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Protection plus Love!!! We are a small "Mom and Pop", breeder of top quality, working line, German Shepherds. Established in , we are located in the very center of the state of Colorado in the Rocky mountains. Licensed, and AKC inspected and approved facility. Our goal is to breed Dogs who are top quality, and affordable. Beautiful, healthy, dogs that have stable temperaments. All our dogs hips and elbows have been checked, and passed by the OFA. We do genetic testing to insure none of our puppies will develop Degenerative Myelopathy detailed information regarding DM at the bottom of our "Family Comments Gallery" page. The medical documentation paperwork is available for viewing when you come visit to see our dogs or puppies. We breed for black and tan, black and red, sable, black and bi-color puppies. Mostly we have short coat dogs, but do produce limited numbers of long coat pups. Our dogs are predominantly Czech and German working lines. Trained dogs are a positive addition to the lives of their families. These pups can vary in drives and excitability levels but all are working dogs, capable of doing a job suited to their individual drive levels. We try to make it a top priority to match the right puppy to the right family. Our dogs bloodlines are versatile. We breed puppies who could excel in Search and Rescue, Schutzhund, French Ring or Agility, or be great pets and companions. We breed straighter back, working line dogs. We have answers. All that we can do is recommend that if you see the perfect Denver German Shepherd puppies for sale today through a reputable breeder below that you pull the trigger as soon as possible! What should I expect from the Uptown Puppies process? In order to begin all you have to do is browse some of the best German Shepherd breeders in Denver below! Yes, much better! At Uptown Puppies we look past the expensive advertisements and focus in on how the puppies are actually being treated! How does Uptown screen breeders and puppy raisers? Our company works to enforce strict standards when it comes to facility quality, sanitation measures, treatment of the puppies and breeding techniques. Because of our strict regulations and breeder pledge, the German Shepherds for sale in Denver that you will find on our website are among the best around. Do you recommend specific food for my dog? The reality is that each and every German Shepherd has different taste preferences and different dislikes which means that your new pup may turn their nose up at the top-rated food online! Can I find a cheap puppy for sale through Uptown? The breeders and businesses who have been accepted into the Uptown Puppies network never focus on selling the cheapest German Shepherds in the country. Instead with their experience, they offer a boutique variety of healthy puppies so that the end consumer can choose exactly the puppy that they want to take home and love! Why are puppy mills so bad for German Shepherd for sale in Denver? A puppy mill is a term used to describe any business who is breeding puppies for profit without care for the wellbeing of the animals. Puppy mills across the country still use inhumane breeding techniques which is why we want our customers to avoid them if at all possible. What happens after I choose my new companion? At the end of the day we want all of our customers to be happy with the new best friend they are taking home. What is a backyard breeder? Backyard breeder is a term that has been given to a puppy raiser or other underfunded breeder who does not have the proper funds to take all of the precautions necessary when raising a litter of new puppies. A lot of these types of businesses have very basic breeding setups that allow them to breed more Denver German Shepherds for sale at a cheaper price.

But at the moment, they need your guidance. For now, this includes sleeping next to you for the first few weeks, maybe even longer. Just have their crate or bed close to wherever you sleep. Our articles on sleeping through the night and establishing a nighttime routine will give you extra tips on getting through this phase. A puzzle toy or Kong will work great at making them feel like you leaving them is actually something quite fun. Toilet training All new puppy parents expect toilet training to be on the cards. It will help to remember your Boxer pup is a bit of a goofball. For now, we definitely want to let your pup get used to you and settle into their new home. Teach your puppy about surfaces — Different surfaces can feel strange to pups. Use surfaces like grass, moss, paving and sand. Basically, make their tail wag and we bet yours will too. Teach your Boxer their name. Teach your Boxer puppy to sit. Remember what we said about Boxers and their jumping? Recall — Trust us. Preventing resource guarding Resource guarding is where your dog fiercely protects something they have and will do everything they can to keep hold of it. Dogs can resource guard food, a toy, even a person. You can do this by teaching them that hands and touch can be a good thing. As always, back up your soft touches with some treats. Remember that consent is also a thing with dogs! Never force your Boxer to be handled or pick them up against their wishes. Socialisation exercises to do this week Training to do this week Husbandry Tasks to do this week — Fireworks — Watch the world go by outside your house — Play dress up. They love spending time with their owners and letting their playful and fun characters shine through. They are eager to please and very loyal dogs. Originally Boxers were bred to be working dogs, which is why they have such high exercise needs and energy to spare! Common health problems in Boxers Boxers are intelligent dogs who are very loyal to their families. Sadly, like many other purebred dogs, they are prone to certain conditions. If you are thinking of buying a Boxer puppy , make sure the parents of your puppy have had the relevant health screening to reduce the chances of your puppy being affected by certain conditions. Some of the conditions Boxers may develop include: Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome BOAS — this can cause severe breathing problems in some Boxers with shorter faces. Epilepsy — a brain disorder causing seizures. Eye problems — such as corneal ulcers due to the shape of their skulls and prominence of the eyes. Heart problems — such as cardiomyopathy or aortic stenosis. Before breeding, parents should be screened. Skin problems - such as warts, skin tags, skin allergies and soreness in skin folds around the face skin fold dermatitis. Certain cancers. If you want to minimise the risk of your dog getting problems, you can read our advice on choosing a pedigree dog. Caring for your boxer Boxers are fun and active dogs who can be high maintenance due to their exercise needs. If you love getting out and about walking, they could be a good breed for you! A large secure garden is a must if you have a Boxer so they have plenty of space to blow off steam. Boxers can be very boisterous so do better with an experienced and patient! Boxers and barking Your Boxer is likely to make noise and how much they do make will be down to their training and personality. Boxers are naturally very good guard dogs and so are more likely to bark to make their owners aware of any comings and goings around the home. Training and socialisation Boxers are clever dogs but can be boisterous, so positive, reward-based training from a young age is really important. Boxers mature a lot slower than other breeds, so having a large amount of puppy energy in such a big dog can be challenging for some owners. You need to handle your Boxer with a firm but fair attitude and make sure you are patient and consistent. They can be boisterous so make sure you train them not to jump up at people from a young age. Boxers love human company so can develop separation anxiety if left alone. If they are alone or bored, they like to chew which means your furniture and belongings will be at risk! Exercise Boxers are very high energy, active dogs who love playing and being involved in everything going on. They keep their puppy attitude longer than most dogs so you might find your Boxer rarely has a calm moment at home! Your Boxer will need a minimum of two hours exercise every day. This should be split into a few walks with plenty of opportunities for sniffing around and exploring. You should also give your Boxer plenty of time to exercise off lead somewhere secure so they can have a good run around. On top of this, your Boxer will also need regular, short training sessions. They will also need lots of playtime and free time in the garden to do what they want. Grooming Boxers are fairly low maintenance when it comes to grooming. They have short fur which only needs a weekly brush to keep it in good condition. As with any dog, you should expect your Boxer to shed throughout the year, more so in spring and autumn. A regular hoover should be enough to keep on top of it. Due to the excess skin around their faces, Boxers are at risk of developing a condition called skin fold dermatitis. Boxers and children Generally speaking, Boxers are good around children of all ages given the right training. An adult only home or one with teenagers is better for a Boxer. Always supervise your dog with children and vulnerable adults. Puppy socialisation classes are a great way to get your pup used to new dogs. Early socialisation will help your dog get along well other dogs as an adult. They may get along OK with a cat they have grown up with, but you should always supervise your Boxer with smaller pets. Your vet will be able to tell you how much your Boxer should be eating. You should feed them a good quality, commercially available, complete dog food. We usually recommend splitting their daily allowance into two meals. If you give your dog the occasional treat or use treats for training, remember to take this into account and reduce their daily allowance. Try to feed your dog at similar times every day as they like routine. Remember to leave a gap between eating and exercising. Beware unusually cheap puppies as they could come from a puppy farm. These breeders must do extra health tests and meet higher standards. Set-up costs Puppy vaccines — if you rescue a dog, reputable centres will often vaccinate them for you. Remember that ongoing booster vaccinations will be needed to continue their immunity. Neutering — you should usually arrange for your dog to be neutered at around months old, though your vet will be able to advise you exactly when is best. Check prices at your local practice as these will depend on your vet and where you live. Some rescue centres will neuter any dogs they rehome, saving you this cost. Equipment — including a collar and tags, lead, harness, dog beds, dog bowls, pet-safe toothpaste and toothbrushes, grooming brushes and toys. Keep in mind that all these will need to be replaced with wear or damage or if your dog outgrows or damages them! Ongoing costs Food. Preventive healthcare — budget for routine vet visits to help stop your dog getting ill and catch any problems early. They need annual check-ups, vaccinations and regular flea and worming treatments. Check if your vet offers a health care plan as this can help spread the cost throughout the year. Accessories — including lots of poo bags, replacing worn toys and grooming accessories, buying doggy toothpaste and any other extras they might need. Other costs Training — basic training is very important and dogs can benefit from formal classes. Some dogs may have, or develop, behavioural problems which might need professional management. Boarding — you may also need to budget for boarding or dog sitting costs if you are planning to go away from home on holiday. If you are having difficulty with veterinary costs, you can check if you are eligible for treatment at PDSA here. Get ready with the ear plugs, because Boxers are known for loud snoring! Boxers originated in Germany in the s so are considered a fairly new breed. Getting a Boxer Do plenty of research before getting a Boxer. These playful and lively dogs keep their puppy ways well into their adult years so need an understanding owner with plenty of time and patience! Boxers can be really loving in the right household and will love spending time with you. Rehoming centres There are plenty of rescue centres across the country where you may find a Boxer. Breed-specific rescues that specialise in Boxers are also out there. Good rescue centres should let you know of any health and behaviour problems. Breeders If you buy from a breeder, make sure your puppy will be well socialised and have all necessary screening tests, health checks and vaccinations. We recommend looking for a Kennel Club Assured breeder as they meet higher standards.

His main purpose is for hunting large game. But this dog breed was also useful in guarding and driving livestock. It is said that he got his name due to using his front paws for just about anything. Boxer dogs look intimidating with their stern-looking faces and powerful bodies. But they are actually very loving family dogs that get along with children and other animals. They love being with their families, and being separated from them can lead them to develop separation anxiety. Since this working dog is highly intelligent but stubborn in nature, he is better suited for experienced owners. The average lifespan of the breed is 9—10 years. Look for a boxer puppies for sale Morgantown West Virgina? Here is a brief background of this protective dog with a good sense of humour. History of the Boxer The Boxer dog breed is a descendant of the now-extinct Bullenbeisser a fighting dog with Mastiff ancestry and the Old English Bulldog. He was developed in Germany in the 19th century as hunters of deer, wild boar, and bear. Later on, he was used to guard and drive cattle. The man responsible for the creation of the Boxer breed was Georg Alt, who was from Munich. He crossed a brindle-coloured female Bullenbeisser named Flora with a local dog of unknown breed. In , the first German Boxer dog named Flocki joined a dog show in Munich. After winning the dog show, he was the first-ever Boxer dog to be listed down in the German Studbook. Modern Boxer dogs were believed to be the descendants of Flocki. Boxer puppies for sale in Morgantown WV The Boxer dog breed slowly gained popularity throughout Europe in the late s. He was then imported to the United States in and was accepted by the American Kennel Club the following year. The American Boxer Club was established in .In both world wars, various military tasks were given to Boxer dogs including guard dogs, attack dogs, and messenger dogs. The British Boxer Dog Club was then formed in .The Boxer breed was recognised by the Kennel Club shortly thereafter and classified under the Working Group. Versatile and hard-working, these dogs are capable of carrying out different canine work. Boxers are good choices for protection dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and guide dogs for the blind. Temperament and Intelligence of the Boxer puppies Morgantown for sale Extremely patient and gentle, the Boxer breed is good with children. But he is recommended for families with older children as he may accidentally knock over toddlers. Befriending other pets is possible if the Boxer dog is properly socialised at a young age. It will keep him from viewing small animals as prey and reduce his tendency to dominate same-sex dogs. Is a Boxer a good family dog? Yes, the Boxer breed is a good family dog. He may look noble and intimidating, but he is actually considered the Joker of the Dog World. Boxer dogs are playful and fun-loving. They love to be part of family activities and be the centre of attention. Are Boxer dogs dangerous? Boxer dogs may be tough-looking, but they are not generally aggressive. But they will stand guard and defend their families if necessary. Boxer dogs are initially wary of strangers, but they eventually warm up to them if no danger is detected. Their protective and loyal nature makes them good guard dogs as well as watchdogs. Are Boxers easy to train? Yes, Boxer dogs are easy to train if you are already experienced in handling the breed. They are intelligent but tend to be independent and stubborn. Due to this, they are not suited for first-time owners. Boxer dogs respond better to people that are firm and consistent. However, firm does not mean harsh. Instead of strict training methods, positive reinforcements are more effective in teaching this breed basic dog manners and tricks. Boxer Breed Highlights The Boxer dog breed is a loving, loyal, and protective companion. Boxer dogs are comical companions despite their intimidating appearance. The Boxer breed has low-maintenance grooming needs. As an energetic working dog, he has high exercise needs. Boxer dogs tend to be destructive when they are left alone or unable to let off steam. Are there miniature boxers? Yes, but they are rare. Miniature boxers are either a product of mating purebred runts or cross-breeding small dogs that have similar characteristics to boxers, such as Boston terriers, pugs, rat terriers, and fox terriers. While some of these minis may closely resemble their larger counterparts, they may not act similarly. Are boxers hypoallergenic? Unfortunately, boxers are not hypoallergenic. What problems do Boxers have? Boxer dogs are brachycephalic, which means they have flat faces. This trait narrows their airway and causes breathing problems. As a result, Boxers should not be out in the sun for a long time as it can lead to heatstroke. Overexercising them must be avoided too to avoid triggering breathing difficulties. How long do Boxer dogs live? The Boxer dog breed has a short lifespan compared to other dogs. He can only live up to 9—10 years, and this is due to the prevalence of health issues in the breed. When buying a Boxer puppy, look for a reputable breeder whose breeding stock and litters are health-screened. This will help you determine how likely is your chosen Boxer puppy going to develop certain health conditions. Until the Treaty of Paris in , what is now known as Morgantown was greatly contested by white settlers and Native Americans, and by British and French soldiers. The treaty decided the issue in favor of the British, but Indian fighting continued almost to the beginning of the American Revolutionary War in .We will not send you unnecessary notices in the future. My name is Tetyana and I am glad to welcome you on the site of the breed nursery. Welcome to the West Virginia state page on TrustedPuppies. Renowned for its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and warm hospitality, West Virginia is an excellent place to find and raise your new Boxer companion. Our goal is to connect you with the most exceptional Boxer breeders and puppies for sale in the region, ensuring you find the perfect furry friend for your family. Our site features a wide variety of reputable breeders who specialize in raising amazing healthy puppies. Our WV breeders are committed to raising the highest quality puppies. They provide their puppies with all the necessary vaccinations and veterinary checkups to ensure they are in the best of health before they go to their forever homes. They also provide ongoing support and advice to ensure a smooth transition for both you and your new furry friend. Discover the dynamic dog-friendly scene in West Virginia, featuring inviting restaurants, spacious dog parks, and engaging dog shows. For those passionate about dog shows, events like the Kanawha Obedience Training Club Dog Show provide an opportunity to appreciate the elegance and charm of Boxer canines while connecting with fellow enthusiasts. West Virginia comes in at 30th place among U. At TrustedPuppies. Most of our reputable Boxer breeders provide safe and affordable flight delivery, complete with a dedicated flight nanny who accompanies your new pup throughout their journey, ensuring their safety and comfort as they travel to their new home in West Virginia. Many breeders also offer affordable vehicle delivery, utilizing specialized pet delivery services. This option allows your Boxer puppy to be transported directly to your door by a professional who understands the unique requirements of pet transportation. Begin your search for the perfect Boxer puppy on TrustedPuppies.

