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How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level. Many owners also want to know when they can switch to adult food formulas for their German Shepherd puppies. Switch your GSD puppy to adult food when they are around 12 to 18 months old. Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to 18 months old as long as they are not putting on excess weight too quickly. If you want to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, keep reading. Finding the best food to feed your German Shepherd puppy is overwhelming at times. This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating! Follow this feeding guide when you need to know what to feed German Shepherd puppies. I understand! The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition. Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed. Packed with nutrients to help limit inflammation of the joints and uses fresh ingredients. Easily digestible formula for puppies prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs. Rich aroma with DHA fish oil to entice puppies to finish every last bite while giving shine to their coats. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet. Most GSDs are healthy and fit on commercial dog foods that are high quality. These balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature. There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food. Now, consider what to feed a German Shepherd puppy based on their age. These feeding charts and guides will help keep your new companion growing strong and athletic. Tiny portions of canned, wet foods are introduced. Meals per day: 4 or more Puppies should stay with their mom for to keep them healthy. Nutrition Warning! At 8-weeks-old a GSD pup is eating more solid foods and develops a better appetite for kibble and other foods. Add in only a couple of small spoonfuls of canned plain pumpkin, unsweetened Greek yogurt, or cooked oatmeal to entice your pup to eat. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue feeding the same as the 8-week-old diet. Treats are not only enjoyable for your German Shepherd, but help you to eneterain and build a positive relationship with him. Be sure to keep their zoomies under control by playing plenty of fun German Shepherd games for puppies. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue to feed the kibble. Watch for excessive weight gain during this growth time as their bones cannot take extra weight! Too much weight gain too quickly can cause joint issues as an adult and prevent healthy development. Use their mental energy to help keep them more relaxed throughout the day by playing brain-boosting mind games for German Shepherd puppies. Meals per day: 3 to 4 Week-Old Puppy Keep your puppy trim and athletic by monitoring how much you feed your puppy and their body condition. You can write how much they eat and track this over time, and adjust how much your feed your German Shepherd puppy to keep them at a healthy weight. Try using fresh, raw, cut-up pieces of carrots as healthy treats or small, deseeded cubes of fresh apple as part of their training treats. Keep your eyes open for a growth spurt about to begin! Meals per day: 3 Week-Old Puppy Around 4 months old, you might notice your puppy finish their meal quickly and look for more food. Be sure to watch how many treats you give them throughout the day. You can do this by holding them safely in your arms and weighing them with you on the scale. Then, place them on the floor and step onto the scale without them to weigh yourself. Remember, around 16 to weeks old your German Shepherd puppy begins to rapidly grow. Instead, when looking overhead at your puppy their waist should look trim and not rounded outwards. German Shepherd puppies should appear sleek in their waistline. Meals per day: 3 Week And Older Puppy Continue to feed your German Shepherd puppy dry kibble with a small amount of healthy foods mixed in. You can lessen the healthy food you mix in gradually if you prefer. But, even as adults, German Shepherds love a bit of tasty toppers on their kibble. Around a year old, begin feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals a day. Two meals, one in the morning and evening, are not only safer but also provide your German Shepherd with sustained energy to fuel their high-energy lifestyle. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips: Always offer fresh water during their meal times. Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle. I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. Feed your German Shepherd at the same time everyday. The best time to feed a German Shepherd puppy is in the morning, before you leave for the day, and in the evening, about 2 hours before you put your dog to bed. Allow them to potty after eating to ensure their comfort. Your dog also needs to eat at other times of the day for their health and growth. How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat. Every dog is different. Keep in mind the number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each puppy food company has a different amount of calories and size of the kibble. Here are a few things that might affect how much your German Shepherd puppy should eat. The more active a German Shepherd puppy is, the more calories he needs to eat to replace lost energy. For example, puppies need nearly twice the amount of calories as compared to adults. And older or senior German Shepherds who are less active need less food. Health Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to feeding your German Shepherd. Simply put, you can prevent some medical conditions and health problems by monitoring their waistlines. Instead follow the healthy way to bulk up a German Shepherd. To see if your German Shepherd is at the right weight you can find the average weight depending on their age. However, it is still advised to ask for a senior-specific diet from your vet or pet nutritionist just to be safe. If you choose to give your German Shepherd dog homemade foods in all of its life stages, you may need to self-calculate and monitor its daily calorie consumption. Feeding German Shepherds has numerous factors to consider. How much you are providing them is crucial, but knowing how often you need to feed them is essential, too. Initially, feeding German Shepherd puppies begins with four puppy food meals daily. Then gradually, it should be transitioned into three equally proportioned meals a day at two months old. This gradual change should go on until they are 12 months old. After that, they should eat twice a day naturally during adulthood. Young puppies have a faster metabolism compared to adult dogs. In general, the last meal of your puppy for the day should be hours before its bedtime, so they have enough time to digest the food before they go to sleep. As for transitioning puppies to adult German Shepherds, the three meals should be given in the morning, noon, and nighttime, so they may be provided with a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is crucial for their growth, especially if they are active and working dogs. Having a feeding schedule can also help monitor their food intake to avoid weight-related issues. The optimal feeding time for adult and senior German Shepherds would be during the morning and night for their two meals daily. Lastly, as owners, we must seldom give treats to our German Shepherds, preferably only during training. Too much of anything may be bad for your dog. Moreover, it should provide the sufficient nutrients needed for growth and development. There are many commercial dog foods in the market, but you can also offer your GSD puppy homemade dog food or a raw diet. Consulting a vet is strongly advised to give your German Shepherd the best diet suited for its lifestyle. To help you in this dilemma, the list below has dog food options you may want to consider offering to your GSD puppy: Dry Food: Dry food or kibble is a commercial food widely available in pet stores and dog food manufacturers. A number of dry foods are formulated to provide a balanced diet for dogs, but checking their nutritional guidelines and value is crucial since a German Shepherd puppy may need high carb foods. It can be mixed with their dry kibble to add water or moisture to their diet. These kinds of commercial foods are expensive and can spoil quickly, and they may not be enough if fed alone to your puppy. BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a type of diet that consists of raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. Raw feeding is given as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. We know a German Shepherd is a large breed dog. However, males tend to grow bigger and heavier than females, needing more food consumption. A German Shepherd puppy may need to eat at frequent schedules with smaller meals, while adult ones may not need to be fed much often but will need more significant meal portions each time. They tend to eat whatever falls from the dinner table or even whatever food they set their sights on. As we talk about food diets, we must not forget those foods you must avoid feeding your German Shepherd puppy. Generally, they may not be too sensitive to dog foods or ingredients, but other foods may be fatal to them. Coffee is one of the most toxic foods to dogs. They contain caffeine , which causes cardiac arrhythmias, high blood pressure, vomiting, tremors, and seizures. Another toxic food German Shepherd owners should not feed their dog is chocolate. As yummy as this is, chocolates contain theobromine. All dog breeds cannot metabolize this substance. Gums, peanut butter, and candies that contain xylitol are also toxic to dogs. It causes disorientation, hypoglycemia, seizures, and collapse. This is much more threatening than coffee and chocolate, so you need to be extra careful with this. Aside from those mentioned above, there are many other toxic foods you should avoid feeding German Shepherds. They may not be fatal, but they can cause discomfort and progress to severe diseases. If you doubt certain foods or ingredients, you may consult a pet nutritionist or veterinarian just to be sure. Many large breed dogs visit vet clinics due to unmonitored food intake. It only fits a week-old German Shepherd. You may need to mix dry and wet foods at a certain age for your pup, or maybe you want to incorporate raw foods in their adult diet just like many dog owners do. You just have to make sure you know how to do it correctly, and you provide the most nutritious dry dog food or wet food. You should give enough time for your dog to adjust to a new food gradually. Like other shepherd breeds, you should allow a 7-day transition period from feeding German Shepherds their old food to their new diet. If there is discomfort, vomiting, or diarrhea, you may opt to slow down the process even more or consult your vet directly. Feeding an Overweight German Shepherd If you free-feed a German Shepherd, it may likely cause excessive weight gain or obesity. Furthermore, it can easily cause heavy or labored breathing during sleep and irregular movements, such as climbing stairs. Aside from dog food or canned food, a few more factors that can cause an overweight dog breed are table scraps, treats, and not enough exercise. There are a lot of alternatives for treats bought from pet stores, such as fruits and vegetables. These are easier to digest, lighter, and healthier. Eliminate table scraps and leftovers in their diet as they are unnecessary to these large breed puppies. Following a specific schedule with specific amounts of puppy food can significantly help lose weight. Implementing control in their daily meals can help reduce unnecessary food consumption. It is essential to understand that having an overweight dog is more likely caused by the lifestyle owners expose their dogs to. Also, inform family members about the diet plan, so your German Shepherd will not be too spoiled with food. There are a lot of factors why your GSD is not eating. It could be triggered by illness, dental problems , and environmental stress. But it can also be because of adverse reactions to medicines, sudden changes in food, increased body temperature, or your dog just being a picky eater. Do German Shepherds Eat a Lot? As a large breed dog, you can expect a German Shepherd to have a huge appetite. They are always eager to eat, may it be dry food, raw, or canned food. However, it is crucial to know when or how much to feed a German Shepherd to avoid weight problems and severe diseases. Can German Shepherds Eat Bones? German Shepherds can eat bones as it is a great source of minerals. However, there are cons to consider, too. According to AKC, if you want to consider giving them bones, there are certain rules you have to follow, such as giving them raw meat bones and throwing them out after three to four days. Can German Shepherds Be Vegetarians? Generally, German Shepherds can thrive and survive on a vegetarian diet, provided that they are supplied with enough nutrients, proteins, fats, and calories on a daily basis. Since German Shepherds are energetic dogs with huge appetites, we must put extra effort into planning out their diet. Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. Free feeding them or giving too many treats can lead to severe health problems. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some foods are toxic. However, aside from research, we need to consult their vet to ensure that we provide them with essential nutrients for growth, good health, and development in all stages of their life, especially for giant German Shepherds , If you have other tips in feeding a German Shepherd, make sure to share them in the comments below. My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. Shares German Shepherds are graceful, obedient, and loyal dogs with specific nutritional needs. Following a German Shepherd puppy feeding chart will enable you to track the amount of food your puppy is eating as they grow. There are varieties of foods available in the market and most of them come with guidelines at the back of the packaging showing you how much to feed a German Shepherd puppy. This article will cover different types of diets available and the specific nutritional needs of your German shepherd. It will also help you know what to do to ensure that your GSD gets nutritious and balanced food for every stage of their life. German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart There are three aspects of this German Shepherd puppy feeding chart, namely the German shepherd feeding amount, feeding frequency, and mealtime lengths. It is important to find out the appropriate feeding amount, frequency, and length for your German shepherd without leaving out one of them. That way, you can accurately find out the best way to feed your dog. Overall, there are four ranges that you need to keep in mind. An active dog may require a bit more than the numbers in this list, and an inactive dog will need a slightly less amount. But this guide can act as a solid benchmark. A puppy will need to eat more because they are growing very quickly. Talk to your vet about how much exactly so you keep them healthy and happy. Make sure your German Shepherd has access to fresh, clean water all day. When you take your dog for a walk make sure to bring along some extra water in a collapsible bowl. If they get tired on the way or it gets very hot, this can save their life. So for example, if your dog is 60lbs they should eat between lbs of food in one day. If you notice your dog is losing weight, add more calories to its meal size. However, there are other considerations on how much to feed a German shepherd puppy per day. You might want to consider avoiding meals right before bedtime. Let them digest their food first before they go to sleep. Understanding German Shepherd Puppy Nutritional Needs All dogs require nutritious, satisfying, and healthy food and every breed have their special diet. For maximum energy and health, there are factors to consider when deciding what to feed your German Shepherd: Size considerations- the AKC breed standard says that a German Shepherd can go to 26 inches tall at the shoulder. Females can be around 49 to 71 pounds while Males can be around 66 to 88 pounds. This means that they have a big appetite hence it is good to find quality food for them. They grow pretty fast hence they need specific nutrients for specific stages. Activity level- German shepherds are muscular, active, and agile which contributes to higher caloric needs to be complemented by feeding them a high-quality diet. Health consideration- GSDs are prone to many diseases hence a healthy diet will prevent problems. For example, arthritis that is caused by hip and elbow dysplasia can be mitigated through an excellent diet. Ensure that your GSD diet contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. How long does it take for your dog to be full? Is your dog still hungry after eating his portion? German shepherds normally take anywhere from 10 minutes to 15 minutes to finish the meal, given that you followed the proper feeding guidelines properly. If your dog shows signs of slow eating, we recommend sending them to your vet. If you think your dog is already full before finishing his portion, there is no problem. However, if your dog is still hungry after finishing the meal, consider sending him to your vet. This is because this can be a sign of a serious health issue involving their digestive system. They encourage the puppy to chew hence preventing periodontal diseases or tartar. Kibble is less expensive to buy and can stay fresh for longer. See also German Shepherd Gestation Period And Pregnancy Wet food is also essential for puppies because they allow puppies to feel fuller with less food. If your GSD need to shed a few pounds, wet food is a good way to reduce their caloric intake. Wet food is easier to digest, hence they are good for German shepherds with sensitive stomachs. Wet food is appetizing and keeps the puppy hydrated. You need to understand why your puppy cannot eat because it will help you determine the way to deal with the issue. There is no need to worry if the puppy lost appetite shortly and goes back to normal eating without any sign of illness. If the puppy loses appetite and takes a few days without improvement, take your puppy to the vet to find the problem because your dog might be sick. If the vet finds that the puppy is sick, they may suggest a special diet that will boost their immunity and give them extra nutrients to better their recovery. The puppy may have stopped eating because of behavioral issues; therefore, you may need to feed them same time to get a routine. Treats and human food that is given to the puppy may need to be reduced and also you can try different kinds of food. The German shepherd is a medium dog breed according to the AKC. Therefore, free-feeding is not a good idea. For the German shepherds, feeding schedules work better. If the puppies are free-fed the puppy may eat the leftover at any time even when they are not hungry. Sticking to a feeding routine help the puppy to stay healthy and prevent obesity. When you have a schedule, managing their weight and house training will improve. The puppy usually relieves themselves around 15 minutes after eating or drinking, therefore, when they feed at the same time every day and are taken outside after a while, accidents will be minimized. A raw diet is good for German shepherds. A raw diet help improves vitality and energy. The puppy gets healthy white teeth with an increased lifespan and reduced shedding as well as a stronger immune system. Raw meat is a great source of protein and an optimal diet. It is like keto to humans because it allows the puppy to reach their total capacity and good health. Dogs are naturally carnivorous, hence raw diet aligns with their natural needs. However, you should speak to your vet before putting your puppy on a raw food diet. The majority of commercially available kibble food is balanced and complete, and of high quality for your German shepherd puppy. Human supplements often contain harmful substances to animals and are unregulated or minimally effective. Therefore, never give human supplements to your German shepherd puppy. But they can eat small amounts of cooked chicken or turkey, plain cooked sweet potatoes or carrots, plain yogurt, and small amounts of fruits like apples or bananas without getting sick. Talk to a vet for advice on how to feed your German Shepherd puppy a healthy and balanced diet. These include chocolate, fatty foods, coffee, alcohol, chives, avocado, onions, nuts, grapes and raisins, garlic, raw or undercooked meat, and bones. These foods can cause a wide range of health problems, from stomachaches to more serious problems like pancreatitis or kidney failure. Some foods that people eat may have a lot of sodium or sugar, which can also be bad for dogs. How much food to give an older German Shepherd will depend on their needs and how much they move around. But as dogs get older, they tend to slow down and may need less food to stay at a healthy weight. As a general rule, an older German Shepherd needs about 2 to 3 cups of food per day, which should be divided between two meals. A German Shepherd that is getting older should eat high-quality senior dog food that is made for their age and size. Senior dogs might also benefit from getting smaller meals more often. If your German Shepherd puppy seems to always be hungry, you should look at what they eat and how often they eat. Make sure they eat enough for their age, weight, and level of activity. Puppies grow quickly and need more calories than adult dogs, so it is possible that they are not getting enough food. Also, make sure you feed them high-quality puppy food that is right for their age and size. If you are worried about how hungry they are or how much they weigh, you should talk to a vet to rule out any health problems and make a plan for feeding them. The amount of dry food you should feed your German Shepherd will depend on several factors, including their age, weight, and activity level. Puppies: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Adult dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Active dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. Senior dogs: Feed times the recommended amount on the food label. If the dog is obviously overweight or underweight, adjust accordingly. If you can feel most of the ribs without squeezing your fingers in between them — try 1 cup per day. This is a decent starting point for a growing large breed puppy that needs the extra calories to grow big and strong. If you can feel most of the ribs AND see its waist — try 3 cups per day. This is perfect for an adult German Shepherd which needs extra calories due to being very active. With this amount, it will be able to maintain its weight, but not gain any extra fat. If you can feel all the ribs and see their waist — try 3. This is a good amount for a very active German Shepherd which needs extra calories to maintain a healthy weight. This should be sufficient for an adult German Shepherd which is quite active. If you can feel all the ribs and see their waist — try 5 cups per day. This is a good amount for an extremely active German Shepherd which needs extra calories to maintain lean muscle mass. For example, when my dog was a puppy, he would feel all ribs and see his waist when eating 2 cups of food per day. However, as he got older and larger, I had to increase the amount — even though I could still feel most of the ribs! He maintained around .Although there are lots of opinions on how much food your shepherds needs, these guidelines work for me and my German Shepherds. Everyone is different though, so you will have to adjust accordingly if necessary — this guide should help you until you find the ideal amount. If your dog is a very active one it may need more food depending on its activity level. Always be sure