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Officially, there is only a single type of Boxer dog recognized by major kennel clubs. However, fanciers and breeders have set the distinctions between Boxer dogs bred in different countries. The differences between the types of Boxer dogs in each region are heavily dependent on preferences. Breeders from each location have been cultivating specific characteristics or traits that they want the breed to exhibit. International kennel organizations also contributed to their variation as they prioritize the characteristics of a certain region over the other. Among the three types of Boxers, this is the second variant that has been merited as a standard in by The Kennel Club KC , one of the oldest canine organizations in the world. This substantiates why the UK standard leans more to the characteristic of this Boxer type. One of the defining characteristics of UK Boxers is their small feet, high knuckles, and slender legs which give them a more elegant look. It is considered to be the smallest and slimmest among the three. Nonetheless, the masculine physique which is the core trait of Boxers is still evident. Its slender body also provides more room for agility and precision in moving. It is also expected for UK Boxers to be biddable, calm, fearless, and self-assured. Oddly enough, the standard for this type of Boxer was only established after the two other Boxer types were standardized. Among the three, the German Boxer remains to be the more robust and largest type in terms of muscle mass and bone structure. Their physique has a more defined masculine figure with longer and stronger legs. These traditional Boxer features are probably retained through time since most German Boxers are still bred for their natural talents in herding and hunting. Another key characteristic of German Boxers is that they have a shorter snout compared to American Boxers but wider than the UK Boxers. According to most Boxer breeders, German Boxers are calmer and easier to train compared to the other types of Boxers. The traits and characteristics of the American Boxer were officially acknowledged in by the American Kennel Club. The most defining trait of this Boxer type lies in its coat. An American Boxer has a smooth, tight, and shiny coat that has no wrinkles. With this unique trait, it would be easy to distinguish an American Boxer among other variants. Boxer fanciers claim that American Boxers have a more elegant and balanced look. The reason could be because most American Boxers are bred to be show dogs or champions of conformation events. When it comes to temperament and behavior, the American Boxers are said to be playful yet constrained, patient, and stoic towards family members — especially with children. Also, they are said to be the most energetic Boxer among all types. If you have been searching about Boxers, you might have also heard about black Boxers although there are none in reality. Let me explain to you in this section the different coat colors and markings that Boxer dogs have. Fawn Boxer Dog Fawn coat color can exhibit a range of hues, including shades of yellow, tan, red, and mahogany. It is one of the two standard coat colors recognized by kennel clubs and possibly the most iconic. Too much white on the coat is considered a fault. The common markings for fawn Boxers are white flash and a black mask. The black mask refers to a black muzzle that can also be seen on German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. Brindle Boxer Dog Brindle is not a color but a pattern. This is characterized by the presence of streaks of irregular and darker color against the light color background of the coat. For Boxers, the background is usually a color ranging from fawn to deep red. The appearance of the brindle coat will vary depending on the thickness and thinness of the color strips. Some may look like almost solid fawns while some may have more defined patterns in their body. Depending on the shade of the brindle, a Boxer dog may be called a light brindle, golden brindle, fawn brindle, red brindle, or mahogany brindle. The concentration of brindle patterns in Boxers can also be classified into three: tiger brindle, reverse brindle, and seal brindle. The streaks of irregular darker hair patterns are spread across a light background. On the other hand, reverse brindle dogs have strips of irregular lighter color against a darker color background. They differ from a seal brindle Boxer who sports a heavy concentration of dark streaks on their coat. However, for the record, there is no such thing as black Boxer dogs in reality. Purebred Boxer dogs do not carry the black color gene so it is impossible for them to have a black base. Boxers can only either be fawn to mahogany , brindle, or white. The black Boxer dogs that are advertised are brindle in nature. Remember the seal brindle that I mentioned earlier? When the streaks of the darker color patterns are too tight that they seal or shut the light background off, the coat appears to be solid black. In other words, the black coloration is nothing but an illusion. Worst, due to the hoaxes about white Boxers, they were even culled back then. Contrary to popular belief, white Boxers are not albino. Albinism occurs when a dog lacks pigmentation on its body. However, that is not the case for white Boxers. Similar to seal, the white coat for Boxers is produced due to an unusual patterning in the body. In short, they just have large white patches. White Boxers are either fawn or brindle with a large area covered with white markings. Boxers with this coat color typically do not have other markings in their body including a black mask. Those with patches of other colors in their body patches on the eyes, black mask, ears, back are called Check Boxers and are considered to be particolored. Boxers that have more than a third of white color in their coat or are all white are disqualified on conformation shows. The good news is that the AKC now recognizes the white coat color but is still considered to be non-standard. White Boxers are allowed to have limited AKC registration but are prohibited from being used on breeding. Knowing the type of Boxer you have would be easy if you bought from a reputable breeder. However, if circumstances do not allow the aforementioned ways, you can also try observing the unique characteristics of each type of Boxer. As discussed earlier, English or UK Boxers have long, slender legs which give them an elegant look. One of their defining characteristics is their high knuckles and small feet. If your dog sports this appearance, it is probably a UK Boxer. If your dog is large compared to other Boxers you see, there is a high tendency that it is a German Boxer. This type of Boxer is the biggest among the three. It has a dense bone and a larger and more masculine frame compared to the UK and American Boxer. Spotting if your Boxer is an American type would be easy. The defining trait of an American Boxer is its slick, smooth, shiny, tight coat. In terms of temperament, it would be hard to distinguish the three types of Boxers as they exhibit similar behaviors: confidence, patient, calm, and watchful. However, the German Boxer is said to be the calmest Boxer among the three. The American Boxer on the other hand is the most energetic type. If your Boxer sports extraordinary demeanor and composure unlike other Boxers, there is a great possibility that it is a German Boxer. Subsequently, if it acts like a bomb of energy, it is probably an American Boxer. Although all of the types of Boxers can join dog shows, some are more favored by specific kennel clubs. Conformation shows usually set guidelines following the standards provided by these organizations. Thus, Boxers that perfectly adhere to the standards are more favored than the others. If you want to join Boxer shows, the first thing you need to do is to identify the type of Boxer you own as well as the kennel club that sponsors the event. The prices of the three different types of Boxers have no significant differences. Boxer dogs with champion blood are more expensive than ordinary purebred Boxers. When it comes to coat color, the most expensive Boxer puppy would be the one with a seal brindle. As discussed earlier, a Boxer with this coat creates an illusion of a solid black color. Due to their rarity, Boxer dogs with seal brindle color are highly valued and priced. Places to Find Different Types of Boxer Dogs for Sale and Adoption In buying a Boxer dog, you should only transact with reputable breeders and avoid buying from backyard breeders and puppy mills. A professional Boxer breeder only aims to enhance and further the characteristics of the breed. Here are the places where you can find reputable and professional Boxer breeders. This online marketplace is regulated by the AKC itself so you have the assurance that all of the Boxer puppies sold are bred ethically and professionally. Most of the advertised Boxers in this marketplace came from the bloodlines of American Boxers. They have a acre facility dedicated to breeding German and UK Boxer dogs. This breeder is interested in breeding German Boxers that is why all of the dogs in their facility have German pedigrees. Unfortunately, a great number of Boxer dogs also end up in rescue centers. If you are eyeing to adopt one, here are the places where you can apply: American Boxer Club Rescue Directory — The parent organization of Boxer clubs in America has a complete list of the numerous Boxer rescue organizations across the country. There are dedicated shelters for each state and region of the US. Adopt-a-Pet — This is an online pet database that is dedicated to rehoming Boxer dogs. There are hundreds of Boxers posted on their sites every day that are available for adoption. It is affiliated with over 12, pet shelters across the US and Canada. All types of Boxer dogs English, German, and American are pretty common. In fact, kennel clubs do not consider these types as exactly legit. The terms American, UK, and German Boxer dogs are mostly used by breeders residing in a certain location. The boat only tips in terms of coat color. Contrary to popular belief that white is the rarest color for Boxers, seal brindle Boxers are the real gems. The tight patterns of a dark streak of hairs give an illusion of solid black coat color. Due to their rarity, they are also considered to be more expensive compared to other colors. What Is a European Boxer Dog? A European Boxer dog is another term used to refer to German Boxers. They are more masculine and have larger body frames. To be fair, all Boxer dogs are equally good. However, there are unique traits evident to each type of Boxer dog. The physique of a German Boxer dog is more robust than the other types, giving it an impression of a more reliable guardian. On the other hand, the unique features of American Boxer shiny tight coat and UK Boxer high knuckles and slender feet give them a more elegant look. If you are after a sport or a working dog, German Boxers would be preferable. On the other hand, if you would like to join conformation events, the American or UK Boxer will be your go-to. In addition, you should also consider your region as judges favor a certain type of Boxer depending on their origin. For the behavior and temperament, all three are lively yet calm, easily trained, and self-composed. However, breeders and owners testify that American Boxers are more energetic compared to the other types of Boxers. Your preference and lifestyle will be your criteria in choosing which Boxer matches you. Aside from their slight differences in size and appearance, they are all Boxer dogs that exhibit elegance and vigor. Their temperament and behavior will heavily depend on the environment they are raised in and the training they received. In terms of Boxer types according to coat colors, you should carefully weigh your options and refer to what the standard says. If you aspire to enter show events, you should not choose a Boxer puppy that is white or has white patches that cover more than a third of its body as such traits are considered faults. You should take note that a Boxer is not a dog for beginners. It is a breed that requires proper training and attention. My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. There are some Boxers that appear to be black. However, a solid black coat is not indicative of the breed. So, how can this be? Read more about what markings and patterns can cause a black-like coat. Fawn- What exactly is the color fawn in regard to dogs? This sample is a typical fawn. However, as you will see, fawn is a range of hues. To the right below on mobile is a medium fawn is the standard hue when referring to this terminology. With nice white flash markings on the chest and with black on the muzzle, this Boxer meets color breed standard very well. Brindle - What is brindle? Brindle is not technically a color, it is a pattern. The base is fawn and there is striping. The stripes may be light or dark, and density of the striping can range from thin to thick. Some brindles will look almost fawn and some will appear so dark that they look black. This Boxer shows the standard brindle striping. With white on his chest, paws and ankles and black on the muzzle, this Boxer also meets breed standards perfectly. This is a red fawn Boxer. As you can see, this fawn is darker and deeper than that the common tan fawn; producing a slight shading of red. What a gorgeous coat. This Boxer is a dark brindle. As you can see, with dark brindle the black is over powering the fawn color. The black striping in this pattern is heavy; which would be called a reverse or even a seal. Which simply means that the dog is not officially a solid fawn; he is a mix of colors. Seal - The Boxer dog you see here on the left is Vesta; this color is often referred to as seal. This is a super tight brindle. Siennna, right, is a fawn. Photo courtesy of Nancy Dark Brindle Boxer. Turkish, at 7 years old, photo courtesy of Renata Boxer Dog Flash The white markings on this breed are called "flash". If a Boxer has a moderate amount, one often refers to this as semi-flashy. Those with prominent white on a good portion of the coat are called flashy. No Markings? Not all Boxers have white markings. These are known as plain Boxers, but the term is misleading, as it refers to the genes at work. Read more: Boxers without White Markings Brindle Explanation Brindle one of the colors of this breed is actually a pattern. Stripes running through the coat partial or full is brindling. These are often black hairs, but may be any color that is a darker shade than the hairs that run under it. Depending on the exact color of these brindling pattern stripes, one may refer to a Boxer using one of the following terms listed in order from a very light brindle to a heavy dark striping : Light super light. Yes, I do believe they like one another. It only took a few days for Allie to accept Bruno into her pack. How do I know she has accepted him? Because Allie started pushing her food around , elling Bruno not to eat—a sure sign that she accepts the little puppy into her pack. He is deaf so we have to watch him if we let him out of the fence, because it wouldn't do any good to holler for him, since he cannot hear us. He also has blue eyes , which I think is very rare, because most Boxers that I see only have one blue eye , and he has 2 blue eyes. He likes to sleep, play, eat , he likes to be in the house because his hair is thin and short. He also likes to play with my Australian Shepherd Dixie. He always has to sleep in the bed with me. He has to either be leaning on you, sitting on your foot , or lying on you when you are in the bed. He absolutely HATES getting a bath , but he likes it when he gets out and you put the towel over his whole body and start rubbing him all over.His bad habits are: chewing up my little sisters toys , barking when he can't see or find you. He gets a lot of exercise during the day, because we have an acre fenced in where they can run as much as they like. He's the biggest clown I know and snores like you wouldn't believe, but we love him dearly. Shaggy the Boxer in his crate with a cone on his head after being neutered. My name is Bear, by the way. Now go on.Notice the ears are not cropped and the tail is not docked. It is illegal to do so in a lot of European countries. Life Span Did You Know? The Boxer is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. It has been recognized by the AKC since .Although the Boxer dog breed originated in Germany, their ancient ancestry can be traced back to the Assyrian empire war dogs of BC. The modern Boxer breed we know and love today was originally developed in Germany in the late s. English-bred Bulldogs and the Bullenbesiier were crossed to create an energetic and agile hunting dog to chase wild game. The Boxer is a popular family companion and a versatile working dog. As a member of the Working Group, Boxers can be found competing in dog sports like agility, obedience, and herding. They also make great service and assistance dogs, as well as therapy dogs, and can be found working as search and rescue dogs, drug detection dogs, police dogs, and military dogs. The Boxer is a muscular and energetic dog that tends to have a happy, friendly disposition. They bond closely with their families and tend to get along well with children and other dogs. They can even do well with other pets despite their high prey drive if they are socialized and trained with them. As long as they are well-socialized, Boxers are generally upbeat, playful, and friendly. Although they have a natural instinct to protect their family from unwanted visitors, they do tend to warm up once introduced and are happy to make a new friend. They can be prone to barking a lot if you do not work on socialization and training your dog to stop barking early on. Boxers can be highly adaptable dogs. Although they have a lot of energy and are better suited to homes with yards where they can run, they can adapt to apartment living as long as they get the daily exercise, attention, and mental stimulation they need. As with any non-arctic dog breed, they are sensitive to very cold temperatures. Boxers are also a brachycephalic breed, which means they are even more sensitive to heat than other dogs. A Boxer is also one of the most affectionate dog breeds. Because they bond so closely with their families and get bored easily, they should not be left alone for long periods of time. Potential health conditions to be aware of in a Boxer include hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, thyroid issues , and heart conditions like aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Good breeding practices make a big difference and reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking the breeder about the health and genetic history of the parents and about any health tests that have been done. Boxers are intelligent dogs that are eager to please their owners. Despite their energetic personality, they are one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners and are highly trainable dogs. They tend to excel at almost any task put before them! Because of their open, friendly nature and high energy, they have a tendency to jump up at people in excitement and playfulness. Since they grow into powerful dogs, you will want to make sure you train your dog not to jump up. Boxers have smooth and short coats that will shed a little year-round and require minimal grooming. A brush-down once or twice a week and the occasional bath as needed will keep their short coat healthy and looking great. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Checking ears weekly and carefully cleaning as needed can help prevent ear infections. Checking and wiping their facial wrinkles weekly or a few times a week if your dog is prone to getting into things can help keep their wrinkles clean and free of irritation. Dental diseases, like gum disease, are the most common health issues in older dogs because dental care is often overlooked; and, it can lead to other serious health issues. Brushing daily, plus cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. The Boxer is a high-energy dog breed that needs plenty of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. Due to their high prey drive and urge to chase, they should only be let off-leash in secure areas. Boxers tend to get bored with repetition, are excellent problem solvers, and are naturally exuberant. A fully-grown Boxer usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs pounds. Boxers generally live years on average. In Germany, the Boxer was one of the first dog breeds chosen for police training. Featured Boxer Article.

Do French Bulldogs Have Tails? French Bulldogs were originally used for ratting and selective breeding gave them this short and cute tail. The French Bulldog is probably the first breed that came to your mind when thinking about dogs without or with short tails. Brittany Spaniel Photo by Anna Kimbell on Unsplash Brittany Spaniels were historically bred as gun dogs and are still being used for various sports. While most dogs in this breed have short tails, some are actually born tailless. It is not known whether the short tails occur through natural mutation or breeding with other Spaniels. A long or docked tail disqualifies a Boston Terrier from registration which makes it hard for long-tailed dogs to be recognized as purebred. Yes, Bulldogs are naturally born with a short straight or screwed tail while the straight one is more desirable according to the breed standard. Just like with any other breed, there are abnormalities and bulldogs can be born with a long tail. However they are just as great as companions. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Photo by allison christine on Unsplash Opposite to the Australian Cattle Dog, this breed is naturally born with a stumpy tail as the name suggests that is no longer than 4 inches 10 cm for our metric friends. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was specifically bred to withstand the harsh environment of the Australian outback while herding livestock. This rare breed is only being officially bred in Australia and Canada. A short or missing tail is a very desirable trait in the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and really distinguishes it from the long — tailed Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Corgis were being docked for a long time until it became illegal in many countries and breeders had selectively bred for this trait. The tiny tail on the Corgi is cause d by a recessive mutation in the T-gene. Brazilian Terrier The tail length of the Brazilian Terrier can vary from long to completely missing but the docked tail is seen as the breed standard. The origin of this small tri-colored dog is not completely discovered and different theories mention the Jack Russel Terrier and Fox Terrier as ancestors. Croatian Sheepdog The Croatian Sheepdog used to be naturally born with a long and curly tail which was usually being docked. After docking became illegal in Croatia, selective breeding was the only way to keep passing on this trait. Today, most dogs are born with a very small or no tail at all. The natural mutation of the T-gene allows breeders to keep the desirable bobtail. Traditionally, Schnauzers were always docked like many other small farm dogs as a part of the AKC terrier group. Tail Docking Docking is a very old practice to remove parts of or the whole tail of a dog. Like I said, naturally occurring bobtail breeds should not be confused with docked breeds. Tail docking occurs in two different ways: The first way involves surgical removal of the tail with scissors and is often practiced with dogs older than 6 months which makes it an amputation. The second involves a tight band that is being wrapped around the tail when the puppies are days old until the tail falls off. Looking back into history, tail docking had the purpose of adjusting the agility and health of dogs so they could perform baiting, fighting, and ratting. Today, tails are docked for cosmetic purposes to alter the appearance of the dog. Over the past years, many countries completely banned docking and cropping. A lot of criticism was directed at the AKC for promoting tail docking as some of their breed standards, making it impossible to register an undocked dog. Organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association are fighting for the removal of these unnatural breed standards. Are Rottweilers Born without Tails? Yes, Rottweilers are naturally born with a long curled tail. It is extremely rare that you will encounter a Rottweiler that has been born with a bobtail, it will most likely be docked. I own a Rottweiler myself and love her long tail swinging around. You will see a docked Rottweiler in the USA more often than a German Rottweiler because docking and cropping have been banned here. A docked tail also does not align with the original German breed standard and is totally unnecessary. So no, you will not find a Rottweiler without a tail. Are Boxers Born with Short Tails? Boxers are not being born with short tails, and certainly not without tails either. They are traditionally docked at a young age to meet the AKC breed standards. An undocked Boxer is even being penalized for not having a short tail. This docking is purely for appearance and serves no other purpose. Some bobtail boxers were being bred over time and exported to other countries but they are extremely rare. You will find them most often in countries like Australia where breeding clubs demand them to be bred this way. The regular Boxer should have a long tail. Are All Dogs Born with Tails? Although most dogs are born with long or small tails, some breeds may come into this world completely tailless like the Brittany Spaniel and the Welsh Corgi. In the beginning, all of the old and original dog breeds had tails but selective breeding and gene mutation altered this appearance. Share your thoughts on tail docking with me in the comments and let me know if you have encountered any of those bobtail breeds. Pin This: Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet. Post navigation. Tail docking or cropping is usually done while the Boxer is still a puppy. Nowadays, Boxer tails are docked mainly in adherence to the breed standard and to prevent potential tail injury. In fact, this procedure has already become a part of the breed standard for some dogs, such as the Boxer dog. Unsurprisingly, many dog enthusiasts are against this practice and deem it unethical. They argue that tail docking negatively impacts the life of a dog, especially on how its body naturally functions. Meanwhile, Boxer owners historically administer tail docking procedures believing that such practices prevent rabies. However, this assumption has already been long refuted. Some dog breeds also have their tails docked because of the nature of their tasks as working dogs. The tails of herding dogs, for example, are docked to prevent them from getting stomped or stepped on by cattle when they herd. Originally, Boxer tails were docked because breeders and dog owners thought back then that such practice prevented their dogs from developing and spreading rabies. However, this baseless assumption has been long debunked. Going back to 18th century England, a tax law was imposed on all dogs except for working dogs with docked tails. To avoid paying taxes, owners opted to dock the tails of their dogs. The tails of working dogs like Boxers were also docked to prevent injuries while they were doing their tasks. As Boxer dogs were also historically bred to hunt and hold down large wild animals such as bears, deer, and wild boars, a few reasons why they have docked tails have something to do with hunting. Hence, a Boxer dog with an undocked tail will be severely penalized on a dog show. Are Boxers Born With Tails? Nowadays, it is rare to see a Boxer dog with an intact natural long tail. However, most Boxer dogs are actually born with tails. The tail of a Boxer puppy is intact at birth. The Boxers with short tails that you see nowadays have mostly undergone tail docking. However, with the recent introduction of the bobbed tail gene , some Boxers are born with naturally short tails or also known as bobbed tails. Typically, Boxer dogs that inherited the bobbed tail gene will have nearly absent tails or short tails that are about two inches long. Tail docking in Boxers and other breeds is considered to be a legal practice in most parts of the United States. There are only two states where this procedure is restricted: Maryland and Pennsylvania. Just for emphasis, tail docking is not banned in Maryland and Pennsylvania. It is only restricted, which means it is allowed so long as the requirements of the government are met. In Maryland, the law requires that dog tail docking and other similar procedures such as dog ear cropping and declawing should only be done by a licensed veterinarian or a registered veterinary technician. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, owners are only allowed to dock the tails of their puppies while they are less than five days old. Puppies older than the stated age should only be docked by a licensed veterinarian. People who oppose tail docking deem the practice senseless and unnecessary because it no longer serves a purpose for companion-type Boxers other than for cosmetic reasons. Since most Boxer dogs today are bought as companion pets, there is no longer the need for their tails to be cut as means of preventing them from suffering injuries while they herd. In addition, the supposed health benefits of tail docking, such as protection from rabies and faster and more agile bodily function, are baseless and unscientific. This is why they encourage the American Kennel Club and other canine clubs to remove tail docking on dog breed standards. Tail docking is also considered to be unethical and cruel. Anti-tail docking advocates contend that cutting off the tail of Boxers is a painful process that brings no significant advantage or benefit to dogs. Canines use their tails to express emotions and communicate by moving their tails which is similar to body language. Some dogs also use their tails for balancing and stabilizing their body while running or swimming. Because of these reasons, many countries around the world have already banned tail docking and ear cropping on dogs, while other countries have put heavy restrictions on such practices. Just like with other dog breeds, Boxers are born with natural tails for various reasons. Boxers use their tails to counterbalance while they are moving and performing tasks. Working dogs like Boxers use their tails to navigate when they run or swim by swinging them to one side of their body. Boxer dogs also use their tails to communicate as a form of body language. Tails are like human eyebrows. They aid dogs in expressing emotions such as happiness, excitement, fear, and anger. If a Boxer dog approaches you while wagging its tail softly, it means that it is happy to see you. An excited Boxer will also swiftly swing its tail. Meanwhile, Boxer dogs with their tails between their legs express fear or submission. They do this to mask the scent coming from their anus. Dominant dogs will set their tails high to release more scents from their anal glands. Some argue that it is cruel and unnecessary, while others say it is advantageous and beneficial. Check them out and decide for yourself which side weighs more. Boxers with docked tails are less likely to suffer from tail injury since their tails are cut short. Working dogs with long tails are at high risk of suffering from a condition called happy tail syndrome or splitting tail. Dogs suffering from this tail injury have deep wounds that are difficult to heal. Breed conformation. A Boxer with tails docked is considered more desirable in the show ring since the Boxer breed standards of different kennel clubs specifically mention that Boxer dog tails should be docked. A Boxer with a long tail will surely get severely penalized on a dog show. Advantageous for working Boxer dogs. Tail docking is still deemed advantageous for Boxer dogs that are raised for herding. A Boxer with a docked tail may become less able to express its emotions. In general, Boxer dogs communicate emotions with their owners and other dogs through the use of their tails. Tail docking is a painful procedure. Contrary to popular belief, puppies actually feel pain when they undergo tail docking. This is according to a study. In addition, researchers also found out that tail docking can cause long-term pain to dogs. Tail docking can lead to complications if done improperly. Tail docking is a procedure that involves cutting off tendons, skin, muscles, and bones. Hence, if it is not administered correctly and safely, complications such as infection and excessive bleeding could arise. Tail docking is a permanent and irreversible procedure. For puppies older than five days old, anesthesia should be administered in cropping their tails. The tail can be docked by cutting it off using a sharp object or by cutting the supply of blood using a rubber. Most veterinarians and Boxer breeders prefer using scalpels, surgical knives, and scissors to cut off the muscle, tendon, and cartilage of the tail. Tails docked through this method usually have cleaner cuts once healed. A rubber is tied tightly to the part of the tail that should be removed to cut off the blood supply and promote necrosis. The tip of the tail will automatically fall off once the process is done. Nonetheless, there is a high risk of infection if this method is done improperly. More often than not, the tails of puppies docked through this method are also deformed. The length of the tail that should be cut off varies from breed to breed. A Boxer with a docked tail may develop a condition called amputation neuroma or a nerve tumor. This is common for dogs that had undergone tail amputation because of tail injuries or had their tails cut for cosmetic reasons. A Boxer with a docked tail suffering from this condition experiences hypersensitivity and pain on the docked area. Furthermore, puppies may also develop infections, tail deformity, and other health