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They excitedly need to meet everybody, outsiders, different dogs, different creatures, any individual who they think will care much about them. A golden needs to be friends with everybody, even outsiders that go to your entryway. Try not to anticipate that they should protect your home from a thief. I mean sure golden retriever puppies near me will bark at outsiders, however, when a more unusual methodology golden retriever will sway their tail and welcome them happily and most likely hope to get petted. Golden retrievers Are Stubborn Numerous proprietors of this breed can confirm the way that their canine is stubborn. I realize firsthand exactly how stubborn this breed can be. Golden Retrievers are incredibly savvy, which makes them simple to prepare, yet they additionally have their very own brain. I mean he will simply stay there and not move. Maybe you need to turn directly at the road rather than left, yet your canine needs to go left, you can anticipate that your dog should stay there and not move until you turn out well for him, or you persuade him to turn out well for you with a treat. Shading golden retriever puppies for sale frequently conceived marginally lighter in shading. They range from rich to gold. The most ideal approach to discover the grown-up shade of a pup is to check the ears. This is a very decent marker of developing shading. How would you check for this? These are significant wellbeing clearances, yet you will likewise need to take a gander at guardians about hypersensitivity issues. This breed is vulnerable to problem areas and skin issues. Ask back two ages while thinking about a little dog. Other wellbeing concerns are insects, clear eyes, and release from eyes or nose. You additionally need to ensure there is no scabbing on the coat, and that your doggy is stout — yet not fat. Too round may demonstrate worms. Golden retriever Shed A Golden Retriever will shed the entire year. Weighty shedding happens in the Spring and Fall, to account for their new layers of the period. During the remainder of the year, you will see moderate shedding. Taking care of a golden a great eating routine is pivotal in keeping a solid coat, and assisting with lessening shedding. There are different things that you can do to help lessen and oversee all that shedding, look at my other article, Stop Golden Retriever Shedding to discover how. Tracking down The Right Breeder When golden retriever puppies are for sale in any doggy, research your breeder. Ask what is in the agreement, if the puppies are ensured against wellbeing deformities, and the number of litters the mother has birthed. You will likewise need puppies that have been mingled. It is ideal to purchase straightforwardly from a breeder rather than through a pet store since you will want to see the guardians and home. Check some of our puppies. Share 0 Shares Many people regard the Golden Retriever as being one of the best dogs for therapy and service work. Not to mention, this breed also makes for an excellent family dog. Although the Golden Retriever can make a great family pet for many households, we always suggest that you still do your research on the breed before bringing a dog home. This will ensure that your new pet will fit your lifestyle well. In addition to this, it is also very important that you do your research on your breeder before purchasing a puppy from them. This is because choosing a reputable and ethical breeder is always the way to go when it comes to getting a puppy. If you have been looking for Golden Retriever puppies in Florida then keep reading, because we have listed out the Best Golden Retriever Breeders in Florida. Maximus Golden This Golden Retriever breeder has many achievements and qualifications. In addition to this, this breeder also enters their dogs into AKC conformation events. All of the dogs at Maximus Golden come from established bloodlines, and they are all also health tested before being bred to ensure the genetic health of their puppies. Of course, all puppies are also kept up to date on their age-appropriate and vet recommended vaccinations, deworming, and vet visits. All puppies are sold with limited AKC registration, and you will need to fill out a puppy application if you are interested in purchasing a puppy from this breeder as well. Name of Owner. I promise to teach and share with you the meaning of love. Always excited about everything, particularly about feeding on the magic feeding bottle. This 9. Crafted from our premium vinyl that is flocked for a velvety finish with a weighted cloth body for that wonderfully lifelike feel. We are so confident that you will be delighted with your purchase; we will gladly take it back within 30 days. IF returned in original condition and packaging, refunds will be made in the original payment method used at checkout. Paradise Galleries does not refund return shipping fees and will only process a refund for the purchase price of the item. Return labels are only provided for orders which are defective. It is customer's responsibility to provide a tracking number once item has been returned. Paradise Galleries is not responsible if your return got lost intransit, damaged in the delivery process or not delivered to our return address. We advise that you contact seller directly to gather more details on their return and refund policy. If you require assistance, or if you have any questions about our shipping and return policy or for general questions please contact our Customer Care department: 6am-7pm PST Monday-Friday and 7am-3pm PST Saturday. E-MAIL: customerservice paradisegalleries. Website: Prism Golden Retrievers 9. Their dogs are able to run and play freely, as well as chase birds. This is an ideal setting for the animals, who enjoy a comfortable and active lifestyle. This breeder is a proud member of the Golden Retriever Club of America and the Mid-Florida Golden Retriever Club, meaning they know exactly what it takes to produce healthy and happy golden retrievers. All of the dogs raised by this family are considered to be part of the family. This is because the family thinks of them as best friends, and are truly part of their family. This Golden Retrievers breeder only has litters maybe once a year because they strongly believe in quality over quantity. All of their dogs are extensively vetted for health and beauty standards. They get to see first-hand how the pups are progressing and what areas need more work. The Lucky pup Ranch is family-operated and oriented to provide the highest quality puppies and they are proud of it. The environment and care they provide for their puppies are one of the most important aspects of what they do. All pups are raised in a safe environment and they care for them with great consideration. They never keep their pups in cages; but instead of that they give them plenty of space to roam freely in large areas where they can develop fully, both physically and socially. Aside from that, Lucky Pup Ranch treats its puppies like family and understands they will go on and become part of other families. As such, each puppy is trained and treated lovingly. Golden Retriever Breeder Info:. Life Span Did You Know? The Golden Retriever has been an AKC-recognized breed since and was commonly used as a gun dog and for retrieving small game such as waterfowl, and for companionship. The Golden Retriever originated in the Scottish Highlands. The first Lord Tweedmouth, Dudley Majoribanks, is credited with developing the breed and keeping detailed records to create the ideal gun dog for the terrain. Great discipline and a gentle spirit make the Golden Retriever a perfect retrieval breed since the goal of this task is to bring the trophy back as undamaged as possible. Golden Retrievers first appeared in dog shows in at a British dog show. They also started appearing in the United States around the same time as they were brought across the Canadian border. They gained popularity with sport hunters and in general. Their popularity really took off in the s and they are consistently one of the most popular dog breeds. If you are not the sporting type, bringing a Golden Retriever into your family as a pet is just as rewarding because they are one of the most loyal and jovial breeds out there. One of the facts about Golden Retrievers is that they are the epitome of friendly and make fantastic family dogs. Golden Retrievers are considered one of the friendliest dog breeds. They tend to be good with kids, other dogs, other pets, and even strangers. Goldens love attention and they bond closely with their families. They are affectionate with them, and also just about everyone else. Although they do tend to get along with everyone, they love being around their favorite humans the most. They will bark to alert you and can end up barking a lot if you do not train your dog to stop barking early on. Golden Retrievers are highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in homes with yards where they can run. They can also adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough daily exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. These dogs do well in just about any climate, but are sensitive to heat. As one of the most affectionate dog breeds , they are not at all happy about being left alone for long periods of time. Although super-friendly and attention-loving, Goldens can also be sensitive to their surroundings; make sure they feel included, but have a quiet place to go if things get too noisy or overwhelming. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Golden Retriever include progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, elbow dysplasia , and hip dysplasia. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Goldens are considered one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are highly trainable dogs that pick up on things quickly and are eager to please. These traits make them a good fit for owners of all experience levels. It also helps them excel at obedience competitions. As one of the smartest dog breeds , Golden Retrievers can get bored easily. Because they pick up things quickly, they can get bored with too much repetition in training. If your dog has mastered the command, move on to something more advanced or another activity. You can also enroll in puppy training classes for some variety in training and also some socialization. Golden Retrievers have a long double coat that will shed a little year-round and will be heavier twice a year as the seasons change. Brushing a few times a week and daily brushing during seasonal shedding along with a bath as needed is usually enough for at-home care. You will want to go to the dog groomer for a professional trim a few times a year, especially as the seasons change. Nail trims once or twice monthly keep nails from growing too long. Daily tooth brushing, along with cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. Golden Retrievers are one of the most active dog breeds. Daily walks plus some playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough to keep these dogs happy and healthy. But, they are high-energy dogs that will likely always be up for more activity if you are. Much like the Labrador , they also tend to have an extended puppyhood. They tend to start winding down a little around the age of 3 and settle into your lifestyle, but they will still be high-energy dogs that require a lot of daily activity. Goldens are known for being versatile and athletic dogs. They tend to love swimming. Once they are done growing and the vet clears them for higher-impact activities, you can try other things too. They are one of the dog breeds that make good running partners. You can also teach them how to play frisbee or play fetch. Training for dog sports is another good option. In addition to obedience, Golden Retrievers are well suited for agility, dock diving , rally, flyball, tracking, and more. Fully-grown Golden Retrievers usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Golden Retrievers generally live for years on average. With their intelligence, eagerness to please, and gentle disposition, Golden Retrievers are versatile working dogs. In addition to being one of the dog breeds that make the best service dogs , Goldens can be found working as emotional support dogs, certified therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, military dogs, police dogs, animal actors, and more. Featured Golden Retriever Article.

