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Regardless, it is best to feed your puppy their old food for at least two weeks if you can. Then, you want to swap the proportions. After a few days, you can give your puppy only the new food. The most common is diarrhea. It might be worth a trip to the vet if your pup starts throwing up their meals, refuses to eat, or has allergic reactions to the new food. French Bulldog Puppy Diets French Bulldog puppy diets may consist of kibble, wet food, raw food , or homemade food. Each of these has pros and cons. Some pet owners go all in and make their own dog foods. This can get complex, as, with raw or homemade food, you have to be sure to give your dog all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. It is also typically more expensive than prepared meals kibble or wet food. However, the benefits might be important if done correctly. You know exactly what your dog is eating, no questions asked. Frenchies often have allergies and sensitive tummies. So you should avoid foods with too much protein but make sure meat is still the first ingredient! Also avoid or limit grains, soy, and wheat, as these are common allergens. The number of calories your puppy needs will depend on their age, weight, and exercise levels. Different types of food will also have different calorie levels. For example, they will generally need to eat more wet food than kibble for a balanced meal, because canned food has fewer calories. At the start of the day, weigh out the right amount on some scales and divide it between five bowls. Four of these will make up regular meals spread throughout the day, the final bowl is for you to put aside to use as training treats or to reward good behavior. This will help you to resist the temptation to use higher carb training treats. Feeding a French Bulldog Puppy Kibble The most affordable option, when considering both your time and money, is kibble. The most time-consuming and expensive are raw and homemade diets. You can find it easily at the store, and your only prep time will be to open it and pour it into a bowl. The biggest con is that there are some low-quality brands of kibble out there. As in any business, some are just in it for the money. However, these disadvantages can be overcome by choosing a high-quality brand. Look out for formulas specifically tailored for French Bulldogs. Specialized recipes are carefully shaped to help them out. Another good thing about wet food is that it keeps your dog hydrated. However, due to the water in wet food, it has fewer calories. Your pup will need to eat more wet food than dry food, making it the more expensive of the two. Wet food is also messier than dry, especially if your pup is a messy eater. It also takes time to prepare as you will need to buy the ingredients individually, and prepare the meals. Raw food also requires more clean-up time than any other food. Feeding a French Bulldog Puppy a Homemade Diet Feeding a puppy a homemade diet has many of the same pros and cons of feeding raw. Homemade food with properly cooked meats is less risky than a raw diet. It will still be costly and time-intensive though. Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. Pin64 71 Shares When we first brought Claude home, we had no idea on how much food we should be giving him. We spoke to our vet, and this is what he told us about how much you should feed a French bulldog puppy. A French bulldog puppy should be fed 3 times a day whilst there are still 2 to 6 months old. Once the French bulldog puppy reaches 6 months, you can reduce the feeding schedule down to 2 meals a day. But now having been a French bulldog owner for 3 years, I can now look back and give you some more detail on exactly what our French bulldog puppy feeding schedule was like and how it worked for us and him. French bulldog puppy feeding chart Below you can see a French bulldog puppy feeding guide I put together. It contains some rough guidance on how you should schedule and plan his feeds, and what other factors you might need to take into account. Please do print it out and put on your fridge. How many cups of food should I feed my French Bulldog? Before you look at the French Bulldog feeding chart below, you might want the quick answer to how many cups of food to feed your French Bulldog. As a general rule of thumb, you should feed a French Bulldog puppy aged 8 to 12 weeks around 1 and a half cups of food a day, in 3 separate meals. As your Frenchie gets older, the number of cups of food you should feed them will change. You can see the cup amounts and frequencies in the French Bulldog feeding chart graphic below. This French bulldog puppy feeding chart tells you how much you should feed them Source: Canin The French bulldog puppy feeding chart shown above is taken from the Royal Canin dog food range. This is exactly what we fed Claude as he was growing up. They range a specific French bulldog puppy food, and on the packaging you will see a version of the chart above, including how best to feed your own puppy. Handy Hint: To stop your Frenchie from bloating and possibly choking you should use a suitable feeding bowl. Here are the best French Bulldog food bowls that vets recommend. When you take your puppy to his new home, he should already be used to eating puppy food. As I mentioned earlier, you should be feeding your French bulldog puppy 3 times a day. They need that regularity as they are growing and burning a lot of calories. You know how energetic they are! How much you feed them at each mealtime will typically be half a cup of their dry puppy food. Across the day, that will equate 1. However, their weight and health will then determine how much you feed them as they get older. Calories matter, but are hard to count As French bulldogs get older, you should try to feed them according to their weight. For every pound, they should be fed between 25 and 30 calories. However, for the rest of this French bulldog puppy feeding guide, I am just going to talk in cups. Puppy weight How can weigh your puppy at the vets or, and this is can be a more interesting and fun way if your puppy already knows how to sit, have them sit on a scale at home. It will not be as accurate as a scale at the vet, but it could be a cheap and fun experience for you and your pet. Because of this, your puppy may be a little stubborn about eating dry and wet food if they were only just recently weaned. Here is where the math gets a little more detailed, but not too complicated. When they are between 8 to 12 weeks old, the puppy should be fed about 1. This food should be high in calories since they need extra nutrients that they are no longer getting from their mother. This kind of follows the main rule when it comes to spreading out the meals to 3 times a day. But for younger pups, many owners will split the 1. Because feeding them 0. Once they are between 6 and 9 months old, they should be used to their eating routine. That is when the main rule is applied because by then, the pup will be maturing into its adult size and should weigh between 20 and 25 pounds. What about older dogs? Also, if you are wondering how much they should be fed once they start hitting their senior years, they should be fed a little less as long only if they are not as active. Make sure you still stretch out the meals to 3 to 4 times like when they were puppies because it is not uncommon for their stomachs to weaken with old age. Overweight or underweight? French bulldog puppies usually weight between 8. Once they reach 6 to 9 months, they are just at or are closer to reaching their adult weight, .If the puppy is underweight, then add very small increments to each meal every day until they are no longer underweight. It is important to not add too much food because of the possibility of them getting a twisted stomach. If the puppy is overweight, you can either slightly reduce the size of their meal until they lose weight, or you can give them more exercise. Many people prefer the later since it helps the pup to get stronger and adds more bonding time. The same methods apply to grown French bulldogs as well. Handy Hint: Read this guide which explains how to check if you have a fat French Bulldog who needs to lose weight, with tips on how to get the pounds down. If the dog does not appear to be gaining weight when they are underweight or vice versa if they are overweight, you might want to take them to the vet since it could be a sign that something is affecting their health. Health conditions Since not every animal is the same, ask your vet the next time your pup has a check-up what a French bulldog of their size and age should weigh. Health factors like diabetes yes, dogs can have diabetes , can make your pup need a more strict diet or feeding routine. Here are some different diets and feeding routines. Raw food vs. Many dog lovers say that there are too many preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and protein in dry and wet food. While the raw food diet can be more natural, especially if it is organic, you also have to make sure your pup would be getting more foods with vitamins and minerals mixed in with the raw food that your pup would need. Raw food diets can be more expensive, require more storage room for the meats and veggies, and take longer to prepare. However, you would be personally ensuring that your little French bulldog pup is getting their full daily nutrition without harmful by-products and additives. Is there a good dry food diet? Possibly the biggest questions out of all of them: is there any good dry dog food out there and how do I find them? The answer is yes, there can be some healthy dry dog food products, but it takes some time to look for. The key is to look for dog food that does not contain any preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and too much protein. Fillers basically do not provide any nutritional value and can even harm your dog since most of the ingredients they use as fillers are common allergies for dogs that can cause skin conditions, bowel issues, and more. Wheat and corn are included since they are also a popular allergen for dogs. Too much protein is even more dangerous for them since it can put more pressure on the organs, throw off nutritional balance, increase the likelihood of diabetes, and can harm dogs that already have diabetes. To see the safe and dangerous fruits list, click here. Another two meat choices would be duck and turkey, but these are a little less common to find, especially if you are looking for a French bulldog specific dog food. Your dog eats his food too quickly Another common problem is how do you control how fast your French bulldog puppy eats. French bulldogs love to eat their food and eat it fast, which is one of the primary causes of GDV. Frenchies will stop eating for a number of reasons, some more serious that others. Conclusion So there you have it, your guide to how much you should feed your French bulldog puppy. Everything in this feeding schedule and the French bulldog feeding chart you see is based on personal experience. Once in the morning, and once in the early evening. Keep a regular feeding routine, and your Frenchies will stay as healthy as ours has! May 31, Are you head over heels for your adorable French Bulldog puppy? These little bundles of joy bring so much laughter and love into our lives. Best Food for your French Bulldog puppy According to vets and French Bulldog experts in the US, the best bulldog diet should contain proteins, carbohydrates as well as an equal amount of healthy fats for brain power and energy. Just like humans, your dog could be allergic to some kind of food, such as corn or soy, but in most cases, they are actually allergic to fillers found in processed food. These fillers are used to add mass to the product, but have no nutritional value and are difficult to digest. The best way to save your dog from this kind of suffering is avoiding fillers and giving him whole food ingredients. These budget-friendly choices mostly trigger allergies and contribute to various health problems. Having earned the highest of all ratings, NutriSource is a great choice for puppies! Contains all the essential nutrients for the optimum health of your pet. Contains no animal by-products, whole corn, artificial additives or preservatives. Fromm Besides containing nearly all of the essential nutrients, the fact that you can get grain-free varieties and non-grain-free varieties is great. Salmon oil and probiotics have been added to aid digestion and promote good health. No corn and no wheat. Highest consumer ratings! In every ready-made dog food from well-known brands, this has been achieved with a great deal of scientific research. It is wise to give the same dog food or the same canned food as the breeder you purchased your French Bulldog puppy from. This only leads to unnecessary problems too fat dog, fur problems, premature teeth failure, etc … and to large nutritional deficiencies in your dog. The dog then has everything he needs, and you should certainly not add any vitamins or other preparations to it. Do not worry that the dog must always eat the same, and he does not have the same need to have variation in the menu. Your Frenchie is also thirsty; if you give dry dog food, your dog will naturally drink more. Give water with every meal and also once shortly after the last meal of the day. Remove the water during potty training one to two hours before bedtime. Four months to one year old: When puppies switch to adult dog food, they only need two meals a day; skip the afternoon meal. Always give him water as soon as your puppy is clean. Pay attention if he drinks excessively, which may indicate a medical problem. Adult dogs: Adult French Bulldogs also need two meals a day. Digestion slows down as your dog gets older, so only give healthy snacks and, if necessary, buy food for overweight dogs. Old dogs: Some old dogs lose their appetite. Give a few small meals a day or heat its canned food to make it more attractive. If you wish to switch to a different diet, for whatever reason, I advise you to consult your veterinarian first. He will best advise you on what you should pay attention to and how you can make the transition easier. Some facts: No candy for your French Bulldog! Candy speeds up tooth loss, and chocolate contains substances that are toxic to a dog; if you want to give a snack, give a special dog biscuit without sugar. This is it for the complete French bulldog puppy guide series that includes everything to get your French bulldog puppy ready to move in with your family. Have fun with your little Frenchie. Disclosure HappyFrenchBulldog. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Always seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. Contact Have questions about our content? Contact us at info [at] happyfrenchbulldog. Footer Nav. French Bulldog Puppy Weight Chart Your French Bulldog puppy should eat more protein and less carbs The French bulldog is a breed of dogs prone to various health issues because of their genes. To help them live a better life, it is important to provide them with nutritious meals that include all the essential things that their body needs. Frenchies are classed as a brachycephalic breed of dog, which means that they have a very short muzzle and are flat-faced. This shape of the face makes it really hard for them to breathe, so they have to be fed a diet that is high in protein and low in carbs. French bulldog puppies need food that contains protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Frenchies can potentially suffer from a condition called brachycephalic airway syndrome, or BASS. BASS can lead to a variety of health issues. Commercially prepared food seems to be the most convenient but be wary about the ingredients and chemicals that are mixed in this food. In choosing commercially prepared foods, watch out and avoid preservatives like ethozyquin, butylated hydroxyanisole BHA , and butylated hydroxytoluene BHT that are common to mass-produced food. They may also contain lots of sugar that is also not good for your Frenchie puppy. It is up to you to choose whether you go for commercially prepared food or if you want to create a healthy homemade meal for your Frenchie. Combine quality meat, vegetables and some sources of vitamins and minerals. You can prepare either a cooked dish or a raw meal for your Frenchie. Food Allergies Of Your French Bulldog Puppy Food allergies are also quite common to Frenchies so you have to be very careful with what to feed them and be very observant about the allergy symptoms. They may come from products such as beef, chicken, fish, corn, wheat, soy, lamb, and eggs. The only way to know what your Frenchie is allergic to is through trial and error. To cope with the growth spurts that the Frenchies experience, frequent feedings is best. Owners need to feed their puppies with a well-balanced meal, 3 times a day. They should also be properly hydrated to ensure continuous and healthy growth. Remember that it is not enough that your Frenchie is eating, the quality of food you feed also greatly affects their health. A great option is to feed them wet food as well as dry food. Feeding your French bulldog is essential for their health and well-being. They need a well-balanced diet to prevent health problems like obesity and diabetes, which can shorten their life expectancy. Pups do not need to eat very often; however, they should be fed at least once every 12 hours. Always have fresh water available and consider purchasing a water fountain for your dog that can also dispense tiny treats. When it comes to feeding your puppy, many people wonder what should be in their food. The answer ultimately depends on the type of puppy food you buy.

