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Unfortunately, ectropion is actually a sought-after trait in many commonly affected breeds. It creates a diamond-shaped eye, which gives the dog a devoted and sad expression. This leads some people to breed specifically for ectropion. Your pet does not need to be sedated. In fact, pets should be awake for the veterinarian to appropriately determine their natural eyelid conformation, or shape. Treatment for Dog Ectropion Surgery is the only effective way to treat ectropion in dogs. This involves primarily shortening and tightening the eyelid. Recovery and Management of Dog Ectropion Recovery from ectropion surgery is rapid. Eyelid swelling will peak approximately 24 hours following surgery and can take two to four weeks to completely resolve. Dogs will be required to wear an Elizabethan collar following surgery to protect the sutures around their eyes. Topical eye medications may be prescribed after surgery depending on possible underlying corneal or lacrimal disease s. Oral antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and analgesics are often recommended after surgery as well. Sutures from ectropion surgery are removed 14 days after surgery, and the Elizabethan collar can be removed a few days after that. While surgical complications from ectropion surgery are rare, they can include: Under-correction of the eyelid will not resolve the underlying problem and will then require additional surgeries. Overcorrection of the eyelid can actually result in the formation of entropion when the eyelid grows inward. It causes trauma to the cornea. Self-trauma to the incision site usually occurs if the Elizabethan collar is removed too soon after surgery. Acquired cases of ectropion can occur when a dog has a facial injury and sustains neurological damage. I grew up in Tampa watching my father Vincent J. Naimoli start the Major League Baseball expansion.Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. Droopy eyes are common in Labradors. However, some conditions are more severe than others and may be a cause of an alarm. So, why do some Labs have droopy eyes? Some Labs have droopy eyes because of spinal or brain tumors, trauma or injuries to the area, advanced age, or infections of the nervous tissues. Make sure you fully understand the difference between what regular eyes look like compared to droopy eyes in Labs. I'll discuss some of the symptoms, causes, and preventative measures that can be taken to stop the continuation or worsening of droopy eyes in Labs. In this article Droopy Eyes in Labradors Droopy eyes, also known as ectropion , are common eyelid problems in most canines, especially Labradors. Ectropion manifests as an abnormal eyelid, whereby the lower eyelid droops and rolls out in an everted manner. This exposure causes drying of the eye tissues and may predispose your Lab to conjunctivitis and, in extreme cases, keratitis corneal inflammation. Such conditions can hurt your furry canine friend and may make it feel uncomfortable. Causes of Droopy Eyes in Labs Hereditary issues, brain and spinal tumors, and nervous tissues infections are possible factors that cause some Labs to have droopy eyes. Labradors are among the canine breeds with a high knack for droopy eyes. This predisposition is linked to their hereditary aspects. Hereditary ectropion mainly affects the lower lid. It's not often uncomfortable because your pup adapts to living with it. So, if you notice a small degree of ectropion in your Lab, it might be an inherited condition. This shouldn't be a cause of alarm. However, if the droop is excessive, making your canine uncomfortable, or he appears to be in pain, you should seek immediate medical attention. Besides inheritance, which is the primary cause of droopy eyes in Lab's, other primary causes include: Facial nerve paralysis: A nerve paralysis in your Lab's face can trigger ectropion in the affected side. Age: Mild droopy eyes can worsen as your dog ages. With aging comes the weakening of the body muscles, including eye muscles which can worsen a preexisting mild ectropion case. Brain and spinal tumors: A brain or spinal tumor or infection can affect the sympathetic nervous system that controls the functioning of different body organs, including the eyes. With the nervous system affected, your pup will likely experience eyelid problems, among them droopy eyelids. Trauma: Scarring your pup's eyelid from traumas caused by surgical operations, burns, or accidents can also cause ectropion. Transient short-lived ectropion: In some cases, your Lab may experience transient short-lived ectropion often caused by factors such as fatigue, hunger, thirst, or sickness. Transient ectropion mainly goes away on its own. When droopy eyes are caused by other factors besides inheritance, both the upper and lower eyelids can be affected, unlike inborn ectropion, which only affects the lower lid. Signs of Droopy Eyes in Labradors Droopy eyes affect Labs of any age and may appear in one or both eyes. This condition is highly noticeable through symptoms such as: Small or constricted pupil in one or both eyes Inflammation and redness of the conjunctiva Droopy eyelid Browning or staining of the fur below the eyes due to frequent tearing General eye redness Think mucoid discharge collecting on the lower eyelid Your Lab trying to paw or rub the affected eye or both eyes Problems Associated With Droopy Eyes Generally, normal eyelids shield the eyes from dirt and other external materials, keep the eyes lubricated and clean, and protect them from injuries and trauma. So, if the eyelids are droopy, the eyes get exposed to external threats and are at a high risk of drying. Droopy eyes can cause conjunctivitis, keratitis, and other ocular problems. Diagnosis for Droopy Eyes in Labradors If you notice any of the above symptoms in your favorite Lab, you should immediately see a pet veterinary ophthalmologist. This will help rule out any serious underlying medical conditions and start any recommended treatment as soon as possible. Droopy eyes diagnosis is simple. In most cases, the vet will conduct a physical visual examination of your pup's eyes. And if the eyelids appear saggy, exposing the conjunctiva, it's a positive test for droopy eyes. Hereditary ectropion can be easily pointed out in small puppies. On the other hand, some cases of acquired ectropion may require an advanced diagnosis for effective clarification. With the advanced diagnosis, blood or urine tests may be conducted to determine an underlying cause of the droopy eyes. Besides, a corneal staining test can be performed if there's a suspected case of corneal ulceration. And if a neuromuscular disease is suspected to be linked to ectropion, muscular or nerve biopsies may be conducted. A vet may conduct a series of tests to determine the underlying cause of droopy eyes to develop a good treatment plan. Mild ectropion may not require advanced treatment. Most mild conditions, especially the transient cases, often go away on their own after some time. If your pup has overly dry eyes, the vet may prescribe some ointments or eye drops to keep the eyes lubricated. Additionally, your vet may advise you to give your Lab some antibiotics to combat corneal ulcers. However, severe cases that cause serious ocular problems may necessitate reconstructive eyelid surgery. Surgical Treatment for Droopy Eyes Eyelid surgery treatment aims at restoring the normal contour of the eyelid to reduce ocular problems associated with the condition. A general pet vet can handle the surgery, but it may be necessary for a qualified vet ophthalmologist to conduct the surgery for complicated cases. After the surgery, your Lab wears an Elizabethan collar, or more commonly referred to as a "cone" around it's neck for around days. It will also take some ophthalmic pain meds to relieve any pain. Since a good number of Labradors have droopy eyes, you may feel that by reconstructive eyelid surgery, your pup will lose his aesthetic value. In such a case, if possible, you may ask the vet to leave a mild ectropion to maintain the aesthetic look linked to the breed. There are tips for controlling droopy eyes you can try. Stop Breeding Droopy Eyed Labs First off, if the condition is hereditary, it's likely to keep on being passed from one generation of Labs to the other. And the best way to address this is to stop breeding the culprits. So, if you happen to own a Lab with Droopy eyes, keep it off your breeding list to prevent raising an ectropion Lab breed. Watch for Injuries and Make Regular Vet Visits It is possible to curb the issue when it stems from traumas or physical injuries by keeping a close eye on your Lab or leashing him. It's also advisable to establish a regular eye check-up routine for your Lab. With regular eye check-ups, your vet can easily diagnose a case of droopy eyes before it becomes severe. Prognosis of Droopy Eyes Most cases of droopy eyes are often mild and highly responsive to simple medical care. Most Labs can generally tolerate such cases. And although some severe cases may require reconstructive eyelid surgery, the process is relatively simple with a short recovery span. However, complicated cases may be delicate, requiring intervention from experienced ophthalmologist surgeons. Bottom Line Don't be overwhelmed if you notice that your favorite Lab has droopy eyes. Most Labs are victims of this condition, which can be genetically transmitted from one generation to another. However, even if your Lab acquires droopy eyes from other factors such as traumas and nerve infections, you need not worry much. This is because most cases are mild, and Labs generally have good control over them. However, as discussed above, you should keep a close eye on your pup and immediately consult a vet if you notice any symptoms linked to ectropion. She has been creating content for print and online outlets for nearly two decades. This medical condition is characterized by a dog's eyelid or eyelids rolling outward. While it is not always a serious ailment that impacts your dog's eye function, it is something to learn more about and connect with your veterinarian to see how to best handle this condition with your pup. What Is Ectropion in Dogs? Ectropion is the opposite of entropion. In cases of genetic ectropion, it is often identified when the dog is still a puppy. But keep in mind that ectropion can also develop secondary to trauma to your dog's eye, especially if there is a laceration of the lower eyelid that does not heal correctly, McKinnon says. This can happen to a dog at any age. What Are the Symptoms of Ectropion in Dogs? If you notice that your dog's eyelids are sagging or rolling outward, they may have ectropion. Another thing to look for, according to McKinnon, would be discharge that builds up around their eyes. Because the eyelid is exposed, it may appear more red than usual as well because the openness of the eyelid exposes the ocular tissues, including the cornea and conjunctiva, to the environment. The only treatment for serious cases of ectropion is surgery, McKinnon says. An ocular lubricant may be recommended to cushion the eye tissues from any environmental debris in those breeds where ectropion is a desirable trait and blink function is normal," McKinnon says. You'll want to have your vet check your pooch's eyes twice a year to ensure the condition is not becoming more serious. Eye infections can result from the exposure of the lower conjunctiva. Diagnosis of ectropion In most cases the condition can be confirmed by visual examination. A thorough examination of the eyelids is important since ectropion can often occur in conjunction with entropion Click here to learn about entropion. Treatment of ectropion Ectropion is relatively well tolerated unless it is severe and surgical repair can generally be avoided by treating inflammation with a variety of eye drops. Most cases of ectropion that are not severe will require little if any intervention other than topical drops and ointments. Extremely severe cases of ectropion will not improve without surgical repair. There are several surgical procedures that may be used to reduce ectropion. Prevention of ectropion Because of the hereditary aspect of ectropion, affected dogs will likely transmit the defect. Affected dogs should probably not be bred. Acquired cases are generally associated with traumatic injury. The best way to avoid that is to keep your dog on a leash at all times. Click here to learn why you may be using the wrong leash. Prognosis of ectropion In all but the most severely affected cases the prognosis is quite good. The condition is generally well tolerated and in most cases will respond to simple medical care. Surgical correction may be required in severe cases. Though the surgery is relatively simple it can be very delicate and requires an experienced surgeon. Should I be concerned? How will we know if my dog has entropion too? If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Your puppy will be born and raised in our busy household. Our passion is to produce wonderful family pets with gentle loving temperaments that will bring a lifetime of happiness. We are extremely proud that the foundation of our lines have been trained as canine partner dogs and many of our puppies are therapy dogs and visit schools regularly. We have been breeding for a number of years and over these years we have seen many clubs come and go and we have been a member of some of them. We breed authentic Australian Labradoodles with lines that have been verified. We are content to follow our own path with strong ethics. We have an excellent reputation and we adopt the highest standards so