boxer puppies for sale indianapolis

Since a mix can take on any combination of traits from their parents, you want to make sure you ask the breeder about the other parent breed in the mix. Should an English Bulldog Mix take after their Bulldog parent, they will be sweet-natured, affectionate, and playful dogs that love being with their families. English Bulldogs are companion breeds that are known for being sweethearts. As long as they are socialized properly, they tend to be excellent with children, other dogs, and other pets. Although watchful, they are even agreeable to strangers once they have been introduced. If the other parent breed has a similar temperament, then you should be able to expect the same from an English Bulldog Mix. You still want to talk to the breeder about the other parent as they are likely to introduce their own quirks. Meeting the mother in person can give you an idea of her temperament and the behavior she is modeling for her puppies. Although the breeder should have started some training and socialization, it is your responsibility to continue training and socializing a puppy once you get them home to ensure they grow into a well-rounded, well-behaved dog. Although English Bulldogs adapt to most living situations, they are sensitive to hot and cold, and are particularly sensitive to heat. They also do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. This makes them a moderately adaptable dog breed. The other parent breed could introduce some traits that affect adaptability so you do want to ask the breeder about them. A mix could inherit conditions common to neither of their parent breeds, one of them, or even both of them. From the English Bulldog, potential health concerns to be aware of in an English Bulldog Mix include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Entropion, and Cherry Eye. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to prevent passing issues to puppies, so make sure you are asking about the health history of both of the parents. Although English Bulldogs can be stubborn, they are generally eager to please and are highly trainable dogs. They tend to be a good fit for owners of all experience levels and respond well to consistent training that is focused on positive reward and praise. If the other parent breed is also highly trainable, then you should be able to expect the same from an English Bulldog Mix. The other parent breed could also introduce the potential for an English Bulldog Mix that is more difficult to train. Mixed-breed dogs can inherit a coat that is a carbon copy of one of their parents or they can end up with a coat that is truly a mix of both. Should an English Bulldog Mix end up with a Bulldog coat, they will shed moderately year-round, require brushing a couple of times a week, and the occasional bath. If they have face wrinkles, you will need to make sure they are clean and dry regularly to prevent skin irritation. Cutting nails once or twice a month keeps them from growing too long. Ear checks on a weekly basis with careful ear cleanings as needed helps prevent ear infections. Daily brushing or use of an enzyme toothpaste is ideal dental care for dogs and can help prevent painful dental diseases later in life. English Bulldogs tend to be lower-energy breeds that only require daily walks and some playtime to be happy. But, they will be energetic when they play and might be up for more activity if you are. The other parent breed can affect this. If they are a low-energy breed, then you can expect an English Bulldog Mix to be the same. If the other parent breed requires more daily activity, then you will need to be prepared for that potential range in an English Bulldog Mix puppy. Because they may still be a brachycephalic dog breed, they can overheat, so you want to be careful of overexertion. There are many safe ways to exercise flat-faced dogs to help your English Bulldog Mix get the exercise they need. Fully-grown English Bulldogs usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. The other parent breed can have a big effect on this, especially if they are the mother. An English Bulldog generally lives for years. Although the other parent breed could affect this slightly, you should be able to expect a similar life span in an English Bulldog Mix. Featured English Bulldog Mix Article. With his laid-back personality and a friendly, gentle demeanor, Bagel is the perfect canine companion. But that's not all this pup is bringing to the table! He has mastered all of his basic commands, proving that he is not just a pretty face with a great disposition. Bagel is also house trained and crate trained, and he walks like a true gentleman on the leash. Bagel is a dog who knows what he wants, and he is easily motivated by treats, praise, or affection. He is secretly hoping to find a furever family with some human kids to play with because he can't wait to show off how fantastic he is with children. Imagine the joy and laughter that will fill your home with Bagel around! If there are no children in the household, fear not! Bagel will gladly soak up all that extra love and attention. He is a master at basking in the affection of his humans, and he will make sure you feel like the luckiest person on earth. With Bagel by your side, every day will be filled with love, laughs, and adventure. Bagel's favorite pastimes include regular walks, going for rides in the car, hiking, playing fetch, chewing on his ball, and being petted by pretty much anybody. He loves every human he meets and he is comfortable in the presence of other dogs, but he would prefer to be the only pet in his furever family. He also dreams of living in a world without squirrels, skateboards, or scooters.

They started in as pug breeders and are passionate about their health and happiness. They have acre farmland where they placed their home. Each pug puppy is potty trained and tamed to prepare them for their new families. The owners socialize with their dogs to make them friendly to people. This private pug pup breeder is passionate about promoting pug research and proper breeding practices. They invite all pug lovers to share and interact with them since that fosters learning and development. All their dog breeds comply with the American Kennel Club standards. You can expect to buy quality pug pups from them. They have been doing this for around twenty years, making them one of the credible dog breed groups in the state. She is a veterinarian for 14 years and has been in the field to breed dogs for 15 years in New York. If you want to find pug puppies that are AKC quality, then you can go for this one. They are one of the best pug breeders in the state. As one of the reputable breeders, they want all their york pugs to be healthy. They let all their pups undergo CHIC exam to detect any health problems. If there are health issues, their vet or Kelly will treat them immediately. All these things are strong puppy proof of their good standing as a breeder in North Central NY. All their New York pugs have a 2-year health guarantee. This gives you confidence that all their foo dogs will be healthy for two years and onwards. In terms of buying a pup for sale, Kelly meets all buyers in person. She is meticulous about this and wants to ensure her pups get the best pug forever home. They also provide stud and whelping services. Fairytale Frenchies are licensed to breed litter annually. They have two main dog breeds: Frenchies and pugs. For the latter, they breed different pugs, which include fawn, brindle, black, and more. All of their franchise and pug puppies for sale are AKC registered. How do they ensure the health of their puppies? All their pugs and frenchies receive Nu-Vet vitamins every day. They are also given age-proper vaccinations annually. All pups undergo house training and crate training to prepare them for their forever homes. Each pup also comes with a 3-year health guarantee. There are many pug breeders in New York, and Fairytale Frenchies is one of them. If you need more information about them, you can call them. Otherwise, email them with any questions. Casull Pugs New York. Phone: Email: patpuglady57 aol. Patti bought her first black Pug in and named her Ebony. Today she breeds pug puppies full-time from her home in Tottenville. In fact, Patti loves Pugs so much that in , she decided to legally change her name to Patti Puglady Pugz. Patti takes care of all her newborn pugs for eight weeks to make sure that they are well-fed, healthy, and ready for their new homes. Patti is proud to say that she remains friends with almost everyone that buys Pugs from her. They love their dogs and show commitment to the betterment of the breed in everything they do. But how can you spot reputable breeders when you start searching for a Pug puppy? Here are some tips to help you out. A good breeder will… 1. Issue a health guarantee Make sure that your breeder of choice offers a health guarantee. A reputable Pug breeder will write up a binding health guarantee for all of their puppies. The guarantee protects you against any genetic defects or diseases. It shows that the breeder is confident that their puppies are bred according to best practices. This means if you can no longer look after your pup for some reason, you will be expected to return the puppy to the breeder rather than taking them to a shelter. Provide standard health clearances Your breeder should have full health clearances for both parent Pugs. Good breeders often provide some early health-check clearances for their pups too, although some health clearances simply cannot be carried on such young pups. Issue a written bill of sale Reputable breeders offer written bills of sale to all of their new Pug parents. This bill of sale should be signed and will outline all the roles and responsibilities to be taken on by the buyer and seller as part of the transaction. Vaccinate their puppies All puppies should be up to date on their vaccinations before being homed with new families. Your breeder of choice should be able to provide evidence of these vaccinations. Reputable breeders welcome prospective parents into their homes to see the puppies. Follow age guidelines Puppies should never leave the litter before 8 weeks of age. Any breeder offering pups for adoption before this time is not following best practices. In fact, this could be quite damaging for the puppy developmentally. A reputable breeder will keep their pups at home until eight to twelve weeks so that they can be properly socialized and spend that crucial time with their mother and litter-mates. Answer your questions Last, but not least, a reputable breeder will be knowledgeable. In most cases, they will also want to ask you plenty of questions to ensure that their precious pups are going to good homes. We have a strict selection process that takes a variety of factors into account. That way we can ensure that only the best breeders end up on our lists. This way we know that our chosen breeders offer genetically sound and healthy puppies. Health