boxer mastiff puppy

FAQ What do you recommend to help with potty training? Your puppy has already been strongly encouraged to use paper and puppy pads to aid with your training ease. We are firm believers in crate training. Your dog will love you for it! There are several good articles on how to do it properly. We are always here to help our customers. We are always here to help our friends in any way we can. You will be so glad that you chose to purchase a puppy from East Coast Frenchie Club. What should I do with my puppy when I get it home? Do all the normal puppy care but most importantly, bond with your new friend. Yes the puppy has been socialized, but it has also spent the majority of its time with its littermates. The puppy will bond with you as you spend time with it the first several days that you receive it. Then it will be your friend forever. How do you socialize my puppy? Your puppy has spent a great deal of time with us since day one and with other dogs. The more your puppy experiences by your side the better. How can you assure me that I will get a healthy puppy? We comply with state health guarantee regulations in our contract. In person pick up, ground Transporation How do I pay for my puppy? No Personal checks Are these puppies up to date on their shots? Yes, all puppies are current on their basic puppy vaccines that are appropriate for their age. How much is the deposit to reserve a puppy? The deposit is non-refundable unless your puppy would become ill prior to you receiving it. Feel free to contact me with any questions or to arrange a meeting! We are in Elizabeth City, NC. Call or text. Hey there, Bulldog lover friend. Then, I have made a list of some top French Bulldog breeders just for you. I listed down the top 13 reputable French Bulldog breeders around New York based on the information I found on Google. I have listed them down based on their breeding history, breeding philosophy, Frenchie pedigree, a customer review. I am still researching to find out more about other breeders. Danielle the owner is very passionate about Frenchies. She put much time and effort into raising lovely and beautiful puppies just for you. Fairytale Frenchies has been breeding French Bulldogs for over 17 years. They started breeding Frenchies with the goal to improve the breed and offer you a possible close to perfect puppy. They produce unique French Bulldogs quality and Pugs. The dogs are well cared and well trained and. They have only litters available per year and give them Nu-vet vitamins daily for healthy growth. Danielle does not kennel her puppies as she likes them being inside the house with her. Her dogs give birth in her bedroom. All her Frenchies come in a variety of colors and are up to date on their vaccinations. Your puppy will come with a 3-year health guarantee and an AKC registration. If you want to have a puppy from them you can visit them after making an appointment. To put your hold on a puppy a non-refundable deposit is a must. To know more about their terms and conditions you can visit their website or contact them. We where blessed with 6 males and 3 females. The puppies are Now ready for their new homes. Your puppy comes home with the following. Their mom teaches them manners, confidence and boundaries. Check out our past puppy videos and pictures. One of my favorite childhood memories was puppies. We had several litters growing up. Our love affair with Frenchies started with Liz. She was sweet, energetic, loving and very entertaining. One of the things I love about this breed is that they love the whole family and not just one person. They love to cuddle. Dressing them up is easy and fun. French Bulldogs love people so they are great if you take them to work or to Grandma's for Thanksgiving. We have a farm located on 20 acres in Spirit Lake, Idaho. Paisley The American Kennel Club describes French Bulldogs as "an active, intelligent, muscular dog, with a smooth coat, compact medium build,they are expressive, alert, and curious. They are the 1 most popular AKC ranking dog as of .What Is A French Bulldog? The French Bulldog is a small breed of domestic dog. In , they were the fourth most popular registered dog in the United Kingdom and in the U. French Bulldogs originated from England, France. The first French Bulldogs were brought to America in by wealthy Society ladies. We consider them to be family so we play with the puppies and take them on a few car rides as well. They enjoy playing outdoors when the weather is warm. We are not a kennel. Our goal is to breed Quality, Beautiful, well socialized puppies. Embark test for over different diseases. All of Our French Bulldogs have been tested as well as our puppies. Mans best friend truly is a French Bulldog. Cuddled up next to you on your bed under the covers snoring softly while hogging your pillows. Copiloting around town with you drinking doggy Cappuccino. Every day is an adventure with frenchies Want to be on our waiting list? You can also contact us on the form below. Past Puppies Have you checked out the puppy page? We have lots pictures, videos, and information. Questions we have contact form below. Fill out my online form. Foremost, we are dog owners, and secondly we are dog breeders. But we also have a passion for letting the world know how wonderful this dog is, which is why we breed. We love our dogs and are excited about giving them good homes. If you share our love for the breed, we look forward to meeting you. We want to ensure our dogs are placed in caring, safe and loving homes where they receive lots of attention. Weight of the average female is from 18 to 26 pounds. Average height is from 11 to 13 inches tall. However, for both male and female French Bulldogs, the ideal weight is dependent on a number of other factors, such as genetics and body shape. They are very sociable, friendly dogs. A signature trait of this breed is how affectionate they are, getting along well with people and other dogs. In fact, they were originally bred to be companion dogs, and that also remains their purpose today. Our Goal and Mission Our goal and mission is to breed the highest quality Frenchies available in a variety of colors, from the standard to the unique, while keeping the breed hearty and healthy. Our Guarantee as Breeders When you purchase a puppy from us, we guarantee that the puppy has received: A vet exam You will receive the following guarantees from us: One year written health guarantee against genetic defects. Life Span Did You Know? While the name of this breed is the French Bulldog, their origins cannot be credited to only France. One of the facts about French Bulldogs is that the idea and reason for the creation of the breed originated in England. This adorable dog breed, which has always been meant to be a companion, started as a miniature version of the English Bulldog. This mini-version accompanied lace workers across the English Channel and into France during the Industrial Revolution. Once the dog breed became prominent in France, the subsequent successful crossbreeding of the English Bulldog, Pug, and Terrier led to the creation of the modern-day Frenchie. The French Bulldog we know today originally came to the United States with groups of wealthy Americans who came across them and fell in love while touring Europe in the late s. The French Bulldog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in and is a member of the non-sporting group. The French Bulldog is an easygoing, affectionate, and playful dog that loves their family and gets along well with children. They also love to make new friends, which means they get along well with other dogs, animals, and people. Intelligent and affectionate, this small dog breed certainly wins over hearts and earns its status as a popular companion dog. Frenchies are not known to bark much, unless you train them into it, but they are naturally alert and make excellent watchdogs. As long as they are well-socialized and trained, they tend to have an open and friendly nature. The Frenchie is a highly adaptable dog that pretty much adapts to any living situation that includes plenty of love and attention. Being a short-snouted, snub-nosed dog breed, they do not tolerate heat very well and are also sensitive to cold. This tends to make them one of the dog breeds that hate winter and you will want to make sure to bundle them up to stay warm while out on cold winter walks. Because Frenchies bond closely with their families and thrive on attention from them, they do not tolerate long periods of time alone. They can also be prone to developing separation anxiety if they are poorly socialized or you do not work with them on this when they are young. Potential health concerns to be aware of in French Bulldogs can include cataracts, cherry eye, and entropion. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances. Heart and joint certifications are recommended for this breed. Playful and happy, the French Bulldog is a great fit for a novice dog owner. They are sweet-tempered, eager to please, and eager to train. Occasionally, Frenchies can be stubborn and they do tend to have big personalities. Although this can sometimes be a challenge for first-time dog owners, it can usually be overcome with consistent and patient training. Puppy training classes are always an option and offer plenty of benefits aside from training. Standard coat colors for Frenchies are Brindle, Cream, Fawn, and combinations of these. They have a short coat that will shed a little year-round. Nail trims once or twice a month keep nails from growing too long and causing issues. Weekly ear checks, along with careful cleanings as needed, can help prevent ear infections. As a small dog breed, the Frenchie is more prone to developing gum disease. Daily dental care plus cleanings at the vet as needed can help prevent this and other painful dental diseases later in life. You will also need to take care of the wrinkles. Frenchies have hereditary face wrinkles and it is important to keep them clean and dry to prevent skin irritation or possible infection. The French Bulldog is an easygoing companion breed. They can be one of the laziest dog breeds that are couch potatoes. Frenchies will often be energetic when they play and will try to match their activity to yours. So, if you live a more active lifestyle, you need to be careful that your French Bulldog is not overexerting themselves trying to keep up with you. As a Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dog, they cannot cool themselves as easily and are extra sensitive to heat. They can also get winded easily, so be aware of this when playing with your dog or puppy and watch for signs of overexertion. There are safe ways to exercise flat-faced dogs and you can work with your vet on specifics for your Frenchie if needed. French Bulldogs usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Frenchies generally live for years on average. With this dog breed being so popular, there are plenty of celebrities who have chosen the French Bulldog as their companion, which also means there are plenty of famous Frenchies out there. Also, French Bulldogs cannot swim, at least without a life vest. They can be taught to swim while wearing one, but they should never be left unattended around bodies of water or swimming pools and require constant supervision while in the water. Featured French Bulldog Article.

As affectionate and intelligent pets, Labs are the perfect fit for families who can give their pups lots of love and activity. And when you combine these traits with other personalities from popular breeds such as German shepherds, corgis , and huskies, the mixes are sure to melt hearts. A Bit On Labrador Retriever Mixed Breed Health and Genetics Before adopting a new puppy, it's important to understand the health and genetics of the breed in order to provide all the loving care you can. When dog breeds mix, traits from both parents present themselves in the breed, creating both adorable physical characteristics and loving personalities as well as various health risks. Theresa Entriken , DVM, says health risks aren't meant to discourage pet parents from choosing mixes, but it's important to stay alert for as your pet ages. Early signs typically include noisy panting , a raspy bark and tiring easily with exercise, but later signs can include vomiting and muscle weakness. Before adopting, make sure to research breeders carefully and avoid breeders who aren't putting the puppies' health and safety first. And be sure to consult a veterinarian to learn about the health risks of both parent breeds. Now, on to these fun-loving mixed dog breeds! Along with being adorable and easy to train, their curly poodle coat offers minimal shedding for us allergy-suffering dog lovers. Whether you're looking for a companion to explore the outdoors or a puppy to train, this mix is sure to deliver the fun. These intelligent dogs are full of energy and affection, making them the ideal companion for any active owner. The caring and active personalities from a Lab and golden retriever makes this crossbreed a perfect fit for anyone looking for a loving, active dog. Beagles are natural scent hounds and Labs love to have fun outdoors, so this gentle mix will want long walks to sniff every corner they can. Mixed Breeds By K9 of Mine Staff 19 min read July 14, 23 Comments K9 of Mine is reader-supported, which means we may earn a small commission through products purchased using links on this page. Labrador retrievers are well known for their even-tempered personalities, loyalty, fun-loving natures, and complete devotion to their family members. In fact, the Labrador retriever continues to be the most popular dog breed in the US — a position the breed has held for 27 years straight! Take a gander and share your thoughts in the comments below! Note: K9 of Mine does not endorse irresponsible breeding — please keep in mind that this photo collection is intended for enjoyment and pooch appreciation, not as any kind breeding recommendation or resource. There is very little official data about mixed breed dogs, so the photos displayed here are chosen based on information given by owners. We are unable to personally verify the breed heritage of the pooches shown here — instead, we must simply trust that owners are truthfully describing their dogs with they share photos of their mixed breed canines. TL;DR: Just enjoy the cute photos of doggos! The Basics of the Labrador Retriever Before we introduce you to some of the cutest Lab mixes around, it is important that we talk about a few of the basics of Labradors. This will help you decide whether a Lab mix may be a good fit for your family! Labradors usually weigh between 60 and 80 pounds and stand about 22 to 24 inches at the shoulder. Labs have moderately long lifespans of about 12 years, though some reach even older ages. Labs are members of the sporting group, who were originally bred to help fisherman tend nets, until their owners started using them to retrieve downed birds. Labrador retrievers have a friendly, happy-go-lucky demeanor, and they usually get along with most two- and four-footers they encounter. Labs are full of energy and often make superb running or hiking companions. Labrador retrievers can make great pets for first-time dog owners, so long as you provide plenty of exercise and stimulation each day. Labs are people-oriented dogs, who thrive best in homes that are rarely empty. Labrador retrievers are generally intelligent and eager to please, making training a breeze. Labs tend to shed pretty heavily, thanks to their thick double coats. Labrador retrievers do often suffer from a few common health problems, including patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, and osteochondritis dissecans. No dog breed is perfect for all situations or scenarios, but as you can see, Labs are certainly one of the most appealing breeds in the world and they have quite a bit to offer the right family! Without further ado, here are some Labrador designer breeds that are sure to steal your heart. In some cases, like the Labradoodle a cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle , the names are pretty popular and used widely. Australian Shepherd Lab mixes also produces some puppers with pretty adorable coat color patterns , which just adds to their appeal. These pups are best paired with active owners. But while they may have blockier builds than typical Labs, most of these guys and gals are big softies, who love nothing more than cuddling with their humans. Like Labs, American bulldogs excel at a wide variety of tasks, making them great all-around dogs for families, farmers, hunters, and more! Labs are lovable goofballs who are all about fun and games, while Akitas are no-nonsense pooches, who project an air of competence and quiet dignity. One pooch in the litter may take after the Lab parent, while another may more closely resemble the Akita. Name aside, these playful pups have energy levels that are off-the-charts, so be sure you have a big yard and plenty of time to visit the park before adding one of these dogs to your family. Well, the Beagador may be just the thing! But, they can be a bit aloof around strangers. But when you cross a bullmastiff with a Lab — a dog who views all strangers as potential pals — all bets are off! These mixes can be a bit of a house-keeping headache, as Labs shed pretty heavily, while bullmastiffs are Olympic-caliber droolers. Labs have held the 1 spot since , but the cocker spaniel has sat atop the popularity pyramid in 23 different years since the s. Note that there are two different corgi breeds the Cardigan Welsh corgi and the Pembroke Welsh corgi , and each will produce a slightly different version of this mixed breed. Either are considered Lab Corgi dogs. Doberdor Labrador Retriever X Doberman Pinscher A post shared by Charli the doberdor charlithedoberdor Given that Dobermans and Labs are both very affectionate dogs who bond strongly with their owners, Doberdor mixed breed pups will make great companions for individuals and families alike. The Doberdor loves his human family and will make it known with endless puppy kisses and loyalty. Wanna see more Doberman mixes? Check out 15 of our favorites here! You may just want to consider the Dalmador. Labs make pretty good jogging partners themselves, and Dalmatians can run for days. Honestly, there are a variety of Dalmatian mixes available for fans of polka-dotted pooches. Dachsador Labrador Retriever X Dachshund. Typical Lab mix traits The best Lab mix breeds are of course a matter of opinion. As with any purebred dog, it depends entirely upon why you want a canine companion. If you want a small Lab mix as a family companion then getting one who is crossed with a smaller, calmer breed is a good choice. But if you want a dog for sports or hunting then going with a Labrador crossed with another working breed is a sensible move. If you want a dog to have a go at agility, then a Collie cross is a great place to start. Lab mix dogs are often found in shelters or Lab rescue centers. What is My Lab Mixed With? Labrador mix bred dogs can often look very different to either of their parents. And in some cases, if the parentage is unknown it is entirely possible that they have more than one breed in their genetic makeup. If you are rescuing an older dog, the only way to know with reasonable certainty where your mixed breed dog came from, is to order a DNA test. This will give you as many as three or four generations back, and give you a great idea what breeds went into your wonderful dog. They are fairly rare, as Afghan hounds are not terribly numerous. Your Afador puppy is likely to grow to be fairly large, as both Afghan Hounds and Labradors are reasonably tall. You could therefore end up with a dog with medium to long fur, which will require regularly grooming. Afghan temperaments tend to be more aloof than that of Labs, with less boisterous enthusiasm for everyone they meet. Basset Hound Lab mix Another rare cross but one which has great appeal to some people, is the Bassador. They are on average around 14 inches tall as adults, with body proportions suiting a larger breed of dog and shortened legs. Working line Basset Hounds tend to be in far better shape than their show bred cousins, and this is where you should start your search if you have your heart set on a Bassador. Border Collie Lab Mix Border Collies are incredibly intelligent dogs, who work very well with their owner if properly trained. Loyal to their families, and fairly indifferent to everyone else. They are quick to learn and can be taught a mind boggling range of activities through positive reinforcement training. The show dogs tend to be the least driven, although still high energy dogs that require a lot of stimulation. Like Labs as puppies they can be very nippy. This can express quite strongly around children, as they attempt to herd them around. They are not generally therefore recommended to families with very young kids. They do however often make excellent pets when older for active, busy families who enjoy training and working together. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are without a doubt some of the friendliest little dogs in the world. They are charismatic, fun and loyal. They also have a fairly good average lifespan of 11 years. However, there are a couple of big, scary health problems associated with large numbers of this breed, so be very careful and do a lot of research if you are thinking of bringing one into your home. Health problems impacting a vast quantity of these little dogs include mitral valve disease , a heart problem which causes early death, and syringomyelia. This is a neurological problem caused by the size and shape of their skulls, not allowing their brain and brain stem to be properly accommodated. Two very popular breeds of gundog with a lot of similarities, this is one of the cross breeds where can be fairly confident of the type of Lab mix you will be getting when you bring home your puppy. Goldadors are very popular seeing eye dogs. They are well known for being intelligent, fast learners and very co-operative with their handlers. Like their Golden Retriever and Labrador parents, they tend to have very friendly temperaments and love spending time with their human family. Golden Retrievers are similarly sized dogs to Labradors, but with a far longer and wavier coat. Most Goldadors seem to have shorter fur more like the Lab parent, but this is not guaranteed. Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to be fairly calm and aloof as adults, and require a lot of dedication to socialisation when they are young due to potential nervousness around strangers and guarding tendencies. Due to their size, they are not really recommended for homes with young children or frail adults. Bernese Mountain Dogs are very large, growing up to 28 inches tall and weigh up to pounds. They also have a long coat, which requires a lot of grooming to keep in a good condition. Unfortunately like many extra large breeds, Bernese Mountain Dogs do not have very long life expectancies, averaging around 8 years long. When looking at longevity size is a big factor, and giant breed dogs regardless of whether they are mix bred or not will have shorter lifespans. You could therefore expect to see your puppy potential live fewer years than the average purebred Lab. They are utterly beautiful dogs, and if well managed can make wonderful companions. Labmaraner The Weimaraner is a beautiful dog, and an intelligent one too. Like all members of the gun dog group he has been bred with co-operative working in mind. Although he tends to be slightly less people focussed in general than your average Lab. This means that they are not as obsessed with greeting everyone when you take them for a walk. However, they can also be a little harder to engage in the training process and in some cases be even more driven than a Labrador. Like Labs, Weimaraners can also be prone to separation anxiety when left alone for long periods. Labradoodle Labradoodles are the most popular Labrador Retriever designer dog breed at the moment. A Labradoodle will not necessarily be a non-shedding dog, and may require some extreme grooming or very regular visits to the poodle parlour in order to not become matted. Pitbull Lab Mix The Pitbull Lab mix should be a great family dog, full of energy, with a short, easy care coat. Rottador or Labrottie Rottweilers crossed with Labradors are known as Labrotties. Or Rottadors. And they can be incredibly beautiful and dedicated companions to their families. Rottweilers can be up to around 27 inches tall, with big heads, deep chests and well muscled bodies. They are powerful dogs and need commitment to positive training from day one from their families in order to understand how to behave in their homes. Rottweiler temperament is also quite different to that of your average Labrador Retriever. There is no way of knowing which of his parents your Labrottie will take after. Rottweilers are a guarding breed. Extremely loyal to their family, but known to be wary of strangers and unpredictable around children if improperly socialised and managed. Your Labrottie puppy must be very well socialised, just as you would with a pure guarding breed dog. Make sure he has regular positive contact with people of every age, and is familiar with things like beards, hats and unusual items of clothing. Springador Springer Spaniels crossed with Labs are often referred to as Springadors. They can make fabulous pets or working dogs, but can have the extremes of both breeds. They are not for the inexperienced or inactive owner. Springers are very lively dogs with an incredibly high prey and hunting drive. They benefit from positive reinforcement training from an early age. In general Springers have great temperaments. However, there are some working lines which have nervous aggression problems and fixations on light chasing. Make sure that you meet the Springer parent to ensure that they are confident and not agitated. English Springer Spaniels tend to be smaller and lighter than Labs, with a longer coat. Springadors often have shorter coats, and can look a lot like a slightly shaggy black Lab with a few white markings. Lab Mix Temperament When you buy a mixed breed dog, their temperament will be a product of their varying lineage. They could end up with any mixture of the two lines temperaments, or something completely different. Make sure to meet both parents to ensure that they are confident, friendly characters. If both lines are happy, loving dogs then the chances are good that your puppy will be the same. Photo kindly provided by N Pappalardo. If your Labrador is a known cross, then you can make an educated guess that he could be anywhere between the average sizes for those breeds. However, it not always the case. And with a Labrador mixed with unknown other dogs, then they really could be any size at all. The Labrador element to their genetics does not limit their growth. Nor do they mean that they will definitely have any specific height to them. There will potentially be huge variation even within the litter. I grew up next door to a family who had two Labrador x Terriers from the same litter. One looked exactly like a Labrador in every way, except she had very short legs. The other was Labrador height but with a totally different shape. If size matters to you, then a purebred puppy or dog over 18 months old might be a better choice. Lab Mix Health Mix breed dogs can still be susceptible to the diseases carried by their parents. Especially if those diseases are common in both breeds. The Labrador parent should have a clear eye test of less than a year old. They should be PRA clear, and have a lower than average hip score. For full health testing for Labs check out this article. The other parent may also need a clear eye test, and a good hip score. The most important thing is to pick a puppy whose parents have both had all of the health tests relevant to their own breed. And whose personalities you would be happy to see replicated in your pup. Alternatively, look for a rescue dog that you have met and fallen in love with yourself. Should a Lab Mix take after their Labrador Retriever parent, they will be a playful, energetic, and affectionate dog that loves their families. Labrador Retrievers are energetic dogs that tend to have an extended puppyhood. They are also social, friendly, and tend to be patient and gentle with children. This makes them fantastic pets as they also tend to get along well with other dogs and even other pets, despite their retriever tendencies. If the other parent breed has a similar temperament, then you can expect the same from a Labrador Retriever Mix. You still want to ask questions about the other parent breed as they are bound to introduce some potential quirks of their own. Although Labs are happiest with room to run, they adapt well to apartments as long as they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and affection. They also do well in most climates, but do not like to spend long stretches of time alone. If the other parent breed is also highly adaptable, then you can expect the same from a Labrador Retriever Mix. Are mixed-breed dogs healthier than purebred dogs? As with purebred dogs, health often depends on reputable breeding practices. Just as a mix can inherit none of the conditions common to their parent breeds, they could also inherit all of them or some combination of them. From the Labrador side, potential health concerns to be aware of in a Labrador Mix include patellar luxation , hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and cataracts. The other parent breed will likely introduce some other potential conditions to this list. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Labrador Retrievers are highly trainable dogs that can be a good fit for owners of any experience level. First-time owners may have a challenge at first with their high energy and exuberance, but tend to be successful. If the other parent breed is also highly trainable, then you can expect the same from a Labrador Retriever Mix. If the other parent breed tends to be more challenging to train, then you will want to be prepared for that potential and be ready to enroll in puppy training classes if you need them. A Lab Mix can end up with a coat similar to one of their parents or a coat that is truly a mix of both. Should they inherit the Labrador Retriever coat, it will be short and will shed throughout the year with heavier shedding as the seasons change. Weekly brushing and the occasional bath keep a Lab coat healthy. Trimming nails once or twice monthly keeps them from growing too long. Because dental care is often overlooked, gum disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs. Brushing teeth every day or using an enzyme toothpaste daily in addition to cleanings at the vet as needed helps prevent painful dental diseases later in life. Labrador Retrievers are high-energy working dogs that need plenty of exercise and a job to do to be happy. If the other parent breed is also a high-energy dog breed, then you should expect a Labrador Mix to be a high-energy dog as well. Even if the other parent breed sits in a lower activity range, you will still want to be prepared for the potential of a high-energy dog should they take after their Lab parent. Fully-grown Labrador Retrievers tend to stand inches tall and weigh pounds. The other parent can have a big effect on this, especially if they are the mother. Labs generally live for years. Although the other parent breed could affect this slightly, you should be able to expect a similar average life span from a Labrador Retriever Mix. Featured Labrador Mix Article.

Females: pounds. Height Males: inches. Females: inches. Unlike most herding breeds, the German Shepherd was bred to move the herd and patrol and protect both the herd and the shepherd from outside dangers and predators. The test consisted of basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, and retrieve and also included a section where the dog had to attack on command. If the dog failed the test, he could not be bred. The results of the Schutzhund trial can be seen in the intelligent and versatile modern-day German Shepherd. Today, the German Shepherd has proven to be a very adaptable breed. They can do nearly anything, including protecting sheep, guarding homes, assisting the disabled, aiding the police in search and rescue missions, and, most importantly, loving and loyally serving their family. Breed Characteristics Head: Somewhat mesaticephalic to slightly dolichocephalic skull-type, moderate in size, somewhat long, yet wedge-shaped when viewed from above or in profile. It is in proportion to the rest of the body. The length of the head, from the tip of the nose to the occiput, is approximately equal to the length from the occiput to the withers. The topskull is broad, measured in front of the ears; it is as wide as it is long from occiput to stop. In profile, the forehead is just slightly arched never domed from the front or in profile. In profile, it may also appear as a straight-sloped plane. A furrow extending from the stop and up the center of the topskull may be absent or barely perceptible. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkles. Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to open almond in shape, and may be set slightly oblique. They are medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes should never be large and round or with exposed whites. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Ears: Medium in size, firmly erect, thick-leathered, and set high on the skull. When alert, they face forward, in repose, or in motion; they may be held back, neutral, or in a relaxed position. The ears are never long, overly large, tipped, drooped, rounded, or broken. Muzzle: The muzzle is long, full, broad, and deep, never snipy, weak, or boxy from pendulous flews. The upper and lower jaws are equal in length, have good bone substance, appear strong and well-developed, and are never snipey or weak. The nasal bridge is fairly straight. The muzzle is equal in length to the topskull. The jaws are powerfully developed and strong. Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black or self-colored according to the coat in non-standard color varieties. The nostrils are well-opened and broad. Neck: Moderate length allows for a proud head carriage. Strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The forechest is well-developed yet not overly protrusive. Body: Strong, deep, of good substance, and powerfully muscled. The body should allow for strength, agility, stamina, and endurance. The body is never light, weedy, racy, rangy, heavy, or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters. Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads. Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. It is of a medium length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints or lower when held down. The tail may be straight, gently curved, or curved toward the tip. Movement: The original function of the German Shepherd required that the dog be capable of trotting tirelessly and effortlessly for long distances, as well as allowing for power and agility. Therefore, the German Shepherd must exhibit healthy trotting action. Therefore, a standard trot will be favored over the over-extended flying trot. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and a good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring. Temperament: The German Shepherd breed is strong-nerved, fearless, self-assured, self-composed, confident, watchful, poised, and alert when necessary. They should never be timid, shy, nervous, anxious, or overly fearful including fear-aggressive. The breed is physically capable of speed, power, agility, and endurance and is self-aware enough to know their capabilities and limits. This offers them a great deal of confidence. The German Shepherd is an extremely intelligent breed, capable of learning and discerning many tasks and activities. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed. The ideal body-height-to-length ratio is approximately , with the body exceeding the height by percent. The body is deep, of good substance, and solid in bone. The German Shepherd is always presented in a hard-working condition. Males should appear masculine, being more substantial in size and mass, while females should appear more feminine and slightly less substantial. Neither should lack overall type. The weight of a male or female is always in proportion to height. The intermediate-sized German Shepherd excels at physically demanding tasks. Head General Appearance: Somewhat mesaticephalic to slightly dolichocephalic skull-type, moderate in size, somewhat long, yet wedge-shaped when viewed from above or in profile. Expression: Confident, keen, noble, watchful, and anticipating. Stop: The stop is sloping yet definite and never overly pronounced or sharp. Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is , with the topskull being equal in length to the muzzle. The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel or may be just slightly convergent. Lips or Flews: The lips are clean and fit tightly over the teeth and jaws, revealing the wedged shape of the strongly defined muzzle. The lips are never loose or pendulous. The lips and flews are well-pigmented. Cheeks: Powerfully muscled, giving substance to the face, but never excessively protrusive. The cheeks should not appear chiseled or coarse. Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized. Body and Tail General Description: Strong, deep, of good substance, and powerfully muscled. Topline: Straight and level from slightly prominent withers to loin. The back is broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut and may be flat and level preferred or just slightly sloped yet supportive. Croup: Broad and long. It may be somewhat flat and level with the back or just slightly and gently sloped, no more than 23 degrees to the horizontal. Underline: There may be a slight tucked-up present or level to the horizon. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight. Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, oval-shaped, and never barrel-chested or slab-sided. Forequarters and Hindquarters Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. The shoulder blades are approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm. Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The distance from the withers to the brisket may be equal to or greater than the distance from the elbows to the ground. Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of solid bone, and parallel to one another. Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns. Pasterns: Never weak or broken. Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are equal in length, strong, sturdy, of solid bone, and well-muscled. Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another. Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another. An unexaggerated German Shepherd dog should be capable of standing in a traditional stack used for any other working breed, with both rear pasterns set naturally under the dog, parallel to one another. Preference is given to dogs capable of stacking naturally in a traditional stack as opposed to the GSD stack. Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump, or within one paw-length behind the point of the rump, with both rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another. Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns. Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters. Coat Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog. Coat Type: The German Shepherd comes in two coat varieties: the standard smooth coat and the long coat. Smooth-coat variety: Very dense, harsh, close-fitting outer coat. Soft, dense undercoat. Short on the head, face, ears, and front of the legs, paws, and toes. The hair is slightly longer on the backside of the legs, forming moderate "trousers," and on the neck, forming a slight ruff. Long-coat variety: Dense, soft, long guard hairs, forming fringe on ears, tail, and legs, forming bushy trousers on the backside of haunches. Short on head, face, the front side of legs, paws, and toes. Longer on the coat, nearly forming a mane. Coat Color or Pattern: CKC recognizes three color varieties of the German Shepherd breed: the standard, the nonstandard, and the white. Standard coat color variety: Solid black, black saddle with tan, black with tan points, black with running or creeping tan, all shades of agouti, wolf-sable, all shades of sable, fawn, all with or without reserved black mask. Non-standard coat color variety: Liver, blue, brindle, brindled tan, brindled tan points, fawn with liver, or blue mask. Any of the standard or non-standard varieties with or without white markings Panda. White: Solid white with black points. Movement The original function of the German Shepherd required that the dog be capable of trotting tirelessly and effortlessly for long distances, as well as allowing for power and agility. Temperament The German Shepherd breed is strong-nerved, fearless, self-assured, self-composed, confident, watchful, poised, and alert when necessary. Faults All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles. We have two custom built whelping rooms where the puppies are raised from birth until they leave for their new homes. Our German Shepherd Puppies are raised in clean, comfortable conditions. We believe that happy moms create sound tempered puppies. We begin accepting deposits on puppies upon breeding of the litter, and litters are typically reserved within a few weeks of their birth. New puppy owners are welcome to visit their puppy once they reach weeks of age. We provide weekly photo updates on the page below until the puppies leave for their new homes. Puppies are chosen by their new owners in order of deposit, once they have been for their veterinary checkup. We provide guidance in matching the right puppy with the right family. Parents of our litters are titled in conformation or obedience, or actively working on their titles. Visitors are always welcome to come and meet the parents prior to leaving a deposit on a litter. Feel free to check out some of our previous litters in our Gallery. Retired Champion show dog. Crate trained, travels well, some house training. Good manners in the home. All puppies should be short coated. Inquiries welcome! Sel Ch. Those who have placed a deposit on a litter come before the waitlist, but if the litter is born, and there are still puppies available in it, we will begin contacting the names on our waitlist. Unless you are an experienced GSD owner or have had many dogs in the past where you have raised them with proper care in regards to exercise and mental stimulation then I would reconsider your choice. In fact despite providing both of those things, you may still need to be prepared to consult a behaviourist should things go sideways and you need to be able to put in the hours to train your dog. Most GSD I meet are untrustworthy around smaller animals. This makes them poor dogs at off leash parks in general, due to the harm they may cause other dogs. So that begs the question -- where will you exercise your very high energy dog if this happens? Heck I know a few GSD -- including a police dog!! The GSD can also become extremely shy and where shyness comes into play means you can get fear based aggression as well. So you have potential aggression issues coming from a few angles. One of my dogs is terrified of the breed due to multiple poor experiences and will bark at any GSD she meets, despite loving every other type of larger dogs.I've seen even large dogs afraid of the GSD breed. It really says something about the breed to me; that so many dogs pick up on the intent of multiple animals after repeated dangerous encounters and they must learn to avoid and be fearful of it as a whole. Even the nice ones get a bad rap, unfortunately. Due to their reputation many people will completely freak out around such dogs, going as far as crossing the street or not taking the same elevator etc. Personality aside, they're also prone to many many issues besides hip dysplasia. And their shedding should win awards, don't think I've meet another breed that sheds quite so much. You would need to vacuum daily. Legal system is quite a bit different in Canada in from 90's Carribean. If you ever command your dog to attack anyone, it counts as assault with weapon. Just avoid the hassle and have a friendly, trustworthy not just by you, but also by others around you dog. Showing 1 - 26 of 26 resultsPage 1 - 26 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. CKC purebred registration is available if you wish to.Family friendly orientated style. Our dogs are large, with a high croup rear end. We try to breed our dogs for health and longevity.They are friendly and good with children. They are black, tan and redish. Our German Shepherds are eager to learn, easy to train, Puppies have been vet checked, all vaccines, tattooed, wormed and CKC registered, Puppies will be suitable for show, Puppies have been vet checked, all vaccines, tattooed, wormed and CKC registered, Puppies will be suitable.Dad is not.We have 4 females and 2 males One male and 1 female up for your consideration. Mom is an all black with.Ready for their forever home October 8th. They will be CKC registered, microchipped and first set of shots before going to their new home. We have 1 more female that need a home. Pups have been vet checked, have first shots, dewormed and.Visit Website Below to Order Now! We are a reputable breeder with high quality dogs and experience with the breed for over 30 years. We have a stunning litter of 11 registered liver and Isabella German shepherd puppies. Sire is a CKC.He came from a reputable breeder. No health issues and up to date with his vaccination. He is.Browse other categories in All Categories in Ontario.