to give plenty of water since dry kibble can dehydrate the animal over time. However, this amount will vary depending on the size, age, and activity level of your dog. Puppies and young dogs, for example, generally need more water than adult German Shepherds. And working dogs or those who exercise frequently may require even more. This is because they can easily hydrate themselves if given free access to water. However, you still need to remember some things. For example, take note that your dog will need to drink 6 ounces of water per day for every 3. Depending on the temperature and activeness, this amount can increase. Lastly, make sure you take extra care in providing water access to your German shepherd. The most preferable way is to fill a bowl with a moderate amount of water, not too much. The feeding amount, frequency, length, and water requirements can always be changed. If you have no time to visit your vet, the following topic may help you. How Much Should A 1-year-old German Shepherd Eat A 1-year-old German Shepherd should eat about two and a half to three cups of food each day, broken up into two or three meals. Pointers for Feeding German Shepherds Improper feeding practices can lead to serious health problems for German shepherds. An owner is responsible for taking into consideration the age and weight of a German shepherd before feeding them. When feeding a german shepherd puppy that is four to six months old, you must give them two meals a day that comprises around eight ounces and five ounces. When feeding a German shepherd puppy that is between seven and twelve months old, the meal amounts should be increased to ten ounces for each meal. This amount should be split into three smaller meals. This is regardless of whether they are active or not. Yep, German shepherds can gain weight regardless of whether they exercise or not. If you think your dog is gaining too much weight, you can split their daily calories into four or five smaller meals. Some people prefer using dry dog food, while others would choose canned dog food. Whatever you choose for your German shepherd is usually okay, but canned food tends to contain more moisture than dry food which may lead to bladder stones in certain dogs. However, when it comes to the amount of dog food you feed your German shepherd, canned food leads to more obesity than dry food. If your German shepherds are over five years old, you must give them an extra meal. This additional meal should comprise around four ounces of food so they can easily digest it during their older age. When feeding a German shepherd puppy, you must know how to correctly measure their food amount. Be accurate when following the proper measurements; otherwise, it could lead to your dog gaining too much weight. Use measuring cups that are specifically made for dry food. If you use any other type of measuring device, it might lead to your dog eating too much or too little food. You must not feed your German shepherd until they are full, but allow them to eat until they are slightly satiated. Do not serve unlimited food; give them about two to three cups of food per day. If you are unsure whether or not your German shepherd is obese, check its waistline. If they have a thick waist and their stomach looks like a sphere, then that is a clear sign that your German shepherd is obese. Never let them finish their meal if they are still hungry; otherwise, you will encourage them to gorge on their food. Your German shepherd must always have access to fresh clean water, so you should ensure they can drink it whenever necessary. Feeding Guidelines by Age Before proceeding with the following points, remember that age is not the only determining factor in a German shepherd feeding chart. Make sure to consider all the content in this blog post as well. It is recommended that you slowly let them adapt first. This can be their regular food from now on. This includes fruits, bones, and more. You should also avoid giving them your leftovers. However, they will need time to adapt. You should also consider feeding your German shepherd foods that can be gnawed and chewed. This is so they can develop their jaws, teeth, and gums. This will result in less feeding amount and frequency. Feeding Guidelines by Weight German shepherds can be of different weight ranges. An average weighted German shepherd 35 kilograms will then need calories per day. This only applies to German shepherds that do not exercise or are inactive. Active German Shepherds: In the case of active German shepherds that exercise regularly, every 1 kilogram equals 55 calories per day. So an average weighted German shepherd will require calories per day to be able to function properly. Take note, however, that this calculation may be affected if the German shepherd has a health disorder concerned with metabolism or digestion. German Shepherd Puppies vs. Adults Guidelines Our last topic involves the difference between a puppy and an adult. The following are some of the facts that recent studies have proven: Puppies have higher energy levels than adults. This means they need to eat more than adult German shepherds. German shepherds will need higher protein and fat content at an early age. The amount of fat and protein will decrease as they grow older. Puppies cannot tolerate too many nutrients. Ingesting extra minerals and vitamins may lead to serious health disorders. Meanwhile, adults are only risking being overweight when taking in more than intended. German Shepherds usually have a good appetite and can eat a lot, especially when they are young and growing. But their food intake should be balanced and right for their age, weight, and level of activity to keep them from getting too much food and getting fat. As they age, they should usually eat less quickly. Most of the time, bones that have been cooked and ground up completely may be safe to eat. Instead, give them dog-made chew toys or treats. Can German Shepherds Be Vegetarians? Since German Shepherds consume meat, it follows that they must consume a significant amount of animal protein in order to get all of the necessary nutrients. Although while it is feasible to offer a dog a vegetarian or vegan diet, owners of German Shepherds should avoid doing so since it increases the likelihood that their dogs will not get all of the nutrients that they need. After talking about the feeding amount, frequency, and lengths of a German shepherd, you can now easily plan how much, how many times, and how long you feed your dog. You even learned how to hydrate your German shepherd the proper way. Lastly, we talked about the difference between a puppy and an adult in terms of feeding. 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. Time Zones puppy feeding schedule and recomendation Prior to weaning our German shepherd puppies, they would have obtain most of their nutritional needs from their mother's milk. By the time our puppies are ready to move into their new home, they will be fully weaned on to solid foods. The puppy is then entirely dependent on his new owner, to provide a fully balanced diet that will meet all of his nutritional requirements. All puppies thrive on the same basic nutrients as adult dogs, but due to their rapid growth rate, these nutrients are needed in proportionately larger quantities. Similar to human babies, puppies have small stomachs, so they need to be fed little portions but often. German shepherd puppies grow very rapidly in the early stages of their development. A German shepherd dog will reach about half their adult weight by five or six months of age. However, there is a wide variation in adult body weight between different breeds, and dogs mature at different rates, since this article is focus on the German shepherd puppy, we will focus at that. German shepherd puppies, in particular, which are most affected by the feeding regimen - as they are growing rapidly, these puppies are prone to disturbances in their skeletal development. It is unwise to overfeed such dogs at this stage in an attempt to obtain the maximum possible rate of growth. A puppy needs between two and four times as much energy as an adult of the same size - growing is an energetic business! They must have more protein than adults - this must contain all the right building blocks of the protein amino acids for growth, and they need just the right amount of minerals for healthy bones and teeth. Puppies therefore have to eat large amounts of food in relation to their body weight, but their stomachs have only a small capacity. To compensate for this, a puppy needs to be fed several small meals a day. It also helps if his diet is designed to meet a number of useful criteria: the food should be concentrated to ensure an adequate intake of nutrients before his stomach is full; The food should be easily digested to maximize its nutritive value; the diet must be balanced to provide the right amount of nutrients to meet the puppy's particular needs; and it should also be tasty so that he will eat it. Devising an acceptable nutritionally balanced diet for growth is thus a very complex exercise. Fortunately, feeding your puppy need not be as complicated as it sounds. Diets, which are specially formulated for growth, take all the guesswork out of rearing a healthy puppy and provide a balanced and concentrated diet, which he will enjoy and thrive. For a normal, healthy German shepherd puppy there is no need to use supplements. In some ways this could be harmful. If you do decide to use a supplement please consult your veterinarian. The feeding schedule of your puppy will depend greatly on his age and individual characteristics, until they are about four months old. Feeding can then be reduced to two times a day until six months of age. You can offer your puppy his daily food allowance in two separate meals. You can feed an adult diet from 14 months of age Since all puppies are individuals, some may need more and some less than the indicated amounts. Your puppy's condition is the best guide of whether you are feeding the correct amount. By recording his weight on a regular basis you will be able to check his growing at a healthy rate, appropriate to his breed. You can then make adjustments to avoid him becoming under - or overweight. Generally, a puppy should be allowed 10 to 15 minutes to eat at each mealtime. After then discard any uneaten food. Your puppy should have his own feeding and water bowls and should be kept clean, separate from the family's dishes. Provide fresh water daily If you notice that your puppy is excessively thirsty and often, you should consult your veterinarian. Note: When puppies come from a kennel environment "outside living", to a family house, most often they will show signs of panting and thirst. This is normal because they will be hot with-in. In few days they should adjust in being indoors. The "puppy" feeding schedule is a guideline for our German shepherd puppies. A puppy should be kept lean during 4 to 8 months of age rapid growth phase , BUT they should not appear thin. You should be able to feel the rib cage and the back bone, but not see them. Looking down on the dog, there should be a slight indentation between the end of the rib cage and the hip bones. If you have questions or comments that you would like to share, please EMAIL US Please do not use our website to attempt to diagnose or treat your pet. The consultation with your veterinarian is the best source of health advice for your individual pet. You should not rely, on the veterinary advice or any other information provided on this site for the diagnosis or treatment of any specific condition. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical condition or general treatment of your pet. The two most obvious goals of feeding your German Shepherd are for health and growth. How fast do German Shepherds grow? German Shepherds are medium-large dogs and therefore grow at a fast rate over the first six to seven months leading up to adolescence. Adult German Shepherds are 22 to 26 inches tall and weigh 50 to 95 pounds. Reputable weight charts suggest your German Shepherd puppy will have attained three-quarters of their final weight over these first six to seven months. This is A LOT of growing to do in a short amount of time — when you brought your puppy home, it was probably only eight inches tall and weighed around 15 pounds. By 12 to 15 months old, a German Shepherd is within an inch or less of their adult height. Therefore, your male German Shepherd will be 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh 59 to 93 pounds by his first birthday. How does diet affect the health of growing Shepherds? Recently it has come to light that a proper diet for puppies does more than prevent malnutrition. As part of this proper diet, there are many things that should never be fed to German Shepherds. Orthopedic Problems Many orthopedic problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia have a strong hereditary component. However, people often discount the role of diet in bone developmental issues. Merely creating an oversized puppy, as is often the case for show animals and people fixated on large dogs, can lead to several painful disorders: Hip dysplasia Elbow dysplasia Panosteitis — Generalized inflammation of the long bones in puppies; common in German Shepherds. Overnutrition and over-supplementation of certain vitamins and minerals lead to paradoxical malnutrition of the bone, and subsequently improper development. Nutritional experts have modified their recommendations regarding the diets of large-breed dogs. Many nutritionists and veterinarians advocate feeding German Shepherds and other large-breed puppies an adult or professionally-formulated homemade diet to limit the occurrence and severity of developmental problems. Pet food manufacturers have caught onto the concept of overnutrition in puppies, and most carry special diets for large-breed puppies. Also, do not supplement your puppy with vitamins, minerals, or proteins without veterinarian direction — their excessive use will disrupt bone and cartilage growth and harm the growth plates. Many people use the food bag as a starting point to decide how much to feed their dogs. However, a label on commercial food is one of the easiest ways to overfeed your growing puppy. Feeding your puppy involves regularly evaluating and tracking their weight. You should be able to assess how close your pup is to their ideal weight just by looking at them. Silhouette from the side — a slight tuck. Pat the ribcage where the abdomen slightly lifts towards the hips. From above — Clear waist; should see an hourglass shape from rib cage to hips When you palpate — You should feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat without having to prod very hard. Puppies will vary in their body scores and may change rapidly within a few days. Pups often lose their abdominal tuck right after a meal. Puppies under 16 weeks old commonly have a pot-bellied appearance without much abdominal tuck. Thin dogs will show more visibility of ribs, waist, and pelvis without appearing emaciated or unhealthy. If your puppy eats well but fails to grow or gain sufficient weight, consult a medical professional. German Shepherds can be susceptible to rare cases of pituitary gland dwarfism or a deficiency of enzyme production from the pancreas. Volume The easiest way to determine how much food to give your Shepherd pup is to figure out how many cups they need in a day and divide it by the number of feedings. German Shepherds eat about four cups of food daily from 16 weeks of age to nine months or a year regardless of weight. The volume accounts for the relatively high caloric requirements of the young growing animal. German Shepherds over a year old may need as much as five to eight cups of dog food. Other references, however, use weight rather than age. Pups eat one cup of food daily per 15 to 20 pounds. Dogs over pounds receive five cups of kibble plus an additional half a cup for every extra 20 pounds. Like all models, more active dogs need to eat more food — make adjustments up or down based on body scoring. You can estimate the volume to feed your German Shepherd pup once you find the conversion rate. Dry dog food bags and wet food cans usually have the kilocalorie equivalence of each cup of the product. The number of calories you feed your Shepherd depends on how close to the adult weight they are. Once your puppy reaches six weeks old, you may still have to feed it a mash but can decrease meals to four per day. German Shepherd puppies between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks can eat three to four times daily, while most dogs over four months of age decrease to a frequency of two to three times daily. Centering a few potty breaks around meals that stimulate their intestinal tracts helps develop consistent habits. GDV Your German Shepherd puppy will begin to develop a deeper chest combined with significant size by four to six months of age. Both physical characteristics put your puppy at additional risk of gastric dilatation and volvulus compared to smaller breeds. Four months is the age at which most pups will see a significant increase in their meal sizes. Studies have linked large meals with GDV , or bloat, life-threatening distension, and rotation of the stomach. Increasing the number of feedings greatly reduces the incidence of GDV. We recommend at least two meals a day for your dog, even as your Shepherd approaches adulthood. How much to feed a German Shepherd puppy is part of a broader equation that includes avoiding overfeeding, calculating portion sizes, and scheduling appropriate mealtimes. However, a fat or pudgy puppy is not a look anyone should encourage. The puppy may appear to be in good shape, but you need to feel the ribs to be certain. Four Months You can really start to see the amount the pup has grown compared to the eight-week-old puppy! To get a better idea of what to expect with a young GSD, feel free to watch this video! It illustrates the rapid growth rate of the German Shepherd and touches on diets as well. Recommended reading. Split that daily amount up between all meals. For example, if your 3-month-old GSD puppy is a male and weighs 30 pounds, you should feed him approximately 2 cups per day. Since she no longer needs the extra calories to help support her fast growth period, you can safely reduce her feedings to 2 or 3 meals per day. While she should still be eating puppy food at this point, you may consider purchasing a bag of her eventual adult formula. You can use individual kibbles from the adult formula for treats or training rewards. This will help her get used to the new flavor and texture. Around 9 months of age, you can begin slowly adding a small amount of the adult formula into her puppy food, though she should still be eating primarily puppy chow. Only your vet will be able to tell you when your dog has reached maturity and can be safely moved to adult food. So, make sure you are in close contact with your vet to be sure that your feeding plan is individualized for your specific dog. Adult dog food will have a different ratio of calcium, protein, phosphorus, and other nutrients than puppy food does. Feeding an adult dog a puppy formula can cause obesity as well as put too much strain on kidneys and other vital organs. Long term use of inappropriate food for an adult dog can have catastrophic consequences. That said, there is no need to panic if your adult GSD eats a bowl of puppy food now and then. Adult German Shepherds should be fed twice a day. Again, bloat is a real problem for large breed dogs, and large meals seem to be a big cause of this. I feed my adult dogs this particular blend for a number of reasons. The blend is designed specifically with German Shepherds in mind, as it uses high-quality, animal-based nutrients to counter the extra stress put on the joints of GSDs and to help the development strong lean muscle to keep your dog in peak physical condition. You really can see the difference. This is evident by the fast decline in health, joint flexibility, and energy in older large breed dogs compared to same-age smaller breeds. When your GSD moves from the adult life stage to senior, you need to adjust her diet. Large breeds reach the older stage not quite senior, but close around half of their assumed life expectancy. Inevitably, your GSD will need to switch over to a senior diet. Older large breed dogs have lower energy needs. Older dogs also tend to slow down their digestion, so an increase in fiber might be a good choice for your senior GSD. Do be sure to confirm this with your vet, however. Not all foods are created equal. For treats, senior dogs should avoid calorie-dense milk bones and high-salt or fatty treats. Opt for healthy, whole-food treats such as apple slices or carrots. Some senior dogs begin to develop health conditions that will require special care. This is often a result of poor nutrition early in life, but can sometimes simply be genetics and old age catching up with them. But for GSDs with health issues such as kidney disease and joint pain, diet can play an even bigger role in the quality of their lives. Getting a personalized recommendation from your veterinarian is worth the time, expense, and effort. These charts can seem pretty straightforward at first glance. Instead, use them as a starting point. Observe your dog, see how he looks and feels, and note any changes in his bathroom habits, weight, or energy level. Adjust his meals accordingly. Generally speaking, they talk about daily intake, not per meal. It means to split that 3 cups total over the entire day. If your dog eats 3 times per day, that would be 1 cup at each meal for a total daily intake of 3 cups. To further confuse dog parents, some manufacturers do list per-meal serving sizes, not the total daily intake! In these cases, if you read it incorrectly, you would end up underfeeding your dog. To help mitigate some of this confusion, it may be helpful to ask your vet how many calories your dog should be consuming each day. Then you can check the calorie content in the dog food and measure things from there. Raw Diets, Cooking for Dogs, and Other Alternative Feeding This article has been focusing mainly on commercially available dry kibble since that is what most pet parents ultimately choose for their dogs. However, there are many dog owners that choose to feed alternative diets. These include raw diets and cooking regular people food for dogs. There are many viable options for feeding your healthy German Shepherd, but there are just as many harmful fads, too. As with commercial foods, be sure to speak with your vet before starting your dog on a raw diet or home-cooking her meals. Human supplements are often unregulated, minimally effective, and often contain substances harmful to animals. Never use a human supplement for your German Shepherd. Final Thoughts What you feed your German Shepherd is just as important as how much you feed them. Pay special attention to the first 4 or 5 ingredients listed on the back of the packaging. Choose high-quality, safety-tested foods with clear ingredient and nutrition labels. The best food for German Shepherd puppies in their first two to four months of life is milk from their mother. This specialised care is usually left to German Shepherd breeders or veterinarians, who are knowledgeable in caring for pups with no mother to nurse from. If you have recently brought a German Shepherd puppy into your family, they are most likely older than 8 weeks, and so have started to eat solid foods. Before the four month mark, it is advised to include some dry food in their diet. You can do this in a few simple steps: Mix some dry food with specially formulated puppy milk to form a soft mixture. You can feed your puppy this mixture three to four times a day. Over time, reduce the amount of milk you include in this mixture, until they are at the point where they are happily eating dry foods. Read on to learn how much you should feed your German Shepherd