Preparing for a new puppy is an exciting endeavor, but when the breed in question is a goldendoodle, the experience becomes an extraordinary one. However, as with any new furry addition, preparation is key. From learning more about this breed to choosing a vet and puppy-proofing your home, getting everything ready for your new goldendoodle addition can make the transition easier for you and your pup.
What You Need To Know About Goldendoodles
A fairly newer crossbreed that emerged in the late 1990s, these pups are hybrids of golden retrievers and poodles. Likely inspired by the successful crossbreeding of Labrador retrievers and poodles resulting in the popular labradoodle, the goldendoodle mix has also proven a resounding success. One of the reasons they’re such a hit is the combination of the infamously sweet golden retriever temperament without the shedding and hair issues of this breed.
Goldendoodles come in four size variations: petite, mini, medium and standard. They’re outgoing, social dogs that enjoy being around people. This is a highly intelligent, nonaggressive breed that thrives on pleasing their humans.
Fun Facts About Goldendoodle Puppies
- Goldendoodles are often called “Doodles” for short.
- Goldendoodle puppies can have different coat curl patterns, from tight coils to looser waves.
- Doodles are quiet, typically only barking when they feel threatened.
- Goldendoodle puppies love to swim, a trait inherited from their parental breeds.
Prepare Your Home for a Goldendoodle Puppy
Anytime you bring home a new goldendoodle puppy, some preparation is needed to make the transition easier for you and your furry addition. From puppy-proofing to training tips, it might seem a little overwhelming at first. However, the more you do ahead of time, the more you’ll enjoy your new doodle companion.
Create a Doodle Den for your New Addition
Puppies often get easily overwhelmed by new surroundings. Creating a safe space that’s uniquely theirs can help them get adjusted more easily. Keep in mind that doodles love to snuggle, so while you may create a space for your pup, don’t be surprised if it prefers to cuddle on the couch with you initially.
When you set up your doodle den, make it as comfortable as possible. Put a soft blanket in your pup’s crate. Introduce it to the crate in as positive a manner as possible to get your puppy accustomed to the idea of sleeping there.
Goldendoodle Puppy Housing Training Tips
Getting your doodle accustomed to certain behaviors at home will help make the transition much smoother. The key to proper home training, even outside of what you learn in a more structured training environment, is consistency. If there are certain behaviors you plan to implement from the outset of bringing your goldendoodle puppy home, make sure that you — and your family members — remain as consistent as possible.
It takes puppies time to learn, so keep in mind that like a small child, your puppy is bound to make mistakes. This is one of the reasons you should enforce anything you do with a structured training protocol with your new pet. Remember to always use positive reinforcement for your new pup and take the time to learn its body language. The last thing you want is to make training a negative experience, so keep it light until you’re able to work with a professional trainer.
Tips for Puppy-Proofing
Puppy-proofing is as important as baby-proofing, as your new doodle may let its curiosity lead it to investigate anything and everything. The best thing you can do to combat any unwanted shoe or furniture damage is puppy-proof before your new puppy arrives. Being proactive in puppy-proofing will save both you and your new family member a great deal of stress when you bring your puppy home.
Use puppy gates to block off any dangerous areas of the home. Secure cabinets, tuck away any loose wiring and remove any toxic plants from the home’s interior. Place your puppy’s crate near an area where your family congregates so it doesn’t feel isolated.
Get Family Members Ready for a New Furry Friend
In addition to preparing your home for a goldendoodle puppy, you may need to prepare your family members as well. It can be challenging to give any new puppy space to acclimate, especially one as cute as a baby doodle. Kids especially may have issues respecting boundaries where your new pup is concerned. A daily schedule and plenty of conversations about not overwhelming your new family member are key to getting everyone on the same page.
Create a Rock-Solid Daily Puppy Schedule
New puppies thrive on consistency, and goldendoodles are no exception. A daily puppy schedule will help everyone get acclimated and will set expectations in terms of crate training, meal and playtimes and potty breaks. One of the biggest adjustments you may have to make is that goldendoodles need lots of time for play and exercise.
A couple of walks a day likely won’t cut it for these pups. They’re bred from work dogs, so they have plenty of energy to expend. Try to allot at least 30 minutes a day to spending time outdoors, playing with toys, running around and learning new tricks. These dogs enjoy the mental stimulation as much as they do the physical activity.
House training may be a slow-going process in terms of potty training and breaks, so you may have to be patient here as well. A new goldendoodle puppy is going to have accidents — this is a fact of life. As long as you’re prepared with the right products and can maintain a positive attitude about the situation, you’ll be able to turn it around.
