german shepherd puppies vaccination schedule

german shepherd puppies vaccination schedule

The range of amounts is based on the activity of your Golden for the day, either low, moderate, or high level of activity. Golden Retrievers should have scheduled times to eat daily. The scheduled times will help them with their energy levels and keep them healthy. You can schedule their eating times as to what works best for your schedule. For example, feeding them before you leave for work and then when you get home. As a puppy, they will eat three times a day, so you will need to find times in those first few months to feed them more often. When they are an adult or senior, the scheduling of feeding times will be easier because they will only eat twice daily. For a Golden Retriever puppy, the best feeding schedule is once in the morning, noontime, and in the evening. For example, you could feed their first meal at am, lunch at noon, then dinner at pm. Planning their mealtimes around your mealtimes will often make it easier for you and the puppy. Make sure to give them plenty of time after eating to got to the bathroom a couple of times before heading to bed. Hopefully, this will help them sleep for a longer period. After about six months, your Golden Retriever can go down to two daily feedings. This usually occurs once in the morning and once in the evening. They can usually last about 12 hours between meals. If it goes past 12 hours, they could become nauseated. Golden Retrievers can experience food allergies often caused from proteins in dairy or meat products. If your dog experiences symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or itching they may have a food allergy. They warn that feeding dogs any raw animal-source protein could cause illness because it has not gone through a process to remove harmful pathogens. However, a raw diet can be healthy if you are willing to go through the extra cleaning processes of the meat. This is a lot of work and difficult to do correctly and safely. We do not recommend it without expert veterinary help. Before starting a raw diet with your Golden, be sure to consult a veterinarian. Find one that is familiar with raw foods and can help with the proper handling of the foods. If you work hard to make sure your homemade foods are rich in the vitamins and minerals that a dog needs, then it might work for your Golden Retriever. It takes a lot more time to find recipes and make sure it has all the nutritional value of a store-bought dog food. If you are willing to research expertly formulated recipes internet is making it easier to do this , and take the time to cook for your golden then go for it! Consulting your veterinarian is a must before starting any homemade diet. A veterinary nutritionist should also review your plan before starting. Feeding your Golden Retriever table food is not the best practice but a small amount of dog healthy table food is fine. Some example table foods that are healthy for them are carrots, blueberries and plain yogurt. Just be aware that feeding them too much table food can throw their entire diet out of whack. They may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals like they do from their dog food. Conclusion Making sure your Golden Retriever is getting the right foods at the right amounts will help them live their best life. There are many choices of foods with all the right ingredients. Be sure to choose one that works best for you and your Golden. Consult with your veterinarian on which food will bring the most nutritional value to the health of your Golden Retriever. If your Golden is experiencing any health issues related to changing foods, visit your veterinarian. If this article was helpful, please consider sharing this post on Facebook with the button below! She is board certified a specialist in canine reproduction. In her day job, she is a leader in a small biotech where she and a team of veterinarians and scientists work to develop new medications for pets. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of this wonderful breed of dogs. She and her husband have 2 children, 3 dogs and one cat. They love camping and hiking and she can often be found with her head in a good book. Recent Posts. Golden Retrievers are very food motivated. If your puppy seems to be getting fat, you may need to switch to the lower end of the above recommendations. Alternatively, if their ribs are becoming too prominent, you should work to the upper ends of the guidelines. Golden Retriever puppies have much smaller stomachs than adults. This means their daily food allowance should be split into smaller, more frequent meals. Rather than just feeding them once in the morning and once in the evening, as you might plan to do eventually, their food will need to be split into 3 or even 4 portions, like so: 8 — 12 weeks: 4 meals a day 3 — 6 months: 3 meals a day 6 — 12 months: 2 meals a day However, like the feeding charts, this should only be used as a guide. Feeding too much food at once can lead to cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, and discomfort for your puppy. How to Choose the Best Golden Retriever Puppy Food Puppies need a balance of certain nutrients and vitamins to support their growth — not just as much food as possible. In fact, simply giving as much food as possible is linked to certain joint-related health problems. So, when searching for a high quality puppy food, there are a few key ingredients you might want to search for. This includes a real meat source, and the correct amount of nutrients like calcium and iron. Commercial Food vs Homemade Food There are pros and cons to every type of puppy food available. Dry food is long-lasting and easy to use during training, but can contain filler ingredients. Wet food is palatable and easy to serve, but can be more expensive and harder to use during training. Homemade food is often very appealing in terms of taste for our dogs, but is the most likely type to contain nutritional imbalances that can lead to serious health problems. So, they will continue to grow and develop physically until somewhere between 12 and 18 months. You may want to transition your puppy to a new food when you bring them home, rather than whatever your breeder was giving them. Ideally, you want to make the change over the course of a week. Replace a very small amount of their old food with their new food at mealtimes. Over the week, you can change these amounts by decreasing their old food and increasing the new. By the end of the week, they will be eating only the new food. Changing abruptly can cause stomach upsets and symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. But, Golden Retrievers should generally look lanky rather than chubby. But, the most successful rewards in this type of training are often food, such as kibble or small chunks or meat and cheese. Doing all of your training in the morning can lead to stomach upsets if your puppy ends up eating a large amount of their daily allowance all at once. Instead, try and complete shorter training sessions before each mealtime, and give whatever allowance is left for each meal after training is done. This can also benefit your training, as a hungry dog will be more motivated to work for those treats! Read the full disclosure here. Being a large and energetic dog, your golden retriever has a ravenous appetite and can eat a lot. However, overfeeding is never good and could be avoided with the help of a golden retriever feeding chart. Knowing how much to feed your golden retriever is always tricky but essential for their well-being and health. Goldens are prone to obesity and joint problems, which can only be exacerbated with an inadequate feeding plan. So, stay with me to find the right feeding plan and meal schedule for your goldie. Most first-time owners think their puppies should be chubby. In truth, golden retriever puppies are supposed to look lanky and act like they are always hungry when fed the correct amount of food. To encourage proper growth and development without making your pup obese, you will have to know how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. For example, cheaper foods use fillers and have a smaller amount of calories, thus you will have to feed more than you would when using premium large breed puppy foods. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. We all want our golden retriever puppies to be healthy and happy. We envision them running through a verdant field chasing a ball. Full of energy with the beautiful, lustrous golden coat. But, just like us, eating the proper food in the proper amounts will help your golden properly grow and thrive. After all, what we eat impacts how healthy we are. How much you should feed your golden retriever puppy will vary depending on the quality of food you feed, his age, his weight, his general health, and his activity level. Your golden will be growing for up to two years. And the amount of food during that time will have to be adjusted depending on his needs. Because most people feed kibble to their pup, this article will focus on that. Kibble is convenient and cost effective. Instead, they should be lanky and full of energy. They should love to eat their food with gusto. Instead, you should be able to feel his ribs when you pet him there. There should just be a thin coating of fat under his skin. And he should have a defined waistline. Of course you should check with your veterinarian to make such adjustments. And remember a young puppy should get only so much exercise a day. Their joints and bones are developing and can be damaged if the exercise is too extreme. Assuming you have an eight-week-old puppy, he should receive three to four meals a day. From eight weeks old until about five or six months old, three meals per day are advisable. Of course, feed at the same intervals every day and split the total amount per day in half to be given at each feeding. After about six months of age through adulthood, two feedings per day are the norm. Always check with your vet regarding how much and how often to feed. These are just guidelines. Feed him at the same distraction-free location so that he focuses on eating. As much as goldens love to eat, a young golden puppy is also very easily distracted. This can lead to possible health problems, including joint and bone problems. Goldens can easily become overweight. Free feeding can also lead to a picky eater. Some puppies figure out that if their buffets are always there, and they can just go graze at will. Most foods you purchase will have guidelines on their bag or box. When you first get your puppy, feed him the same food that the breeder or rescue fed him for a few weeks. Then, if you want to change his food, do so over at least 10 days. Add more of the new food and subtract more of the old food each day. After about five days, you should be giving him approximately 50 percent of the new food and 50 percent of the old food. Switching food over such a period of time will help prevent stomach upsets and diarrhea. Overfeeding will result not only in him becoming overweight but it will also make him grow too fast. Periodically—even weekly— test whether you can still feel his ribs without them protruding. You can then increase the amount he eats. You should also feed his last meal of the day at least 90 minutes before his bed time so that he can digest his food and potty before bed. A well-balanced, high-quality food should provide all the nutrients he requires. Golden puppies require a formula made for large-breed dogs. Puppy formulas for large-breed dogs regulate their growth. Eating too quickly can lead to digestive upsets and even bloat, which can be deadly. I rescued my golden retriever Riley when he was about six months old. To say that he ate as if it were his last meal would be an understatement. He had a voracious appetite. I bought one of the maze bowls to slow him down. The kibble is placed between each section of the bowl, and he had to forage for his food. It worked! He ate at a more normal pace. Of course, dogs should be given free access to fresh water. Other Feeding Options Although I concentrated in this article on feeding kibble to your new puppy, there are other options. There are some drawbacks to them because they may not be nutritionally complete, may be cost prohibitive, or may be too time-consuming to make. Wet Food Canned food alone or mixed with kibble is an option. But wet food alone is very expensive. He may become a picky eater. Feeding raw is controversial. Dehydrated raw foods reduce some of the risks. The ratio of calcium to phosphorous is crucial to puppy development. Homemade Diet Cooking for your best friend can be very appealing. And many people do. You know what ingredients and their quality are. But it has its drawbacks. Of course, the amount you feed is important for his growth rate and general health and well-being. But there is no one-size-fits-all in determining how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. Any amounts you see are just guidelines. Adjust them as necessary regarding your own special puppy. Do you have a golden retriever puppy? How did you determine what and how much to feed him? Please leave your comments in the section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Debbie has been training dogs for over 24 years and has nationally ranked obedience and rally dogs, agility dogs, trick dogs, and therapy dogs. Post navigation. There is also info on how to keep your puppy and your adult at his or her optimum weight. Scroll down to find growth charts to make sure your puppy is growing at the proper rate and is within the right weight range for his age. If you are looking for information on what to feed, go to How to Choose a Dog Food. Unlike with human children, a puppy that is overfed will grow too fast before they grow too fat. A good example is where a smaller puppy at 10 weeks was overfed and his growth was compared to a puppy that was correctly fed. The growth of your puppy needs to be controlled. General Guidelines for Puppies Below are some general guidelines on how much to feed puppies. Most dog food bags suggest feeding too much. Increase to about 3 cups a day by 5 months for boys and by 6 months for girls. Golden Retrievers at this age are supposed to look lanky and all Golden Retrievers act like they are starving when fed the correct amount. If left to eat as much as they want, they will all grow too fast. In the wild, dogs do not have unlimited access to eat as much as they want. They work for their food. Caloric Needs Greatly Decrease at About a Year When puppies reach about months, their caloric needs begin to decrease. Some males might need 4 cups if active and are fed a less expensive food. Make sure you take into consideration the number of extra calories being fed as treats. You should be able to feel their ribs, but not see them even when the dog is wet. If you can see the ribs, increase their food. Decrease the food if you cannot feel them. I always tell people that it is better to underfeed than to overfeed, especially when feeding puppies. Weight Range Charts Following are charts of how puppies should generally grow in weight. Keep in mind that very few puppies need to be at the top of these ranges and if you cannot feel ribs, your dog is overweight even if she is in this weight range. If your dog is still a puppy and she is over these weight ranges, you are feeding her too much. Female Golden Retriever Weight Chart Here is a chart of how girls should generally grow in weight: 2 Months — pounds. They are famously loving and playful family pets, always eager to jump in the pool or snuggle up with you on the lounge. They are patient and energetic dogs who are easy to train, making them excellent service animals as well as loyal companions. If you are bringing a Goldie into your family, you might also be aware of their reputation as food lovers. Your Goldie might want to eat anything and everything you put in their bowl — and maybe even anything left on an unattended plate. In this Golden Retriever feeding guide, Hypro Premium will take you through everything you need to know when it comes to food options for your pup. The best food for most young puppies is milk. If you are weaning a puppy, you can start to mix in a little dry kibble with their puppy milk to create a paste. You can feed this mix to your puppy up to four times a day, slowly reducing the amount of milk you mix in. Over time, your Goldie puppy will get more comfortable with solid foods, until you no longer need to include any milk in their diet. While chubby little puppies are cute, your Goldie should not build up too much excess fat once you start feeding them solids. Goldies go from a small 4kg puppy at 7 weeks old to an almost 30 kg adult dog in the space of only 10 months. At six months old your puppy will still be growing, but more slowly as they reach most of their body development milestones. This is why appropriate feeding in the first year of their life is vital to the overall health of your Goldie for years to come. Over time this can increase to up to 4 cups a day at 10 months old, though females should usually only need 3 cups a day. The amount you feed your puppy is often dependent on their size and sex. While they may have some growing left to do, it depends on your dog. Some Goldies will continue to experience growth spurts before their second birthday, while others will stay the same size. Large breeds can be at risk of growing too fast, which can make them more vulnerable to skeletal and weight problems when they get older. Golden retrievers are especially prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, which can be avoided through diet control. You should feed your Goldie between 3 — 4 cups of food per day over two meals. Adult dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs. This is important to take into consideration as you are establishing a feeding schedule for a Golden Retriever puppy. Puppies require more calories to support their rapid growth than adult dogs, but they also have much smaller stomachs, which means they get fuller faster. Because of this, puppies can easily overeat, especially Golden Retrievers. You can help your puppy avoid overeating by allowing them a short amount of time to eat, and then removing their bowl. All puppies grow a lot during their first year, but large breed puppies are more likely to suffer from negative health consequences as a result. In order to provide your Golden Retriever puppy with the most appropriate food to support their rapid growth, consider choosing a large breed puppy food. Goldie puppies need lots of protein, fibre, and fatty acids to support the development of their bodies and provide them with energy. These foods also take into account the difference in nutrient digestion between small and large breeds. Too much of these nutrients can cause your large breed puppy to develop skeletal abnormalities. So how much do you feed a Golden Retriever? Your adult Goldie could need anywhere between and 1, calories per day. The amount of food you feed your dog will be determined by a few important factors. The first thing to consider is the sex of your dog. On average, your male Golden Retriever will need slightly more food than a female dog. Senior dogs will usually be less active and so will need less food. Goldies in particular can have a lot of variation in the amount of food they need on a daily basis. No matter how much you feed your dog, it is ideal that you feed your adult Golden Retriever two meals a day at evenly spaced time intervals. Feeding your dog twice, once in the morning and again in the evening, can be useful for establishing a routine and avoiding overfeeding. This routine can also include exercise, and is useful for encouraging healthy behaviour around food and toilet training. Special Considerations Your Golden Retriever could be predisposed to several health conditions that are important to consider when you make decisions about their diet. Firstly, Golden Retrievers are known for their beautiful coats, but their skin can often become infected. Goldies love swimming, but this can cause problems if water irritates their skin. They can also be susceptible to atopic dermatitis, which causes extreme itchiness, resulting in licking and biting behaviours in dogs that can cause even more damage. For dogs prone to skin and coat issues, a fish-based diet can help alleviate symptoms. Fish contains plenty of fatty acids, which support coat and skin health, and rarely triggers any allergic reaction in dogs. Goldies often benefit from healthy grains in their diet, especially as avoiding them can actually leave your dog more vulnerable to nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy, or nutritional DCM. This heart disease is common in Golden Retrievers, and can be triggered by consuming too much grain-free pet food that contains legumes like lentils and peas. You should consider feeding your Golden Retriever foods that are full of grains and proteins like chicken or fish. These are the benefits and drawbacks of the three most popular options — wet food, a raw food diet, and dry food. Wet food can be a great option for dogs that need plenty of protein and fat, like working dogs or dogs with certain health conditions. It also hydrates your dog while they eat, which can be useful for dogs suffering from any illness. For dogs with highly restrictive diets, raw food prepared by you can be a great way to avoid allergens. You can have complete control over a raw diet, which does require a lot more work on your part, but can have great results. For instance, a Golden Retriever with heart issues should eat a low salt diet, which can be easier to achieve if you are preparing their meals from scratch. However, low quality kibbles tend to be made up of a lot of low quality fillers, which can be hard for your pup to digest. Whatever option you choose for your Goldie, make sure it is suitable for large breeds and contains high quality ingredients. This will help prevent degenerative health disorders in the long run. Your Golden Retriever will probably love food, and will probably try to eat anything you put in front of them, which means you need to help them avoid the negative consequences of overeating. Golden retrievers, like other large and active breeds, need plenty of exercise. Not only is this vital to their physical health, but it also ensures they grow up well socialised and mentally stimulated. As your Goldie grows from a puppy to an adult dog, the amount of meals they need a day will reduce as their digestive systems become more developed. Your dog will need two meals a day, once in the evening and once in the morning, from the age of 6 months.

