apricot goldendoodle puppies for sale

For example, the characteristics of the parent breeds shine through in my bestie — Happy-Go-Doodle Chloe. She is an F1B Goldendoodle who: Is extremely smart. Was easily trained as a puppy and is still easily trained as an adult. Is very active and requires daily walks and games of fetch. Is an incredibly devoted family dog. In addition to personality, you may be wondering about the physical characteristics of F1B Goldendoodles. The reason for such a range of sizes can largely be attributed to the variation the Poodle parent breed brings to the party. Since the Poodle breed standard includes three official sizes—toy, miniature, and standard—the Goldendoodle gets the benefit of a wide variation in size too. They weigh about 25 pounds. They weigh 26 to 35 pounds. They weigh 36 to 50 pounds. They weigh 51 pounds and up. F1B Goldendoodles will require regular brushing and grooming. F1B Goldendoodle coat colors Based on the variety of coat colors of the Poodle black, white, cream, apricot, to name a few and the range of shades of golden the Golden Retriever heritage brings to the mix golden, light golden, and dark golden , the F1B Goldendoodle can sport a rainbow of colors. They require energy burns and mental stimulation. This makes sense since both of the parent breeds are smart and active. They need attention and like to be part of the pack. Goldendoodles are eager to fit in with the entire family and adapt to life with you. They are often recommended for families and make wonderful companions. However, they are not some sort of wonder dog, either. Also, Goldendoodles are social dogs and may show anxiety or boredom if left alone for long periods of time. As puppies, they may be pushy or mouthy want to chew on everything or zoomy. However, with proper care, socialization, love, attention, training, and exercise, an F1B Goldendoodle is more love than you could ever imagine. That why, you could also say F1B stands for… 1 Forever Bestie…for ever and always by your side. Did you enjoy this article? Join the happy pack! Get the latest Happy-Go-Doodle stories delivered to your email inbox. Please comment below. It has been updated to include more information on the F1B Goldendoodle along with additional pictures. A reputable breeder will always screen their breeding dogs for these genetic problems before breeding. Their curly or wavy hair should be brushed at least times weekly to prevent matting and remove loose hair. You may need professional grooming every weeks to keep their coat manageable. They have sensitive skin, so pick a dog shampoo for sensitive skin. Additionally, regular ear cleaning , nail trimming , and dental care are essential to their grooming routine. The Mini Goldendoodles are very prone to dental disease. Dietary needs Your Goldendoodle needs a diet specific to their age, size mini and standard Golden Retriever Poodle mixes need different diets , and health. Several health issues can affect their diet, including problems like dilated cardiomyopathy DCM , which they can get from too little taurine in their diets. Exercise Needs The F1b Goldendoodle is a hyper-energetic and active breed that requires regular exercise to stay mentally and physically stimulated. Aim for at least 60 minutes of daily exercise, including walks, playtime, and interactive activities. These dogs thrive on exercise and adore swimming, fetching, and running. Engaging them in mental stimulation, such as puzzle toys or obedience training, can also help channel their intelligence and prevent boredom. Housing Needs The F1b Goldendoodle does best in homes with access to outdoor space where they can exercise and explore. Mini versions may need less space but still need a ton of exercise. Goldendoodles are social dogs and prefer being close to their families, so providing them with ample indoor space and comfortable bedding is essential. As more and more Doodles flood the market due to rising popularity, you can also adopt a Goldendoodle from organizations like Doodle Rescue Collective. How long does the F1b Goldendoodle live? The F1b Goldendoodle generally has a relatively long lifespan, typically 10 to 15 years. Are F1b Goldendoodles okay with kids? F1b Goldendoodles are good with children and good family dogs for active families. However, they are energetic, and the bigger dogs can knock small children over accidentally. Always supervise these dogs with small children or frail adults. F1b Goldendoodles are fine with other dogs and pets. They do like to chase small animals; many of them are natural hunting dogs, so be sure to socialize them properly and teach them how to interact politely with other animals. Final thoughts In conclusion, the F1b Goldendoodle is a charming and sought-after breed that captures the best qualities of both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. Their hypoallergenic and often non-shedding coats offer a fantastic option for individuals with allergies or those looking for a low-maintenance dog. Their friendly, affectionate nature makes them great family pets, while their intelligence and trainability contribute to their versatility as therapy or service dogs. Tamsin De La Harpe Author Tamsin de la Harpe has nearly two decades of experience with dogs in rescue, training, and behavior modification with fearful and aggressive dogs. She has worked closely with veterinarians and various kennels, building up extensive medical knowledge and an understanding of canine health and physiology. She also spent two years in the animal sciences as a canine nutrition researcher, focusing on longevity and holistic healthcare for our four-legged companions. Tamsin currently keeps a busy homestead with an assortment of rescue dogs and three Bullmastiffs. Got Questions? No one really knows exactly when the first goldendoodle was created, but this mixed breed began finding popularity among breeders in the late s. It is believed that the success of the labradoodle led to the conception of the goldendoodle. F1Bs are created by crossing a first-generation F1 goldendoodle with a purebred poodle or golden retriever. Usually, breeders choose the poodle as the purebred parent in order to achieve a coat that is less irritating for people with allergies. F1B goldendoodles usually have a curly coat that is more reminiscent of the poodle than the golden retriever. The color of the coat may take after the golden retriever in hue, but doodles can come in many different colors. These dogs have floppy ears and may have either curly hair or long straight hair on their muzzles. They come in a variety of sizes, too! The poodle itself comes in three sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. There is even such a thing as a teacup poodle, which is the smallest of the four sizes, though the AKC does not recognize this size. Because the goldendoodle is not purebred, there is no uniform size that these dogs are expected to be. There are no guidelines. However, you can find goldendoodles in all size categories except for giant simply because purebred poodles exist in each size category. So, if you want a smaller dog, look for smaller parents and vice versa! Wavy and curly coats tend to be more common, but anything is possible as this is a mixed breed. F1B goldendoodles make wonderful family dogs as they are super friendly and do well with children. They are affectionate and enjoy spending time with their families. They definitely have what is often considered the ideal temperament for a dog! Are F1B Goldendoodles Affectionate? F1B goldendoodles are generally a great choice for families with kids. They also tend to be gentle and tolerant. This is because these types of pets are seen as prey animals. The goldendoodle is bred from two hunting breeds. If you do have small pets, make sure to keep them safe from your dog. Are F1B Goldendoodles Aggressive? F1B Goldendoodles are not at all aggressive! They love meeting new people and are great with other dogs. Of course, every dog is an individual, and socialization during puppyhood is vital. Dogs that do not receive proper socialization are far more likely to become fearful or aggressive as adults. We would consider them the type of dog that barks to alert their owners. As we said before, every dog is an individual, and some dogs may bark more than others. Some doodles may only bark at strangers, whereas others may bark at animals in the yard or cars on the street. Are F1B Goldendoodles Intelligent? F1B goldendoodles are considered an intelligent mixed breed because they are quick learners and have superb observation skills. In fact, they are so good at observing that many people believe they can even tell what emotions their owners are feeling! If you want a dog that is easy to train, you should definitely consider the F1B goldendoodle. This breed learns quickly and is eager to please. Their affection and loyalty often result in them being quite obedient once trained. Because they are so easy to train, hiring a professional is not necessary. However, we always recommend that people join a group class of some sort as it provides opportunities for their dogs to learn how to ignore distractions and listen instead. Though doodles are already eager to please, using reward-based training will motivate them even more. Using positive reinforcement is the best way to train a goldendoodle. Are F1B Goldendoodles Energetic? F1B goldendoodles of any size have a fair amount of energy. After all, they are born of two hunting breeds that need to have the endurance to spend hours in the field. Luckily, many goldendoodles enjoy playing games like fetch. Fetch is a fantastic way to help your dog burn off some energy. Of course, doodles will also love joining you in activities like walking, hiking, swimming, or even biking make sure to talk to your vet before involving your dog in any strenuous activities. They may try to get your attention and get you to play with them, bark more often, or turn to take their boredom out on something else. Regardless of size, goldendoodles can do well in apartments as long as they get enough exercise. Apartment living may be easier with smaller goldendoodles than with larger ones. If that can be done, then goldendoodles can live anywhere. Many goldendoodles will bark to alert you of the presence of a stranger in the vicinity, which can make them good watchdogs. This is because the goldendoodle is just far too friendly. They will be more likely to greet intruders with wagging tails than anything else. F1B goldendoodles do make good service dogs. This is in part because of their eagerness to learn. Service dogs must be smart and obedient, and goldendoodles are prone to being both. They have an easy time providing the support someone needs because of their stellar observation skills. How to Care for an F1B Goldendoodle F1B doodles will need at least weekly brushing, and most owners prefer to keep their coats trimmed. Otherwise, they require the same type of care as other dogs: they need their teeth cleaned regularly, nails clipped as needed, and ears checked for infection regularly. Like all goldendoodles, F1Bs also require a decent amount of grooming. Their coats need to be brushed at least once per week, but more frequent brushing is required for longer coats. Most doodle owners prefer to have their coats trimmed regularly so that they do not need to brush them as often. If you like the look of a grown-out coat, then you will need to brush almost daily to prevent the hair from clumping and matting. Do F1B Goldendoodles Shed? How much a doodle sheds really depends on which breed it takes after more: the poodle or the golden retriever. If the F1B has a purebred golden retriever crossed with an F1 doodle as a parent, then you may expect it to shed more. The doodle would not shed very much in this case and may be a good option for someone with allergies who hopes to own a dog. Do remember, however, that no dog is truly hypoallergenic. An F1B goldendoodle should eat the highest quality food you can afford. The best dog foods follow AAFCO guidelines, have been formulated by a veterinary nutritionist, and have undergone feeding trials. To determine how much to feed your doodle, you can start by checking the recommended serving size on the bag. Otherwise, you can calculate the number of calories your dog should eat on a daily basis. You can do the math yourself or use an online calorie calculator. Because F1B goldendoodles inherit genes from both golden retrievers and poodles, they are at risk of inheriting the diseases of both breeds. Doodles who are similar in size to a standard poodle or golden retriever are also at risk for bloat. Smaller doodles may be at risk of inheriting patellar luxation and Legg-Calve-Perthes. Because we have to consider the health issues of two breeds instead of one, it may seem like the F1B goldendoodle is at a higher risk of inheriting problems than its purebred parent. There are some studies that suggest purebred dogs are more likely to inherit 10 out of 24 diseases, with mixed breeds only being more likely to inherit 1 out of the 24 the other 13 diseases were just as likely to be inherited by mixed breeds as purebreds. However, you could sink hours into this debate and still feel unsure about which side is right. Instead of getting caught up in debate, we suggest that if you want to add an F1B goldendoodle to your family, you should choose a responsible breeder who health tests their dogs. These tests ensure that the parent dogs are without disease that they could pass on to their offspring. F1B goldendoodles live about 10 to 15 years on average, though smaller doodles may live a year or two longer. Are F1B Goldendoodles Expensive? Be cautious if you see a doodle being sold for a low price. These dogs may have been bred by puppy mills or backyard breeders who simply want to turn a profit but do not care for the health of their dogs. Always make sure to ask breeders numerous questions so that you know they have health-tested their dogs and are caring for them properly. However, how frequently you want to do this is up to you. Some people have their doodles groomed every 8 to 10 weeks, whereas others may prefer more frequent grooming. If you wanted to save money, you could learn how to trim your doodle yourself. Similarly, smaller dogs may be less expensive when it comes to their kibble and even medical expenses. Therefore, if you want a more budget-friendly doodle, consider a smaller size. We know you already know how to use Google to search for puppies. What are your credentials? You should learn about how long the breeder has been in business as well as how familiar they are with F1B goldendoodles. Have the parent animals undergone health testing? Ask to see these tests. Can I see where the dogs are kept? Can I meet the parent? How do you socialize your puppies? Socialization is important for puppies to become friendly and confident. Are the puppies up-to-date on vaccinations? Do you offer a health guarantee with a contract? Some breeders guarantee the health of their puppies: should your puppy come down with a serious illness early on, the breeder may offer to reimburse the purchase price of the dog or even take the puppy back. This will also help you avoid purchasing from breeders who are irresponsible. What do you require of potential adopters? Many breeders want to make sure their puppies are going to homes where they will be treated well and kept for life. Therefore, breeders may ask a number of questions about you, your situation, and your experience as a dog owner. It will not be easy to find an F1B goldendoodle to rescue. While the goldendoodle mix itself is popular enough to have rescues dedicated to it, the F1B is an even more specific mix of golden retriever and poodle. This is why they are harder to find at shelters. Even if it is clear that the dog is a doodle, the shelter may not know if the doodle is F1, F1B, or some other generation of doodle. Still, if you are interested in adopting, the best place to look will be a rescue dedicated to saving and rehoming goldendoodles specifically. Are F1B Goldendoodles Purebred? F1B goldendoodles are not purebred dogs. Goldendoodles in general are considered designer dogs because they are a mix created by crossing two purebred dogs. However, the F1B goldendoodle is a cross between a doodle and usually a purebred poodle though in rare cases, the purebred parent is a golden retriever. Either way, the AKC does not recognize these dogs, and there is currently no standard for breeding them. Because F1B goldendoodles are so friendly, loving, and obedient, they tend to be a great option for first-time dog owners. However, as long as someone can offer enough exercise, they should have no problem raising and caring for an F1B goldendoodle. Goldendoodles are playful, energetic, and super friendly. This makes them great family dogs who get along swimmingly with kids. By now, you probably have an idea of whether or not the F1B doodle is the right dog for you or not. The Differences Between Goldendoodle Generations? Not all Goldendoodles are the same! While most have the cuddly, teddy bear, fluffy Doodle look, their genetics can vary greatly depending on their generation and what parents they have. So, what is a multigenerational goldendoodle? There can be significant differences between what breeders refer to as F1, F1B, F2, and multigenerational called multigens Goldendoodles. Knowing the distinction between the 4 types of Goldendoodles within this breed can help choose the breeder and desired traits you hope to find in your new Goldendoodle. What is GANA? This organization sets the standards and affirms that these generations are acceptable and contribute to the diversity of the Goldendoodle gene pool. The grading scheme definitions of each generation per the Goldendoodle Association of North America can be found here. Before diving into their differences, what does F mean? The number following the F signifies the generation of the Goldendoodle. For example, a first-generation Goldendoodle is bred from two non-Goldendoodle parents a Golden Retriever and a Poodle while a second-generation Goldendoodle is bred from two F1 Goldendoodle parents. Knowing these distinctions helps identify what traits can be expected in Goldendoodle litters. What are Goldendoodle Furnishings? A key element to discuss is the role that furnishing genes play in the looks and shedding factor of the different generations of Goldendoodles. The Golden Retriever carries zero furnishing genes and the Poodle carries two furnishing genes. Furnishing genes are responsible for