Our small in-home breeding program specializes in the early development of Goldendoodles, ensuring that each puppy is nurtured in a loving and stimulating environment. We prioritize early socialization and developmental activities that enhance their confidence and adaptability, setting the foundation for well-rounded companions. Our approach includes exposing them to various sights, sounds and experiences from an early age, fostering their curiosity and positive behavior. By focusing on quality over quantity, we maintain personalized attention for each puppy, allowing them to thrive both physically and emotionally. Our commitment to ethical breeding practices ensures that our Goldendoodles not only meet breed standards but also become loving, loyal family members, ready to bring joy to their new homes.
“Our amazing puppy program focuses on nurturing the early development of puppies, ensuring they grow into happy, well-adjusted companions.”- Doodles of Pigeon Creek
Early Neurological Stimulation & Early Scent Introduction
Starting when the puppies are 3 days old and continuing until day 16, we provide our puppies with Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS). This stimulates the neurological responses that do not occur naturally during this period in pups. Resulting in improved cardiovascular performance, stronger hearts, increased tolerance to stress, and greater resistance to disease.
Also at 3 days old, we start Early Scent Introduction (ESI). We briefly introduce a new scent each day. We invite the puppies to smell different scents like bunny and horse hair, different spices and more. This can have many benefits for puppies including improved cognitive abilities stress resilience and the ability to identify scents.
Building Confidence
“We raise our puppies using a curriculum that aligns to their developmental benchmarks, to honour and respect them, to empower them to believe in themselves, to be the first human that shows them trust and respect. Our puppies learn that the world is safe, that people are kind, dogs are friendly.” Empowered Breeder program
From three weeks old continuing until the puppies go to their forever homes, we do daily exposure activities with the puppies to increase their confidence. This helps them enjoy new experiences in the years to come. For example, during Noise Exposure, we introduce our puppies to sounds like fireworks, thunder, sirens and vacuums in a calm and encouraging environment. Puppies are also introduced to new textures, environments, sites, people and more. They soon learn that new things aren’t so scary after all!
“Goldendoodles are not just dogs; they are bundles of joy wrapped in fur, bringing love, laughter, and light into our lives, reminding us daily of the beauty in companionship.”- Doodles of Pigeon Creek
Touch Tolerance
Daily, from 3 weeks old and onward, we do a daily 10 step handling exercise with the puppies to get them comfortable with being handled by humans. We make sure they know they are safe, even if someone is touching their teeth, looking in their ears, tugging on their tail softly, or putting them on their backs for belly rubs! This makes vet visits or interactions with children much less stressful in the future.
“Early Scent Introduction is vital for puppies, enhancing their cognitive abilities and enriching their world by familiarizing them with a variety of scents, leading to well-rounded and adaptable companions.”- Doodles of Pigeon Creek
Goat Milk
Our puppies transition gradually from nursing with their mom to eating solid food, ensuring a smooth and gentle weaning process. We start by offering them warm, fresh goat’s milk blended with Fromm kibble to create a nourishing, easy-to-eat mush. Over time, we reduce the amount of goat’s milk until the puppies are comfortably eating solid kibble before they go to their new homes.
We choose fresh goat’s for its many reasons:
- Fresh goat’s milk is an excellent choice for weaning puppies because it is highly nutritious and easy to digest. Here are some key benefits:
- Gentle on tummies – Goat’s milk has smaller fat molecules and lower lactose levels than cow’s milk, making it easier for puppies to digest.
- Rich in nutrients – It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids that support healthy growth and development.
- Boosts immunity – Naturally high in probiotics and enzymes, goat’s milk helps strengthen puppies’ immune systems and promotes gut health.
- Encourages hydration – The high moisture content keeps puppies well-hydrated as they transition to solid food.
- Supports healthy skin and coats – The fatty acids and vitamins in goat’s milk contribute to soft, shiny coats and healthy skin.
By incorporating fresh goat’s milk into our weaning process, we ensure our puppies receive the best possible start in life, making the transition to solid food smooth and nutritious.
Socialization
Once the Puppies are 3 weeks old, their critical socialization period begins. By the time they are 16 weeks old, our goal is for each pup to have met 100 people in their life. That means people of different ages, races, hair colors, fashion styles, and energy levels. This helps pups know that people are friendly, even if they are a little different from their own family. Our puppies go home with a handy check-list for families to keep track of different people their new puppy has met.
Once the puppies are 4 weeks old, we encourage their new families to come for weekly visits. This has many benefits. It helps the families get to know each puppy, so when it comes time to choose, they’ll have a good idea of the different temperaments of the puppies. It also exposes the puppies to different people than they’re used to seeing.
Another great way that we socialize our puppies is by visiting Trent University. Once the puppies have received their first set of vaccines, we pack up the litter and go and visit the staff and students at Trent University. The puppies are always a huge hit!
Outside Time!
At six weeks old, we begin taking our puppies outside regularly—rain or shine – even in the snow! This early exposure helps lay the foundation for successful housetraining. We follow a consistent routine, taking them outside first thing in the morning, after every meal, when they wake from naps, and right before bed. This structured approach helps them develop good habits and confidence in their new world.
Our puppies grow up with plenty of space to explore on our full acre of land. This allows them to experience a variety of sights, smells, and textures that simply can’t be replicated indoors. This rich environment helps build their confidence and curiosity, setting them up for a lifetime of adventure.
Crate Training
Our Goldendoodle puppies go to their new homes with a strong foundation in crate training, making their transition smoother for both them and their families.
We start by introducing the crate in a positive way, leaving the doors open so the puppies can explore at their own pace. They quickly discover how cozy their beds are and naturally gravitate toward sleeping in their crates.
As they grow comfortable, we gently introduce the next step—closing the crate doors while using the buddy system. Each puppy shares a crate with a littermate, providing comfort and reassurance. As they gain confidence, they gradually transition to sleeping in their own crates.
To help them settle into their new homes, every puppy goes home with a Snuggle Puppy, a comforting stuffed toy that mimics their mother’s heartbeat, as well as a soft blanket carrying the familiar scent of their mom and littermates. These little touches make all the difference in helping our puppies adjust with ease and confidence.
Doodles of Pigeon Creek 