testing shows a commitment to the health and wellbeing of each Pug. Contact information Any breeder that does not offer up their contact information is a big red flag. A reputable breeder will make it easy for you to get in contact with them by providing telephone numbers, email addresses, and they will usually have a well-established website as well. It shows a commitment to breeding best practices. Event participation Breeders who also compete in doggie events are often some of the best. Because these people tend to be dog lovers par excellence. They live and breathe for their Pugs and are proud to show them off in public. They are also more likely to have a high level of breed knowledge — an excellent sign for a breeder. Breed club membership There are lots of breed clubs out there that breeders can register with. These clubs have rules, regulations, and membership fees. If your breeder is registered with the Pug Dog Club of America, this is a great sign showing commitment to the Pug breed. Recognition awards Lastly, we look out for awards! Institutions like the AKC recognize the efforts and achievements of top breeders. The very best will be awarded the AKC recognition of merit award. During this time we recommend getting everything ready before your new arrival rattles through the front door. Your puppy will need: a crate for sleeping and training during the early days quality puppy-grade food a leash and harness plenty of toys You may also wish to purchase a puppy gate if there are areas of your home that you want to keep your Pug away from. This is all about making your home as safe as possible for your new arrival. Make sure anything that could potentially cause harm to your pup is removed. Clear your schedule Having a Pug puppy is a bit like having a human baby. So make sure to clear your schedule and get all of those errands done ahead of time! Once they arrive… 4. Avoid crowds Hold your excitement. That means no crowds. Try to keep the home environment as stress-free as possible so that your puppy can settle in and start to feel part of the family. Crate training is the first step. Lay down a regular routine from the get to and your Pug will be good as gold in no time. Questions about Pug puppies for sale in New York? We have answers. How much are Pug puppies for sale in New York? There are lots of sites out there offering to help you meet Pug breeders New York and find Pug puppies New York, but the quality levels of each site can vary greatly. Some sites sell unhealthy pups from bad breeders and you can even find scammers operating on certain sites too. You won't have to worry about any of those kinds of problems here on Uptown. What are puppy mills and why should I worry about them? Puppy mills are basically dog factories — they're places where pups are kept in cramped and unclean conditions, sold off at cheap prices to make way for the next batch. Pug puppies for sale in New York from mills often have health issues and behavioral problems because of this troubled upbringing, leading to big vet bills and disappointment for the owners. What is a backyard breeder? Backyard breeders should also be avoided when looking for a Pug for sale New York. They're basically people who breed dogs in unethical ways, often using their own backyards as breeding facilities and failing to meet the proper standards of ethics and professionalism. You won't have to worry about a single backyard breeder selling a New York Pug for sale on Uptown. Are Pugs good family dogs? They are indeed and we're seeing lots of families looking for Pugs for sale New York in recent times. These dogs have plenty of family-friendly qualities, beginning with the fact that they love kids and enjoy playing with little ones of all ages. There's also the fact that Pugs are highly portable, perfect for car rides and family adventures, and they're very friendly, loyal, and cuddle-loving too. Hybrid and designer dogs are specially-bred dogs, created by crossing two different breeds together. An example would be the Daug, which is made by mixing a Pug and a Dachshund. On their own, Pugs aren't designer dogs, but you can be interested in buying a hybrid Pug for sale in New York, such as a Daug or Puggle. Are Pugs easy to train? Pugs are more than capable of effectively learning basic commands with ease. They really like to please their owners, so they're happy to learn new things, as long as you have some patience with them and don't try to push them too far. New York Pugs for sale are therefore a good choice for those who don't have much experience with dog training. Can I have a Pug if I live in an apartment? For sure! There are many happy apartment dwellers out there who have chosen Pugs as their pets, and Pugs have a lot of positive qualities making them a good match for apartment life. They're small in stature and have low energy levels too, so New York Pugs for sale really don't need too much space to be happy. Just be sure to take them for regular walks so they don't gain too much weight. Am I limited to local breeders only? No, there are no limits when you use Uptown too search for your Pug pup! You can try to find a local New York Pug puppy for sale to make things a little simpler for picking up your pup, or you can search far and wide with trusted breeders all over the nation. If your Pug is too far away to drive, the breeder can make arrangements to fly your pup to an airport near you. How do you screen breeders selling Pug puppies? There are some amazing Pug breeders in New York. Sadly, there are also some lower quality breeders too, along with puppy mills and scammers to watch out for. How much do Pug pups cost? The average price of Pug puppies for sale New York can vary quite a lot. Well, the price tag for each pup can be affected by a range of different factors like coat color, eye color, size, and more. Here at Uptown, we aim to help you find a Pug New York that meets all of your requirements and matches your budget too.

Questions about Boxer puppies for sale in Chicago IL? We have answers. How much are Boxer puppies for sale in Chicago IL? One of the reasons for this is that individual Chicago Boxer breeders will choose their price based on their reputation for producing quality pups. The coat and eye color of each pup also makes a difference, as does their pedigree. Am I limited to choosing pups from Boxer breeders in Chicago? Many of the partners in our network are skilled at helping to organize transportation for your new pup. How do you screen breeders with Boxer puppies in Chicago? Our extremely high standards mean that we will only work with the best businesses and companies who produce the best Boxer puppies for sale Chicago. These pups are incredibly well looked after. All of these have to sign our Breeder Pledge which covers all aspects of canine care. How is Uptown Puppies different? When you start searching online for Chicago Boxers for sale, it can be hard to tell the difference between an honest business and a scam. Rather than pay attention to the marketing budget of low-quality breeders, we focus on the quality of each business. What is a puppy mill, exactly? Puppy mills prioritise profit to the detriment of animal welfare. Puppies and mother dogs are kept in awful conditions and have little to no quality of life. While these pups may seem like a bargain, the truth is they can often suffer from debilitating health and behavioral issues. More often than not, this leads to expensive veterinary bills. Can I buy a Boxer for sale in Chicago now? To start your search simply scroll through our listings of available pups and connect with the breeders or businesses with puppies that catch your eye. What country is the Boxer from? The Boxer breed hails from 19th Century Germany, where they were prized as both hunting and guarding dogs. Their blend of intelligence, bravery, and loyalty also made them the perfect dog for military and police work. What can I expect from a Boxer? Boxers are affectionate and loving with their families, but can easily switch into protector and defender mode if they feel their families are being threatened. Their active natures make them perfect for energetic families. How big are Boxers? A Chicago Boxer for sale will mature to be a sizable dog. Once mature, a male Boxer Chicago can stand up to 25 inches tall and weigh up to 80 pounds. Females will be slightly smaller, at .Their enthusiastic and bouncy nature also means you need to provide them with plenty of space! Are Boxers ebay to train? Training sessions with a Boxer for sale Chicago are guaranteed to be a lot of fun! Boxers love to please their owners so make enthusiastic and willing training partners. Puppy Breeds If you have a liking for a fearless, energetic yet devoted pet then the boxer breed of dogs should form your list of preferred choices. As the 9th most recognized and popular dog breed in the world, whether the brindle fur colored, white or fawn, a boxer is a delight to look at and a fabulous companion around. Discover more about our Boxer puppies for sale below! History From ancient Germany precisely around the 19th century had the now extinct mastiff breed Bullenbeisser and bulldogs brought in from England. At the time of their arrival, they served as hunting dogs for bears, deer, and other ferocious beasts, it would capture the prey with the help of its awesome teeth and detain it until the hunter arrives. And in the first boxer standard club was launched with a comprehensive document that is still in use today. Shortly after, the breed made its way into other European countries and got into the U. S in the late 19th century with the American Kennel Club taking registration of its first boxer around .During the first world war, boxers played the role of a military dog as a pack-carrier, a guard dog, and an attack dog, later they were taken home by the soldiers and got introduced into the domestic world as a show dog, best companion, and a reliable guard. Temperament One with so much life, energetic, curious, attentive, active, smart, sociable and incredible fun with children is the boxer, they are also known to be very patient and highly protective of their family members making them the love and desire of many homes. As active dogs, they need a lot of exercise to keep them mentally fit, apparently having a mind of its own, you will find your boxer entertain itself by digging the ground often, chewing, and licking the mouth to beat boredom. They are also very stubborn in character which makes them a terrible choice for first-timers with dogs, they are generally a bit difficult with adult dogs including dogs of a similar breed but friendly with puppies. They usually do not bark unless there is a genuine reason behind it but they love to growl. Environment If you have occupied home with people around all the time or you want a canine buddy the whole time, then a boxer is just the perfect breed to get. Being a highly active dog, they dread loneliness and they can cope finely in both a house and an apartment as long as you provide