Lennon

This adorable fluffy puppy is Lennon (Lenny).  Lenny is a 4-month-old Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever/ Poodle mix) puppy and is growing quickly.  He will be a medium to large boy once fully grown.  He has the softest red/dark apricot coloured coat.  The great thing about the doodle breeds is you can have two totally different looking dogs, short poodle groom, or a shaggy cutie like he is right now.  Lenny and some of his siblings came into our care, discarded from a puppy mill.   Due to terrible mill breeding Lenny has a defective left eye, which only gives him sight in the right eye.  It’s been checked by the vet and doesn’t require any extra care, it’s just cosmetic and doesn’t slow him down at all!   He is a bouncing, energetic and very playful pup!    

Lenny’s absolute favourite thing in life is loving humans, being loved, and food and not necessarily in that order.  Lenny is exactly what you would expect from a Goldendoodle puppy, he is adorably goofy, friendly, super playful, and so sweet.  He loves to be involved in everything and will often check in to see what you are doing.  Lenny has three modes: asleep, awake but cute and cuddly, and pure playful puppy!  

Doodles are mixed breed dogs and therefore exhibit a spectrum of behaviours that are present in the breeds of their parents, however, there are some characteristics that are very common that people should make note of.  First, Doodles have a tendency to be very social dogs that do much better with their people around and engaged with them more often than not.  A Doodle that is left alone for long periods of time regularly can develop depression, anxiety, become obsessive about certain activities and these can result in other destructive behaviours.  Doodles also have a tendency to be high energy dogs that need an abundance of mental and physical exercise, especially as they are growing into adulthood. These are not couch potato dogs that are content with a few short walks a day.  If you have a more laid back lifestyle and are a homebody, a Doodle will NOT likely be a great match for you.  They are very intelligent dogs who like to work, so taking them beyond basic training is highly recommended to help them live their best life.  They like to push boundaries and challenge you and many Doodle owners have claimed their dogs are always two to three steps ahead of them!  

I would like to make very clear here that Lenny is NOT hypoallergenic.  He is a “Goldendoodle” which means he is part Golden Retriever, a shedding dog.  If you are allergic to dogs and expecting to do this without sneezing, you are out of luck!  He will not be a suitable dog for allergy sufferers, sorry!  Lenny also requires regular brushing as his fur will easily mat if not kept up.  Regular trips to the groomer to keep him nicely trimmed will also be required.  There is quite a bit of upkeep with a mixed hair coat, and it can become a huge mess quickly so the time and energy to keep up this type of coat will have to be taken into consideration as well.  This is quite the undertaking and not something everyone wants to take on or has the time or desire to do.  If you have the time and will to take on a big commitment, then Lenny just might be the right boy for you. 

Lenny is a very smart and confident pup.  He is a quick learner and is doing a fantastic job with house training.  He has not had an accident in weeks and will signal when he needs outside by pawing at the back door.  When back inside he will quickly make his way over to the treat cupboard for his reward. He sleeps quietly in his crate every night and is up to a full 7 hours now.  During the day, he may spend 3 hours max in the crate if required.  He has no problems with the crate, but in any transition with a puppy, his new family will need to be patient will him.   

Lenny’s perfect home will be one with humans who are not away for long periods of the day, so if you work 8 hours out of the house, he will not be a good fit.  He can be left alone but for short periods.  His ideal situation would be a family that is not away for any longer than 4 hours during the day.  Puppies need bathroom breaks and exercise and cannot be left alone all day.  

Lenny would love a home that has a fenced yard, so he can run around and play fetch, an apartment or condo would not work for this boy.  If he does not get his energy out by outside play and walks you will notice his toy collection getting larger with added human shoes, socks etc… The more toys the better for him.  If there are children in the household, we will require them to be 8yrs and older to be a great companion for Lenny. 

Lenny is in a foster home with another puppy and two other foster siblings.  He loves playing with all of the dogs and runs his zoomies with them in the yard.  He listens well to the other dogs and takes note immediately when one asks him to stop.  He would do well in a family that has another young and energetic dog.  He loves the fun and companionship that another dog brings to his life.  Another dog will also expend some of his endless energy.

Lenny is doing great with his training so far.  However, he is just a puppy and will give your patience a workout when he gets into a lovable goofy mood and inevitably breaks rules that he knows he’s not supposed to break.  Lenny’s future family/people must be calm and diligent with correcting his behaviour and giving him lots of praise when he does the right thing.  Lenny LOVES making his humans happy and loves being praised.  He has conquered the sit and we are working on the come, down commands.  With having another puppy and our own two dogs the training of commands has come a little slow, however I have no doubt that he will learn fast once he is at his forever home.  Even though he may learn fast we want to remind potential adopters that he is very new to the world and so he needs guidance and support.  He is a good puppy, but a puppy none the less and puppies are tiring and need constant support while they grow and navigate the world.  Having previous puppy experience, or experience with a high energy dog would be a great asset for a potential adopter.

Lenny LOVES just running around fast in the yard.  He adores being outside and is good with staying close unless he is running with the older dogs, but he is very good with coming back and checking in.  If it was a bit warmer, he would stay playing in the yard all day.  He loves bounding and playing in the snow and throwing toys in the yard.  Chase and tug of war are also his favorites. He literally runs the yard with a happy and goofy puppy smile.  

Walks will have to be short but frequent for the first while, as he gets used to a short leash.  He has not been exposed to super busy areas, so the traffic and other noises may startle him.  This will become less and less with exposure during walks.  Once he is older, he will require longer walks daily.  One of these walks could be substituted with a jog/bike/or hiking or a big play in the backyard with his humans interacting.  If he gets the proper amount of physical and/or mental exercise he will be an outstanding boy.  

Overall, Lenny is the epitome of what you would expect of a “Goldendoodle” puppy.  He is loving, goofy, and super sweet.  He loves his people and will always stop in for a quick kiss and snuggle.  Lenny will be a great addition to any family with an active lifestyle who have a lot of time and love to give.  We cannot wait to see Lenny in his forever home so that he can continue to give his whole heart to his people.  Are you the family waiting for a puppy like Lenny?