Prepare For Puppy
While you anxiously await your puppy’s homecoming, we recommend The Puppy Primer and Way To Go.
Puppy Supply List
Let’s have some fun and go puppy shopping. Here are some basic items to best prepare for your puppy! I recommend keeping receipts just in case you need to return any items.
SNUGGLE PUPPIES
This little stuffie helps soothe puppies adjusting to their new homes. Many of my puppy families have remarked how much their puppy was comforted by this little gem.
FOOD
Our puppies are weaned on Life’s Abundance puppy food. It is specifically ordered at www.lifesabundance.com. It is a top quality dog food in a smaller bite size that puppies love and nutritionally do well on.
Feeding Amounts
I am a firm believer that unless puppies overeat and most all Australian Labradoodle puppies do not as a rule, when feeding them, bowls should be filled to the top and no measuring is necessary. There should always be some food left in their bowls after eating so you are assured they have eaten enough and have gotten the nutrition they need. Puppies thrive on routine. You need to do controlled feedings so as to assist best in housetraining as per our Puppy Housetraining Guide. Give them at least 30 minutes to eat in a quiet area, then pick up the bowl and fill it up for the next feeding. If puppy stomachs are empty or there have been too long a time between feedings, they may become nauseated.
Always keep fresh water available for them but do not place in their crates. Wash food and water bowls daily. I will change their water often on hot days as they LOVE fresh cold water.
FOOD AND WATER BOWLS
Stainless steel non-tippable bowls are great or ceramic bowls do well too. Wash food and water bowls daily with hot soap and water. Rinse well.
COLLAR AND LEASH
We provide a custom-made adorable collar for our puppies as well as a 6” nylon leash. These will be included in your puppy-go-home Gift Pak.
CRATES
We recommend two crates be ordered:
One, for the main living area, we prefer the Midwest Life Stages Single Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate found on www.chewy.com. Size 36” long, 24” wide and 26” high. We prefer crates on the larger end of the scale for maximum puppy comfort.
Secondly, one is great for nighttime use. We recommend another crate be kept by the bedside initially. The soft crates are really nice. Found on www.chewy.com. Firstrax Sof-Krate N2 Series 3-door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate. Size is 30” long, 21” wide and 23” high.
PUPPY GATE
A puppy gate with bars closely placed works well. In the Company of Dogs has amazing gates for puppies.
BEDDING
Honestly, for initial use, I recommend beach towels for inside the crates rather than plush crate pads or beds, the reason being should the puppy have an “oopsie,” towels are much easier to launder than a thick pad or bed is. Once the puppy proves to have no accidents overnight and such, then a nice crate pad or bed works well.
TOYS
Choose quality, sturdy toys for your puppy and watch for wear and tear, pieces chewed off of them, etc.. Supervise puppies at all times to be absolutely sure they are safe with toys they are playing with. Chewy.com has a good selection of toys. I do not recommend rope toys with fringes on them nor do I recommend Nylabones.
TREATS
Look for USA made treats only. Stewarts Freeze Dried Beef Liver Treats broken in small pieces are a good option. Found on www.chewy.com. As always, don’t overdo the treat thing as it can cause loose stools in puppies.
Healthy, natural type treats include watermelon, bananas, green peas and blueberries.
TEETHING HELPERS
Small crushed ice cubes are an option. Tie an old t-shirt in a few knots, soak in water and freeze overnight. They love to gnaw on cold things. “Chill Bones” from chewy.com are soothing for their gums as well. Again, supervise them and watch for any pieces that might be chewed off or worn.
BRUSHES
As puppies, a soft bristle brush works well, just to get them used to the feel and enjoyment of being brushed several times a week.
NAIL CLIPPERS
For young puppies, these type of clippers will work. We will show you at puppy pick up how to trim nails. These clippers are found on www.chewy.com.
SHAMPOO
We use an awesome puppy shampoo called “Alpha Dog Series Premium Choice” Shampoo and Conditioner. It smells just like Baby Powder and makes their coats super soft. We order on amazon.com.
TOOTHBRUSH AND DOGGY TOOTHPASTE
A small soft bristle human toothbrush works fine and use only dog toothpaste.
THERMOMETER
A human rectal baby thermometer works fine.
BELLS FOR HOUSETRAINING
Great as a housetraining too. Puppies are easily trained to use these an alert to you they need to go outside to do their business. Found at www.poochiebells.com.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
It’s best to be prepared with emergency phone numbers on hand, “just in case.” Know where your nearest ER is located. Ask if you vet has emergency hours and what their policies are.