puppy as they get older. With this rapid growth can come some risks. German Shepherds are susceptible to bone growth disorders, like hip dysplasia, that can start in puppyhood. They will be very active in their adolescent years, and so should be fed with this in mind. The transition from puppy food to adult food should happen between 12 and 24 months of age. This is because, being a larger breed who grows very quickly, you want to ensure that you are feeding them according to their large breed needs. Remember that the more active the pup, the more food they require. While following feeding guidelines is important to avoid over and underfeeding, you can adjust the amounts of food you provide to your dog based on level of activity. If you are unsure, it is always best to ask your vet for guidance. You need to take special care when considering what you should feed your German Shepherd puppy, as they require different nutrients compared to their adult counterparts. For puppies, this amount will often be two of three times higher, as they are more active and growing quickly. German Shepherd puppies need to eat food that is high in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are also essential for supporting your active pup. Aside from nutritionally complete dry puppy food, German Shepherd puppies can benefit from the extra protein that raw meat can provide them with, such as lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish. However, they can also be at risk of gastric dilatation or volvulus, or GDV. Certain dog breeds can be more susceptible to GDV; particularly deep chested breeds including German Shepherds. GDV can occur when a dog bloats a few hours after eating a meal. Though the exact causes of GDV are not known, grains and cereals are suspected to be contributors. The amount of food you give your German Shepherd is determined by their weight, energy levels, and age. For most adult German Shepherds, between 1, to 2, calories per day from high quality food sources is ideal. Female German Shepherds, which tend to be about 8 kilos lighter than males, may need less food, as will less active dogs. Dogs who need less food, whether they are less active or simply older, will usually still need around 1, and 1, per day. You may want to alter the amount of food you are feeding your German Shepherd based on how calorically dense their food is. German Shepherds should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Their daily allotment of food should be split evenly between these two meals. For most dogs, it is recommended that you exercise your dog before meal times to assist with potty training. However, some dogs who are at risk of GDV may benefit from exercise after eating, to aid with digestion. You should also try to give your German Shepherd a high quality food that is specially designed for larger or working breeds, especially if they are very active. For example, less active senior dogs will need to eat less food as they will not be burning calories as quickly as a lively little puppy will. Senior dogs may benefit from a higher fibre and lower calorie diet. Your dog may also develop chronic or short term medical conditions that require specially formulated food. German Shepherds can be particularly susceptible to skin disease or allergies, including canine atopic dermatitis, bacterial skin infections, flea allergy dermatitis, forms of contact dermatitis, or scabies. If your dog develops a skin issue, it is often a sign that they may be suffering from a form of food sensitivity. If you are unsure about what you should feed your German Shepherd, you should always consult your vet as they will be able to determine if your dog is suffering from any allergies or chronic health issues: creating a nutritional plan to help keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come. Part of figuring out what you should feed your German Shepherd includes deciding between wet, dry, or a raw food diet. Wet food for German Shepherds is often high in protein and fat, and is better at keeping your dog hydrated than other food sources. A raw diet can be a good option for your German Shepherd as you have more control over the kinds of food and amount of nutrients your pup is consuming. For this reason, raw diets require a lot more work on your part as an owner. Whatever you decide to feed your German Shepherd, all dogs need a similar ratio of nutrients in their diets. The amount of food you feed your dog should be determined by their activity levels, age, weight, breed, and size. Any meals prepared for your dog need to contain the right balance of nutrients. You should also be extra careful not to introduce your dog to foods that are harmful to their health. While we might enjoy the taste of nuts, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and onions, these can be toxic for dogs and can cause serious illness and even death. German Shepherds in particular need plenty of exercise as they are a large working breed with a lot of energy. No matter how old your German Shepherd is, it is important to keep to a consistent feeding schedule. A feeding schedule can help you keep track of any changes in behaviour around food that might signal illness or physiological stress.

Shirley became an all-breed professional handler in after a two-year apprenticeship. She met Ben in and they married in .They began actively breeding under the Scher-Khoun name in .With several other breeders they participated in founding the Boxer Club of Canada, of which Ben is a past president. Ben started the Canadian Legion of Merit. They have authored many articles on breeding, judging, handling and showing in Dogs in Canada, Boxer Review, Boxer International and did the Boxer column for Dogs in Canada. The DeBoers are also well-known for their handling and breeding seminars. They are the breeders of over 25 Canadian champions .He judged the ABC Futurity in .All three of these producers were back massed on the Big 4 foundation sires. Shadrack was the top winning Boxer in Canada , .Shadrack eventually produced over champions, including 83 Canadian and 42 American. He also produced 6 sires and one dam of merit. She was 87 years young. Her husband of 60 years, Ben, son Jason, daughter-in-law Lisa and her 3 grandchildren - Carson, Tyler and Taylor, were all by her side as she left us to be with her daughter Jodi and sister Bea. Shirley was born and lived in Toronto, Canada where she met the love of her life, Ben. It was in Toronto where Shirley and Ben raised their two children, Jodi and Jason, and embarked on her 50 year legacy in the dog show business as both an exceptional breeder and handler of Boxers along with earning numerous professional handling accomplishments. Her love of Boxers was only matched by the love she had for her family. Shirley will also be dearly missed by her many friends from the dog show business and of course her many stuffed toys which gave her great comfort when the dog show business was over. We asked him to furnish us with a list of anything he liked in advance of the release of his album, Heliosphere, and the Welshman has burrowed deep into the bowels of YouTube to put together a definitive list of videos featuring his favorite breed: boxers. Some think they are too big and slobbery. This video shows how much fun they can have all by themselves. Linus the Boxer Watch on YouTube Linus the Boxer loves his baby Slightly more controversial, in this video the boxer is playing with a baby. I showed it to my parents and they had a blazing row about it too. It is a pretty amazing video. He even scares them all down the field at one point. The cat looks better at boxing than the boxer. The best bit is at when they both stop fighting for a moment like in a cartoon, and then get right back into it. This one is doing the classic boxer head tilt. Boxers are very human-like in their personalities. He looks like the boxer that used to visit my home in Wales a few years back. Boxer Treadmill Watch on YouTube funny boxer puppies I think this video proves beyond all doubt that boxers are the best dogs. If only they allowed them to sit next to you on planes. If you get why boxers are good dogs, I think it says something very good about your soul.

Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. We even have all types of golden retrievers for sale! At My Golden Retriever Puppies, we pride ourselves on our golden retriever price being fair and affordable for high quality puppies. Location Information for Michigan Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Michigan? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in Michigan? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Even though there is a plethora of backyard, small hobby breeders, not all of them come with the highest credibility. In order to find a Golden Retriever puppy for yourself, you need to make sure the puppy is health-tested and that the breeder offers health clearances. AKC-affiliated breeders are usually the best choice, as they go through a regular certification and an inspection process. A Golden Retriever breed may not be the healthiest dog breed in the world, but this puppy is generally healthy and has a respectable 10 to 12 years long lifespan. Still, puppies need to undergo standard vet check-ups and health tests. Reputable breeders will make sure you get a puppy that comes with a health guarantee. Additionally, puppies undergo early vaccination and deworming, which is a side benefit of purchasing a Golden Retriever from the best breeders. Golden Acres, Tecumseh What makes the Golden Acres team one of the best Golden Retriever breeders in Michigan is the fact that these breeders are long-time experts in this field. The facility was established in .They also offer a stud service. Golden Acres is specialized in breeding family dogs with excellent temperaments. The puppies have been socialized from an early age. Golden Retrievers bred in this kennel are perfect for first-time dog owners, as well as for families with small children. The mission of Golden Acres is to provide healthy, socialized, and obedient puppies to new owners. The Golden Retriever growth chart is carefully monitored within the first eight weeks. In order to contact the Golden Acres team, you can use their phone number or email. The advice is to hurry up and reserve your spot on the waiting list! This breeder provides health clearances on eyes, elbows, hips, and eyes. Regular health checks, as well as a health guarantee, are a tradition in this facility. A good part of puppy training is based on early neurological stimulation. All canines in SRG are early socialized and well-behaved dogs. These canines are AKC registered, and they come with vet documentation and microchips. Microchips, however, are not calculated in the initial price. In order to purchase your Golden Retriever from this breeder, you need to fill in the application form, which is available on the official website. The breeder conducts a screening process and chooses the most suitable dog owners for puppies. Location: Traverse City, MI. Share 0 Shares The Golden Retriever is possibly one of the friendliest and loving dog breeds that you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. As a result, they have become one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States and have captured the hearts of many. This is the article for you if you are looking for Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Michigan. We have compiled a list of the best Golden Retriever breeders in Michigan. As always, it is still important that you do your own research to ensure that a breeder is ethical and reputable before purchasing a puppy from them. As a result, these breeders only have about two to three litters of puppies a year. However, this only means that these Golden Retriever breeders look for quality and not quantity when it comes to breeding their dogs. Of course, all puppies are kept up to date on their age-appropriate vaccinations, deworming, and vet