it with enough room and spaces for exercises and activities. What you must have is a large yard if you are living in a house for it to dig the ground and run around as it likes. And more so, if you are given to being away from home most of the time, getting a boxer may not be the best for you and the dog, because they usually get aggressive when left alone. Boxers are known as loud snorers and they drool greatly too. Exercises Boxers are playful and very energetic dogs as such regular exercises are part of a good canine relationship, especially a breed of this sort. Your boxer should be allowed to play in a fenced area and on-leashed since it is likely to jump and leap around in excitement. This puts a boxer as a bad choice for a frail owner as they may find it a tad impossible and daunting keeping up with its excessive activity demands. Grooming Being a breed with a short and thin coat its grooming demands are quite easy and little, all it needs is a light brushing of the hair twice every week to maintain its good and gleeful looks. Bathing should be a once in a while since boxers are generally clean dogs and its nails, be trimmed once every month or as often as they grow worn on surfaces, its teeth should also be brushed daily to avoid tartar formation and other dental crises. Our Boxer puppies for sale come from either USDA licensed commercial breeders or hobby breeders with no more than 5 breeding mothers. We only purchase puppies from the very best sources, and we stand behind every puppy we sell. Contact us today to learn more about the availability of our Boxer puppies for sale. We look forward to helping you find your next family member. Our pet counselors can answer any questions you have about our Boxer puppies. Yes, boxers are particularly fond of their family members especially when goodly trained. Are Boxers trainable? Though the boxers can be a little headstrong, they are very intelligent and with a proper training environment, they respond well. Are Boxers friendly with kids? They are very fond of children and they love playing games with them. Are Boxers friendly with other animals? Boxers are naturally patient with puppies, pooches and small animals but a bit unaccommodating of adult dogs and other animals. Are Boxers good apartment dogs? They can live anywhere you make as a home all you need is to provide it with enough space for exercise. How is Boxers shedding? Given the shortness of their coat, they shed minimally and occasionally, you can also regulate the shedding by frequent brushing of their coat. Are Boxers good for first-time owners? Not quite, as their exercise needs are way too high for their inexperienced hands. Are Boxers loud barkers? But growling is a thing they do most. Are Boxers tolerable to heat and cold? All they need is moderate exposure to heat and cold because of their thin fur body. How long can Boxers live? The average life-span of boxers is 10 years.

I will examine the unique temperament, personality, and characteristics of these gorgeous girls, and to help you decide which gender is the right fit for you. Male vs Female German Shepherds For some people, aside from simple size, weight, and height considerations, there really is no important or measurable difference between a male and a female German shepherd. But for other people, even the subtle differences between a male and a female German shepherd can be sufficiently important to make one gender a preferable choice to the other in certain specific situations. Female German Shepherd size, height, and weight One of the most obvious general distinctions about the female GSD is that she is generally leaner, smaller, and shorter than her male counterpart. The female GSD stands 22 to 24 inches high paw to shoulder , a full two inches shorter than the male. And the female GSD will weigh between 50 and 70 pounds, which makes her about 15 pounds lighter than the adult male. Coat Color and Pattern The bi-color coat pattern is the most common and recognized color for the German shepherd dog of either gender. In most cases, you will find a black female German shepherd that displays one other secondary coat color, either cream, red, tan, or silver. In certain cases, you may see a single-color GSD in blue, gray, liver, sable, or white, although these are not breed standard colors and may render your dog at fault or deemed ineligible certainly in the case of the white coat color for the show ring. There is no gender-related differentiation in overall coat color or pattern that is seen in the male versus female German shepherd. Female German Shepherd Personality The German shepherd female temperament can also show marked differences in behavior and personality that can be related back to her gender. Whether these differences are present and how apparent they may be will vary depending on the traits of the specific parent dogs, which is why it is important to be able to meet and get to know each parent dog as you are selecting between male and female German shepherd puppies. More likely to bond equally with more than one family member aside from the principle person responsible for training and meals. May be easier to train and more sensitive to commands and cues. Possibly a better pick for service dog or therapy dog work. Good for rally, agility, and obedience training due to lighter weight, smaller size, and more graceful body structure. Less apt to become territorial in the presence of strangers. Female German Shepherd Training The GSD is currently the second most popular family pet dog in America, and this is for good reason, but ongoing regular socialization and puppy training is a huge reason why! This is one of the most intelligent of all dog breeds! Your German shepherd has an incredibly strong work ethic with tremendous drive and focus while on the job. They will also bond strongly with the entire family. Positive training methods focus on delivering praise, playtime, pets, and treats in response to well-learned tasks and commands. German shepherds of either gender are hands-down one of the most popular police and K-9 dogs in the world. Some of these are German shepherd mix dogs while others are purebred GSDs. Socialization Everyone in the family should play a part in feeding and training your new pup. This will go a long way towards developing her tendency to bond closely with each family member. Make sure that she meets lots of strangers outdoors and at home. The window for socialization closes around 16 weeks old, so your first few weeks together are going to be busy. While a female German shepherd is lighter and shorter, she will still be strong from the get-go! Choosing the right collar and lead system will help you. Female German shepherds will need plenty of early socialization with young children in the family and with other family pets. Young children in particular will need to be supervised at all times in interactions with your female GSD puppy! Children may be unintentionally rougher with a puppy that can be easily tolerated and this can lead to preventable incidents. These issues include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cardiac issues, eye issues, autoimmune thyroiditis, and degenerative myelopathy. Only hip and elbow dysplasia are currently required tests for reputable breeders, with the remainder being optional recommended health tests. German shepherds can sometimes contract a blood disease called hemophilia A. Female German shepherd dogs are usually carriers and, unlike males with the genes for the condition, will not show symptoms. There is a health test to detect this disease, which is present from birth. Idiopathic Epilepsy Interestingly, this condition is less likely to impact female German shepherd dogs than males. The reason is not yet known, although researchers suspect there may be several genes polygenetic involved. German Shepherd Spaying Having an un neutered female dog is inconvenient, but only for a few weeks of the year. Spaying is a commonly carried out procedure, but it does come with some risks. Certain health conditions are more common in girls that are spayed before 12 months old. This is because spaying gets rid of some important hormones. Urinary incontinence, mammary cancer and joint disorders are all more likely is your girl is neutered before a year old. Ready for new homes: August 11, .Ready for new homes: September .Ready for new homes: October .Ready for new homes: November .Ready for new homes: December .Ready for new homes: June .GSDs are a versatile and highly intelligent breed capable of mastering complex obedience commands. Their intelligent versatility is just one of many unique factors that put GSDs head and shoulders above most other breeds in the canine world. The average GSD can grow to a shoulder height as high as 26 inches and are capable of equal parts grace and power. Because of this incredible mixture of intelligence, grace, and strength, they are the favorite breed of security experts from local K-9 police departments to every branch of the military across many different nations. GSDs are also capable of mastering the highest levels of show dog training making them among the most popular breeds of championship show dog organizations. There are plenty of reasons why German Shepherds have long been thought of as canine royalty. Select your new pup from one of our available litters and make your reservation with us. No problem. You can contact us at or or email us at vomragnar gmail. Our trainers can also train your pup for basic obedience, advanced obedience, and protection or security work. Your puppy will learn excellent manners and communication skills that will provide you with many years of a rich, full relationship with your German Shepherd. Design Please beware of scams and frauds! There are scams out there who use our brand. Their website may look exact the same since they duplicate our website or their domains look similar. Our website is vomragnar. Our brand name is patented. We are licensed breeders in Illinois. Please do not trust scammers and beware. Want to see our puppies available for sale? Life Span Did You Know? The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs. Breed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in .Although they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications. They also make great service dogs and, of course, are still awesome herding dogs and farm dogs! The German Shepherd is a strong-willed and highly intelligent dog. They have a playful, energetic spirit and tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets, which makes them a great family companion. A born protector, the German Shepherd will provide a great sense of security for their family while their loving and lively personality will make them fit right in as a companion. German Shepherds are naturally protective and can be wary of strangers at first. A well-socialized German Shepherd will bark to alert you and tends to warm up to strangers once introduced. German Shepherds are dogs that were bred to herd and work. This, plus their high energy, makes them a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. They can adapt well to larger apartments as long as plenty of time is dedicated to ensuring they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention every day. A bored, ignored, or under-exercised German Shepherd can often become a destructive one. They also can be sensitive to their surroundings and large gatherings can be off-putting. With a longer coat, they tend to prefer cooler climates and are sensitive to heat. The German Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are some potential health concerns and good breeding practices make a big difference. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a German Shepherd include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a barrel-chested breed, the German Shepherd is also at risk for bloat. While the German Shepherd is highly intelligent and highly trainable, they are generally not recommended for novice owners. If you are a novice dog owner, enroll in puppy training classes or enlist the help of a professional dog trainer; not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. Training assistance will help you grow in experience and build a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd puppy, which is essential. Also, the GSD has a thirst for training and fulfillment. They get bored easily and especially with repetition, so continued training with your German Shepherd throughout their life will be necessary. German Shepherds have a medium-to-long double coat. They will shed year-round and heavier as seasons change. Brushing a few times a week is usually sufficient; brushing daily is even better and your GSD will likely love you for it. Bathing is occasional on an as-needed basis. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs. Not only do they require a lot of daily activity, but they also are a herding breed that was made to run, guard, and observe, so they need a job to do to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for a GSD, but they will likely be up for more activity if you are. With their versatility and athleticism, you can try a lot of different activities when puppies finish growing and they are cleared for higher-impact things. A fully-grown German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. German Shepherds generally live for years on average. Corporal Duncan brought him back to the United States and Rin-Tin-Tin became one of the most famous dog actors in history. Featured German Shepherd Article. Sound in mind and body, strong, functional, intelligent, trainable, courageous, and resilient. These are the natural qualities that can only be realized through the incredible genetics of purebred German Shepherds. We only import the best-of-the-best. Certified champions straight from Germany! Due to his home being burglarized in , Wayne decided to train dogs in tracking, obedience, and protection. His untrained Staffordshire Bullterrier was unable to protect his home and he then decided to obtain a Rottweiler for protection. Wayne continued to train Rottweilers up until the early 90s where he purchased his first German Shepherd. He was raised along side German Shepherds which had a huge impact toward his love and respect for the breed. At Kraftwerk K9, we honor the history of the German Shepherd. We here at Kraftwerk K9 care for and teach these world-class dogs to live up to their full potential. Our ethical breeding facility sits on 25 gorgeous acres of Washington soil and is available for touring before purchase. Take a look at our facility Learn more about our certified German Shepherds by calling today at or visiting our Available Dog page!

Welcome to the home of my precious Keweras Golden Retrievers. I hope you will enjoy your visit, and come back regularly to see updates on how all the dogs are doing, and check on the availability of puppies etc. I value your comments and will reply to each and every one I receive. Golden Retrievers are the most wonderful of all creatures, offering kindness, love, loyalty and companionship unconditionally, as only they can. I have many chronic health conditions, and my beloved dogs get me through each and every day with understanding and compassion. Without being able to speak a single word they know when I am suffering badly, and how to comfort me. Because of their wonderful dispositions, Golden Retrievers are ideally suited to families with children, and the disabled, and make wonderful therapy dogs in Nursing and Residential Homes. Many of my dogs are registered P. Pets as Therapy dogs, which also pleases me greatly, and several have gone to homes with autistic children where they are turning the lives of these children around. I am very excited about having this opportunity to show off my most wonderful of friends to the world via my website! I also have a darling girl who has given me two wonderful litters but has now been spayed due to complications with starting her contractions Tehya. To date I have delivered close to Golden Retriever puppies — mostly my own, but several for Goldie owners who have been rather nervous of the impending event, and have asked me to step into the role of midwife for them! These days, however this is no longer possible as getting onto the floor is a major event and requires assistance from my husband, so I only deliver our own puppies, but I am always happy to offer support and advice to anyone, including talking you through a whelping over the phone if necessary — this I have done successfully many times before. I hope always to do whatever is necessary to help the breed in any way I am physically and cognitively able to within my illnesses. I have delivered many other breeds for people in the past in order to ensure, as far as possible, that the pups are delivered safely, and that mum is also safe and well throughout. With more than Golden Retrievers signed up already, the get-together is the fourth of its kind and is only available for members of the Cornwall and Devon Golden Retrievers Facebook page. The group has around 1, members, with the dogs and owners regularly meeting at various venues across the two counties. Space is very limited, so you'll have to enquire soon if you want to take part. Speaking to ITV News , organiser Dee Johnson says: "Mine and my husband's six goldies which are six generations of girls are like our children. We have seven adult children too, but they have all flown the nest several years ago. We also have nine grandchildren. Catherine Falls Commercial "From experience, it takes a certain type of person to own a golden retriever. They are usually very warm, kind, caring and friendly. The best of my friends are goldie owners. For more information, visit facebook. The best dog-friendly cottages in the UK 1 Woodheads, Lake District A magnificent first floor apartment, 1 Woodheads, sits nine miles from Lake Windermere and is part of a Regency-style villa with views out towards Morecambe Bay and the distant Pennines. Here, you're only half a mile from a year-round dog-friendly beach - imagine your beloved pet bounding across stretches of sand, as well as through nearby forest glens. Back at your luxury dog-friendly cottage, period features are combined with elegant style to create a visual feast. You can serve up summery salads in the super-smart dining room or in the garden. On balmy evenings, with the veranda doors all opened wide, tease out some tunes on the piano, inspired by an aperitif and the wondrous views. Sleeps: 4. See our Privacy Notice A big golden retriever meetup has been organised in Cornwall. The organisers of the play date are expecting more than dogs to gather in the county this summer. They are currently looking for a mobile coffee van to also show up on the day to go with the mobile food unit they already have booked. This is their fourth golden retriever meet at this location following past meets being so successful with over people regularly attending. However, event organisers say this is strictly a controlled event for members of Cornwall and Devon Golden Retrievers only, who satisfy the criteria of the group. Space is very limited. Read more: 'Frightened' lurcher is among Cornwall's kennel dogs waiting for owners to claim them Dee Johnson, 58, is the organiser of the event and a breeder of golden retrievers. Dee regularly organises monthly meet ups for owners and their dogs at various venues across the two counties. They tend to be beaches, woods, parks and adventure parks, like the upcoming June event. The events are usually free unless there is a charge from the venue like Charwell. However, if they make any money, they support the IRR Irish Retriever Rescue which is a non profit rescue charity that rehomes golden retrievers that are unwanted, rescued or abandoned. Get our top stories delivered to your inbox every day. Choose what you want here About her love of golden retrievers, Dee says: "Mine and my husband's six goldies we have which are six generations of girls are like our children. We have seven adult children too, but they have all flown the nest several years ago. We also have nine grandchildren. They are usually very warm, kind, caring and friendly. The best of my friends are goldie owners. Their bond became so strong immediately. Syla has always shown her affection through cuddles, smiling and playing. Syla loves her toys, fetching a ball, having her treats and going for family walks Unfortunately, Syla was not socialized with many other dogs through the pandemic. She is familiar with a small, older, family dog. Due to this, Syla is not great at sharing her toys and food with other dogs. Syla shows territorial behaviour by growling and nipping if a dog comes near her toys and food. Most recently she has shown anxieties towards our youngest daughter who is 7 months. Syla bit our baby who crawled towards her when she was playing with her toy. Besides the above behaviours, Syla has been an amazing family dog. She is so happy, loving and just wants attention all day and night. If you need a hug, she will be the first person to give it to you. She loves her walks so much that she does get excited and pull at the beginning but does eventually calm down. She also loves to swim and catching bubbles with her family. Syla needs an owner who has time to take her for walks, plays with her and loves her unconditionally. She would thrive at a forever home with some land. Her new owner must have patience with her and work with her through her territorial behaviours with her food and toys. Syla would probably do best in a home with no kids or atleast older children. Syla deserves the best family who will treat her like their own child. This is a courtesy listing. If you would like to provide Syla with her forever home, please contact Brianna Drys at briannadrys gmail. Small right facing arrow Search for a Golden Retriever puppy or dog Use the search tool below to browse adoptable Golden Retriever puppies and adults Golden Retriever in Cornwall, Ontario.

