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We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. Lab puppies are incredibly cute, but their teeth really hurt when they are puncturing your skin every time you try to play. No one likes to be bitten, so how can you get a lab puppy to stop biting? The best way to stop a Lab puppy from biting is through a combination of proper exercise, training, redirection, and the use of positive affirmation. Most owners attempt at least one of these methods, but it is the combination and use of all of them that will effectively curb unwanted biting. Keep in mind that before you can stop it effectively, you should know why Labrador puppies bite so much. Additionally, know when they tend to naturally stop biting. Only then can you effectively begin to work on preventing them from biting. Lab puppies use their mouths to explore their environment and gather important information. When puppies are growing their adult teeth, they will often chew to soothe the ache along their gums. Labs may also bite to play or out of fear and aggression. Biting for Sensory Information When a puppy bites something, they learn how hard they can bite it, what it tastes like, how it feels, and if they can bite it again. All of this information is stored in a mental catalog your dog looks back on when encountering a similar object. This learning process is very important for puppies to become well-socialized dogs. When a puppy bites another puppy too hard they will lose their playmate. Biting too hard can have negative repercussions! Biting for sensory information is a totally normal behavior for puppies and even adult dogs. Since they don't have hands to explore with, their mouths are the only option. However, if you don't want your dog's mouth on you or your belongings, there are ways to stop this biting but we'll get to that later! Biting for Teething As your Lab matures, their mouths will start to change. Once their adult teeth begin to push up through their gums, the teeth they were born with begin to fall out one by one. It is the same process humans go through when their baby teeth come in and are later replaced with adult teeth. Just like with humans, this process is somewhat painful and incredibly uncomfortable. To help quicken the process, puppies will chew on things to wear down the gum between the new tooth and their mouth. This practice is also very soothing for puppies, especially if they chew on something cold. Biting for Play vs Biting for Aggression In the wild, dogs and wolves play by wrestling around and biting one another. Since your dog sees you as a member of its pack, they will try to play with you in a similar way. Of course, this biting still isn't ideal, but it's important to know the difference between play and real aggression. When a dog bites out of aggression, it is because they are scared, or you are asking them to do something they really don't want to do. Biting out of aggression is important to watch and fix at a young age so you don't end up with an aggressive dog. The most significant indicator of aggressive biting is body language. When a puppy is being playful, their body and facial muscles are relaxed. When a puppy is biting out of aggression, their body will be stiff or frozen, their face will have a lot of tension in it, and their lips may be pulled back in a snarl or growl. If you are seeing a lot of aggression in your puppy, you should contact your Veterinarian to make sure they are not in pain. When a dog suddenly becomes aggressive, they may have an unseen condition that is causing them to lash out. If you get a clear bill of health, you should seek the help of a professional trainer to help you. As we said earlier, as your Labrador matures, they will start to develop adult teeth. This change usually occurs around 12 to 16 weeks of age; the process will reach its end at about 7 months. Therefore, if your Lab is biting to soothe its gums, then the biting should end around the same time their teeth have fully grown in. If your puppy is biting for sensory information and play, it will lessen as your Lab matures and begins to slow down. While there is no magic number that says when your Lab will calm down , it usually happens between the ages of 2 and 4. First, don't hit your puppy as punishment. They aren't doing anything wrong in their mind because biting is natural. You also can't decide when it is and isn't okay to bite. Doing so can cause great confusion. When trying to prevent your Lab from biting, a few tips can help you. Exercise, training, redirecting, and positive affirmations are your secret weapons against those adorable, tiny, sharp teeth. Exercise Exercising your Lab daily will cause them to be too exhausted to do anything but sleep, let alone bite you. You can exercise your Lab by playing fetch, going on walks, or using enrichment toys. Training First, I recommend formal fundamental training before attempting anything specialized. Training your Lab not to bite sounds complicated, but it can be as easy as slapping some butter and seasoning on. If your Lab is biting YOU, put some butter on your arms and clothes wear they like to bite you. Show the butter to your Lab, and when they lick at it, say "yes, kisses, yes. This associates the word "kisses" with the act of licking and the yummy taste your dog gets. The next time your Lab tries to bite you, say "kisses," they should start to lick you instead as they try for the yummy taste. If your Lab is biting furniture or shoes, there is another approach. Grab a spicy seasoning, like paprika or taco seasoning, and sprinkle it on the places your Lab chews. Then, the next time they go to chew it, they will get a nasty taste in their mouth and leave the thing alone! Redirecting Redirecting your dog to things they are allowed to chew on when playing is another way to avoid being bitten. Have some good chew toys handy whenever you are playing with your Lab. When your Lab starts to bite you, show them a chew toy and try directing the bite towards it. After a while, your puppy should go after its toys instead of you. This type of training takes time , but is proven to be very effective. Positive Affirmation When your dog does what you want, whether it's licking or going for a proper toy, make sure you give them lots of praise. Tell them how good they are and even provide them with a treat or two! Final Thoughts Biting is a natural part of a Lab's life, but it is crucial to decipher playful nips and aggressive ones. Playful body language is loose and relaxed Aggressive body language is stiff and snarling If you are seeing a lot of aggressive body language in your Lab, make sure they are healthy and contact a trainer A Lab will probably stop biting after they stop teething If your Lab doesn't stop biting after teething, they should stop upon reaching maturity between 2 and 4 years of age Exercise, training, redirecting, and positive affirmation are the best ways to stop biting NEVER hit your dog to stop biting. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. You turn your attention back to your computer screen and suddenly feel little teeth grabbing at your sock! You look down. Your once-angelic puppy is now having a full on game of tug-of-war with your pant leg! This cute baby is now more like a furry little monster. You get up and try to walk away, but the fur alligator is still attached, munching away at your trousers and having the best time! If this sounds like your life, read on to learn how to stop a puppy from biting. Why Do Puppies Bite? Believe it or not, this scenario is actually very common! Biting is one of the most natural things in the world to a young pup; and they do it for many reasons. You would be left with your feet and mouth to interact, taste and feel your environment. Now, what if you had puppy paws — incapable of grasping anything? That leaves you with one final way to interact — your mouth. For good measure, add in the incredible curiosity of a child. How many times do you see a baby grab things with their hands and pop them into the mouth? Puppies have that same mindset. Your mouth strength and play bite helped you communicate and determine your rank in society. Your mouthy mojo gave you respect in canine culture. Puppies interact with their surroundings largely through their mouths. Labradors, like most sporting breeds, have the drive to chase after prey, put it in their mouths, and bring it back to you. This translates into a strong need to chew. They will try this same tactic with their human pack members. If ignored, one bite on the toe is often enough to get the focus back on them. Remember, to a puppy even negative attention is still attention. Terrible Teething When you add teething into the mix, you have the recipe for a furry gator. Most pups will have an increased need to chew while teething , which can begin at 6 weeks and last to 8 months of age. Unlike teething, there is no magical age that puppies grow out of a learned mouthing behavior. Thankfully, with positive training, most dogs eventually lose interest in chewing on their owners. Types of Biting: Aggression or Play? Puppies use their teeth in many ways. However, this is actually just very intense play. Play biting can be accompanied with growling and snarling. This is just part of the fun to a young pup. Instead, we will look into how we can prevent playful mouthing. However, it is important to recognize the signs of aggression. Pay attention to the timing of the biting as well. If so, the motive behind the bite may be more aggressive. Could it be Resource Guarding? Some dogs also aggressively bite when they are guarding a toy or food item, commonly called resource guarding. With resource guarding, you will see the same behavior as aggressive biting, but they will also stand over an object and defend it from any perceived threat. If you think your puppy is behaving aggressively, seek professional help to learn how to actively manage this issue. In contrast to this, playing puppies will be relaxed and have a wiggly body. They will be bouncy, easily roll onto their backs and often be panting with open mouths. Even if they are growling, a relaxed face and body mean a happy puppy. What Can Trigger Biting? Do you really want your pound Labrador to target your hands as a toy later? Children Little kids tend to excite puppies more than adults. Children move erratically, run around, make strange sounds and have a lot more energy. Puppies can easily associate them with toys. Ankle Biters Puppies target fast moving objects that excite their prey drive. Your feet moving by at their eye level can be irresistible. After all, what self-respecting puppy would snub shoes with those floppy laces that are perfect for playing tug? How do we do this? Redirection with Hands When training your puppy, always have a toy to offer. Remember, puppies are like babies. Your job is to redirect them to fun toys instead of human skin. You must do everything possible to make toys extremely attractive so the puppy chooses them over your clothing, hands or feet. Redirection with Kids You can also use redirection around children. First, teach your puppy to use interactive toys and then show your child how to play with the puppy correctly. In the event that your dog forgets, teach your kids to be a tree when their puppy begins to bite them or their clothes. This position makes them less interactive to the puppy. They look boring and the puppy will lose interest. Most bites occur because the child is running or moving erratically. Remember, dogs have the same prey triggers as wolves. If something is running away, it looks like prey. Your job, therefore, is to have an even more amazing toy than your feet. You can take a toy, tie it to a rope, and then tie the rope to your belt so that you are dragging the toy whenever your pup is out. If your puppy is coming for your feet, stop moving them and wave the toy around excitedly instead. Once the pup is attached to the toy, you can start walking again. This way, they will pounce on the toy instead of you! Bite inhibition simply means that the puppy learns not to apply too much force behind their teeth. They apply gentle, but firm, pressure to their greeting. Puppies also learn to limit this pressure with their mouths by feedback from pack members. When puppies are little, they learn bite inhibition through play with their siblings. If two pups are tussling, and one bites down too hard, the other puppy yelps loudly. This startling sound usually causes the offending party to let go. The play stops for a few minutes, as the first pup nurses his wounded ego. Play then resumes, but with less brutality. Instead, let the puppy release your hand and then simply get up and and move away from your pup while ignoring them. Your job is to teach them when they bite down on you, the fun stops. Ignore them for about a minute, then return and resume the play and praise them when they focus on the toy. If they bite you too hard again, repeat this process. You can either step over a puppy barrier or go into another room and shut the door. Just make sure they are in a puppy-proof area, as they may take out their frustration on inappropriate household items. You can also keep the puppy on a leash while playing with them. If they bite you, you can calmly tether them to something and then walk out of their reach. Your goal is to correct the puppy only by taking away your fun presence. You should not be threatening or angry. Give them the appropriate time out from the fun interaction to settle down, and then come back with a toy to redirect their energy. Once they understand they have to be gentle, you can then start to ask more of them by ending the game with lighter and lighter pressure on your skin. Finally, you can take the game to the highest standard — no teeth on human skin at all. If you slowly progress to this over weeks, you teach your pup to have a soft mouth. If they do feel the need to put their teeth on a human, they know not to put much pressure into their bite. You need to teach your puppy that human skin is fragile and requires a softer touch than a canine interaction. Your goal for this exercise should be to help your puppy understand that the play and fun things continue as long as they keep their teeth on their toy and not on you! More Ways to Stop Your Puppy Biting While the yelp and time-out method works for most pups, there are additional ways to reinforce good behavior. When your puppy bites your hand, they get a terrible taste. You can use anti-chewing sprays like Bitter Apple to make your hands less appealing. When your puppy bites you, be still and wait for them to react to the bitter taste. When they let go, praise them and redirect them onto a treat or toy. You want the crate to always be associated with only good things. Crates also should be in the middle of the household, with the rest of the pack — not isolated. This is the same way other canine pack members would isolate them. A laundry room or puppy pen works well for this exercise. Make sure the room is comfortable and safe for your puppy. When the puppy is too stimulated, calmly put him in the room with some teething toys and leave. Teaching them interactive games like fetch or bringing you a toy to tug helps show them that they can have even more fun when they play by your rules. Positive play helps develop a bond with your dog. You never want to avoid it, you just want to show them how to play without biting you. Teaching puppies to retrieve objects helps to tire them out, gives them something positive to chase, and focuses their bite on an appropriate item. Plus, most Labradors are pretty good at retrieving! Remember, anytime we ask a puppy to stop a behavior, it should be because they are rewarded in an even more exciting and positive way for doing something else and things our way. The following video shows how. Video: How to Stop a Puppy from Biting This video shows how to use clicker training to stimulate a puppy in situations where they normally would bite; and then reward them when they choose a closed mouth and calm interaction. Dominant Puppies Dogs are individuals. However, as puppies mature, there may be the rare pup that uses biting as a way to take charge. Dominant puppies may bite to show you that they want to be the boss as they mature. This happens naturally among littermates, as all packs have a pecking order. This reinforces to them that you are backing down and that they are the leader in the relationship. Always remain calm and assertive with your puppy, but end the game as soon as they begin vying for leadership instead of playing. Remember, the alternative to not training your dog is a large animal putting his mouth on people. Be patient with your puppy. Remember, mouthing and biting are normal parts of canine culture. If you stay patiently positive, train consistently, and redirect and reward good behavior, you will soon see a puppy that learns to bring you a tug toy instead of shredding your trousers. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative to seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. This awful biting time with puppies seems like it will go on for ever, but actually it only lasts a few weeks - mostly by the time the new teeth have come through, at about four to five months, the biting stops, and soon you will find you have a dog with a gentle mouth. You may not realize it, but your puppy is already being careful to some extent - if you have ever fed a puppy a raw chicken wing, for instance, you will know that he would be completely capable of biting right through your fingers, if he really wanted to. He is already pulling his punches, and now just needs your help to learn that human skin is more delicate than the thick fur of his mother and siblings. Your puppy sounds like he gets wound up and overtired the mad running around the house. This is the time a crate or quiet area can work wonders. Stay calm, keep giving him toys and chews to chomp on instead of your hands, refuse to interact with him when he bites you - even a second or two of no attention will help him to realize you really don't like it. Grabbing his cheeks and pulling him obviously doesn't work, he probably thinks it's some kind of game, and the attention you are inadvertently bestowing on him in that way seems to be making the situation worse.It will help if you teach him what you DO want, which is calm, gentle behaviour. Don't forget to praise him quietly and calmly when he is being good and quiet. I found holding one end of a chew such as a bully stick , so that we were interacting without him actually hurting me, helped. I also found that working out a routine was very helpful, so that we would go outside to play, then he would have his food, go out again to pee, then I would put him in his bed in the crate or behind a gate for a rest. Don't panic, this is very normal puppy behaviour, and I guarantee it will pass. You will get there. In a couple of months you'll be telling us what a delight he is.But as your kids approach the puppy, he starts biting and nipping them, causing a few surprised cries. The AKC says Labradors are an affectionate breed, treating adults, children, and other animals like family without causing any trouble. Labradors are easy to train and receptive to learning new commands since their main goal is to please their families. Do All Labrador Puppies Bite? As your new puppy settles into their new home, they are many stimulants, and he needs time to get to know your family, its new surroundings, and that not all slippers are a toy. Just as when people move to a new house, city, or country, your new Labrador puppy is exploring the world. This process will take a few weeks, so be patient. But what happens when he suddenly starts biting you and your kids? Every family that gets lab puppies faces this challenge. Although your puppy is only a few pounds, Labrador puppy biting is still painful. Many owners worry that the behavior will continue into adulthood, especially when biting becomes an ongoing issue. The good news is that there is usually a short time frame that you have to experience this. So in reality, Labrador puppy biting is primarily instinctual. Reason 1: Teething Puppies Sometimes, a Lab puppy biting is simply due to teething. Teething is uncomfortable, so your pup likely just wants to relieve that discomfort in any way possible. If that means biting a chew toy or your fingers, then so be it. Once your Lab puppy has its teeth, it might stop biting and nipping. You can help ease his comfort by offering him teething toys for puppies, like frozen chew toys. Reason 2: Excitement Biting Behavior Your new Lab puppy could get excited by just about anything: Your kids squealing, shouting, or crying, and adults shouting or being angry can set off your Lab puppy biting with its sharp teeth. The solution: Deter your puppy from biting you by redirecting him to what he can bite, like a toy. Reason 3: Biting for Attention Most Labrador puppies are receptive to conditioning and positive reinforcement. Dog lovers know that dogs crave attention from their families, but Lab puppies are extreme attention seekers. They love any form of contact with their families, whether playing, petting, or even just eye contact. So if your pup gets these responses from you while biting, he will interpret them as attention. The solution: Stop giving your puppy the attention he wants when he bites so he learns not to associate the two. When puppies are with their mom and siblings, the mom teaches them how hard they can bite each other without it being too painful through play fighting. Your Lab puppy learns how to calibrate strength based on his own family experience. Do Labrador Puppies Bite Children? One major adjustment is the play-biting: A small Lab puppy has a powerful bite and can cause pain, especially to such sensitive skin. The