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Due to this, they develop a great level of bounciness and mischievous habits. It is quite commonly seen that the smaller breeds mature more quickly than the big dogs. They get pretty sensible at the age of 9 months old or so. Large dogs, like Labs, mature slowly and more effort is needed to calm them mentally and physically. High levels of activity will also keep your puppy fit and healthier. Labradors start to calm down around their first birthday. You can also help your pooch by using some effective dog handling techniques. For example, taking control of the pup, avoiding physical play, and creating a distraction by providing activities are some of the most common methods to deal with hyper or over-excited dogs. Other than that, calming music and medications are also quite popular. Stairs can be dangerous for dogs when you are not supervising them during the learning phase. In this case, it is better to not allow your dog to climb stairs. Invisibility and untidy stairs are other common reasons which make stairs dangerous for your dog. Climbing stairs in the dark can also result in severe injuries to your dog. Similarly, stairs that have water on them can also make your dog fall. Does your Labrador puppy nip? Labradors are always keen to explore and learn new things from a very young age. Going out is the basic need for Labradors because of their higher energy levels. It can also help them in quick learning, socializing, and training. They begin to go out in your backyard for potty training, exercise, playing, and learning at the age of 8 weeks. However, it is better to avoid public places with untidy stairs to protect them from potential injuries and infections. Labrador puppies love to be around stairs and it can be a great sleeping spot for them. What side Harness do you need to buy for your Labrador Puppy? Just as humans, pups also have milk teeth and they will lose them as they transition to adulthood. They start to lose their milk teeth from the age of 12 weeks. At the same time, the permanent teeth start popping up and at the age of months, permanent teeth take over all the milk teeth. Labrador puppies have 28 baby teeth or milk teeth which they will lose when they become mature around weeks old. They have a total of 42 permanent teeth that they will lose when they get old or have any medical emergencies. Falling from the stairs is one of the main reasons why dogs lose their permanent teeth. Labs love to climb stairs even at an early age and owners must take proper precautions to keep them safe. Otherwise, there are vulnerable to hard falls and might lose their permanent teeth. Some safety precautions make stairs safe for puppies. Proper Supervision It is recommended that the dog owners should give proper time to their Labrador puppies and keep an eye on them when they are learning to climb stairs. In this way, your dog will remain safe and learn to climb stairs more efficiently and effectively. Improve Visibility Installing lights around the stairs and turning them on especially when there is dark around them. This will improve visibility and help your pup to climb up the stairs quite easily. Keep the Stairs Clean Just like a human baby, a pup also requires a similar kind of care. This means keeping your house and its stairs clean will offer them no falling especially when they are learning to climb stairs. You can use pieces of rubber carpet and place them on the stairs as it will increase the resistance level. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives. If you are letting your Labrador puppy climb up and down the stairs, pause it immediately. Yes, luckily, Labrador puppies can climb stairs at some specific age of their life. Even at the age of 4 to 5 months old, your Labrador puppy will be strong enough to climb stairs. They will navigate up and down without falling and asking for your help. However, allowing your young Labrador puppy to climb stairs is not recommended. As mentioned above, before the age of 12 months old, your puppy may harm itself by frequently climbing stairs. Can a Labrador puppy go up and downstairs? Puppies are curious about their environment. As a dog parent, you will always find your puppy exploring everywhere. This activity is actually not safe for your puppy, and the experts do not recommend it. If you are not willing to stop your puppy from climbing up and down stairs, you must provide the proper training. The chances of falling from stairs or dislocating a hip bone are less in a well-trained puppy than in others. Is going up and down stairs bad for dogs? Yes, it is bad for a puppy to go up and down stairs. It is highly recommended to stop your puppy from climbing up and down stairs if they do it frequently. When you are not supervising If you do not have enough time to supervise your puppy when learning to climb upstairs, you should not allow them to do this. In your absence, your puppy may fall and break its hip bone along with some other injuries. Safety precautions to make stairs safe for puppies Work on these tasks to make stairs safe for your puppy. Supervise your puppy Experts recommend that dog parents keep an eye on puppies when they are learning to climb up or downstairs. You can prevent your dog from falling and getting some serious injury. Also, you can notice if your puppy is climbing up properly or not. Improve the visibility Improving visibility is always a good approach when your puppy is climbing up the stairs. You can turn on the lights and open up the curtains so that all of the stairs will be clear for your puppy. Keep the stairs clean Keep your house and stairs clean so that your puppy will not fall when learning new skills. The surface should have a grip If you believe that the surface of stairs is too slippery and there are chances of your puppy falling, you should build up some grip. You can place pieces of rubber carpet to increase the level of resistance. Installation of dog ramp For outdoor stairs, you can consider installing a ramp. It may require some training to make your puppy confident enough to use the ramp. I live in an apartment that means I have to go up or down at least one half-flight of 9 stairs to get in or out, if I use the lift. If I don't use the lift, there are 18 stairs to go down or 27 to go up to get out. When we just had Willow and she was little, she got carried. When Shadow came along, DH and I carried one each. As they started getting heavier, though, they really disliked being carried by me. They were OK with J doing it, but I think I was too small and it just wasn't comfortable for them, and didn't feel safe, so they would wriggle. Obviously not safe when walking up or down stairs. So it was at that point that they started learning to negotiate the stairs themselves. Always slowly and, since there aren't any stairs in my apartment itself, it was only when going out on walks. I used the lift wherever possible to minimise the stairs - until Willow started to freak out about going in, and we had to go with the stairs again. Until she started freaking out about the slippery stairs when she had wet feet.We now 14 months always use the stairs except if I come in the front door and they have wet feet. In that case, we'd have to go down stairs to our apartment, but it's not safe for Willow because she turns into Bambi on ice, so we walk up 9 stairs and go down in the lift, which she, incidentally, now thinks is the best thing ever. If we come in through the garage, we're below our apartment and so the stairs are up, and she's fine with that, even with wet feet. In an ideal world, there would be no stairs until the growth plates have closed. Real life sometimes gets in the way, though, and you just have to do what is best, and safest, in the circumstances. If you have just got a new family Labrador pup, you obviously want what is best for it in terms of health, happiness, and lifespan. You are probably aware that Labradors, and various other larger breed dogs, can experience hip problems usually hip dysplasia as they get older. What age can Labradors climb stairs? Labradors should only start climbing stairs after 12 months of age, or when they become too heavy for you to carry them up and down yourself. You might wonder if there is anything that you can do to minimize the risk of this health affliction. If you live in a house with stairs, there is, in fact, something you can do to limit the risk of potential problems faced by your pup, now and in the future. Most people believe that 12 weeks is old enough, but due to the fact that a Labrador is still developing until after 12 months of age and the developing hips can be damaged by wear and tear from stair climbing, it is best to avoid it until after the first year of life. If you have been letting your Labrador pup climb up and down the stairs already, it is important to stop doing so immediately. Even if you have a fully grown Labrador, you can teach them now to stop using the stairs — for their health. The simple answer is that no, you should not. Studies have shown that puppies allowed to climb up and down stairs at an early age are more prone to developing hip dysplasia. For this reason, it makes sense to carry your pup up and down the stairs or limit their access to upstairs levels. You should also not encourage your Labrador to jump until it is fully grown and even then, some caution must be taken. It may seem like your Labrador puppy handles the stairs well, but that does not mean that there will not be resulting damage. Even though you might want your beloved pet with you all of the time — many of us do — it is just not worth the risk. Their hip joint, in particular, is quite susceptible to damage if too much pressure and weight are put on it during the development stages. Labradors tend to be quite heavy little puppies and the action of climbing stairs can cause extra strain on the hip joint itself. This can cause the ball and socket of the hip joint to fit incorrectly or develop in such a way that rubbing and grinding occur, instead of the smooth and sliding movement that the hip is initially designed for. This incorrect development and functionality is called hip dysplasia which will only get worse and more intense with time. By allowing a Labrador to continue to use the stairs, it can result in discomfort, followed by deterioration of the joint and finally even eventual loss of function of the actual joint. This could render your Labrador immobile or result in painful movement. In some Labradors, this has been seen at a fairly early age. Please read our article 14 Common Labrador Health Problems to learn more about hip dysplasia and other issues. The best policy to have when it comes to your Labrador using the stairs is to discourage it completely. Even though it has been mentioned that Labradors should not use the stairs until they are older than 12 months, even after that, stair use should be very limited. You should only allow your Lab very occasional stair use. The best training you can do is teaching your puppy not to use the stairs. You can train your puppy to not use the stairs by following these training tips: Get your own mindset right first, before you begin training. When you establish the stairs are a no-go zone, it is important to never let that rule slide and to ensure that every family member reinforces the rule and never slips up. Once you and everyone else is on board, training can begin. Create an effective deterrent on the stairs that will serve as a reminder to the pup that stairs are not allowed. You can use sticky shelf liner or tin foil placed on the first few stairs and the lead-up to the stairs. This will need to be repeated often. If your dog decides to push the boundaries and try the stairs even though you have indicated it is not to be done, you need to recall the pup and physically block the stairs with your body until he turns back and heads away or stops trying. If your dog listens and moves away from the stairs, you can provide a small treat or shower your dog with praise, so that he makes a positive connection with staying away from the stairs. How to Make Stairs Safe for Your Labrador Even with ongoing training, there may be times when your Labrador attempts to climb the stairs without you knowing. Making the stairs safe is important. You can affix non-slip strips to each stair to ensure that your dog does not slip down the stairs. This can result in serious injury. Of course, if you encounter your dog climbing the stairs, resist raising your voice, chasing her off, or scaring her. Startling your dog can result in a fall or tumble which can cause further injury and damage. It can also result in the dog causing other people to fall if on the stairs. The best way to make your stairs safe for your Labrador is to incorporate a stair gate to provide a physical barrier. A baby gate is popularly used, but there are also various pet gates available on the market. If you do not want your puppy to grow into a dog that behaves incorrectly on the stairs, you will need to teach the correct behavior from day 1. Sometimes family members fail in this area. Teach your Labrador to never climb the stairs but rather to sit at the bottom of the stairs and wait for you. Teach the Labrador that if they are to use the stairs, it is done slowly and carefully patience and impulse training is good for this. If you need to play a game of fetch, do it on the ground floor or outside. It is only natural for the dog to want to come to you when spoken to. Finally While most Labrador pups will want to run up and down the stairs with their human family members, it is important to take a mature and responsible approach to the situation. Allowing your Labrador pup to go up and down the stairs can result in painful and expensive hip dysplasia in the near future. There are plenty of other areas in the home and outside where you can interact and engage with your pets — rather leave the upper levels strictly for human occupation. Related articles:. There has to be a specific age when you want to allow it. Allowing it too soon can create problems of various types like accidents. This is the same as we handle our babies when they are starting to learn to walk. Just follow the same analogy and you should be ok. A point to note here is that every lab puppy is going to grow differently with age and it depends on so many other factors like diet and puppy training sessions. Can he pull up his legs to the height of each staircase? Is the width of the staircase enough for him to place all his four paws? On a lighter note, you have to become a puppy. The stairs you and everyone in your home can climb easily can look an uphill task for the Labrador puppy. Another important point worth considering here when answering this question about allowing him or not is how active the puppy is? If he too active and energetic then he will hurry and hurt himself. Initially, the Lab puppy needs to go slow about it If the puppy is showing too much energy and excitement about everything, then it is better to let him grow up and when he has started following what you say then you can allow him his quest slowly. Its caused due to generic reasons. Moving too much and playing for long hours will increase it by the day. I have read so many posts on Facebook groups related to Labrador and Golden retriever dogs which make this false statement of attracting the disease because of climbing stairs. So, in order to further validate this, I asked the question on online forums dedicated to retrievers both Labrador and Golden. The response is the same as I described above. All kinds of people with different experience levels replied to my questionnaire. So, I can say with confidence that you can trust what has been told in this article. I will share various responses that I heard: The Lab puppy can climb stairs depending upon his energy level. If you think he will be fine, you can give it a try under your supervision and then think about whether to continue or not. The age should be a minimum of 4 months old and there is no such danger of getting hip dysplasia disease by just climbing up. You should be more worried about him slipping down or falling down than anything else. For any kind of activity, the very first need is proper puppy training. This also is no exception. We cannot conclude anything for sure from the above sentence. What I would say in this case is that it is more of a natural phenomenon regarding hip structure than using stairs. The use of stairs by a puppy is not going to harm him as such unless he is unable to balance himself. If the puppy already has it, then only hip dysplasia is going to get worse. So, we can keep the concern about hip dysplasia aside and focus on any other issue that can occur when a puppy is using stairs. As with babies, the puppies also learn by falling and getting up so getting hurt again and again is the cause of concern. You can see a ton of videos on YouTube where the puppy is running at full speed because he is so excited. The above also applies to stairs. But the amount of risk is greater here due to the height of the stairs. For this reason, you want to let the puppy grow up, walk properly on its own, control his feet and still have him climb up under supervision. How to Introduce Labrador to Climbing Stairs While he is learning, you will want to have full control over him. You want him to listen to you for the next command and proceed accordingly. For this reason, I always recommend using a leash for this type of training. Let my heel on the first stair before taking the first stair-case. First, he needs to learn how to sit on the staircase and not fall off. Climbing is easy as he can do so in excitement to reach to the top. The initial motive should be to introduce him to the stairs so much that he knows everything about the stairs. If your commands go well with the puppy then he will wait for you and will listen to you. He has to learn to be patient. With patience, he will learn to control himself and go slow with the stairs during his initial climbs. The more control he has over his speed, the better it is. Treats are a good way to have him use stairs in the way you want him to. You can make him wait as much time as you want by using the treats and leash. Just place some treats on the stair-cases and he will automatically start to follow your command just like any other training session. I also recommend to use a clicker in this training so that the commands are fully understood to him. Just keep repeating the training sessions and soon he will good to go on his own. The height is the most crucial for him to not get scared of it so you can spend more time with him at the top of stairs to get him accustomed to the height of stairs in your home. Do go through these points and you would not be disappointed. You may be tempted to allow him to roam freely at a younger age of months because he is able to walk but stairs are a different story altogether. So, let him get mature and learn more about the world around himself. Joint pain is more of an issue than hip dysplasia. For healthy life in the future, he should not too much pressure on those joints when they are delicate in his early life. It is not just about the stairs, but jumping from other heights like Truck, Bed or Kitchen Shelf also poses similar issues. While most people will give a go-ahead at months of age, it would be great if you can hold jumping and climbing activities until a year. There are so many other things that can be taught to your puppy and these include crate training, manners, not biting you, not barking. I think those need more attention in his early life. But keep in mind that getting hip dysplasia from climbing and increasing the problem further are two different things. I have discussed it so many times above in the article. One of the parts of your home that has confounded your dog the most is the staircase. At what age can a Labrador puppy go up and down the stairs? The risk of allowing even a healthy dog on the stairs too early is that they could later develop hip dysplasia. White and tan labrador dog going down the stairs. What age is a Labrador puppy considered ready to ascend or descend a flight of household stairs? You should wait until your puppy is at least a year old. The Labrador breed reaches its full height somewhere between the nine and month mark. The dog will achieve its full weight at 18 months. Your Labrador by 12 months will be 22 to 25 inches tall and weigh between 64 and 77 pounds. Many dog owners will simply gate the stairs from both sides and carry their Labrador puppy up and down the stairs as needed. This proves to your dog that the stairs are no big deal. Many dogs develop anxiety around stairs, so the sooner you can introduce your Labrador puppy to stairs, the better. You might be able to prevent that anxiety. Even 20 pounds lighter than that, you might have qualms about carrying your once-small pup up and down the stairs. And rightfully so. If you take a tumble, both you and your dog can get hurt. Feel free to allow your Labrador to begin climbing up or down the stairs sooner than 12 months if carrying them is becoming too risky. That includes their bones, joints, ligaments, and more. At such a young age, could stair-climbing negatively affect your dog? If your Labrador puppy is under 12 weeks old, then yes. When a puppy is born, its hips are primarily cartilage. The cartilage later becomes bone, but it takes time for this to happen. For example, if your dog grows up smoothly without health complications, then their hips will develop as normal. However, if your Labrador begins climbing stairs too early, the ligaments that surround the cartilage hip balls could become damaged or torn. This prevents the hip ball from fitting in the socket as it should. Now, whenever your Labrador takes a step, the bones in the hips make contact, rubbing painfully. The socket rim degrades, and hip dysplasia develops. The condition is also hereditary, and with Labradors prone to hip dysplasia, developing the painful condition