Welcome to the Starting Grid: Meet Our Newest Multigenerational Goldendoodle Litter!

Get ready to meet the speedsters and pit crew princesses of our newest Goldendoodle litter! Inspired by the thrill of Formula One racing, we’ve named these adorable boys and girls after iconic tracks around the world.

Meet the Boys:

Say hello to the speedsters of our litter, rocking their racing-inspired collars:

  • Barcelona (blue collar)
  • Sao Paulo (orange collar)
  • Montreal (red collar)
  • Cota (green collar)

Meet the Girls:

And now, put your hands together for the pit crew princesses of our litter, shining bright in their racing-inspired collars:

  • Spa (light purple)
  • Monaco (pink)
  • Suzuka (yellow)
  • Monza (dark purple)
  • Silverstone (sleek silver)

Puppy Updates:

We’re excited to share that puppy picks will be made at six weeks (April 6) in the order that reservations or deposits are made. Puppies will start going home beginning on April 19th.

Stay tuned for more updates on these pint-sized racing champions and tiny racing queens! We can’t wait to share their journey with you.

Safety First: Protecting Your Furry Friends at Home

As a dog owner or soon-to-be puppy parent, ensuring your home is a safe haven for your furry friend is crucial. Dogs and puppies are naturally curious, and their instinct to explore can sometimes lead to accidents. In this blog post, we’ll cover essential safety tips to protect your canine companion and provide a happy, healthy environment for them to thrive.

I. Household Hazards

  1. Toxic substances: Secure toxic substances like cleaning supplies, medications, and chemicals out of reach. Keep them in high cabinets or locked containers.
  2. Electrical cords: Keep electrical cords and wires organized and out of reach to prevent chewing and electrical shock.
  3. Hot surfaces: Keep your dog away from hot surfaces like stovetops, ovens, and fireplaces.

II. Puppy-Proofing

  1. Secure furniture: Anchor heavy furniture and appliances to walls to prevent tipping.
  2. Block off rooms: Block off rooms you don’t want your puppy to access, such as bathrooms or laundry rooms.
  3. Protect flooring: Use baby gates or pet gates to protect flooring from accidents and chewing.

III. Outdoor Safety

  1. Fencing: Ensure your yard is securely fenced to prevent escape and protect your dog from external hazards.
  2. Toxic plants: Identify and remove toxic plants from your yard, such as oleander, sago palm, and lily plants.
  3. Weather safety: Provide shade and shelter for your dog during extreme weather conditions, such as heatwaves or thunderstorms.

IV. Health and Hygiene

  1. Vaccinations: Stay up-to-date on your dog’s vaccinations to protect them from diseases.
  2. Parasite control: Regularly check for and prevent parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworms.
  3. Cleanliness: Regularly clean food and water bowls, and disinfect surfaces to prevent the spread of bacteria. We use stainless steel water and food bowls and wash them after each meal. We also use puzzles bowls to feed certain pups which are also soaked in soapy water and rinsed after each use.

V. Emergency Preparedness

  1. Create a pet emergency kit: Assemble a kit with essentials like food, water, medication, and a first-aid kit.
  2. Identify emergency veterinary clinics: Keep a list of nearby emergency veterinary clinics and their contact information.
  3. Microchip your dog: Microchip your dog to ensure they can be identified and returned if they ever become lost. All puppies from Pasatiempo Ranch go home microchipped.

By following these safety tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating a safe and happy home for your furry friend. Remember, safety is an ongoing process, and staying vigilant will help prevent accidents and ensure your dog lives a long, healthy life. Xoxo

Exercise and Brain Games: Finding the Perfect Balance

As responsible dog owners we all want to ensure our pups are getting enough physical and mental stimulation to thrive. Exercise is essential for puppies, but it’s equally important not to overexert them, especially during their critical growth period. Since we are welcoming the second month of 2025 we thought we’d talk about the benefits of exercising your puppy, the importance of off-leash work and recall, and why mental stimulation through puzzles and enrichment activities is just as crucial for their overall health and happiness.

The Benefits of Exercise for Puppies

Regular exercise is vital for puppies, providing numerous physical and mental benefits, including:

  1. Improved cardiovascular health: Exercise helps strengthen your puppy’s heart and lungs, ensuring they develop into a healthy adult dog.
  2. Stronger bones and muscles: Physical activity helps puppies develop strong bones and muscles, reducing the risk of injuries and muscular conditions.
  3. Better coordination and balance: Exercise improves your puppy’s coordination, balance, and overall athleticism.
  4. Reduced stress and anxiety: Physical activity helps puppies release pent-up energy and reduces stress and anxiety.
  5. Improved sleep: Regular exercise promotes better sleep patterns in puppies.

