Getting Ready for Your New Labradoodle Puppy
One look into your Australian Labradoodle puppy’s soft brown eyes, and you’ll want to be the doting pet parent who provides your new canine pal with every creature comfort possible.
You’re going to be tempted to throw every resource you have at preparing for the arrival of a puppy, dashing through the pet store aisles with a basket full of goodies or strategically organizing the delivery of your online purchases, but you don’t have to throw all of your finances into puppy care and accessories for the new family member.
It’s normal to be anxious and want the best for your new puppy, even if you aren’t sure just what that is yet. But you don’t have to go overboard.
Your new puppy is just as anxious about her new home as you are. After all, she’s leaving the only family she’s ever known – her mom and her littermates, and joining a new pack that she hopes will be her forever family.
You can make that transition as easy and safe as possible with just a little planning before her arrival.
The Basics: Crates and Beds
Your new little bundle of Australian Labradoodle-ness will need a place to sleep.
While some pet owners insist that their dog sleep with them, you may want to consider separate quarters for your little Fideaux. The first night in your home is not too soon to teach your puppy how to call a crate his own.
You can begin crating your puppy the day you bring him home. While to you a crate may seem confining, to your puppy it will seem welcoming and safe. Keep in mind that your puppy does not live in crate; the kennel is more like a doghouse for inside your home.
Your little guy shouldn’t be crated for more than two hours at a time; his bladder won’t hold its contents much longer than that. If you use a crate, a plastic pan will be the easiest to clean and disinfect if there’s been an accident.
By the time he’s three months old, he can hold his bladder for about four hours, and by six months, you can try for eight hours. As your puppy gets older and becomes more acclimated to your household routines – and can hold his bladder longer – consider adding a bed for his comfort.
By the time your puppy is eight to ten months old and has proven he is house-trained, you may want to consider adding a bed for his comfort. Some pet owners introduce a crate pad at this point, or they add a bed in the family living area or in a bedroom. You can easily find something that goes with the style of your furnishings, but make sure it has a heavy duty YKK zipper that will withstand puppy play. Look for a washable covering, too.
Teach your dog to enter the crate with a command word like “kennel.” It doesn’t hurt to offer a small treat to make complying with the command rewarding.
A Dog’s Gotta Eat
Now that your Australian Labradoodle is home with you, it’s time to think about feeding her. She’ll look at you with loving eyes that will practically guarantee you’ll give up your bacon or anything else for this girl, but that’s not what she needs. Your puppy needs food that has been designed just for her needs, from the right amount of calories to every vitamin and mineral a growing girl must have to become strong and healthy.
You do not have to purchase the most expensive food available, but you should make sure that you are purchasing a product with the right nutrition. Good puppy food should be free of grains like corn, wheat or soy. These foods are not naturally part of a dog’s diet. Be cautious of feeding anything with meat-by products; there’s no real meat in them.
It’s a good idea to start with a small bag of puppy kibble to make sure your puppy will eat it. Once, you both have agreed to a brand and a flavor, you can buy bigger brands, but remember that she won’t be a puppy forever.
As your girl gets older, somewhere around 10 – 12 months, she’ll be ready to wear her big girl collar at her dinner table. She’ll start eating adult food. Purchase the best food within your budget, and follows the feeding guidelines on the bag or the directions of your vet.
Dogs like to eat twice a day. One daily meal makes for a long and hungry day, and puppies cannot eat only once a day. Put her food down at mealtime, but don’t leave kibble out all day. Dogs aren’t infrequent grazers like cats. A dog will stuff herself until all the food is gone. That’s a sure recipe for an accident to happen or worse, she becomes ill or obese.
Some pet parents serve their puppies on paper plates and then throw away the plate afterward; keep an eye, however, on your dog to make sure she doesn’t eat the plate. Other owners prefer to use a food bowl designated for their dog. The best kind of bowls is no-skid bowls that won’t turn over and spill the contents on your floor. You’ll also want something that’s dishwasher safe and bacteria resistant because a dog’s mouth isn’t as clean as yours. You also will need a bowl for fresh water throughout the day.
Everyone likes a treat now and then, and your Australian Labradoodle will, too. Grain free treats that help clean her teeth are a good supplement to a healthy diet, but allow snacking in moderation.
Our multi-generational labradoodles make wonderful pets!
And Now for a Little Entertainment
When your Australian Labradoodle has a full belly and a place to nap, he’ll eventually wake up and want to play. You will want to join him, but he’ll also need some playthings that will allow him to entertain himself.
