blue labrador puppy

Females: pounds. Height Males: inches. Females: inches. These dogs were renowned for their size, power, strength, and tenacity, and their modern-day descendants Mastiffs and Bulldogs continue in that tradition. Eventually, the reputation of the Molossian dogs preceded the breed. Hopner, Elard Konig, and Friedrich Robert—decided to develop these dogs into their own separate breed. In , the first Boxer exhibition dog show was held in Munich, and the following year, the first Boxer breed club was established: the Deutscher Boxer Club, which later established the original breed standard. Since the end of World War II, the Boxer has been recognized and celebrated as a popular, capable, and loyal companion and working dog. He has served in many capacities, from war dogs to farm dogs. Today, he can often be seen strutting around the show ring or working as a therapy dog, but many simply know the Boxer as a faithful and beloved family companion. Breed Characteristics Head: Somewhat brachycephalic skull-type, having a fairly short muzzle and slight upturn to the lower jaw. However, it should never appear as an extremely brachycephalic skull, as seen in dogs that are completely lacking the length of the muzzle or with an extremely upturned lower jaw. The head is moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. When viewed from the front or profile, the skull is slightly arched and never prominently rounded or flat, with a median furrow that starts at the stop and progresses toward the back of the skull. The occiput is visible but not distinct or pronounced. The head may be chiseled or slightly padded with smooth never bulky muscle to denote strength. The head is free of wrinkles and excess skin, although some folds on the forehead and topskull may appear when the dog is alerted. Eyes: The eyes are large, lemon-shaped, or open almond, dark brown in color, and set somewhat wide apart. The eyes should never appear almond, oblique, narrow, overly round, too deeply set, or bulging. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. Inner eyelid membranes are preferred to be darkly pigmented and not pink. Exposure of whites or haws, drooping of the eyelids, or rolling of the eyelids either inwards or outwards is incorrect. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Ears: The ears are set high on the skull and wide apart at the outer edge of the skull. They may be naturally dropped or cropped long. Natural ears are moderate in size, v-shaped, broad at the base, and somewhat short, with the inner edge and tip falling close to the head in repose. Tips will come forward when alert. Cropped ears should be cropped long and tapering. Improperly cropped ears are not to be penalized. Upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, appearing strong and well-developed, never appearing snipey or weak. The muzzle plane must be level from the stop to the point of the nose. It may not be excessively pushed-in, long, dished up concaved , or downfaced convex. The tip of the nose should be level on the skull or may be just slightly higher than the muzzle at the stop. In profile, the end of the muzzle protrudes, or rounds, just beyond the point of the nose, giving the end of the muzzle a somewhat rounded profile. The lower jaw is only slightly turned up and must never protrude beyond the break of the lips. Nose: The nose is large, well-pigmented, and black or self-colored according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened, never appearing narrowed or closed. The nose is never excessively pushed into the stop but sits at the end of the muzzle or just before the rounding of the end of the muzzle. Neck: Moderate length to allow for proud head carriage, strongly-muscled and distinctively arched. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. The forechest is well defined, yet not overly prominent. Body: Compact, solid, deep, and of good substance. The body is never racy or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters. Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads. Tail: Set high on the croup, thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail may be left natural or docked short. Natural tails preferred are of a medium length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. They may be straight or gently curved. Docked tails should never be completely removed, leaving at minimum three vertebrae. The tail should never be kinked or screwed. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring. They are confident, devoted, eager, and watchful. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed. The ideal body height-to-length ratio is between and .Females may be slightly longer. The body is well-put-together, with sturdy substance and medium bone. Males should appear masculine, being more substantial in size and mass, while females should appear more feminine and slightly less substantial. Neither should lack overall type. The weight of a male or female is always in proportion to height. Head General Appearance: Somewhat brachycephalic skull-type, having a fairly short muzzle and slight upturn to the lower jaw. Expression: Alert, intelligent, confident, and capable. Stop: The stop is definite, preferably forming a degree angle between the topskull and muzzle. Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is between to , with the topskull being longer than the muzzle. The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is somewhat convergent. Lips or Flews: The lips are thick, broad, somewhat padded, and slightly loose. They are never overly droopy or pendulous. They fit snugly over the teeth and cover the jaws well. The upper and lower lip edges meet in front of the incisors, never covering the chin or lower lip. Cheeks: Cheeks may appear smooth or with slight padding of muscle to denote strength. The cheeks should not appear bulky or coarse. Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. Reverse-scissor bite or slightly undershot bite preferred. Body and Tail General Description: Compact, solid, deep, and of good substance. Topline: Straight yet gently sloped from prominent withers to croup. The back is short, broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut and may be flat, level, or just slightly almost imperceptibly arched, yet supportive. The back is never level when standing, swayed, or roached. The topline may level out as the dog moves. Croup: Gently sloped and in line with the rest of the topline. It is strong, straight, and muscular. The croup and pelvis may be slightly longer and wider in females. Underline: The underline is short and tight, with a slight tuck up. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight. Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided. Forequarters and Hindquarters Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. Shoulder blades are approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm. Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle and bone, and parallel to one another. Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns. Pasterns: Never weak or broken. Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are equal in length, strong, sturdy, of good bone, and well-muscled. Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another. Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another. Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns. Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters. Coat Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog. Coat Type: The coat is short, smooth, close, and fitting to the body throughout. The texture is hard and glossy. No fringe or feather is permissible. Standard color variety: Various shades of fawn light tan to mahogany, always with black mask , light brindle fawn with black mask , all with or without white tuxedo markings. From the root of the nose, folds are always indicated, running in a downward direction on both sides. Note: All standard-colored Boxers should have a clearly distinguished mask confined to the muzzle to contrast sharply with the rest of the coat. Non-standard color variety: Solid white, black, reverse-brindle, or seal, all with or without white markings, or primarily white with markings in the previously listed colors and patterns. Faults All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Click here to add your own text and edit me. Welcome to the Sergeant's Boxers website! Thank you for stopping by! We are Cassie and Luke! First off, Boxers are the absolute best family members imaginable. Luke and I gained our first boxer family member in .From the very beginning, we were hooked! We then gained our newest addition, Diva and boy does her name fit her well! We were overjoyed with our family fur-members and wanted to provide joy to other families. That is when we decided we wanted to breed Boxers and bring love and happiness to other families, just as our Boxers brought love and happiness into ours. Our family continued to grow, as did our happiness and joy! We now have 8 boxers and one spayed boxer mix. All are our fur-kids come first and foremost! Diva and Sergeant had their first litter in .Since then, we have learned so much about the breed and about producing healthy puppies. A lot of thought and research goes into each and every breeding. In the early part of , we started showing. This was such a new experience for us, but we enjoyed it so very much! Bailey was our first girl to show and she had a blast! Her face would light up when trotting around the ring. She obtained her International and National Champion Title that weekend and we were so very proud of her! Remington and Diva were a little hesitant at first, but ended up doing very well by the end of the weekend. By the 4th run, they were so excited to get out there and perform! They ran their hearts out and smiled while doing so. It also helped that daddy was there the second day and waiting at the finish line for them : Captain and Benelli went to their first show in June of .Benelli was just 3 months old and competed in the baby class. She did so very well! She gained great ratings that first day and caught the eyes of everyone there! Captain also did very well! He strutted around the ring and smiled the entire time! It was not hard to see that this was something he enjoyed so very much! We couldn't wait to get them back out there for the next show! In September of , we went to 2 shows! The first show was a UKC show. Captain and Bailey competed and had a blast. Captain obtained his UKC Champion. Bailey obtained all of the points needed and is now only waiting for her competition wins. We cant wait to call her a UKC Champion too! Captain gained his National, International and Honors Ch. At only 3 months old, Dawn made it to Best of Show during this show! It is the best feeling in the world to see the smiles on their faces and their eyes lighting up! They all had a blast! Captain obtained his Honors Bronze Champion Title. Both girls did well. They both won first in each of their classes and Dawn won Reserve Best of Breed in all four shows. We were unable to attend due to puppies being at home, but didnt want the girls to miss out on a great weekend of showing! Dawn got first in class for all three shows. Benelli got first in class all three shows. Benelli also got Reserve Best Female in two show and Best female in one show. For being at a show without mama and dad, the girls did so good! Im so proud of them and a special thanks to Angie for talking the girls! We look forward to the upcoming shows and we are so very excited!! Benelli gained another competition win and many points to add towards obtaining her UKC Champion Title! I have no doubt she will obtain the rest of the needed points and competition win needed to obtain her title soon! The girls did great, even with the judges all wearing masks! We can not wait until the next show!! This was Sergeant's first show and he surprised us all!! We had a blast! Results will be posted in each of their files. Sergeant, Harley, Captain and Dawn participated and did very well! Captain even made it to the Best of Show on Sunday! Dawn and Remi did absolutely wonderful! Harley struggled a bit. She wanted to catch the line instead of the lure! Anyways, they all had a great time and we will certainly be back for more! Harley and Captain got to attend the Norman show! Harley won Reserve Ch x3 shows. Captain and our friend Junior handler Alicia Hood won x1 best Junior class! They both did great! Can't wait until the next show! Remi also came out to the show for her very first time! Dawn and Harley also attended and both did well. Captain, of course, tagged along too! Results will be posted once they are posted on UKC site, as I completely forgot to write down results while at the show! Such an exciting sport. Watching them be so excited to chase the lure is absolutely fun times!! We traveled all of the way there to be a part of this amazing show! We earned a total of 9 titles in both Dock Jumping and Precision Coursing! Harley showed in a couple of shows there, but did not place she was too busy worrying about diving and Captain got to strut around in the TOP 10 Boxer ring! Huge Congratulations to these girls!! Information to come! This means that for every litter, Sergeants Boxers will go down the list and offer puppies to the families in order of deposits received. The family may choose a puppy from the current litter or may pass to wait for a later litter. Even if the family initially expressed the desire for a puppy from a future litter early in the conversation, they will still be asked if they would like to select a puppy when the current litter selections start. Selections start at each litter's 6 weeks of age mark. This allows the families to not only pick from color, but also from personality. Please know that these can change at any time and are only listed for reference. This is non-negotiable. Marissa Taffer is a consultant, writer and strategist based in Philadelphia. She lives and works with her rescue dog Charlie, a certified therapy dog. Learn more about this wonderful breed and everything you might want to know before adding one to your family. About the Boxer The Boxer is a breed that is much loved as a pet. In Boxers came in at number 14 out of breeds and for good reason. The Boxer is the complete package of athletic, energetic, loving, and intelligent. Standing around inches tall and weighing anywhere from 65 to 80 pounds this is a solid medium to large breed. Like most breeds, females tend to be on the smaller side of the range whereas males are on the upper end. Historically bred as working dogs, the Boxer originated in Germany in the 19th century. Later, they would be used as police and guide dogs but today they are beloved pets by many around the world. Intelligent and learn quickly Because of their history as working dogs, the Boxer is a naturally intelligent breed and can learn things very quickly. Consider more advanced obedience classes, teaching tricks, or participating in a dog sport like agility or rally. It will be a great bonding experience for both of you and your dog will learn all kinds of wonderful things. Natural athletic abilities If you enjoy being active, the Boxer is the perfect companion. Due to their natural athletic abilities, they will be delighted to join you for long walks, runs, and even hiking. If you want to participate in dog sports with your pup, a boxer will be an excellent partner. These dogs have great track records as canine athletes. Full of personality If you welcome a Boxer into your home you will never be bored. These dogs are incredibly social and live to be the center of attention and the life of the party. Your boxer will have you laughing all the time. Come with signature moves Some people say boxers got their name from their signature move, boxing. While this might not entirely be true, if you have ever seen boxers at play they do tend to use their front paws to well… box! In addition to their adorable jabs, they also jump around a lot. Boxer owners will often talk about their pups doing the kidney bean dance. This is where they bend themselves in half and wiggle about from excitement. Another reason there is never a dull moment when you have or hang out with a boxer. They fall into the category of brachycephalic dogs which means their noses are pushed in. This makes it harder for them to breathe in extreme weather. Prone to skin issues and allergies Boxers can be prone to allergies and skin issues. This may mean they need frequent bathing with anti-itch shampoo, medication, or even a special diet. Need proper training and socialization While all dogs will need proper training and socialization, because of their above-average intelligence this is especially true of the Boxer. Without proper training and socialization, this is a breed that can become both destructive and aggressive. Require a lot of exercise Since these dogs are so athletic they will require more than a few leash walks or a romp in the backyard. If you are more sedentary in nature, this might not be the right breed for you. As they get older their needs will increase and may not decrease as much as you think when they get older. Boxers are a breed that keeps their puppy energy up for most of their lives. Is the Boxer a Good Family Dog? In most cases, this is an enthusiastic yes! Like any other breed, it is important to properly train and socialize your boxer and remember to never leave kids and dogs unsupervised. But Boxers are fantastic family pets and this is probably a good part of the reason why they are so popular. Their personalities and size make them the ideal companion dog for a family — no matter what your family looks like. The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out Ollie. Abstract Background Dystocia occurs more commonly in some breeds of dogs than others. The Boxer breed is one of the highrisk breeds for whelping problems. The aim of this study was to document some reproductive parameters and the frequency of dystocia in Boxers. Methods Two questionnaires were sent to the breeders of Boxers in Sweden during to .Data from whelpings and pups was received, which constitutes .Data was analysed using Chi-square test, and Fischer's exact test. Caesarian section was performed in .The dystocia was of maternal origin in .Dystocia increased with increasing age of the bitch from four years of age. Average litter size was 6. Stillbirths accounted for 6. Cryptorchidism was observed in 9. Conclusion The Boxer suffers a high frequency of dystocia, mainly due to uterine inertia, but also fetal malpresentation. Breeders should be adviced to include easy whelpings in their breeding program. Background Dystocia is defined as difficult birth or the inability to expel the fetus through the birth canal without assistance. Traditionally, dystocia is classified as being of either maternal or fetal origin, or a combination of both. The overall incidence of dystocia in the bitch is probably below 5 per cent, but it may amount to almost per cent in some breeds of dogs, especially those of the achondroplastic type and those selected for large heads [ 1 , 3 - 7 ]. Gill [ 5 ], studying 15 breeds of dogs found dystocia to vary in frequency from 9. Eneroth et al. Uterine inertia is by far the most common cause of dystocia in dogs. It is classified into primary and secondary inertia. Primary complete uterine inertia is the failure of the uterus to begin labor at full term. Primary partial uterine inertia occurs when there is enough uterine activity to initiate parturition but it is insufficient to complete a normal birth of all fetuses, in the absence of an obstruction. Primary inertia can also be due to that the uterus fails to respond to the fetal signals because there are only one or two pups and thus insufficient stimulation to initiate labor the single-pup syndrome or because of overstretching of the myometrium by large litters, excessive fetal fluids, or oversized fetuses. Other causes of primary inertia may be an inherited predisposition, nutritional imbalance, fatty infiltration of the myometrium, age-related changes, deficiency of neuro-endocrine regulation, or systemic disease in the bitch. Secondary uterine inertia implies that some fetuses have been delivered while the remaining ones are left in utero due to exhaustion of the uterine myometrium caused by obstruction of the birth canal; this condition should be clearly distinguished from primary inertia [see [ 6 ]]. The Boxer breed is known to have a high risk for dystocia [ 5 , 8 ]. The Swedish Boxer Club, therefore, sent a questionnaire [See Additional file 1 ] to all the Swedish Boxer breeders registering a litter of pups in and , asking for details about the bitch's oestrous cycle, the mating and the whelping and about the development of the pups until the time of delivery to the new owners at 8 weeks of age. An unexpectedly high frequency of Caesarean sections was discovered and this prompted a follow-up survey [See Additional file 2 ] for the years and , with more detailed questions about the parturitions and the pups. The Club then turned to the Division of Reproduction at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala for help to investigate the nature and cause of the whelping problems of the Boxer breed in order to improve their breeding program and reduce the risk for dystocia in this breed. Methods The questionnaires The two questionnaires were sent to all the breeders that registered a litter of Boxer pups with the Swedish Kennel Club between and .Breeders of litters registered in and received a version [See Additional file 1 ] wich contained questions about the oestrous cycle of the bitch and the mating, the course of the parturition, and about the pups during the period from birth to delivery to the new owners. Breeders that registered litters during and received another version [See Additional file 2 ] in which the questions were more concentrated around the whelping as such. The questionnaires were distributed to the breeders in June , and in July , respectively. In 22 cases the breeders were also contacted over the telephone by the authors for further clarifications. The oestrous cycle of the bitch Questions about the oestrous cycles of the bitches were included in the first questionnaire and have been compiled without further analysis. The age of the bitch at the time of whelping The age of the bitch at the time of whelping was calculated based on the year of registration of the bitch with the Swedish Kennel Club and the year of whelping. If the bitch's kennel prefix indicated that it was imported and, thus, registered with the Swedish Kennel Club as an adult, the year of birth was checked and used for the calculation of the bitch's age at whelping. Definition of dystocia Bitches considered by their owners to be in need of veterinary treatment during whelping were, in this study, defined as suffering from dystocia. Duration of the