Use high quality food. Avoid corn if possible - Retrievers tend to have allergies to corn, and though unlikely, some Goldendoodles may carry this trait. Kibble products without corn also tend to be higher in quality. We recommend Solid Gold (Hund N Flocken or Holistic flavors) and Wellness brands, as they are made with human grade food. Too many dogs die of cancer or other medical conditions DIRECTLY LINKED TO DIET. We cannot stress this enough. The money you spend on quality food is much less than the cost of vet bills after age 10. Your puppy will come home eating a bleblend of Wellness puppy and Solid Gold Millennia. We will send you home with some food for the transition. We strongly urge you to transition to adult food from approximately four months of age. There is evidence that this will keep your puppy’s growth slow and steady, which is good for his bones and will also keep his adult size more moderate.

Purchase a crate. Puppies do not want to soil their crate, thus facilitating housetraining. Dog and puppies both are more relaxed when they can retreat to their “cave” for quiet, and often choose to be there when overwhelmed, tired, or under the weather. This is also a great place for a puppy when you need a rest, especially at night. Your puppy should be able to fit into a medium size crate through the next few months, though I would recommend a large size crate if you intend to continue with crating as your puppy reaches adult size. The large crates can be modified to be smaller by filling it with a safe material, or there are crates available that are designed to grow with your puppy. I also recommend that you have the crate in your room at night (with a night light) so the puppy can see you at night. This will prevent him from crying all night, and then the crate can be moved further away gradually as your puppy adjusts to the new environment. Remember that your puppy does not understand why suddenly everything is so different. Offering him the comfort of being near is the least we can do. Please also see our other links on crate training.

Provide your puppy with appropriate chews. Puppies chew a great deal through the first few years of their life. It’s healthy for their teeth and gums, so help them start a lifetime habit of chewing. Supply them with the right chews will keep your furniture and shoes from becoming the chew toy of choice. If you supervise your puppy religiously and use the crate for when you cannot supervise, you will find that you will most likely coast through puppyhood without damage to your home. Chews in the crate are also a great way to teach your puppy that the crate is a pleasant place to be. Try to avoid rawhides and pigs ears altogether. Rawhides break apart, are swallowed easily, and are tough to digest. Bully sticks are fine, but can irritate a young puppy's stomach lining so badly that they cannot eat for days. Cow’s hooves (or chew hooves) are long lasting and durable, so they tend not to have anything to swallow. They are enticing to your puppy (even if they are a little smelly to us) without irritating their stomach as rawhides and bully sticks can. Additionally, your puppy is already familiar with them from their time here, and we will send some home with you to try. Don't forget - your puppy will be cutting adult teeth by 16 weeks!

Be sure that the collar you choose is a non-slip collar with a quick-release clasp. It’s important that the collar release if he gets caught up on something. Puppies are naturally curious and unfortunately there can be deadly results with collars that don’t release. This is an unusual circumstance, but it can happen.

Have your puppy inside with you when you are home. This may seem simple, but the effects of this on your puppy are not to be underestimated. When your puppy is old enough to be outside unsupervised, he can probably tolerate being alone in the yard when you are not home. But seeing, hearing, and smelling you inside is painful for him. Eventually his distress will bring on destructive behavior, barking, or even anxiety and depression. Remember, he lives for you. If your dog needs supervision inside and you are busy, consider getting a six foot leash and attaching it to (or loop it around) the leg of your couch, desk, beltloop, or part of yourself so you don't need to chase your puppy around. Use gates to limit the areas your puppy can access. We prefer gates that have vertical bars (to discourage climbing) and that are made of metal (to discourage chewing).

Spay/Neuter your puppy by six months of age. Your puppy will go through significant behavioral changes after this time. Fixing him after puberty does not reverse the hormonal changes to their brain, though it may alleviate unwanted behaviors. If you are not planning to breed, this is one of the best ways to ensure that you will not have to deal with potential marking, dominance behavior (humping), or other adult instinctual behavior. It is also eliminates the risk of certain reproductive cancers.

Consider having an area where your puppy can access an age appropriate wading pool to play in. This will alleviate the urge to dig and keep your puppy cool in the heat. Besides, if you don't, your puppy will find a place to play in the water (the toilet, the waterbowl, the gutter). Fresh water is still necessary, so always keep an adequate supply nearby.

Consider getting cedar wood chips (I find them at the garden store) which are usually $2-3 for 2.5 cubic feet. If you put them in the far corner of the yard and show your puppy that you like him to do his “business” there, the scent of the chips is attractive to them and can make training a bit easier.

Learn all you can about grooming your doodle. Find a groomer that makes you feel comfortable handles your puppy in a way that makes him comfortable. Some people like to find a photo they like and bring it with them. Your puppy will need consistent care of his coat, nails, and even ears. For starters, though, we’re sure your puppy will need a bath relatively soon after arriving home. The best way to give him/her a good experience is to use warm water and swaddle him/her in a towel afterwards. The easiest way to do this is either in the kitchen sink or the bathtub using a handheld showerhead. Keep in mind that your puppy will likely panic if he/she sees the water level rising, so it’s better to let the water drain.Please see our other links to grooming tips.

Always remember that we have a safe haven policy. Life is unpredictable, and if your puppy is ever in need of a new home, we are happy to help you through our extensive Doodle network.

Above all, think of your puppy as a baby, not a toy. This will make it much more intuitive and natural to understand what he needs.