Most dogs would rather skip bath time, but bathing plays an important role in the health of your dog’s coat and skin. Giving your pup a bath at home can be an easy task. To help make bath time a positive experience, we’ve got a few tips to help!

1.    Brush your goldendoodle before a bath. Goldendoodles tend to have matted hair. Invest in getting a good brush that will help get all those knots out.   

2.    Use lukewarm water. Dogs skin is different from ours, and hot water can burn them more easily. 

3.    Talk to your goldendoodle in a calm and reassuring voice. Dogs know when you are anxious so it is important to stay calm. Give them a treat during bath time so they associate the tub as a positive experience. 

4.    Use dog shampoo. While there are many types of dog shampoos available, we suggest getting a shampoo with natural ingredients such as aloe to help moisturize the skin. We use Barklogic on all of our goldendoodles— it is natural, gentle, and sulfate free formula. It is rich in Omega 3 and Vitamin E and will help your doodles coat be shiny.

5.    Avoid getting shampoo in the ears and eyes. It is important to avoid getting shampoo in the goldendoodle’s eyes during the bathing process. To ensure no suds come in contact with the eyes, we use a moistened washcloth and wipe down the face and ears.

6.    Apply shampoo from the neck to tail. When shampooing the body of your goldendoodle, the shampoo should be applied directly to the coat from neck to tail. When working up lather it is important to move down the dog's body to avoid getting shampoo in the dog's eyes. During the shampooing process, a fine-toothed comb can be used to remove knots and tangles. In addition, the comb helps remove debris that can be caught in the dog's coat. The entire body, including the undercarriage, legs, tail and back should be shampooed to ensure the dog is fully clean.

7.    Rinse, rinse, rinse. Rinsing properly is important to the health of a Goldendoodle's coat and skin. When shampoo is left in the dog's fur it results in dry and irritated skin. Goldendoodles must be rinsed several times with a long shower hose that allows owners and groomers to remove all traces of shampoo from the dog's body. To avoid the possibility of shampoo getting in the dog's eyes, they should be rinsed from front to back.

8. Blow dry. Nothing is worse than a wet dog running around your house. Invest in a dog blow dryer. This one has low temperatures which is safe for your doodle.

9. Reward your dog. Once bath time is over follow up with praise, petting, or play.

Wand | Brush | Dryer | Comb | Shampoo | Treats

Cleaning your goldendoodle doesn’t have to hard. We hope these tips make it easier for you and your dood!

We are the Matthews family! We love raising animals as pets, and it seemed fitting when we named our farm years ago, that we should name it Matthews Legacy Farm (MLF). Our family motto is work hard, play hard! MLF is a place that helps us accomplish just that. Farms can be a lot of work but can also be a lot of fun. Our hope is that our family farm will allow us to create experiences and memories that transcend to the next generations. And thus why we call ourselves, Matthews Legacy Farm. 

This isn’t our first rodeo, our family and extended family comes from generations of dairy farmers, cattle and sheep ranchers, backyard hobby farmers, to outright animal enthusiasts. Our passion is raising animals to share with others. The animals we raise are pets. Our farm will continue to evolve as our family does and we hope somehow, we may be able to share a piece of it with you.   

How did we get into breeding?

Growing up our family has always had a dog, and 12 years ago we brought home a Goldendoodle (named Dixie)—this was before they were widely known. Dixie is a member of our family and we can’t imagine our life without her. She is at all of our weddings, missionary homecomings, and at the airport to pick us up from our vacations. Since then, McKinley and Tori have had a passion and dream to want to breed Goldendoodles and give other families the opportunity to love a doodle just as much as we love Dixie.

What is a farm without some farm dogs? In 2017 they bought 2 beautiful female littermate golden retrievers (Sadie and Rue) and spent many hours training them. They both fell in love with their loving personalities and temperaments and decided to breed them.

McKinley and Tori spent countless hours researching and studying the best breeding processes. There were many hours and late night conversations held with our best friends Utah Goldendoodles. We talked about everything—from delivering puppies to genetic testing.

Soon our dreams became reality.

About McKinley

McKinley has been married to Matt for 6 years. Their passions include traveling, razor rides, animals, fitness, being entrepreneurs, and enjoying a delicious cookie together (both consider themselves cookie monsters). They started a screen protector business, videography business, and now dog breeding. Out of all those things McKinley’s greatest joy is being a mom to London who is 16 months old.

Q&A

Q: What roles do you have within MLF?

A: I manage the social media pages, outreach, customer service, managing relationships with partners, and can’t forget cleaning the chicken eggs.

