Blog Archives - Page 3 of 13 - Timberidge Goldendoodles

Article by: Nicole McCray

Goldendoodles, a crossbreed between Golden Retrievers and Poodles, are known for their friendly nature, intelligence, and hypoallergenic coats. They are well known for their affectionate and gentle nature. Their eagerness to please and high trainability make them excellent family companions.

And, if you are reading this, you surely own a Goldendoodle who has just transitioned from his youth to the senior years or you just want to be prepared for handling your senior goldendoodle. In this article we will dive into Goldendoodle’s senior years and the special care needed to ensure they remain happy, healthy, and comfortable.

Aging Process in Goldendoodles

Like many dog breeds,goldendoodles are considered seniors at around 7-10 years of age, depending on their size. Larger goldendoodles dogs tend to age faster than smaller ones. Here’s a breakdown of the typical age range for senior Goldendoodles by size:

Standard Goldendoodles: Around 7 years old
Miniature Goldendoodles: 8-9 years old
Toy Goldendoodles: 9-10 years old

The age at which you start noticing senior-related changes can vary depending on your individual dog’s genetics and overall health. However, some common signs to watch out for include:

Decreased Energy Levels: Long walks and playtime might become less appealing to your senior Goldendoodle.
Weight Gain: Reduced activity levels can lead to weight gain if their food intake isn’t adjusted.
Joint Issues: Arthritis is a common complaint in senior dogs of all breeds, causing stiffness, pain, and difficulty with mobility.
Decline in Sensory Abilities: Vision and hearing impairment are natural consequences of aging in dogs

Regular Veterinary Check-Ups

Frequent veterinary visits are crucial for early detection and management of age-related health issues. Aim for at least two check-ups per year where the vet will thoroughly examine your dog from nose to tail, checking for any lumps, bumps, changes in weight or muscle tone, and assessing overall health, advise the experts at Edgewater Hospital, Bond Vet. These visits should include:

Blood Work: To monitor organ function and detect diseases.
Dental Exams: To prevent periodontal disease, which is common in older dogs.
Eye and Ear Exams: To check for cataracts, glaucoma, and hearing loss.
Joint and Mobility Assessment: To identify arthritis or other mobility issues.

Nutrition & Diet

Proper nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining your senior Goldendoodle’s health. As activity levels decrease with age, senior dogs have lower calorie requirements. Reduced fat content helps with weight management, which is crucial for joint health. Consider the following dietary adjustments:

High-Quality Senior Dog Food: Formulated to meet the needs of older dogs, including lower calories to prevent weight gain and added nutrients for joint health. As activity levels decrease with age, senior dogs have lower calorie requirements. Reduced fat content helps with weight management, which is crucial for joint health.
Supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids for joint health, probiotics for digestion, and antioxidants for immune support. Opt for some homemade recipes for their palette.
Hydration: Ensure your dog has access to fresh, clean water at all times. Dehydration can become a concern for senior dogs, especially with changes in kidney function.

Exercise and Mobility

Even though senior Goldendoodles might not have the boundless energy of puppies, regular exercise remains vitally important for their physical and mental well-being.

Gentle Exercise: Short, frequent walks and gentle play can keep them active without straining their joints. Regular, gentle exercise helps senior dogs maintain muscle tone and flexibility, which reduces stiffness and pain associated with arthritis, a common concern in older dogs.
Physical Therapy: Consider hydrotherapy or canine massage to improve mobility and reduce pain.
Comfortable Living Space: Provide orthopedic beds to support their joints and ensure they have a warm, draft-free sleeping area.

Mental Stimulation

Just like physical health, mental stimulation is equally important for senior Goldendoodles. As their age advances, cognitive function can decline, but there’s plenty you can do to keep their minds sharp and engaged:

Puzzle Toys: Engage their minds with interactive toys.
Training: Short, positive reinforcement training sessions can be a fun way to keep your dog mentally stimulated. Revisit basic commands or teach them new tricks, focusing on short bursts of activity to avoid overwhelming them.
Social Interaction: If your senior dog is comfortable with other dogs, supervised doggy daycare or playdates can provide valuable social interaction and mental stimulation.

Grooming

Senior Goldendoodles may need more frequent grooming to keep their coats and skin healthy. Remember, a gentle touch and positive reinforcement are key during grooming sessions for your senior companion.

Decreased Shedding: While Goldendoodles are known for minimal shedding, their coats can still mat more easily as they age. Their energy levels might also decrease, making self-grooming less frequent.
Changes in Coat Texture: A senior Goldendoodle’s coat might become coarser or drier with age. Regular brushing helps distribute natural oils and keeps the coat tangle-free.

How to Adapt Grooming for Senior Goldendoodles:

Increased Brushing Frequency: Brushing daily or every other day is ideal to prevent mats and tangles. A slicker brush and a metal comb are good tools for this.
Gentler Brushing Techniques: As their skin might become more sensitive, use gentle brushing strokes and avoid pulling on knots. If you encounter matting, carefully work it out with your fingers or a detangling spray before brushing.
Regular Baths (with Caution): While regular baths are important, be mindful of drying out their skin. Use a gentle, veterinarian-approved shampoo formulated for senior dogs and avoid over-bathing.
Professional Grooming: Maintain a schedule of professional grooming visits every 6-8 weeks. Groomers can address any matting issues, trim nails, and ensure your senior dog feels comfortable and clean.

Monitoring Health and Comfort

Monitoring your senior Goldendoodle’s health and comfort is crucial for early detection of any potential issues. Here are some key aspects to pay close attention to:

Behavioral Changes:

Changes in Sleep Patterns: Excessive sleeping or difficulty settling down could indicate pain, discomfort, or underlying health problems.
Increased Whining or Vocalization: Vocalization can be a sign of pain, anxiety, or confusion.
Changes in House Training Habits: Accidents in the house can be due to medical conditions, cognitive decline, or even urinary tract infections.
Reduced Interest in Play or Activities: A sudden lack of enthusiasm for walks, playtime, or favorite activities could indicate pain, fatigue, or depression.
Destructive Behaviors: Chewing, digging, or pacing can be signs of boredom, anxiety, or cognitive decline.

Physical Changes:

Weight Fluctuations: As mentioned earlier, sudden weight loss or gain can be a red flag.
Appetite Changes: A decrease in appetite can be a sign of dental problems, internal issues, or even depression.
Changes in Coat and Skin: Dry, itchy skin, excessive shedding, or matting can indicate allergies, skin infections, or nutritional deficiencies.
Vision or Hearing Loss: These are common in senior dogs, but watch for signs like bumping into objects or not responding to commands.
Mobility Issues: Limping, difficulty getting up or down stairs, or stiffness in their gait could be due to arthritis or other joint problems.

Early Intervention is Key:

If you notice any of these changes in your senior goldendoodle, don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian. Early intervention can often prevent problems from worsening and improve your dog’s quality of life. By being observant and proactive, you can ensure your furry friend enjoys a happy and healthy golden age.

Special Considerations

As your Goldendoodle ages, they may require special accommodations:

Accessible Home: Ensure your home is easy to navigate, with ramps for stairs and non-slip mats.
Regular Vet Visits: Keep up with vaccinations, parasite control, and regular health screenings.
End-of-Life Care: Discuss options with your vet to ensure your dog’s final days are as comfortable as possible, considering pain management and quality of life.

Conclusion

Caring for a senior Goldendoodle involves attentive and compassionate care to address their changing needs. Regular veterinary check-ups, proper nutrition, gentle exercise, mental stimulation, and emotional support are key components to ensuring they enjoy a happy and comfortable old age. With the right care, your senior Goldendoodle can continue to bring joy and companionship to your life for many years to come.

Article by: Nicole McCray

Golden retrievers and poodles are both breeds originally developed to be water retrievers. Your goldendoodle’s ancestors undoubtably liked the water. But how do you introduce your goldendoodle to the water in a way that helps her realize that innate love of swimming her great great grandparents knew? Help make her first experience a positive one by following these few tips:

1. Allow your goldendoodle to be in control

Jumping off of a boat or into a pool is much different than playing at a beach of in a river where the depth gradually increases. Your goldendoodle will likely have a better first experience if she can control the depth. Tossing her off of a boat or into a pool will immediately put her into panic mode as she desperately swims for dry ground. Letting her play at a beach along a calm river will allow her to go further and further into the water as her confidence increases, helping her to have a fun time.

2. Fun toys are a must

When kids go to the pool, they always want to haul along a bag of their favorite water toys. Your goldendoodle is no different. She’s going to have a much better time if toys are involved! Bring a variety of different canine water toys such as floating balls, throwing stick, water bumper, and soft frisbee. Having different options keeps water play fun and exciting, plus it allows your doodle to show you what toys she likes playing with in the water.

3. Bring water-loving friends!

The more the merrier is a saying that holds true to water play! When introducing your goldendoodle to water for the very first time, bring along puppy friends who already love the water. When your girl sees how much her friends are enjoying the water (and playing with her water toys), she’ll be enticed to join them. A little bit of positive peer pressure can go a long way 🙂

4. Pick a calm spot on a warm day

While your goldendoodle may very well love riding the waves, for her very first water outing, try to select a location where the water is calm. Avoid strong currants and big waves. Ideally, a calm river or pond with a gradually increasing depth is the best spot for that first water adventure. It probably goes without saying, but you don’t want to swim in cold water on a cold day and neither does your pup. Pick a summer day with plenty of sunshine for that first tine of water fun.

5. Get ready to get wet

Your goldendoodle is a people-oriented dog who wants to be what you’re doing. If you’re having fun in the water, she’ll be temped to join you. If you’re relaxing on the beach, she’ll want to hang on the beach. Encourage your doodle to play in the water by getting into the water yourself and showing her just how fun it truly is!

A few other water tips:

Avoid mats: As you and your goldendoodle enjoy swimming together, beware that swimming (particularly in chlorine water) can cause your pup’s hair to mat. If you plan to swim regularly, keep your pup in a short clip.
Not every dog is a swimmer: some dogs don’t have the body structure to be good swimmers and may not find swimming easy & enjoyable. That’s okay! Don’t push your dog beyond her comfort level. Even if your dog doesn’t love full body swimming, she may still love playing in shallow water with you.
Kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing with your dog is a great way to introduce her to the water in a way that isn’t totally focused on swimming. Our dogs love boating on the river with us on all three of those types of vessels.
Bring plenty of clean drinking water. While there will certainly be a lot of water available for your pup to drink when she becomes thirsty from playing, it’s not the water you want her drinking. Playing in the water is sure to make her thirsty, so pack clean drinking water and bowl for your furry friend to enjoy.

Enjoy!

From swimming in a pond to kayaking on the river to beach vacations at the Great Lakes, we have so much fun playing in the water with our goldendoodles, and we hope you & your goldendoodle will enjoy your time in the water together as much as we do! Happy swimming!

Whether you’re doing a DIY goldendoodle groom or preparing to take your sweet pup to the groomer, it’s always helpful to have some inspirational pictures. Here are some adorable haircuts for wavy coated goldendoodles.

When you visit the groomer, it’s helpful to take a picture to show what kind of a haircut you’d like for your pup. Remember, there are a variety of coat types and no two goldendoodles are exactly the same. It may take a few trips to learn exactly what haircut looks the best on your specific pup. And an amazing haircut isn’t just up to the groomer. You also play a key role: keeping your pup brushed and free from mats is essential in achieving the perfect haircut.

If you’re ready to try your hand at grooming your own goldendoodle, you’ll want. to pick up a pair of dog grooming clippers as well as a set of clipper guards. While the clippers do the actual hair cutting, the guards allow you to trim the hair to a longer length. Use the clippers without a guard for places that you want short, such as the notch between the eyes, sanitary areas, and under the base of the ear. Use the clipper guards to achieve a longer length for the body, legs, and chest.

Congratulations on adding a new furry member to your family! Goldendoodles make wonderful pets, and you’re going to love your new little one. We’ve created this goldendoodle puppy shopping list to help you prepare. You’ll learn what size collar, what size crate, recommended chew items for teething puppies, etc. We’ll also give you a few special discount codes for some of our favorite products!

Food & Water Bowls

Look to purchase stainless or ceramic bowls, as they are healthier for your puppy and easier to clean than plastic. It’s a good idea to purchase an extra water bowl, as an extra will allow you to regularly throw your puppy’s water bowl in the dishwasher.

Fun Food activities that Build on the Foraging Instinct

Dogs are natural foragers, and sometimes, eating out of a bowl can be a little…. boring. Have a few more entertaining feeding options available for your pup such as a snuffle bowl, slow feeder bowl, and wobble feeder. These types of interactive food games take mental energy and problem solving, which helps a puppy use that puppy energy in a productive, fun way.

Collar and Identification tag

Your mini puppy will likely need a 14”-16″ collar when full-grown (the collar will probably adjust from 13″-19″ like this medium one) but may benefit from a smaller collar at first. She has been wearing a collar that is adjusted to about 9″-11″ during her last few weeks with us. Even though your puppy will go home with a microchip, it’s always a good idea to have a tag on her collar to make it easy to identify her (without a microchip reader!). Alternatively, you may choose to purchase a collar with your phone number embroidered on the collar. Abria has a cute polkadot collar we found on Etsy!

Scent Item

You may opt to bring a piece of material to hold the familiar, comforting scent of littermates (i.e. a wash cloth), but an even better option is a Snuggle Puppy. We have families tell us that their dog continues to sleep with Snuggle Puppy friend even as an adult dog. Snuggle Puppies are specially designed for puppies: the tag is hidden away inside the pocket and there aren’t any eyes or noses that can be chewed off and swallowed. Additionally, there isn’t any stuffing in the ears or tail to prevent your pup from accidentally ingesting the white fluffy stuffing usually found in stuffed animals.

