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Breeds The link has been copied! Have you ever been curious about the German Shepherd and Great Dane mix breed? They are a rare but stunning crossbreed that can make the perfect pet. In this blog post, we'll explore everything that makes this one-of-a-kind breed so special - from training tips to potential health issues, so if you've had your eye on a German Shepherd-Great Dane mix pup, get ready to learn all about them. A German Shepherd and Great Dane mix are, just as it sounds, a combination of two iconic breeds that results in a unique, lovable pup. The parent breeds are both known for their intelligence and loyalty, making this mix an excellent companion. Due to their mixed-breed nature, you'll never know what you will get. Some may take on more of the appearance or traits of one or the other breed. However, most will end up looking like a cross between the two. If you know enough about their parent breed traits, you will be able to identify your pup's inherited characteristics early on. These dogs also have the potential to be quite large due to the size of both parent breeds. This unique hybrid has characteristics from both parent breeds, including their intelligence and loyal nature, while also adding size, thanks to their larger-than-life ancestors. As with any breed, there are many things you need to consider before getting a German Shepherd Great Dane mix puppy. Knowing what to expect can help you make an informed decision when choosing your companion pet. The German Shepherd German Shepherds are a breed of herding dog, bred for their intelligence and strength. They were originally bred in the s in Germany. Known for their loyalty, German Shepherds make great companions for almost anyone. They are highly trainable and intelligent, meaning you can use them to do all sorts of tasks, from search and rescue to tracking, protection work, agility courses, and more. Physically, these dogs feature a large, rectangular-shaped body that is supported by robust legs and a proud neck for a naturally handsome stance. Their coats come in several colors, often black and tan with a pronounced saddle pattern. Intense, almond-shaped eyes of varying color bring alertness and intelligence to their expression. On top of it all, they are incredibly affectionate and loving towards their families, making them a great companion for children who may be scared around larger dogs. The Great Dane The Great Dane is an iconic breed often known as the 'Apollo of all dogs' due to its imposing size and great regal bearing. The breed originated in Germany in the 16th century, although it wasn't until later in the s that it was officially named the Great Dane. Some credit the origin of this majestic canine to the Bullenbeisser, a now-extinct German mastiff, while others attribute its development to a mix of English Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound, and other breeds. It's one of the most popular large breed dogs in the world. Standing up to inches tall at the shoulder, the average Great Dane has an imposing presence. They have large strong necks with broad heads, long snouts, and powerful jaws. The coloring of these dogs can be varied, including fawn brindle, harlequin black mantle, and blue merle. Along with their signature size and appearance, their temperaments are also notable — gentle giants that make loyal pets and thrive when given plenty of love from their owners. Why is it a Good Mix? The German Shepherd and Great Dane mix have many qualities that make it desirable as a pet or working dog. Both parent breeds are incredibly intelligent, which means that these pups will learn quickly with proper training techniques. They're also loyal companions who will love spending time with their families. In addition, they are known to protect their owners and make excellent guard dogs. On top of all this, they can be very friendly towards other animals and children, which makes them great family dogs. Highly adaptable and social, they require an ample amount of attention from their owners and a home with lots of room to roam. Because of their protective nature and tendency to be territorial, they should regularly be socialized as puppies so that they become comfortable around strangers, other animals, and new environments. These intelligent animals will require a high level of mental stimulation or else they can become destructive and bored. This co-mingling of the energetic German Shepherd and docile Great Dane makes for a lively pet that keeps its owners entertained while still providing protection if necessary. In terms of size, they can range from medium to large dogs, depending on the size of their parents. On average, they typically weigh anywhere between lbs and measure between inches when fully grown. Fur length generally ranges from short to medium, depending on the dominant breed's genetics in the mix. Potential Health Issues of This Dog Mix Although German Shepherd Great Dane mixes are generally quite healthy dogs with a life span of years, there are some potential health issues that could arise from this particular breed combination, such as: Bloat Bloat is a serious condition that can affect deep-chested dogs, such as the German Shepherd and Great Dane mix. Bloat occurs when the stomach twists on itself, trapping gas and fluid inside. This can cause the stomach to swell and put pressure on other organs. If not treated immediately, bloat can be fatal. Hip Dysplasia Hip dysplasia is a condition that affects the hip joint. In dogs with hip dysplasia, the ball and socket of the hip joint do not fit together properly, which can lead to pain and lameness. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is important to take them to the vet for an evaluation. As mentioned, they require regular exercise to maintain their physical health, so they get enough walks each day if possible - ideally off-leash. Additionally, brushing them regularly will help keep any shedding under control while keeping those beautiful coats shiny and clean. The fur on your pet can be brushed every days to remove dirt and early matting from its coat, as well as having regular nail trimming done once or twice a month. In most cases, they don't need a regular bath, usually only when they have rolled in something unpleasant. Diet-wise, they don't require anything special; feeding them good quality dog food filled with plenty of protein and healthy fats is best. Also, always ensure they have access to fresh water throughout the day - especially during summer when hydration is vital. And finally, don't forget about the mental needs of this vibrant mix. Regularly spending time training and bonding with them can help create new associations and encourage good behavior. For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi. Want to know more about TryFi. This is the fastest way to find your dog after an escape. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. This is a large dog breed, coming from one of the tallest dog breeds in the world — Great Danes. The combination of these two dominant breeds makes a perfect watchdog, but also a great family dog. The GS Great Dane mix has a high adaptability level and it is great with children. This means that the dog can be an excellent indoor pet, but at the same time it enjoys being outside. Even though this breed is naturally protective, considering its guard dog instinct, the Great Dane German Shepherd mix is also a life companion that loves spending time with its owners. However, this dog breed is quite high-maintenance. This is because the dog has a high energy level and requires at least two hours of exercise a day. This means at least two times a day, with extra playtime in the house. This dog is not for everyone. However, having a Great Dane German Shepherd mix as a pet means you will get a lifetime companion that will always stick by your side. These dogs are affectionate and loyal, and their friendship with an owner means everything to them. In order to get to know this magnificent crossbreed better, we need to make sure we know everything related to Great Danes and German Shepherds. Both of these pure breeds belong to the large-size dog club. The first one is often referred to as a gentle giant, which kind of makes sense, considering its enormous size. On the other hand, the German Shepherd breed is known to be one of the healthiest dog breeds in the world. Other than that — these canines are quite intelligent, and they make excellent watchdogs. Both of these dogs are dominant, task-oriented, and highly trainable. There is a good possibility that their offspring will have these exact traits. The breed was used in the cavalry as a military dog and a service dog. The initial goal of breeders was to design a reliable dog that is task-oriented, but that also has good stamina and a good physique. The late s is the period of time this magnificent puppy came to the AKC stage! In , to be exact! This dog reaches up to 34 inches in height and its weight revolves around to pounds. This is a big dog. One of the things that makes a Great Dane such a magnificent dog breed is the fact that they are extremely strong and athletic, but at the same time, they are so affectionate and tolerant. Great Danes are excellent with kids. In fact, they can serve as fantastic nannies, as they are intelligent and intuitive. This purebred parent has a lifespan of 8 to 10 years, which is not as long as in other large breeds. The reason for this is the fact that Great Danes commonly suffer from cancers, heart diseases and stomach torsions. German Shepherd The other dog parent of this mixed breed is the well-known German Shepherd. This is probably one of the most popular dogs in the world, alongside Labrador Retrievers. There are numerous German Shepherd breeders all over the United States, but also all over the world. This puppy was recognized by the AKC in .Its height is between 24 and 26 inches, while it weighs around 65 to 90 pounds. It originally comes in a black and brown double-coat. However, there are white, and black German Shepherds, too. This is a family dog with great watchdog traits. The German Shepherd dog breed is great with kids, even though this breed was initially used as a military and police dog. Even today we can see numerous K9 German Shepherds that perform law enforcement duties. German Shepherds can display destructive behavior if not properly socialized from an early age. They require early obedience training and a lot of positive reinforcement. German Shepherds need some time to adapt to a new environment, but once it gets there — you will have a good, reliable companion dog. At least 60 to 90 minutes of exercise on a daily basis is needed to keep your puppy happy. Even though German Shepherds are naturally healthy and athletic, they need to be subjected to regular vet exams. Gastric Dilatation Volvulus and hip dysplasia are not that rare in a German Shepherd dog. However, there are two main reasons for crossbreeding German Shepherds with Great Danes. The first is to design a good watchdog. Both GS Dane parents have a tradition of being outstanding dogs in regard to protection, military service, or prey-hunting! They are almost always on alert, and they have outstanding intuition. This crossbreed has an elongated body, long legs, and a muscular body physique, which creates an intimidating sight for predators and enemies. This dog is fearless and shows no reluctance when it comes to protecting an owner, or a house. Both dog parents are known to be among the aggressive dog breeds. This puppy has great trainability potential. This is a high-quality dog, perfect for families that love spending time outdoors. A good part of their look depends on the parent breed. For instance, if a GS Dane comes as a result of crossbreeding a Great Dane with a Short-Haired German Shepherd — the chances are that their offspring will be short-haired, too. This large dog breed is outstanding and among the tallest dogs in the world. It has a long, black muzzle. Its body is muscular, thick, and elongated. The Great Dane Shepherd has excellent athletic potential, as it has long legs and great stamina. These dogs are agile, which makes them perfect for sporting activities, such as running, hiking, swimming, or hunting. This is a guard dog that shows no fear, but at the same time, Great Dane Shepherds make excellent family dogs. Generally, these puppies are 28 to 30 inches tall. On the other hand, their weight starts at 65 pounds, but they can reach up to pounds. Even though this is an athletic, large breed — it still requires regular veterinarian check-ups. This is due to potential diseases this dog may have, including heart problems, cancers, and stomach problems. The Great Dane parent is not as healthy as other large dog breeds and the chances that this crossbreed will have the same health risks are pretty high. What you can do for your dog is supervise its growth chart and make sure it gets a well-organized feeding chart. This mixed puppy is a large dog that requires a lot of activity during the day. Make sure you take out your dog on a regular basis. Otherwise, the Great Dane German Shepherd Mix will display destructive behavior and, possibly — aggressiveness. Coat Colors Photo from: lunagreatshep There are several coat color variants for this puppy. The most popular are merle, black, brown, gray, brindle, and blue. Generally, this plethora of colors belongs to the Great Dane parent breed. There are numerous Great Dane breeders that sell this dog in more than six color variants. On the other hand, what you can see in the GSD is their black and tan trademark. This is the most popular coloring in GS puppies, but this dog comes in other variants, too. However, each of these coat types gives an elegant, gentleman-like look to your dog. If you want to keep it that way, make sure your new pet gets a weekly brush. Its short coat leaves trails all over the house, so make sure your puppy gets a dog bed from the start. This way you will get your pet used to one sleeping spot and reduce the possibility of finding its hairs all over the place. Weekly grooming is recommended for this hybrid dog. A monthly bath is often enough. Make sure your puppy undergoes vet exams in order to determine whether or not it is allergic to some substances. The allergy is a common phenomenon for many canines, among which this hybrid dog comes at the top of the list. Also, avoid dusty areas, such as beaches, sandy places, or deserts. If your dog has an allergy, dust can trigger severe symptoms that require an immediate vet reaction. They are naturally protective, affectionate, and loyal to their owners. On the other hand, the Dane GSD makes a perfect companion in all kinds of situations. This dog has a high level of adaptation, and it can be adapted to indoor family life. Its nature is generally calm, even though a puppy requires tons of exercise. The important thing is to implement early obedience and socialization training. Trained puppies are excellent service dogs, nannies, and working dogs, too. The dog is always composed and self-collected. In some cases, this breed can show self-destructive behavior and aggression. These are, however, rare moments in which the dog wants to defend itself, or its owner. The aggression is directed at predators and enemies in ninety percent of the cases. Its size and intimidating look negatively correlate with the fact that Great Dane Shepherds have a high level of tolerance and a great way with small children. The reason why these dogs are so calm indoors is the fact that they burn out their energy during the day. They need exercise in order to preserve their muscular and athletic body. Furthermore, the fact that these dogs are intelligent is a bonus in their training process. Their dog parents, German Shepherds, are known to be one of the easiest dog breeds to potty train. The same goes for this hybrid dog. Reputable breeders and experienced dog behaviorists will tell you that the key to an obedient and well-behaved dog is early obedience training. Start training your dog as soon as it enters your house. Generally, puppies are sold to a new owner at six to eight weeks of age. Mental stimulation is quite important in this regard. These canines need to be constantly stimulated in order to develop their mental skills. On the other hand — obedience training is needed. Healthy snacks and dog food might come in handy! Both of its dog parents are known for their outstanding trainability and excellent performance in the military and police services. Even though both parents come from the club of aggressive dog breeds — the implementation of early socialization training makes them desirable among dog owners. Socialization Photo from: lunagreatshep Most certainly — this dog needs to be socialized from the early puppyhood stage! Otherwise, you might face occasional aggression and self-destruction. Lacking socialization, when combined with an inadequate daily routine, can result in major disobedience. Socializing an aggressive dog breed is not always easy. It generally requires a lot of patience, time, and commitment. However, it is doable, and pretty joyful once you get started! This crossbreed is probably not the best option for first-time dog owners. If you are, however, a Great Dane Shepherd enthusiast — use help from experienced dog breeders and dog behaviorists. This is a large dog that has a strong, pack-leader character. Dog parks, hikes, or simple walks in the city will be just fine for this hybrid dog. They love wandering around and searching for new ways of entertainment. Moderate walks will also help them digest the dog food easily. All these are situations in which you can train your puppy in socialization. The Great Dane Shepherd Mix is a pretty interactive dog, and it loves being engaged in mental-stimulation activities. The benefit of having this particular dog breed is that it gets along with small children as well. Dane Shepherds have a pretty high level of tolerance, which is needed in a dog if you have small kids in the house. They simply love spending time with all family members, as they develop a strong bond with their owners. Naturally, the Great Dane German Shepherd Mix sees itself as a superhero around small, vulnerable kids. This is a great service dog and a nanny, too. If you seek a dog that will do anything to protect you or your family members — this is probably one of the best! However, make sure your dog is socialized and properly trained in obedience from puppyhood. This is the key to good, well-mannered behavior. Every dog needs proper guidance, as they act as pack members. Otherwise, they lack obedience and become stubborn. The more intelligent the dog, the more stubborn it is. However, this particular dog is naturally devoted to its owners, which is a benefit and a good starting position for obedience training. Is This Dog Breed Aggressive? Photo from: genothegremlin Both Great Danes and German Shepherds are aggressive dog breeds by default. These canines need a lot of dog training in order to become socialized, obedient, and well-mannered. Their natural prey drive and aggression were exploited by military officers and policemen, as they were used for law enforcement and search-and-rescue purposes. On the other hand, the dog has been used as a watchdog for the protection of properties. Despite the fact that this breed is naturally aggressive, this is still a great family dog. It is loyal, affectionate, and devoted to an owner. The important thing is to learn how to train your dog. Also, make sure your dog adapts to new things slowly. The process of adaptation can be painful at times, as dogs have a natural affinity to routine. Great Dane Shepherds can go through anxiety, which can result in undesirable behavior. Showing aggression towards unknown people can be a sign your dog lacks social skills. The Watchdog Vs Family Dog dilemma? This is a never-ending dilemma for many inexperienced dog owners. However, you need to know that this dog breed is both a good watchdog and a good family dog. These dogs are naturally protective towards their owners. They express their concern by barking. The usage of anti-dog barking devices sometimes can be a good option. Being a watchdog is one of the main reasons why breeders decided to cross the German Shepherd breed with the Great Dane. This dog breed is fearless and not at all shy! They will do anything to protect their family and their home. On the other hand, Great Dane German Shepherd Mixes have a special place in their hearts for all family members. They adapt pretty easily and once the bond is created — it lasts a lifetime. Properly trained and socialized Dane Shepherds will never hurt anyone. Even though they may look intimidating, these gentle giants are excellent family dogs that show gratitude for being part of your family. Cuddling and snuggling is their hidden weapon! Even though German Shepherds are one of the healthiest dog breeds in the world — Great Danes are not. They face many health problems, such as hip dysplasia, bloat, allergies, heart problems, cancer, and stomach torsion. There is a good possibility that a Great Dane German Shepherd Mix will also be susceptible to some of these diseases, especially those puppies that share a better part of their bloodline with Great Danes. Also, any other unusual behavior in a dog, such as lethargy, losing or gaining weight, disinterest in any sort of activity, or excessive sleeping, is cause for a vet examination. Hip Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia in dogs is a common phenomenon for these puppies. It is usually related to large dog breeds, which means both German Shepherds and Great Danes are prone to it. Hip dysplasia is manifested in a hip irregularity, which causes a bunny walk, and an inability to run, jump, or even walk properly. This is a hereditary issue that happens as a result of genetics. Try to choose the most reputable breeder for your Great Dane Shepherd. Reputable breeders will never sell you a puppy with hip dysplasia. If, by chance, they do — you can refer to a warranty they will provide in 99 percent of cases. This is not a fatal issue, but it creates more problems than it solves. Puppies that suffer from hip dysplasia are disabled from doing regular activities. This is a huge deal for Great Dane Shepherds, as they are an extremely playful dog breed. Being unable to perform their regular activities can result in frustration, self-destructive behavior and, possibly — aggression. This issue is curable, mostly by surgery. Bloat Photo from: genothegremlin Gastric Dilatation Volvulus in dogs is another name for bloat. Bloating is a phenomenon that relates to large dogs more than to small ones. Dogs that have a deep chest are probably more prone to this issue. This issue can be fatal if not treated timely. Bloat GDV represents the stomach being filled with gas, water, or food. This happens due to inappropriate feeding habits, such as big meals, junk food, or voracious eating. One of the most important jobs of Great Dane Shepherd owners is to provide a good, well-organized feeding chart for their puppies. Always choose the appropriate food that contains proportional amounts of protein, healthy fats, and unprocessed carbs. Avoid the shady dog food brands on the market, as well as junk food. Use healthy snacks only during socialization, or obedience training. In order to prevent this health issue from happening — consult a vet about the appropriate dog food, avoid large meals, make sure your dog has regular exercise, and position the feeding bowl in a way that suits your puppy the most. Heart problems are common for Great Danes, too. Dogs that have a tendency of developing heart disease need to have a well-planned daily routine. Their owners need to establish a perfect feeding chart that contains only the best dog food ingredients. Overfeeding a dog with heart problems can be fatal. High levels of blood sugar positively correlate with the possibility of developing heart failure. If you notice any unusual behavior in your dog, such as lethargy, sticking their tongue out , excessive breathing, or sudden changes in body temperature — make sure you visit a vet as soon as possible. Heart problems are one of the major diseases in Great Danes, and its offspring, the Great Dane Shepherd, has a good possibility of catching this unfortunate problem, too. Cancer Photo from: lunagreatshep Unfortunately, this hybrid dog is sometimes prone to various types of cancer, such as melanoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumors, osteosarcoma, or lung cancer. Most of these cancers have a deadly outcome, but there are some cancers that develop faster and cause enormous pain to a dog. The best possible thing that you can do if your dog suffers from dog cancer is to consult a vet about possible treatments. In some cases, surgery is a good option for preventing the further spread of cancer. However, in some progressive cancers, any chance is, sadly, lost. Dogs usually feel severe pain in a progressive stage of