Training is a constant process for our dogs and when they are not training, they are chasing a variety of wild game from Upland to Waterfowl. Our retrievers are no different with passion, loyalty and intelligence. This means less shedding, a bit more shine yet still soft to the touch. Typically weighing lbs, these Goldens are not the behemoth Goldens you may have seen in the past. Meet Your Perfect Match Family pet. Hunting partner. Loyal companion. Platte River Retrievers has been offering quality field bred Golden Retrievers for over 25 years in Nebraska, just outside of Omaha. We specialize in Golden Retrievers bred to excel in the field. All clearances are done on our dogs before breeding and puppies are guaranteed for 26 months. Litters are raised in a family atmosphere ensuring the best possible upbringing and personality for your future companion. Eyes, Heart, Hips, Elbows as well as DNA recessive gene disorder clearances are done to ensure the health and standard for each litter bred. Microchip Registration Have peace of mind that your pet has permanent identification in the event of being lost or stolen. Socialization Socialization is a crucial component of raising a well mannered dog that is a good citizen. Each puppy is given age appropriate stimulation individually and in group play. Age Appropriate Vaccinations All puppies are given age appropriate vaccinations and deworming to ensure you are bringing home a happy and healthy puppy. Health Guarantee We stand behind our breedings and offer a written health guarantee for each puppy. Range of Personalities Just as every litter produced is different, each puppy is a unique individual in that litter. View the temperament and size of the parents to ensure that this is what you are looking for in your future puppy. He is healthy, highly athletic, wonderful with people and extremely intuitive in all aspects. We live in California and are active individuals; therefore, he goes hiking, running and swimming in the lake on a regular basis. In July of , after weeks of playing with each of the puppies in that years litter, I picked out Maple. I knew that was the breeder I wanted to get a pup from. Theresa and Nick know their dogs in and out.I am blown away with my pup Gretta! She has excellent drive, and loves to train. You truly can't beat the temperament and ability that is stamped on these pups! Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question. How would you best describe the Field Bred's temperament and personality? They are remarkably intelligent retrievers that were bred to be in the field all day.Working with and watching Bear closely for the past 3 years, we believe she possesses most capabilities that will be only further enhanced in her progeny via selected complementing Sire s for their very strong retrieving bloodlines. What types of homes do you want puppies to go home to? Very Simple. Most certainly a whole different level of commitment from the owner, and one that BRFGR would be most proud to provide the ideals of this breed to be part of. Goldens are some of the most loving breeds you will ever experience. They will bond very quickly and are extremely loyal companions, very much eager to please if given the opportunity to do so. Like any family member, however, there will always be good days and challenging days from puppyhood through adulthood that you won't necessarily be prepared for. The key is to Always respond in a loving disciplined way. Are Field Goldens good with children? Yes they are, especially with your adolescents and teenagers as has been our own personal experience. Exercise is a must for field goldens, they are athletes with intelligent 'triggers', bred to turn it on and off whether in the field, or on the couch. What is the cost to adopt my new family member? If you have lived with dogs most of your life, we highly suspect that you may have experienced this Very tough day too. Secondly, enhancing bloodlines is also a considerable investment of both money and time that all Best Practice breeding programs continually work towards for progeny, not only to minimize genetic health issues, but to also improve the ideals of the breed's bloodline. Will I be pre-qualified before allowed to adopt a puppy? Yes, you most certainly will. A telephone interview will be scheduled to discuss with you and your family if applicable within 5 days of receipt of your application. BRFGR will initially review all applications in the order they are received. Deposits are non-refundable unless there are not enough puppies born to accommodate your reservation, or your specific requests cannot be paired with a suitable puppy. Changing your mind or cancelling for any other reason outside 48 hours of BRFGR receiving your deposit constitutes a non-refundable deposit. Considerations are innumerable in this process and include without limitation: close puppy observations beginning with birth through aptitude tests at weeks of age when personalities and temperaments begin to quickly indicate if a pup would be best suited for active companionship in the home, at your side hunting in the field or have significant potential in field competition. At what age can I expect to pick up my puppy? At 8 weeks minimum, no sooner. Will you ship my puppy to me? We will not ship puppies due to the duress it may cause Bear's babies. We can make arrangements to meet you at Bergstrom Airport, Austin Texas if you decide to fly rather than drive. Yes, he or she will be absolutely introduced to a variety of people, places and many experiences to begin preparation for continuance in your home. Check out, "What care will my pup have received before we go home? Presently our breeding program is solely focused and committed to furthering the ideals of this wonderful breed through our litters after realizing just how small the pool of traditional field bred goldens still is. We have spent an abundance amount of time over the past three years researching the history, health, standards, qualities and the best practices of field golden breeders, striving to be an asset to their efforts by incorporating all aspects through our own breeding program. We truly have a personal understanding of why goldens provide the perfect balance towards hunting and household companionship; nothing motivates us more for you to have an opportunity to experience this joy also. What care will my pup have received before we go home? Here are examples of what each receives: Vet checked at approx. Your puppy will be introduced to many people, places, and a variety of experiences as they transition to continue socializing in your home. Yes, most definitely and is included in the cost of adoption. Microchip will be implanted and number registered for life with new owner information at AKC ReUnite before going to your home. What type of care should my pup receive after arriving home with me? BRFGR guarantees your pup's health under your care for 3 business days after you pick up. Are there any health guarantees that come after adoption? Most definitely. Will my pup's adoption be registered with a AKC as limited or full registration? What happens if my puppy should not be clear of genetic defects? You need to understand BRFGR cannot predetermine the outcome of the breeding and therefore can make NO assurances that your pup will be free of inherited genetic or other disease, nor that your puppy will meet your expectations with respect to conformation, performance or temperament regardless of BRFGR's best efforts to match you with your pup. When is Miss Bear's second litter anticipated? This will be your personal decision. Health studies continue to reveal that hormones allow for growth and development of your dog during this time and longer. We specialize in raising, competing, and breeding Golden Retrievers who are multi-purpose: strong field trial and hunt test competitors with friendly, loving attitudes that can serve as hunting companions and pets. If you are eager to have a working dog that also will be a great companion in your home, please contact us. We breed for competitive homes that will give our puppies a job to do as they grow, but our litters will also be appropriate for hunting companions and as pets. Our goal is to send a puppy to your home that is well socialized, eager to learn, inquisitive, and full of desire. If you are considering a current litter or one in the future, please browse our website or visit with us about our dogs, facilities, breeding program, training, and philosophy. It includes a lot of information about our kennel and the Golden Retriever as a working dog!! He is birdy and loves to retrieve. Malcolm has his Junior Title and one Senior pass and will be able to continue on to his Senior title. He is intact and will be sold with full registration We are selling him because we have 3 males closely related in the kennel and have decided to stick with the other two. Please contact Benita for more information. Serious inquiries only. Dog Group: Sporting— meaning, they are especially trainable and good natured. Size: inches tall and lbs— so essentially a very large Teddy bear. Lifespan: of the best years of your life! Shedding: Lighter than standard Goldens. Not as much work involved! What is a Field-Bred Golden Retriever? The Field-Bred Golden Retriever, known for their hunting and working abilities. You can expect them to sometimes have more energy than traditional Goldens and have a strong sense of duty. And with a name like that, it comes as no surprise that these dogs are so sought after by hunters and those with outdoor hobbies! The original Goldens came to be as a result of cross-breeding between various different breeds including: Water Spaniels, Yellow Retrievers, Irish Settlers, and Bloodhounds over several generations. In the case of Field-Bred Goldens, they continued to be bred with hunting in mind and they became well-known as strong hunting-companions. Still to this day they retain their reputation and continue to be sought out for that same purpose. They are smart, fun-loving, and eager to please. These pups are known for being loyal, intelligent, and can be trained easily. However, keep in mind that they have a reputation for being mouthy from their instinct to hunt. That paired with their higher energy levels, may require extra supervision and exercise. Oftentimes, cheaper golden retriever puppies can ultimately cost you a LOT more money in the long run because they are more likely to have health issues. Are Field-Bred Goldens more expensive? Depending on their athletic ability, Field-Bred Goldens can be more expensive if the breeding stock has won titles in certain events. After all, Hunting ability is the prime focus for Field-Breds! What is the difference between Field-Bred and Golden Retriever? A Field-Bred is a type of Golden Retriever. They tend to have higher energy levels and be more involved in athletic hobbies or events. Their coats are typically shorter and darker. They also are known to be more mouthy and most likely require a lot of activity or a canine job to perform. How big is a full grown Field-Bred Golden Retriever? The weight range for these sweet pups can be from pounds for full-grown males, and pounds for full-grown females. Additionally, these babies tend to stand at about inches tall, with males being on the taller end of the spectrum. Do Field-Bred Goldens shed? Yes, all types and variations of Golden Retrievers shed, and this is entirely normal for the breed. Their coats are also typically straighter and known to be water-resistant, which makes them great swimming partners! Are Field-Bred Golden Retrievers aggressive? The good news is— no, Field-Bred Golden Retrievers are not aggressive dogs by nature. However, keep in mind that they are more mouthy from their hunting nature. They may be more inclined to play rough with you. Although, with plenty of exercise, they can still relax and cuddle up with you. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Contact Us Welcome to the Katian Kennel! This site was developed to share our love of Goldens. I hope you enjoy your visit, and come back often. For those of you who don't know: "Katian" pronounced "Kay-shun" is a play on Katie and Cajun my late husband's background - he used to say I'm leader of the Katian Nation - Yes, I know.We purchased almost 30 acres and are transforming our new golden retriever paradise. More about us.I recently lost my husband and am very thankful to have so many goldens who love me and occupy my time. When I do work on non-dog tasks, I work mostly from home so I can maximize my time with my canine crew. As the old adage goes, a tired dog is a happy dog.We purchased 30 beautiful acres…. Our new place is just outside of Lexington, Texas less than an hour east of Austin and just a few miles from Giddings, TX. I am truly blessed in that many of my puppies come back to me for training.I love seeing them grow and learn and am so grateful that my extended puppy family trusts us with the next stage in their puppy's life! Our dogs socialize with each other, mind their manners in the house most of the time , have free play in the fenced backyard and supervised free play throughout the rest of our property. They spend their time checking on the ducks in our aviary, the goats in our pasture and trailing all of the deer, rabbits, squirrels and other wildlife who call our property home. The golden crew confidently ride in our vehicles cars, trucks, 4wheelers, boats, kayaks, and our RV. In addition to being well-adjusted family companions, our dogs are duck hunters and competitive athletes. They compete in hunt tests, field trials, obedience and agility - needless to say, we are an active and busy family! My daughter, Katelyn, with one of the pups wooded front yard Angleton We are located on about 30 acres - golden paradise with rolling hills, woods and a beautiful pond! We do not raise our dogs in kennel runs. We have cameras set up so that we can keep a constant eye on our crew when we are tied up with non-dog duties. Security and safety of our furry family is of the utmost importance to us. Katelyn is my life-saver and helps out with the dogs whenever I need her. Between judging assignments and handling my own dogs at competitions most weekends, it is good to know that I have reliable help at home to take care of everything so I can enjoy the dogs off-property. In our pre-Harvey Angleton home, we had a perfect set-up. We are working on developing the perfect set-up at our new place in Lexington.The puppy nursery is almost done and in my home so that I can keep a constant eye on the pups.In Angleton, we had a small swim-by pond as well as a wooded green-tree reservoir for plenty of water training opportunities.Django, Grip, Nacho and Willow are our "launchers" and Gaga, Pebbles and Cica like to swiftly glide into the water - but all of them can't get enough of that wet stuff! Grip, Willow and Django will do laps together for hours if I let them! Whoever says golden retrievers don't like water, needs to stop by and visit! Availability of puppies and conditions of sale are at the sole discretion of the individual breeder. You are not obligated to purchase a puppy from the breeders whose names you obtain from GRCA puppy referral.

