standard size labradoodle puppies

Umbilical cord training Throughout the rest of this guide I will be referring to each of these 4 methods and when you should or could be using them. Once used to using the paper or the pads, you slowly cut the area covered until they reliably use just a couple of sheets and never miss. You then slowly move the paper toward the outside where another set is placed and you begin to encourage your puppy to go outside only, before completely removing the papers inside. At this point they will have made the transition. A top tip when paper training is when you clean away soiled paper, you should hold one piece back and place it as a middle layer of the new papers. Puppy pads have a scent that attracts a puppy, paper does not. Effectiveness: On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 3. This is confusing and will make the learning process take longer. Best suited to: Either people who are going to have an indoor bathroom spot long-term, or people who will not use a crate for training yet cannot commit to constantly supervising their puppy when inside the home. Ease of use: On a scale of 1 to 5, definitely a 5. But it does result in more mistakes from your puppy until later in life. Equipment needed: Nothing but stacks of old newspapers! A very cost-effective method. Description: The method takes advantage of the fact dogs have a natural instinct not to soil the area where they eat and sleep. Key to this is making the crate just large enough to stand in, turn around easily and lay down stretched out but no bigger. The rest of the time you watch them and regularly take them outside to potty to teach them good habits. Best suited to: Everybody! This is because you will have to crate train your puppy before you can use a crate for house training which does take time and effort. Click here for my free and detailed guide to crate training your puppy. Equipment needed: A suitable crate. I have a guide to help you select the right size and type that you can read by clicking here. Effectiveness: On a scale of 1 to 5, I tentatively give it a 3. It could actually score higher or lower depending on how committed you are and how successful at supervising your puppy you are. Best suited to: People who are against any kind of confinement and can stay at home to watch their puppy all day every day. Mostly people who work from home and the retired. But this method also forms a part of every house training plan, whether you use other methods alongside or not. This is because when a puppy is free inside a home, they MUST be closely supervised to prevent any mistakes. Ease of use: On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 2. It scores low as it requires a lot of input from you as the owner. It is quite draining never being able to take your eye of your puppy. Equipment needed: None. Not a crate, newspapers, puppy pads or anything. The cheapest of all the methods…unless you put a price on your time. But it is highly effective. Description: This technique calls for you to tether your puppy to you by leash and have them follow you wherever you go when inside your home. You will notice and be able to intervene and correct every possible mistake, taking them outside every time they need to relieve themselves. Used correctly, the opportunity for your puppy to make mistakes is completely removed so every single time they need to visit their bathroom spot is a training opportunity you will take advantage of and no mistake goes uncorrected. Best suited to: People who spend all their time at home with their puppy and would also enjoy literally being tied to their pup all day. Further Info: for a detailed discussion of this technique, the benefits, downside, and many more tips, please see my article: Umbilical Cord House Training: What is It? How Does It Work? A Mix Of 3 Methods I use and recommend a mixture of crate training, constant supervision and paper training. I use constant supervision extensively because when a puppy is outside of the crate you have to watch them diligently to avoid puppy mistakes. Admittedly this is somewhat going against my advice because I always recommend to avoid paper training if possible. It encourages or allows your puppy to toilet inside the home, before then training them not to do so. This is confusing to your puppy and harmful to our house training efforts. But even though I recommend against it, using paper training ever so occasionally as a fall back plan works well for me. Most dogs love being outside and will use any excuse to get out there and stay there. You do this by using a cue word and walking them on leash to their potty spot, not allowing them to do anything else and if they do not potty, taking them back inside and trying again in a few minutes. Because a full bladder or bowel is uncomfortable, dogs are happy to relieve themselves, but some may try to hold it if they think they can get to stay outside and sniff around a while. If people use different words, your dog will get confused. This will slowly teach them the command. And this is fine for the first couple of weeks while they have no bladder control and will perform their business very quickly. And some dogs even learn to actively hold their bladder just so they can stay outside to explore for longer. Before you can do this you need to first get your puppy used to wearing a collar and leash. Have You Got Everything Prepared? A Check-list Before You Start Like everything in life, house training runs smoother if you have everything ready before you start, hopefully before you even bring your puppy home. Have you: Decided on and marked out a suitable bathroom spot? Chosen and purchased a suitable high-quality nutritious food? Figured out the times of day you will feed your puppy? Got a collar and leash? Put in place a leash training plan? Bought a suitable crate and set it up in a suitable place? Bought bedding for the crate? Bought chew toys to occupy your puppy in the crate? Decided on the commands you will use if any? Purchased either baby gates, a pet barrier or an exercise pen for longer term confinement? Sourced stacks of newspapers or puppy pads to use in the long-term confinement area? Bought some small but highly tasty training treats to use as a reward? Bought specialized pet stain removing and odor neutralizing cleaning products? Bought a UV light to find hidden spots of urine that must be removed to prevent repeat accidents? Sat and discussed with every member of your household your finalized plans so everybody has the same info? Successful House Training Is All About Schedules And Routine Dogs thrive when living to schedules and routine, doing best when they have set times for eating, going to toilet, exercise, training and play. But because the passage of food through their digestive system stays roughly the same, if you feed your puppy at the same times every day they will need to defecate at roughly the same times every day. This results in fewer mistakes, more opportunities to praise your puppy for going in the right place and so speeds up their learning. Depending on their age a puppy will need to poop 3 to 6 times a day, and wee many more times than that. Can these times be predicted? Mostly they can. When a puppy needs to potty depends on when they last ate, drank and their recent activities. Mostly they need to go: First thing in the morning The instant they wake up from a nap at any time of the day Just before going to bed Within a few minutes of eating or drinking Immediately after a play session Immediately after any excitement But a puppy also needs to go many times per day regardless of recent activities, so you should also take your puppy to their bathroom spot on a consistent schedule such as the following: At 8 weeks old — every 30 mins. At 10 weeks old — every 45 mins. At 12 weeks old — every 1 to 1. At 16 weeks old — every 2 hours. At 20 weeks old — every 3 hours. Some will need to wee within 2 minutes of drinking, others after 20 minutes. Some will need a bathroom break within 2 minutes of waking, others 15 minutes later. You have to determine your puppies own natural tendencies and create a schedule to suit. To achieve this, you need to follow this 5 step process: Feed them to a strict schedule. Decide on exercise, play and training times. Develop a schedule including feeding, exercise, play, training and all scheduled potty times. Use the information gathered in your diary to learn from any mistakes and adjust your schedule for the following week. The more you can stick to schedules and routines, the smoother and faster the process will be. But you can stray from the path when necessary and still find success, it will just take a little longer. You should feed your puppy 3 times a day when 12 to 26 weeks old. From 26 weeks old and onwards, feed your puppy just two times a day For 2 meals a day you need to space them out 8 to 12 hours apart. What works for me is shortly after I get up at and when we have our evening meal between PM and PM. Availability Of Water: You should make sure fresh water is always available but because drinking too much or too little can be a sign of health problems, you do need to monitor their water intake. Physical activity often leads to a puppy needing to potty very soon after. So to encourage predictable potty times for your puppy, you want to schedule their exercise and play. Deciding when to exercise, train and play with your puppy is entirely up to you. You should fit it around your lifestyle and commitments, but try to make it the same times each day if you can. Enter all the following details into a single column in an excel spreadsheet, or write them down as a day schedule with a pen and paper: When you wake and add an instant bathroom break before you do ANYTHING for yourself! Enter the times you will play with, train and exercise your puppy. Enter a scheduled visit to the bathroom spot after each of the activities listed in points 1 to 3. Add scheduled bathroom visits after any length of time longer than your puppy should be expected to hold it according to their age. Write in scheduled sleeps for your puppy, place them in the crate or confinement area. After writing down this schedule, tick off each task as you go through the day with your puppy. This way you will always know what needs to be done and when, and there will be no confusion about whether someone else in the house fed, exercised or took the puppy to the loo. I discuss this further in step 5 below. You should be able to pick up on any patterns and adjust your own behavior to avoid mistakes in future. Was puppy left alone and peed in the living room while you made breakfast? Puppy should never be left alone unsupervised, learn from this mistake. Or maybe puppy peed in the crate after an hour? Learn from this mistake. Well done for watching them closely enough. So increase the frequency. Therefore you should stretch out the time between visits by 10 to 15 minutes for the following day. This is how you find out. And Now House Training is So Much Easier By writing out the schedule as in step 3, you should never forget to feed, train or take your puppy to potty. And by using the schedule as a diary as in step 5, you get feedback on how you and your puppy are performing, and are armed with the necessary info to make changes to your schedule over time. You, your puppy and their needs all stay in sync and house training becomes that much easier. Just make a spreadsheet in excel and print it out, or simply buy some lined paper. Keep it somewhere you can always see and know where it is, alongside a pen or pencil and write entries in it as you watch your puppy throughout the day. After this, continuing with a diary every day is the best advice, although keeping one for 3 consecutive days each week will be sufficient for you to pick up on any changes as they mature. Once your puppy is 5 to 6 months old, they will have sufficient bladder control and experience to make a schedule and diary unnecessary. Just make sure they get access to the outside at least once every 3 hours and all will be fine. Extending The Time Between Toilet Breaks I discussed earlier how a puppy will need regular visits to their bathroom spot, something like every 30 minutes at 8 weeks old, every 45 minutes at 10 weeks old and so on. But every puppy is different and their progress in having longer time between needed toilet breaks will vary too. You do this because as a puppy grows, the size of their bowel and bladder increases, so they will be able to hold more for longer and you want to take advantage of this. This is also teaching them necessary bladder and bowel control. Use your cue word before you take them: By using your chosen cue word every time before you take them to potty, your puppy will learn what the trip is about and what they must do. This eventually leads to faster results as they know what is expected of them. Lead your puppy to the bathroom spot on leash: This gives you the ability to keep your puppy at the bathroom spot and prevent them wandering off, getting distracted and forgetting what they are there for. Make sure you stay with them at their bathroom spot: If you have them on leash, then of course you will be. When they start to go, say your chosen cue word in a soft warm voice. Mix up the reward between play, time off leash and a food reward to keep them guessing, but keep the food rewards to a minimum as what goes in must come out and random feeding promotes random elimination times! Many people pop out, stand for 1 minute and then come back in. Some people recommend to stay out there for 10, 15, 20 minutes, whatever it takes until they go, then praise profusely when they do. I recommend you give them 3 to 5 minutes, saying your cue word every 30 seconds or so but otherwise standing silently still just holding their leash so they cannot wander off. Take them back to their bathroom spot in 10 minutes or so. If using a crate for house training: Pop them back in the crate and leave them for 10 minutes. Then take them back to their bathroom spot. Take them to their bathroom spot after 10 minutes. If not, take them away from their bathroom spot and watch them for 10 minutes before returning them to their bathroom spot. And if crate training, do not leave them in the crate too long else they may be forced to soil in there. Prevent this at all costs. Rinse and repeat the visits to and fro like this until they do potty, then follow the next sections advice. What You Should Do Between Scheduled Bathroom Breaks Between scheduled bathroom visits you should do two things: Allow some supervised free time in your home, and use your chosen house training method. By free time I mean time outside of their crate, or off leash, or out of their confinement area. Time free to roam, explore and live life. When 10 weeks old they may need to toilet every 30 minutes, so they only get 5 to 10 minutes free time. When 12 weeks old, they may need to toilet every hour so they can get 35 to 40 minutes free time. You allow this free time because you are of course working toward a time when they will always be free and trusted unsupervised. To get there they need the experience, to get used to being free in your home and begin seeing it as a place they need to keep clean. They also need social interaction and life experiences. But what are the signs a puppy is about to potty? Heading toward, barking at or scratching the door to the outside. The minute you see any of these signs you should take your puppy to their bathroom spot immediately. There may well be some false alarms, but better safe than sorry. Carefully watch them and you should soon notice what body language means a wee or a poop is imminent. There will be recognizable signs. We do this because the time is fast approaching when mistakes are most likely to be made. If using constant supervision: Carry on as you are. Then at their scheduled potty time, attach a leash and lead them to their bathroom spot. If using a crate for house training: Encourage your puppy into their crate and close the door, leaving them there until their scheduled potty time and then release them, instantly attaching a leash and leading them to their bathroom spot. If using umbilical cord training: Attach a leash and tether your puppy to you, ready to react if they make moves to eliminate. Take them to their bathroom spot at the scheduled time. If paper training: Take your puppy to their confinement area where their papered bathroom spot is and supervise them, ready to intervene if they make moves to potty away from the paper. Not good when you need to be there to encourage them for doing it in the right place. If they do, you can pick them up and carry them, or take them by the collar and gently lead them to their bathroom spot, then encourage them to finish where they should. But to me this seems foolish. Instead of a little pile or puddle, you then have a long line of wee or poop from where you caught them all the way to the bathroom spot that you then have to deep clean instead. Then think how they were able to make such a mistake and tweak your plans so it cannot happen again. But any corrections or punishment now will be futile. House Training For Full Time Workers This advice applies not just to full-time workers , but also if you must occasionally leave your puppy home alone for a few hours. Most importantly, follow all the advice in this guide so far for the times that you are home. Supervise them, correct any mistakes, set feeding and elimination schedules and everything else I have advised. First of all, if like me you use a crate, you simply cannot leave your puppy in the crate for many hours. This is very unfair on your puppy and it will destroy the crates power as a house training tool if they lose the instinct to keep it clean. Secondly, please do your best to enlist the help of a family member, friend, neighbor or hire a dog walker to periodically pop in to visit your puppy, take them to their bathroom spot, give them some social interaction and so on. But I also freely admit to using paper training myself occasionally, for the unavoidable times I have to leave my puppy home alone for a few hours. If you have to leave your puppy home alone for any reason, usually because you work, then paper training in your absence is the only thing you can do. You then have two options available to you: Buy and use an exercise pen, or confine your puppy to a single, puppy-proofed room. As they get used to pottying on paper, reduce the area covered one sheet at a time until just a small area remains covered. Once you know your puppy can hold their bladder for longer than they have to be left alone, remove the paper altogether. By 16 to 20 weeks, they should be able to last the 3 or 4 hours max they will be left alone and somebody comes to exercise them and allow a bathroom break. Between 8 and 12 weeks when weeing seems spontaneous , my puppy spends a fair bit of time in there and I paper train them to use puppy pads. Our kitchen and dining room was separated by an arch where a door used to be, with tiled flooring, making it ideal. I used a baby gate across the arch between the kitchen and dining room, and initially covered the dining area with paper, over time reducing it to just two sheets with the puppy pad holder on top. The dining area is completely empty, with no furniture, nothing in there. Skirting boards, the corners of furniture items, anything within reach is a potential target for teeth and claws. My girlfriend works from home, we crate trained and we had no problem finding house sitters in an evening if we needed one, so we all but had things covered. But this is something you need to be mindful of. Whatever the reason, there just WILL be times you cannot supervise your puppy. The essence of house training is to prevent mistakes and praise your puppy heavily when they potty in the right place. If you cannot watch your puppy, the chances of them making a mistake go through the roof. So even if you choose to use a constant supervision method exclusively, you will still need to confine your puppy sometimes to a paper covered area just in case. I mean literally none at all. One minute they are trotting along, the next they are leaking. No warning signs for you, not even any warning signs for them. I recommend setting up an exercise pen with the entire area papered, or do as I do and confine them to a room with the entire area papered. Use this time to paper train them, to get them used to weeing on paper and gradually reduce the area because you will use this method if you ever have to leave them home alone during the next 4 or 5 months. They will sniff, circle and so on as I mentioned before. At this point you can now move on to using your chosen house training method. Start encouraging them to potty in the right place from the minute you get them home. So the good news is, even at 8 weeks they will be able to last 4 or so hours and you will only need to wake once during the night. Also, make sure to take them to their bathroom spot right before you go to bed so they can empty themselves. Then set an alarm for 4 hours after their bed time when you must get up and take them to their bathroom spot. No excuses, you simply must do this. If you find your puppy has soiled in this time, you should set the alarm for half an hour earlier the next night 3. After a few days of not having a night-time accident, set your alarm for 15 minutes later and increase the time by 15 minutes for each successful night they do not have an accident. If you find they make a mistake one night before you wake, set the alarm back half an hour, make sure they stay dry a few days and then increase 15 minutes nightly again. And by using this schedule, you strike a good balance between a couple of inevitable accidents while stretching out the time at a good pace to lasting a full night. If they soil their crate more than once in any given week, you may have to progress slower add 15 minutes every 2 or 3 days , or perhaps sleep them in a papered exercise pen or their confinement room. Maintaining their instinct to keep the crate clean is of utmost importance. What To Do At The Bathroom Spot At Night When you take them out at night, say your chosen cue word, take them straight to their bathroom spot, praise them gently when they finish their business but do not reward them with anything else. The last thing you want is to teach your puppy that during the night is a time for play or food treats! This will come back to haunt you in a big way and result in noisy sleepless nights. You want your puppy to learn that night-time is for sleeping and for nothing else. Do nothing else. Some will be able to last the whole night without a potty break at 10 weeks rarely , and some may not be able to at 15 weeks also rarely. But certainly by 16 weeks old your puppy will be able to last a 7 hour night without needing to potty if you do not feed them for 3 hours or provide water for 2 hours before bed time and allow them to empty themselves right before you lay down for the night. No Progress? If you are feeding, exercising, training and playing with your puppy to a schedule, and when you look at your diary there seems to be no pattern to the times they need to potty, you should seek the advice of your vet. Common ailments such as gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection and health issues affecting internal organs and the genitalia can lead to a dog needing to potty much more frequently, often leading to eliminating in the house. Again, seek the advice of your family vet. You cannot successfully house train a puppy who is ill because their bodily functions will be too unpredictable. But 6 to 7 months is the ball park figure to aim for. A single mistake in the home can cause a major setback. A puppy may not make a mistake for 2 weeks, then you give them too much freedom, they make a mistake and all of a sudden they are regularly trying to potty in the home again. Also, some puppies just seem to forget everything for a few days now and then while growing up, even after being perfect for a couple of weeks. Just stick to your plan and they WILL eventually get it. Conclusion With house training, the fewer mistakes you allow your puppy to make and the more they are rewarded for doing the right thing, the quicker they will learn and the faster you will find success. Because of this, the more effort you put in and the more time you spend with your puppy at the beginning — supervising to correct mistakes and taking them to their bathroom spot many times each day — the better. But there are many other things you can do to help yourself and your puppy to find success. This guide has provided you with all the theory, strategies, tips