At GoldenFido, our goal is to provide families with goldendoodle puppies who will thrive in any environment. This means that socialization becomes a key component in the success of our goldendoodles ability to adapt and flourish with their new families. At GoldenFido Goldendoodles we engage our puppies in exercises that help them evolve as they grow so that they are well rounded and highly socialized when it is time for them to go to their new homes.
We start all of our puppies’ training off with Early Neurological Stimulation, or ENS. It takes place at a crucial time in our goldendoodle puppies lives. It starts about 3 days after the puppies are born and is done for about 2 consecutive weeks thereafter. The process includes 5 simple exercises that are harmless to the puppies but allow them to thrive. These exercises include tactile stimulation, lying in the supine position, held with the head up, tilted upside down, and thermal stimulation and are in addition to the daily handling of the puppies.
Studies have shown several benefits to puppies exposed to ENS training, including a higher tolerance to stress, improved cardiovascular performance, stronger adrenal glands, and even greater resistance to disease. In addition to the numerous health benefits ENS stimulated pups have shown to be more active and exploratory than non stimulated puppies.
During the third week of their development, the GoldenFido team begins preparing the goldendoodle puppies for the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test. This assessment is designed to evaluate the natural abilities and temperaments of puppies in order to help identify which ones may be best suited for certain environments and lifestyles. By administering the test, we are able to provide guidance and recommendations to potential owners in choosing a puppy that is likely to thrive in their home and be easier to train.
In addition to helping with the selection process, the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test also enables us to work with the puppies to expose them to new experiences and environments, which can help them to better cope with the transition to a new home. This is especially important for goldendoodles, as they are known to be highly social animals that thrive on human interaction and require regular opportunities for companionship and stimulation. By ensuring that the puppies are well-prepared for life in a new home, we can help to set them up for success and ensure that they grow into happy and well-adjusted pets.
• Restraint – working to ease handling difficult situations which include a degree of dominant or submissive tendency
• Social Attraction – degree of social attraction to people, confidence, or dependence
Following and Recall – willingness to follow and return to a person or noise/command
• Elevation – degree of accepting dominance while in a position of no control such as with a vet or groomer
• Retrieving – degree or willingness to do something for their future family, indicates ease or difficulty in training
• Touch Sensitivity – degree of sensitivity to touch and a key indicator to the type of training equipment required
• Sound Sensitivity – degree of sensitivity to sound, such as loud noises or thunderstorms
• Sight Sensitivity – degree of response to a moving object, such as chasing bicycles, children, or squirrels
• Stability – degree of startle response to a strange object
Starting at the 5 week mark, we begin introducing our Goldendoodle puppies to a crate and a doggie door as part of their training and socialization process. By this age, our puppies are old enough to start learning how to be comfortable in a crate and to use the bathroom outside, which are important skills that will help them adjust to life in their new homes. We believe that early crate training is especially important for Goldendoodles, as it can help them feel safe and secure in unfamiliar environments and can make it easier for them to travel or stay in a boarding facility.
By introducing our puppies to a crate and doggie door at an early age, we hope to help them make a smooth transition to being away from their litter mates and using the bathroom outside. Of course, we understand that every puppy is different, and we take a gentle, patient approach to training that is tailored to the needs and abilities of each individual puppy. By providing a supportive and nurturing environment, we hope to help our puppies develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
