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Tibetan Mastiff The super fluffy Tibetan Mastiff Interest around dogs resembling pandas first began due to the Tibetan mastiff breed. These large-sized dogs originated from Tibet and are found in Asian countries such as China, Nepal, and Mongolia. At a glance, Tibetan mastiffs look like big teddy bears. Their coats come in a variety of colors, including shades of red, black, and grey. Some also have white markings around the legs, chest, and neck. The bulky, furry build and white markings make Tibetan mastiffs the ideal panda dogs. Their droopy black eyes complete the look. Tibetan mastiffs are not naturally white, but some breeders have been able to produce gold ones. Chow Chow A Chow Chow with a curly tail. What a beautiful dog! Originating from northern China, Chow Chows are another breed that got extremely popular with the panda-dog trend. Naturally, these dogs bear a resemblance to teddy bears , with their large heads and deep-set eyes. They come in a variety of coat colors, including black, red, cinnamon, and blue. Some chows come in a single shade, others are bi-colored, while some are multi-colored. Their faces are squishy and square, framed by fluffy manes. Single-shade chow chows are particularly easy to dye around the eyes and ears for the perfect panda look. Bichon Frise With some grooming and a little coat recolor your Bichon Frise can resemble a panda! A Bichon Frise is a small, fun-loving dog with high energy levels. The breed originated from the Mediterranean islands in the 13th century. Thanks to their easy-going nature, Bichon Frises are popular family pets. Bichon Frises are usually white or cream in color, with black eyes and nose. Even without any cosmetic transformation, they already resemble panda bears in this manner. With coloring and grooming, this breed can look very much like little pandas. Maltese Poodle Super tiny and super cute! The Shih Poo and Maltipoo are teacup and toy sized Poodle mix breed dogs Also known as a Maltipoo , a Maltese poodle is a hybrid between a toy poodle and a Maltese dog. Both dog breeds are small-sized, furry, and low shedding. They were first bred to produce a hypoallergenic mix. Toy poodles have white coats, while Maltese dogs are available in several colors, including black, silver, and grey. The hybrids can take on any mix of colors from the parents. Labradors Labrador retrievers make great panda dogs. These dogs come in three recognized coat colors—black, chocolate, and yellow. Black Labradors are especially easy to turn into panda dogs. All you need to do is dye them white around the eyes and ears. French Bulldogs A French Bulldog with some imagination can be Panda-like French bulldogs are a result of breeding toy bulldogs with ratters. They look like miniature bulldogs with small, erect ears that resemble those of a bat. When painted with black and white dyes, French bulldogs make great panda dogs. Other Breeds A super cute tiny Norfolk Terrier There are lots of other dog breeds that are great candidates for the panda look. Small-sized and furry dogs like the Norfolk terrier, Pomeranian, Japanese Chin, and Yorkshire terrier Yorkie are favorites among dog owners. Mountain dogs, Alaskan malamutes, and Belgian sheepdogs are some bigger breeds that make beautiful panda dogs. No matter the breed, creating distinct patches of black and white around the body will produce your desired look. With many pet shops looking to cash in on the trend—where a transformed dog much more than a regular one of the same breed would—some are using harsh chemicals that poison the animals. Therefore, only buy from reputable pet shops that are transparent about the steps they take to protect dogs from toxins. This is critical in maintaining the panda look, which is a result of extensive grooming and coloring techniques. Many people who have tried to create panda dogs themselves have ended up injuring their pets or causing their deaths. The cosmetically altered coat of a panda dog requires extensive grooming to maintain its appearance. Once you get a panda dog, you should be ready to commit to this crucial task. You should also note that grooming services for a panda dog will cost more than those of a regular dog because of the special treatment necessary to maintain its look. To figure out the best care regimen for your panda dog, consider its breed, age, sex, and activity level. Conclusion When pet shops treat panda dogs ethically and give them proper care, they make great pets. Avoid any practices that harm dogs in the pursuit of the coveted panda look. At the end of the day, your panda dog is just another furry friend in need of your attention, affection, and care. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. Photo: Newsweek If you have ever seen this type of breed, you might have mistaken the animals for big teddy bears. Their bulky fur and droopy eyes can really look like the type of bear you might win at a carnival game. Some dog lovers also think that their thick pelt of fur can make them look like lions. The immense size of the Mastiff does actually allow it to take on large animals such as tigers, bears, and wolves when they are found out in the wild. However, because of the high demand, many breeders have now managed to produce them in a gold shade also. The gold is sometimes pale enough to appear almost white. In terms of panda dogs, some individual Tibetan Mastiffs now also have large white markings, which can be identified as one of the origins of the panda dog craze. Soon, many Mastiff owners began painting their dogs with the black and white patterns that you expect to see on real giant pandas. Photo: Pet Finder Soon, pet owners of other The Chow Chow, which was first encountered in northern China, is another breed that has become a good candidate for a panda dog. You can find Chow Chows in all kinds of colors, like red, black, and brown, but even in stranger hues such as blue! In addition to the single shade dogs, they can also be multicolored. The Chow Chow breed is an ancient one. Like the Tibetan Mastiff, the cuddly Chow Chow can often look like a teddy bear. They have squished eyes, square faces, and furry manes, so they can definitely look like pandas. This encouraged many Chow Chow owners to clip, groom, and even dye their dogs to make them look even more like panda bears. As might have been expected, Maltese Poodle owners all over the world quickly began jumping on this trend and snapping pictures of their dogs for quick laughs and other likes on Instagram, Facebook, Weibo, and other social media. A dog like this can quickly become an Internet superstar, so be ready for a lot of attention if you are a Maltese Poodle owner. Panda Dog Breed 4: Bichon Frise Other fluffy dog breeds, like the smaller Bichon Frise, have also been turning up transformed into mini-Pandas — and they are very popular. Photo: Wikimedia Commons These dogs just need a bit of careful grooming and coloring, and it is possible to turn them into panda dogs in about two hours. Then the look will stay with the Bichon Frise for about six weeks until the owners bring them back to the parlor for some touching up. The exact price depends mainly on where you get the dog because accredited breeders generally cost much more than home-based breeders. However, you get more peace of mind that the dog has been treated humanely. Other factors, like the age and purity of the breed, can also help determine the eventual price tag. It became pretty common to see plenty of these roaming the streets of small Chinese villages. The ones with the big ears can be the most striking when they are painted in black and white. Panda Dog Breed 6: Labradors Again, cute breeds like French bulldogs and Labradors were originally the favorite breeds of dogs to be transformed into mini-Pandas. Photo: K9 Research Lab While French Bulldogs were generally more common in China, many Westerners seemed to favor Labradors because these are dogs that they already had. These loyal dogs are very popular as family pets and they are usually great around children. Panda Dog Breed 7: Other Panda Dogs Although all panda dogs are canines, certain dog breeds tend to look more like bears than other ones. Photo: New York Post In China, particularly, many aspiring dog owners have been known to line up for many hours outside a pet store in Sichuan Province. Many other pet stores all over the world are now also adopting this technique. If you are a determined buyer, you can often get a panda dog in as little as two hours. Unlike ordinary-looking breeds, the panda dog will end up costing you more. However, the bragging rights and the envy of your friends can seem to be worth it. For some breeds, a perfect panda appearance can take a long time to achieve. But nothing about the procedure is harmful to the dog, regardless of the breed. Pet store owners all over the world claim to neither use harmful chemicals nor subject the dogs to any type of cruelty. PETA and Panda Dogs When The Cute Pet Games cafe opened in Chengdu in the south-west Sichuan province of China, home to a large proportion of the endangered bear species, six fluffy chow chows dyed white and black painted prompted widespread criticism over the treatment of the pets. Many people expressed concern for the animals and they wanted to know if the dying procedure was safe. While most pet shop owners might be all for the panda dog treatment, many animal activists like these certainly have their reservations. They warn dog owners against the poisonous effects that some types of dye can have on their pets. We fully agree with PETA that you need to protect your dog from unnatural dyeing procedures like that. We have also heard stories of pet stores in China selling dogs with dyed fur that made them look like miniature tigers. A Few Other Questions So if you are really more interested in looking after your panda dog, be sure not to buy it from a disreputable breeder and not just any pet shop owner. You need to care for panda dogs just as you would for any other canine. Caring for a canine companion involves providing them with breed-specific and age-specific training, which is readily available online and can be easily shared on social media. For example, some breeds must receive socialization training when they are puppies. Other breeds require special obedience classes. Unchecked aggression can cause major problems for you and your family when the pet dog gets bigger. Remember that all pet dogs are going to require some type of exercise — and that includes both physical and mental exercise. Give your panda dog lots of attention and at least a daily walk or another type of regular exercise. In addition, always feed your dog high-quality dog food. The first few ingredients should be some kind of meat, not a meat by-product. Feed your dog on a regular schedule, at least twice a day. Figure out the proper amount you should be feeding your dog daily and avoid giving your dog a large amount of food. This can easily lead to weight gain and other health problems. Check out some other helpful ways you can care for your pet dog here. Lots of dog owners have started feeding their dogs organic, natural products. Although the options for healthier food products have grown, what is new is the extent to which these natural choices have now become part of the dog care process. In addition to all-natural meals, treats, medicines, and supplements, dog owners can choose to buy natural products when they are looking for pet bedding and litter, grooming options, flea and tick prevention products, dog toys, and much more. Also, pet care has become far more high-tech. Many pet owners now use apps to arrange dog daycare, pet grooming, pet sitting, or even to find the most pet-friendly destinations for travel. Pet care businesses of all types know how important it is to offer mobile-friendly services and to maintain personalized online profiles for dog owners and their pets. The visual effects of the panda dog grooming process generally last for about six weeks. After that, you will need to bring your dog back to the groomer for a quick touch-up. Just as is the case for a human makeover, the amount of grooming that makes a panda dog attractive can quickly become expensive, so be very sure of your commitment to the dog before you decide to adopt one. Basically, any dog that is considered to be a cute breed could be a good candidate for a panda dog. Panda dogs look really cute, and they will probably be around for a long time too. Keep your eyes open for the range of new tech-based pet products that are reaching the market, such as video camera systems that allow you to monitor your panda dogs, robotic, self-cleaning litter boxes, and microchip-enabled pet doors. There are also wearable tech options for pets, like Bluetooth-enabled smart leashes that can monitor your activity levels while you are out walking your pet. Panda dogs might be a fairly new phenomenon around the Internet, but they are really just ordinary dogs that have been dressed up a little and made to look as cute as possible. There is nothing wrong with admiring cute panda dogs as long as they have been ethically treated. Recent studies have shown that the relationship between dogs and humans is similar to the relationship between babies and their parents. One study noted that dogs often run to humans when they are scared, whereas other animals run away. That is something that shows how much dogs actually depend on humans to help them when they are scared. So we are certain that some if not all dogs see their human masters as positive, protective beings in their world. You, as a dog owner, have an enormous responsibility to respect that trust and to do all you can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your animal. All of this knowledge will help you realize that most of the popular panda dogs that you will see online are so cute either as the result of grooming — such as the Bichon Fraise — or as a product of both grooming and breeding, such as the pale gold Chow Chows. Just like with many other dogs, always try to be nice and kind to these animals and they will be loyal to you for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, Jessup developed serious allergies to many different types of dog foods and ingredients when she was just a puppy. Meanwhile, Brody could eat seemingly anything and carry on as healthy as could be. Sarah spent hours of time researching and testing different foods and brands before finding something that worked for little Jessup. She wants Dog Food Care to simplify this experience for future dog-parents who face food allergy or tolerance issues of their own. Posts navigation Can Dogs Eat Zucchini? Dog Food Care will never accept payments, bonuses, or gifts in exchange for a positive review. All Rights Reserved.

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? A dog that is well trained is a pleasure to live with and also safer in your home and while out in the community. Along with helping your dog be more manageable, and teaching them how to behave in all environments, dog training is also fun and provides hours of mental stimulation for intelligent dogs, like German shepherds. How many commands you teach your German shepherd is up to you but most of them can easily learn all 29 on this list: 1. Sit Teaching your dog to sit on command is useful throughout their life. Teaching your dog to sit is also very helpful when trying to calm an excited dog or when meeting new people. Come Teaching the come or recall command is a very basic, potentially lifesaving, must do. All dogs need to learn that the word come means that they stop what they are doing and come back to you. Before taking your dog off leash, or into areas with lots of distractions, they should master the come command. Wait Wait is a useful command to teach because it teaches your dog to pause and wait for directions and get permission from you. Use wait before walking out the door, getting in or out of the car, greeting guests, at mealtimes, the list is endless. Stay Teaching a dog to stay is one of the most important commands they can learn. This command should be reinforced throughout their lifetime, in case you ever need it in an emergency. Dogs should also learn to be released from all commands and this will help reinforce that when practicing their training. Break or release This command is used to release your dog from their sit, stay, down, or other commands. Down Teaching the down or belly on the floor command is another go-to and should be started in puppyhood. This command is very useful in many situations but one important place is at the vet, during an exam or nail trimming. The down command is also great for getting control over an overly stimulated dog. Stand Use this command when you want your dog to stand up on all four paws from a down or a sit. This command is helpful when you want your dog to hold still to be handled, groomed, or for an exam at the vet. Off The off command is used to teach a dog to remove their paws off something, such as a person or furniture. No Just like kids, dogs need to be taught that no means no for their own safety and your sanity. No is used to stop them from taking unwanted action. Leave it Similar and often interchanged with no, the leave it command is used to teach your dog to leave something alone. Taught in conjunction with the leave it command, the command helps teach impulse control and also teaches them to look to you for permission to take something. Drop it Next comes the drop it command. By teaching your dog to drop something, you will help protect their health and your valuables. Heel Teaching your dog to heel, or properly walk on a leash, is a vital command for all German shepherds to learn. They need to learn how to walk anywhere politely. Here Here means come and stand in front of me or at my side. This is a great obedience command to use to begin an off-leash heel, when putting on a leash, or to get your dog next to you. Take care of business You can use whatever command you choose for going outside to take care of business go pee and pooh , just be consistent with the word you choose. Place Teaching your dog to place, or go to a designated place in the house such as their bed, is very important and a lifesaver when you need them out of the way so that you can easily get them out of the kitchen, away from a mess, to calm them down, or remove them from a situation. It is also useful in teaching them how you want them to get physically get into the car. Back up Teaching your dog to back up is fun and also helpful when you need them to move out of the way by backing up. Stop Teaching your dog to stop teaches them to immediately stop what they are doing and stand still. This is a great command to improve impulse control but is also useful in many situations, including emergencies and when playing games. Kennel up If your dog is crate trained, use this command to send them to their crate. Roll over Roll over can be used for more than a cute trick. It can be useful when grooming, looking your dog over, or at the vet. Go eat By giving your dog permission to go eat, you help prevent them from going after their food before the bowl is on the floor, and they also learn to wait for permission to eat so it helps improve impulse control. It communicates exactly what you expect from your dog and is especially handy when traveling or staying at new places. Go out Teaching the opposite, go out from a room is also great for setting expectations and communicating exactly what you want your dog to do. Quiet Teaching the quiet command teaches your dog that they need to be quiet and stop barking. This command is great for many reasons but especially when traveling or when they are barking and you need them to hush. Speak The opposite of quiet, teaching your dog to speak actually reinforces the quiet command because the dog learns both. Teaching your dog to bark on command is fun and also can be useful, for example if you want to warn someone that a dog is nearby. Although any German Shepherd dog is trainable, they are very strong and powerful animals. If you start out with a puppy, you have the opportunity to shape and mold its personality and develop your relationship early. German Shepherds can be very protective of their family members, so you want to socialize your puppy early in puppyhood. This will get them used to interacting well with a wide variety of people and animals, which is essential. This will be a big dog, and you want to prepare the dog when they are young and small for future grooming and veterinary visits. They may need nail trimming, ear cleaning, temperature taking and other procedures. These procedures will be difficult to accomplish should your full-sized adult German Shepherd dog object. You will need to train them to sit, stay, and heel, in addition to house training them. Your puppy will not understand your commands immediately. Have patience with your dog when they don't do exactly what you ask right away. German Shepherds love to learn and they are highly motivated to follow your commands if they are rewarded with treats. Pet your puppy while they're eating, as long as they do not stiffen and stop eating when you are petting the puppy. If the puppy stiffens, stops eating or growls, you have to deal with this aggressive response immediately. Do this by removing the food bowl and feeding the dog by hand. There is no bowl to guard. Make the bowl no big deal. If a piece of food is dropped inside, let the puppy take it and praise them. Then feed nearby again. The bowl will not always have food inside. Gradually increase the amount of food you drop in the bowl as you stand or sit there with the puppy. You can also add high value treats like roasted chicken breast into the bowl if your puppy seems to need more reassurance that you bring goodness to the food bowl. Resource guarding can be a very serious symptom of fear aggression and, if you are seeing this in a puppy, it needs to be addressed ASAP so it does not escalate. You can gradually ask the puppy to look at you to get more food, then sit and wait for more food, etc. .The humans controls the resource of food and rewards the puppy for good behavior. You still praise your dog, just not offer a treat each time. If you are working to modify a command to create a faster response, add in treats again to shape the behavior until they have it down. Then start using treats to reward truly outstanding performance. Do not yell at your pet. Learn to recognize when you are losing patience and stop the training session on a happy note. Your dog can sense your frustration in your body language and tone of voice. Try another day when you are both fresh. If you continue to have problems, get a professional trainer involved. Typically, as puppies are first learning commands, one adult family member will be responsible for training. Later, when the puppy is consistent and understands the basics, other members of the family can participate in formal training. It is important for the dog to understand that not only one person in the household is to be obeyed. Your puppy should be weeks old and started on their vaccine series for this first class. There are puppy preschools designed for puppies who have not yet finished receiving all of their vaccines. The school will have certain requirements for enrollment and you will likely have to provide proof of vaccination. 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 socialization, 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 bar — 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 leash, and lots of rewards. Leash 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 socialization 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 socialization checklist — maybe take your German Shepherd for a swimming lesson? Practice exercises in different locations — how about a train station, or in a shopping center or mall? Teach a hand target — This is a favorite among pups and their owners. Hand Targeting or touching is the foundation for additional trick behaviors 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 favorite 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. How to train your German Shepherd Dog — 5 key steps Niki Dog health and wellness Puppy training December 29, The OneMind Dogs method is built on the idea that close bonds start with owners understanding their dogs. Building a magical connection with your German Shepherd takes empathy, patience, and a keen eye for the non-verbal cues dogs communicate with. Naturally, this applies to training all dogs, especially those highly intelligent breeds that need plenty of stimulation. Two German Shepherds can be equally fast learners but have different learning styles. One may prefer to think through a task while the other prefers jumping in head first. Setting the dog up for success in training So, what does it mean to set up for success? When you train matters as much as how you train. Choose a time of day when your dog is likely to be motivated, focused, and eager. A motivated puppy will pay more attention and have an easier time following cues. Training just before mealtime is great because then mealtime becomes a reward. Rewards also encourage dogs to focus and listen. Try lots of different toys — hard, soft, noisy, bouncy, crinkly etc. Make the family part of the fun and DIY safe puppy toys at home! If rewards are how you finish strong, routine is what gives you momentum going into training. When sessions start at the same time every day, dogs know what to expect, and when. Likewise, late afternoon sessions can help energetic puppies wind down for the evening and sleep soundly. Knowing what they value tells us what motivates them. We can use this to communicate things more intuitively. This also applies when trying to teach your dog new commands. This means we need to help them connect the verbal command to the act of putting their bum on the floor. Being flexible will keep you from getting frustrated and your puppy from feeling overwhelmed. How we respond has a huge impact on the success of any training session. We focus on positive reinforcement because it rewards a job well done, and uses healthy alternatives to replace bad manners. Plus dogs respond much better, learn faster and trust you more in the long run! Teaching your German Shepherd to chill out alone Boundaries are the key to a happy home for every family, and the same is true when bringing a new pet into yours. Spacial boundaries range from having a safe nook where they chill out to staying calm when visitors come over. Giving your dog a safe space to chill alone will help them get used to their own company. Running an obstacle course and other physical exercises teaches dogs to use their bodies, improves balance, and supports their growth. Mental stimulation, on the other hand, improves their focus, regulates emotions, and strengthens the magical bond they share with you. Training that engages their minds as much as their bodies will lead to better results. It helps your dog stay on task, even in a disruptive environment. Using their brains to solve problems builds confidence by engaging all the tools they need in everyday life. Success here is about pairing fitness and focus. OneMind Dogs Foundation for Agility has some great tips to keep daily walks fun , exciting, and mentally stimulating. You can even hide the DIY puppy toys as part of a game to get their noses working. 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.

