Health & Grooming
Your puppy is sent home with their first round of shots and deworming and a vaccination record for your vet to pick up where ours has left off. Because we health test our mamas and studs, practice The Puppy Culture Protocol and Early Neurological Stimulation and work hard to keep our pups and their mamas healthy, we send them home with the best possible health start we can. They’re also sent home freshly bathed and with their nails trimmed, in tip top shape for their new family!
HEALTH
Vaccines
Once you bring your puppy home, we strongly recommend doing two things in terms of their health:
Get your pup’s 12-week vaccines scheduled at your preferred vet as soon as possible
Do not bring your pup to dog parks or out to public spaces where they will interact with unfamiliar dogs until they’ve received all their vaccinations (pet store is fine, just carry them or keep them in the cart)
Keep on top of your pup’s vaccines throughout their life, making sure to take into account vaccines/medications that are needed in different regions (for example, Lyme vaccines are absolutely necessary for the northeast United States and Canada, whereas you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone vaccinating for Lyme in Utah). You’ll want to keep in mind the lifestyle you have as well. Talk to your vet about what vaccines, medications, and precautions to take for your pup specifically.
Nutrition & Feeding
Nutrition is one of the biggest ways to keep your pup happy and healthy. Be sure to feed high-quality food, transitioning your pup slowly to new kibble over the course of 7-10 days (check out this resource for choosing a food). Any time you change your puppy’s food, you should transition slowly to give your pup’s system time to adjust to the change. Over the 7-10 days, you’ll gradually increase the amount of the new kibble while decreasing the amount of the original kibble. If you find at any point that your puppy is displaying any gastrointestinal symptoms, slow the transition down. If you still experience challenges, talk with your vet and consider a different brand/recipe for your puppy.
To make things a little easier, we’ve included an example feeding schedule for you below:
Days 1-2: Feed 75% of the original food with 25% of the new food.
Days 3-4: Feed a mixture of 50/50 each of the foods.
Days 5-6: Feed 25% of the original food and 75% of the new food.
Day 7+: Feed 100% of the new food.
When Your Pup Feels Under the Weather
Every dog will feel under the weather at some point. It’s inevitable. Maybe they got into something they shouldn’t have on accident, or they’ve just got a bit of a puppy cold. It’s hard to see them not feeling well! But we’ve got a few tips and tricks to help them feeling back to normal sooner rather than later!
(Please remember that we are not veterinarians. Please consult your vet when your pup isn’t feeling well. These are just a few tips and tricks we’ve found help make things a little easier)
Pumpkin. It’s the best thing to keep on hand for all sorts of puppy troubles. Keep a can of plain pumpkin in the pantry and you’ll be thankful! A few tablespoons added to your puppy’s meal can help abate diarrhea. Start small to avoid adding too much fiber to their system. On the other hand, pumpkin can help ease your puppy’s constipation as well. Ensure they have as much access to water as possible to avoid dehydration with the added fiber to their system. A trick is to freeze the leftover canned pumpkin in an ice cube tray, and once it’s entirely frozen you can pop them into a Ziploc to keep in case of emergencies - just thaw a cube or two as needed on the counter!
Chicken and rice. This is the king’s feast for a pup not feeling well. We use it when a dog has bad diarrhea and turns its nose up at anything with pumpkin or if they’ve really got an upset stomach. Mix a bit of cooked chicken with plain rice in place of the kibble + pumpkin mixture for the dog version of chicken noodle soup. Again, make sure they have enough access to water!
Chicken or beef broth. This is great for enticing a dog to eat if they’re stressed, anxious, or just feeling a bit under the weather. Just barely dampen their kibble with some beef or chicken broth, and most of the time, they’ll dig right in. This is also great if you’re having a hard time getting them to drink enough water.
Yogurt. If your dog ever has to be on antibiotics for any reason, we recommend supplementing their diet with yogurt for the course of the medication to help ease any stomach discomfort that antibiotics can cause. Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt given with their food or in a toy like a Kong is a great way to make sure they are reintroducing healthy bacteria into their gut. Make it fun by freezing yogurt in a kong or making little “puppy popsicles” with ice cube trays.
Fruits & Vegetables. Fresh or frozen fruits and veggies can be an awesome addition to your dog’s meals or used as treats during training. Some of our puppies go nuts for carrots, others love strawberries and bits of apple. Refer to this list from the American Kennel Club to see what your dog can and cannot eat and be mindful of both quality and quantity.
Salmon Oil. When you live in a dry climate or are experiencing a particularly dry season (hello winter, we see you), salmon oil can make a huge difference for your pup! Introducing salmon oil or salmon treats into your pup’s diet can help with dry itchy skin and help them have a healthier, shinier coat. Usually, a salmon treat or two every day is just what they need.
Teething
It’s always a bit alarming to find a puppy tooth on the floor or embedded in a toy. Don’t freak out! Puppies teethe just like kiddos do. The best thing you can do is offer them plenty of teething toys (see our recommended products page) to keep them busy and relieve some of the pain and discomfort. These toys also keep them stimulated and protect your furniture, shoes, and fingers from razor-sharp puppy teeth! We also love offering old washcloths that have been soaked in water, wrung out just a bit, and twisted before being frozen. The cold water and fabric help ease sore gums while allowing them to chew to relieve some of their aches and work loose teeth out (just make sure to keep an eye on your puppy when playing with toys like this).