Flat Leash

Pick out a sturdy flat lead that is 3/4″ wide that’s 4′-6′ long. Flexi leads are not the best choice for young puppies. We have leashes made by Kakadu and DexDog that we use regularly, and we have been happy with them both.

Dog Crate

We primarily use metal crates with our dogs, as they are easier to clean, but plastic crates give the den-like feel and are a good option as well. A crate cover can give a metal crate the den-like feel yet you can still toss it in the washer if needed. Consider purchasing a 36″ crate with dimensions for medium puppies (mini goldendoodles may be comfortable in a 30″ crate). You may prefer to use a smaller crate can be used while your puppy is little or use a divider to make the crate a little smaller. We primarily use 30″ metal crates in crate conditioning the pups during their time with us, although we also try to introduce them to plastic crates.

Baxter & Bella Online Puppy Training Program

Baxter & Bella is a unique online puppy raising resource that is IMMENSELY helpful. Not only will you have access to the myriad of videos and training tips, but membership also includes chats with professional trainers. If your puppy enters a new stage and you’re not quite sure how to navigate it, just talk to a trainer to get the tips and tricks you need to help your puppy. Baxter & Bella helps new owners with everything from preparing your home to basic manners to make a socialization checklist. Use the code Timberidge for 25% off Baxter & Bella!

Chew Things for a Teething Puppy

Puppies love to chew, particularly until about 8 months of age. To help set both you and your puppy up for success, select a few long last items that your puppy can chew. We like RidgeRunner’s split elk antler. Use the code TR15 for 15% off your order at RidgeRunnerAntlerChews.com

Irresistible Tasty Chew for Crate

Select an AMAZINGLY tasty chew or two that your puppy ONLY gets in her crate. We find that puppies love buffalo or pigs ears, but it can be challenging to find ones produced in the USA. You may be able to find some at a local feed and supply store. Another good option is Nature Gnaws, available at Target as well as Amazon. Nature Gnaws has a variety of single ingredient chews that your pup will enjoy. Choose something that is very tasty and that will take your pup some time to devour.

Puppy Food

Your puppy will be used to eating TLC Puppy Food, so order a bag from TLCpetfood.com and they’ll ship it to your home, where it will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of your newest family member. You will receive an email directly from TLC when your puppy is about 5 weeks old.

We love TLC for a variety of reasons, a few of which are: multiple protein sources (helps reduce the risk of developing food allergies), low legume content (reduces the risk of developing dilated cardiac myelopathy), included pre & probiotics (helps keep the intestines happy), no corn or soybeans (ingredients that are likely to be genetically modified), no recalls ever (we want to keep our dogs healthy & safe), and the food is fresher than store bought foods since it is delivered directly to your home.

Soft Training Treats

Treats should be soft, small, and easy to chew quickly. Purebites dog treats are a good option as are Smart Cookie single ingredient treats. They are made with just one ingredient (i.e. lamb liver) and don’t contain ingredients such as BHA that you do not want your puppy to consume.

Metal Comb or Grooming Rake and Slicker Brush

A metal comb is a great tool for curly coated Goldendoodles and a grooming rake works well for wavy coated Goldendoodles. These will help keep in undercoat free from tangles. Also purchase a curved slicker brush for fluffing the outer coat on your goldendoodle. For more information about grooming, read through our goldendoodle haircuts post.

Nail Clippers or Dremel and Styptic Powder

We like to use normal human toenail clippers for trimming puppy nails. As puppies get older, we switch to a cordless dremel. Either nail clipper or a cordless dremel will work for trimming your puppy’s toenails – it’s a matter of which you prefer. Your puppy will have had it’s nails trimmed prior to going home and your vet & groomer will likely offer to trim her nails when you take her in for appointments, but it’s still important for you to trim her nails at home. It’s also a good idea to have styptic powder on hand just in case you trim your puppy’s nail a little too short.

Flat Leash

Dog Crate

Baxter & Bella Online Puppy Training Program

Chew Things for a Teething Puppy

Irresistible Tasty Chew for Crate

Puppy Food

Soft Training Treats

Metal Comb or Grooming Rake and Slicker Brush

Nail Clippers or Dremel and Styptic Powder

all of these babies have found their forever families. We do not have puppies available at this time. Thank you.

happy birthday

Moki & Boaz are the proud parents of four squishy new babies: two girls and two boys. These little ones are absolutely precious. When first born, puppies depend completely on their mama, so we’re blessed that Moki does such a great job caring for them. She nurses them almost constantly it seems and snuggles with them. How sweet are these faces? Most puppies are born with pink noses that gradually turn black over the first few days. These precious little ones were born with gorgeous black points!

At first puppies can’t yet walk. Their eyes and ears are closed. They can’t go to the bathroom on their own. And they can’t maintain their own body temperature. Fortunately God gave puppies a natural instinct to pile together for warmth, so they snuggle together in a giant puppy heap. And they also love cuddling around Moki as she snoozes contentedly, surrounded by her new family. Moki seems to love being surrounded by her tiny ones. She often has a pup lying on her leg or under her ear.

EEGs have revealed that the brain activity of infant puppies is the same when asleep and awake. But these little pups are busy eating, growing, and developing. It’s amazing how quickly Ivy’s pups grow! At 48 hours old, the puppies weigh between 13-16oz. They’ve already surpassed their birthday weights and gained several ounces. Moki’s puppies twitch and pop in their sleep, as all healthy newborn puppies should. This activated sleep helps them build muscle tone.

Your puppy’s birthday is May 8th, and your puppy will be ready to come home with you July 3rd-6th.

weekly puppy tip #1: nap time is essential!

Think about a napping place – The puppies spend most of their lives sleeping now, but did you know that your new furbaby is going to need lots of sleep when you bring her home, too? Puppies, just like small children, require naps throughout the day. When your puppy is sleeping, try to allow her to rest untouched (it’s okay for noisy life to carry on around her while she snoozes, but it’s best not to physically disturb her as much as possible). This may mean that you need to guide her to a different spot than the one she’s initially chosen. Puppy Culture estimates that an 8-10 week old puppy sleeps 3 hours and then is awake for 1 hour before going back down for another nap. Puppies are like little children – sometimes they don’t realize that you’re tired and need you to put them down for a nap. Puppies can get over stimulated and become overly tired just like toddlers. It’s your job to help regulate them. AKC gives some helpful insight into the importance of puppy sleep (You can read the whole of the article here.):

Although puppies may seem like little bundles of energy, in fact, they sleep 15-20 hours a day. One minute your puppy may be a miniature tornado, and the next he’s fallen soundly asleep, almost mid-activity. Sleep is essential to healthy growth: during sleep his central nervous system, brain, immune system, and muscles are developing. All of that sleep also helps him rest up during growth spurts… household members, especially children, should leave your puppy alone while he is sleeping. Plan his day so that active time is followed by quiet time for sleep. He’ll most likely be ready for a nap after playtime or a walk, sleep for a while and then wake up ready for anything. Your puppy may nap every hour or so, sleeping from 30 minutes to as long as two hours. All of this sleep is perfectly normal.

Jan Reisen from the American Kennel Club (AKC) Tweet

one week new

Our kids thoroughly enjoy giving puppies their temporary names, and we’re excited to share their choices for these special pups with you.

Introducing: Mercy, Wilber, Ralph & Spot

Mercy is named after the children’s book series, Mercy Watson. She is on the far left in the group picture and has the cute light apricot curls. Mercy will have a pink collar.

Mercy couldn’t be the only one with a piggy name, so Mr. Wilber is next. He is a beautiful apricot color and will be wearing a red collar.

Ralph is named after the book Mouse and the Motorcycle. He has a lovely wavy coat and is the darkest of the four pups. He will wear a green collar.

Spot is a gorgeous cream puppy. I love the stark contrast between her dark black nose and her light coat. Spot is named after the toddler book series Spot and also is the only puppy with a spot marking.

It’s hard to believe that these four chunky munchkins are already one week old! They have grown so much! These puppies may still seem incredibly small but they’ve really packed on the pounds! These sweet little pumpkins continue to dedicate their entire lives to eating and sleeping – and it shows! They are becoming fat little sausages with adorable wrinkles and rolls. Everyone has passed over the 1lb mark in this past week, and some have almost reached the big 2lb mark. All that growing means that the puppies will be ready to move into their big pup collars. We use break-free collars to keep our littles safe from the risk of strangulation, but these special safety collars feel like “normal” collars to the puppies, so they’ll go home used to the feel of wearing a collar.

Even though the puppies spend most of their lives sleeping, they actually are doing baby workouts as they snooze the day away. These little pups twitch and pop involuntarily during their sleep, developing muscle tone for the near future. This phenomenon is known as “activated sleep.” In a few short weeks, these rolly polly puppies will be bouncing around playfully. Their legs, while still wobbly, have already gotten stronger and the puppies wobble around on them instead of just army crawling as they did initially.

The puppies have now had their toenails trimmed for the first time. When you take your puppy home, it’s important that you continue to regularly trim her nails. Right now we trim the puppies’ nails with human baby nail clippers. For our adult dogs, we use a dremel to keep their nails short. We like to keep the puppies’ nails short so they don’t accidentally scratch Moki while nursing. Plus nail trimming is going to be a regular activity throughout their lives, so we want to introduce them to it at an early age. We’ll continue to clip little nails frequently over the next seven weeks.

weekly puppy tip #2: make a puppy experience plan

Make a puppy experience plan – Compile a list of places you want to take your puppy and experiences you want your puppy to encounter. Any day now, these little eyes will be ready to soak up the sites, and we’ll now start introducing the puppies to items that differ in appearance. We have a thought out socialization plan, working hard to expose your puppy to as much as possible during her time with us. When you take your puppy home, that responsibility then shifts to you as you continue the socialization process. Exposing your puppy to new people, situations, sounds, smells, textures, etc. is extremely important. Give your new puppy a few days to adjust to her new home and new routine. Then begin giving her short, positive experiences (yummy treats make everything more positive!). Don’t try to do too much in one day, as you don’t want to overwhelm or stress her. Go ahead: start making a list of ideas for how to want to socialize your new puppy.

Your goal is for your puppy to meet a minimum of 100 different people by the time she’s six months old. Dr. Ian Dunbar, a puppy socialization expert, raises the bar even higher by recommending that puppies meet 100+ people during the first month at home. If you hope to visit a local nursing home or hospital when your puppy gets older, secure some crutches, walkers or wheelchairs to expose your puppy to at home. Meeting people is just one component of socialization. Think about outdoor experiences that you and your puppy can safely enjoy together. Consider what predictable dogs you can introduce your puppy to (dogs who are stable, friendly, healthy, and will model good behavior for your pup). Keep in mind that adult dogs aren’t always fond of puppies so be sure to monitor them together. Do you know anyone with a woods or creek where you can take your puppy for a short romp? Remember, you want every experience to be POSITIVE (i.e. bring yummy treats and hand out the praise). Making a plan now, before you bring your puppy home, will help ensure that you follow through with a variety of positive exposures once you have your new little fluff ball at your side.

Check out AviDog’s free e-book for more ideas about what to add to your puppy experience plan. Baxter & Bella also has some great ideas for socializing your puppy.

2 weeks new

Isn’t it amazing how much puppies grow in just one week? They’re already noticing so much more like little dogs. And they all have their own look, too. Spot reminds me of her Grandma, Ivy, when she was a puppy. These babies are about 38% golden retriever, and I love seeing that golden retriever ancestry shine through.

You’ll probably notice how nicely they’re chunking up! But do you also see those tiny little eyes staring back at you?! Eye opening is a process that doesn’t happen all in one day. Right now, we keep the puppy room dim as their eyes adjust to seeing the world around them.

Moki is a great mama. The ever increasing rolls on these babies are strong evidence that Moki is doing an excellent job nursing her crew! At this point, the sleepy little dumplings still snooze away most of their days and fill any awake time with stuffing their bellies. The puppies are still in a calm, quiet, darker environment. We enjoy snuggling them every day, and the puppies have fun snuggling down for a nap on our laps.

The puppies have all had their toenails for a second time. It’s important to keep their toenails short now so the pups don’t accidentally scratch mama Moki when they’re nursing. Toenails grow quickly. Be ready to trim your new pup’s nails every few weeks when she joins your family.

weekly puppy tip #3: age appropriate exercise

Glance over Puppy Culture’s exercise chart. Familiarize yourself with what sorts of activities are appropriate for your puppy at different stages of development. You want to give your puppy a variety of unique positive experiences, but your puppy is still growing & developing, so you don’t want to push your puppy too far. For instance, climbing up one to two stairs is an appropriate challenge but climbing a flight of stairs is not a good idea for a young puppy (a study done on 500 dogs showed that puppies allowed to climb a flight of stairs regularly before 3 months old were more likely to develop hip dysplasia). Remember, free running and playing is a great option because your puppy can rest whenever she feels inclined to do so. If you’d like to read more about puppy exercise, check out AviDog’s puppy exercise guidelines. This article from AKC also gives some helpful puppy exercise tips.

three weeks new

Aren’t these little pumpkins really looking like miniature dogs now? They are so stinking precious. The puppies sit awkwardly and walk around now, albeit a bit clumsily.

Look at those open eyes! When puppy eyes first open, they’re blue and cloudy but as the eyes change from their cloudy blue appearance, they open more and the puppy’s vision becomes crisper. Scroll back to last week’s pictures and notice how much wider the puppies’ eyes are open this week. The pups still spend the majority of their time snoozing, but they’re also starting to play with each other. Their clumsy play right now looks like it’s happening in slow motion, and you can’t help but smile when you’re watching them play together.