the presence of hair that continues to grow in length most noticeable on the face and muzzle. Golden Retrievers have short, smooth hair on their face due to their lack of furnishing genes. Poodles, unless shaven, will have long hair covering the face and muzzle as a result of carrying two furnishing genes. Because furnishing genes are dominant, it takes just one copy of this gene to present in long hair on the face. However, two furnishing genes are necessary to facilitate a non-shedding coat. The curl genes involved in each generation will dictate the type of coat each puppy inherits. Golden Retrievers carry zero curl genes whereas Poodles carry two curl genes. All F1s will inherit a total of one copy of the curl gene allowing their coats to be wavy in general. For those puppies who inherit no curl genes, their coats will be straight to slightly wavy. More information and photos showing the different coat types can be found here. Perhaps a decade ago, testing for the number of furnishings and curl genes became accessible to breeders. Until that point, the only way to know if a breeder was producing high-shedding or flat-coated Goldendoodles was via trial and error. We now know that the curl and furnishing genes are unrelated and that the curl genes have no impact on the shedding factor. They are known for their friendliness, being the perfect family pet, and being great for first-time dog owners. They were bred with this very purpose in mind. Of course, their precious appearance helps too! The coats are typically wavy due to inheriting one curl gene from the Poodle and no curl genes from the Golden Retriever. F1 Goldendoodles benefit from hybrid vigor making them healthier than their purebred parents. F1 Goldendoodles have proven to have better longevity than their pure breed ancestors. This hybrid vigor comes from crossing two unrelated dog breeds. F1 Goldendoodles cannot be guaranteed to be non-shedding. F1 Goldendoodles can also come in smaller sizes. This allows smaller genes to affect the outcome of the size of the offspring. There is no way of knowing ahead of time how these two inherited traits will match up in any individual puppy. In the other F1B option of crossing an F1 Goldendoodle with a Golden Retriever, no puppies will inherit two curl genes and no puppies will inherit two furnishing genes. This pairing will likely produce higher shedding coats that will be straight or wavy. Additionally, the F1B Goldendoodle can also benefit from hybrid vigor. Under the healthiest and most cognizant of circumstances, these Goldendoodles can be healthier than their purebred parents. These benefits will only be fortuitous should your breeder be careful about choosing their breeding pairs utilizing health screening protocols. The hybrid vigor will not diminish if the breeder is thorough in health testing and ensures that the parent breed lines are uncrossed, meaning that the parents are unrelated. Like the other generations of Goldendoodles, the F1B generation is highly intelligent, easily trainable, and beautiful. They are created by crossing two F1 Goldendoodles. This generation requires careful selection of parents based on the traits desired in the offspring. Each puppy has equal chances of inheriting zero, one, or two furnishing genes as well as zero, one, or two curl genes. These genes can be inherited in any combination in a single puppy. Puppies inheriting two furnishing genes will likely be non-shedding. Puppies inheriting one furnishing gene will have reduced shedding most likely equal to an F1 Goldendoodle. Those inheriting no furnishing genes will have coats very similar to a Golden Retriever including a smooth face and moderate to heavy shedding. All three coat types are possible in the F2 generation as well — straight, wavy, or curly. Type means traits that all puppies in the same litter inherit eliminating the variety of possibilities within a single litter. Just as in the F2 generation, without careful selection of breeding pairs, a variation of furnishings and coat types can be created. In the multigen, breeders can begin to be more consistent as they can select breeding prospects using DNA to ensure two furnishing genes are present in both parents. This ensures all puppies will inherit two furnishing genes giving them a higher chance of being non-shedding and allergy friendly. The number following refers to how many generations of that breed have been produced from that specific line. These differences are important to understand to know what characteristics are possible in specific pairings. As you can see, not all Goldendoodles are the same! Each generation has its characteristics that are different based on their parents. Knowing the differences can help you choose which Goldendoodle is right for you and your family. It is important to know the breeder you have selected is knowledgeable about the genetics of each parent dog to be able to predict the traits that will be produced by crossing specific dogs together. You may not understand the genetic reports on each parent dog, but the breeder should be able to confidently explain them to you. Breeders that have not done DNA profiles on their breeding dogs before breeding them cannot begin to provide you with accurate predictions of the traits your future puppy may possess. These traits do not only include information on furnishings and coat types, but also diseases each parent may carry as well as the colors they are capable of producing. This certification includes the assurance that your Goldendoodle was produced ethically and is from healthy parents. Goldendoodles are well known for their amazing personalities and for being the perfect family dog. They are typically great with kids, extremely smart, and above all, endearing. No matter what their color or coat type may be, they are very hard to not love! Millie is pounds an inches at the withers, Jax is pounds and inches at the withers. The offspring are expected to be 20 to mini pounds. The puppies will go home October 7th. Females Males 1 Francis, GH purple 1 Open 2 reserved for GH 2 Open We take a processing fee of now by PayPal, zelle, venmo, cash, credit card or personal checks to secure your pick position, which comes off the total when you pay your balance at puppy pick up. Puppy selection and go home is hosted on the same day. The processing fee is refundable until puppy births or you are not provided a puppy from your designated litter due to our part. Otherwise the processing fee becomes transferable to a future litter of your choosing. Paymet for balance at time of pick up is accepted by cash, venmo, PayPal, zelle and all major credit cards only, no personal checks accepted at final payment. Puppies go home at 8 weeks on utd on age appropriate shots, dewormer, veterinarian checked, micro chipped, potty training to a doggy door beginning at 4 weeks of age, puppy food Purina Pro Plan lamb and rice formula small bites , blanket with litter scent, snuggle puppy, benebone puppy chew toy, tick flea and heartworm preventative for the first month and intestinal parasites preventative for the first three months, completely loved and pre spoiled with a 1 year health guarentee. We offer a discount for puppy training through Baxter and Bella and 1st month free for puppy insurance through Trupanion. Our puppies are raised by the puppy culture protocols. We do a weekly updates with photos, weights and progress reports. Each puppy is cleared by our veterinarian prior to leaving Texas Doodles. Puppy selection process is hosted at our home in Kountze Texas in person or via FaceTime if distance is an issue. Puppies are picked up in person at our residence unless prior arrangements have been made. We offer puppy ground transport through reliable carriers, meet at Houston area airports, fly in cabin with Southwest Airlines or American Airlines via cargo. We can quote rates for all options. We use Embark and OFA when health testing our parents. This is a pet price only with no breeding rights. Breeding rights are considered after an approval process. These dogs typically have loose, wavy coats. The downside of the F1 generation is they tend to still shed some—less than a purebred Golden Retriever but more than some of the later generations we discuss below. F2 vs F1? However, again, you are likely to have some shedding. The F2 generation is actually the most unpredictable in regard to hair type as a simple Punnett Square illustration would reveal. Some of the puppies are likely to get two copies of the Golden Retriever flat coat gene so may still be quite heavy shedders. This generation is a good choice for people who love both the Golden Retriever and Poodle personalities and want a good mixture of both breeds but are flexible on hair type and shedding. F1 vs F1b? These puppies typically have wavy to curly coats and reduced shedding. The F1b generation is a good choice for allergy sufferers or those who simply want less fur to clean up around the house. Most breeders would avoid this type of F1b as the result would be a dog that sheds as much as Golden Retriever, but it is still good to know to avoid potential confusion. Quiz time: What would you call the puppy born to an F2 Goldendoodle and a Poodle? F1bb vs F1b? In this case, an F1b Goldendoodle has been backcrossed again to a purebred Poodle. While this may sound like a lot of Poodle, the result is a predictably curly, low-shedding coat that is great for allergy-sufferers. As doodle breeders, we have a lot of positive things to say about our poodle parents and the Poodle breed as a whole — you can read more about their history and characteristics here. In the case of an F1bb Goldendoodle —the dog will be more similar to a Poodle in regards to coat, physical structure and certain traits but still have a little dash of retriever to keep things interesting! Put simply it means you are now 3 generations removed from the original cross of Golden Retriever to Poodle, so this can look like an F2 Goldendoodle bred to another Goldendoodle. In this case, most reputable breeders have been careful in selecting their parents and would avoid breeding straight coated, high-shedding parents. An F3 can also mean an F1b X an F1b. This would of course be similar in regards to coat type and breed percentage breakdown as an F1b. The multigenerational doodle could be any combination of Goldendoodle parents past the third generation. The positive side of the multigenerational doodle is that these are typically one of the best options for allergy sufferers as a reputable breeder has been careful to select non-shedding parents in their line; the more generations removed from the original shedding parents i. Golden Retriever , the less chance of any sly shedding genes slipping in! Understanding F1 vs F2 vs F1b vs F2b Is Not Essential At the end of the day, we often tell our puppy parents to not get too hung up on the exact terminology related to the generation of their pup. Knowing what you prefer in regard to personality and coat type is enough information to have a reputable breeder guide you to the right doodle for you. When it comes to goldendoodles, we have come across the most incredibly loving and intelligent dogs of every generation!

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Our puppies are raised inside our home in Sorrento, British Columbia, where they are loved and socialized from day one. We're dedicated to improving this already outstanding breed and bringing excellent quality dogs into the world. Labradoodles were originally bred for therapy and service work, which makes them ideal family companions. They are gentle and non-aggressive with a keen sense of human emotion. They come in a variety of beautiful colors, including chocolate, cream, red, black, and apricot. Part of a multi-generational Australian Labradoodle Breeding Program, Notch Hill is proud to be contributing to the development of this wonderful breed. As members of the Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association, we meet and exceed the highest ethical standards. Our breeding stock is tested for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, genetic eye disorders, and heart disease. We plan a small number of litters every year with the goal of producing healthy Labradoodle puppies with exceptional temperaments and non-shedding, allergy-friendly fleece coats. Each puppy is sent home with age-appropriate veterinary care, a 2-year health guarantee, and a lifetime of support. We post photos on facebook so visit and like our page. Welcome to Puppy Patch Doodles Inc. We are a proud breeder of the Multigeneration Australian Labradoodles. We fell in love with the Labradoodle in .I spent the first few years researching the breed, to ensure that we started with the best possible breeding dogs, I have never looked back! Our Doodles are cherished members of our family, thus they are raised in our home. They are not kept in kennels. They have the run of our homes and yards. They sleep indoors; in our beds. Puppy Patch Labradoodles are extensively health tested and our puppies come with a 2 year health guarantee. Our dogs and puppies receive meticulous care and live in immaculate facilities. We strive to conduct ourselves with honesty and integrity. We strive to improve this breed by producing the highest quality dogs possible. We select only the best dogs to use in our breeding program.If you are looking for a top quality Multi-generation Australian Labradoodle you have come to the right place. We select only the best dogs to use in our breeding program. By doing this it ensures we are only breeding the best doodle puppies. You can be assured that your puppy comes from well-tested parents. When you adopt from Puppy Patch Labradoodles I am confident you are going to get the best family companion available. Family raised authentic Multi-gen Australian Labradoodles. First and foremost bred for temperament and of course beauty. Well socialized from the very beginning of life until they leave us at 8 weeks. I am confident in providing non-shedding hypoallergenic pups. Our Doodles make the best family pets, therapy and service dogs. We do extensive health testing. We belong to the best and follow the highest standards. Puppy Patch Labradoodles Email: click to email About our Puppies Our Australian Labradoodles are allergy and asthma friendly with low to non-shedding coats. A cross between a labrador and a poodle and multi-generational, our puppies are thoroughly socialized. Please browse our site to see the latest puppy litters and our breeder policies. Recent News. Copper Canyon Australian Labradoodles Australian Labradoodles for Sale We raise exceptional quality non-shedding Australian Labradoodle puppies … from our home to yours! Our labradoodle puppies are loved and cared for, raised in our home with our children and make wonderful family pets. We welcome you to our website! We are not listed with them but are on amicable terms with the Goldendoodle Website and recommend their services for any puppy family interested in a Goldendoodle puppy from health tested parents. We are now accepting applications for medium and miniature Australian Labradoodle puppies for our current and upcoming litters. We do also have the occasional litter of standard sized AustralianLabradoodles as well. Since then, our labradoodle family has grown! Our labradoodles are family members and live in the house with us or in carefully chosen guardian homes. We do not believe in the long term kenneling of our AustalianLabradoodles as they are a breed that thrive with contact with people. In fact, all our Australian Labradoodle puppies are born and raised in our home, where they are introduced to household noises and lots of attention! All our breeding dogs are health tested before being accepted into our breeding program. It is not enough that a labradoodle look cute, they must also be a delight to have around, be sound, easily trained and social. We have never met a breed of dog more personable than the Australian Labradoodle and we invite you to welcome a labradoodle into your heart and home! Copper Canyon Australian Labradoodles is a premium rated labradoodle breeder. All our labradoodles are fully health tested and our labradoodle puppies come with a 2 year genetic guarantee against genetic health issues. Come fall in love with a labradoodle! Labradoodle Puppies B. Your faithful puppy to love is waiting B. Australian Labradoodle breeders with High Quality Health tested puppies since From our family to yours. They will go to the bathroom either in a potty box or outside, they will have been introduced to a crate, be able to come and sit for a kibble and will have met new people every day for their socialization. They will be ready for homes in early .We are so excited. If you would like to welcome a puppy like Lulu into your family Shelby is planning a family for spring. She is taking a well deserved rest and will be bred again in early .We are taking family names for our lovely Larger Medium puppy Shelby list. She sent this more than a week ago and happily things are now looking better for Over The Moon Woofy and her family. Fire tripled in size last night and is much closer to Sorrento this morning. We did have a rain shower which will help. Kelpie has flown to Ottawa and is happily living with two children to play with and an extended family full of love. Kelpie had a wonderful fan club rooting for him and he is thankful to each one of you. It was through his wonderful friends that he found is forever family. Labradoodles thrive with the training methods of Dr. Ian Dunbar. Lick on Dr. Dunbar's photo to learn more about it. Judith Moench, therapist with her therapy dog. The Australian Labradoodle and Allergies We strive to breed puppies that are non-shedding and allergy friendly. If you have concerns about allergies in your house please find more information about the labradoodle and allergies on our Labradoodles and Allergies Information page. They can do this easily because we make sure before they set out on their journey they are crate trained and are old enough to travel. Our puppies stay with us until they are 11 weeks of age. They are spayed or neutered and have had two out of the three sets of vaccinations. They receive Bordatella kennel cough vaccine if they are older and go to play group. International travelers receive a rabies vaccine. Usually puppies travel more easily than many humans, Jean included. Our Australian Labradoodle Puppies who become therapy Dogs Our Labradoodles are trained and temperament tested to be placed as therapy dogs. This is Dr. Contact Us.

