What to feed your Mini Goldendoodle!

• What YOU decide to feed your puppy is your choice. We do recommend a diet of MOSTLY fresh, if not RAW foods. As part of our Recipe For Longevity, which has allowed our own dogs to live 18-20 years, we recommend limiting kibble to occasional use and mainly feeding your puppy fresh foods. 

A study by Lippert & Sappy has shown that dogs that are fed people food (dog safe people food), lived an average of 3 years longer than the kibble fed group. You'll find my recommendations for fresh and raw food options below. 

What do we feed? We feed a combination of Fresh Cooked Human Grade Dog food, Raw meat, and Human Grade Kibble.

• PetPlate - Our dogs LOVE this food. Use this link for 60% off. Human Grade fresh dog food. This is best used a subscription service. The delivery time is lightning fast, and your food is delivered ICE COLD (we were very impressed with how well it was packed for freshness). Easy to store, reusable containers. It is more expensive than kibble, but the health benefits of feeding fresh food will save you in the long run. I would figure if you paid full price and you fed them this 100% of the time you're looking at about $1,500 - $2,000 per year in food, much less with discounts.

• Darwin's Raw  - Use this link to get 10 lbs for just $14.95 & free delivery! Veterinarian's treating cancer patients recommend this food, and if you go to the website you'll notice you can select foods for dogs with allergies and specific health issues. Best used as a subscription service, this food is surprisingly affordable. To feed one Mini Goldendoodle for an entire year, you're looking at about $1000. Raw food is biologically appropriate, however, the transition to raw should be made slowly over about 2 weeks. We recommend researching the pros and cons of a raw food diet. I know breeders who SWEAR by it, and like my silky terriers did, their dogs are FAR outliving the life expectancy for their breed because of it. 

• DinoVite - Use this link to get 10% off your order. So, this one might sound super commercial - but look at the ingredients before you judge! This vitamin is surprisingly natural. They use whole food ingredients, vitamins and probiotics such as Sea Kelp, Flax Seeds, Vitamin E, Alfalfa, Zinc and yeast. Yes - yeast! Yeast is VERY high in B-complex vitamins. We have added nutritional yeast to all our breeding dogs foods, especial prior to and post pregnancy. Perhaps most importantly, this supplement contains the three most important digestive enzymes that are MISSING in the domesticated dogs diet (whether you feed raw, fresh or kibble - your pet is still NOT getting these enzymes). If you are interested in learning more about the importance of these three enzymes please watch the video below by Dr. Karen Becker. DinoVite is a healthy, affordable way to give your dog what he or she is missing. It is completely safe to feed both DinoVite and the Probios probiotic together. DinoVite is somewhat low on their probiotic levels compared to Probios but brings so many more benefits in one package - I highly recommend using this product. 

• Probios - Use the link below this section. Probiotic. We use this daily mixed in with our dogs food.

• Wellness Puppy Food - Use the link below this section. Our dogs are all fed a combination of Wellness kibble, PetPlate topper and other raw & fresh cooked meats. They have done very well on Wellness. 

• Orijen Puppy Food -  In the past we have fed our dogs Orijen dog food. Take a look at the ingredients and see for yourself the difference between this the name brands you're probably more familiar with. Orijen is a little pricier than Wellness, and also boasts to be human-grade. 

• Freeze Dried Minnows - Such a great training treat! Healthy, sourced in the USA, and a fan favorite among the dogs. See Amazon link below. 

• Freeze Dried Liver - SUPERFOOD - excellent in moderation as a training treat. Again a single ingredient, biologically appropriate treat your dog will LOVE so much more than biscuits and cookies. Also sourced in the USA. 

• Crate Bowl Holders - At some point you will NEED to leave food and water in the crate. These are affordable and they really do the trick. Save yourself from having to crawl into the crate and retrieve bowls - stick this on the door  or the side wall of your crate for ease of use and reduced mess.  WORKS WITH DIGGS CRATE!

As a new paw-rent, you'll figure out what suits you and your family best over time, but we recommend getting a few quality essentials to start you off on the right foot. We know and love these products, and believe that they will serve you well! 

Please see the links below this section!

• Wee-Wee Pads - Until your mini goldendoodle is fully vaccinated, they should not be going outdoors where other animals have been, especially rodents like squirrels and mice. If you live in an urban environment or you do not have a safe, fenced in back yard where no foreign animals can get we recommend using wee-wee pads temporarily. These are also useful to have around for car travel, and lining crates and carriers in a pinch.  

• Holee Roller - Our dogs LOVE these durable rubber balls. They are light weight, easy to grip - even for puppies, and easy to clean.