cancer. In these cases, euthanasia is an option that you need to discuss with your veterinarian. Allergies Allergies are pretty common for this crossbreed. In these cases, try to avoid places that will cause irritation to your dog. Dander is a pretty common cause of allergies in dogs. Skin itchiness, heavy breathing, sneezing, and wheezing are just some of the problems your pet can experience. Benadryl for dogs can be one of the solutions. However, the first thing that you need to do is consult a vet! This is a pretty good lifespan if we take into consideration that Great Danes are prone to many diseases, such as heart diseases, or stomach torsions. However, even the healthiest dogs need proper maintenance. This includes the establishment of a good feeding chart, monitoring their growth chart, regular vet check-ups, as well as regular exercise. Feeding dogs with the worst dog food brands on the market can have long-term repercussions. Obesity, bloat, and diabetes are just some of many. This includes weight loss, weight gain, irregular body part positioning, and so on. When I say regular vet check-ups, I hereby mean first vaccination, deworming, spaying or neutering, and a yearly vet check up. They simply cannot live properly without at least sixty minutes of exercise a day. This is an active dog that requires plenty of space. You should keep that in mind. FAQs 1. Generally, these dogs will reach up to 30 inches in height and up to pounds in weight. However, there are cases when these puppies weigh around 60 to 70 pounds. Their weight mostly depends on their bloodline. Still, this is a pretty huge dog that qualifies among the largest dog breeds in the world. Most of the time — Great Dane Mixes are, indeed, excellent dogs. This gentle giant is a good purebred dog that has a calm and friendly nature. Even though it requires plenty of exercise during the day, the Great Dane breed is a desirable dog for families with small children. Its level of adaptability is high and it generally adapts to new environments pretty fast. However, Great Danes are watchdogs by default, which means they need early obedience training, as well as a lot of positive reinforcement during their socialization. Great Danes are known for their agile and athletic nature. They have long legs and elongated bodies. If by any chance, a Great Dane displays aggression — it will be during self-defense. However, unsocialized puppies can display undesirable behavior around unknown people and other pets. Also, disobedience and weird behavior can be a sign that your dog needs to be neutered. One of the reasons why this puppy will cost you significantly less is because this is not a pure breed. Still, you need to pay attention to certain things when choosing a breeder. Always choose a breeder that discloses all the needed information on a dog. That includes DNA and vet documentation. Furthermore, reputable breeders will provide you with a dog that has received its first shot, as well as deworming. Additionally, the overall price at reputable breeders usually includes microchips, a health guarantee, dog training collars , a leash, a blanket, and the first pack of food for adaptation. The advice is — to stay away from shady puppy mills and badly rated dog breeders. Even if you pay more at the start — it will pay off in the future. Getting a healthy puppy with a good character has no price! Conclusion This dog may qualify among large dog breeds, and it looks pretty intimidating at first. However, this magnificent dog is a gentle giant and a great family dog. It needs early obedience and socialization training, but once you surpass this process — you will get a lifetime companion! These canines are loyal and affectionate, and they have a great way with kids, too! However, they require a lot of exercise during the day and plenty of space. This is definitely not a dog for everyone, as it requires a lot of attention and commitment. Meeting the parents can also help you determine the likely size and physical attributes of your puppy as he ages. This is partly because they are easy to train, but it is also because they are wary of strangers. They will trust family members and handlers completely, but it can take a few meetings before they trust somebody new. The Dane Shepherd tends to adopt the same attitude. Early socialization can improve their confidence around strangers, but most examples of this breed will remain cautious with new people. Considering the sheer size of the breed, though, this is considered preferable to having a giant dog that jumps up to greet everybody he passes. They Really Are Giant Dogs German Shepherds are big dogs, but nothing in comparison to the Great Dane, and depending on which parent breed is dominant, you could end up with a very large dog, or a mammoth canine. If your dog takes after the Great Dane, he will need a lot of space and room. Even tasks as seemingly simple as turning around can become a problem if this hybrid breed lives in a confined space. As such, although the breed does not require as much time outdoors as some other large breeds, the Dane Shepherd is better off living in a large house with a decent yard. If you have small children, take careful note of the size of the dog. Accidents happen, and when that accident involves a lb dog with clumsy feet and big claws, it can be potentially dangerous. The breed is used by police forces around the world to protect and serve. They are trained to sniff out and rescue people trapped in buildings. They are also used to pick up the scent of criminals and even explosives and drugs. In fact, the first seeing-eye dog was a German Shepherd, even though the Labrador Retriever is better known for this role nowadays. They will happily sit in front of the fire or, if allowed, on your lap, for hours. But when called upon, they will spring into action. They are highly intelligent animals, and usually want to please their owners, which makes them relatively easy to train. However, some dogs of this breed require an experienced trainer because they can get carried away. They will usually enjoy spending a lot of time with their family and might struggle with being left alone for long periods, and they will especially love going for walks or playing with the whole family. Are These Dogs Good for Families? With that said, they are giant dogs and they need a lot of room. They may cause accidental injuries when playing, so you should always take care when they are around kids. It can be tempting for children to treat a dog of this size as a horse, but this should be actively discouraged. You should also prevent children from pulling his ears or tail to ensure that they get along well. This is true in their own home and is also true outside of the house. Again, you need to consider the size of the dog. Cats are usually instinctive enough to get out of the way when a dog of this size starts to charge around, and you should always supervise time between a giant dog and small animals. Enroll in puppy classes and take your Dane Shepherd to the dog park for extended walks. This will help with socialization and will ensure that your dog is well adjusted and responds to your commands. They are easily one of the biggest designer breeds, especially if they get their physical attributes from the Great Dane parent breed, but the German Shepherd is no lap dog either. They have energy and dietary requirements to match their size, so expect to go on lots of walks and to feed a lot of food. As such, you need to ensure that you stick to a good diet. Expect to feed between three and four cups of good quality food every day. Their size means that the Dane Shepherd will not struggle to get food from the worktop or countertop. Expect to provide around 60 minutes of exercise a day, which can include some playtime in the yard, as well as walks. It is worth remembering that this breed needs mental stimulation as much as physical exertion. They are very intelligent, and this means that they can become bored if they are not stimulated. A bored dog tends to mean a destructive dog, as they will create their own means of entertainment and may bark and whine to get attention. The Dane Shepherd might enjoy agility classes, but they may also struggle with some of the agility courses and classes due to their size. Flyball, fetch, and vigorous games like tug of war will be popular, though. The Great Dane, although loving and eager to please his family, can be a little more challenging. The Dane Shepherd will usually fall somewhere between these extremes. They are clever and they will pick things up quickly. Many of them are suitable for first-time dog owners because they are easy to train, but others will require an experienced hand that is dominant without being cruel. Use praise and positive reinforcement but remember that if you fail to take the lead, then the German Shepherd in your hybrid dog will take over and your dog will dominate training proceedings. This means that your dog will have short hair that is easy to manage. You can brush him every day to keep his coat under control, and he will probably enjoy the attention. Your dog will shed twice a year, but this is usually only a moderate shedding, unless he takes after the German Shepherd, in which case you might need to brush more often especially during shedding season. Only bathe your dog when he is especially dirty. Brush teeth three times a week , and check inside their ears every week. You may also need to clip his nails occasionally, especially if his daily walks are in the park or another soft surface. Most dogs naturally grind their nails down when walking on concrete and abrasive surfaces. Unfortunately, the breed can be prone to some of the genetic conditions of the parent breeds. Puppy screening will identify any of these conditions that they are likely to suffer. This hybrid breed can suffer from allergies including dermatitis, bloat, and joint dysplasia. Minor Conditions. It is always a great idea to shop around and look into several breeders before finalizing your deal. Keeping their coats healthy and clean would only require brushing at least two to three times a week with a smooth bristle brush. Brushing their coats will help to evenly distribute the natural oil of their coats to make them look shiny. This will also help you lessen your trips to the groomers. This crossbreed sheds twice a year the most. You can better manage their shedding during these seasons by brushing their coats more frequently at least once a day. They would also need to be given a bath occasionally or when they get really dirty. Bathing can help get rid of excess hair and dead skin, too. Make it a point to have their nails trimmed regularly to prevent them from breaking or splitting. Cleaning their ears should also be an important part of your grooming routine. You need to frequently remove moisture, wax, or debris from their ears to avoid infection. Redness or bad odor is a sure sign that they got an infection. These dogs love to chew, and this can play to your advantage in terms of taking care of their dental health. You can provide them with dental chews to maintain and improve their oral care. This coupled with regular brushing of at least three times per week will help keep them healthy. They can be prone to a number of genetic health issues that are typical to their parent breeds. Having your puppies screened can help you predict which disease they are more susceptible to. This will, in turn, help you make all the necessary care and preventive measures. These dogs are generally healthy, but some of the major health concerns with this cross breed that they might experience later in life: Allergies — Like their German Shepherd parents, they may be prone to allergies such as dermatitis, food allergies, and inhalant allergies. Bloat — It is one of the most common health issues that stemmed from their Great Dane heritage. What happens is that their stomach is filled with air and it twists back. This occurs when they eat too quickly. It can only be cured through surgery, but owners could take a few extra steps to ensure they eat slowly. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia — It is very common for large dogs such as these to develop painful arthritis in their elbows or hips which results in abnormal bone growth in these joints. This health issue can develop as early as five months and could worsen as they grow old. Skin Infection — Although most dogs can be plagued with skin diseases like ringworm, dermatitis, or manage, this hybrid may also be vulnerable to demodicosis, zinc-responsive dermatosis, hypothyroidism, acral lick dermatitis, and histiocytoma. You should definitely make sure that your puppies are screened of these health issues before you adopt. It can help guarantee you get a healthy puppy and save yourself from expensive treatments and heartaches. They are not picky with their food and therefore eat almost anything that you provide them. You can divide their food into two meals of high-quality dry dog food to keep them satiated. Due to their slow metabolism, it is recommended to give them a healthy and regularized diet. Their formula is easily digestible. It has probiotics which help improve digestion and prevent bloating. It also works to strengthen the joints and their immune system. Due to their susceptibility to bloat, you might need to use a couple of tools that can help you ensure your dog stays healthy. Automatic Dog Feeder — If you are too busy to feed your dog twice a day, you can use an automatic dog feeder instead. It can come with a couple of features and programming functions. You can schedule their feeding or set it up on a continuous stream. It works with dry dog food or kibble. This tool can also help you regulate their portions according to their diet. Water Dispenser — An automatic water dispenser will help ensure that your dog could get access to fresh filtered water whenever they need it without having to refill their bowl numerous times during the day. You love your pooch, and you want them happy and healthy all the time. So, no matter if they are a large breed or small, make sure to avoid giving them the worst dry dog food , and only go for the best dry dog food , for example, Dog For Dog Food , Wellness Core Dog Food , or the Nutra Thrive dog food supplement. Every mixed pup carries the genes of their respective, sometimes vastly different parents. So, try your luck with both the best dry dog food for small dogs and the best large breed dry dog food and see which one they like better! Physical and mental activities will help in keeping them healthy, happy, and well behaved. These dogs are highly intelligent and very clever. They can easily get bored and cooped up indoors with nothing to entertain them. It becomes a problem because they have a tendency to develop destructive behaviors like excessive barking and chewing. Aside from two long leisure walks each day you might also want to let them join you for a jog, hike, run, or cycling. They need at least an hour of activity per day. As they tremendously enjoy being outdoors, a trip to the dog park once a week would be a nice treat. They would want to have some time off leash to let them run free and play with other dogs. These dogs have an inclination to gain weight when inactive; that is why it is important for them to have regular activities. Access to a large yard will be useful as they can run and play by themselves. They are very playful in nature. Having a few toys to keep them busy would be a great way to prevent boredom. They are highly perceptive, intelligent, and clever. Your dog will greatly appreciate the time you can spend with them training or playing. Just be careful not to over-exercise your dog. A German Shepherd Great Dane Mix grows fast, making them prone to injuries especially when they are still under two years of age. These are smart and clever dogs that are very eager to please. They love learning and enjoys every minute of training. Here are a few things you need to remember to help train your dog more effectively: Socializing — Socializing these dogs should start at an early age. They are wary of strangers, and it would benefit you both if they can get familiarized with other pets and humans in your group. It is a great way to teach them how to be comfortable in a crowded setting. Positive Training Method — This hybrid is easily trainable and quick to learn. Positive reinforcements using treats will help you keep them interested and obedient. Harsh or punishment-based training can only result in aggression, stress, and fear. Firm and Consistent Trainer — It is natural for this hybrid to attempt to exert their domination. If you remain consistent and firm with your commands, they would soon understand and follow immediately. Their trainers need to be confident because these dogs can sense it and it brings out the alpha in them. They are playful, patient, and loving. They enjoy the company of family, friends, as well as other pets. With proper training and socialization, they can be the most gentle, affectionate, and perfect companions. They need owners who love to stay active and spend time with them. Your only concern would be with regards to smaller children. These dogs are enormous, and they can easily bump to them while playing. So, you need to keep in mind not to leave them unsupervised. You might also want to explain to your kids not to engage them while they are eating, and never try to pull or ride your dog. They are prime watchdogs because of their protective instinct, physical characteristics, and mental abilities. Intelligent, always alert, and perceptive. These dogs are devoted to keeping their families safe from danger; that is why they can be cautious or suspicious of anyone whom they are not familiar with. After a while, they can form close bonds and become very loyal to their owners. This big dog is suitable for homes with large spaces or a yard. But, if you can take them out to exercise each day, they can be docile and happy to sit around inside your home. If you are looking for a smart, loving, and a gentle giant, Great Dane German Shepherds will be an excellent addition to your family. References: Wang, Ping, et al. Wilcox, Charlotte. The Great Dane. Capstone Press, .Coile, D. German Shepherds for Dummies. Hungry Minds, .They are often pretty large-sized dogs reaching heights of up to 28 inches high at the shoulder. These dogs are strong and stocky with long legs and a square-shaped body which makes them look like mini Mastiffs, but they have the intelligence and agility of a German Shepherd. However, it has also started gaining more attention in America and Canada. This means that he does not have the same traits as either his German Shepherd or Great Dane parents. Rather, these traits are blended to create this unique mixture of canine features. The average German Shepherd great Dane mix will weigh between pounds should they reach full maturity at around two years of age. Their height can vary depending on their genetics but generally fall in between inches tall at the shoulder area, putting them solidly within the range for both parent breeds. As far as color goes, there really is no way to predict what pattern your puppy may carry; however, black and white color coats seem to be predominant among many of these hybrids. Keep in mind that while there are some persistent characteristics inherited from each parent breed, these dogs can be trained just like any other dog. Some training issues regarding the German Shepherd Great Dane Mix may include: A high prey drive can be problematic if the dog is being trained to become a working dog. If you have another pet that requires training at home it may be difficult to manage while your German Shepherd Great Dane mix is in the house. This characteristic does not usually allow for successful off-leash training either. These dogs are also very dominant and will need more consistent leadership from their family members or owners. They are used for this reason in police work because they are obedient, intelligent, quick learners, and often do well with an authoritative figure. This breed can get along well with children but should always be supervised when near them due to their size and strength. Many of these dogs have a very high energy level and will require a minimum of one hour per day for exercise. They can be trained to become excellent running or jogging partners, which helps them burn off some of that excess energy. Without the proper amount of both physical and mental workouts, they can become destructive and chew everything in sight! As far as training goes, it is possible but should be handled with patience and consistency by someone who understands the specific needs of a dominant breed. In addition to patience and consistency, it is also important to stay calm but firm when training any dog. You can do this while they are eating or drinking which should help to keep them still for longer than when you try and groom them when they are in another room, etc. Towel dry their coats after shampooing use dog shampoo then leave it in for 20 minutes before shaking off the excess water to reduce the amount of dampness left on their skin. When brushing their coat to remove tangles, be sure to go against the hair growth using a comb or slicker brush before smoothing it out with your fingers. When brushing their teeth, be sure to use canine toothpaste as human toothpaste can actually be poisonous for pets. Consult with your vet about how often you should do this, but generally speaking at least once a day is recommended. The other option, if you have the time and patience, is to try using a dog toothbrush which you can pick up at just about any pet store. If your German shepherd Great Dane mix is still having difficulties with the idea of brushing their teeth then this should definitely help — just add some doggie toothpaste on top and before you know it they will be going to town without a care in the world. However, one needs to keep in mind that this crossbreed dog has some very specific health problems. In fact, due to the size differences between these breeds, many of these health problems are amplified. Some people may think twice before adopting such a large breed dog when they realize what issues can arise from their own neglect or ignorance regarding proper breeding practices. Owners will need to make sure they know how to properly take care of their pet if fully grown or puppy for those who adopted as an adult. Many of the health problems associated with German Shepherd Great Dane mix dogs can be avoided by making sure that both parents are healthy and cared for as well as the pups themselves. Also, one must ensure they purchase their puppy from reputable breeders who screen their dogs for genetic diseases and defects before breeding them. The more you know and understand your pet and what could happen, the better off he will be in the long run. This can cause severe pain and lameness in your pet. It can also lead to arthritis later on in his life. Elbow Dysplasia — This problem is very similar to hip dysplasia, but it occurs within the elbow joint instead. Again, this is often due to poor breeding or neglect on behalf of their parents or owners. Heart Disease — Many breeds are prone to different types of heart disease — German Shepherds included! The most common type they deal with is dilated cardiomyopathy DCM. Other conditions they may suffer from including patent ductus arteriosus PDA , subaortic stenosis, and diseases that affect the heart valves. Enthusiastic and active — is how many people describe their GSD Dane. Their endless supply of energy is quickly consumed by various activities that require their attention. They need plenty of exercises each day either through long walks or playtime inside where they can burn off some steam by chasing after toys. Be aware that the Dane side will most likely be more than happy to tag along with whatever you have planned whenever these two meet so it is important to establish boundaries with your new puppy right from the beginning. Lovable and loyal — the Great Shepherd is considered to be one of the smartest dog breeds around. They are always eager to please their owners which makes training a breeze. If socialized from a young age, GSD Dane will love interacting with friends and family members alike while also being gentle enough playtime around children without doing any harm or becoming too excited Intelligent — these dogs have been known to become bored easily so having plenty of toys on hand during playtime is a must. Protective — like most large breeds, the German shepherd Great Dane mix tends to be quite cautious around strangers or someone they are not familiar with which makes them suitable watchdogs. They are extremely alert so you can rest assured that their acute sense of smell will pick up on any potentially dangerous scents coming towards your property which could ward off thieves who may try to get inside by using an alternate route. When it comes to other pets, GSD Dane has been known to be good with cats although