They puppies have recently discovered that they can bark, and sometimes a seemingly random high pitched bark rings out. They surprise themselves with the sounds that come out of their own mouths! They also wag their little tails and walk around on their feet, like real doggies do. Last week, their legs were still wobbly. This week, they’re legs are strong and they walk like they know what they’re doing. We put different items in the puppy pen for the babies to explore.

All of the time these babies spend eating shows! These chunky monkeys continue to grow like crazy. The pups already weigh around 4lbs (Moki is doing a great job growing her babies!).

The puppies have had their toenail trimmed again – I think for the third time. We touch the puppies’ feet regularly and snuggle them on their backs, preparing them for all kinds of handling when they join your family.

We’re loving these precious pups! It’s so fun to watch them grow and learn. I can’t wait to take them outside in the upcoming week.

weekly puppy tip #4: be the leader your puppy wants you to be

It’s essential that you establish yourself as the pack leader. Your puppy doesn’t want to be in charge – that’s a scary place to be! Your puppy wants to look to you as the leader, but you have to show yourself as worth of the role by being the leader (this also helps set your kids apart as ranking higher in the pack than your new pup). Some easy ways to establish your leadership include:

Sit down with your puppy each night before bed and briefly touch your puppy EVERYWHERE. Kneel on the floor with your puppy sitting between your legs. Start by petting your puppy’s head and tell him “head, head.” Then check his mouth, telling him “teeth, teeth,” and look inside his ears telling him “ear, ears.” Briefly go over your puppy from nose to tail in this fashion. This helps establish that you’re allowed to touch your puppy anywhere and everywhere. (see the video below)
Set boundaries so there is at least one place in your home that your dog isn’t allowed to go in your home (i.e. not allowed to jump on your bed, not allowed to sit on a particular couch or not allowed into a certain room).
Teach you puppy to sit and wait for you to walk out the front door before her and give her the “okay” before she is permitted to walk through it. If you’ve been consistent, your puppy will offer a sit and wait for a release word (i.e. “okay”) before coming inside by 3 months old. When she’s old enough to start walking freely up and down stairs, teach her to wait for you to finish climbing/descending the stairs before she comes.
Encourage your puppy sit and wait for you to give her the “okay” before she is allowed to approach her food bowl. Periodically pick up your puppy’s food bowl while she’s eating, reward her with a yummy treat, and return the food bowl. (we’ll talk about the Toy Trade Game and other educational games you can play with your puppy next week).
Teach your puppy to do a long down during meal times. Buy a soft rug or bed and teach your puppy to go lay on it on command. We have our own adult dogs lay on a rug in a down stay during dinner. Maple was doing a down stay along side them at 6 months old for the entire length of our meal – which means your puppy can do it at a young age, too!

Not quite four weeks 🙂

The puppies have had big few days! Our friends at Land of Goshen Doodles have a singleton litter, which means a litter of only one puppy. Their sweet little pup Lyra came over to socialize with our babies. Our pups often meet new adult dogs, but they don’t always have the opportunity to play with a new friend who is just their size. The puppies have also begun exploring Puppy Town. We’ll continue giving them new objects to explore over the upcoming weeks. For now, they’re busy exploring the space itself and having so much fun doing so. I’ve introduced the puppy slide and a few other objects, but it will be a little while before they actually start using it. Ralph did put his front to paws on the little step. If you have an Instagram account, be sure to check out today’s story video. It’s amazing how much sturdier the puppies have gotten on their feet even since last week. As you can tell from the pictures, the puppies have now been outside for the very first time! They’ve actually been outside 3 times now, but the pictures are from their very first adventure outdoors. They will continue going outside more and more, but there is something special about that very first time, so I just had to share a few pictures. The puppies continue to delight us with their sweet personalities. Did you see the Instagram story video yesterday of silly Spot trying to nurse upside down? These babies are frequently making us laugh with their little puppy antics. I can’t wait for you all to meet them!

four weeks news

I can’t believe how quickly these babies are growing up! The kids LOVE the puppies , and the puppies love the kids. The puppies go outside multiple times a day, and we’re working on getting as many potties as possible to happen out there. We continue to give the munchkins new toys to spark their curiosity. And we continue to snuggle them. They shower us with kisses (particularly Miss Spot!), and we shower them with kisses, too! The pups have sniffed noses with some other dogs besides their mama – and they’ve also had the opportunity to meet Heidi’s singleton puppy twice (with supervision). They’ve started playing with each other, and they thoroughly enjoy wrestling each other. The puppies have also started enjoying goat milk (shout out to our friends at Land of Goshen for providing us with amazing goat milk for these precious babies!) and will transition to eat kibble mush this weekend. They think goat milk is a delicious treat! And they’re gong to love kibble, too! the pups already try to sneak kibble out of Moki’s bowl any chance they get. The puppies still enjoy mama Moki’s nutritious milk, too. If you have not received an email from TLC about ordering puppy food, please let me know.

The growing and developing puppies do in the first four weeks is absolutely outstanding! In just one month, these pups have gone from being unable to walk to playing with each other. In just one month, they’ve gone from having eyes & ears that are shut to curiously exploring the world around them. In just one month, they’ve gone from being entirely dependent on Ivy to interacting with each other, and giving us kisses! It’s so fun to watch all of that growing and developing unfold. Hopefully you’ve been enjoying the Instagram story videos of the puppies this week.

weekly puppy tip #5: Get ready to play educational games with your puppy!

Did you know that there are fun games you can play with your puppy that teach him beneficial skills? It’s great to incorporate regular educational games into your puppy’s routine, so read through these suggestions, add any needed supplies to your puppy shopping list, and get ready for puppy playtime

Ball On The Wall – Encourages retrieving
- Supplies: A ball that your puppy can carry in her mouth
- How to play: Sit on the floor about 1-5’ from a wall. Put your legs in a “V” and sit facing the wall with your puppy between you and the wall. Toss the ball at the wall, encouraging your puppy to go after it. Give your puppy lots of praise when she brings the ball back!
- Variation: Once you’ve mastered Ball On The Wall, try playing retrieve in a hallway with all the doors closed (so your puppy can’t run away with the ball).
Toy Trade – Prevents resource guarding
- Supplies: A toy that your puppy likes but doesn’t highly value and a high value treat
- How to play: Briefly play with your puppy using the toy. Ask your puppy for the toy by offering her a high value treat. Reward & praise her for giving you the toy, and give the toy back to her as soon as she finishes chewing. Gradually work on having her give you objects of higher value (i.e. a bone).
- Variation: Work on teaching your puppy the command “give” and ask her to drop the toy/bone on command in exchange for the high value treat.
Hide & Seek – Encourages recall
- Supplies: Yummy treats
- How to play: Run away from your puppy, hide behind a corner, tree, couch or other object, and call your puppy to encourage her to find you. When she does, give her lots of praise and a yummy treat.
- Variation: Play Ping Pong by having a partner play with you and take turns hiding. While the first person is rewarding the puppy for coming, the second person hides.

five weeks new

This is such a fun age! These puppies are cuter and fluffier every day! Their individual personalities are starting to show through. They’ve transformed from little guinea pigs who can’t see or hear to actual miniature dogs who run around and play and give kisses. And they already enjoy belly rubs, which is fun, too. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the short video clips on our Instagram story. I’m trying to share short videos there so you can see what the puppies are up to each day.

The puppies have been sleeping confined in crates for about a week now. At first, the whole litter slept together in one crate, but now the puppies are sleeping 2 pups to a crate. They do a crate job settling down at bedtime and staying quiet all night long. We let them outside between 6:30-7:30am. Sometime the puppies don’t quite make it out the door before pottying, but we’re so proud of them for holding it until we let them out of their crates in the morning. They’re doing awesome for only being 5 weeks old (it was just a few weeks ago that Mama Moki had to stimulate them go to the bathroom and now they’re holding their pees until they are released from their crates – that’s pretty incredible if you think about it!).

As I mentioned last week, the puppies have started eating softened TLC puppy kibble. Soon they’ll be chowing down on dry kibble, but for now while their teeth are coming in, the soften food makes for a perfect meal. Moki continues to nurse them throughout the day.

The puppies trot about, exploring the world around them. They enjoy playing with the different toys in their pen, and they enjoy playing with each other, too. The pups don’t sit still for long, except for when they’re on your lap or sleeping, so pictures are challenging – unless they’re sleeping (as you can tell from this week’s pictures)! In between their short bursts of energy, they still spend much of their time snoozing.

The pups have also been on a few road trips in the past week where they’ve been able to explore new environments and meet new people. We feel that it’s important for puppies to experience different environments starting from a young age, so we work hard to start that socialization during their time with us. When you take your puppy home, that responsibility passes onto you and then it’s your turn to continue the socialization process. Hopefully you’ve worked on a puppy experience plan like we talks about in puppy tip #2! It’s been a fun week for these little pups, and we’re thoroughly enjoying them. I can’t wait for you all to meet them at the meet & greet on Saturday!

weekly puppy tip #6: select and register for a puppy class

A puppy class is essential both for socialization and manners. Look for a class that emphasizes positive reinforcement, as learning & training should be a fun game at this point. Clicker training is a plus. This article from AKC gives some pointers about what to look for in a puppy class. Many dog training facilities will allow your new friend join their puppy class around 12 weeks of age, once she has received her second set of immunizations. Allison Camp from Pups Unleashed offers a local puppy class. She’ll be temperament testing the puppies in about 2 weeks and assisting with matching. Temperament testing always an exciting day!

We prefer in person puppy class over virtual hands down, but having online recourses is incredibly helpful, too. Timberidge Goldendoodles is excited to be partnering with Baxter & Bella. These online resources, virtual classes, and video training tips are an amazing option for every puppy owner – there are even a variety of resources to help you now as you prepare for your new furry family member. Plus membership is for a lifetime, so you can access Baxter & Bella’s tools repeatedly over the years ahead for each and every furry child that joins your family. Use the discount code TIMBERIDGE to save 25% when you join Baxter & Bella!

Here’s a short video from Baxter & Bella’s about how to train your puppy to respond positively the someone ringing your doorbell. You can take this same principle and apply it to a variety of other circumstances, such as teaching your puppy to walk calmly past another dog who is going crazy. Additional free puppy training videos are linked at the bottom of this blog post, so if you haven’t already checked them out, please take the time to watch at least a few of them. Remember, the best thing you can do to prepare for your new puppy is to prepare yourself!

six weeks news

Boy, it’s been a HOT week here! The puppies are going outside regularly to potty still, but they have not been interested in playing outside. They look for any shade they can find and plot down for a nap. All this heat makes you tired, especially when you’re wearing a fur coat. The warm temperatures were the perfect excuse to introduce the puppies to a little water play! We let them wade in water, which was fun for everyone, human and puppy!

The puppies are so very curious and playful and friendly. We let them run around the main part of our house for small segments each day now. They have a blast sniffing noses with the older dogs, exploring every nook and cranny, looking for chews that belong to the big dogs, and feeling the carpet squishing between their toes. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed the Insta videos of the pups in action! Their Aunt Ruby stayed with us while her family was traveling, and she LOVED the puppies! The pups had a great time playing with her. We made sure to supervise any interactions and to provide a safe place where the puppies could hide if they felt that Ruby was a little too overzealous to play. When you introduce your pup to new canine friends, you’ll want to do the same. Always supervise, especially the initial interactions with a new dog. And always provide your puppy with a safe “get away” spot in case she needs a break. For our home, the pups could duck under the couch and pop out at will, giving them the freedom to control their interactions with Ruby and the other big dogs. Outdoors, a kiddie picnic table or something similar works well. Additionally, be sure to provide the big dog with a way to get away from your puppy in case he becomes overwhelmed with the puppy energy. Being around other safe dogs is great for your puppy!

weekly puppy tip #7: get ready to groom!

Your puppy has had her nails clipped and hair trimmed during her time with us, so she has already had her initial introduction to a lifetime of being groomed. Take her to the groomer for a puppy clip after her 16-week immunizations. The groomer will bathe her, trim the hair out of her eyes, give her a sanitary clip, and trim her nails. Since she will need regular grooming throughout her life, both she and the groomer will benefit if she becomes accustomed to being groomed from a young age, even before she’s ready for a full haircut.

When should she have her first big girl haircut? The wavy adult coat will start replacing the soft, fluffy puppy coat around 5-6 months of age. You’ll notice the new hair coming in is kinkier than the pure fluff on top. Waiting to cut the hair until the adult coat makes its debut beneath the layers of puppy plush helps ensure that the adult coat remains soft. Many poodle groomers and poodle fanciers claim that shaving a poodle or goldendoodle down before her adult coat starts coming in could damage the adult coat, affecting the texture. While there isn’t any substantiated evidence that this is true (at least that I can find), it’s worth avoiding just in case. That doesn’t mean that your puppy might not benefit from a puppy clip in the meantime! Don’t let your puppy’s hair get out of control! As aforementioned, take her to the groomer for a puppy clip after her 16-week immunizations. When the time comes, check out the grooming section on our website for a variety of goldendoodle haircut pictures. Learn more about your Goldendoodle puppy’s first trip to the groomer. We have a plethora of haircut resources under the “grooming” tab on the main menu bar.

