CHILLIWACK LABRADOODLES PUP DATE!

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Good Evening Chilliwack Labradoodle Families. This is our six-week Pup Date for the puppies from our Chocolate Confetti Cake litter.

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In the last Pup Date, we provided information around Exercise, Puppy Food/Eating Routine, and Alone Time For Your Puppy. We enjoy reading over the returned Chilliwack Labradoodle Family Questionnaire and look forward to receiving those remaining.

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In this week's Pup Date we would like to go over basic Grooming including Ear Care. As well if you haven't already done so we would like to encourage you to learn more about The BAXTER and Bella online dog training program. At Chilliwack Labradoodles, we believe two of the most important things you can provide for your puppy are training and socialization! These two things will help to ensure your puppy will perform the wanted behaviors we all strive for in our dogs as well as create positive, strong bonds between family members and fur-babies. To learn more simply click on the link I have provided to the BAXTER and Bella page of our website!

https://www.chilliwacklabradoodles.com/chilliwack-labradoodles-puppy-train

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Last but certainly not least this week we will talk a bit about Potty Training!​

 

Finally, the moment you have all been waiting for  "THE BIG REVEAL" Which puppy will be your forever fur baby!

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Grooming

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Labradoodles need to be groomed typically every 4-6 weeks. 

Depending on how short or long you prefer their coat and how much maintenance bushing you do between grooms.

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For maintenance between grooms we suggest:

Either spend 10 minutes each day brushing your dog. Alternating between areas of your dog's body.

Or setting aside time once per week and giving your dog a full body brush. 

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Check with your groomer as to what services they will provide while your dog is with them. Typically a full groom entails bath, blow dry, hair, and nail clipping. Ask if they clean inside your dog's ears? Labradoodles have floppy ears and they tend to be quite hairy inside. We never pluck their inner ear hair as the hair is there for a reason; it is to help wick moisture away. Also plucking their ears opens up the pore making it more susceptible to infection. Trimming of the inner ear is acceptable, never plucking. 

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The length and style you choose to keep your doodle are entirely up to you. We prefer our dogs to have about a two-inch hair length. We send all of our puppies home with their own personal folder, one of the items in your puppies folder will be a Labradoodle Grooming Card.  You can bring this card to your groomer as an example of what an Australian Labradoodle Groom looks like. We suggest finding pictures of your favorite doodle groom and bringing them with you to your appointment.  

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Ear Care for Labradoodles

 

Floppy ear dogs such as the Australian Labradoodles can be susceptible to ear infections. Since their ears are floppy they can retain moisture which may cause infection. In order to prevent ear infections try to keep your dog's ears dry. ​

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How will you know if your dog has an ear infection? 

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-Constant scratching at the ears or chin, especially if they are scratching on one side.

-While you are brushing your dog's ear if they cry, they likely have an ear infection.

-If you smell your dog's ear and it smells foul or yeasty, or if your dog's ear is hot to the touch chances are your dog has an ear infection. 

If you suspect an ear infection you will want to take your dog to the vet. 

 

A nice pink clean ear indicates a healthy one. 

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There are two routes to go to treat this infection the most common course will be for your vet to prescribe an antibiotic drop, usually Surolan. Dogs can become resistant to Surolan.

 

If our dog ends up with future ear infections another option we choose to use is a 100% natural product Zymox. It is also available from Amazon. We use this every day for one week. It breaks everything up incredibly well. 

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The best course of action to prevent ear infections is to ensure their ears are dry after grooming, bathing, and water sports. If you are taking your dog swimming and boating drying their ears will be something you want to stay on top of. 

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If you are interested here are the links to the ear products we use on our own dogs.

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Alternate ear infection treatment we use:  Zymox

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005H4ZNC4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Please note if you are a Chilliwack Labradoodles Guardian Home we require collaborative care for all of our puppies and dogs alike. Any decisions made with regard to treatment must be one we have discussed and agreed upon including ear care. 

 

 

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What is the best way to toilet train my puppy?

