labrador retriever puppy pictures

labrador retriever puppy pictures

However, puppy goldens are more fluff than flow. It doesn't take long for a golden puppy to begin growing feathers in his puppy fluff, which are the start of the long, full coat he'll have as an adult. From Fluff to Fur Most golden puppies begin growing the start of feathers in their short, fluffy puppy coat at around 3 months of age, but this can depend on the puppy's heritage and bloodlines. If his parents grew adult coats later, chances are so will he. Your best source for information about your puppy's heritage is his breeder. Ask to see your puppy's parents at the breeder's, and find out how old they were when they got their adult coats. The Coat Transition Around 3 months of age, you will notice some long hair growing in your puppy's tail. This is the beginning of his feathering. Goldens have feathers on their legs, under their stomachs, and on the tail. The adult coat begins growing on the dog's tail first and continues gradually up his body. The new hair will be slightly darker than his light puppy fur. Unlike other breeds, a golden doesn't shed his puppy fur. It is pushed aside by the longer adult hair growing in and eventually becomes the dog's undercoat. The undercoat will thicken as the longer outer coat grows in. This transition can take until your puppy is 18 months old to be complete. Grooming Helps Start grooming your golden retriever as a puppy. Goldens are heavy shedders and the more you groom, the less hair you'll find around your house. Begin by running a soft brush over the puppy's body to get him used to it. Brush in the direction the hair grows. Add a pin brush and slicker to your tools as your dog grows, and brush him daily or at least weekly. Removing loose hair from your golden will make way for new hair to grow in and minimize the flying fur on your clothing. They have a dense, light-colored undercoat and a slightly coarser, darker outer coat. The thickness of your dog's coat is dependent on his environment. Nature dictates that a dog who spends more time outside will have a thicker coat than one who spends all his time indoors. As the temperature changes, his body regulates the amount of coat he needs. Seasonal shedding of indoor dogs is dictated by daylight, since they do not experience the temperature changes that a dog who spends more time outdoors does. The amount of daylight stimulates hormones that control hair growth. Indoor and outdoor dogs shed more in the spring and fall. More Articles. Golden retrievers are popular for their flowing and sunny coat. Still, Golden puppies are more fluffy than flowing. It will not take time for the puppy to grow feathers in his puppy fluff, which indicate a start of the full and long coat he will get growing up. Stage 1: From Fluff to Fur At around 3 months of age, most Golden puppies will start growing their feathers in their short, fluffy puppy coat. If the parents of the puppy grew adult coats later, it is more likely he will. This stage indicates the start of feathering. Golden Retrievers have feathers on their tail, stomachs and on their legs. Gradually, the rest of the adult coat will grow throughout his body. The recent growth of hair will be slightly darker than the former light puppy fur. The Golden Retriever puppy is different from other breeds because it does not shed his puppy fur. Rather, the puppy fur is pushed aside by the newer, longer and outer coat that grows in. The overall transition takes 18 months for completion. Grooming The best time to start grooming your Golden retriever is when it is still a puppy. Since they are heavy shedders, the more you groom them the less hair you will find around your house. It is advisable to brush in the direction that the hair grows. As your puppy grows, add these two tools to your collection: a pin brush and a rake. Brush him daily or at least twice a week. Getting rid of the loose hair from your Golden will allow new hair to grow in and reduce the flying fur in your clothing. The Golden coat Golden retrievers are double coated dogs. They are characterized by a thick, light-colored undercoat and a moderately rougher, darker outer coat. The environment of your dog will greatly affect the density or thickness of the coat. As per nature, a dog that spends more time outdoors will have a thicker coat than a dog that spends all the time indoors. The body will regulate the amount of coat a dog needs according to the temperature changes. Daylight is another factor that dictates seasonal shedding of indoor dogs. This is because such dogs do not experience the temperature changes that a dog who spends much time outdoors does. The underlying reason for daylight contributing to seasonal shedding is that it stimulates hormones that bring about hair growth. In the spring and during the fall, indoor and outdoor dogs shed more hair. Find the Best Undercoat rake for your golden retriever A golden retriever rake is a very essential tool to have that specifically targets the undercover hair. The rake helps to easily detangle debris and loose hair that get messy over time when overlooked. Other brushes like the pin brush target the outer coat only. Therefore, it is important that you get a rake that is designed to reach the undercoat to get rid of dead and loose hair. A rake has a big hefty looking grip with sharp pins that are built to penetrate the outer and target undercoat hairs. At the end of every sharp looking pin, there are rounded edges that sooth your dog while you clean it at the same time. An ideal undercoat rake should have:- Pins with rounded edges Pins that are strong and durable A handle with a good strong grip A design that makes it easier to detangle undercoat hair. Share 0 Shares Learning about the three stages of your Golden Retrievers coat will help you understand each stage of growth. It starts at birth as a thin short coat, morphs into a fluffy stage between months of life, and finally your dog will display their gorgeous long feathery coat as an adult. The 3 Distinctive Stages of Coat Development for a Golden Retriever The Golden Retriever was bred to have a thick double coat that meant that they could retrieve shot birds in any weather, such as during the cooler duck season. This thick coat kept them warm in cold weather, and the water flowed off their coat keeping them warm and dry. They have a lovely personality and tend to get along with everyone, young and old alike. But it is their beautiful long golden coat that they are known and admired for. But it dries to a warm soft and fuzzy stage that will keep the puppy warm and regulate their body temperature. At months of age, your GR will transition from their soft fuzzy coat which becomes the undercoat. They will start to grow their outer coat through the undercoat at this stage. Everyone loves a cute Golden Retriever puppy; they are so adorable with their fuzzy fur that makes them look more like a cuddly bear than a dog. Combined with their drop-dead good looks and their cute demeanor and cuddly disposition, you have one little puppy that will wind you around their paw and steal your heart. In the two to three months after their birth, they will be a little fuzzy ball, and here is why. The Golden Retriever puppy is born with a short thin coat of fur which is suited to them while they adjust to life and learn how get about. Their short coat is easier for the mother dog to clean, and it enables the puppy to move about unencumbered while learning how to walk, play and feed. Although their coat will start getting thicker in the first few months, they will remain short. In these first few months of life, it is a good time to train your little Golden to enjoy being groomed as this will become part of their weekly life. Brushing them while they are young gets them into the habit of being groomed because the Golden Retriever does shed a lot of fur and brushing your dog helps to control their shedding. This stage of coat growth and development happens around months of age. It often shows first in the tail area but be aware that this can vary from dog to dog. Their coat is a double coat. The undercoat is thick and protects them from heat and cold. The dense outer coat grows from amongst the underlying puppy fluff which settles to become the undercoat. At months they will start getting their adult coat. Each Golden Retriever is different, there is no set time that each stage must happen within. Asking your breeders for information about when the parent dogs of your puppy went through their coat growth stages will give you an idea of when that will happen for your pup. This full growth stage is from about 8 months onwards, again, depending on the dog. These long, beautiful hairs start on the tail, followed by the stomach, chest, and legs within their first year. From here on, the coat of the Golden Retriever will be shed several times during the year, depending on where you live and what the climate is like. The highest level of shedding occurs in the late spring, and the late fall. Other than that, they shed modestly throughout the year. When do Golden Retrievers Tails get Fluffy? Dogs are individuals, and the time that they achieve any key steps in their growth cycle can vary depending on the dog. The tail starts to fluff out at around weeks old and is made up of two layers. First there is the outer layer of long guard hairs, then the undercoat is comprised of softer, downy hairs. Each dog is different as to when their tails achieve the beautiful Golden Retriever fluffy look. The guard hairs start first on the tail which becomes fluffy and long by the time they are six to eight months old. The Golden Retriever is a very popular breed that is a great family dog. They have a lovely nature, plenty of energy, and just love their people. Their fur can get everywhere — on your furniture, on your clothes, floating in the house, and rolling around like a tumbleweed in the garden! When you get a Golden Retriever, you must accept the shedding that comes with the dog. So why do they shed so much? It is because of their coat; they are a double coated canine, which means that they have a waterproof topcoat, but they also have a soft downy undercoat. Their coat is designed by nature to help regulate their temperature. It is normally during the changes of the seasons — particularly spring and fall, that they shed the most. During summer their coat is thinner than usual, but they start growing thicker fur for the winter. But in saying that, be aware that they shed pretty much all the year around. Regular grooming with a rake comb and pin brush during grooming helps control the thick under hair. Regular brushing removes the excess loose hair from within the coat and can cut down on the amount of hair in the home. The climate where you live is a factor in the coat stages of your Golden Retriever. If you live in a hot place, they will shed their coat more to remain cool. If you live in a cold climate your golden will shed less to protect them from the icy climate. A dog who spends a lot of their time outside will develop a thicker coat than a dog that spends a lot of time indoors. As earlier stated, the Golden Retriever seems to shed all year around. But what if it is excessive, like handfuls of hair falling out — is that normal? There are certain things that can affect the amount of fur that your Golden Retriever sheds. It may just be a growth phase that they are going through, but it could be an outside influence that is causing a change in their shedding pattern. Allergy reactions due to pollen, food, or even their grooming shampoo can be a factor. You may notice them scratching more than usual. A dog with allergies also suffers from eye or ear infections so check them regularly to ensure all is well. Parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites can almost drive a dog mad, and you will notice your dog itching themselves and probably whining at the same time. That thick coat is an inviting place to call home for parasites, so check their coat carefully, especially after long walks in wooded areas. Stress can affect your Golden Retriever. They need to be with their owners. If your Golden Retriever is feeling left out, they may begin scratching themselves or fretting which can cause hair loss. Make sure that they are also booked in for a regular health check with your local vet. The vet put your mind at rest as to what is normal shedding and what is not. A long rake comb can really sort out the dense undercoat and pull out any loose, irritating hair while a pin brush keeps the top hairs clean and tangle-free. With a consistent routine of grooming and washing your dog, you will remove the loose hair and be able to dispose of it. Sometimes when your dog is molting shedding their hair you can grab handfuls of their hair and pull gently. Brushing daily if possible is great, otherwise, try to groom them at least three times per week. Bathing, which is important to care for the coat, needs to be done once a week, or twice a month using a suitable mild dog shampoo. This phenomenon is a natural occurrence as your Golden Retriever ages. During the puppy stage , they are more of a light golden color, but as they mature, some of the longer guard hairs darken over time. Their coat is characterized by a thick, light-colored undercoat and moderately rough darker outer coat. The climate can make a difference. A hot sunny climate where they spend a lot of time in the water can make for a lighter-colored coat. The Golden Retriever should not be shaved as it is the worst thing that you can do to your canine. If you do a complete shave, it may damage the coat and it will never grow back like before. It can also result in skin allergies and damage. The undercoat is designed to protect the dog from both hot and cold temperatures. The springtime shedding of the undercoat helps them cope with the heat. Conclusion Golden Retrievers are known for their lovely, fluffy coats and long flowing tail. Their soft golden or darker caramel colors are beautiful and new owners are attracted to their looks, good nature, and goofy, adorable antics. But like most things, there is a price to pay for their good looks, and that is that they shed a lot. But with regular grooming and brushing, a bath or two a month, and the use of low allergenic mild shampoo, you will be able to control as much of the shedding as possible. And if you ask any Golden Retriever owner, they will tell you that the shedding is a small price to pay for such an affable, glorious dog. Golden Retriever Resources and Tips. Do Golden Retrievers Shed? How Much? Posted on April 5, by Galen Kauffman Share: If you have Golden Retrievers or any other dog for that matter sharing your home, you will be aware of the excess fur on the floor, on your furniture and on your clothes. This shedding of hair occurs when your furry friend loses dead fur to make room for new fur to grow. They do research on the different pet vacuums available and that work with ease on hardwood floors, carpets and tiles. Of course, not all dog breeds are the same — some have short hair, others medium length fur and others have long hair The way your dog sheds will depend on its breed and other factors. A dog that spends much of their time outdoors will have thicker fur compared to indoor dogs. There are also genetic and seasonal variations. The hair helps the Golden to maintain temperature all year around in hot and cold weather. As the Golden Retriever matures it will have longer feathered hair around the neck, belly area, legs and tail. These areas are all prone to matting and will need to be brushed. Read about the best brushes for your golden retriever here. When Do Golden Retrievers Shed? The Golden Retriever is such an awesome family dog and his gorgeous golden coat is his trademark. If you have owned a Golden Retriever you will know that these beautiful, social, energetic, intelligent dogs shed the entire year round and that their shedding can be described as moderate to fairly heavy. Grooming your Golden Retriever is key to keeping him healthy. You do, however, need the right grooming tools for shedding. This can be done with different kinds of brushes and also an undercoat rake. You can keep on top of Golden Retriever shedding by brushing with special grooming equipment on a regular basis. They start shedding at 6 months of age An undercoat also emerges which thickens as the dog matures. Your Golden Retriever puppy will shed his coat when he is about 6 months old. Once he starts shedding his puppy coat it will take a year or so to grow in. Some Goldens are already 18 months old before the entire double coat growing process is completed. Shedding for the Golden Retriever is at its heaviest during the late Spring when the weather starts to warm. Your Golden gets rid of his winter undercoat to make way for the lighter undercoat. The Golden Retriever develops a double coat. Goldens also get feathers over the stomach and around the legs. Shedding Triggers For Golden Retrievers Diet Take a good look at his diet to ensure he is getting the best nutrition possible for a healthy, silky coat. Shedding, grooming and nutrition go hand in hand. A healthy coat is always soft, smooth and shiny and not greasy with odor. A dog with an unhealthy coat usually has dry, brittle hair with plenty of loose hair. Signs of an unhealthy coat include bare spots. Shedding is perfectly natural, but dog owners can still do one or two things to help their dogs shed just a little less. Shedding can be a sign of a nutritional deficiency. Of course, grooming is essential but there are dog foods specifically formulated to reduce dog shedding because of the right mix of nutrients a canine needs. Omega 3 fatty acids With a Golden Retriever puppy, a food allergy can cause unnatural hair loss. Controlling allergies will stop your pet from ongoing scratching at their skin. Lots of scratching can increase the amount of hair your pet sheds, so make sure your Golden is being treated for fleas. Some foods such as tuna have essential nutrients such as Omega 3 fatty acid. Coconut oil added into food can keep the skin hydrated. It is also great for reducing dandruff and preventing fleas. Flaxseed oil can help improve the skin and fur of your Golden. Ensure your Golden has constant access to fresh, cool water. Make sure the water bowl is always clean. Some people buy a dog water fountain as the fun aspect of splashing his snout around in the water encourages more water intake. Bathing While bathing your dog is a way to get rid of excessive loose fur on your Golden, you have to be careful about bathing your dog too often as the situation with troublesome, itchy skin can backfire. The natural oils of your Golden Retriever help to keep his coat dirt resistant and water-repellant. Nevertheless, your Golden will require bathing, but very occasionally, say every 6 weeks or so. You have to look at the lifestyle of your dog. If you live on a large farm-type property and your Golden is constantly plunging into the farm dam, this frequent swimming can lead to a dirty coat and an unpleasant smell. Stress This makes perfect sense as just like humans lose their hair under stressful conditions, so do dogs. Your Golden is such a happy, amicable dog with a non-stop wagging tail. Keep him that way by keeping stress at bay. This is done by means of — Regular exercise Providing a constant supply of fresh cool water Feeding him a regular, nutritious diet Providing him with loving attention Providing him with a warm, dry, peaceful sleeping area Getting him to the vet when he shows signs of illness Shedding increases with spaying and neutering When humans are under par, their immune system suffers and their hair is lank and unhealthy. Spaying and neutering your Golden Retriever is similar. It can be a setback for their system. Hormonal changes can alter his shedding. You may see more shedding than normal. Give your beloved pet time to recover after the op, spoil him or her with nutritional treats and soon they will recover as they enter a new season of their lives. Golden Retrievers are just sheer joy but there is that one downside — their shedding. So apart from the tips mentioned above, what else can you do to make the best of their shedding? Make sure that you buy your Golden Retriever puppy from a responsible breeder. With a poor breeder you always get unpredictability and poor qualities in your dog. Responsible breeders always take the trouble to find good homes for every dog they breed. They also take great care to produce healthy puppies with the right temperament — and the normal amount of shedding. Not all dog breeders are ethical and you may spend a fortune in specialized dog products and vet fees to try and treat the problems you see in an il-bred puppy. As a Golden Retriever owner, educate yourself on shedding, learn how to buy a puppy that gives you less problems and how to take the right steps to keep this natural process under control. These slicker brushes have fine wire bristles that remove tangles and smooth the fur for a shiny coat. They are great for heavy shedders. They are great for shampooing your dog and for massaging while simultaneously removing loose hair. At the same time they stimulate blood flow to encourage a healthy shine. After you have brushed your pet, take him outside and comb his hair with your hands in the same direction that his fur lies. Undercoat rakes These shedding tools are a must-have for a Golden as they get to the thick bottom layer to remove excess loose fur. They make you work hard, so choose one with a well designed, ergonomic handle to prevent you from having an aching wrist. Some of the best undercoat rakes have a double row of stainless steel pins that loosen dead hair but which are soothing for your dog. There are also medicated shampoos for treating the likes of fleas. There he will get a good bath, a good brush and rub down and the groomer will check his nails, and inside his ears. Hair Dryer Air drying can take quite a time and by then the damp hair has attracted new dust and dirt. A doggy doggy blow dryer gets the job done chop-chop and at the same time it blows out all loose hair. Rather invest in a doggy hair dryer that has been designed specifically for dogs. They can be ordered easily online at Amazon. Of course there are going to be factors to consider when it comes to choosing a canine family member for your home. You have to first of all take into account the size of your property and what size dog would suit your surroundings. These are large, active gun dogs that require plenty of activity and exercise. As a dog owner, you have a responsibility towards your dog. He depends on you for his daily food, your love, shelter and care. A dog like the Golden Retriever with his longer silky coat will shed more than a dog with a short, sleek coat. 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. Short Answer. A LOT. Along with using an undercoat rake once a week. During shedding season giant clumps of hair will roll down your living room like tumble weeds. You'll be sweeping or vacuuming once every days, and lint rolling your clothes every time you leave the house. And don't even think about wearing black colored clothes. Beyond just regular brushing; Golden Retrievers needs to be regularly groomed once every 8 to 10 weeks. This can be done at home or through your friendly local groomer. Just like your own hair, their coats can get long, tangled, and dirty without regular grooming. So Golden's require a little extra attention compared to short haired dogs. Why Dogs Shed Shedding is a natural process that many animals, including you, lose old and damaged hair. Dogs just have a lot more hair to lose than you. Typically dogs will shed their coat in spring to prepare for the warmer months, and grow a thick warm coat in fall to prepare for winter. During spring and fall is when you can expect the worst shedding to occur. Meaning, if your dog spends the majority of their time outside, then their coat will be thicker and warmer for the winter, and will shed more in the spring. That means indoor dogs will naturally shed less during spring and fall, but more evenly over the entire year. Losing their Puppy Coat Puppies have an extra thick padded fur coat to keep them extra warm during the first 4 — 6 months of their life ever notice how extra soft and fluffy puppies are? But they will shed that coat completely around the 6 month mark to make room for their adult coat. So as they naturally shed their puppy coat to make room for their adult coat, you can expect a big increase in shedding. Neutered or Spayed Has your dog been recently neutered or spayed? Adult dogs typically experience excessive shedding for several months after being fixed. More so with neutering males. This is due to changes in Testosterone and other hormones that are responsible for keeping hairs follicles thick and shiny. A dog with poor nutrition and little exercise will have dry and itchy skin, damaged hair roots, and increased stress. Keep your golden well fed and care for and they will display that love with a beautiful healthy coat. Read the label, avoid big box retail stores that sell generic brands, and shop at pet stores that have special knowledge about the food they sell. A food rich with fatty acids, and healthy proteins will promote a strong healthy coat. Allergies Your dog may be reacting to allergy symptoms which will literally cause your dog to scratch their hair off. Many dogs suffer from allergic reactions, most often with specific proteins in their dog food. Other symptoms include itchy eyes, ears, paws, armpits, and anus. You may also notice an increase in ear and eye infections. Dog allergies can develop at any stage in their life, and they could be reacting to many different things. A vet will be able to properly examine and treat your dog for allergies. Fleas, Ticks, and Parasites Fleas and Ticks cause your dog to be very itchy and uncomfortable, which leads to excessive scratching and hair loss. Do a proper inspection to determine if your dog actually has fleas. Fleas and Ticks can be treated with flea shampoos or insecticides from your vet or pet store. Pet bedding and anything they lay down on must be go through the laundry. And you may need to do a very thorough cleaning of your home. Do NOT take a dog with fleas to a dog groomer, as it may spread to other dogs. Stress Is your Golden stressed out? Have you moved to a new home? Going through family changes? Is there a lot of noise in your area? Has their routine changed? Dogs will naturally shed more during stressful periods in their lives. Licking or Chewing Is your golden excessively licking or chewing their own fur? Is there noticeable clumps of fur missing from their coat? This could be related to stress, allergies, or skin conditions discussed earlier, and may require a trip to the Vet to investigate. Monitor your golden to see if they have a habit of licking non-stop, which would lead to excessive shedding. You CAN control it however. And taking these few steps make all the difference. Brushing Your 1 defense to grooming and deshedding will be regular brushing. That part may not come as a big surprise, however most owners don't realize that the right tools make all the difference in the world. I highly recommend you get a good Slicker Brush, they're designed to not only detangle and deshed, but also make brushing comfortable without skin irritation. But ideally every day. I recommend a high quality Slicker Brush and Grey Hound comb. Keeping your golden free of mats will also help out your groomer, which in turn save yous extra money. While these work wonders for some breeds, it will actually ruin the coat of your golden as it cuts their coat rather then remove loose hair. Just use a pin brush, or slicker brush, along with an undercoat rake. Bathing Golden's need to be groomed regularly because of their long coats. General rule of thumb is once every 6 — 8 weeks. If you're bathing at home, we recommend an oatmeal or coconut based pet shampoo to keep their skin from becoming too dry. And as an added bonus they leave your dog smelling great. Pro Tip: After their bath towel dry your dog, while still slightly damp gently brush them out. The slicked down hairs will be easier to remove and will leave your dog shed free for up to two weeks afterwards. A professional groomer can give your dog a deshedding treatment, which means blowing their coat out with a high velocity dryer. Can I just Shave my Golden? No, you cannot shave your Golden Retriever. Some owners assume that shaving their Golden would be a great way to keep them comfortable in hot months, while reducing shedding. Golden's are Double-Coated dogs, meaning they have a surface coat called the guard coat and thicker coat underneath undercoat. These two coats work together to protect your Golden from over exposure to heat, cold, UV rays, and excessive moisture. Removing the undercoat puts a massive strain on the natural protection your Golden was born with, and it will never grow back the same. That's right, shaving your golden will ruin their beautiful coat forever. Simply put, don't do this. What I recommend is getting a groomers to cut their "feathers" extra short. It keep their undercoat intact but removes enough of the long hair for easy maintenance and brushing later on. Thankfully vacuum cleaners are quite inexpensive these days. Make sure you have one with a detachable hose for those hard to reach places like behind and underneath furniture. Swiffers are great for hard surfaces, and they work a lot better than paper towels. It's got a sturdy reusable handle and the sheets are sticky enough to get all the hair off my pants. An absolutely essential item whenever leaving the house, especially when wearing black. This thing is my personal savior. If you keep up with brushing and grooming, then the shedding is much, much more manageable. This is especially true in spring and fall. Spending some time to brush and groom your Golden not only helps with shedding, but it maintains good health, and allows for a daily bonding ritual with you and your dog. It may seem like a chore at first, but it's a part of my day that I now look forward to. And how do you get control of it? Leave a comment down below and tell me your golden tales! Related Posts. Grooming He is excellent as a family companion, however, for him to rest peacefully on the couch and act as the house's mascot - he needs activities. Goldens are excellent retrievers, so the dummy is a sport created for retrievers. He is a working dog, created to work in water, for example, to fetch arrows. Fortunately, you can meet his needs much more quickly, through active learning of tricks, obedience training, and tracking. Golden retriever coat stages Stage 1 At 3 months old, most Golden puppies begin to shed feathers in their short, fluffy puppy coat. If the puppy's parents later grew an adult coat, it is more likely to do so. You can ask the breeder to meet the puppy's parents and find out at what age they had the adult coat. Stage 2 When the puppy is about 3 months old, he will begin to see long hairs growing on his tail. This stage indicates the beginning of blending. Golden Retrievers have feathers on their tail, belly and legs. The dog's tail is the starting point for the growth of the adult coat. The rest of the adult hair will grow all over his body. The recent hair growth will be slightly darker than the formerly light puppy coat. The Golden Retriever puppy differs from other breeds in that it does not shed its puppy fur. Instead, the puppy fur is repelled by a newer, more long, outer coat that grows. The complete transition takes 18 months. Golden retriever appearance You need to know something before you have a golden retriever living under your roof - the breed description. This dog has a harmonious appearance that is perfectly finished with a longer coat. The head is nicely sculptured, without jowls, with a well-defined foot and a relatively long muzzle. The balanced body ends in a tail carried flush with the topline. The limbs are strong, and muscular, giving the Golden Retriever an energetic, powerful gait without raising the front paws too high. The golden dog has longer, smooth or wavy hair finished with feathers. Importantly, underneath the coat, a dense undercoat protects the skin from water. The acceptable coat colour is golden or cream. There may be a small white mark on the forecast. However, the coat must not be too dark - red or mahogany. When it comes to Golden Retriever dogs, the breed description also applies to size. Males are slightly larger than bitches, a common trait in quadrupeds. At the withers, their size is cm, and bitches - cm. The weight of males fluctuates around 28 kg and females - 27 kg. Goldens are classified as medium-sized breeds. Their standard weight can range from kg, with males reaching 56 to 61 cm at the withers and females from 51 to 56 cm. They have a proportional and quite muscular body structure. This is a sizable but gentle breed known for its warm nature. Golden retrievers are extremely friendly and sociable, they give equal sympathy to basically everyone - even burglars. Therefore, they certainly can not be considered guard dogs. They are patient and very understanding - great dogs for families with children. They are usually easy to raise. They get attached, love company, and usually get along well with other animals. Quite often they are used in dog therapy, sometimes they work as tracking or rescue dogs. They can detect drugs or gas leaks. They can also be trained to help people with disabilities. A golden retriever is definitely not a couch dog. You need to take him out for long walks to "run around". He loves all physical activities, including swimming. He is remarkably resilient. Originally, it was a hunting dog, so it happens that it brings various "prey" in its mouth. Golden retrievers have gorgeous fur, which is a dog decoration. Of course, the pet looks great if its coat is neat, shiny and clean. Dirt, tangles, bits of twigs, or food entangled in the hair take away a lot of the charm and are unpleasant for the pet itself. They can pinch, tangle and snag on everything. In case of exceptional lack of care, fur can start to moss and felt, which looks really awful and there is no way to do anything with such a mess of hair - only cut it off. So let's take care of our pet's fur so that it remains a natural decoration and we can be proud of it. What is the best way to take care of a golden retriever's coat? What is the coat of a golden retriever? Golden retrievers have a coat that is either smooth or somewhat wavy. The hair is quite long and reaches its largest size on parts of the body such as the chest, belly, thighs, tail, and front legs exactly their backside. These dogs have an undercoat and it is waterproof. Long hair is a beautiful look but has many problems because it tangles easily. It's also not very resistant to dirt, especially because golden retrievers in a classic coat don't have protective colours it means that after jumping in the mud it will be obvious. Dogs of this breed undergo intensive moulting in spring and autumn, which should be responded to with more frequent and intensive brushing. You should also consider giving your dog a dietary supplement to strengthen growing hair. Tools for golden retriever coat care Since the coat of this breed of dog is both delicate and quite long, we need several fur care tools for different stages of combing. All products should be bought in a good pet store e. Do not use human tools! They are not suitable; for example, the same comb as our dog is extremely unhygienic. So what do we need and what should we equip ourselves with? First, we need a poodle brush - it is perfect for smoothing the hair without tugging it too much. Secondly, a metal comb is irreplaceable when attacking tangles of all kinds. Thirdly, one of the following tools will come in handy, depending on what your pet's hair is like and what effect you want to achieve with trimming and shaping the different parts: a pair of degloving scissors, a trimmer, a razor or a trimmer rake. What are these tools used for? Primarily to shape the fur on the neck, ears, paws, bristles and tail. The combing itself should always be done on a dry coat. We make gentle, sweeping motions, starting with the head and ending with the tail. Do not tug or pull the fur. First, we deal with tangles with a comb, then we smooth the whole with a brush. Alternatively, we can apply conditioner to the coat during bathing and then use a metal brush to remove any tangles and tangled parts of the hair. After a thorough combing, if the dog is preparing for a show, we can spray over the coat anti-static liquid, so that it will not electrify. Cosmetics for golden retriever coat care What is the best shampoo for our Golden? A golden retriever should be bathed if it gets very dirty, of course, this should be done more often. Our dog needs special cosmetics, dedicated to shaggy dogs, not humans! Using our products will disturb the pH of his delicate skin, and may cause rashes, hair loss, itching and dandruff. Of course, for long-haired pets, a hypoallergenic one will also be very good, for exceptional sensitivities. Before taking part in a show it's worth using a special shampoo to increase the coat's volume and use a smoothing spray. Remember that the shampoo should be rinsed thoroughly and be careful not to get into the nose, eyes or ears of the pet ears of the dog should be cleaned and dried after each bath, because due to their hanging shape it is difficult to drain water from them, and in warmth and moisture fungi can develop. During washing, we can also apply conditioner or lotion for a few moments to make fur smooth and shiny. Then take a soft towel and squeeze out excess water do not rub or rub too hard. A hairdryer will also come in handy - set a slightly warm stream of air and gently, part by part, dry the coat. Don't exaggerate the amount of shampoo, as the hair will stick together and fall out, making it look greasy, which definitely won't add to the dog's charm. Let's also remember about regular trimming tufts of fur from between paw pads. To do this, let's use scissors with a rounded end. Grooming The golden retriever has a characteristic, long, dense coat of a golden colour, but does not moult excessively. The dog needs to be brushed 1 or 2 times a week, except during increased hair loss spring and autumn , when it may be necessary even daily. In addition, the dog's claws need to be trimmed regularly - otherwise, they can cause discomfort and pain. It is also necessary to cut the hair from between the pads. However, frequent baths are not advisable, except for recreational ones in open water. Golden retrievers should only be bathed when they are simply dirty. After each contact with water, his ears should be thoroughly cleaned to avoid the development of ringworm. More Dogs.

Once you have placed your deposit. Please call us at to make your final payment, and to discuss the final details of bringing home your new furry friend! The Sellers certify that the puppy you purchase is in sound health at the time of sale to the best of our knowledge and has been given all vaccinations and wormings stated on the vaccination record provided to the Buyer s. We do our best to provide the new owner with a healthy puppy. The buyer will be responsible for further vaccinations and boosters. The following stipulations must be adhered to in order for a replacement to be made. Offical reports from 2 unaffiliated veterinarians stating that, without a doubt, the puppy has a genetic defect that is life-threatening, must be sent to me along with phone numbers of each vet's office. The documentation must be forwarded to us before a determination will be made. The Sellers reserve the right to confirm the diagnosis with the veterinarian of their choice. The Seller will not be responsible for any expenses you may incur, including shipping and vet expenses. This warranty applies only to the original buyer. Puppy replacement or credit for future puppy only. We cannot control the exposure your puppy encounters after leaving here. Puppies sometimes stress when adopted and moved to their new home. This stress can be brought on due to the move, change of diet, too much handling, not enough quiet time, or not eating properly. These conditions are all treatable and do not warrant a replacement. There is no guarantee on the color or size of puppy now or as an adult. We strongly recommend but do not require that your puppy be spayed or neutered. It is your ultimate responsibility to take good care of your puppy and provide adequate food, water, shelter and veterinarian care. Please be aware that as a new puppy owner you share in the responsibility to help prevent hip dysplasia, as it has been proven to be part heredity and increasingly environmental. We have bred this puppy based on sound stock. Through proper diet, proper exercise, and quality living conditions, you can play an important role in helping your puppy grow into a healthy adult. I, the Seller, do hereby agree to offer a one 1 week health and a two 2 year genetic warranty on this puppy. Current Stock:. Hi and welcome to Windy Ridge Bernedoodles! We are based out of Sugar Creek, Ohio. If you are looking for the perfect Bernedoodle Companion, then you have come to the right place. We are a family of breeders that specializes in raising the highest quality and confirmation of Mini and Standard bernedoodles. It is very important for us that trust is established and the health of puppies is at a high standard when adopting a new family member. They are physically beautiful and a hardy breed as well. When you adopt one of our bernedoodle puppies it will need lots of attention and room to run! We love to go on walks and trails with them. Combining physical traits and disposition from both parental lines make for bernedoodles to be the perfect companions! We make sure to socialize and play with our pups daily. When you visit you will see how friendly and playful all of them are for that very reason. There are so many things such as confirmation, personality, socialization, parents, and more that go into finding the perfect companion.

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 McAllen Texas? 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. 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 McAllen 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. McAllen TX From its settlement in , the area around McAllen was largely rural and agricultural in character, but the latter half of the 20th century had steady growth, which has continued in the 21st century in the metropolitan area. The introduction of the maquiladora economy and the North American Free Trade Association led to an increase in cross-border trading with Mexico. 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. Browse these Pointer rescues and shelters below. Don't miss what's happening in your neighborhood. With big floppy ears and an adorable face, the beagle is one of the most popular breeds in America. Why buy a Pointer puppy for sale if you can adopt and save a life? Look at pictures of Pointer puppies who need a home. Prices may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy for sale in McAllen, TX. Join millions of people using Oodle to find puppies for adoption, dog and puppy listings, and other pets adoption. Fairy Tail Puppies. Find Chihuahua puppies for sale Near McAllen, TX The iconic national dog of Mexico is a tiny, lively pup with big expressive eyes and an even more expressive bark. The typical price for Poodle puppies for sale in McAllen, TX may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy. The typical price for Pomeranian puppies for sale in McAllen, TX may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy. Receive an email alert when additional puppies are added. The typical price for Chihuahua puppies for sale in McAllen, TX may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy. Browse these Canaan Dog rescues and shelters below. Boxer puppies for sale in McAllen TX. There are animal shelters and rescues that focus specifically on finding great homes for Boston Terrier puppies in McAllen, Texas. Click below to find a shelter or rescue in your area! Find an Animal Shelter. Contact with your ph for more information Photos and contact info on Advertigo website. We are accepting reservations for our next litter of. There are animal shelters and rescues that focus specifically on finding great homes for Pointer puppies in McAllen, Texas. These adorable dogs are available for adoption in McAllen, Texas. DNA links available upon request. German Shepherds for Sale in McAllen. To learn more about each adoptable dog, click on the "i" icon for fast facts, or their photo or name for full. Here are a few organizations closest to you: Rescue 5. Pointer puppies and dogs in McAllen, Texas. Why buy a kitten for sale if you can adopt and save a life? PetSmart E. Chihuahuas for Sale in McAllen. Labrador Puppies For Sale. Many of our brands have frequent buyers programs where if you buy a certain amount of bags, you can get one free! Fresh Selection of Products. Photos and contact info on Advertigo website. There are often many great Papillons for adoption at local animal shelters or rescues. Pets And Animals For Sale. Expressway McAllen, TX If you'd like to set up an adoption appointment, please call, text or email us. Gorgeous chihuahua, shihtzu, english and french bulldogs. There are animal shelters and rescues that focus specifically on finding great homes for Canaan Dog puppies in McAllen, Texas. On Good Dog, Maltese puppies in. Browse these Boston Terrier rescues and shelters below. We deliver puppies for sale in Mcallen, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, just a couple of hours away from Laredo, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio, Texas; we work hard to keep our facilities clean and our pets healthy. Birds for Sale in McAllen. McAllen, TX Pet. Poodles for Sale in McAllen. There are often many great Labradoodles for adoption at. This kitty is available at: PetSmart E. AmericanListed features safe and local classifieds for everything you need! Northwest Puppies. 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. He will come with CKC registration paperwork. Last girl left out of a litter of Fawn colour with white paws and bib She is very loving and loves to cuddle and is very playful she is used to being handledalso used to children and household noises. To learn more about each adoptable dog, click on the "i" icon for fast facts, or their photo or name for full details. Earn PetSmart Treats loyalty points with every purchase and get members-only. He will have his immunization records with documentation of D more. Why buy a Canaan Dog puppy for sale if you can adopt and save a life? Look at pictures of Canaan Dog puppies who need a home. Papillon puppies and dogs in nearby cities. Learn more puppies available 1, certified breeders Transportation. He will have his immunization records with documentation of D… more. Poodle puppies for sale in McAllen, TX from trusted breeders. Visit your local Mcallen PetSmart store for essential pet supplies like food, treats and more from top brands. Look at pictures of kittens in McAllen, Texas who need a home. Looking for pet? It's easy and free! Canaan Dog puppies and dogs in McAllen, Texas. The American Boxer Club was established in .Join millions of people using Oodle to find unique used cars for sale, apartments for rent, jobs listings, merchandise, and other classifieds in your neighborhood. Mission, TX .Birds for Sale in Mcallen, Texas. Gorgeous chihuahua, shihtzu, english and french bulldogs available. Find Beagle puppies for sale. Golden Retrievers for Sale in McAllen. If you are unable to find your puppy in our. Rottweiler puppies for sale in McAllen, TX from trusted. Sale includes Rasa very large stainless steal cage stainless steal round perch and all of his toys. Boxer puppies sale McAllen TX. Dachshund puppies for sale in McAllen, TX from trusted. Pets for Sale in Mcallen, Texas. All puppies are born and raised indoors. We recommend speaking directly with your breeder to get a better idea of their price range. Labradoodle Puppies for Sale. Hound Unknown Type Male, young. Dolittle's Rescue Ranch This rescue hasn't posted any pets that match these criteria. 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The German shepherd puppies are approximately six weeks old, fully vaccinated, and dewormed. Screened for quality. Transportation to McAllen, TX available. Paws Paradise, located at La Plaza: A community pet store that provides a variety of pet supplies and an everyday opportunity for individuals to meet and.Craigslist pets mcallen tx. Having established ourselves as a sought after Standard and Mini Goldendoodle breeder, Doodle Bliss puppies can likely be found near McAllen. Thanks to our.He will also have curly hair as he gets older. He is currently 9 weeks and is for the most part potty trained, he is trained to use the restroom … more ABC Puppies for Sale in Texas. Looking to buy Goldendoodle puppies for sale for McAllen, Texas. The Craigslist of Mcallen, Tx website is a free online classifieds site that.Man bought puppy at flea market then left it in a hot car.Mcallen Craiglist Sales Apts. Mcallen community pets — craigslist. 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Any puppies that qualify as a German Shepherd Mix are a cross between a German Shepherd and another dog breed. In a mixed breed, you can get any mix of characteristics in the parent breeds. German Shepherds tend to be strong-willed, intelligent, playful, and loyal. To get a full idea of what to expect in your puppy, be sure to ask the breeder about the other dog breed in the cross and check out the mother dog in-person to get a general idea about size and temperament. On the German Shepherd side, you have an independent dog with high intelligence and a playful spirit. German Shepherds make great family pets and are born protectors. Because of their protective instinct, they can be suspicious of strangers. Socialization early and often can help curb this suspicion and make them more open to new people and situations. German Shepherds also tend to be loving and have a lively personality. The German Shepherd Mix can have any or all of these characteristics plus any characteristics from the other parent breed in the mix. Before buying a German Shepherd Mix puppy and bringing them home, be sure to talk to the breeder about the other parent breed. If the puppies are being family-raised around children, you should be able to get an idea of how they will do in a family setting that includes children. The German Shepherd is a moderately adaptable working dog that was bred to guard, work, and herd. They do not tend to do well in apartments and are best-suited for houses with yards. GSDs prefer to be with their families and do not like to be alone. They also tend to prefer cooler climates as they are sensitive to heat. With a German Shepherd Mix, you could get a moderately adaptable dog that is just like a purebred German Shepherd. You could also end up with a dog that is more like the other parent breed. Talking with the breeder about the other parent breed can give you a good idea of what to expect. German Shepherds can be prone to elbow and hip dysplasia. You will need to ask the breeder about the other parent breed in the cross to get an idea of any other health concerns to be aware of in your German Shepherd Mix. Health screenings, clearances, and the genetic history of the parents can help allay concerns about potential health conditions. On the German Shepherd side, training and obedience classes are highly recommended for novice dog owners. Although GSDs are highly intelligent, pick up on things quickly, and train fairly easily, they can be stubborn with an independent streak. Regardless of the other parent breed in the cross, you should be prepared to enroll in obedience and training classes with your German Shepherd Mix. The experience will be beneficial to both you and your puppy and will also offer some opportunities for socialization. You will still want to ask the breeder about the other parent breed in the cross to get an understanding of what to expect during the training process. Professional grooming a few times a year and the occasional bath is also recommended. Regardless of the coat type, your German Shepherd Mix will need to have their nails trimmed monthly and their teeth brushed regularly. Not every dog will allow you to do this, so try to get a tooth brushing session in at least a few times a week to reduce tartar buildup. This will help prevent dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Plus, it will help cut down on bad breath! German Shepherds tend to have a high activity level. They were bred to run, herd, guard, and protect, so they are used to working and having a job to do. They are definitely not a lazy dog breed! Be sure to talk to the breeder about the other parent breed in the mix. You will still want to go in prepared for a high energy dog with the understanding that your German Shepherd Mix puppy may have an activity level closer to the other breed in the cross. If both are high energy dogs breeds, expect to end up with a high energy dog. A German Shepherd is a large dog breed that generally weighs between 55 and 90 pounds. They also usually stand between 22 and 26 inches tall at the shoulders. The other dog breed in the cross could result in a smaller or larger German Shepherd Mix. A German Shepherd generally lives for years. You should be able to expect a similar range in your German Shepherd Mix, but the other dog breed in the cross could affect this range. Featured German Shepherd Mix Article. Adopting a German Shepherd Pitbull mix from an adoption center is the best thing you can do. It can be life changing — not only for the dog but to you as well. He requires a low-to-medium maintenance level due to its short coat and a moderate amount of shedding. Brushing his coat can be done weekly, or three times a week if you are the type of person who is greatly bothered by scattered dog hair. Make sure to clean his ears often since this area is common to accumulate dirt, moisture, and bacteria. Nail trimming should be accomplished every few weeks to keep his paws clean and healthy. Pitbull mixed with German Shepherd Health Problems Provided that he is given the proper care and is living a healthy lifestyle, this crossbreed can live up to 12 years. Every breed is susceptible to specific health issues, and so it is essential that as a dog owner, you are aware of these things so that you know how to take care well of your dog accordingly. It is worth remembering that the Pitbull crossed with German Shepherd may suffer from the following diseases. Hip Dysplasia: The German Shepherd breed is genetically susceptible to this condition, and the possibility of passing it to its offspring is highly possible. The disease is characterized by malformation of the hip joints which may cause lameness and ongoing pain. Atopic Dermatitis: It is an inflammatory skin condition which may be triggered by exposure to certain environmental factors such as grass sprayed with pesticides and mold spores. To avoid this condition from affecting your pup, make sure to keep your house clean. Also, keep an eye for increased use of pesticides at dog parks. Skin Irritation: The Pitbull German Shepherd is prone to skin irritation, which it inherits from the Pitbull side of the family. They have a more sensitive skin, which can react strongly to insect bites, such as fleas and ticks. Generally, feeding him cups of good quality dry food daily in combination with nutritious homemade diet would be sufficient. A well-balanced diet covering all the essential nutrients, including an appropriate protein and calorie intake, is vital in an active breed like the German Sheppit. On average, the German Shepherd Pitbull needs calories for males, while calories for females. Its core ingredients include ground brown and white rice, lamb meal and chicken meal. It has all-natural ingredients infused with additional minerals and vitamins. Its main components include chicken, real beef and salmon meat products. Blue Buffalo Wilderness: If your Pitbull German Shepherd has food allergies, this dog food is the right choice for you. It is a grain-free turkey and potato recipe dog food supplemented with antioxidant-rich kibble. This dog food is formulated to minimize food sensitivities while maximizing the nutritional value dogs receive. Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient: This dog food is formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs. If your pooch is still a munchkin, you should go through best puppy food brands. Senior, gray-coated dogs require different diets. Your pooch takes genes from two parents. This means you could also take into account buying the best dry dog food for small dogs or best large breed dry dog food. Pitbull Crossed with German Shepherd Exercise Requirements The Pitbull German Shepherd mix is an active and high-energy dog, so it might get destructive if he gets bored. This breed love to move around and therefore enjoys doing exercise activities. It is recommended to exercise him at least 90 minutes daily. Their exercise requirement is not just a guideline, but it is crucial that they are met. Without enough exercise, this breed may fall into a pattern of aggressive and destructive behaviors, such as excessive barking, unwanted chewing, and digging. Mental stimulation exercises should also be part of your routine to keep them from getting bored and further improve its social interactions. You can provide your pet with interactive dog toys. While it is true that they come from parent breeds with remarkable high intelligence, you should be warned that training them can be a bit overwhelming. Patience, attention, more time and positive reinforcement are the key components that owners should abide by in training this crossbreed. This is for your dog to learn the proper etiquette at a young age and avoid developing unwanted behaviors when it grows up. Remember to keep the pace of the training slow as your pup is still young and its body might still be fragile. After a year or two, however, you can increase the pace. Moreover, take note that an experienced trainer is better than a novice trainer. You need to be strong and authoritative. Otherwise, this dog will try to dominate you. Gentle yet firm treatment is the way to go with the German Sheppit puppy. Use Positive ReinforcementEven if this mixed breed has a tendency to become stubborn, avoid taking extreme measures. Using negative punishment-based training will not do any help, he might just end up not respecting you as a leader. Make it a regular routine to reward him whenever he does something right. Implement simple rules that they can follow and in return, give them praises and treats for obeying the rules. Training your German Sheppit consistently in a positive method will provide you with pet companions that are obedient and good-natured. Puppy socialization has been proven to reduce developing aggressive behaviors, anxiety, and fearfulness later on in their adulthood. You just have to introduce and desensitize your dog to different people and environments. You can try doing the following: Puppy classes Playing at dog-friendly parks Make him attend doggy daycares The above activities ensure that your dog interacts with a range of fellow dogs and people as well on different environments, which may include on and off leash interactions. Include Mental Exercises on Their TrainingThe Pitbull mixed with German Shepherd is an intelligent dog, and they need stimulating mental activities to avoid developing aggressive and other unwanted behaviors. Mental stimulation activities can be in the form of games or puzzles. German Shepherd Pitbull and Families With consistent proper training, exercise and correct socialization, the German Shepherd Pitbulls are incredibly loyal, friendly and affectionate towards family members, making them an excellent choice as a family pet. This crossbreed can even be the perfect breed for children, especially that its parent breed Pitbull was previously known as a nanny dog. Young kids, especially those under 8 years old, may play rough with dogs and they may tire them out or provoke them unknowingly causing the dogs to react in aggressive behaviors. Children should be taught to love and respect all members of the family including your four-legged family companions. This dog loves to spend time with you and other family members. So give love lots of affection to your German Shepherd crossed with Pitbull and expect an unconditional love in return.