complications, especially if the docking procedure is done incorrectly. AVMA also mentioned in a literature review on their website that most dogs that had their tails docked have a higher incidence of incontinence and may have less developed muscles around the pelvis. Tail docking is a painful procedure since it involves cutting off muscles, cartilages, and nerves. Tail docking in Boxers and other dogs has left the canine community divided. Those who are against docking tails, especially cosmetic tail docking, argue that such a practice is cruel and unnecessary. Since docking tails offers no clear scientific and medical benefits, many pet enthusiasts want to put an end to tail docking procedures on dogs. Meanwhile, advocates emphasize the importance of tail docking in defining and preserving the characters of some dog breeds. The cost of tail docking may vary depending on your location and the docking method. However, the cost could greatly increase if the dog is older since anesthesia will be required for the tail docking procedure. Always remember that docking is a permanent and irreversible procedure. Hence, you should carefully weigh down the pros and cons of tail docking. Nonetheless, with or without tails, the Boxer dog proves to be a loyal and amazing guard dog and pet to have! How about you? What do you think about tail docking? Tell us what you think in the comment section! We would love to hear your side. My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. Overview The debate regarding docking a Boxer's tail is side by side with ear cropping. Look to our Ears - To Crop or Not to see which countries allow this and which deem it illegal. Usually, if an owner decides to crop the ears, they will also have the Boxer's tail docked. Docking is the process of having a certain percentage of a Boxer puppy or dog's natural tail removed. This is done to produce a short tail that stands erect. Docking is done one of two ways. The first method is to cut off the blood flow in the tail with the use of a special rubber band, placed so tightly that the blood cannot reach the end of the tail; thus causing it to eventually fall off. The second method is via a procedure in which the tail is cut. Billy the Boxer Photo courtesy of James and Joanna Murphy It is believed that the puppy feels this amputation, since most puppies let out a very loud yelp, however they seem to recover quite quickly. Long ago, it was thought to prevent rabies and increase the dog's running speed; however this has been proven false. With this said, docking has also been done for centuries to prevent damage to the tail. There are no specific records that show why this train of thought was applied to some breeds and not to others. At this point, with docking being done for so many generations, those in favor of this argue that if docking were to suddenly stop, the Boxer breed would not carry 'good tails' tails would too heavy to sit correctly, the dog's balance would be off, etc. The deliberation between those who favor it and those who are against it goes on to say that within a short amount of time the only breeding pool available would be dogs with 'bad' tails that could not produce viable offspring. Of course, all of this is debatable and the Boxer breed is as strong as ever in countries where this is illegal. Putting health and breeding issues aside, some simply believe that a Boxer should have cropped ears and a docked tail to have the "Boxer look". Consensus among those who do choose docking, dictates that the dog looks stronger, more powerful and more intimidating with the cropped and docked appearance. Those who have a dog with a natural tail or those who have a litter of newborns and choose to forgo this procedure should feel just fine about that decision.In regard to dog show requirements, the debate is still on. Some clubs do not give an advantage to a docked dog and others state that docking is expected for a Boxer to conform to requirements. When is Docking Done? Many Boxer breeders will have a puppy docked very early, within a few days of being born. Since a dog is not sold or given to a new owner until the age of at least 8 weeks, many owners do not see the docking process or the healing process. Although this may make some cringe, if a Boxer puppy under 12 weeks old is to have their tail docked, it is usually done without anesthesia. In states where it is legal, an owner may have their Boxer's tail docked at any age ; however the older a dog is the longer amount of time is needed for recovery. In addition, a dog that is quite used to having their tail may have a difficult time adjusting to what may seem to them as an amputated part of their body. Three inches will look quite appropriate for most Boxers expected to be of average size and maybe a tad longer 3. Legality and Banning The laws of docking tails are a bit complicated with changes occurring often. Also, some countries view both ear cropping and tail docking the same; others will allow one but not the other. Though it is illegal in many countries, it is not uncommon for Boxer puppies to be docked at any rate. It should be noted that in many countries, it is the tail docking itself that is banned and it is not unlawful to purchase a puppy with a docked tail. You may be wondering about what the fine or punishment is for docking a Boxer's tail in countries in which it is illegal. Punishment ranges from fines to imprisonment. A lot of people assume my boxers tail has been docked, and are quick to make their views on the matter known. They are often surprised however when I inform them that Bosun has not had his tail docked. Working dogs include any dog used in law enforcement or Armed Forces, emergency rescue, and lawful pest control and shooting of animals. In Scotland, an outright ban save for medical treatment was introduced under the Animal Health and Welfare Scotland Act in , later amended in to provide exemptions specifically for working gun dogs and hunt, point, retrieve breeds such as Spaniels and Pointers. Only up to a third of the tail may be amputated. The rules on showing dogs with docked tails also varies between the devolved nations. It is a contentious issue, but exemptions have been made to working dog breeds because of strong supporting arguments that they are at greater risk of painful tail injuries often leading to medical intervention in adult life. The docking or partial amputation is therefore carried out as a preventative measure. Anyone who has seen the frantically excited wag of a Springer Spaniel tail can see how injuries could happen. It should be noted however that the British Veterinary Association view on tail docking is that it should be banned as a procedure for all breeds of dogs, unless for medical reasons e. The docking of working dogs must be carried out by a vet to puppies less than 5 days old and never for cosmetic purposes. Although categorised as a working dog by the UK Kennel Club and historically used their native Germany during the war and as police dogs, typically Boxers in the UK are companion and family dogs and a such the docking of their tails is no longer permitted unless for medical reasons. In the United States, where Boxers are consistently ranked within in the top 10 most popular dog breeds, docking of tails and the cropping of ears remains common practice for cosmetic purposes. Bosun with his littermates — you can clearly see the puppy in the foreground has a long tail. Dr Cattanach was a champion boxer breeder and exhibitor with degrees in genetics and in anticipation of the ban, bred the bobtail line by selecting the genes from the naturally short tail of the Pembrokeshire Corgi. The length of the bobtail can vary, and not all puppies bred in a litter will be born with the short tail. Bosun was one of 7, and only he and one other were bobtailed. Just like Labrador litters, where the puppies may be of assorted colours! The trained eye can identify a natural bobtail from a docked tail, as the bobbed will have tail bone which narrows to a point with a fleshy pad covering the end and usually a tuft of hair at the tip of the tail to finish, whereas a docked tail will be blunt. They are no more or less susceptible to health issues and Dr Cattanach led further work and research into improving the overall health of the Boxer breed. Pembrokeshire Corgi. Photo credit: Alvan Nee on Unsplash My own view is that all pedigrees were bred through the selection of desired genes and characteristics, and choosing a bobtail is no different than choosing a chocolate lab over a yellow one. As for body language, the absence of a tail has not caused us any issues as there are other ways to observe behaviour such as body posture and ear positioning. Short and bobtailed dog breeds Other dog breeds with naturally short or stumpy tails include the French Bulldog and Boston Terrier, both have been selectively bred for this physical characteristic originating from a mutated gene. A few others also carry the mutated gene and can be found both with bob or long tails, such as the Brittany Spaniel and Old English Sheepdog. The Boxer however is the only breed for whom the mutated tail gene has been deliberately introduced. If you do happen to see a boxer or other dog with a docked tail it may well be that this has been a necessary medical procedure due to painful damage to the tail and not for vanity. In my experience people are always happy to stop and engage in a conversation about their dogs so if curious, stop and ask the owner about their dog. Watch out for boxer slobber though — apologies in advance! Thanks for reading! The Boxer is such an impressive dog to look at. But more and more I have noticed Boxers with tails! I always thought Boxers were born without tails, so this really got me thinking. Are they born that way? Are Boxers born with tails? Most Boxer puppies are born with tails. Most breeders, as standard procedure, have the tails of newborn puppies removed when the puppy is between days old. There are no specific health benefits associated with the practice. I was really surprised to learn this! For some reason, I thought the short tail was a result of careful breeding and selection for the particular characteristic of the bobbed tail. There are several breeds, not just the Boxer, that have typically stubby tails. I suppose it could be pinned down to my being naive, but I just assumed these dogs were naturally this way. Other breeds, including the Boxer, are known for their stubby tails but are actually born with a perfectly normal length tail. This simple question appears to be a gateway to a world of controversy between veterinary professionals and breeders. Are There Naturally Bobtail Boxers? And no. This question is surprisingly complicated! Back in , a long-time Boxer breeder decided to breed the bobbed tailed Corgi genes into a new line of Boxers. After a few generations, he had managed to produce a Boxer with a naturally bobbed tail. Interestingly, he was unable to achieve consistency in the trait. Some of the puppies were still being born with a naturally long tail. After some genetic research, it was understood that the bob-tailed feature, for the Boxer at least, is actually a potentially fatal genetic mutation. This means that there will never be a true line of naturally bob tailed Boxers. Many dog breeds are known for having docked tails. Historically, this practice was to prevent injury to working dogs. These were very important matters to a hunting dog and his owner. Boxers are brachycephalic and were bred as sporting and working dogs. They are immediately descended from the crossing of the Old English Bulldog and the Bullenbeisser. This early practice became established as part of the breed standard and has been carried on to this day. Now that most people have dogs for companionship , what justification can modern docking possibly have? Well, as stated previously — not much. It really all boils down to looks. Many Boxer owners state that their dogs look more fierce, intimidating and strong with the bobbed tails and cropped ears. The AKC argues that by continuing the practice of docking, breeders and owners are respecting the original purpose of the breed. This is true for the Boxer, which was bred as a working dog, originally trained for hunting and guarding. Some people have highly trained Boxers as guard dogs. Is Docking Considered Animal Cruelty? Yes and no. The answer to this question really depends on who you ask and where you live. The practice is considered animal cruelty and can be heavily fined. In the United States and most other countries, the practice of tail docking is completely unrestricted. This means that the breeder can do the procedure in the home, or it can be done by a veterinary professional. Despite being completely legal, the practice of docking is considered by the AVMA to be unnecessary and they highly oppose it as a standard practice in the maintenance of certain breeds. The AKC, the most recognized authority on distinct dog breeds in the United States, actively promotes the practice to maintain integrity in breed standards. At this point, at least in the US, a Boxer breeder is free to maintain the traditional practice of docking their puppies tails. The other distinguishing feature of the Boxer as a breed is its straight and pointy ears. Because this is such a typical trait of the breed I always thought that this was just another natural genetic feature. Much like docking, cropping has also fallen out of favor with veterinary associations and is now considered unnecessary and unethical. Are unaltered Boxers healthier? Unaltered, or all-natural, Boxers with their long tails and floppy ears are not necessarily healthier than their surgically altered counterparts. The health benefits of leaving your dog au natural basically come down to risk avoidance. By not doing the procedures on your animal you are avoiding any potential infections or health complications that can result from either of the procedures. Trusted by millions of dog lovers worldwide. What do the Boxers in these shows have in common? Their tails are docked. Want some proof? After watching that, you might think that the breed is simply born with a short tail. All the Boxers seem to share this trait, after all. Rather, their tails are docked at a young age. What Is Tail Docking? There are a few breeds that commonly feature docked tails, Boxers being one of the most well-known. Is Tail Docking Ethical? For the most part, tail docking is performed on working dogs. Usually, these are dogs that work in jobs where their tails are likely to get injured. Farm dogs, for example, could get their tail stepped on by large livestock. For working dogs, you can definitely make the case for tail-docking being a beneficial procedure. Ethics are subjective, but to really judge tail docking, we need to understand its effects better. Do Boxers Need Their Tails? It leads you to wonder why dogs even have tails in the first place? Turns out, tails have multiple benefits for Boxers. In addition to those clearly important benefits, Boxers also use their tails for communication. Very similar to how humans use body language to communicate, Boxers use their tails to convey many messages , including their emotions and feelings. Having a tail can also help dogs swim and the best swimmers use their tail as a rudder to steer. Furthermore, it found that dogs with docked tails suffer heightened ongoing pain sensitivity and negative welfare impacts that will be life-long. However, the American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA reports that only about a quarter of a percent of the dog population suffers serious tail injuries yearly. Having said that, I can personally attest to the possibility of tail breaking in Boxers. My own Boxer mix broke his tail in two places, and it freaked me out when I came home and saw it! Luckily, it did heal on its own, but he was in pain for weeks and I was definitely worried that it would never heal all the way. Though Boxers today are primarily beloved companion pets and show dogs, they used to be serious hunters. They were originally created by crossing Bulldogs with the now-extinct Bullenbeisser , which was an impressive dog used for hunting large game such as bears and boars. Additionally, it was also done to protect the dog from the prey it was hunting. A bear could easily grab hold of that tail or bite down on it, and then the Boxer would be in serious pain and might be unable to escape since their tail is being held. Still, many members of the breed display docked tails to this day. An undocked tail should be severely penalized. Without a docked tail, a Boxer has little to no chance of placing well in a dog show. After banging their tail hard on enough different items, it can actually break. In some cases, the problem becomes recurring and tail amputation is necessary, though this is pretty rare. In some countries, the practice is frowned upon and considered illegal. However, many countries do still allow tail docking, including the United States. At present, no states have banned tail-docking, though a few states have considered legislation against it in the past, including New York and Vermont. Some of the other countries where tail docking is still legal are: Argentina.

What a good surprise to hear from you. We were in Montreal from the moment we got her until September - when we moved to Mexico for my now husband's work. Nevertheless I have to say that the transition has been very smooth. All in all, she is a happy, very active and high energy, intelligent, healthy, loving girl. Hope you and your family is doing great. Gibson is doing really well, still looks like a teddy bear as you can see in the photos: he's full of energy and can jump pretty high!! He's definitely a big scaredy cat put is affectionate to the ones he does know. He loves car rides and going to grandmas. She has the most beautiful coat - it is straight and keeps growing - It can be a lot of work to keep smooth, but Bailey loves to be brushed so it usually looks pretty good. People stop us all the time when we are out as she is such a cute little thing. She likes people and loves other dogs. My neighbor says that she is a little dog with big dog confidence, which I think is a good description - she holds her head and her tail up high and right now weighs in at 5. RE the house training it has been a snap. I can honestly tell you that we have had less than 10 accidents in the house since the day we brought her home. We trained her in a crate, we have bells hanging off of the door handle which she learned very quickly to ring, and I think it helps that my kids are a bit older, so at first someone took her out every two hours whether she asked for it or not, and although it is less frequent she still goes out quite regularly. We just love her. Bailie had to have major surgery on her back leg last year. She totally tore the ligaments in her knee. We love her very much and have given her a loving home. Thank you again for entrusting us with one of your puppies. Yours truly, Alexandra p. November 3, 40 Minutes Once upon a time there was a girl who quite liked taking photographs of her dogs on her iPhone. The natural progression was to get a DSLR camera. After speaking to several photographer friends and getting recommendations , she decided to get her first, the Nikon D.Time went by and this was upgraded to the Nikon The D decided it wanted to leave home and take up residence with a new family, which it did. Before long, she also picked up a Fuji X.This was a quirky little fellow and a firm favourite. The last and most recent to join the household was the Fuji XT20, and here is where the story really begins. They then went on to chat more about photography in general and their deep love for this medium. Kate, being a Jedi master and teacher of said medium, then suggested the idea of a photography project. Or dogs and their owners! Now the girl was quite shy and not the type to stop people in the street and ask them if she could take their photographs. Hmm… This would be the first hurdle! You see, the joy of the camera is being in the moment. Nothing else exists; no past, no present, just the now. No worries or fears. Being safe behind the lens, a window to the world, her world. Interacting with animals is just observing and watching, and if you get a good shot then that is an added bonus. But approaching someone, a stranger, and asking them if you can take their photograph, well thats a whole other level. So one day 22nd June on her bicycle ride to work, along the canal between the Sutton Road Walsall and Brickyard Road Aldridge, she plucked up the courage to ask her first stranger if she could take their picture: 1 Jack The Man and George and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. And so the story began…. Thank you for joining me on this journey… 1 Jack and George, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, just fishing and sniffing. It was Friday 22nd June .I remember cycling down the canal tow path, silently talking to myself and desperately trying to summon up the courage to stop and ask someone with a dog if I could take their picture. I practised what I was going to say over and over in my head. Would it sound like I was a weirdo, or a creepy person trying to steal the souls of whomever I took the photo of?! Would they say no? Would they run off screaming? Or would they just push me into the canal after stealing my camera?! I approached the Longwood boat club and I saw a guy in the distance with a Golden Retriever. Right here goes … Nope! I ended up riding straight past him. Damn it! I was really disappointed with myself. I rounded the corner and carried on with my journey to work. In the distance I saw another guy and his dog. Jack and George, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, were my 1. I was so nervous. Further along I saw two more people, with two dogs this time. I approached them and they were lovely. They even gave me their contact number so I could send them copies of the photos. Simple for some, very tough for me. Off I went on my way and a little way along the canal, I approached a lady but this time my request was declined. A little later in the day, on my way home, I successfully photographed a family having a drink at a canal side pub, with their 7-week old French Bulldog. Once I had taken the shot, she thanked me for doing this project and keeping history alive. We walked and talked about the beauty and history of this historic breed. However, once again I forgot to get their names … I must get better at this! Whilst waiting I met these four lovelies. He was a very vocal fellow and was definitely leader of their pack. That was a first — cycling along with two snails in my hand! Two snails in the hand were soon in the safety of a cool and shady bush… Onwards! Buddy currently weighed in at 30kg but would grow to around 45kg! He was a beautiful bouncy boy! Not stumbling over my words or slipping off my pedals … result! I continued on my way, passing my old friends, the ducks and ducklings, herons, geese and goslings — one family has 12 babies, all still safe and sound! However, something suddenly felt odd with my bike. I stopped and checked the tyres. Another puncture! So, I walked the rest of the way, pushing my bike and cooking nicely in the afternoon sun. He loved his ball very much indeed but sat nicely for his photo. New tyres and inner tubes on the trusty steed, and away we go. Those eyes! I paused to feed the ducks some peas and seed; then I came upon Ross and his two lovely little Jack Russel dogs, Jacob and Rusty. They were very inquisitive. Perry and I chatted with an old friend, Chris, about all the birds that were around locally. Owls and Parakeets in abundance at the Lime Pits. Chris had some impressive photos! This used to take around 30 minutes, however it now takes over an hour! Confidence Status: Improving. Ahead in the distance I could see what appeared to be a Wolf … well, not a Wolf exactly, but close! Chloe was a German Shepherd cross Belgian Shepherd. She was with her human family Lucy and Hayden. She was only a pup so had a fair bit of growing to do. Absolutely stunning! Just a check up for his ears so nothing too serious. En route to the vets we met Steve and his beautiful little 18 month old Pomsky, Lady. Artificial insemination. Moving on, she had such a gorgeous soft coat and darted around like a darting around thing. He added that she was very gentle and hardly ever barks. Bill said that Arthur was 15 months old, and he had three other dogs at home — two Pugs and a Bassett Hound. It was too hot for them to come out for a trip in the car though so it was just a ride out for Arthur today — best underbite of the project so far! My cycle to work was filled with many different species of birds today, but was somewhat lacking in four legged friends; this was probably down the the intense heat. Chris was walking with Archie the Lancashire Heeler. Archie was a beautiful little chap of four and a half years old, and was the runt of his litter. Chris rescued him. Terry told me that Ben was a pedigree mongrel. Del said that Sheroo was a very strong dog, but very friendly and playful, he was stunning. I got off my bike and had to give him a cuddle. Bella was 5 years old and had the most soulful eyes, she was very gentle and calm. The ducks, geese, moor hens and coots had eaten all my bird seed supplies on my way to work, so all I had to offer them on my return journey was chopped up cucumber. They were not impressed! The next stranger I met was Vern and his girls Siggy and Jet. They were both rescue dogs. There were dogs-a-plenty today, and first up was Janine with her five month old Chihuahua, Mousse. Janine runs Paws and Claws Care for small dogs in Kenilworth. Mousse loves to run about. Norman was two and a half years old. All four of them were laid back and friendly, maybe it was the weather… or the location! They too were enjoying the stalls and sunshine. She was once a street dog. She had one blue eye, and one brown, she was so gorgeous. Her family were April, Jayden, and Wayne. A cooling breeze from the water was much needed as it was roasting hot! Tucker was three and a half months old and had quite possibly the biggest paws of this project so far! Six months old and beautiful. His human was called Cassie, and both their hair colours matched perfectly. My friend called me over to where the narrow boats were moored. Meet Captain Paddy, with his humans, Jo and Keith. Jo said that they had had him from the Border Collie rescue when he was 11 months old. His previous owner had died of emphysema and Paddy was taken to the rescue on a Saturday morning, Jo and Keith took him home on the Saturday afternoon, a lucky boy. Jo went on to say that they would never have another dog after Paddy because he was so perfect, and no pup could ever fill his paws. Paddy has a facebook page called Boatdog Paddy. Jo was a keen photographer. They were eager to go for a walk so I stopped them only briefly to grab a quick photo. Ruskin was born in Swansea, much like my Beagle Dexter, and was huge for only eight months old! Sharyn was a lovely lady, and we had a good chat. Today was a physiotherapy session for me with Jedi Nat. No dogs were seen en route to work as it was so hot, but I met a couple on the way home. Roxy was sporting a new hair cut and was very friendly, super soft, and well… just lovely! She was 10 years old, but looked like a puppy. Tony and Alison said that they rescued her many years ago from Rosedene. Cuteness overload! Ruby was off leash and very well behaved. Galit fished her out and she proceeded to roll in the undergrowth to dry off. He was a great big bundle of joy and greeted me with the biggest Staffie smile. Nine years young! We chatted for a little while and I mentioned that I was a guitar teacher. Teddy was off to the vets today for his first booster injection. Margaret was waiting to have a cataract operation on her eye. Chelsea was big, beautiful, and full of beans! The early morning cycle ride is truly a wonderful one at this time of year. Ducklings and their mothers still snoozing on the canal side, the 12 goslings and their parents, coots and moor hens with their babies, just blissful. I always take a bag of bird seed and distribute it to the best of my abilities between them all. They were both out for an early morning run, and Murray was very vocal about having his photo taken. Cy was six years old, and rescued from Cyprus. He was shy of strangers, but could pose for a portrait pawfectly! It was poo, thankfully not mine! A gift from the geese had been thrown up from my wheel and distributed about my person! Thankfully I had bottle of water to wash it off with and continue on, damp, but clean. My final encounter of the day was quite a special one. Dave the human, Amy the 20 year old pup, and her sister Alex, who was a mere 18 years old!!! An old lady she may have been, but she looked very happy. Dave told me that they were both rescue dogs that he had adopted at just six weeks old. He told me that he had another dog, but sadly it crossed to Rainbow Bridge just before Christmas, it was also .Found a lump on his back and so went to get it checked out. Fine needle aspirates were taken, and am awaiting the results. Today I travelled to work armed with a box of bran flakes, a big bag of bird seed and a bag of frozen peas, all for the various species of birds and their babies en route. Alfie was six years old, and Molly was five. He was a solid happy bundle of joy. Fiona and I chatted for a while, then I mounted my bike and headed off, leaving Marley wrestling with a stick, or should I say more of a tree! They were on their way to meet friends for a walk, but not before helping me out with my photography project. Three boxes of cereal later, and nearly home, I spotted two beautiful Basset Hounds and their dog sitter, Alison. Lily was the tri-coloured girl and Daisy, the lemon and white. They were so cute and very laid back. Also as I flicked through my camera photos, Alison recognised my previous stranger, Amanda and her pup Dora, who she also walks. The grass is a lovely shade of dried up yellow but it is excellent weather for cycling. A striking dog she was. John said that the breed were were used as service dogs in Belgium by the police force. If distance could be measured by how many boxes of bran flakes you would get through by doing this, then I was nearly two boxes in when I met Isabelle, Michelle, Archie ,the sprocker spaniel, and Freddie, the springerdor. Both of the pups were full of beans, Archie had been for a dip. Standing still for a photograph was not on their agenda for the day, but it was lovely to meet them. Samewas eight years old but he looked like he was still a pup. I still managed to get a photo of his face, and plenty of his butt! Half way to the ! His operation is booked for Friday this week. Whilst walking his dog I met Angela and her Yorkiepoo, Betsie. Betsie was adorable, friendly, and so puppy like, even though she was eight years old. Dex hates water, but mistook the lily pads for solid ground and plopped straight in. It was the shock of his life! He got out again very quickly. Just after Dexter had his mishap, we met our first Beagle of the project, Benji and his human, Mitchell. Benji was eight years old, and was off leash, unlike Dex. Most definitely the loudest and deepest bark so far, as well as the biggest dog, Quinn, the Great Dane and his human, Lee. Quinn had one blue eye and one brown eye, he was beautiful. The landscape has turned from green to brown, and the canal waters, on my route anyway, are the greenest of green. Pippa was seven years old, and very affectionate and friendly. I chatted with Helena who relayed that Pippa loved people, this was quite apparent with the kisses that she shared. Their humans were, Terry and Lorraine. Hans was very vocal. The family were soon to be moving to the Shropshire countryside, as it would be nicer for the dogs. Her human was Lydia. Myrtle was just a year old and had the softest coat. The lab results came back and two of his lumps were just fatty masses, the two mast cell tumours came back as low grade and fortunately the vet was able to take clear margins. This was a massive relief, now to nurse him back to full health. Pablo was a three year old brindle boy who was very laid back. On my return journey from work I crossed paths with Anne and Digby. Anne said that she was a little fearful of dogs at the time, and when they went to look around most of the pups were barking at their cages as they passed. Anne said that Digby was so intuitive of her mood, if she was relaxed, then he was too, if she was fearful, then he was the protector. A beautiful boy he with amazing amber coloured eyes and the whitest teeth I had ever seen! A stunning and very happy pack of dogs they were, and Karen said that Diesel was totally head over paws in love with Sacha. The photo tells all. A trip into Sutton Coldfield today resulted in me meeting my 60th stranger and their dog. Jax was rescued by Dave, when he was just seven months old. Now aged 18 months, and, although kept in a crate for long periods of time by his previous owners, and receiving no training at all, he was now a model citizen. My first strangers of the day were Andra and David with their girls Minnie, the three year old Scottish terrier and Storm, the one year old American Bulldog. Minnie seemed quiet and inquisitive, Storm was very happy and bouncy. Both beautiful dogs. She would have been 21 tomorrow. What a long lovely life and a beautiful smile she had. Lenny was five years old. Lenny had a sister but she was resting up as she had hurt her leg. Terry had recently adopted Bear after losing his old dog before Christmas. Bear was originally from Southern Ireland and was settling in well. He was so gentle and relaxed. You could see these boys had a deep connection. These guys were from London and down here helping out a relative who had recently moved to Brixham. Layla was a rescue dog from Romania and very sweet. Onward for more pottering and I spied them both again, this time with their Mamma Sue. Polly looked amazing for her age, with a lovely smile, but both were gorgeous pups. Rosie said she had three other rescue pups at home. The day began