whelping In this study the duration of the whelping has been defined as the time from the birth of the first pup until the birth of the last pup. Classification of uterine inertia Based on the breeders' information, bitches which had not produced any pup and for which no information was given to indicate that the first water bag had burst at the time of admission to the veterinary clinic, were classified as suffering from primary total uterine inertia. Bitches that had given birth to at least one pup before needing veterinary assistance, as well as those in which the first water bag had burst but no pup had been produced, were classified as suffering from primary incomplete uterine inertia. The litters Information about the number of litters, registered pups and the sex distribution was obtained from the Kennel Club registry from the years to .As the two questionnaires differed slightly for instance regarding the sex distribution among the pups which was only included in the second questionnaire and because not all breeders answered all the questions, the calculations have been based on those litters for which all the necessary information was available. Cryptorchidism Cryptorchidism is a common defect in the Boxer breed and was therefore included in the surveys. Breeders tend to believe that cryptorchidism is more common in litters containing many male pups, and consequently we also wanted to study whether the number of pups and the sex distribution had any influence on the incidence of cryptorchidism in the litters. Statistical methods Chi-square test was used to analyse relations between the discrete variables. When the values in the cells were too low for this test to be applicable, Fischer's exact test was used. A Chi-square trend analysis was used to look at the relation between a discrete variable and another discrete ordinal variable. To analyse pup death rates for parturitions of different durations we used a hypothesis test that compared two proportions. Results Out of a total of Boxer litters registered by the Kennel Club during the years of the study, .The recorded whelpings were out of individual bitches, mated to different males. For of the bitches there is only information about one litter each, whereas 47 bitches gave birth to two litters and six bitches to three litters each during the period of study. The study includes pups born and that were registrered with the Kennel Club. The contractual agreement between you and the breeder Agreement made to not breed the dog in the future Agreement made to not enter it into competitions No restrictions on the Boxer puppy Read on to see why these factors affect the price of Boxer puppies. Reputation Of The Breeder Breeders spend a lot of time and money to build up their reputation as trustworthy Boxer breeders. The more renowned a breeder is, the more they are able to charge for their dogs. However, some puppy mills and backyard breeders will shoot up their prices to appear to be reputable breeders. Therefore, you should go through a trusted association to find a reputable breeder. Do not be fooled by good advertising. The individual Boxer puppy you want to purchase must have its own papers that document its registration with the American Kennel Club. These papers cost money and will increase the price of your Boxer puppy slightly. This is important because pedigree changes the price of the Boxer puppy; I will discuss this next! Pedigree is important when it comes to determining what your Boxer puppy will look like, its temperament, and the chance of it developing genetic issues in the future as it grows up. Determining who the dam and sire of your Boxer puppy are is important in determining price. If your Boxer puppy has a champion sire or dam, then the price of the puppy will increase significantly. Champion heritage drives the price of the Boxer puppy up because the buyer is almost guaranteed to get a perfect specimen of what a Boxer should be and has a better chance at winning competitions with their Boxer puppy when it grows up. The breed, unfortunately, suffers from hip dysplasia, cardiovascular myopathy, severe arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, several cancers, and aortic valve disease. The American Kennel Club recommends that all of these tests, including thyroid screening, elbow evaluations, and certain DNA tests are all done to produce a long-term prognosis so effective preventative care can be carried out from day one. If a Boxer puppy has any health concerns, then their price will decrease, and they will often be sold for a couple of hundred dollars or so depending on the specific health issues they have. As medium-sized dogs, Boxers can leave their mothers safely at eight weeks. Many people who want to compete with their boxers will wait until the Boxer puppy is six to eight months old before purchasing them. During this time, the breeder will invest in behavioral training. When the Boxer puppy is six to eight months old, the breeder will also be able to give you a better idea of their temperament and their adult markings and ultimate size. As a result, these puppies will be much more expensive than the younger ones. Boxers will stand at 23 to 25 inches tall if they are male and .They have tall, regal-looking shoulders that slope down gently to a smaller set of hips. Their heads are quite square and are characterized by their wrinkles that make them appear confused but curious! Boxers that meet the breed standard are a fawn or brindle color with white markings on their chests, bellies, inner legs, and faces. However, the white markings may not be more than a third of their entire body. If your Boxer puppy meets the breed standard, then their price will increase because they can be used for competitions. However, if they do not meet the breed standard, then their price will be decreased, as this is seen as undesirable from a competition standpoint. The first agreement will prevent you from further breeding your Boxer puppy. The second agreement will prevent you from entering your Boxer puppy into any competitions. Both contacts will decrease the price of your Boxer puppy, as they place restrictions on what you can and cannot do with your puppy as it grows up. There are many other costs associated with owning a Boxer! One-Time Bring Home Costs There are a number of things you will need to purchase before you even pick up your Boxer puppy to make them feel more comfortable and happy in their new home! Fortunately, a lot of these items only need to be purchased once or twice, like food bowls and crates, for example. Here is a list of some of the vital things you need:. Figures released by the Kennel Club show that searches for Boxer puppies on its Find A Puppy website, rose by per cent in the day following the release of the advert. When there is a sudden and enormous spike in people searching for puppies within a breed that is in the media spotlight, we all too often see the same breed overflowing from rescue centres a few months later. It is understandable that adverts, films and other media will feature and celebrate dogs given that we are a nation of dog lovers, but the Boxer breed could be in real trouble if people let impulsiveness take over and rush out to buy one without knowing much about the breed. Boxers drool, they are messy eaters, and whilst they are fun and playful it means that they also need a lot of exercise and stimulation. They are bouncy, do not look where they are going and blunder about, so people need to be aware of this, particularly if they have children. Neither do they like being left alone, so if you are out working all day, it is not the dog for you. The Kennel Club is also inviting people to come and meet Boxers at the Discover Dogs zone at Crufts on March , at the NEC in Birmingham, where people can find out more about the breed, and other breeds of dog, and whether they are right for their lifestyle. Share this article via:.

Blankets, pillows, and towels. The mother GSD and her litter need a quiet place to stay. It should be spacious, clean, and comfortable. If money is not an issue, you may purchase a commercial whelping box and a washable vet bed. But if you want to be thrifty, you can just make use of a clean cardboard box. Just make sure that the box is big enough for your GSD to stretch out comfortably. You may also buy a heat pad. It will provide warmth to the litter. Instead, put the heat pad under the whelping box, with one end on top of the box. Cover it with a towel to avoid overheating. The whelping box should be close enough to an electrical outlet so you can easily plug in the heat pad once you need more warmth for your Litter. Make sure they stay warm by providing a heating pad and lamp. You may add blankets, pillows, towels, or even old newspapers and a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. Be careful though because puppies might get entangled and suffocate if the blanket, pillows, and towels are not taut. Puppy milk replacer, baby bottle, or feeding syringe If the litter is abandoned or orphaned, ask your vet to prescribe milk formulated for German shepherd puppies. Purchase a baby bottle or syringe for feeding. If you leave newborn German shepherd puppies with their mother, give her the first two days to bond with her litter and feed them. Once you see that your GSD has accepted her litter and is feeding them, you can put the puppies in a box beside their mother. She will take care of cleaning and nurturing her pups while continuing to feed them with her milk. But if she still refuses to take care of her pups, you must take matters into your own hands. To do this, place a clean towel or a washable vet bed inside a cardboard box. Keep the box beside your GSD but make sure that she cannot get in touch with her pups. Plug the pad into an electrical outlet and adjust the heat to maintain its temperature at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The pups can get hypothermia if their body heat drops below 94 degrees Fahrenheit. See also How long should a puppy chew on a bully stick and when to take the bully stick away? Now, put your German shepherd puppies under the warmth of the heating pad at 95 degrees F and wait for them to feed. Only put three puppies per towel or one puppy per section of the vet bed for ease in feeding and monitoring. A mother GSD can produce about 4 to 5 cc of milk every hour. This means that she will need someone to feed her pups every 2 or 3 hours. To correctly use the eyedropper, put your puppy on its stomach and tickle its throat to induce swallowing. Repeat this process until you see that the pup has emptied the eyedropper. Pups will probably fall asleep after feeding. To avoid suffocation, place rolled-up newspapers in their box the pups can use them as pillows when they sleep. These are only temporary until the mother GSD starts to take care of them by licking them clean and keeping them warm with her presence. Weighing scale To make sure if the German shepherd puppies are gaining enough weight, monitor their weight by using a weighing scale at least 4 times a week. If the puppies are not gaining enough weight, they may not be getting enough milk or nourishment so consult your vet right away. Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth to massage or rub gently the anal region. A mother GSD can give birth to 4 to 9 puppies in one litter, 6 as the average. Newborn German Shepherd Puppies Newborns especially 1 to 3-day old German shepherd puppies are vulnerable so before you do anything, consult with your vet especially if you are inexperienced. Right after your GSD gives birth, check the 1-day old German shepherd puppies if they are breathing. If you notice a puppy having breathing difficulties, use a suction bulb syringe to suck out the blockage and clear its airways. Most of the time, they just sleep or eat. They usually eat every two hours during their first week of life. If the puppies are orphaned, you may wash them gently using a warm and moist cloth. Avoid over-bathing the pups because it can cause dehydration. You will notice some of them wagging their tails as well which is adorable to look at. The puppies will gradually open their eyes for the first time in 2 weeks. They will be curious so expect them to move around to inspect their surroundings. Instead of crawling, they attempt to use their legs even though their legs may shake. Check their weight to see if they are gaining well and continue keeping them warm and clean. Their ears will open so they can hear the sounds around them. Though their legs still shake when they attempt to walk, they can finally stand on their own. They will begin to socialize and explore their surroundings more so you should not separate the puppies from each other. They will start teething so they tend to bite everything. They will also be interested in eating solid food. The puppies can walk well at 4 weeks so they will continue socializing with their siblings, their mother, and their handler through playing. They can begin eating solid foods for the first time now that their teeth are fully developed. The puppies can be fully weaned when they reach 6 weeks because they become independent of their mother. They also improve their social skills by playing not only with each other but also with people. Not to worry because this is just a normal phase. This is a good time to expose the puppies to various sounds, places, and people. Teach them basic commands but focus on socialization and bite inhibition. If the puppies are not fully potty trained , train them now. At 9 weeks, the weight of male German shepherd puppies normally ranges from 9 to 10 kg while the females would be from 7 to 9 kg. Their height ranges from 12 to 15 inches. See also How to Crate Train a German Shepherd Puppy When the German shepherd puppies reach 10 weeks, their ears will become pointy but sometimes the ears are floppy. Their height and weight will continue to grow as long as they are adequately fed. By this time, your puppies should already know how to gently use their mouth in dealing with humans so you can enhance their training by teaching other basic commands. When they are done, let them play so that they learn how to do this on their own. Be patient because it takes time before they get the hang of it. If after 24 hours it still refuses to eat, use a baby bottle or feeding syringe to feed the puppy. Prepare a milk replacement formula using evaporated milk mixed with egg yolk, using two egg yolks for every half cup of milk. To avoid bacteria growth, boil the water first before mixing everything and store any leftover formula in the fridge. Gradually increase the proportion of milk replacement formula and decrease the proportion of puppy chow until you wean them off milk replacement completely. Your GSD puppy may have parasites because stools may look like pebbles or tan-colored, small balls which can be a sign that they have swallowed something in their litter box. This is particularly common when they are still with their mother because they tend to eat the feces of the other pups. Diarrhea can also be caused by stress, which is common for a newborn GSD puppy that has been removed from its mom. If this happens, make sure you give them enough attention and place your hand gently on their body to calm them down. Conclusion German shepherd puppies are truly a sight to behold from birth to adulthood. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Welcome to our German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Different breeds like all different babies develop at different rates. There are going to be many exciting events for you to look forward to. Whether you are bringing your 8 week German Shepherd puppy home or about to be blessed with a litter of puppies. This is going to be an exciting, demanding but hugely rewarding journey. Newborn puppies are born at around days after fertilization. Newborn puppies are born with their ears and eyes tightly sealed. The reason eyelids are sealed shut is to form a protective barrier for the fragile developing eye. This helps to protect them from any foreign object, bright lights, bacteria or any other microorganism that can cause disease or damage. In the same way puppies ear canals are closed at birth to make them effectively deaf. This is a protective barrier to protect the fragile underdeveloped machinery needed to hear. In a mature ear the pressure caused by sound will mechanically move structures in the ear. German Shepherd puppies are highly dependent upon their noses. Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born. This helps them to identify their mom, the very important milk supply, siblings and surroundings. Newborn puppies are born with a fur coat however they cannot control their own body temperature yet. To keep them warm they are dependant on their mothers or another heat source. If you live in a cooler climate installing a heat lamp would be ideal to help keep the puppies nice and warm. Germans Shepherds make amazing mothers and will be relied on a lot at this stage. Mother dogs will only leave their newborn puppies to go to the toilet, eat and drink. However, when mom has gone the newborn puppies are not completely useless. They are able to use their front paws to drag themselves towards a heat source. When mom is away the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat. Along with being able to drag themselves to a heat source newborn puppies are also able to drag themselves to their mothers to locate the milk supply. They will move their heads around to search for a nipple, latch on and suck strongly. Newborn puppies are not born with teeth these will also develop in the next several weeks. Other than the above puppies are completely dependent upon the care of their dedicated mom. Newborn puppies have little control over the rear end of their bodies. To encourage their pups to pass urine and bowel movements the mom will lick their bottoms. Anything produced mom will then lick up and swallow to keep her puppies and nest clean. Some pups will even double their birth weight! Your German Shepherd puppy will still be highly dependent upon their mom at this stage. Beneath all their fur the vital organs will be working hard to mature. This includes the eyes. Your puppy will not be ready to open their eyes yet but lots of changes are taking place to prepare them for grand opening. The ear canals will begin to open around the same time as the eyes. When the ear canals do open, the ears are much more formed than the eyes are at this point in time. Their eyesight usually takes around 8 weeks to reach its full potential. When their eyes become wider, they will reveal blueish-gray eyes which are hazy in appearance. Their eyesight will continue to develop until around 8 weeks old. The ear canals will also open around 2 weeks. The puppies hearing has been developing much quicker than their eyesight and they will be able to hear most things by the time their ear canals fully open. However, their amazing hearing ability will continue to enhance over the next several weeks. At the moment your German Shepherd puppy will have cute floppy ears. Their adorable tall ears can come up anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Floppy ears are common until your German Shepherd finishes teething. By then the ear cartilage will become strong and hard enough for the ears to stand up permanently. Now is a good time to start handling the puppies and get them used to your voice. Most puppies are wormed for the first time when they are 2 weeks old. All this development has happened so quickly, but things are about to get even more exciting. Between 2 and 4 weeks your German Shepherd puppy will begin to stand up this is when the real fun begins. Puppies milky teeth will also start to develop between 2 to 4 weeks. These sharp little teeth will remain until about weeks of age. These little daggers play an important role during the weaning process. Even the most patient moms will struggle to nurse with these sharp painful teeth. This reluctance to nurse will prompt the German Shepherds to seek alternative food sources. These sharp teeth will then help to make up for the lack of jaw strength when eating solid foods. Finally, these sharp puppy teeth play an important role in teaching the pups to gauge their bite pressure when playing with their mom and siblings. This is an essential life lesson that enables our powerful German Shepherds to become safer companions as they mature into strong adult dogs. During the last few weeks mom has done an amazing job of getting her babies strong and their mobility will have come on leaps and bounds well not quite yet but by 3 weeks of age your German Shepherd puppy will begin to trotter around. Most 3 week old German Shepherd puppies can stand and sit. With their baby teeth starting to cut through a lot of breeders. Especially those with large litters will start introducing some solid foods. This helps relieve some of the pressure for the devoted German Shepherd mom. When weaning puppies, you need to start off by soaking their food in either water or puppy milk replacement formula to make it mushy and more comfortable for them to eat. As they start to interact and play with their siblings their personalities will really start to show. You may also notice them starting to playfully growl at each other. At 3 weeks old it will become easier to start identifying different members of the pack. Breeders and moms will be kept on their toes and paws over the next few weeks. As the pups start getting more confident on their feet they will be running around and playing enthusiastically. At 4 weeks old they will begin to wag their adorable little tails. With solid food becoming a major part of their diet the pups will be passing bigger bowel movements. They will be able to show more control of their bowel movements as they take themselves away from their brothers and sisters to perform their business. At this stage mom will be taking a much more relaxed approach to parenting and there will be a lot more for the breeder to clear up. By this point mealtimes are a messy process. If it is warm and safe enough to do so we would recommend taking the pups out in the yard for feeding. German Shepherd puppies are becoming a lot stronger at vocalisations by 4 weeks old. When mom returns to her babies the litter will noisily greet her. Around 4 weeks of age your puppies will need to be wormed again. From this week onwards human interaction is very important in order to form relationships with people. Including different noises and smells. This exposure will ensure your German Shepherd puppy turns into a confident, friendly individual. Mom will also be doing an important job of teaching her puppies to not bite too hard. Even an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy would have the power in their jaws to break the smaller bones in humans fingers. This is why mom teaching her puppies bite inhibition is