TAG | Goldendoodles
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Grooming Your Goldendoodle And Other Shampooch Tips
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This article will hopefully help you in grooming your Goldendoodle and give you some other sham-pooch tips. Goldendoodle grooming and health go hand in hand. Good grooming not only helps your Goldendoodle dog look good, it is also important for your doodle’s physiological as well as the psychological health. While some doodle owners take their doggies to their groomer, many instead decide to groom their Goldendoodle dog themselves at home. If you begin grooming your Goldendoodle when he or she is very young, they will come to enjoy bathtime and your doodle will not be difficult to groom at all.
Brushing your Goldendoodle thoroughly every day is an important part of dog grooming and health. A shaggy or curly coated Goldendoodle will need to be brushed and groomed more often than the smooth coat doodle. Because brushing and trimming isn’t natural to a dog, your doodle will need to be trained in order to accept this kind of handling. It is recommended by many dog groomers and doodle breeders that bathing and trimming start at an early age. It is best to proceed slowly at the beginning, giving your Goldendoodle lots of praises when they relax and enjoy the process.
As a breeder since 1996, I always begin the grooming process with our doodle puppies when they are approx. 4 weeks of age. I do recommend that a rubber mat be placed on the bottom of your tub which will help prevent your doodle from slipping and possibly getting injured. Some puppies yelp and show fear when they are first introduced to water. This fear will subside as your Goldendoodle is bathed more frequently, over time. I personally use a small cat slicker brush on the coat of my Goldendoodles. The slicker brush has many different sized bristles which will help pull out any dead hairs in the coat. Some groomers do not recommend human shampoo. However, I never use shampoo which is made specifically for dogs. There are many harsh chemicals which can cause your doodle to have not only dry skin, but can cause skin allergies over a long period of time. Instead, I use non-tearing shampoo made for humans such as baby shampoo. If you want to use shampoo with various fragrances, the best ones are those with “apple” or “cherry” fragrances. High quality shampoo can be purchased at hair specifica stores such as “Sally’s”. I purchase my shampoo in bulk so that it lasts a very long time. Before rinsing the coat of my Goldendoodles, I spritz their coat with a nice detangler. Some can be left in the coat and some have to be rinsed out. However, make sure to take a large, human comb and comb the detangler through the coat. Rinse well. You’ll find your Goldendoodle’s coat extremely soft to the touch after you have taken a blow dryer and dried your doodle completely. In the summer, you can simply hand towel your doodle’s coat and then let him or her dry naturally.
If you have a grooming table, you can trim your doodle’s coat very easily. A great place to purchase a grooming table is by ordering it online. Revival Animal has a nice list of grooming tables you may find for a low price. Some groomers use a clipper called “Groom Master”, however, I will personally tell you that I found better success with the “A5 Turbo” clipper. I began with the “Groom Master” clipper but found myself going through three of them before discovering that the “A5 Turbo” clipper worked entirely better and I could also find replacement blades locally instead of having to specically order blades that were only for the “Groom Master”. The “A5 Turbo” clipper has two speeds and will allow you to shave down your Goldendoodle in less than 30 minutes! This clipper is very quick and reliable. There are also various sized blades that will work great for this particular clipper and allows you to give your Goldendoodle various types of hair cuts.
If you decide to groom your Goldendoodle yourself, you will want to go to your local “Sally’s” store and purchase an apron which specifically helps repell hair. It’s a great investment. Some groomers spend hundreds of dollars on scissors, but you can find some great scissors that will last a very long time at your local department store in the “Crafts” or “Sewing” section. A $15 pair of nice scissors will work and last just as long as the $150 pair. Let me forwarn you that using scissors can be dangerous on your doodle if your Goldendoodle is not calm and relaxed during the grooming process. You can easily cut your doodle or yourself. I can’t even tell you how many times in 13 years I’ve cut myself or a dog, accidentally, if they turned their head quickly or jerked their foot away at the exact time as beginning to trim. Some doodles have “ticklish” feet and will constantly jerk their feet as you try and trim around their pawpads. Over time, they get use to the scissors touching their feet but in the beginning, you will need to be very careful with scissoring.
Your Goldendoodle also has to learn to sit still or lie on his or her side as and when needed. Teaching your Goldendoodle to enjoy the grooming process is just a matter of time and repitition. Other grooming tools needed are various types of brushes, combs, a wash cloth, ear cleaners and spritzer bottles.
If your shaggy or curly coat Goldendoodle’s hair is tangled, grooming can take longer and become a bit tricky. Proceed gently to avoid irritating your Goldendoodle’s skin. Despite some doodle breeders’ claims that Goldendoodles do not shed, your doodle will lose some hairs, particularly during the dry winter months. Some Goldendoodles can even have bouts of dry skin, so care is necessary when grooming him or her. Don’t over bathe your doodle! Unless your doodle dog is outside every single day getting into muddy situations or doing a lot of swimming at the beach or lake, do not bathe your doodle more than twice a month. Bathing more frequently will cause your doodle to have dry skin. Even if you own a smooth coat Goldendoodle, who needs relatively very little coat maintenence, you will want to groom him or her on a regular basis simply because this process is good for your doodle’s over all grooming health.
