10 Perfect Christmas Gifts For Doodle Lovers
Not sure what to buy for the crazy doodle lover on your Christmas list? Here are 10 handmade, personalized gifts that will delight any doodle and doodle pawrent!A custom doodle portraitCertain to become the focal point of any room, a hand designed portrait of a beloved fur baby will bring tears to the eyes of any doodle lover. Be sure to select a picture that captures the doodle personality and playfulness (Facebook and Instagram might be great places to snag a picture of a certain doodle relative while still keeping the gift a secret from her pawrants). Stylized yet personalized doodle artwork is sure be a Christmas sensation as well. A personalized doodle ornamentNothing says Merry Christmas like having a special ornament for that special furry family member. Crafted wooden ornaments personalized with the year and doodle’s name are sure to be a treasure for any doodle lover. Doodle parent attireFrom a cute “Wine More, Bark Less” tank top to an ugly doodle Christmas sweater to a trendy doodle tee, every doodle parent will be excited to add some new doodle attire to the wardrobe. A festive collar or necktieYou won’t be able to keep this gift wrapped until Christmas! Doodles need a collar for every occasion, so dazzle your favorite doodle lover with a festive snowflake Christmas collar or reversible holiday bandana. A doodle must be dressed to impress for the annual family Christmas photo! Dog leash & treat holderPractical, personalized, and Pottery Barn cute, handmade dog leash & treat holders can be completely customized, making them the perfect gift. Not only do they feature the fur baby’s names, but you can even select the color and size to best match decor. Doodle doormatEvery doodle lover will be delighted to wipe their paws on a welcoming hand-painted doodle doormat. Pick out the perfect color and surprise your favorite doodle lover with this practical, decorative, personalized gift. A doodle coffee mugDoodles & coffee are two things that make this world a better place. A personalized doodle coffee mug combines both into one creative gift! Doodle car decalEvery doodle pawrant needs a doodle car decal. Pair with a customized doodle key chain for a delightful, inexpensive Christmas gift. Doggie Christmas cookiesYou will undoubtedly be the favorite aunt or uncle as soon as that doodle nose detects a treat jar filled to the brim with delicious doggie Christmas cookies! Chances are, no human will need to assist in the unwrapping of this gift! A healthy, yummy dog chewDoodles love a good chew toy. And doodle owners appreciate a quality dog chew that will keep their favorite dood occupied during all of the holiday prep. RidgeRunner antlers are hand-collected off of the forest floor each year after the elk naturally shed them. The antlers are then cut and sized by this small family-owned business to make delicious, lasting dog chews. Read more about elk antlers and other dog chews in our power chewer post. Don’t forget a doodle stocking stufferWho doesn’t need a little stress relief during the busy holiday hustle & bustle? Goldendoodle lovers will enjoy the beautifully designed pages of this newly released doodle coloring book, making it the perfect stocking stuffer this Christmas.
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Teaching Basic Commands
1 Teach your dog to sit. It is essential for your goldendoodle to obey basic commands, such as "sit", "stay", and "come." If your dog obeys these instantaneously, you can control it in pretty much any situation. Begin this training with the "sit" command, and then follow with other commands once your dog has mastered "sit."
2 Teach "Stay" once he has mastered "Sit". Put the puppy into a sit and then hold your hand up, palm towards the puppy in a "Stop" signal. Say "Stay" and take a small step back. Wait for a few seconds to ensure the pup doesn't move, then pat your thighs and call the puppy's name and say "Come" a bright voice. Reward him when he runs to you. 3 Teach the dog to "come." To teach come, play with the puppy and take a couple of steps away from it. A puppy's natural instinct is to stay close to their mother, or minder, and so it will run to rejoin you. As soon as it moves toward you click your clicker or say "come," and then give it a treat when it arrives.
4 Use repetition and don't get discouraged. Keep repeating this desired action until the dog gets the hang of things, which may take quite awhile. Using these basic principles, you can train a dog to do more complex commands or tricks.