with a lovely early morning birthday ramble with the dogs up to Berry Head. I dropped the dogs off for a well earned rest at the caravan and then headed off on foot to Brixham harbour. Today though, I took the coastal path. My first stranger of the day was a lovely lady called Kay and her beautiful little Dachshund pups, 15 year old Spike and six year old Wilma. Spike had recently won first place in a golden oldie contest. Kay explained that he was in a buggy today because he was slow on his legs and at 15 gets tired out. Wilma came along six years ago to keep Spike company after losing his beloved friend, a chocolate Labrador. Kay explained that every time he spied a chocolate labrador he got excited until he realised it was not his long lost friend. The bluest eyes and the cutest little face. Andy and Benji were fellow Midlanders, and Wolves fans. On my return journey along the canal I spied a beautiful little black dog. Poppy was a rescue pup from a puppy farm in Ireland. She was about two and a half years old, but had already had a couple of litters. She loved chasing Squirrels and Ducks, but not catching them. Also she liked the occasional dip in the canal. She was a little beauty and so gentle. The reason for this lateness was because every single duck that I passed today demanded some food and who was I to argue with their hungry tums? Note to self, must take more food for them and not use it all on the outward journey. Rosie was nearly two years old, and quite lovely. At just a year old Loki was the fourth Norwegian Elk Hound that Andy had owned, and was strikingly beautiful. Rosie was a Lurcher crossed with a Spaniel and was six years old. Jason was man and was .He had known Rosie since she was a puppy and decided to adopt her. The thing that drew me to Rosie, besides her being gorgeous, was that she really reminded me of my dog Obi — not how she looked, but her energy and enthusiasm whilst chasing her ball. Blue was a French bulldog cross and was nearly two years old. So cute! I have seen Russ and Marley locally on the streets for sometime, and the incredible connection and friendship between the two of them is really something quite magical. Marley is a beautiful well behaved fellow and Russ is a true gentleman. The cycle ride to work today resulted in me meeting Sue and her beautiful little Plummer Terrier, Cassie. Cassie was a rescue dog that was somewhere between five and ten years old. She was the last dog to be rescued from a local shelter that was due to be closed down. She used to be aggressive towards other dogs, but with tender loving care from Sue this issue soon disappeared. Casey was a rescue dog of around eight years old. He had been found neglected and cooped up with female German Shepherds, only fed on scraps and bones once a week! He also added that he always had rescue dogs. A chilly and damp cycle ride to work, and feeding the ducks en route, I had the pleasure of meeting Steve a fellow duck feeder, and his five year old female Staffie cross Marley. Marley was rescued by Steve when she was only six months old. She was adorable, so well behaved and loved her ball. She was super well behaved and was settling in perfectly as the newest member of the family. It was Stacey and his dog Boris, the Weimaraner. Boris was nine years old and had been diagnosed with epilepsy earlier in the year. He was a beautiful boy with gorgeous big paws. I took a couple of shots of the boys and popped my camera away in my bag. The day may have been cold and wet, but meeting this beautiful fellow and his human Mom on the canal brightened my day immensely — Mulder, the three-ish year old Spanish Griffon, and Max, his Veterinary Nurse Mom. Max said that Mulder was a rescue dog and a scent hound spot the bell around his neck. We hope you are all doing well. If I could I would have a dozen of your cute pups. It's Kneesaa's first birthday today and I just had to say thank you for this wonderful, loving dog. She's hard to get a picture of because she is always at my feet or on my lap! We constantly get comments on her color. We couldn't love her more! So thanks for breeding such wonderful dogs. Carl and Kay Hi Jamie! Just wanted to update you on Copper a. I have attached a few pictures. He is five months old already and growing up on us. He just got groomed up yesterday at Pet Smart and looks great. Eventually I'm hoping I can do this, but they are getting him ready for me. He is doing wonderful! He has found his place in our family and is an awesome dog! He had some aggressiveness issues when he was younger but has either been trained out of it or grown out of it. It's like it stopped over night, awesome! He is very loving and completes this family in many ways. Our kids are still ecstatic that we were finally able to get a dog. But if would have got one any earlier we would never have our Copper. It's one of the best decisions we have made. Timing is really everything. He is totally house broke and has been for months now but just recently finally started to ding the bell for us when he needs to go out. It's pretty cute. Speaking of cute, he is adorable, and very social! He loves everybody and all dogs. Everyone loves him and can't believe how cute he his. He goes to doggy daycare once in a while and absolutely loves it there. He follows the Cockapoo traits, loves being with us and needs to know where someone is all the time. He will move around the house to sleep just to be near someone. We used the crate at night for the first month or so, maybe a little more. But when he started sleeping through the night we moved him to his pet pen and he has spent his nights there ever since without any trouble at all. He knows his sit, down, stay for a while, still working on longer stays , come when called is good in the house and the backyard, needs work when elsewhere , he shakes hands, and gives a high five and sometimes a high ten and his getting the wave down. I just started to work on the roll over a few days ago and sit pretty. He loves his training time, it challenges him. Pretty good for only five months old! He went through puppy kindergarten and will do obedience class in December. He has his little operation coming up in a couple of weeks. We scheduled it so he would be healed up for the holidays. He was weighed yesterday when I stopped by the vet's office for some stuff and he was a whopping .A good size, healthy boy. He is doing great Jamie. You would be proud of him. Will update you again down the road as he continues to grow up. Jan and Arnie Hi Jamie - Just wanted to send a quick update on our babies. Our youngest, Brantley, turned one today! Both of our boys are the best dogs we could ever ask for. They both have such great personalities. There's never a dull moment when they're around. This picture is of Ollie left, 14 months and Brantley right, 12 months. Hope you're doing well! Every time I see you post new puppies, it makes me want another one. We purchased two red male pups from you last summer,"Cooper" and "Jackson", and we absolutely love them. My parents kept Cooper, who is now named Rory, and we kept the bigger one, Jackson, who is now named Jost photos attached. Jost is very mellow and snuggly, and everyone who meets him loves him. Walking him is like walking around with a celebrity! We have been blessed to have him in our family since mid-July. He is the sweetest dog with the softest fur. I best compare him to Owen Wilson. I never had a dog before, now I cannot ever imagine not having Riley. Between my wife and two sons, he has become my dog. I love the little guy. I also find myself doing the previously unimaginable. I am the official tooth brusher in the house. Nothing gets that tail wagging like the sight of a long-handled toothbrush and poultry flavored toothpaste. How horribly cruel. It is so much his personality that way he carries it. The first time I taught him to shake my hand, I nearly wept. I was so proud of him. On walks he gets excited whenever the prospect of meeting people arises. Landscapers, roofers, deliverymen all end up smiling at him. Even meeting up with his vet gets him excited. They all know Riley there. I think your business is aptly named. He also never turns down an opportunity to be brushed - I think it relaxes him. My oldest son will go away to college in the fall and is already talking about missing Riley. This was the boy who was afraid of and would run from dogs when he was growing up. Now they are both so gentle to one another. I tell everyone about you hoping to send business your way and a loving dog into their lives. Best of success to you in the coming year. To me, your greatest success was when you brought Riley into our family and my life. Thanks again Jamie. Enjoy the photos! Sincerely, Tom- Chicago, IL Hi to all I wanted to let you know that one of your pups has been certified as a therapy dog. KC and I have completed a variety of preparatory courses including Canine Good Citizen en route to certification. To your credit our therapy dog instructor has often commented on his loving demeanor, intelligence, and the quality of his breeding. KC loves to visit at the local adult daycare center, the library Read to a Dog program, and the residential center for folks with severe disabilities. It takes her one time to learn something, we can't believe it. She is such a show stopper too! Every time we take her outside, at the very least 3 people always stop to comment on how adorable she is, they want to take a picture or they want to pet her! We feel like we're with a movie star! We love this baby so much it's unreal. She is so spoiled already, every one is getting her toys, my Grandma even made Ruby her very own quilt! Lol she loves it. Thank you for giving us the greatest joy!!! Our hearts are so full!! Almost 3 mo. Potty trained. Sleeping 8 hrs. We are really enjoying him. Thanks for a great puppy. When we got her 5 years ago she was mostly all white and all the white part turned to black spots! We were just back at Cute Cockapoos to pick up our daughter's new puppy! She fell in love with Stella and had to get her own Cockapoo! Stella has been the best dog! She really loves her time at our cabin looking for the elusive chipmunk! We love the fact that she is so cuddly yet so athletic! After seeing the new puppy, we are very tempted to add another Cockapoo to our family! Michelle Hi Jamie- Gunner is growing! He is such a pleasure! I take him to daycare when I can tell he needs company. He sleeps for days. His favorite is Sadie a little bigger than him. He just runs for the teachers there and when I pick him up he runs into my arms. He plays in the morning all around the house and when tired puts his paws up on John's recliner by the feet. Into his arms with a hoof to chew on. Sleeps over an hour. Doesn't like to go for walks or fetch balls. My daughter takes him in the pool. He loves it! Then he sleeps. Next week the booster shot and other shots. I would recommend daycare because he learned how to play with puppies. A week ago he fell asleep and all the dogs were playing around him in the circle. He sleeps a lot but brief naps and is eating more now. So glad I have my baby. He sleeps in his crate next to my head thru the night! We named her Madison. She is so sweet and adorable. She is pretty much potty trained. She socializes well with other dogs my 3 kids all have dogs. I am so happy that I found you on-line. I'm so pleased. Couldn't ask for a better puppy! He's our gentle little boy who loves to be snuggled and know his family is close by. Despite his sweet and sensitive demeanor, he also lets us know he's a playful little puppy full of energy.Claudine- iola, WI Hi Jamie! Quick update on Koa, our female Red Merle! She is 5 months old and is a spunky little ball of energy! She loves giving kisses and loves attention from any human she meets which means snuggle time, all the time. We love her so much!! It will be interesting to watch her adult coat grow in. Her coloring is so unique and pretty! We got Tui Red female from you a little over two years ago and they are two peas in a pod! Getting a "sister" for Tui was the best decision ever. They keep each other busy and tire each other out! Thank you for our two wonderful dogs! They couldn't have gone to a more loving home. They are my world! I've attached a few photos of the two of them. Sara- Crystal, Minnesota Hi Jamie! I just wanted to send you an update on our Bailey as she is just about 6 months old now, I can't believe how fast that went! She's a great puppy, she loves her puppy day care and is just the sweetest dog. Her and Guinness are really starting to mesh, they play together a lot more and are slowly becoming best buds : we take her just about everywhere we can because she is just great with everyone, such a social little girl! She is graduating from advanced puppy training next week and just received her star puppy award from the AKC. Next we are going to go for the canine good citizen with her as her trainer says she's doing so well : I can't say enough about her she is such a beautiful well mannered dog with a great personality! I attached some updated pictures as well, I hope all is well with you! He has grown to a healthy 29 lbs. He is the sweetest, snuggliest, happiest and most laid back dog we have ever known. He is great with people, kids, all dogs, and a good car passenger too. And what a fetcher--a candidate for field training even! All of our family and friends agree he is one of the best dogs ever. He is a treasured companion and family member. Thank you for breeding quality companion Cockapoos. He brings so much joy to our lives. Your work is appreciated. Some pics of Tater with us at home in Wisconsin, and with us last winter in California. Thanks again, Chanta Hi Jamie, Here's the latest on Arlo's first doggy day out at Discovery Park to celebrate his final vaccine shots : He is doing wonderful and is house trained on the main floor. Such a smart puppy as he now knows how to sit, down, roll, shake paw, wait, stand and come. He's almost done with puppy kindergarten and we hope to join middle school after. Arlo keeps our son Mason on his toes as they both don't like to share. They are still learning and it's definitely like having 2 toddlers in the house but they just love each other. Mason kisses him goodnight anytime we head for bed or naps in the afternoon. When going to places I need to add on an extra 30 minutes just so I'm not late getting to my destination. It takes double to time to get anywhere when I have him with me because everyone just wants to say hi to him and tell me how cute he is!! He has quite a following of puppy friends on Instagram now.For more updated pictures check out: www. I can't wait to see new puppy pictures on your website just to window shop!! He's now 7 months, pictures were taken a little past 6 months. We never thought we could love an animal so much! He is sweet, friendly, playful, and everyone loves his colors! There are also about 4 other cockapoos in our neighborhood all from you! Thanks again, and we are still thinking of adding another one from you! She is 7 months already. I can't tell you how much we love her. She brings such joy into our lives. She is so friendly and smart and loves being around people and other dogs. I am so happy with her. I'm very thankful that I found your website. Merry Christmas to you and your family! I have attached a couple of pictures of Ollie Reggie from May liter. His parents are Maggie and Houdini. We absolutely love him. Nola was in the January liter and they share Houdini as a father. Tons of fun when we get them together! I can't thank you enough for all the joy and love Ollie has brought into our family! Dave- Wauwatosa, WI 5 year update! Has been 5 years since we adopted our furry baby from Cute Cockapoos and he is as amazing as ever! Thanks so much for the light of our lives! Kelsey- Stockton, Illinois Thought I'd share a picture we had taken of our puppy as part of a fundraiser for our local humane society. He's a wonderful dog and has been a great addition to the family. Can't imagine life without him. We love our Ginger! She is one today and full of spunk. She loves to play, go for walks, and cuddle. Ginger is fun, loving, great around kids and smart! Thank you for breeding such wonderful dogs! Diane Hi Jamie, It's been one year since adoption day for our sweet little Kevin. He definitely fits right into our little family completely and is the perfect little boy. We just love him to pieces. Thanks for everything! Lola here. Today is my 3rd birthday. I used to get a Happy Meal on my birthday, but Mom has gone all organic on me so we are celebrating with "healthy" treats. We just had to say hello and happy holidays! Lilly has been the best thing ever to happen to our family!! She has brought so much love and laughter, and she really is such a good puppy. We could not have picked a better fit for us or a cuter one! People often say "is she real?? One of the pics she's on her back, that's how she loves to sleep, it's so funny.And I always get the comment that her and I and my son have the same hair. .The pic of her in the jacket. .She just loves the snow! And the first pic is from Xmas morning, the surprise went perfect, definitely a Christmas of a lifetime for all of us!!! The boys had heart attacks and kept asking "is she ours??? Sorry to ramble on, but my heart is just over filled with love, and we can't thank you enough for giving us this most special, precious life and new member of the Schwartz clan.She was born on September 17, and we picked her up on November 7th. She is almost 9 months old and we absolutely love her! We live on Pike Lake in Hartford where she went for her first boat ride and loved it. We also live on a farm with black angus cows - she's very curious about them and is quickly becoming their friend. She is such a little love and is SO smart. She loves to snuggle and be near people at all times. We really couldn't have asked for a better dog. Thank you for raising such great puppies - hope you're doing well! I have also included a photo of him with his best friend Millie who our family also adopted from you! Ailie- New Jersey Hi Jamie. I can't give enough thanks for letting us have this bundle of joy, our Luna. She is such an amazing girl so sweet and obedient. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, thanks again. First of all, I just wanted to let you know that Ollie is doing well! He is the cutest little puppy and has the best personality. He gets so many compliments. Becky- Whitefish Bay, WI This is Chewbacca when he first arrived in our home on the left, and now at 9 months on the right. He has been a wonderful addition to our family and we can't imagine it without him. Thank you Jamie! She has been doing well. We have attached a few photos so you can see how she has grown - she is about 20 now. Her coat turned out to be wavy and very soft, and she has retained most of her white markings. Sadly, the one on her head is not very visible anymore, and we have been trying to save the white tip on her tail, but her red coat will probably win out there eventually, too. We wish we had a dollar for every time someone told us how cute Maya is, and how much they love her color. People seem to be drawn to her and want to pet her. We just returned from a 2-month stay on Hilton Head Island in SC, where we walked her and played ball with her on the beach almost every day. She is very playful and active, and she was in heaven there! She got to meet lots of dogs and their humans - great socialization for her. Also, on this trip, we had a chance to see how she would react to a 2-day hr journey each way by car. She rode quietly the entire way - we were amazed! We are thinking of enrolling her in an agility class for the next round. We are also still working toward training her to be a therapy pet. It will take time and development, but we think she is capable. Thank you for bringing this adorable puppy into the world one year ago, and for allowing us to adopt her into our family. She was born May 10, .She is beautiful, funny and so smart. We love her to pieces. I can't imagine life without her. She has lived in Wisconsin and various places in Florida, currently in Palm Coast Florida on the beach. She loves hunting for Lizards and chasing Sandpipers. Gerry Ann and Jim Hi Jamie! We haven't sent you pictures of our Harlee in a while. He brings laughter and joy to each day. Such a sweetheart, thank you again for our precious treasure! We love her to death and she has been very easy to train. We've even considered getting a 2nd Cockapoo from you but want to wait till Bella is a little older. She loves people and Loves car rides! She did so well the day we got her riding 11 hours back to northwestern MN. We're excited to see how she plays outside this summer as she already loves digging in the snow and dirt when we take her out. Might be a new challenge of training! Her coloring is so pretty and I love how she can look dark or light red depending on the lighting. I also admire your photo taking abilities as it's really hard to get a good photo of her! I'm excited for her to get a little older so I can take her with to my office during the day. Thanks for raising such cute puppies! Bella is the 1st pet I have ever owned and we love her so much! She has brought much happiness and love to me, my home and family. She trained very easily, and is very smart. She is loved by her big brother Golden Retriever, Baron, children and grandchildren. All my family and friends say she is just adorable. She makes my everyday very special! Cindy- Wautoma, WI Just wanted to show you how she is at 6months!! This way you can show others how beautiful the tri color is when grown!! We Love her!! Thank you Jamie for such a Beautiful Dog!! Kona has brought our family so much fun, joy, laughter! We have introduced her to every other dog possible and she wants to play with every one of them big and small. She is so well rounded. She is a swimming water dog too! Thank you so much for this beautiful gift. I definitely want another Cockapoo puppy from you! Many blessings, from the Dowell Sondelski family Sending you a quick note with some pictures our boy, Sully. He turned one today and is as much a joy now as the day we brought him home. He is so smart and sweet, not to mention cute! Again, thank you so much for providing us with such a wonderful dog! I would like to tell you that today is Ella Grace Johnson's first birthday. She has been with us 10 months now she is very well potty trained and loves long walk. She is a very intelligent and strong puppy. Her life is spoiled and she is surrounded by loving people. Everyday she gets lots of hugs and kisses but also lots of play time. Ella was the best addition to our family and we cannot imagine our lives without her. She loves to jump and will do anything for meat, peanut butter, and playing with the laser pointer. She can go on 4 mile jogs, which for her are 4 mile walks. She has many boyfriends and loves to go see them, one of them was also raised by you. Her love is endless and every morning she jumps on top of you for love and when you leave she grabs your leg to keep you home. She can now do many tricks, such as: shake, touch, dance, roll-over and high five. I thought I would let you know how she is doing and how loving her family is. They love, love each other! Mazzey is a great dog - we love her. Also, at puppy class we met her brother - paddle - parent is Maggy from Delafield so they were excited to see each other again. Take care, enjoy the photos. As an update, Sully and Einstein my cat are now best friends and are currently snuggling in the doggie bed together. We couldn't be happier. He's also added a new level of challenge to my hobby of photography - I completely feel your pain for trying to photograph puppies! I've gotten a few good ones - but it is a major challenge to get him to stay still for a second! I've attached one of my favorite recent pictures. She has grown so much and everyone at our Resort loves Sasha…she is a great pup! She potty trained in a week…I have taught her to ring a bell by the door when she goes out. She now plays with two yellow labs…they love her and she loves them! We walk together and Sasha walks between them…of course…just a bit ahead of them. She is jumping all over them and they just walk and sit and allow her to do this to them. They are so careful with her. They will leave, in March, to go back to Ontario for the summer. She won't see them until next November. Sasha is so darn cute. Everyone stops to see the "Sash"…she also knows where to stop on our walks for treats from people. She sleeps on my bed…I get HER out of bed in the mornings…she is in "retirement mode". Someone asked me if she was "trained"…I told them she was "trained" in one week…she rings the bell. Named after top tennis player Rafael Nadal. Rafa has been an absolute joy and has been a wonderful addition to our family!!! He undoubtedly is the smartest, handsomest, and most athletic dog in the world we're not biased.His favorite football player is Jordy Nelson former Kansas State all-american and current Packer standout. Here's a quick profile of his first year: He was Summa Cum Laude of his puppy obedience school. He has a "KING" persona. Rafa loves to chase leaves. Gets along well with others.Likes to be outdoors with his "sisters" and enjoys playing 'fetch'. Is a good guard dog, but as soon as someone anyone for that matter approaches him he rolls over and wants them to scratch his tummy. He's a lover not a fighter. Cheers from Kansas, Clark Good morning. Just thought I would share this picture with you: Ziggy crawled into a blanket on the couch this morning, he's pretty spoiled, but at least he knows how to stay warm on these cold mornings! We're crazy about him, even when the puppy naughtiness shines through. He's now just over one year old and is about 22 pounds--an absolutely perfect size. People are always surprised that he's a Cockapoo because most haven't seen a chocolate one. He gets many compliments. We think he's the cutest dog on earth. Pewaukee, WI Max has been a wonderful addition to our family. We picked him up a little over a year ago. He's kept us very busy and always entertained. He is absolutely wonderful.We can't even take a walk without everyone stopping to ask what kind of dog she is! We are really happy. Thanks again! Here is a picture of our Oscar. He just turned one on July .We LOVE this dog soooo much. We get sooooo many compliments on him its incredible. We can't imagine our lives without him. He really is like a person I know that sounds wierd but he's soo smart its crazy! We have truly fallen in love with our pup - named him Murphy. He's as loving, playful, smart, funny.Our vet fell in love too - he spent an hour with us just petting and playing with him. Here's my favorite picture of him - so far. And thank you so much for raising this wonderful puppy for us to adopt Janet- Middleton, WI Hi Jamie, Here is an update about our puppy we picked up from you last October. Maggie is hilarious and fun, sweet and adorable. She is 7 months old now and has grown so much. Maggie is smart and has learned a number of commands. She is always eager to learn something new, especially when treats are involved! She loves to go places and loves everyone she meets, whether people or animals! Maggie has become a much-loved member of the family. But, of course, you are from Cute Cockapoos! Thank you so much for such a wonderful puppy! He's our little gem, we just love him to death. He comes with us whenever we go out to eat. Dogs are very welcomed here. Thanks again for our little buddy. I must say when doing research on a breeder I found the philosophies and background behind Cute Cockapoos was exactly what we were looking for. Well, two years later…. .Winston truly is a part of our family. We are ALL in love with him! Just as your website states, he was easy to train, loving, affectionate, and has an incredibly sweet and polite disposition. Thank you for making our lives richer with the addition of Winston. You truly breed and raise amazing puppies!! We've renamed her "Tui" pronounced like chewy. She is the best thing that ever happened to us!! She is so sweet. Loves giving kisses and is very playful! She's 10 weeks old now, and is pretty much fully potty trained -- goes to the door and whines. She's also getting used to her kennel. She knows how to sit, lay down, and recognizes her name when we call. The last photo that I attached is when she got to visit me at work for the day! All of my coworkers are obsessed with her. Sara- St. She is the best and smartest puppy. She has even taught her buddy, Shiloh our bengal cat, to ring her bells when he wants to go outside. We are working on stay and doing some agility this winter. Hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving! She is from Mayas litter born October 27, .You shipped her to us in Dallas, TX December of .She has the best personality and she is great with my three boys. She loves to swim with us. She is the perfect size and weight and I could not be happier with her. She is my favorite child and I would definitely buy from you again. Thanks, Cherie- McKinney, Texas I just had to send these really cute photos of Lola - She is incredibly cute and smart and so much fun! I can not believe how well she has adapted to her new family! You gave her a wonderful start. Thank you! This is the stuffed animal that we brought to your place when we put down a deposit on him. We've nicknamed it Penny, and it has become his best friend, wrestling buddy, and snuggle friend at night. Wyatt is doing well, and has met a few new friends, and would make an awesome Walmart greeter, as he hasn't met a person he didn't want to give puppy kisses to. Thanks for giving Wyatt a great start in life! Humphrey found a nest of baby bunnies in the yard the other day and since then has been completely obsessed with them. He shows no interest in eating hour guarding the covered up babies because the neighbor dog was getting too close. He runs to the nest immediately every time we take him outside, and we are careful that he doesn't hurt them. So far he just sits and watches them, occasionally nudges them, and seems to want to"protect" them. Mom bunny is still taking good care of them. He is 10 months old and still the best puppy ever!!! What a little luv!! Thank you again!! Murphy LOVED it - he's learned the "come" command very well so I was able to give him the freedom to explore off-leash. Attached are pictures of Murphy learning to swim, riding in a canoe and just chilling - watching the eagles. He is truly a wonderful dog! He has been a wonderful part of our family since the day we brought him home! He's done so well with his two-legged little brother that we are looking forward to bringing home a four-legged little brother for him this fall from Cute Cockapoos. LeeAnn- Indianapolis, IN. I wish I knew some of the things I know now from the beginning so I am going to share them with you below. Knowledge is power and it makes for a happy healthy life for both you and your Dachshund. I did my research and chose a different breed of dog to be my first as an adult. But then my roomate brought a Dacshshund puppy home. I ended up helping her take care of him and when we eventually moved apart he went with me. I was clueless as to what I was getting myself into. It was supposed to be a temporary situation but, once I realized that I was in it for the long haul, I figured I better learn about the origin, characteristics, temperament, and health concerns of a Dachshund. I think my first Dachshund would have even had a better life had I been more knowledgeable from the beginning. Note: some of the links below are affiliate links , which means that we collect a small commission on qualifying purchases. I only work with companies and product I truly love though. They were bred to hunt , covering a lot of ground, sniffing out badgers, rabbits, and other small game. This means that they are they are controlled by 2 things: their nose and their belly! Killing anything that squeaks is part of their nature. Anything that is furry and runs fast, or resembles something like that, is seen as prey. While I have seen many Dachshunds learn to live peacefully with a kitty or other pet, they will almost always see critters outside of the house as something to be chased, hunted, and eaten. Hold onto that leash when near small animals and know that random wildlife in your back yard may meet an early demise. Great ways to do this are to join a nosework class, buy a snuffle mat like this one or this one for home, or let your Dachshund chase using a flirt pole. Also remember to work on recall training with your Dachshund so they will come back to you when called. Genetically, they are the same besides whatever gene determines whether they stay small or grow larger, color, pattern, etc. Miniature Dachshunds, and standard Dachshunds that are 22 lbs and under, are considered to be small sized dogs. Standard Dachshunds over 22 lbs are generally considered to be medium size dogs. Therefore, Dachshund is pronounced Daks-huunt. There are also over 15 Dachshund nicknames , and spelling variations, for this funny looking long and low dog. Be sure to know them so you understand that someone is talking about Dachshunds when they use them, not a different type or breed of dog. They were also developed to think for themselves because they were frequently down in the burrows without a human telling them what to do. A Dachshund will keep at any problem in front of them until they solve it. When I travel with my current Dachshunds, Gretel and Summit, in the car, I use a seat belt tether, or a dog car seat with a strap to hold them in, to keep them from wandering and distracting me. I also place my groceries, dog food, etc. The key to training a Dachshund is to find what motivates them — a favorite toy or food usually — and use that as a reward during training sessions. In the end, you will likely have to adjust your routine a little to set them up for success and make sure they, and you, are happy. My Dachshunds have all been very treat motivated. I use the larger venison jerky strips when I need something they can see and smell from a distance during photo