At Celtic Doods we utilize a holistic approach with our parent dogs, as well as our puppies during gestation through their first eight weeks of life. We do this through genetic testing, nutrition, exercise, training, socializing, grooming, and senses.
We feed our dogs and puppies Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Formula, a highly nutritious food made without artificial preservatives. It offers excellent nutrition at a reasonable price and is readily available from Chewy, PetSmart, Petco, Tractor Supply, and many local pet supply stores.
Through years of research and firsthand experience with our own dogs, we have found it to be an excellent choice for the Celtic Doods breeding program. We specifically recommend the Large Breed Puppy Formula because it contains the appropriate balance of protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins, and minerals to support healthy bone, joint, ligament, and muscle development during your puppy’s important growth stages. While there are many quality dog foods available, consistency is especially important as your puppy adjusts to its new home. If you decide to transition to another brand, we recommend waiting until your puppy has settled in and then making the change gradually over 7–10 days by slowly mixing the new food with the current food to help prevent digestive upset.
We use essential oils, specifically blended for dogs to comfort mom during whelping and to stimulate the puppies sense of smell and create a calming environment for sleep. We begin working with the puppies with Early Scent Stimulation and Early Neurological Stimulation at three days old to stimulate hormonal, adrenal and pituitary systems. We continue to work with them with visual and auditory when their ears and eyes open around 10 – 14 days old. We use the BAB method puppy culture throughout their time with us. At 7 weeks, optimally day 49, we use the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test to asses the temperament of each of our puppies.
We are a boutique breeder that offers our beloved Sheepadoodles, our beloved Goldendoodles, and we also fell in love with the Flatcoat Retriever, which is very popular in the UK and is also a wonderful family dog. Flatcoat Doodles/Floodles/Flat Doodles are very rare in the US. We breed first-generation crosses with Standard Poodles and have added a Moyen Poodle and a Miniature Poodle to our program. While the F1 may shed a bit if it takes the coat more from the retriever, it will shed much less than the full-bred retriever. We feel very strongly that the F1s have better health via Hybrid Vigor. We manage only the number of puppies that we can fully socialize at a time to provide the best, well-adapted, confident puppies to our clients.
We stand out from other breeders in the details, from early potty training beginning in their third week, early and extensive socialization, exposure to an exorbitant amount of textures and sounds, manners training by us and our “pack”, grooming, to a final bath the day they leave us after eight weeks.
Our dogs are our beloved pets and the beloved pets of friends who have agreed to love and keep them throughout their lives. The Lassies live with us and also with our three children in their homes, all in the Wilmington, NC area. The Lads are more spread out, one with a friend in the Charlotte area of NC, one with a friend in North Myrtle Beach, and two here in the Wilmington area with us and down the road with my sister.