Context
- Puppy: Mini goldendoodle (working name Piko), 19-24 lbs. Arriving September 2026 at 8 weeks. Placeholder pickup Sep 15, 2026 (born ~July 21); exact date TBD until breeder confirms.
- Breeder: Homestead Doodles LLC (parents Lulu & Theodore, litter LM-326).
- Daytime: Piko goes to the office with Nick on weekdays from day one (Sep 15). Nick may take a day or two off at the start to settle in. Momo (16) is in school, so she helps evenings and weekends.
- Nights: crate in Momo’s room from night one — still crate-trained, just kept near family for bonding. Keep the crate routine identical everywhere so the “den” travels well.
- Overnight potty (first ~2 weeks): Nick takes weeknights (so Momo can sleep for school); Momo takes weekends.
- Workshop kennel (heated, with shower): used for daytime crating, grooming, eventual full-day use as she matures, and night sleeping when Nick travels.
- Doggy door → self-service potty (goal): the workshop kennel has a doggy door to a secure outdoor run. Once Piko is reliably house-trained and mature (~6+ months, after full immunity), she can let herself out — easing the scheduled-break / commute dependency. Introduce only after solid house-training and only with the run confirmed fully secure.
1. Timeline (Sep 2026 – Jul 2028)
| Date | Age | Milestone | Max Alone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2026 | 8 wk | Pickup. To office weekdays; crate in Momo’s room at night. | 2 hr |
| Oct 2026 | 12 wk | Settling in, 2nd vaccines, start puppy class. | 2-3 hr |
| Nov 2026 | 4 mo | Vaccinations complete, socialization window closing. | 3-4 hr |
| Jan 2027 | 6 mo | Adolescence begins; house-trained → start doggy-door training. | 4-5 hr |
| Spring 2027 | 9-12 mo | Adolescent push: advanced/proofing class + private sessions. | 5 hr |
| Jul 2027 | 1 yr | Training solidifying; doggy-door self-serve coming online. | 5-6 hr |
| Mar 2028 | 20 mo | Workshop kennel + doggy door viable for full day. | 6-8 hr |
| Jul 2028 | 2 yr | Fully adult. | 8+ hr |
2. Setup Checklists
Workshop Kennel (daytime crating, grooming, full-day use)
- Heating to 65-75°F + backup space heater + thermometer
- Crate (sized, with divider) + exercise pen + baby gate
- Non-tip water bowl, food bowl, potty pads (backup)
- WiFi camera, phone charger
Doggy Door & Outdoor Run (self-service potty)
- Doggy door sized for adult Piko, lockable
- Run fully fenced — no gaps, dig-outs, or climb-overs; predator-proof top if needed
- Safe footing + shade/shelter
- Doggy-door training treats on hand
- Introduce only after reliable house-training + full immunity (~18 wk)
Night Crate (Momo’s Room)
- Crate (sized, with divider) + comfortable bedding + scented blanket
- WiFi camera angled on crate (watch from Nick’s room)
- Night-potty kit by the door: slip-on shoes, flashlight, leash, treats, bags
- Phone alarms for 12am + 4am breaks (Nick weeknights, Momo weekends)
- Enzyme cleaner + paper towels nearby
Office
- Tall (36"+) exercise pen + crate that fits in/near it + floor tarp/mat
- Water bowl, bed/towel, scented blanket
- Potty pads, poop bags, enzyme cleaner; outdoor potty spot near entrance
- Chew toys, frozen Kong, snuffle/lick mat
- High-value treats + pouch, clicker (optional)
- Vet contact info posted
Grooming Station (Workshop Shower)
- Non-slip mat, handheld sprayer
- Puppy shampoo (oatmeal) + conditioner, quick-dry towels, pet-safe blow dryer (low heat)
- Slicker brush, metal comb, nail clippers/grinder, styptic powder
- Ear cleaner, cotton balls, treat jar
Home Safety
- Cables secured, chewable hazards and toxic items removed
- Enzyme cleaner (Nature’s Miracle), lidded trash can
3. Night Potty Transition
Piko sleeps in the crate in Momo’s room throughout — not a phase to graduate out of. Only the break frequency changes as she can hold it longer. Breaks shared: Nick weeknights, Momo weekends. When Nick travels, she sleeps in the workshop kennel.