downside is that Lab puppies are more likely to bite children and teenagers than adults. It all comes down to learning how to interact with the puppy. Children and teenagers are inherently more confusing for a Lab puppy. The great news is that you can stop your Lab puppy from biting your kids through consistent training, but the training should be on both sides. Your kids also need to learn how to play and interact with the puppy, understanding its boundaries and playing just enough to keep them from overexciting. You plan to throw a chew toy into the yard for him to chase — but before you can throw it, he suddenly starts nipping and tugging at your hands while making odd puppy sounds that sound dangerously close to snarling. You might also be worried that you have a puppy displaying aggressive biting behavior. Most of the time, they mean no harm and just need a little training to control it! Without the proper guidance and education, many of these methods might be wrong: Instead of discouraging your puppy from biting, you could unintentionally reinforce it. Puppy Biting Tip 1: Discourage Play Biting Whatever stage of puppy development your adorable pup is in, he will always crave attention. If you encourage and reward play biting, he will associate it with attention, praise, and treats, causing him to do it more. So if your puppy has entered its biting phase and is displaying rough or aggressive behavior, stop yourself from giving any reaction. Simply follow rigid training steps, and it will eventually stop. Although that might be very hard to do because a Lab puppy is so adorable, you will thank yourself in the future for doing this. In fact, it might even make things worse. When you punish your Labrador, he might learn to fear you. This can worsen the biting and lead to your puppy developing more aggressive behavior as an adult. Some people also do a light swat on their puppies when they misbehave. When your pup starts biting, remain calm and follow positive training methods rather than negative ones. This is especially true when it comes to a nipping Labrador puppy. While a biting puppy is normal puppy behavior, without proper training and techniques, your Labrador might bite well into adulthood. Step 1: Teach Small Children Boundaries The first step in your training routine should be teaching your kids how to interact with the puppy. But if they start barking and biting out of excitement, you must stop playing with them immediately. Instead, pick up the toy and step away. Bite inhibition is when you teach your puppy how much is too much. After that time-out, you can return to the room and resume whatever activity you were doing. As your puppy learns to bite with less intensity, you can start training it not to put your hand in its mouth. This training takes time, so be patient, and you will see a positive result. Step 4: Reinforce with Additional Training You can also use other training techniques to reinforce positive behavior. Move your hand closer to the puppy and follow the same technique. If the puppy bites you, walk away from it. As you train the puppy to tolerate your hand getting closer to it without biting, you can finally keep your puppy calm and play safely without causing overstimulated biting. Puppies and dogs might go back to their bad habits if you change how you interact with them, so being consistent is crucial. Remember that children tend to take more time to learn training steps, so always reinforce the boundaries and supervise them during playtime in the early training days. Be patient and give your puppy time to learn. Seek help from professional trainers. Professional dog trainers are experienced in redirection, toy-play, and bite inhibition training to give you helpful tips and tricks. Take your puppy to puppy school. There are hundreds of puppy schools and programs that teach puppies good manners. Remember to never punish your puppy for biting. Invest in some good toys, such as different chew toys or Kong toys, so you always have something to redirect him towards. Conclusion Whether teething, scared or just excited, most Labrador Retriever puppies bite for various reasons. Unfortunately, those sharp little puppy teeth can hurt — so if you notice some unwanted biting from your Lab puppy, you should immediately start training him into different behavior. Learn more about what we do and check out our available Labrador puppies today! Share on. Print How to stop your puppy from biting your hands and feet — fast! Have you ever watched a litter of retriever puppies play with each other? They are all mouths and feet as they growl, bite and paw at each other. Over time, if left to it, each pup will naturally figure out their place in the pack. However, when you bring your Lab puppy home there are no longer littermates with whom to tussle. And the result is often that your Lab puppy will start biting and growling at you! The problem is that puppy teeth are sharp. Very sharp! And when your puppy bites you, even if they are playing, it hurts. So, what can you do to stop this behavior before it gets out of hand and you find yourself or someone in your family injured by your puppy? Before I go any further, I want to be clear about what we are talking about. You should seek professional help and evaluation. Why puppies bite and growl Puppy play is a kind of training for a dog as they grow and mature. It is also a way that dogs determine rank within a group. Remember, dogs are pack animals. In a pack there is only one Alpha lead dog. Every other dog is under the authority and control of that dog. No two dogs share the same rank. So, while biting and growling starts as play, it does not stay that way. All dogs, whether in a group of dogs or a human family, want to understand their place in the family. They need to know their place. It helps they be more mentally balanced and will help solve a multitude of behavioral problems. Once a puppy or dog understands where they rank in the pack, they often assume that place, at least for a while. Remember, they are dogs. They are not robots so occasionally they may challenge their position, but if the boundary remains clear, the challenge is short lived. Biting, nipping and playful growling at a human can become a challenge of dominance. If your puppy is young, you can quickly and easily end this behavior by establishing boundaries and consistently enforcing these boundaries each and every time your puppy shows this type of behavior. If you have let this behavior go on for a while, you may be in for quite a fight to take back your authority. Biting is not the same as chewing A puppy biting your hand or feet is not the same as a puppy chewing on a shoe, toy or other item. All puppies have a need to chew. As their puppy teeth grow and their adult teeth come in, it is common for dogs to chew on things to relieve the pain and help the new teeth to come in. This should not be discouraged, but rather encouraged on an appropriate item like a chew toy, nylabone or rawhide. And if this works, this is an appropriate solution. Instead, it is likely an issue of dominance. How to stop puppy from biting you Biting is just one puppy dominance behavior. There are many others such as jumping on you, putting a paw on your feet, and lifting and placing paws on your arms or legs. The behaviors I have listed are often gateway behaviors that escalate into more aggressive or troublesome behaviors like stealing food off your plate or the counter, pushing you out of the way when going through doors and pulling you around on a lead. Start by establishing firm boundaries The first step to stopping your puppy from biting or mouthing you is to set up firm boundaries for your puppy. You can set these up for not only biting but for all dominance behaviors. So, what is a boundary? Well, here are some examples. Some people we have worked with are okay with their puppy mouthing their hand as long as there is no tooth pressure. If you feel the same way, then make that a boundary. But if there is any tooth pressure, a swift and consistent correction will follow. This boundary is stronger and does not give the dog any room for confusion. In fact, they often will understand what your boundaries are but will test that standard against everyone else in the family. Each person needs to set and enforce boundaries. React with firm consistent corrections After you establish the boundary, you now need to react every time your puppy or dog crosses that boundary. Each and every time! There can be no room for confusion. Your corrections must be swift and consistent. Not all dogs react to the same level of pressure. For some dogs, this squeeze and strong words will be all it takes to stop the behavior. Especially if you are consistent in your correction. But some dogs have a stronger or more challenging personality. This will give your puppy a taste of his own medicine since his puppy teeth are sharp and will pinch into his lips or flews. You must be consistent. How long will it take to stop my puppy from biting me? If you are firm and consistent, the behavior should stop for the most part in a day or two. Some dogs require more pressure, some less. Your puppy should feel some discomfort. That is okay. The point is to show your puppy that biting hurts and that it is not an acceptable behavior. When nothing seems to work If you puppy is a bit older and has been getting away with biting and mouthing you for a while, you may struggle to end this behavior. Often the problem is a strong dominance issue that needs to be addressed. If your puppy continues to snap or bite at you even after a correction, you likely need to exert some dominance over your puppy. This is similar to what a mommy dog does to a puppy that is not behaving. Humans can do the same thing to show dominance over a rebellious puppy. I know, it sound a bit ridiculous but it really does work. Instead, remain calm and patient. Stay in control. Reacting with emotion can lead to strong reactions or punishment that you will later regret. The point is to show your dog that you are the Alpha in the relationship, and you can and will determine what behavior is acceptable. Biting is not love As a professional dog trainer, I am always surprised at what some of clients consider appropriate behavior. Some owners feel that setting boundaries and enforcing those boundaries means that you do not love your dog. That you need to accept all dog behaviors otherwise you do not love your dog. This is a false and faulty mindset. We have seen clients who have been injured by their dog multiple times and they still refuse to take steps to end the behavior. That is not love. What if the next person that dog bites is a child? Would you be able to live with that? A dog that is allowed to continue harming humans is only one bite away from having to be put down. It may sound harsh, but it is the sad truth. Some people may argue that the dog is unable to understand what they are doing is wrong. This is not based on reality. Dogs are very smart. They can learn to do amazing things and become incredible hunting partners and family companions. But they rarely achieve this potential without an owner who cares enough to set boundaries and enforce them. Final thoughts on how to stop my puppy biting me all the time You can stop your puppy from biting you and others if you are willing to take the steps necessary to make your dog understand that biting is not an acceptable behavior. A firm consistent correction each and every time your puppy bites will quickly teach your puppy to stop biting. These corrections will not harm your relationship with your puppy, but will, in fact, enhance it. Your puppy will quickly learn where the boundaries are and how to operate within those boundaries. We see it time and again, once a puppy is taught that there are boundaries, they quickly adjust and become wonderful loving and obedient family members. Help, my Lab puppy keeps biting me! Calm puppy behavior. Conflicting advice on how to stop your pup biting Many articles will tell you to ignore a puppy when he bites and to offer him a toy instead. Some people will tell you to punish your biting puppy. Others will tell you that you must not stop your puppy biting too suddenly, or punish him for biting, for fear of drastic consequences later. So who is right, and who is wrong? Does ignoring stop your puppy biting? Many new puppy owners try to ignore the biting puppy initially. This failure tends to be for one or more of the following reasons. Does noise stop puppy biting? There is no doubt that a sufficiently loud squeal, followed by immediate withdrawal of attention, will cause many Labrador puppies to break off from biting. Sometimes long enough for a skilled owner to then redirect the puppy into a more appropriate activity. There is also no doubt that for some puppies, this has the reverse effect, and causes them to bite harder and more fiercely. A puppy that has spent sufficient time with his Mum, may be more likely to take heed of this verbal warning, as he will expect it to be followed by a sharp click of her teeth and a fiercer rebuke if he ignores her. But there are no guarantees here. And the fact is, squealing simply does not work as an effective anti-biting strategy, for some puppies. Punishing the puppy to stop biting I have heard, even quite experienced, breeders tell new puppy owners to punish their puppy if he bites. Either by intimidating the puppy with an angry growling voice, or even with physical punishment such as a scruff shake or slap. But there are problems with this approach. This process is called bite inhibition. And the use of punishment may curtail all biting rather than just the hardest, most painful, bites. Nowadays many people like to train dogs without punishment. And there are strong reasons for joining them — check out this article — the downside of punishing dogs. Teaching puppy to stop biting Why would we want to teach dogs to bite humans gently? Why is it not best to teach them not to bite at all, right from the start? The idea of reducing biting gradually was popularised by Ian Dunbar. The theory is that a dog which learns to inhibit his bite i. You can read more about bite inhibition here: Labrador Puppies Biting. The concept is a sound one, and most canine behaviorists agree that teaching gradual bite inhibition is a good thing. The problem for many new puppy owners, is stopping those painful bites in the first place! The first step is not a technique at all, but an adjustment in the expectations that we have of a small puppy How much do Lab puppies bite? New puppy owners tend to have false expectations of puppies. They also anticipate that stopping a puppy from biting will be a fairly quick and simple matter. None of these expectations is true. Most puppies bite hard, frequently and growl fiercely whilst they are doing it. This noise is not a sign of aggression see Help my puppy is aggressive. Stopping a puppy from biting is a process, a journey. And it can be temporarily an uncomfortable one! It is important to accept that there is no guaranteed way of stopping biting immediately. Indeed, as we have seen, bite prevention rather than inhibition may be a bad thing in any case. Supervise your puppy around children Once you have got your head around the fact that this process will take some time, that it will be a gradual thing, you need to think about how you are going to protect any children that might come into contact with the puppy. This is important because small children can, both hurt and, be hurt by small biting puppies. Calm your puppy to stop him biting The next priority is to keep your puppy calm. Overexcited puppies bite harder and more frequently than less excited puppies. This will merely start the biting up all over again. There are lots of ways to interact with puppies without physically playing with them. Check out our article on playing safely with your dog. What to do when a puppy bites When your puppy bites you really hard, take immediate action. Stand up, move away from him and completely withdraw your attention. You can try the squeal thing if you want to. This works well with some puppies. Be ready for it, and repeat your actions. If the puppy chases after you, biting at your legs and feet, step over a baby gate, or pop him in his crate for a few minutes. You can read up on this process in more detail in this article: How to cope with biting. Remember, puppies enjoy chewing , and teething puppies need to chew on something. Whilst you and your clothing are not suitable chew toys, you need to provide your puppy with alternatives, like Kong toys. How to stop your puppy biting Biting is normal Biting should be inhibited in stages Training takes time The key points to take away from this are that biting is normal, and that training a puppy not to bite takes time. Stop the painful bites first, then work on putting a stop to mouthing. If what you are doing is not working, you probably just need to be more patient and persistent. If your children are suffering, you need to separate and supervise. Work hard on keeping your puppy calm — it makes the biggest difference. How to train a puppy not to bite Is it normal for puppies to bite a lot? Yes it is! Almost all puppies bite and some bite much harder than others. How long do puppies teeth and bite? With some exceptions, puppy biting will stop by the time your puppy has his full set of grown up teeth at 7 months. Fortunately, you can stop your puppy from biting long before they have cut all their adult teeth. Do puppies grow out of biting? If you do nothing at all, to teach a puppy not to bite, the biting would likely subside over the next few months. But its very easy to do the wrong thing, and actually encourage a puppy to bite more. And in those cases, play biting can become very rough and the relationship between a young dog and their family can break down. Do All Labradors Bite? Anyone who shares their home with a 10 or 12 week old puppy will tell you that Labradors bite! And I can reassure you that this applies to all Labradors in the first few months of life. Fortunately this is a phase puppies go through and not a permanent character flaw. And most adult Labradors are indeed very good natured dogs. And also at what is normal, and what is not. If your children are in tears at being bitten every time they try to play with and cuddle their new friend, you may be wondering if your puppy is becoming aggressive. You may even worry that your children might be at risk. Fortunately I can reassure you that this is not the case. While your puppy may frighten your children with his sharp teeth and growling. The way he is behaving now does not mean he will be a threat to their safety in the future. Happily, studies have shown that behavior in small puppies is not predictive of the way that they will behave as adults! Why Do Puppies Bite Children? Some breeders will not sell puppies to homes where there are small children. This is because puppies often bite children and teenagers harder and more persistently than they bite grown-ups. It is normal for small puppies to make small children cry, but before you rush your puppy off to the local shelter, bear with me a moment, because I can help with that. Children give off conflicting signals to the puppy. Fortunately there are lots of ways to make it easier on yourself and on your kids. In short, you need to be a little patient at this point, and it helps to know that this phase does pass quite quickly. And that it is completely normal for all puppies to bite a lot, and to bite children with particular enthusiasm! It has to be said, Labradors are even more bitey than some other breeds of dog during this stage in their development. In fact, retrievers generally tend to be very bitey as puppies. As can the pain of being bitten. Puppy bites do hurt. And sometimes they leave marks. Pain, bruising, scratching, little tooth marks on your toddler, these are all part and parcel of raising a puppy. Some very enthusiastic puppies will even draw blood on occasions. All this is normal, but I will explain what you can do about it. Perhaps the most serious concern that new puppy parents have, is the fear that their puppy is becoming aggressive. What really worries people is the snarling. When puppies play, they practice being fierce. They throw themselves into the whole play acting thing with huge enthusiasm. And they are brilliant at it. And the most important part of that game is to make as much noise as possible and to sound as angry as possible. So, all puppies growl or snarl ferociously when they play, while they are biting, and sometimes when they are trying to entice their poor owners into yet another game. His little face will be all scrunched up, his lips drawn back, his teeth showing. So he has no idea that he is frightening your children or that you are wondering if he is turning into a horrible aggressive and dangerous beast. Please do be reassured, that however fierce your ten week old puppy sounds. It is just a game. He is truly just playing. Normal Puppy Play Behavior So, the hard truth is, all puppies bite. And many puppy bites are quite painful. Some Labrador puppies bite more than most, and biting a lot, and growling or snarling at the same time is normal. So is biting so hard that it makes your eyes water, and even occasionally breaks the skin. Puppies bite at hands that go to stroke them, at bare feet, and happily tug away at clothing, all the while trying to sound as fierce as they possibly can. All this is normal. And you, quite naturally, will want to know exactly when it is going to stop! When Do Puppies Stop Biting? It also happens in working dog families where the dogs may be kennelled or at least are not allowed unsupervised interaction with anyone apart from their trainer or main carer. A study carried out on Guide Dog puppies in showed that simply rejecting interaction