Alfie's First Day Out

Alfie’s First Day Out

What a lovely day we have had! We went to Rhyl, Wales for the day the weather was great lovely and sunny but extremely windy. Alfie could walk on the beach and have a paddle in the sea. He loved it J digging holes and running around, but it didn’t take long though before he became tired and we had to pick him up. Our poor arms felt like they were going to fall off. He slept the whole way home, he was tuckered out.

Thank you for reading my blog please leave me a comment at the bottom as I love to read them. 

Vicky xx

Alfie's First Bath

Alfie’s First Bath

Well Alfie has had his first bath, after getting very muddy from playing outside in the garden, I was expecting Alfie to try jump out but he did very well. We used Johnson’s puppy and kitten shampoo for delicate skin; we diluted the shampoo, 1 part shampoo to 4 parts warm water. We wet Alfie using warm water and then we poured half the mixture over Alfie and lathered him up, then poured over the rest of the shampoo and I rinsed him all off.

We did try and dry him using a hair dryer on a low temperature, but he wasn't to keen so we sat by the fire having a loving cuddle and I brushed him dry. One thing I found was that, because his fur is so thick the top of his fur was dry but the fur underneath was still wet, so when drying and brushing make sure you brush the under layer to stop matting and from your dog getting cold. Once Alfie was all dry his fur was beautiful, soft and fluffy, the shampoo is fragrance free so Alfie doesn’t smell like perfume, Alfie just smelt clean. which is good really as perfume smells can over power a dogs senses and they may roll out in mud or on the floor to get rid of the smell. so I recommend buying a fragrance free shampoo. I really recommend this shampoo not too expensive; I brought mine off Amazon for about £1.50.

It was so funny not long after we had finished and Alfie was lovely and clean, he needed the toilet and guess what it was RAINING L Well puppies don’t stay clean for long.

Thank you for reading my blog, I love to read your comments so please leave me one at the bottom.

Vicky xxx

Alfie's 2nd Jab

Alfie’s 2^nd Jab

Just a quick one! Alfie went to the vets the other day and I just wanted to write a post on Alfie’s experience. So the vet was lovely, so friendly she explained everything she was going to do. I also asked for Alfie to be Micro Chipped. She said let’s see how he is with the injection and if he is ok we can do the Micro chipping. The vet gave Alfie some treats and he was brilliant, nothing not even a whimper then a few seconds later he started to cry. The vet explained it could start to sting, but I rubbed the area and he soon settled. It broke my heart.  As he was so good she said it was ok to do the chipping. She asked me to hold his head, oh me oh my, what a sound but I know that it is worth it because if anything should happen to him I would be devastated. The vet gave me a spot on for fleas and a little puppy pack which is really good, with treats and lots of information. Alfie was also weighed when we collected him he was 4.3kg and now he is 5.4kg my little chunky monkey, he loves his food.

Well we have to go back to the vets in to weeks to visit the nurse so that Alfie doesn't associate the vets with pain. He will get weighed again. He is growing so quickly.

The day after Alfie has had lose poohs. I rang the vets and they explained that the injection can cause loose stools and if it persists then take him back to the vets. After a couple of day he was back to his normal self again.

Thank you for reading my blog, please leave a comment as I love to read them.

Vicky xx

Crate Training

Crate Training

As part of Alfie’s training we are crate training him and I know some people disagree with this technique but it work for Alfie it’s his little den and it is only for a short period.

We started with making his den nice and cosy, placing a blanket over the crate, putting a bed inside, his teddy with his mum’s smell and a couple of chew toys.

To start with I hid treats in his crate and so Alfie could feel this as a nice positive place and we sat with him gave him loads of praise while he was in the crate with the door open so he was able to come out. When he came out I didn’t say anything I placed more treat in side and gave him his Kong to chew on and continued this for a couple of minute, then I started to shut the door but I didn’t lock it just for a couple of seconds and then longer and longer then I locked it. And continue this training every day until he is really settled.

Well I wish I could tell you that the first time he went in for a sleep he was great, he wasn’t. It wasn’t the crate it was me leaving him and for him not to been able to get me, it broke my heart. For the first 2 night we sat by the crate with our fingers through so he could smell me and he settled off really quickly. Come to the 3^rd night we decided to leave him now and he cried L not for long but it felt like forever, it was the worse sound I have ever heard, but after a couple of minutes he was a fast asleep and didn’t wake till 3.30am for a wee. The thing is not to go to him, leave him as much as it kills you inside. I am sleeping down stair so I can hear him if he needs and wee and I haven’t got to walk down the stairs half asleep.