might, unfortunately, be inevitable. No matter what kind of stair anxiety your Labrador has, you can train them out of it, but it might take a while. All it takes is one slip on hard stairs or the family cat darting up the staircase and spooking them and your Labrador is taking a huge tumble down the stairs. Depending on the distance your dog fell and the severity of the fall, your Labrador puppy could suffer minor injuries or severe, even life-threatening ones. At the very least, your dog could sprain or break a bone. More serious issues include head injuries and spinal injuries. Death could even occur. Tips for Safe Stair Climbing for Labrador Puppies To wrap up, we want to share a slew of tips so that as soon as your Labrador puppy begins using stairs, they can be safe. Ideally, you should always supervise your puppy each time they ascend or descend the stairs. You might not even be home during the day. Keep in mind that these gates will only work when your Labrador is young. This should reduce the incentive to want to go up the stairs in the first place. Add Grippy Surfaces Do you have hardwood stairs? If your Labrador puppy is feeling rambunctious and takes one of the stairs wrong, they can easily slip and seriously hurt themselves. Otherwise, a set of non-slip rubber treads will majorly improve the safety of using the staircase. Always Keep the Stairs Clear The stairs are not a decorative part of your home once you have a dog. This is a tripping hazard for all members of the family, including your Labrador puppy! Light the Stairs Puppies lack more than stability, but good depth perception as well. By plugging in a nightlight in the hall that illuminates the stairs or leaving an overhead light on overnight, your Labrador puppy will find it easier to get up and down. Even at that point, you still want to promote supervised use of the stairs and use rubber grips if your staircase is uncarpeted. This way, you can prevent slips and falls and possible joint and hip damage that could lead to hip dysplasia! Related Reading:. Good puppy care to limit your chances. And for these joints to work properly, the ball part, which is the bulbous end at the top of the long thigh bone, must fit neatly into the socket, which is a part of the pelvis. If the hip joint is not perfectly formed, movement is impaired, and use of the joint causes damage to the surface of the bones arthritis making a bad situation even worse. In some cases this can progress rapidly and seriously. Hip dysplasia in dogs causes arthritis, pain, and lameness. It varies in severity depending on the degree of damage in the joint, and to some extent on the individual dog. Some cases can be adequately managed with pain relief and care. But many medium to large dogs will need expensive major surgery to restore normal movement and relieve pain. Causes of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs There are two main factors at work. The other factor is the environment that the dog grows up in, particularly in early life. How fast he grows, and the way his joints are used when he is still developing, can influence the way his joints will turn out. These environmental factors include diet , exercise , and hormones. But for all the dogs in-between, we do know that there may be much that you as a pet owner, can do, to ensure your dog has healthy hips Your opportunities to help There are two main opportunities for you to ensure your puppy is free from hip dysplasia The first opportunity begins before he is born. The second begins when you bring him home. If you have already bought your pup, there is nothing you can do about the first, so just skip down the page and read up on what you can do when you bring your puppy home. There are no exceptions. Breeders can then remove dogs with bad hips from their breeding programmes. It is of course utterly irresponsible to breed from untested dogs, but the tests are expensive, so bad breeders will try and avoid them. And because puppy registrations generate money, the Kennel Club will still register puppies without scores, or with really bad scores! Check those certificates It is vital that you check the health test certificates from both parents of any puppy you consider purchasing. Remember, Kennel Club registration will not protect your puppy from having parents with bad hips. This is completely untrue. And it is thought that there are three main ways that you can help. The first is by avoiding inappropriate exercise, the second is by feeding for an appropriate rate of growth, and the third is a little more controversial as it involves delaying neutering until your dog is mature. Playing in the garden is sufficient for pups under five months old. If you take your puppy out on a leash , a rule of thumb often mentioned is no more than five minutes walking per day, for each month of his age. So that means a maximum of 25 minutes for a 5 month old puppy. This is just a guideline, to help those who are not sure how to exercise a puppy. Avoiding steps and stairs One study has shown that puppies climbing stairs at an early age were more likely to develop hip dysplasia. So it is a sensible precaution to carry your small puppy up and down steps. Diet and growth Everyone wants their puppy to grow big and strong. But optimal growth does not mean rapid growth. It is now thought that slower growth probably allows for healthier hip development. Make sure you keep your puppy slim, with a waist, and you should be fine. You can check out our feeding your puppy article for more information. In fact recent evidence has shown that neutering is implicated in a number of health problems, and hip dysplasia is one of them. A recent study of golden retrievers for example, found that the incidence of hip dysplasia in male dogs neutered early, was double that of male dogs left intact. If you want to neuter your dog, waiting until he is physically mature may reduce the impact of hormone loss on his joint development. You can read more about the pros and cons of neutering in this article: should I have my Labrador castrated? Preferably before you have a gorgeous puppy sitting in your lap and gazing into your eyes! Once you bring your puppy home, give him time to grow and mature naturally. There will be time enough for that later. Spread the word Tell everyone you know about the importance of hip scores. We need to ensure that there is no market for puppies for untested parents. Your decisions now in this respect have the power to help many puppies now and in the future. I watched this terrible disease slow down an amazing Black Lab named Tucker. He was a great dog, but at only 6 years old, he had to be put down because he was in such tremendous pain. Why do I bring up hip dysplasia in an article about Labrador puppies and stairs? Well, people often threaten that if you let your puppy climb stairs too early, she will get hip dysplasia. So, when can Labrador puppies climb stairs? Labrador puppies can climb stairs around 4 or 5 months old. At this age, the puppies are old enough to safely navigate them without falling. Going up and down stairs at this age will not cause hip dysplasia. Climbing stairs too soon, however, can exacerbate the condition if it is already there. It is a popular misconception that climbing stairs too soon can give Labrador Retriever puppies hip dysplasia. I know that I am going against the grain here, and if you disagree with me then please let me know in the comments below. Especially if you have some scientific study by qualified veterinary researchers. Until then, I think am going to be the one voice of reason in the Labrador blogosphere. Letting your puppies go up and down the stairs will not give your puppy hip dysplasia. Like my vet said, it is a genetic disease. If your puppy can develop hip dysplasia from climbing stairs too soon, then why waste the money on hip checks for the parents? When should Labrador puppies be introduced to the stairs? That can be problematic. There is clearly a time and a place for a puppy to start climbing and descending. Is he big enough to climb the stairs? Notice how much bigger the riser looks from that point of view. Will he be patient enough to take the stairs slowly? You can let your Lab puppy go up and down the stairs when they are big enough and mature enough to follow your lead and go slow! Exercise will exacerbate an already existing condition. If you own a Labrador or Golden Retriever, you should know enough about the disease to avoid the wives tales that swirl around the Retriever circles. You can check out my article on things that will cause and exacerbate hip dysplasia so that you can take care of your canine buddies. These are people with all kinds of experience in the waterfowl and AKC world. The majority of the responses all fell in line with Dr. I specifically asked about a 4 month old Labrador puppy. He can do steps as long as its not a large amount of steps. Also try to keep the pup from jumping up or down from anything. That is the age we got our gal acclimated with stairs! Spend time with him. Mine was crawling up and down on his belly at three months. Then running up and down them. Needs you there with him to coach him. There was one interesting comment that mentioned hips. However, climbing stairs at a young age can make hip dysplasia worse if the puppy already has it. How are stairs dangerous for Lab puppies? Okay, so hip dysplasia is not going to be an issue unless your dog already has it. That is not, however, the only concern when it comes to stairs. It is not uncommon for puppies to take serious falls down the stairs. The problem is that I have never met a Labrador puppy that did not want to run at everything mph and only when he is already in the air wonder if it was a good idea. My dog, Odin, is like that. He will come in the house full speed, only to realize that he cannot stop on the tile and go crashing into the wall or the island in the kitchen. That is why I think that a certain maturity level will determine the right time for Labrador puppies to start climbing stairs. How to teach a Lab puppy to climb the stairs I think the best approach in this situation is to teach your puppy to behave on the leash. Then, when you approach the stairs make him sit down at the bottom of the stairs. You can actually get your puppy accustomed to sitting at the top and bottom of any stairs. If you condition him, you pup will wait for your to either command him to proceed or wait for you to start to up or down them before proceeding. Insist that your puppy sit at the top and bottom of stairs and then wait for your command. The porch steps are a great place to practice because there is less chance your pup will hurt himself. The idea is to get your puppy to climb or descend the stairs at a controlled pace. Ideally, he will stay at heel while going up or down the stairs. To get your puppy to sit at the top or bottom of any stairs, put him on a leash and get a handful of treats. Walk your puppy to the edge of the stairs and command SIT. As soon as his bottom hits the floor, give him a treat or fire off the clicker. Repeat this several times. If your retriever looks at you inquisitively, just wait. He will likely stare at you for a moment and then, eventually sit down. As soon as he sits down, you give him the treat. Now, repeat this silent approach several times. Keep in mind, you might have to repeat this process at the top of the stairs just to make sure your pup understands that the expectation is the same at the top and the bottom. This goes for Golden Retrievers, Labradors and other big breed pups. While slowly going up and down stairs is not a problem for most Labs at 4 months old remember they need to be big enough and mature enough , you should not let them jump down from large heights. Jumping out the truck, for example, will not cause hip dysplasia but can still cause joint problems for your puppy. This can lead to joint pain later on in life and possible surgeries to fix the damage. The same can be said for jumping off a tall porch or launching himself from the last three stairs. Most dog sports like agility courses or dock jumping actually require dogs to be one-year-old before they let them participate. Stronger joints will endure the stress of constant jumping better than developing, immature ones. What about the scientific research that supports the misconception? There are some studies that are used to support the idea that climbing stairs too soon leads to hip dysplasia. However, there is an important difference between causes HP and just being correlated with it. These studies all show a correlation, but not causation. It should not surprise you that science is confused.

When you bring a new puppy home, it's important to keep feeding it the same food that it has been eating at its previous home. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source Talk to the person or organization that you are adopting your puppy from to see what food they are feeding it. They should willingly provide that info and they may even send you home with some if you can't find any to buy. If you can't find the right food in your local pet supply store, consider ordering it online. However, you would need to order it ahead of time so that you have it on hand when the puppy comes home. If you want to feed your puppy a different food from what it has been eating, you will need to switch its food over the course of several days. Feed that mix for several days. Finally, you can give the puppy all new food. If you are content to give your puppy the food it was originally eating, it's fine to do that. Every puppy will have different nutritional needs. Because of this, it's a good idea to discuss proper nutrition with your vet. They can suggest great foods to give your puppy and how much it should be eating. Go to source The right portion size depends on the size of your puppy and its metabolism. Ask your vet to teach you how to body score your puppy. This will allow you to do a quick visual check to see whether your puppy is losing or gaining weight. Tip: If your vet suggests a specific food but doesn't tell you how much to give your puppy, follow the instructions on the packaging. Doing 3 or 4 feedings per day allows your puppy to get enough nutrients without overwhelming its digestive system with a huge amount of food at once. This is especially important when your puppy is under 6 months old, as they have delicate systems. Go to source Don't just leave the food out all day. Take the food away after the puppy eats for about 10 or 15 minutes. Lab puppies should always have access to fresh water so that they can stay adequately hydrated. Put out a dish of water and dump it out, clean the dish, and refill it daily. Some puppies are really messy with their water dishes. To prevent a mess, try putting the water dish on a tray, so that spilled water won't go right onto the floor. All dogs are unique and grow at their own rate. Pro Tip: Check out our complete guide to puppy care to ensure your Lab gets off to a great start. As a medium to large breed, Labrador Retrievers need at least one year to reach their full size. A general rule of thumb suggests your Lab should be at or close to its full size by their first birthday. However, bigger-boned Lab puppies can keep growing and filling out their chest up to 18 months old. How big should a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever be? The average Lab weight at six months old is about 40 to 55 pounds for males or 30 to 35 pounds for females. Please keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and every puppy will grow at a slightly different rate. How much bigger will my Labrador Retriever get? There are three ways to predict the size of a Labrador Retriever at maturity: Age. Labrador Retrievers typically reach their full height and weight around their first birthday. Larger Labs may need up to 18 months to fill out their chest, but any weight gain after 12 months should be minimal overall. If your Lab is less than a year old, they are likely still growing and putting on muscle to reach their adult size. Paw Size. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, then they are probably still growing, as this is a classic puppy feature. Lastly, if you purchased your Lab through a breeder, you can contact them for a more exact height and weight estimate. What is the size of a full-grown Labrador Retriever? A full-grown Labrador Retriever weighs between 65 and 80 pounds and stands about .The average weight of a full-grown female Labrador Retriever should be about 55 to 70 pounds, standing at .Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your Lab is maintaining a healthy weight for its body size. The Labrador Retriever growth rate should be indicative of its athletic body and muscular build. Did you know. ? Their webbed paws made them strong swimmers, along with their otter tail, which acts like a powerful rudder when retrieving ducks. English nobles spotted the dogs and brought them home across the Atlantic, where breeders continued to refine the breed into its own variation. Between their friendly demeanor, adaptability, and outgoing disposition, they make ideal family members. As cherished members of our families, Labs deserve the best care. Unfortunately, like many other purebred dogs, Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to various health issues. Some of the most common examples include:. Puppy training development after 6 months It is very tempting to get carried away with puppy training. Your young do is so willing to please and such fun to be around. It is important to go at a happy pace for you both. Positive reinforcement training is the right choice for your puppy because there are no negative consequences to getting something wrong. But you can still both suffer from burnout and frustration if you try to reach the later puppy training stages without totally aceing the earlier developments. Your Puppy Training Schedule This may not be exactly the same for each puppy, especially with retrieving which is more Labrador specific. However, it gives you a rough idea. Constantly changing direction. Stopping frequently for cuddles and rewards. This means I blow the recall whistle whenever the puppy runs towards me, no compulsion, and no whistle unless the recall is already underway. Socialisation: Lots almost daily of outings to different places rural and urban carried Visits to family and friends. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow mouthing. Working with food: Learning how to take food gently without snatching or grabbing at the treat pot. I still give the puppy lots of encouragement by running away as soon as I blow the whistle. Socialisation: More socialisation, at least twice a week to busy public places. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow gentle mouthing. Retrieving: Encourage chase and pick up retrieve drive. Hand touch: I teach all new puppies to touch my hand with their noses. This is a great foundation for other skills. Recall: Puppy recall continues, reduce my run to a walk, avoid any distractions. Still frequently blow the recall whenever the pup runs towards me of her own free will. Socialisation: From ground level after vaccination. No other leash walking at all Bite inhibition: No biting, gentle mouthing allowed. Retrieving: Continue to build drive. Positions: I introduce three positions — sit, stand, down. What to expect from your 3 month old puppy Most three month old puppies will be sleeping through the night. And will be having less potty training accidents in the house. There are a few potty training problems that arise at this age, and they are all covered in 15 potty training problems solved. Biting is a big shock and a big problem for many new Lab puppy parents so do check out our complete guide to biting , and join the forum for help and support. Help encourage your puppy to stay in their bed while you are eating. I have a pot of dog treats on our kitchen table, and whenever we sit down to a meal, the puppy gets a treat each time she steps into her basket. Just a treat for stepping in there. What to expect from your 4 month old puppy Your 4 month old puppy will be pretty much potty trained, but accidents still happen if they are left alone too long. Biting is usually starting to subside now, and many four month old puppies will be able to mouth at your hand without hurting you. At this point I start to discourage all mouthing. I teach every puppy to let me touch her face or approach her with my hand, food, a leash etc while holding eye contact and not grabbing at me, or at what is in my hand. This is the age at which people often start to push forward with training. Your 4 month old puppy is capable of quite a lot. There is nothing wrong with teaching your puppy different cues and even some tricks. I recommend you still avoid long duration activities at this point as they are a common stumbling point with puppies young enough to have a short attention span. A ten second sit is ample. Add mild distractions Recall: Fade additional cues. Begin to whistle the pup and stand still. Add mild distractions. Clicker train to polish this in more mouthy puppies. No commands are needed for this. Gradual introduction of distractions. Advanced puppy training begins in earnest This is where I start a programme of sporting training with my Labs. You can begin raising your standards and expectations, asking for longer and more complex behaviors. Teaching your puppy to walk to heel nicely for longer distance and past all kinds of distractions and temptations. Or teaching your puppy to sit and stay for longer periods of time, and even while you go out of sight or while other dogs play nearby. What to expect from your six month old puppy Six months is a common time for people to have a lot of questions and to be struggling with a few challenges. This is now a very bouncy, quite powerful and rapidly maturing young dog. And you may need to patch up a few holes in his training or manners. We have a great article for owners of six month old Lab puppies.

