Caring for your new Sheepadoodle, Whoodle or Schnoodle
We know that getting a new puppy can be overwhelming so we have put together a few important notes to help new puppy owners through this exciting phase of puppy ownership. Whether it’s a Sheepadoodle, Whoodle, or Schnoodle, these tips will help you excel with your new dog.
Choosing a veterinarian
Feathers and Fleece Farm would recommend you do this before you pick up your new puppy. This will make things move smoothly when you are taking on the job of pet ownership. It is extremely important that you find a veterinarian you can easily trust and one that is close enough to your home you can get there in the event of an emergency. If you are unfamiliar with the vets in your area, you can use word-of-mouth to get started on your search. If you find your veterinarian’s personality a little uncomfortable, it may be a good idea to find someone else. Look for a veterinarian that will teach you not just treat your pet. This way small issues do not become big ones.
Vaccinations
Some of the most common vaccinations produce immunity to: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza.
Feathers and Fleece will provide your puppy with a minimum of two of the three started vaccinations. If we ask to keep your puppy longer we will provide all vaccinations your puppy will require up to the date of departure. Dr Bradford, our primary veterinarian will complete all necessary health papers at departure to provide you the information necessary on the vaccinations your puppy has received at our farm. Your puppy will also be checked for intestinal parasites such as coccidia and giardia. Your puppy will need a booster vaccination once per year along with rabies vaccination.
Heart worm preventative can begin at 15 weeks of age.
Parasites
Gastro intestinal parasites are common in puppies. They are easily treated if caught promptly. If they are left untreated, they can cause serious harm. Your vet may ask you to submit stool samples from your dog during routine visits to check for these parasites. Another common parasite is heart worm. The heart worm gains entry through the bite of an infected mosquito. If these bites go untreated, the consequences could be life threatening. Veterinarians will typically give preventative drugs whenever mosquitos are active. A heart worm test must precede the medication.
Exercise
Exercising your puppy is a balancing act. You want to keep them active to ensure they are growing up physically fit, but you don’t want to make them overly tired.
Potty Training
When puppies are young, it’s important to take them to the grass as frequently as possible. Accidents are commonplace for young puppies, especially in the first couple of weeks after bringing them home. The key is positive reinforcement. After taking them outside, reward the good behavior with a dog treat and lots of comforting scratches.
On and Off Leash
It’s an asset to have your dog potty trained both on and off their leash. This provides versatility and helps the dog avoid associating the bathroom with their leash specifically.
Don’t Scold Too Harshly
If your dog has an accident inside the house, don’t scold them excessively. They probably had the accident because you didn’t take them out often enough.
Spay / Neuter
Spaying, for females or neutering, for males is a surgical procedure that makes a dog unable to produce. As a client of Feathers and Fleece Farm, it will be your responsibility to ensure that your dog is spayed or neutered between 8 – 12 months of age. Studies have shown that spaying or neutering a dog before this age is harmful to the dogs development and can actually bring on health issues that would otherwise not be present.
Health Advice
Space to Rest
The health of your puppy starts with giving him plenty of space to rest and relax. Some new dog owners will think they have to stimulate the dog 24/7 throughout the initial training phases, but it’s also important to give the puppy some space to recoup.
Grooming
The breeds at Feathers and Fleece Farm are shaggy hybrids. This means that clients can choose to leave their dogs hair longer and keep the coat brushed, or groom their dogs coat into a particular style.
The majority of Feathers and Fleece clients groom the Sheepadoodle and the Whoodle twice a year, and the Schnoodle three times a year to keep the schnauzer beard well groomed.
When you visit your groomer, ask to have your dogs ears cleaned and dried. You can also do this at home with a moistened cotton ball with mineral oil and gently wipe the ears out, going no deeper than the first knuckle. If you should smell any odor in your dogs ear or there is any oozing coming from your dogs ear, you should run your dog to the vet. It is a cheap and easy fix if you act quickly.
Check your dogs eyes often. For the most part, the only time they need cleaned is when you notice a discharge, or when you have bathed your dog. The eyes of your Sheepadoodle, Whoodle or Schnoodle should be bright and clear with a pure white color ( on the white portion of the eye) An easy way to keep them healthy is to wipe away the discharge in the corners with cotton ball or washcloth moistened with warm water. Do not rub the cotton ball directly on the eye.
The nails of your dog should be checked frequently. It is important that you start playing with your puppy’s paws as soon as you meet him. At Feathers and Fleece our grooming staff will have groomed your puppy’s nails several times before departure. Try to check the nails of your puppy weekly for sharp edges so you can enjoy puppy playtime. This should get your puppy used to having his nails clipped.
Bathe your new puppy with a puppy shampoo. The Sheepadoodle , Whoodle and the Schnoodle enjoy water and do not mind bath time. Bathe your dog as needed. Scrub in the shampoo and allow to set for a minimum of 3 minutes and then rinse well. Towel dry your dog or use a hairdryer.
Brushing your dog is very important, and the type of brush is also important. We use a slicker brush on all Feathers And Fleece Sheepadoodles. We like the rake for the Whoodle and a groomers comb for the Schnoodle. Ask your groomer for tips on which grooming tools to purchase and use.
Dental Care
Lastly, dental care. It is easiest to begin with a finger tooth brush. These can be purchased at your local pet supply store or on Amazon. Later, when your dog has matured you can switch to a toothbrush and a canine toothpaste. Your dogs tooth brush should have soft bristles and the toothpaste must formulated for a dogs system. Human toothpaste will cause your dog to have an upset stomach. The best alternative to canine toothpaste is a mixture of baking soda and water.
Maintain the health of your puppy by keeping their oral health top of mind. Oral hygiene is an underrated component of your dog’s wellness and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Oral care equates to a lowered chance of heart disease or kidney disease.