and tricks you will ever need to successfully house train your puppy as quickly and efficiently as possible, with the fewest mistakes along the way. Please see the entire series linked to below:. Print Potty train your puppy quickly Housebreaking is one of the least desirable tasks when adding a new puppy to your family. It is never fun but consider it a necessary task. You will never regret having a dog that knows your home is not a bathroom. When to start housebreaking Housebreaking should begin the day you bring your puppy home from the breeder. It is important to establish quickly that there is a right and wrong place for your puppy to go potty. How long does it take to house train a lab puppy? I wish I could give a definitive answer for this, but the truth is that every puppy is different. Most puppies can be completely house broke by the time they are months. But assume there will be a lot of ups and downs through the process. Some puppies learn very quickly and rarely have an accident. Others take more time to make the connection. Here are some things you can do to help the process go smoothly. Have the right attitude! Keep your attitude in check to help this process go quickly and smoothly. Have patience! As already stated, potty training can take some time. It may happen, but it is unlikely. Instead, plan for a long haul and then you will be more patient and understanding when mishaps happen. The products I recommend I believe are a good value or good investment for anyone working to train or maintain training on their retriever. When possible, I include links to the product. Some of these links may be Amazon or other affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions and recommendations are my own. Step 1: Establish a place for your puppy to go potty To get started housebreaking your puppy, you must first establish a place where it is okay for your puppy to do his business. Find a place outside that is not too far from your home, but an area where you are not worried about killing the grass or trampling plants that are important to you. Consider this carefully, because once your puppy starts going potty in this area it will be exceedingly difficult to move or change the area. Once the scent is there, it is natural for dogs to continue going potty in the same area over and over. Do I have to potty train outside? In some areas of the country, winters can be very cold. Some new puppy owners wonder if it is too cold for their Labrador puppy to go outside to potty train during these times. The answer is no. Most Labs can easily be outside for a few minutes even during the coldest nights to go potty. A pee pad is a disposable, leak proof pad that is scented to attract your dog and encourage going potty on them. We highly discourage using pee pads because in the long run it is confusing to your dog. If you spend time teaching your puppy to NOT go potty inside your home and then flip-flop and begin letting them go inside your home on a pee pad, your dog will be confused. Besides, eventually you must retrain them to going outside, so the best policy is to never start letting inside be an option. Step 2: Establish a routine and schedule for your puppy Establishing a routine is the single most important step for housebreaking. The more consistent you are, the faster your puppy will learn to go outside for potty. This time will increase rapidly over the next few weeks, but that first week is going to take a lot of time and energy on your part to consistently let your puppy out on a schedule. To make being consistent easier, consider this: Set a timer When housebreaking puppies, we find that setting a timer is helpful. An hour flies by and you hardly realize it. For the first few days at least, set a timer and let your puppy out hourly, especially if your puppy is not in a crate. We will discuss that more in a bit. Timing is everything There are other times when you need to let your puppy outside. Immediately after eating or drinking your puppy should go outside. Eating and drinking will trigger a need to go potty, so to avoid accidents, take your puppy out every time they eat or drink. And if they drink a lot of water, you may have to take them out several times before they are back on schedule. Anything you can do to make going potty a routine will help your dog learn and associate that going outside is where I need to go to go potty. Use a command I know this sounds crazy but using a command can help your dog form an association between the command and going potty. At first this is meaningless to the puppy. And you cannot discipline your puppy for a potty accident in the house that you never saw happen. The solution for this is never let your puppy go unsupervised. This can be exhausting, that is why we suggest using a crate to help. The stern words must be said during the accident or immediately after to have any effect. Using a crate to house train your puppy First, while your puppy may not love his crate right away, if properly introduced and used consistently, Labs usually come to love their crates. As den animals, dogs will view their crate as a den where they can go to sleep or get away from the business of the home. Learn more about crate training your Labrador puppy here. When using a crate to housetrain your puppy, you first want to make sure that you have a very small crate. One that is just a little bigger than your puppy. This is particularly important because you do not want your puppy to be able to move around much in the crate. If they can move around, they can and often will go potty in the crate. So, start with a very small crate and get bigger crates as the puppy grows. Whatever you choose to use to block off the larger area, make sure that it is not something your puppy can chew on or ingest. You will still need to find a way to gradually increase the area that the puppy has access to, so I just find the multiple crate solution easier. You should still set a timer and take your puppy out on a regular basis, and you will want to schedule some time each day for the puppy to run around the house and play while supervised. Step 4: Using praise to speed the house breaking process You can help your puppy more quickly understand that going potty outside is the right thing to do by giving your puppy well-timed praise. But the praise must be well-timed. You should give the praise while your puppy is going potty outside or immediately after. Timing is very important! Lots of people get upset when the dog goes inside but fail to praise when the dog does the right thing. Not all dogs are the same. Some puppies will whine just before they go potty in the house, or whine at the door when they need to go. Some will hide somewhere you cannot see them and do their business there. Still others may scratch at the door. How long can a puppy hold it overnight? With young puppies, weeks old, you will need to get up several times a night to let them out. It can be helpful to limit the amount of water your puppy has access to close to bedtime. We usually aim for every 3 hours and then steadily increase the time as they get older. But each puppy is different. Final thoughts on how to house train your Labrador puppy Remember that housebreaking is a process. It rarely follows a straight line and more often there will periods of success and occasional mishaps. Stick with it and before long your puppy will understand that going potty in the house is not okay. Until next time, happy retrieving. How to housebreak your Labrador puppy. Labrador house training routines. We want them to learn to wait until they are outdoors before emptying their bladder or bowels. It is about maturity too. We need to understand that tiny puppies have immature bodies and are not physically capable of waiting very long. On your side There are two factors on your side in the potty training process. When it comes to bladder control, fortunately your puppy improves with every day that passes, so this factor does not work against you forever. The same applies to the fact that the puppy has been removed from his nest, he will soon learn to accept his new nest. The principles of puppy potty training The puppy is learning the principle of extending the nest area, which he keeps clean instinctively, to include your entire home. Punishment is counter-productive in this process as it teaches the puppy to avoid emptying himself in your presence. Rewards are helpful, but given the right routine, a puppy will naturally learn to be clean without them. The secret to successful house training lies in selecting targets that the puppy can achieve. If your puppy sometimes needs to wee every 15 minutes whilst he is awake and active, you will have to take him outside every 15 minutes. Restricted access Start small applies here too. Allow your puppy access only to a small part of your home. Increase the area he has access to, only when he is capable of keeping the current area clean. Just because he can. And because the sensation of a filling bladder is a new one. Your job is to teach him to wait a little longer. You do this by confining him for a short time, every time his bladder fills. You can confine him in his nest within a crate , or in your arms. He will be reluctant to wee in either location. If he wets himself, you have waited too long! It takes two You need to go outside with your puppy, and stay out there with him, each time he needs to wee. A tiny puppy is unlikely to empty himself on his own. This especially applies in cold or wet weather. Routines Matter When House Training a Labrador Retriever Based around these practical requirements you can create your own house training routine. For a puppy that needs to wee every half an hour, it will go something like this Take puppy outside to the toilet area and wait with him until he empties himself Bring him indoors and allow him free access to your kitchen for fifteen to twenty minutes Crate or cuddle the puppy until it is thirty minute since his last wee Take the puppy back out to the toilet area If at any time the puppy does not empty himself then confine him for another ten minutes and try again. As soon as he is regularly not needing to wee after thirty minutes you can extend the duration of free access to your kitchen. Provided you stick to these principles and strategies, the house training process, though quite intense for a short while, will pass smoothly. Time to start potty training your Labrador Puppy Potty training or house training is one of the first things that you will have to focus on after bringing home a Labrador Puppy. However, you must know what to expect when toilet training a Lab puppy, you must be prepared with patience and dedication since house training can be difficult in the beginning. Here are the house-training basics that you will need to follow to train your puppy. House training is done over time, and here is how. You can also take your puppy into your yard if you have one. Teaching your lab puppy go potty in the yard is the best idea since Labradors produce a lot of waste when they are grown. If you live in an apartment you have no other option but to take your Lab outside to evacuate. Lab puppies love to go outside and explore new territories. So for apartment dwellers, the first months of potty training will happen indoors. Puppies can refuse to go potty on surfaces that they are not used to. For example, if your puppy gets used to evacuating on hard floors, going potty in the grass will feel awkward to your puppy, and will prefer to do it on the sidewalk. So, using an artificial grass puppy pad while you potty train your Lab indoors can help to transition to real grass when your puppy is ready to explore the outside world. How to toilet train a Labrador Retriever Puppy Keep an eye on your puppy for signs like circling, sniffing, and scratching the floor. This means that your puppy needs to potty. Take your puppy outside or to the designated potty place in your house or apartment. This will help your dog know that is the place to go do the thing. If the activity is successful praise your puppy for doing a good job. You can also give your Lab puppy a treat for doing a good job, Labs are a food-motivated breed, so yummy treats help a lot with training. Positive reinforcement will help your Labrador to go potty in the right place. Limiting the movement of your puppy will make it easier to keep an eye on during this process. Consider using baby gates to close an area of your house. The area must be big enough so that your puppy can move and play inside. It should be close to your yard or the area of your house where you want your Lab to go potty. Also, this area must be easy to clean, you can expect accidents in this part of the potty training. Then take the puppy to the potty place and let it finish there. Do not scare the puppy if you catch it in the act, the goal is to get its attention and let it know that it is not doing the right thing. This is something you must teach your dog. Do it patiently and be consistent with the training and eventually, you will get your Labrador fully house-trained. Use some white vinegar diluted in water or an enzymatic odor remover to thoroughly clean the area. For this period, you might need the following items to begin potty training your Labrador puppy. Make sure they are all pet-friendly and of a reputable brand name. Absorbent pee pad : Dog training pads mostly come in handy in the first stages of house training, before your puppy can go potty outside. The benefit of a pad is that the mess your puppy makes will be confined to just one place and it will be easier for you to clean up. Stain Remover : As a routine, accidents are bound to happen. And this is why having a good cleaner is extremely important. Along with a pet, cleaner make sure you also have ample small towels on hand. Dog poop bag and Pooper scooper : Having these is also very important. They will come in handy when you have to pick up and discard the mess your little friend makes. You can carry these in your bag or even in your pocket when you go out on a walk with your dog. Treats: Many dogs are motivated by food, and this is why you will need food treats that your Labrador puppy enjoys. After your dog listens to your commands and goes to the right place, give him a treat, so he understands that food comes after he goes to the right place. A leash and collar: This will allow you to show your dog where the right place is. Barrier gates : This is also an essential supply as it will confine your dog to a specific place. Barrier gates make it easier to keep your house floors clean. Pee finder : Finding and cleaning dried pee will help prevent future accidents. You might also want a car seat cover in case you have to travel somewhere with your little friend. An artificial grass pad to train your puppy for the outside. When to start house training your Labrador puppy: On a general note, younger Labrador puppies have very short attention spans. At what age should a lab puppy be potty trained? House training should begin as soon as your Lab puppy arrives at your home. Which is normally at 7 to 9 weeks of age. So, if your little Labrador puppy is a few weeks old, you might begin with basic command words to get familiar with the house routine and also your voice. You can use this time to show your new Lab puppy the areas of your house it is allowed to be in, and close off any part of your house that is off-limits to your dog. The best moments to train your Lab puppy are: After a nap.

Less - Aussie Bulldog Australian Bulldogs have stout, compact bodies that are very strong and well-muscled. Generally, the bodies of female Australian Bulldogs should be longer than those of their male counterparts. Australian Bulldogs have a level top line and a broad chest with the brisket well let down. Their tail cartridge is straight off the back, and their tail may or may not be docked. Australian Bulldogs have a very strong, square head that is substantially deep and wide at the muzzle. They have a pronounced stop between their large, wide-set eyes. This breed has nose wrinkle. Australian Bulldogs bred for show have a near level bite and large teeth. Their wide jaw structure should be square at the top and bottom. Australian Bulldogs have a short, smooth coat that exists in a variety of colors. There are at least five shades of brindle that are suitable for show. Australian Bulldogs may also have a pied coat, meaning there is one coat color on the body that is more prominent than another. Australian Bulldogs often have a series of patches on their body. The Australian Bulldog is a medium sized dog that loves being part of a family. The Aussie Bulldog is intelligent, loving and loyal with a sound temperament. Good with children and fun-loving, this breed is pretty easygoing. It will enjoy playing with a ball or Frisbee and loves to play or swim in water. It is a good watch dog but not a guard dog, though its appearance can be a deterrent. Given the alertness of this breed, the Aussie Bulldog does have the ability to be a dependable watch dog at a mature age. With its intelligence and loyalty it is a very easy dog to teach at home, but obedience training is recommended as with any breed of dog. The Aussie Bulldog has stamina and its personality is one everyone could get attached to. This breed craves leadership from its owners. Like all dogs, they need a firm, but calm, confident and consistent pack leader and daily mental and physical exercise to avoid any behavior issues. The pair decided to cooperate together and breed a well-rounded bulldog. Their predominant focus was to construct a dog with a typical bulldog appearance, but one that also had a terrific personality. Despite the fact that this breed is not yet recognized by the ANKC as a pedigreed breed, the Australian Bulldog is recognized as a breed by the general public. But most are walking disasters: man has done more damage to the Bulldog than to any other breed. Breathing, breeding and skin problems are common. Appearance: Compared to the British Bulldog, the Aussie has a smaller head and chest, broader hips and a longer nose. Despite their appearance, they are not guard dogs. Temperament: Like the Bulldog, the Aussie has an affectionate, outgoing nature, without any of the natural reserve seen in most dog breeds. The Bulldog was originally developed to fight bulls and has had any reticence bred out long ago. Health: The original intention of the breeder was to eliminate defects seen in many Bulldogs, such as breathing difficulties due to an elongated soft palate, skin fold eczema, and caesarean births. The first crosses between Bulldogs and Boxers or Bull Terriers have seen most defects eliminated but in the long term, genetically, these could return if matings are not carefully monitored. Housepet potential: The short coat sheds little hair but the bulldozing nature of the Aussie Bulldog makes it unsuitable for families with young children. Older dogs can cope with being left in the house for working owners. The Aussie Bulldog should be able to take as much exercise as you like. Regular walks would be recommended to keep weight down. Ideal owner: For anyone who loves the look of the British Bulldog but seeks a healthier pet. Not for someone who wants to exhibit their pet as Aussies are not recognised by kennel clubs. History: Pip has crossed male Bulldogs — chosen for their sound temperament and physique — mostly to Boxers and English Bull Terriers with a dash of Bullmastiff. Further information. Males should be solid and compact with good muscle tone. Nice long bodies on the females are preferred as a rule due to their being better whelpers than short-bodied females. A nice level topline is preferred, with tail cartridge straight off the back. Tail can be docked or not. Moderate turn of stifle and hock angulations. Chest area should be broad with the brisket well let down. Front to be straight with good shoulder placement. Body coat preferred short and smooth, not thick or rough. Eye placement to be wide apart being large and clean in appearance. Teeth to be of good size and well placed within the mouth. Jaw structure preferred wide and square top and bottom. The Mini Aussie Bulldog comes in a variation of wonderful colors: shades of fawn, apricot, orange, red, mahogany, white and at least 5 shades of brindle including red brindle, fawn brindle, black brindle, mahogany brindle, silver brindle. Aussies also come in pied coloring with pied being one color more dominant than the other, with an arrangement of patches on the body that is quite appealing. He loves being part of a family. The Mini Aussie Bulldog is intelligent, loving and loyal with a sound temperament. Good with children. Fun loving, this breed is pretty easygoing. It will enjoy playing with a ball or Frisbee and loves to play or swim in water. Good watchdog, but not a guard dog, though its appearance can be a deterrent. Given the alertness of this breed, the Mini Aussie Bulldog does have the ability to be a dependable watchdog at a mature age. With its intelligence and loyalty this is a very easy dog to teach at home, but obedience training is recommended as with any breed of dog. The Mini Aussie Bulldog has stamina, a very sound temperament and has not been known to show any aggression problems that are uncontrollable. The Mini Aussie Bulldog strives for affection and comfort from their owners and family members. Like all dogs, the Mini Aussie Bulldog needs an owner who is calm, firm, confident and consistent ; setting the rules the dog must follow and sticking to them, along with providing daily pack walks are essential in preventing behavior issues. Height, Weight Height: 14 inches .Health Problems Although the best has been done to eliminate health problems within this breed, this does not mean that they are faultless, but all effort is put in to breed Mini Aussie Bulldogs of good health, sound structure and good nature. Living Conditions Miniature Aussie Bulldogs are not recommended for apartment life. This breed is an indoor dog, and should not be left outside all day in a kennel. Mini Bulldogs do best in temperate climates, as the breed can chill easily in cold weather and have trouble cooling off in very hot weather. Exercise Mini Aussie Bulldogs need plenty of exercise. They need to be taken on a daily walk. In addition, they like to go swimming in summer and lie in the sun during the winter months. Mini Aussie Bulldogs have more energy than their full-size Australian Bulldog relatives, particularly the females. They should get plenty of daily exercise. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when necessary. Wipe the face with a damp cloth every day to clean inside the wrinkles. This breed is an average shedder. Pip Nobes and Mrs. Lee-ann Milton as a smaller version of the Australian Bulldog. In the beginning of their breeding, they considered using the Boston Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, however because of the temperaments of these two breeds, the idea was scrapped. The goal was to create a healthier version of the English Bulldog. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement PDS to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing or choosing to continue with the product. Testimonials and customer experience may vary depending on individual circumstances. Claims are assessed subject to policy terms and conditions. The discount will be spread over the course of the first year and deducted from the standard monthly payment. This offer only applies to new policies for eligible pets under the age of 12 months and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. We may revoke this offer at any time without notice to you. Limit of one 1 Pet ID Tag per policy year. Cover is subject to the terms and conditions of the policy for each renewal period. For further details, refer to your PDS. Whether that is the case will depend on the nature and experience of the condition, and some conditions are eligible for review after an month period — refer to your Policy Booklet for more information, terms and conditions. To do so, your Vet will need to certify and provide veterinary records verifying that the Condition remains a Temporary Condition and has not existed, occurred or shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality for a period of 18 months. The Pre-existing Condition exclusion s shall not be deemed to have been lifted unless agreed to by us in writing. For more details refer to the Product Disclosure Statement , or download the form here. Refer to the Product Disclosure Statement for further details. Refer to the applicable Product Disclosure Statement for further details. Not all conditions and treatment will be covered.

