When you start training your puppy, treats become your best friend. Puppies are incredibly food-motivated, and the right training treats can make the difference between a quick learning session and a frustrating one. We’ve trained several litters of Goldendoodles now, and here are the treats we keep coming back to again and again.

What Makes a Good Training Treat?

Not all treats are created equal when it comes to training. You’ll be going through a LOT of treats during the first few weeks and months—we’re talking hundreds. Here’s what matters:

• Soft and easily breakable—Hard biscuits are out. You need treats that soften quickly in a puppy’s mouth so they can swallow and get back to the next repetition. Crunchy treats slow down your training rhythm.
• Small size—A pea-sized treat is plenty. You’re not trying to feed your puppy; you’re rewarding behavior. Smaller treats also mean you can do more repetitions without overfeeding your puppy’s daily calorie budget.
• Smelly and irresistible—Your puppy should be excited to work for these treats. Bland biscuits won’t cut it. Meat-based treats with strong aroma work best.
• Low calorie—Since you’re using so many, they need to be light on calories or you’ll overfeed without realizing it. High-protein, low-filler is the way to go.
• Good for their digestion—Some cheap treats cause upset stomachs. Look for single-ingredient or simple recipes with no mystery meat by-products.

Our Top Training Treat Picks

Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Beef

This is one of our favorite high-value training treats. Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Beef Cubes are 100% beef with nothing else—no fillers, no weird ingredients. Puppies absolutely lose their minds for these. Break them into tiny pieces (smaller than your pinky nail) and you’ve got the perfect high-value reward for tough training moments like recalls or “leave it” exercises. One bag lasts through multiple training sessions if you’re breaking the pieces up. We like these because they’re made from New Zealand grass-fed beef and there’s absolutely nothing questionable in the ingredient list.

Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Beef

Another single-ingredient option we trust. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Beef Bites are pure beef, freeze-dried to lock in nutrition and flavor. They’re a bit crumbly (which is perfect for breaking into training-sized pieces), and puppies find them irresistible. These work especially well during the early weeks when you’re doing frequent short training sessions. The bite-sized format means less prep work on your end. We love that they’re USDA sourced and have that strong meaty smell that puppies love.

Purina Pro Plan Training Treats

If you want a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing quality, Purina Pro Plan Chicken and Rice Training Treats are soft, small, and affordable. They’re not single-ingredient like the freeze-dried options, but they’re formulated specifically for training and won’t upset sensitive puppy stomachs. Great for high-frequency training sessions when you don’t want to spend a fortune. Each bag gives you weeks of training treats when you’re breaking them into small pieces.

Treats to Skip

Hard biscuits, dental chews, and rawhides don’t belong in training sessions. They take too long for your puppy to process, and they’re way too high-calorie for the quantity you’ll need. Save those for later in the day as a special reward or enrichment toy, not for training. Also skip anything with lots of artificial ingredients or mystery meat by-products. Your puppy’s stomach will thank you, and their learning will be sharper when they’re not dealing with digestive upset.

Pro Training Treat Tips

• Break them smaller than you think—A pea-sized reward is plenty. Your puppy doesn’t need a huge bite to get excited about the next repetition.
• Have multiple options—Switch between high-value (freeze-dried meat) and medium-value (softer kibble) treats depending on the difficulty of what you’re asking. Easy behavior = medium treat. Hard behavior or distraction = high-value treat.
• Train before meals—A puppy is more motivated when they’re a little hungry, not right after eating. Pick times when they’re alert and food-driven.
• Keep training sessions short—5-10 minutes max with a young puppy. Multiple short sessions beat one long one. Your puppy’s attention span is shorter than you think.
• Account for treat calories—If your puppy eats 500 calories per day, and you use 100 calories of training treats, reduce their regular meals accordingly. Treat calories count.

The Real Secret

Here’s the thing: the specific brand of treat matters less than your consistency and energy during training. A puppy with an excited trainer using plain chicken pieces will learn faster than a bored trainer with fancy treats. That said, having treats that your puppy genuinely loves removes one variable from the equation and keeps training fun for both of you.

We keep our training treats simple and high-quality—usually freeze-dried or single-ingredient options—because they work, they’re easy to portion, and our puppies go wild for them. Start with one of these recommendations, watch how your puppy responds, and adjust from there. You’ll figure out what works best for your fur baby pretty quickly. And remember: you’re not rewarding the treat, you’re rewarding the behavior. Make it worth your puppy’s while to listen.

Happy training!

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One question we get from new Goldendoodle owners is: “What tools do I actually need to groom my puppy?” The answer is simpler than you’d think. You don’t need a ton of fancy equipment. But you do need the right tools, used consistently. We’re going to share the three grooming tools that made the biggest difference in our routine with our dogs.