Avoiding Overexertion

While exercise is essential, it’s crucial to avoid overexerting your puppy, especially during their growth period (up to 12-18 months and 24 months for large breeds). Overexertion can lead to:

  1. Joint damage: Excessive exercise can put excessive strain on your puppy’s joints, leading to damage and potential arthritis.
  2. Growth plate damage: Overexertion can cause damage to your puppy’s growth plates, leading to growth abnormalities and potential long-term health issues.

Off-Leash Work and Recall: Why It’s Crucial

Off-leash work and recall training are essential for your puppy’s safety and well-being. If you follow us then you already know how important off leash training is for us and our pack. By teaching your puppy to respond to recall commands, you can ensure they’ll return to you in case of an emergency or if they encounter a potential danger.

Off-leash work also provides numerous benefits, including:

  1. Improved socialization: Off-leash work allows your puppy to interact with other dogs, people, and environments, helping them develop good social skills.
  2. Increased confidence: Off-leash work helps puppies build confidence in their abilities and trust in their owners.
  3. Better exercise: Off-leash work provides puppies with more freedom to run, play, and exercise, helping them burn off excess energy.

Mental Stimulation: Puzzles and Enrichment Activities

While physical exercise is essential, mental stimulation is just as important for your puppy’s overall health and happiness. Puzzles and enrichment activities provide numerous benefits, including:

  1. Reduced boredom and stress: Mental stimulation helps reduce boredom and stress in puppies, leading to a happier, healthier dog.
  2. Improved problem-solving skills: Puzzles and enrichment activities help puppies develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity.
  3. Increased focus and concentration: Mental stimulation helps puppies develop focus and concentration, making them more responsive to training and commands.

Some fun and engaging puzzle and enrichment activities for puppies include:

  1. Kong toys filled with treats: Stuff Kong toys with treats, peanut butter, or cream cheese to challenge your puppy’s problem-solving skills.
  2. Interactive puzzle toys: Use interactive puzzle toys that require your puppy to work for treats or kibble.
  3. Scent work: Engage your puppy in scent work activities, such as hiding treats or toys with a specific scent.
  4. Obstacle courses: Set up obstacle courses using tunnels, cones, and jumps to challenge your puppy’s physical and mental abilities.

Conclusion

Exercise, off-leash work, and mental stimulation are all essential components of a happy, healthy puppy. By finding the perfect balance between physical and mental stimulation, you can ensure your puppy develops into a confident, well-adjusted adult dog. Remember to avoid overexertion, prioritize off-leash work and recall training, and engage your puppy in fun and challenging puzzle and enrichment activities. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can raise a happy, healthy puppy that thrives in all aspects of life. If you have any questions regarding training please feel to reach out to us! Xoxo

TLC Pet Food

Nourishing Our Pack

As dog lovers, we are always on the lookout for the best ways to keep our furry family healthy and thriving. That’s why we are excited to share with you our experience with TLC Pet Food and the incredible health benefits we’ve seen in our dog pack.

A Nutrient-Rich Diet

TLC Pet Food is made with only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, carefully selected to provide a balanced and nutrient-rich diet for our dogs. Their recipes are formulated to meet the unique needs of our canine companions, with a focus on whole foods, vitamins, and minerals.

The TLC Difference

So, what sets TLC Pet Food apart from other brands? Here are just a few reasons why we’re hooked:

  • Quality 🥩 Meat-First Proteins: A highly-concentrated blend of lamb, chicken, and salmon ensures your pet gets their protein from quality meat sources, supporting muscle development and energy levels
  • Packed with 👅  Vitamins & Minerals:Supports overall health, and includes immune-boosting antioxidants to protect against disease
  • Loaded With Healthy Fats & 🐕 Omega Fatty Acids: Is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and DHA, promoting healthy skin and coat, brain development, and cognitive function
  • Includes Ancient Whole Grains 🌾 & Probiotics: Promotes optimal digestive health and helps pets feel nourished and fuller longer

Health Benefits Galore

Since switching to TLC Pet Food, we’ve noticed a significant improvement in our dog pack’s overall health and well-being. Here are just a few benefits we’ve observed:

  • Shinier coats: Our dogs’ coats are looking healthier and shinier than ever, thanks to the nutrient-rich ingredients in TLC Pet Food.
  • Increased energy: With TLC Pet Food, our dogs have more energy and stamina, making them happier and more playful.
  • Improved digestion: We’ve seen a significant reduction in digestive issues, like diarrhea and gas, since switching to TLC Pet Food.