and refusing to play was enough to stop the puppies biting their adult puppy walkers. But, and it is a big but — in most young families, this is not always what happens. In many families, especially where the puppy is a novelty, everyone plays with the puppy, and often in quite a physical way. This gets puppies very excited and tends to make biting worse. Inexperienced puppy owners also tend to inadvertently prolong the biting phase by rewarding the puppy with attention when he bites. The more excited they get, the harder they bite. Rough physical play gets puppies excited, rubbing puppies tummies, chasing puppies, grabbing at puppies. All these things get puppies bubbling with excitement Noisy behavior can get puppies excited too, so children squealing, or crying, grown ups shouting or getting cross. You might not think you are rewarding your puppy for biting, but you probably are. Labrador puppies are particularly social and love attention more than most puppies do. Any kind of contact with you, or other members of the family, including physical contact, talking, shouting, even eye contact, all reward your puppy. And if you give him these things while he is biting, this will reinforce the biting behavior and he will bite more in the future Poor bite inhibition What makes the bites hurt more, is poor bite inhibition. So the next section explains what bite inhibition is and how you can help your puppy improve his. What Is Bite Inhibition? At just eight or nine weeks old , Labrador puppies are actually capable of crushing bones the thickness of your little finger, with their jaws. Your puppy has been learning to inhibit his bite since he was tiny. His mother and brothers and sisters all helped to teach him how hard he can bite without hurting them. This is where your training will come in. You can read more about bite inhibition and bite inhibition training in this article What About Puppy Teething? We mentioned teething earlier because people tend to associate biting with teething. So, is it true that puppies bite so much because they are teething? And how long will teething go on for? In fact, most problem puppy biting is simply play. Puppies may chew or mouth at fingers to help relieve the discomfort of teething, but this is not the major cause of the biting problems we find in homes with small puppies. Most puppies have their adult teeth by the time they are 7 months old, but biting does not usually last that long. He is growing fast and by 11 or 12 weeks those bites will hurt a lot more. The time to begin taking action is now! But for the time being, you need to put this image aside. Children under five are simply not capable of playing with a puppy under four months without getting bitten. So you need to supervise every interaction between them. Do put baby gates across doorways, even if you no longer need them for your children. Baby gates allow you to separate children and puppies when you are not free to supervise. Do show children how to stroke the puppy gently whilst you hold one end of a rawhide chew and let the puppy gnaw on the other end. It will end in tears. Playful Visitors It is not just children that play inappropriately with puppies. I have known grown men grapple roughly with a tiny puppy, rolling him around the floor, making growling noises, whilst the puppy gnaws on his knuckles. You can find out how to play safely with a Labrador in this article. Saving your sanity and enjoying your puppy If you were not expecting this, it can seem like a big deal, but supervision and some separation is essential if you are to keep your sanity, and your children are to dry their tears and carry on enjoying their puppy. With older children, you need to teach them how to interact with the puppy without getting him overwrought. Labrador puppies, like toddlers, are easily over-excited. And when they are over-excited they start to be silly. Your first job at this stage, is to keep your puppy calm. Your second job is to stop giving your puppy rewards for biting. Make sure the puppy gets no reward at all when he bites someone. Especially no attention. The next stage explains how you can do that. The process whereby the puppy learns to use his mouth gently on your skin — and it takes a little while. Bite inhibition is taught in stages. The puppy learns to reduce the power of his bites gradually. What to do when your puppy bites If your puppy bites and hurts you, remove your attention immediately. This is where baby gates can be really helpful. If you are playing with your puppy and he bites you, you can step over the gate, thus effectively removing all attention from him. All of a sudden his playmate has disappeared. What about squealing You may have heard that a puppy will stop biting if you yelp or squeal. And you can try this, because it does work with some puppies. But many puppies get even more excited by the yelping, and on others it has no effect. The strongest signal you can give your puppy is the loss of your presence and attention. What about punishment? Some people try and stop puppies biting by smacking them or shouting at them. There are several problems with this. Firstly, it tends to only stop the puppy biting the person who did the yelling. Which is of course the very opposite of what you are trying to achieve! You can find out more about the potential impact of punishing your Labrador here. What if you need to move a biting puppy? If you need to move the puppy away rather than stepping away from the puppy you may find he bites at your hands when you go to pick him up or take hold of his collar. Others bite when they are stroked or petted. We are fond of wiggling our fingers at puppies, petting them and rubbing our fingers in their fur, not behaviors that dogs really understand. And many puppies see fingers and toes as something to chase and play with. Hands are a particular target for puppy bites so teach your children to interact with your puppy using toys that he can tug and bite on, rather than playing with him using their bare hands. Distracting your puppy If you want to sit and pet your puppy, or your children do, use treats or hold a rawhide chew with one hand so he can gnaw on the end. Have your puppy wear a harness and houseline so that you can pick up the end of the line and move him to where you want him to go without his grabbing at your hands. Stage Four: Train Your Puppy Not To Bite This is where we teach the puppy to let us stroke and pet him, or handle him in any way we like, without him putting his mouth around our fingers. The best way to do this is with a clicker and some dog treats. But you can also use a word like YES instead of the click. And place a treat on the floor in front of him You see where I am going with this? Build up slowly so that you can touch him anywhere on his head or body, pick up his paws etc. All without him grabbing or mouthing at you. What do I do if he mouths at me? If the puppy grabs at your hand, you got too close. Make smaller hand movements further away from him until he ignores those, then bring the movements gradually closer. Stage Five: Playing Safely As puppies grow older biting can reappear. Puppies between six and nine months of age, are extremely boisterous, and may start nipping with their teeth during play. At this age, your puppy is more than half grown, and his size and weight are a significant problem if rough play is allowed. The secret to avoiding and resolving this issue is to change the way you interact with your puppy. And to ensure that children follow your example. Boisterous and excitable puppies must not be allowed to play rough games with small people. The consequences can be very unpleasant, and it is no coincidence that this is the age at which many young dogs are abandoned or given up to rescue. Here are a few more articles that you might find helpful:.

I prefer to break my treats into halves or fourths before a training session; I suggest finding the smallest size treat that will keep your Frenchie motivated! I like to keep my training sessions short and sweet. I believe more is less when it comes to dog training; minute sessions once or twice a day is the sweet spot in my opinion. If your training sessions are too long, your Frenchie is likely to lose motivation and not retain as much knowledge. Cut down on those portions! Breaking the treats into smaller pieces. Training at mealtimes Using mealtimes as training sessions. Tracking those calories Before your training session, measure out a specific amount of treats and calculate how many calories they are. When it comes time for your Frenchie to eat, simply take this into account and reduce portion sizes appropriately. Slow Down Eating 4. This fast eating is what causes most of their gassiness— and this bowl is sure to slow down their eating. It's made from BPA-free plastic non-toxic and has tons of different shapes, sizes, and colors to choose from. Known as an affectionate loyal dog, these dogs can often be found in the home of city- dwellers worldwide. They are also an incredibly intelligent breed and their alertness makes them an excellent watchdog, provided you train diligently with the best training treats. Because of their natural body built and nutritional needs, it is vital to provide your bulldog with a balanced diet. Since these pups love to run around and live a fun lifestyle, look for products that are high in protein and low in fat, like our Pawstruck Lamb Ears , to ensure your pups have all the energy and fuel they need without packing on any unwanted fluff. In addition, Frenchies are prone to obesity and skin allergies. Unfortunately, their sweet squashed face means they need smaller pieces that are easy to swallow, ideally with low calories per treat. In addition, keep an eye out for dog products that contain wheat and corn, which trigger an allergic reaction. Avoid overly processed foods and simple carbs which can cause excess inflammation in the joints and add to unwanted body fat. That's why we took the guesswork out of our product inventory and rounded up the best dog treats for French Bulldogs. You can rest assured that all of these make great choices for your precious pooch! That's why we offer auto delivery on most of our French Bulldog products: to help you save time while enjoying your favorite products. Just indicate how often you want us to deliver your products and we'll make sure they get there on time! We also are proud to offer a bulk discount on many of our dog products to help you save more on large orders. Buy in bulk and save! I've found the best prices on bully sticks and other all-natural chews at Pawstruck. The braided bully sticks are insane! The only thing we have to worry about is keeping our puppy from hoarding all the chews and making him share.I have to play referee to make sure he plays nice with his fur brother! Caused gas and sticky poop in some pets. They are grain-free, soy-free, and free from colors and preservatives. The treats are low in calories and contain ingredients that are healthy and nutritious. Here are some features to look for in good treats for Frenchies: Small Size and Tasty French Bulldogs tend to enjoy treats that are both flavorful and easily manageable due to their smaller size. Most Frenchies prefer soft and chewy treats, as they are easier to chew. Tasty options like chicken, beef, and sweet potatoes tend to be popular choices. Treats with a pleasant aroma can also capture their interest. Always prioritize high-quality, nutritious options that align with their dietary needs, and consider any potential allergies or sensitivities. Long-Lasting Since Frenchies are intelligent dogs, they like to stay occupied. You could choose long-lasting dog treats that your little fur baby can spend hours chewing. Such treats can come in handy when crate-training your Frenchie. For French Bulldog puppies, the best treats are those that are small, soft, and easy to chew. Look for treats with simple, natural ingredients like chicken, turkey, or sweet potatoes. It is important to choose training treats that are low in calories, as that is essential for them to stay healthy and avoid weight gain. Look for treats specifically made for puppies to support their growth and cognition. Always check the package for any ingredients your Frenchie pup might be allergic to. Remember — always give treats in moderation to keep your puppy healthy while it trains. Conclusion There are many great options when it comes to selecting dog treats for French bulldogs. They have a meaty, soft, and moist texture and are made with real meat and DHA. They are free from artificial flavors and colors and are affordably priced. These treats offer a healthy and low-calorie option for effective training sessions due to their small size and minimal caloric content. For you to accomplish your training goals, you need a healthy, high-value training treat that will make your life as a pup parent x easier. Keeping your pups attention is essential when training. These soft dog treats will get your pups attention and help maintain that much needed laser focus. At Pupford, we stand behind all our products. Made with only 3 simple ingredients or less. No fillers, junk, sugar, or other unhealthy ingredients. They're also perfect for the simple "atta boy" reward.

Summary of dog vaccination schedules Why do we vaccinate dogs? This helps their body build immune cells that are specifically designed to respond effectively when the real thing comes along. And in fact, the diseases they prevent are irritating at best, and potentially deadly at worst. Vaccines are also relatively painless, easy, and cost-effective to administer. What do we vaccinate dogs against? There are a number of vaccines for dogs, which can be broken down into core and non-core vaccines. Your veterinarian can help you decide which non-core vaccines are right for your dog. What are the core vaccines for dogs? Rabies: Rabies is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease transmitted via a bite from an infected animal, such as coyotes, raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. It can be transmitted to humans, for whom it is also fatal. The Rabies vaccine is legally required in most U. These are all serious, highly infectious diseases that can result in pain, organ damage and may be fatal. Whilst some vets do not consider this a core vaccine, at Small Door we strongly recommend it for all dogs in New York, as leptospirosis is found across all five boroughs and is even more prominent outside of the city. What are the non-core vaccines for dogs? Bordetella: Bordetella is also known as kennel cough , a nasty respiratory disease. The vaccine is required by dog groomers, boarding and daycare facilities. Lyme: Lyme Disease is a bacterial disease that can affect pets and humans, causing fever, painful joints and, at times, organ damage. When do puppies get their first shots? Puppies should typically receive their first shots as soon as they are weaned or around 8 weeks old. This is generally completed during three vet visits in the first few months. Geographical location and lifestyle are factors that may come into play, so not every dog will need every vaccine. However, here is what a typical puppy vaccination timeline looks like for year one. This maternal immunity can also interfere with the vaccines we administer, and make them less effective. So, to make sure puppies acquire a high enough level of antibodies to be effective, we have to vaccinate them multiple times — in other words, administer boosters. I'm not sure if my dog is up-to-date on shots, what should I do? Your veterinarian may be able to run an antibody test to determine if the dog needs additional vaccinations or if their vaccination process needs to be started over. Adult dog vaccine schedule Adult and senior dogs need regular boosters to maintain their immunity levels. Boosters are required yearly or every three years depending on the vaccine. Previously this vaccine was recommended every six months, but guidelines now recommend yearly boosters. Some groomers and daycare facilities may still request the six month booster shot. Canine influenza: every year Lyme disease: every year Vaccinations for adult dogs: boosters and titers Although vaccines are very safe, some owners may have concerns about providing boosters to their pets. In these cases, they might consider a titer instead. Titers may also be required for international travel to some countries. A titer test is a procedure for testing and measuring the amount of antibodies proteins that provide protection from certain diseases a dog has in its blood for a specific disease. This is accomplished by repeatedly diluting a sample of blood and then exposing the diluted blood to an antigen. They can be a way to measure if your dog needs to be revaccinated or if they can forgo the booster. By law, the only shot required in most U. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative then animal shelters often offer low-cost vaccine clinics, although they might not offer all of the vaccinations that your pup might need. Related articles. Rabies Vaccine Rabies is a viral infection caused by a virus secreted in the saliva. According to the Humane Society , because the infection affects the nervous system, most rabid animals behave abnormally. When should puppies get rabies shots? Generally speaking, puppies should get their first rabies shot around 16 weeks of age and again between years old. Rabies Vaccine Schedule for Puppies 1st shot: weeks Booster: every 3 years Non-core Vaccines Non-core vaccines are important, but they are considered optional for dogs with less risk of infection. Non-core vaccines are recommended based on lifestyle and where you live or travel. Bordetella Bordetella bronchiseptica is a bacterium associated with respiratory disease in dogs and is known to cause the most severe form of kennel cough. Symptoms of an upper respiratory infection include nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, congestion, etc. Some veterinarians may recommend Bordetella as a core vaccine for puppies based on their living environment, especially for social dogs who spend time in areas where they might come into contact with the bacteria like the dog park, boarding facilities, or doggy daycare. The vaccination can be given orally, intranasally, or by injection. Bordetella Vaccine Schedule for Puppies 1st shot: weeks Booster: every year Leptospira Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by infection of the genus Leptospira, which are found in water and soil. The zoonotic disease spreads easily from animals to humans and is more common in warm climate areas with high annual rainfall; the Leptospira vaccine may be considered core in these areas. Signs of leptospirosis may include shivering, fever, muscle tenderness, increased thirst, dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, jaundice, kidney failure, liver failure, etc. Leptospira Vaccine Schedule for Puppies 1st shot: weeks 3rd shot: 1 year Booster: every year There is also a 5-way vaccine known as DHLPP, which is a combination vaccine of distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvo. Lyme disease Lyme disease is caused by infection with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is transmitted through the bite of infected ticks. The most common symptoms in dogs include loss of appetite, lameness, joint swelling, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue. More serious cases can also develop kidney complications. The Lyme disease vaccine is highly recommended for dogs that live in or frequently travel to areas known for Lyme disease, as well as those living in areas with a high risk of tick exposure. Lyme Vaccination Schedule for Puppies 1st shot: weeks 2nd shot: weeks later Booster: every year Canine Influenza Canine influenza, or dog flu, is a contagious viral infection affecting dogs. The virus is spread through aerosols or droplets containing respiratory secretions from barking, sneezing, and coughing. Dogs in close contact with infected dogs in places like daycare facilities, groomers, and kennels are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. CIV causes an acute respiratory infection in dogs, with the most common clinical sign being a cough that persists for up to 21 days. Vaccines are available for both H3N2 and H3N8 canine influenza. A bivalent vaccine offering protection against both strains is available as well. Dogs become infected when they swallow the parasite that may be present in water or other substances that have been soiled with feces leading to the disease Giardiasis. Giardia in dogs usually causes diarrhea, weight loss, or even death. Giardia is an available vaccine for puppies 8 weeks of age and older for 6 months of immunity against giardiasis. Most common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Young dogs are at a high risk of contracting the disease, so the vaccine is highly recommended for puppies under eight weeks. Rattlesnake vaccine A rattlesnake vaccine can help dogs build antibodies to rattlesnake venom from bites that are often deadly and severely painful to dogs. The antibodies work to neutralize the venom, thereby significantly extending the window of time you have to take your dog to the emergency room , increasing their odds of survival. Protect yourself from heartbreak without breaking the bank. Compare quotes to find the best deal for your budget. After that, puppies should receive a series of vaccines every two to four weeks until actual protein can be achieved between the ages of 6 and 20 weeks old. Your vet will determine a safe vaccine schedule for your puppy based on their weight, health, age, etc. Some pet parents prefer getting multiple puppy shots in one vet visit to minimize stress on their pet, whereas others prefer to spread the shots out to reduce possible side effects and soreness — talk to