A puppy will go through a teething period, so it’s a good idea to have something for him to chew on as he loses baby teeth and his adult teeth come in. If you don’t provide an appropriate chew toy, he will select something on his own. Unfortunately, he won’t know that one of your new leather shoes is not okay to chew on. All he knows is that it smells like you and it satisfies his urge to chew.
As you get to know your puppy better and he becomes an adult, you’ll be able to determine whether he’s an idle chewer or a demolition expert. Dog toys are often identified by their durability. Your demolition expert may need a power chewer toy.
You do not have to buy your dog dozens of toys for him to be happy. Usually just a few are enough. Savvy pet owners often rotate the toys. They’ll put one or two toys out of sight, and then use them as replacements when the current toys fail to fascinate. If you keep the toys in rotation, it will seem like there’s an endless supply of invigorating playthings.
Going Out
You can’t expect a young lady to stay inside all day. At some point she’s got to get out and see the world, and you’re the one to escort her. It’s important to teach your girl how to walk on a leash and socialize with the world around her.
Leash styles vary from cotton to leather, fixed and retractable, and plain or embellished. The leash you select should be strong enough to hold your dog and still fit comfortably in your hand.
You probably chose a puppy collar for your dog so she can wear her identification tags, but that puppy collar will have to be replaced with an adult dog collar. Check her collar frequently by placing two fingers between the collar and her neck. If you can’t get both fingers between her neck and the collar, it’s time for a readjustment or a new collar. A nylon collar is the perfect choice for dogs that will be in and out of water.
A martingale collar can be a good choice for walking your dog, but don’t let her wear it while in the crate because it can get caught and become a choking hazard.
Some pet owners also like to dress their dogs in canine couture clothing. While dogs don’t need a wardrobe – after all, Australian Labradoodles have amazing coats – it can be fun to dress your puppy in your favorite sports team shirt or costume.
There are raincoats, sweaters, hats and booties to bedeck your dog. Because he won’t be running the Iditarod, these garments are is completely optional.
If you’ll be driving your dog somewhere, like the vet, you may want to consider a travel liner for your vehicle. The Australian Labradoodle doesn’t shed like other breeds, but muddy feet or an upset tummy can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s upholstery.
Grooming and Health Care
An Australian Labradoodle needs little grooming and fewer baths than most other canine companions, but you’ll want to do a little cleaning for the sake of your dog’s health. It’s also a great way to create a bond with your dog.
All dogs need a good brushing, and your puppy will do fine with a slicker brush. This brush combs the fur and loosens dirt and debris from the coats. Your puppy will need to be brushed a couple of times a week. If the fur has gotten muddy or picked up leaves, consider a thorough combing with a wide-tooth comb.
Most Australian Labradoodles love water; it’s part of their heritage. They will love bath time, especially if you use a shampoo that makes their coat feel good. Avoid the temptation to use your own shampoo and conditioner; use a shampoo designed for dogs.
Dogs with ears that fold over are more prone to ear infections than their more wolf-like cousins. If moisture collects inside your puppy’s ear, the folded over part creates the kind of warmth in which bacteria thrive. Using a canine ear wash regularly can help keep the ears clean and dry, possibly eliminating the need to visit the vet because of an earache.
What about your puppy’s teeth? The care of your canine’s teeth is just as important as yours. Get your puppy used to you touching his mouth, checking his teeth and even massaging his gums. As your puppy becomes an adult, taking care of his teeth is more important than ever. You can gently rub his teeth with sterile gauze to remove food particles, or use doggy toothpaste and a finger brush. This daily dental care may help stem other health issues as he gets older.
Many pet owners have a pair of nail clippers for their dogs, but these clippers look nothing like yours. A good pair of nail clippers for a dog should have a nail guard that prevents you from cutting the nail too close to the quick. Cutting the quick is not only painful for your dog, but it bleeds a lot as well. There are styptic powders available to stop the bleeding, or in an emergency, you can apply a little cornstarch to the cut.
Raising a puppy will be one of the most memorable and fun experiences you and your family may have. There’s a lot of work ahead for everything, but your puppy will be working just as hard as you are while she learns what you expect of her and how to get along in her new pack.
There’s a lot of love you can provide for your new Australian Labradoodle puppy, but remember that you won’t earn your dog’s affection with what you buy for her. You earn her love and devotion with the time you invest in her training and companionship.
