New Owner

[tassa]

Hi guys,

we are picking up an F1b bitch this w.e. and just wondered if you can give anyuseful advice to new owners... she will be 6weeks. Any advice about anything is welcome, food, training,walks, health checks, etc

Also we are looking to keep her as an outdoor dog... have other's had success with keeping dogs in kennels? Any advice on this?

My wife is always at home so the dog will always have company

Much appreciated

[MaxandMe]

HI and welcome

I would love to to give advice but it's more of a concern:

why are you getting a 6 week old puppy and not waiting till the puppy
is 8 weeks old? it's so important for development within the litter and mother for socialization and much more. Many states even have laws that dogs cannot be shipped before 8 weeks old.

Doodles are NOT meant to be outdoor dogs like other breeds.
THEY Have a STONG NEED TO be WITH people at almost all times.
if you keep your doodle as a kennel dog ....well you might end up
with some problems down the line.

doodles are highly intelligent, loving, and much more through their
interation with us/the family, training they blossom. I have 2 (3 at one time). doodles....they will NOT go outside alone and stay there as many here will attest to the same fact: they are people dogs
Personally i highly advise NOT to make your doodle a kennel outside dog.


If YOU read more on this forum via searches and/or just go even questions section, stories, general chat there are so many topics on raising puppies along with others that ended up having problems with puppies not being a part of the family.

there is much basic training to do for manners and keep their minds stimulated, also a 'tired" doodle is a good doodle. puppies need their naps, exercise and in beginning many walks to establish potty training.

I'll be POSTING a blog article hopefully by tonight...please read it
and/or go to the link at bottom of my signature. While my articles have much HUMOR, there is much to be said about having a puppy with the trials/errors of learning and loving a doodle in your life/home.

good luck and keep us posted please

[annieG]

Doodles are NOT meant to be outdoor dogs like other breeds.
THEY Have a STONG NEED TO be WITH people at almost all times.
if you keep your doodle as a kennel dog ....well you might end up
with some problems down the line.

Please tell me you are not serious about keeping you doodle outside. This make me very sad

[blueteal]

The advice you are receiving concerning NOT keeping
your Doodle outside should be adhered too................They are
not good candidates for this kind of lifestyle, I hope you have a change of heart..............

[Lucee&Rusty]

Congratulations on your new puppy.
Our labradoodles are what we call velcro dogs.
They are with me no matter where in the house or yard I am in.
They are very social and love being with you, and if you have visitors they want to be in the thick of it.

Six weeks is very young. Most breeders in Australia will not let you have a pup until at least the 8 week period.
They learn social skills from their mums and litter mates,eg; like it's not good to bite too hard as it makes mum and my sibling grumpy.

Your pup will be sooo much happier being with you. It will bond better and be a better behaved dog.
Dogs are pack animals and need to be with their pack (you)

[madcity_mike]

doodles want to be a part of the family. PLEASE dont keep them outside!!

[lindamarie]

That's the best advice of all! No outside doodle's!
Seriously, these dogs are so lovable and like someone said........like velcro! The thought of my Bogart outside makes me sick!

I'm editing to add..........why would anyone want to keep ANY dog outside?
I'm sorry of this is a bad way to welcome you, but I'm concerned and upset.
Plus, 6 weeks is far too young.

Good Luck

[pringle's mom]

Doodles will be miserable as outside dogs! Mine sticks to me like glue and will NOT stay outside without me, even if my other dog is out there. He just loves to be with me and I know your girl will too. Please reconsider your plan! It breaks my heart to think about this poor baby being out there alone when she is meant to fully be part of a family.

[MaxandMe]

TASSA.........all these posts from the forum members really are
TRYING HELP you out.

1. Please do some searches both here and on internet. Also your local library will have books you can read on Caring for a Puppy
2. THe breeder should also be providing some info, with warranty/health contract, advice, what shots have been given to-date

3. Have you called any vets yet? they have advice on shots, training, and also may even question why a breeder is letting a puppy go at 6wks old
A very experienced trainer might successfully raise a 6 wk old puppy, but many of us wouldn't. there are stages they go through and we're humans not dams/bitches aka mother dogs.


