Puppy Essentials & Tips

Our go to puppy products and recommendations IN PROGRESS. (list is below please click the links)

The First Night Home

Keep things calm and stress free. The puppy is in a new environment and will be missing they littermates. Whining and crying and not eating as much is normal behavior. It is a HUGE change for them so please keep this in mind. They need a pen and a comfy crate with soft bedding to relax and retreat to. I always place a cover over the crate to make it a dark and safe space since dogs are natural den animals. Show them outride and where they can go potty. You will have to take them outside every 1 hour at least to potty and be consistent. Just know that when they eat or drink water in about 10 min they will go potty. Never reprimand them or punish when they have accidents in the house, they are babies, they don’t know what they did wrong and won’t even know why you are yelling at a them. I hate to say it but if they have accidents in the house that is YOUR fault not theirs. If you do catch them in the act, say No and clap your hands and pick them up and put them outside to potty, and then praise them when they do. Praise and positivity goes a long way. Your tone of voice plays a huge role too. Never say their name in anger. You want them to associate you with a positive. Get a treat bag and make sure treats are placed by the door before you go outside so you can immediately reward for going potty so they associate potty with reward, versus waiting 5 min to go back inside. Every puppy has a bewitching hour, if they seem like they are getting super nippy and hyper, it means it’s time for a nap. Puppies can get over stimulated and they will react this way. Place them in their pen with a bully stick to help calm down.

ALL FOURS OFF THE FLOOR

DO NOT take your puppy out in public or put their paws on the ground besides your own backyard until they are fully vaccinated. Now there are safe ways to do this, carrier, stroller, or a play pen that has a floor. Parasites and Parvo are everywhere and can be tracked in from your shoes. I recommend leaving your shoes outside before coming into your home with a new puppy. I see people with new puppies in pet stores, this is a huge no! They can and will get sick. If they sniff something on the ground and then lick their nose, that’s one way they can get sick, another is if their paws walk on grass or cement where other dogs have been, then they lick their paws, ingesting the germs and can get sick that way too. If you are visiting the vet, make the earliest appointment time possible, so you can avoid the rush of sick dogs, vets are supposed to clean and sanitize but some do not. Always hold your puppy at the vet and never place them on the ground, and bring sanitizing wipes for their paws after they are placed on the exam table. I highly recommend getting a carrier or dog stroller so they can come places with you and socialize safely.

Dog Parks- Please don’t ever take them to a dog park. Bad behaviors can easily be picked up here, along with many germs. Also the most important, you don’t know the dogs that visit , there have been far too many times an unpredictable dog attacks another. I know it’s the first thing families think when they get their puppy as a great way to socialize so they have friends. However, dogs don’t need dog friends, they need you and a loving family that they can trust to keep them safe. It’s best to avoid these all together and much better ways to socialize. Dog Parks are great however, for observing purposes only and from afar.