this really depends on the personality of the dog itself. The same goes for small animals such as birds, guinea pigs, etc. Make sure that it is formulated for large, active dogs and is made with a named meat meal as the first ingredient. The amount that you need to spend would depend on how much your pet eats per day. You should expect it to grow anywhere from lbs. Having said that, there are always exceptions and you may find yourself with a very small or very version of either parent breed. You must make sure that they get along with all kinds of people and animals including cats. Once they become adults, it gets even harder. Basically, if you ever want them to become a family member, as well as a good citizen, socialization has to happen. The earlier, the better. That is because, during their formative phase before 12 weeks of age , they take in all kinds of information and make sense of it by making associations. This is how they learn about the world and how to behave in it. If you want your German Shepherd Great Dane mix puppy to be a nice family member, make sure they get as much exposure as possible during their first months of life. This will help them develop the ability to make associations with all kinds of things humans, animals, places. Potential of German Shepherd Great Dane Mix as a family pet: The german shepherd great dane mix is a mixed breed dog that belongs to the group of working dogs. This makes it relatively easy for one to acquire or adopt a German Shepherd Great Dane mix. It is important to note that this breed of dog is best acquired at an early age. This is because younger and smaller puppies are more adaptable and receptive to training as compared to mature ones. Adopting one from a young age also reduces cases of aggression as well as other behavioral issues. Life Span Of German Shepherd Great Dane Mix: On average, most German shepherd great Dane mix dogs weigh between pounds and grow to be around inches tall at shoulder height when they reach adulthood typically after 1 or 2 years. The life expectancy of these hybrids falls within the years range and generally speaking is considered to be on par with either parent breed; however, this will depend on several factors such as whether the dog is allowed to become overweight, exercise habits, etc. German Shepherd Great Dane Mix Temperament: When you mix two breeds together, the end result is a blend of both breeds. There are some cases where you will find a hybrid who may lean more heavily towards one parent or the other, but this should not be expected. The German shepherd great Dane mix is a very intelligent dog and because of this, it can be frustrating when trying to teach them tricks and commands. They need to be provided with clear instructions in order to follow through on any task that they have been ordered to complete. They can be classified as giant size dogs and hail from the working breed selection of dogs. German Shepherds are known for their intelligence level whereas Great Danes are known to have low activity levels more suited for indoor activities. This crossbreed has the potential to inherit both of these positive traits and if not, it will go halfway to either side. Another pro is that they are very loyal and love to be around their humans. They can be really protective of your family and will stick with them during tough times. These dogs do great in a home environment, making them ideal for families who live in apartments or smaller homes that cannot accommodate much space for a large dog breed like a Great Dane or a German Shepherd. This mix can either lean towards a very laid-back temperament or an active one depending on the genes it gets from each parent breed. The German Shepherd is known to have high energy levels during its puppyhood but this trait decreases as it becomes an adult. Still, these dogs make a great fit for a very active family who loves to go out and about doing things. Cons of having German Shepherd Great Dane Mix: If your German shepherd Great Dane mix ever feels threatened or anxious then there is a chance that they will attempt to climb up anything they can find in an attempt to get away from whatever it is that is causing them distress. Be sure not to give in to this sort of behavior and, if it persists, then maybe contacting a professional trainer would be beneficial for all involved parties. However, there will more than likely come a time when they need to go but are unable to hold it in because of their size. Be sure not to neglect them if this happens, especially if you are out and about — take your German shepherd Great Dane mix somewhere safe before cleaning up any accidents that may have occurred. The next thing that bothers people a lot is that the other dogs tend to bark and howl in order to get your attention even when you might be busy at some work so it creates problems for other human beings as well as for yourself as well. The other problem that many people think about with these dogs is that they tend to grow large very quickly without proper care and feeding habits. These dogs need a balanced diet in order to grow at a steady pace which should definitely be maintained from their early age up until death. Final thoughts: German shepherd Great Dane mix puppies are some of the most lovable bundles around and with their intelligence and size combined you might just have yourself one hell of a dog! Although easy to take care of when compared with other breeds such as Poodles or Pomeranians give me a break I like big dogs, ok? As always, any potential owners should research the breed to see if they are suitable for them before even thinking about getting one. If you are thinking about having this breed of dog at your home then you must have to clean up the poop very quickly after it is done with its business because the smell might attract other neighbor dogs or human beings to your abode which can create unwanted problems. You need to carry some snacks in your pocket or purse just in case if they start feeling hungry once per while on that particular walk you are taking them on so that they can eat it on time without making too much of a mess for you. FAQs 1. The German shepherd great Dane mix can be a very loyal and affectionate dog when properly socialized at a young age, but there are some concerns that come into play when deciding whether or not this hybrid is the right choice for you. Because of their size combined with their high level of energy, The German shepherd Great Dane Mix should only be allowed around children who are older than 10 years old unless closely monitored. We also recommend that your new puppy should never be left alone with smaller pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, etc. Because of this, they can be easily controlled by even the younger members of your household. For the most part, the answer is NO. This dog breed tends to get very high in terms of energy level and strength. The following thing that bothers people a lot is their constant need for running or walking throughout the day. However, even though the GSD Dane would appear well-equipped to protect you and your family from intruders and other dangers, they are also more than willing to accept someone into their inner circle if they are properly introduced. Post navigation. Among largest crossbreeds on earth - this mix is considered a large to giant-sized breed. Typical colors: black, brown, hazel, white, merle. Great Dane genetics will typically give these dogs a shorter coat that's easier to manage than a GSD's, but this varies depending on parent dogs. Lifespan: 8 - 13 years. They need to be supervised around young kids due to their large size. Smart, energetic, loving, warm, affectionate, friendly, loyal, protective. Can be wary around strangers. Their intelligence and energy makes these dogs trainable, but they'll need a lot of daily exercise - big open spaces are great for these large dogs to run around in. This will help limit any destructive behaviors. This will depend on the breeder. Hektor eventually became the founding sire and was first named German Shepherd Dog in thanks to the keen eye and ambitious goals of Max von Stephanitz. German Shepherds split from a group of dogs similar in appearance and purpose that included the Dutch Shepherd and the Belgian Shepherd. The Belgian Shepherds would eventually divide even further. They would include the well-known Belgian Malinois and three other types. A scientific article that addresses evolution in certain dog breeds states that the five Italian herding dogs, like the Bergamasco Shepherd, had ancestors in common with the German Shepherd. The German Shepherd line split from the Italian dogs and a French herding dog around .First, fanciers developed the breed in Germany in the late s. Finally, Great Danes evolved in appearance over the passing generations. Great Danes have much more ancient roots than German Shepherds. They appear in the art of Egypt from 4, B. As you have probably surmised by now, Great Danes are not Danish, although they had a distinctive slender type in Denmark. Danes became proficient at hunting wild boars, which at the time, hunters considered among the most challenging game to overpower. Boars were incredibly strong, smart, quick, and fearless. The dogs who hunted them had to be tough in mind and body and very swift of foot. Breeders during the 14th century blended their huge Mastiffs with the fast-coursing Greyhound and perhaps the scrappy Irish Wolfhound to produce the ideal boar dog that would come in at the end of the pursuit and grab and hold the hog. Their slow transformation began in the s when German noblemen discovered the fearless and magnificent Great Dane. These people of elevated status did not often hunt boars, but they appreciated how large and imposing the Danes were. They began seeking out the dogs for their families and to guard their properties. Nobility selected dogs for good looks and height because beauty and intimidation were of paramount importance for aristocratic households. After progressive selection for taller dogs, the breed standard for the Great Dane was born about .You will have a large hybrid dog German Shepherds are usually 22 to 26 inches tall at the top of the withers and weigh from 60 to 90 pounds. Males are slightly taller and substantially more muscular than females. Female Great Danes are 28 to 30 inches at the shoulder while males are 30 to 34 inches tall. The weight difference is also significant between the genders, with females about to pounds and males as much as pounds. Even current standards prefer dogs to be as tall as possible. The tallest dog ever was a Great Dane, Zeus, who stood 44 inches at the shoulders. GSD Great Dane mixes are quite tall at 28 to 30 inches at the shoulders. However, this mix can be very lean at 65 pounds or massive like a Great Dane at up to pounds. Expect a male to be a little taller and substantially heavier than a female. What traits will your Shepherd Dane mix have? German Shepherds immediately strike you with their confidence and self-assurance. Most of them are black and mahogany or black and tan. Even Shepherds who are solid colors like red, blue , or black , are easily recognizable with their noble, slightly domed heads, large erect ears, majestic and powerful necks, rather long torsos, and strong hindquarters built for driving. German Shepherds are smaller than Great Danes, but they have as much presence and poise. The Great Dane is very tall, but your first impression should be one of elegance, strength, and balance. Like the Shepherd, they have a noble head carriage on a slender but powerful neck. They are galloping dogs in contrast to Shepherds, who are trotting workers. A Great Dane has a long and deep muzzle with a slightly furrowed brow and medium drop ears. Cropped ears are quite long as they stand upright, especially for show dogs. Great Danes notably have long and powerful limbs, relatively square proportions, and a long slender tail that tends to curve up at the tip. A Great Dane can also be brindle, harlequin, mantle, solid white, blue, or merle. Unique colors that may not find favor in the show ring are any shades of chocolate including chocolate and white, blue brindle, blue and white, and merlequin. What are merle, harlequin, and merlequin? Merle is a marbling effect of the colors grey and black in Great Danes. Color variations of merle, as seen in breeds like the Australian Shepherd, are not standard for Great Danes. Harlequin, a color pattern unique to Great Danes, is a white base coat with random splotches of black and sometimes gray. Harlequin and merle are closely-related genetically, according to Doggenetics. Merlequin is where the black patches in an otherwise Harlequin dog express as merle splotches. What about mantle? Picture a Boston Terrier with a classic black and white coat. In a Great Dane, the Boston black and white color is a mantle, referring to the black blanket effect over an otherwise white dog. Although some dogs can also be fawn or blue in the areas of black, the traditional tuxedo colors are preferable. Many Great Dane German Shepherd mixes have a typical look about them. Shepherds mixed with Great Danes commonly sport colors like fawn, merle, black, and black and white. German Shepherd Great Danes tend to be leggy. German Shepherds have earned a sometimes justifiable reputation for aggression. They are naturally protective , a characteristic that people enhanced over the generations to produce good guarding instincts for home security and exceptional bite force for police and military work. The result of irresponsible breeding has produced a highly popular dog that shows up way higher on biting dogs lists than he should. German Shepherds are meant to be excellent guard dogs who discriminate appropriately between harmless strangers and malicious intruders. They should only bite as a last resort or in response to a direct command. Fear aggression with defensive biting persists in some German Shepherd lines. Great Danes were hunting dogs before they were guard dogs. Today, they are companion animals before they are formidable guards. Although inheriting some guarding instincts from their Mastiff bloodlines, Great Danes often have a bark worse than their bite. However, Danes always historically could be protective when warranted. In a fascinating statistical analysis by the American Animal Hospital Association , German Shepherds were in the top five dogs most likely to bite while Great Danes were in the bottom five with Dalmatians and Pointers. The Great Dane makes an excellent watchdog, able to loudly warn of suspicious activities, intimidate with her size and presence alone, and back up her stance if necessary. Some family bloodlines are fearful like the Shepherd, producing dogs that cower and bite with little provocation. Your Dane Shepherd should be a calm and steadfast companion, confident and friendly to strangers, and territorial and boldly sounding the alarm when sensing trouble. You should carefully train your Shepherd Dane mix so he can readily discern between guests and people who intend harm. He will likely be naturally protective of you, your family, and house, and many experts advise you not formally train such a dog to guard or become aggressive. The German Shepherd has an average lifespan of about 10 to 12 years and the Great Dane 7 to 9 years. Often a hybrid will live a couple of years longer than his German Shepherd parent breeds, but unfortunately not in the case of the Great Shepherd. Shepherd Dane mixes only live about 7 to 10 years. The notable condition the Great Dane and German Shepherd share is bloat. A peculiar and life-threatening condition whereby the stomach distends with gas or fluid and rotates about to degrees is fairly common in large, deep-chested dogs without proper management. Your Great Shepherd can also inherit certain diseases from his German Shepherd parent breeds, some more so than others. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency — A disease where the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes to digest food properly, EPI is more common in the German Shepherd dog. Signs include a healthy appetite with failure to maintain a healthy weight. Affected dogs appear malnourished. Diabetes — a problem common to German Shepherds. Diabetes is a far different disease in dogs than humans or cats, rarely tied to insulin resistance. Cardiomyopathy — Although not as afflicted as Dobermans, Great Danes see their fair share of dilated cardiomyopathy, or heart disease, and can pass it to their puppies. Cancer — Great Danes are vulnerable to bone cancer and malignancies of the lymph nodes and system. German Shepherds commonly develop spleen cancer as they age. Hip dysplasia — Great Danes and German Shepherds both commonly struggle with hip dysplasia which they may pass on to their offspring. While German Shepherds may lack patience for children, especially strange ones, Great Danes typically are loving and playful around young people. While you would need to socialize your Shepherd to accept a child as part of her flock, you must teach a Great Dane to be gentle and mindful of his size. Great Shepherds may be unpredictable around children, but many of them display the easy affection of the Dane parent. Again, you must exercise caution when you have such a large dog around toddlers or infants. Commonly, Shepherd Dane mixes enjoy small kids but can act dangerously rambunctious. Great Shepherds typically have more energy than purebred Danes. What can you expect around other dogs? German Shepherds can get along with other dogs , typically with plenty of socialization at an early age. It is not uncommon for Shepherds to prefer to be the only animal in a household, but some also learn to get along with cats. The typical GSD has a high prey drive , one which early breeders refined for herding purposes. German Shepherds also have a very combative history with military training, Schutzhund guard requirements, and even some dog fighting. If you go to a dog park, you will often see Great Danes dancing around the field, perfectly comfortable with canine playmates. Despite their proficiency as ancient hunters, Great Danes seem to enjoy social interactions with both animals and people. If your Shepherd Dane puppy inherits more of the Great Dane personality, she will be friendly and playful around other dogs. Those more like Shepherds will need heavy exposure to other dogs at an early age. You should always supervise your Shepherd mix around small dogs because of her size. It is not difficult for an oversized dog to seriously injure a toy breed even if the larger canid intends no harm. Moreover, minor arguments can quickly turn ugly between dogs with vast size differences. German Shepherds rank second or third in intelligence, combining working proficiency, obedience, and instincts. However, German Shepherds are also a breed with a strong mind and a high incidence of overbearing dominance. Stanley Coren ranked the Great Dane 88th, and thus average, among dog breeds. While the Dane does not excel in obedience or as a working breed, she shows a remarkable ability to figure things out on her own. Great Danes also still possess good hunting skills. Great Danes with Shepherd bloodlines are often cooperative and highly trainable with an outgoing temperament. Some may inherit willfulness from the Great Dane. Qualities from both parents suggest the Great Shepherd needs persistence and consistency with her training as well as firmness and clear leadership. German Shepherds historically bred to sustain long periods of work through the day, need large amounts of activity. If you own a Shepherd or ever did in the past, you know how intense and driven the breed, is and how high its energy levels are. German Shepherds regularly need up to two hours of exercise a day. Great Danes require an hour of exercise every day, not having quite the stamina that a German Shepherd does. Plan on providing 60 to 90 minutes of exercise for your Shepherd Dane mix every day, depending on her body structure, age, and energy levels. Growing puppies need moderate exercise because their joints are susceptible to the damaging effects of overexertion. Your puppy may potentially keep growing to 18 months old, so restrain your dog from jumping and excessive running until he has finished. Consult with your veterinarian if you are unsure. You may also need to restrict exercise if your puppy or adult dog exhibits any signs of hip dysplasia. Appears to hop like a bunny as he runs Pain or obvious discomfort towards the rear end Difficulty getting up or laying down Can not or will not sit straight — always orients haunches to one side or the other Difficulty negotiating stairs Loss of muscle development in the hindquarters or exaggerated musculature of the forequarters Are German Shepherd Great Dane Mixes Suitable For Apartment Living? German Shepherds do not do well in small spaces. They are medium to large dogs with a limited ability to relax and stay still for extended periods. Moreover, Shepherds can quickly become destructive when left alone. Finally, the GSD presents a new and expanding liability with leased properties and insurance agencies. Most guard dogs feature on dangerous, banned, or uninsurable dog lists, and German Shepherds are not exempt. Therefore, even if your German Shepherd liked living in a condominium, it is not likely that many property owners would allow it. Great Danes may fit in with apartment living better than German Shepherds because they can lounge, but their size usually prohibits it. They find it difficult to get comfortable if the space is too small, and their tails are deadly to anything not nailed down. Moreover, insurance companies are not extremely fond of giant breed dogs any more than they are of guard dogs. According to Showbiz Cheat-sheets, Great Danes head the list in front of Rottweilers for undesirable canines for insurance companies. Your Shepherd Dane mix will most probably look like a Great Dane hybrid to most concerned parties. Insurance companies and rental properties will likely give your dog a second glance because of her size. Some policies have strict guidelines that treat mixes the same as dangerous and banned purebred parent breeds. While neither the Great Dane nor the German Shepherd is dangerous with appropriate socialization and training, always check all relevant bans before you decide to move into a residence with your Great Shepherd. Such a coat ensures the GSD is well-insulated when it gets freezing and snowy outside and also in moderate heat. Shepherds have two major sheds each year corresponding to seasonal changes that cause them to change out their undercoats. Great Danes have a smooth and short coat generally without an undercoat, but they are still moderate shedders. You should brush a Great Dane once or twice a week to remove dirt, stimulate circulation, and distribute oils to the fur. Great Danes can struggle in cold weather because they have a thin coat and like other sighthounds, minimal body fat. They do better in warm climates but do not have the insulating coats of German Shepherds. Their massive size can make it difficult for their bodies to lose heat. You should brush your dog two or three times weekly to minimize shedding and keep her free of excess soil. Bathing is only necessary twice a year, though most owners feel more comfortable with a monthly schedule. Use mild shampoos. Clip nails once every six to eight weeks. Depending on their coats, Great Shepherds will probably tolerate the heat moderately well and perhaps also the cold. Their size helps a little with frigid conditions, so most Shepherd Dane mixes do fairly well as long as temperatures do not dip too much below freezing and as long as they are not of a particularly lean body type. These crucial milestones are bloat and rapid growth. The risk of gastric dilatation and volvulus stomach distends and then flips dictates that you should feed your Great Dane Shepherd mix a few small meals throughout the day rather than one or two large meals. Feeding recommendations are about 5 to 10 cups daily for adult dogs, so spread that out over three feedings spaced apart by several hours. Your Great Shepherd will be a large dog. You also want to avoid an overweight puppy to decrease joint strain. You can formulate a homemade raw or cooked diet for your dog with your veterinarian or nutritionist. There are also commercial diets that manufacturers specifically modify for large and giant breeds. Summary German Shepherd Great Dane mixes are large but lean dogs that are commonly black, black and white, or fawn. She may even have mixed heritage herself. There are two fawns and a black pup. Occasionally, your Great Shepherd could be merle. This dog looks much like a Great Dane except for a heavier frame, more energy, and the semi-prick ears. He has a single-minded focus common in German Shepherds. Genetics are unpredictable, and your dog may sometimes have upright ears and look like a shepherd. Rarely you could see a black and tan Shepherd Dane mix. Recommended Reading:.

