Everything we recommend for a smooth first month with your new Goldendoodle — tested by us, used in our own home.
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One of our most asked questions after puppy pick-up is what we use that makes them smell so good! The magic ingredient is dog cologne by Natural Groomer — The Boss for boys, and Eau De K9 for the girls. You can purchase online, or we'll have it available when you pick up your puppy.
You'll want a tearless shampoo that's gentle on their skin. We use and recommend Natural Groomer's Hypo Aloegenic shampoo. Available in a 16 oz bottle or by the gallon — it's very concentrated, so a gallon lasts a long time! Purchase online or at puppy pick-up.
A high-quality conditioning spray, a game-changing slicker brush, and a metal comb. Spray the coat, brush thoroughly all over with the slicker brush, then go over the whole body again with the comb to make sure you haven't left any tangles or matting and have gone all the way down to the skin. The Chris Christensen slicker costs more than pet-store brushes, but as a groomer I promise it's worth the investment.
If you'll be bathing your pup at home, you'll need a force dryer — a regular hair dryer won't cut it. This one is a little pricier than some, but we use these daily in our grooming shop and they're excellent and durable.
Our puppies are litter trained starting at 3 weeks old, and we use and highly recommend Little Wolves potty trays! They're a great tool if you live in an apartment (puppies can't potty outside until fully vaccinated) or will be gone for extended periods during the day. Set the tray up in their playpen to mimic our setup, place it on a balcony, or near the door you'll use for potty trips. Eventually your puppy will learn to hold it and go outside only, but this is a big help in the beginning!
If you'll be using a playpen, these are some of the best we've tried! For the wire pen, we use the 40" tall version — heavy-duty compared to most exercise pens and sturdy enough for a growing puppy, with plenty of room for a bed, food and water, and litter box. A play yard made for babies/toddlers is another fun option — you can find nice used ones on Facebook Marketplace or new online.
For crate training, we recommend a 48" wire crate for all of our standard size doodles, and a 32" or 36" crate for mini or medium puppies. They come with a divider so you can size the space down while your puppy grows.
Our puppies are fed Science Diet puppy food, chicken and brown rice formula. You can find it at Tractor Supply Company, most vet clinics, and major pet stores (PetSmart, Petco, etc.). We provide a small bag at pick-up — if you don't want to continue this food, it's enough to mix and transition to the food of your choice.
Available in stores near youWe use and recommend Kuranda beds! Extremely durable and easy to clean, they combine soft, off-the-floor comfort with a chew-proof design. We use the aluminum frame versions. Dogs love them, and they're a great training tool for commands like 'place.'
We're excited to offer the Baxter & Bella training program to our puppy families! They provide one of the best online dog training programs in the world — a lifetime membership with 25+ classes, 35+ weeks of courses, step-by-step programs, socialization activities, live group discussions, and unlimited support from professional trainers. Use our discount code LFF25 to save 25% on the lifetime membership.
We use and recommend NuVet vitamins — our momma dogs love them and look forward to their daily treat! Puppies can start on the wafers at 8 weeks old when they go home. They help boost the immune system during those critical first weeks in a new home, before your puppy is fully vaccinated and protected against diseases like parvo. Order online or call 1-800-474-7044 with order code 991467.
We've partnered with Trupanion to offer our puppy families their first month of pet insurance free, with immediate coverage and no waiting period — effective as soon as you pick up your puppy. You can cancel anytime after the free month. Don't sign up before pick-up day — we'll send you our unique activation code so you get the free month and immediate coverage.
Having the essentials ready before pickup makes the first week so much smoother — for you and your puppy.
