lab golden retriever mix puppy for sale

They breed other dogs, and they are willing to help you find the perfect pet for your family. Their staff will interview you so that they can help you choose the right pug puppy to match your personality. Petland Florence started in and has a good track record as pug dog club member. They do crate training and behavioral therapy for all their pugs and other dog breeds. Toilet training is also done to prepare them for their forever home. All their pups are home raised, so you are confident that they are safe and friendly for children. They provide health clearances for all their pug puppies for sale. All pups get first shots, DNA tested, and dewormed to ensure they are in good health. Visit their website to know more about them. They are on the list of pug breeders with a strong reputation in the state. Miya, Cole, and Elizabeth Meyer are the active founders managing their operations. Golden Acres have a 50 acre land as the loving home of all their pups. They feed their pups with nutritious food and give them toys to play with. You can read their customer reviews in the site and in Facebook to see that they are good breeders in Kentucky. All their efforts are directed towards giving a clean and homey shelter for all their dogs for sale. They consider many factors in taking care of their litter. That includes examination, shots, deworming, and grooming. But most of all, they consider all their pugs and pups as a family member. That being said, you have percent health guarantee for buying the perfect puppy from them. You can call their Kentucky phone line to ask questions about their breeds. They spend lots of time playing and training their dogs for sale in KY. They have a fenced open field where they let their puppies run and have fun. Besides that, they give them proper food and vet care. All their pugs and pups come with a health guarantee to secure your satisfaction. As a breeder, they let their pups and adult dogs explore and play. Training is part of it and they value socialization of dogs. This is important for a new owner since a friendly dog is a good companion. Looking into pugs, these are energetic dogs, so you need to puppy proof your home. They also give tips for new owners so that they can better understand their pets. Dog breeding is a holistic program, and their experience taught them well. They want to share their knowledge to their customers, which makes them admirable. You can visit their website to get more information about them. RC Canine. Why Is My Dog Shaking? Dogs are known for their loyalty and companionship, but when they start shaking, it can be a cause for concern for pet owners. Shaking in dogs can be a sign of various issues, from dog anxiety and dog fear to dog medical conditions. In this blog post, we will explore the common causes of a dog shaking and what pet owners can do to identify and treat the problem. We will also offer tips for preventing dog shaking and ensuring.By doing regular grooming at home, you can help your dog look its best between visits to the groomer. You also get to bond more closely and build stronger trust with your dog. Routine grooming sessions will keep your dog clean and feeling fresh, but it will also.Their personality is lively, their nature fun-loving, and their disposition affectionate. As even-tempered, sweet, and playful dogs, Pugs make wonderful playmates for kids of all ages and lovely companion pets for couples, singles, and seniors. These little joy bringers love to cuddle and are generous with their Pug love. When it comes to their family, Pugs attach like magnets. They are known to happily shadow their humans in every activity and are just as happy lazing on the couch all day as they are going for a long evening stroll around the neighborhood. Email: piggytailknls12 gmail. The breeder strives for AKC standards and breeds pups with excellent temperaments and health longevity. Pups are home-raised and the breeder was formerly a veterinary technician. Check out their Facebook page here for further updates. They love their dogs and show commitment to the betterment of the breed in everything they do. But how can you spot reputable breeders when you start searching for a Pug puppy? Here are some tips to help you out. A good breeder will… 1. Issue a health guarantee Make sure that your breeder of choice offers a health guarantee. A reputable Pug breeder will write up a binding health guarantee for all of their puppies. The guarantee protects you against any genetic defects or diseases. It shows that the breeder is confident that their puppies are bred according to best practices. This means if you can no longer look after your pup for some reason, you will be expected to return the puppy to the breeder rather than taking them to a shelter. Provide standard health clearances Your breeder should have full health clearances for both parent Pugs. Good breeders often provide some early health-check clearances for their pups too, although some health clearances simply cannot be carried on such young pups. Issue a written bill of sale Reputable breeders offer written bills of sale to all of their new Pug parents. This bill of sale should be signed and will outline all the roles and responsibilities to be taken on by the buyer and seller as part of the transaction. Vaccinate their puppies All puppies should be up to date on their vaccinations before being homed with new families. Your breeder of choice should be able to provide evidence of these vaccinations. Reputable breeders welcome prospective parents into their homes to see the puppies. Follow age guidelines Puppies should never leave the litter before 8 weeks of age. Any breeder offering pups for adoption before this time is not following best practices. In fact, this could be quite damaging for the puppy developmentally. A reputable breeder will keep their pups at home until eight to twelve weeks so that they can be properly socialized and spend that crucial time with their mother and litter-mates. Answer your questions Last, but not least, a reputable breeder will be knowledgeable. In most cases, they will also want to ask you plenty of questions to ensure that their precious pups are going to good homes. We have a strict selection process that takes a variety of factors into account. That way we can ensure that only the best breeders end up on our lists. This way we know that our chosen breeders offer genetically sound and healthy puppies. Health testing shows a commitment to the health and wellbeing of each Pug. Contact information Any breeder that does not offer up their contact information is a big red flag. A reputable breeder will make it easy for you to get in contact with them by providing telephone numbers, email addresses, and they will usually have a well-established website as well. It shows a commitment to breeding best practices. Event participation Breeders who also compete in doggie events are often some of the best. Because these people tend to be dog lovers par excellence. They live and breathe for their Pugs and are proud to show them off in public. They are also more likely to have a high level of breed knowledge — an excellent sign for a breeder. Breed club membership There are lots of breed clubs out there that breeders can register with. These clubs have rules, regulations, and membership fees. If your breeder is registered with the Pug Dog Club of America, this is a great sign showing commitment to the Pug breed. Recognition awards Lastly, we look out for awards! Institutions like the AKC recognize the efforts and achievements of top breeders. The very best will be awarded the AKC recognition of merit award. During this time we recommend getting everything ready before your new arrival rattles through the front door. Your puppy will need: a crate for sleeping and training during the early days quality puppy-grade food a leash and harness plenty of toys You may also wish to purchase a puppy gate if there are areas of your home that you want to keep your Pug away from. This is all about making your home as safe as possible for your new arrival. Make sure anything that could potentially cause harm to your pup is removed. Clear your schedule Having a Pug puppy is a bit like having a human baby. So make sure to clear your schedule and get all of those errands done ahead of time! Once they arrive… 4. Avoid crowds Hold your excitement. That means no crowds. Try to keep the home environment as stress-free as possible so that your puppy can settle in and start to feel part of the family. Crate training is the first step. Lay down a regular routine from the get to and your Pug will be good as gold in no time. Welcome to Rocky Top Puppies Providing the gift of a puppy and bringing happy families together! Situated in the beautiful rolling hills of Liberty, Kentucky, our acre farm is home to our delightful puppies. We are dedicated to their upbringing and care, ensuring they grow up healthy and well-socialized. By regularly engaging our puppies with adults, children, and our other dogs, we help them become well-adjusted and ready to fit seamlessly into your loving home. They definitely take good care of their puppies and would definitely recommend if your looking for a pug. I'll Probably by my next from Lois. Parker has become one of the most beloved members of our family. Its obvious these breeders take great care with the dogs they raise. We couldn't be happier. We would definitely recommend John to deliver your puppy. He extends that same great care right to your door. Robert Baker. She is doing great. He's beautiful and as healthy as can be. I definitely recommend getting your pup from these lovely people. Would you be so kind to also consider leaving us a Google Review - Thank-you!

Your new furry friend has a lot of growing to do, and you probably have a lot of questions. Your Golden Retriever puppy will go through a number of developmental stages throughout their first twelve weeks. Male Golden Retrievers generally weigh between 65 and 75 pounds and stand from 23 to 24 inches tall. Females are generally smaller weighing between 55 to 65 pounds, and will grow to stand .At 4 months, your Golden Retriever puppy will reach about half their adult height. When it comes to mental development, it can take even longer than that before the Golden Retriever is fully mature. However, every puppy is a unique individual, and these are merely milestone guidelines. Disparities exist between the working and show Goldens, as well as between males and females. Golden Retriever puppy growth can also be quite sporadic. As an overall average, many Golden Retriever puppies will weigh just approximately 1. Golden Retrievers are classified as a gundog breed, and these dogs are often divided into those bred for show and those meant for work. However, the body of the show Golden is typically larger, taller, heavy-boned, and fuller in the chest. Small Parents Like people, puppies inherit physical traits from their parents. And even puppies from the same litter can vary in size. Neither of these scenarios is healthy for a puppy. Larger breeds like the Golden Retriever are more at risk for growth disorders than small breed dogs. This article will give you a lot more information on how much to feed, what to feed, and how often to feed a Golden Retriever puppy. Illness and Puppy Growth If a puppy has been seriously ill for a prolonged period, it may affect their ability to grow normally. However, once the puppy is free of worms, they should continue to grow at a normal rate. The best way to determine if your puppy is too thin or too fat is by how he looks and feels. When looking at your puppy from above, he should have a noticeable waistline. Another way to tell is by putting your hands on either side of his ribcage. You should be able to feel his ribs using a gentle pressure. But if his ribs are visible, he could be underweight. Obesity is a huge problem for many dog breeds. Although there are ways to make your puppy grow bigger, this is not something you should attempt. It could also mean you end up with a fat puppy. One of the best ways to ensure your puppy has a long, healthy life is to ensure he stays at an optimal weight. Hip and elbow dysplasia and other musculoskeletal disorders are associated with excess weight in larger breeds. Having your dog neutered at a young age can also cause them to grow taller. The problem is, this can also cause abnormalities in joint formation. Neutering also makes Golden Retrievers more at risk for certain types of cancers. Typically it will take approximately 18 months for your Golden Retriever to become an adult dog. Even though they can reach their full height at anywhere from 9 to 12 months, it will usually take them longer to fill out to their full weight. Remember that there are wide variations in size within the Golden Retriever breed. If this is the case, you should contact your veterinarian to seek advice. Beginning the puppy development stages before birth Puppy development stages week by week Amazingly, in a way the puppy development stages begin before your dog is even born. Your puppy spends approximately 9 weeks developing inside his Mom. The mother dog has a womb or uterus, that has two long tubes, and the puppies grow in a row along each tube rather like peas in a pod. The puppies are joined to their mother by a placenta which provides all the nourishment they need for those few weeks. To begin with, the puppies have plenty of room to move but they grow fast and as the time for birth draws near they are packed in quite tightly. The one week old puppy Your puppy is born fully furred but with his eyes and ears closed so he cannot hear or see. His front feet are strong and he can pull himself towards his mother with them. He can cry if he is uncomfortable and his mother will respond to his cries by moving him towards her and licking him. Your puppy spends most of his time sleeping or suckling. He cannot regulate his own body temperature and needs his mother for heat, or an artificial heat source. In the first week to ten days of his life your puppy grows rapidly and will double his birth weight. His forelegs are getting much stronger. She licks the puppies bottoms to stimulate a bowel or bladder movement and eats the result. There is no cleaning up for the breeder to do yet. The breeder will begin to handle the puppies more though, and get them used to human contact. She will worm the puppies for the first time at the end of this week. Puppies begin to get their personalities. Your puppy can stand and sit up by the end of the week. Tails can be wagged, ears will be completely open and puppies start play growling and interacting with their littermates. Your puppy can regulate his body temperature more effectively and will start to cut his first teeth in preparation for weaning. The front teeth, canines and incisors are cut first. Toward the end of the week he may have his first tiny taste of puppy food. They also start to move away from the sleeping area to empty their bowels and bladder. They may try to climb out of the whelping box. If she lives indoors, she may rejoin the family for more of each day. Your puppy will cut his back teeth and the breeder will get weaning underway this week and by the end of it, your puppy will be getting quite a bit of his nourishment from puppy food. She will also worm the puppies a second time. If the mother is allowed near the puppies after she has been fed, she may regurgitate her dinner for them. This is completely natural and normal. He is a proper little dog. Rolling around with his brothers and sisters and playing with toys. Teething toys, puppy Kongs, balls and rope toys are big favorites with puppies. He can bark too and some puppies can be quite noisy at this age! He chases after his mother whenever she appears and suckles hungrily, but she is starting to get fed up with it, and may be reluctant to feed her brood for very long. His mother is teaching him not to bite too hard. If he lives in outdoor kennels he should spend part of each day indoors with the family. By the end of the sixth week, most are fully weaned, and eating five or six little meals of puppy food each day. Socialization must begin in earnest. He is now two months old and ready for his new life. It is the time during which they become fearful of anything unfamiliar and need to be thoroughly socialized. This is also the time during which most puppies get to grips with house-training, learning to wait before eliminating and start sleeping through the night without a potty break. It is a busy time for new puppy owners. Your puppy will have his vaccinations during this month. Biting can be a big problem during this stage and you need to be patient and consistent in order to teach the puppy not to hurt people when he plays. Provided you use force free methods, this is a great time to get puppy training under way, and especially to teach a puppy recall, and to get your puppy used to working with food. So, for a 2. You can do the same calculation for medium pups at sixteen weeks and large breed pups at 20 weeks — just divide his weight by his age in weeks before you multiply by .Medium to large pups will reach about half their adult height by the end of the month. If the weather is warm you can get your puppy swimming now. He should be able to come when he is called, in and around your home, provided there are not too many distractions. It all depends on what you have taught him. He may still be chewing a lot and biting too. Use frozen Kongs to help him and give your furniture and fingers a break. Puppies can go for short walks now. By the end of this month your puppy could have a twenty minute walk each day. He may also enjoy fetching a ball and playing with other dogs, but take care to stop before he gets very tired. Less dependence This is the month during which some puppies start to become less dependent on their humans for security. Keep your puppy close to you outdoors by changing direction frequently so that you puppy has to keep coming to find you. And engaging him in games. The foundations of a great recall are often build or spoilt during this month. If your puppy knows how to sit or lie down at home, start some simple proofing exercises with him in public places. A healthy puppy can usually manage on two meals a day from around six months. During this month a Retriever, Spaniel or GSD puppy will reach around two thirds of his adult weight. A Great Dane and other large breeds will have reached about half their final weight and little dogs will have almost completed their growth. Some female dogs will come on heat for the first time during this month, or the next, so keep an eye open now for swelling of her vulva and any discharge. Your dog will become increasingly confident over the next few months so practice, practice and practice that recall! Make it a habit he cannot break. And be generous with your rewards. Small breed pups may now be more or less mature. Your puppy will enjoy half hour off lead walks now, and should be able to walk on a loose lead for short periods with plenty of encouragement and rewards. Keep practicing that recall! These help to slow his growth further and to build his confidence. Make sure you practice good outdoor management on walks to maintain the good recall you have built and work hard on thoroughly proofing all his obedience skills. Read up on neutering before you take this important step, for dogs of either sex. Once your dog is a year old he can participate in more strenuous activities and sports. Now is the time to think about the kinds of activities you would like to do with him — go jogging together for example — and if necessary, to start to get him fit. Puppy development stages — Summary There is huge variation in the way in which dogs develop and mature. The puppy development stages and ages outlined above are a rough guide. We hope you enjoyed them and found the information interesting. When it comes to training, you get out what you put in. Your progress depends as much if not more on you rather than your puppy. If you train your puppy five times a day, six days a week he will learn many, many times faster than a puppy that is trained once a day at the weekend. Enjoy watching your puppy grow and develop. And have fun! We are overjoyed for you! Golden Retrievers are one of the most friendly and loving breeds…and lucky for you, one of the easiest to train. Golden Retrievers require a great deal of mental stimulation to avoid going about on their own or becoming frustrated. Their love for food is infinite. Prerequisites for training my Golden Retriever puppy? What age can I start to train my Golden Retriever puppy? Sounds like a good deal! We can only hope. What do I need to train my Golden Retriever? Say bye to that sticky, meaty feeling in your fingertips. A piece of non-slip vet bed or a soft mat: For a cosy bed, warm nights, and good dreams. Treats: The more smelly, the better. Two identical toys : Great for swaps! The name says it all…your Golden Retriever puppy will love retrieving, so identical toys will be great for all the games we have in store for you in the Zigzag Puppy training app. Of course, Golden Retrievers grow to be big dogs. How much exercise does a Golden Retriever need? A golden retriever needs 2 hours of exercise a day. What age is a Golden Retriever fully grown? Golden Retrievers reach adulthood at 3 years of age and are seniors by 8 years old. Though their height has been reached, their weight will still fill out and they will continue to mentally mature. What are Golden Retrievers bred for? Distinctly British, the 1st Baron of Tweedmouth developed the breed crossing his golden coloured retrieving dog Nous with a Tweed Water Spaniel — these look similar to Irish Water Spaniels. The cross resulted in a dog that was comfortable being on land and water kind of like crocodiles , and robust enough to hunt goose, partridge and even deer. Do Golden Retrievers make good family pets? In fact, Golden Retrievers are one of the most loved dog breeds in the UK. The Kennel Club has a lot more good information and info about them. What does this have to do with how I train my Golden Retriever puppy? But there is a logic as to why knowing the context might help you train your Golden Retriever better: Golden Retrievers love to work. Commonly employed as Guide Dogs, they love having a job to do, which means they will adore training. Anyhow, they will be a breeze to train. They will also do almost anything for your soft words and approval — your praise will work just as well as treats. Because they are so gentle, they are a great fit for families with a variety of lifestyles and ages. They need a good amount of exercise; mental as well as physical. Let us rephrase — a hefty amount of exercise. Besides you and food, being in water is what they love the most! They have a very strong sense of smell, so retrieving or scent work games tend to be the biggest treat for most. Golden Retrievers are the social butterflies of dogs. They love most people, and are not discreet in showing it. You know how us Brits can be about politeness. That being said, make sure you also teach them the wonders of giving things up. It can lead to great things! But it can also be less helpful when they give you a love bite on your arm — give them a toy to carry instead. Shift to some play, and revisit training later — we want training to be associated with fun, and not something they begin to dread. Trooper is nearly a full 2 pounds lighter than his bro, Patriot. When we volunteered as fosters our German Shepherd mix litter from 10 years ago had a lot more variety. By the end of week 8, I had them completely weaned off of mama we were feeding these youngsters mostly solid foods by week 7. We let the food sit for about 10 minutes and then mush it up for easier digestion. Many moons ago we did a short write-up about deer antlers for dogs, wondering if it was a good chew toy for dogs. Be sure to check out the comment thread. Golden Retriever puppy and his deer antler. You can see some of the teeth marks in the upper left corner of the photo. We had a full and half door for our whelping box and by this stage, our little pups could easily escape the half wall. By the time week 8 rolled around a couple of these pups were escaping the full-sized door! I found this photo interesting because from left to right only puppy number 2 is not blurry. Our little puppies have become curious, mischievous, adventurous, and are now little explorers. They are almost ready for their new homes. So that concludes week 7 with these Golden babies! Just in case you missed one of our weeks take a look at our recap: Week 1 — Six Golden Retriever puppies are born! Week 3 — First bark! Week 7 — This is Week 7! Week 8 — Our golden puppies head to their new homes. What do you think? Have you ever experienced raising a little of puppies? If so, tell us about your experiences in the comment section below. Back in the day we volunteered with Cuddly Canines and fostered several dogs and litters of puppies through them. A great DVD and workbook that teaches what you need to do when raising a litter of puppies Are you about to pick up a seven-week-old Golden puppy? This book will give you a solid foundation for raising and training a puppy. Our litter of Golden Retriever puppies week seven. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.