Here are a quick overview and the 9 most important factors to keep in mind. After all, they are all bulldogs, right? Not exactly. So, what do you need to know before getting a French Bulldog puppy? What are the key characteristics that make French Bulldogs special? French Bulldogs share a lot of characteristics with their larger English Bulldog cousins. Like all other bulldogs, Frenchies are great with kids! Their short legs and front-heavy bodies make them the worst swimmers in the canine world! They grow up to 11 or 13 inches on average 28 to 33 cm and they rarely weigh more than 8 pounds 13 kg. They have adorably large bat-like ears — this is the signature trait of Frenchies, their hilarious ears. Fortunately, many American breeders insisted on continuing to breed Frenchies with their breed-defining bat-like ears. Longer lifespan. While, as a larger breed, English Bulldogs live up to 8 to 10 years on average, Frenchies live a bit more. On average, a French Bulldog can live up to 10 or 12 years. And, with good care and a bit of luck, they can live more than that too! As you can see, French Bulldogs are not just miniature versions of their larger English Bulldogs predecessors. So, what exactly do you need to know before getting a French Bulldog puppy? Here are the 9 most important points: 1. Many breeds require lots of outdoor time — walking, running, playing, etc. So, which group do French Bulldogs belong to? They fall right in the middle. They are usually fine with two quick walks outside per day and spending the rest of their time at home. Not only do Frenchies prefer to stay at home, but they also should never be allowed close to a swimming pool, river, lake, the sea, or even a full bath. So, even during your brief outdoor walks, make sure that you avoid large bodies of water. And if you have a swimming pool in your backyard — getting a French Bulldog might be a bad idea. Frenchies are incredibly affectionate dogs. French Bulldogs are very playful and active dogs which makes them great for young kids who also need frequent interactions and playtime. Simply put, if you have a Frenchie and a baby under the same roof, you can be sure that neither of them will be bored. Frenchies are downright adorable — their short snout and large bat-like years are traits most kids love with a passion! And they are happy to use their vocabulary every day too! Frenchies will still alert you whenever they perceive danger, of course. This makes Frenchies a fantastic breed for condo and apartment dwellers as the Frenchie is unlikely to bother your neighbors or landlord. There are multiple reasons for this: Frenchies have very short coats. Not to mention that the little time they need to spend outdoors is usually spent just running on the clean pavement instead of rolling in the mud like certain other breeds like to do. Frenchies shed their coats seasonally or only twice per year. French Bulldogs require nothing more than occasional grooming. Still, keep in mind that Frenchies are not hypoallergenic. Come up with new games and new toys from time to time — intelligent dogs can still love their old toys and games but they need new ones. However, all bulldogs were initially used for bull-baiting which was a complex and physically-demanding job that required lots of quick thinking. If you work out of the house and you have a Frenchie you absolutely have to give your dog extra attention before going out. Leaving a hyper-active and easily-bored dog alone for an extended period of time is a big No-No. Or, that he or she gets through them quickly and easily. Please keep in mind that these are estimates to give you a general idea of how tall your French Bulldog puppy will be. At what age is a French Bulldog fully grown? A French Bulldog will reach close to their full weight around eight to twelve months old and maximum height around nine to twelve months of age. French Bulldogs will continue to slowly fill out anywhere between nine to fifteen months of age. They are considered fully grown around 12 to 14 months old, but may continue to put on muscle until they are two years old. How big should a 6-month-old French Bulldog be? A male French Bulldog will weigh between 17 and 22 pounds at six months old and have an average weight of .A six-month-old female French Bulldog will weigh between 13 and 20 pounds with an average weight of 17 pounds. Both male and female French Bulldogs will stand around seven to nine inches on average. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. French Bulldogs usually reach their full height when they are between nine and twelve months old. As short dogs, French Bulldogs barely double in height from three months of age to 1 year old. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, this is a telltale sign that they are still growing! What is the size of a full-grown French Bulldog? Most female French Bulldogs will weigh about 17 to 24 pounds, while male French Bulldogs weigh about 20 to 28 pounds. Both male and female French Bulldogs will stand 11 to 13 inches tall and have a muscular, heavy-boned build. How do I make sure my French Bulldog is healthy? As a purebred dog breed, French Bulldogs are more prone to genetic health problems. In particular, French Bulldogs are predisposed to skin problems, ear infections, diarrhea, eye problems, spinal injury and respiratory distress caused by their brachycephalic syndrome. Brachycephalic syndrome causes them to have a flat nose and shorter esophagus, creating a heightened risk of breathing problems. The Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found that about half of French Bulldogs have significant breathing problems and .In addition to this, French Bulldogs are prone to obesity , which can lead to type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, disc disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, and further respiratory issues. Pro Tip: Compare pet insurance plans to save on veterinary expenses and ensure that the cost of care never interferes with the essential treatment your pet deserves. Most French Bulldogs do well with a leisurely walk or active playtime. Be careful with taking your French Bulldog out in hot weather though as their brachycephalic syndrome makes them prone to overheating and heat stroke. As a general rule temperatures over 80 degrees should be avoided for French Bulldogs. As loving pet parents, we never want to think the worst could happen to our furbaby. However, we must prepare for both everyday costs, like vaccinations and veterinarian appointments, and emergencies. Dog Insurance is here to help you with emergency costs, as well as expected costs like veterinarian care see the wellness options many pet insurance plans offer. Only .Pet insurance can help you provide your pup with quality routine and emergency care. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Key Takeaways On average, French Bulldogs weigh between pounds at age one, with inches in height. French Bulldogs stop growing around months old, so pet owners should be mindful of weight gain after their first birthday. As a breed, French Bulldogs are exceptionally prone to obesity, which can worsen breathing problems and lead to a number of secondary health concerns. Use our French Bulldog growth chart to monitor your puppy's weight and ensure they stay within a healthy range. Pet insurance promotes positive veterinary care and offsets the cost of services should your Frenchie get sick or injured at any point in life. Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. People ask if the French bulldog and the Pug are related but the Frenchie originated in France way back in the s, from English ancestry, whilst the Pug comes from Chinese origins. Those cute ears! And other characteristics Around , the lace workers from Nottingham were forced out by the Industrial Revolution. They moved to France, taking along one such dog, the miniature bulldog. Americans also started importing French Bulldogs for a breeding program in .At a dog show, Mr. George Raper chose winners who had "rose ears". Rose ears were folded at the tip, as with the standard type Bulldogs. All the controversy around the ears sparked off the French Bulldog Club of America. But as he gets bigger, he is not afraid to alert his owners to danger. They are spunky too, cute the way they communicate with yips, gargles, howls , and yawning to get your attention. This all means that the Frenchie loves to be affectionate and playful. They are stressful little dogs, so CBD is a very good option for these cute little dogs. Their life expectancy is around years. Sold out Training Even though they are a small breed, they have a stubborn streak in them, making them a bit more difficult to train than other dog breeds. The main types of training for a French bulldog would be socialization training and also potty training. They are inclined to be a bit standoffish when it comes to meeting new people and they can even get a bit aggressive towards other dogs. Check out these training tips for your French bulldog. If he walks to the new person and seems happy and confident, give him treats, and also allow the new person to give him a treat. If your dog is fearful of a new person, allow him to calm down without any force — dogs know people far better than humans do! Sometimes the little Frenchie can be a bit destructive as they enjoy chewing. Be aware of this before you buy a Frenchie. They can get bored, using chewing as their way of exploration. If you want this type of dog, you need to know that all your personal belongings must be out of the way. Being small, they can get onto tables and reach things like your phone and remote controls, etc. Be warned. Provide him with his own toys , keeping the ones with squeakers away, because Frenchies can choke on those. The harness offers more support too and does not strain as much as a collar does. Swimming is not really for this little doggie. Take caution with the Frenchie near water because due to their short-snout respiratory issues and their thin, short little legs, they are more at risk of drowning. A Frenchie needs to have his toenails trimmed every couple of weeks or so. Remember to brush his teeth to keep them healthy and breath fresh. His ears need to be clean too, remembering the delicate wrinkles on his face. They can be pretty deep, these folds, and can be a breeding ground for bacteria- they will need cleaning around twice a week. Just use a damp cloth to wipe the folds out, making sure they are perfectly dry. Otherwise, though, generally washing once a month should be enough. Health issues Digestive issues Digestive issues can cause Frenchies to be constipated. That means you need to provide your dog with top quality foods. The spine The spine requires special attention. This breed often has abnormally developed vertebrae of the discs of the back and even IVDD. This can cause this special little dog to become disabled. Surgery and repair can cost thousands of dollars — also x-rays will need to be taken. It is common in the brachycephalic breeds such as a French bulldog. Eye problems A Frenchie can experience common eye problems and it is not uncommon for them to suffer from eye allergies that irritate their eyes. Why are they so expensive? Well, to begin with, these little dogs need to be artificially inseminated in most cases, and the little females usually have a C-section at birth as it is rather dangerous to give birth naturally. All these things cost a lot of money. Grant loves writing about furry little goofballs and aims to educate pet parents about anything and everything regarding their dogs. Recommended Articles. Their rise in popularity began as far back as the mids when their ancestors, toy-sized English Bulldogs, gained prominence in England during the height of the English Industrial Revolution, according to the American Kennel Club AKC. From there, these dogs found their way to the French countryside where, over the next few decades, cross-breeding with other small dogs, most likely terriers and Pugs , led to the development of the breed as it exists today. Today, they are consistently ranked among the top 10 most popular dog breeds, as reported by the AKC. This trait does not makes them hard to train—far from it, she explains. In fact, starting early is essential in all aspects of Frenchie care. Wylie says. Because of these issues, brachycephalic dogs need to work harder to breathe than other dogs and have an easier time breathing through their mouth than their nose. Due to the potential for breathing problems, Dr. Wylie recommends pet parents use a harness, like the Puppia soft dog harness , when walking a Frenchie. Also, if you want a quiet sleeper, a French Bulldogs might not be your ideal pets. Their unique airways make them prolific snorers! Their lack of aquatic prowess is related to both their brachycephalic features, which make it difficult to keep their noses out of the water and breathe while dog paddling, as well as their overall barrel body shape, which is heavy and difficult for their small legs to support. Additionally, according to Crestojo, Frenchies are prone to becoming overweight. There are foods out there specially formulated for Frenchies, like Frenchies by Royal Canin , to help maintain a healthy weight while ensuring your dog has a balanced diet. Despite the challenges that come with a brachycephalic dog, Frenchies really are great pets. Learn more about Frenchies: Need a French name for your Frenchie? Browse our list of top French dog names. By Kate Hughes. Ideally they need owners around all day. Common health problems in French Bulldogs French Bulldogs are playful and fun-loving dogs who love spending time with their owners. Sadly, like so many other purebred dogs, they are at risk of certain conditions relating to their breed. If you are thinking of buying a French Bulldog puppy , make sure the parents of your puppy have had the relevant health screening to reduce the chances of your puppy being affected by certain conditions. Frenchies are a flat-faced breed, which can often cause breathing problems and means they overheat quickly especially when they exercise in warmer weather. Some of the conditions Frenchies may develop include: Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome BOAS — this can cause severe breathing problems and is caused by their shorter faces. Parents should be screened before breeding. Luxating patellas — where the kneecaps slipping temporarily out of place. Dental problems — shorter faced dogs often have crowded teeth with can cause dental problems. A range of eye problems, including cataracts there is screening for this. Back problems such as Intervertebral disc disease — where the discs that provide cushioning between the vertebrae back bones bulge or burst, pressing on nerves in the spine. Skin conditions — particularly skin fold dermatitis where the skin in their wrinkles gets inflamed and sore or even infected. Hyperuricosuria — a condition where stones or crystals can form in urine causing infections, difficulty passing urine or blood in urine. If you want to minimise the risk of your dog getting problems due to exaggerated features, you can read our advice on choosing a pedigree dog. Caring for your French Bulldog Frenchies are loving dogs, known for being quite laid-back and happy to fit in with family life. French Bulldogs can be lower maintenance because they tend to prefer shorter walks, but they definitely have huge characters and personalities and will do anything for a bit of fuss and attention! French Bulldogs and barking As with any breed, your Frenchie is likely to make noise. How much they make is completely down to the individual, their training and personality. Training and socialisation French Bulldogs are eager to please their owners which can make them easy to train, but are also known to be strong-willed at times. They are a sensitive breed, so respond best to positive, reward-based training which needs to be started from an early age. This will help them grow into confident adults and help their laid-back nature shine through. They thrive off company and so could develop separation anxiety if left alone. Exercise Although Frenchies are thought to be less high maintenance than some breeds when it comes to exercise, they still love to keep busy and exercising is a huge part of that. Your French Bulldog will need up to an hour of exercise every day. This should be split into a few shorter walks, with time to play off-lead in a secure area and have a good sniff around. As a flat-faced breed, French Bulldogs can overheat and struggle to breathe really quickly, especially in warmer weather. Make sure you can recognise the signs of heatstroke in your dog. Early mornings and later in the evenings would be better times to go for a walk in the summer. Due to the extra rolls of skin around their face, French Bulldogs are at risk of developing something called skin fold dermatitis. You can clean them with damp cotton wool pads but always make sure to dry them thoroughly after. Will you give now to help people and pets in need? As the cost of living continues to rise, vet care could be out of reach for many. Donate to our emergency appeal now to provide vital vet care to pets in need and keep families together during this crisis. Donate French Bulldogs and children Frenchies are known for being pretty laid back and adaptable, so they tend to get along well with children of all ages which makes them popular family pets. Always supervise your dog with children and vulnerable adults. French Bulldogs do have a high prey drive. If they have grown up with a cat in the home, they will be fine with that cat but are likely to chase unfamiliar cats and smaller pets. You should always supervise your dog with family pets and introduce them slowly from a young age. Your vet will be able to tell you how much your Frenchie should be eating. You should feed them a good quality, commercially available, complete dog food. We usually recommend splitting their daily allowance into two meals. If you give your dog the occasional treat or use treats for training, remember to take this into account and reduce their daily allowance. Flat-faced breeds such as Frenchies can suffer from reflux or struggle to swallow their food. Speak to your vet for more information about how to manage this at home. Try to feed your dog at similar times every day as they like routine. Remember to leave a gap between eating and exercising. Beware unusually cheap puppies as they could come from a puppy farm. These breeders must do extra health tests and meet higher standards. Set-up costs Puppy vaccines — if you rescue a dog, reputable centres will often vaccinate them for you. Remember that ongoing booster vaccinations will be needed to continue their immunity. Neutering — you should usually arrange for your dog to be neutered at around six months old, though your vet will be able to advise you exactly when is best. Check prices at your local practice as these will depend on your vet and where you live. Some rescue centres will neuter any dogs they rehome, saving you this cost. Equipment — including a collar and tags, lead, harness, dog beds, dog bowls, pet-safe toothpaste and toothbrushes, grooming brushes and toys. Keep in mind that all these will need to be replaced with wear or damage or if your dog outgrows or damages them! Ongoing costs Food. Preventive healthcare — budget for routine vet visits to help stop your dog getting ill and catch any problems early. They need annual check-ups, vaccinations and regular flea and worming treatments. Check if your vet offers a health care plan as this can help spread the cost throughout the year. Accessories — including lots of poo bags, replacing worn toys and grooming accessories, buying doggy toothpaste and any other extras they might need. Other costs Training — basic training is very important and dogs can benefit from formal classes. Some dogs may have, or develop, behavioural problems which might need professional management. Boarding — you may also need to budget for boarding or dog sitting costs if you are planning to go away from home on holiday. If you are having difficulty with veterinary costs, you can check if you are eligible for treatment at PDSA here. PDSA Pet Insurance Fun facts An early version of the breed were used by lace makers in the UK shortly before the industrial revolution to warm their laps while they worked. French Bulldogs are known for their big, bat-like ears. They are lovable dogs who fit easily into family life, but come with a lot of extra responsibility and potentially higher healthcare costs. Rehoming centres There are plenty of rescue centres across the country where you may find a French Bulldog. Breed-specific rescues that specialise in French Bulldogs are also out there. Good rescue centres should let you know of any health and behaviour problems. Breeders If you buy from a breeder, make sure your puppy will be well socialised and have all necessary screening tests, health checks and vaccinations.