How to Train a week-old Labrador Puppy? Training older dogs is quite a difficult or nearly impossible task. The age of 2 months or 8 weeks is the best time for your pup to begin its training. This is because your pup has grown enough to be independent and can also understand the cues of the owner. How to Train an 8-week-old Labrador Puppy? You must keep things simple in the beginning because the pups are already learning the behavior of their owners. Below are some basic things that you can teach to your 2-month-old Labrador puppy. Follow Me — This command can be taught by walking a few steps here and there while holding a treat. This will allow you to go out to different places or visit friends comfortably with your dog. Deject Biting — You will use 2 treats to train your dog. You can rarely use a simple punishment, like ignoring, if the biting was hard. At this age, it is assumed that a Labrador puppy is already familiar with some basic things. Hence, you can teach your canine friend some simple commands. Heal — As of now, your dog should be habitual to follow you. In this command, you will use a dog leash and grab it in your left hand. Recall — This command is used to recall a pup to repeat the previously performed training. In this command, we can use a whistle, clapping, or any other sound as a cue. More Socialization — Make your Lab more comfortable in crowded places. Also, visit friends frequently so that your pooch can become comfortable around strange people. Then, add more twists by taking an object and using the touch command so that the pup touches the target. At this age, a Lab is considered mature enough to respond to some positioning commands as well as verbal instructions. Sit and Stay — Simply use a treat while your pup is in a standing position and move it towards the floor. For teaching this command, hold the treat for some time before feeding after your pooch has sat on the ground. Fetch — A 4-month-old Labrador puppy knows how to get to a target. If the puppy goes to the object and brings it back, a treat is offered. It is recommended to use the favorite toy of your pup as the target. Stand — Take a treat and move it up while the pup is in a sitting position. For this purpose, you can use a recall command with some specific sound for it. Strengthen Earlier Trainings — You should focus on all the previous learning firmly. Spend some quality time with your puppy to make this into a strong relationship. At this age, you can start teaching your dog some advanced commands. Leave it — It is used when the dog is biting down on something and not leaving it. You can also use this command to keep your pooch safe from potential troubles. Once some sort of discipline is implemented, you can remove the treats from the training and use appreciation. Wait — This is used when your dog is running continuously or doing rigorous exercise. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. You should take your puppy outdoors and let him exercise his socialization potential at a young age. Visiting friends and family is one way to go about it. You can also spot a dog park and carry him there. Remember that your pet is still learning to follow directions and walk with you. You cannot expect him to cover long distances. The best way to avoid this is to take them far enough from the house and ensure they have a positive outside experience. It is worth noting that you should do this as often as you can, preferably daily. Start Potty Training It would be best to start potty training your Lab puppy the first day you bring him home. Start by showing your pup where you want him to potty, such as a sectioned-off area of your yard or garden. A good idea is to cordon off a small area and add some bark chippings. Next, you need a potty training schedule such as first thing in the morning, after mealtimes and play, and hourly for young pups. Many owners use dog crates to help with house training. I have a step-by-step guide on Labrador puppy crate training where you can learn tons more. Discourage Biting If you follow my blog, you know I am against punishment-oriented training. If you train your dog young enough to avoid harsh bites, you will not need punishment-driven discipline strategies. In any case, using physical force or yelling at your pup will only instill fear and distrust and can cause aggression in your dog. You can also check out my article, How to Discipline a Labrador , for greater insight into this topic. Instead, you can wait until your Labrador bites during a positive activity and then discontinue it. It will anchor the consequence better. Follow up using positive reinforcement by rewarding the correct behavior with a treat. Your Labrador will quickly learn that displaying good behavior reaps nice things. Puppies need to learn their bite inhibition soft-mouth by continuing the excellent work their mother and siblings taught them. Learn Bite Inhibition Training! Instill Patience You must use your best judgment when training your dog to be patient. Generally speaking, your Labrador will be mature enough to learn self-control by the tenth week. You can use a clicker or a whistle to teach your puppy to assume the natural heel position. Chances are, at first, your Labrador will try to change his pace to be behind you because of the force of habit. Walking in areas familiar to your dog will eliminate this problem. While you previously trained him to assume a heel position, you can also teach him these techniques. You may notice that your puppy can tell your words apart by the thirteenth week. So by the time he is four months old, you can use the position cues and positive reinforcement to get your dog to follow. These included whistling, clapping, or saying a specific word to indicate that your Labrador is doing a good job, typically followed by a well-deserved treat. Now is the time to see whether the anchors work! Where you previously whistled when your Lab ran towards you, now you must whistle, so he begins his run. This is the start of his Labrador recall training. Teaching good recall is an ongoing process. My dog was around 12 months old before seeing a noticeable improvement in her recall. Please avoid forcing the dog, as that only introduces confusion. Build Comfort With Crowds — Work on Socialization You have trained your Labrador to acknowledge close friends and family in the past few weeks. While this enables the puppy to be more social when you have visitors, a grown dog must learn to walk outdoors without acting out. This transition must be gradual, and try to keep experiences positive. Whether it is a cuddle, a pat, attention, or something tasty, you must teach your pup target training , for example, to touch a target with a specific part of his body. Remember that your Lab may end up biting or clawing to communicate if you do not teach him more acceptable communication methods. Here, I recommend teaching your Labrador to touch your hand with his nose. Ultimately, this is an excellent replacement for bites! Hand targeting is fun to teach, helps your pup build trust, and gets him using his brain! You have laid a strong foundation of discipline and positive reinforcement, making it easier to train your dog to follow more complex commands. In these weeks, you will introduce him to assuming different positions, obeying your commands as he moves away from you, and reacting to more nuanced anchors. Remember, 4-month-old Labrador puppies have a short attention span, so avoid long training sessions. Teach the Sit and Stay Teaching your Lab to sit and stay is a useful command for him to learn. Train Your Dog to Fetch If you have taken your Labrador to public parks and he has seen other dogs play fetch, it will be easier to teach him to retrieve whatever you throw. Your Labrador may not bring the toy back to you for a second round, but he will soon get the idea of retrieving it. You can gradually turn it into a game of fetch over the next few weeks and reward your doggo with high-value training treats. Continue Potty Training In the fourth month of Labrador training, you will continue potty training with a degree of independence. Continue with a good schedule and sync your walks with his natural cycle to align with the times he needs to go. You can use it to control your Labrador and later to test his ability to execute a command off-leash. A harness is also a good idea and is used for outdoor training and walks. Many owners will opt for a rear-attaching harness. Related: Harness vs. Collar for Lab Puppy: Which is Best? How to Train a 5-Month-Old Lab Puppy A five-month-old Labrador puppy is ready to be tested for his general obedience and the ability to deal with distractions, whether other dogs, people, or other animals such as squirrels or birds. Earlier, I mentioned that you could not expect an eight-week-old puppy to delay gratification. Your puppy can deal with distractions at five months old if you introduce them slowly. You must be prepared for your dog to run ahead of you now! However, suppose you have developed a solid relationship with your pup and worked on his training. In that case, he will stay within a reasonable distance, remaining by your side and showing loyalty. Once your Lab puppy has reached his 6-month milestone, it also marks the point where you introduce him to advanced obedience training. The good news is that all the training you have previously given will make it easier for your dog to follow your lead. Conclude Potty Training Your dog has had months to learn how to communicate his need to go potty. He has also likely refined the patience to hold it instead of relieving himself on the floor. Therefore, you can communicate your disappointment with your body language if your dog makes a mess. Avoid physical punishment and even verbal chastising as it impacts your dog negatively. All dogs can still have the odd accident up to 12 months old. Moreover, you must be prepared for your dog to relieve himself indoors if he is excited or frightened, known as either excitement or submissive urination. Increase Exercise Now that your Lab puppy is six months old, you can increase his exercise to thirty minutes twice daily. Energy levels, especially for larger breed dogs, escalate during this time. While the average exercise for a pup before this is generally five minutes of exercise per month of age, twice a day, a six-month-old Labrador can be out for one hour if you split his walks into thirty minutes a day. To train your 6-month-old Lab puppy, start with two commands with the most practical use. From six months onwards, until your Labrador is a well-trained adult, you can teach the following commands or tricks in any order. How to Train a 7-Month-Old Labrador As your Lab progresses to seven months old, a lot of the previous training needs to be kept consistent as you gradually teach him to comprehend more commands. Maybe there is a trespasser, and you want your dog to scare them away. You will need to continue training your dog to hold things or release them on command, but you can also proceed to add distance and even more background distractions. Ironically, you need to teach him to bark on command before learning to be silent on cue. Over this month, he will learn to associate the respective commands with barking and silence. This is quite tricky, but your Lab will eventually get there if you practice and stay consistent. The eighth month is ideal for training your Lab to go to different places upon hearing the command word. Either way, do not overload him with place commands, and stick to no more than two per month. Or you can use the ninth month to teach a cool party trick! After a week, you can remove the treat and teach your Lab to follow your finger. Of course, you will still need to reward him after he follows the command. By the third week, you can cue your doggo to spin and see if he does so without your finger guiding him in a circular motion. It might take an extra week or two, but I recommend this as an addition in the ninth month because it allows you to continue training your pet to learn previous commands better. You can teach him to go to different places, hold or release objects, and fetch toys. You can now progress this further and teach him to roll over on command. Your 1-year-old Labrador only learns to comprehend more at the same pace as he has since the 6-month mark. You should also audit previously taught commands and see any weak associations you can reinforce. How to Train an Month-Old Labrador You will not have to alter your training regimen dramatically if you have trained your Labrador properly from eight weeks onward. If anything, this is the period where you customize his training to your convenience. Now is when your dog must learn to be compatible with your life. From the month mark onwards, you must train your dog to be harmonious with modern adult life within reason. It is sad to see dog owners having to give away their pets because of behavior issues. Such things are avoidable if you train your dog correctly and sufficiently exercise him. It would be best if you simply established authority by having a positive yet commanding presence. Once your dog acknowledges your authority and sees you as a guide, you can merely treat him as a six-month-old, albeit on an accelerated schedule, and train him accordingly. Your job becomes even easier once you have a workable training schedule and stick to your routine. This month-by-month Labrador puppy training schedule will help you successfully train your doggo and turn him into the beloved companion you always desired. Good luck with your training! Related Posts You May Like:. Check Price on Amazon 6. Make Commands Only Once When it comes to training, what you give is what you get. This is known as command nagging. Teach your pup to heed a command at its first mention. If an order is not executed the first time, show your Lab what you want them to do and make the command again. Repeat that until they learn to obey the first time the command is made. Discipline at the Precise Moment of the Unwanted Behavior Timing is crucial when disciplining your 8-week-old Labrador