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Make sure you understand the implications of investing in a Lab that was bred via runt breeding or a Lab that is diagnosed with dwarfism. Avoid getting your Lab through breeders who have purposefully bred dwarfism into their Lab puppies or through breeders who have purposefully bred litters to be smaller than average. Try and ensure that your Mini Labrador maintains a quality diet and eats a dog food specified for his age, weight and activity level. Keep up with routine grooming practices, and ensure your dog sees a vet regularly for wellness exams and check ups. In spite of not being the healthiest dogs, Mini Labradors are just as friendly, affectionate and playful as their full-sized counterparts. Mini Labrador dogs are still Labradors, and as such they are some of the most highly sought after dogs in the world. These dogs are renowned for their family-friendly temperament and companionability when it comes to children. They also get along great with other pets including both dogs and cats. Labradors are very high energy , however, which can be exhausting for the more laid back owner. That said, in the right home and with an active family , Labrador dogs can thrive. They are incredibly intelligent as well, meaning training is a breeze. In fact, Labrador Retrievers are some of the top employed service dogs throughout the world, thanks to their keen sense of emotional intelligence and ability to pick up so quickly on what their people need of them. However, Labs can become very bonded with their family and do get bored easily when left alone for too long. This boredom can lead to destructive behaviors like digging, marking, barking and chewing. Mini Labrador Training and Socialization Requirements Like all dogs, the Mini Labrador should be trained and socialized at an early age to prevent behavioral issues. Like all dogs, Labrador Retrievers require plenty of socialization and training at an early age in order to grow up happy, healthy and well-rounded. Even though Labrador Retrievers are highly social and friendly, they can be prone to behavioral issues and even aggressive tendencies if they are not raised and socialized properly. Because they are so intelligent, Labrador Retrievers love to learn. They are also eager to please and highly food motivated. Instead, use positive reinforcement tactics like treats and praise. If you find your Mini Labrador is becoming distracted or bored during training sessions, try and offer several five minute sessions throughout the day and provide him with plenty of breaks and playtime in between. Tips on Socializing Your Mini Labrador Socializing your Mini Labrador is just as vital as training is to his overall health and happiness. A dog who is properly socialized is a confident, well-rounded dog that is less likely to exhibit aggressive tendencies and fear-based behavioral issues. Try and ensure your dog has positive first time experiences and as many new experiences as possible as he develops. Introduce him to different people, children, other dogs, sights, sounds, and so on. Encourage your Mini Labrador gently using treats and praise to help him associate the world around him with something positive. Most importantly, avoid forcing your Mini Labrador into a situation or experience he is clearly frightened of. Doing so could exasperate his fear and lead to future problems down the road. Labrador Retrievers are naturally energetic dogs. Bred water retrieving dogs, these guys love to be with their people and will enjoy being outside and having a job to do. A Mini Labrador will be no different, and will enjoy a variety of exercise routines including both mental and physical exercises designed to keep him healthy and happy. Mental Exercise Labs are considered some of the smartest dogs in the canine kingdom. As such, they are happiest when they have jobs to do or when they are given plenty of appropriate, dog-safe activities to keep them busy. We recommend investing in interactive puzzle toys and slow feeders to keep your Mini Lab engaged and challenged. You can also take time to set up fun little obstacle courses in and outside of your home with furniture or appliances and encourage your dog to complete these courses for treats. Not only will this help keep your dog mentally and physically sound, it will help build the bond between the two of you. Remember, Dwarf Labradors can suffer from a higher rate of bone and joint issues, spinal issues and chronic pain. They may also suffer from brachycephalic airway syndrome due to their abnormal skull development. This can lead to respiratory issues, heat intolerance and exercise induced collapse. When dealing with a Dwarf Labrador or Mini Labrador, be sure not to over-exercise your dog and to monitor him in warmer weather. The appropriate exercise for a Mini Labrador will include about 30 to 45 minutes of exercise a day as well as free playtime in a securely fenced backyard. Mini Labrador dogs are also highly social and get along with other canines, so dog parks are another great way for your Mini Labrador to have his exercise needs met. This is especially beneficial for dogs who might suffer from breathing difficulties. The harness is ideal for medium sized dogs like Mini Labradors and will help you guide your Lab on walks easily and naturally. The material is comfortable for your Lab as well, and even includes reflective materials for safer evening walks. Still, they require routine grooming and upkeep to ensure they stay healthy. The Mini Labrador is a shedding dog, so he may not be the ideal companion for those who suffer from allergies. This is a breed who has a dense, double-coat that is weather resistant and self cleaning. The good news is that he only needs to be bathed once every six weeks or so with a quality dog shampoo and conditioner. Over-bathing your Mini Labrador can lead to skin and coat issues. Your Mini Labrador will not need hair cuts or trims, though he will need routine brushing. While he sheds year-round, the Mini Labrador sheds heaviest twice a year during the shedding season in Spring and Fall. During the shedding season, you may want to brush your lab a few times a week to collect and reduce loose hair from his undercoat and keep it from your clothing and furniture. Outside of shedding season, you can get by brushing your Mini Lab once a week. Along with bathing and brushing, the Mini Labrador should have his ears checked regularly to prevent chances of moisture and build up leading to an ear infection. His teeth should be brushed daily using a safe toothbrush and dog-friendly toothpaste , and his nails should be trimmed or ground down regularly. Gonicc Dog Nail Clippers. Coat: Are Mini Labs hypoallergenic? If you are after a hypoallergenic dog, you will have much better luck with Labradoodles , which are Labs crossed with Poodles. Unfortunately, the Mini Lab has the same tendency to shed as a standard Lab. Their thick double coats are waterproof on the top layer, soft and fluffy on the inner layer. Thanks to their double coats, they can withstand heat and cold much better than their owners can. That being said, every dog is different and their preferences should be taken into consideration. A house dog would not like being left out in the cold, whereas a dog used to winter would find your home too stuffy with the heating on. Do Miniature Labradors make better house pets? Purebred Labradors are known to be awesome family pets. They get along great with kids and are as loving as they are active. Your Teacup Lab Retriever will be no different. However, due to issues with their health, your Mini Labrador Retriever dog might be more time-consuming to take care of. According to Google, there are plenty of runts that live to lead healthy lives but they often have lower survivability in their puppyhood. On the other hand, Labradors born with dwarfism will need a lifetime of specialized care and attention. Exercising your Miniature Labrador Retriever Mini Labradors have the same energy levels as their standard counterparts. The only difference is that they are even more susceptible to joint disorders such as hip dysplasia. You also want to provide them with enough stimulation, lest they get bored and become destructive. How often should Mini Labs be groomed? Too much shampooing can also cause their coats to dry out, which will either cause itchiness or an increase in oil production. Neither of which will do your dog any favors. Check their eyes and ears frequently to ensure that there are no abnormalities. Nails need to be clipped every few weeks or when you can hear them clacking on the floor. As you can see, they are quite low maintenance and only require a brush every now and then. Any ole slicker brush you get off Amazon will do, although some pet parents like to use a furminator to get their annual shedding under control. How do you feed a Toy Labrador? They will need the same nutrients as a large-breed dog. Miniature Labrador Health Issues Depending on what caused your Labrador to be smaller than the breed standard, you might need to be prepared for a shorter than average lifespan. Dogs with dwarfism might only live 5 years, whereas the breed average is 10 — .They also suffer from certain physical disabilities such as short legs, bowed knees, swollen joints, turned-out feet, and a low slung back. Dwarf Labs also have proportionally large heads. There are two main kinds of dwarfism, SD1, and SD2. The SD1 gene is called osteochondrodysplasia and will manifest as malformed legs. These dogs will most likely develop dysplasia and cause pain and lameness, something that the Labrador breed is already susceptible to. The SD2 is the more common form of dwarfism and it causes skeletal dysplasia and inhibits their bones from fully developing. This means that while their legs will be shorter, they will not have any deformities. Another genetic mutation that might create a Miniature Labrador lies in their faulty pituitary gland. A malfunction that inhibits their growth hormones naturally stunts their growth and leaves them smaller than other Labs. All three mutations can increase the risk for retinal dysplasia which causes blindness. Smaller Labs bred with runts are often more sickly than regular-sized Labs. However, they can also be just as healthy. This popular breed of dog could also develop ear and eye problems, and hypothyroidism. The other health issues that Labbie owners should look out for are obesity and cancer. How Much is a Miniature Labrador Puppy? Most breeders do not advertise their stunted puppies as bigger Labradors are often more desirable. First of all, they should be breeding healthy Labradors who do not carry the gene for dwarfism. Just be aware of the risks involved as they are unregulated. With a background in animal science, dog training, and behavior consulting, her hands-on experience and extensive knowledge make her a trusted source for dog owners. When not writing or leading the K9 Web content team, Cess can be found volunteering at local shelters and participating in dog-related events. Leave a Comment. Do smaller Labs live longer? These are dwarf Labradors that have been bred to be smaller in size than the regular breed. They are three inches shorter than full-sized labs, making them the smallest labrador type. Despite their size, they possess characteristics of a standard Labrador — loyal, friendly, and intelligent. Their compact size makes them an attractive option for those living in apartments or smaller homes. Always be cautious when buying a miniature labrador. Some breeders crossbreed runts or introduce dwarfism, resulting in serious health issues. A reputable breeder maintains quality standards. Their double coat helps regulates their body temperature in cold water and harsh weather conditions. Regular brushing minimizes shedding and keeps the coat healthy. Labs shed excessively during seasonal changes, so be prepared for extra grooming. Owners worried about allergies may consider getting miniature labs because of their smaller size. However, even small dogs can produce allergens through skin flakes and saliva. If allergies are of particular concern, try Bichon Frise or Poodles. They are regular Labrador Retrievers selectively bred for a smaller size. Unscrupulous breeders market them as high-priced designer dogs to buyers. Purchase only from those who follow ethical breeding practices. Despite not being purebred, these miniature dogs exhibit many full-sized Labrador traits. They have a friendly disposition, are easily trainable, and love water. Variation in temperament among Mini Labs is seen due to mixed breeding. Some breeders selectively breed them with other small dogs to reduce their size. It results in limb malformation, hip dysplasia, and intervertebral disc disease. Genetic testing is an essential component for healthy offspring, per AKC. Enquire about it from the breeders. This method produces a smaller dog than the standard Labrador Retriever. Dwarfism Introduction Dwarfism is the final method of breeding mini labs. Dwarf labradors often suffer from health problems like skin and coat abnormalities. Dwarfism results in shorter lifespans. Breeding methods that intentionally create miniature versions of purebred dogs have faced criticism. These hybrid dogs look adorable and make excellent lapdogs. Appearance Of the labrador teacup Mini Labs come in various coat colors and textures with distinct physical features. Miniature Labradors have short or longhaired coats that are dense, thick, and water-resistant coats. Besides standard coat colors, some breeders offer rare colors like silver , charcoal , and champagne. Be cautious when searching for a specific color. They also feature droopy ears, almond-shaped eyes, and a sleek short or medium-length coat. Mini Labs are slightly smaller than regular Labs but retain their muscular physique. Regarding height and weight, they range from 11 to 16 inches and weigh between 25 to 60 pounds. Despite their small size, they possess great strength thanks to their stout legs and stocky body frame. These features make Miniature Labradors easy pets that adapt well to any environment. They are a few inches shorter and lighter than other Labs. Size Comparison A teacup labrador retriever is meant to be even smaller than a miniature labrador. Mini labs are already the smallest version of the standard labrador retriever. Hence, size is the most significant difference between a teacup and a mini labrador. Differences In Temperament of labrador with dwarfism Teacups and miniature Labs may be smaller but have the same gentle temperament as regular Labrador retrievers. They are loyal companions. They have a higher tendency towards anxiety and fear. It makes them a bit skittish around strangers. Proper training and early socialization develop well-rounded personalities. Limb Malformation Limb malformation is a serious concern for Teacups. Miniature versions of this breed are bred to be smaller, but irresponsible breeding practices cause genetic disorders. Always inquire about the genetic history of both parents before getting a Teacup home. The hip joint does not develop properly and becomes loose and unstable. This leads to arthritis and chronic pain later in life. Get your dog from those who screen their breeding dogs. Maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise reduce the risk of developing hip problems. Medication or surgery can come into play. When the cushion-like discs between vertebrae in the spine deteriorate or rupture, it leads to nerve damage and pain. Symptoms include difficulty walking, dragging limbs or paralysis, and losing bladder or bowel control. It is common among smaller dog breeds like Teacups due to their long backs and short legs. Regular exercise and a healthy diet benefit the prevention of IVDD. Obesity Since they are smaller, many often assume they require less food and exercise than regular-sized Labs. But, Teacup Labs have a faster metabolism rate and require more energy-dense diets. Obesity in Teacup Labs leads to joint pain and arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and reduced life expectancy. A well-balanced diet with high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats is needed. Daily walks or swimming help keep their muscles strong and agile. These smaller dogs are more prone to limb malformation. Besides, hip dysplasia is a common issue among all Labradors. Educate yourself on these issues before making a final decision. Ensure your pup gets regular check-ups from your veterinarian. Proper nutrition and interactive puzzle toys keep them stimulated. According to the AKC, female Labradors should be between .Teacups or miniature Labradors do not conform to these standards. Few dog breeders purposefully breed smaller Labs for those who live in apartments. Miniature Poodles , Cocker Spaniels , and Beagles are good alternatives. Miniature Poodles A small dog breed that is smart, easy to train, and hypoallergenic , Miniature Poodles are perfect. These adorable dogs usually weigh pounds and stand around inches tall. They are good for apartments or cities. They have a long history of being successful show dogs. One advantage of owning a Miniature Poodle over a Teacup Lab is their health. Poodles have fewer serious health problems. Miniature poodles have an average lifespan of years which is higher than most other small breeds or toy-sized mixes. Cocker Spaniels Cocker Spaniels are another excellent alternative for those who want a smaller dog breed. They weigh between 20 and 30 pounds, about half the size of a regular Labrador. They are ideal for apartment living or families who prefer dogs that can be easily carried around. Cocker Spaniels have long hair that requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling. Their coats come in many colors, including black, buff, red, and chocolate. They make great family pets , are loyal, and are gentle with children. Like all breeds, they are prone to ear infections and hip dysplasia. These small hound dogs are friendly, energetic, and great for families with kids. They weigh pounds and stand around inches at the shoulder. It makes them smaller than a full-sized Labrador. Their size makes it easier to manage in urban areas or small apartments. They often shed and need regular grooming. Beagles are prone to hip dysplasia and obesity. Is The pocket lab dog Right For You? Considerations Before Adopting Consider your lifestyle and whether you can accommodate the needs of a mini labrador breed. Labs require plenty of exercise and attention. Another consideration is the cost associated. Miniature Labs may come at a higher price due to their breeding methods and reputability. They require regular check-ups with vets, quality food, and toys to improve their cognitive functions. Labradors get along well with cats or other dogs. Introduce them slowly, so they accept each other faster. Always take these factors into account before speaking with labrador breeders. These dogs thrive in active households where they can get plenty of exercise and playtime. They are social animals who need regular interaction with their owners and other pets. Finding miniature labrador breeders is the first step. Search online for breeders specializing in miniature labradors or with experience breeding smaller-sized Labs. The initial cost of buying a dog is just the beginning. Caring for your Teacup Lab includes expenses like food , vet visits, and toys. Teacup labradors weigh fewer than 5 pounds as adults. They grow a maximum of 17 inches tall. The exact sizes vary based on the breeding approach. Breeders aim to create a dog the same size as a puppy throughout their life. Is there such a thing as a mini Labrador? A mini labrador does exist. Also known as dwarf labradors, they are produced from two labrador parents carrying genes for dwarfism. Dwarf labradors usually have bent legs. What is the smallest Labrador in the world? A miniature labrador is considered the smallest labrador retriever. They are about 19 to .In extreme cases, they can be as short as 17 inches. How long do mini Labradors live? Factors like genetics and environment significantly contribute to it. The same is true for a mini labrador. How big does a runt Lab get? As per AKC, male labrador retrievers can weigh between 65 and 80 pounds and get 22 to 25 inches tall. While females are 55 to 70 pounds and 21 to 24 inches tall. Why is my 6-month miniature small? Mini labradors are smaller than average but do not remain small to a miniature extent. Small lab puppies mean they are undernourished or are suffering from an illness. Generally, smaller dog lives longer than their larger counterparts. Besides, mongrels live about 1. With extensive research and personal experiences, Aritra has become a Labrador expert, offering a rich resource on the breed. The site serves as a comprehensive resource, offering a wealth of up-to-date information for Labrador owners and enthusiasts alike. March 7, Miniature breeds are the new trend in the dog world. Not only are they super-cute, but their smaller size makes them a choice for prospective owners who may not have room for their full-size counterparts. Miniaturizing any breed comes with health consequences, especially when it involves a large breed dog such as the Labrador. Do miniature labrador dogs exist, and if so, how small are they, and do they have any specific health issues? Do Miniature Labradors Exist? The answer is both Yes and No. However, miniature labradorsresult fromquestionable breeding practices that can create a host of problems for both the pups and their owners. So if these miniature labs do exist, what are they like? Overview of Miniature Labradors Besides being smaller in size, miniature labradors are the same as any normal labrador in all aspects. Mini labs are extremely devoted to their owners and love to please them in all sorts of ways. They love accompanying their owners in any activity they do, especially if it involves physical exercise. Due to their smaller size, miniature labrador dogs are lighter in weight than your average lab. Mini Labrador puppies tend to make excellent pets for families with lots of children and activity. Despite that, there is a bit of controversy surrounding the overall health of these dogs. Dwarfism Like humans, dwarfism is a condition that is known to exist in many breeds, including Labradors. It affects dogs just like it affects humans, causing a slowed growth of bones, which causes the dog to develop a shorter-than-normal stature. Dwarf labs are conceived by breeding two labradors that carry the genes responsible for dwarfism. When both dwarf parents contribute a copy of the dwarf genes, the litter is born with predisposed dwarfism. There are two types of genes responsible for dwarfism in labradors known as the SD1 and SD2 gene. SD2 Gene: Known as skeletal dysplasia. It hinders bone growth and prevents them from reaching full size, giving the lab a smaller appearance. Thus, the Labrador cannot grow as much as a typical lab, causing them to develop a smaller stature. Crossbreeding Another way most breeders create miniature labradors is by crossbreeding them with another small breed of dogs. And to sell them at a premium is unethical and can land the breeder in trouble. Another problem with hybrid miniature labs is that they might not always turn out to be perfectly healthy. Breeding Runts This one is perhaps the most popular technique for creating a miniature breed. With some breeds, this technique can be quite successful and can yield puppies that are significantly smaller in size than the average puppy of that same breed. However, there are some issues with this technique as well. Runt parents can produce standard-sized puppies. Because the small-size of these runts is usually due to some health condition, or worse dwarfism, the same genetic flaws would probably pass on to the litter they conceive. Also, some breeders inbreed these runts, which can lead to difficulties of their own. And even though they are predisposed to specific health issues, breeders have evolved labs so that these defects are slowly decreasing in pedigreed dogs. However, methods used to produce miniature labradors can re-introduce those defects back into the population of miniatures. So what are those health defects? And which mini labs have them? Defects In Miniature Labs The method of producing miniature labs, which leads to the highest amount of defects, is dwarfism. Both SD1 and SD2 genes can cause abnormal growth, which can worsen or create entirely new defects within a miniature lab. Some of the most prevalent defects associated with dwarfism in mini labs are: Bowed Legs and Knees: Labs with dwarfism appear shorter because their legs are malformed. Swollen Joints: Because dwarfism causes a malformation of the bones in labs, it can put uneven pressure on the joints, causing swelling and inflammation. Swollen joints are usually helped through regular medication but could need surgery in some cases. Worsened Joint Dysplasia: Joint dysplasia is a predisposed defect that many labradors suffer from naturally. Not only is joint dysplasia extremely painful, but it can also lead to arthritis, which might even lead to the dog getting euthanized in severe cases. Larger Skull and Breathing Problems: Dwarfism is also associated with abnormal growth of the skull, including the muzzle, which creates breathing problems for the Labrador and deteriorate their quality of life. Should You Get a Miniature Labrador? Now for the most important question, should you buy a miniature labrador? Most breeders and advertisers of miniature labs are untrustworthy. Let us explain a bit more: 1. And considering that a miniature labrador dog suffers from way more than the average dog, caring for them is more involved. For a labrador to officially register with the AKC, they must be between .If a labrador does not meet these requirements, they can still get registered with the organization. However, the owners must provide the pedigree documents to prove that the dog is purebred. A miniature lab is only about 2 to 2. FAQs What is the lifespan of a dwarf labrador? Unlike a standard labrador, a mini lab might only live up to 5 years, even if they receive full medical care and attention. What can you buy instead of miniature labradors? What is the difference in height between a standard and miniature lab? Unlike other miniature breeds, a miniature lab might only be 2 to 3 inches shorter in height than a standard labrador. How much do miniature labradors shed? A miniature lab has the same double-coat as a standard labrador. They shed an adequate amount of fur, particularly during the spring and fall seasons. Do miniature labradors bite a lot? Miniature and standard labs are both more prone to biting during puppyhood. But once they become adults, the habit mostly subsides, provided they get proper training. Featured Posts:. Welcome to Miniature Labs! Labs have been on the top of the list when choosing a family pet therapy dogs and hunting companions. The