Grooming your Goldendoodle helps keep the dog’s skin healthy and coat nice and shiny, not to mention, it helps him or her smell good. Grooming your doodle dog helps to improve the blood circulation; helps keep the coat free of ticks, fleas and other less welcome visitors. Remember to trim the hair underneath your doodle such as the inside of his or her legs and under the belly. Close attention to your Goldendoodle’s ears are especially important! Hair can grow into the ear and that can cause yeast infections or ear infections. Another important area for your Goldendoodle is around the eyes. Shaggy coated Goldendoodles have the most problems with their hair growing over or around the eyes. If you do not pay careful attention to this, hairs can curl inward and cause a corneal abrasion by touching the eye itself. Always keep the hairs trimmed around your Goldendoodles’ eyes when he or she is an adult dog. Puppies do not require this type of trimming because their coat will change and go through 10-15 different coat phases before he or she turns 1 year of age.
Not all varieties of dogs need a bath everyday. Some short haired dogs require very little coat maintenence. Some can make do with a bath once a month. For smooth coat Goldendoodles, you can simply use a washcloth to wipe the coat gently if you do not want to fully bathe him or her. Shaggy coat and curly coat Goldendoodles have facial beards. These beards tend to collect food particles or even dirt or grass if your doodle is outside playing. I never recommend using shampoo around the face of your Goldendoodle. Using a wash cloth that is damp and without soap or shampoo is best. Some doodles require their mouths to be cleaned every day. Coat staining can occur around the eyes or the mouth if this area isn’t cleaned every day. If you want to help your doodle not have a “tangly” coat, spritz your doodle’s coat prior to bathing with a “detangler”. Comb it thoroughly through the coat. Then wet your doodle’s coat completely and use your slicker brush to brush through the coat as you are wetting his or her coat. This will help remove any tangles in the hair before their shamoo/bath. Always keep soap away from your doodle’s eyes and ears and make sure to use an ear cleaner to help clean the insides of the ears. An inexpensive ear cleaner can be made with White vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Use a spritzer bottle and mix an equal portion of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together. This not only helps clean your doodle’s ears, but helps them smell nicer too! Never use Q-tips for cleaning the insides of your doodle’s ears! Never! Use a washcloth or cotton balls.
Grooming your Goldendoodle also helps you bond with your loving, wonderful tempered new pet! It should be quite obvious why dog grooming and dog health are so closely associated. Even if your Goldendoodles does not need daily brushing, it is necessary to check your doodle every day. Keeping the skin of your Goldendoodle and his or her body parts cut free and sore free is also an important part of your doodle’s grooming and health. If you discover fleas on your Goldendoodle’s coat during the grooming process, fleas have to be removed with a fine-toothed comb, and embedded ticks have to be removed carefully with tweezers and alcohol. Pouring a small amount of alcohol on the tick will help loosen its grip prior to removing it from your doodle’s skin with tweezers. A new flea prevention product called “Comfortis” is on the market and we use this on our Goldendoodles as well as other dogs. It is a once a month tablet that helps flea prevention. Always examine your doodle’s nails, ears and teeth as part of your dog grooming routine, each and every time you groom your lovely Goldendoodle dog. Goldendoodle and other dog grooming and health are so closely associated also because the skin is the first indicator of the state of your pet’s health. Flea allergies, contact allergies, skin rashes and irritations need to be stopped at the earliest. Ears should be regularly checked. The insides of the ear should be a pale pink. If they show any discoloration or give out an unpleasant odor, this could be a sign of an ear infection or mite infestation. Have your Vet look into the matter before proceeding with medication to treat the problem. Make sure to take your doodle to your vet for a closer examination if you see discoloration inside of his or her ears or smell an odor coming from the inside of the ear. Your doodle’s toenails have to be clipped every two or three weeks, depending upon how much exercise your doodle gets every day. Nails can be trimmed with human nail clippers if your doodle is a puppy. If an adult, the guillatine type of nail trimmers works great but you must use these type of nail clippers with extreme care. You can actually lose a toe or your own finger if you are not care. Have your vet show you first, how to properly clip your Goldendoodle’s toe nails before you do it yourself. If you do not feel comfortable in nail trimming, always have your groomer or your vet perform this procedure. Examine your Goldendoodles’ paw pads to see that there is nothing stuck between them. Sometimes hair grows between the pads and pebbles or small rocks or twigs can get tangled up inside of the hair that will cause your doodle pain as he or she walks. Make sure to check your doodle’s pads every day. If hair is growing around the pads, you will need to carefully trim the hairs with scissors. Teeth cleaning is important to your doodle’s over all health maintenence as well. Your doodle can develop cavities or periodontal diseases, just like humans, too. Cleaning the dog’s teeth twice a week with pet toothpaste and a small toothbrush is advisable. There are some very good teeth cleaning products on the market. You can also clean your Goldendoodle’s teeth during his or her grooming process.Regular grooming not only helps keep your doodle healthy, it also offers bonding time for you and your Goldendoodle. In the natural world, dogs lick each other and groom each other. I don’t think you want to lick your Goldendoodle in order to clean him or her? This licking by other dogs reinforces pack behavior and subordination. But you can reinforce pack behaviour and subordination by regularly grooming your doodle with brushes and combes. Brushing or combing your Goldendoodle’s coat for 10-20 minutes every day or as often as necessary will bring your Goldendoodle immeasurably closer to you, immense pleasure and will also help keep your doodle healthy. Goldendoodles can live up to 20 years under ideal circumstances and if immaculately cared for.Some Goldendoodles may require professional grooming to maintain their hair and coat health if you are not experienced in grooming your doodle, yourself. If you do not have the time to groom your doodle on your own or if you do not feel comfortable in grooming your Goldendoodle on your own, then your doodle will have to be trained to stand properly and to tolerate the attention of a stranger. Dogs that have no hair on the skin will need special skin creams to keep the surface oily and germ free. If you own a hairless dog, then of course you will want to also use a sun screen to help protect your dogs’ skin from harmful sun rays.Dog grooming and health are mutually dependent. Without grooming, your dog will not be able to retain good health; Without grooming, your dog could have a shorter life span. In spite of all the exercise and good food you give to your canine, without proper grooming health, your pet will have a shorter life. In case of dogs that shed heavily, regular grooming helps you to combat floating tufts of hair and speed up the shedding process. Dog grooming is not only about dog health, it is also about bonding, trust and love.
