Hoping to get a Labradoodle and need your advice!

[bostondoodle]

Hello, I'm in the Boston area and my husband and I have finally moved into a place where we can have a dog. We've been jonesing for a Labradoodle for about 2 years now, and just got the contact info of someone who took on more than they could chew w/ 2 female labradoodle puppies. So we're excited about the prospect of taking one of their female pups.

My husband has had dogs before (never doodles), but this will be my first dog. I'm huge animal lover, wildly infatuated with my Turkish Van/Ragdoll cat. So I have a lot to learn and a few concerns...

I want to make sure we socialize the cat and new pup correctly. The cat can be pretty skittish, but has a wonderful personality that I don't want to get destroyed by a new curious sibling . Any tips?

Also, I need tips on everything from food to a good crate to a great leash and collar. We'll both be working 9-5, we're avid walkers and hikers. We really daydream about taking this dog with us everywhere, but that might not be realistic . How do we find a good trainer? Will we be able to salvage our leather couch from the jaws of a puppy? What kind of treats and toys should I get for her?

I'll take any and all recommendations you might have.

Thanks in advance. Thrilled to have found this board, and can't wait to learn a lot from you guys.

-Bostondoodle

If you use the search feature at the top you can pull up some great info on all your questions.

As for cats....when I got Maya my cat was 9yrs old. Before I got Maya I would take a friend of mine's dog and bring the dog around for longer and longer amounts of time to socialize the cat with the dog. And I would watch them but always let them work things out. I would bring a 75lb choc lab and Morgan would swipe at the lab if she got too close. Morgs doesn't have claws so it didn't hurt the dog but to this day the dog will run for cover if she sees Morgan. When I brought Maya home at first she didn't even know there was a cat and just leave the cat alone. Once she figured out that there was a cat and it was fun to chase the cat and it doesn't hurt when she gets hit we are working on leaving the cat alone.

Here's a link for food I saved since I had a lot of issues with Maya and the right food for a while:
http://labradoodle-dogs.net/forums/view ... ood+rating

[annabelles mom]

Welcome and congratulations

Gosh you will get lots of diff answers as people use diff foods/collars/leashes etc

Heather had a great suggestion, use the search link at top of page and type in what you want info on and you are sure to find lots of posts

We have always fed our dogs Iams and never had problems, Annabelle eats Iams Healthy Natural.

We use a harness when we take her out on the leash (traveling, petsmart etc), easier to control and they can't slip out of it.

We have a large locked, fenced yard so that is where she gets her exercise, we play ball every day and she goes out and runs around whenever she wants to as we have a doggie door

There are diff kind of training treats for pups, some about pencil eraser size that you can use for rewards for going potty outside, coming when you call etc

Crates normally are a great thing for puppies when you arent home, keeps them out of trouble, away from leather furniture etc - search "crates" and you;ll find posts on that also. Just remember the crate is their safe haven - never yell at them when they are in their crate or use it to punish them

Puppies take time to train and consistancy and LOTS of love - we took Annabelle outside immediately upon arriving home, her waking, after playing in the house - you have to keep a close eye, they can be playing and just stop an pee. If you are consistant and take her out every 1/2 hr or so when you have her in the house and tell her to pee or potty, she will catch on pretty fast - you just have to watch for signals that she needs to go.
Some people use a leash and tether the dog to them when they are inside so they can't get into things and also hopefully will know when they need to go out

Good luck and make sure you post lots of pictures !

[Lori2147]

Hi BD,

Congratulations!!

I've found lots of information by searching the web. Check out the web pages of doodle breeders across the county. Many of them have very helpful information on their website. I've been reading some of the books by Ian Dunbar. In "Before and After Getting Your Puppy" Dunbar has a whole chapter devoted to "Errorless Housetraining". You can download a portion of the book at James and Kenneth Publishers

If you'll be working 9 to 5, you can't expect to keep the puppy in the crate all day. He just won't be able to hold it that long. Dunbar's book explains how to create a safe place for your puppy when you're going to be gone for longer periods. I've read about five books in the last two months. Dunbar's book is my favorite, by far. He's a big believer in stuffed kongs to keep your puppy happy while you're away.

[mariab60]

Hi BD,

welcome to the forum!!! Emily too was my first doodle (and my first dog for a very long time). This forum was great for me. You will find all information you need here --- just use search feature. A crate is best thing ever. Gives you peace of mind and keep your doodle safe when you need it. Put her on a schedule -- this is real important and will keep you sane. Buy a can of pumpkin and a camera and you will be fine...


Maria and Emily

[blueteal]

Welcome to Doodleland and congrats.................

[dreamer728]

Hey Bostondoodle! We're not that far from you guys - right up 93 in Derry NH!

I can't really offer you any solid advice yet as we get our puppy on Saturday...but I will be sure to let you know how it goes with our 2 cats! One is pretty skittish, and the other is not, so we should see reactions of many different kinds

For a crate, we got one from Petsmart that has a divider in it. I luckily work close to home though so she will only have to be crated for about 4 hours at a time, 8 plus commute both ways is definately too long for a baby!