Miniature Labradors are really no different when it comes to temperament, looks and being family friendly. They are a bit smaller so they take up less space! They still have all the great attributes as a standard lab like great coats, webbed feet for swimming and otter tails. There have been a couple of good breeders that have invested a lot of time into the Miniature Labrador Retriever. We hope that these dogs will continue to bless all of us with their GREAT personalities and their zest for life for a long time to come! We breed our miniature Labrador puppies using many of the breeds listed on our miniature lab breed origen page. However, we do try to keep "Lab" as our primary breed. By doing this, it helps to preserve what past miniature labrador retriever breeders have started as well as help build the future of the mini lab breed. Above is a 15 month old standard labrador Chocolate Left lbs next to one of our miniature labs 15 months right merle 34lbs www. Are teacup Labradors healthy? For many people, the teacup Lab seems like a perfect solution. The lovable Lab package in a tiny, puppy-sized body for life. But, the reality of the teacup Labrador is quite different to this ideal. What is a Teacup Lab? Teacup dogs are bred to have an extremely small size. They are often considered the smallest possible size for dogs, smaller than toy or miniature breeds. The name is inspired by their size — dogs small enough to fit in a teacup, even when fully grown. A teacup Lab is simply one bred, in some way, to have this extreme, tiny size. This is because, despite their cute appearance, these tiny dogs are actually quite unhealthy. With that extreme size comes a huge number of problems that can shorten their lifespan and significantly reduce their quality of life. How are Teacup Labs Bred? Teacup Labs will often be bred in the same ways as miniature Labs, but with the aim of creating an even smaller dog. The three main methods used are: Breeding together Lab runts over generations Mixing the Labrador with a toy breed Introducing the dwarfism gene The appearance, temperament, and health of a teacup Lab will vary depending on the method used. Breeding Runts As the smallest, and often weakest, dog in the litter, runts can be prone to health issues. Sometimes puppies become the runt of the litter because they already have a congenital disease which comprises their physical size, strength and wellbeing. Breeding them together to create a new generation of small dogs will pass those hereditary diseases on. Runts are also more likely to miss out on immunity-providing colostrum from their mom, which means they are more likely to have poor immune systems pick up bacterial and viral infections and suffer long term side effects from infectious diseases. Mixing Labs with a Toy Breed When you mix two dog breeds together, puppies could inherit any blend of their qualities, including temperament, appearance, and health. There is absolutely no way of knowing exactly what your puppy will be like until they arrive. For instance, a breeder may mix a Lab with a Chihuahua to try and get teacup sized puppies. But, their puppies may look more like Chihuahuas, and have a Chihuahua-like temperament. Introducing Dwarfism The final common method used is to introduce dwarfism. Dwarfism in dogs has been associated with health problems such as skin and coat abnormalities, including alopecia. Sadly, many dogs with dwarfism suffer from shortened lifespans. A Mix of Methods To achieve the tiny size required of teacup dogs, breeders may choose to use more than one of these methods over generations to get the smallest Labs possible. Of course, this does not come without risks to the puppies, who can suffer from serious health problems. How Big is a Teacup Lab? But, toy breeds are still much larger than teacup dogs. It is generally accepted that teacup dogs weigh fewer than 5 pounds as adults, and reach no more than 17 inches tall. Of course, the exact size of a teacup Lab would vary depending on the method used to breed one. But, in general, breeders attempt to create a Lab that is the same size as a puppy throughout its entire life. The exact appearance of a teacup Lab will depend entirely on the method used to breed them. Breeding runts over generations is the method most likely to give you a teacup Lab that looks like a Lab. But, of course, this relies on your dog avoiding any potential heritable health issues. And, it is a long-winded process. Even two small Labs bred together could birth puppies that grow into larger Labs. As we said earlier, a mixed breed dog could inherit traits from either parent. And, Labs with dwarfism will often be small, but disproportionately. Their heads and paws may be larger than normal, with very short legs. Do Teacup Labs Shed? They are smaller, so yes there is less fur to deal with. But you cannot escape Lab shedding by choosing a teacup Labrador. Controlling shedding can actually be harder with a teacup Lab, as normal grooming tools may be too large to use easily on your tiny dog. And, remember, coat can be influenced by the breeding method used. Teacup Labs that are the result of mixed breeding could have a non-Lab type coat. And those bred to have dwarfism may suffer from coat-related health issues like alopecia. Are Teacup Labs Purebred? Teacup Labs are not accepted by any official breed registries, so they cannot be shown as purebred dogs in shows. Their status as a purebred dog will depend on the method used to breed them. Obviously, mixing a Lab with a smaller breed will not create a purebred Lab puppy. But, breeding together runts over generations can give you smaller purebred puppies. However, the purebred Labs that result are likely to be less healthy than Labs who are bred with their overall health in mind, rather than just a certain appearance. Teacup vs Miniature Labs The main difference between teacup and miniature Labradors is their size. Teacup Labs are meant to be even smaller than miniature Labs, which are already smaller than the standard. So, they will be at risk of issues just as much as teacup Labs. Labs of all sizes are prone to:. Their legs appear to be bent because they are malformed. This bone malformation causes them to have problems with their knee and hip joints, which can be painful and crippling. Any type of dwarfism can cause additional health problems to the animal. Although you associate dwarf Labradors with short legs, they can also have abnormally formed skulls. This can result in breathing problems. They can also have problems whelping, and require c-sections instead of being able to give birth naturally. Disproportionate leg and body lengths, such as seen to an extreme scale in the Dachshund, can also result in spinal problems and painful movements. Although some dwarf Labradors will live full and happy lives, they are at a greater risk than their unaffected cousins. It is therefore very important that Labrador breeders ensure that they do not breed from Labradors who carry the gene for dwarfism. Dwarf Labrador Health Tests Before you buy a Labrador, their breeder should have carried out a variety of health tests on both of the parents. One of the things you should make sure that they have tested for is dwarfism in Labradors. There is a test available for SD2, which will tell the breeder whether the parent carries the gene. No Lab with the gene should be bred to another with it, as they could result in the puppies having dwarfism. Miniature Labrador Breeders A Labrador Retriever small breed is something that has been coined by a few dog breeders to try and cash in on a market of dog lovers who want a small Labrador Retriever to fit into their lives. Every month hundreds of people scour the internet looking for a miniature black Lab or miniature chocolate Lab to join their family. And unscrupulous people will take advantage of these people who are innocently putting their faith in them to provide a happy, healthy new friend. They will provide you with clear, breed specific information. Those claiming to be miniature Labrador breeders may be producing puppies that carry the Labrador dwarfism gene. They may have cross bred their lines with a smaller breed of dog. Or they may be producing regular sized Labs and simply giving their customers the misleading impression that they will remain the same size. Words Of Warning From Lab Breeders If you are researching Labrador breeders, here are some negative buzzwords to keep your eyes peeled for: Micro Labrador Mini Labrador Miniature Labs These words demonstrate that the breeder is either lacking knowledge about Labradors or is trying to mislead puppy buyers. Either way, they are not the breeder that you want to approach. Well, yes, you can. Some Labradors are smaller than others! Within the bounds of usual Labrador size, they are a bit shorter, lighter and just plain littler than other Labs. You will also find that some English Labradors are chunky in build but short in height. Short legs are more fashionable in the show ring at the moment. So this can be removed as the reason for them being shorter legged. Small Labradors who are simply at the lower end of the normal spectrum can be found from reputable breeders, and they are a good option if you want a Labrador temperament in a slightly smaller package. The other option is to buy a Labrador mix, who is crossed with a smaller breed of dog. Just make sure that you check out the health tests that are relevant to this breed as well before you commit to the puppy. But no healthy Labrador will stay small to the miniature extent. Lab puppies that stay really small do so because they are undernourished, ill or have a disease. Even dwarf Labradors are only around 2. If you want a small Labrador Retriever, then think about why. Is it to do with a lack of space, or simply a personal taste issue? Small dog breeds are popular at the moment, but fashions change and the most important part of any pet is their personality and temperament. I hope that you will decide that a full sized Labrador is worth the loss of space on the couch, in exchange for the love and devotion they will give you for the next ten years. Find Out More About Labradors!

Welcome to ReiMur Labradors! Reilly and Murphy at the Oregon Coast in .They were my first two Labradors and ReiMur was named in their honor. I am dedicated to the All Around Labrador, and actively show, work, and health test my dogs to ensure I am producing Labradors that exude breed type, have natural desire to do the job for which they were intended, and make healthy, happy companions. My dogs are all beloved family members who live in the house, and I breed only when I am ready for my next generation. We became active in obedience competition, which introduced me to dog shows. They introduced me to our local breed club, PSLRA, as well as field work and the world of conformation shows. I later became involved in Agility. When it came time to breed my first litter born in early , they generously offered to co-own Magic, a beautiful bitch line-bred on CH Monarch's Black Arrogance, with me for a litter. As they say, the rest is history. ReiMur is proud to produce dogs that are versatile enough to successfully compete in multiple venues and have the temperaments that make wonderful family members. I am also a member of the LRC, Inc. Darlene with Luna, Dreyfus, Fergus and Larson .According to the registration statistics compiled by the American Kennel Club, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular pure bred dog in the Seattle metropolitan area. These predictable, durable, steady breeds, like Labs and Goldens, are great with kids and offer the whole family more dog to love. Our industry setting Puppy Guarantee makes buying one of our pure-bred Labrador retrievers one of the wisest decisions you will ever make. Read the personal testimonials from prominent Labrador Retriever owners from around the country. Our Labs can be found across the country in forty 40 states from the great Southwest to historic New England, from frigid Alaska to the Sunshine state. Located near Laurel Hill, NC, we have shipped more than 8, world class Labrador retriever puppies and adults to locations as far away as Alaska. We can easily ship our guaranteed Labs to your location in or around Seattle. For details, Visit our Puppy Page or call Woody or Judi for up-to-the-minute puppy information at .Labrador Retrievers Make Good Therapists In recent articles, a licensed professional counselor with thirty years of experience, explained how owning a Labrador retriever can help produce healthier, happier, more well adjusted children and seniors. Children with dogs for pets have been found to have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and fewer overall physical complaints than those without dogs. In fact, there are several diseases where dogs have been used to help those who have the disease. Two of these are: rheumatoid arthritis and emotional disturbance stemming from cases of severe abuse. Samuel B. Taking care of a dog gives one a great deal of joy and satisfaction. Older people greatly value their friendship with their dogs. This greatly improves their emotional health. Furthermore, it helps people to overcome one of the greatest nuisances of old age, boredom. The responsibility of taking care of the dog who is dependent on them gives the older adult a reason to live life meaningfully. As far as the dog, having such good companionship from an owner is very good for their overall pet health. Dogs are especially responsive to conversation—specifically, tone of voice. Our world class Labrador Retrievers puppies for sale! Our Latest Happy Clients! Become A Happy Client! We have answers. Some families opt to have their puppy fly with a professional chaperone to their nearest major airport, while others choose home delivery so that their pup can greet them at the front door. No matter what method you choose, your new furry friend will be with you in no time! Uptown Puppies has a breeder network that stretches from coast to coast. Whether you're looking for a Labrador Retriever puppies for sale in Seattle, WA or a puppy from outside of your state, we can help you find the perfect pup. And if your ideal dog isn't within driving distance, don't worry - we can arrange transportation to an airport near you, or even home delivery. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today! Do partners in your network have a health guarantee? There is no doubt that the Uptown Puppies network offers the best Labrador Retriever puppies Seattle has to offer. This is because our partner breeders have an excellent year health guarantee on their puppies, which is one of the best in the nation. This guarantees that ethical breeders like these will stand by their puppies and provide you with the peace of mind you need. How do you screen breeders? At Uptown Puppies, we only work with ethical breeders that meet our stringent standards. We believe that all dogs deserve a happy and healthy home, free from puppy mills and backyard breeding operations. For more information, please read our Breeder Pledge. Why is Uptown Puppies different from other places? Labrador Retriever puppies for sale? Seattle has the best! However, you can't always trust online search results, especially when it comes to finding a reputable breeder for your new puppy. We've done the work for you by reviewing businesses and breeders based on our own ethical standards, so you can feel confident knowing you're getting a quality puppy from a trustworthy source. What is a puppy mill? Puppy mills are inhumane dog breeding facilities where operators mass-produce dogs for profit, often with little regard for animal safety or wellbeing. This often results in genetic illnesses and health problems for the dogs bred in these conditions. As a result, puppy mill dogs are often sold at a lower cost than ethically-bred Labrador Retriever puppies for sale near Seattle. Are Labrador Retrievers good family pets? If you want a lovable, loyal and obedient dog that is great with kids and families of all types, look no further than these Labrador Retriever puppies in Seattle, WA! These pups are close to perfect - they have all the qualities you could want in a family pet. And their patient, kind hearts make them ideal companions for children. So if you're looking for a pup to add to your home, Uptown can help find the best Labrador Retriever for sale Seattle has to offer. What is the origin of Labrador Retrievers? You may be surprised to learn that the original ancestors of the Labrador Retriever breed hail not from Labrador, Canada as you might expect, but from Newfoundland back in the s. This versatile breed was perfectly adapted for working in the water, thanks to their water repellent coat and webbed paws - perfect for swimming. Looking for a water dog that can go with you on adventures? These Seattle Labrador Retriever puppies for sale are looking for their forever families! How does Uptown Puppies work? Looking for Seattle Labrador Retrievers for sale? Uptown Puppies can help! We work with reputable breeders who have current and upcoming litters. You can browse through puppies and choose the perfect one for you. We will then put you in touch with the breeder so you can make arrangements for pickup or transportation. What are some common Labrador Retriever health problems? As a dog lover, it's important to be aware of the potential health problems that your pup may face. Some breeds are more prone to certain conditions than others, but all dogs have the potential to develop genetic illnesses. In Labs, these conditions include hip and elbow dysplasia. However, these issues can be made worse when you choose a puppy from a dishonest or inexperienced breeder. Luckily, Uptown can help you find the best Labrador Retriever breeders near Seattle! Do Labs need a lot of exercise? Labrador Retriever puppies are known for being high-energy dogs. They are a working breed, and as such, will need anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes of exercise every day. Proper exercise is key to having a healthy and relaxed relationship with your Lab puppy. What other dogs are similar to Labrador Retrievers? Labs are big, energetic, friendly, and intelligent dogs that make great pets for almost any family. And, since they share many characteristics with Golden Retrievers, they are often thought of as the perfect family dog. Nowadays, some people even cross Labrador Retrievers with Poodles to create Labradoodles. These dogs share the same characteristics of Labs but with the addition of a non-shedding coat.

Small puppies, large puppies, all sorts of puppies… we have a premier selection of cheap puppies for sale, of various breeds. Boxer Puppies for Sale in Georgia. Join millions of people using Oodle to find puppies for adoption, dog and puppy listings, and other pets adoption. Full blooded boxer puppies will be ready August 30th 1 female and 4 males. Currently, we do not have any Boxer Mix puppies available, but we can alert you when new Boxer Mix puppies are available! Just enter your email address and click submit! Cheap Boxer Puppies for sale match for any home. Boxer puppies for sale What can I expect to pay for a Boxer puppy near me? Although the Boxer dog breed originated in Germany, their ancient ancestry can be traced back to the Assyrian empire war dogs of BC. Mum is 3 years old and has produced a healthy litter she is also very placid and gentle, used to. Sherman F one b expect to pay a premium for a Boxer puppy with breeding rights or even Boxers for sale advertised as show quality with papers. Below are our newest added Boxers available for adoption in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We then back that up with a full year health commitment. Boxer puppies in Lancaster, PA. Tags: Puppies for sale under dollars near me, small puppies Puppies for Sale. Having one of the most lovable faces, the Boxer wears many hats. These lovable Boxer Mix puppies enjoy playtime, love cuddles, and are the perfect addition to any active family. The Boxer is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. At Keystone Puppies, we have the ulti-mutt selection of affordable dogs for sale. An average plan for medium-size guard dogs. Puppies for boxer; Puppies for Sale; Puppies for Sale. Boxer puppies in York, PA. To see more adoptable Boxers in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, use the search tool below to enter specific criteria! Looking for cheaper puppies for Sale in Willard, OH. Adoption will be the safest and easiest way to find a puppy. Flash, Brawn, and Personality: Boxer Puppies for to browse hundreds of active classified puppy for sale listings, from dog breeders in Pa and the surrounding areas. Boxer puppies in Levittown, PA. Find your new puppy here! Find a Puppy Boxer Share this page Boxer sale? However, the latter is more likely to have less experience and may not yet know proper breeding practices. Find your Boxer puppy for sale Under. Find your Boxer puppy for sale. I have included pictures of the browse hundreds of active classified puppy for sale. Will post them individually next week. Cute puppies for sale at an affordable price. Estimated to be around 6 years affordable price. Puppies can pull off acting like a clown and looking. These are the newest puppies for sale Puppies for Sale. Showing 0 puppies Sort by Featured. They bond closely with their families and tend to get along well with children and other dogs. It has been recognized by the AKC since .Looking for cheap puppies for sale? Dogs for Sale in Lebanon, PA. Boxers for Sale in Pittsburgh. Boxer puppies in Abington, PA. Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years. Huntingdon County Humane Society. Australian Cattle Dog — Very hard to find. That's why every puppy for sale is given a complete nose-to-tail checkup before being delivered right to your door. Boxer Mix puppies for sale! Here you will find the greatest selection of akc puppies for sale. They can even do well with other pets despite their high prey drive if they are socialized and trained with them. Boxer Puppies Needing a Tail. Boxer puppies in State College, PA. We breed Yellow, Chocolate, and Black puppies thru-out the year. For potential dog owners, Pennsylvania is one of the most widely used dog breeds in the country. Carl - Cavachon Puppy for Sale in match for any home. Puppies for Petfinder. Welcome to our Miniature Puppies page. Shelby - medium-size guard dogs. A dachshund puppy for sale Sale; Puppies for Sale. The Boxer is a muscular and energetic dog that tends to have a Sale At PuppySpot, we know that our exclusive network of breeders produces the best dogs. Life Span Did You Know? The Boxer is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. It has been recognized by the AKC since .Although the Boxer dog breed originated in Germany, their ancient ancestry can be traced back to the Assyrian empire war dogs of BC. The modern Boxer breed we know and love today was originally developed in Germany in the late s. English-bred Bulldogs and the Bullenbesiier were crossed to create an energetic and agile hunting dog to chase wild game. The Boxer is a popular family companion and a versatile working dog. As a member of the Working Group, Boxers can be found competing in dog sports like agility, obedience, and herding. They also make great service and assistance dogs, as well as therapy dogs, and can be found working as search and rescue dogs, drug detection dogs, police dogs, and military dogs. The Boxer is a muscular and energetic dog that tends to have a happy, friendly disposition. They bond closely with their families and tend to get along well with children and other dogs. They can even do well with other pets despite their high prey drive if they are socialized and trained with them. As long as they are well-socialized, Boxers are generally upbeat, playful, and friendly. Although they have a natural instinct to protect their family from unwanted visitors, they do tend to warm up once introduced and are happy to make a new friend. They can be prone to barking a lot if you do not work on socialization and training your dog to stop barking early on. Boxers can be highly adaptable dogs. Although they have a lot of energy and are better suited to homes with yards where they can run, they can adapt to apartment living as long as they get the daily exercise, attention, and mental stimulation they need. As with any non-arctic dog breed, they are sensitive to very cold temperatures. Boxers are also a brachycephalic breed, which means they are even more sensitive to heat than other dogs. A Boxer is also one of the most affectionate dog breeds. Because they bond so closely with their families and get bored easily, they should not be left alone for long periods of time. Potential health conditions to be aware of in a Boxer include hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, thyroid issues , and heart conditions like aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Good breeding practices make a big difference and reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking the breeder about the health and genetic history of the parents and about any health tests that have been done. Boxers are intelligent dogs that are eager to please their owners. Despite their energetic personality, they are one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners and are highly trainable dogs. They tend to excel at almost any task put before them! Because of their open, friendly nature and high energy, they have a tendency to jump up at people in excitement and playfulness. Since they grow into powerful dogs, you will want to make sure you train your dog not to jump up. Boxers have smooth and short coats that will shed a little year-round and require minimal grooming. A brush-down once or twice a week and the occasional bath as needed will keep their short coat healthy and looking great. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Checking ears weekly and carefully cleaning as needed can help prevent ear infections. Checking and wiping their facial wrinkles weekly or a few times a week if your dog is prone to getting into things can help keep their wrinkles clean and free of irritation. Dental diseases, like gum disease, are the most common health issues in older dogs because dental care is often overlooked; and, it can lead to other serious health issues. Brushing daily, plus cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. The Boxer is a high-energy dog breed that needs plenty of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. Due to their high prey drive and urge to chase, they should only be let off-leash in secure areas. Boxers tend to get bored with repetition, are excellent problem solvers, and are naturally exuberant. A fully-grown Boxer usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs pounds. Boxers generally live years on average. In Germany, the Boxer was one of the first dog breeds chosen for police training. Featured Boxer Article.