Sign up to receive information about our upcoming litters! God has blessed us with two beautiful daughters, but we had more love to give! A lifetime dream of owning an English Bulldog has led to not only owning several of these amazing dogs, but breeding and rescuing. They are so similar to humans. Talk about emotional support. One look into their beautiful eyes and you will understand exactly what we mean. They are a challenging breed to produce, especially correctly and responsibly, but oh so worth it! We breed very few litters a year personally, but we do whelp litters for some friends! Just ask when our next litter is arriving and we should have some info for you! Just like a potato chip. Cannot stop at just one! Due to our overwhelming love for the breed we have opened our hearts and home to many rescues along the way as well. If you know of a bulldog in need, please do not hesitate to contact us! Also, if you are looking for the most amazing companion ever, message us about adopting one of our pups, retired adults or adult rescues! Sign Up For Updates. Questions about Bulldog puppies for sale in Austin TX? We have answers. How much are Bulldog puppies for sale in Austin TX? The cost of any Bulldog for sale in Austin will vary due to a few factors. The combination of coat color, pattern, and eye color will make a difference, as some combos are more unusual than others. The experience and location of Austin Bulldog breeders will also play a part in how much they charge for their pups. What if there are no Bulldog breeders in Austin right now? Bulldogs are a super popular breed so you should have too much trouble finding Bulldogs for sale in Austin. The businesses in our network can even arrange for pups to fly to your nearest airport! How do you screen Bulldog breeders Austin? Each of them also has to sign our Breeder Pledge. What makes Uptown Puppies different from anywhere else with Bulldog puppies Austin? What are puppy mills? Puppy mills are grim places that put profit above welfare. Sadly, pups born in mills are far more likely to suffer from health conditions, behavioral issues, or both. Are there any Bulldog puppies for sale Austin right now? In fact, we reckon you should check them out right now! Our network of approved companies have some seriously cute Bulldogs for sale Austin that are just waiting to find their forever homes. Will you be it? While they may have been bred as working dogs, the modern day Austin Bulldog for sale are chilled out pups who would rather curl up for a nap with their favorite humans than head out to earn their keep. How big does a Bulldog get? Bulldogs are built low to the ground but with plenty of chunk! They might only stand 15 inches tall when fully grown but they can weigh a huge 50 pounds. Are Bulldogs good family dogs? They absolutely are! The Bulldog for sale in Austin on the Uptown network want nothing more than to find their perfect family. Their kind and loving natures mean that a Bulldog is never happier than when surrounded by their people both young and old. This keeps the breed characteristics constant. Mixed breeds are created by crossing two purebred breeds together to create a new breed with characteristics that are a combination of both the parent breeds. Both are awesome options!

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. Search thousands of available pets from shelters and rescues in Chewy's network. This website is dedicated to the purchase and sale of pets. She has a laid-back personality but she loves to romp in the backyard with her brother. The shelter thinks I am about 4 years old. This is a filter for dogs and puppies in Los Angeles, where you can find dogs and puppies for sale, as well as different dog types and puppies in Los Angeles. Puppies for Sale near Los Angeles, California. Find a dog to adopt near Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles Dogs for Sale and Adoption. Dogs for Sale in Los Angeles. With so many low quality Chihuahua breeders in Los Angeles, as well as scammers offering unhealthy Los Angeles Chihuahuas for sale, it's super important to take your. More importantly, PawBoost has helped reunite over 1 million pets with their families. Give pets a second shot at life by providing them a secure, loving, forever home. Results can be filtered by breed. In this case, the scammer was pretending to be a military family who needed to find a new home for their dog due to deployment. Pets for Sale in Los Angeles. Lacey sleeps well and is quiet all night. That authorities in Los Angeles, California recently cracked down on a craigslist pet scammer highlights the importance of rehoming fees. Dog adoption Los Angeles. We have female akc cane corso available. Needs to be handfed at least twice daily for next days. Remember to always read the item description and ask the seller questions if you have any doubts. Los Angeles Pets for Sale and Adoption. If You Find a Pet Dogs:. We can deliver to LA or Las Vegas. 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. Please text me for more information. Couple with dogs looking to share entire house. Hey there craigslist, rehoming two maltipoo young puppies blend chihuahua. Both parents are small breed and. By following the tips and tricks we've given you, you can effectively and safely use Craigslist LA. Refine your search to find the perfect match and complete the adoption process at your local shelter or rescue. Jackapoodle Twin Girl Puppies. Craigslist Los Angeles is a very useful buying and selling platform that can help you save money and make some extra cash by selling your own items. How to rehome pets on craigslist? Labrador Retriever For Sale. Puppies for sale from dog breeders near Los Angeles, California. So, if you're looking for Craigslist pets Los Angeles, you've come to the right place. A Hollywood Legend Since .Raised in our home with children.

What Is a Giant Schnoodle? This hybrid is known for its towering stature, thick curls, big paws, and hypoallergenic coat. Giant Schnoodles are some of the most loyal and fun-to-have large mixed breeds. This pooch is curious, friendly, and bold by nature. Despite being big dogs, Giant Schnoodles love nothing more than cuddles and playtime. Compared to other hybrids, the Giant Schnoodle is fairly new. Thus, it is still not recognized by canine organizations, including the American Kennel Club. The only thing we know for sure is that they were first developed alongside other Poodle mixes sometime in the s. The Giant Schnoodle mix along with other Doodles was originally bred because of its desirable hypoallergenic coat. Despite our limited knowledge of the history of the Giant Schnoodle, we are certain that its parents have a rich history behind them. The Giant Schnauzer was developed in Germany in the mids. This dog descended from its smaller variant, the Standard Schnauzer. It is common knowledge in the pet community that Standard Schnauzers were mixed with Great Danes to develop the Giant Schnauzer breed. These big dogs originally served as working dogs for breweries and livestock farms to drive cattle. On the other hand, Poodles have been around longer compared to the Schnauzer. These intelligent, curly dogs were first developed sometime in the 13th century also in Germany. Germans initially used Poodles as duck hunters and retrievers. Because of their water-resistant coats, the Poodles were also used by fisherfolk for water-related tasks. The AKC officially recognized the Poodle as a recognized breed in .Given the rich history of its parents, the Giant Schnoodle is definitely packed with good traits that trace back hundreds of years. This pup is larger than the average Standard Poodle and about the same size as the Giant Schnauzer. The Giant Schnauzer Poodle mix has a thick, wavy coat that comes in black, silver, tan, white, and other Poodle coat colors. Their coats sit close to the body and are usually smooth and silky in texture. Like its parent breeds, this hybrid has a well-proportioned body and an elegant gait. It is not too muscular nor too thin. The Giant Schnoodle has pretty big paws but slightly slender legs. Their tails often curve upwards but may also be straight. This hybrid can either adopt the boxy muzzle of the Schnauzer or the slightly pointed nose of the Poodle. Interestingly, Giant Schnoodles may also sport different ear shapes. Some of these hybrids can have folded ears like the Schnauzers. Meanwhile, others can have Poodle-style ears, which are long and droopy. All in all, the Giant Schnoodle is a fabulous-looking dog. They are quite literally an upscaled version of the ever-so-cute Schnoodle mix! Meanwhile, a female Giant Schnoodle weighs 55 to 75 pounds and has a height of 22 to 25 inches. As with other dogs, gender plays a role in the size of the Giant Schnoodle. In general, males tend to be a few inches taller and slightly heavier than females. Moreover, this sizable hybrid reaches its full size at around 18 to 24 months old like the Poodle and the Giant Schnauzer. Some grow faster than others, while others noticeably take time to reach their full size. This designer breed is a loyal dog that is affectionate, clever, and super fun to be around! The Giant Schnoodle is also a very friendly and affectionate dog. This is a pet that comprehends social situations and quickly befriends strangers. They do well in households that have lots of family members or other pets. When it comes to training, the Giant Schnoodle is no slouch either! This pup is quick to learn new tricks, especially if you start training early on. That said, their stamina is not the best as these hybrids can get tired quickly. However, because of their inborn intelligence, Giant Schnoodles tend to be mischievous at times. This pup is quick to outsmart its owner. Luckily, their stubborn streak tones down with age. In terms of living conditions, the Giant Schnoodle does best in spacious homes. While they can get away with apartment living from time to time, they still need a room that is big enough to play and stroll around. This is a pup that is prone to separation anxiety, so regular and early socialization is a must for this pooch. All things considered, Giant Schnoodles make great family pets. Because of this, these pups are recommended to everyone, even first-time pet owners! Surprisingly, this designer breed lives a slightly shorter life compared to the Poodle or the Giant Schnauzer. For reference, their two parent breeds have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. This is quite interesting, especially for a hybrid pooch that is supposed to benefit from the so-called hybrid vigor. But why is this? Does this mean that the Giant Schnoodle is an unhealthy breed? The Giant Schnoodle mix is not unhealthy by any means. In fact, compared to other large breed dogs, the Giant Schnoodle has a pretty good life expectancy. However, there are a handful of health issues that may shorten the lifespan of this giant hybrid. This physical disorder causes intense pain while moving and inevitably leads to a decline in posture. A dog that has hip dysplasia is also at risk of inactivity and obesity. Epilepsy: While both the Poodle and Giant Schnauzer are not known to be epileptic breeds, a Giant Schnoodle mix puppy can still develop epilepsy. Epilepsy is a syndrome characterized by unpredictable seizures and sporadic jerking. Thankfully, this issue is manageable through medications. Bloat: Bloat , scientifically known as gastric dilation-volvulus, is a potentially fatal illness requiring immediate medical intervention. The most common causes of bloat are overeating or eating too fast. Hair fall, increased hunger, and panting are a few signs of this condition. As you can see, the Giant Schnoodle may suffer from a number of health conditions. Some of these issues are preventable, while others are straight-up fatal. As always, while this guide is useful, this does not provide veterinary advice. But because of their size, they are a tad bit harder to manage. These dogs are bigger eaters and require a slightly different kind of nutrition. They also need to be provided with training and groomed regularly. Food and Diet The diet requirement of the Giant Schnoodle is, well, for a giant. Needless to say, this dog eats a lot! While not as much as larger and more active dog breeds, the Giant Schnoodle is a big eater. These pups need high-quality dry kibble to support their nutritional needs. In terms of feeding frequency, twice a day is good enough. Do not practice free feeding! A rule of thumb to follow is to stick with fruits, veggies, and white meat. Probiotic vitamins also go a long way in aiding their digestion. Cleaning and Grooming Because Giant Schnoodles are hypoallergenic, they do not need much cleaning. A trip to the groomer once every two months is also ideal. Dental health is something you should keep a close eye on with a Giant Schnoodle mix. Similarly, these dogs should also have their nails clipped at least twice a month. In terms of bathing, the Poodle Giant Schnauzer mix does not need frequent baths. In fact, bathing your pup too frequently is bad for their coat and skin. After all, these dogs are intelligent pups that are playful and have lots of energy. Positive reinforcement works best for the Giant Schnoodle. This training scheme capitalizes on treats, praises, and dog clickers to motivate your pooch. This way is the most enjoyable and effective for them! In terms of exercise, your pup needs at least an hour of physical activity per day. These dogs enjoy swimming, playing fetch, and socializing with other dogs. It is also good to invest in puzzle toys as they will help keep your pooch entertained for hours. Unsurprisingly, this is also true for the Giant Schnoodle mix. Compared to the price of a purebred Poodle and Giant Schnauzer, the price of a Giant Schnoodle is considerably more expensive. However, you can snag one of these hybrids at an affordable price from rescues and shelters. The Schnoodle is the result of the mating of the Schnauzer and the Poodle. Our mini and Giant Schnoodle puppies are .Since this is a hybrid mix between two of the most intelligent dog breeds, you can expect this breed to be far more intelligent than most. Both the Giant Schnoodle and the Miniature Schnoodle have few health issues and the longest lifespan of the other hybrid breeds. The Schnoodle learns very fast and is able to stay on task making the Schnoodle an excellent choice for service or therapy positions. Most clients like the Schnoodle because of its hypoallergenic coat an the fact that the Schnoodle does not shed. We love them because they are easy to train,eager to please and come in a variety of color pattern. The Schnoodle Puppy all sizes and all colors. The Miniature Schnoodle is approximately 15 inches in height and weighs pounds. The Giant Schnoodle stands 27 inches in height and weighs upward of 60 pounds. The Schnoodle coat is meant to resemble the Schnauzer puppy, soft and wavy. First generation litters typically keep the soft and wavy coat throughout their lifetime. The coat should not be wiry like an adult Schnauzer nor have tight curls like the poodle. The Schnoodle coat should be a good balance of both breeds and above all non shedding. Schnoodles look terrific in beards, like their Schnauzer parent. You can keep it clean by trimming it often and cleaning it after meals. The amount of grooming depends on the coat of the individual Schnoodle. The Schnoodle enjoys a good brushing a couple times a week. Overall the Schnoodle is low maintenance. You will want to check the ears, and the eyes of your Schnoodle often to make sure they are clean and nails should be trimmed regularly. The Schnoodle loves to learn, and they are easy to train. The Schnoodle is a branch of the working dog class and would appreciate a job to do. Past Schnoodle Puppies from Feathers and Fleece Farm have went on to do a number of jobs such as assisting brain injury clients, retrieving diabetic test kits and peanut detection just to name a few. Most commonly the Schnoodle is used as an alert dog. Letting families know that there is a stranger on premises. No matter what the job is the Schnoodle is ready to assist and please. We have imprinted each Schnoodle puppy so they are ready to take on their new position in the family. They can grow to be quite large, with males reaching heights of up to 28 inches and weighing up to 80 pounds, and females reaching heights of up to 25 inches and weighing up to 70 pounds. Giant Schnoodle puppies will typically have a fluffy, wavy coat and are known for their intelligence and loyalty. We are loving and grooming each puppy daily for their new life. There is no predetermined date for weaning or departure. We breed only health tested parents with quality features, like a muscular build and a blocky head with a short muzzle. Highly intelligent. Life Span Did You Know? The Schnoodle is a designer dog breed that