Your puppy’s homecoming is almost here! Everything has been thoughtfully prepared to make this transition smooth, simple and enjoyable for you. Below, you’ll find exactly what you need to feel confident and ready for this exciting next step.
Your Puppy’s First Week
The first few days with your puppy set the tone for everything that follows. To help make this transition smooth and successful, your puppy has been introduced to a simple, effective training approach using a leash for gentle guidance and supervision.
When your puppy is out of their crate, keep them with you on a leash. This helps prevent accidents, discourages unwanted behaviors, and allows you to guide them calmly and consistently from the very beginning.
Just as importantly, this approach builds positive interaction - your puppy learns that your hands are used for affection and reward and the leash is used for guidance and gentle correction.
As your puppy becomes more consistent with potty training and begins using the potty bell, the need for constant supervision will naturally decrease.
Tether Training
This approach is part of a proven training technique, often referred to as the Umbilical Tether Method, which provides structure, consistency and clear communication during the early stages of training.
Tether training helps your puppy learn where to be, what to do, and how to look to you for guidance. It supports house training, reduces unwanted behaviors and creates a calm, connected learning environment.
By continuing this method at home, you are building on the foundation your puppy has already started - making the transition easier and more successful for both of you.
For a more in-depth look at how and why this method works, along with step-by-step instruction, you can watch the detailed training video below.
Feeding Your Puppy
Your puppy is eating Life’s Abundance All Life Stages dog food and is accustomed to this diet. You should have received an email with ordering information for continued use.
How Much To Feed - Feed your puppy three times per day until about seven months of age, then transition to twice daily meals.
Use the feeding guide on your dog food bag based on your puppy’s current weight, and adjust as needed to maintain healthy body condition.
What To Expect In The First Few Days - It’s normal for puppies to eat less or seem a little unsettled during the first few days in a new home. To help, feed in a quiet, calm area, offer food in their crate if needed, add a small amount of warm water and a spoon of the canned food that will be provided. Most puppies settle quickly and resume normal eating of the dry food within a few days.
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Order Vitamins
Your puppy has been started on NuVet Plus vitamins to support a strong immune system healthy skin and a soft, shiny coat.
While NuVet vitamins are not required to maintain your Okefeild Acres health warranty, they are a supplement we’ve found helpful in supporting overall health and long-term wellness.
If you’d like to continue with this supplement, you can order directly using the link below and enter order code 21317 at checkout.
Crate Enrichment And Chewing
Chewing is a natural behavior that helps puppies relax and self-soothe. Providing appropriate chew options - especially during crate time - can make a big difference in helping your puppy settle calmly.
We recommend pig ears (from Life’s Abundance or Costco), antlers, Nylabones or Kong toys stuffed with their softened kibble and frozen.
Here is a great training video on how to introduce a Kong to your puppy and remember, simple, consistent rewards and appropriate chew outlets go a long way in creating a calm, well-adjusted puppy.
Crate Training & Set Up
Your puppy has already been introduced to crate training and is learning to rest calmly in their crate.
A safe, secure space plays an important role in house training and establishing a routine. Having the crate set up before bringing your puppy home will create a smooth transition. To make choosing the right crate simple, we’ve organized our recommendations based on your puppy’s expected adult size.
Use a divider to limit space so your puppy can stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably - but not have extra room to potty.
We do not recommend bedding during early training, as soft materials can encourage accidents. Once your puppy is doing well with crating for longer periods a folded bath mat or dog bed can be added.
This simple setup helps your puppy succeed from the very beginning.
Apartment & Indoor Potty Option
For families living in apartments or multi-level homes, getting a young puppy outside quickly can be challenging - especially when using elevators or stairs.
Puppies need to potty frequently, and delays can often lead to accidents during the early stages of training.
Because our puppies are already introduced to a litter box and doggy door, many families find it helpful to continue using an indoor potty setup during this transition.
Options such as a designated litter area or artificial turf box can provide a practical solution while your puppy is learning and gaining consistency.