Silver beige White Apricot - This and red were two of the last colors recorded for this breed; so they are the newest and quite interesting. An apricot can produce a red. Some apricot Poodles are so light that they appear to be cream, however you will notice a red tint to the hair. A true apricot poodle will have some points or black spots on their skin. Liver points are acceptable but not preferred in the U. All blue Poodles are born black and then "clear" lighten as the pup grows. This often happens within the first year but this change can take place as late as 2 years in some cases. For this reason, many blue Poodles are registered as black. The outer coat of a blue poodle is usually as dark as that of a black, but hairs at the root is a mix of colors. The amount of each color depends on the age of the dog. In middle-aged dogs, medium brown predominates. True blue Poodles will have black points and dark brown eyes. Brown - A brown Poodle is a deep, dark color and in no way can be confused with Cafe Au lait which is much lighter. Pure brown Poodles must have liver points and dark amber eyes. Brown is created by the bb gene, as opposed to the BB gene of black Poodles, and therefore will have no black pigment anywhere on the body, including the eyes and nose. Cafe Au lait - This is a shiny light tan color and some confused this with silver beige. It is not uncommon for the pup to be born brown and 'clear' to this color. A Cafe Au lait should have liver points and dark amber eyes. Black - A true black Poodle is a deep ink black. The dog's coat will have zero blue or silver tinting and not have any white or silver guard hairs. The face when shaved will be deep black, as well. A true black will not "clear" or "fade". Blacks will have black points and dark brown eyes. See More: Black Poodles. Silver Beige - This is a diluted brown, therefore a true silver beige Poodle is born brown. By 6 weeks, silver beige will appear on the face and paws with a full coat change by the age of 2 years. The dog will have liver points and dark amber eyes. Red - This only became an official color in and now many breeders in Canada have come together to form the Apricot Red Poodle Club. A true red will have black points. Read about the fascinating history of reds here: Red Poodles. Silver - A true silver Poodle is born black and "clears" by the age of 2. However, you will know a true silver by the age of 6 weeks, when the face and paws "clear" and the rest of the coat will follow in suit over the next year or two. Silvers will have black points and dark brown eyes. This color is a diluted gray, caused by the silver allele V gene. White - Most white Poodles are a pure, snow white. However, some breeders will dub a white tinted with apricot or beige as being white. A bit of black spotting is acceptable on a white, however there should never be any ticking in the white. The ticking gene is a totally separate gene that makes the coat appear dirty. Gray - While a Poodle can be born gray and stay gray, it is also not uncommon for a black Poodle to turn gray at the age of years old. Cream - These Poodles will have black points; you'll know that a Poodle is cream and not Silver Beige or Cafe au Lait if his nose is black. It is the Cch gene which causes an otherwise brown Poodle to be cream. Color Changes When a Poodle puppy is a solid, one must understand that many variables can affect what will become the adult coat. When a pup keeps the same color coat, this is known as "holding". However, many Poodles 'clear'. To clear means when the coat fades or lightens to another color. A lightening of the coat does not necessarily occur evenly all over the coat, rather Poodle color will often hold more on the dog's ears and the thicker guard hairs. Cafe Au lait Poodles are born dark brown and change to cafe around the age of 2 yrs Blue Poodles are born black and change over by the age of 2 years Sliver Poodles are born black and change over by the age of 2 years Apricots are often born a dark shade that lightens by the age of 2 years Many owners can become confused as their Poodle takes on a completely different color as they grow. For example, a blue Poodle puppy could be misinterpreted as black, although a reputable breeder should be able to know the difference. If that puppy has parents with parti in the bloodline, as the coat clears during the first 2 years, other colors may appear and the once black looking puppy who was actually a blue parti becomes a parti with a wide array of possible colors. Fixing a Dull or Yellowing Coat It is common for a Poodle's coat to dull, become brassy or yellow as the dog matures. Sunlight, air pollution and constant bombardment of minuscule debris are at work here, in addition to the natural aging process cycling out a duller color than a Poodle once had. At all times, each hair strand is in 1 of the 3 phases: Growth, rest or release. Therefore, it is a gradual process.Owners may not notice a difference in the richness, depth and shine of the coat until the process has been going on for a while and enough hairs have grown in faded or dulled to make a drastic difference. The key to fixing and maintaining a beautiful color on a Poodle is to use a color enhancing shampoo. There are some great ones manufactured specifically for canines. In addition, while in general one does not want to use a human product on a puppy or dog, as long as the PH balance is correct, it most certainly can be used with excellent results. When a black, blue, or brown dog has the mutation in this gene, they gradually fade in color as they grow. Not all black, blue, or brown poodles have the mutation, but some do. You will begin to see the change in color starting at a months of age and it is usually complete by the time the dog is mature. In some dogs there may be small changes throughout the life of the dog. Skin Color Skin color can change as well. The most common reason for a Poodle to have a change of color on the skin is exposure to sunlight and this most commonly happens on the belly. It is not uncommon for a pink belly to have darker spots appear. An owner should be concerned if those darker spots are raised above the skin and should have the dog's veterinarian take a look at any raised, dark areas. In the monthly Poodle blog Topic of the Month , you'll find new, helpful articles on a regular basis. All rights reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Share Us. What makes this Poodle so special? Poodles most commonly are solid-colored. They are all-black, all-white, all-red, apricot etc. While it is quite rare, it does happen that Poodles are born with large patches of white. The other part can be any of the common Poodle colors: blue, brown, apricot and others. The patching on Parti Poodles is irregular and random. Every one looks unique, and if you have a Parti Poodle you indeed have a one-of-a-kind dog. Because this type of pattern pops up randomly when breeding Poodles, it is very sought-after. Temperament Like all Poodles these dogs are highly intelligent and attach themselves closely to one person. They require daily exercise and interaction in order to be happy and well-mannered. A bored Poodle is likely to become destructive or show unwanted behaviors such as separation anxiety or reactivity. Poodles are not known to do well when left alone for long periods of time. If you work a job with long hours or like to travel to weekend trips, this is probably not the right dog for you. Training your Parti Poodle Like all Poodles, Parti Poodles are highly intelligent and require daily mental and physical exercise. Training your dog from am early age is the best way to turn him into a well-behaved adult dog that is a joy to have around! You should only use positive reinforcement methods to work with your dog. Plenty of treats are the best way to show him how you would like him to behave. If your Poodle is food-drive, you can even use his regular dog food for training. The most important skills to teach your Parti Poodle are: Coming when called this could be life-saving one day! Walking well on a leash Not running out the door Sitting politely when asked Not jumping up at people If you have small animals in your home, work a lot on impulse control and managing prey drive. With the right training, Poodles can live with cats in harmony. Grooming Many owners pick Poodles and their mixes for their hypoallergenic qualities and their non-shedding coat. Matting can happen quickly in their dense, coarse coat, and it can become so bad that the dog needs to be shaved down to the skin. Every Poodle owner should start bringing their dog to a groomer from puppyhood on — that way the coat is always well-maintained and looking great. Where did Parti Poodles come from? Curiously, Parti Poodles actually are not a novel fad, but a very old form of Poodles. Many paintings and drawings of Poodles in the s and earlier clearly show brown-and-white or black-and-white dogs. The most famous early record of Parti Poodles is from , when Rembrandt was painted with his own brown-and-white Poodle. As dog shows and breeding for certain looks became more popular, parti became an unwanted coloring of the breed. The AKC does not allow them to be shown, so many breeders actually took to culling them right after birth. Are Parti Poodles purebred? Parti Poodles can pop up in litters of two purebred, solid-colored Poodles. While Parti is common in many kinds of Doodle mixes such as the Sheepadoodle or Bernedoodle , it can also be seen in purebred Poodles. It is possible to have a litter consisting of solid colored puppies with one Parti Poodle in the mix — or a litter that has half solid colored puppies and half patched pups, or even a litter that only has Parti-colored puppies. Because this beautiful pattern is becoming more and more popular though, some breeders are starting to specifically select and breed Parti Poodles. Can you show Parti Poodles? The American Kennel Club currently does not allow them at conformation shows. This however does not mean that they cannot be registered. While Parti Poodles are not popular among dog show enthusiasts for this reason, they are very sought-after by many pet dog owners and often actually sold quicker than the solid-colored Poodles that can be entered in conformation shows. If you are planning on attending a conformation show with your Poodle, you should stick to solid white, brown, apricot, blue or black Poodles. How long do Parti Poodles live? Parti Poodles live just as long as their solid-colored counterparts. For a Standard Poodle this is around 13 years, for a Miniature Poodle 15 years and for a Toy Poodle as much as 17 years. Small dogs tend to live longer lives than larger ones, this holds true in any breed or mix Their coloring does not affect their lifespan or health in any way. It is just a different look! What is the difference between a Parti Poodle and a Phantom Poodle? A Phantom Poodle has a coat of a solid color and bits of a secondary color. This secondary color however only covers small parts of the body. Many Phantom Poodles look similar in appearance. The colors are more uneven and the pattern will look random and always unique. Are Parti Poodles more expensive? As always, the demand can and will determine the price. Many dog owners are looking for Parti Poodles because they are so exotic and cool-looking. Many breeders sell Parti Poodles for higher prices than solid-colored ones. In many dog breeds the rare colors sell for higher prices. You should always make sure that the breeder you pick is reputable and does not only breed for a certain color or pattering. Ask the breeder if the parents have health tests and reliable temperaments. It is very important that the parents also have calm and friendly demeanors and are genetically healthy. Which color should you get? Whether you get a Parti Poodle, a solid-colored Poodle or a Phantom Poodle will come down to personal preference. The temperament and disposition of the dogs is the same regardless of the coloring. Do not make color your only criterion when choosing a puppy though: You should always make sure that the puppy is healthy, has a friendly character and fits in well with your family. If however you are looking for a uniquely colored companion dog who will be by your side anytime, any place, the Parti Poodle is the dog for you! Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day. Poodle Colors March 18, Poodles come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, to the point that the terminology can become quite bewildering. In this article, we shed some light, rather than hair, on the rainbow world of Poodle colors, exploring the most common coat hues and patterns before delving deeper into the weird yet wonderful world of ticked and parti Poodles. Table of Contents 12 Common Solid Colors of the Poodle Most Poodles, regardless of size, come in solid colors, some of which are more common than others. Although black Poodles are often overlooked in favor of lighter-colored puppies or rescues, they are no more aggressive or less intelligent than any other color Poodle. There is one slight health discrepancy, however, in that studies have found that black and other dark-colored Poodles are more susceptible to squamous cell carcinoma of the digit SCDD than other lighter-colored dogs. Due to their poor visibility at night, these dogs should always wear an LED collar when getting walked in the dark. Some may take a year to develop the blue tinge to their coats, while others hang onto the vestiges of their puppyhood black for 24 months. A quick examination of their paws may also reveal some silver or white hairs between the pads. As a blue Poodle puppy ages, so its color clears, becoming almost gun-metal grey. Some shading is acceptable in blue Poodles, but to be true to the breed standard, they should, like the black Poodle, have black noses, dark eyes, and black toenails. Silver Another diluted version of the black Poodle, like the blues, silvers are born black but will start to clear much earlier. By the time they reach six weeks, silver hues will be apparent around the face and paws, with the rest of the coat following suit over the next year or so. Silver is recessive color, making it more difficult to breed for, and silver puppies are only really guaranteed if both parents are also silver Poodles. This process is caused by the Progressive Graying gene which is found in some black, blue, and brown Poodles. Although some Poodles are born gray and remain that way throughout their lives, others will start to change color at around two or three months of age, gradually fading as they mature. Regardless of how the gray coat is produced this color is recognized by the AKC. Like the black, blue, and silver Poodles, gray dogs should also have black noses and nails and dark-colored eyes. Cream Cream is one of several off-white colorations found in all sizes of Poodle, and distinguishing one from another can be challenging. A cream Poodle is fairly easy to identify as it is one of the few light-colored Poodles that have black rather than liver-colored noses. Establishing whether a Poodle is white or cream is more difficult as both have black points and a pale cream, in certain lights, may appear white. Experts will no doubt dismiss this confusion as pure ignorance as the two are very different. While white indicates the complete absence of color, the cream is a very diluted brown, not far from apricot. Indeed, many cream-colored Poodles are born light or even medium brown and then clear as they mature. White White is one of the most popular and most common colors for Poodles. Despite being white, a white Poodle belongs to the black hair type and therefore has a black nose, nails, and eye-rims, as well as dark-colored eyes, giving it a striking appearance. In the past, a white Poodle with pink toenails or a patch of pink skin would still have succeeded in the show ring but, these days, the AKC insists on white Poodles with black extremities only. This color needs to be washed with a special shampoo for Poodles often to stay bright and clean. Both the Toy and the Miniature Poodle carry this trait, however, and it does appear to affect those with white pigmentation more than other colors. Brown Once lumped together with Red Poodles, brown Poodles should ideally be the color of dark mahogany or a rich walnut brown, as opposed to chestnut. Nevertheless, brown Poodles boast more color variations and a wider range of hues than almost any of the other colors. Most brown Poodles are born dark and then fade as they mature, producing stunning shades of cinnamon brown and coffee. One of the biggest problems facing the brown Poodle is its tendency to have very pale yellow, almost green eyes. This is an undesirable trait in the show ring but difficult to eliminate in breeding. The most sought-after brown Poodles have amber-colored eyes, a liver nose, and dark toenails, as per the breed standard. Rufus is a recessive allele, which is perhaps why red Poodles are so rare. Red Poodles are particularly prone to color change, with some fading as they age and others darkening. Apricot Like red, apricot is a relatively new color for Poodles, having only been accepted into the breed standard comparatively recently. The first apricot-colored Standard Poodle was born in but categorized as liver at the time. Since then, apricot Poodles have won a variety of prestigious awards, and their popularity has continued. Last year, world-famous Lionel Messi welcomed an apricot Toy Poodle named Abu into his family, adding a splash of color and cuteness to the Messi tribe. Although Poodles of this color may look similar to red ones, the cafe au lait hue is closer to silver than red. Silver Beige Unlike cafe au lait, silver beige is a diluted shade of brown, and most silver beige Poodles are born brown, clearing around their face and paws within the first six weeks of life. Silver beige is much more popular than cafe au lait, but the two are frequently confused. While cafe au lait puppies are usually born that color, silver beige Poodles are born brown and subsequently fade to silver beige. Parti Poodles Parti Poodles have large amounts of white on their body. This can be mixed with any of the regular colors: red, black, brown etc. These dogs are highly sought-after. You will probably have to look for a bit in order to find the Parti Poodle of your dreams! This is produced by a specific gene and can even be seen in pure white Poodles that, if they have the ticking gene, will appear dirty. More of a marking than a color in its own right, it can be difficult to spot the spots on a Poodle puppy. More commonly found on parti Poodles than solid colors, ticking becomes increasingly obvious as the puppy matures. While the United Kennel Club sees ticking as an acceptable trait in a Poodle, the AKC disqualifies such dogs from conformation classes, as it does parti Poodles. Some Poodle owners are convinced that certain colored dogs are cleverer than others. The idea behind this theory is that black and white Poodles were the original breed standard colors and have therefore been bred for temperament and intelligence, rather than color. You may indeed have a particularly intelligent white Poodle at some stage in your life, but you could equally have an Einstein-style Tuxedo Poodle. At the end of the day, Poodles are as varied as humans, and some are blessed with superior intelligence just as others are endowed with an especially friendly temperament. What is the Most Popular Poodle Color? Whites are common and much-loved for their regal appearance, while the black is easier to keep to clean, making it popular among more practical Poodle owners. Are Parti Poodles More Expensive? Do Poodles Have a Favorite Person? While most dog breeds adore whoever feeds them, Poodles are a little more particular, selecting their favorite human based on their personality, rather than their ability to provide care and sustenance. The Bottom Line The world of Poodles is full of color and variety. While traditionalists may prefer to stick with the standard breed colors, those drawn to the exotic may find the parti Poodles more attractive. An ancient breed dating back to the 15th or possibly even 14th century, it seems unlikely the Poodle will ever lose its popularity. She spends all her waking hours with her Australian Cattle Dog, Koala, either walking, horse-riding, running, or just hanging out. Originally from the UK, Nicky been living with dogs for over 40 years and is a passionate dog-owner. With a Masters Degree from the University of London under her belt, Nicky has had a diverse career, training and riding horses, running safari lodges, and hosting volunteers. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.