Knowing all of these changes that your puppy is going through will help make waiting to bring them home just a little easier. Puppies are born nearly helpless: neurologically immature, blind, and deaf. They depend on their mama for everything. They were born covered in fur. They cannot regulate their own body temperature and therefore need their mama to keep warm. At birth their eyes and ears are closed, so they cannot see or hear. Only their front feet are strong, allowing them to pull themself towards mama. They spend most of their time sleeping or suckling. All of their sleeping is helping them to grow very quickly. By ten days old, they will double their birth weight! One eye may open before the other. By the end of week 2, the breeder will begin to handle Puppy more and get them used to human contact which has been shown to also help speed up neurological development. The breeder will also deworm them for the first time. They can stand and sit up. They can wag their tail. They will be able to better regulate their body temperature. By the end of this period, Puppy will cut all their milk teeth. The front teeth, canines, and incisors will be the first to appear. Your newborn puppy will start experimenting with making dog sounds and may even start to bark. Week 4 They will have become really active and strong on their legs. They can see very well now. By the end of this period, Puppy should be able to go potty independently and will use their new strong legs to move away from the sleeping area to go potty. They will start cutting their back teeth. They may start trying to climb out of the whelping box. The breeder will deworm them for the second time. Your newborn puppy will require mama to lick their anogenital region to stimulate peeing and pooping. Weeks Puppy will start learning some simple social skills, including tail wagging, growling, and pawing as they play and play-fight with their siblings. Your Doodle puppy will also learn coordination and the ranking process. They may start nipping to relieve discomfort from teething. Interactions with mama and siblings teach bite inhibition. They will learn appropriate submissive and attention-soliciting and attention-receptive behavior. Your not so newborn puppy will start to show signs of distress when separated from their siblings or if they wander too far away from the litter nest. They will gain confidence and learn appropriate social behavior with other dogs. They will grow in independence gradually as they pass through the key puppy development stages. Dood also begins to develop and show their personality. If you want to start preparing for bringing your not so newborn puppy home, check out our Doodle Puppy Checklist! More Doodle Puppy Development Guides. These are the typical week-by-week Goldendoodles stages that you will go through with a new Goldendoodle puppy and what signs to look for that they are not developing correctly. Predicting average weights in Goldendoodles is challenging. The parent breeds are the strongest predictor of size, but hybrids can be unpredictable. Standard poodles and Golden Retrievers are both large dog breeds. However, a toy poodle or mini poodles can be bred to larger breeds like Golden Retrievers to produce a much smaller dog, like a toy Goldendoodle or even teacup Goldendoodles. Dogs with long lines registered with the Goldendoodle Association may have more predictable traits, but not as much as an AKC purebred dog. These puppies are born blind, deaf, and without teeth. These first weeks are a very critical time in their development. Your puppy will start to open their eyes at about 2 weeks of age. By the time that they are 3 weeks, their ears will be open, and you will start to notice that their teeth are pushing through their gums. At the end of this first stage, your Goldendoodle puppy will be aware of their surroundings. They will start to bark, crawl, and interact with the other puppies in their litter. At the end of this first puppy stage, they are aware of everything that is around them and are trying to crawl, bark, and interact with their littermates. During this time, they will continue to grow in size rapidly. Most importantly, they start to get more socially active with their mom, littermates, and the people in their lives. Your puppy will start to learn many new things during this stage of puppy development. Their mother will begin to teach them a few basic manners and start the weaning process. They will learn how to play with other puppies and what other puppies will tolerate. This is when they will learn how strong of a bite they have and what is okay for playing. They will usually establish a pecking order within the litter of puppies. This is the main reason why most breeders do not recommend taking the puppies from their litter and mother until they are about 7 to 8 weeks old. By 6 to 7 weeks of age, your Goldendoodle puppy will be able to be left alone for a short period of time. They will also be doing normal puppy behaviors such as eating puppy food , walking, running, and wagging their tail. This is also the time that your Goldendoodle puppy will need their first set of vaccines and dewormed. Most breeders will take their puppies to the vet for these vaccines. This way, they know that their puppies have received the vaccines that they need to get started off on the right track. Stage 3: 7 weeks to 12 Weeks After 7 weeks of age, your puppy is old enough to leave their mother and other littermates and go to their new home. This will probably be around the age when your first get your Goldendoodle. At first, try to keep everything just like the breeder had been. This helps keep your puppy on a normal routine while they are adjusting to their new house. Once your puppy has been at your house for a few days, you can slowly switch things if you want. You may already have a diet you want your puppy to eat. Also, make sure that your dog is eating large-breed puppy food. This will make sure that your Goldendoodle puppy is receiving the best nutrition needed for their fast-growing body. If you do plan on switching diets, make sure that you do this slowly; quickly changing diets can cause GI problems in your new puppy. At this age, your puppy will be ready to start learning everything and experiencing everything you are ready to teach them. They learn very fast at this age, so it is important to make sure that you are teaching them correctly. Your puppy can learn basic commands and manners by going to puppy classes. This will also give them socialization with other puppies and people during this stage. Having many different social encounters will help them become a very well-mannered dog. During this time, your Goldendoodle puppy may show signs of fear. This is a normal experience for a puppy to go through. They may be afraid of certain people, places, or things that they have never been afraid of. During this time, it is important to continue to socialize your Goldendoodle puppy and show them that these things are not as scary as they first thought they were. Make sure not to expose them to a lot of simulations at once, as these can cause them to become more afraid. Stage 4: 3 months to 4 months This is the stage of development when your Goldendoodle puppy will start to become independent. They may even start to challenge you or even ignore you. This is very similar to the terrible twos in people. Your Goldendoodle puppy will also start teething around this time. They will have very painful gums, which will cause them to want to bite and chew on anything possible. Make sure that you are providing your puppy with plenty of approved chewing toys in order to keep your shoes and furniture from becoming the next chew object. During this stage, you may find that you are telling your puppy no a lot. All this training will eventually pay off, and your puppy will be very well-mannered and do what you tell them to. Most of the time, your Goldendoodle puppy just wants to please you. All you must do is give them a little patience and love, and they will quickly learn what is expected of them. By starting obedience classes during this time, you will help your puppy become a friendly and well-behaved adult Goldendoodle. Stage 5: 4 months to 10 months During this time, your Goldendoodle puppy will continue to grow and develop very quickly. It is very important to continue teaching and training your Goldendoodle puppy. They will learn how to adapt to different social situations and what behavior is approved and what is not approved during this time. They will also continue to challenge you, so be prepared to stick to your training and not back off. During this time, your Goldendoodle may act a little bratty. There are going through their teenage years during this time. Also, during this time, do not let your dog play-bite with you, as this can teach them to be aggressive and encourage other dominant behaviors Around 6 months of age, it is advised to spay or neuter your Goldendoodle puppy. These procedures will help your puppy stay healthy and happy as well as prevent unwanted litters that end up in the shelter. Stage 6: 10 months to 1 Year During this stage, small Goldendoodles will reach their full size. They will usually reach maturity around 8 to 12 months of age. Larger Goldendoodles will continue to grow during this time and may not fully develop until they are 18 months to 2 years old. Your Goldendoodle puppy may now look like an adult dog; they usually are still developing mentally. They will have a ton of energy and usually not a lot of common sense. You will still need to monitor your Goldendoodle for any unwanted behavior and quickly correct any problems that you notice starting. Even though they are no longer a puppy, they will still need to continue training and learning commands. At this stage, your Goldendoodle will need lots of attention and exercise to keep them for getting into trouble. Always use a very firm voice and positive reinforcement when training and correcting unwanted behavior. It is best to have a loving and patient but firm voice when training your Goldendoodle Stage 7: 1 year and Older Between 1 and 2 years of age, your Goldendoodle will be fully developed and sexually mature. Your puppy will finally stop growing but may fill out in size just a little. At this point, you can now start exercising more with your Goldendoodle. They love to go for a jog, do agility training, or go for a long hike. Since their bones are now fully developed, there is less likely that they are going to have joint or stress injuries. This is also the best time to switch your puppy from puppy food to adult food. It is always best to stay with the same brand of puppy food that you fed to help decrease any GI signs from switching food. When switching food, it is recommended to switch food slowly. Also, make sure that the diet that you are feeding your Goldendoodle puppy is a high-quality diet. When will my Goldendoodle puppy need to be vaccinated? This is a common schedule most veterinarians follow when vaccinating puppies. This is usually done by the breeder before you get your Goldendoodle puppy. Most of these worms are microscopic, but some you can see in their stool. If you see worms, make sure to let your vet know. Your vet can give your Goldendoodle puppy medication to get rid of these nasty worms. Not only will your pet need vaccines, but they will also need heartworm, flea, and tick prevention. All of these parasites can cause health problems in your Goldendoodle, some of which can be fatal. If you notice something is not right in your Goldendoodle puppy, it is best to take them to the vet. Some very young Goldendoodle puppies can have problems regulating their blood sugar. If you notice that your Goldendoodle puppy has diarrhea, this can be from the stress of going to a new house, parasites, or even parvo. Any problems noticed in your puppy could be very serious, your vet can examine your pet and make sure that there is nothing that is wrong with your puppy. It would be better to be safe than sorry if your pet has something very serious going on. Both parvo and parasites can easily be prevented by sticking to the vaccine schedule and making sure that your puppy is properly dewormed. How big will my Goldendoodle puppy be? It can be hard to tell as puppies which one will be the biggest or which one will be the smallest. Usually, from the time that they are born until the day that you pick up your new puppy, all the puppies in the litter will change in size. At 8 weeks old, the smallest in the litter will usually be the smallest when they are all fully grown. The older your puppy gets, the easier it will be to determine if your puppy will be bigger or smaller. The exact adult weight can be a guess, but you can expect a miniature Goldendoodle to weigh about 4 to 9 pounds at 8 weeks old and a standard Goldendoodle to weigh over 9 pounds at 8 weeks old, and a medium-size Goldendoodle to fall between the 8 to pound range. Most dogs do most of their growing in the first 6 months of life. Smaller and miniature Goldendoodles will be half-grown at 4 months of age, with larger Goldendoodles taking a few months longer to reach this half-grown point. The larger the dog, the longer it will take them to reach adult size. When will my Goldendoodle Puppy stop growing? It may seem as if your Goldendoodle is getting bigger each day. Most Goldendoodle will be done growing by 1 to 2 years of age. They will usually reach their maximum height by 1 year of age and just fill out a little bit in the next year. Miniature Goldendoodle will be done growing by 7 to 10 months. The smaller the dog, the quicker they reach their adult body weight. Standard Goldendoodle should reach their full size by 2 years of age. After your Goldendoodle reaches 1 year of age, you need to monitor what you are feeding them. Lexie, 5-year-old fully grown F2 Mini Goldendoodle. Adult Stage Since your puppy is now over a year old, they are not growing, but there are some things that you need to consider as they start to get older. Goldendoodles that have just matured are usually very active. As your Goldendoodle gets older, they will start to slow down and sleep a little more. There are diseases that you need to look out for as your Goldendoodle gets older. If you notice any of these signs in your Goldendoodle, you need to see a veterinarian. Week 8 Week One A puppy is born with a vulnerability that still amazes me. They come into the world blind, deaf, and without the ability to maintain their own body heat or bodily functions. Their entire existence is navigated by their keen sense of smell. They stay very close to and on top of one another- all curled up to conserve warmth. They are able to cry if they find themselves separated or alone. Once a puppy gets cold, their chances of survival are tenuous. Many deaths of puppies during this period can be traced to chilling. Once chilled, a puppy has trouble digesting food, and often develops secondary infections and pneumonia. During this crucial period, they are never left alone. They nurse for short periods and sleep. Mom attends to all bodily functions by licking stimulating them, since their bladders and intestinal tracts are not functioning on their own yet. They are weighed at birth and every day thereafter. Their weights are charted so that we are able to determine everyone is gaining each day. Careful attention is paid to smaller pups to assure they are getting what they need. A primary focus at this stage is the health and happiness of the mother. Selective breeding, love, proper nutrition, and exercise are key ingredients that will help assure that your puppy will be just right for your family. Week Two Puppies have gained between oz. They are moving around more, but are still not able to crawl. They scoot and wiggle about to position themselves for nursing, or pile together if mom is not present. It is time to have nails trimmed for the first time. We are handling them more often- touching feet and gently working and stretching their muscles, and getting them used to the loving human touch. Mom is keeping her pups tidy and clean, and we are keeping the whelping pen and mom the same. Laundry at this point becomes daunting! Mom is wolfing down her high calorie anything and everything her heart desires; cheese, eggs, chicken livers, ice cream, and yummy puppy starter — not to mention treats! Week Three Eyes are beginning to open. All puppies are born with blue eyes. It takes another week before they are able to focus and see clearly. Useable vision is at days. Ears are beginning to open as well; noises startle pups and they are still unable to locate the source of the sound. However, exposure to sudden, loud noises at this time is essential and encouraged, as fear has not yet developed. They are getting stronger and are able to push up onto all fours, but standing is still a scary and very wobbly proposition. This week sees rapid development of motor skills. Puppies are able to move backwards as well as forward, and begin to move around quite a bit more, especially toward the end of week 3. Otherwise, they are problem solving— stimulating their learning ability. They are able to eliminate on their own now, and will be begin to move away from their nest to potty. They are also learning to walk instead of crawl. Week Four Now that the puppies have the use of all their senses, huge strides in development will begin to take place. It is at this crucial point that a breeder, knowledgeable in all aspects of behavioral development, begins increased individual attention. Imprinting is so important; a poorly imprinted puppy will have issues throughout their adult life. Social imprinting, both with other dogs and with humans, is paramount to becoming well adjusted. Handling, cuddling, and picking puppies up is just about the best thing one could wish for- and our friends and neighbors think so too! Early morning coffee with good friends, each with a puppy in their arms, is as good as a day can get. Play-fighting is now the fun thing to do, although mom is watching carefully if they get out of hand. She is also painfully aware that baby teeth are on their way in. Learning to eat solid food is not far behind. This is the time that they graduate from the familiarity of their whelping pen to the puppy room. While we introduce them to their new living space, they all huddle together, usually all in one little bed, looking like a tiny