so important. For more information on bite inhibition please see our guide on German Shepherd bite inhibition. By 5 weeks old German Shepherd puppies will be eating a lot of solid foods, several times throughout the day. Those sharp little teeth would have done their job and mom will be gradually weaning her pups of the dependency on her milk. When mom does feed her puppies, she will only do so for a short period whilst standing up. They will be eating between five and six small meals a day. Although the pups no longer rely on mom for milk, they still need her help and guidance for the next few weeks. Mom will be teaching her babies important life skills to live alongside humans. In some countries 6 week old puppies are taken away from their mothers and moved into their new home. We would not recommend this as the puppies will miss out on continued bite inhibition training from their siblings and mother. This can result in a puppy who bites too hard which can be challenging to manage as they get older. In the USA your puppy will be due their first combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccine helps to immunizes your puppy against hepatitis, parvo, distemper, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Most puppies will also need to be wormed again at 6 weeks old. Their last week together will consist of plenty of socialization and playing. Most breeders will arrange a 7 week health check up with the vet to make sure your bundle of fluff is fit and healthy to go to their new home. In the UK some breeders will arrange for the pups first 8 week vaccination to take place during this check. Although some vets advise against it. By the end of this week German Shepherd puppies are ready to leave their mothers and move into their new homes for good. The week you get to take your new puppy home. This will be a very exciting time, but you may also be feeling a bit nervous. There will be some challenged along the way for new puppy owners and your puppy will take some time to adjust to life without its mother and siblings. In the UK the first combined vaccination will help to immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. The first puppy injection in the UK typically will happen between 8 and 10 weeks. Some breeders would have trained the puppies to poop and pee on newspapers or puppy pads. From the moment you get them home it is important to show your German Shepherd puppy where to pee and poop. Puppies naturally like to pee where they have done so before so to avoid building history of peeing in your home is best if you can to avoid it. The more you can avoid accidents from happening as much as possible from the start the faster the puppy training process should be. All puppies are different, and some will get this quicker than others. The main thing to remember is not to discipline your puppy for accidents. The most successful way to potty train is to reward success and ignore accidents. Just clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Your puppy will love nothing more than being praised. For more information please see our guide on How to potty train your German Shepherd puppy. Already your German Shepherd puppy will feel like part of the family. German Shepherds puppies are always adorable but at 9 weeks they are at the age where they are still puppy-like but very clumsy,curious and keen to play with her new family, which is very cute. Your German Shepherds unique personality will make you feel very proud. At 9 weeks your cheeky German Shepherd pup will be feeling more confident, with this the need to explore everything and anything may end up getting them into trouble. Your puppy will develop new sleeping patterns and feeding routines which you will need to adapt to. Most puppies will sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day at 9 weeks old. During the day when you are with your puppy generally you will not need to shut them away in a crate to nap. German Shepherd puppies are often more than happy to sleep whilst family life goes on around them. However, there will be times when sleeping in a crate is better and safer for your puppy. You must not leave a 9 week old puppy to sleep outside the crate if you are not home to watch them if they wake. Puppies are into everything and many innocent items found in the house could be a potential hazard to your inquisitive pup. For more information please see our guide on how to puppy proof your home. Even if your puppy can barely keep their eyes open other pups and children will still want to play and your German Shepherd puppy may find it hard to refuse. After a hard day of play the peace and quiet of a crate will enable your pup to have a well-deserved nap. If your German Shepherd puppy does need to go to the toilet in the night make sure you keep it short and to a minimum. Establishing a daily routine is the best way to get your German Shepherd puppy to sleep through the night. Part of this schedule will involve mealtimes. Your 9 week old puppy will need four meals a day. Split these up throughout the day and try to stick to similar times. This is to stop encouraging your puppy to wake up earlier and earlier because they associate waking with food. You should always reward your puppy either vocally, with a favourite toy or treats for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. Puppies and dogs want to be praised so they respond very well to positive encouragement. Punishing puppies and dogs may have a short term positive effect on their behaviour but long term you could be setting them up to fail. It is very important to socialise and expose your puppy to other humans, dogs and different scenarios whilst they are young. This maybe hard before your puppy has had all its vaccines however getting many different people to come and visit you at your home will enable them to get used to visitors. Before their full vaccinations you can also, you can take you German Shepherd puppy out and about with you to expose them to the outside world as long as you can carry them. If you live in the USA, your puppy will be due their second combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 9 weeks old. In the USA a minimum of three sets of the combined vaccine are required for your puppy. Although you cannot put your puppy down outside until after their final vaccination. Puppies 10 week injection In the UK is a booster vaccination to help immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. Check with your vet what date after their jabs your German Shepherd puppy will be able to go down outside. Your puppy will then need a booster between 6 and 12 months old. If you live in the USA at 12 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be due their booster for the combined 5in1 vaccine against hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvo and coronavirus and a vaccine against rabies and leptospirosis. If you live in a high risk area, they may also need to be given the vaccination to help immunize them against Lyme. If applicable at 16 weeks your German Shepherd puppy may need to have a fourth combined 5in1 vaccine. A minimum of three combined injections are required in the USA. Check with your vet what date they will be able to be out down outside. By 10 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be able to control their bladder a lot more. Potentially up to several hours. This is great time for you to introduce them to the big wide world and develop their social skills which you have already been building the foundations. When taking your German Shepherd puppy out try to introduce them to as many other friendly dogs, humans and noises you can. This will help your German Shepherd puppy to grown into a confident well-rounded dog. At 3 months old your German Shepherd will go down from four daily meals to three. These three portions will be larger than what they are used to which may cause stomach upset. If your German Shepherd puppy does get an upset stomach, try going back to four smaller meals for a couple of days and they try the three larger portions again. This can be a challenging time as your adorable German Shepherd puppy turns into a furry crocodile. Luckily the teething stage is only a phase as with human babies and short lived. In most cases your puppy biting should stop around when they are around 7 months old and have their adult teeth. You maybe noticing your German Shepherds gorgeous ears fluctuating between floppy and pointy. By the time your puppy has finished teething their ears should tick up all the way. This usually happens around months. As they grow their cartilage becomes stronger. Some puppies need another month or so to help them cope without going out for frequent toilet breaks. Even when your German Shepherd puppy is toilet trained occasional accidents are normal. German Shepherds do have large ears but they tend to grow into them as they get older. German Shepherd puppies will begin to grow their new adult coat between 4 and 6 months old. To make way for their adult coat all the puppy hair has to go. For several weeks you will notice an increase in shedding. This is a completely normal part of growing up for your German Shepherd. Being a double coat breed German Shepherds dogs have a topcoat and an undercoat. Twice a year your pup will shed their undercoat. Usually in spring and again in fall. They also shed in general days a year so be prepared for a lot of fur! They will very much look like a smaller version of their adult selves. Although your German Shepherd may look older on the inside, they are still very much a puppy. If you are looking to get your puppy neutered or spayed the recommended age is 6 to 9 months. However, it is common for some female puppies to get spayed at 4 months old. Summary: Your German Shepherd is bound to give you so much joy and happiness throughout its life. There will be challenges along the way but remember this is completely normal. German Shepherds are such an amazing breed and you will have a loyal friend for life. Related Posts. They cannot see or hear yet, or regulate their body temperature, and they require a lot of tender care from their mom. The new mom is usually very excited and concerned about each newborn, and sometimes overly enthusiastic about chewing off the umbilical cord, which may later result in an umbilical hernia that will take a little longer to close, but is no danger to the puppy. We record the ribbon color and weight of each puppy so that, when we weigh the pups throughout the next days and weeks, we can make sure that each one is gaining weight. Normal weight for a newborn German Shepherd puppy ranges from g to g 0. We take great care to ensure that our newborn German Shepherd puppies have the best chance for a healthy start. A German Shepherd female can be in active labor for 6 to 18 hours, sometimes even longer if she takes a break while having a large litter, and we of course do not leave her side during this time. I stay up making sure that the whelping box which is always in my office or bedroom is clean and dry after each puppy is born, and that the temperature stays constant 86 - 88 F in the room. We keep the temperature at this level for about 2 weeks, gradually reducing it down to normal F by the end of the third week. Someone is always present with the puppies during the first 5 days. I handle the puppies several times a day, as well as weigh them every other day during this period, to make sure that everyone looks and acts healthy, nurses well, and is gaining weight. I usually buy a dozen fluffy cotton towels, and use two at a time as bedding for the whelping box. I change these towels twice daily at this stage to make sure the puppies are always clean and dry. Starting from day 3, and until day 16, I follow The "Super Dog" Program for our puppies - an early neurological stimulation program described by Dr. Carmen Battaglia. It has numerous benefits later in life for puppies. Often, puppies that were born the smallest overtake the bigger ones. Even at this tender age strong individual differences can be noted among German Shepherd puppies. Also, there is difference in their color and markings, and long-hair German Shepherd puppies can often be identified at this age. The new mom is very attached to her puppies at this age and is very reluctant to leave them even for the shortest time. She spends a lot of time sleeping with the puppies nursing peacefully, and is also very happy to be busy cleaning each puppy several times a day and flipping them around gently with her nose. At about 2 weeks of age German Shepherd puppies actually start looking more like puppies, and not just fat black sausages with feet attached. We use undiluted evaporated goats milk from a can, warmed up to be pleasant to the touch. Most puppies readily accept the bottle, and we consider this to be very important bonding and social time as well. Three weeks of age is my favorite age of all. The puppies now can be recognized as German Shepherd puppies. They are alert, playful, and there is a lot of wrestling, tail-wagging, and even barking going on as they explore their surroundings and interact with each other and their mom, all of which is extremely cute. I will often just sit in the whelping box with them, letting them play with my clothes, climb up on my lap, and generally just enjoying their carefree company. We also provide them with various toys starting at this age, and make sure that they listen to loud music, banging on the door, vacuum cleaner, etc. They weigh around 1. At first, they may not have a lot of success with it, as some of them try to suckle on the meat, but in a few days they master this new type of eating very well. We also continue giving them goats milk, but in a shallow saucer pan now, and with some rice baby cereal added, so that they can practice lapping. At this age, the mom is no longer so keen on constantly staying with her puppies, and only visits them to feed them and for a clean up. We continue changing the bedding twice a day now, knowing very well that in about a week it will become times a day, as the mom will not be able to keep up with her cleaning duties any more. We wash soiled towels with a little bit of bleach and a little bit of perfume-free detergent. Four weeks of age is even more fun as the puppies keep developing, but the amount of cleaning starts to increase in geometrical progression, and it becomes a full time job to keep the puppies well fed and clean. The mom is only visiting now and then at this point, and enjoys spending her time in the office, so that she can hear and see the puppies, but not necessarily be with them. With mom visiting for a few brief feedings each day, we feed them three times a day with the following diet: 1. Cottage cheese 2 tbsp per puppy , mixed with plain yogurt 1 tsp per puppy , evaporated goats milk, rice baby cereal 1 tsp. Raw tripe, or beef liver cooked with all kinds of vegetables At about 5 weeks of age the duty of keeping the whelping box clean becomes nightmarish, and this is a good time to introduce German Shepherd puppies to the outdoors. This is a room that is a part of the house, but has free access to the outside world. This room is equipped with a wooden resting platform so that puppies do not lay on concrete, with a heating lamp above it, and the floor is completely covered with a layer of pine woodchips. The outside area is about 6 x 6 ft and the floor is made of paving stones. There is another wooden laying platform here. This is a very important period when we introduce our German Shepherd puppies to more noises, show them the way in and out of the house, introduce them to the other dogs, play tug-of-war, etc. Also, we introduce raw frozen sardines and "The Honest Kitchen" products to their diet, and will occasionally feed kibble, soaked well in warm water and mixed with green tripe from a can At 3, 5, and 7 weeks of age our German Shepherd puppies get dewormed with a high quality wormer, to be certain that they are free of intestinal parasites. At about 6 weeks of age the puppies get their first combination 5-way vaccine including Parvo and Distemper , and at 7 weeks of age we start welcoming visitors who are interested to come and look at the puppies. Often during weekends we have several groups of visitors of all ages coming to interact with the puppies, which is such a great socialization opportunity for them. Copyright .All rights reserved. Baby German Shepherds growing up! German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular dog breeds out there at the moment, with many devoted fans. They can be large and imposing as adults. But, like every breed, they have a cute puppy phase that many fall in love with. However, since most puppies are bought at weeks old, most of us miss out on this magical period of their lives. So what happens during those first important weeks? A typical German Shepherd litter consists of around puppies. The mean average, according to a study performed in , is 6. When they are first born, they will still have an umbilical cord attached and may be covered in amniotic fluid. Their mother should chew off the umbilical cord and spend the first few hours cleaning their pups. Then mom will focus on keeping her newborn pups warm while allowing them to nurse. At this stage, German Shepherd puppies will just sleep and avoid expending energy. They will frequently nurse from their mother. Newborn German Shepherds When baby German Shepherd puppies are first born, they are completely dependent on their mother. Their ears and eyes will be closed and they will be unable to regulate their own body temperature efficiently. A coat should be present, and the color will depend on the genes they have inherited from their parents. Black with tan markings is the most common for this breed. Additionally, they will be relatively immobile. They will be unable to properly support their own weight. Therefore, they will commonly crawl on their stomach to move about. They will also be unable to urinate or defecate on their own. Stimulation from their mother will be required to help them go to the toilet. One Week Old Baby German Shepherd In the first week, the puppies should bulk up significantly and double their birth weight. However, there will not be much change in their behavior. They will still primarily be focused on nursing and sleeping. To help themselves stay warm, the puppies will normally cuddle close to each other, except for when they are in a hot environment. At this stage, they will still be blind and deaf. While they are still unable to see very well, this is a big step. Eyes should open for the first time at around days of age. They will appear blue in color, but this will change into brown as they develop. They may become a little more inquisitive about their surroundings with their new-found eyesight, and may begin to crawl around a little more. We can expect to see them make some big steps at this stage. Firstly, at around days old, their ears should begin to open for the first time. They should now be able to both see and hear, though not too clearly. Their senses will continue to develop over the coming weeks. They will begin to be able to stand and support their own weight. Walking may still be tough, though! They will likely be pretty wobbly. You can also expect to see their baby teeth come in at around this time. While they still get the majority of their nutrition from their mother, they will begin to show interest in solid food. They will begin to become more independent at this age, being able to urinate and defecate on their own. Beginning Of Socialization With their sight and hearing, they are likely to show a little bit of adventure and courage for the first time, exploring their surroundings as much as their unsteady gait will allow them. This milestone also marks the beginning of the socialization period, a critical phase of their development. Things learned now can shape their personality and behavior for the rest of their lives. They may engage the other puppies in clumsy play and show body language such as tail wagging for the first time. They will form relationships with their den mates, their mother, and humans. This stage is critical in getting the puppies used to humans. This can be achieved by gently exposing the puppies to human presence and contact so that they can see that they are no threat. While their brains are still very much in development, they are still able to learn some simple concepts at this stage. Crate and potty training can begin at this age. They should now be able to walk pretty well. This mobility will allow them to further play with their family and be even more curious about their surroundings. On top of this, their baby teeth should now be fully formed and the weaning process should be fully underway. They should be offered soft but solid food. They may begin to show signs of more complex social behaviors towards their other den mates, and they should learn important skills like bite inhibition. The socialization process should continue, with the puppies gently being exposed to new people, sights, and sounds. The German Shepherd babies will also be further weaned off the mother at this time, slowly moving onto a fully solid diet. Six Week Old Baby German Shepherd At this age, you will begin to see the puppies become even more independent of their mother. Six week old puppies are gaining social skills rapidly, and love to play with people and each other. Seven Week Old Baby German Shepherd When we move into the seventh week of their life, a new significant phase of development starts to begin: the fear period. While this sounds disconcerting, it merely means that this is the time that many puppies begin to show fear towards new things, rather than curiosity. Things that the puppy may find scary or uncertain during this time can make for big changes in their personality throughout life. For example, if a puppy has a bad experience with a human at this stage, it may lead them to becoming fearful and distrustful towards people for the rest of their life. This is why gently exposing the puppies to humans and common sights and sounds beforehand is important. By preemptively socializing the puppies with humans, we can help this period run smoother. The puppies will have reached weights of around pounds and should be around inches tall. Their ears will lie flat but should begin to become erect and upright over the coming weeks. They will be fully independent of their mother at this age. They should be completely weaned, with some basic training and socialization. From here, new owners are expected to continue to train and socialize them, as they are still within a critical period of development. New owners will also need to continue to ensure the German Shepherd puppy is fed a good, nutritionally balanced diet. For more information, you can check out our full puppy development guide here. And make sure you also take a look at this guide to bathing a puppy!