Our Goldendoodles have beautiful, fluffy coats that require regular maintenance. When we had our first litter, I thought I could get away with just one brush and see what happened. Spoiler: that didn’t go well. Mats happened. A lot of mats. After some trial and error (and a lot of brush shopping), we figured out what actually works. Here’s what we use every week with our pups.

The Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush

This is our go-to brush, and honestly, we use it more than any other tool. A good slicker brush is the foundation of any grooming routine with a Goldendoodle. The Chris Christensen Big G has longer pins that can actually penetrate through the outer coat and reach the undercoat, which is where a lot of the tangles and mats start forming.

We like this brush because it works on all coat types – whether your puppy has a curlier coat or a wavier one, the pins are long enough to do the job. The handle feels good in your hand for longer grooming sessions, and it’s durable enough that we’ve been using the same one for a couple of years now. It’s not the cheapest option out there, but it’s definitely worth the investment if you’re serious about keeping your Goldendoodle’s coat healthy.

Our routine: We use the slicker brush about three times a week, working through the entire coat section by section. We always brush before bathing too, because wet coat + mats = a much harder grooming session later.

The Maxpower Planet Undercoat Rake

After you’ve gone through with the slicker brush, the undercoat rake is your next step. This tool is double-sided – one side has fewer, thicker teeth for working through mats, and the other side has more teeth for general undercoat thinning. It gets down into that thick undercoat that Goldendoodles are famous for.

We especially love the Maxpower Planet rake because it actually reduces the amount of loose hair you’re dealing with. If you don’t use an undercoat rake regularly, you’ll find fur tumbleweeds all over your house. Seriously. After using the rake once a week, we notice way less shedding on our furniture and clothing. The tool is sturdy, and the handle is comfortable, so you won’t get hand fatigue if you’re working on a bigger pup.

Pro tip: The undercoat rake is especially helpful during seasonal shedding. When spring rolls around and your Goldendoodle starts blowing their coat, this tool becomes your best friend. You can remove what feels like pounds of loose fur.

The BPS Pet Grooming Metal Comb

After you’ve used the slicker brush and the undercoat rake, you finish with a metal comb. This is the final step to make sure you’ve actually removed all the mats and tangles. Run the comb through your dog’s coat, and if it glides smoothly without catching, you’re done. If you feel tangles, you go back to the brush or rake and work on that spot again.

We like the BPS comb because it’s sturdy, the teeth are the right spacing for a Goldendoodle’s coat, and it only costs a few dollars. It’s probably the most affordable tool you’ll buy, but don’t skip it just because it’s cheap. The comb is actually the most important tool for catching the mats you might have missed with the brush and rake.

A quick note: We always groom in a well-lit area so we can actually see the coat. It makes a huge difference in catching tangles and mats before they turn into problems.

How Often Should You Groom?

With your Goldendoodle, we recommend brushing at least three times a week, especially when they’re young. As they grow and their coat fills in, you might need to do it more often. During shedding season (typically spring), daily grooming prevents your house from being completely covered in fur.

We’ve found that staying consistent with grooming is way easier than trying to brush out a really matted coat later. A matted coat can actually be painful for your dog, so regular maintenance is important both for appearance and comfort.

When to Call a Professional

These tools will handle brushing and maintenance between grooming appointments. But every 6 to 8 weeks, we still have our dogs professionally groomed. A professional groomer has experience with Goldendoodle coats and can do the full bath, dry, and trim that keeps your dog looking their best. Home grooming and professional grooming work together.

The best part about investing in good grooming tools is that you understand your dog’s coat better. You notice changes. You catch potential skin issues early. And your puppy gets used to being handled and touched, which actually makes vet visits and grooming appointments less stressful for them.

If you take anything away from this, it’s this: get a good slicker brush, use an undercoat rake regularly, finish with a metal comb, and groom consistently. Your Goldendoodle’s coat will thank you, and your house will have way less dog hair on it.

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Best Crates for Goldendoodle Puppies (2026)

If you’re bringing home your first Goldendoodle puppy, one of the best investments you can make is a quality dog crate. We’ve found that a good crate makes crate training easier, gives your puppy a safe den-like space, and helps with potty training from day one.

But with so many options out there, which crate should you choose? We’ve tested several over the years with our own dogs, and here are the ones we recommend for Mini and Mid-sized Goldendoodles.

Why Your Goldendoodle Needs a Crate

Before we jump into the crates themselves, let’s talk about why crate training matters. Dogs are den animals by nature, and a properly sized crate gives your puppy a space that feels secure and safe. When done right (using positive reinforcement, never as punishment), a crate becomes your puppy’s favorite spot, not a jail cell.