Things to do with your English Bulldog Massachusetts is a great place to live with an English bulldog. The state has a diverse landscape, plenty of outdoor activities, and dog-friendly businesses. Hike the Trails Hiking is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. There are many hiking trails in Massachusetts that are perfect for English bulldogs. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for your dog, and take breaks often. Visit a Campground Camping is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many campgrounds in Massachusetts that allow dogs. Be sure to bring a tent, sleeping bags, food, water, and other supplies. There are many places to fish in Massachusetts, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to get a fishing license and follow all the rules and regulations. Go Boating Boating is another great way to enjoy the outdoors with your English bulldog. There are many places to boat in Massachusetts, both on rivers and lakes. Be sure to bring a life jacket for your dog and follow all the safety rules. There are many places to swim in Massachusetts, both in fresh water and salt water. Be sure to supervise your dog at all times and follow all the safety rules. Visit a Dog Park Dog parks are a great place for English bulldogs to run and play off-leash. There are many dog parks in Massachusetts, both in urban and rural areas. Visit Dog-Friendly Businesses Massachusetts has a number of pet-friendly businesses, including restaurants, hotels, and stores. These are just a few of the many things you can do with your English bulldog in Massachusetts. With its stunning scenery, endless activities, and friendly people, Massachusetts is the perfect place to create lasting memories with your furry friend. How do you breed for a healthier English Bulldog? Like all things in life, breeding for health is simply a matter of priority. We are blind to many of the breed priorities that distract other breeders from improving the health of the English Bulldog. We focus on health and personality and very little else. We are not interested in winning a blue ribbon in the show ring. Rather, we test for things like elongated soft palates, narrow tracheas, stenotic nares, luxation in the patellar tendons, heart defects, cherry eye, optic cilia, entropion, ect. We focus and prioritize creating healthy bloodlines, therefore our bulldogs are typically much healthier than the breed as a whole. After breeding for health, what other priorities are you focused on? Our true desire is to create the perfect family bulldog. We also believe a bulldog bred for the correct personality is essential to the family unit as well. A Bruiser Bulldog is bred for intelligence and playfulness. We want our bulldogs to be full of personality and some quirk. We believe a full personality along with a little stubbornness is the true North star of the bulldog breed and is what makes the unique among other breeds. We look for these personality traits in our adult bulldogs and continue to create bloodlines that reflect these qualities. What are the steps of your adoption process if I am located in Massachusetts? Check out our available English Bulldog Puppies page. At times, we have available puppies but almost always have a waiting list as well. A quick look at our available puppies is the starting point to begin the process. Send us an email or give us call .If approved to adopt one of our puppies you are welcome to place a deposit to hold until your puppy is ready to go home. Greetings from the Wysongs! Northern Indiana based, Bruiser Bulldogs offers purebred English Bulldog Puppies for sale to loving adopters seeking to find a higher quality English Bulldog. As English Bulldog breeders , Mitch and Erica Wysong have dedicated themselves to a lifelong journey of changing the culture and societal pressures of poor breeding practices within the English Bulldog Community. Mitch and Erica believe in producing a healthy English Bulldog puppy first and foremost. Through years of research and development, Bruiser Bulldogs is leading a new movement away from the overdone, wrinkled bulldog that has been long plagued by health problems. By embracing a healthier, more athletic look they are able to ensure that each and every English Bulldog Puppy for sale by Bruiser Bulldogs is supported by a platform of health tested, clean genetics. Upon adoption, each family that takes on the responsibility of a Bruiser Bulldog enters into an active and vibrant communal family of bulldog owners. Mitch and Erica believe it is their responsibility to provide emotional and mental support for the lifetime of each and every English Bulldog puppy they produce. To ensure the success of every adoption, Bruiser Bulldogs will always be committed to helping Bruiser Bulldog adopters care for their English Bulldogs to the best of their ability. 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. I started breeding Olde English Bulldogges back in .After a few years, I added English Bulldogs to my program. I have always prided myself on breeding healthy family pets. In I had to take a break due to being diagnosed with breast cancer. I am super excited to be able to begin my breeding program again. Right now, we have two females, Tito and Bailey. Tito is Baileys mom. They live in our home and are a part of our everyday lives. The English Bulldog is an old and unmistakable breed. Their compact, muscular frame and copious wrinkles make them stand out from any group of dogs. They're known to have a gentle disposition, calm demeanor and love human attention. English Bulldogs are well suited for aparment life and more calm lifestyles as they don't require a large yard or a lot of exercise. They suffer in extreme heat and cold and do best in temperate climate. They are loud breathers and are known for their snoring and wheezing. Their coats don't require much attention but you will want to keep their facial folds and wrinkles clean to prevent skin infections. English Bulldogs aren't an easy breed to raise. They require artificial insemination and c-sections and require around the clock care the first few weeks. Bulldog moms can be clumsy and lay on their babies while nursing so they have to be watched closely. By providing proper food, vaccinations and care for 8 weeks, the Bulldog breeder invests a lot of time and money into each litter. If you add up the cost of stud service, progesterone tests, c-section, vaccinations, etc. This is just a quick summary of why English Bulldogs cost what they do. You can certainly find cheaper puppies but this is one of those times when you "get what you pay for". Home: About Us. You can search for the puppy you want on the said website, and you can even filter the search to make a quicker and better search. Moreover, you can find further tips and information that can come in handy on their site. Here is the link to the AKC Marketplace. In it, you can find both Bulldog Pups and adults that are near you. You can also filter the searches with the sex and age of the dog that you want. Here is a link to their website. Provide a suitable bed. Make sure your puppy already has its bed where it can sleep. A crate is ideal for your new puppy. One thing you can do is provide a stress-free sleeping area. Thus, you should maintain the space with a quiet environment. Put the bed somewhere you can see so you can always keep an eye for your pet. Your pet should have his food and water bowls. It would be best to have a customized food and water bowls intended for your pet. Always have it available at a scheduled time. It will also train your pup to eat in a planned manner. Provide toys for your pet to chew. All puppies and dogs like to chew, so be sure to have a toy ready for your pup to chew. It will also prevent your pup from chewing on appliances and furniture. Provide a suitable collar and leash for it. It would save you the effort to purchase or look for one when you want to walk your pup. Try to ask your vet for grooming products you can use for your bulldog puppy. Keep in contact with your veterinarian. Puppies are always playful, so be sure to avoid having access to items that can be dangerous for them. Keep furniture with sharp edges away from your puppy, and remove items that are prone to falling. Always have your yard and fence secured to prevent your pup from running away. Look for small openings and cover it. It will help you prevent your puppy from going out and disappearing. Is not someone who has a puppy mill. It means they should breed only one or two kinds and do not breed only to sell it immediately. Will not have a litter of pups always ready for you. A good breeder knows almost everything about the breed.