lifeboat filled with wide-eyed survivors in a sea of tile. Soon, curiosity takes over and one or two brave souls will venture out. Within minutes, they are scampering and running and tumbling and skidding into walls and having the times of their lives. Week Five Puppy gruel- one part blenderized dry puppy starter, 2 parts goat milk, and one part warm chicken broth- Yummy! Puppies now have a full set of sharp little teeth. They are learning to lap water but seem to think they need to step in it first. Ditto for the food. This is the Curiosity Period weeks. As the puppies are weaned from their mom, they are less apt to depend on her and begin to climb, crawl, taste, and snoop into everything and anything they can. They have very little sense of fear. Now is when a puppy has the lowest fear and the highest acceptance of all things new or scary. It is also the time to approach the puppy with all different ages and types of humans. Wonderful and varied stimuli are important too, to help them build confidence in new situations. If frightened by something now, the pup will bounce back quickly and will still have learned solid coping skills. As we approach week 6, the puppy is leaping ahead with their motor skills and intellect. It becomes increasingly difficult to present more and more intense challenges and complex stimuli; a basket or pasteboard box has long since lost its thrill. More and more research backs up the conclusion that puppies raised in environments lacking challenges, are more likely to develop into fearful, less successful adults. They have all worked hard navigating steps, up and down. Using the pet door took one whole minute to learn the reward was huge. Outside is where the mysterious and exciting world of the puppy play yard lives. Getting there means conquering steps and the pet door- done and done! Click the arrow icon for full size! Week Six Puppies have been learning the rudiments of housebreaking this week. It follows naturally now that the out of doors is an option. Natural instinct motivates them to try not to soil their living quarters. Socialization Period weeks , socializing does two things: It reduces the number of things in the world that a puppy and eventually an adult may be frightened of, and it provides the experience of being afraid and then recovering. The more things that a puppy must experience with trepidation, the longer the list becomes of things that are no longer fearful. As his confidence snowballs, the faster a puppy recovers and reacts positively to situations— consequently the better adjusted the adult dog will become. Week Seven Observations of temperaments of each puppy are ongoing. To further assess behavior, we use a formal temperament testing method. We are qualified Litter Evaluation Experts certified by and with Avidog. Many generations have gone into refining dispositions with the goal that each puppy is sound and gentle in spirit. We take great pride offering what we think is the perfect family companion. Watching the puppies play and interact, we gain a better understanding about individual temperament, how they engage each other and their environment. Authorities agree that by weeks, puppies have fully developed brains, and are capable of learning anything. The one minor caveat is that their attention span is equivalent to that of a 2 year old. However what they learn at this stage is imprinted and permanent. At the end of week 7, all appropriate vaccinations are given, micro chipping, veterinary health checks with Dr. Wolf and Dr. Dragon, and a final review of the health and well-being of the puppy. Puppies are beginning to sleep through the night- if you consider morning to be at 5 AM. They are awake and ready to potty- hurry and get the door open! They all run out with success and no accidents. Life is good. Week Eight Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are old enough and mature enough at 8 weeks to go to their new and permanent homes. At this stage, we feel they are more receptive to individual attention and training objectives such as crate training, housebreaking, and more extensive socialization. This is a freshly made premium food free of preservatives and specially formulated with the necessary and perfect combination of ingredients. That imprint window closes at 16 weeks! However, for the puppy, the period of learning can well determine how they engage with and react to the world for the rest of their lives. How they cope with new situations and behave with strangers, children, new stimuli, people with hats, canes, sunglasses, new sounds, lights, new everything, directly results to how well they have been socialized during their first 4 months of life; thus eliminating separation anxieties, fearful, shy phobic or aggressive behaviors. We treat our obligation for the first two months very seriously, and invest considerable time and energy into their development in the 8 weeks that they are here with us. We do the first two months…. If the appropriate time and energy is again invested during the next 8 weeks the return will provide you and your family a lifetime of joy with a well-adjusted dog that you love, and that loves you. Week 1 Week One A puppy is born with a vulnerability that still amazes me. Week 2 Week Two Puppies have gained between oz. Week 3 Week Three Eyes are beginning to open. Week 4 Week Four Now that the puppies have the use of all their senses, huge strides in development will begin to take place. Week 5 Week Five Puppy gruel- one part blenderized dry puppy starter, 2 parts goat milk, and one part warm chicken broth- Yummy! Week 6 Week Six Puppies have been learning the rudiments of housebreaking this week. Week 7 Week Seven Observations of temperaments of each puppy are ongoing. Week 8 Week Eight Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are old enough and mature enough at 8 weeks to go to their new and permanent homes. Family Labradoodles. Echo continues to be an amazing mama taking wonderful care of her babies!! We have had another busy week and the puppies have made so much progress. We have fallen into a daily routine. In addition to this, we continue the ENS exercises and weigh-in for each puppy. The puppies are moving faster and when Echo returns to the whelping box the puppies scurry around ready for another meal. Weight-in We continue to weigh the puppies daily and keep a record of their progress Double BirthWeight Milestone Echo had done an amazing job feeding her puppies. All our puppies have been gaining weight daily. Puppies should double their birth weight between 7 — 10 days. The first puppy doubled her birth weight on day 7 and the rest followed over the next few days. All our puppies have doubled their birthweight and continue to grow with each passing day. As you know, the Goldendoodle breed is an intentional mix of Poodle and Golden Retriever. We have a few smaller puppies in this litter. The below picture shows the comparison of our largest puppy and our smallest puppy. At first Echo was constantly in the whelping box and puppies just cycled through taking their turn eating without any intervention on my part. Now that Echo spends time away from her whelping box when she returns, all the puppies want to eat. Their vision will continue to improve over the next weeks. By doing just the right things at just the right time, we can give your puppy the best start possible. These timelines are simply guidelines. Daily cuddles Puppy socialization starts at birth. We handle our puppies as soon as their mamas feel comfortable and give them all daily cuddles. My grandchildren are great helpers with this. I love to share this learning experience with them; teaching them to love and respect animals and to be gentle. Puppies will practice walking on all fours, strengthening their hind legs Puppies will become more aware and start to interact with their litter-mates Puppies will start to vocalize Share this:.

English bulldogs barking may look really adorable and full of vigor. Barking is one way for dogs to express themselves aside from wagging their tail, running around, or making playful bites. As an owner, I love the occasional bark of my English bulldog due to its deep baritone sound. But like any music, sometimes the noise can become to much and cause anxiety. It is best for everything to have its balance and that is no different from a barking dog. Occasional barking implies that your pet is doing well. Why does my English bulldog bark so much? Excessive barking is how an English bulldog communicates and indicates that it wants something. Barking can occur from fright, anxiety, as a warning, sadness, or excitement. Barking is healthy for your bulldog when it is done for the right reasons. It is important to understand why a bulldog is barking to correct the wrong behavior and support the good barking behavior. Do Barks Have Different Meanings? Is it just a sound produced by dogs in their vocal cords? Does it have a deeper meaning? You need to know the answers to these questions to gain a fundamental understanding of why your pet is barking uncontrollably. As I said earlier for dogs, barking is a form of communication, and since they use it to express themselves, barking my not be that simple as you think. A study published in the Trends Cognitive Science Journal asserts that the bark of domesticated dogs holds a deeper meaning. Barking may indicate that a dog is upset, hungry, angry, lonely, and many others. Dogs are highly sociable and barking is a way for them to connect with others. Find Out Now! Isolation barks are characterized by large intervals while play barks occur in clusters. In summary, before telling your English bulldog to shut up you might want to know the loudness of its barking. Resonant deep barking may indicate that your pet is sensing a stranger prowling within the vicinity of your house. On the other hand, a loud high pitched sound done may indicate that your pet is lonely or is overly excited. Some Probable Reasons English bulldog barking, which may happen during the daytime, nighttime, or from day to night, may be caused by environmental, emotional, or physical reasons which I will briefly discuss here. This means that your pet loves to socialize a lot. For your furry companion, regular playtime, and petting with its owner is a must. Without doing these things, your English bulldog gets bored easily. For your pet, one of the ways to solve this is to grab your attention and it will do so by barking a lot. Aside from boredom, frustration is another reason why your pet is barking so much. Instances that make your pet feel like this are the arrival of a newborn or the adoption of a new pet. Feels the Need to Move Around Your English bulldog barking like crazy might also be caused by its need to move around. I need to go out to see how my friend, Larry, is doing! Dogs have this uncanny ability to sense that something terrible is about to come such as the upcoming occurrence of natural calamities or the presence of unwanted strangers within the vicinity of your house. At night, if ever your English bulldog wakes you up because of its numerous barking, try to check the windows, doors and other parts of your house to see if something is wrong before scolding your pet. If your pet is one of them, then it might be barking a lot because it needs a new diet plan. Experiencing a Health Condition that Gives it Discomfort Your English bulldog might be barking so much because of a health condition that makes it uncomfortable. One good example of this is eczema. When left untreated, this condition will not only make your English bulldog bark a lot but smell bad as well. There are simple ways that you can do to stop your English bulldog from barking so much. Doing the things that I will mention here will probably help you. Putting your pet on a leash and allowing it to see the outside will surely do the trick and will tire them out. For a frustrated English bulldog, help it to socialize with the newborn baby or newly adopted pet. When the weather is fine, lock the gates firmly and let your pet play outside. Even better try to put a miniature obstacle course on your front yard or backyard so that your English bulldog can exercise itself. Professional trainers know a few tricks that will help your pet fight its urge of creating so much noise. Aside from this, your pet will also get to socialize with other dogs. During the day, try to check if kids are teasing your dog or are attempting to trespass your property. After doing so, pet your English bulldog for a while so that it can sleep peacefully. If you happen to have a French Bulldog and need more tips, we have an article specifically for our Frenchie friends. Can English Bulldogs Howl? Almost all dog owners want their pets to howl. Personally, this is one skill that my English bulldog failed to master. Whenever it attempts to do this, my pet scratches its throat and ends up coughing. If you think about it, howling is one skill that almost all dogs inherently have. The chances of your pet learning how to do it depend on your efforts. So how do you teach your pet to howl? Simple, you can start howling yourself and hope that your English bulldog will imitate you. Another method is to play the sound of a howling wolf on your stereo and let your pet be part of the fun. You can view how this is done firsthand by clicking here. This is very different from the howl of huskies, german shepherds, etc. Final Thoughts Hearing your dog bark occasionally is fine. English bulldogs can howl too! However, their howl sounds very deep and is different from those made by wolves, German shepherds, huskies, and many others. Lastly, try the tips mentioned here to stop your English bulldog from barking so much. Post Views: 1, What do I do? Despite the endearingly gloomy mug that most English Bulldogs have, they are one of the most amiable of all breeds since they tend to assert dominance over other dogs. The fact about English Bulldogs is that they can live for years and they are short and have a fine coat which is easy to gloom and maintains. Although English Bulldogs do not bark a lot, sometimes they have a behavioral problem of barking without reason. We had moderate success with this inexpensive and easy to adopt clicker technique. One should identify why they are barking and train them in the correct way from the very beginning. The natural way for every dog to communicate is through barking and one should understand why your bulldog is barking. Pay attention to your dog to distinguish what kind of bark it is and stop giving your dog what it wants whenever it barks rather take some time to train your dog. This is the collar that we used to train our Bulldog, Lucy. If your dog is barking stop yelling rather than discipline it in the right way. English bulldogs always feed off your reaction and this may be the only way your pet knows how to behave. Yelling at your dog can make them get the wrong opinion of your command and think that there is a reason to bark. If at all you lose your patience and yell at your dog, the dog may prolong its barking since it has been commanded to expect any kind of negative response. The correct way to respond to your dog whenever they bark is to ignore or seek a better attention behavior and this could not only stop them from barking but also cure your pet from getting startled from situations. Stop waiting for a habit to form when your English bulldog begins to bark excessively this in the end will be a difficult task to stop it from excessive bark. When you notice that your pet barks excessively pick a command word and stick to it from the start. This is the easiest way to curb your pet for it will figure out the problem and discipline it appropriately and this will allow your household to have peace. How To Stop Your Bulldog Barking To Perceived Intruders Barking to intruders does not only require visual confirmation because some dogs engage in alarm barking because of simply hearing voices on the sidewalk. Alarm barking is any way of barking to perceived intruders and is normally accompanied by one to two inches of each bark. The following are ways to stop your bulldog from barking to perceived intruders; Teach your bulldog the quiet command. This training will require patience and consistency since it consumes time but when applied correctly it will make even the most territorial dogs behave better. When your bulldog starts engaging in alarm barking wait for three to four barks and then pay attention to it by distracting it from a perceived intruder. Then wait until it stops barking to the perceived intruder and once it stops say the word quiet in a low calm voice and repeat the process until it associates the word quiet itself. This will become a habit to your bulldog and once it does it more occasionally you can start giving a quiet command without showing your dog any treat. After it complies you can start giving your pet treat for more training sessions and it will finally learn to be quiet on command without a treat. Also, train your dog to apply the quiet command to real-world situations. This will make your dog learn the quiet command and be applying them to real scenarios. How To Control And Correct Bulldog Barking Problem It is important to praise and reward your English bulldog when it finally stops barking and congratulates its silence. This reward should be given as quickly as possible for this will vary the amount a dog must remain quiet without barking for no reason. The best way to train your bulldog from undesired behavior is by replacing the behavior with an alternative behavior that will allow your dog from realizing that it is good to engage in a more desirable behavior. Also once your bulldog stops barking it is important to continue training it for this will cover all aspects of attention-seeking barking. This will make your bulldog eventually learn to wait patiently regardless of whether it wants to play or eat. Conclusion The overall way to reduce your bulldog from barking a lot is by meeting its needs, for example, if your bulldog is hungry it will bark. No training or behavior techniques will satisfy the need for food or comfort. Always make sure your bulldog has plenty of food and water to drink and access it inside your home for comfort. Also, be exercising your bulldog and give medical attention. Bulldogs may sometimes bark because of being injured or sick and one should seek medical attention to it.