While litter box training does not replace a dog's need to run and play outdoors, it can keep your home cleaner with fewer accidents. The type of litter you purchase is extremely important, as a puppy may try to eat it. Choose a natural litter that does not clump to avoid an emergency visit to your veterinarian. With consistency and positive reinforcement, your puppy will be using the litter box on his own every day. Step 1 Choose a location in your home for your puppy's litter box training. If you have been using housebreaking pads or newspaper for your puppy, place the litter pan nearby. Choosing a tile or hardwood floor area is wise to make accidents easy to clean up. Step 2 Fill a disposable cookie sheet or pan with wood pellets or recycled paper litter. A cookie sheet is smaller and therefore easy for a little puppy to climb into and jump out. Wood pellets or litter made specifically for dogs is larger and more absorbent than traditional cat litter. Once it is soiled, it will break down to a sawdust consistency. Step 3 Place your puppy in the litter pan. Continue placing your puppy in the pan hourly. Each time you place him in the pan, give him a vocal cue such as "go on" or "potty. Your puppy may still have a few accidents, or not get his entire body into the box before attempting to use it. Do not punish him for accidents near the box. Instead, continue placing him in the box at regular intervals. Step 4 Replace the cookie pan or sheet with a litter box large enough to accommodate your growing puppy. Place the litter box in the same spot as the disposable pan for consistency, and show the new pan to your puppy. Tips If you notice your puppy begin to relieve himself outside of the pan, make a noise such as a clap or whistle to distract him, and place him in the litter pan. We all know cats are typically the fur family members to use a litter box. But what about dogs? Are there any good arguments for litter box training your canine friend? A dog litter box? Or an artificial grass pad? So I rarely advise pet parents to skip this opportunity. That said, there are a few instances when using a dog litter box is preferable. Is it right for your dog? This is especially true if you have a small dog, or tiny tinkler as I call them, since they often have more difficulty holding their urine than bigger dogs. This leads to more accidents in the house and bigger frustrations, which puts a damper on your relationship. I wrote an entirely different article that goes into more detail about why your dog is peeing in the house. But if you live in an area that sees several feet of snow or is primarily paved and gets very hot, an indoor dog litter box might actually be safer for your pet. You or Your Dog Have Mobility Issues If you or your dog have mobility issues, dog litter box training might be a good idea. Some companies, like doggybathroom. All you need to do is change out the pads and keep the inside clean. This can be a good option for medium-sized dogs that raise their leg to pee. The downside is the cost. The pee pads are disposable and will need to be replaced frequently. If you want to use dog litter, the sides of the litter box should be low enough for your dog to easily step over but high enough to contain the litter. Now what about artificial grass pads? The initial investment for a grass pad like this one is minimal. Can Dogs Use Cat Litter? Yes, technically, dogs can use cat litter. However, cat litter can be harmful if ingested, which is a risk since our canine friends are known to eat strange things from time to time. Dog litter typically consists of larger, more absorbent pellets, which are safer if ingested. Some are also made with recycled material, like wood or paper. Pin me! Whether you choose a litter box or a grass pad, will your dog really use it? This is the million doggie bone question. Can pet parents actually get their pups to use a dog litter box? In many cases, the answer is yes, you can. Trying to contain a Bull Mastiff in a box while they do their business would be quite a feat! And large dogs tend to raise their leg to pee, so the sides of the dog litter box would have to be very high to avoid soaking surrounding objects. Step 1: Find the Right Spot When house training dogs, we usually bring them outside. Do this by getting a paper towel or pee pad containing a little of their urine and placing it where you want them to go. Step 3: Praise Them for Using the Right Spot Again, just as you would do if training a dog to go outside, be sure to give them lots of praise and some training treats when they do their business in the right spot. But with time, your dog will understand how to use their new pee spot. And of course, you want your home to be sanitary. Consider Using Deodorizing Litter Cats have famously used litter boxes for a long time, so pet product manufacturers have developed many unique products that absorb pee effectively and suppress odor. By offering your old dog accessible litter boxes, you can almost eliminate the possibility of accidents, all while empowering your aging dog. By giving your dog a huge amount of praise and an immediate reward, you can override any other thoughts they may have, like a compulsion to mark. Watch for Digging or Coprophagia Dog owners encounter some of the most common issues when litter box training their dogs are digging and coprophagia. Unfortunately, the best way to address these issues is using a different potty training method. Buy a Litter Box With High Sides To avoid accidental spills, you should consider buying a litter box made of sturdy material with high sides. These prevent spills with male dogs since they can block any splashing. A flat litter box tray has drawbacks but is significantly better for large dogs. Generally, you will have an easier time litter box training a smaller dog, as a large dog will have difficulty containing their mess in a cat litter box that is entirely too small for their body. If you are set on litter box training a large dog, you will need to get creative with what you use as the litter box itself — using a large metal tray or a shallow plastic storage bin may be your best bet! A small dog can use a standard large litter box and keep the mess in the potty area. High sided litter box, intened for dog use 4. While litter box training a dog is not for everyone, you can teach your dog how to use one with persistence, treats, and positive reinforcement! How useful was this post? Click on a star to rate it! Submit Rating Please give us feedback on this post: Let us improve this post! Tell us how we can improve this post? Throughout the site, you will find a variety of helpful dog training articles, insightful dog behavior tips, and truthful product reviews from nationally-recognized canine trainers and professionals. Post navigation. It can be a rollercoaster of emotions, with several successes combining with moments of failure to finally reach a desired outcome. Some pups love to go outside to use the bathroom, but some individuals may be resistant to that idea. Some dog breeds are quite adaptive to the idea of litter box training. How do you convince your dog that the litter box is the best place to use the bathroom? It may take several months for some breeds to adapt, but puppies and adult dogs will eventually get to know the process. It is very easy to get the supplies that you need. Certain breeds of dog can excel with litter box training. The process is similar to what you would teach a cat, providing them with a large tray as a place to use the bathroom. If you give your pup a lot of positive reinforcement with this process, then it can be a rewarding experience that controls messes for you. Most breeds can adapt to this training option in a couple of weeks, and some individuals may take to it right away. You can eliminate the threat of urine odors and stains. Dogs that need to go to the bathroom will hold it until they no longer can. Litter box training your pup will help you to manage the problems with liquid waste because they can manage their bathroom needs independently of your presence. Litter box training allows for liquid and solid waste. This option gives your pup an opportunity to relieve themselves of the liquid and solid waste when it is time to go. There are several different varieties of litter from which to choose. Dog litter is similar to the products that you can find for kitties in the store. When you need to replace what is in the tray, then you can find everything from activated charcoal to paper pellets. Simple clay litters are sold almost everywhere to provide pet parents with a suitable entry-level option. If you have concerns about the odors that come from the tray, then try sprinkling some baking soda along the bottom of the box every time you empty it to have more control over this issue. It helps senior dogs who may have bladder control issues. If your dog is over the age of 8, then their senior status can impact how and when they need to relieve themselves. Instead of relying on diapers to manage the mess, you can work with your older pup on transitioning to the litter box. You can reduce the amount of physical pain they experience trying to walk outside, especially if you live in a high-rise apartment. They might not have enough time to let you know they need to go at that age too, so having a usable tray gives you mess containment. You will give confidence to some breeds with this training option. Some breeds, with the Maltese being the most notorious for the issue, can struggle to fully adapt to the idea of going outside. Their small bladder size can make it challenging to get them to a patch of grass on time. Instead of dealing with messes or scolding behaviors, you can create a positive environment that involves the litter tray instead. It works well for small breeds only. A bigger pup also means that more waste products must be managed, which could overwhelm the capabilities of this system. If your dog weighs more than 20 pounds, then you might want to look for an alternative solution for their bathroom needs. Some dogs love to dig in the litter tray. If your dog is a digger, then a litter box is not the best solution for your potty training needs. You will want to watch their behaviors during the training process as well since some individuals like to eat the litter or their waste after leaving it behind. There can be severe odors with a litter box. Cats do well with a litter box because the product absorbs their urine and covers up the odors of their waste — to an extent. Because dogs will leave more waste products behind, this training option can be quite odiferous, changing the entire environment of your home if you live in a small place. You might want to consider litter box training if you have a garage, laundry room, or bathroom that has venting in place that will help you to control air movement if it offers easy access and some privacy. The cost for the initial setup can be high for some pet parents. If you have a larger dog, then you must use a bigger container to hold all of the waste. Liquids will absorb into the litter, which means the container must have some capacity to manage the expansion. Male dogs need to have a tray with high sides. If you decide to pursue litter box training for your dog, then you will need to have a product that offers high sides if you have a male pup at home. There can be enthusiastic leg lifting when it is time to go to the bathroom, so something without the appropriate height will still encourage a mess in your home. Since a pup needs the tray to be low enough for them to step over it as well, this option tends to work better with female dogs unless you have a toy breed as a pet parent. You will need separate boxes for your pets. If you have a dog and a cat at home, then neither one will be satisfied with the idea of sharing a little box. Pet parents who try to force this issue will often encourage their cats to spray urine throughout the room with their little box as a way to mark their territory. Dogs can be the same way. You might even need to have separate trays for each pup at home if you have a pack. Placement away from other items that your dog might think is part of the litter box, like an area rug, scratching post, or another upright item, is essential for success. A dog litter box needs to be cleaned every day. Many pups refuse to use this option if their tray is not clean. The only advantage here for some pet parents is that you get to pick up the waste inside instead of outside. The litter can get into the spaces between the pads and their paw. Unless you use paper products, this waste can cause small injuries that can lead to swelling and infections that could restrict their movement. It will take some time and plenty of patience to teach your dog how to use a litter box. Although some pups never take to this idea very well, most small breeds can eventually learn this skill. Do you really have a house dog if they are spending half of their time outside trying to go to the bathroom?

To get on to our waiting list please see the following: 1. Because of the number of inquiries that we receive and the amount of information that we provide to you, it is preferred that your initial contact be via email. Interested families must fill out a questionnaire before being approved. You will be contacted and advised of your place number on the list, once you have been approved. GGK offers separate lists based on male or female preferences and planned breedings. A non-refundable deposit will be expected by the time the puppies are 4 weeks old to reserve your pick. Once pregnancy has been verified by ultrasound you will be notified. You must respond and comply within one week of this notification to maintain your position on the wait list. Failure to do so will result in a loss of your position on the list. GGK has the rights to first and second choice of puppies from each litter, if we so choose. The Buyer will make their puppy selection when the puppies reach 6 weeks of age. You are always more than welcome to come to our home and make your selection. Actually we prefer that. We will not ship puppies. We will however, arrange for the proper documentation that will allow you to pickup and fly with your puppy home for an additional fee. We think that it is beneficial for you to meet the parents of your new puppy, be able to choose the puppy in person, as well as seeing the environment that he or she has been raised in. However, because we know that this is not always possible due to distance, it is not mandatory. During the visit, puppies cannot be picked up by visitors and proper protocols will be followed to protect the health and wellbeing of the litter. GGK may elect to sell their selection to parties not on the waiting list. After GGK selects if we so choose , then the next selection belongs to 1 position on the waiting list. As dogs are placed, your name will move up the list. Once you are number one on the list, you have the right to select any puppy of the gender you selected or defer until new pups are available for selection. If a Buyer has had to return a dog due to illness or genetic defect, they will immediately become number 1 on the waiting list. Most importantly, we want you to love your GGK puppy as much as we do. This is why we do not require a mandatory deposit before pups are born or force you to take a puppy that may not be exactly what you are looking for. Your new puppy will be a member of your family for years to come. We hope to make this a pleasant and exciting experience for you! This waiting list has been designed to give you the power to choose, which we feel is the way that it should be. His temperament is fantastic. He had his CGC at 9 months. To see more images of Pablo go to instagram and search ggkpablopicasso Pablo is a proven stud and is available to all approved bitches. Please click "learn more" to see his pedigree and clearances. We live on almost forty acres of land in which all of our goldens were happily raised. We find absolute joy in breeding Golden Retrievers. We try are our best to give pups the best health and demeanor. Many years we have raised English Creme Golden Retrievers. The last few years we have added Dark American Golden Retrievers to our program. Please contact us with any questions on how we can serve you, especially by finding a lifelong Arizona Golden Retriever companion. For the past three generations Goldens have been apart of our lives and hope that we can also help you find your perfect forever pet! We strive to let you know all about our Arizona Golden Retrievers. Finding our dogs can be made easier by visiting Our Dogs and clicking on their indvidual links. The Process The process to purchase one or our amazing pups is to contact us! Afterwards, we will reach out with information on what puppies we have available and their rehoming fee. Things to note, there is absolutely no pressure to commit to one of our puppies in the beginning, but if you would like us to secure a puppy for you, we will require a non-refundable deposit. Our puppy is doing great and Maria was awesome in answering questions and accomodating us! Purchasing Question: Are you looking for a male or female puppy? Do you plan on picking up your pup driving , flying to meet us at the airport, or having us ship your pup to you? Questions about you, the buyer: We kindly ask that you reply to the following questions -- these questions are not meant to be judgmental in any way. Please feel free to add any additional comments. Number of members in your family? Do you have children? How many hours a day will the puppy be alone? If so, what provisions will you make for your puppy at that time? Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies? Does anyone who lives in your home, or who is a frequent visitor, a smoker? Do you own a swimming pool? If so, is it fenced separately from the yard, with no entrance under it? Have you put a deposit on a puppy with anyone else at this time? If so who? Do you own your own home or do you rent? If you rent, does your landlord allow dogs? Have you owned a dog before? Do you currently have any pets and age? Will they adapt to another animal in the family? How did you decide on a Golden Retriever? Why do you want a puppy? What will you do with the puppy if it does not work out for you? Where will your dog live? Do you have a fenced yard, or fenced exercise play area for your dog? If not, are you willing to construct one of these before puppy comes to live with you? Do you know that we will not allow a puppy obtained from us to be tied in any manner? Do you understand why we insist on this? Do you understand that Goldens thrive on human attention and cannot be isolated from the rest of the family? Do you understand that a puppy purchased from us must be a part of the family and not be a dog that lives outdoors all the time? What Veterinarian do you plan to use? Do you plan on using a crate to help house-train your pup? If not, how do you plan on house-training? Who will be responsible for the care, grooming, and training of your dog? Are you interested in doing any other type of training with your dog? Obedience, Agility, Hunt Trials, Tracking etc. What do you expect from us, the breeders of your pup? Are you prepared to feed a premium dog food to your dog? Do you understand that we sell all our puppies on a non-breeding contract as required by the Golden Retriever Club of America, that it may not be bred unless this contract is removed by mutual consent? Do you have any problem with natural care and supplements for your dog? Do you agree to all the conditions and state that the information provided by you is accurate and true? We are doing our part to continue improving the "English" type Golden Retriever breed. Please enjoy browsing through our website.

