Puppy instructions and guidelines

When coming to pick up your puppy, here are a few things I recommend you have in your car:

• several old towels

• garbage bag for towels in case they get soiled

• paper towels

• cleaning spray

• Clorox wipes

• hand sanitizer

• baby wipes for puppy cleaning

• water bottle and food bowl for puppy

• deodorizing spray, just in case...so you don't have to hang your head out the window on the way home.

Please remember when you are on the way home, do NOT let your puppy potty where other dogs have been !Pick an out of the way place to be safe. Parvovirus is deadly and can live without a host where infected dogs have pottied. Your puppy has been vaccinated for parvo and distemper but you can’t be sure until they have received their last vaccination.

If you are driving a long way and must stop, go to a rest stop. Carry your puppy to the sign that says, “No dogs allowed” and let them relieve themself there.

Feeding

Feed your puppy twice a day. Their current schedule is 6:30 am, and 6:30 pm.

Please have a bag of food pre-ordered and available for your puppy’s first meal at home.

For how much to feed, refer to package instructions and your puppy’s weight.

Morning feeding:
Dry. I usually leave dry feed out at this time to make sure the puppy is getting enough to eat. If weight is good, pick up after 30 minutes. If you leave dry food out all day long, you will not catch a poor appetite as quickly. Knowing when your puppy eats also aids in potty training.

Evening feeding (no later than 7pm):
I add half a scoop of Nu Vet, a squirt of salmon oil and gene flora probiotics to the morning feeding.

Add-ons?
While some breeders mix chicken or ground beef with each meal for variety, I have found that once a dog becomes familiar with people food, they prefer it over their dog food. A good and well-balanced dog food is essential for your dog’s overall health.

All of our dogs are are fed TLC. I’ve done extensive research and spoken many times to top breeders. I’ve tried most of the top-rated dog foods and was never satisfied. TLC has lived up to its reputation. TLC is recommended for the first six months. There is a discount in the price by signing up for automatic shipment. This food is made from human-grade products, is always fresh and has never had a recall. I strongly urge you to stick with TLC at least for the first year. Giving your puppy the best to get him or her off to a good start is the best thing you can do for them.

Nu Vet Daily Supplement is a must. You can buy the powder and put it on their food or the tablets. The tablets can be broken up into small pieces and used for a training reward. Never give your dogs treats that are bought anywhere other than Nuvet or Life’s Abundance. In the past five years, hundreds of dogs were reported poisoned from store bought treats of different brands. The commonality was they all contained ingredients from China. Be safe and stick to recommended treats or make them yourself. Below is an information sheet about the benefits of NuVet supplements.

PLEASE ORDER YOU NUVET SUPPLEMENT AND LIFE’S ABUNDANCE DOG FOOD AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOU ARE SCHEDULED TO PICK UP YOUR PUPPY! The automatic shipment option will save you money.

• NuVet Plus helps to fill the nutritional void that exists in virtually all pets. Even the highest quality dog foods are cooked, and as a result, the heat from cooking kills much of the nutrients. NuVet Plus is cold processed allowing the ingredient's rich nutrients to remain.

• NuVet Plus is a full spectrum immune system builder; not just a vitamin. It's filled with synergistic blend of anti-oxidants, amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and more designed to promote healthy cells and to help the pet's immune system at its peak.

• NuVet Plus is natural; no artificial flavors, artificial fillers, artificial binders, or grains. This gives it superior absorption and utilization in the body, allowing the ingredients to be more effectively absorbed through the cellular walls. Healthy cells = healthy pets!

• NuVet Plus is manufactured in the USA in an FDA registered, human pharmaceutical laboratory; almost unheard of in the pet food or pet supplement industry. This assures the very highest quality, potency and purity. In other words, what you see on the label is what you actually get.

• Studies have shown that products manufactured with less controls, don't always provide what it says on the label. Some may contain harmful by products, metals and contaminates. (Check pet product recalls)

• NuVet Plus ingredients are natural and human grade. So called "animal or feed grade" allows for a manufacturer to include by-products, chemicals, fillers and meats from dying or diseased animals; something NuVet Labs would never allow or condone.