Dana has raised Golden Retrievers since .They are smaller than most goldens because they are bred to the Golden Retriever standard. Females fully grown are between pounds and Males fully grown are between pounds. Our Goals: At Champagne Goldens, we strive to produce the healthiest high quality pure bred golden retrievers possible. This involves breeding only to the AKC golden retriever standard and only to golden retrievers that have received and passed all of their OFA Clearances which includes hips, elbows, thyroid, eyes and heart. DNA is also cleared for any health issues. Puppies are evaluated for temperament, soundness, trainability and health. Our Puppies: All Puppies are sold on a co-own basis only. Pet companion puppies are sold on a limited registration, but not spayed or neutered until the age of Months because of health concerns. This is the primary reason for co-owner contract, because of the long wait to spay or neuter. Once there is confirmation from a veterinarian that the puppy has been spayed or neutered, the puppy will be registered solely under the buyers name for Pet puppies and at 7 years old for Show Prospect puppies. Show prospect puppies will be on a co-own unlimited registration with breeding rights, with the option of the breeder as a mentor to buyer for showing or the breeder can show the puppy for the buyer. If you would like to get a puppy from us: 1. Have patience — we only have 1 to 2 litters a year. Check on this page for announcement of breeding plans. How do you reserve a puppy? Once the puppies are born: We notify those who have completed the puppy inquiry by the date inquiry is received. Those interested will be sent a copy of the deposit contract and sales contract by email once commitment has been confirmed. How do I receive my puppy? Puppies can be picked up in person, met half way for a fee, or shipped by airplane paid by buyer. What is the process of choosing a puppy? The choosing process is a collaborative effort, but in the end we have the final say. We spend a lot of time with the puppies. New owners are encouraged to let us know if there are certain puppies they feel they are drawn to. The decision for puppy placement is made between around 8 weeks old for pets and weeks for Show Prospects— after the puppies have had their temperament test, breed structure evaluation and veterinarian health check. This process seems to work out well for all. What else can you expect? Each puppy will have received their vaccinations against parvovirus and distemper and up to date by age of pick up, usually between weeks of age. You can also expect a lifelong breeder relationship and support. Champagne Golden Retrievers will Always have a Home- If, for any unforeseen circumstance, you find yourself unable to care for your Champagne Golden Retriever you can NOT relinquish your dog to a shelter, rescue, or resale the puppy. No matter the reason, we will provide a loving home and take them back. Litters If you would like to get a puppy from us: 1. Have patience — we only have 1 to 2 litters a year. Check on this page for announcement of breeding plans. How do you reserve a puppy? Once the puppies are born: We notify those who have completed steps .Those interested will be sent a copy of the deposit contract and sales contract by email once commitment has been confirmed. How do I receive my puppy? What is the process of choosing a puppy? The choosing process is a collaborative effort, but in the end we have the final say. We spend a lot of time with the puppies. New owners are encouraged to let us know if there are certain puppies they feel they are drawn to. The decision for puppy placement is made between around weeks old — after the puppies have had their temperament test, breed structure evaluation and veterinarian health check. This process seems to work out well for all. What else can you expect? Each puppy will have received their vaccinations against parvovirus and distemper and up to date by age of pick up. You can also expect a lifelong breeder relationship and support. Champagne Golden Retriever will Always have a Home- If, for any unforeseen circumstance, you find yourself unable to care for your Champagne Golden Retriever there is no need to ever relinquish your dog to a shelter or rescue. No matter the reason, we will provide a loving home. Puppies were born September .Interested in more information? When you adopt a puppy from Horizon Puppies, you become part of our family. I picked up my gorgeous golden today. He was bathed and just perfect. No problems at all. Once home he quickly settled in. Just shows how much love and care went into raising them. Look around and then take a hard look at not only the quality of pups they raise but then at an affordable price. I know I made the right decision after a lengthy search. Thank you so much for a wonderful life companion and soon to be spoiled family member. Tim Galloway Amazing to work with. Highly Recommended. Great Puppies. Adam Steury May 26, We received Maggie May from Mark and his family and she is great she was raised very well and kept very safe and clean she was family raised we picked up up at eight weeks old within three days she was going potty outside by ringing the bell at the door she is very smart she will be four months old tomorrow she plays games and completes that with no problem already on stage III Christoph Incorvia November 19, Highly recommended Horizon Lab Puppies!!! From day 1 they have been so great! We got weekly updates to watch our puppy grow and they were very informative on everything the puppies were learning and doing. They made sure the puppies were apart of the family and you could see all the love they gave them. So happy with our purchase!!! Beverly Kreimeyer November 10, We brought home our beautiful puppy Luna today and she has been an absolute delight. We loved getting the weekly updates from Horizon and that we knew all of the puppies were well taken care of, and also part of the family. She had already started potty training and was well loved by a family and children included. I would highly recommend them and purchase from them again in the future. Working with Horizon has been a great first experience for us. The breeders truly care about these pups and their forever homes. We keep in regular contact with the breeder and send updates on our pup. Harvey has been a great puppy. He is a beautiful dog and has been a quicker learner. He has been so much fun for our family. We would definitely recommend Horizon to our family and friends. I am a college graduate with little background with dogs. The breeders were more than willing to answer all my questions and walked me through the caretaking process. I met the breeder personally and saw where the puppies are raised. The breeders truly care about their puppies and it shows. Beau has been healthy and an incredible dog. I would most definitely recommend this breeder to friends and family. Beau below at 6 months Matthew Harvey.

These dogs are typically large in size and have a strong, muscular build. They are intelligent, loyal, eager to please, and loyal. They require extra effort and must be exercised and stimulated mentally, properly groomed, and nourished for optimal health. You may like: Akita shiba inu mix. The American Kennel Club accepted Akitas into the show classes in .They were originally bred to hunt large and moderate-sized games such as elk and bears. Also, they were used to guard the Japanese royals. They are considered a national treasure in Japan and symbolize protection, happiness, longevity, and health. She fell in love with the breed while visiting the country, giving her a puppy to take home. They are large and strong dogs. A strong stance complements their large heads and triangular-shaped eyes. They can be found in white, chocolate, black or white with brindle or a combination of white and color. Dogs with long hair shed a lot. It is recommended that they be brushed at least once a week to maintain their healthy coat. Akitas are usually between inches tall cm and weigh between lbs kg. Moreover, Akitas can live up to years. Akitas are loyal and bold dogs that their owners can trust. They are alert and intelligent, fearless of strangers, and courageous. Also, they require lots of exercise to keep them active and prevent them from becoming destructive and bored. German Shepherd. Also, they are unmatched in their devotion and courage. They are also incredibly versatile. The German Shepherd Dog also known as the Alsatian in Great Britain, and parts of Europe is one of the most beloved large dog breeds in America and possibly the most well-known breeds worldwide. Their fame is partly because a tiny puppy was taken from a bomb- and bullet-ridden breeding kennel in France during World War I. It was named Corporal Lee Duncan. Duncan took the puppy home to Los Angeles at the end of World War I, trained him, and made him one of the most popular dogs in show business. The German Shepherd has held many other jobs, including leading blind people, searching out illegal substances, and serving in the military. Herding stock is just one example of many. You may like: Akita pomeranian mix. The Akita Shepherd breed is a wonderful companion for families if they are properly trained and conditioned. Moreover, this mixed breed dog is very social, loving, loyal, and playful. Akita Shepherd mix dogs love their owners and are very loyal. However, they can be stubborn and headstrong. They can be stubborn and will go against all odds. It could be due to their playful nature or a behavioral problem. This can be managed with good care. But behavioral issues are difficult to overcome. This is because females are more aggressive than males. Akita German Shepherd mix breed dogs are usually large. They have a strong, muscular build and weigh anywhere from 75 to pounds. Akita German Shepherd mix breed dogs have a thick coat that can be either short or long. The most common coat colors are black and tan, but they can also be brown, red, or white. Akita Shepherd mix shed a lot because they have medium-length hair and a double-coated fur. However, taking care of their coats properly and takes a lot of energy and time can be difficult. The Akita Shepherd mix dog breed may not be the best for people with allergies. If you brush them enough, their coats will be manageable. It will need to be cut if it gets tangled up and knotted. You may like: Poodle akita mix. German Shepherd Akita mix breed dogs need plenty of exercise and attention. In fact, they should be taken on long walks or runs daily, and they will also enjoy playing fetch or going for a swim. German Shepherd Akita mix breed dogs require regular grooming, including brushing their coat several times per week. Akita German Shepherd mix breed dogs are generally healthy, but they can be prone to health conditions such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and bloat. It is important to have your dog checked by a veterinarian regularly and to provide them with proper nutrition and exercise to help prevent these health problems. The most important concerns are: Hip dysplasia. June 8, Affiliate Disclaimer As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties. This mix is a versatile dog that is known for being loyal, protective, and intelligent. The Akita German Shepherd Mix is also called Akita Shepherds or Shepkitas and has a beautiful coat that makes this mixed breed dog stand out. Akita German Shepherd Mix breed characteristics They can build a strong bond with their owners and make great family pets but may be too much for small children. Akita German Shepherds need plenty of exercise and can be quite active. They are also known to be independent and stubborn at times. Some Akita Shepherd owners believe that male akita shepherds are also more likely to bark and howl than female akita shepherds. General Breed Attributes The breed is a blend of the best qualities of both the German Shepherd and Akita, so they come in an array of colors — from light tan coat color, to pitch black, and everything in between. The Akita Shepherd is a great dog with high energy. Learning more about the breed characteristics will help determine if it is right for you and your family. Background and origin The Akita was originally bred in Japan to hunt bears and other large game. The German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds in the world. They are known for being loyal, intelligent, and protective. Max von Stephanitz is the founder of the German Shepherd breed. He is considered to be the father of the breed. They were used in the German military and were working dogs and were used for herding sheep and guarding property. There are two different types of Akitas — American and Japanese. The Akita Inu is a smaller dog and has a smooth coat. The American Akita is a large sized dog and has a thicker coat. Common traits of both breeds Akita Shepherds are a mix of two very different breeds but they share some common traits. They are loyal, protective, and intelligent. Akita Shepherds or Shepkitas need plenty of exercise and can be quite active. The male Japanese Akita weighs between pounds and stand up to 28 inches. Temperament When given proper training and conditioning, the Akita Shepherd breed can be a great family companion. This mixed breed dog is also very social, loveable, loyal and playful. While they do love to please their owners, Akita Shepherd mixes tend to be headstrong. They can also be very stubborn and intentionally obstinate. Part of it is due to their playful nature and the other part is a behavioral issue. But, with the right care this will be minor. However, behavioral issues will be difficult to quell. Unfortunately, females tend to be worse than males in this regard. The independent nature of Akitas combined with the bold autonomy of German Shepherds equate to an a dog that may need to be reigned in. Family and children Akita Shepherds make great family pets but maybe too much for small children. Akita Shepherds make great guard dogs and are protective pets when it comes to their family. Along with adequate and consistent training, the dog will be more than amenable and affectionate toward the child. Still, never leave an Akita Shepherd alone with other pets or children without supervision. This breed will enjoy everything from playing fetch in the back yard to taking an hour long walk. As with any dog, you want to start training regularly and early socialization are important. Grooming requirements and Shedding Because both Akitas and German Shepherds are dogs with fairly thick coats, your Akita Shepherd probably will too. This means you have to do daily maintenance brushing along with a weekly thorough brushing. Use a slicker brush and pin brush for grooming in between sessions. The dog will also probably need the fur cut down on its coat. This is ideal during summer, to help the dog tolerate heat better. After your precious pooch has been outside, you have to check its ears and coat for pests and fleas. Health The life expectancy of an Akita Shepherd breed is around 10 to 13 years old. While these are robust, strong and healthy dogs, they do experience some health problems. The most important of these health problems will be things like: hip dysplasia. With this pooch, you get the best of the Atika and the German Shepherd breed. There are so many reasons to fall in love with this dog. Shepkita dogs are rare since there are very few legitimate breeders out there. Considered spiritual symbols for happiness, health, and protection, Akita Inus were declared a Japanese national treasure in the mids. Akita Inu dogs were initially bred to hunt medium to large animals like boars, game, and small bears. The famous American, Hellen Keller , brought the first Akita to North America in the midth century after falling in love with the breed. From here on, the population grew steadily in the States and was later recognized by the AKC in .And the result is a loyal, and dedicated Akita German Shepherd. It was around the s that breeders started creating Akita Shepherds, sometime after Akitas were brought to the United States from Japan. However, they may have existed naturally throughout the years. Exercise These high-strung hounds are extremely athletic and need plenty of exercise in order to burn off some of their boundless energy. So whether they do this by playing fetch or chewing on your furniture or even their own feet , is up to you. However, if you can give your Shepkita a job to do, they will need substantially less dedicated exercise time, which may be a big help to you, time and energy-wise. In terms of work, they are most often trained to herd animals, or otherwise, they are also excellent at patrolling and guarding. Either of these jobs is a great way to put these pets to work if you can. Can These Dogs Live in an Apartment? While Shepkitas can technically live in an apartment, having a big backyard is ideal for these active canines to run around and survey. Otherwise, if they spend most of their day indoors then they will need at least one hour of rigorous exercise to tire them out preferably in a cool environment due to their thick coats. Just be sure that you have the time and energy that these dogs require in order to be balanced and happy. When it comes to these pooches, training and proper socialization are non-negotiables. This can be in the form of agility training as well as mentally stimulating puzzles and doggy toys. Without these, their natural instinct to protect can turn to aggression towards people or pets. Fortunately, training a Shepkita is a breeze compared to some other breeds out there, thanks to them being whip-smart and eager to please. They can take a lot but be sure not to push them too hard with high-impact moves as they can be prone to back injuries. These pups love a challenge and even more so, love excelling at any task they take on. In fact, this love for excelling makes them naturally competitive and excellent at dog sporting events and agility trials. They may be easy to train, but they still require a trainer who is dedicated to putting in the time. These dogs have too much potential and natural ability to be neglected in their training. The stoic yet fun-loving nature of these pooches makes them excellent family members, and they will take this role very seriously. When it comes to smaller children, they will both protect them with their lives and express all their goofiness during playtime. Socialization Socialization is crucial with these dogs. Their natural guarding instincts can turn from healthy overprotectiveness to a more volatile trait. When you bring these cuties home as puppies, you should focus on getting them used to other animals and people from the get-go. They may not even mean to be aggressive , but simply not know the extent of their force. In order to avoid any unwanted accidents, keep an eye on younger children around your Shepkita. Socialization with Other Pets These mix-breed cuties are excellent playmates and should get along with your other pets just fine. In fact, if you have other high-energy dogs, it may work nicely in your favor to let them expel some energy with each other. However, same as with people, socialization is very important when interacting with other animals. If not properly trained, they may see other animals as a threat and try to assert their dominance. When it comes to cats, for instance, these hounds can certainly get along just fine with feline friends but it takes tons of socialization. If not, then this is when their stealthiness can become a problem for your cat. And their incognito movements may not give your kitty enough time to make a run for it. So be sure to socialize your Shepkita around your other pets from the beginning. Instead, they prefer to hang back and assess the situation before unleashing their intimidating woof. These are two extremely intelligent breeds. It makes sense why someone had the idea to mix them. Their reserved manner is nicely balanced with an adorably goofy side during playtime and when it comes to their dog toys. Moreover, training these pups is a very rewarding feat. What would take other dogs days to learn, these eager-to-please, intelligent pooches master in no time at all. But like with any thriving relationship, there needs to be mutual respect. These doggos have so much to offer, but are equally headstrong and will usually only perform once you have their respect. They also shed seasonally when the weather warms up — this is called blowing their coat and can be a hairy situation. Otherwise, investing in a lint roller might be handy. Brushing them daily will go a long way towards limiting shedding. However, this will be a full-time job, multiple times a week in order to keep their coats neat and shiny. There are a variety of brushing tools you can opt for depending on your pooch. Pin brushes are good for longer coats, and using a slicker pin brush could work too, depending on the fur length. However, between running around and jumping they should naturally file them down quite a bit. Your German Shepherd and Akita mix can range from white, silver, and brindle to red, brown, black, gray, and sable. These pups take their guarding duties very seriously, remaining solemn and focussed while on watch. These pooches need plenty of exercise, and they thrive when they have a job to do. Putting these dogs to work on a daily basis will be first prize. Otherwise, you can expect to spend your free time playing many games of fetch or finding creative ways to expel their heaps of energy. These pups are rather remarkable and rare. Most Akita German Shepherd owners specifically seek out this breed and usually have a clear purpose in mind for them. The biggest reason is usually for their excellent instincts and guarding abilities. They are also known to make sensible spur-of-the-moment decisions without acting rashly. And of course, the fact that they are eager to please and love taking orders is a huge bonus. These are hard-working dogs that you can rely on to be consistent and obedient. But of course, the excellent service of these loyal companions comes with a