Having a new Aussiedoodle puppy underfoot is hard work! They can quickly get into almost anything. They play hard and they nap hard. Attention spans are limited and yet they are little sponges when it comes to learning new things. We have created this article to share some of our puppy "hacks" that we have learned and some common behavior and physical issues with your puppy you may face in those first few days.
The Car Ride Home with Your Puppy
When you pick up your puppy from Mills River Doodles we like to try to withhold food from them for a couple of hours prior; especially if we know you have a significant ride home. This can help, but not guarantee, that your puppy will not get car sick. We recommend bringing paper towels and such for the trip. Snuggling your puppy in your arms or wrapping them in a blanket can sometimes help. If you notice your puppy drooling a lot that is often a prerequisite to them throwing up.
If on the ride home you notice that your puppy all of the sudden starts whining, it often indicates that they are ready for a potty break. Find a pull off that is safe from the busy road and where you do not think a lot of dogs have been. Avoid parking lots of rest areas, doggy parks and pet stores. At this age your pup is not yet fully vaccinated for parvo/distemper and so it is important to try to find an area that has very little "canine traffic". Another option is puppy pads in the back of your vehicle. Most of our pups are trained well to those upon leaving our home.
Tummy Issues
On go home day your puppy's world feels like it has been turned upside down. Most Aussiedoodle puppies absolutely love human attention and many do fantastic with this transition. It can still be a shock to their system. While we recommend keeping them on their current kibble for at least a few weeks, they are likely getting more treats during training, a completely new schedule and environment to get used to. This can easily cause some tummy upset. If you notice that their poop is becoming slightly looser, we recommend adding a spoon of pumpkin to their kibble. (plain canned pumpkin)
While we do de-worm our puppies 3-4 times before going home, during times of stress parasites can flare up. It is recommend that at their first vet appointment you take a sample (even if it seems normal) for your vet to make sure they are clear from common puppy parasites. These can also cause issues in those little tummies.
If they throw up clear to yellowish liquid it is very likely they are hungry. They most often may* do this in the morning after being in the crate for a while.
Of course, if you notice anything worrisome, such as bloody diarrhea, a very listless puppy, vomiting with diarrhea or any time you know something is not right it is important to contact your vet right away. (Specifically ask for a fecal to rule out coccidia and giardia should this happen- they can be common protazoa that some tests can overlook)
My Puppy is acting Shy
This is not a common problem with most of our Aussiedoodle puppies. We do occasionally have a pup that is more timid around new people, but it is usually very temporary. If, when you come to meet your pup, they are hesitant to come to you, understand this can be perfectly normal and does not indicate any personality flaw. Young puppies naturally go through "fear" periods. It may be just a phase your individual puppy is going through. By the time they have snuggled in the car with you on the way home they will likely be your little shadow.
During the early weeks we want to make every new experience with our puppies a positive one. (Obviously to the best of our ability). This means we ourselves need to remain calm and have plenty of treats! If your puppy is nervous around new family , try handing them a treat to give to your puppy. Never force a meeting though. Let the puppy go to them when they are ready. If you notice this is a pattern with your pups personality we recommend speaking with a trainer and also researching ways to help your dog build confidence.
Scratching Neck
Seems simple but the new collar can be quite worrisome to a pup. It can even make them look like they are running funny because their natural reaction to a tickle on their head is to pull the back leg up for a scratch. If you notice your new puppy running funny or you are afraid it has a leg issue, first try taking off the collar for a little while. That may be the issue!
Of course they must get used to the new collar or harness. But the removal of the aggravation will help you troubleshoot to make sure there is not another issue with the puppies legs, ears or neck! (we speak from experience)
Biting
Honestly, puppy biting is aggravating. It is a very natural, but annoying stage, and unfortunately, at 8-10 weeks, right during go home time, your pup is likely entering this phase full force. We have attached a bite inhibition video that explains it well. When you know the purpose behind it, you can find practical ways to survive it. (Below we have attached one of our favorite videos explaining it. The video is on Youtube for Public view and is produced by "Naturally Happy Dogs"- it is not our direct content)
Takeaways
*squeal, yelp or say no loudly when they bite (enough to startle them out of the bite)
*switch fingers for a toy
*stand up and leave the puppy (stop the game)
*your puppy may need a nap (think over stimulated toddler behavior)
*your puppy may need exercise
*hand feed your pup for part of their meal everyday
Not Hungry
Especially poodles and doodles can be finicky eaters at times. Our Australian Shepherds will usually eat regardless, but our poodles and most of our doodles have more discretion. Sometimes they just simply don't eat as much from one day to the next. Sensitive dogs may also go off of their food for a couple of days when they are experiencing new things. If it lasts longer than a couple of days, call us or speak with your vet. As long as they are still drinking water and pooping normally there is usually no issue.
*please note- it can also be normal after vaccines to notice your pup drinking and peeing more. For a couple of days after vaccines plan on more potty trips
Hiccups
If you notice involuntary bouncing of your little pup, it is likely the hiccups and is perfectly normal! Much like babies and children, they usually outgrow them!
House training Tips
We never guarantee our pups will be housetrained by 8-12 weeks. We do take steps with our Puppy Culture program to help the transition. Below we have listed some quick tips and tricks
*Use the clicker and treats outside when they go where you want them to
*take them out often, after every nap, if they wander off from play, shortly after eating/drinking
*leave them out for a few minutes after they pee to make sure they are "done" - puppies often squat a couple of times each trip
*take them out the same door, consider hanging a bell on that door and show them to ring it every time you go out (this helps build a way they can communicate with you)
*if they start whining take them out (some of our puppies naturally whine if they need to go)
*Use an enzymatic cleaner to spray on accident spots
*If you have them in a restricted area and you need to leave them for a few hours, feel free to try potty pee pads with a holder. Our pups have used those in our household and most are quite successful with those!
*We are Amazon Affiliates and so may earn from purchases with the above link, produce is also available at other retail stores and websites.
Crate Training
We work with your puppy on crate training for 2-4 weeks prior to go homes. Some of our pups will be a pro at crate time and others will still need some work. We have started sending home "snuggle puppies" with our puppy packs and we have been getting great feedback! We only recommend using the Snuggle Puppy at night, not when they may be apt to chew it. You also can use chicken jerky, a kong or other long lasting chew toy to keep your pup busy especially during the day. Feeding your puppy in a crate with an open door is another great way to establish the area as a positive place.
At night it usually works best if the crate is placed near your bed. The puppy will sense you are nearby and if you hear them stirring you can quickly get up and take they out potty (keep middle of the night trips very boring and straight to the business and back to the crate- you don't want a midnight playtime routine to begin).
If you are crating during the day and notice the puppy struggling to get quite you can try placing a sheet or cover over top of it to block the sight of the "fun things" outside the crate from the dog. If you notice the pup pulling the sheet into the crate it is a good idea to get a larger piece of cardboard or a tray (wider and longer than the crate) to place on the top and then you can put the blanket on top and the pup should not be able to reach it with their teeth to pull it into the crate.
We hope this information helps the transition for you and your new puppy! As always, reach out to us at Mills River Doodles with any questions. We love to talk all things Aussiedoodle!!!
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