your vet to create a safe vaccine schedule that works for you and your puppy. Rabies depends on local laws but is usually given by the time your dog reaches 3 to 6 months old. When should puppies have all their shots by? Most vets prefer giving the final DHPP shot at 16 weeks or later; however, new recommendations suggest up to 20 weeks out. When do puppies need booster shots? Abstaining from booster shots can put your puppy at risk. However, not all vaccines require yearly boosters. DHPP vaccine booster: every two weeks for a total of three sets, then every three years Lepto, Canine influenza, and Lyme disease vaccine booster: one month after the initial series, then annually Bordetella booster: 1 year or every 6 months where there is a concern Rabies booster: every 1 to 3 years after the initial round, depending on state laws Puppy Vaccine Schedule There are several types of puppy shots your pet might get in their first year. In addition to a deworming schedule, your vet will suggest a vaccination schedule for puppies based on their age, environment, and medical history. Most vets recommend this general timeline for first-year puppy shots: weeks of age Between 6- and 8-weeks-old, puppies get their first shot of the DHPP distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus vaccine. They might also receive their first round of vaccinations for Bordetella and Lyme disease. Leptospira Lepto is a common puppy vaccination administered around this time frame. They'll also get their first rabies vaccine depending on state-mandated vaccine schedules for puppies, as well as a second shot of the Lepto vaccine if applicable. Boosters Every Years Puppies will need a booster shot for all vaccines at age 1. Dogs need booster vaccinations for Bordetella, Lepto, Lyme, and Giardia annually receiving their first immunization as an adult. The vaccination schedule for DHPP and rabies is every 3 years, but check your local laws and defer to your veterinarian's advice to ensure your pet stays free of disease. How much are puppy shots? Non-essential vaccines your vet may recommend will also increase the price. Note that puppy shots cost more or less depending on several different factors, including your location. For instance, vets in crowded urban areas tend to charge more than vets in smaller towns and rural areas. Also keep in mind that you'll need to budget for booster shots in one- or three-year intervals to ensure your pet stays protected from disease. Fortunately, vaccines for dogs are less expensive than first-year puppy shots because boosters are administered in one dose every few years, as opposed to multiple doses every few weeks. All puppies need to get the core vaccines, i. Your veterinarian will consider the risk factors and advise you on which vaccines are best for your puppy during the first vet visit. No, but both vaccines for puppies are often combined in one shot. Distemper and parvovirus are two different illnesses that are potentially fatal if not treated quickly. What is the 5-in-1 shot for puppies? Do puppies need 3 or 4 sets of shots? It depends on their age; vets may recommend a shorter puppy vaccination schedule for dogs over 16 weeks old and not yet fully vaccinated. How many shots do puppies need before going outside? A titer test is a blood test showing whether your puppy has antibodies for a particular illness. The test can be used to determine the effectiveness of a vaccine and help determine if or which booster vaccines your dog needs. Most doggy daycares and boarding facilities do not accept a titer test in lieu of a puppy vaccination record. When should puppies get dewormed? Because worms are very common in puppies, veterinarians recommend deworming them for the first time when they're two to three weeks old. Is there a heartworm vaccine for puppies? Preventatives can either be administered as monthly medication or every six months by injection. How can you save money on puppy shots? One way to save money on puppy vaccines is by visiting a low-cost vaccination clinic. These clinics typically offer packages that combine a bundle of vaccinations into a lower price point, but also offer individual options if your dog is due for a specific vaccine. Another way to save money on puppy shots is by purchasing a pet wellness plan through a pet insurance provider. Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. This gives the owner an opportunity to see their dog at such a young age and then watch them quickly grown into strong and large adults. If you are purchasing a Boxer puppy, the dog should be at least 8 weeks old. In many regions it is illegal to have a puppy at a younger age. Up until 8 weeks, the puppy will need to be nourished by its mother. We're Home! That Boxer newborn puppy that you picked out has rapidly matured into an 8 week old and it's time for your new family member to join the household. Bringing a puppy home should be well planned in advance. If you have a large family, other members must be told to keep the environment calm and peaceful until your Boxer puppy has a chance to gain their bearings and become used to its new home. Have everything you need so that you do not need to suddenly run out to the store for a forgotten item. Do not allow the puppy to be rushed at by many people wishing to hug, pat and smother him or her with kisses. That can come a bit later. Your new Boxer must be approached gently and with warm voices. Puppies are a good, robust size but are still fragile. It is very sad when a puppy is stepped on accidentally; this can cause great harm. From birth to the 1 year mark, trauma is the leading cause of fatalities with this breed. Children must understand how to gently treat a pup. Very young children should be watched during interaction. All members of the home must be very aware of what may be underfoot. Your Boxer puppy should be given a tour of the home. Do not expect your new pup to know where everything is! Show him or her where they can find their water, where to expect their meals to be served, their dog bed and their toys. A puppy needs the security of knowing where to find what they need. Puppies will need quite a bit of care from you. This includes: Feeding - A puppy should be fed times per day. More feeding information can be found in our Feeding section. Only high quality puppy food must be given. This will be a time of rapid growth and your Boxer puppy needs the right dog food for optimal health. Vaccinations - All puppies will need the full schedule of vaccinations. This is absolutely vital to the health of the pup. If the budget is tight, your dog's veterinarian should be able to provide a discount or recommended animal clinics which provide shots for a very minimal fee. This includes that absolutely necessary Heart worm prevention medication, as well. Comfort and safety - Boxer puppies are rambunctious. They will jump, bounce and play. They will need loving attention and interaction with their owner or owners. Plenty of room to play, lots of toys and acts of love are crucial to the physical and emotional growth of a pup. A puppy is just learning about its world; yelling or hitting is never called for. Through love, patience and understanding a puppy will learn what is expected. Negative reactions from its owner will simply teach the puppy to be afraid. Housebreaking - This should begin as soon as you bring your puppy home. Read more in our housebreaking section. When started early and with consistency, your Boxer puppy will soon learn where it is appropriate to eliminate. A schedule - Puppies know nothing about the world except for what you show them. It is important to keep a puppy on a schedule that they can depend on. Normal times for baths, exercise , walks, feedings, grooming , play time and sleep time are recommended. Some Things to Expect The first year will be full of changing behaviors and a change in physical appearance. Here's what you can expect: A Boxer puppy will whine if he is hungry, wants attention or once he is learning house training, if he has a bathroom need The time to instill training for barking and other behavior is now - before habits can form Puppies are super hyper , but will also sleep quite a bit - Anywhere from 15 to 18 hours per day including night time and daytime naps The first year is one of rapid growth, but do expect starts and stops. As your Boxer reaches adolescence, there is sometimes a brief period of stalled weight gain at which time a Boxer may appear too skinny. This typically only lasts a few months before that final gain happens that allows him to fill out. Puppyhoood is the time to do socialization training - You'll want to introduce your puppy to as many people, other dogs, events and situations as possible so that he learns control and gains self-confidence. Health Check A Boxer puppy should be checked over every day to check for certain issues. Eyes- The eyes should be clear and bright. Any excessive discharge is a reason to go to the veterinarian Ears and nose - These areas should be cleaned each day with a damp, soft washcloth. Discharge of any color is a reason for a checkup with the vet Breathing - A puppy's breathing should always be clear and easy. Forced breathing, wheezing, coughing or other strange sounds must be taken care of immediately through the dog's veterinarian or closest animal hospital Limping - Puppies may be a bit clumsy or wobbling when very young. However limping is never normal. This must be brought to a vet's attention ASAP Tank - 9 months old Photo courtesy of owner: Jaymie Conner Skin - It is normal for a Boxer puppy to have some loose skin around the neck area and there will be some facial folds. These areas can hold in moisture which can lead to a fungal or bacterial infection. Moisture can accumulate when the pup drinks or when he drools. Keep the area nice and dry to prevent any problems. After the initial puppy trance lets go of you, it may now be dawning on you that you have a big responsibility. Your head spins as you try and figure out what you have to do to keep this little girl safe. Calm Down. Why Vaccinate Your Dog? When puppies are born, they feed nurse from their mothers which provides them with all antibodies they need to fight off illnesses while their immune systems develop. As soon as they stop nursing, they are at risk of becoming ill. Vaccinations provide them with what they need to boost their immune systems and fight off these illnesses, which can become life-threatening in non-vaccinated puppies. Vaccinations Needed There are a few different types of shots that you should be aware of. Your local veterinarian should be well aware of these and put your puppy on a schedule. They used to be given separately, but now they are combined into one easy vaccination. D — Canine Distemper Virus — Serious viral illness with no cure. H — Hepatitis — Viral infection that affects the liver. L — Leptospirosis — Bacterial infection that affects the kidneys. P — Parainfluenza — Can cause upper respiratory infections. P — Parvovirus — Serious intestinal virus. C — Coronavirus — Also an intestinal virus, but not as severe. Bordetella — An airborne bacterium that is a common cause of kennel cough. Rabies — Contagious and fatal viral disease. Giardia — Intestinal parasite that causes the infection Giardiasis. Lyme — Common tick-transmitted disease. Giardia shot. Bordetella shot. Every 6 Months: Bordetella shot check with vet. Every Years: You should check with your local veterinarian about the frequency of a Rabies shot, but generally it is every one to three years. So, there you have it! You can call you local vet, schedule a few appointments, mark your calendar and clear your mind. Make sure to get your puppy a full check-up tip-to-tail, as they say and discuss what shots will be necessary. You now have a full puppy shot schedule and can stop worrying about it. Feel free to enjoy your new addition to the family and start worrying about new things like puppy training, what food to buy, what medicine works best…CRAP! Worried about training your boxer puppy? Check out this post that gives you a good boxer training overview. More information about puppy nutrition here. From then on, an annual health check is recommended and recommendations for future vaccinations will be discussed with your vet. Along with a discussion about when to move your growing pup onto adult dog food. A Note on Leptospirosis Puppy parents may have heard about Leptospirosis, a serious bacterial infection causing liver and kidney disease that can affect both pets and humans in certain parts of Australia. Transmission depends on the type, but dogs may become infected from environments contaminated with infected rat urine, eating or getting bitten by an infected rat or via urine from infected livestock e. The disease is more common in regions where there is high rainfall as well as inner-city areas with heavy rat populations3. Remember to discuss the risks of Leptospirosis with your local veterinarian to see if it is a problem in your area. References: 1. Pollock RV, Carmichael LE Maternally derived immunity to canine parvovirus infection: transfer, decline, and interference with vaccination. J Am Vet Med Assoc ; 1 .J Small Anim Pract ;E1—.Effler P. Leptospirosis: key things to know about this quintessential zoonotic pathogen. Microbiology Australia ; .But what does this mean? These vaccinations help protect your dog against life-threatening diseases, including distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus. Non-core vaccines cover parainfluenza virus, bordetella bronchiseptica, and leptospira interrogans — all related to kennel cough. Canine coronavirus — This highly contagious virus is hard to eradicate, and its symptoms are similar to those of the flu, e. FAQs about puppy vaccination schedules Do I have to have my dog vaccinated? Responsible pet owners should ensure their puppy is given their initial course of vaccinations. However, this will not protect them their entire lives. Adult dogs also need annual vaccinations and check-ups. Will my puppy be safe in the presence of unvaccinated dogs? If your puppy has not been vaccinated and meets another dog you know is unvaccinated, be sure to hold your puppy above the ground. Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, it should not mix with dogs of unknown vaccination status. However, most puppies are fully vaccinated before meeting their humans! Do vaccinations help with ticks, fleas and worms? You should complete a flea and worm treatment every three months after your puppy reaches 12 weeks of age. What are the side effects of vaccinations in puppies? Side effects are very rare and are linked to allergic reactions, sensitivity in the vaccinated area, and fever. Other side effects include weakness, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite, but these symptoms usually pass within a day or two. Access to fresh, clean water is also important for a strong immune system.

Our bulldogges retain the good temperament of the English bulldog, but also run and play — and live a longer life. This breed likes to chew and should be supplied with plenty of toys and bones. Nylabones and rubber Kong toys are highly recommended. Rawhides, soft rubber and stuffed toys are unsafe, for they are easily shredded or swallowed whole. Olde English Bulldogges are so eager to please that they may overexert themselves in an effort to do whatever is asked of them. We loved the look and disposition of the English Bulldogs but didn't want the health risks associated with the breed. So we looked to the Olde English and found everything we were looking for and more. Loving, Loyal and gentle our dogs become a member of the family. They are brought up in our home where they are given lots of love and attention. It is extremely important to us that they end up in homes where they will be loved and cared for as we have loved and cared for them and their parents. The fact we have built this small community around our beloved pups is a HUGE source of pride. We provide a little starter bag for all of our babies that includes shot records and registration paperwork but we are also always available for anything that may arise. In their future. Super healthy dogs. No breathing problems at all. Great temperament. Absolutely love these boys!! Kimbo I. This one looks just like mine who is now 2. No skin issues. No eye issues. No jaw issues. No teeth issues. My baby is just flat out beautiful. Sara J. The property was beautiful and we could see how loved their Bulldogs are. Testimonials Why Us? Health Care Bexar Bulldogges get their tails docked dew claws removed and all initial shots at 6 weeks with shot records. Frequently Asked Questions What are some of the health issues English bulldogs are likely to face? The English bulldog has various health issues with the most alarming being cardiac and respiratory complications. English bulldogs are also prone to dyslexia in the hip due to their relatively large body size. Skin infections are also a concern do to the wrinkly and folds nature of the skin. What is the lifespan of an English bulldog? The English bulldog can live up to years on an average scale. This is usually due to the numerous complications and health challenges the bulldog faces in the course of life. How frequently do English bulldogs shed? English bulldogs shed more frequently during the cold seasons like winter and spring. Compared to other dogs, they shed rather moderately and even lesser as they age. How hard is it to train an English bulldog? This breed of dog is known for its stubborn nature and can be really difficult especially for novice dog owners to get the hang of. Patience and routine should be the keywords when dealing with a bulldog. Are English bulldogs good watchdogs? The English bulldog has a natural instinct to protect its territory. Even though the bulldog is not usually much of a barking dog, in the case of an intruder it is well equipped and confident to take on the challenge at every cost. Are English Bulldogs dangerous to their owners? The English bulldog is not a dangerous pet. It is very much territorial and somewhat apprehensive to unfamiliar faces, but once it warms up to you, the bulldog is one of the most loving and loyal dogs. How much exercise do English Bulldogs need? The English bulldog on average needs about 30minuites of exercise every day to keep it mentally and physically healthy. Are English Bulldogs family dogs? The English bulldog may seem aggressive at first glance but you will get to find that they have a contrasting character to their appearance. They are perfect around children and can play all day. They are extremely lovable and friendly. How big do English Bulldogs get? English bulldogs can weigh up to 50 pounds and can grow as tall as 15inches. Male or female English Bulldog? This depends solely on the owner as both genders have their specific pros and cons. English bulldogs are very friendly and warm dogs and are amazing around children. No wonder they are one of the most sought-after breeds in the world. Are you interested in purchasing a English Bulldog? Fill out the below form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