visits. All of the dogs from this breeder have established pedigrees, and they have also been health tested before being bred. In fact, many of their dogs come from championship bloodlines and have won titles themselves. If you are interested in purchasing a puppy from this breeder, then you will need to fill out the questionnaire that is available on their website. Name of Owner. Breeding quality Golden's to be Your Next best Friend! They are AKC limited Registration , Full registration available for additional fee to approved homes only. They come with a 1 year health guarantee and a life time of help with any concerns and support , vaccinated age appropriate, De- wormed ,complete vet examined. We love our Golden's. They are a true part of our family and family life. They Live in our home and go camping and traveling with us and are a huge attraction where ever we take them and the tail wagging and unconditional love is priceless. They are such sweet souls. They are best friends but they also make great service dogs, hunting companions, dock dogs, agility partners, walking friends, they are a very versatile dog. We raise these pups as if we were keeping all of them. They are held and played with everyday. They play with kids and have Social interaction with other dogs in our family. We take them outside and expose them to the outdoors , we also give them stimulating toys and water to play in to get them started to be confident, thriving ,well adjusted babies. Mom's name is Callie. She is light gold close to white in color and has a beautiful full coat. About 78 lbs. She is 4 years old. She has been very health dog. Has her Eyes, Heart, Hips and elbow clearances. DNA golden retriever panel also. She is so calm, loving and smart. She loves kids, people , walks, swimming. She is worth her weight in gold as far as personality. Dads name is Bounty. He is a very handsome boy. He also has personality plus. He is also a huge part of his family! He is pet, in his home and on the furniture! He is a beautiful and solid 80 pounds He had heart and eye certified and had many proven healthy babies on the ground. His Coat is gorgeous and his personality a plus. We encourage all prospective puppy owners to do their research and be prepared with questions to ask the breeder. Kaila Duggan.

It might be tricky trying to predict the color of a Labradoodle pup, as this is greatly determined by their genetics. Labrador Retriever Colors Labrador Retrievers usually come in all solid colors. Most common ones include yellow, black, chocolate, red, white, and silver. Some of the more rare Labrador Retriever colors are, in fact, color combinations. These include black with white markings on the chest, black and tan, or brindle. The most common colors we see on Poodles are black, blue, silver, gray, white, brown, cream, apricot, silver beige, red, and cafe au lait. Additionally, some Poodles can also come in a variety of color combinations like black and brown, black and tan, black and apricot, black and cream, brown and apricot, brown and white, and many others. Labradoodle Color Chart Labradoodles come in all shapes and sizes, coat types, and colors. Apricot Labradoodles have a rich colored coat resembling the inside of a ripe apricot. Hence the name apricot Labradoodle. Apricot Labradoodles usually have a black nose and their hair color is typically the same throughout the coat. However, apricot Labradoodles may change color over time. Some pups fade lighter as they age and some are born with a cream coat that becomes darker over time. A red Labradoodle falls in a similar tone category as an apricot Labradoodle, but they have a much richer pigment and a distinctive red hue to their coat. Similarly to apricot Labradoodles, red Labradoodles might fade over time, which often results in a tan Labradoodle. Black Labradoodle A black Labradoodle comes in a solid all black coat with no other colored markings. Black Labradoodles also have black noses, black paw cushions, and eyes. On the other hand, like many other Labradoodle colors, pups who have a black coat may fade lighter into a more gray-ish tone over time. Chocolate Labradoodle a. Brown Labradoodle The chocolate Labradoodle is a rich brown Labradoodle. Chocolate Labradoodles can come with either brown eyes, or much more rare blue eyes. Their nose is typically brown or has a rose-y hue. As chocolate Labradoodles are so popular, it might be harder to get your hands on one. Cream Labradoodle a. Tan Labradoodle Cream Labradoodles have the signature beige-colored Doodle coat. The shade can vary in darkness and sometimes even have some gold or apricot markings on the face or paws. Their nose is usually black or dark brown. As their hair darkness can vary, cream Labradoodles are also often referred to as tan Labradoodles. Blue Labradoodle Blue Labradoodles are one of the more rare options out there. They are usually born with a black coat and as they age, they turn into a more gray-ish, smoky blue tone. During their first year from birth, their coat will change to match their skin tone. Their nose pigment is usually blue or gray that matches the skin. Most commonly, blue Labradoodles have brown eyes, but there are also the super rare, yet super gorgeous blue Labradoodles with blue eyes. Silver Labradoodle a. Gray Labradoodle Silver Labradoodles are very similar to blue Labradoodles. The silver can range anywhere from very light gray to dark charcoal color. Similarly to blue Labradoodles, silver Labradoodles are usually born with a much darker coat color. As they become older, their true coat color will start to appear. Again, this Labradoodle color is more of a rarity, and you should expect to pay more for a silver Labradoodle. For instance, a brown and white Labradoodle is considered parti, as they have a white base color with large blotches of brown throughout the coat. Of course, parti Labradoodles can also have other colors instead of brown, such as apricot, black, blue, or silver. Achieving a parti Labradoodle requires a ton of DNA testing to make sure the right genes are present. Therefore, this is again a more rare Labradoodle color. Black and White Labradoodle a. Tuxedo Labradoodle A tuxedo Labradoodle or black and white Labradoodle has a solid black base with white patches on the chest and neck. As you might guess, the white patches form a tuxedo-like pattern. Although there are also parti black and white Labradoodles, the tuxedo pattern is usually what people refer to. When it comes to Labradoodles, the black and white tuxedo pattern is rather difficult to achieve, making it another rare Labradoodle pattern. Sable Labradoodle Sable Labradoodles are usually born with a dark coat that lightens as the puppies start reaching adulthood. Once adults, sable Labradoodles have a solid base color, typically cream, apricot, or tan, with darker tips at the ends of the hair. Some pups keep the dark tips, while others outgrow them completely. However, sometimes their ears stay darker. Again, this is a more rare Labradoodle color, which might be more difficult to come across. Merle Labradoodles can come in a variety of shades. Some merles have blues, grays, and silvers, while others have chocolate, red, apricot, and cream. They have a solid base color with speckled patches of diluted colors throughout the coat. Phantom Labradoodle Phantom Labradoodles have a dominant base color, such as black or brown with lighter markings of another color on the face, chest, legs, and paws. The phantom Labradoodle comes with a distinctive pattern, where markings are placed above the eyes and around the muzzle. Abstract Labradoodle Abstract Labradoodles are very similar to parti Labradoodles. But with one exception. There are various color combinations possible, but the most common ones include white and brown, white and tan, or black and white Labradoodle. Brindle Labradoodle Brindle Labradoodles have a stripe pattern all across their body, which resembles much of a tiger. The darker color is more prominent while the lighter highlighted stripes are present all throughout the coat. Like many other Doodles, Labradoodles often change color or fade as they reach adulthood. Usually, Labradoodle puppies change color during their first year from birth. The fading or clearing is usually more prevalent in darker colored Labradoodles like black, brown, or chocolate. You can typically expect a black Labradoodle to fade into silver, blue, or gray tones. Chocolate Labradoodles tend to become tan, cream, or silver as they age. Behavioral problems usually stem from improper or inconsistent training. If your pup is acting up, we recommend you get in touch with a professional dog trainer or try an online puppy school. Having said that, there is a link between certain health problems and the merle gene. Merle Labradoodles have a slightly increased risk of blindness and deafness. For this reason, ethical breeders never cross two merle Labradoodles, as this can greatly increase the chance of complications. It all comes down to your personal preferences and which Labradoodle colors you prefer. All Labradoodles have a similar temperament and each of them comes with a unique personality. In addition to that, ethical breeders place their puppies into homes based on their temperament and personality to find the best forever home for each puppy. After all, the most important thing is that your new companion fits your lifestyle and household. Labradoodles often carry the fading gene, which is inherited from the Poodle parent. If your puppy is carrying the fading gene, they will most likely become lighter and fade as they start nearing adulthood. Black Labradoodles usually fade into silver or blue tones, whereas chocolate Labradoodles fade into more creamy, tan, and beige tones. The only way to determine whether or not your Labradoodle will change color is by DNA testing. The rarest Labradoodle colors are actually different color combinations and patterns. These include the parti Labradoodle, merle Labradoodle, phantom, tuxedo, sable, abstract, and brindle. In solid Labradoodle colors, the red Labradoodle is the rarest of them all. There are so many beautiful solid Labradoodle colors like chocolate, cream, apricot, and black. And then there are the rarity options like sable, merle, parti, and phantom. What makes it so difficult is that they all look absolutely adorable in their own, unique way. We hope this guide has given you a great overview of all the different Labradoodle colors and coat patterns. Parents of Labradoodles: What color is your Labradoodle and did they change color as they aged? Let us know in the comments below! Avoid making the mistake of choosing the wrong Doodle temperament for your family, lifestyle, or current living situation. Phantom Abstract The most common Labradoodle colors include black, cream, and gold. The three rarest colors for this breed include phantom, abstract, and red. A rare Phantom Labradoodle coat. Photo courtesy of Labradoodles by Cucciolini in Ontario. Chocolate Labradoodles are common in many households. Their color can be even throughout their coat, even as they age, or they may have a combination of light and dark hues mixed. Most chocolate Labradoodles may appear to be almost black at birth but fade to a deep chocolate brown. Some of its baby hair will fall out, and the new coat will grow in, having a somewhat different hue. Older dogs will tend to lighten in color due to aging, usually around age five and up. Poodle puppies are notorious for clearing their color as they grow. So no matter which color a poodle is at birth, typically, you will not know the final hue until the dog has reached about two years of age. Color Clearing Since Labradoodles contain these clearing elements from their parents, you can expect your beloved pet to have a coat color that will lighten until around two years or so. Once your pup turns three, its color should be stable and should not change much more, if at all. Once your pet reaches five years old or more, you may notice a bit of lighter