price. An Akita Shepherd will require plenty of attention, and any spare time should be spent working with and training them. Their intelligence, trustworthiness, and dependability are but a few of the traits that make them perfect guard dogs. You will pay even more if the pup is bred specifically for security purposes. Another good bet is to search animal shelters and pounds for one of these special doggos. You might just pay a little less too. However, if you go this route, you may need to be prepared for some behavioral issues or health problems. This is a possibility due to potentially less legitimate breeding histories. This shows in the size variations of these pooches. Some of these dogs are medium-sized, weighing around 50 or 60 pounds, while others weigh in at an impressive pounds. They usually have a height of 24 to 28 inches from the shoulder. Dietary Requirements These dogs are like athletes and should be nourished as such. Therefore, a diet high in protein is essential. Luckily there is some excellent high-quality dog food on the market to ensure a healthy and happy pup. High protein kibble will ensure their muscles are well supported and they have long-lasting energy to sustain their rigorous activity. You can also look into adding some doggy vitamins and fish oil supplements into their diet for their joints and overall health. Some dog owners even like to give their dogs raw foods. These dogs have a tendency to gain weight easily. Not only is an overweight doggy a less happy one, but also an unhealthier one. A good tip is to not leave food or treats out throughout the day but rather, to implement set meal times. Health Issues Like most cross breeds, these dogs are usually healthier than their purebred parents. However, there are a few health problems to look out for when it comes to the Akita German Shepherds. It depends largely on which parent breed your Shepkita takes after in a specific area. For example, if they take after the German Shepherd side then you can expect to encounter spinal problems that lead to things like hip dysplasia and arthritis as they age. On the other hand, if their back is straighter like their Akita parent , you may be in the clear in this area. These are some of the known problems you can look out for. Less Serious Conditions Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This disease affects the photoreceptor cells of the dog, causing them to deteriorate over time, eventually leading to blindness. Panosteitis: Causes lameness in the legs due to inflammation along the long bone of one or more of the legs. Arthritis: A disease caused by damaged cartilage within a joint that leads to the bones in the joint rubbing together, causing painful inflammation. Pemphigus: Leads to scabs and ulcers around the ears and face as well as hair loss. It is one of the most common autoimmune skin diseases in dogs. Perianal Fistulas: This disease is common in German Shepherd breeds and is characterized by painful ulcers and sinus tracts as well as ulcers on the skin around the anus. Sebaceous Adenitis: This disease refers to inflammation of the skin that leads to poor coat quality. Elbow Dysplasia: Elbow Dysplasia is characterized by lameness in the forelimb and results in limping. Serious Conditions Bloat: This occurs when the stomach of a dog fills with food, gas, or fluid and twists. Hemophilia: This disorder is a result of a gene mutation where Factor VIII is deficient and causes abnormal blood clot formation. Congenital Heart Defect: A defect in the ductus arteriosus heart vessel, usually present in puppies soon after birth. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: This condition is characterized by the inability to digest food properly due to deficient pancreatic enzymes. Pros of Owning an Akita Mixed With German Shepherd You will have a loyal, hard-working companion that will make guarding you their top priority. You also get to own a very rare and rather unique pooch. These highly intelligent canines will wow their audience with agility and trick routines. These dogs need loads of attention when it comes to training and exercise, and if not properly socialized, can cause you some problems with other people and animals. Male and Female Akita German Shepherds One of the main differences between males and females is a range in sizes. However, in saying this, there can also be a significant size difference between two dogs of the same gender. This is once again due to the lack of clarity in the breeding standards. Males tend to be eager to please and clingy, while females mature faster and are usually slightly smaller. This top-notch guard dog, dedicated family member, and loyal companion is a hound with whom you can build a real rapport. So if you do, hold on tight. I covered all of the costs associated with writing this post on the akita german shepherd mix. However, it does contain affiliate links. That means if you click through on some of the links in this article and end up making a purchase I may receive a small commission. Just wanted to let you know. She is dog mad and dog aunt to Clover in London and Poppy in Sydney. 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 Akita Shepherd Highlights The Akita Shepherd is a mixed breed dog. They are not purebreds like their Akita or German Shepherd Dog parents. The main colors of Akita Shepherds are brindle, white, silver, red, gray, brown, sable, and black. Sometimes their coats are solid, and sometimes they have a mix of colors. Regular weekly brushing—and daily brushing when their coat blows—should do the trick. Akita Shepherds have medium 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. With proper introduction, an Akita Shepherd can be an incredible, calm companion for kids. Always supervise play between kids and dogs. If introduced properly, Akita Shepherds can become friendly with other dogs. They may have a prey drive with smaller animals like cats. They are also incredibly eager to please and thrive with consistent training. Breeders wanted to combine the stoic, protective nature of the Akita with the loyalty of the German Shepherd. Both are intelligent breeds, making for a smart, loyal, protective hybrid. They continued to create Akita Shepherds as demand for the breed continued to rise. Akita Shepherds are still most commonly found in the United States. Even though the Akita Shepherd 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 Akita Shepherd rescues, or check with breed specific German Shepherd or Akita rescues, as they sometimes take in mixed breed dogs and find homes for them. Akita Shepherd Size As the Akita Shepherd is a relatively new mixed breed, there are few standards when it comes to size. That said, as a mix between Akita and German Shepherd parents, you can expect Shepkitas to be on the larger side. Most weigh in at 75 to pounds and range in height from 24 to 28 inches from the shoulder. The female Akita Shepherd tends to be slightly smaller than the male Akita Shepherd. Some dogs may be smaller or larger than average. Akita Shepherd Personality Many Akita Shepherd enthusiasts describe their Shepkitas as serious with a streak of silly. In order to curb any unwanted habits or guarding behaviors, be sure to start training your Akita Shepherd as early as possible. Akita Shepherds are highly alert dogs, and they may try to protect you from whatever threat they perceive. This mixed breed is incredibly loyal and loving to their humans, and they want to make sure you are safe! 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. Some of the more common health problems Akita Shepherds suffer from include : Bloat. They would always look forward to pleasing their owners with expectations of a little attention. These dogs are incredibly daring and alert, with a strong defensive instinct, and thus make good guardian dogs. They are excellent working dogs as their parents, provided they have been trained to be so since puppy-days. However, some experts argue that these dogs might be prone to developing behavioral issues or characteristics of aggressive demeanor due to poor breeding. They are said to be such dogs that would find the weak areas of their owners, and when they decide to leave, they can easily skip away. Hence, it is advisable to build barriers around the boundary where your Akita shepherds would live, as also to keep an eye on its day to day activities. Care Exercise Being the offspring of two large working breeds, the Akita Shepherd needs a lot of activities and exercise every day. They love jumping and running. Take them out for a couple of long walks and jogs every day. You can also take your Shepkita to a dog park where they would be able to mingle comfortably with other dogs, devoid of any territorial aggressions. If you have a yard, take it out of leashes only if your yard is enclosed. This should ensure all-around safety. These activities are especially necessary if your dog lives in an apartment. Your dog enjoys challenges. Enthuse it to take part in vigorous playing sessions, including tug of war, Frisbee, and different other retrieving games that demand physical exertion. Grooming Use a slicker brush and comb them daily. A shedding rake also helps remove loose hair. But you do not need to bath it often. It is enough if you would do so only once or twice a year. Avoid shaving or trimming the coat too often since it serves as insulation against intense heat and cold. During the rainy season, it even helps to repel most of the water that accumulates. Health Problems The Shepkita might be prone to hip dysplasia, which they often inherit from its Akita parent. It primarily happens when breeders would choose a dog for breeding, which is suffering from hip dysplasia. Other health issues that this breed might inherit from their ancestors are epilepsy, elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, tumors on the spleen, keratitis, and chronic eczema. Training The Akita Shepherd needs a firm-handed, robust trainer, who can tactfully control the dog. Leadership quality is a quality that is a must for the trainer. Begin teaching and training them from the time of adoption. Allow them to socialize more and more each day, and help them mix with other pets and guests. Teach them to know you as the leader with an authoritative persona, power of command, and confidence. Always let your dog follow your footsteps, especially when you take it outdoors. Remember, successful and complete training is the key to success in making your Akita Shepherd a homely, well-behaved dog. Otherwise, the quantity of food and the diet chart should be the same as the other large dogs of its type and energy very much like its parents. They are said to be allergic to corn, thus refrain from giving it to them. Interesting Facts Some Shepkitas might develop dry eyes that might be caused by eyelids that do not completely close when asleep. Her father was an Akita and her mother a German Shepherd. She has a great temperament! She lives with a 3 pound Yorkie that she loves! She is not small animal aggressive. She is somewhat independent, aloof, and weary of strangers. She needs time to accept strangers and we joke that she acts like a cat! However, she also has some of the German Shepherd traits. She is always obedient, very smart, eager to please, and very trainable. She has those traits from the German Shepherd breed. She also "herds" us around the house sometimes. She is not all a "relentless barker" like some Shepherds are. And she rarely wines or growls. What I like about her is that we seem to have gotten the best of both breeds! She is affectionate when she wants to be and she can also be independent when left alone which gets rid of the " separation anxiety " that Shepherds often have. I am completely happy with her. She protects me with her life when my husband is not home. Almost like she knows that I am alone and needs to be looked after. I love her! The one bad thing about her is that she has a typical dominant personality that Akitas have which means she needs a "Pack Leader" that always is her leader otherwise, she can take over and become very relentless. He was the easiest dog to train in any of my experience, and his temperament is extraordinary. Also I have always admired a brindle coat and this pooch wears it quite well. Pinto is a large proportion of white with splotches of color over a third of the body in an organized pattern. Pinto Akitas usually still have a black facial mask, although sometimes split by white down the middle. White with black spots or freckles — atypical of either Akitas or German Shepherds. Shepkitas, except solid white dogs, will often have facial masks. Just how stubborn or strong-willed your puppy becomes depends on what proportion of genetic factors it inherits from each parent. Keep in mind that your pup has the potential to inherit domineering tendencies from either or both parents. German Shepherds are generally easy to train, although they can have issues with dominance. Akitas are willful, strong-minded, and independent. While clearly very smart, they seem to ponder commands before executing them. Are They Good Watchdogs? Prepare yourself for potential aggression against perceived threats. Early training and socialization are crucial so that your dog can become a reasonable and discerning judge of strangers. Experts recommend focusing more on teaching obedience rather than guard training with a Shepherd or an Akita. German Shepherds have courage, boldness, and fierceness that have placed them among the best guard dogs. Not specifically bred for aggression, their hostility against intruders comes from protective instincts first cultivated through their work with livestock. They extend that protection to all family members and are territorial over the home and property. Akitas, like Shepherds, are loyal and courageous. Their ferocity against intruders is inherent and uncompromising. Their double coat will be thick with the outer guard hairs probably medium in length. Your dog will need a bath if soil build-up becomes severe. Use a mild shampoo to help prevent irritation and keep the skin from becoming too dry. Clip nails at least once every six weeks and check ears regularly. A long-haired German Shepherd will rarely not have an undercoat. Usually, a Shepherd has thick fleece underfur near the skin, with a medium to long outer layer of coarse hair. Neither dog requires clipping of their coats. Your Shepkita will have a thick undercoat that insulates it from the sun and keeps it warm during the winter. Several states have passed laws that prevent you from leaving your dog for prolonged periods outdoors when the temperature dips below freezing. Some dog houses now provide safe means to install a pet heater when it becomes extremely frigid in the winter. The German Shepherd and Akita do, however, both thrive in cold conditions. Their undercoats provide excellent insulation, and their longer outer fur acts as a water repellent to keep them dry. Despite this, a shelter may still be needed. They share several issues in common. Your veterinarian may recommend surgical intervention in some cases. Hypothyroidism — The thyroid gland functions below normal levels, requiring supplementation. Elbow dysplasia Hemangiosarcoma — A cancerous growth on the spleen that can cause chronic bleeding. Autoimmune skin diseases Akita German Shepherd Mix According to Globaldogbreeds , the Shepherd Akita mix has picked up a few unique health problems not commonly cited in the research of German Shepherds or Akitas. Luxating patella — More often associated with small dogs, the American College of Veterinary Surgeons reports that luxating patellas appear to be on the rise in dogs like the Akita and Flat-Coated Retriever. How long will your Akita Shepherd live? Akitas, German Shepherds, and Shepkitas all have similar life spans — the Shepherd lives 10 to 13 years, according to Shepped. The Shepkita is also reported to live 10 to 13 years and the Akita 10 to 15 years. German Shepherds, with their intense single-minded focus and exceptional stamina, need mental stimulation as well as sessions of rigorous activity. Akitas tolerate shorter bursts of exertion, but still need about 30 to 45 minutes of exercise per day, according to Animalwised. You need to incorporate training with both of these breeds, and the earlier you can start, the better. Shepkitas are most likely to be kind and protective of children in their household, if socialized from a young age. They may or may not tolerate other animals. You may not see dog aggression appear in your pup until it approaches adolescence, or around six to eight months of age. Both Akitas and German Shepherds can learn to see children as part of their pack that they need to protect, and around whom they must be gentle. Akitas cannot be trusted to extend that solicitous attitude to children outside of the family. German Shepherds and Akitas have a strong prey drive. Some Akitas befriend cats, but their volatile play energy warrants extreme caution. The Shepherd Akita mix is potentially a great family companion. Like most large dogs, it requires early socialization and firm training. You can enjoy several activities together like flyball, fetch, agility training, obedience exercises, and hiking. If you have plenty of quality time to spend with a large and strong-minded dog, a Shepherd Akita mix may fit your family perfectly. FAQ: 1. What is the Shepkita breed and what are its characteristics? Answer: The Shepkita is a cross between a German Shepherd and an Akita, known for accentuating power, intelligence, loyalty, guarding, and utility. It makes an intriguing working dog and dedicated family companion with intense focus, a strong work ethic, and versatility. What is the history of German Shepherds and Akitas? Answer: German Shepherds originated from sheepherding dogs across Germany and were developed to a perfect working dog by Max von Stephanitz in .Akitas were originally a hunting dog from the Northern mountains of Japan and were bred for its competitive nature. What health issues should I be aware of for my Shepherd Akita mix? Answer: Both purebred Akitas and Shepherds have health problems they can pass along to any offspring. They share hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, elbow dysplasia, hemangiosarcoma, and epilepsy. The breed also has some unique health issues such as Luxating patella and lupus. How do I groom my Shepherd Akita mix? Answer: Your Shepkita will likely require brushing every day and a bath if soil build-up becomes severe. Clip nails at least once every six weeks, and check ears regularly. Is the German Shepherd Akita mix the right dog for me? Answer: If you have plenty of quality time to spend with a large and strong-minded dog, a Shepherd Akita mix may fit your family perfectly. Nonetheless, it may not be the right dog for households with other animals, and early socialization and training are crucial. Lifespan Sociability Akita Shepherd puppies are super daring and alert dogs. Bred from two outstanding working breeds, these dogs thrive when they have a job to do. Some experts state that this breed is prone to behavioral issues, such as aggression, due to poor quality breeding. The Akita Shepherd is also known as the Shepkita. Their stout and muscular build only add to their brawny reputation. Despite their aggressive appearance, Akita Shepherds are actually extremely affectionate and loving dogs. While quiet, they are constantly on the alert and always prepared to protect their pack. If properly trained while they are still puppies, Akita Shepherds can be extremely obedient. Very intelligent, this high-strung hybrid needs firm and consistent training or he may overpower you. It is also crucial to socialize these dogs starting at a young age in order for them to be well adjusted. Since they are working dogs, Akita Shepherds are also very active and playful and would do best in an active household. Are These Dogs Good for Families? They can become aggressive if they feel threatened or are unsure about themselves. For this reason, Akita Shepherds do best in families with older children. They are also great for couples and individuals. They can effortlessly spend an hour or more running in cold climates. Since they are an adventurous breed, Akita Shepherds are much more suitable for suburban or rural locations because they get a lot more exposure and stimulation from the large expanses of land to explore and run. For the first four months or so, puppy food should be fed for them along with natural food. Always avoid feeding them foods that contain preservatives. The best source of protein for Akita Shepherds is meat. However, veggies can also be included in their diet to ensure they are getting vital nutrients. An adult Akita Shepherd should be fed five to six cups of high-quality dry dog food that can be broken up into two meals per day. However, they can enjoy a long nap and a cuddle on the couch after playtime is over. Allow your Akita Shepherd to accompany you on long walks or jogs a couple of times a day. You can also keep him happy by tossing a ball in the backyard or challenging him to a game of tugs-of-war inside of the house. A minimum exercise time of 60 minutes per day will do. Additionally, these smart dogs also need mental stimulation. If he already understands basic commands, check out the Internet or books for more advanced tricks. Give him a job to do: Akita Shepherds are herding dogs. Help him fulfill these duties by rounding up your slippers and bringing them to you. They work best with firm yet positive training methods. If your pooch has more German Shepherd genes, the faster they will pick up on new tricks. These dogs can be stubborn at times. As his trainer, you must act strong and take the lead to establish your dominance. You should also bear in mind that Akita Shepherds will shed a lot during the spring and summer months, so grooming during this period is essential. Other grooming necessities include trimming their nails and cleaning their ears once a week. Here are some of the minor and major health conditions your dog could experience over his lifespan: Minor Conditions.