For the complete list please see our German Shepherd Breeders by State guide page. The cost of a German Shepherd puppy in South Carolina can vary widely. If you are looking for an extremely high-quality pup, expect to pay more than that. When assessing the price of your pup, do not forget to take vet fees into account. Be sure to talk with the breeder about any additional costs associated with caring for your dog after it is brought home. A reputable breeder should be able to provide you with all the information you need about taking care of your new best friend. First, ask your friends, family, and coworkers if they know of any good breeders in the area. Chances are, someone you know has purchased a dog from a breeder in the past and can recommend someone trustworthy. Second, do some online research. There are many websites devoted to helping dog owners find responsible breeders. Be sure to read reviews and compare prices before making a decision. Finally, contact your local German Shepherd rescue organization. These organizations often work with reputable breeders who have puppies available for adoption. This is a great way to find exactly the kind of pup you are looking for, while ensuring that your money goes to a good cause. If you do your research and contact breeders ahead of time, finding the perfect German Shepherd puppy for sale in South Carolina should be easy. First, be sure to ask lots of questions. A good breeder will be happy to answer all of your queries and will provide you with detailed information about their puppies. Second, take the time to meet the parents of your potential pup. If the parents are friendly and healthy, it is likely that their puppies will be as well. Finally, spend some time playing with the puppies. This is a great way to get a feel for their personality and temperament. Be sure to bring your entire family along so everyone can have a chance to interact with the puppies. If you follow these guidelines, finding a responsible German Shepherd breeder in South Carolina should be easy. Just take your time and contact several different breeders before making a final decision. A good breeder will have no problem giving you the contact information of happy customers. If possible, visit the homes of some of these customers to see the puppies firsthand. This will give you a good idea of what to expect from your new puppy. References will be able to tell you a lot about your potential breeder, so be sure to ask for them. If your breeder is reputable, they will have no problem with you contacting some of their previous buyers. Ask these customers about their experience with the breeder and their puppies. Were the puppies healthy and well-socialized? Was the breeder easy to work with? Did they provide any after-sale support? A good breeder will be happy to provide them. If they do, this is a promising sign. A reputable breeder will take their puppies to the veterinarian for regular checkups and preventative treatments. Make sure you confirm your suspicions before proceeding any further. Your breeder should take their German Shepherds to the vet regularly. A reputable breeder will be very open about allowing you to meet either or both parents. Reputable breeders will always offer written health guarantees so that both parties can be protected against illness or genetic defects. There are plenty of responsible breeders out there who will be more than happy to help you find the perfect puppy. You can also report them to the Better Business Bureau or your local animal control agency. Puppy Mills Puppy mills are a huge problem in the United States, and they often prey on unsuspecting buyers who are looking for a new pet. The breeder is secretive and unwilling to answer your questions. The puppies are much cheaper than average, indicating that the breeder is trying to make a quick buck. You deserve much better than that. A responsible breeder will be more than happy to answer all your questions. You should expect health guarantees from any responsible South Carolina German shepherd dog breeder. These guarantees will protect both you and the breeder in case your puppy ever falls ill or inherits an illness or condition. A responsible breeder will always put the welfare of their puppies first, and they will be more than happy to answer all your questions. The breeders who meet these high standards will ensure that both you and your new pup are happy with your decision. However, there are a few things you should do before your pup arrives to make life as easy as possible for both of you. Set up the Crate Ensure that the crate you choose is large enough for your German Shepherd puppy to stand up and turn around. Just be sure to clean it thoroughly afterward so that neither of you accidentally steps on anything harmful. Here are a few tips to get started: 1. Take your pup outside immediately after they eat, drink, or play. Reward your pup when they successfully pee or poop outside. A treat or some verbal praise will do the trick. Have patience. It may take a little while for your pup to get the hang of things, but they will eventually learn where is appropriate to relieve themselves. If all else fails, consider using puppy pads or training pads until your pup has learned where to go. Congratulations on your life with your new puppy! I love animals and love helping people adopt a pet. It all started when attending Missouri State University and I began volunteering at an animal shelter. Our dogs are x-rayed and certified through the orthopedic foundation for animals OFA and they are also PennHip certified. We participate in conformation shows through the United Kennel Club and have several champions. Learn more about our breeding program here Knowledge in raising the finest puppies There is more to producing amazing puppies than just careful selection in breeding. We strive to produce perfection in the way we nourish, train and enrich our puppies lives from birth. What sets us above the rest is the enrichment we provide for our litters. We go the extra mile to make sure that our puppies have the best start in life as possible. We focus on quality over quantity by never having more then 2 litters at a time. We have been raising these magnificent dogs for over 20 years. Learn more about how our puppies are raised here Located in beautiful South Carolina We are located in the beautiful midlands of South Carolina. 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! Learn more about GSD colors here We hope you enjoy looking around our website and getting to know about us, our dogs and the unique way we raise our puppies! Visits are by appointment only. If you are in California and want a puppy from us we can still make it happen as we can deliver! My husband got this made for me in

How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level. Many owners also want to know when they can switch to adult food formulas for their German Shepherd puppies. Switch your GSD puppy to adult food when they are around 12 to 18 months old. Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to 18 months old as long as they are not putting on excess weight too quickly. If you want to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, keep reading. Finding the best food to feed your German Shepherd puppy is overwhelming at times. This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating! Follow this feeding guide when you need to know what to feed German Shepherd puppies. I understand! The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition. Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed. Packed with nutrients to help limit inflammation of the joints and uses fresh ingredients. Easily digestible formula for puppies prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs. Rich aroma with DHA fish oil to entice puppies to finish every last bite while giving shine to their coats. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet. Most GSDs are healthy and fit on commercial dog foods that are high quality. These balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature. There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food. Now, consider what to feed a German Shepherd puppy based on their age. These feeding charts and guides will help keep your new companion growing strong and athletic. Tiny portions of canned, wet foods are introduced. Meals per day: 4 or more Puppies should stay with their mom for to keep them healthy. Nutrition Warning! At 8-weeks-old a GSD pup is eating more solid foods and develops a better appetite for kibble and other foods. Add in only a couple of small spoonfuls of canned plain pumpkin, unsweetened Greek yogurt, or cooked oatmeal to entice your pup to eat. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue feeding the same as the 8-week-old diet. Treats are not only enjoyable for your German Shepherd, but help you to eneterain and build a positive relationship with him. Be sure to keep their zoomies under control by playing plenty of fun German Shepherd games for puppies. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue to feed the kibble. Watch for excessive weight gain during this growth time as their bones cannot take extra weight! Too much weight gain too quickly can cause joint issues as an adult and prevent healthy development. Use their mental energy to help keep them more relaxed throughout the day by playing brain-boosting mind games for German Shepherd puppies. Meals per day: 3 to 4 Week-Old Puppy Keep your puppy trim and athletic by monitoring how much you feed your puppy and their body condition. You can write how much they eat and track this over time, and adjust how much your feed your German Shepherd puppy to keep them at a healthy weight. Try using fresh, raw, cut-up pieces of carrots as healthy treats or small, deseeded cubes of fresh apple as part of their training treats. Keep your eyes open for a growth spurt about to begin! Meals per day: 3 Week-Old Puppy Around 4 months old, you might notice your puppy finish their meal quickly and look for more food. Be sure to watch how many treats you give them throughout the day. You can do this by holding them safely in your arms and weighing them with you on the scale. Then, place them on the floor and step onto the scale without them to weigh yourself. Remember, around 16 to weeks old your German Shepherd puppy begins to rapidly grow. Instead, when looking overhead at your puppy their waist should look trim and not rounded outwards. German Shepherd puppies should appear sleek in their waistline. Meals per day: 3 Week And Older Puppy Continue to feed your German Shepherd puppy dry kibble with a small amount of healthy foods mixed in. You can lessen the healthy food you mix in gradually if you prefer. But, even as adults, German Shepherds love a bit of tasty toppers on their kibble. Around a year old, begin feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals a day. Two meals, one in the morning and evening, are not only safer but also provide your German Shepherd with sustained energy to fuel their high-energy lifestyle. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips: Always offer fresh water during their meal times. Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle. I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. Feed your German Shepherd at the same time everyday. The best time to feed a German Shepherd puppy is in the morning, before you leave for the day, and in the evening, about 2 hours before you put your dog to bed. Allow them to potty after eating to ensure their comfort. Your dog also needs to eat at other times of the day for their health and growth. How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat. Every dog is different. Keep in mind the number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each puppy food company has a different amount of calories and size of the kibble. Here are a few things that might affect how much your German Shepherd puppy should eat. The more active a German Shepherd puppy is, the more calories he needs to eat to replace lost energy. For example, puppies need nearly twice the amount of calories as compared to adults. And older or senior German Shepherds who are less active need less food. Health Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to feeding your German Shepherd. Simply put, you can prevent some medical conditions and health problems by monitoring their waistlines. Instead follow the healthy way to bulk up a German Shepherd. To see if your German Shepherd is at the right weight you can find the average weight depending on their age. Shares German Shepherds are graceful, obedient, and loyal dogs with specific nutritional needs. Following a German Shepherd puppy feeding chart will enable you to track the amount of food your puppy is eating as they grow. There are varieties of foods available in the market and most of them come with guidelines at the back of the packaging showing you how much to feed a German Shepherd puppy. This article will cover different types of diets available and the specific nutritional needs of your German shepherd. It will also help you know what to do to ensure that your GSD gets nutritious and balanced food for every stage of their life. German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart There are three aspects of this German Shepherd puppy feeding chart, namely the German shepherd feeding amount, feeding frequency, and mealtime lengths. It is important to find out the appropriate feeding amount, frequency, and length for your German shepherd without leaving out one of them. That way, you can accurately find out the best way to feed your dog. Overall, there are four ranges that you need to keep in mind. An active dog may require a bit more than the numbers in this list, and an inactive dog will need a slightly less amount. But this guide can act as a solid benchmark. A puppy will need to eat more because they are growing very quickly. Talk to your vet about how much exactly so you keep them healthy and happy. Make sure your German Shepherd has access to fresh, clean water all day. When you take your dog for a walk make sure to bring along some extra water in a collapsible bowl. If they get tired on the way or it gets very hot, this can save their life. So for example, if your dog is 60lbs they should eat between lbs of food in one day. If you notice your dog is losing weight, add more calories to its meal size. However, there are other considerations on how much to feed a German shepherd puppy per day. You might want to consider avoiding meals right before bedtime. Let them digest their food first before they go to sleep. Understanding German Shepherd Puppy Nutritional Needs All dogs require nutritious, satisfying, and healthy food and every breed have their special diet. For maximum energy and health, there are factors to consider when deciding what to feed your German Shepherd: Size considerations- the AKC breed standard says that a German Shepherd can go to 26 inches tall at the shoulder. Females can be around 49 to 71 pounds while Males can be around 66 to 88 pounds. This means that they have a big appetite hence it is good to find quality food for them. They grow pretty fast hence they need specific nutrients for specific stages. Activity level- German shepherds are muscular, active, and agile which contributes to higher caloric needs to be complemented by feeding them a high-quality diet. Health consideration- GSDs are prone to many diseases hence a healthy diet will prevent problems. For example, arthritis that is caused by hip and elbow dysplasia can be mitigated through an excellent diet. Ensure that your GSD diet contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. How long does it take for your dog to be full? Is your dog still hungry after eating his portion? German shepherds normally take anywhere from 10 minutes to 15 minutes to finish the meal, given that you followed the proper feeding guidelines properly. If your dog shows signs of slow eating, we recommend sending them to your vet. If you think your dog is already full before finishing his portion, there is no problem. However, if your dog is still hungry after finishing the meal, consider sending him to your vet. This is because this can be a sign of a serious health issue involving their digestive system. They encourage the puppy to chew hence preventing periodontal diseases or tartar. Kibble is less expensive to buy and can stay fresh for longer. See also German Shepherd Gestation Period And Pregnancy Wet food is also essential for puppies because they allow puppies to feel fuller with less food. If your GSD need to shed a few pounds, wet food is a good way to reduce their caloric intake. Wet food is easier to digest, hence they are good for German shepherds with sensitive stomachs. Wet food is appetizing and keeps the puppy hydrated. You need to understand why your puppy cannot eat because it will help you determine the way to deal with the issue. There is no need to worry if the puppy lost appetite shortly and goes back to normal eating without any sign of illness. If the puppy loses appetite and takes a few days without improvement, take your puppy to the vet to find the problem because your dog might be sick. If the vet finds that the puppy is sick, they may suggest a special diet that will boost their immunity and give them extra nutrients to better their recovery. The puppy may have stopped eating because of behavioral issues; therefore, you may need to feed them same time to get a routine. Treats and human food that is given to the puppy may need to be reduced and also you can try different kinds of food. The German shepherd is a medium dog breed according to the AKC. Therefore, free-feeding is not a good idea. For the German shepherds, feeding schedules work better. If the puppies are free-fed the puppy may eat the leftover at any time even when they are not hungry. Sticking to a feeding routine help the puppy to stay healthy and prevent obesity. When you have a schedule, managing their weight and house training will improve. The puppy usually relieves themselves around 15 minutes after eating or drinking, therefore, when they feed at the same time every day and are taken outside after a while, accidents will be minimized. A raw diet is good for German shepherds. A raw diet help improves vitality and energy. The puppy gets healthy white teeth with an increased lifespan and reduced shedding as well as a stronger immune system. Raw meat is a great source of protein and an optimal diet. It is like keto to humans because it allows the puppy to reach their total capacity and good health. Dogs are naturally carnivorous, hence raw diet aligns with their natural needs. However, you should speak to your vet before putting your puppy on a raw food diet. The majority of commercially available kibble food is balanced and complete, and of high quality for your German shepherd puppy. Human supplements often contain harmful substances to animals and are unregulated or minimally effective. Therefore, never give human supplements to your German shepherd puppy. But they can eat small amounts of cooked chicken or turkey, plain cooked sweet potatoes or carrots, plain yogurt, and small amounts of fruits like apples or bananas without getting sick. Talk to a vet for advice on how to feed your German Shepherd puppy a healthy and balanced diet. These include chocolate, fatty foods, coffee, alcohol, chives, avocado, onions, nuts, grapes and raisins, garlic, raw or undercooked meat, and bones. These foods can cause a wide range of health problems, from stomachaches to more serious problems like pancreatitis or kidney failure. Some foods that people eat may have a lot of sodium or sugar, which can also be bad for dogs. How much food to give an older German Shepherd will depend on their needs and how much they move around. But as dogs get older, they tend to slow down and may need less food to stay at a healthy weight. As a general rule, an older German Shepherd needs about 2 to 3 cups of food per day, which should be divided between two meals. A German Shepherd that is getting older should eat high-quality senior dog food that is made for their age and size. Senior dogs might also benefit from getting smaller meals more often. If your German Shepherd puppy seems to always be hungry, you should look at what they eat and how often they eat. Make sure they eat enough for their age, weight, and level of activity. Puppies grow quickly and need more calories than adult dogs, so it is possible that they are not getting enough food. Also, make sure you feed them high-quality puppy food that is right for their age and size. If you are worried about how hungry they are or how much they weigh, you should talk to a vet to rule out any health problems and make a plan for feeding them. The amount of dry food you should feed your German Shepherd will depend on several factors, including their age, weight, and activity level. Puppies: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Adult dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Active dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Senior dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. If the dog is obviously overweight or underweight, adjust accordingly. If you can feel most of the ribs without squeezing your fingers in between them — try 1 cup per day. This is a decent starting point for a growing large breed puppy that needs the extra calories to grow big and strong. If you can feel most of the ribs AND see its waist — try 3 cups per day. This is perfect for an adult German Shepherd which needs extra calories due to being very active. With this amount, it will be able to maintain its weight, but not gain any extra fat. If you can feel all the ribs and see their waist — try 3. This is a good amount for a very active German Shepherd which needs extra calories to maintain a healthy weight. This should be sufficient for an adult German Shepherd which is quite active. If you can feel all the ribs and see their waist — try 5 cups per day. This is a good amount for an extremely active German Shepherd which needs extra calories to maintain lean muscle mass. For example, when my dog was a puppy, he would feel all ribs and see his waist when eating 2 cups of food per day. However, as he got older and larger, I had to increase the amount — even though I could still feel most of the ribs! He maintained around .Although there are lots of opinions on how much food your shepherds needs, these guidelines work for me and my German Shepherds. Everyone is different though, so you will have to adjust accordingly if necessary — this guide should help you until you find the ideal amount. If your dog is a very active one it may