BLOG

Posted on

Look At How Cute Our Five Week Old Puppies Are

LOOKING BACK

Echo’s puppies are now five weeks old. They have developed from helpless newborn puppies to the “mini dogs” they are today. The puppies are now awake for longer periods and enjoy playing with their toys, each other, and cuddle time. We can now see their personalities starting to develop.

It is important when raising puppies to socialize them which means introducing them to as many new experiences as possible when they are young. Some of the new things that the puppies have been introduced to this week are: crates, different floor surfaces, new toys, the outside, and our other adult dogs.

Our puppy area. The puppy area has been expanded, the whelping box has been removed and we have added crates to the area.

Potty Training

We have been working hard on training puppies to use the potty box both inside and now outside. Some of the puppies are more consistent than others but, all the puppies are making great progress. It’s amazing to watch puppies wake up or stop playing and go over to use their potty box.

Inside
Outside

Meal Time

Puppies are always excited when they smell the food being prepared. They are now eating three meals of puppy mush a day along with drinking plenty of fresh filtered water. The puppies are still nursing from their mama any chance they get but Echo limits this and is beginning to tell them “NO”!

Puppy Parties

One of the bonus of having a large family is get togethers. This past Easter weekend has been a busy one at our house with three days of sharing meals with our families and three days of “Puppy Parties”. The puppies were held, cuddled and played with by both young and old. They especially love playing with my grandchildren and interacting with them. After many play sessions, the puppies were tired out and settled in for a long nap.

Adult Dog Interaction

When the puppies play outside it is a great time to introduce them to our other adult dogs. During this time I always keep a watchful eye to make sure everyone is getting along. It is also important that the puppies have somewhere to escape to feel safe and that our adult dogs have a way of escape from the puppies. This is why we make sure our adult dogs can come in and out of the fenced area on the deck as they please and our puppies can retreat to their safe place which is under the chairs.

Fun Outside

When our puppies turn five weeks old we introduce them to the outdoors. This is always an exciting time watching them explore and discover.

Things to Watch for in the video

  • puppies “safe place “where they have their naps outside
  • potty box where we are trying to teach the puppies to go while outside.
  • Maui the puppy nanny interacting with the puppies. Maui plays an important role helping mama Echo teach our puppies proper “dog manners“

Puppy Pics

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK SIX

  • Awake time will continue to increase
  • Puppies will continue learning to use potty box both indoor and outdoors
  • Socialize with each other through play
  • Balance will continue to improve.
  • Daily Outdoor play time as weather permits
  • Puppies will continue learning from their mama and our other adult dogs as they teach them dog manners
  • As always, puppies will get lots of cuddle time.
Posted on

A Look At Our Beautiful Four Week Pups’ Singles

Puppy Photo Shoot

When we have puppies to raise our days are very busy. There are so many thing to do such as feeding, potty training, cleaning the puppy area, and laundry to mention a few, it’s a full time job. And let’s not forget cuddling Echo’s sweet babies! So, adding an extra task to my day can be stressful.

On Tuesday, which was one day late, I added the task of The Four Week Old Puppy Photo Shoot to my day. Because puppies are always curious and want to explore. this is always a daunting time for me and can be very stressful. The reason is because four week old puppy never want to stay still and look 👀 at the camera! Can you believe they haven’t learned the command STAY yet -LOL!!

But on Tuesday I was pleasantly surprised! As most of the puppies were very co-operative I was amazed at how quickly my photo shoot went! We were able to capture those adorable faces with minimal stress. After the photo shoot was complete I felt so satisfied with the amazing results!!!

It wasn’t until I had finished and was looking over the photos trying to choose the best pics that I realized I forgotten something. It was the cute coloured collars that I prepared for the photo shoot which had flowers for the girls and bow ties for the boys . Oh well, the puppy pics without their collars would have to do because I definitely was not going to do it again 😂

The Girls

Yellow Collar Girl
Orange Collar Girl
Red Collar Girl
Green Collar Girl
Purple Collar Girl
Pink Collar Girl

The Boys

White Collar Boy
Grey Collar Boy
Dark Blue Collar Boy
Black Collar Boy
Light Blue Collar Boy
Posted on

Echo’s Beautiful Puppies Turn Four Weeks Old

LOOKING BACK

It is hard to believe that our puppies are already four weeks old! They have progressed so much in that short period of time.