**About the author: Dee Gerrish of Goldendoodle World has been a private, professional, hobby breeder since 1996. Dee Gerrish has written extensively about the Goldendoodle dog since 1999. More information can be obtained about the Goldendoodle dog at http://www.goldendoodleworld.com
*Copyright protected March 9, 2009.
Alot of times, we get phone calls from those who have no idea what type of dog they are looking for. It is essential to look at every aspect of your life, your living arrangements,your budget and write down the dogs that you feel would make the IDEAL dog for you and your family. After writing down the breeds you and your family have selected, read as much about each breed as possible and then break down the list until you come down to one single dog. (That is unless you plan to purchase more than one type of breed.) America’s love affair with dogs has gone on for eons! There is a growing population of older people who share their home with dogs. About 1 in 10 senior citizens have a pet in the home. Also, baby boomers are aging and are getting a bit grayer which could explain the popularity of small breeds. Owning a dog has alot of physical and psychological benefits. When trying to determine the dog best for you or your family, there is alot to think about! Can you afford it? Do you have the room? Who is going to take care of the dog? Do you have the time to invest in a dog? Do you want a lightweight or heavyweight dog? Do you want a small breed or a large breed or something in-between?Do you live in a quiet area where alot of barking would not be a GOOD thing? Do you live in the country? Do you have a fenced area to keep the dog in or will this dog stay in the house? Do you want a short hair or long hair dog? Can you afford a dog with alot of grooming requirements? Are you allowed to own a pet if you live in a condo or an apartment? Do you need spousal approval? Do you need anyone’s approval?Many people play the “What kind of Dogs do you have?” game with a breeder and personally, I find this very aggravating. I am sure other breeders find this aggravating as well. It is very frustrating for a breeder to go into detail with someone over the telephone about what type of dogs they have and then, not only do you have no idea what it is you want but you also have to get someone’s approval before getting back to the breeder. Your mind should be made up regarding the type of dog you are seeking well before calling a breeder. If your dog is a family issue, then this should be discussed before contacting a breeder. You should also ONLY call a breeder who is advertising the type of dog you are searching for. If you have not yet figured out what kind of dog you are looking for, don’t put it on a breeder to figure it out for you.If you are on a budget, don’t be afraid to say so to the breeder IN THE VERY BEGINNING of your call and let them know what you can afford. Don’t just ask how much a dog is. Chances are, you are just “Comparison” shopping and where dogs are concerned, this is completely the wrong thing to do. Just because you have calling breeders advertising the same breed, does not mean you are buying the same quality of breed. If you are looking for a show dog…you are not going to want a dog who has no champion ancestors or lineage and if you are looking for a pet, don’t expect to pay just a few dollars from a breeder who has taken the time to research their dogs’ CHAMPION LINEAGE. If you are on a budget, you should try to obtain a dog that has little grooming requirements, medical needs, upkeep and who has just a pet/average lineage or ancestry…….. perhaps you can even look into adopting a dog from a rescue agency, human society or animal shelter. Breeders have to charge a certain amount for their dogs in order to recoup their expenses and pay for overhead & costs involved with their business, whereas, a shelter or rescue agency are compensated through the state or through public funding and donations. Private breeders and kennels do not get reimbursed from the state or receive public donations. Everything regarding raising, breeding and producing a puppy by a breeder is an out of pocket expense for a breeder and Kennel. Very few people have any idea just how expensive and time consuming it is for a breeder, let alone appreciate the difficult, long hours this kind of job requires . It is very frustrating to hear people make the nasty comment to a breeder that they just “live off of their puppies” or are a “puppy mill” and on and on with the name calling. It amazes me how cheap some people can be when they desire to obtain a puppy or dog from a breeder and then have the audacity to do the name calling if they have some kind of issue down the road….it’s absurd! If you live in a condo or apartment, you may want to look at purchasing a “social” dog or breed. It is important for dogs who live inside apartments to get out and mingle. It is also imperative that you NOT crate your dog for hours on end. A dog needs to get out and romp around……..they need to stretch and build up muscles and use their legs. They can not live their lives for hours on end in a crampy crate. Some of your small breeds who adapt very well to apartments and condos are:*Toy Poodle hybrids*Yorkshire Terrier*Maltese*Poodle*Papillon*Miniature Schnauzer*Chihuahua*Bichon Frise*Boston Terrier*Japanese Terrier*Dachshund*Cairn Terrier*Cavalier King Charles Spaniel*American Cocker Spaniel*Sheltie*Lhasa Apso*Shih Tzu*Basset Hound*Pomeranian*Pembroke Welsh Corgi*Chinese Pug*Schnoodle*Pom-Chi*Goldendoodle*Schneagle*PuggleMany of the above breeds are small, nice and easy to get along with. Some small breeds can cause BIG trouble for people….especially the INDEPENDENT THINKERS such as the Jack Russell Terrier and any that tend to be yappy or high strung such as your purebred toy poodle, Pomeranian and Rat Terrier. Breeds that are traditionally bred to hunt do far better with someone who has a house with a nice large fenced in yard. Those breeds can be the Beagle, Pointer, The English Setter, The English Springer Spaniel, The Harrier, the Black and Tan Coonhound, the Bloodhound. There are many hunting breeds and retrieving breeds that do far better outside than inside. Now here we are in 2006 and there are many very nice small hybrid dogs available that would work out just fine in various