And when is the best time to start training them? Naturally, the sooner your start with training, the easier it will be. Moreover, you have to remember that you are responsible for your pup. You need to show consistency in your own behavior. Your Doodle will have an easier time adjusting to his new home and family if you start from day one. Establish a Proper Routine Firstly, you should establish a proper routine for your Doodle. This includes meal times, bathroom breaks, playtime, naps, and bedtime. Keep in mind that consistency is key in Goldendoodle training. A structured routine gives dogs a sense of security. It will also help your new Goldendoodle puppy understand how you want them to behave. Routine is also an important part of housetraining , as consistent feeding times will also beget consistent potty times. If you have other family members living with you, make sure you all follow the exact same routine. It is usually recommended that puppies younger than six months of age eat three meals per day. Socialize Your Puppy Secondly, all dogs, and especially Goldendoodles, are social creatures. They enjoy spending time with their families and meet other dogs at the dog park. Early socialization is important for your Goldendoodle pup to get used to new people, pets and situations. Goldendoodle Training Sample Routine Goldendoodle puppy behavior is very much your responsibility. Puppies usually need to use the bathroom first thing in the morning. Tip 2: Feed your pup at the same time every day. This is a great way for your puppy to socialize with you and your family. Tip 3: Potty time around 30 to 60 minutes after each meal. Tip 4: Playtime or exercise after potty time. Playing with toys and shorter walks are perfect for baby Doodles. Tip 5: Puppies usually need to relieve themselves after exercise, as well. Puppies can sleep up to hours every day! Make sure no one distracts their sleep, as they need to rest. Tip 7: After naptime or being in their crate, take your pup for a bathroom break. Tip 8: Bedtime every day around the same time is also very useful to enforce a consistent routine. Remember that puppies around weeks of age need smaller portions and more frequent meals. Therefore, they will also need to go potty more frequently. And as we already said, all dogs and puppies are unique. This is a rough guideline that most Doodle owners find useful. Well, all dogs are unique, so there is no one size fits all approach in Goldendoodle training. However, there are a few main training methods that most dog owners find useful when training a Goldendoodle puppy. Of course, the younger your puppy is, the shorter their attention span. Usually, the general guideline is to start formal training at four to six months of age. However, keep in mind that first you should build a relationship and bond with your pup. Clicker Training Clicker training is one of the most popular Goldendoodle training methods that professional dog trainers use. It combines reward training with a small hand-held clicker that you will click every time you reward your pup for good behavior or when following a command. Your puppy will soon start associating the clicking sound with a reward. Therefore, your pup will also associate it with good behavior. Best for Clicker Training Compare Products 2. Positive Reinforcement Your behavior and attitude has a huge impact on your Goldendoodle pup. Always use positive reinforcement and do not scold or punish your pup for accidents. Remember, your puppy is still learning and growing. Instead, it will just make them fearful of you. Whenever you want your Goldendoodle puppy to do something, always keep a positive and enthusiastic attitude. If your pup has completed the task, always give plenty of praise and a nice little treat or a toy. Some dogs respond better to reward with food and others respond better to toys. However, always use these rewards together with lots of praise and enthusiasm. Crate Training Crate training is another very popular Goldendoodle training method. Crate training can take a few days or a few weeks, but the results are worth it. Keep in mind that you should only leave your pup in the crate in hours equal to the age in months that they are. See Also: Click the image 4. Mirror Training Mirror training method uses positive reinforcement and a clicker to teach a dog how to follow your lead. As your pup is looking up to you, they will naturally want to mimic your behavior and attitude. A great way to keep this from happening is to keep your kitchen counters clean and tidy at all times. Do not store food on counters longer than you prepare your meals. Surely you enjoy a clean kitchen, as well! Another tip is to put your pup in a crate or away from the kitchen while you prepare your meals. Jumping One of the very first things that you can start teaching your Goldendoodle puppy is to sit to be greeted. This will teach your puppy that they will only get attention once they sit. If you reward them, they will continue doing it. Barking With every common behavioral problem, the key is to think about what you want your puppy to do instead. How would you like them to react when someone is knocking on the door, or how should act when you have guests over? For instance, you can train your dog to sit still in a designated place when the doorbell rings. Leash Pulling When your puppy starts to pull the leash, immediately stop walking. Once your puppy has stopped pulling, you can start walking again. Doing this continuously will teach your puppy good leash manners. No-pull harnesses and headcollars can also be great tools for training your pup not to pull on the leash. See Also: Click the image 5. Make sure your pup has enough interesting toys and provide them plenty of playtime and exercise. Biting and Mouthing Biting is a completely natural behavior for dogs. As with any other behavioral problem, biting also can stem from your pup wanting your attention. Also, biting and mouthing might indicate that your pup needs more playtime. See Also: Click the image 7. What is a Goldendoodle? Background the influences training Goldendoodle Training Tips The key to enjoying your dog is to train them early or as soon as possible. After all, training your new puppy in socialization is part of their essential needs. Training your dog is a big undertaking, though. One that may seem daunting. Rest assured, though, you can do it yourself without expensive obedience classes. The first thing you need to do is build a strong foundation for training. Goldendoodle Training Timeline Infographic The infographic showing the Goldendoodle training timeline. Goldendoodle Puppy Training at Home First 30 days Puppies are born blind and deaf and cannot see or hear for the first ten to twenty days. However, they have a fantastic scent and touch abilities. Puppies are also aware of the temperature. If the mother is unavailable, humans can step in to help. Training sessions for newborns are short and to the point. These sessions consist of Bio-Sensor training, where they are stimulated with swabs like Q-Tips. Exercises can be performed along with exposing them to minor temperature changes. This will stimulate the brain and help them deal with stress. Mother dogs stimulate the senses from birth by licking and cleaning the puppies. This helps them develop. Wavy coat Goldendoodles are typically low shedding. Wavy coat Goldendoodles come in all sizes from standard right down to Teacup Goldendoodles. Since dogs have scent receptors twenty-five times better than ours, they can smell things several hundred feet away. You should expose them to calming scents and daily scents of rain, grass, and other things outdoors. Then, their ears will open, and they will need to be introduced to sound. Dogs learn by association, so only play soothing sounds. As their eyes start to focus, you should start with colors. This will help build confidence. Goldendoodle Puppy Preschool and Earliest Socialization months of age At around three months of age, your Goldendoodle is full of energy and ready to play. But remember that they are still a baby — just an infant animal. It is so essential you practice positive reinforcement with your puppy and avoid punishment altogether. This is also the age your Goldendoodle is ready to learn basic commands. The first thing you should do is pick a definite marker. A positive marker is a word, sound, or phrase used to tell your dog they have done something right. Use the same marker every time. Also, you should follow it up with positive reinforcement in the form of a treat, playtime, or affection. Do Goldendoodles Smell? Reward your puppy often and early, so they associate the treat with the behavior. Negative reinforcement or punishment will likely do nothing but scare your puppy. Puppies will chew things and have accidents in the house. However, you should remember they are still learning, and any punishment is counterproductive. Simply correct the mistake and praise them when they do something right. The most important thing is to be consistent. Your puppy learns by doing, and repetition is the best thing for them. This is also the age where socialization is a critical part of their development. All this begins once the Goldendoodle has the all-clear from the Veterinarian to socialize in public. .During this age, your Goldendoodle should be exposed to new people, places, and animals every day. If your puppy shows fear or anxiety, take a step back. This is when you should begin doing gradual exposure. Safe introduction to different sizes and temperament dogs is important early If you introduce a dog to a household with cats , extra care needs to be taken early to ensure a long-term relationship of tolerance. Predicting Goldendoodle coat types is tricky. Goldendoodle Training for Safety and Basic Commands 3 months to one year At around four months old, your puppy will begin to develop preferences. Your job is to make them feel safe and secure in any environment. This way, your puppy will grow up to be confident, kind, and ready to take on anything. Positive reinforcement techniques are especially important during this stage. Any harsh punishment can have adverse effects on the Goldendoodles psyche. Since your puppy has had all his shots, they are ready to go to the dog park, daycare, and puppy training classes. This will help with socialization. Keep in mind that forcing your puppy to interact with others can hurt the bond you have with them. Always make sure your dog is enjoying the experience and is safe. Allow him to explore the world at his own pace. This I the time to start introducing your Goldendoodle to water. Early and frequently exposure will make taking your Goldendoodle to the pool or even the beach a breeze. Learning Commands Additionally, this is when puppies can begin learning commands like sit and stay. Teach them to sit before exiting with treats. Lure them into a sit by the door and begin to open it. If they get up too quickly, close the door. Keep up this game until the dog remains seated and patiently waits for the door. When they do, give them a treat. Most puppies are highly motivated by treats and food. If they anxiously await each meal or immediately pounce on the food bowl when it is set down, this is an excellent opportunity to work on self-control. Before every meal, have your Goldendoodle wait to eat. Place the food down and say stay. If they lunge for the bowl, take it away for five minutes. Start with a five-second wait and gradually increase it by five-second increments. This will allow their self-control to get better. Another great Goldendoodle training tip is the Four on the Floor for those puppies that jump on anyone entering your home. Practicing this technique can stop the puppy from jumping up on unsuspecting bystanders and knocking over kids. When you come home, and your Goldendoodle is happy to see you, make him sit before saying hello. Give an ear rub or greeting only when all four paws are on the ground. Training a Goldendoodle to Enjoy Grooming All ages Start grooming your puppy at a young age and practice handling with this Goldendoodle training tips: Work when your puppy is relaxed and not hyper. Keep grooming sessions short like a few brush strokes or clipping a few toenails. Use a quality slicker brush that will not hurt your Goldendoodle Practice frequently, like weekly. Pair it with a treat. Lightly touch-sensitive spots like between the paws or on the ears from an early age Consider buying a grooming table early so your Goldendoodle can get used to it if you are going to be DIY grooming your Goldendoodle at home. See the best grooming tables specifically for Goldendoodles. Advanced Goldendoodle Training Options 12 months plus, agility, and advanced classes The American Kennel Club, or AKC, says that once dogs learn basic commands, they can move on to advanced training or sports. You may opt to teach them scent training. Treibball, a German dog sport not just for herding breeds , is when the dog drives eight oversized inflatable balls into a goal. They can also do obstacle courses and test their agility. Scent training is also a fantastic way to mentally enrich your dog and stimulate their brain daily. Scent training starts as simple as a muffin tin game at home. Then advanced courses do wonders and can result in some very complicated tricks and habits forming. While they vary in size depending on their parents since Poodles range from mini to medium , they almost always have hypoallergenic hair and rarely shed. You can see which types of Goldendoodle shed the least in our Goldendoodle Coat Prediction article. Goldendoodles are highly intelligent and lovable dogs that are ideal for families with children or other pets. Goldendoodles typically weigh anywhere from forty-five to pounds. Still, they can weigh as little as fifteen pounds if a parent was a miniature Poodle. The smallest Goldendoodles are Teacup and Toy Goldendoodles. They have a height of thirteen to twenty-six inches with a curly coat in red, black, gold, cream, brown, white, or grey. Goldendoodles are very friendly, affectionate, playful, and trainable. Goldendoodles became popular in the s for their hypoallergenic , non-shedding Poodle-like fur and having the temperament of a Golden Retriever, the most popular dog breed in the U. They have been used as pets, agility dogs, therapy dogs, guide dogs, diabetic dogs, and search and rescue dogs. Goldendoodles are in the top five of the smartest dog breeds. When you choose a Goldendoodle, rest assured you are getting an intelligent, athletic, loving companion, the whole family can enjoy. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. Special Content Step-by-step guide on how to train your Goldendoodle puppy Hello fellas, nice to have you here on our Goldendoodle blog page! Some say they got their adorableness from their retriever side; others say they got their intelligence from their Poodle side. In any case, the fact remains that they combined the best of both breeds and took none of their fluffs. However, it is important to establish a simple fact here and right now. But in order to get them to materialize their sharp-wits and brilliance, there is a need to TRAIN them. So how do you go about that? Steps to train a Goldendoodle I know the feeling of wanting to begin the training of your cute little canine on the first day you bring him home. But guess what? Young puppies have short attention spans, and as such, any command you serve them or words you try to teach them on that first day might just fall on deaf ears. And that is per the guidelines from the Veterinary Centers of America. However, thanks to Goldendoodles' innate smartness, you can expect your pup to be ripe for full-blown training earlier than this. The four types of dog training methods: Obedience training based on positive reinforcement and association Clicker training When it comes to training your doodles on how to obey commands, the most popular approach adopted by many dog training experts and pro pet owners is the clicker training method. This method involves the use of a hand-held device that creates a clicking sound. In this method, you give a command to your pup, which could be a "sit" "fetch" or "stay" command. Once the dog obeys the command, you give them a reward, which could be a treat, a toy, or a praise reward. But when serving this reward, you'll pair it with a clicking sound. Over time, the pup will begin to associate the clicking sound with the reward. And whenever he hears the sound of the clicks, he knows immediately that a praise reward is around the corner. In case you don't have a clicker around, you can purchase one from a pet store or check them out on Amazon. Food rewards While the clicker training has to be served consistently to achieve a reliable result, food reward training is only needed occasionally. In the aspect of food and treats, Goldendoodles are just like every other dog. They remain as overly motivated by the sound or smell of food as your regular Poodle or Golden Retriever pup. As a result of this innate love for food, you can expect the food reward technique to work wonders on their obedience response. A typical food reward can consist of regular dog treats such as cold cuts, veggies, hot dog bits, snacks, pieces of cheese, baby carrots, or any other high-value food. Scented item training You can teach your doodles to seek out toys, fetch balls, and perform other simple tasks by simply taking them through the scented item training course. But, of course, this method doesn't always apply to every doodle. The reason is that if you haven't been playing together before using that toy or ball, it might be difficult for the dog to attach any importance to the toy when it sees it. But since a doodle is a food-driven breed, like other dogs, you can scent the toys with a portion of food or treats you know they like and kick the toy away, while you ask them to fetch it. Over time, the learning dog will learn to detect and appreciate the toys when he sees it because he knows what the item represents. Praise reward training Dogs are quite like humans in this regard. And your Goldendoodle is no exception. They love to be praised, and they enjoy it when their praises are being sung. The praise reward approach is good for a doodle because this breed is very much people-oriented, and their rapport with humans is second to none. When you want to reward your cute little doodle for good behavior, especially when they've obeyed a command or done something impressive, you can use a praise reward coupled with the food reward you're giving to them. And, of course, crate training works too Crate training is another interesting approach that you can apply to your Goldendoodles. This technique is used to teach your dog or to get them in a routine. On the teaching aspect, it teaches them that they do not go to the bathroom where you sleep since dogs do not like soil their beds. And on the routine aspect, you can use their time non-crate time to put them through some basic commands, teach them to dance, snuggle, and take a walk. Conclusion In conclusion, consistency is key when it comes to training a Goldendoodle, so you just have to choose a training method and stay consistent with it. Related Tags. The Labradoodle is a gorgeous cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, and the Goldendoodle is an adorable mix between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Characteristics and traits can vary significantly because these pups are a hybrid breed, but they are usually incredibly people-focused, laid back, and playful, making Goldendoodle and Labradoodle training an enjoyable moment. Doodles make awesome pets, especially if their owners fully comprehend the importance of training from a young age. The type of adult dog breed you end up with depends a little bit on their personality and a lot on how you take care of them. Before you begin Goldendoodle and Labradoodle training, it helps to decide exactly what kind of dog you want to have. Do Plenty of Research It is vital that you have an understanding of canine learning theory because dogs learn very differently from people. A puppy does whatever it can to get what it desires the most at that moment. There are plenty of online resources that can teach you about methods to get the best out of your training. It may be helpful to consult a puppy training professional or spend some time at doggy school to get a headstart and pick up tips from experts. Your pup is a blank slate — with your guidance, they can develop the traits and learn the behaviors that you value the most. Labradoodle and Goldendoodle puppies are curious and they love exploring their new home as they make it their own. Getting it right during the early stages sets a precedent for the rest of their life. Spending as much time as you can with them helps build the foundation for a happy, confident and well-behaved dog. Form a Bond and Gain Trust With Your Doodle Before you do anything, you will need to develop a strong bond with your new pal to make sure they trust you. Try to keep your own energy as calm as possible — they bounce off you. While it may be tempting to get excited by their cuteness and mirror their enthusiasm, this makes it more difficult for them to listen to you and regulate their own behavior. Teach your furry friend what to expect from the moment they get into the home to stop them from getting confused. Use Positive Reinforcement Intimidation or fear tactics are never the best way to build a loving and secure bond between you and your fur baby. To make the most of this method, reward your pooch for good behavior and ignore bad behavior. Treats, verbal praise, and clicker training reward them for a job well done. This also helps them to make positive associations with you and training time. Everyone has their own list of priorities and yours will depend on factors such as whether you have children or other pets. Potty training is a straightforward, formulaic process that your new puppy will adapt to. A consistent routine is the key to getting them toilet trained as efficiently and effectively as possible. Let them outside at the same time each day, and take them to the same spot. In the early days, it may be difficult for them to make it all the way through the night, so try to make provisions for this stage. Select a word for them to associate with potty training and repeat it over and over whenever you take them to the toilet. Every time they do their business outside, give them lots of cuddles and praise, treat them and play one of their favorite games. There will be setbacks — getting it right takes time! If they mess in the wrong place, take them outside to their toileting spot and give them the chance to relieve themselves. We cannot emphasize the importance of praising them when they get it right enough! Crate Training Not everyone opts to crate train their puppy, but it can be useful for the earliest stages of Goldendoodle and Labradoodle training. The crate gives them a safe place they can call their own. Be sure to make the time they spend in the crate a positive experience, and never leave them in there for more hours than their age in months plus one hour. For example, a three-month-old puppy can be kept in their crate for no more than four hours. Socialization Dogs are social animals, and Goldendoodles and Labradoodles, in particular, are happiest when they spend time pleasing people and playing. However, building confidence takes effort and guidance from their pet parent. If you want to ensure they grow up to have a balanced personality, you need to expose them to plenty of dogs, people and different situations. Take them out and about as much as possible to help them become accustomed to a range of noises, sights and sounds. Bring them to a local dog park to get them used to spending time around other dogs. Manners Your adorable little pup has the potential to develop a host of bad habits, but these behaviors can be nipped in the bud. Temperament and Dealing with Small Children There are several steps to take while getting your canine cutie used to being a member of a family with children. Both pup and child will need to have clear boundaries mapped out for them so they can build mutual trust and be kind to each other. Let the child practice with a toy before they pick up or cuddle the pup. Ensure the child sits down when they play with the dog; this helps to prevent the pup from getting overexcited. Teach the child to do small tasks to help care for the dog, such as filling the bowl or helping with grooming. Knowing what to expect according to the time of day helps them to settle and feel reassured. Always wake them up at the same time, feed and walk them around the same time and do training exercises at a set time. Patience Is Everything! The best piece of advice for Goldendoodle and Labradoodle training is to have patience. Spend lots of time bonding and playing with your pooch so you can make training something fun that you both enjoy. If there is a behavior your puppy exhibits that you may think is cute while your puppy is small, you need to think ahead and determine if this behavior will be acceptable from an adult dog. Consistency is the most important tool for training a puppy in their first year and beyond. Each family member needs to use the same techniques and commands so as not to confuse your puppy. It is important to remember that a puppy associates a reward or a disciplinary action with its behavior in the past 3 seconds. Waiting longer than 3 seconds to reward or discipline is very confusing to a puppy. You cannot stop this behavior, but you can certainly direct your puppy to chew upon acceptable items until this phase passes at about a year of age. The only way puppies know how to play is the typical wrestling, biting, chasing, tackling, pulling, and nipping they do with littermates. In the absence of littermates, you and your family suddenly become the littermates. Repeat this same disciplinary action a total of three times in a row. Every now and then, a particularly feisty puppy will become more excited by this disciplinary action and need a more distinct disciplinary measure. This next action needs to be initiated quickly. This will be uncomfortable for your puppy. When behavior meets with uncomfortable consequences, the behavior will stop. With all this being said, the absolute best remedy is for you to arrange daily play dates with other puppies or young dogs. The bottom line is that your puppy needs to have active playtime each day. Jumping — Your puppy will jump on you to get your attention. This may seem innocent while your puppy is small, but Grandma may not appreciate being knocked over by the full grown untrained dog. Make sure you do not reward the puppy for the act of getting down as this will enforce the behavior of jumping up only to be told to get down for a reward. This is not a sign of aggression unless you allow this to go undisciplined over time. You need to actively discourage any and all growling directed at you. If your puppy growls at you when you get close to the food bowl, immediately remove the food bowl and feed the puppy out of your hand. Do not stop brushing until the puppy accepts this without growling. Each puppy needs to learn its place in the pecking order of a family. Obviously, they need to be the lowest on the totem pole. If allowed to be boss, growling is a normal thing for a puppy to exhibit when showing its dominance. Each family member must establish they are boss. This includes young children who are timid or fearful of the puppy. Remember that any behavior you allow as a puppy is then extremely difficult to curb later in life. If you do not wish to have your adult dog on the furniture, do not sit on the sofa holding your puppy. If you do not want your grown dog to grab your pant leg, etc. Leash Training — Training your Goldendoodle puppy to walk on a leash without pulling will take some time. Be patient and read our complete guide to leash training here. Buying a Trained Puppy — You can opt to have your puppy purchased at Fox Creek Farm trained by a professional trainer. Buying a trained puppy can save you a lot of time and benefit the entire family. Please visit our board and train services page for more information. Pet Insurance — We always recommend that any dog owner have a good quality pet insurance. Choosing the best pet insurance will take you a bit of time to learn about the coverages and fees associate with the brand and your particular dog. Spend some time with our blog articles on pet insurance linked above to determine what is right for you and your furry friend. In fact, good dog training schools will conduct interviews before starting obedience training to develop a training plan with the pet owner. Dog Obedience Training Method: Clicker Training When it comes to obedience training, clicker training is a very popular dog training technique among certified dog trainers. Clicker training for dogs involves the use of a hand-held device that creates a clicking sound. Over time, the dog begins to associate the clicking sound with the reward. Once the dog is reliable in his obedience skills, the food rewards are given only occasionally, but the clicking continues on a consistent basis, serving as an indicator of praise for the dog. If you need a clicker, you can find them at a pet store or on Amazon. Goldendoodle training is similar to training most puppies since they are a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle, which means that rewarding with treats usually works well. Many dogs have a very high food drive. Food rewards can work well for a dog obedience training reward in these dogs. A food reward can consist of a traditional dog treat or other less traditional pet treat foods like baby carrots, pieces of cheese, cold cuts, hot dog bits, or other high-value foods. The food also serves as an effective, high-value reward for the dog. Obedience Training Methods for Dogs: Toy Rewards Dogs who have a high prey drive — like sighthounds such as the greyhound breed, will often place a higher value on toy rewards like a ball. Or use my affiliate link to find this dog toy that we have it has 11, 5-star reviews on Amazon! Toy rewards are good for the dog that would be apt to pick the toy when presented with an option between a treat and a toy. Certified dog trainers who are working with clients who undergo frequent dog training courses, such as a police dog or a cadaver dog, will typically opt to use toy and play rewards since toys can be used for specialized dog training. In essence, the working dog learns to detect drugs by seeking his toy during retrieval exercises. Obedience Training Using Praise as a Reward This approach is good when training a very people-oriented dog and in tune with his humans. When we want to reward good dog behavior, especially when house training, we use praise with food rewards. Often, praise is used in conjunction with toy rewards, clicker training, or food rewards. Occasionally, a dog trainer may use praise and attention alone to teach certain obedience training commands.