Breeds Puppies The link has been copied! German Shepherds are medium to large working dogs that were bred in Germany to be used as a herding dog for sheep. Today, they are common household dogs that are loved around the world. These dogs tend to be loyal, stubborn, confident, intelligent, curious, brave, obedient, and protective. They have many positive attributes that make them very popular as pets. Size and Appearance of a 4 Month Old German Shepherd Once a German Shepherd reaches four months of age, it can be one foot tall and will weigh about half of the total adult weight. Male German Shepherds will weigh between 35 and 40 pounds, while females will weigh between 31 and 35 pounds. Between months three and four of life, a German Shepherd will gain around 10 pounds of body weight, and this will cause a difference in the dog's size and appearance. At this age, German Shepherds will be growing quickly, and you will be able to notice differences in the dog's size month-by-month. A four-month-old German Shepherd will no longer look like a puppy, and it will more closely resemble an adult by this age. Once the dog reaches four months old, the coat will be different from that of a puppy, and the dog will shed much more. The coat will become thicker and glossier, and the exact texture might depend on what foods the dog is eating. German Shepherds come in a variety of colors that include black, white, gray, black and tan, black and red, black and silver, and sable. The coloring of your dog will depend on the breeding and parents. Additionally, the dog is teething at this age. The German Shepherd will be teething until about seven to eight months, and during this time, the milk teeth will be replaced with larger adult teeth. German Shepherd puppies tend to have ears that lay flatter, while the adult's ears will be perky and stand straight up. At four months, the process of ear perking will begin, although the cartilage will not strengthen for another month or two. This means that the ears can perk up, then flatten, then perk up again until they become permanently lifted in adulthood. The dog's ears can remain flat if they live somewhere with consistently loud sounds, as they will try to avoid damage to their hearing by listening to these noises. To allow the dog's ears to perk properly, it is important to keep your dog away from loud, abrupt noises that can negatively affect their hearing. Activity and Behavior Four month old German Shepherds are very active puppies that must be stimulated physically as well as mentally. Some great activities to do with a dog include playing outside, playing with toys, going on walks or jogs, dog sports, and attending obedience training. A four-month German Shepherd will enjoy going on walks for about a mile at a time, and it is preferable to go on several shorter walks throughout the day rather than going on one very long walk. About two hours of active playtime per day is important for your puppy. Playtime is when they are both physically and intellectually enriched, and it is vital for development going into adulthood. For the first four months of life, there are many new experiences and adventures that your dog will learn from, so it is important. Sleeping Needs Sleep is extremely important for a young German Shepherd, and if the dog is not getting enough sleep , it might start to misbehave. If you notice this, it is important to discuss working out a proper daily schedule with your veterinarian, as it will often be a fix that you can make yourself by changing your routine, walk schedule, eating times, or play times. At the age of four months, a German Shepherd will sleep for around 18 hours a day. They need the energy to grow, which is why they sleep for most of the day, but in the hours when they are awake, German Shepherds tend to be very active. Dogs that exercise a lot will also sleep more to recuperate the energy lost during the day. If there are many new things to explore, the dog will sleep for fewer hours during the day. Some four months later, German Shepherds will also take 15 to minute naps during the day, and then they will wake up to play, eat, or use the bathroom. Health and Care Each time you take your dog to the vet, you should weigh and measure your German Shepherd to make sure that they are growing at the proper rate. If your dog is healthy, it should be growing quickly, and the veterinarian can confirm that everything looks good. At the age of four months, you should get a third set of vaccines, including DHPP and rabies, to protect your dog against these diseases. This can be done through a veterinarian. Vaccines are important to complete on time to boost your dog's immune system and keep them as healthy and up-to-date as possible. It is important to take your dog to the vet if you notice extreme changes in behavior, sleeping patterns, coughing or sneezing , runny noses or overly watery eyes, any form of weight loss, lack of appetite, heavy breathing, excessive urination, irritated gums, vomiting, or diarrhea. These can be signs that your dog is sick and needs medical care. Bathing your German Shepherd too often can cause the natural oils that a dog needs to keep its skin protected to dry up, so it is important not to over-bathe your puppy. However, it is important to keep your dog's bed, bowls, and toys clean to avoid fleas or other insects that might negatively affect your pet. As your four-month-old German Shepherd's coat is transitioning into an adult coat, it is important to brush the fur every day. This is to prevent excessive shedding, which can irritate your dog and create a mess inside the house. It is important to always be gentle with your dog and not brush him too roughly. Feeding Your 4 Month Old German Shepherd A German Shepherd is a big dog, and at the age of four months, it is still a puppy that is actively growing and will therefore require a large amount of food. Four-month German Shepherds should be fed three times a day, and they should eat one to two cups of kibble at each feeding time. This kibble should be specifically meant for puppies of this age, as it will have the proper nutrients and ingredients for your puppy to grow into a healthy adult. At the end of the fourth month, you can begin to feed your dog twice a day, but they should still be eating kibble meant for puppies until they reach six months of age and they are no longer growing as rapidly. Treats are also a good addition to kibble, but you should not exceed three to five small treats per day. These treats should be exclusively for dogs , as feeding your German Shepherd adult food can cause many health issues. It is important to monitor how much you are feeding your dog, as overeating can cause obesity and lead to severe health issues. Additionally, if you decide to use a raw diet rather than kibble, it is important to be mindful of the quality and nutrition of the food to keep your German Shepherd healthy and energized. Training A four-month German Shepherd will be easy to train because the puppy's main goal will be to please their owner, and they are very intelligent and loyal dogs that will be eager to learn from their owner. One of the reasons why German Shepherds are such a popular breed is because of their trainability. A German Shepherd's instinct is to protect, as the breed was originally bred to herd and protect sheep. This can lead to a puppy barking often as a means to protect its family, and this can be a misbehavior that the owner hopes to correct. Training can help reduce unnecessary barking in your German Shepherd puppy. Another potential behavioral issue is using the bathroom inside the home, which is common at four months old. The owner must train their dog to go outside to use the bathroom, and patience is required for this process. The most efficient strategy for potty training is to be encouraging when the puppy correctly uses the bathroom outside and to avoid any anger when they have an accident, as this will only make training go slower. German Shepherd puppies might also bite and nip people to try to get attention or play. They will understand that they should not repeat this behavior and will learn quickly. While your German Shepherd is teething, it might bite furniture, which can cause damage. The best way to avoid this is to buy many chew toys to help your dog with the process of teething, as well as move any valuables out of the dog's reach. This behavior will reduce once the dog's adult teeth have all come in. Socialization with people and other animals can help your German Shepherd behave better, and it is important to expose them to new situations to help them learn. They are very curious animals who will enjoy having new experiences and trying new things. A German Shepherd is a medium to large-sized dog, and by the age of four months, the puppy will already be much larger than it was at birth. At four months, a male German Shepherd will have a shoulder height between 11 and 14 inches. A female German Shepherd will have a shoulder height between 10 and 12 inches. A male German Shepherd at four months old should weigh 35 to 40 pounds. A female should weigh 31 to 35 pounds. The dog should be rapidly growing, but it is important not to let them overeat because obesity can be a real health issue for your dog. Measuring the weight of your dog regularly can help you keep track of its growth, and if there are any concerning patterns, you should discuss it with your veterinarian. At the age of four months, it is not unusual for your dog to grow up to two pounds in a single week, and it is a time of great change and growth. At the age of four months, your German Shepherd should eat three meals a day. These meals should consist of one to two cups of kibble. This means that the total amount of kibble eaten per day should be three to six. You should base how much you feed your German Shepherd on their size, activity level, and how hungry they are. If you are unsure about how much to feed the puppy, you should consult your veterinarian for help. Treats can be used in moderation to train your young puppy and motivate them to partake in good behavior , or they can just be used as a snack throughout the day. A 4-month-old German Shepherd can walk for about one mile at a time before they become tired. Going for a thirty-minute walk twice a day will be sufficient exercise for your puppy to keep them nice and strong without overworking them. Fi smart dog collars make it easier than ever. Final Thoughts German Shepherds are great dogs to keep as pets. They have many positive traits that make them brilliant, loyal, and protective companions that will stay by your side no matter what. They are great work dogs as well as great pets, including for families. German Shepherds are easy to train, and they are very obedient animals that can learn all kinds of tricks. When your German Shepherd is still a puppy, it is the best time to teach them obedience, potty train them, and teach them to play. German Shepherds will be growing rapidly at four months, and it is important to take proper care of them so that they can grow into strong, healthy adults. Making sure that they have enough intellectual stimulation through walks, exploring new people and places, and toys can ensure that your dog is getting the attention that they need. Additionally, they should be fed enough to fuel their growing bodies. They should be taken to the veterinarian regularly to make sure that they are growing at a proper rate and that there are no health problems that need the attention of a professional. German Shepherds grow up fast , and when they are four months old, you will notice many changes in their size, mannerisms, and behavior. By four months, they will have developed a unique personality, and they will be your best friend! Taking care of your best friend will bring joy to both you and your pet, and it is an exciting journey to take together. For additional pet-parenting tips, head over to TryFi. And don't forget to check out TryFi's innovative Fi Dog Collar , which offers GPS tracking, activity monitoring, and escape alerts to keep your furry friend safe. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. From their diet and exercise requirements to how they play and interact with other people and animals. German Shepherds are very intelligent and high-energy dogs, so be prepared to provide lots of mental and physical exercises for them every day! These include: obedience training to learn commands like sit , jogging or walking with you through your neighborhood, playing in your backyard, and teaching them tricks like rolling over. Their coat is very easy to keep. All you need to do is brush or comb them a few times per week! And because of their high energy level, they shed A LOT! So if you have kids or other dogs in your home, be prepared for this german shepherd dog to become a great guard dog that will protect them at all costs. Just remember not to use any harsh discipline because even at four months old, they can be easily hurt. What time does the dog need to be let outside in the morning? German shepherd puppies can typically hold their bladders for one hour per month of age. How far can a 4 month old german shepherd walk? A four-month old pup should be able to walk about a mile. It is unbelievable how much these pups can walk at this age! Thankfully, they are always ready to be taken outside. They will still need multiple walks a day until their first birthday. How much does a four-month old german shepherd weigh? A four-month old GSD pup should weigh about 36 pounds. You can keep your four-month old german shepherd in optimal weight by feeding him a measured amount of quality food and taking him for daily walks. How much should 4 month old german shepherd eat? A four-month old german shepherd puppy should eat three times a day, and their diet should be split into three different meals. During this time, they will eat anywhere from one to two cups of food per meal. At the end of four months, German Shepherd puppies usually start eating twice daily. Once your german shepherd is six months old, you can switch to an adult dog food that contains less protein than puppy food. As for treats, you can give your German Shepherd puppy three to five small snacks a day if they are eating the right amount of dog food at each meal. You should never overfeed them or feed them human food because it will make their joints weaker and cause obesity problems as well as other health issues later in life! How much do 4 month old german shepherds sleep? Four month old german shepherds can sleep up to 18 hours a day, but this will depend on their environment. Generally speaking if your four-month old shepherd is getting plenty of exercise at playtime, they should be fine sleeping for many hours during the night as well. Some owners have mentioned that their dogs preferred more frequent naps of minutes during the day, but others have said their four-month old german shepherd sleeps for a long stretch at night without waking. If this happens, you should contact your local veterinarian to discuss options on how to help your four-month old shepherd get the rest they need. How much exercise does a 4 month old german shepherd need? A four-month old shepherd is still quite young, and most of the time, they will be running around with their siblings. This means that they need to get a lot of exercise in order for them not to go stir crazy! At this stage, it is recommended that they get at least two hours of exercise each day. This will give you more control over them when they are doing anything that involves their mouth, including biting and chewing on toys or objects. You can also try using a spray bottle to stop them from biting. And finally, make sure you are giving your dog enough attention when they are doing what is right. If he wants to play or chew on something but gets no reaction from you, then his behavior will only continue to get worse. These are some effective ways that you can train your four-month old shepherd to stop biting. Follow these tips and tricks, and they should be able to break the habit in no time! This time period can be described as an adventure, where the pup will learn many new things from his human family. As exciting as this experience may seem for both owner and dog, it can also be challenging at times to handle your pet during these stages. He may suddenly begin to exhibit temper tantrums or other undesirable behaviors that are hard to control, especially if you have never raised one before. This can be particularly true for those who raise German shepherds, which are known to be one of the hardest breeds to train. Potty accidents in your house are a common four-month old german shepherd behaviour problem that many pet owners often experience. However, this issue should not cause too much a concern. Most dogs will eventually learn the proper way to go potty outdoors, as long as their owners are patient and persistent enough. Potty training your four-month old german shepherd may not be easy at first, but most pet parents agree that it becomes progressively easier with time. Just make sure you never show anger towards your dog and always be very encouraging when he does something right. This can become a habit that will prove difficult to control once it becomes an issue for your pet. Most young German shepherds may nip and bite hands and feet while playing at an early age four months old. This can be a frustrating issue for new pet owners as they have never been around dogs before. But do not worry, this is no reason to give up on your four-month old german shepherd just yet! In fact, there are a few things you can do to help correct this behaviour. First of all, never scream or shout at your pet when he bites or nips you while playing. This may cause him some fear and will only make the problem worse in time. Instead, show your four-month old german shepherd that biting hands is not acceptable by simply ignoring him for a few seconds. This will let your pet know that biting hands is not something to be proud of. Problem 03 — Chewing on Furniture or Other Objects Chewing furniture or other objects can become another frustrating issue with four-month old german shepherds. This can occur when your pet becomes teething, which is a common problem for German shepherd pups before they reach five months of age. Four month old german shepherds often chew on furniture or other objects to ease the pain from their developing teeth. Chewing also helps them remove excess baby teeth that may still be in their mouths. However, you should not let this become a habit as it can cause serious damage to your home and belongings over time. This will help discourage him from chewing on anything he is not supposed to. You can also give him toys that are designed for chewing, such as a rubber ball or bone-shaped chew toy. This is another common problem many pet parents have to deal with from time to time. Inappropriate barking at strange objects can become a serious problem for your four-month old german shepherd, as it will only get worse over time if you do not correct him right away. You should never allow him to bark excessively, or he may develop the habit of doing so whenever something unfamiliar enters his sight. Your pet may bark excessively when he sees something new because it is natural for them to be suspicious of things they are not familiar with. This should not be mistaken as aggression, just a sign that your four-month old german shepherd needs more training and socialization. Keep in mind that barking can also become habitual if you do nothing about this particular issue. It is important to train your four-month old german shepherd right away that excessive barking at strange objects will not be tolerated. Conclusion: If you are having any of these common four month old German Shepherd behaviour problems, try using some of the tips mentioned above and make sure to properly socialize him with other pets and strangers on a regular basis. This will help him become a well-mannered adult dog in no time! Please refer to our german shepherd growth chart here for a more detailed explanation. A four-month old german shepherd female is usually very active and needs to do lots of exercises each day. She will also need training early on in her life, but it does not have to be formal. A guide on housetraining is a great place to start and can be very useful. The cartilage in their ears will strengthen around five to six months old, and they should start standing tall after that time frame passes. This can also happen if you leave your german shepherd in an environment with loud sounds for too long. Loud noises can cause the ear to flatten out because their ears are sensitive and they become overwhelmed by all of the noise around them. If you notice this behavior, make sure that you do not play any music or expose them to loud noises until their ears start to perk up. You can also try to feed them during this stage as it gives their ears something else that they need to focus on, instead of the noise around them. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. Final Thoughts It is important to know that a 4 month old German Shepherd differs from a puppy of an earlier age. Here, we want to tell you about these differences, about the changes in diet, exercise, and interaction with people and other animals. These doggies are very cute but they do not look like young puppies anymore. They are pretty massive animals that overgrow one foot of height. It is about pounds kg for males and pounds .It means that a puppy gained another 10 pounds during the last month. The puppy grows rapidly. Your boy can be inches cm and the girl inches cm at the shoulder. The coat has changed. They start shedding a lot like an adult dog, too. So, it is very important to brush them regularly — everyday brushing is necessary during this period. The skin is rather sensitive, so loose hair can cause allergies when it contacts the skin and the air. Teething continues. Adult teeth are replacing the milk ones. That is the process lasting for more months. The ears start perking up. Though, they are not stably erect at this age. The ears also can perk up and then fall and lay flat. It is a norm. Puppies at this age do not have strong cartilage. It will strengthen at the age of 5- 6 months. However, if your puppy lives in an environment with very loud sounds, its ears can flatten out because the noise does not allow them to perk up. You should do obedience training, a lot of walking and jogging, playing in the backyard, and other activities. Your puppy already knows that it should be protective of the members of your family. However, it can bark a lot because it is time to develop its vocal cords. Teach it not to do this so much. It is very easy to train a 16 week old German Shepherd puppy because it has a strong desire to please you. Remember that you need strict discipline because your pet can display signs of disobedience at this age as any teenager does. Your 4 month old GSD sleeps about 18 hours per day. Though, the number of hours can depend on the environment because it does not sleep so much if it has many things around to explore. Nevertheless, some puppies prefer short naps in the daytime too. In any case, let your pet have a good rest. Discuss these changes with your veterinarian to pick out the most appropriate daily schedule for better rest. Your puppy can walk effortlessly for about a mile 1. It is always ready to go outside and accompany you wherever you may go. Though, do not overload it with walking. Several walks during the day are a better option. It should get about 2 hours of active playing every day. The puppy learns a lot during its first four months. Everything seems an adventure to it. It is an exciting experience for both your doggy and you. Though, its behavior can be a bit unpredictable at times. So, you need to control it. In general, your 4 month old GSD puppy is entirely healthy, and it continues growing quickly. You need to weigh and measure your pet every time you come to the vet, or you can do it yourself at home. You may also need to get a DNA test to know what health issues to expect from your doggy when it is over 5 years old. This age is the proper time for having the third set of vaccines because they have had the first two already. The third set includes DHPP and rabies. Even if your puppy is healthy and active, you need to continuously watch out for possible disorders. You need to show your puppy to the vet, if you notice such things as changes in behavioral and sleeping patterns, sneezing and coughing, runny eyes or nose, losing weight, decrease in appetite, and other digestion issues, such as diarrhea or vomiting, red and swollen gums, heavy breathing, and excessive urination. Keep your doggy clean and protected. You do not need to bathe it very often — it can be harmful to the production of the natural oils that protect the skin. Brush your puppy every day now because of its excessive shedding. This is connected with the change of the coat from the puppy to an adult one. Grooming and brushing are very important parts of the care. You may also need the help of special grooming salons. Feeding Your 4 month old GSD is a good eater because it grows a lot. It should be fed not fewer than 3 times a day. It should take cups of kibble of natural food per meal. At the end of the fourth month, you can start the transition to two feedings per day. Do not rush to switch your pet to adult food. You can do it only when it is 6-month-old when its growth slows down a bit. You can also offer your GS puppy some treats. Never give your puppy human food or human treats — the latter is rather dangerous and can cause severe health issues. Avoid overfeeding, too. Your dog should not suffer from obesity when it is an adult because there are bad health conditions caused by it. If you decide to feed your puppy a natural raw diet, be careful about its nutritious value and high quality. It can consist of meats, vegetables, and fruits, but nothing fatty and toxic like junk food. Training There are several behavioral problems that you need to handle. The first of them is, of course, potty accidents in the home. Unfortunately, such accidents are pretty common at this age. You need to train your pet to do all its business outdoors. Since German Shepherds are very clever, it will understand very soon what you want from it. You need to be patient and persistent, though. Never show irritation or anger when an accident happens. You need to be encouraging if your puppy does everything correctly during its potty walks, but never punish it if something has gone wrong. One more unpleasant thing at this age is biting and nipping your hands or feet. You need to control it while playing to prevent the formation of a biting habit. Never scream or shout at your pet when it bites you. Your little one can be frightened, and the problem may become worse over months. It will let your puppy know that it is doing something wrong. Chewing furniture or things around can also be frustrating. Your puppy is teething, so it is a common thing now. Chewing helps it remove the milk teeth easily. Keep most things in your house out of its reach. Buy some chew toys, for example, a rubber bone or ball to discourage chewing things. A 4 month old German Shepherd puppy can bark excessively at all unknown or suspicious objects. Barking all the time can become a serious issue for you and your pet over time. Teach your doggy not to bark at something unfamiliar. It only means that your pet needs more training and socialization. Your Shepherd dog at this age does not look like that cute fluffy toy-like cub you once saw and liked. It begins to shape as an adult dog. Now, it continues to grow rapidly. So, the males can be inches cm and the females grow as tall as inches cm at the shoulder. How much should a 4 month old German Shepherd weight? Follow the weight of your pet by measuring it regularly. The puppies at this age grow very fast, so they tend to overeat. You should give your pet so much food to let it grow healthily and free from obesity. You can see that your doggy has gained about 10 pounds since the previous month. How much should a 4 month old German Shepherd eat? Your puppy should eat cups of kibble per one meal three times per day. It grows very fast, so it needs a lot of nutrients and minerals for its ears, teeth, and coat. If you feed it natural food, you can add some supplements for puppies to its meals. How far can a 4 month old German Shepherd walk? However, it does not mean that you need to walk it for such a distance every time. Consider two walks of half an hour per day if you want your puppy to grow healthy and strong, and develop all its perfect physical characteristics. Final Thoughts You can see that raising a 4 month old German Shepherd puppy and taking care of it is a responsible and complicated task. You need to know all the peculiarities of this age, so we hope that this article will help you. You should be very patient and persistent to train your dog, do a lot of exercises with your pet, socialize it, and make friends with it. In a while, you will obtain the most loyal, intelligent, and protective friend for your family and yourself. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. A 4 month old German Shepherd has braved the waters of puppy hood and made its way into the juvenile stage of growth. They are still super cute but starting to outgrow some of those adorable puppy dog looks. They have grown massively since day 1, surpassing the foot mark at the shoulder and almost reaching half of their full adult weight. A 4 month old German Shepherd is two months in to the juvenile stage and may act out daily with some unwanted behavior. Similar to the 3 month mark, you will need some serious patience to endure these little buggers for the next few months. Luckily, the 6 month mark and the end of the juvenile stage is right around the corner. At this age they are looking more and more like an adult and less like that precious little pup they were just a few months earlier. That being said their behavior will still be puppy like and they will most likely still be biting, chewing and jumping on anyone or anything they can get their little paws on. As we discussed in the previous month, you can used different techniques for preventing them from biting you. That being said, this behavior is a normal part of their development. This is a common way for them to release all of that pent up puppy energy. Along with this playful disposition comes some roughhousing with their siblings or people. This is a great time to take advantage of that energy and play some tug-o-war with their favorite toy. Hang in there, the biting should subside when they are done teething at 6 months. However, you may sustain some damage along the way in the form of scratches. You may even lose a few pair of pants due to rips and tears. This is a critical stage in their behavioral development. Make sure you are consistently training them in obedience and bite inhibition. Contact a local trainer for help if you cannot do it on your own. Physical Development: At month 4, they are still growing at a pretty rapid pace. Males will be in the range of 11 to 14 inches at the shoulder. Females will be maybe an inch behind and in the range of 10 to 12 inches at the shoulder. They have probably packed on another 10 pounds in weight, growing another pound every 3 days. Females will be close behind, weighing in the range of 31 to 35 pounds. They will continue to teeth as their adult teeth begin to replace their puppy teeth. This will continue for approximately 4 more months. Their ears should be perking up and their adult hair should be replacing their puppy coat. You may notice a lot more shedding during this time. Not to fret, this is part of the natural process. Make sure you give them a nice brushing once a day during this extra shedding. Nutrition: A German Shepherd this young is growing fast and needs a consistent diet of high-quality puppy kibble or homemade food to sustain their caloric intake and provide them the necessary energy. If you can, we recommend feeding them an all-natural raw diet of healthy meats, fruits and vegetables. Just make sure you are feeding them the right foods. Stay away from any toxic foods and avoid giving them too many fatty treats. GSDs are already prone to health conditions from their size. Obesity can increase their chances of developing other diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, hypertension and even cancer. This can decrease their lifespan and reduce their quality of life overall. For standard puppy kibble, feed them two cups of food, three times daily. Make sure you stay on a consistent schedule. Health: A young German Shepherd at this age should be healthy and growing quickly. Document their size month to month , to make sure they are in line with their height and weight for their age. They should have already had their first two sets of vaccines. Provided you are feeding them a nice lean healthy diet and they are staying active, they should be very healthy at this point. There is no need to worry about any significant diseases this young. If you do want to take a preventative approach, you can get a DNA test which can possibly predict certain conditions such as degenerative myelopathy. You can also look at their history and bloodline for any predictors of possible health issues. Even if they are healthy, you always want to stay on the lookout for any possible sickness that may arise. There are lost of possible symptoms that reveal sickness in your GSD puppy. Here are some things to look for: Change in their normal sleeping patterns Coughing, gagging or sneezing excessively Decreased appetite. Soft treats Hard treats like bones. At four months old, your GSD puppy has a full set of teeth and may have built a chewing obsession. He may be chewing anything and everything. When serving him chew bones , trim any fats or meat to avoid choking hazards. The chew bones help clean their teeth as they chew on the bone! Avoid feeding 4-month-old German Shepherds chocolate since it contains methylxanthines , which can be toxic to dogs if consumed in large amounts How to groom a 4-month-old German shepherd Grooming at 4 months is an important part of parenting. A German shepherd should be groomed on average every two to four weeks, more if they get muddy or swim often. The best way to start grooming your puppy with no hair yet is by rubbing them down with a towel. You should be gentle because they are a little sensitive at this age. In the next few months, your German shepherd puppy will be all grown, and the level of grooming required will change. If anything, they are awake for much longer A healthy 4-month-old German shepherd will sleep about 13 hours a day. This is less than many other breeds because they are usually awake and play for an hour or two before going to bed again. As he sleeps, you can cuddle, groom, or do light exercises to help them sleep comfortably. How tall do 4-month-old German shepherds get? They may be taller or shorter depending on their genes! They are generally very energetic and playful with their family. They can be a little shy at first, but as they get used to you they will become more loving. A 4-month-old German shepherd will need exercise every day. A good idea is to start your pup out with short walks and playtime, gradually adding more intense activity as he gets older. Also, every 4-month-old German Shepherd puppy needs a safe, enclosed space in which to play. If your backyard is well-enclosed, you can play with your puppy or let him run and explore without hurting himself or getting himself into mischief. Supplies to Buy for a 4-Month-Old German Shepherd Some of the supplies you should buy for your 4-month-old puppy include food, bowls for food and water, a bed, a crate, toys to chew on and play with, and grooming supplies such as a brush and comb. You will also need to buy puppy equipment such as strollers, leash and harness, collar, and harness. Check out these supplies that you can buy for your puppy:. Female German Shepherds may be slightly smaller, averaging 10 to 12 inches in height and 31 to 35 pounds in weight. However, there is some variation between individual dogs, so these numbers should be used as a general guide, not a hard-and-fast rule. German Shepherds are a large breed of dog, and they continue to grow and fill out until they reach maturity and become adult German Shepherds at around the month mark. During this time, they may gain an additional inch or two in height and 20 to 30 pounds. After they reach adulthood, their size will remain relatively stable. It means they have high energy needs and require a diet rich in protein and calories. The amount of food will vary depending on the age and activity level of the dog. Feed your puppies three times daily and adult dogs twice daily. For example, a highly active German Shepherd may need up to 2, calories daily, while a less active dog may only need 1, calories daily. A rule of thumb is that for each pound the dog weighs, this requires about calories daily. Regardless of the caloric intake, all German Shepherds should have a diet rich in protein and low in fat. Physical and Behavioral Changes At four months old, German Shepherds are just beginning to enter their teenage years. Here are some physical and behavioral changes you may see in your four-month-old German Shepherd. First, their energy levels will start to increase. Ensure you provide plenty of opportunities for exercise, such as walks, runs, and interactive games. Second, their coats will begin to change. German Shepherds have two coats — a dense undercoat and a softer outer coat. This process can take several months, so be patient while your pup grows into its new look. German Shepherds are known for being loyal and obedient dogs, but they may start testing boundaries at four months old. Finally, their behavior may become more independent. Be consistent with puppy training and rewards; your pup will quickly learn what you expect from them. Positive Reward-Based Obedience Training Reward-based training is an effective way to teach your dog obedience commands. It is especially well suited for puppies, who are often motivated by food. For a 4-month-old German Shepherd puppy, you can start by teaching basic commands such as sit, down, and stay. Once your puppy has mastered these commands, you can begin to add more advanced tricks to their repertoire. As your puppy learns new tricks, be sure to offer them plenty of rewards in the form of treats, praise, or both. Your puppy will soon respond to your commands with patience and consistent practice like a pro. Fur Care One of the most distinctive features of a German Shepherd is its lush, thick fur. Fluffy fur is cute but requires special care to ensure that it stays healthy and looks its best. For example, German Shepherds should be brushed frequently, at least once weekly. It helps to remove tangles and knots and can also help to distribute natural oils throughout the coat. However, avoid over-bathing, as this can strip away protective oils and leave the coat dull and dry. Nail Care Another essential part of grooming is nail care. German Shepherds have relatively quick-growing nails, so trim them regularly. If left untrimmed, the nails can become overgrown and uncomfortable for your pup. In extreme cases, they may even start to curl under and grow into the pads of the feet. You can do this at home using a dog nail trimmer or take them to a professional groomer. Either way, avoid cutting the nails too short, as this can be painful for your pup. Dental Care Another important aspect of grooming is dental care. German Shepherds are prone to dental problems, such as plaque buildup and gum disease. In addition, you can give them special dog treats designed to clean their teeth and promote oral health. It can be done at home using a dog ear cleaner and cotton balls. Apply the cleaner to the inside of the ear, and then use the cotton ball to wipe away any dirt or debris. If you notice any of these symptoms, take them to the vet for further treatment. Chew Toys for Your 4-Month-Old German Shepherd At four months old, a German Shepherd is still in the teething stage and will need to chew toys to help relieve the pain and discomfort of growing new teeth. The best chew toys for 4-month-old German Shepherds are those made of durable material that can withstand a lot of chewing. Nylon and rubber are two good options. You should also look for chew toys specifically designed for teething puppies. These toys often have ridges or nubs that help to massage the gums and promote healthy teeth growth. In addition to helping with teething pain, chew toys can also help prevent boredom and destructive chewing behavior. Be sure to provide your pup with plenty of chew toys to keep them happy and healthy. For example, a German Shepherd is susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia , which can cause joint pain and mobility issues. They are also at risk for bloat, a severe condition that can occur when the stomach twists or fills with gas. German Shepherds are also susceptible to skin allergies and ear infections. Luckily, there are ways that owners can take to help prevent these health problems. For example, feeding your German Shepherd a high-quality diet and providing plenty of exercises can help reduce the risk of hip and elbow dysplasia. Keeping their stomachs empty before vigorous exercise can help prevent bloat. And regular grooming can help reduce the risk of skin allergies and ear infections. They will be able to provide you with more information and answer any questions you may have. Most of this sleep will be during the day, with short naps between play periods. It is usual for puppies as they are growing rapidly and their bodies need lots of rest. At night, four-month-old German Shepherds will typically sleep for several hours. If your puppy is sleeping more or less than this, it is best to consult with your local veterinarian to rule out any health problems. Puppies need short bursts of energetic play several times daily, while adults can handle more prolonged periods of moderate activity. Your German Shepherd should be getting at least 30 minutes of exercise per day at four months old. It can be through walks, runs, or interactive games. If possible, try to break up their training into two or three shorter sessions throughout the day. As they get older and more confident, you can gradually increase the amount and intensity of their exercise. Just make sure not to overdo it, as this can lead to joint problems later in life. Also read:. In fact, training your German shepherd puppy will help him grow into a happy and healthy adult dog. Which is something you want for a loyal companion for many years to come. From their feeding diet and exercise requirements to how they play and interact with other people and other animals. But when it comes to their feeding and exercise requirements, 4 month old German Shepherds are more active than their older counterparts. While German shepherds have a wide range of weights, the average 4-month-old German shepherd puppy is around 35 to 40 pounds. German shepherds are very active, and a high-energy dog can put extra pressure on their joints. If your dog is overweight, it can lead to a host of health issues, including joint issues and even diabetes. If your dog is a bit on the heavier side, make sure to feed him fewer calories and exercise him more often. Typically, German Shepherd puppies at around 4 months get between 10 and 12 hours of sleep a day. German Shepherd Feeding Requirements at 4 Months As dogs get older and are more active, their feeding requirements increase. Just make sure you provide your 4-month-old German Shepherd with plenty of quality feed. We recommend feeding your German shepherd a high-quality dog food with plenty of protein and calories. Avoid cheap dog foods, which are typically low in nutrients and full of fillers. You should also feed your dog once or twice a day full meals. Invest in a grooming kit to keep it easy and hassle-free. Brush your pup every morning, before you go to work. If you live in a humid area, your pup will need to be bathed regularly too. If so, keep it simple. This can help him stay fit and healthy, which is important as he ages. We recommend engaging in regular activities with your German shepherd, like taking walks and playing Frisbee. Daily walks are important for German Shepherds of all ages. Time: A good rule of thumb when it comes to 4-month-old German Shepards is activites twice a day for around 20 minutes each time. A German shepherd puppy is a very active dog, and he loves to romp and run around. A tired dog is a happy dog! You can play with your dog in a variety of ways. Toss a ball, and see who can get the ball back to their hands the fastest. You can also have your dog chase your hands, so that you can wrangle him in and give him belly rubs or scratches. There are many different ways to play with your German shepherd puppy, it just depends on what you and your dog enjoy the most. These things to do with a 4 month old German shepherd puppy will also help you communicate with and understand your pup a lot better. This will help him grow strong muscles and bones, which will make him a healthy and happy adult! Exercise your dog with a dog treadmill or playpen — Exercising your German shepherd with a dog treadmill or playpen is a great way to tire him out and also keep him healthy. This can be done indoors or outdoors. In addition to obedience training, you can start training your German shepherd puppy to learn basic tricks, like how to roll over, fetch a ball, and other tricks that you and your dog will enjoy. These training techniques for a 4 month old German shepherd puppy will work with any dog. Training a puppy is important to instil good habits and help avoid future problems. The more patience you have, the better your German shepherd will be. Be patient and consistent. Start off with small but important lessons. This way, you can build on your successes and avoid making mistakes. Care tips to help you along the way from 4 to 5 months: Make sure to get your German shepherd on a regular exercise routine. If your 4-month-old German shepherd is getting too little exercise, we recommend hiring a dog walker or joining a dog agility class. If you have the time and patience for it, raising a German shepherd is an amazing experience. With a little consistency and careful training, a German shepherd is sure to become your best friend! About The Author.

Three to four times a day 4 — 5 months 6 months and above Two times a day Pregnant or breastfeeding French Bulldogs may eat up to three times a day within eight hours. Meanwhile, puppies require more frequent feedings than adult dogs due to their rapid metabolism. In general, a French Bulldog puppy should be fed three times daily between two and six months. Once the French Bulldog puppy reaches the age of six months, the feeding frequency can be reduced to two meals each day. As developing puppies, your Frenchie requires a consistent daily feeding plan. The feeding plan should incorporate at least three measured meals per day. Its dinner schedule is vital, as it allows ample time to digest the food and go pee or potty before bedtime. Between 14 and 18 weeks, you can begin accustoming your French Bulldog puppy to two meals each day. If your veterinarian advises you to keep your French Bulldog on a three-meals-a-day diet, this must be properly followed. Senior dogs can be fed on the same schedule when given three meals a day. Since elderly dogs do not move as much, they may develop too much weight. Consequently, you should ensure that the food contains fewer calories, more fiber, and an appropriate balance of fat and protein. Your veterinarian should have a recommended amount of treats you should give your dog. Again, it will vary according to its weight and level of activity. If you must frequently use treats for training, use tiny bits or give them a licking mat. Best Dog Foods for French Bulldog A feeding guide for Frenchie dog lovers would be incomplete without the information on the best dog food for their furry companion. There are numerous food options available for French Bulldogs. The best pet food varies from one Frenchie to another. Perhaps your French Bulldog is a fussy eater or suffers from food allergies. It is feasible to provide a balanced diet for your French Bulldogs if you use the best store-bought or homemade dog food that contains all the nutrition needed by your dog and as prescribed by your veterinarian. The list below shows the best dog food options you can provide your French Bulldog: Dry Food: Dry dog food is commercially available kibble. This can be an excellent alternative for French Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs. French Bulldog puppies require high-quality dry food that is high in animal protein to aid in growth and muscular development. Wet Food: Wet food is contained in a can; it is primarily composed of water and is considered highly mushy food. However, wet food expires more quickly than dry food, making it the least practical alternative. Home-Cooked Diet: A home-cooked, protein-rich diet like a chicken meal is excellent for French Bulldogs. Unlike ordinary kibble, it contains no additives or preservatives. It supports healthy digestion and may help avoid various problems related to a bad diet, including obesity, dry skin and coat, pancreatitis, diabetes, and a low immune system. French Bulldogs are prone to developing a variety of joint and back issues. Along with other joint problems, they may develop luxating patella or hip dysplasia. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are critical components of a high-quality French Bulldog dog diet. These essential vitamins assist your French in developing the connective tissue necessary for healthy joints and spine support. Omega-3 fatty acids can assist your Frenchie to keep muscle mass and strength by reducing inflammation and soreness. Also, this can promote healthy skin by preventing itchy and flaky skin. Whether wet and dry food, raw food, or a homemade diet, each dog food offers several benefits and drawbacks. Consult a veterinarian before deciding to know exactly what food option suits your Frenchie. Any French Bulldog owner will attest that vomiting is far more common in this breed than in other dogs. While it cannot be totally prevented, you should know what human foods are toxic to French Bulldogs. Some of the foods to avoid are not only bad for Frenchie; many of them can be fatal. They may result in poisoning and, in the worst-case scenario, death. This section enumerates some of the most dangerous foods for French Bulldogs. I will discuss why these foods are poisonous and when you should contact a veterinarian. The first and most prevalent is chocolate. It contains a toxin called theobromine , which can cause a variety of health problems when consumed in large amounts. This can cause irregular heartbeats, seizures, and sudden death. Garlic and onions should also never be included in the diet of your Frenchie puppy or adult dog. Even a trace of these vegetables can result in anemia and red blood cell failure in your pup. Poisoning symptoms include lethargy, fatigue, vomiting, rapid breathing, and an increased heart rate. However, remember that you may not immediately notice poisoning symptoms because the toxic consequences may take a few days to manifest. Additionally, grapes are one of the most toxic foods for your Frenchie. A dog that has consumed grapes may exhibit stomach bloating and diarrhea. They need to be taken to a veterinarian immediately. In severe cases, gastric lavage is the best course of action. Candy, artificial sweeteners, corn on the cob, roasted bones, avocado, raisins, almonds, cherry, peach, plum, coconut oil, mustard seeds, alcohol, coffee, blue cheese, and tomatoes are also regarded to be unsafe for French Bulldogs. Furthermore, there are certain foods that you should avoid giving your Pitbull owing to the negative side effects they may cause. While they are not considered dangerous, they can cause nausea, diarrhea, and weight gain. Numerous dogs wind up at veterinarian clinics due to improper food intake. While prevention is always the best course of action, it is critical to understand emergency care and medication expenses. Read our article on French Bulldog costs to learn more about the medical expenditures associated with a French Bulldog. These adjustments should ideally take place over 5 to 7 days. Consult a veterinarian in this scenario, especially if you intend to switch to a raw or homemade diet. Feeding an Overweight French Bulldog French Bulldogs can quickly gain weight, resulting in various health problems. Thus, dog owners need to notice when their Frenchie gets overweight to assist the dog in maintaining a healthy weight and living a healthy life. Average adult French Bulldogs should have a body weight between 19 and 29 pounds for males, while 18 to 28 pounds for females. The most common indications that your Frenchie is overweight include lack of muscle definition and difficulty breathing during brief exercises. In terms of visual indicators, a Frenchie within their healthy weight will have a thin layer of fat covering their ribs. Meanwhile, those with excess fat have noticeable deposits in the chest and stomach area. Also, you should be able to see and feel their spine as they bend and curl into a sleeping position. Furthermore, Frenchies have an hourglass form, with a visible waistline that is smaller than their chest when they are not overweight. Regardless of these symptoms, it is always advisable to seek confirmation from a professional veterinarian. Feeding an obese Frenchie means maintaining a consistent food plan throughout the day to aid in weight loss. Additionally, this stops your dog from eating more than it requires. Apart from planned feeding times, serving the correct meal proportions is essential. If your Frenchie is overweight, owners should focus on how much food is offered to them. Reducing their daily kibble intake by half a cup can help them significantly reduce weight. Moreover, you should offer them foods with fewer calories, more fiber, and more protein. As a result, your Frenchie will burn more calories and lose weight more quickly. It is preferable to give your dog treats that contain only one ingredient, are low in calories, and contain no added sugar, such as sweet potato and blueberry bites. Alternatively, you can treat your dog with items that are already in your refrigerator, such as tiny portions of sweet potatoes, apples, and bananas. Regularly weigh your dog, monitor how many calories they intake, and establish a target body weight for them. Also, pain can make a Frenchie nervous and unable to eat, so keep an eye out for evident signs of injury. Another common reason for your French Bulldog not to eat is discomfort in the mouth caused by dental issues. Furthermore, gastrointestinal conditions, certain medicines, vaccination, overfeeding, or other serious health problems can cause a French Bulldog not to eat. As a result, you must keep an eye on your Frenchie and contact your veterinarian if the condition persists for weeks. Do French Bulldogs Eat a Lot? French Bulldogs are opportunistic feeders by nature. Thus, they will continue to eat as long as you provide pet food. They may begin to require more than is necessary to fulfill their appetite due to this behavior. Also, when a French Bulldog is agitated, it may begin to overeat. The most effective strategy to combat stress-related overeating is to thrive in a calm environment. At times, your dog may become bored and eat more than usual to keep itself occupied somehow. Thus, you must keep a watch on any of these factors. Can French Bulldogs Eat Bones? Dogs should not consume cooked bones of any kind. The bones may splinter, resulting in deadly shards that might cause injury due to choking hazards. Thus, if you wish to offer your Frenchie a bone, vets recommend raw meat bones, preferably from farm-raised chicken. These are best given after a meal to prevent them from eating too much. Remove it after around ten minutes and store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for tomorrow. To avoid bacterial contamination, it is recommended to discard it after a few days and keep it separate from other raw meat and food. Can French Bulldogs Be Vegetarians? Each Frenchie is one-of-a-kind. Simply because your French Bulldog likes veggies does not mean it can go full-on vegetarian. Also, bear in mind that many veggies are dangerous and toxic to your French Bulldog. Certain vegetables are acceptable to be fed to a French Bulldog, but only in small portions. Final Thoughts French Bulldogs are, without a doubt, playful, intelligent, and compassionate dogs. On the other hand, Frenchies are greedy eaters, and food serves as their primary motivator. Thus, a critical component of owning this breed is understanding how much, how frequently, and what food to feed a French Bulldog. You can supply dry food, wet food, raw food diets, or a homemade diet for your pet. Since Frenchie pups and adults may have food sensitivities, providing or making the best dog food for their age and nutritional requirements is critical. By doing so, you can help your Frenchie prevent undesirable health problems. This can help guarantee that your Frenchie receives the safest and healthiest diet as much as possible. Let us know in the comments below about your experience with feeding your French Bulldog! My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. How much your French Bulldog should eat depends on their size when they are at a healthy weight and how energetic they are. That means that you won't feed your French Bulldog as much as you would feed more energetic small dogs of the same healthy weight, such as a Jack Russell Terrier. Of course, if you have an unusually energetic French Bulldog, you may need to feed them more. However, a number of factors go into this formula: Fixed vs. An intact French Bulldog requires slightly more calories than one that is fixed. Underweight vs. An underweight French Bulldog needs more than a healthy French Bulldog, whereas an overweight Frenchie needs less food. Activity level. Very active Frenchies need more calories every day than those that tend to be couch potatoes. French bulldog puppies need more calories than older dogs. A puppy that is under four months needs considerably more, while a puppy that is four months to an adult needs slightly more. How many cups of food should I feed my French Bulldog? Just how many cups of food your French Bulldog actually needs depends on how many calories are in the food. Because French Bulldogs have a fairly low body weight and low energy level, it is best to choose a food without many calories per cup. Lower than calories per cup is a good idea. This way, your 22 pound French Bulldog will be able to eat at least a cup of food a day. Any less than that, and your French Bulldog may still feel hungry even when they have had as many calories per pound as they are supposed to. How to stretch out French Bulldog feeding? Most French Bulldogs have a seemingly natural hunger that is almost insatiable. Here are a few tips to help keep your Frenchie satisfied: Divide meals up. Your French Bulldog is much