A puppy will learn faster if it knows that you are the leader. Merle can also alter different colors and patterns aside from the typical red or black. Whether you own a black-tri, red-merle, or blue-merle Aussie, there is not any difference apart from the cosmetics or visual appeal. Generally, Australian Shepherds are rather healthy dogs. For instance, they are hyperactive dogs that need to work. All Australian Shepherds generally have copper-type markings that signal they are truly an Aussie. Maintenance and Care Australian Shepherds are comparatively simple to care for but require a great deal of maintenance. The ideal thing you can do to make sure a happy and healthier dog is diet and exercise. Adopt or Purchase? Should you decide that you would prefer to purchase a puppy? Additionally, German Shepherd puppies have to be actively socialized. With other dogs, people, and places as a way to grow up with confidence, they should be balanced dogs. If you are a dog owner who is looking for a blue Merle German shepherd. Make sure that you buy from a reputable and trusted breed. There are many breeds of this type of dog out there and you need to do your research. And be sure that you are getting a good breed that will last for a lifetime. The blue Merle is a popular color and has a great name. It has a very long coat that makes it very sleek and easy to groom. They are very gentle dogs that love attention but will not get angry because they are of a certain color. This makes them great pets for families that do not have a lot of time to spend with their children or pets. A good breed of blue Merle is a cross between a long-haired German shepherd and a short-haired one. There is a genetic reason why the color blue merles come into existence and it is believed to be a recessive trait. This means that if a dog is of one color and has another color on the same side, then the resulting offspring will be blue. The blue Merle is often a cross between a poodle and a miniature Schnauzer. The poodles are known for their manliness and love to have children around. On the other hand, schnauzers are extremely affectionate and loving. There are many different characteristics that you should look for when you are looking at purchasing a blue Merle German Shepherd. First, make sure that you look for long and flowing hair. You want to look at the eyes as well because this is where you will be able to tell if the dog is nervous or not. You also want to make sure that you are buying from a good breeder or rescue group. Make sure that you do not take your chances with a pet that may get hurt or worse. Also, make sure that you have your pet spayed or neutered so that it will be less aggressive. So now that you know what a good breed is and have some ideas of what traits that you would like your dog to have, it is time to look for one. A good place to start is with a local breeder that you can trust and that you feel comfortable with. After finding a good breeder or rescue group, make sure that you have your pet evaluated by an expert in the field before bringing your pet to the new home with the blue Merle. A lot of research has been done about this type of dog and this should help you make an informed decision. Ask as many questions as possible to ensure that you are getting a good fit for your family. If you feel that your dog will be too demanding, then you should keep looking until you find one that you can afford. When you bring the blue Merle into your home, make sure that you set up an environment where your family can get to know each other. This will also give you a chance to bond with your pet. Remember, this is a special pet and you have to make sure that everyone is happy. One final tip on how to find a good blue Merle is to use the internet. If you do not live near a breeder or a shelter, then search for a rescue group online and read their website to learn all you can about their puppies. These shelters can sometimes have great puppies that are left to fend for themselves but they are often in poor health, so you should not buy from these puppy mills. Once you find a good breeder, make sure that you do your homework before buying. If you have not been keeping German Shepherds, then I encourage you to do so. The reasons for this are many. This breed is adorable, full of love, and very lovable. This article will give you all the information you need to adopt a Blue Merle German Shepherd. The first thing you need to know when learning how to adopt a German Shepherd is that adopting a puppy can cost anywhere from two thousand up to ten thousand dollars. This all depends on where you live. Some areas have more licenses required for puppies than others, and the cost could go up even more. It is best to find out all you can before choosing to adopt one from a shelter or other place. The cost is so high because these dogs need a lot of care and love before they are fully grown, and they are very protective as a breed. When you adopt a German Shepherd, you are adopting a very energetic dog. They need lots of walking and daily exercise. A blue Merle has a high prey drive, which means they will pursue anything that moves. If you have children in the house, they may get bitten or even choke on their new puppy. These puppies can get very aggressive if provoked. Be prepared for this. When playing with children, it is best to keep your pup on a leash. If you decide to adopt a blue Merle German Shepherd, you should also be prepared to get an inoculation shot. This is very important because the virus that causes this is the same virus that causes hip dysplasia in humans. Because it is a rare disease, the chances of your pup contracting this disease are slim. German Shepherds are very protective dogs and should be around all members of the family. This includes children. You should also not allow your pup to go outside unless there is another adult in the family, such as a parent or grandparent. A responsible breeder will not allow an unplanned pregnancy, and will also not allow the pup to be alone without the supervision of an adult in the household. When your puppy is old enough, he or she will be trained to stay out of the room where the other animals sleep. A German Shepherd can end up inside the room of another animal. You will have to make sure that your pup understands that when you are away, he or she has to stay in his room. Having a blue German Shepherd in the family also means that he or she will get acquainted with the people in the family. It is common for puppies to become shy around people. But they usually become friendly once they get to know more people. If you are thinking about having puppies, make sure that you carefully research breeding requirements. Blue German Shepherds can make wonderful, loyal companions, but you have to make sure that you are ready for the responsibility. You have to keep in mind that the puppy should be socialized before you introduce him or her to other people. You must consult a professional trainer to help you with training. This is the time when he or she needs to get used to humans and other animals. During this crucial period, it is vital to establish early on that you are the alpha owner. Remember that a puppy will not obey just because you tell it to do so. You have to take charge and be the one who establishes rules and discipline. An important part of training your puppy is getting him or her used to being indoors. Give your dog sufficient amounts of outdoor exercise, so that he or she gets used to the routine of going outside. It is also important to establish a routine for feeding. Schedule feeding times in the same manner as you would schedule bedtime. You can teach your blue German Shepherd that the four-legged friend who loves you always gets an equal amount of attention and love. Share this:. The blue coloration in Blue German Shepherds refers to a faded gray color. This gene is also responsible for other breeds like the Blue Frenchie and Pittie. The dilution gene is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning both parents must carry the gene for it to show in their offspring. It is important to note that while the blue coloration is unique and eye-catching, health must take priority during breeding. Help Dogs In Need Our blog posts aim to provide comprehensive, accurate, and objective information on all types of dogs, helping our readers make informed choices that fit their lifestyle. We don't endorse any specific breeding practices, but advocate for ethical breeding and dog welfare. We encourage exploring adoption first. Countless wonderful dogs, from all breeds, await their forever homes in shelters. Remember, with AdoptDontShop, you can give a deserving rescue a second chance at happiness. Blue German Shepherds are a large dog breed, and they can grow quite tall. Males typically stand between 22 and 26 inches tall at the shoulder, while females are usually between 22 and 24 inches tall. In terms of weight, they typically weigh between 50 and 90 pounds. Coat and Color The coat of a Blue German Shepherd is typically thick and dense, with a medium length. The fur is usually straight and lies close to the body, which helps to protect the dog from the elements. The color of a Blue German Shepherd is, as the name suggests, blue faded gray. This is actually a dilution of the traditional black coloration of a German Shepherd. There are several Blue GSD varieties, including: Blue and tan GSDs — They have a blue-gray coat with tan markings; Blue merle — These blue dogs have dark gray spots on a lighter background; Blue brindle, combining blue and brindle patterns; Blue fawn — They have a light gray shade on the face and a lighter, fawn-like hue on the body; Long-haired Blue GSDs; and Blue pied — They have a white base with patches of blue-gray. While the blue-gray coat color sets them apart, Blue German Shepherds have the same physical characteristics as traditional German Shepherds, including their distinctive pointed ears, muscular build, and intelligent expression. They have a strong, well-muscled, and balanced build. Their body is neither too heavy nor too light, designed for agility and endurance. German Shepherds have a deep chest that provides space for their strong lungs. Their body is moderately long and well-proportioned. They have a wedge-shaped head and a long, proportional muzzle. Their ears are erect, and the eyes can vary in color, but they are usually light blue or gray. German Shepherds are known for their efficient and smooth gait, allowing them to cover ground gracefully. Temperament and Behavior Blue German Shepherds are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and protective nature. They are confident dogs who are eager to please their owners. They are also highly trainable and excel in obedience and agility competitions. Their intelligent but obedient nature is what makes GSDs the superior police dog. Blue German Shepherds are typically calm and composed when it comes to behavior. They are not known to be aggressive unless they feel threatened or their family is in danger. They are excellent guard dogs and will protect their family and home at all costs. Blue German Shepherds are also very social animals. They enjoy being around people and other dogs. They are great with children and make excellent family pets. They are also very adaptable and can adjust to different living situations, whether a large house or a small apartment. Suitability for Families and Other Pets Blue German Shepherds are great with children and other pets when socialized properly from a young age. However, adults must always supervise interactions between dogs and small kids to prevent accidents. Socializing guardian breeds like German Shepherds means teaching them to be neutral toward other dogs and strangers by plenty of exposure and obedience training. When it comes to other pets, Blue German Shepherds can coexist if introduced and socialized early on. Overall, Blue German Shepherds can make great family pets and are well-suited for households with children and other pets as long as they receive proper socialization. They are said to be as bright as a 3-year-old, and that is based on our definition of human intelligence. They are also calmer than intelligent dogs like Malinois and Border Collies, making them ideal pets and working dogs. Obedience, socialization, and crate training are essential for a Blue German Shepherd. Use positive reinforcement like treats, praise, and toys to encourage good behavior. Consistency is key, so make sure everyone in the family uses the same commands and rewards. This means that GSDs are often badly bred, or bred to extremes such as overly sloping backs and angulated hind legs, leading to many health issues. A study of German Shepherds in the UK showed that the leading causes of death were musculoskeletal disorder .This condition is caused by a recessive gene that affects the hair follicles, leading to hair loss and skin irritation. CDA is more common in blue-coated dogs than in other colors. The symptoms of CDA usually appear between 6 months to 3 years of age and can include patchy hair loss, dry and flaky skin, and a dull coat. It is a genetic condition that affects the hip joints, causing pain, inflammation, and mobility issues. Hip dysplasia can range from mild to severe, leading to arthritis and other joint problems. Eye Conditions Blue German Shepherds are also prone to certain eye conditions, including cataracts, Pink eye, progressive retinal atrophy PRA , and glaucoma. These conditions can cause vision loss and discomfort for the dog. Stomach Issues Blue German Shepherds have very sensitive tummies and are known to suffer from bouts of diarrhea. Their deep chests also increase their susceptibility to GDV or bloat, which is the twisting of the stomach. Issues that contribute to these GI problems include Pancreatic acinar atrophy pancreatic cell death , Megaesophagus enlarged esophagus , inflammatory bowel disease IBD , and Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency causing indigestion and yellow poop. Other Health Issues Spinal issues like canine degenerative myelopathy causes progressive disease of the spinal cord. Thyroid issues like hypothyroidism. Neurological issues like epilepsy. Mild to moderate issues like skin infections, obesity, allergies, and dental issues. It is essential to avoid overfeeding, as Blue German Shepherds are prone to obesity. German Shepherds are highly susceptible to bloat , so break down their food into smaller portions. Exercise Requirements Blue German Shepherds are an active breed and require plenty of exercise. They should exercise at least 60 minutes per day, including walks, runs, and playtime in a fenced yard. It is important to note that Blue German Shepherds are prone to joint problems, so it is important to avoid activities that put excessive strain on their joints, such as jumping or running on hard surfaces. Swimming is a great, low-impact exercise that can help keep them active and healthy. Grooming Needs Blue German Shepherds have a double coat that requires regular grooming. Brush their coats twice a week. They shed heavily twice a year, so brushing them daily during these periods is essential to prevent matting and tangling. It is also essential to clean their ears biweekly with canine wipes to prevent infections and dental problems. Brush their teeth at least twice a week and give them dental chews and rinses in between. Clip their nails every month with a canine clipper. Wash them monthly with a gentle dog shampoo. Finding a Blue German Shepherd Breeder When looking for a Blue German Shepherd breeder, it is essential to do your research and find a reputable breeder who prioritizes the health and well-being of their dogs. Here are a few tips to help you find a responsible breeder: Research online Research for Blue German Shepherd breeders in your area. Check out their websites and social media pages to get an idea of their breeding practices, the quality of their dogs, and their overall reputation. Attend dog shows and events Attend dog shows and events in your area to meet breeders in person and see their dogs up close. This can give you a better idea of the temperament and physical characteristics of the breed. Ask for referrals Ask for referrals from other Blue German Shepherd owners or breeders. They can recommend a reputable breeder with whom they have had a positive experience. Check for health certifications Ensure the breeder you choose has health certifications for their dogs, such as hip and elbow dysplasia clearances and eye certifications. This can help ensure the puppies are healthy and free from genetic health issues. Visit the breeder Before buying, visit the breeder in person to see their facility and meet their dogs. This can give you a better idea of their breeding practices and the care they provide for their dogs. Remember, a responsible breeder will prioritize the health and well-being of their dogs over profit. Take your time and research to find a breeder dedicated to producing healthy, well-tempered Blue German Shepherds. The price range for Blue German Shepherds can vary greatly depending on the breeder, location, and pedigree. Where can I find Blue German Shepherd puppies for sale? You can find Blue German Shepherd puppies for sale through reputable breeders, online marketplaces, and pet stores. It is vital to do research and only purchase from a reputable breeder to ensure the health and well-being of the puppy. What are some health problems that Blue German Shepherds may face? Blue German Shepherds may face health problems like hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, and skin allergies. It is essential to have regular check-ups with a veterinarian and to purchase from a breeder who conducts health screenings on their breeding dogs. What is the rarity of Blue German Shepherds? Blue German Shepherds are considered a rare color variation of the traditional black and tan German Shepherd. While they are not as common, the American Kennel Club still recognizes them, and you can find them through reputable breeders. Blue German Shepherds have a blue or gray coat, while White Blue German Shepherds have a white coat with blue or gray markings. They are similar to the Panda GSD. Are there any reputable Blue German Shepherd breeders? Yes, there are reputable Blue German Shepherd breeders who conduct health screenings on their breeding dogs and prioritize the well-being of their puppies. It is essential to do research and only purchase from a reputable breeder to ensure the health and temperament of the puppy. They are known for their beautiful blue coat that sets them apart from the traditional black and tan coloration of other German Shepherds. Tamsin De La Harpe Author Tamsin de la Harpe has nearly two decades of experience with dogs in rescue, training, and behavior modification with fearful and aggressive dogs. She has worked closely with veterinarians and various kennels, building up extensive medical knowledge and an understanding of canine health and physiology. She also spent two years in the animal sciences as a canine nutrition researcher, focusing on longevity and holistic healthcare for our four-legged companions. Tamsin currently keeps a busy homestead with an assortment of rescue dogs and three Bullmastiffs. Got Questions? Showing 1 - 35 of 35 resultsPage 1 - 35 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Parents are both loved family pets. The Pups were born on July 16 and will be ready for rehoming soon. They will be vet checked and will come with their.Now at 8 weeks old. They have been Vaccinated and dewormed. Can now be rehomed. Ready to go now. Mom Czech and dad German bloodlines. Both parents are excellent with kids and great watch dogs. Both come from working.Born on 20 July , they are ready to rehome. They come dewormed and with their first health check and vaccination. Parents are.Winnipeg Puppies born on August 22nd. Mother is a mix of German shepherd and Great Pyrenees. Father is pure bred Kangal. The dogs are great watch and shepherd dogs as they are trained to be around farm.Visit our website to see all available puppies, German shepherd health warranty ready to go Winnipeg Born July 6, all sable, 2 male 4 female Will have big bones, strong, really high drive, serious dog, good for experience handler. Grey is male. Ears up are both female. Also have males with standing ears. Not vaccinated. Dewormed yes. Longcoat solid black female is 3 years old. Sable male is 2 years old. Ready for their forever home October 8th. They will be CKC registered, microchipped and first set of shots before going to their new home. Yellow male intact. They are siblings, a mix of everything but looks like mainly shepherd and border collie. About 8 months old. They are great with kids. Very gentle and well behaved. Neighbor's dog keeps picking on him. I have 6 German shepherd pups for sale. They were born on April 2nd and have gotten all their shots and dewormer. Please contact me if you are.I also added a pic of the mom and dad, the last 2 pics! Can arrange to transport to Winnipeg! German shepherd blue Heeler pups!!! Roseisle Two gorgeous females left. Both are very friendly and good with kids. Dad is German shepherd. Both parents are fantastic with people. Puppies are dewormed. They are ready to go to their new.Roblin Mom is a Norwegian elkhound, dad is a German shepherd spaniel cross. Adorable, smart, playful, yet easy going puppies for sale. Located in Roblin, MB. These have been outdoor puppies since birth. These cuties are heavily socialized with kids ages 10 and.George 3 female Australian shepherd puppies. Our puppies good with kids and other animals. Call or text.Was born on July 21 .Will come with wet check, shots and deworming. Price obo. Please contact for more.Impeccable blood lines, 5 generations on Pedigree data. He is intact, 5 years old and healthy! Friendly with everyone and good with other dogs and animals. He is currently an.Please Contact Australian shepherd Virden Australian shepherds 1 male pup 7 weeks old. Has had first shots, vet check and deworming. We are also looking to rehome a few older dogs from our program. Parents are tested clear for Degenerative Myelopathy Hip and elbows certification good and normal with OFA 2 male available born June 22 and.Very smart dogs. Both parents are good livestock dogs. They have been around cows and cats. They will be coming on to 13 weeks old.Born July 23, .All are healthy and active. They are starting to eat dogfood now at 4 weeks old. Raised on the farm with animals.Golden Retriever Blue Heeler mix! Born and raised outside, used to kids, chickens, goats, cats! Excellent yard dogs! But would make a great house dog too! Great family dog Sprague 3 males. Very family friendly. Mom is a 6 year old border collieX husky and dad is a retriever. Browse other categories in Pets in Manitoba.

One look and an instant calm will probably wash over you. Stress simply melts away. Because Golden Retrievers are notoriously loyal and obedient. They can look silly with their big goofy grins. Or they can look stoic and wise beyond their years with their striking, deep brown eyes. CutenessOverload Everything they do is adorable Just watching your pup go from an adorable average of 10 pounds right when you get them at 8 weeks old to a sizable 70 pounds at the year mark is cuter than anything you can imagine. Or falling asleep in your lap. Or busting your pup discreetly chewing on your brand new pair of sneakers in their new closet lair is the cutest. There are too many cute things! Everything will be adorable and glee-inducing if done by a Golden Retriever pup — even the behaviors that, by all logic, should annoy you to no end. This is a good thing because a puppy this adorable is definitely going to be a popular one. Golden Retriever puppies make friends with kids , adults, and other animals while keeping their trademark smiles on their faces. They are so friendly, in fact, that they may not be the best bet when looking for guard dogs. A Golden will usually greet any stranger, including during a break-in, with a welcoming smile on their face. But they will love you best Again, the loyalty of a Golden Retriever pup cannot be stressed enough; it is strong. At the end of the day, your athletic, big-pawed, adventurous, silly, and loving Golden pup will only have eyes for you. Remember, you can find just about any breed of dog you are looking for at a shelter or rescue. Puppy Supplies Welcome to Buck Family Farm, a place where our love for Golden Retrievers has evolved into a passion for providing families with affectionate, intelligent, and healthy Golden Retriever Puppies. Our goal is to make sure your next family pet is everything you expected and more. Our Dogs Our family specializes in raising Golden Retrievers of all coat shades who enjoy our spacious 20 acre farm. It is important to us that each dog gets special attention and care each day. Our family-style setup allows our dogs to have the luxury of running free and romping around to their hearts' content while playing together and with our family. Also, since this is our at-home classroom, someone is always available to play ball or give a much needed scratch on the belly and pat on the head. Genetic testing is also performed on each dog to help us make wise choices for the best pairings and to produce puppies with the best probability of excellent health. Of high importance however, is taking into consideration the temperament of each of our Golden Retrievers to produce a well balanced and friendly companion, who exhibits all of the classic traits of the breed. Puppies Buck Family Farm puppies are AKC registered, vet certified, have first shots, are wormed and will come to your home with a 1 year health guarantee and a first bag of puppy food. We also send a blanket with mommy's scent and all appropriate NYS paperwork as well as copies of parents' health clearances. Our desire is to make your experience with us and our puppies everything you expected and more. Puppy Applications If you are interested in purchasing a puppy from our farm please fill out an adoption application to help us get to know you a little better. When your application is accepted you will have the opportunity to place your name on our waiting list for an additional fee. This ensures a courtesy call when a particular color, gender or litter of choice has arrived. You will then have the opportunity to place a deposit on one of our puppies. You will receive a courtesy notification of the litters' arrival and have opportunity to place a deposit. However, deposits that are not submitted promptly will affect your pick-order. Deposits are usually non-refundable. Placing a Deposit Once a new litter is born and determined to be healthy and thriving, we open them for deposit. First, to those on our waiting list, and then to families who have pre-approved applications. We choose puppies at 5 weeks of age in the order that deposits were placed. Please contact us for Paypal, zelle and Venmo handles. Visiting We frequently update pictures of all puppies on a regular basis. You will not be allowed to visit the puppies or parents until mommy is settled in and feeling comfortable with visitors. At 5 weeks of age we have adopting families visit our farm and choose their puppy. Puppies are chosen in the order that deposits were placed. Homecoming At 8 weeks of age and after veterinary examination, puppies will be united with their forever families! One look and an instant calm will probably wash over you. Stress simply melts away. Because Golden Retrievers are notoriously loyal and obedient. They can look silly with their big goofy grins. Or they can look stoic and wise beyond their years with their striking, deep brown eyes. CutenessOverload Everything they do is adorable Just watching your pup go from an adorable average of 10 pounds right when you get them at 8 weeks old to a sizable 70 pounds at the year mark is cuter than anything you can imagine. Or falling asleep in your lap. Or busting your pup discreetly chewing on your brand new pair of sneakers in their new closet lair is the cutest. There are too many cute things! Everything will be adorable and glee-inducing if done by a Golden Retriever pup — even the behaviors that, by all logic, should annoy you to no end. This is a good thing because a puppy this adorable is definitely going to be a popular one. Golden Retriever puppies make friends with kids , adults, and other animals while keeping their trademark smiles on their faces. They are so friendly, in fact, that they may not be the best bet when looking for guard dogs. A Golden will usually greet any stranger, including during a break-in, with a welcoming smile on their face. But they will love you best Again, the loyalty of a Golden Retriever pup cannot be stressed enough; it is strong. At the end of the day, your athletic, big-pawed, adventurous, silly, and loving Golden pup will only have eyes for you. Fluffy Golden pup on bench Chunky Golden pup running through yard Golden puppy with big ears looking directly at camera Fluffy pup in a basket on grass Scrawny Golden pup in yard Golden puppy in lavender field Remember, you can find just about any breed of dog you are looking for at a shelter or rescue. They are affectionate, obedient and loyal to a fault. Originally bred as a hunting dog for retrieving waterfowl it makes an ideal pet for any type of family. They make a great family dog because of its patience, versatility, and adaptability. A golden retriever is super easy to train because of how smart and devoted they are to their owner. Goldens are gentle and playful with children and other pets, making them a perfect family pet. Their coat comes in various shades of gold and is dense, waterproof and may be wavy or straight. Discover more about our Golden Retriever puppies below! Interestingly, the Golden Retriever is very calm and relaxed indoors despite its hunting roots. However, they immensely enjoy activities, such as carrying objects around in its mouth and a good game of catch. The breed is faithful, obedient and easy to train. Golden Retriever Disposition The Golden Retriever does best when kept inside with the family, though it needs daily exercise. The Golden Retriever is very playful. Not surprisingly, it lives up to its name as a great retriever, excelling in games of catch and carrying objects around in its mouth. While it enjoys active time outdoors, the Golden Retriever is calm indoors — making it a great household pet for anyone. They do especially well with kids too. This breed is highly regarded for its love of human companionship. It is faithful, obedient and picks up easily on new commands. The Golden Retriever is among the easiest breeds to train. Its enthusiasm for learning new tricks and the ability to quickly and easily understand new commands makes it a pleasure to own and train. See store for details on this particular puppy. American Canine Association.