coloring around the face, chin, or other areas. This lightening of the color is typical for Labradoodles. A cute Labradoodle takes a sleep on the couch Environmental Factors When you have a chocolate Labradoodle, you may notice that their coat will change color at different times of the year. This altering can be from environmental factors that affect the hair, causing it to fade or change color. Some dogs will have lighter hair in the hot summer months from being outdoors with harsh UV rays. In addition, if your Labradoodle swims in water that uses chemical treatments, like swimming pools, these additives can also affect the hair color. Some owners will use pet sunscreen to help protect their four-legged friends while out in the hot sun. However, it is imperative that you use unique formulas made for animals that do not contain harsh chemicals that could harm your dog. These products can be an excellent tool for helping your pet stay clean and look great. The Infamous Labradoodle Coat One of the reasons why this cross-breed is so popular is their soft, luscious coat of hair. In addition, some pet owners with allergies find that Labradoodles are terrific companions that they can own without issues. There are three distinct coat types which you will find with Labradoodles. These options include: Wool Fleece Straight Hair This Apricot Mini Labradoodle is looking up at the camera, because he thinks he might get a treat he did. This coat is the least-shedding type of the three and will produce virtually no animal dander. Wool coats will need a regular grooming routine to avoid matting since it can be a common problem. Fleece The fleece coat on a Labradoodle will look more wavy than curly. They may appear shaggy with their long hair but are a terrific variable between curly and straight hair. Fleece coats still require regular grooming, but they can cause some problems for allergy sufferers with the dander they produce. Straight Hair On the other end of the spectrum is the straight hair coat. Labradoodles with straight hair get this characteristic from the Labrador Retriever parent rather than the Poodle side. Often, this straight coat looks scruffy, especially if the hair grows out too long. The coat is easy to maintain, but it can shed almost as much as another dog breed, making it not ideal for pet owners with allergies. Are Chocolate Labradoodles Expensive? Since chocolate Labradoodles are a standard color of this breed, will they still be expensive? Typically, rare colors will cost more, so your chocolate Labradoodle may fall on the lower end of this pricing scale. However, how you take care of its coat will depend on the hair type since there will be varying methods for wool, fleece, and straight hair dogs. If you are unsure of how to groom your chocolate Labradoodle, talk to your local pet groomer. Often, pet owners prefer to take their beloved dog in for complete grooming rather than attempt this process at home on their own. For pet owners who want to groom their Labradoodle at home, there are many terrific resources online, including Youtube videos , to choose from that will take you through each step. With proper grooming habits, you can keep your chocolate Labradoodle from getting matted or suffering from skin conditions. Chocolate Labradoodles are a terrific breed to have as a pet. This color is relatively easy to find at a breeder and makes a great companion for any home. Remember that it will lose some color until age two, but it should remain stable after then. You can expect your brown four-legged friend to have the same brown color as they age, as long as you avoid harsh grooming products and harmful UV rays. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. One of the unique features of Australian Labradoodles is the wide variety of coat colors and patterns. While Labradoodle colours are interesting, we maintain that you are buying a living creature and not a coat colour. It is essential to retain the appearance of an Australian Labradoodle within the breed standard, but we feel charging for colour is not a fair practice. Van Isle Doodles looks for families whose focus is on adding a labradoodle puppy as a family member to their home. Depending on the intensity of the pigment, a red dog may appear to be a deep red color all the way to a light brown color. Cream Cream labradoodles range from almost white through to latte depending on the intensity of the pigment. This is our Bruno Mars who is a light cream color with black leathers. Black Black Labradoodles range from jet black to silver. This is Cinder Ella an example of a jet black Labradoodle. Chocolate Chocolate Australian Labradoodles range from a milk chocolate color when pigment is diluted to deep, dark chocolate when pigment is intensified. Oceana middle is a dark chocolate Labradoodle with brown leathers. Caramel Caramel ranges from a creamy color to a darker red. The brown leathers make the dog caramel rather than red. Here are some examples of our caramel dogs. Parti Labradoodless can come in any color. This is our caramel and white parti girl, Bernadette. Phantom A phantom is a solid color with tan points. The markings are similar to those found on Yorkies, Rottweilers and Dobermans. Tan points for the phantom pattern are pips above the eyes, along the side of the jaw, a band across the chest, run halfway up all four legs, on the vent and sometimes on the underside of the tail. Phantoms may be either black Labradoodles or Chocolate Labradoodles. Dexter is a chocolate phantom Labradoodle. Tri A tri colored Labradoodle is a phantom plus white. A tri Labradoodle may be black or chocolate. This is Tawnee who is a black tri. Sable A sable Labradoodle has each single hair in their coat banded by color. Each strand of hair has two colors. The tip of the strand will be either black or brown and the color at the root may be red, tan or apricot. Because the top inch or so of the strands of hair are either black or chocolate, at birth a sable Labradoodle will appear to be a black or chocolate dog. Once the strands start to grow out, the change color becomes visible. The amount of time it takes to see the second color varies from birth through to about six weeks of age. Since Labradoodles do not shed, at least as little as any dog is capable of not shedding, they do not generally grow new strands of hair. Once a sable Labradoodle has been groomed, the dark chocolate or black tips are lost and the dog then becomes red or tan in color. This is Ripple our chocolate sable parti girl. Brindle Labradoodles are not common. This puppy is a brindle Labradoodle. If you look at his feet, you will notice the stiped pattern of his color. Van Isle Labradoodles. As you might have guessed, this dog is a cross between poodle and Labrador parents — and the result is an adorable bundle of joy with a sweet, gentle personality. Labradoodle puppy coats come in a range of colors and textures, so labradoodle owners are spoiled for choice when choosing their fur baby. Read on to discover more about Labradoodles and labradoodle coat types. What Are Hypoallergenic Dog Coats? Hypoallergenic dogs have less of a thick coat than many other breeds. A highly shedding coat presents a higher risk to allergy sufferers than non-shedding dogs like a labradoodle puppy. As a dog with one of the most allergy-friendly coats , there are a few practicalities to keep in mind when it comes to your labradoodle pooch and its coat. Pretty much every labradoodle puppy goes through a coat change, which is separate from a shedding coat. The puppy coat is eventually replaced by an adult coat, which comes with more grooming requirements. Types of Labradoodle Puppy Coats One of the best things about labradoodle dogs is the wide range of choices with regard to appearance. Wool Coat You can determine if your Labradoodle puppy has a fleece coat. You can identify fleece coats by the way the fur sits between the eyes, as this area starts to get curly first. This is the curliest coat type, but it still comes in a variety of types. Some dogs with a curly coat have a cotton-type coat, which is the softest but also incredibly high maintenance. Labradoodle puppies with wool Labradoodle puppy coats are mainly non-shedding and can make great companions for pet owners with allergies. Fleece Coat Doodles with a fleece coat require a little less maintenance than the other types of doodles, but they still need weekly brushing and plenty of TLC. A fleece-coated labradoodle is the result of combining a curly wool coat gene with the gene for a straight coat. Areas such as the ears and collar are particularly prone to getting matted, so be sure to pay close attention to these areas when you brush your fleece-coated labradoodle once or twice per week. Hair Coat A labradoodle with a straight coat has inherited most of its fur genes from its Labrador retriever parent. Something interesting about Labradoodles is that their Labradoodle puppy coats change as they get older, so your hair-coated labradoodle might get a wave to its fur as it gets older. While you can also take it to a professional groomer on a weekly basis, this can incur hefty grooming costs. Most labradoodle owners opt to take their dog to a groomer once a month or two and do regular adult coat maintenance themselves. Use the correct type of dog brush and be sure to get all the way down to the skin. Give your dog a brush before and after bath time. All puppies eventually lose their puppy coat to make way for their adult coat, this goes the same with Labradoodle puppy coats. You might find the new type of coat is totally different from the old coat. Coats and Generational Differences The amount of hair your dog sheds varies between puppies, but generational differences can also play a role. First-generation doodles shed slightly more than second-generation doodles, with multigenerational Labradoodles shedding even less. We genetically test each breeding parent to make sure the shedding genes are not passed on to the puppies in our training program. We adore the breed and have a wide range of Labradoodle puppies for sale to choose from, with different color and type of Labradoodle puppy coats. We can even deliver a fully trained doodle puppy direct to your door if you like! Like their Goldendoodle cousin , the Labradoodle comes in a variety of colors. This is due to the many combinations that a Labrador and a Poodle can produce when bred together. There will be a Labradoodle color to suit every future owner as the options are plentiful. However, regardless of the color of your Labradoodle, they all make loyal and lovable companions. The most popular colors are black, cream and gold. Golden is inclusive of apricot and caramel. Labradoodles of these colors will mostly have a black pigment to their nose with the exception of the cream color who may also have a reddish pigmented nose. Most litters of Labradoodles will include a black coated puppy. The cream Labradoodle is darker than its white classified counterparts. They can come in many shades including some with hints of red not to be mistaken for a true red Labradoodle which is rare. The golden Labradoodle is darker in shade than the cream. All three of these color classifications should have a consistent color across the whole of their coat. Their nose pigment will be similar to their secondary color. Chalk white is slightly darker than a natural white with a rose or black pigmented nose. Then you have the rarer colors or patterns of Labradoodle. The rarest color of all is red. They must have a black pigmented nose to be classified as a true red Labradoodle. Phantom is a design of two colors, one base color and the classic phantom design in the secondary color. The secondary color will appear as markings on the eyebrows, under the chin, the sides of the muzzle and on the chest. Whilst a phantom Labradoodle is quite rare, the most common mix of colors is black and gold. From around 6 months old, your Labradoodle puppy will start to shed their puppy coat and grow their adult