Q: Favorite childhood dog story:

A: My love for dogs and animals started when I was really young. When I was 3 my mom let me sleep with my dog in the crib. When my mom came in the morning my crib sheet was wet. The dog got blamed for peeing in the crib but it was really me.

Q: What is your biggest fear?

A: Showing up to school naked (yes, I have this dream over and over).

Q: Favorite part about Matthews Legacy Farm?

A: The best part is watching the family get to take home their new puppy. There is so much happiness and excitement that day. That is when all the hard work is paid off and is so rewarding to see!

About Tori

Tori is a senior at the University of Utah getting an undergrad in marketing. She works at the Entrepreneur Institute and is a marketing assistant in a evolving and thriving atmosphere. She loves being on the go and is always down for an adventure. Her favorite place she has traveled to is India when she lived there for a month.

Q&A

Q: What roles do you have within MLF?

A: I am a content producer, web specialist, photographer, and I schedule our puppy play dates. Also I’m working on designing some swag.. coming soon! Oh, and I can’t forget, I chase the chickens to get them in the coop every night.

Q: What is your biggest fear?

A: Doing a 2-day juice cleanse and being stuck on a chair lift for 30 minutes. This happened last week, ask McKinley for the details haha!

Q: What’s your definition of the best day ever?

A: Going to the chevron and deciding for 30 minutes about which treats I am going to get and then jumping on an airplane to adventure somewhere new!

Congratulations on your new puppy!! With all the excitement there also comes new roles and responsibilities as a puppy parent. Your puppy is going to want to explore every nook and cranny and will want to chew on everything in sight. One of the things that will help with that is crate training. Crate training is very beneficial to you and your dog— Crates aren’t just comforting and protective for your pup, they also provide you with peace of mind and moments to relax. This method is extremely effective for when you house train your dog.

Benefits of Crate Training

There are several benefits to crate training a puppy. Some of the benefits include:

1. Potty training your puppy. A crate that is sized properly will make it less likely that your puppy will not go to the bathroom in their crate. You can use this to help train them when and where to go.

2. Creating boundaries for your puppy. The crate can limit access to the rest of the house while your pup learns other house rules.

3. Down time for your puppy. Crate training is a good way to train your dog to enjoy time alone.

4. Transportating your puppy. It is a great way to transport your puppy to and from the vet, groomer, and road trips.

Selecting a Crate

Evolv Crate— The celling can be removed and it can double as a play pen! Comes with adjustable divider, removable tray, and 2 doors. Easy to setup!

The Revol comes with an adjustable divider, removable tray for easy cleaning, garage door, and a ceiling hatch for easy access to soothe your puppy.

Purchase a crate that gives your puppy enough room to comfortably stand up, turn around, and lie down with their legs stretched. Always get a bigger crate that your puppy can grow into. These crates come with a divider panel that lets you adjust the size while they grow. All MLF Families receive a discount from DIGGS. Discount will automatically apply at checkout.

Crate sizing:

Small is designed for dogs up to 30 lbs. This size works great for our Petite and Mini Goldendoodles.
Medium is designed for dogs up to 50 lbs. This size works great for our Mini and Medium Goldendoodles.
Intermediate is designed for larger dogs up to 70 lbs. This size works great for our Standard Goldendoodles.

HOW TO CRATE TRAIN YOUR PUPPY

Keep the crate close: Introduce the crate by opening up the door and allow your puppy to explore its new surroundings. Once you do that you can start by putting them in there for short periods at a time. Starting with 5 minutes, then 10, 20, 30, etc. Keep the crate close to you while you are doing the dishes, watching tv, or reading. This will help acclimate your puppy to soon realize that the crate isn’t a bad place. Don’t place the crate in direct sunlight, or on top of heating or cooling vents.

Reward and Praise: Every time your puppy goes in, reward it with a training aid, treat, toy, or praise. Make the kennel a fun and exciting place so the puppy will want to go in. Soon it will associate the crate with positive experiences and see it as a place to enjoy toys, treats, and a nice nap.

Make it snug: Add a blanket or dog bed to make it more comfortable. You could also try draping a blanket over the top of the crate to make it easier for your puppy to sleep. A blanket can also help your puppy feel more secure in a tighter space so it can relax if it had troubles otherwise. Some people like to leave their favorite toy in the crate to keep them company. If so, make sure it is big enough that the puppy can’t chew and choke on it. 

Crate at night or when you leave: When your dog can spend 30 minutes in the crate without becoming anxious, you can begin leaving him/her crated for short periods when you leave the house. At night, put your dog in the crate using your regular command and a treat. They may cry the first night or two—remember they are adjusting to their new home. Every time you take the puppy out of the crate, take it outside so it can go to the bathroom. The puppy will get used to the idea that potty time comes after crate time.