We offer French bulldogs and French bulldogs only. About Bluegrass Frenchies 5 generation pedigrees full of AKC champions We are proud to show you pictures of our parents when posting their puppies for sale. All of our French bulldogs are U. We are happy to show you our sold offspring as puppies and as full grown adults. We specialize in creams, fawns, reds and pied Frenchies. Most of our adult French bulldogs have an adult weight of 16 to 22 lbs. All of our puppies come with a two year health guarantee and AKC papers. All of our puppies are vet checked. Up to date on vaccinations and deworming. Quality isn't Expensive.It's Priceless At Bluegrass Frenchies you get priceless service and quality. That's why our customers keep returning to us time after time. Please know that the health and safety of our French bulldogs remains our first concern followed very closely by making the buying process for our families super easy. We have lots of ways you can get your new puppy from us! We even have puppies in Canada. We will work with you and meet part way as well. If you want a BlueGrass puppy to add to your furry family we will do all that we can to make that as easy as can be. All deposits and payments are explained in our Preview Adoption Steps. Payments made through our website are tunneled via a secure and encrypted shopping cart system. If you are interested in adding one of our French bulldogs to your family please fill out the adoption application or if you have questions call, email or text Christina at .If texting please include your name with the text message. Scam Alert Watch out for Scams Watch out for scams. We are seeing pictures of our French bulldogs in unauthorized places. Some scammers steal our pictures from our site and list them as their own. With this in mind please understand that all photographs and text are the exclusive intellectual property of Bluegrass Frenchies in Richmond, Kentucky. We will prosecute anyone that is using our photos to run scams on unsuspecting buyers. This is no joke and will not be tolerated in any shape, form, or fashion. For helpful tips on spotting puppy scammers click on the link above in order to spot what you should be looking for. It's priceless. At Bluegrass Frenchies you get priceless service and quality. That's why our customers keep returning to us time after time. The old adage "You get what you pay for" has never been more true than when purchasing what will soon become an essential and contributing member of your family. We have beautiful French Bulldogs, short legs, stocky little bodies, and nice large "bat-like" ears. We specialize in creams, fawns, reds and pied Frenchies. Most of our adult French bulldogs have an adult weight of 16 to 22 lbs. All of our puppies come with a one year health guarantee. All of our puppies are vet checked, with the first series of shots, and AKC papers. We also offer 4 weeks of puppy training from time puppy is weaned til 10 weeks of age. From our loving arms to yours we try to make everything as simple as possible. Families are welcome to come here and visit before paying for puppy in full. On getting your puppy you are welcome to come here or we can come to you. Check out our website for what we offer and what sets us apart. If you are looking for cheap you are not looking for quality. We hope that as you read through this page you will see that we know Frenchies AND we care enough that we want our new families to be well informed too. We are very hands on with our French bulldogs from the time they are born until they are in your loving arms! French Bulldogs may look tough on the outside, but inside they are lovable, soft, caring and easygoing. These dogs spread the good vibes wherever they go. Outgoing and open, they love nothing more than to cuddle on the couch, romp on the carpet or play in the yard. Boasting unlimited energy, they sometimes have no idea when or how to stop their motors. But, with a French bulldog, things never get out of hand. They rarely lose their cool, snap or bark. They simply want to roll around and play. All of our French bulldogs are bred on our 60 acre farm. We are dedicated to raising quality French bulldogs for both pet and show homes. We DO NOT sell our French bulldogs to pet stores, puppy mills or other breeders unless they go through our extensive breeder interviewing process. All of our puppies are really our puppies. Then once we get our babies home we take turns sitting with mom and newborns to make sure they are all getting the attention that they need. Raising our French bulldogs is a total family endeavor. We want your puppy to leave us with the BEST that we can provide for you and your puppy. Cute Courtney Clan. Questions about French Bulldog puppies for sale in Kentucky? We have answers. How does French Bulldog puppies for sale in Kentucky work? There are lots of things that can affect the price of French Bulldog puppies in Kentucky, from the color of the coat to the size, pedigree, and more. If you have a budget in mind, the best thing you can do right now is start looking for a French Bulldog for sale Kentucky and see if you can find the perfect pup today. Do French Bulldogs have any particular characteristics? When it comes to Kentucky French Bulldogs for sale, you may already know that they are small dogs. They are companion dogs, so they are friendly and affectionate. They love spending time with their owners, and they will want to be with you all day. They also enjoy playing, so get ready to have fun! Is there a reason French Bulldogs are so expensive? These pups are more difficult to breed for Kentucky French Bulldog breeders. Their narrow hips make natural reproduction very difficult, so they are often artificially inseminated, and pups are delivered by C-section too. This additional work and skill for the breeders leads to higher prices for French Bulldogs for sale Kentucky. What if I find a French Bulldog from a breeder in another state? But if you find your pup from a breeder over the other side of the country, they can make travel arrangements so you can simply meet your pooch at your most convenient major airport. We make it easy to find your perfect pup wherever they are. How do you screen the breeders to ensure only the best get into your network? All breeders and businesses that join our network must take our Breeder Pledge. Check this out to find out what we expect from the French Bulldog breeders in Kentucky here, and what you can expect too. We only want the very best here so you can look for French Bulldogs for sale in Kentucky with peace of mind. Why is Uptown Puppies better than searching the internet for French Bulldogs? Because we only connect you with top French Bulldog breeders Kentucky when you search here. We think finding a new French Bulldog Kentucky should be quick, easy, and fun. What exactly are puppy mills, anyway? Think of mills as factories for dogs. So please stay away from them in your search for French Bulldog puppies Kentucky. Will I find French Bulldog puppies if I start searching now? There are many breeders and companies in our network, and they have lots of pups to choose from. Whatever you have got in mind, look for your Kentucky French Bulldog for sale today and have fun! Are French Bulldogs good with other dogs and pets? French Bulldogs tend to get along well with other pets, as long as they are introduced to them at an early age so they can be properly socialized. When you are looking for French Bulldog puppies for sale Kentucky, plan how you will introduce them to your other pets. Do French Bulldogs shed during the year? Yes, like many other dogs, French Bulldogs shed throughout the year. Just make sure you give them a regular brush and you will find that it is very easy to look after these little dogs. There are several reputable french bulldog breeders in Kentucky but do trust those with years of experience and not the backyard breeders with limited knowledge of the high standards for which I breed, quality. .Please watch the little human ones though, Frenchie do not having their ears pulled or their eyes explored; do you? Frenchies are funny, shorter legs, more lazy, rounded ears and demanding of your attention! They are comical and playful but lazy might be a better description. Bulldogs are NOT good swimmers; being head heavy, they tend to tilt downward and can drown. Swimmies or life jackets coupled with constant supervision is a MUST as they do love to soak. If you have an in-ground swimming pool they need to be supervised at all times if they have access to it. French Bulldogs are known as a bullheaded and stubborn breed so repetition is the key to training. Praising and sweet talk is the key to success along with patience as they love to please. Just like raising a child, but remember, you are the alpha, and they will learn what you teach them. Again, repetition, reward and patience are key. They are always anxious to please. French Bulldog or Poodle? Check out this link to read more about the French Bulldog to see if they will fit perfectly in your family.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Do you want to know how to fatten up a German Shepherd to make them gain weight in a healthy way? Are you worried that your German Shepherd is thin and underweight and want to know how to bulk up a German Shepherd for safe weight-gain? Is Your German Shepherd Underweight? Your dog should have a trim, athletic appearance. They are large breed dogs with fast metabolisms that are active and energetic in their daily lives. Fit German Shepherds may at first seem slightly underweight. They are lean, athletic dogs with a strong, firm figure and you should avoid learning how to make a German Shepherd fat. Instead, you want to bulk-up your German Shepherd to make them fit. But if you see their ribs protruding or their hip bones raised and easily felt when petting, this is a sign of being underweight. You should first check with your vet for possible medical issues. You want to know if they are gaining weight, losing weight, or remaining the same. This helps you to decide if your weight gain plan is working — or if you need to adjust your plan. If your dog continues losing weight or if you see a lack of progress, take your dog back to your veterinarian. You need to see this as a long term plan and not an overnight fix to get your German Shepherd fat and by fat, I mean bulk-up not obese or overweight. Look for foods that have a higher percentage of fat and protein than your current food. Adults and seniors should eat about 20 to 25 percent of their daily calories from protein and 25 to 50 percent from fats. The rest of the calories should come from carbohydrates. This is anywhere from 8 months to a year or longer. Change to Puppy or High-Performance Food If you have an adult dog, switch them to a puppy or high-performance dog food to help them gain healthy weight. Both puppy and high-performance also known as a working breed food is higher in calories to support complex energy needs and sustained growth. Puppy foods generally have added nutrients to support puppy growth which can help your underweight German Shepherd gain weight and fatten up in a controlled manner — which is what you want. Mixing regular adult and puppy or high-performance food helps your GSD gain weight and fat in a regulated manner. For More Calories Feed Dry Kibble Dry kibble dog food generally has more calories if you want your dog to gain weight. Dry kibble is denser and contains more calories than wet food because the moisture has been removed from dry foods. Therefore, dry food has up to 4 times the number of calories as the same amount of wet food — dry kibble is a weight gaining powerhouse! If your dog is currently eating wet meals, then try mixing in some dry food with their wet food to help stimulate weight gain. Wet foods may taste better to your dog, so mixing in the dry foods with the wet still encourages your dog to eat in order to not lose more weight. Look for dry food with higher protein and fats to encourage weight gain in a healthy manner and go with one of the foods mentioned above for fat gain that is healthy. Begin by feeding your dog a bit more of their current food spread out over one more meal per day. Add a quarter to half a cup of extra food per meal. You can also take their regular feeding and the additional food and increase their feeding schedule to four times per day, splitting the food equally at each feeding. If your German Shepherd is picky about when they eat, then it may help to leave food out for them all the time. This is called free feeding. Dogs who can free feed tend to gain more weight than dogs fed on a schedule. Free feeding allows your dog the chance to eat a little whenever they are hungry or bored. This type of feeding may help them eat more overall. But only use free feeding with dry food, since wet foods spoil when left out for more than a couple hours. They may follow you around rather than eat when you offer their food bowl — this may be especially true of Shepherds since they tend to get fixated on their caretaker. But, just keeping your dog company while they eat may stimulate their appetite. Find a comfortable spot to sit and wait on your dog while they eat. Bring a book or do a quiet activity while they eat close to you. Simply sit with them and enjoy your time together while they eat. Keep the treats handy and offer them to help get extra calories into your dog. Adding these foods into their regular kibble may also entice them to eat more of their dry dog food, which can help an underweight puppy or adult. They also add extra calories which are healthy and nutritious. To get your dog more interested in their food, try sprinkling on a topping to their usual meals. You can even buy healthy toppers that are easy to add. Seniors, adults, and puppies all have various nutritional concerns. Most commercial and pre-made dog foods specify their intended age range on the packaging and state what groups the food is aimed at feeding. Underfeeding a German Shepherd puts your dog at a serious health risk. You need to make sure they get enough food for their age and energy needs. Puppies generally eat almost double the number of calories an adult dog needs, so be sure to check out this post on what amount to feed a German Shepherd puppy to keep them healthy. While a senior GSD may eat significantly fewer calories, if they are losing weight or underweight and a vet has been consulted, they may need extra feedings or food to help them gain the weight back. German Shepherds thrive on consistent physical activity. Walking and swimming are activities that build muscle and are lower impact and less intense on their joints and bones. They can be done every day to keep your dog active and help them to maintain their muscle mass. But these two exercises can be performed at a lower intensity so that even older dogs and puppies can enjoy their benefits make sure your puppy can swim first. Keeping muscle mass is important to prevent wasting and help maintain their health and mobility, as well as their athletic appearance. Try walking up hills to improve muscle growth or a gentle game of tug using a spring pole in which your dog can start and stop on their own. Some of the herbs used to increase human appetite are also safe for use in dogs. Dandelion is available in this for-1 multivitamin , along with other herbal supplements to make your GSD gain weight. B vitamins are natural appetite stimulants and are readily available over the counter and online. Visit Your Vet Regularly Always see your vet regularly. Regular vet appointments are especially important for your underweight German Shepherd. Your vet will use your notes to help make medical adjustments, as necessary, and to give you the right tips and advice. Helping Your German Shepherd Gain Weight Knowing how to fatten up a German Shepherd can help you and your dog achieve their ideal weight and maintain this healthy condition. There are many reasons why your dog or puppy may not be gaining weight. But there are also ways to help your dog at home to become healthier and have more energy. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. The genes inherited from the parents and other ancestors in their lineage will significantly influence their growth and development. If your German Shepherd comes from bloodlines consisting mainly of smaller dogs, they will likely end up on the smaller side themselves. Reputable breeders focus on breeding dogs that meet the breed standard, which for male German Shepherds is inches tall and pounds. Females are inches and pounds. However, backyard breeders or puppy mills may not pay as much attention to size, producing German Shepherds outside of the standard. So if you obtained your dog from disreputable sources, this could explain the smaller stature. Examining the Parents One of the best ways to estimate the size your German Shepherd will reach is to look at the parents. If both the sire and dam are on the smaller side, chances are your puppy will be too. This will give you a good idea of what to expect as your dog matures. While environmental factors can influence size too, genetics lay the foundation. Some of the most common issues that may stunt growth include: Panosteitis Panosteitis is a condition that causes painful inflammation in the long bones of large breed puppies during growth spurts. It usually develops between months of age. The pain causes affected puppies to become reluctant to exercise and play. Without proper activity levels, muscle and bone development can suffer. Puppies with chronic panosteitis often end up undersized as adults. Treatment involves pain management and anti-inflammatory medications. Hypothyroidism An underactive thyroid gland prevents adequate production of thyroid hormones. These hormones regulate metabolism and growth. Without enough thyroid hormones, a German Shepherd puppy may demonstrate stunted development. Blood testing can diagnose hypothyroidism. Once treated with supplemental thyroid medication, normal growth can resume. But if left untreated for a long period, the dog may remain undersized. Orthopedic Problems Issues like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and osteochondritis dissecans OCD can impede proper limb development. The pain and joint changes make exercise difficult. Lack of exercise can allow muscles to atrophy and bones to stop reaching their growth potential. Corrective surgery and medications to control orthopedic diseases may help get development back on track. But any damage already done may prevent the dog from reaching full size. Congenital Defects Birth defects impacting the skeleton or vital organs can interfere with growth in some cases. One example is a liver shunt, where blood bypasses the liver. Liver shunts disrupt nutrient absorption and metabolism, often resulting in stunted growth. Surgical correction may allow more normal development. But if the dog is older at the time of diagnosis, they may remain small for their breed. Parasites Could be Robbing Nutrients Intestinal parasites like worms can infest puppies and drain vital nutrients. Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms are common parasites found in dogs that prevent adequate absorption of calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Severe infestations can even be life-threatening without proper deworming treatments. All puppies should be dewormed starting at 2 weeks old, then regularly throughout the first year. Adult dogs require periodic fecal testing and deworming to keep parasites under control. Keeping your German Shepherd free of parasites ensures they can properly digest and absorb their food to support healthy development. Puppies who miss out on deworming are at risk for remaining undersized. Feeding an inappropriate diet with deficient calories or nutrients during crucial developmental stages can result in a smaller dog. Not Enough Calories German Shepherds need more calories per pound of body weight when young to fuel their rapid growth. Pregnant and nursing dams also require increased calories and nutrition. If the mother was fed poorly, growth could be impacted even before birth. Switch to a high-quality puppy formula after weaning to ensure adequate calories for your German Shepherd puppy. Follow feeding guidelines based on their current weight and activity level. Missing Key Nutrients German Shepherd puppies need proper amounts of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals in their diet. Diets deficient in certain nutrients will not properly support full growth and development. For example, inadequate calcium and phosphorus levels can impair bone growth. Lack of protein may result in muscle loss and slow weight gain. Omega fatty acids like DHA are essential for brain, eye, and nervous system maturation. Choose a premium commercial puppy food formulated for large breed growth. Alternatively, work with a veterinary nutritionist to develop a custom balanced homemade diet. Avoid cheap diets with nutrient fillers. Transitioning Foods Too Quickly When switching your German Shepherd puppy to a new diet, allow at least days to transition gradually. Abrupt changes can disrupt digestion, limiting calorie absorption required for growth. Mix a little new food with the previous food, slowly adjusting the ratios over a week. This gives their gastrointestinal system time to adapt to different ingredients and nutrients in the new food. Proper diet transitions help ensure your puppy maintains proper growth and development on their new food. Drastic switches could result in nutritional imbalance. Activity Levels Impact Growth Potential German Shepherd puppies have lots of energy and need adequate exercise and activity. Without enough exercise, their muscle and bone development can suffer, resulting in a smaller than expected adult size. Not Enough Exercise Regular activity and play encourages bone lengthening and muscle growth. When puppies get insufficient exercise, bones and muscles do not receive the stimulatory signals to reach their genetic potential. German Shepherd puppies need at least minutes of activity per day. This might include leash walking, playing fetch, or running around a yard under supervision. Keep sessions short but frequent for young puppies. Overexercising On the other hand, exercising a German Shepherd puppy too aggressively can also impair growth. Their bones and joints are still developing, so excessive jogging, jumping, or similar activities can damage their body. If they seem reluctant to exercise or limp afterward, the sessions are too extreme. Stick to moderate, controlled activities that encourage extension and motion without overstressing the limbs. With the right balance of activity tailored to their age, your German Shepherd will develop strong muscles and bones to match their genetic size potential. Other Environmental Factors Aside from the key reasons covered above, other environmental factors may contribute to a smaller than expected German Shepherd. If the mother rejects the litter or cannot produce enough milk, growth may be impacted even before weaning. Signs of poor maternal care include low birth weights, failure to gain weight, and increased health problems in the litter. Taking over supplemental feedings and care of affected puppies can help get nutrition back on track. The physical recovery combined with emotional impacts may limit their ability to reach full genetic size potential. General Health or Illness Any illness that causes poor appetite, maldigestion, or malabsorption of food can potentially slow growth. Examples include parasites, infections, liver or kidney disease, and gastrointestinal disorders. Once the underlying condition is treated, normal development may resume. But extended illnesses during crucial growth periods could still result in a smaller than expected adult size. While a smaller than expected German Shepherd may simply have genetics for a petite size, rule out any medical reasons for their limited growth. Schedule a veterinary exam to check for parasites, orthopedic disease, thyroid problems, and other conditions. Discuss their current diet and activity levels with the vet as well to ensure their nutritional and exercise needs are being met. With any identified issues properly addressed, your German Shepherd should continue to develop normally toward a healthy adult body condition. As long as they appear proportional, fit, and in good body condition, a petite German Shepherd can still live a long, full life. Focus on health rather than specific size measurements. Not all German Shepherds will meet breed height and weight standards. With the right care and nutrition, you can ensure your small-statured German Shepherd reaches their own ideal weight and figure. A responsible dog owner knows that good health comes in all sizes! The best way to estimate adult size is to look at the parents. German Shepherds generally fall within a few inches of height and 10 pounds of weight compared to their sire and dam. Growth charts also provide reasonable projections. What is a standard-sized German Shepherd? The American Kennel Club breed standard states male German Shepherds should stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Females should be inches tall and pounds. But size can vary naturally. Is my German Shepherd underweight? You should be able to feel but not see the ribs in a healthy weight dog. Severely underweight dogs will have ribs, spine, and hip bones visibly protruding. Follow healthy feeding and exercise guidelines tailored to their age from your vet. Forcing overfeeding or supplementation can actually harm bone and joint development. At what age is a German Shepherd full grown? German Shepherds reach their full adult height between months old but can continue filling out muscle and thickness up to years old. Make sure to transition to an adult food at around a year to meet changing nutritional needs. The Takeaway If your German Shepherd is smaller than expected, take a look at their genetic history, health, diet, and activity to identify any factors that could be limiting their growth. With the right care and barring any medical issues, most German Shepherds will reach a healthy size in line with their genes. Focus on good health and nutrition rather than specific measurements. Related posts:. Other Causes Senior Dogs Older dogs tend to have smaller appetites and a general lack of interest in eating. This is often caused by underlying health problems, so the best course of action would be to consult with a veterinarian. This usually happens when a dog is used to being fed table scraps or treats and it loses interest in plain dog food. Check For Any Medical Conditions Should you verify that your German Shepherd is indeed unhealthily skinny, your first course of action should be to take the dog to a veterinarian. Again, you would have to feed your German Shepherd at least 1, calories to 2, calories daily depending on its activity level. Do note however, that the calories per cup may vary depending on the brand of dog food, and thus you would have to adjust the calculations based on the actual numbers provided on the packaging. Aside from the amount, be sure to also consider the quality of the food. While feeding your German Shepherd a high amount of low-quality dog food will prevent it from being skinny, it will eventually lead to other issues such as skin disorders and lethargy. Your vet will be able to recommend a diet plan to help get your dog back into healthy shape. To do that, you have to make your dog understand that there are no other food options. Meaning, you only set out food for a limited amount of time, and whether or not the food was eaten, you take it away after the time has passed. What this does is make it clear to your dog that there are no other options. In The Case Of Senior Dogs Opposite to the case of picky eaters, you may want to add more appetizing options for senior dogs. Old dogs tend to lose interest in dry food so your best option would be to add chicken broth or canned food to make meals more appealing. In some cases, you may also have to make your old dog home-cooked meals just so your dog would find mealtimes more enjoyable. If all else fails, you can get your dog medication and appetite stimulants to help it eat. You can do this in a variety of ways such as by providing your German Shepherd with enough physical and mental stimulation, providing a calm and relaxing environment free of loud noises, or by identifying and removing the stressor. To summarize. Your German Shepherd may be skinny due to following reasons: Poor diet and nutrition Stress Age The usual culprit though would be the first two. And so, if your German Shepherd is unnecessarily skinny, your best course of action would be to take it to the vet. Final Thoughts I wish that this article has helped you understand how to handle and help your skinny German Shepherd. I also hope that it serves as a guide to help you get your dog back into healthy shape. That said, if your German Shepherd ever does have issues, be it being underweight or any other medical condition, do consult with a veterinarian. Post navigation. Your veterinarian can check for worms with a stool sample. Certain types of worms such as roundworms can be fatal in puppies if left untreated, so it is crucial that you take your puppy for regular checkups. Has your Puppy Been Traveling Regularly? If you feel that your GSD puppy is too skinny, consider if you have been taking it along for car rides on a consistent basis. Many puppies experience motion sickness. This does not necessarily mean that they will vomit or have an upset stomach only. Some puppies will do neither, and instead, decrease their eating to the point of losing weight. If this is the case, limit the amount of time your puppy spends traveling in a car. This will allow your puppy to have you as a reference point and a distraction. Provide a small puppy bed on the seat. Make sure that the temperature in the car is neither too hot or cold. Pay attention to how you drive. Often times we take our driving for granted without considering the comfort of our passengers. Puppies can be especially sensitive during car rides, so be sure to take turns gently, and do not brake or accelerate suddenly. A change in the environment is a common cause of a longer-term loss of appetite and weight loss in puppies. A change in environment for your puppy does not just mean that it has moved from one physical location to another. They learn and function well with routine. This can sometimes result in a long term lack of appetite and weight loss. You may likely find that if one or more of the above changes are addressed, that your puppy will resume a normal eating schedule and quickly bounce back from being underweight. Your GSD puppy needs adequate nutrients in its diet for growth and to maintain a healthy weight. GSDs are considered medium to large-sized dogs, and they need to be fed the appropriate breed-formulated dog food, especially as puppies. If you are not feeding it the right formulation for its breed size, this can result in undernourishment and a skinny puppy. Why your German Shepherd is skinny It is likely that each of the different reasons will come with some clues. Below, I will show you why it might be skinny and what would make each of the reasons more likely. Genes The reason why your German Shepherd is skinny could be that it is in its genes. This would be more likely if it was relatively skinny as a puppy and if you have been feeding it the right amount according to a vet. In this case, it would not be something to worry about unless it has been showing signs of the cause being due to one of the things mentioned below. Diet The cause of it being skinny could be that it has not been getting the right diet. It could be that it is eating the right foods but it is not getting enough calories for its activity levels. German Shepherds require to calories per day but active ones require to source. On the other hand, it could be the case that it has been eating the wrong foods. You can look here to see what you should and should not be feeding your German Shepherd. If you are unsure of what food to get for your German Shepherd, consider getting dog food designed specifically for German Shepherds. Exercise It could be the case that it is getting too much exercise. However, this is unlikely since German Shepherds were bred to be working dogs and it was not unusual for them to spend entire days working alongside their owners. If your German Shepherd is very active then it would be more likely that it is not getting enough calories. It would help to discuss this with your vet the next time you see them. Illness If your German Shepherd has become skinny suddenly then it might be the case that it has gotten an illness. This would be more likely if it has been showing signs of being ill such as vomiting, being fatigued or a change in its behavior. If it does seem to be ill or it has become skinny suddenly and you have not changed anything in its lifestyle then it would be important to take it to a vet. Anxiety It might be the case that anxiety is causing it to be anxious. This would be more likely if it was not always skinny and it became more skinny since something happened that could be causing it to be anxious. Things that might have caused it to become anxious could include someone mistreating it, moving homes, another pet dying or an owner leaving. Consider whether or not it has always been skinny When trying to figure out what has been causing it to be skinny it would help to consider if it has always been skinny or if it has suddenly become skinny. If it has become skinny suddenly then it would be more likely that it is due to things such as illness, anxiety, suddenly being a lot more active without eating more or a sudden change in its diet. It would help to consider what else happened at around the same time that it became skinny. In this case, it would be important to take it to a vet. If it has always been skinny then it would make it more likely that it is in its genes to be skinny. How to get your German Shepherd to be less skinny The best way for you to get your German Shepherd to stop being skinny will depend on the cause. However, I will show you some options that you have below. Take it to a vet If you are unsure of why your German Shepherd is skinny, it has become skinny suddenly or it has been acting unusually then it would be the best option to take it to a vet. Make sure that it is getting the right diet As mentioned above it could be the case that its diet is the issue. Generally, a German Shepherd should be getting to calories per day unless it is very active in which case it should get up to .You can also look here to see what you should and should not be feeding it. Make sure that it is eating the right amount for its activity level When feeding your German Shepherd it is important to consider how active it is. Generally, a German Shepherd should be getting an hour of exercise per day. If it is getting around an hour of exercise per day then it would be adequate to feed it a regular amount. Whereas, if it is spending most of the day doing exercise then it would be necessary to feed it more. 