Useful information

Care of your Goldendoodle

Tips for grooming, brushing, and caring.

Brushing

We recommend brushing your pups between grooming’s to prevent mats and keep them fluffy. It is best to begin brushing your pup as soon as possible, as they will get used to the feel of the brush and come to enjoy sitting or lying patiently. 

Tips for brushing

  • We recommend a self-cleaning Slicker brush, they work best!  
  • Brush to the skin, working from under the coat.  
  • Work from the feet up to the body, and the tail to the head.  

Grooming

In addition to at-home brushing, it is also important to find a good groomer.

We recommend finding a groomer right away, as most groomers book up fast and are months out!!

Goldendoodles will need a haircut about every 6-10 weeks, depending on how short you go and what you prefer.  

Training and socialization

Puppies are adorable and a lot of fun, but they also require a LOT of work, so it is important to have reasonable expectations when bringing home a pet. We can provide you with a wonderful puppy, but it is your responsibility to ensure that it grows into a wonderful dog! 

*Training and Consistency are key!!* 

It is often asked if Goldendoodles are easy to train and the answer is definitely, YES! They are eager to learn and pick up new things quickly. However, this does not mean they need less training than any other dog. It is important to educate yourself and establish boundaries for your new pup before you bring them home. We have put together some information to help you with training your pup, however, feel free to do your own research and training habits! We have also included what the pups were used to while they were in our hands – this does not mean you need to do it the exact same way! 

Learn more about different training methods

Crate Training

Although many dog owners feel guilty for crate training their pup, there are numerous advantages to crate training that have been repeatedly demonstrated. Dogs actually have an innate tendency to seek out confined areas in order to feel more secure. Crates serve as training aids, places for dogs to unwind, and lifesavers in circumstances where you must swiftly remove your dog from danger.

Crate training is also useful for housebreaking. In fact, because dogs dislike contaminating their own sleeping spaces, they are unlikely to have an accident in their kennel. We recommend crate training right away, especially since they will have a head start on this when you bring them home.  

Tips for Crate Training

  • Start with small, short increments. Put them in their crate for 5-10 minutes, take them out when they stop crying/whimpering. Do this several times throughout the day, then start increasing the time. They will eventually learn that it is a space safe, and they will become comfortable with being in there.  
  • You may gradually extend the amount of time you leave your dog in there overnight to 6–8 hours without having to take them out potty. 
  • Another way to show them that their crate is a safe space is to give them treats or feed them their meals in their crate, making it feel like a reward.  
  • Put in their favorite toy or blanket to make it feel safe and cozy.  
  • The crate is also a good space for them to be while you’re busy! Whether you’re out of the house or just can’t have eyes on them while in the house, put them in the crate.  
  • Every time you put them in their crate, say the same word or phrase, like “kennel” or “crate time.” Eventually, they will run to their crate when they hear those words.  
  • Leave the crate door open when they are not in there, as they often choose to nap in there on their own.  

House Training

It is important to start a consistent routine in terms of housebreaking your puppy. We know house training can feel very intimidating, but with consistency, positive reinforcement, watchfulness, and timing, we promise it can be a relatively smooth and very successful experience.  

Signs your puppy needs to go potty

Circling

Sniffing

Squatting

Trying to sneak off and hide

Tips for House Training

  • When you first get your puppy, we would start with taking your puppy out about every 30 minutes. As your puppy ages, you can gradually stretch the time to an hour, until finally they will let you know when they need to go out. 
  • Eating: About 30 minutes after your puppy eats, they should be taken out.  
  • Use consistent terminology to encourage your pup to go.  Give LOTS of praise when they pee or poop outside, or reward with a treat! 
  • If your puppy has an accident, blot and spray it with pet odor eliminator spray, but do not yell at them, especially if it is after the fact. If you catch your puppy in the act, say NO in a firm voice and take them outside immediately.  
  • At night, pick up your puppy’s food and water about 2-3 hours before bedtime. It is NOT necessary to take your dog out in the middle of the night, nor do we recommend it. At this point, your puppy should be fine to sleep through the night.  
  • In the morning, PICK UP your puppy (do not let them walk) and take them to their designated potty spot.  

Common House Training Mistakes

  • Failing to clean up accidents: Clean-up is crucial to preventing repeat mistakes in the same spot. It is important to use the pet odor eliminator, as this takes away the stain AND smell of the accident, therefore any dog is not as likely to have an accident in that spot.  
  • Correcting after the fact: Scolding your puppy after they had an accident will only make your puppy afraid of you, as they have no idea why you are unhappy with them.  

Bell Training

Training your puppy to ring a bell when they need to go potty can be a great house-training tool. Place the bell near the door handle and use your puppy’s nose or paw to ring it when taking them outside. Praise them and take them to their potty area. If your puppy starts ringing the bell just to go outside, stay consistent and continue taking them to their potty spot. This helps them associate ringing the bell with the action of going outside to potty.  

Children and Socialization

It is essential to instruct young children on appropriate behavior around a new puppy, especially if you plan to bring the puppy home to them. It is crucial that children avoid rough play with the puppy, including activities like tug-of-war or teasing fetch, as this can lead to the puppy playing too aggressively and viewing the children as littermates, resulting in potential behavioral issues in the future. Instead, encourage children to play gentle games like fetch or hide-and-seek with the puppy while closely monitoring their interactions. If play becomes too rough, promptly remove the puppy from the situation by placing them in their crate for some decompression time.  

We have started socializing your puppy by taking them to various places such as senior living facilities, assisted living centers, and school classrooms.  It is crucial for puppies to interact with people of different ages. However, it is essential to introduce new experiences gradually to prevent them from getting scared. If your puppy shows fear, avoid forcing them and instead take things slow to help them adapt and feel comfortable with the situation.