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. This type of diet has some possible disadvantages as well, including the following: A higher cost to feed your dog, compared to commercial diets Dangers of feeding raw meat, such as salmonella food poisoning or E Coli infections Skeletal problems, such as bone fractures Greater chance of food allergies A more complicated diet plan that takes up more time and effort. This type of dog food is also usually fresh and not stored for long periods, whereas most commercial diets can be stored for months. Many companies sell premade raw food plans for German shepherds. These are typically either whole carcasses or pre-ground food that comes in bone-in or boneless form, and can also come ground for easier meal prep. Some diets are created so they have less need for supplements, but it is still important to read the ingredients list to make sure you know what your dog is getting each day. Some vets are advocates of this type of diet for dogs, but others are not. If possible, get a second opinion from another vet. Yes, a german shepherd can eat a raw diet. A gradual transition is recommended over trying to make too many changes at once. Transitioning to this type of diet may require some extra effort on behalf of the owner. My brother and his wife adopted a 1-year-old purebred GSD from the local rescue who was fed kibble her whole life. This dog had an expensive surgery that required us to pay for it thank goodness we could do that! My brother tries to keep up his diet, but he works from home. His girlfriend has a hour commute every day! The dog is only fed kibble at night when she gets home from work. I would like to think that this is not the case, but after watching my sister-in-law do this the dog gets overly excited for each bite. See also Male vs. And then she poops sorry TMI. And then when she comes home from work she immediately goes outside to defecate. A few weeks ago, the poop was bloody. They saw the vet again, and the doctor said she has food allergies. Everyone wants to know what it is so they can change her diet. I want to be supportive of them…but the dog was doing so well on raw! Their friend gives them kibble, and the first kibble she tried of course it was their fault! So now all of these options are closed to them. The choice to feed your dog a raw diet is an individual one. As with any type of food plan , there are benefits and disadvantages of feeding this way. This type of food plan can take more time and effort than simply feeding kibble because it requires the owner to do extra preparation when making each meal. This is especially important in the case of raw meats, which must be stored correctly and safely before they are given to your dog. Most people who choose a fresh food plan for their GSD seem to do so because of the health benefits they see when feeding them this way. They find that their dog has fewer skin problems, allergies, yeast infections, and other medical problems than they did before. Many dogs also tend to have more energy, better coat quality, and improved dental health when given raw meat instead of commercial food. Although it can be an expensive dog food plan with all the preparation involved, the benefits may make the extra cost worthwhile for you. However, there are some disadvantages to feeding your dog raw food. This type of diet can be dangerous if not prepared correctly, especially when you are talking about meats and the risk of food contamination. There is also an increased chance of skeletal issues like bone fractures, especially with large or powerful breeds like German shepherds , who need high levels of calcium in their diets. For many people feeding their dog raw food is a new experience, and they are often unsure how much to feed. Several factors play an important part in determining the amount of food to be given. The size of the dog, its metabolism, or activity level are all very important factors to consider when deciding how much raw food should be fed. The size and weight of the dog will give you a good indication as to how much food should be given. Generally speaking, if you feed your German Shepherd puppy three meals a day, then an average meal would be around g — g for male dogs and — g for female dogs. However, there is no definite answer as to what is the best amount to feed your dog. There are many factors involved when feeding your dog, so it is merely a guide based on averages. Sprouted seeds — Sprouted seeds are extremely healthy for your German Shepherd too, although for some reason they are not as popular as raw meaty bones. You can sprout them yourself or purchase them from your local health store. You can cut up small pieces of hard vegetables such as carrots, apples, etc, and feed them to your dog each day as a treat. Dairy products — Dairy products are suitable for dogs, especially those not affected by lactose intolerance. Plain yogurt is healthy and can be given to dogs as it contains many beneficial bacteria that aid digestion. Cottage cheese is a nutritious dairy product and contains around 22g of protein per g serving making it an excellent source of protein for your dog. A small amount can be mixed in with their dry food each day to add extra flavor and make the meal more interesting, or you could add some water or milk and feed it as a wet meal. Commercial dog food — Commercial dog food is not as healthy as raw meaty bones, sprouted seeds, and vegetables however it can be fed as an alternate to the regular diet, especially if you are going away or need a break from making homecooked meals for your German Shepherd. As long as the commercial food is healthy, it can be fed instead of raw food for a few meals here and there. You can find these in meaty bones especially the liver , vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. Feeding whole foods is the best way to ensure that your dog gets all of the vitamins and minerals it needs. See also German Shepherd Allergies German Shepherd Puppy And Raw Diet German shepherd puppies on a raw diet are often healthier than dogs fed commercial kibble because raw food is better suited to their digestive tracts. There are numerous benefits for the German shepherd puppy when switching from a processed diet to raw meat that includes weight gain, healthy skin and coat, better dental health, increased energy levels, and larger bone structure. When feeding a german shepherd puppy on a raw diet, you should note that not all raw food is appropriate for puppies. Bones should be excluded in the beginning, green beans and mushrooms can be dangerous for their health, and bones in beef necks are not recommended because they could splinter. It is important to check with your vet before you start feeding your German shepherd puppy on a raw diet. Blocks of frozen raw food can be bought from pet stores and your butcher may also be able to get hold of german shepherd puppy food. Make sure that the raw food is not completely thawed out before you give it to your German shepherd puppy, as this can cause bacteria growth on the meat. Feeding a german shepherd puppy raw food will meet these needs, as well as provide the minerals that are needed for healthy bones. Raw meat is not recommended for all dogs, including German shepherds. If you are not keen to feed your German shepherd puppy on raw meat, you can still give it a healthy diet by feeding it high-quality dry kibble without grain fillers. Conclusion When deciding to feed a raw diet to german shepherds , it is important to speak with a vet to determine if this diet would be appropriate. The article above offers tips for those who want to feed a raw diet as well as those who prefer their German shepherd puppy to eat dry kibble or a combination of both. As always, thank you so much for reading! If this was helpful at all, please share it with people you know who would like this information as well. Have a great day! 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. Nutritional requirements of a German Shepherd What exactly should the diet of a German Shepherd consist of for optimal health? Protein from quality meat sources 2. Essential Fatty acids and omegas 3. Natural vitamins and minerals from bone and plant sources 5. Hydration — high moisture foods and drinking water 1. Protein When selecting what to feed your German Shepherd, choose a diet with high-quality animal-based protein sources, such as beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, duck, eggs, and fish. As such, protein impacts canine health in many ways, including: Providing consistent energy Forms new skin, hair, nails, and other tissue. Keeps the immune system healthy. Makes hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. Properly balanced fats are essential for optimal health, and also provide energy. Dietary fat we generally refer to as a triglyceride. There are two types of triglyceride, saturated and unsaturated fat. In balance, they promote a healthy coat, skin, eyes, nervous system, control hormones, fuel brain and learning, and reduce inflammation. Carbohydrates, such as vegetables and some fruits, provide fibre, prebiotics food for beneficial bacteria , and antioxidants that are lacking in meat alone. Dogs are carnivores, but they can benefit from some vegetation in their diets for optimal health. Natural vitamins and minerals A raw food diet aims to replicate what dogs evolved to eat in the wild. As such, meat, bone, offal and a small amount of plant ingredients are all important ingredients in the diet of a German Shepherd, each adding highly beneficial vitamins and minerals to meal times. Incorporating ground bone in meals or providing recreational bones for enrichment add nutrients that will support digestion, skin and bone health, and mobility. As such, water is a vital nutrient for all cells, systems and functions, including: The regulation of body temperature Maintaining healthy organ function. The digestion and absorption of nutrients. Detoxification; water helps to flush out toxins and waste products from the body. Preventing dehydration which can lead to serious health problems, including kidney damage and heat stroke. Lubrication and cushioning of joints, thereby supporting ease of movement. Discover more about a raw food diet for dogs in our complete. German Shepherd raw feeding guide Whilst you could create homemade raw food meals for your German Shepherd, dog owners new to raw feeding can often find making their own raw dog food meals complicated. Formulating meals with the appropriate ratios of key ingredients is essential to ensure your dog receives optimal nutrients, so going it alone can seem daunting. The good news is there is a much simpler approach. By choosing a reputable supplier of pre-prepared raw dog food supplier, you can stock your freezer with quality raw food meals at the click of a button. German Shepherd Feeding Chart. Fruit Dairy These diets need to be well balanced to provide your German Shepherd puppy with all of the essential nutrients he needs to thrive. When can I start feeding my German Shepherd puppy raw? It would be ideal to feed raw to your GSD puppy from 12 weeks on, when they finish teething and their permanent dentition is fully developed. This can ensure they have teeth strong enough to engage in active chewing of bones and not just gulping it down. What are the benefits of a raw food diet for German Shepherd puppies? Feeding your German Shepherd puppy a raw food diet simulates the way they would have eaten before domestication. Because of this, there are several benefits you will see if you switch your puppy over to raw food. The gold standard diet is as close to the evolutionary diet of dogs and cats as is practically possible, is made from fresh frozen raw meaty bones, meats, organ meats, fruits and vegetables, minimally processed by mincing and freezing. The diet contains no added synthetic supplements, additives or preservatives. Raw food cuts out all of the processed food and additives included in commercially produced dog foods. The ingredients you give your pup will be completely under your control and natural. It would be boring, right? Dogs feel the same way. It will be something your dog looks forward to. Not only will he be getting the extra health benefits of raw food, but he will also be getting the excitement and flavor of different types of foods. German Shepherds have double coats. After all, GSDs are work dogs. Unfortunately, GSDs are susceptible to sensitivities. German Shepherds sometimes become allergic to gluten or common animal proteins found in commercial dog foods. They can get itchy, dry, and red skin from allergies either in their environment or diet. Raw food helps eliminate many of the causes of those skin irritations, leading to healthier skin. Also, you are adding many healthy fats and oils through proteins such as fish and with supplements such as nuts that encourage shinier coats. Many cheaper commercial dog foods use grains as a cheap alternative for protein. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, an antioxidant and protector of white T cells. GSDs are prone to stomach sensitivities, especially to proteins such as beef, lamb, and chicken commonly found in commercial dog foods. By feeding raw, you can offer your dog alternative proteins to keep their stomach happy. This promotes more solid stools and fewer episodes of nausea and diarrhea. You can provide high-quality proteins with nutrient-packed organ meat and whole, raw vegetables packed with vitamins. Many cheap commercial dog foods fill their formulas with low-quality grains with little nutritional value, such as wheat sweepings. Many dogs, especially German Shepherds, can become sensitive to these ingredients, causing stomach issues. What are the drawbacks of a raw food diet for German Shepherd puppies? Coli and Salmonella, handling raw meat still poses a threat for humans. These bacteria can cause you to become very sick 1 to 10 days after exposure with the following symptoms : Stomach cramps Vomiting fever It is important to wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat. It may seem obvious, but in the hustle and bustle of daily life, you may forget. You can use this video as a guide. If you choose to feed raw, it is important to prep each meal carefully because you are in charge of providing all of the nutrients your puppy needs to be healthy. This will include planning out the meals, purchasing the meats and foods, prepping the foods and meat, and supervising the feeds. If you want to get an idea of what the process of putting together a raw food meal looks like, you can watch this video: 4 Feeding a balanced raw diet can be challenging A balanced raw diet that contains high-quality meats is always ideal for your German Shepherd puppy. But is can be difficult to get the right mix when you first begin. The right ratios of muscle meat, organ meat, and bone, as well as the correct levels of vitamins and minerals, are critical to making a balanced diet. What kinds of raw meats are good for German Shepherd puppies? There are many raw meats you can feed your German Shepherd puppy. The best part about raw feeding is you can use literally every part of an animal, which provides the most benefit to your dog. You can feed your puppy the following raw meats: Boneless chicken. Home It is a well-known fact that raw feeding promotes excellent health, a happy disposition and longevity. Along with the complete food your puppy has been eating, he may have experienced small bones, such as chicken wings, lamb ribs and marrow bones. These are not so much to feed them on at this young age but to encourage their natural skills; pulling, stretching, gnawing, tearing and ripping at the bone. They offer your puppy stimulation and gentle exercise. The bones also provide relief for teething puppies, massaging sore gums. As an adult, your dog can be offered soft bones as a meal replacement both puppies and adults should be supervised with their bones. Both have added vegetables, fruit and parsley, plus some other natural additives, flax oil and organic sea kelp. We have a specially designed variety pack for puppies. As your puppy has grown, the size of the mince meal provided has increased, starting off first as a blended consistency and now ground to a manageable consistency for their age. All Wolf Tucker food is hand made by us to ensure everything that we do is correct. We make the food in batches and, unlike other manufacturers, we do not mass produce. Because we are using raw meat, it is especially important that correct preparation is used to minimise the risk of harmful bacteria, for this reason our meals are frozen at an extremely low temperature, something that can only be carried out in commercial freezers, making correctly prepared raw feeding much safer than homemade diets. How much should you feed your puppy? Feed your puppy 4 meals a day up until he is four months of age this can then be reduced to three meals a day then 2 meals from 6 months onwards. This amount will increase as he grows, you will need to have him weighed regularly and continue to feed him on this method. Alternate the chicken and beef mixes. Smaller breed puppies generally require a higher percentage than larger breeds. It is important to remember that as your puppy grows so indeed does his daily intake. So for example once your puppy Rhodesian Ridgeback weighs 9kg is daily intake would increase to g per day. Your puppy should gain weight at a nice steady pace; he should be nicely covered but not fat! This is especially important in larger breed puppies; we do not want any unnecessary strain on growing bones and joints. Many skeletal disorders are caused by inappropriate diet and feeding so we can help to avoid such conditions as hip dysplasia. No supplementation of calcium is required when using this method of feeding. From 1 year old, in terms of feeding, you should move your puppy onto the adult feeding plan. You can use our calculator to easily calculate your pup's daily requirement Puppy raw feeding quantities chart Use the chart below to calculate how much raw food to feed your puppy for a given weight and age. New Column. Faster nutrient absorption Weight management A BARF diet ensures dogs eat fresh, wholesome, and allergen-free foods, as no chemicals, additives, or fillers are used in raw diets. Raw Dog Diet Research Increased lifespan. Generally, raw-fed dogs are so much healthier. The changes are profound. A study on feeding practices in the United States and Australia indicated that .Lisa M. Freeman Freeman, a nutrition professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, tells WebMD many benefits attributed to a raw food diet for dogs, such as a shinier coat, are the result of the high-fat composition of the typical raw diet. Ingredient contamination. Raw ingredients pose a higher risk of contamination with potentially harmful pathogens i. Coli that can sicken your pet and possibly be transmitted to humans. Feeding whole bones to dogs presents a risk of choking, broken teeth, intestinal obstruction, or internal punctures. Nutritionally unbalanced. Raw allergies. Dogs might be allergic to raw ingredients. Wash all meats, organs, and other raw ingredients. Buy raw products from reputable grocery stores or butchers with high sanitary standards. Raw bones. Avoid big bones and feed only raw bones that are small or ground bones. Never feed cooked bones. They become softer after cooking and are more likely to splinter when chewed. Speak with a vet nutritionist. They can provide nutritional guidance to formulate the best German Shepherd raw diet or recommend a raw dog food delivery service. However, after two weeks of storage, most samples declined compared to salmonellae. We also analyzed the price for the most popular meats. According to the U. It might be cheaper. Conversely, buying commercial raw-meat food over traditional kibble is a tad more expensive, but we think the health benefits and convenience are worth the price. Read our feeding raw dog food on a budget guide for tips on how to feed raw for cheap. Choose lean cuts. Raw meat is the main source of protein. Builds and repairs muscles and other body tissues. Needed to make new skin cells, grow hair, hormones, enzymes and more. Ground bones are the safest choice. Avoid heavy or big bones - They can break teeth or get stuck in the digestive tract. Provide essential calcium, phosphorous, and other essential nutrients. Great source of high-quality protein; vitamins A, B12, B6; folic acid; iron; zinc; and essential amino acids. Organs are a great source of vitamins and minerals. The more organs you add to the diet of your dog, the better the mix of nutrients your dog will receive. Fruit such as apples, cranberries, and blueberries. Fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, and oregano. Never feed toxic fruits or veggies Fruit provide antioxidants while vegetables have carotenoids, flavonoids, antioxidants, and many other phytochemicals that are beneficial to immune function and health dogs. It states every dog meal should have six indispensable nutrients to create a balanced meal that supports life and proper function in dogs. These include protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. No fruits or veggies. Always consult with your vet. Adding a multivitamin like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews ensures your German Shepherd gets the recommended balance of vitamins and minerals. For common GSD problems like osteoarthritis and other joint maladies, look for products containing glucosamine and chondroitin , which may help treat or prevent symptoms. Do you have a busy lifestyle with little time to cook for your pup? This company is the pioneer of raw dog food. They deliver Biologically Appropriate Raw Food straight to your door. Their formula is a balanced blend of raw meat, fruits, vegetables, organs, and bones. All of their ingredients are USDA-sourced. Their formulas are developed with the input of a veterinary nutritionist to meet the nutritional guidelines set by AAFCO. The body weight percentage method is the most straightforward alternative to many raw feeders new and experienced. Please consider his metabolism, activity level, lifestyle, health, and other factors to determine the perfect amount. Senior, less active, or overweight dogs weight loss : Feed 1. For a German Shepherd that weighs 65 pounds, here is how much raw food you would need to feed him daily. It seems many of us can relate to health problems we have encountered while feeding our dogs dried processed dog food. He is 8 years old, so an older dog, and I was told he may have cancer. Knowing this, I knew I had to focus on his bone health and at the same time stay away from all sugars and grains as cancer can feed on both of these. I also make sure to feed Boaz raw organ meats times a week. Organ meats contain nearly every nutrient including B vitamins, folic acid, minerals like phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium and iodine. They also provide the important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Also important is making sure that Boaz is getting vegetables into his diet. Every week in his own batch of broth, I include vegetables with dark leafy greens which he devours. The calcium in his diet is coming from the raw beef and chicken bones and fermented dairy of yogurt and cottage cheese. When feeding dogs bones, make sure they are always raw. Never feed your dog cooked bones of any kind as they can splinter and cause intestinal problems. For his essential fatty acids, I give Boaz a teaspoon every day of fermented cod liver oil and cold pressed flaxseed oil.