shoots. I can easily break off a tiny pieces for a reward instead of giving them the whole thing at once — have to watch those waistlines you know! While your Dachshund will melt your heart and you will want to give them whatever they want, remember that they are dogs that still need structure and manners. Most live at least until they are 11 or 12 and I have seen many, many Dachshunds live to be between the ages of 17 — .If you own a Dachshund, be prepared to be in it for the long haul. I help keep my Dachshunds Summit and Gretel healthy by giving them these supplements and feeding them these foods. Also, the pizza delivery guy may think you have a Rottweiler behind that door because this deep-chested breed has a bigger bark than people expect. Earmuffs, perhaps, but no doorbell. They bark and bark and bark and then bark some more. This is largely hardwired since they were bred to trap prey underground and then bark until the hunters could find them and dig them out. Be prepared to meet some resistance if you try walking them in the rain and be prepared to shovel a path if there is snow in your back yard. That being said, I am a huge proponent of not letting them refuse to go out in inclement weather. Potty training is not always a one time deal. Your Dachshund may need refreshers throughout their entire life! This distaste also includes getting wet when you give your Dachshund a bath. Honestly though, a huge part of why it took so long is because I had to figure out that it was his separation anxiety that caused him to pee on the carpet when I left. Having accidents in the house might be the 1 reason Dachshunds get surrendered to shelters. There is hope though. I was able to potty train my Dachshund puppy Summit in about 6 weeks. Now she rarely has accidents in the house. Do keep in mind that their potty training might slip when they become a senior dog. You also might want to keep this natural, pet-safe urine and odor remover on hand. Harnesses Harnesses are safer for Dachshunds than collars when walking because they help to project their fragile necks and backs. The chest strap on my Dachshunds always slides off to the left or right. Because the fit is a little off, the harness may put too much pressure on their delicate windpipe. For long walks or hikes, especially wet and dirty ones, we use the Hurtta Padded Y harness or the Ruffwear Flagline harness. Finding a jacket or harness to fit your Dachshund may take some trial and error. Jackets long enough for them may drown them in fabric around the neck and chest. IVDD is a hereditary disease and your dog will either have or not. If they have it, no matter how careful you are, they could develop a spinal injury in their neck or back but not always as there are other factors at play too. Owning a Dachshund is kind of like roulette in that regard because 1 in 4 Dachshunds are affected by some kind of back issue at some point in their lives. Commit these back injury warning signs to memory and print out the checklist so you know what to keep an eye out for. Sports like hiking yes, it can be safe to hike with a Dachshund , agility, and Earth Dog can strengthen their backs and keep them supple. Note: You must do these this right away if your Dachshund suddenly becomes paralyzed or has trouble walking. Make sure your friends and relatives know how to properly pick up and carry your Dachshund too. You may also have to remind any pet care professionals you hire like groomers, dog walkers, and dog sitters that Dachshunds have special needs when handling. The first groomer I took my Dachshund to picked him up by his chest and left this back legs dangling. I about had a heart attack. They knew the dog was in "heat" estrum , but they underestimated the sex drive, which is a mistake. If so, stay tuned. Most female dogs have two estrous cycles yearly. They have two cycles that last about a month, about six months apart. Each cycle consists of three parts: the "coming-in", the "being-in", and the "going-out", also known as pro-estrus, estrus and metestrus. Each part lasts about seven to nine days on average. The female is fertile and receptive to the male only during the middle part or estrus, despite the fact that she is attractive to the male throughout the entire cycle. Boy, is she attractive. They can smell her pheromones hormone-like scent chemicals for miles — literally. You may see a motley crowd of mutts assembling, even if your nearest neighbor is in the next county. During pro-estrus, the vulva outside female parts begins to swell, and a bloody discharge develops. The males are surely getting interested at this point, but the female is far from ready. Unfortunately, many inexperienced owners equate this bloody discharge phase with the entire cycle. If day 1 is the first day of bloody discharge "showing color", as the breeders say , then day 9 is the day to get prospective parents together. Better yet, keep them separated for an additional two weeks. The whole business is going to take three or four weeks. Maintain constant vigilance. He went for his well check and 9 week shots today. He was an angel and everyone at the vets office loved him and wanted to know all about him and where he came from. She weighed in at 6 pounds 9 ounces and got her next set of vaccines. Everything checked out well. Right now she is actually right next to me and trying to help me type. She thinks she can do it better than I can. She says to tell you both she said woof woof hello in human. We are so excited about having her she is just the smartest, sweetest, most wonderful pup we could ever hope for. She had her first training session on Sunday and did great. Murray even joked about taking her home with him. She is doing well and getting on a schedule with her eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom. She has had minimal accidents in the house and is learning to heel very well. Lee and I were so pleased with our whole experience. Thank you for our perfect little angel, Kelli, Lee, and Fenway P. We appreciat it! I sent Ed an email to do some inquiry, and within about 20 min he called me on the phone. He proceeded to spend about 45 min of his time talking with me about their dogs and puppies. I learned more about the breed, about what to look for in a breeder, and he answered my 50, questions patiently and fully. We then moved into the next phase, and went to visit the current litter of pups. He was again, very gracious with his time, and really helped us feel comfortable and welcome. It sure seems less of a business to him and more of a passion. He loves the dogs, and pups and wanted to ensure we were all ready for adopting one of the pups. Since we adopted Molly, our lives have been enriched and she is an absolute joy. She is so smart, has a sweet disposition…and you have to love the no shedding feature! Her coat is currently very fleecy, soft and velvety. During our first few days at home, Ed called and checked in on how we were doing multiple times. We had to call as well as we have never had a pup before and were unsure about everything… again, Ed calmed our nerves, never telling us what to do — but always giving us great advice and sharing his practices with us. This whole experience has been fantastic, and we could not be happier with our puppy, or with Ed and Teresa. Happy Customer I received your voicemail tonight. Schuyler is doing great. With fingers crossed, we might venture to say she is house trained. If you have any suggestions we are more than open to ideas. What are your thoughts on puppy classes? We see dogs all the time and our neighbors have dogs so I am not worried about socialization. We will definitely enroll her in obedience when she is old enough. She is a joy. She loves to be brushed, loves playing with the kids and us , and learns very quickly. She is also incredibly adorable. He is a perfect fit. .He has already traveled with us from Winston Salem to Charleston, SC where he met plenty of dog friends. .We were very impressed with how well he traveled in the car lying in between our two children for hours. .He is the funniest dude too. .He tries his hardest to play with our older two female dogs, but they do not want to engage in the puppy play they are more like furniture in their old age. .I think he has found a playmate in our daylillies as he LOVES to hop from day lilly to day lilly like a bunny!! Oscar is an early riser and is getting used to his crate. He loves to ride with me to take my daughter to school each morning and loves smooth jazz music. .I am hoping to start some basic training with him soon- I have another vet visit on MOnday for him to receive his next round of vaccinations. .HOpe you all are well. .I wanted to include a picture of this handsome fellow. .He is truly a delight and we love him so much!! She is our greatest joy. She struggles a little with the toliet habits only because she has discovered how much fun it is to play with the leaves it seems to distract her and she just plays and plays and then after an hour or so she goes back in and oops!!!!!!! But, most of the time she gets it! She knew so much just from you and Teresa working with the litter! She is a companion and she expects to be treated like one. She has the crate down perfect- — she just wants it to be next to your bed at night. This dog has no idea whatsoever that she is not human and she expects to be raised as a child! We love her- — Thank you for all you did for us raising this wonderful doodle! Saw on the webcite you new puppies! What lucky little puppies and future parents of them! Have a wonderful holiday and God Bless you! Patti Patti Hi, Ed and Teresa. Hope you are all doing well and not too tired from taking care of your newest litter! She is such a sweet puppy! We could not be happier. She bonded with us so quickly — she was a member of our family by the time we were home from picking her up. We so enjoyed meeting both of you. You do a very good job with raising your pups! I have attached some pictures and will keep you updated on her — I could tell how much each of the puppies mean to you both. He is still very sweet and loving. He is extremely calm and good with the children. We would be happy to be a reference and talk to people about Jack. He is so eager to please and makes friends and fans everywhere he goes. We like to show him off! I hope you guys are doing well. I researched every breeder I could find from here to Australia and back. I narrowed down my requirements: The breeders had to love their dogs who would be the parents of my puppy. They would take good care of my puppy from birth until I got her home with me. Ideally, they would be within driving distance since I continue to have concerns about shipping a tiny puppy across the continent in an airplane cargo hold. This would be my first dog and I had no idea other than what I had read about how to raise a puppy. For this reason, I wanted breeders who would be able and willing to support and guide me from early on in the process. And, I really wanted to be able to visit the puppy before I brought her home, so I wanted breeders who would welcome me into their home. I found all this and more in Ed and Theresa Schwalbach. They were raising their first litter, and I knew immediately that they would make sure the puppies got all the love, attention and care that I wanted my puppy to have in her infancy. I met her parents, Bailey and Bromley as well, and both of them are just wonderful. Bailey was very focused on her pups, but she greeted me and hung around a few minutes before returning to the litter. Coco is now 13 weeks old, and she is delightful. She has an incredibly sweet personality, she is playful and cute and very bright. In terms of her looks, she has a beautiful, soft, curly coat of the most gorgeous chocolate color. She has bright, expressive, hazel-colored eyes and is well proportioned and growing like a weed. She is everything I hoped for and more. He is pretty well house broken, will come when called, will sit for treats, and is learning to fetch. He is over 20 lbs so I guess he is going to be a big boy. Thanks for a great pup. If, in fact, it did not, I want you to know how much we are enjoying Carrie! Anyway, Carrie is a delight!!! As I write, David has taken the girls and Carrie to his parents they love her, too for the evening. Carrie is just so adaptable. We cannot say enough nice things about Carrie and our dog adopting process. We will get some pictures to you eventually and thank you, again, for helping us bring Carrie into our family. We believe he is truly the best, cutest puppy ever to be born. He looks almost identical to the pictures you have on the Internet of Mr. At 4 months he was house-trained which was quite a relief. He continues to stay ahead of the average in size for labradoodles of his age. We have a big yard for him to run in when we are out. When we are inside he is contended just staying close to us. He does love to play tug of war and hide and seek with one of us. We had a dinner party, recently, for about 30 people. Many of the guests said he was the cutest dog they had ever seen and no one could believe he was just 4 months old. Brinkley stayed with Linda Nichols who got Fletcher from you, while we went to the beach last week. I was worried about leaving him. We were so pleased when we returned and went to pick him up. He was glad we were there but continued to follow Fletcher everywhere, after he greeted us. They get along wonderfully. He learned alot by being around Fletcher. He stopped getting car sick. I truly believe it was because he watched Fletcher and learned that riding in the car is fun. He, probably accidentally, followed Fletcher into the river at the park where Linda takes Fletcher to run and play. After 2 nights of trying, she gave up. Our bedroom door is closed at night, anyway. Once again, we just love Brinkley and think he is the best puppy God ever made. Please note that I answered everything at the highest possible score. You all do a great job with these beautiful dogs. She loves outdoors so she runs and plays daily in the water. I like the long and shaggy look, but we have to keep her coat trimmed a little closer now. We took a weeks vacation and when we returned her head was matted so they may have to cut her close. She is so adorable and smart. Harvey tells me on a daily basis what a great choice it was to get a labradoodle and I just love the no shedding part! She is pretty much a spoiled girl. Hope all is well with you and Teresa. Went out for a few hours and tried leaving Sadie out of the crate with Bentley in the same room — came home to a really big mess — they got into a decorative nick-nack on my coffee table and created havoc!! Nothing of any value destroyed but big mischief!! Wish I had had a camera on that one!! Seriously, they are doing great. We just love them. They are so affectionate and lovable. They would really brighten anyones day. Have been walking them early morning and late at night but they do get really hot. What do you think? Hope all is well with you. We were very impressed with your home and kennel facilities. Thanks again for opening your home to us. See ya in two weeks! I wanted to let you know that Jazz has been spayed and is back to to her old self again. I know you talked with Harvey when I was out of town last week. Please feel free to give us as a reference anytime. We adore her and she absolutely gets all the attention in the house. The ease of transitioning to a dog in the house is largely due to the love and attention you both give the pups. We strongly feel that Jazz had an advantage starting out. There is one thing I would like to ask you about. The vet said to remove the hair from inside her ears since she is a poodle. Jazz lets me do whatever I want to her ears, mouth etc. What method do you use. Also, should I send you a copy of the vet bill for her spay visit? Junah is an absolute joy. We searched various breeds and breeders, but were motivated to find a breed of dog that would have the potential to be a therapy dog: highly intelligent, affectionate, calm, vivacious and adaptable. Discovering labradoodles were bred to be non allergenic and non shedding was an amazing plus. Once we settled on the breed, the labyrinth of breeders was daunting, although most breeders of labradoodles appeared to be in love with the dogs. We were overjoyed to find Doo South who not only demonstrated their love of the dogs, but also their commitment to make the world a better place through their faith and generosity. Ed and Teresa, you answered every question promptly and to the best of your ability. Rarely did we have to wait for a response and no question appeared too small or insignificant. You provided references to owners from a previous litter and we had the pleasure of meeting them before making a decision about committing to Doo South. You advised us when it looked like the mother was about to give birth about 24 hours before she actually gave birth. We were informed every step of the way. You posted photos on the website with regularity and commentary and telephoned to update us as appropriate. We were welcomed to meet the puppies once the first month passed, and provided honest information about where we fit in the sequence of selecting a puppy. The personalities and attitudes were just starting to emerge, but they were all they had been bred to be. The parents, Bromley and Bailey were equally agreeable and accommodating in every visit. We brought Junah, a small chocolate fleece-haired female home on the 23rd of December. Three weeks later we remain astounded by her behavior, personality and adjustment. The first night we were prepared for a sad puppy after leaving her littermates, but she made the transition smoothly, quietly and without anxiety. The next day I became anxious by her quiet agreeableness was she mute? Junah rapidly housetrained herself, easily crate trained and eats beautifully. She is quick, funny, inquisitive and immediately responsive. She almost doubled her weight in two weeks and started puppy socialization class. Personalitywise she matures by leaps and bounds daily. She even sits calmly when strangers come to the front door. The vet is extremely impressed by Junah and the veterinary staff love her older sibling as well. Both dogs are almost identical in markings The staff point out the similarities between the two dogs when we are there for shots or classes. Thank you a million times over. We are happier with Junah than we ever thought possible. In the future, we would be happy to be references or speak with potential labradoodle owners at your request. He is so sweet most of the time , except for the five minute puppy crazy time he goes through once in awhile. His little teeth are so sharp. Steve and I both have bandaids on our hands and his little teeth got caught in three pairs of my pants. He will start training a week from Tuesday. Steve calls on a nurse, and her husband trains german shepards for the prisons and others. He will be coming to our house to train him and when he gets older, he has group classes Duncan can go to also. Duncan has slept in his crate next to our bed from the first night we brought him home. When I figure out how to send you pictures I will be sending some. Our daughter took one with the hamburger toy you gave him, that is so cute. You mentioned someone is interested in DooSouth and would like to see Duncan. That would be find with us. You may give them my email or phone number. We like to show him off. Hope everything is fine in the DooSouth house, I bet its a little quite right now. Has Teresa caught up on her sleep yet? Take care. I have to tell you, he is absolutely the BEST dog!! I take him running with me now and he had the ultimate test on Sunday. We went to the jogging trail where all the really cool dogs go with their owners. He was such a big hit!!! He is so well behaved, so smart, so affectionate, so playful and mellow all rolled into one. When are you having another litter? If we could get another one as great as Bentley, we would very much consider a playmate for him. Let me know please. He is just terrific and a wonderful addition to our family. They were polite, attentive, nondemanding and clearly evidenced their own unique personalities. There were no signs of stress or anxiety around new people, they were highly flexible, and social. Not only are you doing well, you, Teresa and Doo South are doing fabulously. Joe and I were also impressed with your attitude, knowledge and willingness to share it all with us. We look forward to the next phase of our life, Best wishes, Michelle Hey, Ed!!!! Got a new computer so my old addresses did not port; Hershey is great. .New name Charlie. He comes perfectly when I call him so he has not yet been shocked by the electric fence, I do not have the heart to do it. He is growing by leaps and bounds and I will make an appt this wk to neuter him…. Obedience is no problem as he will do anything I ask. He happily stays in the house all day with lily while I am at work, with access to the deck, but runs outdoors with her when I come home; no accidents while loose in the house all day. I could not ask for better personality. He adds thicker coat and more size daily. I love him dearly and so does lily; I am very grateful to have him. Will send a picture soon. We could not be more pleased. She is already in intermediate obedience classes she is perfect with the basics, sit ,stay,down,heel, walk, so we have moved on to the second stage. She loves learning new things. She is so smart. She has grown so much. I think she might be almost as tall as her mom. He coat has changed slightly, from jet black to black with a hint of brown. We are still brushing out the undercoat. Does this eventually all come out? It knots up in some areas and is very hard to brush out. Also I was curious about her ears. I see the hair growing deep in the ear, should I have this removed? None of the books on labradoodles mention the ear hair. Her curl is beautiful, just what we wanted. I will take some current pictures soon and send them to you. We also have an appointment in a couple of weeks to have her spayed. She will be about 7 months at the time. Do you think that is ok? She makes us laugh all the time. He personality is so funny, even her expressions make us laugh. Thank you so much and keep up the good breeding. I will send you guys a new picture as soon as i get home today! Good to hear from you!! Ziggy is doing great and is a very good dog!! I will send new pics this afternoon! Oh and yes i would be glad to be a contact person for you guys. Seriously, she has grown into a truly delightful creature. I will send pictures along. Yes, I learned to do this myself. She has a beautiful coat. Nice soft hair in lovely loose curls. But when she was changing from the puppy coat to her adult coat, she ended up with huge mats behind her ears and on her neck. And that was after I had had her groomed by a professional a couple of times and she still came home with mats behind her ears. She loves them — and they love her. She really is ideally suited to become a therapy dog, which is the next step for her once she gets her manners down pat. That was confirmed for me one day when I was downtown and a woman in a wheelchair wanted to pet her. She walked up quietly, sat down next to the woman and let her pet her head — no fussing at all. Coco has added an element to my life that I never knew was missing. Now I do. What a way to begin and end a day! Sometimes she sleeps at the foot of the bed, sometimes on the floor in the bedroom, sometimes in her crate. She has a ferocious bark which she uses liberally when someone walks by the house at night. She is a powerful, healthy dog — she hovers around 50 pounds, which is just what I hoped for. I worried about that at first. So, I guess that is the whole story. I hope you and your family are doing well. I know you had a couple of litters earlier this year, and I talked with Sophia Brooks who said you just had another one. Are your still getting mostly chocolates and blacks, or have you gotten other colors? Best regards. I wanted more to see the size of the dog. I must admit, they are larger than I expected, but in every other aspect perfect. If I decide to get a dog, I would feel so comfortable and priviledged in getting a dog from you. I loved your momma and the way the puppies are with a family. No cages!!!!! Your puppies are just darling. Everyone stole my heart, but Purple surely filled every nook and cranny. I just need to make sure that a larger than expected dog still fits into our life. Again, I am certain who will provide me with a labradoodle…. Thank you again. She seemed a little tired out when we got home but by last night she got her second wind. Ha Ha!! She slept in her crate in our bed with no problem. She also has not had an accident she follows the other two dogs out and goes as soon as she gets in the backyard. She is awesome- we have truly been blessed with a great new family member. I will send you pictures soon. We took oodles last night when she was playing. She is a delight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Took her to the vet today. Bonnie Brae, Dr. Angel Mitchell, who totally fell in love with her. She loved her temperment, conformation and health. I told her about you and your puppies. Marley was not stressed at all. In fact, after the temperature check, laid down and took a snooze. Although, sometimes, after playing in the house, will just walk over without warning and pee! Never poo. She plays hard, sleeps hard and loves hard. She is very brave and independent. Every time we expose her to another part of our property, she becomes confident and goes off on her own. We are about ready to put a leash on her since she does not know her name or any commands. On our property, she is very, very brave. We are just loving her. She is just a joy and very smart. Figured out the first day about where her feed and water bowls are. After just one time sitting on the sofa with us, she nows tries to jump up. Just too darn smart! So hard to say no to her except when she starts chewing on lamp cords and my plants outside. Thank goodness for all that good training! You are right, she is sooooooo sweet. Raegan and Avery are having a blast with her. She really is doing pretty good with potty training. Only one accident each day. And as we speak, she is sound to sleep. I took her for a walk a few minutes ago, but we endedup running most of the way…. .Our neighbors are crazy about her…. I hope you realize what a truly unselfish thing you have done for us. And we love you for it!!!!!!! I will let you know how the vet appt goes. Lula is now in training school the whole family goes to learn and is the star pupil. She is up to 24 pounds she was born August 3. She is the most loving and sweet dog and has exceeded all of our expectations. She has not had her operation yet, but will after Christmas. Roemer, today. Naturally, we fell head over heels in love with him. We are close neighbors — Hendersonville, NC. My wife and I own the Silver Fox Gallery. Three years ago we lost our companion a black and tan cocker, Maggie. We are over our grieving period and realize how much we miss our pet. So many of the characteristics that you have discussed are precisely in line with what we would be looking for in a new family member. We are in our middle — to late fifties and while we have 5 grandchildren only two of the five live near enough to visit with frequency. We would be interested in know if you have in the way of a really good Doodle looking to fill the void in our life? The potty training is coming along — she definitely knows what to do when we go outside — although she still is a peeing machine. I have taken more pics this week to celebrate 10 wks old! I have to download them on computer…will do this week and send updates! Stacy and I would like to thank you so much for our newest family member. He is fitting right in. He is very sweet — loves to cuddle. Thank you again…it has been a pleasure meeting you and your wife. Thanks again! He is adapting just wonderfully…loving his new siblings. I gave your contact info to one of my students parents. You may receive a call from the Cain family inquiring as to whether Fenways other little brother you emailed the photo to me of is still available. We will send you some photos for sure!!! Jessi goes to work with me eveyday, greets the clients, quietly lays under my desk, and then escorts the clients to the door to leave. She has become a staple to our business. We adore her. I will forward photos of her along with the vet records. Hershey is wonderful, absolutely great. The kids and I love her to death and the feeling is mutual certainly. She went crazy when we arrived and more crazy when we left! Thx again. BTW, she has not yet been spade as my vet told me to wait until she has been hot at least once. Thx again for checking up. And I think my brother, his wife and their two kids will end up at your place in next yr. She is such a joy. She has been so easy to train. We cannot thank you enough for providing these wonderful dogs. I have told everyone who has asked about the breed and have told them where we got her. We love her. Please let me know if you need further documentation. Brewster is doing fantastic. He is a very good boy and we get compliments on him all of the time. I have given several people your name when they have asked where we got him. I have attached a few pictures we took while on vacation at Hilton Head Island over the 4th. Please feel free to give any of your potential clients our name and phone number as a reference — we would be happy to tell anyone how pleased we are with our Doo South Labradoodle. We had her work with a trainer and he said she was the best labradoodle he had seen in terms of size, intelligence, and temperment. We had her spayed earlier this week and will get you the paperwork shortly. He is beautiful and well mannered and a good soul. He has also turned out to be a therapy dog minus the formal training. I was diagnosed with breast cancer about 15 months ago and Baci was there with me through all the treatments, surgery, and recovery. Thank you for Baci! I, therefore, have been thinking about a second dog. Baci loves other dogs and cats, squirrels, possums, whatever and I think he would love to have a pal to keep him company and to play with. I noticed your recent litters will be available around November and that might give me enough time to talk my husband into it. She was such a lovely, laid back, and well mannered dog. So, let me know what your new puppies are like and what might be available. She is absolutely beautiful, smart, and generous with her affections. We have a question that we know you can clarify for us. Are both her parents labradoodles? Lastly, I am thinking about getting a second dog in the next year , but not sure I want to do the puppy again. Do you know of any ideas on how we can get an older labradoodle? Thanks so much and we hope you all are doing well. They are truly a beautiful breed. You take such great care of them and they are healthy, happy and so playful. Bailey is wonderful and I so enjoyed Moose. Thanks for your recommendation of items to have for their care…. He is a love bug and a cuddler that sleeps through the night and is doing great with potty training. He is almost too good to be true. I have gotten nothing done. He looks at me and tilts his head, so I hold him constantly. Plus, we have had a ton of visitors. Jeff just got in town and loves him too. Aslan has already slept with Preston all night: Can you tell I am geedy???? My heart has been stolen again! Hope you guys are doing well. I will email the survey in a couple of days. She is doing well. Crosby green is doing great! He rings his bells, sits and shakes on command. He is playful and loving. We absolutely love him. Happy CustomerAnd Their Dog, Crosby Journey is fantastic, as a matter of fact, we have a face book page for him, you may want to check it out. He just graduated his advanced obedience and he was the youngest in the class. Journey loves his bath, any form of water, snow, and etc. He loves just being with us and has the funniest personality. He also loves grass, my husband put a grassy area in our yard for him, since we live in the mountains and there is not a lot of that, he likes to roll around in it. He sleeps in our room with us on the floor next to the bed, and sometimes at the foot of the bed in the entrance to the bathroom, he likes the cool floor. This is by far the best dog we have ever had! Here are my pictures for the contest. I never know when that might happen. I reserved a doodle puppy at Doo South and just happened to get the very last slot. As the pictures of the litter were updated on the website, I enjoyed looking through them and understood I would either be getting the last puppy from that litter or one from the next. God had saved the very best puppy of the whole litter for me! Ezra Hudson came home at 8 weeks old, and on the third day of him being with me, he began very intently smelling my mouth during my reactions. I was having reactions a day Five days after coming home, he alerted for the first time! He figured that one out on his own! Now Ezra alerts, and I can leave the area where there is a trigger in some instances or get the medication I need to prevent me from having a reaction. Ezra has given me so much more independence! He continues to faithfully and consistently alert before I have a reaction. He is now an official medical alert service dog and is in training to pick things up for me, carry things, is learning to flip the light switch, and to brace himself so he can help me get up if I fall. God reserved my special Ezra Hudson especially for me! I love him to bits and thank God for my special gift! She sleeps with us!!! And my husband said she is the cleanest dog ever! No smell and no shedding. I would send a picture but you already know what she looks like. When will you have more puppies? We know of someone what wants one. He has brought so much joy to our home but also to so many people in the Charlotte market. Everyone loves him. Attached are two of our favorite picks. I am sure we will have more Red Cross images as he deploys with me to disasters around the US.