If you plan to be away from home for long periods, consider hiring a dog sitter for the first few weeks. This will not only help with any crate training you may decide to implement but also help ensure your pup feels less alone when you’re away. Goldendoodle puppies don’t like spending too much time alone as they thrive on human and canine companionship. So once you get your puppy established with a vet and integrated into your household, consider daycare if you spend a lot of time away from home each day. This can help your pup feel much less alone than it might if you’re gone all the time.
Shop for a Few New Puppy Essentials
One of the most fun parts of bringing home a new puppy is shopping for the essentials. You may be tempted to go all out in the pet store, but here’s why you should exercise caution: New pets will have preferences just like people do. This is true of toys, treats and even some types of collars and leashes.
As such, you don’t want to buy too many products when you don’t yet know what will work for your doodle and what may not. Instead, consider purchasing just the products you need to initially care for your pup and get the rest once you know what they like and what they don’t. This goes for toys, food and even more expensive bedding options.
There are a few things you’ll need initially. Here’s a list to get you started:
- Food and water bowls
- Leash, collar and ID tags
- Collar
- Bedding
- Crate
- Cleaning products specific to puppies
While you may opt for a few toys to start, try not to go overboard until you get a sense of what your goldendoodle puppy likes. Similar to their human counterparts, puppies develop their own likes and dislikes over time. As such, you don’t want to waste money on toys your puppy doesn’t enjoy.
What To Know About Caring for Your New Doodle
Caring for your doodle puppy requires consistency and attentiveness to everything from the food you choose to the vet you feel most comfortable with. With a little initial legwork, you can make choices about your pup’s care before you bring them home.
Choose a Veterinarian With Goldendoodle Experience
Preparing for a goldendoodle puppy also means finding a veterinarian to care for your new puppy. When you start the search for a veterinarian, look for one with experience with this breed. Doing so ensures your local vet is more likely to be proactive with any health or genetic issues that may crop up down the road. Spend time interviewing different vets (if you don’t already have one) until you settle on one you can trust. Make your puppy’s first appointment as soon as possible to get it established with your chosen vet.
In addition to experience with goldendoodles, make sure to ask about emergency/after-hours appointments (or request a referral if your vet doesn’t do emergency visits), preventive policies (especially for fleas/ticks/heartworms) and scheduling. Remember, while you may settle on a vet initially, if your puppy doesn’t mesh with your choice, you may end up looking for another one, so keep your list handy.
New Pup Food Facts
Anytime you bring home a new puppy, choosing the right dog food can be a matter of trial and error. It’s best to start with whatever food your puppy was being fed before you brought it home. If you do opt to transition to another brand, discuss it with your vet first. It may take time — and lots of patience — to transition your puppy to another food, so keep that in mind before you make the switch. This also applies to puppy treats. Any food or treat changes should be implemented slowly and with care.
Keep in mind that puppies have sensitive tummies and may not take to a new food brand or type very well. So be prepared to go back to the food they were eating before the switch if the new option causes them stomach issues. This is one of the reasons it’s critical to implement these changes in accordance with advice from your new vet.
Good Goldendoodle Grooming Habits Start Early
While doodles don’t shed as much as other breeds, good grooming habits are still important for optimal coat health. Brush your pup daily and schedule a grooming appointment every six weeks or so. Failure to properly groom your doodle can result in matting, which is both painful and unsightly.
While you can groom your pup at home, it’s not recommended since goldendoodles sometimes have tight curls that make proper grooming a challenge. Keep the at-home grooming to daily brushing and find a professional you can trust for the more extensive process.
Doodle Training Is Crucial
Like any puppy, your new doodle addition will likely require dog training at first to stop bad habits from forming. Finding a professional dog trainer is as essential as settling on the right veterinarian. Once you find the right person for the job, create a consistent training schedule to cover the basics. If possible, incorporate family members who’ll interact with your puppy most frequently into training sessions. This ensures you’re all on the same page in terms of training protocols and doodle dos and don’ts.
Decide if you want to engage in training at home or at a training facility. In most instances, it’s best to train a puppy in its home environment. This allows it to associate certain behaviors with specific areas of the home. For instance, if part of the training process deals with meals and food access, initiating it around its own bowl might be more beneficial than doing so at another location entirely.
Enjoy Your New Goldendoodle Puppy
While new puppies are lots of work, they’re equal amounts of fun. Goldendoodle puppies are lovable and ideal for dog lovers of all types. They make for an ideal choice for families with small children and individuals who just want a canine companion to make a family of two. So, in all your preparation for your new pup, don’t forget to just enjoy having it in your life.