A lot has happened this past week! The puppies’ milk teeth have erupted, their hind leg have become stronger, and their awake time has increased. Although the puppies still sleep much of the day, when they are awake they love socializing with their littermates through play.

Puppies Move To The Main Floor

Our puppies are on the move

GOOD-BYE

to the warm quiet space that the puppies have occupied since birth. 

HELLO

to the main floor, many noises of a busy household and many life lessons. 

Thursday was a big day for our puppies because they left their warm quiet room where they have been since birth and moved to the main floor. We packed them up in a basket and moved the whelping box and puppies to the main floor. In the beginning, the puppies space will be limited to the whelping box with potty area only. Notice Echo’s bed next to the whelping box where she can keep an eye on her babies. The elevated bed helps her jump in and out of the box to care for her puppies as she pleases.

MOVING DAY – After a busy morning, the puppies cuddled in their whelping box in their new area for a nap.

Time to Begin Potty Training

The puppies are now able to void without the help of their mother, so it is important to begin potty training. Because puppies have a natural instinct to move away from their sleeping area when they need to go, I want the puppies to begin learning “where to go” before they start on solids.

For the first few days after the puppy move to the main floor, I spend my time moving the puppies to the potty area when they wake and after they eat. It is important that puppies start learning that they cannot “go” anywhere. So, we teach them “there is an acceptable place to go potty”. Teaching them this at a young age will prevent them from developing bad habits that later need to be broken. This effort on our part will benefit forever families by making housebreaking easier for them when they go to their forever homes.

The Potty Area is just outside the entrance to the whelping box. We use plastic litter boxes filled with pine pellets. Even though it has only been a few day and we still have lots of work ahead, I am pleased with the puppies’ progress so far.

Puppies Learn To Lap Milk

With a large litter of eleven puppies Echo has done an amazing job feeding her babies. Because only eight puppies can eat at once we have been rotating puppies. This past week the three puppies would protest while they were waiting which in turn would make Echo concerned. So, I decided to supplement the puppies with puppy formula which would keep the waiting puppies quiet, and Echo relaxed. On Thursday, in addition to their mama’s milk all the puppies had puppy formula. The puppies did a great job lapping up the milk.

Weaning Puppies

Echo is starting to wean her puppies. I always know that our mama’s are ready to wean when they start to feed their babies in the “standing position”.

On Saturday we began feeding the puppies solids. I prepared puppy mush by mix ground kibble, puppy formula and water. At first it is very liquidity making it easy for the puppies to lap up. I will gradually thicken the mush working toward softened kibble by week six and then by seven weeks of age the puppies will have transitioned to dry kibble.

Watch our puppies come to out of their whelping box and find their food

Grooming

From day one we handle our puppies often to get them comfortable with human touch. Because Goldendoodles require regular grooming, it is important to me as a breeder to make brushing a positive experience teaching them to enjoy grooming. Brushing you dog regularly not only keeps their fur from matting, but it also removes dirt from their coat.



In addition to brushing the puppies, we also expose them to procedures like nail trims, ear cleaning and touching their mouths in preparation for future teeth brushing. Exposing young puppies to these procedures early will make it easier for their forever families to care for them at home.

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FIVE

  • Puppies will continue learning to use potty area
  • Awake time will increase
  • The puppies will continue to socialize with each other through play 
  • Balance will continue to improve and puppies will begin to run
  • Enlarging the puppy area, giving puppies room to play and explore
  • Mama will now add the invaluable teaching phase to her caring & protecting responsibilities over the next weeks.

Posted on

Echo’s Adorable Puppies -3 weeks old

Three weeks old

I am a day late posting our weekly blog because this past week has been extra busy for our household. In addition to caring for our dogs and eleven puppies, my husband Tom had surgery Wednesday. The same day, my Son and Daughter in law welcomed their second baby into the world. This is Grandchild # 12 for Tom and I. Children are a blessing from God and we are so thankful for each child He has entrusted to our family! My granddaughter stayed with us while her parents and new baby brother had an extended six day stay in the hospital.