Top Picks For Our Dogs Preparing Your Home For A Puppy You should treat the preparation of your home for the arrival of a new puppy in much the same way as you would for the arrival of a baby because the process is almost identical. You must be ready to provide every little thing your puppy needs in life, making sure they have water, are fed, comfortable, happy, catered for and safe. To achieve this there are 4 main things that you need to do: Go shopping for equipment and supplies Puppy proof your home and garden to make sure your puppy stays safe Set up an area for your puppy to sleep and spend time in when you cannot supervise them Decide on the rules and routines required to successfully raise a puppy Without such preparation, things will be difficult. A Nutritious Puppy Food The most important supply needed for a new puppy is a highly nutritious puppy food. Hopefully your puppy came from a responsible breeder who was feeding them a high quality, complete and nutritious food. If so, you should ask what they were feeding, stock up on and continue feeding this if possible. If not, then puppies are incredibly active, growing fast and developing bone, muscle and more every day. Because of this they need almost double the calories, more protein and have different nutritional needs to mature adult dogs. Furthermore, they have far smaller mouths than adult dogs so puppy food comes in smaller chunks more suited to their size. Click here to see our recommendations for the best puppy food for labs Bowls for Food And Water There is a bewildering array of dog bowl choices out there so choosing the best can be difficult. Looks and design aside, I recommend going for stainless steel bowls because they are long-lasting, cannot be chewed and are very easy to clean. I also recommend buying bowls with heavy rubber bottoms so they stay rooted to the spot and are harder to spill or flip over. Unless of course you buy bowls in a stand, then these problems are already solved. A Puppy Crate And Bedding A good crate is one of the most beneficial things you can provide for the good of yourself and your puppy. First of all, supply some bedding to place inside for your puppy to sleep on. My recommendation for this is VetBed. Many puppies can chew and ingest normal bedding which can result in medical emergencies and VetBed is the most durable bedding on the market. During these times you need to provide a larger, but still safe enclosure to confine your puppy. You might also like to buy a plastic sheet and some puppy pads or use lots of old newspaper for them to use as a potty in your absence. Puppy Chew Toys Puppies chew. A lot. And they seem to prefer chewing phones, footwear and TV remotes more than anything else. Just make sure whatever toys you do buy are suitable for a puppy as many will be too large for their little mouths to begin with. Interactive Puppy Toys So you can play games with your puppy, provide exercise and mental stimulation, you will want to buy a few toys that encourage the two of you to interact. Balls for throwing and chasing, soft toys and ropes for playing tug, other toys for fetch, there are many available. You will also need a collar to provide a place to attach an all important ID tag. ID Tag An ID tag is an essential means to be reunited with your puppy should the worst happen and you somehow lose them or they run away. Clicker A clicker is an extremely useful tool used during training as a reward marker that dramatically improves the timing of communication between you and your puppy when you want to reward a behavior. Although not essential, I do highly recommend you use one. Puppy Training Treats Tasty food treats are the go-to reward used during training so you will want to make sure you always have a good stock at hand. They need to feel happy with being bathed, happy having their coat and teeth brushed, their feet touched, nails clipped and having their eyes and ears inspected. To do so, you should fake going the process, getting them used to being handled, the sight and feel of the tools and so on. To achieve this, you will need to buy and get them used to the following items: Dog shampoo Combs and brushes suitable for a Labrador Scissors Cotton balls Toothbrush Use these tools right away and often, and give your puppy praise and tasty treats as you go so they form positive associations with grooming. Puppy Proof Your Home and Garden The process of puppy proofing your home is very much like baby proofing before the arrival of a child. Except a puppy is far more curious, active and destructive and can get themselves into far more trouble. A puppy is a new-born. Everything is a toy and they will run and pounce and jump and chew on anything in their environment. So before you bring your puppy home you simply must make it safe for them. For things you cannot move skirting boards, table legs etc. To keep them safe while still providing an area for them to play in and stretch their legs, you want to restrict their access to a single room, or otherwise create an enclosed space for them. To do so, either buy a pet barrier or baby gate that goes across a doorway to restrict them to an easy to clean and safe room, or buy an exercise pen puppy pen to create an enclosed space in another room. I also strongly recommend buying a crate for many reasons, but initially, mostly just to provide the perfect place for them to sleep. I shall discuss crate training a little later in this article. All of this must be decided BEFORE you get your puppy home because consistency is a key part of raising a puppy successfully. Everyone must enforce and live by the same rules for your puppy to thrive. Initially they have no idea how you want them to behave, or how and when they can expect the things they want and need in life. The more consistent everybody is with the puppy, the quicker they will learn all this stuff and the happier everyone will be. So decide and write down if necessary when your puppy will have all their needs met, make sure everybody knows who is responsible for each task and make sure everybody knows the rules. You might think the collection and journey home with your new puppy is no big deal, but there are many things can go wrong. Therefore, you should never take a puppy before 8 weeks old. During the first 8 weeks, a puppy learns a lot from their mother and litter-mates: Bite inhibition, canine body language, acceptable play and interaction with other dogs and how to accept discipline. Things you will find it very hard to teach them later yourself. The flip side of this is that the 7 to 14 week stage is the most impressionable for a puppy, where they bond strongest with people and must be socialized to all the sights, sounds and smells of the world so they grow up confident and comfortable with their surroundings. So anyway, for the journey home there a few things you need to consider: Safety in the car, the need for water and toilet breaks and the possibility your puppy will be sick. Having a loose puppy in the car presents a very real danger of leading to a crash, they can easily climb out of a box and now is not the time to use a harness and car safety belt. If the crate is small enough you can place it on a front or rear passenger seat and secure it with the seat-belt, or you may have to place it in the trunk of your car. Fully line the crate with absorbent paper in case there are any accidents, this will keep most of the mess off your puppy and make cleaning easier. And finally, place a chew toy or two in the crate to keep your puppy occupied. If you have another person to help you, your puppy can ride home in their lap if the journey is short. They must be under your passengers control. They will also need to potty every half or so. Therefore, you should plan breaks along the way every 30 minutes or so. Stop the car, allow them to drink, then wait for them to wee before setting off again. When you stop, make sure your puppy is on leash and tightly held by someone before letting them out of the car. And as an extra precaution, carry your puppy and only put them down to do their business, then carry them back into the car. Take with you some towels, plastic bags, kitchen roll and deodorizer to take care of any accidents. And when driving, take all corners slowly, and accelerate and brake gently. If your puppy is on a passengers lap, they will be able to see some warning signs that puppy is about to be sick: Their lips will curl, they will excessively salivate and then eventually start to heave. When your passenger spots these signs, they can place a thick towel beneath the puppy to catch everything and avoid a mess in your vehicle. When bringing home a new puppy, make sure you collect them and then drive straight home. Your puppy is having the most stressful day of their short life so far, try not to make it harder than it already is by taking them to strange places and passing them around to strangers to say hello. You want to get them home quickly so they can start the process of settling in as soon as possible. Whether this is inside on paper, or a spot outside, as soon as you arrive home carry them there, set them down and wait for them to do their business before doing anything else. This might take 30 seconds or it might take 10 minutes, but patiently wait and when they go, praise them profusely. Well done! Shut them in another room away from the puppy as things are intense enough as it is. Explain they have to be calm and gentle during the first introductions. Let them sniff and look around, getting used to the area and their new little world. You can now let people come and say hello. Have people sit or kneel to greet them. Once everybody has said hello, you should stay with your puppy, show interest but stay calm. Allow Your Puppy To Sleep After all the excitement, stress, massive change and huge amount of mental stimulation your puppy has just been through, they will likely need to sleep soon after arriving at your home. So as soon as they either start to look tired, or the introductions to their new living space and family have ended whichever comes first put them to bed for a short while. On the other hand they might feel completely overwhelmed, retreat into themselves and show reluctance to explore. They might slink into a corner silently and sit there watching their new world with wonder but apprehension, before falling asleep for hours. And when it comes to the first night they might sleep right through, or they might cry and whine the whole night. As your puppy begins to get used to everything, their character will start to shine through and you will begin to see their true personalities. Exactly what this will be is different for every puppy…it will be fun for you to find out! And by being the provider of everything they need in life, giving them all that is good, it will only take 2 or 3 days for your puppy to learn to love you and get excited and happy to see you when you turn up. So your task is to set up and stick to these schedules, begin training your puppy and help them to learn how you want them to behave and when they can expect the things they need in life. What should you feed your puppy You should feed your puppy the same food they had at the breeders because an abrupt change in diet almost always leads to stomach upset. Complete and balanced means it has everything a puppy needs, and in the right quantities. So seek out this kind of wording and check the internet for other owners reviews. Puppies need to eat a lot because their rate of growth is very high. For puppies up to 12 weeks, you should divide their daily requirement into 4 portions, for puppies 12 to 26 weeks, feed them 3 times per day and from 26 weeks on feed them twice per day. You should also aim to feed them as close as you can to the same times every day and evenly spaced throughout the day. This will help their body clocks fall into a pattern and will help your house training immensely because they then potty the same times every day. For example: 8 to 12 weeks old, 4 times a day at AM, AM, PM and PM 12 to 26 weeks old, 3 times a day at AM, PM and PM 26 weeks old and ongoing, 2 times a day at and Obviously you can adjust these times to take into account when you get out of bed and to fit around your life. Also… The first few nights have the crate or exercise pen your puppy sleeps in placed in your bedroom. One night move the crate next to the bedroom door. The next night move it outside the door, but leave the door open so they can still see you. The next night further into the hallway. Finally to their eventual resting place. They might take to sleeping on their own OK, they might whine and cry. NEVER go to them to comfort them if they cry, you must only get up to take them to potty and then silently and without fuss put them back into the crate. Rewarding silence and ignoring noise is the only way they will eventually learn to be quiet at night themselves. Any time you cannot closely supervise them, you have to confine them, either in their crate, an exercise pen or a puppy proofed room secured with a barrier across the doorway. The point of confining them as a puppy is so they can enjoy all the freedom in the world once they are an adult. By confining them with treat dispensing chew toys they get rewarded for chewing the right things and develop a chew toy obsession. Confine them now, they form a good chew toy obsession and have no chance of developing bad chewing habits. Then once they are over their adolescent chewing stage you slowly open up the house to them and eventually they can have free roam and be completely trusted. A little sacrifice when young for a better life later. And a second hugely important reason for confining your puppy when you cannot supervise them is for speedier house training. In fact if you read my comments from earlier, you will see you start the very first moment you finish the journey home. In essence, house training is about creating good habits while avoiding bad ones and for the speediest success you want to start immediately. Wherever your puppy is able to potty has the chance of becoming their favored toilet spot for many weeks or months to come. So you want to prevent them pottying inside, and encourage them to potty outside. The main ingredients of a successful house training program are preventing mistakes and praising heavily for doing the right thing. Achieving this is all about schedules, supervision and confinement. Now, your puppy will need to potty anywhere from every 15 to 45 minutes. So to start with, take them outside every 30 minutes and adjust this schedule to suit their natural rhythm. You must also take them outside immediately after they wake up from any sleep, after any eating or drinking, after play and after any heightened excitement. These are times that often lead to a puppy needing to potty so take them outside at these times and you will avoid many mistakes while taking advantage of predictable opportunities to praise them for doing the right thing. In the first week or so, you will likely find your puppy almost instantaneously leaks with little warning. Simply do your best to take them out to potty extremely often so they go in the right place as often as possible. And confine them to a single enclosed room or in an exercise pen for the first week or so to protect your carpets. Crate training goes hand in hand with house training, being one of the best tools to help speed up the process. Therefore, you want to start crate training very early on, after just a few days of getting puppy home, and I personally aim for 9 weeks old to start. I prefer to wait a week or so to avoid them pottying in the crate as much as possible, doing the most I can to preserve their instinct not to soil where they sleep, the instinct that helps most when using a crate for house training. But by all means sleep them in their crate at night if you wish and I do. For more information on crate training your puppy and using it for house training purposes, please see the links below:. Cape Town, South Africa In retrospect, we didn't have a clue about bringing a new puppy home, even though I'd done a lot of reading and we had bought all the essentials. I'd read that I should take his bed with us and get his mum to lie on it -- which she did promptly when we put it down! We also took a big teddy and rubbed his mum with it to get her smell and to this day, that teddy is on his bed, just a tiny hole chewed into it, but amazingly was spared the puppy gnawing that most other toys went through and didn't survive! A vet who had bought one of the other boys had brought along a special collar with pheromones that apparently calm a distressed puppy and help him think his mom is around. She had cut it to size and left the leftover length with the breeder. The breeder put it on Snowie and said it would help.We had about an 8-hour journey ahead of us including stops. I held Snowie on my lap initially on top of the "smelly" teddy with his mum's smell and he cried and cried and cried and cried and I told my husband we should turn around and take him back to his mum and siblings, it was so distressing. But we persevered and about an hour later he stopped crying and settled down. We stopped a lot because we thought he'd want to wee every half an hour! I don't know why we were terrified he'd wee or poo in the car -- so what! But we stopped every moment it looked like he wanted to "go", and each time he didn't, so clearly we had no clue what "wanting to go" looked like! We had a tiny pink harness for him, that we borrowed, and which he wore until he grew out of a few months later -- everyone thought he was a girl, he was so pretty in pink! Having the harness definitely helped when taking him out of the car during the journey, at least we knew he was safe and couldn't dart away -- he was very adventurous and curious. We also didn't have a clue about feeding him during the journey. My sister-in-law whose dad is a vet said we should not feed him anything before or during to prevent vomiting in case of car sickness. But the breeder said no, he must have lunch, can't starve a puppy for 8 hours. Because we didn't know where we'd get hot water to pour on his pellets to soften them, she gave us some rice and a sachet of her cat's food that was wet, and he gobbled it up at lunch time! He eventually made a poo at one of our stops around 5pm. I was quite traumatised by the whole event. But now having been through it, I wouldn't worry at all! Good luck!! Non-slip bottom dog dishes Puppies naturally move their dish around as they are eating, especially if the dish has a flat bottom that easily pushes around the floor. We have found that dishes with a non-slip bottom can help so that your puppy is not chasing around his food dish. Make sure that it is large enough. And since dogs grow fast, that means they will likely grow to that size within a year to a year and a half. Almost all dogs we train eat between 4 -6 cups of dog food a day. So, make sure that your dish is large enough to accommodate this many cups. Water dish It is vitally important that your puppy have access to clean water for drinking. With the puppies we raise, we have found that it can be challenging to keep a small water dish full, so we prefer to use these 2-gallon water dishes. They are easy to fill and allow us to only have to fill them a couple times a week instead of several times a day. We suggest that you introduce a lead to your puppy as they start to grow in confidence and walk further from you when outside. There are two great reasons to do this early on. First it teaches your puppy how to handle the pressure of not being able to go wherever they want whenever they want. And it keeps your puppy from developing a habit of running away from you. A Flexi-lead works especially well if you want to give your puppy a little more freedom to go do his potty business but still keep control. Toys Puppies need toys. If you do not give them toys that they CAN chew and play with, they will chew on your sofa leg, or a book or a blanket or anything else they can find. So, purchase some good durable puppy chew toys. But watch your pup carefully. As they get older and stronger, they will be able to rip apart cloth toys and ingest them. Or they will chew rubber toys into small pieces and eat them. When your pup gets strong enough to destroy toys, it is time to take away the puppy toys and give them only dog toys designed for older , larger dogs or quality rawhides that they can chew that will not cause digestive problems. Stay away from rope toys. Many puppies have managed to ingest strings and ropes requiring surgery to remove them. Puppy-sized bumper If your plan is for your Labrador puppy to become a hunting or competition dog, you should have a puppy sized bumper. Learn more about teaching your puppy to fetch in this post. Barriers I recommend that you section off a small portion of your home and not let your puppy have full run of the entire house. Learn more about housebreaking your Lab puppy in this post. To section off a part, it can be helpful to have some child-gates available or an area of your home that you can close doors. This means that you need to show your puppy where the boundaries are and what is and is not allowed. To do this, you will need a few more tools. This is often when we see dogs that are running away from their owners, playing keep-a-way when retrieving and just basically being naughty. A lot of this could be avoided with the use of a check cord. Yes, a check cord can be cumbersome and often a pain to use, but it only takes one or two times of your puppy running away from you to make it worth it. Put a check cord on your puppy and allow them to drag it around with them. This alone is a great lesson for a dog. Dragging the weight is a type of pressure that they will need to learn to deal with. Occasionally, step on the rope and allow your dog to feel the pressure of being stopped and controlled. These sound like such minor things, but you would be surprised how much more well-adjusted your puppy will be just from learning these minor lessons. Chain or prong collar As your puppy gets stronger, it will get more and more difficult to control your puppy with a lead just hooked up to a nylon collar. As you notice that your puppy is getting harder to control, is pulling you around or dragging you down the street, you need to move to a chain or prong collar. Actually, it would be best if you changed to a chain or prong collar long before this becomes an issue. Remember, it is always easier to fix problems when they are small rather than waiting for them to become huge problems. Larger bumpers for retrieving dogs As your dog gets larger, you will want to move away from the puppy bumper and start using regular sized retrieving bumpers. We prefer to use plastic or rubber bumpers since they do not get as dirty or smelly as the canvas ones. They also last a lot longer and can be used for both water and land retrieves. Learn all about the different bumpers used for training hunting dogs here. Orange is a color that is difficult for retrievers to see, so that color should not be used for young dogs that are just learning about retrieving and hunting. Save the orange ones for advanced dogs working on blind retrieves. Final thoughts on What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? There are many things that you will need for your new puppy both now and in the future. Take some time to prepare before you bring your puppy home so that you will avoid buying things on impulse that you may or may not need. If you are planning on using your puppy as a hunting or competition dog, check out 6 vital tools every gun dog trainer needs. You can email me at ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time happy retrieving. What do I need to buy for a Lab puppy? Print We recently brought home Bubba, a female chocolate lab puppy. Bubba is already sold as one of our Custom Trained Retrievers, so it is our responsibility to train her and raise her until she has progressed to the level of training the owner has requested. That means Bubba will be with for almost a year and a half. We train one or two of these puppies each year, and over the years we have gotten pretty good at it. We also train adult dogs for hunting and competition, so we see a lot of dogs come into our program. Dogs that have each been raised differently. There are some definite training tips that can help you help your lab grow up to be the best version of himself. Training and socialization for very young Labrador puppies — week one The first week of a puppy being away from its litter is very stressful for the puppy. Most often, the first two days, the puppy will sleep a lot! The pup is adjusting to all the changes, and they need time to do that. After the first couple days you may notice a spike of energy. This is your sign that the puppy is adjusting well and is ready to be exposed to a few more things. Labrador puppy training that first week home Here are the things we work on during week one. A nylon adjustable one is usually best since puppies grow quickly. It often takes the puppy a few days to adjust to having a collar on. Intro crate We introduce our puppies to a crate on day one. Literally the day we bring them home. Most puppies will cry, bark or howl while in the crate the first few or many times. Ignore it, it does not hurt the puppy at all. Always wait until the puppy settles down and is quiet, even if that quiet only lasts for just a minute or two. Learn more about crate training. Intro to housebreaking Another day one lesson and one that will last for a few weeks or months. We introduce housebreaking day one by allowing the puppy to run around an enclosed area under close supervision. If your puppy then goes potty outside, great! The thing to remember about housebreaking, is that your puppy should