• NuVet Plus is perfect for outwardly healthy dogs. By keeping the immune system functioning at peak performance the pet is better equipped to stay healthy. For puppies and kittens, it helps to boost their still maturing immune system - critically important! Note: A pet that appears healthy may not be. Taking NuVet plus daily can help eliminate this potentially dangerous situation.

• NuVet Plus can help the animal deal with environmental conditions, including pollutants in the air, pesticides and more. The powerful antioxidants found in NuVet plus can help combat the free radicals resulting from the environment.

• NuVet Plus is safe! It's virtually 100% water soluble and food based, making it almost impossible for a pet to overdose. It's also safe to take with medications.

• NuVet Plus really works! We invite you to view the testimonials, found on their webpage www.nuvet.com.

• Peace of mind - NuVet Plus comes with a 60-day, 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back!

Training

I’m pleased to announce that I have partnered up with Baxter and Bella training It is an excellent training resource that I bought myself. It begins with a month before you bring your puppy home and continues throughout the life of your dog. There are too many benefits to mention and the cost is very reasonable. For more information go to my website and click on the training page. Since partnering with this company I suggest you refer to them more than the following suggestions for the first few weeks at home. They are experts and Ive been very impressed with all of their advice and tips.

Continue crating your puppy when you cannot watch her. Her normal schedule should be up and outside to potty at approximately 5-6 am. Eat breakfast (normally they will have a bowel movement after they eat.) Play outside or in the house. Keep puppy in eyesight when playing and learn to recognize the sudden stillness, circling and squat behavior that means they need to be swooped up and taken outside.

When they begin to wind down, put back in crate to sleep. If you give them a treat or chew toy that is helpful. Avoid raw hide chews. They are a choking hazard and are sometimes treated with harmful chemicals. You can also choose to feed them their meals in the crate which can help them adjust to their new crates. The afternoon schedule is the same and then they have an evening playtime and a nap. I try to get them outside to play or play inside to get a little bit tired. Then it is back in the crate with a chew toy. After the first couple of weeks, I don't get up with them at night if they cry unless I think something is wrong, or they cry for longer than 15 or 20 minutes. They will go back to sleep. If you follow the no food and very little water after 7:00, they usually make it with no accidents in their crates. As they grow you will change this schedule accordingly. Keeping them on a schedule is the easiest and fastest way to train them.

Never punish a puppy for having and accident. It is up to you to be consistent and watchful. A puppy will not connect anger or making him look at his mess with what you want him to do. These puppies are used to doing their business outside. They are already learning to hold it until I rush them all onto the grass around 6 am. They squat all at the same time, as soon as their little feet touch the grass. When I recently brought a new puppy home that was 10 weeks old, we took him out every hour for the first few weeks. He was pretty well trained within a month. You may also consider hanging a bell on your door, low enough for puppy to ring. Sit pup in front of the door and help him ring the bell with his paw. Immediately open the door and take him outside. You will be amazed how quick the learn to "ring the bell" when the want to go outside. Do not leave you dog in the crate for a total of more than four hours during the day. Puppies need play, socialization and exercise. If you need to leave for longer than a couple of hours, provide a puppy play pen. I keep the crate, a blanket, toys, water and a potty area in the puppy play pen if I will be gone for more than a couple of hours.

Socialize her at home as much as possible. You may take her on walks in your neighborhood if you feel that the dogs there are vaccinated and then keep on the side walk or street if possible. Never let your puppy eliminate where other dogs have done so. Your puppy is not leash trained so do not go far. It is very easy to damage a puppy’s neck without even knowing you have done so. Never drag or jerk your puppies leash. Give her encouraging words to get started. Do start basic commands as soon as you get home. Make it fun and try to get everyone to use the same words. Make it a fun game for her and never use force. You will be surprised how quick she will learn at this age with positive reinforcement such as praise, hugs, treats and toys. Keep sessions short and mix it up. No longer than five minutes, three or four times a day.

