Many people teach their dog how to fetch.  Many people do not teach their dog everything that goes along with fetch.  It is important that you have control over your Goldendoodle while playing fetch.  Dogs can get tunnel vision, only focusing on the object they are fetching.   There are several things you can teach your dog to make sure you remain in control of the situation.

Things you can do to stay in control while playing fetch -

1. Sitting –  Have your Goldendoodle sit when he returns the ball to you.

2. Waiting for the “OK” – Give the “stay” command before throwing the ball.  Wait several seconds after throwing the ball before you give the “OK” command, allowing the dog to retrieve the ball.   This takes time and practice.  Slowly increase the time you have the dog wait to retrieve the ball.

3.  Stopping the Action – When your Goldendoodle is chasing the ball give the “stop / heal”  command.  Your Goldendoodle should stop chasing the ball and come and sit at your feet.

All three steps take time and practice.  Remember to practice in a controlled environment, ensuring you are not setting your pet up for failure.  Slowly introduce more challenges and distractions.   These simple steps can save your pets life one day.  It is important to have control of every situation.

The weather is quickly changing and that means less play time for Rusty.  This past weekend it rained the entire two days making it very hard for us to find time to take Rusty outside to play.  By the end of the weekend it was obvious he had had very little play time.   Rusty can become restless if he can not work off all his energy.  Below are some tips that we have found work very well to keep a well mannered dog in the cold and rainy months.

Winter Goldendoodle Tips -

1. Doggy Time Out – If your Goldendoodle is misbehaving separate yourself from the dog for a short period of time (30 seconds).  We simply lock him out the room we are in, and when he is calm we let him back in.

2. Inside Games – It is important to remember to give your Goldendoodle one on one time inside. Examples –  Tug of war, teaching them new tricks, hide and seek.

3. Play with them in the rain.  When the weather is bad for a long period, sometimes you just have to tough it out and go play in the rain, they will love you for it.

Once you teach a dog a new trick they do not forget.  For a little over a year we have not allowed Rusty up on our chaise lounge.  As time has passed we have become more and more relaxed and invited Rusty to sit on the lounge with us while watching TV.  He quickly learned that it is now OK for him to get on the chair and it has become his new napping station.

Below you will find a picture of a very spoiled Goldendoodle.

Rusty most recent haircut was about a month ago.

I have recently watched several programs about drug sniffing dogs and the desired characteristics.  From what I have seen Rusty has all the desired genetic characteristics needed for a good drug sniffing dog.  It is important that the dog love a toy, once they are lock onto the toy that is all they can think about.   They also need to have the desire to hunt and find the toy, not easily giving up.

Rusty loves his ball.  He will hunt the backyard until he finds it.  Yesterday I tried an experiment.  I hid his ball in the living room without him watching then asked him to “find it,”  and every time he came back with his ball.      I think Rusty would make a great drug sniffing dog with the proper training, but he is our family dog, not a drug sniffing dog.

Has anyone seen or heard of a Goldendoodle becoming a drug sniffing dog.  I know they train Goldendoodles to become seeing eye dogs and other companion dogs but I have yet to see a Goldendoodle drug sniffer.

Most of the time Rusty does not pay attention to the TV,  however when  Rusty hears another dog coming through the TV he is all ears.  We have watched Rusty stare at the TV for minutes at a time if there is a dog in the scene.  He also enjoys watching other animals.   He will watch with such concentration that it appears that he is comprehending the dialog.   As soon as the animal / dog leaves the scene Rusty’s interest in lost.   He as never barked at the TV or ran up to it, he simply watches as if he was another human in the room.   I wonder if I should change the channel when there are aggressive dogs or dog fights on the TV, I don’t want to give Rusty any ideas.

Has anyone else caught there dog / Goldendoodle enjoying a little TV time?

Rusty the Goldendoodle enjoying his new Nylabone.

Heavy Chewer Nylabone

Goldendoodle Lake Pictures

Rusty with his recent hair cut at Folsom Lake-

We recently took Rusty on his first boating trip.   Earlier this summer we bought a ski/speed boat and this past weekend Rusty went out on his first ride.   We were unsure how he would react but to our surprise Rusty loved every minute of it.   He was almost too comfortable, jumping up on the engine cover while we where traveling 40 mph.

Rusty never showed any signs of getting sick.  While cruising the lake he would lay on the back seat or find his way under the bow to take a little nape.  Rusty like many other Goldendoodle loves to swim, however he is afraid to jump in.  Even when everyone was swimming Rust would sit on the swim step and bark in frustration, never jumping into the water.  We look forward to many more boating trips in the future.   I am also trying to find ways to encourage Rusty to jump in off the back of the boat.