was developed in the s in the United States. They are a cross between a Schnauzer and a Poodle. As a mixed dog breed, the Schnoodle can take on any combination of traits from one or both of the parent breeds. Overall, Schnoodles tend to be intelligent and loving dogs with playful personalities that are also devoted to their families. In addition to being a beloved family pet, the Schnoodle can also be found working as a therapy dog. This dog breed may not be recognized by the American Kennel Club, but they are recognized by other professional dog organizations like the American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, and more. Schnoodles are cute and adorable dogs no matter their size. They also tend to be an ideal family pet as they get along with children, other pets, and other dogs. Their playful personality and friendly disposition make them a great addition to a family. The Schnoodle is also loyal and affectionate to their families. Because they are so friendly, they also tend to be quite excitable and may be prone to jumping up on people in their excitement. Structure, training, and socialization early on can help curb this behavior. The Schnoodle is a highly adaptable dog breed. They do well in both apartments as well as in larger homes. As long as they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and affection, they tend to be quite happy wherever they are. They do well in most climates. As with any dog breed, they are sensitive to heat. They also tend to bond closely with their families and enjoy being near you, so they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. A mixed dog breed can inherit the potential health concerns common to one, both, or neither of the parent breeds. Responsible breeders will screen their stock to make sure they are preventing genetic disorders from passing on to puppies. You can also ask about any relevant health clearances or test results. The Schnoodle is a product of two highly intelligent dog breeds that are eager to please their owners. They tend to pick up on things quickly and will learn fast. This makes them highly trainable dogs that are a good fit for owners of all experience levels. But, Schnoodles also get bored easily, so training needs to be kept interesting to keep them engaged. If a Schnoodle is motivated and challenged during training and using positive methods focused on praise and reward, they tend to master the basics quickly. Enrolling in puppy training classes is always an option no matter your experience level. Plus, these classes tend to offer great opportunities to socialize a puppy. Although the Schnoodle can inherit the low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat of the Poodle, there is no guarantee that they will. They will likely be low-shedding as the Schnauzer does not generally shed much. But, low-shedding does not mean low-maintenance. So, you need to be prepared for a coat that is any combination of a Poodle and a Schnauzer. If your Schnoodle has more of a Poodle coat, you will need to brush them daily to remove tangles and prevent mats. You will also need to get professional grooming done about every weeks. Should your Schnoodle inherit more of a Schnauzer coat, they still will not shed much, but will need weekly brushing. Plus, their coat will need to be bathed, stripped, and clipped regularly to stay healthy, which usually means professional grooming every weeks. Monthly nail trimming is usually sufficient to keep nails from growing too long. Proper dental for dogs is also important. Gum disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs because good dental care is often overlooked. A Schnoodle tends to have a moderate activity level. Daily walks plus some playtime or extra activity is usually plenty for this dog. But, they will also follow your lead and love to spend time with you. Try out different activities to see which ones your Schnoodle likes the most. Take trips to the dog park , go on hikes, try out swimming, go for a run or jog, play frisbee, and more. A fully-grown Schnoodle usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between pounds. If one of the parent breeds is a Standard Schnauzer, your Schnoodle will likely be towards the lower to the middle portion of this range. If one of the parent breeds is a Giant Schnauzer, your Schnoodle will likely be towards the middle to the upper portion of this range. A Schnoodle generally lives years. Although Schnoodle is the most common name for this designer dog breed, they are also sometimes referred to as a Schnauzerdoodle or Schnauzerpoo. Featured Schnoodle Article. Contact About Giant Schnoodles Not to be confused with Miniature Schnoodles , the Giant Schnoodle is a rare breed that is achieved by combining a Giant Schnauzer about 75 pounds and 25 inches tall at the shoulder with a Standard Poodle about 70 pounds. This combination produces a highly intelligent, easily trained, loyal, calm and affectionate dog. Giant Schnoodle Temperament The Giant Schnoodle is a very sweet, laid back dog that can be goofy sometimes too. They do well when left to themselves but they need daily interaction with their family and thrive on exercise. They will happily carry a pack for you with water bottles etc. Grooming Their coat is a soft silky wavy coat with soft curls. Their coat is non-shedding, hypoallergenic and our puppies are black. These dogs love water, so much to that they would appreciate a pool to use if possible a kiddy pool will do , or a lake, a pond, creek or even a puddle! Be prepared to attract attention as wherever you go with your Giant Schnoodle people will stop you to Ohhs and Ahhs! These are all of our wonderful Giant Mommies December

We specialize in breeding Mini Goldendoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other high quality breeders that raise mini goldendoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! Not all mini Goldendoodles are equal, there are a few different versions to choose from each having a little different genetic background based on the pups parents. We will explain all the differences in Mini Goldendoodle puppies and how they are bred below. We raise all versions of the mini goldendoodle breed. F1 Mini Goldendoodle Pups. A F1 puppy is also known as a First Generation puppy. The puppies mother is a Golden Retriever and the pups dad is a Mini Poodle. This version of mini goldendoodle usually has soft wavy or curly puppy fur. They will shed until they lose their puppy fur, after shedding they will shed a lot less, but will shed. This version is partially hypoallergenic and usually requires low maintenance. F1 mini goldendoodles usually need to be groomed every 6 months along with daily brushing to keep their curly hair from matting and getting tangled. The dogs usually grow up having great temperaments similar to golden retrievers. They usually get about inches high at the shoulder and range in weight from pounds. F1b Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1b is known as a second-generation mini goldendoodle with the pups mother being already an F1 Goldendoodle and the pups dad being a mini poodle also. So the difference between F1 and F1b is that the mom is not a golden retriever but an actual F1 Goldendoodle. They also have very soft curly hair but with almost no shedding. This F1b version is semi-hypoallergenic and a better choice for anyone who has pet allergies. The F1b also should be brushed on a daily basis but will need to be groomed more frequently then a F1. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is recommended to keep their coat in perfect condition. F1b Mini goldendoodles get around 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulders and range between pounds in weight. F1bb Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1bb goldendoodle is also known as a third-generation mini goldendoodle. This mini goldendoodle version has a coat more similar to a poodle than of a golden retriever. This is because the pup is more of a poodle than a retriever. Making it the very best version for anyone with pet allergies. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is required to help prevent knots or matting. This version is super intelligent and loving, and usually seems to have more energy than the other versions of Mini goldendoodles. This version is usually smaller in size, weighing around pounds and only getting inches tall at the shoulders. The smaller size makes them a great size for smaller homes and apartments. So if you live near Denver Colorado and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Goldendoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Goldendoodle Pups that have been adopted! All of our puppies are raised in our home All breeding dogs in our program are genetically tested and cleared through Embark choose your puppy in person Meet the parents of your puppy Extensive puppy socialization loud sounds, various surfaces, different scents, car rides, etc. Early Neurostimulation training to help stimulate the puppy's neurological system which improves the growth and development of the pup's immune system, cardiovascular system, and stress tolerance. Early therapy training program in assisted living facilities Routinely handled by children, adults, and elderly crate trained and head start on potty training All of our puppies are vet checked Complete personality testing using Volhard puppy aptitude test results shared to ensure the best match for your family Unique colors developed through extensive genetic studies and pairing Quality home-raised puppies from proven lineages Discounted boarding for puppies from our program Lifetime Breeder support Welcome to Elevation Doodles! We are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When we started our search for a family pet we were interested in a non-shedding, hypoallergenic and small to medium sized dog that wouldn't be as likely to knock over the elderly people we work with. These criteria led us to the wonderful miniature doodles. We started searching for mini goldendoodles in our area, but were only able to find standard sized goldendoodles. We broadened our search and eventually found our Eli, Charlie and Callie out of state. Since then we have fallen so deeply in love with this breed. They have brought such joy, laughter, companionship and love into each of our lives. Because of this we decided to start breeding miniature doodles in the area in hopes to share the love they bring us with other families. We are a small family breeder who loves each and every one of our dogs. They are very active in our lives and spend time around humans all day. Our dogs act as therapy dogs in our Assisted living Facility. The residents get such pleasure in sharing their lives with these fury friends. The facility Doctor takes them to visit other facilities in the city where they get to spread their love and bring sunshine to the elderly. Doodles have great temperaments and do well with people of all ages. We hope you will enjoy them as much as we do. God bless you all. We hope to see you in July 22, in Vail, Colorado! At an elevation of 7, feet we enjoy a beautiful private setting in the forest on over 10 acres of land. There is lots of room to wander and explore, which our dogs really enjoy, and it's a great place to raise puppies. Besides our pets, our setting is home to elk, deer, fox, bobcats, and occasionally, mountain lions and bears. For the ultimate in socialization, our Goldendoodle puppies are raised as part of our family right in our home. As responsible breeders, we select our breeding stock for their excellent temperaments and intelligence to provide you with best possible companion Doodles. At Zippity DoodlesTM our puppies are given a large surplus of love, attention, and care from the time they are born, until they are ready to be adopted into their new loving families. We also make it possible for you to be a part of the process by providing photos and updates via email as the puppies grow. We began breeding in with our champion Borzois. At Zippity DoodlesTM, we back up our breeding practices with a health guarantee and puppy purchase agreement to protect you as a buyer, and to ensure the health and safety of our precious Goldendoodles. Now that you have met us, we invite you to browse our website, meet the parents. If you think Zippity DoodlesTM is right for you, fill out the Puppy Application form and submit it via snail mail, email, or fax. Their adoption fee goes towards their vet expenses as well as the other dogs who were also rescued. Petunia has endured a challenging journey over the past three years as a breeder in a puppy mill. When faced with new situations, she tends to become overwhelmed and may shut down. To help Petunia build her confidence, she needs a forever family who can provide plenty of human contact and be present at home for most of the time. This will allow her to gradually trust and bond with her new loved ones. Patience, understanding, and gentle encouragement will be key in helping Petunia overcome her past traumas and adjust to her new surroundings. Currently, Petunia is receiving assistance from a behavioral trainer who is guiding her on her journey to trust and emotional well-being. Continuing this training will be crucial for her progress. While Petunia seems interested in smaller dogs, she tends to ignore cats. However, at this time, young children may overwhelm her, so a household with older or no children would be the best fit. With time, consistency, and positive reinforcement, she will become a well-adjusted and happy member of your family. If you have a compassionate heart and a loving home, Petunia is eagerly waiting to meet you. By providing her with the care, patience, and understanding she deserves, you can help her leave her painful past behind and embark on a journey filled with love, trust, and happiness. Below are our newest added Goldendoodles available for adoption in Denver, Colorado. To see more adoptable Goldendoodles in Denver, Colorado, use the search tool below to enter specific criteria! Questions about Goldendoodle puppies for sale in Denver CO? We have answers. What is an overview of Goldendoodle puppies for sale in Denver CO. Created from crossing a Poodle with a Golden Retriever the Goldendoodle is a very popular designer dog. The aim of the Goldendoodle is to be an ultimate companion which is what they were bred to do. Experienced Denver Goldendoodle breeders who you can browse below know exactly how to extract the best characteristics from both breeds so that you end up with the best final product. How does Uptown Puppies work? In order to eliminate any risk that a customer has of working with a backyard breeder or puppy mill our team takes all precautions necessary to ensure that we are properly filtering out any fraudulent businesses. One of the greatest benefits of working with Uptown Puppies is that our network of independently screened and reviewed breeders have Goldendoodle puppies in Denver all different sizes, personalities and shapes. How can I avoid puppy mills when looking for Denver Goldendoodle puppies for sale? If you have the time to review the websites and facilities of each and every breeder that you are interested in working with then avoiding puppy mills can be fairly easy. The issue is a lot of these fraudulent businesses are great at putting on a show for customers and bringing in puppies from elsewhere. By allowing a team of experts to vett breeders your chances of coming across a backyard breeder or puppy mill go down exponentially! Does Uptown Puppies have cheap Goldendoodle puppies for sale in Denver? When our team of vetting professionals sets out to approve breeders to join the Uptown Puppies network they are never looking for the puppy raisers with the cheapest prices. Tired of searching for reputable Goldendoodle breeders in Denver and coming up empty? Do you recommend specific food for my dog? Even within the breed of Goldendoodles each pup is going to have different taste preferences. Is it enough to walk my Goldendoodle, or do they need more exercise? Goldendoodles love to go on walks around the block or runs through the woods with their owner. While these dogs are great at adapting to any living situation if you want your Goldendoodle to be as happy as possible you should be prepared to visit dog parks and spend time outdoors with your new pup. How do you screen Bernedoodle breeders? We enforce strict standards when it comes to breeder experience, animal care, facility quality and cleanliness which are all extremely important attributes for a breeder to embrace. A puppy mill is a factory-like facility where puppies just like Goldendoodles are bred for profits in run down lackluster facilities. Puppy mills often operate with a lack of space, funding for proper food and sometimes even fall into the trap of inbreeding which can cause major health issues later in life.