you can be assured your puppy is an authentic Australian Labradoodle with bloodlines and health testing that has been verified. We follow a socialisation programme and temperament test all of our puppies before puppy pick day so we can help you make your choice. Temperament and health is always our first priority. We purchased our first Australian Labradoodle in and have been hooked ever since. Our dogs are our much loved family pets or live with their guardian families. Please contact us via email for more information. Access to our private puppy family area. A WhatsApp group for your litter. Both parents have been fully health tested with certificates available to view. Been bred in our family home by a 5 star council licensed breeder. Temperament tested and advice provided at puppy viewing. Call us today on Health Guaranteed All our puppies leave us with a full vet health check and a 2 year genetic health guarantee. Health Tested All our breeding Australian Labradoodles are fully health tested. We give our puppies the best start by following a tried and tested programme. Ethical Breeding We have the highest welfare standards which is why we hold a 5 star council licence. We believe every dog deserves a good life and this starts with the breeder. What our customers say.We travelled far to find her, and her knowledge, expertise and love for all things ALD is exceptional. After only a few days, Willow is already a huge part of our lives and so we are very glad that we chose Judy and RIpley's. Our dogs are very much our family pets. We are not a kennel, all our Australian Labradoodles have wonderful fulfilling lives either with us or our guardian families. Our dogs are for life and not just for breeding. The health and temperament of Australian Labradoodles is our number one priority, of course we breed exceptionally lovely puppies but our puppies health and temperament will always be our first priority. The Australian Labradoodle breed originated in Australia in the 's. The focus has always been on temperament, coat and quality through good health testing and planned matings. Our Australian Labradoodles are multigenerational, meaning both parents are Australian Labradoodles. Australian Labradoodles are very people focussed, they have a strong desire to please. Australian Labradoodles come in 3 sizes, miniature, medium and standard. Within my breeding programme I concentrate on miniature and mediums. Our Australian Labradoodles are extremely clever, sociable , comical and joyful. They are energetic when free and quiet in the home. We test their hips, elbows, eyes and genetics. When you purchase a Ripley's Australian Labradoodle you can be assured we have tested everything possible. We provide a 2 year health guarantee but we ask that our puppy families not give ingestible flea and worming treatments. Welcome to Magnolia Australian Labradoodles! Magnolia Australian Labradoodles was created to breed exceptional Labradoodle puppies to carry on the traits that make this breed so wonderful! We only have a few litters a year as we truly put our heart and soul into each of our puppies, as well as, the dogs that live here with us. At Magnolia Australian Labradoodles we consider each of our dogs a member of the family and we treat the puppies no differently. From day one, the Labradoodle puppies are in our home, being handled, played with and loved every single day. Someone is with them the majority of the time, making sure they are well cared for and interacting with them throughout the day. What makes us different? Through this method your new puppy will be calm and confident from day one. Your new puppy will be introduced to sleeping in a crate and beginning house training. This way your first night home will be a smoother transition for your puppy. We believe that attention to every detail is important. We are very approachable and when our materials do not answer a question you might have, we are committed to answering all your questions and fully preparing you to bring home your new family member. Our Goal is Excellence! Our goal at every point in the process is excellence. When you decide that Magnolia Australian Labradoodles is the best choice for your family, we take your decision very seriously. You become part of our family! We are passionate about sharing this exquisite breed with others, and providing wonderful homes for our pups. Once we decided to get an Australian Labradoodle, we then set out to find the best breeder we could find. We spent several months trying to find a breeder with not only good reviews, but also one who would understand our needs having a son with autism. We thought we had found a good breeder but they were not responsive and their contract was crazy long with some pretty crazy requirements. Right from the start, Judy was very responsive to ALL our questions. She understood our concerns about getting the right dog for our son. Once we decided to go forward with it, she even let us come visit to get to know our soon-to-be new family member. She has been so responsive to our questions and concerns even after bringing little JoJo home. Her training program has made such a huge difference and has taken away so much of the normal stress of having a new puppy. Thank you Judy. We are so in love with our sweet little JoJo. We elected to do bring our pup home around 12 weeks so he could do the advanced training and it was the right choice. Our pup did amazing in his crate, adjusted quickly and was comfortable going out on a leash to learn his bathroom spot at this new house. He did great with a 18 month old and 5 year old without any nipping. Chris Beck The decision to add a dog into our family was a big one. We took our time researching, with the selection of a breeder being a huge factor. I stumbled upon Judy at Magnolia Labradoodles and was instantly intrigued. I liked that she only had one litter at a time. I knew my puppy would be getting attention and care. I liked that past customers said she was responsive and the experience was personal. My telephone conversation with her was also critical. I had lots of questions and she had answers for all of them and gave me all the time I needed to feel comfortable. I could tell she loved what she did and it was personal to her…not just a business. We opted for the additional training and felt this made the transition home for our dog go smoothly. He did not nip at us, knew his name, how to focus on us, how to sit and was happy in his crate. We had to wait quite a while to bring our dog home, but Judy kept us updated with photos and videos. She even face-timed my children twice so they could see their dog. It was a great experience and worth the wait. I highly recommend Judy and Magnolia Labradoodles. We have always had English Labrador Retrievers, but due to us getting older we wanted something a little smaller but also hardy. Lexi is everything you could ask for: intelligent, kind, loving, good with people and children, loves all dogs, loves to play with our cat, walks and hikes great and the added bonus if the above items are not enough they are absolutely gorgeous!!!! We had an amazing experience with Judy!! Judy was always there to answer all my questions and she still is a year later!! That in itself is an outstanding quality, not to mention the wonderful job Judy does getting them ready for their forever homes. If you are skeptical about doing the 3 week training…DO IT!!! It was well worth it. We put Lexi in her crate the first night and she went right to sleep. I will never forget when we went to pick Lexi up. Judy let us in and there in the living room was this gorgeous, well behaved dog that just sat there until I went over and picked her up. I started crying and as I turned around, so was Judy!! That just showed me the love and compassion she has for raising these outstanding dogs. If after reading this, if you are still unsure, please feel free to contact me. Judy has my contact information. Debbie Stierly Working with Judy was fantastic. Cadbury Harmony and Rhett is as perfect a puppy as you could imagine. From the beginning, Judy helped my daughters face their fear of dogs and see how kind and loving puppies can be. This is absolutely a much better way to ensure success. Judy treats her pups with love and kindness. She dotes on them! When we brought Cadbury home, family and friends could not get over his calm and loving personality. He adjusted immediately, slept well on the first night, and already had learned manners. While it is hard to wait the extra 3 weeks, it is so nice to have a puppy that has learned basic obedience, crate training, and potty training! If you plan to add a puppy to your family and want a dog that will be sweet, obedient, and gentle, look no further! Judy was excellent throughout the process and was responsive, organized, detailed and passionate. Lucy was the smallest in the litter of Harmony and Rhett and needed a lot of extra care just to be able to make it to our home. Judy spent many sleepless nights to make this happen. Lucy is…. She is a kind and gentle puppy with a great spirit for adventure. We are enjoying her everyday! I highly recommend working with Judy if you are looking for a great addition to your family! The puppy that we recently got from Magnolia Australian Doodles was worth the wait and cost for such a lovely little addition to our menagerie. He was introduced to numerous adults, noisy children, other dogs, a cat, sweeper, hour car ride home and multiple other stimuli and he was unfazed. And this was just during the first two days. Not to mention a huge thunder and lightening storm. He is going to one of those special dogs, you talk about. PK Pamela Kratzer Five stars are honestly not enough! Judy made the experience of getting a puppy so easy and stress free. She was always available, and answered my thousands of questions. She sent us updates and photos weekly too! You can tell Judy puts her heart and soul into caring for each litter. Our puppy is almost 3 months old, and we are so happy we chose Magnolia Australian Labradoodles! Our puppy slept the whole first night, and is the most loving and fun puppy ever! Despite the pandemic going on, Judy did her best to socialize the puppies. She sends you home with a complete binder with everything you need to raise your puppy! Duke has been a great addition to our family and I highly recommend Magnolia Australian Labradoodles if you want a caring and knowledgeable breeder!! You guys are truly incredible. Thank you. He really brings a smile to all of us, all the time. I had done a lot of research on the web of this breed. Judy welcomed my questions and answered with obvious knowledge of having done her own research. She was able to answer any question or concern that I may have had. I highly recommend Judy and Magnolia Australian Labradoodle kennel to anyone looking for a beautiful Australian Labradoodle. I would also highly recommend the additional 3 weeks with Judy as she trains and teaches confidence. Ella came to us, confident and well adjusted. She was able to be in her crate all night 9hrs without even a whimper. She was able to sit and layed down on command. She is a lovable, sweet, attentive and is so well adjusted from the minute we brought her home. Without any hesitation, I give all the credit to her first human mommy, Judy Adams of Magnolia Australian Labradoodles. We adore our Little Miss Ella!! Joyce Rusin. Welcome to the home of Jajaca Australian Labradoodles. They are incredibly fun loving, loyal and intelligent with a brilliant temperament to match. These attributes make for the perfect family companion! I have owned dogs all my life, but ran into many dramas with allergies and health concerns with my then young family. After researching the Australian Labradoodle and what the breed represents, I realised that the Australian Labradoodle was everything I was looking for. Fast forward 15 years, my daughter Cassidy, my adopted sister Nicola and I feel nothing but gratitude to be able to provide our families with the quality Labradoodles I was searching for many years ago. I am so fortunate to have been given encouragement and total support from all members of the ALA, who share their knowledge and wisdom for the betterment of the breed. All these years later and I am still totally hooked, assisting to mentor new ALA Breeders, and finding I am more in love with this breed than I ever thought possible. We are and will remain a dedicated breeder bringing up our babies in our family environment free of kennels. All our girls and boys live with loving families locally and nearby, where they are raised with rules, boundaries and discipline and loved unconditionally by their families. Our breeding girls and boys family has grown wonderfully in the last 17 years. We currently have some stunning girls and boys we are very proud of and some youngsters waiting to mature who will continue Jajaca into the forseeable future. Please visit their photo albums to check them and their breeding statistics out. They were precious, valued members of our family, the girls that started Jajaca and though we miss them everyday, their memory reminds us of why we do what we do, to share the joy they brought us with other families. Blaise beauty, Harper and Jajaca Jaycee are all now additions to our family group. Our focus as a breeder has been and will continue to be to offer quality, sound, healthy dogs as genuine family companions and never compromise the wonderful qualities of the breed. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any enquiries regarding this truly magnificent breed or ask about our upcoming litters. We hope that you enjoy browsing our site!

