This is a blog post I wrote for a labradoodle website I joined. This website was invaluable leading up to getting our puppy and I still refer to the site often....DoodleKisses. A few weeks after getting Guinness I wrote this to add to the new puppy section to hopefully help new dog owners like myself. ................
If you are reading this and are not in possession of your puppy yet, then I admire you, cuz you are just like me!! I searched high and low to find someplace to read about just what to do with a new pup. You see, my husband and I did not have pets growing up and our children (14 and 11) have had limited exposure to dogs, let alone puppies. I wanted to find a book, an article, something that would tell me what to do from minute one....I did not want to mess this puppy up....I have great children, how hard can it be, right??
Yes, I, like you, have read all the books out there, asked everyone for advice (all varying in their opinions), stocked my puppy basket with all kinds of supplies, purchased a crate (2 actually) and waited for the 'due date'! We dont need to chat about breed selection because you have already made what I think to be a wise choice, in purchasing (rescuing) a doodle.
SO waiting for the day......bought the crates, the poochie bells, the dog food (a brand recommended by my breeder), some liver treats, some Kongs, a Tuffy toy and a soft blanket. Ok ok ...I also bought puppy shampoo, dental foam, nail clippers, the stuff to use when you make a mistake with the nail clippers, a grooming brush, poop and scoop bags, a bully stick and an exercise pen.(did not use it as a pen, instead used the folded pen to block off our doorways) Yes, a little type A here but I wanted to be prepared. (what I would add to this list looking back is a container of dog wipes ...more on this later)
Day One: My husband and I head to the breeders with our children around noon. Everyone excited but I have a heaviness in my chest..feeling like our lives are about to change and I have no idea if its going to be for the better...that's normal right? Breeder said to hold puppy going home (about a 20 min drive). Pick up was calm and informative, we watched Guinness (our choc brown mini aussi doodle) pee outside (oooo and ahhhh-ing) and then we took the blanket the breeder gave us (scented with mom and siblings), all the paperwork etc and piled into the car. I wrapped Guinness in the blanket I brought (Canada...winter) and sat in the backseat between my children. We spoke calmly the whole way home while Guinness whimpered and squirmed but was pretty good all things considered.
Arriving home, my husband took Guinness right out to the spot in our yard that had been cleared (snow..Canada) for him to pee, which he did. We then carried him in, right to our family room that had been puppy proofed and gated off. In this space, we had one of the crates, his dog food dishes and his toys. We put out food but it stayed untouched for most of the afternoon. Guinness wandered and explored, we kept our interaction low key, not too much fuss or babying..just let him sniff around to get comfy. Within an hour he was napping on the soft blanket. Right after the nap, we took him outside, he peed....then peed again inside!! He ate and then had a huge poop outside.
There are four times we knew that Guinness had to go out:
1. After a nap 2. After eating. 3. After being let out of his crate 4. After a vigorous play session
That is pretty much always I guess..
Guinness stayed content to hang out and play or nap for most of the first day...we were outside for pee breaks quite a bit (I recorded the times and 'events' and I still am, heading into week two) Around 8 pm we removed his water bowl and tried to keep him from completely conking out until 10 pm. The breeder said the pups were sleeping by 10pm and up by 630am. No night time pee breaks she said...is that too good to be true?? She also suggested that for the first night or two that we flip the crate upside down, remove the plastic tray and put his mat on the bottom.(with the blanket the breeder gave us) This allows you to slide you hand in thru the wider spaces that are now at the top, so that you can soothe your pup when he is crying which I think is a guarantee for the first few nights. So we did that to the crate that is in our bedroom, adjacent to our bed (my side) I did have to get up quite a few times the first night, slid my hand in, gave him a gentle rub and said...shhhh lie down, each time. I let this happen for two nights, then righted the crate so I could not do it anymore and just used my voice to say shhh lie down if he whimpered....this lasted 2 more nights and by night 5 I did not hear a peep from my pup...yep 10 to 7......no going out midway thru the night, ever!!!!!!!
Day 2 to 7: Looked like a steady stream of napping, pee breaks and play time. I did not put Guinness in his crate for the amount of time that the books recommend during the day. I did use the Kong (stuffed with dry kibble and packed in with Kong yogurt in a tube) and a teething Kong that had kibble pushed inside to lure him in the crate. I did have to leave Guinness in his crate to run my children to school and to get groceries. For these times, I gave him the Kongs, made sure he was calm, closed the door and walked away...no fuss Upon returning home I could hear him whimpering and I did not let him out until he was not barking and sitting calmly. So far this routine has been working well and occasionally I see Guinness crawl into his crate and play with the Kongs. That is good, right ? I do have the luxury of being at home currently so I am able to watch him closely, and when I can't, in his crate he goes.
**Day 3 we had a Vet visit, for the full once over, shots etc. Our Vet was wonderful with us, patient and kind to Guinness. We felt so reassured, I hope you find a good Vet too...ask around, it is worth the piece of mind . BTW we opted for no pet insurance..major bills are pretty rare with this breed but can happen...Vet suggested putting the $$ aside that we would have spent on premiums..this way we will have a little bank roll if we need it, but its not gone to the Insurance company. Vet also mentioned that with the type of curly fleece Guinness has, he may have issues with "cling-ons" that could cause potential clogs to the poop shoot. Yes, this did happen about three days later. A quick trip to the groomer had Guinness clipped in that area (a reverse Brazilian I call it) and all seems good now. We use baby wipes if we see anything 'hanging' around there.
Day 7 we expanded Guinness' living space to include the kitchen...he had a pee accident on day 7 (one of three since we had him home) but fully my fault. He explored the new space and had to get used to being "under foot" since he was now following me around everywhere...our hardwood is dark brown, almost his coat colour so things are still a little dicey when we are walking around. By Day 7 I noticed Guinness's appetite increase, he couldnt eat his kibble fast enough when I put the bowl down so the breeder said increase his serving size slightly. Feeding three times a day, btw, and removing kibble after about a half hour.
I am currently only on Day 10: all things progressing like clockwork....most important, as a family, we have remained patient and consistent...all using the same cues (go pee, get busy, leave it, down, come) Yes, I feel like I have a new born, that my life is not the same that it was before, but I do know that it will get easier and life will go on. Guinness is a great little pup, so loving and obedient. I really do marvel at how calm he is...for now. I know things will get crazy at times and that we are all just finding our way.....Common sense does seem to help and having read a lot, I am always choosing which strategy to try and sticking with it.
You are going to love your new addition...they will test you and your patience (and your sanity) but they are pretty amazing creatures. Just remember that they are not babies, dont humanize them even tho they are so flipping cute, they are dogs after all.
Just as a last note, these are the strategies I am trying...crate training ( a MUST, dont argue with me on this one), tethering for short periods during the day, Poochie bells to let us know when he has to go out, and I am trying not to treat train...instead I use treats to reward behaviour I see occurring (i.e.. when he is laying down nicely, I say Good Lay Down..and give him a treat, same when he wanders in to his crate) Guinness gets lots of positive praise for peeing outside or for laying on his mat etc) Treat training can be a slippery slope and is a quick way to get compliance, but I like rewarding him with praise and treats when he is doing things he should "naturally" not on command. Yes you can argue with me on this one, everyone has a system that works for them, you will find yours. Whatever it is embrace it and be consistent.
Have fun................
