Puppy Quick Start Guide

At Crockett Doodles, we believe there is no such thing as too chubby of a puppy! We feed our pups either Health Extension or TLC three times a day. Most Doodles will be sensible eaters, stopping when they’ve had the right amount.

Be sure to confirm which food your puppy is eating before Adoption Day before you place an order. Switching food suddenly can cause stomach upset in a puppy. To read more about our favorite foods, visit Puppy Food. 

We want you to enjoy the longest, healthiest life with your Doodle. So we recommend NuVet Plus wellness wafers. Protect your pet by boosting immunity, reducing cell damage and providing vital nutrients missing in most diets. Learn more here: NuVet

Your 8-week-old puppy can “hold it” 4 hours during the day and about 6 at night. Pups and adult dogs love their “den” and like to keep it clean, so a crate is a helpful tool for potty training and for keeping your small pup safe. Your puppy will not make wise choices since he is still a baby. We recommend using a divider to adjust the crate size as your pup grows.

Take your pup out frequently during the day and reward with praise and a treat. Having all food and most water picked up by 6 p.m. will help eliminate the need to go “out” during the night. Adjusting to a crate without siblings might take a couple of nights.  

Placing the crate in your bedroom at night is helpful so that your puppy knows he is not alone. Some pups are comforted by having a light sheet or blanket draped over the crate (leave room for air) so they are not distracted by what they can see, but know that they are not alone because they can hear you. Puppies are den animals and this is the first time they are without their “pack.” 

We request that you have a well-visit within a week of receiving your new puppy. Your vet will advise you when to begin Flea & Tick and Heartworm prevention and when to have follow-up vaccinations. We strongly encourage you to avoid dog parks, potty areas at rest stops, and other public areas until your puppy is fully vaccinated. Remember it is your responsibility to keep your puppy safe from germs their young immune system cannot handle yet. 

We love that our Doodles are low- to non-shedding dogs, but that does require regular grooming. Most Doodles visit the groomer about once every 2-4 months.

Rely on your groomer for basic maintenance tips (brushing, trimming nails, cleaning ears). Since not all groomers have experience grooming a Doodle, we highly recommend that you take a picture of the “look” you have in mind. For some ideas, visit our blog article: Doodle Hair Styles

If you prefer to groom your dog yourself, there are a wealth of helpful online video tutorials that can guide you through the process. Here’s a helpful article on our website to get you started: Grooming

All our puppies come with an excellent one-year Health Guarantee. We extend this Health Guarantee to an industry-leading 12 years for families who feed their puppy one of our preferred dog foods (Health Extension or TLC) for the life of their dog and who purchase at least 6 months of pet insurance when they take puppy ownership. 

Our pups are sold as family pets and not for breeding purposes. We ask that you have your puppy spayed or neutered by their first birthday, but not before 6 months as this can interfere with normal growth patterns. Please email us a copy of the spay/neuter paperwork from your licensed vet once the procedure is complete to fulfill your contract with us. 

Pups love and need to chew! Our best and simplest recommendation is having a lot of chew toys available to your puppy. Divert them from shoes, children’s toys, and furniture by substituting an acceptable replacement. See our Puppy Shopping List for ideas of toys puppies love. We also recommend you consider a deterrent spray to “help” them chew wisely. Several options are available from your local pet store.