A big thanks to my daughter for stepping in to care for the puppies while I was back and forth to the hospital this week!

LOOKING BACK

Echo continues to be an amazing mama. She knows just what to do to take care of her babies. She loves her puppies and loves to check on them regularly between feedings. We have a bed for Echo just outside the whelping box where she likes to rest and keep an eye on her babies.

The puppies are getting stronger and becoming more mobile. This past week we had to add a door panel to the entrance of the whelping box because some of the puppies climbed out to explore LOL

A Look At Echo’s Puppies

Below is a list in order of puppy appearance
  • Black Collar Boy – Blonde Abstract
  • Grey Collar Boy – Blonde Abstract
  • White Collar Boy – Chocolate Abstract
  • Light Blue Collar Boy – Chocolate Abstract
  • Dark Blue Collar Boy – Chocolate Parti
  • Red Collar Girl – Chocolate Abstract
  • Orange Collar Girl – Black Parti
  • Yellow CollarGirl – Black Parti
  • Pink Collar Girl – Blonde Parti
  • Green Collar Girl – Blonde Parti
  • Purple Collar Girl – Blonde Parti

    • Critical Socialization Period

    The puppies eyes are completely opened and their vision is improving, Their ears are now open and they are starting to hear. The puppies have now entered into the “Critical Socialization Period”.

    Socializing puppies by exposing them to as many new experiences as possible while the puppy is young is only part of the process of socialization. Our goal is to raise dogs that have the emotional intelligence to connect with you. Emotional intelligence can be taught to young puppies and is one of the goals of the Puppy Culture Program. There are 7 key things that will nurture the emotional intelligence of a puppy. Over the next five weeks, we will work with each puppy as we endeavour to prepare the puppies for their forever homes. Our goal is to raise healthy, calm, confident, well-adjusted puppies

    1. Communication – giving a puppy his own voice
    2. Emotional stability – the ability to recover easily from fear as well as stress i.e., startle recovery, barrier challenges etc
    3. Habituation – familiarity with the maximum number of things ( sound protocols, household noises , meeting different people, dogs etc.)
    4. Enrichment – teach that novelty and challenges are opportunities for enrichment not things to be feared or avoided (Ongoing introduction of new novelty items, activity centre, car ride, outdoors, etc.)
    5. Health – physical wellness and motor skills that will allow the puppy to develop in a neurologically and physically sound way (weight checks, grooming, proper nutrition, fecal checks, and deworming, if necessary, vet health checks and vaccinations)
    6. Skills – learned behaviors which teach the puppy to function in human society i.e. recall, manding, simple commands, potty box training, crate introduction, resource guarding, bite inhibition etc.
    7. Love – teach puppies to seek out the company of both dogs and humans as emotionally positive experiences: i.e., Daily cuddles with humans and puppy’s mom.
    8. Shaping emotional responses: happy and calm CER (Conditioned Emotional Responses)

    A Day in the Life of Our Puppies

    A day in the life of puppies is full. Along with sleeping and eating, we have to fit in cleaning their whelping box and puppy cuddles. On Sunday we had some help with cuddling from some of my grandchildren. Interacting with people of different ages is great socialization for the puppies.

    Pics of Our Adorable Puppies

    LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FOUR

    • Puppies will still sleep most of their day as they continue to grow rapidly
    • Puppies will play with each other and begin developing important social skills
    • Puppies hind legs will continue to become stronger as they practice walking on all fours
    • Hearing will improve 
    • Puppy milk teeth will begin to erupt 
    • Puppies will be moving to the main floor sometime during the week
    • Potty Training will begin
    Posted on

    Echo’s Sweet Puppies – Week 2

    Two Weeks Old

    LOOKING BACK

    Echo’s sweet puppies are now two weeks old and growing bigger and more adorable with each passing day. Echo continues to be an amazing mama taking wonderful care of her babies!!