never be allowed to roam the house or a room without supervision. The only way to housebreak a dog is for them to get caught in the middle of an accident. That is how they learn that what they are doing is not right. Learn more about housebreaking. Intro leash We introduce a leash to our puppies around day three of being home. But once they start getting more energy and get more inquisitive, we use a Flexi-lead attached to the nylon collar to take the puppy outside. This accomplishes two goals. The gentle tugs on the leash and pressure when the puppy strains against the leash are great training for handling pressure as they get older. Intro to pressure and correction The last thing we introduce to our new puppy during the first week home is pressure and correction. This is an often-missing element to training that can severely handicap a dog that you want to be a hunting companion or competition dog. The kind of pressure I am talking about is very mild such as saying NO to the puppy when they are chewing up your shoes or scratching through the carpet. This is the way mama dogs carry their puppies and it does not hurt them at all. This does not hurt the puppy; it is exactly what a mama dog does to teach her puppies. Learn more about introducing pressure and correction. Commands to start using that first week home The first week there are some commands we start using so that the puppy will associate the words we use with actions. Puppies play and explore with their mouths, and often they will think it is great fun to bite your hands and feet. If this does not curb the behavior, I grab her lower jaw, wrapping her gums around her teeth and squeeze. I have found this to be very effective, especially if you start this the first week you have the puppy home. The longer you wait to start, the harder it becomes to stop this behavior. It takes very little pressure to stop a 7-week-old puppy from biting. Learn more about how to stop your Lab puppy from biting you. Off command The OFF command is also started day one. The OFF command is used to stop a puppy or dog from jumping on you. It can also be used to keep a dog off a sofa or other furniture. Starting day one, I gently use my knee to push down the puppy each time they jump on me. I say OFF when I do this. Usually, a gentle push with the knee is all it takes with a very small puppy. They learn this command very quickly. If your puppy is a bit more energetic or stubborn and tries to jump on you despite your gentle pushes, then you may need to use a little more force. Even if you were to knock your puppy backwards onto her back, that is not going to hurt her seriously. But it will likely make a good impression and cause her to think twice before jumping on you again. With jumping, consistency is important. You must knock your puppy off every time she jumps on you. Learn more about how to stop your Lab from jumping on you. We use this as a que when we are taking the puppy outside to go potty. We use this while the puppy is on a leash, and we are pulling them toward us. I only use this command for very young dogs. Your goal is to get the puppy to rest in your arms and not move. But if you keep at it, you will see your dog settle for longer and longer periods of time. Introduction to retrieving Lastly, since all our puppies are retrievers, we start introducing the puppy to retrieving. The first few times are simply throwing a toy a few feet and if the puppy runs out and gets it and comes back to you, great. Then take the item and throw it again. If the puppy does not come back or does not even run out to get the item, then stop for the day. Just let the retrieving develop naturally. Next week we will start more formal retrieving training. Final thoughts on what you should do that first week with your new Labrador puppy As you can see, there is a lot of training that you can do with your seven- or eight-week-old puppy. And while you can wait for training, your puppy is ready and able to learn quickly right now. I will be posting weekly on the training we are doing with Bubba, so you can get a week-by-week snapshot of how we raise and train a puppy up to be a excellent, responsive hunting or competition dog as well as a well-mannered family dog. If you are struggling or need additional help with your new puppy, you can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time, happy retrieving. However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on. Quiet nights and crate training. This article will take you through everything you need to know, from what to buy, to how to help your pup settle in on his first day and night. Bringing a Puppy Home Bringing home a new 8 or 9 week old puppy is a potentially stressful experience for you and the pup. Of course, it will be better if you have been able to visit your puppy regularly before collecting him. But for most people, time and distance make this an unlikely option. Everything he sees, smells and hears, in your home will seem very strange to him at first. Fortunately, most puppies leave their mother and siblings at an age when they will readily accept their new friends and family. In a few days time, he will have settled in and accepted your home as his, and your family as his own. Holding Your Puppy The first thing to master when bringing home a new puppy is holding them the right way. This is the most comfortable position for puppies. But if you have had a long car journey, the first thing your puppy will need is to pee! Carry him in your arms to the area you want him to use for toilet purposes, and put him down there. Your first steps in potty training have begun. Maintaining Regular Bathroom Breaks Puppies vary widely in how often they need to empty their bladder. Some may last an hour or more from day one, whilst others seem to need to go every 15 minutes or so. During the course of the day, take the puppy to the toilet area at regular intervals half hourly at least to begin with. In addition, take him there every time he finishes a meal or wakes from a sleep. Set an alarm on your cell phone to remind you. Many Labrador puppies are very greedy and will eat astonishing quantities of food. New puppies are especially prone to upset tummies. The new environment and the stress of leaving home all add to the risk. You can reduce that risk by feeding little and often. If you want to change diets, do this gradually once the puppy has settled in. How often to feed Four times a day is the minimum number of feeds for an 8 week old puppy. Five or even six portions are better for a puppy with an upset tummy. Remember that the daily quantity is the same. More portions means smaller portions. If you get this right, there will be little or nothing left to put in the bowl when mealtimes come around You can find out more about using puppy food in training games by joining our Puppy Parenting course Meeting the Kids Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time for all the family. For much of the first day, your puppy will probably be cuddled and admired. Kids should also be aware of safety precautions, such as learning to let the pup be if he seems uncomfortable. Some older dogs will play too roughly with a puppy. Others will growl and appear to reject the puppy at first. These are normal reactions but they do indicate that you are going to need to keep a close eye on things for a while. A baby gate or other barrier is a perfect way to keep a puppy from annoying the resident dog or cat while they adjust to the newcomer. As the day draws to a close, your thoughts will turn to night time, and getting your puppy to sleep! Or he howls the house down either constantly or intermittently throughout the night. There are two approaches to choosing where a puppy sleeps for those first few nights. One is to get him used to his permanent sleeping quarters right from the start. The other is to have him next to your bed until he has got over his homesickness usually three or four days. And if you keep going back, the howling may well increase. Leaving a puppy to cry alone in a strange house is also probably very distressing for the puppy and not a great way to start their new life. But we recommend having the puppy next to your bed for the first three nights. This reduces the risk of getting into an increasing spiral of night howling or having your puppy miserable for the first week. Just pop his blankets in there and put the box right next to where you sleep. Night waking Most 8 week old puppies wake in the night to pee for the first week or so. But the first few days is a time for settling your puppy in, building their confidence and avoiding bad habits such as whining or howling, getting started The best way to meet all those goals, is to keep your puppy very close to you until their homesickness has passed. Bonding with your puppy Your main objective now is to bond with your puppy. Spend lots of time with your puppy. Make him feel at home. Pay him a lot of attention when he is quiet, fuss and praise him when he pees outside. Once he has settled in, there will be plenty of time to think about crate training and learning manners, but for now just enjoy his Labrador puppy loveliness, and that scrummy new puppy smell. It will be gone all too soon, replaced by a bouncing, boisterous, and joyful friend who all too often smells of pond water. What you are doing is establishing good habits, which will last a lifetime. What About Crate Training? A quality dog crate is an excellent source of help with potty-training. But a puppy should not be left inside a crate for longer than his immature bladder can hold its contents. For some puppies, this is not very long at all. Socialization is a big part of bringing home a new puppy. This is the process we take puppies through, to make sure they are comfortable with all aspects of living in human society. For instance, dogs need to be confident around things like vehicles and machines. They should be happy to meet people of all different shapes and sizes and to go boldly wherever people want to take them. A confident dog is not just a happy dog; he is a safe dog. Socializing also means taking your puppy out and about. Naturally, many worry about exposing a not-yet-fully vaccinated puppy to the risk of infection. Yes you can! If you use modern dog training methods, you can get going right after bringing home a new puppy! In the first week puppy training is based on a series of fun games. So that your puppy will be learning without even realising. The games you play should lay foundations for future good behavior, teaching your puppy not snatch, to say please, to focus on you, to love their crate, to wear a harness or collar and to run towards you rather than away from you. A lot of people worry about whether or not to take a puppy to classes, and some are unable to do so. But there is a great deal you can do at home by yourself. You can avoid this by getting off to a great start with recall training in the very first week. The video below will help you. And never chase after a puppy. Puppy recall training starts right after bringing home a new puppy. Build an association between the act of running towards you and the sound of the recall word or whistle. If you call the puppy and he does not come, you will have begun to teach him that the recall command is optional. Check out our puppy recall training video to give you an idea of how easy it is to build this a good association if you start off in the right way. You can find out more about building a great recall from the beginning in Total Recall. But for now, in these first few days at home together, make sure no one calls the puppy to them. When they want him, they can simply pick him up. If he runs away, all they need to do is run in the opposite direction and he will come chasing after them. For the first few days after bringing home a new puppy, focus on bonding and helping him to feel safe. Consider having your puppy next to your bed for the first few nights. This will comfort him while he is feeling homesick and missing his mom and playmates. Expect to get up in the night to take your puppy out to pee for at least the first couple of weeks. Set a reminder to avoid teaching your puppy to cry for your attention. During his daytime naps, dive into the feeding, potty training, and obedience training guides mentioned in this article, and head over to the forum for support from our other readers, many of whom have been where you are now, and come safely out the other side! If you want help choosing an adorable puppy name, make sure you take a look at this article too! Lab Puppy proof the house. Things like dangerous chemicals, solvents, cleaning solutions, paint and other dangerous substances need to be secured. As well you will need to look at cords hanging and things falling on the puppy if they accidentally pull something down. Stairs need to be gated off until your puppy is older and learns how to walk down them without trying to jump off. Purchase a quality dog food. It never ceases to amaze me how some people end up feeding a low quality food to their dog, or something experimental like a vegan food, or even feed them a so called raw diet and not balance their nutrition requirements. The single biggest thing you can do for your dog is feed them a proven diet with nutrients delivered in the proper ratios. A second thing to consider is where your food is made and how you can be notified if there is a recall. At the time of writing this there is a popular food under recall for toxic levels of vitamin D. There have been numerous cases of deaths related to this and yet the company claims they independently test their ingredients. The food we recommend is such because we have years and years of experience over 13 years with it using it ourselves and recommending it to those who adopt our puppies. We have actually had so few health issues with our puppies and aging adults eating this food that we have increased our warranty to 4 years and include all major organs. Bottom line, feed a high quality proven food from the day you bring your puppy home, not necessarily one with the most protein. We will provide you with feeding suggestions once you place your reservation for a puppy and a proven puppy food to feed them. Visit the pet store for the required equipment. You are going to need a large dog crate with a divider so in the beginning your puppy will have just enough room to sleep. Crate training is the best way to protect your puppy while making them safe when unsupervised. As your dog grows you can remove the divider so it has room to lay down and not touch the walls. We stock the most popular toys and cover all the different types you will need so that you can get them when you pick up your puppy. They come with explanations of how the different types are used to both stimulate, calm and play with your puppy, how to cycle them, teething, and more. A stainless steel water and food bowl is also another good choice. I would wait on getting a collar so that you can fit them properly. We have inexpensive training leashes that adjust to any size for you to purchase when you are here. Have a family meeting to establish expectations. Every human in the home will need to follow the same rules consistently so that your puppy understands what is expected of them. Schedule an appointment with a good Veterinarian. Not all Veterinarians are of equal experience. We have heard some pretty crazy stories, so we suggest you get some referrals of some long term relationships of people you trust for a Vet. You should take your puppy to the vet a couple of days after you get home so it has time to get use to its new surroundings before being taken somewhere. Prepare fore the Drive Home 1. Your puppy can last about 2 or 3 hours without a potty break. We normally feed your puppy early in the morning on the day of pick up so that it has time to go potty before the drive home. Our recommendation is to give your puppy some water every 3 hours and then let them have a pee. This could also go along with letting them play or explore outside a bit. When you stop, find an unused grassy space to potty on. Arriving at home with your puppy 1. First quickly bring them to the spot you want them to potty. This is the beginning of your dog being house trained. They will likely have to go right after you get out of the car. So when you stop, give them a drink in the area you want them to relieve themselves in. Wait until they go and then you can take them into the home. Treat your puppy like a puppy. It is breakable and will be a puppy for about a year. Things like playing with larger dogs and such should be carefully supervised. Constant supervision. Your new puppy needs to be constantly supervised until they can be trusted and you know that they understand the rules. Constant supervision means either you or someone watching them, they are in their crate the crate is the supervisor , or that they are in a section of the home baby-gated off or also an outside run with a kennel and a cement floor so they cannot dig under the fence yes they will dig. After a potty bring your puppy to the room with their crate. Introducing them to their crate perhaps with a few pieces of kibble in it will show them where their safe space is. This is also where they need to be comfortable enough to self-calm and fall asleep. If you have another dog, first introduce them outside on neutral territory. Bringing a new puppy and simply coming straight into the home could have one of three effects. The first being that both dogs might be ok with it. Second is that the older dog has an issue with a new strange animal in its territory. This would result in your older dog being defensive, maybe even protective or possibly anxious and scared and once this has happened it is out there. Undoing this type of trauma could take days or weeks. Relax and let them get to know each other and all will be good. After some get familiar time begin training your puppy without distractions using Positive Reinforcement training methods. We suggest that everyone participates in some training classes either in a group format or private. The important thing to understand is that you are training you to train your puppy. Your puppy will also lose any training it has done if it is not reinforced by everyone in the home. Other resources are 80 Puppy Training tips that you can learn as well as an excellent site with video called Puppy Trained Right. We have a discount code available for those who are taking home one of our puppies. This will allow them time to eliminate most of their food and urine and will give a better chance of sleeping the night without having to go potty. Prepare their crate in a quiet, dark spot. Make it a sleepy place, place a blanket over the top and down 3 sides to block draft and to make it den-like. Some mild exercise or training just before bed. Just like a human, you want them to be tired before bed. So for example if you let them sleep from 9 to 11 pm they may not need to go down at 11 to sleep. The last while before bed try to stimulate them mentally and physically so that they are ready to turn in. This can be training sessions, a walk, a play session or even fetch in the house. One final potty around 11 pm. After you prepare them for sleep take them out one more time and give them ample time to relieve themselves. Bring them back in, let them settle in the crate, put an item of clothing in there that smells like you for them to snuggle on. The quicker they learn the new pack and learn to settle in the crate the better and that happens by not reminding them of their old litter. If they smell their old litter they will whine for them to find them. Settling in their crate. Once your puppy goes down you will want to be teaching your puppy that the time in their crate is for sleep, they are safe in there, and that if they bark or whine they cannot summon you to save them. So, what if they really have to go? This is something you will have to figure out. It may be possible that they must go outside to relieve themselves, but, they may also just want you to hold or feed them. If they go, just put them back in their crate to settle and go back to sleep. You will know within reason that next time they are just lonely. This normally stops after about 2 or 3 days. Whoosh them out to their pee spot. Pick them up and carry them quickly to their pee spot. When they go reward them with praise and say the potty word that you use. Feed, and then woosh them out again to their pee spot. Puppies often need to poop right after they eat, or sometimes while they are eating. Some exercise, training and mental stimulation. After waking up and eating they will be ready for a walk and some training. Setting them up for their first full day in the home. Plan their day out so that there is a balance of play, training, napping, eating, and potty. In the beginning your puppy will need about 20 hours or so of sleep a day so be sure it is getting enough. If your puppy gets nippy they may be trying to tell you they are tired and want to be left alone in their crate. Every opportunity that your puppy presents in the form of nipping is a training opportunity to teach bite inhibition. Coming home to your puppy after work. Learning how to greet them. If you work full time it is important to understand that a young puppy cannot hold their bladders for more than 3 or 4 hours. If you work full time you will need someone to watch them or at least visit them once or twice during the shift to let them out, drink and play. When you arrive home this is the time to teach them manners. Most dogs will be excited and will jump on you to greet you. Be sure you teach them how you want them to greet people. We will teach a dog to sit in front of us before it gets any attention. No attention means no talking, no eye contact and no touching. Will they need to relieve themselves? If they have been in a crate you will likely need to let them go potty, a walk or some fetching would also be good at this time because they likely have some energy to expend. Training pre or post feeding? There are also some Labs who are not food motivated. So if your Lab is not responding well to training after they are fed, you may want to train them before eating so the hunger is on your side. Socialization with people other than your family, and animals other than those in the home. While socializing you want to expose them to many people while not overwhelming them. To start we recommend 1 new person each morning and one new place each night. After you can see that your puppy is not overwhelmed you may decide to increase the frequency of exposure to new places, animals and things. Prepare for night time routine. Get your new furball ready for bed time as outlined above. Setting your puppy up for success. Avoiding dog parks and strange dogs. Until your puppy is fully vaccinated around 14 weeks old they are vulnerable to other diseases by unknown dogs. By all means, if you know someone who has a dog and you can verify that their dog is up to date on all shots such as Parvo, Rabies, Leptospirosis, Kennel Cough, Distemper, Hepatitis, Corona and Para Influenza, 2. Get into a reputable training class or private training with a reputable trainer. Training classes are mainly to train you. Ask around in your area for a recommendation of a good trainer at a reasonable price. Gentle, regular exposure to everyone and everything. For example, while you are exposing them to people you will need to expose them to female babies, toddlers, pre teens, teenagers, young adult women, middle aged women and older women. You will need to include women with glasses, hats, soft voices, loud voices, etc…. Adjust their food as they grow and as their activity level increases or decreases. If for example your dog is much more active or much less active then the recommended feeding amount will not be correct. Instead use your eyes. You might have to adjust the food amounts up or down as your Labrador gets more or less activity. Positive Reinforcement training by everyone in the pack. When you get into your car and you to go somewhere, you tell your gps where you want to go. Dogs are the same way. Instead teach your dog what you want it to do. Instead of scolding, simply withdraw your attention. This is enough punishment. Then, get back to showing your dog what you want it to do. If your puppy is not eating or has a loose bowel movement. Not eating much is pretty common when a puppy goes to its new home, however if it stops drinking then that would be cause for an immediate vet visit. In a new home your puppy might not be comfortable for a couple of days and eating might be just grazing. This is ok as long as it is drinking and seems to be playful. Loose bowel movements in the beginning could be due to nerves or your puppy could also have a parasite. At this young age puppies put everything, and I mean everything into their mouths. It is quite common for puppies to get loose stool from a parasite. This can be addressed easily if you take a stool sample into your Vet for analysis. What is a puppy emergency that requires a visit to the vet? Our rules for an emergency trip to the vet are: Uncontrollable bleeding, puppy not breathing properly, broken bone, puppy is not drinking and appears lethargic. If any of these present themselves you may want to consider getting help right away. Other things can normally wait until the next morning to be addressed because they are not critical. Depending on where you live however you may have a vet that is open 24 hours and even on the weekends. So this is a start for you to think about when you take a Labrador Puppy home. Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. Frankly and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases franklymedia. Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox! Morning Headlines.