| Period | Night Potty |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | 12am + 4am |
| Weeks 3-4 | 1 middle-of-night break |
| Month 2 | Late-evening check only (sleeps 5-6 hr) |
| Month 3 | Morning only (sleeps 6-7 hr) |
| Month 4+ | Sleeps through the night |
Tips: carry her out (no walking/sniffing), potty only with minimal interaction, praise for going, then quiet return to crate. Keep it identical every night.
4. Daily Schedule
Same core schedule every day, whoever’s on duty — consistency is critical. Piko is at the office with Nick on weekdays.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5:30 | Wake, potty, breakfast (carry out immediately) |
| 5:45 | Play/training (10 min) |
| 6:00 | Crate (Nick exercises, 1 hr) |
| 7:00 | Potty + brief play |
| 7:15 | Enforced nap (75 min) |
| 8:30 | Commute (office days) |
| 9:00 | Potty, then play (15 min) |
| 9:30 | Enforced nap (90 min) |
| 11:00 | Potty, then play (15 min) |
| 12:00 | Lunch + potty |
| 12:30 | Enforced nap (2 hr) |
| 2:30 | Potty, then training (15 min) |
| 3:00 | Enforced nap (90 min) |
| 4:30 | Potty, then play/yard (45 min) |
| 6:00 | Dinner + potty, then evening play (30 min) |
| 7:30 | Daily brush + eye wipe (10 min) |
| 8:00 | Training (15 min) |
| 9:00 | Final potty, to crate |
Office days: potty every 1.5-2 hr (under 4 mo), stretching to 2-3 hr as she ages. Frozen Kong for meetings, enforce a midday nap, keep the pen out of high-traffic areas, pack backup potty pads.
Weekends: Sat 8am puppy class, 9am full brush (20 min), 1pm socialization outing. Sun 10am bath (workshop shower), 11am nail trim + ear cleaning (every 2 wk). Also: car-ride practice, new surfaces/sounds.
5. Training Milestones
By 12 weeks (mid-Oct 2026)
- Name recognition, sit (lure), crate = positive, potty on cue
- Handling: ears, paws, mouth touched calmly
- Collar/harness on, leash attached (not walking yet)
By 16 weeks (mid-Nov 2026)
- Sit (verbal), down, come (5-10 ft), loose-leash intro, wait at doors, leave it/drop it started
- Socialization: 100 people, 50 dogs
- Exposure: surfaces (grass, gravel, metal, tile), sounds (traffic, vacuum, doorbell), places (stores, lots, parks)
By 6 months (late Jan 2027)
- Sit/down with 10-sec stay, come from 20 ft, loose-leash 80%, place, settle on cue
- Polite greetings (no jumping), leave it with food on floor
- House-trained reliably (prerequisite for doggy door) → start doggy-door training
By 1 year (Jul 2027)
- All commands proofed with distractions, off-leash recall in enclosed areas
- Uses doggy door to self-serve potty (supervised → unsupervised)
- Alone 6-7 hr, walks past dogs nicely, calm at cafes, reliable car travel, tolerates full grooming
6. Family Training (With Momo)
We train Piko ourselves with Momo as a co-handler — group classes + a few private sessions to support our daily work, not a board-and-train.
Momo (16) as co-handler: old enough to teach the harder behaviors (stationing, leave-it, heel, recall), not just sit/down. Positive reinforcement suits a teen — no strength or correction-timing needed. Her training time is evenings + weekends, exactly when classes meet. She owns specific behaviors (e.g. recall, leave-it, a trick) so Piko sees her as a leader.