    We have had another busy week and the puppies have made so much progress. We have fallen into a daily routine. Most of the puppies’ time is spent eating and sleeping. In addition to this, we continue the ENS exercises and weigh-in for each puppy. The puppies are moving faster and when Echo returns to the whelping box the puppies scurry around ready for another meal.

    Weight-in

    We continue to weigh the puppies daily and keep a record of their progress

    Double BirthWeight Milestone

    Echo had done an amazing job feeding her puppies. All our puppies have been gaining weight daily. Puppies should double their birth weight between 7 – 10 days. The first puppy doubled her birth weight on day 7 and the rest followed over the next few days. All our puppies have doubled their birthweight and continue to grow with each passing day.

    As you know, the Goldendoodle breed is an intentional mix of Poodle and Golden Retriever. We breed Standard Size with a weight range of 50 – 75+ pounds. Riggs who is the stud of Echo’s litter is 55 pounds, so I expected some puppies to be smaller than our previous litters. We have a few smaller puppies in this litter. The below picture shows the comparison of our largest puppy and our smallest puppy. (Both are males)

    Light Blue Collar Boy on the left and White Collar Boy on the right

    Feeding Time

    Echo has a large litter of 11 but can only feed 8 puppies at a time. At first Echo was constantly in the whelping box and puppies just cycled through taking their turn eating without any intervention on my part. Now that Echo spends time away from her whelping box when she returns, all the puppies want to eat. So, I have had to step in and put three puppies into a “waiting box” until some puppies have finished nursing. It is important that all the puppies get their fair share of mama’s milk.

    See puppies sleeping in the “waiting box” while the rest of the litter nurse.

    LOOK AT THOSE BEAUTIFUL EYES

    The puppies have reached another Milestone. On Thursday I was excited to see that Grey Collar Boy had opened his eyes. Over the next few days, the rest of the puppies’ eyes began to open. Though they cannot see well yet, it is always exciting when the puppies’ eyes open – they seem to come alive. Their vision will continue to improve over the next weeks.

    Transitional Period

    The first 12 weeks of a puppy’s life are incredibly important. This is an almost magical time when a breeder has the power to change the outcome of a puppy’s life by what we choose to teach them. By doing just the right things at just the right time, we can give your puppy the best start possible.

    Now that the puppies’ eyes have opened they have entered the Transitional Period. Every puppy is different so “Behavioural Markers” are used to identify the beginning and end of each developmental period. These timelines are simply guidelines. The transitional period begins when the puppy’s eyes open and ends when they first startle upon hearing sounds. 

    Daily cuddles

    Puppy socialization starts at birth. We handle our puppies as soon as their mamas feel comfortable and give them all daily cuddles.

    My grandchildren are great helpers with this. I love to share this learning experience with them; teaching them to love and respect animals and to be gentle.

    Today my two-year-old granddaughter helped me hold and cuddle all the puppies 🥰

    🐾
    😊

    .

    LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK THREE

    • Puppies will continue to eat and sleep most of their day
    • Puppies will continue growing 
    • Sight will slowly improve 
    • Puppies ears will open and they will begin to hear.
    • Puppies will practice walking on all fours, strengthening their hind legs
    • Puppies will become more aware and start to interact with their litter-mates
    • Puppies will start to vocalize
    Posted on

    Happy Saturday

    Today Echo’s puppies are 12 days old and growing quickly. Echo continues to be an amazing mama and loves to care for her babies.

    L.A. Doodles goal is To Raise Healthy, Calm, Confident, Well-Adjusted Puppies. One thing we do to work towards achieving this goal is ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation)

    ENS Demonstration

    This past week we have continued our daily ENS exercises. ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) begins on day 3 and continues daily through day 16. Research shows that tiny struggles and stresses in small doses are good for puppies and will help them grow into strong, healthy, well-adjusted adults. Benefits include greater tolerance to stress, greater resistance to disease, faster adrenal system, stronger heart rate and stronger heartbeats. This is a gift that a breeder can only give their puppies during the 3 – 16 day window.