4. you asked if we knew of any success with a doodle outside?
None of us do , the few cases I have heard of the answer is: NO

5. YES you might be thinking of other breeds that are kenneled and fine.
THEY are in packs/groups, soley for hunting ....I am talking about what i've seen to-date in western ny
DOODLES may have hunting background but due to their mixture of genes
they NEED PEOPLE around them to be happy

I can open my door let my doodles run outside to the back
and know what? they run right back and won't go potty at all if i am
NOT with them. IT's NOT a joke about them being better than a shadow

Doodles crave attention and need it as much as a small child does.

TASSA please take this as a form of HELPING you and your spouse
avoid heartache down the line
AS much as doodles are awesome dogs they are lonesome as hell without living in your home with love , TRAINING, and time to be with them

any doodle forum you go to will end up giving the same advice:
6wks is too young...and doodles are very much people dogs needing to be raised inside a home

[lindamarie]

AMEN Annmarie!

[curlygirl]

Annmarie, thanks for taking the time to type all of that.

Very well said!

[Labracadabra]

Just want to reiterate.....

6 weeks is truly too young to take a puppy home

AND

Labradoodles DO NOT like to be left outside. If you go that route, you will have a barking, whining, unhappy dog; unhappy neighbors; and unhappy you. I thought my dog would enjoy being outside in the fresh air in our backyard sometimes when I worked inside the house. Never, ever did that last more than a short while. Now I am glad to have him follow me around and park at my feet, and now I understand how being an outside dog, alone in the yard, just does not work for a labradoodle.

[cissy k]

I hope that we did not run you off! Please, please know that the posters are not criticizing you personally. If you have not picked up your puppy yet, please ask the breeder to keep her for another two weeks. If you did pick her up, please go tomorrow and get the book on raising puppies by the Monks of New Skeet. There is VITAL information about the socializing of the pup that needs to be done over the next two weeks that should have been done by the litter, but now needs to be done by you. It is a wonderful book!!

As for the velcro nature of Labradoodles, I can say it is so true. Semi is only 4 months old and she sticks to me like glue. DH took her to the dog park today and he said that even there, she hung around him most of the time. She was happy to meet other dogs, but stayed close.

I know it probably seems like everyone is coming down hard on you when all you wanted was some friendly advice. But I think that everyone is trying to save you and your dog from some misery.

There are definitely breeds that do alright outside, on their own for long periods. But no dog should ever be "outside" the majority of the time. It will lead to anti social behavior that will lead to heartache.

Now, if you want to add a kennel run to a doggie door that she can use as she wants, that would be a good compromise. If she wants to go out, she can be in a safe place. If she wants to come in, she can do so.

Please, please don't feel upset at the responses. The people here are wonderful and so very helpful. You asked for advice and got sort of hammered. But out of love for LD's not anger at you. You are just starting out and I know you will soon see that she is the best pup in the world and you will do all the best for her.

So, I assume you have her home now? How is she doing? Are you totally in love? What color and type is she? Let us know how you are adjusting and please send pics.


Best of luck!!

[tuffystar]

I am worried you may feel picked on but I too have to say we care so much! The first few days I had Tia she howled like crazy. I had her in the bathroom. So I moved her to her crate beside my bed. She howled all night! Out of desperation for sleep I put her in bed with me. She never wet in the house (every time she moved I took her out) she shadows me or our other dog Buddy, or my husband. Our neighbors ask me if I had gotten rid of our dog since they were now able to sleep at night.

Tia is still my shadow and the best dog ever. She has known when my heart acted up and stayed at my side until I was better. Doodles have tender hearts and need their people so much! I have learned so much being here. Many things I thought were ok I have since found out I needed to change. This is because of these caring wonderful people. My dog is better and so am I! I hope you have made it through the concerns to the caring because it is truly there! I have only been in the group a month and they are all my friends! If you listen to the advice you will be happier and so will your doodle. I know this because I am living it! Welcome!

[angie m]

I'm thinking this post might be a scam to get everybody all stirred up. The reference to the puppy as an "F1 bitch", was odd to me. Although females are technically a bitch, the majority of dog owners wouldn't refer to their new puppy that way, and would use the word female instead. Some people like to lurk, and stir up trouble. If it is a valid post, I'm hoping that the person will heed all of the advice you have given- especially about the puppy being an outside dog- yikes!

-Angie