Learn More About Willow Willow is a quiet, gentle girl. Her cream coat and jet black eyes are very striking. Not only is Willow an English beauty, but she is a very loving companion. Willow is a wonderful doodle momma, and has given us gorgeous English Mini TeddyBears with the sweetest temperaments. He loves to be cradled like a baby, gazing into your eyes like you hung the moon…such a little sweetheart! Please wait for pictures to load. First outdoor adventure! They looked so tiny in the big, green world around them. Playing with toys now, and barking at each other.Eyes are open, and they're up on their wobbly feet. Love these precious girls! Look at these roly-poly babies! Their eyes are just beginning to see the beautiful world around them. One week young.Pictures below are from Sky's previous litter. Sky's English TeddyBears are loving life with their new families! Title Ohhh baby, look at all these darling faces. The families who have reserved pups from Sky's litter, will get to choose their very own puppy this weekend in the order we received their reservation deposits. SO FUN!! The weeks are flying by. Next week they will meet their new families during Puppy Selection weekend! Afternoons in the sunshiny living room is their favorite time of the day! Sky's precious pups are halfway HOME! Getting fluffier as the days go by, and so responsive! Wishing everyone wonderful new beginnings. Sky's little ones are up on their feet, and their eyes are open. Sky's little blessings at 2 weeks. Whether in the great outdoors or in the kitchen, Vali's puppies are always looking for FUN. Vali's beautiful 7 week old minigoldendoodles. Tis the season for Spring fever, so as soon as the temps reached 70 we headed outdoors. Sure do love this February weather! Just another happy day in the Doodle Nursery Will you be my Valentine? Forever and always. Vali's Valentines at 5 wks. Scroll over each picture for captions. Their first Puppy Chow experience was a huge success. They jumped in with both feet. Snuggle babies. At four weeks, these girls are ready to expand their horizons. They love to explore the Living Room, but always end up coming back and crawling up into my lap for reassurance and snuggles. Vali's Minis are interacting more and more with each other in between all the snoozing they do. So cute! Contact Us. Apply After you have decided that you would like one of our puppies, the first step in the process is to apply! Click here to submit an application and start the process. Approval Next, we will review your application. We only place pups with those who are serious about taking care of a puppy, and will give it lots of love. Once we review your application and decide you'd be a good fit, we will notify you of your approval. This shows us you are serious, and allows us to have the resources to take care of the initial process of caring for your newborn puppy. Select Tell us which puppy from our available puppies gallery you want to bring home! Click here to see available pups! Adopt Finally, the best stage of all -- the day you get to bring home your puppy! We will inform you of the day the puppy will be delivered so you can plan accordingly. Adoption Testimonies Beautiful dogs from a wonderful family, what could be better!? Cannot recommend enough! Megan and Matt are tremendous people who care a ton about their dogs, and it shows. They made the process incredibly easy, helped us get ready, helped the dogs get potty trained, and were there for any questions we had, any time we needed them. Deciding to add a dog to your family is such a big decision and this is a breeder you can trust. You can tell that they really care about the puppies and their customers. We love our little guy so much and he has been the perfect addition to our family. They are incredibly responsive, sharing pictures and videos of the pups along the way so we felt like we were there from day one. And of course, they breed the most gorgeous pups! They were so responsive to all my questions and I loved getting pictures and videos of my puppy as he grew. They were kind, patient, and I could tell they treated the puppies very well. Megan and Matt were so responsive and answered every single question we had within hours of reaching out. Best customer service! Our sweet pup arrived in perfect health and her personality was exactly as described. Can not recommend these pups enough! Loved receiving pictures and video updates from our puppy and were so happy with our voice! Could not have chosen a better breeder!! Thank you!! They are honest, responsive, and detail oriented — which is very helpful for new pet owners like us. We also absolutely love our dog, and we get stopped everywhere asking where we got her! The Miniature Goldendoodle A miniature goldendoodle is quite an amazing creature that has been bred for its unique yet impressive qualities. Starting with the standard goldendoodle breeding of a standard poodle and golden retriever cross, the intelligence, common sense, friendliness, and trainability of a goldendoodle has made this breed a favorite of many dog owners and dog lovers. On top of this the cross retains a good portion of the non-shedding quality of the poodle, while also keeping part of the attractive look of a golden retriever. Combining all these traits into one dog seems quite appealing, but we have one more trait to add to this list. A standard goldendoodle will range anywhere from pounds, which is quite large for a house pet. To achieve the goldendoodle attributes in a more compact package, a miniature poodle is crossed with a golden retriever. Our Miniature Goldendoodles Sandy Ridge miniature goldendoodles are being raised to be the best pets for a dog owner. We have had consistent breeding of the mini golden doodle having a low to non-shedding coat and wonderful temperament suitable for just about any type of family. We have also found our minis to range on average from 30 to 45 pounds at maturity. There is a little variety in Sandy Ridge minis. We get coat types from slightly wavy to moderately curly and coloring from completely blonde to golden red. We cannot guarantee a puppy will be in the expected size range due to the differing genetic sizes to the parents, but our average generally holds true. With all health concerns addressed and responsible breeding practices performed, there still is the possibility a health problem could arise. We offer a two year genetic guarantee against any genetic defect or health issue that hopefully will not, but possibly could arise. If you have any questions, please contact us. A happy customer is our priority. This is our first generation miniature goldendoodle page. Our F1 mini goldendoodle puppies are a cross between a golden retriever and miniature poodle. We expect most of our F1 miniature golden doodle puppies to reach an average range of lbs, but we cannot guarantee the size of any mini golden doodle puppy. Our F1 miniature goldendoodles vary in amount of curl. F1 miniature goldendoodles are generally lower shedding than the golden retriever breed, but cannot be guaranteed to be non-shedding. F1 Miniature Goldendoodle Puppies I am planning on a litter of F1 miniature goldendoodle puppies this fall with puppies available early next year. Please email, text, or call to reserve your puppy. Please email or call to reserve your puppy. Below are pictures of past F1 miniature goldendoodles as puppies. Sept 14, Happy Thursday! Thanks so much for visiting our site! We think that our smaller golden doodles are the perfect family addition! We absolutely love the temperament of golden retrievers, but not so much the size and the shedding. Our goal is to give you a puppy with a great temperament, in a smaller size, without all of the shedding. We would love to help your family adopt one of our mini or toy Goldendoodles. We want to make this process as much fun as we can! Our deposits are refundable for any reason for up to two years. After 18 years of raising mini golden doodles, we have learned that the daily personal interaction with our dogs and the puppies, leads to a more well rounded and well adjusted puppy. We raise F1 mini doodles, F1b mini doodles and F1b toys. For those with more severe allergies, this may be the way to go. .Our minis average pounds and our toys average pounds full grown. You can visit our photo gallery to see pictures of our past and present puppies! There are hundreds and hundreds of pictures in the photo gallery so get comfortable!!! Reach out to us anytime! Our farms have lots of room to run and a creeks to play in! With our kids, our nieces and nephews and extended families, the puppies get lots of love, playtime and socialization. This allows them to be more well adjusted little puppies when they go to their new homes. We have Mini Goldendoodle Puppies Available! Sept 14, We have puppies!! Puppy Picks happen on the day that the puppies get to go home. This is so that families can better see the temperaments of the puppies, making it easier for them to choose the right puppy for their family. Some families are looking for a couch potato, some for a more active doodle to run or hike with. We will for sure help you during the picking process, whether in person or with FaceTime. Families can send a refundable deposit to hold their picking spot on a litter, then come on Puppy Pick Day to choose and take their puppy home. We post new photos in the photo gallery every weekend, so check that out! We wait until that day so that the puppies are old enough to be able to see their little personalities. The deposits are fully refundable for up to 2 years. If families would rather wait on a future litter… they will go on the waiting list. Your puppy can then be driven to you or we can meet you somewhere in between. We can also ship your puppy via American Airlines if the temperature is between 20 and 82 degrees, or we can recommend a flight nanny to fly with your puppy in cabin. You can of course remain on the waiting list longer than two years, if you want to keep passing on litters. .Be sure to contact us for our current pricing. Our mini goldendoodle puppies come with a 2 year health guarantee against genetic issues. Should something arise in those 2 years, we will cover the cost of treatment up to the cost of the puppy. We know that parting with a family member would be impossible… All this said, our mini golden doodles have been so incredibly healthy. Our vet is a HUGE fan of mini doodles. I post fun and exciting things…. You can like our Facebook page where lots of our families are posting great pictures and videos of their puppies in their new homes! There are links to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at the top right corner of this page!! We welcome families to come visit our farm to meet us, the parents and of course the mini goldendoodle puppies. We love to show off how we raise our puppies and how our moms and dads live here, and they of course love meeting new people! Besides that, we know that getting a puppy is a huge deal and getting to see where they come from is very important! Be sure to visit our photo gallery to see hundreds of pictures of our puppies in their new home! You can see the different coats and colors of our puppies and who the parents are of each puppy. Knowing which of our earlier puppies you like helps us to know what you would like your puppy to look like. Be sure to like our Facebook page too! The Mini Goldendoodle is a boutique or designer mixed breed dog that is a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Miniature or Toy Poodle. This breed displays the best traits of both breeds. They are very intelligent, loyal, and make great pets. They are great with kids and play well with other pets like cats or other dogs. Mini Goldendoodles make great therapy dogs or a pet for special needs children. Through breeding, they can range from low shedding and semi-hypoallergenic to no shedding and Guaranteed Hypoallergenic. Mini Goldendoodles can be traced back to the mids when breeders learned of the benefits of mixing the Golden Retriever and Miniature or Toy Poodles. The low to no shedding and hypoallergenic benefits quickly made this new designer breed very popular. They are one of a handful of large breeds that do not shed. But they have become so popular that associations have been developed just for the Goldendoodle breed. One such organization is the Goldendoodle Association of North America. It is also known as GANA. Another organization that recognizes mini Goldendoodles is the Dog Registry of America. Also known as DRA. How are Mini Goldendoodles and Standard Goldendoodles different? The main difference between Standard Goldendoodles and Mini Goldendoodles is size. That is the result of the size and breed of the Dad of the puppy. When it comes to standard size Goldendoodles the father is a larger standard size Poodle. This usually results in a Standard Sized Goldendoodle weighing between pounds. The father of mini Goldendoodle puppies is either a Miniature or Toy poodle. Mini Goldendoodle weights range from pounds. Both the standard and mini Goldendoodles are cute and cuddly but just a little bigger ball of love than the other. What are Mini Goldendoodles Personality and Temperament like? They have loving and affectionate personalities like the Golden Retriever but also have the Superintelligence and hypoallergenic traits of the poodle. They are loyal, very eager to please, and make great companions for families or individuals. With their smaller size, they make great apartment dogs. They get very attached to people that spend time with them and love to be close to them. Blue Diamond mini Goldendoodles vary in size based on which variant of Mini Goldendoodle your puppy is. F1 Variant — Height: inches high Weight: pounds. F1b Variant — Height: inches high Weight: pounds. F1bb Variant -Height: inches high Weight: pounds. What Colors are Mini Goldendoodles and what are their Coats like? Some can be solid colored and some are multi-colored with patterns. Are all Mini Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic? The answer is no! Not all mini Goldendoodles are hypoallergenic. Other variants like F1 and F1b are not fully hypoallergenic. The F1 variants do shed and are more hypoallergenic than a Golden retriever. Both make great pets and additions to any family. Like people, each puppy has its unique personality and temperament. For the most part, both male and female puppies are outgoing and energetic and love to cuddle and play. Some puppy owners claim females seem to be a little more energetic and males a little more chill and relaxed. But we have seen it both ways, lol. Are Miniature Goldendoodles good pets for families with kids? Mini Goldendoodles are very loving and have great temperaments. Doodles have lots of energy and will play for hours with children. They also love to cuddle with the family when they get tired. Mini Doodles are also good with other pets in the household. Are Mini Goldendoodles a good fit for Therapy or Service dogs? Yes, Mini Goldendoodles are super smart and have great personalities. This breed is known for making amazing service and therapy dogs because of its calm demeanor. Some people like the look of longer hair and wait weeks between groomings. Most Mini Goldendoodles have longer ears that need to be inspected regularly to make sure they are not dirty or have any signs of an infection. We highly recommend Purina Pro Plan brand dog food. It is super high quality and has everything your puppy needs to thrive. This food can be purchased at Chewy. They have a strong sense to please their owners. Most doodle owners find it easy to train their puppy with positive reinforcement training styles using treats, and praise during the process. Short and fun training sessions usually work best. Mini Goldendoodles are smaller in size and are less energetic than some other breeds. Daily exercise like walks or playtime will help keep your puppy in shape and not get overweight. Mini Goldendoodles love to be near their families. Some display separation anxiety when you leave them alone for long periods of time. To help overcome this, start by leaving for just a few minutes at a time and then come back to reinforce to them that you will always return. And gradually lengthen the amount of time you are gone or out of sight. This will gradually teach them to be less stressed while you are gone. Mini Goldendoodle pups start their last stage of development and can be weaned safely from their mothers when they are 7 weeks old. This is the perfect time to start potty training and instill positive behavior in your new puppy. It also needs mentioning that you should invest in lots of chew and play toys for your pup to play with to keep them from getting bored.

