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Pug Shih tzu These breeds will snore more than those with longer snouts like Labradors or golden retrievers. However, this does not mean that dogs with longer snouts that snore are fine and do not have underlying conditions. It also does not mean you need to rush your brachycephalic dog to the vet to get surgery to open their airway. There are differing degrees to which the soft palate blocks the airway, and most dogs are perfectly fine without medical intervention. If you notice your brachycephalic dog snoring, seemingly stop breathing, then start snoring again then taking them to the vet is a good idea as their soft palate may be too big for their snout. What Factors Make Snoring Worse? Obesity If your puppy is overweight, they will have excess flesh around their internal organs and their airways, as well as cute little pudge belly rolls. This means the excess fat will press on the airway and make it more difficult for air to travel unimpeded, which will cause snoring. Obesity can also lead to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a very rare diagnosis in dogs; however it is not unheard of. Sleep apnea happens where your dog will suddenly stop breathing while they are asleep and then start breathing again a couple of seconds later. A sign of sleep apnea is interrupted snoring. Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is a common ailment in dogs. This happens when the thyroid gland which sits around part of the windpipe does not produce a specific hormone that regulates metabolism. If this hormone is not regulated, labored breathing while sleeping may happen, causing your puppy to snore. If the cause of the snoring was hypothyroidism, then it should go away as soon as your puppy starts treatment. This will lead to snoring. If your puppy suddenly starts snoring out of the blue and they do not usually snore or snore as badly , then check their mouths for signs of redness, plaque buildup, or a bad odor. If you suspect a rotten tooth or gum disease, get your puppy to the vet. Secondhand Smoke If there is a smoker in the home, your dog is breathing in secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke irritates the lining of the nasal passages and lungs, inflames them, and dries them out. This can all contribute to your puppy snoring. Do not smoke around your pup, ask guests to not pat your dog while they are smoking, and treat your dog as you would a small child around smoke. When you are preparing your home to bring your new puppy into it, carefully examine what cleaning products you use, what plants they may have access to, and whether there is a lot of sand or dust where they will be playing and sleeping. The dust or allergens such as pollen, chemicals, grass, and pet hair will irritate the lining of the airway and cause it to become inflamed and dry. This in turn will interrupt the flow of air and cause them to snore. If you notice nearly everyone in your household, including your pets, snoring, then you may have a dry atmosphere. Reflux If your puppy suffers from acid reflux heartburn , the stomach acid could be pushing up against their lungs and causing them to snore. Obesity and a very acidic diet both add to acid reflux and make it worse. Watch your puppy when they relax and have a nap after eating: Is their snoring better or worse than when they have not eaten in a while? If their snoring is worse when they nap after eating, they may have an issue with acid reflux and will need to see the vet. Sleeping Position The most common cause for snoring is a funny head position. Puppies will often fall asleep mid-play time in the most unusual positiuons, which may put pressure on their airway and cause them to snore. If you think their position is the cause of their snoring, gently turn them so they lay on their side, where there is minimal pressure on their throat and snout. Rather be safe than sorry. However, there are certain things you can rule out before an expensive vet visit. If they are overweight, this is the most likely cause for their snoring. Put a humidifier in the home and see if it makes a difference in the way in which your dog snores. If it does, then their airway is quite dry. If you notice your dog snoring, stop breathing, and then carry on snoring and even making choking noises, then take them to the vet as there is something blocking their airway. Why does my puppy sleep with a toy in its mouth? Your puppy may have figured out that they have something blocking their airway all on their own and will intentionally go to sleep with a toy in their mouth to prop their jaws open. If you notice that your puppy goes to sleep with a toy in its mouth, take them to the vet to check that their airway is unobstructed. However, snoring may be a sign of an underlying condition so it should never be ignored. If you want to figure out why your puppy snores, go through our list and try to rule out as many potential causes as you can at home before taking them to the vet, so your vet will have a better idea of what could be wrong. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Why Does My Puppy Snore? If you click on a link and choose to make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. During his naps or while sleeping at night, I occasionally notice my Golden Retriever snores. Sometimes the snoring can be thunderous; however, most often, it does not last for long. However, these loud bouts of snoring got me wondering if Golden Retrievers can snore, and is snoring normal in Golden Retrievers? Occasional snoring is not unusual for Golden Retrievers, provided there are no health issues as the cause. For example, a frequent position that causes snoring is sleeping on the back, causing the tongue to restrict some air movement. However, there are instances where snoring may be due to other causes or even underlying health issues. This article will explore the world of snoring and Golden Retrievers. What Is Snoring? Snoring is the restriction of air movement into the nasal passageways or throat. When your Golden Retriever falls asleep, the muscles in the soft palate, throat, and tongue relax and may partially block the airways, which in turn causes vibrations. For example, the soft tissues in the throat can relax and partially block the airway causing vibrations. Or, the air restriction is due to the tongue blocking some air movement. The greater the blockage of the airways, the more forceful the airflow becomes, causing increased vibrations and louder snoring. So, your Golden Retrieves snores. But, how do you know if that snoring is typical or when it is a cause for concern? Snoring may be a cause for concern if it comes on suddenly and is very loud or the snoring is excessive. Snoring can also be characteristic of sleep apnea, where your dog stops breathing for a period. Additionally, If you find your dog is lethargic the next day, disinterested in exercising or playing, or agitated and restless, snoring may be impacting its sleep. And lack of sleep can negatively affect a dog both physically and mentally. Often signs of lack of sleep in dogs will manifest as stress, anxiety, or even agitation or aggressiveness. Sleep is also essential for the normal functioning of hormones and the healthy repair and regeneration of muscles, skin, and organs. The causes of snoring are discussed next. Causes of Snoring in Golden Retrievers Typically snoring falls into two categories. The first is typical snoring. Snoring in this category has no underlying health causes and no cause for concern. However, the second category of snoring often arises from some underlying health issue or occurs as a secondary issue to the primary health issue. For example, some medications to treat a health concern may cause snoring, not the health issue itself. Non-Health Related Causes of Snoring Non-health-related snoring arises from one of two things: anatomy and sleeping position. This type of snoring does not have an underlying medical cause but rather is due to how a dog is built and how they sleep. Anatomy Most dogs with snoring due to anatomical issues are pugs and bulldogs. Breeds with these characteristic flat faces and shorter noses are brachycephalic. Unlike Pugs, Golden Retrievers are not brachycephalic and less prone to snoring Brachycephalic means short-headed, and these dogs snore much more due to the anatomy of their heads and nasal passages. Healthy Golden Retrievers do not possess flat faces and short noses. As a result, they do not snore due to anatomical causes arising from brachycephaly. So, for Golden Retrievers, regular snoring is typically caused by sleeping positions. Sleep Position A healthy Golden Retriever with no underlying health issues will often snore due to body position when sleeping. Often when a dog sleeps on its back, the tongue relaxes and causes a partial blockage of its airway, resulting in snoring. However, the neck and head position can also cause snoring, even if the dog is sleeping on its side. Suppose your Golden Retriever is sleeping with its head in a tilted position. In that case, it may cause the soft tissue in the mouth to relax and position itself to hinder the airways somewhat. The result is snoring. For example, my Golden Retriever will often sleep with its head on an object, with the head tilted up, or with its head off hanging off the side of the bed. Although he is sleeping on his side, he will snore due to the neck and head position. Adjusting the sleep position, whether the dog is sleeping on its back or with its head tilted, will usually stop the snoring. Usually, the snoring itself is not a concern but rather a sign of the underlying medical problem causing it. Potential health issues include obesity, dental problems, airway obstructions, medications, and allergies or colds. Obesity Obesity in dogs is prevalent and can affect them in many ways. A Golden Retriever that is overweight or obese may snore more due to extra fat accumulating on the upper airway tissues. This excess fat compresses the airway, restricting airflow and causing snoring. If you are unsure if your Golden Retriever is overweight, or you need some tips you can implement if it is, then check out this post: A Fat Golden Retriever? How To Know and What to Do. Dental Issues If your Golden Retriever has dental issues, it can cause snoring. How so? Consider that anything that causes restricted airflow in the nasal passageways or throat can potentially result in snoring. An infection from an abscessed tooth can affect the throat and nasal passageways. Specifically, the infected soft tissue can cause swelling and put pressure on the throat or nasal cavity, which restricts airflow and causes snoring. Dental issues such as abscesses can cause snoring Obstructions Obstructions can block the airway and restrict airflow. Obstructions can be foreign objects lodged in the nasal cavity or throat, such as seeds, twigs, or dirt. Obstructions can also be from masses such as tumors, abscesses, or polyps, which may result from cancers or infections. If your dog has never been a snorer and suddenly starts, this could signal a problem. You should check in with your vet. If obstructions are the cause, a veterinarian will need to remove them. Allergies and Infections Yes, our Golden Retrievers can suffer from allergies just like we do, and the same allergy culprits that cause issues with people can affect our dogs too. Irritants such as dust, pollen, smoke e. Once irritated, the body produces mucus. That combination of mucus and an irritated airway may lead to snoring. If your dog suffers from allergies, you can look for many common signs that people experience. For example, your Golden Retriever may sneeze a lot, have a running nose, or its eyes may water. Often snoring can increase in the winter when the furnace is running. Any dust and irritant particles are distributed through the house via the furnace vents. For example, my Golden Retriever Bailey constantly has running eyes. Colds are more frequent in the winter months, and your dog may snore if it is suffering from a cold infection. However, once the cold subsides, so should the snoring. Allergy, infections, and colds can cause snoring in Golden Retrievers Medications Certain medications can cause snoring, especially if they relax the dog and cause the throat muscles to relax. However, the snoring often stops once the dog is off the drug. However, if your dog is on medication for life or the snoring does not stop once off the medication, let your veterinarian know to ensure there are no other underlying causes of concern. Beware that many drugs, such as Ibuprofen Advil , which are safe for people, can be dangerous to Golden Retrievers. Secondhand Smoke While smoke as an irritant was discussed in allergies, smoke from cigarettes deserves its discussion due to health concerns. Secondhand smoke has the potential to irritate the airways and cause snoring. It can also cause other health issues such as lung and heart disease. Like people, secondhand smoke can be dangerous to our pets. However, if you must smoke and have a Golden Retriever, try to do so outside. Smoke can be incredibly irritating to dogs, considering they have a sense of smell vastly superior to human beings. Other Medical Issues Snoring can be a sign of medical issues in dogs. For example, medical conditions such as sleep apnea, lung issues, or hypothyroidism can cause snoring in dogs. If your Golden Retriever snores and seems to be suffering from some health-related problems e. Likewise, if your Golden Retriever appears healthy but still snores excessively, then consulting a veterinarian is also beneficial as a precaution. Your vet can rule out any health issues, check for dental problems, and determine if your Golden might need to lose some weight. Especially if the snoring is caused by things in the environment that we can eliminate, adjust, or lessen. Frequently, the very steps that help reduce snoring in people work with our Golden Retrievers too. Adjust the Sleeping Position If your dog sleeps on its back, then adjusting its sleeping position often does the trick. You can gently roll your Golden Retriever on its side in these instances. However, most Golden Retrievers do not sleep on their back for long periods, so they should roll to their side after a short time. For back sleepers, adjusting the sleeping position often helps with snoring Reduce Allergens Keep your house clean to cut down on dust, pollen, and other irritants to reduce allergens. You can also use a home air purifier to clean the air and help cut down on allergens. If there is smoke in the summer from forest fires, try to keep the windows closed, clean regularly, and utilize an air purifier. Make sure your furnace filter is clean and replace it regularly in the winter. Add Moisture to the Air Adding moisture to the air can help if your area of the world suffers from dry air. Often dry air is common if you live in an area with cold winters like here in Canada. Humidifiers can be attached as part of the furnace. However, adding a humidifier to the room where your dog sleeps can also be helpful. Oftentimes the dry air is responsible for snoring in the same way allergens do. The dry air causes excess mucus production and throat irritation leading to snoring. Humidifiers can help keep allergens like dust stuck to the ground or other surfaces by adding moisture to the air. Dust is more buoyant in air that is dry and lacking moisture. Diet and Exercise Diet and exercise are essential for keeping your Golden Retriever at a healthy weight. Unfortunately, many dogs that suffer from obesity can be prone to snoring. Plus, exercise has the added benefit of being good for the heart and lungs of your Golden Retriever. Keeping your Golden Retrievers at an ideal weight is mostly in your control. Make sure your Golden Retriever gets one to two hours of