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Epilepsy Controlling Drooling The best mitigation technique for limiting dog drooling is whatever countermeasure you think fits the suspected cause. For example, if your dog drools frequently in the heat, consider adopting some strategies in aiding them stay cool. There are a range of ways in which dog owners can manage drool in this regard Attaching a bandana or bib to your dog's neck. This will minimize the amount of saliva secreted and provide something for it to drip on. Dry your dog's mouth following a lengthy stroll or run. This can assist them in not building up excess amounts of drool. This can help in managing salivation that occurs due to food. When To Be Concerned About Drooling While it is normal for dogs to drool occasionally, excessive or continuous drooling might be an indication of a problem. One of the most common causes for excessive drooling is separation anxiety. This condition can be caused by many things, including changes in environment or schedule, but usually involves the dog being left alone. Another concerning cause for Golden Retrievers to drool excessively is tooth pain or tooth decay. When dogs are suffering from dental problems, they might try to alleviate the pain by chewing at their mouths. This can sometimes produce drooling if the dog's gums are irritated. Essentially, the best way to know if your Golden Retriever's drooling is a cause for concern is to evaluate their condition as well as the circumstances in which they drool most. If they tend to follow patterns similar to what you might expect for salivation simply caused by food or heat, there should be little cause for concern. However, if you notice any other changes in your dog or reason to suspect a greater underlying problem, it may be best to seek out treatment options. Ultimately, best judgment is key when it comes to getting your dog the right help for their drooling. If something doesn't seem right with your Golden Retriever or their drooling becomes unusual, it is often better to be safe and consult with a professional on the matter. Golden Retrievers are a delightful, family friendly breed. They are beloved for their playful nature and affectionate demeanor. As with all dogs, Golden Retrievers drool to help cool themselves in hot conditions or smother food. While they do drool from time to time, in most cases this is perfectly normal and not a cause for concern. If excessive drooling is an issue for your dog, consult with your veterinarian to identify the cause of the behavior. For more helpful articles about pet-parenting tips, check out the Off Leash blog at TryFi. Want to know more about TryFi. This is the fastest way to find your dog after an escape. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. Apple cores seeds are poisonous Walnuts Hops used for making beer Xylitol an artificial sweetener However, dogs can also get into kitchen or bathroom cabinets and unlocked laundry rooms. If your Golden Retriever consumes laundry soap, cleaning fluid, or any other type of poisonous substance, they can begin to drool as a response. If you find that your Golden Retriever is drooling excessively and has been near potentially poisonous foods or chemicals, you should take them to an emergency veterinary clinic as soon as possible. Liver Disease Liver damage and disease can also cause excessive salivation in dogs. Ensuring that your Golden Retriever is enjoying a highly nutritious diet and plenty of fresh, clean water can help them avoid liver damage. Seizures Seizures can cause excessive drooling in dogs. When a dog is experiencing a seizure, they can develop foamy saliva or drool. Rabies Unfortunately, rabies also causes excessive drooling and foaming at the mouth. A dog with rabies will also likely exhibit several other symptoms, making it relatively easy to diagnose it. For example, rabies can cause hydrophobia, seizures, difficulty walking, and loss of appetite. Annual rabies vaccination can help protect your dog from contracting this disease. Doing so can help prevent bites from wild animals that carry rabies. When Is Drooling Excessive? Drooling can be considered excessive when it begins to cause serious health issues. When a Golden Retriever has problems swallowing due to the amount of saliva in its mouth, or it begins to vomit-up spit, there is a medical issue that requires an immediate solution. Some dog breeds have larger, droopier jowls than others, allowing for more spit to gather in the folds of the mouth. This can cause drooling that is completely normal and harmless. Golden Retrievers can express this physical trait, making them a drool-friendly breed. Saliva that is foul-smelling, pink, or tinged with blood should be taken extremely seriously. Golden Retrievers that exhibit drool with these symptoms often require urgent care. But before you act on any of the following solutions, you first need to determine why your pup is drooling. Still, sometimes a Golden Retriever just needs a few minutes of air-conditioned rest after spending hours running around in the hot sun. Or, they may need to eat a snack to avoid drooling all over themselves watching you eat dinner. Here are some solutions you can try to help your dog drool a little less. You can bring your dog inside and make sure that the air conditioning is turned on to help them regulate their body temperature. This can help put an end to heat-related drooling. You could also provide ice cubes for your Golden Retriever to lick and eat. It may also be helpful to allow your dog some access to a dog-controlled outdoor water fountain. The quick wit of a Golden Retriever ensures that it can quickly learn how to operate this paw-press fountain. This can help keep outdoor dogs cool, even on the hottest and most humid summer days. Your pup may begin drooling around their feeding time every day, or they may begin to salivate while watching you eat something particularly tasty. Giving them a snack or filling up their bowl with nutritious kibble can help this type of drooling subside. However, owners that notice saliva build-up during these moments can always keep a drool rag handy for quick clean-ups. You may want to put on a pair of gardening gloves to help protect your hands, but be sure to look at the teeth for signs of chipping and breaks. If your dog is having difficulty swallowing its spit, it may have a blockage or obstruction in its throat. If your Golden Retriever is having difficulties swallowing, breathing, or there are noticeable signs of bleeding and swelling, veterinary care is absolutely required. Vomiting and lethargy can also be symptoms of poisoning, which requires emergency care. Final Thoughts Golden Retrievers can develop drooling problems if they have overly large jowls, especially as the spit collects in the folds of their mouth. Dental issues and obstructions can also cause salivation, as can poisoning and certain diseases and medical conditions. If they continue to salivate or exhibit other worrying symptoms, a trip to your local veterinarian may be the best course of action. Tooth fractures Gingivitis Dental issues are hard to recognize because your dog will show signs of pain. They will refuse you going anywhere near their teeth with your hands and they will likely refuse to eat. Dental issues also put golden retrievers in a really bad mood all day long and this is a sign that you must take him to the vet as soon as possible. Solution: If you think your dog has an issue with their teeth, consult a vet. Tummy Issues If your golden retriever is suffering from an issue in their Digestive System or intestines, they may start drooling excessively. A twisting in the stomach or eating something bad for them can cause excessive drooling. Solution: If you see any signs of tummy issues, take them to the vet right away. Heat Stroke If your golden retriever gets too hot, they may start drooling excessively. Your golden retriever can get too hot if they are left in a car in the summer day for even a short period of time or if they are left outside with no where to protect them from the sun. Remember that Golden Retrievers are double-coated and they will feel the heat more and get hotter faster than other dogs with lighter coats. Move them to a cool area and start to douse them with cool water. You can also use wet towels. Placing your dog under an air conditioner unit or in the breeze of a fan is also a good idea. Nerve Damage Your dog can also drool excessively if they have a damaged nerve that may be caused by a tumor or an injury. This can also cause your dog to have troubles eating, drinking, and moving their facial muscles properly. Solution: Take them to the vet. The rabies vaccine expires in a year, which means your dog should get it annually, and if you miss your rabies vaccine and start seeing your golden retriever drooling excessively, you must take them to the vet quickly. Solution: Give them the rabies shot. If your dog already had it, go to the vet to get the treatments needed. Poisoning Dogs explore the world with their mouth, and sometimes this causes problems Just like you, your dog can get poisoning if they are exposed to dangerous toxins for an extended period of time or if they eat something poisoned this can be as minor as a berry. Food poisoning will cause your dog to drool excessively before slowing down considerably, and in some extreme cases, your dog can even collapse under the excess pain. Liver Issues This is one of the most serious issues that can cause drooling in golden retrievers. Excessive drooling is one of the symptoms of liver issues, and the faster your dog gets diagnosed the easier it will be to treat it. Other signs of liver problems in golden retrievers include: Feeling weak and slowing down Changing the normal behavior and activities Having uncoordinated movements like stumbling around Feeling pain and refusing to interact or play .Kidney Issues Problems with your dog kidney can also cause them to drool, and drooling is considered one of the early signs of the Kidney disease in Golden Retrievers. Kidney issues are life-threatening in dogs, and if you find your dog is having other symptoms such as difficulty standing or pain, you should take them to the vet. Bloating can be fatal to the dog within a few hours. Every minute counts when your dog is bloated. Dogs can get bloated when because of many things. You can learn more about bloating in the Pets. Living with a Retriever: Recommendations and Sources Want the best diet for your dog? 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. Find my list of recommendations here. When to Rush to the Vet? Conclusion Do Golden Retrievers Drool? Like most breeds of dogs, Golden Retrievers drool. Most often the drooling is caused by the excitement of food. Just the sight of food or watching humans eat can cause drooling. It is known that Golden Retrievers that have larger jaws will drool more than those with smaller jaws. They are also known to drool more after they eat, drink, or exercise. Excessive drooling is not common in Golden Retrievers. If you notice them drooling all the time or uncontrollably that could be a sign of an underlying problem. It is important to get to the bottom of the problem so they can live a happy and healthy life. If you notice drooling every time you check them, then there might be an underlying problem. There are many reasons for a dog to drool. Some may indicate health problems. Listed below are some causes that cause drooling. Some are more serious than others. Stuck Objects Having stuck objects in your Golden Retrievers mouth can cause excessive drooling. Dogs love to chew on items they find around the house, especially small objects left on the floor. If something is stuck in their mouth, this can cause them pain in their gums and teeth. Immediately check their mouth for objects if you notice excessive drooling. If you are unable to locate the object, it may be a good idea to take them to the veterinarian immediately to find out the cause of the excessive drooling. They may experience excitement over food, people they know, or other dogs. They may also experience anxiety for example in new places, around people, or if they hear loud noises. If they do not stop drooling when the experience is over, there may be an underlying issue. Proper Diet Golden Retrievers are a food motivated breed. If their diet changes, you may notice more drooling than normal. The amount of food needed that is on the back of the dog food bag is a recommendation. You may be feeding them the recommended amount, but notice they are still hungry when finished, so they may need more added. In addition, you may notice they are leaving a lot of food and need less. If they are not being fed routinely, this may cause drooling as well. Be sure to keep a routine with their feeding times to prevent the extra drooling. Poisoning Poisoning is one of the major causes of excessive drooling in Golden Retrievers. Food poisoning can cause them to slow down and even collapse in extreme pain. Being exposed to a dangerous toxin can also cause them to drool excessively. Dental Issues Some dental problems could be the cause of excessive drooling. Some of these problems include tarter, gingivitis, tooth decay, and tooth fractures. Any injury to the mouth, such as swollen or bleeding gums, can also be the cause of the drooling. To help prevent dental issues of becoming a problem, make sure to check out our article on caring for your Golden Retrievers teeth. If your Golden Retriever is refusing to eat, whining, whimpering, or always in a bad mood, a visit to your veterinarian is highly recommended. Rabies Rabies is a serious disease that can cause excessive drooling. Be sure to get your Golden Retriever vaccinated regularly as the rabies vaccination only lasts for about a year. This disease can be dangerous for your dog as well as other people who may be bitten by them. Heatstroke Being too hot can cause drooling in your Golden Retriever. During extremely warm temperatures, be sure they have plenty of water to drink and have access to shaded areas. Giving them some extra grooming time to take care of those loose hairs will also help in keeping them cool. Nerve Damage Nerve damage can cause extra drooling. If they had a tumor or injury that has caused nerve damage, then fully closing their mouth becomes difficult. This can also inhibit them to move facial muscles properly. If nerve damage is the case, they will struggle to eat and drink properly. This condition is called gastric dilatation-volvulus. Because they are not able to vomit out the trapped food and water, you may notice excessive drooling. The drooling can be an effect of your dog being in a lot of pain from the stomach issues. This can be life threatening issue. If you see any of these issues occurring, be sure to see your veterinarian promptly. Liver Issues If your Golden Retriever is suffering from any kind of liver issue this can cause excessive drooling. Problems with the liver can cause them to feel weak, have uncoordinated movement, and show changes in behavior. It is highly advised to have them checked by a veterinarian if you notice excessive drooling. If you have noticed excessive drooling in your Golden Retriever there are some actions you can take to prevent it from happening. However, if you are worried be sure to consult your veterinarian. Golden Retrievers are prone to health issues, so we have compiled a list of some of the best pet insurance options for instances like this. Find the Cause There are steps you can take to help you find the trigger of the excessive drooling. Your first action should be to check to see if there is something stuck inside their mouth. If you see something stuck, remove it immediately to avoid any other problems from occurring. If you do not find anything, then a visit to the veterinarian is recommended. The vet will be able to tell you what is causing the excessive drool. Other triggers can be unfamiliar faces and loneliness, so extra cuddles may be needed to stop the drooling. Each dog food comes with a recommended amount of food to be given. Water should be readily available at all times to your dog. If your dog is showing signs of anxiety or over excitement while drooling, spending some extra time with them can help. Find a quiet spot where you are able to have some extra bonding time with your dog. This will help you and them calm down and be more relaxed when you are together. Give Your Golden a Bandana Having a wet and sticky neck for a Golden Retriever is not fun, especially if they are not feeling well. Tying a bandana around their neck will help catch the drool before getting to the fur. This can help them feel more comfortable while dealing with the drooling issue. Conclusion Drooling is a natural occurrence in dogs. However, if you notice excessive drooling and behavior changes, you should have your veterinarian check them out. The vet will be able to diagnose the problem and tell you how to deal with the issue in the right manner. So just keep a dry towel close by and love your dog with all his drool and all! He and his wife have three children who are always keeping Brady entertained. They love spending time together, traveling, and meeting other dog families. Recent Posts. Sarah Haws Why does my Golden Retriever drool so much? The most common causes of dog drool may be due to its happiness, excitement, or the sight of food. This behavior can be called normal. If you are having Golden Retriever as your pet, you may have noticed that he drools just because of his love for food. Because of their larger jaws as compared to other breeds, goldens are likely to drool while drinking or exercising. But, if your Retriever drools much more than normal routine, then this situation can be alarming. Retrievers have a tendency to drool when they are stressed or panicked about something. In this article, the causes of excessive drooling or hypersalivation will be discussed along with their possible treatments and consequences if not treated in time. If you notice the unusual drooling in your Golden Retriever when the temperature has specifically increased in your surroundings, then it's because it is too hot for your retriever to bear. It is a hell of a task to keep the retrievers cool. If it's hot out there, then it becomes necessary for you to take measures to control your Golden Retriever's body temperature to control excessive drooling. Solution: To cope with this issue, your retriever should have enough drinking water to maintain his body temperature. Don't forget to groom your dog to make him lose fur free so that air gusts can be felt on his skin. You should also make sure to have an adequate shaded area for your retriever. Anxious and Worrisome Another reason for hypersalivation of your Golden Retriever is that he is worried or anxious about some event. There could be a number of such events that can increase the level of uneasiness in your Golden Retriever. May be the addition of a new pet to the family is the problem as Goldens are said to be obedient and they are keen on keeping their owner happy. The other event for too much drooling in your Golden Retriever can be at the time when you are leaving your home for some work. Solution: To keep your Golden Retriever at ease, it is necessary to make him feel that he is irreplaceable. There is a chance that his favorite treat does the trick. There is a chance that tartar enlargement is stroking against its cheeks and hence causing the drooling. An injury in the mouth or broken teeth can be the cause of excessive drooling. You can confirm the hidden dental or gum problem by the gestures of your Golden Retriever. Solution: If your Golden is refusing to eat, moaning or sniffling excessively, or is not in good mood, then try to consult your vet as soon as possible. Liver Problems The liver problem in your Golden Retriever can be another cause of excessive drooling. There are some symptoms of the liver problem in your Golden Retriever such as clumsy movements, change in mood, weakness, etc. Consumption of Poisonous Material There might be a possibility that your Golden Retriever has consumed something which is poisonous. If there is sudden drooling accompanied by foaming in the mouth in serious cases , then it confirms the consumption of poisonous material. The common cause for this situation may be due to the consumption of an insect which is poisonous or the plant with toxic properties. Golden Retrievers are having a strong tendency to lick things very often. This tendency lets them land in unwanted situations as mentioned in this paragraph. Solution: If drooling with foaming is increasing, you should visit the vet as soon as possible. Craving for Food Another common cause of drooling is due to carving for food by your Golden Retriever. If you notice that the excessive drooling starts whenever food is seen by your Golden, then it is certain that he is expecting some food to eat. Solution: This cause of drooling is not very serious. You can control this drooling by following some steps. You should try to keep your Golden Retriever from seeing the food very often. Try to sit in another room while eating the food so as to control the excessive drooling of your Golden Retriever. Motion Sickness While traveling in your car or a bus, if you notice excessive drooling in your Golden Retriever, then it might be due to his motion sickness. Due to motion sickness, most of the Goldens are not at ease, therefore they start to drool. Solution: To control this behavior, a professional vet will recommend you the right medication. With proper medication, this problem can be solved without any difficulty. Objects Stuck Inside Mouth Dogs just love to chew everything regardless of their worst effects. If your Golden Retriever is having something stuck in his mouth, then this can lead to the excessive drooling. Due to some wires, pieces of strings, or bones sticking in the mouth, there can be seen hypersalivation. To prevent this situation, either keep an eye on your golden retriever or let these types of things placed away from his reach. This act should stop drooling. Solution: Due to this problem, your golden retriever may be in a lot of pain. In this case, one should be proactive in visiting the vet to get the necessary treatment. Damage To Nerves If your Golden Retriever had been in an accident due to which there was damage to his trigeminal nerve, then this can be another reason for unusual drooling. Rabies Causing Excessive Drooling Rabies can also be a serious cause of hypersalivation in your golden retriever. The effective duration of rabies vaccination is only 1 year. After this duration, it is necessary to get your golden retriever vaccinated. Rabies vaccination is not only good for your Golden Retriever but also for your family. In case of a dog bite by your unvaccinated golden retriever, there will be an infection of rabies to the bitten one. Controlling Excessive Drooling There are a number of things to do so that you can prevent the excessive drooling of your Golden Retriever. Some of them are written below: The possible step to control hypersalivation is to find out the exact reason of this problem. If you find any unwanted object, try to remove it immediately. Due to excessive drooling, there can be an irritation on the neck of your golden retriever making him uncomfortable. You should tie a bandana around your golden retriever to absorb the drool to remove the stickiness of the fluid. Placing a washable towel near the food bowl of the dog may help in controlling the drool. Its because dogs drools much when anticipating food. Always try to feed your golden retriever at least three to four hours before going on a ride in your car. You should always try to dry the mouth of your Golden Retriever after coming back from an exercise or long walks. An exercised golden retriever will drool more than usual. Comment below and let me know are above reasons that cause your dog to drool or other reasons which I'm not cover! Food intolerance Something lodged in the mouth or throat Rabies also causes excessive drooling. While it is much less common than it once was, rabies is still a concern that you should be mindful of. But the following five breeds are considered among those that drool the least: 1. It is an intelligent dog that makes a great companion. Border Collie Image Credit: , Pixabay The Border Collie is a high-energy dog that can run for hours on end without getting tired or bored. Chihuahua Image Credit: liggraphy, Pixabay The Chihuahua is a small breed that is popular as a companion pet, although it can be prone to fits of yapping. Dachshund Image Credit: zoschfrosch, Pixabay The Dachshund is another popular family pet thanks to its friendly nature, playful attitude, and its somewhat smaller size—not to mention its unique appearance and shape. Conclusion The Golden Retriever is a very popular breed of dog, especially with families that are looking for an intelligent, friendly family companion. Those with large jaws may suffer some degree of drooling, although the breed is not known for being especially heavy droolers. Do Golden Retrievers Drool? Read the full disclosure here. All dogs, including Golden Retrievers, drool. But it is not true that all dogs drool excessively. Most Goldens will only drool when they smell something tasty that they want to chow down. If your Golden Retriever starts drooling excessively or more often than usual, this can be a sign that something is not quite right with them. It might be something minor, like a small stone stuck in their teeth, or it might be something serious, such as kidney or liver issues. Knowing why your dog is drooling requires you to look at their circumstances and identify other symptoms. In this article, I will take you through the 10 most common reasons why Golden Retrievers start to drool excessively. I will also identify accompanying symptoms and let you know when it is time to rush your beloved canine to the vet. Fortunately, most of the time, a little bit of drool is nothing to worry about. But knowing when you should be worried can ensure you will prevent anything happening to your best Golden friend. Why Do Golden Retrievers Drool? A healthy Golden Retriever actually drools for the same reasons as humans. If something smells good, their mouths will start producing drool in anticipation of devouring the yummy morsel. Even just the thought of some tasty treats can start their mouth watering. This is a natural response to wash the taste out of their mouth. When Is Drooling An Issue? While healthy Golden Retrievers will drool a moderate amount on the odd occasion, excessive drooling or drooling repeatedly without an obvious cause can be a sign of a variety of minor and serious medical issues that require attention. Continue reading for the 10 most likely causes of your Golden Retriever drooling excessively. Instead, they open their mouths and pant to lower their body temperature. But when things get really hot, panting might not be enough. Their bodies could also start producing drool. As they pant and the air cools this drool, this can help them lower their body temperatures more quickly. However, you should only expect to notice this when your dog is very hot! You should always be monitoring your dog to make sure they can stay at a comfortable temperature. In the hotter months, that means ensuring that they always have cool water to drink, not taking them for long runs in the hot sun, making sure they always have a cool and shady spot to lie down, and letting your Golden take a dip to cool off, since they love the water. If they are very excited over something perhaps a dog of the other sex or they are very worried about something perhaps separation anxiety , they can also begin to drool. This is more common with dogs that have not been trained to know what to expect in certain situations and what is expected from them in different scenarios. A well trained and well socialized pup is less likely to start drooling in new or exciting situations. If your dog is usually well behaved and suddenly seems to start drooling in excitement or anxiety, this can be a sign that something has happened which is upsetting them. Try and figure out what may have changed in their lives, and also consult your vet. Learn about separation anxiety in Golden Retrievers here. Constantly picking up, licking and chewing things means that it is easy for small foreign objects to get caught around their teeth and gums. You may also notice them working their mouths and tongues, perhaps making yawning motions frequently. If your dog seems to be drooling for no reason, check their mouths for foreign objects, and give their teeth a good clean just in case. Dental Issues Dental issues can cause Golden Retrievers to start drooling in the same way as foreign objects. Their bodies know something is not quite right in their mouth and can produce excessive drool to try and wash out the problem. Again, you should check their mouth to see what is wrong, and also take them to the vet for a dental check up if you notice excessive drooling. You can read all of our canine oral health tips here. Digestive Issues Digestive issues can cause drooling, too. This happens when the stomach fills up with gas, acids, or other substances. Look for other signs that your dog may be suffering from digestive distress, such as bloating and pain. These are all serious enough symptoms to take your dog to the vet. If so, the culprit could be motion sickness. While most dogs like to stick their head out the window and feel the air on their faces, not all dogs do well in the car. Some dogs, just like some humans, start to feel ill in the car. In severe cases, just the thought of going in the car can trigger feelings of nausea. Motion sickness is caused by an inconsistency between what your body is feeling in terms of motion and the motion that your brain thinks that you should be feeling. Being able to see clearly out of a car window so the brain can equalize what is happening can help. So, rather than putting your dog in the back, get them a car safety harness , and ensure they have a window seat. Nerve Damage Nerve damage around the mouth, caused by an injury or something internal such as a tumor, can also trigger your dog to start drooling. You will probably also notice associated symptoms such as not being able to properly close their mouth and trouble eating and drinking. This can be a very serious issue, and the best thing you can do is take your dog directly to the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. Rabies It is a bit of a cliche that rabid dogs drool, but it is actually true! Drooling is one of the first signs of rabies, though it is often accompanied by fever, seizures, and sometimes paralysis. Rabies vaccines only last for a year, so you need to make sure your dog is vaccinated regularly. If you suspect your dog has been exposed to rabies, you should secure them and take them to the vet immediately. Be careful, since rabies is highly contagious and can pass to other animals and humans. Poisoning I have already mentioned that it is common for dogs to start drooling to get an unpleasant taste out of their mouth, but it may be more than just the taste of something that is affecting them. You will know that it is something toxic rather than just distasteful if the drooling is accompanied by pain and nausea. This is when you should take your dog to the vet so they can try to flush out the toxin before it can hurt your pet. These kinds of serious medical issues will be associated with other symbols. For example, liver problems can also cause your dog to become weak and lethargic and lose their natural coordination. Kidney issues can make it difficult for your dog to stay on their feet and cause them serious pain. These kinds of issues need to be treated quickly, so seek veterinary attention immediately! When To Rush To The Vet I have highlighted some minor problems and some serious issues that can cause your dog to drool excessively. But how do you know when to try and deal with the problem yourself and when to rush to the vet? Excessive drooling or drooling without an apparent cause will very rarely be the only symptom your dog is displaying if they are suffering from an issue. You might also notice symptoms like lethargy, loss of appetite, and disorientation. It is this combination of symptoms that lets you know that this is an emergency best dealt with immediately by a medical professional. FAQs Which dog breeds drool the most? It tends to be dog breeds with drooping jowls that drool the most. This includes Basset hounds, bloodhounds, boxers, bulldogs, great danes, and mastiffs. Why would a dog suddenly start drooling? This could be an unpleasant or toxic taste in their mouth, something lodged in their teeth or gums, or gas coming up from an upset stomach. For instance, it is normal for your Golden to get a little bit of drool around the mouth when they smell you cooking dinner or you open a pack of their favorite treats. But if they start drooling more than is normal for them, this should call you to observe your dog closely. Look at their surroundings and other symptoms to try and determine what is happening with your dog and how worried you should be. If you notice any of the following symptoms in addition to drooling, contact your vet as soon as possible: Nausea and vomiting. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. But, excessive drooling, medically known as ptyalism, is not always normal for Golden Retrievers. Not all excessive drooling is a cause for concern. Like all dogs, goldies drool in anticipation of food. Why Do Dogs Drool? All dogs, including Golden Retrievers, drool for much the same reason as humans do. When they smell food, anticipate a meal, or even at the sight of tasty treats, their glands release saliva into their mouth, to help them digest food. Coincidentally, the same reaction can happen for unpleasant-tasting foods or items, for example, some medication. Several issues may stop your dog from swallowing properly, leading to a buildup of saliva in their mouth and other conditions that may cause excess production of saliva. Teeth and Gums A number of dental and oral issues could cause your Golden Retriever to drool excessively. It could be due to a bone or other foreign object stuck between their teeth or in their throat. Fractured teeth, tartar, and irritated gums, amongst other oral issues, can lead to excessive drooling too. Other symptoms of dental issues include reduced appetite, whining, and pawing at the mouth. Check their mouth for red, swollen gums, and look out for brown spots on their teeth. Swift action can prevent more serious problems like major trauma, infections, or teeth loss. Image Credit: Neelsky, Shutterstock 2. Toxins and Digestive Issues If your dog has ingested something poisonous, be it a plant in the garden, an insecticide, or nicotine, their body will react to the toxic substance. If poisoning is the cause of excess drooling , it will normally be accompanied by other signs such as nausea, vomiting, shaking, or wobbliness, among others. Nausea can also cause your Goldie to drool excessively, along with lip-smacking and a refusal to eat. Other digestive issues, such as bloat, may be the culprit. Along with plenty of water and shade, this should be enough to cool your dog down. However, excessive drooling on particularly hot days may be a sign of your dog overheating. Make sure they have access to drinking water and do not take them on long walks in the sun. Remember to offer them plenty of shade, and preferably a nice pool or river for them to dip in. Anxiety Excessive drooling could be a sign that your Golden Retriever is anxious about something. New situations, thunderstorms, and fireworks can all lead to your Golden Retriever feeling anxious. Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuritis This illness can affect any breed, but Golden Retrievers seem to be more susceptible. This condition affects the trigeminal nerves on each side of the head, making the dog unable to close their mouth dropped jaw. The main symptoms are difficulty in eating and drinking and excessive drooling. Oral Tumors Tumors in the mouth or throat can cause excessive drooling in dogs. Sometimes, the drool might be blood-tinged or can be foul-smelling. A dog with a tumor may have bad breath. Other symptoms include difficulty eating, drinking, and swallowing. Other Problems There are a large number of other conditions that can cause Golden Retrievers to drool excessively. For example, neuromuscular conditions e. While some of these conditions are easier to solve with vet-prescribed medication, others are more serious and need a good care plan. While some issues—like a small amount of food stuck between their teeth—are easy to solve, others could be potentially life-threatening. If your dog has suddenly started to drool excessively , look for other signs and symptoms. Loss of appetite, lethargy, shaking, vomiting, and whining are all signs that require swift action. Related Read:.