A blue merle Frenchie for sale will have the same broken pattern as any other variant of Merle Frenchie. The shaded color will in this case be blue. So it would be blue over white, as opposed to black, lilac, tan, brown, etc. Our most famous french bulldog stud, Mr. Elon is a Blue Merle with orange tan points, carrying testable chocolate and Fluffy, to also make Isabella, and fluffy Frenchies. His pups can be basically any color under the rainbow depending on the female he is paired with. Merle French Bulldog puppies for sale are available from at least 3 of our 6 total litters of the year! Blue merle French bulldogs are probably one of the most stunningly unique looking Frenchies. These little nuggets are quite easy to recognize, having a light base coat with darker patches of their inherent color usually blue, lilac, Isabella or black around their body. Did you know that Merle Frenchies often have light to ice blue eyes? So if you are looking for a pup with green or blue eyes, choose a Merle! Usually we have a few Merle pups in every litter! He is absolutely stunning, well mannered and one of the best structured studs carrying testable chocolate, cream, and fluffy currently working within the USA! Reserve an Elon pup today and experience one of his amazing offspring! Elon can make Blues, blues and tans, Isabella, Isabella and tan, New Shade isabella, Lilac, Lilac and tan, fluffies, creams, basically everything under the rainbow with AMAZING compact structure, big heads, with both intelligence and temperament to boot! On Average, a quality blue merle frenchie puppy will be on the more expensive side of average colors as a pet, and more if you are looking for full AKC registration for breeding your Frenchie. Lastly, with french bulldog genetics , there are a wide number of french bulldog colors available to consider! Also called french bulldog merle for sale these are some of the more exotic colored frenchies. Our puppies that are sired by Elon are short, thick, compact, great heads, and are just perfect. With a broken pattern, no two Merle Frenchie for sale look alike! These are the most unique of all colors and coat types. Some of them are even available as fluffy Frenchie as well. These are certainly also some of the most unique as no two patterns are alike! French Bulldog puppies for sale are readily available through internet websites, most using puppy mills and Amish puppy mills. Please be sure to steer clear of any puppy mills for any dog purchase of any french bulldog merle for sale. Merle French bulldogs for sale A quality blue merle French bulldog puppy is hard to come by and cost a pretty penny. You are looking for both structure and genetics. Other colors that are popular are the lilac merle french bulldog. Lilac Merle Frenchie puppies are also super cute, just a little bit lighter in color than the blues. Our Merle French bulldog for sale are some of our most popular of all of our pups. Most people who are knew to frenchies in general are unaware of the merle french bulldog puppies colors. Since our favorite stud to use is our own Elon Sacks, son of the famous Mr. Banks, we always have a few merle french bulldog puppies for sale , when we have litters. Blue merle frenchie pups are rare, stunning and always unique! With the broken patterns, no 2 will ever look the exact same. French Bulldog Merle for sale Other colors include the blue and tan frenchie , which is equally stunning with tan points and a solid blue french bulldog. We do not work with brindle or pied dogs so you have no risk of having a pied or brindle broken base color. Blue Frenchie puppies are super cute and were once rare and the most expensive but now are a bit more common. There were times when many people were on the waiting list for blue frenchie puppies for sale. We breed for shorter bodies and legs, not long legged giraffes. We are proud that all of our Frenchie puppies for sale are raised in our home with our children, under foot. Every single French Bulldog puppy are well socialized and you can expect a playful, smart, inquisitive and loving professional Snuggle Bug. Available Puppies Notification List. Merles are primarily known for their unique markings, a genetic expression of the M-locus or Merle gene which causes random skin pigmentation and lightens their eye color. They come in a variety of colors and range in spectrums of white, grey and black, white and beige, dark brown, beige and white and mixes of greys and Beiges together. The lilac genetics are expressed in the flash of red in there light blue colored eyes and a combination of chocolate and blue base color in their coats. Black, tan and fawn make up the black Merle and they often have brown eyes or blue eyes. On occasion, a combination of both will express itself where you will see one brown eye and one blue eye or a streak of one color inside the other. Genetically they come from the black Merle whose color base has been diluted to create a blue hue. Health of Merle Bulldogs French Bulldogs like all other breeds have certain health risks. For a golden retriever it is hip displasia. For a french bulldog it is a vulnerable back that encourages good practices for their owners to have stairs in place always at sites where dogs should not be jumping from such as a high bed or couch. It has been rumored that Merle french bulldogs are less healthy than standard french bulldogs. This would only be true if poor breeding practices are exercised. That would be breeding one Merle dog to another. Common problems include blindness and deafness as well as chronic allergies, immune disorders, heart murmurs and hip dysplasia. A responsible breeder will tell you about this. Additionally to encourage better health throughout a dogs life Feeding your dog a raw diet and giving them NuVet supplements are required by our standards. In general a raw diet has been proven to lengthen life span. Also not spaying and neutering before the age of six and preserving hormones will encourage longer life. Merle is not a color, its a pattern. There are some patterns recreated by breeders that have become popular and also despised upon by other breeders. Merle French bulldogs are such dogs whose pattern has become very popular due to its rarity and the diversity of patterns. The gene alters the color of the dogs and creates patterns over patterns and this creates mottled patches in the colors of the litter. Also, the gene modifies the color of the eyes nose and the paw pads. Blue eyes are common in these dogs and also an odd colored set of eyes can also be present. No Merle dog will be the same as the patterns will always differ along with the color. There are three types of genes that the dog can carry. Breeders take advantage of the availability of French Bulldogs in up to 20 twenty different colors. They then create a rare, low maintenance dog. Merle is one of the most expensive colors of French bulldogs out there and one of the rarest. Merle French bulldogs are not pure breeds. The color is a mix of other patterns mixed together by careful selection and breeding. If the breeder messes up on the color combination, the puppies can come out unhealthy and weak with birth defects. No French bulldog has the merle gene and therefore, Merle French bulldogs are not purebred. Many dog breeds have this gene, however, Chihuahuas are used to introduce this gene in the French bulldog family. Some breeders can also crossbreed the puppies to create a purebred Merle French bulldog. The pattern depends on the gene dilution as there are variations in the pattern of these dogs. Blue, black, lavender are some of the colors which are diluted with the merle gene. These dogs are very rare and are sought out for all over the world. About me. Merle and tan French Bulldogs are probably one of the most distinct looking dogs in the Frenchie world! Their amazing coat has two of the rarest French Bulldog patterns, the merle and the tan. Their merle patches can make them even more unique ranging from black to blue and lilac in color. Merle and tan Frenchies often have sparkling blue eyes, which is a rare characteristic of the breed. We will have available merle and tan French Bulldog puppies for sale soon, contact us for more info about our upcoming litters! A Merle and Tan French Bulldog has a light base coat with darker mottled patches all around their bodies, which can be of various colors like black, blue or even lilac. What sets them apart from regular merle Frenchies is the light fawn markings on their paws, chest, bottom, cheek and eyebrows. To produce this amazing and rare coat in French Bulldogs the parents need to carry both the merle and the tan genes. Since the merle gene affects the skin pigment as well, when a merle patch crosses the eye area the Frenchie will have bright forever blue eyes. Sometimes only one of the eyes will remain blue, which is a phenomenon called heterochromia. Three good reasons: 1. They are little clowns who always do something silly to make you smile. Sweet, cuddly, playful, fun, cute… the list could go on. They are impossible not to love! Frenchies are the best companions who get along with everyone Frenchies are very sociable who get along with all family members from children to grandparents, from other dogs to cats. They are insanely affectionate and become very attached to their owners. They would spend every minute of their time with their parents if they could! They are perfectly happy lying on the sofa all day and require little exercise during the day. All that makes them ideal companions for those who live in an apartment. Depending on the color variation their prices may vary a lot, for example black merle and tan Frenchies are valued less than lilac merle and tan Frenchies. Permanent blue eyes also push the prices up a bit: we charge USD per blue eye. Make sure to do your research and get your merle and tan Frenchie from a reputable breeder, and you will have a happy and healthy furry family member for at least a decade. Merle and Tan French Bulldogs are one of the rarest and most unique dogs in the Frenchie world. To produce this amazing pattern, the parents have to carry the tan and the merle gene as well. You should always get your merle and tan French Bulldog from a reputable breeder to make sure you have a healthy and happy pet for at least a decade. Once you do your research and select a trusted breeder, you will most likely need to get on a waitlist to secure a merle and tan Frenchie. Why choose TomKings Kennel? For the past more than ten years, we at TomKings have been working hard to breed the healthiest and most beautiful French Bulldogs on the planet and to find them the most loving homes all around the globe. As reputable and ethical French Bulldog breeders, we set very high health, genetic and wellbeing standards to make sure that all our Frenchies become happy, healthy and well-adjusted family members. Apart from being extremely selective about the health and look of the Frenchie parents, we make sure that the puppies receive the utmost love, care and attention. Instead of kennels or crates, we raise them in vast, green gardens with plenty of space to roam around and we let them sleep and rest in large family houses where our dogs can socialize with humans of any age. We believe that well-balanced puppies come from well- balanced family backgrounds. Color variations Blue merle French Bulldog Blue merle French Bulldogs are one of our most sought-after puppies of all the colors. They got their name after the blue patches on their light-colored coat, which are essentially grey with a bluish shine in the light. The shade of the grey parts may vary from very light to almost black, while their base color also ranges from a yellowish cream color to light grey. Lilac merle French Bulldog Lilac merle French Bulldogs are often mistaken for blue merle Frenchies, but they are much more unique and harder to come by. Lilac merle Frenchies have very light, almost ashy or silver colored patches on their light coat. To produce this rare and beautiful color, the parents have to carry the blue, chocolate and merle gene. Lilac merle French Bulldogs usually have light-colored eyes which are glowing red. Chocolate merle French Bulldog Chocolate merle French Bulldogs have dark brown mottled patches all over their light-colored bodies. Choco merle pups also have unique genetics so they are quite rare and hard to come by. Similarly to lilac Frenchies, they are the combination of blue and chocolate but their grey shade is more of a champagne color. Breeders have managed to mix in the merle gene as well producing the Isabella merle French Bulldog, but these dogs are extremely rare. Black merle French Bulldog Black merle French Bulldogs have black mottled patches often covering most of their bodies. Their base coat is also slightly darker than in other merle Frenchies, ranging from light grey to light brown. Fawn merle French Bulldog There are a number of different variations of fawn merle French Bulldogs, like blue fawn merle, lilac fawn merle or chocolate fawn merle. The dark patches these Frenchies have are less distinct looking than in other merles, as they are only a bit darker than their light fawn base color. One of these rare traits is their sparkling blue eyes. Since the merle gene affects the skin pigment as well, when a merle patch crosses the eye area the Frenchie will have bright forever blue eyes. Sometimes only one of the eyes will remain blue, which is a phenomenon called heterochromia. Because of how dominant the merle gene is, merle Frenchies should only be bred to a dog with a solid coat color. They are insanely affectionate making them the perfect companion dogs, they just want to spend every minute of their time with their owners. They are extremely friendly with kids and other animals too; they love basically anyone they meet! Thanks to their easy-going nature, a Merle Frenchie will adapt to your lifestyle very quickly no matter where you live. As you might expect, colors that are considered common for the breed have the lowest prices, while colors which are more unique and harder to produce are more expensive as well. When it comes to Merle French Bulldogs, they are already in a higher price range, but depending on the color variation their prices may further vary a lot. Permanent blue eyes also push the prices up a bit: we charge USD per blue eye.

Only applications from yvpr. He is traditional GSD colors, tan and black with a medium coat. Cooper weighs In at around 70 pounds. Cooper came to us from the Yakima Humane Society with a broken jaw. Within a few days of being in the foster home we realized there was something else going on with him. He has been diagnosed with mega esophagus. His foster home has done an amazing job getting it under control and he is doing great. Cooper is an energetic happy boy. We love his crooked smile! He is very social with everyone he meets and especially loves the teenagers in his foster home. He enjoys being inside hanging out with the family. Cooper does very well with the other dog in his foster home. He loves to play with them. He enjoys playing with toys! If accepted, you will hear from us within 72 hours. You will have the opportunity to ask questions before you meet the pet; an adoption may or may not happen at that time. We do adopt outside the Yakima area IF you are able to come to Yakima to pick up your adopted pet. We do not have a kennel facility; all of our pets are in foster homes. Therefore, meets and adoptions take place at either our office or at a place chosen by the foster. If a pet has 'pending' beside its name, an adoption is imminent. Please fill out an application anyway because adoptions don't always go through. Your application will be kept on file for 30 days in case you find another pet you'd like to apply for. Thanks for thinking adoption and Good Luck! Douglas is basically a large 58 pound puppy. He has a lot of energy but needs an adopter give him an outlet and help him focus on some basic training. Douglas loves to get attention and will bond well with some socialization. Please do your breed research before applying to adopt Douglas. German Shepherds and GSD mixes are a special breed of dog with special requirements. These dogs are incredibly smart and need to be challenged both physically and mentally to really be happy. The German Shepherd is known to be vocal when excited and can be a bit mouthy at times, proper training is key in helping your German Shepherd adjust to their new life. German Shepherds are a fun, athletic breed that many have fallen in love with over the years, but please keep their breed needs in mind when considering adding one to your household. If you recognize this animal please contact the adoption center at .If you are interested in adopting this pet please fill out an adoption questionnaire at www. A Yakima Humane Society staff member will contact you once your questionnaire has been received. Adopters are welcome to visit the adoption center Monday-Saturday. A Picture says words.The Yakima Humane Society is an open admission shelter. What does this mean? Adding a pet to your family is a big responsibility. Please research carefully and remember that adoption is life saving.