The Golden Shepherd tends to be a friendly, energetic, and affectionate dog that is loyal to their family and tends to be protective of them. Although they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, they are recognized by other notable organizations like the American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Breed Registry, and more. A Golden Shepherd tends to bring the all-around friendly personality of the Golden Retriever and the intelligence and devotion of the German Shepherd into one dog. They love their families and tend to get along with everyone including children. These dogs are not necessarily suspicious of strangers, but they are alert and will tend to bark if they see something they feel you need to know about. Golden Shepherds are moderately adaptable dogs. Because they are high-energy, they tend to do better in homes with yards where they can run. They can adapt to apartment living as long as plenty of time is dedicated to giving them the daily exercise they need. They tend to do well in most climates. But, as with any dog breed, they are sensitive to heat. Because Golden Shepherds are devoted to their families and thrive on spending time with them, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. A mixed-breed dog can inherit the potential health issues common to one, both, or neither of their parent breeds. As a larger, barrel-chested dog breed, the Golden Shepherd, like their parent breeds, is also at a higher risk for bloat. The Golden Shepherd is a highly trainable dog breed. They are intelligent, eager to please, and pick up on things quickly. This makes them a good fit for owners of all experience levels. Puppy training classes can still be a great idea because they offer opportunities to socialize a puppy while also strengthening your bond with them. The Golden Shepherd will have a thick double-coat that sheds moderately year-round and more heavily twice a year as seasons change. A quick daily brushing, especially during seasonal shedding sessions, will help remove loose fur to make your dog more comfortable and also help keep more fur contained to a brush instead of everywhere else. Bathing is on an occasional, as-needed basis. Monthly nail trims are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long or causing issues. Plus, if anything is starting to happen, you can get the vet before it gets more serious. Because many dog owners overlook this, gum disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs. Brushing teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day is ideal. The Golden Shepherd comes from two high-energy dogs, so they require a lot of daily exercise to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime and time to run are the minimum. But, a Golden Shepherd will likely be up for more activity if you are. A trip to the dog park for some off-leash time, playing frisbee or chasing a ball, hiking, swimming, running, and more can all help this dog expend some extra energy. You want to keep their activity low-impact as they are still growing, but once they finish growing, try different activities to see what you both love doing together. You could even try training them for dog sports! A fully-grown Golden Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. A Golden Shepherd generally lives for years. Currently, we do not have any Golden Shepherd puppies available, but we can alert you when new Golden Shepherd puppies are available! Just enter your email address and click submit! Please enter a valid email address! Related Breeds. She had previously lived outside at her prior home but has adapted well to home life and is housebroken and well behaved. She would do best with older children only and as the only dog. Chloe is cat friendly! Her family describes her as a good guard dog - she can be protective at home and needs proper introductions to new people inside of her home. She does much better when meeting people out and about outside of her own territory at home. She loves children especially and is very protective of my kids and our family. She is such a loving and sweet dog. She was not always treated the best, so she is nervous around men, but warms up. She is potty trained, crate trained, and leash trained. She is an amazing girl and so loving. She loves to play with toys and play fetch. She will love you fiercely and protect you always. My biggest concern is finding someone who will be patient with her and give her the loving home she deserves. They are not under the care of the rescue. They are under the care of their current guardian. The owner is subject to placement outside of our organization. We cannot guarantee availability.

We started breeding Golden Retrievers because, simply put, we love this breed! Originally, our program included only American Golden Retrievers. In , we decided to focus our breeding efforts solely on the English Goldens. In that vein, our Golden Retrievers are bred for temperament, health, intelligence and conformation. Not only that, our breeding program focuses on producing quality Golden Retrievers that can be used for everything that Goldens were originally bred to do — whether that be hunting, showing, breeding, therapy work or simply and most importantly acting as a cherished family companion. These European imports take the Golden Retriever goodness to the next level: even more remarkable and easygoing temperament, lower energy level, superior health, exceedingly biddable, and heightened intelligence. Our main objective is to breed quality Goldens to the breed standard - focusing on temperament and health first and foremost - at an affordable cost. Also, we are not a typical "kennel". All of our dogs are our pets, and they live in the house with us. And, that's exactly where the puppies are born, raised and trained. I'm quite thrilled that God chose to bless us by bringing these wonderful dogs into our lives! We breed sparingly, however, and only have about litters per year. Also, we do not ship. Occasionally, we can arrange to meet you or deliver a puppy to you - depending on where you are located - at an additional cost. We are your breeder, and want you to contact us with any questions or concerns whenever you need us. Just consider us your personal "Dog Squad", so to speak! If you are interested in purchasing a Spun Gold puppy, please contact us. The passion to raise dogs is our families pleasure and we have been raising dogs our whole life. We care for each dog as a family member of our own and love sharing our puppies with other families. In our experience, we have found these to be the most desirable breed to raise in a family setting, especially around children. Their meek manner and mild temperament make them easy to love! We are located near the Georgia Tennessee state line 35 minutes from the scenic city of Chattanooga Tennessee on a beautiful farm in the countryside. Bailey and Snow Who's the real mountain goat? Their favorite activity is going on long walks through the hayfields and down to the creek in the woods. Along with being exuberant and friendly, they are strong dogs and hard workers. Goldens are good at whatever they do, be it hunting, serving as guide dogs, working search-and-rescue, or being devoted companions. Though they are serious about their work, they also enjoy being downright silly! Personality: Intelligent, friendly, and devoted. Energy Level: Very Active; This dog is active and energetic, and needs daily exercise. Good with Children: Yes. Hugh Mongous, a super friendly two-year-old Goldendoodle looking for his forever family. Though he tips the scale at sixty-seven pounds, Hugh thinks he is a lapdog and loves to be petted. He also is quite playful and enjoys getting out of the house for outdoor fun. So, if you have a lake or pond this is your dog. Road trips are no problem with this well behaved traveler. Well socialized, he does well around other dogs too. We are not sure about kitties but can easily test that for you. Hugh is already housebroken and would enjoy having his own fenced-in backyard. This pup is looking for an adult only family that will give him the attention and love that he craves. His luxurious locks will need daily brushing and frequent grooming. Hugh is a fantastic dog for anyone that can devote time, training and persistence to his care. Are you ready to meet him? To adopt this pet, please go to hsnwga. Due to the high volume of applications received, our Adoption Coordinator will only contact the applicant that best meets the needs of the pet.

What Is a Sable German Shepherd? Many people ask about mostly black and reds and do not have too much information on the Sable color German Shepherd Sable German Shepherd is known as the classic German Shepherd, a true German Shepherd color. The sable German Shepherd has always been acknowledged as the quintessential dog because it has a DNA similar to that of a wolf. It also has the dominant gene in the German Shepherd family. The sable is the only color that matches the dog perceived as the first Shepherd dog. The dog can be red or tan with black tips or have black hair over its entire body. Sable German Shepherds are known as one of the smartest family dogs ever. Not just their Sable coat color makes them stand out, but they look adorable and charming as well. Their color is similar to that of a wolf, which helps people to identify them in one go. You can easily see a Sable German Shepherd in the streets of America. After quite a thorough research about this dog breed, we could see that a significant reason for their similar appearance to a wolf is their genetic similarity. Often accompanying police and other officials who do protective work, the DDR German Shepherd is an agile, athletic, and able dog that is willing to go the distance for his owner. Fiercely devoted, highly courageous, and extremely intelligent, the DDR German Shepherd makes an excellent pet for folks looking for a loyal, loving, and protective companion. DDR German Shepherd are best suited for experienced owners. This dog would not fair well with a novice owner. Moreover, if you do not have the time to invest in sufficient training, socializing, and exercising this breed, the DDR German Shepherd is not the right pooch for you. With breeding regulations being more lenient worldwide, it is possible for you to end up with a dog with different and diluted characteristics to the original line. Puppies sold by bad breeders, including puppy mills and backyard breeders, can be brimming with behavioral and health problems. The new bloodline would be able to withstand frigid winter temperatures and excel in military and police work. Many dogs were even abandoned or put down. Some dogs were sold to breed-type enthusiasts to preserve the bloodline. This makes him great for search and rescue missions. DDR German Shepherds can withstand all types of weather conditions and easily traverse most types of terrain, helping them effortlessly locate people who are trapped in rubble after a disaster. If you properly socialize your dog from a young age, he will be a protective and playful playmate for your tots. A highly intelligent dog, the DDR German Shepherd can easily learn basic commands and complicated tricks. Reward-based training methods word best for this breed. Always offer your pet high-value treats and plenty of praise when he does what you ask of him. Lifespan Sociability German Shepherds have long been the first choice as working and service dogs because they are highly devoted, loyal, and courageous animals. They are generally easy to train by experienced owners but need a firm hand and consistent routine to train successfully. While this is possible for novice owners, they will present more of a challenge than some other breeds. Before buying a German Shepherd, you need to take into consideration the massive responsibility of owning one of these animals. They are highly protective of their owners, which can lead to aggressive and territorial behavior at times, and they have a powerful prey drive. These dogs were bred for and have long been a working breed and do best with a specific job to do. It will take a great deal of time, patience, and dedication to look after a dog of this caliber, so you need to understand that a German Shepherd is not the kind of dog that can be left at home alone for long periods. This will quickly lead to destructive and even aggressive behavior. With the power and working history of this breed, good training and socialization are essential with owning a German Shepherd. They are one of the most popular breeds in the United States Behind only the family-friendly Labrador Retriever, the German Shepherd is the second most popular breed in the U. German Shepherds Go By Two Names Most dog owners know them simply as German Shepherds, but their name has changed over the years, and they are still referred to by different names in other countries. Many people confuse the two as different breeds, but they are the same animal. Sable, tan, and black color variations are among the most common and recognizable coats, but other recognized colors include black and red, black and cream, grey, and even blue. German Shepherds are known for being mildly aloof and independent dogs, and this is often mistaken for aggression or unpredictable behavior, but in truth, these dogs are rarely aggressive when trained properly. While they are reserved and aloof toward new faces and do not tend to make friends easily, once they get to know you, they are extremely friendly and loyal animals. They make great family dogs because they are loyal, gentle, and friendly with their owners. They are well known for being highly protective and powerful animals, making them ideal guard dogs, and they are typically only aggressive when provoked or protecting their family. They are supremely intelligent animals that can be trained to do almost any job, leading to their wide use in service and military applications. These dogs thrive off of having a specific job to do, especially with their owners, so they are happiest when close to their human family. Indeed, close companionship is a must with the breed, and they will not do well being left alone for extended periods. They will swiftly become bored and frustrated, and this can lead to destructive behavior and even aggression if left unchecked. If you are away from home frequently, the German Shepherd is not the breed for you. They are generally gentle and affectionate with children, although they may accidentally knock over small kids while playing. Of course, good training and socialization are essential for this powerful breed. Other dogs are not usually an issue, but they will need to be socialized early to get along with the family cat! Make sure that their food has an animal-based protein as the first listed ingredient and that the food is free from filler ingredients like wheat, corn, and soy. We recommend substituting this dry food with canned wet food or lean meats and organ meats to add variety and give an amino acid and protein boost. Large breeds like the German Shepherd Sable are prone to joint issues, so you need to be careful of overfeeding them. Avoid giving them too many treats or table scraps, and give them a diet rich in healthy oils to aid their joint health. This includes agility sports and training, as well as puzzle toys and games. These large dogs will need at least 1—2 hours of intensive exercise every day to prevent boredom and destructive behavior, although more is better. They are great companions if you are an outdoor enthusiast and will adore joining you on runs, hikes, and cycling. They have a natural love for water and will enjoy an occasional swim too. One point to keep in mind is to be careful about over-exercising German Shepherds as puppies. While these dogs are active and agile, during the first year, they are rapidly growing, and too much exercise can be harmful to their skeletal development and may cause joint issues later. While they can be aloof and independently-minded at times, making training difficult for novice owners, they typically love the process, and training this breed is usually relatively easy. They should be trained from a young age, preferably from the day that you bring them home, as this will mitigate any bad habit formation that may potentially occur. Positive reinforcement training methods are highly recommended for this powerful breed, as too much harsh scolding or reprimands may lead to an unresponsive dog at best or aggressive behavior at worst. This method uses praise and rewards for a job well done, and this promotes good behavior in the future rather than punishment for bad behavior. Socialization is an often-overlooked aspect of training but is vital to the success of properly training your dog. Socialization with other dogs from an early age will lead to less distraction while in public places, and your Shepherd will be far more likely to follow commands with other dogs around. Also, we recommend engaging in training sessions after a short exercise session, as your pooch will be less distracted, more attentive, and thus, more likely to learn. Even with daily brushing, there is no way around having a ton of hair around your home, so you may need to invest in a pet vacuum cleaner before bringing one of these pooches home! That said, brushing your Shepherd a minimum of two or three times a week will help a great deal, especially when they are shedding heavily. This will remove any dead hair and keep their coat smooth and healthy. Avoid using human soaps or shampoos, as this can strip their coats of natural oils; stick to water or special pet shampoos. Other than that, they need a toenail trimming once a month or so, depending on their activity levels, and regular teeth brushing will stop any tartar build-up and potential dental issues. Soft, safe chew toys and high-quality kibble can also help keep their teeth plaque-free, but you should still brush their teeth regularly. Most responsible breeders will make sure your dog is free from most of the genetic problems that can affect these dogs before selling them, but of course, there is no real definitive way to avoid some of these issues. Being such a large breed, German Shepherds are prone to joint issues like hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as a progressive degeneration of the spinal cord called degenerative myelopathy. This disease may eventually progress to the point where your dog has trouble walking due to the lameness in their back legs, and unfortunately, most of the time, there is no treatment. Gastric dilatation-volvulus, commonly known as bloat or gastric torsion, is another condition to keep an eye out for. This is common in large breeds with deep chests like the German Shepherd. The condition is caused by dogs eating large meals too quickly, causing a build-up of gas in the stomach, which then twists, cutting off blood flow. The condition is treatable but frequently results in death, as there is not much time to get to the vet. Minor Conditions. Discover the online program that more than 57, dog owners have used to rapidly transform their dog into a well-behaved, obedient furry friend. The banding of color on each and every individual hair leads to a variety of shades and colors which can vary extremely from sable dog to sable dog. Agouti the correct term for Sable is the genetically dominating pattern in the entire German Shepherd Dog breed. I have never owned a sable GSD until just recently however I have been told by many other sable owners that Sables tend to get darker with age - especially over their back. So I guess I'll see how my puppy turns out. It is also easy to say, that as a general rule of thumb, a sable keeps developing his final color up until the dog reaches the age of three or so - so unlike other German shepherd colors you'll never really know what the final color of sable German Shepherd will really be until the dog is completely mature. These dogs may appear in many shades of silver, gray, gold or mahogany colors. Most fall somewhere in between these extremes. Often times they also have the dark mask as well. Agouti German Shepherds can also go through many stages of coat development, both lightening and darkening, before they reach maturity. Color categorization of sables can be quite difficult when the dog is tattooed or photographed early in its life as the choice of color is often incorrect when you see this dog later in its life because the coat color can change so dramatically as the dog matures. Sable GSDs are born all tan in color. The characteristic black tipping starts coming in after a few weeks of age and then continues until the puppy is a few years old. Sable puppies color changes immensely as they grow up. Oftentimes the German Shepherd puppy will end up either darker or lighter than they were as a small puppy. The sable GSD often closely resembles their two-toned counterparts, such as the black and tan saddle back GSD's, but the sable dogs individual hairs have more than one color on each of them creating a very unique pattern specific only to that individual dog. There is quite an array of hues in the Sable German Shepherd colors, ranging from the lightest tans to the darkest blacks. German Shepherd eye color should be dark, or at least blend in well with the color of the dog. Any nose color other than black is a disqualification. Any Sable GSDs coat shade is acceptable but the richer hues are always preferred. Pale washed out colors, shades of blues and livers are considered serious faults. It is important to note that the guard hairs look as though they are banded in various shades of color and are then tipped in black. Generally speaking, there are many more of these sable German Shepherds in the U. It is also important to note that this type of coat coloration is dominant over all the others. Another name for this type of coloration is called agouti or wolf gray, and it can vary a great deal from dog to dog. Tell us all about your Sable GSD! Do you have a great story about your Sable GSD? Share it with us right here! Just type! Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story. TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph. Upload Pictures or Graphics optional [? Click the button and find the first one on your computer. Select it and click on the button to choose it. Then click on the link if you want to upload up to 3 more images. Your Name. Many purchasers are trying to replace a dog that has passed on, or perhaps, seeking to obtain a pup like the one they remember from childhood. Whatever the reason, most folks who call us are looking for a traditional black and tan dog, and usually - a male. Many of the dogs we breed here at our kennel are sable or grey in color. There are many reasons for this. The intent of this article is to explore some of these reasons and to explain the stages of pigment that a sable dog goes through on the way to its adult coat color. I hope this information is helpful to you in your choice of a puppy or adult dog that can do whatever "job" you have to do. What Is a Sable or Grey Dog? Is their a Difference? A sable dog has two coat colors on almost every hair of it s body. Run your hand "against" an adult dog's coat. That is run your hand from tail to head and look under the black hair found on the back of most German Shepherd Dogs. A sable dog will have a lighter undercolor of grey, red or brown. In essence, each hair has a black tip and the remaining hair shaft is the undercolor. This is the sable color. Viewed from a short distance, a sable dog may appear black, grey or even black and tan. Many black and tan dogs have a sable area around the neck, but this is not the dog's true coat color. A true sable has the undercolor over the saddle area of its back. The term "sable" seems to be German in origin. What the American Kennel Club considers a "grey" dog would be called "sable" in Germany. So, when we are dealing with German bred dogs as is the case today with the tremendous increase of canine imports , we frequently hear the term "sable" referring to most grey dogs. Sable Comes in a Variety of Colors Actually, sable dogs come in a wide variety of colors and pigments. The very darkest dogs are called "black sables" and are considered highly desirable because of the extremely dark pigment they possess. In my experience, black sable dogs often carry the black recessive gene, and can pro- duce solid black puppies when bred to another dog that carries the black recessive. Sable dogs can be used by a breeder to darken the pigment of the next generation. Two sable dogs with similar color will have offspring that are darker than either parent. It should be mentioned here that dark pigment of eyes and coat is highly desirable in the German Shepherd Dog. Some lines carry the dilute gene which causes the coat to be washed out in color. White Shepherds carry the extreme form of the dilute gene, and while they may be very lovely dogs, this lack of pigment is considered undesirable according to the breed standard. Working Bloodlines Most breeders have a pretty clear idea of the type of dog they are trying to produce. The characteristics of this dog usually include the following: 1. Temperament: "A sound mind to do the job" required of the dog. Good hips, elbows, good health and longevity. Freedom from genetic anomalies i. Size and structure within the parameters of the breed standard. Proper coat length and good pigment. While your dog- may get by without some of these attributes, the breeder tries to get them all in every puppy all the time. This is not easy! I placed temperament first on the list. The dog must have a good temperament to do its job in life. Most of the time, the dog's job is simply watching the house and kids. Sometimes, its job is Schutzhund sport, search and rescue work, police K-9 or guide dog. Some dogs wear many hats. But the best temperament is no good with-out a sound body. Two Types of German Shepherd Dogs. In Germany it is generally accepted that there are two varieties of German Shepherd Dog. There are dog bred primarily to excel in Schutzhund sport. These dogs have "working lines" and many famous working lines are Grey or sable. Schutzhund sport demands a fit body, sound mind, and good hips. There are also German dog bred to excel in the showring. These dogs have "high lines" or "show lines. High line dogs are also required to pass a Schutzhund trial, but once titled, show dogs usually leave the Schutzhund field behind. Of course, the best of both worlds is a beautiful show dog that works well. While this is certainly possible, it doesn't happen often. Crossing working lines and show lines can give us pups that do not belong in either world. They are not tough enough to do the work nor pretty enough to compete in the showring. Working dogs do not always produce working dogs. But the chances are far better if every canine relative in the last six generations was able to a pass a Schutzhund trial or herd sheep for a living. German dogs East and West, high lines or working lines must have working titles and hip x-rays before they are bred. We may never know all the facts about this. Some well-known German trainers say that the sable color was never very popular in Germany. As a result, the sable dog had to be very good in order to get breedings. The grey dog of today carry those very good traits. Here is a partial list of well-known working dogs. They are all sable dogs. V-Sagus v. SG-Lord v. Brix v. Bill v. V-Zorro v. SG-Bob v. SG-Artus v. This famous "U" litter also contained Uran. Racker v. SG-Voldo v. VA-Wanko v. Maarue SchH III a "tough" conformation, that is, a dog who excelled in the showring and also excelled in Schutzhund sport. There are many, many more that deserve mention. German Shepherd or Raccoon? The prospective buyer, when presented a well pigmented six- to eight-week-old sable puppy, often asks the breeder, "Why does it look like a raccoon? Their body color is usually the same as their adult undercolor is destined to be. At this stage, these pups typically have a black stripe down the spoke, black around the eyes, and a single black ring around the tail. This bizarre color scheme is only around a few weeks. The pups soon get progressively darker and more German Shepherd-like