Our dogs are smart, calm, intuitive, and beautiful. We only breed one litter at a time. Together we discover that there is nothing more rewarding than making people happy with healthy, social and gorgeous puppies. They have soft coats and wonderful temperaments. We breed carefully with low inbreeding and provide you with a pedigree. Our breeding dogs pass many tests to qualify for our breeding program. Tests on breeding dogs include hip and elbow xrays, cardiac screening, healthy eye certification, and DNA tests for common diseases in the breed. We take special care of all our dogs and puppies. We love our Australian Labradoodle puppies from start to finish! We do not breed with anxious, aggressive, nervous dogs, but we select our breeding dogs with good temperaments. They have a gentle, calm, happy character with just enough spirit to be playful and fun. We raise our breeding dogs in our own home or in foster families called guardian homes. All dogs deserve to live with a family. We are not a kennel operation. Because the puppies grow up in our home, they are socialized and love people and other dogs. They are introduced to people, children, and other dogs at a very early age. Training with commands such as come and sit start at 5 weeks of age. We introduce them to their crates at the same time. Our labradoodles keep us laughing with their clownlike antics. We have a lot of experience and knowledge raising and training dogs and we promise a lifetime of support. We distinguish ourselves by having the healthiest, friendliest dogs with wonderful temperaments. They are mostly hypoallergenic dogs. They are very intelligent and easy to train, so Australian Labradoodles are used for emotional support and service. Our whelping boxes and pens are cleaned and sanitized every day. The puppies start pottying on grass outside at about 5 weeks old. They are introduced to crates at 5 weeks old but will not be fully crate trained. We want them to love their crates. We send one home with you. Reserve early as most puppies are sold before they are born! Responsible Breeding Early Socialization and Positive Training Starts at Birth Responsible Breeding Inbreeding analysis before breeding any dogs to be sure there are no close relatives for generations. Pedigrees, and health tests posted. Our breeding dogs do not shed. Tests on breeding dogs include hip and elbow xrays, cardiac screening, healthy eye certification, DNA tests for Common diseases in the breed. We socialize with many people and other dogs. We introduce crate training at 5 weeks in a manner that they will love their crates. Love and handling starts at birth. Most puppies come and sit before they go home. Olympic Peninsula:. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Check out our Puppies page for more info. Hello and welcome to Bearcreek!! We are a small, in-home breeder of Multigenerational Australian Labradoodles. As a boutique breeder near Seattle, Washington, and Woodinville, Washington, we produce just a handful of puppies each year. This gives us valuable time to introduce each puppy with age appropriate socialization experiences with lots of love and attention, giving the puppies the best start in life. Our program focuses on producing healthy, sweet-tempered, genetically sound mini and medium Australian Labradoodle pups. All our dogs have non-shedding, allergy and asthma-friendly fleece coats. By the time your puppy arrives in your home it will have started on potty training and crate training. Known primarily for their sweet disposition, these dogs are increasingly sought-after for therapy and service work and make excellent family companions. We are proud to be a Gold Star member of the Australian Labradoodle Association of America and abide by the organization's standards for excellence. Home: Welcome. Family Raised. Fluffy faces and shedless coats It all begins with the gorgeous and innocent fluffy faces of the Multigen Australian Labradoodle. Labradoodles have the dreamiest eyes, the most adorable paws, and the sweetest personalities. They learn and adapt faster than you can imagine and are incredibly loyal, as every life partner should be. For extra doodle points, Labradoodles are also allergy-friendly with their hypoallergenic and non to very low shedding coats. Family love and socialization Constant attention, affection, and socialization keep the pups happy. We raise the puppies in our home in the middle of our living space. They're never more than a few steps away. We introduce the doodles to a variety of people and intentionally try to expose them to as many different traits as possible. They smell us making dinner; they hear it when the wind slams a door shut; they sense it when someone in the house has a rough day. Overall, they experience all that goes on in a busy family home. These diverse experiences, coupled with love and lots of snuggles from family and friends, are the keys to a relaxed puppy and a well-socialized and calm adult Labradoodle with a compelling and flexible personality. All of the puppy culture experiences are important, but the family-raised element truly sets you up for success as a doodle parent. Health testing to the highest standard We want your doodle puppy to grow up happy and healthy and become a treasured family member for many years to come. You can rest easy knowing that your Labradoodle puppy has the healthiest parents possible. Your puppy will go home with you with a clean health report from our local veterinarian and all their puppy vaccinations through eight weeks of age. Lastly, while genetic health issues are rare, we include a two-year genetic health guarantee with all of our pups. Forever family connection and support One of the many reasons I decided to pivot from doodle parent to doodle breeder is that I love seeing these pups become cherished family members when matched with their forever families. Some folks adopt their Labradoodle and never need additional contact, and that's perfectly okay. Others are comforted knowing I am delighted to join and support them on this journey. I'm just a call or text away if you ever have questions. Plus, you'll quickly become an expert dog photographer if you're not one already. If you feel up to sharing, my family and I love seeing how your doodle happily ever after turned out. Not only are goldendoodles good with kids and easy to train, they thrive in both city and country environments. At Seattle Goldendoodles, we raise top quality goldendoodles for families who want to add a four legged member to their family. We are a small family who loves dogs. Each goldendoodle gets the love and attention they need to become well adjusted, happy pets. When you select your 8 week old goldendoodle, it will be crate trained, potty trained, and adjusted to in-home family living. We also guarantee your goldendoodle against hip dysplasia for 1 year. We are dog lovers, just like you. Read below to find out more about our beloved goldendoodles, and be sure to check out our numerous testimonials from happy, satisfied families. Keep in mind that we are not a puppy mill or a kennel — all of our goldendoodles are bred from F3 multi-generational dams and sires, so puppies are the ultimate F4 mini multigeneration goldendoodles. Seattle Goldendoodles We are not a kennel, but we are Doodle lover who specialize in raising red and apricot colored multi-generational goldendoodle puppies. We focus on quality and temperament, not quantity. Our puppies get daily exercise on our 1. Your Seattle goldendoodle will be affectionate, gentle, and easy to train. As a mix between a golden retriever and poodle, the goldendoodle is loving, highly intelligent, and makes an exceptional family dog. Selecting a goldendoodle breeder in Seattle can be difficult, so we offer the following information to help you make your decision. If you have any questions, please give us a call and we will be happy to answer them. When you select your puppy at 8 weeks, they will be appropriate age potty and crate trained for easier transition into their new home. This one-on-one care is something that big kennels are simply unable to offer, and it makes a tremendous difference when you introduce your new goldendoodle into your family environment. What is daily life like for Seattle goldendoodle puppies? Top Quality Care — Every goldendoodle puppy is a part of our family, and they are treated as such. They live with us in our home environment where they can become fully socialized with other dogs, children, and adults. They are involved in our daily activities and are fed top-quality foods and supplements to help them grow healthy and strong. Started for potty and crate Training — As we raise our goldendoodle puppies they get started a crate and potty training, bolstered by positive reinforcement. By the time you pick your new puppy up at 8 weeks, they will already be capable of a seamless transition into your home. Life in a Clean Environment — All of our goldendoodle puppies are raised in a clean, in-home environment. Why does this matter? Our Seattle goldendoodle puppies are happy and well-adjusted because they understand the home environment and its sacred nature. Our puppies are constantly surrounded with normal, everyday household sounds and smells, making their transition far easier on both puppy and owner. Play and Exercise — Our home sits on more than an acre of land where our Seattle goldendoodle puppies get the exercise they need to be healthy and strong. This daily play time also helps them become comfortable around other dogs and humans, so that you can take them on walks and interact with other dog owners wherever your travels take you. When you pick up your new goldendoodle puppy, we provide you with all of the information and guidelines you need to ensure your new family member gets the care it needs to reward you with many years of unquestioned love. Sires and Dams — Your puppies health and temperament owe much to the health and agility of its parents. All of our Seattle goldendoodle puppies come from an F3 multi-generational line, which makes them F4 pups. Our dedication to raise of genetically different parents creates healthier, more vigorous goldendoodles. We guarantee all of our goldendoodle puppies against hip dysplasia for one year with puppy has to be spay and neutered within months of age. We raise our Seattle goldendoodle puppies on a diet of high-quality Canidae Life Stages kibble, which is a lamb and rice formula containing no corn or wheat. Both can cause health problems in dogs and puppies of all ages, but puppies are especially susceptible. Corn and wheat are used as nothing more than fillers in dog foods, and could cause your goldendoodle to have allergies, swelling, bloating, and other major health issues. We highly recommend that you continue to feed your goldendoodle top quality foods when you bring him or her into your home. Vet Care — Every goldendoodle puppy needs its shots to ensure its ongoing health and prevent worms from causing unnecessary health problems. All of our Seattle goldendoodle puppies go home with 4x de-worming and proper shot. Vet Certification fee and shipping fee, Is Responsibility of new owner. We do not ship puppies. Families are able to pick up their puppies. Your Goldendoodles health is our top priority We love animals, especially goldendoodles, and we want you to have the best dog possible Goldendoodles are amazing dogs with wonderful personalities. They get along with children and adults alike, and can be trained to take on a working role as a service or guide dog. Goldendoodles naturally get along with everyone and are highly social dogs. Seattle Goldendoodles Owner, Stephanie is a nurse who routinely brings her goldendoodles into Seattle hospitals to visit with patients. Stephanie and her husband absolutely adore Goldendoodles, which is why they started raising them in the first place. Our puppies are proven healthy, happy, and they are raised with endless amounts of love and affection. Contact us today for more information about our goldendoodle puppies Are you ready to bring one of these four legged bundles of joy into your Seattle home? Give us a call today and select the perfect goldendoodle puppy for your Seattle family. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small payment from qualifying purchases but these are all items from my shopping history and I often show in stories. Follow the sign up process, I would suggest listing 20 pounds as the adult weight and check puppy for the age. I believe it will tell you your dog will eat 4 pounds per week. After you get your intro offer you can change the cadence, the default seems to be every 5 weeks. You can also change between organic and value. You can do the entire process on the phone or sign up online and then call them at .I buy poop bags from Amazon and typically get at once because it is so much cheaper than places like Mud Bay. Another potty training tip is that I recommend not letting them have access to too large of an area at a time. I would suggest a baby gate — I like these extra tall walk through gates because they just make life easier. Just an example, if you hang in your living room in the evenings then start by just letting your pup have access to the living room and not the entire house. Small is good, it is comforting and keeps puppy from going potty in their crate. What I like about this style is that they can see everything happening but if you that is too much stimulation and you need to you cover it I suggest something light like a sheet or pillow case, nothing heavy because they get hot. I also send my families home with a snuggle puppy which helps comfort them while they are in the crate and reminds them of snuggling wit their siblings. I know there are some knockoff brands on Amazon but check out the reviews, they seem to have issues with the battery operated heartbeat. For some brands an XS harness is for a 5 pound dog. If you get a puppy from me, I use a comb on my puppies to desensitize them and I also put an electric toothbrush on their feet to get them used to having their feet touched. Here are the tools that I use. My groomer recommended starting with a slicker brush as the first step to combing your dog. After you use the brush you can move to combing them out. I have about 4 of these combs and they are my favorite because you can get all the way to their skin and not just brush the ends of their hair. If there is a mat I need to cut through I have one of these de-matting combs. They are shipped for a dominant right hand but it was easy enough to switch — one side is very sharp so again be careful — watch your fingers butalso be careful combing out your dog with this item. I blow the coat completely dry and with one hand on the dryer and the other on the comb using the dryer makes the comb move through their coat so easily. You are going to go home with some toys but puppies will be teething so they are going to want to chew A LOT. I recommend you have a generous supply of toys! Squeaky toys, stuffed toys, hard toys, and chewy toys! This is important for your puppy, and will make life better for them and you! I do not recommend buying rawhide because I feel it is not a digestible, safe product for dogs but that is just my opinion and stores continue to sell — just do some research. Puppies need supervision with toys and they have a better experience if you actually play with them. They love puzzles and they come in different levels — 8 week old puppies can start with level 1. BEDS: Your puppy is usually going to want to chew up and destroy even their dog bed. The truth is they are absolutely fine sleeping on the hard floor, they do not require a soft bed to feel comfortable. A lot of times a dog bed can make your puppy feel hot. I use freeze dried raw dog food for treats. The product is a little higher price for me to feed multiple dogs as their meal but the love it for treats and the small size is perfect. Our favorite brands are Vital Essentials — I have purchased the mini nibs in duck, rabbit, salmon, beef as well as their minnows.

