Are you running into trouble raising your Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, Bernedoodle, or Schnoodle? Designer dogs are the new trend in the dog world because they are considered hypoallergenic, nonshedding, and look like teddy bears.
However, these designer dogs have a ton of energy because they typically come from two working dog breeds. If you don’t mentally stimulate them and exercise them daily, they will start causing trouble around your house. There are a few basic rules that may support you in parenting. Below are our Top 10 Tips to Raise a Designer Dog.
Be Patient
The moment you are frustrated or irritated with your doodle dog they will notice. Animals, dogs in particular, are highly sensitive to emotions and won’t listen to you if they notice you are frustrated. Your dog feels your emotion so keep the training sessions light and short to make sure you both enjoy them. Pleasure is the key to success, for both a designer dog and the owner.
Socialize Your Dog
The moment you bring a puppy (or adult designer dog) into your home, start the socialization process. Socialize your dog with other dogs and with other people and children. If your dog is completely comfortable in these situations, then you are one step further when it comes to various training methods. Socializing your designer dog also makes them less anxious and stressed when they encounter real-world scenarios.
Feed them Nutritious Food
Doodles are active dog breeds so it’s important that you feed them the right food. From you early age, you’ll want to feed your Goldendoodle puppy food that is high in vitamins, minerals, protein, and omega 3’s.
If you are training your designer dog to learn new tricks, we recommend using small soft treats that are low in calories for their reward. If a dog spends too long eating a treat they lose their attention. Small, soft, and easy treats are most desirable during training. You’ll be feeding your doodle a lot of treats, so make sure they are low in calories to prevent obesity.
Reward Them for Good Behavior
Make sure you never reward the bad behaviour from your doodle dog. If you are teaching the dog “down” command, especially in the beginning and he is accidentally rewarded for getting up instead of lying down, then your dog associate’s “up” with a treat instead of “down” at that point. Timing is essential and rewarding your dog at the right is crucial. Always positively reinforce good behaviour.
Do Not Approve of Undesirable Behavior
If your dog jumps every time you enter the house and you don’t want this, put them in time out in the bathroom alone. Wait for your designer dog to calm down and preferably sit before giving the dog positive attention. You have to teach your dog right from wrong because they don’t know any better.
Play With Your Dog Regularly
Walk at least twice a day until your dog is tired. Doodles come from two working dog breeds so it’s important they get physical exercise. The time you spend with your dog shouldn’t all be training time. Make time to play with him too because that is a perfect way to deepen your friendship.
Take Small Steps With Training
Designer dogs come from two highly intelligent dog breeds. However, if you want your dog to learn something new then sometimes it’s best to divide it into several training sessions. Suppose you want to teach the dog to “down”, first teach him the intermediate step to “sit”. If a dog is struggling at any point, take a step back, do something the dog already knows.
Clean Your House
One of the reasons some dogs have so much trouble with house training is because the house isn’t cleaned. The smell of urine or faeces remains on the carpet or the seams of the wooden floor. This scent will encourage your dog to use that area again.
Use Positive Reinforcing Commands
We all know that dogs don’t understand our language, but sometimes we forget this when we want a dog to listen. Every command we expect from the dog is just a series of sounds around him. So make sure the commands are distinguishable for him. Using positive reinforcing commands like “Good Boy” or “Good Girl” while giving them a treat will let them know that they did something good.
Don’t Fear Getting (Professional) Support.
If you notice behaviour in your designer dog that is undesirable and that you cannot seem to train, then there is no shame in seeking professional help. If your doodle dog is aggressive, territorial, or barks a lot, you may need to get help.
Conclusion for Top 10 Tips to Raise a Designer Dog
All dogs need to be trained and designer dogs are no exception. Even though designer dogs like the Goldendoodle, Bernedoodle, and Labradoodle are exceptionally smart dog breeds, you will have to train them to behave in a manner that is acceptable. In general, if you provide your doodle dog with enough physical exercise and mental stimulation then they tend to behave a little better. For tips on dog training and finding the right products, you can visit Care Of My Dog.
In addition, always remember to be patient with your dog and provide positive reinforcement with treats. Designer dogs tend to get more stressed and anxious compared to other dog breeds, so it’s essential that you remain calm when training them. Remember, dogs are your best friend and you should enjoy all your time together!