until they finally reach their adult coat. Unfortunately for the hardworking breeder, this "raccoon" color phase arrives just about the same time pups are usually ready to be sold. No one can blame a novice for wondering if the breeder is "on the level," or if some local Don Juan didn't slip in and visit "mom" in the dark of night. It is helpful if you have several sable dogs about the place and their puppy pictures to prove that this metamorphosis does in fact take place. But, more often than not, the breeder is left in the rather pathetic position of saying to the buyer, "Look, trust me. They get darker! Black sable pups are almost solid black when born, then the color starts to fade. Red sables can have a brilliant red undercoat, and are born a bit lighter, with that black stripe already in evidence. Check the parents. If the dam and sire are dark, the pups will usually be as dark, if not darker. Other signs of exceptional pigment are black toes "muddy feet" in the lingo , a black mask and black appearing on the front of the leg running down towards the feet. Dark eyes are tough to be sure of in a pup, as the eye color changes along with the coat color. If you are dealing with a Fairly dark set of parents, the eyes should be no problem. This "type" of dog has a great deal to offer the breed. The DDR dogs were ruthlessly culled for good hips. Extensive records were kept on stud dog progeny, which included missing teeth, long coats, undescended testicles, and temperament problems. These records are available to us today, and while not perfect, they do offer a breeder a wealth of information. A breeder friend of mine refers to the DDR dogs as "muddy water dogs. Some breeders, myself included, fear the attributes of this valuable gene pool will be diminished or lost altogether now that Germany has been reunified. Many DDR dogs whose blood-lines are available in this country are dark grey or black sable dogs. A Shepherd of Another Color There is nothing wrong with having a color preference when shopping for a pup. There are many German Shepherd breeders in this country and a buyer has a host of colors to choose from. But there is a great deal more to breeding a good dog than shooting for your favorite color. Don't overlook the Shepherd of another color! The breeder who has sable dogs, given today's market, has good reason for breeding them. There is a rich heritage of intelligence, as well as physical and mental soundness, in today's grey lines. Maybe you'll find, as I did, the best thing about a sable dog is sharing your life with one! Sep 27, Jul 8, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Are you looking for a dog with all the amazing characteristics of a German shepherd, but you also want something a bit different and special? If so, then why not consider a sable German shepherd? The sable German shepherd is not a crossbreed dog but rather a recognized variation within the breed, so the dog retains all the benefits of a purebred pup. German shepherds are one of the most popular purebred dog breeds in the United States, in part thanks to their intelligence, trainability, and intense loyalty. They are also well-loved for their sleek, noble appearance. Interestingly, sable is actually the original color of the German shepherd breed. It is the only variation of the German shepherd that has the same color as the founding member of the breed. Read on to learn everything you need to know about these attractive, intelligent, and hard-working dogs. Sable German Shepherd Appearance Sable German shepherds look just like most other German shepherd dogs, with the exception of their distinctively colored coat. The German shepherd is a large breed. You can expect the males to reach up to 26 inches tall and weigh between 75 and 95 pounds. The females are a bit smaller. Their heads are domed in shape with a long, square muzzle. They have alert, erect ears and long necks that make them seem even larger than they are. It is considered ideal for the dog to be longer than it is tall with a proportion of 10 to 8. Their bushy tail should extend out in a hook-like shape. German shepherds tend to dip their head low like a wolf when they are running or prowling, which contributes to the consensus that they look very much like the wolf ancestors of dogs. These dogs have double coats with a soft undercoat and a denser guard layer. The guard layer can be either medium or long, though the medium length is significantly more common. Most German shepherds are either tan and black or red and black. The lighter brown shade is usually their principal color, with a black face mask and black markings on their back which often look like a saddle. A variety of other color variations exist, including pure black, pure white, liver, silver, blue, panda, and, of course, sable. Sable basically means the dog has mostly lighter colored hair with a black tips, which can make the dog appear grey or mottled. In reality, the actual color combinations are more varied, and the sable pattern could be any mixture of tan, black, brown, or red. The term is mostly used in the United States. In other countries, such as Germany, these dogs are often just called grey. It has since become a popular working dog for roles such as search and rescue, police, and military due to its strength, trainability, and intelligence. The breed emerged from the s trend to try to standardize dog breeds to assist in certain jobs, such as herding sheep. Max von Stephanitz was a leading thinker in this area and was specifically looking for canine specimens that matched his ideal vision of a working dog. He found that ideal dog at a dog show in .He purchased the dog and named it Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for German Shepherd Dogs to promote the breed and others like it. Horand, who was in fact a sable-colored German Shepherd, became the center point of a breeding program. Horand himself had 84 puppies, and extensive inbreeding was required to secure the characteristics of the breed. When the German Shepherd was imported to the United States in the early 20th century, it became popular with gangsters and bootleggers for its strength, intelligence, and intimidating appearance. It was also popular in Nazi Germany, and even Adolf Hitler loved the breed. As a result, it has gained a reputation for being a fierce, intimidating, and even dangerous breed. However, this says much more about how the dogs were used than the natural temperament of the dogs themselves. German Shepherd Temperament The color of a German shepherd makes no difference to its temperament, so you can expect a sable German shepherd to conform to the general temperament of the breed. German shepherd dogs are often described as active and self-assured. This, combined with their intelligence and eagerness to learn and please, makes them excellent working dogs. They are also highly obedient and loyal. Their extreme loyalty also extends to family situations. They will raise the alarm with their loud, deep bark if they sense danger. However, German shepherds are not naturally aggressive. This is a reputation that stems from the way that the dog has been used in the past. That said, German shepherds are often associated with severe dog bites. This is largely due to the popularity of the breed and the strength of their bite rather than any innate aggression; there are simply more of them around than many other dog breeds. Tests suggest that German Shepherds have a bite force of over 1, newtons, which is less than a Rottweiler but more than a pit bull. They tend to have a natural suspicion of strangers and like to chase smaller animals. Their intelligence and compliance means they can be trained not to display this behavior, but as an owner, you need to put in the work of training them properly and consistently. German shepherds are a very curious breed in addition to being highly intelligent, which is why they are well suited for search and rescue missions. German Shepherd Energy Level German shepherds are very playful and active dogs, so they need lots of physical exercise and mental stimulation in order to thrive. This is another reason why they often do well as working animals. Working gives them both the physical and mental stimulation to complete these challenging tasks. Pleasing their handlers is also attractive to these highly reward-oriented dogs. Ideally, German shepherds need at least 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day, preferably spread over at least two different sessions. However, this should be slightly less when they are puppies. There is always a risk of over-exercising puppies, especially when it comes to large dog breeds. As a general rule, you should exercise a puppy daily for five minutes for every month of their age until they are an adult. German shepherds reach adulthood at around 18 months. So, for example, a six month old pup should be getting 30 minutes of exercise a day if we follow this rule, as six months times five minutes comes out to 30 minutes per day. What to know more about exercising your puppy? Read our article: How far can I walk my puppy? German shepherds will love to accompany you on adventures, such as hikes and walks, and they also love swimming. They will do well at the lake, on the beach, or even accompanying you on a boat. However, even though they are excellent swimmers, they should have a doggy life vest if you are out at sea. They will struggle in an apartment, and their large size can make navigating small apartments challenging even for these nimble dogs. Ideally, they should have a backyard where they can move around freely, especially when left at home alone. The intelligence of these dogs means they can get bored quickly. While puzzle toys, such as a Kong , can help on the occasions when you do need to leave them alone, they are likely to become stressed if they are left alone regularly. German Shepherd Health Risks German shepherds have a life expectancy of a little over 10 years. This is normal for dogs of their size, and larger dogs tend to have shorter lifespans than smaller breeds. You should not expect a sable German shepherd to be immune from these, especially since further inbreeding is often required to produce the sable color. It is common for these dogs to develop hip and elbow dysplasia , which is a developmental abnormality of the joints that can restrict movement and cause pain. This is often the result of different elements of the body growing at different speeds. The best way to prevent this is to ensure good nutrition and the right level of exercise during their crucial growing period. Even if the development of hip and elbow dysplasia does not affect the dog at a younger age, it can make them more susceptible to arthritis and other forms of joint pain when they are older. Older German shepherds often benefit from an orthopedic bed to take pressure off their joints. The breed also appears to be predisposed to degenerative myelopathy. This is a degenerative spinal cord disease that generally shows up in older dogs after about the age of seven years. If you are looking for one of these puppies specifically, you may need to go to a breeder. The sable color is relatively rare, and breeders have to control specifically for this kind of coat. As a result, you can expect to pay a bit more for a sable puppy than you would a German shepherd of any other more common colors. Are you thinking of adopting a sable German shepherd, or any German shepherd, into your family? Here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine if you and your home are a good fit for this breed. German shepherds are highly trainable and obedient, which means even first-time owners should be able to take on the challenge of training them. German shepherds need a commanding presence to keep them in check. The sad reality is that many people are also afraid of big dogs like these, and their behavior and response to them can cause serious problems. You need to feel confident to take control of your dog in charged situations. These dogs are also very active, so they will do best if they have a bit of outdoors to call their own that lets them run around a little, dig, and play. Just be sure your yard is properly and securely fenced in! German shepherds are very energetic dogs that need to be active a lot, which means you will need to be active frequently as well. As well as daily exercise, they will want to join you on weekend adventures rather than weekends on the couch catching up on Netflix. German shepherds need to spend a lot of time with their owners, as they need both companionship and intellectual stimulation. Thinking about getting a new puppy? Check out our new puppy checklist. Sable German shepherds have a coat with lighter roots and darker tips covering most of their body. The tips are usually black, which means the dog looks as though it has a greyish color. It is a natural color variation within the breed. How common are sable German shepherds? Sable German shepherds are significantly rare in comparison to the popular tan and black or red and black colors that dominate the breed. This is why a sable puppy will probably cost you more than other color variations. However, pure black German shepherds are a bit more rare. Are sable German shepherds bigger? No, sable German shepherds are not bigger than other German shepherds. The females should weigh between 55 and 75 pounds and the males 75 to 95 pounds. Look at the size of the parents to get a better feel for how big your pup is likely to get. Are German shepherds good family dogs? With the right training and socialization, German shepherds are excellent dogs for an active household. They will be loving, obedient, and protective. They are good around children, though small children should always be supervised around dogs, regardless of the breed and their level of familiarity. Accidents happen, even when children are around dogs they have grown up with and know well. What is bad about German shepherds? German shepherds tend to be suspicious of everyone, which can contribute to overly protective and territorial behavior. Proper socialization can help minimize this personality trait, but they will probably carry an element of this with them for their entire lives. The Verdict Sable German shepherds are not exotic crossbreeds but rather a rare color of the purebred German shepherd dog. They are actually the original color of the breed, matching its famous founding member. Sable-colored German shepherds are actually relatively rare, so they can be expensive to procure. However, aside from their unique color, they are just like other German shepherds, one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They are large and strong dogs with a lot of energy, which makes them well suited to hard work. They are also highly intelligent and eager to please, which makes them ideal to train to complete complex tasks such as the roles of military and police dogs despite being originally bred as herders. Overall, sable German shepherds are: Rarer than just about any other color of German shepherd No different than other German shepherds as far as personality, temperament, etc. With the right training and socialization, they are very safe dogs. German shepherds are great dogs for active people who have a lot of time to spend with their pup and want a companion to join them on various active adventures. Do you have experience with sable German shepherd dogs? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. Related Article:.

We know how hard it is to find the right breeder and get one step closer to that adorable bundle of joy. This list only features reputable breeders that are passionate about the breed, and care about each and every puppy they produce. They have rigorous programs where all of their dogs are health tested and certified, only breeding dogs that pass with flying colors to reduce the chances that your puppy inherits a genetic disorder, like hip dysplasia. Many of these breeders have also titled their dogs, and have produced champions or successful service dogs. Most importantly, all their puppies grow up to be loving and loyal companions. These breeders provide AKC registration for their dogs, so you can be comforted with the knowledge that your puppy is a purebred Labrador. You probably have many questions to ask, and these great breeders will be willing to answer all of them, while also having ten more of their own for you! This type of Labrador is stockier than their American field line cousin and has that quintessential look when you think of a Lab with the blocky head and otter tail. Each sire and dam has its hips and elbows X-Rayed and OFA certified before breeding and are genetically tested for inheritable diseases. They take great care when selecting which dogs to breed, and their females generally never have more than two litters. Puppies are raised in the home, as part of the family, and through the eight weeks, their personalities are monitored. This ultimately helps make sure that their Lab puppies are placed in the right home. More than twice as many Labs were registered than any other breed making it a likely leader for many years to come. In a recent article, a licensed professional counselor for more than twenty-five years, explained how owning a Lab can help produce healthier, happier, more well adjusted children. Here is an excerpt from her article: Regular dog-walking increases social interaction for children—especially those who have just moved to a neighborhood and are feeling homesick for their former home. A child who might not want to go out into the neighborhood alone, feels that he or she has a purpose in walking the dog, and therefore can face unfamiliar faces or places more easily than when alone. Walking the dog could be the perfect way for a shy or awkward adolescent to meet new friends in the neighborhood. Be sure to read the rest of her seven part article, Ten Reasons to Own a Dog. At Twin Lakes Kennel, we have been breeding and training world class Labrador retrievers for more than thirty-five years. Our second-to-none Puppy Guarantee makes buying a pure-bred Labrador retriever one of the wisest decisions you will ever make. Read the personal testimonials from prominent Lab owners from around the country. And visit our Puppy Page or call Woody or Judi for up-to-date puppy information at .Did you know… Montpelier was settled relatively late in comparison to other Vermont towns. The first permanent settler was Colonel Jacob Davis in .Since in Vermont roads follow rivers, they explain, the coming together of many roads caused it to become a meeting place for both government and commerce. Our world class Labrador Retrievers puppies for sale! Our Latest Happy Clients! Become A Happy Client! If you live in Vermont or nearby states and are planning to bring home the Labrador of your dreams, you are at the right place! All these breeders are AKC-registered to ensure that you bring home a happy and healthy dog. They breed black, yellow, and chocolate Labradors with the advocacy: No to silver Labradors. The puppies are dewormed and vaccinated. They have regular health checks and timely visits to the vet. The breeding parents complete an 8-disorder genetic check to lower the threat of producing puppies with genetically transmitted diseases. Puppies play around with over 20 acres of space. They make great hiking, hunting , and family companions. The breeder ensures quality and health for each puppy you bring home. The dogs are known for their calm temperament and sharp skills. They are examined yearly to ensure good health and suitability for breeding. If you are looking for a hunting partner, a hiking buddy , or a loving canine family member, you know where to go. However, since this breeder is highly selective in the dogs they breed, puppies may not always be available. Address: Moretown, VT Darling Hill Farm This breeder has been breeding English Labs since , prioritizing the health of both the puppies and the adopting family. The puppies are vaccinated and dewormed and can be microchipped for added security. This breeder also advocates: No to silver Labs. Although having a kennel is just a hobby for the breeder, it puts great emphasis on quality and care and produces Labs from health-tested bloodlines. The puppies grow with their family and are well socialized with people and other animals. These Labs proved to be the perfect hiking and hunting buddies. The dog parents are selected based on temperament, intelligence, and aesthetics to ensure quality puppies. McCoy breeds black, yellow, and chocolate English Labs. All the puppies are vaccinated and covered for congenital malformations or hereditary diseases in their first year. In the rare case that anything goes wrong, the breeder will compensate up to the purchase price of the pup. The breeder undertakes careful research and emphasizes quality instead of quantity, thus breeding only one or two litters a year. All their puppies are vaccinated to ensure good health. They are cleared by OFA and certified with normal hips and good elbows. You can find both English and American styles at his kennel. The Labrador puppies are known for their intelligence, calm temperament, and beautiful appearance. To ensure good health, all the dogs are dewormed. The breeder guarantees that your dog will not receive a grade of mild, moderate, or severe hip dysplasia from OFA until the age of 26 months. Breeders labrador breeders labradors. We are proud to offer sound family pups, loved in our Southerwestern Vermont pastoral farm house by AKC standards for conformation, intelligence and natural instincts with a great balanced disposition for years of mutual companionship. Our pups are born and raised in our home from birth day to Gotcha Day. Pup immersion into daily family life experiences is top on our early development Lab rearing priority list. All our Labs are our family members with generation after generation of health testing, proper nutrition, Vet care, and OFA clearances. Our Labs are not only pretty faced show and accomplished field champions but proud gold medalist couch potatoes and snuggle buddies! Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. Monty was our first Red Barn Farm Labradors lab. He seemed to be a bit of an old soul after his first year, and when we heard Mel may be having more puppies, I knew Monty would love a RBFL brother. Our Gus could not be any more different from his big brother Monty. Gus is a young whippersnapper who spends his time hunting in the yard while our old man Monty basks in the sun. Mel has the most beautiful personality and kind disposition, and I swear her positive energy was absorbed by the pups. Bruin left some big ole puppy shoes to fill. Our hearts felt empty with out a Lab, so we reached out to Mel Maryellen. When the litter of pups we were anticipating were born, everything felt very meant-to-be. Prior to the litters arrival we decided upon a black boy pup. Out of an entire litter of 5 there was one little handsome male pup, and he was black! Insert our Charlie boy here! Charlie has filled those puppy shoes beyond what we imagined. Charlie has the gentle loving eyes of an old soul with the playfulness of a healthy pup. He is beyond smart, and is currently learning to hunt! Charlie immediately had an extra strong bond with our 4 year old daughter, which has warmed all of our hearts from day one. We feel so lucky to have a RBFL in our family to love. Red Barn Farm Labradors was recommended by word of mouth. Our adoption experience and our Lab, Libby AKA Liberty Bell have been the best experience and the best adoption experience we have ever had. At four years old, Libby is still the sweet, socialized, healthy dog we chose as a puppy. Mel Maryellen is knowledgeable, informative, and fair to all new perspective puppy families. Mel loves those puppies long before you know which pup to choose. Highly recommended! We Love Our Libby! We have formed such a great connection with Mel ever since our first phone interview with her. It was apparent from the beginning how much she loves these dogs and cares about placing them in a good home. From meeting the puppies as a litter and getting to select our special pup to Gotcha Day at 8 weeks old, with a take home bag including a comfort Momma scented lovie blanket and toy, Mel was fantastic! You can tell the puppies are well loved from day one! I will always go to Mel for my Labs! She is an amazing breeder. She is also willing to answer any questions or concerns at any time. She truly loves them and takes great care of them and knowing our puppy would be loved so fully for her first 8 weeks of life meant the world to us! Remi has been everything we hoped for and more, she has the best temperament and personality for our lifestyle. Driven and energetic while being cuddly and loyal through and through. We love our RedBarnFarm lab and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a wonderful addition to the family. We found Red Barn Labs though a friend and from the moment we had our first phone interview we knew we found the right place to adopt our next lab from. Maryellen loves her dogs and all her pups. She has been available anytime we have a question or want to share our fun lab moments with her. We love staying in touch and following the extended RBL family online. Our pup is healthy, intelligent, and beautiful. She is a great dog! She has a lot of spunk, has great bird instinct, loves to play and loves being part of our family. She makes us so happy, and we are thrilled to have Maryellen, and RBL as part of our family now too. That is what Mel Maryellen excels at and it is a selfless act not many can do well. My experience with Mel was so smooth and personable from day one and still is to this very day. It is an honor to be able to have one of her pups. When going to pick out our puppy, we knew all of his litter was extremely well cared for and loved before we brought him home. Maryellen carefully listened to what we were looking for in a family dog, and helped guide us to goofy boy, Woody. Almost two years later, we know we can reach out to her for anything dog related- even just to show her a silly picture of our boy! Ad for our big boy, he is everything you can want in a Lab. He is playful, loyal, and an easy going brother to his dog sibling and human sibling and an excellent dog in our active family. We will never get a dog from another breeder! She immediately stole our hearts with her sweet and fun-loving nature. Our Red Barn Farm Labrador came to us full of love which was due to the loving care she received from day one. She is very smart, confident, silly, loyal and full of personality. We love her beautiful coat which is black as night and soft as velvet. She spreads the love of Labs that stems from the passion for amazing dogs at Red Barn Farm! From the moment we pulled up to her magical Vermont home we were in love with both her and our new family member, Benelli. We love being part of the Red Barn Farm Labradors family and would recommend them to everyone! He is a pup of Eva and Chip. There are working hunting dogs on both sides of his breeding and it shows! Maryellen puts in a lot of hard work to produce high quality dogs for their loving owners. From the time the pups are born until they go home to their new owners, Maryellen takes care of them around the clock beyond the expected to socialize them with their littler mates as well as other humans, animals, and various other stimuli they may encounter out in the world. We also appreciate how RBFL likes to check in on their pups via IG to see what kinds of adventures they are experiencing. Bode was the Fox Red male from sweet momma, Annie and super stud, Chip. Maryellen is the most wonderful, caring, kind, and thoughtful breeder I have ever met. The sincere communication, attention to mother, father and pups were of utmost importance to Maryellen. Our Bode is a hunk of burning love, fun and silliness. His personality is as big as he is and we love all of him! He spends his days with his older brother Chocolate Lab, Tucker hiking, ripping up stuffies, snuggling, and begging for treats. When the day comes to get another four-legged addition, we will calling Maryellen at Red Barn Farm Labradors!