exercise daily, and you may need to put it on a calorie-restricted diet if it has a few pounds to drop. The best advice is to consult with your vet on the most helpful approach to ensuring your Golden Retriever loses weight in the healthiest way possible. Keeping your Golden Retriever at a healthy weight can prevent obesity-related snoring Treat Underlying Medical Conditions Finally, if your Golden Retriever has any underlying medical conditions, the best course of action is to treat the illness. For example, suppose snoring is associated with an illness or the medication used to treat it. In that case, the snoring will cease or resume to more normal levels once the issue has been resolved. Of course, if it is a condition that must be treated for a lifetime, snoring might be a side effect you will need to live with and manage. In those cases, you can implement some of the tips discussed earlier, such as reducing dust and pollen and using humidifiers and air purifiers. Doing so might not eliminate snoring, but hopefully, it can reduce its severity and make sleeping more comfortable for you and your Golden. Finally, whether the medical condition is temporary or longer-term, talk to your vet about ways you can help your Golden Retriever snore less. Use Earplugs If it turns out that your healthy Golden Retriever is a snorer, and it happens to sleep with you or in your room, then there may be only one solution left. Short of having your Golden Retriever sleep in another room, earplugs might be an inexpensive and easy fix. However, beware that earplugs can take some getting used to, and it may take some experimenting to find ones that fit your ear properly. Summing It Up Most often, Golden Retriever snoring is perfectly normal and is nothing to be concerned about. However, when snoring becomes excessive, it may be due to a health issue, and a trip to the vet may be warranted to address any underlying causes. But, hopefully, implementing some of the suggestions discussed will make sleeping more comfortable for your Golden Retriever. And, for you! Like all dogs, they can run into health issues at any stage of their life. One of these issues is snoring, which can be either harmless, or a symptom of an underlying health issues. Which begs the question: Is it normal for Golden Retrievers to snore? Like most animals, it is completely normal for a Golden Retriever to snore. However, you will want to take your dog to the vet if you suspect their snoring is caused by abnormal factors such as obesity, illness, infection, physical obstructions, allergies, medications, nasal tumors, or sleep apnea. This article may contain affiliate links and loyalgoldens may earn a commission if a purchase is made. Unlock your goldens natural intelligence and see just how quickly problem behaviors disappear. This is the best at home dog training I've ever used! Why Do Golden Retrievers Snore? As a breed, Golden Retrievers, due to the shape of their snout, are not genetically inclined to snore as some other breeds are like a Pug or a Bulldog. Therefore, snoring in these dogs can usually be explained by environmental or health factors. The swelling of throat and mouth tissue usually comes from illness or infection, allergies, or physical obstructions. Obesity Obesity is one of the main contributors to snoring in Golden Retrievers. Excess weight causes snoring because the fat is often stored around the throat, which obstructs proper breathing. This makes them more susceptible to snoring than many other dog breeds. The risk becomes a lot higher, the more obese the dog becomes. If you suspect that your Golden Retriever might be overweight or even obese, you can test by doing a visual check and feeling for their ribs. You should be able to see a defined waist and straight sides. Without applying much pressure, you should be able to feel the outline of their ribs. Look at your dog side on. There should be a visible tuck at their abdomen, and it should sit higher than their chest. Watch this severely overweight Golden Retriever lose lbs! Illness or Infection Just as with humans, respiratory infections like kennel cough or the flu can cause snoring in dogs. Kennel cough is a common respiratory tract infection from bacteria. It is highly contagious and spreads between dogs when they breathe in the infected particles. Kennel cough has the following symptoms: Strong, persistent cough Clear discharge from the nose Eye discharge Kennel cough, as well as other respiratory infections, can cause laryngitis. This is an inflammation of the larynx, which sits at the top of the throat. Once the larynx tissues are infected, their mucous membranes swell and fill with fluid to fight infection. This swelling makes it difficult for air to pass, causing snoring while the dog sleeps. Physical Obstructions If your Golden loves to explore with their nose, then the culprit for their snoring could be a simple physical obstruction. Dogs can easily get grass or seeds stuck inside their nostrils, which then swell and prevent proper breathing. If there appears to be swelling or discharge, then there could be something stuck inside. Allergies Allergic reactions in Golden Retrievers can cause snoring by creating an immune response that swells the tissue in their respiratory tract. Other symptoms of an allergic reaction in dogs include: Itchy skin and scratching Redness and infection in the ears Vomiting and diarrhea Sneezing Nasal discharge A study in the Clinical and Translational Allergy journal found that Golden Retrievers are in the top 19 of dog breeds that are most likely to be affected by pollen allergies. Pollen can be found in grasses, trees, and weeds, and is usually seasonal. Pollen allergies in Golden Retrievers often affect their skin, with inflamed and itchy patches, but it can also cause rhinitis. This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose, which can restrict breathing and cause snoring. Golden Retrievers can also be allergic to: Dust and dust mites Smoke Mold If you notice that your Golden Retriever is snoring and has other symptoms of an allergic reaction, you may need to seek treatment for their allergies. Medications Some medications can cause snoring by relaxing the muscles of the throat. These include painkillers and muscle relaxants. Nasal Tumors In severe cases, snoring could be a symptom of nasal cancer. The tumors cause a physical block that makes it more difficult for your dog to breathe while asleep and awake. Sometimes dogs like to sleep lying on their back, which naturally obstructs their airflow. Their tongue drops towards the roof of their mouth and prevents the usual amount of air from moving in and out of the throat. What Is Normal Snoring? If your dog has never snored before but has suddenly started, it could be a sign that there is an underlying issue that needs attention. Furthermore, if they have any of the inflammation or infection symptoms, you should seek treatment for their snoring. Additionally, if your Golden Retriever has any of the sleep apnea symptoms, you should consult a vet for treatment as soon as possible. The symptoms of sleep apnea in dogs are: Loud, continual snoring. However, it seems that even those angel-looking dogs can make very non-angelic sounds while sleeping. So, Do Golden Retrievers Snore? Yes, Golden Retrievers Snore. The volume and sound of their snoring differ according to what is causing the snoring. Their snoring also tends to get louder and stronger as they grow older. Living with a Retriever: Recommendations and Sources Want the best diet for your dog? Check out the best and healthiest foods for golden retrievers at every age here — Dry, Wet, Homemade Recipes, and Treats! Taking a walk? These are the best leashes, collars, and harnesses for the buck that you can find. Find my list of recommendations here. Why Do Golden Retrievers Snore? A Golden retriever will snore if something is obstructing their airways or if something is irritating them like tobacco smoke or a certain allergen. You can often fix the snoring issue by giving your dog a regular exercise routine and moving their sleeping place to somewhere away from any smoke or allergens. If the snoring is loud and happened all of a sudden, it may be a sign of a more serious health issue that needs a visit to the vet. If your golden is your first dog, I have news for you; golden retrievers snore, but almost all other dog breeds do or can snore. The dog breeds that are more likely to snore are the ones that have a flattened windpipe as the result of breeding over time, these breeds include pugs, Pekingese, and Boston Terriers. And just like what happens with you, the cold will also give your dog a runny nose and cause his nostrils to become irritated and obstructed, leading to snoring. This is probably the easiest cause, as the snoring will simply go away on its own as the cold does. All you need to do for now is care for your dog and the snoring will go away once your dog is all well again. Excess Tissue in their throat due to overweight or obesity Before we get fat on the outside, we get fat on the inside. Other than snoring, this is actually a serious problem and if left untreated, can cause really serious problems. If your dog becomes obese, there can be so much tissue that the trachea collapses, which is fatal. Dogs can have allergies to dust, pollen, and danger. These can make it harder for your dog to breath normally even in their sleep. If they do, the solution could be to simply give them the medications needed to ease these problems. Something else that might be irritating your dog; tobacco smoke. Second hand smoking is as bad for dogs as it is for humans, and just like some humans, some dogs can also be sensitive to tobacco smoke. The tobacco smoke can irritate their lungs and airways so much that it causes them to snore. If this is the case, you need to check where and how is your buddy inhaling that smoke. Some investigative work might be needed. Bring out the Sherlock in you. Aspergillosis — a Fungal disease This is something else that affects dogs and humans alike. It occurs when we inhale mold spores which can exist in hay, grass, and compost piles. If your golden retriever is playing in grass a lot, this is a likely reason behind their snoring as they can cause irritation. Physical Obstructions Do you know how your dog explores the world with its nose and mouth? Change their sleeping place Fight pollens and smoke with air filters and regular vacuuming Give them medications for their allergies. Visit the doctor Give them a pillow For some reason, giving them a pillow sometimes works or lowers the volume of the snoring. An elevated head seems to be helping with the snoring by clearing the airways somehow. A Regular Exercise Routine at low-traffic times Regular exercise can help with maintaining their weight and with the snoring, but you should give some thought into when and where is this exercise taking place. If you can, choose places as far away from traffic as possible or choose times with the lowest car traffic as possible. This is, of course, to minimize the amount of smoke your dog inhales. Change their sleeping place Something could be wrong with their sleeping spot. Try alternating their bedding as well in an attempt to change their sleeping positions and see if this works. Give them medications for their allergies If your dog has a seasonal allergy, and OTC over the counter medication can help with that. Ask your vet for a recommendation and give it to your dog. Visit the doctor for a check-up If things get worse, you should get your dog to the vet for a check up. When to go to the vet? You need to see the vet if the snoring is too loud or if it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea. Your dog may start snoring as they get older and they become much less active. As your dog gets older, their sleep also gets heavier, which will is associated with snoring as well. It can go away on its own, or you will just need to live with it. Or maybe they will start sleeping downstairs. Related Questions It is normal for golden retrievers to snore? It is perfectly normal for a golden retriever to snore. Should I let my Golden Retriever Sleep with me? If you want to, you can let your golden retriever sleep with you on the same bed. Research has shown that letting your dog sleep with you in the same bed has more pros than cons.

Staff The puppies, just a day after we found them in a box. I know because I found one on an annual sojourn to Baja. But sometimes, the saddest thing can turn into something so happy it hurts. Such was the case with this story. It was a beautiful evening. My girlfriend Stevie and I were driving our rusty old camper van towards town, creaking our way along a washboard road towards a goodbye dinner. She had a flight booked for the next day to go back to work in northern Alberta, a cold, desolate place filled with money and unhappy, transient workers, and we were on our way to drink too much tequila and laugh about how incredible the last few weeks had been. Behind us, the sun dumped buckets of orange-hued paint at the foot of a rapidly darkening horizon. That incredibly fine Mexican dust swirled around the tires as we drove, coating the sidewalls and windows like soft velvet, shafts of light from the setting sun piercing it, setting it ablaze with dazzlingly bright motes of dust that caught the light and flickered like fireflies. To the north, an arroyo was stopped in its tracks by a massive rocky headland that fell dramatically into the Pacific. As we came to a bend in the road at the foot of a small hill, I spotted a tiny creature on wobbly legs being herded off the road towards an open patch by two skinny, mangy dogs. Should we stop? When our feet hit the ground, we changed not only our trip but the trip of everyone on the beach we were camping on. The trip was a long time coming. We ended up living on the street in Venice, parking in different spots most nights, pissing in kitty litter jugs, dodging the Venice two a. Mexico was to be my redeemer. It was to be the trip I promised… but what I promised did not include a box of diseased puppies that might soon be dead. Advertisement We stopped and got out of the van, then watched as the puppy was flipped into a wax lettuce box by the mangy adult dog. There was no sound from the puppy, nor from the box itself—not a whimper or a whine—but it was evident that the box was full. On closer inspection, we found what looked to be seven tiny puppies, perhaps five weeks old, covered in fleas, ticks, sores, and an incredible amount of vomit and shit. For a minute, we considered leaving them. I needed to get back to the office and Stevie needed to be back at her job in the northernmost reaches of Alberta. As it would be for anyone, though, it was impossible to drive away, so we began scooping the puppies out of the box and putting them on a blanket from the van. It was horrible. As it turned out, there were eight. The eighth, who would be named Emmy, was at the bottom, curled in a fetal position, her little eyes shut tightly. She was the runt, and her brothers and sisters lay on top of her, voiding themselves of their sicknesses as worms and parasites ravaged their tiny bodies. At first glance, she seemed dead. We pulled her limp and lifeless body out of the box, fleas leaping off her in frightening numbers, her patchy, wiry fur coursing with them. Setting her down on the blanket, however, she stood briefly on her own, opened her dull eyes slightly, looked up at us, then collapsed back into her fetal position. The adult dogs looked on carefully, growling deep in their throats, as we tried to clean the puppies up as best as we could. Instead, they were more likely to be two other strays that happened on the box and took it upon themselves to protect them as best as they could. With time, they backed off and watched from the roadside. For