Waiting until 6 months for the first full big girl clip does NOT mean you’re off the hook for grooming at home! You should regularly groom your puppy: brushing her hair, cleaning her ears, brushing her teeth, clipping her toenails, and checking her for any anomalies (i.e. ticks, cuts, etc.). You want your puppy to become accustomed to being brushed and handled all over from a young age. We HIGHLY recommend doing regular bonding/body handling exercises with your puppy (demonstrated in the video shared on weekly puppy tip #4). Goldendoodles are a breed that like routines (thanks to those poodle ancestors), so it’s nice to do bonding exercises every night just before your put your puppy in her crate for bed. It’s easy to incorporate different parts of grooming into your nightly bonding exercises, just doing a little here and a little there since young puppies don’t have the attention span for lots of grooming at once.

seven weeks new

he puppies are so much fun! They bound around outside, finding things to chew and places to explore. They also sneak around the house, trying to investigate new places. We continue to take the puppies on new and different adventures. It’s fun to see their curiosity! The pups enjoy any new toy we throw their way. The puppies have gone on several road trips this past week. They’ve also had their bottoms trimmed with clippers for a second time and toenails clipped again. Believe it or not, I also trimmed the hair out of their eyes a few days ago! It looks like Ralph and Wilbur could already use another round of hair trimming. It’s amazing how quickly that puppy coat grows!

Aren’t these pups adorable? Now scroll back and look at their newborn pictures. Isn’t it marvelous that in just seven weeks they’ve transformed from little guinea pigs into gorgeous, fluffy puppies?!

Be sure to pick up a special extra yummy chew that your puppy only gets during (daytime) crate time

weekly puppy tip #8: fostering the child/puppy relationship

Goldendoodles are family dogs by nature, but there are a few steps you can take to help set your puppy and your kids up for a lifetime of friendship:

When your puppy is sleeping, let her sleep – your puppy is growing & developing and she NEEDS that sleep. Teach your children to respect a sleeping puppy by not interrupting her. Your puppy’s crate should be her safe retreat. When she’s in her crate, allow her to enjoy safe, undisturbed quiet time- this doesn’t mean that you all need to tip toe quietly around when the puppies napping! It just means that when the puppy is napping, let her enjoy that peaceful sleep untouched and wake up on her own good time.
Involve your children in daily puppy care – allowing your children to participate in caring for the puppy will help grow the bond between them and their furry friend. It also helps the puppy learn associate good things with little people and helps her see the children as above her in the pack order. Younger children particularly love being helpers. Our kids enjoy (aka fight over) feeding the dogs, letting them out of their crates, opening the back door to let the dogs in/out, etc. We let them help brush the dogs with much supervision (remember, we want all puppy experiences to be POSITIVE!). Our children also love holding leashes on walks (children should only take your dog on a walk with adult supervision). If you don’t trust your puppy to not pull a young child over, you can attach two short leashes to one dog so both you & your child have a leash to hold. Be cognizant of your child’s age and maturity level. Older children can be more actively involved and younger children can be involved in smaller ways.
Encourage your children to play with the puppy – puppy nips and jumps can be intimidating for some children. Teaching children how to act calmly around a puppy and how to play intentional games such as fetch and educational games (see some suggestions under week 3) can help both the children and the puppy learn how to interact with each other. Explain to your children that your puppy isn’t trying to hurt them when she’s nipping – she’s asking them to play with her.
Include your children in puppy training – when you enroll your puppy in a puppy kindergarten class, ask about bringing your child along (assuming he’s old enough and mature enough to participate). Our children enjoy practicing sits and downs with our dogs, dolling out hotdog slivers to the eager participants. Our dogs think it’s great! Be sure to always supervise children/puppy training sessions.
Teach your children to respect the puppy – sometimes it’s challenging for children, especially young ones, to distinguish between their favorite stuffie and a real-life fluffy puppy. Many children need to be patiently taught to be gentle and kind with animals. “No hugging dogs” is a rule in our home because a preschooler bear hug around the neck is too much our small dogs (our dogs don’t mind but we’re afraid they might accidentally get hurt since they’re significantly smaller than the ones dolling out the hugs). If there are times when you aren’t able to supervise your children’s interaction with your puppy, it might be best (and safest) to put your puppy in her crate. Remember, that crate should be your puppy’s safe place. This article by AKC has more helpful tips about teaching children to respect dogs.
Establish a safe place for your dog, usually either a dog bed or crate. Teach your children that when the puppy is in her safe place, they need to let her alone and they may not touch her. Your puppy will learn that she can retreat to her safe place if she becomes overwhelmed with a situation or if she just needs a nap.

getting ready

We’ve created a puppy shopping list to guide you as you prepare to bring your new pup home! Go ahead and pick up a Snuggle Puppy (stuffed puppy with a heartbeat) to bring with you on meet & greet day (or mail it to us if you live out of town). If you have a crate, you’re welcome to leave that with us that on meet & greet day as well and we’ll start getting your puppy used to her new future “bedroom.”

the best way to prepare for a new puppy is to prepare yourself!

Baxter & Bella: first 2 weeks with a new puppy videos are all short 1-3 minute videos that are helpful to watch. You’ll learn how to teach your puppy and get ideas for establishing good behaviors from day one. These videos show Amy Jensen training Chili, her young doodle puppy.

Puppy pen & day one crate introduction
Impulse control
Toy trade game and building a marker
Mat work & teaching your puppy to settle
Teaching your puppy to sit to say “please”
Settling in a crate, redirecting
Come
Keeping an eye on your puppy while you’re being productive & preventing resource guarding
Helping your puppy enjoy being brushed
Introducing a harness or therapy vest
Walking on a leash
“Drop it” command
Example of a puppy-sized training session (training sessions should only be 1-2 minutes long for an 8-10 week old puppy)

If you’re eager to learn more, Baxter & Bella’s online resources, virtual classes, and video training tips are an amazing option for every puppy owner. Plus membership is for a lifetime, so you can access Baxter & Bella’s tools repeatedly over the years ahead for each and every furry child that joins your family. Use the discount code TIMBERIDGE to save 25% when you join Baxter & Bella!.

service & therapy

If you plan to do service or therapy work with your puppy, the harness introduction and “touch” Baxter & Bella videos (above) are both important to start working with your puppy on. In addition, consider what environment(s) you’d ideally like to go on therapy visits and make a list of things your puppy might encounter there. Will you puppy meet people in hoodies with the hood up? Will you puppy meet people in lab coats or masks? Will your puppy encounter mobility assistive devices? As you prepare for your new puppy, check GoodWill or Facebook Marketplace to find items such as a cane, crutches, walker, wheel chair, strollers, etc. that your puppy may encounter during therapy visits. You’ll want to familiar your puppy with those items beginning at a young age.

written by: James Greenstone

Insuring your furry companion is a crucial step in ensuring a long, healthy, and happy life for them. When it comes to Goldendoodles, a breed known for its charming appearance and friendly disposition, securing the right insurance is essential. This article dives into the world of Goldendoodle insurance, aiming to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how it works.

Why Goldendoodle Insurance?

Goldendoodles are a crossbreed of Golden Retrievers and Poodles, inheriting the best traits from both breeds. However, like any other breed, they can be prone to certain health issues such as hip dysplasia, allergies, cancer and eye disorders. Finding a responsible breeder who health tests parent dogs can help mitigate these health issues, however it is still wise to have pet insurance to help offset the financial burden of veterinary bills, ensuring your Goldendoodle receives the necessary care without breaking the bank.

Understanding Goldendoodle Insurance

Securing an insurance policy for your Goldendoodle is a prudent measure to ensure their health and well-being. It’s imperative to make sure you understand everything insurance provides for Goldendoodles prior to committing to a particular insurance policy. Below are the key aspects of Goldendoodle insurance:

Coverage

Basic Coverage: This is the most straightforward insurance coverage, primarily dealing with accidents and unexpected injuries. It’s designed to provide financial relief in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as fractures, bites, or ingestion of foreign objects.
Comprehensive Coverage: A more extensive coverage option, comprehensive insurance covers not just accidents, but also illnesses. This could include chronic diseases, congenital conditions, and sometimes even behavioral issues. Some comprehensive plans also cover routine care like vaccinations and wellness check-ups.
Breed-Specific Coverage: Given the unique genetic makeup of Goldendoodles, breed-specific coverage can be crucial. It is tailored to address common health concerns associated with Goldendoodles, such as hip dysplasia and certain skin conditions.

Premiums

The premiums are the monthly or yearly payments you make to keep the insurance policy active. The cost of premiums can fluctuate based on various factors including the age, health status, and geographical location of your Goldendoodle, as well as the level of coverage you choose.

Deductibles

A deductible is an out-of-pocket expense you need to pay before your insurance begins to cover the costs. Deductibles can be per incident or annual, and choosing a higher deductible can lower your premium, albeit at the cost of higher upfront payments should an incident occur. It may be prudent to consider the amount of health testing parents dogs have received prior to selecting a deductible. It also might be prudent to run a genetic panel on your dog to determine whether she is at risk for certain genetic conditions such as ichthyosis, a skin disorder common in golden retrievers. Be sure that learning the risk on a genetic panel does not cause that disorder to be excluded as a pre-existing condition.

Reimbursement Levels

Once the deductible is met, the insurance will cover a specified percentage of the remaining veterinary bills. Common reimbursement levels are 70%, 80%, or 90%, though some plans offer as much as 100% reimbursement.

Exclusions

Exclusions are what the insurance policy does not cover. Common exclusions include pre-existing conditions, certain genetic disorders, and sometimes even specific types of care or treatment. It’s vital to thoroughly review any exclusions to ensure the policy meets your Goldendoodle’s needs.

Waiting Period

Many insurance policies have a waiting period post-enrollment before the coverage actually begins. This period can vary in length and is meant to prevent fraud by ensuring that the insurance is not being purchased for a pre-existing condition or an immediate need.

Lifetime Limits

Some insurance policies impose a lifetime limit on the amount they will cover. Once this limit is reached, the policy will no longer provide coverage. It’s essential to be aware of any lifetime limits to ensure that the insurance will provide adequate long-term protection for your Goldendoodle.

Customizing Your Policy

Tailoring your Goldendoodle’s insurance policy allows for a better fit with your pet’s health needs and your financial capacity. You can opt for additional riders such as a wellness rider for routine care, a hereditary and congenital conditions rider for breed-specific ailments, or a behavioral therapy rider for addressing behavioral issues. Adjusting the coverage limits, choosing a suitable deductible amount, and selecting an appropriate reimbursement level provide further customization, balancing premium costs with the extent of coverage.

Some insurance providers offer flexible payment schedules and multi-pet discounts, providing financial ease for pet owners. Additionally, exploring other discount opportunities like membership discounts or discounts for microchipped pets can also contribute to crafting a more cost-effective insurance policy for your Goldendoodle.

Conclusion

Investing in insurance for your Goldendoodle is a testament to the care and commitment you have towards ensuring a healthy and happy life for your furry companion. Understanding the intricacies of Goldendoodle insurance, from the range of coverage options to the flexibility of customizing your policy, empowers you to make an informed decision. By meticulously evaluating the available insurance offerings for Goldendoodles, and tailoring a policy that aligns with both the health needs of your pet and your financial circumstances, you create a safety net that can significantly ease the financial burden of veterinary care.

This prudent step ensures that your Goldendoodle will receive the necessary medical attention whenever it’s needed, fostering a long, joyful, and healthy companionship. The peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are prepared for unforeseen medical expenses is invaluable, making Goldendoodle insurance a wise and loving choice for every responsible pet owner.

written by: James Greenstone

happy birthday!

Moses and Ivy are the proud parents of six squishy new babies: three girls and three boys. These little ones are absolutely precious. When first born, puppies depend completely on their mama, so we’re blessed that Ivy does such a great job caring for them. She nurses them almost constantly it seems and snuggles with them. How sweet are these faces? The pups are just about 12 hours old in these pictures. Enjoy those pink noses now! They’ll soon start turning black, and I love the contrast of the black against the cream, but the little baby pink noses sure are cute, too.

EEGs have revealed that the brain activity of infant puppies is the same when asleep and awake. But these little pups are busy eating, growing, and developing. It’s amazing how quickly Ivy’s pups grow! At 48 hours old, much of the litter is already hovering around the 1lb mark. Ivy’s puppies twitch and pop in their sleep, as all healthy newborn puppies should. This activated sleep helps them build muscle tone.

Your puppy’s birthday is October 8th, and your puppy will be ready to come home with you December 3rd-4th.

weekly puppy tip #1: nap time is essential!

Think about a napping place – The puppies spend most of their lives sleeping now, but did you know that your new furbaby is going to need lots of sleep when you bring her home, too? Puppies, just like small children, require naps throughout the day. When your puppy is sleeping, try to allow her to rest untouched (it’s okay for noisy life to carry on around her while she snoozes, but it’s best not to physically disturb her as much as possible). This may mean that you need to guide her to a different spot than the one she’s initially chosen. Puppy Culture estimates that an 8-10 week old puppy sleeps 3 hours and then is awake for 1 hour before going back down for another nap. AKC gives some helpful insight into the importance of puppy sleep (You can read the whole of the article here.):

Although puppies may seem like little bundles of energy, in fact, they sleep 15-20 hours a day. One minute your puppy may be a miniature tornado, and the next he’s fallen soundly asleep, almost mid-activity. Sleep is essential to healthy growth: during sleep his central nervous system, brain, immune system, and muscles are developing. All of that sleep also helps him rest up during growth spurts… household members, especially children, should leave your puppy alone while he is sleeping. Plan his day so that active time is followed by quiet time for sleep. He’ll most likely be ready for a nap after playtime or a walk, sleep for a while and then wake up ready for anything. Your puppy may nap every hour or so, sleeping from 30 minutes to as long as two hours. All of this sleep is perfectly normal.

