The Puppy Primer book | Puppy Training Book | Patricia McConnell
PREPARING FOR YOUR PUPPY
Our Puppies and dogs are raised in our home as our pets. Parents are chosen for temperament, health, and have extensive health certifications for Hips, Elbows, Eyes, Cardiac, Patellas and a breed specific panel clear of all genetic diseases known to the breed. The puppies are well socialized and spend time playing with us and our kids. We practice early neurological stimulation to encourage pups brain development and to increase their ability to cope with any stressors as adults.
In order to reserve a puppy, we require a reservation fee of $500 to reserve a spot in a future litter. Raising a puppy is a big commitment and we like to talk with our potential families to discuss puppy care and lifestyle. Puppies come with a packet of puppy training information, a 30 day trial of Trupanion Pet Health Insurance, a health certificate, first vaccination, deworming, a Lupine leash and collar, a bag of food, a toy, treats, and a blankie which smells of mom and litter mates to make for an easier transition to their new homes at 8 weeks of age. We highly encourage crate training and recommend you purchase a crate for bringing your puppy home. We send all of our puppy families a shopping list with links on amazon to help with preparing.
Obedience training is essential for you and your pup. Your puppy will need to go back to the vet at 12 and 16 weeks for their remaining puppy shots and vet care (boosters, lyme, kennel cough, rabies, heartworm medication, and flea/tick prevention). Once your puppy has received kennel cough and their second booster, that is a great time to sign them up for puppy classes. We STRONGLY recommend that you find a good trainer in your area and follow through with classes. It is wonderful socialization and aids you and your puppy in bonding, household manners, and obedience skills.
Grooming is also a BIG and essential part of owning a labradoodle. You should plan to have your dog professionally groomed every 4-8 weeks (depending on the cut). In preparing for a pup, please research a good groomer in your area. I find it is always helpful to go with pictures of labradoodle cuts that you like. The Australian Labradoodle Association has excellent resources on grooming the Australian Labradoodle that you can find here: https://alaa-labradoodles.com/uploads/ALAA_Grooming_Manual_web.pdf
We require that all of our pups be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age by contract and we follow up on this strictly . If you are interested in purchasing a pup as a future breeder for your program, please contact us directly.
FEEDING
We feed Life’s Abundance All Stages. This is an exclusive high end pet food .With your pup, you want to be sure to feed them a high quality food. Life’s Abundance is that and more.
It is important to order the food before your pup comes home. They are eating 3 times a day when they come home. I recommend getting on an autoship plan of 20lbs every 7 weeks to start and adjusting the schedule as needed. Our dogs absolutely love this food and it keeps their coats and skin in great condition. In addition, it is shipped directly to your home and typically arrives within two days of ordering. They are a small company, have not had any recalls, and the food is 4.5 star rated. It is also All Stages and can be fed from puppy to elderly.
It contains only the finest ingredients, like …
• A proprietary blend of vitamins & minerals
• High-quality protein from chicken meal for strong muscles
• An antioxidant system including vitamins C & E
• Prebiotic fiber & guaranteed probiotics
• A selection of nutritious vegetables
• Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin & a shiny coat
• Calcium & phosphorus for healthy teeth and strong bones
• Dietary fiber to help maintain a healthy digestive tract
To be the best dry dog food, this premium kibble contains …
• No artificial flavors or colors
• No corn, wheat or corn/wheat glutens
Fresher food is more nutrient-rich. While leading brands stockpile tons of food for months on end, our healthy dog food is made frequently so it is fresh when it’s delivered. When you buy this Life’s Abundance dog food, your sweet pup will benefit from our strict inventory controls and product safety considerations that are second-to-none. Put your K-9 on the path to wellness. Provide them with a recipe for a long and happy life.
Please order your food at www.lifesabundance.com/GraniteStateLabradoodles or call 877-387-4564 and mention Erin Dudley-Fennessey (or give ID 20182028) to ensure they get you the correct brand.
We feed ALL STAGES. I also highly recommend purchasing bully sticks, ear cleaner and bath mist.
TREATS, TOYS, AND PLAYTIME
We recommend you purchase plenty of treats, bones, and toys for your pup. We recommend Kong brand toys, Charlie Bear treats, Natural Balance treats, Zuke’s, Bil Jac, any of the Life’s Abundance line of pet care and treats, beef knuckles, deer antlers, himalyan salt chews, and bully sticks for bones. Labradoodles love to play fetch. Jolly Balls and Kong brand toys are great. Anytime you see your puppy going to get into something they aren’t supposed to, give them a firm No, trade them the undesired object to a toy or bone and then praise them for chewing the bone or allowed object. This helps to prevent resource guarding. If a pup learns every time you come over, they loose their favorite object, they will protect it. If they learn you always bring something better for them, they will be happy to “drop it” and trade. Labradoodles require plenty of playtime and exercise. Make sure you have time to commit to playing with your pup and training.
COMING HOME
The snuggle puppy is a great transitional item to have for your puppies homecoming. We send them home with a homemade blankie with the scent of mom and litter mates but the Snuggle Puppy is a great tool for adjusting your pup to your home as it has a heat pack and heart beat to simulate a litter mate for your pup at home when they are alone. You can find the “Snuggle Puppy” on amazon.com, or our local pet store here in town, Pets Plus, carries them. When you bring your puppy home, they will need to go out every hour if they are up and playing. Puppies usually sleep 16-20 hours per day when they first come home. You can expect the first week to be most difficult as they are adjusting to being alone without their litter mates and mother, and they cry. This will go away. Have patience! It helps to have the Snuggle Puppy and a comfy secure crate. I also use baby gates in my home to keep them in an area where they can be supervised. Give them a treat anytime they go in their crate, reward them, let them explore it. When they are up and about, make sure you keep them in eyesight (and preferably on a leash so you can correct with the leash). Take them out if they appear to have to go (sniffing, spinning or crying) or if it is getting close to the one hour mark. They have to go anytime they wake up from nap and usually 10 minutes after eating or drinking. Labradoodles pick up on housetraining very quickly, praise them and give them a treat every time they go outside! Positive praise, treats and a high energy voice is essential in training.
RECOMMENDED READING
During the first year you are tasked with training your newborn pup to become a well-mannered family member. Just like children, they go through various stages where they require certain types of support, reinforcement, and correction. Housetraining, crate training, and basic obedience training are the biggest objectives for you and your pup to work on right from day one of coming home. PLEASE read A Puppy Primer and Raising Puppies and Children Together in preparation to welcome your new puppy home. Both books are excellent and help set you and your puppy up for success.