    In this video I demonstrate the ENS exercises we do daily with each puppy.

    Posted on

    Echo’s puppies – One Week Old

    Looking Back

    One week old

    Our precious puppies are now one week old. We have had a busy week caring for Echo and helping her care for her babies. Echo suffered loose stools for a few day which a common occurrence after whelping. She also took a couple days to get an appetite. We put Echo on a diet of boiled chicken and rice with an added probiotic supplement. Echo didn’t want to leave her puppies so I fed her inside her whelping box. She recovered quickly after a couple days of this diet and is now eating well on her regular diet.

    Neonatal Period

    The puppies are in the Neonatal Period which is from day 0 to day 14. During this period, puppies spend their time eating and sleeping. On day 3 we began ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) which continues through day 16. We preform ENS daily during our weigh-in time. Research shows these tiny struggles and stresses in small doses are good for puppies. Benefits from ENS include greater tolerance to stress, greater resistance to disease, faster adrenal system, stronger heart rate and stronger heartbeat. This is a gift that a breeder can only give their puppies during the 3 to 16-day window.

    Puppy Twitches

    The above videos show sleeping puppies “twitch” This is a sign of a healthy puppy.

    Feeding

    Before puppies are born, they receive immunity and everything they need to grow from the placenta. After birth newborn puppies do not possess immunity. A mothers first milk called colostrum is a protein-rich, nutritious, balanced, and protective food. The special milk provides passive immunity which can last several weeks and protect them from various infections and diseases. For this reason, the first twelve hours after birth it is vital for the puppies to nurse frequently and build up their passive immunity. (Passive immunity is the short-term immunity which results from the introduction of antibodies from the puppy’s mother. Compare with active immunity – the immunity which results from the production of antibodies by the immune system in response to the presence of an antigen)

    Puppies are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut; they cannot see or hear. They have to rely on “smell” and “touch” to find their mother. Puppies are born with a natural instinct to nurse but as the days pass, they have become more proficient at it. The puppies are now experts at nursing! As you watch the video below, listen to the cute little sounds the puppies make as they nurse – so precious !

    Echo is an amazing, attentive mama. She has a large litter of eleven babies and is not able to feed all the puppies at once. She has done an amazing job feeding her babies and cycling them through. She is very dedicated and stays with her babies around the clock.

    With a large litter, we have to keep a close eye making sure all the puppies are getting their fair share of milk. We weight our puppies daily and keep records to track their progress. Some of our puppies are putting weight on quicker than others but, all our puppies are gaining weight daily. Good job Echo!

    For the first two weeks of their life newborn puppies spend their time eating and sleeping.

    LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK TWO

    • Much the same as week one – Eat, Sleep, Repeat!
    • Puppies will continue growing 
    • Puppies still crawl; hind legs will become stronger
    • Eyes should begin to open towards the end the week – so exciting !!!
    Posted on

    Introducing Our First Litter of Parti Puppies

    The past few days we have been busy with limited sleep helping Echo care for our tiny new arrivals. With 11 puppies to feed, it can be a challenge making sure everyone is getting their fair share of milk. Puppies can lose up to 10% of their birth weight the first day. I was pleased that 10 of the eleven puppies gained weight after their first day. Good Job Echo! 

    What are Parti Puppies

    Parti is a pattern of colouring observed in the dog’s coat characterized by a white base colour of at least 50% with random patches of another colour such as black, brown, apricot, red, merle, etc. Each puppy has their own unique pattern. The Parti Gene is recessive so, both parents must carry the parti gene to produce a Parti Goldendoodle. It has been over two years in the making and we are excited welcome our first litter of Standard Parti Goldendoodles. We have a variety of colours in both Parti and Solid Abstracts. Below are Echo’s babies’ newborn single pictures. 

