Bordoodle Puppy Care Tips
Your Puppy Arrives Home
When bringing your new Bordoodle puppy home, it's important to create a safe and comfortable space, introduce them to their new environment gradually, and focus on positive reinforcement and building trust. This includes providing a designated area with a crate, familiar bedding, food and water, and plenty of opportunities for exploration and positive interactions. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Prepare Your Home:
- Puppy-proof: Remove or secure hazards like electrical cords, toxic plants, and small objects that could be choking hazards.
- Create a safe space: Designate a room or area where your puppy can retreat and feel secure, ideally with a crate, toys, and comfortable bedding.
- Gather supplies: Have food, water bowls, a collar, leash, and puppy-friendly toys ready.
First Introductions:
- Calm and quiet arrival: Keep the initial introduction calm and low-key, avoiding overwhelming the puppy with too much stimulation or too many people at once.
- Yard exploration: Allow the puppy to explore their new yard prior to entering your home. Your puppy will typically urinate and thus establishing their new "potty" spot (not in your house). Allow your puppy at least 10 to 15 minutes for sniffing and investigating their surroundings.
- Home exploration: After your puppy has explored the yard, bring your puppy inside and allow then to explore one controlled area of your home at a time. Watch your puppy closely and remember to take your puppy out to the yard at least once every hour over the first few days. At night, take out just once in the middle of the night over the first few days. After a few days your puppy should then sleep all night long (7 to 8 hours).
- Positive reinforcement: Use treats and praise to create positive associations with new experiences and interactions.
- Gentle handling: When interacting, speak in a gentle, soothing tone and offer a gentle touch, allowing the puppy to approach you.
This video demonstrates how to create a calm and positive first introduction to your new puppy, including letting them explore their new space and how to approach them for positive interactions:
Feeding Your Bordoodle Puppy
Feeding your Bordoodle puppy requires a balanced approach that considers their age, size, and activity level. Generally, young puppies need to eat more frequently (3-4 times a day) than older puppies (2 times a day). High-quality puppy food with meat as the first ingredient and a balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates is crucial for healthy growth. Always ensure fresh water is available.
Feeding Schedule:
- 8-12 weeks: Feed 3 times a day, offering up to 2/3 to 1 cup per feeding for most Bordoodle puppies.
- 4-6 months: Feed 2 times a day, gradually increasing to 1 to 1.5 cup per feeding for most Bordoodle pups.
- 6-12 months: Continue with 2 meals a day, with 1.5 to 2 cups per feeding for most Bordoodles.
- 12+ months: Continue with 2 meals a day, adjusting the amount based on your dog's size and activity level, potentially reaching 2 to 3 cups for most Bordoodle puppies.
Tips for Feeding:
- Soak kibble: When introducing dry food, soak it in warm water until soft to make it easier to chew.
- Consider adding toppers: Raw or cooked meat, eggs, fish, yogurt, and vegetables can be healthy additions.
- Fresh water: Always provide a bowl of fresh water, especially after meals.
- Potty breaks: Be prepared for potty breaks after meals and water consumption.
- Monitor weight: If your puppy seems skinny or underweight, consult with your vet to adjust the food quantity and feeding schedule.
Manners:
- Positive Reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement (praise and treats) when teaching your puppy good eating habits.
- Don't Take Away Food: Don't take food away from your puppy while they are eating, as this can create anxiety around mealtimes.
- Routines: Feeding at the same times each day helps establish a routine and can make potty training easier
Bordoodle Puppy Grooming
Grooming a Bordoodle at home requires regular brushing to prevent mats and tangles, especially with a Bordoodle's ongoing growth of their luscious coat. Bathing, trimming, and nail care are also essential parts of the grooming routine. A general grooming schedule for dogs involves brushing 1-4 times per week, bathing every 4-6 weeks, and nail trims every 3-6 weeks. Professional grooming sessions when you desire to leave longer or curly coats are typically needed every 4-6 weeks. The specific frequency depends on the dog's breed, coat type, lifestyle, and individual needs. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Brushing:
- Frequency: 1-4 times per week.
- Purpose: Prevents matting, distributes oils, and minimizes shedding.
- Long-haired coats: Daily brushing is recommended to prevent mats and tangles.
- Short-haired coats: A weekly brushing is usually sufficient.
Bathing:
- Frequency: Every 4-6 weeks, or as needed based on your dog's activity level and cleanliness.
- Important Note: Avoid over-bathing as it can strip the skin of essential oils, consult with your veterinarian for specific advice.
Nail Trims:
- Frequency: Every 3-6 weeks.
- Importance: Overgrown nails can cause pain and mobility issues.
Professional Grooming:
- Frequency: Every 4-8 weeks, or as needed, especially for Bordoodles with longer coats.
- Breeds: Dogs with long, curly, or double coats (like Poodles, Shih Tzus, and Golden Retrievers) typically require more frequent professional grooming.
- Benefits: Professional groomers can handle tasks like trimming, de-shedding, and ear cleaning, which can be difficult to do at home.
Other Considerations:
- Individual Needs: Factors like activity level, lifestyle, and breed-specific needs should be considered when creating a grooming schedule.
- Consult with Professionals: If you're unsure about the best grooming schedule for your dog, consult with your veterinarian or a professional groomer
Starting grooming early with a puppy can help them become comfortable with the process.
Bordoodle Puppy Training
Training a young puppy involves starting early, keeping sessions short and positive, and using rewards like treats and praise to encourage desired behaviors. Consistency and patience are key, as is creating a positive association with training through fun and engaging activities. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Start Early and Keep it Short:
- Training can begin as soon as your puppy comes home, even with very short sessions.
- Puppies have short attention spans, so keep training sessions brief (5-10 minutes) and frequent.
- Aim for several short sessions throughout the day rather than one long session.
2. Positive Reinforcement is Key:
- Use positive reinforcement techniques like treats, praise, and toys to reward good behavior.
- Find what motivates your puppy – it could be food, toys, or affection.
- Ignore or redirect undesirable behavior instead of punishing it.
- When your puppy is learning a new behavior, reward even small steps in the right direction