• Medium Kong - This is not a toy - this is a tool. Use this for crate training to soothe anxiety. You will need at least 2 medium Kongs. Fill them with  a mix Stoneyfield Plain Whole Yogurt and Xylitol Free peanut butter. Prepare these in the morning and freeze,  serve at bedtime, or anytime your dog needs a good distraction or anxiety soother. 

• Double Door Crate - You may not crate your puppy on a regular basis, but I promise you there will be occasions when they will need a safe, contained area. Whether you invest in this crate, or perhaps just a good play pen, this is something you will NEED with a young puppy. 

• Diggs Revol Dog Crate - Many of our clients have purchased this crate and recommend it. See the link below. 

• Stainless Steel Dog Bowls - See the Amazon Link below this section. As a breeder, we keep it simple here. Stainless steel is by far the most sanitary and durable material for your dog's food and water bowls. We don't believe in non-slip, fancy colors, or thermal dog bowls. These are affordable, food grade, rust resistant and dishwasher safe. What more are we really looking for here? Use a doggie place mat to contain spillage of water. You don't need a huge bowl for the minis. 3 cups is PLENTY! 

• Doggie Food Mat - Use this link. These are absorbent! So many food mats marketed for dogs and cats are made of rubber or plastic and do nothing to contain the water that gets all over when your dog drinks. A good food mat will be absorbent to trap water. This also has a rubber backing to keep it from sliding around. Order two so you always have a clean one on hand. 

• Dog Cot - Use this link. Don't go smaller than the medium size. Year round, your dog will love this. We have one of these and all the dogs pile up on this for nap time. During the summer it keeps them cool, and provides air flow. During the winter we put a crate pad on top and it gives them a warm place to sleep. Practically indestructible, this cot gives you a lot more bang for your buck than a dog bed (which will be chewed up just as quickly as your puppy will pull the stuffing out of his/her favorite toy) - and it's much more versatile. 

• Crate Pad - Use this link. This is the crate pad we use, in the summer they don't want one, in the winter they need them. You'll need two of these so you always have a clean one. 

When you and your puppy are ready to explore the world, or even just the block, you'll want to think about getting some simple safety gear below.

Please see the links below this section!  

• Mendota Slip Leash -  We love these leashes. We have been using them for YEARS. They last forever, they're great for training and whenever you need to quickly slip a lead on your dog. The slip lead allows you to communicate (gently) a correction to your dog when they pull or lunge. This is NOT to be used to jerk, drag or choke your dog - it is a TOOL and should be used with care and attention.

• Biodegradable Poop Bags (with case) - This goes hand-in-hand with your leash. You really can't go anywhere with your pup without these bad-boys. We love that they're environmentally friendly, compostable, and biodegradable. Affix the case to your leash and you'll never be without them. 

• Kurgo Car Harness -  From Day 1, you will need a way to safely travel in your car with your new puppy. Whether you opt for the car harness right away, or a puppy "car seat" it is important that you don't carry your puppy in your lap (if you're the driver) on your way home with the puppy. If you do, you will never be able to convince them that sitting politely in the passenger or back seat is an acceptable mode of transportation again. A dog clambering to get into your lap mid-drive is a dangerous thing. 
• **NOTE** You will need the swivel clip linked below with this product. It's called the Kurgo Direct to Seat Belt Tether.

• Whistle Go - This item is on our own wish list, along with the FURBO. Sometimes a little technology can go a long way in keeping your dog safe. If you travel with your dog, or if you find he or she is an escape artist, a good GPS tracker is a great thing. We're done a lot of research and we've decided that this one is "the one" for us. It works with your cell phone app, has enough battery for a weekend getaway, and is pretty precise at locating your pet. 

• Gen7 Promenade Pet Stroller - Small stroller link (up to 25 lbs). Large Stroller link (up to 50 lbs). A stroller for your dog? Why on earth would we recommend one of these?! I'll tell you why - PARVO. If you are purchasing an 8 week old puppy (rather than pre-trained) you will need a SAFE way to SOCIALIZE your new puppy. From weeks 8-14 your puppy will NOT be fully vaccinated against this horrible, fast & deadly virus that unfortunately is not uncommon. Parvo is an environmentally stable virus that can survive extreme heat, cold, sun, and pretty much everything you can think of. It can be found anywhere a squirrel, bird, or other animal has been - so pretty much everywhere. At the same time, it is absolutely crucial to your puppy's development that you get him/her out there. They need to meet new people, and be in new environments every day. How can we accomplish this safely and conveniently? With a pet stroller. Added bonus, you will always have a way to bring your puppy shopping with you. It is much easier to bring your dog into retail environments when they are contained. Easily folds down - just one hand needed! This is a great pet stroller, and reasonably priced compared to it's competition. 

Not sure what toys to buy? These are the toys our dogs have shown the most interest in over the years. 