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

We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. In the beginning, the food needs for my Labrador Molly changed dramatically. I worried that I was feeding her too little. As she grew older, I became concerned that I was feeding her too much. So, how often should you feed a Labrador? You should feed an adult Labrador two meals per day. You should feed Labrador puppies three meals per day, unless otherwise stated on the food packaging. It is essential to adhere to food schedules that are consistent for the long-term health of your Lab. You should also be aware of how to handle situations when your dog doesn't want to eat on schedule or doesn't finish its meal. In this article Labrador Feeding Schedules Labrador adults, like most dogs, work well when fed on a schedule. Twice per day is the standard as it allows the dog to eat and digest properly. Puppies will require more frequent feedings, though, as they expend far more energy and smaller stomachs to hold their needed food. If you have a Labrador that gets a lot of exercise, you may want to consider feeding them less food more often, as they will likely feel hungry sooner. Age, size, and the food's nutritional content should determine the amount of food given. Whatever the frequency, it's crucial for your puppy or dog to have a regular feeding schedule. Disrupting this can cause digestive problems that are unpleasant for the dog and the owner. According to Veterinary Centers of America, dogs are creatures of habit that need the security and predictability of their feeding routine. In addition, keeping the feeding schedule consistent helps your pet cope with other changes that may occur within the household. Lastly, never free-feed a Labrador. While Labradors may not technically eat themselves to death , they can certainly make themselves sick if you let them decide how much and how often to eat. This is especially true while you're trying to establish a set routine for when your Lab will eat its meals. Feed Your Lab Less Food More Frequently If you find that your Labrador isn't interested in eating the entire meal in a single sitting, you can add more mealtime if it works for your schedule. To do this, you should take the whole day's meal portion and divide it evenly into the desired number of meals. If you add an extra mealtime, you should serve 1 cup at each of the three meals. In other words, adding another mealtime doesn't mean that you add more food intake to the day's total. Use Interactive Food Dispensers Another option is to use an interactive toy to dispense the food, which may help to keep your dog's attention for the entire mealtime. It is an excellent option to hide food or treats. This particular item is perfect for a Labrador because it will allow your pet to use its intelligence to solve a puzzle and problem-solve while being rewarded with the kibble hidden inside. Although it isn't a good option for every Lab's mealtime, it is an idea for a pup that loses interest in their food before finishing. How Much to Feed a Labrador Your Lab's portions at each meal should depend on a few different factors. First of all, you need to know if your pup is currently at a healthy weight. So the best thing to do in this case is to ask your veterinarian if your Lab is at a healthy weight. If your Lab is not at an ideal weight , you'll need to talk to your vet and amend the feeding plan. You may also consider a specialized food designed to help your dog reach the appropriate weight. Your Labrador's activity level will also impact how much he needs to eat each day. It's always a good idea to consult the feeding guide on your dog food and your veterinarian's advice to make an informed decision. Labrador Feeding Schedule Examples To give you an idea of a standard feeding schedule and meal plan, here is a chart based on the feeding recommendation from Royal Canin's Labrador Retriever dry puppy food : Adult Target Weight:. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As we all know too well, what we put in our belly has a huge impact on our health, vitality, length and quality of life. They have to strike a fine balance between getting enough nutrients to grow and avoiding an over-abundance that can lead to abnormal growth and disabling conditions. In this article you will learn precisely how to feed your puppy. What they can eat, what they should not, how many times you should feed them each day, basic information on home-made diets and the pros and cons of various commercial dog foods. The majority of Labrador owners feed their puppy kibble. Kibble is ground meal, shaped into dried biscuit-like pellets that are extremely convenient to buy, store and feed, providing everything a puppy needs in one easy to handle product. All the major brands carry a range of kibble and many are specifically formulated to suit the precise needs of puppies. For our recommendations of the best puppy food for labs, please read our article on: The Best Food for Labrador Puppies. Good breeders will supply you with all the information you need to feed your new puppy and you should follow this advice. Puppies almost always get upset tummies during a change of diet. The stress of moving to a new home is enough to deal with without them potentially having tummy upset on top. So try to avoid this. But expect your puppy to get diarrhea after such a sudden change. What Can Puppies Eat? With a bewildering choice of different puppy foods available, what to feed your puppy may not be the easiest decision to make. You Can Feed Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is ground up food, formed into pellets and dried for easy storage and convenience. It is a specially formulated, complete and balanced diet, containing everything a puppy needs to grow and be healthy. Many people believe kibble is the best way to feed a puppy, with it being so easy to buy, store and feed while containing every nutrient a puppy needs in the right proportions. Wet, Complete Puppy Foods Are An Option As the name suggests, complete wet dog food is complete and balanced, meaning nothing should be fed in combination. Everything needed is included in this one food. Complete wet foods come in individual pouches or tins with one pouch or tin containing one single serving. In the main these foods are low in nutrition, contain a high amount of cheap fillers, by-products and water and need mixing with a biscuit to give them some substance and to make them more complete. Because the food is such low quality, you have to feed a lot of it. And what goes in, must come out. This type of feeding was popular decades ago and I do remember my parents feeding our first dogs this way, but most people have moved on from this and are feeding their dogs in better ways now. Raw Food, BARF And Home-Made Diets Raw feeding is a diet that consists of mostly raw meat, edible bones and animal organs, though most practitioners also mix in small portions of fruit, veg and selected other foodstuffs. There are many people feel strongly that this is the best possible way to feed a dog. But I would caution most people that to feed this diet successfully, you need to do A LOT of research, gain a lot of knowledge and truly understand a dogs nutritional needs to make sure they get exactly what they need in the right amounts. Many people wonder if they can feed their puppy human foods, anything found in the fridge or larder. Furthermore, there are many human foods that are toxic to dogs that you should avoid at all costs. Too much of some nutrients can be bad in itself, but also prevent the absorption and use of other nutrients too. So supplementing a balanced diet is a bad thing to do. Can You Give Puppies Milk? Assuming you get your puppy at the recommended 8 weeks, they will have been fully weaned before you bring them home. Many puppies are intolerant of cows milk and drinking it leads to an upset tummy and diarrhea so you would do best to avoid giving your puppy any milk at all. One exception is for very young puppies under 6 weeks of age. When we have newborn puppies at our house we sometimes need to supplement and use Esbilac Milk Supplemen t. However, if you have a very young puppy that you think may need supplementing please first consult with your veterinarian. Are They Necessary? You will likely be feeding your puppy a commercially available complete and balanced dog food, in which case you certainly should not supplement their food. Supplementing this will mean too much of one or more things, making it unbalanced which can actually lead to harm. But an excess amount of calcium in the diet of a Lab puppy can lead to skeletal development problems. So adding a calcium supplement to an already complete diet can actually do more harm than good. There may also be times your vet advises you to do so. But if feeding raw, you should know more about nutrition than I do. This is a hard question to answer and sadly I cannot give you a definite quantity or weight to feed them each day. Puppies grow at different rates, some are more active than others and there can be large differences between metabolisms too. However… The biggest determining factor is how concentrated the nutrients and calories are in the brand of food you feed them. High quality foods are nutrient rich and give a puppy all they need from quite small amounts of food. But cheaper brands are full of low quality and nutritionally empty fillers that mean a puppy needs considerably more to get what they need. Start by feeding your puppy according to the guidelines on the label of the puppy food you buy for them. Then see how their body develops. Puppies should not be fat! But at the other end of the scale if they start to look and feel a little slim, up their portion sizes a little. The guidelines on the food you buy are just that…guidelines. You might also be interested in:. How often and what time to feed I will show you the best puppy foods, whether dry, wet, or raw, and look at food safety, together with schedules, quantities and even a handy puppy diet chart. Best Puppy Food for Labs The best Labrador puppy food provides a diet that is nutritious, healthy, and tasty. So, what is the best puppy food for your Lab? Puppy kibble or dried food is the most popular option. Kibble is complete and can give a perfectly balanced diet. Puppy kibble and tinned dog meat combined is another common choice among puppy parents. Feeding your Labrador puppy on home cooked food or on a totally raw diet is also possible. Raw puppy food is growing in popularity, and there are pros and cons to raw feeding your puppy. People often feel very strongly that one way of feeding is better than another, and you can always find evidence to support your view. Dog breeders, veterinarians and even nutritionists have their own strong views. The dire consequences they list for not listening to them can have puppy owners very worried. The truth is that there is no good quality evidence showing that kibble is better for the long term health of your dog, or that raw feeding is better. There are risks and benefits to both, and the main thing is to ensure that your dog has good quality food to eat. Puppy kibble suits some better, and raw puppy food is better for others. Puppy Kibble for your Labrador Puppy food made into pellets is called kibble. An airtight plastic container or tin will do the job, although you should make sure it is food grade quality. Puppy kibble is the best way of feeding your Labrador according to most breeders and your veterinarian is most likely to support this method of feeding. Good puppy kibble will contain every nutrient your Labrador puppy needs in order to grow and remain healthy. The kibble pieces will be tasty, good for keeping teeth healthy, and free from additives that can provoke allergies or stomach problems. Labrador puppy kibble only needs to be fed next to water. Puppy kibble from a reputable manufacturer is intended to be a complete and balanced food. But some owners like to mix in canned dog food or even scraps of raw food with kibble. Your puppy is likely to get an upset stomach or to not have the right balance of nutrition when fed this way. Whether you decide to feed only with kibble or you want to mix it up, pick a good dried food manufacturer and stick with them. Feeding your Labrador puppy raw food has its benefits and drawbacks. One of the downsides is that there is a lot to learn. Here is a link to the articles you need to help you decide whether or not raw feeding is for you: Although I like the raw diet for my dogs, most puppies fed kibble go on to have long and healthy lives. Whatever puppy food you choose, the most important thing is portion control. How Much to Feed your Labrador Puppy? People often tell me how much their puppy weighs, and ask how much puppy food they should give him. Your Labrador is particularly at risk if they grow too quickly. The following diet chart is for kibble fed puppies and does not apply to raw fed pups. It gives you an idea of how much to feed your Labrador puppy Lab Puppy Feeding Chart The Lab puppy feeding chart below is only a very rough guide. The quantity of food you need for your puppy will vary depending on your puppy and on the brand of food you are feeding him. Labrador puppy food must be aimed at medium to large breed dogs. Check the pack carefully and look at the dietary charts. Ideally, you want the optimal protein content and the lowest amount of additives. Part of this always comes down to the cost. The healthiest puppy food is usually the most expensive and may not be affordable for some families. The Cost Of Puppy Food Some puppy food brands are more concentrated than and contain a higher proportion of proteins, essential oils, and other nutrients. The absence of these fillers means that you can often feed lower quantities of more costly food, making them less expensive than they first seem. You might also find that cheaper brands make your puppy poop more due to those extra fillers going straight through him. While some brands are beyond the budget of many families, it is usually good to buy a premium brand. High Quality Brands of Puppy Food Some brands of puppy food have developed a reputation for producing a high quality product and have many devoted supporters, including breeders that have fed them to generations of puppies. The best food for Labrador puppies to consume in their first two to four months of life is milk from their mother. This specialised care is usually left to trained breeders or veterinarians, who are knowledgeable in caring for pups with no mother to nurse from. If you have recently brought a Labrador puppy into your family, they are most likely older than 8 weeks, and so have started to eat solid foods. You can do this by mixing some dry food with specially formulated puppy milk to form a soft mixture. You can feed your puppy this mixture three to four times a day. Over time, you can reduce the amount of milk you include in this mixture, until they are at the point where they are happily eating dry foods. Read on to learn how much you should feed a Labrador puppy as they get older. In their four months living with you, and once they are weaned off milk, Labradors are likely to reach almost half their adult weight. They will reach their full adult weight by the time they are 6 to 7 months old. With this rapid growth can come some risks. Labradors can be susceptible to bone growth disorders, like hip dysplasia and joint abnormalities that can start in puppyhood. Once your Lab puppy hits 6 months, their growth begins to slow down. Once puppyhood is over, you can move to feeding your lab twice a day instead of 3 or 4 times. Labs are still very active in their adolescent years, and so should be fed with this in mind. The transition from puppy food to adult food should happen at around 15 months. This is because, being a breed who grows very quickly, you want to ensure that you are feeding them according to their large breed needs. You need to take special care when considering what you should feed your Labrador puppy, as they require different nutrients compared to their adult counterparts. It is also dangerous for a puppy to overeat. Labradors are large breeds, which means they need plenty of nutrients and calories as they grow to ensure they go from being active puppies to healthy adult dogs. Labrador puppies need to eat food that is high in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are also essential for supporting your active pup. Aside from nutritionally complete dry puppy food, Labrador puppies can benefit from the extra protein that raw meat can provide them with, such as lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish. The amount of food you give your Labrador is determined by their weight, energy levels, and age. For most adult Labradors, around 1, to 2, calories per day from high quality food sources is ideal. Female Labradors, who tend to be around 5 to 10 kilos lighter than males, may need less food, as will less active dogs. Dogs who need less food, whether they are less active or simply older, will usually still need around 1, to 1, calories per day. You may want to alter the amount of food you are feeding your Labrador based on how calorically dense their food is. Adult Labradors should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Their daily allotment of food should be split evenly between these two meals. For most dogs, it is recommended that you exercise your dog before meal times to assist with potty training. However, some dogs may benefit from exercise after eating: especially high energy Labs with a lot of energy to burn off. You should also try to give your Labrador a high quality food that is specially designed for large breeds, especially if they are very active. For example, less active senior dogs will need to eat less food as they will not be burning calories as quickly as a lively little puppy will. Senior dogs may benefit from a higher fibre and lower calorie diet. Your dog may also develop chronic or short term medical conditions that require specially formulated food. For example, Labradors can be particularly susceptible to obesity. As a breed, they tend to be one of the most commonly obese dogs in Australia. This is due to several factors, including a genetic predisposition to unhealthy weight gain and a famously large appetite. However, plenty of Labs suffering from obesity are simply overfed and not getting enough exercise. Choosing a low carb diet is crucial to preventing obesity in your Labrador. If you are unsure about what you should feed your Labrador, you should always consult your vet. They will be able to determine if your dog is suffering from any chronic health issues, and they will be able to create a nutritional plan to help keep your dog healthy and happy for many years to come. Wet food for Labradors is often high in protein and fat, and is better at keeping your dog hydrated than other food sources. Chewing on dry food can be especially good for teething Labrador puppies. A raw diet can be a good option for your Labrador as you have more control over the kinds of food and amount of nutrients your pup is consuming. For this reason, raw diets require a lot more work on your part as an owner. Whatever you decide to feed your Labrador, all dogs need a similar ratio of nutrients in their diets. Different dog breeds will need different kinds of nutrient support as they go through the various stages of their life. It can also be easy to overestimate the amount of food your Labrador needs to stay fit and healthy — especially if they are skilled at begging! You need to make sure that your dog is eating the right amount of food for their breed, their size, and activity level. You should also avoid foods that, while delicious for humans, can be harmful or toxic for dogs. Foods like onions, nuts, alcohol, cooked bones, and artificial sweeteners are commonly included in dinners meant for humans, but can cause serious health issues for your Labrador. No matter how old your Lab is, it is important to keep to a consistent feeding schedule. A feeding schedule can help you keep track of any changes in behaviour around food that might signal illness or physiological stress.