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog in America for the 21st straight year. More than twice as many Labs were registered than any other breed making it a likely leader for many years to come. In a recent article, a licensed professional counselor for more than twenty-five years, explained how owning a Lab can help produce healthier, happier, more well adjusted children. Many other life lessons are learned by living around a wonderful dog. Some of them are learning to be gentle, benefits of companionship, importance of faithfulness, the safety and security of home and appreciation of the needs of others. Above all the lessons, dogs are just great fun. They can make us laugh, even after a terrible day. They are always there wanting a reassuring hug. How noble—and cool—is that? Be sure to read the rest of her seven part article, Ten Reasons to Own a Dog. At Twin Lakes Kennel, we have been breeding and training world class Labrador retrievers for more than thirty-five years. Our second-to-none Puppy Guarantee makes buying a pure-bred Labrador retriever one of the wisest decisions you will ever make. Read the personal testimonials from prominent Lab owners from around the country. And visit our Puppy Page or call Woody or Judi for up-to-date puppy information at .With a population of 80, at the census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston. After losing much of its territory to neighboring towns and the city of Providence, Cranston itself became a city on 10 March .Our world class Labrador Retrievers puppies for sale! Our Latest Happy Clients! Become A Happy Client! Finding an ethical and responsible breeder in your area can be a challenging task. Thimble Labrador Retrievers For almost 25 years, Thimble Labrador Retrievers have been breeding, nurturing, and caring for labrador retrievers. They breed and raise litter in their shelter. Thimble Labrador Retrievers invest a lot of their time with pups during the first eight weeks, handling and introducing them to various stimuli, new adventures, and humans. They shower each puppy with love and affection. Their puppies are trained, vaccinated, and dewormed. Once the puppies are 8 weeks old, they are ready to go to their new homes. The pups come with a limited AKC registration and an agreement that includes records of all approvals. Lakeside Labradors This breeder aims to breed labrador retrievers that make for great family pets. Their objective is to breed labradors that are not only amazing companions, but also perform in a variety of situations, such as training, rescue, or assistance in hunting. All puppies are AKC certified and microchipped. They strictly avoid selling their pups for shows and breeding. They provide some of the best Labrador retrievers. Their dogs come with AKC registration. If you have made the decision to adopt a labrador and live in the area, contact East Bay Labradors Tiverton, RI to make your wish come true.

They sleep on our beds with us and get lots of treats, pets, car rides and love. We are not fancy people, we don't have a big fancy house or fancy dogs with show haircuts, but we do have a great family with lots of love to share with our animals, and that makes all the difference. All our poodle and Bernedoodle puppies get lots of love and attention from the day they are born. We are state inspected and licensed, we have been raising poodles since , we got our first poodle Sylvester when our 4 children were all under 5 years old. He was our namesake for mysillydogs. We began our research to add Bernedoodles in then got our first boy Bernese mountain dog, Cooper. They are smart, silly, funny, loving, ornery, sassy, crazy, talkative, playful, lazy, loyal, devoted, adorable, adventurous, happy, full of personality and so much more. We think everyone should have one or maybe two. At days old babies go to the Vet to have a checkup and have dew claws and tails removed if needed, babies remain in the house, normally in our bedrooms until they are about 4 weeks old when they start having trips outside, they also begin eating mushy food with NuVet in it at weeks, they have no teeth yet but that don't stop them, so by the time mom decides to begin weaning them at weeks they know what food is and are eating well. They are well socialized and will get lots of love and snuggles before they go home, they are around other dogs, our cat Milo passed away so not around cats anymore, but people and a loud noisy household. This website was updated except Newsletter — which is whenever I have time… on September 6th. We ALREADY practice the cleaning protocols necessary to stay virus-free and to keep our puppies, clients and family members safe — not only from COVID, but from any other virus that may be brought unintentionally onto the premises. Virus prevention is a way of life here. It always has been and it always will be. Bringing certain fairly common viruses onto the property can kill every puppy on the premises. It is something that is always forefront in our minds. And, more importantly — we have been using them. Please Read. Powder Valley Poodles wants to protect you against fraudulent scam artists preying on innocent consumers. Please be aware that not all websites you will find that sell puppies are real. There are many websites out there — some on the first pages of your search — that are complete scams. The people have stolen pictures, text and testimonials from reputable breeders such as Powder Valley Poodles and put them together to form web sites that entice people to place deposits on puppies. They call themselves by the first names of the reputable breeders whose websites they are stealing. My Testimonials from my very happy poodle puppy and doodle puppy buyers appear ALL OVER the internet as testimonials within scam websites in order to convince people that they are dealing with a reputable breeder. But, there are no poodles. There are no puppies. They take your credit card information or money order and that is the end of their involvement with the client. These are not breeders. These are Cyber scam artists. How do you tell the difference between a real breeder and the con artists? The real breeders will have a physical address. An address that you can contact the post office in their town to see if the address is real and if the names they provide go with that address. Con artists typically have only a post office box. Con artists also typically will communicate only by texting or email. A genuine, reputable breeder wants to TALK to the people potentially buying a puppy. Most reputable breeders are the same way. I want to make sure these people will provide a good home for my puppy. Also, con artists are frequently operating out of foreign countries. They may have a foreign email address and if you do speak with one they may have a foreign accent. Know that we do have the authorities working on stopping these criminals but it is difficult and for law enforcement a fairly low priority. Since I was first made aware of this problem over a year ago when one of my clients saw her testimonial to me on another web site there has been no progress in stopping the scams. Make sure the breeder you are contemplating has a REAL physical address and will speak to you by telephone. Ask MANY questions. Be a savvy consumer. Be safe. Be aware and insure that you are dealing with a reputable, and real, dog breeder. We also offer all sizes of goldendoodles, from the tiny 6 pound micro goldendoodle to our much bigger 65 to 75 lb. The quieter, non-shedding perfect lap dog. No matter what the breed — Powder Valley Poodles puppies are the very best dogs available. We guarantee it! Although you can pay a whole lot more for a puppy somewhere else, you simply will not find a better dog for your family. Our dogs are loyal, long-lived and people-oriented. They are playful, affectionate, and healthy. They are the perfect family dog, companion and Service Dog. We are not a large multi-dog kennel. Our dogs live in the house with us and our puppies are born in the house and generally are not outside unless we are outside with them. They are raised with other dogs, large and small, cats, and children. Please enjoy these photos of some of our dogs and puppies over the years! Our puppies make the perfect pets! Our menu on a smart phone is located at three lines on the top left corner Our menu on a smart phone is located at three lines on the top left cornerOur menu on a smart phone is located at three lines on the top left cornerOur menu on a smart phone is located at three lines on the top left corner Thanks for coming to our website.For the best social media experience click the icon Welcome We have amazing happy and laid back Standard Poodle puppies In Colorado. Please let us help you find the family companion you are looking for. Scroll down to see some great videos on how we start our puppies using puppy culture. We love our dogs, you will too! Here at Grace Poodles, We take great pleasure at producing fine family friends. We have taken what we think are the best dogs we have found and developed a great breeding program. Jose and Toni Managed a commercial Thoroughbred farm In Kentucky and learned what it takes to have a solid breeding program, and have implemented the same heart and skill to produce the best for you and your family. Our dogs have become service dogs, companion dogs, family guard dogs, and snuggle companions. We have had great success with them becoming a part of a home where one or more members have allergies. We believe you will love our puppies! They have super temperaments, are extremely intelligent and eager to please - PLUS they are absolutely gorgeous! We spend a lot of time with our puppies as you can see by the videos and we encourage children and adults to come and play with them. Your puppy will come with their: first set of vaccinations. You may choose a Poodle that suits your tastes whether you desire a tiny dog or a huge dog because they are a unique breed that exists in all various sizes. Selecting a size might help you focus on which breeders to consider because most breeders concentrate on a specific Poodle size. Poodles typically come in toy, tiny, medium, and standard sizes check out the standard Poodle growth chart! Although breeders cannot ensure that all puppies will have the same coat color, knowing which color the parent dogs are will help you narrow down your list of Colorado breeder alternatives. Last but not least, before choosing a breeder, it is crucial to make travel arrangements. Poodle puppies can be shipped from certain breeders to their new families in Colorado, while others have tight rules prohibiting it. To determine whether it is viable for you to buy a puppy from a breeder, be sure to enquire about their policies if there is one in which you have an interest. They take great satisfaction in producing Poodles with excellent dispositions, high intellect, and a desire to please. On their website, you may see the Poodle puppies that are now available in Colorado. You may check which Poodle puppies are currently booked and which ones are still looking for their permanent home thanks to this. You may also find out the names of the parents and the cost of each puppy from this. You shall receive a one-year health guarantee if you choose to purchase a pup from Grace Poodles to make sure your new puppy is in good health. Before being sold, every one of their Poodle pups in Colorado receives an in-depth veterinary checkup, is de-wormed, and begins receiving vaccines. You will however receive an American Kennel Club registration application form when adopting a purebred Poodle so you may register with this well-known group. On their website, you can also read a brief profile of each parent dog that includes information on temperament and personality. Even footage of these pets is available! This provides you with a decent sense of the potential temperament of your new Poodle puppy. In order to verify that the puppies are well-socialized before being adopted, you may watch the puppies interacting with new individuals. In essence, the ideal dogs! Early socialization produces calm, cooperative dogs that easily adapt to their permanent homes. To guarantee that your Poodle puppy is free from inherited ailments, these dogs are health checked for more than different genetic diseases. Each parent dog is also genetically examined for color as well as coat type. In order to produce the ideal litter of Poodle puppies in Colorado, parent dogs are matched with their most suitable mate. On their website, you may see expected litters and their due dates. Additionally, it specifies the predicted Poodle puppy color as well as the characteristics of the parent dogs. You may examine the waiting list for a certain litter to determine what list to choose. Contact them right now to be put on the waiting list to receive one of these adorable puppies. The dogs and pups may play and run around on the family acreage because they live on a ranch. They nurture their Poodle puppies in the family home in Colorado, in which they are exposed to kids and adults of all ages, which helps to socialize them effectively. Since they specialize in placing service dogs, each puppy starts training at approximately three and a half weeks old. Even the best Poodle puppies who do not end up becoming service animals receive this training early on. Therefore, rest assured that your puppy will be successful on its road to becoming the greatest dog, regardless of whether you intend to train a service dog or simply desire a family companion. Prior to actually purchasing, every pup at Waggin Tails Poodles gets examined by a veterinarian, microchipped, immunized, and dewormed. In Colorado, each one of their Poodle pups have also had their tails docked and dewclaws removed. On their website, you may look at the available pups; this will provide you with a photo of your new puppy as well as information on the parents. The webpage lists the dimensions and color of each parent dog. You may get a decent sense of the size and color of your Poodle puppy based on the dimensions of the parent dogs. The American Kennel Club conducts health examinations on each parent dog and records the results. Most important info: Location address: Palomino Dr. Beauvoir Poodles Breeding well-rounded pups ideal for both the competitive show arena and home life is the main goal at Beauvoir Poodles. You may be sure to discover your ideal puppy here since they breed clever, active, and sociable Poodles. According to Beauvoir Poodles, in order to produce a puppy with a strong lineage, the parents should be strong and submissive. Each parent dog has had a health examination and is a champion of the American Kennel Club. At least one obedient competition championship has been won by them. Beauvoir Poodles is happy to help new and established Poodle owners with any questions they may have regarding the breed. Because they specialize in Poodles, they are knowledgeable about proper Poodle training, trimming, and wellness. Their Poodles are dewormed and have completely finished vaccinations. They will assist you in finding the ideal dog. They have a long history of breeding and producing poodles, and they are state-inspected and certified. Sylvester was the one who kicked everything off. He was the initial Poodle they ever had. He joined the family right away, after they adopted him, while their four other children were all less than five years old. They developed a passion for poodles thanks to Sylvester, who also inspired them to begin breeding and growing the dogs themselves. This guarantees that the pups are cared for and receive all the attention and affection they need. They are bred to be the perfect family dogs. The attention and resources Sillydogs Poodles devotes to each one of their pups demonstrates the extent of effort they invest into them. Sillydogs Poodles is devoted to ensuring the welfare of its dogs. Before they are prepared to move into their new home, they also give them two vaccines and dewormings. This shows how committed they are to the safety and well-being of the pups. The acre property is ideal for dogs, and it is 10 miles west of Durango. Their breeding approach is primarily guided by the principles of health, temperament, and friendship. They are concerned that their pups will make the best friends. As opposed to certain other breeders, Durango Poodles maintain dewclaws and do not cut tails since they feel these characteristics are healthier and more useful. They encourage their Poodles to act and behave like Poodles. It aids in their development as self-assured, adaptable canines. Durango Poodles give their puppies a lot of socialization since they understand how important it is. To breed self-assured, content puppies, they employ a method called Puppy Culture. In the first eight weeks of their life, your puppy will spend a lot of time with kids and be confronted with a diverse range of scenery, noises, and scents. They offer miniature Poodles as well as standard Poodles. They are always accessible to answer any inquiries you may have regarding caring for and teaching your puppy since they think that communication is essential. They are ranchers who reside on an acre property near Wellington, Colorado. In addition to being physically healthy, Strut Your Stuff Standard Poodles strives to create puppies with good temperaments that thrive in a variety of sports they like, including agility, behavior, cattle herding, and of course retrieval. The Poodles are hypoallergenic , which helps people with allergies to experience having a pet without any runny noses or sneezing problems. They produce just one or maybe two litters of Standard Poodles each year as a smaller breeder. By breeding in small batches, the breeder has more time to familiarize himself with their puppies and can offer each one the care and attention they require. Easiest Dog to Take Care of: Top 10 Breeds for a Happy Home Do you ever dream about having a furry best friend who loves to play fetch, gives the warmest cuddles, and greets you with the happiest tail wags every time you come home? A friend who is not just any dog, but the easiest dog to take care of? We know, it sounds like a dream come true, right? But we also understand that bringing a new puppy home is a big step. It's like adding a new member to your family, a little brother or sister.Top 30 Smartest Dog Breeds In The World If you're a dog lover, you've probably heard the age-old debate: which dog breeds are the smartest? While all dogs have their own unique intelligence and personality, some breeds have proven to be consistently brilliant over time. In this guide, we'll explore the top 30 smartest dog breeds ranked, from problem-solving whizzes to trainable and intuitive pups. We've done our research to provide you with an updated and informative.These pooches are joyful, lively, eager to please dogs. They are adventurous, kind, family-oriented pups who love hiking, swimming, canine games, sports and any, and all, family activities. These puppies are merry and bouncy little marshmallows. They are cuddly and sweet pups who love running around, playing, making friends and are very enthusiastic learners. The breed is divided into 3 recognized categories: Toy Poodle; Mini; Standard. Although they differ in size, one thing is for sure: they are glamorous companion pets. Questions about Poodle puppies for sale in Colorado? We have answers. Give me an overview of Poodle puppies for sale in Colorado. Poodles come at different prices. Different things to consider are their height, size and weight, color as well as experience of the professional breeder. You will be able to afford one! Can breeders arrange travel for Colorado Poodles out of state? Yes they do! The breeders, companies and businesses in our network know that perfect families do not always live close by, and sometimes far-distance travel arrangements have to be made. You may even be able to pick up your pup from an airplane close by or even around the corner - it all depends! How do you screen miniature Poodle breeders in Colorado? We really care about puppies and their well being, so it is of the utmost importance that anyone who wants to be connected to us is screened under strict rules - and then they have to take our Breeder Pledge. The health of your puppy-to-be, its wellbeing, the way it is taken care of, the place it is brought up in - all of this matters to us. Why is Uptown Puppies different from other miniature Poodle breeders Colorado? The internet is available to absolutely everybody - and that includes scrupulous breeders who are out there just wanting to cash in by selling puppies. We care deeply for dogs and puppies and we love connecting good and honest breeders with families who just want to open their homes to a new and wonderful puppy. What is a puppy mill like for miniature Poodle Colorado? A puppy mill is an awful place that is unfortunately legal. Dogs are treated terribly and all their owners want from them are their puppies which they make money out of. Are there any miniature Poodle puppies Colorado for sale now? We just need to know a little bit about yourself and exactly what you are looking for. Then begin your search and find the Poodle of your dreams. There are breeders, companies and businesses out there that are really excited to place their beautiful puppies in your home. What kind of dogs are mini Poodle puppies Colorado? Poodles are actually part of a group of formal dog breeds. The Poodle is available in Toy size, Miniature size and large, regal, Standard size. They are highly intelligent and their origins belong to both Germany and France. How do I know I can trust you with miniature Poodle puppies in Colorado? It is hard to monitor all the puppy scams that happen daily on the internet so we make sure that we have a secure Breeder Pledge and a strict screening process, in order to create the best of relationships between our customers and our breeders, companies and businesses. Our reviews reveal all!

