~Puppy Care Instructions & Information~

Feeding, vaccinations, training, exercise, etc…

Feeding: Your Cascade Mountain Labradoodle has been fed a combination of raw and high quality dry kibble.  Your puppy should be given adequate quantities of whichever HIGH QUALITY food you decide to feed. 

Recommendations:

Under 4 months – feed three times per day.
4-6 months – feed twice daily.
6-12 months – feed twice daily.
Over 12 months – feed once daily.

(If you decide to feed a combination of raw and kibble, feed one in the morning and one in the evening.  Feeding both at the same time can cause an upset stomach.)

You can incorporate raw foods easily into your puppy’s diet, even if you plan on using dry kibble as their main source of food.  Yogurt, raw, scrambled, or hard boiled eggs, cheese, blueberries, apples and carrots.  These are easy snacks that your labradoodle will enjoy.  Raw meaty bones are a good source of nutrition and an excellent way to keep your Labradoodles teeth clean. 

Recommended dry kibble: EVO, Canidae, and Natures Variety.

Recommended prepared raw food: Wet Noses and Natures Variety.

NEVER FEED YOUR PUPPY COOKED BONES OF ANY KIND!

Vaccinations: Your Cascade Mountain Labradoodle puppy will have received all age-appropriate vaccinations before leaving for its new family.  A vaccination card will be included in his/her information packet, along with his/her microchip information. 

Please bring both of these items to your puppy’s first veterinarian appointment within 72 hours of arrival in your home.  Upon arrival at your veterinarian’s office, please place your puppy in your lap or in their crate.  (waiting rooms floors can be very unsanitary).  Please avoid contact with other animals until your Cascade Mountain Labradoodle puppy has received his/her full series of vaccination.  Avoid pet stores, pet parks, etc. until your puppy has received his/her full series of vaccinations.

Do not let your veterinarian over vaccinate your Cascade Mountain Labradoodle.  If your puppy is receiving shots, ask questions and make sure he/she is not receiving a cocktail of shots that includes something they have already had. 

Your Bill of Sale and Health Guarantee requires that your puppy visits a veterinarian within the first 72 hours of his/her arrival.  This stipulation ensures the health of your puppy, especially if he/she has been flown to your destination.

To Crate or Not to Crate: Your puppy will arrive in a crate appropriate to his/her size.  Cascade Mountain Labradoodles highly recommends crate training your puppy.  This method facilitates potty training and reduces anxiety.  Metal crates that your puppy can easily see out of are recommended and many of these crates come with a divider that can be moved as your puppy grows and potty trains.  (A crate that is too large may encourage your puppy to potty on one side and sleep and play on the other).

Make your puppy’s crate comfortable by having a soft blanket or pad, stuffed toys, hard chewing toys, etc, or rawhide chews if you are home. 

Cascade Mountain Labradoodles does not recommend keeping your puppy in a crate for extended periods of time.  If you are going to be away from home during the day an outdoor kennel or safe fully enclosed yard is recommended. 

Potty Training: Successfully potty training any puppy requires diligence on the owner’s part.  Upon waking, after eating or drinking, after play, and after excitement your puppy will need to go out.  

The first few months you should expect accidents and to find yourself outside A LOT!  A restricted area or crate will help make potty training easier.  When you are taking your puppy out to potty remember that this will not be play time… this is potty time.  Have treats on hand when your puppy potties in the appropriate place.  If your puppy has an accident, try to interrupt them and take them out to where they should be going. 

I have found that corporal punishment does not facilitate potty training and can confuse the issue entirely. 

Best tips:

Be organized and ready to head outdoors immediately.  You should have a leash on hand, shoes and coat by the door (with treats in the pocket). 

Upon waking, take your puppy out immediately.  As soon as your puppy awakens, his/her bladder will awaken as well.  Nine times out of ten, if you get up, go make coffee, turn on the news, and use the restroom before taking your puppy out, he/she will have used the restroom too!

Restrict your puppies free access areas to a place where you can keep an eye on them at all times.  If you are cooking dinner, have your puppy in the kitchen.  If you are watching television, have your puppy in the living room.  If you can’t pay attention to your puppy, have them in a crate or outdoors.

Be patient and diligent… your puppy will potty train!

Exercise: Allow your puppy lots of free play time.  This is essential to his/her development and mental well-being.  If you are unable to let your puppy run freely in a safe environment, walking on a leash is a good alternative.  If you plan to exercise with your new family member, please give him/her a chance to grow up first.  Do not take your new puppy jogging until after one year of age.  Walking 15-30 minutes once a day is appropriate for a 3 month old puppy, 45 minutes to 1 hour for a 6-9 month old puppy once a day and up to an hour twice a day for 9-12 months.  Give your puppy as much free play time as you can manage.

Things to avoid: 

Stairs – DO NOT let your puppy repetitively climb stairs before one year of age.

Slippery Floors – AVOID having your puppy run freely on slippery floors.

Jumping – AVOID jumping from high places, including jumping for frisbees, tennis balls, in and out of tall vehicles. 

Training: Cascade Mountain Labradoodles highly recommends training for puppies.  This can be simply at home training to learn sit, stay, down, and leash training.  Basic Puppy Obedience classes can be a way to start a solid foundation for your relationship with your puppy.  If you have other pets or children, it can be difficult to train your puppy in the home if there are other distractions.  Make sure to keep training sessions of a short duration since your puppy has a short attention span. 

Caution: If you have purchased a labradoodle as a family companion, make sure a solid foundation has been built in regards to training.  Most young children will stop playing entirely with an overly rambunctious puppy that nips, jumps, etc.  Having a pet is a huge responsibility that most children under the age of 16 may not be ready to undertake without the help and supervision of an adult.