I have started his routine he goes in his crate for his morning and afternoon nap then bed time, the day naps he goes off great and sleeps for about 2 hours its’ just the night time, but we will keep you informed on how he goes.

I have also added a puppy pen so when I go to work his has a place to stretch and play. I have put puppy pads down so he can go toilet while I am at work and I have got a water bowl which connects to the crate's sides. 

I will write an up dated post for crate training letting you know how he gets on.

Thank you for reading my blog please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom as I love to read them.

Vicky xx

Week 1

Week 1

Sorry it has taken so long, I feel like I have had a baby not a puppy :) Well in a way I have really. 

Well where shall I begin? It has been a very bumpy rollercoaster ride but a very fun one at that. J

I am off work for 2 weeks which if you can do I really recommend, to help train Alfie his basic skills; well I am trying to should I say. I am trying to get him in to a routine so I can manage his toileting and feeding times ready for when I go back work.

I have so much to talk about so instead of writing a whole essay for you to read I am going to break it down in to different posts.

• ·         Potty training
• ·         Training Classes
• ·         Feeding
• ·         Routine
• ·         Socialising
• ·         Crate Training

And lots more.

I can tell you that as soon as you have a puppy you will have lots of visitors so make sure you have lots of tea and biscuits at the ready, but this is a great opportunity for you puppy to meet new people.

Alfie is now 10 weeks old which means he is due his second jab and I have booked him in to the vets for Monday which I am not looking forward to it but this means that we can start to take him out for walks in the park which I am so excited about but I will keep you informed on how it goes.

One thing I want to say is it has been a very emotional time for me and one thing which I feel is to blame is all of the different research which I did before collecting Alfie. Having a dog is not text book, all dogs are different and what it says in a book is not how it works and I found it hard to deal with, thinking it was all going wrong.

I am not saying not to do your research as in some aspects it really helped but don’t do too much, you need to have clear ideas of what you want to do with your puppy, use your common sense, as you are going to have to deal with your little puppy crying which they are going to do and it cripples you and let me tell you it does more than you could imagine, but I would not change it for the world, 5 days in and I am loving it and I would not swop it for the world it is the best thing I have ever done and all of the crying and heart ache that I am going through now will work out for the best in the end J

Good job I have got a great family who is there to support me and for Lovely Mary who is always at the end of the phone with advise. J

Thank you for reading my blog please leave me a comment at the bottom as I love to read them. 

Vicky xx

Introducing Alfie

I would like to introduce

Alfie

Our 9 week old Goldendoodle J

We collected Alfie today and I am amazed how quickly he settled with us. The travel back from Minehead was great Alfie slept the whole way back, 3 and a half hours. So far we have had 2 wee’s and 1 poo but only 1 of them made it outside J but when he did we made loads of fuss.

Alfie has had Burns dry puppy food for tea with a little cooked chicken and he has wolfed it down, which is great as I was expecting him to go off his food for a couple of days.

Mary again has been great, she showed us how to worm

Alfie and has given us a great puppy pack including 4 week Insurance, a teddy with mum’s sent, a pack of Burns puppy food and lots of great advice.

It was very emotional leaving Mary behind, this is it, it is all on us now, WOW the responsibility I felt but I know she is just l the end of the phone.

Alfie has had lots of fun playing with his new toys and now he has fallen sleep on his bed but I will keep you all informed with potty training, training and much more as we go.

Thank you for reading my posts; I love to read your comments so please leave me one below thanks.

Vicky xx

Collecting Our Puppy

Collecting our puppy.

Well what can I say? The weekend we collect our little puppy has finally arrived at last. It feels like it has taken forever to get to this point but never mind now it has finally come. We have set up his little bed and made room in the cupboard for all of his food and yummy treats. J It’s going to be a long drive down to Minehead to collect him but it will be worth it.

When we collect him I will take some picture of him at home and I will write an induction post and let you know how his first night went. 

Wish us luck. 

Please leave a comment at the bottom if you are collecting your puppy this weekend and let me know how it went. 

Vicky xxx

7 Days

7 days today and I will be picking up our little Puppy.

We are puppy proofing our house, getting down to a puppy’s level and having a look to see if there is any choking hazards or any where they could get trapped. J

This is going to be a long week, having to wait 7 whole days, “Oh me oh my” what am I going to do with myself.

Thank you for reading my blog please leave a comment at the bottom if you are getting a puppy soon and tell me what you are doing to get ready for these precious little puppies.