Like buying clothes, the flotation device should fit your dog nicely. Most of the time, dog life jackets are adjustable and forgiving when it comes to fit. These doggos grow fast, so its life jacket 6 months ago may not fit just as well. It will also ensure a snug fit even if the life jacket gets wet. Aside from that, look for a nylon shell since it wicks moisture efficiently. It also keeps the flotation device in place even as your dog swims. Goldies are very adventurous, and they may try to get into the water at night. When this happens, the reflective trim will easily let you spot the doggo on the water. On the other hand, grab handles give you control over your pet. You can easily grab it from the water or prevent it from jumping off the boat. Some are fitted with D-rings where you can attach the leash. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Can dogs wear a human life jacket? Using a human life jacket on your Golden Retriever may do more harm than good, especially if your dog panics. Q: Do dogs need life jackets in pools? Q: How do I get my dog used to a life jacket? A: Almost all dogs will try to take off the life jacket the first time they wear it. The key here is associating the life jacket with treats and rewards. Putting it on your dog at home will also help in getting him used to the sensation of wearing one. Final words A life jacket for Golden Retriever will save your dog from various hazards in the water. It will also give you peace of mind that your pet is safe as you introduce them to water activities. What do you think of these dog life jackets? Share your thoughts below! Many dogs love to swim but still struggle to keep their heads above water. Give them the boost they need with the Guardian Gear Deluxe. The vest comes with two grab straps to make lifting your dog in and out of the water easy and safe, and the easy-release straps mean that it is quick to put on and take off. Also, no need for a collar, as integrated D-rings allow you to attach a leash. Pros: Extra buoyancy with marine-grade foam Special under-chin flotation piece to support the head and neck D-ring allows for leash attachment Cons: Affordable Limited durability If you worry about your dog keeping their head above water while swimming, the Guardian Hear can give you peace of mind. Buying Guide: Dog Life Vests There are quite a few factors to consider when choosing the right dog life jacket for your pup. Basic vests will have flotation material on the back and sides to keep your dog on top of the water. However, it is also possible to get vests that offer flotation on their bellies as well, which is good for dogs that are weaker swimmers and might need some extra help. It is also possible to get vests with additional buoyant material around the head and neck to help ensure that they can keep their head above water. This is good for weak swimmers, older dogs, or pups with a bit of fear of the water. Color Depending on where you are swimming, being able to keep an eye on your golden retriever in the water can be a challenge. Dog life vests can also help with this, with bright colored vests making them easier to spot at a distance. It can also be a good idea to invest in a vest with some reflective elements, as this can make your golden retriever easier to see in low light. Handles If something does happen and you need to lift your golden retriever out of the water, this can be more challenging than it seems. A good dog life jacket will have handles that allows you to get a good grip on your pooch when lifting them out of the water. It is also a good idea to choose a dog life jacket with a D-Ring to attach a leash, as it will probably be easier to attach this directly to their harness, rather than expecting them to wear both the jacket and a collar. Easy Fitting If your dog likes the water, they will probably quickly associate seeing the life vest with the promise of a fun day out. It can be quite difficult to put a life vest on a very excited or very scared dog. At the same time, you want to be able to remove the vest quickly in case you need to examine a wound, or you just want to get it off before they drag dirty water into your car or home. The easier it is to get the vest on your dog the better, and quick-release straps that let your dog run off into freedom with minimum fuss will also make your life a lot easier. A vest that is easy to wash by just popping in the machine will save you a lot of time. Weight While dog life vests are designed for them to use in the water, they will also be running about in them. Too big and they can slip out, too small and it will be very uncomfortable. If your dog is in discomfort, they are likely to start acting out which is the last thing you need when on the water. How To Measure Your Dog For A Life Vest Each life vest manufacturer will have different requirements for fitting their life vest to your dog, but there are a few common measurements that you will need for any vest: Weight — You probably already know the weight for your dog from their regular trip to the vet, but if not, pop them on the scales. Check out this full tutorial on how to measure your dog for a life vest from PetFoodDirect. Safety Tips Of course, keeping your dog safe in the water is about more than just popping them in a life jacket. There are many things to consider to keep them safe in the water. Make sure they know how to swim. Teaching most dogs to swim should be quite straightforward, as they are natural swimmers. But you do need to introduce them to the water gradually, taking them into shallows where they feel safe and you feel safe protecting them, where they can discover how to swim. Use some of our training-approved dog treats to help make the process a little smoother. Also keep in mind that some dogs, especially smaller dogs and thin dogs such as greyhounds, simply may never be comfortable on the water. As a word of warning, according to vet Dr Mary Fuller : Even with the best-designed life jackets, some dogs may be better off onshore. Water Conditions As much as possible, make sure you are aware of the water conditions before you let your dog loose. And you are a bit more wary of taking them out on the river when you know it is flood season. These same considerations should apply with your dog. Be actively aware of the current water conditions, and make a call on whether it is safe or if you need to pay a bit more attention than usual. Other Considerations Always give your dog a bath after they have been in the water. Seawater minerals, salt, chlorine, and algae can all irritate their skin and damage their fur. Remove their flea collar before they go in the water so that it does not reduce the effectiveness of their protection. Find out more about cleaning their ears with this dog grooming guide. Learn canine CPR so that you are prepared in case of the worst. Never leave your dog alone in the water. The short answer is yes, depending on what they are doing. If they will be swimming in the deep ocean, rough currents, or unfamiliar waters, then a life vest is a good idea. Do Dogs Float In Water? Dogs naturally float much in the same way as humans do. While they are naturally buoyant, this does not mean that are not at risk. Dogs will also naturally start to paddle when they find themselves in water, but if they panic, they can quickly find themselves sinking. They may also not have the strength and stamina to get themselves to safety. The chlorine and chemicals in pool water can cause dogs to have itchy dry skin and a dull coat. If they only swim occasionally, you should consider washing them after every swim. If they are regular swimmers, then consider washing once a week and using shampoo specially formulated to help with chlorine or salt water. Salt water does have beneficial advantages for dogs, just like humans, but it is very drying. So, if your dog spends a lot of time in salt water, it is a good idea to shampoo them regularly in order to avoid dry flaky skin and a dull coat. The Verdict Choosing the right life jacket to keep your dog safe in the water can be challenging, as there are a lot of things to consider. If you just want the best all-around vest for use in a variety of situations, then Paws Aboard is a great place to start your search. If what you want is something affordable for occasional use, then check out the Outward Hound Granby Ripstop for something that will do the job. Outward Hound also make the pricier Dawson Swimmer for dogs that love to swim regularly. If you are looking to take your dog out to sea on your boat, or they accompany you on more adventurous trips on the water, then consider a more heavy duty vest from EzyDog or KONG. If you need something that you can use in pretty much any situation, including good old rain, then the Kurgo has everything you need. Remember that keeping your dog safe on the water is not just about strapping on a vest. Dogs need to be trained from a young age how to swim and how to behave around water. You should also be confident in your ability to recall them or get them to drop something in order to keep them out of danger. You May Also Like. The best life jacket for a Golden Retriever should be easy to fit, comfortable to wear, and reliable to keep your pup afloat. It should have a rescue handle on the back to assist your dog out of the water and be bright in colour to improve visibility. An attached D-Ring is essential for clipping a leash on to have better control of your pup while in and out of the water. The best life jacket for your Golden Retriever should match the intended activity. True life-saving life jackets are made of high-quality materials and intended for deep-water use. Other life jackets designed to help keep your pup afloat can be great for splashing around the pool, or learning how to swim. The factors below will help you narrow your choices. Here are the things you need to consider: Size and Fit Size and fit can differ among the many brands of life jackets. Many manufacturers use weight as a guideline as well, in order to ensure the life jacket has enough buoyancy to keep your pup afloat. The life jacket should fit your pup now. A jacket that is too loose will serve no purpose, as it will twist and turn in the water, becoming ineffective. It should fit snug and secure, but not be tight. Your dog should be able to sit, stand, and move around comfortably while wearing the life jacket. It should not restrict your dog in any way from going to the bathroom. Bright Colour Visibility is an important factor when it comes to choosing a life jacket. Bright colours will allow your dog to be spotted easily in the water by you or others. Many life jackets have reflective strips to improve visibility even more. Rescue Handle A life jacket should have at least one rescue handle on the back, some have two. Rescue handles are important when you need to help your dog out of the water. A rescue handle is a great feature for senior dogs as well. It allows you to offer assistance if they have mobility issues. D-Ring Many life jackets will have a D-Ring attached to them for you to easily clip on a leash. This will allow you to keep your dog safe while walking to and from the water. It also allows you to control how far your pup goes out in the water. Many dog-friendly beaches also enforce a dog leash policy. Buoyancy Buoyancy is the main purpose of a life jacket, to ensure your dog stays afloat. Life jackets will have a maximum buoyant weight limit listed. This means that if your Golden weighs 83 pounds, it is best to go with a jacket that has a maximum buoyancy of 85 pounds or more. Flotation panels offer added buoyancy. Intended Activity Life jackets for dogs come in a variety of styles. Many of them are intended for different activities. Typically, the cute and fun life jackets adorned with shark fins are designed to help keep your pup afloat. They are ideal for puppies learning how to swim, or for splashing around in the pool. These life jackets provide plenty of buoyancy, as they are intended for deep-water use. You may think that Golden Retrievers are fish with fur, which is true for most of them! But, even the strongest swimmers can benefit from the added safety of a life jacket. Here are 8 reasons why your Golden Retriever needs a life jacket: 1. Accidents Happen Accidents and emergencies can happen at any time. When water is part of the equation, the danger is heightened. Unfortunately, I have heard many stories of dogs drowning in pools, accidentally going overboard in a boat, as well as having a seizure while swimming. Many Golden Retrievers, especially puppies shy away from the water. A life jacket is a great way to boost their confidence when they are learning how to swim. Are you having trouble getting your pup to go in the water? Another dog in the water will encourage your pup to join in the fun. Also, you may wish to start out slow, with a doggie pool. Exhaustion Exhaustion happens to even the strongest swimmers. Having a life jacket on your Golden ensures that he will not drown due to exhaustion. There could be branches, weeds, or debris that your Golden can get tangled up in, leading to trouble. Unpredictable Waters Water in lakes, rivers, or oceans can quickly change. Strong currents and tides moving in can push your Golden downstream or out to sea, not to mention cause exhaustion from swimming against them. Water Activities If your Golden Retriever is planning on accompanying you on a boat, kayak, canoe, or any other activity out on the water, a life jacket is a good idea! Even a water-loving Golden Retriever can get panicked if they happen to accidentally fall overboard. Especially if the water is cold, to begin with, or they are in the water for a long time. A life jacket will help to keep them warm and prevent hypothermia. Unlike walking, which can be hard on the joints, swimming is a great low-impact activity that allows your Golden to get some exercise, without further injuring the joints. Wearing a life jacket gives extra support to your Golden. It is designed for experienced swimmers but would be suitable for all levels. This life jacket comes in a bright green and turquoise colour so your Golden can be easily spotted out on the water. It is lightweight and breathable, featuring a large power mesh belly band to drain excess water. With 2 rescue handles, a D-ring leash attachment clip, and adjustable straps, the Standley Dog Life Jacket ticks off all the boxes! It is available in a variety of sizes. Chest circumference is the most important measurement, as well as weight. D-ring Leash Clip.

Articles Scottish Terriers possess a unique personality and appearance that make them some of the most well-loved dog breeds of all time. With their extraordinary features and character, no wonder they are interbred with other canine breeds, resulting in adorable Scottish Terrier mixes! Part Beagle and part Scottish Terrier, the Sceagle possesses droopy ears and a wiry coat just like both parents. As for the Cavottish, this Scottish Terrier mix has a silky coat and triangular ears. Find out more about these adorable mixes below. These pups have an oval-shaped body like a Pittie but with wiry coats like a Scottish Terrier. These canines are independent and slightly stubborn as a Scottie but super loyal and protective of their owners as a Pit Bull. The Scottish Doxie Schnauzer is a mix of three breeds that result in an extraordinary appearance — tall ears like a Schnauzer and Scottish Terrier but short, stubby legs like a Dachshund. These pooches have a wiry coat but with a larger nose than a Basset Hound. Personality-wise, they are sweet and eager to please creatures. These cuties have curly coats like a Poodle, large eyes like a Chihuahua, and a long body like a Scottish Terrier. Athletic and full of energy, they are fun to be with. Whether you need an adventurous companion or a snuggle buddy, you can have the best of both worlds from these pups. They often have a wiry coat like a Scottish Terrier but a long body and short legs like a Dachshund. Inquisitive, curious, and ever-playful, you will find the Scottish Chiweenie a joy to be around. These canines are very loyal to their owners and will do anything to protect you — and can be a little jealous when there are other household pets around. These doggos have medium-length, wiry coats, often in shades of tan and black. Their ears are droopy, and their eyes are dark brown. Active and full of energy, you need a lot of outdoor space for this playful fellow. These dogs love to run around and explore. Be sure to keep them in a large fenced area as their prey drives are high — typical of a terrier. Always on the go, these canines need lots of exercise each day. They thrive on activity and would be excellent companions for your outdoor adventures or even just a walk around the neighborhood. They often come in a coat color combination of black and white. Since both parents are highly active creatures, the Scorgi enjoys being outdoors and running around. These pooches are better off in a home without other household pets as they love to have your full attention. These dogs are curious and courageous creatures. They are excellent watchdogs because of their superb guarding and protective nature. Early socialization is a must for these pups to prevent excessive barking. These pups often have smooth coats, unlike the typical wiry fur of other Scottish Terrier mixes. When you want a pet that is affectionate, fearless, and easy to be with, the Scottish German is for you. Plus, they have a shorter build than a GSD, which makes them ideal for a more compact home — and you get to enjoy the endearing personalities of both breeds in one package! A mix between the wiry-coated Scottish Terrier and the pudgy Yorkshire Terrier, the Scorkie is a real charmer. These pups, however, often have a smoother coat than a Yorkie but with taller triangular ears like a Scottie. But overall, these dogs are small fellows with a long coat and an elongated muzzle just like both parents. The tail is often high and commonly docked. Intelligent and stubborn, these dogs require early socialization to make sure they get along well with other members of the household, including other pets. They are a better fit for homes without very young children as they are not quite as indulgent as other Scottish Terrier mixes. These dogs are not quite common nowadays, and not many of them can be found in the United Kingdom. Low and long, this cutie has a body that hangs low to the ground. The fur is smooth and long and covers the eyes just like a typical Skye Terrier. With their double coats, Scottish Skye Terriers are not quite the best option for allergy sufferers. They have small and long bodies with a fluffy muzzle like a beard. Their ears are upright and triangular in shape with a lot of fur. These are expressive and alert dogs that are perfect as hunting companions. They can be a bit tricky to train because of their stubborn streak, which makes them more suitable for experienced owners. As for their appearance, they look much like both parents. Their fur is smooth instead of wiry, and their ears are tall and triangular just like a Scottish Terrier. These pups have coats in various colors, such as black, tan, and white. Their appearance may resemble either one of the parents, depending on whose gene is stronger. But unlike a purebred Scottish Terrier, the Scottie Schnauzer tends to have floppy ears. However, the ears are still triangular with fluffy fur. They often come in long black coats that are wavy and smooth. They have curly, soft fur, although some may have straight and wiry coats. Their body shape resembles that of a Scottish Terrier but with longer legs like a Poodle. These pups may either be small or medium-sized, with coats in shades of grey, brown, or black. They do not adjust easily to a new environment, so they are well-suited for folks who do not travel too often. Their coats are long and may either be wiry or straight. Sco-Shis have a long muzzle, which is more like the appearance of a Scottish Terrier instead of a Shih-Tzu. Their ears are floppy, and their big eyes are dark in color. They have smooth and long coats in various colors, such as white, black, or tan. As with most Scottish Terriers, these pups are active and energetic. These dogs have a shorter muzzle but are not quite pushed in like a purebred Pug. They have triangular ears that tend to flop over, and their tails curl over the back. Because of their loyalty and curiosity, they are excellent watchdogs. They are often suspicious of strangers, so it is best to train them at a young age to prevent any negative behavior issues. These are