living situations.Dogs that have grooming requirements should be passed over if you are NOT able to afford the time, cost and care they require to keep their coat in tip top shape or feel comfortable taking on this task yourself. Such breeds can be the Bichon Frise, The Poodle, The Borzoi, the Maltese, The Yorkshire Terrier, the Shih Tzu, the Lhasa Apso, the Schnauzer, the Havanese, the Goldendoodle, the Pekingese, the Pomeranian, the Lowchen, Tibetan Terrier, the Bearded Collie, the Shetland Sheepdog, The Old English Sheepdog and all long haired Poodle hybrids.Never purchase a large breed dog if you do NOT have the time to give this breed many walks outdoors or have an enclosed area to allow this breed to use its muscles. Breeds such as the Golden Retriever, the Rottweiler, The Mastiff, the German Shepherd, Great Dane and other large breed dogs need room to romp and stretch! Crating for hours on end can cause many medical problems for the dog. Many people who crate their dogs for endless hours each and every day mistake a dog’s difficulty walking for hip dysplasia! A dog who is not allowed to build up its muscles…….who is not allow the opportunity to have room to grow, stretch, run and be the dog it should be will have all sorts of aches and pains! Of course, there can be joint pain as well due to NOT using the limbs enough. If your dog is crated for endless hours, you are stunting the growth of your dog. There is no way its muscles can fill out and work the way they are suppose to work. Your dog is achy…..in muscular pain and stiff. You’d have to imagine YOURSELF being cramped inside of a crate all day long for hours and hours and never seeing anyone until the end of the day. Even if you have no fence for your yard…..there are kennel pens you can purchase that will allow your dog to be outside and able to jump up…..walk around and breathe fresh outdoor air. Make sure, however, that your dog has plenty of shade and water as he or she can die of heatstroke quite easily during the summer months. Canvas shelter tops can be purchased for as little as $79 for kennel runs and they last for many years. Some hold up quite nice if you do not get alot of snow in the winter. Kennel runs start at approx. $179- $299 and up. The nice thing is they are easy to put up and you can always add panels as your dog grows or as you need them. This is quite cheap compared to the vet bill your going to have should your dog begin showing signs of medical problems from all the hours and months you have kept him or her confined. So, small dogs fit in well for those who have small living areas or who do not have the time to take fido on long jogs or walks. Large dogs need lots of space! Large dogs also have to be walked regardless of the weather. With small dogs, you may be able to get away with paper training.. Good natured dogs give people a physical and psychological boost. People tend to lead a better life when they own a pet. They get more exercise……they get fresh air…..They can socialize more with others while outside taking their pet for a walk…..People benefit from their pet’s unconditional love. But while a dog can bring benefits to your life…..they can also increase your financial responsibilities and hamper certain aspects to your life….especially if you travel frequently and can not take your dog with you.This is why it is very important that you can fit a dog into your budget and life. This is why it is important to know what type of dog you can afford before you contact the breeder. Puppies are demanding like infants and Toddlers. They require alot of training, alot of your time and can be costly.While many purebred dogs are great to own….there are wonderful mixed breeds who make great pets and will shower you with just as much attention. Sometimes the benefit of owning an older dog is that they have had all of their vaccinations…..they can be healthier than a puppy…..they have outgrown the chewing stage….they are use to noises and people…..they can be housebroken already and they can sometimes just fit right in with your home. Of course, there are downsides to purchasing an older dog as well. Some can have behavioral problems…..some can still have problems with digging and chewing….some can be wary, nervous and may have a tendency to bite out of fear…especially if they were abandoned, mistreated and abused. You can’t blame the dog! Some dogs can be scarred for life due to the way they were treated as a puppy from an abusive home. Abuse comes in many forms and is not always just about hitting. Abuse within the family unit home can spill over to the dog.Older dogs may also already have developed illnesses or conditions that require medical care, so what may seem to be “cheap” can actually cost you more in the long run through many vet bills. Quite sadly, many older dogs make fine, instant companions, yet few are willing to adopt an older dog.The downside to owning a puppy is of course the fact that they need vaccinations……they need to have obedience training…..they need to be housebroken……they need to learn NOT to chew on your furniture…..they can cost you alot of money by the time they become an adult.But, this is the territory that comes with owning a pet! There is NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT PET.Dogs and cats have their flaws just like humans. They all have their quirks….the medical problems as they go through life….their need for attention and detail…..the need for a bath….the need for teeth cleaning and care…..eye problems……need for vet care and of course…the need to eat, sleep and be happy. No amount of medical testing will guarantee you a defective free animal! Puppy’s who have parents that are tested for everything under the sun can still come down with a defect , illness or a disease. That’s life! Don’t believe you can own an animal and never have to prepare yourself for emotional or financial loss. That’s not going to happen. As with all living things….they eventually die from one cause or another. Even dogs who have been tested for everything can still die from a hereditary disease or from age related or medical related problems. It’s a fact of life. I personally believe that you SHOULD NOT purchase a dog based on the testing its parents had from the breeder. You are holding on to a false security blanket if you believe that because