More VaGolden Retrievers Hello, I hope you enjoyed my website, and have taken the time to review all my pages , from text,photos and videos. You can find answers to most of your questions on my site. Placing you and one of my puppies together is something I take very seriously. Knowing you are happy and that one of my puppies has made that happen, means a lot to me. I do hope each family takes the time to get to know me and the line of adult Golden's I have. This is my line. A strong line of Golden Retrievers. Golden Retrievers make perfect family pets. They always enjoy being part of the family's company and show love and devotion to all members of the family. They crave love and affection. Companionship is their top priority and they are totally devoted to their human family. Puppies For Sale If you're interested in my coming litter,, please call I have litters arriving thought out the year. Once they arrive, I will have videos of the puppies on this website. It's always best to plan taking a puppy home and contacting me in advance is always best. He has been the most amazing dog and are so blessed to have him in our life. He is going to turn 10 months old and looks so much like his Mom and Dad. Thank you Grayland for such an amazing dog! We named him Hook because we are a Disney family and he is the Captain of our new home. We will definitely recommend you to future Golden owners. Hello, it's been 3 weeks since our Penny came home. I just wanted to thank you for this precious pup. We love her very much and she's become an integral part of the family. She's doing great with house training and is even using door bells to let us know when she needs to go out. She can sit, lay down, and shake. Penny has an awesome personality and loves everyone even our cat! She just had her 10 week check up and our veterinarian said "she's perfect in every way. She's exactly what a golden should be. So thank you so very much. We are so thankful to have our little Piper. She is quite a gem that has added that extra spunk to our Golden family. We now have 4 and plan on adding to our brood with just one more from VA Golden Retrievers. We have had such a positive experience. You can definitely see that Mr. Nelson loves his Goldens. They are friendly, energetic and well bred. Thank you for sharing a part of your family with us. We purchased our golden back in April and we named him Theodore. We are so happy with him! Theo has the sweetest disposition and learns quickly. He does well on the leash, sits, stays sometimes! Our girls absolutely love him I just wanted to let you know what a blessing our puppy has been to us! Hello Mr. We meet before back in .Bailey is such a blessing to our family. First off he is the most loving and sweetest dog in the whole world! We could Not imagine life without him he has truly given our family so much happiness! I just wanted to thank you so much for our sweet boy! We brought Beamer home in December and he has been such a blessing to our little family. As well as Bernedoodles Bernese Mountain Dog and poodle cross. We are a small breeder with 40 years of experience. We pride ourselves on making careful, thoughtful choices in our breeding program to ensure the best in health, temperament, and appearance of our puppies. We are conveniently located near Washington D. We are AKC and County inspected and we have never had an infraction. All of our puppies are affectionately raised in heated and air conditions conditions. Our staff and family provide the proper socialization to raise the finest in family companions as well as service dogs. All can excel in obedience, agility, service, therapy, field, or just as a best friend! We do health screening on most all parents for hips, eyes, heart and elbows and give a full year health guarantee on every puppy. The puppies will also have vaccines, worming, and a vet health exam before leaving for their new home. We strive for your experience with us to be a great one! When our adults are finished with their breeding career we like to donate them with The Caring Angels Therapy Dogs. We are proud that they can now go and make someone a great therapy dog. Temperament Testing Temperament testing is provided on all our puppies to assist you in selecting the best match upon placement into your home and family. Do you lead an active lifestyle or a quiet one? How much time can you devote to interacting with your dog? Have you owned a dog in the past? If so, what worked well and what did not work well? We will work with you to pick your newest family member! The Purchase Process First, we assist you in making the best match for your family. Temperament testing is provided on all our puppies to assist you in this process. We know the personality of each puppy, and after discussing your family situation, we can advise you on which one would best fit your home environment. Have you had problems with a dog in the past? We require you come in person to pick out your new family member. We will then hold your puppy until it is 8 weeks old. The balance of puppy is due at time of pickup. All advanced puppy picks are in the order of deposits. Full breeding rights are decided on a case-by-case basis. Andy is a lovable dog who will never leave your side. He likes long walks and loves to sniff anything and everything along the way! Loves to give kisses. Becomes overwhelmed Easily if his boundaries or territories are crossed. House broken, crate trained, needs a fenced in yard. Definitely more suited for a one-dog owner. Cats are ok, and maybe adult kids, he is curious about other dogs I can talk you through that but he can become easily triggered, through car glass, fencing, and protective over his family. Needs time to warm up to new people and he likes to feel like he is in charge, being an Alpha which needs to controlled and put in his place, but once he is comfortable, he will be your best friend and trusted companion for life. Can be left alone for long periods of time - does not chew or get into anything he's not supposed to. Likes to be right next to you on the couch and the bed. Well-trained - knows place, down, stay, sit, and working on heel. Loves peanut butter as a treat. We transport every other week to a location near you with the most animal friendly transport - Rescue Riders Transport. Contribute to Callie 's Dogecoin Stash! Contribute Now Adopt Callie and Receive Dogecoin Adopting a pet can be expensive, and we're trying to help by fundraising for each individual in need of adoption. After verifying the adoption, Callie 's new family will receive the funds that their pet has raised. Dogecoin is digital currency that can be exchanged for cash, traded, or held as an investment see the "What is Dogecoin" section below. The adopting family is the only party eligible to receive the Dogecoin. If you adopted the Callie , thank you for providing a home and a loving family! Please begin the process of claiming Callie 's Dogecoin here. For adoptions in which nokillnetwork. For adoptions that were not facilitated by nokillnetwork. The adopting family will be required to provide proof of adoption between weeks after adoption. This is to ensure that the home is a good match and Callie was not returned. Our staff provides instructions and help throughout this process. What is Dogecoin? Dogecoin is a decentralized, peer-to-peer digital currency that enables you to easily send money online. Learn more about it on youtube or at dogecoin. What happens to unclaimed funds? This fund may be used to match contributions made to other adoptable pets, incentify other adoption-related actions, promote our mission, or support the operating expenses of nokillnetwork. If you would like to make a direct contribution to nokillnetwork. We appreciate your generosity and help! Contribute Now About this Dog Callie is a very sweet girl, and we are just beginning to know her better. She is very reserved at first until she warms up to you. She is starting to play more and she loves to cuddle. She is very gentle taking treats and has not shown any food aggression. We suspect she may have been abused because she will cry and lay down if you try to lead her by her collar. She is also very fearful of thunder storms. Callie can be destructive when left alone for long periods, and needs to be securely kenneled or crated. She is a very smart girl and has figure out how to open the door! Callie appears to get along well with other dogs, and has not shown any signs of aggression. She has been cat tested and had no reaction to the cat, even after the cat swatted her. Callie was noticed by SSR at a high kill shelter in Texas. We asked them to do a "dog test" with another dog and they used Callie. SSR couldn't just leave her there, so into the rescue she came. She arrived to her foster in Virginia on June 20th. Did you adopt Callie ? Contact us to claim Callie 's current Dogecoin balance of 0. Our staff will provide help throughout this process. Before submitting this form, please wait 4 weeks after the adoption date so that you can provide proof of adoption and Callie 's current status. Please check the box below if you meet the eligibility requirements. If you do not currently meet the requirements, please put a reminder on your calendar to revisit this page when you qualify. I can provide proof of adoption from a date at least 4 weeks prior to today and proof of current ownership.