Black Brown A red-colored Labradoodle is the rarest of them all. Much darker than a gold or apricot-colored Labradoodle, they are a similar color to an Irish Red Setter. To be a real red, their nose must be black, not brown. His entire coat should be red, and the hair needs to be the same shade from base to tip. So finding a Red Labradoodle is even more extraordinary. As such, his pricing will reflect this. Labradoodle Colors Explained Although we all have our favorite colors, there are a few things that you need to consider. Firstly, the color should not be your entire basis for choice. Just because there is a pup in the litter that matches your best outfit does not necessarily make it the best match for you and your family. So, it is essential to look beyond the coat color. A reputable breeder will pair you with the pup they think is the best fit for your lifestyle. Even if that is the only color that you want in the litter. For example, a recent study has shown that chocolate-colored Labradors have a significantly lower lifespan compared to their black and golden siblings. They also have a higher rate of skin and ear problems too. White-colored and dilute colors in dogs are also believed to be linked to health concerns. For example, white dogs have an increased chance of deafness and blindness compared to non-white dogs. Diluted colors are also linked to a condition known as Color Dilution Alopecia, which is known to affect standard-sized Poodles. The majority of Labradoodles in these colors, if bred under a reputable breeder, will not be affected or unhealthy. But, if you do get a pup with these colors , make sure you are aware of the symptoms associated with their potential pigment-related conditions. Final Thoughts No matter what color Labradoodle you choose, or whatever shade your Labradoodle pooch grows into, know that you will have a beautiful and bouncy pup. They will brighten up your day for sure. Always work with a reputable breeder, and no matter what color you choose, you should be the recipient of a healthy and happy pooch. See also:. The type of hair might not be a heritage of Labrador Retrievers, but their coat shades might be… at least Lab colors like chocolate, cream, black, and others. All of these hues will be described in the paragraphs below, including the rarest Labradoodle shades that you might not have come across before. Apricot This type of Labradoodle coat color is also known as the golden Labradoodle because it resembles the trademark color of Golden Retrievers. However, the apricot hue is acknowledged as one of the official colors of Poodles — one of the parent breeds of Labradoodles, and the color gene carrier. Apricot Labradoodles are one of the most popular types of this mixed breed mainly because they remind us of fluffy teddy bears. Even though the majority of their coat is colored in the apricot shade, the pigment around the nose, eyes, and paws is usually colored in black or in dark brown. Red Experts in Doodles will immediately know that the red Labradoodles inherited this shade from red Poodles — their parent breed. This shade is quite similar to the apricot color, but Red Labradoodles have a significantly deeper hue. This type of shade could also be described as a mahogany hue because they share almost the same richness in color. Parti Have you ever heard of a Parti Poodle? In order to get a Parti pattern, both parent breeds have to be carriers, which is why this pattern is commonly present only in F1 and F1b Labradoodles and those of higher generations. When looking at a Parti Labradoodle, you can also see tints of silver or blue every once in a while. These pups also have a black nose in most cases, just like the Labradoodle types mentioned above. Cream Cream Labradoodles also known as caramel cream are one of the most prevalent types of Labradoodles, which are often related to white or golden pups, even though their coat is darker than white, but paler than the apricot ones. The color of their fur is supposed to be uniform throughout their entire coat, although some pups might have a little deeper tint concentrated on the areas around the eyes, nose, and mouth. This type of color is often used as a base shade for other Labradoodle colors, such as merle, parti in some cases, although white appears much more often , and Phantom Labradoodles. Therefore, some cream pups might end up with a black or a brown nose, eyes of varying colors, and even paws in brighter or deeper shades. Black This color of Labradoodle is quite popular, but it might not be as common as the cream shade mentioned above. The main reason for that is the fact that the black pigment also comes from a recessive gene, which requires both parent breeds to carry the same color pigment. However, there is no guarantee that a Black Labradoodle will result from two black parent breeds as they might be born in a hazel hue or in a chocolate shade. The highest chances of receiving a black Labradoodle are if black Labradors mix with black Poodles. Everything else will probably end up in a darker shade, but far from the black hue. Blue One of the main misconceptions about blue Labradoodles and blue Poodles is that they are actually colored in blue. This shade can be best described as a dark, shadowy-gray hue, which is quite uncommon. Canines can only have this type of color if they receive the Poodle gene that causes fading of the coat shade. On the other hand, this color can also be a result of a combination of parent breeds that are both carriers of the diluted pigment. Aussie Labradoodles share many similar traits with the Lab and Poodle cross, including coat colors. The dominant nose pigment is brown, which appears only if one parent possesses the same nose color. They are neither white nor cream pups; if these pups stood next to white Poodles, they would look like cream pups. It is not excluded for chalk-white puppies to develop certain health issues related to the eyes, which is a part of the heritage of white albino canines that are prone to deafness and blindness in some cases. Chalk-whites might not develop such serious health conditions, but one of the things that many Labradoodle owners will notice is tear-staining , which can often cause darker patches around the eyes. White Poodles are usually more prone to tear-staining, but it can be noticed in Poodles and their mixes of other bright shades. One of the main reasons why chocolate Labradoodles also called brown are so common is the fact that this is a standard color of Labrador Retrievers. Poodles also carry the brown gene, although this shade is richer and darker than the Lab one. Brown Poodles are usually described as pups with deep, golden-brown eyes and a rich, brown coat that have liver shade on the tips of the hair. This is because the brighter-colored dominant traits have a tendency to obscure the appearance of the darker-colored recessive genes, which is why this phenomenon occurs. The most accurate way to characterize a Chocolate Labradoodle is to say that its hue is somewhere between pecan and mahogany. The main shade is always found at the base of the coat hair while the second hue appears only on the tips of it. The base color can be either black or brown; however, these shades will soon begin to fade, leaving a much lighter coat hue when puppies become adults. Still, some canines might retain a deeper shade on the tips of their hair, which is known as the sable pattern. Silver Labradoodles are quite rare; this shade appears more often as a part of multicolored Labradoodles rather than a single color. They have silver lines that are found all over their body, which makes the coat hair shiny. Are Labradoodles Silver At Birth? Just like blue Labradoodles, silver puppies are born with black coat hair, which makes it difficult to define the exact color of the puppy until they grow older. This is the best way to increase the likelihood of obtaining the desired dog shade. The Merle pattern is defined as a color gene that is responsible for the formation of multicolored spots in a solid base color of a coat. Essentially, it can be said that a merle Labradoodle is nothing more than a Labradoodle in any solid shade, with different hue blotches. Merle is considered to be a complex gene that still intrigues a great number of canine experts. Merle Poodles can be crossed with merle Labradors in order to get this unique pattern, although both of these parent types are just as rare as their cross. Are There Double Merle Labradoodles? This phenomenon can occur in cases where two canines that possess the merle gene are crossed. Unfortunately, puppies with double merle-defined markings are prone to several health issues that include hearing impairment and poor eyesight. This is the primary reason why ethical Labradoodle breeders avoid crossing two merle pups. Therefore, every potential owner should require at least one single-colored parent, and more information on the bloodline of the pup. Gray-colored pups get this hue as they grow older as most of them are born either brown or black. Around the age of two, the coat of a dark Labradoodle begins to take on the appearance of lighter shades. After they completely lose the darker appearance, they take on the gray shade, which might become even lighter during their adult years. These pups are considered gray-colored Doodles despite the fact that they are not technically considered to be Labradoodles. These two colors are similar to the point that many people actually identify them as the same shade. However, that might not be the case. One of the main reasons why these two shades should be considered separate colors is the fact that the silver shade appears in lines on a darker coat while the gray hue covers the entire body. Also, the silver hue might appear only if the coat is black from birth while the gray one appears in deeper brown puppies. Phantom Photo from: miss. Most people have already heard about the Phantom Poodle — a pup with an exceptional coat that is also the parent breed of Phantom Labradoodles. The second color of this combination can be any shade, including cream and silver, along with distinctive white markings that are typically found on the chest, paws, above the eyes, and on the sides of the muzzle. Lavender Photo from: roxthedoodle This is one of the unique shades of Labradoodles that is generally described as a diluted chocolate shade. According to experts, the lavender color appears after the shade of certain chocolate Labradoodles starts to either fade or become brighter. As the Labradoodles grow older, their coat changes from a rich brown hue to milk chocolate until they end up in a lilac-like shade, which can be defined as a grayish hue with a hint of pink. Tuxedo Photo from: welcomeacreslabradoodles This is one of the most popular colors among parti Labradoodles. The reason why these canines are called tuxedos is simply the black and white color combination in which they appear. However, the rest of their body should be colored black. To increase the chances of getting this shade, you will have to combine a Lab of a white coat with a parti Poodle. Black and white pups usually have white color displaying around their eyes, nose, and on the top of their head, which never appears in a tuxedo pattern. What Are Abstract Labradoodles? This type of Labradoodle is a pooch that has several shades on their coat. Essentially, it can be any shade mixed with white color. However, the white hue should cover less than half of their body in order for a pup to be defined as abstract. Most people might find this answer rather confusing as they might have seen Labradoodle pups with a red coat often. However, a red Labradoodle will not be considered complete if it has a nose pigment that is different from black. Also, this type of doggie will need to have a solid-base red shade, which will not have any darker or brighter points on any part of the coat. This shade is believed to possess the most dominant gene, which is transferred from parent breeds to pups. Chocolate and white pups are right behind, along with apricot and cream shades. Although this might seem unlikely, in some cases, certain shades can have an impact on the life expectancy of Labradoodles. Labradoodles have the same lifespan as Poodles — 12 to 15 years, which is a great thing considering that Labrador Retrievers usually live up to 12 years only. However, the lifespan of Labradoodles might be shortened with the occurrence of serious health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, eye issues, or any other condition that can have a negative effect on their life. Wrapping Up I hope this guide through all the Labradoodle colors has helped you finally understand the differences between different types of these wonderful crossbreeds. All Labradoodles deserve to have a loving home just as much as every other canine regardless of their shades. The most common Labradoodle colors are black, cream and gold. Black Labradoodles are common finding generally one per litter. These Labradoodles represent the base price for a dog within this breed. The color of a cream Labradoodle can vary between different shades with some having red tinges through their coat. Although the color cream may vary the whole coat should be one consistent color. Apricot Labradoodles are often born with lighter colored coats that darken over time while others that are born apricot in color develop to have a light cream coat. The entire strand of fur on a golden Labradoodle should be the same color. Golden Labradoodles often fade as they grow. These dogs are neither common or rare. These Labradoodles should hold their color until adulthood. The chocolate colored Labradoodles tend to be a popular choice. Their coloring should be even. Chocolate Labradoodles often appear almost black at birth. A parchment should not have other colors mixed into the fur. Large blotches of any color on white make for an acceptable Parti colored Labradoodle. The hardest to breed and come by is the red Labradoodle. Any combination of two colors is acceptable as long as they have the distinctive markings. A black and gold phantom is among the most common. These dogs are on the rarer spectrum. These Dogs are on the rarer spectrum. While gold is a common color, the birth of a Labradoodle with a deep red coloring is as rare as they come. A red Poodle is unusual making a red Labradoodle even harder to come by. The roots of a red Labradoodle should match the tips. Red Labradoodles are hard to breed and even harder to come by. Red Labradoodle Puppy and Adult The range of Labradoodle coat colors is extensive although no matter which puppy you pick, Labradoodles make loving life long friends. Related posts:. The Labradoodle is a blend between his parent breeds, namely the Labrador Retriever and any type of Poodle dog. These mixed breed dogs can take on any of their parent coat colors or a combination thereof. As these are not purebred dogs, you can even find various colored puppies within the same litter, making it quite impossible to predict what color a puppy will turn out. You can look at the parent dogs to get some idea of what color puppies are most likely. In these dogs, lighter colors are the more dominant genes. When looking at Labradoodles, an F1 dog is a first-generation cross, meaning they are the direct descendant of Labrador Retriever and Poodle parents. These dogs have the most unpredictable coats. F1B dogs, however, are a cross between an F1 Labradoodle and a Poodle making their coat colors easier to predict. Do their coats change colors as they age? The coat of many Labradoodles will fade or get dimmer from around two or three years. A week-old brown Labradoodle puppy In fact, this is one breed of dog that is quite notorious for having its coat change color as it ages. Most of the time, the coat fades or gets lighter as your Labradoodle grows. Do Labradoodle puppies get lighter or darker? This is a process known as clearing. The 3 Most Common Labradoodle Colors Typically when you see Labradoodle puppies being advertised, they are one of three standard color variations. These are the most common colors in a litter and thus the most readily available. Cream The Cream Labradoodle has a coat that is like an off-white, not quite the brilliant white of a white