pup. Dogs will typically forget an experience in 2 minutes. However, they can recall your training commands through associative memory. Once your pup has corrected his unwanted behavior with the desired behavior, reward him with a tasty treat and lots of praise. To learn more about how to discipline your dog, check out my top article, How to Discipline a Labrador: What Not to Do! It can also cause aggression in dogs , as found in this year-long study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania. Using physical punishment such as hitting, kicking, or grabbing the jowls and shaking, is simply animal abuse. Other unacceptable methods are physically forcing the dog down onto its side or back, growling at your dog, withdrawing food, using a shock collar, or tying it for hours. Wean Your Puppy off Training Treats Your Labrador needs to learn that skills and commands are not learned or obeyed for the sole motive of a treat. For this reason, it is important to wean your puppy off treats when he has repeatedly performed the behavior and completely mastered it in different locations and with various distractions. Nonetheless, your Labrador puppy is still a dog in training, and you still need to tell him that he has done the right thing. The rule of thumb is that they are trained young when it comes to dog training. You should train Labrador puppies as soon as you bring them home, typically around 8 weeks of age. The American Kennel Club AKC indicates that the first key milestone when training a Lab pup is 8 weeks, as soon as they have left their mother. It is a crucial time to lay the foundation for your Labrador puppy to integrate into the family. When you bring your Labrador Retriever puppy home at two months, it has most likely interacted with a few situations and is eager enough to learn and follow the rules of a new home. A recent study scientifically proved that 8-week-old puppies are quite capable of learning at this young age as they quickly learned to open a puzzle box baited with food and remembered the skill an hour later. Interestingly, these puppies learned the skill better from a human rather than their mother. Other studies have also proven that it is effective for future behavior to teach puppies socialization and other skills rather than adults. In this study, puppies who attended a command and socialization training class for one hour a day for six months responded better to strangers than adult dogs who attended the same classes. Are Lab Puppies Easy to Train? Lab puppies are easy to train. They are a working breed that enjoys physical and mental stimulation and have many positive traits. They are intelligent, devoted, friendly, highly social, and love to please. They are often used as guide dogs, therapy dogs, or search and rescue due to their easy trainability. Apart from the age factor, other breed-specific reasons make training a Labrador puppy easy. Here are three examples: Labradors are among the most intelligent dog breeds. In his book, The Intelligence of Dogs, canine psychologist Stanley Coren lists Labradors in the top tier of the smartest dogs. So, even at just two months, your puppy has it in his blood to learn and carry out commands. To perform their original working job of retrieving fish that came off the trawl, Labradors had to be watchful and enthusiastic. These are essential learning characteristics. As game and waterfowl retrievers for hunters, Labradors have to be obedient. Another core training requirement makes your Lab puppy easy to train. With these ten principles on exactly how to train an 8-week-old Labrador, you can now apply them to the key areas your young puppy needs to be trained in. Labrador Puppy Training: Key Areas There are five critical areas in which you must appropriately train your 8-week-old Lab puppy. In the next section, I will tell you what the training entails. How to Socialize a Labrador They say humans are social beings, but that is also true about dogs. Socialization begins with the breeder and continues with you. To socialize a Labrador, expose him to many different places and situations. Include sounds, smells, other adults, children, animals, cars, objects, etc. Dogs who are well socialized in the first 12 weeks will be set up for life. Socializing and training your puppy young plays a significant role in the development of adult dogs, as evidenced in this important study. Here are two key findings: Dogs that are well socialized as pups will behave more positively with humans and are less likely to display unwanted behavioral problems such as fear and aggression. Socialized dogs are more likely to engage in positive social behaviors with humans. They also learn better how to play games with humans, helping them establish a true bond with their owners. As a puppy, you can teach your Labrador social skills and confidence through intentional training moments in the family. Once he has completed his vaccinations, take him to public places such as parks or puppy socialization classes. Put him outside hourly and learn to anticipate when he needs to go. Reward and praise him when he does go outside. Usually, puppies will need to relieve themselves early in the morning and after meals. Use their natural rhythm for daily pee or poop walks. Dogs hate messing in the area they sleep in and usually hold it. Nonetheless, very young puppies might be unable to do so. Walk your Labrador after his morning meal and hang around for 15 minutes or so to allow him to do his thing. Repeat the same in the evening. Puppies will need to be allowed to relieve themselves every hour, and for vaccinated dogs, a short walk every hours is an ideal routine to prevent them from peeing around the house. If you crate your puppy because you need to go out, get someone to help you stick to the routine. Repeating this routine for the first few days will give your new furry friend a good idea of his expectations. Check out my guide to Labrador potty training here. To crate train an 8-week-old Labrador puppy, start as soon as you bring him home. Slowly introduce him to the crate by throwing a treat inside and let him explore the crate voluntarily. When you first leave him with the door closed, make sure he is tired as he will sleep and not be afraid. Check out my Best Dog Crates for Labradors and Playpens recommendations, including soft crates, travel crates, and furniture styles. Here are six key things you should practice when crate-training your Labrador: Keep your puppy in the crate at night. Initiate crate training from the very first day you bring your puppy home. It will be harder to succeed in crate training if your puppy gets used to other sleeping arrangements. My puppy cried during the first night, but she was just fine after that. Lab puppies can be left alone in a crate for 1 hour for each month of age for up to 4 hours. Keep your dog in the crate when you are out of the house. This is also for his safety, such as when you are cooking. Do not let your Lab out of the cage when barking or giving you those puppy eyes. Instead, reward good behavior in the crate, i. He will quickly learn that being quiet leads to nice things. He will quickly learn that this special place is just for him. Various toys and bedding will offer some comfort for your Labrador. When purchasing a crate for your puppy, the best ones will give your Lab enough room to stand, sit, turn, and lie down comfortably on his side with paws outstretched. Instead, buy a crate with an adjustable divider that allows him to grow into and choose a standard metal model with either a single or double door. Travel kennels like this Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel , also from Amazon, are also hardy when you are on the move with your dog. This one is even airline adaptable and meets most airline cargo specifications. Older dogs may refrain from biting because they have been trained not to hurt as they have learned their bite inhibition. This simply means that the dog has learned to control the strength of his bite. This sends the message that the bite hurts. Persist by leaving your hand in his mouth until he lets go, then use lots of praise. All puppies need to master this technique that they initially learned from their mother and littermates. Learn Bite Inhibition Training! Training your Lab puppy to soft bite must be done in puppyhood as an adolescent dog will not know how to adjust the force of his jaws when he has adult teeth and adult jaw muscles. This can be devastating for you both, should your Labrador go on to bite someone! Have realistic expectations — as it can take your puppy weeks to learn his soft bite. How to Train a Labrador Puppy to Walk on a Leash Walking on a leash is not a natural skill in dogs — they need to learn it! Teach a leash cue, then introduce the pup to very short walks. If the dog pulls, stand fast and wait for him to return to you before continuing. Do this by letting him wear them for short periods inside the house and yard. I find the best no-pull harness to be those that are not rear-attached, such as the Walk Your Dog With Love harness. They give you more control and are ideal for medium-large breeds. Give a treat when the command is obeyed. Introduce your Lab to short walks outside on a leash. When it appears he is about to lunge toward another dog or object, quickly distract him with a treat. Timing is crucial. Reward him every time commands are obeyed and gradually reduce the rewards as the art of leash walking is perfected. You can start steps 1 and 2 when the puppy is young, but you can only commence step 3 once the dog has been vaccinated. Final Thoughts Eight weeks old is the perfect time to train a Labrador puppy in key areas such as socialization, crate training, potty training, not biting, and leash training. To successfully train your Lab puppy in these areas, you must follow good training principles such as using reward-based training, being consistent in your commands, and disciplining at the precise moment of poor behavior. Begin with basic commands before introducing more complex or trick commands. Related Posts You May Like:. Puppy training development after 6 months It is very tempting to get carried away with puppy training. Your young do is so willing to please and such fun to be around. It is important to go at a happy pace for you both. Positive reinforcement training is the right choice for your puppy because there are no negative consequences to getting something wrong. But you can still both suffer from burnout and frustration if you try to reach the later puppy training stages without totally aceing the earlier developments. Your Puppy Training Schedule This may not be exactly the same for each puppy, especially with retrieving which is more Labrador specific. However, it gives you a rough idea. Constantly changing direction. Stopping frequently for cuddles and rewards. This means I blow the recall whistle whenever the puppy runs towards me, no compulsion, and no whistle unless the recall is already underway. Socialisation: Lots almost daily of outings to different places rural and urban carried Visits to family and friends. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow mouthing. Working with food: Learning how to take food gently without snatching or grabbing at the treat pot. I still give the puppy lots of encouragement by running away as soon as I blow the whistle. Socialisation: More socialisation, at least twice a week to busy public places. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow gentle mouthing. Retrieving: Encourage chase and pick up retrieve drive. Hand touch: I teach all new puppies to touch my hand with their noses. This is a great foundation for other skills. Recall: Puppy recall continues, reduce my run to a walk, avoid any distractions. Still frequently blow the recall whenever the pup runs towards me of her own free will. Socialisation: From ground level after vaccination. No other leash walking at all Bite inhibition: No biting, gentle mouthing allowed. Retrieving: Continue to build drive. Positions: I introduce three positions — sit, stand, down. What to expect from your 3 month old puppy Most three month old puppies will be sleeping through the night. And will be having less potty training accidents in the house. There are a few potty training problems that arise at this age, and they are all covered in 15 potty training problems solved. Biting is a big shock and a big problem for many new Lab puppy parents so do check out our complete guide to biting , and join the forum for help and support. Help encourage your puppy to stay in their bed while you are eating. I have a pot of dog treats on our kitchen table, and whenever we sit down to a meal, the puppy gets a treat each time she steps into her basket. Just a treat for stepping in there. What to expect from your 4 month old puppy Your 4 month old puppy will be pretty much potty trained, but accidents still happen if they are left alone too long. Biting is usually starting to subside now, and many four month old puppies will be able to mouth at your hand without hurting you. At this point I start to discourage all mouthing. I teach every puppy to let me touch her face or approach her with my hand, food, a leash etc while holding eye contact and not grabbing at me, or at what is in my hand. This is the age at which people often start to push forward with training. Your 4 month old puppy is capable of quite a lot. There is nothing wrong with teaching your puppy different cues and even some tricks. I recommend you still avoid long duration activities at this point as they are a common stumbling point with puppies young enough to have a short attention span. A ten second sit is ample. Add mild distractions Recall: Fade additional cues. Begin to whistle the pup and stand still. Add mild distractions. Clicker train to polish this in more mouthy puppies. No commands are needed for this. Gradual introduction of distractions. Advanced puppy training begins in earnest This is where I start a programme of sporting training with my Labs. You can begin raising your standards and expectations, asking for longer