need more food depending on its activity level. Always be sure to give plenty of water since dry kibble can dehydrate the animal over time. However, this amount will vary depending on the size, age, and activity level of your dog. Puppies and young dogs, for example, generally need more water than adult German Shepherds. And working dogs or those who exercise frequently may require even more. This is because they can easily hydrate themselves if given free access to water. However, you still need to remember some things. For example, take note that your dog will need to drink 6 ounces of water per day for every 3. Depending on the temperature and activeness, this amount can increase. Lastly, make sure you take extra care in providing water access to your German shepherd. The most preferable way is to fill a bowl with a moderate amount of water, not too much. The feeding amount, frequency, length, and water requirements can always be changed. If you have no time to visit your vet, the following topic may help you. How Much Should A 1-year-old German Shepherd Eat A 1-year-old German Shepherd should eat about two and a half to three cups of food each day, broken up into two or three meals. Pointers for Feeding German Shepherds Improper feeding practices can lead to serious health problems for German shepherds. An owner is responsible for taking into consideration the age and weight of a German shepherd before feeding them. When feeding a german shepherd puppy that is four to six months old, you must give them two meals a day that comprises around eight ounces and five ounces. When feeding a German shepherd puppy that is between seven and twelve months old, the meal amounts should be increased to ten ounces for each meal. This amount should be split into three smaller meals. This is regardless of whether they are active or not. Yep, German shepherds can gain weight regardless of whether they exercise or not. If you think your dog is gaining too much weight, you can split their daily calories into four or five smaller meals. Some people prefer using dry dog food, while others would choose canned dog food. Whatever you choose for your German shepherd is usually okay, but canned food tends to contain more moisture than dry food which may lead to bladder stones in certain dogs. However, when it comes to the amount of dog food you feed your German shepherd, canned food leads to more obesity than dry food. If your German shepherds are over five years old, you must give them an extra meal. This additional meal should comprise around four ounces of food so they can easily digest it during their older age. When feeding a German shepherd puppy, you must know how to correctly measure their food amount. Be accurate when following the proper measurements; otherwise, it could lead to your dog gaining too much weight. Use measuring cups that are specifically made for dry food. If you use any other type of measuring device, it might lead to your dog eating too much or too little food. You must not feed your German shepherd until they are full, but allow them to eat until they are slightly satiated. Do not serve unlimited food; give them about two to three cups of food per day. If you are unsure whether or not your German shepherd is obese, check its waistline. If they have a thick waist and their stomach looks like a sphere, then that is a clear sign that your German shepherd is obese. Never let them finish their meal if they are still hungry; otherwise, you will encourage them to gorge on their food. Your German shepherd must always have access to fresh clean water, so you should ensure they can drink it whenever necessary. Feeding Guidelines by Age Before proceeding with the following points, remember that age is not the only determining factor in a German shepherd feeding chart. Make sure to consider all the content in this blog post as well. It is recommended that you slowly let them adapt first. This can be their regular food from now on. This includes fruits, bones, and more. You should also avoid giving them your leftovers. However, they will need time to adapt. You should also consider feeding your German shepherd foods that can be gnawed and chewed. This is so they can develop their jaws, teeth, and gums. This will result in less feeding amount and frequency. Feeding Guidelines by Weight German shepherds can be of different weight ranges. An average weighted German shepherd 35 kilograms will then need calories per day. This only applies to German shepherds that do not exercise or are inactive. Active German Shepherds: In the case of active German shepherds that exercise regularly, every 1 kilogram equals 55 calories per day. So an average weighted German shepherd will require calories per day to be able to function properly. Take note, however, that this calculation may be affected if the German shepherd has a health disorder concerned with metabolism or digestion. German Shepherd Puppies vs. Adults Guidelines Our last topic involves the difference between a puppy and an adult. The following are some of the facts that recent studies have proven: Puppies have higher energy levels than adults. This means they need to eat more than adult German shepherds. German shepherds will need higher protein and fat content at an early age. The amount of fat and protein will decrease as they grow older. Puppies cannot tolerate too many nutrients. Ingesting extra minerals and vitamins may lead to serious health disorders. Meanwhile, adults are only risking being overweight when taking in more than intended. German Shepherds usually have a good appetite and can eat a lot, especially when they are young and growing. But their food intake should be balanced and right for their age, weight, and level of activity to keep them from getting too much food and getting fat. As they age, they should usually eat less quickly. Most of the time, bones that have been cooked and ground up completely may be safe to eat. Instead, give them dog-made chew toys or treats. Can German Shepherds Be Vegetarians? Since German Shepherds consume meat, it follows that they must consume a significant amount of animal protein in order to get all of the necessary nutrients. Although while it is feasible to offer a dog a vegetarian or vegan diet, owners of German Shepherds should avoid doing so since it increases the likelihood that their dogs will not get all of the nutrients that they need. After talking about the feeding amount, frequency, and lengths of a German shepherd, you can now easily plan how much, how many times, and how long you feed your dog. You even learned how to hydrate your German shepherd the proper way. Lastly, we talked about the difference between a puppy and an adult in terms of feeding. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. German Shepherd care German Shepherd puppy diet: newborn For a German Shepherd puppy to develop and grow properly, it is imperative that they first nurse on their mother's milk. The first milk they receive is a protein and antibody-rich type of milk known as colostrum. This gives the puppy's immune and central nervous systems a boost. They then progress on to regular breast milk. Puppies will nurse for at least 6 to 8 weeks, gradually being weaned on to solid food at about 4 weeks. If, for any reason, the puppy cannot suckle its mother, don't give them cow or goat milk. These milks are very poor quality in comparison to a puppy's mother's milk. If your German shepherd puppy has to be prematurely weaned, a veterinarian will be able to prescribe specific infant formula and establish the appropriate dosage for your puppy. For example, a Chihuahua and a German Shepherd should not be fed the same food. This is because hese breeds have different nutritional needs. Take a look here to find out more about the diet for a prematurely weaned puppy. German Shepherd puppy diet: 1 month old From 3 to 4 weeks old, when it comes to feeding a German Shepherd puppy, we should start by letting them taste new foods and flavors. At this stage, the German Shepherd puppy's diet plan requires them to eat a special wet food for puppies. At around 6 to 8 weeks old, a German Shepherd puppy should be given a little dry dog food with water, or unseasoned chicken stock between nursing sessions. From their eighth week onward, a German Shepherd should be weaned and start feeding on solid food with a special puppy feed. The best dog food for a German Shepherd puppy is breed specific, but this may not be available everywhere. In these cases, your veterinarian can create a proper food plan for your German Shepherd puppy. At this stage, milk must be removed from the puppy's diet as it could cause diarrhea. If by any chance your dog or puppy is suffering from a bad stomach, we recommend taking a look at our article on what to do if yourt dog has diarrhea. In addition, it is vital that puppies have constant access to clean fresh water. German Shepherd puppy diet: 2 months old At two months of age, you can start to slowly decrease the moistening of your German Shepherd's dry food. Eventually, the puppy will be used to eating the food completely dry. Following the German Shepherd puppy food chart, from 2 until 4 months old, a puppy will eat 4 or 5 times a day. This has to be carried out with one very important addition: discipline. A puppy needs to learn that it will not be fed constantly throughout the day, but at specific times. We start of by placing a bowl of food down for 10 minutes, this should give the puppy enough time to finish its meal. After 10 minutes, we suggest taking the bowl of food away, even if your puppy hasn't finished eating. A puppy's food bowl must only be available to the dog for 10 minutes. This 10 minutes should be enough time for the puppy to eat all of its provided food. As already mentioned, after 10 minutes, you should take the food bowl away, even if the puppy hasn't finished eating. This pattern will introduce the puppy's food schedule and allow it an opportunity to become accustomed to particular feeding times. Accepting and adapting to a diet plan is very important for a puppy's intellectual development. It also facilitates more complex and demanding training sessions. Food for German shepherd puppies should be higher in calories, fats, proteins and calcium than adult German Shepherd dog food. This is because puppies are still growing and developing and therefore need better nutrition. German Shepherd puppy diet: food plan after 4 months Between 4 and 6 months of age, the number of meals which we have detailed in our German Shepherd puppy food chart should be reduced to 3 a day. The food quantity should be increased and an extra margin of 2 minutes to eat should be provided. The packaging of quality commercial dog food will detail the appropriate suggested amount of food for the puppy, depending on its age and weight. If you have any doubts, consult your veterinarian. You should eventually start mixing fresh food, such as meat, fish or vegetables, with the commercial dry feed. Beware of forbidden foods for dogs. Some people ask about a raw diet for a German shepherd puppy, but we recommend these such foods should always be cooked and never given to a dog raw. Meanwhile, treats for dogs should only be used as positive reinforcement during their training and learning period, never as a food supplement. Under no circumstances should you give your German Shepherd, or any dog, human food leftovers. Human food contains salt, sugar and seasoning contents which are very harmful to a dog's health. In addition, if you do offer your dog your food, it will pester you during meals [1]. For more, take a look at some of the harmful effects of treating a dog like a human. German Shepherd puppy diet: after 6 months When your German Shepherd puppy reaches 6 months of age, its daily food intake should be reduced to twice a day. When we do this we can increase the food portions and eating time accordingly. Our German Shepherd diet chart below should be taken into account depending on the age, lifestyle and size of your German Shepherd puppy. After 6 months, you should give your German Shepherd puppy shatterproof bones, such as beef, to gnaw on. For more, take a look here for more about; Bones For Puppies. German shepherd puppy: Dog food and water bowl hygiene Your puppy's food and drink containers should always be clean. Hygiene is very important in order to prevent the appearance of insects. If you notice that your puppy has not eaten for three consecutive meals, consult your veterinarian immediately. This lack of appetite in a puppy could be caused by bowel obstruction and stomach pain; due to the ingestion of toxic food etc. Don't forget that puppies are very sensitive and fragile and if you ignoring any symptoms of disease, it can result in severe issues or even puppy fatality. German Shepherd care German Shepherd puppies should be socialized and trained to live with you from day one. These dogs are incredibly capable and have the ability, if trained properly, to learn tricks and perform activities [2]. In addition to the diet of a German Shepherd, don't forget the importance of preventative medicines, following the appropriate vaccination schedules and general German Shepherd dog care. For more information about your German shepherd, take a look at.So, how many times a day should you feed your German Shepherd? German Shepherds should be fed at least twice a day. Vets recommend two smaller meals instead of one large meal for healthy digestion and energy. For puppies, feed 4 meals a day up to three months old, then 3 meals a day up to six months old, before finally reducing to 2 meals a day. It is essential to stick to food schedules that are consistent for the long-term health of your German Shepherd, especially as the breed is prone to the life-threatening condition, Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus GDV , commonly known as bloat. This article will cover how often to feed a German Shepherd whether puppy or adult and how much to give your dog to keep him healthy and happy. Hey there! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site. My German Shepherd Willow eating her meal Hey! As a working breed raised to herd and protect sheep, they are typically energetic, enjoy physical activity, and love having a job to do. Due to their dynamic character, they demand a high-energy diet. However, as large, deep-chested dogs, they are one of the breeds prone to bloat GDV , and vets advise against feeding one large meal a day. Twice per day is the standard, with a good few hours in between, as it allows your GSD to eat and digest his food properly. German Shepherds, like most dogs, work well when fed on a schedule. I absolutely agree with this, especially as the German Shepherd is susceptible to a sensitive stomach and is known to have more digestive problems than other breeds. However, if you have any concerns, you should speak to your vet. If you have a high-energy or working German Shepherd, such as a guard dog, assistance dog, or Police or Military dog that gets a lot of exercise, you may consider feeding little and often to prevent hunger. German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Schedule German Shepherd puppies will require more frequent feedings as they expend far more energy and have smaller stomachs to hold their food. You should feed a German Shepherd puppy four meals a day between 6 and 12 weeks old. Puppies aged between 12 and 24 weeks should have three meals a day, and from 24 weeks onwards, German Shepherd puppies should be fed twice per day. Age of Puppy. Split that daily amount up between all meals. For example, if your 3-month-old GSD puppy is a male and weighs 30 pounds, you should feed him approximately 2 cups per day. Since she no longer needs the extra calories to help support her fast growth period, you can safely reduce her feedings to 2 or 3 meals per day. While she should still be eating puppy food at this point, you may consider purchasing a bag of her eventual adult formula. You can use individual kibbles from the adult formula for treats or training rewards. This will help her get used to the new flavor and texture. Around 9 months of age, you can begin slowly adding a small amount of the adult formula into her puppy food, though she should still be eating primarily puppy chow. Only your vet will be able to tell you when your dog has reached maturity and can be safely moved to adult food. So, make sure you are in close contact with your vet to be sure that your feeding plan is individualized for your specific dog. Adult dog food will have a different ratio of calcium, protein, phosphorus, and other nutrients than puppy food does. Feeding an adult dog a puppy formula can cause obesity as well as put too much strain on kidneys and other vital organs. Long term use of inappropriate food for an adult dog can have catastrophic consequences. That said, there is no need to panic if your adult GSD eats a bowl of puppy food now and then. Adult German Shepherds should be fed twice a day. Again, bloat is a real problem for large breed dogs, and large meals seem to be a big cause of this. I feed my adult dogs this particular blend for a number of reasons. The blend is designed specifically with German Shepherds in mind, as it uses high-quality, animal-based nutrients to counter the extra stress put on the joints of GSDs and to help the development strong lean muscle to keep your dog in peak physical condition. You really can see the difference. This is evident by the fast decline in health, joint flexibility, and energy in older large breed dogs compared to same-age smaller breeds. When your GSD moves from the adult life stage to senior, you need to adjust her diet. Large breeds reach the older stage not quite senior, but close around half of their assumed life expectancy. Inevitably, your GSD will need to switch over to a senior diet. Older large breed dogs have lower energy needs. Older dogs also tend to slow down their digestion, so an increase in fiber might be a good choice for your senior GSD. Do be sure to confirm this with your vet, however. Not all foods are created equal. For treats, senior dogs should avoid calorie-dense milk bones and high-salt or fatty treats. Opt for healthy, whole-food treats such as apple slices or carrots. Some senior dogs begin to develop health conditions that will require special care. This is often a result of poor nutrition early in life, but can sometimes simply be genetics and old age catching up with them. But for GSDs with health issues such as kidney disease and joint pain, diet can play an even bigger role in the quality of their lives. Getting a personalized recommendation from your veterinarian is worth the time, expense, and effort. These charts can seem pretty straightforward at first glance. Instead, use them as a starting point. Observe your dog, see how he looks and feels, and note any changes in his bathroom habits, weight, or energy level. Adjust his meals accordingly. Generally speaking, they talk about daily intake, not per meal. It means to split that 3 cups total over the entire day. If your dog eats 3 times per day, that would be 1 cup at each meal for a total daily intake of 3 cups. To further confuse dog parents, some manufacturers do list per-meal serving sizes, not the total daily intake! In these cases, if you read it incorrectly, you would end up underfeeding your dog. To help mitigate some of this confusion, it may be helpful to ask your vet how many calories your dog should be consuming each day. Then you can check the calorie content in the dog food and measure things from there. Raw Diets, Cooking for Dogs, and Other Alternative Feeding This article has been focusing mainly on commercially available dry kibble since that is what most pet parents ultimately choose for their dogs. However, there are many dog owners that choose to feed alternative diets. These include raw diets and cooking regular people food for dogs. There are many viable options for feeding your healthy German Shepherd, but there are just as many harmful fads, too. As with commercial foods, be sure to speak with your vet before starting your dog on a raw diet or home-cooking her meals. Human supplements are often unregulated, minimally effective, and often contain substances harmful to animals. Never use a human supplement for your German Shepherd. Final Thoughts What you feed your German Shepherd is just as important as how much you feed them. Pay special attention to the first 4 or 5 ingredients listed on the back of the packaging. Choose high-quality, safety-tested foods with clear ingredient and nutrition labels. The two most obvious goals of feeding your German Shepherd are for health and growth. How fast do German Shepherds grow? German Shepherds are medium-large dogs and therefore grow at a fast rate over the first six to seven months leading up to adolescence. Adult German Shepherds are 22 to 26 inches tall and weigh 50 to 95 pounds. Reputable weight charts suggest your German Shepherd puppy will have attained three-quarters of their final weight over these first six to seven months. This is A LOT of growing to do in a short amount of time — when you brought your puppy home, it was probably only eight inches tall and weighed around 15 pounds. By 12 to 15 months old, a German Shepherd is within an inch or less of their adult height. Therefore, your male German Shepherd will be 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh 59 to 93 pounds by his first birthday. How does diet affect the health of growing Shepherds? Recently it has come to light that a proper diet for puppies does more than prevent malnutrition. As part of this proper diet, there are many things that should never be fed to German Shepherds. Orthopedic Problems Many orthopedic problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia have a strong hereditary component. However, people often discount the role of diet in bone developmental issues. Merely creating an oversized puppy, as is often the case for show animals and people fixated on large dogs, can lead to several painful disorders: Hip dysplasia Elbow dysplasia Panosteitis — Generalized inflammation of the long bones in puppies; common in German Shepherds. Overnutrition and over-supplementation of certain vitamins and minerals lead to paradoxical malnutrition of the bone, and subsequently improper development. Nutritional experts have modified their recommendations regarding the diets of large-breed dogs. Many nutritionists and veterinarians advocate feeding German Shepherds and other large-breed puppies an adult or professionally-formulated homemade diet to limit the occurrence and severity of developmental problems. Pet food manufacturers have caught onto the concept of overnutrition in