How to be a good parent to your Goldendoodle

Okay. We've seen it time and time again where people will obtain a new family pet and have no clue as to how to raise it or to be a good parent to it. Here's the key to successful Goldendoodle parenting:

START YOUR GOLDENDOODLE'S LIFE OFF ON THE RIGHT PAW!!

Yep! It's that simple! When you first obtain your brand new Goldendoodle...regardless of age...they are a newcomer! They are a brand new family member. They don't know the rules yet of your family. They don't know the bounderies or what limits you have set up for them.
This precious new family member has no idea it is not allowed to sit on your furniture...hop on your bed...where is has to sleep...what it is allowed to eat and when...

People have a tendency to forget that bringing a new pet...Goldendoodle or otherwise...into their home is very much like bringing a baby home for the first time. Dogs can not speak! Not in language that you understand...yet. Just as babies have to learn how to get their message across to its parents, your Goldendoodle has to learn how to communicate with you so that he or she can get their needs, wants and desires known to you. Like becoming a parent for the very first time, sure there are plenty of wonderful baby books out there....but it is up to the parents to implement what they have read or try a few new things on their own.
So too, for the new Goldendoodle owner.

You bring your new Goldendoodle puppy or dog home and with wagging tail, they look up at you with those adoring eyes and potty right in front of you. What did they do wrong? Their pleading eyes don't understand why you are upset. Your puppy has had an "accident". But to them, your puppy did what comes natural. Simply squatting or lifting its leg to urinate or to do the other.

Your puppy keeps you up all night long in the beginning, howling and crying its head off. The anxious, inexperienced parent will believe the dog has "social anxiety disorders". An experienced parent who has been around the block a few times with new "children" understand that their puppy is just upset because it is trying to learn the new rules and is using crying and howling as a communicative tool to get its' new mommy or daddy's attention. After all, your Goldendoodle can not yell,
"HEY YOU THERE!!! LET ME OUT AND GIVE ME SOME LOVIN'!!". Wouldn't that be nice?

Suddenly, the realities of becoming a new puppy or dog owner has become evident! Your ideal Goldendoodle has shattered your illusions. Now what? You have all the essentials you thought you had for becoming a new doodle parent. After all, you did just splurge on a new crate, food bowls, dog food, toys, grooming essentials and all the things your breeder and the pet store assistant told you that you would need as a new Goldendoodle owner. You may have even purchased a few dog books...but now what? How do you now implement these things to help you, the new Goldendoodle owner, become a good parent?

Will you be able to ever housebreak your new Goldendoodle? Will you be able to set boundaries for your new lovable family member? How will you raise your "new child" ? These are all questions that will probably give you a huge headache as they race through your mind the first few weeks of obtaining your new Goldendoodle if you are an inexperienced dog person and have never owned a pet before.

But don't fret! You can be a good parent and you must calm down, relax and take a deep breath. Puppyhood will pass before you know it! Canine age entirely faster than humans. If you understand that owning a Goldendoodle is entirely more than loading up on tons of canine paraphernalia; understand what your primary responsibilities as a Goldendoodle parent is to provide your new pet shelter, food, love, good nutrition and proper guidance...then you will be just fine. You can read all the books in the world and you can call your friends and the breeder hundreds of times in a day. It will all eventually boil down to one thing and that is YOU...the parent...taking full responsibility and taking the reins to show your new doodle the way.

In order for your Goldendoodle family member to become a happy, healthy, well adjusted pet, you must be patient, loving and disciplined. You and the other family members can help your doodle become a winning team if you understand the basics of canine ownership.
Your Goldendoodle will provide you with unconditional love like no human can. But they can only provide this type of love if you do not raise your doodle with anxiety, yelling, hitting or negative training. Goldendoodles are very sensitive dogs. They are dependent dogs. They need you probably more than you need him or her. Dogs of all ages must have rules and guidance. As a good parent, it is up to you to provide this for your new Goldendoodle family member.

Just when you thought you had your home entirely dog proof, your intelligent Goldendoodle will discover something new to either chew on, dig up, get into or play with. If the item is within reach or on the ground, your Goldendoodle will more than likely find it. They are very curious like most dogs are. It is incredible what dogs can fit into their mouths. You would be very surprised. So supervision is a must until your doodle understands the rules of the game. Young puppies are like vacuum cleaners! Everything and anything can go into their mouth if it is within reach or on the ground!

Carefully examine, especially if youhave young children, your home and analyze every aspect of your lifestyle. Are you or your children in the habit of leaving toys, food, small items laying around on the floor or coffee tables or on low lying furniture? Remember what you did as a parent to your children. Just as you had to ensure sharp items or even items that could be deemed dangerous for a curious child, you must puppyproof your home for your new Goldendoodle. You must look through the eyes of your canine. Learn where the dangerous places may be within your home. Like children, your Goldendoodle will look at a loose object as well as your couch, carpet or other furniture as something that should go inside its mouth.
Be it sock, shoe, shoe-lace, snack, toy.....the item will be very enticing and inviting for your doodle.

Unless you set boundaries and rules and supervise, your new Goldendoodle will get into anything and everything. It's what dogs do. It isn't the breeder's fault. It's the natural order for a dog. Learn what is deadly to dogs; Understand that whatever is convenient for a dog....they will do it. Dogs, unfortunately, have no common sense. They act and react. You, the human, have a much larger brain so that you can understand things. Dogs are intelligent, but they are, after all, dogs.

Raising your new Goldendoodle takes time. How long did it take to raise your child? Dog do not live as long as humans. Raising a Goldendoodle is a lifetime event just as raising your child is a lifetime event...it is only shorter for the doodle. Things get better over time. Your child did not enter your family and instantly understand the rules. He or she did not instantly understand how to communicate. Your child did not instantly learn how to walk, function, behave or act like a respectable person. Neither will a dog be able to do these things. Everything takes time. Unless you understand that being a new Goldendoodle owner takes time, patience and lots of love, you will not be a good parent. You will raise a very distraught, uncooperating doodle. Join an obedience class as soon as possible! If you have never owned a pet before and you do not have the time to incorporate training, do not bring home a canine, regardless of breed. If you are anxious, fearful, doubtful and a bit on the neurotic side, these emotions will transfer to your new pet instantaneous. Parents need to keep their emotions, fears and anxieties in check otherwise whether child or pet, you will transfer these negative emotions towards them. Just like your baby, your Goldendoodle can't get enough kissing and cuddling and positive affection. Spend as much time with your new Goldendoodle as possible so that bonding can begin immediately. Your Goldendoodle will completely enjoy your attention, affection, the tumbling, tugging and romping. You are your new Goldendoodle's world and if allowed, they will not let you forget it.


About the author: Dee Gerrish of Goldendoodle World, has written extensively about the Goldendoodle dog since 1999. Dee is one of the original founders for the Goldendoodle dog for the entire southern region of the United States. You can discover more about the Goldendoodle dog at http://www.goldendoodleworld.com