a breeder had your puppy’s parents tested for every ailment known to man (and dog) that your puppy will NEVER DIE OF ANY AILMENT, ILLNESS OR Disease or come down with any genetic ailment. Well, chances are your dog could get ran over by a car and NOT die of any ailment, illness or disease……There are no guarantees in life! I am not going to paint you a rosy picture where everyone lives happily ever after……you may live well and your pet can live well, but nothing is forever.The Basics in dog care…….When you finally decide to select your canine….you hopefully will have also given some consideration as to where your new pet is going to sleep and what areas your pet will have free reign. For crate training tips, CLICK HERE. Since puppies are well known for chewing on anything they can get their mouths on (just like a baby teething), it is important that you have plenty of toys, knotted ropes, large balls and other great items for your puppy to play with. Never entice your dog to play with your shoes, slippers, socks or other personal items. A dog can not differentiate between your new stuff and old stuff. Parenting a dog is much like parenting a child. They have to learn between right and wrong. It is important to “puppy proof” your home. This means that before you bring your new puppy home….make sure you do not have any extension cords laying about. Pick up any item that is small enough for your puppy to place inside its mouth and possibly swallow. A puppy wants to taste everything! They can choke to death if they get a small item lodged in their throat…such as a marble or other small toy that may belong to your child. Make sure you don’t have any glass near the floor or at “puppy level”.It is a very good idea to have a crate….a nice large one….ready for your new puppy. Bedding can be placed inside and a stuffed toy to keep him or her company. But don’t mistake this crate as a substitute baby sitter. As stated before, never crate your dog for hours on end every single day. Your puppy wants to explore its new living areas….the same thing with an older dog. This includes the trash can, so make sure your dog or puppy can not get into the trash. Serious illness can occur from eating the wrong thing. Food is another important factor regarding your new pet. The food you select during the first year of your pup’s life is critical to its adult development, health and growth. There are many products on the market and selecting the one that is right for you and your dog is important. Complete nutrition is crucial, so make sure you read the back label on the product you select. Corn meal is something you should stay away from.For feeding tips, CLICK HERE. You will be faced with many choices……so, it is important to keep in mind that you don’t want a high protein food for your puppy because a high protein food can cause your dog to grow too rapidly. Rapid growth can then cause joint and bone problems. You should keep in mind the activity level of your dog. Is he a runner? working dog? couch potato? Science Diet, Pedigree, Eukanuba and Iams are very good products on the market. Pedigree cost less than Science diet. Science Diet costs less than Eukanuba and Iams costs less than Eukanuba. While some stores will tell you that feeding with Iams or Eukanuba is cheaper in the long run, don’t believe it! Some dogs absolutely LOVE the taste and will eat just as much as they would the Pedigree. Some owners like to feed with Alpo. I personally have never liked the consistency of Alpo. We have found very good results from Pedigree, however, we have also discovered that sometimes our puppies will develop an “allergy” to pedigree and get dry or itchy skin or not do well over a long period of time with this food. We don’t know why, but it is usually just one or two pups in a litter every so often. A dog can become sensitive to their food no matter how long they have been eating it. Many people don’t realize that when their dog has intense itching over a period of time and no fleas or parasites can be found, that it is their food causing the problem. Dogs can have sensitivities just like people. When hair loss, weight loss, itching or scratching develops and everything seems to check out fine, take the food your dog is eating into consideration. Sometimes changing the diet can make a world of difference. So, while we start all of our puppies out on Pedigree……not every puppy will do well with it as they continue to age. Foods with antioxidants provides a healthy defense system. Free radicals attacks the cells, causing damage which can result in a weakened immune system and possibly serious diseases. The antioxidants such as vitamins E & C, Beta Carotene and Selenium have shown to reduce the damage caused by free radicals. They also help maintain your pet’s immune system and help reduce it against the risk of diseases.VITAMIN E: One of the most versatile antioxidants. Vitamin E helps support the body’s healing process. It has also shown to help prevent heart and neurological diseases. Vitamin E reduces the effects of aging.VITAMIN C: Works to boost the power of vitamin E in the body to fight the damage caused by toxins and pollution. For this reason, vitamin C is used to help protect against cancer and other diseases.BETA CAROTENE: Research suggests that carotenoids, like beta carotene, helps build a strong immune system and are considered a powerful tool in the fight against many diseases. Current studies support their use to fight cancer and other serious illnesses.SELENIUM: An essential trace mineral that works with vitamin E and helps to create important enzymes.These enzyme systems help protect against cell damage. Selenium also works with other antioxidants in fighting cancer.Your puppy needs alot of nutrition to get him or her through their first year. This will also keep your puppy and dog healthy and happy. Fat, protein and minerals like calcium and phosphorus help build strong bones and muscles and they also provide plenty of energy to grow and play. Too much of a good thing? Most certainly, too much of these nutrients can actually stunt the growth of your puppy and can also contribute to problems like obesity, bone disorders, heart and kidney disease and other serious ailments. Dogs come in many different sizes and shapes…so their nutritional requirements will vary. Feeding your