A Puppy's Journey at Red Barn Doodle Farm
New Arrivals
Once the puppies have arrived and you are on the waiting list for a puppy, you will receive a birth announcement photo via text message, email, or Facebook. Your announcement will contain information such as size of the litter, genders, and color of the puppies. This will also be posted on our website and Facebook page. All litters born will be given a name associated solely with that litter, such as the “Stars and Stripes” litter. We do not name our puppies, but we do name all the litters. As the puppies get older, we do put on a collar that will not leave that particular doodle until he or she goes home. This helps you identify your puppy on the weekly photo and video shoots when the puppy is much older. When referring to a puppy in a litter that you are interested in, we ask that you state the litter name and a particular puppy in that litter, such as “I like the red girl in the ‘Stars and Stripes’ litter wearing pink bones collar– is she available?” This process makes it so much easier, more accurate, and specific as to what puppy in what litter you are interested in. It leaves no confusion.
The First Four Weeks
As the puppies grow, for the first 4 weeks, they spend a lot of time with mom in our specially designed whelping room connected to our office. The puppies will remain in a safe, loving, clean, quiet, and carefully designed space for 3-4 weeks until they are much less dependent on mom. They are watched and attended to around the clock. This is an important growth and development period for the new pups.
After Four Weeks
After the 4-week period, the puppies have their eyes open and have much more mobility, which lends itself to a wonderful world of curiosity! They spend less time with mom and are slowly being weaned, which means less time in the whelping room and more time outside. We use K-9 doggy grass at the Doodle Farm. The puppies will spend time on the turf for about 2 weeks—it’s safe, it’s cleanable, it doesn’t get the puppies dirty, and most of all, it has no parasites.
It is here that they will experience the sights and sounds of nature and life on the farm. The puppies will hear tractors, cars, trucks, and lawn mowers. They will see lots of people, cats, dogs, horses, and a sassy goat named Gabby. We also introduce a safe playscape for them to explore. This time outside also starts the beginning of potty training — “we go potty outside, not inside,” which is a process for all puppies until their little bladders get big enough to “hold it.” Four weeks is a big growth period; you will be amazed at how fast they grow and the funny things they do.
At Five and Six Weeks
The puppies say, “We want to see our new family.” Yes, it is time to visit! We encourage, if possible, all our new puppy families to visit us on the farm for a short visit to introduce themselves to their new addition to the family. We open our home and try to be available for you whenever it is convenient for you to visit. (For more information, see Location and Map and Visiting the Farm).
After Six Weeks
This is a huge milestone and an exciting time for a new puppy. We provide the utmost attention to physical and social development. The puppies receive lots of socialization with the family and the introduction to other dogs that live on the farm.
Careful attention is paid to introducing them to sights and sounds of a busy household, as well as common sounds and sights of a farm. They will enjoy romping around in our safe, fenced-in yard with mom and other dogs teaching them how to interact and just have a good old time on the farm, enjoying what nature has to offer.
They will also spend much time in our home, learning the sounds, sights, and smells of home life. This will be the continuing process of potty training, also. We have transitioned from the floor to the litter box, to the outside turf, to the grass, and now an inside home environment. There will be many accidents, but doodles learn fast!
After Seven Weeks
We, at the Doodle Farm, love this time most of all. The puppies are adorable furballs, so filled with excitement, and eager to learn and explore.
Between the ages of 7 and 8 weeks, we stress socialization and the beginning stages of independence. These are key milestones that need to happen for your puppy to enjoy his or her new home and to adjust nicely to it. We do car rides and crate training with short separations from their siblings to help your puppy make a reassuring transition from living life with all of his or her litter mates to a new home with only themselves. Separation brings great anxiety to a young puppy, but in only a short time they adjust, and in the long run it becomes one of the great coping skills your puppy will learn. It’s basically called “tough love.” We try at the Doodle Farm to make the transition from our home to yours the best possible for your puppy.
At 8 Weeks
At 8 weeks, puppies are taken to the veterinarian for their final exam, health certificate, microchip, and his or her vaccinations. The first set of vaccinations is done between 7-8 weeks of age. See What Comes with My Doodle? for more details. We take final steps preparing your puppy for their final journey—their new home! It’s that time everyone is waiting for with so much anticipation. It is a melancholy time for us at the Doodle Farm. New puppy parents are asked to make arrangements for the pick up of their beautiful new doodle – it’s time for them to go to their new home. We feel that the age of 8 weeks is perfect—not too young that it curtails development, and not so old that bonding must be re-established with a new family.
A New Adventure: It's Time to Go Home
The following are steps that need to take place so that your puppy goes home on time:
- Puppies must be picked up in person. (See Location and Map)
- We DO NOT fly or ship our puppies; they must be picked up in person by the person purchasing the puppy.
- The balance of $1,000 is due one week prior to pick up by bank or cashier’s check. If final payment is made at the time of pick up, cash is the only form of payment accepted. No puppy will be released on pick up day without full payment.
- We ask that you keep other pets you may own at home when you come to pick up your new puppy. I have found that a crate is not necessary for a short trip home unless it is an exceptionally long ride. We feel a lap will do just fine for most rides home if you have a willing passenger.
- The Doodle Farm will travel up to 2 hours in any direction to help offset any long car rides. Our fee is $75/hour one-way, $45 for a half hour, or any portion of a half hour. Arrangements must be made ahead of time and all balances must be paid in full before we meet you at a desired location with your new puppy.
- Please mark your calendar early for the 8-week date. We want all our puppies to be in their new homes at 8 weeks of age; it is important for their development.
- All medical documents will be given to the new owners at the time of pick up.
- Please call the Doodle Farm for a time that works best for you. Pick ups are done by appointment only.