So Many Options! Where To Get a Labrador? We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Except, you remember hearing you should only buy from professional breeders?! But that puppy in the pet store was so achingly cute! This article discusses the things you should consider before making that life changing decision. From dedicated experts who breed pedigree dogs to work or for show, to those who breed too many puppies, litter after litter purely for sale without love nor care for the health of the mother or quality of the litter. For how to recognize who the good breeders are, read our article: Labrador breeders — How to find the good ones! Buying from a good, responsible breeder is without doubt the best source for a quality, healthy Labrador puppy. They care about the overall welfare of the breed, as well as the health of the mother, quality of the litter and giving the puppies the best start in life. Responsible breeders: Guarantee a purebred and pedigree Labrador. Screen the parents for health problems before breeding , so puppies will be as free as possible from inherited diseases. Selectively breed aiming for conformance to the breed standard, so your lab has the most chance of looking like the perfect lab. Carefully socialize puppies from birth so they are well-adjusted and confident before sending them to a new home. Help buyers to select the right puppy from the litter to suit their personality, hopes and expectations. Helping you to get the puppy of your dreams. Provide expert help and advice on caring for the dog from puppyhood right through to adulthood. When you go to a good breeder you should expect lots of questions. They will also help to match you to the perfect puppy that suits your personality, preventing you from getting the wrong dog on impulse. You know the cute but feisty one that got your attention by barging through his litter mates to run up to you and be the first to say hello? Well, he may very likely become a dominant and strong-willed dog! You May Need Patience You should note that many breeders will have a long waiting list for their Labrador puppies. Then this may not be the right way for you. But this is a good thing! And nobody should buy a puppy on impulse, it must be a well thought out and reasoned decision. Maybe you would like to give a lucky Labrador a second chance at life and happiness? Adopting an Older Labrador From a Rescue Kennel Can Have Many Benefits: They will have been house trained already — No getting up in the middle of the night to relieve your puppy…or cleaning your floor after the inevitable mishaps. An adult Labrador will already show signs of any underlying problems so you can avoid this. Many will have received a decent amount of training already — Saving you lots of time and work. Having said all that… There are Some Obvious Risks! Or perhaps due to health problems that developed. Some may have faced abuse and neglect leaving them with psychological scars. Behavioral problems are sometimes well hidden, and aggression may only surface in very particular situations only. But if you are patient, understanding and can inject some routine and love into one of these dogs lives, they can become absolutely wonderful pets. There are also different types of rescue center and animal shelters. You will be able to get a feel for the level of the center when you visit and how professional they are and the staff to dog ratios. The Process When rescuing a lab, a good, well staffed shelter will ask you to visit and spend time with your potential pet. They will have assessed the dog and will tell you all they know about the dogs history and temperament. They will ask you lots of questions to find out whether you and your lifestyle are a good fit for a Labrador. They will want to meet you and your whole family. They will want to see how the people the Labrador is to live with interact with it and how the lab interacts with them. And that your choice of dog is well suited to you and interacts well with you on visits will they eventually allow you to adopt. Rescuing a Labrador can be a very good choice as long as due care is taken to pick the right one. And you will earn many karma points for doing a very good deed. It is a massive risk to take a puppy from a litter like this. These dogs have more than the average number of inherited diseases and behavioral problems. So although you will be saving a bit of money compared to paying out to a professional Labrador breeder. Or you might even be saving a dog from being given to a rescue center and possibly eventually being put down. You just might be letting yourself in for some expensive surprises in the way of vets bills or behavioral specialists later. But having said that, of course many of these puppies do become very good pets indeed. In fact a few places in the world have now banned the sale of puppies from pet stores. In these places, dogs are often bred in poor conditions, sometimes kept in small wire cages and given very little chance to socialize and little if any personal contact with humans. Have you had any good or bad experiences of getting a Labrador from any of the places listed above? Is there anything you would like to add about the pros and cons of the various places you can get yourself a Lab? Please let us know in the comments section below and you just might help people reading this article to make the right decision! Related Article:. Top Picks For Our Dogs Preparing Your Home For A Puppy You should treat the preparation of your home for the arrival of a new puppy in much the same way as you would for the arrival of a baby because the process is almost identical. You must be ready to provide every little thing your puppy needs in life, making sure they have water, are fed, comfortable, happy, catered for and safe. To achieve this there are 4 main things that you need to do: Go shopping for equipment and supplies Puppy proof your home and garden to make sure your puppy stays safe Set up an area for your puppy to sleep and spend time in when you cannot supervise them Decide on the rules and routines required to successfully raise a puppy Without such preparation, things will be difficult. A Nutritious Puppy Food The most important supply needed for a new puppy is a highly nutritious puppy food. Hopefully your puppy came from a responsible breeder who was feeding them a high quality, complete and nutritious food. If so, you should ask what they were feeding, stock up on and continue feeding this if possible. If not, then puppies are incredibly active, growing fast and developing bone, muscle and more every day. Because of this they need almost double the calories, more protein and have different nutritional needs to mature adult dogs. Furthermore, they have far smaller mouths than adult dogs so puppy food comes in smaller chunks more suited to their size. Click here to see our recommendations for the best puppy food for labs Bowls for Food And Water There is a bewildering array of dog bowl choices out there so choosing the best can be difficult. Looks and design aside, I recommend going for stainless steel bowls because they are long-lasting, cannot be chewed and are very easy to clean. I also recommend buying bowls with heavy rubber bottoms so they stay rooted to the spot and are harder to spill or flip over. Unless of course you buy bowls in a stand, then these problems are already solved. A Puppy Crate And Bedding A good crate is one of the most beneficial things you can provide for the good of yourself and your puppy. First of all, supply some bedding to place inside for your puppy to sleep on. My recommendation for this is VetBed. Many puppies can chew and ingest normal bedding which can result in medical emergencies and VetBed is the most durable bedding on the market. During these times you need to provide a larger, but still safe enclosure to confine your puppy. You might also like to buy a plastic sheet and some puppy pads or use lots of old newspaper for them to use as a potty in your absence. Puppy Chew Toys Puppies chew. A lot. And they seem to prefer chewing phones, footwear and TV remotes more than anything else. Just make sure whatever toys you do buy are suitable for a puppy as many will be too large for their little mouths to begin with. Interactive Puppy Toys So you can play games with your puppy, provide exercise and mental stimulation, you will want to buy a few toys that encourage the two of you to interact. Balls for throwing and chasing, soft toys and ropes for playing tug, other toys for fetch, there are many available. You will also need a collar to provide a place to attach an all important ID tag. ID Tag An ID tag is an essential means to be reunited with your puppy should the worst happen and you somehow lose them or they run away. Clicker A clicker is an extremely useful tool used during training as a reward marker that dramatically improves the timing of communication between you and your puppy when you want to reward a behavior. Although not essential, I do highly recommend you use one. Puppy Training Treats Tasty food treats are the go-to reward used during training so you will want to make sure you always have a good stock at hand. They need to feel happy with being bathed, happy having their coat and teeth brushed, their feet touched, nails clipped and having their eyes and ears inspected. To do so, you should fake going the process, getting them used to being handled, the sight and feel of the tools and so on. To achieve this, you will need to buy and get them used to the following items: Dog shampoo Combs and brushes suitable for a Labrador Scissors Cotton balls Toothbrush Use these tools right away and often, and give your puppy praise and tasty treats as you go so they form positive associations with grooming. Puppy Proof Your Home and Garden The process of puppy proofing your home is very much like baby proofing before the arrival of a child. Except a puppy is far more curious, active and destructive and can get themselves into far more trouble. A puppy is a new-born. Everything is a toy and they will run and pounce and jump and chew on anything in their environment. So before you bring your puppy home you simply must make it safe for them. For things you cannot move skirting boards, table legs etc. To keep them safe while still providing an area for them to play in and stretch their legs, you want to restrict their access to a single room, or otherwise create an enclosed space for them. To do so, either buy a pet barrier or baby gate that goes across a doorway to restrict them to an easy to clean and safe room, or buy an exercise pen puppy pen to create an enclosed space in another room. I also strongly recommend buying a crate for many reasons, but initially, mostly just to provide the perfect place for them to sleep. I shall discuss crate training a little later in this article. All of this must be decided BEFORE you get your puppy home because consistency is a key part of raising a puppy successfully. Everyone must enforce and live by the same rules for your puppy to thrive. Initially they have no idea how you want them to behave, or how and when they can expect the things they want and need in life. The more consistent everybody is with the puppy, the quicker they will learn all this stuff and the happier everyone will be. So decide and write down if necessary when your puppy will have all their needs met, make sure everybody knows who is responsible for each task and make sure everybody knows the rules. You might think the collection and journey home with your new puppy is no big deal, but there are many things can go wrong. Therefore, you should never take a puppy before 8 weeks old. During the first 8 weeks, a puppy learns a lot from their mother and litter-mates: Bite inhibition, canine body language, acceptable play and interaction with other dogs and how to accept discipline. Things you will find it very hard to teach them later yourself. The flip side of this is that the 7 to 14 week stage is the most impressionable for a puppy, where they bond strongest with people and must be socialized to all the sights, sounds and smells of the world so they grow up confident and comfortable with their surroundings. So anyway, for the journey home there a few things you need to consider: Safety in the car, the need for water and toilet breaks and the possibility your puppy will be sick. Having a loose puppy in the car presents a very real danger of leading to a crash, they can easily climb out of a box and now is not the time to use a harness and car safety belt. If the crate is small enough you can place it on a front or rear passenger seat and secure it with the seat-belt, or you may have to place it in the trunk of your car. Fully line the crate with absorbent paper in case there are any accidents, this will keep most of the mess off your puppy and make cleaning easier. And finally, place a chew toy or two in the crate to keep your puppy occupied. If you have another person to help you, your puppy can ride home in their lap if the journey is short. They must be under your passengers control. They will also need to potty every half or so. Therefore, you should plan breaks along the way every 30 minutes or so. Stop the car, allow them to drink, then wait for them to wee before setting off again. When you stop, make sure your puppy is on leash and tightly held by someone before letting them out of the car. And as an extra precaution, carry your puppy and only put them down to do their business, then carry them back into the car. Take with you some towels, plastic bags, kitchen roll and deodorizer to take care of any accidents. And when driving, take all corners slowly, and accelerate and brake gently. If your puppy is on a passengers lap, they will be able to see some warning signs that puppy is about to be sick: Their lips will curl, they will excessively salivate and then eventually start to heave. When your passenger spots these signs, they can place a thick towel beneath the puppy to catch everything and avoid a mess in your vehicle. When bringing home a new puppy, make sure you collect them and then drive straight home. Your puppy is having the most stressful day of their short life so far, try not to make it harder than it already is by taking them to strange places and passing them around to strangers to say hello. You want to get them home quickly so they can start the process of settling in as soon as possible. Whether this is inside on paper, or a spot outside, as soon as you arrive home carry them there, set them down and wait for them to do their business before doing anything else. This might take 30 seconds or it might take 10 minutes, but patiently wait and when they go, praise them profusely. Well done! Shut them in another room away from the puppy as things are intense enough as it is. Explain they have to be calm and gentle during the first introductions. Let them sniff and look around, getting used to the area and their new little world. You can now let people come and say hello. Have people sit or kneel to greet them. Once everybody has said hello, you should stay with your puppy, show interest but stay calm. Allow Your Puppy To Sleep After all the excitement, stress, massive change and huge amount of mental stimulation your puppy has just been through, they will likely need to sleep soon after arriving at your home. So as soon as they either start to look tired, or the introductions to their new living space and family have ended whichever comes first put them to bed for a short while. On the other hand they might feel completely overwhelmed, retreat into themselves and show reluctance to explore. They might slink into a corner silently and sit there watching their new world with wonder but apprehension, before falling asleep for hours. And when it comes to the first night they might sleep right through, or they might cry and whine the whole night. As your puppy begins to get used to everything, their character will start to shine through and you will begin to see their true personalities. Exactly what this will be is different for every puppy…it will be fun for you to find out! And by being the provider of everything they need in life, giving them all that is good, it will only take 2 or 3 days for your puppy to learn to love you and get excited and happy to see you when you turn up. So your task is to set up and stick to these schedules, begin training your puppy and help them to learn how you want them to behave and when they can expect the things they need in life. What should you feed your puppy You should feed your puppy the same food they had at the breeders because an abrupt change in diet almost always leads to stomach upset. Complete and balanced means it has everything a puppy needs, and in the right quantities. So seek out this kind of wording and check the internet for other owners reviews. Puppies need to eat a lot because their rate of growth is very high. For puppies up to 12 weeks, you should divide their daily requirement into 4 portions, for puppies 12 to 26 weeks, feed them 3 times per day and from 26 weeks on feed them twice per day. You should also aim to feed them as close as you can to the same times every day and evenly spaced throughout the day. This will help their body clocks fall into a pattern and will help your house training immensely because they then potty the same times every day. For example: 8 to 12 weeks old, 4 times a day at AM, AM, PM and PM 12 to 26 weeks old, 3 times a day at AM, PM and PM 26 weeks old and ongoing, 2 times a day at and Obviously you can adjust these times to take into account when you get out of bed and to fit around your life. Also… The first few nights have the crate or exercise pen your puppy sleeps in placed in your bedroom. One night move the crate next to the bedroom door. The next night move it outside the door, but leave the door open so they can still see you. The next night further into the hallway. Finally to their eventual resting place. They might take to sleeping on their own OK, they might whine and cry. NEVER go to them to comfort them if they cry, you must only get up to take them to potty and then silently and without fuss put them back into the crate. Rewarding silence and ignoring noise is the only way they will eventually learn to be quiet at night themselves. Any time you cannot closely supervise them, you have to confine them, either in their crate, an exercise pen or a puppy proofed room secured with a barrier across the doorway. The point of confining them as a puppy is so they can enjoy all the freedom in the world once they are an adult. By confining them with treat dispensing chew toys they get rewarded for chewing the right things and develop a chew toy obsession. Confine them now, they form a good chew toy obsession and have no chance of developing bad chewing habits. Then once they are over their adolescent chewing stage you slowly open up the house to them and eventually they can have free roam and be completely trusted. A little sacrifice when young for a better life later. And a second hugely important reason for confining your puppy when you cannot supervise them is for speedier house training. In fact if you read my comments from earlier, you will see you start the very first moment you finish the journey home. In essence, house training is about creating good habits while avoiding bad ones and for the speediest success you want to start immediately. Wherever your puppy is able to potty has the chance of becoming their favored toilet spot for many weeks or months to come. So you want to prevent them pottying inside, and encourage them to potty outside. The main ingredients of a successful house training program are preventing mistakes and praising heavily for doing the right thing. Achieving this is all about schedules, supervision and confinement. Now, your puppy will need to potty anywhere from every 15 to 45 minutes. So to start with, take them outside every 30 minutes and adjust this schedule to suit their natural rhythm. You must also take them outside immediately after they wake up from any sleep, after any eating or drinking, after play and after any heightened excitement. These are times that often lead to a puppy needing to potty so take them outside at these times and you will avoid many mistakes while taking advantage of predictable opportunities to praise them for doing the right thing. In the first week or so, you will likely find your puppy almost instantaneously leaks with little warning. Simply do your best to take them out to potty extremely often so they go in the right place as often as possible. And confine them to a single enclosed room or in an exercise pen for the first week or so to protect your carpets. Crate training goes hand in hand with house training, being one of the best tools to help speed up the process. Therefore, you want to start crate training very early on, after just a few days of getting puppy home, and I personally aim for 9 weeks old to start. I prefer to wait a week or so to avoid them pottying in the crate as much as possible, doing the most I can to preserve their instinct not to soil where they sleep, the instinct that helps most when using a crate for house training. But by all means sleep them in their crate at night if you wish and I do. For more information on crate training your puppy and using it for house training purposes, please see the links below:. They are also very high energy. Labs are intelligent and well-tempered for becoming service dogs. You may have seen a Lab working as a guide dog or alongside a police officer. Labradors come in three distinct colors: black, yellow, and chocolate. There is no real difference between these sub-breeds aside from color. However, chocolate Labs and yellow Labs do tend to be favored as show dogs, while a black Lab is more likely to be raised as a hunting dog than a chocolate or yellow one. Labrador Retrievers are famous for being friendly and companionable to both humans and other dogs. This makes the Labrador an ideal breed to keep as a family dog. There are factors, however, which need to be considered before choosing a Labrador puppy. Bringing home a beautiful black Lab puppy? Check out hundreds of great black dog names here! The amount of maternal care a pup receives prior to adoption influences the adult temperament of your Labrador. A responsible breeder will not remove your puppy from its mother before it is ready. In the study, Labs belonging to extroverted owners had better social skills than those belonging to introverted owners. You may also look through your local classifieds for unregistered litters, although we do not recommend it. Even though Labradors are a generally healthy breed, it is important that both parents get screened for any health issues prior to breeding. Adopting from unregistered litters will also significantly increase your chances of encountering a puppy mill. No matter where you adopt from, it is essential that you meet both parents and access a history of good health for each parent before adopting a puppy from the facility. In other parts of the world, use the puppy search tool on the website of your regional kennel club or equivalent authority. You may also ask a local veterinarian for a reference to a quality breeder. Another option is to keep an eye out for someone with a purebred Labrador and request information on where they adopted from. Registered breeders use only top-of-the-line animals as parents. Puppies from responsible and registered breeders are given the appropriate amount of maternal care and not released to a new home until they are physically and mentally mature enough to do so. This lays the foundation for an affectionate and even temperament in adulthood. The cons of adopting from a breeder are higher costs and often longer wait times. Responsible breeders require a pre-adoption home check to ensure that their puppies are appropriately homed. You may also need to travel some distance to find the right breeder. Registered breeders usually breed a maximum of only twice per year. This maintains parental health and allows sufficient time for the puppies to progress. These breeders often have waitlists for upcoming litters before they are born, sometimes before the parents are even bred. While these practices maintain value, they also mean the puppies will cost a little more and take longer to bring home. Private Ads Private ads for puppies can be found in online classifieds or in your local newspaper. You may also spot them on the bulletin boards of various local businesses. The benefits of sourcing a puppy from a private ad is that the breeder is likely be located nearby, and the puppies will be available relatively quickly, if not immediately. The cons of taking this route is that you do not have pedigree parents to your puppy, and the risk of health complications down the road is much higher. Puppy farms will often advertise through private ads. For these reasons, we do not recommend sourcing a puppy through a private ad. Pet Shops We do not endorse purchasing puppies from pet shops, because the credentials of both parents and breeder cannot be provided. Parents of pet shop puppies may have been overbred, mistreated, or in less than optimal health. It is impossible to know without verified records. The puppies themselves could have experienced conditions and trauma that will negatively impact their behavior in adulthood, such as being separated from their mothers too soon or physical abuse. Avoiding Puppy Farms Puppy farms are unregistered breeding establishments that mass produce puppies in order to generate the highest amount of revenue. These farms, or mills, severely mistreat their animals and often produce puppies with little socialization skills and significantly increased health risks. To steer clear of these facilities, avoid pet stores, which often source stock from puppy farms because of the low cost. Also avoid any online advertisements for puppies at a low cost. If you do