Join the TLC Pack

If you’re looking for a high-quality, nutrient-rich food for your furry friend, we highly recommend giving TLC Pet Food a try. As a valued member of our pack, you can use this link to explore their recipes and learn more about the TLC difference:

TLC Pet Food is naturally preserved, made in Canada, and professionally formulated by expert nutritionists with decades of experience. Every ingredient serves a nutritional purpose. Compare their ingredient list against other pet food and you’ll notice a focus on meat-first, holistic nutrition. Order online and your pet’s TLC will be made fresh and delivered FREE to your doorstep! 

Conclusion

At Pasatiempo Ranch, we’re passionate about providing our dog pack with the best possible care, and that includes feeding them a nutritious, balanced diet. With TLC Pet Food, we can trust that our dogs are getting the nutrients they need to thrive. Join us in nourishing your pack with TLC Pet Food – your furry friends will thank you!

We are always happy to share our experiences – both good and bad – if you ever have questions about nutrition or why we use the foods we do please don’t hesitate to reach out! Xoxo

Winter Wonderland

As the temperatures drop and the snowflakes start to fall, (for you – not for us – south Texas does not get snow – other than these pics of Feb 2021), it’s essential to prioritize your dog’s safety and well-being. Cold weather can be challenging for our canine companions, but with some simple precautions and engaging activities, you can ensure they stay happy, healthy, and occupied.

Safety First

Before we dive into the fun stuff, let’s cover some crucial safety tips:

  1. Limit exposure: Avoid leaving your dog outside for extended periods, especially in extreme cold. Frostbite and hypothermia can set in quickly.
  2. Dress them up: Consider investing in a warm, waterproof coat or sweater for your dog, especially if they have a thin coat or are short-haired.
  3. Watch for ice and salt: Be mindful of icy sidewalks and roads, as well as salt and de-icing chemicals, which can harm your dog’s paws.
  4. Keep them hydrated: Ensure your dog always has access to fresh, unfrozen water.

Occupying Your Dogs Mind & Body

Now that we’ve covered the essentials, let’s explore some fun and engaging ways to keep your dog occupied during the cold winter months:

  1. Indoor obstacle courses: Set up a mini obstacle course using household items, such as couch cushions, chairs, and tunnels.
  2. Sensory play: Fill a container with rice, beans, or sand and hide treats or toys for your dog to discover.
  3. Interactive toys and puzzle feeders: Challenge your dog’s problem-solving skills with interactive toys and puzzle feeders filled with their favorite treats.
  4. Indoor fetch and hide-and-seek: Play a game of fetch down a hallway or room, or hide treats and toys around the house for your dog to find.
  5. Couch cuddles and movie nights: Sometimes, the best activity is simply snuggling up with your dog on the couch for a movie night.

By following these simple safety tips and engaging your dog in fun indoor activities, you’ll help ensure they stay safe, happy, and occupied during the cold winter months. Xoxo

The Floppy Ear Conundrum: Our Natural Remedy for Ear Irritations

We want to use the year of 2025 to help educate other dood (or any dog really) owners on the best care and little tips we’ve learned along the way. Today we are going to chat a little about those adorable floppy ears that can be testy at times. I think our routine is what keeps our dog’s ears free from the irritations we find other dog owners can battle.

As any poodle or doodle owner can attest, those adorable, floppy and fluffy ears can be a blessing and a curse. While they add to the charm and cuteness, they also create a warm, moist environment that can be prone to irritation and infection. If you’re tired of dealing with red, itchy ears on your furry friend, you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll explore the common issue of ear irritations in floppy earred pups and discuss a natural, homeopathic solution to keep those ears healthy and happy.