the next few days, they could often be found just a few hundred yards away pacing back and forth outside a camp nearby. After a while, though, they vanished into the dust and the puppies stayed with us. And then something incredible happened: the entire community of traveling campers on that beach came together to make sure these sick little creatures would be alright. There was one person in particular who assumed the brunt of the responsibility. Reynolds, a soft-spoken tree worker from North Carolina, became the surrogate father to all the dogs. About eight feet in length, it sat in front of his tent beneath a shade cloth, a donated kennel from another camper down the beach serving as a bedroom. Their bellies were massively distended from worms, their noses coated in glossy lice eggs. Their ears were infested with ticks that gorged on their blood, and the fleas were thicker than their mange-ridden fur. She spent her days and nights in his jacket next to his chest, soothed by his body warmth and his heartbeat. For days, the puppies hung on by a thread. Fed by hand with syringes full of puppy milk, they slowly regained their strength. Tentatively, they began playing with each other, nipping gently, mewling like kittens, and fighting over food. Their bellies, still swollen with worms, began to get smaller. With medication from a nearby vet, vast amounts of worms, white and thick as bean sprouts, came out in their shit. Mites infesting their skin died and came to the surface in pus-filled infections, and hatch after hatch of fleas was killed off by endless flea baths and powders. By this time, Stevie and I were supposed to be home. Her shift began the day after we found the box. I called my boss and asked for a more time in Mexico. As the puppies gained strength, the inevitable question arose: what were we going to do with them? We all asked around about local shelters, but most of them were packed to the brim with abandoned dogs. Over-populated and under-funded, Baja dog rescue operations are incredibly sad places run by people with hearts of gold. Slowly, the puppies gained strength. Photo: Lindquist For the next few weeks, a handful of us struggled to make it known that we had puppies that needed homes. We brought them to markets and spread the word through nearby towns, urging anyone and everyone interested in becoming a dog owner to come and have a look. Stevie and I were taking one, but we had no idea which. The other six puppies were homeless, skinny, and although they were rapidly getting better, they were still very sick. It was a worrisome situation. I thought often about what it would be like to drop a few remaining puppies at a shelter and walk away from them, and it was difficult to imagine. All of a sudden, though, things snowballed. A few of us had been wandering between the stalls with armfuls of struggling, floppy puppies, telling anyone who stopped us the story and letting them know they were available for adoption to good homes. The girl, whose name has escaped me, immediately took a shine to Distendo—later to be named Ruca, if memory serves—and, after a brief conversation with her boyfriend, decided to take her. Ruca, not so distended anymore. She was skinny as a rail, feisty as all hell, and desperate for love. By the next morning, Craig and Andrea had decided to become the proud new owners of the newly-named Renny, after Reynolds. A few weeks later, after Craig left, Andrea came and stayed at my house in Malibu on her way north. She parked the Delica on my street and brought Renny up for the evening. She was a different dog: active and happy, it was as though she knew just how lucky she was. Now, she lives in Tofino, Canada, and judging from the videos, is primed for a wonderful life. Renny, working hard on her beard. Firefighters in the winter, Brad and Robin are deep wells of adventure stories, permanently smiling and seemingly unfazed by anything and everything the rigors of travel can throw at them. They slept with the dogs in their camper for two months, continuing their exploration of Baja, before driving through the US and eventually dropping the dogs off in a small town on Vancouver Island to their to use a horribly over-used foster dog phrase forever-home. On the way home to their new home. Of the eight, I felt that she would be the last to go. Then, an extraordinarily nice family appeared on the road. A gaggle of giggling children and two even-keeled, amazingly happy parents chose her from the pack, and Chihuahua Girl became Daisy. Daisy in North Carolina, interested in these strange new creatures. After a difficult goodbye, he left Emmy with me and Stevie. Ocho Guacamole, testing out van life… better than box life. After a week with Emmy and Ocho in the van, Stevie and I packed them into kennels and squished them under the seats of a bound for Vancouver. Ocho, as he does, cried like a baby half the time, only quieted by handfuls of dog food. After a surprisingly easy border crossing thanks to an amazing Mexican vet who may or may not have fudged their birthdates by a few days , a short stay in a hotel, and another quick plane ride to Vancouver Island, we were home. The van stayed in Mexico in a storage area for quick strike missions, along with most of my surfboards, all my bedding, and nearly every pot and pan in my kitchen. Ocho on left, Emmy on the right. Their first day in Canada. Reynolds then flew from North Carolina to Seattle, rented a car, drove across the border to Vancouver, took a ferry to Vancouver Island, picked up Emmy, then turned around and did the whole thing in reverse, only this time, he had his little girl with him, hidden in the backseat of the rental car when he crossed the border. She was so small and so helpless in the bottom of that box on the side of the road. Now, after a chance encounter on a dusty road at the southern tip of Baja, here she was in Canada, waiting for the man who literally saved her life with body warmth, hand-feeding, and love. Reynolds, though, needed her. And she needed him. Emmy, a far cry from that shriveled little creature who had given up on life. Surf trips are fun, but ultimately not all that rewarding. Surfing is a selfish pursuit. A wave has to be mind-blowing for the memory to last a lifetime. Surfing is just the vessel for the real experience. Yeah, the waves were fun, but waves will always be fun. That box full of half-dead, shit-covered little dogs? Photo: Lindquist. Photograph by Robin Schwartz When I was a child, my greatest dream was to find a box full of puppies. And every shoebox, every discarded Manhattan Mini Storage vessel had the potential to change my life. By the time they were fully grown, they would follow me down the streets of SoHo, off-leash. In reality, I was deeply dog-less. My first and worst pet was a newt that choked to death on a bad worm. Next came a hairless cat my mother bought on Greene Street. We lived in what was essentially one big room, on Broadway. My mother had been the proud owner of Cindy, a shepherd-collie mix with serious aggression issues and a pathological obsession with Ritz crackers. At the age of six, my mother was both her captor and her protector. When it was really hot, he liked to run to the riverbank and roll in dead eels. He survived a German-shepherd attack in which he lost part of an ear. Both these dogs seemed to me like outcasts, kooks, pains in the ass who the adults secretly wished would just succumb to their own vices already. When I was fifteen, I took the box-of-puppies fantasy into my own hands. Walking down the main drag of Brooklyn Heights, where we now lived, I stopped to pet a tan mutt, the mascot of an animal-rescue group that had set up a booth at the corner of Montague and Hicks. There were several girls and a man. I do remember, though, that what came next was a very bad afternoon. It involved my dreams coming true and the empty dread that often follows that experience. I climbed into a van with Elias Koteas, who told me that there was a pit-bull mother dead in a box! Just think of the puppies—three of them, he had said, their bodies cold, starving. In the van, one of his colleagues, a silent frizzy-haired woman, filled dog bowls with dirty water. I could hear it sloshing as we rumbled down Atlantic Avenue. It was dusk by the time we reached the parking lot. It had started to drizzle. Elias Koteas told me to follow him, and I did, to a shipping crate in the corner of the lot. I peered in. They were barely puppies. More like kidney beans, slick and cool, eyes still sealed shut. They whimpered, but quietly, no louder than baby birds. Elias Koteas urged me back to the van. I wandered for blocks, the puppies hidden in my orange parka. I saw a laundromat and went inside to get warm. Someone noticed the puppies and suggested that I stuff them into the socks without mates sitting atop a dryer, which I did. The office was just closing, but I opened my coat and flashed the receptionist my puppies, like a freelance salesman on Canal Street, and she quickly ushered me in. The vet was a young, sweet man. Definitely Jewish, which is something I care about only in times of crisis. He checked each dog for a cleft palate and explained that I had to feed them every two hours, and that I should rub their anuses with a hot cloth to express their bowels. It never occurred to me to ask whether the vet might keep them there, at the office, where the staff was better equipped for transient pit-bull infants than a fifteen-year-old girl might be. After all, my parents were on a trip to California and my sister, Grace, was only nine. On the walk home, I named them—Uno, Bruno, and Devo. Imagine how lively our house would be when we had three grown pit bulls! I presented them to the babysitter, who reacted with the only appropriate emotion: horror. I was too old for a babysitter but still too young to be trusted alone with Grace. The first night, I woke up every hour on the hour, heated the bottles, rubbed the anuses. It was the weekend, so I had all the time in the world to spend with them. But by the end of the second afternoon I was an Octomom-style mess. She lived in Bay Ridge and was agoraphobic, she explained, so there was no way she could meet me to collect the puppies. Besides, she said, she had no room at all. I waited until my father got home, then made him do it, but I refused to join my family in the car, claiming that it was too painful a goodbye. While they were gone, I holed up with a boy I vaguely liked who had a very chapped lower lip. We did, eventually, get a family dog. I was very invested in him for a short while, until I started watching Criterion Collection movies and eating meat and getting generally more excited about human company. The misfit child no longer needed a companion, and the terrier was ignored, like the Velveteen Rabbit. Nothing about my life these days makes me an especially good candidate for having a dog. I have issues waking up. I am one step away from doing that awful rom-com thing where a New York City working woman with limited space but unlimited pluck fills her oven with sweaters and shoes. I also realize that writing about dogs is a very tricky business. Or perhaps your words will have the droopy intelligence of a Thurber dog. The same caveats apply to conversation about dogs. Just discussing your dog can be as tiresome and offensive as talking about the weather, your own dreams, or the newest wrinkle in your married sex life. At least when people talk about their children, there is a chance that the kid will grow up to be President. After what feels like decades of making ill-advised forays into Spartan Chinatown living rooms and pretending to enjoy wine, I have met someone I love and respect, and I want to make decisions that honor and consider him. It would be a mistake to create a situation that compromised his comfort or made him less likely to squeeze me all night long. My boyfriend is allergic to dogs. Nevertheless, the itch returned last year, when, during an extended existentialist spin-out, the same family dog I had abandoned so many years ago dragged himself to my side and refused to leave. Suddenly, I find myself Googling dogs, looking into their dumb dog faces, reading about which foods will poison them grapes, chocolate, some sugarless gums and which celebrities love them Glenn Close. I imagine how much better everything would be with a dog. Walks to get the paper or a bagel. Long car trips, a wild head of Einstein-y fur in my lap. Sitting on the couch, reading a book, and occasionally flicking his ear with my toe. The rescue people dump his tags and toys into a plastic evidence bag, as if he were leaving prison. It should be noted that this place is an entirely professional operation. Quiet, limp as a sack of laundry, he kisses me softly whenever he has the chance. Everyone tells me how lucky I am. Friday, I drop him at day care. That afternoon, my sister breaks up with her girlfriend. I tell her she should sleep over, and she agrees. We all go to dinner and then pick up Lamby, who bounds out of day care and into the sub-zero night to greet us. I am lucky. But the minute we arrive home it gets weird: Lamby picks up a stuffed toy in his mouth and shakes it hard, as if to break its neck. My boyfriend reaches his hand out to calm him and Lamby lunges, biting him. In the bathroom a little while later, we are brushing our teeth when Lamby saunters in, calm, like your college roommate the day after an acid trip, acting like everything is normal. I promise. He bounces slightly, shocked, then curls his tail around one crooked leg and heads for the front door, where he barks loudly at no one. At bedtime, I shut Lamby in the living room with my sister, who needs the comfort, but, a moment later, it starts: the sound. Something between a sob and a siren, it is how Lamby expresses a doleful emotion that he experiences roughly twice a day. My boyfriend nods, a good sport with a long red scratch on his forearm. Lamby trots in, does several laps around the room, then stretches across the foot of the bed. You know, a creature. That might bite my feet. What have I done? We had such a nice life. I cling to my boyfriend and pull my feet up close the way I did when I was a little girl and thought alligators lived at the bottom of the bed, waiting to snap. Finally, everything settles. It seems as though we could sleep this way every night and even come to love it. What was I so anxious about? A siren wakes me at 3 A. Lamby stands, ready to fight. I kneel over her and she shows me the offending text message. Lamby makes himself busy, circling her, placing a spitty chew toy on any exposed skin he can find. Once she calms down, he does, too. On the arm of the couch. This is where we will stay. But any attempt on my part to be alone—meditating, showering, walking out into the hallway to dump trash down the chute—results in that same siren sound. Sometimes he takes a break to flash his erection at me, red as a sunburn and made even more vulgar by the jaunty bandanna the groomer has tied around his neck. At night, he conks out around ten. My building skews old. So when an ambulance pulls up to our door I never panic. Lamby does. One night, an ambulance is parked outside from 3 A. I try shutting the blinds. Covering his ears. Pushing him out of my bedroom. The ambulance leaves, but Lamby starts again when the woman below me coughs, a deep weak rumble that I often mistake for male sounds of sexual pleasure or the evening news. At A. Before I even knew about you, I was waiting for you. When you were born, I was only twenty-five years old. But I needed you. He wakes up only one more time in the night, with a single bark that trails into silence. I kiss his little mouth, his ears that smell like corn chips and old water. I love you. I love you so much. He is mine, and I am old enough to have him. We are all adults here. Read More.

