The Goldendoodle Puppy First 30 Days Checklist
A real owner's hour by hour playbook for the first month with a new Goldendoodle puppy. Free. No signup. Print it, tape it to the fridge, or save it as a PDF in one click.
51 checklist items across four weeks
Week 1
The settle in week. Build the crate routine, lock in the feeding rhythm, and start the potty pattern from minute one.
Set the crate in your bedroom
Place the crate in a low traffic corner near where you sleep for the first two weeks. Soft mat inside, no toys at night.
Stock the puppy starter shelf
Crate, food and water bowls, slow feeder mat, slicker brush, paw balm, two soft chew toys, and freeze dried training treats.
Pick the potty spot before walking inside
On arrival, walk straight to the chosen patch of grass for two full minutes before any first toy or first cuddle.
Use the same kibble the breeder used
Stick to the breeder's food for seven days, then transition slowly across the next seven to your chosen kibble.
Three meals a day on a schedule
Feed at the same three times daily. No free feeding. Pick up the bowl after fifteen minutes whether they finish or not.
Walk to potty after every meal
Within fifteen minutes of every meal, walk straight to the potty spot. Praise the moment they go.
First wellness vet visit by day three
Schedule the new puppy exam within seventy two hours. Bring the breeder records and stool sample if requested.
Confirm the vaccine schedule
Standard cadence is six, ten, and fourteen weeks for the core series, then yearly boosters. Confirm with your vet.
Start heartworm and flea protection at eight weeks
Most vets begin monthly preventatives at eight weeks. Set a phone reminder for the same date every month.
Sleep, do not wake, eighteen hours a day
Puppies sleep eighteen to twenty hours a day. Build naps into your day. Do not wake them for visitors.
Skip the dog park
No public dog parks until two weeks after the final puppy shot. Carry your puppy if you want to take them places.
Two five minute walks per day
Use the five minute rule. Five minutes of structured walking per month of age, twice a day, to protect growth plates.
Brush every single day for two minutes
Use a soft slicker. You are training tolerance, not grooming the coat. Run hands over paws, ears, belly, tail, and tail base.
Log every potty success on a sticky note
Track wins by hour for the first week. Patterns appear fast and the schedule writes itself.
Take a hundred photos
The first week is the smallest your puppy will ever be. The photos are for you, not the feed.
Week 2
Routine consolidates. Start name recognition, introduce gentle handling, and begin sound exposure inside the home.
Teach the name in three second reps
Say the name, when they look up, mark with yes and feed a treat. Twenty reps a day across the week.
Start crate naps in the day
Two to three crate naps during the day with a stuffed lick mat. Builds independent rest, prevents over tired biting.
Introduce the leash inside the house
Clip the leash on, drag it for ten minutes while they play. No tension, no pulling. Just normalize the feel.
First bath at home
Lukewarm water, gentle puppy shampoo, towel dry, treats throughout. Five minutes, end on a calm note.
Touch every paw, ear, and tail twice a day
Pair every body part touch with a treat. Future grooming and vet visits depend on this week of work.
Vacuum, dishwasher, and hairdryer at low volume
Run each appliance briefly while feeding meals nearby. Build neutral feelings before they ever bother your dog.
Three short car rides to nowhere
Two to three minute drives ending back at home with a treat. Prevents car anxiety and motion sickness later.
Sit using a lure
Treat above the nose, slide back over the head, hips drop, mark and reward. Ten reps, three sessions a day.
Introduce a soft chew rotation
Three chews on rotation, one out at a time. Bully sticks, freeze dried trachea, or rubber teether toys.
First puppy cut visit prep
Book a face and feet trim around twelve weeks. The first visit is short, friendly, and treat heavy.
Confirm second vaccine appointment
Around ten weeks of age. Bring records, write the date on the fridge, and plan a calm afternoon after.
Trim nails or file once
Clip just the tips with a guarded clipper or a Dremel. End on the second paw, not the fourth, the first time.
Lock in the daily schedule
Write it on paper and tape it to the fridge so anyone in the house can run the day exactly the same way.
Week 3
Outside world prep. Start carry around exposure, layer in the second cue, and stretch the crate naps a little longer.
Carry your puppy to ten new places
Hardware store, post office, coffee shop patio, gas station. Carried, not on the ground, until fully vaccinated.
Meet ten new people this week
Different ages, hats, beards, glasses, and skin tones. Treats from each new person. Calm energy only.
Expose to ten new surfaces
Tile, hardwood, wet grass, gravel, sand, metal grate, rubber mat, foam mat, plastic, and a soft blanket.
Add the down cue
From a sit, lure straight down between the front paws. Mark the elbow drop. Three sessions of ten reps a day.
Practice short alone time
Crate with a frozen lick mat for ten minutes while you step outside. Build to twenty minutes by week end.
Brush the muzzle and sanitary area
These are the two zones that mat the fastest. Two minutes daily prevents the first emergency shave down.
Introduce the toothbrush
Dog toothpaste on a finger brush. Lift the lip, touch one tooth, treat. Ten seconds is a full session this week.
Crate at night, full nights
Most puppies can sleep five to six hours straight by week three. Last potty at ten, first potty at five.
Switch from puppy pads if you used them
Move pads outside the door for three days, then to the patio, then remove. Outside potty becomes the only potty.
Practice loose leash in the hallway
Six foot leash, treats at your seam, three steps and reward. Inside the home before any sidewalk attempt.
Add a chew time before guest arrivals
Twenty minutes of chewing in a pen before guests come over. Calm puppy meets calm guests.
Week 4
The graduation week. Final core vaccine usually lands here, freedom expands, and your puppy starts to look like a tiny adult.
Third core vaccine appointment
Around fourteen weeks. Most vets clear public sidewalks ten to fourteen days after this dose. Confirm with yours.
First sidewalk walk after vet clearance
Five to ten minutes only. New surface, new smells, big mental load. End before they get tired.
First puppy class enrollment
Group class is socialization plus structure. Pick a force free trainer near you and book the next intake.
Add the come cue indoors
Two people, ten feet apart, take turns calling. Reward every single recall this entire month, no exceptions.
First professional groomer visit
Face, feet, and sanitary trim only. Thirty to forty five minutes. Treat the visit like a daycare drop off, calm.
Establish the morning routine
Potty, breakfast, training session, nap. Lock these four in the same order every weekday for the next year.
Establish the evening routine
Walk, dinner, chew time, brush, last potty, crate. Same order every night, including weekends.
Check microchip registration
Confirm the chip is registered to your name and current address. The breeder chip is rarely fully transferred.
Update license and tags
City or county dog license, ID tag with phone number, and rabies tag once the rabies shot is given.
Schedule the four month check up
Weight check, dental peek, growth plate conversation. Book before you leave the third vaccine appointment.
Plan spay or neuter timing
Current research recommends after one year for medium and large Goldendoodles. Discuss with your vet, not Google.
Capture the thirty day photo
Same spot, same blanket, same angle as day one. The growth in thirty days will surprise you.
Want the paper version on the fridge? One click away.
Made with love by Mango the Goldendoodle and Ankit in Las Vegas