We offer the most healthy AKC puppies for sale at a reasonable price. French Bulldog puppy. The popularity of the new breed quickly spread outside of France especially among the middle class, and eventually, it reached in the United States. Nowadays, there is French Bulldog breeders all over the globe and the breed is still very loved in many countries. The most uncommon Colors of French Bulldogs are blue, lilac, blue and tan, and chocolate and tan. Add that Merle coats. A blue merle is maybe the most uncommon of all. In our current reality where a standard French Bulldog costs a few thousand dollars, these uncommon colors can sell for many thousands. These puppies are gentle, loving and affectionate. They are a good family dog and do well with children. The breed is also intelligent, docile and relatively easy to train. While puppies may be very energetic, adult Frenchies are relatively calm and have moderate exercise needs. That makes them an excellent choice for apartments and for owners who are unable to provide vigorous exercise. The dog bonds with owners and can get depressed if left alone for long periods. Bored or lonely pups can also chew or become destructive. Barkley is our Tan french bulldog for sale craigslist. When everyone is awake and yelling to be let out of the cage, you will generally find him asleep in the back, or just hanging out. Pick him up and he will give you a hug, he is such a cutie! He is a cute guy like his daddy and has great features…He is going to be a handsome boy! Whenever you are looking for a Mini French Bulldog for sale, you can get in touch with us asap! Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting time filled with joy, cuddles, and a few inevitable challenges. One of the most common questions new puppy owners ask is, "When can puppies go outside? Table of Contents 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.All French Bulldog Insights French Bulldog Breed Info If you're seeking an adorable companion with a charmingly squashed face, an easygoing personality, and a distinct penchant for lounging on the couch, the French Bulldog could just be your perfect match. With their signature bat ears and expressive eyes, French Bulldogs, or "Frenchies" as they are lovingly known, have captured the hearts of many dog lovers around the globe, consistently ranking among the most popular breeds. Renowned for their easy maintenance and the ability to thrive in apartment living, French Bulldogs are a city dweller's delight. Their small size, typically weighing under 28 pounds, makes them perfectly suited to compact urban spaces. However, their charming personalities and heartwarming companionship are universally loved, irrespective of city or countryside living. This breed's laid-back nature does not mean they're devoid of fun and play. On the contrary, French Bulldogs can be quite playful and are known for their often comical and entertaining antics, which only further endears them to their owners. Their affectionate demeanor, combined with a remarkably low barking tendency, makes them a joy to have around the house. French Bulldogs are sturdy, compact, and stocky, with a powerful muscular build that contradicts their small size. They have a smooth coat that comes in a variety of colors, from fawn and brindle to white and grey. Their facial expressions are human-like, and they're known to "talk" using a complex system of yawns, yips, and gargles. However, owning a French Bulldog does come with responsibilities. Their brachycephalic short-nosed nature makes them prone to certain health issues and less tolerant of extreme temperatures. Despite their muscular appearance, they are not the best swimmers, and care should be taken around bodies of water.

Experience the Golden Standard in Retriever Breeding! Our English Cream golden retriever puppies are raised in our home and play in our yard. We have only 1 breeding female. We are as selective about our forever families as we hope you are in choosing a breeder. We have learned a great deal about what to look for, and even if our puppies aren't for you, we'd be happy to share the knowledge we've gained. Feel free to email or call. We live in a neighborhood with lots of kids, and when we have puppies at home, we have many daily visitors for play and snuggling. See our questions page for more details. We are highly selective when we choose males to sire our litters. We perform every DNA and physiological test available for this breed. See our questions page for information on getting on our waitlist and pricing. Inbreeding is always a concern with pure breeds. The Golden Retriever standard is 7. Our June litter has 0. These lead to a set of physical traits in your dog common to the origin breeding line. They have blockier heads and ears set further down the skull. They are on the relaxed of behavior, but rearing and training will greatly influence their temperament and individual activity levels. They love romp, wrestle and chase the tennis balls. The most obvious difference in the what people call English or European Creams are the coats that range from bright white to slightly toasted marshmallow. One measurable difference is incidence of cancer. The rate of cancer reported in Golden Retrievers by the European Kennel clubs and their lineage is about half of that reported by their American club counterparts. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. It will be easier for you to come to meet and pick up the puppies in Southern California, rather than having to drive to our primary location in Newcastle. The dam and sire of this litter are our own adults in the breeding program, but are being hosted by a very caring, nurturing and experienced dog family. We work hand in hand to assure the puppies are cared for and socialized in the way our customers have come to recognize as the "best. If puppies stay for extended training, that is done at our Newcastle, CA. Below you can read more about the upcoming puppies and their loving host. If you would like to be included on the reservation list for the puppies, in our SoCal location, do not hesitate to contact us. We would love to welcome you to the CHGR family! Southern California is expected to have a litter due in December, .Puppies will go to their new homes in mid to late February. Place your reservation now as spots fill up very quickly! What a wonderful girl she is! We love Lexi and her pups, as she passes along her incredibly sweet temperament to all of her fur babies. She is beyond sweet and loves to lay her head on your lap, foot, or wherever she can to get close to everyone she meets. Incredibly smart, she loves to perform her skills, especially for treats! Lexi loves to play ball and adores people, especially children. Lexi loves to play with other dogs and also loves to sleep with the cat. She has a beautiful cream coat between a silky and cotton texture and is one of our larger girls, at a little over 75 pounds. We are a northern California breeder near Sacramento that prides itself on choosing our breeding dogs for top health, temperament, and beauty that conforms to the breed standard. Our dogs are selected from champion lines with health clearances. We will only breed dogs that pass all of these tests, so we can continue reaching to improve the breed through imposing high standards for our dogs. We breed dogs from these lines to continue a heritage of excellence in the breed. This standard is different from the AKC standard for golden retrievers, but both are accepted and licensed. The English type should have a blockier and fuller head, shorter muzzle, lower ear set, rounder eyes, stouter body structure, as well as a lighter color than the American type see comparison figure below. As an adult, it has been a pleasure to now show and selectively breed these beautiful English Golden Retrievers. Raising our English Golden Retrievers is a family endeavor that includes everyone from the youngest to the oldest. It is wonderful to make family memories with our dogs and children together. Our English Goldens are first and foremost pets who live and play among our family. Our children are involved from showing our dogs to whelping the puppies. Our puppies go home to their new families very loved and well socialized. In Northern California, we are located in Newcastle which is at the base of the Sierra Mountain foothills; close to Sacramento, and about miles from San Francisco or about miles from San Jose other cities near us are Roseville, Loomis, Folsom, Orangevale, Auburn, Lake Tahoe about an hour , and Reno about 2 hours. We can deliver our puppies to you if you are out of state, and personally travel with the puppy to bring your puppy to you. We cordially invite you to visit us and meet our beloved puppies and amazing dogs. We're located in the California Gold County just 25 miles east of Sacramento. Surrounded by golden foothills, we offer the perfect place to meet and enjoy the dogs. Expect to be greeted with wagging tails and wet noses during your visit, as our dogs are always excited to meet new people. Please let us know when you would like to visit by booking an appointment. The care and love you, Heather, and all at Classic Heritage devote to these pups is remarkable. The efforts taken to ensure pups are matched with their new happy forever home are excellent. Everyone I met was equally professional, educated, loving, kind, and a lot of fun. All of the dogs are beautiful and happy.We have had the best experience and have the most loving pup so anything we can do to help Classic Heritage we would. We have recommended you to everyone who has asked. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We are a small hobby breeder of only this breed. We are located on over an acre of land in Southern California. Our goal is to breed for conformation, health, and temperment. For Conformation, we attend at least 2 shows a year and make sure our dogs are champions before they are bred. All Clearances and needed x-rays are done to produce the healthiest puppy possible. Our dogs also display affectionate and intelligent behavior as all Golden Retrievers should. We love nothing more than tending to our puppies. All our dogs and puppies are fed high quality food including home-cooked meals. Before the pups are sent to their new owners, they are examined by a qualified professional at a top veterinary facility for health and conformation. All vaccinations and parasite checks are also completed. We are confident in the health of our pups and we back it up with a 1-year health guarantee. Our priority is to make sure our families and puppies are happy in every way. This means that we spend a great amount of time interacting with our puppies to learn their personalities. Additionally, we take our time learning the needs of our customers so they are paired with the perfect pup. From the time our pups are born they are exposed to stimulating age appropriate activities. They are also held by people of all ages and genders. As they get older they are exposed to different noises, other animals, water, different textures and other safe outdoor activities. A well socialized pup is one of the most important things to ensure that they have a happy forever home!! Puppies are not for breeding and are sold with limited registration! Once you own one, you'll never be without one. Reserve yours today! What to expect from an English Golden Retriever. All rights reserved. Contact Us English Golden Retriever Puppies in California When a puppy lays its head on you or looks up into your eyes, it gives you a feeling like no other. In exchange for a loving home and attentive care, a puppy will repay you with a lifetime of love, happiness, and wonder. There is no better breed to do that for you than a golden retriever—and there is no better place to get a golden retriever than MN English Golden. You will be hard-pressed to find golden retrievers with a more impressive pedigree or temperament than the parents of and puppies from our litters. Starting the moment their born, right in our home, we pet and cuddle them to get them used to the human touch. As they grow, we give them endless amounts of love, attention, and care, and expose them to different sounds and environments. By the time they go home to you in California, your puppy will be a great family dog who is easy to train, well socialized, intelligent, friendly, playful, and affectionate. Championship bloodlines run throughout our litters. Selection is done in the order in which we receive your reservation and deposit, so we suggest getting on the waiting list early. Every AKC golden retriever puppy from MN Golden comes with a health guarantee, vet exam and certificate, AKC registration form, microchip, up to date vaccines and dewormer, and a puppy pack including food and a scented toy, collar, or blanket. We begin basic training—potty training, crate training, etc. Ready to welcome one of our golden retriever puppies into your California home? Fill out a puppy application to get on the waiting list today!