more likely to be satisfied if they get multiple meals a day. About half a cup twice a day will be a more satisfying eating routine than one cup in the morning or evening. Three meals is even better for most French Bulldogs. Include healthy treats. A few treats can really impact your dog's overall calorie consumption if you are using high-calorie commercially available treats. However, by giving your French Bulldog green beans and other low-calorie vegetables, you can fill their bellies without exceeding their calorie limitations. Provide food for training treats. Choose dry dog food. Dry dog food will seem to go much further than raw food or wet food. Give your French Bulldog a healthy amount of food It can be very tempting to give your French Bulldog as much food as they want. After all, this breed is a master of the mournful puppy eyes. However, feeding your dog too much can result in serious consequences for their health, so it is very important to stick to the rules and only give your French Bulldog as much as they should have. Remember that healthy and filling treats like green beans are a great way to round out their diet. Coral Dawn My experience as the liaison of integrative medicine, neurology, and zoo medicine at UF Small Animal Hospital gave me valuable insight into the challenges faced by pet owners with animals who have medical conditions. My time there also gave me the opportunity to care for a disabled dog and write a book about the experience. As manager of a dog daycare, I learned about how dogs play and interact, warning signs for aggression, and how to rehabilitate dog-reactive dogs. During my time there I was under the mentorship of two groomers, from whom I learned grooming essentials. I currently work with high-risk shelter dogs and manage a blog to help other volunteers and foster families. I have two dogs of my own, a Maltese and a Standard Poodle. They are a loving and sensitive breed. One of the most common questions asked by new French Bulldog owners is how much food they require, and how often should they be fed. French Bulldogs typically will eat as much food as you give them. The amount of food required depends on their age, weight, and activity level. Source Feeding French Bulldog puppies When puppies are born they get all of their nutritional needs by drinking milk produced by their mothers. Breeders typically start to wean the puppies off their mother's milk by weeks and by six weeks they are eating kibble 1. When your puppy is home with you at 8 weeks old they will typically require 1. I recommend splitting this up between meals over the day. When our puppy was at a very young age we would mix the kibble with a little bit of water to soften the food for them. As your puppy is at a stage of rapid growth over the following year we recommend feeding your dog the best nutritional food you can afford. Active Frenchbuilldogs based on a weight of 15kg 33lb requires caloiuries a day. This can be split over several meals and would be approximately 3cups of kibble. How much should I feed my elderly French Bulldog? As your French Bulldog ages and activity levels decrease they will require less food. Typically they will require calories per g 1lb of body weight. However, if your dog is showing they are still hungry and underweight feed them. How much should I feed my underweight Frenchie? Increase the amount of food you are feeding your dog up to between calouries per g 1lb of body weight until they are at their ideal weight. What can you feed your dog? Kibble Dry food is very accessible and can be purchased at most supermarkets. Nutritional values provided by kibble differ by product sold. We recommend doing some research to provide good quality kibble to your dog. Some of the benefits listed for kibble are: Increased dental health Reduced risk of bacteria Raw diet Raw food can be homemade, and or store-bought. Meticulous care and planning need to be done to ensure your dog does not get sick. Some studies have found many benefits of raw diets: Healthier coat and fur Increased longevity Fresh diet Cooking for your dog at home allows you to provide nutritionally valuable ingredients of your own choice. The downside is that it does take up time and requires planning to make. If you decide to feed your dog fresh food we highly recommend that you consult an animal nutritionist. Some of the benefits of feeding your dog fresh food are below. Avoids fillers Allows a variety of food Food quality To learn more about your dogs microbiomme and gut health visit our blog post here. If you are after dog shirts, or cooling shirts for your French Bulldog visit our shop here. Pin64 71 Shares When we first brought Claude home, we had no idea on how much food we should be giving him. We spoke to our vet, and this is what he told us about how much you should feed a French bulldog puppy. A French bulldog puppy should be fed 3 times a day whilst there are still 2 to 6 months old. Once the French bulldog puppy reaches 6 months, you can reduce the feeding schedule down to 2 meals a day. But now having been a French bulldog owner for 3 years, I can now look back and give you some more detail on exactly what our French bulldog puppy feeding schedule was like and how it worked for us and him. French bulldog puppy feeding chart Below you can see a French bulldog puppy feeding guide I put together. It contains some rough guidance on how you should schedule and plan his feeds, and what other factors you might need to take into account. Please do print it out and put on your fridge. How many cups of food should I feed my French Bulldog? Before you look at the French Bulldog feeding chart below, you might want the quick answer to how many cups of food to feed your French Bulldog. As a general rule of thumb, you should feed a French Bulldog puppy aged 8 to 12 weeks around 1 and a half cups of food a day, in 3 separate meals. As your Frenchie gets older, the number of cups of food you should feed them will change. You can see the cup amounts and frequencies in the French Bulldog feeding chart graphic below. This French bulldog puppy feeding chart tells you how much you should feed them Source: Canin The French bulldog puppy feeding chart shown above is taken from the Royal Canin dog food range. This is exactly what we fed Claude as he was growing up. They range a specific French bulldog puppy food, and on the packaging you will see a version of the chart above, including how best to feed your own puppy. Handy Hint: To stop your Frenchie from bloating and possibly choking you should use a suitable feeding bowl. Here are the best French Bulldog food bowls that vets recommend. When you take your puppy to his new home, he should already be used to eating puppy food. As I mentioned earlier, you should be feeding your French bulldog puppy 3 times a day. They need that regularity as they are growing and burning a lot of calories. You know how energetic they are! How much you feed them at each mealtime will typically be half a cup of their dry puppy food. Across the day, that will equate 1. However, their weight and health will then determine how much you feed them as they get older. Calories matter, but are hard to count As French bulldogs get older, you should try to feed them according to their weight. For every pound, they should be fed between 25 and 30 calories. However, for the rest of this French bulldog puppy feeding guide, I am just going to talk in cups. Puppy weight How can weigh your puppy at the vets or, and this is can be a more interesting and fun way if your puppy already knows how to sit, have them sit on a scale at home. It will not be as accurate as a scale at the vet, but it could be a cheap and fun experience for you and your pet. Because of this, your puppy may be a little stubborn about eating dry and wet food if they were only just recently weaned. Here is where the math gets a little more detailed, but not too complicated. When they are between 8 to 12 weeks old, the puppy should be fed about 1. This food should be high in calories since they need extra nutrients that they are no longer getting from their mother. This kind of follows the main rule when it comes to spreading out the meals to 3 times a day. But for younger pups, many owners will split the 1. Because feeding them 0. Once they are between 6 and 9 months old, they should be used to their eating routine. That is when the main rule is applied because by then, the pup will be maturing into its adult size and should weigh between 20 and 25 pounds. What about older dogs? Also, if you are wondering how much they should be fed once they start hitting their senior years, they should be fed a little less as long only if they are not as active. Make sure you still stretch out the meals to 3 to 4 times like when they were puppies because it is not uncommon for their stomachs to weaken with old age. Overweight or underweight? French bulldog puppies usually weight between 8. Once they reach 6 to 9 months, they are just at or are closer to reaching their adult weight, .If the puppy is underweight, then add very small increments to each meal every day until they are no longer underweight. It is important to not add too much food because of the possibility of them getting a twisted stomach. If the puppy is overweight, you can either slightly reduce the size of their meal until they lose weight, or you can give them more exercise. Many people prefer the later since it helps the pup to get stronger and adds more bonding time. The same methods apply to grown French bulldogs as well. Handy Hint: Read this guide which explains how to check if you have a fat French Bulldog who needs to lose weight, with tips on how to get the pounds down. If the dog does not appear to be gaining weight when they are underweight or vice versa if they are overweight, you might want to take them to the vet since it could be a sign that something is affecting their health. Health conditions Since not every animal is the same, ask your vet the next time your pup has a check-up what a French bulldog of their size and age should weigh. Health factors like diabetes yes, dogs can have diabetes , can make your pup need a more strict diet or feeding routine. Here are some different diets and feeding routines. Raw food vs. Many dog lovers say that there are too many preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and protein in dry and wet food. While the raw food diet can be more natural, especially if it is organic, you also have to make sure your pup would be getting more foods with vitamins and minerals mixed in with the raw food that your pup would need. Raw food diets can be more expensive, require more storage room for the meats and veggies, and take longer to prepare. However, you would be personally ensuring that your little French bulldog pup is getting their full daily nutrition without harmful by-products and additives. Is there a good dry food diet? Possibly the biggest questions out of all of them: is there any good dry dog food out there and how do I find them? The answer is yes, there can be some healthy dry dog food products, but it takes some time to look for. The key is to look for dog food that does not contain any preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and too much protein. Fillers basically do not provide any nutritional value and can even harm your dog since most of the ingredients they use as fillers are common allergies for dogs that can cause skin conditions, bowel issues, and more. Wheat and corn are included since they are also a popular allergen for dogs. Too much protein is even more dangerous for them since it can put more pressure on the organs, throw off nutritional balance, increase the likelihood of diabetes, and can harm dogs that already have diabetes. To see the safe and dangerous fruits list, click here. Another two meat choices would be duck and turkey, but these are a little less common to find, especially if you are looking for a French bulldog specific dog food. Your dog eats his food too quickly Another common problem is how do you control how fast your French bulldog puppy eats. French bulldogs love to eat their food and eat it fast, which is one of the primary causes of GDV. Frenchies will stop eating for a number of reasons, some more serious that others. Conclusion So there you have it, your guide to how much you should feed your French bulldog puppy. Everything in this feeding schedule and the French bulldog feeding chart you see is based on personal experience. Once in the morning, and once in the early evening. Keep a regular feeding routine, and your Frenchies will stay as healthy as ours has! In this article, I will cover some key information about feeding your French Bulldog puppy, including how much you should feed them and a suggested outline for a feeding schedule that you can adapt as they grow. Keep reading to find out more. Typically speaking, the breeder that you have bought your French Bulldog puppy from should provide you with all of the information that you need on feeding your puppy. This includes what food your new puppy has been eating as well as how often your puppy has been fed throughout the day. French Bulldog puppies have high caloric and nutrient needs. Generally speaking, French Bulldog puppies aged anywhere from weeks of age need a total of 1. That being said, you will need to bear in mind that the quantity your dog eats depends on a number of factors, including their size, metabolism, and activity levels. Spreading out the meals is the key to a healthy, happy puppy, as it minimizes the peaks of energy your French Bulldog will experience due to dramatic rises and decreases in blood sugar levels between meals. Ensuring you feed them in these intervals will allow your puppy to maintain a healthy amount of energy and nutrients throughout their day. Once your French bulldog puppy reaches 6 months, you can reduce the number of times that you feed them down to 2 meals a day. Puppies can have sensitive stomachs. You will need to feed a puppy the same type of food, the same amount of food, and feed them at the same times of the day to ensure that their stomach can cope. To come up with a feeding plan for your specific puppy, you should consult with your veterinarian and come up with a suitable feeding schedule in conjunction with their advice. Age You will need to consider when feeding your French Bulldog puppy is their age. As a result, your puppy may initially be a little stubborn about eating dry and wet food if they were only just recently weaned. In this circumstance, you will need to ensure that you remain patient and consistent when it comes to meal times. Alternatively, you could try adding a dash of water to the dry kibble to make a type of gravy. Not only will the meaty aromas tempt them to the bowl and encourage them to eat their food, but it will also soften the dry kibble slightly and make it easier for them to chew. French Bulldog puppies are allowed to be separated from their mothers at 8 weeks, at which point they will weigh somewhere between 7 to 12lbs. How much your French Bulldog puppy weighs will depend on their gender, as male French Bulldogs typically weigh more than their female counterparts. They are considered fully grown around 12 to 14 months old, but may continue to put on muscle until they are two years old. They are a greedy breed by nature, and you need to be wary of overfeeding your French Bulldog as this can lead to a variety of health conditions if they become overweight. When assessing whether your Frenchie puppy is overweight, you should be able to see a little rib and they should have a defined waistline. When it comes to choosing to give your dog treats, fewer high quality treats on special occasions are much better than feeding them many lower quality ones more often to train them. When it comes to training your puppy, positive reinforcement in the form of praise also works. Calories As your French Bulldog puppy gets older, the number of calories they are eating should increase according to their weight. You should feed your puppy 12 to 30 calories per pound of their body weight. However, if you are not sure how much to feed your French Bulldog puppy, consult your vet. Nutrition One of the most important factors to consider when feeding your French Bulldog puppy is nutrition, as a healthy, well-balanced diet is essential for their growth and development. This simply comes down to the fact that puppies have higher energy requirements and are actively developing muscle and other tissues. Energy comes from the breakdown of protein fats and carbohydrates. Health Conditions When feeding your French Bulldog puppy, you will also need to bear in mind any health conditions that your Frenchie could be prone to developing. Diarrhea Stomach upsets are very common in Frenchies, so monitoring their diet is absolutely essential. Signs of a digestion problem include wet, runny, and loose stools. If a food allergy is suspected, the only treatment is an elimination diet. As a result, you will need to watch out for any food sensitivities your dog has. Reflux Flat-faced breeds such as Frenchies can suffer from reflux or struggle to swallow their food. You will need to monitor this when it comes to giving them their food. Dental Problems Flat-faced dogs often have crowded teeth which, in turn, can cause dental problems when it comes to chewing. While some French Bulldogs are hyperactive, others are lazy and love nothing more than lying on the couch all day. As your French Bulldog edges closer to adolescence, the amount of exercise they need will increase. Around 60 minutes of daily exercise split into two walks is plenty for your fully grown French Bulldog. As a result, too much exercise can even be bad for French Bulldogs. As a flat-faced breed, French Bulldogs can overheat and struggle to breathe and pant, especially in warmer weather. Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome BOAS is a condition that can cause severe breathing problems and is caused by their shorter faces. As a result, you should make sure that you take precautions to keep your dog cool and make sure that you understand the signs of heatstroke in dogs. Consult With Your Vet Above all else, consulting with your vet should be your first port of call when bringing home your new puppy. Invest In A Slow Feed Dog Bowl A slow feeding bowl is a useful dog bowl to have as they are designed with ridges or grooves which are designed to slow your dog down when they are eating. However, some treats contain high amounts of sugar, colourings, milk products and fat. As a result, you will need to make sure that you choose your treats carefully and use them wisely, as failure to do so can quickly result in your puppy becoming overweight. The moisture in wet food reduces the risk of urinary infections and other related issues while your puppy is still getting used to drinking water. As a result, it costs more to feed your dog, even if you are buying the product in bulk for a cheaper price. Wet dog food cannot be left in a bowl for hours on end, and it can be messier. As a result, people often consider wet dog food less convenient to feed their dog and store. Dry Dog Food Benefits Cheaper Dry dog foods are affordable and are incredibly easy to store for longer periods of time, meaning that they have a longer shelf life than wet foods. Dry kibble is excellent for getting rid of plaque build-up in the process of your dog chewing crunchy, dry kibble. However, despite the lack of hydration this dog food provides. Your French Bulldog puppy requires high-quality dog food that provides everything it needs to meet its requirements and ensure healthy development. In Summary Generally speaking, you should be feeding your French Bulldog puppy 1. Before coming up with a consistent feeding schedule for your French Bulldog puppy, you should consult with your veterinarian. Following their advice, you will be able to make a feeding schedule that suits your dog and you. Good luck and enjoy welcoming your new French Bulldog puppy into your family! Post navigation. We do not claim to be veterinarians. French Bulldogs can easily become overweight or underweight , especially the lazy ones. Some french bulldogs are hyperactive while others are couch potatoes. It is also critical that you maintain a consistent feeding schedule and never slack off on feeding your French Bulldog. Even more important than that is feeding your Frenchie the proper amount of food daily. Young Frenchies have high caloric and nutrient needs. French Bulldogs aged anywhere from weeks of age need a total of 1. Spreading out the meals minimizes the peaks of energy your French Bulldog will experience due to dramatic rises and decreases in blood sugar levels between meals. Feeding only twice daily can sometimes lead to gastric dilatation volvulus. By this stage, your French Bulldog is ready to get into an eating routine that they will continue on for the rest of their happy, little chubby lives, barring no serious medical ailments later on in life. From around 6 months to 1 year of age, you can start feeding your French Bulldog a very high quality adult doggy food. It is important to maintain a strict routine for your French Bulldog. You can always supplement a few treats in between. Wink wink. A half a cup at a time will make sure your Frenchie is pleasantly tubby and happy. Some days, it seems like a French Bulldog can never get enough food. This seemingly natural hunger is relative to the breed and you should be weary of overfeeding your French Bulldog. Monitor your Frenchie as she eats and make sure she only eats her own food, especially if you feed your French Bulldog near other pets. Note that non-neutered males may grow into the low 30lb range. Always consult a vet. Ideally, 2. This sort of consult is always quick and cheap sometimes free and you owe it to your companion to get the opinion of an expert veterinarian. Overweight Frenchies can suffer from some very severe health problems, including heart disease just like humans , labored breathing, and lack of physical exercise. Never take a French Bulldog out to play in sweltering heat, they can die. Generally, older French Bulldogs will require slightly less food than their young counterparts. However, do not restrict food from your French Bulldog if they appear to be underweight or hungry. A reader pointed out in the comments below that these calculations would put french bulldogs in the 40lbs range somewhere around calories per day. This is obviously an outlier situation and no french bulldog needs that many calories. This means feeding your french bulldog less food as they age. If they look thinner than usual, you can move up by 5 calories per pound of weight until you find a magic number. No french bulldog is identical and our suggestions are based on average weights computed to a mean average calorie intake suggestion. Read: I use this calculator and a pad of paper. See this guide in order to determine the appropriate weight for your Frenchie. Subject: How much should I feed my French Bulldog?

They are almost square in appearance, with a strong body and sturdy legs. The maximum height for a male is 24 inches, which puts them in the medium-size dog category, but their sturdy build can make them seem much larger. Weights range from 85 pounds for a large male to 55 pounds for a smaller female. Field line bred dogs are often taller and somewhat thinner in build. Labrador retrievers are easily recognized by their broad head, drop ears and large, expressive eyes. Two trademarks of the Lab are the thick but fairly short double coat, which is very water repellent, and the well known "otter tail. The feet are described as "webbed," with longer skin between the toes to aid in swimming. The Labrador retriever is a moderately fast maturing breed, reaching adult height from six to 12 months, but possibly still filling out up to 2 years of age. Many Labs reach 12 to 14 years of age. Personality: In general, Labrador retrievers are excellent family dogs, as long as you keep in mind their need for exercise and training. These are dogs bred to work and work hard and they love to have jobs to do, particularly retrieving. Labs are usually good with other dogs, other pets, and children as long as training has toned down their natural exuberance. They are strong dogs and need some obedience training at an early age or they can be seen dragging their owners down the street at will. Owing to their energetic nature, Labradors who are left alone or not well exercised can become destructive — chewing, digging and barking to excess. The field line dogs are especially high-energy dogs, while some of the show line dogs become perfect couch potatoes at an early age. Chewing can be a problem because the strong retrieve urge gives them an oral fixation. Sturdy chew toys, exercise and training all help with this. Living With: Obviously, Labradors have a number of endearing traits or they would not be so popular. They are intelligent and fairly easy to train, partly from their desire to work with people. They are "easy keepers" and can become overweight if they are not exercised and food portions adjusted as needed. Labs are excellent family dogs because they do want to be with people and many do not do well as kennel dogs. Labradors do tend to be protective of their families and homes but are usually happy to greet company, too. With the strong retrieving instinct, they can develop into destructive chewers if not given appropriate toys and guidance. Labs may tend to "mouth" people and the solution is often simply to give them a toy to carry around, so their mouths are already full! These are very strong dogs and early training is necessary to have a dog that walks nicely on lead. The wonderful double coat that keeps the Labrador warm while retrieving in icy water also gives this breed top billing as shedders. Normally, their coats do fine with a quick weekly grooming, but at shedding time daily grooming is needed. The amount of exercise they need varies with the different lines: field line dogs can run all day, whereas show line dogs only need moderate exercise. History: Early in the s, some of the multipurpose dogs used in North America mostly Canada by hunters were shipped back to England. Many of these "water dogs" were of the Newfoundland type, but the smaller ones were often designated "St John's" dogs. In England, the breed was developed and refined probably with some flat-coated retriever input into the breed we recognize today. As is evidenced by their name, Labrador retrievers were bred and selected for their outstanding retrieving abilities, particularly in water. They have worked as partners with duck hunters in all kinds of weather and conditions. Their intelligence and desire to work as a partner with man has led to many other jobs, and to their current status as popular pets. Today, Labradors excel as service and guide dogs, family pets, scenting dogs for the military, customs and arson task force dogs, search and rescue dogs as well as hunting companions and performance dogs. The breed's good nature has propelled it to the number one ranking in popularity in America, a position it intends to keep. Despite their fame as indoor pets, they are even more at home outdoors. It should always be remembered that Labradors are water retrievers at heart and from early on, puppies show a strong desire to carry things around with them and a strong attraction to water, even puddles! Related Pet Care Articles. Back to Top Labrador Retriever Temperament Cheerful and animated, this large dog breed has stamina and energy to spare, able to keep up with your family and all your activities. And thanks to their high intelligence, learning commands and tricks come relativity easy for them. Labrador dogs love having a job to do and excel at things like agility courses and, just like their name implies, retrieving items. In fact, their superior intelligence is why they often make great assistance dogs, working as therapy or service animals. A people-pleaser, Labrador Retrievers have a pleasant personality and love interacting with humans. Get ready to be showered with lots of affection! Slow and controlled introductions to other family pets will help make the transition go smoothly. Addressing any biting issues early on, providing proper socialization when they are puppies aka safely exposing them to lots of new people, places and things and working with a professional dog trainer can help avoid behavioral issues when they get older. Back to Top How to Care for a Labrador Retriever As you might expect with such a popular dog breed, Labs are relatively easy to care for and make great dogs for first-time pet parents. The toughest part about taking care of a Lab will likely be your ability to keep up with them! For more routine maintenance, brush them at least once a week. Consider using a tool like the Furminator to help brush out the undercoat and remove the excess fur. Labs who spend most of their time indoors should be bathed every four to six weeks. You can do this at home or have it done by a professional groomer. For those who get a lot of outdoor time, you should bathe them weekly. Training Labs are eager to please, making them highly trainable. You can begin obedience school with your Labrador puppy between the ages of 7 weeks and 4 months. They can learn the basics such as housebreaking, commands—sit, stay, speak, shake and roll over—and leash skills, such as heel. Labs can be leash-pullers and jumpers. To help train dogs more effectively, choose a headcollar to help prevent pulling and provide more control. A certified professional dog trainer can provide more guidance on correcting the issue. In general, Labs are extremely friendly and do well in most social interactions. As a working dog, they can compete in agility courses, retrieve fish, be excellent guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired, sniff out bombs and drugs, and help law enforcement in search-and-rescue missions. Your veterinarian can help you nail down a feeding chart to guide you on how much and how often to feed your dog based on their specific diet. Because Labs are so active and always on the go, they may benefit from a high-protein dog food. If your pup has digestion issues, you may need to seek out a different dog food formula. While treats are often used in training, be sure to limit the amount you dish out on the daily. An overabundance of treats, even if your pup is super active, is an easy way for them to pack on the pounds. Take them for runs around the neighborhood or at the dog park, in addition to regular walks and hikes at least once a day for an hour is ideal. A great way to burn off their energy is to enroll them in agility course training or let them swim in a pool, lake or ocean if you have those options nearby. Speaking of swimming, Labs absolutely love the water—they were, after all, bred to be waterdogs, retrieving fish and fowl. Lab parents should prioritize water-based outings as often as possible to ensure that their pup gets the precious water time they love. Since Labs are natural swimmers, dock diving makes for a fun exercise that will keep them entertained for hours on end. Ideal Environment Labs want love, affection and attention—and lots of it. Their ideal environment is, unsurprisingly, one where they can be smothered with cuddles, hugs and kisses. These family dogs generally do well with kids and other pets because of their amicable attitude and spirited energy. Having friends over for dinner? Your Lab is likely to steal the show with their cheerfulness. Labs are extremely versatile and tend to flourish in many different environments, from urban to rural. A game of fetch is always a fun option for Retrievers! Reputable breeders often look at lineage to eliminate health problems that can run in bloodlines and be passed from generation to generation. Elbow Dysplasia: When an elbow joint grows abnormally, your pup might experience stiffness in their forelimbs. Their mobility may be affected, and they might deal with some discomfort or pain over time. Treatment will depend on the primary cause of the elbow dysplasia, but in most cases surgery is recommended. Arthritis is common in older Labs because of their large size, which places more strain on their joints with age. There are hip surgeries that can mitigate the effects of hip dysplasia if identified early enough. Allergies: Labs are prone to environmental and food allergies, which can be, at times, rather relentless. Common signs of really bad allergies? Recurring ear and skin infections and chewing at their paws. If your Lab regularly shows these signs, check with your vet for the best way to help keep these reactions at bay. Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Otherwise known as PRA, this describes a number of diseases that can cause degeneration of the lining in the retina, which is in the back of the eye. In some cases, this condition can lead to blindness. But as a deep-chested dog, Labs are more likely to be susceptible to it. In severe cases, the stomach can twist upon itself and result in a condition called gastric dilation volvulus GDV. This is very serious and can be deadly if not treated immediately. Johns Dog or the lesser Newfoundland, Labrador Retrievers originated in Newfoundland not Labrador , Canada, and are longtime descendants of the now-extinct St. With their strong hunting heritage, Labradors first became popularized in the early s as a waterdog who could help fishermen retrieve fish and ducks and bring them back to their boats. Their soft mouths and gentle jaws made them perfect for delicately handling birds and fish. Eventually, they were brought across the Atlantic Ocean to England after English nobles visited Canada. There, the English continued to refine the breed in the second half of the 19th century. The popularity of the Labrador breed has only continued to grow since then. Today, modern Labs are the most popular dog in America, according to the American Kennel Club, which formally recognized the breed in .Labs are mostly sought after for their unmatched diving aptitude and ability to work in the water, largely thanks to their water-repellent coats, webbed feet and otter-like tail. You can also reach out to Labrador Retriever rescue organizations to adopt a Lab or keep an eye out for the breed at your local animal shelter. No, Labs are not hypoallergenic. In fact, Labs shed frequently. Overall, some dog breeds may have less reactive dander, which may make them be seen as hypoallergenic. But it mainly depends on how your body responds and how sensitive your allergies are to any particular animal. Can Labrador Retrievers swim? Yes, Labrador Retrievers can swim; they have webbed feet, which help propel them through the water. They readily jump into the water to retrieve fish or ducks when directed. Can Labrador Retrievers be guard dogs? They perform better at jobs that require constant stimulation, like sporting activities or being a therapy or service animal. What are the most common Labrador mixes? Labs are always up for anything. For those who love to stay active and want a loyal canine companion, Labs are undoubtedly the way to go. Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Built for sport, the Lab is muscular and athletic. They have a short, easy-care coat, friendly demeanor, keen intelligence, and plenty of energy. Devotion to this breed runs deep; Labs are loving, people-oriented dogs who live to serve their families, and owners and fans sometimes liken their Labs to angels. The breed originated on the island of Newfoundland, off the northeastern Atlantic coast of Canada. Originally called the St. Today, most Labs skip the hard labor and spend their days being pampered and loved by their people. However, some Labs still serve as indispensable working dogs. They also excel as a search and rescue dog or as a retriever for hunters, thanks to their athletic build, strong nose, and courageous nature. And Labs have also become the breed to beat at dog sports such as agility and obedience competitions, especially obedience. In fact, owners say their sweet, helpful Lab is likely to greet an intruder and happily show them where the goods are stashed. One role has remained constant: wonderful companion and friend. Labrador Retriever Highlights Friendly and outgoing. Labrador Retrievers are known for their friendly and outgoing personalities. They are good with people of all ages and other animals. Intelligent and trainable. Labrador Retrievers are intelligent dogs that are easy to train. They are often used as working dogs, such as guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, and therapy dogs. Active and playful. Labrador Retrievers are active dogs that need plenty of exercise. They enjoy playing fetch, swimming, and other activities. Loyal and devoted. Labrador Retrievers are loyal and devoted dogs that make great family pets. They are known for their gentle nature and love of children. Grooming needs are minimal. Labrador Retrievers have a short, thick coat that is easy to groom. They only need to be brushed a few times a week and bathed as needed. Overall, the Labrador Retriever is a versatile and popular dog breed that makes a great family pet. They are friendly, intelligent, and trainable, and they have a low grooming requirement. If you are considering getting a Labrador Retriever, be sure to do your research to find a reputable breeder. Labrador Retrievers are wonderful dogs, but they require a lot of time and attention. They are not a good choice for people who are not active or who do not have a lot of time to spend with their pets. Originally called St. Although their heritage is unknown, many believe the St. The second Earl of Malmesbury was one of the first, and had St. The third Earl of Malmesbury was the first person to refer to the dogs as Labradors. In Newfoundland, the breed disappeared because of government restrictions and tax laws. Families were allowed to keep no more than one dog, and owning a female was highly taxed, so girl puppies were culled from litters. In England, however, the breed survived, and the Kennel Club recognized the Labrador Retriever as a distinct breed in .They also top the list in Canada and England. Today, Labs work in drug and explosive detection, search and rescue, therapy, assistance to those with disabilities, and as retrievers for hunters. They also excel in all forms of dog competitions: show, field, agility, and obedience. Labrador Retriever Size Males stand .Females stand .Aside from a winning personality, they have the intelligence and eagerness to please that make them easy to train. Training is definitely necessary because this breed has a lot of energy and exuberance. The working heritage of the Lab means they are active. This breed needs activity, both physical and mental, to keep them happy. There is some variation in the activity level of Labs: some are rowdy, others are more laid back. All thrive on activity. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred. Elbow Dysplasia : This is a heritable condition common to large-breed dogs. This can lead to painful lameness. Your vet may recommend surgery to correct the problem or medication to control the pain. Osteochondrosis Dissecans OCD : This orthopedic condition, caused by improper growth of cartilage in the joints, usually occurs in the elbows, but it has been seen in the shoulders, as well. It causes a painful stiffening of the joint, to the point that the dog is unable to bend his elbow. It can be detected in dogs as early as four to nine months of age. Cataracts : As in humans, canine cataracts are characterized by cloudy spots on the eye lens that can grow over time. Cataracts can usually be surgically removed with good results. Early in the disease, dogs become night-blind. As the disease progresses, they lose their daytime vision, as well. Many dogs adapt to limited or complete vision loss very well, as long as their surroundings remain the same. Epilepsy : Labs can suffer from epilepsy, which causes mild or severe seizures. Seizures may be exhibited by unusual behavior, such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, or hiding. Seizures are frightening to watch, but the long-term prognosis for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy is generally very good. Puppies are born with TVD, which is a malformation of the tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart. It can be mild or severe; some dogs live with no symptoms, others die. TVD is detected by ultrasound. Research is ongoing to learn how widespread it is in the breed, as well as treatment. Myopathy : Myopathy affects the muscles and nervous system. The first signs are seen early, as young as six weeks and often by seven months of age. A puppy with myopathy is tired, stiff when he walks and trots. He may collapse after exercise. In time, the muscles atrophy and the dog can barely stand or walk. There is no treatment, but rest and keeping the dog warm seems to reduce symptoms. Dogs with myopathy should not be bred because it is considered a heritable disease. Bloat occurs when the stomach is distended with gas or air and then twists. The dog is unable to belch or vomit to rid themselves of the excess air in their stomach, and blood flow to the heart is impeded. Blood pressure drops and the dog goes into shock. Without immediate medical attention, the dog can die. Suspect bloat if your dog has a distended abdomen, is drooling excessively, and retching without throwing up. Theyalso may be restless, depressed, lethargic, and weak with a rapid heart rate. If you notice these symptoms, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Acute Moist Dermatitis: Acute moist dermatitis is a skin condition in which the skin red and inflamed. It is caused by a bacterial infection. The more common name of this health concern is hot spots. Treatment includes clipping the hair, bathing in medicated shampoo, and antibiotics. Cold Tail : Cold tail is a benign, though painful condition common to Labs and other retrievers. The dog may bite at the tail. It is thought to be a problem with the muscles between the vertebrae in the tail. Weekly checking and cleaning if necessary helps prevent infection. Labrador Retriever Care The lovable Lab needs to be around their family, and is definitely not a backyard dog. Labs show some variation in their activity levels, but all of them need activity, both physical and mental. Daily minute walks, a romp at the dog park, or a game of fetch, are a few ways to help your Lab burn off energy. However, a puppy should not be taken for too long walks and should play for a few minutes at a time. It is up to you to end play and training sessions. Without training, a rambunctious Lab puppy will soon grow to be a very large, rowdy dog. Luckily, Labs take to training well; in fact, they often excel in obedience competitions. Start with puppy kindergarten , which not only teaches your pup good canine manners, but helps them learn how to be comfortable around other dogs and people. Look for a class that uses positive training methods that reward the dog for getting it right, rather than punishing them for getting it wrong. Normal play on grass is fine, as is puppy agility, with its one-inch jumps. Labrador Retriever Feeding Recommended daily amount: 2. They've won the dog personality popularity contest for so many years, as Labs are devoted to their owners—always willing to show you their affection and receive your adoration in return—are highly intelligent, and are happiest doing any and all family activities. Their enthusiasm not only makes them fun to be around, but also makes them a hard-working breed. Labs are companionable, bonding with all family members, and famously friendly to every person and pup they meet. While they have high energy and require lots of activity , they are eager to please and highly trainable. Appearance Thanks to their role as a hunter's companion, the Labrador retriever is a sturdy dog, weighing in at anywhere from 55—80 pounds. Labs come in three colors: chocolate, black, and yellow. While black Labs were an early favorite with breeders, all three types of Labs are common today. Some breeders do offer "rare" Labs, including polar white, fox red, and even silver, but these are simply variations of the three original Lab coloring combinations. Their top coat is short and thick. Their undercoat is softer and helps provide protection from the weather, especially cold temperatures and water, a nod to their original role as retrievers. A Lab's tail serves a purpose in their heritage as well. They are thick and tapered, an "otter tail" that acts as a rudder when Labs swim. But watch out on land—this happy breed gets to wagging their tail often and eagerly, and won't stop if you happen to be in the way. Yellow Labs might be easy to confuse with golden retrievers. Though both are friendly pups and popular with families, they distinctly different breeds. Temperament "The ideal disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and non aggressive towards man or animal," the breed standard says. They are friendly with new people and animals they meet. Tops in the personality department, Labs are also highly intelligent, making them very trainable. They do have lots of energy, so you'll need to stay active with them, but they are also happy to relax at home for family movie night. What many veterinarians do find, however, is that each Lab is an individual with his own personality. Some Labs are more mellow, while others can be higher energy. Some tend to be more anxious dogs. And you can even have a Lab that is a bit of a goofball. But no matter what personality your Lab puppy grows to develop, one thing is always the same. Living Needs Labs adore their owners. They will want to live indoors and sleep as close as possible to you—or even on you. They like to get outside to play, but don't leave them unattended for too long as they may prove they have a naughty side. Labs have been known to dig and chew, so invest in plenty of sturdy chew toys to keep yours entertained. If properly introduced and trained, Labs can also get along well with other pets in the home including cats , other dogs, and small animals. They are competitors, doing well in agility, field tests, and at dog shows. And they absolutely love to swim. Care When you welcome a Lab to your home, be prepared for lots of shedding. Grooming isn't substantial, but brushing your dog daily will help reduce the tumbleweeds of fur scattered about your house from their thick double coat. They should be bathed every other month to keep them smelling fresh. Brushing their teeth a couple of times a week, keeping their nails trimmed —likely once or twice a month—and checking their ears for redness or odor should also be on your Lab care checklist. A daily minute walk or a lively game of fetch will help your pup burn off some of his energy. Lack of activity could lead to undesirable behavior, but don't overdo it—this "workaholic" breed is apt to exhaust itself. Don't let Lab puppies run and play on hard surfaces for their first two years so they don't damage their joints. Of course their reputation for good behavior precedes them, but that doesn't mean you can skip training sessions with your Lab. Training is important to ensure they don't grow to become too rowdy. Introduce Labrador puppies to other humans and animals early to help socialize them properly. This, coupled with ample positive reinforcement , will allow your pup to grow into the friendly Lab many know and love. Health Labs are a pretty hearty and healthy breed , living 10—12 years. But, as with all breeds, there are some common conditions to be aware of. Elbow and hip dysplasia , heart disorders such as tricuspid valve dysplasia TVD , epilepsy , and hereditary myopathy or muscle weakness can all affect Labs. They can also face eye conditions, including progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Owners should also be aware of a condition called exercise induced collapse EIC. Labs may also develop hot spots —or acute moist dermatitis—cold tail, and ear infections. History A bit misnamed, Labs actually come from Newfoundland—off the northeastern coast of Canada—not Labrador, according to the Labrador Retriever Club. Descended from St. John's water dogs, Labradors are a traditional waterdog used to retrieve ducks and keep fishermen company. At the end of the work day, Labs were then happy to head home to spend the night with the fishermen's families. They became increasingly popular starting in the early s, when they were brought to England by nobles who appreciated their work ethic and disposition. Public Domain It may be hard to believe, but by the s, Labs were almost extinct because of government restrictions and tax laws—the same laws that led to the St. John's water dogs' extinction, according to the Canadian Broadcast Corporation. Thankfully saved by English breeders, they were introduced to the U. After World War II, the Lab's popularity took over and grew for decades until they ultimately achieved the status of America's—and England and Canada's—most popular pooch. Fun Facts In , for the 29th year in a row, the Lab was voted the number one most popular breed. King Buck was the model Labrador retriever featured on a U. Another famous Lab is Ben of Hyde , born in .Considered the first documented yellow Lab, today most lines of yellow Labs can be traced to his bloodline. The star of the show, Marley, is actually several different Labs who played the role to reflect the various age stages of Marley during the film. His family adopted another chocolate Lab, Seamus , after Clinton's presidency ended. Was this page helpful? Post by: Mara B. These dogs had black coats, sometimes white crests on their chests, and white feet. Portraits of them look like a cross between a modern Lab and a Border Collie. Like Labradors, the Newfoundland breed had webbed toes, a two-layered, water-repellent coat, and a strong, broad tail that works like a rudder in the water, making it a superb swimmer. The Labrador Retriever has grown to be the most popular dog breed in America. The fishermen found that these dogs had great endurance and strength, so some used them to tow barges. For a while, these trusty fishing dogs waned in popularity in Canada due to a tax imposed on dog owners. Fortunately, British travelers coming to port decided to bring the dogs to England. The breed was refined by English hunters to be better suited for retrieving game and named the Labrador Retriever. Since the 20th century, the Labrador Retriever has grown to be the most popular dog breed in America. Physical Traits of a Labrador Retriever Labs have thick, sturdy bodies, broad heads, and long, otter-like tails that help them to steer themselves in the water. Their webbed toes make for better paddling and keep snow from clumping up between them. They grow to be between 21 and 24 inches at the highest part of their back and may weigh pounds. Labs have an inner coat that is thick and soft to protect their skin from wetness and cold temperatures. Their special double coat makes them waterproof! Labrador Retrievers may be black, chocolate, or yellow, and all colors can appear in a single litter. The nose of the dog will match its coat. Labs usually have brown eyes. The exception to this is that some Chocolate Labs have hazel eyes. The Labrador Retriever Personality Labradors are known for their gentleness, tolerance, and intelligence. Their easy-going nature is what makes them the top choice as American family dogs. They are generally very good with kids and other canines. Of course, being completely adorable probably contributes to their popularity too! As natural hunters, Labs are also known to be active and love exploring. Regular exercise is a great way to let out some of their energy and help them maintain a healthy weight. With lots of playtime and proper training, even high-energy Labs can be calm and obedient. A coat cleaning every once in a while will help it look shinier and healthier. Labs tend to pack on extra pounds quickly if they are sedentary or overfed. Obesity is one of the most common health issues for Labradors, and hypothyroidism and diabetes are also not uncommon for the breed. When a dog becomes overweight, exercise can be tough on their joints and cause them pain. Moderating their treats and making sure to measure the proper amounts of food at mealtime are other ways to keep their weight in check. You can also opt for dog-safe fruits and veggies as an alternative to higher-calorie, processed treats. Labs are also known to develop cataracts and have troubles with their hips, knees, elbows, and shoulders. Annual and wellness exams for these doggies should include check-ups on their eyes and joints. Important wellness procedures can be covered by a dog insurance plan. Start a quote for your best friend. Great Games for Labs Try doing these activities with your Labrador Retriever for fun and exercise rolled into one! Go Fetch! These natural retrievers love to chase after toys and bring them back — in the yard or the water! Balls, rope toys, ring toys, Frisbees, and dummies will all work well for a game of fetch. Take them to the beach, a lake, a pond, or a backyard pool and let them paddle around. Playing a game of fetch or chase in the shallow waters near shore can also be lots of fun. Just to be safe, you may want to investigate purchasing a dog life jacket. Nose work, or scent work, involves hiding objects marked with various scents for your dog to track. The activity can be especially stimulating for Labrador Retrievers because of their natural drive to hunt, but any breed of dog may enjoy it. How to teach your Lab to do nose work: Get scents. Essential oils like anise, birch, and clover are great choices for nose work. You can douse the object with the oil or inject the scent using a special syringe called a scent injector, which you should be able to find at your local sporting goods store, or online. Choose the mark. Dummies work great for essential oils. Get a few and douse each one with a different smell! You can use plush dog toys, pieces of cloth, or strips of leather for scent marking too. It can also be fun to leave a scent trail to the objects. To do this, drag the scent-marked objects along the ground leading up to their hiding place, or squeeze some drops of essential oil on the way to the chosen hiding spot. And while their faces often express a sense of worry, their hearts are full of affection and fun — and a little bit of mischief. History and Origins The Labrador Retriever breed originated not in Labrador, but on the coast of Newfoundland, in the 17th century. They were trained to bring in the fishing-nets through the icy waters for the fishermen and, in the early 19th century, were brought to Poole Harbour in Great Britain. They were so attractive and with such appealing personalities that the fishermen had umpteen offers from Englishmen to buy them. The breed with their working abilities was instantly successful as a gundog. The Earl of Malmesbury became fascinated by these dogs, known at that time as Saint John's Dogs, and he started breeding them, calling them Labrador Dogs. Today, Labradors are still used as working gundogs as well as being beloved family pets. Ideal Owner Ideal Lab owners enjoy long walks, are mud-proof and water-proof, and have the time, patience and skill to teach this breed to be a polite member of society. Although universally thought of as the ultimate, easy-going family dog and they do generally love everyone! Great for active families with children who can take part in training and exercise — and who can walk this active gundog a couple of hours every day in all weathers. Exercise Needs Labradors will adapt to the amount of time you can allocate for their exercise, as long as they are kept active. Ideally, a couple of hours a day being a good amount for a healthy adult. They love long walks with a chance to run and play off the lead. Many Labradors, unfortunately, become overweight because they are bought by families who want them for their reputation as the perfect dog with children, without realising that this is a working dog, who needs a lot of exercise and training to stay happy and healthy. As well as walks, a Labrador will revel in games and play with their owner, as they are highly social, and need to be involved in all family activities. Space Requirements The Labrador is a large, active breed who is at heart a country dog, and so needs a good-sized living space. As the Labrador size is large and their energy is high, they will appreciate a large garden and need access to the great outdoors for long walks. Nutrition and Feeding Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. The Labrador is prone to bloating and stomach problems; smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk. Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. Proper nutrition along with care can contribute to a Labrador lifespan reaching 14 years. Grooming Labradors The Labrador grooming process is fairly easy as their coats are simple to maintain. Even though the Labrador size is large, their coat is thick and dense with a weather-resistant undercoat that can easily be kept clean with a simple brush through once a week, and more regular attention when moulting. However, they do love water and mud, and so they may need more regular grooming to keep them clean. Watch out for grass seeds in the summer as they tend to charge around the countryside! Training Labradors Labradors are generally a joy to train as they are both clever and biddable, and love working with their owner. Despite being generally unproblematic, they do still need training as they have a need to work and to keep their busy brains occupied. Plus, they can easily get overly-boisterous, and even destructive, if not given plenty of exercise, and an outlet for their hard-wired breed behaviours. Are Labradors Good Family Dogs? There is a good reason why the Labrador has a reputation as being, almost, the perfect family dog. This is a breed who loves everyone and everything. Their only drawback is that they need a lot of exercise, and so they need an active family who enjoy walking and games. All dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. Free Bulldog Puppy Starter Kit! He has a massive head and is a very stocky boy! He is the sweetest boy and loves everyone he meets and gets along well with other dogs! He is very laid back! He will make someone a great pet! We will be picky on where he goes! Call us at for more information on him! She is super sweet and loves people and attention. She is a big boned, stocky, short to the ground Frenchie! She has a nice haircoat and no soundness or eye issues. You can EMAIL us or contact us at with any questions on her or to schedule an appointment to come meet her in person. She could have another litter or two but will only sell her to someone wanting to keep her forever as a pet as well with breeding rights! She is a 3 years 4 mo. She is reserved around strangers until she gets to know you but is very sweet!! She is big boned, stocky and just drop dead gorgeous. She tolerates heat and exercise pretty well. She has only had 2 litters and could have a few more litters if someone was interested in her to breed for a litter. Contact us at with any questions or for more information on adopting her. She is outgoing and confident. Find Us.