Layered approach:
- At-home daily practice from day one — the bulk of training, and free (Sections 4 & 5).
- Group puppy class, whole family — proofing + dog-dog socialization; enroll once 2nd vaccines are in (~12 wk). Momo handles in class.
- A few private/in-home sessions — trainer coaches us on specific issues, then we maintain it.
- Optional day training if office logistics get hard — trainer works the day, teaches us the handoff.
Class options (Seattle, positive-reinforcement): Seattle Humane Dog Training Center, Seattle PuppyWorks, Paws 4 Training, Got Sit, Sharp Dogs Seattle, Dog’s Day Out / Karma.
Adolescent push (Spring 2027, ~9-12 mo): the teen phase brings boundary-testing and regression. Enroll in an advanced/proofing class, add private sessions as needed, split daily reinforcement Momo/Nick, use good weather for outdoor proofing.
Consistency rules (everyone): same cue words (post on the fridge), same rules (furniture, jumping, begging — no exceptions), same hand signals, short sessions (10-15 min), positive reinforcement only.
7. Grooming
Doodle coats mat easily — the workshop shower makes weekly home grooming easy.
- Daily (7:30pm, 10 min): quick brush, eye wipe, paw check. First month: extra paw/ear/mouth handling.
- Wed (7pm, 15 min): extra brush — check behind ears, armpits, collar.
- Sat (9am, 20 min): full brush, ear check, teeth brushing (work up to daily).
- Sun (10am): bath in workshop shower, blow dry fully, deep brush/demat, face trim as needed.
- Every 2 wk (Sun, after bath): nail trim/grind, ear cleaning, sanitary trim.
- Every 6-8 wk: professional or full home groom (body clip once adult coat is in ~6-8 mo, sanitary, paw pads, face/ears).
Milestones: 8-10 wk handle paws/ears/mouth (treats only) · 10-12 wk introduce soft brush, nail file, dryer sound · 12-16 wk first grooming appt (face/feet/sanitary) · 4-6 mo first home bath · 6-8 mo adult coat, more brushing · 8+ mo regular 6-8 wk groom.
Tips: brush before bathing (wet mats tighten), use conditioner, dry completely, work mats from ends toward skin, keep it positive.
8. Vet & Health
Before pickup: schedule a vet exam within 48 hours of coming home — validates the breeder health guarantee, sets a baseline, catches issues early.
Vaccination Schedule
| Age | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| 8 wk | DHPP #1, Bordetella (usually breeder) |
| 11-12 wk | DHPP #2, Lepto #1 |
| 15-16 wk | DHPP #3, Lepto #2, Rabies (full immunity 2 wk later) |
| 1 yr | DHPP, Rabies, Lepto boosters (annual after) |
No dog parks, store floors, or unknown dogs until ~18 weeks (2 wk after final DHPP). Carry her in public before then.
Add-ons: microchip, monthly flea/tick + heartworm prevention, pet insurance (enroll before any issues).
Vet visits: 48 hr after pickup · 11-12 & 15-16 wk (vaccines) · 6 mo (spay/neuter, dental) · 1 yr + annual (wellness, vaccines, bloodwork).
Call the vet immediately: not eating 24+ hr · repeated vomiting/diarrhea · lethargy · breathing trouble · swollen abdomen · limping/crying · blood in stool or urine.
9. Quick Reference
Emergency contacts: Primary vet ___ · Emergency vet ___ · Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet sitter ___
Feeding: breakfast 5:30am, lunch 12pm, dinner 6pm (___ cups each); transition to 2 meals/day around 6 mo.
Key rules:
- Potty first — outside immediately on waking/uncrating.
- Enforce naps — puppies need 18-20 hr sleep.
- Nothing in life is free — sit before meals, doors, etc.
- Redirect, don’t punish.
- Consistency is everything — same rules, same words, every time.