CARE and
TRAINING
FEEDING
As a puppy you should be feeding them a minimum of 3 times a day. Calorie requirements for Mini Bernedoodles are 750-1,400 calories. Feed high quality Kibble.
A puppy's meal schedule must include three measured meals a day, preferably at the same time every day.
Although dry kibble is a popular choice, it's not the only option. We give you a 6 pound bag of dry premium puppy food as well as 4 cans of wet premium puppy food. As long as both the wet and the dry formulas are complete and balanced for growing puppies you can feed either one to your pup with confidence.
You and your puppy may have a preference when it comes to dry vs. wet. Feeding a combination of the two is also an option. If you choose to feed a combination of the two ensure the combined amounts doesn't exceed your puppy's daily recommended caloric intake.
The best time for your puppy's first meal is around 7 AM, noontime for lunch, and 5 PM for dinner. The last meal should always be around 5 pm so that he/ she will have plenty of time to digest their food and eliminate one last time before bedtime.
Stick to this basic puppy feeding schedule until the puppy reaches 14 to 18 weeks old, at which point the meals schedule should change to two meals a day (unless your veterinarian suggests otherwise).
To keep you puppy at a healthy weight, make sure not to overfeed him even if he is begging for more. If you have any questions regarding exactly how much food your puppy should be eating in the course of a day, talk to your veterinarian or us rather than guess. You can always reach out to us anytime even after you have purchased the puppy. We love to see pictures and hear from our family members!
If your puppy appears to be reluctant about eating his food, you might try feeding him/her inside their crate so that they can eat without feeling threatened or distracted. This can also discourage them from eliminating right after they eat. In addition, it is best to allow about 15 minutes to pass after giving the puppy water before you take him outside to eliminate. Of course, you will need to be patient during the learning process and be ready to take him outside again if it appears that he/she needs to eliminate again.
In the first stages of house training your puppy it is best to take him/her outside to eliminate every 1.5 hours. Give them some water to drink about 15 minutes before going outside. As the house-training progresses, the puppy will be able to last for longer intervals without feeling the need to eliminate. Right before bedtime, after the puppy has eliminated outside, spend a few minutes playing gently with your puppy.
PUPPY TREATS
It is important to keep the 90/10 rule in mind, whether your rewarding your puppy for good behavior or just want him/her to feel loved. 90 % of the puppies daily calories should come from their complete and balanced puppy food. The other 10% can come from treats.
Following the 90/10 rule can help prevent weight gain and other health problems in adulthood.
Remember that some human foods are toxic to dogs so be safe and only feed your puppy premium puppy food.
POTTY TRAINING
We have already started this process with them but of course when your puppy comes to you he/she is not fully potty trained yet. A puppy who has started some crate training is usually a lot easier to train than a kennel raised dog. You will be focused on crate training from 8 to 12 weeks old. Also it makes transition a lot easier going from one crate to another. Less crying at night.
At 9 weeks is still too young for a puppy to be reliably house trained due to the fact that their bladders are to small.
House training often starts when the puppy is between 12 to 16 weeks old that's when your puppy should have enough control of their bladder to hold it.
A dogs natural instinct is to not to eliminate where they sleep.
Your puppy will have to go out any time between 5 to 30 min after eating. Try to keep a record to see about how long after he/she eats their need to go. This way you can keep them on a regular schedule.
Signs that your puppy needs to go out are barking, circling, whining, sniffing, scratching. If you see these behaviors take your puppy out right away. Better to be safe than sorry! In general male puppies seems to be able to hold it longer than female puppies.
CRATES
Make sure your crate is big enough for your puppy to have enough
room to stand up and turn around. We recommend to get one with
a divider because remember your puppy will continue to grow and
if there is too much room your puppy will sleep in one corner and
eliminate in another. Don't leave your puppy in the crate for long
periods of time especially the first couple of months. Keep a special
toy that is just for the crate/doesn't come out for any other reason.
Have other toys for your play time together. Keep the dog blanket
with mom's scent that we provided for you in the crate. This will
help with the transition process.
We recommend waiting until 10 to 14 days after your puppy's last vaccination booster- usually at around 14 to 16 weeks of age before introducing them to the wonders of local parks, beaches and walking trails.
BATHING
Giving your puppy too many baths can strip him of his skin and natural oils in the coat. Therefore, bathe your puppy only when he needs it. You can bathe your puppy in a tub or sink. Just be sure to choose a puppy shampoo that is gentle on his skin!