Labradoodle but not the deep rich gold of the Apricot Labradoodle. The entire coat is the same cream color; this dog will have a black or brown nose and black or brown eyes. The cream can sometimes be a bit darker around the face. Breeders lovingly refer to some dogs with brown noses as caramel creams. Gold or Apricot Source: lady. They are slightly darker than their cream counterparts. The whole coat will be the same color with a black nose and black or brown eyes. Meet an adorable eight-week-old Apricot Labradoodle in this video: 3. This is one of the most common colors for the Labradoodle cross, and generally, most litters will have at least one black puppy even if the rest are light in color. The 5 Standard Labradoodle Colors and Patterns Alongside the above three common Labradoodle colors, another five colors are also not unusual to find in a litter. Although they are not as common as the above three colors, they are also not rare and so fetch average prices. The white shade is prevalent across the entire coat but can sometimes be darker on the face, particularly around the mouth. The light coat of these dogs is quick to pick up tear stains which are darker patches around the eyes. Like the Cream Labradoodle, these dogs will have a black or brown nose and eye color. The shade is so dark that it can appear black at birth, but the chocolate color usually is visible within a few weeks. They typically have brown noses and brown eyes, although rare blue-eyed chocolate dogs sometimes do occur. These particular pups are very sought after and will fetch a high price tag. Like the Chocolate Labradoodle, however, the shade can appear darker at birth, lightening as the dog ages. In their senior years, their coats can even have a blue-grey tinge. Like the Chocolate Labradoodle, they usually have brown eyes and a brown nose, although blue eyes are known to occur occasionally. The coat is typically white with large patches or spots of another color. The most common colors for these patches are red and chocolate. It is a light, watery brown, almost like a weak cup of coffee. Around his face, nose, and ears, the color can be darker. The tips of the hair are also often lighter than the base, making him appear as if his coat has two tones. Is it okay to get a rare color of this breed? Unfortunately, some unreputable breeders advertise their puppies as rare colored dogs only to discover otherwise when the dog is shipped to you, so be sure to do your research thoroughly. Also, some breeders will mate rare-colored siblings to get more puppies of these unique colors. This inbreeding is dangerous as it can lead to many health problems. Phantom refers not to the actual color of the dog as these puppies can be any color, but they need to have distinct phantom markings. These include patches of a second color above the eyes, on their chin, to the side of their muzzle, and on the chest. The most common color variant is a black and gold Phantom Labradoodle. Abstract Unlike the Phantom Labradoodle, which must follow a strict set of markings, the Abstract Labradoodle has no pattern at all. These dogs are simply an abstract mix of any of the above-mentioned Labradoodle colors. If a dog is majority white, then he is considered to be a Parti-colored Labradoodle and not an Abstract Labradoodle. These dogs are noticeably darker than the Apricot Labradoodle. Their color resembles that of the Irish Red Setter. To be considered an authentic Red Labradoodle, a dog should have a black, not brown, nose, and his hair should be one color from base to tip. The only way to get this shade is to breed a Red Poodle with a Fox Red Lab , and both of these dogs are extremely hard to come by, making the Red Labradoodle incredibly uncommon. As such, they are costly. What are Other Labradoodle Colors? Here are a few more colors of the Labradoodle. Caramel Labradoodle: Caramel-colored dogs vary between light yellow and dark red and have liver noses. The difference between caramel dogs and cream, apricot, gold, or red dogs is their nose. Blue Labradoodle: These pups are born black with a blue tinge to their fur. The blue shade becomes more prominent as your dog ages, developing into a deep smoky blue that covers the entire coat of the dog. Silver Labradoodle: These dogs are born black but develop into Silver Labradoodles within the first couple of years. The color sits between a light grey and dark charcoal, and there is sometimes even a layering in the coat. These dogs have black eyes and black noses. Black and White Labradoodles have very distinct features: a black body and white chest, muzzle, and head. On the other hand, Tuxedo Labradoodles have a white tummy and legs with a black face and back. Grey Labradoodle: These dogs are similar to the Silver Labradoodle. They are born chocolate or black, and at around two years old, they start to fade to grey. If they have a lighter skin color, then their coat will probably fade as they age. Lavender Labradoodle: This dog has a smoky chocolate lavender coat that almost looks pink or lilac in a particular light. As puppies, they appear to be chocolate in color, and then the lavender color develops within the first few years. Their eyes and nose are a rose color. Cafe Labradoodle: Cafe is a coffee-looking color that can vary from a deep beige to light milk. The nose of these dogs is rose. What are Other Labradoodle Coat Patterns In addition to all of the above coat colors for the Labradoodle cross, you can also see some unique patterns on the coat of this gorgeous dog. This includes sable, merle, brindle, and various other unique combinations. These dogs are born all black but change to cream or white as they age. They typically keep some black patches on their body as they age, such as their ears. Merle Source: lucy. While they may look beautiful, these dogs generally suffer from a host of health problems such as visual impairment, hearing problems, and even bodily disfigurements. Are Blue Merle Labradoodles rare? Merle Labradoodles only occur when the parent dogs carry the recessive Merle gene. These tiger stripes are most obvious on their back and legs. This type of pattern is not very common with the Labradoodle breed. Do their colors affect their behavior? Thankfully, the Labradoodle crossbreed is known for its friendly, loving nature. These dogs are also incredibly loyal, intelligent, and playful, making them excellent family pets. Do their colors affect their health? Yes, the different Labradoodle colors can have an impact on the health of a dog. For instance, Chocolate Labradoodles are more prone to developing skin and ear problems and generally lead shorter lives than their more common Gold and Black counterparts. White-colored dogs also present with several health ailments, including an increased risk for blindness and deafness. Each coat type must be brushed at least twice a week. If your dog has the curly coat type of the Poodle breed for which Labradoodles are most well known, they will also need to be professionally groomed and cut every few months. As these dogs typically have a lot of hair in their ear canals, they can easily pick up infections and debris. As you can see, there are many coat colors to choose from when selecting a Labradoodle puppy. You might opt for the popular Gold Labradoodle, seek out a rare Red Labradoodle, or instead choose a striking Parti-colored or Abstract Labradoodle that has unique patterns on his coat. That said, color should not be the only factor you consider when choosing a Labradoodle for your home. A good breeder will pair you with a puppy that will match your lifestyle and not just your color choices. Do you have a Labradoodle at home? What coat color did you choose, and did he keep his coat color from puppyhood through to being an adult dog? Raised by a bundle of botanists, researchers, and biologists, she is passionate about things related to the animal kingdom, including, our furry friends. However, as a terrible allergy sufferer, she is limited in her pet selection and so has grown up surrounded by curly-haired Poodles. Leave a Comment. Tweet on Twitter Your red Labradoodle is a unique dog! Of course, you probably already know this! One glance at that cute face and sweet eyes is usually all it takes. From coat to color, personality to temperament, grooming to health. What is a Red Labradoodle? The Red Labradoodle as a Hybrid But what you need to know first is that, underneath all that fur, your Labradoodle dog carries genes from two purebred dogs. The Standard Poodle and the Labrador Retriever. This is why the Labradoodle is called a hybrid breed as it has parents from two different purebred lineages. There is technically no such thing as a purebred Labradoodle. A red Labradoodle that has one miniature Poodle parent and one Labrador Retriever parent is called a mini-Labradoodle. Because the Labradoodle is a hybrid dog breed that was first developed in Australia, sometimes this dog is also called the Australian Labradoodle. Red Labradoodle Genetics Canine genetics can be a complicated topic. Luckily, only Labradoodle breeders need to master the genetic issues that can help breed the healthiest pups. Every dog has two pigments: black eumelanin and red phaeomelanin. This is because dogs also inherit other genes that can change these two colors. Some genes will change black until it looks brown, blue, grey or some variation. Others will modify red until it looks yellow, golden, cream, orange, tan or some variation. So this explains how the red Labradoodle gets that red-spectrum coat. But what determines eye and nose color? Eye and nose color in your Red Labradoodle Eumelanin is the gene that determines nose and eye color. Other genes can change the black of eumelanin until it appears brown, hazel, amber, or some other color. A well-bred, true hybrid red Labradoodle will always inherit dark brown eyes and a black nose. The Australian Labradoodle Association of America has some great pictures that show the different eye and coat colors that Labradoodle dogs can inherit. Hybrid dog breeding is not a new science. Nearly every purebred dog breed we know and love was originally a hybrid one! In the case of the Labradoodle hybrid dog, this influence comes from the Standard Poodle and Labradoodle Retriever. This is why it is so important to meet and interact with both parent dogs before making a commitment to a puppy from a particular litter. Luckily, both Standard Poodles and Labrador Retrievers are great family dogs who are good with children and incredibly smart, loyal and people-focused. This is one primary reason why the Labradoodle has become such a popular choice! Red Labradoodle Health At the time of publication, there is no research suggesting that Labradoodle health is influenced by coat color. There is a genetic screening test for this. The test can determine whether a Labradoodle puppy is a non-carrier not at risk , a carrier not at risk but can pass the gene along to puppies or at risk. The reason this is important is that an Australian Labradoodle who is a carrier or at risk may be more likely to develop genetic alopecia. A heritable hair loss condition that typically shows up between the ages of 4 months and 24 months. Alopecia related to coat color dilution causes breakage of the hair shaft and increases the potential for bacterial infections folliculitis. The best way to pick the healthiest puppy is to learn all you can about known genetic health issues in each parent dog and ensure your breeder has done all required pre-testing. Other recommended tests include cardiac, thyroid or sebaceous adenitis SA. Known Labrador Retriever genetic health issues Labrador Retrievers that will be bred should first be tested for hip and elbow dysplasia, exercise-induced collapse EIC , eye issues and D locus dilute DNA. Red Labradoodle Grooming Any Labradoodle dog may inherit one of three coat types: wool, fleece or hair. Wool Labradoodle coat type The wool coat type is the most like a typical Poodle coat — dense, wiry, curly and mostly non-shedding. This coat type is the most difficult to maintain because shed hair can quickly cause tangles and mats. Expect plenty of at-home and professional brushing and grooming! Fleece Labradoodle coat type The fleece coat type gets its name from its feel — silky with soft waves or curls. This type may not shed or shed seasonally. This coat type can be looked after fairly easily at home with regular brushing and clipping to keep hair out of the eyes, ears, paw pads and private areas. Hair Labradoodle coat type The hair coat type is longer and straighter and more like a traditional Labrador Retriever coat. This coat will shed, emit an odor and could trigger allergies in those sensitive. Regular brushing will also be essential to keep shedding manageable. What determines red Labradoodle coat type? Which coat type your red Labradoodle inherits will depend on each purebred parent dog. In general, F1 breeding programs will produce the greatest variation in coat types in a litter. Different Labradoodle breeding program types Different Labradoodle breeders may choose to specialize in earlier, later or multi-generation Labradoodle breeding programs. Early-generation breeding programs are called F1 or F1b programs. These will breed by crossing a purebred Standard Poodle with a purebred Labrador. While F1b programs will cross a purebred Poodle with a hybrid Labradoodle. There is now also an F1bb breeding program that crosses a purebred Standard Poodle with an F1b Labradoodle. These puppies have a very high likelihood of having a non-shedding adult coat. Later-generation breeding programs are called F2 or F2b. These programs will cross two early-generation hybrid Labradoodle parent dogs. Multi-generation breed programs are called F3. This type of breeding program crosses later-generation hybrid Labradoodle parent dogs. Labradoodle coat type genetic test Knowing what type of breeding program your puppy comes from impacts coat type, which is one of the main reasons why Labradoodles have become so popular. No dog is truly hypo-allergenic, unfortunately, although this is still a popular marketing ploy some breeders may use. How to pick a Reputable Labradoodle Breeder Feeling sure you are selecting a reputable, health-focused Labradoodle breeder can be nerve-wracking, especially if this is your first time choosing a breeder to work with. This article offers 41 ways to spot a bad breeder. This article offers expert tips on how to pick a good breeder. Your Red Labradoodle We hope you have enjoyed learning more about your red Labradoodle dog! Are you sharing your life with a red Labradoodle or do you plan to in the future? Do you have more questions that we can help you answer? Please share your stories and questions in the comments section below! More Great Guides. This color can do some interesting things! It can fade into at least three distinct, official Labradoodle colors! Go figure!! I have had one of my chocolate girls turn completely Lavender on her body but not the head, then within a year, go completely back to dark chocolate. So, like a good Boy Scout, when you purchase a chocolate Labradoodle, be prepared for anything! All are lovely, but they are almost impossible to predict with any significant degree of accuracy. Once again, be prepared for anything! Chocolate Colors Now we get to the fun part; the color combinations! This is where things get interesting. Partis can come in any color, with either color nose. Some are mostly white, while some have lots of color and less white. The ones that are mostly white are called "Extreme" Partis. The variations are endless and unique, like a snowflake. The colors, such as chocolate, on a parti can change in the same ways that they would on a solid dog. Often confused with "Parti" is a dog with heavy white mismarks or a Tuxedo. White mismarks can be very small or very heavy, or anywhere in-between. The puppy is born either Black or Chocolate and immediately begins to lose the dark color, revealing anything from a cream to a red underneath! The tips of the fur may retain their dark cast, but the dog will present as somewhere on the cream-red spectrum. I have included her picture below showing her in the middle of the changing process. The genetics of color are absolutely fascinating!