fluffy pups with a long body and facial features that may resemble either the Pekingese or the Scottie parent. Their coats are soft and fluffy yet will require regular brushing as they are prone to shedding. Do keep in mind that these canines have a stubborn streak, which makes training a bit of a challenge for first-time dog owners. The Scottish Terrier is another small dog that can go as light as 4 lbs to as heavy as 22 lbs as an adult. Their muzzles are medium-length, and they have large dark eyes. Scotese pups have a wide range of appearances, depending on which parent has a more dominant trait. For instance, they may have long and silky hair like a Maltese or wiry and medium-length coat like a Scottie. These dogs are small in stature and can weigh about 20 lbs as adults. They come in a variety of coat colors, although black is the most common. When it comes to their appearance, they may either look like a Scottish Terrier, which is typical. However, their muzzles are shorter, just like a Cairn Terrier. However, towards strangers, these pooches can be aggressive, which is why they make good guard dogs. As for their appearance, these pups are small in build. In fact, they stand no taller than 11 inches as adults. Their coats are often straight and in various colors, including black and white. They have short and stubby legs with long fur. They are compact-bodied pups with either a tapered or a long muzzle. Their coats may vary from soft and silky to straight and wiry. Elegant and stubborn, Scotchis can be tricky to train for inexperienced canine owners. However, once well-trained, they make amazing pets and affectionate companions. They are small pups, although some may have medium-sized bodies. Their ears are tall and triangular but may also be floppy like a Dachshund. These doggos have smooth coats, while others may have a wiry texture. As for the coat colors, these can come in different shades, such as brown, tan, black, or a combination of these shades. They have big, bulging eyes like a Boston Terrier. As for their temperament, they are typically affectionate and friendly dogs. If you have kids at home, they are perfect pets because they tolerate young children well. They do prefer to be around people. Once left alone, they may be prone to separation anxiety. They have a broad muzzle like a Cocker Spaniel but a tail that may be more similar to a Terrier — docked or a little on the shorter side. Their coats are often in shades of brown, black, or white. They have silky coats like a Cocker and a little on the wavy side. They are floppy-eared canines like a Golden Retriever with rough and wiry coats, just like a Scottish Terrier. Friendly and energetic, these dogs need plenty of exercise. Be sure to take them out for walks and give them plenty of space to roam around to ward off the boredom. They are small pups with shorter front legs than their hind legs. As for their coat colors, these may be white or black, as well as grey or brown. Some may come in a combination of these colors, as well. These dogs have silky and long ears, just like their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parents. It is rare to see them with tall and erect ears like a purebred Scottie. When it comes to their temperament, this all depends on which parent has the strongest trait. Some may be friendly and patient with kids, such as a Cavalier, while others may be independent and stubborn as a Scottie. They are medium-sized dogs that grow up to 15 inches at the shoulder. Their coats are short like their Beagle parent but may also be wiry like a Scottie. These pooches have big brown eyes and different shades for the coat, including orange and white, white and red, or plain brown or solid black. Grooming is fairly easy, especially for short-haired varieties of this mixed breed. Terrier Mixes are excellent dogs with personalities that are not quite predictable. They are usually confident and smart dogs with not as high of a prey drive as a purebred Terrier dog breed. Scottish Terriers naturally do not get along well with cats because they are mischievous and fearless dogs that have a high prey drive. However, when well-trained, they should do well in a household with other pets, including cats. In recent years, the popularity of Scottish Terriers has unfortunately declined. This is all because of the recent development and breeding of other designer dogs, which are now more sought-after than the Scotties. The Border Collie has maintained its standing as a highly intelligent worker over the years. Border Collies have excelled in a variety of sports, including agility, Frisbee, and herding. The Labradoodle is a special breed of dog with an interesting past. Their narrative starts in Australia. Although an exact date for the start of breeding is still up for debate, researchers generally agree that it happened in or .This medium-sized herding dog typically weighs around 45 pounds and boasts a sturdy yet agile physique on a slender frame. It can have either a short and coarse smooth coat or a medium-length, feathered rough coat. Both coat varieties provide weather protection, and the breed showcases a wide range of color patterns, with black-and-white or tricolor combinations of black, white, and tan being the most common. Border Collies can have merle or even brindle patterns, though these are less typical and give them an Australian shepherd-like appearance. With their ears set high atop their heads and frequently folded over at the tip, border collies constantly appear vigilant. Their tails are left long and bushy—and never stop wagging—unlike other working breeds. Even though it is the biggest of the three sizes, it nevertheless has a proportionate appearance. Under all that fluff, the Labradoodle has a powerful body that can excel on any agility course. The majority of Labradoodles appreciate the slightly bulkier Lab frame with the elegancy of the Poodle. Fully grown Border Collies generally weigh between 30 and 45 pounds and stand at a shoulder height of 18 to 22 inches. On the other hand, Labradoodles reach an adult weight ranging from 50 to 65 pounds, with a shoulder height of 21 to 24 inches. They have two coats—a softer undercoat and a rougher outer coat. The medium-length rough version has feathering on the belly, chest, and legs. The smooth variant has a generally coarser texture than the rough variety, is short all around, and has less feathering. Collies typically wear a black coat with a white blaze on his face, neck, feet, legs, and tail tip, whether or not he is tanned. However, these dogs may possess any solid color, merle, bicolor, or tricolor other than white. The fact that the majority have single-layer coats makes them more suitable for allergy patients. Therefore, you might want to stick with a purebred Poodle or similar hypoallergenic breed if you want your next dog to be simple for allergy sufferers to tolerate. Nevertheless, you should be aware that no dog is entirely hypoallergenic. Labradoodles can have straight, curly, or spirally textured hair. Curls on the wool-coated kind are typically looser. Both coats should not be longer than four inches. This purebred dog needs a lot of exercise; they get up every morning eager to bring you the mail or lead the sheep herd. Overall, Labradoodles are sociable, fairly playful, and simple to teach. Even though they might not immediately feel at ease around other animals, they eventually do. For big families that are always doing something, they are the perfect breed. The Labradoodle, in contrast to the prestigious Border Collie, is a hybrid dog created by mating two pure breeds. In essence, they are a cross between a standard Poodle and a Labrador Retriever. The Labradoodle is comparable to that high school best buddy that never matures. Even as elderly people, or in this case, dogizens, they can still act like children. They have a lot of energy, are highly friendly and playful, and are constantly seeking for fun and excitement. Labradoodles become so accustomed to being happy-go-lucky that even the smallest sign of grief in their eyes can be upsetting. So, treat them like you would your own darling children! Dogs towards Family The most intelligent canine breed is thought to be the Border collie. As a result, they are simple to train and are capable of learning many feats. Border Collies can be taught to obey instructions and carry out household chores as a family pet. If properly trained, the Labradoodle can make the perfect family pet. It is an intelligent dog. They are affable, accepting, and treat each person as if they were their best friend. They are committed to their family and a fun-loving partner in life. This breed of dog is exceptionally intelligent, diligent, and goal-oriented. The Border Collie is devoted and can get along well with kids. While Labradoodles are active and devoted to kids, they have a tendency to get overexcited and may unintentionally trip up younger kids. Other People In order for your Border Collie dog to remain well-adjusted as they mature, it is crucial that you socialize them as soon as you bring them home. Take them for walks in the neighborhood, to the dog park, and in the presence of strangers so they can become used to new people and surroundings. The fortunate Labradoodle is endowed with many of the best traits of both Labradors and Poodles, making them social and affectionate. In general, they are quite affectionate even with strangers and love being around people. Once they get to know them, this breed accepts other animals as playmates and is nonaggressive. But many of their herding habits might be harmful to your other pets. No offense is intended, but you should put in some effort before bringing another pet home. Due to their heritage as guide dogs, Labradoodles have a pleasant, amiable disposition. They are warm, pleasant with other animals, wonderful with kids, and very bright. They are ideal as pets because of all these characteristics. Behaviour Issues Border Collies are renowned for their intelligence and high levels of vigor. If they are not sufficiently physically active and mentally stimulated, their personality qualities might result in destructive and obsessional behavior. The same can occur if you overexert yourself. Because of their herding instincts, this can result in adult Collies to herd young children, who frequently and unintentionally nip them, frightening younger children and their parents. Labradoodles are prone to a variety of behavioral issues, including resource guarding, aggression toward other animals, separation anxiety, and destructive chewing. These issues can typically be resolved with appropriate training and socialization, as well as, if necessary, consulting a qualified dog trainer or behaviorist. These canines actually require at least a few high-intensity activities throughout their lives. Not that you should avoid taking your Border Collie on walks. For instance, they may begin the day with a minute walk followed by a minute game of fetch in the park. Finally, they engage in 30 minutes of nighttime running. Training Labradoodle dogs is simple. Scheduled daily strolls are recommended. This breed can be an excellent choice for you if you lead an active lifestyle. To reduce hair shed throughout the house as a result of shedding, more frequent brushing is a good suggestion. Only bathe when necessary, which is roughly every four months or when he is extremely unclean or smells bad. Additionally, monthly nail trimming is advisable, and a weekly check of the ears is essential to look for debris, redness, or signs of infection. As your dog ages, you should comb their coat once a week, bathe them as needed. Grooming Comparison between Labradoodle versus Border Collie The Border Collie can have a medium-length double coat that is smooth or rough, with a tough outer coat and a velvety undercoat. They need to be groomed regularly; weekly brushing is essential to keep the coat clear of tangles. The feet will stay comfy and healthy as a result of this. As your Labradoodle transitions from a puppy to an adult, their coat will undergo changes, transitioning from the short and fluffy coat of a puppy to the full coat of an adult dog. In general, you should count on conducting an efficient basic brushing You might wish to raise the frequency during seasonal sheds for Labradoodles who shed a lot. Shedding Because Border Collies are of the long-haired, double-coated variety and have a tendency to shed a significant amount twice yearly, in the spring and the fall, many owners refer to the process of dealing with Border Collie shedding as a full-time maintenance job. The Labradoodle was originally bred to be a low-shedding dog like the Poodle, but there can be variations in coat type and size even within the same litter. As a result, some people with allergies may have to give up their Labradoodles due to shedding. Breeders are strongly advised to screen for hip dysplasia and perform a comprehensive eye exam by the Border Collie Association of America. The club advises additional testing for conditions such trapped neutrophil syndrome, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, deafness, epilepsy, and progressive retinal atrophy PRA. Labradoodles are generally healthy breeds. Nevertheless, they are also prone to the health issues that can affect either of their parent breeds. There is a risk for Labradoodles, just as there is for Labs, who frequently experience hip and elbow dysplasia. Myopathies, illnesses that affect the muscles, and exercise-induced collapse are among issues that Doodles may encounter. Life Span Comparison Border Collies have a to year life span. Border Collies live an average of .The average lifespan of a Labradoodle is between 12 and 14 years with an average of lifespan of 13 years. Compared to Labradoodles, Border Collies live longer. A typical adult dog needs 1. Although this breed typically maintains its shape and fitness, older dogs may start to gain weight. The feeding schedule may then need to be adjusted. They can also gain nutrients from cereals, fruits, and vegetables. To maintain their boundless vitality, Doodles must make sure they consume the right amounts of protein, lipids, carbs, and fiber. Knowing the macronutrients your Labradoodle requires is essential to feeding him food that can promote his development as a puppy and help retain his active and playful character. Your Doodle may become overweight or even malnourished if the protein to fat or protein to carb ratio is off. Health Issues Border Collies are described as the highest breed standard, as set by kennel bodies like the AKC, are maintained by responsible dog breeders. Canines who meet these requirements have a lower chance of passing on health problems to their offspring. The breed, however, is susceptible to several inherited health issues. Some situations to be aware of include the following: Hip dysplasia: This disease causes an improper development of the hip sockets. Osteochondrosis OCD : This leads to an abnormal growth of the cartilage at the end of a bone. Epilepsy is a term that refers to a neurological condition that can cause seizure activity. Collie Eye Anomaly: is a genetic condition that affects this breed. Border Collies typically only experience a little eyesight impairment. Breeders can do this through screening. Base on research, it shows that there are top five health conditions affecting Labradoodles and these are: Allergies.

She is sweet and playful. We have not bred her yet. Cadence Cadence is a 4 year old, Olde English Bulldog. She is sweet, loving and always ready to cuddle. We have bred her twice. Photos can be seen on the Puppies for sale page. Panda Panda is a 2 year old English Bulldog. She is spunky and very active. We have not bred her to date. Mack Mack is a 4 year old Olde English Bulldogge. He is the sweetest, most loving dog I have ever known, he gives hugs and kisses. He loves to play, he is the best cuddler ever. We have bred him to Cadence twice. Photos can be seen on the bottom of the Puppies for Sale page. He will be our largest male. He sired his first litter with Daisy and photos can be seen on the Puppies for Sale page. Daisy Daisy is a 3 year old Olde English Bulldogge. She is sweet and spunky. She is our largest female. Photos of her first litter can be seen on the Puppies for Sale page. Cookie Cookie is a 3 year old Olde English Bulldogge. She is Daisy's sister and smaller in stature. She is loving and sweet. Photos from her first litter can be seen on the Puppies for Sale page. All Rights Reserved. Questions about Bulldog puppies for sale in Houston TX? We have answers. How much are Bulldog puppies for sale in Houston TX? Also known under the names British Bulldog and English Bulldog, the Bulldog originated in the UK but has since spread all over the world. The history of the breed goes back several centuries and these dogs were first used for things like bull-baiting and cattle-driving. Over time, people saw that they made for great family pets too. Are Bulldogs easy to train? Bulldog puppies for sale Houston are surprisingly easy to train thanks to their calm and gentle nature. They're very obedient animals, always eager to learn new things, great for things like toilet training and learning simple commands. In fact, many new Bulldog owners are amazed by how quick these dogs can learn the basics. Are Bulldogs good family dogs? Bulldog puppies Houston are highly popular with families all over the world, thanks in no small part to their loyal and loving nature. Some people might be concerned about leaving these big dogs with their young ones, but Bulldogs are surprisingly gentle with little children and love to spend time with them. So if you want a great family pet, be sure to consider a Bulldog for sale Houston. Am I limited to local breeders? Usually, we recommend buying from nearby Bulldog breeders in Houston whenever you can, as it simply makes things easier when it comes to picking up your pup and bringing it home. However, our network of trusted, vetted breeders stretches all across the nation and you can search as far and wide as you like. How do you screen breeders with Bulldogs for sale? We know that you want to find the best dog-loving Bulldog breeders Houston, and we're here to help. Whenever a breeder or business applies to join us, we screen them, paying special attention to a range of key factors like experience, ethics, and more in order to find only the finest providers of Bulldogs for sale in Houston. Why is Uptown Puppies different from other networks with Bulldogs for sale? There are many sites you can use to find a Houston Bulldog puppy for sale, but lots of them are sadly way better at marketing than actually helping people connect with honest, ethical breeders. There are plenty of scammers and low-quality breeders out there, but you won't find a single one of them here at Uptown since we scan every single one. How does Uptown work? Here at Uptown, we want to make your search for Houston Bulldog puppies for sale as simple and stress-free as possible. To start off, take a look at the currently available pups and feel free to ask questions and learn more from the respective breeders and businesses. When you're ready to go to the next stage, simply make arrangements with the breeder for the collection or delivery of your Houston Bulldog for sale. What are some of the common Bulldog health problems? As with other breeds, Bulldogs can suffer from a range of health issues. Anyone looking for a Bulldog for sale Houston should be aware of these issues in advance to be able to seek out timely veterinary care. Bulldogs can have several eye and respiratory problems, and incontinence can become an issue as they get older. Buy your Bulldog Houston from trusted breeders to have the best chance of a healthy pup. Are Bulldogs a good choice for apartments? Bulldog puppies in Houston have proven to be a great choice with people living in apartments due to their low energy levels and medium-size. They don't need too much space to be content and don't have high exercise requirements either. A Bulldog for sale in Houston is, therefore, a breed you can consider if you live in an apartment or small home. Are there any Bulldog puppies for sale right now? As one of America's favorite breeds, Bulldog litters are appearing almost constantly all over the nation, so there are nearly always pups available. Your dream dog might be out there right now, and you can start your search immediately, viewing the currently available Houston Bulldogs for sale and then getting in touch with the breeders or businesses responsible to learn more about them.