source a puppy from an online ad, call the breeder in advance and ask questions about the puppies, parents, and establishment to screen for any inconsistencies with industry standards. When you visit the breeder, if it comes to that, ask to have a look around and meet both parents in person. Is the space open? Do the parents look healthy? How many other dogs and puppies are there on the premises? Health Tests While Labs are generally healthy overall, it is important to confirm the parental health prior to breeding. If the breeder cannot show you certificates of health for both parents, adopting a puppy from those parents poses a risk for complications later on. The American Kennel Club recommends Labrador Retrievers get screened for: any hip and elbow defects that could indicate dysplasia heart disorders out of ordinary muscle weakness degenerative eye conditions. Make sure that the breeder can demonstrate certified health in each of these areas for each parent. The initial cost of requiring this level of screening for your puppy may be higher, but it will save you on veterinary bills down the road. Choosing Your Puppy Labrador Retrievers are friendly by nature and tend to get along well with other dogs. This breed very rarely shows aggression and must be provoked to do so. When it comes to children and other pets, a Labrador puppy would be a valuable family addition. Labs are companionable and socialize well. The Labrador Retriever is a high-energy breed and will need enough time and space each day to receive sufficient exercise. These exercise needs will continue to grow as your puppy matures. A Labrador is not designed to be an inside-only dog. This breed needs lots of activity to stay mentally and physically fit. Consider that your fully grown Lab will be between .We recommend that you take your Lab out for daily outdoor activities such as swimming and fetch. A Labrador that does not receive enough exercise time may rebel by engaging in destructive behaviors within the household. However, remember that the best-quality Labradors come from responsible breeders that produce only one or two litters per year. These breeders often have waiting lists due to high quality puppies and infrequent production. If you want the best which you should! Labradors are wonderful family dogs with lots of love for humans and other dogs. They are one of the lowest risk for health complications when properly screened, making them ideal as a long-term energy-filled companion. Considerations before jumping into the adoption of a Labrador puppy are how big your puppy will be when it reaches adulthood and the daily rigorous outdoor exercise it will require to keep it in peak physical and mental condition. Read more about Labradors here in our guide to Labrador lifespan! References and Resources Bray, E. University of Pennsylvania .Graham, L. Temperament and Personality in Working Dogs. CRC Press .Kuroshima, H. Kyoto University .Print Looking for a new gun dog or duck dog? Many people start their search with good intentions. They want to find a good quality pup that will serve as a hunting companion as well as a family dog. However, somewhere along the way they end up just picking up a cute puppy that the family could not resist. Maybe, but it is a needle-in-the-haystack approach. While there is no guarantee that any puppy you bring home is going to grow into a well-mannered hunting partner, there are ways to stack the odds in your favor. Today, we are going to discuss the process I go through when looking for a new puppy. These are my opinions, so take it for what it is worth, but I do have extensive experience buying Labrador puppies. I have been doing this for over 30 years and I rarely have a puppy that does not work out. Research puppy litters I buy my puppies based on pedigree. I want proven working parents. This means that I want to see that either the mom or dad, preferably both, have AKC retriever field trial titles , AKC retriever hunting test titles or UKC retriever hunting test titles behind their names on an official pedigree. Be sure you see field trial or hunt test titles. Sometimes you will see AKC show titles or other titles like agility. These are NOT the same as field trial or hunt test titles and are generally not something you want to see on the pedigree of a hunting or competition dog. There are many places to search for litters on the internet. And many sites offer the ability to limit your search by state. However, do not be afraid to look for puppies further away from you. If the litter has a great pedigree and is exactly what you are looking for, you can always have the puppy flown or shipped to you. Some of the sites that are good for looking for litters are: retrievertraining. Again, I am not saying that great dogs cannot come out of these places but rather that the odds are not in your favor. Why are hunting titles important? Hunting titles tell you that the dog has proven its ability to perform at a certain level. It also tells you that the genetics are there. If the parents can perform at a Field Champion or Master Hunter level, there is a good chance the puppies will also have that ability. Do all your research prior to going to look at the puppies Everybody loves puppies. They are cute, cuddly and so lovable. That is why I recommend that you do not ever go look at a litter that does not already meet your standards regarding pedigree. It is just too easy to end up bringing one home. And if you have kids or a spouse involved, I guarantee that any litter you go look at you are most certainly going to end up bringing home a puppy. Does color make a difference? Well-bred puppies are available in each of these colors, and we have trained excellent hunting dogs in each color. However, you may now see litters advertised as fox red or white. These colors are not recognized by the AKC and you should beware of purchasing a dog based solely on color. In addition, there are now Labs being sold as silver, charcoal and champaign. These litters are technically not pure Labrador Retrievers. They are often referred to as dilutes because the genetics have been diluted to produce these colors. Many trainers will not train dilutes because of the many health problems and genetic issues that go along with these breeds. There are, unfortunately, people breeding pups specifically to produce a specific color without regard for temperament and the betterment of the breed. We prefer to stay away from litters that do not have a proven pedigree and have been breed specifically for color. In addition, our experience training dogs from these types of litters has proven to be a struggle. How much does a good puppy cost? For many people this is a defining question. So, a new hunting partner can be a significant investment. But for us it is worth it to stack the odds in our favor. Find a great retriever breeder Unfortunately, not all breeders are equal. Over the years, some breeders have stood out to us as exceptional. They go over and beyond just taking good care of the puppies. You can tell they really want their puppies to turn out great and they take steps, while the pups are very young, to help ensure their puppies have a good strong foundation that will help them succeed in the future. Beyond the breeding of quality dogs, the difference is in the socialization of the puppies. As I talk extensively about in Raising a Lab puppy to be a duck or gun dog , socialization is an essential key component in training a retriever puppy. Breeders that go out of their way to socialize young pups are worth their weight in gold. The truth is that raising puppies, done the right way, takes a lot of time and commitment. We specialize in training and prefer to let others specialize in doing a great job raising litters. Ask prospective breeder the right questions When you call and talk to a breeder about an upcoming litter, it is important to get answers to some important questions. If the pedigrees are not available online, be sure and request one from the breeder. How often do you breed? How often has this mother been bred? When looking for a great hunting dog puppy, you want to avoid puppy mills. Puppy mills are breeders that are just pumping out puppies for money and without concern to the overall health and betterment of the breed. Responsible breeders have a plan for the litters they are producing and will be able to talk to you about why the litter is worth the money they are asking. What breeds do you breed? Look for a breeder that specializes in Labrador Retrievers or whatever breed you are looking to purchase. What does your health guarantee cover? Responsible breeders will offer you a health guarantee for the puppy. While what this guarantee covers may vary, with Labrador Retrievers some of the things you want to make sure the health guarantee covers includes: Hip dysplasia Eye issues In addition, you may want to make sure that the parents have been genetically tested for other genetic diseases such as Exercise Induced Collapse EIC and Centronuclear Myopathy CNM. What do you do to socialize the puppies? Asking this open-ended question can give breeders a chance to tell you about the work they do socializing the young pups before they are ready to go home. Or, you may want to follow up with more specific questions such as: Are the pups exposed to children at all? Do you take the pups to different locations during the day? Do the puppies get outside time, what does that look like? The goal is to find out if the puppies are getting socialization and exposure to new and different things on a regular basis. Pups that get this exposure tend to adjust more quickly to their new homes and new situations later in life. Have you done this specific breeding before? How did those puppies turn out? Breeders that are working for the betterment of the breed, may breed a set of parents more than once. If this is a repeat breeding, it is likely that the breeder will know how previous litters performed in the field or in competition. Serious Labrador Retriever breeders often keep track of how their puppies perform as they age. Alternatively, you could ask for references and talk to previous buyers to find out what they think of the breeder and the puppy they bought. Should I meet the prospective dog parents? While some people might tell you that you should meet the prospective parents of the puppies, I do not see a lot of value in this. Some good breeders do not own both the parents. Often, they work with other breeders so both the Dam and Sire may not be onsite. And if you are basing your pup purchase off pedigree first, as I would recommend, you already know the most important things about the parents. If looks are important to you, then photos of the parents will show you what you need to know. Choose a retriever puppy from the litter Once you decide on a litter, the waiting begins. Ask the breeder to provide videos and photos of puppies as the grow. This is a great way to see the puppies progress and you can see some personality traits in the different pups. If you did all the work in researching pedigree and breeders, you already have stacked the odds in your favor. You know that the litter is a good one and that the puppies have a good chance of turning out to be great hunting partners. This is important because it takes a lot of pressure off when it is time to pick the puppy from the litter. When you do go to the breeder to pick your puppy, take a few minutes to observe the puppies. This will allow you to see some personality traits. Understand though that this is only one snapshot in time. The puppy that is active at this time, might have been sleeping right before you showed up. Or, the one that is sleepy may have been running around like crazy just minutes before. At Otter Tail Kennels, we often look for a puppy that likes people. A puppy that chases a child around the yard or runs to the owner when they walk away is attractive to us because we want a people-centered dog instead of a dog that prefers to spend its time with litter mates. But this is not an exact science by any means. That is why we rely on the fact that we have done our homework and know the entire litter has promise. Final thoughts on how to find a good Labrador puppy Any time you set out to buy a puppy, you do not know how the journey will end. There are a lot of unknowns. You cannot tell for sure what the puppy will look like as an adult, and you cannot tell if they will be a great hunter or a great family dog. What you can do is stack the odds in your favor. Find a great litter from a great breeder and select a puppy from that litter. Once you do that, you are on your way to having a great duck or gun dog. Then the next important step is to socialize, expose and train the puppy. Read how to do that here. Have questions about finding a great retriever for your hunting and family needs? I am here to help! You can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs and services I offer. Until next time happy retrieving. How to find a good Labrador puppy. Vocality level 4 in 5 Disclaimer: While the characteristics mentioned here may frequently represent this breed, dogs are individuals whose personalities and appearances will vary. Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet. Temperament Few breeds so richly deserve their popularity as does the Labrador Retriever. When trained, the breed is obedient and amiable and tolerates the antics of children, other dogs, and other pets. The Lab is a calm house dog, playful yard dog, and intense field dog, all on the same day. Labs are eager to please, enjoys learning, and excel in obedience. It is a powerful breed that loves to swim and retrieve. Labradors need daily physical and mental challenges to keep occupied. A bored Lab can get into trouble! Upkeep Labradors are active and sociable dogs. They need daily exercise, preferably in the form of retrieving and swimming. Owners with swimming pools either must fence them out or be prepared to share the pool with dogs. The Lab coat sheds water easily. Weekly brushing is needed to remove dead hair. Health Major concerns: CHD, elbow dysplasia, OCD, obesity, patellar luxation Minor concerns: cataract, CPRA, hot spots, retinal dysplasia, hypothyroidism Occasionally seen: diabetes, entropion, distichiasis, tricuspid valve dysplasia, centronuclear myopathy, exercise-induced collapse Suggested tests: hip, elbow, eye, exercise-induced collapse DNA , centronuclear myopathy , knee Life span: 10—12 years History The original Labradors were all-purpose water dogs originating in Newfoundland, not Labrador. Not only did the breed not originate in Labrador, but it also was not originally called the Labrador Retriever. These dogs—medium-sized black dogs with close hair—not only retrieved game but also retrieved fish, pulled small fishing boats through icy water and helped the fisherman in any task involving swimming. Eventually, the breed died out in Newfoundland in large part because of a heavy dog tax. However, a core of Labradors had been taken to England in the early s, and it is from these dogs, along with crosses to other retrievers, that the breed continued. It was also in England that the breed earned its reputation as an extraordinary retriever of upland game. Initially, black labs were favored over yellow or chocolate colors. By the early s, the other colors had become more accepted. The popularity of this breed has grown steadily until the Labrador Retriever became the most popular breed in America in and remains so today. Related Content. Now taking deposits for Puppies. Contact us to learn more, meet our parents, and reserve your puppy! Your Labrador Breeder in Arizona with a focus on Service Service Our puppy program provides a great foundation to puppies destined for service work. Many of our puppies have gone on to become excellent service dogs. We treat all of our puppies as though they are training for therapy work. This makes a great puppy for any use! I would love to introduce you to my dogs and our special puppy program! Please contact me for more information. Even if your family does not have a special need for Therapy or Service work, the preparation we provide all of our puppies makes for an excellent family pet. Working We have prepared many puppies that went on to work-life. Not every puppy succeeds at work-life training, but our puppies are given the best chance starting life in our Puppy Program. Service Our puppy program provides a great foundation to puppies destined for service work. Family Dog Our puppies make excellent family dogs. Working We have prepared many puppies for work-life. Our puppies are well prepared for their future careers. Labs are intelligent dogs and they love to have a purpose. This makes them ideal for many types of work. Thank you for trusting me and for the kind words… What an amazing experience! Sandy has developed a wonderful program that allowed our family to bond with and work with our puppy prior to bringing him home. The education and training we received has been invaluable. She genuinely cares about her pups and the product is well behaved, well adjusted, healthy and happy puppies… Our Nash is gorgeous, smart, and healthy. We cannot give a higher praise to Sandy and her entire process of placing these beautiful pups. My Lab Puppies is a breeder we recommend to all our family and friends. We have 2, Momo is a male we brought home in February .He is now 14 months old. They are now inseparable. Extremely intelligent, lovable, trainable, and kind. Not to mention beautiful. Even my old rescue terrier loves them…Sandy is a pro. No bones about it. Jane Glenn Outstanding experience! My wife researched many dog breeders before deciding this was the breeder of choice. He is turning out to be such a smart and sweet boy—he wins friends every where he goes. Sandy has been great with support and training help. You can tell she cares about breeding for temperament and with the temperament of the parents both therapy pets working with special needs children , what a great guy he is turning out to be! Wendy Holland.

We established Lobuff in .We're a small hobby kennel on Long Island, and we're proud to own and breed English type Labradors. It's always been important to us to strive to have dogs that are triple or multi purpose dogs. We feel that a well-bred healthy and sound Labrador should be able to go out and do any job asked of him or her. We believe that breeding dogs is an art, not a science. By that time we had an idea of the look, shape and attitude we wanted for our dogs. He sired more than 50 working Guide Dogs as well as champions, Junior Hunters, obedience dogs, explosive detector dogs and family companions. Showing dogs was a family affair, in the 60's and 70's. Col Jerry and Lee Weiss and all 5 daughters enjoyed the sport as a hobby. One of our most important producers and beloved family pet was Dove, she was co-owned with Hollyridge — Julie Quigley-Smith and we enjoyed great success with her, she exceeded any dreams we had for her winning BOB at Potomac, the LRC National and may other Specialties. Sadly, Dove, Puffin, Eddie and Kisskadee are not with us and longer. Like Dr. We continue to work together with new generations!! Nancy always goes full tilt, logging countless hours and miles. We have so many friends to thank for helping us carry on our lines combined with theirs. Thanks to all who have worked so hard!! Check out their websites. Check their websites as well!!! We have also gotten heavily into Cavaliers. As well as Sue Penn and Marie Treacy. We plan to have lots of fun in the future. All of our breeding Labrador Retriever dogs are genetically tested and are from Champion Labrador Retriever Bloodlines. The parents live with us and are located on our premises. Sportsman's Kennels is located on a six acre facility, in the middle of the Long Island Pine Barrens. This versatile breed comes in four colors — yellow, black,chocolate and white — and because of his aptitude to please his master they excel as guide dogs for the blind, as part of search-and-rescue teams or in narcotics detection with law enforcement. Right Breed for You? An ideal family and sporting dog, the Labrador Retriever thrives as part of an active family or as a trusted hunting companion. A double-coated breed which sheds seasonally, regular grooming keeps his coat at its water-resistant best. Because of his even temperament and trainability millions of Americans own a Labrador Retriever as a pet. Our puppies are available in chocolate, yellow, black and pure white. They are microchipped, vaccinated, and veterinarian certified. For information on present and future litters, please call or e-mail info sportsmanskennels.

German Shepherds stand 24 to 26 inches and weigh between 66 and 88 lbs. A German Shepherd puppy is loyal, confident, and courageous. They are considered good all-purpose working dogs. They are proud defenders of their families and willing to put their lives on the line as they grow. However, they are still gentle family pets. They are very receptive to training. German Shepherds have been in the top 3 dog breeds in the US for many years. The breed is no stranger to public service. They helped look for survivors on September 11, .They help search out explosives today. They are intelligent and athletic. They are some of the smartest dogs and herding dogs and are known to have great personalities. They can run 30 mph and jump as high as 6 feet. Training is necessary for them so that they don't misuse their strength. German Shepherd puppies can experience anxiety. Anxiety is seen most in German Shepherd puppies that have been adopted that were the victim of cruel acts, abuse, or neglect. However, this can happen with a German Shepherd puppy of any background. It is often seen in shelter animals which are thought to be because they were separated from a person they cared about. Other more common things can cause it, too, like changing schedules or someone leaving the household, such as a student going off to college. Sometimes these things are unavoidable, but there are things you can do to help. You wouldn't want your German Shepherd puppy to experience anxiety, but thankfully there are signs you can look out for. Fear is a response in German Shepherd puppies from a real threat. Anxiety is the response to an anticipated threat that might not materialize. Things like avoidance, shaking, and trembling can be a response to both fear and anxiety. A phobia is an exaggerated fear response that results in panic. German Shepherd puppies can be prone to anxiety. You wouldn't want your German Shepherd puppy to experience fear or anxiety. One common type is separation anxiety. Separation Anxiety in German Shepherd Puppies Separation anxiety in German Shepherd puppies occurs when the dog owner leaves the house. They can become distressed and exhibit behavior problems. This problem should be dealt with early , so the dog doesn't harm itself or anyone else. Your German Shepherd puppy is more prone to separation anxiety than other breeds because they are loyal and form an intense bond with their owners. They are highly social, and we bred them to be with us and interact with us, so when they are left alone, this can cause profound distress. If your German Shepherd puppy appears to have separation anxiety, you may wonder what the causes were. Thankfully, you can watch for signs to determine if your German Shepherd is suffering from anxiety. We'll go over that in the next section. Here are a few: Inconsistency You have to try your best to stay consistent with your German Shepherd puppy. They will expect to know when it's time to wake up, go to sleep, eat, and go for a walk in their day. Changing things around frequently can be very anxiety-inducing for them. You want to avoid this and stay consistent. You wouldn't want to cause anxiety in your German Shepherd puppy. Confusing Commands A German Shepherd puppy doesn't have the same grasp of the English language that we do. If you say something like "down," meaning lie down and get off the couch respectively, this could confuse your German Shepherd puppy. You need to keep commands clear and the same throughout training. This will help avoid anxiety in your German Shepherd puppies. You wouldn't want to stress them out. Staring Directly at Your Puppy Dogs can get nervous with direct eye contact, and it can cause anxiety. Consider looking at your German Shepherd puppy from a side glance instead of dead-on, as this will be more relaxing for them. Of course, your dog is beautiful, and you want to look at it, but avoid staring. This will help decrease stress in your German Shepherd puppy. Unnecessary Punishment Sometimes your dog does something wrong, but sometimes they are just a dog. If you leave food on the counter and your dog eats it, do not punish them, as this is typical dog behavior. Avoid the situation instead, and don't leave food out. It stinks you lost your meal but never punish a dog for being a dog. You wouldn't want to cause anxiety. They will begin to associate these phrases with fear. Instead, give them treats to distract them and provide positive reinforcement. You wouldn't want your dog to get more afraid because you are consoling it. This could cause anxiety in your German Shepherd puppy. This is more likely if you just adopted them. Show them around and make sure they are comfortable in their new home as they get familiar with it. This should ease with time spent in the new place. This will avoid anxiety for your dog. Someone Left the Home German Shepherd puppies don't understand that kids grow up and go to college. They think a particular person in the family is missing. This can cause anxiety in German Shepherd puppies. Please do your best to give them lots of affection and toys to stay busy. This will help reduce their anxiety. Give them attention and do training exercises with them to distract them. This can help with anxiety in your German Shepherd puppy. It's sad for the whole family when