Ian discusses how we should learn to see the world from our dogs perspective and in doing so, how we can better earn their love and trust. Armed with this love and trust, we will form a better relationship and as a result, effective training becomes just that much more effective and enjoyable for both you and your dog. But please, first make sure to use the search facility in the footer of this website and browse our other sections as the subject may have already been covered: Labrador health and care , Labrador behavior , Labrador puppies , infobites and Labrador breed information. External Resources On Labrador Training Although referring to all breeds in general and not purely Labradors, for those of you that love to watch and not read, the series of dog training videos on www. If you like reading books then check out one of our favorite Lab books: The Complete Labrador Handbook. 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. If this is the case,…. The Labrador is a highly capable and versatile working breed as well as the number one most popular family dog in UK and several other countries around the world! But despite being a common pet dog, they are an extraordinary breed with a fascinating history and a breed profile full of superlatives. This includes fabulous intelligence and trainability, adaptability, friendliness and trust towards people and other animals, motivation for work, endurance, and a phenomenal sense of smell. This makes the Labrador a breed of choice for many canine jobs, for example, medical scent detection, military and security force scent detection, search and rescue, a service or assistance dog for the disabled and people with a broad range of medical conditions, an autism support dog, hunting dog and even a therapy dog! Adorable Labradors can make wonderful family dogs, but only if their needs are met. They have a really goofy and playful nature which is heartwarming for many people! And, their trusting nature and eagerness to please people means they fit in easily into a family and human society as a whole. They tend to be bouncy and full of energy, which makes for a great company on countryside walks, jogging and recreational dog sports. Their boundless affection makes them particularly lovable, which is highly important for a family dog. Labradors: What To Consider As with all dogs, there are some things that you absolutely must consider before you add a Labrador into your home. And, Labrador training is always going to be a big essential. With all of their amazing energy, intelligence, enthusiasm for work, and highly social nature, also comes a list of requirements for potential owners. Unfulfilled and untrained Labradors are likely to find themselves a job or another outlet to release that energy and frustration. This can lead to destructive or inappropriate behaviours and a dog who is simply out of control. Typical challenges can include pulling on the lead and lunging towards anything that interests them, boisterous and over-excited behaviour including jumping up, grabbing the lead in their mouth, crashing into people and objects, stealing food and other items, and running off to greet people and dogs instead of coming back when called. But what do you need to do to make sure that they grow up into perfect family pets? Check out our top tips below to find out more about training this sweet and fun-loving breed. Socialise them early! Early appropriate socialisation is key with this breed. This includes all kinds of places, people, animals and sensations that will be a normal part of their life by the time he or she is 12 weeks old. Self-control is a big part of Labrador training Teaching your dog self-control is a really important skill for a Labrador, or any dog really, to have. You can help teach them self-control through impulse control games and real-life situations. This will help with teaching them basic doggie manners such as how to politely greet people and other dogs with all four paws on the ground, how to wait for their food bowl or their lead to be clipped on, how to pass through the door politely without dashing through, and so on. All those skills require mental self-control and focus despite distractions, which is essential for an excitable and boisterous dog. Lead etiquette is always needed Teach your Labrador to walk politely on a lead from as early an age as possible. For a Labrador, the world is full of fascinating scents, posts and tufts of grass that must me scent-marked immediately, especially for males, dogs and people that he or she is absolutely delighted to see including strangers , and objects that must be immediately investigated. This makes it hard for them to remember that there is a person on the other end of the lead. But with lots of practice, patience and a smart way of rewarding that works for them, keeping an eye on their human counterpart can become a habit for your dog that will last a lifetime! Once this happens, training will become a lot easier. Even better, the whole family can get involved and play with the dog. Recall is vital Teach your dog a reliable, fast and enthusiastic recall as soon as possible. This is so that no matter what other fascinating things are going on, they will always turn on a penny and run like the wind back towards you! Having a great recall is not only useful for your day to day lives, but it is also a safety concern. If there is a potentially dangerous situation for your pup ahead, you can always recall your dog back to you and keep them safe! Their mental wellbeing and happiness is important too! So, make sure to provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, including walks, swims, and sniffing opportunities. So, make sure that you provide them with something appropriate to do if you have to leave them alone. Food dispenser toys, puzzle games for dogs and appropriate raw bones can keep your dog busy and calm, and your furniture and shoes whole! Keep health and wellbeing in mind Always try your best to keep your dog slim and fit. Labradors have a tendency to become overweight because of their keen appetite. You can help to keep your dog lean by feeding them the right amount of nutritious food for their age and activity level, using their normal food as training treats wherever possible so that they can work for their food, and a versatile and appropriate exercise regime that you really stick to! And their appearance! And, regular health checks at the vet are important for any dog, to ensure that they are well and any potential health issues are caught early. Labrador Training Video We love our Labrador customers who come into Royvon for training or boarding! They really do make the perfect pets, especially with a bit of training to help them along their journey. Check out this video featuring Archie the Labrador to see more about what a well-trained Labrador can look like! Here at Royvon, we are passionate about training dogs of all breeds, and this includes Labrador training! Many owners come to us for a whole variety of reasons. Or, they may simply just not have the time to train their dog as they wish, and want to leave it up to the professionals. Whatever the reason, there is no shame in getting dog training help! In fact, you will be amazed at the difference it can make and how well behaved your dog will be, especially for problem pets who are hard to handle! We offer everything from group puppy classes to residential training tailored to aggressive or anxious dogs. Simply visit our website today! Enjoyed this post about Labrador training and want to learn about more dog breeds? We think you will enjoy this post about Rottweilers, or this one about Shiba Inus! How does it feel to be a new puppy parent? You must be chuffed. Take a look at these first few articles. All the ingredients you need for a happy home. But for now, beside your bed is the best place for your puppy to sleep — it will help them feel safe. Puppies like their crates rather cave-like; we suggest covering it with a blanket to block out light, but keep the front open so that they can see outwards. Make sure to make it snug inside with something like a vet bed or a blanket, or why not take it up a notch with a heat pad or hot water bottle to recreate the feeling of their mother. Nothing feels more comforting than that. Before you head to bed, take your puppy out for one last round of loo-going. Set your bedtime at a later time too — midnight sounds about right. Come back calmly, and place your puppy in the crate and turn out the light. Stuff you should know about Sleep Training your Labrador Your puppy will wake up several times in the night and will need the bathroom at least once! Be prepared for not-so-deep sleeps and tired mornings — just for the first few weeks. Having them sleep next to you is only temporary. Consistency is key! As for you, full nights of sleep will start getting closer and closer. Alone Training How can I teach my Labrador puppy to be ok on their own? Start by feeding your puppy in their crate during meal times. If they seem worried by you leaving, stay in view, and just pop right outside their confinement area. Keep it short and sweet: No need to stay away for long, 60 seconds tops will do for now. Repeat: Do this at least once a day to make progress go steady and smoothly. Socialization Exercises To Do this week Letting your Labrador puppy explore the yard Besides the gnomes and questionable yard furniture you may have, letting your puppy explore your own yard is a great and safe way to start showing them the sounds, lights and wonders of the outside world. Exploring different surfaces exercise Make sure that the surfaces you use are safe — nothing too crazy just yet. Gather surfaces such as An oven tray with a small layer of water A piece of astro turf A carpet tile A large piece of tin foil, cardboard or something crinkly PRO TIP: Set up for this exercise in the room your puppy spends most of their time in — it will help them to feel safe and confident. Pop the surfaces out safely on the floor and allow your puppy to investigate them. Nobody has ever enjoyed walking on those. Remember to be patient! Lucky for you — teaching them their name is easy peasy. Say their name in a happy jolly tone and reward with a treat. Repeat five times, 5 and take a break. Practice this 2 or 3 times a day so they get the hang of it. Teach your puppy to sit Teaching your puppy how to sit is a popular one. The first two are far more common though. Keep using this word when they do the right thing, and then follow it up with a food reward. In puppy logic, stinky means yummy. How to do it Start at home; where there are no distractions. Just make sure to shut off Gogglebox in the background. Recall — How to teach our Labrador puppy to come back when called Your puppy already knows their name at this point, so this should be a walk in the park. How to do it Treats and a cheerful voice will be what works here. Do these exercises before meal times so your puppy is more motivated. Practice this 5 times a day and in 3 different places in your house and yard to get them used to coming to you in all settings. How to do it Show your puppy that you have their favorite toy, and start to get them excited about it. When they show interest, throw it a little bit away from you. They will likely follow it and pick it up. If they do, encourage them back to you with your voice, so remember to sound happy! Swap the toy for a treat or another toy and do the process again. Repeat this about 5 times. Instead create more distance and excitement sounds to get them to come to you — spaniels like to show off, so they will likely want to parade what they have! Always swap the toy for something when they have it, this could be a treat or another toy. Resource guarding occurs when we force puppies to give up items or snatch things out of their mouths. For breeds like Labradors who are designed to want to hold things in their mouths, this is pretty important! Resource guarding is when a dog protects a resource from being taken by someone else — dog or human. For some reason, there is a solid list of things puppies find irresistible: Socks. Print Early obedience first step to better hunting dog Labrador puppies start out sweet and innocent. All you want to do is cuddle up with your pup and love them! And you should! But rest assured the innocence will not last. As your pup gains confidence and courage, they will begin to test you in many ways. That is why you must obedience train your Labrador puppy. Early obedience training is key to establishing borders and boundaries that will help your puppy grow, learn, and adjust with a good attitude. There is no shortcut to doing this, just use the name often when you talk to your puppy. Over time, the pup will start to respond to the name. Socialization, while not technically obedience training, is the single most important thing you can teach your puppy during the first few months of life. If you are not sure how to do this, refer to this post. Tools needed to obedience train Labrador puppy You will need a few tools to teach your puppy obedience. The products I recommend I believe are a good value or good investment for anyone working to train or maintain training on their retriever. When possible, I include links to the product. Some of these links may be Amazon or other affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are my own. Collar — You should purchase a size appropriate collar for your new puppy. You may have to buy new ones as your dog grows, but it is important for your puppy to get used to wearing a collar early on. A simple nylon adjustable collar works great. Chain collar — If your puppy is more than a few months old, a chain or prong collar is extremely helpful in teaching obedience, but they must be used correctly. For more information on how to put a chain collar on your dog correctly refer to this video. A longer lead, called a check cord, is also useful for teaching HERE and retrieving. You can learn more about that here. Heeling stick optional — While optional, a heeling stick can be especially helpful in teaching basic obedience. Treats — Treats are good for teaching very young puppies. I use treats for pups under 12 weeks of age, but treats should be discontinued rather quickly. When to start basic puppy obedience training Obedience training can and should start within the first couple weeks of having your puppy home. Young puppies are ready and willing to learn and teaching obedience to a young puppy is much easier than teaching it to an older dog. How long should obedience sessions be? Most labs do not enjoy obedience training. For this reason, we aim to keep obedience sessions short, especially if your dog is under 4-months of age. Five to ten minutes of obedience a day can work wonders. Especially if you are consistent. Using rewards or praise to teach obedience Many people like to use treats or rewards for obedience training. And this can work, especially with very young dogs. But for hunting dogs, over the long-term treats can become a problem. We do not want our dogs, or the dogs we train to be obedient only because they are getting a food reward. We want them to be obedient because they understand their place in the family and respect the owners. To get these lasting results, we use praise words and petting and a reward that retrievers live for — retrieves! Well-timed praise is a particularly important part of dog training. A message that it is okay to ignore me the first 9 times! This simply means that after a few minutes of formal obedience training, we release the dog with an OKAY command and that means they can run around and be a dog. We then throw a bumper or plug a for the dog to retriever. We do this a few times with a lot of excitement and allow the dog to retrieve the bumper. For retriever breeds, this is often more effective than a food reward. Be careful that you are not letting your puppy get into bad habits with retrieving. For instance, if your puppy often goes out to retrieve the bumper but then runs away with it, or picks it up and drops it, do not continue doing retrieves. While retrieving is a reward for many Labs, it is not an excuse to engage in behaviors that are not going to be acceptable in the field. If you want to learn more about how to properly teach your Lab to retrieve, check out How can I teach my retriever puppy to fetch? Introduction to leash and nylon collar The very first step for any puppy obedience is to introduce your puppy to a regular collar and leash. This should be done in two separate steps, first the collar and then the leash. Introduce the collar by putting a nylon type collar on your puppy. This is normal and you should not react to it. Introducing the leash is a little different. We like to do this outside. After a few sessions of this introduction, you can start holding the leash by the end and walking with the puppy. When the puppy tries to run or walk away, hold tight to the leash, and just let the puppy get used to the resistance. Some puppies have a hard time with this and will growl or whine and whip themselves around at the pressure, but most will not. Remain calm and after a few sessions the puppy should get used to the resistance of the leash. Do not allow the puppy to pull you around. That will make for some bad behaviors that you will need to correct later. If you cannot control your puppy with just a regular collar and leash, you may need to move to a chain or prong collar to keep control. What commands to teach Lab puppy There are only four basic obedience commands that you need to teach your young puppy. Remember when it comes to commands, less is more. OKAY — this is a release command, basically tells your dog were done training, go be a dog. As your puppy grows and learns more, there are some other commands that may be needed, but for puppies I like to start with just the four above. Dog training requires consistency Before you start with obedience training, I want to make a note about the importance of consistency. Obedience training only works if you are consistent. This means that when you say a command, you expect the puppy to perform the command, and are willing to take steps to make the puppy perform the command. If you do not remain consistent in this expectation, you will confuse your dog and get poor results from your training. You and your family must be consistent! How to start obedience training Lab puppy The first command you want to start teaching your puppy is SIT. This is quite easy to teach with a small puppy but gets a little tougher as they get bigger. Then release the puppy with the OKAY command. Repeat this process several times, then stop. If your puppy is weeks old, you can repeat this training several times a day for only a couple minutes at a time. This will be a two-person job for a little while. The other person will put the food down a few feet from the puppy. Then release the puppy to eat saying OKAY. As the pup learns and understands the command better, you will no longer need a second person to hold the puppy. You must be a little careful here because young puppies do not have great bladder control and making them wait, even a few seconds, can mean the difference between an accident and them doing their business outside. But this is a great way to teach impulse control and manners to your puppy. I do not want to have to fight for a position by the door. You can usually start working on this within a week or two of teaching SIT. A great way to teach this command to young puppies is to use two people and sit in a long hallway, one at each end. Take turns calling your puppy with a HERE command. A toy or treat can often help the process. Let your puppy run around a bit but hold onto the end of the cord. Occasionally, call you puppy with a HERE command. It can be helpful at first to crouch down to encourage the puppy to run towards you. Then release the puppy with an OKAY command. Do this a few more times and repeat daily until the puppy is coming to you without you needing to pull the cord. It is also the command most of our clients struggle with the most. Mostly because they are using the wrong tool for the job. For heeling work, it is important that you work with a chain or prong collar. This will give you more control and stop the pulling and surging that many people struggle with. Using a chain or prong collar and a six-foot leash, start walking your puppy at your side. If your puppy is young, be sure to use a puppy chain collar which is smaller than chain collars for adult dogs. And make sure that you are putting it on correctly! An alternate tool to a chain collar and leash is the Wonder or Command Lead. These work great for teaching HEEL. As you start walking use gently tugs on the chain collar with the command HERE to keep your puppy at your side. If your puppy surges or pulls ahead, simply make a degree turn and start walking the other direction giving a sharp, upward tug on the chain collar and saying HEEL several times until the dog is back in a heeling position. Many of our clients have told us they never left their driveway the first few days! But if you are patient and consistent, your dog will quickly learn that if they want to go for a walk, they need to stay at your side. If you want to learn and progress in more obedience work, check out these obedience drills for retrievers. Final thoughts on how to teach your lab puppy obedience Teaching your puppy obedience may take a lot of patience, time and work, but it is such an important thing to do. You will never regret the time! A well-mannered dog is such a joy to be around both in the home and in the field. How to obedience train Labrador puppy. Learning to be alone Happiness is a Balancing Act Your job is a bit of a balancing act. Keeping your little one happy, while ensuring that he is educated in the ways of our curious human world, and that he learns to behave himself Here are a few tips to help you along the way. This is natural and normal. It makes them feel safe. Puppies also feel safe if they have a den, a place of safety, like the whelping box or nest where they were born, to rest in when they are on their own. But you can hurry that process up by leaving the door open all day and leaving food and nice toys in there for your puppy to find. If you or your children are very excited, your puppy will get excited too. He may get very overexcited, which is when biting can get very out of hand. Of course, there are bound to be times when, despite your best efforts, your puppy gets a little too over-excited. But, learning how to deal with this can help calm things back down. Outdoor Time To Potty I get a lot of questions from people that are struggling with potty training because they are expecting a new puppy to go too long without a wee during the day. Sometimes two or three hours. Some eight week old puppies will empty their bladder in the garden, come indoors and wee again just 15 or 20 minutes later! This is very annoying, but it is a short-lived phase. Restricted Access Many people find it hard to cope with their puppy simply because they are giving him access to too large an area of the family home. He has no chance of learning to be clean if he cannot be watched constantly by a family member and is far more likely to have accidents on carpets, than on hard floors. He will also be constantly in trouble for chewing things he should never have been able to reach. Baby gates are a brilliant way of restricting very small puppies to a fairly small designated part of your home with washable floors. The puppy can then be gradually introduced to more rooms as they mature. The Right Feeding Routines Puppies often have sensitive tummies. Especially in the first few days and weeks in their new home. Most Labrador puppies are greedy and will eat large meals. The quantities on food packet are daily rations and should be divided into at least four portions to begin with. And the result is can be a nasty attack of diarrhea, although of course there are other causes of upset stomaches too! Puppies need to be out and about. There is a small period of time during which puppies can easily accept new experiences. And after which they become fearful of strangers, strange objects, and strange experiences. This unique time slot is called the window for socialization, and it is all but closed before the puppy is 14 weeks old. So you need to get your puppy out and about, meeting all kinds of people, vehicles, shops, machinery, and so on. Positive Reinforcement Leads To Happiness! Nowadays we train dogs using positive reinforcement. Essentially this means with rewards. These rewards can be anything he enjoys, from toys, to food, to simply running around. But puppies need to be shown how to earn rewards the right way. So that we get the right responses from them. It is all too easy to reward your puppy for doing the wrong things. Lots of puppies learn to bark to get attention for example or to jump up to get a stroke. There are lots of games you can play with puppies to help them learn how to earn rewards. Let the puppy know what you like them doing with a marker word like YES and follow it up with a treat. You can start rewarding your puppy like this, for making eye contact with you, right from the very first day. Learn To Be Happy Alone? All companion dogs need to be alone at times. And the best time to learn this skill is when he is small. As soon as your puppy has settled in to his new den, after the first few days it is time to start leaving him alone for short periods of time. Pull up a chair and start by getting the puppy used to being shut in the crate with you next to him. When he is happy to be crated while you are there, you can start leaving him for very short periods of time. Just a few seconds to begin with. Time Off The Leash! Small puppies have a powerful following response — I call this the safety response because they do it to feel safe. If you put and eight week old puppy on the ground and walk away, he will follow you. If you keep your puppy on a leash for the first six months of his life, when you let him off he will no longer have this following reflex, and you will have wasted a great opportunity to establish this good behavior. Check out below for a demonstration, on teaching the puppy recall. So that he can learn to follow in your footsteps as you lead the way in exploring the great wide world. Obviously this needs to be done in a very safe space. Later on when you take your puppy into a more distracting environment, you should attach a trailing line to their harness for safety. If your little one is allowed on the sofa today, he may think he is allowed on the sofa tomorrow. Decide what your rules are, and work out how to achieve them. Find out everything you can about how puppies learn so that you can teach your puppy how to live in our world, with love and kindness. However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on. Labrador Retriever pups are working dogs. This means they live to please you for a treat. The more you engage them with different puppy training behaviors the happier they will be. Of course, Labs will be Labs, and this means that dogs do dog things unless they are trained to follow your expectations. Potty training your puppy is just the beginning of you making clear expectations for your Lab. Puppy training from long leash training to potty training, to not nipping is discussed in greater detail along with clear, easy to follow videos at www. But we will give you an expert training tip summary below. For this reason, you need to become an expert on puppy training. Contact us for a discount on the Puppy Trained Right positive reinforcement training program. Expose your puppy to as many different people and situations possible. Teach dog to dog manners when required. Use Positive Reinforcement. Allow for Play with Other Puppies. Play with other Lab Puppies not only allows your pup to get some exercise it is a form of puppy socialization. Bond with your Puppy. Once a strong bond is formed your Lab Puppy will want to please you even more. Potty Train Right Away. Learn how Dogs Learn. Training a Lab puppy is easy if you understand how to go about it. Give your Lab Puppy Play time to Explore. Labs need this as part of their natural development. Spend more time with your puppy when young. This is the time when your expectations should be clearly outlined and can decrease as she gets older. Begin Training day 1. This happens weather or not you intend it to. Every action and reaction is something your puppy uses to form new habits. So ignoring them jumping up as an 8 week old puppy is training them to jump up and will be much more difficult to un-train once they are 70 lbs. Relax and make learning fun. Your pup needs you happy and enjoying yourself! Use Positive Training Methods because they work. This means reward what you desire. Ensure most Experiences are Positive. Imagine a training session of No, No, No, No! Expose them to as Many Human Situations possible. One cause is that there was not adequate socialization with different men. Be Patient. You are building an amazing K9 personality. The window is between 8 and 20 weeks old. Make the most of it. The better your Lab is socialized the happier they will be. Anxiety in dogs comes from many things. The more things your dog is comfortable with the less chance for anxiety and therefore the happier they are. Prepare yourself, your family and your home before your puppy comes home. It is too late once you meet your puppy as simply interacting with her is training. Allow for Safe Experiences both in the home and outside. Seek professional trainers to help guide you when faced with a problem. Be consistent. Clear expectations are easiest to learn. Focus on Guiding not controlling. Best Start Training or Training Classes are beneficial for both you and your puppy. Expect Success. We tend to move in the direction we believe we will travel. Reward the Behaviors you want to see even something as simple as 4 paws on the ground if you are trying to train your Lab not to jump up on you. Become Well informed. You are teaching a skill like reading that takes clear expectations and builds upon last session. Lab Puppies need constant supervision either human, a crate, a fenced area or a baby gate across a doorway. Encourage a soft mouth. Keep your training up or it will be forgotten. Begin Walking on a Loose Leash Right away. This is always easier for your Lab when they are 12 lbs not 70lbs. Change direction before the leash tightens so they are followers not leaders. This is much easier to train before it happens than correct. Allow alone time for your Lab. Know when to end a training session. End training before your puppy quits. Make time for a few shorter training Sessions. Three fifteen minute sessions are better than one 45 min one. Teach your Lab to respond to their name. Teach your Labrador basic obedience before tricks-come, sit, stay, down, leave it. Have all humans learn the commands and be consistent. Ignore undesirable behaviors. Ignoring includes not saying no, bad dog, touching your dog or making eye contact. Find rewards that your Retriever loves and use them when you have breakthrough training moments. Adjust your expectations as your Lab puppy matures, the older more experienced the higher the expectation. Set Realistic Expectations. Minimize distractions when you begin training. Be aware of your Body Language, Labradors pick up cues from you. Be aware of your leash tension. A tight leash says anxiety from the handler. Know when to get Help .Have fun! Understand that Labs do Lab things. Make them work for food and treats. Exercise your Retriever properly for both intensity and duration. Learn some exercise games Labs love. Give lots of repetition. Stop before they get bored. Establish a Pattern by Praising. Redirect undesired behavior. Accept partial actions at first and gradually increase your expectations. When treats end Verbal treats and chin scratches rule. They will know. Enjoy your well balanced purebred Lab puppy for many years. Purebred Lab Retrievers, are they easier to train? The answer to that is definitely maybe! Not all purebreds are bred for intelligence. For example, if a Labrador Retriever breeder chooses to breed their dogs for a certain look then they may overlook intelligence as one of the important characteristics in order to get a specific Lab look. We however breed for intelligence, health and temperament. So in our case, yes, our Purebred Lab Puppies are easier to train than many because we choose the parents and their puppies specifically for their smarts!

