Goldendoodle Puppy Care: The First Weeks at Home
This is the guidance we give families who take home one of our puppies. It covers the first days, feeding, toilet training, socialisation, vaccinations, grooming and exercise — and when to ask your vet or us.
The First Few Days
A new home is a lot for a young puppy. Keep things quiet and predictable for the first days — have the essentials ready before pickup or delivery using our home preparation checklist.
- Give your puppy a quiet corner with a bed or crate where it can sleep undisturbed.
- Keep visitors to a minimum and let children greet the puppy calmly, sitting on the floor.
- Start a simple routine straight away: meals, toilet breaks, play and naps at similar times each day.
- Expect some crying at night at first. A crate near your bed often helps the puppy settle.
Feeding Your Puppy
Sudden changes in food are a common cause of upset stomachs in new puppies. Because we raised your puppy, we can tell you exactly what it has been eating and how often.
Keep the Same Food
Use the same food for the first week or two. If you want to change it, mix the new food in gradually over about a week.
Small, Regular Meals
Young puppies eat several small meals a day. Your vet can advise on amounts as your puppy grows.
Fresh Water
Keep clean water available at all times, especially in the hot months.
Toilet and Crate Training
Goldendoodles are quick learners, but toilet training still takes a few weeks of consistency.
- Take your puppy to the same spot after it wakes up, after meals and after play.
- Praise or reward it straight away when it goes in the right place.
- Clean up accidents without scolding — punishment makes puppies hide, not learn.
- Use the crate as a calm resting place, never as a punishment, and keep crate time short at first.
- In an apartment, puppy pads near the door can help until your puppy can hold on longer.
Socialisation and Early Training
The first months shape how confident your puppy will be as an adult. Short, positive experiences matter more than long lessons.
New Experiences
Let your puppy meet different people and hear everyday sounds — lifts, traffic, pressure cookers — calmly and at its own pace.
Short Sessions
Practise sit, come and name recognition for a few minutes at a time, using small treats and praise.
Gentle Handling
Touch paws, ears and mouth gently every day so grooming and vet visits are easier later.
Before your puppy walks in public places or meets unknown dogs, check with your vet that its vaccinations are complete.
Vaccinations, Deworming and Vet Care
Every puppy goes home from us vaccinated and dewormed for its age, with the records. Take those records to your vet within the first week so they can plan the rest of the schedule.
| Puppy Age | Typical Care |
|---|---|
| 2–6 weeks | Regular deworming begins |
| 6–8 weeks | 1st core vaccination (DHPPi) |
| 9–12 weeks | 2nd core vaccination (DHPPi + L) |
| 12–16 weeks | Final booster + anti-rabies |
| Yearly | Annual boosters and a vet check-up |
This table is a typical schedule for reference only. Your vet decides the exact vaccines and dates for your puppy.
Grooming a Goldendoodle Coat
A low-shedding coat keeps growing instead of falling out, so it tangles if it isn't brushed. Curlier coats, such as many F1B Goldendoodles, need the most attention.
- Brush several times a week, right down to the skin, to stop mats forming.
- Plan a professional trim every few weeks once the coat grows in.
- Dry the ears well after baths — floppy, hairy ears can trap moisture.
- Trim nails regularly and start brushing teeth while your puppy is young.
Exercise and Hot Weather
Puppies need play and short walks rather than long runs. Several short sessions a day are better than one long one.
- In summer, walk early in the morning or in the evening, and avoid hot pavements.
- Provide shade and water after play, and watch for heavy panting.
- Add toys and simple games to tire your puppy's mind as well as its legs — useful in apartments.
We're Still Here After You Take Your Puppy Home
We bred and raised your puppy, so we know its routine better than anyone. Call or WhatsApp us with questions about feeding, grooming, training or settling in. For medical concerns, always contact your vet first.
Puppy Care Questions
What food should my puppy eat when it comes home?
Keep your puppy on the same food it has been eating with us for the first week or two — we'll tell you exactly what that is. If you want to switch, mix the new food in gradually over about a week.
When can my puppy go out for walks?
Ask your vet. Most vets advise waiting until the course of core puppy vaccinations is complete before walking in public places. Until then, play at home and in clean, private spaces.
How do I toilet-train a Goldendoodle puppy?
Take your puppy to the same spot after waking, eating and playing, and praise it when it goes there. Expect accidents for the first few weeks; clean them up without scolding.
How often should I groom a Goldendoodle puppy?
Brush a few times a week from the start, even before the coat is long, so your puppy gets used to it. Most owners book a first gentle trim once the vet is happy and the coat starts to grow.
Can I ask you questions after taking my puppy home?
Yes. We bred and raised your puppy, so call or WhatsApp us with feeding, grooming, training or health questions as it settles in.
Still Choosing a Puppy?
See what owning each type involves before you decide, then speak with us about puppies from our current or upcoming litters.