We also recommend a crate and pen setup that allows for a separate potty space when needed. This can be used as a temporary training tool and gradually phased out as your puppy becomes reliable with outdoor potty training.
Tip: Amazon carries tall heavy duty round pens that a larger puppy or adult dog can use, a great option when they are housebroken but need to be contained.
Grooming And Coat Care
Your puppy will come home freshly groomed and ready to impress! To keep them looking and feeling their very best, we recommend brushing and combing every other day to prevent tangles and maintain a manageable coat.
Professional grooming should be scheduled every 6-8 weeks, which typically includes bathing, trimming, nail care and ear care. When scheduling your first grooming appointment, it’s helpful to bring a photo of the style you prefer so your groomer can achieve the look you want.
Consistent grooming from the beginning helps your puppy become comfortable with the process and prevents matting, which can be uncomfortable and difficult to remove. Coat type and generation can influence grooming needs, which we’ve outlined in more detail in our “Grooming Goldendoodles” page on our website.
Below is a list of recommended grooming supplies to make it easy to get started at home.
Vaccines /Health Care
Once your puppy is chosen, a copy of their health chart will be texted to you so you can conveniently schedule upcoming veterinary visits based on the recommended timeline.
Your puppy will have received a 4 week Neopar Parvo, 5 and 10 week Bordetella, 6, 8, 12 and 16 week 5 way Parvo (depending on go home date), rabies, if received 12 weeks or older, de-worming every 10 days since birth, Totrazuril twice and a microchip.
Our vaccination schedule is thoughtfully spaced to support optimal health while minimizing unnecessary stress on your puppy’s developing immune system. Most veterinary offices will administer multiple vaccines in a single visit - often adding Lepto and Corona vaccines, or RNA based vaccines. To prevent vaccine reaction or development of auto immune disorders, and to fulfill your health warranty, we ask that the schedule given be followed to help build a strong and stable foundation for long-term health.
Important Note:
Full protection against Parvovirus is achieved one week after your puppy receives the 12-week Parvo booster. Until then, it’s perfectly fine to attend puppy classes in clean, controlled environments. However, we recommend avoiding dog parks, pet stores, and other public areas where unknown dogs may have been.
Flea/Tick Prevention
And Lawn Care
Your puppy’s long-term health is incredibly important to us, which is why we take a more natural and cautious approach to flea, tick, and lawn treatments. We recommend avoiding chemical-based preventatives such as oral or topical medications, flea collars, medicated shampoos, and chemically treated lawns, which can cause skin issues, seizures and neurological problems. Instead, we encourage using safer, natural alternatives that support your puppy’s overall well-being.
We’ve had excellent results using Wondercide, a natural alternative that is both safe and effective. Their yard and pet products help eliminate fleas and ticks at all life stages while also repelling future pests—without exposing your puppy to unnecessary chemicals.
To learn more about the products we trust and recommend, visit the link below.
Heartworm Prevention
To protect your puppy against heartworm, it’s important to use a monthly preventative during seasons when mosquitoes are active.
When selecting a product, we recommend speaking with your veterinarian about a heartworm medication that does not include combined flea and tick treatments, as these added ingredients can sometimes cause sensitivity in young puppies.
Some puppies may experience mild digestive upset, such as loose stools or stomach sensitivity, when first introduced as a preventative. If this occurs, your veterinarian can help you choose an option that your puppy tolerates well.
A Thoughtful Beginning
Thank you for choosing Okefeild Acres and for trusting us to be part of your puppy’s journey. A thoughtfully created puppy starter kit will be provided and will include everything that you will need for a successful start, including:
Vet Health Record
Microchip Enrollment Card
Two Year Health Warranty
Vaccination And De-Worming Document
Health, Grooming And Training Care Sheets
NuVet Vitamin Samples
Fanny Pack For Training
Treats And Food
Rope Toy With Scent Of Our Place
Potty Bell
Leash And Collar Set
Potty Bag Holder
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