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

An hour later, the puppy has been running around the house, chugged a bunch of water, pees in the house again, and it starts all over… So how do we stop this cycle from happening? Step 1: Take Them Outside Often Some people recommend taking your puppy outside every 20 minutes, while others recommend every hour. The point is, take your puppy outside often before they need to go. Puppies can hold their bladder for about an hour per their age in months, so a two-month-old puppy can hold it for about two hours, a three-month-old puppy can hold it for about three hours, and so on. But now that playtime is over they suddenly remember they have to pee and this nice carpet looks like the perfect spot! You can use this to your advantage by taking them to the same spot every time. To stop this, you need to clean up accidents with an enzymatic cleaner , not regular soap and water. One issue that many people make we made it, too is praising them too loud and too soon, and interrupting them. Then grab them and bring them outside to their spot and if they finish going, praise them like normal for going outside. So if you do all of the steps above, how long should it take for your puppy to be potty trained? All puppies are different, but it can take two weeks to a few months for your golden retriever puppy to be potty trained. So, one puppy at 12 weeks of age may go every hour, whereas another puppy at the same age goes every two. Up to 6 months of age, the maximum time a puppy should go before being allowed to relieve itself is four hours. After 6 months of age, a puppy might be able to hold it for 6 hours, but again that is dependent on many factors, and the individual dog and pee breaks should be no more than four hours. A good rule of thumb is that after six months of age make sure your dog can go out for a potty break every 4-hours, no matter how long they can hold their bladders. Golden Retriever puppies pee a lot. The younger the pee, the more it will pee. In general, expect Golden Retriever puppies up to three months old to pee 10 to 15 times per day. After three months, they may only pee four to eight times per day. However, the peeing frequency can be impacted by age, size, activity, diet, hydration, stress, and medical issues. Age Age is the most significant determinant of peeing frequency for puppies. This is because when they are very young, their bladders are small, and they do not have the physical ability to hold their pee. Moreover, at this age, they have not had any formal house training, so they have not yet learned how to hold it. So, when the urge strikes, they go. They do not care if it is on your carpet, bed, or floor. In the wild, when an animal needs to go, it goes. Puppies must learn not to pee in the home and wait until outside. Fortunately, Golden Retrievers are smart and learn fast. So, as their bladders grow, if they are given a reasonable opportunity to go outside when the urge strikes, they will quickly learn to hold it. Size Size is the next important factor. The bigger your puppy, the bigger its bladder. As a result, you will typically find a larger puppy has better bladder control. Not always, but usually. For example, at eight weeks of age, my Golden Retriever only went once during the night, and by week 10 could hold it until morning and never cried. However, he was a huge puppy for his age. Activity You may notice that during and after exercise, your puppy has to pee more. This increased peeing from exercise is perfectly normal. The most obvious reason for increased pee frequency is increased fluid intake. To replenish the lost water due to panting and keep themselves cool, they drink more water. Additionally, during activity, blood flow to the kidneys is decreased and diverted to the muscles. After rest, normal blood flow returns to the kidneys, and urine output is increased. High amounts of activity are normal for a Golden Retriever puppy. In fact, they can often border on crazy , because of their insane activity levels. So, be diligent because they will often stop suddenly to go pee during these times. BAR often would need to pee during exercise and play Diet What a puppy eats can impact its need to urinate. For example, diets rich in moisture-rich foods can increase fluid intake and result in more urination. For example, giving your puppy some wet or raw dog food or adding some water to its kibble increases fluid intake. Or, your puppy may be getting more moisture-rich foods in snacks. For example, cucumbers, apples, and other moisture-rich foods can increase hydration levels and peeing frequency. In contrast, if your puppy eats dry kibble and snacks, such as the freeze-dried liver, it may pee less. Regardless of the diet, always ensure your puppy has lots of fresh water. Hydration The more your puppy drinks, the more it will pee. As mentioned previously, both diet and activity levels can impact hydration levels. However, weather can also impact the amount of water consumed. For example, puppies need more water on hot summer days to cool themselves adequately, including indoors if there is no air conditioning in the home. In the winter, drier weather can also cause a puppy to drink more. Ensure your puppy is not left outside too long on summer days, and always make sure there is an adequate water supply both inside and out. Stress Stress can be in the form of fear, anxiety, or even excitement. These intense emotions can both increase or decrease urination. This form of peeing is called excitement urination, and it can happen when a puppy is excited. It is normal for puppies, and most puppies outgrow this over time. Puppies can also urinate when you are leaving due to separation anxiety. In addition, puppies may urinate from the emotional distress and fear of you leaving and them being alone. Puppies may also urinate from harsh punishments such as yelling or physical reprimands, and this stems from fear. Often submission urination in puppies or dogs is due to being fearful or highly anxious. Please keep training positive and rewarding. It will save you from behavioral problems down the road. If you need help training your puppy I purchased five of the most popular online dog training programs to determine the best one. Medical Issues While medical issues in puppies are thankfully rare, they can occur and may impact urination. A UTI is caused by bacteria. While your puppy may need to pee more frequently, very little comes out, and it may leak, strain to pee, or pee in the house. Again, most puppies are healthy and medical issues causing urination problems are mostly rare. It is important to remember that puppies under 3 months of age typically have limited bladder control and reflexes and need to be house-trained. In other words, they pee a lot, so expect accidents — a lot of them, especially early on. However, call your veterinarian if you feel your puppy is peeing more or less than usual. Often, they can determine over the phone if your puppy needs to come in for an exam. Recognizing these patterns will help you in your potty training because you can be proactive in getting your dog out quickly when it needs to do its business. Typical times when your Golden Retriever puppy will need to go out to pee include: When waking up: either in the morning or after a nap After meals Within an hour after drinking water During or after play Before bed These are the most common times your puppy will need to go pee. But, for a good reason, the first on that list is after sleeping, especially in the morning. When getting up in the morning, take your puppy out first thing. Not after a cup of coffee or your shower, but before you do anything else. Consider that your puppy has a small bladder, and if it has held it most of the night, it has to relieve itself. So if you have to go, it has to go worse. Other typical times include after meals and after drinking water. Be on the watch as puppies often go potty within 30 to 60 minutes after eating or drinking. We set BAR up for success. Taking him outside after sleeping and meals meant we could reward him easily for going potty outside This is an excellent time to keep your puppy in sight. The same applies during play. You might see your puppy suddenly stop, sneak away, and start sniffing, circling, or squatting. Then, quickly but calmly , pick the puppy up and take it outside. In this way, a puppy is tethered to you, and you are more able to catch accidents before they happen. And always take the puppy out before bed. This is a good habit to instill earlier. Allowing the dog to relieve itself before bed ensures the bladder is emptied before sleep. Golden Retrievers puppies also poop a lot. They are also eager to please and learn. So, potty training should happen quickly if you are positive, aware, and consistent. There are many great resources on how to teach your Golden Retriever puppy to go outside. Still, there are a few rules you should always follow to make it as easy as possible. In addition, to the common times noted above, ensure that you: Keep a consistent schedule; this pertains to trips outside, feeding, and exercise. Patterns are built around consistency. Provide regular exercise outside — outside exercise gives opportunities for the puppy to pee outside and for you to reward quickly for that behavior. Signs or patterns of when your puppy will need to go will become clear if you observe and supervise. Use a house line to keep the puppy visible and within reach. They can sneak away like little Golden puppy ninjas. Keep rewards with you always. One of the biggest mistakes people make when training a puppy is missed opportunities. Ensure that if your puppy does something you want, you always have treats on hand to reward behaviors you want. The puppy must learn potty time is for peeing and pooing. Patterns will appear — Bailey would suddenly stop and start sniffing and that meant it was potty time If you need to stock up on supplies such as poop bags, treat pouches, pooper scoopers, and more, check out my Must-Have Dog Gear page. It is normal, and it can be more or less depending on various factors. Expect very young puppies to go more and for urination to decrease as the puppy ages, and the bladder grows. Early on, at eight weeks, you may be taking your Golden Retriever puppy out every one to two hours, but they will decline rapidly as the puppy grows. Peeing should decline to every two to four hours by three or four months old, and it just gets better from thereon. Finally, keep potty training positive. Reward the puppy generously for going outside — make it a celebration, and remember to stay chill when accidents happen! The average adult dog should be allowed to relieve itself at least times per day. That's at least once every 8 hours. Size The body size of your pet is also an important factor. A small or toy breed dogs has a very tiny dog bladder compared to a larger dog. How long can dogs hold their pee? It's estimated how often do dogs pee approximately ml per pound of body weight. So a 5 lbs dog will pee between 1. That's not a lot, but how much can their tiny dog bladders hold? Half an ounce? An ounce at best? Every dog is different, and their bathroom habits are unique too. Our guidelines are general estimates, but your dog may fall well below or even exceed these averages. Make sure you are making a bathroom schedule that best suits your individual pup. Health Many pet health conditions can contribute to more frequent urination. Urinary tract issues, kidney stone problems, diabetes, and even weight problems can be a factor. Medications play a role as well. Some medications can have a diuretic effect, meaning it encourages more frequent urination. It could be a symptom of a health issue that needs to be addressed. Diet The type of food you feed plays an important role in your urinary health issues. Moisture-rich foods , like raw and wet dog food , can increase the amount and frequency of their pee. Hydration is good. Even though your dog may need to pee a bit more often, moisture-rich diets aid in digestion and can flush out toxins and bacteria that build up in their body. Just like in humans, the colour of their pee can indicate dehydration. Dark yellow pee is not a good sign. The Importance of a Bathroom Routine We mentioned earlier that young dog can hold their pee for quite a while. On average dogs can hold their pee for up to hours if they have to. If the need arises and your pet will be home alone for that long, most young dogs will manage, but asking them to do this on a regular basis may have some negative consequences. Forcing your dog to hold his dog bladder for too long on a regular basis can increase the risk of: Urinary tract infections — part of the urination cycle is to help the body flush out bacteria and toxins that build up in the kidney, bladder, and urethra. Holding their pee allows that bacteria to continue populating in the urinary tract. This can lead to crystal or stone formation, and blockages that can quickly become life-threatening. For dogs prone to urinary issues, try a urinary support product like Cranimals to help reduce bacteria buildup. Urinary cancer — carcinogens in urine will have more opportunity to interact with cells the longer they are in contact with the bladder. This is a