Gap in birth The overall Labrador gestation period is from 58 to 64 days. You will notice when your Labrador is ready to give birth by watching for common signs such as a lack of appetite and a rigid abdomen. You might find them crying; it may be due to the labor pain. How many puppies does a Labrador have in their first litter? After their first litter, they will have on average between 6 to 10 puppies. Labrador Litter Size The average Lab litter size can range between 1 to 12 puppies depending on the health, age, and size of the dog. The size of a litter is different for different breeds; large breeds give birth to more puppies than small ones. Litter size depends on the size, diet, and age of the Labrador, the litter size may increase or decrease. You should also know about the Labrador heat cycle. The biggest litter recorded in the Labrador breed was the birth of 14 puppies. What factors affect the litter size in Labradors? Litter size is not a fixed thing, but it changes depending on different factors. The very first litter of the female Labrador is mostly tiny as compared to the other litter. If the female is under 7 years, there are chances of a small litter. While on the other hand, sometimes breeding Labrador before 5 years can result in a large litter size in puppies. Even labs that give birth between 2 to 5 years of age get large litters. Older Labradors produce less sperm than young male labs; this may affect the litter size in terms of puppies. However, the male Labrador that is 5 years old has an abundance of quality sperm, which contributes to a healthy and large litter. This is why it is highly recommended to allow breeding when both the male and female Labradors are 5 years old. The health of the Labradors Health plays an important role when it comes to litter size. In short, both of the Labradors should be healthy in order to maximize the overall number of puppies. As a dog parent, if you want your female lab to give birth to the maximum amount of puppies. Providing the best quality supplements to both male and female Labradors is really going to help in increasing litter size. Diet A female Labrador with a poor diet is never going to give birth to the required number of puppies. If you expect a large litter size from your Labrador, you should first provide her with the best quality food throughout the year, not just in the breeding season. Providing the best quality and suitable quantity of food is going to improve the fertility of your female Labrador. We are not talking about providing a bunch of supplements but a balanced diet to produce a large litter. Gene pool As mentioned above, it is not all about the female Labrador. Still, male Labradors somehow plays a role in litter size. Fertility is the only factor that is affected by the gene pool. Other than this, traits are primarily hereditary. Sometimes, the color, size, and eye colors are not affected by the gene pool, but all of these are hereditary. Gap in birth Last but not least, the gap between the birth seasons also affects the litter size of the female Labrador. You cannot expect the same large litter two years later. Consult a vet when you are planning to breed your Labrador. As such, they are recognized experts in facts and figures for many breeds of dogs. According to their data, most labrador litters contain between five and ten puppies, with the average being seven. In comparison to all dog breeds, Labradors are right in the middle. The average size of a litter of puppies, in general, is five or six dogs. The largest known litter of labradors ever recorded was 14 puppies , born to a black labrador in the United Kingdom in .Labradors are huge fans of babies as they age. Active families love a Lab! In short, probably not. Your vet can confirm pregnancy, give an estimate of how far along the pregnancy is, and give you an approximate due date. Humans and canines alike know the excitement of a first pregnancy. When it comes to labradors, this can also impact the size of the litter. Biological and evolutionary factors come into play and make first litters smaller. Expect one or two additional puppies from her first two. After the fourth pregnancy, the litter size tends to taper off. In addition to whether or not it is her first litter, the age of the mother labrador also affects the size of the litter. Generally speaking, the older the mother, the smaller the litter size. This fact is a little confusing, though, when you also consider that first litters are smaller. It means that a 3-year-old labrador will have larger litters than a 5- or 6-year-old labrador. So, if two female labradors have their third litter at ages four and six, the four-year-old labrador is likely to have the larger litter of the two. How Old is Dad? Believe it or not, the age of the father of the puppies can also impact the size of the litter. This is because of the viability of his sperm. When a female dog is in heat, her ovaries release several eggs that are ready for fertilization. However, if the male dog is older, his sperm tends to be less vigorous, meaning fewer will reach the eggs, and therefore fewer eggs will be fertilized, resulting in smaller litter size. A Labrador lounges on his dog bed Natural versus Artificial Insemination How did the mother dog become pregnant? Many labrador breeders and breeders for other types of dogs, as well prefer artificial insemination. It also takes the social interactions of the two dogs out of the equation. Some dog handlers and breeders hesitate to put their mama dogs in such a sensitive and potentially unpredictable situation. The bad news is that, while artificial insemination seems to be the more controlled and safe option, it usually yields fewer puppies. Of course, the breed of the dog is a significant factor in genetics. Does the Size of the Mom Matter? Not really. If you have a mom who is part labrador herself or is a purebred labrador but has puppies with another breed, some of these numbers and averages change. If your pregnant pooch is only part labrador, the size of her litter will also depend on what other breeds she contains. The general rule of thumb is that the larger the breed, the larger the litter. If your lab is a part German shepherd , expect a somewhat bigger litter. The breed of the father matters less, though. The breed of the father has more to do with the size of each individual puppy. Fun fact: the largest known litter of puppies ever recorded is a whopping .Unsurprisingly, the 15 male and nine female puppies were born to a Neopolitan Mastiff in , one of the most giant breeds around. Do Labs like water? Healthy dogs tend to produce larger litters. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. First things first, how many pups can you expect? The average litter size for a Labrador Retriever is typically between 5 and 10 puppies. The largest recorded lab litter is 15 pups, but anything above 10 is generally very rare. Still, even 10 is a lot. Many lab owners never see a pup litter, however, because the first litter of any dog tends to be on the smaller size. The first litter of any dog will be in the 1 to 5 range rather than 5 to .A larger first litter is still possible, of course, but it is unlikely. As for single-pup pregnancies — many are under the illusion that these are incredibly rare. They are not. Granted, pup first-time pregnancies are more common, but 1-pup births are certainly more common than pup ones. On the other hand, if you just want to have a couple of pups from your dog before you spay her, the fact that the first litters are smaller is perfect for that. Typically, no, but there may be some issues to watch out for. Especially for younger dogs read — just under one year , one-pup pregnancies can even be viewed as common. However, it is wise to consult with your vet before the pregnancy or in the early days. If this happens, a C-section will be necessary to get the pup out. Another common issue that also necessitates a C-section is that singleton puppies are often larger than normal. This is quite understandable given that a single pup tends to get more nutrients and more space to grow in the womb. Hence — the C-section. Your vet will brief you on everything you need to have prepared, of course. A 5 to 10 average litter size is on the bigger side of things in the canine world. This is normal for a large breed, however. Bigger dogs tend to have larger litters than smaller ones for obvious reasons. Of course, you should consult with your vet ahead of time to make sure that your dog is healthy. But, generally, your lab should go through the pregnancy without a hitch. The birth itself can be stressful, of course, so you need to be prepared for that. The gestation period for Labradors is on par with other breeds — anywhere between 57 and 65 days with an average of about 63 days. In other words — the gestation period should be 2 months, take or leave a few days. Do keep in mind that pregnancy can remain completely unnoticed for weeks, however. The sacs will start getting noticeably big between the 21st and the 35th day of the pregnancy, which is one of the main signs. A lab can typically get pregnant right after its first heat or around her 8th month. It is recommended to wait for one or two heat cycles to pass before you try breeding your dog, however. There are a few common pregnancy complications in all dog breeds, however:. In this article How to determine your Labrador's litter size As we've said, the number of puppies inside a Labrador's belly varies greatly. Your pet can have anywhere from one to over twelve puppies. The average litter size is five to ten, but it is heavily influenced by several factors more on that later. Your veterinarian can actually help you find out exactly how many puppies there are inside a Lab's uterus. They can take X-rays of the pregnant female and count the skeletons of pups in her belly. This is an acceptable way to determine litter size in dogs. You have to wait until six weeks of pregnancy for puppies' skeletal system to develop. Ultrasound scans and abdominal palpation are other ways to estimate litter size. What is the average litter size for Labs? In , a comprehensive study was performed to answer the question of litter size in dogs. The researchers analyzed breeds and more than 10, litters, and they calculated the average litter size to be 5. However, there was a clear difference between miniature and large breeds. The former only had 3. The above research is for all dog breeds. But the AKC analyzed over 85, Labrador litters to conclude that Labs have a typical range of five to ten puppies, with an average of 7. So we can safely say that Labradors, being a large breed, will likely have a larger litter size. Though cases of producing just a puppy or two are not unheard of. Overall, if you have a pregnant Lab mother, expect her to give birth to about half a dozen babies. The biggest Labrador litter on record Now you know how many puppies to expect when your Lab gets pregnant. And you're probably wondering, "But what's the maximum they can pop out? Back in , when a black Scottish Labrador named Anne was pregnant, the vet predicted that she would have three to six puppies. Little did they know, the proud mama kept popping out babies one after the other until there were 15 of them! A more recent case was reported a few months back in April .Here, A Labrador called Bella produced 14 fur babies, just one shy of the record set in .The labor lasted for seven hours, and Bella gave birth to eight black and six yellow Labs. Fun fact: Anne's 15 kids are a lot, but the Guinness World Record for most puppies is set by Tia, a Neapolitan mastiff. She gave birth to 24 puppies in November .Of course, she couldn't do it all by herself and had to take the help of a Cesarean section. Factors affecting Labrador litter size Many variables influence how many puppies Labradors have. In this section, we'll talk about some of the crucial ones. But several other factors such as breeding management, reproductive history, and season also play a role. Even the environment she lives in affects her well-being and, consequently, the health and number of her babies. Much of the information here is sourced from an article published by Dr. Bretaigne Jones for Royal Canin. Age Labradors usually remain fertile for their entire lives. However, as you might imagine, their litter size decreases as they get older. As a general rule, Labs are most fertile between the ages of two to five. However, regardless of her age, a dog's first litter is usually smaller than the future ones. After the first one, the number of puppies increases with every litter, through the fourth litter. Then, it starts declining steadily. A Labrador will have her first heat cycle anytime after she's six months old. But you should never breed a Lab during her first heat cycle, as she's relatively young at this point. Imposing the stress of pregnancy and lactation can have adverse effects on the mother's mental health. Just like very old females, too young mothers also produce smaller litters. This is why the AKC recommends waiting for the third heat cycle, which means not breeding until the female Lab is months old. Lastly, the male Lab's age also affects the litter size. But the influence is much less than the female's age. As a male Lab gets older, his sperm count and quality decrease. He will produce larger litters under the age of five. Breed Size We've already discussed that smaller breeds tend to produce fewer puppies, and larger breeds have a bigger litter size. This trend is seen even within the same breed. A Labrador weighing 45 pounds 20 kg may only produce five or six babies, while a pound 32 kg Lab may give birth to a litter of ten puppies or more. Again, these are only generalizations based on the data available about Labrador puppies, which means there will be exceptions. You can have a relatively small Lab giving birth to nine or ten pups every litter. Health and Nutrition This one is a no-brainer. If your Lab is happy and healthy, she'll give birth to more puppies, and the babies born will be healthier as well. The mother needs to be in perfect health so that she and her pups survive the birthing and whelping process. Not only the female but the male Lab should also be healthy if you want to avoid complications. Nutrition is crucial for your Labs throughout their entire lives. And when it comes to breeding, diet directly affects the litter size. Both male and female Labs will produce healthier and larger litters if they've been fed a high-quality diet. Check out my Recommended Products for foods that I recommend, including custom fresh food solutions. Gene Pool Diversity Breeding two dogs from diverse genetic backgrounds results in bigger litters. Similarly, the smaller the gene pool is, the fewer puppies your Lab will have. Gene pool is smaller when closely related dogs brothers and sisters, fathers and daughters, etc. The more dogs are bred from the same line, the smaller the litter will be. This process of mating such dogs is known as inbreeding. We can measure the gene pool diversity using the coefficient of inbreeding, a numerical value ranging from zero not inbred at all to one completely inbred. Other Factors to Consider Apart from the things we discussed, litter size is also affected by: Type of breeding: Natural breeding results in more puppies than artificial insemination AI. Using AI can decrease the litter size by as much as 15 percent. Season: Usually, if a Lab gives birth in spring, she produces more puppies. But if the breeding takes place in summer, the litter size is smaller. Mating frequency: Litter size is smaller if the female is bred only once. So it's recommended to mate the Labs every other day until the female refuses to mate. What can you do to increase litter size in Labradors? While litter size is mostly out of our control, optimal conditions can increase how many puppies Labradors have. The first thing you should do is feed your Labs a healthy diet throughout their lives. There's no reason to spend extra money on grain-free food because dogs' evolution has given them the ability to digest grains easily. Just make sure you're feeding them one of the high-quality kibbles available in the market. Apart from a healthy diet, you should also give her enough playtime and exercise to maintain her ideal body weight. For female Labradors, it's lbs. Pregnancy drains the mother's body of protein, vitamins, minerals, and energy. You need to satisfy her dietary needs with food rich in fats and carbohydrates. Feeding a low-carb diet during pregnancy leads to increased fetal death and stillbirths. Consult your vet and make sure her diet includes enough vitamins, amino acids, minerals, omega-3 acids, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. As the mother nears the last three weeks of pregnancy, her dietary needs will increase significantly. This is because the embryonic puppies gain 75 percent of their body weight during this period. Depending on the litter size, she may need one and a half to two times her typical requirement for these few weeks. Control inbreeding risk Another thing you control is the coefficient of inbreeding. We've seen that mating closely related Labs results in decreased litter size. So it's the breeder's responsibility to choose suitable Labradors to pair. It would be best if the male and female Lab's last three ancestors are unrelated. Lastly, you can give your Lab lots of love and attention. She's going through a challenging period, and it's up to you to support her. Doing this doesn't directly increase the litter size, but it keeps the mother happy and enhances her well-being. So go and scratch her behind the ears! The One-Half Rule This is a general rule that's usually followed by all mammals. It states that a mother will produce half as many babies as there are nipples on her. Sounds interesting, right? Statistics back this rule. Most female dogs have eight to ten nipples, and as we've seen, the average litter size is 5. Humans, of course, have two. Most mothers give birth to one child at a time, but they may also produce twins occasionally. While it does happen, having more than two babies is rare among humans because nature tries to ensure enough nutrition and nourishment for all the babies. Now don't start counting your Lab's nipples! This is simply a statistical correlation; it's not a method you can use to predict litter size. The best way to determine litter size is to take your Lab to the vet. How often do Labradors produce puppies? As we've discussed, female dogs can go into heat anytime after they're six months old. After the first heat cycle, they will typically go into heat twice a year, which means they can produce puppies every six months. However, many breeders and veterinarians advise against breeding continuously. They contend that it's hard on the mother's body and decreases the litter size. Accordingly, they allow their female Lab to breed every other heat cycle, which means the mother will give birth to one litter per year. Others, including one I spoke with on the issue, contend that breeding back to back has physiological benefits for mothers, citing commentary from Dr. Robert Van Hutchinson, a well renowned veterinarian and reproduction specialist. In an online reproduction seminar , Dr. Hutchinson explained that the female's progesterone levels remain elevated for 60 days during ovulation - regardless of pregnancy. This causes severe stress to the uterine lining, and can lead to long term health issues. Therefore, skipping seasons prolongs this activity as opposed to breeding season after season and retiring the mother early. How many puppies Labs have in their lifetime As we've discussed, a Lab goes into heat twice every year, which means she can give birth to a litter every six months. Suppose a female starts breeding when she's two years old and continues doing so until she's eight. In that case, she would produce 13 litters over her lifetime. We've also seen that the average number of pups a Labrador produces is 7. We know that litter size is affected by several factors and does not stay the same throughout the years. But for argument's sake, let's say our female Lab continues to give birth to seven kids during every heat cycle. So theoretically, a Labrador can give birth to over 90 puppies in her lifetime. How long are Labradors pregnant? When measured from the date of ovulation, gestation lasts for days. Since it's difficult to determine the date of ovulation, you cannot know precisely how long your Lab will be pregnant. This is because male sperm can live for 10 to 11 days in the uterine tubes of the female dog. However, for the most part, you should expect your Lab's gestation period to last for two months, or maybe slightly longer. Signs of pregnancy in a Labrador As we've discussed, Labs' gestation period is only about two months. So you don't have a lot of time to notice and interpret the signs. Many pet owners are shocked to find their Lab pregnant in the final days of her pregnancy. Below are some signs of pregnancy in Labradors. If you start to notice them in your female dog, it could be that she's about to give birth to little fur babies. Your dog becomes exhausted quickly or spends more time sleeping Loss of appetite early stages or increased appetite later stages She becomes more affectionate, seeking extra attention, and wanting to stay beside you Appearing lethargic or depressed and just want to be left alone all the time There's mucus discharge from her vulva occurs about a month after mating Her nipples' size or color changes happens about a month after mating Her abdomen size increases noticeable after 40 days She gains weight starts happening around day 35 Of course, the best way to determine whether your Lab is pregnant is to take her to a vet. They will perform one of several diagnostic tests to determine if she will become a mother. Abdominal palpation, ultrasound scan, witness relaxing test, and X-rays are the most common ways to check pregnancy. Final thoughts Breeding Labradors isn't an easy task. You have to invest time and effort to take care of the mother and her puppies properly. Labs usually have five to ten babies per litter, and the average litter size seems to be 7. Factors like the mother's age, health, diet, and the coefficient of inbreeding affect how many puppies Labradors have. We can also influence the litter size to some extent by making sure the female Lab is healthy and by selecting unrelated dogs for mating. Many breeders mate their Labradors every other heat cycle once a year ; others believe back-to-back breeding to be most effective. Compared to other breeds of dogs, labs are somewhere in the middle. The size of a litter may vary based on factors such as medical condition, physical fitness, health, nutritional intake, and genetic variation. Incredible, huh? We will also discuss the 1st-ever large Labrador litter. Labrador puppies are generally born between 58 and 64 days after being conceived. There is an interesting relationship between pup count and the time to expect your labrador to be pregnant-free. One of the reasons for this is that there is not enough space and not enough sustenance to sustain the baby. In addition, it is not necessary for you to take your lady labrador to the veterinarian in order to deliver her since this can be adept without having to leave your home under the appropriate circumstances and precautions. It is simply a matter of offering some privacy and relief to the expectant mother. In any case, if you see the dog behaving strangely, it is a sign of the fact that the puppies are waiting to be born. Different breeds have different litter sizes, and dogs of large breeds have a tendency to breed more babies in comparison to dogs of small breeds. In addition to different breeds, there can also be differences between similar breeds of dogs. When it comes to Labradors, their first litter usually consists of 7 puppies. On the other hand, it is also important to note that other factors may come into play during this process, which may affect how many puppies your lab lady produces in her 1st litter. Even at the first litter, older labradors are capable of having up to 14 puppies. First pregnancies are always exciting both for humans and canines. However, in the case of labradors, the litter size affected as well. Interestingly enough, if this is the 1st litter of puppies for the female dog, chances are fewer puppies will be born. What is the reason? Because a newly pregnant mother has a smaller uterus, the body still has to adjust for pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Heredity and evolution play a role in the small size of the first litter. Generally, female labradors have the biggest pregnancies during their third and fourth pregnancies. From her first two pregnancies, two to three more puppies aexpected. However, as she reaches her fourth pregnancy, fewer puppies expected. In light of the above, it is important to note that the majority of vets advise against breeding dogs beyond the fourth time. Labrador parents and the dog centers should be happy to hear that there are a number of factors that contribute to the larger litters. To get the best labrador puppies, your best strategy involves paying close attention to the dietary needs, well-being, and physical activity of both DAM and SIRE. The Health Factor Litter size influenced by health in many ways, so health is the key factor here. Simply put, it is necessary for both female and male labradors to be in good health with the goal of producing the largest litter of puppies possible. When it comes to pet parents, to have the most puppies possible from your female lab, you should pay attention to her health. As no unhealthy labrador female can carry large litters. There is an important distinction to be made about the fact that health is what is being discussed, and this does not necessarily imply a labrador is obese. Before you breed your labradors, you should consider how slim or overweight they are. Supplementing the male as well as female Labrador with the best nutrition is key to increasing litter size. When compared to the litters of other breeds, the 1st litter of a female lab is usually small. The likelihood of a small litter is high if the bitch is under seven years old. However, it does not influence the size of a litter exclusively, in which case miracles can occur, such as the lab producing a larger litter at an early age. Young labradors must used for breeding because aged dogs will not release as much sperm and it will somehow affect the size of the litter. Labrador sperm count is high in the male of 5 years old, indicating that the litter will be healthy and large. It is therefore very important that breeding takes place at about the age of 5 years old for both male and female labradors. Genetic pool plays no role in litter size since only fertility affected. Aside from fertility, characteristics are primarily handed down from generation to generation. There are times when you will notice, such as with purebreds, that their eye color or size is not influenced by their genetic makeup, but these traits are inherited. Diet Matters Happiness can never achieved through a bad diet. Everyone knows this. Having a poor diet will prevent a female labrador from giving birth to as many puppies as she should. To ensure that your female labrador has a large litter size, it is essential that she is provided with a high-quality diet all year long and not just when breeding season arrives. Providing your female labrador with a high-quality and appropriate amount of nutrition will surely increase the furtiveness of your female labrador. Besides providing her with a nutritious diet, make sure she gets plenty of physical activity and proper exercise to stay in shape. When it comes to the female labs, they weigh between 55 and 70 pounds which is equivalent to 25 — 32 kilograms. Remember — Supplements is not the solution here and generally not recommended; a diet with a variety of nutrients is. Best Food For Pregnant Labradors In recent years, we have learned that pregnant labradors need high protein diets in order to be healthy. The nutritional needs of pregnant dogs are similar to those of pregnant women. In addition, they need certain vitamins and minerals in their diet. In light of this, we need to learn which is the most appropriate high-protein food for pregnant labradors. You can quickly become overwhelmed with all the choices you have when it comes to buying dog food for your lady labrador. The best dog foods for pregnant labradors compiled for your convenience. A litter from 2 years ago, for example, would not be the same size. Prior to pursuing a breeding session with your labradors, you should consult with a veterinarian. Keeping the proper gap between the two will not cause the litter size to decrease. However, having consecutive pregnancies will reduce the litter size. Other Considerations On top of the factors discussed previously, there are other factors that impact litter size: Mate Rate — According to the majority of the people, if a female only mates once, she will have a smaller litter. We recommend allowing them to mate every couple of days if they are necessary, but you must stop when the female refuses to mate. If you do not stop a female labrador when she refuses to mate, you will put him under a great deal of stress, prohibiting him from having successful breeding. Season — Most commonly, Spring is the most common seasonal time for a labrador to give birth, during which she gives birth to a large litter. However, when breeding occurs in the summer, smaller litters are born. Breeding type — It is generally acknowledged that naturally bred animals deliver more puppies than artificially bred ones. One-Half Rule All mammalian species tend to follow the same underlying rule. According to the rule, the number of babies a female gives birth to is equal to the number of nipples on her body. There is some evidence to support this rule. Typically, a female dog has between 8 to 10 nipples, which explains why litter size is typically 7. Two of them, of course, found in humans. It is common for mothers to have a single baby at a time, but twins can also be born. Although it is not unheard of, having three or more children in the same body is extremely rare as nature ensures sufficient care and nutrition for every child. These results are merely correlational. If you want to know the size of your litter, make an appointment with the veterinarian. Labradors belong to the large breed category, which means that they mature between 18 and 24 months. Which means that breeding should avoided up until her 3rd heat cycle and approximately two years of age. Pregnancy Symptoms In Labradors Labs only take about two months to gestate. The vast majority of pet parents are surprised when they discover their lab lady pregnant in the final days before the delivery. Your lady labrador may exhibit these signs as she prepares to give birth to a litter of puppies. In this case, your veterinarian can assist you. A pregnant female can be x-rayed to see how many pups are in her belly. Puppies with skeletons are seen during this process. Other methods to estimate the litter size include the following: Ultrasound scans Abdominal palpation. Mama Labrador Ready To Give Birth: How To Help Female Labrador giving birth is an incredible, exhilarating, and sometimes breathtaking experience you will surely remember for the rest of your life. Below are a few suggestions. Before you assist your labrador in giving birth, consult your veterinarian and gather the necessary supplies. It is important to make sure that your dog has an appropriate environment, preferably a litter box so that she has space to explore, but also to be aware of her needs. Some may be surprised to learn that labs are very capable of self-sustaining during the birthing process, as are many other breeds. Understanding when to provide assistance and when to let her handle things independently is an essential part of the process. The vet should be kept on hold for emergency purposes. Gather essential supplies such as cleaning towels, blankets, heating pads, gloves, and sterilized scissors. Maintain a clean and comfortable environment that is conducive enough to deliver puppies. She will need to be calmed because she will soon be in a lot of pain crying for help. Due to her heat cycle, labradors have heat cycles twice a year, allowing them to give birth every 6 months. If so, her lifetime litter count would be .Labrador puppies usually have six to seven pups on average. In fact, litter size changes throughout the year depending on a variety of factors. As a hypothetical case, assume the lab lady continuously delivers seven kids during every heat cycle. Consequently, female labradors are capable of bearing 90 puppies in their lifetime. No, the dates of their birth are the same, but the times are different. There is usually a minute interval between puppies. But it is possible for the mama dog to rest for as long as 4 hrs between puppies. Post navigation. But what if you have a Lab that has recently given birth to only 2 puppies? Is that normal for Labradors, or should it be a cause for concern? The larger the breed, the more likely the litter will be bigger, but a healthy Lab can also have a small litter. The rest of this article will go into Labrador litter sizes in greater detail. Keep reading to learn more about this exciting subject! The breed of the mother is another factor to consider. Make sure to keep your puppies warm during the first few weeks. If the mother has previously had larger litters, she may be confused or distressed due to having such a small litter this time around. You should also stay close to her if she seems highly distressed. Littermates Are Important for Puppy Development During the first few weeks of life, puppies learn basic social skills by playing and play-biting each other. The mother will scold puppies for being too aggressive and teach them manners. Feeding your Lab a healthy diet will also increase the chances of a big litter. After seven years old, having a small litter becomes more common in Labradors and all dogs. Although it may not seem like it, keeping your Labrador healthy and active will also increase its chances of having many puppies. A healthy Labrador will have a more muscular body, so carrying a big litter will be easier. Litter Size Occurs Naturally You can do certain things to make it more likely for your Labrador to have a bigger litter, but it may not always work. Or she may be too young or too old! Many small dog breeds are likely to have small litters, such as Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Dachshunds, and Yorkshire terriers. Typically, Labs will always have many more puppies than a Pomeranian. Jack Russels, for example, are a small breed, but their average litter size is six. Six is a big number, considering how tiny Jack Russels are! A healthy Labrador between 2 and 5 years old has the best chance of having a big litter. Smaller litters need extra help to stay warm due to the lack of warmth from littermates.