Saint Berdoodle Highlights Saint Berdoodles are mixed breed dogs. They are not purebreds like their Saint Bernard or Poodle parents. Two common color combinations of Saint Berdoodles are white-and-brown and white-and-black. They can also be red with white accents or white with red accents. The coats of Saint Berdoodles can take after either parent—wiry and curly for the Poodle, or longer and smooth or rough for the Saint Bernard. Saint Berdoodles are generally pretty well-equipped for cold weather, especially if their coats are similar to Saint Bernards. Saint Berdoodles are great with people of all ages, including kids. The only concern with these dogs is their size with very young children. Be sure to supervise interactions with very young children in case of accidental stepping or sitting. These dogs do not enjoy being alone, so they would love the company of other pets and family members. Saint Berdoodle History Historical records show Poodles being bred in the s and Saint Bernards being bred in the s, both in Europe. Saint Berdoodle breeding is a little more vague, but it looks like they were bred intentionally in the US beginning in the s. The rationale to combine the protectiveness and rescue nature of the Saint Bernard with the intelligence and trainability of the Poodle for a family dog was strong. Between and alone, Saint Bernards rescued over 2, people. Consider adoption if you decide this is the breed for you. Check your local shelters, look up Saint Berdoodle rescues, or check with breed-specific Saint Bernard or Poodle rescues, as they sometimes take in mixed breed dogs and find homes for them. Saint Berdoodle Size Though there is quite a range of sizes for Saint Berdoodles, you can expect a larger dog, in general. Saint Bernards are always large, and Standard Poodles are medium-to-large. In terms of height, the range is typically between 15 and 30 inches. There have been attempts at creating a Miniature Saint Berdoodle, with a weight between 20 and 50 pounds, and a height between 14 and 18 inches, but miniaturizing a Saint Bernard usually involves breeding with a smaller dog, too—most commonly the Cocker Spaniel. You can expect your Saint Berdoodle to be friendly and affectionate, always wanting to be part of family activities. The only reason you may need to supervise interactions with Saint Berdoodles and very small children is just that these dogs are often quite large, so accidents may happen with sitting or stepping. Saint Berdoodle Health Saint Berdoodles are fairly healthy dogs. While mixing breeds can be a way to minimize genetic disorders, the resulting crossbreed can still inherit health problems from the parent breeds. Regular care and annual veterinary check-ups are a good way to keep your dog in prime health. Some of the more common health problems for Saint Berdoodles include: hip dysplasia. People love the hypoallergenic coats of Saint Berdoodles, which are usually low-shedding or non-shedding. Saint Berdoodles have wonderful temperaments and are usually great with kids. Saint Berdoodles have hybrid vigor, which results from crossing two purebred dogs. Hybrid vigor typically results in a healthier offspring, and Saint Berdoodles have a much longer life expectancy than a purebred Saint Bernard. Purebred St Bernards usually live years; whereas Saint Berdoodles are usually expected to live years. Anyone who has owned and loved a Saint Bernard might wonder why anyone would get a Saint Berdoodle instead. There's a seven-fold answer for why Saint Berdoodles win the battle for many families. St Bernard vs St Berdoodle Hypoallergenic: St Berdoodles usually have low-to-non shedding coats like poodles and are typically far better for people with allergies than a purebred Saint Bernard, which sheds its coat. Health: Hybrid vigor typically improves a dog's health. There's a reason that humans don't marry our relatives. Saint Berdoodles tend to have fewer health issues than a pure Saint Bernard. Intelligence: Poodles consistently rank as one of the top if not THE top breeds for intelligence. Saint Berdoodles are very quick learners. Trainability: Usually the St Berdoodle's increased intelligence makes them an easy dog to train. Saint Berdoodles love pleasing their owner. Walking Partner: Although Saint Berdoodles are one of the lowest energy doodles, they tend to be more active than a somewhat lethargic purebred Saint Bernard who usually prefers to lounge all day. Although a Saint Berdoodle will not be an active runner like a Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, Aussiedoodle, or Springerdoodle, you can usually take a Saint Berdoodle for a long walk--more so than a purebred Saint Bernard. Nathan Crockett was one of the first breeders to raise top quality Saint Berdoodles. We have people from all over the U. Saint Berdoodle Pricing. Life Span Did You Know? Although a mixed-breed dog can take on any combination of traits from one or both of their parent breeds, well-socialized Saint Berdoodles tend to be affectionate and loving dogs with sweet natures and social personalities. This designer dog breed may not be recognized by the American Kennel Club, but they are still recognized by other notable dog organizations. The Saint Berdoodle is a gentle giant that makes a great addition to any family. Well-socialized, they tend to be social and friendly with charming, cheerful personalities. They also tend to be affectionate, loving, and highly intelligent dogs. These dogs can be good watchdogs as they are initially wary of strangers and will alert you when someone is on the property. Although Saint Berdoodles do tend to have a protective instinct over their family and territory, they tend to be quite social and friendly and do not tend to be aggressive provided they have been properly socialized and trained. Saint Berdoodles are moderately adaptable dogs. Due to their sheer size, they are better suited to larger homes with yards where they can run and roam freely. They could potentially adapt to apartment living if they are given enough exercise, attention, and mental stimulation, but their size will definitely be a challenge in smaller spaces. This dog adapts well to most moderate climates. As a large, fluffy dog, they are also sensitive to heat and can easily overheat. Because a Saint Berdoodle craves attention, bonds closely with their family, and loves being with them, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. A crossbred dog can inherit the potential health concerns common to one, both, or neither of the parent breeds. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of Saint Berdoodle puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to ensure that they are not passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask the breeder about the genetic history of both of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a large dog, the Saint Berdoodle is also at a higher risk of bloat just like both parent breeds. Bloat in dogs can become dangerous quickly and is fatal if the stomach flips. Although the Saint Berdoodle will grow to be a giant dog, they tend to be gentle and highly trainable. Their high intelligence and eagerness to please means they pick up on things quickly and are relatively easy to train. This makes them a good fit for owners of all experience levels. They respond best to positive training methods that are calm and consistent and focused on reward and praise. Puppy training classes are always an option and can be a good opportunity to socialize a puppy, which is even more important in a dog this size. The maintenance your Saint Berdoodle requires will depend completely on the coat they inherit. But, they will require daily brushing and professional grooming every weeks. Once or twice monthly nail trimming is usually enough to keep them from growing too long and causing issues. You can also support your efforts to prevent dental diseases later in life with dental hygiene chews and treats approved by your vet. Saint Berdoodles tend to have a moderate energy level. They will be energetic while playing and require some exercise, but they will be happy to be a couch potato every now and then. Daily walks plus some time to play are usually enough for this big dog. They may not be a good fit for a running partner, but your Saint Berdoodle may enjoy going on hikes with you, taking trips to the dog park, or even going swimming. Just make sure you keep activities low impact until their bones and joints finish growing and developing. A fully-grown Saint Berdoodle usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs pounds. They are one of the largest dog breeds. Saint Berdoodles generally live for years on average. This designer dog breed is most commonly known as a Saint Berdoodle, but they are also sometimes called a Saint Berpoo. Featured Saint Berdoodle Article.

labrador retriever puppy pictures - All dogs are unique and grow at their own rate. Pro Tip: Check out our complete guide to puppy care to ensure your Lab gets off to a great start. As a medium to large breed, Labrador Retrievers need at least one year to reach their full size. A general rule of thumb suggests your Lab should be at or close to its full size by their first birthday. However, bigger-boned Lab puppies can keep growing and filling out their chest up to 18 months old. How big should a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever be? The average Lab weight at six months old is about 40 to 55 pounds for males or 30 to 35 pounds for females. Please keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and every puppy will grow at a slightly different rate. How much bigger will my Labrador Retriever get? There are three ways to predict the size of a Labrador Retriever at maturity: Age. Labrador Retrievers typically reach their full height and weight around their first birthday. Larger Labs may need up to 18 months to fill out their chest, but any weight gain after 12 months should be minimal overall. If your Lab is less than a year old, they are likely still growing and putting on muscle to reach their adult size. Paw Size. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, then they are probably still growing, as this is a classic puppy feature. Lastly, if you purchased your Lab through a breeder, you can contact them for a more exact height and weight estimate. What is the size of a full-grown Labrador Retriever? A full-grown Labrador Retriever weighs between 65 and 80 pounds and stands about .The average weight of a full-grown female Labrador Retriever should be about 55 to 70 pounds, standing at .Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your Lab is maintaining a healthy weight for its body size. The Labrador Retriever growth rate should be indicative of its athletic body and muscular build. Did you know. ? Their webbed paws made them strong swimmers, along with their otter tail, which acts like a powerful rudder when retrieving ducks. English nobles spotted the dogs and brought them home across the Atlantic, where breeders continued to refine the breed into its own variation. Between their friendly demeanor, adaptability, and outgoing disposition, they make ideal family members. As cherished members of our families, Labs deserve the best care. Unfortunately, like many other purebred dogs, Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to various health issues. Some of the most common examples include:. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. As a dedicated Labrador parent, one of your primary responsibilities is ensuring your pup remains healthy and achieves all growth milestones based on his age. However, some of the most overwhelming factors to crack through are size and weight. So, is your Lab puppy too small for his age? Your Lab puppy might be too small if it weighs less than 12 lbs 5. Lab puppies generally weigh about 2 lbs 1 kg with every week of growth. If your puppy weighs a lot less than that, he may be too small for his age. If you're worried that your pup might be too small for his age, you're in the right place. In this article, I'll outline Lab puppies' size and weight facts to help you understand where your young canine friend stands. Keep reading! In this article How Much a Lab Puppy Should Weigh This is one of the most common concerns and one of the most challenging to address directly. This is because a puppy's weight and size may differ based on his gender, genetic composition, or underlying conditions. However, there's a trick that may help you determine your pup's weight range. In most cases, average puppies add about 2 lbs 1 kg with every week of growth. And just like the weight, Lab puppies have different sizes. You may notice a huge size variance in a litter of Lab puppies. Some may appear too big or too small for their age. Below are 3 factors that can affect a Lab puppy's size and weight. Genetic May Affect Size A canine's size is partially genetic. Therefore, a Lab puppy born of small parents may inherit the genes and appear smaller for his age. However, this isn't always the case because some small-parents puppies sometimes grow into huge dogs. So, it's possible to note a considerable size variance on puppies from the same litter. Diet Greatly Influences Weight A puppy's diet also has a lot to do with his size and weight. Poorly fed puppies may fail to grow properly. Thus they may be low in weight and small in size. When feeding puppies, it isn't always about the amount of food the pup consumes but rather the nutritional value. So, to be on the safe side, it's advisable to consult your vet on the right foods for your pup based on his age. Health Problems Can Inhibit Growth Puppies that have been ill or have underlying conditions may portray slow growth. Their size and weight may be small compared to healthy pups within the same age limit. However, you shouldn't worry about this because such puppies often catch up later after recovery. Note that this chart only gives a weight limit, and it doesn't mean your puppy should weigh precisely that. It's only meant to help you protect your pup's weight and easily point out when he's seriously under or overweight. Between 8 weeks and 10 months, your puppy has a ton of growing to do, and they change drastically from month to month. Each stage of growth requires specific attention, exercise, and diet, so there is much to learn and pay attention to these different growth stages. There may be behavioral challenges while your pup adjusts to their new life without their mother and siblings. This period of adjustment can sometimes lead to fearful and timid behavior, and your puppy will need as much attention and affection as possible. They should be eating 3—4 small meals a day at this stage. You can begin basic command, leash, and potty training at this point too. Although the schedule is not complete this is a critical period to begin socialization and making sure they are calm and friendly with other dogs, just make sure they are also vaccinated. We highly recommend making training a part of their daily activities at this age. Biting can be an issue at this stage too, as they will begin teething, and they will start exploring and chewing whatever they can find. Chew toys and consistent command reinforcement are both vital for avoiding this behavior. The good news is that your puppy will grow out of this habit at around 6 months old. Your lab should also be house-trained by this point, but there may still be the occasional accident. Remember to be gentle but firm when this happens, and your pooch will likely move through it swiftly. They will begin losing their baby teeth at this point, and biting and chewing may reach its peak. Firm but gentle commands, chew toys, and loads of patience are essential at this stage. Your puppy will be testing the limits and may start showing dominance, ignoring known commands, and asserting more independence. You can now drop their meals down to two meals per day, but be sure that they are not eating too quickly. Your puppy will start to closely resemble an adult at 6 months, but remember that mentally, they are still puppies and will need loads of direction and training. Females may enter their first heat at 6—7 months, so keep a careful watch for stray males. They will still display puppy tendencies and traits and have a ton of excitable energy, but they should be fairly obedient and well-trained by this stage. Be sure to give your Labrador plenty of exercise at this stage to help keep them from misbehavior. They will have reached their full height by now but may still gain weight and muscle mass in the coming months. Unless you intend on breeding, you should consider neutering and spaying your puppy to avoid wandering and unwanted pregnancies. While some breeders recommend that you wait until a year old, this is a perfectly suitable time to perform the procedure. They may still gain weight and muscle mass but much slower than during the past few months. They will still display puppy characteristics and even test boundaries, but all in all, they should be obedient and well-trained by now. They will have a ton of energy and still enjoy playtimes and loads of exercise. While they are at their full height at this age, some Labs may appear lanky and still have weight to fill out in the coming months. When Do Labradors Stop Growing? All dogs are unique, and the question of when they stop growing is largely dependent on the individual. Anecdotally, your Lab should have reached their full weight by 18 months and full height by 9—12 months. Most breeders agree that your Lab will stop growing at some point during their second year. Even so, any weight gain during their second year will be minimal, and they will have done the majority of their growth by their first birthday. Mentally, they are out of the puppyhood phase of testing boundaries and disobedience by their first year— if correctly trained. If you have been consistent in training thus far, your Lab should be friendly, obedient, and well-behaved from their first birthday and into adulthood. In males, neutering can sometimes result in a calmer, more relaxed dog, and this, in turn, will slow down his need for exercise and may result in weight gain. A study in showed that dogs neutered before 37 weeks may gain more weight, while dogs that had the procedure after 37 weeks had a slower growth trajectory. The difference was minimal, though, and there is no reason to assume that these procedures have much of an effect on growth rates in dogs. Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth While some puppies may grow quicker or slower than the agreed-upon average, this is usually nothing to be concerned about due to the individual and unique nature of dogs. However, if your pooch is gaining weight rapidly or not gaining enough, there may be deeper issues to look into. If your dog is from working or hunting stock, they may be smaller than average Labs and are usually lighter for work in the field. Size may also be genetic, and if your Lab comes from small parents, they will be smaller than average. The same may be true of heavier-than-average Labs—if their parents are large, they will likely be similar in size. However, larger-than-average weights may also be due to overfeeding or a lack of exercise , or a combination of both, so be sure to keep their exercise and feeding habits consistent. Image Credit: rebeccaashworth, Shutterstock Growth Distinctions of Different Labradors Although they are designated under the same breed, there are two different types of common Labradors: English and American. English Labradors tend to be stockier and more muscular than their American counterparts and have a thick, waterproof coat , while American Labs have a slender build with a slightly finer coat. English Labs are slightly shorter, topping out at around 22 inches, but their stocky and muscular build often makes them heavier than American Labs. In fact, English Labs have been known to weigh up to 20 pounds more than American Labs without being considered overweight. American Labs are known to be slightly more active and energetic than English Labs, while English Labs tend to be less excitable and more laid back. English Labs are by no means lazy, though, and they still have plenty of energy and stamina to go around. Conclusion: Monthly Labrador Growth Pictures Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the growth rate of your Labrador puppy and given you a better idea of what to expect during the different stages. See also:. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Labrador retrievers are beloved family members. But too much of a good thing—food and treats—can lead to many potential health problems. If your Labrador Retriever is starting to get a little pooch in his belly your might be thinking how much should my lab weigh? But there are many factors that enter into what determines a healthy weight for your particular lab. And female labs should weigh between 55 and 70 pounds and be between .But keep in mind that even healthy labs may fall outside of these guidelines. There are many variables that enter into why a dog is a particular weight, including the following: Genetics. The parents and family tree of a lab determine his potential size and structure. Diet and nutrition. In order to reach his potential, a lab requires the proper diet for his stage of life and activity level. A lab who is a couch potato will generally require fewer calories than one who is active. Female labs usually weigh less than male labs at the same life stage. English vs. American Labrador Retrievers Although there is no recognized separate breed of English and American labs , in reality there are distinctions regarding their breeding. English labs are bred for the conformation ring and generally weigh in at the higher end of the desired range for labs. And they may weigh even 20 more pounds than American labs without being overweight. American labs, aka field-bred labs, are bred from working lines, in order to hunt. They are leaner and more muscular than English labs. There is no definitive guide stating that labs of certain colors weigh more than others. But their breeding and function enters into whether a lab will weigh more. Black Labradors. Black labs are found in both English and American labs. But an English-bred lab is likely to weigh more than an American lab is. Chocolate Labradors. They are more likely to be from conformation lines than those from working, field lines. So chocolate labs are more likely to be at the higher end of the weight spectrum. Yellow Labradors. They are found in both show and field lines, so there is no likelihood that a yellow lab will weigh more. Other colors. Although not a recognized color, red fox labs are generally American, field-type labs. What Is an Ideal Lab Weight? Muscle weighs more than fat does by volume. Body condition and general health determines what your lab should weigh. Labrador retrievers usually reach their full height between nine and 12 months of age. There are nine different levels that are measured. And you gently palpate the dog to feel how much fat covers those areas. In the first three levels of the chart, a dog is determined to be too thin. Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, and pelvic bones are prominent. And there may even be muscle wasting. There is no to little discernible body fat. And there is an obvious waist and abdominal tuck. In the ideal range, levels four to five, ribs are palpable without excess fat. The waist is easily noted when viewed from above. And there is an evident abdominal tuck when viewed from the side. In the last four levels of body condition, steps six to nine, the dog is too heavy. And the dog has a discernible but not prominent waist when viewed from above and an apparent tummy tuck when viewed from the side. The last three steps range from the ribs barely being palpable to massive fat deposits over the body with no abdominal tuck and even abdominal distension. So you really need to determine where your dog is along this scale. If in doubt, check with your vet to determine whether your lab is an appropriate weight for his age, size, and activity level. So expect them to keep weighing more during that period. Factors regarding how large a lab will get include: Genetics. Generally larger parents and lineage means larger lab puppies. Paw size. Of course, as a lab gets older, he should grow. During the first six months, a lab has rapid rate increases, including growth spurts. On average, a puppy will gain about two or so pounds per week. So a five-week-old puppy will be about 10 pounds and a week-old puppy around 26 pounds. This is the point between their shoulder blades. Labs reach size maturity relatively early compared to other large breeds. They will likely attain their adult height somewhere around the 9-month mark, although realistically this could occur anywhere between 6 months and a year. After that, they will likely continue to fill out, so you could see their weight continue to increase anywhere up until their second birthday. Are There Different Sizes of Labrador? There is only one official size of Labrador. The differences between the two are because of decades of specialized breeding. English Labs were bred for showing and tend to be shorter, stockier, and on the heavy side. In contrast, American Labs were working dogs, bred for enhanced speed and agility, and for this reason can be somewhat taller, slimmer, and more athletic than their British counterparts not to mention more energetic and highly-strung. Beyond that, the sex of your dog can have an impact. Female Labs tend to be slightly shorter at .They may also weigh slightly less, between pounds compared to pounds. Not a significant difference granted, but a difference, nonetheless. Photo by Janelle Everhart on Unsplash As mentioned above, when Labs get to their adult size at around 9 months , they will likely continue to grow outwards as their muscles develop. This means their weight will keep going up for a while. Our interactive puppy growth chart and calculator has more information on that. Check out these guides on best dog food for puppies here. How Big is a Full-Grown Labrador? As can be seen in the table above, a full-grown Labrador Retriever is somewhere between .Labradors usually get to half their full weight between 4. You can calculate their potential adult weight at 23 weeks by taking what they weigh at that age and multiplying it by two. By six months old, your Labrador has likely achieved around two-thirds of their adult weight. At this time, usually weighing at least double what they did four months ago, they will be reaching the end of their rapid growth period. The remainder of the growing that they do will be at a steadier pace and will likely stretch across the next six months, if not longer. While your Lab may seem big and adult in appearance at this age, keep in mind that they are still a puppy in many ways. Photo by Ryan Phillips on Unsplash Those of you considering a pedigree breed, such as the Labrador Retriever, over hybrid dogs like Doodles will be relieved to hear that making predictions about their adult size is a much simpler business. However, there can still be considerable variations in the adult size and weight of perfectly healthy Labs. Hopefully, the information provided here proves usual in helping you to understand precisely what you are likely to be dealing with in terms of the height and weight of your pup a couple of years down the line. Pin It! Labrador puppy weight. It can be hard to know what the right weight is for your specific pup. An American Lab is likely to weigh less than an English Lab in general, but not always! How much do Labs weigh in general? Male Labradors weigh between 60lbs and 80lbs, while females weigh in at between 55lbs and 75lbs. But many healthy Labradors fall outside these averages. As you can see, there is quite a range! Labrador Puppy Weight Lots of our readers want to know how much should my Labrador weigh at this age or that age. Labrador puppies are growing fast, and their weight is constantly changing. We used the data from our forum to create the Lab weight chart below. If you want a rough idea of how much your pup should weigh at different stages of their young life, just compare them to this chart and see how they match up. But remember, average Labrador weight is not totally straight forward… Average Labrador Weight Labradors come in a wide variety of sizes. So average Labrador Retriever weight figures can be misleading. As a very rough guide an adult female Labrador might weigh between 55 and 70lbs. An adult male Lab will weigh 65 — 80lbs. Female Lab weight will on average be lower than male Lab weight, but as you can see there is a considerable cross over. But Labradors also come in a couple of different types, and his type will have an impact upon his ideal Labrador weight. English Labs bred from show lines are likely to be at the upper end of the scale. You can expect English Lab weight to be around 60 — 70 lbs for a female and 70 — 80 lbs for a male. Some of our chunkier, show bred Labs can be a good twenty pounds or more heavier than their field bred cousins, without necessarily being overweight. Whereas the American Lab who is field bred is likely to be at the lower end of average. Volume for volume, muscle weighs more. So it is worth bearing in mind, that a very fit dog will have more muscle and may weigh more than an unfit dog of similar dimensions. Black Lab Weight In theory there should be no difference in weight between Labradors of different colors. Black Labrador weight for an English black Lab will probably be at the higher end of the range, for an American black Lab it will likely be lower. Black Labs are frequently found in both these categories, but some Lab colors differ. For example the chocolates. Chocolate Lab Weight Chocolate Labs are more likely to be show bred than field bred. English Labs weigh more than American Labs in general, and may therefore be at the higher end of average when it comes to weight. This is because yellow Labs are commonly found in both categories. White Labs are more likely to be English Labs, and will therefore probably be at the heavier end of the scale. Fox red Labs are normally American Labs, and will often be thinner in build and therefore lighter in weight. The way to effectively judge whether your Lab is at an ideal weight is not through the scales. It is by feel and appearance. You should not be able to see ribs, but if you press firmly along his sides you should just be able to feel your fingers bumping along them. But in most cases it really is not necessary to weigh your puppy every day, or even every week! Any more than you would weigh your three year old child on a daily or even weekly basis. There are however, some exceptions. Very thin puppies Occasionally we have people post up about puppies that are desperately underweight and clearly failing to thrive. Most of these comments come from people that have purchased puppies that are not ready to leave their mothers, and should not have been sold by the breeder. Some of these puppies are as young as three weeks old. If you have inadvertently been sucked into this horrible trade in underage puppies, do contact a vet for help with feeding your puppy, as a matter of urgency. If you are concerned that your puppy might be seriously underweight, again, your vet is the first port of call. As a very rough guide, many Labrador puppies will weigh around a kilo for every week of their lives. So you would expect a ten week puppy to weigh something in the region of ten kilos or around twenty-two pounds. A twenty percent variation around this would be fairly normal. If your puppy falls outside this variation he may still be perfectly healthy, but if you are inexperienced, a check with the vet is a good way to put your mind at rest. Should I Weigh My Dog? You may need to weigh your dog if he needs medical treatment. Determining the appropriate dose of some drugs requires that we know the exact weight of the patient. But in this case your veterinarian will probably do it for you at their check-ups and assessments. The main reasons to weigh a dog are loss or gain. Trying to put weight on a very thin puppy? You may want to check your progress with regular weigh-ins for a while to make sure they are sufficiently gaining weight. Trying to help your adult Labrador weight decrease? Checking their weight each week will help you to know that you are succeeding, along with visual checks. How to weigh a dog If you need to weigh a puppy, and he is small enough to hold in your arms, you can do this at home. Just weigh yourself on the bathroom scales without him, then weigh yourself again whilst holding the dog, and subtract the first weight from the second. This is accurate enough for most purposes. Larger dogs will need to be weighed on purpose built scales. Most vet surgeries have one in the waiting room, and some pet stores have them too. Really tiny dogs can be weighed accurately on a good sized set of kitchen scales. For once, this is a situation where appearances really do count. Try to get into the habit of looking at your dog objectively and of avoiding comparing with other dogs, many of whom will be overweight. You may find that some other dog owners will tell you your nice slim Labrador is actually too thin. This happens a lot, largely because people are simply getting used to so many dogs being overweight, including some of those receiving the highest accolades in our show rings. Again, if you are worried, check with your vet, but the chances are if someone is telling you this that actually your dog is healthy, and it is really their dog who is overweight.