dog cheap and poorly put-together food is also a very bad thing to do. This is why it is important that you can fit a dog into your budget. Think of how your system would react if you could not afford proper nutrition for yourself.PRODUCT BENEFITS:Controlled level of calcium: for healthy joints and bone development.L-Carnitine: Helps develop strong muscles and healthy bones. Converts fat into energy.High quality protein: Includes all 10 essential amino acids needed for proper growth.Energy: Controlled levels of fat and calories to help large breed puppies grow at the proper rate.Essential fatty acids: Help promote healthy nervous and immune systems.23 vitamins and minerals: An ideal balance for growing, large breed puppies.High Digestibility: Reduces stool volume, which makes for easier housetraining and clean up.Omega 3 & Omega 6 fatty acids: Support healthy function of nervous and immune systems; promote healthy skin and shiny coat.Digestible Carbohydrates: Supply abundant energy for lively pups.Calcium: For strong teeth and bones.Vitamin D: To properly absorb calcium.B vitamins: For an appropriate metabolism and appetite.DEFINITE DON’TS:*Don’t ever feed your dog chocolate! This can kill him or her. *Don’t feed your dog cookies. High in fat…low in nutrition.*Use caution on dairy products. Many dogs are lactose intolerant which can cause diarrhea. *Bones: NEVER FEED YOUR DOG CHICKEN BONES! These bones are brittle and have sharp edges. Chicken bones can cause damage to your dog’s intestines and throat. They can also stick in your dog’s throat causing choking which can lead to death. Bones of any kind can also crack your dog’s teeth.Good grooming and veterinarian care is of great benefit to both you and your dog! Regular check-ups and grooming habits can play an important role in keeping your dog healthy, but it is also a great way to bond and spend quality time together. Keeping your dog’s teeth clean is also important to good health. Senior dogs may require soft food if they have lost teeth or have bad teeth.*Dental kits are available at most pet stores and from your vet’s office. Doggie toothpaste is usually included as well as instructions on how to keep your pet’s teeth clean.*Professional teeth cleaning is available through your veterinarian.*Selecting a professional groomer is just as important as it is making your selection on vet care. While grooming is healthy for your pet, selecting the wrong groomer can be deadly to your dog! We discovered that some groomers actually place your dog under anesthesia. WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN KILL YOUR PUPPY OR DOG! Using unnecessary anesthesia can be detrimental to your dog. It is dangerous and certainly NOT A PROPER WAY TO GROOM A DOG! While this can make a lazy groomer’s job easier,anesthesia should never be used for convenience sake! We highly recommend that you use a groomer that you know, trust or check out carefully. Word of mouth is always a good way to find a good groomer too! The best groomer for a pet is yourself! If you are not placing your dog in a show event, you really should groom your dog yourself. There are many wonderful videos, books and other materials over the Internet to help you learn how to take care of your dog’s coat. Grooming your dog is a great way to bond and your dog has come to trust you. Getting your puppy use to having its coat brushed, ears cleaned and nails trimmed will also make your dog familiar with this routine. Each session will get easier and easier as time goes by.SPAYING AND NEUTERING:Every year in the United States, between four and six million companion animals end up in animal shelters. Many of these animals are euthanized. Animal activists and those who are holier than thou want to blame breeders for this problem. It is NOT always because of a breeder. The last place a good breeder wants its dogs is in a shelter. Animals make their way to shelters via their irresponsible as well as uneducated owners. Or sometimes they go to shelters due to an owner’s death or severe illness. Provisions for your pet’s care after your death is essential. Always include your pet in your will. Many people never give it a second thought. Dogs can make their way to shelters by being allowed to roam the streets and they can make their way to shelters due to irresponsible breeders NOT taking care of their dogs. The best age to sterilize your pet is before he or she turns six months of age. This is the age that male dogs are capable of siring a litter. A female will usually go into her first heat at the age of six months.Having your dog spayed or neutered before the hormones kick in reduce many unwanted behaviors and also prevents unwanted or unplanned pregnancies. My personal beef with those who advocate spaying and neutering such as veterinarians and some kennel clubs is that they do NOT make it easy for dog owners to spay or neuter. Many owners WANT to have this procedure done, but prices on sterilization have gotten out of control and many Kennel clubs, such as AKC, who hold show events pretend to ADVOCATE the spaying or neutering of dogs, yet they REFUSE TO ALLOW AN ALTERED DOG IN THE SHOW RING….which is complete nonsense and shows a double standard!As a matter of fact, it is BECAUSE of kennel clubs who don’t advocate this procedure that there are many unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. A male dog or a female dog can be just as beautiful whether they are intact or altered. Many vets charge outrageous prices and there are many people who can not afford their out of control fees.A clear example: To have a cat neutered or spayed costs over $180! As of the year 2006, we have watched the cost of spaying and neutering reach over $400! This is the entire cost for having the procedure, hospitalization and other shots, etc; I personally believe that if vets would set their spaying/neutering fees on a sliding scale based on the owner’s income, we would have fewer puppies and kittens making their way to shelters where they will most certainly have only been born to die an early age. Homeless and unwanted. Dog owners would then be able to afford this procedure which could possibly help the population explosion of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies in their dogs.Many shelters or humane societies are now spaying and neutering