puppies, and most carry special diets for large-breed puppies. Also, do not supplement your puppy with vitamins, minerals, or proteins without veterinarian direction — their excessive use will disrupt bone and cartilage growth and harm the growth plates. Many people use the food bag as a starting point to decide how much to feed their dogs. However, a label on commercial food is one of the easiest ways to overfeed your growing puppy. Feeding your puppy involves regularly evaluating and tracking their weight. You should be able to assess how close your pup is to their ideal weight just by looking at them. Silhouette from the side — a slight tuck. Pat the ribcage where the abdomen slightly lifts towards the hips. From above — Clear waist; should see an hourglass shape from rib cage to hips When you palpate — You should feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat without having to prod very hard. Puppies will vary in their body scores and may change rapidly within a few days. Pups often lose their abdominal tuck right after a meal. Puppies under 16 weeks old commonly have a pot-bellied appearance without much abdominal tuck. Thin dogs will show more visibility of ribs, waist, and pelvis without appearing emaciated or unhealthy. If your puppy eats well but fails to grow or gain sufficient weight, consult a medical professional. German Shepherds can be susceptible to rare cases of pituitary gland dwarfism or a deficiency of enzyme production from the pancreas. Volume The easiest way to determine how much food to give your Shepherd pup is to figure out how many cups they need in a day and divide it by the number of feedings. German Shepherds eat about four cups of food daily from 16 weeks of age to nine months or a year regardless of weight. The volume accounts for the relatively high caloric requirements of the young growing animal. German Shepherds over a year old may need as much as five to eight cups of dog food. Other references, however, use weight rather than age. Pups eat one cup of food daily per 15 to 20 pounds. Dogs over pounds receive five cups of kibble plus an additional half a cup for every extra 20 pounds. Like all models, more active dogs need to eat more food — make adjustments up or down based on body scoring. You can estimate the volume to feed your German Shepherd pup once you find the conversion rate. Dry dog food bags and wet food cans usually have the kilocalorie equivalence of each cup of the product. The number of calories you feed your Shepherd depends on how close to the adult weight they are. Once your puppy reaches six weeks old, you may still have to feed it a mash but can decrease meals to four per day. German Shepherd puppies between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks can eat three to four times daily, while most dogs over four months of age decrease to a frequency of two to three times daily. Centering a few potty breaks around meals that stimulate their intestinal tracts helps develop consistent habits. GDV Your German Shepherd puppy will begin to develop a deeper chest combined with significant size by four to six months of age. Both physical characteristics put your puppy at additional risk of gastric dilatation and volvulus compared to smaller breeds. Four months is the age at which most pups will see a significant increase in their meal sizes. Studies have linked large meals with GDV , or bloat, life-threatening distension, and rotation of the stomach. Increasing the number of feedings greatly reduces the incidence of GDV. We recommend at least two meals a day for your dog, even as your Shepherd approaches adulthood. How much to feed a German Shepherd puppy is part of a broader equation that includes avoiding overfeeding, calculating portion sizes, and scheduling appropriate mealtimes. However, a fat or pudgy puppy is not a look anyone should encourage. The puppy may appear to be in good shape, but you need to feel the ribs to be certain. Four Months You can really start to see the amount the pup has grown compared to the eight-week-old puppy! To get a better idea of what to expect with a young GSD, feel free to watch this video! It illustrates the rapid growth rate of the German Shepherd and touches on diets as well. Recommended reading. The best food for German Shepherd puppies in their first two to four months of life is milk from their mother. This specialised care is usually left to German Shepherd breeders or veterinarians, who are knowledgeable in caring for pups with no mother to nurse from. If you have recently brought a German Shepherd puppy into your family, they are most likely older than 8 weeks, and so have started to eat solid foods. Before the four month mark, it is advised to include some dry food in their diet. You can do this in a few simple steps: Mix some dry food with specially formulated puppy milk to form a soft mixture. You can feed your puppy this mixture three to four times a day. Over time, reduce the amount of milk you include in this mixture, until they are at the point where they are happily eating dry foods. Read on to learn how much you should feed your German Shepherd puppy as they get older. With this rapid growth can come some risks. German Shepherds are susceptible to bone growth disorders, like hip dysplasia, that can start in puppyhood. They will be very active in their adolescent years, and so should be fed with this in mind. The transition from puppy food to adult food should happen between 12 and 24 months of age. This is because, being a larger breed who grows very quickly, you want to ensure that you are feeding them according to their large breed needs. Remember that the more active the pup, the more food they require. While following feeding guidelines is important to avoid over and underfeeding, you can adjust the amounts of food you provide to your dog based on level of activity. If you are unsure, it is always best to ask your vet for guidance. You need to take special care when considering what you should feed your German Shepherd puppy, as they require different nutrients compared to their adult counterparts. For puppies, this amount will often be two of three times higher, as they are more active and growing quickly. German Shepherd puppies need to eat food that is high in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are also essential for supporting your active pup. Aside from nutritionally complete dry puppy food, German Shepherd puppies can benefit from the extra protein that raw meat can provide them with, such as lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish. However, they can also be at risk of gastric dilatation or volvulus, or GDV. Certain dog breeds can be more susceptible to GDV; particularly deep chested breeds including German Shepherds. GDV can occur when a dog bloats a few hours after eating a meal. Though the exact causes of GDV are not known, grains and cereals are suspected to be contributors. The amount of food you give your German Shepherd is determined by their weight, energy levels, and age. For most adult German Shepherds, between 1, to 2, calories per day from high quality food sources is ideal. Female German Shepherds, which tend to be about 8 kilos lighter than males, may need less food, as will less active dogs. Dogs who need less food, whether they are less active or simply older, will usually still need around 1, and 1, per day. You may want to alter the amount of food you are feeding your German Shepherd based on how calorically dense their food is. German Shepherds should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Their daily allotment of food should be split evenly between these two meals. For most dogs, it is recommended that you exercise your dog before meal times to assist with potty training. However, some dogs who are at risk of GDV may benefit from exercise after eating, to aid with digestion. You should also try to give your German Shepherd a high quality food that is specially designed for larger or working breeds, especially if they are very active. For example, less active senior dogs will need to eat less food as they will not be burning calories as quickly as a lively little puppy will. Senior dogs may benefit from a higher fibre and lower calorie diet. Your dog may also develop chronic or short term medical conditions that require specially formulated food. German Shepherds can be particularly susceptible to skin disease or allergies, including canine atopic dermatitis, bacterial skin infections, flea allergy dermatitis, forms of contact dermatitis, or scabies. If your dog develops a skin issue, it is often a sign that they may be suffering from a form of food sensitivity. If you are unsure about what you should feed your German Shepherd, you should always consult your vet as they will be able to determine if your dog is suffering from any allergies or chronic health issues: creating a nutritional plan to help keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come. Part of figuring out what you should feed your German Shepherd includes deciding between wet, dry, or a raw food diet. Wet food for German Shepherds is often high in protein and fat, and is better at keeping your dog hydrated than other food sources. A raw diet can be a good option for your German Shepherd as you have more control over the kinds of food and amount of nutrients your pup is consuming. For this reason, raw diets require a lot more work on your part as an owner. Whatever you decide to feed your German Shepherd, all dogs need a similar ratio of nutrients in their diets. The amount of food you feed your dog should be determined by their activity levels, age, weight, breed, and size. Any meals prepared for your dog need to contain the right balance of nutrients. You should also be extra careful not to introduce your dog to foods that are harmful to their health. While we might enjoy the taste of nuts, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and onions, these can be toxic for dogs and can cause serious illness and even death. German Shepherds in particular need plenty of exercise as they are a large working breed with a lot of energy. No matter how old your German Shepherd is, it is important to keep to a consistent feeding schedule. A feeding schedule can help you keep track of any changes in behaviour around food that might signal illness or physiological stress.

When looking to purchase a merle make sure you are insuring the Australian Labradoodle breeder is having responsible husbandry practices regarding the merle gene. Any breeder of merle multigenerational Australian Labradoodles should be willing and able to discuss all the facts regarding this genome. Click HERE to learn more from our geneticists. Single carrier merles will live a healthy productive life just like any other dog. To ensure that we only breed single copy merles we verify testing of all outside studs or dams used with our breeding dogs since some dogs carry a hidden merle gene, called phantom merle. They are just as strong, silly, and full of adventure or snuggles, and capable of being a service dog as any other Australian Labradoodle! The problem comes down to greed or skipping testing. But doing so can come at a risk of causing serious health issues. A "double merle" known as a homozygous merle have significantly higher risk of being born deaf or blind. To set a president that ill managed breeding practice is not allowed, which is respectable. A German study found .Double Merle can also cause Merle ocular issues. Regarding the blue color in the eyes sometime can lead to full blue iris or increased inclusion of the eyes and blindness. Even though the blue eyes are beautiful we prefer to breed black or brown eyed single merle dogs to reduce the tendency for any health issues. As a merle breeder it is our responsibility to create health happy animals through preventive DNA tests and yearly OFA eye exams. Which, looks like someone had fun painting your dog and no two dogs have the same exact pattern. This rather exotic wild pattern comes in multiple color variations. Merles labradoodles can come in various color pallets; chocolate merle, blue merle, red merle and can be paired with parti, white mis-marks and phantom. Red or cream dogs in a merle litter have a higher rate of phantom merle. Every puppy from our merle litters are dna tested for merle before going home. Our girl Tiffany is considered a "classic" merle where Ranger is a "Tweed" merle. We only know this from extensive genetic testing from Paw Prints Genetics other companies such as Embark don't go as detailed with Merle testing. So all Merle related testing is done with Paw Prints. The Merle gene creates multi-color patches in a solid coat and the dogs that carry merle gene can often have blue eyes. The labradoodles with Merle gene and color patches are called Merle Labradoodles. It is one of the most complicated gene but very fascinating. Merle Genetics Merle is actually a heterozygote of an incompletely dominant gene. To avoid these common health issues, knowledgeable and responsible labradoodle breeders mate a merle with a non-merle dog. In this way half the puppies will be merles, and none will have the vision or hearing defects associated with double merle dogs. So, when you adopt a Merle labradoodle puppy make sure to check with the breeder that one of the parents is a solid color only. The UK Kennel Club has acknowledged the health risk associated with homozygous merles and stopped registering puppies produced from merle to merle breeding in .Research indicates that the majority of health issues occur in dogs carrying both piebald and merle genes. Labradoodles who are homozygous for the merle pattern gene often have visual and auditory deficits. Ocular defects include microphthalmia, conditions causing increased ocular pressure, and colobomas, among others. Double merle labradoodles may be deaf or blind or both, and can carry ocular defects in blue or colored eyes. A study by German researchers found partial hearing loss in .Certified labradoodle breeders will only breed one merle with a non-merle to produce normal healthy merle labradoodle puppies. Merle Labradoodle Colors Merle labradoodles are absolutely gorgeous and because of the color patterns on their coats they look rather exotic. Merle Labradoodles come in various colors patterns like chocolate merle, blue merle, black merle, red merle or brown merle. It also possible to have merles in other colors such as sable, fawn, yellow and diluted reds. Blue Merle Labradoodle Blue Merle labradoodles are the most popular among all the merle labradoodles. Blue Merle labradoodles have irregular black patches by gray. The grey or the lighter part of the coat can also vary from a very light powder blue to very dark steel blue. Select Page Merle Australian Labradoodles, what are they? There are many color variations in the merle coat, chocolate, red, blue, parti and phantom are some common colors we produce. The true Australian Labradoodle was designed in the s for the purpose of providing a service and therapy dog to families that suffer from illness or allergies. The breed is allergy-friendly they produce little to no dander, however, some individuals are allergic to the saliva a dog produces. Wally Cochran was the driving force behind this program, and the goal was to produce a non-shedding guide dog. The diversity of these bloodlines have the potential to safeguard the breed from genetic health problems of inbreeding. The result of these crosses produced intelligent, easily trainable puppies that were the beginning of the Australian Labradoodle as we know it now. Chocolate Merle Australian Labradoodle Merle Australian Labradoodle Coat Types The result of these crosses produced intelligent, easily trainable puppies that were the beginning of the Australian Labradoodle as we now know it. Crossing these breeds together compliments the Australian Labradoodle giving these wonderful dogs a hybrid vigor and a variety of coat types: The Wooly Coat: Somewhat poodle like which requires regular grooming is non-shedding and allergy and asthma friendly. The Fleece Coat: The ultimate coat that is easily maintained, non-shedding, allergy and asthma friendly and somewhat like that of an Angora Goat. The Hair Coat: Anything from flat and straight to curls down that back and possibly wavy and minimally shedding, that is less likely to be allergy and asthma friendly. You will usually see this coat in American bred Labradoodles first and second generation bloodlines. A fun loving, quiet, calm yet comical loving companion Overall, the Labradoodle is a fun loving, quiet, calm yet comical, loving companion for families as well as a fantastic service animal, being easily trainable, loyal and intelligent. The Labradoodle is not a recognized breed as yet, however, many breeders are working towards developing a breed standard for the future recognition of the Australian Labradoodle. Blue merle Parti Labradoodle puppy Merle Australian Labradoodles Merle can affect all coat colors in many different breeds. Some dogs are affected by merle, but the patches are either hardly seen or not visible at all. This is why it is essential to have all dogs in a merle breeding program tested for coat color, DNA or blood testing can be done. Combinations such as brindle, sable, phantom or parti merle colors also exist. In addition merle colored dogs have blue and green eye coloring. In the Labradoodles this gene has been brought into the Australian Labradoodle from the merle poodle and or the merle cocker spaniel. We have been breeding merles Australian Labradoodles for 20 years and all of our breeding dogs have been full tested since day one. We work to breed every dog better than the first, always breeding a healthy well balanced dog with a happy disposition and a non shedding allergy friendly coat. Merle Australian Labradoodles come in three primary colors The three main colors are: Blue merle which is a blue-gray color that is carried over through black Chocolate merle which is a diluted color from chocolate Red merle which is a diluted color from red Variations on these three colors can also include a parti gene making the dog have large patches of white mixed with the color and a phantom gene giving the dog tan points. In addition, these great dogs are hypo-allergenic and non-shedding, Merle Australian Labradoodles have their characteristically wavy fleece coats, their intelligence, their upbeat nature and their incredibly friendly temperaments. As such, it is no surprise that these dogs are fast becoming among the most beloved breeds available. Our goal at Just A walk Home Kennel is to bring a new life into your family in the way of a happy, healthy puppy whether it is a Standard size Labradoodle puppy, or a miniature size labradoodle puppy we want this to be a wonderful experience for your family. We offer visits with your new puppy and a two year genetic warranty on your fully vet checked family member before they leave. Our Labradoodle puppies are bred for a good disposition along with a non-shed coat that will help for a allergy free home. We also breed for a range of sizes to fit every home. The Labradoodle puppies for sale come in many colors, they are chocolate, chocolate and white parti labradoodles, black, black and white parti labradoodles, apricot, cream, brindle, sable, white, and silver. Our Australian labradoodle puppies are well socialized and are produced out wonderful natured parents to ensure that your dog will be a wonderful family addition, we are able to answer all of your questions concerning your new puppy and to help you decide on the coat and size that will fit your family needs. Bree Dannielle Murner Common Questions.What's a Labradoodle? We breed multi-generation labradoodles directly from Australian breeding stock as well as first-cross-backcross litters F1B. An F1B is a first cross labradoodle that has been bred back to a poodle to enhance the non-shedding, allergy friendly coat. Why Labradoodles and Goldendoodles? Labradoodles and goldendoodles are smart, loving, family-oriented dogs. They have light to non-shedding, allergy-friendly coats, and they do not have the dog smell associated with other breeds. They are highly trainable, friendly companions. Who Are We? We are a family of "doodle-lovers" that breed labradoodles that are Australian and American lines so that others can experience the joy of Doodle ownership. The pups are born and raised at our home. Our children are the "socialization crew" and our dogs are our family pets. We are a small breeder that believes in quality before quantity. Our goal is to breed wonderful companion and family dogs while continuing to advance the labradoodle as a breed. We provide loving Labradoodle puppies — both Standard-sized pups ready for adventure or miniature buddies looking for cuddles. Whatever the size, it's sure to be a pawsome experience Quick Links. Merle Labradoodles are very rare. The gene is not naturally occurring in Labrador Retrievers or Poodles so it has to be introduced into the lineage of one of the breeds at some point before breeding a Merle Labradoodle. Alternatively, they cross a Merle Labradoodle with a non-Merle Labradoodle. Two dogs that carry the merle gene should never be bred together as many puppies in the litter will be double merles. If you want to compare the price of Merle Labradoodles to other coat colors of Labradoodles you should read our in-depth Labradoodle price guide here. Another great way to keep up to date with Merle Labradoodle prices is to regularly check dog breeder advertising websites like PuppySpot. Check out the adorable Labradoodle puppies that are currently available here! PuppySpot is a dog adoption website that connects breeders with prospective pet owners. They have a zero tolerance policy for puppy mills which is why they screen every breeder annually! They have placed over , puppies in homes and offer various trusted, USDA-certified transportation options to deliver your puppy to your home safely! A Blue Merle Labradoodle features blue black , grey, white and tan colors in their coat in a distinct mottled pattern. Usually most of their coat is grey and blue with smaller white and tan patches throughout it. Blue Merle Labradoodles usually have black noses and can either have brown or blue eyes. They would have originally had a solid black coat but the merle gene diluted sections of it into these lighter colors. Blue Merle is the most common merle coloring for Labradoodles. Are Blue Merle Labradoodles Rare? Blue Merle Labradoodles are very rare as the gene is not naturally occurring in Labrador Retrievers or Poodles. The merle gene has to be introduced into the lineage of one of the breeds at some point before breeding a Blue Merle Labradoodle.