Vicky xx

Slightly Wet and Dishevelled

Slightly Wet and Dishevelled

Mary has sent me some more beautiful pictures of these lovely Goldendoodles, looking slightly wet and dishevelled from playing outside. They look so big on the pictures but when we went to meet them they are so small. Counting down now only 17 day until we pick up our little man. J

Thank you so much for visiting my blog, please leave me a comment at the bottom with any information you can share with me about puppies.

Vicky xxxx

Choosing Our Puppy

Choosing Our Puppy

Well we are home from a fabulous weekend away in Minehead with my husband. We have met Mary who is amazing, spending 3 hours sitting in the puppy pen with 10 lovely playful puppies having a cup of tea, talking about everything  J Mary listen to everything we had to say and answered all of our questions especially about the Parvovirus, Mary is keeping our puppy for an extra week so Mary can give him his first jab, so that he will have a stronger immune system before he comes home. We have left Mary’s home feeling excited, confident, reassured but also a little deflated as we wanted to take him home today.

Well as you can guess we have pick our beautiful Golden doodle but we are not say who it is just yet it’s a surprise J but I will be writing an introduction blog as soon as we get him. So how did we pick him, well it was the hard decision ever but we did it in the end.  We had a choice between 3 boys and Mary coloured the tops of their head so we could distinguish between them, we sat on a rug in the puppy pen and all these little puppies ran over to us and started to jump over us and play tug of war it was very over whelming but also so much fun. Dinner time came and we watched how the boys interacted with each other, then once they finished they dropped like fly’s, fast asleep within seconds and one of the boys fell asleep right by us and I stroked him for ages while he was asleep. We decided we wanted a straight coated puppy so when they all woke up I picked up one of the boys and my husband picked up the other and our little man licked me and my husband and we said yes this is the one. J

Mary also let us go and see him again today before we went home which was great, we could sit and watch our little man and see how he behaved with his brothers and sisters. He is lovely, and we are so happy it’s a shame we have to wait 4 weeks now until we get him, I will be counting down the days and Mary said she will still send us photos so we can continue to watch him grow.

Thank you for reading my blog please leave a comment at the bottom as love to read them.

Vicky xx

Picking Our Puppy

Picking Our Puppy

Well it is Friday again and I have just received my next lot of photos of these beautiful 5 week old puppies and they look so big. Mary has told me that they have been exploring their outside paddock and have been having lots of fun.

I can’t believe that this is the weekend that I and my husband are travelling down to Minehead to meet Mary and the puppies. It has gone so quickly. I can’t believe we are going to meet OUR Puppy but the only problem is which one??? I am so excited and so nervous all at the same time, this is a huge decision and I am hoping that the puppy will choose us. My plan of action is to sit in a corner and wait for our puppy to come to us; well that’s what I’m hoping to do should I say.

Well a 3 and half hour drive from Newcastle-under-lyme awaits us tomorrow but on the plus side we will be staying in a lovely B&B overlooking the sea in Minehead and it will be lovely to spend time with my husband. I will be taking lots of photos of the puppies and I will post them as soon as I get back home.

Thank you for reading my blog and let me know if you have just got a puppy and let me know what your strategy was by leaving your comment at the bottom.

Vicky xx

Parvovirus Outbreak - Stoke on trent

Parvovirus Outbreak

I have just found out some really scary news about the Parvovirus within stoke-on-trent. The Parvovirus is on an up rise and vets are seeing 5 cases a day compared to 1 case a week and they are saying it is a “Serious Outbreak”. The Parvovirus is very contagious and is contracted by contaminated dog faecal matter and the symptoms are severe vomiting and diarrhoea and can be fatal. They are urging that everyone makes sure that all vaccinations are update.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-23554404

http://netdna.puppytoob.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Puppy-friends.jpg

My friends, friend has just got her puppy a day ago, like me she has been waiting a long time for her puppy and was so excited to have finally got him and has now had some really sad news, her puppy has contracted the Parvovirus and is the vets on a dripping fight for his life and this has made me very sad and very scared for my little puppy.

I have been looking on the internet to see if there is anything I can do and found this website telling you about the Parvovirus.

http://www.mypetonline.co.uk/news-and-features/news/pdsa-warning-over-latest-parvovirus-outbreak

Thank you for reading my Blog please leave a comment at the bottom if your dog or someone you knows dog has had the Parvovirus and let me know if I could do anything to stop my puppy from contracting it.