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At Chilliwack Labradoodles, we find Crate training is a very successful way to train your puppy.  Puppies do not like to eliminate in their beds.  

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Your puppy will need to sleep where you can hear it. If your puppy begins to whine in his crate or make noises immediately get up, leash your puppy while she is still in the crate, pick your puppy up out of the crate and pack it outside to your "potty place." (Try to avoid taking your puppy out of the crate while it is pawing at the crate, the second he/she is not pawing quickly open the crate and say "let's go potty." If you are continually retrieving your puppy exactly when they whine or paw crate they will get the message that, "ahhh, if I do this my owner will let me out." They will think you want them to do that behavior.)  You will find having a consistent and familiar word that everyone in the household uses to key the puppy to potty is very important. For example, our word is "Go Potty." Your puppy/dog will want to sniff around that is ok for a bit. We do not walk around we stand still let the puppy roam as far as the leash allows, only in the area we have designated for potty. We say "go potty!" The second the puppy goes potty, in our happy voice, smiley face, we say good potty!! We reward her with a small liver treat or whatever treat you choose. Puppies recognize by your facial expressions and tone of voice if we are happy with what they are doing and will more likely continue that behavior. The treat reinforces to them that "ahh that is what "go potty," means! If your puppy continues to sniff around let her for a few more minutes just in case they have more business to do. Do not let them take too long as we want them to understand this is "potty time" not playtime. If this is indeed the middle of the night pack her back to the crate and tuck her in.  Every time they potty give them a treat and be very excited and happy for them! Australian Labradoodles are very intelligent and this will speed potty training or any training up, it is a way of positively reinforcing the good behavior that you want from them.

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Throughout the day use the same method as described above when having to take your puppy out to go potty.  First thing in the morning will be her first potty break.  Each time whether it is night or day and your puppy is coming out of her crate she will need to be taken potty. After each meal and each drink of water, your puppy will need to be taken potty.  After your puppy has eaten a meal wait for about 10 minutes and you take it out for potty.  If she doesn't eliminate, take your puppy in and put her in her crate. (Remember crate time is a positive time, have a bone or special toy for her in there.) Wait for 10-20 minutes, take the puppy out potty again. If your puppy eliminates this time praise and rewards her. If she does not eliminate bring her back into the crate, keep repeating until she eliminates.  The more consistent you are with this in the early weeks will instill to the puppy that this is how potty time works and they will learn quickly what is expected of them.  The more often your puppy potties in the house the harder it will be to break that behavior. Every puppy has learned behaviors whether they are wanted or unwanted behaviors that is why we need to consistently promote good behaviors for both the puppy and ourselves long-term relationship and success. 

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A tool that can train your puppy to let you know when he/she needs to potty is to place a bell on your door and each time you take him/her to potty ring it-eventually they will catch on and begin to ring the bell when they need to be let out. 

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You will get to know your puppy and will soon be increasing these times to longer periods.  It will not take long for your puppy to know which door they need to wait to go potty. Or which area of the yard is their potty spot. Your consistency and patience in the short term will pay off for many years to come!

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The puppies are loving their kibble mush and getting much better at eating more than they wear! This week we have been working with the puppies on socialization/desensitization. The puppies continue to play with their Sensory Gymnasium they enjoy it so much we have put a mini one into their nursery! Not only is this gymnasium fun but it helps the puppies become desensitized to different noises, textures, shapes, sizes, and colours. It helps them to learn how to navigate obstacles, gain confidence in our world, and become resilient.   The puppies love their outdoor time and are constantly exploring and learning! We continue to spend one-to-one time with each puppy, exposing them to different surfaces, textures, and sounds. We are taking notes on their reactions to every new experience while they are with their Momma and Littermates or out on their own.

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This week we have also increased their nursery size and taken most of the puppy pads out of their nursery leaving them with exposed flooring which is one more step in the potty training process. More often than not they will migrate over to where the puppy pads are to do their business, this is progress!

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Let's take a look at how each of the Australian Labradoodles is doing this week.

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