The greatest danger to newborn puppies is getting chilled. Puppies cannot regulate their body temperature for the first two weeks of life and can die if they are not kept warm. If you need to separate them from the mother dog to move them, they can chill quickly, so moving them must be done with care. Picking Up the Puppy Wash your hands before picking up the puppies. Be sure the mother dog is comfortable letting you handle them. Prepare her by speaking quietly to her in a reassuring manner. Run your hand over each puppy gently, and slide your hand under one puppy at a time. If the puppies are large, place both hands under the puppy. Carefully pick up the puppy. Moving Puppies Have a box, dog crate or clean laundry basket large enough to hold the litter beside you. Place a clean towel inside. Heat a pet-safe disk according to the directions and place it under the towel. Make the sure disk has a cover and will not directly touch the puppies. Carefully place each puppy in the container. Cover the box or basket with a towel. She will want to follow you. Let her accompany you as you move the puppies, and show her the new location. When you relocate the puppies, place them one at a time in the new location and let the mother dog watch you. She likely will join her litter as you place them. A mother dog will not want to be separated from her puppies, and any separation should be as brief as possible. The puppies need to begin nursing as soon as they are born, and will nurse frequently for several weeks. Moving by Car If it's necessary for you to move a litter by car, place the puppies in a dog crate lined with towels that can be secured with a seat belt in your car. Use a heated disk to keep them warm while you travel. Put the mother dog in a separate crate so she does not lay on the pups while you travel. Maintain the temperature in the vehicle at a minimum of 70 degrees. If the outdoor temperature is cold, move the puppies as quickly as possible in a covered box. Whelping means the process where a female dog gives birth to puppies. And a whelping box is a container or box designed to keep the puppies safe and warm. Having a whelping box makes it convenient for the mother to give birth comfortably. Female dogs are very protective of their puppies. Hence the nesting box offers a sense of security. Female dogs need assistance and a safe place to give birth. Hence, a whelping pen would be of great help. If your dog is about to give birth, it would be better to get a box or make it yourself. For a small dog like Pomeranian, you can convert a large card box into a whelping pen. You can put your creativity into the process and make a nesting box for your dog. If your dog is big, she might probably give birth to a large number of puppies. Hence, the size of the box should be large enough to fit the puppies and the mother. Furthermore, you can get the box from a pet store if creativity and DIY are not your forte. Here are some of the factors that you need to consider: The sides of the pen should be high enough that can keep the puppies safe for three weeks. Also, make sure that the mother can move to and fro freely. The size of the pen should be spacious enough for your dog and puppies. It should have enough space where the mother can feed her pups comfortably. In addition, it should allow them to move freely. It will help to keep the pups warm when the mom is not around. These are the factors that you need to consider while getting a nesting box. It helps the mother and the pups in the long run. You would notice the growth within the first few weeks. They can move and stand up over the sides of the whelping pen. By three weeks, they become mobile and able to move towards the edge of the nesting box. However, before it reaches that stage, you should take care of it diligently. Some pups would go astray and get lost. Hence, getting a box with proper height is essential. Sometimes the mother has to go out of the box for a nature call or food. The box offers a sense of security both to the dog owner and the mother. When the puppies are born, they have no control over their body temperature. So, while the mom is out, the box will keep them warm. However, you have to make sure that the bottom of the box is covered with a soft blanket. By three weeks, they will start moving, and some puppies might even get out of the box. So, the real chaos begins when they reach three weeks. It would be best if you were more careful than ever. How to Keep the Nesting Box Clean? Taking care of puppies can be quite tiring. Once the puppies are born safely in the box, it would be better to change the sheet or the beddings. The mother will take care of it. However, from the second to the third week, the real work starts. It will help if you make sure that the box is clean. While cleaning the box, you can keep the pups temporarily in a warm blanket. You need to replace the sheet or newspaper at least twice or thrice per day. However, keeping the box clean prevents the puppies from possible bacterial infections. It also helps to keep the puppies clean. You should see that the nesting box is clean and dry. So, like a responsible dog owner , make sure that the box is clean and warm. Changing the Whelping Box to Other Areas Once the puppies have passed the first week, you place the box in other areas. It will help them to get used to the new smell and sounds. However, make sure that the place is quiet and warm. Some kids would like to hold the pups, which would be too early and maybe dangerous. During the first two weeks, puppies are pretty delicate. So, it would be best to keep far away from children. The first three weeks are a crucial moment for you and the pups. The puppies are in their developing stage, and they need a quiet and calm environment to grow. So, you should make sure that puppies are kept safe and warm. They would be too young to take the regular food and would cause indigestion. But you can keep water for the mother. They get very thirsty while taking care of the puppies. She requires good protein and energy to keep the pups fed through her milk. You can place the food in the water once they can move or walk. However, make sure that the food is easily digestible. Also, puppies tend to eat food without a limit. So, you should give the food moderately. Overeating can cause indigestion and vomiting. Hence, it would help if you were careful not to overfeed them. It offers a sense of security to the mother and the dog owners as well. Having a nesting box helps to keep the puppies from going astray. The first three weeks are crucial for the puppies to grow and develop healthily. Having the right size of the whelping box can help both the puppies and the mother move freely. It allows the mother to breastfeed the puppies comfortably. If your dog is about to give birth, it would be better to arrange a whelping box. It offers safety and assurance to both the mother and puppies. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. A whelping box is an important item to have when puppies are about to be born. You can construct something yourself or buy a specifically designed boxes from pet stores. When can puppies leave the whelping box? Puppies can often leave the whelping box at 3 weeks old. At this age, puppies can move out of the whelping box as they become more mobile. Puppies can stand up and even climb out of the whelping box nest. At this age, puppies start to explore outside of their nest, to find out more about the wide and exciting world around them. Well, I can tell you that a whelping box will help you and the mother cope better with a horde of tiny puppies in their first few weeks. What is a whelping box? Also known as a nest or whelping pen, the whelping box is a container designed to keep the newborn litter in one safe and cozy place. The mother also likes to have a place where she can give birth to her puppies in comfort while having a sense of security. Whelping means to give birth hence the name of the box. It should be placed in a quiet part of the house and set up a couple of weeks before your dog gives birth. This gives her time to get familiar with the box. Image via Pixabay. What can I use as a whelping box? If your dog is a little girl, you could convert a large, sturdy cardboard box into a nesting box. You can make your own if carpentry is your hobby or you could go to the local pet store and buy a whelping box. What to look out for when picking a whelping box You need to make sure you pick a whelping box that takes into consideration the following factors: The sides are high enough to keep the puppies safely contained in their first 3 weeks but low enough for the mother to move in and out freely. The size is big enough to accommodate all the puppies being born. The bottom of the box may come with whelping pads or you can simply line it with newspapers and a soft blanket. Some breeders will use wood shavings to cover the floor of the box. Some whelping boxes come with an extension which is great for more active puppies who are still too young to leave the pen but are moving around quite a bit. Picking the right whelping box goes a long way to keeping mum and pups comfortable and secure. When is the right age for puppies to leave the whelping box? Puppies develop and mature very quickly in their first few weeks. A whelping box is designed to keep the newborn puppies safe, warm, and comfortable. Keeping the puppies in one place and even using a heat lamp will help keep them warm. And, when the mother needs time out, she can leave the box and get some space knowing her pups are all safe in one spot. A whelping box gives you peace of mind your puppies are well-protected, staying warm, and not disappearing once they start crawling. But be ready for the exodus once they reach 3 weeks old and might start walking! How do I keep the whelping box clean? If your dog gave birth to the puppies in the whelping box, you would need to change the bedding once all the puppies are safely delivered. Keep them warm with a blanket. Use a non-chemical cleaning detergent and warm water to wash out the box. Remove any dirty bedding and replace with clean blankets, newspapers or wood shavings. Some breeders do put in a litter box for puppies once they start crawling. This could be the first step to house training your pups. Do regular inspections throughout the day to make sure the whelping box is always dry and clean. Can I move the whelping box to other areas? Once your puppies have passed their first week, you could consider moving them to different areas in the house. But remember, you need to keep them warm so make sure there are no draughts and the puppies are not too intimidated by the new environment. Be careful also with handling newborn puppies when moving them. For the first 3 weeks, the puppies are small, developing, and can be easily disturbed by too much activity around them. Do I need to put food and water in the whelping box? The puppies will be drinking milk from their mother for the first 3 to 4 weeks, before moving onto water. For the first 3 weeks, you could keep a bowl of water in the box for the mother. She will be very thirsty while nurturing her puppies. However, once the puppies start becoming mobile keep both the water and food outside the box. Conclusion Get ready for a whole lot of fun, but also stress. She will take them no doubt but being able to help just a little with whelping boxes, nesting, and more will make it so much easier for you. You might also like…. Stages of Puppy Development Birth to 3 weeks The first 20 days of a pups life it is not capable of much learning. The mental capacity is about nil. The pup will react when it is in need of food, sleep, warmth and its mother. During the first 3 weeks it is VERY important to look after the dam as well. She will in turn, look after the puppies. Once or twice a day the puppies should be handled by a human and they should be weighed daily. During the first 3 weeks most dams like to be in a warm secluded area, not in the family living area. Pups remain contently in their whelping box for the first 20 days of their life. Newborn puppies sleep most of the day away. No matter what the breed, this is the time when the dormant senses wake up. From day 21 to 28 puppies are in need of their mom more than any other time as their brains and nervous systems begin to develop and they become aware of their surroundings. As mom jumps out of the box, they suddenly watch her wondering where she went. Pups may start climbing out of the whelping box at this age, so it is time to expand their home. At this stage we add a small potty area beside the whelp box. If a puppy were to loose his mom at this stage it would greatly affect his emotional wellbeing. Emotional growth is just blossoming as the puppy realizes it is alive. It is also at this age that characteristics can develop like shyness and fear. Any negative characteristics that develop at this stage in life are often permanent personality traits. The puppies sleep 20 or more hours a day. They will not go far, but they will begin to explore. At this time we expand their area to add a play and eating area in the daytime. This is the time to move them out to the kitchen and family room area, where life is happening in the home. This is not the age to be in the back bedroom, garage or barn. During this time, a puppy will learn to respond to voices, sounds and recognize different people. The puppies in their group will establish a 'pecking order', some will want to lead and some will want to follow. The dominant ones will eat first and the omega ones will wait. The dominant ones can become bullies and hog all the toys. This is an important stage to watch to learn the temperaments of each puppy and should be used for placing puppies into the proper homes. Some scientific studies prove that if there is a bully in a litter that is making others cower and be shy it can set in traits that are very hard to turn around, but it is also important to leave puppies in a social group long enough to be adventurous and for the puppy to acquire some social competitive skills. On the same note, a puppy should never be allowed to get too pushy. While shyer puppies have to learn to handle themselves in social groups, a dominant puppy needs to learn it is not acceptable to be a bully. Different breeds need to be separated at different ages. Often if the bully is adopted out first the remaining puppies will loose some of their shyness. Puppies at this age sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. By 7 weeks, a pup is considered emotionally developed and ready to learn, but the pup does not possess an adult brain yet. At 7 weeks old the breeder of the pups can start crate training for an hour or two a day with 2 pups in a crate. This helps with separation anxiety. By 8 weeks of age a puppy should be able to go in a crate alone for a nap, and it is almost ready for its new home. A puppy should never be taken away from it's mother before weeks of age. The mother dog teaches the puppies in the litter manners, respect, social skills, and proper etiquette, along with many other valuable lessons. When a puppy misses this stage it can cause the pup to have future behavior issues as most humans do not understand natural dog behavior enough to teach the pup these things. What a puppy learns now will be retained and become part of who the dog becomes and his personality. Most dams stop caring for their pups by 7 weeks, as they have teeth and she pushes them away. If a pup is left with the dam during this period it's emotional development can be altered, as it remains dependent on her. The same can happen if littermates are placed together. They rely on each other instead of the new owner and they often do not find adequate security in their mom or littermate. They need their new owner to take over the role and it is important that the humans understand natural dog behavior in order to fulfill the puppies instincts and needs. First shots should be done at 7. When a puppy stays with his litter after 8 to 9 weeks of age without adequate human contact it doesn't adjust as well to a human social life. The optimum time to take a new puppy is from 8 to 9 weeks of age. It is always best to have a pup do his learning from his new owner and in his new home. Puppies are often adopted out at 8, 9, 10 or 11 weeks. Older puppies can do just fine if the breeder has spent a lot of time socializing them away from their littermates. Ideally 9 weeks seems to be the perfect age for most breeds to go to new homes. What the dog learns from 8 to 12 weeks will be with him forever. At this time the puppy must be introduced to other people and go for walks on the pavement street avoiding dirt or grass until it has had its 2nd shots. If the first shots are done at 8 weeks and second are done at 12 weeks it is a good idea to enroll in puppy kindergarten that starts right at 12 weeks. At this age on up to several months old, puppies will sleep 16 to 20 hours a day, give or take depending on the puppies energy level and the activity around them. Sleeping more during rapid growth sprurts. The sleep is broken up between night time sleep and naps during the day. It is common for a puppy to play hard, running around with bounds of energy, then suddenly crashing into a deep sleep. It is important to keep in mind that all puppies by this time have formed a general personality. Some are natural born leaders, some are middle of the road and could go either way and some are very submissive and really prefer not to lead anything. All puppies have an instinct to have a leader who can provide structure, because in their minds without it the pack cannot survive. Therefore even the most naturally born submissive dog may feel the need to take over as an alpha should they feel everyone else around them is too weak to care for the pack. These dogs are often very stressed out about their role because they really do not want it, but feel the need to lead just the same. After all, to them it's a matter of life or death. One of the biggest questions new owners call about is that the pup is an angel for the first couple weeks and then it starts to nip in an attempt to control things around it. This happens when a puppy does not see the humans as natural born leaders to which it can respect and it attempts to get the pack in order. If this happens it does not necessarily mean you got a bad puppy, but often means you are not being a good canine owner. Owners must be calm but firm and follow through. Set the rules of the home and stick to them. Teach basic obedience and how to heel on a leash. Do not let the puppy bolt out the door. Stay calm and confident and remember that dogs can feel your emotions. If you have emotional problems your dog knows and will see you as a weak being. Always remember to a dog anger is a weakness, so take a deep breath and control yourself. Should the puppy feel it is stronger minded than the humans it will not want to be at the bottom. Puppy owners should be prepared that the pup may attempt to establish itself as the dominant one in the family. This is where you need to understand a dog's natural instincts and learn their language so you can read them. It may see whether it can physically strike out at his owner like some teens and could nip or growl. Should this happen be prepared to stop the behavior immediately. It is kind of like kids wanting dessert before dinner or to stay up later. You just have to say NO. Each dog is