Either way, this section will cover 10 fun things to do with your Pug that will be a blast for both of you. Some of these are perfect if you want to stay at home and others are ideal if you want to get out and about with your Pug. Did you know that the average adult dog can understand approximately words or short phrases? But, even more amazing is that canines are capable of knowing many more. A Border Collie named Chaser knew more than words! Just by speaking the name of objects, your Pug will catch onto some words. But, to speed up learning, have several teaching sessions per day. The only things you will need for this are the objects that you want your Pug to know by name and some training treats. Since Pugs are prone to weight gain, this is a great low-calorie option. For these fun teaching sessions, set out 3 objects onto the floor. Pick up each one, clearly enunciating the word for it. Then, ask your Pug to get one that you call out. This is a great way to increase the bond you have with your Pug while offering your canine family member the gift of self-confidence. And, if your Pug has those down pat, you can both have tons of fun by moving onto tricks. Pugs can learn all sorts of things including roll over, play dead, dancing, praying, hoops, and much more. A great book for this is Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities , which has easy-to-follow instructions with helpful color photos of each step for both commands and tricks. Cuteness break! This is a great way to have fun with your Pug inside the home, and particularly on a rainy day when you want to prevent boredom for the both of you. Have a helper hold them. Or set up a gate or similar object across a doorway, leaving a small opening, then distract your Pug by tossing an item of interest toward the back end of the room. Your Pug may catch on to this method of distraction rather quickly and that's okay, many dogs will voluntarily be 'distracted' so that their human can hide. Here are some tips to keep this fun: 1 Always plan your hiding spot so that your dog doesn't catch you standing in a room while you wonder where to stash yourself. Behind a sofa or behind a door is a good choice. By the 5th or 6th time, you should be a couple of rooms away, completely out of view. Some good places? The bathtub with the curtain drawn, a closet with the door slightly open, or underneath blankets. This leads to wanting to play the next day. Puzzle games are a fantastic way to have fun with your Pug. There are many types of puzzle games for dogs. For example, the Trixie Flip Board is a flat floor-based puzzle where you hide treats behind compartments and teach your Pug how to nose or paw the various covers, flippers, sliders, and knobs. And, the Trixie Gambling Tower is a see-through tower on a sturdy base that holds treats that are released when your Pug learns to tug on the connector ropes. With these types of fun games, just remember that your Pug is not meant to play alone. It will be your job to show your Pug what to do and offer happy words to encourage them to keep trying or praise when they eventually catch on. Penny, at 5 months old, photo courtesy of Jamie 5: Have fun with bubbles. Many dogs find it thrilling to chase after bubbles and it can be a great way to get your Pug moving and meeting exercise requirements. If you manually blow bubbles for your Pug, this can be done either indoors or outdoors. Depending on the season, it can be a great time to go strawberry picking, apple picking or even explore a pumpkin patch. Often, apple orchards also have peach trees and other fruit trees to fill in between apple season. It can be a great way to do something new with your Pug and afterward or during , you can sample the fruit. Strawberries are safe for dogs to eat. Peach and apple can be given to dogs if you cut out pieces only the core, seeds and pits are toxic. Some dogs will chase after anything that is thrown; but, others need a bit more incentive. If you want to get your Pug to really enjoy a game of fetch, it helps to do this with something novel and exciting. This is a set of 3; All have flashing lights and make silly noises. Each has a different texture, soft rubber, hard rubber, and soft nubs which makes it easy to mouth. And, another terrific option is a Chuckit! Flying Squirrel Toy. These are perfect for Pugs, since they are designed for short-range flight and they spin in the air which helps trigger a chase response. With fetch, keep in mind that your level of enthusiasm plays a big role. Be involved and alert, and speak in an animated, happy tone. Just remember that fetch toys are designed specifically for throwing and retrieving and typically are not sturdy enough to be chew toys; so, reserve this just for when you are playing fetch with your Pug. There are lots of restaurants that allow dogs , either inside the eating establishment or outdoors on a patio. Some places even have menu items specifically for dogs. Pugs will be sedentary if allowed to be and it is true that overexertion is not a good thing for brachycephalic breeds. But, Pugs need daily exercise just like any other dog to manage weight, maintain muscle mass, and keep the heart strong. Going on hikes can be a fun way to get your Pug moving, all you need to do is choose the right route and prep your Pug for safety. These will be short usually 1 to 3 miles in total , have well-established trails mostly free of rocks, roots and other hazards, and have very little elevation gain. During those times, offer cool water. The container itself is stainless steel construction which makes it very durable. This has a neat design where a connected BPA-free section flips up and into a bowl. As you may know, brachycephalic breeds like the Pug should never be on leash and collar. A collar around the neck, especially when connected to a leash, can severely impede breathing. Harness are a much safer option. The neck is free and pressure from the leash is displaced over the shoulders, chest, and back. As added bonus, it is much easier to control and lead a dog when using a harness. This is lined for comfort and also made of a breathable air-mesh which helps keep a dog cool. These start at size extra-small for young pups and go up from there. And, this is available in 13 different colors so that your Pug will always look stylish. You'll want to pair the harness with a retractable leash so that you can let your Pug out and reel him in as needed without having to fumble with the cord. Most hiking spots close at sunset, so you will want to leave plenty of time to ensure that you and your guy or gal are done with time to spare. Miss Moo, at 12 years old, photo courtesy of Jerry, Shelly and Taylor Koltz Choose an activity to celebrate the season. Have fun with your Pug by making the most out of whichever season it happens to be. In the summer, take your Pug to a dog-friendly beach to walk along the shoreline. In the spring, head out for a picnic. In autumn, rake up a pile of colorful leaves and jump into it together. In the winter, bundle up your Pug and play in the snow for up to 20 minutes. You may also like: Pugs with Itchy Skin - The top leading causes of the frustrating problem, along with exact steps to resolve things. Top 10 Pug Eating Issues - It's not uncommon for this breed to have some sort of eating problem; see the top 10 along with exact steps to resolve them. Best Shampoos for Pugs - What you use during the bath will have lasting effects on skin and coat health, how long your Pug smells good, and more. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. We all understand that walks, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinarian visits keep our Pugs healthy. What about the physical and mental activity? Pugs start playing as soon as they can move around in the litter. Pug Puppies Need their Mates Of course, we all want our puppies now! If you find a breeder willing to give up her pups at six weeks, understand this is not good for your Pug puppy. Many breeders will wait until ten weeks before you can pick up your puppy. Puppies should not be taken from their littermates before eight weeks. As adults, they may have behavior problems, be more fearful or anxious. Being with Mom and brothers and sisters teach a puppy a lot about life. Play starts in the litter between 2 and 4 weeks of age. Puppies play with each other and their mothers. They learn social skills as they play fight, biting one another and their mother. When a bite is too hard, someone yelps. If the pup that did the biting refuses to stop, the Pug puppy that just got bite will refuse to play. This way, Pug puppies learn to control their biting. In the litter Pug puppies, learn to restrain their aggression. They learn to submit to others and cooperate. They are overall friendlier and more socially adjusted. Games for Pugs with people are essential for Pug puppies. They are more social and fun to have around when they become adults. Pugs Need to Play with Humans Dogs need to play. We need to get off our butts and have a good time. We, humans, tend to forget about the importance of having a good time. I grew up in a time when kids went outside for hours at a time, into the fields and the woods. I would take my mutt dog with me, and we would have fun. He was my trusted pal. Playing like that was the best thing for both of us. Keeps your Pug calm and well-behaved at home. These Pug dogs whine less and jump on people less. They also experience less aggression and anxiety. Games for Pugs help to build confidence in shy Pugs. It wards off boredom. Play helps to build social skills. Play strengthens the bond between you and your Pug. It makes you happy. It makes your Pug so happy!!! For example, hide it behind a table leg while you are in plain view of your Pug. If your Pug is treat driven, which most Pugs are, she will find the treat pretty quickly. Now put the treat in a nearby room and say find it. You can walk in the general area of the treat, but do not point it out to him. It could make her dependent on you to find the treat. She will learn to wait for you to find it for her. She also has to use her brain to get it. This is one of my favorite of the games for Pugs. Running Games for Pugs Dogs love to run. Even our flat-faced little Pugs love to run and play. Mimi and Lulu love to go in the fenced back yard and go after each other. First, Lulu is chasing Mimi, and then they seem to switch naturally. Lulu often gets the Zoomies while Mimi and I look on. It is so fun to watch her run around the house in glee. One running game that is easy and rewarding is to have Mimi and Lulu sit and stay. I go on the other side of the yard. I call them to come, and they come tearing across the yard. This usually ends in lots of petting and praise. Sometimes I mix it up with a treat, just to keep it interesting. Running games for Pugs are easy to make up on your own. I will sometimes use a treat to switch out the toy to the treat. Make sure you give her that recovery time. Chasing is fun exercise, and it keeps them in good cardio shape. Tug Games for Pugs Tug is one of the fun games for Pugs when played correctly. Let your Pug dog take one side of the rope toy or whatever you have decided to use. Let your Pug dog pull on the toy and move it gently from side to side. Do not jerk the toy up and down as this could cause spinal injury. Do not move the toy vigorously. They need to be old enough to understand that it is only to be played with gentle movements. Pugs love this game and let them growl away like the big dogs they think they are! Mind Games for Pugs Mental exercise is good for Pugs of all ages. It is especially good for senior Pugs who may be bored and less able to be physically active. Mind games are great games for Pugs. They create confidence and strengthen his relationship with you. You and your Pug as you work together work as a team. He gets a mental work-out keeping him mentally fit. Playing the game with you is a rewarding experience. He gets to show off and sharpen his excellent problem-solving. Try a Bob-A-Lot. Fill the food with is dinner. This is for feeding his entire meal. Not only will it keep him mentally active, but it will slow down his eating. Many Pugs have problems with gulping their food. There are plenty of interactive dog toys on Amazon. Check them out and read the reviews to see which one might be best for your Pug dog. The Shell Games for Pugs The shell game is a fun game for mental activity. With Pugs, they use treats. They are not actually following the treat by sight as a human would with a coin. But it does help with their problem-solving skills. Steps to Play the Shell Game with your Pug Use 3 cups and some great smelling treats Put a treat under one of the three cups while your Pug dog watches Shuffle the cups around Be patient as your Pug dog tries to find the cup with the treat underneath When she selects the right cup, she gets to eat the treat Jumping Games for Pugs Yes, our Pugs can jump. Teaching your Pug to jump over things will build muscles and confidence. Even if your Pug never wins first place on the agility team, this trick will be a lot of fun. Make it fun. STEP 1. Put the broom or stick on the ground. Put a treat on the stick and let her eat it. STEP 2. Place a treat on the far side of the stick, so your Pug dog has to step over it to get the treat. If he tries to go around the stick, pick up the treat. Again, put the treat back down until he steps over the object to get it. Be sure to use a lot of verbal praise when he accomplishes this. Repeat this several times. STEP 3. Continue with one treat each time he crosses over the stick. STEP 4. Use a book on each end and raise the stick one inch high. Practice until he is comfortable going over that height. STEP 5. Repeat going over two inches. Before moving up an inch, be sure your Pug dog is comfortable crossing over at that height. STEP 6. Eventually, your Pug dog will have to jump to get over the stick and get his treat. Get the stick to the highest limit that your Pug can jump over. STEP 7. When your Pug is solid with this trick, try having him jump over other objects. Keep it safe and fun! There are many different jumping games for Pugs. Just use your creativity. Your Pug may get very excited while playing games for Pugs. You reward the behavior by your happy voice and continuing to have fun. Instead, remember to use whatever verbal cue you have taught down, stop, etc. Other behaviors include nipping, biting, grabbing things out of your hands, running away. You may have running away as part of a game, but make sure your Pug knows the difference. He only gets to run away when you request it. For example, he cannot run away when he gets in the laundry basket and gets your socks. Watch his body language. Stop that game. You can try again later with the original game but take it more slowly. We all get busy and tired. Pugs need minimal exercise. Picking one of these games a couple of times a day keeps our Pugs physically and mentally active. A chase game is only going to be 20 minutes, max. This includes breaks, so your Pug dog does not get overheated. A game of tug can be played after dinner while you have the TV on. A jumping game can keep him mentally and physically active. And what a cool trick to show your friends when they come over. A trick is always much more entertaining when a Pug does it. Now get off the couch and go play a game with your Pug!