I am in the dollar bracket. .I am in Muskegon Michigan.I realize how much these dogs are worth but it's a matter of money.Buy Now 4 puppies available 3 males and 1 female available. They had dewclaws removed and tales docked Please contact me for more information xxx-xxx-xxxx. If you have been looking for a bulldogs at a reasonable price now is the time. He is a mellow puppy that loves to be outside. His name is Ghost, he is merle and lilac. View Detail Olde english bulldogge puppies for sale This is Alley, she is a beautiful chocolate tri female! She is very friendly and very well socialized! She is a very confident and happy puppy! She will have all her shots, vaccines and will come with a1 year health guarantee! Fully papered. Born .These little girls are so laid back and have the sweetest personality. Handled and loved every day! Located in West Michigan. Beautiful colors. Very pretty. They have been wormed twice and have had 1st shot. Will come with all age appropriate shots and dewormed. Located in Michigan, transportation available. All Puppies have tails docked and dew claws removed. Puppies were born nov 24 and will be ready for their new home jan 19th. He is up to date on all of his immunizations. He is extremely kid friendly. He is not neutered. He will come with a crate he is crate trained with bedding, bowls, treats, toys, and a bag of food. He is the pet of a family member who recently passed away. He is an amazing dog who I just don't have room for him at the moment. I was told not to bring him to a shelter but to find him a forever home. View Detail Old English bulldog puppy Ioeba blue Tri triple carrier he was born August 4th and is ready for his forever home has had his first shots and dewormed comes with full breeding rights you can text me at xxx xxx xxx4 View Detail Olde English Bulldogge potty trained I have a2 female and male. Olde English Bulldogges, ready for a new home. Birthdate .Ready for a family to love her. In the early s, CDHPR had been working with the UKC under a unique agreement to develop breeding plans and strategies in an effort to produce improved breeds of dogs that would be accepted as purebred and, therefore, eligible for UKC registration. Fechimer from Ohio State University. They are well-balanced and proportioned, while appearing capable of performing without any breathing restrictions in either heat or in cold. Serious Faults: Excessive wrinkle, lack of pigment around eyes, nose or mouth. There is a defined furrow between the eyes from the stop to the occiput. Narrow skull and domed forehead are faults. The muzzle is square, wide and deep. Bite is undershot or reverse scissors. Lower jawbone is moderately curved from front to back. Nostrils are wide, with a line running vertically between nostrils from the tip of nose down to the bottom of the upper lip. Nose is large and broad in relationship to the width of the muzzle. Nose color is black. Eyes are medium in size and almond shaped, dark to light brown, with black pigmented eye rims. They are set wide and low, level with the top of the muzzle. Ears are small, rose, button or tulip. Rose is preferred. They are set high, wide and to the back outer edge of the skull. The body is sturdy, powerful and slightly rectangular when viewed from the side. Chest is wide and deep. Hind legs are well muscled and have the appearance of being slightly longer than the forelegs. The hind legs should be straight, parallel and set apart. Accepted color patterns include brindle, and solid colors, with or without white. Males should be 60 to 80 pounds 27 to 36 kg , and 17 to 20 inches 43 to 51 cm at the withers, while females should be 50 to 70 pounds 23 to 32 kg , and 16 to 19 inches 41 to 48 cm at the withers. Proponents of the breed maintain that it does not suffer from the same disorders as purebred Bulldogs. The Olde English Bulldogge was mentioned as an outcross candidate to introduce new genetics in an effort to correct some of the problems associated with inbreeding. Many Swiss dog breeders have begun outcrossing Bulldogs with the Olde English Bulldogge, having created the Continental Bulldog in an effort to bring the Bulldog into compliance. It was created as a result of the need to create a dog with the health and athleticism of the original bull-baiting dogs. The Olde English Bulldogge possesses a courageous and stable temperament and is also a very loyal dog. It is a dog breed with a good sense of humor and can play the clown; it also possesses a naturally happy disposition. The Olde English Bulldogge is your perfect example of a confident, steady and fearless dog. This breed has the ability to adapt well to any living environment as long as the weather condition is not excessive. Olde English Bulldogge enjoys long walks rather than runs and playtime in the backyard. Being strong and powerful, it requires ample exercise and an owner that is willing to provide continuous socialization. Exercise lasting for half an hour per day will do the magic with the Olde English Bulldogge. One good thing about the Olde English Bulldogge is that it requires minimal grooming, its ears and eyes should, however, be cleaned regularly in order to avoid infection. Also, seasonal treatment for flea is required to keep the dog in perfect health condition. It sheds moderately and regular brushing can help reduce the amount of hair shed. Our Olde English Bulldogge puppies for sale come from either USDA licensed commercial breeders or hobby breeders with no more than 5 breeding mothers. We only purchase puppies from the very best sources, and we stand behind every puppy we sell. It is alright to neuter your Olde English Bulldogge as long as you do it at the right time. Some vets recommend neutering as early as six months while some recommend waiting till the dog is two years old to have it neutered. Is the Olde English Bulldogge easy to train? The Olde English Bulldogge is a very smart dog which makes training quite easy. However, this dog is an independent dog hence; you must establish yourself as the head of the park before training begins. Can an Olde English Bulldogge give birth naturally? Olde English Bulldogge requires a C-section to be able to deliver safely. What breeds make up the Olde English Bulldogge? Does Olde English Bulldogge have serious health issues? When compared to other dog breeds, the Olde English Bulldogge has less of the common inherited bulldog health issues such as climate difficulty, difficult birth, hip issues, etc. Is the Olde English Bulldogge good with children? The Olde English Bulldogge gets along very well with children; it is naturally very protective of them. What weather condition works well for the Olde English Bulldogge? Temperate climates work well for the Olde English Bulldogge as it is very sensitive to extreme heat or cold. It gets easily chilled in cold weather and has difficulty breathing in extremely hot weather. How often should an Olde English Bulldogge be bathed? This dog breed requires regular grooming and should be bath as frequently as once every week depending on its lifestyle. Regular bathing helps to maintain its healthy skin and coat. When soap is used, its face should be wiped clean so as to prevent irritation if left to dry. Does the Olde English Bulldogge drool a lot? Before considering going for an Olde English Bulldogge, you must be ready to deal with its excess drooling and slobbering. It is also a very sloppy drinker. Are you interested in purchasing a Olde English Bulldogge? Fill out the below form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

We actually import our dogs from reputable breeders in Australia, Hungary, Ireland, Russia, and the country of origin of Golden Retrievers: Scotland. We believe in quality golden retrievers. Our breeding is on a small scale, but results in a higher focus on quality. We breed, first, for good health. Second, for great temperament. And third, for looks. We pride ourselves on producing fabulous looking dogs with attitudes that are just as attractive as their appearances. All of our breeding males and females are Heart, Hip, Elbow, and Eye screened. We generally keep and train one puppy from each litter. They'll come with an introduction to basic obedience and a great foundation to build upon! Our breeders in Ireland are truly exceptional. They follow our protocols and practices. Every puppy is raised with love and attention to detail. Learn More Pricing Pricing is always a consideration, but there is no such thing as a good cheap Golden Retriever! We've outlined for you what actually goes into the pricing of our puppies so you can feel confident about what you're receiving. Learn More Puppies We have new puppies arriving all the time. If you're interested in a puppy then be sure to check our puppies page regularly. Learn More What Our Customers Have To Say When we came across the Syrah Goldens website back in , we had no idea how much Hollie, her company, and her dogs would become such an important part of our lives. After losing our dog Sadie, we decided it was time to add to our family again. Tim had… Read More - Kelli Gordon. Buying A Puppy Buying A Puppy Buying a Golden Retriever Puppy should be an enjoyable and exciting experience for you and your family; however there are many things that should be considered before you proceed. The Golden Retriever Club of Scotland offers advice by means of our puppy co-ordinator, who will liase with respectable breeders who are members of the Club, as to when they have puppies available form a litter. It is worth noting that most puppies are spoken for before they are born — highlighting the desire for potential owners who have done their homework and want to be as sure as anyone can be, that the puppy they are waiting for will be born healthy, free of genetic disorders and will be raised in a loving and careful home. Please be aware that there are elaborate scams to encourage you to buy a puppy at a lower price, and to make you commit your hard earned money in a very swift manner. If you are in doubt as to the health aspects of the puppy you are considering — please ask one of the Committee members who will assist you to establish the truth. We are very happy to encourage you to exercise great care in selecting a good breeder. There may be many reasons why you are considering a Golden Retriever, you may be looking for a pet that is good with children, be interested in a dog for showing or working and hopefully the club will be able to guide you through this process. Before you buy, the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland suggests that you consider why you want a dog. Remember a Golden Retriever has a life expectancy of anything from 12 to 16 years so this is a long term commitment for yourself and the family. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you look at any pups. Is someone around during the day? A young puppy needs company. He is inquisitive and willing to play and learn. He will naturally want to chew. He will have to start toilet training right away. This means taking him out when he wakes and after each meal. It will be to your advantage if he is encouraged to use a particular area of garden to do his business. Without attention it will be virtually impossible to toilet train, and a puppy or indeed an older dog will become stressed and destructive if left alone for long periods. Is your garden secure? It is so important that your garden has adequate fencing. A young puppy is naturally curious and will explore any hole or gap he can find. Put your mind at rest and have this checked out. Remember some plants and daffodil bulbs are poisonous so make sure that these are out of reach. Are the children old enough to take responsibility of a dog? Although Golden Retrievers make excellent family pets, and chosen with care from the right breeder, will be happy with young children, the younger members must realise that the puppy is an animal and not a toy. He is a long term commitment and not a whim, so discuss this thoroughly before you go to view a litter. A good breeder will want to meet the whole family and make any suggestions required to help you. Do you have a good veterinary practice in your area? Unfortunately the cost of your puppy does not stop after the initial purchase price! Your breeder will probably have had the litter checked by their vet and micro chipped before they leave for their new homes, but will advise you to take him along to your vet to have him checked again shortly after bringing him home. Make contact with your vet before purchasing and ask about their immunisation programme and any other relevant points. Remember a trip to the vet will always cost you money, even if it is just for a yearly check up. Here is some advice that we would strongly recommend you to follow. Go through a Golden Retriever Breed Club. You should find that you will get some sensible friendly advice on what you should look for when you go to view a litter of puppies. They will probably be able to give you contact numbers of breeders. Most clubs will have a list of their members who have litters available. The Golden Retriever Club of Scotland will have this available. Contact the Puppy Register for this information. In these modern days of social media there are Facebook pages that have been set up by responsible breeders, who will only list puppies available from health checked parents. Even in this modern age the very best thing to do is to go to a Golden Retriever Events — a show or a working test, meet the people and talk to them, word of mouth is by far an excellent way to be introduced to your breeder. You may need to put your name on a list for a puppy a year in advance of those puppies being born. If you have done your homework, it is well worth the wait. They will and have the right to ask you lots of questions, some which you may feel are perhaps a little probing. This is a good sign — as the Breeder of the puppies they will feel very responsible to be sure their pups go to exceptional homes. The breeder should have hip certificates and up to date eye certificates for both sire and dam of the pups. These certificates are issued when the parents have been submitted for the necessary hip x-rays and eye examinations. They are absolutely essential as it is extremely important that the sire and dam of the litter are sound and have no hereditary conditions that could be passed on to their progeny. No responsible breeder would dream of breeding without them being in place. They will be willing to show you these certificates and explain more about the scheme should you require. If a breeder does not have these or is not prepared to show you them — walk away, no matter how hard that may be. Always see the mother with her puppies. Never let a breeder bring a puppy to you. You should, if possible, see the whole litter. The mother should be a happy outgoing bitch. The area where the pups are should be clean and well managed. Puppies that have been brought up in a clean environment will be so much easier to toilet train. Do not accept any excuse that the mother is out for a walk, round at her Grannies, or any other lame excuse — this is genuinely a red flag. Responsible breeders will want you to meet the mother of the puppies and they will want to see how you interact with her. A five generation pedigree, diet sheet and Kennel Club Registration Certificate should always be given to you when purchasing your puppy. A good breeder will spend time answering questions. Remember, breeders started from a first puppy themselves so will never think a question is silly and would rather you asked than go away and worry. They will also give you advice on any particular interests you may have such as showing, working, obedience or agility training, or be able to give you details of the best person to get advice from. Most importantly they will help you with advice on socialising. A lot of this will have been attended to long before the puppy leaves the litter. This is so important and establishes the bond between dog and human. Remember dogs are pack animals so have to be taught right away, that people are their friends and part of their world. Golden Retrievers are wonderful dogs with so much to offer, your life will never be the same again when you bring a Golden in to share it with you. Choose well and enjoy your new puppy.