He might already have low kidney function from his condition. Or toxins, vaccines, infection or prescription meds can stress his system. Your conventional vet might recommend a prescription diet. Often skin issues can originate from a low functioning liver. It processes everything you put in or on your dog. And that includes antibiotics, medicines, vaccines, flea and tick treatments and the foods he eats. Start by lessening toxins as much as possible and including supportive supplements. RELATED: Spot these early signs of liver disease and what you can do… Hypothyroidism There are several things you can do on an ongoing basis for your dog if he has hypothyroidism. You should give him spring or filtered water and avoid chemicals from the water supply. A diet including glandulars and herbs can support thyroid health and immune function. This will help strengthen his heart and bones. And both of you will need it. Each dog will have his own limitations. For some a brisk walk will be plenty of activity. Others will need some running and games. And how much rest he needs between activities. Your dog may get too winded from running and jumping. Instead, take him for frequent walks in areas with lots of visual and scent stimulation. This will give him the mental and physical exercise he needs. Your holistic vet can address chronic issues your dog may have for life, including heart, organ and bone development issues. It will also help manage pain which could be ongoing. This may be a long-term commitment as you grow with your special needs dog and the changes in his body. And in any event you must not breed a dog with a genetic defect. But sterilizing is not the best solution. These dogs already have growth and development issues. So your dog could be further damaged by removing his reproductive organs and hormones. As with any intact dog, just take measures to prevent accidental breeding. Designate some dog-friendly areas in your home. Your dog will learn the layout. Placing rugs in areas like the top of staircases will help him recognize the area and learn where he is. Install baby gates at staircases to prevent falls. This also limits access to other spaces that are off limits. Keep them in the same place so he becomes familiar with them. Include soft dog-friendly furniture. It might be hard to potty train your dog, so soiling might happen. You might need to keep toys to a minimum. Work with your dog to find toys he responds to and stick with those. Try toys with different movements, size, sound, hardness and softness. Toys might not interest dogs with development disorders because of their sensory impairment. Clean often. But use non-toxic cleaning supplies. Special needs dogs can have a hard time with bladder control and need frequent cleanups. Dog diapers could help if your dog will be alone for a while. But leaving them on for long periods could lead to UTI issues so only use them if really needed. Crate-training might be a better option. Keep his living and sleeping area clean. And that includes blankets and padding. Your dog might have limited movements so you want his bed to be spacious and comfortable. And he should feel secure in his sleeping area. This is his den. He might need help getting up and walking. Repetitive exercises can help him build muscle. He may also need adaptive devices, such as a harness, sling or leg braces for support. Your dog might find it hard to balance or move around. Putting down cheap yoga mats can keep him from slipping and getting injured. Non-slip socks can help provide some traction. Adaptive equipment like wheelchairs designed for dogs are available. These are useful for dogs missing a limb due to the disorder. Your holistic vet can direct you to an orthopedic specialist for further care. Be Aware of Challenging Behavior Special needs dogs can be fearful of everything around them. They can be prone to destructive behavior due to fear and anxiety. Or they can be strong-willed and difficult to train or control. Or they can have separation anxiety when left alone. You will need to use patience and understanding to help care for your special dog. This sets your dog up for success. They can be especially loving. And they can be like perpetual puppies in spirit and behavior. It can be beneficial to your dog to mingle with other dogs. Dogs have unique ways of communicating with each other. And that includes how healthy dogs relate to a sick or impaired dog. Dogs need to socialize. If he has a friendly nature, let him meet other dogs. You can also tell the other dog owner that today is not a good day for them to meet. With play dates at home, you need to take steps to ensure shared areas are clean. His potty training might be weak or he might have discharges. Having your dog wear diapers around other dogs will help. You also need to look within and take stock of your own limitations. It will depend on his needs and whether you already have a dog. Your existing dog can be supportive to you and your new dog. But his triumphs will be worth celebrating. Here are some things to keep in mind as you embark on this journey: Taking care of your special needs dog might not be easy. But all members of your family, 2-legged and 4-legged will share this adventure. You may want to build a support network to help you care for your new dog. Find someone who can step in and lend a hand or a supportive shoulder. .Your level of attention, patience and understanding will be put to the test … and strengthened. You might want to limit interactions with other dogs or children — or encourage them. It will depend on each situation and each dog. And each day. Your special needs dog will thrive with your understanding, love and support. And he may require a lifetime of health care as well. It can be a rewarding experience for both of you. Plus get new recipes delivered right to your inbox. With interests in human and canine nutrition and fitness, she is finally using her journalism background to explore interests close to her heart and her dogs. It is associated with cognitive delays and certain physical characteristics, along with a higher risk of certain health issues. What is Down Syndrome? To answer that question, we first have to understand what Down syndrome is. Genes carry the codes responsible for all of our inherited traits and are grouped along rod-like structures called chromosomes. Typically, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome .People with Down syndrome can have some degree of intellectual impairment, but this varies between individuals and is usually mild to moderate. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , there are also some common physical features of Down syndrome , such as poor muscle tone and a line across the palm of the hand palmar crease. Genetically, dogs and people have many similarities, but important differences obviously do exist. For example, people have 23 sets of chromosomes while dogs have .Down syndrome happens when there is a full or partial copy of chromosome .But a duplication of all or part of chromosome 21 would have different effects in the two species. Simply put, the answer is no. The condition of Down syndrome has not been described in dogs. Three explanations are possible: These types of chromosomal abnormalities typically lead to early death in dogs. Conditions that Look Like Down Syndrome in Dogs On the other hand, congenital or developmental conditions that have some clinical similarities with Down syndrome are routinely diagnosed in dogs. Congenital hypothyroidism is a good example. This condition is caused by low or absent levels of thyroid hormone at birth and early in life, which results in some combination of the following: Slow growth eventually resulting in small stature Large, protruding tongue. Heart defects present at birth Obstructive sleep apnea Skin problems Thyroid issues People with Down Syndrome life expectancy is shorter, averaging years even with present-day health care. Can a Dog Get Down Syndrome? It is easy to recognize and diagnose Down Syndrome in humans. But what about in dogs? Humans and dogs are different species, and as different species, we may have many similarities genetically but we also have certain distinct genetic differences. For instance, the set of chromosomes [ 1 ] in humans is 23, while dogs have .It means that the duplication of chromosome 21 would have different effects. People with Down Syndrome is categorized by 47 chromosome, including the 23 pairs of chromosomes and extra copy full or partial copy of chromosome .This extra genetic material causes the physical features and developmental changes of Down Syndrome. It means that by default, dogs have 78 chromosomes making it impossible to diagnose them. Down Syndrome in dogs is not common but the chromosomal abnormality lead to early death in dogs. This is perhaps because the genetic testing needed to identify the condition is not done, and is believed not to exist. Dogs may also experience genetic abnormalities which may manifest in symptoms and some medical issues that resemble those of Down syndrome in humans. Even if it would occur, there is no way of knowing how it would affect them. Many have speculated that tigers, apes, canines, and other animals can have clusters of genetic defects that at least similar to Down syndrome. Scientists did experiments and genetically engineered mice to have an extra chromosome. They carried out the same physical effects in mice as can be observed in humans Down syndrome. Such genetic abnormalities cause early death in a puppy. There is no genetic testing that could identify dogs with the canine version of Down syndrome. All of these theories are yet to be proven or disproven. For the meantime, all of us are open to using whichever definition we believe to be most likely. If you notice your dog displaying Down Syndrome-like symptoms, it is essential that you have him checked by a vet. These are some of the more obvious symptoms of Down Syndrome in dogs and other health issues to look out for: Abnormal facial features — Dogs with Down Syndrome have dwarf like features including a broad head, short neck, upwardly slanting ears and eyes, small chin but large tongue, and a flattened face. Hearing loss — Although Down syndrome is hard to notice in dogs, you will see that your dog is too slow to follow or react to commands. Eye problems — Dogs with Down Syndrome may be at risk of developing a cataract in one of the eyes. Pet parents should look out for cloudiness in the eyes. If you notice cloudiness, it may indicate the formation of a cataract. Bloody Discharge — Your dog may have other conditions causing him to have a bloody discharge from the rectum. Behavioral issues — If your dog is suffering from Down syndrome, he may show certain odd traits such as shaking, howling, wailing, or whining and may also have challenges with tooth eruption. He may also be difficult to feed and tend to have a hard time controlling his bladder. Do note that some dogs struggling from difficult health issues could become aggressive. Keeping a close eye on his body language is vital in this scenario. If this behavior becomes worse, take your dog to your vet immediately. Random pain — Dogs with Down Syndrome have abnormally developed internal organs and some body parts can be affected. While a genetic abnormality is possible, dogs with Down Syndrome may also have other health conditions including: Congenital heart disease — Heart defects are common because in such cases, your dog has an abnormal circulatory system. Congenital Hypothyroidism — Your dog may have a malfunctioning thyroid leading to poor metabolism. Congenital hypothyroidism, which is similar to Down Syndrome, is caused by low or absent levels of thyroid hormone at birth and at early in life. Down Syndrome in dogs may have a lower temperature compared to other dog breeds. Pituitary Dwarfism-This autosomal disorder is caused by a growth hormone deficiency. In addition to a small physical stature, dogs like German Shepherds and other wolf hybrid breeds with pituitary dwarfism suffer from a host of health conditions including kidney failure. Clinical signs associated with congenital hydrocephalus include spastic or abnormal walking, changes in behavior, and failure to potty train or learn basic commands. Portosystemic Shunt—Portosystemic shunt is an abnormal vessel that allows blood from the intestine of the animal to bypass the liver and lead to liver failure. Growth Hormone Deficiency All of which could cause symptoms similar to Down syndrome. For dogs, the symptoms similar to Down Syndrome or the so-called Canine Down Syndrome is extremely rare. Should your dog live to be an adult, you may notice irregular features. Dog owners should look out for deformed or missing legs or short limbs. Down Syndrome in dogs can cause their nose to be dry and warm at all times. Your dog may also have missing patches of fur or excessive shedding or shaking. If you suspect your dog is showing this behavior, do not be tempted to diagnose him on your own. There may be a chance that your dog will have a shorter lifespan than usual. They also cannot perform duties such as being guard dogs. Dogs with Down Syndrome may also suffer from bloody discharge from the rectum and owners should keep kids and sick family members away from it. For dogs with genetic disorders like Down syndrome, taking care of them is vital. Some remedies can be implemented to decrease the severity of symptoms and improve their quality of life. The only way to care for your special needs dog is to feed him with a special diet. Offering your dog with proper diet such as high-quality dog foods rich in protein can help repair and strengthen wasted muscle. Avoid foods containing preservatives, meat products, and fillers. In his condition, he will be more prone to allergic reactions from certain types of foods. You may be advised to put his food in a freezer first to have all allergens destroyed. To help relieve thyroid issues in dogs suffering from Down Syndrome, you could offer your dog fresh water with a low amount of salt. There are many medications and supplements to manage each. Be patient and understand that your dog needs special attention, special care, and love. Your vet may recommend checkups and vitamins for your dog to ensure he stays healthy longer. Down Syndrome in dogs may cause finicky eating habits, so vitamins recommended by your veterinarian will help increase their appetite. If you notice high amounts of hair loss, you will need to get him sunscreen to avoid sunburns. If your special canine friend hurts himself, clean the wounds as soon as you can to prevent skin infections. Canine Down Syndrome is similar to Down Syndrome in humans. Due to their poor eyesight, owners should avoid physical barriers as their dogs may injure themselves by bumping into furniture or certain objects. Dog-safe cleaning products may be recommended. Your vet should evaluate the symptoms to find out if there is an underlying health condition that might resemble this disease. Special needs dogs require a comfortable sleeping area as their abilities and senses may not enable them to move around much. If your special dog is not potty-trained, you will want to keep other dogs from consuming its poo, as this could lead to bacterial infection. When placed in the right home for special needs, your dog can lead a happy and improved quality of life. If you feel that you do not have the ability to care for a special needs dog, look for a rescue that caters to animals with special needs to ensure that it gets the care it requires. Physical Exercises for Dogs Suffering from Down Syndrome Down Syndrome in dogs can cause abnormalities in their growth and development. Proper exercises with precautions are required to avoid any second anomaly. They may suffer from muscle, heart, and limb problems, so they cannot perform and withstand hard exercises. Work on some suitable physical training for your special need dog to ease the symptoms of Down Syndrome using the following: Tug of war: Various tug of war toys for dogs comes in different sizes. You can select the right size for your dog and teach him to pull it straight back to help strengthen his leg muscles and improve poor muscle tone. Walking: A short walk is also an effective way to support the muscles, bones, and heart of dogs suffering from humans Down syndrome. Roll-over: Tempt your pooch to eat the treat by putting it near the nose, then shift the treat in a clockwise and circular movement so he will move sideways. This exercise is easy and helps to build strong muscles. Scratch dance: A pet dog will wriggle by dynamically scraping the upper and the lower end portions. It is the best exercise and fun activity for dogs suffering from Down syndrome. This exercise also strengthens the hind legs. A pet parent should be familiar with all symptoms that resemble this condition in order to differentiate when the dog is suffering from other conditions such as cognitive dysfunction and when he is dealing with Down syndrome. You are advised to get a correct diagnosis of this genetic disorder from a professional vet. So dog owners should take measures to prevent their special canine friend from having the aforementioned disorder and several other canine health issues. If you have a dog with special needs, that is perfectly okay. While there may be no cure for Down syndrome in dogs, there are possible ways the condition can be managed. Find out more about other dog issues here. Kathy R. Conner Kathy is a licensed veterinary surgeon and writer in Miami. With over 20 years of experience in deal with pets and small animal, she hopes to share her knowledge on what she learned throughout her life to all animal lover. On her free time, she likes to attend Yoga and Meditation classes. Can dogs have Down Syndrome or autism? Do dogs have Down Syndrome? Or, what about autism? On the other hand, autism is a known canine neurological disorder. Dogs with autism have trouble following social norms, learning commands, and controlling their behavior. Can dogs get Down Syndrome? Down Syndrome occurs when a human fetus develops an extra set of chromosomes; more precisely, chromosome .The additional chromosome set causes certain physical and mental changes in the fetus, and a human born with those features is said to have Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome affects one in every Americans. Not