Teething ends around 6 months of age when your pup should have all its adult teeth. Teething doesn’t last forever, even though it might feel that way! Handling your dog’s mouth during puppyhood also helps them acclimate to having their teeth brushed as grown dogs (and also helps if you have to give them meds down the road as they’re already used to you handling their mouth). Oral health for dogs is as important as it is for their human family. Keep a few chew toys around, and keep an eye on their condition. We love Nylabone, Kong, antlers, horns, and other similar products to keep our dogs’ teeth clean and healthy at all stages of life.
GROOMING
For many first-time Doodle owners, grooming can be one of the most daunting prospects of bringing your puppy home. We work with your pup to help them become more comfortable with the handling necessary for grooming before we send them home with you. We trim their nails and give them their first bath. Because of their poodle genetics, most doodles require regular grooming, whether you decide to do it yourself or send them to a groomer. Either way, most doodles will need a proper grooming session about every three months to keep them tidy and happy.
Coat
Whether you decide to take your pup to the groomer or groom them at home (there are tons of videos and tutorials for grooming your doodle available online), there are a few tools you’ll want to keep on hand: a slicker brush, a steel/metal comb, nail trimmers (whether they are a Dremel, manual pliers, or guillotine-style), and blunt-tipped scissors.
The slicker brush will be used to fluff the other coat of your doodle, keeping them soft and cuddly. They help you identify any mats in your doodle’s coat, but they aren’t to be used for untangling. Use a steel/metal comb to detangle the matted area if you can, or use your scissors to carefully cut it out. Brushing out your doodle regularly not only helps keep them tidy and unmatted but can also be used as a time for bonding with your pup. Scissors can also be used for a sanitary trim or to keep hair out of their eyes between full grooming sessions. A hair tie can help keep long hair out of their eyes in a pinch if you’re anxious about trimming so close to their face! Our standard Goldendoodle, Hudson, regularly rocks a man bun when he’s wearing a long coat.
Nails & Paws
Make sure that you’re handling your pup’s paws every day, even when not trimming their nails. It helps desensitize them and works on building their trust, which makes nail trimming a lot easier (and less traumatic for both parties). Regularly handling their paws also helps you keep an eye on their nail length and paw health. Check out YouTube for nail trimming tutorials that fit your comfort level and your pup’s personality. We recommend showering them in love and treats when they behave well!
Occasionally while trimming your pup’s nails you might hit their quick - the nail bed within their nail that will bleed if nicked. We recommend keeping styptic powder on hand to stop the bleeding, or in a pinch, cornstarch will work well, too.
Another awesome trick is a scratch board! Utilize training and positive reinforcement to help your dog “file” their own nails. You can purchase a scratch board here or make a different version using this tutorial.
Walking your dog on pavement or playing fetch on concrete can also help file down their nails naturally. If you hear their nails clicking as they walk, it’s time for a trim!
Remember that your dog’s paws are sensitive, just like our hands. If you’re facing extreme temperatures, we recommend puppy booties or avoiding long adventures outdoors until you have milder weather. Always check concrete when it’s hot outside to ensure it won’t burn their paws, and when winter rolls around, wipe down their paws if they come in contact with any salt or ice melt. Additionally, you can purchase paw balm if you notice any dry or rough spots, or if your puppy’s pads are cracked from bad weather. After adventuring outdoors while hiking, camping, etc. always check your dog’s paws for thorns and burs stuck between their toes or caught in the hair on their paws - curly Doodle hair can hide things pretty well and you don’t want anything embedded.
Ears
Don’t forget about your Doodle’s ears! Regularly check their ears to make sure they are clean and healthy, particularly after they’ve been swimming or playing in the water and after baths. Because Doodles have ‘drop ears,’ they can be more susceptible to ear issues than dogs that have erect ears (think German shepherds).
A healthy ear is clean, pink, odorless, and not dirty or inflamed. If you find that your dog’s ears are a bit smelly or your pup is shaking his head more than normal, you can gently clean them using a cotton ball and a dog ear cleaning solution or ear cleaning pads made especially for dogs. Never use a cotton swab in your dog’s ears! Gently clean their ear and rub at the base to loosen any dirt or debris, and never push your finger in too deep. Call your vet if the ear is painful, inflamed, or smells yeasty.
Be careful not to clean them too often to avoid irritating the skin in the ears and damaging the ear canal. If your pup is regularly shaking its head or scratching its ears, bring them to the vet as it might be allergies, mites, or an old-fashioned ear infection.
Eyes
Like people, dogs’ eyes water to help flush out dust and irritants, protecting your pup from discomfort and injury. Keeping your pup’s eyes clean can help you stay ahead of any issues caused by allergens and irritants. If your pup’s eyes seem overly irritated, dry, or red, consult your veterinarian.
Poodles, however, are prone to tear stains - the reddish stain at the corner of their eyes which is caused by a pigment in the tear that turns reddish-brown when exposed to the air for any length of time. Doodles with lighter coats may have tear stains, but don’t worry! A soft cloth dampened with warm water or tear-stain wipes can remedy the situation in short order.