Puppy Proof your Home – get down on all fours and look around. Puppies will get into everything and anything. (electric cords, small trinkets, shoes, jewelry, poisonous plants, trash cans, check fencing in yard for holes they can escape or fit through the openings. If you have a pool that is not fenced, you will need to show your dog where the steps are, puppies and dogs drown all the time so this will need to be trained. Small Rocks in the backyard are a hazard – puppies will play with them and often swallow them. Get close lid trash cans through out your house.
Limit visitors the first few weeks, puppies need time to adjust. Too much too soon will stress them out.
If you have another dog, you must introduce the dog and puppy slowly to each other. Make sure the puppy has its own pen and crate. Allow them to see each other first, and then sniff through a barrier of some sort like a door or pen. Swap toys or blankets and let them sniff the others. After a few days , the best way to let them to get to know each other, is place them in an open area outside so they are free to run around and won’t feel cornered. Keep in mind this also goes for older dogs meeting another dog, the worst thing that you can do is allow leash to leash introductions when they sniff the face… dogs get to know each other by sniffing butts. If you see another person walking a dog on a walk and they ask to meet your dog, just say no, this can end in a dog fight since face to face is a huge threat to dogs. Instead, walking side by side is a neutral way to get to know each other and is non threatening.
Do Not wake a sleeping puppy. They are growing and need as much sleep as they can.
Socialization- The first 16 weeks is the most important period for them and it sets them up for the rest of their life. Take your pup on short car rides, little errands, school pick ups and drop offs etc. Observe new people, new dogs, and places from afar. There are many dog friendly stores that you can take them too.
If you have children, you need to teach them boundaries. Puppies sure are cute but they are not a toy that can be snuggled and smothered all day. Teaching your kids gentle handling is so important or your dog may become fearful and nip. There is no hugging around the neck, waking them when they are sleeping, playing with your hands. If a kid is using their hands to play or flailing them about, the puppy will nip thinking it’s a game. Tell your kids to stand still and don’t move and ignore the puppy if it is trying to nip and jump on them.
Know the warning signs of stress signals in your dog. Lip smacking, exaggerated yawning, whale eye (when they look at you and you see the whites of their eyes from the side), ears tucked back, retreating to hide some place. If you see these its time to leave them alone or time to go.
Give your puppy a voice. It’s okay to say No to people that want to hold or pet your dog. Observation is sometimes best for your dog. If you let everyone and anyone pet/hold your dog, you will eventually be doing more harm than good. They don’t know that person, and if they always get placed into strangers arms for pets, they will start to fear certain situations and get anxiety. Now, it’s definitely okay to let them go over to someone and get pets since that is on their own and their choice. Of course people can pet and hold your dog but let them warm up to them first. Be the voice and let them observe, and if you have a hard time saying no like me, you can always say “no they are in training, sorry.”
Never leave your puppy alone longer than 3-4 hours, they will get separation anxiety. They want to be with you, however its okay to leave them for short intervals at a time in their pen/crate with toys and a bully stick. Dog Sitters will be your best friend if you are not able to check on your pup.
Don’t take your eyes off your new pup, they need constant supervision. If you have to run errands or do chores, place the puppy in its pen or crate so you know they are safe.
Plan on grooming your doodle every 5-6 weeks. They are higher maintenance and need professional grooms often, or their fur can mat. If you plan on grooming yourself I highly recommend The Pupwell Kit.
Ears- doodles are very likely to get ear infections because of their big floppy ears and the amount of hair that grows inside their ear canal. You must pluck this hair out or they will get a lot of ear infections. You should buy ear powder for better grip of the hair and forceps to pull or you can use your fingers. Follow this by rinsing with a cleaning solution which will dry out any odor, and then wiping any debris with ear wipes
Sign up for Puppy Insurance. Puppies have a lot of accidents and its better to be covered than to pay a ton out of pocket. I have learned this the hard way. All of our pups come with 30 day Trupanion Insurance coverage, but you MUST enroll them within 24 hours to be covered for those free 30 days.
Always feed your puppy a high quality food. Our puppies will go home on Life’s Abundance All Life Stages. I recommend keeping them on the same food to prevent upset stomach and diarrhea and health issues. I have done extensive research on puppy food brands and this has been wonderful for my dogs and puppies.
We also add a few squirts of salmon oil on top of the kibble to help with skin, coat, supports a healthy immune system, heart health, anti-inflammatory properties, and cognitive function. We like to use Native Pet Salmon Oil.
Please purchase the NuVet Plus Wafer supplements before go home day so you have everything you need. These provide essential nutrients and vitamins to your pup that is important for their overall skin, coat, and joint health. The puppies have been eating this with their kibble daily and helps build their immunity.
Avoid over exercising your puppy. Their bones aren’t fully formed so too much running , jumping, and going up and down the stairs can cause mobility issues down the line. A simple game of fetch, lots of pets and snuggles is enough. If you have stairs in your home, I suggest picking them up or placing a fence across.
Keep in mind when training your pup and rewarding them with treats, use their kibble too. Avoid giving too many treats as this will cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. When choosing treats, the less ingredients the better. I love to opt for single ingredient treats as well like freeze dried minnows, chicken, beef liver, cod skins, chicken feet, duck feet, and bully sticks. Avoid anything that has rawhide or hide, this can cause severe health issues and a trip to the vet for blockages.
Wait to spay/neuter your puppy until they reach 8 months old, if it is done sooner, the health guarantee is void. Studies have shown that they are healthier and are at less risk for behavioral and other health issues.
All of our puppies are used to sleeping with white noise or classical music. Please play this for them whenever you’re not home to help keep them calm.
Please watch the Power 3 Series from Bad Ass Breeder linked below. Teaches you the importance of hand feeding, tether training, and “sit on the dog”

Power 3 Series (Videos)

Why You Should Hand Feed

“Sit on The Dog”

The Power of Tether Training

Safety Must Haves

Dog crate – 24 inch when they are little , then they will need a 36 inch crate. They make 36 inch crates w/ dividers. You want a crate for your puppy. It keeps them safe and secure and allows them to have a place they can retreat to when they want to relax. Dogs are natural den animals and prefer to have a space of their own. You never want them too big, just big enough space for them to sleep and turn around in. Crate training speeds up and helps with the potty training process, dogs will not go potty where they sleep. So place them, in their crates when they nap, and bedtime, and then let them out to potty immediately after opening the crate. I recommend placing a breathable blanket or towel on top to crate a more den like space. They have some cute options on Etsy. I like getting 2 crates , 1 for the bedroom where they will sleep at night, and another for the exercise pen where they can go in and out of the crate as they please inside the pen.

Exercise Dog pen – The best and safest way to confine your puppy is to get a pen. This one attaches to a Midwest Crate. It is best to introduce areas of your home slowly to your new puppy. Never give them full run of the house. Start small, start with a pen and then gradually allow the pup, to visit other places of your home with a leash on.

Baby gate (to block hallway) – if you have children with small toys, or hallways where you do not want your pup to venture off to, a hallway fence will be a must.

Pet Camera – keep a close eye on your pups when you’re away

Dog bed for crate – make sure their crate is comfy

15 ft. Long Lead – great for recall training and coming when called. I use this in the backyard and front yard so pup can feel “free” but you have them secure and safe.

Close Lid Trash Can – you will want to get close lid trash cans for every trash in the house. Puppies will get into everything , and eating trash is a good way to end up at the vet. Home Goods and Target has some cute ones.

slow feeder food bowl- slows down the eating process and makes them work a little harder for their food. Always choose ceramic or metal bowls over plastic because plastic holds more bacteria. Make sure to frequently wash all food and water bowls to prevent sickness.

The Best Leash – I love the Kong brand padded traffic leash. It is super comfortable and having the traffic handle allows you to hold your dog close to your body when you need to giving your more control. I prefer 4 ft over 6 ft leashes. They also sell this brand at PetSmart, they have a hands free one as well that goes around your was it which is great for training.

Grooming Supplies & Other Must Haves

training treats (True Chews are great),

Beef Liver Treats