exactly. Although congenital disorders are prevalent among dogs, veterinary experts have never come across a dog with Down Syndrome. Some say that dogs with extra chromosomes never develop beyond the fetal stage, while others believe dogs are impervious to this condition. Can a dog be Down Syndrome? A dog with visible congenital disorders and behavioral issues may lead you to think that he or she is suffering from Down Syndrome, but these dysfunctions are not related to the disease. An extra pair of chromosomes causes Down Syndrome, and no dog has ever displayed this characteristic. Questionable breeding of dogs, incest, and incompatible partnering have given rise to genetic issues in dogs. Shady breeders often ignore breed compatibility and the health of the offspring before partnering dogs. Their goal is to replicate unique features and coat colors that fetch them a profit, and they aim to produce as many dogs as possible to maximize their earnings. Dogs with unique physical characteristics, such as the tiny size of teacup dogs, shrunk snouts of Chihuahuas and Shih Tzus, and shortened tails of Bulldogs , also fetch a higher price. Since these traits are unnatural, they cause dogs to be born with numerous congenital issues and genetic disorders—not that different from Down Syndrome. Can dogs have Down Syndrome symptoms? You may be aware of some distinct signs of Down Syndrome in humans, and seeing one or more of those symptoms in your dog may prompt you to say: I think my dog has Down Syndrome. Nevertheless, there are certain traits dogs with genetic abnormalities share with humans with Down Syndrome. Save Big On Dog Essentials! Welcome to our pack! How to tell if your dog has Down Syndrome? Down Syndrome is a congenital disorder, meaning it develops even before birth. So how can you tell if your dog has Down Syndrome? In humans, Down Syndrome is quite obvious. A person with this chromosomal dysfunction will experience stunted growth, cognitive impairment, flat-looking facial features, and round eyes. Down Syndrome dog symptoms Although Down Syndrome is unheard of in the canine world, vets regularly observe signs of Down Syndrome in dogs. These congenital issues appear shortly after birth and may look a lot like signs your dog has Down Syndrome. However, congenital disabilities are different from chromosomal abnormalities in how they develop, but they can still appear pretty similar. Some such symptoms are: 1. Unusual facial features The extra chromosome in humans gives them distinct facial features. People take these features as a sign of Down Syndrome. Stunted growth Similar to how Down Syndrome stunts physical development in humans, some dogs are genetically predisposed to growth issues. All dogs grow at a predictable rate during their first year. Malformed limbs Abnormal, unequal limbs are a handicap that will trouble your dog throughout his or her life. Malformed limbs are a congenital disorder that gets passed on to future generations. Vision impairment Misshapen and asymmetric eyes can make it hard for a dog to focus or see correctly. While this condition can arise in many breeds, Chihuahuas and Shih Tzus are especially prone to eye issues. Poor coordination The cognitive dysfunction prevalent among humans with Down Syndrome often appears in dogs as well. But poor coordination or reduced brain function may not just be a genetic issue. Some dogs suffering from an ear infection , toxicity, or dehydration may temporarily lose balance and show uncoordinated movement. Heart diseases High cholesterol, poor diet, and lack of exercise can subject any dog to heart diseases, but we are talking about congenital heart diseases here. Breathing problems Some dogs suffer from breathing issues like collapsed trachea , laryngeal collapse, stenotic nares, and others. Dogs with misshapen snouts often experience difficulty breathing. Behavioral issues People with Down Syndrome display poor mental development; some dogs have trouble growing up mentally as well. These dogs often show unusual behavior patterns and have difficulty keeping their composure. Autism is one such genetic issue that prevents a dog from maturing mentally. Disproportionate features Symmetry is a sign of genetic fitness in dogs and humans. However, some congenital issues keep the body features from developing symmetrically. Like Down Syndrome in humans, some dogs have uneven limbs, abnormal ears, unequal eyes, and crooked features. Hearing impairment Deafness is another genetic condition that some dogs are more prone to than others. When breeders try to produce rare coat colors and physical traits in puppies for profit, they often ignore the health complications such puppies will carry. Hearing impairment is prevalent among dogs that suffer from congenital weakness. Difficulty learning People with Down Syndrome have difficulty performing in academics and often have a lower IQ. Some dogs also suffer from this issue as their brains never develop enough to help them learn. Skin and coat issues Dogs with genetic conditions sometimes suffer from hair loss, mange, skin discoloration, and skin allergies. But the truth is, Down Syndrome is a human disorder that is far more than odd facial features. Most animals that people claim to be suffering from Down Syndrome are facing some other physical deformity. In contrast, we have a very limited understanding of genetics, DNA, and chromosomal issues in dogs, cats, and other pets. But many dogs suffer from congenital problems that may seem like Down Syndrome. Do Bulldogs have Down Syndrome? Bulldog Down Syndrome is perhaps not totally unheard of. After all, many people think that every Bulldog is a Down Syndrome Bulldog. A Down Syndrome French Bulldog, for instance, is called such because of its predisposition to breathing issues, eye infections, and hemivertebrae. But although these problems match those of Down Syndrome, their reasons are different. The same goes for other dog breeds. Down Syndrome Chihuahua Chihuahuas have a really long lifespan and can live up to 20 years. Unfortunately, they suffer from a hoard of diseases they carry from birth. Pitbulls are famous for their kind nature but notorious for their viciousness at the same time. These Pitbull dogs are pretty healthy but can suffer from genetic illnesses , mainly affecting their vision, skin, and nerves. However, you can still find congenital disorders in this dog breed. Down Syndrome Husky While huskies are a healthy breed with few health issues, they do suffer from eye diseases like cataracts, leading people to believe they can have Down Syndrome. However, as with other dogs, no one has proven a husky to have Down Syndrome. Do Pugs have Down Syndrome? These dogs get their signature punched face from generations of selective breeding. Unfortunately, this practice has made Pugs susceptible to several genetic abnormalities. They are predisposed to numerous infections and disorders. Despite their flatter snouts and a tendency for brachycephaly, these dogs are just as healthy as any other dog breed. Shih Tzu with Down Syndrome Shih Tzus have a fair share of birth issues that put them at risk of various health complications. Due to the similarity of these genetic disorders to Down Syndrome, Shih Tzu is often thought of like a dog with Down Syndrome. If you have, you may be mistaking him or her for another genetic disease. Many people confuse some other genetic issue with Golden Retriever Down Syndrome, but veterinary experts have yet to come across a Down Syndrome Golden Retriever. Rottweiler with Down Syndrome A Down Syndrome Rottweiler may refer to a Rottweiler who shows problematic behavior or some other odd physical trait. So, can dogs have Down Syndrome? Fortunately, no. Although your pet pooch may exhibit symptoms of Down Syndrome, those are likely due to some other congenital disorder. Dogs with special needs warrant a bit more care and looking after, but they can be just as loving and adorable companions as other dogs. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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The last thing you want to do is put a puppy in a home that isn't ready to take care of it. A puppy will need to be housebroken, trained , and exercised. If you plan to buy a puppy for a child, be sure to speak to their parents. Are you okay with grooming it regularly? Do you have enough space for a big dog or would a small or medium dog work best? Animal shelters can be great sources of both mixed-breed and pure-breed dogs. If you are looking for a specific breed, call ahead. Pet stores often get their animals from what are known as puppy mills. Puppy mills also called puppy farms treat their animals poorly and take advantage of their dogs, and their puppies are often unhealthy. A great place to start is to ask your vet or local humane society for recommendations. Their kennels should be spacious and clean. Breeds only a few types of dogs and is knowledgeable about those breeds. Provides you with a written contract and health guarantee for your puppy. Alternatively, you can make a handmade IUO. You can include a stuffed animal puppy with your gift certificate or IOU. Consider bringing in a foster dog instead. Your recipient will be able to learn the responsibilities of animal adoption. If they fall in love with the dog, awesome job! If they don't fall in love with the pup, that's okay! Fostering is just a temporary home. An empty outlined icon indicating the option to save an item Save Article play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play When it comes to wrapping gift boxes, we like to think we've got our technique down pat—it's all about the glue gun! But throw us anything round, oversized, or otherwise oddly shaped, and we're totally lost. Luckily, we have House Beautiful contributor Eddie Ross to come to the rescue. As a contestant on Wrap Battle , he's tackled pretty much tricky gift imaginable—umbrellas, gym equipment, and even literal car. So we headed to his studio to learn how to transform a few literally out-of-the-box items into perfectly wrapped presents, from a bouncy ball peppermint swirl to a gift box that's safe for furry friends. Watch the video to see some real holiday magic! Follow House Beautiful on Instagram. Emma Bazilian Senior Features Editor Emma Bazilian is a writer and editor covering interior design, market trends and culture. She has very strong feelings about tissue box covers and believes that everything is better with toile. That's why we've put together a Haute Dog gift box the prefect gift for dog lovers and their furry companions who appreciate the finer things in life. Our dog gift box is filled with all kinds of goodies that will make tails wag and hearts sing. First up, we have all-natural hand-rolled dried cod skins, a delicious and healthy treat that will keep their pup entertained for hours. We've also included a boho-chic mud cloth bandana by Foggy Dog, which is perfect for fashion-forward pups who want to make a statement. For the environmentally conscious, we've added a compostable and plant-based poop bag holder, as well as color-coordinated patterned degradable poop bags. And if their dog loves to play fetch, they'll have a blast with our colorful Metro Dog ball. Last but not least, we've included Natural Dog's organic skin soother balm and PawTection travel stick to help keep their pup's skin healthy and protected. And let's not forget about the Gerrrona beer dog toy, because what's a good time without a little humor? Our Haute Dog gift box is the perfect way to show your dog-loving friend that you care. It's a thoughtful and stylish gift that they'll love and appreciate. This is a gender-neutral dog gift. Its flexible one-piece design guarantees its durability, and its silicone-feel soft texture makes it soft to hold and super easy to wipe clean. It is equipped with a carabiner that will easily clip on a leash or harness. Colors will vary. Bandana Foggy Dog. Made in the U. Choose large or small neck size. Grrrona Beer Dog Toy - Because who doesn't need a beer once in a while? Designer Ball Metro Dog - The designer ball is durable, safe, non-toxic, made with natural rubber, and the standard size ball for most pups. If you want to hit the trails or the park, you won't lose these colorful balls as they are as bright and fun as they come! Such detoxifying and natural ingredients are safe for pets. These wipes are thicker, larger, and softer than any other wipes we've seen. This is the go-to remedy for healing and soothing dry, itchy skin. In addition to nourishing the skin, this balm treats and heals redness and inflammation, hot spots, rashes, allergy irritations, cuts and wounds, bug bites, and more. Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory, Skin Soother does it all! PawTection Natural Dog Company - This chapstick sized balm is easy to take on the go and helps protect paws against damage from hot surfaces such as pavement, gravel, rocks, and gnarly elements such as ice salt, snow, and extreme temperatures. It also works to reduce the effects of contact with allergens, including grass, pollen, and mold. Cod Skins Polkadog Treats- - Every good dog needs some tasty treats. These are single-ingredient sustainably-caught cod skins sourced in the United States that are hand-rolled and dehydrated in Boston, Mass at the Polkadog factory. By purchasing this gift box - you are planting a tree. Pick a card. Will Love Featuring festive treats, toys, and so much more. Daily Paws' Editorial Guidelines Published on December 9, We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Courtesy of Bark Box As nice as it can be to receive gifts over the holidays , it's often even more rewarding to be the one doing the gifting.As pet owners can attest, there's nothing more satisfying than presenting your pup with a treat or toy that you know they'll absolutely love—even if they just tear it apart a few minutes later. And if you can, why not give them a whole bundle of presents rather than just one? That's even better. Luckily, there are tons of great dog gift baskets available that are guaranteed to bring joy to both you and your four-legged pal. These 13 Dog Subscription Boxes Are the Gift That Keeps on Giving From adorable boxes filled with Christmas-themed cookies for dogs, to useful bundles featuring items like collars, leashes, and more —there are so many fun options for treating the pup in your life this season. Below, we've rounded up our 13favorite dog gift baskets, all of which you can buy just in time for the holidays. Because seriously, is there any better way to spend this time of year than by making your best friend even happier than they already are? It includes eight Christmas-themed cookies, four icing cups, and a packet of mini bone cookies, all of which are individually wrapped to keep them fresh long after the holidays are over. That is, if your dog doesn't devour them all before New Year's Eve! Featuring four toys including a reindeer, obviously and two big bags of seasonal treats, the box will put any pup right in the holiday spirit. This one contains five toys including a getaway car and a paint can plus a bag of treats aptly named "Marv, Duck! With this box, you and your dog's next movie night is bound to be a success. Upgrade your pup's walk style with a new leash, collar, and waste bag dispenser, all made of soft but durable material and designed in a lovely dusty blue color scheme but you can choose from a ton of other color options if you prefer. Everything comes packed in a pretty box that's tied with a gold bow, so you can rest easy knowing you're treating your furry pal in style. All the snacks that it contains, such as organic chicken bites and grass-fed beef jerky, are made with pups' health in mind, and there's a handful of toys thrown in to ensure your pal has some fun. There are two different kinds of toys, a bag of treats, a bandana, and a blanket, all festively themed for the season. There's even a "Happy Holidays" banner you can display for cute photo ops! Containing a toy, treats, a poop bag dispenser, bags, and even a blanket perfect for cuddles or protecting your couch from all the hair! In this jam-packed gift box, there are some good-looking treats, but also a dog-shaped soap dish, dog-themed socks, and many more items meant for owners to enjoy. Happy holidays to us all! If you're planning on giving the bag to another dog owner, you can even add a personalized handwritten message on a dog-themed card , of course. There are tennis balls, plush toys, and a rope toy, all intended to keep pups entertained for hours on end. Get ready to watch your pup have a ball pun intended playing with these holiday-themed items and count down the days until Christmas with the Advent calendar on the back of the box. These aesthetically pleasing and functional bowls set the standard for pet dishes. Each Bella Bowl: Comes equipped with a removable rubber base that eliminates noise, prevents spills and makes Bella Bowls safe to put in the dishwasher. Combines a smooth poly-resin exterior with a stainless interior. Are you thinking about traveling around the world with your furry friend? Make any new adventure convenient with our Blue Bella Roma travel bowl, designed for easy traveling. The patented design features a collapsible lid for stress-free storage and a lock to store dry food — plus, the bowl portion is bisphenol A BPA -free! Snacks Our Rescued Gift Basket treats are perfect for pets that need a little extra spoiling. Your favorite pooches will be munching on snacks that are good for their tastebuds and their bodies. These soft-chew rescue dog treats are: Made in the USA. Perfect for any sized dog, senior or adult. The ideal size for a tasty reward. Made with delicious beef and infused with visible bits of peas and carrots. These slow feeders also reduce the amount of air your dogs take in while eating, which reduces health risks like bloating, vomiting and choking. Celebrate Your Pet With a Dog Rescue Care Package From Loving Pets If you've seen how much friendly companionship and joy a rescue dog can provide your family, let them know how much you appreciate your furry friend with a rescue dog treat basket from Loving Pets. Look to us for an extensive selection of dog baskets , treats , bowls and diners , bones and chews and accessories. You can also check out our cat and aquatic baskets to celebrate all your pets! Related Products.