less common issue but should still be considered when deciding how long your pet must wait for a pee break. Incontinence — It's more common in ageing pets, but incontinence can happen to dogs at any age. When dogs are repeatedly made to hold their pee for too long, over-distention of the bladder can occur and damage the muscle and surrounding tissues leading to leaks. This damage may be irreversible, so prevention is key. If your dog is experiencing any issues when it comes to bathroom needs, then you need to contact your vet immediately. Not peeing, straining to pee, peeing way too often, leaking, and blood in the urine are all common signs of a much bigger issue. Potty Training Issues If your dog is having accidents in the house consistently, then you may need to consider why. The first thing you should do is connect with your vet to rule out a medical issue. If your dog is a healthy dog, then the problem could be behavioural. Excitement Peeing For puppies , and even young adult dogs, excitement peeing is common. This is commonly referred to as puppy piddles. How long should I walk my dog in the door, does your dog immediately pee? It doesn't always mean that he just can't hold it any longer. It likely means that he is overwhelmed by the excitement of seeing you. How many times should a dog pee a day? You can un-train this behaviour by simply ignoring your dog until he is calm enough to reward it with attention. This will take time, patience, and consistency. Fortunately, many younger dogs outgrow these peeing habits on their own. Marking Territory marking is another reason that your dog may be having accidents in the house. It's most common in un-neutered males, but fixed dogs of both genders can have this bad habit. The psychology of territory marking is rooted in their natural instincts. It's a game of control. Often this habit forms when a new pet or person is introduced into the home that makes your dog feel that his position in the hierarchy is threatened. Marking behaviours from intact dogs can usually be solved by getting them fixed. Talk to your vet about whether spaying or neutering your pet is the best option. Fixed dogs that mark typically do so out of anxiety. Keeping your pet stimulated, both mentally and physically will relieve stress, anxiety, and fear. Anxiety relief products, such as the Thundershirt , can also be a helpful tool when managing marking behaviours. Check out the link below for more information on this great product. Choose the options that best suit your dog's needs. Pee pads — these are especially helpful for young puppies and dogs that are kennel trained. Indoor bathroom — For free-roaming dogs, an indoor potty training system can allow your dog to relieve themselves whenever they need to. Like a litter box for dogs. Which, by the way, also exists. Doggy door — If you have a secure, fenced backyard, consider installing a doggy door. Your dog can come and go as he pleases, and you can stop worrying about leaving him alone with no bathroom break. This fun and engaging environment will allow him to run and play all day while being supervised by trained professionals. Lunch break check-up — This option is only great for those that live close to where they work. If you can, try to duck home on your lunch break for a quick hangout with your pooch. You can manage his bathroom needs, and give him some extra attention and exercise to break up his day. This is the best of both worlds for anyone lucky enough to have this option. Your dog doesn't have to be home alone, and you get to hang out with the coolest co-worker ever. Frequently Asked Questions How long can an adult dog hold its pee? Adult dogs can generally hold their pee for about 6 to 8 hours. Can puppies hold their pee as long as adult dogs? No, puppies have smaller bladders and less control, so they typically need to pee more frequently, often every 2 to 4 hours. Are there breed-specific differences in how long dogs can hold their pee? Yes, some small breeds may need more frequent bathroom breaks compared to larger breeds, which can hold it longer. How can I extend the time my dog can hold its pee? You can gradually increase the time between bathroom breaks through training, but it's important not to make them wait too long, as it can lead to discomfort or accidents. What are signs that my dog needs to pee urgently? Signs include restlessness, pacing, whining, sniffing the ground, circling, or scratching at the door. Should I limit water intake to help my dog hold its pee longer? No, it's essential to provide access to fresh water, and limiting it can lead to dehydration. Instead, focus on regular bathroom breaks and proper training. She has worked in the pet industry for over a decade and loves to share her passion for animal welfare with others. She is currently working for one very rebellious cat, Jack, and hanging out with a goofy but loveable doggo named Roxy. The majority of golden retrievers are entirely potty trained by the time they reach the age of six months. These are the things you need to do to successfully potty train your golden: Put them on a routine If your Golden retriever is 2 months old, he can hold his bladder for up to 3 hours. If you allow them to go longer between potty excursions, they will have an accident. A regimen is beneficial to puppies because it teaches them when to eat, play, and go pee. Establish a command and decide where you want them to pee. Choose an outside pee spot and walk your dog there on a leash every time. Applaud them Give your dog a reward every time he or she goes outdoors to relieve themselves. Pick a time Make a feeding schedule for your dog. Your puppy will be more likely to eliminate at the same time if you feed them at the same time every day. Make it a habit to take them out on a regular basis. Take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and play, eat or drink immediately after they wake up. The majority of puppies can sleep for up to seven hours without having to go to the bathroom. Stay alert Allowing your dog to go potty inside the house is not a smart idea; keep a close eye on them at all times. Before they relieve themselves, puppies generally bark or scrape at the entrance, squat, be restless, smell while moving circles. This provides you time to take them to their potty area before they go inside and, of course, reward them with a gift. The space should be spacious enough to comfortably stand, lie down, and turn around. You should think about crate training your dog. If your puppy has been crated for several hours, you must take them to their designated pee area as soon as you return. Related Questions When can golden retrievers hold their bladder? How long can golden retriever puppies hold their bladder? Golden Retriever Puppies can hold their bladder for about an hour per their age in months plus one, so a two-month-old puppy can hold it for about three hours; as they age, they tend to control their bladder more yet in their senior life stage, they tend to need to pee more often. How long can a golden retriever hold its pee at night? A golden retriever can hold its pee at night when they reach the age of eight months; at this age, they can hold their urine for up to eight hours. It is worthy of mention that at younger ages, more accidents are likely to happen. How long does it take to potty train a golden retriever? Potty Training a Golden Retrievers takes around six months, Golden Retrievers are a smart breed that is easy to train and obedient to their owners, their instinct to please their loved ones makes the process easier than with other breeds. When do golden retrievers sleep through the night? 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. Bladder infections Depression Never punish your Golden Retriever for showing distressing signs of separation anxiety or destructive behavior due to frustration. Remember that Golden Retrievers were bred to retrieve ducks and other game birds for hunters due to their strength, stamina, and high work ethic. So how much exercise do Golden Retrievers need? The exercise requirements of a Golden Retriever depend on their age and general health. Puppies need five minutes of exercise per month of age, twice a day until they are fully grown. Adults should have at least two hours of activity per day. Senior dogs might only be able to manage minutes. Some days your Golden Retriever might want more exercise, some days less, a bit like humans! My dog will put the brakes on, sit down, and looks up at me if she gets tired during a walk. Exercise should include many fun activities, not just leash walking. If you have the option of leaving your Golden Retriever outside when you depart, it can provide him with an abundance of space to run around and feel calm. However, are they okay to be left out, or are they inside dogs? Golden Retrievers prefer to be inside dogs as they are highly social, people-loving, and prefer interaction. However, they can be outside dogs in certain climates due to their double coat, but only if you train them to stay outside from a young age and provide adequate shelter, such as a doghouse. May engage in destructive chewing of your possessions if suffering from separation anxiety. Prevents your dog from being injured if you live alongside wild animals who might attack. Risk of neighbor complaints due to excessive barking from separation anxiety, especially if you live in an apartment. Your puppy needs to be toilet trained. If they spend more time outside, you will have less cleaning up! You need a large space for your dog to be comfortable. A small yard is insufficient. An occasional bark from your backyard is excellent to ward off strangers. Your dog may chew on tree roots or destroy flowers. Your dog can get rid of any pent-up energy, especially if you buy a dog agility course or make one! Your dog may be unhappy and feel less part of the family. Pros and cons of leaving a Golden Retriever outside Where to Leave Your Golden Retriever in the Home If you prefer to leave your Golden Retriever inside when you go out, you can still manage his environment and keep him safe by containing him in a specific part of the house. Here are a few suggestions to contain your dog inside: Use a dog crate. It should be big enough for your dog to turn around comfortably and stretch out. My dog loved her crate and often went to her den to chill out or chew her KONG toys. Use dog gates. You can use dog gates or baby gates to segregate an area of your home. These allow you to section off no-go areas leaving you to decide how much freedom your puppy can have to wander around. Plus, there are a ton to choose from to suit your furnishings. Use a playpen. Some playpens can even be adjoined to a crate to make a great combination of a comfy resting place and room to roam. Some are constructed from heavy-duty metal and can be used outside, such as the BestPet Dog Pen from Amazon. I like this playpen as you can configure it into multiple shapes without using tools. The time will eventually come when you want to allow your Golden Retriever to have the run of the house. Most owners ultimately try this route. My dog was over two years old before she was allowed free reign of the house. Potential new dog owners often ask me whether they can leave a Golden Retriever for 8 hours and work full time. Golden Retrievers can not be left for 8 hours. They are highly sociable dogs and will suffer from separation anxiety. They also need ongoing care and attention, such as physical exercise, mental stimulation, toilet breaks, and food and water. You can have a Golden Retriever and work full time, but you must make alternative arrangements to care for your dog. Examples are to hire a dog sitter or dog walker, get family and friends to visit, return home on your lunch break, enroll him in doggie daycare, or work from home. Ensure you train your dog to be left alone from a young age. You could also hire a reliable dog walker. Arrange for friends and family to visit. Get family or friends to call throughout the day. Even short minute periods will be sufficient to keep your dog happy and amused. It would be super if they could take him on a walk, but a quick game of frisbee or fetch will surely do the trick to burn off some energy and prevent loneliness. Visit your dog on your lunch break. Flexible working is also a superb solution, and you can schedule when you need help. Enroll your dog at a doggie daycare center. You can usually find them in most neighborhoods. Work from home. With thousands of jobs moving to mobile workstations, working from home part of the week is a good idea. This way, you can play with your pup all day during your breaks. It also saves you from having to pay for a dog sitter. Here are a few takeaways from the article: Golden Retrievers can be left alone for a maximum of four hours. Make sure your Golden Retriever is adequately exercised and stimulated before leaving him. Be aware of separation anxiety and other health issues if you persistently leave your dog for too long. Consider hiring a dog sitter or dog-walker. Other solutions are doggy daycare, working from home, and enlisting the help of family and friends. I hope this article has given you an honest insight into how long your Golden Retriever can be left alone. Related Posts You May Like:.