I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. She was wanted and loved, never knew need and feasted on burger patties and vanilla wafers today after a wagon ride for her picnic in the park. We will miss her tail wags and soothing snores. Until we meet again sweet girl. Georgia hit the bulldog lottery today when she joined her new mom and dad forever. The house was quite and very lonely. When they saw Georgia, a senior that needed a home, they knew Priscilla would want them to honor her by adopting another senior bulldog. Georgia has moved out rescue and into a great home where she will want for nothing. Georgia is a 8 yr. After originally being found as a stray at a local shelter, Georgia has spent time with a local mutli-breed rescue. She has been loved and well taken care of, but the rescue groups feels that a breed specific rescue like LSBCR is more suited to finding her a home. Georgia is going to make a quick trip to the clinic to address some eye issues and to get a check-up. She is a very sweet and curious about everything going on around jer. When I first brought Miss Georgia into my house, she seemed just fine with my young bulldog, Hope, and my two Cavaliers. But when she met my 4 year old bulldog she became a little startled so I am keeping her separated from them for now just until I can figure out if they can get along together. She is perfectly house-broken—no accidents in my house at all. She takes care of all her potty business on her walks outside. She loves her bath times and then she loves to go rolling on her back in the grass! She will be going to see Dr. Whitworth tomorrow for her first check up so we will know more about her health after that. She never barks for anything, she never whines, and she continues to be very well potty trained. She has only used a puppy pad once and that was my fault because I was so slow to get her outside that morning. She had her fist visite with Dr. W on Friday, July 31st. W thinks Georgia is about 8 yrs. She is heartworm negative and weighs close to 65 lbs. It has been so hot, that I have been taking Georgia out either early or late when the temperatures are lower. Georgia is so good to let me put a hot on her or a cooling collar that I decided to let her wear some battery operated lights on her collar. Georgia has come a long way, her coat is filling in from the flea bits and looks beautiful. She loves her nap time and she loves car rides. But she loved to be around her humans. She has a lot of love to give some lucky forever family. This senior lady is searching for the perfect home to spend her days basking in the sun and napping on a soft bed. Although she will get along with other dogs for a short visit, once she is ready for company to leave she has no problem showing it. What Georgia wants, Georgia gets, and that includes free roam of the house baby gates are only obstacles to be overcome. One thing she will not tolerate are cats. She is very adamant about letting kitties know that they are not welcome in her house! However she can quickly be distracted by a man willing to show her affection. She is such a FLIRT, and will snuggle, rub and kiss on all the handsome fellas, following them around for lovins. If you are looking for just the right companion to share your heart with, please keep Miss Georgia on your mind. As a senior Georgia is constantly watching closely what everyone is doing. At a moments notice she can be on high alert and before you know it she has jumped right in the middle of anyone playing and having fun. Georgia loves loves loves people and kids, other things with fur can sometime be a problem. Georgia has been coming to work with me a lot and she spends most of her time napping. Georgia is completely potty trained and very easy to love. Additional Photos.

It was so obvious that this puppy was blue and it was the only one in the litter. It was already sold and so was I. I then met Dawn Malcolm as I was looking for a traditional colored show type stud male. Dawn shared with me that she has a solid blue male and had a strong love for the livers and blues too. That was 12 years ago and our friendship is still very strong. I am glad we joined the Yahoo email group as I met some great people who were as interested in sharing in the goals I have set forth expanding the blue gene pool. With the help of many friends I incorporated various GSD with the blue gene to start my own lines. Over the years all have proven to be a valuable asset not only because of their color but because of their various personalities, health and structure. Some needed physical traits improved, others needed tweaking in the personality department to be what I feel is an ideal companion bred GSD which is what most average families need. She is a blue brindle born here. Many of my others carry the blue gene. Tanzietu - is Tanzies blue fawn daughter, her father is Miner so she carries long coat and can carry liver from her father. She is a puppy and will be included in the program as she matures. How did blue get into the GSD gene pool? The color has been apart of the original gene pool from the start. The puppies born of a blue GSD that are expressing the color blue themselves are born a very striking shade of blue. Shades of blue Blue is a dilution of black. It is lighter than black, and in some cases, it is very apparent that they are still blue as adults. The puppies are born a very pretty shade of blue and many of them turn to almost like a steel gray black as adults. Others are a lighter shade of blue. None the less the gene responsible for blue in the GSD is the D gene. Again, blue is a dilution of black. Therefore blue GSD are unable to produce any black on the dog. Every where traditionally seen black is, is blue with the dog has the D gene. Including the nose leather, eye rims, lips, and paw pads will all be a dark shade of blue and not black. When puppies are young their eyes appear to be very brilliant blue as all puppies are born with blue eyes but they do change over to a light yellow wolf eye or even to an amber orange eye as they mature. Is your GSD blue or carry blue? Feel free to send me a picture of your puppy or dog you feel may be blue. Keep in mind blue is the color, the patterns can be solid, sable, saddle, with and without other patterns panda, brindle, white spotting ect.Do you want to know for sure if your GSD is blue or carries blue? There are several color testing companies out there and we have used a few different companies our selves. The most recent company we have used is Embark. Not only does it test for all colors, it screens for several genetic diseases all in one test. We will be using this on many of our dogs in the next year. Thank you Embark for creating such a valuable tool for breeding. Scroll through the albums and if you do not find what you are looking for please send me a message. Keep in mind you do not have to have a facebook page to see this page. This recessive gene dilutes any black pigment on the dog including coat color, nose leather, foot pads, toe nails, lips, etc. It also affects their eye color. Blue pups have a beautiful light gray coat as babies, as they age however is usually darkens up quite a bit, the ones that darken up are called "steel" blues. To the untrained eye, they can be mistaken for regular blacks. There is also "Powder" blues, they tend to lighten up in color and always stay a very noticeable gray color. Powder blues are not seen very often. A blue pup with sable markings We have a couple blues and a few dogs who carry the blue gene. We choose these dogs first and foremost because their temperament, structure and health aligns with the goals of our breeding program. A beautiful unique color is just icing on the cake of an already exceptional dog. Our non-traditional color lines have some of the highest hip ratings in the US! We have produced non-traditional colored GSDs that compete in obedience, agility, nose work, etc. I personally love the non-traditional colored German Shepherds. These colors are been in the breed since the beginning and our foundation girl Rose just happened to be a blue! Most of the questions are probably regarding the colors, so let me answer them. We will also touch on size, weight, some distinguishing characteristics, and why you should or should not own one. The difference is that one of the parents of a blue German shepherd had the recessive gene that caused the pigment responsible for the black color to be diluted into a lighter color. A blue German shepherd is actually gray with a bluish hue, but the eyes are piercingly light-blue. Blue German shepherd puppies are easy to spot among other colors, but the coat can drastically change once they are adults. However, there are older lines that are closer to the original German shepherd, like the working line used during the Second World War, that have slightly shorter coats and a straight back but retain the undercoat. These are more often associated with blue coat color simply because they have been selectively bred to preserve some of the traits. However, there are also show lines that produce blue puppies every blue moon. Read our article on all of the GSD colors you can imagine. The German shepherd male is usually twenty-four to twenty-six inches tall, reaching weights between sixty-five and ninety pounds. Females are slightly smaller at twenty-two to twenty-four inches tall and weigh fifty to seventy pounds. I think the most valuable trait of the blue GSD is the thrill of looking for it. They are extremely rare and thus valued as a gem among breeders. They usually cost a ton of money, and the stars have to align for you to find them at the exact moment you are looking for a dog. If you are looking for a dog that can perform almost any task given to it but want to avoid dogs with heart problems like the Great Dane or Doberman, your best bet is a blue GSD. They will outlive most other dogs in this category while looking like a million bucks. Conclusion Anyone who is feeling lucky should immediately check the websites of these blue German shepherd breeders. Finding a litter of standard colors or patterns is hard enough, let alone an unpredictable blue GSD puppy. The exclusivity of the blue GSD is fertile soil for scammers. Avoid websites that provide no photos, guarantees, references, or information other than the price and contact. The same goes for puppy mills. Do your research, and you will be safe. In this case, I did the research so you could enjoy the process of selection. Discover the online program that more than 57, dog owners have used to rapidly transform their dog into a well-behaved, obedient furry friend. It's true - there are German Shepherds that are blue. In fact, German Shepherd Dogs come in various colors and also in a lot of different color patterns too. Others say that the blue colour is simply a gene mutation, and as such the blue German Shepherds should never be bred from, and overtime the gene should be bread out of the species completely. The blue German Shepherd, technically, a diluted Black Shepherd with 2 recessive genes. The Dd dilution gene affects coat colour in the main, but can also change the colour of eyes and noses. All coat colours and patterns are controlled by a set or group of genes that work together. In standard German Shepherds you will see descriptions and breakdowns that speak of the A genes, which control the black and red colouring in the dog through the release of melanin, and this affects the generic base colour and variations. However, the colouring of the blue German Shepherd is controlled by a different gene, the D gene spoken of earlier. All genes come in pairs, and it takes the presence of the big D and little d pair to produce the blue German Shepherd. The big D produces full strength coat colour and is the dominant gene, and the little d produces a dilute colour, which is the recessive gene. For the Blue Shepherd to be created he needs two copies of the diluted recessive gene, one from each parent, in order to have the diluted blue fur. If both parents have blue fur color their offspring will have it also however it is also possible for the color to appear in regular black and tan German Shepherd Dogs if both parents have the recessive genes. In addition to the above, the Blue German Shepherd takes three variations in blue colour, they come in blue and black, blue and sable and blue and tan, and again it is all dependent on the mix of different genes. Additionally, the blue German Shepherd can also be a variety of lighter and darker blues. Steel blue is the darker shade, and powder blue is the lighter of the two. It can be difficult to identify a steel blue on his own, but when you stand him next to a black German Shepherd, you can easily tell the difference in colour. How do they look? If you've never seen one of these dogs just imagine that everywhere there is black on the GSD normally, that you now see kind of a dusty grey colour. In some cases the blue might look kind of dusty, like someone spilled flour on the dog's coat but then in other cases it might be more of a darker gunmetal colour. Although it is rare and frowned upon by the AKC don't let the blue colour scare you away. A healthy blue German Shepherd is a very handsome animal and has all the same loyal and intelligent traits as regular colored German Shepherds. Many owners who have an unfavourably coloured German Shepherd have suggested that their pups face colour discrimination in events even in competitions where color should not be judged. The males will weigh between 65 and 90 pounds, and they will measure 24 to 26 inches in height from paw to shoulder, also known as the withers. The females will weigh between 50 and 70 pounds and will measure 22 to 24 inches at the withers. Additionally, it is common for the blue German Shepherd to have lighter coloured eyes, such as light blue, golden brown or yellow compared to the darker eyes of normal colored German Shepherds. Again, this is controlled by the recessive genes explained above. Because of their appearance, the blue German Shepherd is often mistaken for a blue Malinois, or with yellow eyes can often look similar to a dark grey wolf. They are super affectionate with their immediate family and enjoy a cuddle on the sofa and lounging around home. The blue German Shepherd is known for their confident and courageous personality. If properly trained and socialized their natural guarding tendencies work great in a home environment. Blue German Shepherds can also be aloof with strangers, or outsiders of the pack if improperly socialized but if raised correctly they are lovely, loyal dogs. The blue German Shepherd, like any other German Shepherd, is a medium energy dog and requires up to 60 minutes of exercise a day. High intensity exercise that tests their mental abilities as well as their physical are their favorite. Your dog would also require mental stimulation throughout the day, such as playing interactive games with his you, patrolling the yard, or taking part in training sessions. Because of their guarding tendencies early socialization is key to a happy hound and household! They are working dogs, and they like to pull if they are not trained properly. We also recommend crate training from a young age. Unlike other breeds, such as the French Bulldog, the colour blue is not indicative of health issues or problematic personality traits. The diluted gene is often linked to health issues in other breeds, such as Colour Dilution Alopecia in Weimaraner, but the blue German Shepherd is not known to suffer any diluted colour related health issues. Simply put, the blue German Shepherd is simply a colour variation, and their health is exactly the same as a traditional coloured German Shepherd. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia is an abnormal formation in the elbow and hip joints which is prevalent in larger breeds of dogs. Over time this formation can cause pain in their joints and can often lead to crippling arthritis in older dogs. Because German Shepherds are susceptible to bloat, it is advised to spread food across several sittings during the day. The exact amount of food will vary on the size of your dog and their activity levels throughout the day. Grooming The blue GSD often has a medium length outercoat with a dense undercoat. Due to the thick undercoat, they are heavy shedders. To keep their coat nice throughout the year you will need to brush them 2 or 3 times a week. During shedding season you will need to brush them every day. You should wash your GSD every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the coat clean and help with shedding. Specialist dog shampoos and shedding products help make managing the coat easier. It is possible for blue German Shepherds to have a long coat but it is very rare. Because their colour is more on the rare side, you may end up paying a slightly higher premium for this colour of the breed. These dogs are rarer than their tan and black saddle siblings i. This can make it difficult to find one to buy. German Shepherds are larger dogs, and can have large litter sizes. With an average of eight puppies in a litter; a blue German Shepherd puppy may show up unexpectantly. If you would prefer to adopt, the German Shepherd Club of America has a list of available rescues and rescue centres all over the country. Adopting A Blue German Shepherd On the other hand, if you are considering rescuing a German Shepherd, then the American German Shepherd Rescue Association has listed rescue centres dedicated to this breed and you may find some blues that need a home. Finishing Up Blue German Shepherds make great family pets. They are fun, intelligent, trainable, affectionate, loyal and protective. If they are socialized from a young age, they are great with children and other pets and will be a lovely member of the family for years. Naturally, all dogs have their own quirks that make them unique, just like all humans, and a blue GSD will be no different. Generally, however, German Shepherds are intelligent and fun to be around and love to spend hours playing in the garden with their family. If you do adopt one of these beautiful pups then it might be wise to let your neighbours know so that they think you have a stray wolf in your yard! For more information about the blue German shepherds, you can consult different social networks of groups responsible for the upbringing and care of the GSD, like the American Blue Bay Shepherd Association. Sign up for promotions, news, discounts, and the chance to win prizes for you and your German Shepherd E-mail Address. When you are considering where to find blue-eyed German shepherd puppies for sale, you will want to consider your budget. Make sure your home is safe for your puppy. The puppy needs to interact with different dogs and humans every day and early. In case you have any questions regarding our German Shepherd puppies, or any questions regarding dogs generally, please get in touch with us. Puppies can be reserved beforehand. The puppy should be adequately socialized so it can easily come to be part of your loved ones. German Shepherd puppies for sale can be found on the web. The German Shepherd Dog is the most commonly recognized dog breed on earth. Some white dogs have a small bit of cream or little patches of tan. Although generally speaking you should examine the white German Shepherd dog as having the same health problems as GSDs generally speaking, there are a couple of hints that there might be a difference. But what do you know about German Shepherds? They are great companions to children and also ideal as watchdogs, and some even can detect explosives. You can always train your dog to fetch. He loves it when he has to go outside and fetch the ball. This can be quite stressful, but because of his short attention span and occasional laziness, you can make it fun. Then, with only a few minutes of training, you can teach him what to do when you throw the ball to him. You should get an older puppy from a breeder that is at least nine months old. During the breeding process, male and female dogs are put together so they could produce offspring to be bred. It is quite possible to find the puppies in crates in these shops. Make sure that they are kept as warm as possible during shipping so that they would be comfortable in the crate. If you are purchasing from a shoe shop, ask them how long they plan to store the puppy. The crate will make them feel safer as well as make them less stressed in the traveling process. Always remember to keep the puppy in the crate with you while traveling. However, if you want to travel with your puppy, please be aware that all animal laws vary from state to state and country to country. Never leave your puppy alone in the car, because you could easily fall asleep with them in the backseat. If you want to take your puppy with you, always bring a crate along to ensure that your puppy will be safe in your vehicle. Pups for sale usually arrive at the showroom on the same day. Just give them a warm bath and feed them. This should take only about an hour or two depending on how busy the showroom is. Then, the puppy should be outfitted with an identification collar and harness and will be ready to go out on the show floor in no time! Finding blue-eyed German shepherd puppies for sale is much easier now than it was in the past. That is because the market has become more competitive and that means that people are looking for more dogs. There are many breeds of dogs to choose from, but blue-eyed German shepherd puppies for sale are certainly no exception. Here are some tips on how to find your new dog. This may seem obvious, but if you are going to get a dog you want to be sure that it is going to be a long-term pet. Dogs also require a lot of exercise and time. A house pet is usually very adaptable to new situations. If you give a dog room to run around it can make a big difference in the way that he or she gets along with other animals in the household. Other dogs may need to be crate trained, so you will want to try to find a dog that can do this easily. It may take a while to teach a dog to just roll over and lie down to take a nap in a crate, but dogs need this to relax and they will thank you for taking the time to train them. A dog that is willing to sleep anywhere is a great choice. A great place to find adorable dogs is online. Many people like to find out about things before buying a puppy and that can save them a lot of money. Some great websites have blue-eyed German shepherd puppies for sale at reasonable prices. This is a wonderful idea for people who are just starting to breed dogs. You will be able to see what dogs are available and decide if you want to buy one. Some of these places have nice puppies and they might be exactly what you are looking for. In addition, you may be able to see if you like the particular dog and if you think it would be a good pet for you. Sometimes you will have to sacrifice the first puppy that you get, but that is okay because there are plenty of others waiting to be taken care of. A good idea is to check out all of the local shelters, as well as the dog supply stores and pet shops. You will find that your options for a blue-eyed German shepherd puppy are quite varied. The number of puppies available may be limited, but you should be able to find much more than what you are seeing in ads. Most likely, there is a breeder or rescue group that will help you find the perfect pup for you. If you are looking for a blue-eyed German shepherd puppy, the best place to look is online. You will have a better chance of finding the right dog for you if you try to go the route of online research rather than look at a store to see if the dog you are looking for is there. Share this:.

Call Morgan at for specific pup identification if you are leaning towards placing an early deposit. Please check back, we update our website daily! Please see our Deposit Page and our Transportation Page for information on getting your puppy. We love the English bulldog temperament, physique and expression, I just personally like it to be about lbs. We find the smaller sizes are more buoyant and playful and, though still very heat sensitive, are better able to cope with life in general. Downsizing an AKC breed takes time. Our girls all come from long lines of lb. We not trying for 20 pounders…our goal is to have healthy, beautiful babies that consistently mature at lbs. If you see a puppy that tugs on your heartstrings please call, or go to our deposit page for more information. In the last few years it has become clear that most people would prefer their puppy to be transported using our White Glove transport or Nanny Flight transport. Today, we have requests for our Puppies from all over the country. Because of this, the majority those requesting a Sugarplum Bulldog Puppy have also requested transport to their area of the country; those in Florida, for example, cannot easily make the drive to RI. As such, the majority of our Puppies have shifted to a transport model; this gets them closer to their new forever home. Because of this, we have come to the decision, that for the well being of our Puppies and for the benefit of our new Sugarplum Bulldog owners, we have developed a transport model for our pups using our Puppy-Mobile with direct transport to the pups new Forever Home! Our Mid-Western breeding home is co-owned by Sugarplum Bulldogs, and our partner. I realize that not having a chance to play with the Pups is disappointing to some, but please understand that our team are dedicated to the highest level of care for our little Pups. We truly feel that this new model is in the best interested of our Puppies and their new homes. Please feel free to ask me any questions…. At BigBullDogs. We offer the best service for purchasing the perfect bulldog puppies, and we have quality studs that have set us apart as the top breeders for bulldogs. Whatever it is that you need regarding these beautiful bullies, this is the right place for you. Here are the varieties we have; What You Need to Know About English Bulldogs English Bulldogs are very distinct from the other breeds of bulldogs and are the more prevalent breed. These sturdy, muscular dogs have a cute waddle walk that directly results from their short, stubby legs. The English bulldog also has a flat-looking face, dark and low set eyes, massive and broad jaws, and fleshy cheeks and lips that give it that signature pouty and droopy look. Its short neck, thick shoulders, and barrelled chest, slightly arched back make it one breed that you can easily identify anywhere. Our standard Male English bulldogs are inches and weigh an average of 50 pounds, while the Female English bulldogs weigh about 40 pounds. All our English bulldogs have the finest textured coats and healthiest skin with a variety of colour patterns. Whether you pick a male English bulldog or female English bulldog from us, you can be assured of their wonderful demeanor and gentle disposition. The AKC recognizes over dog breeds and rated the Bulldog as 2 for the best family dog breed. They are incredible family dogs but not the best watch dogs these days. The last nine decades of domestication has turned them into couch potatoes, considerably different from their original genetic breeding that made them perfect for Bull Baiting. Nevertheless they are fantastic at lying on the couch and giving you the stink eye when you disturb their rest. Quick Guide to French Bulldogs French bulldogs were named for their origin story, which says that they were a breed of English toy bulldogs and several unidentified dog breeds. They have distinct features that make them stand out against their English counterparts, such as their pointy, bat ears. French bulldogs are small, cute dogs that are very playful and perfect for being a home pet. Regardless of whether you pick the male french bulldogs or the female French bulldogs , you get a pet that is calm, attentive, attention-loving, and a partner to you and your kids. The male french bulldog is an estimated 12 inches in height and 25 pounds in weight. On the other hand, the female french bulldog is about 11 inches and 20 pounds. The male french bulldogs are usually a bit more muscular than females and have larger heads. However both are equally affectionate and super family oriented. Not to be outdone by their British Bulldog cousin, the female french bulldogs also made the Top 10 Best Family Dog breeds list in .Looking to Adopt Bulldogs?