Jan Reisen from the American Kennel Club (AKC) Tweet

one week new

It’s hard to believe that these six chunky munchkins are already one week old! They have grown so much! These puppies may still seem incredibly small but they’ve really packed on the pounds! These sweet little pumpkins continue to dedicate their entire lives to eating and sleeping – and it shows! They are becoming fat little sausages with adorable wrinkles and rolls. Everyone has passed over the 1lb mark in this past week, and some have even barely reached the big 2lb mark. All that growing means that the puppies have moved into their big pup collars. We use break-free collars to keep our littles safe from the risk of strangulation, but these special safety collars feel like “normal” collars to the puppies, so they’ll go home used to the feel of wearing a collar.

The puppies have now had their toenails trimmed for the first time. When you take your puppy home, it’s important that you continue to regularly trim her nails. Right now we trim the puppies’ nails with human baby nail clippers. For our adult dogs, we use a dremel to keep their nails short. We like to keep the puppies’ nails short so they don’t accidentally scratch Coco while nursing. Plus nail trimming is going to be a regular activity throughout their lives, so we want to introduce them to it at an early age. We’ll continue to clip little nails frequently over the next seven weeks.

weekly puppy tip #2: make a puppy experience plan

Check out AviDog’s free e-book for more ideas about what to add to your puppy experience plan. Baxter & Bella also has some great ideas for socializing your puppy.

11 days new

The puppies aren’t quite two weeks old yet, but they have grown so much since I took their pictures over the weekend, so I couldn’t help but give them a little photoshoot a few days early. You’ll probably notice how nicely they’re chunking up! But do you also see those tiny little eyes staring back at you?! Yes! The puppies have just barely started opening their eyes! Hence the extra reason for a photoshoot this evening – you’ve got to see those sweet little eyes, too. Now eye opening is a process that doesn’t happen all in one day, and not every puppy has open eyes yet.

Ivy is a great mama. The ever increasing rolls on these babies are strong evidence that Ivy is doing an excellent job nursing her crew! Seriously, how cute are those little forehead wrinkles? At this point, the sleepy little dumplings still snooze away most of their days and fill any awake time with stuffing their bellies. The puppies are still in a calm, quiet environment. Soon they’ll be ready for the chaos of our main living area but not quite yet.

The puppies have all had their toenails for a second time. It’s important to keep their toenails short now so the pups don’t accidentally scratch mama Ivy when they’re nursing. Toenails grow quickly. Be ready to trim your new pup’s nails every few weeks when she joins your family.

Naming puppies is a highlight for our kids. Usually there’s not much of a theme to names, but for this litter, the names actually do go together – at least for the most part. We have: S’more, Marshmallow, Chocolate, Graham Cracker, Hershey…. and they’re still debating whether the youngest should name the sixth puppy “garbage truck”!

weekly puppy tip #3: age appropriate exercise

three weeks new

Aren’t these little pumpkins really looking like miniature dogs now? They are so stinking precious. The puppies sit awkwardly and walk around now, albeit a bit clumsily.

Look at those open eyes! When puppy eyes first open, they’re blue and cloudy but as the eyes change from their cloudy blue appearance, they open more and the puppy’s vision becomes crisper. The pups still spend the majority of their time snoozing, but they’re also starting to play with each other. Their clumsy play right now looks like it’s happening in slow motion.

They puppies have recently discovered that they can bark, and sometimes a seemingly random high pitched bark rings out. They surprise themselves with the sounds that come out of their own mouths!

All of the time these babies spend eating shows! These chunky monkeys continue to grow like crazy. The biggest pups weigh just over 5lbs already.

weekly puppy tip #4: be the leader your puppy wants you to be

Sit down with your puppy each night before bed and briefly touch your puppy EVERYWHERE. Kneel on the floor with your puppy sitting between your legs. Start by petting your puppy’s head and tell him “head, head.” Then check his mouth, telling him “teeth, teeth,” and look inside his ears telling him “ear, ears.” Briefly go over your puppy from nose to tail in this fashion. This helps establish that you’re allowed to touch your puppy anywhere and everywhere. (see the video below)
Set boundaries so there is at least one place in your home that your dog isn’t allowed to go in your home (i.e. not allowed to jump on your bed, not allowed to sit on a particular couch or not allowed into a certain room).
Teach you puppy to sit and wait for you to walk out the front door before her and give her the “okay” before she is permitted to walk through it. If you’ve been consistent, your puppy will offer a sit and wait for a release word (i.e. “okay”) before coming inside by 3 months old. When she’s old enough to start walking freely up and down stairs, teach her to wait for you to finish climbing/descending the stairs before she comes.
Encourage your puppy sit and wait for you to give her the “okay” before she is allowed to approach her food bowl. Periodically pick up your puppy’s food bowl while she’s eating, reward her with a yummy treat, and return the food bowl. (we’ll talk about the Toy Trade Game and other educational games you can play with your puppy next week).
Teach your puppy to do a long down during meal times. Buy a soft rug or bed and teach your puppy to go lay on it on command. We have our own adult dogs lay on a rug in a down stay during dinner. Maple was doing a down stay along side them at 6 months old for the entire length of our meal – which means your puppy can do it at a young age, too!

three and a half weeks

Ivy’s puppies got to explore the great outdoors for the very first time this afternoon. The weather has been pretty chilly, so I was delighted when the sun came out and the temperatures warmed allowing me to take these babies outside. They did great! As you can tell from the picture (and hopefully saw in the Instagram story clip), the puppies enjoyed their very first picnic. Nothing is better than enjoying a wonderful meal while soaking in some nature 🙂

The puppies will begin going outside more and more over the upcoming weeks, and I have a feeling that they’re going to love it. Don’t they look so grown up sitting outside in the grass? They’re really looking like little dogs now.

The pups have moved downstairs to Puppy Town, which means they’re being submersed into the chaos of our home. It also means that they’re beginning to explore new toys (again, hopefully you saw the Insta story video of them playing). These guys are curious little pups and seem to really enjoy exploring the world around them.

four weeks new

I can’t believe how quickly these babies are growing up! The kids LOVE having the puppies downstairs, and the puppies love the kids. The puppies go outside multiple times a day, and we’re working on getting as many potties as possible to happen out there. We’ve introduced a crate, and the puppies have slept in it over night for the first time. We continue to give the munchkins new toys to spark their curiosity. And we continue to snuggle them. They shower us with kisses, and we shower them with kisses, too! The pups have sniffed noses with some other dogs besides their mama – and they’ve also started playing with Coco’s puppies (with supervision). They’ve also started playing with each other, and they thoroughly enjoy wrestling each other. The puppies have also started enjoying kibble mush. They think it’s a delicious treat! The puppies still enjoy mama Ivy’s nutritious milk, too. If you have not received an email from TLC about ordering puppy food, please let me know.

weekly puppy tip #5: Get ready to play educational games with your puppy!

Ball On The Wall – Encourages retrieving
- Supplies: A ball that your puppy can carry in her mouth
- How to play: Sit on the floor about 1-5’ from a wall. Put your legs in a “V” and sit facing the wall with your puppy between you and the wall. Toss the ball at the wall, encouraging your puppy to go after it. Give your puppy lots of praise when she brings the ball back!
- Variation: Once you’ve mastered Ball On The Wall, try playing retrieve in a hallway with all the doors closed (so your puppy can’t run away with the ball).
Toy Trade – Prevents resource guarding
- Supplies: A toy that your puppy likes but doesn’t highly value and a high value treat
- How to play: Briefly play with your puppy using the toy. Ask your puppy for the toy by offering her a high value treat. Reward & praise her for giving you the toy, and give the toy back to her as soon as she finishes chewing. Gradually work on having her give you objects of higher value (i.e. a bone).
- Variation: Work on teaching your puppy the command “give” and ask her to drop the toy/bone on command in exchange for the high value treat.
Hide & Seek – Encourages recall
- Supplies: Yummy treats
- How to play: Run away from your puppy, hide behind a corner, tree, couch or other object, and call your puppy to encourage her to find you. When she does, give her lots of praise and a yummy treat.
- Variation: Play Ping Pong by having a partner play with you and take turns hiding. While the first person is rewarding the puppy for coming, the second person hides.

five weeks new

This is such a fun age! These puppies are cuter every day! Their individual personalities are starting to show through. They’ve transformed from little guinea pigs who can’t see or hear to actual miniature dogs who run around and play and give kisses. And they already enjoy belly rubs, which is fun too. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the short video clips on our Instagram story. I’m trying to share short videos there so you can see what the puppies are up to each day.

The puppies have been sleeping confined in crates for about a week now. At first, the whole litter slept together in one crate, but now the puppies are sleeping 3 pups to a crate. They do a crate job settling down at bedtime and staying quiet all night long. We let them outside about 7am. Sometime the puppies don’t quite make it out the door before pottying, but we’re so proud of them for holding it until we let them out of their crates in the morning. They’re doing awesome for only being 5 weeks old (it was just a few weeks ago that mama Ivy had to stimulate them go to the bathroom and now they’re holding their pees until they are released from their crates – that’s pretty incredible if you think about it!).

The puppies trot about, exploring the world around them. They enjoy playing with the different toys in their pen, and they enjoy playing with each other, too. We’ve been able to combine Coco and Ivy’s puppies into one giant Puppy Town, which means double the playmates! The pups don’t sit still for long, except for when they’re on your lap or sleeping, so pictures are challenging – unless they’re sleeping (hence why everyone looks a little sleepy in the pictures)! In between their short bursts of energy, they still spend much of their time snoozing.

weekly puppy tip #6: select and register for a puppy class

six weeks

I had hoped to share a video of the puppies this week – they are so curious and playful – but unfortunately we are experiencing some computer troubles that prevent that from happening. But thankfully we got to have a Christmas photoshoot instead (sorry the pictures are a little dark. My editing software is also out of commission since it’s on our computer). Aren’t these babies adorable?! I absolutely LOVE their boxy faces! Ivy has a gorgeous head and her puppies likewise are beautiful. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the short Insta story videos of the pups in action.

It’s been another busy week full of fun puppy adventures. The puppies have played outside A LOT (even with all the rain we’ve received lately)! The puppies have ventured on another road trip this week and were able to meet my side of the family. Everyone loved the puppies and the puppies loved all of the attention! It’s good for the pups to get used to playing in different locations/ new environments, and they’ve enjoyed exploring the new situations. We’re working hard to expose these pups to a variety of sights, sounds, smells, environments, people – and in just a few short weeks, it will be your turn to continue that socialization process with your new pup.

weekly puppy tip #7: get ready to groom!

getting ready

the best way to prepare for a new puppy is to prepare yourself!

Puppy pen & day one crate introduction
Impulse control
Toy trade game and building a marker
Mat work & teaching your puppy to settle
Teaching your puppy to sit to say “please”
Settling in a crate, redirecting
Come
Keeping an eye on your puppy while you’re being productive & preventing resource guarding
Helping your puppy enjoy being brushed
Introducing a harness or therapy vest
Walking on a leash
“Drop it” command
Example of a puppy-sized training session (training sessions should only be 1-2 minutes long for an 8-10 week old puppy)

service & therapy

happy birthday

Coco & Gideon are the proud parents of five squishy new babies: three girls and two boys. These little ones are absolutely precious. When first born, puppies depend completely on their mama, so we’re blessed that Coco does such a great job caring for them. She nurses them almost constantly it seems and snuggles with them (sometimes Coco nurses them while lying on her back with her belly up in the air – it makes us laugh!). How sweet are these faces? The pups are just over 12 hours old in these pictures.

At first puppies can’t yet walk. Their eyes and ears are closed. They can’t go to the bathroom on their own. And they can’t maintain their own body temperature. Fortunately God gave puppies a natural instinct to pile together for warmth, so they snuggle together in a giant puppy heap. And they also love cuddling around Coco as she snoozes contentedly, surrounded by her new family. It’s adorable to see a puppy snuggled with Coco’s ear and another under her chin. When Coco lays with her belly in the air, we sometimes find little puppies sleeping on top of Coco’s belly or happily snuggled in the warm hair on her neck. Coco seems to love being surrounded by her tiny ones.

EEGs have revealed that the brain activity of infant puppies is the same when asleep and awake. But these little pups are busy eating, growing, and developing. Coco’s puppies twitch and pop in their sleep, as all healthy newborn puppies should. This activated sleep helps them build muscle tone.

Your puppy’s birthday is September 22nd, and your puppy will be ready to come home with you November 17th-19th.

Weekly puppy tip #1: nap time is essential!

Think about a napping place – The puppies spend most of their lives sleeping now, but did you know that your new furbaby is going to need lots of sleep when you bring her home, too? Puppies, just like small children, require naps throughout the day. When your puppy is sleeping, try to allow her to rest untouched (it’s okay for noisy life to carry on around her while she snoozes, but it’s best not to physically disturb her as much as possible). This may mean that you need to guide her to a different spot than the one she’s initially chosen. Puppy Culture estimates that an 8-10 week old puppy sleeps 3 hours and then is awake for 1 hour before going back down for another nap. AKC gives some helpful insight into the importance of puppy sleep (You can read the whole of the article here.):

Although puppies may seem like little bundles of energy, in fact, they sleep 15-20 hours a day. One minute your puppy may be a miniature tornado, and the next he’s fallen soundly asleep, almost mid-activity. Sleep is essential to healthy growth: during sleep his central nervous system, brain, immune system, and muscles are developing. All of that sleep also helps him rest up during growth spurts… household members, especially children, should leave your puppy alone while he is sleeping. Plan his day so that active time is followed by quiet time for sleep. He’ll most likely be ready for a nap after playtime or a walk, sleep for a while and then wake up ready for anything. Your puppy may nap every hour or so, sleeping from 30 minutes to as long as two hours. All of this sleep is perfectly normal.

