Monitor Your Puppies Growth.
Your puppy has been well socialized and monitored for proper growth. Tactile stimulation starts from birth as well as careful handling and making sure each individual puppy gets as much human contact as possible. At 6-7 weeks of age the puppies have a bit of independent time away from mom, giving her a break and being reunited with her after completing time spent with each other and interacting with people. At 7 weeks the puppies have been dewormed twice, and now have their health check ups, vaccinations and microchips. They usually can go to their new homes at 8 - 9 weeks of age. The rest of the puppy training is up to you. Puppies like people are reward motivated. Consistency, keeping a schedule and offer a word of praise or reward will keep your puppy on a path to success. What effort you put in to your puppies (especially during the critical 2 - 4 month age period) can be measured by the success that will be rewarded in the end, by a good mannered puppy that has good energy and is easy to live with. Puppy Kindergarten classes and / or basic obedience classes are recommended.
Food.
We feed our goldendoodles Royal Canin dog foods. This food comes in the correct size of kibble that you puppy needs and gives the proper nutrition to ensure optimal growth for your puppy. Each puppy goes home with some of the royal canin dry food that they are use to according to their size. They also have a booklet printed by the Royal Canin company on the amounts and when they recommend to feed your puppy.
Information Regarding Gastric Torsion (Bloat).
Most big barrel chested dogs including more large dogs can be subject to bloat or gastric torsion. This is life threatening and needs immediate veterinary intervention. Stomachs can turn or twist causing a build up of gas which can be fatal. Could it happen to your dog? Ask any farmer with cows, could it happen ... yes. Probability maybe/maybe not. Does it happen to any farmer that has cows .. maybe, ever farmer .. no. Our dogs are similar. Know the signs. Dogs that have torsion can look bigger on one side than the other, may vomit, look uncomfortable, look depressed. Read articles on this so you know what to look for and be aware. This can happen to any large breed of dog and can be due to rapid eating and exercise and other causes. Knowledge ahead of time could save a dogs life.
Ears.
Any dog that is fluffy and has ears that hang down can be prone to ear infections. They can grow hair in their ears which makes it hard for air to ventilate to ear properly, therefore being dark and stuffy and sometimes moist. When the puppy is stressed to new environmental changes/stress or teething or not feeling well bacteria and yeast can try to set up a new home in your puppies ears. Changes in ph can allow unwelcome problems. This does require maintenance to keep your pups ears looking good. We have guidelines for this when puppies go to new homes. If you google 'Blue Magic' a homemade ear remedy this is helpful. It contains gentian violet, boric acid, and either alcohol or witch hazel.