Breeder Referral Among companion animals, boxers are unmatched in their devotion, loyalty and friendship to humankind. Anyone who has ever loved a boxer can attest to its hundred-fold return. The excitement your boxer shows when you come home, the wagging tail at the sound of the leash being taken from its hook, the delight in the tossing of a tennis ball, and the head nestled in your lap-those are only some of the rewards of being a boxer owner. Owning a boxer is not just a privilege, it's a responsibility. These animals depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. If you are considering taking a boxer into your life, you need to think seriously about the commitment that boxer ownership entails. If you already have a boxer, you need to consider if you are fulfilling all your obligations as its owner. The ABC does not recommend, guarantee, endorse, nor rate breeders, their kennels, or their stock. We also do not examine individual dogs. Buyers beware in all instances. For more information on puppies available in your area, contact our Breeder Referral Chairman: Fran Illuzzi Email: illuzzifran gmail. Find a Responsible Breeder To find a responsible breeder, go to a dog show or visit the breed's Parent Club for additional resources and contact information. Don't be put off if a breeder isn't immediately responsive. Hobby breeders often have full-time jobs and they don't always have available puppies. Be selective. Find a breeder who is knowledgeable and make sure you're comfortable with them. Visit the breeder's home or kennel and ask to see at least one of the puppy's parents. Get an idea of what the future holds for your dog in terms of temperament and appearance. Observe the premises. Dogs and puppies should be clean, well fed, lively and friendly. Pay attention to how the dogs and puppies interact with their breeder. Does the breeder appear to genuinely care for the puppies and their adult dogs? Both dogs and puppies should not shy away from the breeder and should be outgoing with strangers. Find out about the health of your puppy and its parents. Breeders should be honest about the breed's strengths and weaknesses and knowledgeable about the genetic diseases that can affect their breed - including what's being done to avoid them. Establish a good rapport with the breeder. You should be encouraged to call the breeder if your dog has a crisis at any stage of its life. Don't expect to bring home the puppy until its eight to 12 weeks of age. Puppies need ample time to mature and socialize with its mother and littermates. Breeders should be willing to answer any questions you have and should ask many of you as well. Breeders will want to make sure their puppies are going to good homes, with people who know what to expect and have made all the necessary preparations. Don't leave the premises without the appropriate documentation of the dog's pedigree, a. You'll need to send in this application form to register your dog with the AKC. Either in 1st generation or even several generations out. Here we will discuss some ways to know. Appearance The most obvious sign that a dog is not a purebred is when something about their appearance seems 'off'. Now with this being said, one must allow for various deviations that can occur even with purebred Boxers with strong bloodlines. One element is the ears.Cropping is a choice that owners make and therefore there are plenty of quality Boxers that have larger, floppy ears. This practice is also not legal in many countries. Another element will be the tail. As with cropping, tail docking is an elected procedure and not legal in many countries. Most breeders in the United States and in other countries in which this practice of docking is legal, will have this done when a newborn is between weeks of age. Some will opt to not have this done, thus leading to purebred Boxers that have longer, swinging tails. Size is a hot topic regarding this breed. Being one of the largest of the "medium" breeds, the size of purebred Boxers can vary quite a bit. Gender plays a role.Still, there may be other differences in appearance which cannot be explained by the above variances. When this is the case, one may want proof. When purchased from an experienced breeder, you can and should ask to see all paperwork.The papers should show at least 5 generations back, letting you see that the sire and dam, their parents, their grandparents, and so on are all purebreds. You should be given papers when you buy your Boxer puppy. In some cases, you will be given limited registration.This is a normal practice and simply means that you do not have the right to bred. If you do not have papers but want to know if your Boxer is a purebred, you may certainly inspect your Boxer dog to see if he or she meets the AKC dog breed standards, however this will not give you solid proof by any means. DNA does not lie. Genetic markers in the DNA will prove if a Boxer is purebred or not. How is this done? In some cases, a blood sample will be taken; however the majority of the test are done with saliva samples from the dog. How long does it take for the results? Results are given in about weeks in most cases. Will this prove that my Boxer is a purebred and then I can register him? Yes and no. The DNA test will prove if your Boxer is a purebred but with most dog clubs, the DNA test alone will not allow you to register your dog without papers. Many dog clubs if given the DNA results, will however use Limited Privilege Registration to allow you to enter your Boxer dog into agility and sporting events. Depending on where you live, some dog clubs will allow your Boxer to be registered as a purebred if you show pictures of the dog which show conformance and you have witnesses sign a notarized letter that the Boxer is thought to be purebred. How long do Boxer dogs live - This section discusses the leading causes of death among this breed and steps that you can take to help your Boxer live as long as possible. Boxer dog looks skinny - There is a phase that may occur from the 14 to 22 month mark during which time the Boxer may appear to be too lean. Females: pounds. Height Males: inches. Females: inches. These dogs were renowned for their size, power, strength, and tenacity, and their modern-day descendants Mastiffs and Bulldogs continue in that tradition. Eventually, the reputation of the Molossian dogs preceded the breed. Hopner, Elard Konig, and Friedrich Robert—decided to develop these dogs into their own separate breed. In , the first Boxer exhibition dog show was held in Munich, and the following year, the first Boxer breed club was established: the Deutscher Boxer Club, which later established the original breed standard. Since the end of World War II, the Boxer has been recognized and celebrated as a popular, capable, and loyal companion and working dog. He has served in many capacities, from war dogs to farm dogs. Today, he can often be seen strutting around the show ring or working as a therapy dog, but many simply know the Boxer as a faithful and beloved family companion. Breed Characteristics Head: Somewhat brachycephalic skull-type, having a fairly short muzzle and slight upturn to the lower jaw. However, it should never appear as an extremely brachycephalic skull, as seen in dogs that are completely lacking the length of the muzzle or with an extremely upturned lower jaw. The head is moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. When viewed from the front or profile, the skull is slightly arched and never prominently rounded or flat, with a median furrow that starts at the stop and progresses toward the back of the skull. The occiput is visible but not distinct or pronounced. The head may be chiseled or slightly padded with smooth never bulky muscle to denote strength. The head is free of wrinkles and excess skin, although some folds on the forehead and topskull may appear when the dog is alerted. Eyes: The eyes are large, lemon-shaped, or open almond, dark brown in color, and set somewhat wide apart. The eyes should never appear almond, oblique, narrow, overly round, too deeply set, or bulging. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. Inner eyelid membranes are preferred to be darkly pigmented and not pink. Exposure of whites or haws, drooping of the eyelids, or rolling of the eyelids either inwards or outwards is incorrect. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Ears: The ears are set high on the skull and wide apart at the outer edge of the skull. They may be naturally dropped or cropped long. Natural ears are moderate in size, v-shaped, broad at the base, and somewhat short, with the inner edge and tip falling close to the head in repose. Tips will come forward when alert. Cropped ears should be cropped long and tapering. Improperly cropped ears are not to be penalized. Upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, appearing strong and well-developed, never appearing snipey or weak. The muzzle plane must be level from the stop to the point of the nose. It may not be excessively pushed-in, long, dished up concaved , or downfaced convex. The tip of the nose should be level on the skull or may be just slightly higher than the muzzle at the stop. In profile, the end of the muzzle protrudes, or rounds, just beyond the point of the nose, giving the end of the muzzle a somewhat rounded profile. The lower jaw is only slightly turned up and must never protrude beyond the break of the lips. Nose: The nose is large, well-pigmented, and black or self-colored according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened, never appearing narrowed or closed. The nose is never excessively pushed into the stop but sits at the end of the muzzle or just before the rounding of the end of the muzzle. Neck: Moderate length to allow for proud head carriage, strongly-muscled and distinctively arched. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The forechest is well defined, yet not overly prominent. Body: Compact, solid, deep, and of good substance. The body is never racy or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters. Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads. Tail: Set high on the croup, thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail may be left natural or docked short. Natural tails preferred are of a medium length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. They may be straight or gently curved. Docked tails should never be completely removed, leaving at minimum three vertebrae. The tail should never be kinked or screwed. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring. They are confident, devoted, eager, and watchful. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed. The ideal body height-to-length ratio is between and .Females may be slightly longer. The body is well-put-together, with sturdy substance and medium bone. Males should appear masculine, being more substantial in size and mass, while females should appear more feminine and slightly less substantial. Neither should lack overall type. The weight of a male or female is always in proportion to height. Head General Appearance: Somewhat brachycephalic skull-type, having a fairly short muzzle and slight upturn to the lower jaw. Expression: Alert, intelligent, confident, and capable. Stop: The stop is definite, preferably forming a degree angle between the topskull and muzzle. Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is between to , with the topskull being longer than the muzzle. The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is somewhat convergent. Lips or Flews: The lips are thick, broad, somewhat padded, and slightly loose. They are never overly droopy or pendulous. They fit snugly over the teeth and cover the jaws well. The upper and lower lip edges meet in front of the incisors, never covering the chin or lower lip. Cheeks: Cheeks may appear smooth or with slight padding of muscle to denote strength. The cheeks should not appear bulky or coarse. Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. Reverse-scissor bite or slightly undershot bite preferred. Body and Tail General Description: Compact, solid, deep, and of good substance. Topline: Straight yet gently sloped from prominent withers to croup. The back is short, broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut and may be flat, level, or just slightly almost imperceptibly arched, yet supportive. The back is never level when standing, swayed, or roached. The topline may level out as the dog moves. Croup: Gently sloped and in line with the rest of the topline. It is strong, straight, and muscular. The croup and pelvis may be slightly longer and wider in females. Underline: The underline is short and tight, with a slight tuck up. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight. Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided. Forequarters and Hindquarters Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. Shoulder blades are approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm. Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle and bone, and parallel to one another. Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns. Pasterns: Never weak or broken. Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are equal in length, strong, sturdy, of good bone, and well-muscled. Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another. Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another. Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns. Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters. Coat Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog. Coat Type: The coat is short, smooth, close, and fitting to the body throughout. The texture is hard and glossy. No fringe or feather is permissible. Standard color variety: Various shades of fawn light tan to mahogany, always with black mask , light brindle fawn with black mask , all with or without white tuxedo markings. From the root of the nose, folds are always indicated, running in a downward direction on both sides. Note: All standard-colored Boxers should have a clearly distinguished mask confined to the muzzle to contrast sharply with the rest of the coat. Non-standard color variety: Solid white, black, reverse-brindle, or seal, all with or without white markings, or primarily white with markings in the previously listed colors and patterns. Faults All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles. Welcome to our website! A photo of Rocky, the best Boxer ever, and the one who started it all! We are a family owned operation that breeds champion bloodline AKC Boxer puppies. Our objective is to produce the highest quality puppies, for family pets and companions. We do not offer nor do we guarantee our puppies for show or breeding, instead we would rather they be considered by the people that adopt them as family members, preferably as children! Our love for Boxers came about after we welcomed our first Boxer Rocky into our home. He is an amazing dog, and has been the backbone of our program, providing many of the adult Boxers that we have today. Although he is no longer used for breeding, his amazing personality seems to be what everyone we encounter is looking for in a Boxer. It's no accident that we chose to keep his puppies, they have the same laid-back and relaxed personalities as Rocky. We are vigilant to assure that our puppies are the finest available, we use the best technology to closely monitor the mother and her babies for the first eight weeks. We work with and handle the puppies daily, pampering them helps to create superior emotional health. Three days after birth dew claws are removed and tails are docked by a licensed veterinarian. Vaccinations and deworming is completed utilizing a strict program, all documentation is provided. Pre-crate training begins at six weeks of age. Puppies are socialized with adult dogs and other animals, such as cats at an early age. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. All else Copyright Riverhillboxers. All Rights Reserved.

We take our time to understand your needs regarding your future furbaby, and its here waiting to go home with you. French Bulldog Breeder in Boston, MA The most ethical french bulldog breeder in Boston We are re-defining the pet store, with transparency and a focus on socialization, health, and temperament. Just as people want to know where their food comes from, so should they know exactly where that Blue french bulldog puppy for sale near you came from as well. By fostering proper socialization, we reduce transitional shock and encourage stability, ensuring your new Frenchie becomes a loving, well-adjusted companion. .So we offer the strongest Health Gaurantee in the industry. To read more about where why you should never chose a frenchie from a faceless entity. If this decision is important to you, then stick around and learn more about our French Bulldog program and the various colors and personalities we produce. Also check out our Education blog before taking home your puppy to ensure that you are well prepared. If you are looking for the best quality French Bulldog Puppy Breeders In Massachusetts state , then you are in the right place! I have listed them down based on their Frenchie pedigree, breeding philosophy, breeding history, a customer review. You will get to know better about them as you read through the following descriptions. I made this list of Frenchie breeders based on the information I found on google. I have done some research to find out the best breeder possible just for you. And still researching to find out more about other quality breeders. Finally I made a list of the top 8 reputable French Bulldog breeders in Massachusetts who offer you the best quality puppy possible. All of the breeders have their own breeding style, philosophy and story. Hope the following Frenchie breeder list will make it easier for you to choose a good breeder. They take pride in providing you with a healthy, happy puppy that will be with you for many coming years. Stacked Bulldogs started French Bulldog breeding program with a mindset to the preservation of this breed. They are specialized in producing standard and rare colored French Bulldogs. Stacked Bulldogs 1st priority is to raise healthy, well socialized Frenchie babies with cheerful temperament for you that is friendly and outgoing. Stacked Bulldogs only use quality studs and females to give you a better quality puppy. They only have limited planned breeding and only have one to two litters a year. So be fast to order your desired puppy. Your puppy comes with- One year health guarantee. Socialization training. Puppy pedigree, puppy care guide. Puppy starter kit. Breeder support for life. If you are interested in having a puppy from them be sure to contact them fast to know more about their puppies. You can also give a visit to their website to see the puppy pictures. 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. We produce all of the brindles in black, blue, chocolate, lilac , fawns and sables in golden, red, blue, chocolate, lilac , creams, pure coats and tan points in black, blue, chocolate, lilac , and pieds in ALL of these beautiful colors! Call Us Are you ready to own the most popular dog breed in the U. We appreciate you visiting our site, whether you have been here many times in the past, or if this is the first time you have paid us a visit. We hope that the time you spend with us will be enjoyable, and that you will feel it is worth your time and effort. Of course, we invite you to come back as often as time permits, as we have provided a lot of information regarding the French Bulldog, and we doubt if you will cover everything in one visit. Under Owner Information, you will find a lot of information to help you determine if the French Bulldog is the breed for you. There are also FAQs for New Owners, if you have made the decision to adopt one of these wonderful dogs. Under Owner Info, you will also find several products that we use and highly endorse. We then have the unpleasant talk about scammers, who are rampant in the puppy arena, especially regarding French Bulldog puppies. If you see a deal that sounds too good to be true, there is a .It breaks our hearts every time we are contacted by someone who has been scammed, or nearly scammed. Please be careful. Lastly, under Owner Info, you will find information regarding our contract and our guarantee, which we believe is one of the best available, and it is the least we will do in the unlikely event that there is a problem with one of our dogs. Under Our Frenchies, you will find information regarding our breeding males, our females which have puppies on the ground, and retirees that are ready for their forever homes. We are very proud of the breeding male and females we have assembled. You can click on Former Puppies and scroll down to see a few examples of all of the various colors that Frenchies come in that we have produced in the past. We know that the different colors can be a bit confusing, so we have tried to make it as straight forward as possible. The only problem is that there are so many gorgeous colors that they come in, a decision regarding color preferences can be difficult .Also, under Our Frenchies, you can click on New Puppies to see all of our currently available puppies, along with a list of the litters that are born, but not yet introduced. We have placed multiple puppies in every state of the union except Hawaii, as they have a very long quarantine period. We have been using very responsible puppy nannies for years to deliver puppies to major airports all over the country, for very reasonable rates. We would love to work with you to place the perfect little Frenchie in your home. Some of our puppies, especially very specific requests, are placed with clients on our waiting list, but many are available to potential clients that are looking for puppies right away. If you are looking for a high-quality Frenchie puppy, please contact us and we will send information which will help you determine if we might be the breeder for you. We will do our best to help you adopt the Frenchie of your dreams. We do not post earlier videos. All of the puppies shown in the videos will have had their vet checks and will be available for adoption with the exception of a few that we may belatedly decide to hold back. Generally, those that we will be holding back will not be included in the videos. As a reminder to each of our Waiting List clients who have passed on prior puppies due to poor timing, when you are ready for your puppy, please let us know so we do not bypass your name when we are placing new litters. Meeting the puppy Nanny was easy and smooth at the airport! Hank was love at first sight. Happy Holidays! Just thought I would write to give you an update on our Dieter. Thank you again for doing what you do, and raising such amazing dogs! Dieter is loved by all who meet him, and he has met several people on his adventures this year. He is such a mischievous, but entertaining boy. He is the sweetest, craziest, cutest, cuddliest, puppy! Hi everyone! Just wanted to give you guys an update on Hank Mowgli. He is the center of every minute in my girls day. There were tears of joy and excitement — it was wonderful! Night went well — I had my hand in her kennel so she could sleep — she would make sure it was there and then fall back to […] Danielle, Rich and Rowan Hi BlueHaven!! Hope all is well! Rich and I would like to thank you for the care and love you put into your breeding program. Rowan is a healthy and fun-loving Frenchie! We hope all is well in your neck of the woods. All is well here. Originally, when we listed our preferred colors, we did not select brindle, but as you can see, once we saw GiGi, […] Catherine, Nick, Kolbie, Natty, and Dieter Dieter had an awesome first night. Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! Just wanted to send an update on Pearl formerly Sinah. At nearly 4 months old now; Pearl is doing very, very well. She had her 3rd series of shots and vet check last week and is perfectly healthy.