Jan Reisen from the American Kennel Club (AKC) Tweet

one week new

t’s hard to believe that these munchkins are already one week old! They have grown so much! These puppies may still seem incredibly small but they’ve really packed on the pounds! Everyone has passed over the 1lb mark in this past week, so now they’re all headed towards the big #2. That’s a lot of growing! These sweet little pumpkins continue to dedicate their entire lives to eating and sleeping – and it shows! They are becoming fat little sausages with adorable wrinkles and rolls.

The puppies have now had their toenails trimmed for the first time. When you take your puppy home, it’s important that you continue to regularly trim her nails. Right now we trim the puppies’ nails with human baby nail clippers. For our adult dogs, we use a dremel to keep their nails short. We like to keep the puppies’ nails short so they don’t accidentally scratch Coco while nursing. Plus nail trimming is going to be a regular activity throughout their lives, so we want to introduce them to it at an early age. We’ll continue to clip little nails frequently over the next seven weeks.

weekly puppy tip #2

Check out AviDog’s free e-book for more ideas about what to add to your puppy experience plan. Baxter & Bella also has some great ideas for socializing your puppy.

two weeks new

There’s always someone who has their own ideas about how a group picture should go! Silly Peaches thought you would enjoy seeing her adorable puppy tail more than seeing her sweet puppy face! Going against the flow isn’t necessarily a bad thing, right? 🙂

From left to right in the group picture we have: Watermelon (boy), Apple Sauce (boy), Clementine (girl), Peaches (girl), and Toast (girl). The puppies won’t know their temporary names when they go home, but we have fun naming them anyway.

These puppies are so stinking precious! And they have filled out so much since last week! At birth, these pups weighed between 11oz-12oz. They more than doubled their birth weights and now weigh between 1lb 13oz and 2lb 2oz. They’ve grown so much and yet they’re still so small! Despite their rotund bellies, the pups are beginning to take wobbly steps. Don’t they look much more like little dogs than they did last week? The puppies are still in a calm, quiet environment. Soon they’ll be ready for the chaos of our main living area but not quite yet. They get around their whelping box fairly quickly on wobbly legs, and it’s fun to see them attempting to walk instead of belly crawl.

The biggest, most exciting change since last week is that puppies’ eye have just started opening. It’s so fun to see them looking back at us. Eye opening is a process that doesn’t happen all in one day. With their eyes open, the puppies started climbing out of their whelping box so they have transitioned into their first puppy pen. We’ve started giving them objects to explore, but at this point, the sleepy little dumplings still snooze away most of their days and fill any awake time with stuffing their bellies.

The puppies have all had their toenails for a second time. It’s important to keep their toenails short now so the pups don’t accidentally scratch mama Coco when they’re nursing. Toenails grow quickly. Be ready to trim your new pup’s nails every few weeks when she joins your family.

weekly puppy tip #3: age appropriate exercise

three weeks new

Aren’t these little pumpkins really looking like miniature dogs now? They are so stinking precious. I can’t wait to move them downstairs next week! They’re not quite ready for the chaos of our main living area, but they will be soon. The puppies sit awkwardly and walk around, albeit a bit clumsily.

Look at those open eyes! When puppy eyes first open, they’re blue and cloudy but as the eyes change from their cloudy blue appearance, they open more and the puppy’s vision becomes crisper. The pups still spend the majority of their time snoozing, but they’re also starting to play with each other. Their clumsy play right now looks like it’s happening in slow motion.

They puppies have recently discovered that they can bark, and sometimes a seemingly random high pitched bark rings out. They surprise themselves with the sounds that come out of their own mouths!

All of the time these babies spend eating shows! These chunky monkeys continue to grow like crazy.

weekly puppy tip #4: be the leader your puppy wants you to be

Sit down with your puppy each night before bed and briefly touch your puppy EVERYWHERE. Kneel on the floor with your puppy sitting between your legs. Start by petting your puppy’s head and tell him “head, head.” Then check his mouth, telling him “teeth, teeth,” and look inside his ears telling him “ear, ears.” Briefly go over your puppy from nose to tail in this fashion. This helps establish that you’re allowed to touch your puppy anywhere and everywhere. (see the video below)
Set boundaries so there is at least one place in your home that your dog isn’t allowed to go in your home (i.e. not allowed to jump on your bed, not allowed to sit on a particular couch or not allowed into a certain room).
Teach you puppy to sit and wait for you to walk out the front door before her and give her the “okay” before she is permitted to walk through it. If you’ve been consistent, your puppy will offer a sit and wait for a release word (i.e. “okay”) before coming inside by 3 months old. When she’s old enough to start walking freely up and down stairs, teach her to wait for you to finish climbing/descending the stairs before she comes.
Encourage your puppy sit and wait for you to give her the “okay” before she is allowed to approach her food bowl. Periodically pick up your puppy’s food bowl while she’s eating, reward her with a yummy treat, and return the food bowl. (we’ll talk about the Toy Trade Game and other educational games you can play with your puppy next week).
Teach your puppy to do a long down during meal times. Buy a soft rug or bed and teach your puppy to go lay on it on command. We have our own adult dogs lay on a rug in a down stay during dinner. Maple was doing a down stay along side them at 6 months old for the entire length of our meal – which means your puppy can do it at a young age, too!

four weeks new

I can’t believe how quickly these babies are growing up! The biggest news of the week is that they moved downstairs. At first pups needed a calm, quiet environment without too much stimulation. But now they’re ready for the chaos that exists in the main part of our home! The pups moved into a small puppy area earlier in the week, and we’ve let them explore the big “puppy town” play yard some. In the upcoming weeks, they’ll play in puppy town more and more. The kids LOVE having the puppies downstairs, and the puppies love the kids. We’ve introduced a crate, and it is fun to find puppies sleeping in it. We continue to give the munchkins new toys to spark their curiosity. And we continue to snuggle them. They shower us with kisses, and we shower them with kisses, too! The pups have sniffed noses with some other dogs besides their mama – and they’ve also sniffed noses through a gate with Maple’s puppies. They’ve also started playing with each other (it’s hilarious to watch because it’s like watching them play in slow motion). The puppies have also started lapping warm goat milk from a dish. They think it’s a delicious treat! You might have seen the video in the Insta story of them eating it with front paws in the bowl. Eating is a full body experience at this age! They puppies still enjoy mama Coco’s nutritious milk, but it’s good for them to begin learning to eat from a bowl so they can give kibble a try soon. So much has happened this week!

The growing and developing puppies do in the first four weeks is absolutely outstanding! In just one month, these pups have gone from being unable to walk to playing with each other. In just one month, they’ve gone from having eyes & ears that are shut to curiously exploring the world around them. In just one month, they’ve gone from being entirely dependent on Coco to using a potty area in their pen, interacting with each other, and giving us kisses! It’s so fun to watch all of that growing and developing unfold. Hopefully you’ve been enjoying the Instagram story videos of the puppies this week.

Weekly puppy tip #5: Get ready to play educational games with your puppy!

Ball On The Wall – Encourages retrieving
- Supplies: A ball that your puppy can carry in her mouth
- How to play: Sit on the floor about 1-5’ from a wall. Put your legs in a “V” and sit facing the wall with your puppy between you and the wall. Toss the ball at the wall, encouraging your puppy to go after it. Give your puppy lots of praise when she brings the ball back!
- Variation: Once you’ve mastered Ball On The Wall, try playing retrieve in a hallway with all the doors closed (so your puppy can’t run away with the ball).
Toy Trade – Prevents resource guarding
- Supplies: A toy that your puppy likes but doesn’t highly value and a high value treat
- How to play: Briefly play with your puppy using the toy. Ask your puppy for the toy by offering her a high value treat. Reward & praise her for giving you the toy, and give the toy back to her as soon as she finishes chewing. Gradually work on having her give you objects of higher value (i.e. a bone).
- Variation: Work on teaching your puppy the command “give” and ask her to drop the toy/bone on command in exchange for the high value treat.
Hide & Seek – Encourages recall
- Supplies: Yummy treats
- How to play: Run away from your puppy, hide behind a corner, tree, couch or other object, and call your puppy to encourage her to find you. When she does, give her lots of praise and a yummy treat.
- Variation: Play Ping Pong by having a partner play with you and take turns hiding. While the first person is rewarding the puppy for coming, the second person hides.

four and a half weeks new

Sometimes I get a little too excited and can’t help but share an update mid week. Today is one of those days. 🙂 Coco’s babies went outside for the very first time Friday, and here are pictures from their adventure. They all did AMAZINGLY well. Usually there is someone in a litter who is a little overwhelmed that very first time, but everyone in this litter showed nothing but confidence. All five little tails were up and everyone explored a little.

Since that first adventure out of doors, we’ve started taking the puppies outside increasingly more each day. Today they went outside probably six times, maybe more. The pups have started sleeping locked in a crate overnight, and everyone holds their little poos until morning. When we go outside bright and early, they all take care of business. It’s great to see these little guys already beginning to make strides towards housebreaking at such a young age.

The kids love snuggling these babies and the babies love snuggling the kids. They get excited to see us and love attention. These puppies are all super sweet, and we’re very pleased with this litter.

Oh, and the puppies went on their first road trip today! You may have seen the Insta story clip of them exploring the tall grass. The puppies did well riding together in their plastic crate in the car and they did well exploring the new environment. We’re looking forward to taking them on more road trips in the upcoming weeks.

It really seems like these pups turned into little dogs in the past week! It’s fun to see them playing, exploring, wagging their tails… and they even try to sneak in and steal the big puppies’ dry kibble! The little stinkers! <3

five weeks new

The puppies have started eating softened TLC puppy kibble. Soon they’ll be chowing down on dry kibble, but for now while their teeth are coming in, the soften food makes for a perfect meal. Coco continues to nurse them throughout the day. The puppies trot about, exploring the world around them. They enjoy playing with the different toys in their pen, and they enjoy playing with each other, too. They’ve even started playing with Maple’s puppies, with supervision of course. The pups don’t sit still for long, except for when they’re on your lap or sleeping, so pictures are challenging – unless they’re sleeping! In between their short bursts of energy, they still spend much of their time snoozing. If you sit on the floor, you’re sure to have a lap full of puppies! We’ve started locking them in crates overnight (with their buddies – no one is confined alone at this age). When we take them outside first thing in the morning, it’s rewarding to see the whole group all pottying at the same time! The pups have also been on a road trip this week where they’ve been able to explore new environments and meet new people. We feel that it’s important for puppies to experience different environments starting from a young age, so we work hard to start that socialization during their time with us. When you take your puppy home, that responsibility passes onto you and then it’s your turn to continue the socialization process. Hopefully you’ve worked on a puppy experience plan like we talks about in puppy tip #2! It’s been a fun week for these little pups, and we’re thoroughly enjoying them.

IF YOU HAVEN’T RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM TLC, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Weekly Puppy Tip #6: select and registered for a puppy class

Here’s a short video from Baxter & Bella’s about how to train your puppy to respond positively the someone ringing your doorbell. You can take this same principle and apply it to a variety of other circumstances, such as teaching your puppy to walk calmly past another dog who is going crazy. You can find more free puppy training videos here. Remember, the best thing you can do to prepare for your new puppy is to prepare yourself!

six weeks new

It’s been another busy week full of fun puppy adventures. The puppies have played outside A LOT! The puppies have ventured on another road trip this week. It’s good for them to get used to playing in different locations/ new environments, and they’ve enjoyed exploring the new situations. We’re working hard to expose these pups to a variety of sights, sounds, smells, environments – and in just a few short weeks, it will be your turn to continue that socialization process with your new pup. Another new excitement of the week is that the puppies have officially started eating dry kibble. They have been eating TLC puppy food for some time now, but at first we moisten it and then gradually transition to completely dry. We’ve even given the puppies some fun food games to try such as a snuffle mat, which you’ll see in the puppy video. All dogs have a natural foraging instinct, so the pups have a blast with games that play on that natural instinct.

weekly puppy tip #7: get ready to groom!

seven weeks new

The puppies are so much fun! They bound around outside, finding things to chew and places to explore. They also sneak around the house, trying to investigate new places. We continue to take the puppies on new and different adventures. It’s fun to see their curiosity! The pups enjoy any new toy we throw their way, and they are still very fond of their slide and adventure box (they especially seem to have a blast tugging on the blue blanket).