and more complex behaviors. Teaching your puppy to walk to heel nicely for longer distance and past all kinds of distractions and temptations. Or teaching your puppy to sit and stay for longer periods of time, and even while you go out of sight or while other dogs play nearby. What to expect from your six month old puppy Six months is a common time for people to have a lot of questions and to be struggling with a few challenges. This is now a very bouncy, quite powerful and rapidly maturing young dog. And you may need to patch up a few holes in his training or manners. We have a great article for owners of six month old Lab puppies. Print The dreaded 3-month-old puppy I really enjoy young puppies. Seven- to week-old puppies can be so much fun and while they can be trouble, it is easy to contain them. But when a puppy turns weeks-old…. Three-month-old puppies start feeling good about themselves. They think they have the world all figured out and they will get into everything and run circles around you, even after being scolded or punished. Here is what you need to know about training your week-old Labrador puppy. About this series of posts This is post five of a step-by-step training and socialization program for Labrador puppies. If you read our first post , you know that this series follows our training of Bubba, a female chocolate lab puppy. Bubba is already sold as one of our Custom Trained Retrievers, so it is our responsibility to raise and train her until she has progressed to the level of training the owner has requested. In this case, Bubba will be with us for almost a year and a half. Bubba at 12 weeks old Training and socialization for week-old Labrador puppy — week five home Bubba should have been named Spunky because she is a handful. She runs around our home with her head and tail high, like she is all that. She pulls our shoes out of the organizer, chews on closet doors and digs and splashes in her water dish. So is the life of a 3-month-old Lab puppy. Patience is required to raise young lab pups. They will give you a run for the money. Even the well-behaved ones. No one escapes the terror of the 3-month-old Lab. So, how can you survive this time. Firm and well-defined boundaries that are enforced endlessly. Now is not the time to give up on training your puppy. It is the time to buckle down and show your puppy that there are rules and boundaries, and they must be obeyed. You puppy can and will learn the rules if you are firm and consistent in your corrections. Whatever you do, do not allow the puppy to do whatever it wants with no corrections. That is not being a good puppy mama or dad and it is really not fair to the dog, because training will require much more pressure and correction when the dog is bigger and stronger. Here are the things we worked on this week for training of Bubba. Crate training Bubba is now completely at home in her crate. She remains in her crate a full 4-hours at a time without accidents, is quiet while in there and walks into her crate on a KENNEL command from feet in front of the crate. Bubba will come to me when called, even when she knows that she is going into the crate. While there are still some consistency issues to work on, Bubba is well crate trained at this point. Looking for more information on crate training? Housebreaking Housebreaking is such a difficult job. You will have periods when the puppy is doing so well that you will think you are done. And then, when you least expect it, your puppy will have an accident right in front of you. Bubba has been good at housebreaking. She has had less than a half-dozen accidents in the house and all of them pee accidents. She has never pooped in the house. So, we thought she was pretty much house broke. Then suddenly, she just up and peed right on the dog bed. Housebreaking is always an ongoing process, and we know that over time the accidents will become less and less. Looking for more information on housebreaking? Obedience training your week-old puppy With any dog training, obedience is key! She will SIT on command about 90 percent of the time. The only time we really have issues is when there is a lot of distractions. That is normal for a puppy of her age, but that does not mean that we just allow her to be disobedient when there are distractions. Rather, we look for distractions and then train through them. This is very important because you do not want your dog to just be obedient when everything is calm. You want, even need, your puppy to be obedient when the everyday distractions happen. HERE command As I have already stated, twelve-week-old puppies are cute, but they can also be little terrors. This is the age when they start to get very independent. With that independence comes the desire to run away from you, run around you, play keep-a-way and just generally terrorize your life. We get lots of calls from owners of puppies this age. They all want to know if we can take their dog now for training instead of at the usual months of age that we usually require for hunting dog training. This is very hard, even for professional trainers. But that is almost always a mistake since Bubba will decide to make a game out of not coming to us. Getting your puppy to come to you There are some techniques to help with this matter. Sometimes this is a good time to start treat-training your dog on HERE. This is a short-term fix that we will not continue for long, but it can sometimes help to get us through the next month or two. Labs are almost always driven by food, so it can help you get a better response to the HERE command. You can also have the dog drag a long check cord. The check cord gives you something to grab onto if the dog tries to make a game of coming to you, but you must be careful since the lead can get caught on something and injure your dog. Remember that each time you say HERE, you need to pull your puppy towards you. You need to associate the HERE command with coming towards you. You need your puppy to understand that coming to you is a good thing. That is why treats can help with this. If every time your puppy comes to you, you put her away or take something away from her, soon your puppy will not want to come to you. You must work hard to make coming to you a good experience for your puppy. Last week we introduced Bubba to water and got her swimming. Since then, she has been swimming a couple more times and she is very comfortable retrieving in the water. We also introduced her to decoys on land. Introduction to live birds This week we introduced Bubba to a live bird. We do this using a pigeon with the flight feathers pulled out. The pigeon can walk around and flap its wings, but it cannot fly. We ultimately would love to see the puppy chase down the bird, grab it in their mouth and bring it to us or at least prance around with it a bit. For some dogs, this can take a bit of encouragement the first time. But generally, once the puppy grabs hold of the bird, we see their whole demeanor change. This was the case for Bubba. Once Bubba picked up the pigeon, she pranced around the yard with her tail high and a spring in her step. She was so excited and proud of herself. This is a great response. Introduction to gun fire As I stated in last weeks post, we do not want to rush the introduction to gunfire. We have never had a dog we have raised and trained become gun shy and that is because we introduce gunfire is a very slow and painfully methodical way. The first step is that the dog or puppy is in a box on our dog trailer. While in this box, our other dogs are getting marks in the field. The gunners for these marks are anywhere from yards away from the dog trailer and they are using primers or starter pistols. The puppy is hearing these shots, but they are a long way away and are muted by being in the dog trailer. Our puppies hear these shots for weeks, or months before they ever hear anything closer. This is our first introduction to gun fire. Bubba was exposed to this last week and will be every week for a while before we move anything closer to her. Learn more about introducing your dog to gunfire. Continuation of assistant marks Bubba will continue to get assistant marks most days from now until she is done her training. The marks will continue to increase in distance and complexity but all our marking scenarios for our afternoon sessions involved gunners out in the field throwing marks for Bubba. Final thoughts on training for your week-old Labrador puppy You are really in the thick of it if your puppy is around the week mark. The next month or two will likely be the most challenging of your time raising a Labrador puppy. That will make obedience training easier and faster, but that is still a bit of a ways out. Hang in there and push through. Keep your commands and corrections firm and consistent and you will make progress with your puppy. If you are struggling or need additional help with your new puppy, 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. Training your week-old Labrador puppy?

We strive to provide families with their ideal 4 legged companion for life. We have a history of producing family friendly Goldens with willing and outgoing attitudes. Golden Retrievers often do well in agility, rally, obedience, hunting and service. Every Golden Retriever puppy is evaluated for personality and temperament from the time they are whelped. Our focus is on finding the right combination for each individual family's needs. All of our puppies are well socialized and have had exposure to many different sights, scents, sounds and surroundings before heading off to their forever home. We encourage everyone to stay in touch and let us know if they have any questions during the raising of their Golden Retriever puppy, as well as after their puppy is grown. We will provide you with complete and accurate information on getting started with your new family member, as well as an AKC new puppy packet with all the needed information such as traveling tips, grooming and of course, the basics on training. No need to worry about the process of registering your puppy, we gladly do it for you. All you need to do is come up with a name and we will take care of the rest. You and your puppy will be off to a great start. We are now offering additional services to our puppy families. We believe that a healthy puppy, starts with good nutrition. We feed top quality, holistic dog foods and treats that are sure to please. We offer these items to our puppy families at a reduced price. We want all of our 4 legged friends to get the best of the best. Most of our puppies are sold to pet family homes. This means they are sold with a limited registration and are not intended for breeding. In rare occasions, we will sell a puppy to a show or competition home with an unlimited registration, for an additional fee as well as additional contract requirements. The last litter in , was evaluated for their ability to work as service dogs, 3 of the 9 puppies qualified. We have placed one of them in a wheel chair home and another as a diabetic alert dog. These puppies have bright futures ahead of them. We are proud!!! One of which is a companion to an amazing Autistic boy and the other to a family that has been challenged with Muscular Dystrophy. We are excited to hear how they progress and have no doubt, they will be terrific. In , we have had several excellent litters, from athletic field and agility pups to easy going, laid back, family pups. We have also added a new girl to our family. We have high hopes for her. We are now providing additional training and boarding option as well as one on one help for our families and their pups. In and , we were hard at work in the confirmation ring with Nina. Nina is now a Champion and producing beautiful, intelligent and loving pups. We are not only offering training and boarding for our puppy families, we also have a wide variety of products available to keep your pooch happy and healthy. In , we were blessed to add Theo to our family. Theo was born with a cleft palate but with love, a lot of work and commitment as well as faith in what we do, he is well on his way to becoming a hospital therapy dog for children. He is a loving guy with a goofy temperament and zest for life. I couldn't imagine not having him here with me. Unfortunately, in , my oldest and 1st Golden girl Bailey was diagnosed with a tumor on her heart. She fought a good fight and continued to brighten our lives daily. We sadly said farewell to her in August, shortly after her 16th birthday. It is now a blessing that we have recently bred Bailey's great granddaughter, Greta and are hoping to continue this line of most amazing family members. Now we have arrived at , We have some beautiful new additions to our kennel. We have several girls that will be entering the show ring and a new boy in our group. I am thrilled at the temperament and looks of these dogs. I am excited to share more information as the year progresses. It was a crazy year, we were all caught off guard by Covid .Started a home renovation that went a bit sideways and evacuated for almost 2 weeks during the September fires. We made it through the year, produced some beautiful puppies and celebrated many fur kids birthdays. Hello !! Lost power for 12 days during the February freeze. Hoping we get to do some dogs shows, camping and finish some kennel updates. We have some new additions to our fur family and have celebrated Brody's 14th birthday! So far so good. Well now, is more than half way over and we are just getting caught up with some past due projects. We have some beautiful dogs in our breeding program and are looking forward to the future. Brody has just celebrated his 15th birthday in May and is going strong. His great, great grandaughter Astrid will hopefully be joining our breeding program in Januarey .Lots of great things in the future for our family of fur kids. In this kit you will receive all the basics you will need to get off to a great start with you forever friend. We will include a collapsible wire crate, crate bed, waste clean-up bags, toys, collar, lead, chew bones, treats, brushes, comb. You can