Dog Training graphic created by Matt Beswick for Pet365 – a UK supplier of dog beds, collars and coats. Click here to view the full post.

Choosing a veterinarian – it’s important to find the right one, as they will play an important role in your puppy’s life. If you haven’t chosen a vet for your puppy, now is the time to find one. Here are a few tips to help your vet visit go as smoothly as possible:

• Make all visits – especially the first one – a happy experience for your puppy.

• Arrive early, so you don’t feel rushed, and take time for your puppy to relax in the vet’s office.

• Take some small treats for the staff to give to your puppy to help start things off right.

• Discuss your puppy’s future health care – set up a vaccination schedule and stick to it… missing an appointment could compromise your puppy’s immunity.

• Ask a staff member if they can call or email reminders regarding upcoming appointment.

• Your vet may give you a health record to keep for your puppy. If not, start one for your puppy.

• Have your vet check for internal parasites (worms), or tests for congenital problems.

• Talk to your vet about the best time to spay or neuter your puppy.

Each outing to the veterinarian’s office is also a chance to monitor your puppy’s body language. Is he fearful of the new surroundings or is he just happy to meet new people? His body language will tell you a lot about himself!

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the help putting together the labradoodle rescue directory.

Sharing it in case anyone else wants to have a look. Happy training!

Training your Labradoodle Puppies

Low Allergen Dogs

Dog lovers come in almost as many shapes and sizes as there are dogs. Even people who are allergic to dogs may love them. Those who suffer from mild pet allergies, but still love owning dogs, used to be somewhat limited in the breeds they could choose from. Recent developments of several cross breeds have meant that people who suffer from pet allergies can now choose from several different breeds that are designed to minimize the impact on the allergy sufferer. One of the best dogs for people with allergies is the Labradoodle. Understanding what causes pet allergies and why the Labradoodle is different will tell you why.

Anyone who is allergic to dogs can tell you that not only are allergic reactions not fun, they can be dangerous as well. Pet allergies, and dog allergies in particular, are caused by allergens located in the saliva or dried skin of the dog. When people susceptible to these allergens come into contact with pet dander or saliva, an allergic reaction is likely. It just makes sense that breeds with less allergens or with less pet dander are less likely to cause allergic reactions in the people they come into contact with. This is exactly why the Labradoodle was created.

It has long been known that poodles are less likely to cause allergy problems than many other dog breeds. Poodles tend to have shorter hair that does not shed as readily as other breeds. also, they are less likely to shed pet dander. The only problem was, some people didn’t like poodles. The solution? A cross between one of America’s favorite breeds, the Labrador and the nearly allergen free Poodle. The resulting Labradoodle seemed to have the best traits from both breeds. Known for their intelligence and ability to learn, Labradoodles have an even temperament that makes them ideal as guide dogs or for owners with small children. Labradoodles don’t shed nearly as much as other dog breeds, meaning their is less of the allergen laden pet dander to deal with.

Allergy Free dogs

For many dog lovers, what it really comes down to when selecting a breed is size and temperament. The Labradoodle has quickly become a favorite allergen free breed for several reasons. First. Labradoodles come in three different sizes, miniature, medium and standard, meaning that no matter what size dog you are looking for, it is possible to find a low-allergen Labradoodle! Like poodles, Labradoodles come in a variety of colors as well. Their short and somewhat curly coats make grooming easy, and are an additional reason they are great for dog lovers who suffer from allergies. Their even temperament and kind nature make them a favorite as well.

Just because you suffer from dog allergies doesn’t mean you cannot have a dog to call you own. contact a local Labradoodle breeder today to discuss the perfect allergen free Labradoodle for your home. Labradoodles are fun, beautiful, smart and won’t irritate your allergies – what more could you ask for!

Many varieties of Labradoodle

Have you ever thought about giving someone a dog as a gift? It can be a risky proposition. Deciding what size dog, what breed and even what sex can be difficult when you are trying to choose a pet for a loved one. When you are trying to select a dog, it is often difficult to know just what breed is right. Finding the perfect breed depends on many factors, but the most important maybe temperament. Speaking with breeders may very well lead you to a relatively new breed – the Labradoodle.

Breeders will tell you that Labradoodles have been bred specifically for several impressive traits The dogs are known as ‘smart’ dogs and have quickly become a favorite breed for guide or ‘help’ dogs. A breeder will further explain that Labradoodle dogs are exceptionally easy to train. Not only are they smart, they are intuitive, making them ideal for families with small children. Because they come in three different sizes, it is possible to find a Labradoodle for any size home. The miniature works well for apartment dwellers while the standard is perfect for people with yards.

Labradoodle Puppies

Labradoodle Assistance Dogs

Anybody who is need of a guide or assistance dog would certainly appreciate the Labradoodle. Because of their intelligence and intuition, they are often the perfect breed to be trained as either a guide or an assistance dog. A Labradoodle can easily be trained as a ‘hearing’ dog to assist the deaf with hearing sounds such as doorbells or tea-kettles. They also work well as service dogs where they become the arms and legs of the disabled person. Many people find the Labradoodle a great gift for the elderly who can be trained according to the particular needs of each owner by working with a trainer.

Finally, Labradoodles, originally bred as a low-allergen guide dog, are perfect for anyone who suffers from mild allergies. Pet allergies can be downright dangerous if they are severe enough. If you are considering gifting a dog, this is something you must take into consideration. By selecting a Labradoodle, a breed which does not shed a lot of animal dander, the likelihood of an allergic reaction is much less.