Be sure to pick up a special extra yummy chew that your puppy only gets during (daytime) crate time

weekly puppy tip #8: fostering the child/dog relationship

Goldendoodles are family dogs by nature, but there are a few steps you can take to help set your puppy and your kids up for a lifetime of friendship:

When your puppy is sleeping, let her sleep – your puppy is growing & developing and she NEEDS that sleep. Teach your children to respect a sleeping puppy by not interrupting her. Your puppy’s crate should be her safe retreat. When she’s in her crate, allow her to enjoy safe, undisturbed quiet time- this doesn’t mean that you all need to tip toe quietly around when the puppies napping! It just means that when the puppy is napping, let her enjoy that peaceful sleep untouched and wake up on her own good time.
Involve your children in daily puppy care – allowing your children to participate in caring for the puppy will help grow the bond between them and their furry friend. It also helps the puppy learn associate good things with little people and helps her see the children as above her in the pack order. Younger children particularly love being helpers. Our kids enjoy (aka fight over) feeding the dogs, letting them out of their crates, opening the back door to let the dogs in/out, etc. We let them help brush the dogs with much supervision (remember, we want all puppy experiences to be POSITIVE!). Our children also love holding leashes on walks (children should only take your dog on a walk with adult supervision). If you don’t trust your puppy to not pull a young child over, you can attach two short leashes to one dog so both you & your child have a leash to hold. Be cognizant of your child’s age and maturity level. Older children can be more actively involved and younger children can be involved in smaller ways.
Encourage your children to play with the puppy – puppy nips and jumps can be intimidating for some children. Teaching children how to act calmly around a puppy and how to play intentional games such as fetch and educational games (see some suggestions under week 3) can help both the children and the puppy learn how to interact with each other. Explain to your children that your puppy isn’t trying to hurt them when she’s nipping – she’s asking them to play with her.
Include your children in puppy training – when you enroll your puppy in a puppy kindergarten class, ask about bringing your child along (assuming he’s old enough and mature enough to participate). Our children enjoy practicing sits and downs with our dogs, dolling out hotdog slivers to the eager participants. Our dogs think it’s great! Be sure to always supervise children/puppy training sessions.
Teach your children to respect the puppy – sometimes it’s challenging for children, especially young ones, to distinguish between their favorite stuffie and a real-life fluffy puppy. Many children need to be patiently taught to be gentle and kind with animals. “No hugging dogs” is a rule in our home because a preschooler bear hug around the neck is too much our small dogs (our dogs don’t mind but we’re afraid they might accidentally get hurt since they’re significantly smaller than the ones dolling out the hugs). If there are times when you aren’t able to supervise your children’s interaction with your puppy, it might be best (and safest) to put your puppy in her crate. Remember, that crate should be your puppy’s safe place. This article by AKC has more helpful tips about teaching children to respect dogs.
Establish a safe place for your dog, usually either a dog bed or crate. Teach your children that when the puppy is in her safe place, they need to let her alone and they may not touch her. Your puppy will learn that she can retreat to her safe place if she becomes overwhelmed with a situation or if she just needs a nap.

getting ready

We’ve created a puppy shopping list to guide you as you prepare to bring your new pup home! Go ahead and pick up a Snuggle Puppy (with a heartbeat) to bring with you on meet & greet day (or mail it to us if you live out of town). If you have a crate, you’re welcome to leave that with us that on meet & greet day as well and we’ll start getting your puppy used to her new future “bedroom.”

Baxter & Bella: first 2 weeks with a new puppy

The best way to prepare for a new puppy is to prepare yourself! These are all short 1-3 minute videos that are helpful to watch. You’ll learn how to teach your puppy and get ideas for establishing good behaviors from day one. These videos show Amy Jensen training Chili, her young goldendoodle puppy

Puppy pen & day one crate introduction
Impulse control
Toy trade game and building a marker
Mat work & teaching your puppy to settle
Teaching your puppy to sit to say “please”
Settling in a crate, redirecting
Come
Keeping an eye on your puppy while you’re being productive & preventing resource guarding
Helping your puppy enjoy being brushed
Introducing a harness or therapy vest
Walking on a leash
“Drop it” command
Example of a puppy-sized training session (training sessions should only be 1-2 minutes long for an 8-10 week old puppy)

service & therapy

If you plan to do service or therapy work with your puppy, the harness introduction and “touch” Baxter & Bella videos (above) are both important to start on early. In addition, check GoodWill or Facebook Marketplace to find mobility assistive such as a cane, crutches, walker, wheel chair, etc. that your puppy may encounter during therapy visits. You’ll want to familiar your puppy with those items beginning at a young age. Additionally, expose your puppy to people wearing lab coats, masks, and other items commonly seen in a medical setting.

happy birthday!

Maple & Boaz are the proud parents of six squishy new babies: three girls and three boy. These little ones are absolutely precious. When first born, puppies depend completely on their mama, so we’re blessed that Maple does such a great job caring for them. She nurses them almost constantly it seems and snuggles with them (sometimes Maple nurses them while lying on her back with her belly up in the air – it makes us laugh!). How sweet are these faces? The pups are just over 24 hours old in these pictures.

Our kids have given the puppies temporary names (the pups won’t know their temporary names when they join their families, but our family has fun naming them anyway). The girls are Pinkie (pink collar), Gingie (purple collar), and Cider (orange collar). The little boys’ temporary names are: Sunny (yellow collar), Hip Hip (blue collar), and Lucky Charms (green collar).

At first puppies can’t yet walk. Their eyes and ears are closed. They can’t go to the bathroom on their own. And they can’t maintain their own body temperature. Fortunately God gave puppies a natural instinct to pile together for warmth, so they snuggle together in a giant puppy heap. And they also love cuddling around Maple as she snoozes contentedly, surrounded by her new family. It’s adorable to see a puppy snuggled with Maple’s ear and another under her chin. She seems to love being surrounded by her tiny ones.

EEGs have revealed that the brain activity of infant puppies is the same when asleep and awake. But these little pups are busy eating, growing, and developing. Maple’s puppies twitch and pop in their sleep, as all healthy newborn puppies should. This activated sleep helps them build muscle tone.

Your puppy’s birthday is September 9th, and your puppy will be ready to come home with you November 4th-5th.

Weekly puppy tip #1: nap time is essential!

Think about a napping place – The puppies spend most of their lives sleeping now, but did you know that your new furbaby is going to need lots of sleep when you bring her home, too? Puppies, just like small children, require naps throughout the day. When your puppy is sleeping, try to allow her to rest untouched (it’s okay for noisy life to carry on around her while she snoozes, but it’s best not to physically disturb her as much as possible). This may mean that you need to guide her to a different spot than the one she’s initially chosen. Puppy Culture estimates that an 8-10 week old puppy sleeps 3 hours and then is awake for 1 hour before going back down for another nap. AKC gives some helpful insight into the importance of puppy sleep:

Although puppies may seem like little bundles of energy, in fact, they sleep 15-20 hours a day. One minute your puppy may be a miniature tornado, and the next he’s fallen soundly asleep, almost mid-activity. Sleep is essential to healthy growth: during sleep his central nervous system, brain, immune system, and muscles are developing. All of that sleep also helps him rest up during growth spurts… household members, especially children, should leave your puppy alone while he is sleeping. Plan his day so that active time is followed by quiet time for sleep. He’ll most likely be ready for a nap after playtime or a walk, sleep for a while and then wake up ready for anything. Your puppy may nap every hour or so, sleeping from 30 minutes to as long as two hours. All of this sleep is perfectly normal.

Jan Reisen from the American Kennel Club (AKC) Tweet

You can read the rest of the article here.

one week new

It’s hard to believe that these munchkins are already one week old! They have grown so much! These puppies may still seem incredibly small but they’ve really packed on the pounds! Everyone has passed over the 1lb mark in this past week, and they’re all headed towards the big #2. That’s a lot of growing! These sweet little pumpkins continue to dedicate their entire lives to eating and sleeping – and it shows! They are fat little sausages with adorable wrinkles and rolls (check out the forehead wrinkles on Mr. Hip Hip with the blue collar).

Speaking of foreheads, notice how some of the puppies have waves on their foreheads (i.e. all three girls). Those itty bitty waves are the beginnings of beautiful curly coats. Their adult coats will look like mama Maple’s coat. The puppies without waves on their foreheads (such as green collared Lucky Charms) will still have curls but theirs will be looser curls, more like the coat of their papa Boaz.

In addition to snuggling these sweet nuggets, we also introduce the pups to a new scent each day, and we’ve also started doing early neurological stimulation (aka ENS) with them. ENS involves stressing the puppies just slightly in very specific ways in order to improve their physiological response to stress in the future.

weekly puppy tip #2

Check out AviDog’s free e-book for more ideas about what to add to your puppy experience plan. Baxter & Bella also has some great ideas for socializing your puppy.

two weeks new

These puppies are so stinking precious! And they’re incredibly chunky! It’s fair to say that Maple is diligent about making sure her puppies are well fed (did you see the roly poly puppy in the Instagram picture?!). Despite their rotund bellies, the pups are beginning to take wobbly steps. Don’t they look much more like little dogs than they did last week? The puppies are still in a calm, quiet environment. Soon they’ll be ready for the chaos of our main living area but not quite yet. They get around their whelping box fairly quickly on wobbly legs, and it’s fun to see them attempting to walk instead of belly crawl.

The biggest, most exciting change since last week is that puppies’ eye have just started opening. It’s so fun to see them looking back at us. Eye opening is a process that doesn’t happen all in one day. Now that they can see, the puppies are a little more active, making them harder to photograph. As you can tell, we weren’t able to get that perfect group picture this week, but these little sausages are pretty cute anyway, aren’t they? We did manage to get a picture of all three girls together.

The puppies have all had their toenails trimmed. It’s important to keep their toenails short now so the pups don’t accidentally scratch mama Maple when they’re nursing. Toenails grow quickly. Be ready to trim your new pup’s nails every few weeks when she joins your family.

These sweet dumplings are getting so big! It’s hard to tell in these pictures, but they’ve all moved out of the ribbon collars and into their big puppy break free collars. We use break-free collars to keep our littles safe from the risk of strangulation, but these special safety collars feel like “normal” collars to the puppies, so they’ll go home used to the feel of wearing a collar.

The puppies continue to enjoy nursing regularly. It’s a crazy, active puppy pile as they all search for the perfect milk tap. Once the milk starts flowing, they all settle down and enjoy the delicious warmness filling their chunky bellies. Their happy tails tell us that they enjoy nursing.

weekly puppy tip #3: age appropriate exercise

Glance over Puppy Culture’s exercise chart. Familiarize yourself with what sorts of activities are appropriate for your puppy at different stages of development. You want to give your puppy a variety of unique positive experiences, but your puppy is still growing & developing, so you don’t want to push your puppy too far. For instance, climbing up one to two stairs is an appropriate challenge but climbing a flight of stairs is not a good idea for a young puppy (a study done on 500 dogs showed that puppies allowed to climb a flight of stairs regularly before 3 months old were more likely to develop hip dysplasia). Remember, free running and playing is a great option because your puppy can rest whenever she feels inclined to do so. If you’d like to read more about puppy exercise, check out AviDog’s puppy exercise guidelines. This article from AKC also gives some helpful puppy exercise tips.

three weeks new

Aren’t these little pumpkins really looking like miniature dogs now? They even sit awkwardly and walk around, albeit a bit clumsily. Look at those open eyes! When puppy eyes first open, they’re blue and cloudy but as the eyes change from their cloudy blue appearance, they open more and the puppy’s vision becomes crisper. The pups still spend the majority of their time snoozing, but they’re also starting to play with each other. Their clumsy play right now looks like it’s happening in slow motion.

With their eyes open, the puppies decided to start climbing out of their whelping box and have moved into their first puppy pen. Maple still has free access to her puppies, but they can’t climb out in search of her. Maple spends a lot of time with her crew. She loves to lay on her back with her belly in the air while nursing the pups. It’s a hilarious sight to behold! In their tiny puppy pen, the puppies are still in a quiet, darker environment so they aren’t overly stimulated. They’ve grown and matured a lot, but they’re still not quite ready for the stimulation of the main part of our house. We hold them regularly and give them toys to explore, one at a time. The puppies are also beginning to listen to a habituation soundtrack, which helps acclimate them to different sounds. We play the sounds quietly right now and will gradually increase the volume as the puppies grow.

They puppies have recently discovered that they can bark, and sometimes a seemingly random high pitched bark rings out. They surprise themselves with the sounds that come out of their own mouths!

All of the time these babies spend eating shows! These chunky monkeys continue to grow like crazy.

weekly puppy tip #4: be the leader your puppy wants you to be

Sit down with your puppy each night before bed and briefly touch your puppy EVERYWHERE. Kneel on the floor with your puppy sitting between your legs. Start by petting your puppy’s head and tell him “head, head.” Then check his mouth, telling him “teeth, teeth,” and look inside his ears telling him “ear, ears.” Briefly go over your puppy from nose to tail in this fashion. This helps establish that you’re allowed to touch your puppy anywhere and everywhere. (see the video below)
Set boundaries so there is at least one place in your home that your dog isn’t allowed to go in your home (i.e. not allowed to jump on your bed, not allowed to sit on a particular couch or not allowed into a certain room).
Teach you puppy to sit and wait for you to walk out the front door before her and give her the “okay” before she is permitted to walk through it. If you’ve been consistent, your puppy will offer a sit and wait for a release word (i.e. “okay”) before coming inside by 3 months old. When she’s old enough to start walking freely up and down stairs, teach her to wait for you to finish climbing/descending the stairs before she comes.
Encourage your puppy sit and wait for you to give her the “okay” before she is allowed to approach her food bowl. Periodically pick up your puppy’s food bowl while she’s eating, reward her with a yummy treat, and return the food bowl. (we’ll talk about the Toy Trade Game and other educational games you can play with your puppy next week).
Teach your puppy to do a long down during meal times. Buy a soft rug or bed and teach your puppy to go lay on it on command. We have our own adult dogs lay on a rug in a down stay during dinner. Maple was doing a down stay along side them at 6 months old for the entire length of our meal – which means your puppy can do it at a young age, too!

four weeks

I can’t believe how quickly these babies are growing up! The biggest news of the week is that they moved downstairs AND they’ve also explored the great outdoors for the first time. At first pups needed a calm, quiet environment without too much stimulation. But now they’re ready for the chaos that exists in the main part of our home! The pups moved into a small puppy area earlier in the week, and we will gradually expand their puppy play yard during the upcoming weeks. The kids LOVE having the puppies downstairs, so we’ve already had to enlarge the puppy pen a bit to accommodate all the room needed for puppy snuggling. As you may have seen in the Instagram story video, we’ve introduced a crate, and it is fun to find puppies sleeping in it. We continue to give the munchkins new toys to spark their curiosity. And we continue to snuggle them. They shower us with kisses, and we shower them with kisses, too! The pups have sniffed noses with some other dogs besides their mama (Abria enjoys being an auntie), they’ve started playing with each other (it’s hilarious to watch because it’s like watching them play in slow motion), and today they went outside for the very first time… The lighting in the pictures isn’t the greatest, but I had to capture their first time outdoors! Sunny and Cider particularly enjoyed exploring, and I loved seeing their confidence. They’ll all have even more fun outside in the weeks to come as they begin going outside multiple times a day. So much has happened this week!