dogs prior to them leaving their shelters which is great….but you have to remember that they are getting state funding or donations from the general public to make this possible. It is important that you can afford this procedure when thinking about purchasing a new pet. Depending upon your area, spaying & neutering will vary in price. DO NOT assume that a breeder will sell a puppy or dog to you with the cost of spaying & neutering included. There are times when canine will be advertised in a local paper or online who have been altered and the owner is not seeking any money or is only asking for a small, reasonable fee to allow you to adopt the dog. Most of the time such owners are having to suddenly move or their lives have changed that can not include their pet.We are not above spaying & neutering our own dogs. As time goes by, our dogs do age or we no longer want to continue breeding a specific breed or specific dog. Many of our dogs are spayed and neutered “senior” dogs. Every year, as our dogs age and we remove dogs from our breeding program, they are spayed or neutered. Although we advertise these dogs to approved, adoptive homes…..the fact remains that those who call us only want puppies or they want dogs who have not been altered so they can “breed” them. Sadly, senior or dogs ranging from 4-6 years of age, have difficulty being placed into adoptive homes because of the lack of quality homes being available to them. We have learned, over the years, that when someone calls and claims they are interested in our older dogs….they are only seeking a “FREE” breeding dog. When we tell them they have to complete an application and that the dogs are altered and if they have not yet been altered, they must be altered before being allowed into their homes…we get the usual “okay, thanks anyway” response. This shows us that the home, number one was NOT a quality pet home we wanted our aging dog to go to and it also shows the lack of homes available to older dogs who could still contribute love and companionship to someone seeking it.DID YOU KNOW?For the record, most people who desire to own a dog, desire to own their dog as a companion/pet. There are large numbers of people who do participate in the show ring and on the field in competitions with the dogs that they purchase, but the majority of people only desire to own a pet. People in other nations such as China, Thailand, Vietnam and other Asian countries take pride in their dogs because they consume them as a meal. The manner in which they are slaughtered is completely outrageous! The beliefs are that if the dog is beaten, boiled alive, burned alive or hanged, they will release their adrenaline which supposedly makes their meat tender and the myth goes that the meat boosts a man’s virility. Of course there is no scientific evidence of such and this abuse is outrageous! South Koreans consume over 1 million dogs a year. Horrific? This is of no concern to those who believe there is no wrong doing in consuming a dog for a meal. To those of us who love them & worship them as pets, it is mortifying!South Koreans believe that there are health benefits such as easy digestion if they consume dog meat.Fortunately since many groups have tried to change this practice, this tradition is dying out. JUST NOT QUICK ENOUGH!!! The practice of eating dog meat seems to be exclusively with the older generation living outside of South Koreans’ major cities. About 3 million (fewer than 10%) of the country’s 46 million people, eat dog meat and consider it a delicacy. This means that millions of dogs are killed each year for this country’s purpose. Many of the younger generation find this cruelty to animals (and indeed it is) and hope this practice will fade into history.Thank God, this is not a practice within the United States, but there is still a large amount of animals who suffer at the hands of their owners & breeders. There is still a problem in the United States with dog fighting rings and those who beat them, train them for fighting purposes. We urge ANYONE who knows of this type of behavior going on to notify their local police. There are many breeders who breed their puppies and ship them to Asian countries and know full well that they are selling their pups to be consumed as meals or kept for breeding purposes to have puppies for consumed meal purposes. There are breeders who do not care where their puppies end up and sell them to pet stores or for commercial purposes. This type of breeder is a worthless human who should not even own a single dog. We have never sold a single puppy or dog to a pet store or for commercial purposes and we definitely will NEVER ship a puppy or dog to an Asian country.To Micro-chip or NOT to Micro-chip….that’s the question:We believe in micro-chipping all pets! This reality hit home for my eldest son who moved into a new home/area in California and his beloved Golden Retriever (which came from us many years ago) ran away with her pal, a Labrador, when a storm blew through and caused their gate to swing open. During the terrible storm, their dogs became scared and hit the road. For days, my son searched high and low for his dogs. Some weeks later, he happened upon a shelters’ website where he saw one of his dogs’ picture showing the dog up for adoption! Needless to say, he immediately drove down there and regained his dog. The Lab has never been located or found. Had his dogs been micro-chipped, as we urge everyone to do,Their dogs would have been scanned immediately and found their way home. He is very fortunate to have been able to retrieve at least one of his beloved pets …..however, on a sad note, their Labrador who was their Golden Retrievers’ best pal, never made it back home. The two became separated during the storm. We urge everyone to join PETTRAC, the national recovery system backed nationally by state Veterinarian Medical Associations. Nearly every dog and cat that makes its way to a shelter is scanned upon entry. Unless you and your pet belong to this recovery system, there is no way to identify your pet or to know where it came from. Many animals lose their collars or are removed by those who steal them. Should your pet become stolen, this system also notifies agencies and vet clinics to be on the look out for your pet. Micro-chipping is NOT a luxury….its a necessity. Its a very