    The Boys

    White Collar Boy – Chocolate abstract – Birth Weight 365 grams
    Grey Collar Boy- Blonde abstract – Birth Weight 380 grams
    Dark Blue Collar Boy – Chocolate Parti – Birth Weight 364 grams
    Black Collar Boy – Blonde abstract – Birth Weight 271 grams
    Light Blue Collar Boy – Chocolate abstract – Birth Weight 216 grams

    The Girls

    YellowCollar Girl – Black Parti – Birth Weight 382 grams
    Purple Collar Girl – Blonde Parti – Birth Weight 324 grams
    Orange Collar Girl – Black Tuxedo Parti – Birth Weight 279 grams
    Pink Collar Girl – Blonde Parti – Birth Weight 347 grams
    Red Collar Girl – Chocolate abstract- Birth Weight 329 grams
    Green Collar Girl – Blonde Parti – Birth Weight 277 grams
    Posted on

    All Our Puppies Have Gone Home For Christmas

    Puppy Go-Home Singles

    Ellie’s Litter

    Magenta Collar Girl
    Pink Collar Girl
    Purple Collar Girl
    Red Collar Girl
    Dark Blue Collar Boy
    Orange Collar Girl
    Green Collar Boy
    Light Blue Collar Boy

    Willow’s Litter

    Cayanne Collar Boy
    Camo Collar Boy
    Blue Collar Boy
    Yellow Collar Girl
    Green Collar Girl
    Magenta Collar Girl
    Black Collar Boy
    Mocha Collar Girl
    Grey Collar Girl

    It is always a bittersweet time when our puppies leave me and head to their forever families. I love to share the excitement of their forever families but, it is with tears I say goodbye. I have loved and cared for them for the first eight weeks of their lives. I have watched them grow, experience new things, and learn so much. It is now time for their forever families to continue where I left off. The poem below is one I found years ago and it expresses so well how I feel!

    Thank you for giving our puppies a wonderful home where I know that they will be loved and cherished. They will in turn give unconditional love that only a dog can give!

    Posted on

    These Beauties Are Now Seven Weeks Old!

    Can these puppies get any more adorable? Look at our puppies seven week old singles. They have grown into Beauties!

    Ellie and Brinkley’s Litter

    Orange Collar Girl
    Light Blue Collar Boy
    Magenta Collar Girl
    Purple Collar Girl
    Green Collar Boy
    Dark Blue Collar Boy  
    Pink Collar Girl
    Red Collar Girl
    Seven Weeks Old

    Willow and Brinkley’s Litter

    Camo CollarBoy
    Blue Collar Boy
    Green Collar Girl
    Black Collar Boy
    Grey Collar Girl
    Mocha Collar Girl
    Cayenne Collar Boy
    Yellow Collar Girl
    Magenta Collar Girl
    Seven Weeks Old

    Looking Back

    Ellie’s and Willow’s puppies are now seven week old . They continue to grow bigger and more adorable each day. The puppies are full of energy and curious about everything. They love outdoor play time where they get lots of exercise running and playing with all the puppies. Ellie’s puppies visited the vet on Wednesday for their Wellness Check, Immunizations and micro chips. They were all given a clean bill of health. Willow’s puppies head to the vet tomorrow. The puppies have now made the transition to eating dry kibble puppy food which they get three times a day.

    Crate Training

    This week we started crate training and it is going fairly well. Some of our puppies go in to eat their treat and take a nap without complaining. A few puppies take turns letting me know that they are not enjoying it. LOL. We will continue to have daily crate training and hopefully the puppies will have a good start when they go to their forever homes!

    Outdoor Play

    Even in the snow and cold temperatures the puppies have been able to enjoy their daily outdoor playtime. They love to go outside! Whenever they hear the sliding door open to let our adult dogs outside, the puppies run to their enclosure door and wait to see if it is their turn to go out too.

    Potty Training Update

    Potty training is going very well. The potty box is well used and there are very few accidents. Lots of hard work on our part but so satisfying when I see the puppies run over to the potty box and hop in when needed!!!

    Santa Visit

    Yesterday the puppies had a visit from Santa. It is always good to have an extra pair of hand and my daughter Kendra was a big help with our Santa Photo Shoot.

    Sometimes taking puppy pics tries your patience but we had fun taking pictures with Santa.

    The puppies must have been good because Santa brought some new toys!