Raising a Goldendoodle Puppy: What to Expect in Year One

Bringing home a Goldendoodle puppy is the easy part. The first year is where the work is, and most of it is front-loaded into the first few months. Here is what actually happens.

The first week at home

Expect a quiet first day and a hard first night. Most puppies cry in the crate for the first two or three nights; putting the crate beside your bed shortens that considerably. Keep the world small at first - one or two rooms, not the whole house - and keep them on the same food we send home for at least a week. Switching food and moving house at once is what causes an upset stomach.

Potty and crate training

The rule of thumb is one hour of bladder control per month of age, so an eight-week puppy needs out roughly every two hours, and immediately after waking, eating, drinking, and playing. Take them to the same spot every time and reward outside, never punish inside. Most puppies are reliably house-trained between four and six months.

Grooming

This is the part new owners underestimate. Start brushing in week one, before the coat needs it, so your puppy learns to stand still for it while the stakes are low. The adult coat comes in between eight and twelve months, and that transition is when matting catches people out. Book the first professional groom around four months.

Training and socialization

The window that matters most closes early: between eight and sixteen weeks, everything your puppy meets calmly becomes normal for life. Keep sessions to five or ten minutes and end while they are still interested. A puppy class around twelve weeks is worth the money as much for the socialization as the sit-stay.

What it costs

Beyond the puppy, budget $1,500 to $2,500 for year one. Grooming every six to eight weeks runs $60 to $200. Food is $50 to $80 a month. Routine vet care is $200 to $600, spay or neuter $300 to $800, and a puppy class $200 to $500.

Read the full guide

For the month-by-month version, including what we do before your puppy comes home and how to choose the right size - read our full guide: Raising a Goldendoodle Puppy: What to Expect.

Call 214-405-8853 or text 817-919-0935, or see available puppies.