different, just as kids are, therefore you need to figure out what works for you and your situation. If it is being aggressive one method is to pin it on its back and hold him there with a firm NO. If a pup is allowed to get away with bad behavior it will lose respect for the owner and learn that rebelling gets him his own way. The key is for the humans to be calm, confident and firm all at the same time. If you find yourself yelling or angry you as the human are out of control and need to learn how to portray yourself as someone your dog can look up to and respect. Dogs do not listen to unstable humans and anything but calm, confident and firm, to them is unstable. There should be zero tolerance for aggressiveness. Heaps of love and understanding will not stop bad behavior. A pup must be shown fast and firmly that you are the one in charge. If you have a good breeder who understands the dog even returning him for a few days can help as the breeder gets the dog back under control and you assess your own behavior and understanding of this animal you are trying to live with. Sending a dog away to be trained without training yourself never works, as the way your dog is acting often has more to do with the humans it is living with. This goes for any dog of any age. Learn how to groom your dog. Teach it to lie still for grooming and nail trimming. If you are having trouble call the breeder or a behaviorist for help. It is best to have earned a dog's respect and trust in regards to grooming by 16 weeks of age. A pups natural instinct will be to periodically try to test the order in the pack. Especially if there are children. If the owner is submissive, quiet and week, thus making the dog feel the need to lead the home, its respect for its owner will weaken and the owner will become inferior in the dogs eyes. In these cases the owner is destined to be owned by the dog and you will surely see behavior problems emerge. A puppy should have a good start on crate training when it leaves a breeder's home. Help your puppy feel secure by giving it its own bed and crate in a place where it can be alone when it needs some quiet time. It should be crated for one or two naps per day, especially when making and eating dinner and crated at night. It should not ever have the run of the house till after 6 months of age or housebreaking and training can become very difficult. A puppy should start formal obedience by 6 months of age, preferably sooner. Remember when you choose to adopt a dog you are choosing to take an animal into your home. The animal is not a human baby and humans are not born with canine instincts. Take some time to learn about the canine and be prepared to change your way of life to accommodate the new member of the family. During that first three weeks we weigh the puppies daily, trim their toenails every days, and put new collars on them every days as their growth is so rapid. The standard puppies are weighed on a regular digital scale and should gain an ounce a day at first and then up to ounces daily, whereas miniature puppies gain in a tenth of an ounce to start with and then an ounce or two a day. Jenny with litter at birth in 4' x 4' whelping box with lots of absorbent padding. Tasy in her "birthing bed" with the first three pups of the TS5 litter "Tasy" moves into her "doll crib" after the puppies are born - shown here at 3 weeks of age. We find it essential that the dam have food and water inside her whelping box the first week, however once she is willing to leave the box for short periods of time it can be set just outside the box, otherwise she will not eat and drink enough to provide all the milk needed for the puppies well being, and if you are not supplementing with goats milk, your puppies can suffer from dehydration. The standard dam has to produce almost two gallons of milk a day by the time a litter of puppies is two weeks of age. That's twice the amount a good dairy goat gives, who is at least double the dam's body weight. We find that goat milk, canned or fresh, is a much better supplement than the commercial formulas, as we have better weight gains and hardly ever have diarrhea in our puppies. If you have more than 8 puppies it is also essential that the dam's tail area and vulva be washed each time she goes out to go, as since there are not enough teats to go around there will always be a puppy trying to latch onto the vulva. The puppies can pick up bacteria and worm eggs, and a one celled organism called coccidiosis in this way which can lead to diarrhea. Mandy with AM3 Litter x Sterling at 1 week old. We practice what we call "giving the puppies an opportunity to learn" as a puppy raising method. We whelp the puppies in one corner of the living room where we have easy access to the box. We have found that moving the whelping box or puppy pen set-up on a weekly basis exposes the puppies to new scents and air currents and increases their adaptability and development by about two weeks, especially compared to puppies who are raised in the same corner until they go to their new homes. This is the first stage of their house breaking. Within hours the smartest puppies of the litter, barely able to crawl, will crawl out to use the paper and then crawl back into the whelping box. Within a few days the entire litter will usually be using the paper. Supplementing the puppies these first weeks gives us a good chance to play with the puppies feet, and get them used to their faces being handled for grooming, however even when we don't supplement we take time daily to handle every puppy and get them used to different textures, smells, and having their feet, faces, ears and tails handled. At three weeks of age when the ears open we start their cereal feeding, and use a soft clap with a "come, babies" command each time they are fed. This leads to the next step in the transition of removing the second box and the addition of a paper lined exercise pen to the whelping box at four weeks of age. At this time we start walking the puppies outside about every two hours from AM to PM. During this time ,the 4th-5th week, we teach them some basic commands - "in", "out", "potty outside", "walk", "watch", and continuing with their "come" command. Once they have understanding of these basic commands we then take them out to an outside play yard, regardless of the weather. It's really important to have this set-up close to an outside door if possible, or to use sections of an exercise pen to make an aisleway directly outdoors. Puppies can be carried outdoors, however their "potty outside" is learned much faster if they walk out the door in tune to the "out" command and the "potty outside" command at the same time. Usually within two days my standard puppies have quit having messes on the paper and are actually asking to go "out" - often at AM at this stage, and I do get up to accommodate them as this speeds their training amazingly, and I have a lot less mess to deal with - and less dirty crates when that time comes along. You can see that I do sleep within hearing of the puppies - usually until those we are continuing training with for their new families are weeks old. TS5 Miniature Litter - 2nd day of cereal feeding and 1st trip outside to the "big" world. We also start the grooming training at 4 weeks of age - starting with a bath with a soft water spray in a utility tub, and using a soft flow warm air dryer and a slicker brush - brushing the coat up the body toward the head, and up the legs toward the back as it dries. We always groom on a table, or the washer or dryer, or a counter - this is essential in getting the puppies used to being groomed on a grooming table and getting over any tendency toward the fear of heights. We cuddle them in our arms on the table to help them feel loved and secure, and to build their confidence level. We try to take pictures at birth, day old individual pictures, then every week thereafter for their new families, and for our albums. We also try to take litter shots as well at the various stages. I find that special touches add a lot of enjoyment, both for us raising the puppies, and for our families who are kept in the "link" of their puppy growing from infancy to toddler weeks. A Tasy x Promise Puppy before his first grooming and after his first grooming. My, oh my, what a difference!! We also start the worming program at four weeks of age - and this is really essential if you occasionally have a puppy that coughs after feeding, or vomits back up milk or cereal. Round worms are the one type of worm that the puppies can get in utero, and they grow as fast as the puppies. A heavy case of worms can often mimic other serious conditions in young puppies. It is also essential to use a low dosage of wormer in cases of heavy infestation, and at times give the puppy a few drops of oil by mouth, and possibly even an enema with a few drops of oil to help pass the worms. We use pyrantel pamoate for our first series of wormings. It is essential to worm every days until no worms are seen - these worms look like spaghetti - and once you see a litter of puppies pass them you never forget them. The wormer works in about six hours and is very effective. We have a computer generated health record that we complete on each puppy, and note all the worming's on it and on the litter weight records as well. Once the worming has been done, and if the teeth are coming in on the entire litter we start adding softened and mashed with potato masher kibble to the puppies cereal mixture - gradually reducing the rice baby cereal. During the next two weeks we gradually start adding cooked rice, cooked oatmeal, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, ground apple and carrot, and a supplement Green Vibrance which has microbials in it to their soft feed. As soon as the puppies are able to eat dry kibble well and not just play with it we gradually reduce the soft feedings to AM and PM. The puppies often prefer dry kibble during times of heavy teething, however dry kibble no matter how well promoted does not meet all of their nutritional needs. Also the more organically chemical, steroid, and low grade antibiotic free a puppy can be fed, the better for its health and longevity. We keep our puppies on microbials their whole life as this keeps their intestinal system in optimal health - they absorb more nutrients, they produce less fecal material, they are less prone to other bacterial infections, they don't have smelly gas, they are less prone to bloat typical in a number of large breeds , they have better pigmentation as a result of absorbing more nutrients. We have also found that since taking this approach to diet that puppy and show coats on adults are more luxurious. As you can see their fourth week involves a lot of changes for the puppies. At six weeks of age we start the weaning process - although most "mothers" have already started it. A poodle "mom" is the most devoted creature ever the first week or two, but after that usually reclaims part of her own life to be with her human family. She will return to the whelping box every few hours to take care of her puppies needs, but other than that spends her time on a blanket or pad outside the box. Using a higher powered water spray, a higher powered table dryer, and if the coat is still thin enough a palm pro clipper again to clip the face, feet, tummy and tail. At this time Mishelle also adds standing the puppy properly on the table and does the first scissoring around the tail head and up the rump - as much to get the puppy used to the sound and feel of the scissors as because there is that much coat to scissor off. This is also when we try to take the first pictures of the puppies in a nice stance to send to everyone. This also helps to train the puppy for standing on the table which benefits when we do the conformation evaluations at 8 weeks of age. Puppies fearful on the table are very difficult to assess. This is also essential for miniature puppies that are going to be shown. It's very sad when a miniature is put on a table in the show ring for the judges inspection, and is fearful. Just minutes a day on a table, being encouraged to stand and be touched, can make a remarkable difference in just a week. A Maddy x Calvin puppy at 6 weeks of age after her 2nd grooming Six weeks is also when we remove the whelping box, as the mother now just gets in with the puppies about 4 times a day and either sits or stands to nurse them. She also starts to regurgitate her feedings for the puppies at this stage. The teeth are starting to come all the way in at this time, and the puppies will start sparring, and at times will really yelp. They learn at this stage not to bite each other too hard, and this is the first step to them learning not to bite humans too hard. We often have families who want to get their poodle puppies at this age, especially if they are going to training in agility. We do not allow any puppies to go to their new homes until they are weeks of age, as we feel that they need the "sibling rivalry" stage to learn aggressive and defensive behavior - which is learned by their interplay with each other. Many of our poodles go to homes with runners, and I can't tell you how many times they have had to defend their owners from aggressive dogs of other breeds, and always successfully. You never know when your poodle may have to come to your defense, and the maneuvers they learn as puppies at this age are the foundation for their defensive techniques, increase their alertness, and the speed of their thinking and their reactivity time. I love watching the puppies develop their skills during playtime at this stage. It is their transition from infancy to toddlers. It is also at six weeks that we remove the whelping box replacing it with two small crates without the gates on. Our favorite crates are the Furrari's, as they just snap together, and the gates can be opened from either side and simply lifted off for this stage of training. The first night all the puppies will crowd into one small crate - then I will hear them in the middle of the night groaning and grumbling, and in the morning the puppies will be divided between the two crates. That day we add a third small crate, and go through the same process - which we repeat until there are two puppies per crate. We never put the gates on at this stage, just allow the puppies the freedom to sleep in or out of the crates, and to play with them. We estimate that a poodle puppy develops 21 years in it's first year. From infancy to toddler, to preschool, to kindergarten, to pre-adolescent, to adolescent, to pre-teen, to teenager, to post teen, and early twenties. Their intelligence is equivalent to that of many humans, and the learning of human vocabulary in a standard poodle is amazing. They are a joy to work with and to train, many almost training themselves. At this point we start giving the puppies rawhide chew bones to help with their teeth cutting, the cardboard rolls from toilet paper, paper towels, tape rolls, and small boxes that they can pack around, tear up and destroy. Much like a toddler builds a stack of bricks and then knocks it down destructive stage so also does a puppy need to go through this stage. So we give them things that don't cost anything, that are light weight, and the right size around for a puppy jaw to pick up. They love it. We also start giving the puppies soft and hard toys to play with, and also try to observe which puppies in the litter are water lovers - they play in the water and empty the container almost as fast as we can fill it. We often get asked for puppies that like water by families that boat, or live on rivers or lakes, or on house boats. We start watching closely for the different types of personalities that the puppies have, how they relate to each other, to new situations, to new people, to other animals they come in contact with. Those that are more adventuresome, more curious, more courageous, etc. We are also watching for activity levels and how they move. It is also at weeks that we take the puppies to the back yard to play - as they are then big enough to be taught to go up and down steps. We have closed back steps, and open backed steps like condos and the steps at the air cargo depots for them to learn on. This can be quite a challenge to some, and we usually have to delay this training with the miniatures for a couple of more weeks when they are a bit bigger. They are so proud of themselves when they achieve success in going up and down the steps, even though it is just three steps - and will run up and down just for the joy of it. In the back yard they also learn to drink from an automatic waterer, so that they don't fear the hissing sound as it refills. Having nice clean feet, faces, and tail head and rump helps us to evaluate the puppies much better, and they will score better when all can be seen and evaluated. We do not give the puppies any treats prior to testing, nor do we do any actual crate training in closed crates. At this age the puppies get their first bath in the grooming tub with a harder spray of water instead of in the utility tub. The Force dryer is used for the first time, and the Andis or Oster clippers. This is also the clipping that helps us to determine the color that the puppies might end up as - blues and silvers are born black, silver beige and cafe-au-lait can be born very dark brown, light apricots that are going to cream out - we study the nose, feet, heels, and under the tail and neck for signs of color change. Tasy x Promise Pup - Black - at 8 weeks! A Mandy x Sterling Pup - Silver - at 8 weeks. Silvers and blues are born black and change gradually - starting with the muzzle and feet We try to schedule temperament testing 16 tests and conformation evaluations a three page form using AKC breed requirements, International breed requirements, and Puppy Puzzle testing at 8 weeks minus or plus three days, as this is the most accurate time for assessing conformation before the puppy starts its rapid growth spurts. This is at times a little early for temperament testing, however as so many families want their puppies at 8 weeks of age, it is necessary to do this before the litter starts to go to new homes. Often our entire litters are reserved before they are even born, or at least by the time they are 6 weeks of age, and this helps us to match puppies and their capabilities and personalities and temperament to the homes they are going into, especially the puppies that are shipped across the United States. This also means asking our prospective families for lots of details about their home style, their activities, other pets or animals in or around their homes, and what they want to do with their puppy as an adult. We also help families at this point to decide the best age of puppy to suit their lifestyle, as many families in todays age have difficulty getting the time those first weeks to house train a young puppy. The weekly cost covers food, treats, training, vaccinations and wormings. Temperament testing is beneficial, although there are those that disagree. It is done in a strange place by a strange person. It's purpose is to note the natural instincts and adaptability of the young puppies, and our families have found our assessments to be pretty accurate as their puppies have developed. The disadvantage of testing at 8 weeks versus 12 weeks, is that puppies can be conceived over a ten day period. The gestation period is days, with all of the body development being in the first 50 