I've known for a number of years that my kids want a dog, and for years I've been a, "Hell no." Then, driving home from work one day late last year, it hit me with some fairly intense clarity: Was I denying my kids a wondeful and formative childhood memory because my parents were anti-pets? Yes.

We have four kids who are now 17, 16, 14, and 10, and on Valentines Day, they received a card that was essentially from the Australian Labradoodle mom and dad of a litter with a "go home" date this June. The response was worth it alone. They're pretty excited and floored that dad gave in.

So.

That's going to be something. We're already learning lots about training, and leash training, and crate training, etc. Supposedly this breed is pretty smart, like most doodles. I have the tools to groom, clip, and dremel already - even if its just to help desensitize the thing to them.

What do you dog owners wish you had known? Any of those things that owners seem to know but didn't pass on to you?

On the bright side, I put down LVT in almsost the whole main floor when we moved in, and the den where we spend lots of time has old carpent with a couple runs in it already anyway, so I'm not terribly concerned there.

Thanks for chiming in. I'm always looking to try to have more non-political/stocks/tariff discussions in my life. SF is a great place for that.

Train both the dogs and the children. The dog - basic obedience things: Sit, stay, leave it (so that they don't eat anything they shouldn't), to not rush through any open door but to sit and wait for you to okay them going through, to tell someone when they need to poop or pee, etc.

The children - to be responsible for the dog. Rotate each day to be the one responsible for the dog - for it's training, feeding, walking to poop, etc.

Crate train straight away. At about 17 weeks or so pay for professional training and stick with the regiment. It’s worth it for a lifetime (the dogs) of well behaved companion.

Just be aware that you will probably be the dog's favorite person.

And kids are rarely good at the responsibility needed to care for a pet. Your leadership is key to success.

In my never to be humble opinion, dogs teach kids to be better people. You made the right choice.

A second on the crate training.
Get the large size. Put a towel over the top to give it a cozy feeling. Never force the dog into it, giv treats if any coaxing is needed. As soon as you get home, or get going in the morning, outside they go. Be sure to put a secure water bowl inside.
Get several quality toys, a Kong is a good one.

I’m not a “master” trainer but have spent my fair share of time on the Schutzhund field. Protection, obedience, and tracking. Been doing obedience training for almost 30 years. Protection and tracking since 2008.

As others have stated, crate train that thing, from day 1. They sleep in the crate. They eat in the crate. They drink water..in the crate. Don’t use those wire crates either, get the ones that are plastic. If the puppy has an accident or chooses to mess its’ crate on purpose, because it doesn’t like it..you’ll know why the recommendation on the plastic vs. wire. About 100X easier to clean up.

As others have also stated, the problem with any dog, is the owner. So it’s key you train yourself, train your children, together. Same commands, same discipline. If you do it right you’ll all become trainers and it can be a great family unity experience. And the k9 will love it. I cannot describe the bond you get with certain K9’s. Some will be more than a human bond, some less. Varies on the K9 and temperament. You can buy DVD’s/Blu-Rays from Leerburg online. It’s been too many years for me, maybe now they are VOD or something. You watch, with your kids, go chapter by chapter, and re-watch what you need, as many times as you need, until it start sticking. Will save you a lot of $ vs. paying a trainer. Teach yourself how to fish vs. paying someone to fish for you.

If you are going to feed kibble, buy high quality stuff. Chewy carries most everything online. You’ll need to examine the K9’s stool and you’ll probably have to try a few brands/types. Remember to gradually change the kibble if you need to try another brand/types. 10% change per day. And buy bags. For your own sanity, teach all involved, the dog shits, clean it up. Don’t let it just sit there or you’ll end up stepping in it. I see far too many owners in my neighborhood NOT carry a bag and just let their K9 shit on people’s property on a walk. It’s straight trash behavior. I don’t care what color or race the person is. It’s just trash. If I’m in public, or on a field training, I’ve got bags on me 24/7. There is no excuse, at all, for this behavior, 0 tolerance.

Fuck dog parks, altogether. Too many K9’s there that aren’t trained. Your K9 could get attacked, bullied, and many that use dog parks don’t clean up their K9’s shit. They just leave it on the ground. I detest cleaning shoes, flip-flops, etc, from stepping in shit. Really pisses me off.

Good luck. I’ll always have one. I have a Mal now and our bond is the strongest of any of my K9’s in the past. She’s getting old but she is spry, and will kill herself taking down a target/threat. I’ve had a deposit down for several years with the breeder for Halle Berry’s Mals in John Wick 3. So I’m ready if I lose my girl.

Good luck sir. You’re kids will love it and treat you like Dad of the year!

Don’t let the dog near the table when you’re eating. It’s easier to teach a down/stay if you put the dog on top of its crate, on an ottoman, or a chair—just get it off the ground. Don’t be stingy with “good dogs” when it does what you “command.” There’s a key word, “command,” don’t ask.

This may be contentious and certainly not perfect. However, I learned a lot from watching Cesar Milan videos about pack leadership, behavior, reward and correction, socialization, warning signs, happy vs excited vs anxious behavior and many other things. I believe I became a better owner, leader, friend leading to a happier dog.

That the dog was never about everyone else in the household having a learning experience.

But was about you realizing that your great ideas often are anything but...

I was going to say "that some dogs shed like mf'ers....but the breed you got should be good there.

Great advice above

Tell the kids to not vary from the dogs training, not to teach it bad habits. Feeding it people food, food from the table. One of the things we do is meddle a bit with the dog from day one while it's eating, touch it's food, pet it so it doesn't become aggressive over food

We put bells by the doors and teach it to ring them when it's time to go potty

quote:

Originally posted by Veeper:
Supposedly this breed is pretty smart, like most doodles.

