What life looks like for a puppy at Goldendoodleheaven

Birthday:  All puppies are born with me (Kara) there the entire time.  We do a sonogram at around 24 days to confirm pregnancy and in most cases we do an x-ray at around 59-60 days to determine the number of puppies.  Puppies are due around 63 days.  This varies with dogs as much as it does with humans.  We are as anxious as you!

I remain during labor with camera in hand.  We have some amazing birth videos as a result.  I let mom do the work and then I further clean the puppies, determine gender and weigh them.  They are marked with a small velcro collar to identify them.  These adjust as they get older.  Puppies are weighed 3 or more times a day for the first 3 to 5 days and then twice a day after that to determine weight gain.  All puppies are watched for latching properly.  I do not leave puppies for any extended time for the first 2 to 5 days.  A baby monitor is on them at all times or I am sleeping near them.

Puppies are taken to the vet within 3 days to be checked and have dewclaws removed.  We use both West Loop Animal Hospital (Dr. Howard) and Little Animal Hospital (Dr. Little) as our vets.  West Loop does all testing and either one will care for puppies depending on their availability.

From day 3 through about day 16 or more we practice early neurological stimulation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G31N_gmUkE0&spfreload=5.  We feel this is and important part of the socialization process.   We also expose them to many sounds, surfaces as well as experiences including our 6 children.  Once puppies begin on puppy mush at 3/4 weeks we mess with their mouths and pull tails while they eat and while they play.  We make their eating experience slightly stressful so they will not become food aggressive, but will be comfortable with interruptions during dinner.  This is critical if you, the owner,  have small children.  We suggest you continue it.  We also continue to mess with toes and mouths as well as ears.  This is to help at the vet so they will not be aggressive when a vet looks at their teeth or cuts their claws.  The groomer wants this as well so they can move them in the positions they need to get a gorgeous dog.

Puppies return to the vet between 6 and 7 weeks to be checked again for any abnormalities and to begin shots.  These SHOTS are only the beginning and do not protect them from diseases until the next round.  These puppies must NOT be exposed to other dogs that you know nothing about; areas that could be contaminated with dogs who are not vaccinated, etc.  This means, no puppy parks, or parks at all, not public places unless held the entire time. This means you need to have a surface for them to go potty on when traveling.

Puppies must be taken to your vet within 3 to 5 days of going home with you to establish with the vet and to confirm that the puppy is healthy as I have stated.  This also must be done in order to have the health guarantee in effect.  Without going in this time frame you will forfeit the guarantee.  We ONLY worm puppies if they test positive, but suggest you have them checked again at this time.  Worms are very common for puppies, although we rarely have them here.  IT IS NOT, however, a refection of you or me or anyone  else if a puppy has worms.  They can get them from simply drinking from a flower pot.

Please keep in mind we highly recommend you find a trainer or do research and train your puppy yourself.  The good and bad news about Goldendoodles is that they are SUPER SMART.  If you don't train them, then they WILL train you!.  I know many unruly doodles that are an example of a home not properly training them.   This is a cost you need to consider when purchasing your baby.

Crate training is critical in our opinion as well as "bell training" for potty training.  You will have a time that they need to go somewhere for some reason and training them to love their crate is essential.  All of ours have their own crates and go right in them when called.

We take your puppy and his/her life very seriously and want the best life possible for your babies. If for any reason you feel you cannot give your doodle the care he/she needs, please contact us first.  We will do our best to help you find a great home for your doodle.  DO not under any circumstances take them to a shelter, rescue or try to sell them on Craigslist. This can be a dangerous place for a puppy to find a home.  Let us help you or take the puppy back.