customize your kit to your liking by choosing from a variety of colors and styles. All you have to do is pick out what you like when you choose your puppy and it will be here ready to go when you take your forever friend home. Share 0 Shares Everyone knows what a Golden Retriever is and how adorable they are! They are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the USA and are known to be loyal, loving, caring, and just a bundle of joy! Besides the obvious golden color of a Golden Retriever, they also come in dark golden, cream, and lightly golden. They are full of energy and make the best companions especially if you love the outdoors. Since they are Retrievers, naturally they love the water so bring them to lakes and oceans for a nice swim! To bring home the perfect Golden Retrieve means that you need the perfect breeder. It is important to find a breeder who focuses on the health, longevity, and temperament of their dogs. The Golden Retriever puppies should also be well socialized before going to their forever home and be screened for genetic hereditary problems including hip and elbow problems. Make sure their Goldens are also AKC registered as well! The Goldens are AKC registered, and they raise their Goldens like they are part of their family and want you to have the best companion and friend forever. They are well-loved in the Oregon community and have 5-star ratings on Facebook and on Google! Everyone loves Mike and his wife and they care deeply about the quality of life they give their dogs and pups. They are always available to help you and answer any questions you have and are known to be honest and knowledgeable. Name of Owner. It is the Scappoose post office. We had to change our address on google as people would just show up and want to buy a puppy. This is not haw we home our puppies and we don't always have puppies available. About us We have a love for this breed that runs deep. Our goal is to breed Golden Retrievers free of major genetic health Issues, as well as promoting responsible dog ownership. While maintaining the integrity of the Golden Retriever breed. We primarily breed goldens as wonderful members of your Family as well as Show dogs, Hunting dogs, service and therapy dog. We are dedicated to loving and producing Golden Retrievers with good genetic health, as well as that wonderful golden temperament. A Golden Retriever will quickly become a wonderful hunting partner and an adored member of your family. You owe it to yourselves to find the best possible Golden that you can. A Whiskey Creek Golden Retriever has been carefully bred from sound animals to bring you many years of hunting and family enjoyment and loving companionship. Bringing home a Golden Retriever is a decision that should not be made without careful consideration of the traits and habits of this wonderful breed. Golden youngsters are mouthy and need to be properly trained and raised to insure you can provide for their mental and physical health and well being. All prospective clients are welcome to come visit and meet our dogs. By Appointment only and only if I do not have puppies on the ground that are not fully vaccinated. All email or phone inquiries regarding or the occasional availability of an adult dog are welcome. I will reply to all. Theft of any content or photos from this sight without written permission will be prosecuted. All right reserved

Temperament: Alert, protective and reliable. However, you will certainly get a tall dog with a very muscular build. To see one standing on the front porch and guarding its home is quite a sight. They have a large, broad muzzle and very strong jawbones. Their eyes are dark and its floppy ears can stand erect or fold over at the tips. Height and Weight Both male and females stand between inches tall however, females are usually a bit shorter. Females will weigh between pounds, will males weighing up to 95 pounds. Breed Colors and Coat Brown is the typical base fur color for this breed — it can be anything from chocolate brown to a light tan. Black can appear in large patches or as a mask over their face and muzzle. In some cases, you may see white or light grey patches. If they inherit a coat from the German Shepherd parent it will be a short, fluffy double coat. Whereas a coat from a Boxer will be smooth and closely cropped to the skin. Mixes will a double coat will shed moderately and those with single coats even less. They will need to be brushed once a week and daily during shedding season. Both parent breeds are commonly employed in this type of work. What makes the Boxer Shepherd so unique is its mischievous, playful attitude in addition to being a hard worker. Both German Shepherds and Boxers have an unfair reputation for being aggressive. In reality, a well trained Shepherd, Boxer, or mix is extremely even tempered and friendly. The Boxer is the 11th most popular dog breed in the United States, as of .The German Shepherd is the 2nd most popular breed. You can expect them to be a bit of a goofball as well as a loyal guard dog. These dogs are not aggressive by nature, but they will bite if they are provoked. Your relationship with them should be one of mutual respect and understanding. You need to keep in mind that working dogs always want something to do and will have high energy levels — so you will need to keep them as active as possible throughout the day. A well trained dog will be very quiet and only bark when something is wrong. However it will take time to train a puppy out of their natural suspicion of strangers. Expect a bit of barking here and there as your puppy learns who they can and cannot trust. Since these pups are so suspicious of other people, early socialization is a must. Even socialized puppies will remain distant to people outside of their home. Finally, you should know that this dog does not like to be left alone — so you should find a good dog sitter if you are away from home often. A German Shepherd Boxer Mix makes a great family dog for the right type of family. Apartments and urban areas do not make the best home for one. Your dog will need their own outdoor space to let out all of their energy. If you have ever owned a German Shepherd or a Boxer, a mix will not be too much more difficult to manage. Keeping this pup active and entertained is the biggest challenge for the breed. They are not for owners with inactive lifestyles. Exercise Requirements This very active dog will want to be on its feet for most of the day. If you are a born outdoorsman, your furry friend will be eager to join you on all of your adventures. They need at least 90 minutes of exercise each day. This could be with a 30 minute walk and then an hour of play. Your dog will be up for just about anything, but running is their very favorite thing to do. Try a game of tag with your pooch, or a game of hide and seek. You can also cater to their love of agility with an exciting backyard hurdle course. If you live on a farm then they will help you tend your livestock just like their Shepherd ancestors would do. Number of Walks Per Day: .Grooming and Shedding Their short coat makes grooming fairly easy. Once a week brushing is fine for most of the year, but you will have to brush them daily during these shedding seasons. As tempting as it may be to stick a dirty dog right in the tub, you should only bathe them once every 3 months. Too much bathing will wash out the oils in their skin. Also, make sure to get between those big floppy ears. Feeding and Diet When you have an energetic dog it is important to fuel their day the right way. This breed will do well with a raw or whole meat diet. Protein should make up most of their diet. Carbs and fats should be derived from natural sources such as fruits and veggies. The fillers in many commercial dog foods are nothing but empty calories. It is very common for large dogs and causes pain and impaired mobility. Physical therapy and pain medication can treat mild to moderate cases of hip dysplasia, while surgery may be needed for more severe cases. EPI is a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment and dogs with EPI must be given enzyme supplements. With little planning ahead you could get reimbursed for every vet bill from now on! As always, you should meet the puppy before deciding whether to buy, and a reputable breeder will let you meet the parents and, potentially, any siblings. Familial traits can be passed from one dog to the next, although individual attributes are more important than breed attributes. Finding a Boxer Shepherd at a dog shelter might take some patience, but you can always ask for other mixed dog breeds that resemble the Boxer Shepherd. They were used as war dogs thanks to their power and bravery. Today, the most common breed of dog for use in explosives detection is the German Shepherd, which is also used as police dogs and service dogs, because they are known for being one of the easiest dogs to train. Boxers Are Great with Kids Boxers have a somewhat unfair reputation for being fighting dogs. They are lovers rather than fighters. Boxers are family orientated and they make especially good pets for children. They are patient and gentle with children, despite being headstrong and boisterous at other times. Boxer Shepherd Mixes tend to take on this attribute, so they are incredibly loving, but they do demand love in return. It was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club back in and even has its own motto — Utility and Intelligence. It was given the motto by breed champion Captain Max von Stephanitz. Stephanitz is widely credited with having introduced the modern German Shepherd breed and was responsible for setting the standards for the breed. Utility and intelligence are arguably the two words that best describe this heroic breed and the attributes that make it popular in a host of service roles. The German Shepherd is used as a guard dog, service dog, police dog, and in a range of other service roles. It is easy to train and can learn new commands quickly and easily. While the Boxer is said to share similar attributes, he can come across as being accident-prone and a bit dim. With constant training, the possibilities with this breed are almost endless. The German Shepherd can be shy and wary of strangers, which means that some Boxer Shepherds can adopt a similar outlook. Take them to puppy classes, enroll in a dog agility class, and take them down to the park where they can meet other puppies and their owners. Boxers can be a bit silly and your Boxer Shepherd Mix might have fits of boisterousness to contend with. While they will usually calm this activity around children, you might want to clear the decks for a five-minute charge. Are These Dogs Good for Families? They are easy to train, constantly willing to take on new information and commands, and they crave the love and attention of their owners. Although they have adopted some of the rambunctiousness of the Boxer breed, they usually reserve this for when small children are out of the way. The German Shepherd Boxer Mix will require regular walks, at least once a day, but their high level of intelligence means that they will learn games to play with family members of all ages. They can become very close friends with children, and through socialization at an early age, they should be welcoming of new additions to the family. You should monitor activity around your children because the size of this breed means that they still pose a danger even if they are being friendly. They will enjoy spending time at the park playing, and they can also thrive with another dog in the house. This breed can live with cats and other pets, although this is always easier if you can introduce them at a young age, and the size and liveliness of the Boxer Shepherd Mix means that it can be intimidating for smaller animals like cats. They are bright and attentive with a fun and silly side, that can keep all family members entertained for hours on end. Below are some things to consider when you are thinking of adding one to your family. They are likely to be voracious eaters, gobbling up food you put down. The primary food source for the German Shepherd Boxer Mix should be meat protein such as is found in chicken, lamb, or beef. You can also introduce fish oil to aid in keeping a healthy and shiny coat, while carbohydrates and fat give your dog the energy they need to get through the day. They are also strong and intelligent. This combination means that you will benefit by giving your dog regular exercise. You should walk your dog at least once a day, ideally giving him two or more walks. To keep your Boxer Shepherd Mix entertained and switched on, you can enroll in agility classes or take them hiking or climbing with you. Both breeds and the subsequent crossbreed will enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors. Unless they receive appropriate mental stimulation throughout the day, they are more prone to destructive and unwanted behavior. German Shepherds are renowned for their ability to learn. This is why they are chosen as service dogs, and why they can make exceptional pets. Even when you think your dog has learned everything it possibly can, a Boxer Shepherd Mix will surprise you by picking up new habits. Training helps ensure that the habits they do pick up are desirable. With that said, you will need to assert dominance; otherwise, your dog will try to rule the roost. You will have to meet and overcome challenges from the German Shepherd dominant breed. Because they can easily become bored, you will also have to find new and innovative ways to mix up training and continue to provide a mental challenge. Dog agility is a great way to combine flexible training with physical exertion and socializing. Some have a long, German Shepherd style coat, but most tend to get the short coat of their Boxer ancestors. Those with short-haired Boxer Shepherds should only need to brush once a week, but if your cross has inherited the long-hair of the German Shepherd, you will need to groom two or three times a week , especially if your dog is active in fields or, worse still, ponds and lakes. Bathing