simple procedure that can be done at the same time your pet receives his or her vaccinations and the cost is minimum. All of our canine are micro-chipped and we highly recommend it!SO, YOU WANT TO PURHASE A PET FROM A PET STORE?If you have stumbled upon a very cute dog at your local pet store….here’s what you need to know about the puppies who make their way to these pet facilities. Breeders who sell their puppies to pet stores are irresponsible breeders who have difficulty selling their pups to the general public or They can also be private uneducated breeders who don’t want to “deal” with their litter of pups that they just HAD to let little Susie watch being born. More than likely, they sold a few and then had pups they just didn’t want to “deal with”. People always assume that puppies in pet stores come from “Puppy Mills” or “Commercial Breeders”. NOT ALWAYS SO! More uneducated, private breeders sell their pups to pet stores than any one else. Unfortunately, we are even seeing Goldendoodles being sold to pet stores from the kinds of breeders mentioned above.Pet stores scour the nation through newspaper and Internet ads for breeders who are either giving their puppies away or who have very low prices because they know that by marking them up by at least 300%, they’ll make their money back and then some.Pet store owners purchase many of their puppies under false pretenses and present themselves to the breeders as a family seeking to replace a dog that has died or seeking a puppy for their “children”, knowing full well that the puppy they just bought will go to their store to sit in glass cages for the general public to view. Many become sick and unhealthy from being shuffled from one pet store to the other, if the store is a chain. Believe it or not, the majority of puppies inside of pet stores are registered with the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB…the supposed GOD of all Kennel Clubs who has “nothing but responsible” breeders registered with them!!! Hmm! Yeah, right! Another sad fact is those who sold their puppies to the pet stores don’t even care who buys them or whether or not they will be taken care of properly. No responsible breeder would ever dare sell their puppies to a pet store or any kind of facility like this. One of the ways a responsible breeder can deter pet stores from contacting them is to NOT bargain with a person who wants the breeder to “lower the price” or “give them a break” in the price. When a potential customer claims they’d “give the puppy a good home, but can’t afford much to pay”. This is a red flag. If a customer can not afford the price a breeder is asking, most likely they can not afford the dogs’ unexpected vet bills either. Most pet stores will ONLY purchase puppies from the above mentioned breeders that are registered with the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB. This is because they can get TOP DOLLAR for the puppies from people who believe that dogs registered with this kennel club are QUALITY dogs. What amazes me even more is how many people assume that all breeders who register their puppies and their breeding dogs with AKC, are RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS with quality dogs! Where do these AKC registered puppies inside of pet stores and pet shops come from??? If your first answer was “a puppy mill”…you just got an “F” for failure to respond correctly! These so called responsible breeders who sold their puppies to the pet stores and pet shops are private breeders and commercial breeders who register their litters with the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, CONTINENTAL KENNEL CLUB and other canine registrant services, who breed to make a quick buck! Yes…many quick bucks can be made when all you do is produce a litter of puppies and six weeks after they are born, sell the entire litter to the pet store. It’s very simple! Pet stores across the country buy entire litters and then spread them out across their chain of other stores. It is very sickening. The breeder never has to spend a dime in taking care of the puppies…never has to spend any time or effort either! Any breeder…commercial or private can make many quick bucks in doing this. WE KNOW! WE GET CALLS FROM PET SHOPS AND PET STORES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WANTING OUR PUPPIES and since I began in 1996….I can proudly claim and scream I HAVE NEVER SOLD A SINGLE PUPPY THAT I HAVE CREATED TO A PET SHOP OR A PET STORE! Private breeders who sell their puppies and litters to pet stores and pet shops across the country are the real “puppy mills” and this is exactly what I personally believe a puppy mill to be. The puppy mill is NOT the breeder who spends an arm and a leg on their litters….who has enormous outgoing expenses and who has put in an enormous amount of time with their pups and dogs. I don’t care how many dogs a breeder owns….that is NOT WHAT MAKES A BREEDER A PUPPY MILL. Private breeders who dump their litters off at pet stores don’t give a rats ass who buys their puppies…..what kind of home their puppies are going to…how long they have to sit being gawked at by passers by through a window…don’t care whether or not a pet store or pet shop will take good care of their created pups…all they care about is that they have dumped a litter of 5-12 puppies off and picked up their “pay” check from the pet store. That’s fact whether people select to believe it or not! I personally know breeders who do this…don’t condone it…don’t do it….but know it to be a fact that this practice happens all over the United States on a daily basis.What you don’t know too is that a PET STORE AND PET SHOP don’t want anything to do with an older puppy. They also pay very little to the breeder for each puppy….but to the breeder who does this…they’d rather rake in $200 per puppy than pay out more than they know they will take in, by keeping the pups until someone calls them to buy one. They also have less hassle and don’t have to pay out any advertising costs. Breeders who dump their pups off at these stores do not have to speak to anyone about the puppies they have created, except the pet store and pet shop they sell to.Hence, you never know about them until you buy one of their puppies from the store and see their name listed on the pup’s registration documents as the breeder.