The Problem with Floppy Ears

Doodles, with their beautiful, floppy ears, can be more susceptible to ear irritations due to the following reasons:

  1. Moisture accumulation: The floppy design of their ears creates a warm, humid environment that’s perfect for bacterial and fungal growth.
  2. Trapped debris: The furry interior of their ears can trap dirt, dust, and other debris, leading to irritation and infection.
  3. Lack of airflow: The closed design of their ears restricts airflow, making it difficult for the ears to dry properly after bathing, swimming, or playing in the rain.
    The Consequences of Untreated Ear Irritations

If left untreated, ear irritations can lead to more serious issues, including:

  1. Ear infections: Bacterial or fungal infections can cause painful, smelly ears that may require antibiotics or antifungal medications.
  2. Chronic inflammation: Repeated ear irritations can lead to chronic inflammation, causing the ears to become red, swollen, and painful.
    A Natural Solution: Witch Hazel and Apple Cider Vinegar

Fortunately, there’s a simple, natural solution to help prevent ear irritations and promote healthy ears. After drying your dog’s ears thoroughly, especially after bathing or swimming, use a cotton ball or soft cloth to gently wipe the inside of the ear with a mixture of:

  1. Witch hazel: A natural astringent that helps to reduce inflammation and dry out the ear canal.
  2. Apple cider vinegar: A natural antifungal and antibacterial agent that helps to balance the ear’s pH and prevent infection.

Mix 1 part witch hazel with 1 part apple cider vinegar, and gently wipe the inside of the ear, avoiding the ear drum. This solution will help to:

  1. Dry the ear canal: Reducing the risk of bacterial and fungal growth.
  2. Reduce inflammation: Soothing red, irritated ears and promoting healing.
  3. Prevent infection: Balancing the ear’s pH and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi.

Irritations can be common issue with floppy ears, but with the right care and attention, you can help prevent these problems and promote healthy, happy ears. By incorporating witch hazel and apple cider vinegar into your dog’s ear care routine, you’ll be taking a natural, proactive approach to preventing ear irritations and ensuring your furry friend stays comfortable and content.

We know that some people pluck the hair in the inner ears or have their groomer do so; personally we trim short with a scissors but never pluck as we’ve found that is not necessary and in our years of research that can often lead to the very problem you’re trying to prevent. At Pasatiempo Ranch we only have one dog that we need to keep a watchful eye on the floppy ears. Along the way we incorporated our witch hazel and apple cider vinegar routine every few weeks as part of our overall grooming schedule for each dog in our pack. During summer months our swimmers or dogs who love to play in the water/hose/splashpad get weekly ear wipe downs to keep their ears healthy.

We hope this information can help our fellow dog lovers and help keep those ears moisture free and healthy! As always if you have any questions please feel free to reach out whether you own one of our pups or not. Xoxo

A Year in Review

A Year in Review: Celebrating the Joys

As we bid farewell to 2024, we can’t help but look back on the incredible journey Pasatiempo Ranch has taken us on. It’s been a year filled with love, laughter, and lots of furry friends!

One of the highlights of our year was the arrival of our adorable Saint Berdoodle litter of 10. Watching those precious puppies grow and thrive was a true joy.

We’re thrilled to have placed 17 puppies in 2024! Our puppies went to amazing families all across Texas and to seven other states bringing happiness and companionship to families far and wide.

Of course our days and years are not just about the puppies – it’s about the love and care we provide for all our furry babes. This year, we’ve spent countless hours grooming, cuddling, and playing with our dogs. We’ve also been busy working on new puzzles and introducing dog exercises to keep their minds and bodies active.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been hard at work improving our facilities. We’ve added new structures, revamped the puppy yard, and even re-routed our fencing to create a safer and more enjoyable environment for our dogs.

As we reflect on the past year, we’re grateful for the many families we’ve met and the opportunities we’ve had to deliver new furry family members to their forever homes. It’s been an absolute pleasure to share our passion for dogs with so many wonderful people.

As we look to the new year, we’re excited to see what’s in store for Pasatiempo Ranch. We’re already making plans for new litters, new projects, and new ways to provide the best possible care for our beloved dogs.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported us on this journey. We’re honored to be a part of so many families’ lives, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Happy New Year from our pack to yours! Xoxo

Happy birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday to our Originals litter!

Happy December yall! It’s the last month of 2024 so we really want it to count. Today we celebrate three milestones! Our Originals litter of 2020 turned four! (Happy birthday)! Today is the anniversary of our Calliope Jane’s gotcha day! She is our first doodle and she is the one who started us down the dood journey path. As our foundation girl she has given us amazing litters and we adore having her in our family. Our third celebration for today was sending Maui to his forever home. He is the last puppy from our only litter of 2024 to go home and we are so thrilled that each one of the 10 found their matches!

