The Michigan Goldendoodle Good Puppy Program begins the very first days of a puppy’s life. Each puppy is born and raised in our loving, attentive home environment, where they receive constant care and handling. From early desensitization and sensory exposure to later experiences like safe automobile rides, beginning basic obedience training, and gentle introductions to grooming and bathing, every step is intentional. Our puppies also enjoy plenty of supervised community outings and, of course, appropriate veterinary care throughout their development.

We wrap it all up with a complete puppy passport, medical records, and a thoughtfully prepared go-home bag filled with essentials to help you start off on the right foot with your new puppy.

Raised in a loving home environment

Our puppies are born in the main living spaces our homes and our moms receive love & care during labor. The important desensitization and positive imprinting process begins at just a few days old. There are many reasons why this process is vital to the development of any puppy and we take it seriously. To learn more on desensitization and positive imprinting scroll down to FAQ’s.

Raising puppies in the main living area of the home allows them to be a part of daily life, sights, and sounds-this is important to raising well mannered and confident puppies.

Examples of a few sounds that are introduces to the puppies include:

• Vacuum

• Television

• Doorbell

• Music

• Alarms

• Knocking on door

• Loud children and more!!

EARLY Socialization

We go above and beyond to make sure your new puppy is off on the right paw for their future. We believe a GOOD puppy makes a GOOD dog and early introduction is so important to having a puppy that is not scared and barking at everything!

Our puppies are introduced to a variety of experiences from an early age and you’ll get lots of pictures and videos so you can share these experiences with your new Mi-Doodle! Car rides begin at 3 weeks old - Who wants a crying puppy all the way home? It is so nice to have a puppy that is already familiar and comfortable with car rides when you pick them up to go home.

Community Outings

The puppies are 6 weeks old and vaccinated, now the real adventures begin! This is our favorite time with the puppies!

Community outings are important to expose the puppy to the big world outside of our homes. This allows them to meet many different types of people and scents & sounds that aren’t common in the home environment. This creates a firm foundation for families that plan to travel with their Mi-Doodle or future Therapy Dogs.

They visit a variety of local establishments including:

• Schools - We visit BISD, the Special Education Classes and Hastings Schools

• Stores - We visit multiple stores such as Family, Farm & Home and TSC

• Parks - We visit lots of area parks

• Local Music Shows and Festivals- We visit Hastings Summerfest, Wayland BalloonFest & MORE!

• Greenhouses- We visit different Greenhouses for calm and relaxing training opportunities, Cotant’s is our favorite

• Assisted Living Centers - We do special ‘PUPPY VISITS” at Thornapple Manor in Hastings

BAsIC OBEDIENCE STARTED

Crate Training

We begin our crate training process at six weeks old. By the time puppies reach the eight-week go-home milestone, many are already well on their way to being fully crate trained and can comfortably sleep through the night in their crate.

We believe crate training plays an essential role in a puppy’s development. The crate should be a safe, calm space where your puppy can rest, reset, and take appropriate naps as they grow. Continued, positive exposure to the crate is key to maintaining their comfort and confidence with it as they mature.

Crate Training Tips

• Keep the crate positive.
Use treats, praise, and gentle encouragement so your puppy associates the crate with comfort and good things—not punishment.

• Maintain a consistent routine.
Place your puppy in the crate for naps, quiet time, and bedtime. Predictability helps them feel secure.

• Make the crate cozy.
Use safe, soft bedding and a familiar toy to create a calming space your puppy wants to settle into.

• Start with short intervals.
If your puppy is new to the crate, begin with brief periods and gradually increase the duration as their comfort grows.

• Use the crate for rest—not isolation.
Keep the crate in a part of the home where your family spends time so your puppy feels part of the action while still having their own space.

• Encourage naps in the crate.
Young puppies need lots of sleep; using the crate for naps builds healthy habits and reinforces positive crate experiences.

• Avoid letting your puppy out when whining.
Wait for a moment of calm before opening the door. This teaches them that quiet behavior is what gets rewarded.

• Offer crate time after meals and play.
A tired puppy is more likely to settle, and routine helps with bladder regulation and overall training.

• Keep nighttime simple.
Limit excitement during nighttime potty breaks. Quietly take them out, bring them back in, and return them to the crate.

• Choose the right size crate.
Your puppy should be able to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably—but not have too much open space.

Crate Recommendations

We recommend the Small Retriever Brand Dog Metal Pet Crate for our miniature goldendoodles and the Medium Retriever Brand Dog Crate for our medium goldendoodles. Learn why crate training is important HERE.

Leash Training

Who wants to deal with a wild puppy at the end of a leash? No one!

As part of our Basic Obedience training within the Good Puppy Program, we include complimentary leash-walking lessons for every puppy. Within just a few short sessions most puppies become confident, focused, and ready to safely explore the streets and community spots around Hastings.

The bonus for you? Your puppy comes home already familiar with proper leash manners—making those first walks together smoother, calmer, and a whole lot more fun.

Basic Commands

We teach a variety of helpful commands, such as “no” and “come”. Other specific commands can be added into the training of your puppy upon request.

We also train them to their name as soon as their new family selects it. We can’t make any promises, but, often times, our pups go to their families knowing their name already.

Baths and Grooming Exposure

A key part of the Michigan Goldendoodle Difference is our early introduction to baths and grooming. This is where our Junior Team really shines too! Exposing puppies to grooming procedures at a young age helps them build confidence and become well-adjusted to the entire process. Regular brushing and bathing are essential throughout a Goldendoodle’s lifetime to keep their coat healthy, maintain skin integrity, and reduce matting.

We also introduce gentle grooming sessions to help puppies learn that clippers, brushes, dryers, and handling are all normal parts of life. This early foundation really pays off. Many families tell us their groomers are impressed with how calm and cooperative their puppy is on their very first visit.

By laying this groundwork during their early weeks, we help ensure grooming becomes a comfortable, low-stress experience for the groomer and, more importantly, for your puppy. This early exposure is a priority for us and an important part of raising confident, well-prepared Goldendoodles.

Some of our recommendations for regular brushing include a slicker brush and de-matting brush.

Extensive Puppy Recommendation List

Helping our new puppy families feel confident and prepared is part of the Michigan Goldendoodle Difference. Once you’ve selected your puppy and placed your deposit, we’ll send you a comprehensive puppy recommendation list and guide you through every step of the journey to prepare your home and bring your new Mi-Doodle home. View AVAILABLE PUPPIES here.