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Heather Orth 2 min read How to leash train your golden retriever? Golden Retrievers are very intelligent and considered easy dogs to train! By nature, they are a people-pleasing breed and with some motivation and understanding of their personality, you will be able to train your dog well. In this blog, we will talk about everything you need to know regarding your dog's leash training. Leash training includes your puppy of course, but it actually starts with your mindset and your initiative. Here is a list of tips that will help you Leash Train your dog: 1. While getting your dog leashed, it is important to ensure that you stay calm and comfort your dog while leashing them up! Through this, you will gain your puppy will gain confidence and will feel secure as they get used to being on a lead. When you take your puppy out for a walk, they will want to interact with the other dogs and they will be excited to take in all the smells, from bushes to trees to anything on the side of the path. Instead, when you see them getting ready to bolt in a direction you do not want them to go, simply hold still while holding the leash. Through this gesture, the dog will understand that they are not going in the right direction and with repetition, it will begin to follow your lead. Walk Often As much as possible, make walks a regular part of your daily routine. Go on a walk with your retriever once or twice a day. Going on a walk for at least 20 to 30 minutes is recommended once or twice a day. Through this, your dog will be able to get comfortable with the leash, and you will be able to create a good bond with your furry friend! If you are interested in getting an English Cream Golden Retrieve, we would encourage you to check out our website at Sweet Cream Goldens. We have healthy, family-friendly White golden retrievers who are ready to go to their new forever family! Visit our website at www. Golden retrievers are friendly, happy dogs, who want to greet and play with everyone they meet out walking. This leads to leash pulling, and it can happen in puppies as well as adult dogs. It can start to feel like there is nothing you can do to stop your dog from pulling at the leash, except go along with it, or reduce the number of walks. We're here to help. Let's look at some tips to stop your golden retriever from pulling at his leash. Train Them Young When you get a puppy, you should start leash training right away. Many people make the mistake of not doing so, but the sooner good leash manners are instilled in your little Golden, the better. Even if he is just 8 weeks old. Far better to start with a puppy than a 60 pound growing dog. Have the Right Tools With any task that you do, things will be easier if you have the right tools and this is no different. If your golden retriever is still learning how to walk, it is best to not use a retractable leash. If you use a retractable leash, your golden cannot learn what distance he can go that is within his accepted boundaries. It is much better to use a fixed length leash. Another good alternative is our Sierra Dog Leash. A front lead harness like our Adventure Harness , Sports Harness or Urban Harness can also be helpful because as your dog starts pulling, a front lead harness will gently redirect his force to the side, so that he cannot go where he wants to go. He will soon learn that pulling doesn't get him to where he wants to go. A harness and leash aren't magically going to make your dog not pull, but the right tools will go a long way to helping you train your golden retriever. Teach Self Control Golden retrievers have a lot of energy, and have to be taught self control. Knowing and obeying commands will help your dog stay calm and cool while out on a walk. Starting with basic commands like, sit, stay, go to bed, etc, are all good ways for you to work with your puppy on self control. Don't Play Tug With The Leash If your dog is in the habit of pulling on the leash, it is very important to not pull back. Big dogs like golden retrievers tend to respond to pressure on their leashes with even more pressure, leading to a tug of war between you and your dog. That's taking a bad habit and making it worse. Instead, stop and wait until your dog comes back to your side, or call him back by name. Don't reel him in, but keep the leash slack and relaxed and wait for him to come. Reward Correct Position Rewarding your dog for good behavior is important. Whenever your golden retriever is walking calmly by your side with a loose leash, make sure to reward him. Turning it into a game, something golden retrievers love, will make it a fun learning process for him. Rewarding him with his favorite treats, toys or praise, whatever he likes, will ensure that he repeats the good behavior. Golden retrievers tend to get more excited than most other breeds. Try tiring your dog out before taking him for a walk. You might find that it makes a difference. Easy ways to do this is to play fetch with them, or make them chase their favorite toys. Sometimes, your dog might even be too tired to go for a walk. Keep in mind that your dog may become overly tired with the walking and the learning, so be sure to keep the sessions short and fun. Dogs will repeat behavior that gets reinforced, so it's important to ensure that your golden retriever is not being rewarded for pulling on his leash. For example, if he pulls on the leash because he wants to sniff at a bush or greet a person on the street, and you let him do it, then he will continue to pull. You have just reinforced his bad behavior. So if you feel your golden retriever pulling you in one direction, you need to plant your feet and not move, until he returns to you. If your dog is very strong, you can start walking in the opposite direction. As soon as he is walking next to you calmly, you can turn around and go in the direction he wants. Dogs are smart creatures, and golden retrievers are no exception. They are quick learners, and eager to please you. The tips in this article, coupled with patience and determination, not to mention treats, will help you train your golden retriever not to pull and make your walks enjoyable for the both of you. Related Products. However, this is not the case at all. Dogs especially golden retrievers need to be taught how to walk on a leash without pulling. The video is embedded at the bottom of this post and will give you some good visual aids for the steps outlined in this article. The biggest reason is that they have not been taught not to! They love life and are very curious, so when they see a new sight, or smell a new smell, they get excited and want to go explore it. She sees a leaf blow by and wants to go check it out so she pulls towards it. And this is how puppies learn to pull on a leash. Set Your Golden Up For Success With Loose Leash Walking Alright now that your dog is comfortable with wearing a harness with a leash attached, the next step is to start teaching loose leash walking! But before you start it, you need to set them up for success. Playing tug or fetch before you train will help take the edge off and make walking on a leash without pulling a lot easier. Another tip for setting them up for success is to work on loose leash walking in an area with minimal distractions. Start in the house, and then when they can pay attention to you and not pull in the house, go outside in the back yard or right in front of the house. Slowly work towards more and more distracting environments, until they can pay attention to you and not pull on the leash anywhere. This works for three reasons: It rewards them for good behavior before they can start pulling It brings and keeps them close to you as they come to get the treat It encourages them to continue this good behavior If you have a young puppy who rarely walks well on a leash, proactively mark and reward them often for walking well. But once they look away from the distraction, reward and praise them heavily for that. Reactive Strategy The reactive strategy is how to handle your dog when they start to pull. Instead, if they start pulling you want to use the stop and go strategy. When they start pulling you stop moving. Once they loosen up on the leash, you can move forward again. In addition to just stopping and going, you can also turn around each time your dog tries to pull in one direction. I was watching a video recently where a trainer tried 32 times to walk outside the door with a dog that loved to pull. It may take you 20 minutes to walk one block or just to even get out of the door , but it will be worth it once your dog learns to walk on a loose leash. You probably had training wheels to get you started, but eventually, you graduated and learned to ride a bike without training wheels. The training wheels were a tool to help you learn to ride a bike and there are also tools to help your pup learn to walk on a leash. This is better than them pulling with the harness clipped in the back where they can really get some power in pulling on the leash or with a flat buckle collar where they can damage their neck or throat. When they stop pulling on the leash with clipped in front, you can start testing out and seeing how they do with a flat buckle collar or with the leash clipped on the back of the body harness. You may need to go back to the basics, like practicing the proactive strategy, or even go into an environment with fewer distractions like inside of your home , but your dog will likely be able to make progress quickly. Sniffing And Walking Dogs have really powerful noses and they love to sniff, so they should be allowed to sniff on a walk. If they try to pull, stand still, and then when they loosen up on the leash come back to you, you can either continue on with the walk or let them continue to sniff. Teaching your golden retriever to walk on a loose leash can take several months to a year or even longer. All dogs are different and it also depends on these two things: How often you work on loose leash walking How consistent you and your family are. For instance, if you never let your pup pull and move forward, but your kid or spouse lets them get away with pulling when they walk them, it will take a lot longer. It requires a lot of patience but it will be worth it once you can go on a relaxing, enjoyable walk with your dog. The walk needs to be enjoyable for both you and your dog, so they should be allowed to relax and sniff as you two are walking, not strictly stick by your side and suppress their natural desire to sniff and explore. Use the stop and go method. They may get used to saying hi to everyone and try to pull every time they see someone. Continued intense pulling could hurt their neck or throat, so consider using a body harness. Conclusion Teaching your golden retriever to walk nicely on a leash may take several months and lots of patience, but you can do it and it will be worth it. Have any questions about teaching your golden retriever to walk on a leash? Let me know in the comments below! Related articles:. Leash training begins not with your dog but with your mindset. Goldens are intelligent, people-pleasing dogs. Begin your leash training — and every walk after that — with a calm mindset, and your dog will follow. The leader goes through the door first, so work on proper door etiquette until your puppy or dog has the right idea. This sets up your walk to succeed from the beginning. If you allow your dog to pull you over to greet the dog across the street or to sniff that really lovely tree, your dog is the winner in this tug of war. Instead, when your dog starts pulling, stand in one spot. Beginning this training with puppies makes stopping easier, but plant your feet even with a full-grown dog. Reward walking correctly Choose a very small type of treat your dog only gets on walks and use this to reinforce good behavior. Every so often as your dog walks correctly, praise your golden and dish out a treat. Eventually, wean your dog off the treats but always praise good behavior. Goldens respond really well to this type of verbal confirmation. Walk often Make walks a regular part of your routine. At least once a day, preferably twice, walk your dog for a period of 15 to 30 minutes. This routine is a huge part of keeping your golden leash trained for walks. Put it in your calendar or set a reminder on your phone — whatever it takes to get outside. Remember to always use positive reinforcement. Yelling or other punishment types of motivation could backfire. Your golden may end up with more energy or fear of walking. Step 1: Put the leash on your golden while in the house. If your golden is afraid of the leash, reward him with treats when he allows you to put it on him. Step 2: While inside, walk back and forth with your dog, stopping when he pulls on the leash. This method begins to teach your golden what to expect. Her guardians set up a dog obedience training session with us for leash training to help Sunshine stop pulling on the leash, as well as counterconditioning with the cats and basic dog obedience training. When I arrived at the house, Sunshine was sleeping in the living room and did not come to greet me until her name was called. Once she came over to me, she started to jump up but quickly settled back down. The more times you use a command the less likely your dog is to listen. As a dog behaviorist I have learned that desensitization is a bad habit many dog guardians pick up unintentionally. Repeating a word or command that your dog is not responding to you is almost a textbook definition of desensitization. Dogs eat in the order of their rank, so simply by having the guardians eat before them it helps the dog develop self control and see the humans as having more rank or authority. Like all dogs, Sunshine needs plenty of exercise. The guardians had used a retractable leash, which allows Sunshine a lot of freedom. But if you have a dog that is not well behaved on the leash this additional amount of freedom can contribute to the problem. This same principal applies to your dog walking on the leash. I introduced a martingale collar with a straight leash to do some leash training with Sunshine. You can see pick up some free dog training tips to get your dog to stop pulling on the leash in the video below. As you can see in the video, Sunshine needed some initial corrections to help her learn how to be successful at loose leash walking. The goal of this exercise is to have Sunshine comfortably walking next to her guardian without pulling on the leash. We call this a structured walk. A dog training tip for high energy dogs; take them out with a ten minute game of fetch in your backyard before your walk. This lets you help your dog burn off excess energy, which puts them in a position to succeed and makes it easy for them to pay attention to you when you are on the walk. Just make sure to give your dog a ten minute recovery period inside before you go on your walk. During the session we discussed a number of positive dog training methods, such as always using treats to reward your dog for good behavior. For many dogs, including Sunshine, food is a strong motivator and is a great way to accomplish new skills and reward good dog behavior. By adding structured feeding, plenty of exercise, Petting with a Purpose and prating the other techniques we covered during the session Sunshine can continue her good behavior. Share this:. Read the full disclosure here. Use the methods described in this article to start teaching your puppy good leash-walking habits from the start. Do you do any of the things below? How so? It teaches your dog that the more they pull, the further the leash goes, so the instinct to pull becomes ingrained as a habit. If you do use a retractable leash, switch it out to a regular leash and donate your retractable one to your local animal shelter. Dogs, especially larger breeds such as Golden Retrievers, tend to respond to pressure on the leash with even more pressure. Instead, if your dog pulls on the leash, stop on the spot and wait until they come back to stand by your side. Keep the leash slack and relaxed, and wait for your pooch to make the move literally back to you. You can see how this creates a cycle of heavy pulling and really affects your leadership role. Actually, the trick — as you may already suspect — is just the same as it is with any other type of training: It takes patience, repetition and rewarding of good behavior to get good results. Consistency will pay off for you here. Your dog needs to understand that pulling never gets them what they want. Instead, try the below methods before you head off to the pet store to plunk down hard cash on anti-pulling products. Look At Walks As Training Sessions, Not Just Exercise Every time you take your dog out for a walk on a leash is another great opportunity for you to teach them better manners. But as with all training, your golden retriever and you may quickly become over tired, so be sure to keep these training sessions short, frequent and fun. Try tiring out your dog before you go on a walk and see if it makes a difference. In most cases, it will! Play fetch in your backyard and make them chase their toy over and over. Timing praise and rewards right after they do something you like is the absolute best way to communicate what you want and encouragement for your dog to perform the behavior again. Treat them for walking nicely beside you — we have more advice on this in a section below. To train your dog to not get excited before a walk , simply ask for a sit, reach out to clip the leash to the collar…but do not do it until your dog is calmly sitting. If they go ballistic with excitement, stand upright, holding your arms crossed and the leash out of their reach and wait until they calm down. Then try again. If they pick up with exuberant energy again before you finish clipping on the leash on, take the leash away and start over. Only clip the leash on when your dog is completely chill. Head Halters Similar in looks to a muzzle, a head halter is an okay choice for strong breeds such as a Golden Retriever. When a dog wearing a head halter pulls on the leash, the halter forces their head to the side. If you do want to use a head halter, be aware that while puppies do well when started on it early, adult dogs sometimes fight when fitted with a head halter and you should take some measured time to get them used to it over days before heading out on a walk. Harnesses Some harnesses work in the same way as head halters, by turning the dog to the side if they pull. These types of harness have a ring on the front of the chest, not on the back, so the dog is turned unless the leash is loose. Instead, use compassion, understanding and patience to teach your dog how to properly walk on a leash. So we will leave the discussion of these collars right there. The best course of action is to take on board a little of everything written above that can help in the short-term, and to actively use a mix of the following three methods during purposeful, scheduled training sessions to help in the long-term. The essence of the technique is that once your dog reaches the end of the leash and is pulling, you simply stop the walk. Halt completely, dead in your tracks. You then rinse and repeat, only ever walking when the leash is loose, never letting your dog walk ahead pulling and you stop if they do. The theory is that by repeating this technique again and again…and again and again…repeatedly over and over, your dog soon learns that if they pull on the leash, they go nowhere. If the leash is slack, they get to continue on the walk. This method works on the principle that a dog only gets the reward that they want — moving toward where they want to be — if they do what YOU want — Walking on a loose leash. So unless you can truly handle the dog, you may get pulled over. Depending on how much of a puller you have on your hands — or leash — this technique may take time. But it does work, so be patient, practice a few times each day, and stick with it until you see results. When they pull, practice the above, and call them back and ask for a sit before treating them and setting off again. Just be sure to treat randomly, not every single time! But if they do, with no warning, simply stop, turn degrees and walk the other way. You may need a strong arm! As they turn to walk with you, give praise and maybe even a treat as they get beside you — but not in front of you — and then turn once more to go back in the original direction. Repeat this as many times as necessary, until they get the idea and do not pull. You may look a little silly if you practice in a busy park, so find a quiet spot if I were you. This is unpleasant and something they will want to avoid if they can. It teaches your dog that walking ahead and reaching the end of the leash has the opposite effect to what they want to achieve: Moving forward. In fact they end up walking away from where they want to go. It has the effect that it keeps your dog guessing so they have to concentrate on you. When you start to walk your golden retriever, make sure they know you have some treats in your hand by holding them in front of their nose, but in a closed fist so they cannot get them. Set off walking and they will follow close beside you, their nose to your hand with the treat within it. You are luring them to walk nicely beside you. For every few correct steps beside you on a loose leash, tell them how they good they are and pop a little treat in their mouth. Best though is to stop, call them back, ask for a sit and then lure them to walk beside you again with a treat in your hand. After some days of this training a few times per day, do not have the treats in your hand but have some on your person so you can still treat them liberally, but they are choosing to walk beside you, not merely following the treat in your hand. Once they have got the skill down, extend the amount of steps they must take before they get a treat, with the ultimate aim of slowly over days — or likely weeks — having them walk large distances beside you with a treat only every few minutes. Conclusion Pulling on the leash is a very common problem that many dog owners are faced with, particularly those with strong, high energy breeds such as Goldens. Armed with the advice in this article, patience, dedication and compassion, you can leash train your dog to walk beside with impeccable manners. Have any questions or comments about this article? Join the discussion, and share your experience and knowledge in the comments below. Recommended Comprehensive Training Course.

The combination of white and any of those colors above make up for Parti Poodles. Parti Poodles may not be as common as compared to standard Poodles but some of their color combinations are so rare. When Parti Poodles are still young, the blending of their coat colors primary vs. As the dog ages, the coat color on specific areas of its body will be finalized until they reach adulthood. If you try combining two parts poodles, the color combination of the litter would be completely different from each other. The cause of these color variances in this dog is due to the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor MITF gene. Below is some other variance of multi-colored Poodles, each of which has distinctive characteristics which identify one from another. Some of the ones listed below are recognized in some events initiated by AKC. Interestingly, a Poodle with this genetic makeup will consistently pass on one copy of the "sp" allele to all of its offspring, making it a hereditary trait that can be passed down to the next generation. Then, the rest of its body is covered in the secondary color. Mismark poodles are also called by breeders Abstract poodles. Another way to distinguish these two is through their skin color. The skin Mismark poodle, on the other hand, follows the color of its primary coat. Multi-Patterned Poodles Colors These are Poodles having multi-colored coats or more than 1 of the accepted colored color patterns. At present, this type of breed is not yet accepted by American Kennel Clubs. Tuxedo Poodles Think of a Poodle in a tuxedo suit. This is how their coat is patterned giving them that distinctive look. Their special markings may be placed on different parts of their body. You will notice the markings in areas such as their neck, chest, and legs. These are spots or dots one would see on a Poodle's white coat. These posts are black or darker in color and can be regarded as dirt. This is the reason why breeders do not like to use dogs with ticking. The litter could end up with coats looking dirty. Origins of the Poodle According to history, the Poodles came from Germany. Originally used as hunting dogs, Poodles are considered one of the favorite pets these days. Over time, poodles were bred into smaller-sized and distinctive coat coverings. The French royalty even considered it a favored pet. Contrary to popular belief, it is the Parti Poodles that have a rich history. According to an article published by Huxtable the Poodle, Parti Poodles are often depicted in paintings and art during the ss. Even the first ever dog book published in the United States of America has contained information about Parti Poodles. Since most people preferred the Poodle in solid color, breeders would no longer register litters that are two-colored. There is no exact publication supporting where the name came from. There are some write-ups that state that Poodles were bred in the s by French people. The breed had gained a strong following across the European border. Its popularity crossed over the United States and other Asian countries too. The popularity of the Parti Poodle in the 18th and 19th centuries In the s and s owning a Parti Poodle meant that you were either part of the French royalty or a social aristocrat. It has become a status symbol. People with wealth and power are seen owning this dog breed. During this time, European aristocrats would use Parti Poodles during hunting season. Given the popularity of these dogs and their association with the rich and famous, Parti Poodles earned its place in the world of arts, and literature during this period. The decline of the Parti Poodle in the early 20th century In the early 20th, there were other dog breeds slowly taking the spotlight. Breeds such as German Shepherd, and Labrador Retriever have gained popularity causing the decline of the Parti Poodle. Both German Shepherds and Labradors are excellent hunting dogs which were much preferred. The decline in popularity was worsened by the onset of wars where breeding Parti Poodles became uncommon. The resurgence of the Parti Poodle in modern times Despite being on the brink of distinction, Parti Poodles managed to gain back its popularity again. Several factors helped its resurgence. Canine groups recognizing the Parti Poodles Allowing this dog breed to join shows and competition Increase in awareness and appreciation from dog lovers How Are Parti Poodles Bred Selective Breeding is a way in which Parti Poodles are bred. Credible breeders will choose which parents to use following the desired coat pattern. Ethical guidelines are what we practice at Stokeshire. Dogs also undergo genetic testing to avoid any medical issues being passed on to their litters. But how the litter will look is undetermined as their coat colors and markings will be different from one another. At present, particolored ones are still restricted from joining conformation shows or events organized by AKC. Although, they can still be registered in obedience and agility shows. UKC is considered the second-largest kennel organization in the United States. How Long Do Parti Poodles Live Life expectancy is years Some Parti Poodles may live shorter or longer depending on their genetic makeup, diet, exercise, and overall well-being. Some may be susceptible to health risks such as: Hip dysplasia. They thrive on human interaction and love to be involved in everything their family is doing. Miniature Poodles are quick learners and excel at obedience training. Very eager to please their people, they are a great choice for first-time dog owners. Mini Poodles are usually good with other dogs and children, but they can be a little bit reserved around strangers. With proper socialization from a young age, your Mini Poodle puppy will learn to interact well with people outside of their immediate family. Expect your new for-ever family member to have a lot of energy and need plenty of exercise. They need an outdoor walk every day to keep calm and centered. Check out this best-selling dog leash with a comfortable handle! While walks are a must, the Mini Poodle is not suited to be an outdoor dog. This breed has a long history as a circus dog, so this dog is a favorite choice for owners who want an athletic puppy who is open to learning tricks. Some Mini Poodles are territorial and highly excitable, but patient and consistent training can usually modify this behavior. For all of these reasons, finding homes for our Mini Poodle Puppies for sale is never challenging. Minatare Poodle Health Considerations The average life span of the miniature poodle is 13 — 15 years. Use ear cleaner wipes and eye wipes regularly to remove crust or discharge. All breeds of dogs should be brought in for regular vet checkups. Miniature Poodle Coat The Mini Poodle has a hypoallergenic coat which is excellent for allergy sufferers. Matting eventually causes skin irritation. If your Poodle has a long coat, you should brush out your Poodle every day. Check out this popular dog slicker brush and detangling comb that is perfect for your Mini Poodle. While Miniature Poodles are a fairly low-shedding dog breed, they still need coat care. Many Poodle owners opt for a short cut or trim to minimize grooming needs. When a shorter cut, you can reduce brush outs to a few times a week and get the coat trimmed up every weeks. Mini Poodles Puppies For Sale. We are currently raising gorgeous multi colored Parti Poodles and solid colored in miniature and soon, toy sizes. We started in standards but have made the move to smaller sizes. We feel very passionate about health testing, showing, and titling our poodles for our Poodle breeder program though we do give preference to pet puppy homes. More Than Amazing Color While we understand color is part of what makes Parti Poodles so popular, we want you to know that we place high emphasis on temperament and type or build, in our partis and well as solids, so your puppy will grow into a eye catching and distinguished adult that is as sweet and intelligent as any poodle should be. Conformation Show Titles We are proud of our show titles! We understand families searching for a pet do not need a show dog, we do this so families know that what they have purchased from us represents a great amount of knowledge and hard work. We test our Poodles against other great dogs so that we can know our breeding dogs are worthy of your family both in soundness of temperament and that they truly are representations of their breed. We do give preference to pet homes for our puppies. Testament to Temperament We have donated to date five puppies for service dog training and so far, all of our candidates have graduated and gone on to service work! We feel this is a real testament to what we strive to produce for families that want to purchase a puppy from MnJ- a great, stable, sweet and social family member. We are currently raising gorgeous multi colored Parti Poodles and solid colored in small standard and miniature sizes. While many will think we have Moyen Poodles, in truth the FCI breed standard for this size is very misunderstood so we avoid using a marketing term. Past Puppies Just a few of our past puppies so you can get an idea of what we offer!