Vicky xx

Next Instalment

Next Instalment

I have received more beautiful picture of the puppies. I love that I have received pictures once a week; we have been able to watch them grow though the photos. I can’t believe in one more week now and I will be able pick ours it has taken a long time to get here, I have been waiting 2 years now and it can’t come quick enough. Going to Minehead in Somerset for the day, it is going to take us about 3 hours to get there, a mini adventure but I can’t wait and I am going to take lots of photos.

Auntie babysitting the puppies giving mummy a break. Puppies are 4 weeks old now. :)

Please leave me a comment at the bottom and let me know if you are picking or collecting a puppy soon and what breed of dog are you having.

Vicky xxx

Puppy's Development

Puppy’s Development

I have read all the information about the puppies that I received from Mary and I can’t believe the stages of development the puppies go through and how important these stages are for the puppy’s future. I really recommend that if you are thinking about getting a puppy that you read some information about their development.

http://images.petsadviser.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/stop-puppy-mill-pets-adviser.png

After I read the information it made me think about puppy farms/mills and puppies that are breed in horrible environments and the effect it has on the puppy’s and their development as they grow in to adult dogs, causing variety of behaviour problems e.g. aggressive, withdrawn or a puppy could have severe anxiety problems. Puppy farms must be stopped. I decided to look on the internet for some information about how we can stop puppy farms and found this by the "Kennel Club" which tells you what to look at for and how we can help put a stop to it.

• ·         http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/our-resources/kennel-club-campaigns/puppy-farming/
• ·         http://www.stoppuppyfarming.co.uk/spec_stop_puppy_farming_-_end_cruelty_004.htm

A few things to remember when buying a puppy:-

• ·         Never buy a puppy without seeing it with its mother.
• Accept NO excuses, although you will hear plenty!

• ·         Never buy a puppy from a pet shop. 
• No ethical breeder would EVER sell a litter to a pet shop.

• ·         Insist on visiting the breeder's home.
• Don't fall for the kind offer of delivery or meeting you half way - there is a reason they don't want you to see where the puppies come from  

Thank you for reading my blog please leave me a comment at the bottom and tell me if you have had any experience with puppy farms.

Vicky xx

Growing Fast

Growing fast

I have just received my next instalment of photos of these beautiful growing little puppies. I can’t believe how quickly they are growing and that I will be meeting them in just over two weeks.

Thank you for reading my blog and feel free to leave a comment at the bottom 

Vicky xx

Puppy Photo's

Puppies

Well I have received my second lot of photos from Mary my breeder, of the beautiful puppies with their mum Maisy. They are 2 weeks old now and Mary has told me that they have started to open their eyes. I can’t believe I will be collecting our puppy in just a couple of weeks because they are still so small. I have a ranged to go and see Mary and the puppies on the 14^th September and they will be 5 weeks old and this will give us a chance meet Mary, Maisy the Golden doodle and give us a chance to pick our puppy. How we are going to choose? Gosh knows! But I and my husband are so excited to meet everyone.

Mary has also given us an information puppy pack telling us what she does with the puppies at home, feeding times, what food she feeds them and about the stages of development puppies go through in the first few months which I found really helpful and what I find great about Mary is she is just at the end of the telephone if you need to ask a question.

I have found this information on “Google” about stages of development for puppies which might help you http://www.paws.org/puppy-developmental-stages.html

Thank you for reading my blog please feel free to leave me a comment at the bottom and let me know if this website was helpful for you.

Vicky xx

Preparing for a Puppy

Preparing for a puppy

I have been preparing for my puppy for a couple of months now, gathering toys and bedding etc from different places so that 1. To spread the cost over time instead of in one lump sum and 2. That I’m prepared for when he comes home. I spoke to my breeder Mary first and asked her advice on what I should buy and while looking on the internet I searched on Google “Things I need for a puppy” and I found this list which I found really helpful.

http://www.petguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/goldendoodle-2.jpg

General.

Food

Feeding and water bowls

Puppy collar/ Adult collar and lead

Name tag showing puppy's name, your details, and you vets telephone number.

Chews and teething aids

Poo Bags

Toilet training pads

Suitable toys

Training treats

Grooming equipment

Claw clippers and scissors

Shampoo for puppies

A puppy training book

For your home and garden

Puppy play pen

Dog training crate

Basket/bed, bedding and spare covers

furniture sheets or covers

Outside kennel or kennel run if you are going to keep your dog outside

For your car

Dog crate or guard or

A dog travel harness where a crate is not practical

Travel feeding bowls

Blanket, covers and a vet bed  

http://www.croftonline.co.uk/sitepage/Pup%20checklist.html

You can adapt this list to meet your puppy’s needs as I haven’t brought everything from this list e.g. the kennel for outside as my dog will be sleeping inside the house.