Jayme W. NC Male Transfer .Please make sure you are committed to the process and understand the time we put into managing our lists and working with families to keep them all updated and informed. We only book one list at a time with the option to transfer to a future list on choosing day. Transport options: 1. Cargo is available through American and Alaska Air. We prefer shipping out of Grand Junction, CO airport. We will meet you in the airport terminal so you can return home with puppy in the cabin with you. Pup plus carrier must be under 20lbs at the time of flight. Southwest, Alaska and Frontier are the most accommodating for pets. Our closest airport is Grand Junction, CO. We will meet you at Denver International Airport for an additional fee. Please coordinate arrival dates with us before you book a flight. Service Dog Requests: Many people are in need of canine assistance and we take our placement very seriously. Sadly, we do find that people come to us requesting a service dog because their name will be placed at the top of the list. Keep in mind, service dogs require a lot of your time and training. They need a job and if not given a task they will make their own such as chewing up your couch or barking when left alone. Service dogs need to be with their handler the majority of the day. They are not to be left for hours alone until their owner returns to walk them around the neighborhood. Service dogs need a job and a schedule. Service dog candidates must provide a letter from their Therapist or Physician outlining the tasks their pup should be willing to learn. They must provide proof their pup has been enrolled in board and train or private training by the time they are 10 weeks old and their trainer needs to contact us before our team evaluates the litter. Also, service dog qualified pups are matched to the job and owners do not get to choose their puppy. He has to be one of the most incredibly adorable and gorgeous big babies we have ever seen! He is 9 months old and loving and unique. He was tuned into us by his owner when their tiny ChiWeeny Chihuahua Doxy dog was mean to him and wanted to be an only child. The family loved and adored him, but realized he needed to be with dogs that wanted to play with him not try to beat him up like the tiny ChiWeeny was doing. Watson, of course, was scared of the "big mean Chi Weeny and ran away so you can guess that he is very sweet and non-aggressive in every way and is so happy to be here playing with all our big and even tiny dogs who love him. Now he is seeking a great home where he will be happy and safe and loved and cherished for life! Sherlock: Sherlock is a gorgeous 6 month old Wheaten fawn Irish Wolfhound Greyhound puppy who wound up in shelter with his brother Bond James Bond, that is! We rescued these two big babies who are adorable and loving and sweet to all. They are seeking the best homes where they will be loved and cherished and happy and safe for life! Bond: James Bond, that is! Bond is a gorgeous 6 month old Wheaten fawn Irish Wolfhound Greyhound puppy who wound up in shelter with his brother Sherlock. Buddy: Woodle - Incredible cream "Woodle" - Irish Wolfhound Poodle - Buddy's owners love and adore him, but he was much bigger than they are able to handle and a puppy, too. They were under the impression he would be a much smaller dog than he turned out to be as he is already big at one year old and will still likely grow upward until he is two years old and then fill out even more from two to four years old. Although they were hoping for a smaller dog, he is clearly in the right place with us where our adopters like them the bigger the better. Buddy is very friendly and outgoing and though very well behaved in general, he gets exuberant when he first greets you in the morning and when he first meets new people. For our breeds, we call this the "zoomies" and most of the young dogs of the breeds we rescue get it when they get excited. Buddy is a big baby who loves to play and makes no exceptions with whom he plays as he loves all people, kids, dogs, everyone! He looks like a smaller Irish wolfhound in his beautiful cream color and is really as beautiful and incredible as they get. He gives great "whiskery wolfhound kisses" and actually sits up on his hind paws to give you real hugs. No less than the best home on earth will do for this lover boy! Bentley: Woodle Schnoodle - Incredible black Irish Wolfhound Giant Schnauzer Poodle - Bentley's owners moved where they couldn't have a dog and brought him to a shelter. We rescued him on his last day. He is a loving, sweet, exuberant, big boy puppy. He gives great "whiskery" wolfhound kisses, loves to play, and is looking for the best home on earth where he will be happy and safe for life. Little Miss Muppet: Irish Wolfhound Mastiff - a 1 year old scared and shy puppy - Muppy was owned by a little old lady who loved her, but never introduced her to anyone or took her anywhere. As a result, she is experiencing total culture shock in that she was unaware that there were this many people in the world. She needs someone with extreme patience. She is great with all other dogs and cats and is fine with people, just scared of people. She lives here with us and all the other dogs and is housetrained and comes and goes just like the others, but does not come to us for pets, so we have to go to her. She does let us pet and love her, but may take a long time to act normally, though she always acts playful and happy with the other dogs. She needs to go to a home that has at least one other dog, and it would be better if they had multiple dogs so that she could be part of the group and not the total focus of attention. This is why people should always make sure that they continue to bring their dogs everywhere and introduce them to everyone to keep them outgoing and well socialized. With time and love and extreme patience, Muppie will be a great companion and has made great strides here. When she first arrived, we could not even touch her and she had to be separated, but now she has become a member of the household and lives like a normal little person with all the others. She has come a long way since arriving here, but still has a long way to go. These puppies will be alillte smaller than the wolfhounds and we have found with our three litters to date, their hair tends to be more wolfhound than poodle. But don't get us wrong, they still will be large dogs - some with heights from 16 to 33 inches at their withers for the males and for the females around 16 to 30 inches it depends on their parents. As an honest breeder, we are upfront with you, saying none of can really tell you at 8 or 9 weeks how tall or large your puppy will really be, we can look at their bones and at their parents. We are breeding them to extend their lifespan is the real reason this is even being done. As far as weight we are seeing around 85 to lbs for the males and 70 to for the females. Ollie, the proud papa, carries a blue eye gene so we are hoping that some day we will have one with blue eyes but so far none have had it, their eyes are usually dark brown to black but will look deep into your soul - these are humans in fur coats! Coat type - wolfhounds have a wiry top coat with a soft undercoat and as you know poodles have a curly coat - when you bathe your doodle, you will see the curl but we are seeing a soft cashmere puppy coat in most and a few with the wiry feel - don't think they don't shed , they do alittle but they love being brushed and the more you do this, the better! Hypoallergenic - some say that they are, we can't make that claim and be honest with you. Generations - F1s, etc - we breed only F1 Irish Wolfadoodles - meaning this F stands for "filial hybrid" a crossbred dog and then the numbers stand for the generations of breeding that has been done - we don't backcross which is called the B or BBs. Ours come from purebreed registered, genetically tested parents, both parents traits are in a ratio of .Lifespan - based on our research, by breeding these two breeds together, your puppy should could live up to 13 years. You are visitor number:

german shepherd puppies vaccination schedule - Aug 14, Share German Shepherd Dogs GSDs are highly intelligent and athletic dogs, and they need to be both mentally and physically stimulated to stay happy and healthy. This can be achieved through regular, directed interaction with your pooch through training and games or, even better, a combination of both. While training is an essential aspect of raising a well-behaved and healthy German Shepherd, games are also vital to their overall health. From physical, athletic activities to mind games for German Shepherds, there are so many to choose from to keep your GSD stimulated. Read on for 12 of our favorite games to play with your German Shepherd! The 12 Best Games for German Shepherds 1. Frisbee Image Credit: kscholl, Pixabay Another classic game for playing outdoors, frisbee takes fetch to another level. Begin by throwing the disc short distances at first and getting your GSD to bring it back to you, and then gradually increase the distance. You can also roll the frisbee vertically on the ground for them to chase. Fetch Fetch is a classic game to play with any dog, but there is a huge variety of ways to play it. Simply throwing a ball or stick and getting your GSD to bring it back is not as easy as it seems, so it is a great opportunity for training. For younger dogs, you may need to use a treat or reward to get your dog to release the ball, and this can take practice. For large and athletic dogs like GSDs, try to use a toy that travels farther for a more extreme version of this game. Puzzle Games German Shepherds are highly intelligent animals, so mind games are important for them too. There are a ton of puzzle toys on the market, most of which involve hiding treats in closed compartments for your pooch to find. Your GSD will need to figure out how to open the various compartments to access the treat, and you can increase the difficulty as they progress. Begin on the easiest level and move up from there. The game can be played indoors or outdoors, so it is great for any living situation or age of dog. Once they catch on to the game, you can make the hiding spots more widespread and difficult. Hide and Seek Hide and seek is not only fun for kids, but it can also be an exciting game to include your GSD in! In the beginning, you may need two people, but once your GSD learns the game, you can play it just with your pooch. Begin by hiding in easy places, and give your pooch plenty of praise when they find you. Gradually find harder places to hide. This game is not only fun but will also teach your pooch patience and obedience. Even though these classes are generally worth it, you can do it at home too. By simply using common items in your home like chairs, boxes, towels, and toys, you can set up your own agility course and teach your GSD to walk through it. However, if done properly, the game will not make your dog aggressive and can be a great method for training. The game should be initiated by you only, and the toy available to your dog only during the game. Also, any skin contact, biting, or nipping ends the game straight away, and you must walk away with the toy immediately. Ring Stacking For advanced, intelligent dogs that have mastered other puzzle games, ring stacking is a great new challenge. Your dog will need to have mastered basic commands in order for them to play, and even then, it may take a while to master. Magic Cups Magic cups is a fun game to play indoors when the weather is bad. All you need are three plastic cups and a treat or a small handful of kibble. While this game is not physical in any way, it is a great way to stimulate your GSD mentally. Place the three cups upside down with treats hidden underneath one. Let your dog see which one has the treats. Once they find the treat, shuffle the cups and let your dog try again. Once your pooch gets the hang of it, you can make the game harder by not letting your dog see you shuffle the cups or by simply adding more cups into the mix. You can train your GSD to bring you individual toys on command, providing great mental stimulation for your pooch. Begin with just one toy, and toss it for your dog to retrieve while vocalizing the name of the toy. Once your dog learns the name reliably, you can add other toys into the mix. Soccer All dogs love balls, and German Shepherds are no different. Soccer is great because it uses large balls that your pooch cannot run away with and stimulates their hunting and tracking skills. You can play the game with your pooch in mid-field trying to get the ball from you or put them in front of the goalposts and teach them to stop the ball without biting it! Soccer is great exercise and an excellent training method for your GSD. Once they get this basic routine down, you can make it more challenging by making them stop mid-run or throwing the toy and making them wait for your command before running to fetch it. Final Thoughts Some games are great for exercising your German Shepherd, while others are ideal for mental stimulation. Some are great for both! They are also very intelligent and need lots of mental stimulation. Many German shepherds are involved in dog sports, work in law enforcement, for the military, and other agencies. However, many more are simply family pets of those that love the breed. Playing games also fulfills another requirement of German shepherd ownership, which is spending lots of time with the dog. German shepherds require lots of socialization and companionship. As a herding dog, they were bred for their loyalty and ability to protect a herd. This characteristic causes them to form a strong bond with their owner and they do best spending time with their family. Some games that German shepherds love, will burn off some energy, and as a bonus give their brain a zap of dopamine are: 1. Fetch Although basic, German shepherds have a high prey drive and most love to play fetch. Playing fetch is also great because it burns off a lot of pent up energy. You can kick up fetch a notch by alternating toys or only using favorite toys. Try throwing a treat stuffed toy, Frisbee, plastic stick, and toys that bounce and tumble like Westpaw Zogoflex and Kongs. Hide and Seek Like the name implies, you hide a toy and your dog finds it. German Shepherds have scent receptors so they are naturally adept at this game. It is especially good for dogs that can no longer engage in high impact activities. For those that can, reward the dog by throwing the toy then hide it again. Urban Agility Urban agility is a noncompetitive fun sport that can accommodate nearly all dogs. You simply set up an obstacle course and balancing equipment in the yard and train your dog to weave, jump, balance, and more. There are urban agility trainers, books, articles, and YouTube videos to give you ideas on what your dog might enjoy. Tug Teach your dog to tug which means, tugging enthusiastically, releasing the tug toy, and bringing the tug back after you release it. Tug should be fun and exciting for both owner and dog and it can be used as a training tool, to burn off energy, as a reward, or just for fun. There is a huge variety of tugs on the market so no doubt there is a tug for all dogs. Search and Rescue This game reinforces the stay command and also challenges your dog. This game works well with more than one person who can help restrain the dog or when multiple hide. Nosework Teach your dog to find objects, food, or scents using essential oils. As your dog gains more confidence, you hide the scents in more challenging locations. You can learn more at the National Association for Canine Scent Work and there are books and videos available on the subject. This game is super rewarding because it is very mentally challenging. Pick Up Time You can teach your dog to pick up nearly any toy and drop it into any basket or box. This game is also useful for teaching your dog to pick up their own toys or other objects on command. Relatively easy to learn, this game is immediately rewarding and can continuously switch up as you teach your dog to pick up and put away new things. Have fun with these game ideas and be sure to share with your family and friends. Playing Fetch Most German Shepherds love to play fetch. Trust me! The activities involved in this game are simple and effective. When you are playing fetch, you are throwing an object for your dog to chase and bring it back. GSDs naturally enjoy chasing! Playing this game allows your dog to satisfy its urge to hunt. You could use a tennis ball, light frisbee, stick, or toy to play fetch. Choose an object that travels farther to make it a great game. German Shepherds can do this for hours without getting bored! This keeps your GSD entertained and active. Reward your GSD whenever they come running to you with the object. This fun game causes your dog to spend a great amount of energy in a little time. Of Course, that means your GSD gets great physical exercise too. However, make sure to use a soft object because hard ones can damage their teeth and jaws. Furthermore, avoid quick starts and stops of chasing an object. It may cause strains on their joints. So limit playing this game daily. Learn more about the game by watching the following video: 2. Ring Stack Ahem! You must have patience to play this great game with your German Shepherd. Ring Stack is your best bet if you are looking for a game with a lot of mental stimulation. When your dog becomes bored, it is better to play a mind game. First, you must find a set of rings and a stick. Make sure to use a ring stacking toy safe for your GSD. A wooden and dye-free ring stacking toy is the best option. Your dog should know how to fetch and retrieve to play this game. It is better to start this game with only a few rings. You have to guide your dog to pick a ring first. Next, you direct them toward the ring stacker to put the ring onto it. Give your GSD a treat again. Moreover, ring stack is extra challenging, and you can play it indoors. Cool, right? Your German Shepherd will take a few weeks to understand this game. Check out the following video to find out more: 3. Agility Training Does your German Shepherd need some serious exercise to release its energy? If yes, agility training is one of the best games for GSDs to relieve their liveliness. Wait till you hear how awesome this game is! Cannot find an agility training course in your area? Do not worry! You can do this at home too. Set up your agility course by using tables, chairs, towels, poles, and a few toys. You must guide your GSD to walk through, jump over, or duck under these objects. So many exercises! After a while, you should change the agility course style and guide your dog again. This game has a variety of fun activities. It is a terrific way to keep your GSD entertained, happy, and healthy. Check out the following video to learn more about the game: 4. Alright, let the dog do obstacle training. It is an effective and fun way to make your GSD coordinate with you. Both you and your dog can enjoy this game. Now that you know about agility training, it is easier to understand how this works. You have to organize an obstacle course to play this game. The obstacles can be anything. For example, you can use chairs, wheelbarrows, pieces of wood, or piles of clothes. You can also create an indoor obstacle course if it is a bad weather day. Keep the obstacles between you and your German Shepherd. Call your dog toward you. Make sure to treat your dog to lure them through the obstacles. Make it more difficult when your dog succeeds in the first few rounds. Then, after a while, increase the number of obstacles. This game works well for both adult GSDs and puppies. Treasure Hunt If you are looking for the easiest games for German Shepherds, treasure hunt is the best choice. It is one of the mentally challenging and fun activities. Then, you have to hide them in some places. First of all, get your German Shepherd to sit and wait. Then let your dog watch the process. To begin with, hide the treats somewhere accessible for your dog to find. Next, give a command and encourage them to find it. This game is super easy for your GSD because they have a great nose. Remember to treat your dog once they have found the treat. Most dogs love this! Once your dog understands the game, keep the treats somewhere more difficult. Believe me! This game will entertain both you and your German Shepherd. Of course, your dog is going to love it! Well, your German shepherd is an intelligent dog. So they can bring you toys if you teach them. The name game is a fun way of teaching your dog about the names of the toys. It is also one of the great mind games for German Shepherds. Now give them the toy saying the name of it. Moreover, give them a treat whenever your dog takes the toy. Finally, when your dog learns the name of one toy, begin to name the next toy. Fun fact: After playing this game over a few days, your dog will be able to know the names of many toys. After a while, put the toy on the floor and ask your dog to pick it up. Your German Shepherd will do it. Now you can ask your dog to bring any toy in a single order! You are face to face with your dog throughout the game. To play Tug of War, you only need a rope with knots. First, let your dog grab one end of the rope with its teeth. Then you have to hold the other end. All you have to do is drag the rope. Of course, your dog will work harder to keep the string. When playing this game, you can give commands like take, stop, or release. Playing tug teaches your GSD to obey commands. However, this game does not involve treats. Remember, you should have great strength to play this game. Also, make sure to leave the rope and leave immediately if your dog starts biting or snapping. Watch the following video to learn about Tug of war: 8. Just like kids. You must ensure your dog obeys commands such as sit and wait before playing hide and seek. In the beginning, there should be two people to play this game. First, ask the other person to give your dog the sit and wait command. Then you can go and hide. Start by hiding in a place that is easier to find. Remember to praise your dog when they find you. After a while, make the game harder. Once your German Shepherd learns to obey the sit and wait commands. Then you can play the game with your dog alone. This game is entertaining and teaches your dog to use its senses. More importantly, it instructs your dog to be patient and obedient. Just the way you want your German Shepherd to be, right? Check out this excellent video of playing hide and seek: 9. This game is super easy and involves mental stimulation. All you need is three cups and yummy treats. To begin with, have your dog sit and wait near the cups. Place treats under one cup and leave the other two empty. First, let your dog know which cup the treats are in. After a while, shuffle the three cups. Then, let your German Shepherd try again. You have to ask your GSD to find what cup the treat is under. Give your dog a treat for each guess in the first few rounds. In the following rounds, stop giving treats if your dog guesses the wrong cup. But, it takes a few games for the dog to understand this. Your German Shepherd will learn soon. You can add more cups to make this brain game harder. This cup game will keep your dog entertained and mind excited! The following are some of the games Brain Training For Dogs includes. Target train. Names for your toys Playing the Name That Toy game: This game for German Shepherds begins with only one toy if your puppy or dog is new to the game. As you play with the toy and toss it for retrieval, begin to name the toy as your dog picks up the item. You can name the toy whatever you want, but remember to always use the same name. When your puppy learns the name of one toy reliably, give the next toy a name. You can even begin to introduce new toys that you bring home with their name almost immediately when your puppy catches onto the Name That Toy game! I like to use my laundry basket and a small pile of towels. Use your treats to lure your puppy through, around, over, and under your homemade obstacle course to burn off their energy. As your puppy learns the routine, you can increase the speed to use up even more of those puppy zoomies! Even adult German Shepherds love this game, especially on a rainy or snowy day. Over time, increase the number of obstacles you create on your course, always keeping in mind your environment and staying safe with your dog. Fun Games to Play With Your German Shepherd These fun activities are also considered brain games, also known as mind games, for your German Shepherd because they challenge him to think and make mental connections. Just enjoy playing games with your German Shepherd and see where the fun takes you! These games to play with a German Shepherd also have many benefits, like: reducing boredom decreasing unwanted behaviors and keeping them busy giving you a chance to bond with your best friend and are perfect for a rainy or snowy day Every German Shepherd owner should play a few of these brain games a week, preferably at least once daily! Some puppies can even strain their necks and backs with a vigorous game of Tug-of-War. And, even my adult German Shepherd who weighs almost 90 pounds has suffered a neck pull when someone played a rough game of tug with her. Playing these common games too frequently, especially with a puppy, could tear cartilage, damage their tendons, and cause microscopic tears in the muscle which take longer to heal. Furthermore, even if you have a full-grown adult German Shepherd, the quick starts and stops of chasing a toy to Fetch place immense strain on their joints and may damage them over time. Limit your games of Fetch and Tug-of-War games to a couple of times a week, preferably for no more than minutes. Besides… Who needs a regular game when you have these awesome games to keep your German Shepherd busy? What games can I play with my German Shepherd? And these fun German Shepherd games will leave your dog begging for more! Pick several activities off the list and try them a few times a week. Which one of these fun German Shepherd Dog games will give your pet a grin a mile wide? Start with the lowest stars, especially if your dog is new to brain games or you have a puppy. Game Level of Difficulty 1 — 5 Fun Factor 1- 5. For the most part, you let the puppy decide his own activities at this stage. Your puppy, at this tender age, does not need exercise; he needs activity. Indoor play consists of informal activities in which you educate your German Shepherd to avoid dangerous behavior while satisfying his need to be active. At this stage, it is more about mental activity games and basic training as opposed to physical activity. This nifty little toy is excellent for young pups. Here are some low-impact games that are appropriate for a German Shepherd puppy at 8 weeks of age: Puppy the Explorer Let your GSD explore the indoors while keeping a close eye on him. This also presents an excellent opportunity to teach him to follow you. You must do this organically. Wait for him to get in his explorer mode and start walking beside him. Remember not to exceed a period of 10 minutes of exercise in the second month and stop whenever your pup shows signs of being tired. The minute mark is the maximum duration, not the minimum. Initially, your puppy will get tired after a few minutes of walking around and exploring. In each subsequent week, he will be engaged for a few more minutes. You might need to use jazz hands to get his curiosity. Once your pup starts following your palm with his head, simply tap his nose and hug him. At this point, you might be tempted to start moving your arm out of his reach to prolong the game. Follow the Wiggling Toy This is the ideal transition exercise that I would start around the tenth week of indoor play. For this, I recommend the Pacific Pups Rope Toys Set from Amazon, not just because it is budget-friendly but because you can use toys of different sizes as your German Shepherd puppy continues to grow. Once you have him sitting close to you, introduce the rope toy and place it on the floor with your hand holding onto one end. Your job then is to make sure he takes at least four steps before he catches the rope toy. Again, this is a high-engagement, low-impact exercise that builds up the foundation for medium-impact activities later on. Jaw and Bodyweight Exercises Recommended age: 3 — 4 months Maximum duration: minutes per day, twice a day Risk factor: low Things to avoid: sprints Your German Shepherd puppy is now three months old; he is building on his training according to the standard puppy training methods, and you can start to interact with him more physically. Still, his growth plates remain open, and you still need to avoid exercises that strain the joints, especially ones located around long bones like limbs. At the same time, your German Shepherd has more energy and may want to exercise more than is good for him. As a result, your role has shifted. Here, instead