Bringing your Cavoodle home

Preparing for the arrival of your Cavoodle puppy

The big day has finally arrived when you get to bring your Cavoodle home, but you do need to be prepared for their arrival. There are a few things that are essential to have at home for your puppy’s arrival which are his food, sleeping area or bed and toys. While these are the basic essentials, there are a range of products that will make the transition much easier and provide for your puppy’s health requirements. It’s much better to buy these supplies after speaking to the breeder or business so that they can advise you on what your puppy is already used to and what they would recommend. They will also have experience with the brands and models that they use and will be a helpful resource if you need to ask questions later on. If you are going through a business, they may also have the products available to buy and collect with your puppy and be able to guide you in their proper use.

What to feed your Cavoodle puppy

It cannot be stressed enough that your puppy needs to remain on the same diet that they are already being fed and then if necessary, changed gradually to a new diet if you wish to do so. Sudden changes in diet can, and often will, cause severe gastrointestinal upsets in your puppy that can be life-threatening. Your puppy needs to be fed a premium diet for optimal nutrition during their most important puppy stage and feeding a cheap, supermarket brand of dry food with low nutritional content will not meet the needs of a growing puppy. If the breeder or seller is not feeding a premium food, ask why not and if they site price or another unsubstantial reason, you may be better off buying your puppy elsewhere. Reputable sellers want to give their dogs the best start possible and skimping on quality to save a few dollars is not best practice.
Food and water bowls are also needed and your Cavoodle needs to have a separate non-tip bowl for each that are made specifically for dogs. Do not allow your Cavoodle to eat from your own bowls as they are usually too fragile for excited dogs. This will also help to prevent your dog associating your bowls with her food and never allow them to eat from the table. Also make sure that your Cavoodle has clean fresh water available at all times from a bowl that is large enough to hold the amount of water they consume in a day while being shallow enough to prevent them from drowning.

A bed or crate for your Cavoodle

Your Cavoodle will need somewhere of his own to sleep as sleeping in your bed can be dangerous for a small puppy. Whether you choose a bed or crate is up to you but it needs to be somewhere warm and quiet to help your puppy feel secure and comfortable. Puppies need a place that allows them to sleep without being disturbed whenever they are tired. You can also section off an area around her bed for a few days using a puppy plan pen as a safe area that she can be in when you cannot supervise her to keep her out of trouble. Your puppy is better off being in a smaller area where they are safe, than being given the run of the house at the risk of injuring themselves.

Toys for Cavoodles

Dog toys are some of the most fun things to purchase for your new dog but not all dog toys are safe for all dogs as a toy that is safe for a toy breed, such as a Cavoodle, can be a choking hazard for a larger breed dog such as a Labradoodle. Most commercially manufactured dog toys will state the size of dog that they are suitable for, but use your own judgement as well. Remember you can always ask the breeder or seller what toys they prefer to offer their Cavoodles and what the dogs actually like to play with. There are wide range of toys available these days, to keep your Cavoodle entertained and stimulated, so have a few already at home waiting for the arrival of your new dog.

A brush and shampoo for your Cavoodle

You can give your puppy its first bath in the first few days of bringing them home, but always use a puppy shampoo and warm water to make it a pleasant experience. Also make sure the water level is kept low to prevent your dog’s face from going under the water if they slip while you are bathing them. Having another adult help to hold your dog while you bath them is recommended until they learn to like bath time. Get your new dog used to being brushed by initially using a soft brush for short periods of time – under 5 minutes – when the house is quiet and they are nestled in your lap. This will help your Cavoodle associate the brush with being patted and make grooming much easier. Offering treats as rewards for good behaviour while both bathing and brushing will reinforce their association between these activities and pleasurable experiences.

These are just the basics to have on hand for the arrival of your new dog but there are a number of other products that can help make the transition to your home easier for your puppy, so remember to ask about other useful products when picking up your Cavoodle.