At this point in life, puppies should be with their parent, the English Bulldog mother, which is breastfeeding them on demand. Of course, if such a thing occurs, you should seek advice from a vet on what steps to take next. English Bulldog Puppy Feeding Chart 4 to 6 weeks Although puppies at this stage are still extremely close to their mother, they are slowly starting to explore the world around them. At four weeks of life, puppies might not yet be ready to try any other food. However, they will start teething at this point, so the mother might begin the weaning process. At around six weeks of life, puppies should already have an almost full set of baby teeth, which will make nursing a very painful experience. The best way to switch from nursing to solid foods is to separate the English Bulldog mom from her puppies for an hour, two or three times a day. You should introduce puppy food to the doggies before you completely cut off breastfeeding in order to ease the process of transition. English Bulldog Puppy Feeding Chart 8 to 10 weeks A two-month English Bulldog puppy is completely ready to eat puppy food, and will need to continue to be raised by the owner. Your pup might not eat much during the first few weeks of being on solid food, so one, to one and a half cups will be more than enough divided into three meals during the day. If you notice that your pup is eating everything from its bowl shortly after you give it food, it might be time to check its weight. The average weight during this stage should be somewhere between 12 and 15 lbs. If your pup has less or more pounds, you should consult with a vet for further feeding instructions. The amount of food your pup needs will depend on the level of its activity. However, this period is very challenging for both puppies and their owner. Remember that pups are just like people when it comes to food. You can expect your pet to eat between 1 and 1. Some pups might even eat 2 cups as they get closer to their tenth month, but only if the vet recommends it. The amount of food varies on the individual development of each pup. Food is essential for the healthy development of your puppy. However, as you might notice, your big pup requires more food because it serves as the energy that enables him to enjoy his activities, and helps him develop in a healthy way. To be honest, the answer is both yes and no. I know this sounds confusing, but essentially, your adult canine can eat puppy food without any great consequences. Puppy meals are specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of growing puppies. As soon as your pup becomes a full-grown canine, the food they had when they were little will not be of any particular use. If you feed your dog puppy food occasionally, without turning it into a regular habit, nothing wrong will happen. Unfortunately, English Bulldogs are quite similar to French Bulldogs when it comes to risks of certain conditions and diseases, including obesity. If your puppy consumes an excessive amount of food, it runs the danger of gaining extra weight, which could have a negative impact on its growth and development. In order to determine the precise amount of calories that your puppy needs each day, you will first need to take into account its weight. Feeding Your English Bulldog Kibbles And Wet Food Wet and dry dog food are two of the most common types of meals that are used by almost every pet-friendly household, not only in the United States, but also in the rest of the world. Both of these types are commercial, which means that they can be found in almost every market in the United States. There are many brands available on the market that differ not only because of their package, but also the ingredients that each of them contain. However, although this type of food has plenty of benefits, there are certain things you should pay attention to. Also, not every type of dry food is good for your English Bulldog, so make sure to read the nutrition label and the ingredients list before you make the purchase. Make sure the dry food you buy for your English Bulldog is made particularly for growing pups as well as medium and big breeds when you go to the store to get it. However, there are owners who will put that aside once they see that their pups are getting more animal protein as it contains more meat. Wet food is also a great way to keep your pet hydrated, especially if it is in both the physical and mental development processes. However, after it has been opened, it must be stored in the refrigerator in order to prevent spoilage. Raw Food The number of canine owners who are switching their pets to raw feeding has been increasing during the last few decades, especially since it has been claimed that raw food has plenty of health benefits. Find companies that put money into research, preferably ones that do it through non-traditional veterinary organizations. Also, talk to your veterinarian about the best way to give your puppy a raw-food diet, and get their recommendations on how to do it. However, it should be taken in small amounts as it contains mercury, which might be detrimental to their health. Also, coconut helps its fur look even more beautiful and shiny. Many Bulldog owners use cashews as an occasional treat because it contains fibers, proteins, and healthy fats. Healthy fats, proteins, and vitamins contribute to the overall health of your pet and increase its energy levels. That is because turkey contains nutrients that are essential for the development of canines, including proteins and phosphorus. The second reason is the inability of canines to digest almonds, which might cause stomach issues. The amount of fat can also lead to some serious conditions, including pancreatitis. Any type of added sugar sweets, cakes, etc. If your English Bulldog puppy is healthy, it can start with adult food at 12 months of age, but under certain conditions. The transition should be made gradually, meaning that you should begin by adding only around 25 percent of adult food during the first week of transition, increasing it to 50 percent for the next few days, and continuing with 75 percent for another few days until the puppy food is completely gone from its plate bowl. I agree that this takes some patience and hard work, but just remember that your pup will greatly benefit from this change. Food for puppies is generally based on calories as it needs to accommodate the growth of the canine. However, once your pup reaches its final size height , puppy food will no longer be necessary, and it might just increase the weight of the dog without offering enough nutrients. Since English Bulldogs have such a propensity to be overweight, you really do not want to keep them on puppy food any longer than is absolutely necessary. These canines might show signs of hunger even shortly after they eat, which is why most owners give in and offer more food. Canines are then stuck in a loop of believing that they can obtain as much food as they want without an understanding of how this might impact their health. Because of this, you are unintentionally teaching your dog to be perpetually hungry, which is not in either of your best interests. Canines can have a difficult time digesting grains because it is not a natural meal for them. However, if the vet finds a relation between a medical issue and the constant hunger of your pet, you should strictly follow their instructions rather than general recommendations. This is why it is crucial that you understand how much to feed an English Bulldog puppy for proper health and longevity. These puppies need the same attention, particularly when it comes to eating, which is essential for good growth and development. If you have an English Bulldog puppy or are thinking about obtaining one, you will find our English Bulldog feeding chart invaluable. Puppies of all breeds, including the English Bulldog, need a diet tailored to their specific needs as they grow. Puppies under 3 months of age need more frequent feedings three to four per day , whereas pups aged 3 to 6 months only need three meals per day. They should be fed twice a day once they reach 6 months of age. You should also provide clean water for your dog at all times. They should be fed a high-quality puppy chow that has been moistened with water if they have begun eating solid food. An English Bulldog puppy of 6 weeks old should be energetic and sociable. Kids may start to act independently and exhibit their own unique identities. Take care not to leave any little things lying about that they may accidentally ingest. Give them a lot of things to chew on since teething may be uncomfortable for them. An English Bulldog puppy of 8 weeks old will likely be full of life and activity. They might be resistant, therefore your training efforts will need some time. Keep an eye out for symptoms of separation anxiety and work on establishing a routine. An English Bulldog puppy of 10 weeks will likely still be a lot of fun. Control their food consumption based on their weight. This may be given to the dog in two or three smaller meals. By the time they are 16 weeks old, English Bulldog puppies usually have a lot of excess energy and need to spend a lot of time playing and being active. Although signs of increased autonomy are encouraging, further training is still essential. Keep an eye on their eating habits and make any necessary adjustments to curb obesity. In some cases, you can feed them 4 cups but this is only if they are highly active. To avoid obesity, it is crucial to keep an eye on their weight and make dietary adjustments as required. Avoid overfeeding your English Bulldog since doing so might lead to obesity and health issues. It would be necessary to increase this till maturity. Puppies need a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients in addition to the macronutrients protein, fat, and carbs they consume. There should be a healthy equilibrium between calcium and phosphorus to avoid orthopedic issues, since both are crucial for bone formation. Avoiding obesity and its associated health risks requires careful nutrition and weight monitoring. To meet their energy demands and encourage healthy development, English Bulldog pups should be given many short meals throughout the day. Puppies should be fed three to four times a day until they are six months old, however, this may vary according to their age. They may reduce their intake to twice a day after six months. Overfeeding and free-feeding may cause obesity and other health issues. Kibble is practical since it can be stored easily and because it aids in the maintenance of healthy teeth. Wet food is a better alternative for fussy eaters or dogs with digestive concerns since it is often more appealing and may be simpler to digest. It has a shorter shelf life and may be more costly than kibble. The best option is ultimately determined by the specific requirements and preferences of each dog. Between 12 and 18 months of age, most experts advise making the transition to regular table fare. If you want to save your English Bulldog any stomach trouble, make the transfer to a new meal slowly over the course of a week to ten days. The best way to introduce a new meal to a pet is to incorporate it into their regular diet slowly at first. Selecting a premium adult dog food that is tailored to the specific dietary requirements of English Bulldogs is essential. Talk to your vet about when and what kind of food is best for your dog. Puppies have distinct nutritional demands that need feeding them at certain times and in precise quantities of food. Maintaining a healthy weight in your puppy may be achieved by regular feeding on a schedule and careful monitoring of food consumption. The Bulldog-shaped kibble is simple to pick up and chew, and the high-quality proteins and prebiotics support good digestion and stool quality. Given that they are experts in the field of animal health and welfare, they will know the best meal schedule for your dog. This is one of the simplest methods to keep your Bulldog happy and healthy. Therefore, by choosing the best food for your beloved buddy to eat, you could extend its life span! Some examples of dry dog food are dog biscuits, kibble, and flaked cereals. Before serving dry dog foods to Bulldogs, warm water or broth is frequently added to this to improve the texture and enhance the flavor. Canned Wet Food: Canned wet food is sometimes preferable to dry food because it has a lot more moisture and thus will keep your dog hydrated. Moreover, wet dog food is also more likely to be appreciated by your English Bulldog puppy because it is usually more flavorful. However, wet food may increase the likelihood of dental issues. Homemade Diet: Homemade diets can help you save money. This diet also allows you to have more control over the macronutrients your dog consumes. As a result, with a homemade diet, you can rest assured that your dog is only consuming the best ingredients. Raw Diet: Raw dog food can be purchased as a frozen log, or it can simply be prepared at home. However, keep in mind that it should be prepared using quality meat and healthy fats. When it comes to choosing the right food for a Bulldog puppy, you need to be sure that it has high-quality protein to allow its body to function properly. If you accidentally drop something on the floor, these canines will gobble it up. However, some foods are incredibly toxic and dangerous for English Bulldogs to consume, even in small amounts. Here are some foods that you should avoid feeding your Bulldogs: Chocolate: This delectable human food includes theobromine , a poison that impairs the kidney, heart, and other important organ functions of a Bulldog puppy. If consumed in large amounts, xylitol can cause severe liver damage to your Bulldog. Raw Bread Dough: This is extremely poisonous. Milk and Other Dairy Products: Providing milk and other dairy products could lead to puppy diarrhea and other digestive system problems. These human foods may also set off food allergies, which may result in crusty scabs around the mouth of your dog. Grapes and Raisins: These may be enticing to dogs as treats or snacks, but they could also contain mold and fungus, which can result in gastrointestinal discomfort, seizures , lethargy, or kidney failure. Tomatoes: These contain tomatine , a poisonous alkaloid that can cause muscle weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of coordination, and seizures. Avocado: This tasty human food contains persin, which takes dogs some time to digest. It may cause severe stomach pain, breathing problems, and a buildup of fluid in the chest. Mushrooms: If your English Bulldog puppy consumes wild mushrooms, you should treat it as an emergency because it can result in neurological symptoms, kidney and liver failure, and even death. Macadamia Nuts and Walnuts: These delicious Hawaiian treats rank among the most hazardous human foods for dogs. These nuts can cause hind legs to become paralyzed for anywhere between 12 and 24 hours after consumption. Aside from the listed foods, there are other foods that your Bulldog puppy should stay away from. Therefore, when your dog transitions from a puppy to an adult dog and also when they get closer to seniority, it makes sense to switch to a different diet. It could take some trial and error to find the best food for them. You can use the following transition chart as a guide for your English Bulldog puppy: Day. A somewhat sedentary breed, Bulldogs are susceptible to weight gain, sensitive tummy, food allergies and flatulence. Being blunt, feeding Bulldogs can be challenging! Receive smart Bulldog diet choices here and additional info about feeding Bulldog puppies. Feeding Bulldogs Gorgeous to some, a wrinkled mess to others, and just plain odd looking to many, everyone knows a Bulldog. While easy going and friendly, Bulldogs in general are not overly energetic and seem somewhat sedentary by nature. This, coupled with their short stocky build, leaves our awesome bullies prone to obesity. Unpleasant health issues are also common in Bulldogs and in many cases, can be diet related. Your Bulldog should mature to a average adult weight of 40 to 60 pounds, so feeding Bulldogs should not be a major expense. However, diet related annoyances like skin irritations, flatulence, body odor and more, makes investing in a quality mid protein corn free food like the Recommended Dog Food Brands here, important. To learn how we choose quality kibble formulas, or for help selecting your own, visit our Feeding Dry Dog Food section. For a great alternative to kibble and food we highly recommend for Bulldogs see our Raw Feeding Dogs section. Feeding Bulldogs Although a Bulldogs aren't as active when compared to other medium breeds, they are very muscular so quality meat proteins are essential to support good health. Generally speaking, your Bulldog should consume the following per day. Young adults that are active, about 1, calories of quality dog food each day. Less active and energetic adult Bulldogs, about 1, to 1, calories per day. Start with feeding guidelines provided on your bag of kibble and adjust accordingly for a stocky yet fit Bulldog. To sum it up, about 3 to 4 cups of quality kibble per day, split into two meals, is a great starting point for feeding Bulldogs. Amount fed may go up or down based on your dog's size, weight, age and overall daily activity. If you feed a super charged, calorie dense, grain free kibble such as EVO, you'll be feeding slightly less. TIP: Bulldogs are a thick, stocky, muscular breed so while we strive to feed for muscle growth, it's never a good idea to let your Bulldog become overweight, whatever their life stage. Kibble formulas with multiple meat protein sources are also good practice and add insurance that protein is being delivered optimally to be metabolized by your Collie's body. To maintain joint health for this active breed, kibble containing chondroitin and glucosamine are also a great idea. For a beautiful shiny coat and healthy skin, choose a formula with Omega-6 fatty acids. Feeding Bulldog Puppies High power medium breed puppy foods and easy on the exercise with Bulldog puppy for the first year. Bulldog puppies can eat and often consume more than they should wo we don't recommend free feeding. A high protein puppy food is appropriate during the growth stage until about 12 to 14 months of age. Don't overfeed or free feed a puppy, keep meal times on a schedule, twice a day works best for most Bulldog puppy owners. Overfeeding your young Bulldog, especially with puppy food, can result in an overweight puppy that is susceptable to joint, muscle and bone problems. Play time is essential to puppy development and also allows young dogs to burn the high calorie puppy food they've been eating. Bulldogs are not over active but do require exercise, be sure to allow supervised exercise with your puppy. Encourage play with other puppies or littermates to help develop social skills but be sure to thwart any rough or extended play. Growing bones can be fragile in any dog breed and over exercise can actually damage developing hips and joints if our pups are allowed to go at it non stop. With Bulldogs however, this is not typically a problem. Switching Your Puppy To Adult Diet When it's time to make the switch from puppy food to adult, you may notice your Bulldog giving you hints by showing less interest in their meals. When you're ready to switch over to an adult dog food do so slowly over the course of a week by gradually mixing a percentage of each meal with the new food. Sudden variations in diet rarely go off without a hitch with Bulldogs. The result, digestive issues, loose stool, upset stomach and diarrhea. .If you're feeding a dry dog food, your Bulldog will drink a lot of water and if feeding a Raw Dog Diet , very little. In either case, be sure to allow free access to clean water at all times. Additional Bulldog Tips Many Bulldogs will NOT self regulate their meals and if left to do so, may eat a day's worth of dog food in 15 minutes. A feeding routine is recommended, twice a day is typical for adult Bulldogs but some owners feed one meal per day. More common however with RAW feeders. Don't forget to check out our Feeding Dry Dog Food articles which really focus on selecting a quality kibble for your Border Collie. And, if there's another mid-size dog in your pack, Feeding Medium Size Dogs provides access to a library of breed specific feeding guides. For help choosing kibble dog food for your Bulldog plus additional info about raw feeding, visit our Homepage for quick banner access to the major sections of our website! The potential benefits of raw Swapping Puppy Food Brands When you first bring your Bulldog puppy home you should feed him the same food that he was getting from the breeder or shelter for about three to four weeks. This will give him time to acclimate to his new surroundings and get used to being separated from his mom and siblings. Mix about three-quarters of the puppy food he eats now with one-quarter of the new food for the first two to three days. For the next two or three days give him equal portions of the old and new food. Finally, give him three-quarters of the new food and one-quarter of the old food for two to three days. Bulldog Puppy Diets The sheer number of different puppy foods to choose from can be overwhelming. Your breeder may be able to give you some guidance. Puppies need plenty of protein to promote strong bone, muscle, and joint growth. Guidelines on labels will give you an idea of the amount to feed your puppy, but ultimately each dog is an individual. Their body size, not what the label says, is a better indicator of a proper portion. A serving size can also vary depending on the type of food or brand as well. Special Requirements Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed. Chewing and swallowing can also be a problem. This is because the palate, teeth, tongue, and tissue are the same size as that of a dog with a much longer muzzle. Many Bulldogs also suffer from brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome which causes serious breathing issues that can also make eating difficult. You might also find combining dry food with a good quality wet food is easier for them to consume. From three to six months, you can reduce it to three times a day. At six to 12 months old, you can feed him twice a day. Bulldogs are highly at risk for hip dysplasia. In fact, this study of 20 English Bulldogs found that none of the hips showed normal development and .Feeding a Bulldog Puppy Kibble Dry kibble is probably the most popular all-round puppy food choice. Make sure you choose a dry formula designed specifically for puppies. However, not all brands are created equal. Stay away from ingredients like corn.