The protein will come from readily available sources such as chicken or beef, and not exotic or boutique sources like kangaroo or venison as you saw in second study mentioned above. According to the AKC , quality, regulated animal byproducts can be good for your dog. These byproducts can include organ meats or entrails, which often contain more nutrients than, say, plain chicken breast. Another misconception is that dogs should eat grain-free diets. As you saw in the second study mentioned above, that can actually be very harmful for your dog and cause DCM. But food labels can be a little vague and confusing, so below is an explanation of what some of these terms mean, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual and the AKC. There is one caveat though. For instance, flaked corn, ground corn, and kibbled corn could be sprinkled in an ingredient list and not be listed as the first few ingredients, but in reality, if you were to add them all up they are all corn, after all , you might find that this food is made mostly of corn. The same goes for chicken, chicken meal, and chicken byproduct. Meat vs. Meat Meal vs. The quality of these ingredients can vary widely, so be sure to talk to your vet about this and choose a reputable brand of food. Below are a few examples: Obesity. Golden Retrievers love food and they do have a tendency to become overweight if you let them. This problem can often affect these next two problems… Joint issues. Golden Retrievers are prone to joint issues and growing too fast because they eat too much can often make this problem worse more on this in the next section. Heart issues. Skin issues. Golden Retrievers are prone to hot spots and excess protein in their diets can be a factor that causes them. Many goldens suffer from food allergies. One cup of Brand X food may have calories per cup, while Brand Y has calories per cup. During a vet visit our veterinarian said he looked too small and lethargic for a puppy his age about 8 weeks at the time , and he recommended we feed him a little more. As far as how often to feed your puppy, this same rule applies. For us, we fed Oliver three times per day until he was a little over a year old. Getting a Golden Retriever Puppy? Get the gameplan for raising them right with the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook. Those two statements may sound random, but they are related. According to the Banfield Pet Hospital , overfeeding your Golden Retriever can cause them to grow too fast and increase their risk of hip dysplasia. You probably noticed that a raw diet was the fourth-most popular diet Golden Retriever owners feed their dog. Since puppies are growing and adults are just maintaining their weight, they have different dietary needs. And for fats, puppy food should have at least 8. As far as when to switch from puppy food to adult food, talk to your veterinarian. To see a list of other milestones your puppy will hit like when they lose their first teeth, or when their coat is fully grown check out this timeline of Golden Retriever puppy milestones. Like most of the other questions in this post, this is something to talk to your veterinarian about. Many foods will have the same vitamins that pills have already in them, but on the other hand, some breeders require that you give your puppy vitamins for their health guarantee to be valid. First, we unknowingly started him off on one of the brands listed in the graph above that is correlated with DCM. Then we switched to another brand that he just sort of liked. If we were to have another puppy, we would definitely start with the Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy food. How To Switch Food Brands The other day I was talking to someone who was complaining that her puppy was having lots of stomach issues. Dogs have sensitive stomachs so if you want to switch foods, you need to do it slowly. You should take about a week to transition from the old food to the new brand. Also consider how long the brand of food has been around, whether or not there have been any recalls of that brand, and if there is any research behind it. What do you feed your Golden Retriever puppy? Have any questions about what to feed them? Let me know in the comments below! Related articles:. Read the full disclosure here. Being a large and energetic dog, your golden retriever has a ravenous appetite and can eat a lot. However, overfeeding is never good and could be avoided with the help of a golden retriever feeding chart. Knowing how much to feed your golden retriever is always tricky but essential for their well-being and health. Goldens are prone to obesity and joint problems, which can only be exacerbated with an inadequate feeding plan. So, stay with me to find the right feeding plan and meal schedule for your goldie. Most first-time owners think their puppies should be chubby. In truth, golden retriever puppies are supposed to look lanky and act like they are always hungry when fed the correct amount of food. To encourage proper growth and development without making your pup obese, you will have to know how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. For example, cheaper foods use fillers and have a smaller amount of calories, thus you will have to feed more than you would when using premium large breed puppy foods. They are growing quickly, so while they eat smaller quantities of food than adult dogs, they need to extract far more nutrients like protein, minerals, and vitamins, to sustain their growth and development. Different Dogs, Different Diets Nutritional needs vary from breed to breed. One only needs to look at golden retrievers to know they require a different diet than a Chihuahua! For example, joint and bone problems are much more common in big dogs than in little ones, but choosing the right puppy food can reduce the risk. Large-breed puppy food has reduced amounts of calcium and phosphorus, which helps control the rate of skeletal growth. Also, you may find puppy foods that contain glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health and mobility. By consuming too much food, your puppy will have elevated levels of the very nutrients that should be limited. Additionally, overweight puppies may develop other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Good eating habits developed during puppyhood will lead to a healthy mature dog in the years to come. Nutrition For The Outside One of the most visible components of your dog is its fur. Nutrition plays a vital role in this area. A large percentage of the protein your puppy takes in goes towards maintaining its coat. Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential for healthy skin and fur. Which Food Do I Choose? There will always be those who buy the cheapest brand on the market. Some will opt for the most expensive, while others will simply go with a brand name they recognize. The key is to find the right food for your particular puppy. One thing you cannot afford to ignore is the nutritional content. Because they are still growing, puppies need more protein than adults. Proteins foster muscle growth and development in puppies and lean muscle maintenance in adults, so the more of it there is in a diet, the better it is for your growing retriever. Fats, too, are important for golden puppies because they provide the energy required for everyday activities. You should be careful, however, not to feed your golden excess calories because this will result in excess weight or obesity. Eventually, your dog will end up battling joint problems. For instance, less expensive dog foods typically have lower-quality ingredients. The contents are often inexpensive, low-grade animal protein sources, like by-products and fillers. Fillers are frequently things like cornmeal, rice flour, or seed hulls. In general, thoroughly review the nutritional content of your chosen diet. Are the ingredients wholesome and natural? Does the diet have controlled calcium and phosphorous levels? Is the calorie and fat content limited to manage growth? Does the label state that the diet is complete and balanced? This can lead to obesity and will certainly cause increased defecation. The latter of these two issues will make house training more difficult than it already is. By contrast, costlier dog foods usually have higher-quality ingredients. The scales will be tipped heavily in favor of high-grade animal protein sources and fillers will be few and far between. Price is not, however, a guarantee of quality. The best dog foods for a golden retriever puppy are made with high-quality natural ingredients and have high levels of protein. Make sure the food is complete and balanced for daily feeding and formulated to meet the nutritional needs of large breed puppies. At this point, golden retriever puppies have likely already been switched to dry puppy food and you should continue feeding your pup the same type of food the breeder used. From the day you bring them home until they are six months old, you should feed your golden retriever puppy three times a day. Ideally, your pup should have breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. A grain-free diet is the default meal for golden retrievers that are sensitive to grains, but if your dog is healthy, feeding her such a meal boils down to choice. A lot has been said about grain-free diets. Reports and studies have been carried out in recent years trying to establish any connection between it and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy DCM. That all starts with choosing the best puppy food for golden retrievers. Avoid low-cost foods that are more filler than substance, and look for better foods that are packed with nutrients to help your puppy grow. In particular, consider trying a large breed formula to meet the specific needs of your golden retriever puppy. Good nutrition is an essential part of any health regimen, and providing high-quality puppy food will lay the foundation for a long, and enjoyable life. You May Also Like. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. We all want our golden retriever puppies to be healthy and happy. We envision them running through a verdant field chasing a ball. Full of energy with the beautiful, lustrous golden coat. But, just like us, eating the proper food in the proper amounts will help your golden properly grow and thrive. After all, what we eat impacts how healthy we are. How much you should feed your golden retriever puppy will vary depending on the quality of food you feed, his age, his weight, his general health, and his activity level. Your golden will be growing for up to two years. And the amount of food during that time will have to be adjusted depending on his needs. Because most people feed kibble to their pup, this article will focus on that. Kibble is convenient and cost effective. Instead, they should be lanky and full of energy. They should love to eat their food with gusto. Instead, you should be able to feel his ribs when you pet him there. There should just be a thin coating of fat under his skin. And he should have a defined waistline. Of course you should check with your veterinarian to make such adjustments. And remember a young puppy should get only so much exercise a day. Their joints and bones are developing and can be damaged if the exercise is too extreme. Assuming you have an eight-week-old puppy, he should receive three to four meals a day. From eight weeks old until about five or six months old, three meals per day are advisable. Of course, feed at the same intervals every day and split the total amount per day in half to be given at each feeding. After about six months of age through adulthood, two feedings per day are the norm. Always check with your vet regarding how much and how often to feed. These are just guidelines. Feed him at the same distraction-free location so that he focuses on eating. As much as goldens love to eat, a young golden puppy is also very easily distracted. This can lead to possible health problems, including joint and bone problems. Goldens can easily become overweight. Free feeding can also lead to a picky eater. Some puppies figure out that if their buffets are always there, and they can just go graze at will. Most foods you purchase will have guidelines on their bag or box. When you first get your puppy, feed him the same food that the breeder or rescue fed him for a few weeks. Then, if you want to change his food, do so over at least 10 days. Add more of the new food and subtract more of the old food each day. After about five days, you should be giving him approximately 50 percent of the new food and 50 percent of the old food. Switching food over such a period of time will help prevent stomach upsets and diarrhea. Overfeeding will result not only in him becoming overweight but it will also make him grow too fast. Periodically—even weekly— test whether you can still feel his ribs without them protruding. You can then increase the amount he eats. You should also feed his last meal of the day at least 90 minutes before his bed time so that he can digest his food and potty before bed. A well-balanced, high-quality food should provide all the nutrients he requires. Golden puppies require a formula made for large-breed dogs. Puppy formulas for large-breed dogs regulate their growth. Eating too quickly can lead to digestive upsets and even bloat, which can be deadly. I rescued my golden retriever Riley when he was about six months old. To say that he ate as if it were his last meal would be an understatement. He had a voracious appetite. I bought one of the maze bowls to slow him down. The kibble is placed between each section of the bowl, and he had to forage for his food. It worked! He ate at a more normal pace. Of course, dogs should be given free access to fresh water. Other Feeding Options Although I concentrated in this article on feeding kibble to your new puppy, there are other options. There are some drawbacks to them because they may not be nutritionally complete, may be cost prohibitive, or may be too time-consuming to make. Wet Food Canned food alone or mixed with kibble is an option. But wet food alone is very expensive. He may become a picky eater. Feeding raw is controversial. Dehydrated raw foods reduce some of the risks. The ratio of calcium to phosphorous is crucial to puppy development. Homemade Diet Cooking for your best friend can be very appealing. And many people do. You know what ingredients and their quality are. But it has its drawbacks. Of course, the amount you feed is important for his growth rate and general health and well-being. But there is no one-size-fits-all in determining how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. Any amounts you see are just guidelines. Adjust them as necessary regarding your own special puppy. Do you have a golden retriever puppy? How did you determine what and how much to feed him? Please leave your comments in the section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Debbie has been training dogs for over 24 years and has nationally ranked obedience and rally dogs, agility dogs, trick dogs, and therapy dogs. Post navigation. They are famously loving and playful family pets, always eager to jump in the pool or snuggle up with you on the lounge. They are patient and energetic dogs who are easy to train, making them excellent service animals as well as loyal companions. If you are bringing a Goldie into your family, you might also be aware of their reputation as food lovers. Your Goldie might want to eat anything and everything you put in their bowl — and maybe even anything left on an unattended plate. In this Golden Retriever feeding guide, Hypro Premium will take you through everything you need to know when it comes to food options for your pup. The best food for most young puppies is milk. If you are weaning a puppy, you can start to mix in a little dry kibble with their puppy milk to create a paste. You can feed this mix to your puppy up to four times a day, slowly reducing the amount of milk you mix in. Over time, your Goldie puppy will get more comfortable with solid foods, until you no longer need to include any milk in their diet. While chubby little puppies are cute, your Goldie should not build up too much excess fat once you start feeding them solids. Goldies go from a small 4kg puppy at 7 weeks old to an almost 30 kg adult dog in the space of only 10 months. At six months old your puppy will still be growing, but more slowly as they reach most of their body development milestones. This is why appropriate feeding in the first year of their life is vital to the overall health of your Goldie for years to come. Over time this can increase to up to 4 cups a day at 10 months old, though females should usually only need 3 cups a day. The amount you feed your puppy is often dependent on their size and sex. While they may have some growing left to do, it depends on your dog. Some Goldies will continue to experience growth spurts before their second birthday, while others will stay the same size. Large breeds can be at risk of growing too fast, which can make them more vulnerable to skeletal and weight problems when they get older. Golden retrievers are especially prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, which can be avoided through diet control. You should feed your Goldie between 3 — 4 cups of food per day over two meals. Adult dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs. This is important to take into consideration as you are establishing a feeding schedule for a Golden Retriever puppy. Puppies require more calories to support their rapid growth than adult dogs, but they also have much smaller stomachs, which means they get fuller faster. Because of this, puppies can easily overeat, especially Golden Retrievers. You can help your puppy avoid overeating by allowing them a short amount of time to eat, and then removing their bowl. All puppies grow a lot during their first year, but large breed puppies are more likely to suffer from negative health consequences as a result. In order to provide your Golden Retriever puppy with the most appropriate food to support their rapid growth, consider choosing a large breed puppy food. Goldie puppies need lots of protein, fibre, and fatty acids to support the development of their bodies and provide them with energy. These foods also take into account the difference in nutrient digestion between small and large breeds. Too much of these nutrients can cause your large breed puppy to develop skeletal abnormalities. So how much do you feed a Golden Retriever? Your adult Goldie could need anywhere between and 1, calories per day. The amount of food you feed your dog will be determined by a few important factors. The first thing to consider is the sex of your dog. On average, your male Golden Retriever will need slightly more food than a female dog. Senior dogs will usually be less active and so will need less food. Goldies in particular can have a lot of variation in the amount of food they need on a daily basis. No matter how much you feed your dog, it is ideal that you feed your adult Golden Retriever two meals a day at evenly spaced time intervals. Feeding your dog twice, once in the morning and again in the evening, can be useful for establishing a routine and avoiding overfeeding. This routine can also include exercise, and is useful for encouraging healthy behaviour around food and toilet training. Special Considerations Your Golden Retriever could be predisposed to several health conditions that are important to consider when you make decisions about their diet. Firstly, Golden Retrievers are known for their beautiful coats, but their skin can often become infected. Goldies love swimming, but this can cause problems if water irritates their skin. They can also be susceptible to atopic dermatitis, which causes extreme itchiness, resulting in licking and biting behaviours in dogs that can cause even more damage. For dogs prone to skin and coat issues, a fish-based diet can help alleviate symptoms. Fish contains plenty of fatty acids, which support coat and skin health, and rarely triggers any allergic reaction in dogs. Goldies often benefit from healthy grains in their diet, especially as avoiding them can actually leave your dog more vulnerable to nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy, or nutritional DCM. This heart disease is common in Golden Retrievers, and can be triggered by consuming too much grain-free pet food that contains legumes like lentils and peas. You should consider feeding your Golden Retriever foods that are full of grains and proteins like chicken or fish. These are the benefits and drawbacks of the three most popular options — wet food, a raw food diet, and dry food. Wet food can be a great option for dogs that need plenty of protein and fat, like working dogs or dogs with certain health conditions. It also hydrates your dog while they eat, which can be useful for dogs suffering from any illness. For dogs with highly restrictive diets, raw food prepared by you can be a great way to avoid allergens. You can have complete control over a raw diet, which does require a lot more work on your part, but can have great results. For instance, a Golden Retriever with heart issues should eat a low salt diet, which can be easier to achieve if you are preparing their meals from scratch. However, low quality kibbles tend to be made up of a lot of low quality fillers, which can be hard for your pup to digest. Whatever option you choose for your Goldie, make sure it is suitable for large breeds and contains high quality ingredients. This will help prevent degenerative health disorders in the long run. Your Golden Retriever will probably love food, and will probably try to eat anything you put in front of them, which means you need to help them avoid the negative consequences of overeating. Golden retrievers, like other large and active breeds, need plenty of exercise. Not only is this vital to their physical health, but it also ensures they grow up well socialised and mentally stimulated. As your Goldie grows from a puppy to an adult dog, the amount of meals they need a day will reduce as their digestive systems become more developed. Your dog will need two meals a day, once in the evening and once in the morning, from the age of 6 months.