Bringing a Poodle into your home is a rewarding experience for the whole family. As a Poodle expert, I get asked all the time about reputable breeders in certain areas. Based on the millions of visitors and by surveying our subscribers we found five reputable Poodle breeders in Ontario that are ethical, quality, and not extortionate. PuppySpot is a reputable dog marketplace where you can browse and find compatible puppies right from the comfort of your home. They have placed over , puppies into homes in the US! If you want further information about their dogs, get in touch with them directly. Be sure to ask plenty of questions! Jessica and Jeremy Edgar and their two children raise the dogs in their home. They are fortunate to have a farm and acres to explore. This breeder ensures that the puppies are well-socialized before going to their new home. They have regular contact with adults, children, other dogs, and a cat in the house. An outdoor play area is provided for the puppies; they also have regular routines for bathing and brushing. A gray merle Poodle is incredibly rare. They require a thorough application to ensure the prospective owner is a good fit for the puppies. Potential owners must describe their previous experience with dogs and knowledge of Poodles. They will be asked to explain their housing and yard situation, their family make-up, and their lifestyle. All Poodles are vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped before going home with their new owner. They have had a complete exam by a veterinarian as well. Jessica provides support to owners long after they bring their puppy home. People who have received a Poodle from this breeder say that the dogs are intelligent, good with children, and easy to train. Contact Details:. There are a lot of breeders claiming one thing, when the reality is quite far from it. They have been breeding since , however, all of them have loved Poodles for their whole life. They specialize in black Miniature Poodles, which are exhibited in Canada as well as America. Their dogs come from some of the top American and Canadian Champion bloodlines. At Umbra Poodles, they breed for conformation and performance, but first and foremost, they think of their dogs as companions and family pets. All of them are raised in their house, and therefore, socialized and prepared to adapt to new homes. They use The Puppy Culture Program to train their dogs. This is the best way to raise dogs to be well-socialized, as well as prepared for competition in any dog sports. Their breeding program cares specifically about health, temperament, structure, and breed standard. Before breeding, all puppy parents are health tested and certified by OFA, and also DNA tested for any genetic disorders that can affect mini Poodles. From this breeder, you will receive a lifetime support if you purchase any of their dogs. By becoming a part of the Umbra Poodles family, you will also receive access to the VIP section of their website, where you can find everything that will help you with training and raising your new puppy! Ready to Adopt Puppyspot Poodle Adoption 5. They have placed over , puppies into homes in the US! Each puppy has up-to-date vaccinations, a written health check guarantee, and complete vet checks. Happy red Poodle puppies All puppies go to their new homes with dew claws removed and tails docked. They will have a complete vet check, up-to-date vaccinations, microchipping, and deworming. The new puppy kit includes: A collar and leash A blanket with scents of mom and litter mates A sample of food You can reach Arreau Red Standard Poodles by calling , emailing [email protected] , or completing their online request form. Bijou Standard Poodles For anyone in the Niagra Falls area, Bijou Standard Poodles is a reputable breeder of this favorite dog and provide brown and red puppies. They do not treat their breeding sires and dams as a business but as part of their family, providing the utmost care and support for their dogs and each litter. A miniature chocolate Poodle puppy eating his dinner. They register with the OFA Orthopedic Foundation of Animals and have complete genetic testing done for all their animals to ensure the best health possible. Puppies from Bijou Standard Poodles come with a thorough health check, microchipping, deworming, tails docked and dew claws removed. They will receive the appropriate vaccinations, deworming, and have CKC registration, along with a leash and collar and full-time breeders support. You can reach Bijou Standard Poodles by emailing [email protected]. They breed dogs from Mexico, Europe, Ukraine, Russia, and the United States to increase the genetic lines and preserve the optimal traits of the breed to avoid interbreeding. When do Poodles shed their puppy coat? At what age? Whether you want a show dog or just a terrific four-legged friend, the miniature Poodles from Denali are a great choice. They have excellent temperaments, possess exceptional beauty, and carry the traits Poodles are known for, including intelligence, grace, and companionship. You can reach them by calling or by submitting an online contact request through the CKC website. They offer top-quality miniature and toy Poodles that will be exceptional show dogs or family companions in your home. The colors they breed for litters include: Black. Here are some tips to help you to find the right Poodle breeder in Ontario. When looking for a breeder, it is important to find someone who is reputable and responsible. The breeder should be willing to answer any questions you have about the breed or the puppies. They should also be willing to provide you with references from other people who have purchased dogs from them. The breeder should also be able to provide you with proof that the puppies have been health tested and are free of genetic defects. The dogs should also be well socialized and raised in a healthy environment. The puppies should be well-cared for and healthy. When you visit, be sure to ask to see the parents of the puppies. The parents should be healthy and free of genetic diseases. They should also be well-socialized. If you are not able to visit the breeder in person, be sure to ask for pictures of the puppies and their parents. More Information About Poodle Puppies in Ontario When it comes to popular dogs in the state of Ontario that comes in both small and medium sizes, Poodles are at the top of the list. These pooches come in three different sizes which include, Toy, Miniature, and Standard. Their coats are one of their most defining features. They can range from long and shaggy to extra fluffy. You can choose from longer to shorter-haired Poodles, and you also have a handful of coat color options to pick from — including traditional black and tan, Red and silver. Plus the best part about Poodles is that they neither shed hair nor dander which makes them a good option for families with allergies. This devoted breed is sweet and versatile, making it easy to care for. If you know any great Poodle Breeders who lives in Ontario, please let us know in the comments below. So we can add it to our list. What is the Breeder Name? Where are they located in Ontario? It really helps others who are looking for Poodle puppies in Ontario. And we believe there are many but we thoroughly review and close check the breeder before adding it to our list. If your friend and relative looking for a Poodle Puppies in Ontario, you can share this post with them. If you are looking for the best Poodle Breeders in Ontario, So you can consider any of these breeders. Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process. She is a 5 year old Poodle X, puppy mill Mama, weighing in at 10 lbs. In the short time she has shared our home with us and her foster brother, she has opened up to us and has learned what life as a pet in a home is all about. Mitzy was very scared and withdrawn when she arrived. You can imagine how different a house was compared to a mill barn setting. Stairs were foreign to her, so we had to hold onto her leash and try to coax her out of the crate so we could teach her how to manage 3 steps to the backyard. In no time at all she learned how to go up and down steps, following the lead of her big foster brother. Stairs inside the house was an accomplishment that would come weeks later. There was no reaching out and scooping her up, or walking quickly toward her. She would go stiff and freeze like a statue and stare at you. On occasion we would need to pick her up and she would shake uncontrollably and was stiff as a board as you held her against you. Talk about melting your heart! It is at that moment, when she sinks into you neck or lap, that you know you have earned her trust. She enjoys the company of her humans from a distance, but will sometimes put her two front paws up on your calf and look forward to a chin scratch or pat on the head. Her forever home would need to have people with patience and a gentle and slow approach to new experiences. You can see in her eyes that she wants to be with you and will follow you around and settle in whatever room you are in. She has not been around cats, but I would imagine her gentle disposition would not be a problem with a calm quiet cat. MItzy is scared of sudden noises or a lot of excitement so we are looking for an adult only home for her or one with quieter natured teens. She needs a peaceful and quiet home to continue building confidence to the world outside. She also wont enjoy a busy city center living or a busting high rise building, but a quieter rural, town or subdivision setting in a house, townhouse or quiet condo would suit her well. There is one obvious and great characteristic about Mitzy, she absolutely loves to walk. She sees the martingale collar and leash and she begins to literally dance. There is no weather condition or length of walk that would stop her from an outdoor adventure. We have come to learn; she spins in circles as a form of release from anxiety. She is routine with her outdoor potty time. She is working on how to let us know she has to go outside, and therefore, has had a few accidents on carpets. We are trying to offer treats as rewards, but she is not treat motivated. The only treat she likes is cheese but we limit the amount she receives. Nite Nite! She has never barked or had a desire to leave her crate, as a result we leave the crate door open, and to date, she had never ventured out during the night. Breakfast is served and then the best is when she gets to go for her 30 — 40 minute walk in the morning. Returns home and sleeps on her daytime bed, or on the floor near her foster family. Ask her if she wants to go for a car-ride and she is equally excited. Back seat views and a place to sleep and she is willing to go the distance long or short drives. Mitzy has demonstrated courage to try new things and the ability to trust in her foster family and friends that visit. Another four-legged buddy in her forever home, would be an asset to lead the way. Showing 1 - 40 of 76 resultsPage 1 - 76 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Mom is 30 pounds golden doodle, dad is 16 pounds miniature poodle. Puppies are pee pad trained, smart, affectionate. Non shedding. Picture .Richmond Hill The price is lower than the market, is because I wish I could find a sweet home for my puppy. So serious buyer only!!!!! Absolutely adorable mini-size toy poodle puppies, all with very sweet loving.Their mom is the most gentle sweet natured mini Poodle one could ever have the.Located near Guelph, Ontario, our animals are raised with awareness, Contact us at the number provided only pls. F1B Mini Cockapoo Puppies are now ready to find their new families. They come in lovely apricot shades with white markings. Mom is an.Our adorable puppies currently 6 weeks and radiating with youthful energy. Both mom and.If you are looking for loyal and affectionate companion then these two are the ones. They are very friendly and easy going, they basically.Hypoallergenic and non shedding! Mom is mini Goldendoodle, dad is Mini poodle. Both parents, mom gentle Mini Goldendoodle 24lb , and dad an adorable mini poodle 9lb, Puppies and parents have only natural food with vitamins and minerals from Breeder's Edge. Two Puppies are.When you visit them, you can meet both parents, a sweet mom who is 16 lb and our adorable mini poodle dad .Please Contact Adorable mini-poodle puppies for sale! Beautiful pure bred mini poodle puppies born august 1st. Wonderful temperament for all pups, mom and dad have a great disposition as well. You can meet mom and.Dad - Silver Mom.Scooby loves to cuddle and loves being around kids. Scooby will be right around 35 lbs full grown based off of the weight of his parents, he.Daisy will be right around 35 lbs full grown based off of the weight of her parents, she will make a great addition to any household. Daisy is all up.Arnold loves to cuddle and loves being around kids. Arnold will be right around 35 lbs full grown based off of the weight of his parents, he will.Cute curly playful puppies meant to enrich everyone they meet. Call or text. They have a lot of extra training and an extra vaccine. They are very laidback and love children and people of all ages. They have been.These pint-sized furballs are as cute as they come, with their.You can see the parents when you visiting. Ready to go anytime. They'll be around pounds. Ready for new homes September 15th. Mom is a pure bred mini poodle 15lbs dad is a CKC registered mini poodle weighing 15lbs. Puppies have been raised.Happy, healthy and playful. They are well socialized, played with daily and spoiled by their mom! They should be approximately 20 to 25 pounds fully.Love people and get along well with most animals. Description: 3 Females Mom Nina is a first-generation f1 miniature labradoodle, and the father Chico is a toy poodle. These pups.Description: 2 Females remaining Mom Nina is a first-generation f1 miniature labradoodle, and the father Chico is a toy poodle. Showing 1 - 40 of 53 resultsPage 1 - 53 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Prices vary.Mom is 30 pounds golden doodle, dad is 16 pounds miniature poodle. Puppies are pee pad trained, smart, affectionate. Non shedding. Picture .Both parents on site. Mom is 12 pounds miniature poodle, dad is 14 pounds miniature poodle. With unique facial features, and doll faces very.Dad is a miniature poodle. The estimated weight of an adult puppy will be lb. The puppies received their first vaccinations and deworming.They are miniature size. The mother is a pure wheaten at 20 lbs and the.They are know for non shedding and hypoallergenic. These puppies are finally ready to leave their mom and dad. Their mom is miniature sized.Catharines Beautiful unique breed of Brittanydoodles were born on September 12! These medium-small dogs are a cross between a Brittany aka Brittany spaniel and a miniature poodle. Affectionate, smart, playful.Charlie is retiring from our breeding program. When you are a breeder You just can't continue to breed and keep them all unfortunately the law.Fully trained, no bad habits, lovely and cuddly and super smart. Pepper is part of our breeding program and is being offered to an approved.Description: 3 Females Mom Nina is a first-generation f1 miniature labradoodle, and the father Chico is a toy poodle. These pups.Visit Website Below to Order Now! Description: 2 Females remaining Mom Nina is a first-generation f1 miniature labradoodle, and the father Chico is a toy poodle. Ready to start their new adventure Sept 22, .Mom is a rare Silver Merle Mini. Mom is 8lbs. The mother is dark red and father is dark red and.Have their first shots and dewormed. Will be getting their second shots this week. All veterinarian paperwork will be included.Catharines Now accepting deposits on F1BB mini goldendoodle puppies .These pups are almost completely potty trained outdoors, they are crate trained, wonderful with my big dog, and very sociable. If you are looking for a.Daisy is 3. We are a small ethical breeder with pups raised in our home. Both parents are fully genetically tested and are on-site. The pups are.Renfrew Only 1 male puppy left! Number 1 is left. First shots, vet checked and dewormed. Mom is moyen poodle 22lb Dad is Miniature poodle 15lb Pups will mature around 20 lb Lovely natures! Very playfully, North York Only 1 boy available now. A litter of adorable red miniature poodle pups 3 boy and 1 girl are ready to find their new forever homes. The mom red weighs 12lbs and the dad dark red weighs 14lbs. Dad is a 10pnd apricot miniature poodle, mom is 13 pnd black miniature poodle. Puppies will come with first set of.They are 2 months old and ready to rehome! Full grown size is around lbs. Parent are purebred small miniature poodle.Pups come with a blanket.Small miniature poodle puppies ready for pick up City of Toronto Only 1 dark red boy left A litter of adorable small miniature poodle pups 3 boy and 1 girl 2 boy and 1 girl sold are ready to find their new forever homes. The mom red weighs 9lbs and the dad dark.They are very well socialized and are wonderful with children. Poodle are.Father is a 7lb toy poodle and Mother is 13lb miniature poodle. Both parents have been DNA health tested. They live in our home and are part of.Sombra Vet checked all cleared with first set of shots. Will be dewormed 4x , located in Sombra. Dad is last photo. Mom is second last photo. Getting vet checked and first set of.He has excepted a crate for sleeping and naps with no crying already. He is very smart, has learned to sit with a hand signal, down , come, leave it and

How does the Labradoodle growth chart work? The following numbers are estimates based on the litter of a Labrador Retriever crossed with a standard Poodle. If your pup's Poodle parent is a toy size, then they are likely to be significantly smaller than these estimates. Their health is what matters most, so if you have questions or concerns about your puppy's development, reach out to your veterinarian. At what age is a Labradoodle fully grown? Labradoodles typically need 12 to 18 months to reach their full size, especially if their parents were on the heavier side of the average weight spectrum. Large breeds grow slower and take longer to reach their full size compared to small and medium-sized dog breeds, which usually reach maturity within nine to 11 months. How big should a 6-month-old Labradoodle be? A 6-month-old Labradoodle may weigh anywhere between 40 and 55 pounds. As a general rule, male Labradoodles weigh more than their female counterparts. In terms of height, a 6-month-old Labradoodle puppy will stand around 14 to 18 inches tall at the shoulders, but this varies based on their genetic makeup. Pro Tip: Download our new puppy checklist for tips on how to set up a vaccination schedule, essential pet care supplies, and more. How much bigger will my Labradoodle get? There are a few ways you can estimate how much more your Labradoodle may grow. Most Labradoodles need anywhere from 12 to 18 months to reach their full size. If your pup is younger than a year old, they are likely still growing. Refer to our Labradoodle weight chart to estimate how many more pounds they might put on as they mature into adulthood. If they look oversized compared to their limbs, then they're probably still filling out. Oversized paws are a classic puppy feature indicating that your pup still has more growth underway. Lastly, if you purchased your puppy from a breeder, you can contact them about your Labradoodle's weight. Alhough the breed varies greatly in size, knowing the weight of your puppy's parents and those of previous litters can help you predict your Labradoodle's adult size. What is the size of a full-grown Labradoodle? As a hybrid dog breed, Labradoodles vary significantly in size based on their geneology. Per Agape Labradoodles , adult Labradoodles typically weigh over 45 pounds, with some Labradoodles weighing as much as pounds. However, most Labradoodles will weigh between 50 and 90 pounds. In [terms of height], Labradoodles stand 21 to 24 inches tall when measured from paw to shoulder, or approximately two feet excluding their neck and crown of the head. How do I make sure my Labradoodle is healthy? Our Labradoodle puppies are important, cherished family members who we want the best for. One of the best ways to help your Labradoodle thrive is by taking them to regular veterinary appointments to have them routinely checked out and evaluated. Prevention is always better than treatment, and regular veterinary exams provide your veterinarian with the opportunity to screen your Labradoodle for disease. Your puppy will need to see the veterinarian several times in their first six months of life for core vaccinations against things like Rabies, and then at least once a year as an adult for annual health check-ups. Like their parents, Labradoodles are also more susceptible to hip dysplasia , a common orthopedic condition that occurs when the hip joint forms improperly. Hip dysplasia can lead to pain in their back legs, impaired mobility, and even lameness if not treated - fortunately, the condition is treatable with surgery. When over 20, pet parents were surveyed, only .As loving pet parents, it can be devastating to think that our four-legged friend could develop a painful disease that requires expensive treatment. This is where pet insurance comes in. Most pet parents opt for accident and illness pet insurance plans as they cover both injuries and most illnesses, such as hip dysplasia or eye diseases. Pet wellness plans can be added to your insurance coverage to help you pay for preventive veterinary care, like your regular vet exams, x-rays , dental cleanings , vaccinations, and more. Like humans, dogs are living longer, which creates an even bigger need for excellent veterinary care so that our dogs can live their happiest and healthiest lives. Pet insurance helps alleviate the financial strain that's often caused by vet visit costs. If your Labradoodle puppy gets sick or hurt, you and your veterinarian can work together to provide your pup with the best treatment plan - without worrying about how much it might cost. Key Takeaways Adult Labradoodles weigh pounds on average. The parent Poodle breed has toy and standard size variations that impact the size of the offspring, along with other genetic factors. Most Labradoodles grow until months of age. The breed is known for several congenital health disorders, and is especially prone to hip dysplasia. Pet insurance can protect your puppy and provide a financial safety net for vet costs throughout their life. Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. Standard Australian Labradoodle .So while a mini or medium-sized Australian Labradoodle may take another 6 to 7 months to attain its adult weight and height, a standard-sized dog will take much longer. The growth rate in Australian Labradoodles is sex-dependent as well. Female dogs have a more gradual growth rate. Similarly, at maturity, their growth tails off gradually. Male dogs have more abrupt growth dynamics. They grow more rapidly, and their growth stops abruptly. And although you can see in the chart that differently sized Australian Labradoodles attain full growth at different ages, almost all of them will achieve their full height at around one year of age. Later, the development is mostly in terms of weight as the dog fills out and gains muscle. Australian Labradoodle The Poodle parentage can play a key role in determining the size of a crossbreed. However, the same is not applicable for an Australian Labradoodle, as it is a multigenerational Doodle, and the process is not as straightforward as with other Poodle crossbreeds. An Australian Labradoodle sits on a pastel purple couch. For other Doodle breeds, the generation may determine the Poodle percentage. However, the same does not apply to a Labradoodle. It has to be crossed for a minimum of 5 generations to qualify as a Labradoodle. Also, unlike other crossbreeds, a Labradoodle genetic makeup comes from more than two breeds. So, for a Doodle to classify as an Australian Labradoodle, it has to meet these two conditions: Crossbreeding has reached 5 generations. The Labradoodle must be continuously bred. Continuous breeding means both the crossed Labradoodles must have two Labradoodle parents as well. This must be repeated for 5 generations. Now, for the crossbreed to become an Australian Labradoodle, it has to fulfill just one more requirement—its pedigree must have one more breed. And although all of the above four breeds contribute, the Cocker Spaniel mostly American is preferred above other breeds. This is because breeders found that the Cocker Spaniel imparted more consistent traits than the other three. They are: Fleece-Textured: These are silky soft and can be either straight or wavy. Some also have spiral-shaped curls. The coat is usually curly with loose spirals that open readily. Hair-Coat Type: This type has a coarse feel and can be either straight or wavy. Australian Labradoodle puppies with different colors cuddle together. Australian Labradoodles come in various colors like white, red, black, parti, apricot, caramel, chocolate, merle, and more. The coat may either darken or fade, depending on the coat color. Grooming Your Australian Labradoodle The Australian Labradoodle has been developed continuously for the last 35 years. As a result, it is one of the least shedding dogs. However, this does not mean they have no grooming requirements. Dog brushes on a pink background. Below are some instructions on keeping your pup well groomed. Start brushing as soon as you bring a puppy home. If you have a young pup, brush its coat at least 4 times a week. Continue this till the time your pup develops an adult coat. This will be around 18 months. Use a brush and a dematting comb to remove all the tangles and to avoid the matting of the coat. Use rounded tip scissors to remove hair around the eyes. The adult coat starts developing at around 8 to 10 months. This time necessitates excessive brushing, that is, multiple times a week. It is also the best time to give your puppy its first trim, as it is difficult to maintain long coats that shed. The adult coat may be established by 12 to14 months. This is the coat the puppy will have for its adult life. An adult Australian Labradoodle has a low brushing requirement. It needs an hour of brushing every 2 weeks. If you have an active lifestyle and your dog joins you on regular outings, hikes, and so on, it will require more brushing to remove the debris and loosen clumped hair. Make sure your comb reaches the base of the hair. If necessary, invest in a metal greyhound comb. You can bathe your dog once a month or after a longer period if the coat is not visibly matted. Brush its teeth every month and trim his nails every 3 to 4 weeks. Australian Labradoodle Temperament Australian Labradoodles have fantastic personalities, and unlike first-generation Labradoodles who are hyperactive, Australian Labradoodles are calmer. They are intelligent, intuitive, balanced, loyal, sociable, and mature. They are widely used as service and therapy dogs; in fact, they were created for this sole purpose. Australian Labradoodles are a different breed than Labradoodles although similar! Labradoodles are great with kids and love being around humans and other pets. They are naturally playful, witty, and comical. However, children must be supervised around young pups and mini Doodles, as these dogs are fragile, and their susceptibility to injury is high. Australian Labradoodles adapt well to crates; however, they must not be left inside the crate for too long. Full Grown Australian Labradoodle Diet And Feeding Puppies have a higher calorie requirement than adults, as they are in a continuously growing phase and need enough nutrients to support the same. Also, as the dog comes in three different sizes, you need to understand that their daily feeding will depend on their size and provide accordingly. The owner pouring dog food in a bowl. Initially, the pup will need four daily meals along with snacking. As the puppy grows, it can be fed 3 meals, and as it reaches adulthood, 2 meals are sufficient. As the dog reaches adulthood, it no longer requires additional calories to support growth. They can be given an adjusted daily portion without changing diet plans. You can also start the dog on an adult diet with fewer calories. If you feel your dog is getting overweight, you can split its daily food requirement of 2 to 3 cups into 3 meals instead of 2. You can also put in on a low fat, high fiber diet. Also, replace regular treats with low-calorie treats or small pieces of fruits and veggies like carrots and apples. An Australian Labradoodle can become underweight if it does not consume the required amount of calories or burns off its intake with exercise. Also, if the dog is underweight, it could be due to some underlying health issue. Get your pet vet examined in this case. You can add an extra cup of dog food to its diet or switch to dog food for puppies as it has more calories and fat content. Exercise Requirement of An Australian Labradoodle If you are expecting the beautiful animal to be a couch potato, you are wrong. Australian Labradoodle is an active dog that needs daily exercise. It has a low-to-moderate energy level. An Australian Labradoodle enjoys playing outdoors. Also, as the animal is highly intelligent, it will also need mental stimulation. And although the Australian Labradoodle comes in three different sizes, their exercise requirements vary by small amounts, with the Standard or Large Labradoodle having the highest exercise requirement and the mini having the least. Also, an Australian Labradoodle loves the outdoors, making it a fantastic companion to take on hikes, the beach, swimming, jogging, and other physical activities. If you have a fenced backyard, it will suffice to meet the daily exercise requirement of your dog. For mental stimulation, provide your pet with toys and puzzles that will keep it intrigued and busy. If not, it may develop destructive behavior like chewing shoes and furniture. Australian Labradoodle Training The Australian Labradoodle is an intelligent breed, so training it is a breeze. However, you must initiate training as soon as the puppy comes to your home. Also, being an intelligent breed, the dog can outsmart the owner, so use gentle yet stern training tactics that make you the alpha of the pack. An Australian Labradoodle sits with a ball at the beach. Although the puppy is smart and picks up most things after 2 or 3 repetitions, it is still necessary to be patient with the pup and encourage it with positive reinforcement. Even though your dog will have completed obedience training by the time it is fully grown, there is a lot more training yet to be completed. You will need to continuously reinforce their behaviors to prevent the development of any negative behaviors. The temperament of the puppy also plays a vital role in its training. A well-socialized, healthy, and happy puppy will be easier to train and follow commands more readily. Also, puppies who are socialized early are less likely to develop behavioral problems later. It is a theory that hybrid dogs have fewer inherited disorders than parental breeds and are comparatively healthier. Australian Labradoodle wears a scarf feeling cold. However, this does not mean they are immune to all inheritable diseases. It could be allergic to an ingredient in its food. You will need to diagnose it early to tackle the allergy. Switch to hypoallergenic dog food if an allergy is what is troubling your dog. Conclusion Australian Labradoodle is a fantastic dog breed that is friendly, intelligent, and great with kids and other pets. They are a hybrid breed with gene pools that can come from 6 different parent breeds and come in three different sizes. And while the miniature and medium Australian Labradoodles are fully grown by 13 months, the Standard Australian Labradoodle may take around 16 months to attain full growth. The Doodle crossbreed has gained a lot of popularity ever since it was developed. If you, too, are interested in adopting one, we hope this article has answered most of your queries. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. When considering bringing a new dog into your life, it is always important to consider how long that dog is likely to live. In this article, we will go through exactly how long you should expect your Labradoodle to live, which is largely determined by whether their poodle parent was a standard, miniature, or toy poodle. We will also go through all the different life stages of a Labradoodle and what to expect in each. What Is A Labradoodle? Labradoodles are crossbreed dogs that you get when you mix a Labrador retriever with a poodle. They are varieties that are a mix between a Lab and all the different poodle sizes including standard, miniature, and toy. They were bred because, while the temperament, intelligence, and trainability of Labrador retrievers make them excellent service dogs, they shed—a lot. This can be a huge problem when it comes to taking them into hospitals, public places such as restaurants, and even cleaning up after them at home. Poodles were chosen to crossbreed because they have a low-shedding coat. Their tight, curly coats mean that instead of leaving hair wherever they go, it gets caught up in their coat. Poodles are also highly intelligent dogs, even more intelligent than Labradors, and also very friendly, having been bred as companion animals. They are less outgoing than Labradors, but overall it was thought that they would add to, rather than subtract from, the characteristics that make Labradors excellent service dogs. You can read more about the Labradoodle coat and shedding in this article. How Long Do Labradoodles Live? All Labradoodles have a lifespan of roughly 12 to 14 years. Various factors influence where each dog is likely to fall within this scale. Labrador retrievers and standard poodles both tend to live around 12 years. So if you have a standard Labradoodle, you should probably expect them to have a slightly shorter lifespan at around the year mark. Miniature and toy poodles often live longer, as small dogs tend to live longer in general. So if you have a Lab that is mixed with one of these smaller breeds, you might expect them to live for an additional year or so. While these expectations are based on the average lifespan of their parent pups, some research suggests that crossbreed dogs live longer than their parents, by about a year or two. There are plenty of examples of Labradoodles living well into their late teens. Labradoodle Life Stages Throughout their lives, you can expect your Labradoodle to pass through five main life stages: puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and senior. Exactly when they will pass through each of these stages again depends on whether the Labradoodle is a standard, miniature, or toy cross. Smaller dogs tend to grow to maturity more quickly but then live longer. Conversely, larger dogs stay puppies longer but have shorter overall life expectancies. Puppyhood Labradoodles tend to be classified as puppies for the first five months of their lives. But just like with human babies, because they are growing so quickly at this time, they will pass through a number of different puppy stages. It is during this stage that you will find that littermates love to cuddle up and spend the day sleeping one on top of one another. During this stage, they are more interested in their mother and siblings than there are in people, but they do begin to learn that there is a bigger world and might start to explore a little in the later weeks. It is around this stage that they can also start to move onto dog food. This is often a necessity, as the mother will refuse to suckle them as their growing teeth cause her pain. This is a very important time, as they are also very impressionable. So they need plenty of attention, praise, and love. Training them at this stage will also teach them about action and reward, which will make them easier to train to do other things as adults. They will already understand that correct behavior can result in good things. At this stage, you can also start to expose the puppy to new people and new experiences. This is essential to the socialization process, so that they learn what to do when confronted by the unknown. This is a great time to try to take the puppy with you most everywhere you go. Essential training should continue throughout this stage. Adolescence Much like humans, during this stage Labradoodle puppies seem like they are either eating or sleeping all the time to manage big growth spurts, or getting into trouble. This period tends to last from around five or six months until about two years of age. But they also become more unpredictable as hormones start to play a role. Expect them to want to play all the time, to jump up a lot, and to do things that test your limits. Nevertheless, at this stage your Labradoodle should be fully housebroken, should have passed through that biting phase, and should be better at paying attention to you. They also lose their awkwardness around this age and seem more coordinated. Labradoodles in particular will start to show quite a bit of strength and agility at this stage. They should have all their adult teeth, but they still love to chew! This is something they inherit from the Labrador parent. Make sure to have an abundance of chew toys available to focus their otherwise destructive chewing. It is also during adolescence that territorial behavior tends to kick in. Your pup may become protective of their possessions, territorial of their home, and could start to bark at strangers. Also be aware that at some stage during adolescence—it can vary quite a bit—your dog will become sexually mature. Adulthood Depending on the particular type of Labradoodle that you have, you can expect them to settle down into adulthood at between two and three years of age. They should be about fully grown at this stage. So instead of getting bigger, you need to worry about them getting fatter! While it is natural for them to fill out a bit in the early stages of adulthood, it is important to keep an eye on their weight and their diet at this time. They will enter their physical and mental prime during this period, as they are much calmer and more tranquil. If they are being trained as a service dog, they can start working once they reach adulthood. None of this is to say that Labradoodles cannot continue to develop and learn new things at this time. Labradors and Labradoodles are very easy to train and can be taught new skills and behaviors at almost any age. Middle Age Your dog will start to enter the later stages of their life at about the ripe old age of seven years. At this point, Labradoodles still tend to be active and healthy dogs, but they do start to slow down a bit. It is also at this time that their joints might start to become stiff, and they can begin to develop more serious joint problems. You can try and alleviate this by feeding them supplements to support their joints. You can read more about joint supplements here. Senior When your Labradoodle hits nine or 10 years, they are truly senior and they will probably start to need a bit of extra care and attention. Joint pain is a common problem for Labradoodles, so you may need to make some adjustments to your home to accommodate them. Labradoodles also have a tendency to lose their eyesight in later years, and to feel the cold more intensely. Their appetite is also likely to change as this time, as is their metabolism. So again, watch their weight and what they are eating to maintain them at a healthy weight. This is especially important if they are suffering with joint issues, as excess weight will just make mobility even more challenging. Labradoodles are inclined toward a variety of health conditions, inherited from both their Labrador and poodle parents. The main Labradoodle health conditions to be aware of are: Allergies Labradoodles often develop food allergies, usually in their early years before they reach two years of age. This can often be caused by eating too much of certain foods in these formative months. But Labradoodles can also develop allergies in later life, and you might find that at age eight they are suddenly reacting to something that they have eaten their entire life. Labradoodles usually show an allergic reaction with skin itchiness and an upset stomach. If you notice these signs, visit your vet to try to identify what might be causing the problem. Ear Infections Labradoodles have floppy ears that cover the ear tracts. This means they are generally moist, dark spaces, which means breeding grounds for infections. This is also a common problem for Labradors but can be worse for Labradoodles because the curly hair in their ears can also trap moisture and foreign bodies. If they seem to have itchy ears, or if you notice smells coming from their ears, this is a sign that something is not quite right. This will mean a trip to the vet to determine the type of ear infection and the best treatment. Regular ear cleaning, especially after sleeping or bathing, is the best way to reduce the prevalence of ear infections in Labradoodles. Epilepsy Epilepsy is a neurological condition, of which one of the main symptoms is seizures. Labradoodles are quite prone to this condition. There is no cure, and treatment depends on the severity of the seizures and how often they occur. If your dog rarely has seizures, your vet will probably avoid medication, as it is not worth the risk. You may need to do some things to make your home safer for your dog, making it less likely that they will accidentally hurt themselves in the event of a seizure. Joint Issues Another issue inherited from their Labrador parents, Labradoodles often develop joint issues, especially in the hips, but it can be anywhere. Over time, what was an uncomfortable twinge can develop into serious pain, arthritis, and even lameness. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Sometimes joint supplements can be enough to keep your dog comfortable, while in other cases they might need serious pain medication. Progressive Retinal Atrophy This is a condition where a portion of the eye degenerates, eventually leading to blindness. This is quite common in Labradoodles and will usually affect both eyes, resulting in complete blindness. However, it is known to occasionally occur in puppies as well. There is no known treatment, though it is thought that a diet high in antioxidants may be able to help slow the progression of the condition. Signs of the disease include excessive bleeding and bruising where the dog is injured, but also spontaneos bleeds, for example nosebleeds, or blood in their urine or stool. This poses a risk to your Labradoodle throughout their lives, as they may need to avoid certain medications that can further thin the blood, as well as activities where they are at risk of getting injured. If they need surgery for some reason, such as when they are neutered, they will probably also require a platelet transfusion before the surgery. The Verdict When you decide to bring a Labradoodle puppy in your life, you are committing to love and care for that dog for about 12 to 14 years, which is the average lifespan of this crossbreed. During that time, they will pass through a number of different life stages, from being adorable puppies, naughty adolescents appropriately called the terrible twos , intelligent adults, and vulnerable seniors. But throughout all these life stages, a Labradoodle should give you a great deal of love and fulfilment. Do you have a Labradoodle? What is your experience living with these wonderful dogs? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or via our social media. Related Article. It takes traits from both breeds, and new puppy owners will quickly see this combination was chosen intentionally. The Labrador retriever is an intelligent, loyal breed with an excellent temperament for nearly any family or living situation. Unfortunately, these dogs also shed a lot, which can be a hassle. It also makes a Labrador a poor choice for public social situations, such as outdoor dining at dog-friendly patios. Instead, the coat traps dirt, allergens, loose hair and other debris inside it. This means less shedding but also means daily brushing is required. The poodle is also an intelligent breed that makes a perfect addition to most homes since it was bred to be a companion animal. Any puppy is a lifelong commitment. Understanding what to expect at every life stage will help you prepare to give your cute little puppy a long, prosperous, happy life. A normal-sized labradoodle will live an average of 12 to 14 years. Smaller labradoodles resulting from a miniature or toy poodle crossbreed will generally live a little longer. However, you must remember that this lifespan is only an average. There are plenty of labradoodles who live into their late teens. A healthy diet, regular exercise and periodic vet visits are crucial to your labradoodle puppy living a long, healthy life. These main life stages include puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle-aged and senior. Each life stage is discussed in more detail below. Puppyhood If you adopt a labradoodle puppy, this will be the first stage you get to witness. A labradoodle puppy will remain in this life stage from birth until five or six months. Birth to 7 Weeks From birth until about seven weeks of age, labradoodle puppies stay close to their mother. They spend all their time eating, sleeping, growing and cuddling with their littermates. As they get closer to seven weeks of age, they may begin exploring their world a little. Around seven weeks of age, a labradoodle puppy will start becoming more interested in people. This is also when it begins forming bonds with you and other humans in the home or family. These adorable puppies will become more playful and curious at about eight weeks old. Instead, you want to create only positive experiences during this time to ensure it grows into a secure young adult dog. This is the perfect time to start positive training techniques. Teaching your labradoodle puppy about action and reward now will benefit its lifelong training. During this stage of puppy development, socialization is crucial. Now is the perfect time to take it to new places, introduce it to new people and provide it with new experiences. The most important part of this stage of puppy development is that your pup becomes a free and independent thinker. With its curiosity at an all-time high, this is the perfect time to bring your new companion everywhere. Socialization and bonding are other vital aspects of this stage of puppy development. Pet owners will find their puppy wants to be with them all the time and may become mildly anxious when separated from them. Most of its time will be spent eating, sleeping or getting into trouble. Your growing canine should have lost its baby teeth, have all its adult teeth and be out of the biting stage it may have had during puppyhood. Thanks to the Labrador genes, your labradoodle will always love to chew. You can stop destructive chewing behaviors by providing a chew toy or two or 20 to keep it occupied. It may become territorial, but regular socialization can help ease these issues. Your labradoodle will also begin showing quite a bit of strength, so continuing its training during this time is crucial. Acting out, wandering and even behaving aggressively are all normal during this time. Adulthood For a labradoodle, adulthood starts somewhere between two or three years of age and lasts until around its seventh birthday. During adulthood, labradoodles are at their prime. Their adult coat will grow in, which may be thicker or denser than their puppy coat. This breed is very intelligent and easy to train, so if you want to keep teaching it new tricks, you can. Weight Management Your labradoodle will reach its adult size between two and three years old. They can tell you if your dog is a normal size or needs diet and exercise. Middle-Aged Your doodle puppy will turn middle-aged around seven years old. This life stage is relatively brief and only lasts until the dog turns nine or .During middle age, most dogs are still active and overall healthy. It may exercise less and sleep a little more as it transitions between adulthood and its golden years. A middle-aged dog may begin to develop some health problems, especially as it gets closer to its senior years. The primary issues of concern are obesity, joints and teeth. The teeth and joints will become especially vulnerable during this stage, so you must take your dog for regular teeth cleaning and wellness visits. In addition, your vet may recommend supplements to protect the joints. Extra weight will also place unnecessary additional stress on the joints and heart of your dog. Senior Your dog will officially be considered a senior from around nine to 10 years of age until the end of its life. During their golden years, your labradoodle will require extra care and attention. Health problems are most likely to occur during these years, and your vet may suggest two annual well visits instead of only one. After 10 years of age, your dog will likely encounter issues staying warm. You might consider a heating blanket in their bed, keeping the house slightly warmer during winter or providing extra blankets to snuggle under. Your dog may also have problems with its eyesight. The most common issue for senior labradoodles is their joints, which tend to ache as they get older. In addition, they may have mobility problems caused by sore and stiff joints. For example, consider a ramp to help it get into the car or up your porch steps. Developing one or more health problems could mean a shorter lifespan for your labradoodle. A few of the most common health problems affecting labradoodle puppies or adults include: Allergies usually to food Ear infections which can lead to hearing loss after repeat infections Epilepsy. This video is a poignant celebration of just how much a Labradoodle puppy changed by their first birthday. How much should a 1 year old Labradoodle weigh? By their first birthday, a Labradoodle has achieved most of their adult weight. Most female Labrador Retrievers weigh between 55 and 70 pounds, whilst males weigh between 65 and 80lbs. Of course, some outliers are larger or smaller! In the Standard Poodle breed, females usually weigh between 40 and 50 pounds, and males weigh 60 to 70 pounds. This means that female Labradoodles are likely to weigh between 40 and 70 pounds fully grown, whilst males will weigh 60 to 80 pounds. Their exact adult weight will depend upon things like: the size of their parents whether their Labrador parent was of working or show type and natural variation among individuals. According to studies charting dog growth, Labradoodle-sized dogs have achieved most of their adult size by the time they turn a year old, and usually only gain a couple more pounds before reaching their stable adult weight. Lots of dogs go through a period during adolescence where they hardly seem to be able to put weight on. How much to feed a 1 year old Labradoodle When your Labradoodle puppy was younger, the amount of food they needed every day would have increased every couple of months or so. Growing bigger bones, muscles, organs and all the other tissues which support them required a huge amount of energy! Overfeeding a young dog can easily result in digestive upsets, vomiting and diarrhea. Furthermore, research indicates that we pet owners are not the best judges of whether our dogs are a healthy size, and tend to mistake a slightly overweight body condition for being ideal, and ideal condition for being slightly underweight. Adult diets tend to be less calorie dense than puppy diets. You might also find that it means you have more kibble pieces available for training with. Since Labradors and Poodles are both large dogs prone to joint problems, you might like to choose a diet supplemented with glucosamine for joint health for example. Most of it happens at the beginning! Very roughly, this means a 1 year old Labradoodle is more akin to a 15 year old teenager than a 7 year old child in terms of development and behavior. Adolescence is often a challenging time for dog owners. And can seem quite hyperactive at times! Their wild ancestors would be able to hunt and explore separately from their family group by now. Your pampered domestic puppy is also likely to be experiencing a surge of confidence in their own decision making prowess, which is a legacy of that shift. This could manifest as running off to explore or greet other dogs on walks, and ignoring your attempts to call them back. Rest assured that the trials of adolescence are partly a phase, and one which your Labradoodle will come to grow out of. Most puppy parents know the embarrassment of being ignored by a teenage dog! Using an established cue and being ignored weakens that cue in future. Letting it happen several times poisons the cue forever. Distractions reduce the likelihood of a dog giving the correct response to a cue. Example of distractions include other dogs near by, interesting scents on the ground, and being physically distant from you. You can overcome the distracting effect of adolescence by: Making sure all other distractions are at a minimum when you use your cues. Rewarding good choices with extra high value treats. Preventing your Doodle from getting into situations where they will be too distracted to listen. For example by using a long line on walks. Temporarily dropping back to a previous, easier stage in your training for a while, to reinforce basic principles. The key is to protect your cues from the distracting effect of adolescence until it passes. Which it will! The sleepless nights, the teething, and the potty training are all intense and disruptive. On the other hand, some 1 year old Labradoodles are offered for sale by disillusioned owners because they have developed problem behaviors such as separation anxiety or leash reactivity. In short, 1 year old Labradoodle can be a perfect solution, or a big mistake. This will be a handy benchmark to compare them against for the rest of their adulthood. Make the switch gradually over a week or so, to avoid tummy upsets. Their first booster shots will fall due a year after their original puppy shots were completely. Refresh your memory about when that was, and put a note in your diary well ahead of time to schedule those boosters. Keep training! By that point, most Doodle parents report that it feels like the hardest work is done. Is your Labradoodle approaching their first birthday? Losing their original coat Losing their puppy teeth. Why not take a look. When do Labradoodles become Adults? Labradoodles become adults at around eighteen months of age. The first year and a half accounts for the twelve distinct phases of growth and development. However, just as a Labradoodle puppy undergoes many physical changes, an adult too would have noteworthy transformations. There may not be too many physical changes after your dog is two years old, other than gaining and losing weight, but temperamental transformations are quite common. These also depend largely on the kind of training you provide, how you treat and care for your dog, its own cognitive development and the interactions with the immediate environment. Labradoodles are usually at their prime at around two years, which is also when they may start to mate. An adult Labradoodle can retain its prime for several years, almost a decade if it is properly cared for, provided sufficient nutrition and exercised daily. Many mixed breed dogs have an average life expectancy greater than that of both parent breeds. A Labradoodle has the same typical life expectancy of the Poodle but longer than the Labrador. A Labradoodle can comfortably live for around fourteen years, and in many cases slightly longer. They need their mother immediately after birth, both for warmth and nursing. A newborn pup should not be separated from their mother. Even if it is tempting to pick up a pup for a gentle cuddle, it should be put off for at least four to six hours, preferably for a day or longer. A Labradoodle pup opens its eyes at around ten days. Some pups can take longer, about a fortnight from birth. While a puppy may open their eyes within the first fortnight, they do not have clear vision and most pups will take a few more days before they can actually see the world around them. During these initial days, the eyes of a pup may have a bluish gray haze. This is not unnatural and there is nothing to worry about. Labradoodle pups usually develop clear eyesight in eight weeks. As is the case with vision, the auditory senses are also nonfunctional at birth. Labradoodle pups are effectively deaf as newborns. The ear canals open up after the eyes. Pups develop their sense of hearing gradually and it tends to improve with each passing day. Pups can hear properly in around eight weeks. To sum up these initial phases, a Labradoodle pup can see and hear, respond to movements around it and to auditory stimulus in eight weeks. Labradoodle pups develop their first teeth in around a fortnight. There can be delays but almost all pups begin to develop their baby teeth within the first four weeks. They should have all twenty-eight milk teeth by the time they are six weeks old. This leads to the weaning phase. You may introduce solid food for a puppy after all the baby teeth have cut through. The weaning phase ends at around eight weeks, which is also when the pup develops its eyesight and hearing. Most people get their Labradoodle pups after this weaning phase. Many breeders have a policy of not selling pups until the weaning period is complete. A veterinarian must be consulted before the weaning phase ends. This is for the first checkup and immunizations. Adult Labradoodles need an annual visit to a vet. This is for a thorough checkup. The immunizations for Labradoodle pups are for distemper, measles, para-influenza, hepatitis, parvovirus, and rabies. The early shots are administered between six and eight weeks. Subsequent shots are administered between ten and twelve weeks, twelve and twenty-four weeks, fourteen and sixteen weeks, twelve and sixteen months, one to two years, and one to three years. In addition to vaccination, Labradoodle pups should be dewormed and administered preventive medication against heartworm. The puppies should be specifically protected against roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm, whipworm, ringworm, and heartworm. These deworming routines should be spread across every fortnight, starting with the second week after birth. Deworming is necessary almost throughout the lifespan of Labradoodles. The frequency may be four times a year. Labradoodle pups would start biting as they develop the first set of teeth. Housebreaking a pup during this biting phase may seem to be a challenge, but it can be easily managed if you arrange for some harmless things for the puppy to chew on. You should factor in the size of the bladder of a Labradoodle pup during housebreaking. It has a small urinary bladder, which is also not fully developed, so do not expect your pup to hold it long. Socialization usually precedes housebreaking for Labradoodle pups. They are a highly sociable breed, so this is not a major challenge. The first few weeks are tricky as the newborn cannot see or hear much. Socialization becomes easy in around six weeks. It is a cakewalk after eight weeks; that is if you manage the teething issue. Socialization, housebreaking and training can happen simultaneously. Many people include basic training within the ambit of housebreaking. Advanced training should be deferred till your pup is grown up. Labradoodle pups typically begin to lose their coat sometime around four to six months although this can vary greatly. Some dogs may begin this process as young as twelve weeks old yet some may be closer to a year. They will shed their entire baby coat. This is the most striking transformation that happens in these pups. It is quite possible for the pup to develop a new coat that does not resemble what it sported as a newborn. Take a look at our discovery into how the color of their coat can differ from puppy to adulthood in our complete guide of do Labradoodle puppies change color. It is this initial loss of puppy coat that begins its transformation that shall stay well into its adulthood and old age. Labradoodle pups can have hair, wool or fleece coat, depending on which genes are dominant from its parents, and sometimes even grandparents. The new coat usually develops over several weeks. Labradoodle pups start to lose their milk teeth anywhere between ten and fourteen weeks from birth. The process of the permanent teeth taking their place may last for up to thirty weeks. Labradoodles usually have a complete set of forty-two adult teeth before they are eight months old. How much does a Labradoodle Weigh at Different Ages? A newborn Labradoodle usually weighs around 10oz. By two months, they weigh around 7lbs, around 20lbs in four months, 30lbs in six months and 35lbs in eight months. In a year, your growing pup would be around 40lbs. A young adult Labradoodle weighs around 45lbs. A fully grown adult, at around a year and a half or two years of age, will weigh between 50lbs and 65lbs. Related Questions What age do Labradoodles Live to? We have touched upon this within our article but to reiterate, the average live expectancy of a Labradoodle is between 12 and 15 years. This is the same as the Poodle but a little more than the Labrador which lives on average between 10 and 14 years. What Health Problems do Labradoodles Have? Hybrid Vigor should go some way into reducing the issues that both the Poodle and the Labrador Retriever are prone to. Ensuring that you find a reputable breeder is also imperative to protecting the future heath of your puppy as their parents should be screened. Labradoodles, are one of the most popular crossbreeds in America. All young puppies experience a period of hyperactivity. Labradoodles should calm down by around three years old. Table of Contents What age do Labradoodles calm down? Most Labradoodles reach adolescence at months old and grow to their full adult size by 12 months of age, although they can take as long as 18 months to develop fully. They take a little longer to mature mentally, and may not be emotionally mature until 3 years old. At that point they are a lot better at regulating their energy levels. That said, Doodles should remain relatively high-energy dogs as adults, well into their old age. However, being too hyper can cause problems. Signs of hyperactivity in Labradoodles Signs of hyperactivity in Doodles include fidgety movements, a short attention span, impulsiveness, attention-seeking behaviors, unprovoked snapping, aggression, and not being able to socialize well with other dogs. Why is my Labradoodles so hyper? Labradoodles are naturally high-energy, playful dogs. They are part Labrador Retriever, a very energetic breed, and part Poodle, one of the most intelligent breeds on the planet. The more intelligent a dog is, the more mental stimulation they tend to need to avoid getting bored. So, naturally, Labradoodles need a lot of exercise and play. This can result in pent-up energy and hyperactivity. It can also lead to anxious and destructive behaviors, such as pacing, panting, excessive barking, and destroying personal and household items. How much exercise does a Labradoodle need? A healthy adult Labradoodle needs around an hour of exercise every day, preferably split into two walks. Doodles enjoy walking, running, hiking, and swimming, so try to vary the location and do different activities on your walks to keep them stimulated. Labradoodle pups need to build up their exercise routine, with 5 minutes of exercise per month of their life twice a day. What do Labradoodles like to play? Dogs love playing games that exercise their natural instincts. Historically, Labradors and Poodles were both bred to hunt, and primarily in water. So, Labradoodles love games like fetch and chase, and anything involving water. Paddling pools are a good idea! Some other popular games for bright dogs include hide and seek, treasure hunt, and the cup game. To play hide and seek, ask your Labradoodle to sit and stay while you hide somewhere in your home. Then, call them to come and find you. To play the cup game, place two empty cups face down on the floor in front of your Doodle, and put a treat underneath one of them. Switch the cups around and ask your dog to find them. Toys that stimulate the senses are great, too, especially for younger Doodles. The importance of socialization Socialization is very important for dogs of all kinds, but especially super-social breeds like Labradoodles. Not only is it essential for their well-being, but it is also very stimulating and will burn up a lot of their daily energy. Try to involve your dog in your family life as much as possible, and interact with lots of friendly people and dogs on walks. This will also prevent aggressive behavior and snapping during periods of hyperactivity. Ideally your breeder will have already started some socialization and exposure with the puppy such as to different sounds and surfaces before you bring him or her home. Training a hyper Labradoodle Hyperactivity can make training a dog difficult, but not impossible. The key is to harness their energy and playfulness, rather than try to suppress it or punish them for it. Start training your Labradoodle as early on in their life as possible and try to keep your training sessions concise, consistent, regular, and fun to avoid stubbornness. How to calm down a Labradoodle? If your dog behaves badly, ignoring them by crossing your arms and turning away from them is the best response. Once they calm down, you should reward them for their calm behavior, so that they understand that this is what you want. They use naturally soothing ingredients like CBD and lavender to bring down stress levels and relax the body and mind. There are also calming collars and beds that emit calming scents and provide a sense of security. Do Labradoodles make good family dogs? Their high-energy, playful nature makes them ideal for large families, active families, and families that love to have fun and explore. However, because of their training and exercise needs, they are not ideal dogs for first-time dog owners. Is separation anxiety common in Labradoodles? Separation anxiety is fairly common in Labradoodles, especially those that are also experiencing hyperactivity. This is because the most common cause of hyperactivity in dogs also causes separation anxiety. You can do this by leaving your Doodle alone for short periods of time, and gradually building up the time that you are apart. This will create trust and understanding with your dog that you will always come back. This lets them know that there is something to look forward to the next time you leave. You can also relieve some anticipatory anxiety by doing some of the things you commonly do before leaving the house, such as grabbing your keys or turning off the TV, and then not leaving to remove the association. If your dog is destructive at first, try putting them in a crate or confining them to a safe area of the home with a dog gate. Can Labradoodles be low-energy? Labradoodles are generally high-energy dogs. Several health conditions can cause low energy in dogs, including infections, diseases, allergies, and hormonal disorders. As long as you can meet their needs, the lovely Labradoodle makes a wonderful companion and a great family pet! Starting out just training her own Border Collies, she gradually expanded to local classes and seminars, now she travels as far as Europe and teaches students all over the world on how to train their dogs in a positive, bonding, game-based way. She is known for her clear, step-by-step training that lets beginners and advanced dog trainers see lasting results very quickly. The age a Labradoodle is full grown depends on their size. Mini Labradoodle finish growing first between 11 and 13 months, Medium Labradoodles stop growing between 12 and 15 months while Standard Labradoodles stop growing between 12 and 18 months. Mini Labradoodles are fully grown between 11 and 13 months of age. Medium Labradoodles are fully grown between 12 and 15 months of age. Standard Labradoodles are fully grown between 12 and 18 months of age. These ranges are only guides. There can be a lot of variability for growth rates of Labradoodles as they are a mixed breed dog. One of the best ways to get an idea of when your Labradoodle will finish growing is by asking your breeder what age their parents stopped growing. An adult sized dog raincoat to keep them dry during wet weather An adult sized dog life jacket to help with swimming in lakes and oceans An adult sized dog jacket for cold winter weather A dog cooling vest if you live in a hot climate High quality no-pull dog harness to reduce stress on their neck while walking And other similar products Labradoodle via tobymackthebigdood How Big Is A Labradoodle Full Grown? How big a Labradoodle is fully grown depends on whether they are a Mini, Medium or Standard Labradoodle. Mini Labradoodles are 14 to 16 inches .Mini Labradoodles are the smallest, Medium Labradoodles are the middle size and Standard Labradoodles are the largest. Mini Labradoodle Size Mini Labradoodles get to a height of 14 to 16 inches .They are one of the smallest Labradoodle sizes however some breeders create an even small Labradoodle called the Toy Labradoodle. Medium Labradoodle Size Medium Labradoodles get to a height of 16 to 20 inches .Medium Labradoodles are slightly smaller than Standard Labradoodles. Standard Labradoodle Size Standard Labradoodles get to a height of 20 to 26 inches .They are the largest and most common Labradoodle size. Mini Labradoodles weigh between 15 and 25 pounds 6. Medium Labradoodles weigh between 25 and 50 pounds