CHILLIWACK LABRADOODLES PUP DATE!

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Good Evening Chilliwack Labradoodle Families!

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This is our seven-week Pup Date on the puppies from our Creamy Truffles Litter.​

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In the last Pup Date, we provided you with information regarding basic Grooming including Ear Care, Potty Training, and of course the Big Reveal!

 

This week we will provide you with information around Veterinarian, Vaccination, and Deworming. We will brainstorm creative and effective ways in which you can socialize and desensitize your puppies during the isolating time of COVID-19, a link on How to Groom Your Australian Labradoodle.  Finally, we will provide you with information and suggestions around "Bringing Your Puppy Home."

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Veterinarian

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If you have not already done so you should be inquiring after a Veterinarian for your new puppy. 

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During the Coronavirus epidemic, most veterinarians are only open for urgent care. However, you can still do your research and find a veterinarian. When looking for the right veterinarian for you we suggest that you phone a few clinics in your area and start off by speaking with the front staff.  Speak to your family and friends to gain information from them as to whom they could recommend as a veterinarian. 

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Information that may be important to you will likely be...

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-What are their hours? Are their hours convenient for what you need? 

-Does their office have a 24-hour vet on call? or will you need to seek after-hours Veterinary services elsewhere?  It is great if your vet does their own after-hours emergency services even if they rotate their after-hours shifts with other Veterinarians in the same office. This way they will have access to all of your puppy's history, and they will likely be able to answer some of your questions on the phone which could save you a late-night trip to the vet.

-Is the veterinarian familiar with Australian Labradoodles?

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If you decide this could be a potential Veterinarian for you ask if you can schedule an appointment for an interview with the Veterinarian. There will likely be the cost of consultation involved but it is important to make sure your new Veterinarian aligns with your beliefs in puppy health care. It is important to have a good relationship with your Veterinarian so that together you can decide on the best treatment options for your puppy/dog.

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Vaccinations

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Your puppy will have had his/her first vaccination and deworming before they come home to you. The next vaccination and deworming should be arranged for at least 4weeks after the first one, the third four weeks after the second vaccination, and deworming. Your veterinarian will advise you on this. When your puppy is 20 weeks old we suggest that you ask your Vet to do TiterTesting, which is a way they can determine if your puppy has sufficient immunity built up and therefore no longer needs vaccinations. We would also suggest having a follow-up TiterTesting done once they are three years old. Most often they will not need any follow-up booster vaccinations.

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Creative Socialization and Desensitization

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Most of what we are going to share with you are things we have already been practicing with your puppies and have always been a  part of our program. COVID-19 is a Pandemic that we are unfamiliar with within our human society, as breeder's life-threatening illnesses for our puppies and parents are a very real part of our everyday existence. Our puppies and mommas haven't completed their puppy shot series and are at higher risk for contracting illnesses such as parvo, long before The  Coronavirus surfaced. As part of the Chilliwack Labradoodles program, we have always taken safety precautions while still implementing some of the following ideas to help ensure your puppies come home desensitized and socialized to as many different things as possible. 

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During the Coronavirus pandemic, you can take advantage of extra time at home and help your puppy grow into a well-adjusted and well-trained adult. Social distancing with your dog might actually mean better-behaved dogs when life gets back to normal. During this time in our lives, we are unable to attend puppy classes however there are other things to focus on besides dog-dog interactions.  Socialization includes common experiences that your dog will have throughout their life and desensitizing them in a positive way to as many things as possible. We are able to do most of these things in the comfort of our own homes. Working on these things at home means fewer distractions, which will allow your puppy to focus and learn much more efficiently. During this pandemic, we can adhere to safety precautions and still take our puppies and dogs out to socialize.  Just do it from a minimum of a six-foot distance. 

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-Tactile experiences for your puppy

If your puppy cannot visit the groomer, bring the groomer to your puppy! Introduce your puppy to the bathtub, by simply letting him walk in an empty tub. Brush your puppy, clean her eyes, and clip her nails. Frequently touch, rub, and hold your puppy's feet, paws, ears, and chin. Introduce him to as many ground surfaces as possible, grass, mud, gravel, wobble boards, manholes, and uneven forest floors. Fill their X-pen or play area with new items daily, cookie sheets for them to walk over, large balls, or obstacles they have to squeeze or climb over or an empty water bottle (with the label removed) filled with different items such as rocks, sand or rice. 

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-Play different sounds in the background

Create a playlist, full of noises your puppy may experience in her lifetime. Sirens, household noises, and animal or nature sounds are just a few.  While you blow-dry your hair, do the dishes, sweep and vacuum be sure your puppy is in earshot. 

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-Introduce different scents to your puppy

Scatter kibble in the grass and have your puppy "Go Find It!"

If you have other animals in your home use a cloth to capture their scent and let your puppy smell the cloth.

Hide your puppy's favorite bone and have her seek it out.

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-Go for a Drive

This will help desensitize your puppy using many of his senses.

Drive to your local hospital (keep enough distance) roll your window down let your puppy hear the sirens, people walking outside, doors opening and shutting. Her nose will be sniffing everything around her.

Park in a grocery parking lot, a factory, close to a train track anywhere your puppy can see people walking, the noises, sights, and sounds of each environment are a great way to socialize your puppy.

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-Play Dress Up!

Dressing up in different hats, wigs, and costumes is another way to bring “new” people into your puppies’ lives without bringing strangers into your home. Dress-up can be important especially when we are isolated. Puppies and dogs startle when they see hats, beards, or brightly colored clothes if they have never seen them before! Pull out your Halloween costumes or your rain gear, get your whole family involved and have fun playing dress-up. 