Remember to be patient as your puppy is learning and getting used to its new environment. Crate training a puppy is so worth it!  

Monkey Toy | Training Aid | Dog Treats | Kong Balls | Chew Toy

Goldendoodles are becoming more and more popular!! When we first got ours 10+ years ago, they were very rare and some people didn’t know what they even were. In this post we hope to educate you on what is a Goldendoodle, fun facts about them, sizing, and the different generations. 

What is a Goldendoodle?

Goldendoodles are one of the most popular “designer dogs” and are a cross between two of the top five smartest dogs in the world—a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Both Golden Retrievers and Poodles are known for their sweet and intelligent personalities. Dogs that are hybrid get the best of both worlds and inherit the best qualities of the two breeds. By combining the Poodle and Retriever you get an incredibly smart dog that is easy to train, always aiming to please, and the best all-around family-friendly dog.

Fun Facts about Goldendoodles:

• They are athletic: Energetic and playful, Goldendoodles love to exercise. They’re happy to laze around (they make great cuddle buddies), but activities is where they excel. These dogs are great companions for active families. They love hiking, going for car rides, walks, and going to the park.

• They are very friendly: Anyone who’s met a Goldendoodle can attest to their friendliness. They’re known to become fast friends with children, cats, and other dog breeds.

• They love water: Most Goldendoodles have a strong love for swimming. It is important to start them young so they enjoy it more and more as they get older.

• They make great service dogs: As previously mentioned, Goldendoodles get the best characteristics of their parents. They have Poodles’ brains and the loyalty and obedience of the Golden Retriever. Goldendoodles make wonderful guide or therapy dogs.

• They are eager to learn: Goldendoodles catch on quick and love learning new tricks and commands. They aim to please and want to make their owners proud.

Goldendoodle Generations

F1 = Golden Retriever X Poodle (50% Poodle X 50% Golden Retriever)

F1b = F1 Goldendoodle X Poodle (75% Poodle X 25% Golden Retriever)

F1bb = F1b Goldendoodle X Poodle (12.5% Golden Retriever X 87.5% Poodle)

F2 = F1 Goldendoodle X F1 Goldendoodle (50% Golden X 50% Poodle) 

F2b = F1 Goldendoodle X F1B Goldendoodle (62.5% Poodle X 37.5% Golden Retriever)

F3 = Goldendoodle X F1B Goldendoodle (75% Poodle X 25% Golden Retriever)

Multigen = F2B Goldendoodle X F2B Goldendoodles (62.5% Poodle X 37.5% Golden Retriever)

Goldendoodle Sizing

How do breeders know how much they will weigh full grown? It is very simple! All you need to know is the weight of the Goldendoodle’s parents. Add the two weights together and divide by two. Below is the Goldendoodle Sizing Chart.

Micro Goldendoodle 3-10 lbs 

Teacup/Toy Goldendoodle 7-17 lbs

Mini Goldendoodle 15-30 lbs

Medium Goldendoodle 30-45 lbs

Standard Golendoodle 45-90 lbs

Do Goldendoodles Shed?

Goldendoodles are known as being hypoallergenic dogs. They have hair, not fur. Just like how we occasionally have hair that falls out they are very similar. However, depending on which generation you get, you may see less shedding if they have been bred with proper genetics.

We might be a little biased but Goldendoodles are the best all around family dog! Fill out an application to apply for our upcoming litters.

On a hot summer day there is nothing better than having a popsicle or a scoop of ice cream, am I right? Well what about our dogs? They deserve a treat to cool down! We have compiled 5 of the best dog friendly summer treats. These treats take a few minutes to make, are nutritious, and will give you all the summer feels while keeping your dog cooled down.

Here are a few tips to keep your dog healthy and safe:

• Give these treats in moderation. It is important to not let your dog overindulge.

• When it comes to greek yogurt or peanut butter be sure it does not contain Xylitol, which is very harmful for dogs.

• If your dog is on a certain diet please make sure to consult with your vet.

Strawberry Delight

Ingredients:
5 strawberries
1/4 cup of plain greek yogurt
4 tbs water
1 tsp coconut oil

Directions:

1. Remove stalks off of strawberries
2. Put strawberries, greek yogurt, water, and oil into blender
3. Pour mixture into molds and freeze for 1-2 hours

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Peanut Butter Banana Bites

Ingredients:
1 cup of peanut butter
1 ripe banana

Directions:
1. Peel and cut banana and place into mixing bowl
2. Add the peanut butter and mix until smooth
3. Add to molds and freeze for 1-2 hours

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Frozen KONG Peanut Butter
What dog doesn’t love peanut butter! Have you tried freezing it before? We love putting it inside a KONG toy.