We are a small hobby breeder of Labradoodle puppies in Orange County that focuses on temperament and health. We first started raising labradoodles in when were first introduced to the breed by a dear family friend who was raising them as well when we found out our son was allergic to dogs and could no longer raise boxers, which we raised for ten years prior to the labradoodles. This breed has been such a joy and just an amazing difference in behavior, obedience and intelligence. They are just truly an incredible breed. All of our pups are raised solely indoors with our family. We keep in contact with many of the families who have adopted our labradoodles which can be seen on our facebook page at www. If you are not ready for one of our cuties just yet and will be looking in the near future, get on our waiting list now! Still accepting names. If you would like to be added to this list, please feel free to contact us for more information. Most questions can be answered there. Pix posted on there will be the most up to date photos available of the puppies we currently have. As there are videos of the current pups posted there that we are unable to post here. Please refer to our puppies available page for our disease protocol. Adventurous Labradoodles past pups photo gallery Contact Us. The exceptional family companion. Welcome to Shady Creek Labradoodles Love is a four legged word When all else fails, hug the dog When all else fails, hug the dog Shady Creek Australian Labradoodles is dedicated to breeding healthy and well-balanced Australian Labradoodles. We began breeding out of an intense love for these gentle and intelligent animals. These happy dogs make the perfect family pet! When all else fails, hug the dog When all else fails, hug the dog When all else fails, hug the dog We are not a kennel or facility. Our Australian Labradoodles live as our pets and sleep in our bedrooms. For the love of dogs, we are: When all else fails, hug the dog For the love of dogs, we are: Careful to select Australian Labradoodle breeders for temperament, confirmation and health Sure to provide extensive health testing of our breeding dogs to the Gold Paw standard of the ALAA to ensure you receive a healthy and happy puppy Dedicated to providing proper socialization training for all of our Australian Labradoodle dogs and puppies We offer lifetime support to you and your dog ALAA Approved Australian Labradoodle Breeder Approved Breeder What does our being an ALAA approved breeder mean? It means that all the things you should be concerned about when looking for an Australian Labradoodle puppy have already been required and verified by the Australian Labradoodle Association of America. You can be assured that everything is being done to breed the healthiest Australian Labradoodle puppies possible. All litters and puppies must be registered and the appropriate pedigree information provided to families. Being an ALAA registered Australian Labradoodle breeder means you can be assured we are responsible and accountable to an organization that has very strict guidelines and requirements in place that protect you as a buyer. Our Partners "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near Orange California and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted.

You need to start scouting for the best places to get pug puppies for sale in VA. Here are some of the best places you can begin your search: Local Pet Stores Local pet stores are a great source for leads on pug puppies for sale VA. They have a great network of pet lovers and founded their businesses on the value of providing a loving home for pets. However, you need to check those listers of pug puppies for sale in Virginia and avoid them if there are signs of them being raised in puppy mills. As much as possible, insist on visiting the puppies where they are raised and ask if you can see the parents as well. Do it nicely out of a genuine desire to know the puppy well. Pug puppies sold from puppy mills are not in their optimal health condition. Steer clear from any pet stores that provide weak and sickly puppies. Local Breeders The pugs are an in-demand dog breed. They are popular and wanted by many families due to their temperament, size, and general behavior. Chances are, there will be local breeders in your area where the breeder specializes in breeding only one breed. Look for these sources as they are your best option in getting a healthy puppy. You can ask around for dog clubs, kennels, pet homes, and groomers. They will be able to point you in the right direction. Local private breeders are passionate about what they do and are committed to ensuring that the health condition of the puppies and the parents is their utmost priority. What to do while you are visiting a puppy? Once you have a list from your search on Pug Puppies for Sale Virginia, here are some of the things you have to do when you are visiting a puppy: Check for Vaccination Records. Never take a puppy home without a complete and updated vaccination certificate. Check how they take care of healthy puppies. Look for the parents of the pug puppies. Ask if the parents have inheritable health conditions. Ask if the puppies are health guaranteed and vet checked. Good breeders will offer a health guarantee and will make sure the pups get their first shots and have a regular vet check Look Online Another option for you to take is to make a quick search for pugs for sale in VA online. If you are going to buy a pug online, take note of at least 10 relevant search results and visit these websites. Try to determine if the website features a dog breeder who values what they do. The most legitimate breeders put pictures of the puppy along with all the necessary details that prove the puppy is in the best condition. Look for health certificates, vaccination cards, and even AKC papers to check if the pug pup is AKC registered , if available. Some breeders would go the extra mile and include the personality and behavior of the puppy. How to Choose the Best Pug Puppy Choosing the best pug puppy for your home depends highly on your preparation and dedication. Whether you are talking with professional breeders or a small hobby breeder, you need to know who to look for signs that the puppy is in its healthiest condition. Take a Vet with You The easiest way to determine the health conditions of the puppy you are getting is by bringing a vet with you. Make a request for the vet to do a quick check-up on the puppy that could be your next family member. Pug breeders will not have an issue if you want to take this route. If you cant take a vet with you, there are a couple of things you check as signs of a healthy puppy. If the puppy is weak, easily gets tired, and experiences difficulty breathing, these are indications that the puppy is not in its optimal health. Pug puppies are active and energetic. They love to play around and have a good time. If the pug has watery, squinted, or glazed-over eyes, these are signs that the pug has existing eye problems. Look for signs of difficulty in breathing like rasping and rattling sounds. Another sign of breathing issues is when a puppy needs to open its mount when resting. Interact with the Pug Puppies Interact with the puppy right away. Try to know if the puppy loves to interact with people, is playful, or if it is shy, reserved, and worse, aggressive. Make a feel for its temperament and ask the breeder about its behavior. Pug Breeders You Can Visit in Virginia To help you get started on your list, you can begin checking out some of these breeders. Make sure you have done the necessary preparations for it to feel welcome and secure. Keep them away from staircases and places where they might fall and be injured. Here are some of the other topics we have created to help you search pugs for sale by location. Our staff are avid fans and dedicated owners of Pugs. We hope to answer all the questions you have about Pugs. Just read and enjoy. Feel free to share if you find it valuable to others! Best regards, Why Is My Dog Shaking? Dogs are known for their loyalty and companionship, but when they start shaking, it can be a cause for concern for pet owners. Shaking in dogs can be a sign of various issues, from dog anxiety and dog fear to dog medical conditions. In this blog post, we will explore the common causes of a dog shaking and what pet owners can do to identify and treat the problem. We will also offer tips for preventing dog shaking and ensuring.By doing regular grooming at home, you can help your dog look its best between visits to the groomer. You also get to bond more closely and build stronger trust with your dog. Routine grooming sessions will keep your dog clean and feeling fresh, but it will also.Their personality is lively, their nature fun-loving, and their disposition affectionate. As even-tempered, sweet, and playful dogs, Pugs make wonderful playmates for kids of all ages and lovely companion pets for couples, singles, and seniors. These little joy bringers love to cuddle and are generous with their Pug love. When it comes to their family, Pugs attach like magnets. They are known to happily shadow their humans in every activity and are just as happy lazing on the couch all day as they are going for a long evening stroll around the neighborhood.