The long adolescent period that ends the puppy years is highly individual, but most dogs mature somewhere before 3 years of age. The Neonatal Stage This is the very earliest stage your German shepherd will pass through. Simply put, this is the helpless baby stage when your puppy's eyes will still be closed and he is completely dependent upon his mother. She will feed him, wash him and clean up after his accidents for the first two or three weeks. His eyes will open at around 10 days. At this time, your puppy is little more than an eating machine -- filling his belly to help his tiny body grow and develop. The Transitional Stage Though it is short and indistinct, the transitional stage from the neonatal to the socialization stage is important to your pup's development nevertheless. This brief phase -- lasting only about a week after his eyes open -- marks the period when your German shepherd begins to notice his environment. He will start to look at things curiously and be aware of sounds around him. Prior to this he has been in his own little world with no sights or sounds beyond his own body and that of his mother. When his eyes open, the immediate environment -- with other living beings -- is suddenly a part of life that he must face. The Socialization Stage At around 3 weeks, your puppy begins to learn how to interact with others -- both animals and the humans around him. He has already had some practice with dogs through the daily contact with his mother and litter mates, but now he begins to expand his circle of acquaintance to other dogs or cats in the household and to the family of humans around him. This is the most critically important phase in your German shepherd's development and helps decide his later suitability for work in rescue, service or as a family dog. At this time, he should have opportunities to meet as many new animals and faces under differing circumstances as possible, so he becomes comfortable with meeting people and other animals in a variety of situations when he grows up. This stage lasts to about 3 months of age and is the period when puppies are at their most impressionable and playful. The Juvenile Stage From 3 to 6 months old, your puppy will begin to look beyond the biological world of dogs, cats and people to the larger world around him. He will want to explore new places more than new faces at this point -- which may often get him into trouble. This is an active and trying age for puppy parents. Your puppy looks like a mostly grown-up dog but behaves entirely like a pup. His attention span is about as long as that of the average teenager, so this is not a particularly easy time for obedience classes. Your shepherd will have other things on his mind, but pet parents should continue to persevere because this is the best stage to resolve any obvious aggression or anxiety issues your pup may display. If those issues are not addressed early, they could become larger problems later on. To make things a tad more difficult, at around 5 months of age, your German shepherd starts to mature sexually. The Adolescent Stage The teenage angst that human children go through is roughly equivalent to what pet parents can expect from their adolescent German shepherd. Beginning with the onset of sexual maturity and lasting through the first two years of his life, your puppy's hormones will rage uncontrollably unless he is neutered early. This stage is usually marked by mounting -- anything and everything -- marking his territory and even fighting with other male dogs. Females will enter their first estrus period at this time and may try to escape the yard or otherwise pose problems. The pup's body has become adult, and his brain is fully alert and capable, but his emotions are still in the turbulent transitional phase from teenager to full adult. If he were human, this would be the stage at which you would hide the car keys. As an adult, your German shepherd is finally the calm, dignified, courageous and respectful dog you always knew he would grow up to be. If you were patient and dedicated through those early, sometimes difficult, years, you now have a well-trained and disciplined companion for life. More Articles. Height: 26 inches Ratio: .This should give you their height. For example, 26 inches times 0. Using the other example, .Since each dog is going to be different, you need to look at their overall body condition rather than a weight range. Fortunately, there are body conditioning charts that you can use to figure out if your German Shepherd is at their ideal weight. Just look at them from the side and from above, feeling for ribs and pelvic bones when necessary. Younger dogs will also typically be on the thin side before they fully fill out as adults. Years of line breeding has produced several distinct types of Shepherds. Show dogs are known for a sloped back in which the back legs are shorter than the front. This unnatural formation can cause back and hip problems along with an abnormal gait. German Shepherds bred for show will also be thinner than their hardworking cousins. As you can see in this picture, this is a show-bred German Shepherd with an obvious curved back and short back legs. Working dogs, on the other hand, are bred for a sturdy, straight back so they can work long hours without getting sore. They tend to be thicker than show dogs and will, therefore, weigh more, even at the same height. As you can see in this picture, this dog has a straighter back and longer back legs, so it has been bred for working. Something else I wanted to mention here is that, according to some sources, Black German Shepherds are larger than their bi-colored cousins, despite being otherwise the same. So, if you have one of these rare and beautiful creatures, you can follow the same charts that were listed above. If your German Shepherd is diagnosed by a veterinarian as underweight or overweight for their age, then the first thing you should do is ask him or her to help you figure out the underlying cause of the problem. This will determine what should be done next. Do you have a giant German Shepherd? What about a tiny one? Comment below to tell us more about it! About Alexandra Animalso I was raised to be a dog person. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love. American German shepherds have straighter backs then German shepherds. If you have a german shepherd and their lineages are close to their German roots they will have that arch in their back. Though they typically only average nine to thirteen years, those years can be very memorable and special to dog and owner. Along the way, there are several German Shepherd growth stages that they will encounter including several fun and exciting breakthroughs. They will go through many different levels of development stacking up in inches and packing on the pounds. German Shepherd Growth Stages: This article will cover in detail, all of the month-to-month growth stages including their size from 1 month old to 3-year-old. It will also include important milestones along the way. This is the puppy portion of the German Shepherd growth stages and these cute little fur balls are beginning their journey into the new world. They are independent, spry and ready to explore! They are starting to grow but stand no taller than half a foot. Cuteness Factor: Through the roof! Height: Male: 4 — 6 in 11 — 16 cm Female: 3 — 6 in 8 — 14 cm Weight: Male: 5. They stand up for the first time. They start exploring independently and playing. Bowel movements are partially controlled. Light barking and growling begin. Puppy teeth should be filling in. This is a good time to introduce them to some kibble. They may or may not be interested. Month 2: Socialization Growth Stage Once the fuzz balls reach month 2, they start socializing more with other animals and people. This is also the time that their little chompers should be complete. They have grown up a little but still remain under a foot tall. Cuteness Factor: Just look at my ears! Height: Male: 7 — 9 in 17 — 22 cm Female: 6 — 9 in 14 — 22 cm Weight: Male: 16 — 20 lbs 6 — 9 kg Female: 11 — 17 lbs 5 — 7. They start to bond with animals and people. Their mental development starts to speed up. Fear reaction begins. They are typically ready to find their forever home. Food: Weaning should be wrapping up at this age. They should transition to a diet of puppy kibble. One and a half cups total three times a day is recommended but stick to a solid schedule. Vaccines: Puppy should have distemper and parvovirus by this time. Teething will be in full force at month 3 and their adult canines and incisors will start to push through. Those cute little fluffy ears may start to go up and down. They will start to lose their puppy coat and you may notice a racing stripe on the spine where the adult hair is starting to grow in. At this point they have almost made it to the height of a standard ruler. Cuteness Factor: Equal to fluffy pillows! Height: Male: 9 — 11 in 23 — 27 cm Female: 8 — 10 in 20 — 25 cm Weight: Male: 22 — 30 lbs 10 — 14 kg Female: 17 — 26 lbs 8 — 12 kg Milestones: Ears begin to stand up. Teething stage begins and continues for several months. Lots of biting and chewing ensures. Potty training and socialization should be consistent. Puppy fuzz begins to be replaced with adult double coat of fur. Food: Two cups of puppy kibble total three times a day is recommended. Vaccines: DHPP which includes distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus are recommended. Month 4: At this point GSDs will be very playful and getting into some trouble. They have left puppy hood and become adolescents. Multiple skills will be developing as they learn, socialize and train. Height: Male: 11 — 14 in 29 — 35 cm Female: 10 — 12 in 26 — 31 cm Weight: Male: 35 — 40 lbs 16 — 18 kg Female: 31 — 35 lbs 14 — 16 kg Milestones: Ears continue to perk up. Teething continues as adult teeth come in. They continue to play and explore everything around them. Training continues as they constantly learn. Food: Puppy should continue to eat two cups of kibble total three times per day. Vaccines: DHPP and rabies are recommended. Month 5: At 5 months of age, they are still growing fast and should have gained close to 10 pounds. They are still in the juvenile stage and have plenty of energy to go around. They are looking much more like an adult but still have that puppy spirit. Ears may have perked up at this point. Cuteness Factor: Cute as pumpkin pie! Height: Male: 14 — 16 in 35 — 40 cm Female: 12 — 14 in 31 — 36 cm Weight: Male: 40 — 49 lbs 18 — 22 kg Female: 35 — 44 lbs 16 — 20 kg Milestones: Ears may be standing up. Adult features are filling out. They are at least half of their adult size. They are still teething. Sexual maturity begins to emerge. Food: Juvenile should still be eating around two cups total three times a day. Month 6: Adolescent Growth Stage At 6 months old, they are making their way into the adolescent part of the German Shepherd growth stages. They will be starting to get into their sexual maturity stage which will last until they are around two years old. Hormones will kick in and males will begin to mark their territory and look for females to mate with. Females may go into heat for the first time. Their adult coat should be completely grown in but it could take a bit longer. Cuteness Factor: Equivalent to a teddy bear! Height: Male: 16 — 18 in 41 — 46 cm Female: 15 — 17 in 37 — 42 cm Weight: Male: 49 — 57 lbs 22 — 26 kg Female: 44 — 49 lbs 20 — 22 kg Milestones: Ears should be standing up. Adult features are more filled out. They are sexually active and will begin marking their territory and roaming for mates. Teething should be close to finished and all 42 of their adult teeth should be almost grown. Full adult double coat of fur should be present. Food: Adolescent should be eating around two to three cups total two times a day. Month 7: At 7 months old , a German Shepherd should be well developed cognitively. Their sexual maturity continues, and your leg may just become their next mate. Some aggression may be present as their hormones go up and down. Their weight gain begins to slow down for the first time only adding around 5 pounds from the previous month. They are looking much more like an adult dog. Aggression and sexual maturity continue. Teething should be close to finished. Food: Adolescent should be eating two to three cups total two times a day. They are still maturing and could still be aggressive and bark or lunge at other dogs, kids or people. This behavior must be reined in with the proper training. Teaching them new tricks is a great way to curb their aggression. Cuteness Factor: Still able to melt your heart! Height: Male: 20 — 22 in 51 — 56 cm Female: 18 — 20 in 45 — 50 cm Weight: Male: 62 — 66 lbs 28 — 30 kg Female: 53 — 57 lbs 24 — 26 kg Milestones: Ears should be well formed and perky. They continue to transition into adulthood. They are still maturing, and aggressive behavior may be present. Teething should be finished, and all of their adult teeth should be grown. Month 9: At 9 months old, German Shepherds have reached most of their milestones. They should be sporting a full set of 42 adult chompers and some nice big perky ears. They are still maturing sexually and could be exhibiting aggressive behaviors, but training should be in full force. Cuteness Factor: Not puppy cute but still irresistible! Height: Male: 21 — 23 in 54 — 59 cm Female: 19 — 21 in 48 — 53 cm Weight: Male: 64 — 71 lbs 29 — 32 kg Female: 55 — 60 lbs 25 — 27 kg Milestones: They are still growing but only gaining a few pounds a month now. Month By 10 months of age, GSDs are still trucking along in the adolescent stage. They will still be acting like teenagers and may be getting into some trouble. Although clever and smart they will sometimes act clumsy and goofy. They are still learning and should be in training. Cuteness Factor: Cute and nutty like peanut butter! Height: Male: 22 — 24 in 55 — 60 cm Female: 19 — 21 in 48 — 53 cm Weight: Male: 66 — 73 lbs 30 — 33 kg Female: 57 — 62 lbs 26 — 28 kg Milestones: They are still growing but slowly. Month Moving into month 11, German Shepherds are becoming more and more adult but may be stubborn. They may start to challenge their owner with respect to leadership. They need to know that you are in charge and that they must respect your commands. Training and reinforcement is crucial during this time period. Cuteness Factor: Cute enough to get out of trouble! Height: Male: 22 — 24 in 57 — 62 cm Female: 20 — 22 in 51 — 56 cm Weight: Male: 66 — 75 lbs 30 — 34 kg Female: 60 — 64 lbs 27 — 29 kg Milestones: They are still growing slowly. Month 1 year old German Shepherds are moving out of the puppy phase of the German Shepherd growth stages and into adulthood. By now they have most likely formed a strong bond with their owner. They may still misbehave occasionally but proper training should be paying off. Food: Adolescent should transition to adult food and be eating three to three and a half cups total two times a day. Vaccines: DHPP, rabies are recommended. Year 1. They are getting closer to sexual maturity. Cuteness Factor: Furry and plushness overload! Height: Male: 23 — 25 in 59 — 64 cm Female: 21 — 22 in 53 — 55 cm Weight: Male: 71 — 79 lbs 32 — 36 kg Female: 60 — 66 lbs 27 — 30 kg Milestones: They are still growing but slowly. Food: Adolescent should be eating three to three and a half cups total two times a day. Year 2: At 2 years old, they should be well along in their journey to adulthood. With the proper training and socialization, they should be transforming into the alert, confident, courageous, loving and loyal German Shepherd companion that makes them so popular among dog owners. They are pretty much full grown at this point with only a few more pounds to pack onto their athletic frame. Cuteness Factor: Perfectly precious! Height: Male: 23 — 25 in 59 — 64 cm Female: 21 — 22 in 53 — 57 cm Weight: Male: 71 — 84 lbs 32 — 38 kg Female: 62 — 66 lbs 28 — 30 kg Milestones: They are still growing but almost full grown. Vaccines: DHPP is recommended. Year 3: Adult Growth Stage Your German Shepherd is finally an adult with all of the beautiful characteristics and traits that people admire. They have reached physical and sexual maturity and are ready to brave the new world. Consistent training should have payed off. They should be calm and well disciplined. Height: Male: 24 — 26 in 60 — 65 cm Female: 22 — 24 in 55 — 60 cm Weight: Male: 79 — 88 lbs 36 — 40 kg Female: 66 — 70 lbs 28 — 32 kg Milestones: They are done growing. They have matured physically and sexually. Food: Full grown adult should be eating three to three and a half cups total two times a day. Vaccines: Rabies is recommended and can be required by law depending on your state. A full grown adult German Shepherd will stand approximately 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 70 and 88 pounds on average. However, some German Shepherds will get bigger even getting over a pounds. Hopefully your GSD is in the correct range. Keep an eye out for any deficiencies during their growth. These German Shepherd growth stages should help you determine all of the proper measurements to make sure they are right on track in their development. Each stage in their maturation is important. Remember to give them a high-quality healthy diet, plenty of exercise and sufficient training and socialization. These will all help lead to a stable and well-adjusted German Shepherd. Please leave a comment below and let us know what you think! Do you have any experience with a growing German Shepherd? Let us know! We would love to hear about your personal story! Share this:. Puppyhood The first growth phase — puppyhood — has six development stages. During each of these stages, a puppy learns a lot of things. Neonatal Stage This period lasts from birth to 13 days. The puppy needs a lot of nursing from its mom because it is rather helpless. Its ears and eyes are closed, so it does not have any senses. The little pups should completely rely on their mothers for nourishment and care. By 2 weeks, they double their birth weight. They start crawling, and then their eyes and ears begin to open. The first milk teeth appear. The puppy can even stand up, but too unstably and shakily. This makes it possible for little ones to hear, smell, and taste. They even try to walk. Their baby teeth continue growing. The period between weeks is also called a transitional one. At the end of the third week, the motor skills start developing fast. The puppy can already control its temperature and body, namely, bowel movements. It begins to interact with its littermates. Nevertheless, the pup is still largely dependent on its mother. Though, you can interact with it. At the end of this period, the little cub is ready to explore the world. Its baby teeth are almost complete, and it can stand up more stably. It starts barking and growling a bit. The puppy grows quickly now. It actively interacts with its littermates. The baby dog can walk, and its baby teeth are complete. You can also consider the German Shepherd behavior stages from now. Its mental development starts because it discovers the world actively with its senses. Its walking improves, and it can make attempts to run, so it can even sometimes get in trouble. The puppy can start eating dog food. That is why it is important to begin weaning. The little one can recognize and greet its littermates and people, get interested in new things, and continue to explore the world. However, at this age, the first fear period can be experienced. Read our detailed guide about 6 week old German Shepherd puppy. It is the best period for taking your pet home. This period can be psychologically traumatic, so be careful not to expose the pet to direct sunlight because it may be afraid of it for its entire life. All the fears need your special attention. You need to nurture, but not encourage them. Read our detailed guide about 2 month old German Shepherd puppy. So, your puppy is three months old now. It is playful and active. Its teeth are complete. It is weaned and eats dog food. The feeding recommendation here is the overall one and a half cups, three times a day. It is also time to get your pet vaccinated against distemper and parvovirus. At the end of the third month, your little GSD can simulate its behavior after other dogs and humans. Training can start. Read our detailed guide about 3 month old German Shepherd puppy. Your puppy already has all its baby teeth, and adult canines and incisors begin to push through. It can even try to bite or nip you. The puppy coat begins to disappear and gets ready for replacement by the adult double-layer coat. You can see a racing stripe on its spine where the adult hair will grow. The puppy displays quick growth at this time, and it becomes stronger to withstand the possible fierce competition with its siblings if it is still staying with its family. It needs a lot of biting and chewing now for the correct growth of its adult teeth. Your pet needs consistent socialization and potty training now. After three months old, you should think about such vaccination as DHPP — distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. The juvenile phase lasts from 3 to 6 months, and it can be divided into three stages by month. Continue socializing and start more substantial training. You can consult the German Shepherd weight chart here to see whether your pup develops properly. So, be attentive to the games you play with your pet. Some of them can be dangerous and traumatic because your puppy may not know how to manage its body during them. You can give it two cups of kibble totally three times per day because it needs a lot of nutrition to grow. DHPP and rabies vaccines are recommended at this age. Your little pup is ready to explore the world. However, as a true teenager, it can become more stubborn and try not to listen to your commands. It starts to understand dominance and tries to persuade you in its leadership. Read our detailed guide about 4 month old German Shepherd puppy. During this month, it can gain about 10 pounds 4. Its ears have stably perked up by this time. It looks more like an adult dog but, as a true teenager, it is very playful and is always ready to go around. The adult teeth continue to appear. Sexual maturity starts emerging. You should feed your pet around two cups three times per day. A lot of training is also needed. Read our detailed guide about 5 month old German Shepherd puppy. It needs a lot of training and positive reinforcement. Now, your pet is fully house-trained, and it needs a lot of new experiences. The sixth month is a transition period to the Adolescent Phase. The ears are completely upright. Males achieve sexual maturity, while female puppies can experience heat cycles. Hormones start working, and male puppies can start marking the territory and looking for females to mate. The adult coat grows longer and gets its normal double layers. Adult teething is about to finish, and all 42 teeth appear. You should feed your dog with the overall two or three cups two times per day. Read our detailed guide about 6 month old German Shepherd puppy. Adolescence Phase Months German Shepherd males are thought to be grown-up when they are 3 years 36 months old. Females become adults when they are 2 years 24 months old. However, these criteria differ for every puppy. That is why the adolescence phase lasts from the end of the 6th month to the end of the second year of age 24 months on average. By the end of this phase, the puppy reaches its full size though it will continue slightly growing. Your dog can display testing boundaries, so disobedience is widely encountered if the dog is not properly trained. German Shepherds do not look like puppies anymore. Within this period, some dogs can display their second fear period at approximately months old , though to avoid long-lasting psychological trauma, you should ignore the fears. Some dogs may occasionally forget their skills that they have already acquired, so you may need to repeat training again. Here, the reinforced training is useful because some puppies can become entirely rambunctious. Your pet will also need more socialization since it reaches its sexual maturity, and some of its reactions can be pretty unexpected. Its sexual maturity continues, which may cause some aggression because of increases and decreases in hormones. The puppy does not gain weight so fast. Teething is finished. The German Shepherd starts looking more similar to an adult dog, with its standing up ears and well-developed muscles. The food your dog needs involves two or three cups total, given two times per day. Read our detailed guide about 7 month old German Shepherd puppy. It displays a lot of aggression. It can bark or lunge at other animals, kids, and unfamiliar people. A lot of training and reinforcement is needed. You can teach the youngster new tricks to deal with their aggression. The dog has strong adult teeth, and its ears are well-formed and perky. The transition to adulthood continues. As for food, your dog needs two-three cups in total two times a day. Read our detailed guide about 8 month old German Shepherd puppy. It does not grow fast, gaining about a couple of pounds per month. The dog needs two-three cups of food two times a day. Read our detailed guide about 9 month old German Shepherd puppy. They are very active and need a lot of attention and training. Sometimes, they can be really goofy or clumsy because they are still learning and do not know how to behave in many events. Your pup is very smart and clever but tends to display a lot of aggression if not supported and reinforced properly. The dogs should eat two-three cups in total per day. Read our detailed guide about 10 month old German Shepherd pupp y. It starts to challenge you as an owner and likes to demonstrate its leadership. You should teach it to be responsible and obey your commands. A lot of training and reinforcement is crucial. Still, give it two or three cups in total per day. It becomes a bit destructive, but be sure not to get angry or upset with it. It needs your patience and positive attitude. Such vaccines as DHPP and rabies are recommended at this age. It should also transit to adult food. Give it three or three and a half cups total twice a day. Read our detailed guide about 1 year old German Shepherd puppy. Years 1. This time is considered a transition period. The dog may have problems with fears and memory breakdowns. It may even forget how to do familiar things and should be trained again. However, its attention span is longer at this age, so it can have a more thorough obedience training. The dog should eat three or three and a half cups two times a day. Year 2 months — The Second Transition Phase This is one more transition period known as young adulthood. Your dog still displays some aggression. That is why they continue to need reinforcement, training, and socialization. It has already gained its athletic frame and strong muscle, and only several pounds are lacking for reaching its adult weight. In fact, you get a German Shepherd full-grown pet now. The DHPP vaccination is recommended at this age. Continue to feed your dog with three to three and a half cups in total twice per day. It has become a loyal and protective family pet or an obedient and enduring working dog. The young adulthood stage lasts from the second to the third year after the puppy was born. Its size is typical now for an adult dog. However, it may continue to grow slightly, but the changes are not noticeable at all. At this phase, you can also notice that your pet becomes more and more active. It needs a lot of exercise and training. A lot of physical activity is essential for the dog to stay in high spirits. The period between the second and third years of life is also called the adult growth stage. This is the time when your friend gets its excellent breed characteristics. It loves attention very much and continues to learn new things eagerly. The dog enjoys training sessions and strives for new experiences. It becomes calmer and more confident. Its hyperactivity slightly decreases. It displays a lot of self-control and discipline. Continue feeding your dog with three to three and a half cups twice per day. It will be its constant adult diet. Vaccination against rabies is recommended and required by authorities at this age. Seniority Phase This is the last phase of German Shepherd development. It may seem wonderful, but your dog can continue to slightly grow. The phase is divided into two periods — early senior years old and late senior years old. Unfortunately, you need to focus on its health rather than on training. Such health issues as hip dysplasia, joint pain, and decreased stamina can appear at this age. You need to have consultations with your vet more often. During this period, your dog does not change its weight and height considerably. Though, you can observe slight changes in weight. On average, these dogs live years. You need to attend to their health and comfort. The dog may remain energetic and playful, but it slightly slows down. It wants to rest more and gets much calmer. The animal may suffer from some pains, so it may need pain relievers for spine and joint problems and arthritis. It may also need nutritional supplements and changes to its diet. Special senior and sensitive stomach food may become the best choice. Avoid jumping and hard playing. Continuous veterinary monitoring is needed if some symptoms are worsening. The accepted proportion that is considered ideal is .The weight is usually not taken into consideration. If your pet does not correspond to this proportion, there may be a health issue you do not know about yet. That is why you need to monitor the parameters carefully. To be sure that everything is OK, multiply the length of your dog by 0. You will get the perfect height. However, there can be some divergences. If they are minor, you have nothing to worry about. The German Shepherd is rather thin, or even skinny. This results in bad proportions. The ideal weight of your German Shepherd is lbs kg for males and lbs kg for females. You can get either a heavy or obese dog, and it can be a result of overfeeding or certain health issues. How to Check the Weight of Your German Shepherd The simplest method to see whether your dog is underweight is to check whether the ribs are visible on the sides. If you can see that the shape of your dog reminds you of a barrel on the ribs, it means that it is overweight. If you cannot feel the ribs, but there is too much skin on the sides, your dog is overweight. However, if you feel the ribs and only a thin layer of skin, it is underweight. It does not matter whether your dog is underweight or overweight. In any case, it can cause health problems if you do not repair the situation. The best way to succeed is to make changes to the diet. If your German Shepherd is underweight, you should enrich the content of its food. However, do not make it eat if the dog does not want to. That can lead to more severe problems. Make a slow transition to food with higher fat content. Or you may even give your dog puppy food because it is rich in nutrients. If your pet is obviously overweight, the best thing is to cut off the food. However, you also need to do it step by step so that the dog finally can eat just half of the amount you have recently fed it. The adult dog has a height of inches cm at the shoulder and an average weight of pounds kg. Nevertheless, some German Shepherds can grow bigger and even reach pounds kg. You need to be sure about its proportions though to understand if your pet meets the standards. If you see some deficiencies, meet your vet for a more thorough evaluation. When does a German Shepherd stop growing? German Shepherd males are thought to be grown-up when they are 3 years old. Females become adults when they are 2 years old. How tall is a German Shepherd? The adult dog has a height of inches cm at the shoulder. An average male reaches inches cm in height, while an average female should be inches cm tall. The body of both males and females should be longer than their height. How big do German Shepherds get? How much does a German Shepherd weight? In general, an average male reaches pounds kg in weight, while an average female should be pounds kg heavy. This is a very strong and brave dog that can become a perfect guardian and protector. If you decide to take a GS puppy, you need to follow its growth stages accurately to be sure that it develops properly. You should follow a high-quality diet, provide your dog with a lot of exercise, and ensure its proper training and socialization. Your German Shepherd cannot stay healthy and active if it gets some health problems related to its weight or height. Sometimes, these issues are not obvious and understandable to the owner. That is why it is important to know the main development parameters of your German Shepherd growth stages to cope with possible challenges. We hope that this article, together with the weight and height chart, will become your effective and helpful guide. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. German Shepherd Development: From Puppies To Adults Posted on Last updated: Categories German Shepherds From early puppyhood to adulthood, German Shepherds undergo significant development that shapes their temperament, behavior, and physical abilities. As a dog owner, understanding the developmental stages of your German Shepherd is crucial to providing the right care and training. German Shepherd development consists of several stages. Hey there! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site. Contents Final Thoughts German Shepherd Development and Growth Stages German Shepherd development refers to the physical, cognitive, and social changes that occur in German Shepherd puppies as they grow and mature into adulthood. These changes include the physical development of their muscles, bones, and organs, as well as their ability to learn and process information. Social development involves their ability to interact with other dogs and humans and to understand and follow social rules and norms. As a dog owner, it is important to understand the growth stages of your German Shepherd. Knowing what to expect during each stage can help you provide the best care for your furry friend. In the latter case, you need to know that the German Shepherd puppy depends on his mother for everything in these initial weeks. This includes food, warmth, and physical security. Here, your only responsibility is to make sure the dam is equipped with what she needs to fulfill her duties. As long as you feed the adult GSD right, she will be able to feed her babies and give them the warmth and company they need. You might notice that the puppies may seem asocial. Do not measure how the puppy interacts with other dogs for at least three to four weeks, which brings us to what you can expect within the next two weeks. This is where the puppy can wean off and not need a diet made up of milk exclusively. The puppy can consume solid food but is not too fond of it, especially if it is strange in texture. Your priority at this stage should be to get him to accept solid food without regressing to a diet of milk. There will be a social incentive in weaning off as the puppy will observe the litter he belongs to and notice a simultaneous change in feeding preferences. This brings us to a very important change: social interaction. I mentioned above that you should not worry about social disinterest up until the third week. However, by the fourth week, you should look for some interaction. If the puppy fails to acknowledge others in the litter or is getting shunned collectively, consulting an expert trainer or a vet can be helpful. Otherwise, the journey from being 4 weeks old to being adoption-ready is a long one, and it starts by accepting a human guardian. From weeks 4 to 5, the puppy is learning to accept a human usually the breeder as his guardian. Both dominant guardian and guiding guardian archetypes work in establishing yourself as the leader, but the dominant frame might box you into less palatable training tactics. German Shepherd puppies are quite intelligent, but a bulk of this cognitive ability is unlocked in two stages. The first is around the five-week mark. This could be the fourth or sixth week, depending on the individual puppy, but it is noticeable when the dog starts getting excited about other dogs. Of course, you need to be on schedule with socialization and carry-walks to notice this. Again, this explains why breeders usually keep the GSD puppies at this stage. Aggression issues can stem from excitement signaling menace. The opposite is true as well. Fortunately, professional breeders expose the dog to other dogs his age at this stage, and he learns to adjust how he shows and perceives excitement, making your life as a new German Shepherd parent much easier. But socializing your German Shepherd happens in stages as well. And of different ages. The wider the variety of people he gets to see and interact with at this stage, the more receptive he will be to people growing up. If your German Shepherd has seen only young people all his life, he might react differently to older ones and vice versa. This also applies to experiences. Exposing your puppy to experiences like car rides and ringing doorbells ensures that he will be calm in normal situations as he grows up. And in addition to getting your German Shepherd acquainted with normal stimuli like bells and travel, you must get him crate trained at this stage. Introducing the crate as a refuge and a secure spot as opposed to jail is a great way to get your GSD puppy to accept the crate. The more you delay this, the harder it becomes to crate-train a German Shepherd. If you want to check how his growth compares to the guidelines, head over to this article, When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing? This also includes a handy growth chart. This is a critical stage because if unchecked, your German Shepherd might end up hurting other dogs or be hurt by them. The watchful dog-parent in you that you were holding back has his chance to shine here. Make sure you keep a close eye on your German Shepherd and how he interacts with any other dogs in the house. The status-measuring step is one even adult dogs take when first interacting with each other. But at this age, dogs engage in prolonged status-measuring inquiry and either establish dominance or accept their subservient spot. You cannot force your German Shepherd to be the alpha in a relationship with another dog. GSDs are very physical, which is fine when two dogs play within the same breed. But if one of your doggos belongs to a relatively fragile lineage, you might want to consider some separation. If you are worried your German Shepherd playing too rough , click the link for some cool tips on how to limit rough play. The easier to walk your GSD is, the more enjoyable it will be for you both. This is better elaborated in my dedicated post on the fun exercises you can do with your German Shepherd puppy. At the same time, his physical energy levels are rising every day, which can be counterproductive as your German Shepherd can get uber-excited about physical activity. Make sure you have him on a no-pull harness instead of a collar-and-leash, so you can get him properly under control without hurting him. You can also see my other recommendations here. Are you looking to buy something for your dog? Make sure to check out my favorite dog gear below. Discover the online program that more than 57, dog owners have used to rapidly transform their dog into a well-behaved, obedient furry friend. While looking through the different stages of growth you can see the rough size of German Shepherd puppies at different stages of their life by comparing the ages to a German Shepherd growth chart. Important Note: Once a puppy has been weened off milk it is essential that the puppy is given a high quality puppy food to ensure proper development. A lack of proper nutrients can result in ears not rising, smaller than normal dogs and health complications in later life. In my opinion Blue Buffalo Puppy Food is the best available on the market. German Shepherd puppies, as with all other dog breeds, are born with their eyes and ears closed. At this stage the GSD puppies are completely dependent on their mothers for care, food and the like and the newborn puppies are relatively immobile. A small section of the umbilical cord will still be attached to the German Shepherd puppy - this will dry up and fall off on its own within a few days. The first 3 days are the most critical in a GSD puppies life. Birth is the beginning of the neonatal period in GSD development and it lasts roughly 2 weeks. Typically the puppies will curve into a comma type shape when picked up. This is because their nervous system at this time is still very immature. Additionally, they can't eliminate unless the mother, or caregiver, stimulates their anus or urethra by licking or gently rubbing the area. Gentle, frequent handling by humans is very helpful from this age onward. As their nervous system development continues they will now also now arch their backs when they are picked up and held rather than curving into a more comma shaped position as before. Around Day 7 German Shepherd puppies now begin to crawl more readily and more often during this phase of GSD development. Short periods of daily handling and exposure to some stimuli can also be very beneficial to stimulate weight gain in the puppy, earlier eye opening, hair growth and motor development in all members of the GSD litter. The German Shepherd puppies eyes will appear to be blue in color at first even though they can't focus right now. They will be able to see shapes after about 2 weeks of age during continued GSD development. Around Day 14 The German Shepherd pups eyes and ears should be fully open by now and many may have their first incisor teeth beginning to erupt. The puppies should also be crawling quite well by this time. This is the beginning of the transitional period of GSD development which typically lasts about a week or so. This is also a period of profound changes in the German Shepherd puppies growth and development. The German Shepherd puppy will begin to be more independent from it's mom during this time. During this time the German Shepherd puppies will begin to eliminate on their own and should start walking within 2- to 3 days by about day 16 or so - very shaky at first, but with practice growing legs will soon become less wobbly. You can observe tail wagging as well as the beginning of play fighting. German Shepherd puppies will also be eliminating on their own by this time. Around Day 21 Around this date the German Shepherd puppy will move from the transitional phase into the socialization period of GSD development. By this time GSD puppies should be able to walk pretty well, with a more adult-like gait. They will also begin a more active exploration of their environments and that of their GSD litter mates. This period is thought to last from about 2. This is an extremely important time for the emotional and social development of the German Shepherd puppy. This is also a period of dramatic changes in your German Shepherd puppies life. This is the period in GSD development when puppies can form bonds with species outside of its own such as human beings. This is also the time when the puppy can identify their own species as well as being able to identify future social partners. Oftentimes, the peak of sensitivity to the formation of social bonds is described to be between 6 to 8 weeks of age. This is also called the fear period in GSD development! Around Week 4 By now social play becomes an important factor in GSD development and German Shepherd puppies learn how to interact with litter mates and adult animals of their species as well. They can also play with toys, play fight, play with humans and other animals and are beginning to eat other soft foods to supplement their mother's milk. Many times the GSD puppies are fearless during this time - exploring their environment and all that is about them. This is also a good time for continued exposure to new and novel things, to various people and other kinds of animals, all while the German Shepherd puppy continues to develop. The socialization stage is very important in the growth of GSD development, however it should be looked at within the context of the developing emotional system of the puppy. At around 3 - 5 weeks of age attraction responses in German Shepherd puppies are very strong. These kinds of responses begin to diminish between 5 - 7 weeks of age as fear responses begin to emerge. It is important to note that early socialization is tremendously important in the development of well-adjusted GSD puppies. During these few weeks, your German Shepherd puppy will also learn how to play and communicate with it's littermates, respond to humans it comes in contact with and how to get along safely in the adult dog world. Around Week 6 German Shepherd puppies begin exhibiting more adult like behaviors such as mounting of other litter mates and demonstrating dominance roles. Sniffing of tails and noses also becomes an important part of the greeting process among their canine peers. Between about 7 - 9 weeks of age the fear response may become so strong as to begin to overwhelm the attraction response. For other puppies the social motivation to make contact may very well overcome any wariness during this phase of GSD development. Around weeks 7 - 12 Among other things, this is an ideal age of socializing your German Shepherd puppy to humans, other animals and new surroundings and objects. It also a great time to learn such important skills as: leash training, housebreaking, crate training, accepting gentle handling and grooming and to accept human domination and control. The socialization period is absolutely critical in GSD development and acceptance of other animal species. If a GSD puppy is not exposed to horses, sheep, goats, other dogs, cats or small children before it reaches 12 weeks, it is likely it will never accept them. You may also observe that your German Shepherd pups ears are beginning to come up in some form or fashion. Don't be surprised by the wild and interesting shapes that they may take on as they mature. As the puppy goes through the teething process the ears will go up and down and will do all sorts of weird things - one up one down; one flopping to the left, the other to the right; both in the center, etc. This period is thought to occur from the end of the primary socialization period through sexual maturity. Motor skills are increasing for the GSD puppy. During this time the puppy is still refining both learning and social skills as well. While puppies in this phase can learn quite well, they are easily distracted and very hard to keep on task. This is an excellent time to start puppy kindergarten. This is also a good time to start being very aware of your GSD puppies ear carriage. Around 4 Months German Shepherd puppies will begin to lose their puppy teeth and will soon replace them with their adult teeth, generally starting with the incisors. Young German Shepherds will continue to learn about their environment and all the individuals in it throughout their social maturization process. This is often the time when older puppies are learning about their social relationships within the environment they live. Social maturity takes more time to achieve than sexual maturity. In the beginning of social maturity dogs will begin to display more mature, adult social behaviors. This time is thought to vary between breeds and from dog to dog and to occur anywhere from 12 - 36 months of age, especially in the larger breeds such as German Shepherds. Again, this varies from German Shepherd to German Shepherd but this is a good place to start. If your German Shepherd puppies ears are not standing up by this time on their own it is a good time to consider taping them. Detailed directions for this process can be found here. Overall, most of the puppies internal body systems are nearly "adult" even though the skeleton is still growing and will for some time to come. In many respects your German Shepherd puppy is now a "small adult". The heart rate has decreased again to about 70 BPM and by the end of this month the GSD puppy should have a full set of adult teeth. Also an important milestone: German Shepherd females reach sexual maturity and have their first estrus heat period. If the GSD's ears are not up by this time you need to take action quickly to get them up before it is too late. Read the article on ear taping. Around 7 - 12 Months German Shepherd males reach sexual maturity and begin to hike their leg when urinating. It is important to be especially firm and consistent about setting limits and enforcing commands during this time since your older GSD puppy may challenge dominance of other dogs or humans during this stage. If the German Shepherd puppies ears are not standing on their own by this point, there is a good chance that they will never stand on their own. This is an ideal age in GSD development to start "Beginning" level classes of obedience training. Bonding to humans is now very firmly established and your German Shepherds vocal and body communications are now that of a more mature individual dog - and more easily understood, and well on their way to many years of happy companionship with you. Sign up for promotions, news, discounts, and the chance to win prizes for you and your German Shepherd E-mail Address. Are male and female German shepherds different? The Neonatal Period. Birth-2 Weeks. In the first two weeks of their life your puppy is mostly helpless and fully dependant on their mother. Their mother will be responsible for feeding, eliminating waste and keeping them warm. The puppies will be able to taste, touch and feel warmth but their eyes and ears are sealed shut. You should see the following milestones hit in the first two weeks. What you should expect to see: Puppies Starting to Crawl Eyes and ears starting to open Teeth starting to appear By the end of the first two weeks your puppies should be able to stand up, albeit a little shakily and have their eyes and ears fully open. The Transitional Period. They will start to be able to control their body and temperature much better. They will start to interact with their litter mates but will still be largely dependent on their mother. What you should expect to see: Puppies Walking Well Puppies Interacting with you and their littermates Puppy teeth almost complete. The Socialisation Period 4weeks — 3 months The puppies will now have complete control of their body and will start exploring the world around them. The latter half of this period is the ideal time to rehome the puppies as this is when they are most susceptible to learning new things and they can start to be taught basic commands. Between weeks your puppy may start to display signs of some fearfulness. This is perfectly normal and will need to be nurtured Not encouraged by you. What you should expect to see: Start showing adult behaviours Wagging tails, sniffing bums Start to be able to be taught basic commands Ears begin to sit upright. The Juvenile Period 3months-6months Your German Shepherd puppy will become much more independent during this period. They will start to understand dominance and will explore their home to understand where their position is in the household. What you should expect to see: Female puppies begin heat cycles Ears now fully upright Males reach sexual maturity The Adolescence Period 6monthsmonths Most of your puppies social understanding and behaviours will have developed by this point but a reinforcement of these is still important. Your puppy will be at their most energetic and will require a structured training routine to help them to continue to develop. Males are considered fully grown at 36months whereas females reach this mark around 24months. You will know have an excellent, loyal family pet and companion to spend many years together with. German Shepherds are a medium-large breed. Females will grow to around inches and weigh lbs whereas the males will grow to around inches and weigh lbs. How many puppies is there in the average German Shepherd litter? German Shepherd litters Usually consist of between 5 and 10 puppies. How long do German shepherds live? The average life span for a German Shepherd is somewhere between 9 and 14 years. Other than the size difference already discussed females tend to be more affectionate than males where is male dogs are usually more protective of their surroundings and their families. Related Posts. German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Welcome to our German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Different breeds like all different babies develop at different rates. There are going to be many exciting events for you to look forward to. Whether you are bringing your 8 week German Shepherd puppy home or about to be blessed with a litter of puppies. This is going to be an exciting, demanding but hugely rewarding journey. Newborn puppies are born at around days after fertilization. Newborn puppies are born with their ears and eyes tightly sealed. The reason eyelids are sealed shut is to form a protective barrier for the fragile developing eye. This helps to protect them from any foreign object, bright lights, bacteria or any other microorganism that can cause disease or damage. In the same way puppies ear canals are closed at birth to make them effectively deaf. This is a protective barrier to protect the fragile underdeveloped machinery needed to hear. In a mature ear the pressure caused by sound will mechanically move structures in the ear. German Shepherd puppies are highly dependent upon their noses. Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born. This helps them to identify their mom, the very important milk supply, siblings and surroundings. Newborn puppies are born with a fur coat however they cannot control their own body temperature yet. To keep them warm they are dependant on their mothers or another heat source. If you live in a cooler climate installing a heat lamp would be ideal to help keep the puppies nice and warm. Germans Shepherds make amazing mothers and will be relied on a lot at this stage. Mother dogs will only leave their newborn puppies to go to the toilet, eat and drink. However, when mom has gone the newborn puppies are not completely useless. They are able to use their front paws to drag themselves towards a heat source. When mom is away the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat. Along with being able to drag themselves to a heat source newborn puppies are also able to drag themselves to their mothers to locate the milk supply. They will move their heads around to search for a nipple, latch on and suck strongly. Newborn puppies are not born with teeth these will also develop in the next several weeks. Other than the above puppies are completely dependent upon the care of their dedicated mom. Newborn puppies have little control over the rear end of their bodies. To encourage their pups to pass urine and bowel movements the mom will lick their bottoms. Anything produced mom will then lick up and swallow to keep her puppies and nest clean. Some pups will even double their birth weight! Your German Shepherd puppy will still be highly dependent upon their mom at this stage. Beneath all their fur the vital organs will be working hard to mature. This includes the eyes. Your puppy will not be ready to open their eyes yet but lots of changes are taking place to prepare them for grand opening. The ear canals will begin to open around the same time as the eyes. When the ear canals do open, the ears are much more formed than the eyes are at this point in time. Their eyesight usually takes around 8 weeks to reach its full potential. When their eyes become wider, they will reveal blueish-gray eyes which are hazy in appearance. Their eyesight will continue to develop until around 8 weeks old. The ear canals will also open around 2 weeks. The puppies hearing has been developing much quicker than their eyesight and they will be able to hear most things by the time their ear canals fully open. However, their amazing hearing ability will continue to enhance over the next several weeks. At the moment your German Shepherd puppy will have cute floppy ears. Their adorable tall ears can come up anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Floppy ears are common until your German Shepherd finishes teething. By then the ear cartilage will become strong and hard enough for the ears to stand up permanently. Now is a good time to start handling the puppies and get them used to your voice. Most puppies are wormed for the first time when they are 2 weeks old. All this development has happened so quickly, but things are about to get even more exciting. Between 2 and 4 weeks your German Shepherd puppy will begin to stand up this is when the real fun begins. Puppies milky teeth will also start to develop between 2 to 4 weeks. These sharp little teeth will remain until about weeks of age. These little daggers play an important role during the weaning process. Even the most patient moms will struggle to nurse with these sharp painful teeth. This reluctance to nurse will prompt the German Shepherds to seek alternative food sources. These sharp teeth will then help to make up for the lack of jaw strength when eating solid foods. Finally, these sharp puppy teeth play an important role in teaching the pups to gauge their bite pressure when playing with their mom and siblings. This is an essential life lesson that enables our powerful German Shepherds to become safer companions as they mature into strong adult dogs. During the last few weeks mom has done an amazing job of getting her babies strong and their mobility will have come on leaps and bounds well not quite yet but by 3 weeks of age your German Shepherd puppy will begin to trotter around. Most 3 week old German Shepherd puppies can stand and sit. With their baby teeth starting to cut through a lot of breeders. Especially those with large litters will start introducing some solid foods. This helps relieve some of the pressure for the devoted German Shepherd mom. When weaning puppies, you need to start off by soaking their food in either water or puppy milk replacement formula to make it mushy and more comfortable for them to eat. As they start to interact and play with their siblings their personalities will really start to show. You may also notice them starting to playfully growl at each other. At 3 weeks old it will become easier to start identifying different members of the pack. Breeders and moms will be kept on their toes and paws over the next few weeks. As the pups start getting more confident on their feet they will be running around and playing enthusiastically. At 4 weeks old they will begin to wag their adorable little tails. With solid food becoming a major part of their diet the pups will be passing bigger bowel movements. They will be able to show more control of their bowel movements as they take themselves away from their brothers and sisters to perform their business. At this stage mom will be taking a much more relaxed approach to parenting and there will be a lot more for the breeder to clear up. By this point mealtimes are a messy process. If it is warm and safe enough to do so we would recommend taking the pups out in the yard for feeding. German Shepherd puppies are becoming a lot stronger at vocalisations by 4 weeks old. When mom returns to her babies the litter will noisily greet her. Around 4 weeks of age your puppies will need to be wormed again. From this week onwards human interaction is very important in order to form relationships with people. Including different noises and smells. This exposure will ensure your German Shepherd puppy turns into a confident, friendly individual. Mom will also be doing an important job of teaching her puppies to not bite too