We have answers. What should I know about Golden Retriever puppies for sale near Tacoma? Golden Retrievers are widely regarded as one of the most popular dog breeds due to their loyalty, intelligence, obedience, and affectionate personalities. They have a medium-length wavy coat that is water resistant and generally light golden or cream in color. They are fairly large dogs and typically reach a weight of lbs. Golden Retrievers are known for their intelligence and trainability, making them great family pets and even excellent service dogs. Exercise and companionship are essential to their well-being as they are an energetic breed. Are Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Tacoma hypoallergenic? No, Golden Retrievers are not hypoallergenic. This breed of dog is known to be quite shedding and can aggravate people with allergic reactions. Though they are known to have a very mild odor that can be easy to manage, pet dander from hair and saliva can cause those who are susceptible to allergies to suffer from red, itchy eyes and sneezing. To reduce the chance of an allergic reaction, it is important for Golden Retriever owners to take steps to keep the pet clean and groomed. What's the best dog food for Tacoma Golden Retriever puppies for sale? The best dog food for Golden Retrievers is one that is specifically formulated to meet their nutritional needs. Goldens need a diet that is high in proteins and fats, so look for quality and balanced foods with ingredients like real meat, chicken, or fish as the first ingredients. It should also contain a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and healthy oils. When shopping for dog food, it's also important to check the guarantees and nutritional analysis, as well as for familiar preservatives, such as vitamins, minerals, and natural probiotics. Do Golden Retriever puppies in Tacoma have any kind of special requirements? Golden Retriever have some specific requirements that you should take into account when considering keeping one as a family pet. They need frequent brushing and grooming to maintain their coats and often require more exercise than other breeds. They can also be prone to certain health issues so regular visits to the vet are essential. In terms of diet, Golden Retrievers need high-quality, age-appropriate food to help them stay at their best. Additionally, socialization and obedience training is critical for Golden Retrievers from an early age as they are highly intelligent and social animals. How big do Golden Retrievers for sale in Tacoma get? Golden Retrievers typically grow into medium-sized dogs, reaching an average height of 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder when fully mature. Their weight can vary, often between 55 and 75 pounds. Male Golden Retrievers tend to weigh more than their female counterparts. Golden Retrievers are also incredibly sturdy and muscular. With the proper training and care, they can make for loyal and trustworthy companions throughout the entire course of their lives. Can I take my Golden Retriever puppies near Tacoma running? Absolutely, you can take your Golden Retriever running! As long as you're being mindful of their age, abilities, and physical health, a trot around the park could be fun for both of you. Before taking off on a run with your pup, make sure to research the area and determine the best place for them to run and have fun. If you both enjoy running, take a few short runs first to see how your furry friend does. Make sure to take the appropriate cautions such as providing ample potty and water breaks and never leave them unattended. Are Golden Retrievers in Tacoma good with kids? Yes, Golden Retrievers are typically known to be wonderful family dogs that are great with kids. The so-called "Golden Rule" applies here they have a gentle, loving, and patient demeanor that is perfect for nurturing children. These attractive, lovable pups have loads of energy and are forgiving of clumsy play. They are also intelligent, loyal, and devoted, which makes them a great addition to any family. Golden Retrievers make wonderful family pets, and they rarely bark excessively. Is training Tacoma Golden Retrievers for sale easy? Training a Golden Retriever can be an incredibly rewarding experience. As a generally intelligent breed, this type of dog is typically eager to learn and respond well to being trained. Overall, the effort and time you invest in training will most likely be met with enthusiasm and loyalty from your Golden Retriever, making it an activity that is both enjoyable and beneficial for both of you. Canyon Meadows Farm Note: Our email is having issues, we are not receiving all of our messages. So please call or text for fastest response. Because it is now considered a Legendary Version, we can not add any new photos. Please call or text us for photos if wanting to see something specific. Thank you for your patience. Our farm is a very casual, warm, and friendly place to visit; a place where everyone feels welcome. Regardless of your age and interests, you will enjoy a visiting Canyon Meadows farm. Our entire family grew up on farms, raising cattle, horses, goats, and dogs. Our love for animals and the farm life has always been a passion of ours, and our 3 children love growing up on the farm. We take great pride in our family and all of our animals. The farm is always busy with a variety of activities, so no one will feel left out here! Everyone loves coming for a visit, whether it is a love for the puppies, riding the horses, taking a walk through beautiful trails, or feeding bread to the Scottish Highlander Cattle- there is definitely something for everyone. No one can resist playing with our puppies, whether a Retriever or a Bernese puppy, they are all so much fun and full of love-- they truly melt like butter when you hold them. We also raise and train a small group of horses. Our objective is to raise quiet, well-mannered, safe, and sane horses. We make sure that they have a great start under saddle with a good mixture of discipline. In doing so we feel our horses have a great foundation to advance in any direction. We also offer riding lessons both English and Western , training, and boarding here on our 22 acre farm. We love to show off our farm and all the animals and so do all of our clients, so there are always lots of photos. This is a fairy time consuming process, I appreciate everyone's patience while I do my best to get everything updated in a timely manner. We do have a full farm though, and the farm animals needs and family must come first. Please be paitent while it may take a few minutes for your computer to load them. Enjoy the photos! If you are New to our Farm, Please call or E-mail ahead of time to set up an appointment, so that we can make sure we have time to spend with those of you coming to the farm for the first time so that we can answer all of your questions. We are a couple dedicated to raising and nurturing AKC, OFA top quality, healthy, and happy puppies from our home to yours! Our days are filled with. Up to date on first round shots and deworming. Behr is a big » Read more ». Why buy a Golden Retriever puppy for sale if you can adopt and save a life? Look at pictures of Golden Retriever puppies in Tacoma who need a home. We are located in beautiful Big Lake, Alaska and welcome you to take a look around our site and get to know us better. Goldens are very loyal, and need a whole lot of time to run around and play. Our puppy is so smart and so adorable. Female puppy ready to go to a new home. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help you find the puppy your whole family will love. One hundred sixty unique breeds are. Find your puppy for sale in Tacoma, WA. Golden Retriever Puppies for Sale. About Golden Retrievers. They are ready for their new homes. Born april ready for rehoming. Manchester Terrier puppies and dogs in Tacoma, Washington. They all live alongside us; most of the time, they spend their days running on our 6-acre property, swimming and curling up on the sofa at night. These Manchester Terriers are available for adoption close to Tacoma, Washington. All About Me! As Good as Gold has rescued over 3, golden retrievers since May, .Our farm is a very casual, warm, and friendly place to visit; a place where everyone feels welcome. It's easy and free! Puppies For Sale in .Labrador Retriever Puppies for Sale. Our volunteers rescue and rehome Golden Retrievers. Our Miniature Golden Retrievers range in size from pounds. Use the search tool below to browse adoptable Schnauzer Giant puppies and adult Schnauzer Giant in Tacoma, Washington. As one family's children said, "This is dog heaven". Our American Golden Retrievers are our way of life and are first and foremost well-loved family pets. All puppies found here are from AKC-Registered parents. AmericanListed features safe and local classifieds for everything you need! Look at pictures. Absolutely adorable golden retriever puppies! Please call or text XXXX for more. Please contact Dale or Sharon Johnson at chasenbreeze yahoo. Please start the application process now so that you can be on a waiting list for when GRIN does have younger dogs available. Puppies For Sale. Washington Golden Retriever Rescue. When an applicant is age 70 and up, we will only match these homes with our older golden retrievers. Use the search tool below to browse adoptable Manchester Terrier puppies and adult Manchester Terrier in Tacoma, Washington. Our Dogs. Up to date on first round shots. One of the facts about Golden Retrievers is that they are considered one of the friendliest dog breeds. Our photo contest has ended and our Top Twelve dog photos are available to add to your favorite bottle of wine or scented candle. They all live alongside us; most of the time, they spend their days running on our 6-acre property, swimming and. An English Cream Golden Retriever has all the same traits as any other Golden Retriever; they are one of the most popular dog breeds and tend to be open, friendly, and make great family pets. Page 1 displays 10 Golden Retriever puppies for sale near me in …. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Transportation to Tacoma, WA available. These amazing puppies will be ready for their new homes July 10th…. Welcome Welcome to Birchwood Goldens! We are a small-family oriented breeder committed to breeding quality, healthy American and English Golden Retrievers. Senior Citizens and Adoption. Golden Retrievers make wonderful companions and are a great addition to the right family. Our 3-acre waterfront property on the Kitsap Peninsula, just 14 miles west of Seattle, offers an ideal setting for our furry friends to thrive. Devoted, smart, and friendly, these eager-to-please double-coated gundogs excel in hunting, obedience, field trials, and guiding the blind. Golden Retrievers make perfect family pets. Golden Retrievers near by Tacoma. Golden Retriever For Sale in Tacoma 7. Search for a Manchester Terrier puppy or dog. Barafields Golden Retrievers 7. They began as a mix of Retrievers, Spaniels, and Red Setter. We will do our best to make an estimate of the adult size of your puppy, but ultimately we can NOT guarantee adult sizes. She has been raised in a loving home with young children. Farmington Licensed Golden Retriever Breeders. Browse thru our ID Verified puppy for. Use the search tool below to browse adoptable Schnauzer Giant puppies and adult Schnauzer Giant in Tacoma, We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help. They always enjoy being part of the family's company and show love and devotion to all members of the family. The AKC Rescue Network is the largest network of dog rescue groups in the country, and was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in late .Is your family ready to buy a Golden Retriever dog in Tacoma, Washington, Seattle Golden Retriever Rescue. She is part of our guardian program and just had her second Goldendoodle litter. Occasionally we may have smaller puppies maturing at closer to 15 pounds and larger puppies maturing closer to 50 pounds. They are CKC registered, the. They were amazing and so kind to our family during our process to get our puppy. They are serious workers at hunting and field work, as guides for the blind, and in search-and-rescue, enjoy obedience and other competitive events, and have an endearing love of life when not at work. She loves to be groomed and petted. Nichole Lu Golden Retrievers 6. Browse thru our ID Verified puppy for sale listings to find your perfect puppy in your area. We are now taking reservations for our upcoming litter of F1B goldendoodle puppies. Labrador Retriever Puppies Bred With a Purpose Born October 29, — 1 black female available For over 40 years, we have selectively bred retriever dogs for waterfowl and upland hunters. Browse thru Golden Retriever Puppies for Sale in. Photos and contact info on Advertigo website. Very playful and love to cuddle. Golden retriever male amp female puppies ready for new homes. Our success comes from pairing individuals with correct conformation, trainability and pedigree-proven genetics. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we. Golden Retrievers always rank high among the most popular breeds in the United States. Come with puppy passport and some food to get started. Companionship is their top priority and they are totally devoted to their human family. Golden Retriever. Born and raised with mom and dad. Pacific Northwest Mini Goldens. Search for a Schnauzer Giant puppy or dog. Schnauzer Giant puppies and dogs in Tacoma, Washington. Anything Look…Weird? For the best experience, we recommend you upgrade to the latest version of Chrome or Safari. Golden Retriever Puppies for Sale in Washington. Page 1 displays 10 Golden Retriever puppies for sale near me in Tacoma. Affiliated with Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue. As always, we try to balance the needs of our golden retrievers with the needs of the human caregivers. Golden Kiss Retrievers 3. These loyal, sociable dogs are excellent with children and families, and excel at obedience training and therapy work. Our days are filled with making sure our Golden puppies are pampered and raised in a way that would exceed your expectations. Our approval process takes approximately weeks to complete and by the time. Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Tacoma, WA from trusted. Not every dog that is available for adoption will be featured on our website. Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Tacoma, WA from trusted …. Denzils Goldens is amazing!!!! Not only do they have the most beautiful dogs but you can tell they are well loved. Golden Retriever Puppies For Sale. The average ages of our rescued Goldens are years of age, however GRIN does occasionally receive younger dogs that are in need of a home. Buy, Sell or Adopt Pets in Tacoma. Swedish Vallhund puppies and dogs in Tacoma, Washington. If you are interested in adopting a young dog, please do not wait until you see one on our website to apply for adoption. Golden Retriever Breed Information and Pictures on …. Vet checked healthy dewormed first vaccines. Some of the world's cutest dogs and among the most popular breeds, Bassett Hounds are ideal for farm yards, gifts and as companions. We're sorry but this site doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. We are passionate about these little treasures and our small breeding program. We are a busy family with 4 children ages .Our dogs are part of our family and live with us, in our home, and under foot. The Miniature Golden Retriever, also known as the Petite Golden and Mini Golden, is a Designer Breed that has been crossbred to produce a healthier dog with the happy people-loving temperament of the Golden Retriever, the small size and sweet cuddly personality of the King Charles Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel, and the intelligent temperament and low shedding coat of the Poodle. Our Miniature Golden Retrievers range in size from pounds. Occasionally we may have smaller puppies maturing at closer to 15 pounds and larger puppies maturing closer to 50 pounds. We will do our best to make an estimate of the adult size of your puppy, but ultimately we can NOT guarantee adult sizes. We breed for temperament, health, and size. Our dogs are DNA tested and annually health screened by our vet before breeding. All our puppies come with a 2 year health guarantee. Start the adoption process today!!! We are a family breeder of H. Our Family Nate is a general contractor specializing in remodeling homes, kitchen and bathrooms. He enjoys making peoples dreams come true. Luda is a seamstress by profession but when our family grew she stayed home and looked for ways to support a family from home, thats when she had a vision for Clear Lake Kennel. Eliana our oldest daughter is a home school student and plays a major part in helping out with family chores. All together as a family we love our Sunday church service and participation in it, we enjoy spending time with friends and often invite them to play with our puppies. Our Dogs Nate and Luda both grew up with dogs and when vision came for Clear Lake Kennel they went through a long process of planning, research, consultation, kennel visits and carefully selecting a dog breed for their breeding program. At Clear Lake we believe and realized that a true love for dogs is not only is rescue and adoption but in quality and responsible breeding too. Our reason for choosing the Golden Retrievers is because we love the breed, it's smartness, family friendly, love of people and children, compassionate, gentle, playful and it's exquisite beauty. The Golden Retriever is one breed where you can "have it all" in one dog!!! Health, Education, Accountability, Responsibility and Tradition. It is rooted in our love for these perfect pets that we have chosen to raise them and allow families like ours the joy of experiencing the sweet companionship they have to offer. We are passionate about what we do here at Clear Lake Kennel and believe that our dogs and our clients deserve the very best! Darlene Taft.

We want you to get a friend to go on walks with, go boating, hiking, hunting, to ball games or picnics or other family outings and to just be there for you and be part of your family. You will get a puppy that will love you with their whole puppy heart for their whole life and hope you do the same for them! We offer the Working Golden Retriever that makes the best family friend and know that this is a lifelong relationship. Your new puppy will go any direction you want with proper training and lots of consistent time and love. Our puppies come from AKC field bred golden retrievers. We take care to breed a healthy pup that is well socialized and has good temperament and intelligence and trainability and of course they love to retrieve. Our dogs love their people and goldens are known for their loyalty and obedience and as one of the best family dogs out there. We have found this to be very true and want to offer great Goldens to great Families so you can have great Experiences like we have. The best compliment you can give us is to share your satisfaction with others, and if you have time, to send us a picure and review, like our Facebook page and share our page and website with others. Please feel free to contact us anytime with any questions you may have. Field-bred Golden Retrievers. Hunting Golden Retrievers. Working Golden Retrievers. Waterfowl Golden Retrievers. Upland Golden Retrievers. Family Golden Retrievers. Therapy Golden Retrievers. Service Golden Retrievers. Best Friend Golden Retrievers. With our best friends by our side we get to run, swim, hunt and explore this beautiful countryside. They are a part of our family and our lifestyle. They are along for the ride and happy to be there, work or play! Golden Retrievers are such wonderful dogs. We enjoy being a part of something that brings a lot of happiness to our family. They will love the things you love. If you love running, hiking, swimming, or hunting then these will probably be your Golden's favorite things as well. They are fun, sweet, trainable, and easy to be around. These attributes make them a wonderful family pet and more! Teton River Golden Retrievers are bred with the intent that your new pup can go any direction you'd like to train them. By having our Goldens health testing done, we know your new companion has the potential to be there by your side for the adventures ahead. They have gorgeous red coats that are a breeze to keep groomed and clean even when they are hunting and swimming. We wanted healthy, beautiful, smart and loyal females with sweet temperaments. The parents to our pups are well matched in every way. They win people over with their great manners, calm temperaments and extreme desire to please. Our mommas are producing quality golden retrievers. Your pup will come with AKC papers with limited breeding rights. We send home each puppy with a puppy starter kit to help with the transition period. We first started breeding goldens in .We found a wonderful mama dog and had her bred to a handsome, healthy sire. Our first litter of puppies was born, and we realized we had fallen into something that we loved. Alisa and the girls knew that our lives would never be complete again without puppies in it. Poor Zach, who loves to build things, realized that if he wanted his garage back and to keep puppies out of his bathtub on cold nights he had better get started on a really nice dog house. Ha ha. Everyone was happy. Breeding can be an interesting field to navigate. There are many different breeding philosophies and many types of breeders but deciding what our program would look like was as simple as laying out our core values. Eight years later our program has grown. We now have four of our own beautiful dogs and several more in wonderful guardian homes. Breeding still brings us joy. We anxiously await every litter and love our time with your pup. We are excited to meet you and be a part of your journey. We carefully select our Dam and Sire for good health and wonderful personalities. We believe that nutrition is key to healthy happy dogs, so we offer good, high quality foods to mother and pups and carefully supplement with meat scraps. We live outside of Buhl, Idaho with lots of room for puppies to roam and play. We don't kennel our pups except at night for safety reasons. The puppies are a part of our lives from day one, and they will be well socialized to inside and outside environments, children, cars rides, and other pets. We believe in doing preliminary potty training as well as simple obedience training - even in the first 8 weeks. We allow the mother and pups to be together from day 1 to day 56, as they learn best from each other. We feel confident that these puppies will be happy, healthy, and well socialized. We would love to hear from you! Lily and Fisher's He is the perfect dog for our family. He is mellow indoors with us and adventurous outside. He came to us so sweet and content and well cared-for. His crate training and potty training have gone well too! It was a bit miraculous that we found each other, in a different state and pretty quickly, but Alisa was so responsive and informative. We are so grateful for the addition to our family! Winnie's Family I've had a great experience from the very beginning. Alisa is very communicative and answered all of my questions. She was kind, friendly, knowledgeable and easy to work with. It's clear that she's an experienced breeder. I also love knowing my golden girl has a health guarantee. Getting to meet my puppies mother and litter mate was a wonderful experience for us. Not only are her dogs healthy, but they are happy and well loved too. I have nothing but great things to say! Wrenly's Family I met the Atkinsons this past December after I had been talking to Alisa about how I was interested in getting a puppy. Since then they have all become family. With every step and question Alisa was there with an answer and let me see my pup multiple times before I even brought her home. They have given me the best experience and truly care and love their dogs like family! A lot of that is because of the breed of course, but also from the socialization and love and attention the Atkinsons give their dogs from the very beginning. Highly, highly, highly, recommend Atkinsons goldens to anyone interested in a puppy. We live a couple hours away and they were so good about sending us pictures, updating us with how our little guy was doing every few days and even a FaceTime date on Christmas Day to surprise our girls. Truly an incredible breeder. Breeders VS. 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. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for Idaho 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 Idaho? 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 Idaho? 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. Once Upon A Dream Kennels! From Our Dreams To Yours! Welcome to our Golden Retriever Program! Once Upon A Dream Kennels We are a small, family run program located in Idaho focusing on quality, healthy Golden Retrievers that have wonderful temperaments, good nerves, great drives, a balanced conformation and great lines to top the whole thing off. I have always dreamed of raising amazing puppies, and this program is my dream come true! I fell head over heels with Golden Retrievers when I brought home my first little girl at 10 weeks old. Chloe was fantastic and made me fall in love with field line Golden Retrievers. We feel that these are the ultimate dogs. Golden retrievers are such amazing dogs. We want to be able to put a golden in every home. We feel that Golden Retrievers are such amazing versatile dogs and we want our program to reflect that. We are striving to have an couple different programs all rolled into this one amazing breed! Our first program is field line or hunting line Golden Retrievers. These dogs will be bred to have high drives, high nerve strength, great energy and be up for anything. Our other program is for those looking for the perfect family companion. These dogs will be bred to have the very best of temperaments. We are looking for those sweet, loving, loyal companion dogs. These dogs will be ready to be spoiled by sweet kids, service work, therapy work and so much more! The focus of our entire program is to produce healthy, well rounded dogs for many different purposes. We health test our breeding dogs so that we know we are breeding the best dogs we can. We look for that perfect balance of pedigree, health, and temperament for these great dogs. Our puppies are raised right in our home as part of our family! We believe in early socialization and exposure. We try to introduce them to as many new things as we can. We work closely with our veterinarians to make sure they are as happy and healthy as they possibly can. We hope that we can make your dreams come true as well! Also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! When can I pick up my puppy? That will be posted on the specific litter page. We try to have our puppy families come get them as close to 8 weeks of age as possible. Pick up day is scheduled out a week or two in advance in order of deposit received. For example, first male would come at AM, second male at AM, and so on. The schedule will also be posted to the specific litter page. Do you deliver? Delivering puppies is not a service we regularly offer. On occasion, if the situation is right, we will do our best to accommodate. This would be at the cost of the buyer which would include, but not limited to: mileage, food, and lodging reimbursements. We do deliver puppies to the Boise, Idaho airport at no cost to the buyer. Do you offer full breeding rights? All puppies go home with AKC limited registration. If the time comes where a buyer has ran the proper health screenings on the dog that was purchased through our program hips, elbows, heart, genetics and agrees to the FULL AKC contract provided by SBG, then full breeding rights will be granted. Yes, we will ship to anywhere in the United States except Hawaii. Ground shipping or air shipping, completely at the expense of the buyer. Other options to highly consider: Flight nanny - We can give you recommendations for great flight nanny services they fly in cabin with pup. Meeting you personally at the Boise, ID airport to fly in cabin with pup. Yes, we offer stud services. We have studs in every color, in multiple places throughout the Treasure Valley. We will also highly consider pick of the litter instead of stud fees.