Maui at 6 months ; he is an F1b Saint Berdoodle born to Josephine and Swayze
Calliope Jane at 8 weeks; this was her first time going out for Tex-mex

This year we had the birth of our first F1b Saint Berdoodle litter. They were born in May and were the only litter born here at Pasatiempo Ranch in 2024. It was a year we wanted to hold back on producing puppies and really work on training and deciding where our program direction is going. While we may not have had lots of puppies born here this year we were always very busy!

We have lots of big plans for 2025 and the puppies who we are planning for. Our goal is not only to design amazing little additions to your family but also to produce service and therapy pups as well as companion animals to those who so desperately need assistance in daily routines and life in general. The reality of canine companionship is the right dog will change your life. Let us help guide you to the perfect match!

We hope your holiday season is jolly and filled with love and maybe a few sloppy kisses from your furry friend! If you don’t have a furry friend this Christmas we would love to get one into your home for next years festivities! Xoxo

September 2024

Can you believe it’s September already? The summer flew past us and now the leaves are going to begin to change, we will have cool crisp mornings and the birds will start migrating to warmer climates…. Just kidding. We are in South Texas – we will have summer until we don’t. The days will eventually cool down a bit and you’ll see our pups back out on long walks and hikes and outings we can’t go on in the hot summer months. We always look forward to this time of the year.

We have two females left from our 2024 Saint Berdoodle litter who are still looking for their forever homes! Laguna and Bondi are the sweethearts of our little puppy preschool class. By the end of this week they will both have their third round of vaccines and be ready to visit pumpkin patches and do all the things autumn dogs like to do. So many firsts are coming up and we hope that they’ll get to experience them with their forever families. If not then they will go for first pup cups and fall flower shopping with us. We never mind raising older pups. At three months it is our honor to take them out to experience the world around us. Socializing them and continuing to introduce them to the big world around us is always one of the most fun pieces of raising pups.

On the subject of puppies our keeper babe from this litter who was originally called Waikiki has formally been named Danni. She is named for a favorite Formula One driver. Her mother is called Joie so we thought it was cute that they both will have names people expect to be boys when they come running. Danni is a brown and white version of her black and white Mama and we couldn’t bear to separate them as Joie absolutely still loves to mother these floofs. She spends hours each day hanging out with them and has been the most attentive mom to her growing babes.

Dalton & Danni

Speaking of hanging out with dogs our older and big pups are doing great. We’ve had a fun filled summer with loads of pool days and fun. We’ve developed a few new systems and training techniques that are working well with our pack. We’ve changed the fencing (again) because ranching any animal is always 80% about the fences. We are about to open the puppy room completely up next weekend so the younger puppies will have full access to the common area of the house at all times. This will integrate them with the older dogs and just get them accustomed to being able to interact with day to day going ons such as meeting and greeting delivery people, watching (and not reacting) to creatures who live outside and of course not darting out the front door when it opens. The older dogs are always good at helping to teach the manners we expect here at Pasatiempo Ranch.

We hope you have lots of fun adventures planned for these coming months; please always feel free to share pictures and stories with us as your dogs and pups grow – we love seeing them and reminiscing about each and every one of the bebes we’ve raised! Xoxo

Puppies!!

We have a few Saint Berdoodle puppies with availability. These babies are absolutely adorable – they have beautiful coats with a variety of colors. We are always happy to share their evaluation results with you and help determine which one might be the right fit for your family or situation. We are right at the 10 1/2 week mark and these babies are charting to be typical sized Pasatiempo Ranch Saint Berdoodles. They are a second generation doodle meaning we have raised both their grandparents and parents to full adulthood so we know exactly what to expect as far as demeanor and temperaments.

We find that this type of doodle tend to not only be best friends to humans but they are easily trained and extremely confident with the world. They are showstoppers when you go out because of their size and of course if their coat is kept a medium to longer length they appear even larger!

Banks

None of our puppies are currently showing signs of fading as doods oftentimes do. Both parents have not faded so it’s exciting to watch them as they grow and we hope their new families will keep us updated so we are able to continue to adapt and improve our breeding practices. These puppies have had their first and second set of parvo preventative vaccines and are each microchipped. Potty training is going amazing with almost zero to no accidents! The puppies have full access to our outdoor puppy area several times throughout the day. Most of them love water and any type of climbing play. (Check our social media to see them master the big slide)! We spend lots of hours each day with training and socializing.

If you would like to know more about one of these babies please don’t hesitate to reach out – we would love to have them each in their own homes by fall! Xoxo