Ingredients:
Peanut Butter
Kong Toy

Directions:
1. Put peanut butter into a Kong toy
2. Put in freezer for 1 hour

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Frozen Carrots & Celery

Frozen carrots and celery are a nutritious and affordable treat to give your dog. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, potassium, and fiber, among other vitamins. Celery is very low in fat and is an excellent source of Vitamin A, C, K, and potassium. Both vegetables will help with your dogs teeth and breath.

Ingredients:
Large carrots
Celery

Directions:
1. Place bag of carrots or celery in the freezer. Then give to dog when desired.

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Cucumber Watermelon Pupsicle

Ingredients:
3 cups of seedless watermelon
1 cucumber

Directions:

1. Peel the skin from the cucumber, cut it in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds with a spoon
2. Cut the watermelon and remove any seeds.
3. Put cucumber and watermelon in a blender and blend until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into molds and freeze 3-4 hours.

With the weather warming up here in Utah (finally!), we are so anxious to enjoy the beautiful Utah scenery. I don’t know about you, but my summer bucket list is starting to fill up quickly and taking the dogs hiking is on the top.

If you don’t have the AllTrails app we highly recommend you downloading it. This app allows you to find local trails, view the route, elevation gain, difficulty, and see if they are dog/kid friendly. The app is free and is very simple to navigate.

We also recommend bringing plenty of water for both you and your dog. Always keep your dog on a leash or trained to stay near you to avoid dangerous wildlife. 

Our favorite items to bring while hiking:

• Collapsible Dog Bowl

• Hydroflask

• Henry Elliot Leash All of our followers receive a discount use “MatthewsLegacyFarm10” at checkout

• Snack Containers

• Poop Bags

We have put together a list of parks, trails and hikes that we recommend as well as other dog owners.

Northern Utah:

Tanner Park

Porters Fork in Millcreek

Muller Park

Stewart Falls

Three Sisters

Duel Creek

Elephant Rock

Dog Lake 

Southern Utah:

The Wahweap Hoodoo

The Sand Hills Loop

The Vortex

Gardner Peak Trail

Cottonwood Trail

3rd Ravine Loop

Southeastern Utah:

Mary Jane Canyon

Fisher Towers

Grandstaff Trail

Jeep Arch

South Fork Mule Canyon

**Additional information about the Moab trails can be found on Zukes website.

What trail are you going to do first? Be sure to tag us on instagram so we can see where you are going this summer! We hope you love them as much as we do!!

-MLF

Preparing for a puppy can be very overwhelming, that's why we've put together a list of all our puppy must-haves!

Crate

Purchase a crate that gives your puppy enough room to comfortably stand up, turn around, and lie down with their legs stretched. Always get a bigger crate that your puppy can grow into. The Revol Crate comes with a divider panel that lets you adjust the size while they grow. Not only is this crate aesthetically pleasing but it’s very inviting and less like a dungeon. The Revol comes with a puppy divider, removable tray for easy cleaning and a ceiling hatch for easy access to soothe your puppy. It’s SO easy to setup and take down, watch how we do it here.

For more of affordable option we recommend the Evolv Crate. The celling can be removed and it can double as a play pen! Both of these are crates that we use and love. All of our puppies are introduced to these crates at 5 weeks of age.

All MLF Families receive a discount from DIGGS. Discount will automatically apply at checkout.

Crate sizing:

Small Crate is designed for dogs up to 30 lbs. This size works great for our Petite and Mini Goldendoodles.
Medium Crate is designed for dogs up to 50 lbs. This size works great for our Mini and Medium Goldendoodles.
Intermediate Revol is designed for larger dogs up to 70 lbs. This size works great for our Standard Goldendoodles.

Purchased the crate, now what?! Click here to learn how to crate train.

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Training

Training is an essential part of owning a dog. Start training RIGHT when you get your puppy. You can start on Cornerstone online platform or if you live locally here in Utah you can take their board and train program. They offer several different classes: Potty training, Crate training, and advanced training. They give all of our families a special MLF discount. Use code: MLF50 to save. You can learn more about these programs here.

Food is a powerful motivator for dogs—which is why it can often be very effective for obedience training. We have found that Rocco and Roxie and Pupford are the perfect treat to reward good behavior. These tasty treats have clean ingredients and our dogs go crazy over them!

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Pantry

We start weaning puppies off mother with TLC Pet Food soaked puppy food. This puppy food provides easy digestion and excellent nutrition for your growing puppy. This blend is high in protein and packed with premium quality meat. It’s important to keep them on puppy formula for the first year of their life as they are growing and need all the extra nutrients. After the first year your puppy can graduate to an adult formula.