a member passes away, and that includes other dogs. Instead, stay calm and train your puppy to remain calm as well. Don't yell and scream around your German Shepherd puppy. Try to stay composed at all times. This may be easier said than done if that is an aspect of your personality but try your best. You wouldn't want to stress out your German Shepherd puppy. Fear Your dog could be anxious because it is fearful. This could be because of sirens or fireworks, or even another dog. Do your best to watch for body language and figure out what your German Shepherd puppies find so upsetting. You can help calm them by avoiding the situation in the future if you can. Someone Has Been Mistreating It This is primarily occurring if you recently adopted your German Shepherd puppy and took it out of a bad situation. However, if it is currently going on, then the dog may become fearful of that person. Watch for foul body language. It would be terrible if someone was hurting your dog and you didn't know. Lack of Exercise Your German Shepherd puppies should be getting an hour of exercise every day. If it isn't, that could contribute to its anxiety. Consider taking your German Shepherd puppy for a daily walk to prevent this. You also wouldn't want your German Shepherd puppy to become overweight. There is a chance it will improve over time. However, now is an excellent time to start with positive reinforcement and rewarding it for good behavior so it continues. The Owner Dies If the German Shepherd puppies owner passes away, that would be devastating to the dog but will probably ease with time. This would be more common with adopted dogs and could cause anxiety. Be sure to distract the dog with lots of attention and food puzzle treats if you can. Any manner of situation can cause this to be very stressful for your dog. You might consider leaving it with family when you leave the house or doggy daycare. Here are a few. Growling When a dog is growling, it is warning you. This might happen when someone is too close to it while it is eating. It would be best if you didn't punish growling, as it may lead to going directly to biting in the future. This is a sign of anxiety in your German Shepherd puppy. Whining or Barking Whining or barking isn't something some dogs can control all that well, but it can be a sign of anxiety, and you should be watchful for it paired with other symptoms of anxiety. Sometimes barking is anxiety, and sometimes it isn't. Body Language There are many signs in body language that show anxiety, such as whale eye showing the white of the eyes and tucked ears or tail in German Shepherd puppies. You'll want to watch for signs of distress. Your German Shepherd puppy is letting you know that something is bothering it. Freezing Freezing occurs when a dog is shutting down from anxiety. It would be best if you were very careful, and this can come right before a bite. You certainly wouldn't want your German Shepherd puppy to bite someone. It's best to watch for this body language. Pacing Moving back and forth when getting fed may not be a big deal, but pacing can be a sign of anxiety. You'll have to determine if it is a habit or a visual queue of something more. Pay attention when your dog is moving back and forth. Chewing Chewing up your favorite shoes isn't just for fun; it could be a sign of anxiety. This is a good time for situational avoidance and keeps your shoes away from your German Shepherd puppy. German Shepherd puppies love to chew, so make sure they have plenty of toys. Howling Howling can be a sign of anxiety. Be sure to watch for this as your German Shepherd puppies are telling you they are stressed. Your neighbors might also be annoyed. Digging Digging can be annoying and expensive if it is done inside and they rip up the floor. This behavior can be seen as anxiety. You'll want to pay attention if your dog is digging inside especially. Being Destructive Ripping up the couch and chewing up the rug can be seen as anxiety. You might have to crate your dog or block them off with a baby gate to avoid this. Situational avoidance is essential when dealing with anxiety and your German Shepherd puppies. Eating Their Excrement Eating their excrement isn't normal and can be a sign of an anxious dog. If your German Shepherd puppy does this, take notice. What We Know About Managing Anxiety in Humans Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and good nutrition are some of the best ways to equip your body better to combat stress, but several vitamins and supplements can also help. Things like good nutrition, getting enough sleep, and regular exercise help with stress and anxiety. Several herbal supplements can also help. This includes L-theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves. It's also found in Calming Zen Chews. These can help your dog relax if they need help with anxiety treatment. Stress is how the human body responds to a demand, and sometimes a little stress can help perform at school or work. Stress can also be seen as nature's way of helping you fight for survival. However, too much stress can lead to health problems, both in people and German Shepherd puppies. What other things can you do to help your German Shepherd puppies with anxiety? These trainings are based around desensitizing your German Shepherd puppy to stimuli and also refocusing when a dog is presented with the stimuli. You may want to contact a trainer regarding this and make sure they can help you with this before paying for services. Learning Body Language You want to do your best to study the body language of your German Shepherd puppy. There are many signs of stress that are shown such as whale eye showing the white of the eye , and tucking the tail. Body language will let you know when your dog is experiencing anxiety. Socialization Introducing your German Shepherd puppy to know places, people, and things will make them be a more well-rounded dog. This can avoid exaggerated reactions to stimuli in the future. Obedience Training It is much easier to socialize a well-trained dog. German Shepherd puppies are very receptive to training and you won't regret working with your puppy now to curb any issues in the future. Exercise Exercise is important for the physical health of your German Shepherd puppy. They should be getting an hour of exercise daily. Not getting the right amount can cause stress and anxiety. Nutrition You should be feeding your German Shepherd puppies high-quality dog food for their best health. A healthy dog is less likely to have problems with anxiety. Check with your veterinarian to see what you should be feeding in your area. Situation Avoidance Sometimes the best thing you can do is avoid a situation where you know your German Shepherd puppy will become anxious. Perhaps skip working overtime or skip the dog park. You know what upsets your dog and you can do your best to avoid those situations without completely changing your life too much. Crate Training Crate training is a great way to give your dog a safe place. Be careful though as crates can make some German Shepherd puppies anxious. If your dog becomes anxious with crate training, block them off with a baby gate instead. Giving Your Dog Jobs Give your dog jobs to do. Take them on new hiking trails and give them food puzzle treats. Enrich their life so they are less likely to have anxiety. Conclusion German Shepherd puppies are great dogs. They are very loyal and loving and make great family pets. Unfortunately, they can be prone to anxiety. There are signs you can watch out for however and things you can do to help. German Shepherd puppies make awesome pets and there are things you can do to improve their stress levels. In that case, it's vital to have anxiety management tools in your arsenal. When you think of a German Shepherd, what comes to mind? A perched, strong black and white dog with a long snout and muscular shoulders. Or maybe a dog that is standing solid and upright, exuding confidence and bravery. This man's best friend is the epitome of loyalty and protection. Often the German Shepherd is viewed as indestructible, but there is a chink in their armor. Unfortunately, this breed notoriously suffers from anxious behavior. Unwanted behaviors leave many homes wrecked and owners stressed. Luckily, German Shepherd anxiety can be easily managed by understanding the breed, fear, and investing in calming avenues. More than likely, you or someone you know owns and loves a German Shepherd. They are one of the best breeds to choose for your family. German shepherds are known to love as fiercely as they live. This breed lives its life to protect and serve its owner. Often owners of German Shepherds feel safer in their homes and live more active lives. As a responsible pet owner and friend to your pup, it's essential to take care of their mental health. To fully care for your German Shepherd, it's necessary to understand and study this breed's physical, mental, and emotional needs. Physical features of a German Shepherd include a large stature, supreme agility, and muscular definition. This breed has a double coat which is likely to shed twice a year. It's crucial to maintain their coat frequently for you and their sanity. If you do not expect to experience a lot of shedding, this breed isn't for you. Because this breed has such a dominating physical makeup, it's playful and energetic. Physical activity and social interaction are a must for this breed. Personality traits of this breed include loyalty, courage, and confidence. German Shepherds are the epitome of bravery in a canine friend. German Shepherds make wonderful pets because they are affectionate and protective. That means that you can bring this playful pup home to your children with little to no worry. Their strong aptitude for protecting their owners makes German Shepherds the perfect watchdog. Socialization is critical to the growth of your German Shepherd. It is essential to bond with your pup early on to ward of feelings of German Shepherd anxiety. According to the Merk Veterinary Manual , "a lack of adequate socialization and enrichment during the sensitive period can contribute to excessive responses to stimuli, including fear and aggression. Without this foundation, your pup will be more prone to anxious tendencies. All is not lost! Even if your puppy had little early socialization, you could put an end to German Shepherd anxiety with proper training and care! Like most dogs, German Shepherds have been bred to bond with humans and be lifelong companions. A significant difference between German Shepherds and other dogs is that humans bred the German Shepherd to work. Generating an animal-based on a specific set of traits is known as purpose-driven breeding. German Shepherds have been given jobs to apply their fantastic talent and, therefore, need this structured into their daily lives. Because it is not likely that your German Shepherd is wrangling sheep or working on a farm, it's imperative to exhaust these mental and physical expectations through similar stimuli. Without proper stimulation, German Shepherd anxiety might cause some unwanted behaviors in your home. What is German Shepherd anxiety? German Shepherd anxiety is often much like human anxiety. Anxiety is a state of fear-induced stress and can cause problem behaviors. These behaviors range from very minimal to extreme. Slight cases of disruptive behavior can lead to severe behavior, which will affect your daily life. It's important to understand anxiety to avoid stress in your pup. What is German Shepherd Anxiety? Just like humans, German shepherds can and do suffer from mental health disorders. Healthline describes anxiety as a natural response to stress. It is the psychological relationship to the fear of the threat of well-being. Anxiety in humans represents itself through panic attacks, phobias, social or separation anxieties, and trauma-related anxieties. There are trained professionals that monitor and diagnose these behavioral abnormalities when they start to affect daily functioning. With modification and treatment, humans can manage their anxieties, and the same goes for your German Shepherd's anxiety. However, it's your responsibility as the pet owner to manage pet anxiety. Is your German Shepherd showing anxiety? ASPCA explains that German Shepherd anxiety can cause urinating or defecating, barking, chewing or destroying things, digging, trying to escape, pacing, or preventing you from leaving. If your German Shepherd has been house-trained well, these unwanted behaviors can be coping mechanisms to fear and anxiety. However, we'd love to have our pets treated for mental health issues, finding a psychologist trained in German Shepherd anxiety. After talking to your veterinarian to discuss the unwanted behavior, it's your turn to assess and maintain your pup's mental health. Unfortunately, many times urinating and defecating inside the home is triggered by a severe ailment. Make sure to take your German Shepherd to its veterinarian to rule out a medical emergency. Is My German Shepherd Anxious? German Shepherd anxiety is a warning signal that your German Shepherd is in distress. It's crucial to understand and examine your dog's lifestyle and behavior to manage German Shepherd anxiety. Also, it's important not to get angry or upset with your pet. Dogs have emotions, like humans, and this is an emotional stress response. Getting angry or upset with your pet often leads to more destructive behavior. Punishment breeds fear, and anxious behavior will become severe. There are other ways to manage German Shepherd anxiety. Has your German Shepherd changed homes, guardians, schedules, or have you added members to your household? This breed is known for adapting to change very well but can still show distress when abandoned or disrupting their schedule or routine. Are you getting your German Shepherd enough stimulation? By breeding German Shepherds to be working companions, these dogs are typically much happier accommodating their owners. If you are not training German Shepherds or giving them the social interactions they need, this will often result in boredom. Boredom can result in German Shepherd anxiety! It is paramount that a German Shepherd lives an active lifestyle with a serving heart. Does Loneliness drive German Shepherd anxiety? Separation anxiety is one of the most common anxieties witnessed in dogs. A dog, having been bred for companionship, is not equipped to stay home for hours alone. It's crucial to understand separation anxiety and what this may look like in your German Shepherd. Separation Anxiety and Your German Shepherd ASPCA lists separation anxiety in dogs as being "triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, the people they're attached to. Your German Shepherd can showcase separation anxiety by trying to escape, urinating, chewing or destroying objects in the home, and unwanted digging. Does your German Shepherd act sad when you are preparing to leave the house without them? Does your dog try to prevent you from leaving your house? Is your German Shepherd's disruptive behavior often acted out when you are not home? These are possible signs that German Shepherd anxiety is resulting in negative behavior. How to Manage Separation Anxiety in your German Shepherd The best way to manage separation anxiety in your German Shepherd is to teach them to be happy at home without you. Making a happy home for your pet sounds easy enough. Make your household comfortable and calming. Calming Store offers the perfect products that aid your pup in loving their atmosphere. Made to curb anxious behavior, the calming bed provides a comfortable, calming, luxurious space for your German Shepherd. Face it; we can't stay home with our pups every day and work hard to give them the best life possible. Help your German Shepherd feel at ease in their home by investing in their comfort. An excellent way to condition your pet to love their home with or without you is through food rewards. This type of conditioning allows your dog to associate positive feelings with a set task. The task at hand is your German Shepherd feeling comfortable with you leaving and ending German Shepherd anxiety. Therefore, when you go, you will give your dog food. These calming zen chews are perfectly curated to manage German Shepherd anxiety. When leaving the house, provide your German Shepherd a calming zen chew, and he will attach positive feelings to being home alone. The pleasant food will reinforce the feelings of comfortable and calm when you are away. No more destructive, unwanted behaviors from your pup. This breed's high level of intelligence made it easily trainable, which is perfect for intense militant training. German Shepherd's muscular physique also makes it the ideal work dog. The life of a working dog is strenuous. These physical demands of German Shepherds can lead to anxious behaviors. This recent study links anxiety traits in German Shepherds to work-related physical trauma. The study suggests, "Findings supported our research hypothesis in that the number of behavioral concerns reported was significantly associated and correlated with the number of vertebral locations with lumbosacral stenosis. The benefits of having dogs trained in detecting bombs or subduing criminals must outweigh these startling statistics. We must protect and comfort these heroes at all costs! The calming bed will aid worker dogs in comfort and relaxation. Calm German Shepherd anxiety with a bed that is cozy and large enough to accommodate their muscular build. The calming bed comes in an XL size of 48 inches which is perfect for your sore pup. These heroes deserve the best, and you must take care of their aches by offering them the most high-quality bed possible. But what other common triggers cause anxiety? Loud noises from thunderstorms or celebrations can cause significant anxious behavior in German Shepherds. Did you know that Independence Day was the number one day that dogs are known to run away? Dogs try to escape because the loud noise of fireworks triggers many dogs. Needing to escape their environment is a result of anxious behavior. It makes sense that this breed is often in distress from loud noises. Having been trained as work dogs, German Shepherds are on high alert and sensitive to noisy stimuli. Many owners attribute loud noises to disruptive behavior in their German Shepherds. Be on the lookout for this product to drop soon. Only organic material goes into making the calming bed. It comes with an insert of an expert blend of Valerian oil, Vetiver, Sweet Basil, and Clary Sage calming essential oils. These essential oils are safe for your pet. These essential oils are homeopathic ways to relieve German Shepherd anxiety. According to this study , genetic behavior is vital in understanding the risk management of behavioral fears in your German Shepherd. You keep him working through training exercises but not in a militant style. Your house could still fall victim to the wrath of an anxious pup. All the training in the world will not change the genetic makeup of your German Shepherd. Remember, breeding patterns link German Shepherds to diligent and protective behavior. It's in their nature to be on alert and makes them the best at what they do. The best way to protect your pet and belongings from anxious behavior is to maintain a calm and comfortable home environment. Sometimes there are no answers. There is no rhyme or reason why a German Shepherd is feeling anxious. Still, as a pet owner and family to your pup, it's crucial to invest in their mental health. Calming Dog offers calming spray that can relax and comfort your German Shepherd in the security of its own home. German Shepherds need a comfortable, calm environment with owners that they can trust. Let's not forget that there are breed state laws that specifically target behavior in certain breeds. German Shepherds fall under these legislations because they can create a great deal of harm to others and their property. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your pet doesn't escape and harm others or themselves. These laws often have monetary punishment, as in you would pay a fine. Still, too many instances of breaking the law can lead to relinquishing your pet to state facilities. The Calming Dog offers an alternative route to manage German Shepherd anxiety. With products ranging from comfortable beds to products great for conditioning Zen Chews , these products will create a serene and comfortable environment that your German Shepherd will learn to love. Take the burden of anxiety away by investing in your family pet's mental health today. These animals didn't choose to become our protectors, but they live up to the challenge. We must value the life they give to us and become responsible pet owners. We have to manage their physical, mental, and emotional health. Not only will your German Shepherd be anxiety-free, but your home will be clean and safe. You will not have to worry about breaking laws or your pup harming himself or others. Congratulations on taking the time to learn to manage German Shepherd anxiety. The first step to a more peaceful environment is to process how to manage stress. You are on your way to living a better life with your German Shepherd! How to help my German Shepherd with Separation Anxiety? November 3, November 3, Anyone who has a German Shepherd knows that they are exceptionally intelligent, loyal and confident. Separation anxiety is common in dogs and especially German Shepherds. We all know that German Shepherds are extremely affectionate and loyal to their family. They love spending time with their owners and protect them from threats. There are certain traits only linked to German Shepherds such as a want to chase things, they can be very aloof toward strangers, be territorial, and have an exceptional ability to focus. This intelligent and playful breed can quickly get bored and anxious when they are separated from their owners for long periods. Shepherds have shown signs of aggression and bad behavior due to being alone and feeling anxious and stressed. Dealing with separation anxiety with Shepherds can be different than other breeds because of their size and intelligence. With a small dog you can pick them up, cuddle, walk around with them in your arms, this is not an option with a shepherd. Other dogs can be content with classical music in the background to calm them while a shepherd need more mental stimulation to bring comfort. You know your dog best so changes in behavior or body language should be addressed. Lip licking Whites of the eyes are visible Shaking Looking away and avoidance behavior This issue can be worse for rescue German Shepherds because of the potential for pre-existing abandonment issues. If you recently brought your new dog home from the shelter, you might find that separation anxiety is a big problem. They have previous experience with being abandoned or left at a shelter. It is also important to remember that your German Shepherd can develop separation anxiety issues later in life even if they were previously fine. German Shepherds are sensitive to changes in their lives. For example, some dog owners will notice increased anxiety in their dogs after moving to another house. Your pet merely needs time to get used to their new surroundings and will find comfort in your presence. A change in routine, such as a new job, could also have an impact. Sometimes just getting older can mean a newly developed case of separation anxiety. The behavioral symptoms of separation anxiety in German Shepherds: The symptoms that you will be most aware of as a dog owner are the more destructive behaviors and their impact on your home. If your dog has the freedom to roam around the house and take out their frustrations, damage may occur. Dogs can become more inclined to chew to comfort themselves, often legs of chairs, corners of couches…even walls! How should you react when your dog pees or poops in the house while you are away? You might find unfortunate accidents on the floor when you get home, as though your dog forgot all about their house-breaking training. When this happens, your dog should never be yelled at or punished. Your dog connects the accident to your behavior. So, if you normally would yell at your dog when there is an accident, then your dog would relate the actual accident to yelling, not that they were the cause of this accident. This could mean that they start whining a lot more as they pace the home looking for you. Or they might start barking. If the latter is the case, you might find your neighbors knocking on your door complaining about the noise. That is because they might not manifest themselves until you leave home. Some German Shepherd will start to drool excessively, while others may pant and shake. There can be a big difference in the symptoms exhibited, with some dogs becoming quite active in their anxiety and others more lethargic and depressed. Click here to learn more about the signs of separation anxiety in dogs What can you do to prevent separation anxiety in German Shepherds? The impact of these tools will always depend on the personality of your dog, the severity of the condition, and your efforts in using them consistently. Therefore, some dog owners will see results with greater speed and ease than others. Renowned as the Queen of Calm, it relieves anxiety, helps with sleep and lifts moods. Lavender can help de-stress and calm your anxious dog safely. It can not only quiet a nervous and agitated pooch, but also help them sleep better, and can even cheer up a depressed pet. One of the gentlest oils around, lavender is well-known as a natural sedative, calming and soothing the nerves, easing anxiety and depression, and promoting deeper and more restful sleep. Lavender's calming sedative-like effects were confirmed in a study Pubmed article Link with dogs who had a history of car ride anxiety. The study found that dogs spent significantly more time resting and sitting and