Please see the links below this section! 

• SPOT Knot for Nothin' Toy -  We have the elephant. This is a fan favorite. 
• Mini Lambchop - They love the tiny ones! 
• Tennis Balls -  Buy lots of these, you will need them. 
• Bully Sticks - Discard when they chew them down to 4". For Supervised use only. Excellent tool for teething puppies. 

Lawn maintenance? Yes! If you have a yard, you'll need a few things to help keep things clean, and PUPPY SAFE.

Please see the links below this section! 

• Wondercide -  This is for TICK CONTROL! If you live anywhere in New York State, or in any state with deer ticks, lymes disease is a SERIOUS issue. If you have your own lawn, we HIGHLY suggest using this non-toxic, all-natural, EFFECTIVE pesticide made from all natural CEDAR OIL. It KILLS TICKS on contact, and it smells nice too! FYI ticks come out of the ground as soon as it hits 40 degrees for a few days in a row. 

• Paw friendly Ice Melt!  - In our research, we are still having a hard time finding TRULY pet safe ice melt. This magnesium based melt isn't perfect but it's better than the rock salt normally used. If you want to go REALLY natural, and little off the beaten path, we've heard that sugar beet juice (sold at Tractor Supply as a deer attractant), melts ice really well. Some cities actually use this on the roads instead of rock salt, but we wonder how well that works out for the deer who are then attracted to the roads!

• Pooper Scooper - You won't turn to powder and blow away if you don't get one of these, but it will make your life much easier. We have 5 dogs, and without a good pooper scooper we would not be happy people, but thanks to our pooper scooper - this crappy chore is fast and easy, and even a little fun. Fun? Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but it's really a breeze. It picks up a ton of poop in one go, so you don't have to carry a bucket around with you while you do it. 

These are some of the most important items on this entire list. These are an absolute MUST. 

Please see the links below this section! 

•  Health Insurance: Start your puppy off with their best paw forward and ensure they’re protected against the unexpected. Medical insurance for pets is an important step and we require it throughout the duration of our 2 year Health Guarantee. That's why I’ve partnered with Trupanion. With a special code from me, you'll receive their exclusive Go Home Day Offer. You must activate within 24 hours (before or after pick up!) to receive IMMEDIATE coverage. To find out more, visit https://trupanion.com/pet-insurance/why-trupanion. Underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company (US) and Omega General Insurance Company (CAN). 
• Puppy First Aid Kit -  This first two links below are for 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide & ACTIVATED CHARCOAL. If you get nothing else, get these. I can't tell you how many times in my life one of my dogs has found a piece of chocolate. First, you'll want to make them vomit (read this article from the AKC about inducing vomiting, and always consult a veterinarian if you think your pet has ingested something it shouldn't have). Once they have vomited, you'll need to give them activated charcoal to absorb any of the toxin from the chocolate that they weren't able to puke up. This doesn't mean you shouldn't ALSO take your dog to the vet, but emptying their stomach 30-40 minutes earlier than the vet would be able to could be the difference between life and death, so get your vet on the phone ASAP if this ever happens and have these items ON HAND. 
• Paw Soother - Dry paws. It will happen. It's good to have in your doggie bag. 
• Syringe - You will need to deliver medication to your dog one day. Whether it's Pepto-Bismol because your dog is having diarrhea or something else your vet prescribed having these on hand when you need them is a MUST. Make your life easier, get a few syringes. 
• Pepto-Bismol (Cherry) - You will need this. They prefer cherry over peppermint, neither are great - but it does help with an upset stomach & diarrhea. 
• Rectal Thermometer - Being able to tell if your puppy is running a fever when they display unusual symptoms can help you gauge what course of action is best. 103 F and above is considered a fever. 
• Vetericyn Pet Safe Hydrogel (Doggie Neosporin) - Neosporin isn't great for dogs. Better than nothing? Maybe, but it can cause diarrhea and other problems if your dog licks it, which he/she is likely to do. Instead, use a pet safe anti-microbial like the one below. 
• Gauze - The link below is for guaze & the tape comes with it. You can use this in both your medical kit & your dog's first aid kit. We did shop for a smaller bundle, but when it's $9 for 6 rolls, or 24 for $13 this makes more sense. 
• Water Repellant Non-Stick Bandages - These are great. When you need it, it's good to have on hand, and when you need it, you usually need a lot of it to re-wrap with. 
• Tick Remover - These are another absolute MUST have. Not expensive, and super helpful & easy to use.
• Bluelite Hydration Support - Electrolyte & vitamin & probiotic support for dogs recovering from any illness, or strenuous activity. 
• Syptic Powder - Needed in case of bleeds, especially useful if you accidentally cut the quick while trimming their nails.