And to be honest, moms disciplining their unruly children is definitely so much cuter to watch in the animal kingdom. And one Labrador mom was caught on camera putting her two pups in their place after the two tykes kept on fighting. Puppies are by nature, very playful little balls of fluff. But sometimes, like with all kids, there are times when the play can get a little too carried away and turn rough — and those little puppy teeth can be sharp! In the video, the two adorable Labrador pups are seen playing on top of a blanket. It quickly started getting rough. One pup even was shoved off the edge of the blanket! Noticing that her babies were getting a little rambunctious, mama decided to step in. She started nipping at one of them to try and end the rough-housing session. Getting fed up with her children acting like brats, the mama then barks at them to stop, however, one of them actually barks back at her. She lays down the law by loudly barking at them. In fact, they kind of just sit there on the blanket looking ashamed. Since the whole thing was filmed on camera, the end is quite hilarious since after giving her kids what appears to be a lecture, the mama dog then turns and looks at the camera. Needless to say, this video was quite a hit with viewers, many of whom dropped comments. I had it with you two fighting! You stop it now or severe punishment will be dealt!!! Are we clear?!?! You may notice aggressive behavior for this reason. Your once easy-going pup might growl or become wary when strangers approach. She's got little ones to defend now. This instinctual behavior is strong in the first few weeks but often diminishes as the puppies grow and become more independent. To keep aggression to a minimum: Try not to handle the new pups more than necessary. Let your dog do her job with as little interference as possible for the first week. Keep other people away from her whelping area, especially people she doesn't know. It's difficult to resist showing off the puppies, but there will be plenty of time for that later when they are 6 to 8 weeks old after they are vaccinated. Keep other pets away from her and the puppies for the first several weeks. This includes other dogs who may have been her housemates. New motherhood trumps old relationships, but things should return to normal once the pups are self-sufficient. Avoid startling her, and talk to her in a calm voice as soon as you enter the room where her whelping box is located. Aggressive behaviors usually begin to disappear within a week or two after delivery. If you feel unsafe around your pet, give your veterinarian a call to find out if an exam and some medication might be in order. Dogs May Experience Anxiety After Delivering Puppies Anxious behavior is not quite as concerning as aggressive behavior, and it's not uncommon for a female to display some anxiety after giving birth, especially if it was her first litter. She may whine and tremble if someone comes near the pups, and she may even become clingy. She might also lick the pups too much, which can leave them wet and chilled. To help reduce anxiety: Talk to your pooch in a calm, reassuring voice and keep the activity level in the room low. Feed her high-quality canned dog food. A full stomach may help her relax and settle in with her pups. The extra moisture in the canned food will help her produce milk. Softly praise her when you see her caring for her pups, like nursing or cleaning them. This will let her know she's doing the right thing. If she cleans and licks them too much, distract her from this task for a while by stroking her head and talking to her. This may help her relax and let the puppies settle against her for warmth. Most new moms settle down within a day or two of giving birth as they get used to their new duties, so it's usually not necessary to call the vet unless the anxiety seems excessive. If your dog is especially restless and trembles constantly, these could be signs of eclampsia , and she needs to go to the veterinary clinic immediately. Dogs Dig Outside of the Whelping Box It's natural for a new mom to dig up the paper and blankets in her whelping box as she attempts to make it more comfortable for her and her new pups. If she begins digging outside of the box, however, this can be an extension of anxious behavior. Typically, it's a sign she feels her pups need to be moved to a more secure place. If that's the case, she'll search for a secluded corner, a family member's bed, the inside of a closet, or some other out-of -the-way place, and begin digging to create a new nest to transfer her pups. To avoid this behavior before delivery, choose a quiet, low-traffic area to set up her whelping box before she's ready to give birth. This gives her time to get used to the spot and feel more secure when it comes time to deliver her puppies. To properly manage the behavior: Leave her alone with the pups as much as possible and keep strangers and other pets away from her and her litter. Take her outside for a quick trip to relieve herself and get some fresh air. The activity may help her settle in better once she's back inside with her pups. Quick Tip Digging and trying to relocate pups tends to stop as soon as the female feels more secure, so address this issue as quickly as possible. Nesting Behavior Nesting often continues for some time after a dog has given birth. This behavior helps the mother make sure there's a safe and secure environment for the new puppies. The mother will usually continue to keep the nesting area clean and will rearrange blankets or bedding to make sure her little ones are comfortable and protected. It's her maternal instincts kicking in big-time. If you notice this behavior becomes obsessive or disruptive, it may be a good idea to consult your vet. Extended or extreme nesting behavior could be a sign of postpartum anxiety or other health issues that may need attention. But generally speaking, some continued nesting behavior is perfectly normal and is the dog mom's way of taking care of her new family. If you're concerned about your dog's nesting behavior, you can help her. Make sure she has a comfortable, secluded space where she feels safe. If she's not comfortable with her current nesting area, she might feel the need to keep rearranging it. Spend time sitting near her and the puppies to offer your presence as a comfort. Avoid excessive petting or picking up the puppies, as this can increase her stress. Keep other pets and people away from her and her puppies, especially in the first few days. Need to Know If the mother dog becomes excessively obsessed with her nesting area to the point that she's neglecting her puppies or herself, this could be a problem. Watch for Displays of Lethargic Behavior Some females are perfectly calm and easily settle into caring for their pups, but lethargic behavior goes beyond being calm. A lethargic female will behave sluggishly and neglect her pups. She may even lay on them and accidentally smother them. An infection, like mastitis , or some other post-delivery malady can cause lethargic behavior. If your dog becomes lethargic, place the puppies in a warm box to protect them and take her and the pups to the vet immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment. Are you InTheKnow? Sign up for our newsletter featuring all the latest stories and products we love. Invalid email I agree to receive email communications from LoveToKnow. Your new dog mom may feel too weak and tired after giving birth to go outside to relieve herself, and she may also feel anxious about leaving her newborn puppies. Continued and frequent house accidents could also be a sign she has developed a urinary tract infection after giving birth. To properly manage this issue: Spread newspapers or puppy training pads on the floor around the whelping box and plan to clean up and replace them as soon as she soils them. Offer one of her favorite treats to try coaxing her to go outside for quick trips to relieve herself. Have her examined by a vet if she has frequent accidents for more than a day or two after giving birth. If there isn't a medical cause for the house accidents, this behavior normally disappears within a few days of delivery, after she realizes it's safe to leave her pups alone for a few minutes while she goes outside. In rare instances, a new mother will kill and eat her pups, and this can happen no matter how docile her typical behavior is. VCA Hospitals attribute this behavior to a primeval, protective instinct that can be triggered if the mother thinks her pups make too much noise and might attract predators. In a case like this: Remove any surviving pups and keep them in a box on top of a heating pad set on low. Only put them with their mother for supervised periods so they can nurse. Keep a very close eye on her, especially if she begins licking them, because a single bite can kill. Clean the pups yourself with a warm, wet cloth to make sure they urinate and pass stools until they are old enough to eliminate without help. This behavior generally occurs within hours or a couple days of delivery while the pups are still newborns. You should call your vet immediately after any surviving pups have been separated from their mother. After the pups are running around, you can try keeping them with their mom for supervised periods to see if she will accept them. Need to Know Once a female has cannibalized her pups, it's best to avoid breeding her again because she will probably repeat the behavior. Signs It's Time to Call the Vet A post-pregnancy exam can reduce or eliminate medical issues that could cause a drastic change in the new mom's behavior. Cleary Lake Veterinary Hospital in Prior Lake, Minnesota, recommends that all females see a veterinarian for examination within 48 hours of giving birth. This is to make sure all puppies have been delivered, and the uterus is shrinking back to its pre-pregnancy size. In many cases, a vet will administer an antibiotic injection as a precaution against infection. Even if your female had a post-pregnancy exam, she could still display some worrisome behaviors. You should call your vet if she: Appears especially anxious Has a temperature higher than degrees Fahrenheit Isn't able to settle down with the pups Refuses to nurse the pups Read More Care Guide for Newborn Puppies Keep an Eye on the New Mom Hopefully, you'll never experience any serious behavioral changes after your dog has puppies, but keeping a close eye on her for the first week after delivery should help you spot problems and address them as they come up. Consult your veterinarian if you feel your pet's behavioral changes are more than you can handle. Are Golden Retrievers Aggressive? The Honest Truth Posted on April 5, by Galen Kauffman Share: Golden Retriever owners will most times be highly indignant if you dare to suggest that their Goldens have even an iota of aggression in them. They will be quick to tell you that dog experts will even use this big golden, friendly dog as an example breed when looking to confirm what a calm, amicable dog is. And the puppies? Are golden Retrievers aggressive as puppies? Not at all. Alright, so as a puppy it is only natural that he will nip and bite your hand as he is teething. He has the cutest little growl too. However, not training your puppy and not taking him along to socialization classes can allow this puppy habit to develop into something serious. Is Aggression Common in Golden Retrievers? Are Golden Retrievers aggressive? Only very seldom. Calm and laid back as your Golden Retriever is, there are going to be times when your golden doggo may be aggressive. They are loving, playful, calm, friendly, smiling, amiable dogs. Are male Golden Retrievers aggressive more often than females? Not really. As mentioned, these dogs are rarely aggressive, but it is more likely that the male Golden Retriever will be more aggressive than the female. Aggression in Golden Retrievers nearly always comes from poor breeding, bad dog owners, inadequate training, and lack of socialization. You can also add in abuse, neglect, and cruelty. Golden Retrievers are known as control groups for aggression A control group is a standard to which comparisons are made in a dog aggression experiment. There is a control group and an experimental group. The inclusion of a control group helps the researcher to make conclusions from the study. It is only with a control group that a researcher can determine whether a treatment can have an effect on an experimental group. In the study, golden retrievers were tested and used as a control group. Seventy Golden Retrievers were tested in the temperament test. Levels of escalation in aggressive behavior were scored. A total of .Goldens are not typically aggressive Most Golden Retriever owners are familiar with the good-natured temperaments of their Goldens, and they would consider an aggressive Golden Retriever to be an unheard-of thing. Dogs are like kids and the Golden is just a big loving child wanting to please you. And rightly so. Nobody in their right mind would want an aggressive Golden Retriever around their small children. Nonetheless, even though the chances are almost nil that your Golden has any aggression in him, there are one or two factors that can cause aggression in Golden Retrievers, and with good reason, and we look at some of them below. Fear Fear causes any dog faced with a threat to defend itself by biting. Veterinary behavior specialists tell us that fear-related aggression is just that — it is used as self-defense. It may well be out of sheer desperation that a cornered dog bites when it anticipates a threat. A Golden Retriever that has been regularly smacked learns to generalize — believing that every human hand wants to strike him. He goes into self-protection mode by biting the hand that reaches out to him. Fear is also instilled in a dog such as the Golden Retriever when an owner uses harsh, cruel punishment-based training methods. Harsh behavior increases aggression but also anxiety. Danger Dogs act in unusual ways when they sense danger. Can Golden Retrievers be aggressive in the face of danger? This abuse can take different forms. Goldens who have suffered from emotional and physical abuse can respond to anyone with aggression. He will in all likelihood be scared, agitated, and aggressive. Socializing your Golden Retriever will prepare him for a broad range of situations so that he is able to interact with various animals, people, and situations. It teaches him to react to the world out there in a calm way without fear and aggression. Illness Aggression in a Golden Retriever can have a medical cause. Just like the human child gets whiney, cranky, and aggressive when ill and with a bad headache, our canine friends do as well. Medically-induced aggression in a Golden Retriever can result in warning signs of growling, baring teeth, and general aggression. Brain inflammation occurs in conditions such as rabies and encephalitis. The aggression in this instance is most times a neurological reaction to the effect of the inflammation on the brain. Low thyroid levels affect mood and thyroid therapy can relieve aggression in dogs with hypothyroidism. Dogs are like humans in some ways and if they have woken up feeling under the weather, they may respond by showing signs of aggression. Injury There are many causes of aggression in dogs and injury is a common cause of canine aggression. Your Golden Retriever is nearly always a well-behaved dog, so if he suddenly shows signs of aggression, you just know there is something unusual up with him. If you find him acting out of character and wanting to nip you, get him to the vet as soon as possible for a thorough examination. He could have chewed on something that has caused injury to the teeth or even lodged somewhere, causing injury and pain inside the mouth. Irresponsible Breeding Canine aggression always poses concerns. Aggression in dogs is researched by people wanting to understand breed differences. Research always reveals that the Golden Retriever is a calm, good-natured golden beauty with hardly an aggressive bone inside him. But what about irresponsible breeding? A dog can suffer from all kinds of complications in pregnancy and when ignored because of the costs it can be tragic and heartbreaking. A responsible Golden Retriever breeder is one who knows the breed well and who has health clearances to show that both parents are free of genetic disorders. They follow the AKC breed guidelines for health testing. The test includes hips, elbows, thyroid tests, hearing tests, DNA testing, and heart tests. Also before breeding, dog parents need additional tests for Brucellosis testing and both dogs need to be up to date with all their vaccinations. Their characteristics, their bad attitude, their lack of affection, their lack of concern, and their troublesome lifestyle all cause aggression in Golden Retrievers. Signs of Aggression in Golden Retrievers Golden Retrievers are sometimes like other dogs in showing their aggression and they will growl and bark while simultaneously becoming hyperactive. Their floppy ears are raised, the feathered tail is raised and stiff and their hackles are raised. If your Golden has turned into a bit of a biter, snapper, and growler, there has to be a good reason. So how does one stop aggression in Golden Retrievers? Socializing Ensure that your Golden Retriever puppy stays with his mother until he is 8 weeks of age. Just like young kids have to be disciplined in order for them to display appropriate behavior, your puppy Golden will need to be trained and socialized. Check out with your local vet where the best puppy socialization classes are. Choosing a Good Breeder By the time your Golden Retriever puppy is 8 weeks old, he is ready to go to his new home. The way he has developed so far will be dependent on how the breeder has raised him and his siblings. Puppies kept in an unloving, cold, hostile environment will have aggressive tendencies later on and not be able to function properly in your household. Choose a good breeder very carefully. Are you wanting to buy the cutest, most beautiful, friendliest, balanced, loving, non-aggressive Golden Retriever puppy? My Golden Retriever Puppies has just what you want, after all, they are the trusted source for responsibly-raised Golden Retriever Puppies in Ohio. Know your breeder and find yourself a healthy, lively, happy, amicable Golden who has been raised with love and care and dying to shower you with Golden Retriever kisses. Training Although it is difficult to find one iota of aggression in a Golden Retriever, any kind of aggressive behavior can be avoided with proper training. Apart from early socialization, you can train your dog firmly, fairly, and consistently. You could also allow a reputable professional dog behaviorist or trainer to train your Golden to mix with other people and dogs without showing aggressive tendencies. Positive reinforcement training is great when a tasty treat is given as a reward for the desired behavior. Never confuse your dog, and make sure that everyone in the family uses the same signs and commands that he is familiar with. Exercise If you want to avoid aggression in your Golden Retriever, exercise him. Dog aggression is a concern for any dog owner and even your mild, calm Golden can begin to feel the stirrings of aggression when he is never exercised. The Golden Retriever is a large dog and he is also a sporting breed. Your Golden will need a consistent workout every day for at least 20 minutes at a time. Hitting a ball for him with a tennis racquet can be an excellent running exercise for him. You have to be patient with him and show him kindness, gentleness, and fairness when training him. Conclusion Are Golden Retrievers aggressive? They can be, but only under certain circumstances. It is things such as improper breeding, abuse, and fear from humans that put aggression into any dog. Know your Golden and get him to the vet if you suspect uncharacteristic aggression which could be brought on by pain or illness. You can easily find one by checking out our puppies here! All our puppies are raised by our own group of small, independent breeders who lovingly care for and socialize with each of them daily so they grow up happy. We even take all the extra steps to provide the best healthcare for them. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. A video of a dog mom teaching her eight-week-old puppies a lesson has gone viral, attracting viewers who were fascinated to see the family dynamics play out. The clip resurfaced on Reddit 's "Made Me Smile" forum today, amassing over 20, votes. It showed a blonde golden retriever dog mom walking into an enclosure where her litter of eight puppies squealed and lunged toward her. The puppies leaped over each other to suckle her teats, but their mother tolerated the behavior for only a moment before growling and shooing them away. The puppies shrunk away and lay down in various corners of the room. Over the next two minutes, their mom kept a watchful eye over all eight of them to ensure they stayed put, snarling any time one dared to try suckling again. One puppy elicited a stern bark when its sibling bit the tip of mom's tail and pulled, but the innocent sibling was mistaken as the perpetrator. But the mom made sure to demonstrate positive reinforcement too, individually approaching and nuzzling her little ones to encourage them for staying still or walking up to her calmly. In the wild, a female dog gradually weans her puppies as they start to develop teeth, typically at three to four weeks old, according to VCA Hospitals. After their teeth are grown in, suckling irritates and hurts the mother, who leaves her puppies for growing periods of time. Dog moms stop producing milk between seven to 10 weeks after giving birth, according to the Center for Animal Welfare Science, so the eight-week-old puppies in the video were nearing the end of their weaning period. Their mom was both protecting her body and teaching her puppies to develop independence. A video has gone viral showing a blonde Golden Retriever mom teach her eight puppies how to be calm. Puppies learn better how to respond to familiar and unfamiliar humans and situations when they are taught by a well-adjusted dog mom. Read more. Read the full disclosure here. Tasty finger! Your golden retriever puppy is as friendly as can be — great with kids, respectful of other dogs, and not overly attentive to your cat. Yes, golden retrievers are known for their good-natured demeanor, but they are still dogs — not so very far removed from their wild cousins, and they can be unpredictable when faced with stressful, disturbing, or frightening situations. One of our jobs as responsible dog owners, of course, is to keep our dogs safe, but we may not always be able to protect them, and we may not always be able to prevent them from biting through fear or when in pain. What is Bite Inhibition? Puppies begin learning this from their mother and siblings as soon as they start to tumble around with each other in play. If they bite too hard, they are scolded by their mother or alerted with a yelp from their siblings. Eventually, they learn how hard is too hard, and they use their teeth more gently in play. Human Sensitive or Advanced Bite Inhibition By the time your puppy moves into your home, they will have been using their bite inhibition skills for weeks. Your puppy needs to learn that human beings are fragile and should be treated with care. There are many professional trainers who recommend that you simply train your puppy not to bite. This seems like a practical course of action, and it does work — in the short term. Teaching a puppy not to bite will give you quick results, but it may mean they never learn how much force is safe to use on people when they are forced to bite in an emergency. So if they do eventually bite, they will know to hold back the pressure safely and will not cause anywhere near as much pain or damage as they otherwise might. Why is Bite Inhibition Important? Believe it or not, even the most gentle dog that has been trained from a young age never to bite, can react to certain triggers. Those triggers are fear and pain. Consider these situations: Your dog has been suffering from chronic ear infections and hates to have his ears handled. The neighbor stops by with her toddler, who immediately runs to your dog and fondles his sensitive ears roughly. What will he do? You and your dog are walking down the road like you do every morning when out of nowhere comes a huge dog who attacks your dog without thinking twice. You manage to pull your dog away, but in the process, your frightened dog bites your arm. Your sweet golden retriever has gotten themself tangled in some barbed wire while hiking. As you loosen the wire from her skin and fur, she snaps at you, biting your hand. You may never experience any of these situations. By teaching bite inhibition while your puppy is young, you will be far safer and ready for any of these situations should they occur. Teaching Advanced Bite Inhibition Following is a general guide to the bite inhibition skills your puppy learns and when, as well as where you should aim for their skills to be at certain ages. She will start the puppies off by teaching them how rough is too rough during nursing and play. These lessons begin when the puppies start nursing day 1 and continue until the day you pick your puppy up from the breeder. This works for some puppies, but for others, it just seems to arouse the pup and make matters worse. You will have to experiment to find out what works for you and your pup. You should withdraw all of your attention from your puppy for very hard bites. Do not over-correct your puppy so they become afraid of biting. After your puppy has calmed down, use a chew toy as a reward and let them chew it in your lap or lying by your side. This teaches you puppy that there are other ways to keep their mouths and teeth busy. By four or five months, all force behind play bites should be eliminated. Kids tend to play rough with puppies, and puppies will get rough right back. Your puppy needs to know that every human being is sensitive to their bites, not just you. It is a process that sometimes lasts months, depending on your puppy. Be prepared for this, and remember that long-term results in your adult dog are more important than curtailing puppy bites as painful as they may be. Supervise your puppy around children — If you have young children at home, you will have to think carefully about how you will protect them and your puppy. Little puppy teeth can cause a lot of pain, especially when your pup is still learning to control those urges. Young children can also cause a lot of pain to small puppies. Always supervise very carefully when your pup and children are together. A tired puppy is a happy puppy — It will be much easier to teach bite inhibition if your puppy is not bouncing off the walls. Make sure they get enough exercise every day. Not only will this help with training, but it will also help prevent all kinds of other destructive behavior. Conclusion Teaching bite inhibition to your golden retriever puppy is a gift you give to your pup that will last forever. Print Retrievers, for the most part, make great family dogs. They are also smart, so they learn quickly and their strong willingness to please often makes retrievers a great addition to the family. But some retriever puppies are a high-energy ball of fire, one that is difficult to train or even handle in daily life. And sometimes there will be signs of aggressive behavior that are concerning. However, there is a fine line between puppy play behavior and hyper and aggressive behavior. Some owners are reluctant to stop such behavior thinking that it is just puppy behavior and therefore the dog will outgrow it. If you have a retriever puppy that is hyper or aggressive you might wonder what can be done and why they are acting that way. Here is some guidance on this topic. What are normal puppy behaviors? It is normal for very young puppies to nip at your hands and your feet. It is also normal for them to chew on things, jump on you and walk all over you. An 8-week-old puppy nipping at your hand might at first seem cute and sweet. But one bite from those exceedingly sharp puppy teeth and you might decide its not so cute. Those teeth can puncture your skin in a second and draw blood just as quickly. So, while it may be normal for a puppy to nip at your hand or foot, it is not a behavior that you want to ignore. Puppy play is naturally aggressive When puppies playing with their litter mates, the play can be very aggressive. This is natural, as dogs, they are always figuring out their pack and where they fit into the pack. Recognizing puppy play You can recognize when a retriever puppy is playing by the stance they take. They also may run around in circles, growling, or barking in high pitched barks, but when they do this their ears will be up, their tail wagging and they do not look threatening. It is uncommon for puppies under 12 weeks of age to exhibit true aggression. True aggression involves a dog exhibiting prolonged growling with a stiff posture and baring of teeth. Their hackles the hair on their back will be raised and they will be poised in a threatening position with ears back. If you were to approach a dog in this position which I do not recommend they will often move toward you and try to bite or snap at you. This type of aggression is something to be fearful about and is not healthy. Isolate the dog as much as possible and consult a veterinary or other professional for help or advice. What are signs of aggression in puppies All puppies can act aggressively, but if you take steps to address the aggressive behaviors while your dog is a young puppy, you can make a huge difference on how or whether that aggression progresses. These are all forms of aggression and none of them should be tolerated, not as a puppy and certainly not as a dog. There are also dominance behaviors that puppies exhibit that are often mistaken as aggression. They include things like jumping on people, stepping on people, pushing you around, forcing you to pet them and others. While these behaviors can be done aggressively, and should still be corrected immediately, they are not the same as aggression. Definition of puppy Because we often get clients that bring out their dogs that are close to a year old and refer to them as puppies, I want to define what I consider a puppy. A puppy is a dog under six months of age. Most retrievers are a good size by around six months. They will often continue to grow up until about a year and a half, but they have the bulk of their size by the time they are six months. And by six months, you need to have a handle on any aggressive behaviors, or you are going to struggle with eliminating them. Is it normal for a puppy to be very aggressive? It is normal for a puppy to test you with aggressive behaviors. And to be clear, that place should be at the bottom of the pack, under all your family members. I understand that your dog is a part of your family but allowing your dog to be in a position above any or all your family members is just asking for trouble. Treating your dog as a human and attributing your dog with human thoughts and reasoning is not fair to your dog or to your family. Love your dog, but make sure your dog is the lowest member of your pack and you will have a much easier time with obedience and basic good behavior. How to stop puppy growling Growling is often the first step for dog aggression. Or, if you try and take a toy away from your dog. No matter how or when you see the aggression start, it is important to nip it in the bud right away. A sharp NO command sometimes is all that is needed, especially if it is well-timed with the first sign of the growl or nip. Other times you may need to grab your dogs muzzle and squeeze. If these corrections do not seem to be helping, I would immediately crate my dog if it growled at me. Be sure you do not let your dog out of the crate while he is exhibiting a growling behavior. Only let him out if he is behaving appropriately. How to stop puppy nipping or biting A dog that nips or bites you often started as a very young puppy. We teach our puppies at 8-weeks-old that biting and nipping people is not allowed. And at this very young age, they learn it very quickly. Your pup may cry out or squirm, but that is fine. In fact, you need to be quite stern to make an impression. If it continues, you are not being firm or consistent enough. How to stop puppy growling while tugging During play, it is not uncommon for retriever puppies to growl and tug at toys, blankets, even your pant leg. This behavior is usually just playful and natural. However, I would still try to end this behavior as soon as possible. While almost harmless at first, this behavior can escalate quickly as your dog grows bigger and stronger. You can end this behavior first by not participating in it. If you start tugging with a toy with your puppy, you are going to encourage the behavior. The second step is to discourage the behavior with a sharp NO command. It can help if you say GIVE when you take the item. This will start to teach him the GIVE command that will be helpful later if you are a hunter. How to stop puppy baring his teeth A puppy or dog that bares his teeth to you is threatening to bite you. Even if the puppy goes no further than to bare the teeth and growl, you need to end this behavior. This behavior is far more dangerous than the puppy that nips at your hand. The nips may be done in play, since that is how puppies play with one another, but baring of teeth and growling is different. And you must handle it differently. I am not talking about lifting your dog off the floor with the shake, but if your puppy is very young, that may indeed be a great correction. Have you ever witnessed a mama dog correct her puppies? This is not a violent thing, just a natural correction for a puppy. The puppies rarely cry out or whimper when given this correction, they just walk away and understand that the behavior they were exhibiting is not acceptable. If your dog continues to bare his teeth even after this correction, you may have a bigger problem on your hands, and I would proceed carefully. True dog aggression is no joking matter. Dogs with aggression problems can snap at any time and go from baring their teeth to full out attacks. Hyper behavior is different from aggression. A hyper dog has a lot of energy and may not know how to control or channel that energy. Often hyper behavior is a genetic trait. In this sense, it is not something that you can eliminate. But you can take steps to make it more manageable. Exercise more Dogs that are hyper need more exercise than dogs that are more docile in nature. If your dog is hyper and is not getting enough exercise, the hype behavior is going to drive the dog to other behaviors that you may not enjoy such as chewing up your dining room table leg or your favorite pair of shoes. For instance, if your dog is hyper and is jumping up and down all the time, and you not only allow the jumping but pet him or her and give praise while your dog is jumping, then you are unknowingly rewarding the jumping behavior. Give your puppy time to mature Retrievers are often full of energy while they are young, well some a bit longer, but tend to slow down as they mature. But as they mature they do usually slow down and become a bit less energetic. Training Highly energetic dogs can benefit greatly from structured training programs. Programs such as the ones we offer here at Otter Tail Kennels, can teach an energetic dog control and channel their energy into hunting or retrieving which can make home life more manageable. There are even some things you can do at home to get more control of your energetic dog. Practice sitting I know this sounds boring, and for you it is. But for an energetic dog that does not like sitting at all, having them sit for 30 seconds, or a minute or two can be very challenging. They will need many reminders at first, but over time they will learn to settle and sit calmly. You can slowly increase the amount of time. This simple obedience drill will help your dog learn control. Teach your dog the kennel command so that when you say Kennel, they run into their crate and stay there until you release them. This basically sends your dog on a time out and forces them to practice control and settle. Final thoughts on why my puppy is so hyper and aggressive For dogs under 6 months of age, much hyper and aggressive behavior is simply puppy play. You must teach your puppy boundaries and the earlier you teach them the better. Be consistent in your corrections and persistent, and over time you will reap the benefits. You can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time happy retrieving. Why Is My Puppy Growling? What Should I Do? Mar 15, Feb 6, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. While being faced with a growling dog is rather scary, can you imagine being scared of a puppy growling? Puppy Growling? In fact, there are many different reasons why puppies growl. As an owner, you have to figure out what is causing your puppy to growl and address that issue. In this article, I will explain why puppies growl and help you understand what your puppy is trying to say. Continue reading to learn different types of growls and what they mean. Why Do Puppies Growl? While it may be unsettling to hear, growling is a normal form of canine communication. Just like people, puppies and dogs use their vocal abilities to express their needs and feelings. Growling, howling, whining, whimpering, and barking are different types of vocalization puppies use to communicate their wants and needs with their owners. Besides vocalization, your puppy will also use body language to communicate with you. Understanding canine body language can be rather tricky, especially if you are a new dog owner. And if you are unable to pick up on these subtle cues, your puppy might feel the need to growl every once in a while just to get their point across. For the first couple of days after being born, puppies know only how to whimper and whine and they use these vocalizations to communicate with their mother. But once puppies become more mobile and start interacting with their environment, they learn how to growl and bark. By the time you bring your new puppy home , they will be old enough to know how to growl and will use this type of vocalization to communicate with you. While most people associate growling with aggression, dogs and puppies growl for many different reasons. The most common reasons puppies growl are pain, fear, possession, territoriality, playfulness, and possession aggression. Growling is just one of many ways that puppies and adult dogs communicate. Therefore, you will need to understand what your puppy is trying to say in order to meet their needs and respond accordingly. But with time, you will learn how to distinguish a playful growl from a fearful growl and will know exactly what your puppy is trying to communicate. The only way you will ever be able to address and correct this unwanted behavior is to understand why it is happening in the first place. So, instead of trying to teach your puppy to stop growling, you should find the reason why the puppy is growling and address it. Your puppy will most likely stop growling altogether as soon as the underlying issue has been identified and dealt with. Here are the most common reasons behind puppy growling: 1. Pain Both puppies and adult dogs may growl when they are in pain. Your puppy might be sick or have an injury that is causing them pain, especially if they start growling when you reach for a specific part of their body. Trying to diagnose your puppy at home can make things way worse and cause even more fear. In this situation, your only job is to figure out why your puppy is growling and take the necessary steps to resolve the problem. The best and only thing you can do for your puppy in this situation is to take them to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet will examine your puppy, diagnose the problem, and talk with you about possible treatment options. Bear in mind, your puppy will probably start to growl even more during the exam and might even try to nip at you or the vet. It is completely normal for puppies to growl and whine while they are in pain. However, the growling will stop completely as soon as your puppy starts to feel better. Fear It is very common for young puppies to growl when they are afraid. If your puppy typically growls at specific people, strangers, or in unfamiliar places, they are most likely scared. Furthermore, certain sounds such as fireworks, thunder, or extremely loud music can cause a puppy to be afraid and start growling. Fearful puppies use growls as a defensive mechanism to intimidate the threat into leaving them alone. So, if your puppy is, for example, afraid of strangers, they will start growling as soon as they see an unfamiliar face approaching. The stranger who initially wanted to pet your puppy will back off as soon as he hears the growling and continue walking without giving your pup a second glance. So, if your puppy starts to growl whenever a stranger wants to pet them, start telling people to not approach, or even avoid taking your dog to crowded areas. If your puppy is afraid of strangers, you should try socializing and exposing them to a variety of different people and situations. Enrolling your pup into puppy kindergarten class can also improve their socialization skills and make them feel at ease around