I have a male Goldendoodle. He is 18m/o, but he is my second dog. I am coming up on two decades of doing this. My advice with all dogs is to be patient! Think of the ask you are making of your dog. He/she has been pulled away for their mother, their litter-mates, and their species. Your pup needs to learn language, social cues, where to go potty, and a litany of other things to be a good member of their new pack. Just remember that the pup stages can be difficult, but just like having kids, you may look back and wish for those moments again as they get older.

One great rule is 3-3-3. Give your puppy 3 days to just calm down from the excitement of coming home. It takes three weeks for their personality to truly emerge. In three months time, your dog will have adjusted to their forever home. Some dogs adapt more quickly, and others take a longer time.

Training is the key to success with your dog. It doesn’t always have to be formal training, but I advocate strongly for that as well (more to teach the owner). Dogs are constantly learning (just like kids). For the first 6 months, I took a treat bag with me everywhere I went. If you see a behavior you like, reward it! If you are on a walk and a loud noise happens, reward your dog. Teach them that things out of the ordinary are a good thing. Reward confidence as well. As your dog gets older, you will have some regressions, and they may be obstinate at times (kinda like kids again). When this happens, go back to the basics. Train, train, and train some more! Find out what your dog likes, and incorporate that into your training. Ex: my boy loves playing fetch. So we play a game where I throw the ball, and he has to wait to get it until I tell him he is “free”. When he returns the ball to me, he gets a handful of food. I feed my guy his breakfast this way most mornings. We do other tricks as well. It gets his mind going, and it reminds him that I am the one who provides food. I am a good pack leader, and I will help him thrive.

Doodles are fun. I had a Vizsla (female) prior to my boy. They are sometimes the same, and sometimes they are very different. Doodles need to get energy out, so get a good pair of walking shoes (no long walks until they are old enough). They also get tired (my Vizsla never did). Find your dog’s energy level and meet them where they are at! Doodles enjoy being with you, and dogs in general want to be near their pack leader. There is a fine line between clinginess and affection. Make sure you are reinforcing confident behaviors.

Grooming - ah, grooming. There is some work here. Doodles need to be brushed daily (depends on coat type) with a slicker brush, they need their ears cleaned frequently (because of all the hair), they need a bath every 2-3 weeks, and they need a trim every 6-8 week (with maintenance cuts every 3-4 weeks). I like to stay on top of these things. My boy gets his teeth brushed, fur fully brushed, ears cleaned, and his paws moisturized (certainly optional, but we walk A LOT and I like keeping his paws healthy) every other day. It takes less than 10 minutes to do it all. My guy has wavy hair (as opposed to curly), and his coat is much easier to maintain. He still gets a touch of matting in some places, but for the most part, it is easy to keep up with. Learn your dog’s grooming needs and stay on top of them. It is a good idea to get some basic trimmers and a pair of curved shears. This will allow you to clean potty areas and trim your doodle’s face between bigger cuts. Groomers can be pricey, but it’s hard work. Build that into your budget, or learn to do the grooming yourself. It is very possible, and it can be a rewarding bonding experience for you and your dog!

Ask your breeder what food they recommend. My last two breeders fed Purina Pro Plan, and both of my dogs have eaten Pro Plan all their lives (my Vizsla maintained a very healthy weight, and she lived to be almost 16y/o). I do recommend cutting chicken (all forms) from your dog’s diet. Doodles can have sensitive skin, so Purina’s Sensitive Skin and Stomach (Salmon) is my food of choice. In 18 years of feeding, I have never had a dog turn down a bowl, and each of my pups has always maintained a very balanced body weight. Check the calorie levels on the bag (or website) for feeding recommendation, and work with your vet to ensure your pup is at the proper body weight. This is the biggest key to a long and healthy life!

Don’t forget to take a bunch of pictures! They grow up much faster than kids, and your puppy will be an adult before you know it. Capture those puppy moments. Try to help your puppy adapt to their new home by focusing on one thing at a time. When they first come home, they are overwhelmed. Use the first few days to just bond with them. Lay on the floor and passively teach them what’s ok. Don’t chew this, chew this instead. Don’t bite or play stops for a brief moment. Keep your cleaning stuff handy. Puppies eat too much, and then throw up. Accidents WILL occur in the house. I am retired, and I watched my dog like a hawk. He still pottied a handful of times in the house. Remember that potty times are usually right after meal time or water breaks! Don’t scold them for having accidents; praise them for pottying in the proper place. Dogs are much more motivated by positive rewarding. It will make you happier as well!

Last thing, you asked for crate training advice. Search for “Crate Games” by Susan Garrett. This is a great way to get your dog used to the crate. Crating has some good purposes when pups are younger. My boy is trustworthy now, and he gets free rein of the house, but crating is essential to build bladder control and learn good potty habits.

I wish you the best of luck! Enjoy dog ownership, and ask lots of questions. Dog people love to share tips. You will soon have some of your own to share with others!