may be necessary but should only be done when necessary. Brush teeth at least two or three times a week, ideally every day, and wipe their ears clean once a week to prevent ear infections. Boxers are prone to a number of health complaints including cancer, cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism, bloat, and allergies. German Shepherds tend to suffer from bloat, myelopathy, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Both breeds suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia. With that said, there is no guarantee that your dog will suffer from these conditions, but you should keep an eye out for any signs of them developing. Minor Conditions. It is a cross between the Boxer and the German Shepherd. The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses. Full of life and always wanting attention, I never leave her behind. She is very sweet and a great cuddle buddy, but this goes without mentioning her evil side. She has a mind of her own but as long as you speak to her as an equal , she will never leave your side. Very friendly and plays great with other dogs big and small. He also plays great with our three cats. He loves rides in the car and truck. I found her over the internet and fell in love with her picture. I drove 30 miles to go get her. She's had her tail docked.But she still likes to chase her stub even though she can't reach it. I've seen her go after it for awhile though. And when she's excited her whole body shakes. She's a sweet puppy and her best friend is my one year old son. I noticed that Boxer-Shepherds aren't a popular hybrid, but I think I've come across one of the best breeds that will ever have existed. She's in great health. She's 4 years old in this picture. She loves to run around sometimes, but most of the time she lays around. She is .She has another dog friend named Biskit, which they get along okay but do fight lot. Nothing serious though. Your dog should have a healthy weight. Extra weight or being overweight is bad for dogs because this places additional pressure on its spine. Obesity can also lead to some medical conditions that can be fatal for your dog. One of the most common causes of obesity is giving your dog treats. Therefore, you should never give your dog food treats when training your dog. The following dog food brands are perfect for German Shepherd Boxer mix breeds 1. Blue Buffalo There are reasons why more pet owners trust Blue Buffalo. It is made from whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal to keep your dog satiated and to help sustain its energy all day long. Blue Buffalo helps maintain regular digestion. It is available for large breed dogs and small breed dogs. Halo also has low-carb options with ingredients like salmon, turkey, and flaxseeds. Iams Iams is a well-known dog food with a fantastic nutrient profile. The ingredients are naturally made from real meat and whole grains. This brand will help your dog maintain its ideal weight and energy levels. Never give your German Shepherd Boxer the following food. Keep in mind that not all human food is safe. Some dogs may also have allergies so be careful in giving your pet just any kind of food. Salty foods and junk food Alcohol Chicken bones or cooked chicken bones Grapes or raisins Chocolate, coffee, or tea Apart from the unconditional love that your pooch gets from you, you should know how important their nutrition is for their happy life. Your hairy friend is a descendant of two gorgeous parents, who can sometimes differ a lot from one another. This means that your pooch can develop a propensity for various food types and you can experiment with best dry dog food for small dogs or best large breed dry dog food , too. If you want to see your puppy strong, happy, and healthy, consider some of the best puppy food brands , while senior dog owners have the best senior dry dog food on their menu. Just make sure to consult with your vet first! You need to spend enough time daily to exercise and play with your dog; otherwise, it can become bored and develop destructive behavior. A tired dog is a good dog, so they say, and the only way to tire this dog is to give it a good run and to play active games. Activities, like running, jogging, swimming, Frisbee and fetch, are perfect for this breed. Playing with your dog is not just a way to exercise your dog but will also help you develop a strong bond with your pet. As much as possible play with your dog daily. Invest in durable toys for your dog. And most of all, this dental chew toy will make his breath smell better and protect his teeth. Baily is soft and cuddly and is also washable. The Chuckit! These are easy to clean too if only you can take this toy away from your dog! Training this mixed breed is easy, but you need to do it right. Here are a few tricks that you can use to train your dog. Offer Positive ReinforcementAvoid food treats. Provide positive reinforcement to support proper behavior. The moment it arrives home, teach it simple house rules. Show your dog where this will sleep and where it will find its food and water bowl. Be patient, and your puppy will surely understand where everything is at. One way is to use the clicker method. The clicker is a small device that gives an audible click, something that your dog will love to hear. The point of the clicker is to give a click if your dog follows your command. You can use the clicker for any trick. Just click the clicker after your dog follows your command and then click this again when you want your pet to repeat the behavior. Clickers are available in most pet stores. Avoid Confusing Your Dog Dogs can be easily distracted. Just a loud noise or strangers can distract them from learning new tricks. So at an early age, train your pup in a quiet environment with no distractions. Avoid confusing your dog at this stage so he can learn tricks fast. Start training your dog indoors and gradually introduce him to the outdoors. You will know that he is ready for outdoor training once he is less distracted to noise and other pets and people. A Boxer German Shepherd dog can be trained to become service dogs and guard dogs. You can ask a professional to train your dog so he can learn obedience training, protection training, attack training and so on. One, this dog will love to be with their masters and will do everything they can to please them. Next, this dog will defend his territory and will guard his family with his life. This dog will also be patient with other dogs and other pets at home. The Boxer German Shepherd should be allowed to socialize with other dogs and people as early as possible. If this is not done, the dog can develop anti-social behaviors and may become aggressive with people or other dogs. Your German Shepherd Boxer pup will grow up to be a well-behaved, loving, happy and healthy dog when you train it early and expose it to people and other animals in your home or community. Male and female Boxer Shepherds are usually around the same size and weight, although the females tend to be slightly shorter. You can expect the following: Males: 23 to 27 inches tall and up to 95 pounds Females: 21 to 25 inches tall and up to 75 pounds How to Feed a German Shepherd Boxer Mix Energetic dogs tend to eat more, and the same is true for the Boxer Shepherd mix. You can expect to feed them two or three times a day. The goal is to end up at 1, calories per day. These calories should be made up of raw or all-natural meat protein. They require some carbohydrates, too, which can be consumed in the form of fruits and veggies. Stay away from commercial dog foods that do not utilize real ingredients. These are empty calories that will not help your German Shepherd Boxer mix grow and remain healthy. The grooming requirements for a German Shepherd Boxer solely depends on what type of coat he inherits. Follow these general guidelines: If your dog has a short, thick coat from the Boxer parent, brushing one weekly is enough to keep the coat healthy. Bathing should take place every two to three weeks. Your Boxer Shepherd should also have his teeth brushed regularly and nails clipped. They are incredibly obedient and take commands well. With their high intelligence, they learn swiftly. However, the drawback to this mixed breed is that they also do not like being dominated. So how can you make sure you train your Boxer Shepherd successfully? Well, mutual respect is vital. Clickers tend to work really well with this mixed dog breed, too. Aside from training, socialization is necessary for this dog breed. Otherwise, they may end up feisty and aggressive. Start socializing your pup around people of all ages at a young age. Socialization classes are a great way to go. If you are struggling with training your Boxer Shepherd, the best thing to do is to have your dog professionally trained. You will need to be there for the classes so the trainer can show you how to be assertive without being dominant with your German Shepherd Boxer mix. The Boxer Shepherd is known for being a very active dog, as both parents are known for their high energy levels. As far as exercise needs are concerned, these mixed canines need at least one long walk per day, although two or more is ideal. They also require a large yard where they can run and play throughout the day. Provide them with stimulating toys and jobs to do, too, as these intelligent canines need plenty of stimulation to avoid destruction and mayhem. Boxer Shepherd Health One of the many great things about the German Shepherd Boxer mix is that they are relatively healthy. However, there are a few health issues that this breed may have, including: Hip dysplasia.

Like many large breeds, a German Shepherd dog is not considered fully grown until they are about 18 months old. Female German Shepherds continue to fill out until they are around two years old, while the male German Shepherd growth rate continues until they reach two and a half years of age. Males are larger and require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen. As you can see by the German Shepherd weight chart, these dogs can continue to grow until they are three years old, but the majority of growth occurs within 24 months. If your GSD is older than 36 months and continues to put on weight, contact your veterinarian to ensure weight gain does not lead to obesity. How big should a 6-month-old German Shepherd be? A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will be quite large, as many German Shepherds undergo massive growth spurts between two and five months old. By six months, a male German Shepherd will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female will weigh about 46 pounds. How much bigger will my German Shepherd get? There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get. First, check your puppy's age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog and means your pup is likely still growing! Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. What is the size of a full-grown German shepherd? An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard. The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds. Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get. Some dogs will be both smaller and larger than these weight ranges when fully grown due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Helping your dog maintain an optimal weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. Compare German Shepherd health insurance plans before they get sick or injured. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars. Dog insurance is a wise investment that can give you peace of mind by covering pet emergency expenses. Wellness plans are also available to help cover the cost of vaccinations, vet exams, microchips, and more. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Get Peace of Mind Today Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. What are these milestones, and when can you expect them to meet them? We break it all down here, so you know exactly what to expect each step of the way. When you adopt a German Shepherd puppy, it can seem like they just keep growing. A fully grown German Shepherd will stand between 22 and 24 inches tall and weigh anywhere between 50 and 90 pounds. This manifests itself in many ways, but the most notable factor is their energy level. Puppies tend to have far more energy and be a little clumsier than fully mature dogs. German Shepherds leave their first puppy stage at around the 6-month mark, when they reach adolescence. When a dog reaches sexual maturity varies drastically depending on their sex. Male dogs tend to reach sexual maturity anywhere from 6 to 9 months, while female dogs tend to wait until adulthood. If you want to neuter a dog, you have a much smaller window to prevent puppies than with females. Their adult teeth are much larger and less sharp than their puppy teeth. Image Credit: aleksandra85foto, Pixabay Final Thoughts With so many age ranges that your German Shepherd can mature in various ways, it can be hard to keep track of everything. Related German Shepherd Reads:. Is it by 10 months or by 1 year old. I am no expert in any way, but I can tell you my 6 months puppy is still a baby face and my 10 month female is adult face already, maybe since a month or little less. It may be different from one dog to another, maybe different from one line to another. For example, there is a nice black pup in my club, and when he hit around 8 months old, all the sudden his head was very mature looking, but my current male didn't have a mature head until he was around 2 I think. Just like human boys and girls, and any other living being I suppose, the maturity rate varies with each individual. In our club there is a 9 month old that looks mature, and we have an 11 month old that is still very much like a puppy. My one male always looked very "mature", even at a young age, but Ash was long and lanky and had the puppy uglies until ovr 2 years of age. Exactly what training advise have I given to anyone that you take issue with? So I was wondering when he will stop growing in size and mature his front look. From Shtal:.