A crate also prevents accidents during house training. Puppies won’t soil their sleeping area, so the crate naturally teaches them to hold it until you let them outside. Plus, it keeps your puppy safe when you can’t supervise.

Sizing Your Crate

Here’s the critical part: size matters. Your crate should be just big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. If it’s too big, your puppy can potty in one corner and sleep in another, which defeats the training purpose.

For Mini Goldendoodles (15-30 pounds as adults), a 36-inch crate works well. For Mid-sized and Standard Goldendoodles (30-75 pounds), a 42-inch crate is your best bet. Since puppies grow fast, look for crates with a divider panel that lets you adjust the interior space as your puppy grows. This means one crate lasts from 8 weeks to adulthood.

Our Recommended Crates

MidWest iCrate 42-Inch (Double Door)

This is our top pick, and honestly, it’s what we use with our own dogs. The MidWest iCrate comes with a divider panel included, so you can adjust the space as your puppy grows. It has two doors (one on the side, one on the end), which gives you flexibility in how you place it in your home. The wire construction allows your puppy to see out, and it folds flat for storage or travel.

Why we like it: It’s sturdy, the divider is genuinely useful, and it lasts for years. We’ve had the same 42-inch crate through multiple litters. The leak-proof tray is easy to clean, and the whole thing assembles without tools.

MidWest iCrate 42-Inch Double Door Dog Crate with Divider Panel

MidWest iCrate Starter Kit

If you want everything in one go, the MidWest Starter Kit is a smart choice. It includes the 42-inch iCrate, a fleece crate bed, a privacy cover, and two stainless steel food bowls. This bundle takes the guesswork out of what you need and saves you from buying pieces separately.

Why we like it: You get a complete setup right out of the box. The cover creates that den-like feeling that helps puppies settle faster, and the included bed gives comfort from day one. It’s a bundle that actually makes sense.

MidWest iCrate 42-Inch Starter Kit with Bed, Bowls, and Cover

JoicyCo Crate Pad Mat

Once you have your crate, you need something soft inside. The JoicyCo Crate Pad is what we use with all our litters. It’s a 42-inch mat with a non-slip bottom that won’t slide around inside the crate. The fleece material is soft and washable, which matters because puppies will have accidents.

Why we like it: The non-slip bottom keeps the mat in place so your puppy doesn’t slip around. It’s washable (throw it in the machine), and it’s affordable enough that you can have two, so one is always clean while the other is drying. The fleece is soft without being too plush, which helps puppies stay cool in warm months.

JoicyCo Dog Crate Pad Mat 42-Inch

MidWest Crate Cover

The crate cover is optional, but we use one. It creates a den-like environment that naturally calms anxious puppies. The privacy makes a difference, especially during crate training when your puppy is learning to settle on their own.

Why we like it: It reduces barking and whining during crate training. The cover is lightweight, has tabs that hold it securely, and it’s machine washable. We’ve found that puppies settle faster and sleep longer when they have a cover that gives them visual privacy.

MidWest Crate Cover for 42-Inch Crates

Training Treats for Crate Training

Crate training is all about positive reinforcement. You’ll need high-value treats to lure your puppy in and reward them for staying calm. Here are two types we recommend.

Wellness Soft Puppy Bites

These are soft, bite-sized training treats made with real meat (lamb and salmon). They’re grain-free and include DHA for brain development. During crate training, you’ll go through a lot of treats, so soft and breakable is key. These are small enough that you can reward hundreds of times without overfeeding.

Why we like it: They’re wholesome, soft enough for puppies, and sized perfectly for training. A bag lasts a good while when you’re breaking them into smaller pieces.

Wellness Soft Puppy Bites 8oz

Pupford Freeze-Dried Chicken Treats

For high-value training moments (like getting into the crate for the first time), freeze-dried chicken is a game-changer. These are just two ingredients: chicken and nothing else. They’re high-protein, low-calorie, and puppies go crazy for them. An 8-ounce bag has over 900 tiny bites.

Why we like it: They’re pure chicken with zero fillers. They don’t make a mess or leave your hands greasy. And because they’re so tiny, you can reward frequently during training sessions. Puppies recognize this as the top-tier treat.

Pupford Freeze-Dried Chicken Training Treats 8oz

Putting It All Together

If you’re starting from scratch, here’s what we’d grab: a 42-inch MidWest iCrate with divider, a JoicyCo crate pad, a MidWest crate cover, and a couple of bags of training treats. Total investment is around $200, and it’s stuff that will last years.

Start crate training early, use positive reinforcement (treats and praise), and never force your puppy into the crate. Let them explore at their own pace. Within a few weeks, your puppy will actually want to go in their crate because it’s their safe space.

Questions about crate sizes or training? Feel free to contact the Puppy Pals team. We’re always happy to help new puppy parents get off to the right start.

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