for dogs. She eats Orijen Six Fish. Orijen is a DK favorite. But there is a list on the food group of recommended dog foods.http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/recomme...     There are even some for a raw diet, of which I know nothing about. I am not sure if they recommend putting a puppy on a raw diet or if you should wait until you start the adult food. That would be a question for Karen.

I know there is a Utah group, but it doesn't appear to be very active. I think there are at least a couple of members from Utah that may be able to help with your slc questions.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

My suggestions would be that you join the Puppy Madness Group and spend a lot of time reading the discussions there to prepare you for what to expect when you bring your little one home.  Additionally the Food Group will help you with what best fits your needs for feeding your puppy and how to transition from whatever your breeder is feeding when you bring the puppy home.  There is a Utah Group that will help with possible Groomer and Day Care ideas.  And lastly there is a Grooming Group for additional thoughts on grooming you puppy and how to prepare the puppy to be used to grooming.  Looking forward to pictures.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

As mentioned, the answers to all of your questions about food can be found here in The Food Group, along with a list of recommended food brands which includes several good commercial raw diets.

However, it is absolutely imperative that you not change your pup's food for at least two weeks after he/she comes home, and the reasons for that can be found in TFG as well. So you have lots of time to do some research. 

[Nancy & Echo]

I didn't give my puppy (an ALD with wavy fleece) a haircut until she was about 5 months old.  But I tried combing her, and touching her everywhere since I got her.  Its a lot harder to do with a wiggly puppy. The tools you need may depend on your puppy's coat type, which will change somewhere between roughly ?8 months and 16 months? (I'm guessing at this time period.)

Its very important to socialize your pup to humans, preferably in their first 12 weeks of life.  Some trainers, such as Ian Dunbar, promote your pup meeting 100 people in this period.  (I didn't meet this deadline; I had the flu.) Since they don't have all their shots by this age,  this can mean inviting people over, carrying your dog, bringing them to dog-friendly stores. 

I found it helpful to go to puppy training classes as soon as I got Echo.

Different training methods differ, but its probably less confusing for the dog if you are consistent.  Many people advocate positive reinforcement, at least if that is possible.  (I gather its not possible for some dogs.)

This is my first pup, and I didn't realize that each pup is different,  and what works for one pup may not work for another.  I had a wire crate ready, which Echo still enjoys.  I have almost never closed the door to it, though, so she doesn't think its a place of punishment.

Its a big time commitment, so I hope you can devote a lot of time to your pup.  I was able to be off work for the first 5 weeks I got her.