This girl is currently super scared of new things and will need a lot of work to grow her confidence. Willow is a 2 year old, female Golden Retriever. She weighs 59 Pounds but looks way smaller and compact. She will be spayed, vaccinated and microchipped as part of her adoption. She is thankfully Heartworm negative. Willow does have a serious medical issue. She has a higher level heart murmur. She will need a family that can afford cardiology visits and likely medication for life. This is not fixable, it is something that needs to be managed throughout her life. Currently you would never know there is anything wrong with her health. If you do not have serious funding for vet care please do not apply to adopt her. She needs a home capable of supporting her through this for life. She is very shy at first and startles easily with loud noises. If you give her a few hours she becomes your shadow. She loves to cuddle up with you and get all the pets. She is doing great with other dogs and another confident dog in the house really helps her. We do not know how she would do with cats. She is not fostered with kids but did great at the vet with children loving on her. She does need the kids to give her space for the first few days while she adjusts. Willow is doing great with her training so far. Shes potty trained and crate trained. She will go in her crate on her own and relax if you leave the door open. Shes great in the car and does well on the leash. She has a medium energy level currently. When she settles in she gets more playful and excited but also has a lot of relaxed cuddle times. She loves you to be petting and touching her at all times. She likes running around the yard and is starting to play with toys. Due to her shy nature and her heart issues we are requiring a fenced yard for her. So far we have not seen any issues with her sharing food, treats or toys with other dogs or people. Goldens are just like other dogs. They need training, exercise and socialization. There seems to be a false narrative that they are instantly easy perfect dogs and that is just not true. Every dog needs their owner to support them with the things listed above. They also typically have a high energy level until they get a little older. Proper exercise is crucial. Shes overall a very sweet and gentle girl with so much potential. Please only apply if you meet all the requirements and can provide her the life she deserves. Share 0 Shares When purchasing any new puppy from a dog breeder, it is crucial that you look into them to make sure that they are reputable before actually buying a puppy from them. When it comes to Golden Retrievers, the best breeders will health test their dogs before breeding them and offer new owners a health guarantee. Good dog breeders also make sure that puppies are up to date on things like vaccinations, vet visits, and other types of preventative care. All of their dogs come from established pedigrees, and they are all cleared through health testing before being bred. This ensures that their adult dogs and puppies are all in genetically sound health. Of course, puppies are all kept up to date on all of their age-appropriate and vet-recommended vaccinations, deworming, and vet visits. This gives them plenty of room to run, play, and explore. It is important to note that you will likely need to be placed on a waitlist and put down a deposit before purchasing a Golden Retriever puppy from Meadow Grace Goldens. One or both of this puppy's parents have undergone genetic testing. One or both of this puppy's parents are hip certified. One or both of this puppy's parents is OFA Heart certified. This puppy has had early neurological stimulation exercises. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. We even have all types of golden retrievers for sale! At My Golden Retriever Puppies, we pride ourselves on our golden retriever price being fair and affordable for high quality puppies. Location Information for Virginia Beach Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Virginia Beach? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in Virginia Beach? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. The OFA, working with the breed's parent club, recommends the following basic health screening tests for all breeding stock. Each of our dogs has a link to the K9data showing test results. Tests that are performed: Echocardiogram The examiner must be able to perform two-dimensional, pulsed-wave Doppler, and continuous-wave Doppler examinations of the heart. The availability of color Doppler is valuable but not essential for most examinations. The echocardiographic examination should be performed and interpreted by individuals with advanced training in cardiac diagnosis. Board certification by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Specialty of Cardiology is considered by the American College of Veterinary Medical Association as the benchmark of clinical proficiency for veterinarians in clinical cardiology, and examination by a Diplomate of this Specialty Board is recommended. Other veterinarians may be able to perform these examinations provided they have the appropriate equipment and have received advanced training in echocardiography. This view is accepted world wide for detection and assessment of hip joint irregularities and secondary arthritic hip joint changes. To obtain this view, the animal must be placed on its back in dorsal recumbency with the rear limbs extended and parallel to each other. The knees stifles are rotated internally and the pelvis is symmetric. Chemical restraint anesthesia to the point of relaxation is recommended. For elbows, the animal is placed on its side and the respective elbow is placed in an extreme flexed position. Eyes Genetic diseases are those that are passed on from parent to offspring through genes that carry the codes for each specific trait. Many of the diseases and disorders that affect the eyes have genetic factors. OFA Eye Certification examinations are screening exams performed by board certified veterinary ophthalmologists. The exam is performed 30 to 40 minutes after pupil-dilating drops are placed in the eyes. The Eye Certification exam consists of indirect ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp biomicroscopy. It is not a comprehensive ocular health examination, but rather an eye screening exam. For example, Eye Certification exams do not entail measuring tear production, staining the eyes for the presence of corneal ulcers, or measuring intraocular pressures. If a serious ocular health problem such as glaucoma is suspected during the Eye Certification exam, the examiner will recommend a more comprehensive ocular examination. The diagnoses obtained during an OFA Companion Animal Eye Registry exam refer only to the observable phenotype clinical appearance of an animal. Thus it is possible for a clinically normal animal to be a carrier abnormal genotype of genetic abnormalities. Embark DNA Testing for genetic diversity, health conditions, and traits. Complete and return Puppy Questionnaire, please be thorough as this help determine puppy placement. Puppy application cannot be completed on a smart phone sorry you will need to complete it on your computer. Once puppies are born I will reach out to schedule a phone conversation. If there is a mutual agreement that Argos Golden is the right fit and we are able to accommodate your request for a puppy, your deposit will be required at this time, with a signed copy of the contract. What if I don't want a "show dog"? Why do people recommend choosing a breeder who shows their dogs to folks who are just looking for a pet and have no interest in showing? Why should breeding to breed standard be important to a pet home? Soundness: The state of physical and mental health when all organs and faculties are functioning properly, each in its rightful relation to each other. Type: Breed type encompasses appearance, character, condition, bone structure, temperament, and movement; "breed type is all these things. Gait: The gait of a dog is its quality of movement. You want to see ease of movement, unimpaired by illness or poor structure. Temperament: The general attitude a dog has towards other animals and people. The ideal disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and non-aggressive towards man or animal. The Golden has much that appeals to people; his gentle ways, intelligence and adaptability make him an ideal dog. Aggressiveness towards humans or other animals, or any evidence of shyness in an adult should be severely penalized. You want a pet, a companion, not a show dog, right? Well, you chose a Golden for a reason. That their good and kind nature predisposes many Goldens to be excellent therapy dogs. Good, responsible breeders seek to preserve those definitive and positive characteristics. What about type and structure? How the dog is put together, able to move freely and comfortably? Or just trust someone who has no interest in proving their dogs? Well-bred, but maybe with a slight imperfection, and those are the puppies placed in pet homes. If you want a healthy dog, with a properly sweet temperament, choose your breeder wisely! This was authored by Terri Lewin Gilbert. Please direct any inquiries to her if you have any questions about sharing it on any other media. The simple answer to that is no. You decide what sex you would want. I will do an aptitude test called The Volhard Pet Aptitude Test on the puppy to help determine which puppy will be placed with each family. Top Dog Tips: The ideal age to test the puppy is at 49 days of age when the puppy is neurologically complete and it has the brain of an adult dog. With each passing day after the 49th day the responses will be tainted by prior learning. These tests determined that it was indeed possible to predict future behavioral traits of adult dogs by testing puppies at 49 days of age. Testing before or after that age affected the accuracy of the test, depending on the time before or after the 49th day. PAT uses a scoring system from and consists of ten tests. The tests are done consecutively and in the order listed. Each test is scored separately, and interpreted on its own merits. The scores are not averaged, and there are no winners or losers. The entire purpose is to select the right puppy for the right home. Together with Social Attraction and Following a key indicator for ease or difficulty in training. During the testing make a note of the heart rate of the pup, which is an indication of how it deals with stress, as well as its energy level. Puppies come with high, medium or low energy levels. You have to decide for yourself, which suits your life style. Dogs with high energy levels need a great deal of exercise, and will get into mischief if this energy is not channeled into the right direction. Finally, look at the overall structure of the puppy. You see what you get at 49 days age. If the pup has strong and straight front and back legs, with all four feet pointing in the same direction, it will grow up that way, provided you give it the proper diet and environment in which to grow. If you notice something out of the ordinary at this age, it will stay with puppy for the rest of its life. He will not grow out of it. Puppy Development and Stimulation Before your puppy goes home with you it will have experienced many interaction with people and situations. Grooming: Your puppy will have had many baths along with being placed on a table for drying and grooming. Nails will have been trimmed weekly from week 2 of age. Starting with a clipper and ending with a dremmel tool. Potty training: Potty training starts early at 4 weeks of age. Crate training: Your puppy will have a great head start on getting used to a crate and will have taken many naps in the crate by itself. Crate training is VERY important for the safety of your puppy. Socialization: Your puppy will have been exposed to many different people, noises, smells and situations. My goal is for you to have a even tempered, well socialized puppy.

Because of their good nature, these dogs are ideal for families with small children, first-time dog owners, and other pets. Even though these dogs are hypoallergenic, and F2 Goldendoodles are regarded as even more hypoallergenic than prior generations, your puppy will shed occasionally. Goldendoodles are a popular crossbreed noted for their intelligence and devotion to their owners. Doodles are active and energetic, making them ideal for families and first-time dog owners. Smaller versions are also suitable for apartment living. The Goldendoodle is a hybrid dog breed created by crossing a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. This Doodle is not an actual breed in and of itself, but rather a mixed breed — and in this case, a famous cross. The humble attitude of Goldendoodle puppies, as well as their lovely and allergen-friendly coat, is what makes them popular. Goldendoodles are energetic yet sweet dogs who desire human interaction. They come in both a standard and a miniature size. Because both of their parent breeds are amiable and very intelligent, Goldendoodles are perfect for families with small children, first-time dog owners, and other pets. They do best with regular walks or outdoor play sessions to meet their physical fitness needs. F2 Goldendoodle: Second Filial Generation Many owners are unsure which generation of dog they own or how to "break the code" of the numerous letters and numbers, even if they know the denotation of ages in dogs. The letter "F" stands for "filial" and indicates generation. Because this is the first cross, one parent will be a Golden Retriever, and the other will be a Poodle. Silver Sable These dogs also appear in brindle stripes , all black, or all chocolate in rare circumstances. Mini Goldendoodle puppies come in all the same color coats. F1 Vs. F2 Goldendoodles Now that you know the pros and cons of each type of Goldendoodle and why breeders may choose to specialize in one or the other, the end question is: F1 vs. F2, which Goldendoodle type is the best? The answer is not that one type is better than the other because both kinds of Goldendoodle offer different pros and cons for different families. For Highly Allergenic Families: The hypoallergenic coat is the most important feature for coping with allergies. One of the reasons the Goldendoodle is a popular breed for families is they often have very hypoallergenic coats thanks to their poodle heritage. The only way to get the trademark Goldendoodle look is to either breed two purebred dogs with less chance of that hypoallergenic coat or two F1 Goldendoodles. F2 Goldendoodles offer a higher possibility of hypoallergenic coats and a wider choice of options even within the same litter. The allergen that causes the reaction may be found in the hair as well as the saliva. Fleecy and curly coat types are lower shed and usually have lower dander levels. Look for curly coats and coats that shed less, requiring less brushing and monthly grooming. The more crossbreeding necessary to create your puppy, the more opportunity for genetic material that may have a marker for potential issues. Although any F1 doodle dog can develop genetic health problems, diseases like hip dysplasia can be found through the testing for it in the parents and lineage of a line. First-Time Dog Owners: F1 Goldendoodles may make the job of the first-time dog owner a little easier. Choosing an F1 Goldendoodle means fewer chances for issues, just like the considerations for genetic health problems although no dog is perfect. Crossbreeds such as the Goldendoodle are becoming more and more popular thanks to their hypoallergenic coats, size, and temperament. Goldendoodles are considered excellent for first-time dog owners being kid-friendly if raised with children and easy to train. The Bottom Line F1 and F2 Goldendoodles can make great pets for the first time and experienced dog owners alike. They both offer the opportunity for healthy puppies with strong lineage and healthy dispositions. The essential part of choosing is choosing a good breeder. When it comes to how much a Goldendoodle costs , a F1b and F2 Goldendoodle often cost the most. A good breeder will become a friend to the family and want their puppies to go to great homes suitable for them. However, if it comes down to allergies, choose an F1B or multigen F2 Goldendoodle to maximize the opportunity for a hypoallergenic coat. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. The Differences Between Goldendoodle Generations? Not all Goldendoodles are the same! While most have the cuddly, teddy bear, fluffy Doodle look, their genetics can vary greatly depending on their generation and what parents they have. So, what is a multigenerational goldendoodle? There can be significant differences between what breeders refer to as F1, F1B, F2, and multigenerational called multigens Goldendoodles. Knowing the distinction between the 4 types of Goldendoodles within this breed can help choose the breeder and desired traits you hope to find in your new Goldendoodle. What is GANA? This organization sets the standards and affirms that these generations are acceptable and contribute to the diversity of the Goldendoodle gene pool. The grading scheme definitions of each generation per the Goldendoodle Association of North America can be found here. Before diving into their differences, what does F mean? The number following the F signifies the generation of the Goldendoodle. For example, a first-generation Goldendoodle is bred from two non-Goldendoodle parents a Golden Retriever and a Poodle while a second-generation Goldendoodle is bred from two F1 Goldendoodle parents. Knowing these distinctions helps identify what traits can be expected in Goldendoodle litters. What are Goldendoodle Furnishings? A key element to discuss is the role that furnishing genes play in the looks and shedding factor of the different generations of Goldendoodles. The Golden Retriever carries zero furnishing genes and the Poodle carries two furnishing genes. Furnishing genes are responsible for the presence of hair that continues to grow in length most noticeable on the face and muzzle. Golden Retrievers have short, smooth hair on their face due to their lack of furnishing genes. Poodles, unless shaven, will have long hair covering the face and muzzle as a result of carrying two furnishing genes. Because furnishing genes are dominant, it takes just one copy of this gene to present in long hair on the face. However, two furnishing genes are necessary to facilitate a non-shedding coat. The curl genes involved in each generation will dictate the type of coat each puppy inherits. Golden Retrievers carry zero curl genes whereas Poodles carry two curl genes. All F1s will inherit a total of one copy of the curl gene allowing their coats to be wavy in general. For those puppies who inherit no curl genes, their coats will be straight to slightly wavy. More information and photos showing the different coat types can be found here. Perhaps a decade ago, testing for the number of furnishings and curl genes became accessible to breeders. Until that point, the only way to know if a breeder was producing high-shedding or flat-coated Goldendoodles was via trial and error. We now know that the curl and furnishing genes are unrelated and that the curl genes have no impact on the shedding factor. They are known for their friendliness, being the perfect family pet, and being great for first-time dog owners. They were bred with this very purpose in mind. Of course, their precious appearance helps too! The coats are typically wavy due to inheriting one curl gene from the Poodle and no curl genes from the Golden Retriever. F1 Goldendoodles benefit from hybrid vigor making them healthier than their purebred parents. F1 Goldendoodles have proven to have better longevity than their pure breed ancestors. This hybrid vigor comes from crossing two unrelated dog breeds. F1 Goldendoodles cannot be guaranteed to be non-shedding. F1 Goldendoodles can also come in smaller sizes. This allows smaller genes to affect the outcome of the size of the offspring. There is no way of knowing ahead of time how these two inherited traits will match up in any individual puppy. In the other F1B option of crossing an F1 Goldendoodle with a Golden Retriever, no puppies will inherit two curl genes and no puppies will inherit two furnishing genes. This pairing will likely produce higher shedding coats that will be straight or wavy. Additionally, the F1B Goldendoodle can also benefit from hybrid vigor. Under the healthiest and most cognizant of circumstances, these Goldendoodles can be healthier than their purebred parents. These benefits will only be fortuitous should your breeder be careful about choosing their breeding pairs utilizing health screening protocols. The hybrid vigor will not diminish if the breeder is thorough in health testing and ensures that the parent breed lines are uncrossed, meaning that the parents are unrelated. Like the other generations of Goldendoodles, the F1B generation is highly intelligent, easily trainable, and beautiful. They are created by crossing two F1 Goldendoodles. This generation requires careful selection of parents based on the traits desired in the offspring. Each puppy has equal chances of inheriting zero, one, or two furnishing genes as well as zero, one, or two curl genes. These genes can be inherited in any combination in a single puppy. Puppies inheriting two furnishing genes will likely be non-shedding. Puppies inheriting one furnishing gene will have reduced shedding most likely equal to an F1 Goldendoodle. Those inheriting no furnishing genes will have coats very similar to a Golden Retriever including a smooth face and moderate to heavy shedding. All three coat types are possible in the F2 generation as well — straight, wavy, or curly. Type means traits that all puppies in the same litter inherit eliminating the variety of possibilities within a single litter. Just as in the F2 generation, without careful selection of breeding pairs, a variation of furnishings and coat types can be created. In the multigen, breeders can begin to be more consistent as they can select breeding prospects using DNA to ensure two furnishing genes are present in both parents. This ensures all puppies will inherit two furnishing genes giving them a higher chance of being non-shedding and allergy friendly. The number following refers to how many generations of that breed have been produced from that specific line. These differences are important to understand to know what characteristics are possible in specific pairings. As you can see, not all Goldendoodles are the same! Each generation has its characteristics that are different based on their parents. Knowing the differences can help you choose which Goldendoodle is right for you and your family. It is important to know the breeder you have selected is knowledgeable about the genetics of each parent dog to be able to predict the traits that will be produced by crossing specific dogs together. You may not understand the genetic reports on each parent dog, but the breeder should be able to confidently explain them to you. Breeders that have not done DNA profiles on their breeding dogs before breeding them cannot begin to provide you with accurate predictions of the traits your future puppy may possess. These traits do not only include information on furnishings and coat types, but also diseases each parent may carry as well as the colors they are capable of producing. This certification includes the assurance that your Goldendoodle was produced ethically and is from healthy parents. Goldendoodles are well known for their amazing personalities and for being the perfect family dog. They are typically great with kids, extremely smart, and above all, endearing. No matter what their color or coat type may be, they are very hard to not love! The second generation of Goldendoodles also called […] Fluffy, cute, and smart, the Goldendoodle is a dog that has won the hearts of many dog owners across the nation. The second generation of Goldendoodles also called Goldendoodle F2 share this mixed lineage but are sired by hybrid parents as in two Goldendoodles. In any case, this cross is rapidly growing in popularity for a variety of reasons. Along with being affectionate, the Goldendoodle 2nd Gen inherits the intelligence and low-shedding coat of their hybrid parents. Breed History The first Goldendoodle breed was developed during the designer breed craze of the s and s. As breeders continued to breed their dogs for certain