We make sure that happens by making sure they are properly dewormed, that they see the vet for a full health exam, have their shot administered by a licensed vet, and are loved on lots by our family so they acclimate well to their new one! We stand behind the health of our puppies with a 1 Year Health Guarantee. Thank you! He is so perfect and child. She has a fantastic temperament, is amazing with toddlers, infant and senior chihuahuas, and is unbelievably smart and trainable! I love my Penny girl! We now have our new Goldendoodle Finnegan. He just turned 4 months old and he is just a dream come true! I truly recommend Golden Acres to anyone that wants a healthy, and happy puppy. Thank you for an amazing puppy! We love him! Liz was so easy to work with and we got the most wonderful puppy. Our mini Goldendoodle is good natured, healthy and was easy to train. I highly recommend Golden Acres if you are looking for a healthy well raised puppy. We bought an F1b Goldendoodle there in .You can trust them to provide you a great puppy! We will definitely return to them when we are ready for another puppy. Welcome to Goldenstar Goldens Louisville, KY We have been breeding and raising goldens in our Kentucky home for over 35 years while showing in conformation, agility and obedience. The show quality goldens we breed all have four genetic clearances hips, elbows, hearts and eyes. Puppies are placed in loving pet family homes. We call them the velcro dogs… because they always want to be with you. Bobby lost his battle and I lost my husband of 30 years on September 20, .The last six months took ever ounce of my soul trying to be a good caregiver, and the last 21 days where …well there just are no words. So please bare with me as I try to find my life again. I can tell you that my dogs have been my salvation through all of this. They have given me purpose and filled a very sad heart with love. I would not be here without them. My golden family has grown to eight!!! These two have kept me on my toes to say the least, but they have also been so good for each other… Bella Stanley x Emmy joined the family in , and then in Skye joined the family. For what seemed a very brief moment I had eight goldens that I loved and cherished…then the most heart breaking thing happened… May 16, , I lost my precious heart boy, Toby! I will share the story on his page…. I am devastated! He and I were on a cloud that day… January , first time ever I have sent one of my girls Gabi out with professional handlers to enjoy the show ring. I was fortunate to get her first two points and put an International Champion title on her. Well, I have not been let down. She also has 20 Grand Champion points to date!!!!! Shows were cancelled and it took time to be able to get him out again. Deacon had all but three points to finish his title when I had the opportunity to send Deacon and Skye out with Carrie once again. Even winning grand champion points before coming home. Deacon even took a Best of Breed. The day Skye and Deacon both had Major wins!! Deacon finishes his championship. .Skye is close behind! Enjoy our site and our pictures. Road trip!!!!! Knoxville, TN November, .We make your puppy adoption process easy! Just follow these three easy steps and you'll have your new puppy safe and sound in no time. Step 1 Find the perfect Golden Retriever puppy! Browse through the puppies on our website or contact us if you don't see what you're looking for. Step 2 Pick up your puppy or we'll bring it to you! We can arrange a convenient meeting place or we can hand deliver your new puppy right to your home. Step 3 Bond with your new puppy. We're here to help! If you have any health-related questions or tips on getting your new puppy used to his new home just let us know! Check out some of the feedback we've gotten from our adopting puppy parents below. Christina Ortiz August 22, At first I was skeptical due to so many scans out there. Also my puppy came from an Amish family in Ohio so requested cash only and landline communication only. I drove miles and took my chances and they were so communicative and really nice family. They answered all my concerns and so did Gold Star Pups and would respond within the hour. My puppy been check by the vet and is healthy and well and super loving and sweet. I ended up changing his name from Prince to Miles because it took Miles to get this little guy. Thank you so much and have already recommended this site to others. He has been such a joy and he even goes to work with me! Easy process for purchasing. I had no issues at all. Ashley Barns August 21, thank you soooo much gold star puppies! Karen Zeigler August 14, I was concerned about buying a dog on line, but I quickly learned that Lancaster puppies only use reputable stores, not puppy mills. Gold Star was helpful, trustworthy, and did everything they promised. My puppy is smart, and healthy. She is sound minded and I absolutely love her. Sharon Secrest August 14, Gold Star puppies is the best! They walked us through each step on purchasing our forever puppy We highly recommend them! Thank-you Gold Star! The process was very easy! I had him delivered to Arizona. The delivery service guys were great on updating me when they would be arriving. Leo is been great and is adjusting well! Thanks gold star pups! Madison Chrisman June 12, We love our sweet puppy we got! Gold Star pups is a "middle man" for the Amish breeder. However, our little puppy came from a very nice farm and super nice people. She was exactly what we thought she would be. These people were very nice and professional and worked with me on price and pick up. I would definitely buy another puppy from here. Here is our sweet Rue, a mini bernadoodle! He came to us healthy and happy and we are surprised at what he knows, from fetching a ball to potty training. .Highly recommend working with them if you are looking for an awesome puppy. Janette Mac February 21, She is so adorable. .I got my 2nd fur baby from gold star pups LLC and we are so happy with everything. .Looking forward to get our next fur baby's soon!!! They made everything so easy and took care of everything needed to get our puppy home. Thank you Gold Star Pups for this adorable addition to our family. We might have another breed of puppy that would also be a perfect fit for you! Check out all our gorgeous pups and give us a call if you need any help. OH MY!!! GRRAND was contacted by a shelter that feared bringing Athena and her pups into their shelter, because they were going to have to euthanize them all upon intake due of lack of space!! It took a village, but they are all safe, bathed and in foster homes! They all apparently lived in a barn stall, never leaving it, and standing on a ton of feces, which they were covered in when they arrived. Some of the pups are terrified, having lived in the barn stall, with no socialization, all their lives and are going to need families with a lot of patience! Kane known as Charles and Penelope are in the same foster home and here is what she has to say about them: "They are definitely more settled in now and some personality is starting to slowly show. Getting used to people is completely new for them and it shows, as you know. However, they both get excited, happy and eager when any of my dogs come around. Miss P or Charles have no issues with appetite, wrestling with each other, tolerate baths and the more exposure to odd things they have, I think they will turn into a very sweet and great dogs. Be in the lookout for the famous side eye he throws! He loves belly rubs and takes better to being held than his sister. Interested applicants should expect these puppies to be big, and you should be prepared for that sweet and independent Great Pyrenees personality… to know the Great Pyr breed is to love them, but they are not Goldens, and we suggest you do some research on this beautiful breed before applying! These puppies all will need a secure above ground fenced yard as Great Pyrs love to be in their yard to protect and patrol, and this happens best when they are in a secure space! GRRAND policies stipulate a few important things that may stop you from applying, and here are 2 big ones- A: GRRAND will NOT place a puppy under the age of 6 months with families with children under 6 yrs old B: Any applicant with children under the age of 16, will require a home with direct access to a securely fenced yard… meaning direct access to the yard from the home… so this means no apartments or condos. As with all puppies, they will need a home where someone is home most of the time as they need to be fed regularly, and let to go outside consistently and constantly ALL DAY LONG so potty training can be a breeze. They will be looking for a home with a fenced in yard and a family with LOTS of time and patience to socialize and work with a puppy so they can grow up to be good pups! It is a lot of fun, but it is a lot of work, and if you don't have the time, an active and non-stop playful puppy may not be for you! Families must understand there needs to be constant supervision as children of all ages need to learn to respect an animal and puppies, and need to be taught boundaries. We are excited these pups will finally get to know what a nice soft bed, in a warm and cozy home with a loving family is all about!

By Chris If your Labradoodle is a biter, this behavior can be troublesome, especially if you do not correct it as a puppy. Many different methods can help to keep your pet from biting you or others in your home. How to stop a Labradoodle from biting Biting behaviors in a Labradoodle are not limited to just puppies, unfortunately. Some dogs will develop this negative behavior later on in life. There could be numerous causes as to why your pet is suddenly biting you or others. As a responsible pet owner, it is your job to ensure that your Labradoodle behaves appropriately and has proper manners without biting. Why Is My Labradoodle Biting? A Red Miniature Labradoodle looks happy in the studio. One of the best ways to stop a Labradoodle from biting is to determine the underlying reason why they are biting you. Once you know the cause, you can use an appropriate solution to the problem. Puppies and dogs of all ages will bite for a few reasons, including: Puppies who are teething Your dog is scared or caught off-guard It is in pain Your dog is bored or has excess energy Resource-guarding It is stressed or over-stimulated Your dog wants your attention Puppies Who Are Teething Puppies lose their first set of teeth starting around the age of three months and up to eight months old. During this time, they can be uncomfortable and want to chew and bite anything near them. Alternatively, chewing and biting can help relieve the pressure that the new teeth have on the gums. How To Stop the Biting Provide your Labradoodle puppy with ample chew toys , and durable food chews whenever they try to bite you. You can also purchase specialty dog teething gels to relieve any discomfort they may be feeling from emerging teeth. Did you accidentally scare your sleeping dog to wake up? Sometimes dogs will bite when they are scared or caught off-guard when they do not expect you. This issue frequently happens with older dogs who begin to lose their hearing or sight and do not know someone is close to them. Sometimes this can be by walking around the front of your dog so they can see you before you pet them. If your pet has hearing or sight issues, be mindful of their space and make them visually or auditorily aware of you being close before you touch them. This pre-warning will ensure that you do not catch them off-guard. It Is In Pain Dogs cannot verbally tell us when they are in pain, so they act out in other ways, like biting. So one way to know if your Labradoodle is in pain is if you used to handle them normally, but now they bite you when you touch them. If your dog tries to bite your hand when you reach a specific area, such as a leg or a part of their back, they may be in pain. Can Labradoodles smile? Even health issues like urinary tract infections or stomach problems can make a Labradoodle cranky enough to bite. Your vet can help you rule out any injuries or health problems that could be causing pain for your pet. If this breed does not get enough exercise or mental stimulation, they can act out by biting you or others in the home. Your pet may also run around more with the zoomies while biting at you or objects during this time. It may look cute and be harmless, playful biting when they are young, but it can develop into a more aggressive bite later as they mature. In addition, it can be challenging for your dog to determine a soft, playful bite from a hard one if you allow them to continue this behavior. How To Stop the Biting You can quickly minimize this harmful behavior by ensuring that your Labradoodle receives more physical or mental activity during the day. If you notice your dog beginning to run around and biting, take action immediately. For example, play fetch with your pet, take an extra walk, or provide your Labradoodle with mentally stimulating toys to curb the negative behavior. Two Labradoodles sniff eachother out at a dog park. Resource Guarding Does your Labradoodle bite you when you try to reach for his food dish or toys? Maybe your dog tries to bite you every time you want to sit near your partner on the couch. This biting is most likely due to resource guarding. Resource guarding can happen at any age, unfortunately, and is not only a puppy problem. This negative behavior should not be allowed to continue, as it can worsen over time. While it may start with toys, it can extend to food and even people if you do not address it. How To Stop the Biting Resource guarding can be a serious issue for many pet owners. You should not ignore these actions or try to handle them on your own. Instead, you will want to consult with a professional dog behaviorist for proper methods to correct this behavior as soon as possible. Or maybe you were cranky because you were having a busy day at the office and did not want to talk to anyone. Your dog can have similar days where they become stressed or over-stimulated. The difference is that your Labradoodle may actually bite to tell someone to back out of their space and leave them alone. Kids who bother your dog by poking his face , pulling his ears, or trying to sit on him may bring on a stress response that shows up as biting. Labradoodle playing in a water fountain. What a way to cool off on a warm day! How To Stop the Biting Dogs will often show visible signs of stress before biting. For example, your pet may growl, show teeth, its heckles may stand up, or have stiff body posture. If your Labradoodle indicates these or other signs that it is stressed or over-stimulated, try to alter the environment or put your animal in a safe place, like his crate. Your Dog Wants Your Attention Sometimes when a dog bites at your hands or feet, it is because they want your attention. For example, some Labradoodles will nip your hand then run away, enticing you to chase them and start an entertaining game. This behavior often happens with younger puppies since they will nip and bite at you to look at them and pet or play with them. Puppies are lower to the ground and may bite since that is the only way they can grab your attention. How To Stop the Biting If your Labradoodle is exhibiting playful biting behavior, you want to discourage it sooner than later. Any time they try to bite at your hands or feet, offer them a toy and get down to his level and spend some time with him playing on the floor. Often, sitting on the floor with your pet and having a game of tug for a few minutes will give them the attention they want while providing exercise at the same time. You Can Stop Your Labradoodle From Biting It is possible to successfully stop your Labradoodle from biting once you know the underlying reason for this behavior. Biting in any form should not be tolerated. If you allow it to continue, the problem can worsen since your pet will understand that it is okay to do it since there are no adverse outcomes from biting. There may be a straightforward solution to discourage future biting incidents, or you might have to seek help from a professional animal behaviorist. However, your Labradoodle can be a very social and happy pet without biting with consistency and proper methods. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. The best way to do this would be to buy different types of chew toys, balls and so on. You can find it here. Besides buy different things for the Labradoodle, also make sure that you are activating your dog, and just as important, teach it to active itself! My Labradoodle Chews on the Walls Some grown dogs and puppies also have a tendency to bite on the walls or the wallpapers of your house. Besides the previous advice, I would also recommend trying out the Grannicks Spray Repellant. The spray should be used on those areas of the walls that your dog has a tendency to bite on. This is most commonly because the dog is very excited or perhaps frustrated, and they end up directing those emotions towards you as the leader and leash-holder. Sometimes the reason for this could also be that your Labradoodle is getting bored if you are training exercises where it is supposed to be on a leash. It could also be because of the mood of the dog handler that the dog will try and bite the leash. For example, if the handler is in any way insecure, tensed up, or just generally not feeling confident around the dog, the dog can usually sense this and will also start feeling insecure. If this is the issue and you are not able to find a solution yourself, try consulting a dog behavior expert and hear their advice in your specific case. The 5 Main Reasons a Labradoodle Bites 1. Territory and Property Protecting their property is a very common reason for why a Labradoodle will bite. Usually, this is mostly seen with guard dogs like Rottweilers and German shepherds who will bite to try and protect their property. But this behavior is also seen among every other breed of dog, including Labradoodles. This can be avoided by teaching your Labradoodle to wait until the food bowl is placed on the floor. While getting nearer to placing the bowl on the floor, try giving your Labradoodle a treat so that it will learn that there is nothing wrong with humans being near its food bowl. The dog should be allowed to have some time for itself once in a while. This could be the mailman, paperboy or perhaps the vet. Dogs can also bite out of fear if they are surprised, if for example, your child sneaks up on it to try and give it a scare, or if they are disturbed while they are sleeping. To avoid these fear-related bites, you should socialize your puppy as early as possible. This will allow it to get used to as many different situations as possible that includes new strange people, other animals, and new places. Hereby the risk of an anxiety disorder or other behavior issues is lowered a lot, and this can in turn also means that your dog is much less likely to attempt to bite. If your dog has any general form of anxiety, you should try and find a behavior expert, or perhaps try some Calming Treats. Pain Pain can cause even the kindest of dogs to bite. If your Labradoodle has hip dysplasia , inflammation of the middle ear , or any other painful health issues, this is also often the cause of a Labradoodle biting problem. Also, remember to tell your kids not to touch your dog in the areas that are the cause of the pain. If it feels like your Labradoodle is becoming more and more sensitive, and just generally seems more short-tempered, I would strongly advise you to contact your vet and have it examined. Hunting Instinct A Labradoodle is by nature a hunting dog, so there are still a lot of instincts in the dog regarding hunting. Be very observant of the dog and its movements while always avoiding eye contact. If the dog, on the other hand, knocks you over, you should curl yourself into a ball and protect your face, your hands, and your neck, as these are all areas a dog would usually aim for. And then just stay calm. This is also something you should teach your kids. Maternal Instinct Even the most well-behaved bitch might bite when they have puppies. You should be careful and respect the maternal instinct in a Labradoodle who has just become a mom. And to be especially calm and cautious if they are handling her puppies. Make sure that the mom and her puppies have a safe spot in your house where they can get their required peace and quiet. Warning Signs By knowing the most common reasons that cause biting problems, it is also much easier to avoid the biting from happening. Usually, before biting, a labradoodle will display one or several warning signs. These are also signs that the dog is ready to bite. Playing and exercising also has the benefits that they burn some of that energy that most Labradoodles have. A good idea is though to avoid aggressive games like wrestling or other games where dominance is a deciding factor. Make sure your dog is vaccinated. Allowing your dog to get too close to strangers, not even while under your supervision, if it has a tendency to bite. Overwhelm your Labradoodle while socializing it. And also a good old Dog Muzzle , which is generally great when training a dog. Hopefully, this has helped with your Labradoodle biting problem. If not, let me know, as perhaps I or somebody I know have had your exact problem, and we will try and help you with it. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. Breed-Specific Behaviors Some dog breeds have been specifically bred to work at certain jobs. In the case of the Labradoodle, this breed was created to serve as a guide dog to the blind. But the parent dog breeds, the Labrador Retriever, standard Poodle and Cocker Spaniel for the Australian Labradoodle breed line only are true working gun dogs. The Labrador Retriever is a retriever gundog — a dog trained to grasp and hold downed small game prey in their mouths. The Poodle and Cocker Spaniel are also small bird gundogs. So Labradoodles get their instinctual desire to mouth, grasp, hold and bite things honestly. At some level, you will never completely train your Labradoodle out of this instinct. Learned Biting There is one more category of Labradoodle puppy biting many dog owners overlook and that is learned biting behaviors. While your Labradoodle puppy will have learned a little about tempering their biting from their mother and littermates, your dog will learn far more about that behavior from you. Sometimes dog owners inadvertently reinforce the very behaviors they want to get rid of. Your puppy loves attention from you more than anything and may bite again and again to keep you focused on them. Learning about and applying positive reinforcement puppy training methods is going to be your salvation here. We will explain in more detail in a moment. Find one method that works and use it consistently. Reward your puppy for any calm behavior. This can include calm play, or simply them sitting or laying next to you without biting. And, make sure to ignore biting. If your puppy starts to bite you during play, you can try to redirect their mouth to a toy. If the biting continues, make sure to ignore the behavior completely, and put your puppy in their pen to calm down. Under no circumstances should you ever reward biting! This includes with attention! Doing so can make your puppy more likely to bite during play — it will become a learned behavior, as we spoke about earlier. Should I Punish Puppy Biting? Studies have proven that punishment can have adverse effects on training and management of problematic behaviors. Punishing biting can stop your puppy from biting, but it can also create a level of fear, mistrust, and anxiety. And, as we know, dogs that are scared or nervous are more likely to bite. So, this method of training can also increase the risk of serious biting. Punishing your dog for growling or snarling which often happens during puppy play can also stop your puppy from growling as a warning when they are feeling threatened or scared. Not every dog owner will have the same degree of tolerance for Labradoodle puppy biting, even when it arises from teething pain or another normal cause. Dog trainers use a six-level bite scale to assess how urgent the biting situation may be. Level one is aggression with no biting. Level six is biting to fatality. Clearly there is a wide range of behaviors in between. What Causes Puppy Aggression? But, another common cause is guarding behaviors. Common resource guarding targets include toys , food, food bowls, people, and more. They will be able to help you work with your puppy to deal with the aggression. Your veterinarian will be able to put you in touch with a good behaviorist. Is Your Labradoodle Puppy Biting? Are you at your wits end with Labradoodle puppy biting? Related Articles. While it might be part of their exploration phase or a form of play, they may be doing it for other reasons. This kind of habit, if not nipped in the bud early on, can become a very frustrating behavior for you, your family, and any household guests. The best way to control their biting is to divert their attention away from biting you, with a toy. This teaches them the boundaries of what they can and cannot bite. You can also try simply getting up and walking away when this negative behavior starts. You can also try diverting their attention during episodes of biting with treats, harnessing this energy for a training opportunity. Work on simple tasks like Sit, Down, and even a trick like a Turn. This helps teach them to respond to you rather than their puppy urges. When still with their litter mates, puppies nip and bite as they play. So this behavior is rather ingrained in them. So, patience and commitment are extremely important through this process. It covers everything from choosing and working with a breeder to training and socializing to dealing with all of that luxurious hair. If you love your Doodle, this book is a must-have. You will save you time, money, and loads of frustration…take my word for it! Get Your Copy Today! How Long Will It Last? All puppies bite. It begins when their baby teeth start coming in at around two or three weeks of age. It generally continues until they lose their baby teeth and start getting their adult teeth. For a timeline of expected puppy tooth loss, head over to our Labradoodle Brushing Guide. They wake up and start chasing, wrestling, and biting each other all over again. Unfortunately, this nipping and biting are not reserved just for their siblings and canine playmates. Biting During Teething The teething process goes for several months from the time the baby teeth come in until the final adult teeth are in. Chewing and biting on things, even our fingers, brings them relief from the teething pain. Some hard, some soft, and some even made from fabric. This pack bundle of toys did the trick when my first Labradoodle was gnawing on everything in sight. It includes a bunch of different soft rope toys, chew toys, balls, and a soft flying disc — all just the right size for puppy mouths and perfect for satisfying irritated gums. No products found. Giving them a good selection to choose from will help keep them from chewing on things like pillows and chair legs. Another tip is to stuff a Puppy Kong find them on Amazon with peanut butter and toss it in the freezer for a few hours before giving it to your puppy. The cold will help numb the gums, the rubber is durable and safe for chewing, and most pups absolutely adore them. The uninjured puppy associates the end of playtime with the pain and squealing from its sibling. Knowing how to control the intensity or strength of their bite is known as bite inhibition. You can teach your puppy bite inhibition. Techniques There are a few different ways to stop your puppy from nipping and biting. Keep on doing this until the puppy stops biting. As soon as the pup stops biting and nipping, praise him and give him a treat. Another way to stop the biting is to put the puppy down and walk away. Puppies love attention and they love playing. If playtime ends as soon as they begin biting, they will eventually get the point. One thing worth considering is that puppies always seem to be hungry. They might just like the taste of your fingers and toes. It can become excessive if it seems like all the puppy wants to do is bite and nip. This behavior must be corrected before the puppy becomes a big dog. Even the sound of their little growls has an appeal that makes us laugh. Prolonged and fierce growling. Aggression that comes for a specific situation. Let him know that playtime or attention time is over when he bites. As soon as he starts biting, give him the toy or chew. Gently and calmly place your puppy in their crate. Discourage friends and family from roughhousing with the puppy in ways that will encourage him to bite. Puppy biting is just one of the many issues we address in our Labradoodle Guidebook. Because these are such wonderful dogs, we believe that owners should have the correct information and advice in one place from the very beginning to avoid making common mistakes that could negatively affect their relationship with their dog. After all, you only get to raise your dog once. Related Questions: What about play biting? Is that OK? Play biting is still biting, and it could hurt a young child. Why does my puppy try to bite my hand when I pet his head? This is what young puppies do. You might want to distract him by feeding him treats from your other hand. Still have questions or concerns about your Labradoodle puppy? Check out all of our Labradoodle articles to find solutions to common problems and tons of other information about this delightful breed. Do Labradoodles bite? February 20, Labradoodles are one of the most popular crossbreeds on the planet. The answer is yes and no. All dogs bite when they are puppies, and Doodles are no exception. However, adult Labradoodles should not bite unless provoked. If they do, there could be a deeper issue at play. Table of Contents Types of biting Before we take a deeper look at biting and the breed, we should consider the different types of biting in dogs and what they mean. The four main types are puppy biting, play biting, defensive biting, and attack biting. Puppy biting All puppies bite when they are teething. Teething is a natural process that all infant mammals go through, in which their milk teeth fall out and their adult teeth grow in. During this process, their gums can feel very sore, and biting and chewing on things is the only way to relieve the pain, which is why your adorable pup may seem more like a crocodile at first! Particularly high-energy puppies may also nip you when they are excited. Play biting Play biting is a natural part of play for many dogs. Dogs play-bite with their human family members and with other dogs, and as long as your dog is well socialized, it is nothing to be afraid of. The only time when play biting may be an issue is with children, so parents must be sure to teach their kids how to play with their pets and to monitor play with small children. Play biting naturally decreases once Labradoodles calm down at around years of age. However, with the right training this behavior can be resolved much sooner than that. Defensive biting Defensive biting is exactly what it sounds like — biting out of self-defense, or in defense of somebody else, whether it be a person, another dog, or even their home. A dog that is feeling defensive may lower their head or widen their gait, fix their gaze, pin back or point their ears, and hide or point their tail, as well as tremble, whine, bark, or snarl. This type of biting is usually quick and fairly minimal, and in most US states, owners are not liable for resulting injuries when a dog bites out of self-defense or provocation. For example, to small children cornering their family pets or to the vets giving them their shots. Attack biting Attack biting is when a dog bites somebody, or another dog, seemingly without provocation. This is, of course, the worst kind of biting. No dog should ever bite without provocation, but it does sometimes happen. Attack biting also occurs in some breeds more than others, most often in dogs with a genetic history of guard work and dogfighting. The bitey-ness will wind down gradually and you can train them to stop biting you and chewing your home to pieces in the meantime. Puppies usually learn how hard to bite each other when they play with their siblings in their first few weeks of life. You can teach your puppy not to bite others by yelping like a puppy whenever they bite you and ending your interaction immediately. This way, they learn that biting causes the fun and affection to stop. It may take them a while for them to understand, as puppy empathy can take several months to develop, but you should start doing it as early as possible. If you stay patient and remain consistent, they will learn! Additionally, you should reward them a lot for appropriate interactions. Use training treats to show your Labradoodle puppy that sitting politely pays off way more than nipping! As for chewing, you will never stop your dog from chewing as it is natural, normal, and good for them! There are even chew toys that are designed specifically for teething pups, with rubber teeth that massage and soothe their gums. Frozen carrots are also great treats for teething pups, as the cold will relieve their gums. Or, you could try filling a pup-sized Kong toy with something tasty and freezing it overnight for another yummy, soothing treat. Do adult Labradoodles bite? Labradoodles are known for being a friendly breed, this is part of what makes them such a popular choice for dog owners around the world. Can Labradoodles be dangerous? It is not recorded how many dog bites are caused by Labradoodles every year, or how many violent dog fights involve Doodles. However, this is a good thing. How to approach a nervous Doodle? If you come across a nervous Labradoodle, you should remain at a distance, stay calm, and try to make yourself appear smaller by crouching down to their level. Offer a treat or toy if you have one, and if they come to you and let you pet them, keep your hand where they can see it until they are comfortable with you. If they react aggressively at any point, just calmly back away. Can anxiety make Labradoodles bite? Extreme anxiety can cause Labradoodles to bite. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual , canine anxiety is most commonly caused by fears, separation, and old age. Fear-based anxiety is the type that is most likely to cause unprovoked biting, as it can cause dogs to become jumpy, making them snap out of panic, rather than aggression. Common fears amongst dogs include loud noises and cars, and they are usually born out of bad past experiences. An anxious dog may engage in repetitive behaviors such as pacing and lip licking. Triggers can be treated with positive association training and anti-anxiety aids like supplements, diffusers, and thunder vests. Some dogs also have an intense dislike of being groomed and bathed. If your Labradoodle is biting e. Can boredom make Labradoodles bite? Extreme boredom can make dogs bite. It can also make them engage in destructive behaviors such as ripping up furniture and going to the toilet indoors. If a dog is not receiving enough physical or mental stimulation, their pent-up energy and frustration can result in aggression, often towards other dogs, but sometimes towards people, too. Labradoodles have the social nature of the Labrador with the intelligence of the Poodle, so they need a lot of love, interaction, and mental stimulation. To prevent and tackle boredom, make sure your Doodle is getting two hours of exercise a day, preferably split into two walks, as well as lots of play and companionship. Vary their walk location to keep it interesting and switch it up with some running, games of fetch, and swimming from time to time if possible. Play some fun, challenging games like hide and seek at home, teach them new things to engage their brains, and invest in some stimulating toys like puzzles and treat dispensers. Can illness make Labradoodles bite? These illnesses can include sight or hearing loss, canine cognitive dysfunction, brain tumors, hypothyroidism, psychomotor epilepsy, hyperkinesis, and neoplasia. Painful injuries can also cause dogs to snap should somebody touch the area, but this is not done out of malice. Because Labradoodles are not AKC-registered , there are no guidelines for health testing in this breed. Sadly, some breeders do not make sure that the parents are free of hereditary diseases. Some puppies are born predisposed to develop illnesses later on — some of which can make them aggressive, too. If your dog bites unnecessarily and it is completely out of character, especially if they are older or you notice any other physical or behavioral changes, you should take them to see their vet for an examination right away. What if my Labradoodle bites someone? If your Doodle bites someone that is posing a threat to you, your dog, or somebody else, you should get away from them immediately and inform the police if necessary. In most US states, owners are not liable for resulting injuries when a dog bites out of self-defense or provocation. If the bite was unprovoked, you should separate the person from your dog and make sure that they get the medical help they need. As for your dog, you should inform your vet of what has happened. Legal repercussions and enforced euthanasia for biting are possible in extreme situations. Our website cannot provide legal advice on bite cases. What if my Labradoodle bites another dog? If your Doodle gets into a fight with another dog, you should separate the two dogs immediately. If your dog hurts the other dog significantly, you should offer to pay for their veterinary treatment, unless their dog was very clearly the aggressor and your dog was defending themselves. Owners of dogs that get attacked by other dogs are legally within their rights to report you to the police if they feel that your dog is dangerous. Legal repercussions and enforced euthanasia are rare, but if your dog is a danger to other dogs, you should take precautions to prevent them from attacking another dog in the future, such as training, keeping them on the leash, and muzzle wearing. The bottom line Although any dog can bite if provoked, Labradoodles, in general, are not aggressive or dangerous dogs. In fact, they are known to be a perfect family dog that is great with children and other pets. However, you should still make sure that you fully train and socialize your dog to ensure good behavior. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.