We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near Nassau Village-Ratliff Florida and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted. We have answers. What is a Labradoodle, exactly? The Australian Labradoodle is a hybrid breed. Hybrid breeds are sort of like mixed breeds, except in this case the parent breeds are chosen on purpose to pass down specific traits to their offspring. Can I only pick local Labradoodle puppies for sale near Nassau County? Businesses and breeders listed at Uptown Puppies can arrange travel accommodations for your pup to whichever major airport is most convenient, meaning your options are nearly unlimited. How do you screen Labradoodle breeders in Nassau County? The pledge covers all aspects of animal care, health, breeder standards, legal compliance, and much more—take a look for yourself and see just what goes into becoming a Labradoodle superstar. How is Uptown Puppies different from other places with Labradoodle puppies for sale in Nassau County? You might be shocked to discover that bad or dishonest breeders are all over the place online. The truth is that almost anyone can show up online with the right marketing selling Labradoodle puppies for sale in Levittown. What is a puppy mill? Puppy mills are basically dog factories for Labradoodle puppies for sale in Freeport. At mills, unscrupulous Australian Labradoodle breeders try to sell as many dogs as possible for as cheap as possible. However, these Labradoodle puppies for sale in Hicksville, NY are often sickly, mistreated, and poorly bred—leading to a higher risk of genetic illness and heartbreak for their families down the line. Where do Labradoodle puppies for sale in Valley Stream come from? The Labradoodle is a modern hybrid breed that until recently was relatively unknown. These dogs were first bred to be the ultimate companion dogs—meaning allergy-friendly, gentle, adorable, and people-loving. The world is catching on to Labradoodle mania, and these dogs are now some of the most popular in the world. Just look at how many people are searching for Labradoodle puppies for sale in East Meadow and Labradoodle puppies for sale in Elmont, New York! See Labradoodle puppies that you love, or want to contact one of our recommended breeders? Last step? Are Labradoodle puppies for sale in Oceanside hypoallergenic? Labradoodle puppies for sale in Glen Cove can be just as hypoallergenic as their Poodle parents. Many people who suffer from pet allergies report that their symptoms are lessened or disappear entirely when around their Labradoodle. While everyone experiences allergies to varying degrees of severity, Labradoodle puppies for sale in Plainview are indeed an allergy-friendly breed. Do Labradoodle puppies for sale in Baldwin shed? All dogs shed to varying degrees. What types of coats do Labradoodle puppies for sale in Massapequa have? Labradoodle coats can come in three main varieties—straight, wavy, and curly. Straight haired Labradoodle puppies for sale in Merrick, New York shed the most, wavy-coated Doodles shed a little, and curly-coated Labradoodles shed the least. The three types of coats are also referred to as hair straight , fleece wavy and wool curly.

Ready for new homes: August 11, .Ready for new homes: September .Ready for new homes: October .Ready for new homes: November .Ready for new homes: December .Ready for new homes: June .GSDs are a versatile and highly intelligent breed capable of mastering complex obedience commands. Their intelligent versatility is just one of many unique factors that put GSDs head and shoulders above most other breeds in the canine world. The average GSD can grow to a shoulder height as high as 26 inches and are capable of equal parts grace and power. Because of this incredible mixture of intelligence, grace, and strength, they are the favorite breed of security experts from local K-9 police departments to every branch of the military across many different nations. GSDs are also capable of mastering the highest levels of show dog training making them among the most popular breeds of championship show dog organizations. There are plenty of reasons why German Shepherds have long been thought of as canine royalty. Select your new pup from one of our available litters and make your reservation with us. No problem. You can contact us at or or email us at vomragnar gmail. Our trainers can also train your pup for basic obedience, advanced obedience, and protection or security work. Your puppy will learn excellent manners and communication skills that will provide you with many years of a rich, full relationship with your German Shepherd. Design Please beware of scams and frauds! There are scams out there who use our brand. Their website may look exact the same since they duplicate our website or their domains look similar. Our website is vomragnar. Our brand name is patented. We are licensed breeders in Illinois. Please do not trust scammers and beware. Want to see our puppies available for sale? Write a Review vitali P 2 weeks ago Thank you affinity! We are very happy with our work together! A very special thank you to Jessie. Our new puppy sends you much love! Anastasiya Karovina 2 weeks ago Thank you guys for the beautiful baby. She's gorgeous! Brought joy to the house for the whole family. Excellent work, service, responsible attitude. I recommend it! Hagen 3 weeks ago My journey with my German Shepherd began with the expert guidance of the breeder at I Guard International and was beautifully complemented by the training prowess Jessi, Cody and Nick at K9 Country Club. Together, they've shaped a truly remarkable experience for me and my family. At I Guard International, I found not just a breeder but a passionate caretaker for these noble animals. The attention to detail, the commitment to quality, and the profound understanding of the German Shepherd breed were evident from our first meeting. Our pup was not merely a product but a living testament to their dedication to excellence Cody, working in unison with Nick, brought a whole new dimension to our German Shepherd's training. Their collaboration, with unique insights and methodologies, created a synergy that was reflected in the outstanding development of our pet. Cody's patient approach, his investment in understanding our dog's unique needs, and his ability to work seamlessly with Nick, resulted in a well-rounded and perfectly trained companion. But it wasn't just about the training; it was about the relationships that were forged. Jessi, Cody and Nick became more than trainers; they became mentors and friends to our family. They shared their wisdom, their love for dogs, and their unwavering commitment to providing the best care and training possible. Our German Shepherd's growth under their combined guidance has been a joy to watch. His character, discipline, and happiness are direct reflections of their hard work and heartfelt investment. If you're considering a breeder who truly understands the essence of the German Shepherd breed and trainers who will not just train your dog but celebrate its unique personality and potential, I wholeheartedly recommend I Guard International for breeding and training. In a world filled with choices, choosing them was one of the best decisions we've made for our family and our beloved pet. Their combined expertise and genuine love for what they do have created a lifelong bond and a truly happy, well-trained German Shepherd. Thank you, I Guard International, Cody,Jessi, and Nick, for being more than professionals in your field; thank you for being partners in our family's journey. Tom Jones 2 months ago.Hans Hauge 3 months ago We wanted two dogs that could both defend our home and still be a part of the family. We got it with these two. When someone comes to the door they let us know, and then they just chill out. Megan Mathews 6 months ago.As I was looking for breeders in the Spokane area. I came across I-Guard and gave them a call and spoke with Jessi. We set up a meeting to talk about their German Sheppards and she introduced us to Nick. He listened to our story about our Mal and he matched us up with the perfect German Sheppard for our family, Ace. I was impressed with the knowledge and professionalism that both Jessi and Nick gave to me and my family and feel very fortunate that I made the phone call to I-Guard for our next addition to our family. Since July Nick has reached out to ensure that all is going well on top of training Ace 1 on 1 to help out with my autistic son. Thank you Jessi and Nick for all you have done for my family. Zach Phelps 8 months ago Love these guys! Jessi was super helpful in answering any questions. They breed great tempered dogs for any environment. They took the time to talk and match the right dog to my crazy lifestyle. I will absolutely be coming back to expand my pack in a year or two. Chris Destro 2 year ago We searched and spoke with many German Shepherd breeders. Once we connected with Jessie, we felt super comfortable as she did not rush our decision at all, in fact, she was extremely patient and helpful as we made our final choice. So glad we went with I-Guard and her! He is amazing with kids and has a friendly disposition. We love him very much. Thank you again, Jessie.Koda is the best! We look at every German shepherd puppy as a special member of our family—and a future member of yours. Think of it like skipping the baby stage and the sleepless nights. Puppies range from two to 10 months old depending on your preference. Life Span Did You Know? The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs. Breed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in .Although they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications. They also make great service dogs and, of course, are still awesome herding dogs and farm dogs! The German Shepherd is a strong-willed and highly intelligent dog. They have a playful, energetic spirit and tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets, which makes them a great family companion. A born protector, the German Shepherd will provide a great sense of security for their family while their loving and lively personality will make them fit right in as a companion. German Shepherds are naturally protective and can be wary of strangers at first. A well-socialized German Shepherd will bark to alert you and tends to warm up to strangers once introduced. German Shepherds are dogs that were bred to herd and work. This, plus their high energy, makes them a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. They can adapt well to larger apartments as long as plenty of time is dedicated to ensuring they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention every day. A bored, ignored, or under-exercised German Shepherd can often become a destructive one. They also can be sensitive to their surroundings and large gatherings can be off-putting. With a longer coat, they tend to prefer cooler climates and are sensitive to heat. The German Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are some potential health concerns and good breeding practices make a big difference. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a German Shepherd include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a barrel-chested breed, the German Shepherd is also at risk for bloat. While the German Shepherd is highly intelligent and highly trainable, they are generally not recommended for novice owners. If you are a novice dog owner, enroll in puppy training classes or enlist the help of a professional dog trainer; not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. Training assistance will help you grow in experience and build a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd puppy, which is essential. Also, the GSD has a thirst for training and fulfillment. They get bored easily and especially with repetition, so continued training with your German Shepherd throughout their life will be necessary. German Shepherds have a medium-to-long double coat. They will shed year-round and heavier as seasons change. Brushing a few times a week is usually sufficient; brushing daily is even better and your GSD will likely love you for it. Bathing is occasional on an as-needed basis. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs. Not only do they require a lot of daily activity, but they also are a herding breed that was made to run, guard, and observe, so they need a job to do to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for a GSD, but they will likely be up for more activity if you are. With their versatility and athleticism, you can try a lot of different activities when puppies finish growing and they are cleared for higher-impact things. A fully-grown German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. German Shepherds generally live for years on average. Corporal Duncan brought him back to the United States and Rin-Tin-Tin became one of the most famous dog actors in history. Featured German Shepherd Article. May not even be aware of the breed standard. Breeds to any convenient dog. Strives towards the ideal. Often helps to define it. Does not need to promote establishment; sells to brokers, pet shops, etc. Often rescues only to attain more stock. Rarely attends shows or trials. Shows and trials to objectively test breeding stock. Often judges, provides seminars, writes articles, and willingly mentors serious Hobby Breeders. Knowledge Often pretends to know some. May share false or incomplete information. Studies continuously. Impacts the breed for many decades with knowledge of dogs over many generations. All pups sold have full breeding rights. Yes, and diligently follows up on progeny. Keeps up with health and temperament issues affecting the breeding and provides in-depth guarantees No need to; mostly supplies brokers and pet shops. Meets minimum standards as required by state law. May refuse to acknowledge most problems. Maintains a solid support system — accepts full responsibility for every puppy produced. Performs health testing for all breeding stock for genetic diseases affecting the particular breed. No interest, may offer papers as proof of quality. Papers alone are not proof of quality. No interest. May provide undocumented paperwork for appearances sake. Is unfamiliar with health testing usually statements of good health are stated to impress consumers. Intensive testing always a priority. Often initiates club sponsored seminars and clinics. Maintains records on all dogs in gene pool including progeny. Often supplies brokers and pet shops, records unavailable. Dogs and puppies are often auctioned off in lots, records unavailable. Focuses mostly on current dogs, no records or knowledge of genes. Attempts to continuously track every puppy produced. Bases entire breeding program on extensive gene pool data. Clean environment always maintained Minimum standards vary greatly in cleanliness. Minimum standards maintained for state inspections. Conditions may vary greatly depending on available income, usually makeshift accommodations. Clean, healthy and mentally stimulating environment. Expected longevity with any particular breed Will continue as long as the sales are coming. Depends on popularity of specific breeds. Unrealistic expectations — easily disillusioned. On a mission-plans to stay for the long haul. Health guarantee provided No, it cuts into profits. No health guarantee beyond proof of first set of vaccines, if that. Not qualified to give advice if a problem arises. Offers written guarantee and is available to answer questions to new owners. Good knowledge of history in dogs. Extensive knowledge of health history, offers replacements to owners of genetically affected dogs. Ability to meet the parents of the litter If available, may be in poor physical condition. If available, dogs are not used to contact with people. May or may not be well loved and cared for companions, often unwilling to show entire litter or parents to buyer. Shows friendly mother and entire litter in clean environment; stud dog too, if in residence. Helps buyer choose appropriate puppy. Can explain how breeding was planned to emphasize specific qualities and can speak at length about how puppies compare. What you can expect after purchase Nothing, may not be able to contact at all. No concern for dog after sale is final. Available for questions, and wants to keep in touch. Will take back dog or puppy at any time. After purchase will help with training and grooming, available for all questions and knows the answers. Price Priced according to market, but is marked up from original source for profit. Mid-range to move puppies quickly. High end of mid-range. Price will not reflect all that is invested. Use only physically sound, mature dogs of stable temperament for breeding. These characteristics are rarely, if ever, determined before the age of two for females. Continue to educate themselves regarding genetic diseases pertinent to the breed including, hip and elbow dysplasia. Documentation of hip and elbow screenings should be available to prospective puppy buyers. Apply the same high standards to outside bitches sent to their stud dogs as they apply to their own breeding stock. Temperament testing of a litter before puppies are offered for sale is encouraged. Take appropriate steps to have each puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian for general health prior to placement. Each puppy should be vaccinated and de-wormed by a veterinarian. Endeavor to gain personal knowledge of the temperament and health of every dog they breed, or to which they breed, in order to gather information on which to base future breeding decisions. They share this information fully and honestly with other breeders and with prospective buyers. Sell breeding prospects to knowledgeable, ethical and experienced persons or are willing to help educate and guide novices. Do not engage in misleading or untrue advertising and do not use GSDCA membership as a marketing tool. Do not sell, supply, donate or surrender any dog for which they are responsible to a pet shop, catalogue house, wholesale dealer in dogs, Humane Society or to a laboratory. They should have reasonable assurance that each individual receiving a dog will provide a home with appropriate shelter, restraint, control and responsible care. Encourage puppy buyers to go to puppy obedience classes to help their puppies to become better canine good citizens. The achievement of a Canine Good Citizen certificate should be encouraged. Since homeowners insurance and local laws vary greatly, a refusal to let you visit the kennels may not, in and of itself, be a bad sign. You should ask for and receive a satisfactory explanation. The puppies are not social or look sickly. How to read those ads. A few more things to look out for. Anyone can buy a puppy from a champion, but it does not mean that they have any other interest in the breed but to bank on the name and make money. Having a Champion in a pedigree is like having a billionaire relative. AKC registration does not guarantee quality. AKC papers are much like the title of a car; papers are issued to the junked Chevy on blocks in your yard just as easily as they are on a brand new, shiny Jaguar. AKC does not control breeding, approve litters, or guarantee temperaments. AKC Registration is automatic if you buy from a reputable breeder — they will provide all necessary paperwork when you buy a puppy. There are several groups that are registering dogs, even mixed breeds, for a fee. This registration means nothing, and is of no value to you. Are there too many defects for the animal to be bred? Shop with care. Rarely will a good breeder have the luck to own both dogs for the perfect litter. There are some good and very reasonable reasons to have both parents on site. However, you need to ask the right questions and understand why this is true. They might be, they might not. Are they too big to be cute anymore? Need more money? Is there a problem? Usually because there are more on the way. Be very wary of this one. Will a Breeder Ask Me Questions? Conscientious breeders want the best available home for their puppies. This determines the amount of time you will have available for your new addition. There are very important items that should be supplied by the breeder. Breeders will typically give you the following items: A signed pedigree A current Health Record; including de-wormings and vaccinations. American Kennel Club registration papers or application Sales contract. The type of contract varies and must be mutually agreeable to the breeder and buyer. Much depends on what you expect from the puppy show, pet, or performance. Feeding schedule including the type and amount of food. Copy of OFA certification of sire and dam, if available. Sound in mind and body, strong, functional, intelligent, trainable, courageous, and resilient. These are the natural qualities that can only be realized through the incredible genetics of purebred German Shepherds. We only import the best-of-the-best. Certified champions straight from Germany! Due to his home being burglarized in , Wayne decided to train dogs in tracking, obedience, and protection. His untrained Staffordshire Bullterrier was unable to protect his home and he then decided to obtain a Rottweiler for protection. Wayne continued to train Rottweilers up until the early 90s where he purchased his first German Shepherd. He was raised along side German Shepherds which had a huge impact toward his love and respect for the breed. At Kraftwerk K9, we honor the history of the German Shepherd. We here at Kraftwerk K9 care for and teach these world-class dogs to live up to their full potential. Our ethical breeding facility sits on 25 gorgeous acres of Washington soil and is available for touring before purchase. Take a look at our facility Learn more about our certified German Shepherds by calling today at or visiting our Available Dog page!