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Set up the crate. The idea behind crate training is to create a space that belongs to the puppy which is their den. Choose a crate that is big enough for the puppy to stand up in without banging its head, and can lie down with its legs stretched out. An average male Goldendoodle can stand 2 feet (0.61 m) tall to the shoulder, so take this into account when choosing a crate.
2 Encourage the dog to explore the crate on its own. Puppies readily learn to like the crate if you help them to discover that it is a place where good things happen. Seed it with treats for the puppy to pop in and discover. Feed the dog in the crate so that it associates the crate with meal times.
3 Gradually begin shutting the door. Once the dog is popping in regularly to investigate if any treats have appeared, you can start to shut the door. At first this is just for a few seconds, perhaps while the dog is eating. When it is calm and quiet with the door closed, give it lots of praise.
4 Don't reward discontent. If the puppy cries while in the crate, don't release him while it is crying. If you respond to its cries then it will have trained you to let it out, and it may become ever more vocal if you don't do so. Instead, wait until the dog is quiet and then set it free, so that the good behavior is rewarded. Toilet Training Your Goldendoodle
1 Start toilet training your goldendoodle as soon as you bring it home. Set up a puppy room in which the dog will sleep and eat, rather than letting it roam all over the house. Letting it roam your whole home will make potty training more difficult, as you will have a harder time keeping track of what it is doing. Take the puppy straight out to the spot that you intend it to use as a toilet. Pop it down on the spot and if the dog happens to 'go,' give it heaps of praise.
2 Don't get discouraged and be vigilant. Of course potty training doesn't happen instantaneously and you need to stick at it. Training requires the puppy to learn where it is meant to go, and where it shouldn't go. To teach the later means constant vigilance. Watch it indoors like a hawk and when the dog shows the earliest signs of wanting to toilet, such as sniffing with great concentration or sidling up to objects, then pick it up and take it outside to the toilet spot. Then when the dog goes in the right place, lavish it with praise. 3 ake the dog out frequently. An adult dog that has never been potty trained should be able to hold it for several hours once trained. However, to increase your success rate, take an 8 week old puppy outside every 20-30 minutes. If you can't be with the puppy in between toilet stops, then pop it in its crate rather than letting it go to the bathroom in the house. Also, puppies tend to toilet about 20 minutes after eating, so put him outside after each meal, and likewise immediately after eating. 4 Clean up accidents thoroughly. If the dog or puppy does have an accident indoors, be sure to thoroughly clean it up. There should be no lingering odor left behind once you have cleaned it.
With all things puppy on the brain, we want to talk about some training tips.
1 Use rewards-based training. Modern dog training methods are based on rewards and encouragement, rather than punishment. This teaches the dog that when they perform a desired action, such as "Sit" or "Stay", they get a reward.
2 Avoid using punishment for training. Harsh methods that involve dominating the dog are out-dated. While these methods might appear to work, the dog is behaving out of fear of punishment from the owner, rather than thinking for itself and making decisions about what it appropriate behavior and what is not.
3 Use rewards that your dog will respond to. The goldendoodle is a food-motivated dog, which makes giving small food rewards an ideal way of motivating your dog and rewarding those behaviors you wish to teach. However, rewards come in all shapes and sizes, and range from food tidbits to praise or play with a toy. Key to successful training is to work out what your dog will work for. If it likes playing with a tug toy, then a brief game of tug could be your way of motivating him. 4 Consider using clicker training. Many people who choose to reward their dog with small treats can pair this with clicker training. Clicker training is a neat way of marking a desired behavior, to let the dog know what they are being rewarded for. The principal behind clicker training is to first teach the dog to link the click-clack of the clicker to getting a reward. Then you make the desired action with the click-clack
5 Do frequent but brief training sessions with puppies. Remember your puppy has a short attention span, so several 5 minute sessions spaced over the day are better for an 8 - 10 week old puppy than one long session. Gradually increase the length of the training session as its concentration and stamina improves. 6 Always end your session on a positive note. If the dog or puppy is getting distracted, bring the training session to a close with a simple command you know it can do. This will allow you to praise it and leave it feeling happy with itself. I can not tell you how excited we are with this news! We are taking applications and answering messages. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Did you know that a surprising number of dog toys sold in the United States contain carcinogens? I find this new terrifying, both for my dogs and for our children! We recently started playing with Jolly Pet dog toys because they’re all non-toxic (and they’re fun!).