But they belong to a breed well-known for its hardworking, gentle nature. Born to the water, the Labrador retriever once assisted Newfoundland fisherman haul in nets full of fish. Today the Lab is commonly considered the most popular dog in the world. Labrador pups grow up to be reliable family dogs, as well as hunting and service animals. Temperament Labrador retrievers are known for their friendly temperament, so your puppy should not be afraid when you approach and should allow you to pick him up without prolonged resistance. A well-tempered Lab pup should show an interest in you and be energetic and playful. Appearance Lab puppies are born chocolate, yellow or black in color. The breed is known for its strong build, somewhat triangular head, and wide forehead and nose. Labs have moderately floppy ears, a tail like an otter, and kind, intelligent eyes. Diet Your Lab puppy can eat adult dog food with a protein content of 25 percent or less, or a puppy food for large breeds. Feed him up to three times daily, but don't leave food out all day. Activity Labs were bred to hunt, swim and work, so being busy is in their bones. Keep your athletic puppy active and offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor exercise. Your pup is a water dog, and if you introduce him early to a lake or backyard pool, he will be a swimmer for life. Playing fetch is another natural game for a retriever, but your fun-loving Lab puppy will be ready to jog, hike and follow you anywhere. Health Concerns Labrador puppies are prone to health problems common to the breed. Your puppy could inherit hip dysplasia or a serious eye disease such as cataracts or progressive retinal atrophy. These health issues may be hard to detect in young pups, so it is important to know his parents' health history. An X-ray can determine whether either parent has dysplasia, and a veterinary ophthalmologist can examine a puppy's eyes for signs of disease. They Grow Lab puppies may be roly-poly little butterballs when you bring them home, but the average Labrador retriever can grow to 75 pounds, according to the American Kennel Club. Make sure your house and lifestyle are a match for a dog this size, and that you can offer a large yard or active exercise routine. Consider whether you can commit to a decade or more with your puppy, since Labs generally live 10 to 12 years. Labs are loyal companion dogs, so if you work a lot and are rarely home you may want to consider a different pet. Country Life June 21, This picture could only be improved if the puppies were using their paws to cover ears, eyes and mouth respectively.But, well, you can't have everything. Credit: Alamy If you're after a labrador — aka 'the world's favourite dog' — you'll need to take some expert advice. It is one of the most versatile breeds, capable of working in search and rescue, as a guide dog, in medical detection, as a sniffer or assistance dog and in the theatre of war. Labrador tips from the experts Go to a specialist breeder, so that you can see the different generations of a breeding line. Make temperament, not sex, your overriding factor when choosing. As soon as your puppy wakes up, take it outside. When introducing the labrador to a lead, walk it with an older dog. A yellow Labrador puppy. Possible labrador problems to look out for Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic disease, causing the abnormal development of the hip socket, resulting in pain and lameness. Listen for a popping sound when the dog walks, and look for reluctance to use stairs, as well as sensitivity when you touch the hindquarters. Labradors can also be prone to retinal dysplasia, an inherited condition that affects labradors used for field work, and results in their developing blind spots. Generally, the dog can work around this by changing head position. Reputable breeders will be able to show certification that the dog has no eye conditions, which you should ask to see when buying a dog. Head and skull: Skull broad with defined stop; clean-cut without fleshy cheeks. Jaws of medium length, powerful not snippy. Nose wide, nostrils well developed. Eyes: Medium size, expressing intelligence; brown or hazel. Ears: Not large or heavy, hanging close to head and set rather far back. Mouth: Jaws and teeth strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. Coat: Distinctive feature, short dense without wave or feathering, giving fairly hard feel to the touch; weather-resistant undercoat. No need to scroll down: we can confirm that the Golden Retriever is indeed on the list below. Credit: Alamy Which is the more popular spaniel, the springer or the cocker? Shooting Times's David Tomlinson weighs up the pros and Close up of dog. Credit: Getty Images With a silken coat, affectionate nature and boundless enthusiasm for life, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel lives up to its Credit: Getty As the dog world prepares for Crufts , we take a look at the breed of dog which has been A sprocker spaniel Picture: Alamy Whether you own labradors, springers, cockers or a mix of all three, debate over which gundog is best has raged Related. However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on. Increased surgical and anesthetic risk. Increased cancer risk. You are killing your dog with kindness if you are overfeeding your labrador and neglecting their exercise routine. This very fat labrador shown below might look cute and cuddly but I bet it struggles to walk, let alone run. Once your beloved dog gets to this stage of fatness, it is a massive task to get your dog to shed this weight. You would need to be seeing your vet and putting your dog on a very strict diet. Getting a dog this obese to exercise vigorously would be almost impossible. It would likely take you more than a year to remedy a health condition as severe as this. Animal behaviorists and some of the vet reality TV shows often have complete episodes about how to get an animal this overweight back into a healthy shape. And even after your dog has returned to a reasonable healthy weight, you still have significant health issues that have arisen in the first place because of the lengthy period of obesity. Most likely diabetes, damaged hip joints, and potentially cancer. You can find reasonably priced and very healthy dry food brands for your Labrador Retriever like Hills Science Diet and Canin some of which are specifically designed for this breed. Source: Raffan, E. Labrador Retrievers are one of the least aggressive dog breeds A study I found, with more scientific data, found that labrador retrievers were one of the least aggressive dog breeds among a group of dachshunds, English Springer Spaniel, Poodle, Rottweiler, Shetland Sheepdog, and Siberian huskies. In this group, labrador retrievers ranked the lowest in aggression towards humans as well as other dogs. And surprisingly… This Chicago study found that when studying dog attacks on their owners or others in Denver, Colorado, that labrador retrievers had been the most common to attack, followed by pit bulls, German shepherds and rottweilers, and finally chows. I seriously questioned the veracity of this data given the placid and friendly nature of Labrador Retrievers. However, dogs are socialized by their owners and if you own and mistreat a dog, then you can expect it may turn on you eventually. Mistreatment includes leaving a dog chained in a yard for hours or days at a time. I have seen this numerous times and these poor neglected animals become prisoners in their own homes. When I see a dog with aggressive tendencies, I blame the owners first and foremost. I believe this is an evolutionary feature that developed from decades or centuries of Labradors being used in the colder climates as fishing dogs where they were trained to help fishermen retrieve fishing nets and fish that had escaped from nets. Their coats have a slightly dry and yet oily consistency. Labradors love the water and they even have webbed toes. The webbed toe can also work as a kind of snowshoe in colder climates by stopping snow building up between their toes. Which is a really cool evolutionary feature of this breed. Their teeth and bite are delicate and they can carry stuff in their teeth, even eggs, without damaging them. They are known for a perfect, regular, and scissor bite and their upper teeth are closely overlapping their bottom teeth and are set square to their jaws. I have read stories of Labradors rescuing drowning infants and toddlers by dragging them to safety, which is pretty awesome. Labradors shed — a lot — in some climates Labradors will shed hair twice a year and possibly even more frequently in hotter climates. The double interwoven coat combined with a warmer climate will mean you will have a lot of dog hair around your home. That said, the data suggest that Labradors are pretty flexible whichever climate you live in. They clearly demonstrate their ability to survive the cold Canadian winters, including swimming in the ocean. But if you do, they will likely shed more hair. The solution to this is regularly bathing your Labrador and brushing. Your Labrador will likely love swimming and after this kind of activity, I would recommend you give your best friend a good bath to avoid having lots of muddy footprints around the house. Labradors do not require hours of specialist grooming like some of the larger breeds like the Siberian Husky do. If you have a Labrador as your pet, you should also, as well as regular brushing and grooming, consider the purchase of a really good vacuum cleaner with specialized accessories for cleaning up pet fur. Labradors, ironically, despite working as blind service dogs are actually prone to eye diseases which can cause blindness Labradors are prone to progressive rod-cone degeneration retinal atrophy, cataracts, corneal dystrophy, and retinal dysplasia which initially causes night blindness but if left unchecked will progress to complete blindness. There is no known cure for progressive rod-cone degeneration but early detection and treatment can delay treatment progression. Like any dog that is a purebred, there are genetic mutations that can be acquired by percentages of any given breed. If you are planning to breed your Labrador, I advise that you get your dog examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist for an eye score to check the likelihood of your dog passing on any of these retinal diseases. The Labrador, or Labrador Retriever, comes in three colors: cream, black and brown, although you can get a silver version if you cross-breed with a Weimaraner. Endal was the first dog to ride on the London Eye and also figured out how to correctly use an ATM card. I would love to see any YouTube video of this. Endal also placed his human in the recovery position without any training, following a power blackout. Endal lived for 13 years, dying in of natural causes. British blind Parliamentarian David Blunkett, had a guide dog, Lucy, a black Labrador, who famously vomited in the House of Commons during a Parliamentary speech. On the morning of September 11, , Labrador and service dog, Dorado, led his owner Omar Riviero, from an upper floor of the Twin Towers shortly after the first plane struck. Where did Labradors originate from? Labrador Retrievers first originated in Newfoundland, Canada where they were used as fishing dogs and they would help local fishermen retrieve fishing nets as well as fish escaping from the nets. Their high intelligence and natural athleticism made them ideal for hunting and retrieving waterfowl and other prey. Labradors have mad skills In modern times, labradors are often selected as service or therapy dogs for people with disabilities such as blindness, deafness, epilepsy, and even autism. Labradors are also a popular choice for airport screening or drug detection by law enforcement agencies around the world. They have also been able to perform tasks for disabled owners such as rescuing swimmers, retrieving ATM cards, and putting a person in the recovery position. I have also read stories of labradors rescuing drowning infants and toddlers. Because of their friendly and passive nature, they make great family pets as well. I think Labradors are natural empaths with their human masters. They blend in well with families and young children as well as other pets, including cats. They are loyal and amiable lifelong companions. All you have to remember is exercise them physically and mentally and as they get older, keep a close eye on their diet to avoid them from developing obesity as they age. They generally live long and healthy lives. They are among breeds least likely to become aggressive to strangers or other dogs. Labradors are super smart and if you put in some quality time in properly training them and entertaining them, you will strengthen the bond between you and your dog and you also reduce the risk of them becoming bored and running amok in your home and causing property damage. Labradors who are well socialized and intellectually stimulated will give you a lifetime of loyalty and you get to have a rewarding relationship with your companion animal for many years. Consider owning a Cairn Terrier! In this article, we explore who would benefit them as furry friends! Check them here! Read on to discover nine types of people who should consider owning this unique breed. Check this article to learn more about the types of people who are perfect for owning a Poodle dog!