of letting your puppy have the toy once he follows it and grabs hold of it, you play a small tug of war with him. If your GSD is used to getting the toy after following it, he may get too defensive when you tug it. I recommended the toy set for this reason precisely. The final thing worth remembering about this game is that you always lose! You place the rope toy on the ground and let your German Shepherd puppy follow it as you move it around. Once he grabs hold of it, you use your arm strength to keep it in place. Do not try to pull it too hard. It is also essential that you gradually move up the tug of war in time and position. Gradually you can move the tug toy slightly above the ground. Throughout this, make sure your dog is on a leash because you do not want to encourage grabbing and dashing. Ultimately, you have to let your puppy win! As soon as you release the toy, he gets to have it for a while. This is also the best stage to train him to release objects on command. Make sure your GSD is on a long leash before you start this activity. Associating running with playtime is risky. A long loose leash allows you to bring him back to you gently. Be prepared to spend a lot of time negotiating with your GSD. I suggest playing tug before this because it builds trust. When you roll the ball on the floor, your puppy will get it. You cannot expect him to bring the toy to you. You simply tug the leash gently and bring him close to you. Then, you hold the ball in place. You should not pull it away. That will only cause your German Shepherd to bite down on it harder. When you have it firmly in place, your dog will try to wrestle it free but will eventually let the ball go. You can encourage this by just talking to him in a reassuring tone and using training treats. As soon as he lets go of the ball, put it on the ground and roll it. As GSDs take pleasure in high-engagement activities, the activity itself becomes a reward. In my experience, this will always be a mixed bag. Some dogs never stop giving pushback at the retrieval stage, while others let go of the ball the moment you extend your arm toward it. Tunnel Dash The Weaving Wonder Games for German Shepherds can include everyday objects that you can find around your house and are fun activities that give your German Shepherd mental stimulation and exercise. Try a few of these activities for German Shepherds and see which ones your dog loves! Hide-and-Seek Treats Hiding their food helps your dog use their noses to explore. Mental stimulation with a food hide-and-seek game keeps your dog sharp by using their noses source. You can use this game indoors or out in your yard or garden. Now hide a few pieces around the house or yard while they watch, and encourage them to find the food. German Shepherds have a keen sense of smell, and many learn to track. Puppy Puzzles This German Shepherd activity teaches your dog to use their nose and brain together. Food puzzles are activities that keep your dog working for their reward. Use this stimulating mind game to introduce them to puzzles. Next, place their food in the puzzle. Show them how to find food and encourage them to find the food on their own. If you want to feed your dog the right foods, then read this list of healthy, tasty treats for German Shepherds. Break your treats into small pieces, no larger than the size of your pinkie nail to keep their nutrition in check. The Special Delivery activity uses common mailing items as hiding places for their treats. Use a clean box that came in the mail. Place pieces of kibble or treats inside the brown paper wrap. Squish the brown paper or paper towels together to wrap around the kibble. Encourage your dog or puppy to look for their food. When they are finished, refill the brown paper packaging or paper towel balls and start again. Another simple and easy game to put together is a bottle treat dispenser. The bottle slides and moves on the floor to make the game more interesting for both puppies and adults. And, of course, supervise your German Shepherd during games at all times. Save a large water bottle. Make sure it is clean and dry. Let your dog turn, paw, and shake the bottle so the kibble falls out. Repeat when empty to finish their meal. Replace the bottles regularly as they become dirty or worn. The larger the opening, the easier the food will fall out. Brain Training for Dogs Brain Training your German Shepherd keeps them mentally stimulated and physically engaged, ensuring they have a pawsome time! Brain training your German Shepherd is an activity that increases their mental stimulation and is fun for both you and your dog! You can use brain training to help teach your German Shepherd manners and basic obedience at the same time. But… You can read more on my helpful review: Brain Training for Dogs Review to learn all about this engaging playtime program. Setup this game by doing this: Place a few bits of their food or treats in the muffin tins and a ball over the top to cover the cups. You can leave some muffin tins without a tennis ball to make the game easier to start or for puppies learning about brain games. When your dog is finished, refill the muffin tins. To make the game interesting, leave some tins without food, but still cover the compartment with a tennis ball. This makes your dog use his nose more and gives them a surprise when they find the food in some compartments but not in others. Frozen Kong Delight By far, my German Shepherd enjoys this mental exercise the best, as the food seems to last longer and keep her quiet. Get out your trusty, indestructible German Shepherd-proof Kong toy. Place a mixture of moistened kibble in the center. I like to add a few spoonfuls of unflavored Greek yogurt mixed into the food for extra encouragement. Set this in the freezer for a few hours to stiffen up. When frozen, give it to your dog for a tasty mealtime surprise! If you buy a few Kongs, you can keep them in your freezer for times when you want or need to keep your German Shepherd busy and entertained. Trust me, the Kong toys make for engaging playtime ideas for German Shepherds and can stand up to their rough play. Tupperware Surprise These old plastic food storage containers make useful indoor activities for your German Shepherd. Put them to use with this game. Place several pieces of plastic food storage containers upside down, without their lids, over a handful of kibble. You can put the food storage containers all in one room or place them in multiple rooms for a seek-and-find activity. Encourage your dog to go find the kibble, and help them find the first few to get them started. They must figure out how to turn the container over with their paws or nose, which is tricky for some dogs, especially puppies. Use this mental exercise inside or outside, depending on the weather. This game also uses empty cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper. Place their kibble on brown shipping or craft paper, or even a clean paper towel. Next, wrap the kibble up securely and place the wrapped kibble inside the cardboard tubes. Encourage your dog to explore the tubes. You can see my German Shepherd enjoying the game of finding treats in cardboard tubes. As simple as this sounds, the activity keeps my German Shepherd busy as she delicately removes the kibble from the boxes or toilet roll tubes filled with kibble and paper. No worries. This game really gets an active Shepherd moving and keeps them occupied! Start slowly and toss one ball away from you. While your dog goes to chase that ball, get another ball toy ready in your hand. As they return the first ball, toss the second ball across the grass for them to have another sprint. Only play a handful of rounds, and then let your dog have a rest and some water to avoid them overheating. Instead, use these summer activities to exercise your German Shepherd in the heat. Place their kibble meal or another dry treat inside the toy to help provide a challenge to their minds and bodies. As your dog chases the toy around and works to get their reward, they burn calories and have to use their brain power to work the food loose. You can wash this treat dispensing toy, so if your dog is a first-class drooler, you can easily clean their germs away. This is a mentally-stimulating game for an indoor German Shepherd activity for a puppy or even a bored German Shepherd. Tunnel Dash Collapsible tunnels can make for an exciting and fun backyard activity. Owners of our high-energy breed will appreciate teaching their dog both indoor agility to challenge their minds and outdoor agility to challenge their minds and use their energy! You may have to entice your dog through the tunnel by placing them at one end and having them wait while you walk to the other. But German Shepherds love this type of stimulation and are expert tunnel runners! The Weaving Wonder From German Shepherd puppies to seniors, almost every dog enjoys learning how to become a weaving wonder! If your dog enjoys high-energy activities, then add to your agility set by using these easy-to-set up weave poles. Your athletic Shepherd will love to use their brains and their agility to figure out the best way to quickly maneuver through the weave poles. Begin by walking ahead of your dog through the weave poles and have them follow you. Reward them frequently in between poles in the beginning. When they make it to the end, celebrate and reward them again. Eventually, have your GSD make more turns of the poles before the reward. Learn all about the right ways to exercise your German Shepherd for complete health and fitness. Your dog or puppy has many senses they need to use daily. They can see, hear, touch, smell, and think. Many dogs living in our modern, busy lives lack mental stimulation. In the wild, your dog would work alongside their pack or alone to track down prey using their senses. They would then plan an attack, using their mental abilities. Using all these senses during play helps your dog gain confidence in themselves and in their abilities. New experiences ignite portions of their brains to keep them engaged in their environments. An engaged dog is a happy, better-behaved dog! Include 2 or 3 new activities for your German Shepherd a week to begin. You ready for more? From nutrition tips to exercise tricks, this guide has it all. Trust me, your German Shepherd will be wagging their tail with joy! So, what are you waiting for? Grab your free guide now and continue fun adventures and activities with your German Shepherd! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Puppies German Shepherd puppies are incredibly playful. So how do you play with a German Shepherd puppy? This article will examine the best way to play and entertain your German Shepherd puppy, providing example games to play and activities to do. The best way to play with a German Shepherd puppy is through short bursts of low-impact physical activity. This will keep their growing bones and joints safe from injury and malformation. Additionally, play games that sharpen their motors skills and hone their natural abilities. All dogs have a maximum tolerance for exercise, and playtime counts towards that limit. Most will play for as long as you allow them. Thus, you need to pay attention and keep them from overexertion, especially during activities that involve plenty of physical movement. In general, young dogs should have two sessions of exercise per day where each session is about 5 minutes per month of age. So, a German Shepherd puppy of around 2 months old should only get 10 minutes of playtime twice a day while a 6-month-old pup can tolerate two minute sessions. By the time your GSD is a year old, they should be able to tolerate hour-long sessions of play or exercise. Keep in mind, however, that these are general guidelines. You need to keep an eye on your dog and determine their own tolerance to avoid serious consequences like overheating and overexertion. Like children, individual dogs have different preferences. Use play as a means to strengthen their motor skills, nurture their sense of curiosity, and build their confidence. The best toys for young German Shepherds are interactive ones that stimulate their senses. Especially exciting are treat dispensers and squeaky toys while teething toys provide tons of comfort. They also love balls that they can grasp and chase after. They also love playing with people and other animals. Doing this often will help prove each of these commands and ensure they will obey no matter the situation. Have fun with the Obedience Shuffle by randomly asking for each command and rewarding your dog every time they obey. Make it increasingly difficult for them by adding distractions in between. Hide-and-Seek Hide-and-Seek is an excellent game to play with your German Shepherd puppy because it requires some concentration, sniffing, and running. It also primes them to think of you as the best reward. To play this, ask your dog to stay while you hide. Release them from their stay position and respond with excitement and praises when they find you. Hide in easy-to-find spots at first and find more difficult hiding places as your pup picks up on the object of the game. You can start by keeping your pup in a down position as they watch you hide the treats. When they understand the point of the game, you can make it more challenging by keeping them in another room and letting them in only when all the treats are hidden. It also requires very little space and involves more concentration and nose work. To play the shell game, take 3 cups and some treats, and sit across from your dog. Place the cups upside down on the floor and keep a treat under only one. Shuffle the cups before arranging them in a row. Turn over the first one your pup touches. If they get the right one, let them have the treat. If not, re-shuffle the cups and play again. Find-and-Retrieve Find-and-Retrieve is not just a game of obedience and concentration. This game involves teaching your dog the proper names of things, finding those things on command, and handing them over to you. To play this game, start by teaching your dog the name of one toy. Then, make the game more difficult by asking them to retrieve the ball from other places. Here are other things you can do to interact with your puppy, strengthen your bond, and help them to develop physically, mentally, and emotionally: Walking Walking can be a good way for your GSD pup to learn more about the world outside of your home. Allow young pups to walk at their own pace and try not to be too harsh on the lead. Let them stop to sniff and interact with whatever they might find interesting. This will form a huge part of their socialization. German Shepherds typically like water if they are exposed to it and learn how fun it can be. Swimming is also an excellent way to have fun with your growing dog since it is easy on the bones and joints. Being in water will also help strengthen muscles for even better skeletal development. Puzzle Toys Puzzle toys for dogs are not only excellent for mental stimulation but also for independent play. Depending on the toy, it could also help prime your German Shepherd for nose work, combat boredom, and control their impulses. They can compete in these companion sports as early as 6 months old or you can simply join local clubs to engage in these activities for fun. This helps avoid issues like hip and elbow dysplasia in the future. Until your German Shepherd has developed into adulthood, you should generally avoid activities that involve plenty of jumping. Staircases and other steep angles are safe enough for regular use but not as a means to exercise. Additionally, when running or walking, opt for turf and soil rather than concrete. Final Thoughts Discovering the best ways to play with your German Shepherd puppy will help you develop a strong bond and learn to communicate with one another. These games will also help stimulate their intellect and develop a love for learning. Learning how to discipline your GSD puppy correctly will teach them to respect your leadership and stay on their best behavior.


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german shepherd puppies vaccination schedule - 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. However, it is still advised to ask for a senior-specific diet from your vet or pet nutritionist just to be safe. If you choose to give your German Shepherd dog homemade foods in all of its life stages, you may need to self-calculate and monitor its daily calorie consumption. Feeding German Shepherds has numerous factors to consider. How much you are providing them is crucial, but knowing how often you need to feed them is essential, too. Initially, feeding German Shepherd puppies begins with four puppy food meals daily. Then gradually, it should be transitioned into three equally proportioned meals a day at two months old. This gradual change should go on until they are 12 months old. After that, they should eat twice a day naturally during adulthood. Young puppies have a faster metabolism compared to adult dogs. In general, the last meal of your puppy for the day should be hours before its bedtime, so they have enough time to digest the food before they go to sleep. As for transitioning puppies to adult German Shepherds, the three meals should be given in the morning, noon, and nighttime, so they may be provided with a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is crucial for their growth, especially if they are active and working dogs. Having a feeding schedule can also help monitor their food intake to avoid weight-related issues. The optimal feeding time for adult and senior German Shepherds would be during the morning and night for their two meals daily. Lastly, as owners, we must seldom give treats to our German Shepherds, preferably only during training. Too much of anything may be bad for your dog. Moreover, it should provide the sufficient nutrients needed for growth and development. There are many commercial dog foods in the market, but you can also offer your GSD puppy homemade dog food or a raw diet. Consulting a vet is strongly advised to give your German Shepherd the best diet suited for its lifestyle. To help you in this dilemma, the list below has dog food options you may want to consider offering to your GSD puppy: Dry Food: Dry food or kibble is a commercial food widely available in pet stores and dog food manufacturers. A number of dry foods are formulated to provide a balanced diet for dogs, but checking their nutritional guidelines and value is crucial since a German Shepherd puppy may need high carb foods. It can be mixed with their dry kibble to add water or moisture to their diet. These kinds of commercial foods are expensive and can spoil quickly, and they may not be enough if fed alone to your puppy. BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a type of diet that consists of raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. Raw feeding is given as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. We know a German Shepherd is a large breed dog. However, males tend to grow bigger and heavier than females, needing more food consumption. A German Shepherd puppy may need to eat at frequent schedules with smaller meals, while adult ones may not need to be fed much often but will need more significant meal portions each time. They tend to eat whatever falls from the dinner table or even whatever food they set their sights on. As we talk about food diets, we must not forget those foods you must avoid feeding your German Shepherd puppy. Generally, they may not be too sensitive to dog foods or ingredients, but other foods may be fatal to them. Coffee is one of the most toxic foods to dogs. They contain caffeine , which causes cardiac arrhythmias, high blood pressure, vomiting, tremors, and seizures. Another toxic food German Shepherd owners should not feed their dog is chocolate. As yummy as this is, chocolates contain theobromine. All dog breeds cannot metabolize this substance. Gums, peanut butter, and candies that contain xylitol are also toxic to dogs. It causes disorientation, hypoglycemia, seizures, and collapse. This is much more threatening than coffee and chocolate, so you need to be extra careful with this. Aside from those mentioned above, there are many other toxic foods you should avoid feeding German Shepherds. They may not be fatal, but they can cause discomfort and progress to severe diseases. If you doubt certain foods or ingredients, you may consult a pet nutritionist or veterinarian just to be sure. Many large breed dogs visit vet clinics due to unmonitored food intake. It only fits a week-old German Shepherd. You may need to mix dry and wet foods at a certain age for your pup, or maybe you want to incorporate raw foods in their adult diet just like many dog owners do. You just have to make sure you know how to do it correctly, and you provide the most nutritious dry dog food or wet food. You should give enough time for your dog to adjust to a new food gradually. Like other shepherd breeds, you should allow a 7-day transition period from feeding German Shepherds their old food to their new diet. If there is discomfort, vomiting, or diarrhea, you may opt to slow down the process even more or consult your vet directly. Feeding an Overweight German Shepherd If you free-feed a German Shepherd, it may likely cause excessive weight gain or obesity. Furthermore, it can easily cause heavy or labored breathing during sleep and irregular movements, such as climbing stairs. Aside from dog food or canned food, a few more factors that can cause an overweight dog breed are table scraps, treats, and not enough exercise. There are a lot of alternatives for treats bought from pet stores, such as fruits and vegetables. These are easier to digest, lighter, and healthier. Eliminate table scraps and leftovers in their diet as they are unnecessary to these large breed puppies. Following a specific schedule with specific amounts of puppy food can significantly help lose weight. Implementing control in their daily meals can help reduce unnecessary food consumption. It is essential to understand that having an overweight dog is more likely caused by the lifestyle owners expose their dogs to. Also, inform family members about the diet plan, so your German Shepherd will not be too spoiled with food. There are a lot of factors why your GSD is not eating. It could be triggered by illness, dental problems , and environmental stress. But it can also be because of adverse reactions to medicines, sudden changes in food, increased body temperature, or your dog just being a picky eater. Do German Shepherds Eat a Lot? As a large breed dog, you can expect a German Shepherd to have a huge appetite. They are always eager to eat, may it be dry food, raw, or canned food. However, it is crucial to know when or how much to feed a German Shepherd to avoid weight problems and severe diseases. Can German Shepherds Eat Bones? German Shepherds can eat bones as it is a great source of minerals. However, there are cons to consider, too. According to AKC, if you want to consider giving them bones, there are certain rules you have to follow, such as giving them raw meat bones and throwing them out after three to four days. Can German Shepherds Be Vegetarians? Generally, German Shepherds can thrive and survive on a vegetarian diet, provided that they are supplied with enough nutrients, proteins, fats, and calories on a daily basis. Since German Shepherds are energetic dogs with huge appetites, we must put extra effort into planning out their diet. Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. Free feeding them or giving too many treats can lead to severe health problems. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some foods are toxic. However, aside from research, we need to consult their vet to ensure that we provide them with essential nutrients for growth, good health, and development in all stages of their life, especially for giant German Shepherds , If you have other tips in feeding a German Shepherd, make sure to share them in the comments below. My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. Shares German Shepherds are graceful, obedient, and loyal dogs with specific nutritional needs. Following a German Shepherd puppy feeding chart will enable you to track the amount of food your puppy is eating as they grow. There are varieties of foods available in the market and most of them come with guidelines at the back of the packaging showing you how much to feed a German Shepherd puppy. This article will cover different types of diets available and the specific nutritional needs of your German shepherd. It will also help you know what to do to ensure that your GSD gets nutritious and balanced food for every stage of their life. German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart There are three aspects of this German Shepherd puppy feeding chart, namely the German shepherd feeding amount, feeding frequency, and mealtime lengths. It is important to find out the appropriate feeding amount, frequency, and length for your German shepherd without leaving out one of them. That way, you can accurately find out the best way to feed your dog. Overall, there are four ranges that you need to keep in mind. An active dog may require a bit more than the numbers in this list, and an inactive dog will need a slightly less amount. But this guide can act as a solid benchmark. A puppy will need to eat more because they are growing very quickly. Talk to your vet about how much exactly so you keep them healthy and happy. Make sure your German Shepherd has access to fresh, clean water all day. When you take your dog for a walk make sure to bring along some extra water in a collapsible bowl. If they get tired on the way or it gets very hot, this can save their life. So for example, if your dog is 60lbs they should eat between lbs of food in one day. If you notice your dog is losing weight, add more calories to its meal size. However, there are other considerations on how much to feed a German shepherd puppy per day. You might want to consider avoiding meals right before bedtime. Let them digest their food first before they go to sleep. Understanding German Shepherd Puppy Nutritional Needs All dogs require nutritious, satisfying, and healthy food and every breed have their special diet. For maximum energy and health, there are factors to consider when deciding what to feed your German Shepherd: Size considerations- the AKC breed standard says that a German Shepherd can go to 26 inches tall at the shoulder. Females can be around 49 to 71 pounds while Males can be around 66 to 88 pounds. This means that they have a big appetite hence it is good to find quality food for them. They grow pretty fast hence they need specific nutrients for specific stages. Activity level- German shepherds are muscular, active, and agile which contributes to higher caloric needs to be complemented by feeding them a high-quality diet. Health consideration- GSDs are prone to many diseases hence a healthy diet will prevent problems. For example, arthritis that is caused by hip and elbow dysplasia can be mitigated through an excellent diet. Ensure that your GSD diet contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. How long does it take for your dog to be full? Is your dog still hungry after eating his portion? German shepherds normally take anywhere from 10 minutes to 15 minutes to finish the meal, given that you followed the proper feeding guidelines properly. If your dog shows signs of slow eating, we recommend sending them to your vet. If you think your dog is already full before finishing his portion, there is no problem. However, if your dog is still hungry after finishing the meal, consider sending him to your vet. This is because this can be a sign of a serious health issue involving their digestive system. They encourage the puppy to chew hence preventing periodontal diseases or tartar. Kibble is less expensive to buy and can stay fresh for longer. See also German Shepherd Gestation Period And Pregnancy Wet food is also essential for puppies because they allow puppies to feel fuller with less food. If your GSD need to shed a few pounds, wet food is a good way to reduce their caloric intake. Wet food is easier to digest, hence they are good for German shepherds with sensitive stomachs. Wet food is appetizing and keeps the puppy hydrated. You need to understand why your puppy cannot eat because it will help you determine the way to deal with the issue. There is no need to worry if the puppy lost appetite shortly and goes back to normal eating without any sign of illness. If the puppy loses appetite and takes a few days without improvement, take your puppy to the vet to find the problem because your dog might be sick. If the vet finds that the puppy is sick, they may suggest a special diet that will boost their immunity and give them extra nutrients to better their recovery. The puppy may have stopped eating because of behavioral issues; therefore, you may need to feed them same time to get a routine. Treats and human food that is given to the