desired traits, the Goldendoodle F2 breed was born. Compared to other designer dogs, the Goldendoodle breed is still a young cross, so most of the litters today belong to the first generation F1 breeds. Multi-generational breedings F2, F3, etc. Size As with their first generation parents, the Goldendoodle 2nd Gen can range in sizes depending on its Poodle heritage. Most Goldendoodle 2nd Gen breeds come in various sizes such as miniature inches in height , small standard inches in height , and large standard inches in height. Based on their height, Goldendoodles can weigh anywhere from 15 to 90 pounds. Temperament The Goldendoodle 2nd Gen is loving, friendly, and extremely gentle with everyone they meet. This makes them a wonderful family companion, especially since they love being around people. Like their Poodle and Golden Retriever parents, the Goldendoodle 2nd Gen is endearing and loyal, which allows them to bond closely with their owners. Goldendoodles have a mischievous and playful streak as well. Because of their love of people and attention, the Goldendoodle 2nd Gen can suffer from separation anxiety so be sure to leave your furry friend with a companion before leaving home. Exercise Level The Goldendoodle 2nd Gen can be an energetic dog but it does not need a lot of exercise to be happy. Just a daily walk or a fun playtime session in the backyard is enough. Because of their Poodle parentage, all generations of Goldendoodles love mentally stimulating exercises too! You can try playing puzzle or scavenger games to keep your Goldendoodle occupied. Another idea is to use Kong toys to challenge your Goldendoodle in using their brain to get their treats. We recommend taking your Goldendoodle for a swim. Make sure you bring dog essentials before heading to the pool or beach. Grooming The Goldendoodle 2nd Gen inherits a beautiful wavy to curly coat from their Poodle heritage. The typical length is about 2 to 3 inches long; their hair tends to be the longest on their tail, ears, and body. Their coat color varies from black, brown, red, golden, and cream, though their coat tends to be golden color the most. One of the best traits of the Goldendoodle is their hypoallergenic coat. However, the Goldendoodle F2 has the non-shedding coat of all the Goldendoodle generations. This trait makes them perfect for owners with allergies to dogs. Too much bathing can strip away the natural oils that make their coat so beautiful and shiny. Training Due to their high intelligence and eagerness to please, the Goldendoodle is easily trainable. Goldendoodles love treats and praises during training. Without positive rewards, Goldendoodles can become resentful and wary of training. Sociable, intelligent, and low-shedding, the Goldendoodle 2nd Gen seems to be the perfect dog for families and single households alike. The Goldendoodle F2 inherits the best traits from their parent breeds, making them a delight to have in your home. Beagles may have been bred to hunt in packs at the behest of their English gentleman owners a few hundred years ago, but today this small-sized purebred has become a hardy companion dog. Willful dog breeds are difficult to train unless the owner dedicates a lot of time, patience, and consistency with dog training. We at Petland Florida have been obsessed with this athletic, impressive, and highly intelligent breed for a while. These dogs typically have loose, wavy coats. The downside of the F1 generation is they tend to still shed some—less than a purebred Golden Retriever but more than some of the later generations we discuss below. F2 vs F1? However, again, you are likely to have some shedding. The F2 generation is actually the most unpredictable in regard to hair type as a simple Punnett Square illustration would reveal. Some of the puppies are likely to get two copies of the Golden Retriever flat coat gene so may still be quite heavy shedders. This generation is a good choice for people who love both the Golden Retriever and Poodle personalities and want a good mixture of both breeds but are flexible on hair type and shedding. F1 vs F1b? These puppies typically have wavy to curly coats and reduced shedding. The F1b generation is a good choice for allergy sufferers or those who simply want less fur to clean up around the house. Most breeders would avoid this type of F1b as the result would be a dog that sheds as much as Golden Retriever, but it is still good to know to avoid potential confusion. Quiz time: What would you call the puppy born to an F2 Goldendoodle and a Poodle? F1bb vs F1b? In this case, an F1b Goldendoodle has been backcrossed again to a purebred Poodle. While this may sound like a lot of Poodle, the result is a predictably curly, low-shedding coat that is great for allergy-sufferers. As doodle breeders, we have a lot of positive things to say about our poodle parents and the Poodle breed as a whole — you can read more about their history and characteristics here. In the case of an F1bb Goldendoodle —the dog will be more similar to a Poodle in regards to coat, physical structure and certain traits but still have a little dash of retriever to keep things interesting! Put simply it means you are now 3 generations removed from the original cross of Golden Retriever to Poodle, so this can look like an F2 Goldendoodle bred to another Goldendoodle. In this case, most reputable breeders have been careful in selecting their parents and would avoid breeding straight coated, high-shedding parents. An F3 can also mean an F1b X an F1b. This would of course be similar in regards to coat type and breed percentage breakdown as an F1b. The multigenerational doodle could be any combination of Goldendoodle parents past the third generation. The positive side of the multigenerational doodle is that these are typically one of the best options for allergy sufferers as a reputable breeder has been careful to select non-shedding parents in their line; the more generations removed from the original shedding parents i. Golden Retriever , the less chance of any sly shedding genes slipping in! Understanding F1 vs F2 vs F1b vs F2b Is Not Essential At the end of the day, we often tell our puppy parents to not get too hung up on the exact terminology related to the generation of their pup. Knowing what you prefer in regard to personality and coat type is enough information to have a reputable breeder guide you to the right doodle for you. When it comes to goldendoodles, we have come across the most incredibly loving and intelligent dogs of every generation! F2 Goldendoodles are classified as light to non-shedders. They only drop a little bit of hair here and there throughout the year and do not go through heavy seasonal shedding like other breeds. The best way to reduce the amount that your dog sheds is to regularly brush them. Slicker brushes are great for dogs with single coats and deshedding tools are great for dogs with double coats. It is important to realise that there is no such thing as a totally non-shedding dog and that Goldendoodles along with other Poodle mixes are the closest to this definition. Are F2 Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic? F2 Goldendoodles are hypoallergenic as they are a low shedding breed and therefore do not release much allergy inducing dander into their surroundings. That being said, there are other generations of Goldendoodle that are more hypoallergenic than F2 Goldendoodles. For example, F1b Goldendoodles are usually more hypoallergenic as they have a higher percentage of Poodle genes than F2 Goldendoodles. The same goes with F1bb and F2b Goldendoodles. This is because Poodles are hypoallergenic while Golden Retrievers are not. They love spending time around people and other animals alike and are so affectionate and gentle. F2 Goldendoodles are keen to please which makes them pretty easy to train. They are also relatively easy to care for. All in all, the generation of Goldendoodle does not have much affect on temperament. F2 Goldendoodles can have the same or very similar temperaments to F1 Goldendoodles or F1b Goldendoodles. Besides individual genetics, environment and age can have a big impact on temperament. F2 Goldendoodle Lifespan On average, F2 Goldendoodles live for 10 to 14 years however it can be less if they are one of the smaller sizes of the breed e. F2 Goldendoodles may have a slightly shorter lifespan than an F1 Goldendoodles as with each successive generation the health benefits of cross-breeding decreases. That being said, the differences in lifespan between generations is pretty negligible. F2 Goldendoodle via willows. Black, chocolate and pure-white coats are possible in second generation Goldendoodles however they are much rarer than common coat colors like red, apricot and english cream. Their coats can be anywhere from a reddish cream to a rusty brown color. F2 Goldendoodles with lighter red coats are usually called Apricot Goldendoodles. Red F2 Goldendoodles are quite common. Some English Cream Goldendoodles have black noses while others have light brown or beige noses. English Cream F2 Goldendoodles are often mistaken for Labradoodles because they are so light in color. It is not a rare coat color as they can inherit it from either the Poodle or the Golden Retriever. They may have small white patches over their body like on their chest or paws however these as technically Black and White Goldendoodles. F2 Goldendoodles can only be this color if they inherit it from the Poodle as purebred Golden Retrievers are never black. They are therefore more commonly found in back-cross generations such as an F1b, F1bb or F2b Goldendoodle. It is a rare coat color for second generation Goldendoodles as they can only inherit this coat color from the Poodle side. They are more commonly found in back-cross generations such as an F1b, F1bb or F2b Goldendoodle. They feature a solid pure white coat that can be curly or wavy and usually have black noses and dark colored eyes. It is extremely rare to find white coats in second generation Goldendoodles as the gene for a white coat can only be inherited from the Poodle side. That is why White Goldendoodles are really only seen in back-cross generations such as F1b, F1bb and F2b Goldendoodles. If you want to know more about this rare coat color, read our White Goldendoodles guide here. F2 Goldendoodle via dood. Some popular ones include: Puppy Cut.

In her book she talks about the techniques she uses, to train her dogs through positive reinforcement techniques instead of punishments and reprimands. Her program is a 5-week program that comprises ten to minute sessions every day for both dogs and puppies. Training The Best Dog Ever will show you how to correct and avoid behavioral issues as well as potty and crate training, hand feeding, and other basic training. This program will make your dog feel more comfortable around strangers and vets. Pros: Teaches how to use positive reinforcement Daily program Teaches how to properly train your dog and make it more comfortable. It will also program your dog to learn not to go potty in your house, learn how to listen to their name, how to sit, and so much more. As you have just obtained your Labradoodle, you should take great care in training it. No dog is housebroken from birth, so you need to take things into your own hands. Try and obtain knowledge about the goal, you want to obtain and these books and manuals will help you do just that. The knowledge in these books has helped thousands of people and you can be the next, they are highly rated on Amazon, which practically means they will give you good results for your money. If any of these books can be of help to you, then it means most dog training books will help you and your dog understand each other better and also help you teach them how to behave. So what are you waiting for, read away!!! These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. Are You Ready to Bone Up? Meaning, you can benefit right away, while achieving almost instantaneous, positive dog training results with this Labradoodle training book from day one. 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And you will be so glad you decided to Boned-Up on it. I promise you and I can guarantee it And before you know it, you can attain that special bond and respectful, lifelong fun, loving relationship you want with your dog, and your new family, today. Labradoodle puppy, doodle dogs, doodles, Labradoodle puppy training, Labradoodle training, Labradoodle puppies, Labradoodles for dummies, Dog Training, How to train your Labradoodle, Dog Training book, pet supplies, labradoodle puppy dog, labradoodle dog training, labradoodle puppy dog,potty training,Labradoodle puppy training "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title. Eventually she went onto higher education and has a PHD in Literature. When she graduated, shortly after, she fell back on her love for training dogs, and is also a professional dog trainer, when not raising two Labradoodle Puppy puppies and herder dogs, along with her three kids, now in their teens. Naturally she combined him two passions professionally. 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Read on to learn more about how long you can safely leave your puppy alone and how to make the transition easier for both you and your canine companion. So, how long can you leave a puppy alone? While most healthy adult dogs can hold their bladder for six to eight hours, puppies can only hold it for one hour per every month of age. For example, if your puppy is three months old, that means they can hold their bladder for approximately three hours. As such, most experts agree that young puppies should not be left alone for more than two to three hours at a time. As a general rule, though, no dog should be left alone for more than four to six hours at a time. Here are a few of our best tips for leaving your puppy home while you are out. Beyond destroying your most prized possessions R. To keep Fido and your belongings safe from harm, create a safe confinement area just for your furry friend. Tip: You can help your puppy build positive associations with the crate by leaving the door open and putting tasty chew treats inside. If you have a young puppy or plan to be gone for longer than four hours at a time, consider using a puppy pen instead. A puppy pen will give your puppy a safe area to play and stretch their legs. Treat Your Pup to a Tasty Chew 2. Start by leaving your puppy in his playpen or crate for 10 minutes at a time. Before you walk out the door, give your pup a yummy treat. This will help teach them to associate your absence with rewards and good feelings. If your dog starts showing signs of anxious behavior e. Instead, shorten the duration of your departures and slowly work your way up to longer stretches of alone time. This is especially important for high-energy breeds that have lots of excess energy to burn off. Just like humans, dogs get a rush of feel-good endorphins from exercise. Tire your puppy out by taking them on a brisk walk in the morning or playing fetch with them in the backyard. By the time you leave for work, your puppy will already be settling down for a nap. That said, it's important to remember that dogs should never be left alone unattended with items that could be considered a potential choking hazard. For this reason, we recommend using marrow bones for dogs and other healthy, edible chew treats as a reward for when you come home. Just think how excited your puppy will be when you walk in the door with a bully stick or a beefy marrow bone! Here are a few suggestions: Hard rubber toys. Find one with holes or crevices, fill it with peanut butter, and let your pup go to town. Woven toys with knotted ends. These are ideal for dogs that enjoy different textures. Puzzle toys and interactive toys. You can also try dog-appeasing pheromones DAPs , calming supplements like L-Theanine always consult with your vet first , and soothing instrumental music to put your pup at ease. Every dog is different, so keep experimenting until you find something that puts your pup at ease. Note: If your dog has debilitating separation anxiety, enlist the help of a professional trainer. Not only can background noise keep your pup distracted during the day, but it can also help block out outside noises that might make your pup anxious. Be aware that some radio stations and television channels run commercials and advertisements with noises that might trigger your dog think: ringing doorbells, barking dogs, and car alarms. Even adult dogs will need to stretch their legs and go potty after spending four hours in a crate. If your boss has a soft spot for puppies, they may be okay with giving you a flexible schedule to take care of your puppy. It never hurts to ask! Hint: Be sure to show them cute pictures of your little fuzzball before you pose the question. The key is to find a pet sitter you trust. If you have friends and family with dogs, consider asking them if they have any recommendations. Consider Doggy Daycare Another great option for busy pet parents is doggy daycare. However, keep in mind that not all doggy daycare facilities are equal. Additionally, not every pup is a good candidate for doggy daycare. Make sure your puppy is already well-socialized and has no concerning behavioral issues or bad habits that doggy daycare could exacerbate. Being able to keep tabs on your puppy and seeing that they are content will go a long way in quieting that anxious part of your brain. The peace of mind it will bring you could be well worth it! Wait until they calm down before you greet them. Once your puppy is calm, reward them with an all-natural chew treat and, of course, lots of attention. Given that your pup brings so much joy to your life, it only makes sense to return the favor! We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. No one can deny that raising a puppy while working full time is hard work. You need time, energy, commitment and, of course, love, in order to give your Lab puppy all they need for the best start in life. We disagree, and personally know plenty of full-time workers that have raised healthy and happy puppies despite not being able to spend all their time at home. Of course, it can be challenging and you will need to be committed to make other sacrifices and compromises for your new pup — but it definitely can be done. The Challenges of Raising a Puppy When You Work Full Time Regardless of whether you work full time in an office, work from home or are unemployed, raising a puppy can be hard work. It can also be a strain on family and friends to pop in so often throughout the day. One way that most new puppy owners manage this problem is by paper training or using puppy pads that absorb the mess and odor when your pup goes to the toilet. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that someone can pop in on your dog every few hours or so to take them outside. This way, the puppy pads are simply a back-up to their regular toilet training. At this point, you should be able to do away with the puppy pads and just have someone drop in once or twice during the day. Most new owners opt to take a week or so off from work so they can settle their pup into their new surroundings. When left alone, some puppies will get lonely and anxious which can cause problems. Separation anxiety is a common problem with dogs left home alone and has the following symptoms: Loud barking and howling Excessive chewing Urinating and defecating Aside from potentially wrecking your home, a puppy suffering from separation anxiety can cause problems with your neighbors as well! Exactly how much and how often you train is up to you: the most important thing is that you keep it consistent. This essentially boils down to them doing the same things every day, at the same times, with only a little variation. Dogs are clever animals and most Lab puppies will quickly ease into a new routine that they can predict and perform for. It should go without saying that potty training will be much quicker and easier if you adhere to the same routine day in and day out, for instance. Some people have very supportive families who live nearby who can pop in a few times over the work day and make sure that your pup is doing well. If not family, you could ask a helpful neighbor or even hire some help in the form of a dog sitter. When you first bring your dog home, you should try to take leave from work for a week as you settle your puppy into your home and get to know your new canine companion. You should spend as much time as possible with them in the first few weeks. Between 10 and 12 weeks of age, your puppy should have a little more bladder control and should be more secure to spend a little more time alone. At this point, you can either arrange for a dog sitter, doggy day care or for a helpful neighbor to drop in during the mid-morning, at lunchtime and in the mid-afternoon. You may be able to come home at lunchtime to ease the burden if you work nearby. Once they get to the 3 to 6-month-old stage, your pup should be more or less settled into their new life at your home and will require less frequent toileting. Most owners at this point will come home at lunchtime, or arrange for someone nearby to check in on them instead. Some experts say that you can guess how long your dog can hold their bladder for by multiplying their age in months by 1 hour. So, a two-month-old puppy will need to pee every two hours or so, a three-month-old puppy every three hours, and so on. Puppies need to be crate trained gradually for them to get used to the new environment and to see it as their den. Introduce your dog to the crate by leaving the door open and putting their favorite toy or a treat at the entrance to the crate. You should do this a few times until your dog is happy to sit and play in their crate without too much prompting from you. At this stage, you can start closing the crate door but, again, only for a few minutes at a time at first. Some dogs might start howling at this point — you should simply wait until their howling stops, count for 30 seconds, then open the door to let them out. You can keep increasing the time they spend with the door shut as they become more used to the experience. Firstly, put your dog in the crate and then step outside the front door. Count for 30 seconds and then reenter the house. Every day, you should increase the amount of time you spend outside the house until your dog is comfortable with the arrangement. Then you can stay away for an hour at a time until eventually, you can stay out of the house for four hours at a time with your puppy still happy. If you want your new pup to have more room to move around while still not given access to your entire house, you may want to consider getting a playpen. Make sure that you buy a pen big enough for your dog to stand up and walk around in. Other dog owners who work full-time dedicate a small room in their homes for their Lab puppy to stay. This gives your dog some much-needed space of their own, while also restricts their access to the rest of the house. You can make the room as puppy friendly as possible, with comfortable beds, blankets, chew toys, water and puppy pads. How to Avoid Separation Anxiety As we discussed earlier, one of the major concerns for full-time workers raising puppies is the fact they could suffer from separation anxiety. Not only is this a problem for you and your dog, but it could also cause problems for your neighbors, especially if they are in hearing distance of any howling. Someone popping in every few hours will also lessen any anxiety they may feel on their own too. These devices often have a webcam and a microphone that you can use to call your dog and show your face on the screen to them. Some dogs need some white noise or even the background sounds of the radio to stop them from feeling lonely. How you wish to tackle this is up to you: some full-time workers prefer to use a professional dog walker to ensure that their puppies get the requisite amount of exercise they need, while other owners simply commit to early morning and evening walks every day with their dog. When it comes to training, again consistency is key. Commit to at least two sessions of 5 minutes every day of training — once before you go to work and once when you get home — for the best results. Will you give them full reign of the house? Or will you restrict their movements in a crate, play pen or in a small room of the house? You may choose to send them to a doggy day care service instead. You can stuff these toys with some treats, kibble or even peanut butter, and your dog will have to work to get out the food: some owners say these toys keep their pups entertained for hours! Labradors are notorious chewers and chew toys can pose a safety hazard when pulled apart. Remember: compromise and consistency is key! Please be aware this page contains affiliate links and LabradorTrainingHQ receives a small commission if you make any purchases through any such links. This has absolutely no effect on the eventual price that you pay and we are very grateful for your support. Disclaimer All content on this site is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative to seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Raising a puppy while working is tough, but it can be done. Puppies have different needs depending on their age. After those intense first few weeks, things ease off. A combination of planning, friends, and paid help will certainly be a great support for you. Oh, those puppy eyes! Leaving that adorable bundle of cuteness is hard, but is it fair? Actually, yes it is. This can make them over-dependent on people. How long can puppies hold their pee? This is the number of hours they can hold their bladder. For example, a two-month-old pup can hold for three hours max. A four-month-old pup can hold for five hours. This equation levels out at around 6—7 months, with no dog being comfortable holding their pee above eight hours. Excluding comfort breaks mean risking the puppy getting confused about potty training, therefore, leading to an untrained dog. This raises the question: What to do about the dog while at work? The answer is to get help. They need toilet breaks at least every three hours for more options see the Toilet Training section. Somehow they need walks outside for potty training and a game to amuse them. This means planning ahead. Popping home in your breaks; Having a friend or neighbor called in; Employing a dog walker or puppy sitter to drop by; Leaving pup with a friend; Doggie daycare. And to plug the gap a dog walker calls in. But this still means leaving the puppy alone for some of the days. How do you keep your puppy happy? Keeping Your Puppy Happy People have strong opinions about whether raising a puppy while working full time is fair to the dog. Moreover, raising a puppy in an apartment! Their main objection is that puppies need companionship and plenty of play. Of course, it fills you with sadness to think your pup might miss out, so what to do with a dog while at work? Rule 1 is to leave the puppy pleasantly tired. This means plenty of play before heading out to work. Problem one sorted! Rule 2 is to give the puppy plenty to occupy them in-between visits. As well as the friend playing with the puppy, have a variety of toys and games pre-prepared for them to pop in with your pup when they leave. Rule 3 is to think about your puppy's safety before you leave. Make their space safe from things that could harm or scare them. Hide the glass vase, put away cutting or piercing objects, and dog treats, so your child doesn't eat too much. If you need even more reassurance that your dog is safe and that you can leave them alone, there is a solution. So you can be prepared if something happens to your four-legged friend in your absence. Freeze the Puzzle Feeder: In warm weather, freeze the food-filled Kong. It will take the puppy hours to lick out their meal. This provides great mental stimulation to prevent boredom from setting in. Safe Chew Toys: Make sure the toy is sturdy enough to be left with a teething puppy. Smear the toy with peanut butter, to make it extra tasty. The Cardboard Box Trick: Seal a treat inside a cardboard box. Let the puppy chew through to the treat. Rolled-up Newspaper: Put a few pieces of kibble or a treat inside a rolled-up newspaper. Add tape around it to stop the treats from falling out and offer it as a chew toy. You get the idea! No one said that doing it while working was easy! It hurts to be away from your pup. Petcube is more than a pet camera although this is important. While at your desk, Petcube shows what your furry friend is up to right there and then. More than this, you can speak to your pup through Petcube. Establish good behaviors, even from a distance. With Petcube dog camera you can praise them for resting peacefully and get them into good habits. As virtual pet sitting goes, Petcube spells furry fun for your pet pal. Preventing Separation Anxiety If the puppy links your disappearance with long hours of tedium, they may cry for you to return. This can become a learned behavior, where the dog cries when left alone. Preventing this means leaving boredom busters for the pup to play with see above. And you can always discuss tips for raising a puppy with a vet online! So when you leave, you make a big fuss, give lots of cuddles, bury your face in their fur, and apologize for going. Heck, you may even shed a tear or two. But what message does this send to the pup? Puppy cries when left alone. You soothe their crying, hence rewarding their anxiety. This is a pattern of action and reward which ends with the dog always acting up when you leave. In fact, sneak out. Play with the pup ahead of leaving. Then settle them down with a chew stick. Also, shake up your leaving routine. Change the order in which you put on your coat and pick up the car keys. Go out through different doors. So how to potty train a puppy when you work? The Puppy Pen Method A puppy that regularly soils themselves will stop trying to hold on. Down this path lies the dog that is not house trained. Encourage and praise the puppy to use the pads as a toilet. Done badly, a crate is a prison and a place that a puppy will hate spending time in. How to potty train a puppy with a crate? If necessary, buy a larger crate but use a partition to get the size right. Then make the crate super comfy with a soft bed and some toys. Good Things Happen in the Crate Hide treats in the crate and let the puppy find them. Put great toys in the crate. Feed the puppy in the crate with the door open. The idea is that the puppy will begin to link the crate to good things. Reward Calm Behavior Feed your puppy in the crate and briefly close the door. Praise their calm behavior and then open the door. Gradually extend the length of time the door is closed. Be sure to tell your pup how clever they are for remaining calm. This rewards their good behavior, rather than crying. Leave the Room With your puppy in the closed crate, leave the room for a few seconds. Only return when they are quiet and then let them out and give lots of praise. Well done! You now have a crate-trained puppy. Your puppy is kept safely away from objects they may chew or swallow; They feel safe in their den; It promotes good bladder and bowel control. First, crate train your puppy, and second, arrange for regular toilet breaks at appropriate intervals. Before leaving for work, play with your pup and take them out for a potty break. When they go, give the usual praise and reward. Then pop your pup into the crate with a safe chew toy. Make a low-key departure for work. Check that they are OK via Petcube. Have a friend pop in to give them a comfort break. For a week-old puppy, make sure this is at least every 3 hours. Take your pup to the potty training spot by this time they should be busting , and praise and reward when they go. Play with your pup and then settle them back down into the crate. Repeat this throughout the day until you return home from work. Few puppies have any bladder control before 8 weeks of age and this basically answers the question "can I leave my 8 week old puppy home alone? Some pups learn faster than others, so be patient. Set Up for Success Recognize when a puppy is most likely to pee. A puppy is easily distracted and will probably play with a leaf rather than concentrate on the job. Never Punish a Puppy When a puppy has an accident in the wrong place, never smack or rub their face in it. This makes toilet training harder, not easier, as a puppy learns you have an irrational dislike of their bodily function. Clean Accidents Effectively Clean up spills with a good deodorizing cleaner. This removes scent markers that might draw the puppy back to the same spot. Plan ahead, ask for help, and use Petcube to raise a puppy through those demanding early days. The reward is a well-adjusted adult dog with a wagging tail to welcome you home at the end of a long day. Plus, you can always have a peace of mind for your pup in case of a critical medical emergency. Petcube has got you covered for that as well. Woofs to happy puppies! Was this article helpful? Fife, Scotland Welcome to the forum! I am also a working Mum. We were complete novices - it was pre-lab forum, and OH had a dog when he was in his teens, me, never. We planned Lilly's arrival to coincide with school holidays so my son and daughter 14 and 11 at the time had her home for the first weeks. She was a little older when we picked her up as the breeder had kept her longer until after our holiday - around 11 weeks. Here is the first potential stumbling block - the kids were doing the basic training, really, not ideal, and I guess if you handed this over to someone else, you would need to know what they were doing, and HOW they were doing it with your pup. When the kids went back to school, Lilly was home alone from 8. By that stage we rarely had accidents, and the lunchtime visits only lasted about a fortnight as she was more interested in playing than popping out for a pit stop. A friend took her for a short walk if we were unable to get home. She was happy in her crate, and loved stuffed kongs. Personally we didn't use puppy pads or an inside toileting area. By the time we were leaving her, she was pretty much house trained. Lilly adapted really well and she is a contented inside dog. Perhaps Lilly's "selective hearing recall" stems from getting her a little older, and lack of structured training in the early weeks - in retrospect, leaving it to the kids, keen though they were, might not have been in her favour, but it seemed a pragmatic solution at the time Overall things have worked out fine for us. Lilly is really pretty laid back and sleeps all day she is almost 6 if nothing is going on. Things could have been so much different though. I can relate to Rachael's Oberon's comment about needing more input and structure - and financial input - over the first year in particular, then being able to slowly reduce the need for daycare and so forth. I am glad you have found the forum. You are quite rightly giving this a lot of thought. All dogs are different and I don't see why this shouldn't work for you, based on my limited experience. It is really hard work at the beginning before you get a dog the fits your lifestyle. Do expect the worst, though, then be pleased if you get an angel of a dog and it turns out much better. Why keep a dog when you work full time? More than a third of all households in the USA include a dog. There are benefits to dog ownership that go beyond companionship and love. Benefits to dog ownership There is no doubt, for example, that owning a dog can be a major factor in getting people outdoors and moving around An Australian study showed that dog owners walked on average 18 minutes a week more than non-dog owners. Dogs are family Of course, the primary reason we want a dog in our lives is because we love them and appreciate the shared bond between us. Dog ownership is not something to be taken lightly of course and the love you will feel for your dog is a double edged sword. Bringing both pleasure and responsibility in equal measure. While it would be great to spend all day and every day with our dogs, most of us work! Some people feel that this is wrong or cruel. Others feel that hard working folk should not be punished by being deprived of the joys that dog ownership can bring There is no doubt that when managed badly, pet ownership by working pet parents can result in sad, neglected pets. Managed well however, it can work out happily for all concerned. This is especially important when it comes to puppies. Would That Be Wrong? Caring for a puppy is more involved than caring for an adult dog. But while they are little, they need a lot of attention. They need companionship, frequent meals and potty training. It is possible to work and provide these things. For most working pet parents that means paying for some help. How long can you leave a puppy alone? The number of hours you can leave a puppy for will depend on his age, potty training stages, and whether or not the puppy is crated during that time. Here are some guidelines to help you figure out what kind of help you are going to need at each stage. Can I leave my 8 week old puppy home alone? The new puppy needs a lot of attention and companionship. And they may will not feel safe there. If you leave a puppy alone too soon and for too long, they may get very distressed, make a lot of noise and have a very upset stomach. You need to either arrange for time off work to be with your 8 week old puppy for much of the day, or for someone else to look after him whilst you are at work. Your new puppy needs to be taken out to a toilet area at very frequent intervals, every hour or so for the first few days. Then gradually accustomed to waiting longer between potty breaks. Puppies also needs to be taken on lots of outings to ensure they are properly socialized. This is vital, and difficult if not impossible to cram into evenings and weekends. Or the equivalent for an afternoon or evening shift. Put his night crate at one end with the door open, so that he can empty his bladder away from his sleeping quarters. How long can puppies be left alone from months of age By the time he is six months old, your puppy will probably be able to last three to four hours without a pee. And he may be happy to sleep those four hours away in a large adult sized crate. It is important here to consider the journey time to and from work. Setting Up A Puppy Zone If you are going to leave your dog any more than four hours, then he really would be better off with a puppy pen arrangement. Playpens to contain a puppy in your absence need to be sturdy. A puppy proof room Many people just leave the puppy in their kitchen, because, sensibly, it has a washable floor. Depending on your home, even this arrangement may not be ideal. Unfortunately, many puppies left alone for hours on end, will chew things up. Which brings us to puppy pens. Puppy pens and barriers These come in sections and can be assembled to fit most rooms. You will need one in addition to your crate. The flimsier ones are not robust enough for older puppies to be left in unsupervised. There is plenty of room here for the puppy to stretch his legs, and empty his bowels and bladder away from his sleeping quarters. This helps to preserve his natural instincts to keep his den clean. Later, your whole home will be his den, so we want to keep this instinct nice and strong. Bear in mind that some six month old pups can jump quite high, so if your pup starts escaping the puppy pen you will have to re-think. Bear in mind also, that this is the age at which some dogs become very destructive, especially if they are bored. So you probably will not want to give your puppy the run of the house just yet. These are broad guidelines of course, and every dog is different. Do be prepared to ask for support and advice from your vet, breeder and other experienced dog professionals, if you are concerned about how long to leave your puppy at any particular stage in his development. How to potty train a puppy when you work If you leave your puppy alone for longer than the puppy can wait to pee, they need to be kept in a large area with access to puppy training pads. The principle of potty training this way is to teach the puppy to pee and poop on puppy pads first. Later you can move the puppy pads by stages outdoors. If you only work part time, or have a friend calling in to be with your puppy, then as your puppy grows, you can start leaving them in a crate while you are out. I am often asked questions in the comments section, by new puppy owners that are leaving their puppy alone in the house all day. They are not sure what to do with their puppy while at work. They are having problems with house-training. Or problems with him chewing stuff, and with barking or howling while they are gone. Sometimes the puppy will cope for a few months then start wetting in the crate out of the blue. And at how we can help you to avoid them. Of course, there are some that can last much longer. But they usually belong to someone else. Some puppies will last not much more than twenty minutes at certain times of the day during the first week or so. As you can see, it is not possible to leave a brand new puppy in a crate for longer than an hour at most during the day without risking accidents. But the fact is, many things can influence how long a dog can go without emptying his bladder. And a puppy or dog whose bladder is constantly being overfilled is likely to be more prone to bladder infections etc. Or may give up when the effort of waiting becomes unbearable. Does it matter if a puppy wets his bed? This can delay the house training process considerably and even create a long term bed wetting problem. Which is of course, the opposite of what we want. A good rule of thumb for dogs over six months is never to crate a dog for more than four hours in a row. Your dog needs to stretch their legs, move around freely and above all, they need company. Where to leave a puppy while at work Leaving a puppy in a crate while at work is something that many new puppy owners consider doing. Howling and barking Puppies get lonely if left on their own for too long or too soon, and before they feel safe in your house. Puppies that are lonely will often howl, and scream. Small puppies have surprisingly large voices. Unless your home is separated from your neighbors by a good 50 yards, they will be able to hear your puppy screaming. The answer is to limit the time your puppy spends on his own to a reasonable and appropriate amount for his age. And to provide him with entertainment. Monitoring If you want to know whether your dog is potentially making a nuisance of himself to your neighbors, or getting upset whilst you are away, you can consider investing in a monitoring system. Pet Monitors use your WiFi signal to send video of your pet to you on your mobile device or to your computer at work. Some have motion detecting, so it only switches on when your dog is moving around. More comprehensive models even have a two-way microphone so that you can talk to your dog at home. The first few weeks Small puppies need help with toilet training and socialization , and can become very distressed if isolated for long periods of time in a strange place. Separation anxiety can be very hard to cope with. It is important that a puppy is introduced to solitude in a gradual manner, and after he has settled in to his new home. Check out our full length guide to crate training for more information. Keeping your puppy company when at work All puppies are different. Even puppies from the same litter. However, all Labrador puppies have in common a strong