Feel free to call any time for suggestions. Keep in mind that most problems can be resolved through human behavior. If puppy is chewing a shoe, put shoes out of reach and give her plenty of chew toys. If she knocks over the trash can, put it somewhere she cannot reach it. She needs to know what no means, but never yell or use any type of physical punishment. An example of when to use "no" would be when the puppy naturally nips or bites. Tap her nose and say "no bite". Never allow her to nip or bite your fingers or pull on your clothes. Say no, and give her a toy to distract her. Use a low firm voice when saying “no”. Puppies clue into voice tone as much as the word. The training program I recommended earlier will be your best friend. They are great at solving problems by good down to earth advice that works. I highly recommend Baxter and Bella.

Children and Puppies: It is up to adults to make your new puppy a valuable trusted member of the family. ALWAYS supervise children's play with puppy. A young child can set back training without meaning to by encouraging negative behaviors. An example would be running from a puppy and encouraging the puppy to chase them. Also, one nip from a puppy that has sore teeth and needs something to chew on, could frighten or hurt a child. NEVER let a child carry a puppy. Our rule is you must sit on the floor to hold the puppy. A puppy that has to struggle to escape is going to want to avoid the child that wouldn't let them go.

Teach by example. Teach your child that the puppy is a baby and as such needs his sleep, needs to be treated gentle and wants to be petted and played with. From Day 1, I expect a puppy to know that they can NOT be territorial about their food or toys. They have been competing with their siblings for food, toys and dominance so they may think they still need to do so. Never let the puppy growl over a toy or food without saying "no", then take the toy before giving it back.

There is of course, play growling when you are tugging lightly on a toy. Always end up with the toy while praising and petting puppy and then give it back. That is different than when a puppy puts his paw across a toy and dares you to touch it. Put your hand in their food while they are eating and don't condone any dominate behavior. The command "wait" is one of the more valuable commands. I make mine wait till I've put the food down before they can approach it and eat. I make mine wait, before I release them out the door of a pen. I make them wait before they can move after I remove the leash. I've never had a problem with dominance from a doodle but the wrong messages can encourage it. Never let a puppy jump on you. Remember that some of them will be quite large. Say "off" and push them down. Off is different from "down". Down is to lie down, off is to get off of whatever they are on. Puppy training from a licensed trainer or group situation such as pet smart in the best money you will spend. Just remember that it must wait until your puppy has had all of its shots! In the meantime, if you have a question, call me anytime.

The First Vet Visit

Your puppy needs to visit the vet within three days of going home with you to receive a clean bill of health. When at the vets, hold your puppy on your lap and do not put your puppy on the floor or allow visits from other clients or dogs.

Bring your Puppy packet with vaccine record. Your vet will recommend a vaccination schedule for your pup. Some vets prefer a schedule of four vaccinations depending on diseases in your area. Please be proactive in pointing out to your vet that puppy has already had at least one shot.

Please discuss the lepto virus shot. It is very doubtful that your puppy will ever drink from a puddle that has been peed in by an affected deer. The shots only have a few of the 15 strains. If your pup reacts negatively to a shot it will be that one. Discuss it with your vet, do your research and make the decision. If you decide to get it, ask that it be given separate a week after the combo shot. That way you will know for sure if there is a reaction.

What to ask your vet:

Flea preventative- Frontline plus

Important: Heartworm meds!!-Heartguard

Do not take puppy where other dogs have been, or let other dogs visit until all boosters are complete. No dog parks, pet smart, neighbors or friends’ yards. Parvo virus will kill your puppy and can last in dog areas for years. Ask about Rabies and Bordetella booster after 16 weeks. Also, a new dog flu has appeared and is often spread in dog parks. Ask your vet about the new dog flu.

Ask about proper way to remove hair from ears as puppies with folded ears may be prone to ear infections. Doodles need hair clipped out of ears on a regular basis. I no longer pluck my dogs ear hair but keep inside of ear clipped short and clean.

Spay Neuter-Check with your vet but do extensive research. I recommend waiting until your doodle is at least 1 year of age. Please send or email me a copy of the vet certificate or bill so that I can update the pup’s permanent records.