Ian discusses how we should learn to see the world from our dogs perspective and in doing so, how we can better earn their love and trust. Armed with this love and trust, we will form a better relationship and as a result, effective training becomes just that much more effective and enjoyable for both you and your dog. But please, first make sure to use the search facility in the footer of this website and browse our other sections as the subject may have already been covered: Labrador health and care , Labrador behavior , Labrador puppies , infobites and Labrador breed information. External Resources On Labrador Training Although referring to all breeds in general and not purely Labradors, for those of you that love to watch and not read, the series of dog training videos on www. If you like reading books then check out one of our favorite Lab books: The Complete Labrador Handbook. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. If this is the case,…. How does it feel to be a new puppy parent? You must be chuffed. Take a look at these first few articles. All the ingredients you need for a happy home. But for now, beside your bed is the best place for your puppy to sleep — it will help them feel safe. Puppies like their crates rather cave-like; we suggest covering it with a blanket to block out light, but keep the front open so that they can see outwards. Make sure to make it snug inside with something like a vet bed or a blanket, or why not take it up a notch with a heat pad or hot water bottle to recreate the feeling of their mother. Nothing feels more comforting than that. Before you head to bed, take your puppy out for one last round of loo-going. Set your bedtime at a later time too — midnight sounds about right. Come back calmly, and place your puppy in the crate and turn out the light. Stuff you should know about Sleep Training your Labrador Your puppy will wake up several times in the night and will need the bathroom at least once! Be prepared for not-so-deep sleeps and tired mornings — just for the first few weeks. Having them sleep next to you is only temporary. Consistency is key! As for you, full nights of sleep will start getting closer and closer. Alone Training How can I teach my Labrador puppy to be ok on their own? Start by feeding your puppy in their crate during meal times. If they seem worried by you leaving, stay in view, and just pop right outside their confinement area. Keep it short and sweet: No need to stay away for long, 60 seconds tops will do for now. Repeat: Do this at least once a day to make progress go steady and smoothly. Socialization Exercises To Do this week Letting your Labrador puppy explore the yard Besides the gnomes and questionable yard furniture you may have, letting your puppy explore your own yard is a great and safe way to start showing them the sounds, lights and wonders of the outside world. Exploring different surfaces exercise Make sure that the surfaces you use are safe — nothing too crazy just yet. Gather surfaces such as An oven tray with a small layer of water A piece of astro turf A carpet tile A large piece of tin foil, cardboard or something crinkly PRO TIP: Set up for this exercise in the room your puppy spends most of their time in — it will help them to feel safe and confident. Pop the surfaces out safely on the floor and allow your puppy to investigate them. Nobody has ever enjoyed walking on those. Remember to be patient! Lucky for you — teaching them their name is easy peasy. Say their name in a happy jolly tone and reward with a treat. Repeat five times, 5 and take a break. Practice this 2 or 3 times a day so they get the hang of it. Teach your puppy to sit Teaching your puppy how to sit is a popular one. The first two are far more common though. Keep using this word when they do the right thing, and then follow it up with a food reward. In puppy logic, stinky means yummy. How to do it Start at home; where there are no distractions. Just make sure to shut off Gogglebox in the background. Recall — How to teach our Labrador puppy to come back when called Your puppy already knows their name at this point, so this should be a walk in the park. How to do it Treats and a cheerful voice will be what works here. Do these exercises before meal times so your puppy is more motivated. Practice this 5 times a day and in 3 different places in your house and yard to get them used to coming to you in all settings. How to do it Show your puppy that you have their favorite toy, and start to get them excited about it. When they show interest, throw it a little bit away from you. They will likely follow it and pick it up. If they do, encourage them back to you with your voice, so remember to sound happy! Swap the toy for a treat or another toy and do the process again. Repeat this about 5 times. Instead create more distance and excitement sounds to get them to come to you — spaniels like to show off, so they will likely want to parade what they have! Always swap the toy for something when they have it, this could be a treat or another toy. Resource guarding occurs when we force puppies to give up items or snatch things out of their mouths. For breeds like Labradors who are designed to want to hold things in their mouths, this is pretty important! Resource guarding is when a dog protects a resource from being taken by someone else — dog or human. For some reason, there is a solid list of things puppies find irresistible: Socks. Print Raising a retriever puppy like the pros Your Labrador puppy can seem small and fragile during those first few weeks home from the breeder. Labrador puppies will learn quickly about acceptable and unacceptable behavior those first few weeks, if you, the owner, are willing to set and enforce boundaries. Here is the training you should be working on with your week-old Labrador puppy. About this series of posts This is post three of a step-by-step training and socialization program for Labrador puppies. If you read our first post , you know that this series follows our training of Bubba, a female chocolate lab puppy. Bubba is already sold as one of our Custom Trained Retrievers, so it is our responsibility to raise and train her until she has progressed to the level of training the owner has requested. In this case, Bubba will be with us for almost a year and a half. Training and socialization for week-old Labrador puppy — week three home Your week-old puppy has been with your family for approximately 3 weeks now. This week you should start noticing some bigger changes with your puppy. Here are some of the changes I notice with Bubba. First, she is growing fast! Bubba is almost ready for a new collar already. I have loosened her current collar twice, and there is no more room to expand it. She is also learning a lot. Bubba is also becoming more personable. She likes and has more interest in people now and wants to be petted and scratched more often. Training equipment for Lab puppy We added a couple new training tools this week. But a thicker check cord will also work. We use this check cord for longer outside marks and assistant-marks which I will discuss more in a bit. Puppy sized canvas or light-weight plastic bumpers In week two, we introduced formal retrieving in a hallway in the house. In week three, we move outside with retrieving and introduce assistant throws, so it is helpful to have a few more bumpers. Puppy training that will continue Much of the training I have been working on for the past two weeks with Bubba will continue into this week and beyond. Dog training is not something that has a definitive end-date. For instance, you teach your puppy to SIT and then you must work and practice that command daily or weekly, often for months before the response to the command is solid. But even once the response is solid, you cannot completely stop training. If you stop training, even an older dog, the dog can lose the previous training. So, realize that you are never done working with your dog, especially on obedience training. Some areas that we will continue training Bubba on are: Crate training Bubba is doing great at crate training. She rarely makes any noise while in her crate and settles down quickly after being put into her crate. In the upcoming weeks, we will work towards getting Bubba to enter her crate on command. Looking for more information on crate training? Housebreaking Housebreaking Bubba is going well. We have caught her in a few accidents, but she already seems to understand that she is not supposed to go potty inside. This does not mean that she is done housebreaking. We still expect accidents and will for a few months, so we watch her carefully while she is running around in the house. We also praise her for behaviors like going to the door and tapping the door or whining at the door. These behaviors are rewarded with us taking her outside to go potty. When she goes potty outside, we praise her and then take her right back in. We want her to start understanding that these cue behaviors will get her out to go potty and that is all. Looking for more information on housebreaking? But we will also add a few new ones. We will use this while teaching our puppy the SIT command. It also will be used going forward, anytime we are done working on structured obedience work. We will release the dog from formal work with the OKAY command. But we also use it to mean go to a certain place, such as on a mat or stand. Or, when we want her to go into her crate or kennel. This is an associative command, meaning the puppy will learn the command through our repetition of the word as we tie it to a behavior. But over time, she will make the association and will perform it on her own. This is very important especially if you ever plan on doing more advanced training with your retriever. You will use whatever your dogs name is. A few commands that we will continue to work on this week We will continue to work on obedience commands this week and in the weeks to come. Each week we will expect a little more and better compliance and performance to the command. She is sitting when I put the leash and chain collar on her and when I am taking it off. This week we also added SIT before eating. We only make her SIT for a few seconds; we are working on control. She does not SIT on her own yet, but she will be doing that within a week or so I would guess. Right now, I grab her collar and say SIT. In week three, I have a slightly higher expectation. On walks, I make her walk right beside me for a minute or two using the HEEL command before releasing her and letting her run back and forth a bit. This tells me that she understands the command. Then release her. If every time your puppy comes to you, you put her away or take something away from her, soon your puppy will not want to come to you. You must work hard to make coming to you a good experience for your puppy. So, call her, praise her when she comes and release. Remember: Never use a HERE command if you are not in the position of being able to enforce the command. Make every effort to socialize your puppy You should continue to take steps to socialize your week-old puppy. Anything you can think of. The more things and situations you expose your puppy to, the better your puppy will be equipped to adjust and learn in the future. Learn more about socialization. Hand throws with a puppy bumper you are throwing out a bumper done outside will carry a lot more distraction than retrieves in a hallway. Just pick up the bumper and try again tomorrow. When retrieving outside, make sure you have a long foot rope attached to your puppy. Never try to do retrieves outside without a rope. You will have problems and encourage bad behaviors. You must have a way to get the puppy to come back to you, otherwise you should not be doing retrieves outside. Once your puppy is doing well retrieving outside, you are ready to introduce assistant marks. Introduction to assistant marks The most important thing we worked on with Bubba this week is assistant marks. Assistant marks are retrieves where someone else is throwing the bumper, not you. This teaches your puppy to watch out in the field for a mark. It is very rare that a duck will come from behind you, fly over your head and you shoot it. The ducks and pheasants will be falling in front of you, so the dog must learn to look out and watch for the mark. We start assistant marks on very short grass with white plugs so that the puppy can clearly see the item on the ground. We hold the puppy in a SIT position facing a thrower who is about 20 feet from you. When your puppy picks up the bumper, immediately start calling her back to you. Remember, you should have the foot check cord on her so you can pull the puppy in if needed. Then, take the bumper from her, throw it behind you, make your puppy sit facing the thrower again and repeat. Only do retrieves and then call it a day. Soon your puppy will learn this game and love it. They will start facing the thrower on their own and sitting and waiting for a mark. Final thoughts on training for your week-old Labrador puppy week-old puppies are so eager to learn, so be sure and take advantage of this enthusiasm to teach new concepts and enforce previous ones. Continue to teach your puppy to handle more and more pressure and correction while maintaining a good attitude. Lastly, assistant marks are a big deal. Once a dog learns this part of the game, you can work to increase the distance and complexity of the marks. If you are struggling or need additional help with your new puppy, you can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time, happy retrieving. Print Early obedience first step to better hunting dog Labrador puppies start out sweet and innocent. All you want to do is cuddle up with your pup and love them! And you should! But rest assured the innocence will not last. As your pup gains confidence and courage, they will begin to test you in many ways. That is why you must obedience train your Labrador puppy. Early obedience training is key to establishing borders and boundaries that will help your puppy grow, learn, and adjust with a good attitude. There is no shortcut to doing this, just use the name often when you talk to your puppy. Over time, the pup will start to respond to the name. Socialization, while not technically obedience training, is the single most important thing you can teach your puppy during the first few months of life. If you are not