These dogs have a striped pattern in conjunction with a different colored base. Fawn dates back to when the first fawn bully was recorded in England! This coat shade ranges from pale tan to a deep deer red. A white or platinum bulldog is completely white, from head to toe. However, freckles of different colors are still possible. Lilac is a rare color variety. The lilac English bulldog has had his color diluted twice: from black to brown and from black to blue. The result of this dilution is a wonderful shade of purple-lilac. Some lilacs could have a brown undercoat or frosty blue eyes. But, almost as a rule, their nose, eyeliner, and pads are purple. Black is another rare coat variety. These bullies have a brown undercoat, while the topcoat is shiny black. The pads, nose, and eyeliner are also deep black. Another black bully variation is black tri a black and white coat with tan-colored points. The pads, nose, and eyeliner are slate grey, while the coat shines grey under the sunlight. A chocolate bulldog is another rare example. They got this color because of the bb genotype. Their coats have the most beautiful deep chocolate-brown color, while the pads, nose, and eyeliner could be a chocolate or liver hue. Seal colored bulldogs are probably the rarest of them all. The coat is red or brown cast, with light-colored eyes and a dark stripe down their backs. The legs and tail are usually darker than the rest of the body. The tri-colored bulldogs have three colors in a specific pattern. The points of a third color are usually displayed in a shade of fawn or golden brown, above their eyes, on the cheeks, chest, and inner front legs. These spots might be familiar under the name tan points. Lilac is the combo gene — full blue and full chocolate combined. The first dilution is by the chocolate gene and the second one by the blue gene. The bb dilutes black to brown, and then the dd dilutes black to blue. When you mix the brown and blue, you will get the specific lilac shade. The lilac coat resembles much the one a grey Weimerainer carries. It should be shiny with as many dark and light shades as possible. Some might even have an undercoat that shines pink or green, depending on the light. If you do, then fortune has smiled upon you. But, the rare colors are much more pricey! You can learn about using leashes and harnesses for bulldogs here. Prices — How much is a Lilac English bulldog? The price tag reflects their distinct and enticing look of a lilac coat and piercing blue eyes. Breeders offer different rates owing to the rareness of the breed. The Lilac English Bulldogs have a distinctive look, in addition to being unusual to breed. They have a chocolate base coat with a blue gene that changes the hue to a champagne tint. Their eyes are the most vivid of the uncommon hues. Aqua blue with occasional flashes of blazing green or icy blue. They have tan points on their legs, chest, and face. Sable bulldogs are tri-colored bulldogs with underdeveloped tri-colored genes. There are no apparent differences between the color zones. Instead, they have a brown coat with black flecks here and there. Their backdrop colors can also be a tri pattern and range from red to blue to fawn. Their eyes are usually bright green or blue. Their sable coats come in a variety of brown shades, sometimes as light as champagne. The black tri, followed by the blue tri and the chocolate tri, is the most popular of the four tri-color variations. Because of how diligent and difficult they are to breed, the lilac tri is by far the rarest and most expensive of them all. Are Lilac English Bulldogs Recognized? Lilac English Bulldogs are not AKC-recognized; Breeders and pet owners must use the colors when registering their animals. Merle Bulldogs are also not registered with the AKC. Lilac Bulldogs are black bulldogs that have been diluted twice. Are Lilac British bulldogs rare? The famous Lilac bulldog is a mostly white body with a glossy lilac coat resembling Weimerainer grey in appearance, with a variety of brighter and darker hues. Because of how precise and difficult they are to breed, the lilac tri is by far one of the rarest and most expensive of them all. Do Lilac English Bulldogs change color as they grow? It is wise to consult a vet if your lilac English bulldog goes through noticeable color changes all of a sudden. Tri-color English Bulldogs, like ordinary English Bulldogs, and other dog breeds for that matter, go through minor coat color changes as they get older. Do Lilac English Bulldogs make good family pets? Lilac English Bulldogs are characterized by being laid-back and get along with people, children, and other pets. You can learn how friendly Bulldogs are with everyone here. The bulldog makes a brave and efficient watchdog that would be protective over their owners and loved ones. But it is worthy of notice that they are well known to suffer from several health problems and have a shorter lifespan than other breeds. With bright azure blue eyes, they have a distinctive champagne coat hue. Sometimes their eye colors can be icy blue or ice green; Sable Lilac bulldogs have a reddish pigmentation with fawn coloring. Their hue might range from a light tan to a deeper shade. Black and black-tipped hairs are also found on sable pups. One of the most unique features a breeder may have is their coat. You can learn if all lilac English Bulldogs have blue eyes here. Lilac Tri English Bulldogs Lilac tri is a rare hue since it has a chocolate base coat with a blue gene that turns it champagne. Their eyes have the most vibrant colors of all the unusual colors. Aqua blue with intermittent flashes of ice blue or flaming green. Their legs, chest, and face are covered with tan spots. The lilac tri-colored English bulldog is one of the most unusual English bulldog breeds. While no one gene is responsible for the lilac color, it does need the existence of two dominant genes—one for chocolate and the other for blue—for it to exist. Where to find Lilac English Bulldogs? Lilac English bulldogs are only available from a few select breeders that specialize in importing lilacs. The well-known breeders of lilac bulldogs are: Bulldog Angels: a family-owned kennel in North East Kansas that raises Bulldogs as if they were their own children and breeds a variety of tri-color English Bulldog puppies. Champ Bulldogs: This kennel produces Bulldogs, not for profit, but because they love the breed and want to see it improve. They make it a point to place their beautiful Bulldogs in loving homes with loving families. Due to their gorgeous features and diversity of unusual coats, lilac English bulldogs are rare, difficult to breed, and extremely exclusive, making them quite costly. Disclaimer This is not a recommendation, but merely an answer to your questions. We do not advise you to get a dog from any breeder, no matter their reputation. Please check in with your local rescue groups and shelters first. How do they develop a Tri-colored Coat Bulldog? Breeders develop a Tri-Colored Coat bulldog by diluting the genes with the merle gene; the merle gene has an effect on the melanin which produced the pigment in the eyes and coat. They have an influence on the pigments that are generated eumelanin and phaeomelanin as well as where they are produced. Genes control pigment production by causing some cells to produce eumelanin, others to produce phaeomelanin, and yet others to produce no pigment at all. Genes can even trigger a cell to flip from producing eumelanin to producing phaeomelanin. Regardless of the many coat colors that dogs may acquire, it ultimately comes down to two pigments: eumelanin and phaeomelanin. Both are types of melanin, with the former controlling black hues and the latter controlling red. Eumelanin, for example, is a black pigment that may be modified by genes to generate blue or lilac color variations. A Tri-Colored English Bulldog is a three-colored breed color variant that has three different colors in unique patterns on their coats. Their coats are generally bi-colored except for a few spots with a third color. How much is a blue tri bulldog? Since only a few blue English Bulldogs exist in the entire world, they are extremely difficult to produce, making this color variant the rarest thus, the most expensive. Do Lilac English bulldogs shed? Lilac English Bulldogs shed, although not nearly as much as other breeds. When compared to an adult English Bulldog, bulldog pups shed more. What is a Blue tri bulldog? Blue Tri-Colored English Bulldogs are a color variant with mostly blue, almost silvery coat color, with huge areas of white and tan spots on their legs, chest, and face. Their eyes are generally green or blue in color. How can you tell if a dog is Lilac? The nose, paw pads, and eyeliner are always purple or violet in color. Our Picks for English Bulldogs Tested by the bulldogs themselves The Best shampoos and conditioners for English Bulldogs options for puppies and bulldogs with sensitive skin included Helpful Resources. Brown markings Red markings Though if you love the color and are not interested in dog shows, you can still go ahead and own him. Lilac Tri This color consists of a brown base coat infused with a blue one to create a champagne colored coat. Lilac tri coats are accompanied by aqua, sky blue, or green eyes. Lilac Sable This type of lilac coat is darker than others but still exhibits a distinct lilac color. Eyes are either sparkling blue or green. Both being very attractive and complementary to the coat. This is again a unique color to own. This is a highly popular dog coat since it is just as appealing but less costly than Lilac Tri English Bulldogs. Deadset on getting a Lilac English Bulldog? Different breeders quote different prices and you do not have much choice due to limited availability. You might want to start saving well in advance to ensure no hiccups come along the way. The only way to get a Lilac English Bulldog puppy is to approach a special breeder and buy one. Not many breeders deal with this designer dog. You will have to put in extra effort to find a certified breeder who knows what they are doing. After that, you may be required to put down a deposit. The deposit puts you on a waiting list, being on this list could mean months of waiting. This is true since every litter is already sold as soon as they are born! Litters are unpredictable, the exact number of lilac Bulldog puppies is not fixed. It is a gamble! Many people often think that genetic defects automatically accompany the Lilac English Bulldog. This is actually incorrect! It is the reckless breeding habits that bring about genetic defects. Severe issues can end in the death or suffering of your dog. High popularity and demand for a dog bring high prices. Breeders are drawn to such dog breeds. This makes it even more important to carefully select a lilac English Bulldog puppy breeder. You should make sure that all genetic testing should be carried out to ensure healthy puppies. Poor genetic quality caused by inbreeding will give unhealthy puppies that may suffer from the following health issues: Hydrocephalus. While there is no specific gene that causes the lilac color, it nevertheless requires a combination of two dominant genes—one for chocolate and one for blue—for it to appear. In that respect, the only chance for a puppy to be lilac colored is if both parents carry the chocolate and blue dominant gene. This is what makes lilac colored English bulldogs so rare. Do lilac tri bulldogs have health issues? While some English bulldogs will deal with health issues sometime during their lifetime, it is never a result of their color. If you adopt a lilac colored puppy from Bulldog Angels, then you can rest easy knowing that your pup will be just as healthy as all of our other English bulldog puppies. Blue English bulldogs Lilac colored English bulldogs will have blue eyes. A blue-eyed dog is extremely uncommon and typically the result of a recessive gene that not even the best bulldog breeder could control. Some owners fear blue eyes are a sign that your dog will eventually go blind, deaf, or suffer from some other genetic defect. This, however, is not always the case, and blue eyes do not automatically mean that your pup will suffer from any health issues later down the line. As an AKC certified breeder, we at Bulldog Angels have lovable, lilac colored puppies that are looking for their forever homes. Take a look at our available puppies online or give us a call at to learn more. I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup! Leah H. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine Callie for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders. Emily R. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family. Elizabeth W. Lady L. They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully. Jonathan E. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs. We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy. We've had Penny formerly Blair for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup. When we are ready for bulldog 2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs. Mitch C. Bowser was born April and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile. Adam B. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us. In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with. With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough! Collyn C. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone. Christina S. We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs! Jim T. Free Bulldog Puppy Starter Kit!