Remember to always train your puppy with a lot of patience, love, consistency and understanding.
PUPPY HOUSETRAINING 101
First things first! To help you get an idea of a great housetraining plan for your puppy, here you go!
7 a.m.
Use the same door and the same command for them when they are to go outside to potty. Maybe “outside”, “let’s go potty,” etc
Get your puppy out of the crate. Carry them to the door. They will be super excited to great you and say Good Morning! (Carrying them will avoid an oopsie excited potty accident)
A very short time of play.
7:30 a.m
Breakfast. Yum! Put food down for 30 minutes. Make sure the bowl is filled to the top and that there’s food left in the bowl. That way you know your puppy has eaten their fill. Take puppy outside again. Give ample time to potty again but not to play right now. Back inside.
Every 45 minutes or so throughout the day/evening take them out to “try” to potty. Use the bells each time if that’s the system you wish to use.
Puppy will want to nap intermittently. When they do, take outside as soon as they awake.
Noon
Lunch! Repeat routine done at breakfast.
Remember you are watching them carefully on a constant basis and giving them plenty of opportunities at least a 45 minute or so.
5 p.m.
Dinner time! Yay! Repeat previous meal time routine and outside to potty after an opportunity to eat for 30 minutes.
Playtime and more playtime. Tire these little dudes out! Often they want to potty after playing.
Keep the 45-minute interval going for chances for them to potty.
Take their water up 1 1/2 hours before bedtime and no food 3 hours before bedtime. Minimal treats for training are fine.
8:30 p.m.
Ah….bedtime! It’s been a day full of fun and learning potty skills. Give ample time to potty them prior to crating. Take a treat with you to the crate, speak their name and say “crate.” Fussing will happen but they will settle down. Hang tough puppy parents!
If they are sleeping say around 10:30 p.m/11 area do not wake them up to potty. If they are stirring around, yes, let them go outside again to potty. They do quite well without accidents if the water and food is taken up as above. Sweet puppy dreams!!!
Always have a small treat in your pocket as a form of praise when they do go potty outside. Praise verbally and with the treat right AFTER they’ve finished pottying.
NOTE: No collars, leashes, tags etc., should ever be on puppies when placed in their crates!!!!
SETTING PUPPY UP FOR SUCCESS!
Puppies are eager to learn and need to learn, with your help and guidance, to be a respectful member of your family.
Your puppy will go home to you at 8 weeks of age and while we are raising them, we have started teaching them good puppy manners. This includes no jumping and nipping, two of the most common behaviors in puppies.
Once your puppy comes home to you, you’ll want to immediately start them on a path to being a well mannered puppy and to have a happy, smooth transition into their new home.
I always recommend a good trainer that has been researched by you weeks ahead of your puppy homecoming. I suggest sitting in on classes of a trainer that had good reviews by perhaps friends and/or veterinarians. You want to agree with trainer philosophy and methods and hear what other folks have experienced with that trainer.
About 1-2 weeks later after your puppy has been home, I suggest your trainer visit you and your family to do a home consultation and develop a good, solid plan for training, laying the groundwork for formal obedience training classes after the puppy has had all their vaccines and can safely attend.
The success of your puppy will depend on the work you put in with them, working with your puppy on commands, etc., on a routine and consistent basis. Yes, it’s hard work, no sugar-coating here, but you and your puppy will reap the rewards of having a happy, well trained pup, a respectful member of your family!
A great option for an amazing online professional training program is Baxter & Bella. We have actually partnered with them. To reach their website, just click on their logo!
Also for a discount on their lifetime membership, use the code, WINDSORCREEK25.
USEFUL LINKS
Dog Food Advisor: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com
Poisonous Plants: http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/dogs
Poisonous Foods: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/foods-can-be-poisonous-pets
THERAPY DOG AND CANINE GOOD CITIZEN INFORMATION
FUN STUFF
Let’s go shopping for FUN and VERY COOL stuff for your new fur baby!
RECOMMENDED BREEDER FRIENDS
Cornerstone Labradoodles
Heritage Manor Labradoodles
Labradoodle Lane
Ocean State Labradoodles
RECOMMENDED PET HEALTH INSURANCE
There are SO many pet health insurance companies available. My recommendation is to contact your Veterinarian’s Office, ask them what insurances many of their clients are using and do they know if those clients are pleased with the plan. Because raising a puppy can be costly, pet insurance may be something you really want to consider.
"All you need is love and a puppy."
Start the process!