Why Choose TLC Pet Food?

• Premium quality pet food, made using wholesome, natural ingredients

• Made in Canada by trained nutritionists. By following EU standards, we can feel confident knowing that all of the ingredients are of the highest standards and all of Formulas are fully supplemented. 

• Delivered fresh and delivered FREE to your door

• Schedule using Autoship and never worry about running out of food!

Enjoy $5 OFF Your First Order and Recieve Free Gift!

Elevated dog feeders are gamer changer! Not only are these bowls classy but they help with the movement of food when traveling from the mouth to the stomach. These bowls are easy to clean and maintain.

Get an airtight container to store dog food. It seals and clamps to keep out moisture and pests out and will keep the food fresh longer.

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Walk Gear + ACCESSORIES

This walk set has everything you need- leash, collar, and poop bag dispenser. Add these poop bags to your cart because you’re going to need them. But first, West and Doodledoodanas are some of our favorite bandana shops!

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On the go

We have several puppies that fly home with their new owners on the airplane. These carriers work perfect and keep your dog safe and comfortable. Most airlines let you get your puppy out on the plane once you are in the air. Wondering how to fly with a puppy? Visit here.

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At Home Grooming

Blowdryer | Shampoo & Conditioner | Comb | Brush

Having a dirty or wet dog running around your house is not fun. All of the items above will save you trips to the groomers!

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Toys and Bones

Monkey Toy | Training Aid | Kong Balls | Dog Puzzle | Benebone

All of these items will help your puppy through the teething stage.  We send home each of our puppies with a Benebone. They are durable and feel great on their teeth.

Cleaning

Having these cleaners on hand will save your life and your flooring.

To see more items we LOVE visit our shop. We also created a free puppy checklist for you to use.

Good luck preparing for your new best friend!

Have you ever wondered how we prepare for a litter of puppies? We spend a significant amount of time planning and preparing each of our litters so that we can provide you a dream puppy! 

1.    Choosing The Right Stud. A lot of time and research goes into find the perfect stud so we can product the best puppy possible in terms of health, temperament, and physical strength. 

2.    Switch Over To Puppy Food. Once our dog has seen the stud we switch her over to puppy food. Puppy food has high calcium/protein. We recommend Taste of the Wild grain-free puppy formula. It is easy to digest and excellent source of nutrition.

3.    Exercise And Healthy Treats. We make sure our dogs have plenty of exercise so they maintain good health. For treats, we feed our dogs carrots and celery. They are low in calories and high in fiber and vitamins. It is also great for their teeth! 

4. Confirm Pregnancy. When the dog is around 25-30 days pregnant we take her in to get an ultrasound. This is always an exciting day as they can confirm her pregnancy and tell us how many puppies are in there.

5.    Whelping Boxes. We start to setup the whelping box and get all the whelping supplies ready. What is a whelping box? It is a nesting box designed for the mother to birth and care for her pups during their early stages of life. 

6.    The Waiting Game. Did you know that dogs are pregnant for approximately 63 days?! If a dog has a bigger litter than the puppies typically come a day or two early.

7.    Go Time. One of the first signs of labor is a drop in the dogs body temperature from 99F. This means she will be giving birth in 12-24 hours. More signs to watch for is heavy panting and nesting. This is when we know we will probably be up for the next 24 hours. We make sure we are stocked up on RedBull and have some good company to pull an all-nighter with. 

Puppy litter products that we love:

Puppy Litter Bowls | Litter ID Tags | EZ Whelp Pads

Make sure you are following us on Instagram so you don’t miss out on our live births!

Our last litter of dogs celebrated their birthday over the weekend! Can’t believe it has been a year since they were born. It’s been so fun getting updated pictures of them and watching them grow. Their parents S P O I L E D them. We truly have the best puppy parents EVER!

Maple posing for the camera!

Harper waiting patiently to dig into her birthday cake! Her party bows are my FAV!

Gwen smiling for the camera!

Nessie celebrating with all of her BFF’s!

Once it warms up we plan on hosting a puppy get together and inviting all of our pups from last litter—crossing our fingers that the construction at the farm will be done right in time! It is always fun watching them interact with their siblings and their mama. — MLF

We had the fun opportunity to reunite some of our puppies from the last litter with their mama’s and siblings. The dogs loved it, and we did too! We have formed close relationships with the parents of our pups. They are some of the greatest families we know and couldn’t ask for better homes for them. We will be doing more events like this to keep close relationships and let the dogs see each other. If you wern’t able to come to this event we missed you and we will do another one soon.