Ethical breeders only breed new litters from carefully health screened parent pups. This helps detect any genetic defects , which might be carried onto the puppies. This will give you some added peace of mind, but make sure that the health guarantee comes in written form with your adoption documents. Although it might seem like an unnecessary step, being affiliated with any of these organizations means that a breeder has to follow their strict health testing standards and ethical breeding practices. Moreover, if you know anyone who has adopted a Labradoodle puppy in Washington, reach out to them and ask about their own personal experiences with Doodle breeders in the state. Our article on How To Choose A Responsible Breeder has tons of more tips on this topic, so make sure you check it out. They specialize in breeding Medium, Mini, and Micro Mini Australian Labradoodle puppies in a variety of beautiful coat colors, including chocolate, red-apricot, caramel, and phantom patterns. In addition to breeding Labradoodle pups, they also raise purebred Golden Retrievers. At Moonlit Acres, their main focus is on breeding healthy and happy puppies with wonderful temperaments. In fact, many of their puppies have gone on to become registered service dogs for families and individuals who need that special canine support only Doods can provide. All of their puppies are born and raised in their very own home so that they all receive round-the-clock care and nurture that they deserve. Their puppies are all well-socialized with young children, adults, and also with other dogs. They start potty training at 3 weeks of age, crate training at 4 weeks of age, and also utilize the Early Neurological Stimulation ENS training. Moreover, they teach their puppies basic commands and even take them on car rides! What Makes This Breeder Unique? Waitlist: Yes. Our dogs are smart, calm, intuitive, and beautiful. We only breed one litter at a time. Together we discover that there is nothing more rewarding than making people happy with healthy, social and gorgeous puppies. They have soft coats and wonderful temperaments. We breed carefully with low inbreeding and provide you with a pedigree. Our breeding dogs pass many tests to qualify for our breeding program. Tests on breeding dogs include hip and elbow xrays, cardiac screening, healthy eye certification, and DNA tests for common diseases in the breed. We take special care of all our dogs and puppies. We love our Australian Labradoodle puppies from start to finish! We do not breed with anxious, aggressive, nervous dogs, but we select our breeding dogs with good temperaments. They have a gentle, calm, happy character with just enough spirit to be playful and fun. We raise our breeding dogs in our own home or in foster families called guardian homes. All dogs deserve to live with a family. We are not a kennel operation. Because the puppies grow up in our home, they are socialized and love people and other dogs. They are introduced to people, children, and other dogs at a very early age. Training with commands such as come and sit start at 5 weeks of age. We introduce them to their crates at the same time. Our labradoodles keep us laughing with their clownlike antics. We have a lot of experience and knowledge raising and training dogs and we promise a lifetime of support. We distinguish ourselves by having the healthiest, friendliest dogs with wonderful temperaments. They are mostly hypoallergenic dogs. They are very intelligent and easy to train, so Australian Labradoodles are used for emotional support and service. Our whelping boxes and pens are cleaned and sanitized every day. The puppies start pottying on grass outside at about 5 weeks old. They are introduced to crates at 5 weeks old but will not be fully crate trained. We want them to love their crates. We send one home with you. Reserve early as most puppies are sold before they are born! Responsible Breeding Early Socialization and Positive Training Starts at Birth Responsible Breeding Inbreeding analysis before breeding any dogs to be sure there are no close relatives for generations. Pedigrees, and health tests posted. Our breeding dogs do not shed. Tests on breeding dogs include hip and elbow xrays, cardiac screening, healthy eye certification, DNA tests for Common diseases in the breed. We socialize with many people and other dogs. We introduce crate training at 5 weeks in a manner that they will love their crates. Love and handling starts at birth. Most puppies come and sit before they go home. Olympic Peninsula:. Evaluated by Pat Hastings of Dogfolk, Mila was rated top breeding quality for temperament and structure. We are excited to announce that the perfect prince was found and Mila had her first litter April 13, .After crucial upbringing with Mom and litter mates, intentional Puppy Culture time, Ever After training, and evaluations with Pat Hastings; puppies went home in June of and are all thriving with amazing forever families. Since then, Ever After has continued with unsurpassable breeding practices for the most deserving of dogs and puppy families. Our Story passion for dogs Pictured with Mila below at 15, 13, and 13 years of age, our three family rescue dogs made us one of the most sought-after pet sitters around. We had an evident love for dogs. When our names were passed along to help a local breeder, we fell in love with what felt like the perfect dog for anyone, the Australian Labradoodle. Encompassing so many wonderful adjectives, this silly, light-hearted, energetic, loving, intelligent, allergy-friendly, loyal, therapy-tempered family dog was irresistible. The process of learning how to mate only top-quality partners, whelp healthy litters, care for nursing mothers and newborn pups, and then pass along the healthiest crate-trained puppies to happy families, became intoxicating for our family. We had to be a part of such a fulfilling experience. Thus, after many months of observation, apprenticeship, and studying, Ever After Multi-Generational Australian Labradoodles was created. For the best experiences in life, our carefully selected breeder dogs are raised in homes instead of kennels. Now we have the thrilling task of finding "happily ever after" for every new pup and their family. Why Recommend Ever After? Our puppies sleep through the night in a closed crate from at least 11 P. Ever After is a small family-run business. With that, we are able to spend every waking moment with our puppies socializing and training them ourselves. There is no staff — just us and our eager visitors. Pat and her husband bred 28 different dog breeds across all groups. Hiring Pat and being trained by her, we took the extra steps needed to choose top-quality breeder dogs for our program using the standards set in place by the Australian Labradoodle Association of America ALAA. Already feeling confident as trustworthy breeders, Pat gave us the additional tools to be the best. She reminded us that no dog is perfect; but it should always be our mission to nurture the development of our breed and strive for the healthiest of pets — emotionally and physically. Mini Labradoodle vs Mini Sheepadoodle Comparison Two dog breeds, one purpose: to make your life a joy-filled journey powered by strong bonds, friendship, and unconditional love. Meet the Mini Labradoodle and the Mini Sheepadoodle. Two very adorable and friendly dogs with upbeat personalities, the Mini Labradoodle and Mini Sheepadoodle make the perfect addition to any lucky family. Your way of life, hobbies, and work schedule are all important factors that can help determine which of the two dog breeds is a good fit for your lifestyle.Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting time filled with joy, cuddles, and a few inevitable challenges. One of the most common questions new puppy owners ask is, "When can puppies go outside? They are fun, easygoing, and gentle. Mini Labradoodles enjoy canine games like chase, fetch, and Frisbee, and thrive on cuddles and love. Energetic, friendly, and full of life, the Mini Labradoodles make wonderful jogging and hiking companions. They are known to enjoy a good swim, a long stroll, and are very fond of adventures. The Mini Labradoodle puppies are happy, energetic, and bright bundles of joy. They are loving and eager to please, love to play and cuddle, and are excellent training students. A cross between Labrador Retrievers and Mini or Toy Poodles, the Mini Labradoodle may take after one parent breed or the other in appearance or they may have their own unique look with an added bonus of a hypoallergenic coat. They have beautiful, soft, wavy fleece, hypoallergenic coats and a strong, sturdy build. All of the characteristics that come to mind when you think of the quintessential dog can be used to describe this incredible breed. As a result, our puppies carry on their exceptional attributes and become treasured members of families throughout the U. Our Sires go through OFA hip and elbow testing, CERF exams by an ophthalmologist vet for eye health, and full genetic testing to detect any genetic health defects. The physical soundness, health, temperament, and overall appearance of male puppies held for breeding must meet the highest breed standards. In addition to in-depth health and genetic testing, all of our Sires are evaluated as puppies. With detailed assessment of structure and temperament, we are able to identify top scorers to hold back for future breeding, as well as better pair our Australian Labradoodle puppies with the families who have reserved them. We choose Sires and Dams for their strong structures and gentle, therapy dog temperaments. Our Sires and Dams are paired with the utmost care to produce exceptional Australian Labradoodle puppies in a variety of colors and in both miniature and medium sizes. Breeding dogs are chosen for their stunning soft fleece coats, which are unique to the Australian Labradoodle, and in a full range of accepted solid, parti, and other multi-colors. Our Sires fall between 20 and 45 pounds. If you think one of their puppies would be a good fit for you, fill out our puppy reservation form and get on the list for one of our upcoming litters. We look forward to helping you add a beautiful, sweet, and loving pup to your family! We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near Vancouver Washington and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted.

This is a cross between the playful but driven American Staffordshire Terrier and the hardworking American Bulldog. For active dog parents, this breed is sure to only keep growing loyal fans. The American Staffordshire Terrier holds a scary image with some. However, many appreciate them for their true natures — playful, loyal, and intelligent. Those who have had the pleasure of encountering one of these dogs know their gentle disposition. However, their playfulness and love for their families shines through in their personalities. If you plan to adopt one of these breed mixes, be ready for lots and lots of cuddles. Still, there are millions of dogs waiting for homes in shelters. Additionally, many of the dogs in shelters are American Staffordshire Terrier mixes. When looking for a specific breed, make an effort to adopt from a shelter or rescue. However, given how uncommon the American Bull Staffy breed mix is and how similar they may appear to other breeds, shelters may not recognize them and simply list them as a mixed breed. Read on for a detailed list of characteristics of the American Bull Staffy. Contrary to popular belief, the suitability of dogs who adapt well to apartment living goes beyond its size. Apartment dwellers have a myriad of dog breeds to choose from as potential companions, with various factors to consider. Some large breeds can adapt well to apartment living and have lower activity levels. Others may require more space and possess higher energy levels. On the other hand, certain small dog breeds with abundant energy can still find contentment with indoor playtime or brisk walks. However, when selecting a dog that adapts well apartments, it is essential to prioritize your neighbors. This makes them less suitable for apartment living. Therefore, desirable qualities in an apartment dog encompass being quiet, low-energy, and displaying polite behavior towards other residents. Apartment dwellers have a wealth of dog breeds to choose from as potential furry companions. While some larger breeds can adapt well to apartment living, with lower, others may require more space and have higher energy levels, making them less suitable for smaller apartments. Conversely, certain small dog breeds with higher energy levels can still thrive in apartments, finding contentment through indoor playtime or brisk walks. By considering these factors, you can find a dog that will adapt well to apartment living and create a harmonious living environment for everyone involved. American Bull Staffy Staffy American Bulldog Characteristics With the Staffy American Bulldog, both parent breeds actually stem from the same ancestors, so they share a lot of similar traits. However, its physical characteristics resemble mostly that of the Staffy, such as its wide head and dark colours. If you are not a fan of dogs that shed, this breed is not for you. Their fur is also thick and coarse, so it can be scratchy on your skin. The best way to maintain their coat is to use a slick brush; this will minimise shedding and make their coat look healthier. Without either of these, they can become extremely destructive and antisocial. Males can also have a problem getting on with other male dogs, so bear that in mind when socialising your puppy. As long as you train your Staffy American Bulldog as soon as possible, they are easy to train and socialise well with people and other dogs. Good training and early socialising are vital for the Staffy X American Bulldog and so is vigorous exercise. These dogs have masses of energy and need to run around and burn it off for at least an hour every day. Keeping them mentally and physically exercised is one of the most important things when it comes to owning an American Bull Staffy. However, they would be better suited to a family home with a garden they can burn all of that energy in. A post shared by Bugsy goodboybehavior In terms of being suitable for those with children, the Staffy American Bulldog is known to be protective, loyal, and devoted to their owners, so they can make great family dogs. Amy Jacks Amy has been writing for as long as she can remember. Lifespan Sociability The American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier mix is a working and companion dog from two popular parent breeds. There is a decent amount of breeders of this type of dog, which means that you should find it easy to locate one with a good history, positive reviews, and that has conducted the appropriate health and other checks. In fact, they likely stem from English bulldogs, which means that the two-parent breeds share a lot of the same characteristics. They are both strong and powerful, have high-intensity energy, and they are both considered very good guard dogs as well as companion pets. Although the mix gets a lot of his characteristics, especially physical ones, from the Staffy, you