Prep For Puppy
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Preparing to Bring Home Your Australian Labradoodle
Thank you for choosing an English Manor Labradoodle puppy. Bringing home a new companion is an exciting moment, and a little preparation ahead of time helps make the transition smooth and comfortable for both you and your puppy.
Before your puppy comes home, we ask families to gather several important supplies that support your puppy’s safety, health, and early development. Some of these items are essential, while others are highly recommended based on our more than 20 years of experience raising puppies.
Preparing your home in advance allows your puppy to settle in quickly and helps create a calm, structured environment during those important first weeks.
1. Puppy Food (Required)
Your puppy will begin life in your home, eating the same food they were raised on here.
Recommended Food:
- 4Health Chicken Puppy Formula (Available at Tractor Supply)
Switching foods too quickly can upset a young puppy’s digestive system and may cause loose stools or stomach discomfort. We strongly recommend continuing with the same food for the first few weeks before making any gradual dietary changes.
Keeping your puppy on familiar food helps maintain digestive balance during the transition to their new home.
2. Puppy Dewormer (Required)
Recommended Dewormer:
- Pyrantel Pamoate Oral Suspension
Young puppies are especially susceptible to intestinal parasites because their immune systems are still developing. For this reason, our puppies are dewormed every two weeks starting at four weeks of age.
We recommend continuing bi-weekly deworming until approximately 15 weeks of age, after which parasite prevention can typically be reduced to twice yearly based on veterinary guidance.
Pyrantel Pamoate is widely used because it is gentle on a puppy’s digestive system while remaining effective.
Your veterinarian will usually check stool samples once or twice each year to monitor for parasites.
3. Dog-Safe Disinfectant (Required)
Before bringing your puppy home, we ask families to disinfect key areas in the home and yard using a dog-safe disinfectant designed to kill the Parvo virus.
Parvo is one of the most serious viruses affecting puppies. Unfortunately, it is extremely resilient and can survive on surfaces for long periods of time. Many standard household cleaners are not strong enough to eliminate it.
A disinfectant labeled as effective against the Parvo virus provides the highest level of protection.
We also recommend bringing this disinfectant with you when visiting your veterinarian during early vaccination appointments. Puppies should always be carried into veterinary offices, as these locations often have a higher risk of virus exposure due to frequent pet traffic.
Spraying the soles of your shoes before entering your vehicle can help prevent bringing contaminants home with you.
4. Smooth-Sided Puppy Play Pen (Highly Recommended)
A puppy play pen can be incredibly helpful during the early weeks of raising your puppy.
Unlike wire crates, smooth-sided play pens provide a safer environment for very young puppies who may chew, climb, or get their mouths caught in crate bars. These pens also provide more space for movement while helping puppies learn the difference between their sleeping area and bathroom area.
Benefits of a smooth-sided play pen include:
- Safe contained play area
- Reduced climbing risk
- More space than crates
- Easier early house training
We often begin puppies in play pens before introducing crate training. Once puppies become more consistent with bathroom habits, crate training becomes much easier.
5. Travel Crate (Recommended)
A travel crate is important for safely transporting your puppy.
Whether you are bringing your puppy home for the first time or visiting the veterinarian for booster vaccinations, a crate keeps your puppy secure and prevents distractions while driving.
Young puppies may become anxious or experience car sickness during their first few rides. Having a crate helps contain accidents and keeps your puppy comfortable during travel.
Benefits of using a travel crate include:
- Safe transportation
- Reduced driver distraction
- Comfortable resting space
- Protection during car rides
A secure crate ensures that both you and your puppy remain safe while traveling.
Preparing for Puppy Day
Bringing home a puppy is one of life’s happiest moments. With the right supplies ready ahead of time, your puppy can arrive at a calm, safe environment where they can begin exploring their new home. Those first few days are all about building trust, establishing routines, and allowing your puppy to feel secure with their new family.
And before long, those tiny paws will start exploring every corner of the house. Which is exactly when the real fun begins.