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labrador retriever puppy pictures - Only interact with dogs that are safe and you know for sure will have positive reactions to your new German Shepherd. Forcing them will only make them develop stress and anxiety in new situations and with animals. Think quality, not quantity, when socializing your German Shepherd. There are tons of new things your dog needs to get comfortable with. Use treats and positive encouragement when they investigate a new situation with confidence. Train daily. Make it fun. Punishment will only cause your dog to fear you and increase anxiety. Crouch down to offer them a gentle scratch and pet. This connects their name to paying attention to you and marks you as a positive leader, which is important for obedience training and living with their new family. Always work on rewarding good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior. The goal is to build trust in the first few weeks and months that you have your new dog to create a bond. And dogs are actually happier when they are trained rspca. Keep the sessions short, but have multiple training sessions throughout the day. Never end training on a bad note. For example, give them a command they know for sure so they finish with success. Read this guide to learn all about the basics of proper German Shepherd obedience training , including a helpful training schedule and the foundation commands. Be prepared for chewing by offering the right options. Biting and chewing are natural instincts for dogs and puppies. These actions provide them with opportunities to investigate the different amounts of pressure to use in relation to the purpose of their biting. Your job as their new owner is to help your pup understand and educate them on what is appropriate to bite, nip, and chew. This teaches them your signal and cue. They should let go or look a bit startled. Follow their release with praise or a tasty treat when your dog stops the unwanted behavior. Do NOT physically punish your dog! Instead, redirect them to a proper chew toy. Sometimes puppies teethe and their gums are sore and need something to chew. Other times adult German Shepherds have a desire and natural urge to bite for relaxation and to reduce anxiety. Only use safe, non-toxic chew toys, which are found listed here, in the best strong chew toys for German Shepherds to avoid boredom. Avoid accidents by managing the home environment. Create a set routine and schedule and stick to it to avoid accidents and train your puppy faster. Say hello to your new sloppy family member… They not only shed everywhere but also dump water out when drinking, spill their food, and… Have total disrespect for your carpets! You must have them in a secure area or watch them all the time to avoid any accidents. No matter what you will clean up some kind of bodily function when owning a German Shepherd. So, do yourself a favor and stock up on pet stain and odor remover! Use food-dispensing toys and slow feeders to keep them at a healthy weight. This is a food toy called a Kong Wobbler. Keep to a schedule so that you can control their food intake and watch their weight. Instead, use rubber toys in which you place part of their food to help control their voracious eating. I like to use a Kong Wobbler for both puppies and adults. Even better? Puppies are more responsive to the Ignore method of training. As a new German Shepherd owner, you might think you need to appease your dog all the time or give in to their excessive attention-seeking. In my experience, this is one of the most effective training methods that you can use when owning a German Shepherd. Put simply, here are the basics to use the Ignore method of training: You ignore the behavior that you want to stop or reduce. On the flip side, you give attention to the behavior you want to encourage. The hard bit is ignoring a very intelligent German Shepherd who is persistent! Give your German Shepherd a job at home so they stay entertained. This represents big challenges as a German Shepherd owner. You must be smarter than your dog! But the jobs can be as easy or difficult as you have the time and energy to train. This is not a mentally lazy dog, but a breed with extremely high intelligence and a huge breadth of application for that intelligence. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Imagine you knew how to discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way so that your bond with your dog grew instead of fell short! Learn how to communicate with your pup and get the behaviors you want using these simple and easy methods for training a German Shepherd puppy. They may become frightened of you or fear your presence, depending on how severe your discipline is. Anxiety may even develop with too much punishment or useless corrections. Training a German Shepherd puppy at 8 to 12 weeks old? Yes, you can! A GSD pup of 8 to 12 weeks of age or older still needs positive reinforcement for the best behavior changes. Disciplining your GSD should not involve hitting, kicking, slapping, intimidation, or yelling. Do you want your German Shepherd puppy to stop their unwanted, bad behavior and turn into the sweet angel you want them to be? You can easily learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy if you work smarter… Not harder! Start early and remain consistent with your expectations. Training a German Shepherd means knowing what to do when your puppy acts up. Shepherd pups are one of the smartest dogs on the plant and learn quickly what you expect of them. But the best way to learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy at home is to work on your own behavior first. You should show them what behavior is unacceptable in your house. This means that you must stay consistent when responding to their behavior. For example: If your pup jumps on you and you redirect their attention to a toy to chew on instead. But, then your pup jumps on your friend and your friend lets them and you say nothing. This makes it likely that your dog will jump on whoever they feel like in the future. Use reward-based training. Use reward-based German Shepherd training techniques to get the quickest results. Reward-based training helps your puppy recognize when something is a bad choice source. When your pup performs what you ask, offer a tasty treat and words of praise. For example: Have your pup sit when you are by the front door getting ready to go for a walk. This teaches them that when they behave, they are more likely to get what they want. The best way to train your German Shepherd is by following a fun, engaging program that teaches not only the basics but covers problem behaviors, too. Sound difficult? It teaches you how to get your pup to learn positive behaviors. You can also have fun right at home with these games for German Shepherd puppies. Offer your puppy another option when they begin jumping on you for attention. Think about what your puppy is trying to get when engaging in jumping and bad behavior to determine when to ignore them. When your pup jumps on you when you come home, they probably want your attention. Withholding your attention when they are acting out shows them they need to act differently to get your approval source. Instead, offer them pets and praise when they have all 4 paws on the floor. You can also place them behind a puppy gate until they learn not to jump in order to avoid them scratching or nipping house guests when they arrive. After you teach them their basic obedience, ask them for a competing behavior like a sit or down when they begin to jump. Always remember to reward the behavior you want to see again! Ultimately, your puppy learns that good behavior earns your affection and attention more quickly. Your dog soon understands that they get nothing from you when they act badly. Here are some great commands for a German Shepherd that you can work on training. Redirect bad German Shepherd puppy behavior. Does your puppy jump, nip, chew, bite, or dig and you want to know the right discipline? The noise and disapproving tone distract your dog from bad behavior source. Showing them a favorite toy. Offering them another option you would like that is more constructive. You want to remember to watch out for: If your dog chews inappropriately on a pair of expensive shoes, get their attention by making noises or calling them to you and immediately offer the correct approved chew item. If you know your dog tends to bite you during play, have a toy nearby you can show them that you want them to bite instead of your arms. If you know they get wild and crazy in the evenings, have a list of these easy German Shepherd brain games to distract them and funnel their energy. Use time-outs appropriately when training a German Shepherd puppy. When your dog engages in bad behavior, remove them from what is causing the unwanted behavior. Put them in a different environment that is more calming and quiet instead. Respond immediately to the bad behavior and use the same routine every time to maintain correct discipline. Time out should: Not be done with force or yelling. Not be in a closet or other dark, scary area. Work to calm your puppy down, not frighten or stress them. Give your puppy a break from over-excitement. Not be a long punishment. Timeouts are generally recommended for only 1 to 2 minutes for puppies. Also, remember that closed doors can cause anxiety in dogs, so use a reliable pet-safe baby gate so that your puppy knows that you are still nearby. Remember, when training a German Shepherd puppy: Time out should not last over minutes. Watch for when your puppy is calm and quiet for a very brief period seconds long of calm. Then let them out quietly, without scolding them. This can cause anxiety. Remember to use a pet gate to separate them from the excitement that caused the unwanted behavior, while still allowing them to see you and not feel trapped. Ignore the unnecessary barking. German Shepherd puppies bark, but there are positive ways to help train them to bark and whine less. When they finally quiet down, even if only for a few seconds, reward them with a treat or praise. To have success, wait until they are quiet and stop barking, even if only for a few seconds in the beginning source. For example: If your puppy barks at joggers out the window every morning pull the blinds or curtains. If the behavior continues, place your dog in another room for a couple of minutes and repeat the previous time-out procedure every time they bark at the joggers remember to use the pet safe baby gate and to not shut a puppy behind a solid door because it can give them anxiety. If they are whining and crying at night, this could be a warning they need to potty. Make sure you read this post to know how to potty train a German Shepherd before you ignore all whining, barking, and crying. If your puppy barks during play they might be too excited and you can offer them a chew toy instead or cut your playtime short to allow them to calm down. Puppies bark for a number of reasons. But it does get easier to train your GSD over time as they learn what you expect. Keeping your pup from nipping and chewing. Puppies have sharp teeth, especially German Shepherd puppies! Puppies are energetic and must learn their limits for playing too rough source. Puppies view you jerking your hand back quickly as part of a game and could also tear your skin. And physical punishment should never be given! Show them what they can chew, instead, such as their favorite chew toy. Have plenty of safe chew toys to grab nearby to give your pup when they get wild and decide to bite you. Always use toys that your puppy can chew and bite to play with — pick from this list of German Shepherd Chew Toys to Prevent Boredom so you have a safe puppy toy that can take their bites. When they stop biting or nipping reward them with verbal praise and pets. Return later to try playing with your pup again and repeat the procedure. Read this information for more helpful tips to stop your German Shepherd puppy from aggressively biting and nipping you. Catch your dog being good and reward them out of the blue. See your puppy acting the way you want? Reward them out of the blue! Keep small bits of treats in jars around the house out of reach of your pup or in your pocket or a treat bag on your waist and use any opportunity your catch your pup doing good to reward them. If they sit and wait at the door, instead of dashing out ahead of you, reward them! Aim for one of these healthy treats that are the best for German Shepherds and pick carefully to ensure your dog stays athletic and fit. Food-based rewards are very motivating when training and disciplining a puppy. Avoid physical punishment and harm. Your German Shepherd is your companion for life. Research shows that physically punishing your dog for example hitting, kicking, growling, or staring them down increases aggression in your dog study source. Never use physical punishment to correct undesirable behavior. Not only can this punishment injure your puppy, but it also ruins your relationship and causes anxiety. It means setting expectations that they understand and staying consistent. Physically hurting your German shepherd will ruin your relationship with them. They will lose their trust in you and begin to avoid you. In the worst case, your dog could develop anxiety disorders, health issues, or even more problem behaviors. You could even accidentally injure your dog and they need vet care! Use the right tone and body language to communicate. Different commands and body language conveys information for training to your German Shepherd. The different tones of your voice and body movements are better understood by your dog. The actual command words are of less importance to your puppy. Use a direct tone and body language that matches what you want to say to your dog. Even pointing to a missed treat on the ground is body language your dog learns to understand. Still not convinced? Try out your training with this extensive list of helpful German Shepherd commands and watch how much your dog is capable of understanding. Shepherd pups want to please and have order in their home. To do this, stick with your training. Begin with a plan in place and disciplining your GSD will go smoother from the start. Persevere with your training and discipline. Remember that your German Shepherd is highly intelligent and needs your help to get the best from them. If you feel like giving up, take a break from training for a day or two. In order to avoid training frustration, remember that just like you a German Shepherd needs time to learn the rules of the house and new commands. This is true especially of puppies or rescue dogs. If you want to take a break from training and have fun, then include a few days a week of puzzles. German Shepherds are one of the smartest dogs in the world, so training them generally takes a short time. Never discipline a German Shepherd puppy for having accidents during potty training. Whether your German Shepherd is potty trained or not, never push their faces into their potty accidents. Your dog is counting on your leadership to show them the rules in a positive manner. Work on setting a consistent schedule with feeding and walks to avoid potty accidents indoors. German Shepherds are easy to train given the right attention. And they need to understand their schedule by having you teach them using consistent patterns, rather than receiving punishment or discipline. Keep a potty schedule posted nearby so all your family can see it and help prevent your puppy from having an accident. Use your bond with your puppy to your advantage during recall training. Use your positive bond with your German Shepherd puppy to work on early recall training. Especially when there are so many natural pleasures to see and explore outside. When you call your German Shepherd, its obedience simply depends on whether the motivation to obey your commands outweighs what your dog is focused on at the moment. Use this to your advantage! Tips for great German Shepherd puppy recall training: Begin calling your puppy in as many locations inside as you can. Give them a tasty reward or play a game with their favorite toy when they come. Work your way up to a perfect recall by having others try to distract your puppy while indoors. Next, move to your back or front yard with your dog on a long leash like this so they stay safe nearby and do the same. You can disciple them by showing them your tasty treat and walking backward a few steps to encourage them to move toward you. Train the come command in all situations, including the home and outdoors, from the time your puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old to avoid discipline problems later on. Need to train your German Shepherd on their recall? There is nothing cuter than a fluffy bundle of German Shepherd goodness. Quickly, however, reality sets in. German shepherd puppies are a lot of work! From housetraining, chewed up household items, and establishing a routine, the very first day your adorable puppy enters your home, there are sure to be challenges as well as heart melting rewards. To help you and your puppy start off on the right paw, you need to set your puppy up for success. To get started, there are numerous books on puppy training that you can buy, free training advice online, and many opinions on the best way to raise a German Shepherd dog. You can also learn a lot from the mistakes that other German Shepherd owners have made and most are more than happy to share their experiences. Some of the most common mistakes that people make when raising a German shepherd puppy are: Getting a puppy that is too young According to the American Kennel Club, the best time for a puppy to leave its mom and littermates is at eight to twelve weeks old. Puppies develop many life skills from their mom and littermates. When placed in their new home too soon, they can develop anxiety, lack confidence, suffer from health issues, and have many more behavior problems. If a confident, healthy, well socialized dog is your goal, the wait is worth it. Trying to channel the energy of a true working line dog into the average pet home is unfair to the dog and often results in destructive behavior by the dog. There have been many frustrated owners who have ended up trying to rehome a dog with behavior problems or worse, dump them at a shelter. Before you choose a puppy, talk to breeders, rescues, and other experts to find the perfect fit for your home. Not puppy proofing the home German shepherd puppies are smart, full of curiosity, and love to chew. Left to their own devices, they will inspect every inch of your home and chew anything that catches their eye. Not being prepared for the pupping biting Like all puppies, German Shepherds like to chew. But given that they are herding dogs, they are mouthier than most breeds. Many first-time German Shepherd owners have been caught off guard by just how much their adorable puppy likes to bite and how razor sharp their teeth are. Although a small puppy nipping fingers and ankles can be cute, German Shepherds quickly start teething and soon grow into rowdy adolescents who may learn that biting is a fun game. This behavior can easily escalate and hurt someone. Chew toys can be used to redirect biting onto something acceptable. They also need plenty of chew toys to offer to teething puppies. Allowing resource guarding behavior German Shepherds are naturally protective and easily given to resource guarding. Owners should never allow their puppy to guard anything including their food, space, or favorite toy. Some signs of resource guarding include protecting an item, hard stare, laying on an item, growling, lunging, air snapping, chasing, and biting. This behavior could be as simple as a look, head turn, or slight baring of the teeth. Some ideas on how to prevent resource guarding include hand feeding and treating your puppy from their food bowl while holding it in your lap, trading up their toys and treats for higher value items, teaching them to allow you to take it, drop it and leave it, teach them to place, and letting them enjoy high value chews in peace. Failing to socialize Young German Shepherds not only need to learn the house rules, but they also need to be exposed to people and places outside the home so they grow up to be a confident dog. This should be done in a safe way, so they have good experiences and are not forced into fearful situations or hurt by other animals and people. Before your dog has its shots, you can start socializing by having people come to your home, taking your pup on car rides, drive throughs, and vet visits. Once your puppy has its shots, you can expose your puppy to all sorts of people and situations, such as people of different genders, colors, races, ages, sizes, disabled wheelchairs, crutches, etc. Not keeping to a schedule Puppies do best when they are kept on a schedule. When a puppy has regular mealtimes, potty breaks, walks, play time, and bedtime, it makes all training much easier and sets the puppy up for success. Conversely, lack of a schedule or an unpredictable environment can cause your German Shepherd puppy to develop behavior problems, cause training setbacks, and potty-training accidents. By sticking to a realistic routine, your dog will be calmer, happier, and grow up to be a confident dog. From the day you bring your dog home, commit to schedule that includes predictable mealtimes, potty breaks, training time, naps, play time, and bedtime. Avoid unrealistic schedules, such as expecting a young puppy to not have frequent potty breaks or to skip meals and drinking water. Not starting training immediately German Shepherd puppies love to learn to please their owners. Puppy training should begin the day the move into your home. By starting training early, you will help your puppy develop and grow into the amazing dog they were born to be. Young puppies can easily learn basic commands such as sit, down, wait, come, and more. We hope you enjoy this article. As always, please feel free to share with your friends. Calm older dogs are good for this one. Most importantly for German Shepherd puppies, it will give you a chance to work with them around other people, and different dogs from a young age. Settle on a mat German Shepherds are incredibly curious, which can make it difficult for them to relax while out and about. Leash walking — no one wants a large breed of dog pulling them down the street, so be sure you teach loose lead walking and how about some heelwork too? Recall games — Play a game of tennis with your pooch! Calling them from person to person with treats on either side. Get started with grooming and brushing sensitive areas — In long-haired German Shepherds, this is typically the case with the face, legs, and ears, which become tangled the most and may hurt when brushed. Remember to brush carefully, do a little bit of brushing on a sensitive area while feeding them treats or letting them have a lickimat, and then brush an easier to brush area. For socialisation, start working on items that are vital to your lifestyle this week, such as if you have a horse and want your puppy to be comfortable with horses, or if you enjoy sailing, having them near water will be important to you. Getting your puppy exposed to new experiences early on can help them accept them much more easily. Socialization exercises to do this week Training to do this week Husbandry Tasks to do this week — Go to the pub — you deserve it! Remember that settle training you did before, take your mat and get your German Shepherd puppy to settle on it with a nice stuffed kong. Alone training: increasing time alone is important for your puppy. It gives them essential coping skills. Recall — Practise this outside, using a lead, and lots of rewards. Lead walking — Take this outside. Make sure you keep a strong pace going, since German Shepherds enjoy walking quickly, and praise often to keep your puppy interested. Pretend Nail Clips — simply holding a claw, pretending to clip , and rewarding your puppy with a treat is enough. Following on walks — Bring special toys, like the Tug-E-Nuff Pocket tugger, with you on walks to ensure your German Shepherd puppy enjoys hanging out with you. Playing with them will make you irresistible! Week 7 — Training your German Shepherd puppy The 7-week itch! Nah not really. I bet your German Shepherd puppy is doing wonderfully and growing rapidly! Tick 3 things off your personal socialisation checklist — How about taking your German Shepherd to a city farm, letting them watch from afar and rewarding them for being such a calm puppy? Teach your German Shepherd puppy to stay — this will be a great one to show off at the park, trust us. So, first, take a walk with a dog that your German Shepherd puppy has already met. At first, it may be difficult for your puppy not to get distracted, so keep the rewards coming and try to keep them interested in you, rather than the other dog! Recall — off the lead Make sure you do this in a secure and confined area and bring plenty of smelly treats, a fun toy to play with, and your silly high-pitched voice so you can call your German Shepherd puppy back regularly. Remember, German Shepherds enjoy learning! Tick 3 things off your personal socialisation checklist — maybe take your German Shepherd for a swimming lesson? Practice exercises in different locations — how about a train station, or in a shopping centre or mall? Teach a hand target — This is a favourite among pups and their owners. Hand Targeting or touching is the foundation for additional trick behaviours like leg weaving and closing doors. Introducing nose work to your puppy — We mean it when we say your German Shepherd puppy has a better nose than you! Play a game of hide and seek with their favourite toy to bring out those excellent search skills. Looking for more great puppy training tips? Check out our overview of when to start teaching your puppy anything , next. It will be fun they said. We go the extra mile for you. If you want a stress free puppy experience, get this downloaded! Worth every single penny! This app is very helpful. It helps you to understand and gives you a path to follow. The coaching support is excellent and super speedy. Download the app now. To train a German Shepherd puppy dog you must be consistent, kind and clear. German Shepherd dog puppies are divinely cute and for a reason! Just like babies are cute, puppies will win your heart even after destroying your favorite pair of shoes or that expensive carpet! Making sure you use them will start you on the right side of training and pave the road for you to get an obedient dog. The good news is that you do not need any special equipment to have an obedient GSD puppy. All you need is love and treats. The most important German Shepherd puppy training tip is socialization. Some vets will tell you to keep the pooch inside until the full set of vaccines is completed. Unfortunately, if you do keep your pooch safe inside until he is months of age, his socialization period will have closed forever and your chance to raise a friendly and confident dog drops significantly! That said, it is ultimately your decision whether you want to take the risk to take him outside or not. Most large US cities do not have too many disease problems and taking your puppy to a class where the trainer checks that every puppy has had the first set of shots is mostly safe. However, if you leave in a rural area, make sure there is not an outbreak of a disease that can affect your pooch. Of all the German Shepherd puppy training tips, I suggest you really think this one through. As a dog trainer, I recommend you find a safe puppy socialization class because this developmental period is critical to prevent behavior problems in the future. Apart from that, you also need to socialize your puppy daily on your own, this link will explain the process and give you a list of things to check as you go! Tip 2: Teach your German Shepherd puppy to use his mouth properly. You may have noticed that your German Shepherd puppy likes to chew on your shoes, toys, boxes, carpets, pillows, your hands…well, pretty much everything! Before you loose your mind and all your precious possessions let me tell you that this is normal puppy behavior. At this age dogs explore everything with their mouths and even though annoying, it is a great time to teach your pet what is appropriate for his mouth as well as how to soften the bite. The reason German Shepherd dog puppies have sharp teeth is because they are capable of learning how much or how little pressure to apply when biting different things. This is good news! To train a German Shepherd puppy to do this follow this link! Tip 3: Potty train your German Shepherd puppy the right way. Right around now you are also probably dealing with potty training, the best German Shepherd puppy training tips for potty training are outlined below. You should know how many times, and when to take you puppy out. I am sure you have heard all sorts of things against the use of food for training. To do this, you need to find the things that your dog likes most and use them as rewards. Food will be one of them, so use it. But also use anything else, like walks, petting, play time, toys, etc. So, of all the German shepherd puppy training tips here, I don't want to hear any excuses for this one! Done the right way, your pooch will respond to your command even when empty handed. Hope my website is helping you better understand and train your dog. Do you want to help? Be a modern philanthropist through Patreon. This is a hard concept to understand for us, clever human beings. When we learn something new, we can very easily generalize the concept to any situation, that is what makes us creative creatures. Fortunately, you have a German Shepherd puppy, they are clever and chances are they will need less repetitions than the average breed. To help you out on this matter, this link will take you to a step-by-step guide to train a reliable command. Tip 6: Train your German Shepherd puppy to ask for permission. Dog commands and fun and useful and you can probably find hundreds to teach your GSD. This one though - Ask for permission - is technically not a command, because you will not ask your canine to do it every time, instead you want to teach him to do it on his own every time the occasion requires it. Take time to do this with your puppy, it will be worth it! This is another one of the most important German Shepherd puppy training tips because a dog that asks for permission is an obedient and safe dog. To prevent a dog from jumping on people it is imperative to teach that same dog not to jump when he is a puppy. If he jumps again, then ignore again. When I say ignore, I mean it! No eye contact, no pushing or kneeing…nothing. Keep turning around if you have to. Pulling on the leash is another of those dog behaviors that people think come out of the blue, but actually they happen because there was never formal training done. To prevent pulling on the leash all you have to do is make sure your puppy understands that he gets rewarded food, petting, attention, verbal praise, keep on walking, etc. Pay close attention to what he does during those first few walks together and make sure you reward him for staying close to you! Got any German Shepherd puppy training tips to share with us? Tell us about them here! Those ideas came from research done in wolfs in captivity and have now been debunked by new research done in wolfs in the wild. The new research says that you need to be a good leader, kind of like a parent. Alphas are most often the parents of the group. Provide shelter, food, safety and limits. This article tells you more about it! Tip The best German Shepherd puppy training tip is… Reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior. This rule is amazing and will work wonders, besides it is really easy to apply, all you have to do is pay attention to your German Shepherd puppy and reward the good things he does. You need to figure out what the reward is and remove it. For example, when a dog is laying down, it is harder to bark. This Form cannot be submitted until the missing fields labelled below in red have been filled in What is your DOG's name? Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.