I can bet these pictures will make your day. At the end of this cute pictures of Pug puppies, you will find the information about their origin and path to their natural behavior and instincts. A cute Pug puppy hanging on a wood swing. This is not what i asked for, I am hungry. Can you please offer me treat? This is what i am excellent at. Tongue Tuesday. This shake has become my favorite drink. Image Source: Instagram imapugnamedhamilton They call me chubby. If yes, you can see me working very hard. Image Source: Wallpaperplay Giving an innocent look for a photo. My hooman finally decided to take me on a trip. Image Source: Instagram cutepuglovers A cute Pug puppy laying upside down. This is what you get when you wake me from a deep sleep. This is mine! Source: YouTube The Pug is a lap dog that originated from China and has a docile, friendly and charming personality. You will definitely want to buy this cute dog after seeing some of the cute pictures of it. The small-sized Pug is one of the oldest breeds of dog that has flourished since before the B. It is a lean and leggy dog with short legs and a long body. Tattooed couple playing with pugs at home Team of two pugs looking to side and sitting isolated on white background Funny face of pug dog. Pet pugs dog playing at home. Life of pets, concept of best friend ever Funny face of pug dog. Life of pets, concept of best friend ever Mother Pug and her puppies sitting against white background Pug puppies lying on blue towel near sea shell A sad pug lies on the couch and looks away. Care for pugs, their coat, folds, ears and eyes Close-up of two cute pugs outdoors A patient Pug awaits walkies. Guilty dog, Pug dog behind the bars of a protective bar for dogs. Dog with pity face, sad. Small black pug dog in the grass by flowers standing and looking Young ten weeks old female pug French Bulldog puppy wearing a festive hat, isolated over a white background Two pugs sticking the tongue out, isolated on white Dust mask, ear plugs and safety glasses personal protective equipment. Different breeds of dog like chihuahuas, pugs, and sheltie in the form of a frame or border on a white background One teenager and grandfathers at home doing paty with popcorn and goggles headset paying together with laugh and smile. Two dog pugs sit on the floor. Warm brown vintage tones Team of four pugs wearing costumes and sitting isolated on white background Two funny Pugs in front of white background Post stamps, white frame with animal motives Pug puppies teeny tiny sittinng on human hands Black and white dogs looking at camera isolated on a white background Cute Pug Turning Head Pug sitting on the floor and licking Ok, here is the paper, but do not blame me if it is depressing. Couple of purebred pugs isolated on white Cartoon illustration. Dogs out on date have bone. It is still early. Come on in and we will splinter a bone together Pug relaxing in nature. Black Pug posing for the camera on a white background White hair senior woman sitting with two funny pugs in vineyard Cute pug puppies on white background Pug posing on a white background. Puppy looking at the camera. Beautiful dog Pug mops named adelheid and dogfriend playing at riverside on eastern holiday sunshine Pug mops named adelheid and dogfriend playing at riverside on eastern holiday sunshine Portrait of a Pug dog outdoors in autumnal landscape Portrait of a Pug dog outdoors in autumnal landscape Two pugs walking in clothing Playful puppy pug 4 month sitting with elongated neck on the furs at the fireplace background and looking up Puppy standing on armchair and with interest looking at a light bulb Pugs isolated on white background. Dog Mother Pug and her puppies sitting against white background Couple of two pugs wearing costumes and sitting isolated on white background Close up view of mushrooms on green grass field. Watercolor seamless hand drawn pattern with pugs dogs breed isolated on white background. Funny cute cartoon pet animals for textile wrapping paper background texture. Trendy nursery print for kids Dog pug walks down the street with the owner Pug puppies lying on blue towel near sea shell Portrait of cheerful young adult beautiful woman with two dogs pug sitting and relaxing on the sofa at home. Updated August 1, .This photo gallery includes photos of the cutest Pug puppies as well as cute pictures of adult Pugs. Pugs are a short faced, wrinkled, small breed of dog. This breed has its origins in China, but was brought to Europe in the 16th century. Their coats are typically either black or fawn in color and they have a compact and very muscular body. Because of their short snouts, they often experience a lot of breathing problems, though those wrinkled faces are absolutely adorable. Vote up the cutest, sweetest Pug pictures below. Dogs are man's best friend and have a special ability to lift spirits. This is exactly what the sweet dogs on this list of the cutest Pug puppies do. This gallery of adorable pugs can perk you up no matter how sad you are feeling. Pugs are good companion dogs and great with children. They are very strong willed and have big personalities. These cute Pugs are known especially for their muscular bodies and vibrant personalities. For that reason, a pug puppy makes a great pet for the whole family. Big Eyes.

Instagram: Royal Frenchies Insta 2. They are small home-based hobby breeders. The French Bulldog and the puppies are like their loving family members. They bred puppies and dogs lived a comfortable life and used to sleep and eat with them like a family. They tell us that we believe in quality, not quantity. Due to this reason, they only breed the healthiest French Bulldogs, which have the healthiest temperament and conformation for their breeding program. Their puppies are raised in a family-based environment. Due to this reason, they are well socialized and loving. Their dogs are raised with children. Red Truck Bulldogs Ontario, Canada Their puppies are cute, stunning, affectionate, clownish, and charismatic. They keep puppies with mom from the very first day until you take them with them. They will teach proper socialization and obedience to your puppy. Their French Bulldogs are bred and raised at home with a family and friendly environment. Their main goal and aim are to ensure that your puppy will be healthier, loving, happier, caring, and well socialized. Due to this reason, they used to raise their puppies with children, adults, and other dogs. Their main target is to ensure the quality and give you the best, healthy, and well-socialized puppy. They are famous French Bulldog breeders in Ontario for their love and affection for the Bulldogs. They treat their dogs and puppies like their family. Their puppies and dogs are raised in a friendly environment around children, adults, other dogs, etc. Their dogs are also happier, loyal, loving, caring, and well socialized because they are raised among the other dogs, adults, and children. Location: Alberta, Canada. Showing 1 - 40 of resultsPage 1 - results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. TheStudMuffin and I am a handsome boi. I was born January 3rd, .I am a blue Merle. My mom had my genetics and health traits tested.Puppies are ready to go to their new homes. We have 2 males and 1 female available. All our puppies are very happy.Pups have been vet checked at 2 and 4 weeks, and.Interacts with our family daily and are pee pad trained. They have been exposed to all kinds of snuggles and extra love that.They come from a CKC mom and dad! Both parents are small and compact. Website : Georgianbayfrenchies. Litter 2 was born July 1 and has 7 puppies 3 girls 4 boys. My puppies are raised under.Best offer. Hamilton We have a beautiful litter of 7 French Bulldogs. Here is what left: 1. Blue boy. Merle boy blue eyes. Merle boy. Shots and deworming are done. Puppies will come with the starter kit. He is playful, healthy, beautiful color. Fawn with black mask He is full of character. He loves the outdoors. And playing ball. He gets.Look no further than these rare French bulldogs! These adorable pups are unlike any other Frenchies you'll find on the market, and.Parents have no health issues. His colour is light fawn and his eyes are light brown. Mother is a French bulldog and the dad is a jack russel shih szu mix. She is great with kids and others dogs. Temperament is amazing along with a phenomenal build and body structure. Female 2. Female 3. Male They come vet checked, and fully vaccinated with certificates of health. They are very loving and playful , love.All puppies are born in Ontario, Canada. This is a full hands on kennel with.Cambridge We have 2 beautiful French Bulldogs looking to go to their forever homes. They are 4 months old and are up to date on all vaccines including rabies. Born July 19th. Ready for their furever families September 14th. One male available! Home born and.Our adorable female French Bulldog has created an adorable litter of pups, all vaccinated, dewormed and healthy. Looking for families to love them! We live in Mississauga, We have 6 cute puppies in total. PM for more pics and info Blue tan: one boy. She is a diva, very smart and sweet, loves to snuggle under the blankets, gets the zoomies and needs to be spoiled. Up to date.They have been raised in a family environment with kids as well as cats. They have started.Pupies were born on July 6th. Parents are on site and puppies raised under foot. Microchipped and vaccinated as well as dewormed. Puppies will go home with a.Both parents have been cleared from breed known diseases. No allergies. Our pups are raised in our home and come pre socialized with people including children and other dogs! So if you're thinking about becoming a French bulldog pawrent, let's chat! Joining the My Pawesome Frenchie community today to learn from and engage with other Frenchie owners to help you get prepared for the most amazing decade of your life If you're excited about French bulldogs, you've come to the right place. Will I be supplied a contract? Yes I do have a wait list. This fee does not go toward the final payment of your puppy. This fee is to give your priority to have first pick. If you take a pass on a puppy then you will be moved to the bottom of the list. I typically do not add more then .Typically I only add people to the wait list who are looking to get a dog within then next months. Do you have a wait list? Once a you have had a Facetime interview you will be presented with the option to move forward. Once you have decided on the puppy you would like to welcome into your home you will be make you deposit and then a pick up date will be planned. The balance must be paid the day of pick up before you take your puppy home. How Does the process work? Showing 1 - 40 of resultsPage 1 - results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Dewormed, first vaccinations and clear health check. These babies are desensitized to.Interacts with our family daily and are pee pad trained. They have been exposed to all kinds of snuggles and extra love that.They come from a CKC mom and dad! Both parents are small and compact. Website : Georgianbayfrenchies. Shipping by seller French bulldog puppies London I have 2 litters of French bulldog puppies litter 1 was borne on June 28th and has 6 puppies 3 girls 3 boys. Litter 2 was born July 1 and has 7 puppies 3 girls 4 boys. My puppies are raised under.Best offer. Hamilton We have a beautiful litter of 7 French Bulldogs. Here is what left: 1. Blue boy. Merle boy blue eyes. Merle boy. Shots and deworming are done. Puppies will come with the starter kit. My French bulldog used it when he was weeks old. No damage no dirt or rip. Pickup at Toronto downtown or.Used 1 time. Perfect condition no damage. My dog is a French bulldog used it when he was 3 month old. Pick up at Toronto downtown. I can do shipping as well. He is playful, healthy, beautiful color. Fawn with black mask He is full of character. He loves the outdoors. And playing ball. He gets.Look no further than these rare French bulldogs! These adorable pups are unlike any other Frenchies you'll find on the market, and.Parents have no health issues. His colour is light fawn and his eyes are light brown. Mother is a French bulldog and the dad is a jack russel shih szu mix. She is great with kids and others dogs. Temperament is amazing along with a phenomenal build and body structure. Female 2. Female 3. Male They come vet checked, and fully vaccinated with certificates of health. They are very loving and playful , love.All puppies are born in Ontario, Canada. This is a full hands on kennel with.Decorative Throw Pillows for Couch Bed Sofa with Zip CoversAn easy fun way to add a pop of colour or bring new life to any room in your home or office is with these beautiful Animal throw pillows. Dress up your bed sofa or lounger with this decorative design art pillows. Shipping by seller French Bulldog Puppies! Cambridge We have 2 beautiful French Bulldogs looking to go to their forever homes. They are 4 months old and are up to date on all vaccines including rabies. Born July 19th. Ready for their furever families September 14th. One male available! Home born and.Our adorable female French Bulldog has created an adorable litter of pups, all vaccinated, dewormed and healthy. Looking for families to love them! We live in Mississauga, We have 6 cute puppies in total. PM for more pics and info Blue tan: one boy.

A Golden Retriever is a wonderful family dog, but it needs space for playtime and exercise to lead a healthy life. You will also need time to train and socialize your dog. Here are some things to know about Golden Retrievers before bringing one home: Size Golden Retrievers are medium-sized dogs that can grow up to 22 to 24 inches. They can be between 65 and 75 lbs. These dogs need space and can also eat a lot, especially if they are active. A beautiful Golden Retriever with a bandana on his neck stands outdoors. Grooming Golden Retrievers may not need as much grooming as other dogs, but they can shed a lot and must have their coats brushed more during those times. They will shed their outer coat once or twice a year, so a daily brushing would help remove dead fur. You should also bring your dog to a groomer for regular ear cleaning, nail trimming, and the occasional shower and tooth brushing. But other than that, most Golden Retrievers are not high-maintenance pets. Exercise And Training Golden Retrievers are a sporting breed, so they need a lot of exercise and activity. You need room on your property so your dog can play and run around. A Golden Retriever takes a lot of training and a healthy diet to run so fast! Early socialization is also important for sporting dogs because it makes them easier to train. Golden Retrievers are easy-going animals, but socialization makes it easier for them to adapt to any situation and makes them ideal companions for children and other animals. Finally, these dogs love the water! The breed was meant to retrieve waterfowl such as ducks and geese. Your Golden Retriever will be fond of fetching things from any body of water, whether a pool or a lake. Health And Life Expectancy Though Golden Retrievers are one of the healthiest breeds, they are also prone to health issues, including hip dysplasia, eye conditions, and heart disease. Golden Retriever standing and guards over a property. The life expectancy for the breed is 10 to 12 years, although in some rare cases where Goldens live up to 15 years. New Jersey has many breeders, but you should find a reputable one instead of landing at a puppy mill that breeds unhealthy pups and follows unethical breeding practices. Searching dog information, breeders and rescues online. Many search engines like Google have a rating and review system, so check these reviews to see what clients say about the breeder. You could also do some old-fashioned research by asking friends and neighbors where or how they got their pets. Visit a dog kennel or a veterinarian and ask them if they know ethical breeders in the area. Combining the results from your research could help you find a breeder that would fit your budget and timeline. They can help you find an ethical and responsible breeder so you can choose where to get your puppy. You can talk to them and discuss their dogs. You can ask them about the sires and dams in their kennels and how often they have a litter. Visit The Breeder Once you have a list of potential breeders, visit their facilities and see the condition of the pups and their dams. Ask about their breeding program, and check the condition of the pups and the state of their operations. Choose a breeder that makes the health of their dogs a priority, both for the dam and the puppies. These are all essential to finding healthy and well-socialized pups. They focus on the health and well-being of their puppies, so the dog litters are small. They have bred Golden Retrievers that have won in many dog shows and have excellent health certifications. Golden Retriever puppy with a ribbon on a plain background. If you want to get a puppy from them, you must submit an application to be included on their waiting list. The dogs are in a cage-free environment, allowing them to grow healthy and well-adjusted. Golden Retriever puppy eats kibbles. The dogs live in a beautiful house, and the breeder takes the time to prepare the puppies before sending them off! They highly recommend the breeder. Breeder Details:. Please complete our Puppy Inquiry Questionnaire if interested. See her on Our Dogs page. Picture below. Complete Puppy Inquiry Questionnaire, if interested. She is bright, smart and giving us lots of laughs. The kids were so surprised and are both in love with her! I ask because he has the best temperament of any dog we have ever had including 2 other goldens. She has brought us so much joy, love and laughter. Teddy Teddy had a great 1st birthday!! He loves being outside and the snow! In Oct. He is now seven years old. How time flies! He has been such a tremendous joy in our family. We are loving Brooklyn from your litter. She is still doing great and in great health here in Baltimore. I want to surprise my wife with another pup from you. Can I get another amazing puppy from you in the future? We would love Brooklyn to have that in her life and ours. This week our beautiful little girl turned 2. She's about 74lbs. She is doing great. Highlights for are CGC, Therapy dog certified, raised a kitten, who now acts like a dog, and Rally-O classes for fun. She is super sweet and loves to learn new things. She loves her daily walks and looks super sad when someone doesn't stop to pet her. We get SO many compliments about what a beautiful and well mannered dog she is! And her crimpy ears! Thanks again for all your guidance through the ups and downs. I hope your whole crew is doing well! He has a fabulous recall, doing great with leave it, stay, wait, come, is good about sitting and getting brushed, lets me brush his teeth… All in all, doing very well. Thank you for a wonderful puppy!! Over the year we have heard countless stories of people getting ripped off or having terrible experiences with their breeder and we can still remember how helpful you were providing us with so much information and keeping us updated every step of the way. My good friend got her and her beautiful dog Dallas from you. She highly recommended getting a puppy from you. Just wondering if you have or will be having puppies in the near future? Ollie Ollie has been an incredibly healthy dog, having never been sick a day in his eight years of life. He is more lively than our previous three goldens, but he literally has never growled, nor ever barked in anger. He is smart and obedient and I can walk him off leash. Only a squirrel can effect his excellent obedience. We are interested in getting a little sister or brother for Ollie. Ohana is honestly the sweetest and silliest dog ever. He knows to take a firm stance to either help me up a step or just stay beside me to help me keep my balance while I touch his head. Millie I am so thankful for her, especially with the kids doing distance learning. She got us out of the house walking and playing, and kept us entertained when we were stuck inside and bored. She is the best and we just love her. From a temperament perspective Como has been wonderful. She has a great deal of energy which we love. She is sweet and well behaved and takes well to training. She was even in our wedding! We are looking to get another female puppy. I wanted to touch base to see if you were planning on breeding and perhaps put our name on a list.Maui Everyone who meets Maui falls in love with her adoring, gentle, and affectionate personality. She is the sweetest. She also just became a big sister to a little human brother! She is so gentle and loving with him! We feel extremely lucky to have wound up with her and always laugh about she was the last girl to be chosen because she is truly an angel! Abby and Lucy Abby and Lucy are happy and healthy and have become great friends. They are living their best life during the pandemic and have been a real comfort during these stressful times! They enjoy romping around camp in every season, curling up on the couch with us while we watch TV we love snuggling with them , or wrestling around together. Abby is the more serious of the two. Affectionate and playful but takes her big sister role seriously. Lucy is a total goofball. Loves attention and will do whatever it takes to get it. And no matter how much love you giver her, she always wants just a little more. In short, they are simply the best pups ever and we feel so lucky to have them! She is such an amazing dog. Such a great disposition. Rocky Here are a few pictures of Rocky. He's been doing so great. It's hard to believe he'll be 8 in May! He loves his brothers and anything outdoors. He spends lots of time during the summers in our pool. Swimming might be his favorite activity. He goes out a few times a week running with my wife and stays in super awesome shape thanks to her. Arya Arya is doing well; we can't believe she's almost 4! We have been attending training classes and are starting agility soon. She was even in our wedding. PO Box , Hightstown, One or both of this puppy's parents have undergone genetic testing. One or both of this puppy's parents are hip certified. One or both of this puppy's parents is OFA Heart certified. This puppy has had early neurological stimulation exercises. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for New Jersey Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in New Jersey? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in New Jersey? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Here, all that is raised and grown is nurtured with love. They compete in different dog sports and venues. We only breed dogs that have full health clearance. We take pride in our dogs. To consecutively produce Golden Retrievers with good instincts, who are healthy, and sound in body and mind, our deliberate breeding program is extremely selective. Health is of the utmost importance in our breeding program. Temperament and trainability is vital to our breeding program. As a family breed, a Golden should be friendly, reliable and trustworthy. We intensively train dogs for different purpose, and show them in different venues. Whether we are looking for a show prospect, a performance dog or just a companion, intelligence, sweetness and an eagerness to learn are valuable assets to success. Our carefully bred, well-nurtured puppies are purposed to be honeysweet and bright. A precious, pleasant and synergetic human-dog partnership is what we aspire to bring to our dog owners. We believe form follows function. Even tough judging dogs is subjective, an adequate, versatile dog is our preference. We strive to breed balanced, moderate, and athletic Golden Retrievers that fit the breed standard and have good gun dog instincts. Thank you for visiting our website! Please feel free to contact us for any inquries. Additionally, they are proud members of the American Golden Retriever Club. Before a dog can be bred, it must pass a battery of health tests to ensure that it will remain healthy and happy throughout its life. In addition to vaccines and deworming, puppies are examined by a veterinarian before being placed in their new homes. Additionally, puppies are sold with a one-year health warranty. This health assurance covers any genetically inherited or life-threatening illnesses. The golden retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, renowned for its gentle eyes, devotion, and zest for life. Although golden retrievers were initially developed as hunting dogs in the Scottish Highlands, they make ideal family pets. The dogs typically get along well with youngsters and are bright and friendly. Golden retrievers make excellent service dogs and are frequently highly effective as guide, aid, and search and rescue dogs. Golden Retriever dog in New Jersey Conclusion With a bit of time and effort, you should have no trouble finding the perfect dog to call your own. Their quality control should give you more confidence in their puppies. We have provided a large amount of land fenced in just for our Goldens to enjoy the sunshine and run and play together. English Goldens are the Ultimate family pet!!! They are very intelligent, kind, loving, fun, obedient, easy to train, and have an exceptional eagerness to please. Our Goldens are loyal and devoted companions and are particularly patient with children. You will be amazed with one of our English Golden Puppies who have a calm and mellow temperament. Goldens excel at almost everything. Being a dog breeder herself she knew exactly where to go, ask the right questions, and read the Russian Pedigrees and Health Clearances. After searching the European Goldens for some time, she found 2 English Cream Golden Puppies who came from the very best breeders in Russia. The puppies were beautiful, friendly and had the International Champion Lines we were looking for. When the time was right Sasha invited Anya to come to Russia where she attended one of the largest dog shows in the world and visited many Golden breeders. An experience Anya will never forget! Then 2 years later Anya flew back to Russia again coming home with another beautiful English Golden. We decided to stay mostly with the Russian Lines as they had the look, temperament, Champion Lines and were happy and healthy. To enhance our lines we imported a few Goldens from the Ukraine who also have the same qualities as our other English Goldens. All of our Goldens come from International Champions and International Champion Lines, also with health clearances, mostly from Russia. We spent a great deal of time in choosing our breeding dogs, not settling for the next one available. At Icewind we have made a commitment to the breed not to have any ICT affected puppies. Bringing a new puppy into the family is a financial and emotional investment. For a better understanding visit our website adult page for the links to the Genetic Veterinary Sciences. The benefits noted can be found on the Internet. All Icewind puppies receive ENS and are well socialized with grandchildren, other pets, friends and family. Also included are age appropriate Vaccines, dewormings, AKC papers, a lifetime health guarantee and lifetime breeder support. Please read through our website there is a wealth of information available. We are very proud of our testimonial page where you can read and learn experiences from other people and families who now own an Icewind English Cream Golden Retriever. There are many AKC Titles you can compete for. More information can be found at akc. We believe young puppies should have the opportunity to develop emotionally, socially and physically from the moment they are born. We imprint each puppy daily by touching and handling. Military for their canine training programs to give the dogs a superior advantage in life. There were five benefits observed in canines that were exposed to the stimulation exercises. Improved cardio vascular performance heart rate stronger heart beats, stronger adrenal glands, more tolerance to stress and greater resistance to disease. Buying a genetically superior puppy meaning the most well-bred puppy will reduce the number of trips to the Veterinarian you have to make in the long run. Watch your puppy grow from Newborn to 8 weeks old!!! Accepting Deposits Now on our Upcoming Litters!!! New Born.