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. It begins when the puppies are 3 days old, and continues until 12 weeks if you so choose to do so. The Puppy Culture way is a GREAT way to ensure that your puppy will have the greatest chance of being healthy, happy, smart, and socialized. The purpose of this is to teach that they have a specific place to go and not spoil their play or sleeping area. They are given the opportunity to participate in problem solving activities and challenges. We work on the following commands: Manding which is when the puppy sits to gain attention instead of jumping , grooming, and food guarding. They are exposed to different toys and to different heights and surfaces. Once you get your puppy, they will have already been exposed to necessary things like crates, car rides, baths, and grooming. It's used to make the transition easy and less stressed when they begin life with you. It continues with you. It is crucial to continue training and exposure until 12 weeks of age. Studies show that the biggest window of learning for a dog is between weeks of age and will last a lifetime! I encourage you to read, study, and have an idea of how you want to train your puppy for those next 4 weeks. Please check out Puppy Culture online for more info. Ready for a puppy? May 23, Susanne Shelton We never could have predicted the enthusiasm for our litter box training protocol, and now after years of raising litters with our method, and teaching it to other breeders, we have converted this blog into a fully updated, media rich, course for breeders and fosters. We even designed a detailed, step by step, house training course for those who purchase puppies raised with our Poop School methods. If anyone had told me I could raise a litter of German Shepherd puppies from birth through 10 weeks in my home without going stark raving mad, I would never have believed them! Too big! Too many! Too much poop! Prior to Puppy Culture, we raised puppies inside our home for the first six weeks. Good enough, right? We thought so, and indeed this worked okay for many years. But times, and paradigms, change. While our older model worked well, we missed out on a lot — our puppies AND their new owners. There was so much more we could accomplish if the puppies were inside the house. We could spend our time on more than just poop patrol! We had been doing good, but Puppy Culture showed us how much better we could be doing. I became dedicated to figuring out and perfecting how to teaching my puppies what they needed to know to live inside with us the full nine to ten weeks. With less time spent cleaning messes, I would have the time to really work through the Puppy Culture protocols. If I was going to keep a bunch of little poop machines in my house for weeks on end, I decided they would have to be litter box trained. Litter box training is covered in Puppy Culture, but what worked for me is just a little bit different. As an unexpected bonus, our puppies were significantly easier for their new families to house train. Talk about a win-win! First toilet! On the other side I place a small bed. So, sleep area and toilet area, baby version. What I used: 1 Durawhelp to line the whelping box. I remove the whelping box and put the larger toilet where the whelping box toliet was, along the western wall of our dog room. In front of the new toilet is a slightly larger play area. On the eastern side of the pen I put in a row of small puppy beds during week 4 and small crates week 5. Once the puppies are moving off their bed area to urinate, I add the crates. By now the puppies poop in the toilet most of the time, but they still miss as much as they hit with pee. Part 2: Removed Puppy Pads and added litter boxes with pellets. During week 4 the puppies rarely make it all the way to the toilet to urinate, they are just not mature enough. This tells me the puppies are learning to move away from their bed and play area to potty, which is an important skill. From the moment we move the puppies to the weaning pen, we start to carry each puppy to the litter box immediately after eating. Someone watches them to make sure they actually hit the toilet when they void. During week 4 we are often placing the puppies in the toilet when we know they need to poop. SOME of the puppies will start going to the toilet to poop during this week and by the end of week 5 we hope that most of the poop will be in the toilet. Part 3: Pen expansion, added crates. They are not adults, we are just looking for an effort to reach the toilet to tell us the puppies are learning and trying. Footing: EZ Whelp Pads. Crates: One Vari Kennel, Three 24 x 17 inch wire crates. Doors are removed or front panel folded down. Please take a look at my crate conditioning blog for more info on crates. I have learned that keeping the toilet in the same place speeds toilet training. Now, I always have the toilet on the west wall of their pen, even starting as early as the whelping pen pad, and THAT was really helpful. On previous litters I experimented and moved the toilet around often, that really made it harder for my puppies to have success. My suggestion is that you decide before the litter is born how you will build out from the whelping box, to the weaning pen, to the toddler pen. Plan in advance, so your litter box will stay in the same area the entire time. The now expanded weaning pen, the litter box is in the same position, the play area is larger to meet the needs of our growing puppies. Week .At the end of week 5 we enlarge the weaning pen. The puppies are now using the toilet most but not all of the time and their pen is enlarged to make room for more exercise and passive enrichment. At this point you can also see the door is available left to their puppy patio outside. The crates are still on the wall opposite of the toilet, and our crate conditioning plan is in full force. The pen opens into the kitchen and living room right , and outdoors left. We are still using the three pan toilet for these two weeks. Please note, there are still plenty of pees outside the toilet, but most of the poop is inside the toilet. We continue to ensure the puppies either run to, or are carried to, their litter box after each meal. By this age we are feeding the puppies in their crates, so after each meal the crates are opened and the puppies encourage to their toilet area to void. What I added: Larger 24 x 36 inch crates not visible here. Week For the last two or three weeks the puppies are with us, we expand the weaning pen until it takes up the entire dog room. I found my puppies do not like to touch poop, and will choose to poop outside of the box if they must touch poop to void inside the box. Not a problem during the day when we pick up constantly, but at night the box can get poopy. Our largest litter box area, we use this at night for large litters in weeks 7 and 8. This photo shows the boxes reversed! This largest toilet helps the puppies succeed in getting fully into the box to void, even if there are some poops in it. Puppies are now taken outside for potty breaks as often as possible, through their exterior door and onto their puppy patio outside. They still need and use their litter box however, and there is the occasional accident on the EZ whelp pads. By now we are encouraging the puppies to void outside. They have a doggie door that leads to their puppy patio, so they can go outside often on their own. We found by starting early, creating an environment designed for success, and not expecting perfection we have been able to enjoy having our puppies in the house with us with far LESS work than ever imagined. This has freed up even more time to implement Puppy Cultures core protocols, active enrichment, training, socialization and teaching puppies to be enrichment seekers. If you would like more in depth methods and personal coaching on litter box training for breeders, please check out my NEW course — Poop School: Litter Box Training for Breeders and Fosters. Throw us a bone? The above links are affiliate links. These are products we have used and loved. We get a few coins for purchases from these links but you never pay more. Sign up to keep up! Sign up to keep up with all our stuff! Litter and breeding announcements, new blogs, product recommendations, and new courses. Plus my garden, dinner, and other country life updates. We begin litter box training at three weeks old and by the time they are eight weeks old they are little pro's. It is very nice because the puppy has always known that there is a place to hold it and a place to go potty. They never have slept, played or ate in their own 'mess'. We have found that this makes the completed potty training process much easier for them and their new homes. At LillyBits we use a specific method we have developed over the years to raise our puppies. Our potty methods begin at three weeks old and we believe this gives our puppies the best head start possible. We carefully watch each litter to know when to graduate puppies to the next phase. Phase One This is the first phase of the litter box training. This begins when the puppies are three weeks old. By four weeks all the puppies are toddling in and out of the litter box. Instinctually dogs do not want to soil their 'den'. The only area that is not their den is their litter box. The puppies naturally begin using the litter box for their bathroom duties. As you can see this is set up nicely so Momma dog approaches from the side easily. Our Momma's have their own potty place and never soil the area their puppies are being raised. Phase Two This is the second phase of litter box training. We use an exercise pen with a crate and potty box. When we see that our puppies are ready to graduate to phase two this is how our set up looks in the nursery. The space required for this 3 ft by 6 ft but there are many different options for puppy safe playpens. It works very well and many of our LillyBit families replicate this set up in their own home for a smooth transition. All of the supplies needed to set up this 'puppy safe room' are listed in detail on the Shopping List page. Does my puppy come potty trained? I wish I could answer YES! The truth is no, your puppy comes litter box trained, it will still require work from you to complete the potty training process. So we will not go down the primrose path together, instead, we will talk about realistic expectations : What you get is a nice head start and a good foundation to build on. In your 'puppy safe room' setup, if you have done things correctly, your puppy will use the litter box. I can not stress enough the importance of getting the right equipment to begin with. Your puppy will not be ready for unsupervised freedom in the house. Your LillyBit will not be like an adult cat that you can show where the litter box is and then they will go find it every time they have to go. You will need to supervise your puppy and when you see signs they have to go potty prompt them to use their litter box. Some signs a puppy has to go potty is turning circles, disappearing behind something and sniffing. If you are holding a puppy and they have to go potty, often they get squirmy. It is good to use a command word when you are prompting your puppy to go potty. I use "good potty" with an affectionate rub. Sometimes your puppy will be so busy they don't want to take the time to go potty and you will need to insist and keep prompting them with 'good potty' and putting them back in the box until they use it. With my little guy Griffin sometimes it would take 10 tries! If they don't go, you can use your crate to put them in and wait 10 minutes and try again. You can expect your puppy to have to use the bathroom after a nap, playing, eating or drinking. I would wait until you see your little one use the litter box in their 'puppy safe room' and then bring them out for their playtime directly after. In the beginning the key to successful housebreaking is supervise, supervise and more supervision! Really, in the beginning we are the ones that are potty trained! At night we suggest using a crate for your puppy to sleep in. For the first few nights be prepared to wake up early and let the little one out to relieve themselves in their litter box. After they have relieved themselves it is okay to put them back in the crate and get a little more sleep. In the evening pick up your puppies food and water after pm and be sure to give your puppy a chance to eliminate before bed. The nice thing is that you do have your 'puppy safe room' set up so that you can put your puppy in while they can't be supervised or you are at work and the litter box is available to them. In the beginning I would have the litter box be the only absorbent surface other than their bed or crate. Often when a family has experienced a problem with the litter box and their new LillyBit it has been traced to a litter box that is too small, or tall etc.Here is a direct quote from an email we got from a LillyBit home in regard to the housebreaking process: "As of last week Junior has gotten run of the house. No more litter box or puppy corral. He uses the doggy door to go out back and take care of business and when left at home alone we have had no problems. Phase Three The third phase of the housebreaking process depends on you. Do you want to continue to use the litter box? Would you like to use a doggy door and transition to outside? We have our adults here at LillyBits trained to do both outside and the litter box. You can use the turf or even the litter box to mark the spot outside you would like your puppy to do their business, just be sure to bring it in each time. If you have used supervision and consistency with your puppy, phase three should happen almost naturally. We have had many reports back that the head start they are given here at LillyBits really does make housebreaking a much less stressful event. Phase three starts when you have been able to consistently avoid accidents in times of supervised freedom and you notice that your puppy is holding their potty to wait for their elimination spot. Each dog is an individual but normally this happens sometime between 16 weeks - 24 weeks old. See diagram below. What if I don't want to use a litter box at all? If you do not want to use a litter box set up in your home you would then go right to crate training. Remember that a puppy can only be in a crate 1 hour for each month of their age plus one. So a 8 week old puppy can only be in a crate for 3 hours at best. Especially if you are at home or you have access to come home for the afternoon potty break - moving to crate training right away is in an option but maybe frustrating with such a young small breed puppy. We think that continuing what we have started here until the puppy is at least 12 weeks is important. Eight week old puppies just don't have the bladder maturity to hold it until you can get them outside. At about 12 weeks of age they make great strides in this area. Here is an article on Crate Training: Also a wonderful article on Potty Training: Junior Schneider Potty Training Your Puppy Phase Three Diagram They say a photo is worth a thousand words, so here is a photo diagram of my home office when I am bring one of our own dogs through phase three potty training. Of course you would eliminate the potty portion of this diagram and take your puppy outside to eliminate. Our dogs are all cross trained. I wrote a more detailed blog post on this if you would like to read it. This puppy had been transitioned from pellets to the Spotty Dog Training Place. Example of set up using a Spotty Dog base to transition from pellets to turf system. Note: We can not provide after support for this transition but thought a picture is worth a thousand words. We start this process pretty much as soon as they are able to crawl out of their whelping box and able to eliminate on their own. I place a small 2" litter box directly next to their bed and place them in it quite a few times a day. They quickly learn to potty there as their natural instinct is to move away from their bed to potty. We use the pine pellets suggested above and move to larger litter boxes by about 5 weeks of age. Usually by weeks our puppies are completely reliable to this method and as a result we strongy suggest continuing with a litter box when you bring your puppy home. A litter box should be available in each room your puppy has access to initially. Litter box training is far more cost effective and a lot less mess than potty pad training. Each puppy will have had sets of shots depending on the age which they leave. We suggest 10, 14 and 18 weeks for the puppy vaccinations in accordance with the recommendations of Jean Dodds. We do NOT recommend leptospirosis, bordetella or coronoa vaccinations for your puppy. There is a high incidence of reactions to these shots for tiny chihuahua puppies. NEVER allow your vet to administer more than 1 vaccination in a visit. Puppy Health Microchips - all of our puppies leave for their new homes microchipped and you are added on as a secondary contact. This allows us to ensure if a puppy ends up in a shelter intentionally, we are able to bring it back home. While in a perfect world we would like to believe all of our puppy owners adhere to our return to breeder contract and view us as a safety net for their dog or puppy should they no longer be able to care for it, we understand this may not be reality. We are committed to never populating shelters or rescues with our puppies, and therefore stay on as a contact for all of our puppy's microchips. The earliest we allow our puppies to go to their new homes is weeks and this is a case-by-case basis. If we feel the puppy has any needs that can better be met here due to experience, they will stay until we feel they are ready to go. During the extra few weeks here instead of allowing them to leave at 8 weeks like some breeders do we take the initiative to start potty training and socializing your puppy for you. This time also helps us be sure the puppy is eating well, and not having any blood sugar issues that are all too common in toy breed puppies. All Rights Reserved. If you see content from our website elsewhere, including verbage, it was copied! All of our puppies are litter box trained and pee pad trained Wait, did that just say that ALL of our puppies are litter box trained? Yes, all of our puppies are litter box trained. At around 4wks of age our puppies start exploring their space and find the litter box. By 6wks of age they are completely litter box trained! You can see our litter box trained chihuahua puppies take care of their business in their litter box! It makes things easier when you take them home. Imagine a cold or rainy day, you are late for work, and you are in walking circles trying to get them to potty. It would be so much easier if your chihuahua puppy came litter box trained! Read on to learn more about why a litter box trained chihuahua puppy makes takes away the stress of housebreaking. There are so many ways to housebreak. Most methods had people calling me, frustrated, for the first two weeks! A few years ago, my brother told me that he wanted one of my puppies. He lives in a tiny apartment in NYC, and I started researching litter box training for chihuahua puppies. So even when the snow covers what little grass they have, he never has to worry about where his pup will potty! It is important to remember that your pup should be taken outside on a regular basis for exercise and Vitamin D. How does it work? Most of our litter box trained chihuahua puppies never have an accident, although a few take about a few days to get used to a new litter box. If they get busy playing and forget to look around for the box, they might have an accident. No big deal! Just move the poop into the litter box, and that makes a big difference. Keep in mind that consistancy is the number one rule. A puppy will generally want to pee every hour, and will poop 30min after eating, this will be true for the first few weeks. I always suggest you let a puppy play for about 30min and then let them have a 15min break in their chihuahua puppy playpen with their pee pad or litter box. We will walk you through getting all of the supplies, and are always happy to answer questions as your new litter box trained chihuahua puppy makes the transition into your home. Being litter box trained early in life will make any form of housebreaking you decide to do even easier! They transition to doing their business in the backyard super easy. Placing the pad in the box eliminates .Whether you want a purbred, designer breed, or a rescue dog, we can help you start out on the right foot. Our puppys come fully trained from day one. Check out what we have available below! All of our puppies come temperment tested to ensure they are the right fit for you. Our puppies come sleeping through the night, crate trained, house trained, leash trained, know the commands heel, sit, down, stay, come, and are socialized to people, dogs, and things! We DNA test our rescue dogs so you know what you are getting, Temperment test them, screen them for agression, and train them to ensure you know what your getting. Trained Puppies For Sale Check out our available puppies! All of our puppies come trained. How much training they get is up to you! We catogorize our training in tiers. Check out the tiers of training below, then select your puppy and give us a call! Tier 1 is roughly a one month program. Tier One puppies come sleeping through the night, crate trained, house trained, leash trained, know the commands heel, sit, down, stay, come, and are socialized to people, dogs, and things! All of our puppies come with atleast Tier 1 training. Tier 2 is a two-ish month program. Tier Two puppies come sleeping through the night, crate trained, house trained, leash trained, know the commands heel, sit, down, stay, come, placed and out, and are socialized to people, dogs, and things! Tier two is twice as good as teir 1! Tier 3 - Tier 3 is the best training option availble for your new pup. It is a 3 or more month program. We will get your dog fully offleash trained, as well as teach them everything puppies learn in Tier 1 and Tier 2. Cost Breakdown: Our puppies are priced based on what training they have recieved. Frank SOLD. We use a low plastic container and pine pellets to train our puppies. We have tried several different potty systems, and for our needs, the basic pine pellets work the best. Your eight week old puppy is young enough to be molded with any potty training plan that you would like, but we encourage you to continue with what has been started, at least until your puppy is mature enough to make it outside. During this stage, your puppy will begin to toddle off the bed and use the litter box. For the best results with your new puppy, we want you to duplicate our puppy setup. Your puppy does not have full bladder maturity, so when he feels the need to go, he needs to find a place very quickly. You may wonder if you really need to get the litterbox for your puppy. At eight weeks the puppies are just too young and taking away their litter box is like trying to potty train a 1 year old to the toilet and eliminating their diaper. The one year old is just not quite ready, even if they can do it sometimes. Your puppy is the same way. We recommend a simple metal exercize pen, that will form a 4 x 4 ft area. This is his safe space, safe from items in the house that could be harmful, like chewing electric cords, and safe from having accidents on the carpet or any other place in the house that is not his designated potty spot. These work nicely with one or two dogs and are easy to maintain. We have trained a few Accelerated Puppies to a turf system and it has worked very well overall. Share this:. We socialize our puppies from the start. We understand how crucial it is as breeders to introduce puppies to new things at the proper stage of life. We create an interesting and enriching environment for our pups. As well as interacting with our whole family including children, other dogs and cats. Our puppies are crate-trained, litter-box trained, and vaccinated so you can focus on enjoying your new puppy. Read below to see all of our available puppies and to learn about upcoming litters! Read through our FAQs below or reach out to us anytime! All Golden Vista puppies arrive to your home litter-box trained. We have a step-by-step guide available to help you transition your puppy from the litter box to outside. How much have the puppies been handled by children? We have two children in our home who play with the puppies multiple times throughout the day so the puppies are very used to children. Do you vaccinate the puppies? We give our puppies the first round of puppy vaccinations when they are six weeks old. The second round of vaccinations is the responsibility of the dog owner and should be administered when the puppy is three months old. Puppy Adoption Application Interested in one of our puppies? Fill out the form below!