hard. Even an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy would have the power in their jaws to break the smaller bones in humans fingers. This is why mom teaching her puppies bite inhibition is so important. For more information on bite inhibition please see our guide on German Shepherd bite inhibition. By 5 weeks old German Shepherd puppies will be eating a lot of solid foods, several times throughout the day. Those sharp little teeth would have done their job and mom will be gradually weaning her pups of the dependency on her milk. When mom does feed her puppies, she will only do so for a short period whilst standing up. They will be eating between five and six small meals a day. Although the pups no longer rely on mom for milk, they still need her help and guidance for the next few weeks. Mom will be teaching her babies important life skills to live alongside humans. In some countries 6 week old puppies are taken away from their mothers and moved into their new home. We would not recommend this as the puppies will miss out on continued bite inhibition training from their siblings and mother. This can result in a puppy who bites too hard which can be challenging to manage as they get older. In the USA your puppy will be due their first combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccine helps to immunizes your puppy against hepatitis, parvo, distemper, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Most puppies will also need to be wormed again at 6 weeks old. Their last week together will consist of plenty of socialization and playing. Most breeders will arrange a 7 week health check up with the vet to make sure your bundle of fluff is fit and healthy to go to their new home. In the UK some breeders will arrange for the pups first 8 week vaccination to take place during this check. Although some vets advise against it. By the end of this week German Shepherd puppies are ready to leave their mothers and move into their new homes for good. The week you get to take your new puppy home. This will be a very exciting time, but you may also be feeling a bit nervous. There will be some challenged along the way for new puppy owners and your puppy will take some time to adjust to life without its mother and siblings. In the UK the first combined vaccination will help to immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. The first puppy injection in the UK typically will happen between 8 and 10 weeks. Some breeders would have trained the puppies to poop and pee on newspapers or puppy pads. From the moment you get them home it is important to show your German Shepherd puppy where to pee and poop. Puppies naturally like to pee where they have done so before so to avoid building history of peeing in your home is best if you can to avoid it. The more you can avoid accidents from happening as much as possible from the start the faster the puppy training process should be. All puppies are different, and some will get this quicker than others. The main thing to remember is not to discipline your puppy for accidents. The most successful way to potty train is to reward success and ignore accidents. Just clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Your puppy will love nothing more than being praised. For more information please see our guide on How to potty train your German Shepherd puppy. Already your German Shepherd puppy will feel like part of the family. German Shepherds puppies are always adorable but at 9 weeks they are at the age where they are still puppy-like but very clumsy,curious and keen to play with her new family, which is very cute. Your German Shepherds unique personality will make you feel very proud. At 9 weeks your cheeky German Shepherd pup will be feeling more confident, with this the need to explore everything and anything may end up getting them into trouble. Your puppy will develop new sleeping patterns and feeding routines which you will need to adapt to. Most puppies will sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day at 9 weeks old. During the day when you are with your puppy generally you will not need to shut them away in a crate to nap. German Shepherd puppies are often more than happy to sleep whilst family life goes on around them. However, there will be times when sleeping in a crate is better and safer for your puppy. You must not leave a 9 week old puppy to sleep outside the crate if you are not home to watch them if they wake. Puppies are into everything and many innocent items found in the house could be a potential hazard to your inquisitive pup. For more information please see our guide on how to puppy proof your home. Even if your puppy can barely keep their eyes open other pups and children will still want to play and your German Shepherd puppy may find it hard to refuse. After a hard day of play the peace and quiet of a crate will enable your pup to have a well-deserved nap. If your German Shepherd puppy does need to go to the toilet in the night make sure you keep it short and to a minimum. Establishing a daily routine is the best way to get your German Shepherd puppy to sleep through the night. Part of this schedule will involve mealtimes. Your 9 week old puppy will need four meals a day. Split these up throughout the day and try to stick to similar times. This is to stop encouraging your puppy to wake up earlier and earlier because they associate waking with food. You should always reward your puppy either vocally, with a favourite toy or treats for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. Puppies and dogs want to be praised so they respond very well to positive encouragement. Punishing puppies and dogs may have a short term positive effect on their behaviour but long term you could be setting them up to fail. It is very important to socialise and expose your puppy to other humans, dogs and different scenarios whilst they are young. This maybe hard before your puppy has had all its vaccines however getting many different people to come and visit you at your home will enable them to get used to visitors. Before their full vaccinations you can also, you can take you German Shepherd puppy out and about with you to expose them to the outside world as long as you can carry them. If you live in the USA, your puppy will be due their second combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 9 weeks old. In the USA a minimum of three sets of the combined vaccine are required for your puppy. Although you cannot put your puppy down outside until after their final vaccination. Puppies 10 week injection In the UK is a booster vaccination to help immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. Check with your vet what date after their jabs your German Shepherd puppy will be able to go down outside. Your puppy will then need a booster between 6 and 12 months old. If you live in the USA at 12 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be due their booster for the combined 5in1 vaccine against hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvo and coronavirus and a vaccine against rabies and leptospirosis. If you live in a high risk area, they may also need to be given the vaccination to help immunize them against Lyme. If applicable at 16 weeks your German Shepherd puppy may need to have a fourth combined 5in1 vaccine. A minimum of three combined injections are required in the USA. Check with your vet what date they will be able to be out down outside. By 10 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be able to control their bladder a lot more. Potentially up to several hours. This is great time for you to introduce them to the big wide world and develop their social skills which you have already been building the foundations. When taking your German Shepherd puppy out try to introduce them to as many other friendly dogs, humans and noises you can. This will help your German Shepherd puppy to grown into a confident well-rounded dog. At 3 months old your German Shepherd will go down from four daily meals to three. These three portions will be larger than what they are used to which may cause stomach upset. If your German Shepherd puppy does get an upset stomach, try going back to four smaller meals for a couple of days and they try the three larger portions again. This can be a challenging time as your adorable German Shepherd puppy turns into a furry crocodile. Luckily the teething stage is only a phase as with human babies and short lived. In most cases your puppy biting should stop around when they are around 7 months old and have their adult teeth. You maybe noticing your German Shepherds gorgeous ears fluctuating between floppy and pointy. By the time your puppy has finished teething their ears should tick up all the way. This usually happens around months. As they grow their cartilage becomes stronger. Some puppies need another month or so to help them cope without going out for frequent toilet breaks. Even when your German Shepherd puppy is toilet trained occasional accidents are normal. German Shepherds do have large ears but they tend to grow into them as they get older. German Shepherd puppies will begin to grow their new adult coat between 4 and 6 months old. To make way for their adult coat all the puppy hair has to go. For several weeks you will notice an increase in shedding. This is a completely normal part of growing up for your German Shepherd. Being a double coat breed German Shepherds dogs have a topcoat and an undercoat. Twice a year your pup will shed their undercoat. Usually in spring and again in fall. They also shed in general days a year so be prepared for a lot of fur! They will very much look like a smaller version of their adult selves. Although your German Shepherd may look older on the inside, they are still very much a puppy. If you are looking to get your puppy neutered or spayed the recommended age is 6 to 9 months. However, it is common for some female puppies to get spayed at 4 months old. Summary: Your German Shepherd is bound to give you so much joy and happiness throughout its life. There will be challenges along the way but remember this is completely normal. German Shepherds are such an amazing breed and you will have a loyal friend for life. Related Posts.

June is a little mini poodle about 12 pounds and Pele is small mini goldendoodle about 18 pounds. They are excellent choices for allergy sufferers because both parents have non shedding genetics with two dominant furnishings. These puppies will be super smart. We have had a past puppy professionally trained and he was a rock star! They will also have super soft coats. They were born August 1st and will be 8 weeks September 22nd. Meaning they genetically will have one curl gene. They are a great choice for allergy sufferers and will mature pounds. They were born July 29th and will be 8 weeks old late September. Love the coats on these mini goldendoodle puppies! They will have my favorite coat type and when grown will have very loose curls that will allow them to have a longer coat without so much maintenance. They will also be about pounds which is perfect athletic size. Most of them will darken in their red color as they grow out of their frosty puppy coat. They were born April 25th and are ready to go. Scroll down to see the current Goldendoodle Puppies and Litters that we have. Click the buttons that are below each announcement or use the top tabs on our website to see each litter. We frequently have Goldendoodle puppies with that classic teddy bear look. We also have Goldendoodle litters with dark reds, chocolates, blacks, creams, parti, and merles. Some of these moms have "past puppy" buttons so you can see what their puppies will look like as they become older pups and adults. Check them out and contact us for any questions or check out our "purchasing" page. With our guardian homes, we have grown to the point that we have Petite and Mini Goldendoodle for sale almost monthly. We also have mini Bernedoodles quite often. She is an F1b with a toy dad. Both parents have two dominant furnishings so these two puppies are a good choice for a family with allergy concerns. They were born July 28th and will be 8 weeks old Sept .This tiny little multigen Goldendoodle girl was born June 16th and is ready to go. As a single puppy after she was weaned from her mom we added her to a litter of petite puppies so that she could learn the normal doggie social skills. She is a precious puppy and very happy to be carried around and snuggled on! She weighed 3 pounds at 8 weeks and only 4 pounds at 11 weeks of age. Her mom, Rosie is a small goldendoodle about 19 pounds and the dad is Duggy also about 18 pounds. Baby Uno is tracking to be really small at about pounds. Both parents have two dominant furnishings which means Baby Uno will have a non shedding coat and a great choice for allergy sufferers. The parents are pictured together below. Click for Lisa's Mini goldendoodles This litter is the most popular generation of Mini goldendoodles. Jewel is a small F1 mom with a mini poodle dad. She's about 28 pounds with a wavy coat. The dad is Zake and he's a mini poodle weighing in around 16 pounds. He is a 10 out of 10 on red intensity so these puppies should have rich color as they mature. We can see that the size ranges a bit with the puppies but most are quite small. They will mature in the teens to maybe 25 pounds. We have both curly and wavy coats in this litter. Share 0 Shares Alabama is a beautiful, loving state in the United States of America that boasts of equally beautiful landscapes, a bubbling city life, and lots of history. It is also a canine-loving state with an increasing interest in the Golden Retriever as well as the Poodle dog breeds. The Goldendoodle which is a cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle , is also a popular dog breed in the state as Alabama is home to lots of breeders for the designer dog breed. With the Goldendoodle, you get a hypoallergenic dog with high intelligence, playful and happy energy, and complete loyalty. When getting a Goldendoodle puppy, always aim to adopt one from a reputable breeder that truly cares for and loves the breed. Avoid backyard breeders or puppy mills that are only interested in making quick money from the sale of the gorgeous furry angels. In this article, we help make your search for a reputable Goldendoodle easier by providing a list of our top Goldendoodle breeders in the Cotton State of Alabama. These breeders were selected after carefully looking into their breeding program and standards. However, detailed research should be done on each breeder before choosing to work with them. Since , this breeder has been dedicated to producing the best quality English teddy bear Goldendoodles to numerous families in the state of Alabama. They are located in Robertsdale and are focused on mainly mini and petite Goldendoodles. Their Goldendoodles are bred to be excellent family companions and friends. These puppies enjoy proper socialization, and proper feeding and they get to sleep in temperature-regulated areas that are regularly cleaned. Some of the sires and dams used in their program are imported after much research would have been done on each breed. They are well tested for genetic health issues and they also undergo a temperament test to be sure they are a fit for their new homes. They have their full vaccinations and deworming and are microchipped. They also come with written health guarantees. Raising Healthy Puppies since We raise Goldendoodles with outstanding temperament and health. We are a small home breeder who raise our puppies in a very loving home environment. All of our dogs are part of our family. We are with each puppy every day and believe in heavy socialization. We believe in selective breeding and have been rasing disease free puppies for many years. Our puppies are dearly loved and they have the best vet care! We use Pawprints Genetic Health Testing. Our dogs have all of their health clearances. For we made the top 10 best Goldendoodle Breeders in Alabama by Devoted Dog We are a member of Good Dog which takes only the best breeders natiuonwide through a highly scrutinized process. The say our lines are great. They work with the most prestigious Service Dog training facility in the nation called Hand and Paw. We are taking reservations on all of our Winter litters as well as Spring .Check out our available puppies page and parents and planned litter page. You can contact us at jeffersondoodle gmail. We donate to Forgotten Tails Rescue. We believe in helping our local rescues and have the vision that no animals will be left in a shelter and every animal in a shelter will be placed in a loving home. We specialize in breeding Mini Goldendoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other high quality breeders that raise mini goldendoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! Not all mini Goldendoodles are equal, there are a few different versions to choose from each having a little different genetic background based on the pups parents. We will explain all the differences in Mini Goldendoodle puppies and how they are bred below. We raise all versions of the mini goldendoodle breed. F1 Mini Goldendoodle Pups. A F1 puppy is also known as a First Generation puppy. The puppies mother is a Golden Retriever and the pups dad is a Mini Poodle. This version of mini goldendoodle usually has soft wavy or curly puppy fur. They will shed until they lose their puppy fur, after shedding they will shed a lot less, but will shed. This version is partially hypoallergenic and usually requires low maintenance. F1 mini goldendoodles usually need to be groomed every 6 months along with daily brushing to keep their curly hair from matting and getting tangled. The dogs usually grow up having great temperaments similar to golden retrievers. They usually get about inches high at the shoulder and range in weight from pounds. F1b Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1b is known as a second-generation mini goldendoodle with the pups mother being already an F1 Goldendoodle and the pups dad being a mini poodle also. So the difference between F1 and F1b is that the mom is not a golden retriever but an actual F1 Goldendoodle. They also have very soft curly hair but with almost no shedding. This F1b version is semi-hypoallergenic and a better choice for anyone who has pet allergies. The F1b also should be brushed on a daily basis but will need to be groomed more frequently then a F1. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is recommended to keep their coat in perfect condition. F1b Mini goldendoodles get around 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulders and range between pounds in weight. F1bb Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1bb goldendoodle is also known as a third-generation mini goldendoodle. This mini goldendoodle version has a coat more similar to a poodle than of a golden retriever. This is because the pup is more of a poodle than a retriever. Making it the very best version for anyone with pet allergies. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is required to help prevent knots or matting. This version is super intelligent and loving, and usually seems to have more energy than the other versions of Mini goldendoodles. This version is usually smaller in size, weighing around pounds and only getting inches tall at the shoulders. The smaller size makes them a great size for smaller homes and apartments. So if you live near Hartselle Alabama and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Goldendoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Goldendoodle Pups that have been adopted!

Age Age is one of the most common reasons for pets going gray. This is a very similar process to the one we see in humans as we age. The majority of graying will happen around the muzzle and face. Graying usually starts with a salt-and-pepper look in dogs. Dogs that are naturally gray can also show signs of aging, but you might have a more difficult time spotting these changes. Also, gray dogs might start to turn more white than gray as they age. While the reason is unknown, it is possible that stress somehow causes the body to stop producing pigment in the same manner as it used to. Do you have a friend that started graying before 30? Think of your dog in the same way. Even perfectly healthy dogs might be genetically predisposed to early graying. In fact, even puppies can have graying hair, and it can start to become more silvery with age. A few breeds are more likely to be genetically predisposed to graying. Schnauzers are known for their gray beards, while greyhounds and Weimaraners are naturally gray in color. It is also common for black dogs to start showing gray earlier than lighter colored dogs. Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that can cause pigment loss in certain patches of skin and fur. While the causes of vitiligo are unknown, many scientists believe that the condition is hereditary. Vitiligo affects all dogs a little differently. Some dogs will lose pigmentation on their entire body, while others will only be affected in certain spots. Vitiligo can also cause skin lesions and dandruff. Fortunately, all of the symptoms of vitiligo are painless for your pooch. While vitiligo is very rare, the following breeds are the most likely to have vitiligo: Rottweiler. Toggle Menu This Is Why Your Labradoodle Puppy Is Going Grey Your labradoodle puppy was either black or chocolate brown when you added the new family member, and now he or she seems to be changing color. Why is my labradoodle puppy going grey? The genetic influence of the poodle tends to fade the coat to a lighter shade as the puppy matures. When you get a Doodle puppy it is very rare that you know exactly what color coat you will get, but you will always love whatever you end up with! Coat color is, of course, affected by parentage, and the colors can range from a single, even color to a wide multi-colored fur. Did you know that the colors can skip a generation or two? The grandparents and great-grandparents can have an effect on the final mature coat pigmentation. As mentioned earlier, coat color is determined genetically and there are several genes that are involved. Genes occur in pairs, one gene being contributed by each parent. This combination of genes will have some being dominant and some being recessive. The combination of the two determines what color the dog will be. Taking the Labrador Retriever as an example, colors that can occur are yellow, chocolate, or black. A black coat will appear charcoal, chocolate will appear silvery, and yellow will appear light gold or champagne. What Is Kemp Hair? Kemp hairs, when they appear, are usually found in a fleece-type coat of the labradoodle. The hair has a hollow middle and a comparatively thin outer layer so that it is quite brittle and breaks easily. Usually, kemp hairs appear in mature Labradoodles around the eyes and along the spine but have been known to appear in puppies as young as 4 or 5 months old. Stress or anxiety Stress and anxiety can cause fur or hair to go white. Although the reasons are debatable, sometimes stress can cause the body to stop producing pigmentation as well as it used to. Health Issues Although rare, hypothyroidism is a condition that can cause your Labradoodle to start greying. This condition is a result of the thyroid gland underperforming. Getting treatment for this disease from your vet should reverse the greying. There are a variety of liver and kidney diseases that can cause grey hair but are very rare. Always check with your vet if you suspect a health problem. I am a dog parent in Hot Springs Village, Ar. I created this site to help fellow Doodle owners with up-to-date information and tips for raising your puppy right! Post navigation. Joined: Tue Aug 22, pm Location: Surrey My 8 month labradoodle has loads and loads of grey hair! Post by loi » Sun Mar 11, pm Hi is anyone else sharing in my experience? I have a beautiful 8 month old male chocolate Labradoodle, which we purchased when he was 9 weeks old. He has been an absolute pleasure from the day we got him, easy to train and he has a lovely nature. He is playful and bouncy when in the garden and on walks, but has a lovely gentle and calm way around the house. He is now nearly fully grown and has that lovely puppy way about him, but has loads and loads of grey hair. If he didnt have that bouncy way about him, to look at you would think he was a much older. He started showing some grey hair at around 6 months the odd one here and there like some get, but by the time he was 7 months he had loads of grey hair around his eyes, and two very big patches on his back. One close to his neck and one close to his back end. He also has a large patch of grey on his tail. Do you own a young Labradoodle that also has lots of grey hair, or do you have any suggestions, I would love to hear from you. I love my dog dearly, but wonder why he is going so grey when he is just a puppy? Is there anything I can do? He is a big, silly, and usually cheerful dog that is a mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. He comes in a variety of colors, the most common of which is black. Many owners report that their black labradoodle began to turn grey between the ages of 6 and 12 months. Black Labradoodles are known for changing color as they age. The rich coat colors of black Labradoodles sometimes fade due to the hereditary features of Poodles in Labradoodles. As mature dogs, they may develop lighter colors or even a unique color due to fading. To know all about coat colors when it comes to Labradoodles, continue reading this article. Do Black Labradoodles Change Color? Black Labradoodles change color; they are notable for changing color as they become mature. Typically, the genetic characteristics of Poodles in Labradoodles cause the rich coat colors of black Labradoodles to fade. Fading may have them grow in lighter hues or even a distinct color as adult dogs. Many Labradoodles change color as they grow older, and some even later. When they shed their puppy fur and mature into their adult coat, it might seem darker or lighter. If your Labradoodle carries the dilute gene, genetics may also play a role. Genes are found in pairs, with each parent contributing one gene. Some genes will be dominant, while others will be recessive in this mix. The color of the dog is determined by the mix of the two. A charcoal coat will seem black, a chocolate coat will appear silvery, and a yellow coat will appear pale gold or champagne. This is because of the numerous combinations that may be produced when a Labrador and a Poodle are mated together. Because there are so many possibilities, there will be a Labradoodle hue to fit every future owner. Regardless matter the hue of your Labradoodle, it will be a devoted and loving friend. Black, cream, and gold are the most common hues. In most Labradoodle litters, there will be a black-coated puppy. To be considered as a real red Labradoodle, they must have a black pigmented nose. Rarer designs include abstract and phantom, in which the coat is a combination of colors with white making up less than half of the coat. Phantom is a two-color design with a base color and a secondary color that is the traditional phantom design. Markings on the forehead, beneath the chin, on the sides of the nose, and on the chest will be the secondary color. While phantom Labradoodles are uncommon, the most prevalent color combination is black and gold. Do Black Labradoodles Turn gray? Black Labradoodles can turn grey as they mature, due to the dilute gene they can inherit from one of their parents, even if the parents never showed them; some black Labradoodles turn grey within the first grey, especially after they shed their puppy coat. Within the first year, a black Labradoodle puppy may appear to grow greyer. Without being expressed, this dilute gene can be handed on. When pups are born, they are usually black and gradually brighten during the first year of their lives. This may appear to be your black Labradoodle going grey, but he was always a grey Labradoodle who appeared darker as a puppy. Why Do Labradoodles Change Color? Labradoodles start to change colors around 6 weeks after birth and as they mature into adult dogs, their color is prone to changing or fading. The presence of Poodle DNA in Labradoodles usually causes the rich coat colors observed in Labradoodle puppies to fade. Adult coats can fade to be many shades lighter or even a different hue as they age. Labradoodles change color due to the following reasons: Gender Female canines turn gray earlier than males, according to a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavioral Science. Health Problems Hypothyroidism is a rare condition that can make your Goldendoodle gray. An underactive thyroid gland leads to this disease. The gray will be reversed if you receive treatment for this disease from your veterinarian. Gray hair can be caused by various diseases of the liver and kidneys, but it is extremely rare. If you suspect a health problem, always see your veterinarian. Even healthy dogs can have a genetic predisposition to premature graying. Even puppies can have gray fur, which can start to turn silver as they age. Dogs carrying this gene are commonly found in poodles, bearded collies, and some sheepdog breeds. Since the gene is dominant, it can also be found in hybrids. Kemp Hair When Kemp hairs appear, they are usually found in the undercoat of the Goldendoodle. Because of the hollow middle and thin outer shell, the hair is extremely brittle and breaks easily. Stress or Anxiety Impulsive and anxious dogs tend to turn gray faster than non-aggressive, more comfortable dogs. Although the cause is uncertain, it is conceivable that stress causes the body to stop making pigments in the same way as before. Age Age is one of the most common causes of pet discoloration. This is extremely similar to the aging process we see in humans. The muzzle and face will be the grayest areas. In dogs, gray usually begins with the appearance of salt and pepper. Natural gray dogs can also show signs of aging, although these changes may be more difficult for you to detect. Gray canines may also begin to turn white instead of gray as they age. Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that causes loss of pigmentation in areas of the skin and hair. Although the exact cause of vitiligo is uncertain, many scientists believe it to be a genetic condition. Some dogs lose pigment all over the body, while others are only affected in specific areas. Skin pigmentation can also spread rapidly during the first few months after the onset of the disease. Fortunately, the symptoms of vitiligo are completely painless. Their eyes will most likely be a hazy blue tint when they do. This procedure will begin in around three weeks. Brown is the most prevalent eye color in dogs, and their color will have totally transitioned by 3 or 4 months. Can Black Labradoodles turn brown? Black Labradoodles can not turn brown, they can turn grey, especially when they shed their puppy coat, owing to the dilute gene they can receive from one of their parents, the dilute gene causes their coat to become lighter yet maintaining the same black to gold genetic ratio. Black Labradoodles can appear a bit brown on summer days due to sun exposure which can act like bleach in some ways; yet in winter days, your doodle will return to their deep black hue. The most popular colors are black, cream, and gold. Labradoodles of these colors, with the exception of the cream color, which may have a reddish-colored nose, will have a black pigment on their nose. There will be a black-coated puppy in almost every Labradoodle litter. They must have a black pigmented nose to be called a true red Labradoodle. Abstract and phantom coats, in which the coat is a mixture of colors, are rarer designs with white making up less than half of the coat. At the end of the day, all Labradoodles are magnificent dogs regardless of the color of their coats. They should be treated with the love they deserve and need. If you have a Labradoodle, you should consider yourself a lucky person, because there is quite nothing similar to their unconditional love in the world. Aim to enjoy every moment with them, and make your time with them as memorable as possible. You can start by learning how to make your bond with your Labradoodle stronger here. Before you jump into the related question section, you may want to find out how high maintenance your Labradoodle is in this post. Related Questions Why is my labradoodle turning grey? Your labradoodle is turning grey due to a dilute gene that they inherit from one of their parents. What is the rarest Labradoodles color? They must have a black pigmented nose to be called a true red Labradoodle; following red, pure white Labradoodles follow. Why is my black labradoodle turning brown? Your black labradoodle is turning brown or red due to exposure to the sun. Many professional dog grooming products contain sunscreen for fur, which will protect fur from damaging sun rays. Check out the best and healthiest foods for golden retrievers at every age here — Dry, Wet, Homemade Recipes, and Treats! Taking a walk? These are the best leashes, collars, and harnesses for the buck that you can find. Gray Labradoodle puppies may also be sold as blue or silver Labradoodles. So, finding a grey Labradoodle puppy can be quite a challenge. Your best bet is to work with breeders that specialize in this shade. What is a Grey Labradoodle? A grey Labradoodle is simply a Labrador Poodle mix with a gray coat. The exact shade of gray can vary from one Doodle to the next. Labradoodles of all colors come from two distinct lines: Australian and American. But, the Australian line also includes the Cocker Spaniel breed. There are two ways that a Labradoodle can get a grey coat. They will either inherit a dilute gene from each parent to weaken the black color to grey. Or, they will inherit the greying gene from their Poodle parent. Sadly, there are some health conditions that can affect the grey Labradoodle, depending on what causes their coat color. Genetics Behind the Gray Labradoodle Color Out of the parent dogs that combine to make the Labradoodle, the Poodle is the only dog with a standard, show-accepted grey coat color. And highly controversial to many purebred advocates. The two ways your Labradoodle can get a gray coat are: Inheriting the greying gene Inheriting two copies of the dilute gene All dogs have two basic pigments: eumelanin black and phaeomelanin red. When other genes interact with eumelanin, this basic black color can fade to grey. The Greying Gene The G greying gene is relatively rare in the world of canine coat color genetics. In fact, the Poodle is one of just 14 purebred dog breeds confirmed to carry it. So, a Labradoodle with the graying gene will have inherited it from their Poodle parent. Any Poodle — and any Labradoodle — can go grey over time. But, dogs that go gray from age can look quite different to Doodles with the graying gene. Labradoodles with the greying gene will often have a darker coat in puppyhood. But, as they grow it will fade to grey or silver. This means finding a grey puppy is harder, because they may turn grey as they get older, rather than being this color from the offset. The Dilute Gene The other way a Labradoodle can get a grey coat is by inheriting the dilute gene from both parents. Two copies of this gene will turn a black coat to gray. Altered black is calle d dilute because the interaction with other genes dilutes the full-strength black into a milder shade. Some may also call this silver or blue. The dilute gene is a recessive gene. So, a Labradoodle puppy who inherits only one copy of the gene will be a carrier, they will not be grey. A Labradoodle puppy will need to inherit a copy of the dilute gene from each parent dog in order to express it and grow up to have a grey coat. Other Ways a Labradoodle Gets a Gray Coat The greying gene and dilute genes are the two main ways for your Labradoodle to get a grey coat. But, other things can cause this coat color. Three other factors that can potentially cause a grey coat in the Labradoodle breed are: Age And health Age Just as people tend to get gray hair as they age, dogs can also go gray with age. This will usually start around their mouth and eyes. The extent a dog will grey from age will vary. So, if you want a grey dog from puppyhood, look for one with the dilute gene. Health Issues A number of canine health issues can influence coat color. One of the best known is thyroid dysfunction. Kidney and liver damage can sometimes cause premature greying. Dogs with dilute gray coats can suffer from color dilution alopecia, giving them patches of dry skin, thin fur, and poor hair regrowth. Finding Grey Labradoodle Puppies Canine genetics is a very young field. What we have learned is still dwarfed by what we have yet to learn. But researchers have developed some DNA tests that can identify whether a Labradoodle has inherited the dilute gene as a carrier to pass along or to express. So, if your heart is set on a gray Labradoodle, search for a breeder who is knowledgeable about canine coat color genetics. This gives you the best possible chance of selecting a Labradoodle puppy who will grow up to have a grey adult coat. These sellers are often much less concerned about selling healthy puppies. Puppies from these places can suffer from behavioral issues as well as health problems. Choosing a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder should always be your top priority. This may mean that you have to wait a little longer for a grey Labradoodle, but the wait will be worth it in the long run. Grey Labradoodle Rescue Another way to find a grey Labradoodle is to look in rescue centers. Labradoodles with the greying gene may not appear gray in puppyhood. But, dogs in rescue centers are usually a little older. Rescue dogs are usually cheaper than puppies from reputable breeders. Do You Have a Grey Labradoodle? The grey Labradoodle is an uncommon and beautiful coat color. Do you have one of these dogs at home, or are you currently searching for one? References and Resources. Pups go gray, too—but have you ever wondered if yours is starting to show their dog years sooner than they should be? Like humans, dogs tend to go gray as part of their natural aging process. And just like us, as dogs get older, the pigment cells responsible for color specifically, melanin stop being produced; this causes the strands to come out at a lighter shade, like gray or white. The average dog starts to go gray—typically around the muzzle—around 5 years old. Premature graying also happens to pups: For humans, graying is considered premature when it happens at around age .For dogs, that translates to about 4 years of age. Poodles , bearded collies, and certain sheepdogs are typical examples of dogs with this particular gene. In other words, dogs who scare easily —e. The study also found that female dogs go gray earlier more frequently than do male dogs. This will allow your dog to learn to predict when he can expect attention from you e. Help your dog conquer his fear of loud noises with gradual training exposure. Over the next few days, raise the volume slowly and keep doling out the special treat. Be sure to stop at the first sign of anxiety. If your dog is scared of meeting new people, first identify the types of humans that spook him. Is he freaked when he sees the vet, and therefore all people in uniform? An anxiety vest, like a Thundershirt, may also calm your pup down.

These Multigen Goldendoodles have parents that are Goldendoodles. You would have to go back to their grandparents or great grandparents to find the Poodles and Golden Retrievers. Most experienced Goldendoodle breeders prefer Multigen Goldendoodles, as opposed to F1 and F1B, due to the benefits of genetic diversity, while their families simply adore them for other obvious reasons. Dogs with hair, on the other hand, have a coat that grows continuously longer and longer, much like human hair. The resulting coat is more consistent and easier to maintain. Bernadine D. What makes hypoallergenic dogs better for people with allergies? You can even further reduce dander by having your pet groomed regularly. These adorable Multigen Goldendoodles are the ultimate combination of good looks, smart wits, and playfulness. Coat Types Because of the genetics at play in multigens, all three coat types are possible, each with its own unique set of qualities. Wavy Coats The soft, wavy coat can occur in all generations of Goldendoodles and is fairly common in multigens. Also known as a teddy bear coat, the wavy coat has an irresistible shaggy appearance and hair-like texture. Curly Coat The curly coat is also fairly common and can consist of loose curls, tight curls, or curls somewhere in between. Many owners choose to clip the coat to make grooming more manageable. Straight Coat The smooth straight coat resembles that of a Golden Retriever but is quite fluffy. This is the easiest coat type to care for as it only requires minimal brushing. The qualities that have made the Golden Retriever so incredibly popular really come through in these multigens. With a charming personality and a goofy, fun-loving nature, owners are quick to list off the positive traits of this popular family pet. In the end, all Goldendoodles tend to be quite friendly, highly affectionate, intelligent, playful and we believe Multigen Goldendoodles truly are the perfect addition to the family. To achieve this goal we keep dogs from each generation to produce our very unique Goldendoodles. This is the foundation of our breeding program. Everything that we breed goes back to the F1 English Goldendoodles. This proved to be very successful for allergy sufferers and more families were able to experience the love of a dog. F1B Goldendoodles will have a higher success rate for non-shedding and are recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies. This breeding allows us to produce the Smeraglia type that everyone knows and loves. They also have a high success rate for non-shedding and are recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies. Many families desire this breeding because it can have a little more Golden Retriever than the F1B. Most are low to non-shedders. Sometimes, they may even look more like the Retriever side of the family with a flat more sporty coat, rather than the soft fluffy Teddy Bear coats. This generation is often sought after from the Retriever lover that wants a smaller or less shedding Retriever like doodle. This is a more rare breeding. Subscribe Stay up to date with us, our whereabouts, and events in your area. The Miniature Goldendoodle A miniature goldendoodle is quite an amazing creature that has been bred for its unique yet impressive qualities. Starting with the standard goldendoodle breeding of a standard poodle and golden retriever cross, the intelligence, common sense, friendliness, and trainability of a goldendoodle has made this breed a favorite of many dog owners and dog lovers. On top of this the cross retains a good portion of the non-shedding quality of the poodle, while also keeping part of the attractive look of a golden retriever. Combining all these traits into one dog seems quite appealing, but we have one more trait to add to this list. A standard goldendoodle will range anywhere from pounds, which is quite large for a house pet. To achieve the goldendoodle attributes in a more compact package, a miniature poodle is crossed with a golden retriever. Our Miniature Goldendoodles Sandy Ridge miniature goldendoodles are being raised to be the best pets for a dog owner. We have had consistent breeding of the mini golden doodle having a low to non-shedding coat and wonderful temperament suitable for just about any type of family. We have also found our minis to range on average from 30 to 45 pounds at maturity. There is a little variety in Sandy Ridge minis. We get coat types from slightly wavy to moderately curly and coloring from completely blonde to golden red. We cannot guarantee a puppy will be in the expected size range due to the differing genetic sizes to the parents, but our average generally holds true. With all health concerns addressed and responsible breeding practices performed, there still is the possibility a health problem could arise. We offer a two year genetic guarantee against any genetic defect or health issue that hopefully will not, but possibly could arise. If you have any questions, please contact us. A happy customer is our priority. Our multigen miniature goldendoodles are 3rd or 4th generation miniature goldendoodles that have very low to non-shedding coats and are normally lbs as adults. Our multigen miniature goldendoodles look and have coats very similar to our F1b miniature goldendoodles and will be a little smaller on average. Our multigen miniature goldendoodles range in color from medium golden to dark red. Please email, text, or call to reserve your puppy. The size range of the female English Golden Retrievers I have owned range from lbs. In my 20 years of breeding English Teddy Bear Goldendoodles I am achieving a very good consistency with creating sizes. I am at the forefront of creating and perfecting the Pocket Size lbs. Micro is then a huge classification of any puppy less than 14 lbs. Whether you call them Micro Goldendoodles, Micro Petite Goldendoodles, Toy Goldendoodles, Teacup Goldendoodles; they all have the same great personality as their larger Goldendoodle ancestors in a cute small little package. Here at Hilltop Pups, we only breed Poodles with English Golden Retrievers for their excellent health record with an average life span of years. Absolutely no other breeds mixed in to rush the downsizing. Downsizing takes several generations by breeding in a smaller size poodle every 2 to 3 generations to retain the English Golden Retriever personality. Our smallest poodle here is 3 lbs. Since Hilltop Pups team is creating and perfecting the smallest Goldendoodles along with the increasingly popular Irish English Goldendoodles; we have our own size range chart of the average sizes we have witnessed in the past 20 years of breeding. Until an organization such as AKC or CKC identifies Goldendoodles as an official breed, no organization can state what the size standards are as they vary so greatly with breeders breeding American or English Golden Retrievers, plus the range of poodle sizes from lbs. Although Goldendoodles are not considered a Purebred dog breed; it is still important to register your puppy with a reputable canine tracking organization. This will allow breeders to have the information necessary to make responsible breeding decisions. I am an official Preferred Breeder by the strict Breeding Standards set forth by CKC which has the best pedigrees for tracking ancestors for breeding purposes. There are many Designer Dog Registries, but I prefer one of the two largest reputable groups. The English lines create the Teddy Bear look. The English Golden Retrievers have short stocky legs and shorter body length, whereas, American Golden Retrievers can have long bodies and are taller. From there we will have a better understanding of your wants and needs, to properly answer your questions. At Hilltop Pups you get the honor of choosing your puppy with our expert assistance of course. We do not assign puppies to you. We allow visitors because we are proud of our establishment. Beware of Breeders not allowing you to visit and hiding behind Parvo to scare you off. Google Earth those Breeders addresses and names. If you cannot find their name and address on their website immediately exit their website, they are hiding something such as arrest record for cruelty to animals. There are as many good Breeders as there are Puppy Mills out there. My two daughters Abby and Brittany are breeding dogs at their houses, and all puppies are raised with the same excellent breeding practices. Our three sons also house dogs for us; all their dogs are listed on my website, so we can link our websites together. I love hearing from my puppy parents how easy going their puppy is and friendly with everyone. This is due to all the loving care givers our dogs and puppies are with every single day. I have my three Granddaughters ages help with puppy Early Stimulation training and play, so puppies meet a wide variety of people and children in a comfortable trusting setting. When a puppy has been trained by only one person, say a lady; then the puppy may be fearful of a man or a child. Thus, we create confident, brave well-adjusted puppies. Luckily, I have the sweetest husband that cannot sit still and is always looking for something to do or something to clean up. Feel free to contact us via email preferred at hilltoppups yahoo. We will make every effort to answer your questions promptly and truthfully! During busy times, such as when there are several litters of puppies to care for or a mom in Labor, email is much easier for us and we can put in writing complex questions, so you have time to digest and study the information. Our FAQ page is an excellent place to start if you are not familiar with Goldendoodles, as I have collected 20 years of most often asked questions. Email is more efficient; when you call, I may be bathing or grooming a dog or puppy and I cannot leave them unsupervised. Emailing gives me time to answer questions thoroughly, attach reading material, pictures of puppies or Goldendoodles for example. For those people that cannot visit in person, we provide a lot of pictures and video to assist with the selection process. On our website you can search pages by size category, so you have less to look through. On the Sire and Dam pages all our dogs are listed and their health tests. Click on any document to view it. If you do not adopt a puppy from me request proof of health documents and pedigrees before submitting that non-refundable deposit. If a Breeder does not present documents up front, some never will. Some of the dogs listed on my website live with my two daughters and three sons. My two daughters work with me, live close by, and will someday take over my business. It all started here with a dog loving family with 5 children. With my background of Human Resource Management, I know how to research and apply my knowledge in respect to Breeding Laws, better breeding practices, and making my business the best it can be from the treatment of my dogs to my customer service. Some Breeders pick your puppy for you. At Hilltop Pups you get to choose your puppy with our expert advice. We post pictures of puppies every 7 to 10 days with videos, so you get to watch them grow. We schedule visits one hour apart at the top of each hour, once the schedule is full, we schedule on the half hour as well. After each visitor we disinfect everything that has been touched. I am aware some of you are coming a great distance. Go to your car in advance and GPS our address, make sure your GPS is set for highways "not scenic route" as we live on the edge of a town and the GPS will take you through winding country roads. Then give yourself an extra half hour, as I prefer you be early than late running into the next appointment. If you are not able to visit, I take many videos of the puppies and if you have narrowed down your selection to two puppies; we can make you videos of just those two puppies. Rarely in the last 18 years has someone changed their mind when they arrived here and picked a different puppy than the puppy they first fell in love with via our website. You are welcome to fly here to get your puppy. Currently American Airlines has resumed puppy shipping, but temperatures at any point in the flight including departure and layover, must be below 85 degrees and above 32 degrees. Which is a challenge here during the Summer and Winter months, plus any stop over destination and arrival destination temperatures. You are welcome to fly here; Louisville Kentucky airport is the closest at only 80 miles away. Many people are choosing Delivery to your door via vehicle delivery service. Here are reputable delivery companies I have been using for years; you contact the companies directly, arrange shipments with them, and pay them their shipping fee when they deliver the puppy to you. Flight Nanny Service contact Mary Venneketter for cost .Early Stimulation Training program is our highest priority which we start at 3 days old and once puppies are walking around, we still hold them every day on their backs, talk to them to create eye contact, rub all over them to make grooming easier in the future. We teach our puppies not to jump on people and to sit at your feet for attention. Puppies are paper trained to go on shredded paper which feels just like grass, so house training is a breeze, or if you need to train on potty pads that is easy as well. See what your puppy learns before you get the puppy home. The first step in your puppy's future. The next step in your puppy's future is your training from the very first day your puppy enters your home. Want to train your puppy from the convenience of your home as early as the day the puppy arrives home? No waiting until your puppy is fully vaccinated to start training. I suggest you start the training program before your puppy arrives; so you will be off to a great start. After completing this course your puppy should qualify. They are very friendly, helpful, easy to understand, and encouraging, which motivates you to continue in your training adventure. They offer video lessons, plus one on one training question and answer sessions via video chat. This is a Lifetime Program with Members Only Access to training methods, materials, and other resources needed for Pet Parenting and beyond. To continue training where we left off, I highly suggest you have the first unit completed before you get your puppy home. We create the best puppy for you, and you create the best Dog Ever! We are proud of our establishment and have a Visitation Room which includes windows for you to view where our Adult Dogs are Housed. We bring the puppies and adults to you to visit with them. For the safety of our dogs and puppies we do not allow you to walk through the facility, because we would need to disinfect everywhere you walked. We have had this practice in place since the beginning of our breeding program and have never contacted any health concerns by doing so, beware of Breeders that do not allow you to visit hiding behind false statements. Breeders walk everywhere in the world, shopping centers, gas station, Veterinarian Offices and then come home and walk around their kennels, just like anyone else. So why shouldn't people visit? I prefer puppies to get all the interactions they can with different people; you are providing valuable puppy training as well. Evansville is a one-hour drive. This is our house, not a public shopping center. We require appointments to visit as you do want to make sure we are home and able to focus our attention on you and have adequate time for you to interact with the puppies. This is not a large place; the visitation area can get crowded quickly if more than one family is visiting at a time. Our visitation Room does have windows on two sides, so you can see where and how all our adult dogs are housed. It is very important to stay as close to your scheduled arrival time as possible, give yourself that extra half hour for traffic concerns. We are at Eastern Time. Jasper is an aesthetically pleasing clean town of 15, and always rated at the top of the best places to live listings. How amazing it would be for AKC to do this; it is up to Breeders to commit to keeping their breed healthy going forward by health testing the parent dogs. Which believe me very few Breeders invest their money back into their dogs; so always demand copies of health testing prior to even submitting a deposit. DO Not trust Breeders that say they will provide the documents when the puppy goes home, demand proof up front. It is a nightmare to try to get paperwork from a Breeder after you have the puppy, because they do not have it. The Breeder is pulling on your emotions knowing you are getting attached to the puppy and then you are stuck with no proof that you have a healthy puppy that will live a long healthy life. Breeders never to rarely give you the correct documents after you have the puppy, learn from heart breaking experiences of having to re-home dogs that couldn't pass health screening. My research, commitment, and due diligence has paid off. Here is the foundation for creating the perfect Teddy Bear Goldendoodle and how to build conformity into the Breed. At Hilltop Pups we DNA test the coat type of all our dogs so we can create the most non-shedding hypoallergenic coat as possible. I follow this DNA rule when breeding to make sure my dogs are non-shedding. No guess work involved here; You can brush them and not even get hair to pull out. Next, we only breed with English Retrievers which produce a softer less shedding less matting coat than the coarser American Golden Retriever coats. The weight range of English Golden Retrievers that I have owned is for female and for males, although they look just and big and fluffier than the American Golden Retrievers. Next, we consider the color genetics behind the poodle: Reds-, browns-, and cream-colored poodles produce soft non-shedding coats. White, Gray, and Black poodles produce shredders even in the curly dogs; thus, they have been removed from Hilltop Pups breeding program. In we started breeding the Irish Goldendoodles. I am very pleased with what I have seen in the Irish Goldendoodles. Therefore, I only breed English Golden Retrievers as their life expectancy is years and very few ever have cancer. It takes a few generations to build the dark red poodle color back into the English Goldendoodles since the English Golden Retrievers are only white to cream. For the Irish we started with breeding a health tested American Golden Retriever to a health tested Irish Setter to get the hybrid vigor and dark red color; then bred that with a health tested male poodle and then back to another health tested poodle creating the F1b Irish Goldendoodles to ensure the hypo allergenic non-shed coats, plus get the dark red color and fabulous coats. Advantages of adopting an English Goldendoodle from Hilltop Pups Size range available 8 - 38 pounds Predictable size ranges for F2b and multi-Generations Hypoallergenic if past the F1 First generation, because we can DNA test the coat types for breeding. Fully Vaccinated for their age Trained with Early Neurological Stimulation Trained not to jump on people, but sit at your feet for attention Paper potty trained Pre-spoiled, loved, and well socialized Puppies go home with: A 2-year health guarantee; 4 years if you provide NuVet Vitamin Supplements Microchipped with pre-paid membership enrollment form CKC Registration Papers. We are expecting Red, Tan and Apricot color puppies some tuxedo and white markings. These puppies will be 30lb range full grown. We begin potty training and crate training at 4 weeks old after their first round of shots and until the day they go home with you. We send DAILY photos and videos of your puppy from week 1 till gotcha day so you feel like you have been there every step of the way. Puppy pick-out day is in person or facetime if you cant attend around weeks old. We do this age so you can see their personalities better. Professional photos from a professional photographer are taken before gotcha day and sent to you! Reserve your darling companion now and embark on an unforgettable journey of unconditional love and furry cuddles! What is a Multigen Goldendoodle? A multigen goldendoodle is a type of dog that has at least three generations of goldendoodle ancestry. A goldendoodle is a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever. Multigen goldendoodles have more poodle genes than golden retriever genes, which makes them more likely to be non-shedding and hypoallergenic. They are also very friendly, intelligent, and playful dogs.