If you click and purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn More Are you planning to expand your family with a little or not so little Dood? However, not all breeders are cut from the same cloth. Of course, there are many great breeders who follow ethical breeding standards. But then there are Doodle scammers and puppy mills , both of which you should avoid at all costs. Extensive health testing is necessary to screen the potential parents for any hereditary conditions, which can often be carried onto the puppies. Likewise, check if a breeder offers a health guarantee for their litters. Reputable Goldendoodle breeders in Michigan should provide at least a two-year health guarantee, which usually covers any life altering genetic conditions. These organizations uphold breeders to the highest health testing standards and ethical breeding practices. However, many of them are recommended breeders by Gooddog. Previous clients often leave their personal experiences on Facebook groups, Reddit, Yelp, or other breed-specific online communities and forums such as the breeder review page here at Doodle Doods. All of their pups live in their home as their own pets. Pups are well socialized and receive all the love and care they need to become healthy and well-rounded dogs. Jubilee Labradoodles provide pups plenty of opportunities for playtime, swimming, walkies on and off leash. In addition to that, puppies are familiar with and desensitized to common household noises and sights. What Makes This Breeder Unique? They follow strict genetic health testing for both their Labradoodles and Goldendoodles, so you can rest assured that your puppy comes from a healthy lineage. Jubilee Labradoodles is also a recommended breeder by Goldendoodles. Puppies go home with microchips, dewormings, and age appropriate vaccinations. This home breeder produces English Teddy Bear Mini and Toy Goldendoodle puppies that are hand-raised and socialized within the family home. Choosing Goldendoodle Puppy Breeders In Michigan Before you start your search for a Goldendoodle puppy to welcome into your life, there are a few things to know about choosing a puppy breeder. Avoid Puppy Mills! Buyer Beware! A good friend of mine recently fell victim to a puppy mill that was advertising their pups on the internet. When she told me how much the breeder wanted for the puppies, I was surprised. The price seemed remarkably cheap for Goldendoodles! My puppy mill radar was immediately activated! The more I heard about this breeder, the more worried I became for my friend. So, I got busy on the net, looking for reviews and taking a closer look at their website. It turned out the seller was using puppy photos that appeared elsewhere on the web on multiple websites! Further digging revealed some dreadful reviews left by people who had visited the kennels and were horrified by the conditions they found there. So, my fingers are crossed for her and her gorgeous furbaby. Breeder Reputation A well-established breeder who has been operating for many years will have a good reputation. Ask local kennels, vets, and dog trainers for their recommendations. All the dogs should be in good condition, friendly, and happy. Check out these posts:. We take pride in raising these beautiful dogs and specialize in offering dogs with wonderful temperaments and excel to be great family dogs! We have been a well recognized and reputable dog breeder in Michigan for over 10 years! Starting out with one Labradoodle, we fell in love with the breed and have since then also branched off to breed Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles. Doodles are smart and loyal, affectionate, very entertaining to watch, and not to mention beautiful! Our dogs are members of our family and with the help of local families through our guardianship program we have been able to expand our breeding program further and share the doodle love with others! We make sure that every single one of our dogs is treated as a family member and not kept in a kennel, in our opinion that is no way a dog should live. Our dogs heath, happiness, and well being comes first, and breeding these wonderful animals come second to us. We make sure that all of our doodles complete and pass health testing before they are bred and receive high quality food along with lots of daily love and attention. We now primary breed Goldendoodles but occasionally do have a litter of Labradoodles or Bernedoodles. We also offer stud services to outside breeders. We currently breed, Standard, Medium, Mini size doodles. Here at Dreaming Doodles we do our best to provide you with as much information as possible about your new puppy. Please keep in mind that predicted adult weights are just that, predictions. We estimate the adult weight based on size of the parents, and grandparents of the mother and sire as well as previous litters. Even with that information sometimes we have puppies that exceed or fall under our predictions. Most of our puppies have curly or wavy coats. Coats are usually able to be fully determined before the puppy goes home. If you have allergies we recommend that you do a t-shirt or blanket test before bringing your puppy home. If you suffer from allergies please also keep in mind that all puppies no matter what breed they are will shed their puppy coat out usually between 6 and 18 months of age. Being a wonderful family companion, the Goldendoodle generally gets along well with children and does well with other dogs and family pets. Goldendoodles are known for their friendly, gentle dispositions and their eager-to-please attitudes. They are incredibly people-oriented and easy to train! They have a charming sense of humor and an uncanny ability to know when their humans could use an extra snuggle. This blend has a large amount of genetic diversity, so the F1 Goldendoodles appearance can widely vary. For instance, the coat could appear straighter, like a Golden Retriever, it could have the curliness of the Poodles coat, or it could be somewhere in between. While most F1 Goldendoodles will likely shed less than a Golden Retriever, they still have a decent probability of shedding a little and triggering allergy-sufferers. So, if you have dog allergies, you may have better luck with an F1b Goldendoodle which has more poodle and less golden retriever in the mix. F1b Goldendoodles will shed less than F1 Goldendoodles and are suitable for most families with allergies. With the F1B Goldendoodle, you lose some of the genetic diversity, by reintroducing the Poodle. However the advantage is a more predictable coat. The more Poodle DNA a puppy has, the more likely they are to be lower shedding and more hypoallergenic, as compared to an F1 Goldendoodle. So this generation is a safer bet for families dealing with mild allergies. Because this generation is closer to the Poodle than the Golden Retriever, it has a much better chance of being non-shedding and hypoallergenic, although it is important to remember that there are no guarantees. But if allergies are a concern, an F1BB Bernedoodle is the best generation for you to seek out. There will be less genetic diversity than in other generations. Both appearance and temperament are more likely to be Poodle-like. While this means you are more likely to get a hypoallergenic coat, this also means this coat will likely be curly and high-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Living with Goldendoodles Separation anxiety is probably the biggest problem that Goldendoodle owners face. Like all dogs, Goldendoodles are pack animals. This anxiety is often worse for puppies than for adult Goldendoodles. For some Goldendoodles, anxiety can lead to destructive behavior. Goldendoodles develop a strong attachment to members of their family due to their affectionate nature. Given their need to be close to you, your Goldendoodle can easily develop separation anxiety when you leave them alone. To avoid this here are some steps you can take to make you leaving a non issue. If possible give your dog some exercise before you leave. Give your dog a special treat each time you leave like a puzzle toy stuffed with peanut butter. Make your comings and goings low-key without a lot of greeting. Ignore your pup for the first few minutes after you get home. Leave some recently worn clothes out that smell like you. Health and Life Expectancy of Goldendoodles Goldendoodles tend to be healthier dogs than either of their parents. Inbreeding has left many purebred dogs open to genetically inherited diseases and conditions, but cross-breeding reduces that risk. Speaking to my Veterinarian, Golden Retrievers are on the top of the list for dogs they see that have cancer so it seems as if Goldendoodles will also be more prone to getting cancers. There are known carcinogens in our environments that can contribute to cancer in our dogs, such as — excessive exposure to the sun, tobacco smoke, herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides, as well as air pollution and smog in urban areas, can all aid in the development of cancer. Smaller breeds will live a bit longer than large breeds. Puppies that are Happy, Healthy and Social is our Speciality.

When looking to purchase a merle make sure you are insuring the Australian Labradoodle breeder is having responsible husbandry practices regarding the merle gene. Any breeder of merle multigenerational Australian Labradoodles should be willing and able to discuss all the facts regarding this genome. Click HERE to learn more from our geneticists. Single carrier merles will live a healthy productive life just like any other dog. To ensure that we only breed single copy merles we verify testing of all outside studs or dams used with our breeding dogs since some dogs carry a hidden merle gene, called phantom merle. They are just as strong, silly, and full of adventure or snuggles, and capable of being a service dog as any other Australian Labradoodle! The problem comes down to greed or skipping testing. But doing so can come at a risk of causing serious health issues. A "double merle" known as a homozygous merle have significantly higher risk of being born deaf or blind. To set a president that ill managed breeding practice is not allowed, which is respectable. A German study found .Double Merle can also cause Merle ocular issues. Regarding the blue color in the eyes sometime can lead to full blue iris or increased inclusion of the eyes and blindness. Even though the blue eyes are beautiful we prefer to breed black or brown eyed single merle dogs to reduce the tendency for any health issues. As a merle breeder it is our responsibility to create health happy animals through preventive DNA tests and yearly OFA eye exams. Which, looks like someone had fun painting your dog and no two dogs have the same exact pattern. This rather exotic wild pattern comes in multiple color variations. Merles labradoodles can come in various color pallets; chocolate merle, blue merle, red merle and can be paired with parti, white mis-marks and phantom. Red or cream dogs in a merle litter have a higher rate of phantom merle. Every puppy from our merle litters are dna tested for merle before going home. Our girl Tiffany is considered a "classic" merle where Ranger is a "Tweed" merle. We only know this from extensive genetic testing from Paw Prints Genetics other companies such as Embark don't go as detailed with Merle testing. So all Merle related testing is done with Paw Prints. What is a Merle Labradoodle? The merle coat is created by the heterozygote of an incomplete dominant gene. The merle gene creates a mottling in the coat, lightening patches of it. Although rare, Poodles can carry the merle gene and pass it down to their Labradoodle offspring. Merle dogs tend to have light, spotted, or mottled coats. In addition to affecting the coat, the merle gene also changes the color of the eyes. Most merle dogs have blue or heterochromatic eyes, meaning different colored eyes. In addition, the paw pads and nose might be pink instead of brown. The merle gene tends to be more dominant in herding breeds. The M gene present in a merle dog can bypass several generations of litters before presenting itself much later in the bloodline. Non-merle dogs, or mm, can be bred with merle dogs, or Mm. They have numerous health issues and a significant chance of being born blind, deaf, or both. MM puppies are primarily white with some colored patches. However, merle patterns are not easily spotted, and some mottling can be hidden under a thick, vibrantly colored coat. A merle can be mistakenly identified as a non-merle easily. A richly-colored coat can obscure the mottling patterns under the coat, and their eyes can also be brown if the merle genotype is not wholly dominant. Accidental breeding of two merles can result in a litter of deaf, blind, and otherwise deformed puppies, so if you are looking for a merle puppy, do your homework and check both parents with a magnifying glass! Labradoodles come in various sizes depending on the type and size of Poodle used in the litter. A male Standard Labradoodle should be 22 to 24 inches tall, while a female should be 21 to 23 inches tall, and both should weigh 50 to 65 pounds. A male Medium Labradoodle should stand 18 to 20 inches tall, while a female should stand 17 to 19 inches tall and weigh 30 to 45 pounds. Which is the rarest color of a Labradoodle? Merle colors typically fall into two categories — red and blue. The patterns on merle dogs can be classified into: Phantom Labradoodle The Phantom pattern has a base color and a second color present above their eyes, to the side of their nose on their muzzle, chin, and across their chest. The most common color combination is black and gold. Other color combinations include black with apricot, red, cream, silver, or brown points, red with apricot points, silver with cream points, or brown with apricot points. Abstract Labradoodle The abstract color means an abstract mix of colors that holds no particular pattern. Any combination of colors is acceptable. Some black Labradoodle puppies can fade to blue as they grow, and it might be easier finding a blue merle Labradoodle than a red one. Red Labradoodle A red-colored Labradoodle is the rarest. This is because red poodles are rare, and red Labradors, also known as Fox Red Labs, are highly uncommon. Much darker than a gold or apricot-colored Labradoodle, they are similar to an Irish Red Setter. Their nose must be black, not brown, to be a natural red. The entire coat should be red, and the hair will be the same shade from base to tip. How much do Merle Labradoodles cost? Merle dogs are rarer than their solid-colored counterparts, so merle dogs typically cost several hundred dollars more. Check a merle breeder thoroughly, as irresponsible breeders can have unethical breeding practices that involve breeding two merle dogs in the hopes of getting a whole merle litter. As mentioned earlier, two merle dogs being bred will result in some puppies being born with massive genetic defects like being blind and deaf. Are Merle Labradoodles Rare? Although breeding two merles can guarantee merle puppies, it risks the puppies being born double merle. In addition, breeding a merle, or Mm, with a non-merle, or mm, will only yield half the litter as merle puppies. The merle gene seems particularly dominant in herding breeds like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds. Are Merle Dogs Unhealthy? A merle dog is not necessarily prone to health or genetic issues and can lead a long, healthy life. However, a double merle dog with two merle parents can have many congenital disabilities and has a high chance of being born blind, deaf, or both. Is Merle a defect? As mentioned earlier, the double merle gene is related to some severe vision and hearing issues. However, aside from this, a merle Labradoodle will be prone to any other genetic health issue prevalent in its parent breeds. The Poodle and Labrador Retriever are prone to several health issues, such as: Hip dysplasia. Blue merle Labradoodles will have blue fur with spots or patches of black. The blue coloring can range from light blue to a deeper gray. This coloring is very popular, and quite uncommon. But, dogs with merle coloring can be at higher risk for health issues, including vision and hearing problems. What is a Blue Merle Labradoodle? Like all Labradoodles, the blue merle Labradoodle is a cross between a purebred Labrador Retriever and a purebred Standard Poodle. With first generation mixes like this, all traits are left up to chance, including coat type, size, and temperament. Your puppy could be any combination of its parents! Labradoodles with blue merle coats will have a grey or a bluish base , and patches or spots of black covering them. The exact positioning and size of their black markings will vary from one dog to the next, making each one truly unique. Blue merle is one of the most common color combinations of merle coats available. And, blue merle Labradoodles are the most likely Doodle type to have blue eyes. So how does such an interesting coat color happen? So, he will inherit genes from both a Labrador and a Poodle that can impact his appearance, temperament, health, and more. However, neither Poodles nor Labrador Retrievers typically carry the merle gene. So, in order for you to get a blue merle Labradoodle, your mixed pup must have another breed type in his DNA with the dominant merle gene. This breed will be able to pass the merle coat gene on to your Labradoodle puppy. This is why your blue merle Labradoodle may also end up with blue eyes, even though neither the purebred Lab or the purebred Poodle will. Perhaps you have a Labradoodle Collie cross. Or a Labradoodle Australian Shepherd cross. The Double Merle Gene In order to get a blue merle Labradoodle, some breeders may decide to breed one merle Labradoodle with another merle Labradoodle. This might seem like a great idea to guarantee a merle puppy. The double merle gene can lead to a high likelihood of issues, including vision and hearing loss. In some cases, dogs with the double merle gene can be completely blind or deaf. Some may even be both. Luckily, responsible breeders will take care to reduce the chances of these issues by eliminating the double merle gene in litters. This means, a merle Labradoodle should only ever be bred with a solid color Labradoodle. Blue Merle Labradoodle Temperament Because blue merle Labradoodles must get their color variation from a different breed, their temperament can actually be quite unpredictable. So, if you have a blue merle Doodle that is actually a Labradoodle Australian Shepherd mix, it could be anywhere between the temperaments of its two parents. Generally, Labradoodles are friendly, affectionate, playful, and energetic. And, many of the dog breeds that have the merle gene are working dogs, known to be intelligent, energetic, and loyal. So, a blue merle Labradoodle may have these traits. Make sure you find out from your breeder exactly how your blue merle Doodle is being bred, and if possible, try to meet the parent dogs in person. Generally, a blue merle Labradoodle is easily trained. Start training and socializing from a young age. Positive methods will help you to build and reinforce a strong bond with your dog. And, it can be a great way to avoid any potential stubbornness. These dogs will generally need at least 60 minutes of exercise a day as adults. This could be retrieving a ball, going for a hike with you, or just running around the dog park. Without enough exercise, they may start to show unwanted and undesirable behaviors. However, aside from this, a blue merle Labradoodle will be prone to any other genetic health issue prevalent in its parent breeds. So, this will include the Poodle and Labrador. But, it will also include the breed from which your Doodle got their coat color. Common health issues that Labradoodle owners should be aware of include: Hip dysplasia. The Merle gene creates multi-color patches in a solid coat and the dogs that carry merle gene can often have blue eyes. The labradoodles with Merle gene and color patches are called Merle Labradoodles. It is one of the most complicated gene but very fascinating. Merle Genetics Merle is actually a heterozygote of an incompletely dominant gene. To avoid these common health issues, knowledgeable and responsible labradoodle breeders mate a merle with a non-merle dog. In this way half the puppies will be merles, and none will have the vision or hearing defects associated with double merle dogs. So, when you adopt a Merle labradoodle puppy make sure to check with the breeder that one of the parents is a solid color only. The UK Kennel Club has acknowledged the health risk associated with homozygous merles and stopped registering puppies produced from merle to merle breeding in .Research indicates that the majority of health issues occur in dogs carrying both piebald and merle genes. Labradoodles who are homozygous for the merle pattern gene often have visual and auditory deficits. Ocular defects include microphthalmia, conditions causing increased ocular pressure, and colobomas, among others. Double merle labradoodles may be deaf or blind or both, and can carry ocular defects in blue or colored eyes. A study by German researchers found partial hearing loss in .Certified labradoodle breeders will only breed one merle with a non-merle to produce normal healthy merle labradoodle puppies. Merle Labradoodle Colors Merle labradoodles are absolutely gorgeous and because of the color patterns on their coats they look rather exotic. Merle Labradoodles come in various colors patterns like chocolate merle, blue merle, black merle, red merle or brown merle. It also possible to have merles in other colors such as sable, fawn, yellow and diluted reds. Blue Merle Labradoodle Blue Merle labradoodles are the most popular among all the merle labradoodles. Blue Merle labradoodles have irregular black patches by gray. The grey or the lighter part of the coat can also vary from a very light powder blue to very dark steel blue. Select Page Merle Australian Labradoodles, what are they? There are many color variations in the merle coat, chocolate, red, blue, parti and phantom are some common colors we produce. The true Australian Labradoodle was designed in the s for the purpose of providing a service and therapy dog to families that suffer from illness or allergies. The breed is allergy-friendly they produce little to no dander, however, some individuals are allergic to the saliva a dog produces. Wally Cochran was the driving force behind this program, and the goal was to produce a non-shedding guide dog. The diversity of these bloodlines have the potential to safeguard the breed from genetic health problems of inbreeding. The result of these crosses produced intelligent, easily trainable puppies that were the beginning of the Australian Labradoodle as we know it now. Chocolate Merle Australian Labradoodle Merle Australian Labradoodle Coat Types The result of these crosses produced intelligent, easily trainable puppies that were the beginning of the Australian Labradoodle as we now know it. Crossing these breeds together compliments the Australian Labradoodle giving these wonderful dogs a hybrid vigor and a variety of coat types: The Wooly Coat: Somewhat poodle like which requires regular grooming is non-shedding and allergy and asthma friendly. The Fleece Coat: The ultimate coat that is easily maintained, non-shedding, allergy and asthma friendly and somewhat like that of an Angora Goat. The Hair Coat: Anything from flat and straight to curls down that back and possibly wavy and minimally shedding, that is less likely to be allergy and asthma friendly. You will usually see this coat in American bred Labradoodles first and second generation bloodlines. A fun loving, quiet, calm yet comical loving companion Overall, the Labradoodle is a fun loving, quiet, calm yet comical, loving companion for families as well as a fantastic service animal, being easily trainable, loyal and intelligent. The Labradoodle is not a recognized breed as yet, however, many breeders are working towards developing a breed standard for the future recognition of the Australian Labradoodle. Blue merle Parti Labradoodle puppy Merle Australian Labradoodles Merle can affect all coat colors in many different breeds. Some dogs are affected by merle, but the patches are either hardly seen or not visible at all. This is why it is essential to have all dogs in a merle breeding program tested for coat color, DNA or blood testing can be done. Combinations such as brindle, sable, phantom or parti merle colors also exist. In addition merle colored dogs have blue and green eye coloring. In the Labradoodles this gene has been brought into the Australian Labradoodle from the merle poodle and or the merle cocker spaniel. We have been breeding merles Australian Labradoodles for 20 years and all of our breeding dogs have been full tested since day one. We work to breed every dog better than the first, always breeding a healthy well balanced dog with a happy disposition and a non shedding allergy friendly coat. Merle Australian Labradoodles come in three primary colors The three main colors are: Blue merle which is a blue-gray color that is carried over through black Chocolate merle which is a diluted color from chocolate Red merle which is a diluted color from red Variations on these three colors can also include a parti gene making the dog have large patches of white mixed with the color and a phantom gene giving the dog tan points. In addition, these great dogs are hypo-allergenic and non-shedding, Merle Australian Labradoodles have their characteristically wavy fleece coats, their intelligence, their upbeat nature and their incredibly friendly temperaments. As such, it is no surprise that these dogs are fast becoming among the most beloved breeds available. Merle Labradoodles are very rare. The gene is not naturally occurring in Labrador Retrievers or Poodles so it has to be introduced into the lineage of one of the breeds at some point before breeding a Merle Labradoodle. Alternatively, they cross a Merle Labradoodle with a non-Merle Labradoodle. Two dogs that carry the merle gene should never be bred together as many puppies in the litter will be double merles. If you want to compare the price of Merle Labradoodles to other coat colors of Labradoodles you should read our in-depth Labradoodle price guide here. Another great way to keep up to date with Merle Labradoodle prices is to regularly check dog breeder advertising websites like PuppySpot. Check out the adorable Labradoodle puppies that are currently available here! PuppySpot is a dog adoption website that connects breeders with prospective pet owners. They have a zero tolerance policy for puppy mills which is why they screen every breeder annually! They have placed over , puppies in homes and offer various trusted, USDA-certified transportation options to deliver your puppy to your home safely! A Blue Merle Labradoodle features blue black , grey, white and tan colors in their coat in a distinct mottled pattern. Usually most of their coat is grey and blue with smaller white and tan patches throughout it. Blue Merle Labradoodles usually have black noses and can either have brown or blue eyes. They would have originally had a solid black coat but the merle gene diluted sections of it into these lighter colors. Blue Merle is the most common merle coloring for Labradoodles. Are Blue Merle Labradoodles Rare? Blue Merle Labradoodles are very rare as the gene is not naturally occurring in Labrador Retrievers or Poodles. The merle gene has to be introduced into the lineage of one of the breeds at some point before breeding a Blue Merle Labradoodle.