Maltipoo vs Poochon Comparison Doodle breeds are the stars of the 21st century. These delightful dogs are hypoallergenic, effortless to train, and easy to love. If your choice comes down between the two, read on to find out which one fits your lifestyle best. Are you pondering how to make your furry friend's birthday as extraordinary as they make every single day for you? Well, you're in the right place. We have the definitive guide to creating a mouth-watering puppy birthday cake that will not only get tails wagging but also make you the star of the dog park. Why opt for generic, store-bought treats when you can infuse love.All Maltipoo Insights Maltipoo Breed Info Meet the Maltipoo, a delightful and charming designer dog that has quickly become one of the most popular crossbreeds in the world. These little dogs may be small in size, but they make up for it with their spirited personality and ever-loving nature. The fusion of these two breeds results in a friendly, intelligent, and playful dog, adored for its gentle and affectionate disposition. With a coat that's often soft and slightly wavy, a Maltipoo brings the low-shedding advantage of Poodles, making them a suitable option for allergy sufferers. In addition to their delightful personality and striking looks, Maltipoos are incredibly adaptable. Their small size makes them great companions for apartment dwellers, while their love for play and activity makes them fit comfortably into an active household. These dogs are all about companionship, and they thrive when they're in the company of their human family. Whether you're an experienced dog owner or a first-time pet parent , a Maltipoo can make an excellent companion. Their combination of Poodle intelligence and Maltese affection creates an easy-going temperament, perfect for families, seniors, and individuals alike. The Maltipoo, with its heartwarming charm and joyful spirit, is bound to win over hearts everywhere. Like any breed, a Maltipoo has unique needs and characteristics. Understanding these will ensure a happy and healthy dog and a rewarding, lifelong companionship for you. If you are unable to find your Maltese puppy in our Puppy for Sale or Dog for Sale sections, please consider looking thru thousands of Maltese Dogs for Adoption. Adopt yours from our reputable breeders at Premier Pups. Browse thru our ID Verified puppy for sale listings to find your perfect puppy in your area. Maltese puppies up for adoption for more info and pics send text to .You can expand the distance to find items using the location bar on the left. I have 2 beautiful males and 1 female available. Female Malteses for Sale in Orange County. The Maltese can serve as a lapdog but it loves to play with humans of all ages. We provide a 1 year health guarantee for all of. Bold and quick to sound the alarm in case of suspicious noises. Teacup Maltese: Maltese puppy for sale near Orange …. Partnered with the nation's most reputable Maltese breeders, Premier Pups offers the best Maltese puppies for sale. Dre: Maltese puppy for sale near Orange County, California. With its sweet and doting personality, it seems that the Maltese dog was born to be a pampered house pet. Maltese Puppies for Sale Maltese puppies are playful, fearless and gentle companions. You'll love their sweet nature. Toy and Teacup Maltese puppies for sale with nation-wide delivery. Let us do the work! We can let you know when your search has new results. The Maltese is a timeless breed that is considered one of the oldest toy dogs still in existence. Twenty percent of their profits benefit no-kill animal shelters and Maltese rescue operations, including American Maltese Association Rescue. Maltese Puppies For Sale in California. American Maltese Association Rescue. Maltese Puppies for Sale from California Breeders. If you are unable to find your. Page 5: Malteses for Sale in Orange County. Maltese Rescue California - Home Welcome to Maltese Rescue California We are a c 3 nonprofit organization staffed entirely by dedicated volunteers. They make highly alert watchdogs who are fearless in a charming small dog sort of way, and they are formidable athletes on the agility course. Maltese Puppies for Sale in California. Male Malteses for Sale in Orange County. Malteses for Sale in Orange County. Page 11 - Maltese Puppies for sale in Orange County, ca from top breeders and individuals. Our puppies are well trained and very socialized. These sparkling sweethearts need some new to take care of them. PetzLover helps you to find your lovable pets to your home. Join millions of people using oodle to find unique used cars for sale, apartments for rent, jobs listings, merchandise, and other classifieds in your neighborhood. Maltese Rescue California. All are loving, friendly and very playful. I have one beautiful girl available. Jipmk Maltese Pups For Sale They are up to date on shots and dewormer, vet checked, cheerful and healthy. Select your puppy from our Website. Maltese are affectionate small dogs typically weighing less than seven pounds, covered by a long, straight coat. The average cost for all Malteses sold in the. Please call to schedule a visit to see our puppies, thank you. Gentle, loving, trusting and devoted to its master. Maltese For Sale in Orange County .Maltese Breeders in California! Affectionate, cuddly, joyful, and kind, the Maltese are the precious little gems of the dog kingdom. Maltese Puppies for Sale near Orange County. These beautiful dogs are playful, happy, fun, and full of life. Maltese Puppies for Sale near California. Vaccine infoormation: they will come with 3 DHPP vaccines. This is the price you can expect to pay for the Maltese breed without breeding rights. Parents are family pets; both mom and dad are 4 lbs. Looking for a Maltese puppy in Costa Mesa, California? All of my beautiful puppies come with multiple vaccinations and deworming complete, a Veterinarian Examina… more. We provide a 1 year health guarantee for all of our pups. Puppies come with registration papers and a health guarantee. Teacup Maltese: Maltese puppy for sale near Orange County, …. Doggie Avenue Pet Groomers. Maltese Puppy Maltese Puppy. Originally thought to hail from the island of Malta, the Maltese has graced the laps of many different types of people. Maltese puppies for sale near orange county. We have beautiful and very healthy home raised Puppies. Why buy a Shih Tzu puppy for sale if you can adopt and save a life? Look at pictures of Shih Tzu. Page 2: Malteses for Sale in Orange County. Listing ID - 2fbcbc1 You'll love this. Maltese Puppies for Sale Near Me. F1B Bernedoodles lovelandloyal These litter of six miniature bernedoodles are confident, affectionate, health tested! Call or text if interested in meeting them. Join millions of people using Oodle to find puppies for adoption, dog and puppy listings, and other pets. If you are unable to find your Maltese. Page 3: Malteses for Sale in Orange County. This is the price you can expect to budget for a Maltese with papers but without breeding rights nor show quality. Maltese puppies for sale in Anaheim Hills, CA from trusted. Join millions of people using Oodle to find puppies for adoption, dog and puppy listings, and other pets adoption. Please browse through our website and stay as long as you like. If you have questions about our maltipoo puppies for sale our our AKC maltese puppies for sale, please call .Our AKC Maltese and Maltipoo puppies are from lines carefully chosen not only for their good health, but also for their great temperament and well-bred look. I own both the father and mother of our puppies, and in some cases, owned their grandparents and great-grandparents as well. Each of our Maltipoo or Maltese puppies come with a one year health guarantee and a puppy care package. They are current on their vaccinations and have been given the best of preventative veterinary care. Each of our family raised Maltese or Maltipoo puppies have been well socialized to adults as well as our children. Each maltipoo or AKC Maltese puppy is handled individually and socialized daily, as we are experienced in how the trainability and intelligence of a Maltese or Maltipoo puppy is directly linked to what their early exposures have been. We live in the heart of Illinois farming country nestled against a creek and a timber. Our Maltipoo and Maltese puppies for sale, as well as our children, enjoy our quiet rural setting. We are located near Fairbury, IL. You are welcome to come visit our Maltese or Maltipoo puppies for sale and their parents. Please call us to make an appointment. No Sunday visits, please. We feel that making the right match for each Maltipoo and Maltese puppy for sale is of utmost importance. If the perfect match between puppy and family is made, then both the new owner and their Maltipoo or Maltese puppy will be extremely pleased and happy. There is the perfect puppy for every family and the perfect family for every maltipoo or maltese puppy. We help the two find each other!!

Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic American Bulldog Overview American Bulldogs are generally happy, family-loving dogs that do well in homes where they have plenty of space to roam. A big, fenced-in backyard is practically a must-have for one of these energetic dogs, though exercise needs may vary by specific type and breeding. They may be just fine with urban life, so long as they get plenty of walks, and they can even make good jogging or running buddies. They do not, however, take very well to being left alone for long periods of time, and they can feel cooped up in an apartment. American Bulldogs need experienced owners who can be patient with training and start socialization early. Whether they are used for hunting and farm work or just cuddling up with their humans, the American Bulldog makes for an excellent, loyal companion and a competent watchdog. American Bulldog Highlights Temperament: They are known for their loyalty, protectiveness, and affection toward their families. American Bulldogs are often described as gentle giants, making them good family pets. Intelligence: These dogs are intelligent and trainable, but they can also be strong-willed. Early socialization and consistent, positive reinforcement training are crucial to ensure they grow into well-behaved adults. Exercise Needs: American Bulldogs are an active breed that requires regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. They enjoy activities like daily walks, playtime, and even agility training. Lifespan: The average lifespan of an American Bulldog is around 10 to 15 years, depending on genetics, diet, and overall care. Family Compatibility: American Bulldogs can make excellent family pets when raised in a loving and consistent environment. They are known for their patience with children and are protective of their human family members. Guardian Instinct: Due to their protective nature, American Bulldogs can be good guard dogs. They are naturally watchful and alert, which makes them capable of providing security. These two lines may have slight differences in appearance and temperament. Always check local laws and regulations before acquiring one of these dogs. American Bulldog History The ancestor of the American Bulldog is the Old English Bulldog, which was brought to North America by working class immigrants who wanted to keep their working dogs to help on the farms. Rather than being concerned with maintaining breed purity or certain genetic traits, early farmers bred the dogs with the best working qualities for all-around farm work. Wild pigs were an invasive species not native to the American south that had no natural predators, and the strong jaws and muscular build of the American Bulldog was perfect for hunting them down. They were originally used in the barbaric sport of bull baiting. By the end of World War II, the American Bulldog was almost extinct until a few breeders scoured the south for specimens to revive the breed. Today, the American Bulldog is in no danger of extinction and is mostly a family-friendly companion. Adorable American Bulldog puppies will grow to 20 to 28 inches in height and 60 to pounds by the time they reach adulthood. Although these sizes are considered to be standard for the breed, American Bulldogs can be quite a bit larger or smaller. American Bulldog Personality American Bulldogs are friendly, intelligent, and affectionate , though that affectionate nature often leads them to be territorial and overly suspicious of strangers. This makes them lovely family dogs and watchdogs, even for families with children, but they will need socialization training, especially as puppies to get along with unfamiliar humans or other dogs that stop by for a visit. Luckily, their intelligence makes them highly adaptable and trainable. The American Bulldog is a playful breed that has some high exercise needs, and they do well in families that are able to stay active with lots of walks and play time. They can develop in American Bulldogs and may require surgical removal for treatment. It can lead to itching, hair loss, and skin irritation. Treatment typically involves medicated baths and sometimes oral medications. This can lead to weight gain, lethargy, skin issues, and other health problems. It is usually managed with lifelong medication. It can lead to lameness and discomfort, and severe cases may require surgical intervention. Elbow Dysplasia : Elbow dysplasia is another developmental disorder affecting the elbows. It can cause pain, lameness, and arthritis in the affected limb. Treatment may involve medication, weight management, and in some cases, surgery to correct the condition. American Bulldog Care Most of the care that is necessary for the health of an American Bulldog is meeting their needs for exercise and mental stimulation. Failing to do so can result in anxiety, boredom, and destructive behavior. So long as those needs are met, the rest is fairly standard. Maintain normal vet visits, check their ears weekly, keep up with monthly nail clipping and normal dental care. One of the issues you may face is the potential for drooling that is common among bully breeds. You should take care to wipe your dog as needed unless you want a generous amount of slobber all over your home. American Bulldog Feeding An American Bulldog diet should be formulated for a large to giant breed, and their high energy level should be taken into consideration. Their needs will change from puppyhood to adulthood. You should discuss with them how to form an appropriate diet for your dog. Traditionally they are white with patches of brindle, red, or black, but there are quite a few more color variations to the breed in modern times. They may have patterns that include shades of black, red, brindle, brown, or fawn. American Bulldogs usually have black on the nose and the rims of the eyes, but they may also have shades of pink. Their eye color is usually brown. Although these are breed standards, some American Bulldogs have been known to be merle or have coats that contain shades of blue. Weekly brushing should keep it under control with baths as needed. So long as they are trained properly, American Bulldogs are great with children and are very loyal to all members of the family. It is also important to train children on how to properly handle and treat animals to avoid incident. American Bulldogs are large animals, and overly energetic play can cause injuries. The same can be said for interactions with other pets. So long as American Bulldogs are socialized and trained, they usually get along with other dogs just fine. Play should be supervised, especially with smaller dogs that can easily get hurt when playing with a large, muscular American Bulldog. You can also check local shelters near you, or you can use our adoption page that lets you search by breed and zip code for adoptable dogs. American Bulldog Breed Organizations Finding a reputable dog breeder is one of the most important decisions you will make when bringing a new dog into your life. Reputable breeders are committed to breeding healthy, well-socialized puppies that will make great companions. They will screen their breeding stock for health problems, socialize their puppies from a young age, and provide you with lifetime support. On the other hand, backyard breeders are more interested in making a profit than in producing healthy, well-adjusted dogs. They may not screen their breeding stock for health problems, and they may not socialize their puppies properly. As a result, puppies from backyard breeders are more likely to have health problems and behavioral issues. More Info For You. Red skin Recurring skin infections If you notice any of these signs in your American Bulldog, contact your veterinarian for guidance. Feeding your American Bulldog a diet formulated for large-breed dogs as both a puppy and an adult is recommended for optimal growth and wellness. As American Bulldog puppies mature, feeding them two meals a day is recommended. Nutritional Tips for American Bulldogs Avoid feeding your dog table scraps, which may be dangerous to their health. Dogs fed a complete and balanced commercial food diet should not need any nutritional supplements unless recommended by a veterinarian. Because they are so loyal to their family, they can be useful watch dogs that bark to alert you when anything is amiss. A well-trained and socialized American Bulldog will typically get along with other pets and with young children. American Bulldog Behavior American Bulldogs can be watchful over their family and, as with every other dog breed, early training and socialization is vital. They are large, active dogs who need to be kept busy physically and mentally. Playtime and long walks are important for American Bulldogs—though they also enjoy a good afternoon nap. American Bulldog Training American Bulldogs are a large, active breed that require dedicated training. They can pick up training cues quickly, especially when training sessions are done consistently and with positive reinforcement. Fun Activities for American Bulldogs Agility. Their personalities are easy to love; they have a confident demeanor and are known for their almost clown-like antics when excited, making them an excellent family companion. This breed is quite family-oriented but may be distant with strangers at first. Their characteristic aloofness to outsiders helps make them great guard dogs. With consistent training and established rules and boundaries, this powerful pup can learn with the best of them. As a working breed, they were known for their wild pig and cattle catching abilities, making them indispensable on southern ranches in the US. Grooming Hurray for easy care! Make sure your vet gives your pup a professional cleaning every year, too. Be sure to put nail trimming every couple of weeks and ear cleaning monthly is usually enough on the grooming menu, too. And as for baths, plan on a bath about once a month or so. You may be able to just use your nose. If you detect an unpleasant odor eww! Training When it comes to training, an American Bulldog puppy needs a confident pup parent who uses positive reinforcement to teach various skills, such as how to walk nicely on a leash and come when called. Start training your American Bulldog puppy early to get them used to the ropes. Once you understand what works for them, training becomes easy. Remember: American Bulldogs are smart. These social interactions give your dog a chance to explore a variety of environments and social situations. Feed your puppy large-breed puppy kibble for their first 14 months to support slow but consistent growth. Skip food or supplements with calcium until your pooch is fully grown and eating an adult diet. The added calcium could disrupt healthy bone development. Treats are an essential part of training and a great way to show your pup you love them. However, too many treats can lead to a tubby pup, so check with your vet if you need help figuring out a proper treat-to-mealtime ratio. Exercise Even though they have a moderate energy level, an American Bulldog needs a lot of exercise. And exercise is important to keep your dog out of trouble. If they have unused energy, an American Bulldog will resort to destructive behaviors to release that energy, like chewing on your favorite pair of shoes. This athletic dog benefits greatly from structured walks and play to work the mind and their muscular build. As a puppy parent, strive to offer non-impact movement such as hiding balls in the yard or offering a puzzle toy, as these games lower the risk of joint and bone damage early on. Get out of the house twice a day or more if your young dog is up for it for playtime and walks that last between 20 and 30 minutes. Trainers often suggest skipping the dog park because structured play is more difficult in this setting. Instead, get creative with activities. Think: fetch, tug-of-war with a rope toy or a chewy option filled with something delicious. You may even try lower-impact dog sports like agility or nose work. Both are an excellent way to keep your pup mentally and physically engaged. Remember, a happy dog is a tired dog! Ideal Environment Both city and country homes will suit the American Bulldog as long as you can offer lots of exercise and playtime. Still, families with kids are a good match for this protective and intelligent breed. A structured day with regular walks and chances to play with a variety of toys is the best environment for the American Bulldog. Staving off boredom is paramount, and, of course, no animal likes to be home alone for a long time. When considering the American Bulldog as a pet, bear in mind that training is the key to their success, especially when adding this breed to a home with kids or other dogs. Pup parents need to be aware of some of these issues so they can help their dog live the healthiest life possible. Joint Dysplasia: This joint abnormality is seen in the hips and elbows, and a dog with dysplasia may run, jump and climb less than usual. Most often, the issue is a rupture or partial tear. Cherry Eye: Did you know dogs have a third eyelid? Bone Cancer: Often found in the long bones arms, legs , the cause for this condition is unknown, though vets feel it may have a genetic or environmental component. Deafness: Deafness, which can occur in one or both ears, may be acquired via drug exposure or infection. But deafness could also be hereditary and is linked to dogs with light coats and eyes. Acquired deafness is usually permanent but may improve over time without intervention. A special diet may be the treatment or medications, depending on the cause. Spinal Issues: Degenerative myelopathy DM is often genetic in nature and affects the spinal cord, leading to weakness and hind limb paralysis. Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis: NCL is an inherited, progressive and rare neurological disorder that starts showing up between 1 and 2 years of age. The most obvious symptom is behavioral changes in the dog, and the pup will usually lose coordination and eyesight. It can be discovered through a DNA test, and at this time, there are no treatments. This proud pup carries an imported pedigree, having been brought over from across the pond as a descendant of the English Bulldog, which was originally bred for bull baiting. Thankfully, this horrific sport was outlawed in England in .Back in the 17th century, early settlers packed these working dogs with them for service on farms and ranches. The American Bulldog became a utility player, stepping in to accomplish many tasks, such as guarding livestock and catching cattle and feral pigs. In fact, were it not for their success as an excellent catch dog in the southern states, we might not know the breed today. John D. Johnson and Alan Scott were able to breed the last few native American Bulldogs in the southern US, resulting in two types the Scott type and the Johnson type that thrive today. These breeds differ in appearance; the Johnson American Bulldog sports a bigger, stronger build, a larger head and short muzzle, and the Scott American Bulldog has more lithe features, such as an athletic, small-boned frame and a longer muzzle. Are you looking to add an American Bulldog as a family member? Check out the AKC puppy finder to find a reputable breeder. You can also seek out local American Bulldog rescues to find a worthy, loving dog to call your own, or keep an eye out for the breed at your local shelter. FAQs Do American bulldogs shed? Yes, American Bulldogs shed, albeit lightly and seasonally. Are American Bulldogs Pitbulls? Are American Bulldogs aggressive? American Bulldogs may be aggressive toward other dogs, particularly unfamiliar ones of the same sex, in part because of their protective and somewhat dominant nature. But with consistent training and early socialization, this breed is considered a loving family dog that does well with kids and other pets. How long do American Bulldogs live? American Bulldogs can have a generous life span, often living between 10 and 12 years. Providing your dog with the proper diet and exercise can help your pup live a full life. What are the most popular American Bulldog names? Get more dog names here. What are the most common American Bulldog mixes? Families of all kinds admire this agile, athletic breed and count themselves lucky to own such a loving, loyal pet. Female Names. Dog domestic dog The American Bulldog is a large, muscular breed of mastiff-type that was used as stock dogs, catch dogs, and guardians on farms and ranches. John D. Johnson and Alan Scott are widely regarded as the forefathers of rescuing the breed from extinction. Small farmer and ranch owners used this all-around working dog for many tasks including farm guardians, stock dogs, and catch dogs. These dogs were not a bona fide breed by modern standards as was the case for most other dogs; kennel clubs and breed registries did not exist until , [6] at least two centuries after the Old English Bulldog first migrated to America. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Old English Bulldog had many different strains for cattle-droving, bull-baiting , farm dogs, and butcher's dogs. In America, no records remain, but rather landrace strains are acknowledged that initially depended on where a dog's master originated in England, the majority of which were bred to work as evidenced by accounts of the age in local newspapers and written inventories upon death. Later, breeding decisions were dependent on the best working farm dogs, despite breed or background. Later, in states such as Texas, several separate strains of the " bulldog "-type dogs were kept by ranchers as utilitarian working dogs. Other dogs in time became guard dogs on plantations. The bulldogs were the settlers' only means of sufficiently dealing with the vermin. Johnson scoured the backroads of the South looking for the best specimens to revive the breed. During this time, a young Alan Scott grew an interest in Johnson's dogs and began to work with him on the revitalization process. At another point, Johnson began crossing his original lines with an atavistic English Bulldog from the North that had maintained its genetic athletic vigor, creating the Bully type American Bulldog, also known as the Johnson type or the Classic type. All over the world, they are used variously as "hog dogs" catching escaped hogs or hunting feral pigs , as cattle drovers, and as working or sport K-9s. American Bulldogs also successfully compete in several dog sports such as dog obedience , Schutzhund , French Ring, Mondioring, Iron Dog competition, and weight pulling. The shoulders and chest tend to be the most muscular parts of the American Bulldog. Its coat is short and generally smooth, requiring little maintenance except a bath every few weeks. The breed is a light to moderate shedder. Colors, while historically predominantly white with patches of red, black, or brindle, have grown in recent years to include many color patterns, including black, red, brown, fawn, and all shades of brindle. Black pigmentation on the nose and eye rims is traditionally preferred, with only some pink allowed. Eye color is usually brown, but heterochromia also occurs, although this is also considered a cosmetic fault. American Bulldogs are known to drool more than other breeds of dogs. The Bully type is generally a larger, heavier dog with a shorter muzzle, but the muzzle should never be so short that it causes difficulty with breathing. Standard types are generally more athletic with longer muzzles and a more square head. Many modern American Bulldogs are a combination of the two types, usually termed "hybrid". In general, American Bulldogs weigh between 27 and 54 kg 60 to lb and are 52 to 70 cm 20 to 28 in at the withers , but have been known to greatly exceed these dimensions, especially in the "out of standard" nonworking stock. Temperament and characteristics[ edit ] This section contains instructions, advice, or how-to content. The purpose of Wikipedia is to present facts, not to train. Please help improve this article either by rewriting the how-to content or by moving it to Wikiversity , Wikibooks or Wikivoyage. August An American Bulldog at guard dog training American Bulldogs are typically confident, social, ebullient, and lively dogs that are at ease with their families. They are not as friendly, however, with people they do not know; their ancestors were farm dogs that guarded the home, the livestock, and the children when their master was away. That said, they do not have the affinity for water a retriever would: they swim if they have to do it, not because they particularly enjoy it. However, they also prize the breed having a soft, affectionate inner nature. Some health problems in American bulldogs are often found within certain genetic lines, and are not common to the entire breed, while others, such as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis NCL , [25] Ichthyosis , disorders of the kidney and thyroid, ACL tears, hip dysplasia , cherry eye , elbow dysplasia , entropion , ectropion , and bone cancer are more common to the general population of American Bulldogs. Some American Bulldogs are prone to allergies. Due to the ideal of beauty regarding the shape of the face the skull malformation brachycephaly was increased by breeding selection. American Bulldogs in popular culture[ edit ] This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. February .Training American Bulldogs As with all dogs, particularly the very large or heavy breeds, early and careful socialisation and habituation is vital. They must be managed carefully and sensitively, taught not to run up to strangers or other dogs, and taught to associate the presence of strangers and other dogs with good things coming from their owner. Even then, they should never be totally relied upon around unknown dogs. Methods that involve force and fear will result in a large animal who fears people, and fear often leads to dangerously aggressive behaviour. Using positive reinforcement and fun games will prove useful in training sessions. An American Bulldog with a perfect temperament and excellent socialisation and training may suit the experienced owner with dog-aware teenagers. Puppies should be sourced incredibly carefully from breeders with temperament and health in mind. While they can be devoted to their families, their size and strength means they are not recommended for small homes, those with frail or vulnerable family members or small children, and not recommended for multi-dog homes. While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and to be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together, and adults should supervise all interactions between them. The characters first appeared on TV in where Spike, also known as Killer, Butch, or Bulldog in several episodes, is a friendly and loving father to his son Tyke. American Bulldogs are bigger and faster than their British counterparts. Due to their powerful hind legs, they are able to jump as high as 2 metres. Jessica Biel is among the many famous Bulldog owners and she has a canine best friend called East. FAQs Is the American bulldog a pit bull? No, the American bulldog breed is descended from mastiffs while pit bulls come from terriers. Pit bulls are also recognised as their own breed. Are American bulldogs aggressive? What breeds of dogs make up an American bulldog? As a descendant of the English bulldog, the American bulldog breed comes from a mix of Asiatic mastiffs and pugs. Do American bulldogs like to cuddle? American bulldogs are known to be very affectionate and want to be close to their owners, so they love snuggling as much as they love food and exercising. Similar Breeds.

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