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:. However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on. This article will help you to get to grips with what to expect of a new Labrador puppy, during those first few days and weeks after you bring him home. It goes without saying that new puppies are completely adorable! Nature has the design of baby animals down to perfection. They smell delicious, are irresistible and on holding a Labrador puppy in our arms we are overwhelmed with the need to protect him. So why is it, that so many dogs, bought as puppies, end up being handed in to rescue centres? What goes wrong in some families, between the arrival of this tiny creature, and his ejection from the family, less than a year later. The answer I suspect, lies in the gap between our expectations, and reality. I hope and believe, that if we can close this gap a little, more puppies will have a loving home for life. Your expectations of a new Labrador puppy We expect an awful lot from our puppies. Both when they are still very small, and especially as they grow bigger. We expect that puppies will enjoy being cuddled. We expect that our children will be able to play with them, that the efforts we put in to housetraining will be rewarded, that the puppy will listen to what we say. We expect that our puppies will be happy to be stroked, and to join us for walks and games. As he grows, we expect our puppy to return our love and affection, to respect us, be loyal, and obedient. The reality of a new Labrador puppy The reality of life with your first puppy, can be a bit of a shock. Nor had we anticipated just how depressing it would be to clear up urine and faeces every time we get up in the morning, or return home from a quick shopping trip. Or to have to wait two hours for our new friend to come home when he is done chasing rabbits. But they are common reasons for people to become disenchanted with their furry companion. Working towards your perfect puppy expectations One of our aims here on The Labrador Site is to help close this gap between expectations and reality. So that puppies go into their new homes, and stay there for the rest of their lives. There are two way to close this gap. The first is to move the expectations of the new puppy owner closer to reality, and we do this by providing information. By letting people know what to expect from life with a new puppy. The second way is to improve on the reality of life with a new puppy by preparing puppy owners in advance. This helps them to make decisions, and to provide for their puppy in a way that avoids problems arising in the future. What to expect from a new puppy This is important knowledge. If you know someone who is planning a new arrival, do pass it on. There are a number of areas where puppies and owners may come into conflict, right from day one. Forearmed is forewarned, and if you are aware of these, there are steps you can take to avoid them. Puppies at night — sleeping and crying Most new puppies have never slept alone. If asked to sleep alone on the first night in their new home, they usually cry. And a small puppy can make a surprisingly loud noise. Unless you live in a mansion, you will be able to hear him. One way around this, is to have the puppy sleep next to you for the first few nights. Check out this article for information on coping with crying. It is important to be aware that new puppies learn very quickly. Whilst initial crying may be the result of fear or loneliness, puppies they soon discover that crying gets them attention. If you have already got into a cycle of crying for attention with your new puppy, find out here, how to teach your puppy to be quiet. Cleanliness and night waking. A few new puppies can last six or seven hours at night without a wee. But many cannot do this until they are around ten weeks old. If you crate your puppy at night, expect to get up in the middle night and take your puppy outside for a wee, for up to two weeks. During the day, some new puppies can last an hour or so between wees, but again, many cannot. If you are going back to work, or want to leave your puppy for three to four hours before he is five or six months old, you need to arrange for someone else to take care of him during the day. Even for this short period of time. Much of housetraining success lies in getting good habits established from the start. And this means getting that puppy outside to his toilet area, whenever his little bladder is getting full. But too much isolation is a common cause of noisy or destructive behaviour. Puppies need company. Older puppies may cope happily with being left for up to four hours, but even an adult Labrador may become distressed or destructive if left alone for a full working day on a regular basis. Labradors are very sociable dogs and they need to have people around them. No matter how many walks he gets at the weekend. Puppies biting Most people know that puppies nip when teething. Most new puppy owners are shocked by biting, and by the noise which accompanies it. But fierce growling during play biting, is completely normal for small puppies! You can find out a lot more about biting in this article: How to cope with a biting puppy and this one Is my puppy aggressive? Destructive puppy behaviour Again, most people know that small puppies chew things. However, it can be quite a shock to discover just how destructive a Labrador can be, both indoors and out, especially if left unsupervised for long periods of time. Expect your puppy to destroy anything he can get in his mouth. Indoors and out. Expect this to continue well past his first birthday. In fact many young Labradors become particularly destructive towards the end of the first year. Some even chew the skirting boards, rip plaster from the walls, and tear up carpets in their homes. There is no need to get into this kind of conflict with any dog, and as it is so common in Labradors, I recommend that young Labs are crated when left alone in the house, until well past their first birthday. I did not de-crate my youngest lab Rachael, until she was 18 months old. You can read more in this article: Destructive behaviour Boisterous puppy behaviour Between 8 and 18 months of age, many young Labradors are extremely boisterous. Expect that he may even pull you off your feet and into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The solution is to teach your new friend to walk alongside you, on and off the lead. Preferably from a very early age. See Walking your Labrador on a loose lead Puppies running off Tiny puppies have an automatic response with means that they follow people around. This response disappears by the time the puppy is around four or five months old. Labradors are gun dogs. They love to hunt and follow scent trails. Expect that an older puppy will want to explore away from you and get that off lead recall established well before he is six months old. Expect that an older puppy will stray further and further away on walks if you are too predictable and just traipse along behind him. Teach him to follow you and not the other way around. What can be done? The answer is, he is not naughty, he is completely normal. He is also completely untrained. Puppies bite, steal, jump, lick, whine, dig, and much more. All this is normal. Check out The Three Rs of Labrador Puppy Education to get yourself off to a good start with avoiding a real naughtiness problem Training is a long process. A dog that will do this in your kitchen is not trained. He has just learned to respond to a cue in your kitchen. Nothing more. Proofing that cue against all the distraction in our daily lives is what comprises the bulk of dog training , and you desperately need the right information in order to do this effectively. You can find this information in our training section and on our sister site Totally Dog Training Are puppies worth the hassle? Raising a puppy can be a challenge, but if you are ready for the challenge, it is also tremendously enjoyable and satisfying. And most of the problems described above can be avoided with the right information! You can do this if you are ready. Much puppy naughtiness is linked to over-excitement. Focus on being calm around your puppy, and read up on how to train your puppy effectively. The considered and appropriate use of a crate and baby gates, is a great way to prevent conflict between puppies and their families. Confinement is not a substitute for companionship and training though, and it is very important to be sure you have enough time in your life for a Labrador, before going ahead and getting that lovely puppy. Do check out our article: are you ready for a Labrador , before you take the plunge. The Happy Puppy Handbook covers every aspect of life with a small puppy. The book will help you prepare your home for the new arrival, and get your puppy off to a great start with potty training, socialisation and early obedience. The Happy Puppy Handbook is available worldwide. Print Raising a retriever puppy like the pros Your Labrador puppy can seem small and fragile during those first few weeks home from the breeder. Labrador puppies will learn quickly about acceptable and unacceptable behavior those first few weeks, if you, the owner, are willing to set and enforce boundaries. Here is the training you should be working on with your week-old Labrador puppy. About this series of posts This is post three of a step-by-step training and socialization program for Labrador puppies. If you read our first post , you know that this series follows our training of Bubba, a female chocolate lab puppy. Bubba is already sold as one of our Custom Trained Retrievers, so it is our responsibility to raise and train her until she has progressed to the level of training the owner has requested. In this case, Bubba will be with us for almost a year and a half. Training and socialization for week-old Labrador puppy — week three home Your week-old puppy has been with your family for approximately 3 weeks now. This week you should start noticing some bigger changes with your puppy. Here are some of the changes I notice with Bubba. First, she is growing fast! Bubba is almost ready for a new collar already. I have loosened her current collar twice, and there is no more room to expand it. She is also learning a lot. Bubba is also becoming more personable. She likes and has more interest in people now and wants to be petted and scratched more often. Training equipment for Lab puppy We added a couple new training tools this week. But a thicker check cord will also work. We use this check cord for longer outside marks and assistant-marks which I will discuss more in a bit. Puppy sized canvas or light-weight plastic bumpers In week two, we introduced formal retrieving in a hallway in the house. In week three, we move outside with retrieving and introduce assistant throws, so it is helpful to have a few more bumpers. Puppy training that will continue Much of the training I have been working on for the past two weeks with Bubba will continue into this week and beyond. Dog training is not something that has a definitive end-date. For instance, you teach your puppy to SIT and then you must work and practice that command daily or weekly, often for months before the response to the command is solid. But even once the response is solid, you cannot completely stop training. If you stop training, even an older dog, the dog can lose the previous training. So, realize that you are never done working with your dog, especially on obedience training. Some areas that we will continue training Bubba on are: Crate training Bubba is doing great at crate training. She rarely makes any noise while in her crate and settles down quickly after being put