However, that price can increase significantly, even into five figures, depending on the location and reputation of the breeder. Reproducing requires artificial insemination. These factors increase the investment for French bulldog breeders. The more investment a breeder makes into producing healthy high-quality dogs in good environments, the higher the price will be. The rarer the color is, such as blue, lilac or chocolate, the more you can expect to pay. Certain coat patterns, such as pied, merle or brindle, will also be more expensive. Female French bulldogs and those with blue eyes are pricier as well. Adopting through the French Bulldog Rescue Network is a more affordable way to acquire a new puppy or adult Frenchie. The French bulldog breed is exceptional with many rare characteristics that make them popular among dog owners. But there are also some challenges and things to watch out for. French Bulldog Size Fully grown French bulldogs average 12 inches tall. Adult females often weigh between 16 and 24 pounds, and males reach 20 to 24 pounds. Most French bulldogs will continue to gain weight until about 14 months old but stop gaining height between nine and 12 months. There are also mini Frenchies, also known as teacup French bulldogs. These are bred to be miniature versions of standard French bulldogs, weighing between five and 14 pounds. They typically shed in spring and fall, so you should increase coat brushing during that time to help reduce hair in your home. This can help you save on grooming costs. French Bulldog Appearance Along with breeds like English Bulldogs and pugs, French bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, which means they have a shortened snout. Their faces are wrinkly and scrunched, giving them a distinct look, even as puppies. French Bulldog Colors French bulldogs come in many different coat colors. These include neutral colors — such as cream, gray, tan and black — as well as more rare colors like lilac, blue and chocolate. The rarer the color, the more expensive the price of a French bulldog will be. French Bulldog Temperament These pups are affectionate and playful, making them great companions. Training is recommended for French bulldogs since they can march to the beat of their own drum without guidance. Most Frenchies respond well to training, especially when treats are involved. Trainers believe French bulldogs understand commands but are moody and will respond as they feel like it. Frenchies are great family dogs, do well around other pets and prefer companionship. A companion will also allow you to leave them alone for longer periods of time without them getting frustrated. But, of course, another pet will come with its own costs. French Bulldog Activity Level Frenchies are not the best dog if you want a jogging companion. French Bulldog Life Expectancy French bulldogs have an average lifespan of 12 years if well taken care of. If they remain in great health, they can live as long as 15 years. Your veterinarian will periodically examine your Frenchie to ensure he or she is growing properly. Due to their flat faces and short necks, it can be difficult for French bulldogs to use standard feeding bowls. You can instead provide elevated dog food and water bowls to help your pet eat and drink more comfortably. Buying treats, toys or a comfortable dog bed can also help your Frenchie feel welcome in its new home. They were bred to be smaller versions of the larger bulldog and quickly became popular companions for Parisians living in small spaces. They have bat-like ears, can have a range of colors, and boast a short, smooth coat. They tend to weigh 28 pounds or less and are easily trainable. This is something to consider before bringing one into your home. The cost of a French bulldog varies based on where you buy it, as well as other unique factors about the dog. Purchasing a French bulldog from a breeder will typically cost more than adopting one from a shelter or rescue. How much does it cost to buy a French bulldog from a breeder? How much does it cost to adopt a French bulldog from a rescue? Sometimes, adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization is free. Why are French bulldogs so expensive? French bulldogs have long been one of the most popular dog breeds in the country. French bulldogs are also difficult to breed. They typically require artificial insemination and C-sections upon delivery. This can increase the cost for breeders, who pass those expenses onto the consumer via high prices. Factors that affect the price of a French bulldog Many factors can make a Frenchie — or any dog, for that matter — more expensive than the next. Some colors are very common, including white, cream, and black. Rare colors, like merle, blue, brindle, and lilac, are more unique and typically fetch a higher price. Gender: Female dogs usually cost more than males since they have the ability to produce future generations — and future income if you decide to sell any of her puppies. Bloodline and genetics: If a dog has parents or grandparents who've won shows, have other accolades, or were AKC-registered, this can increase their price. Dogs with health guarantees may also cost more. Breeder: The location and quality of a breeder — as well as the animals, methods, and facilities they use — can vary widely. You can expect a highly regarded, long-time breeder with a great reputation to charge more than someone with less experience breeding French bulldogs. Sometimes their price can be double that of a Frenchie in a common color like white or black. Boarding or pet sitting If you send your pup to doggie daycare, have them boarded while traveling, or hire a pet sitter, this will add to your ongoing costs. Ongoing classes may cost more than this, though. Pet insurance — if you decide to purchase it — may offset some of these costs, as well as other medical expenses. The American Kennel Club claims that Frenchies need coat grooming only once per month. What are some common French bulldog health problems? Hemivertebrae: Hemivertebrae can cause your dog to develop triangle-shaped vertebrae that can result in pain, weakness, and paralysis. Hip dysplasia: This is when the hip joint degenerates and no longer fits properly into the socket. It can often occur in Frenchies that are over-exercised. Patellar luxation: This condition occurs when the kneecap slips out of place. It can cause walking problems and arthritis. Your Frenchie may also develop issues outside of these breed-specific problems that may also need treatment. What is the best insurance plan for your Frenchie? Some pet insurance plans cover only accidents and injuries, while others include preventative care, dental care, vaccinations, and other services. Consider your lifestyle and what activities you plan to do with your Frenchie before selecting a plan. Additional coverages may cost more. Asking for referrals from friends, family members, or colleagues who have bought Frenchies is one place to start. This can help you gauge the conditions the dog will be born into and the genetic line they come from. You can also look out for the signs of a responsible dog breeder, as outlined by the Humane Society of the United States. Is a French bulldog the right dog breed for you? French bulldogs might be right for you if you can afford the potentially high initial investment and are willing to spend time playing and socializing with your pup, as they are affectionate, playful, and active animals. The American Kennel Club says this breed is good with young children, good with other dogs, and overall very trainable. French bulldog FAQs French bulldogs are a unique and popular breed. What is the life expectancy of a French bulldog? French bulldogs have a life expectancy of nine to 12 years. This is slightly less than the average dog, which lives an average of 10 to 13 years. Do French bulldogs bark a lot? French bulldogs are not big barkers. A short daily walk should be enough for this small breed, making them a good fit for apartment and city life, where yards and large lots can be hard to find. What is the cheapest French bulldog? Purebred dogs represent only a small portion of shelter animals, so you may find yourself with a mixed Frenchie if you adopt one. What is the most expensive Frenchie? The rarest Frenchies tend to be the most expensive. How much is a French bulldog worth? Related articles. Check out our French Bulldog Puppies What is included in our prices? We provide nanny service to all major US airports for an extra fee. Shipping to other countries is also possible, contact us for more info! PayPal and Stripe have payment insurance which means that they keep your money pending until you get the puppy. We get your money just after you have confirmed that your puppy has arrived in your arms safe and sound! Shots up-to-date worth USD Our pups receive all the necessary shots while they are with us: 1. Deworming worth 50 USD Our puppies are dewormed every two weeks from the age of 4 weeks old and they also get Simparica Trio against ticks, fleas and heartworms right before they leave. Anti-parasite treatment worth USD We give our puppies anti-parasite treatment against all parasites before they leave except for heart worms. Echocardiogram heart examination, worth 1, USD We do echocardiogram on our Frenchies and when we find the slightest chance of heart murmur in one of them, we rather cancel the adoption and find a loving home for them locally. Valer, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies Membership and right to post in the TomKings Frenchie Family closed Facebook group We created a Facebook group for our adopters where we answer their questions and they share their experiences with each other. We are a Family because we are connected by the love towards Frenchies and we are always there to help and support each other, as well as share valuable experiences and advice! Only TomKings Frenchie parents are allowed to post and ask from us or any other member in the group. Participation in TomKings Frenchie Meetups We organize Frenchie Meetups in major cities throughout the States where you can talk with other TomKings Frenchie owners and exchange advice while your Frenchies are playing with each other. Frenchie Love eBook worth .Lifetime Health Guarantee We give you a lifetime health guarantee on all genetic disorders which cause death, which means that we send you another puppy if your Frenchie dies. We have never had that so far since the parent dogs go through a rigorous selection process before the breeding program and our vet checks the puppies often. We know that Frenchie owners have a bunch of questions about feeding, raising, training, etc. Our goal is to have only happy and healthy puppies so we will always be there to answer your questions! Lifetime vet assistance Frenchie owners have a lot of questions about the health of their puppies and most of the time they run to their vet right away and leave a fortune there for nothing. We even tell you whether you need to visit your vet at all! Health certification TomKings Frenchies are examined strictly before they leave for their new homes and we give you a health certificate which can be used if you want to have insurance for your puppy which we highly recommend. Exceptional care We treat every puppy as a family member from the moment they are born. We believe that the secret of having socialized and healthy Frenchie puppies is spending time with them all day long and letting them run and play in the backyard. Potty training It is crucial how puppies are trained at the beginning of their lives. At TomKings Puppies we are focusing not only on their health but their proper training as well. We start potty training for them so that you have a much easier job! Ultimate Guide. Depending on where you live sorry California, it is expensive where you are! This could indicate the dog is coming from a puppy mill. You can read why you should avoid buying dogs from puppy mills here. But the popularity of the dog means there can be a lot of competition for the Frenchies that do need a home. There are a lot of factors that can influence price, and if you are looking for a show dog or a dog for breeding, you should expect to pay a lot more. Certain colors, which are desirable but genetically quite rare, can also push up the price. A brindle or black puppy will usually be at the lower end of the scale, but a breeder might ask a lot more for a platinum or blue fawn puppy. This is Micro, a perfect body specimen for a Frenchie. He also has a blue coat and orange eyes, which are quite rare in dogs. What About Mini Frenchies? Mini Frenchies, also known as Teacup Frenchies, are the same fantastic dog, but they are quite a bit smaller than usual. You can expect them to weigh just 5 to 14 pounds on average. Due to their smaller size, though, their bodies can be fragile, so it is important not to engage in rough play with them. These dogs are even harder to breed see below than standard French bulldogs, so they are also quite a bit more expensive. Why are they so expensive, then? One factor is high demand since they are a very desirable dog breed. But that is not the whole story, since Labs are also one of the most popular dog breeds. Health Problems One of the biggest factors is these dogs have a lot of health problems. Most of their health issues are related to their flat, brachycephalic faces similar to Pugs and American bulldogs , which makes them particularly prone to breathing issues and allergies. This unique facial structure can also affect the formation of their jaw, and the health of their eyes, and can even affect their healing from certain illnesses and injuries. On top of this, they can also be prone to hip dysplasia, kneecap shifts, and heat stress. Fortunately, breeders try to control these breed-specific issues. It is essential that responsible breeders do their best to control these conditions, which means DNA scanning, genetic testing, multiple trips to the vet, and paying extra close attention to the developing puppies. Of course, all of this comes with a cost. Breeding Problems The other big problem is that Frenchies are extremely hard to breed. As well as the operation itself is expensive, the mother and pups need extra care afterward. Plus, breeders need to give their mother dogs significantly longer to recuperate before they can think about breeding them again. On top of that, French bulldogs have small litters—usually just three puppies. It is very unusual for a Frenchie to have five or more puppies in a single litter. So, if you are looking for a French bulldog puppy, you can expect to be on a waiting list for several months before a puppy is available. As well as being expensive to buy, French bulldogs can be pretty costly to care for, again mostly because of their health problems. They will probably need regular trips to the vet, and insuring them can be expensive because they are known to have health issues. But what are some of the main costs that you can expect to incur when bringing home a new puppy? Supplies It can surprise pet parents just how many things you need to care for a new dog. For starters, your new pup will need a bed, toys, bowls, a collar, and a leash. A crate can also be a big expense if you choose to crate train. However, because crate training is not so common among French bulldogs, first-time owners might also want to consider some professional training classes. Food Food is one of the biggest neverending expenses for any dog. Puppy food is also a bit more expensive than adult food because of its high protein content. Ideally, your dog should be eating puppy food until they are about 9 months old. French bulldogs should be eating around 25 to 30 calories per pound of their body weight each day. You can read more about pet insurance for puppies here. They will usually only bark when there is something wrong, so it is worth paying attention when they do vocalize. This is one of the reasons why they make excellent apartment dogs. While French bulldogs are adorable, they are specifically bred for their appearance, and this has led to a lot of genetic issues that affect their health and can leave them in a lot of pain in their later years. Many people object to putting the health of an animal second to appearance and therefore object to buying French bulldogs and supporting the purebred breeding industry. In theory, if there was no demand for these dogs, this kind of exploitative breeding would stop. In practice, this is difficult to imagine, considering how popular the breed is. Can French bulldogs stay home alone? French bulldogs actually tolerate being left alone relatively well. However, all dogs need a lot of love and companionship, and no dog responds well to being left on their own for 10 hours a day five days a week. Dogs become members of the family, and if they are going to thrive, they need to be treated with that kind of attention. Are Frenchies hard to potty train? However, they are little dogs with small bladders. They also tend to gobble down their food, which means they can be prone to smelly gas expulsions. How much exercise does my Frenchie need? French bulldogs do well on just a 15 to minute vigorous walk each day. They are also quite playful, so they burn off energy just playing around as well. Are French bulldogs aggressive? Despite the reputation of bulldogs, Frenchies are not aggressive. They are friendly and get on well with people and other animals. However, all animals are a combination of nature and nurture, so they can learn aggressive habits if they are not properly cared for. Are Frenchies high maintenance? They can also be left alone without expecting too much trouble. On the other hand, their tendency towards breed-specific health issues does mean they need regular visits to the vet. They may need special medications for things like breathing issues, and in later life, they may need things like a special bed. The Verdict French bulldogs are excellent dogs. They are great little companions who will find it easy to live in your apartment with you, but they are also fun-loving and curious. While they are great dogs, they are also quite expensive. This is due to high demand and some pretty serious difficulties when it comes to breeding them. They have small litters, almost always delivered by c-section, and health screenings and vet visits are a big burden for breeders. If you want something special, such as a rare color, you should expect to pay a lot more. You can also expect them to be relatively expensive dogs to own because they do need regular and close contact with a good vet to maintain their health. At a glance, the French bulldog is: Highly intelligent and trainable Small, meaning it does well in fairly small apartments Expensive due to demand and how difficult they are to breed Prone to breed-specific health issues So, are they worth all this expense and trouble? We think they are. French bulldogs can be the ideal pet for first-time owners with limited space and time but a lot of love to give. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.

You are bound to want to know when your biting puppy will grow out of this phase and how you can speed that process up. Biting, as you will have discovered is usually accompanied by lots of noise! Why do puppies bite? So why do puppies bite? My puppy is biting hard Puppies do bite hard and it does hurt. But I want to reassure you that even at 8 weeks old, your puppy has learned to moderate his bite in play. Puppies have powerful jaws designed to tear through flesh and crush bones. Those of you who feed your puppy a raw diet will know that even an 8 week old puppy from a medium sized breed can crush bones the size of your little finger. He is deliberately attempting to be gentle. Puppy Biting — Bite inhibition This ability, that your puppy has, to moderate the power of his jaws in play, is called bite inhibition. It is something that his mother started to teach him when he was just a few weeks old. And now it is your turn to take over and complete the training process. Growling and Puppy biting One thing that often worries people who have a new puppy in the family, is the growling that accompanies puppy biting. It sounds horrific. Great snarls and snaps accompany the biting and the puppy can appear quite demonic as he grabs onto your skin, or clothes. Tugging away with all the strength he can muster. Ninety nine times out of a hundred this is completely normal play biting. Is my puppy biting aggressive? You cannot determine whether or not a puppy is biting aggressively by how hard he bites or by the volume of the noise he makes. Play biting puppies bite hard and growl fiercely. Some puppies do occasionally draw blood. But these are not normally savage or crushing bites and the puppy is clearly enjoying himself. Fierce but fun! The play biting puppy will launch himself at the target of his bite. Whether it is your slippers or your fingers, with equal tail-wagging enthusiasm, hanging on grimly and grabbing repeatedly when the item is removed from him. All this, shocking though it may seem, is normal, and is not a sign that your puppy is going to be an aggressive dog! In fact some of the gentlest and most amiable breeds the labrador for example are the worst and fiercest play biters. The puppy that is a cause for concern is the puppy that is frightened. Because although puppies rarely bite through aggression, the nervous puppy may become aggressive as he matures Is my puppy afraid? A scared puppy may bite and scared puppies can grow into scared adult dogs so this is something you need to address quickly. You will know that your puppy is scared because he will try to avoid whatever it is he is scared of. A really frightened puppy will sometimes give off a distinctive musky smell. This hiding, and retreating, and the scared smell are warning signs that you have scared your puppy badly, or purchased a poorly socialised puppy. In this situation you need to get specialist help right away. Your vet should be able to advise you. For the vast majority of puppy owners then, biting is normal puppy behavior. Will my puppy biting stop naturally? To some extent biting is a phase caused by natural puppy playfulness and teething. Some puppies do stop biting with very little input from their family. Which is great. You may feel he should have grown out of it by now. We can physically prevent puppies from biting and we can train puppies not to bite. Both of these are good strategies. Or when children are getting upset, or visitors are winding your puppy up. Prevention usually involves interrupting the biting behavior, then redirecting the puppy into an alternative and more acceptable behavior, such as chewing on a toy. Or, it may involve temporarily separating him from his playmates. Interrupting the puppy biting In mild cases you may simply be able to put a toy in your biting puppy's mouth and get him tugging on that instead of on your fingers. If you are on the floor with the puppy stand up. And if you are standing up, turn and walk away from the puppy. This is where dog gates come in very handy with small puppies. A standard baby gate works fine for most breeds of dog. Managing the puppy You may have to pick up your biting puppy to remove him from the scene if he is biting your children for example, rather than you If he bites your hands and clothes as you try to restrain him, put him on the other side of a barrier or in his crate or puppy playpen for a short while. Although the puppy does learn from them, these are useful management techniques to enable you to control the situation. They help you to keep your puppy calm, and prevent the biting escalating through over excitement. Over-excited puppies Puppy play biting is directly linked to excitement. The more excited your puppy gets, the more and the harder he will bite. And the harder it will be to interrupt and distract him. Rough play excites puppies and noisy play does too. Children tend to squeal when they play and get very physical with puppies. One of the first rules they need to learn when playing with dogs, especially big dogs, is to stand up and stand still when the game gets too much. Limit such play and call a halt to it if your puppy is biting. With medium to large breed dogs, physical rough and tumble play is not a great idea. It can lead to dogs bowling people over or humping them, neither of which is very pleasant. Stopping play when it gets rough is a good management strategy and it is a form of training too. Over time, your puppy learns that biting and rough play loses him his playmates and that people simply leave if he is being mean. When do puppies stop biting? Many puppies have stopped biting completely by six months of age and biting is usually subsiding by the time that the puppy is heading towards five months old. This is if the puppy has been managed appropriately If people have been exciting him, or rewarding him for attention seeking behavior then biting can persist And it can be much more of a problem in bigger stronger puppies than in little ones. Training Puppies Not To Bite The idea of this exercise is to teach a puppy to accept being stroked and handled in any way, without touching us with his teeth. The event marker is a distinctive sound. Even around his mouth, without him making any attempt to bite you. You can also make it easier for him by starting this training when he is calm and not distracted. But for now, keep things simple. It can be a good way of getting the training started so that you have chance to say YES and give the puppy the opportunity to learn what you want him to do. Over the next few sessions, you can work on getting your hand closer and closer to the puppy. Until you are brushing the sides of his face without him making any attempt to mouth or bite at you Progress to touching and holding his collar, stroking his ears, grooming him, examining his paws and so on, all the time rewarding him for the correct behavior. Anytime the mouthing returns, back up to a point where he can succeed and move forward more slowly again Bite Inhibition Training Some experts