Thank you for reading my blog I hope you found this helpful, please leave a comment at the bottom and tell me what you think.

Vicky xx 

Puppy

Puppy

I have fantastic news my puppy has been born, Yeah, me and my husband are so excited. I received an e-mail from my breeder Mary today and she explained that Maisy the golden doodle is doing great and she has had 10 beautiful puppies which arrived on Sunday 11^th August 2013. Mary wanted to make sure all the puppies were doing well before she contacted anyone; Mary also sent me a picture of Maisy with her beautiful babies. Now I have got to wait 8 weeks before my lovely puppy will be able to come home, I will be counting down the days.

Please leave a comment at the bottom and tell me if you have got a little puppy.

Thank you for taking time to read my blog

Vicky xx

Breeders

Breeders

Well there is still no news from by breeder but finger crossed my little puppy will arrive safe and well very soon.

So I wanted a reputable breeder that had their dogs registered. I looked for ages to find a breeder that was based in the UK, as most Golden doodles breeders I found were American. I wrote in the Google search box- “Golden doodle breeders UK” and came across “Jastra Golden doodles”. Jastra is run by a breeder called Jackie Ruddock and are based in Essex. Jackie breeds standard and miniature golden doodles. I looked at lots of different forums about Jackie and all were very positive and I couldn’t wait to contact her but when I came to e-mailing her she was on holiday. Looking through Jackie’s website I found in the “Useful Links” a friend of Jackie’s called Mary Rook who is also a breeder of Standard and miniature Golden doodles.

Mary Rook is based in Minehead, Somerset. I rang Mary as she doesn’t have a website and I was on the phone with her for at least an hour and half talking about golden doodles. Mary was great, she allowed me to ask her a list of questions I had and I didn’t feel rushed when talking to her. Mary also asked me lots of questions about my job, where I lived and how I would look after a puppy and recommended that before I made any decisions that I read a puppy guide by Ian Dunbar called “Before and after getting your Puppy” and it was very helpful and give you lots of tip and ideas. After speaking to Mary I looked at different forums and again all were very positive. Mary has a profile on “Doodle kisses” and reading the comments from people who had one of her puppies was lovely. It was nice to read that even after a couple of years they still keep in contact with Mary and let her know how their dogs keeping.

Mary e-mailed me pictures of her last litter, so I could look at the size, colour and coat type of the miniature golden doodles. One thing which was important for me was knowing that Mary only breeds her golden doodle Maisy once a year, as some breeders breed their dogs as much as they can.

I’ve not met Mary yet but when I go and met my new puppy I will write another blog and tell you how it went.

http://merlinthedoodle.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/maisy012.jpg

Questions I asked

How many dogs do you own and how often do you breed them?

What type of Golden doodle do you breed? F1, F1b, F2, F2b. Standard or Miniature

Is your golden doodle crossed with any other dogs? Some breeders have a golden doodle crossed with a cocker spaniel make the golden doodle smaller.

Do you offer a puppy package? When puppies come home they might come with week insurance, first few days of puppy food, a blanket with mum’s sent, certificates for parent’s eye test and hip score.

What puppy food do you feed them?

How old are the puppies when they leave you?

Can I come and visit the puppies?

Can I pick my own puppy?

How much do the puppies cost?

Do you hip score your Golden retriever and give your Poodle an eye test and do they have the certificates?

Do you give the puppy their first jabs?

What are the Sizes, Weight, Coat, and Colours of your Golden doodles?

Can I come and see the Parents and where they sleep?

Have you breed Golden doodles before?

Where do the puppies sleep?

Will you keep the puppy an extra week if I am unable to collect?

These are just an example of the questions I asked but feel free to ask your breeder any other questions you wish to be answered. One thing I found is, make sure you write your questions down before you ringing your breeder and have a pen and paper handy to write down all the answers.

Websites I used

http://www.ukgoldendoodles.co.uk/- Jastra Golden doodles- Jackie Ruddock

http://www.doodlekisses.com/ - Doodle Kisses

http://www.labradoodle.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7361 – Forums

http://www.labradoodle.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1689 - Forums

Thank you for reading my blog and if you have any questions you wish me to answer please leave a comment at the bottom.

Vicky xx