Helpful Tips and Training Advice:
Before bringing home your puppy, we highly recommend that all future forever homes brush up on potty training, crate training, and obedience training. The puppy stage is such a wonderful time, but for many new owners, it can be confusing and frustrating. Knowledge is power, and we want you to have all the resources in advance to be fully prepared and equipped to care for your Beloved Bernedoodle!
When this critical training period is ignored or gone about haphazardly, what can result is an adolescent or adult dog that frustrates his or her owner. This is why many dogs end up being re-homed or given to animal shelters. That’s not what we want for you or for any of our Beloved Bernedoodles. So, here is some helpful information on potty training, crate training, and acclimating your puppy to their new home and new family members.
(We HIGHLY recommend taking your puppy to puppy classes and even continuing onto obedience school. Better yet, utilize a professional trainer who can observe your pup firsthand and any issues you may be struggling with. He or she will give you customized advice. With a trainer’s insight, oftentimes things just “click” and will change for the better!)
Remember:
- According to Puppy Culture, the first 12 weeks of a puppy’s life is critical in shaping the kind of dog they will be. Make sure they are getting lots of love, consistency in training, with as few stressors as possible.
- Just 10 minutes of one-on-one training with your puppy every day will make a world of a difference for you and your Beloved Bernedoodle in the future!
- You don’t have to be an expert. There are tons of free resources available to you online, such as videos and articles and support groups, and in book stores.
- Set a timer or make a calendar appointment for your daily training time — whatever you need to do to make this a priority.
- Lastly, treats, treats, treats! They will be your best friend for training and will highly motivate your pup to listen to you.
An Important Note About Treats and Food:
I belong to several bernedoodle groups on Facebook and seeing daily posts from bernedoodle owners. A chicken allergy seems to be very common with bernedoodles for some reason. Unfortunately, this seems to come to light after expensive vet bills and weeks or even months of confusion. No one really knows why some (not all) bernedoodles tend to have sensitive stomachs to chicken, but I thought I would save you the headache in advance by making you aware of it. My dogs are not on any chicken at all. We stick with lamb, beef, and salmon.
I also do not buy into the grain-free hype unless a vet has diagnosed one’s dog with a gluten intolerance. Grain-free has been linked a type of heart disease in dogs and cats.
Click on the links below for my favorite, helpful resources:
The Importance of Puppy Culture in the first 12 Weeks of Your Puppy’s Life
Potty Training – Step by step
Potty Training – Create a schedule
How to Train Your Puppy to Ask to Go Outside to Potty – Video
Complete Guide to Crate Training
Canine Enrichment – Bernedoodles come from two very intelligent breeds. Like many dogs, they need not only physical exercise, but also mental stimulation through challenges and problem solving. Oftentimes when a puppy or dog begins to dig or destroy things, owners get frustrated. But Canine Enrichment is a great way to nip all of that in the bud or to correct unwanted behavior! This is a excellent page on Facebook that teaches you all about Canine Enrichment and gives tons of inexpensive ideas on how to keep your pup challenged, occupied, and balanced.
Nipping and Biting – The first is a great article and the second link is a must-see video that has help many people!
Introducing Your Puppy to New Family Members
Training a Dog Not to Jump on You or Others
Beloved Bernedoodles 