Hazel

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A few tips to remember when you first meet your puppy:

• Puppies use smell as their primary sense.  Let them smell and greet you before you pick them up.  

• If you are bringing kids, remind them that high pitch noises or squealing is stressful for the puppy.  They should greet the puppy calmly and quietly and let the puppy smell them first. 

• Take them straight to your potty area first thing when you get home.  Pick them up and carry them there.  Bring treats to reward potty immediately then take them in the house and let them sniff around to get used to a new place. 

• Introduce your existing pets one at a time and only when both dogs are calm.  If your dog jumps and barks and cries when you walk in the door then that is not a good time to introduce the new puppy.  Outside or in a neutral house location is also best i.e. don't take the puppy to your older dog's favorite bed to meet him.  

• The babies still sleep almost as much as they are awake.  If your puppy is acting really hyper he may be overstimulated.  Put him in his crate or on a bed in a quiet location to settle down. Add a chew toy if he is having trouble settling. If he  still won't calm down then take him outside again for a few minutes and ignore him as he runs around then try settling down again. 

• Remind kids that if the puppy is on his bed or in his crate he is off limits.  Puppies should have a safe place to go to when they have had enough 'kid' time. 

• It's not unusual for them to refuse food or eat only a little for a couple of days. Don't panic. They will eat when needed.

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Feeding: We give our puppies free access to water all the time during the day.  Take water up a couple of hours before bedtime. Your puppy is eating 2-3 times a day.  If they are eating 3 times a day many will naturally start to "back off" or not finish one of those meals at about 3-6 months of age.  This is fine, and this is a good time to go down to 2 meals a day, just distribute the same amount you fed as 3 meals into 2 meals.  A similar thing can happen at about 8 months to a year when many puppies naturally go down to 1 meal.  By the time your dog is a year old, unless there's a veterinary reason not to, it's best to bring your dog down to 1 meal a day. You can start this schedule as early as 8 months.  In your take home folder your puppy comes home with  you will find a 6 page document that will go over food and feeding to help you know what to do and expect.  

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Petite (expected 10-20 lbs) doodles are eating about ¼ cup – ½ cup of food split into thirds or half and eating 2-3 times a day.

Miniature (expected 20-30 lbs) doodles are eating about ½ cup – ¾ cup of food split into thirds or half and eating 2-3 times a day.

Medium (expected 35-50 lbs) doodles are eating about ¾ cup – 1 cup of food split into thirds or half and eating 2-3 times a day.

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Pleas be sure to read through our preparation page found here ...  Take home preparation page--

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Puppies are preparing to go home in a few days!  I know everyone is excited to finally meet their puppy and start this new venture with their baby.  A new puppy is always an exiting and welcome addition. We know that many of these babies will be going to families who have been planning and preparing for this little puppy for quite some time so the anticipation is very high.  In these coming weeks these little ones will go to see the vet for their vet check.  I will include vet notes and a medication record with your take home packet. 

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There are really just a couple of things that you have to have before you bring a puppy home. 

1. Collar and leash. 

2. Crate and pad.  See our Supply page to determine the size of crate to get.  For the crate you go off of the expected adult height. 

Teacup Range: Height between 10-12 inches typically between 5-10 lbs.

Petite range: height between 12-16 inches typically between 10-25 lbs.

Miniature range: Height:  15-18 inches at wither, typically 20-35 lbs.
Medium range: Height: over 18 but under 22 inches at wither, typically 30-50 lbs.
Standard range: Height: over 22 inches at wither, typically 45 or more lbs.
(height is measured from the floor to the top of the shoulder (wither)

3.  Food.  You should already have ordered your food and it should arrive before your puppy comes home.  If not talk to me and I might be able to help you. 

3. Chew toys.  You need to have something for those little teeth to chew on.  We've given lots of ideas in our take home information.  If you don't provide something they will find something. 

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We gave the puppies their first full bath this week.  Usually at first they act a little reserved but quickly warm up to the idea. Lots of our doodles are influenced by their poodle ancestors and they absolutely love water.

 

After their bath they had their first little mini grooming session.  We trimed their back sides to help keep them clean (mom usually stops cleaning them when they started eating solid foods) and we cute the hair out of the corner of their eyes so that their vision development is unobstructed.  As always we keep their little razor sharp toenails trimmed as well. The puppies have gotten really fun to watch playing together.  

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The puppies received fenbendazole (dewormer medicine) this week .

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last week was week 4 of the socialization period. Puppies have now learned to take food from my hand and are doing great with manding.  Every time we feed the puppies we call them with a high pitch "here pup, pup, pup, pup, pup, pup" similar to how you hear people call a kitty.  They now have a great recall down and will come any time I call out like this.  It is so important to have a good "recall" with a puppy to help keep them from trouble.  This recall will transition to the dogs name once you have him/her in your home.

The babies are all doing great sleeping in crates.  They still usually pile into one crate together but we offer them a couple of sizes of crates and they sometimes nap all alone.  We don't close the door with them and we don't have them sleeping separately at this stage.