Initially when a male puppy is born, their testicles are inside their body. However, the testicles need to be kept in a cooler environment so need to descend from within the body to be outside in the scrotum of the dog. Temperature of testicles needs to be lower than the body temperature to optimise sperm production. Having testicles remain inside the body, called cryptorchidism, can increase chances of certain cancers too. When should they drop? This is why your veterinary surgeon or registered veterinary nurses will usually have a feel of this area in your puppy when they come in for their health check and vaccinations. The process of their testicles descending can take a little longer in some dogs. But in dogs like many mammals including humans , the testicles are normally in the scrotum long before puberty begins. What happens when dogs are sexually mature? Some people want to neuter their dogs when their testicles have descended. Decisions regarding the age of neutering are often based on the age at which the dog is estimated to reach sexual maturity. It is understood that male dogs may reach puberty between 6 months and 2 years quite the range of age. However sexual and skeletal maturity varies from dog to dog depending on their breed. Small breeds grow quicker and reach their adult size much quicker than large and giant breeds who continue to grow for up to 1. We like to wait for dogs to reach maturity first because exposure to gonadal reproductive hormones is necessary for the healthy maturation of a muscular-skeletal system; we want them to be fully mature in their body before we do anything. One reason for doing so was for a positive impact on behaviour. This teenage phase can be a tricky time for owners. So we recommend getting help and support from a positive behaviourist if you are struggling and your veterinary team. What can go wrong? The best scenario is that they drop into the scrotum successfully and we have no further issues. However, sometimes along the way things can go wrong. Sometimes they do start, but for whatever reason stop somewhere along the way, and never make it to the scrotum. This can be the case of both testicles or more often just one. In these cases, your veterinary team will support you in the best course of action for your dog. But usually this involves opening up their abdomen and trying to find the missing testicles or testicles! Sometimes, they are sitting in the inguinal area groin and we can feel them easily, these also need to be removed. Conclusion The physical age testicles can descend is usually before around 8 weeks old. But the age that they actually start displaying sexual behaviour can vary massively between dogs. If your dog has both or one testicle missing by months then you need to start the conversation with your wonderful veterinary team about when the right time to go and retrieve it is! Further reading:. She found a reputable breeder in the west of Ireland with puppies that were soon to be ready for a home. She met both the father and the mother of the pups, which gave her an understanding of how the pups would turn out: they were friendly, good-natured dogs. And the breeder showed Maeve veterinary certificates which confirmed that both father and mother had undergone tests on their eyes and their hips to demonstrate that they were free of inherited disorders. So far, so good. Maeve was happy that she had done as much as possible to be assured that she was buying a good quality puppy. She felt that it was a bit odd to be asked this question, but thought no more of it. The pup, named Freddie, is a gorgeous bundle of fluff, and as soon as he arrived home, everyone wanted to visit him and play with him. In a normal puppy, the testicles descend into the scrotum and can be seen when the pup rolls on his back. When male pups form in the womb, the testicles develop beside the kidneys, but in the first days or weeks of life, they normally descend into the scrotum. Second, dogs with retained testicles need to be castrated. If the testicles are left in the abdomen, they are likely to become cancerous. The warm surroundings of the abdomen cause the testicular cells to multiply more rapidly than in the normal, cooler area of the scrotum, leading to a risk of cancer. Third, the operation to castrate a dog with retained testicles is more complicated and so more expensive than a normal operation, because a hunt has to be carried out inside the abdomen to locate and remove the undescended testicles. For these three reasons, puppies with retained testicles are less desirable than normal pups, and they are normally sold at a cheaper price. As a result, she feels a little hard done by: it would have been preferable if the breeder had mentioned the issue, and given Maeve a small discount in recompense. February 24, at pm Hi Kate. The best and only information we have for choosing the time of desexing can be found in this article. You will find that neither statements are supported by the evidence in similar breeds, and there is no reason to think that Havanese are especially different. I then went and visited another vet to get another opinion, who said then same and then a 3rd. Out of 3 vets, 2 suggested half castration, just removing the non-fallen ball, and then the other with full castration. He now has his operation scheduled in mid feb and it would be great if you could provide me with your professional opinion- 1 or both? Any advice would be much appreciated, apologies for the long post. January 30, at pm Hi Beatrice. I think it is quite logical to only remove the undescended testicle. I have certainly done so in the past, to allow for normal secondary sexual characteristics. My only concern regarding a dog with a single descended testicle is that they remain fertile, but regardless of this should be taken out of the breeding population. However it seems that you have no intention of breeding. He comes from a champion bloodline. I bought him with the intention of breeding; however, my wife and children want him as a pet and are hurt that I may ship him back. At 14 weeks purchased at 12 weeks the Local Vet informed me that he suffers from cryptorchid unilateral. What are the chances that the second testicle descends? Andrew says: Hi Terry. Good luck. Mary Lou Kizer DVM says: December 15, at pm Hello Andrew, I am a vet in Colorado, USA have a client who is asking me to remove a retained testicle which is obviously near the inguinal ring in the SQ tissue, while leaving the descended testicle to be removed later, after waiting for further testosterone influence to help with joint development. She claims to want to use him for agility or other athletic endeavors. This is a schipperke, and she admitted to me early on that she was planning to use him at stud, now seems to be changing this plan. Can you please give me guidance as to how I can communicate with this client, as I feel like I am being asked to do something unethical. Andrew says: December 15, at pm Hi Mary. This is a problem I have faced as well. Recently I have started only doing it with a vasectomy of the descended testicle. Terry says: December 14, at am Is this inherited from the mom or the dad? How do you know if it is the male or female that carries it? My Aussie had one male that is 4 months old and his have not dropped yet. I do not want to bred her again to my male if this is genetic but how would I find out if it is her or him? If the puppy does not drop I will make it right with the buyer I want to be a responsible breeder. Thank you for any feedback. Terry December 14, at pm Hi Terry. In the lack of a genetic test, there is no way to work out easily whether it comes from the sire or dam. The only way might be their previous breeding histories. Good on you for taking the problem seriously. Dawn says: December 4, at pm My maltese puppy is almost. He had his first puppy appointment November 28, and the vet says he is healthy. Should I be worried that his testicles has not come down as of yet? Andrew says: Hi Dawn. Elaine Chapman says: April 12, at pm Hi my maltese puppy is 4 months old and also has no testicles, we are devastated, the owner we purchased our puppy from said her vet noted he had 2 testicles and dropped but upon receiving him and our vet check he had never had them. What can I do, the breeder is lying to us. Andrew says: Hi Elaine. Renee savage says: November 30, at pm Hi,I have a 6 month golden retreiver with double cryptorchidism. I have heard many different ages as to when to neuter. His brother and father were fine. Now at about 4 months of age, one puppy has been identified as having one undescended testicle. Did the first vet get it wrong? This is a golden retriever, so the owner is reluctant to desex earlier than necessary due to risks to joints. What age would you recommend to have this dog desexed? Thanks Andrew says: November 29, at pm Hi Maree. Cam Ross says: November 23, at pm Hi Andrew. My pup is 14 weeks old, on a show contract with only 1 testicle dropped so far. Is it worth getting an ultrasound to see where it is located and if it will drop? How costly would this be? Andrew says: November 24, at am Hi Cam. However, as stated in the article, dogs with retained testicles should not be bred as this only creates more problems for future generations. I only hope the breeder is of the same opinion. Cam Ross says: December 6, at pm I understand that surgical exploration would find it but is it worth finding out where it is currently located in the hope it will drop? Or do you think we are past that point now? Andrew says: All you can ethically do is wait until 6 months to be sure, and then have it removed at the recommended desexing age for your breed. Lynne A Bear says: April 16, at am Aloha, I am a foster for a 10 yr old sweet chihuahua who weighs 5 lbs. Both testicles are up in abdomen. One of them you can feel, the other…. He also has a jaw issue. Was told he was kicked by prior owner. Wont know the extent until sedated. He needs his teeth pulled from rot. Should I put him through both surgeries at once or just do most important which is teeth? His labs shows slight kidney problems. Please advise me on what to do for this sweet expensive little foster guy. In such a small dog at risk of hypothermia during surgery, I would normally do two such major procedures under separate anaesthetics. As such, I would do the teeth first but then follow up very quickly with the retained testicles, as these are also of great concern. This order could be reversed if there are any concerns that the testicles have already become neoplastic, which could be determined with an ultrasound examination first. Arianna says: July 11, at am Hi Andrew. My dog is a 9 year-old shih tzu, my mother never really gave much importance to his retained testicle and now it is a bit bigger than the one that did descend. Should I try to convince my mom to have him get the surgery or not? What do you think we should do? Andrew says: July 11, at pm Hi Arianna. Nine years old for a small breed dog is really quite young. Otherwise it will almost certainly be his end. Genevieve says: My French bulldog had a litter of 6 puppies , one male had this condition bilateral! Andrew says: Hi Genevieve. That is true, although sadly very few do so, which is why we think the rate of undescended testicles is increasing. John says: I have a 1 year and 1 month old maltease dog. He have 1 undescended testicle. Can not neuter him or should I. I want to keep him as it is. His health is normal and he is energetic. Andrew says: Hi John. As the article says, he will be at great risk if you do not remove the undescended testicle. Andrew says: Hi Cesar. Christina Mertz says: September 24, at pm Hi, I have a mini doxie and 1 testicle is retained. Doxies are supposed to wait a little longer than the typical 6 months for neutering to allow their backs to fully develop since those are problem areas. I have him scheduled for a neutering just before 7 months. I am uncertain if I should wait, as I am nervous about cancer, or go through with it and hope his back will be developed enough. The Breed Problems at the 7 Week Check Up This page will discuss how we handle problems we discover at the 7 week check up. Most importantly, if there is a health problem with your puppy at the 7 week check up, you will be notified ASAP. We do these checkups between 6 weeks 5 days and 7 weeks 1 day if possible. If the problem is something that could have long term implications, you can forego your puppy. I will discuss below the problems that could be discovered at the exam and how we handle problems at the 7 week check up. Undescended Testicles The most common potential problem that our 7 week check up reveals is undescended testicles. Well over half of our male puppies do not have both testicles descended at the 7 week check up. Since we have been breeding, we have had only 4 puppies whose testicles never descended. All of them had both testicles down by 10 weeks. It is purely a developmental issue. The vast majority of puppies from our lines have testicles that descend between 8 and 10 weeks of age. One was almost 6 months. At that time, the testicle will be taken care of. We have checked with both of the vet practices that we use as to the additional cost of this minor procedure. I have talked to other breeders to see what their vets charge and these charges are fairly consistent across most of the country. If your vet should insist on neutering early because of an increased possibility of testicular cancer, please read these links where you will see that studies have shown that these risks are very small for young dogs. The benefits of late neutering far outweigh this small risk of testicular cancer. We recommend neutering these dogs just over a year. We have sent home 3 puppies with benign heart murmurs grade 1. All 3 of them outgrew it by months. We have never had a puppy with a true heart problem. However, benign heart murmurs are fairly common in Golden Retriever puppies. These murmurs are caused by the sections of the heart growing at different rates. When vets hear a grade 1 murmur in a young puppy, waiting is usually the first recommendation as long as the puppy is playing and acting normally. We have never had a murmur that was more than a grade 1. If your puppy should have a murmur, even if it is only a grade 1, we give you the option of forfeiting the puppy and getting a full refund. We will keep the puppy and train him until he outgrows the murmur and then sell him to someone else as a trained puppy. If you take the puppy and then the murmur becomes something serious, the terms of our contract apply. There is no discount when you take the puppy. All parents have hearts tested. There are no heart problems in our lines. The chances of there being a significant heart issue is small. Any health problem that we are aware of will be made known to families getting our puppies. With significant issues, it is the owners choice as to how they want to proceed. We are aware that many people fly in to get our puppies and that flights have sometimes been reserved. We do all we possibly can to provide a healthy puppy to families at the time that they plan on picking up their puppy. However, with anything living, no one can totally control all the possibilities. If there should be a problem found before puppy selection of any significance, it will be the last person on our list for that particular gender who would be given a refund and forfeit getting a puppy. See our page on Raising Puppies for information on how we raise them and keep them healthy. Primary Sidebar Breeders and Trainers of English Golden Retrievers We focus on breeding and training beautiful English Golden Retriever puppies with health tested champion parents, great pedigrees, and fantastic temperaments.

Next anticipated litter end of October .If you or someone you know is looking to add a goldendoodle to their family, you have come to the right place. The puppy parents aren't just dogs - they are family members who are well loved and live in our homes. We health test parents, raise them in our home with other pets and children, handle puppies daily, use Puppy Culture to raise puppies, feed quality food, take care of the first round of vaccinations and have a highly trained veterinarian check out each and every puppy. We even set your family up with success with a take home kit that includes: a 5lb bag of puppy food a heartbeat puppy a scented blanket from mom dog bags 30 days of pet insurance a 1 year health guarantee a getting started guide of all my training tips Goldendoodles are best known to be intelligent, friendly and family oriented. They are highly social dogs with natural retrieving instincts and quickly learn to please. Goldendoodles can be hypoallergenic and have minimal shedding. They were born August 13, .Both have been health tested and have great temperaments. Mom is 42lbs and dad is 40lbs. We estimate puppies on average will be in that range full grown. Puppies will be ready for their forever homes the weekend of October 8, .Deposits are being accepted here. If you are interested in more information about this litter or upcoming litters please contact Brooke at or brooke thebrucefarm. They are due October .Contact us below to be added. Mom is 60lbs and dad is 40lbs. Puppies will be ready for their forever homes at 8 weeks old. If you are interested in more information about this litter, upcoming litters or would like to be added to our contact list please contact Brooke at or brooke thebrucefarm. We look forward to hearing from you! Meet The Bruce Farm puppy parents here or learn more about the types and sizes of Goldendoodles The Bruce Farm specializes in breeding here. Quick links. 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 North Kansas City Missouri 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!