strangers. And if your efforts seem in vain, you should consider enlisting the help of a canine behavioral expert or a certified dog trainer. Possession Also known as resource guarding, possession aggression can be another reason why your puppy growls. Puppies who exhibit this type of behavior will have a strong urge to protect their resources such as food, toys, territory, or other objects. If your puppy has possession aggression, they may growl, snap, and even bite if they think that someone will take their things away. Most puppies with this problem have a strong need to guard their food, but make no mistake, your pup can get overly protective over anything they find valuable. For example, some puppies will growl over a seemingly unimportant item, such as a ball of paper, with the same intensity as they would over a full bowl of food. Growling is just one of many signs of resource guarding, and your pup might also snap and bite when someone approaches or tries to take away their possession. Furthermore, some puppies will also fight with their siblings over various items or favorite people. Instead of punishing your pup for growling, you should teach them to trust you around their belongings. The best way to do this is to show your pup that they will be rewarded every time they drop the item they are guarding. Essentially, if your puppy is used to getting things their way, they will easily become frustrated and use growling to show disappointment. Obedience training is your best chance of dealing with a frustrated puppy. Your puppy might growl at you while playing fetch, or they might growl at other puppies while they are wrestling or playing chase. Playful growls are completely normal and nothing you should worry about. If you are a novice dog owner, take your puppy to socialization classes and observe how they interact with other puppies there. Understanding how puppies play and interact with one another will help you distinguish playful growls from fighting growls. While play growling is completely normal, you can stop playing with your pup if you notice that the growls are becoming more intense. If this happens, just take a short break and give your pup a few minutes to calm down before resuming playing. And if the same thing happens while your puppy is playing with another dog, separate them until they both calm down. As soon as your puppy seems calm enough, you can let them play with other dogs again. We actually have an article about playful growling with other dogs and puppies. We like to call this game of puppies growling and showing teeth, bitey face. Territoriality Some dogs and puppies feel the need to defend their territory and might start growling at anyone new who is entering the property. If your pup is growling every time a mailman or delivery person rings the doorbell, they are showing classic signs of territorial aggression. Puppies with territorial aggression may start growling over other territories as well. Bear in mind, a territorial puppy might start growling at anyone who is overstepping on their perceived territory. If this is the case, they might even start growling at family members or at you. Luckily, you can get a trainer or a behavioral expert to work with your dog and help curb their territorial tendencies. Like adult dogs, puppies use many types of vocalization, including growling, to communicate with their owners. Playfulness is the most common reason small puppies growl. However, pain, fear, territoriality, possession aggression, and resource guarding can also be the reasons that can cause your puppy to start growling all of a sudden. Growling is one of many ways puppies communicate, and you as an owner need to understand what your puppy is trying to say in order to react properly. When it comes to puppies, growling is usually not a sign of aggression, but your pup may snap or try to bite you. The best thing you can do to stop this behavior is to find out why your pup growled in the first place and resolve that issue. For example, if your puppy growls only while playing, you can curb this behavior by stopping the play session and giving your pup a few minutes to calm down. Instead, it can make matters even worse and your puppy can end up being afraid of you. The most common signs of aggression in puppies are growling, snarling, mouthing, snapping, dominance, stiff posture, fixed gaze, and biting. However, puppies do like to play rough, and normal puppy play usually includes growling, chasing, biting, and barking. Since normal puppy play and aggression have some similar elements, it can be hard to distinguish one from the other, especially if you are a novice owner. You should know that problem behaviors are more intense and last longer than normal play behaviors. If your puppy that has never before shown signs of aggression starts to growl, snap, or try to bite you, chances are that they are in pain. Pain is one of the most common causes of aggression in puppies and can be a sign of injury or disease. If you suspect that your puppy is in pain, take them to the vet as soon as possible to get appropriate treatment. Conclusion While it might sound scary at first, growling is just one of many vocalizations puppies use to communicate with their owners. When it comes to puppies, growling is rarely a sign of aggression, but it can be a sign that your puppy is in pain. Is your puppy growling? If so, do you know why? Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining. The dog trying to escape or remove itself from the situation The growl Baring their teeth A bite When it comes to kids and dogs, tolerance is not enough, we want dogs to enjoy their interactions, not just have to put up with them. And given you have heard a growl already; it is likely your dog is no longer wanting to tolerate your child. They have started to climb this ladder. By doing this we will help to rebuild positive trusting relationships in time. As a parent there needs to be some rules and boundaries. Kids cannot treat dogs like stuffed toys. They must learn to respect them and how to interact appropriately with them. Respect their body, feelings, space and their stuff! See the image below from our friends at The Family Dog. But this takes time, constant reminding, modelling and reinforcement when getting it right. But what does this actually look like? Active Supervision: This is the best type of supervision and is when two adult eyes are focused on dog and child, the parent is present in the moment and they know what to look for. Proactive Supervision: When you know you cannot actively supervise, implementing management tools is how you can be proactive, things like baby gates, crates, playpens, closing doors, putting the dog outside, using a lead. Reactive Supervision: This is when a parent reacts to the child or dog approaching one another. But it happens! Dog might hear the baby cry or startle and run in to see what it is. Rather than reacting negatively to the dog, we want to redirect the dog away in a calm positive manner. Ultimately we want to create a positive association and emotional state between your dog and children. Passive Supervision: Everyone multitasks these days. Are you really watching your child and dog when chatting away on the phone, or when on your computer sending that email? This is such an easy one for parents to do. However, parents must be made aware of how dangerous this can be. Especially given your dog has already growled at your child. Absent Supervision: child and dog together without any adult eyes watching them. This includes if an adult has fallen asleep. This should never happen and can be very dangerous. If the adult is sleepy, use proactive supervision. Tip Four: Management is your best friend! Management gives both parents and our dogs a break from the chaos and to help our dogs feel safe. Management includes kids gates, playpens, closing doors, tethers, etc. Separation should not be seen as punishment or a negative — rather it is a way to let everyone chill and have a break. Always make sure your dog has a choice There is this unfair expectation that we have placed on dogs in modern society that all dogs should just enjoy being touched and smothered all the time. Teach children not to approach the dog. Rather call the dog to you. If he wants more, keep patting but if had enough, time to leave him. Teaching and encouraging this, will help strengthen and build relationships. This is important for you to also start practising and modelling in front of your kids as our children are always watching and learning from us and copying us! Look at the layout. We want to make sure your child never corners your dog as this can result in a very dangerous situation. You might just need to move coffee table slightly away from couch. Remember that dogs need space, they need to be able to escape if they are feeling fearful in a situation. So there you have it. My top five tips to help once you have heard your dog growl at you child. Please take this seriously. Your dog is communicating with you and your child that they are not happy. Start advocating for your dog. If we do not listen, you run the risk of a bite happening. Please reach out if you need help.

They are outgoing, active and affectionate companions who have a lot of energy and love making their owner happy. They have strong retrieving instincts as they were bred to be gun dogs, so they love both soft toys and diving into bodies of water. It is highly unusual for the puppy's owner to care for them during this time and is best left to a responsible, reputable breeder. Your puppy's body will double in weight as their muscles, organs and bones develop. Nutrition During the neonatal stage, your Labrador puppy will get most of their nutrition from their mother's milk. At around 4 weeks you may wish to introduce a mush of minced protein such as beef, but always consult your vet first before changing your puppy's diet at this stage. Health During this time it is important to monitor your Lab for any infections, diseases or birth defects. Puppies are unable to urinate or defecate by themselves initially, so their mother helps them but may additionally require your assistance. Keep your vet's contact details close by and educate yourself thoroughly on this stage of puppy development. By the end of this period, your puppy will be mobile and will explore the world mouth first — be sure to keep choking hazards and toxic foods out of their reach. Behaviour During most of this time your Labrador puppy will be asleep or inactive, but they will soon be playing with their brothers and sisters. After weeks they will go through as much sensory development as a human baby does in a few months. It is important to avoid disturbing the puppies' mother as she will be likely be protective, but some interaction with the young pups is normal so they become used to human touch. This is a formative time for your puppy and will be when they learn to walk, play, bite, hold their bladder, and interact with others. You will soon notice their attentiveness to you and their intense love of play — many Labs keep this caring and fun attitude for their whole lives if you foster it. Nutrition During the weaning stage, you should slowly introduce into their diet a nutritionally complete dog food which is appropriate to your Labrador's large size and young age. Labs are notoriously greedy and will quickly gobble down food and snatch treats from hands. You should familiarise yourself with lists of toxic foods and plants to avoid and hide as your puppy will soon find ways to get into forbidden snacks found only in bins. Labradors puppies instinctively like to 'dig' inside their water bowls so much of their water will end up on the ground. Make sure to get your puppy used to touching inside their small ears as they are prone to ear infections and will need regular checkups. Behaviour Due to the changes in their environment, your Labrador puppy will likely be under a significant amount of stress. It's important that you provide lots of attention and positive reinforcement for good behaviour at this time to establish boundaries early. Labradors are eager to love anyone but can be overbearing, so you should introduce them to a number of different people and environments so that they are not overwhelmed with excitement later in life. PUPPY By the time your Labrador Retriever reaches puppyhood their personality will be well developed and you will have established a loving, social friend who wants to maximise time with you and others. Your Labrador puppy will do well socially and behaviourally from puppy training classes as long as treats are involved. Nutrition Your Labrador puppy's diet should be based around a high quality, nutritionally complete puppy food. You may also wish to introduce them to fresh, lean raw meat — however, don't feed your puppy any meat you would not feed to a fellow human being. Bloat is potentially fatal but can be combatted by feeding your dog two smaller meals per day, a habit you should start while they are a puppy. A rough guide is that they should exercise for minutes per day and less after 5 years when many lose their appetite for long marathons of activity. Your pup will need brushing every few days, with more frequent grooming during seasonal changes to combat shedding. Bathing should be infrequent as this can damage the waterproofing of their coats, however, you should wash them after swimming or rolling in muck. After around 8 weeks your puppy will be due for some vaccinations, so they will need a checkup at the vet and to arrange for boosters after that. Studies showed that dogs supplemented with a diet of bovine colostrum had a quicker and stronger immune system response to CDV vaccine as compared to dogs fed a control diet. Colostrum supplemented dogs maintained a higher antibody level even after 40 weeks A diet supplemented with Colostrum helps bridge the immunity gap in puppies that occurs between 3 weeks and 5 months of age. Behaviour Do not be complacent with training your Labrador puppy — almost all are very gentle and well behaved, but this does not mean that training is unnecessary. Labs are very loving and patient with all that they meet, but they often do not know their own size. To combat this, they should be trained in how to act around small dogs and children to avoid intimidation or accidental injury. They will also benefit from obedience training to drop things from their mouths, avoid rushing across busy streets and make sure they come when called. Recommended Articles. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As we all know too well, what we put in our belly has a huge impact on our health, vitality, length and quality of life. They have to strike a fine balance between getting enough nutrients to grow and avoiding an over-abundance that can lead to abnormal growth and disabling conditions. In this article you will learn precisely how to feed your puppy. What they can eat, what they should not, how many times you should feed them each day, basic information on home-made diets and the pros and cons of various commercial dog foods. The majority of Labrador owners feed their puppy kibble. Kibble is ground meal, shaped into dried biscuit-like pellets that are extremely convenient to buy, store and feed, providing everything a puppy needs in one easy to handle product. All the major brands carry a range of kibble and many are specifically formulated to suit the precise needs of puppies. For our recommendations of the best puppy food for labs, please read our article on: The Best Food for Labrador Puppies. Good breeders will supply you with all the information you need to feed your new puppy and you should follow this advice. Puppies almost always get upset tummies during a change of diet. The stress of moving to a new home is enough to deal with without them potentially having tummy upset on top. So try to avoid this. But expect your puppy to get diarrhea after such a sudden change. What Can Puppies Eat? With a bewildering choice of different puppy foods available, what to feed your puppy may not be the easiest decision to make. You Can Feed Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is ground up food, formed into pellets and dried for easy storage and convenience. It is a specially formulated, complete and balanced diet, containing everything a puppy needs to grow and be healthy. Many people believe kibble is the best way to feed a puppy, with it being so easy to buy, store and feed while containing every nutrient a puppy needs in the right proportions. Wet, Complete Puppy Foods Are An Option As the name suggests, complete wet dog food is complete and balanced, meaning nothing should be fed in combination. Everything needed is included in this one food. Complete wet foods come in individual pouches or tins with one pouch or tin containing one single serving. In the main these foods are low in nutrition, contain a high amount of cheap fillers, by-products and water and need mixing with a biscuit to give them some substance and to make them more complete. Because the food is such low quality, you have to feed a lot of it. And what goes in, must come out. This type of feeding was popular decades ago and I do remember my parents feeding our first dogs this way, but most people have moved on from this and are feeding their dogs in better ways now. Raw Food, BARF And Home-Made Diets Raw feeding is a diet that consists of mostly raw meat, edible bones and animal organs, though most practitioners also mix in small portions of fruit, veg and selected other foodstuffs. There are many people feel strongly that this is the best possible way to feed a dog. But I would caution most people that to feed this diet successfully, you need to do A LOT of research, gain a lot of knowledge and truly understand a dogs nutritional needs to make sure they get exactly what they need in the right amounts. Many people wonder if they can feed their puppy human foods, anything found in the fridge or larder. Furthermore, there are many human foods that are toxic to dogs that you should avoid at all costs. Too much of some nutrients can be bad in itself, but also prevent the absorption and use of other nutrients too. So supplementing a balanced diet is a bad thing to do. Can You Give Puppies Milk? Assuming you get your puppy at the recommended 8 weeks, they will have been fully weaned before you bring them home. Many puppies are intolerant of cows milk and drinking it leads to an upset tummy and diarrhea so you would do best to avoid giving your puppy any milk at all. One exception is for very young puppies under 6 weeks of age. When we have newborn puppies at our house we sometimes need to supplement and use Esbilac Milk Supplemen t. However, if you have a very young puppy that you think may need supplementing please first consult with your veterinarian. Are They Necessary? You will likely be feeding your puppy a commercially available complete and balanced dog food, in which case you certainly should not supplement their food. Supplementing this will mean too much of one or more things, making it unbalanced which can actually lead to harm. But an excess amount of calcium in the diet of a Lab puppy can lead to skeletal development problems. So adding a calcium supplement to an already complete diet can actually do more harm than good. There may also be times your vet advises you to do so. But if feeding raw, you should know more about nutrition than I do. This is a hard question to answer and sadly I cannot give you a definite quantity or weight to feed them each day. Puppies grow at different rates, some are more active than others and there can be large differences between metabolisms too. However… The biggest determining factor is how concentrated the nutrients and calories are in the brand of food you feed them. High quality foods are nutrient rich and give a puppy all they need from quite small amounts of food. But cheaper brands are full of low quality and nutritionally empty fillers that mean a puppy needs considerably more to get what they need. Start by feeding your puppy according to the guidelines on the label of the puppy food you buy for them. Then see how their body develops. Puppies should not be fat! But at the other end of the scale if they start to look and feel a little slim, up their portion sizes a little. The guidelines on the food you buy are just that…guidelines. You might also be interested in:. Remember, Labs do not have a natural food intake regulator so you will need to monitor them with portion control. Using a cheaper brand is a poor option at half the price. You will use twice as much and you will have to clean up larger amounts of waste in your yard. To allow for an accurate control of body weight and growth rate, this amount of food can be dispensed over 3 meals per day. After 5 months of age, the feeding regularity can be reduced to two meals per day with the commensurate increase in food quantity. The amount of food a Labrador puppy requires will increase then level out during first 14 months of their life. At months, their bone density is increasing and their growth plates are set. We do not recommend desexing you pup until at least 3 years of age. This allows for an appropriate development and supply of hormone which in turn produces proper bone, muscle and vital organ development. Table foods dispensed randomly to dogs are not nutritionally balanced. We do not offer our dogs table food at all. There will be no problems if you are feeding a puppy with a homemade diet but it should be prepared from prescribed recipes that are nutritionally complete and balanced. Diets consisting of an unplanned and indiscriminate mixture of human foods particularly including carbohydrates will likely result in obesity and even dietary-induced disease. When you Lab reaches 14months of age, it should be given an adult food that contains less energy and calcium. This will decrease the risk of obesity and orthopaedic conditions. And do not feed them coffee or tea as they can contain caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. These toxic substances can dangerously affect the heart and nervous system. Onions, garlic, raisins and grapes can be severely toxic in labradors. Raw meat is potential source of parasites and pathogenic bacteria for your puppy. Eggs yokes are an excellent source of protein. Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin a B vitamin. This can, in extreme cease, lead to skin and coat problems. Liver contains higher levels of protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Raw liver can be a source of parasites and pathogenic bacteria. Excessive amounts of liver can cause Vitamin A toxicity. Raw bone chewing will control tartar buildup on a pups teeth. However, bone chewing can cause intestinal blockages and perforations. Never use cooked bones. Commercial Puppy Foods Most commercial puppy foods are designated for small, medium, large and giant breeds. This designation can be found on the label. Puppies of medium sized breeds are less than '25 kg fully grown adult body weight'. A full grown and lean Labrador will usually weigh between 25kg and 45kg. We feed our dogs at the 'lower' level of the recommended range. The 'Hills Body Fat Index' is a very helpful body shape indicator. The same food as the bitch You should feed your new puppy with the same brand of food as the bitch received during lactation. From 2 weeks into pregnancy, our expectant mothers are fed 'Royal Canin Labrador Puppy' food. Introducing a new brand of food If you are wanting to introduce a new brand of food to your puppy, then blend it gradually with the existing brand in increasing amounts over 3 days. This should prevent food rejection and any kind of gastric upset. It is best to choose a diet designed for large breed puppies. Selected commercial feeds should contain a limited percentage of filler compounds. Pawlinglabs uses Royal Canin Labrador as our preferred option. Growing labradors Labrador pups have a very steep growth curve, and their total daily energy needs do increase as they grow. Calculate the amount of puppy food that will satisfy that need. The feeding guidelines on the commercial pet food label provides an estimated quantity of feed for several different ranges in body size. These instructions will give you an estimated starting point for the particular brand. Medium or large? Medium breeds should be transitioned to an adult diet by 12 months of age, while large breeds between 14 — 18 months of age. Mature female labradors are medium and weight approx kg. Mature males are large and weight approx kg. Their calcium and energy content should not exceed that level recommended by a registered nutritionalist. Sound skeletal development Sound skeletal development in labradors is produced by the interaction of genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors. The phase prior to weaning and the growth phase, up to 14 months are integral to sound skeletal structure. Don't take your young pup on extended distance walks and certainly not 'running' until at least 18mths of age. You must avoid stairs and slippery floors for the same reasons. Their growth plates are set at about mths of age. Feeding and Overfeeding Large breeds like Labradors are the most susceptible to skeletal disease. Feed consumption, nutrients balance and feeding methods influence our ability to produce sound skeletal development and eliminate skeletal disease. Appropriate food consumption and nutrition plays a critical role in bone development. Overfeeding will not increase or benefit the growth rate of young and growing labrador puppies. And it does not correlate with optimal adult size. However, it does increase the risk of skeletal abnormalities. The vast majority of skeletal disorders occur in large breeds including labradors and they are associated with consumption of table food and an excessive intake of a commercial food and supplementation. The large breeds like labradors are limited in their ability to cope with an excess of minerals such as calcium. The result of this over consumption is abnormal bone development and skeletal disorders. Nutritional management will be critical in the to prevention of bone and joint diseases. In most cases, skeletal disease can prevented by appropriate quantities of feed in a regulated diet with optimal nutrient levels. A complete and balanced commercial diet is essential. Dietary deficiencies will be of little concern if your labrador pup is fed with a complete and balanced commercial diet. Brands like Eukanuba and Royal Canin are specifically formulated for young, growing labradors. There is real potential for harm by over feeding and giving additional supplementation. Housing safety and activity levels Housing safety and activity levels are under the your influence. Nutrition is also under your control and it is the single most important factor affecting the development of the musculoskeletal system. Energy, protein, and calcium are the critical nutritional components affecting skeletal development. However, if they are given in excess, they will be detrimental to normal bone and joint growth. Most pet owners feed commercial dog food. These prepared diets are balanced and complete. Pawling Chocolate and Black Labradors. The source of protein matters when considering a high-quality diet. FATS The rest of the diet should be made up of fats, carbs, and vitamins. Labs need to have a correct protein -to-fat ratio, where protein takes the lead. Dogs tend to convert fat into glucose, so this is an important source of energy. Dogs rely mostly on protein and fats, but carbs are necessary. That said, a low carb diet is best for puppies. However, you still need the right percentage of carbs, since this gives your dog the sensation of being full. These include starches, fibers, and sugars. Try to opt for more complex carbs like starchy grain and veggies because these are easier to digest. Your Lab puppy will thrive when his or her diet includes: Vitamin B12 especially during puppy development , Vitamins A and E, C, Vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium, Potassium Each of these required vitamins and minerals contributes to a healthy, happy, and energetic puppy. They also help offset issues like obesity. Vitamins A and E are important because they help your dog burn calories and promote eye and skin health. Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus, on the other hand, are part of a trifecta that works to strengthen teeth and bones. Potassium is a heart health-preserver. Labs with poor genetics are especially prone to orthopedic issues. Osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia are common health problems for this breed. Glucosamine, an amino-sugar, together with chondroitin sulfate, helps replace and support naturally degrading cartilage during old age. Recently,"grain-free" foods are being championed as a preferred and even high-quality form of dog food. That's, not the whole story. An investigation launched by the FDA revealed that there are potential links between a form of canine heart disease and grain-free foods. So far, researchers have provided an update to this researchers have provided an update to this research staring that the issue may not just be grain-free diets. Grain-free may be part of other trends knows as "BEG"- boutique companies. Puppy diets don't' need to be complicated. They also don't need to include ingredients that humans might enjoy. Enjoyment doesn't necessarily bring any nutritional value to your puppy's development. Keep it simple, using the guidelines for fats, proteins, and carbs above and don't shy away from food with grains in them. It's not their presence that's a problem it's often the ratio. There shouldn't be more carbs or grains than protein. Nor does including only legumes, seeds, lentils, or chickpeas as the primary ingredients make the food more superior. It's perfectly healthy to include complex carb sources like starchy rice and other grains. Grain-free isn't and shouldn't be a qualifying factor for your choice in puppy food. Feeding Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is dried, pelleted food that stores well is easy to eat, and is pre-formulated with everything your puppy needs to thrive and grow in his early developmental months. There are plenty of popular brands that don't measure up to the Snowy Pines standard. That's why it's so vital for you to learn how to read puppy food labels. Puppies should stick with "puppy stage" food, while adults should stick to bags marked "adults. Instead, your dog should have regular bowel movements, allowing them to absorb all the nutrients available. You should also keep in mind that caloric intake is calculated a little differently for puppies. Kibble diets are measured by how many calories the proteins, fats, and carbs represent for each gram. For puppies, this should be 3. Sticking to these ratios will help ensure your kibble choice is a healthy one. It's also important to note that kibble calories are often higher when compared to wet food. If it's high-quality wet food, it won't have as much fat to preserve it, which means fewer calories. You may have to supplement with dry food, especially if you're trying to keep the calories of carbs, proteins, and fats in the right per-gram ratio. How often and what time to feed I will show you the best puppy foods, whether dry, wet, or raw, and look at food safety, together with schedules, quantities and even a handy puppy diet chart. Best Puppy Food for Labs The best Labrador puppy food provides a diet that is nutritious, healthy, and tasty. So, what is the best puppy food for your Lab? Puppy kibble or dried food is the most popular option. Kibble is complete and can give a perfectly balanced diet. Puppy kibble and tinned dog meat combined is another common choice among puppy parents. Feeding your Labrador puppy on home cooked food or on a totally raw diet is also possible. Raw puppy food is growing in popularity, and there are pros and cons to raw feeding your puppy. People often feel very strongly that one way of feeding is better than another, and you can always find evidence to support your view. Dog breeders, veterinarians and even nutritionists have their own strong views. The dire consequences they list for not listening to them can have puppy owners very worried. The truth is that there is no good quality evidence showing that kibble is better for the long term health of your dog, or that raw feeding is better. There are risks and benefits to both, and the main thing is to ensure that your dog has good quality food to eat. Puppy kibble suits some better, and raw puppy food is better for others. Puppy Kibble for your Labrador Puppy food made into pellets is called kibble. An airtight plastic container or tin will do the job, although you should make sure it is food grade quality. Puppy kibble is the best way of feeding your Labrador according to most breeders and your veterinarian is most likely to support this method of feeding. Good puppy kibble will contain every nutrient your Labrador puppy needs in order to grow and remain healthy. The kibble pieces will be tasty, good for keeping teeth healthy, and free from additives that can provoke allergies or stomach problems. Labrador puppy kibble only needs to be fed next to water. Puppy kibble from a reputable manufacturer is intended to be a complete and balanced food. But some owners like to mix in canned dog food or even scraps of raw food with kibble. Your puppy is likely to get an upset stomach or to not have the right balance of nutrition when fed this way. Whether you decide to feed only with kibble or you want to mix it up, pick a good dried food manufacturer and stick with them. Feeding your Labrador puppy raw food has its benefits and drawbacks. One of the downsides is that there is a lot to learn. Here is a link to the articles you need to help you decide whether or not raw feeding is for you: Although I like the raw diet for my dogs, most puppies fed kibble go on to have long and healthy lives. Whatever puppy food you choose, the most important thing is portion control. How Much to Feed your Labrador Puppy? People often tell me how much their puppy weighs, and ask how much puppy food they should give him. Your Labrador is particularly at risk if they grow too quickly. The following diet chart is for kibble fed puppies and does not apply to raw fed pups. It gives you an idea of how much to feed your Labrador puppy Lab Puppy Feeding Chart The Lab puppy feeding chart below is only a very rough guide. The quantity of food you need for your puppy will vary depending on your puppy and on the brand of food you are feeding him. Labrador puppy food must be aimed at medium to large breed dogs. Check the pack carefully and look at the dietary charts. Ideally, you want the optimal protein content and the lowest amount of additives. Part of this always comes down to the cost. The healthiest puppy food is usually the most expensive and may not be affordable for some families. The Cost Of Puppy Food Some puppy food brands are more concentrated than and contain a higher proportion of proteins, essential oils, and other nutrients. The absence of these fillers means that you can often feed lower quantities of more costly food, making them less expensive than they first seem. You might also find that cheaper brands make your puppy poop more due to those extra fillers going straight through him. While some brands are beyond the budget of many families, it is usually good to buy a premium brand. High Quality Brands of Puppy Food Some brands of puppy food have developed a reputation for producing a high quality product and have many devoted supporters, including breeders that have fed them to generations of puppies. The best food for Labrador puppies to consume in their first two to four months of life is milk from their mother. This specialised care is usually left to trained breeders or veterinarians, who are knowledgeable in caring for pups with no mother to nurse from. If you have recently brought a Labrador puppy into your family, they are most likely older than 8 weeks, and so have started to eat solid foods. You can do this by mixing some dry food with specially formulated puppy milk to form a soft mixture. You can feed your puppy this mixture three to four times a day. Over time, you can reduce the amount of milk you include in this mixture, until they are at the point where they are happily eating dry foods. Read on to learn how much you should feed a Labrador puppy as they get older. In their four months living with you, and once they are weaned off milk, Labradors are likely to reach almost half their adult weight. They will reach their full adult weight by the time they are 6 to 7 months old. With this rapid growth can come some risks. Labradors can be susceptible to bone growth disorders, like hip dysplasia and joint abnormalities that can start in puppyhood. Once your Lab puppy hits 6 months, their growth begins to slow down. Once puppyhood is over, you can move to feeding your lab twice a day instead of 3 or 4 times. Labs are still very active in their adolescent years, and so should be fed with this in mind. The transition from puppy food to adult food should happen at around 15 months. This is because, being a breed who grows very quickly, you want to ensure that you are feeding them according to their large breed needs. You need to take special care when considering what you should feed your Labrador puppy, as they require different nutrients compared to their adult counterparts. It is also dangerous for a puppy to overeat. Labradors are large breeds, which means they need plenty of nutrients and calories as they grow to ensure they go from being active puppies to healthy adult dogs. Labrador puppies need to eat food that is high in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are also essential for supporting your active pup. Aside from nutritionally complete dry puppy food, Labrador puppies can benefit from the extra protein that raw meat can provide them with, such as lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish. The amount of food you give your Labrador is determined by their weight, energy levels, and age. For most adult Labradors, around 1, to 2, calories per day from high quality food sources is ideal. Female Labradors, who tend to be around 5 to 10 kilos lighter than males, may need less food, as will less active dogs. Dogs who need less food, whether they are less active or simply older, will usually still need around 1, to 1, calories per day. You may want to alter the amount of food you are feeding your Labrador based on how calorically dense their food is. Adult Labradors should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Their daily allotment of food should be split evenly between these two meals. For most dogs, it is recommended that you exercise your dog before meal times to assist with potty training. However, some dogs may benefit from exercise after eating: especially high energy Labs with a lot of energy to burn off. You should also try to give your Labrador a high quality food that is specially designed for large breeds, especially if they are very active. For example, less active senior dogs will need to eat less food as they will not be burning calories as quickly as a lively little puppy will. Senior dogs may benefit from a higher fibre and lower calorie diet. Your dog may also develop chronic or short term medical conditions that require specially formulated food. For example, Labradors can be particularly susceptible to obesity. As a breed, they tend to be one of the most commonly obese dogs in Australia. This is due to several factors, including a genetic predisposition to unhealthy weight gain and a famously large appetite. However, plenty of Labs suffering from obesity are simply overfed and not getting enough exercise. Choosing a low carb diet is crucial to preventing obesity in your Labrador. If you are unsure about what you should feed your Labrador, you should always consult your vet. They will be able to determine if your dog is suffering from any chronic health issues, and they will be able to create a nutritional plan to help keep your dog healthy and happy for many years to come. Wet food for Labradors is often high in protein and fat, and is better at keeping your dog hydrated than other food sources. Chewing on dry food can be especially good for teething Labrador puppies. A raw diet can be a good option for your Labrador as you have more control over the kinds of food and amount of nutrients your pup is consuming. For this reason, raw diets require a lot more work on your part as an owner. Whatever you decide to feed your Labrador, all dogs need a similar ratio of nutrients in their diets. Different dog breeds will need different kinds of nutrient support as they go through the various stages of their life. It can also be easy to overestimate the amount of food your Labrador needs to stay fit and healthy — especially if they are skilled at begging! You need to make sure that your dog is eating the right amount of food for their breed, their size, and activity level. You should also avoid foods that, while delicious for humans, can be harmful or toxic for dogs. Foods like onions, nuts, alcohol, cooked bones, and artificial sweeteners are commonly included in dinners meant for humans, but can cause serious health issues for your Labrador. No matter how old your Lab is, it is important to keep to a consistent feeding schedule. A feeding schedule can help you keep track of any changes in behaviour around food that might signal illness or physiological stress.