We find ourselves answering lots of "new Puppy" questions and recommending the same products over and over. Here they are, all on the same page.
Hopefully you’ve browsed our site and gotten to know us a bit. It shouldn’t be a surprise that we have lots of beautiful Doodles who are beloved pets, and we raise many litters of gorgeous mini Golden Mountain Doodles.Â
Perhaps you’ve seen the Bible verse referenced on our Web site: “A righteous person has regard for the life of his animal” (Proverbs 12:10); believing that, we strive to give all of our dogs their very best possible lives in terms of health and exercise as well as affection and socialization. We are constantly evaluating our dogs’ food, the supplements they receive, how we perform routine care and grooming, and even what toys our dogs most benefit from.Â
Here we offer suggestions for things that have worked for us in keeping our dogs healthy and happy. These are affiliate links and we do receive a small percentage of the sale if you shop through our links. We appreciate you choosing to do so!
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FOOD & SnACKS
Note on dog food: Talk to your vet for recommendations on puppy food and do your research. “Designer” dog foods are often well-marketed, particularly grain-free foods (which may be helpful for digestive issues in older dogs, but may not be recommended for developing puppies). Also, check current lists from well-researched sources about dog foods that can be linked to increased risk of heart disease or other issues. Your growing puppy should have a puppy food that contains at least 22% protein and 8% fat.
Black Gold is our puppies’ first food (since nursing Mamas eat it), but we typically mix it with Purina Puppy Chow and switch exclusively to Puppy Chow by 6 weeks or so.
Our Aussie Mountain Doodles, being more active, sometimes stay on the Explorer until 8 weeks due to its higher protein content.
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Black Gold is usually our puppies’ first food (because their nursing Mamas eat it), but by the time they are ready for forever homes, they are exclusively eating Puppy Chow.
 Tip: if your puppy doesn’t have well-formed poop and does NOT have giardia or coccidia (see your vet to confirm), try a puppy food with a lower percentage of protein than what you are currently using. Also, we often hear that Doodles are sensitive to chicken, so a change to something else could be beneficial. We have found a regular puppy probiotic helpful as well. A tablespoon of pure pumpkin puree per cup of dry kibble can also firm things up in the short-term. (See recommended supplements below.)
SUPPLEMENTS
The above three supplements (Red Cell, Wheat Germ, and Fastrack probiotic) are mixed in with dry kibble at 1/8 cup of each supplement per 5 lbs of dog food. Depending on the quantity of food your dog eats, it is probably best to mix a small quantity and keep it in a covered container to use as-needed.
GROOMING TOOLS & PRODUCTS
CLEANING PRODUCTS
In addition to the disinfectant (above), Odo Ban also offers carpet cleaner, hard floor cleaner, and pet stain remover. Shop around for what will best suit your need.
TOYS & Mental Stimulation
The Snuggle Puppy is a “new puppy” must, according to a majority of our new puppy owners! Our puppies go from being in a “puppy pile” with siblings at night to typically being crated alone. That’s quite a transition! The Snuggle Puppy helps reduce anxiety and makes for a better night’s sleep for everyone.
ASTROTURF POTTY SYSTEM, PADS, crates, and MORE
Astro turf is our preferred “first surface” for puppy elimination. Many who have bought our puppies get an astroturf system for convenience while traveling or simply as an indoor “fail safe,” since our puppies are pretty well-trained to it by 8 weeks. This one is extra large (a good size), and comes with 2 turfs, so you can use one and wash/dry one.
Bark Collars and wireless fence alternative
Bark collars and other corrective measures are always difficult to recommend. We understand that not everyone appreciates the “shock” option, but most models these days offer “warning beeps” which are just as effective. They also typically offer a range for shock options, and the lowest levels are usually not terrible. However, please be sure to read the owner’s manual for any item that you purchase and use it as an aid to training, not a stand-alone corrective tool. Improper use can create fear and cause adverse reactions, rather than help train in the area of concern.
Most of our dogs enjoy our large, fenced yard, but our sires, Buster and Jackpot, need to be separated due to aggression issues. We didn’t want to keep Buster fenced alone, since he is so sociable and active. This wireless fence ended up being the PERFECT solution, and much cheaper and easier to install than an underground option. This is the “stubborn dog” fence, needed for Buster.
One of our “pet peeve” behaviors is jumping dogs, and when you have lots of dogs like us, even a calm dog will jump up to get your attention when all the dogs are crowded around! This handheld correction tool is not an individual shocker; it emits a high-pitched tone that only dogs can hear, and it causes them to pause and re-adjust. It works for barking, counter-surfing, and other behaviors as well, but you do need to be near your dog to have them respond.
Puppy training
Of course, obedience training is important, and best done during the puppy stage! There is an abundance of resources out there, both written and online, as well as local “boot camps” that board and train, or perhaps classes you can take locally. Local classes with an experienced trainer afford an ideal opportunity for you to learn how to train your puppy, and for the trainer to pick up on things you may be doing “wrong” in training that can keep you from achieving your desired outcome.
However, many people do not have the money to invest in either “board and train” or local classes. Look for a training book that covers the basics and invest a set amount of time each day to training (and to re-enforcing what your puppy already knows, so that they don’t “forget”). Alternatively, there are some great YouTube channels out there that can be of help. Our “Doodle Breeders Resource Group” particularly recommended McCann dog training (https://www.youtube.com/c/McCannDogs/videos) and Zak George (https://www.youtube.com/c/zakgeorge/videos).
Here are Amazon links to Zak George’s books (as well as Cesar Millan, who is recommended but with whom we are not familiar), if you’re not a video-watching person or want to have a go-to resource on your shelf:
If you would like the ease of online training coupled with a more individualized approach, Baxter & Bella is a recommended Membership site. We use Baxter & Bella with some of our dogs and recently became partners with them to offer our new puppy customers a 25% discount code for a lifetime membership, which with the code “CARRIERFAMILY” is only $178.
Visit www.baxterandbella.com/learn-more for details.