less time moving and vocalizing when exposed to the scent. Another study Shelter Dog Study link on diffusing lavender in a dog shelter showed similar results. Your Scent. Neuroscientist Gregory Berns and his team at Emory University's Center for Neuropolicy used advanced brain-imaging to demonstrate that dogs recognize scents even when the source isn't present. One of the most interesting findings of his study published in the journal Behavioral Processes is how canine brains responded differently to the odor of unfamiliar dogs and humans compared to their own family. You are your dog's favorite smell. While we might expect that dogs should be highly tuned to the smell of other dogs, it seems that the 'reward response' is reserved for their humans. Whether this is based on food, play, innate genetic predisposition or something else remains an area for future investigation. They don't call man "dog's best friend" for nothing. Click here to learn more about the powerful effects that your smell has on your dog SPACE: Give them space where they can be happy and entertained while you are gone. If you want to stop your anxious German Shepherd from exploring the home in search of you or destroying things out of boredom or worry, make sure that they are secure and entertained. Train your pup to be safe in a crate or a pen. Give them a safe designated area that is all theirs where they can sleep and play. A crate can become a cozy little den with their blankets and toys. A nap here in the afternoon can be soothing. The destructive side of separation anxiety can subside if your dog is tired and would much rather have a good sleep. You can enjoy some quality time together and get plenty of exercise on a long walk. Then, when they are settled back at home and content, you can leave without a fuss. How do we get your actual scent into our products? When you order, we send you a scent collection kit in the mail. When you mail back your collected scent in the prepaid envelope provide, our labs extract your scent molecules in a highly concentrated format, which is then blended to create the ultimate calming spray for your dog. It is all natural, drug and chemical free. They have many of the same emotions we do, as well as some of the same anxieties. These include feelings of insecurity, shyness, and nervousness. These tips are for those dogs with mild cases of fear or anxieties. If your dog suffers from severe anxiety, we suggest seeing your veterinarian and discussing a plan to get your dog in a better mindset. Identifying Anxieties, Fear, or Shyness. If your dog is suffering from some sort of anxiety, there are certain signs you will want to watch for. Many trainers call these signs threshold behaviors, meaning the dog has just become alert to something that worries, frightens, or upsets them. These signs include: Closely watching an object, person, or situation. Obsessively watching an object, person, or situation without blinking. Heavy breathing. Prancing with their feet. Calmly walk your dog in the opposite direction of the situation. You may not be able to avoid every situation that would cause your dog anxiety or discomfort, but do your best to avoid as many as you can. If your dog becomes frightened, they could hurt themselves. The key is to do it calmly. Dogs pick up on human emotion, and if you are anxious for your dog, it may just cause more anxiety. Helping Your Dog When Showing Bravery If your dog does become curious about something that they are usually scared of, do not push them into being around it more than they want to be. It is very tempting to drag your dog even closer to the source of their curiosity, but that can very easily become the undoing of their curiosity in that situation. Do not push your dog into engaging with whatever it is they have decided to explore. Let them decide when they are finished. They will come back later. Helping Your Dog with People If your dog finds being around people to be a difficult task, there are a few ways you can help your dog get past their anxiety. Use caution when around people, especially if the person is a stranger, and your dog is being cautious about said person. At the least, it will scare your dog into an even deeper fear of strangers. Lastly, try routines. A dog who gets easily upset will often times react negatively to a change in their routine, or even worse if there is no routine set in place. Establish clear routines for your pet, try not to make huge changes to your home, and when introducing a new family member, friend, or pet be sure to make the adjustment as calmly and smoothly as possible by integrating that new person or pet into the already current routine. Do the best you can to stick to the routine you have chosen. Do this, and you and your pooch will have a lot more fun and a lot less stress. What are some tricks you use with your anxious dog? Do you have a routine or schedule to help your nervous dog? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section of our Facebook page! We love to hear from you! Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might be doing it and the things that would make them more likely. Mistreatment The reason why your German Shepherd gets nervous could be that someone mistreated it. This would be more likely if your German Shepherd is adopted. If there is someone that is still mistreating it then it would be likely that it would get anxious when they are around. If it is nervous because it was mistreated as a puppy then it is likely that it will become less nervous as it becomes more comfortable around you. However, it would still help to train it to be less nervous using the tips mentioned below. Separation anxiety A common reason why German Shepherds will get nervous is that they have some separation anxiety. This is where they get nervous because they do not want to be left alone. This would be more likely to be the reason why your German Shepherd gets nervous if it only seems to get nervous when you are about to leave and if you tend to leave it alone for a long time. In this case, it knows that you will be gone for a long time which is why it gets nervous. A new home Something that can cause a German Shepherd to become nervous is if it has recently moved homes. This would be more likely if you recently relocated or if you recently adopted your German Shepherd. In this case, it would help to show your German Shepherd around as much as possible. It is also likely that it will begin to become less nervous as it gets used to its surroundings. Related post: How to tell if your German Shepherd loves you You get emotional around it German Shepherds will react to the way that their owner is behaving. If you have a tendency of becoming erratic, anxious or emotional around or with your German Shepherd then it is likely having an impact on its behavior. Instead, it would help to be calm around your German Shepherd and to train your German Shepherd to be calm as well using the tips mentioned below. You have inadvertently reinforced the behavior It could be the case that you have accidentally trained your German Shepherd to behave that way. This would be more likely if you tend to give it things that it wants when it gets nervous such as attention, treats or toys. Instead, it would help to train your German Shepherd to be less nervous using positive reinforcement training and to try to avoid rewarding it for being nervous. Someone left or another pet passed away Another thing that can cause a German Shepherd to become nervous is if someone moved away or if another pet passed away. This would be more likely to be the reason if your German Shepherd suddenly became more nervous at around the same time as either of those two things happening. In this case, your German Shepherd will likely begin to improve with time. However, it would likely help to spend more time with it yourself, to give it lots of exercise and toys to play with. Not enough exercise German Shepherds are meant to get a lot of exercise. Generally, it is recommended for a German Shepherd to get at least an hour of exercise per day. If a GSD does not get enough exercise then it can cause it to develop behavior problems including nervousness. If your German Shepherd is not getting much exercise then making sure that it does would likely be very helpful in improving its behavior and reducing its nervousness. It is still young It is common for German Shepherds to go through a more nervous phase when they are puppies. If your German Shepherd is still a puppy then it is likely that it will improve over time. However, now would be a good time to teach it not to be nervous. A good way to do so would be to use positive reinforcement training where you reward it when it shows signs of not being nervous or it does things where it is not nervous and it normally would be. Related post: Why is my German Shepherd afraid all the time? Things to consider Before getting your German Shepherd to be less nervous it would help to have a good idea of what is causing it. If it started being nervous suddenly If your German Shepherd has suddenly become nervous then it would be a lot more likely that there is something that recently happened that is causing it. It would help to consider things that happened at around the same time that it started to become more nervous. Jul 19, Blog German Shepherds are known as great human companions. This race was developed specially for hard work: guarding the flock, military, and police work. Many owners chose their German Shepherds because of their strength and intelligence. Instead of being the ultimate warriors, powerful and confident, many German Shepherds display soft and anxious behavior. Fear is normal From an evolutionary point of view, fear and anxiety are normal reactions. Those dogs which were fearful were also more vigilant, which helped them to survive longer. Putting it simply, overreacting is safer than being calm and relaxed. As a matter of fact, the same rule applies to humans. Most people very often experience fear, stress, and anxiety, despite rarely being in life-threatening situations. Its mental state results from a combination of traumatic experiences and genetic background. Dogs learn by associations. They link events with the sensory cues they experience. This means that very often, traumatic associations are purely accidental: a loud noise or sudden pain experienced when in contact with a specific object may be interpreted as that object being dangerous. The period when the dog is especially sensitive to fearful imprints is its adolescence. Your dog observes you all the time. It feels your emotions, reading from your body language, and your smell. If you react stressfully to a specific situation, it will take it as a sign that it should be stressed as well. On the other hand, if you remain calm, you may teach your dog to interpret the situation as non-threatening. You need to change the dogs association with the stimulus and change its reaction from fearful to calm and confident. The way to do it is exposing your dog to the situation he is afraid of — slowly and in small doses at a time — and rewarding it if it remains calm. If it is not apparent, pinpoint the situations causing your dog to be afraid and find out what is the common link. One of the worst possible strategies is forcing your dog to face his fears by bringing him to a fearful context and waiting for him to stop being afraid. In this situation, your dog becomes flooded with the fearful stimuli. The outcome is that his fear increases and the bond of trust between you and your dog can become severed. The dog needs to be slowly, gradually exposed to the fearful stimuli. It always has to happen in a controlled situation. For example, if your dog is afraid of strangers, bring it to a park where it can spot the strangers from far away while remaining in a safe zone. Reward your dog for being calm. If during a walk you encounter the fearful object by accident, distract your dog by taking its attention away. Reward your dog if it focuses on you, not the fearful stimuli. This is just a basic example of how gradual, controlled behavior conditioning can help your dog to become at ease with his fears. However, be prepared for the fact that teaching your dog to be calm and confident may take some hard work. Be patient and allow your dog to work at its own pace. Find a dog trainer near you who can instruct you on how to work with your dog.

Balance Out the Entire Body There is no denying that poodles are high-maintenance canines that will require a lot of grooming. However, if you have the willingness and patience, every owner can learn the skill to groom these furballs. Read on to know about all the important steps which are necessary to groom a standard poodle at home. Prepare the Space for Grooming Kitchen counters are often considered the best spots for grooming canines. This is because they provide ample space for your dog to lay down and stay there for a while. However, you will need to create a comfortable arrangement for your pooch by using blankets and towels. Poodle Report suggests that you can also purchase a foldable dog grooming table paid link for your pup. This will make things even cozier because this product is specifically designed for this purpose. This is important because the coat should be completely clean and dry to ensure a smooth and pain-free experience. Use a pet-friendly shampoo and conditioner to bathe your pooch. Make sure that these cleaning products are removed properly from the fur. Dry your dog with a towel to absorb most of the moisture. Then, use a hairdryer to complete the drying process. Be mindful of difficult-to-reach areas, like armpits, and untangle all the knots before proceeding. Groom the Face and Neck Start by ensuring that the head of your poodle is secure and still. When the pooch is in position, start clipping the hair towards the ear. Keep the blade flat against the cheek and facing away from the eyes at all times. Once you are done with the face, shift your focus towards the neck. Start shaving from the neck towards the chin while keeping the nose upward. This will allow you to pull the neck skin taut, which is quite helpful for preventing painful nicks. Dogington Post advises the owners to use the same blade setting to get a uniform trim. Move the trimmer from the nape of the neck towards the tail while keeping the blade parallel to the back. Move to the Torso and Legs Once you are done with the back, you can start grooming the legs of your dog. If your canine friend is not willing to lie down, make sure they are well-balanced while trimming their legs. Clip downwards from the chest towards the belly and then from the base of the rib cage towards the armpits. Keep brushing the body while trimming to ensure a smooth finishing to the coat. For the legs, begin at the top of each leg and groom all the way to the ankle. You can clip the hair from these parts by gently lifting the opposite leg. Clip the Hair on the Feet One by one, hold a paw in your hand and trim the extra hair on the paws. You should also remove the superfluous fluff between the toes by separating the paw pads. Move the trimmer from the outside of the toes towards the inside. Groom the Tail The tail of your poodle can be trimmed as thin or round, depending upon your preference. Irrespective of the style you select, observe a lot of caution during this step. Balance Out the Entire Body After trimming all the body parts, you need to even out the hair of your poodle. This step is extremely important to give the desired visual appearance to your pooch. Start by setting up a standard for the length of coat you want. After that, use the trimmer to even out the entire body of your dog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This loving breed has secured a spot in the Top 10 most popular dog breeds for a reason, and they deserve the best from their owners. If you own a poodle puppy or plan to adopt one soon — this guide is for you and will include everything you need to know to groom your poodle puppy! So how do you groom a poodle puppy? Clip his nails Brush his Teeth We will also cover tips for how to care for your poodle puppy and help them develop into the healthiest canine possible. Being a pet owner is a great responsibility. A bit of research will go a long way in caring for your fur-baby, so bookmark this page and prepare for all the puppy wisdom in store. However, you can absolutely groom your poodle from home. It will take proper care and education, maybe even studying on YouTube to see how to groom your pup. This time you spend grooming can save you money and be meaningful to your pup. This is a bonding time for you and your poodle, and no groomer will love your dog the way you do. Treat your pup with tender care, and the grooming process will likely be easier and result in much less fight and combativeness. The steps you should take to groom from home properly are: 1. Prepare the space — since they are often medium to large in size, trimming their hair on the kitchen counter or the Foldable Dog Grooming Table are the best spots for their grooming session. If it feels like a cold metal table, they will be miserable like any living creature, so find them a spot as serene as your salon. Bathe your pup with the recommended shampoos and conditioners above and dry with a hairdryer to get that voluminous style that the poodle is notorious for. DO NOT place the hairdryer on a high temperature and keep in mind they have sensitive skin. Keep the temperature on warm, not hot. Keep the blades parallel to the body, with a safe distance from their skin kept during the entire trimming. Close trimming should be done with an electric razor that has a protective plastic covering over the sharp parts. Start with their face, holding the poodles face still and secure gently but unable to move , and clip towards the ear. Keep the blade facing away from their eyes and basically flat against their cheek, just trimming the long hairs that have grown around their face and neck. Clip slowly and always with the sharp tip facing away, and the blade parallel to the body. Take your time and leave as much hair as looks flattering on your pup. Next, move to their feet. Have them sit down or laying comfortably if possible. Clip around the extra fluff on their paws and separate the toe pads to clip superfluous fluff between their toes. You can also gentle take the electric clipper around the feet from outside toe to inside, careful to mind the nails. Now you can trim the tail to as thin or round and silly as you prefer! This is why the body will be trimmed last. Use the more sensitive parts of their body to set the framework for how short of a trim looks appropriate for your pup. Can you Shave a Poodle Puppy? Yes, you absolutely can shave a poodle, but they will look like this. When can you Groom a Poodle Puppy? Do Poodles Have Fur or Hair? Pets The Nest says that the actual reason behind this breed being hypoallergenic is because they have hair instead of fur. It will be less necessary in the colder months when dogs enjoy having an extra layer for warmth. The curls actually give the poodle the appearance of not shedding at all, but they do. Puppies hair will be different than adult poodle hair because it will be more sensitive and even softer. Poodles will be as hypoallergenic and non-shedding as most any dog can get. They may be 3 years old before their full adult coat comes in. It is very important that you get your puppy comfortable with grooming and brushing during these early months so that they are not stubborn or fighting you during grooming sessions. Keep it strictly-business and try to make it a serious but soothing practice that will help them bond to you. Grooming is a time where you let them know they can relax while you brush out their mats. It can be annoying as with any puppy to get them to do what you want, but regular brushing will train them that this time is not for play. Not only will this make your life easier, but also your groomers, so train them early! Popular Clips AKA Hairstyles for Poodles The most popular styles you will see on a poodle are as follows with linked pictures for a visual : The Puppy Clip — this look received its name because it is common for poodles under 12 months to use this haircut. It shaves the face, feet, and tail with an optional topknot. The Teddy Bear Clip — this cut is incredibly endearing, especially on smaller poodles. It gives them the rounded facial angles like a fluffy teddy bear and clips the hair evenly all around. The Lamb Clip — when you picture the fancy and poufy poodles at dog shows with the thin legs and well-proportioned lines, this is the Lamb Clip. This style is like your pup is wearing a thick bathrobe or fur coat, but it can be very glamorous if adapted to a certain style. The Lion Clip — just as it sounds, this clip shaves their body but leaves the upper and lower parts of their body fluffed and mane-like. The Town and Country Clip — this look is great for summertime because they have a belly, face, neck, and feet all shaved. What remains is left to grow out on its own. Also, be sure to utilize this hilarious resource of wild and crazy poodle haircuts for inspiration! Poodle Grooming Tools We will cover brushes in the next section because they need their own category, but you will want some back-up tools for at-home appointments. You can take them into the groomers each month or do some maintenance in-between from home to save time and money. Especially in the winter months when it is less important to have them groomed. Regardless, your poodle will need daily brushing to untangle mattings and knots that easily occurs in their soft hair. This will be good practice for later on — for both of you! Yes, haircuts are essential for Poodles. Their thick, long, curly coats are prone to tangling and trapping debris. When will my Poodle puppy need haircuts? Then, at around four months old, they will shed their puppy coats and start to grow out their rougher adult coats. Frequency As a general rule, Poodles should have their coats clipped every weeks once their adult coats grow out, whatever your desired length. This is because they grow so quickly and can become matted just as fast! What equipment should I use? There are three main types of dog grooming scissors; straight scissors, curved scissors, and thinning shears, and they all perform slightly differently. Straight grooming scissors are a multi-task tool, they have straight blades for general, basic grooming, creating straight lines in the coat, and adding the finishing touches to haircuts. Curved dog grooming shear has a curved blade that can be used to fine-tune and shape specific areas of the coat, such as the paws and hindquarters. Thinning shears have a cutting edge on one blade and teeth on the other, and there are also double thinners that have teeth on both blades. They are designed to remove lots of hair in even sections for a natural finish, and they can also be used to blend out the harsh lines from clippers and texturize the coat. Or, if you just need something for the occasional touch-up between visits to the groomer, a simple pair of electrical motor clippers will do just fine. Electric motor clippers are also good for keeping short coats short. You should also be aware of the types of blades that come with clippers. The higher the number of the blade, the more hair that it will remove. Or, you can get guards that fit a single blade to customize the length, which is a lot more convenient. Start by showing them the equipment and getting them used to the sight and sound of it before you cut any hair. Reward them just for being around it and then try cutting a small section of hair. If they react well, reward them again, and then do another section. Keep rewarding them as you go and again after the haircut is finished. Do it in a well-lit, comfortable part of the home that your pup can stand up in. Once you get them into a routine — keep it up! Work your way down the legs first, then from the neck to the hindquarters, or vice versa, and then the tail. Take care with the feet, underside, and head, shielding their eyes from falling fur. Use long strokes and go from the neck down to the back legs. How to deal with grooming anxiety If your pup is afraid of the scissors or clippers, take it really slowly and try to make it an enjoyable experience. You can do this by breaking up the haircut into smaller sessions to make it less stressful and taking breaks in between each one. Give your dog lots of praise and a reward every time you take a break and ask another family member to comfort them during the haircut. You can start brushing your Poodle from any age. To brush them, simply go in the direction of hair growth using short strokes. Hold the fur at the base with your free hand to remove knots, and use a mat remover for any stubborn mats. Bathing a Poodle puppy As for bathing, you should give your Poodle pup their first proper bath at months old to help them shed their puppy coat, unless they get seriously dirty before that. However, you can give your pup a bath any time after weeks of age to get them used to the sensation, but avoid overbathing them, as this will strip the fur of its natural oils and make it dry and brittle. Once they have their adult coats, your Poodle pup will need a bath once a month. You can even buy shampoo that is designed especially for Poodle coats. To give your Poodle a bath, lather up their wet fur with the shampoo, massage it in, leave it for as long as directed on the bottle, and rinse thoroughly. Follow up with conditioner if necessary. Starting out just training her own Border Collies, she gradually expanded to local classes and seminars, now she travels as far as Europe and teaches students all over the world on how to train their dogs in a positive, bonding, game-based way. She is known for her clear, step-by-step training that lets beginners and advanced dog trainers see lasting results very quickly.