need for human company. As you can see, if you work full-time when your puppy is very small, you will need someone else to be there in your place. At least for part of the working day. This is both to establish good toileting habits, and to introduce him to the concept of learning to be alone for longer periods. There are lots of options for arranging this kind of care, and we look at them in our Day Care Options For Labradors article. Entertaining your puppy when you work Bored puppies are often noisy puppies. One of the best ways to occupy a puppy whilst he adjusts is with food filled frozen puppy kongs. They help to relieve boredom, sure. But they also give your puppy comfort and something to chew. And make the whole crating procedure a lot more pleasant for the dog Looking ahead to your older dog It may be unavoidable in an emergency, but it is not reasonable, to leave any dog alone indoors for the entire working day, on a regular basis. Depending on their temperament, some adult dogs may cope with the isolation. But many will become distressed, or bored, and get into mischief. And it is never pleasant being denied access to toilet facilities for hours on end. So, if you have to work full-time, you really do need to arrange for someone to visit your dog. And to take him out for some fresh air and exercise, at least once during the middle of the day. For the rest of his life. That is quite a commitment but it can be done. Working pet parents that have a good support system get just as much pleasure from their dogs as those who are able to spend more time at home. Dog creches can close, dog walkers get sick, etc. You need a friend or relative who will step in if your arrangements are interrupted or if someone lets you down. Combining work and dog ownership can be done, with thought, effort and often not inconsiderable expense. Although dog welfare is sometimes compromised in homes where everyone works, this does not need to be the case. Potty training, socialization and avoiding separation anxiety, will be three of your top priorities as a working puppy parent. With the right planning, your new dog can still grow into a happy, healthy member of the family. Can you have a puppy when you work full time? There is no law preventing a working person from buying a puppy. This is because tiny puppies require a great deal of interaction, time and care when they are small. Regular toilet visits and meals are a must when they are little. Left alone from 9 til 5 while their human family is out. You just need to have the right structures in place. Options for raising a puppy when you work full time You have three main options for raising a puppy when you work full time. Which one you choose will depend upon your circumstances, and the size of your wallet! Although the advice we give in the course applies to all puppy parents, this should all be easiest to follow if you are in close contact with your puppy. But not everyone can work from home. And the difficulties with raising a puppy when you work full time really arise when you need to be out of the house for more than an hour or two on a regular basis. Doggy daycare Probably the most expensive solution is doggy daycare. These are establishments that you drop your dog off with the care center in the morning, and collect the dog from them in the afternoon. Too much free play with other dogs and your pup could easily become quite rowdy with them in future. Not to mention overstimulated and overwhelmed. Leaving A Puppy Alone The practicalities of doggy daycare for most puppy parents mean that this option is not ideal. At least until their dog is older. Isolating a puppy or young dog can cause all kinds of problems, including separation anxiety, soiling, and constant barking. And it is likely to be extremely stressful to a young puppy. So, you will need help. How long can a puppy be left alone during the day? Puppies need companionship, and an awful lot of bathroom breaks. They also need feeding much more regularly than older dogs, as their tiny tummies can only cope with small portions. However, the amount of time does increase as they grow. How long can you leave an week old puppy alone? For the first week or two that your puppy is home, you should aim to be around all the time. You will probably even want to settle them in your room at night for much of the first week. Being taken away from everything they know is scary for puppies, and they are sometimes very upset. If possible take the first two weeks, 8 to 10 weeks old, off work. Even if you work from home! Potty training at this point requires going outside very frequently. Maybe every 15 minutes or so for parts of the day. And socialization is time consuming too. Your puppy needs to meet new people and visit new places on a daily basis too. You will also need to use these two weeks to start crate training your puppy, to gradually get them used to being shut in for short periods of time. Carefully done, this process will help the puppy see their crate as a wonderful, relaxing den to snuggle down in. How long can you leave a 10 — 12 week old puppy alone? Someone will need to visit the house every 2 hours to let them out for a pee, and to have a play. They will need to stay with the puppy for at least half an hour, interacting and having fun. How long can you leave a 3 — 6 month old puppy alone? A three month old puppy may be able to hold their bladder for up to three hours. They might even happily snooze in their crate during this time. Make sure they are let out for a pee, a play and some human interaction after no more than three hours. If you need to go out to work, then a puppy pen set up or a puppy proof room are important. A puppy proof room will have a wipe clean floor, and there will be nothing in the room that the pup can damage. The room should also be free from hazards. Cables, furniture, these are all appealing to a dog that is bored and on its own. Toys can help, if they are sturdy and in good condition. We recommend a stuffed frozen Kong to keep a pup occupied for a while. Puppy potty training vs full time work In an ideal world, you would be home with your puppy to establish potty training following a clearly laid out routine and schedule. Start by covering most of the floor that the puppy has access to with puppy pads. Over time you can decrease this area until they are only going in one spot. When you are home, take the pads up temporarily and give your full attention to potty training. Dog sitters or dog walkers Using a dog sitter or walker to come and let your puppy out for a pee and play can work well. But there is obviously a cost involved. Many puppy owners ask a friend or neighbor for help, but do approach this with caution. Some people quickly lose enthusiasm for a task or become resentful. Or have certain expectations of you in return. If at all possible do consider paying a professional for help, rather than relying on favors that could backfire in the future! Raising a puppy when you work full time: summary Raising a puppy when you work full time is not an impossible dream. But you must have a great plan in place before your puppy arrives home. Get help, make commitments and make backups to those commitments too. Just in case you get delayed at work. Make sure you stick by your dog when you are home and give their training your full attention. If you do this right, you can still have a great bond with a dog, even if you work full time. Leaving your dog alone while at work is no fun for anyone—neither you nor your furbaby. However, it may be necessary if you need to work to pay the bills and the dog food. Here are a few sample questions you should ask yourself before bringing a puppy into your life. Do you work on a fixed or flexible schedule? Do you work remotely or do you go into the office regularly? If you go into the office, how long does it take for you to commute? Can you take some time off for your puppy if needed? Can you cut back on hours or have someone cover your shifts when needed? Do you live alone or with other people? Review your options and see whether you can spend more time at home with your newest family member. Head out for a few minutes, then an hour and then longer. At the very least, get your puppy on a weekend so you have some time together. This starts with giving him his own space, around 6X4 feet is ideal. Many people use a puppy pen but you can use a spare bedroom or even your bathroom. The space should have a few crucial pet supplies including a comfortable bed, a few toys and something with your scent on it — old clothing works great. Pups tend to like den-like environments, so a cozy, smaller space is best. Building a good space for your pup can aid in potty training since dogs will avoid going to the bathroom near their dens or home spaces. Your dog monitoring devices can be a home security camera, a baby camera, or pet specific monitoring camera. Furbo Dog Camera is an engaging tool that helps you see, talk, and play with your dog remotely on mobile. Through the two-way communication system, you can speak to your dog anytime to soothe separation anxiety or stop bad behaviour. Use the free app to check in your dog at any time of the day or night. The HD, night vision camera lets you see clearly and a dog alert notification system allows you to get an alert whenever your dog barks, so you can keep track of barking and be alerted if your pup is in distress. You can even take photos and videos if you need to discuss a specific behavior with a trainer or vet. The free app also lets you control the video, photos and treat dispenser, so you can use these features anywhere where you have access to your phone. Furbo makes a clicking noise before dispensing a treat, making it ideal for use with clicker training. Leave out puzzles, toys and other things to keep your puppy busy. A treat which is frozen and requires your puppy to work for a snack can be a good way to distract them for hours. Check out your local pet store or favorite dog online shops to find interactive toys to keep your pup busy! To properly house train your dog, leave quietly without making any lavish displays of affection. Challenging I know, but the less emphasis placed on your departures and arrivals the happier and better adjusted your puppy will be. When you come home, praise your pup, take them out for a walk and heap them with praise. Give them love and be sure to spend time with them. Be sure to spend plenty of time socializing your puppy, too. Time spent with other dogs and in dog parks can help your dog adapt better to time alone. A poorly-socialized dog who spends all his or her time alone may be more prone to problem barking and anxiety, so make sure your fur baby has an active social life! Got that all down? Raising a puppy can be a sweet but frustrating experience for new dog parents, especially for those working full-time. The most important thing to remember is to be patient and spend time with your pup in training. With the right training and positive reinforcement, your puppy will easily adjust to their new home. At the end of the day, there are no untrainable dogs, just untrained humans! The following information can help you out with raising your puppy as a full-time employee. This depends on different factors, such as how old your puppy is and whether or not your puppy has any health issues or concerns. In general, you can leave a healthy puppy home alone when they are over 10 weeks old. Before your puppy reaches this age, you can start crate training. Staying in a crate helps reduce the risk of accidents and also keeps your puppy safe and secure when no one is around. Keeping your puppy in a crate is a temporary solution. Puppies that are a few months old or more might not handle being in a crate for several hours at a time. At this age, puppies are keen on being able to explore their surroundings. Having your puppy in a crate all day can lead to behavioral problems due to boredom or frustration so it would be best to consider other options. As your puppy gets used to being left alone, you can have these visits occur less often during the day. Creating Puppy-Safe Surroundings How can you make sure that your puppy stays safe when you work full-time? Your puppy should be able to turn around comfortably and have space for lying down without being crowded. Make sure the door on the crate is securely closed before you leave. If your puppy is older and has been house trained, you might be able to set up a gated area when you leave. This gives your puppy more room to move around and space to explore. Make sure that no dangerous items are around, such as cords that your puppy could chew on. A Happy Puppy at Home One of the most effective ways to help your puppy adjust to you being gone is by maintaining a happy home environment. Instead, leave your puppy with sturdy toys to chew on, or consider using puzzle toys. These toys require puppies to figure out how to get to treats that are stuffed or hidden inside them. Getting House Training Help Going through house training is among the biggest challenges that pet owners face when they work full-time. Instead, consider starting this training on a weekend. This allows you to work with and watch your puppy on a constant basis as needed. When you work on house training, make sure that you reward and praise your puppy for eliminating in the right area. Keep in mind that crate training can make house training less stressful when you work full-time. Puppies are less likely to eliminate where they sleep, which means they have a lower chance of having an accident. What to Know About Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety can develop when puppies are left alone, especially for long periods of time. Puppies with this problem can eliminate indoors, bark excessively and exhibit other behavioral issues. Having someone stop by to see your puppy every few hours or more often while you work can help prevent this from happening. Having other people around to help you out is one of the best ways to ease stress during this time. Unwinding by playing with your puppy after a long day at work can also help you relax while making your bond stronger. At Knose, we know how important it is to create a safe environment for your pets. Subscribe and get regular helpful tips on how to take care of your dogs so they can live their best life. Search topic.

Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix Highlights German Shepherd Rottweiler Mixes are mixed breed dogs, meaning they are not purebreds like their German Shepherd Dog or Rottweiler parents. The main colors of Rottie Shepherds are black, gray, sable, white, red, tan, and cream. Sometimes their coats are solid, and sometimes they have a mix of two or three colors. Both parent breeds are prone to shedding, which might not these mixed breed dogs a poor choice for allergy sufferers. These dogs have high energy levels. Make sure your dog gets at least one good half-hour- to hour-long walk per day with a few good, active play sessions and shorter walks mixed in. German Shepherd Rottweiler Mixes can make fun playmates for kids of all ages, but this big dog could accidentally hurt smaller children with what was meant to be a playful romp. Train your dog not to jump up early on. German Shepherd Rottweiler Mixes are pretty amicable with other dogs, as long as they are introduced slowly and properly. When it comes to cats, your Shepherd Rottie may have the instinct to chase. Breeders wanted to mix the two parent breeds, both of German descent , to combine their loyalty, strength, and intelligence. They continued to create German Shepherd Rottweiler Mixes as demand for the pups climbed. Even though the German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix breed got its start as a designer breed, some have ended up in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. Consider adoption if you decide this is the breed for you. Check your local shelters, look up German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix rescues, or check with breed specific Rottweiler or German Shepherd rescues, as they sometimes take in mixed breed dogs and find homes for them. That said, as a cross between German Shepherd Dog and Rottweiler parents, you can expect Rotties to be on the large side. Most weigh in at 75 to pounds and range in height from 22 to 28 inches at the shoulder. That said, many can be smaller or larger than average. Both the German Shepherd and the Rottweiler were bred to be working dogs, and this mixed breed likes to stay active both physically and mentally. They love to snuggle with their humans, and they tend to stick closest to whoever their main caretaker is. They can sometimes become a little too protective of their humans if they feel threatened. As big dogs, this mixed breed thrives in family homes, preferably with a yard or other area to run around. Still, a German Shepherd Rottweiler Mix can do just fine living in an urban setting, as long as their human is active and dedicated to exercising them frequently. While most are generally healthy, some may be prone to a few health issues , which is why it is important to maintain good care and regular veterinary checkups. He is 5 months old in this picture. We love him for his ears and especially when he turns his head sideways like this picture. He loves to run and play with my little dogs and thinks he is small. I call him Clifford the dog because he has tripled in size in 4 months. He is the most amazing dog. Very loyal and an amazing guard dog yet gentle enough to play with my friends 3 children who range from 1 to 4 years old. He loves playing with our Husky and 2 cats. He does have an insane amount of energy and wants to play with his favorite rope and balls. He is afraid of thunder and motorcycles. I honestly think that he thinks is another dog growling. He loves to lay in between me and my husband at night on his back lol. Layla the Shepweiler as a puppy at 3 months old wearing a white t-shirt. Layla the Shepweiler as a puppy at 3 months old taking a nap while wearing a white t-shirt. Layla the Shepweiler as a puppy at 3 months old after getting spayed. She is very loving, loyal, playful, very friendly loves to kiss and cuddle. She loves me her mommy. When we met it was love at first sight! She can be very spiteful at times, when I don't give her my undivided attention she will chew my shoe or go to the bathroom on the carpet. She loves playing with other dogs and is friendly with children. She had Parvo when she was adopted and spent the first week in the hospital hence the patch on her right front leg. She is seen here on her first walk with her new owners. When these photos were taken she was about 6 months old. She has since put on 20 pounds in just two months! He is very smart and learns tricks in tries. His primary obsession is fetch. He would probably play fetch until he passed out of exhaustion. Other favorite activities include, running, frisbee, long walks in our local park, swimming, shaking paws and training. He needs about an hour of good exercise and walking a day, but this is the minimum as he has lots of energy. KA is a great home protector and is always on the lookout for disturbances and potential burglars etc. He likes to camp out at our front door just in case he needs to bark and protect. He does not bark much other than if he hears something he isn't sure of. He does not get along so well with other dogs. Some of them he likes, some he doesn't. He is a very food-motivated dog. If we didn't control his diet, he would probably get a little chub! He is a really good dog, protects my kids and the house from anybody who gets close. He is lovely and loves to play with the kids and my other 2 Chihuahuas. We found him in a Winn Dixie store's parking lot inside a little box in a shopping cart. According to the vet he was barely 2 months old. He looked so much like a baby Rott that we decided to keep him. He had some bad hookworms and so many fleas when we found him.OMG now he is the baby of the house.This comprehensive guide will introduce you to everything you need to know about the strong and impressive, yet so cuddly teddy bear, that is the mix of a German Shepherd and a Rottweiler. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. The price will largely depend on the pedigree of the parents and the type of breeder. However, you may have a hard time finding a specialist breeder for this hybrid. These dogs are energetic so if your family is on the active side, this may be the pup for you. And as a bonus, they get on really well with kids and other animals. He also likes to be congratulated on each of his achievements. He has all the qualities of a sporty, enduring, strong, and flexible dog; it will therefore be the ideal companion if you are looking for a dog who can follow you in all your physical activities. However, being very close and dependent on his owners, he can show signs of jealousy if you pay more attention to someone other than him. This is why it will be essential to work on his sociability and get to know your dog well to recognize when he is uncomfortable in certain situations. This hybrid will also make a fantastic guardian, thanks to its fearful and robust parents. Are These Dogs Good for Families? However, be aware that this large dog could accidentally injure smaller children by playing too rough. Firmly train your dog not to jump on toddlers and educate your children on how to behave with the dog to avoid any potential problems. German Shepherd Rottweiler mixes are quite friendly with other dogs, provided they are introduced slowly and correctly. However, when it comes to cats or other small animals, your Shepweiler may have an instinct to hunt, especially if he has not been used to being around them from a young age. In the end, it really depends on how much training and socialization you give your dog.