puppy may need to be reduced and also you can try different kinds of food. The German shepherd is a medium dog breed according to the AKC. Therefore, free-feeding is not a good idea. For the German shepherds, feeding schedules work better. If the puppies are free-fed the puppy may eat the leftover at any time even when they are not hungry. Sticking to a feeding routine help the puppy to stay healthy and prevent obesity. When you have a schedule, managing their weight and house training will improve. The puppy usually relieves themselves around 15 minutes after eating or drinking, therefore, when they feed at the same time every day and are taken outside after a while, accidents will be minimized. A raw diet is good for German shepherds. A raw diet help improves vitality and energy. The puppy gets healthy white teeth with an increased lifespan and reduced shedding as well as a stronger immune system. Raw meat is a great source of protein and an optimal diet. It is like keto to humans because it allows the puppy to reach their total capacity and good health. Dogs are naturally carnivorous, hence raw diet aligns with their natural needs. However, you should speak to your vet before putting your puppy on a raw food diet. The majority of commercially available kibble food is balanced and complete, and of high quality for your German shepherd puppy. Human supplements often contain harmful substances to animals and are unregulated or minimally effective. Therefore, never give human supplements to your German shepherd puppy. But they can eat small amounts of cooked chicken or turkey, plain cooked sweet potatoes or carrots, plain yogurt, and small amounts of fruits like apples or bananas without getting sick. Talk to a vet for advice on how to feed your German Shepherd puppy a healthy and balanced diet. These include chocolate, fatty foods, coffee, alcohol, chives, avocado, onions, nuts, grapes and raisins, garlic, raw or undercooked meat, and bones. These foods can cause a wide range of health problems, from stomachaches to more serious problems like pancreatitis or kidney failure. Some foods that people eat may have a lot of sodium or sugar, which can also be bad for dogs. How much food to give an older German Shepherd will depend on their needs and how much they move around. But as dogs get older, they tend to slow down and may need less food to stay at a healthy weight. As a general rule, an older German Shepherd needs about 2 to 3 cups of food per day, which should be divided between two meals. A German Shepherd that is getting older should eat high-quality senior dog food that is made for their age and size. Senior dogs might also benefit from getting smaller meals more often. If your German Shepherd puppy seems to always be hungry, you should look at what they eat and how often they eat. Make sure they eat enough for their age, weight, and level of activity. Puppies grow quickly and need more calories than adult dogs, so it is possible that they are not getting enough food. Also, make sure you feed them high-quality puppy food that is right for their age and size. If you are worried about how hungry they are or how much they weigh, you should talk to a vet to rule out any health problems and make a plan for feeding them. The amount of dry food you should feed your German Shepherd will depend on several factors, including their age, weight, and activity level. Puppies: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Adult dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Active dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Senior dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. If the dog is obviously overweight or underweight, adjust accordingly. If you can feel most of the ribs without squeezing your fingers in between them — try 1 cup per day. This is a decent starting point for a growing large breed puppy that needs the extra calories to grow big and strong. If you can feel most of the ribs AND see its waist — try 3 cups per day. This is perfect for an adult German Shepherd which needs extra calories due to being very active. With this amount, it will be able to maintain its weight, but not gain any extra fat. If you can feel all the ribs and see their waist — try 3. This is a good amount for a very active German Shepherd which needs extra calories to maintain a healthy weight. This should be sufficient for an adult German Shepherd which is quite active. If you can feel all the ribs and see their waist — try 5 cups per day. This is a good amount for an extremely active German Shepherd which needs extra calories to maintain lean muscle mass. For example, when my dog was a puppy, he would feel all ribs and see his waist when eating 2 cups of food per day. However, as he got older and larger, I had to increase the amount — even though I could still feel most of the ribs! He maintained around .Although there are lots of opinions on how much food your shepherds needs, these guidelines work for me and my German Shepherds. Everyone is different though, so you will have to adjust accordingly if necessary — this guide should help you until you find the ideal amount. If your dog is a very active one it may need more food depending on its activity level. Always be sure to give plenty of water since dry kibble can dehydrate the animal over time. However, this amount will vary depending on the size, age, and activity level of your dog. Puppies and young dogs, for example, generally need more water than adult German Shepherds. And working dogs or those who exercise frequently may require even more. This is because they can easily hydrate themselves if given free access to water. However, you still need to remember some things. For example, take note that your dog will need to drink 6 ounces of water per day for every 3. Depending on the temperature and activeness, this amount can increase. Lastly, make sure you take extra care in providing water access to your German shepherd. The most preferable way is to fill a bowl with a moderate amount of water, not too much. The feeding amount, frequency, length, and water requirements can always be changed. If you have no time to visit your vet, the following topic may help you. How Much Should A 1-year-old German Shepherd Eat A 1-year-old German Shepherd should eat about two and a half to three cups of food each day, broken up into two or three meals. Pointers for Feeding German Shepherds Improper feeding practices can lead to serious health problems for German shepherds. An owner is responsible for taking into consideration the age and weight of a German shepherd before feeding them. When feeding a german shepherd puppy that is four to six months old, you must give them two meals a day that comprises around eight ounces and five ounces. When feeding a German shepherd puppy that is between seven and twelve months old, the meal amounts should be increased to ten ounces for each meal. This amount should be split into three smaller meals. This is regardless of whether they are active or not. Yep, German shepherds can gain weight regardless of whether they exercise or not. If you think your dog is gaining too much weight, you can split their daily calories into four or five smaller meals. Some people prefer using dry dog food, while others would choose canned dog food. Whatever you choose for your German shepherd is usually okay, but canned food tends to contain more moisture than dry food which may lead to bladder stones in certain dogs. However, when it comes to the amount of dog food you feed your German shepherd, canned food leads to more obesity than dry food. If your German shepherds are over five years old, you must give them an extra meal. This additional meal should comprise around four ounces of food so they can easily digest it during their older age. When feeding a German shepherd puppy, you must know how to correctly measure their food amount. Be accurate when following the proper measurements; otherwise, it could lead to your dog gaining too much weight. Use measuring cups that are specifically made for dry food. If you use any other type of measuring device, it might lead to your dog eating too much or too little food. You must not feed your German shepherd until they are full, but allow them to eat until they are slightly satiated. Do not serve unlimited food; give them about two to three cups of food per day. If you are unsure whether or not your German shepherd is obese, check its waistline. If they have a thick waist and their stomach looks like a sphere, then that is a clear sign that your German shepherd is obese. Never let them finish their meal if they are still hungry; otherwise, you will encourage them to gorge on their food. Your German shepherd must always have access to fresh clean water, so you should ensure they can drink it whenever necessary. Feeding Guidelines by Age Before proceeding with the following points, remember that age is not the only determining factor in a German shepherd feeding chart. Make sure to consider all the content in this blog post as well. It is recommended that you slowly let them adapt first. This can be their regular food from now on. This includes fruits, bones, and more. You should also avoid giving them your leftovers. However, they will need time to adapt. You should also consider feeding your German shepherd foods that can be gnawed and chewed. This is so they can develop their jaws, teeth, and gums. This will result in less feeding amount and frequency. Feeding Guidelines by Weight German shepherds can be of different weight ranges. An average weighted German shepherd 35 kilograms will then need calories per day. This only applies to German shepherds that do not exercise or are inactive. Active German Shepherds: In the case of active German shepherds that exercise regularly, every 1 kilogram equals 55 calories per day. So an average weighted German shepherd will require calories per day to be able to function properly. Take note, however, that this calculation may be affected if the German shepherd has a health disorder concerned with metabolism or digestion. German Shepherd Puppies vs. Adults Guidelines Our last topic involves the difference between a puppy and an adult. The following are some of the facts that recent studies have proven: Puppies have higher energy levels than adults. This means they need to eat more than adult German shepherds. German shepherds will need higher protein and fat content at an early age. The amount of fat and protein will decrease as they grow older. Puppies cannot tolerate too many nutrients. Ingesting extra minerals and vitamins may lead to serious health disorders. Meanwhile, adults are only risking being overweight when taking in more than intended. German Shepherds usually have a good appetite and can eat a lot, especially when they are young and growing. But their food intake should be balanced and right for their age, weight, and level of activity to keep them from getting too much food and getting fat. As they age, they should usually eat less quickly. Most of the time, bones that have been cooked and ground up completely may be safe to eat. Instead, give them dog-made chew toys or treats. Can German Shepherds Be Vegetarians? Since German Shepherds consume meat, it follows that they must consume a significant amount of animal protein in order to get all of the necessary nutrients. Although while it is feasible to offer a dog a vegetarian or vegan diet, owners of German Shepherds should avoid doing so since it increases the likelihood that their dogs will not get all of the nutrients that they need. After talking about the feeding amount, frequency, and lengths of a German shepherd, you can now easily plan how much, how many times, and how long you feed your dog. You even learned how to hydrate your German shepherd the proper way. Lastly, we talked about the difference between a puppy and an adult in terms of feeding. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. Since puppies have a lot of growing to do, they require plenty of calories. You can reduce the amount of food per pound of body weight until they reach standard adult measurements. The specific amount of food to feed a German Shepherd can vary because different dogs are sized differently and have various needs and levels of athleticism. To learn more about specific foods and ingredients, check out this article on the best diet for German Shepherds. Three to four meals of puppy food a day is ideal for a month-old German Shepherd, as the food will be easily digestible and keep the energy high throughout the day. Feeding a puppy 1—2 large meals might make them feel sick, or they may be unable to finish it all at once. When it comes to how much food to give a 1—4 month-old German Shepherd, the recommended amount is approximately one cup g or a little more, depending on activity levels per meal. Be sure to spread meals evenly throughout the day, and avoid feeding your puppy before bedtime. The West Greenwich Animal Hospital recommends not feeding a dog three hours before bedtime because they may need to go out for a toilet break at night. Since their stomachs and bodies are getting bigger, they can generally handle fewer large meals than more small ones. So, you can reduce the number of puppy food meals to 2 or 3. Since the number of meals is reduced, increase the amount of food per serving to approximately 1. The meals should be spread evenly throughout the day to ensure your German Shepherd has consistent energy levels. My German Shepherd Willow at 4 months old 10 to 12 Months At 10—12 months, a German Shepherd begins to mature as its body continues growing. Split approximately 4—5 cups —1, g of food between two meals. However, this is just a recommendation — as mentioned previously, your dog may require more or less than this depending on their activity levels. Keeping the amount of food at cups , g per day may be sufficient, or it may be best to start feeding your dog more or less than this. For example, many active or working German Shepherds may benefit from 6 cups 1. Again, the specific amount is circumstantial. However, some dog owners make the switch earlier. Honestly, this is the issue with every new pet parent. Below is a German Shepherd feeding chart to help you learn more about giving your pooch the right amount of food at the right time. Remember, the below are simply recommendations, so specific amounts can vary by dog and activity level. Age Amount of food per day Amount of servings per day months 3—4 cups — g spread across multiple servings 3—4 3—4. Always check the packaging of the food you buy for a more detailed analysis. There are endless dog food options, so making the right choice can be challenging and stressful. The main protein source is chicken, and it promotes immune system health and digestive performance. Suitable for puppies up to 15 months, this dog food is the perfect solution for young German Shepherds with lots of growing to do! One of the main benefits of this food is that it comes in different sizes, including a pound 6. This dog food contains all the nutrients a German Shepherd puppy needs to grow and thrive. Blue Buffalo dog food has real chicken, fruits, and vegetables, so your pooch will surely enjoy the delicious taste! It comes in two flavors — a chicken meal with oats and a lamb meal with brown rice. Either contains enough high-quality protein to ensure your pup can grow as healthily as possible. Medium-sized dog breeds can continue eating puppy food until 18 months. Like with puppy food, there are many adult German Shepherd dog food options, so choosing the right one can be challenging. Check out some of my below recommendations to make your search a little easier. Best Breed Dr. Best Breed Dog Food aids digestion as it contains a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber. According to a study, musculoskeletal disorders and the inability to stand are the two most common causes of death in German Shepherds. Since puppies need specific nutrients to grow, their food differs greatly from adult dog food. Puppies especially need protein because it aids with the growth and development of cells. Without adequate protein in the diet , puppies are more susceptible to serious health issues, including: Weight and muscle loss General weakness Chest and abdomen issues German Shepherds can continue eating puppy food for the first year of life and beyond. Usually, 16—18 months is a good time for a dog to start eating adult food. The most important thing to remember is that adult food is never the right choice for a German Shepherd puppy that still has much growing to do. However, there are many other factors to consider when it comes to feeding a German Shepherd, like their general weight and activity levels. Weight and Size The weight of your German Shepherd will determine how much to feed it. The general rule of thumb is that the heavier your dog is, the more food it needs to stay fueled. The average adult German Shepherd is around .Pay attention to the general height and size of your German Shepherd to determine exactly how much food to feed them. For example, an underweight German Shepherd will need extra food to get back to a healthy weight, whereas an overweight one will need less food. As you can imagine, a highly energetic dog will need more food than a German Shepherd that lies around all day. If your German Shepherd is still relatively young, i. Health Health issues can affect the way a dog eats. For example, a dog with stomach issues might avoid food altogether. Other health conditions that affect how much a dog can eat include: Pancreatitis Infections Cancer Consider whether your dog is experiencing health issues when feeding them. For instance, if your dog is shedding too much, you need to change a diet that minimizes shedding. Age The age of a German Shepherd helps determine how much food should be eaten and how often. For example as mentioned earlier , younger dogs must eat smaller meals spread evenly throughout the day, while older dogs can have 2 larger meals. A vet can weigh your German Shepherd, ask questions, and listen to the heartbeat to determine a healthy diet plan. As Willow is now a senior dog, I like to take her for vet checkups every 6 months. In many cases, giving puppies homemade food over long periods can cause health issues down the line. A study by the National Library of Medicine concluded that a homemade diet given by the owner caused a puppy to experience various health issues, including vitamin D deficiency and NSH nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism. You can give a small treat here and there, but human food should never make up the entire diet of a puppy. Below are some tasty examples! Eggs Not only are eggs beneficial for humans, but they can also be good for dogs if given in moderation. German Shepherds puppies and adults will receive plenty of nutrients from eggs, including protein and fats. The best and easiest way to give a German Shepherd an egg is to hard boil it. Avoid feeding a German Shepherd or any dog fried eggs too often due to the excessive oil. Hard-boiled eggs are usually the easiest for dogs to eat, but you can also try poached or scrambled eggs. Examples of dog-friendly fruits include: Bananas. Although it may seem obvious, doing this can cause your dog a lot of trouble and is a simple error to make. A German shepherd is a medium- to large-breed dog, which puts him at a higher risk for several health issues, the most well-known of which are issues with the bones and the hips. Joint illnesses are more likely to develop in them as a result of genetics, and too much rapid development is another factor that might exacerbate these issues. Because of this, even though German shepherds require the same essential nutrients as other dog breeds, including protein, fat, carbohydrates, and other vitamins and minerals, you should exercise caution when feeding your dog nutrient-rich dog foods because they can encourage dangerously rapid growth. According to the German shepherd feeding chart, it is accepted that adult dogs need up to calories per day. Depending on how big and active the dog is, anything between and is considered suitable. The amount of calories a dog consumes is often determined by their age, present health, and the amount of exercise they receive. However, even in their later years, energetic dogs will need up to calories each day. How about a German Shepherd puppy, though? What is a German Shepherd feeding chart for a puppy? Actually, puppies consume twice as many calories per pound of body weight. This indicates that a German Shepherd puppy that is 8 weeks old may consume twice as much food as an adult. Puppies need to consume twice as much food as adults do to sustain their growth and development. A young German Shepherd puppy needs at least 80—90 calories per pound of body weight to grow and thrive. Regularly weigh your puppy, assess their general health, and modify their calorie intake to assist their growth. Even more active than working adult dogs are young shepherds. Keep in mind that calories differ significantly across manufacturers and brands. Always read the nutritional information and feeding instructions on the food box before feeding it to your pet. The German Shepherd feeding chart is simple in the first few weeks; up until the puppies lose all of their puppy teeth , their mother serves as their primary feeding source. Puppies who are one month old do not yet have teeth that are strong enough to eat kibble, so it is important to soften their diet as much as possible. Two-Month-Old German Shepherd Puppies start exploring their environment as soon as they reach the one-month mark. Additionally, a German Shepherd puppy should be at least eight weeks old if you plan to adopt one. Purchase the same puppy food the breeder recommended, at least for the first several weeks as they adjust to their new surroundings. As the pups approach their first birthday, their diet will require fewer calories, so you may cut down on the number of meals by two or three, if you believe it will be better for your pet. The majority of dog owners believe that giving their puppies fewer meals throughout the day is better for them since they get the same amount of calories and are less likely to feel hungry at specific times of the day. Even though during this period your dog should still be eating puppy food, you might want to consider obtaining adult dog food. Some owners use treats and training rewards to gradually introduce adult food to their pets, which is just enough to acclimate them to its unique flavor and texture. On the other hand, some dog owners choose to gradually phase out puppy food by combining kibble for adult dogs with it in varying quantities. You must obviously speak with your veterinarian before making any changes to the diet your German Shepherd consumes. Only your veterinarian can tell you when your dog has reached adulthood and when switching to adult food is safe. They must thus be provided with a healthy diet, even if they are raised as household pets. These puppies really like being active, and they enjoy playing in dog parks and other open spaces as well as training. In addition to the other nutrients, the quantities of calcium, protein, and phosphorus in adult dog food will be different from those in puppy food, according to the German Shepherd feeding chart. Bottom Line We must be certain of how much and when to feed our pets as responsible pet owners. German Shepherds require special consideration when designing their diets since they are active canines with voracious appetites. They adapt well to a variety of diets, including dry, wet, raw, and homemade. Giving them too many presents or too many free meals might seriously harm their health. We looked at the German shepherd feeding chart above. For your pup to develop properly, you must be aware of which foods are good for them and which ones they should avoid. As a travel enthusiast and animal lover, she hopes to inspire others to discover and cherish the beauty and importance of the natural world. Split that daily amount up between all meals. For example, if your 3-month-old GSD puppy is a male and weighs 30 pounds, you should feed him approximately 2 cups per day. Since she no longer needs the extra calories to help support her fast growth period, you can safely reduce her feedings to 2 or 3 meals per day. While she should still be eating puppy food at this point, you may consider purchasing a bag of her eventual adult formula. You can use individual kibbles from the adult formula for treats or training rewards. This will help her get used to the new flavor and texture. Around 9 months of age, you can begin slowly adding a small amount of the adult formula into her puppy food, though she should still be eating primarily puppy chow. Only your vet will be able to tell you when your dog has reached maturity and can be safely moved to adult food. So, make sure you are in close contact with your vet to be sure that your feeding plan is individualized for your specific dog. Adult dog food will have a different ratio of calcium, protein, phosphorus, and other nutrients than puppy food does. Feeding an adult dog a puppy formula can cause obesity as well as put too much strain on kidneys and other vital organs. Long term use of inappropriate food for an adult dog can have catastrophic consequences. That said, there is no need to panic if your adult GSD eats a bowl of puppy food now and then. Adult German Shepherds should be fed twice a day. Again, bloat is a real problem for large breed dogs, and large meals seem to be a big cause of this. I feed my adult dogs this particular blend for a number of reasons. The blend is designed specifically with German Shepherds in mind, as it uses high-quality, animal-based nutrients to counter the extra stress put on the joints of GSDs and to help the development strong lean muscle to keep your dog in peak physical condition. You really can see the difference. This is evident by the fast decline in health, joint flexibility, and energy in older large breed dogs compared to same-age smaller breeds. When your GSD moves from the adult life stage to senior, you need to adjust her diet. Large breeds reach the older stage not quite senior, but close around half of their assumed life expectancy. Inevitably, your GSD will need to switch over to a senior diet. Older large breed dogs have lower energy needs. Older dogs also tend to slow down their digestion, so an increase in fiber might be a good choice for your senior GSD. Do be sure to confirm this with your vet, however. Not all foods are created equal. For treats, senior dogs should avoid calorie-dense milk bones and high-salt or fatty treats. Opt for healthy, whole-food treats such as apple slices or carrots. Some senior dogs begin to develop health conditions that will require special care. This is often a result of poor nutrition early in life, but can sometimes simply be genetics and old age catching up with them. But for GSDs with health issues such as kidney disease and joint pain, diet can play an even bigger role in the quality of their lives. Getting a personalized recommendation from your veterinarian is worth the time, expense, and effort. These charts can seem pretty straightforward at first glance. Instead, use them as a starting point. Observe your dog, see how he looks and feels, and note any changes in his bathroom habits, weight, or energy level. Adjust his meals accordingly. Generally speaking, they talk about daily intake, not per meal. It means to split that 3 cups total over the entire day. If your dog eats 3 times per day, that would be 1 cup at each meal for a total daily intake of 3 cups. To further confuse dog parents, some manufacturers do list per-meal serving sizes, not the total daily intake! In these cases, if you read it incorrectly, you would end up underfeeding your dog. To help mitigate some of this confusion, it may be helpful to ask your vet how many calories your dog should be consuming each day. Then you can check the calorie content in the dog food and measure things from there. Raw Diets, Cooking for Dogs, and Other Alternative Feeding This article has been focusing mainly on commercially available dry kibble since that is what most pet parents ultimately choose for their dogs. However, there are many dog owners that choose to feed alternative diets. These include raw diets and cooking regular people food for dogs. There are many viable options for feeding your healthy German Shepherd, but there are just as many harmful fads, too. As with commercial foods, be sure to speak with your vet before starting your dog on a raw diet or home-cooking her meals. Human supplements are often unregulated, minimally effective, and often contain substances harmful to animals. Never use a human supplement for your German Shepherd. Final Thoughts What you feed your German Shepherd is just as important as how much you feed them. Pay special attention to the first 4 or 5 ingredients listed on the back of the packaging. Choose high-quality, safety-tested foods with clear ingredient and nutrition labels.