days, and the weight gain being in the last days. If the bitch whelps according to the first puppy conceived, then the last puppy or puppies conceived may not have had much weight gain - however due to genetics it will not always be the smallest puppies. When we do temperament testing we also try to be aware of which puppies opened eyes first and last, which had teeth coming in first and last - as these can be indicative of which puppies in the litter are the oldest and the youngest - as the psychological development can also be different, with the thinking processes of the youngest not being quite as developed as the thinking processes of the gestationally oldest puppies. In temperament testing we are looking at social skills, inanimate object retrieving instincts, sensitivity testing, chase response, bird retrieving instincts, perseverance and motivation. These help to determine which puppies might be best suited as companions, service and therapy candidates, agility and obedience prospects, those with "bird" instincts, and very important today those with good search and rescue and tracking instincts. Conformation evaluations are where we literally take a puppies body structure apart and put it back together again - all on paper. We are looking for the few puppies in a litter that are the most correct by breed specifications in bone structure. As companions for runners, horse back riders, hikers, bikers, etc. Most of our standard puppies, after 10 years of breeding are quite structurally correct - however we try to match structural correctness, temperament and personality to the needs of a family. To be a pick of the litter puppy it must score high in all three areas. At times a structurally correct puppy may not have the best temperament for competitive events, and a senior family doesn't need a puppy with a high working drive. When we complete the testing we vaccinate each of the puppies and tattoo them with their individual identification number - that designates their dam, her litter number, and the number of puppy within the litter - in their left ear. This tattoo must be read and entered in the medical records of the puppy by the families veterinarian at the time of the "well puppy check" within 10 days of receiving the puppy for our 2 year from date of birth guarantee to go into effect. As soon as the testing is completed we start crate training the puppies. The first night two puppies are put into a crate with the gate on, and given 3 small treats. They are cuddled before being put into the crate, and we use the "in" command which they are used to. When they are taken out in the morning they are hugged and cuddled again, and given their "go potty outside" command as we take them "out" the front door. The second night they are crated individually, and are also crated during the day for short periods of time, to get them used to taking "naps" in their crates. They are always given three tiny biscuits when we want them in their crates, and usually within three days they compete to see who can get in the crates first and turn around for their treats. Usually at this age the puppies will crate from approximately PM to about AM without having accidents in their crates, however I do get up in the middle of the night and let them out if someone gets really fussy. In hot summer weather they at times need out during the night to get a drink just as much as they need out to go potty. We always make their last soft feeding of the day by PM, so that they have plenty of time to evacuate before bedtime. Remember poodle puppies are very smart, and if they get me up several nights in a row - I watch very carefully to see if they really needed to go - and if not they have just decided to get me out of bed for some extra attention and playtime - remember the pre-adolescent who wants another drink of water, etc. They will test their new families in the same way, and if they win they are ruling the family instead of the family ruling them. At this point the puppies are ready to go to their new homes to families living locally, or those driving from other states to get their puppies. If they are flying we keep them for two more weeks - and ship when they are approximately 10 - 12 weeks old. This allows us to start travel training and leash training of the puppies, and allow them to develop better holding capacity for daytime crating before shipping. Also it gives us time to receive family t-shirts worn until sweaty and placed in ziploc bags to give to the puppies in their crates three days before shipping. Having items of clothing which we tie into knots for a pillow or toy allows the puppy to get used to it's new families scents, and helps it to adapt and bond much more quickly. It also gives us time to ship their puppy pack to them, before the puppy is shipped. We follow up on our puppies for years, and encourage our families to keep in touch with us and contact us with any questions regarding nutrition, training problems or needs. We also board our own puppies back, which is wonderful as then we get to assess their development and personalities as adults. We have families now who purposefully plan their vacations for the Oregon Coast just so they can leave their much loved poodles with us - they come from as far away as Montana, Idaho, north eastern Washington, California, Utah, and of course the closer regions of Oregon and Washington. Unless we are expecting a litter imminently they get to come back and live in the house with us, and always enjoy playing with so many other poodles in our huge back yard, and side yard play areas. We also continue any training that is in progress on the younger puppies. A Mandy boy at 15 weeks! A Lucy daughter at 1 year - sent by her family in Idaho Many of our families also return with their puppies to take the one-on-one grooming classes with us - with Mishelle now being the primary instructor. Many of our families are now doing all of their own grooming, and even if they aren't have found the class very beneficial as they have learned what to expect from a good groomer. Many have returned for second and even third classes to learn advanced scissoring techniques, and several are now learning show grooming and handling from us as well. It's biblical that the older are to teach the younger - and we feel very strongly about this after not finding anyone willing to assist us when we first started out. We want those who have a true desire to become breeders of the poodles to start in the right way, learning to do the proper testing and research, taking part in genetic research projects, learn to groom their poodles properly, and to breed properly, caring for their whelping bitches and puppies correctly. Mishelle should have been in the picture with "Eve" but was in the Show Ring with her instead. She groomed 14 standards and 2 miniatures for this show. The poodle is a wonderful and unique breed - sharing life with it's family. The puppies have arrived. They have been weighed and identified; they have nursed and are now sleeping quietly except for the normal twitching. Now what? Your job is not over yet, in fact, it's really just beginning. Nutrition and Feeding The mother will be ready for some food and water. Bring the dishes to the whelping box, as she will not want to leave the newborn puppies. Do not leave the dishes on the floor in the whelping box, as the puppies could crawl into them. Hang the dishes from the side of the whelping box or offer her food and water at least every hours to start. She should be taken outside on a frequent and regular basis to relieve herself. Within days, the mother's appetite will dramatically increase to times her pre-pregnancy intake. She will need a near constant supply of a high quality puppy food do NOT use large breed puppy formulas, which are generally lower in protein, fat, and minerals and water to maintain her weight and health while feeding the puppies. She should not look gaunt or thin if her weight is maintained. Ideally, she should weigh the same at the time of weaning, as she did when she was bred. A healthy puppy is firm, plump, and vigorous. Puppies should nurse every 2 hours or so. If they nurse until their stomachs appear round and they sleep quietly, they are eating enough. If they are crying and moving a lot, they are not eating enough. They may be swallowing air, which makes the stomach appear larger. As they become weaker, they will lay still and not cry. Their weight should double in the first days. Before, during, and after nursing, the mother will lick the stomach and perineal area to stimulate urination and defecation. She will continue to do this for weeks. Weigh the puppy daily for the first 2 weeks, then weigh at least weekly. A food scale typically works well for weighing the puppies. Failure to gain weight is often the first sign of illness in puppies. At about 3 weeks of age, the puppies will begin to imitate the mother's eating and drinking. A secure shallow water dish should now be available at least part of the day. Prepare the puppy mush by placing 2 cups of high quality dry puppy food in a blender with .This should be blended until the consistency of human infant cereal. This feeds puppies of a medium-sized breed. The puppies should receive meals a day of this to start. Once the puppies have checked it out, walked in it, and have eaten some, the mother can be allowed to finish it and clean the puppies off. Each week, increase the amount of food, decrease the amount of the milk replacer and water that is added and the time of blending, so by 7 weeks of age, the puppies are eating dry food. Once they are on dry food, it may be left in with the puppies when the mother is out of the box or the meal times can continue. As the puppies eat more solid food, the mother may be let away from the puppies for an ever longer period of time. If the weaning is not rushed, she will naturally start decreasing milk production, as the puppies increase their intake of solid food. As the puppies begin eating the puppy mush at 4 weeks of age, start changing the mother's diet back to adult food to also help her decrease milk production. Keep increasing the adult food and decreasing the puppy food until by the 7th week postpartum she is eating only adult food. Hopefully she has been fed well during pregnancy and lactation so she weighs the same at weaning as she did before pregnancy. Want to learn how to save on your dog's veterinary care? Click here Sanitation and Housebreaking During and after whelping, the mother should be allowed to go outside to urinate and defecate. Take her out on a leash bring a flashlight if it is dark , and watch her closely, as she could have another puppy. The whelping box needs to be changed at least once a day at this stage, and times a day as the puppies begin eating solids and the mother is not cleaning up after them. A large heavy paper may be laid on the bottom, several layers of newspaper over that, and a tightly stretched blanket over the newspaper. The blanket should be large enough to fit under all 4 sides of the box. If the box was made so the sides set into the floor, the sides are picked up, the blanket stretched, and the sides set down to hold the blanket in place. Puppies can become lost under blankets or under wrinkles in blankets. When cleaning, check the consistency and color of the puppy stool. It should be brown and formed, but not overly firm. Any deviations and the veterinarian should be contacted. To facilitate housebreaking, the puppies should be given definite feeding, playing, sleeping, and elimination areas. Once the puppies are mobile, they will use one area for elimination. Cover this area with a layer of newspapers with cedar or pine shavings on top. The new owners then place a small amount of cedar or pine shavings in the preferred location of their yard to aid in housebreaking. Keep the elimination area clean and dry. Puppies head toward the heat source to nurse so do not have the heat source warmer than the mother. Hanging a household thermometer on the inside of the whelping box will help you know the temperature in the box. Puppies typically lay side by side or on top of each other to share warmth. If the puppies are scattered throughout the whelping box and away from the heat lamp, the temperature is too warm. If they are all piled on top of each other, it may be too cold. Puppies need the extra heat, as they are unable to regulate their body temperature until several weeks old. Health of the Mother Each mammary gland and nipple should be checked at least once a day for redness, hardness, discharge, or streaking color. If mastitis develops, the veterinarian should be notified immediately. If caught early, milking out the affected gland and applying hot compresses will help prevent a spread of the problem. Sometimes, antibiotics are necessary. If she gets multiple glands with mastitis, the puppies will need to be bottle fed. The puppies' nails should be trimmed weekly starting within days of birth. This will help prevent some of the scratches on the mother's mammary glands. The deciduous teeth start coming in around day .Check the mammary glands of the mother daily for bite marks. The mother will have a bloody discharge from her vulva which may be quite heavy for several days. It should decrease in amount and become darker and be almost gone within weeks. The mother's hair may have become very thick and luxurious during the pregnancy. Around the time of weaning, the mother starts to shed. This extreme loss of hair coat is natural and it should be back to normal in about another months. This shedding is more extreme than a normal shed cycle and some mothers become quite bald. This is often called 'blowing a coat. Click here Puppy Healthcare Puppies who are not thriving should be examined as soon as possible by a veterinarian to check for birth defects. Some defects, such as a cleft palate are not compatible with life. These puppies should be humanely euthanized. Dewclaws are removed and tails docked at days of age. Make an appointment with your veterinarian for these procedures to be done. Check your breed's standard, as some breeds need to have dewclaws left intact in order to show. Tail length changes, so again, the current breed standard should be consulted. When the puppies are at the clinic and having these procedures done, the mother should be taken for a walk around the block until the puppies are done. She should not be close enough to the clinic to hear the puppies crying. Once they are put back with the mother, the puppies normally nurse and then sleep. Vaccinations are started at weeks of age. Some breeders give a parvo virus vaccine at 5 weeks of age, if the puppies are at a high-risk. Ask your veterinarian if your puppies should be vaccinated early for parvo virus. They recommend puppy deworming for roundworms and hookworms start at 2 weeks of age and be repeated at 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. Thereafter, use a heart worm preventive medication that is also effective against hookworms and roundworms. Foster and Smith suggest that owners of newly acquired puppies obtain the deworming history of their new pup and contact their veterinarian to determine if additional deworming is needed. The mother should be dewormed at the same time as the puppies. A health check done by a veterinarian at weeks of age before the puppies head for new homes should include checks for heart murmurs, hernias, cryptorchidism, demodectic mange, other parasites, eye disorders, etc. Normal puppy development The umbilical cord normally falls off within days of birth. Infections of the umbilicus are rare in clean, well-managed kennels. Puppies normally twitch and jerk while sleeping. This helps with the development of their nerves and muscles. The puppies crawl well by days, walk at 16 days, and have a normal gait at 21 days. They need to be on footing that offers traction. By 4 weeks of age, the puppies follow each other and carry toys in their mouths. They will play-fight with each other and learn how to inhibit their bites. If a puppy bites a littermate too hard, the littermate will yelp and stop playing with him. If the puppy is allowed to bite humans, he will not learn to inhibit his bite. It may be cute as a 7-week old, but it will not be as a 7-year old. Puppies are born without teeth. The deciduous baby teeth start to erupt at weeks of age. All of the deciduous teeth are usually present by 8 weeks of age. The puppies' eyes will open around days of age. The retina matures around 21 days of age. Puppies should see clearly by 4 weeks of age. Do not pry open the lids for any reason, as the immature eye is not yet ready to handle light. If the eyes appear swollen before they open, take the puppy to a veterinarian immediately as an eye infection may be present that needs to be treated to prevent loss of vision. Some puppies will take a day to open the eyes while others will take days. The eyes will have a bluish color to them at first and then change to their adult color over time. If the eyes appear white or solid blue, take the puppy to the veterinarian right away. The ears open at days of age. They should hear clearly by 4 weeks of age. Deafness may not be noticeable while the puppies are together and first noticed when the puppy is in her new home. Interactions Between the Mother and Puppies By the time the puppies are weeks old, the mother should have an area near the whelping box, but separate from the puppies to allow her time to rest. At about this time, the puppies will start trying to leave the box to explore. They should be well supervised and have safe toys available. The box at this point should be big enough to be divided between eating, sleeping, playing, and eliminating rooms. At this stage, a crate with the door removed and lined with sheepskin or a dog bed can be given to the puppies for sleeping quarters and to familiarize them with crates. Puppy Socialization Early socialization of the puppies will help them become confident and develop fewer behavior problems. The puppies should be exposed to everything possible from metal food dishes dropping, to vacuums, garage doors opening and closing, thunderstorms, sirens, garbage trucks going past, cats, and other pets, etc. Do not try to keep the area quiet during the day. The puppies need to get used to normal household noises. Children should be allowed to play outside the whelping box supervised so they do not enter the box or drop toys in , as children behave differently than adults. Everything the puppy is exposed to now, will help her become a well-socialized, unafraid adult. The puppies should be handled several times a day. They can be picked up, their teeth looked at, ears checked, toes played with nails will need a weekly trimming , and have anything that may be done as an adult started slowly now. Play helps to develop the puppy's mind, as he needs to find solutions to problems he encounters. If the puppies are not in new homes by 10 weeks of age, they should be separated from each other for a large part of the day and given one-on-one time with humans. They can have play times during the day, but they should eat, sleep, and be handled separately. Being in a kennel group situation beyond weeks of age decreases trainability. Ready to start saving money on pet wellness care? Then take a look at Mint Wellness, the pet wellness plan that provides fast reimbursement on routine pet care. Save on vaccinations, wellness exams, preventatives, dental, and more!