Download our guide! We offer standard and fluffy Award- winning Award-winning bloodline, guaranteed health Every TomKings parent dog has passed a rigorous selection and examination process before we started our elite breeding program to build the healthiest and most Frenchie-authentic gene pool for our TomKings Frenchies. All of our adult dogs and puppies get the highest quality food and supplements to ensure immaculate health, and they are checked by our vet on a weekly basis. Our purebred French bulldogs come with a TomKings Health Guarantee, that is valid against all genetic illnesses. Instead, we treat all of our Frenchies as family members , let them roam freely in our vast green garden and rest with us in our house. Our Frenchie puppies can play as much as they want and we raise them by teaching all the good manners among dogs and people, including children. Maternal love 12 weeks of maternal love and professional care Spending 3 whole months after birth with their caring mother and siblings ensures that TomKings puppies develop a healthy dog-personality and a well-balanced nature. Before joining their new families in the USA and elsewhere, our Frenchies get all the puppy vaccinations, are dewormed and treated against parasites. They travel in a temperature-controlled and pressurized room not stacked on top of suitcases , and they are watched all along the flight. During layovers, the puppies are taken off the plane and placed in a pet hotel, where they are given fresh food, water and lots of pampering. They are sweeter than any airport scenes in romantic movies. Feel free to reach out to us any time with your questions or to share your joy: we answer you immediately 16 hours a day. We take pride in our program because we breed healthy and happy puppies that will bring many years of joy to you and your family. Every dog in my program is a part of my family and is raised indoors with us so that they come to you well socialized and happy! We are located in beautiful Southern California. We are dog lovers and have been breeders of pure bred dogs for over 20 years! We specialize in brachycephalic breeds and always have. After many years we were introduced to the French Bulldog Breed. I think everybody should own one, or two, or 5! I have a vision for improvement of the breed. I believe in healthy dogs that can breathe well. Health is our first priority! Featured Puppies Learn more about our available puppies. I would recommend them for sure!! My first experience was delightful and the overall service was impressive. I highly recommend this breeder! This breeder is the real deal. You'll be asked to provide information about yourself and what you are looking for so the breeder can help you find the right match. Once you apply, Milla will get back to you about availability, pricing and next steps. Pricing is based on the structure, pedigree, color and overall quality of each individual puppy. On occasion, we have puppies ready to go right away. Go Home Date: 8 Weeks After Birth Puppies need time to nurse, grow and develop with their mother and littermates before they can join their new families. A newborn puppy should stay with their breeder, mom, and siblings as they develop physically and gain new social skills alongside their brothers and sisters. The age a puppy can go home depends on the breed, and even the individual, but generally is around two months.

We invite you to visit with us and our Beautiful German Shepherd puppies for sale. On occasion we have gorgeous long coated German Shepherd puppies for sale as well. Please see our Family Reunion page to see some of our pups in their homes that we have sold over the years Throughout the years, several of our Rotterbarental German Shepherd dogs have had jobs. We have had pups that have become Search and Rescue dogs, Certified Therapy Dogs, One of our therapy dogs was used for children with cancer through Create a Smile. Please be sure and read these special dogs stories on our Dogs with Jobs page. If our dogs can accomplish these special jobs, just imagine what a Rotterbarental GSD puppy can do for you and your family. That is why our German shepherd dogs are health tested and puppies are raised in a home environment with a variety of other pets to insure proper socialization. Our puppies and dogs play on grass and not in kennel runs. Far too often, we have seen the ill effects to dogs that have lived a kennel life. Every Rotterbarental German Shepherd puppy comes to you with a 5 year written health guarantee, vaccines and de-worming up to date, a comprehensive puppy package and life time support as well as a forever home policy. We are conveniently located near you within minutes of the , the 60 and the 10 fwys on our seven acre ranch in the beautiful San Jacinto Valley, Riverside County, Southern California. You are welcome to visit us and our beautiful German Shepherd dogs and puppies with an appointment. Click here Puppies for Sale to see what pups are available today or in the future. Located in beautiful Southern California, we strive to breed superior quality family dogs that will not only make great companions and protectors for your family but that also represent the German Shepherd breed well with the exceptional temperament the breed is known and loved for worldwide. We breed only top German V and VA bloodlines that possess superior health and temperament through generations of hip and elbow certified and temperament tested dogs. Additionally all of our dogs are tested for Degenerative Myelopathy to be sure we are producing puppies safe from this disease. Additionally all of our dogs are DNA tested Clear for the MDR1 gene that can cause mild to severe reactions to a variety of medications. Please visit our testimonials page to read review from many of our clients through the years. Also be sure to visit our Dogs For Sale page to see retired females and males we currently have available to the right homes. Check back often as we are always updating photos of our available puppies. With keeping a small number of dogs we have time to give plenty of love and individual attention to them and the puppies when we have them. Our dogs are not kept in kennels, they live with us as part of our family, with room to roam outside on our one acre property and a warm spot inside to sleep. All puppies are raised inside our home in a clean and healthy environment. All whelpings are supervised by us and assisted as needed to ensure the best start and to protect the health of the mother and her puppies. All puppies are well socialized with small children, cats and our other dogs. Temperament is very important to us, our breeding dogs have wonderful temperaments that they pass on to their puppies. Puppies are temperament tested so that we can help you to find the perfect fit for your family and your needs. We actively show our dogs on the local, national and international level thereby striving to breed dogs of quality bloodlines and structure that adhere to the German SV standard for the German Shepherd dog. We make every effort to continue to learn and to improve our bloodlines by importing dogs of superior quality with top German VA bloodlines to bring you the highest and best quality puppy for you and your family to enjoy. Our hope as breeders is that we can provide the best quality German Shepherd puppy with an outstanding temperament that will in turn make a lasting impression on you and your family like they have in ours. I have so many customers that have been lifelong fans of the German Shepherd, that have grown up with German Shepherds and long for that companionship again with the dog of their childhood. I look forward to providing the dog of your dreams to you and your family! Call today to begin your future with a great German Shepherd Dog of your own. Call or email for an appointment to visit us and to meet our dogs and puppies. We have four exquisite, very red young females available now. Two are extra big girls for those that want something larger. These girls have the sweetest, fun loving temperaments. They have finished all of their puppy vaccines and are ready to go out on family outings and to training classes with you. Great early socialization, started leash training now as well. We repeated it! We have two red sable long coat males available now in the litter. They have excellent temperaments, great early socialization, and they come to you with their first two puppy vaccinations, current deworming, microchip and vet checked. He was the only male in the litter and his sisters have already found their new homes. He comes to you with great early socialization, his first two puppy vaccinations, current deworming, microchip and will be vet checked. This is Blossom's final litter before retirement so if you've wanted a sibling to your Blossom puppy this is your last chance! We are retaining one female from this great pairing as we were so impressed with their previous litter together. Puppies had super temperaments and great coloring and conformation. They will come to you with great early socialization, their first two puppy vaccinations, current deworming, microchip and will be vet checked. Join and learn directly from Nadelhaus founder Traci Needles, who has over 25 years of experience breeding and training German Shepherds. Over 50 videos on the following topics covering German Shepherd puppies, housebreaking, crate training, obedience, feeding, grooming, wellness, and much more. New videos to be added every month. Our customers come from all over including Sacramento, the Central Valley, the Bay Area, Southern California, and even from out of state. Not only do we breed German Shepherd puppies, we offer puppy and dog training , dog boarding , and can import fully-trained German Shepherds. What makes Nadelhaus German Shepherds different from other dog breeders? This is the breed club founded in by Max von Stephanitz, who set the standards of the German Shepherd dog breed. The quality of dogs bred to the rules of the SV is second to none. A West German dog is regulated for its sound mind and body. We focus on breeding our dogs for structure, movement, workability, trainability, hips, elbows, pigment, and coat. Our goal is to to produce the best quality German Shepherd again and again, aiming to better the breed every time we breed our dogs. What is the price to buy a Nadelhaus German Shepherd puppy? Our Puppy Application page will provide you with more information on the application, deposit, and matching process. Once you have read through these steps, you can click through to the application form and view the prices for both Nadelhaus German Shepherd puppies as well as import German Shepherd puppies. If I buy a German Shepherd puppy, can you ship it to me? If you are not able to pick your puppy up from our facility in Northern California, we can ship a puppy to you. Shipping rates vary by location and include a health certificate vet visit, transportation costs, and an airline approved crate. Contact us for shipping details. Do you sell long-haired German Shepherd puppies? Nadelhaus breeds German Shepherds puppies all year round and while the majority of puppies we sell are short coat aka short hair , we do have occasionally have long coat long hair puppies. Learn more about long-haired German Shepherds. Can I have a German Shepherd puppy or dog imported from Europe? Puppies bred at Nadelhaus sell quick and even with a deposit, there is generally a wait list for our puppies. If you are interested in skipping the wait list, consider having a puppy imported from Germany. Importing a German Shepherd puppy is a special opportunity to acquire a very beautiful dog with special bloodlines. Both the female mother and male stud are often top V and VA dogs in Germany and come from very popular and highly sought after bloodlines. If you are interested in importing a puppy, simply fill out the same puppy application and click the checkbox that you would like to import a puppy. Will my German Shepherd puppy have its shots and vaccines? All of our puppies receive their vaccinations and are de-wormed to date. They are vet checked at six weeks old. Visit akcreunite. Owners must complete their portion of the paperwork and mail in the registration to the AKC along with the proper fee. We have some puppies born to German imports, so we must mail the paperwork to owners post-purchase. How much should I feed my 8 week old German Shepherd puppy? Our article covers care from the moment you pick up your puppy at the Nadelhaus kennels, to feeding, common issues, introduction to other dogs in the home and more. Our trained driver can transport your German Shepherd to our kennels for puppy purchases, dog training or dog boarding. Trust that your German Shepherd will be transported with care: our driver is knowledgeable about the breed, trained in dog handling and transport, and our transporting service is bonded and insured. This service is exclusive to Nadelhaus purchased German Shepherds. We do not transport dogs that were not purchased or imported through Nadelhaus. Pricing below are estimates only. Our transportation services are generally limited to Northern California, but we encourage you to contact us with any inquiries for your location or for a price quote. There are a few of the reasons, German Shepherds are the most sought-after dogs on the planet is due to their breeding versatility and their high intelligence. If you are searching these undeniable ones of the smart dogs in the world to be part of your family or give to someone you love, then contact us today! Contact us now to learn more about our German Shepherd puppies for sale. You can contact us at .Please, leave a message with your full name and phone number, this will ensure that we will call back quickly. We are a top-ranking German Shepherd breeder near the Chicago, Illinois area. Please feel free to call or complete the form to contact us with any questions. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Please allow some time for us to reply as we might be attending to puppies, dogs showing or training the dogs. Thank you and we are looking forward to speaking with you. Design Please beware of scams and frauds! There are scams out there who use our brand. Their website may look exact the same since they duplicate our website or their domains look similar. Our website is vomragnar. Our brand name is patented. We are licensed breeders in Illinois. Please do not trust scammers and beware. Want to see our puppies available for sale? Enjoy more education with our articles on German shepherd puppy health, training your German shepherd import adult, buying from a German shepherd breeder etc. Please enjoy these blog posts. More to come. Join our RSS Feed. Testimonials: What others say about us Hello Dr. He is growing incredibly fast, the red is really starting to show and his ears are making their first attempts at coming up. Your method definitely has produced a solid, stable pup that was incredibly well socialized from day one. Having seen the kennels when I picked up Solo and seen the sweet, lovable temperament of both Parla and Kati it is no wonder the pups are so nice. Anyway, thanks again. In an age when the internet can make anyone look good, you guys are the real deal. Thanks again for putting this deal together. Our pup is such a delight. She seems to be housebroken as we have had zero accidents! Very playful pup indeed. Your service and assistance has truly been world class. With appreciation Ohio Dear Peter: As I indicated to you on the telephone I have spent a considerable amount of time researching breeders of quality German Shepherd Dogs with a hour drive. Having done so I have concluded that you offer exactly what we have been looking for. Your ethics, quality of dogs you breed, concern for the proper placement and a willingness to help educate us so that we can become the best possible owners that this puppy deserves is invaluable. Also, the fact that you do this for the love of the breed as opposed to earning a living means a lot not to mention the pricing structure. Pricing them so that they are affordable to the average family is another indicator of your character. West Virginia Dr. He has been nothing but wonderful. It has only been two days and he is already learning our routine. He is a very intelligent and beautiful pup. We could not be any more pleased. Thank you for everything. He is truly everything I was looking for. He looks forward to being worked and has the desire to please me no matter what we are doing. His personality is not only exactly what I was looking for but he has an incredible nose and great play drive! His obedience is going great and we have also started his tracking. I have also finished the first phase of the obstacle course my parents have at their business, which he loves as well! I attached a picture of him on the obstacle course at my parents business. Thanks again for everything! He is such an amazing puppy! We plan on teaching him something new every week. Thanks again for this amazing addition to our lives! Texas I had to write you again. Smartest dog ever! He already knows how to sit and lie down after only 4 days! US As you said, a super specimen…… He has a sister named Quenda, I started to show her, conformation and they are very sociable with others in the events. People ask me where Argos comes from. .I give the your name. Your honesty and care through the entire process helped ease our anxiety and we now know that there is no other dog for us…Jeck is wonderful, more than anyone could ever ask for. Thank you for taking the time to hear us out, learn what we wanted in a new family member, and most importantly your honestly though the process. We will keep you up to date on Jeck. We are importers and breeders of German Shepherds located in Florida. Our goal is to place fine pedigreed German Shepherds with families to become their next legend, protector and companion. This website has a wealth of information in our K-9 college as well as over 50 articles we have written on everything from breeding to training, for you to use. It has been our pleasure to share our experience with you so that your experience will be a great one with these incredible animals. We only work with a couple of top kennel partners in Europe, one which we have worked with for years, are trusted and respected within the field and are personal friends of ours for many years. Many come back to us after 10, 15 years for their next dog. Young dogs we consider to import for a client will have the following characteristics or requirements: Started in obedience, many also in protection. Started means all the foundation is set. They know how to learn and have already learned the basics of obedience. We can provide even further training prior to ship if you so desire. We consider this a more accurate predictor of joint health than the OFA requirement of 2 years. So every young German Shepherd we import must be at least 1 year old. Also by this time most of the congenital problems have surfaced and we have a much better probability of knowing if a German Shepherd has any physiological problems by that time which lowers your risk substantially of buying a German Shepherd with issues. This is a requirement for every dog we place. Videos and pictures: We will give you as many pictures and a couple of videos for you to see the dog moving and interacting as well as see the size and pigmentation and conformation. Full Pedigree analysis telling you about bloodlines and the highpoints of the dog in question Temperament analysis: We and our partners do a thorough analysis of young dogs in terms of how well they interact with other animals, with humans, energy level, drive, courage, etc. We will ask you questions about your living situation, experience, family, etc in order to aid us in matching a dog to you situation. At years old, these imported German Shepherds are still fairly adolescent and easy to matriculate into a home. Please refer to our philosophy and the Banffy Method for a description of our approach to puppies. I think you will be impressed. We stand with you through the entire process and try to make it an effortless and pleasant process. We use professional freight forwarders who will ensure your dog is taken care of. We have never had a dog arrive sick or injured in 20 years. The price of the dog includes it all. Our German Shepherd Kennels are located in Southwest Michigan and we offer to ship nationwide, and delivery services. We created this German Shepherd Kennel for the serious German Shepherd enthusiast who is committed to maintaining these world-class pedigrees, and working heritage set forth over a century ago carried on through the Verein Fur Deutche Schaeferhunde Club. Our commitment is only matched by our love for the breed and its extraordinary capabilities. In Germany, Purebred German Shepherd Breeders would be required to show their dogs at the German Sieger Shows to obtain breeding titles, which would continue to improve the breed. VA4 Taifun vom St. DM stands for Degenerative Myelopathy. There has only been a few stud dogs in the history of the breed that have ever produced a vise world sieger and Uran is one of them. Kolenda Kennels is a German Shepherd Breeder that is a personalized kennel and dedicated to improving the breed, located at th Ave Dorr, Michigan , located in Grand Rapids Michigan area. When buying a puppy it is a good ideal to visit the kennel. You should be able to interact with their dogs, especially the mom and dad of the puppy you are considering. This is the only way to check the temperament of their breeding dogs. By visiting the kennel you can inspect the cleanliness of the facility, and how the puppies are being taken care of. You can interact with the puppies and also, check the temperament of the puppies themselves and over all health. By visiting the kennel you will also be able to see the over all looks and structure of the breeding dogs. By doing these things this would help improve the German Shepherd Breed itself. It would make it difficult to breed and sell inferior puppies, which would help keep the breed from deteriorating. When my wife and I decided to make being German Shepherd Dog Breeders our full-time career we decided to put together a German Shepherd Kennel that is dedicated to breeding the best Imported German Shepherds. This way, we could offer this beautiful, outstanding tempered dog to the public.