Jolly Pets was founded in 1994 as an offshoot of the parent company Horsemen’s Pride. Horsemen’s Pride has been designing and manufacturing horse toys for over Horsemen’s Pride, the parent company of Jolly Pets, designed and manufactured the original Jolly Ball for horses over 40 years ago. As a result of the company’s good reputation and success creating horse toys, they started designing durable dog toys under the name Jolly Pets in 1994. Jolly Pets now produces over 20 unique, long lasting dog chews, balls, animals, and discs. Best of all, Jolly Pets dog toys are non-toxic and many are made in the USA. Additionally all toys are backed by a manufacturer’s guarantee. Here are a few products you might want to try: The Jolly Tuff TreaderAs soon as the package arrived, our dogs somehow knew it was for them. Their obvious excitement even before we opened the box only increased when we pulled out the Jolly Tuff Treader and bounced it across the room. Jolly Pets makes some awesome dog products both dogs and their humans are sure to love. Are you looking to spice up the game of fetch? Is your dog a tug-of-war fan? Does your dog enjoy tossing toys into the air? If so, the Jolly Tuff Treader might be your dream come true. Our dogs love playing with this toy. The bouncing nature makes for an entertaining game of fetch, especially on our hardwood floors. The tire’s haphazard bouncing delights our dogs. This uniquely designed tire with a handle is also perfect for dogs who like tug-of-war. Since it’s made out of tough rubber, the Tuff Treader has received raving reviews from many power chewers. In our experience though, the Tuff Treader is a great option for moderate chewers but may not stand up to power chewers. It also might not be the best toy choice for teething puppies. The Jolly Tuff Tosser If your dog loves tennis balls (and what doodle doesn’t?), you need the Jolly Tuff Tosser! Jolly Tuff Tosser is the favorite Jolly toy at our home. It’s friendly for power chewers yet perfect for fetch. Every doodle parent should spare the $5 to give this ball a try! The Tuff Tosser is durable, it bounces, and it dispenses treats. We periodically stuff our dogs’ kibble inside, allowing them to exercise their brains while eating breakfast. Nosing the ball along allows causes the ball to easily dispense the kibble. While it’s not the most challenging treat dispenser on the market, it does make a great slow feeder. The 3” ball holds about ¾ cup of medium sized adult kibble and 1 cup of puppy. The Tuff Tosser is carefully designed with two holes so it won’t accidentally suction to your dog’s mouth. Note: this ball does not float The Jolly Bounce-N-PlayIs your pup an Aussiedoodle, borderdoodle or sheepadoodle? Does your dog love playing soccer? For herding breeds and dogs that enjoy nudging objects with their noses, the Bounce-N-Play is a sure hit. This ball is designed for dogs to push around with their noses rather than carry it in their mouths. Since Bounce-N-Play balls are too large for most dogs to wrap their jaws around, they’re a great toy option for power chewers. If your dog manages to make a rough area on the ball with her teeth, sand it down and it’s ready for more fun. With 4.5 stars on Amazon, the Bounce-N-Play is a toy you want to try! Which Jolly Pets Toy Will My Dog Like Best?Because every dog is unique, Jolly Pets has a toy finder that helps you determine which Jolly toy is best for your individual dog based on her size, preferences, and tendencies. Here’s a quick comparison of the three Jolly Pets toys in our home: Budgeting For A Goldendoodle
Families considering a new puppy often wonder how much to budget for adding a dog to their home. Here’s a breakdown of the annual costs associated with owning a goldendoodle: (Keep in mind that a bigger goldendoodle costs more to own than a smaller goldendoodle.) Basic Annual Costs of Owning a Goldendoodle:
If you total up the numbers, you’ll find that you should budget around $1000-$1100 per year for owning a 25lb goldendoodle. I assure you that the love, affection, and joy you receive from owning a goldendoodle will far outweigh any associated financial costs! Other Expenses To Consider:
No Pull Solutions
Enthusiastic dogs approach every aspect of life with passion and energy. When it comes to walking, that enthusiasm can translate into arm wrenching pulling, turning what should be a relaxing walk into a stressful, dangerous event. Don’t let your dog’s enthusiasm for walks keep you both inside! While training is clearly the best option, sometimes a little something extra to aid in pulling prevention is helpful, especially if your young children like holding the leash. So what’s the best no-pull device? Just Say “No” To The Collar!Before we jump into the no-pull solutions, let’s start by a quick look at why collars aren’t an ideal option. Collars certainly have their place, but attaching a leash to the collar of an enthusiastic puller could have some dire consequences. One quick glance at this pamphlet from Freedogz.com, and you’ll be wholeheartedly convinced that collars should be avoided with strong pullers. From muscular, nervous, and spinal pain to tracheal injury, this pamphlet walks through the possible problems that may result from either using a collar on a puller or from pulling hard on a leash hooked to a dog’s collar. Additionally, Andres Hallgren, a Swedish dog psychologist, published the results of his canine chiropractic study in a book entitled Back Problems in Dogs. Hallgren reports observing neck damage in the majority of dogs whose leashes had been pulled hard while wearing a collar. If your dog pulls – or if you might be tempted to give the leash a quick, firm jerk – avoid attaching a leash to your pup’s collar for walks. No one wants to unintentionally injure their beloved pet. Two Effective No-Pull SolutionsA Pain Free Walk For Dogs & OwnersTraining is always the preferred method for preventing pulling, but sometimes an extra tool is needed while you work on teaching your dog to contain her enthusiasm for the great outdoors or to walk politely past other dogs. Here are two popular no-pull solutions: DexDog’s EZTrainer No-Pull Front Attachment Clip Dog HarnessWe have tried the DexDog no-pull harness with five different dogs (poodles & goldendoodles) over the past year and have been pleased with the results everytime. All of the dogs seemed comfortable wearing the harness – in fact none of them seemed to even notice it was there. We’ve also lent it out to other poodle & doodle owners. They have likewise been pleased with the results. If your dog pulls, give the DexDog No-Pull Harness a try! The Pros:
PetSafe Gentle LeaderYou’re tired of your dog walking you, but you’re not convinced that the no-pull harness is right for your pet? Don’t worry! There’s a second great no-pull device that you just might love: PetSafe’s gentle leader head collar. It’s a halter, like those used with horses, redesigned for your dog. Since the leash snaps under your pup’s chin, attempts at pulling will turn her nose towards you, giving you a teaching opportunity. A veterinarian and dog behaviorist teamed up over 30 years ago to invent the gentle leader, a pain-free no-pull device that has since become incredibly popular worldwide. Pros:
No-Pull Made EasyThere you have it: DexDog’s no pull harness and PetSafe’s gentle leader. Both of these products are great options for preventing pulling while you work on training your dog to walk nicely on a leash. Don’t let your dog’s enthusiasm for walks keep you both inside. If you want immediate results, try the no-pull harness. If you are willing to invest 2 weeks of positive reinforcement training, go for the gentle leader. Better yet, try both and determine which is the perfect solution for your pet. Have you tried DexDog’s no pull harness and PetSafe’s gentle leader with your furry friend? We’d love to hear about! Leave a comment sharing your experience! |
AuthorMidlo Mini Goldendoodles Archives
August 2020
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