into her crate. In the upcoming weeks, we will work towards getting Bubba to enter her crate on command. Looking for more information on crate training? Housebreaking Housebreaking Bubba is going well. We have caught her in a few accidents, but she already seems to understand that she is not supposed to go potty inside. This does not mean that she is done housebreaking. We still expect accidents and will for a few months, so we watch her carefully while she is running around in the house. We also praise her for behaviors like going to the door and tapping the door or whining at the door. These behaviors are rewarded with us taking her outside to go potty. When she goes potty outside, we praise her and then take her right back in. We want her to start understanding that these cue behaviors will get her out to go potty and that is all. Looking for more information on housebreaking? But we will also add a few new ones. We will use this while teaching our puppy the SIT command. It also will be used going forward, anytime we are done working on structured obedience work. We will release the dog from formal work with the OKAY command. But we also use it to mean go to a certain place, such as on a mat or stand. Or, when we want her to go into her crate or kennel. This is an associative command, meaning the puppy will learn the command through our repetition of the word as we tie it to a behavior. But over time, she will make the association and will perform it on her own. This is very important especially if you ever plan on doing more advanced training with your retriever. You will use whatever your dogs name is. A few commands that we will continue to work on this week We will continue to work on obedience commands this week and in the weeks to come. Each week we will expect a little more and better compliance and performance to the command. She is sitting when I put the leash and chain collar on her and when I am taking it off. This week we also added SIT before eating. We only make her SIT for a few seconds; we are working on control. She does not SIT on her own yet, but she will be doing that within a week or so I would guess. Right now, I grab her collar and say SIT. In week three, I have a slightly higher expectation. On walks, I make her walk right beside me for a minute or two using the HEEL command before releasing her and letting her run back and forth a bit. This tells me that she understands the command. Then release her. If every time your puppy comes to you, you put her away or take something away from her, soon your puppy will not want to come to you. You must work hard to make coming to you a good experience for your puppy. So, call her, praise her when she comes and release. Remember: Never use a HERE command if you are not in the position of being able to enforce the command. Make every effort to socialize your puppy You should continue to take steps to socialize your week-old puppy. Anything you can think of. The more things and situations you expose your puppy to, the better your puppy will be equipped to adjust and learn in the future. Learn more about socialization. Hand throws with a puppy bumper you are throwing out a bumper done outside will carry a lot more distraction than retrieves in a hallway. Just pick up the bumper and try again tomorrow. When retrieving outside, make sure you have a long foot rope attached to your puppy. Never try to do retrieves outside without a rope. You will have problems and encourage bad behaviors. You must have a way to get the puppy to come back to you, otherwise you should not be doing retrieves outside. Once your puppy is doing well retrieving outside, you are ready to introduce assistant marks. Introduction to assistant marks The most important thing we worked on with Bubba this week is assistant marks. Assistant marks are retrieves where someone else is throwing the bumper, not you. This teaches your puppy to watch out in the field for a mark. It is very rare that a duck will come from behind you, fly over your head and you shoot it. The ducks and pheasants will be falling in front of you, so the dog must learn to look out and watch for the mark. We start assistant marks on very short grass with white plugs so that the puppy can clearly see the item on the ground. We hold the puppy in a SIT position facing a thrower who is about 20 feet from you. When your puppy picks up the bumper, immediately start calling her back to you. Remember, you should have the foot check cord on her so you can pull the puppy in if needed. Then, take the bumper from her, throw it behind you, make your puppy sit facing the thrower again and repeat. Only do retrieves and then call it a day. Soon your puppy will learn this game and love it. They will start facing the thrower on their own and sitting and waiting for a mark. Final thoughts on training for your week-old Labrador puppy week-old puppies are so eager to learn, so be sure and take advantage of this enthusiasm to teach new concepts and enforce previous ones. Continue to teach your puppy to handle more and more pressure and correction while maintaining a good attitude. Lastly, assistant marks are a big deal. Once a dog learns this part of the game, you can work to increase the distance and complexity of the marks. If you are struggling or need additional help with your new puppy, you can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time, happy retrieving. Save to Pinterest The Stages of Puppy Growth and Development Month by Month The following are the stages of puppy growth and development, starting at birth and ending when your dog reaches adulthood. The Neonatal Stage 0 to 2 weeks This is the newborn puppy growth stage that lasts until two weeks of age. At this developmental stage, puppies are blind and deaf. Expect puppies at this point to sleep almost constantly and their mother will take care of everything, keeping them warm, feeding them, and keeping them clean. The Transitional Stage 2 to 4 weeks At this puppy growth stage , they will start to open up their eyes and respond to sounds, light, and movement around them. You will also notice a puppy at this point starting to get more mobile, although they will still tend to crawl instead of walking. They do, however, have enough strength to stand up, but will stumble a lot. A puppy in this developmental stage will just be starting to recognize their siblings and mother. Lab puppies open their eyes at about two weeks old. By this time, Labrador puppies will have their eyes fully open and most will be at least partly open. Ears open at this point too and your puppy will begin to hear. Period of Awakening of Senses 3 to 4 weeks At this period , a puppy develops various senses rapidly. They start to get fully alert and aware of their environment and may recognize you and other humans that are frequently around. The Socialization Period 4 to 7 Weeks Once a puppy is around four weeks old, they start to learn the most important things in life-related to social development. They will learn to not bite all the time and how to interact with their siblings. Interactions with humans are especially important between five and seven weeks. This is also the time they will start to understand discipline thanks to their mother. She will start weaning her puppies and teaching them manners, like acknowledging she is in charge. As the owner, you can start introducing food to your puppy when they are around four weeks old. Start small and begin to give them more food as the mother continues to wean them. You should also continue handling the puppy every day. However, be sure not to separate them from their siblings or mother for over ten minutes each day, since this can lead to issues with training and socialization. Dogs who are separated too soon may also be nervous and more likely to bark and bite. During this period, let the mother dog take care of discipline; you should not correct the dog for mouthing or housebreaking mistakes until later in life. To help ease them through this process, avoid traumatic events, loud voices, or harsh discipline. You should also make sure your pooch has plenty of human contact during this stage. If you want, you can start leash training and even teach simple commands such as sit, down, stay and come. In terms of development, you will notice that your puppy can sleep through the whole night and starts to develop better control of its bowels and bladder. Most vets suggest that new outings should wait until they are fully vaccinated. We rub the Calmeroos Puppy Toy on littermates and mom to get their scent. When we get home the Calmeroos Puppy Toy helps our puppy feel comfortable and adjust more quickly to his new environment. Many puppies will go to their new homes at around 8 weeks old. We recently put together a blog post on our sister site detailing what you can expect from an 8-week-old puppy. The Juvenile Stage 3 to 4 Months At this point in development, a puppy can be compared to a juvenile. They will be more independent and may ignore the basic commands that they know very well. If this happens, firmly and gently reinforce the commands and other training. You may also notice your pup starting to test your authority by play biting or similar actions. You can also redirect your dog to a toy that they can bite. Either can end up teaching your pooch that it is okay to fight with you and challenge your authority. The Ranking Period 3 to 6 Months When your puppy is between four and six months old, you should expect them to be somewhat bratty, showing more willfulness and independence. They are more likely to test your limits and may try to show dominance over children or other family members. If they fail to listen to you or come when called, it can be dangerous as it puts them at risk of injury when in public. It can also hurt future responses to you, making them less likely to listen. This is also when your dog will be teething, so give them toys like frozen dog Kong toys to relieve pressure and pain. Chewing behaviors will also start growing at this point so look for some safe chew toys to keep your dog entertained. This is when hormonal changes start to occur and is the ideal time to spay or neuter your pup. UC Davis published a study comparing the long-term health effects of neutering in Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Adolescence 6 to 18 Months After six months, your pup is already in the final stage of puppy development but is still young. This is a fun and exciting time for your pooch since they will be learning, full of energy, and exuberant. During this time, it is important to remember that even if your puppy now looks like a grown-up dog, they are still a puppy, at least in its mental capacity and emotional maturity. Work to slowly increase training and other activities. You can even work on advanced training such as agility or herding. Another option is to simply keep training them to ensure they interact in a non-aggressive and non-threatening way with other animals. It is also possible that your dog will go through another fearful period of time at some point after they reach six months. You can speed up the process with counter-conditioning and desensitization. It fits very well and is quite apt! Final Thoughts With the knowledge of how and when your new puppy will develop, you are better able to meet their needs. Provide socialization at the appropriate times and be sure to give your puppy plenty of social interactions with their siblings as well as humans and any other pets in your home. Your dog should reach maturity at some point between one and two years old with plenty of variation based on breed, Labradors are considered mature at between 2 and 2. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.