Labradoodle Breeders

If you are considering gifting a dog, it is an excellent idea to speak with a local Labradoodle breeder about Labradoodles. They will be able to assist you with this difficult decision and help you to understand the benefits of the Labradoodle breed. Gifting a dog is about much more than a cute puppy with a bright red bow, it is about finding the ideal breed and the one best suited for its new owners needs. You must carefully consider all aspect, from color to size and from temperament and intelligence. While all dogs are different, as a breed, Labradoodles are known for their even temperament and the various sizes and colors available makes picking one easy. Labradoodles may simply be the best breed to gift.

golden labradoodle

Not too long after I married my husband, a bonafide dog lover, his dog, whom he often referred to as his ‘other woman’ passed away. He was simply heartbroken. I, however, didn’t really consider myself a dog person. They seemed to shed all the time, barked, yapped and generally made more work for me than I was really prepared for. Still, he seemed so sad so I relented.

I started looking around for a breed of dog that would meet our needs. I wanted a friendly, larger dog that was known as a ‘low-shedder’ and I found the perfect solution in the Labradoodle.

My hubby was, at first, skeptical. He couldn’t imagine that a dog with a name like Labradoodle was anything other than a ‘girly’ dog. I convinced him to visit a local breeder and he changed his mind. We settle on a ‘standard’ male labradoodle whom we named Caliber. He fit the bill perfectly. Because my husband insisted on a larger dog, the male labradoodle was perfect. As full-grown adults, standard labradoodles average between 55 and 75 pounds and can reach heights of 26 inches. Caliber’s size was just right.

labradoodle

Labradoodle Temperament

We soon learned his temperament was perfect as well. Labradoodles are known for their innate intelligence and my husband found that Caliber was easily trained. In no time at all they had a large repertoire of ‘tricks’ – Caliber even ‘dances’ with him. Our Labradoodle is by far the most even-tempered dog I have ever come across.

Labradoodle Grooming

Even better, Labradoodles are known to have little to no shedding throughout the course of the year. No ‘dog bunnies’ for me to clean up! Caliber’s coat has been easy to groom. The somewhat curly nature of his fur is attractive and we have managed to get by with only two trips to the groomers each year. Our breeder also explained that the Labradoodle is one of the best breeds for anyone concerned about mild allergies. This may be due to their lack of shedding. My mother-in-law is mildly allergic to pet dander and hasn’t had any trouble with Caliber.

Dark Labradoodle

My husband and I have both been ‘sold’ on the Labradoodle. Our local breeder has told us that many dogs of this breed are used as guide or therapy dogs because of their even temperament. We specifically asked about Labradoodles and children, as we are hoping to start a family soon. Our breeder explained that while each dog is different, the Labradoodle breed is one of the best breeds for families with children because of their temperament.

While no dog could ever replace the one my husband lost, our Labradoodle Caliber has come close. He and my husband are now good companions. Instead of having ‘another woman’ to hang out with, my husband now jokes that he and Caliber need ‘guy time.’ I would suggest this breed to anyone looking for a larger dog with an even temperament or to someone suffering from mild dog allergies that still wants to enjoy a dog. As for me, I think I have finally become a dog lover and am considering getting a miniature labradoodle for my own.

Reasons to Properly Clean Up Urine

• Fresh urine will rarely have a strong odor. Within a few days, however, bacteria will begin the process of breaking down the urea within your pet’s urine. This process gives off a strong, unpleasant odor.
• In addition, other pets will see the urine stain as an animal’s attempt to mark its territory – even if the animal urinated out of excitement or because it could not wait to be let out of the house. It is instinctual for animals to cover up the smell of another animal’s urine by urinating in the same spot themselves. Thus, your failure to properly clean and neutralize pet urine on your carpet could easily result in repeated incidents.
• Damage to your carpet is another factor you must take into consideration when dealing with pet urine. The alkalinity of urine is very high. This can cause discoloration to your carpet. The darker your carpeting is, the higher the risk of noticeable discoloration due to pet urine.
• And lets not forget about diseases and nasties the pet urine is harboring!

Cleaning and Sanitizing Your Carpet

As soon as you notice that your pet has had an accident, begin the task of blotting up as much of the urine as you can. Your goal at this point is merely to make sure that as little urine as possible leaks through to the carpet padding beneath. Get several washcloths or paper towels for this job.

Once you have blotted up the excess pet urine, saturate the stain with club soda. Not only does club soda serve to dilute the remaining urine within your carpet, it naturally neutralizes the odor. If you do not have any club soda handy, you may use water. The important thing is that the urine gets diluted. Once again, blot the liquid up with several dry washcloths or towels. Do not use the washcloths or towels that you used to clean up the initial stain. If you do so, you risk reintroducing urine into the carpeting.

Pour baking soda over the soiled area after you have soaked up as much moisture as possible. The baking soda will help neutralize the odor and absorb residual urine from your carpet. Vacuum up the baking soda after an hour. Make sure to keep other pets away from the soiled area until it dries completely and you are satisfied that the smell is gone.

Although household products are usually sufficient for cleaning pet messes, in some cases you may need extra help. Multiple brands of pet urine neutralizer exist on the market to help you not only further sanitize your carpet, but neutralize the smell of pet urine. If you do not discover the urine stain until it has already seeped through your carpeting, these products may be necessary in helping you to clean up the mess and avoid future odor.

Remember, especially you puppy owners, BE PATIENT with your puppy/dog!!!!!