Remember that failure to spay or neuter your dog makes the guarantee null and void. Unless breeding rights have been agreed to and paid for, twice the pet price, you may not under any circumstances breed this puppy. Any Fountain Falls dog that is bred without permission can be reclaimed by Fountain Falls along with any offspring plus a $10,000 fine. Please read your contract. Again I ask that you send me an email and let me know when this puppy was spayed or neutered as I am required to provide this information to GANA.

Your pup is microchipped at Fountain Falls. Please register your pups microchip. All of the pups are registered to me as a secondary contact so please make sure you put your name on the contact papers so that we can reunite you and your doodle should he/she get lost.

My favorite chew toys are the natural marrow beef bones found in the meat section of the grocery store. Ask for them if you don’t see them. Do not cook them as they will splinter. When the marrow has been gotten out of them by the puppy, you can put peanut butter, cream cheese or cheese whiz in them. Freeze the bones and put in puppy's crate. A good, cheap, healthy chew bone. They will last forever. Introduce the peanut butter or cream cheese slowly in small amounts.

Other Toys

Everlast toys

Busy Buddy Bone (they love this one)

Toys with long thin legs. They love to drag them around and the toys that look like long flat furry skunks or foxes.

Balls

Plastic drink bottles in old socks

Kong toys with treats inside

Recommended Books

The Goldendoodle Handbook by Linda Whitwam is the best goldendoodle book out there. I and other GANA breeders have collaborated on this book and I have at least five illustrations and and an article or two.

• Goldendoodles: The Owner’s Guide From Puppy to Old Age by Alan Kenworthy
  A basic book, nowhere near as informative as the one above. (I helped with this book and my puppies are the first picture in the book. I have them here for sale or you can order it from Amazon.)

• The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skeet (may be at the library)

• Superdog

• The Dog Whisperer by Jan Fennel

• Good Owners, Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons

• A Dogs Purpose

• Through a Dogs Eyes by Jennifer Arnold

• In A Dogs Heart by Jennifer Arnold (and my recent favorite)

• Pukka's Promise

• Raising A Puppy You Can Live With

Websites

Please join my Fountain Falls Goldendoodles Facebook page. facebook.com/fountainfalls.

facebook.com/Fallsfamilygoldendoodles is a page for the families that have one of our doodles. People connect and share stories about the Falls doodle.

The more of my Goldendoodle babies that are on our page, the more fun, plus it gives me good information of how they are all doing.

Falls Family Goldendoodles facebook.com/fallsfamilygoldendoodles is a site created for all of the families that have one of our doodles as a family member. Its so much fun and provides a way for you to connect to other Fountain Falls doodle families.

River Falls Goldendoodles – my daughter and her husband, Steve’s website

I will answer any questions or just listen to you brag about your absolutely darling perfectly well behaved baby. Of course I will also be available for you when you want to vent about the torn up library book. ☺

I plan to contact each of you several times in the next year. I'll send several business cards with your puppy packet. Don't hesitate to give them out if someone is interested.

Lastly, I would like to say that the joy that these dogs bring to their families is one of the more rewarding things I've ever been a part of. I entrust these precious babies to your care. The one thing I want to emphasize in the contract is that these dogs should never end up unwanted, or unloved in a shelter of any kind. If family circumstance causes you to have to give your dog up, I need to be contacted so I can arrange to return it to Fountain Falls until I can find it a new home. If you would like to give it to someone else, please contact me first. I have first right of refusal. I like to know where every one of my puppies are. Since I brought these puppies into the world I feel a tremendous responsibility to make sure they all have a great life.

Keep in touch. I haven't figured out how to teach my puppies to email me.

Lynne Porter-Whitmire

706-491-6464
ffgoldendoodles@gmail.com

Contact me anytime.

A side note.

I had one of my Goldendoodles call me the other day. Harley that belongs to Lilia Cort in Asheville, NC paw dialed me. I said hello several times before his owner heard me and picked up the phone. So I do have one doodle that called me and hope for more!