Very good with Kids. He is hypoallergenic. This little boy would make a great addition to any home. Very playful with a wonderful personality. You must see this little boy. Very playful and good with kids. He is hypoallergenic and would make a great addition to any home. He would be sweet as a lap dog. Very good personality. Must see this boy. Buy Now Toy Poodle Sweet little white female toy poodle. Very playful. They have a really good temperament. There very good lap dogs and would make a wonderful addition to your home. View Detail Mason gray Mason is a wonderful sweet playful little boy. Good with kids will make a great addition to our new home. Has a wonderful personality and a great temperament. They are HEPA allergenic. They are very smart and loyal. Tails docked, wormed at 2,3,4,6,and 8 weeks, 1st set of shots. There good with children and very smart. Very good temperament and personality. This boy would make a wonderful addition to any home. More info please text your questions to 6xx xxxx5 View Detail Little toy puppies CKC registered male toy poodle puppy. Tail docked and declaws removed. Weighs 2p. One black with white on chest, other black with chocolate highlights. Ready valentines day. View Detail Toy poodles Purebred toy poodle boy! Registered, docked tails, 1st puppy shots, dewormed. One female which is apricot and white abstract. A white abstract male and a black and white abstract. Born Halloween Night will be ready dec .Fully wormed and first set of shot. View Detail Toy poodles Brown toys poodles. Two boys and a girl. UTD on shots and worming. CKC papers. Ready now. Please text for faster response. Six x one two seven xx eight one four View Detail Female red toy poodle Female red toy poodle. UTD on shots and wormings. Akc papers. Both parents are red. She is very active and loves to be held View Detail Red toy poodles x girls and x bxy. Very good with kids. They have good personality and temperament. Very smart and playful. More information please text xxx xxx-xxx5 View Detail gfgdghjyty Current vaccinations, Veterinarian examination, Health certificate, Health guarantee, Pedigree, Travel crate Additional information:They are very playful and lovely Champion will come to you up to date on his vaccinations and vet checked recently vaccinated loves to be touched and carried charming and just the best for your home so smart and active loves to be taken out for site seeing at the beach since they are both used in bathing Don't miss out on bringing this handsome baby home. Call now! For more details contact us at.You will be able to find all their current contact information, as well as a link to their website, so you can see what puppies they currently have available for sale. We provide you with all this information so that you can research each breeder individually and find the one that has your perfect puppy available! If you are considering getting a Toy Poodle, you'll want to check out the incredible book "The Complete Guide to Poodles". It's written by experienced Poodle owner and dog trainer Tarah Schwartz. The book contains a lot of really useful insights that can help a new owner avoid common mistakes that most Poodle owners make. It's widely available, so pick up a copy if you see one, here is the link to grab one on Amazon, or you can download the audiobook version here. If you can't find the perfect Toy Poodle puppy in your state, try checking at your local animal shelter or rescue organization. Many Toy Poodles young and old need a loving home and adopting one can be a great way to save a life. We are so happy that you have chosen Local Puppy Breeders to help you find the puppy of your dreams. In addition to visiting us often here, you can check us out on Facebook , Twitter , and Pinterest for more information, pictures, and videos! Questions about Poodle puppies for sale in Mississippi? We have answers. Give me an overview of Poodle puppies for sale in Mississippi. Poodles come at different prices. Different things to consider are their height, size and weight, color as well as experience of the professional breeder. You will be able to afford one! Can breeders arrange travel for Mississippi Poodles out of state? Yes they do! The breeders, companies and businesses in our network know that perfect families do not always live close by, and sometimes far-distance travel arrangements have to be made. You may even be able to pick up your pup from an airplane close by or even around the corner - it all depends! How do you screen miniature Poodle breeders in Mississippi? We really care about puppies and their well being, so it is of the utmost importance that anyone who wants to be connected to us is screened under strict rules - and then they have to take our Breeder Pledge. The health of your puppy-to-be, its wellbeing, the way it is taken care of, the place it is brought up in - all of this matters to us. Why is Uptown Puppies different from other miniature Poodle breeders Mississippi? The internet is available to absolutely everybody - and that includes scrupulous breeders who are out there just wanting to cash in by selling puppies. We care deeply for dogs and puppies and we love connecting good and honest breeders with families who just want to open their homes to a new and wonderful puppy. What is a puppy mill like for miniature Poodle Mississippi? A puppy mill is an awful place that is unfortunately legal. Dogs are treated terribly and all their owners want from them are their puppies which they make money out of. Are there any miniature Poodle puppies Mississippi for sale now? We just need to know a little bit about yourself and exactly what you are looking for. Then begin your search and find the Poodle of your dreams. There are breeders, companies and businesses out there that are really excited to place their beautiful puppies in your home. What kind of dogs are mini Poodle puppies Mississippi? Poodles are actually part of a group of formal dog breeds. The Poodle is available in Toy size, Miniature size and large, regal, Standard size. They are highly intelligent and their origins belong to both Germany and France. How do I know I can trust you with miniature Poodle puppies in Mississippi? It is hard to monitor all the puppy scams that happen daily on the internet so we make sure that we have a secure Breeder Pledge and a strict screening process, in order to create the best of relationships between our customers and our breeders, companies and businesses. Our reviews reveal all!

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. Jayne Coley offers some valuable tips for the shooting enthusiast who is training a young dog. Register for our newsletter To continue reading this content please register for our newsletter. It's also about education — teaching him the manners and patience that make for a nice shooting companion. I try to be aware of this at all times. There are various scenarios in which you can work on embedding such manners in your dog, and below are a number of examples based on my own experience. Patience and manners My young lab has to sit and wait when I open his kennel run gate and while I slip a lead over his head. I then call him to me and, with my other dogs at heel, we go for a walk. When I'm picking-up and the horn is blown to signal the end of the drive, I don't let all of my dogs race off together. I send them off one at a time, by name, with the keenest dog being sent last. And so I replicate this when I'm out walking them, too. We are the last house at the end of a no-through road, so once we are out of our gate, I slip the lead off and ensure that my lab remains walking to heel, before I send the dogs off one at a time by their name as we continue down a field. My young dog is usually sent last, and so he has to wait, hence all the time teaching him to be patient. I have built up this exercise slowly over time, keeping him on a lead to start with and sending him from a sitting position, then with the length of the lead just looped around his neck to make sure he is steady as each dog is sent off. In the morning, after feeding, I sweep the kennels and change the dogs' water. This is another opportunity to perform a simple exercise that teaches patience, by sitting him up in the yard when I get to his kennel. Again, I have built up the length of time that he sits and waits slowly as his concentration level is still very limited. Photo credit: Gerrard Slade Obstacles in the field When we are on a walk, my dog is happy to hang around with my other labs who usually range up to 60 yards from me. If they go any further, I call them back. I walk in open land, with no livestock, so I can see what they are doing, and the youngster can rummage in hedgerows and other cover, and negotiate and get into ditches, all of his own accord. From following my other dogs he has learned to wriggle under wire, cleverly twist through rails and confidently pop over wire sheep netting. All of these obstacles can crop up when we are out in the shooting field, so it is very useful if we can encounter them and become familiar with them in our own time, beforehand. Please remember this is what I do with my fairly laid back puppy. A mischievous puppy would probably have to spend a lot of time on a lead whilst out for a walk. It is imperative that you assess your dog from a young age and train him accordingly to get the best out of him. Advanced toilet training Having a dog that is happy to go to the toilet whilst on a lead is so useful. This might not sound very impressive, but it is surprising how many dogs are not comfortable doing this. For example, you might be shooting quite a distance from home, which involves a night away. You arrive at your accommodation in the dark, only to find it is on the side of a busy road with nowhere to take your dog to be clean. The best way to teach your dog this is to keep him on a lead first thing in the morning when he is likely to be desperate to go to the toilet. Further training I have been training my dog in our field, initially going over everything he learned at home as explained HERE. Training sessions are held for 15—20 minutes every other day, rather than every day, because I feel I get more from him — he is more responsive. Using an Acme .To call him to me recall , I also use the whistle — four quick repetitive pips, repeated as necessary. Photo credit: Andrea Moffat Marking thrown dummies Again, this is all about progressing steadily. Don't rush things. The grass in our field is quite rough, so I started off by throwing a dummy which landed in a corner and into the wind to maximise the chance of success. I now send the dog for a single thrown dummy by just saying his name, so he doesn't take his eye off the fall. Whereas I originally used a small dummy all the time, now that his pick-up, carrying and delivery are perfect, I am introducing all sorts of different types of dummies and balls for him to retrieve. A ball on a rope is good because I can throw it out a long way and he has to get his head down to wind it. Blind retrieves I have built on this so I can send my dog for memory retrieves down the side of a hedge or fence, on tracks which help to keep him on course. Once mastered with a single dummy, I then introduced more dummies, so that now I can have three out, dropping one at a time, 20 yards apart as we walk to heel. Once again, I think about the wind. I make sure it is behind us when I send him for the closest dummy first, because I don't want him winding the other dummies and swapping the intended retrieve for them. Directional training When working on directional training, I sit the dog on a track, with a fence behind, and stand several paces in front of him. The fence acts as a barrier and ensures that Trade goes sideways rather than back, upon my command. With my right hand raised high above my head, I blow the stop whistle one long blast then throw a dummy to land on the track some 15 yards to the right his left. Should he hesitate, with my right arm still held out, I quietly take a step or two towards him, repeating the command in a lighter but still positive voice. After repeating this exercise successfully, I throw the dummy to the left and do the same routine again. I then progress to having two dummies out, one either side of the dog, and send him for one, before sitting him back up out in front of me, throwing that dummy back out in the same place, and then instructing him to pick the other dummy on the opposite side. 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. So what we are going to do in this film is to start at the very beginning of collar condition and how to proceed with the electric collar so that it is very very positive, including positive reinforcement for any breed. So if you have a Schnauzer, a boxer, a cocker spaniel … any breed that you want to control at long range and develop a better bond with the dog because of this procedure and how you are going to use it …. We want to begin by saying the electric collar is only used to reinforce a command the dog already knows. A lot of people think that the electric collar has this magic ability to teach a dog something. It does not. Most people use the electric collar as a form of punishment. The dog makes a mistake, the dog gets a correction with the electric collar. We are going to learn a different way and that way is to reinforce commands they are already doing; and this is done with a very very light collar reinforcement. This is what this video is going to be about … how to get that reaction. So a few other things about the electric collar…. .People think a clicker is a wonderful thing, or a food treat is a wonderful thing, and in some cases they are, especially with little puppies that are at close range. But a clicker or a cookie at yds is about as useless a thing as you can imagine. One of the important tools, if not THE most important tool is the concept of conditioning. The other tool is consistency. Both of the tools are overlooked by some trainers. So, the steps are always the same: You teach the command first, THEN you reinforce it using the electric collar. There are other ways to use the electric collar, there is punishment, there is indirect pressure etc. We use punishment as one of the ways of teaching a dog not to go nose to nose with a rattle snake; that would be direct pressure Many people use direct pressure as punishment…. The way we use the electric collar is very gentle. 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!