We have four exquisite, very red young females available now. Two are extra big girls for those that want something larger. These girls have the sweetest, fun loving temperaments. They have finished all of their puppy vaccines and are ready to go out on family outings and to training classes with you. Great early socialization, started leash training now as well. We repeated it! We have two red sable long coat males available now in the litter. They have excellent temperaments, great early socialization, and they come to you with their first two puppy vaccinations, current deworming, microchip and vet checked. He was the only male in the litter and his sisters have already found their new homes. He comes to you with great early socialization, his first two puppy vaccinations, current deworming, microchip and will be vet checked. This is Blossom's final litter before retirement so if you've wanted a sibling to your Blossom puppy this is your last chance! We are retaining one female from this great pairing as we were so impressed with their previous litter together. Puppies had super temperaments and great coloring and conformation. They will come to you with great early socialization, their first two puppy vaccinations, current deworming, microchip and will be vet checked. Our mission is to improve the breed standard, produce stable, clear headed puppies and prepare them for bonding with their new humans. Come and see the difference. Whatever task you may have - a canine from West German Shepherds. Welcome to West German Shepherds. Our mission: to improve the breed standard, to produce stable, clear headed puppies and prepare them for bonding with their new humans. Committed to producing exceptional canines with 14 years of hard-earned expertise and insight; here, you will glean insider information on selecting a German Shepherd pup and why West German Shepherds. She passed away in my arms on Monday September 16th at AM. Brownie was our reigning queen, an alpha female who earned her stripes the hard way; as a result she never flaunted her position but rather ruled with a strong bark and gentle paw. Great with families, working bloodlines, very protective. When the AKC American Kennel Club or CKC either of the 2 following entities Canadian Kennel Club or the Continental Kennel Club registers a new puppy, it does so sight unseen - without ever having evaluated the appearance, health or quality of the parents of the litter. In fact only a minuscule fraction of the tens of thousands of breeding dogs all across America have ever been evaluated. While registration is a great place to start, there is more to consider than whether the dog is registered. Sadly, the marketplace is chock full of puppies with bad genetics and these are from officially registered canine parents. A puppy born with a slight genetic abnormality might come from purebred parents, and can still be registered. An inexperienced or unscrupulous breeder may not recognize the uneven hips on a puppy and sell it to someone who will later breed the puppy. The final outcome will be a new line of registered dogs that are genetically inferior. None of these statements are made to be derogatory of the AKC or CKC, these registration organizations do many wonderful things to improve the health, welfare, training and advocacy of ALL canines. Yes, AKC registration is an important factor that should not be overlooked, but there is much more to contemplate. The pedigree of both parents should be considered as part of your quest for a puppy, the pedigree will list all of the ancestors historically for 3 or 4 generations back up the family tree. All of the canines listed in the pedigree impact the genetics and thereby the health of the offspring. The pedigree itself does nothing to convey the health of a puppy, but it tells the dogs lineage, their titles and country of origin. By searching, you can find a breeder offering puppies from parents with exceptional pedigrees, that have correct body structure, a superior visual appearance, plus the temperament to match your expectations. What is an exceptional pedigree? The more champions in a pedigree, the better. Here is a quick run down of German Shepherd championship titles. The German Sieger beats hundreds of other Champions to be selected this coveted title. The only higher title accomplishment attainable is the World Sieger. It is the same as the Sieger - but is for the female winner of the German National Championship Conformation show. Not many people are familiar with the word Sieger but even less are familiar with the word Siegerin outside of German Shepherd professionals. The Sieger show is held annually in Germany. VA-2 is the Vice- Sieger, etc. The best genetics possible are found in Sieger show winning adult German Shepherds. The puppies born from these bloodlines will be the absolute best in quality and appearance when compared to the average German Shepherd you see on the street. An analogy would be like comparing a shiny Ferrari against a rusted out Ford Pinto. The top bloodlines are found in the VA titled dogs and filtered down into their offspring, but be prepared to pay a significantly premium price for that level of parenthood and prestige. You will hear of dogs described as being from show lines, herding lines or working lines. Show lines refers to canines that are used to compete in conformation shows, herding lines means canines used to herd sheep, working lines denotes canines used to work in protection, Schutzhund or other disciplines. Primarily there are 3 main types of German Shepherd Dogs. Czech Shepherds are longer and leaner in body frame, more narrow across the chest and have taller rear hindquarters. Typical coat colors are black and tan, black and creme, black and silver, brown sable, silver sable and brindled. The coat patterns of a Czech Shepherd run from blanket-back to saddleback and brindled but most are blanket backed. We do not produce Czech Shepherd pups. Yes, Dutch Shepherds still fall under the umbrella of German Shepherds. Dutch Shepherds originated in the Netherlands and are very similar to Czech Shepherds in body form however they are typically more solid, weighty and sturdy than Czech Shepherds. Dutch Shepherds are not very commonly found outside of police or military use. They also present as a harder dog meaning they require an experienced trainer, handler or owner. Obviously there are exceptions to these generalized statements. Dutch Shepherds are brindled in coat color, brindled simply means a mottled and multi-colored un-patterned coat appearance. We do not produce Dutch Shepherd pups. West German Shepherds come from the democratic capitalist state of West Germany. West German Shepherds have shorter more compact torsos, thicker across the chest and have the squatted or lowered hindquarters. It is not that the dogs are stacked or posed for pictures, their rear bone structure is genetically encoded to be positioned more angular than that of a Czech Shepherd. The coat colors of a West German Shepherd are black and red set in a saddleback pattern. While interesting, we do not own or breed for these types, nor am I going to invest any time delving into them further. Over the past 25 years I have owned and bred different types of German Shepherd dogs. I keep track of the litters being sold in our geographic region. The West German type German Shepherd dog is the most sought after type. This is the number one variety of German Shepherd dog that previous GSD owners, consumers, enthusiast and new first time owners are actively seeking. You might assume that the cheap dogs are not as healthy or desirable, and the more expensive ones are a better, safer choice. Breeders know this. Many breeders will put a higher price on their low quality dog to look professional and make their dogs appear more valuable. Some breeders import very expensive dogs so they can breed them to sell puppies at a higher price bracket. An experienced breeder can evaluate a dog by comparing the conformation or show quality, health, physical performance and the ability to work; but can only do so after having studied the breed and being immersed in these canines for many years. One factor that has impacted price structure is the difference between Czech Shepherds and West Germans Shepherds based on an over-inflated value. Many first time German Shepherd buyers are ignorant of this fact. The new buyer will look at a few breeder websites, see the price tag, then sticker shock sets in; so they search again based on a lower initial purchase price and soon find a breeder that sells at lower price tiers. It never was a bargain. Czechoslovakian Shepherds sell for less money for a number of reasons. The market is diluted with them, it seems they are on every street corner. If you want the best German Shepherd for your money you will need to hit the perfect trifecta: choose breeder, bloodline and puppy very wisely. Breed level dogs or dogs used for breeding purposes should be exceptionally beautiful, it should be like a day versus night comparison. Its time for a really bad analogy, but it should be like comparing the cute girl you saw at BurgerDoodle against the hot supermodel on TV. Or for the lady readers, it would be like comparing an overweight plumber to a ripped fitness instructor. There should be an impressive difference between the quality of a German Shepherd breed dog when compared to the German Shepherd you just saw on the street corner. Both parents should have correct body type, not be excessively underweight or overweight, they should have dark eye colors, the coat should be exceedingly beautiful with vivid color pigmentation. The body should be proportional to the animals overall size, the body should not be too short nor should it be too long. The dog should not be a giant massive pound beast, nor should it be a petite 55 pounds worth of dog. The withers should be the high point and the back line or top line should gracefully slope to the hind quarters from there. The torso should appear rugged with powerful legs, the angulation should be correct and the stance when viewed from the side should look as if the German Shepherd were ready or capable of striking in a nanosecond. The West German Shepherd is a herding type breed and should weigh between 70 to 90 lbs and be 22 to 26 inches tall. That is 22 to 24 inches for a female and 24 to 26 inches for a male Toss a ball and observe the adults as they run, their movement should be easy, graceful as if to announce - yep, I can do this all day long! Look to see if the movement is fluid or constrained. Check the eyes, ear and teeth. Eyes should have dark pupil colors, teeth properly aligned, ears should be set close and stand erect, they should be reasonably clean and not coated with goo inside. Do the adult dogs track you as you move around? Are they agitated or nervous at your presence there? Pet them, handle them and look for their response. Nearly every German Shepherd breeder in America will tell you that they have champion bloodlines. Immerse yourself by studying, looking at pictures, making comparisons, asking questions via phone, text or email and then going to visit several of the top contenders. Go visit, meet them in person, ask questions, make notes etc. Choosing a breeder does not sound like a complicated task, however you should visit with several individuals and keep a skeptical eye open. Just because this breeder has nice looking German Shepherds - does not make them an ethical or honest person. Nearly everyone has heard the term puppy-mill. This refers to a large breeding operation that mass produces puppies to sell in a variety of retail outlets. Some of the puppies go to pet stores and boutiques, others are sold on-line and shipped in crates via carrier or air-freight, still others are to be sold at events like dog shows, local flea markets, farmers markets, outdoor festivals or from the back of a pick-up truck. Please beware of purchasing from the aforementioned venues, a large portion of these animals also come with very serious life threatening diseases. The puppy mills are known for over-crowding, unsanitary conditions and harsh treatment of animals since they often operate in secrecy in a warehouse or very remote type location. Another type of breeder is the novice, money driven or back yard breeder. These types are largely copy cats. They read websites of professional breeders and the on-line ads, familiarize themselves with the terminology, soon enough they begin executing their forgery. They position themselves as professional breeders but on a smaller scale, offering puppies that are hand raised etc. If you were to look around their property - they place looks like a normal home, there is no footprint or significant investment to indicate that they have created a top-notch, professional environment for their canines. See the selecting a breeder section for more information on how to identify unsavory breeder types and more specifically what to look out for. The canine breeder should be a walking encyclopedia about the overall health, housing, care, nutrition, exercise and training necessary for the type of canines they are breeding. They should have built up a considerable amount of knowledge, expertise and experience around their breed, they should also be proficient at mating and whelping too. Their kennels and property should reflect careful consideration about every decision that impacts the housing, health and environment for their canines. I highly recommend you visit with a few breeders, there is no substitute for this step. This is an opportunity for you to evaluate the breeder, to observe the adult canine animals and also the time to examine the relationship between the breeder and their animals. If the breeder is a professional - then there should be compelling evidence that they have made a significant investment in providing great facilities for the animals. What is the condition of the fencing, the shelter, the dog house, the whelping area etc? How does the breeder talk, do you feel extremely comfortable with their knowledge, character, speech and demeanor? This is the precise moment in time where you need to follow your gut. I have visited other breeders and seen unbelievable things, such as: When the puppies eat, play, then take a nap; mice scurried out from under the shed and begin scarfing crumbs of food dropped by the puppies. Another breeder had a koi pond with long strands of green slime pond scum, the puppies were using this as a water source; the issue was every time that it rained, the runoff rainwater drained back into the koi pond carrying with it the germs and bacteria from the waste products generated by the puppies. I have met a few great breeders and many really bad ones. In the final analysis - you are not just buying a puppy, but you are buying into the combined genetics of both parents, you are buying into the kennel, the breeder person, their level of knowledge and expertise, lastly whether or not that person is honest and ethical. Believe me - there are some real unsavory characters out there breeding dogs, selling puppies and offering stud service. For more info please read - Selecting a Breeder. The health of the animal is determined by genetics as passed down from both parents. Each pup has 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents 16 great great grandparents all of these ancestor impact the offspring. Inquire of the breeder if there are any known genetic problems. Inquire about the frequency of those genetic problems occurring. If a breeder proudly says there have never had a problem with any of their animals then you should consider 1 of 2 possibilities. The very best kennels in the country have encountered genetic problems, but because of strict quality control protocols they move to a different pairing of adults to eliminate the genetic problem or they stop breeding that line altogether. A sincere breeder should offer a health guarantee to protect the customers investment. Always read the contract and ask questions long before making a deposit. A genuine breeder should want to stand behind their puppies, they should want to protect their reputation and provide detailed records. Furthermore a breeder should encourage open communication and build a relationship with their customers, how else will the breeder stay abreast of the health, wellness and genetic factors that are happening within their bloodline? An experienced breeder should have insight as to the traits of each puppy in the litter. The breeder should be able to help show you which puppy best suits your needs based on the criteria you have stated. What is the singular most important trait to you? Do you travel frequently and want a protective dog for your family? Are you seeking a dog for companionship? Is your situation that you have a big family, a lot of friends, neighbors and relatives who visit often and want a family dog? Were you planning on working the dog? Share this information with your breeder and ask them to help steer you towards a puppy that exhibits traits that are well suited for your primary intended purpose. Many clients want to actively choose a puppy, while others are more comfortable with a passive approach, spend time with the litter and allow the choice to be more organic and mutually made by the puppy that is attracted to them. There is nothing wrong with either method but I will offer this - If you want to ensure that you get the puppy with the traits that most closely match your needs, then for optimum results take an active role in making the selection. In each litter there will be certain trait variations the pups have inherited from their parents. Any German Shepherd puppy born in the litter can be trained to serve or work in any type of role that you desire, however some pups are more naturally suited to be self starters and do the task with minimal input from you. A German Shepherd is not naturally a mean or vicious dog, however they are alert, aware and protective. These traits have been locked into them from the start by the nature of the breed, these animals were coded to be discerning from the start. A Golden Retriever is a great congenial dog, it loves everyone it encounters right down to the burglar who is prying open the back window of your home with a crowbar. The Golden Retriever will hold the door open and wag its tail as the contents of the home are being ransacked and loaded into a truck. Now flip the script and try that with the German Shepherd dog. The German Shepherd dog has already been eyeballing everyone long before they set foot on the property. Even if the dog was inside and did not see someone coming - it is always listening for sounds that are non typical for its environment. Go ahead and pry the window open with the crowbar - lets see how that works out for you. Someone may actually get inside but I am pretty confident they will be encouraged to leave hastily by the canine with intense actions of fierce barking, deep growling, hackles up, ears on high alert and eyes laser focused on the intruder. The uninvited guest will drop everything - run out the door with empty arms, a chewed up backside, a renewed fear of God Almighty and total respect for the German Shepherd Dog… Again, the German Shepherd is not a mean dog, it is not a vicious dog, but it is a vigilant dog. It is a watch dog - it is a dog that closely looks after the people that it is bonded to and the place where they live together. All things considered - a German Shepherd is a very practical investment for peace of mind regardless whether you are young or old, single or have a large family. On pickup day I will spend a minimum of an hour and a half with each new owner going over paperwork and the best practices for feeding, health, training, tips on care, etc. With West German Shepherds. You are buying into the tremendous wealth of bloodlines we have selectively cultivated and created, you are buying the expertise we have accumulated in 14 years of running a top notch breeding program. I am passionate about this breed and ensuring that everyone who wants a German Shepherd - has an amazing experience. Please contact me if I can be of service to you. Thank you for visiting West German Shepherds. The original quote was intended for every breed of dog; as German Shepherd owners already know - these canines are far superior to any other breed on the planet! I often repeat - some days you are the dog, some days you are the fire hydrant. More quotes can be found at the bottom of each page. I have three pets at home which answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog which growls every morning, a parrot which swears all afternoon, and a cat that comes home late at night. Do you get the difference? The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. However, the cost of these puppies can vary widely depending on various factors such as the breeder, location, pedigree, and lineage. On the other hand, more expensive puppies may come from champion bloodlines or have undergone extensive health testing and screening. Additionally, the cost of owning a West German Shepherd goes beyond the initial purchase price. These dogs require regular veterinary check-ups, proper nutrition, training, and exercise to maintain their physical and mental well-being. These dogs have a strong work ethic and love to have a job to do, which makes them excellent protectors of their families. However, note that West German Shepherds require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Families considering this breed should be prepared to provide regular exercise and training to ensure that their dog develops good behavior habits. Overall, these Shepherds can make wonderful additions to families who are willing to put in the time and effort needed to care for them properly. Well, it depends. Whether or not they get along with other pets depends on a few factors. The temperament and socialization of the individual dog and the personality of the other pets in the household play an important role. Generally, if a West German Shepherd is properly socialized and trained from a young age, then yes, they can coexist peacefully with other pets. So, they require a balanced diet that provides them with the energy and nutrients they need to maintain their active lifestyle — and foods specifically for large breeds is ideal. Protein is an essential nutrient for West German Shepherds as it helps to maintain their muscle mass. Good sources of protein include chicken, turkey, beef, and fish. So, ensure that the protein comes from high-quality sources and is easily digestible. In addition to protein, these dogs require healthy fats in their diet to help maintain their skin and coat health. Fats also provide them with energy and help to regulate their body temperature. Good sources of healthy fats include fish oil, flaxseed oil, and chicken fat. They should be fed multiple small meals throughout the day rather than one large meal to prevent bloat or other digestive issues. These dogs are bred for working and have a strong desire to run, jump, and play. They have a high stamina level and need to be kept busy to prevent them from becoming bored or destructive. The best forms of exercise for West German Shepherds are those that allow them to use their natural instincts and capabilities. Activities such as hiking, running, and playing fetch are ideal for these dogs. They also enjoy agility training and obedience classes, which can help to keep them mentally stimulated and physically fit. Owners should ensure that their West German Shepherds receive adequate exercise each day to prevent obesity and other health problems. Here are some training tips that can help you to train your West German Shepherd and ensure that he becomes a well-behaved and obedient companion. The first tip is to start training your West German Shepherd at a young age. Puppies are more receptive to learning and can quickly pick up new commands and behaviors. Begin with basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and heel, and gradually increase the difficulty of the training as your puppy progresses. Consistency and planning are very important when it comes to training your West German Shepherd. You should use the same commands and techniques every time you train your dog to avoid confusion and ensure that he understands what is expected of him. Additionally, you should know what you want to train your dog on and how to best go about it. Also, be sure to reward good behavior with treats or verbal praise to reinforce positive behaviors. Another important training tip for West German Shepherds is socialization. This will help them to develop confidence and adaptability, which are essential traits for a well-rounded dog. Proper grooming is essential to keep them healthy and comfortable. Here are some grooming tips for grooming these Shepherds. First, know that brushing is crucial for West German Shepherds. They have a thick double coat that sheds heavily, especially during shedding seasons. Use a slicker brush and a metal comb to remove tangles and knots from the fur. Be gentle while brushing their undercoat, as it can be sensitive. Over-bathing can strip their skin of its natural oils and cause dryness and itching. Use a mild dog shampoo and warm water to bathe them. Rinse thoroughly to ensure no shampoo residue is left behind. After bathing, towel dry your dog and use a blow dryer on low heat to dry their coat. Long nails can cause discomfort and even pain while walking or running. Use a sharp nail clipper and cut the tip of each nail, avoiding the quick the pink part that contains blood vessels and nerves. However, like all breeds, they are susceptible to certain health conditions. Minor Conditions. Our dogs are our family. They are raised on our farm and get to interact and play with our young family, run around with plenty of ample space, and are treated with the utmost service and professional care. Showline West German Shepherds of German Championship Bloodlines are wonderful dogs with even disposition with composed confident temperaments, of great intelligence with wonderful formation of the True breed. With years of personal experience owning our own German Shepherds, we are filled with excitement for our loving customers , to now experience the joy and happiness that these beautiful dogs will give you. Please call us at to inquire about more details, pricing, waiting list and securing a spot on our reserved list. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube page for updates. We continue where man and dog have built a strong relationship that lasts a lifetime. We strive to continuously better the beloved breed through a selective breeding program with excellent pedigrees and proven championship bloodlines. We focus on providing German Shepherd puppies with excellent temperaments, that possess the qualifications of the German Shepherd breed standards and physical health to become top quality members of your family or team. German Shepherd dogs are one of the most popular breeds. Known for their intelligence , loyalty , obedience and intuitive guardian awareness. We have imported European German Shepherd females with excellent championship pedigrees. In addition , we have a selection of dogs with V Excellent rating and have achieved their own titles. We have also selectively hand-picked our imported breeding studs who are exemplary of the German Shepherd breed standards with their own wonderful pedigrees , VA Excellent Select ratings and accomplished titles. Our German Shepherd puppies are raised in our home as part of our family for a strong foundation in life. Our German Shepherds are seen for health exams regularly , along with treatment as needed throughout the year. Puppies are provided with Vet examination. We are number 1 out of 50 Top rated breeders in America!!! Rated by happydoggo. There are scams out there who use our brand. Their website may look exact the same since they duplicate our website or their domains look similar. Our website is vomragnar. We take payments only over the phone by a credit card or with quick pay Zelle. Our brand name is patented. We are licensed breeders in Illinois. These phone numbers has Chicago Illinois area code. Please do not trust scammers and beware. We are the top rated German Shepherd licensed breeder located in the Northwestern suburb near Chicago, Illinois. We show and train our dogs with known World Champion trainers. We offer German Shepherd puppies for sale as well as trained adult German Shepherd dogs. Our German Shepherd puppies range from 8 weeks old to young males and females. We ship dogs within United States and Worldwide. Please contact us about pet transport information. Owned and operated since by Natalya Babenko. Not interested in award-winning show dogs? No Puppy Mills Our puppies are our babies. All of our puppies have plenty of wide open spaces to get all of the physical exercise their growing bodies need Puppy Power We work hard to match the perfect pup for you and your family. Give us your preferred puppy specifications and expectations and we will do our best to surpass them Breeding purebred West German Showline German Shepherds are our passion. If you share our passion and is looking for a German Shepherd breeder that specializes in providing the highest quality show dogs, protection dogs, working dogs, service dogs or family companions, your search just ended. You can reserve the puppy over the phone and pick up the puppy at 8 weeks old. Our Chicago kennel has several litters each year. However, we strive to breed healthy dogs with best bloodlines in mind. We breed dogs with good temperament and character. We breed to the established SV Standard. They are black and red, solid black, and red sable in color. Our dogs are raised and socialized in a home environment with children and other dogs. We are proud of our achievements! Take a look at the latest show results. Why To Choose Us. What Is a West German Shepherd? The West German working line is a breed geared towards producing working dogs, while the West German show line is meant to breed dogs for dog shows. These line dogs are bred for their unique body shape, coloring, and strong working drive. These working-line German Shepherds have a very distinct look and breed standard that sets them apart from other working lines. They also have distinctive personalities, behavior, and gait, and arevery healthy and active dogs. This split led to differences in the approaches the two nations took towards breeding dogs, particularly the German Shepherd breed. While the East German line was raised to be a more aggressive breed, primarily used in military work and policing, West German Shepherds were bred for dog shows and as working dogs. Meanwhile, the East German line usually refers to the German working line dogs. Physical Appearance West German Shepherds can have different coat colors. Black and red is the most common, but black and tan, sable, black, and bi-colors are not unheard of. The most noticeable difference in the physical traits of these line dogs compared to other German Shepherd types is that their backs have a more pronounced slope. However, the slope is not as significant as the American German Shepherd. Because they are show dogs, the physical characteristics of the dog are quite important. They have a muscular build, though less muscle mass in the front of the body compared to East German Shepherds. Overall, they have a very striking and admirable appearance. Temperament The temperament of German Shepherd dogs depends on whether they are show-line German dogs or the German working line. The show lines are generally loving, affectionate, loyal, devoted, and protective. These dogs are also usually quite social and have vibrant personalities. A German Shepherd puppy of this line can grow into a very friendly and loving pet with the proper training and socialization. These dogs love to please their owners and are very intelligent—they quickly pick up new skills. If you wish to get one as a family pet, you should socialize it with people and other animals at a young age and stay consistent. Stick to reward-based training and use treats or playtime to motivate the dog during training sessions. West German Shepherd show lines are also known for their high energy. They need plenty of mental stimulation, exercise, and intensive training to keep them healthy and happy and prevent boredom. Meanwhile, working line German Shepherds are agile, fast, and fearless, with a high tolerance for pain. They have a higher working drive than their show-line counterparts. They are bred and trained to remain calm and alert in stressful and dangerous situations, which is why they are great for police work and military roles. Working line German Shepherds have low trainability and may be challenging to train and discipline once they get older. Like show line German dogs, they have active minds and boundless energy, so they must be kept busy with work or else they get bored. Health There has been rampant inbreeding of West German Shepherds in recent years, which has led to hereditary hip and joint problems. Their hips are angled more severely than other German Shepherd types, making them more susceptible to hip dysplasia. It is very important to feed your dog a high-quality diet and make it exercise regularly to maintain its physical health. Grooming Whether you have a working line German Shepherd or a show line German Shepherd, these dogs tend to shed a lot. Diet Like any other dog breed, West German Shepherds need to follow a healthy diet that is rich in protein and the right balance of essential nutrients, such as protein, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, for good health and fitness. Some other protein-rich ingredients that can be part of a balanced diet for your pet are eggs, legumes, grains, and vegetables. West German Shepherds can also occasionally enjoy small amounts of fruits, dairy, and nuts. Try to stick to dry food as much as possible as it is more practical for large breeds like German Shepherds. It is not too expensive, even if you go for a premium brand. Besides dry food, you can also give it a blend of dry and wet foods, home-cooked, freeze-dried, or dehydrated options. Mix it up so your dog will get all the nutrients it needs and not tire of its diet. Consult your veterinarian to make sure your dog is getting all of its needed nutrients. .Overfeeding is also a potential problem with German Shepherds. German Shepherd puppies grow quickly between four and seven months of age and are prone to developing bone disorders if they grow too quickly due to overfeeding. Overfeeding adult German Shepherds can result in joint disorders and other medical issues. Do not feed your pet too many treats or table scraps. Feed it at regular intervals instead of giving it food whenever it wants. Physical activity is also crucial to its overall health. Keep your dog active and make it play and exercise a lot during the day to prevent obesity. Keep an eye out for allergens, too. They are affectionate, friendly, and easy to live with. They also have a sweet and calm temperament, and their obedient and easygoing nature makes them easy to train. This makes them ideal family dogs. These line dogs are also great with kids and can serve as wonderful nannies. However, their high energy levels make them best suited for an active family that can make sure that their dog is able to run about and play for long hours. In contrast, working line dogs are more aggressive and have a higher prey drive than the show lines. A working line German Shepherd may also unintentionally bite or harm a child that runs in front of it. This is because its prey instinct may immediately kick in when it sees anything that is moving fast. They love to stay busy and will get bored if they have to follow a quiet daily routine. The extent of the protective nature of West German Shepherds depends primarily on their line. The West German working line is bred mainly for military and police work, so breeders of these line dogs work hard to cultivate high levels of protectiveness and fierceness. However, breeders of West German Shepherd show lines breed friendlier dogs as they often serve as competition and companion dogs. These dogs have a lower productivity drive than their working-line counterparts. Nonetheless, their active and energetic nature is still very strong. These line dogs are not quite as low-key and sedentary as the American German Shepherds—they are excellent guard dogs for families. They are highly protective of their owners and are very cautious and alert around strangers. Conclusion Today, both of the West German Shepherd lines continue to be as popular as their ancestors bred more than a century ago. Stringent breeding guidelines have also ensured they still have most of the characteristics of the original German Shepherds. If you wish to bring home a West German Shepherd puppy or dog, you must consider the specific traits that suit your needs and lifestyle. The show lines are best for dog shows and as companions and house protectors. And regardless of the German Shepherd line you choose, you must take good care of your pet to ensure your pet is healthy and retains its temperament. Both health and temperament were suffering. So Butch set out to find the best of the best to create a bloodline that would allow him to place dogs in homes, Law Enforcement Officers LEO agencies, in competition, and around the world that would be genetically, mentally, and structurally capable of protecting and loving families for years to come. Working closely with the Dutch military and being in the protection dog world, Butch was no stranger to the Belgian Malinois that was to come on the scene. However he found that it was hard to find a steady source of top quality dogs. And often Malinois were suited for the work but not suited to be off duty and part of the family. Their energy and drive was just too high for the average family today. NO, it is not! These have their own benefits but individual crossings can be unpredictable in the individual pups, and often do not reproduce true to a standard. The goal was to breed for the best qualities in each accomplished breed, and back cross, and out cross until a foundation was laid for foundation stock that would be true to the program goals: healthy hips, size, speed, stamina, drive, intelligence, and trainability. Along the way we removed the undercoat, which causes these dogs to battle with heat fatigue and causes their owners to battle with a LOT of shedding. So no, it is not just another hybrid — it is a breed all its own. Have a look at Western Shepherd Black Bart! General Appearance The Western Shepherd is a powerful medium to large size dog that is elongated and well muscled visibly.