Congratulations on your new puppy! We are so excited to help you embark on this exciting journey with your newest family member. We want to make sure you are completely prepared to be the best doodle owner you can be. 

In our Puppy Guide you will find several resources that I hope will be very helpful. I would strongly recommend that you read through all of it within a week of your pick-up—especially if you’re a new dog owner. If you establish some ground rules in the very beginning, it will greatly increase your chances of a well-behaved dog. 

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. 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 up by 6 p.m. will eliminate the need to go “out” during the night. Adjusting to a crate without siblings might take a couple of nights.  

Some pups are comforted by having a blanket draped over the crate.