Yep. Labradoodles are a fantastic breed. The best dogs I've ever had. Combining the loyalty and eagerness to please (and food driven nature) of the Lab with the intelligence of the Poodle makes them extremely easy to train.

Just remember that any sort of training that you do early in its life will go faster and easier than waiting until they're older. So start right away with things like commands and obedience training. Also start right away with things like socializing them around other dogs and other people, taking them out to public areas, etc.

You will also want to start right away with getting them used to doing things like touching/trimming their paws, brushing their hair, taking baths, blow-drying, riding in the car, trimming their ear hair, etc. If you normalize it when they're still in their puppy development phase, they won't fight it when they get older.

The earlier you start, the easier it will be.

Also remember that they won't be able to fully control their bowels/bladder until they're 3-4 months old. So start right away with potty training, but understand that accidents are to be expected early on, and it's partly just that their body isn't fully developed. Don't get mad.

Finally, as your breeder and/or vet should warn you, you have to stay on top of keeping a doodle's ears groomed. The get thick hair in their ears and you have to keep it clean, and pull it out regularly. Otherwise they'll develop ear infections. So definitely get them used to this specifically when they're young. Mine doesn't even bat an eye when you grab a pinch of thick ear hair and yank it out, or squirt ear cleaner in his ear canals.

quote:

Originally posted by robbiedog:
I was going to say "that some dogs shed like mf'ers....but the breed you got should be good there.

It depends... Doodles can have one of three coats, based on genetics and luck. And you won't know until they've shed their puppy coat.

1) Curly. This is the stereotypical doodle coat that everyone seems to want. Tight curls like a standard poodle, with no shedding. But you have to keep their hair brushed and cut.

2) Straight. This is more like a standard Lab coat, with short straight hair. Sheds like a normal dog, but doesn't need haircuts.

3) Mix/Wavy. This is in between the first two. Sheds a bit more than a person, but not as much as most dogs. Lower maintenance than tight curls, but still has to get haircuts. (This is what my doodle has.)

They *love* to go on walks which is good for both of you but dogs really need to run too, especially puppies and younger dogs. So take it to a field with a tennis ball or frisbee and get it off the leash.
Many dogs love water and swimming is great exercise for them, so in warm weather take it to a river or pond. Some dog owners won't because "he'll get muddy". I feel sorry for those dogs, a little mud hoses right off.

Look into pet medical insurance. Vets are not shy about billing for services performed. I’m not saying they over charge, but X-ray, and tooth extraction is about the same price dog or human.

Never ever never feed from the table. Pick a diet and stick with it, changing food leads to upset stomach.

Congratulations, I have owned dogs nearly my whole life. They are truly mans best friend

- If you can, get health insurance

- Allocate at least $1k a year for routine check-ups, shots, heart guard etc.

- There is a difference between a pleasure walk and a business walk. Do not confuse the dog, he needs to know what is expected from him. They love routines and aim to please. My dogs for example: short leash and right turn out the door to the back yard; they know it is a business walk and TCB pretty quickly. Retractable leash and straight down the driveway; they know it is a pleasure walk.

- When I come home, we inspect the house for accidents or destruction. 99% there is none. Only after inspection do they get a GOOD greeting and a treat from the special jar. They only get treats from this jar when I am away and they are good. You can see they actually wait patiently and smile when they pass inspection. It has been a very good tool.

- They do better with the run of the house and they can see out the windows

quote:

Originally posted by Speedbird:
- Allocate at least $1k a year for routine check-ups, shots, heart guard etc.

That's going to be vet/location dependent. I don't pay even a third of that per year for regular checkups, shots, and preventative meds.

I pay ~$150 for checkup and shots and another ~$160 for a year of Heartgard meds.

Good for you!

I have yet to meet a Doodle of any kind who wasn't a good dog. Friendly, goofy, smart, and loving.

My two are F1b Goldendoodles with curly coats. The only hair I ever find around the house is an occasional clump smaller than a penny. This usually means it's time for their grooming.

If it’s a doodle, you shouldn’t have to worry about your floors or carpet. The dog will train you. I don’t know about chewing with this crossbreed.. though puppies are puppies, I suspect.
Congrats to your family on their new best friend! No fighting over it, now

ETA: what goes in must come out, and it can be scheduled, so schedule your feeding times 2xday and you will have a specific time that the dog needs to go outside to do its business. The more treats it gets the more of a problem you’ll have trying to sort out when it needs to go out. Trust me - it’s immeasurable how this will help you. I’ve done a fair amount of rescue retraining and rehoming, and had multiple pets of my own… add to that I’m a CVT..

The only other comment I have is check the pup‘s hips - “fair” is not what I want to see in a parent dog that I’m buying for that kind of price. ESP when the other parent isn’t “excellent”. I’ve purchased quality purebreds for less and shown them to their championships.

I would get a guarantee from that breeder if those hips aren’t good in the puppy, and your vet may not want to x-ray them until a certain age..
There is not much more heartbreaking than having to put down a dog because of hip dysplasia at two years of age.. because by that point you are definitely attached.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: irreverent,

Dogs learn to pee/poop where you let it. While it's a pup, carry it to your natural areas 20-30 mins after a every meal to let it do it's business

By the time you get to the point of just letting the dog out, it will go to the natural areas to do it's business.

None of my dogs have ever pooped in the grass. Best of all if you take the dog on walks or to a friends place, it will only do it's business in natural areas. No cleanup!

Also consider a rescue.
They're not a cute little puppy but they may be past the chewing and house breaking phase, or mostly.
You will also see the physical size and maybe the temperament. They have their shots, spay/neuter and a microchip done, which is probably a thousand if you're paying for it all.
Most shelters would also welcome you and the kids for some extended dog walking so they can get a better idea of what responsible pet ownership involves.