sure how to do this, refer to this post. Tools needed to obedience train Labrador puppy You will need a few tools to teach your puppy obedience. The products I recommend I believe are a good value or good investment for anyone working to train or maintain training on their retriever. When possible, I include links to the product. Some of these links may be Amazon or other affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are my own. Collar — You should purchase a size appropriate collar for your new puppy. You may have to buy new ones as your dog grows, but it is important for your puppy to get used to wearing a collar early on. A simple nylon adjustable collar works great. Chain collar — If your puppy is more than a few months old, a chain or prong collar is extremely helpful in teaching obedience, but they must be used correctly. For more information on how to put a chain collar on your dog correctly refer to this video. A longer lead, called a check cord, is also useful for teaching HERE and retrieving. You can learn more about that here. Heeling stick optional — While optional, a heeling stick can be especially helpful in teaching basic obedience. Treats — Treats are good for teaching very young puppies. I use treats for pups under 12 weeks of age, but treats should be discontinued rather quickly. When to start basic puppy obedience training Obedience training can and should start within the first couple weeks of having your puppy home. Young puppies are ready and willing to learn and teaching obedience to a young puppy is much easier than teaching it to an older dog. How long should obedience sessions be? Most labs do not enjoy obedience training. For this reason, we aim to keep obedience sessions short, especially if your dog is under 4-months of age. Five to ten minutes of obedience a day can work wonders. Especially if you are consistent. Using rewards or praise to teach obedience Many people like to use treats or rewards for obedience training. And this can work, especially with very young dogs. But for hunting dogs, over the long-term treats can become a problem. We do not want our dogs, or the dogs we train to be obedient only because they are getting a food reward. We want them to be obedient because they understand their place in the family and respect the owners. To get these lasting results, we use praise words and petting and a reward that retrievers live for — retrieves! Well-timed praise is a particularly important part of dog training. A message that it is okay to ignore me the first 9 times! This simply means that after a few minutes of formal obedience training, we release the dog with an OKAY command and that means they can run around and be a dog. We then throw a bumper or plug a for the dog to retriever. We do this a few times with a lot of excitement and allow the dog to retrieve the bumper. For retriever breeds, this is often more effective than a food reward. Be careful that you are not letting your puppy get into bad habits with retrieving. For instance, if your puppy often goes out to retrieve the bumper but then runs away with it, or picks it up and drops it, do not continue doing retrieves. While retrieving is a reward for many Labs, it is not an excuse to engage in behaviors that are not going to be acceptable in the field. If you want to learn more about how to properly teach your Lab to retrieve, check out How can I teach my retriever puppy to fetch? Introduction to leash and nylon collar The very first step for any puppy obedience is to introduce your puppy to a regular collar and leash. This should be done in two separate steps, first the collar and then the leash. Introduce the collar by putting a nylon type collar on your puppy. This is normal and you should not react to it. Introducing the leash is a little different. We like to do this outside. After a few sessions of this introduction, you can start holding the leash by the end and walking with the puppy. When the puppy tries to run or walk away, hold tight to the leash, and just let the puppy get used to the resistance. Some puppies have a hard time with this and will growl or whine and whip themselves around at the pressure, but most will not. Remain calm and after a few sessions the puppy should get used to the resistance of the leash. Do not allow the puppy to pull you around. That will make for some bad behaviors that you will need to correct later. If you cannot control your puppy with just a regular collar and leash, you may need to move to a chain or prong collar to keep control. What commands to teach Lab puppy There are only four basic obedience commands that you need to teach your young puppy. Remember when it comes to commands, less is more. OKAY — this is a release command, basically tells your dog were done training, go be a dog. As your puppy grows and learns more, there are some other commands that may be needed, but for puppies I like to start with just the four above. Dog training requires consistency Before you start with obedience training, I want to make a note about the importance of consistency. Obedience training only works if you are consistent. This means that when you say a command, you expect the puppy to perform the command, and are willing to take steps to make the puppy perform the command. If you do not remain consistent in this expectation, you will confuse your dog and get poor results from your training. You and your family must be consistent! How to start obedience training Lab puppy The first command you want to start teaching your puppy is SIT. This is quite easy to teach with a small puppy but gets a little tougher as they get bigger. Then release the puppy with the OKAY command. Repeat this process several times, then stop. If your puppy is weeks old, you can repeat this training several times a day for only a couple minutes at a time. This will be a two-person job for a little while. The other person will put the food down a few feet from the puppy. Then release the puppy to eat saying OKAY. As the pup learns and understands the command better, you will no longer need a second person to hold the puppy. You must be a little careful here because young puppies do not have great bladder control and making them wait, even a few seconds, can mean the difference between an accident and them doing their business outside. But this is a great way to teach impulse control and manners to your puppy. I do not want to have to fight for a position by the door. You can usually start working on this within a week or two of teaching SIT. A great way to teach this command to young puppies is to use two people and sit in a long hallway, one at each end. Take turns calling your puppy with a HERE command. A toy or treat can often help the process. Let your puppy run around a bit but hold onto the end of the cord. Occasionally, call you puppy with a HERE command. It can be helpful at first to crouch down to encourage the puppy to run towards you. Then release the puppy with an OKAY command. Do this a few more times and repeat daily until the puppy is coming to you without you needing to pull the cord. It is also the command most of our clients struggle with the most. Mostly because they are using the wrong tool for the job. For heeling work, it is important that you work with a chain or prong collar. This will give you more control and stop the pulling and surging that many people struggle with. Using a chain or prong collar and a six-foot leash, start walking your puppy at your side. If your puppy is young, be sure to use a puppy chain collar which is smaller than chain collars for adult dogs. And make sure that you are putting it on correctly! An alternate tool to a chain collar and leash is the Wonder or Command Lead. These work great for teaching HEEL. As you start walking use gently tugs on the chain collar with the command HERE to keep your puppy at your side. If your puppy surges or pulls ahead, simply make a degree turn and start walking the other direction giving a sharp, upward tug on the chain collar and saying HEEL several times until the dog is back in a heeling position. Many of our clients have told us they never left their driveway the first few days! But if you are patient and consistent, your dog will quickly learn that if they want to go for a walk, they need to stay at your side. If you want to learn and progress in more obedience work, check out these obedience drills for retrievers. Final thoughts on how to teach your lab puppy obedience Teaching your puppy obedience may take a lot of patience, time and work, but it is such an important thing to do. You will never regret the time! A well-mannered dog is such a joy to be around both in the home and in the field. How to obedience train Labrador puppy. Labrador Retriever pups are working dogs. This means they live to please you for a treat. The more you engage them with different puppy training behaviors the happier they will be. Of course, Labs will be Labs, and this means that dogs do dog things unless they are trained to follow your expectations. Potty training your puppy is just the beginning of you making clear expectations for your Lab. Puppy training from long leash training to potty training, to not nipping is discussed in greater detail along with clear, easy to follow videos at www. But we will give you an expert training tip summary below. For this reason, you need to become an expert on puppy training. Contact us for a discount on the Puppy Trained Right positive reinforcement training program. Expose your puppy to as many different people and situations possible. Teach dog to dog manners when required. Use Positive Reinforcement. Allow for Play with Other Puppies. Play with other Lab Puppies not only allows your pup to get some exercise it is a form of puppy socialization. Bond with your Puppy. Once a strong bond is formed your Lab Puppy will want to please you even more. Potty Train Right Away. Learn how Dogs Learn. Training a Lab puppy is easy if you understand how to go about it. Give your Lab Puppy Play time to Explore. Labs need this as part of their natural development. Spend more time with your puppy when young. This is the time when your expectations should be clearly outlined and can decrease as she gets older. Begin Training day 1. This happens weather or not you intend it to. Every action and reaction is something your puppy uses to form new habits. So ignoring them jumping up as an 8 week old puppy is training them to jump up and will be much more difficult to un-train once they are 70 lbs. Relax and make learning fun. Your pup needs you happy and enjoying yourself! Use Positive Training Methods because they work. This means reward what you desire. Ensure most Experiences are Positive. Imagine a training session of No, No, No, No! Expose them to as Many Human Situations possible. One cause is that there was not adequate socialization with different men. Be Patient. You are building an amazing K9 personality. The window is between 8 and 20 weeks old. Make the most of it. The better your Lab is socialized the happier they will be. Anxiety in dogs comes from many things. The more things your dog is comfortable with the less chance for anxiety and therefore the happier they are. Prepare yourself, your family and your home before your puppy comes home. It is too late once you meet your puppy as simply interacting with her is training. Allow for Safe Experiences both in the home and outside. Seek professional trainers to help guide you when faced with a problem. Be consistent. Clear expectations are easiest to learn. Focus on Guiding not controlling. Best Start Training or Training Classes are beneficial for both you and your puppy. Expect Success. We tend to move in the direction we believe we will travel. Reward the Behaviors you want to see even something as simple as 4 paws on the ground if you are trying to train your Lab not to jump up on you. Become Well informed. You are teaching a skill like reading that takes clear expectations and builds upon last session. Lab Puppies need constant supervision either human, a crate, a fenced area or a baby gate across a doorway. Encourage a soft mouth. Keep your training up or it will be forgotten. Begin Walking on a Loose Leash Right away. This is always easier for your Lab when they are 12 lbs not 70lbs. Change direction before the leash tightens so they are followers not leaders. This is much easier to train before it happens than correct. Allow alone time for your Lab. Know when to end a training session. End training before your puppy quits. Make time for a few shorter training Sessions. Three fifteen minute sessions are better than one 45 min one. Teach your Lab to respond to their name. Teach your Labrador basic obedience before tricks-come, sit, stay, down, leave it. Have all humans learn the commands and be consistent. Ignore undesirable behaviors. Ignoring includes not saying no, bad dog, touching your dog or making eye contact. Find rewards that your Retriever loves and use them when you have breakthrough training moments. Adjust your expectations as your Lab puppy matures, the older more experienced the higher the expectation. Set Realistic Expectations. Minimize distractions when you begin training. Be aware of your Body Language, Labradors pick up cues from you. Be aware of your leash tension. A tight leash says anxiety from the handler. Know when to get Help .Have fun! Understand that Labs do Lab things. Make them work for food and treats. Exercise your Retriever properly for both intensity and duration. Learn some exercise games Labs love. Give lots of repetition. Stop before they get bored. Establish a Pattern by Praising. Redirect undesired behavior. Accept partial actions at first and gradually increase your expectations. When treats end Verbal treats and chin scratches rule. They will know. Enjoy your well balanced purebred Lab puppy for many years. Purebred Lab Retrievers, are they easier to train? The answer to that is definitely maybe! Not all purebreds are bred for intelligence. For example, if a Labrador Retriever breeder chooses to breed their dogs for a certain look then they may overlook intelligence as one of the important characteristics in order to get a specific Lab look. We however breed for intelligence, health and temperament. So in our case, yes, our Purebred Lab Puppies are easier to train than many because we choose the parents and their puppies specifically for their smarts!