German Shepherd When To Visit The Vet You do not have to see a vet every time you notice your dog is starting to limp however, there are times your dog must see a veterinarian at an animal hospital to get a comprehensive examination. If any of the following situations apply to your dog call your vet or go to the nearest open emergency veterinary clinic for assistance. Limbs that feel hot to the touch Any moderate to severe swelling A broken limb will be at an irregular angle A dangling limb this indicates dislocation Limping in combination with a fever How Can I Help My Limping Dog? When you first see your dog limping immediately get them to rest the best way you can to minimize their movement and prevent them from injuring themselves more. Also, press pause on your dog's exercise routines until they have fully healed, and keep them on a leash when taking them outside for potty breaks to stop them from running away. Check your pup's paw for anything signaling an injury such as cuts. Contact your vet as soon as you can if you discover something painful. If you think your dog is limping because of inflammation, alternate between ice and heat packs to lower the level of swelling and discomfort. Call your veterinarian to ask them when you should be applying the packs. Look at the site of the limp for signs of bleeding, to help determine if the condition is from a bite, injury, or puncture. It is recommended that you should take your dog to the vet to be safe and give both you and your dog a peaceful mind in knowing what is causing your dog's limp, even if you think it is not serious. If your dog starts to whimper or yelp and the limp doesn't get better by itself call your veterinarian immediately or go to the nearest emergency vet. Your vet has the training and knowledge to diagnose what is causing your dog's pain and the severity of the injury. An exam to determine the source may include X-rays, blood work, or tick testing. The veterinarian will also take your pup's age, breed, history, and overall health into consideration when diagnosing your dog and creating a treatment plan. Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet. If you notice your dog is in pain and limping contact us now. Our Lafayette veterinarians are available to help dogs in need. It occurs when your dog cannot walk normally due to pain or weakness. Your dog may walk slowly or awkwardly, and he will generally favor one leg over the other. There are two types of limping that your German Shepherd may experience. Some forms occur gradually over time, whereas sudden lameness happens instantly, usually after an injury. Some cases are minor and can be managed at home, while others will necessitate the assistance of a medical professional. Too much of a good thing such as fetch, frisbee, intense running, or rough play with other dogs can leave your German Shepherd sore and hobbling with a muscle strain. Most dogs, though, will recover quickly after a few days of rest. Wounds on the footpads. Look out for your GSD incessantly licking his paw. Burns caused by hot sidewalks or frostbite can also cause your dog to limp. In extreme weather, hot or cold, get your GSD some booties or paw protectors. A thorn or stone stuck in the pads. Again carefully check the pads for a thorn or small stone that may have lodged between the paw pads. Remember to keep the fur around the pads and toes trim to enable you to examine the paws easier, especially as some dogs find this area quite sensitive. Toenail injuries. Examine your German Shepherd for ingrowing or overgrown toenails , as these can cause discomfort and pain if they dig into the skin. My GSD once had a dewclaw injury that required surgical removal, so make sure you also keep these trim. An insect sting or animal bite. Stings and bites can cause limping. Your GSD may raise his paw if stung by a wasp or bee. Bites from other animals can result in injury and infection. Fracture or dislocation. If the limping began suddenly, a fractured leg or a dislocated bone should be suspected. A shattered bone will prevent your dog from bearing any weight. A sprain occurs when a ligament or tendon is strained or torn. Something as simple as leaping off the couch and landing awkwardly can cause it. Your German Shepherd will be reluctant to put any weight on his leg or paw. Hip and elbow dysplasia. Dysplasia is a common hereditary condition in German Shepherds that causes hip and elbow joints to become loose and shift out of position. Sadly, .This persistent, painful condition is more common in older and larger canines. As a result of cartilage deterioration, it causes joint inflammation. Lameness, stiffness, or trouble getting up are all symptoms. Cruciate ligament injury or disease. This occurs when one or both of the cruciate ligaments that hold the knee together are damaged. Limping is the most common symptom of a cruciate injury, and it can be caused by turning awkwardly, jumping, or twisting. It can happen all of a sudden or gradually. Luxating patella dislocated knee. It is common in smaller breeds, but German Shepherds are one of the larger breeds prone to developing luxating patellas. Your dog may be in pain and reluctant to bear weight on the affected limb. An infection of the leg or paw can cause your dog to hobble. He may lick and chew the site and may need a course of antibiotics. Also, to prevent further inflammation, your GSD may be advised to wear the dreaded cone of shame Elizabethan collar. Lyme disease. This bacterial infection spread by ticks can result in intermittent lameness. Degenerative Myelopathy. This genetic condition affects the spinal cord, leading to eventual paralysis of the back end in older dogs. Weakness, lameness in the rear legs, and incontinence are all symptoms. Panosteitis Wandering Lameness or Growing Pains. Panosteitis is a condition affecting the long bones of the legs due to severe inflammation. It can affect growing large breed pups, aged months, including the GSD. It caused a shifting lameness from one bone to another and can occur over several weeks or months. Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy HOD. Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy is a bone disease occurring in quick-growing large dogs, usually between the 3 and 5 months stage. The German Shepherd is one of the breeds prone. Signs will be a slight limp and pain in the affected bone. Osteochondritis Dissecans OCD. OCD is a disease of the cartilage whereby inflammation causes it to separate from the bone. The shoulder is the most usually affected area; however, the elbow, hip, and knee can also be impacted. It occurs when large puppies develop too quickly. Symptoms include limping, lameness, and pain. German Shepherds are predisposed to OCD; however, the offending gene has not been identified. Hind limb weakness, paralysis, or urinary incontinence are symptoms of this spinal disease. It is caused by intervertebral disk degeneration and protrusion, which compresses the spinal cord. Dog breeds having a short, stout appearance are most commonly affected. Lumbosacral Foraminal Stenosis. A degenerative condition of the lower spine resembling sciatica or a slipped disc in humans. The subsequent narrowing can cause nerve compression resulting in lameness. It occurs in medium-large breeds of middle to old age. Unfortunately, German Shepherds and working dogs are susceptible to Lumbosacral Stenosis. Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis. This is an immune system condition that results in inflamed, swollen, and painful joints. Your German Shepherd will be reluctant to walk or will limp on one or more legs due to the pain. Diabetic neuropathy. If diabetes is uncontrolled, excessive glucose can cause gradual weakness or paralysis due to nerve damage. However, this condition is rare in canines. Congenital limb deformities. Abnormally developed limbs can cause your dog to limp. These are pretty rare, and a study of congenital deformities of the limbs highlighted that little is known about the causes. Osteosarcoma bone cancer. Bone tumors can grow quickly, causing limping and pain, especially in the legs. Large and giant breeds are more prone to it. Limping can range from mild to severe. However, she is doing really well with exercise modification techniques along with anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication. My vet recommended these, they get good reviews online, and they seem to be working for her. She sleeps on the Big Barker , which is the only dog bed clinically proven to reduce pain and joint stiffness. You can check out my comprehensive review here. For more severe cases such as broken bones, orthopedic surgery may be required. How to Treat a Limping German Shepherd at Home Knowing how to treat your limping German Shepherd at home by giving first aid is fundamental to help minimize any further injury or pain. Firstly, pinpoint the affected leg, evaluate its seriousness and whether your dog needs medical assistance. So, how do you treat a limping GSD at home? To treat a limping German Shepherd at home, gently examine your dog, starting at the paw. Check the pads and between the toes, and slowly work your way up, looking for cuts or foreign bodies. Gently maneuver the joints for stiffness, but do not examine if your GSD is in severe pain. Remove any foreign bodies between the toes. Clean the wound with anti-bacterial soap. Finally, apply antibiotic ointment. For cut or torn pads and broken nails. If you cannot stop the bleeding in minutes, take your pet to the vet. Apply a bandage and change daily. For burned paw pads. If the pad becomes discolored or if the tissue underneath becomes exposed, contact your veterinarian. Apply antibiotic ointment to the burned pad, bandage, and change the dressing daily. For abscesses. Apply warm compresses to the affected area or soak in a warm Epsom salts bath. If the abscess bursts, take your doggo to the vet to get the wound cleaned and some antibiotics. For swelling due to a sprain or bruising. Apply ice packs to the affected area for 15 minutes twice a day. Place your GSD in the bath, and swirl the water around his leg, or spray with a gentle hose for 15 minutes twice daily. Flowing water reduces swelling, improves circulation, and helps with healing. Confine lame dogs and restrict their activity. Your German Shepherd will have a far better chance of recovery if you provide first aid when appropriate and seek prompt veterinary care if needed. Are you looking to buy something for your dog? Make sure to check out my favorite dog gear below. If you notice your puppy is limping, it could be because of a: Bone break or fracture Muscle strain, pull or tear A slipped disc A torn or damaged ligament A cut or laceration on a paw or base of the leg Any of the above injuries or body damage could be caused by rough play, falling or landing awkwardly, poor genetic, or just general day to day activity. Higher energy puppies or puppies that engage in a lot of physical activity could be more at risk. With something particularly painful like a broken bone or deep laceration, the limping could have an immediate onset. You have to remember with puppies that they are still developing physically and growing. Particularly in large dogs, if they grow too quickly, they may develop injuries more frequently. A side effect of arthritis can be lameness in a leg — which can cause limping. Arthritis in dogs can occur over time with natural wear and tear, as a result of injuries, or as a result of a disease like hip dysplasia for example. This is why you should always check the official OFA hip and elbow certification of your puppy and their parents before you buy — and get a guarantee on the health of the pup against latent defects developing. With hip and elbow dysplasia, a malformation in the joint leads to deterioration of the cartilage according to assisianimalhealth. There are also other infectious diseases, and cruciate ligament disease, neuromuscular disease, and cancers which can cause limping. The best person to let you know which legs on your GSD are affected by a cause of limping is your vet. As in with humans, a dog might have a chronic disease like arthritis for example. The joints may deteriorate and the dog might develop a limp, but the leg may simply become lame with little or no pain. More German Shepherd Limping Resources 1. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon. Additionally, TheDailyShep. Information provided is for informational purposes only — it is not a substitute for professional or qualified advice. By consuming this information, you accept that TheDailyShep. You should always consult your own veterinarian, animal expert, or health care professional and follow their advice before making decisions on all matters. Enjoy your reading, and thank you for being here ','. Many different factors could be causing your German Shepherd to limp, and knowing is half the battle. See below for a list of the most common reasons why your German Shepherd could be limping. Below is a list of things that cause lameness, which is a persistent limp caused by a non-trivial injury. Trauma to Leg Any sort of leg trauma could be causing your German Shepherd to limp. This includes things like broken bones, torn ligaments, dislocations, and other injuries. Just like in humans, these limit the leg function and are quite painful, so it is pretty obvious why they would make your German Shepherd limp a bit. You can only really be certain this is the case after a trip to the vet, but if you saw your dog get hurt, you might have a pretty idea that this is the case. Either way, it should be followed up by advice and treatment from a qualified vet. Hip or Elbow Dysplasia Hip and elbow dysplasia are extremely common conditions in dogs. This causes pain and lameness, resulting in a limp. Being a genetic condition, this can start from a relatively young age and is often an explanation for lameness in younger dogs. Unfortunately, there is often no cure for this. Sometimes, surgery or lifelong medication can be helpful, though. Arthritis Older dogs, just like older humans, can often experience arthritis. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints from years of stress. It usually affects the shoulders, knees, and hips. If your older dog is limping, you should probably consider this to be the most likely cause of that lameness. There are medications and nutritional supplements that can help with arthritis symptoms. Consult your vet to see your best course of action to make your dog a bit more comfortable with this condition. Congenital Abnormalities Sometimes, a limp or lameness can be the result of a congenital abnormality. These can often be skeletal or muscular abnormalities, which would explain limping. Hip and elbow dysplasia are often considered congenital abnormalities and are the most common type. Bone Cancer Unfortunately, as with all living things, cancer is a possibility with dogs as well. Although rarer than the other things above it on this list, bone cancer is a possibility when it comes to why your German Shepherd is experiencing lameness in one or more of its legs. Common Causes of Limping in Dogs Although there are some serious diseases and conditions that might be the reason your dog is experiencing lameness, you may also be able to attribute it to some fairly trivial, common things. Read on for a short list of common things that might be causing your German Shepherd to keep weight off of one of its feet. Wounds On The Footpads One of the most common reasons that a dog may be limping is that it has some kind of wound in its footpad. This can be the result of many things. Pulled Muscle Oftentimes, very active dogs can over-exert themselves and pull a muscle. This could cause the dog to develop a temporary limp as the area where the muscle was pulled becomes tender and painful to use. If your German Shepherd was bitten by a spider or stung by a wasp or hornet on its footpad, ankle, or anywhere near its paws, it may try to avoid walking on that as it would cause pain. Broken or Damaged Claw A broken or damaged claw could be quite painful to walk on for a dog, especially such a large one. Wait 15 minutes When you notice your dog is limping, the first thing you should do is wait and watch. A lot of limps are extremely trivial injuries like a paw that got stepped on or legs that may have been banged into something. Injuries like this will usually wear off for a bit. Wait and watch your dog for about 15 minutes. Do not coax it into walking or try to bring it for a walk, as too much movement could injure it further if it were to be something serious. Simply see if your dog gets up and walks around. Once it does, see if the limp persists for more than 15 minutes. Many minor limps will simply resolve themselves with time. These include bug bites and stings, paw pad wounds, damaged or cracked claws, and similar injuries that you can see physically. With many of these minor injuries, you can treat them yourself at home. Perhaps call your vet for tips on how and when to treat these injuries, but no major action is needed. When in doubt, bring your dog to the vet, or at least give them a call. This is the best and most accurate way to diagnose your dog, as your vet has the know-how and access to tools that can pin down exactly what is bothering your German Shepherd and causing its lameness. Check For Swelling If your dog is trying to avoid putting weight on one of its legs, it might be smart to check for swelling in that leg. That is a sign that you should go to the vet. This will be very helpful information for your vet should you decide to bring your dog in. There are a number of at-home remedies that can solve some of the less serious issues that are causing your German Shepherd to limp. Rest For many causes of limping, such as pulled muscles and open wounds, rest is the most important thing. If your dog is limping, try to scale back playtime and exercise to allow it time to heal. You should only really be going on walks to allow your dog to use the bathroom and allow your Shepherd to spend the rest of its time resting up its injured leg or paw. Make sure to use clean tools and wash your hands before and after to protect your dog from infection and cover any would well. Keep your yard clean of bees, spiders, other biting insects, thorny bushes, loose sticks, and other injury-causing materials. Keep your dog active and healthy to avoid injury that might come from weak bones or muscles. This can lead to joints and bones experiencing damage that causes swelling. In order to avoid or treat this kind of damage, you should make sure your dog is having its weight managed. Try to stick to a healthier diet with fewer carbs, red meat, and more lean proteins and vegetables. Make sure your German Shepherd is getting plenty of exercise between walking and playing daily. This is an athletic, active breed and should be treated as such! Your vet will be able to diagnose and treat any limp your dog is experiencing far better than you can. It may seem like a short, simple answer, but it is the best available in most cases. Cheaper than replacing everything they might break. And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone. And the best part is it also has a day money-back guarantee! You can also check out a full review here to learn exactly what the course has to offer! A: No. A limp is a sign that something is wrong. It may become normal as the dog ages if it develops arthritis or a similar condition. However, a limp is always a sign of some wound or condition. A: In many cases, a dog can get used to the cause of the limp and still run around if it feels it needs to during playtime or on a walk. Recap So, there are many reasons that your German Shepherd could be limping. Treat it at home if you can, but at least give your vet a call and get some advice. Related Posts:. This is because German Shepherds are intentionally bred to have a steeper angulation to the hind legs. The AKC breed standards for the breed, require German Shepherds to have as close to a degree bend as possible in their hind legs. Unfortunately, this steep angle in the back leg makes German Shepherds more susceptible to back pain and hind leg problems. After years of wear and tear, this makes them prone to serious leg problems as they age. For instance, studies have shown that German Shepherds are five times more likely to develop dysplasia as compared to Labradors, Rottweilers, and Golden Retrievers. A brief overview of these medical conditions: Degenerative Myelopathy Degenerative myelopathy DM is a neurological disease that makes German Shepherds slowly lose control of their hind legs. In the end, the dog may lose control of the urinary and bowel functions, and paralysis is a serious possibility. DM typically occurs in older dogs of about eight years or older, although it may also occur at a younger age. Unfortunately, there is no cure for DM. However, there are ways to reduce the suffering of your GSD because the condition progresses gradually. Therefore, treatment options for DM are geared towards ensuring a better quality of life rather than curing it. Most dogs with degenerative myelopathy will lose the function of their hind legs within six months to two years of diagnosis. Although there is no cure, regular exercise has been shown to improve the quality of life for dogs with DM. As a result, the ball of the hip joint causes pain as it glides roughly against the socket. Signs of hip dysplasia include a wobbly gait, lameness, limping, a decreased range of motion, and pain while walking. The most common causes of hip dysplasia include genetics, leg trauma, and environmental factors. In extreme cases of hip dysplasia, the dog may lose the function of their back legs and require a wheelchair. Arthritis may also occur due to the pressure exerted on the hip joint by hip dysplasia. Since GSDs are prone to hind leg weakness, they are at an increased risk for severe arthritis. Dogs with bad hips and arthritic joints may change their gait and walk lower to the ground, causing German Shepherd legs to appear even more bent. Signs of arthritis in German Shepherds include lethargy, loss of muscle mass in the hind limbs, reluctance to run, jump, or go up a flight of stairs, and stiffness in the hind legs. Prevention of osteoarthritis through proper dieting, exercising, and joint supplements helps to reduce the onset of osteoarthritis. Once osteoarthritis begins, the treatment is geared towards pain reduction, reducing inflammation, and improving the quality of life. Since osteoarthritis is difficult to detect in symptoms until the affected joints are badly affected, it is crucial to keep up with regular wellness visits with your vet. The best way to prevent these diseases is through genetic testing and following good breeding standards. This is possible by checking with your breeder for the hip score regarding hip dysplasia and proper parent matching to avoid degenerative myelopathy. Diet It works wonders for humans, and it will work for your best friend too. Since this breed is already a large-sized breed and the effects of breeding may be unpredictable, maintaining an optimal weight and observing a healthy, balanced diet is a wise precautionary measure. Some of the important dietary options to provide include ample proteins, vitamin D, vitamin K and magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin E. You should also ensure that the dog food you buy for your German Shepherd is well-suited, with enough calcium and phosphorus for healthy bone development. Your vet may also prescribe bone and joint supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, green-lipped mussels, and collagen if they are required. An obese or overweight will experience increased mobility challenges. Second, regular exercise, especially walking and swimming, is important. Lastly, consult your vet on supplements or medications that may slow down the progression of DM. In any case, for these medical conditions , keep an eye out for changes in movement and contact your vet if there are any concerns. Some common symptoms that your German Shepherd may show include a wobbly walk, slipping on the floor, sitting crooked, hips giving way, swelling, lesser muscle mass in the back legs, and having a shorter stride on the hind legs. Remember that most dogs will not express pain or discomfort at first, so it is up to you to spot the symptoms if they do appear — This is especially important for degenerative conditions because when it comes to treatment, the earlier, the better! Regular exercise Regular exercising does two important things for your German Shepherd. One, it strengthens the hind and front leg muscles, and two, it helps you spot changes in the performance of the hind legs. This is the sit-to-stand routine. In this routine, you start with your dog sitting in front of you. Then, you move back a bit and call the dog to you. When he follows, give a treat to keep his interest and, once again, sit him down. Repeat as many times as needed. Taking your dog on daily walks up and down a hill especially or having swimming sessions will also strengthen the leg muscles and help in managing the weight. Hydrotherapy is especially beneficial for dogs dealing with mobility issues. Canine massage relieves fatigue and tension in the hind leg muscles and helps to spot any unrelated pain that may be a sign of something to watch out for. How to massage your dog: Compress the muscle against the bone with your flat hand using both your palms and fingers. Glide your hand along his spine, following the lay of the fur. Apply semi-circular strokes on the muscular areas of the back legs. Using a support harness Sometimes, it is crucial to moderate the pressure that your shepherd applies to the back legs when he moves about. This is where the support harness comes in. A harness helps to remove some of the stress that the dog may be feeling when taking walks, for instance, until the muscles of the back legs are strong enough to take it. The use of the harness reduces the pressure placed on the bad back legs and makes it easier for your dog to walk. Keep them at a healthy weight and ensure they get plenty of exercise. Even if your GSD is battling a degenerative illness affecting his mobility, you can explore treatment and supportive methods that will enable a good quality of life. German shepherds are known as a very resilient and strong breed. Your dog will match and appreciate any effort you put into ensuring his good quality of life. 