The growing and developing puppies do in the first four weeks is absolutely outstanding! In just one month, these pups have gone from being unable to walk to playing with each other. In just one month, they’ve gone from having eyes & ears that are shut to curiously exploring the world around them. In just one month, they’ve gone from being entirely dependent on Maple to using a potty area in their pen, interacting with each other, and giving us kisses! It’s so fun to watch all of that growing and developing unfold. Hopefully you’ve been enjoying the Instagram story videos of the puppies this week.

weekly puppy tip #5: Get ready to play educational games with your puppy!

Ball On The Wall – Encourages retrieving
- Supplies: A ball that your puppy can carry in her mouth
- How to play: Sit on the floor about 1-5’ from a wall. Put your legs in a “V” and sit facing the wall with your puppy between you and the wall. Toss the ball at the wall, encouraging your puppy to go after it. Give your puppy lots of praise when she brings the ball back!
- Variation: Once you’ve mastered Ball On The Wall, try playing retrieve in a hallway with all the doors closed (so your puppy can’t run away with the ball).
Toy Trade – Prevents resource guarding
- Supplies: A toy that your puppy likes but doesn’t highly value and a high value treat
- How to play: Briefly play with your puppy using the toy. Ask your puppy for the toy by offering her a high value treat. Reward & praise her for giving you the toy, and give the toy back to her as soon as she finishes chewing. Gradually work on having her give you objects of higher value (i.e. a bone).
- Variation: Work on teaching your puppy the command “give” and ask her to drop the toy/bone on command in exchange for the high value treat.
Hide & Seek – Encourages recall
- Supplies: Yummy treats
- How to play: Run away from your puppy, hide behind a corner, tree, couch or other object, and call your puppy to encourage her to find you. When she does, give her lots of praise and a yummy treat.
- Variation: Play Ping Pong by having a partner play with you and take turns hiding. While the first person is rewarding the puppy for coming, the second person hides.

five weeks new

These puppies have started eating a mush of softened TLC puppy kibble mixed with fresh goat milk. Soon they’ll be chowing down on dry kibble, but for now while their teeth are coming in, the soften food makes for a perfect meal. Maple continues to nurse them throughout the day. The puppies trot about, exploring the world around them. They enjoy playing with the different toys in their pen, and they enjoy playing with each other, too. The pups don’t sit still for long, except for when they’re on your lap or sleeping, so pictures are challenging – unless they’re sleeping! In between their short bursts of energy, they still spend much of their time snoozing. If you sit on the floor, you’re sure to have a lap full of puppies! The puppies have had their toenails trimmed again, and they’ve also had their bottoms shaved with clippers. We’ve started locking them in crates overnight (with their buddies – no one is confined alone at this age). When we take them outside first thing in the morning, it’s rewarding to see the whole group all pottying at the same time! The pups have also been on two road trips this week where they’ve been able to explore new environments and meet new people. We feel that it’s important for puppies to experience different environments starting from a young age, so we work hard to start that socialization during their time with us. When you take your puppy home, that responsibility passes onto you and then it’s your turn to continue the socialization process. Hopefully you’ve worked on a puppy experience plan like we talks about in puppy tip #2! It’s been a fun week for these little pups, and we’re thoroughly enjoying them.

IF YOU HAVEN’T RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM TLC, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Weekly Puppy Tip #6: select and registered for a puppy class

Here’s a short video from Baxter & Bella’s about how to train your puppy to respond positively the someone ringing your doorbell. You can take this same principle and apply it to a variety of other circumstances, such as teaching your puppy to walk calmly past another dog who is going crazy. You can find more free puppy training videos here. Remember, the best thing you can do to prepare for your new puppy is to prepare yourself!

six weeks new

It’s been another busy week full of fun puppy adventures. The puppies have played outside A LOT (they’ve even pottied outside in the rain)! The puppies have ventured on another road trip this week. It’s good for them to get used to playing in different locations/ new environments, and they’ve enjoyed exploring the new situations. We’re working hard to expose these pups to a variety of sights, sounds, smells, environments – and in just a few short weeks, it will be your turn to continue that socialization process with your new pup. Another new excitement of the week is that the puppies have officially started eating dry kibble. They have been eating TLC puppy food for some time now, but at first we moisten it and then gradually transition to completely dry. We’ve even given the puppies some fun food games to try such as a snuffle mat. All dogs have a natural foraging instinct, so the pups have a blast with games that play on that natural instinct.

weekly puppy tip #7: get ready to groom!

Get ready to groom! – Your puppy has had her nails clipped and hair trimmed during her time with us, so she has already had her initial introduction to a lifetime of being groomed. Take her to the groomer for a puppy clip after her 16-week immunizations. The groomer will bathe her, trim the hair out of her eyes, give her a sanitary clip, and trim her nails. Since she will need regular grooming throughout her life, both she and the groomer will benefit if she becomes accustomed to being groomed from a young age, even before she’s ready for a full haircut.

seven weeks new

Be sure to pick up a special extra yummy chew that your puppy only gets during (daytime) crate time

weekly puppy tip #8: fostering the child/dog relationship

Goldendoodles are family dogs by nature, but there are a few steps you can take to help set your puppy and your kids up for a lifetime of friendship:

When your puppy is sleeping, let her sleep – your puppy is growing & developing and she NEEDS that sleep. Teach your children to respect a sleeping puppy by not interrupting her. Your puppy’s crate should be her safe retreat. When she’s in her crate, allow her to enjoy safe, undisturbed quiet time- this doesn’t mean that you all need to tip toe quietly around when the puppies napping! It just means that when the puppy is napping, let her enjoy that peaceful sleep untouched and wake up on her own good time.
Involve your children in daily puppy care – allowing your children to participate in caring for the puppy will help grow the bond between them and their furry friend. It also helps the puppy learn associate good things with little people and helps her see the children as above her in the pack order. Younger children particularly love being helpers. Our kids enjoy (aka fight over) feeding the dogs, letting them out of their crates, opening the back door to let the dogs in/out, etc. We let them help brush the dogs with much supervision (remember, we want all puppy experiences to be POSITIVE!). Our children also love holding leashes on walks (children should only take your dog on a walk with adult supervision). If you don’t trust your puppy to not pull a young child over, you can attach two short leashes to one dog so both you & your child have a leash to hold. Be cognizant of your child’s age and maturity level. Older children can be more actively involved and younger children can be involved in smaller ways.
Encourage your children to play with the puppy – puppy nips and jumps can be intimidating for some children. Teaching children how to act calmly around a puppy and how to play intentional games such as fetch and educational games (see some suggestions under week 3) can help both the children and the puppy learn how to interact with each other. Explain to your children that your puppy isn’t trying to hurt them when she’s nipping – she’s asking them to play with her.
Include your children in puppy training – when you enroll your puppy in a puppy kindergarten class, ask about bringing your child along (assuming he’s old enough and mature enough to participate). Our children enjoy practicing sits and downs with our dogs, dolling out hotdog slivers to the eager participants. Our dogs think it’s great! Be sure to always supervise children/puppy training sessions.
Teach your children to respect the puppy – sometimes it’s challenging for children, especially young ones, to distinguish between their favorite stuffie and a real-life fluffy puppy. Many children need to be patiently taught to be gentle and kind with animals. “No hugging dogs” is a rule in our home because a preschooler bear hug around the neck is too much our small dogs (our dogs don’t mind but we’re afraid they might accidentally get hurt since they’re significantly smaller than the ones dolling out the hugs). If there are times when you aren’t able to supervise your children’s interaction with your puppy, it might be best (and safest) to put your puppy in her crate. Remember, that crate should be your puppy’s safe place. This article by AKC has more helpful tips about teaching children to respect dogs.
Establish a safe place for your dog, usually either a dog bed or crate. Teach your children that when the puppy is in her safe place, they need to let her alone and they may not touch her. Your puppy will learn that she can retreat to her safe place if she becomes overwhelmed with a situation or if she just needs a nap.

getting ready

Baxter & Bella: first 2 weeks with a new puppy

These are all short 1-3 minute videos that are helpful to watch. You’ll learn how to teach your puppy and get ideas for establishing good behaviors from day one. These videos show Amy Jensen training Chili, her young goldendoodle puppy

Puppy pen & day one crate introduction
Impulse control
Toy trade game and building a marker
Mat work & teaching your puppy to settle
Teaching your puppy to sit to say “please”
Settling in a crate, redirecting
Come
Keeping an eye on your puppy while you’re being productive & preventing resource guarding
Helping your puppy enjoy being brushed
Introducing a harness or therapy vest
Walking on a leash
“Drop it” command
Example of a puppy-sized training session (training sessions should only be 1-2 minutes long for an 8-10 week old puppy)

If you plan to do service or therapy work with your puppy, the harness introduction and “touch” are both important to start early on. In addition, watch GoodWill or Facebook Marketplace to find assistive mobility assistive such as a cane, crutches, walker, wheel chair, etc. that your puppy may encounter during therapy visits. You’ll want to familiar your puppy with those items early on.

Written by: Thomas Wright

Many people with disabilities are often embarrassed to ask for help and feel vulnerable and abandoned. In such cases, the optimal solution, certified by doctors, is a service animal. Individuals have four-legged partners of different breeds, depending on their preferences. Therefore, in this article, you will discover if Goldendoodle can be a good helper.

Distinguishing Features of Service Animals

Service animals are indispensable for providing comfort and support for people with disabilities. Although there are many different assistance animals, service animals have distinctive features. The main characteristic of service dogs is a high level of training and the availability of special skills necessary to assist their keepers.

Unlike emotional support dogs, service ones are not just companions but indispensable tool that makes life easier for someone with a disability. In addition, a service dog is next to its owner on an ongoing basis, which, for example, therapy dogs do not. Additionally, a service dog is not a family dog but rather is devoted to one person.

Service Dog Training and Preparation

Service dog training programs are a painstaking process that includes extensive preparation. A handler can partner with a professional trainer to equip dogs with vital skills. This training hones obedience, task performance, and social behavior. Specialized tasks tailored to the keeper’s needs are taught to increase independence.

Socialization is key when dogs are exposed to different environments and situations. During training, the service dog trainer goes beyond commands, focusing on communication between the handler and the dog and building a solid bond.

Patience, consistency, and upbeat reinforcement guide you along the way. As dogs complete their training, they become capable, empathetic companions, ready to serve and empower people with disabilities as they travel the world together.

The Role of Service Dogs

Despite popular misconception, helper animals are not limited to being guide dogs or providing physical assistance to people with reduced mobility. The range of functions these assistants can perform is much wider and includes such roles as medical alert dogs, particularly diabetic alert dogs. Although this function at first glance looks pretty non-obvious, such animals are vital for their handlers.

However, in addition to helping individuals with physical disabilities, good service dogs are trained to be reliable companions and partners that boost their owners’ mental health and mood. For example, a service dog can help you deal with post-traumatic stress disorder faster and ensure reliable backing during a panic attack, especially in a public place.

However, unlike emotional support animals, service animals are trained in special calming techniques that allow them to provide their owners with sufficient psychological help.

Can Goldendoodles Be Service Dogs?

While only dogs can be service animals, your helper has no official breed restrictions. Therefore, with the necessary training, Goldendoodles can be great service dogs. You can register your Goldendoodle as a service dog at My Service Animal Online. Like other breeds, goldendoodle service dogs have advantages and disadvantages that their owners will have to deal with.

Pros of a Goldendoodle Service Dog

The Goldendoodle is a hybrid breed created by crossing a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Therefore, this creature combined the features of both of its ancestors. Many dog owners note the following benefits of a Goldendoodle as a service dog:

1. Temperament and Socialization

Goldendoodles inherited from retrievers their temperament and ability to socialize quickly. These friendly and active creatures will not make their handler bored. Because of this, the Goldendoodle is often chosen as an emotional support animal or psychiatric service dog.

This breed can quickly cheer up and stabilize the psychological state of a person. However, their energetic nature can interfere with task training, preventing this breed from becoming a good service dog.

2. Convenient Size

Another advantage of Goldendoodles is that they are usually medium in size, making them ideal companions. A service dog requires proper care and, above all, comfortable living conditions. A Goldendoodle’s size allows him to live in apartments and do his job well. Even so, the medium size of this breed is probably unsuitable for those who need a lot of physical help from a four-legged helper, but the Goldendoodle will be the best option in all other cases.

3.Hypoallergenic Coats

An added bonus of this breed is its hypoallergenic coat. Since Goldendoodles are descended the poodle, they have a low-shedding coat. Thanks to this, the animal can live with its a person with pet dander allergies without the threat of harming the health of its owner. Moreover, this breed is best suited for living in homes with small children.

Potential Challenges

Despite a large number of advantages, Goldendoodle may have some disadvantages as service dogs. Sometimes these animals are too playful and can disobey their master. Therefore, proper training is essential so that dogs can perform their main function and be helpful to humans. This breed can really become an excellent service dog, but only with the right upbringing and training.

In addition, service animals, like ordinary pets, require proper care. This applies to timely feeding, walking, regular exercise, veterinary check-ups, and trips to the groomer. Besides, Goldendoodles may have allergies and require special care due to their origin, so you should consult with your veterinarian if your dog encounters any of these problems.

In addition, prepare the necessary documents and equipment for your assistant to make your stay together as comfortable as possible for everyone.