Fulfilling families and improving lives through canine companionship.
Our Program Week By Week
Welcome to the McDoodles of Texas family, where we believe in providing our puppies with the best possible start in life. Our commitment to their well-being goes beyond the ordinary – it's about empowering our breeders and embracing the Puppy Culture philosophy.
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At the core of our breeding program is the concept of the "Empowered Breeder." We understand that responsible breeding involves more than just genetics; it requires nurturing, education, and a genuine love for the pups we bring into the world. Our breeders are equipped with knowledge, resources, and a heartfelt dedication to ensuring that each puppy thrives physically, mentally, and emotionally.
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Embracing the Puppy Culture philosophy amplifies our dedication to holistic puppy development. Puppy Culture is an innovative program that focuses on early socialization, enrichment, and training, laying the foundation for confident, well-adjusted dogs. From the moment they open their eyes, our puppies are exposed to a variety of experiences, sounds, and stimuli that help shape their personalities and adaptability.
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Our curriculum blends the best of both worlds: the expertise of the Empowered Breeder and the scientifically proven methods of Puppy Culture. This fusion creates an environment where our puppies are set up for success in their new homes. We believe that a well-rounded, mentally stimulated puppy becomes a well-rounded, joyful companion.
As you embark on the journey of bringing home one of our Aussiedoodles, Cavapoos, Labradoodles, or Goldendoodles, we invite you to explore the resources available to you. Our website offers insights into the Empowered Breeder approach, the Puppy Culture program, and the steps we take to prepare our puppies for their forever homes.
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Thank you for choosing Mc Doodles of Texas as your partner in this heartwarming journey. Together, we're shaping bright futures for our puppies and helping families create lasting memories with their four-legged friends.
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Puppies Week By Week
Birth to Week 2
In the beginning, we give mom and puppies time to bond and adjust to the new norm. For the first 3 days we handle puppies just enough to weigh them and check to see how they are growing, then we return them right back to mom.​On day 3 we start ESI (Early Scent Introduction) and ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation), and spend quite a bit of effort on mom's diet and health to ensure lactic production is as good as it can be. This is a precious time of nurturing and mothering that goes by so quickly, and will give way to puppiness any day now.
WEEK 2-3
Our Puppies have made 2 weeks and filled their time eating, sleeping, and well, you know. . . They have doubled their birth weight, on time, which is typically day 10. In the coming days we expect them to open their ears, become responsive to aural stimulus, and open their eyes.​In these early days we continue the ENSI and ENS plans to provide safe neurological stimulation. In addition, we slowly introduce music and other sounds into the room to provide a calm environment for both puppies and mom.​Each night we play relaxing classical music. This routine signifies bedtime to the puppies and later helps with their transition to their new homes. During the day we will add sound exposure that includes household sounds, animals, tv, fireworks, and other noises they might encounter. By slowly introducing these to the puppies they get desensitized to the sounds building confidence and developing good startle recovery.
WEEK 3-4
It has been a busy week of milestones for our puppies. At 3 weeks, we add potty pads and little beds to teach them there is a place to potty and a place to sleep. This transition starts the potty training process that you will continue when your puppy comes home. We also start our transition to solids. This is a gradual process where we start with a day or two of formula in a tray to teach them to lap up food. Then we add mush once a day gradually moving to 2-3 times a day. What is in the mush? We blend up PawTree Salmon & Sweet Potato kibble, Firm Up Pumpkin, Probiotics, and Formula/Goats milk. We add warm water to make a soupy mix for them to lap up. They are enjoying food!​We introduce small safe and soft items as part of our whelping box exposure. We start using the "Yes" word to reassure puppies they are fine and build confidence. This is also the time we start our 10 step handling exercises. Puppies get handled everyday to get them use to being handled in a manner simmilar to what they will experience with their families, at the groomer, or vet. We start slow and build up gradually as the puppies get older and tolerate it.​
WEEK 4-5
By week 4 most of our puppies are climbing and moving around really well. We move them out of the whelping box and into a toddler pen. As we open up their space we gradually add new experiences, sounds, and locations.
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Some of the exposure activities include new textures, uneven surfaces, stuffed toys, ropes, balls, small blocks, balls, and rings. We offer a variety of toys and activities as free play and structured time. Their favorite is the Little Tykes slide. They can often be found falling asleep on it.
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We continue the 10 Step Handling Exercises slowly adding more pressure as they get older. This is also the time we start introducing them to some of our puppy handlers and kids.
WEEK 5-6
The puppies are getting more active and have been introduced to more areas to play and explore. We have introduced the litter box to their pens, continuing our introduction to potty training teaching them their is a place to go.
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This is a fun time in their development as we add exposure activities that wiggle, jiggle, and giggle, ball pits. things with wheels, and tactile work. We continue the 10 step handling as well as introducing them to grooming, baths, brushing, and the blower.
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Did someone say "Doggie Door"? We love teaching our pups how to use the doggy door and run outside. By 6 weeks, or puppies prefer to go outside to potty and play (weather permitting).
WEEK 6-7
They are getting so big at this stage and almost ready to join their new families. At week 6 we add brain games, water exposure and neutral dogs. The sound exposure continues alongside grooming and handling activities. Everything we do, carefully and intentional planned to help prepare our puppies for their new homes.
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By 7 weeks, all of our puppies have been microchipped, made several trips in the car, learned how to go in and out of the doggy door, and played with pint sized human friends.
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We practice manners waiting patiently for them to sit prior to getting attention or being picked up. It is so important to give puppies a way to communicate with you. This act of "manding" creates structure and boundaries that your puppy will thrive and grow with.
Week 7-8
This is our last week with ou puppies and we try to have as much snuggle and fun time with these sweet babies as we can. We continue with our handling and exposure activities slowly introducing new obstacles. Allowing puppies to figure things out, teaches them confidence. They learn to settle on their own and we continue crate training.
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This is also the time they head to the vet for their first round of vaccinations and health check up.
Week 8
GO HOME DAY
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Go Home Day is bittersweet. We have poured so much love and energy into our puppies they have become part of the family. They have live in our home and play in our living room.
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But, there is something special about seeing our puppies with their new families. The joy the puppies bring to them. You don't even realize that you were missing something until they fill that spot in your heart with their unconditional love.
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We are Mc Doodles of Texas. We are Fulfilling families and improving lives through canine companionship.