are effectively dealing with a Bulldog strain. Socialization Is Essential The vast majority of problems that stem from the parent breeds and the mix arise as a result of poor or no socialization. Dogs require socialization to learn how to act and react around humans and animals. When they are given this socialization at a young age, it becomes instinctive for them to be confident and friendly, rather than wary and aggressive. It should also be noted that the male Bulldog, in particular, does not tolerate other male dogs well, especially in their own home, and some dogs will never welcome another male dog into their pack. They Are Heavy Shedders The short coat of the breed comes from both parent breeds, and while many potential owners expect the short hair to mean little or no shedding, nothing could be further from the truth. The American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier mix is a prolific shedder, and the length and thickness of their fur means that the hair can be quite irritating and scratchy. Owners and former owners tend to think of them as being loyal and loving, but the breeds are strong and without socialization, they can display antisocial and destructive behavior. The breed is also very energetic and has an incredibly muscular physique. As such, when he is playing, it is possible that he will come into contact with tables, chairs, and even people or other pets. His stocky size means that your puppy will likely not notice collisions, but you will. Giving him plenty of daily exercise and letting him out in the yard to have a mad five minutes can help to alleviate this. Are These Dogs Good for Families? They are very attentive and always aware of their surroundings. They are also extremely loyal and protective. They have a seemingly inherent knack for determining threats and they will protect children in their charge. On the other hand, they are also muscly, energetic, and can be bulldozer-like when playing. If a child gets in the way while your American Bulldog Staffy is playing, they can be easily knocked down or stood on. Later they became used for dogfighting. With that said, the breed does have a tendency to chase other animals. You will be able to introduce them, discourage rough play, and ensure that the dog even gets along with cats. Male bulldogs, however, do not always mix well with other male dogs. This can include at the park and especially in the home. If you adopt or buy an older male mix breed, and already have a male dog in your home, you will need to introduce them before considering owning them both. Dogs should always be supervised with smaller animals when they are out of the cage or pen. It has lots of energy and it has dietary requirements to match its boundless energy. Before taking one into your family, there are some factors you should consider. Protein helps maintain and grow muscle, which this breed has in abundance, so you will need to find good food that is high in protein. Nutrient-dense foods that are low in carbohydrates are beneficial because this enables you to feed an appropriate amount of protein without adding weight. Be aware that this breed is well known for being gaseous, so you will want to avoid tinned food and stick to dry food. Some dogs of this breed can fare well when fed on a combination of dry and wet food. You should be prepared to exercise your dog for a minimum of an hour and you will benefit from giving them at least two periods of intense exercise each day. This will keep them mentally and physically exercised, prevent them from chewing and destroying through boredom, and will make them easier to manage. Both parent breeds perform well in agility classes and, despite their stocky and muscular build, they can build up a head of steam and reach decent speeds. Again, agility classes are a good way of burning off excess energy. The breed has a very strong jaw that will lock onto any toy. If you intend to play tug of war or a similar game, be prepared to lose. However, you may come across some issues. The breed can be headstrong and stubborn. This means that you need to assert yourself as the pack leader and show your dominance, without being physically aggressive. If your dog views you as being dominant, he will want to please you and will be more likely to take to training. The mix is also very attentive and your dog may spend a lot of time surveying his surroundings, so if you are hoping to teach him new commands or tricks, this might be best performed in a quiet area with no external distractions. Be consistent, start training at a young age, and use healthy treats as well as lots of physical praise to help instill good behavior. Visit puppy classes and take your puppy on walks in local dog parks so that he can meet other dogs and people. This gives you the opportunity to discourage jumping up and other behavioral habits that can prove challenging as your dog ages. However, they are prone to considerable shedding. Use a soft bristle brush to maintain their coat and ensure that it stays healthy. This particular mix is no different and is generally considered to be a hardy and healthy dog breed. However, you should always look at the parent breeds to determine any potential conditions. Both parent breeds are prone to hip dysplasia and luxating patella. Minor Conditions. Hip dysplasia Luxating patella Reports of Hip dysplasia and Luxating patella are common health issues that American Bull Staffies experience. With Amstaffs, it is vital to feed them plenty of protein to cater to their muscular, energetic build, preferably a raw meaty diet. A low-carb diet is essential for Bulldog Staffy Terriers because of their high susceptibility to elbow and hip dysplasia from being overweight. Related Questions You may still be having some questions about Amstaffs. The American Bull Staffy has a broad, deep head with a medium-sized muzzle. They have a heavy muscular build with a short tail and small, deeply colored eyes. Amstaffs have a confident, good-natured, loyal temperament. When trained from early stages, they can become courageous, responsible, trustworthy, well-socialized companions. Conclusion Putting your Amstaff Hybrid on fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible is a great way to guard them against hip dysplasia and luxating patella. Remember to organize regular veterinary checkups for your hybrid and provide plenty of exercise, activity, and playtime for a happy, healthy companion. The Staffordshire Terrier, also known as the Staffie or Stafford, is a medium-sized, short-coated terrier of English lineage. The Staffordshire Terrier is a direct descendant of the now-extinct Old English White Terrier and was originally bred to be a fighting dog. However, by the early nineteenth century, the Staffordshire Terrier had become popular as a family pet in England, and its popularity soon spread to America. The American Bulldog was developed in the United States in the early s from several different bull-and-terrier-type dogs brought over from England. These dogs were used for bull-baiting, bear-baiting, and ratting. They were also sometimes used in dogfights. American Bulldogs come in two varieties: Standard and Bully. The Standard type is taller and leaner, while the Bully type is shorter and heavier. In recent years, these two types have been bred together to create the American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier Mix, which is a hybrid of the two breeds. This new breed size is characterized by its large head, muscular body, and short coat. The American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier Mix is an intelligent, loyal, and friendly dog that makes a great companion for active families. The head is broad, and the muzzle is short, with a black nose. The eyes are oval-shaped and dark brown. The ears are medium-sized and floppy. The body is well-proportioned, with a deep chest and muscled thighs. The tail is medium-length and tapers to a point. The coloration can vary, but it is typically black, white, or brindle. Some dogs may have patches of color on the face or body. Shedding is moderate, and grooming needs are minimal. These dogs are typically very friendly and outgoing, making them great companions. They are also very loyal and protective of their families, which makes them excellent guard dogs. However, they can be quite stubborn, and they require plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy. These dogs are not for everyone, but if you are looking for a loyal and loving companion, the American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier Mix might be the perfect choice for you. These dogs are eager to please and quick to learn, making them easy to train. However, they can also be stubborn and strong-willed, so it is important to be consistent with training needs. American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier Mixes need plenty of exercise, both mental and physical because of their energy level. A good way to provide this is through obedience training, which will not only tire them out but also help them bond with their owner. Socialization is also important for these dogs, as they can be territorial and aggressive towards other animals if not properly introduced at an early age. With proper training and socialization, the American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier Mix can be a well-rounded and obedient companion. These dogs are typically very friendly and good-natured, but they can also be quite aggressive. The Staffordshire Terrier is a very territorial breed, and the American Bulldog is known for being very protective of its family. As a result, the American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier mix can be quite aggressive if it feels that its family is threatened. These dogs are also very strong, so it is important to socialize them properly from an early age. If you are considering getting an American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier mix, be sure to do your research and make sure that you are prepared to deal with an aggressive dog. These dogs are very active, and they need to be given ample opportunities to run and play. A daily walk is not enough for these dogs — they need to be taken on regular trips to the park or given access to a large backyard where they can run around. Obedience training and puzzle toys are a great way to keep them happy and healthy. A long walk or run followed by some playtime in the yard will help to tire out even the most energetic Bulldog mix. If you are not prepared to give your American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier mix the exercise it needs, then this is not the breed for you. American Bull Staffy — Mental Stimulation The American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier mix is an intelligent, active breed that requires plenty of mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Kongs stuffed with treats are a good option, as are interactive toys that require your dog to figure out how to get a toy or a treat. With enough mental and physical activity, your Bulldog mix will be well-behaved and a joy to have around. These dogs shed moderately, so they will need to be brushed every week to remove loose hair. They are also relatively clean dogs and do not require a lot of bathing. However, their nails will need to be trimmed regularly, and their teeth should be brushed at least once a week. American Bull Staffies are relatively low maintenance when it comes to grooming, and they will not require a lot of time or effort to keep them looking their best. Is the American Bull Staffy Healthy? The American Bull Staffy is a strong and muscular dog that is known for being loyal and protective. However, this breed is also prone to some health conditions. For example, many American Bull Staffies are born with allergies to grass, which can cause itchiness and skin irritation. This breed is also susceptible to hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip joint does not develop properly. This can lead to pain and lameness. In addition, American Bull Staffies are also at risk for developing heart conditions such as arrhythmia and heart murmurs. Therefore, it is important to take your dog to the veterinarian for regular check-ups to ensure that they are healthy. American Bull Staffy — Nutrition The American Bull Staffy is a large, muscular dog that requires a diet that is high in protein and fat. This breed is prone to weight gain, so it is important to choose a food that is specifically formulated for their needs. Additionally, the American Bull Staffy requires a lot of exercise, so make sure to provide plenty of opportunities for them to run and play. A healthy diet and active lifestyle will help to keep this breed happy and healthy. The American Bull Staffy is a generally dog-friendly breed that is easy to train and makes great companions. They are known for their loyalty and protective instincts, and they make excellent guard dogs. They are also playful and affectionate, and they love being around people. The American Bull Staffy is a child-friendly breed that is easy to train and makes great companions. Socialization of this breed is still very important. Gently introduce them to your kids. Does the American Bull Staffy Drool? This mixed breed is known for its high level of drooling. This is because Staffordshire Terriers have long, pendulous lips that can easily trap saliva. When combined with their strong jaw muscles, this can result in a constant stream of drool. American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier mixes are no different in this regard. These dogs inherit the long lips and strong jaw muscles from their Staffordshire Terrier parents, making them just as likely to drool. However, there are some things that owners can do to help reduce the amount of drool their dog produces. Additionally, providing chew toys or bones can help to keep the jaw muscles exercised and reduce the likelihood of excessive drooling. First, make sure that your dog has plenty of exercise. A tired dog is less likely to bark out of boredom or excess energy. Secondly, provide your dog with plenty of mental stimulation through toys and games. This will help to keep their minds occupied and reduce the likelihood of them barking out of frustration. The American Bulldog is a very sturdy breed that can withstand hot and cold weather alike. They are known for being particularly tolerant of heat, and they have a short, dense coat that helps protect them from the elements. The Staffordshire Terrier, on the other hand, is not as tolerant of extreme weather conditions. They are more susceptible to both heat stroke and cold weather injuries, and their short coat offers little protection against the elements. The American Bulldog has an average lifespan of years, while the Staffordshire Terrier has an average lifespan of years. As a result, the American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier mix has an average lifespan of years. We hope this article has helped you learn a bit more about these wonderful dogs and that you will consider adding one to your family. They make great pets for people of all ages and can provide years of companionship and love. Thanks for reading!