How do we raise our Goldendoodle Puppies?

Here in our home, our puppies are birthed into our hands. We weigh pups twice a day for the first week and daily thereafter. At day 3 we begin ESI and ENS (early scent introduction, early neurological stimulation). This helps improve cardiovascular performance, strengthens adrenals, can help provide greater resistance to disease along with stress tolerance and resilience. Introducing scents at 3 days can boost scent work ability and gets the little brain going. We maintain a strict cleaning routine. Puppies raised in a clean environment are easier to potty train because they start telling clean from dirty at a young age.

At 3 weeks and beyond puppies get 10 step handling by adults and children. This helps get them comfortable with being touched all over and begins grooming desensitization. 

Between 2.5 and 3 weeks they begin potty training. At first this looks like potty pads separate from their sleeping area. Did you know at this age puppies will naturally move away from their napping place to go potty? We want to encourage that! As they grow and their motor skills develop, their potty area changes. Ultimately they leave us consistently using a tray and grate system. Depending on the weather they may also be going outdoors to eliminate. All this effort and consistency should assist in a smooth transition into completion of potty training once you bring your goldendoodle puppy home.

At 3-4 weeks as they get fluffier they may also receive their first bum trim, the first of many to come! 

At 4-5 weeks they begin weekly baths. Because of the way we start potty training early, our puppies usually stay very clean, but bathing them is a crucial part in getting them comfortable with this since there will be many baths in their future.

All throughout this time they are also being exposed to age appropriate curriculum to become confident pups. This includes a variety of sounds, textures and physical obstacles.

Beginning at 4 weeks we start crate desensitization, This starts with providing crates in their whelping area for their beds. The doors remain open and they can go in and out as they please. Usually between weeks 5-6 we will introduce some closed crate time. This is fluid as we begin this when we feel the puppy is ready for that step. We continue to build up time and schedule for crating. It is essential that puppies are ok being in a crate because there are many times in their life where this will be needed. It would be a disservice to them to not continue this and have them be stressed out when these times arise. At 8 weeks pups may not be perfectly content in the crate but our aim is to at least have them be able to settle themselves quickly. Everything we do for and with the puppies is out of love and care for their physical and mental needs from birth, on into the future.

We show everything that we do with them so you know that your pup is being well loved and well raised. You get to see the environment through the daily pics and videos, you may even feel like a part of our family by the end!