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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. What to Feed German Shepherd Puppies: A Healthy Feeding Guide One of the first things you need to know about what to feed German Shepherd puppies is, right from the start, to choose a high-quality puppy-specific food for large breed puppies. What to feed German Shepherd puppies—feed German Shepherd puppies a diet that is: Specifically created for large-breed puppies. What do German Shepherd puppies eat? New owners are given a host of choices when bringing home their new pups. You can choose to offer one or the other, or even opt for mixed feeding. Dry Kibble Kibble is the most popular and economical choice for German Shepherd puppies. Plus, the major manufacturers offer a complete and balanced diet in many different flavors, with or without grains, and even limited ingredient diets. Kibble can be moistened either with water or broth. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of kibble when it comes to feeding German Shepherd puppies: Advantages Easy to purchase at most stores and online. Keeps for longer than other food options. Quick and simple to serve with little clean up. Disadvantages Can be difficult for some puppies to chew, causing them to not eat enough. Wet Food Here are some advantages and disadvantages of feeding German Shepherd puppies wet food : Advantages Softer and potentially more palatable for picky eaters. Contains more water content than dry food, which can help keep your puppy hydrated. Can leave dogs feeling fuller for longer due to the water content. Can be more expensive than kibble in the long run. Requires more preparation time. Mixing Dry Kibble and Wet Foods Feeding our German Shepherd puppies is no easy task, and deciding between wet and dry puppy food can leave us scratching our heads. But what if we told you there was a middle ground? Mixing wet and dry puppy foods can be an option worth considering, but it comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Wet food contributes to increased water intake, ensuring your furry friend stays well-hydrated. Allows you to provide a diverse array of nutrients, contributing to a balanced diet for your growing German Shepherd. Disadvantages Might make it trickier to regulate portion sizes accurately, potentially leading to overfeeding and weight issues. These diets exclude foods that have been cooked or processed in any way. There are also some advantages and disadvantages to feeding a German Shepherd puppy a raw food diet: Advantages Raw diets consist of uncooked, fresh ingredients that retain their natural nutrients, potentially promoting better health for your puppy. Some puppies with food sensitivities might find relief on a raw diet as it eliminates common allergens found in processed foods. Disadvantages Preparing a balanced raw diet requires careful planning to ensure your pup gets all the necessary nutrients in the right proportions. Raw diets carry a higher risk of bacterial contamination, potentially affecting both your pup and you. Sourcing high-quality ingredients and properly storing them can be costly and time-consuming. Homemade Diets For large breed puppies, like German Shepherds, homemade diets must be carefully formulated, just like commercial foods. To create a homemade diet recipe specifically for your dog, it is preferable to consult a veterinarian who holds a board certification in veterinary nutrition. Unfortunately, research has shown that many well-intentioned dog owners still overfeed or give their dogs an unbalanced diet, which can be harmful. By cooking at home, you can skip additives and preservatives often found in commercial dog food. Disadvantages Without proper knowledge and planning, homemade meals may lack essential nutrients, leading to nutritional imbalances. Preparing homemade food demands time and effort, which might be challenging for busy pet parents. Mishandling raw ingredients can lead to contamination, causing health issues for your puppy. Remember, these charts help provide a guideline, but each dog is an individual. For example, if your dog has had a busy day of training and playing, they may need a few extra calories for dinner. This helps ensure they are growing as expected, and if not, you may need to alter the recommended feeding amount. As a rule of thumb, most German Shepherd puppies will eat as follows in this chart: Age. How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level. Many owners also want to know when they can switch to adult food formulas for their German Shepherd puppies. Switch your GSD puppy to adult food when they are around 12 to 18 months old. Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to 18 months old as long as they are not putting on excess weight too quickly. If you want to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, keep reading. Finding the best food to feed your German Shepherd puppy is overwhelming at times. This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating! Follow this feeding guide when you need to know what to feed German Shepherd puppies. I understand! The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition. Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed. Packed with nutrients to help limit inflammation of the joints and uses fresh ingredients. Easily digestible formula for puppies prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs. Rich aroma with DHA fish oil to entice puppies to finish every last bite while giving shine to their coats. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet. Most GSDs are healthy and fit on commercial dog foods that are high quality. These balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature. There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food. Now, consider what to feed a German Shepherd puppy based on their age. These feeding charts and guides will help keep your new companion growing strong and athletic. Tiny portions of canned, wet foods are introduced. Meals per day: 4 or more Puppies should stay with their mom for to keep them healthy. Nutrition Warning! At 8-weeks-old a GSD pup is eating more solid foods and develops a better appetite for kibble and other foods. Add in only a couple of small spoonfuls of canned plain pumpkin, unsweetened Greek yogurt, or cooked oatmeal to entice your pup to eat. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue feeding the same as the 8-week-old diet. Treats are not only enjoyable for your German Shepherd, but help you to eneterain and build a positive relationship with him. Be sure to keep their zoomies under control by playing plenty of fun German Shepherd games for puppies. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue to feed the kibble. Watch for excessive weight gain during this growth time as their bones cannot take extra weight! Too much weight gain too quickly can cause joint issues as an adult and prevent healthy development. Use their mental energy to help keep them more relaxed throughout the day by playing brain-boosting mind games for German Shepherd puppies. Meals per day: 3 to 4 Week-Old Puppy Keep your puppy trim and athletic by monitoring how much you feed your puppy and their body condition. You can write how much they eat and track this over time, and adjust how much your feed your German Shepherd puppy to keep them at a healthy weight. Try using fresh, raw, cut-up pieces of carrots as healthy treats or small, deseeded cubes of fresh apple as part of their training treats. Keep your eyes open for a growth spurt about to begin! Meals per day: 3 Week-Old Puppy Around 4 months old, you might notice your puppy finish their meal quickly and look for more food. Be sure to watch how many treats you give them throughout the day. You can do this by holding them safely in your arms and weighing them with you on the scale. Then, place them on the floor and step onto the scale without them to weigh yourself. Remember, around 16 to weeks old your German Shepherd puppy begins to rapidly grow. Instead, when looking overhead at your puppy their waist should look trim and not rounded outwards. German Shepherd puppies should appear sleek in their waistline. Meals per day: 3 Week And Older Puppy Continue to feed your German Shepherd puppy dry kibble with a small amount of healthy foods mixed in. You can lessen the healthy food you mix in gradually if you prefer. But, even as adults, German Shepherds love a bit of tasty toppers on their kibble. Around a year old, begin feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals a day. Two meals, one in the morning and evening, are not only safer but also provide your German Shepherd with sustained energy to fuel their high-energy lifestyle. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips: Always offer fresh water during their meal times. Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle. I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. Feed your German Shepherd at the same time everyday. The best time to feed a German Shepherd puppy is in the morning, before you leave for the day, and in the evening, about 2 hours before you put your dog to bed. Allow them to potty after eating to ensure their comfort. Your dog also needs to eat at other times of the day for their health and growth. How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat. Every dog is different. Keep in mind the number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each puppy food company has a different amount of calories and size of the kibble. Here are a few things that might affect how much your German Shepherd puppy should eat. The more active a German Shepherd puppy is, the more calories he needs to eat to replace lost energy. For example, puppies need nearly twice the amount of calories as compared to adults. And older or senior German Shepherds who are less active need less food. Health Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to feeding your German Shepherd. Simply put, you can prevent some medical conditions and health problems by monitoring their waistlines. Instead follow the healthy way to bulk up a German Shepherd. To see if your German Shepherd is at the right weight you can find the average weight depending on their age. German Shepherd care German Shepherd puppy diet: newborn For a German Shepherd puppy to develop and grow properly, it is imperative that they first nurse on their mother's milk. The first milk they receive is a protein and antibody-rich type of milk known as colostrum. This gives the puppy's immune and central nervous systems a boost. They then progress on to regular breast milk. Puppies will nurse for at least 6 to 8 weeks, gradually being weaned on to solid food at about 4 weeks. If, for any reason, the puppy cannot suckle its mother, don't give them cow or goat milk. These milks are very poor quality in comparison to a puppy's mother's milk. If your German shepherd puppy has to be prematurely weaned, a veterinarian will be able to prescribe specific infant formula and establish the appropriate dosage for your puppy. For example, a Chihuahua and a German Shepherd should not be fed the same food. This is because hese breeds have different nutritional needs. Take a look here to find out more about the diet for a prematurely weaned puppy. German Shepherd puppy diet: 1 month old From 3 to 4 weeks old, when it comes to feeding a German Shepherd puppy, we should start by letting them taste new foods and flavors. At this stage, the German Shepherd puppy's diet plan requires them to eat a special wet food for puppies. At around 6 to 8 weeks old, a German Shepherd puppy should be given a little dry dog food with water, or unseasoned chicken stock between nursing sessions. From their eighth week onward, a German Shepherd should be weaned and start feeding on solid food with a special puppy feed. The best dog food for a German Shepherd puppy is breed specific, but this may not be available everywhere. In these cases, your veterinarian can create a proper food plan for your German Shepherd puppy. At this stage, milk must be removed from the puppy's diet as it could cause diarrhea. If by any chance your dog or puppy is suffering from a bad stomach, we recommend taking a look at our article on what to do if yourt dog has diarrhea. In addition, it is vital that puppies have constant access to clean fresh water. German Shepherd puppy diet: 2 months old At two months of age, you can start to slowly decrease the moistening of your German Shepherd's dry food. Eventually, the puppy will be used to eating the food completely dry. Following the German Shepherd puppy food chart, from 2 until 4 months old, a puppy will eat 4 or 5 times a day. This has to be carried out with one very important addition: discipline. A puppy needs to learn that it will not be fed constantly throughout the day, but at specific times. We start of by placing a bowl of food down for 10 minutes, this should give the puppy enough time to finish its meal. After 10 minutes, we suggest taking the bowl of food away, even if your puppy hasn't finished eating. A puppy's food bowl must only be available to the dog for 10 minutes. This 10 minutes should be enough time for the puppy to eat all of its provided food. As already mentioned, after 10 minutes, you should take the food bowl away, even if the puppy hasn't finished eating. This pattern will introduce the puppy's food schedule and allow it an opportunity to become accustomed to particular feeding times. Accepting and adapting to a diet plan is very important for a puppy's intellectual development. It also facilitates more complex and demanding training sessions. Food for German shepherd puppies should be higher in calories, fats, proteins and calcium than adult German Shepherd dog food. This is because puppies are still growing and developing and therefore need better nutrition. German Shepherd puppy diet: food plan after 4 months Between 4 and 6 months of age, the number of meals which we have detailed in our German Shepherd puppy food chart should be reduced to 3 a day. The food quantity should be increased and an extra margin of 2 minutes to eat should be provided. The packaging of quality commercial dog food will detail the appropriate suggested amount of food for the puppy, depending on its age and weight. If you have any doubts, consult your veterinarian. You should eventually start mixing fresh food, such as meat, fish or vegetables, with the commercial dry feed. Beware of forbidden foods for dogs. Some people ask about a raw diet for a German shepherd puppy, but we recommend these such foods should always be cooked and never given to a dog raw. Meanwhile, treats for dogs should only be used as positive reinforcement during their training and learning period, never as a food supplement. Under no circumstances should you give your German Shepherd, or any dog, human food leftovers. Human food contains salt, sugar and seasoning contents which are very harmful to a dog's health. In addition, if you do offer your dog your food, it will pester you during meals [1]. For more, take a look at some of the harmful effects of treating a dog like a human. German Shepherd puppy diet: after 6 months When your German Shepherd puppy reaches 6 months of age, its daily food intake should be reduced to twice a day. When we do this we can increase the food portions and eating time accordingly. Our German Shepherd diet chart below should be taken into account depending on the age, lifestyle and size of your German Shepherd puppy. After 6 months, you should give your German Shepherd puppy shatterproof bones, such as beef, to gnaw on. For more, take a look here for more about; Bones For Puppies. German shepherd puppy: Dog food and water bowl hygiene Your puppy's food and drink containers should always be clean. Hygiene is very important in order to prevent the appearance of insects. If you notice that your puppy has not eaten for three consecutive meals, consult your veterinarian immediately. This lack of appetite in a puppy could be caused by bowel obstruction and stomach pain; due to the ingestion of toxic food etc. Don't forget that puppies are very sensitive and fragile and if you ignoring any symptoms of disease, it can result in severe issues or even puppy fatality. German Shepherd care German Shepherd puppies should be socialized and trained to live with you from day one. These dogs are incredibly capable and have the ability, if trained properly, to learn tricks and perform activities [2]. In addition to the diet of a German Shepherd, don't forget the importance of preventative medicines, following the appropriate vaccination schedules and general German Shepherd dog care. For more information about your German shepherd, take a look at.Growth and weight The German Shepherd puppy is a popular addition to many households. Sometimes called the Alsatian puppy, the German Shepherd was initially developed for herding and now commonly used as a working dog or pet. This is your guide to providing all the nutrients your new puppy needs. When Your Puppy Comes Home Although they look pretty sturdy at eight weeks old, German Shepherd puppies are vulnerable to tummy upsets when they arrive at a new home. To help them settle in stick with the food their breeder was giving them for the first two weeks minimum. You can then gradually swap over by increasing proportions over the course of a couple of days. However, if they are doing well on their original food, considering sticking with it for longer. To begin with follow the guidelines provided by the breeder, the feed manufacturer or by your veterinarian. This will vary depending on how calorie dense the food is and how it is formulated. Your puppy should be fed four times a day up to the age of four months. After this age, two larger meals at regular times will be sufficient. However, the more often you feed your pup the stronger your bond will grow. Simple sits and recalls, puppy tricks, they all make a big difference to how your dog behaves towards you and feels about you as they grow. What to Feed A German Shepherd Puppy You will find there are a lot of different opinions about what kind of food is best. Kibble and wet food are the most popular, but you do also have the option of raw or homemade meals. Puppy Kibble Great quality, high meat content kibble is my go-to for feeding larger puppy breeds. At the beginning of the day I measure out their daily food amount, then separate it into little pots. Some as meals, and the remainder to use throughout the day to reward good behavior or get off on the right foot with positive reinforcement. The FDA recently issued a notice alerting dog owners to a potential increased risk of a serious heart condition. This is called canine dilated cardiomyopathy DCM. The risk is in dogs eating foods that include peas, lentils, or potatoes instead of grains. The underlying cause of these cases is not clear, but the FDA note suggests that caution should be used in selecting foods with these ingredients for German Shepherds and other large dogs. Canned Dog Food For picky eaters canned food can be more appealing. It smells stronger, and debatably tastes nicer. These diets do not include cooked or otherwise processed foods. However, it may be more difficult to regulate a BARF diet to ensure a slow and steady growth rate in young puppies. If you find this option intriguing, you can check out our article on feeding your dog a raw diet. Homemade Diets Research has shown that in the past, poorly balanced homemade diets have been harmful to German Shepherd puppies. There is now abundant information available to anyone who is willing and able to produce a safe and balanced diet. However, modern cases studies have shown that well-meaning owners may still over-feed or create an unbalanced diet. So, this is an area where you really can have too much of a good thing. As with commercial foods, homemade diets must be properly formulated for a large breed dog. Do not deviate from recommended recipes as provided by a veterinarian. If possible, preferably a vet with a board certification in veterinary nutrition. Recipes published in popular magazine and websites may not be nutritionally complete or suitable for a large breed puppy. Is My Puppy the Right Weight? You can also refer to German Shepherd puppy growth charts to see if you puppy is gaining weight and within the normal range. However, keep in mind that some dogs will be unusually small or large but still be perfectly healthy. Do not try to maximize growth rates as this can lead to health problems later. Ensure that you are familiar with how to assess the body condition of your puppy. The ribs and spine should be easy to feel but not simple to see. My Puppy Is Still Hungry If your puppy seems excessively hungry provide more frequent but smaller meals. Young puppies cannot tolerate going without food for extended periods. With older puppies you may wish to experiment with foods that help them feel more full, and provide low calories treats. Keeping a health puppy active and occupied will help prevent them from becoming overly focused on anticipating their next meal.