When choosing a veterinarian it’s important to find the right one, as they will play an important role in your puppy’s life. If you haven’t chosen a vet for your puppy, now is the time to find one. Here are a few tips to help your vet visit go as smoothly as possible:

• Make all visits – especially the first one – a happy experience for your puppy.

• Arrive early, so you don’t feel rushed, and take time for your puppy to relax in the vet’s office.

• Take some small treats for the staff to give to your puppy to help start things off right.

• Discuss your puppy’s future health care – set up a vaccination schedule and stick to it… missing an appointment could compromise your puppy’s immunity.

• Ask a staff member if they can call or email reminders regarding upcoming appointment.

• Your vet may give you a health record to keep for your puppy. If not, start one for your puppy.

• Have your vet check for internal parasites (worms), or tests for congenital problems.

• Talk to your vet about the best time to spay or neuter your puppy.

Each outing to the veterinarian’s office is also a chance to monitor your puppy’s body language. Is he fearful of the new surroundings or is he just happy to meet new people? His body language will tell you a lot about himself!

The key to crate training is time. Do not rush. Do not get mad or frustrated. You want your Labradoodle to go in voluntarily. To begin the training, take off the door of the crate or tie it open. You don’t want to spook your Labradoodle by having it slam shut.

Clicker training is useful here. Stand back from the crate a little distance and do not move. Always make your Labradoodle come back to you for the treat. At first, click and treat if the dog takes one step toward the crate. If he won’t go toward it, click for looking at it. Continue clicking and treating for each advance toward the crate. Click and give extra treats, called a jackpot, if he touches it with his nose or bumps up against it. Then click and treat for each foot as he steps inside. What you want to get across is that the crate is a good thing, not a bad thing.

Remember, always have him come back to you for the treat.

Once your Labradoodle is inside, delay the click for a few seconds longer each time. Don’t rush. If he sits or lays down inside the crate, click and give another jackpot.

After the Labradoodle is comfortable in the crate, close the door for a few seconds, then open it, click, and toss in a treat. Extend the time a few seconds each time.

This method sounds quick and easy; however, the whole process may take several training sessions, so be patient. Do not rush! Do not worry the dog. Once your Labradoodle thinks of the crate as a special place, then start teaching the verbal cue for him to go in the crate. It can be any word, such as “crate,” “load-up,” “condo,” or whatever you wish.

Do not use the crate as punishment. Your Labradoodle may need a “time out” to get himself under control; but, the crate is to be, primarily, a pleasant place.

There are time limits for a Labradoodle to stay in a crate.

Remember that puppies have less bladder control. At ten weeks, a half-hour is maximum. At six months, three to four hours is enough. When your Labradoodle is over one year old, he may be able to stay in for nine hours. Never leave a Labradoodle in a crate for more than nine hours.

Dogs have an instinct not to “make a mess” in their den. If there is an accident, it is an accident. Labradoodles aren’t vindictive. Do not get mad about it, as it is probably your fault for not letting him out soon enough. When you clean the crate, do not use any cleaner containing ammonia. If you do, your Labradoodle will probably mistake the ammonia for urine; and, the crate may become the bathroom instead of the den. Also, do not withhold food or water before crate time, as this can result in health problems.

Using a crate properly can give both you and your Labradoodle peace of mind.