Bringing Your Puppy Home

Things You Will Need

1.  A crate. We will also provide a blanket with Mama’s scent.

Amazon sells crates for around $85.00. The recommended size is 42”L x 28”W x 30”H.

2.   Bowls for water and food.

Please use a glass or stainless-steel bowls for water.

Water warming up in a plastic bowl leaches chemicals into the water.

Please do not give water out of a hose.

3.   A leash.

4.   A collar (buy a few and keep the receipt so you can see which one you like best and return the others)

We really like the full body harness.

Puppies are around 10/15 pounds when you receive them so usually a size small is best.

5.   Toys, chewy squeaky ones are ideal.

6.   Paper towels/wet ones and a disinfectant spray.

7.   Food.

Food

Puppies are being fed  Canadian Naturals red meat blend. I always do a fish or lamb or pork and try to stay away from chicken.

We suggest feeding grain-free until 6 months and then switching to a grain inclusive.

I will include a small bag to make the transition easier if you want to change the food.

If your puppy has “soft serve” poop this is likely from stress of leaving their littermates and going to a new home. It will pass. It could also be from too many treats/snacks, and/or overfeeding your puppy.

Allergies are most often caused by chicken (#1) or grain (#2).

It generally takes puppies 7 days to fully adjust to their new home.

Be sure they always have LOTS of clean, cold water available. I buy old heavy stainless-steel pans from thrift stores as they do not tip over easily.

Until your puppy goes home, they have been fed 3 x a day.

Once you have your puppy home, please follow the recommendations for feeding amounts, on the shy side. PLEASE do not let you pup get overweight, on the lean side is always better.

By the time your puppy goes home they should be on all dry puppy kibble. Your puppy has been given a probiotic.

Info regarding Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is highly recommended by breeders and veterinarians.

It is something that I also very highly recommend, it gives you peace of mind if anything were to ever happen to your “fur kid”.

There are many great plans available. Trupanion, Pets Plus Us, Fetch, and Costco are good choices.

Please do your own research. I advise folks to have a pet insurance plan set up so that it is active the day you pick up your fur baby. 

Deworming

Pups have been dewormed 3 x previous to going home

Identification

Protect your Bernedoodle in case it is lost.

Identify your dog with a collar and tags.

A permanent identification with a microchip will be implanted in your puppy. 

Your pups microchip number is on her/his vet booklet.

Training & Puppy Class & Obedience

It is recommended you take your puppy to at least one level of obedience training.

A well-mannered dog is a pleasure and the owner’s responsibility.

Basic training is so good for all dogs and especially for breeds such as the Bernedoodles.

Bernedoodles are super smart & train very easily.

There are also some particularly good you tube tutorials on how to train your pup.

I try my best to do some training with your pup, and find that our pups are very social and trained by the time they go to your home.

I personally love Baxter & Bella. For a very reasonable price, you can become a member, and they have a wealth of information.

Potty Training

We have been training your pup on Pine wood pellets & pea gravel.

We have been recommending folks go out and make their pup a “poop pit”.

Make a 5-foot x 5-foot (approximate) box of 2x8’s outside where you want your fur baby to do his/her business.

Fill it with either wood pellets or pea gravel.

Since they are already accustomed to going on these pellets & pea gravel they will most likely continue to do so.

The pellets are available at most farm supply stores.

They are around $7 dollars a bag. Put around 4 bags in the pit. Just scoop out the #2’s.

The beauty of this is you do not have dog poo and pee all over your yard.

For the folks who have done this it has worked out very well.

For those of you in condos/townhouse/apartments I would recommend a rubber boot mat (with a lip) on your balcony, filled with a bag of pellets.

Eventually, you can incorporate bark mulch into it.

Remember if the pellets are not covered the rain will disintegrate them rather quickly.

Pea gravel is also a good choice.

Exercise

Puppies are encouraged to have as much free outdoor time as possible.

Regular supervised exercise in a safe, dog friendly outside area is needed to maintain healthy muscle tone and great mental & physiological condition.

Activities should be based on the puppy’s physical condition and individual exercise capabilities.

Bernedoodles need outdoor exercise to stay mentally and physically fit.

Fenced yards are a great place of convenience and safety.

Exercise should never be forced (like jogging or extended rough playing). 

Stairs should be minimal for the first year as much as possible.

No jumping up or down from bed & couches or truck beds.

Spay or Neuter

Spaying or neutering is highly recommended for your pup.

This is a sensible choice because altered dogs are usually calmer, easier to train, and less likely to wander.

Ask your veterinarian to explain in more detail the benefits of spay or neuter.

There is a lot of different information as to what age spaying/neutering should be done.

I recommend researching online and asking your veterinarian.

Vaccination

Your pup will have had its first vaccinations and the records will be given to you.

They will need the 2nd round four weeks after that date.

Then the 3rd round 1 month after that.

Please take caution as to where you take your new puppy until the entire series of puppy shots has been given (usually between 16-17 weeks of age). '

Avoid public places like pet stores, dog parks, rest areas, veterinarian office floors (people take sick animals there), etc.

I realize people want to show off their new puppy, but it really is best for your puppy’s health to avoid these places until he/she is completely immunized.

Until receiving all 3 puppy vaccines, your puppy is NOT fully protected against deadly contagious diseases such as parvovirus and distemper, etc.

Treats

Large frozen carrots are good things for puppy to nibble on when they are teething.

Large raw bones are great for your pups to keep occupied and help with teething.

Remember a bone needs to be at least double the size of your pup’s head.

Butcher shops have great bones.

Remember, always be raw.

If the bone gets gross, just wash it off, put it in a Ziploc bag, and refreeze.