feel that puppies should be allowed to mouth and even bite gently for a week or two before being prevented from biting altogether. Simply follow the instructions for managing your puppy above when he bites hard. But allow him to mouth you when he bites gently without much pressure. This is a great way to teach a dog excellent control over his mouth. After a couple of weeks of this, you can progress to the training exercise I outlined in the previous section. Older puppies that bite in play have often learned that this gets them a lot of attention. They have discovered that people squeal and shout and get quite cross. Sometimes these people push and shove the dog around which young dogs quite enjoy when they are playing. For these dogs it is important that you stop all physical play, with all family members If a puppy is biting hard at your hands when you try to interrupt his game. Or an older puppy is getting out of hand biting at clothing, you need to put your puppy on a harness and house-line a short trailing leash. This will enable you to control your puppy, and take him to a calming place, without handling him. You can just pick up the end of the line and lead him away. Older biting puppies are often bright and bored. And the best approach to avoiding future episodes of bad behavior is a structured programme of training and interesting activities. A professional dog trainer using modern positive training methods will be able to help you with these. Summary So now you know some tips on how to stop your puppy from biting. The first few weeks can be tough with a determined biter in the house, but you will get through this and come out the other side. A few months from now, this difficult period will be a distant memory In the meantime, focus on keeping your biting puppy calm, avoiding too much rough play, and redirecting his biting onto appropriate toys and activities. Spend some time on the training exercise set out above. They Are Naturally Mouthy Golden Retrievers are a mouthy breed, to begin with, they are naturally inclined to pick up and hold anything and everything in their mouths. While it may seem like there is something wrong with your puppy to cause him or her to bite so much, rest assured, all puppies bite, not just Golden Retriever puppies. Play Behaviour When you see a litter of pups play together, they often nip and bite at one another. It is their way of socializing and initiating play. Your puppy will bite and nip at you during playtime with you because it is a natural behaviour to them. They Are Teething Many people associate puppy biting with teething, however when a puppy is teething they will resort to chewing and mouthing in order to relieve their pain. They may chew or mouth on your hands and fingers, but teething is not the cause of biting that every puppy owner experiences. Puppy biting is most often just play. To summarize, puppy biting is normal and should be expected as a puppy owner. In general, biting will naturally subside in Golden Retriever puppies around the age of months. This is around the time that their adult teeth have come in. Puppies at this age usually already know how to moderate their bite, and will not bite or nip at you as much as they did when they were younger. While biting anything and everything is normal behaviour to your puppy, it is not something that you want your puppy to continue to do. It is up to you to teach your puppy not to bite humans, especially children. Take a look at the common mistakes puppy owners often make, and learn to avoid them. Puppies who are excited bite more. Children often fall victim to the most puppy bites because they get very excited around puppies and this just gets the puppy going which results in biting. Any attention that you give your puppy after they bite you will seem like a reward to your puppy, and the biting will just continue. Yelling at your puppy, pushing them away, talking to your puppy, or even looking at them is giving them the attention that they want. Bite inhibition is when your puppy learns how to control the strength of his bite. Puppies learn this skill when they are with their littermates, which is why they need to stay with them and their mother until they are 8 weeks old. Playing with their littermates teaches puppies that biting too hard hurts and will end playtime. The puppy then learns to bite softer. When your puppy comes home with you, it is up to you to teach your puppy how to control the force of their bite. Biting down on the thick fur coat of his mother or littermates is a lot different than biting down on human skin. By not teaching your puppy bite inhibition, you will risk your puppy turning into a dangerous adult. Puppy bites are a lot different than adult dog bites. Once your puppy learns how to control the strength of his bite, eventually the bites become gentler, and in time, your puppy will learn to stop biting altogether. This is part of teaching your puppy bite inhibition. This is a way to mimic how puppies play together, when one puppy bites another puppy too hard, that puppy yelps in pain, and will walk away. In some cases, puppies could get even more worked up by the noise and keep on biting. This is when you need to walk away. When your puppy has calmed down, you can resume playing with your puppy. When your puppy bites you again, repeat the steps of yelping and walking away. Eventually, your puppy will learn to soften his bite, because biting too hard ends playtime. The following video discusses why puppies bite, how to teach bite inhibition and how to survive puppy biting. It is a good idea to have a few chew toys on hand to offer up as a distraction from your skin. Check out this list of the best teething toys for puppies. This will get your puppy to stop and focus on being obedient. A great way to solve boredom is by going for a walk with your puppy. How much exercise should you give your Golden Retriever puppy? A good rule of thumb is 5 minutes of exercise for every month that your puppy is alive. So a 3-month-old puppy should get 15 minutes of exercise a day, a 5-month-old puppy should get 25 minutes per day, and so on. This is in addition to and not instead of playtime. Bitter Apple Spray can also be used to prevent your puppy from nipping and biting at you. Before you interact with your puppy, spray it on your arms, legs, pant legs, or sleeves, anywhere that your puppy likes to nip at you. Once your puppy bites at you, he will get a bad taste in his mouth and will stop. Bitter Apple Spray may not work on all puppies, some may actually develop a taste for it. I know that when my Golden Retriever Ellie was a pup this stuff worked amazingly well, but as she got older she developed a taste for bitter things such as crab apples which are extremely sour and she once sucked on a vinegar packet that was lying on the ground! Reward Good Behaviour Every time your puppy stops biting and nipping at you, you need to see this as positive behaviour. Good behaviour should be rewarded so that your puppy learns that he did something good. Rewarding good behaviour with affection and praise is great, you can also use treats, or toys, sometimes the best reward for your puppy is just spending time with them. Be Patient and Consistent Owning a puppy requires a lot of patience! It is so easy to lose your patience at times, but you need to know that your puppy is learning what is right and wrong, and that takes time. It might not happen overnight, but as long as you remain consistent and patient, your pup will learn good behaviour. If your puppy is nipping at your pant legs or sleeves, chances are he is loving the tugging feeling and is actually already playing tug-of-war. Instead of using your clothing, redirect his attention to a rope toy. One thing to be careful of is being too rough with tug-of-war, especially when your puppy is going through his teething phase. A game of fetch offers your pup a distraction from biting, and Golden Retriever puppies naturally love to retrieve things. This is a great way to also teach your puppy to drop it, by offering a treat when your puppy drops the ball or rope toy. A well-socialized puppy will be less likely to exhibit any unwanted behaviours later on. Enrolling your pup in puppy kindergarten or arranging some play dates with other dogs who are friendly and vaccinated is a great way for your pup to learn social skills. Other dogs are sometimes the best teachers for a puppy because they will let your puppy know what is okay for play and what is not okay, in terms of biting and nipping. Always supervise your puppy while playing with other dogs. Yelling at your puppy will only make your puppy scared and confused as well as lose trust and respect for you. Common mistakes people make when their puppy is biting are pushing them away, clamping down on their mouths or spraying them in the face with water. All of these are a bad idea! Your puppy could see this behaviour as a form of play and continue biting and nipping at you even harder. If you remain calm and use a firm voice not yelling , your pup will see you as in charge. Puppies and dogs often exhibit the same behaviour as we do, if you get upset and start yelling, your puppy will just get even more excited. As unpleasant as puppy biting is, it is normal behaviour. Your puppy biting and nipping at you with a mouth full of shark teeth may seem aggressive, but it is most often just out of curiosity and play behaviour. Golden Retrievers are known for their calm and gentle demeanour, but there are rare instances where you may have an aggressive puppy on your hands. Puppies who have been taken away from their litter earlier than weeks, bad breeding, being abused, a chemical imbalance, and not being socialized are all reasons for aggression in puppies. Signs of an aggressive puppy include barking, growling, lunging at you or another dog, a stiff posture, and showing teeth. If you think your puppy is aggressive, it is important to work with a professional dog trainer or behaviourist in order to find out the reasons for aggression and work on correcting the behaviour before it gets worse. It is important to keep your calm and work with your puppy to teach him the important skill of bite inhibition, and to redirect his biting to more appropriate behaviour. Socializing your puppy, as well as rewarding good behaviour will all help to turn your puppy into a well-behaved dog. Have you tried any of the tips mentioned above? Do you have any other tips to stop Golden Retriever puppy biting? Share your thoughts and comments below, as well as any questions you may have. I would love to hear from you. Jenny I am the proud owner of a Golden Retriever named Ellie. She keeps me busy, and when she is resting, you can find me working on my blog. She is always close by though. I live in Stirling, ON Canada with my husband, and we both enjoy the never a dull moment life with our Ellie. Spread the love. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase the item. This comes at no extra cost to you. Wish your golden retriever puppy would stop biting so much? Puppy nipping is one of the most frustrating things about raising a new puppy—their teeth are razor-sharp, it hurts when they bite, and they can ruin your clothes! But why do puppies bite so much? Puppies bite to learn acquired bite inhibition, or ABI. What exactly is ABI? He might leap up and bite you because you hurt him and scared him. But the important thing is this: how hard will they bite? This is where ABI comes in. So ABI is really important. Now the question is, how do they learn it? The only way for puppies to learn ABI is to bite, and bite often. The best teachers are other dogs. Next time they bite a little less hard and playtime continues. This is how they learn ABI. Obviously, it takes a lot of repetition of this scenario to happen for a puppy to learn not to bite so hard, but this is essentially how it works out. Yes, you will need to help teach your puppy ABI. You can do this two ways: Set up puppy playdates and take them to puppy kindergarten so other puppies can teach them ABI. You actually want them to bite a little bit and learn to control how hard they bite. That being said, letting them go on a biting rampage is not helping the situation, so here are five tips to help you stop your puppy from biting so much: 1. Socialize your puppy Other dogs are the best teachers of ABI so make sure to get your puppy in kindergarten and set up playdates with dogs that you know are vaccinated. Remove yourself from the situation Puppies can often be over-stimulated or over-tired. One thing we did with our puppy, Oliver, when he got in these moods was to go sit at our high-top table in the kitchen and ignore him until he calmed down or distracted himself with a chew toy. Exercise your puppy A tired puppy is a good puppy. Young puppies have weak jaws, so if they had dull teeth, a bite from them would be no big deal. Most adult golden retrievers bite out of fear and a professional can help you properly handle it. Puppy Biting vs. Chewing Puppy biting or nipping is when a dog purposefully bites you. As we already talked about, they need to do this to learn ABI. Puppy chewing, on the other hand, is when puppies chew on things to relieve the pressure in their mouths from their adult teeth coming in. Since puppies bite and chew for different reasons, you need to handle these problems differently. Mentally wear them by out by training them, going for long walks and letting them sniff around, and giving them puzzle toys or frozen kongs. Remember that a tired puppy is a good puppy. A: It can take up to six weeks or more for your puppy to learn ABI and what is appropriate to bite or not. If it takes longer than six weeks, just remember to be consistent with the steps to stop it and have faith that it will slow down soon. Q: Is puppy biting an act of aggression? A: Most puppy biting is a form of play. It helps them learn ABI. If you think your puppy is biting out of aggression, then you should talk to a professional. Q: Why are puppy teeth so sharp? Q: What is ABI? A: ABI is acquired bite inhibition, or the natural ability for a dog to not bite so hard. Q: Do all puppies bite? A: Yes! Instead, they need to learn to control their bite force, then learn to bite less. Have any questions about puppy biting? Let me know in the comments below! Related articles:. Are you a proud new golden retriever puppy parent or considering getting a furry friend? While puppies are adorable and full of energy, they can also be a handful, especially when it comes to biting. This article will cover practical strategies to manage puppy biting and help you and your pup develop a solid and loving relationship. Thus biting is natural. Their bites will become softer as they practice and learn to manage their bite strength. They will eventually stop biting entirely. While biting is a natural part of the learning process, it is essential to train your puppy not to bite excessively. Here are a few tips to get you started: Providing Chew Toys for Redirecting Biting Behavior Providing chew toys is an excellent approach to help your puppy stop biting. When your puppy begins to bite you, remove your hand or foot and replace it with a chew toy. This teaches them that biting is acceptable, but only when done with toys, not people. It is essential to keep an eye on your puppy when they play with chew toys to ensure they do not consume anything toxic. By exposing your puppy to a variety of people, animals, and environments in a controlled and positive manner, you can help them develop proper social skills and reduce biting tendencies. Socialization helps puppies learn appropriate bite inhibition and establishes boundaries for acceptable behavior during interactions. Through well-planned socialization experiences, you can guide your puppy towards becoming a well-behaved and gentle companion. Employing the Time-Out Strategy for Persistent Biting Use the time-out strategy when other methods fail to stop your puppy from biting. If your puppy continues to bite, place him on a time-out for 30 seconds before allowing him to return to play. This teaches your puppy that biting is unacceptable and will result in a loss of playtime or attention. Again, use a gentle tone and avoid shouting or scolding your puppy. When your puppy plays gently with their toys instead of biting you, shower them with praise and perhaps even a tasty gift! This teaches your puppy that good behavior leads to beautiful things. Instead, concentrate on encouraging appropriate behavior and redirecting any inappropriate biting. Your puppy will learn to control their biting and play in a friendly and safe manner with time, patience, and positive reinforcement. This entails repeating the same commands, techniques, and rewards each time you train. When you do this, your puppy learns what is expected of them and how to get rewarded. On the other hand, if you are inconsistent, your puppy may get confused and unsure of what they need to do to please you. This can make training more difficult and frustrating for you and your puppy. So, strive to be consistent in your training. However, they can get nippy during their fun exploration of the world around them. The good news is that this is a natural habit for pups, and there are ways to deal with it. Puppies prefer to bite to initiate play, learn more about their surroundings, and adjust their bite pressure, especially when they are teething. These actions are part of how they play, interact, and learn about their environment. First, however, puppies must be taught how to control their biting pressure and redirect their biting to appropriate toys and chew objects, which we will discuss later. Puppy bites, for example, can become more painful and even harmful as they increase in size. Additionally, it might lead to destructive chewing if you do not divert their biting habit to appropriate chew items. As a result, it is critical to address this habit early on through regular teaching and positive reinforcement. Understand what motivates them and what makes them more likely to engage in biting. Adjust your training methods: Not all puppies respond to the same training techniques. Some may respond better to positive reinforcement, while others may require more redirection and distraction. Consider their energy levels: Golden Retrievers are known for their energy and enthusiasm. Be patient and consistent: Training takes time, and each puppy learns at their own pace. Be patient with your puppy and provide consistent guidance. Remember, every Golden Retriever puppy is an individual, and what works for one may not work for another. With a customized approach, you can effectively address biting behavior and set your unique puppy on the path to becoming a well-behaved and happy companion. So, most puppies begin to bite and mouth less frequently when they are 8 to 10 months old. However, this varies greatly depending on the individual pup. Some may stop sooner, while others may take a little longer. Golden retrievers, for example, love using their tongues. At the same time, herding dogs such as border collies or corgis may continue to nip at ankles as they age. Just keep working with your pet and providing the guidance they require to create positive habits! Conclusion As you begin the joyful road of raising your Golden Retriever puppy, keep in mind that training and socialization are essential for producing a happy and well-behaved dog. You can teach your puppy what is expected of them and create healthy behaviors that will last a lifetime using consistent and positive reinforcement techniques. Remember that each puppy is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. You will be rewarded with a devoted and well-behaved companion if you are patient and committed to the training process. Remember to give your puppy enough exercise and mental stimulation and to continuously reward positive behavior. You can help your puppy grow into a happy and healthy adult dog who will provide you happiness for many years by doing so. By the time your puppy reaches around three months of age, they should start to develop bite inhibition and learn to control the force of their bites during play. As you continue to interact and train with your puppy, you can gradually increase your sensitivity to the level of bites you find acceptable. By the age of four or five months, their play bites should no longer exert any force. Can I use physical punishment to stop my puppy from biting? Certainly not! To stop a puppy from biting, never use physical punishment. It is not only ineffective, but it can also be harmful and cause long-term behavioral issues. Instead, train your puppy using positive reinforcement techniques, including redirection, time-outs, and excellent rewarding behavior. What can I do? Puppies frequently nip and bite while playing with other dogs, but teaching them to control their bite force is essential. My puppy is teething. What can I do to stop them from biting? Teething is a normal developmental stage for puppies , and they naturally want to chew and bite things. Similar to what we discussed earlier. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Read the full disclosure here. Tasty finger! Your golden retriever puppy is as friendly as can be — great with kids, respectful of other dogs, and not overly attentive to your cat. Yes, golden retrievers are known for their good-natured demeanor, but they are still dogs — not so very far removed from their wild cousins, and they can be unpredictable when faced with stressful, disturbing, or frightening situations. One of our jobs as responsible dog owners, of course, is to keep our dogs safe, but we may not always be able to protect them, and we may not always be able to prevent them from biting through fear or when in pain. What is Bite Inhibition? Puppies begin learning this from their mother and siblings as soon as they start to tumble around with each other in play. If they bite too hard, they are scolded by their mother or alerted with a yelp from their siblings. Eventually, they learn how hard is too hard, and they use their teeth more gently in play. Human Sensitive or Advanced Bite Inhibition By the time your puppy moves into your home, they will have been using their bite inhibition skills for weeks. Your puppy needs to learn that human beings are fragile and should be treated with care. There are many professional trainers who recommend that you simply train your puppy not to bite. This seems like a practical course of action, and it does work — in the short term. Teaching a puppy not to bite will give you quick results, but it may mean they never learn how much force is safe to use on people when they are forced to bite in an emergency. So if they do eventually bite, they will know to hold back the pressure safely and will not cause anywhere near as much pain or damage as they otherwise might. Why is Bite Inhibition Important? Believe it or not, even the most gentle dog that has been trained from a young age never to bite, can react to certain triggers. Those triggers are fear and pain. Consider these situations: Your dog has been suffering from chronic ear infections and hates to have his ears handled. The neighbor stops by with her toddler, who immediately runs to your dog and fondles his sensitive ears roughly. What will he do? You and your dog are walking down the road like you do every morning when out of nowhere comes a huge dog who attacks your dog without thinking twice. You manage to pull your dog away, but in the process, your frightened dog bites your arm. Your sweet golden retriever has gotten themself tangled in some barbed wire while hiking. As you loosen the wire from her skin and fur, she snaps at you, biting your hand. You may never experience any of these situations. By teaching bite inhibition while your puppy is young, you will be far safer and ready for any of these situations should they occur. Teaching Advanced Bite Inhibition Following is a general guide to the bite inhibition skills your puppy learns and when, as well as where you should aim for their skills to be at certain ages. She will start the puppies off by teaching them how rough is too rough during nursing and play. These lessons begin when the puppies start nursing day 1 and continue until the day you pick your puppy up from the breeder. This works for some puppies, but for others, it just seems to arouse the pup and make matters worse. You will have to experiment to find out what works for you and your pup. You should withdraw all of your attention from your puppy for very hard bites. Do not over-correct your puppy so they become afraid of biting. After your puppy has calmed down, use a chew toy as a reward and let them chew it in your lap or lying by your side. This teaches you puppy that there are other ways to keep their mouths and teeth busy. By four or five months, all force behind play bites should be eliminated. Kids tend to play rough with puppies, and puppies will get rough right back. Your puppy needs to know that every human being is sensitive to their bites, not just you. It is a process that sometimes lasts months, depending on your puppy. Be prepared for this, and remember that long-term results in your adult dog are more important than curtailing puppy bites as painful as they may be. Supervise your puppy around children — If you have young children at home, you will have to think carefully about how you will protect them and your puppy. Little puppy teeth can cause a lot of pain, especially when your pup is still learning to control those urges. Young children can also cause a lot of pain to small puppies. Always supervise very carefully when your pup and children are together. A tired puppy is a happy puppy — It will be much easier to teach bite inhibition if your puppy is not bouncing off the walls. Make sure they get enough exercise every day. Not only will this help with training, but it will also help prevent all kinds of other destructive behavior. Conclusion Teaching bite inhibition to your golden retriever puppy is a gift you give to your pup that will last forever.