Puppy Planning Guide

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)

DateAgeMilestoneMax Alone
Sep 15, 20268 wkPickup. To office weekdays; crate in Momo’s room at night.2 hr
Oct 202612 wkSettling in, 2nd vaccines, start puppy class.2-3 hr
Nov 20264 moVaccinations complete, socialization window closing.3-4 hr
Jan 20276 moAdolescence begins; house-trained → start doggy-door training.4-5 hr
Spring 20279-12 moAdolescent push: advanced/proofing class + private sessions.5 hr
Jul 20271 yrTraining solidifying; doggy-door self-serve coming online.5-6 hr
Mar 202820 moWorkshop kennel + doggy door viable for full day.6-8 hr
Jul 20282 yrFully 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.

PeriodNight Potty
Weeks 1-212am + 4am
Weeks 3-41 middle-of-night break
Month 2Late-evening check only (sleeps 5-6 hr)
Month 3Morning 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.

TimeActivity
5:30Wake, potty, breakfast (carry out immediately)
5:45Play/training (10 min)
6:00Crate (Nick exercises, 1 hr)
7:00Potty + brief play
7:15Enforced nap (75 min)
8:30Commute (office days)
9:00Potty, then play (15 min)
9:30Enforced nap (90 min)
11:00Potty, then play (15 min)
12:00Lunch + potty
12:30Enforced nap (2 hr)
2:30Potty, then training (15 min)
3:00Enforced nap (90 min)
4:30Potty, then play/yard (45 min)
6:00Dinner + potty, then evening play (30 min)
7:30Daily brush + eye wipe (10 min)
8:00Training (15 min)
9:00Final 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:

  1. At-home daily practice from day one — the bulk of training, and free (Sections 4 & 5).
  2. Group puppy class, whole family — proofing + dog-dog socialization; enroll once 2nd vaccines are in (~12 wk). Momo handles in class.
  3. A few private/in-home sessions — trainer coaches us on specific issues, then we maintain it.
  4. 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

AgeVaccines
8 wkDHPP #1, Bordetella (usually breeder)
11-12 wkDHPP #2, Lepto #1
15-16 wkDHPP #3, Lepto #2, Rabies (full immunity 2 wk later)
1 yrDHPP, 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:

  1. Potty first — outside immediately on waking/uncrating.
  2. Enforce naps — puppies need 18-20 hr sleep.
  3. Nothing in life is free — sit before meals, doors, etc.
  4. Redirect, don’t punish.
  5. Consistency is everything — same rules, same words, every time.