How long should puppies stay with their mother? The ideal window is between 8 and weeks-old. They are healthy and adorable, and you want to bring them home as soon as you possibly can. However, the time your puppy spends with their mother and siblings is critical for development, and so it's important to make sure they spend this growth period with their litter. The first month For the first four weeks or so, puppies depend on their mothers for everything. This milk provides all the nutrition the puppies need for the first few weeks after birth. Weaning to solid foods Puppies start to experiment with solid food as early as 3-weeks-old. They still nurse, and mothers continue to produce milk for up to 10 weeks. Some nursing is for nutrition, but it is also a comforting, bonding activity for the puppies. Most puppies are fully weaned to solid food between 7 and 10 weeks of age, although the transition can occur earlier. Learning to speak dog Just as important for puppy development is learning proper canine etiquette and communication as part of a litter. For example, as early as 3 weeks of age, puppies start learning from their mother and siblings to eliminate away from where they sleep, which helps with housebreaking later. The pups are practicing hunting and communication behaviors that they need to perfect. One of the most important skills that puppies learn through play is bite inhibition and not chomping down too hard. If a puppy bites too hard, the other will cry out, signaling that the bite was too rough. Moms will do the same thing or may gently correct the puppies for getting too rough. This is a critical lesson to learn before heading out into the world, as other dogs will be far less tolerant of inappropriate puppy play than Mom! Biting is also a common problem behavior that can land a dog in a shelter or worse later in life. Puppies will also practice a variety of vocalizations and body language, learning to communicate with their siblings and mother. Socialization Puppies have an early critical socialization period from approximately 5 to 14 weeks of age. During this time, puppies are open to learning and experiencing new things, and the things they learn will affect how they go through the rest of their lives. Breeders and other caretakers should be exposing the puppies to novel sights and sounds on a regular basis. Puppies destined to be working or sporting dogs should be exposed to things they will encounter in their future roles, such as sheep wool for herding dogs, a variety of materials and obstacles to climb over for agility dogs, and training scents for future drug and bomb detection dogs. These safe exposures should continue after you bring your puppy home, but early socialization with litter-mates and the mother are also important for building confidence. The puppies will observe how their mother responds to new people and things and then mimic her behavior. If Mom is relaxed and friendly around new people, the puppies will likely be comfortable with strangers. Research has found that puppies who are separated from the litter too early are more likely to show fear, aggression, anxiety, resource guarding, reactivity and inappropriate play biting than puppies who stay with the litter for at least eight weeks. The ideal time The exact time that is best for a puppy to go to its new home can vary by situation, but most breeders and veterinarians agree that 8 weeks of age is a good minimum. Some states have laws in place preventing puppies from being sold any earlier. Eight weeks after birth, the puppy is eating solid food on their own, they have benefited from socializing with litter-mates and observing mom, and they are well within the ideal timeframe to bond with new owners. Breeders may also opt to keep the puppies until 10 or 12 weeks of age. Toy breeds in particular are often kept with the litter until they are 12 weeks old because they are so small and fragile. This gives the pups extra time with the litter, and still has them going to their forever homes in plenty of time to form a strong bond with their new people. And anyone who has welcomed an adult dog into their home knows that dogs of any age will still bond with their new owners as long as they have had socialization with people! Keeping the puppies longer does mean more work for the breeder, since they are responsible for all the puppies during those extra weeks. But if the breeder is putting in that time and effort to give the puppies a great foundation, then the extra time with their litter can be very beneficial to both you and your new puppy. 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.Weaning GSD puppies usually begins around 3 - 4 weeks of age. Discover the online program that more than 57, dog owners have used to rapidly transform their dog into a well-behaved, obedient furry friend. A well thought out weaning plan will definitely help this process produce healthy and food independent puppies. However, if the litter is unusually large, you may wish to start weaning puppies a little earlier than normal in order to ensure that the bitch is not overly fatigued from feeding all her puppies. You want to begin weaning GSD puppies at the appropriate time but don't start too early. Easy indicators to watch for are when the pups begin showing an avid interest in the mother's food and when the mother starts showing an aversion to feeding the German Shepherd puppies, or stops feeding them for as long or as often as she did in the beginning. Usually this happens naturally at around weeks of age those puppy teeth are sharp - I don't blame her. If your bitch shows no interest in starting to wean her puppies on her own especially if she is a first time mom or an overly protective mom , help her begin the weaning process around this time. Weaning GSD puppies is a natural process that is necessary for both the mom and the puppies in future development. The process I will outline below assumes that you are not hand feeding an orphaned puppy as this is an entirely different undertaking in itself and that you are weaning a healthy litter of German Shepherd puppies, or another larger breed puppy - 1 or more in a litter. Weaning puppy food formulas vary from breeder to breeder but I will offer you here the formula I use whenever weaning my own German Shepherd puppies - a formula that has worked well for me and my puppies for several years now and has resulted in many healthy, happy German Shepherds puppies, and then later, GSD adults. It works in stages as I don't feed my babies the same thing the entire weaning process. Weaning Alsatian puppies occurs over a series of a few weeks from mothers milk to a porridge like food, and eventually to a solid, and dry food in my weaning plan. Stage 1. Here I use a mixture of vanilla or unflavored plain yogurt, warmed lightly puppies will not eat cold food at this time , with just a little bit of good quality puppy food thrown in. This must be mixed up well and mashed up enough so that all the solid puppy food is mixed in well. Remember, there should be no lumps in the mixture to make this as easy as possible for the puppies to lap up - make the consistency as close to a thin milk shake as you can. Remember also to keep it luke warm, but not too hot. Warm water may need to be added to achieve just the right consistency for lapping up by the puppies. A flat dish such as a pie pan or one of the "flying saucer" shaped puppy dishes is a good choice to place the food in so that all the puppies have an equal chance to get at the food. Since the puppies are used to suckling warm milk from their mother you may need to encourage each puppy individually to take this new food by placing some on the end of your finger and then allowing them to lick or suck it off. If the puppies resist this new food, and many may, just keep on trying. You may have to do this several times before the puppy gets the idea that this is food. Soon they will associate the smell of the food with eating and eat it with no help from you. Start cutting back on the mom's food just a bit as well during this time to help her milk start drying up. By the way, expect a mess. Once the weaning German Shepherd puppies are established on the porridge mixture, and are eating it readily, you can gradually swap them over to Step 2. Step Two. This food is simply fantastic and I also use it with my adults GSD's - especially in training. They simply love it. You can find it at Kroger, Publix, Petsmart and Petco. Mix this well and keep the mixture as creamy and slightly lumpy as possible in the beginning. As the puppies mature you can increase the amount of lumps in the food a bit with each 2nd step meal as long as the weaning GSD puppies can eat it easily and have no problems swallowing the new food. Remember you are working the weaning GSD puppies toward eating a meal of solid foods. This stage lasts about a week. Step three. I still give Bil-Jac for a while as well to give the weaning GSD puppies the best start possible however I eventually phase that out as well and work towards feeding the puppies a commercially available dry food only. This is my final goal in weaning GSD puppies - to get those German Shepherd puppies to happily eat dry puppy food only on a daily basis. As the German Shepherd puppies consume more and more solid foods, and as long as they are healthy, you should gradually increase the periods that your bitch spends away from her pups, so that by the time they are about 6 - 7 weeks of age she may be moved away from them completely. Remember that, during this weaning period, your bitch's intake of food should have been gradually reduced while the weaning GSD puppies new food intake has been increased to help her milk supply dry up gradually over time. Once your bitch is completely away from her GSD puppies, adding some chopped fresh parsley to your bitch's food may help to reduce the risk of mastitis if she is still producing milk. However if her milk production is excessive, and her mammary glands become red, hot or inflamed, do not hesitate to seek immediate veterinary treatment, as mastitis can build up very quickly and should be taken care of immediately and is considered a medical emergency. Please use the suggested feeding quantities on the bagged foods as a guideline only. The required amounts will vary with the age of the weaning GSD puppies, the individual breed and level of activity of each puppy. Also, ensure that a plentiful supply of fresh, clean water is available at all times to your weaning puppies and adult dogs as well. You want this transition from mothers milk to solid foods to be as stress free as possible for both the mother and puppies and a well thought out weaning plan will definitely help this process produce healthy and food independent German Shepherd Dog puppies. Bernard coming in through the cat door. Time Zones puppy feeding schedule and recomendation Prior to weaning our German shepherd puppies, they would have obtain most of their nutritional needs from their mother's milk. By the time our puppies are ready to move into their new home, they will be fully weaned on to solid foods. The puppy is then entirely dependent on his new owner, to provide a fully balanced diet that will meet all of his nutritional requirements. All puppies thrive on the same basic nutrients as adult dogs, but due to their rapid growth rate, these nutrients are needed in proportionately larger quantities. Similar to human babies, puppies have small stomachs, so they need to be fed little portions but often. German shepherd puppies grow very rapidly in the early stages of their development. A German shepherd dog will reach about half their adult weight by five or six months of age. However, there is a wide variation in adult body weight between different breeds, and dogs mature at different rates, since this article is focus on the German shepherd puppy, we will focus at that. German shepherd puppies, in particular, which are most affected by the feeding regimen - as they are growing rapidly, these puppies are prone to disturbances in their skeletal development. It is unwise to overfeed such dogs at this stage in an attempt to obtain the maximum possible rate of growth. A puppy needs between two and four times as much energy as an adult of the same size - growing is an energetic business! They must have more protein than adults - this must contain all the right building blocks of the protein amino acids for growth, and they need just the right amount of minerals for healthy bones and teeth. Puppies therefore have to eat large amounts of food in relation to their body weight, but their stomachs have only a small capacity. To compensate for this, a puppy needs to be fed several small meals a day. It also helps if his diet is designed to meet a number of useful criteria: the food should be concentrated to ensure an adequate intake of nutrients before his stomach is full; The food should be easily digested to maximize its nutritive value; the diet must be balanced to provide the right amount of nutrients to meet the puppy's particular needs; and it should also be tasty so that he will eat it. Devising an acceptable nutritionally balanced diet for growth is thus a very complex exercise. Fortunately, feeding your puppy need not be as complicated as it sounds. Diets, which are specially formulated for growth, take all the guesswork out of rearing a healthy puppy and provide a balanced and concentrated diet, which he will enjoy and thrive. For a normal, healthy German shepherd puppy there is no need to use supplements. In some ways this could be harmful. If you do decide to use a supplement please consult your veterinarian. The feeding schedule of your puppy will depend greatly on his age and individual characteristics, until they are about four months old. Feeding can then be reduced to two times a day until six months of age. You can offer your puppy his daily food allowance in two separate meals. You can feed an adult diet from 14 months of age Since all puppies are individuals, some may need more and some less than the indicated amounts. Your puppy's condition is the best guide of whether you are feeding the correct amount. By recording his weight on a regular basis you will be able to check his growing at a healthy rate, appropriate to his breed. You can then make adjustments to avoid him becoming under - or overweight. Generally, a puppy should be allowed 10 to 15 minutes to eat at each mealtime. After then discard any uneaten food. Your puppy should have his own feeding and water bowls and should be kept clean, separate from the family's dishes. Provide fresh water daily If you notice that your puppy is excessively thirsty and often, you should consult your veterinarian. Note: When puppies come from a kennel environment "outside living", to a family house, most often they will show signs of panting and thirst. This is normal because they will be hot with-in. In few days they should adjust in being indoors. The "puppy" feeding schedule is a guideline for our German shepherd puppies. A puppy should be kept lean during 4 to 8 months of age rapid growth phase , BUT they should not appear thin. You should be able to feel the rib cage and the back bone, but not see them. Looking down on the dog, there should be a slight indentation between the end of the rib cage and the hip bones. If you have questions or comments that you would like to share, please EMAIL US Please do not use our website to attempt to diagnose or treat your pet. The consultation with your veterinarian is the best source of health advice for your individual pet. You should not rely, on the veterinary advice or any other information provided on this site for the diagnosis or treatment of any specific condition. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical condition or general treatment of your pet. The best food for German Shepherd puppies in their first two to four months of life is milk from their mother. This specialised care is usually left to German Shepherd breeders or veterinarians, who are knowledgeable in caring for pups with no mother to nurse from. If you have recently brought a German Shepherd puppy into your family, they are most likely older than 8 weeks, and so have started to eat solid foods. Before the four month mark, it is advised to include some dry food in their diet. You can do this in a few simple steps: Mix some dry food with specially formulated puppy milk to form a soft mixture. You can feed your puppy this mixture three to four times a day. Over time, reduce the amount of milk you include in this mixture, until they are at the point where they are happily eating dry foods. Read on to learn how much you should feed your German Shepherd puppy as they get older. With this rapid growth can come some risks. German Shepherds are susceptible to bone growth disorders, like hip dysplasia, that can start in puppyhood. They will be very active in their adolescent years, and so should be fed with this in mind. The transition from puppy food to adult food should happen between 12 and 24 months of age. This is because, being a larger breed who grows very quickly, you want to ensure that you are feeding them according to their large breed needs. Remember that the more active the pup, the more food they require. While following feeding guidelines is important to avoid over and underfeeding, you can adjust the amounts of food you provide to your dog based on level of activity. If you are unsure, it is always best to ask your vet for guidance. You need to take special care when considering what you should feed your German Shepherd puppy, as they require different nutrients compared to their adult counterparts. For puppies, this amount will often be two of three times higher, as they are more active and growing quickly. German Shepherd puppies need to eat food that is high in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are also essential for supporting your active pup. Aside from nutritionally complete dry puppy food, German Shepherd puppies can benefit from the extra protein that raw meat can provide them with, such as lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish. However, they can also be at risk of gastric dilatation or volvulus, or GDV. Certain dog breeds can be more susceptible to GDV; particularly deep chested breeds including German Shepherds. GDV can occur when a dog bloats a few hours after eating a meal. Though the exact causes of GDV are not known, grains and cereals are suspected to be contributors. The amount of food you give your German Shepherd is determined by their weight, energy levels, and age. For most adult German Shepherds, between 1, to 2, calories per day from high quality food sources is ideal. Female German Shepherds, which tend to be about 8 kilos lighter than males, may need less food, as will less active dogs. Dogs who need less food, whether they are less active or simply older, will usually still need around 1, and 1, per day. You may want to alter the amount of food you are feeding your German Shepherd based on how calorically dense their food is. German Shepherds should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Their daily allotment of food should be split evenly between these two meals. For most dogs, it is recommended that you exercise your dog before meal times to assist with potty training. However, some dogs who are at risk of GDV may benefit from exercise after eating, to aid with digestion. You should also try to give your German Shepherd a high quality food that is specially designed for larger or working breeds, especially if they are very active. For example, less active senior dogs will need to eat less food as they will not be burning calories as quickly as a lively little puppy will. Senior dogs may benefit from a higher fibre and lower calorie diet. Your dog may also develop chronic or short term medical conditions that require specially formulated food. German Shepherds can be particularly susceptible to skin disease or allergies, including canine atopic dermatitis, bacterial skin infections, flea allergy dermatitis, forms of contact dermatitis, or scabies. If your dog develops a skin issue, it is often a sign that they may be suffering from a form of food sensitivity. If you are unsure about what you should feed your German Shepherd, you should always consult your vet as they will be able to determine if your dog is suffering from any allergies or chronic health issues: creating a nutritional plan to help keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come. Part of figuring out what you should feed your German Shepherd includes deciding between wet, dry, or a raw food diet. Wet food for German Shepherds is often high in protein and fat, and is better at keeping your dog hydrated than other food sources. A raw diet can be a good option for your German Shepherd as you have more control over the kinds of food and amount of nutrients your pup is consuming. For this reason, raw diets require a lot more work on your part as an owner. Whatever you decide to feed your German Shepherd, all dogs need a similar ratio of nutrients in their diets. The amount of food you feed your dog should be determined by their activity levels, age, weight, breed, and size. Any meals prepared for your dog need to contain the right balance of nutrients. You should also be extra careful not to introduce your dog to foods that are harmful to their health. While we might enjoy the taste of nuts, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and onions, these can be toxic for dogs and can cause serious illness and even death. German Shepherds in particular need plenty of exercise as they are a large working breed with a lot of energy. No matter how old your German Shepherd is, it is important to keep to a consistent feeding schedule. A feeding schedule can help you keep track of any changes in behaviour around food that might signal illness or physiological stress.