I think rule of thumb is they can hold it for 1 hour per month old...so 8 weeks is 2 hours, 12 weeks 3 hours, etc...not sure how it will actually go yet though!

Until she can hold it for 4 hours we will be confining her in a small area with newspaper, her crate, and water. A kong or teething ring will go with her too, nothing she can choke on if she rips it apart.

For a leash we got a 4 foot braided leash, on the thin side for now. she is coming home with a collar but we might pick up a small harness once we can measure to fit her neck.

For food we will be using Nutro Puppy formula. It's what she has been eating so far and they use good ingredients, so I decided to keep her on it. I will also be feeding her a scoop of plain yogurt w/meals for probiotics. Pumpkin seems to be a good cure for diarrhea so I have a can of that on hand.

I don't think taking your puppy with you everywhere will be a problem - it would probably be great bonding/training time, and you can get her a backpack so she can carry a water dish and water - which dogs seem to really like! Just make sure you wait until your doodle has all it's shots first before you take it hiking!

Toys...we went a little overboard...we got a bunch of plush toys, some teething toys, a kong, kong treats and filler, nylabones, tennis balls (get ones for dogs as the fuzz on real ones can dull their teeth)

One thing you might consider if you are gone for long hours during the day is a dog walker to come in at lunch time and let your dog out to potty - and when it's older maybe doggie daycare a few days a week to keep her from getting bored.

Good luck! Have you decided on a puppy yet? Riley has a brother and 2 sisters available in Baltimore =)

check out http://forresterlabradoodles.googlepages.com/home for their pics! it would be great to have a litter mate here on the forum!

[lindamarie]

I just got my doodle two weeks ago. He enjoys the same toys all dogs do, but he's really into these little mini basketball and soccer ball that you stuff with treats......got them at Petco.
We just got s simple collar and leash for now. It's taking him some time to like the leash. The collar was acceptable immediately although he kept scratching at it.
We learned the first week to have two crates. We keep one in the bedroom and one in the Living Room.
He loves the bully sticks for chewing..............
These are AWESOME dogs! I have always said my dogs were always bright.....but this one is an exceptionally fast learner!!
I don't have cats but I would think these doods will get along with anything. They're just so dang sweet!
Congratulations and I can't wait to see your new pup!!

I

Great tips here, I'l just address the couch question. Bella has never shown an interest in chewing the leather couch, she just likes to snuggle up on it! As a pup, she did chew our woodwork though, guess she liked wood better than leather!

[bostondoodle]

Wow! You guys are awesome! Thanks for all the tips and advice. I'll definitely search the forum for other info as well.

Unfortunately, someone else had called about the female doodle, so she's already found a great home. I am sad, but the timing is probably better as we move to a new apartment on Saturday. I really want to make sure our home is comfy and ready for a new dog whenever we get one.

I have my eye on this doodle rescue: http://www.petfinder.com/photoView/phot ... 31&photo=1. I have a heart for rescue animals, and would certainly enjoy adopting a dog that's already potty trained!

Dreamer, I grew up in Londonderry and went to school in Derry! What a coincidence.

I'll keep you guys posted on our doodle search!

[MaxandMe]

welcome bostondoodle and congrats!!!!

doing searches will bring up numerous posts with some having complete lists of what to have on hand, what works best for some , and so on

can't wait to see your pics

I am a major animal lover and well my 3 doodles are the first doodles i've ever had the pleasure of loving------they're awesome!!!!

[gene]

Good luck Bostondoodle.....you know 2 of my 3 doodles are rescues. Guess I have a heart for them too! What a sweet face on the one you're looking at. Good luck to you....if it's meant to be, it will happen.

He looks beautiful! And the Rescue group usually will really work and make sure the dog is a right fit for you!

[ChasP505]

Originally Posted by bostondoodle

Hello, I'm in the Boston area and my husband and I have finally moved into a place where we can have a dog.

I noticed you didn't say that you and your husband have "bought" a place where you can have a dog, so I'm guessing that you are renting/leasing a home. If I'm correct, please make sure you read all the fine print on your lease regarding pets. I'm in real estate and have done rental property management for years and I've seen a lot of misunderstandings regarding keeping pets. And please make sure that your home (and your lifestyle) is suitable for a large, high energy dog like a Labradoodle.

Good luck!

[lmtoth2]

Also, I need tips on everything from food to a good crate to a great leash and collar. We'll both be working 9-5, we're avid walkers and hikers.

Welcome

My husband and I also work 9-5 jobs. Until Dexter was 6-7 months old, we kept him in an x-pen in the kitchen (and put gates to the doors to the kitchen just in case he got out of his pen). We would come home at lunch everyday so he was only alone for 4-5 hrs max. We put pee pads down for the first 2 months because a young puppy can't even hold it for 4 hrs and we wanted to teach him not to just go everywhere. Oh yeah - we put his crate in the x-pen, but he never took to it (mostly my fault for not wanting to lock him in there ). After 6-7 months we moved him to our basement during the day and he's been fine since (he has more room there). This worked well for us, but I'm sure you will get other suggestions and ideas. Dex adjusted fairly quickly to our schedule (even though it's not ideal for a young puppy).

Good luck