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-Socialize From a Distance

Take your puppy on a safe walk let him see the people on the other side of the road, reward him for not barking. (have a keyword you use to identify "not barking.")

Chat with your neighbors from a distance with your dog at your side. 

Find an isolated area, follow safety precautions, and let your puppy explore nature.

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-Provide Lots of Puppy Brain Games

Use your Kong

Snuffle Mats are great!

Practice having your puppy come when called.

Set up a simple obstacle course for your puppy and teach them to walk, jump, or sit on mats as they move through the obstacle. Kids are creative and usually love to participate in these activities.

Interactive Toys

Food Puzzle Toys 

Mirrors

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While you are Socializing/Desensitizing your puppy the most important thing to remember is to ensure every experience for your puppy ends up being a positive one. Puppies may be fearful, and forcing them to accept petting, closely approaching people, or objects can overwhelm them and worsen their fear even more. Monitor and manage your puppies' response to situations.

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Labradoodles are social and sensitive dogs, they respond well to and learn by watch and listening for your tone of voice, facial and body expressions. Mark your dog's behaviors with treats and praise both verbal and physical by cuddling, petting, and play. If we change our tone of voice or remove ourselves from our puppy/dog's view these actions work well at letting the puppy know the behavior they were doing is not an acceptable one.  The greater the positively reinforced bond you have with your dog the quicker they will learn and repeat the good behaviors we are wanting from them. Your dog needs to trust you and feel confident in the mutual bond the two of you will build in order to learn the great long-term behaviors that you are seeking. Patience and consistency are what really works well for long-term learning and understanding of your fur baby. 

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How to Groom Your Australian Labradoodle!

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Your puppy will come home with its own personal folder containing important documents, in an upcoming Pup Date we will send out a video reviewing everything that is included in your puppy's personal folder.  For the sake of today's topic, one of the items you will find in the folder is a Grooming Card. 

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It will be months from the time you bring your puppy home to the time they actually will require a full groom. Regular brushing, nail, and eye trims will need to happen more regularly. We have provided you with a "How To Groom Your Australian Labradoodle," link below. For those of you daring enough to want to try! For the rest of us here's hoping our regular Groomer is open very soon!

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https://youtu.be/bWkJcGe8dUo

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Preparing for Puppy Pick-Up Day! 

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With the email to this Pup Date, we confirmed your pick-up date and provided you the location, and time your family is scheduled to pick up your puppy.  Some of the items we suggest you pack in your vehicle for pick-up day are:       

                           

-Collar and Leash                                                                       -Blanket

-Pee Pad                                                                                     -Small squeaky chew toy

-Crate with crate mat                                                                 -Treat pouch

-Bully Stick and Kong in the crate                                            -with poopy bags

-A bottle of water and water bowl                                             -and treats (even just kibble)                            

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On pick-up day leaving the harness at home would probably be best. There will be enough changes for your puppy and fussing with a harness for this initial experience will not be the most positive.

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We suggest that you leave your crate in the car when you arrive and prepare to pack your puppy out with you when you leave. If an adult or older calm person can hold the puppy for the ride home we suggest capitalizing on this by creating your puppy's first positive bonding experience with you. This time in the car is an important first with your puppy he will be using his sense of smell, sight, and hearing to associate himself with his new "Pack." So you will want the car ride to be a calm, quiet, nurturing, and smooth ride. You want to convey to your puppy right from the beginning that you are a safe person, that he can feel secure, and that he can trust you will take good care of him. 

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When you arrive at home pack your puppy to where you have decided to have her go pee. Let her have a potty break. Bring her in and let her explore your puppy areas.  After twenty minutes or so then take her back out to pee. If she drinks water in between you may want to take her pee sooner. 

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Over the hours and days to come, remember everything your puppy is experiencing is new! They are in a new home, their routines have changed, every person in the house is different, the house does not have a familiar smell, not to mention they have just left their momma and all of their littermates this may translate into a diminished appetite or a change in stool. If your puppy starts having loose stool or appears constipated we recommend you add a tablespoon of canned pumpkin to their meals this will quickly correct the problem. Pumpkin is a great natural high fiber source that we use for our puppies and dogs as well. 

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Labradoodles tend to have a low food drive. They enjoy food but it is not their focus so if your puppy seems disinterested in her food in the upcoming days, no need to worry. They can skip a meal and they will be just fine.  If your puppy is not eating sitting down beside your puppy and trying to get her to eat some kibble from your hand may very well help encourage her to eat. After she has eaten a bit from you stand up and let her try on her own again, she likely will start picking at it on her own. 

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At this time I would like to leave you a couple of links to BAXTER and Bella's FREE Podcasts, you can find these and many other free informative podcasts on their website. The two links I am providing you are directly related and provide great information regarding bringing your puppy home for the first time! You can listen to the Podcasts in the car and provides great information for the kiddos. 

https://www.baxterandbella.com/podcast/episode/4b5d0b30/episode-43-realistic-expectations

 

https://www.baxterandbella.com/podcast/episode/49e6f561/episode-45-pacing-and-the-loose-leash-walk​

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I can hardly believe in days the puppies will get to meet their forever families!

We love the playful inner confidence of this litter, they are curious while still having sensibility. Once you bring your puppy home it will continue to grow and develop its little personality. Puppies mirror their environment and will adapt to your lifestyle and home which is why it will be important to have conversations as a family about bringing forward a calm consistent environment to help nurture a calm mannerism in your puppy.

 

​I will go through each puppy in the order of birth.