one. Here is what can happen to all those different colors as this transition takes place: Black True black Labradoodles should hold their color. However, there are a couple of factors that come into play which could impact this. One is genetics and the other is that a silver or blue Labradoodle is likely to be born black. The silver coloring develops over the first couple of years and can vary significantly in tone from a darker colored charcoal to a lighter pewter shade. The blue hue should be apparent from birth as their skin will be blue, but this will be subtle and the true-blue coat, like the silver, will develop over the first few years. Golden and Apricot The apricot Labradoodle coat can both lighten and darken from how it appears at birth, but it should retain the apricot shade. The Labradoodle who is golden in color has a tendency to fade with age. Cream and Chalk White Whilst there are differing shades which all classify as cream, this coat color tends to stay the same as your Labradoodle grows. Chalk white Labradoodles typically also hold their color. Many do fade over time and to a variety of diverse shades. Parchment is a chocolate Labradoodle. Usually a milkier chocolate color at birth, their coat will fade as they grow. Some chocolate Labradoodles will even develop a lavender colored coat over their first few years. This smoky hue can often appear to be pink or lilac in its appearance. Red Unfortunately, this rare and beautifully colored coat does have a tendency to fade over time to lighter shades. Parti, Abstract and Phantom As will the solid block color coats we have already discussed, the patterned fur on your Labradoodle can also change over time and as they grow. However, this should only relate to a change in shade as their markings, especially for a phantom, should be distinguishable at birth. Stanley at 9 weeks old Stanley left as an adult. You can see how his coat has lightened Other Factors in Color Change Some coats, especially if they are to be considered a true color, must be the same shade throughout. Red and true apricot are two examples of this. Quite often though, the root of the hair is lighter than the tip. Labradoodles love nothing more than being outside. If you live in a sunny climate then sun bleaching is also a common factor in the lightening of the fur. Do Genetics Play a Part? Introducing the Dilute Gene Simply, yes, they can. Coat colors, like our hair color is determined by genetics. Genes occur in pairs and are dominant or recessive. Dogs and we inherit one gene from each parent and would need to inherit two recessive genes or one dominant gene in order for a trait to manifest. The Dilute Gene, or Melanophilin MPH to give it its scientific name is recessive so a Labradoodle would have to inherit from both parents. When they do, their eyes are most likely to be a foggy blue in color. As your puppy grows their eyes will get darker based on the concentration of melanin in their eyes. This process will begin relatively early at around three weeks. The most common eye color for dogs is brown and by around 3 or 4 months their color will have fully transitioned. Sometimes dogs have blue eyes and whilst you will then not see a full transformation, the pigment or brightness may change. Learn More About Labradoodles. He is a big, silly, and usually cheerful dog that is a mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. He comes in a variety of colors, the most common of which is black. Many owners report that their black labradoodle began to turn grey between the ages of 6 and 12 months. Black Labradoodles are known for changing color as they age. The rich coat colors of black Labradoodles sometimes fade due to the hereditary features of Poodles in Labradoodles. As mature dogs, they may develop lighter colors or even a unique color due to fading. To know all about coat colors when it comes to Labradoodles, continue reading this article. Do Black Labradoodles Change Color? Black Labradoodles change color; they are notable for changing color as they become mature. Typically, the genetic characteristics of Poodles in Labradoodles cause the rich coat colors of black Labradoodles to fade. Fading may have them grow in lighter hues or even a distinct color as adult dogs. Many Labradoodles change color as they grow older, and some even later. When they shed their puppy fur and mature into their adult coat, it might seem darker or lighter. If your Labradoodle carries the dilute gene, genetics may also play a role. Genes are found in pairs, with each parent contributing one gene. Some genes will be dominant, while others will be recessive in this mix. The color of the dog is determined by the mix of the two. A charcoal coat will seem black, a chocolate coat will appear silvery, and a yellow coat will appear pale gold or champagne. This is because of the numerous combinations that may be produced when a Labrador and a Poodle are mated together. Because there are so many possibilities, there will be a Labradoodle hue to fit every future owner. Regardless matter the hue of your Labradoodle, it will be a devoted and loving friend. Black, cream, and gold are the most common hues. In most Labradoodle litters, there will be a black-coated puppy. To be considered as a real red Labradoodle, they must have a black pigmented nose. Rarer designs include abstract and phantom, in which the coat is a combination of colors with white making up less than half of the coat. Phantom is a two-color design with a base color and a secondary color that is the traditional phantom design. Markings on the forehead, beneath the chin, on the sides of the nose, and on the chest will be the secondary color. While phantom Labradoodles are uncommon, the most prevalent color combination is black and gold. Do Black Labradoodles Turn gray? Black Labradoodles can turn grey as they mature, due to the dilute gene they can inherit from one of their parents, even if the parents never showed them; some black Labradoodles turn grey within the first grey, especially after they shed their puppy coat. Within the first year, a black Labradoodle puppy may appear to grow greyer. Without being expressed, this dilute gene can be handed on. When pups are born, they are usually black and gradually brighten during the first year of their lives. This may appear to be your black Labradoodle going grey, but he was always a grey Labradoodle who appeared darker as a puppy. Why Do Labradoodles Change Color? Labradoodles start to change colors around 6 weeks after birth and as they mature into adult dogs, their color is prone to changing or fading. The presence of Poodle DNA in Labradoodles usually causes the rich coat colors observed in Labradoodle puppies to fade. Adult coats can fade to be many shades lighter or even a different hue as they age. Labradoodles change color due to the following reasons: Gender Female canines turn gray earlier than males, according to a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavioral Science. Health Problems Hypothyroidism is a rare condition that can make your Goldendoodle gray. An underactive thyroid gland leads to this disease. The gray will be reversed if you receive treatment for this disease from your veterinarian. Gray hair can be caused by various diseases of the liver and kidneys, but it is extremely rare. If you suspect a health problem, always see your veterinarian. Even healthy dogs can have a genetic predisposition to premature graying. Even puppies can have gray fur, which can start to turn silver as they age. Dogs carrying this gene are commonly found in poodles, bearded collies, and some sheepdog breeds. Since the gene is dominant, it can also be found in hybrids. Kemp Hair When Kemp hairs appear, they are usually found in the undercoat of the Goldendoodle. Because of the hollow middle and thin outer shell, the hair is extremely brittle and breaks easily. Stress or Anxiety Impulsive and anxious dogs tend to turn gray faster than non-aggressive, more comfortable dogs. Although the cause is uncertain, it is conceivable that stress causes the body to stop making pigments in the same way as before. Age Age is one of the most common causes of pet discoloration. This is extremely similar to the aging process we see in humans. The muzzle and face will be the grayest areas. In dogs, gray usually begins with the appearance of salt and pepper. Natural gray dogs can also show signs of aging, although these changes may be more difficult for you to detect. Gray canines may also begin to turn white instead of gray as they age. Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that causes loss of pigmentation in areas of the skin and hair. Although the exact cause of vitiligo is uncertain, many scientists believe it to be a genetic condition. Some dogs lose pigment all over the body, while others are only affected in specific areas. Skin pigmentation can also spread rapidly during the first few months after the onset of the disease. Fortunately, the symptoms of vitiligo are completely painless. Their eyes will most likely be a hazy blue tint when they do. This procedure will begin in around three weeks. Brown is the most prevalent eye color in dogs, and their color will have totally transitioned by 3 or 4 months. Can Black Labradoodles turn brown? Black Labradoodles can not turn brown, they can turn grey, especially when they shed their puppy coat, owing to the dilute gene they can receive from one of their parents, the dilute gene causes their coat to become lighter yet maintaining the same black to gold genetic ratio. Black Labradoodles can appear a bit brown on summer days due to sun exposure which can act like bleach in some ways; yet in winter days, your doodle will return to their deep black hue. The most popular colors are black, cream, and gold. Labradoodles of these colors, with the exception of the cream color, which may have a reddish-colored nose, will have a black pigment on their nose. There will be a black-coated puppy in almost every Labradoodle litter. They must have a black pigmented nose to be called a true red Labradoodle. Abstract and phantom coats, in which the coat is a mixture of colors, are rarer designs with white making up less than half of the coat. At the end of the day, all Labradoodles are magnificent dogs regardless of the color of their coats. They should be treated with the love they deserve and need. If you have a Labradoodle, you should consider yourself a lucky person, because there is quite nothing similar to their unconditional love in the world. Aim to enjoy every moment with them, and make your time with them as memorable as possible. You can start by learning how to make your bond with your Labradoodle stronger here. Before you jump into the related question section, you may want to find out how high maintenance your Labradoodle is in this post. Related Questions Why is my labradoodle turning grey? Your labradoodle is turning grey due to a dilute gene that they inherit from one of their parents. What is the rarest Labradoodles color? They must have a black pigmented nose to be called a true red Labradoodle; following red, pure white Labradoodles follow. Why is my black labradoodle turning brown? Your black labradoodle is turning brown or red due to exposure to the sun. Many professional dog grooming products contain sunscreen for fur, which will protect fur from damaging sun rays. Check out the best and healthiest foods for golden retrievers at every age here — Dry, Wet, Homemade Recipes, and Treats! Taking a walk? These are the best leashes, collars, and harnesses for the buck that you can find. Due to their genetic makeup, their coat color may change once the adult coat comes up. The most common Labradoodle coat shades are chocolate, caramel, red, cream, and parti. Coat Shades of the Labradoodle Chocolate: Born in a black shade, these Labradoodles turn a chocolate brown color when they grow up. The nose pigment is a rose shade with amber or brown eyes. Sometimes, the color of their skin may also be blue. Cafe: Born a chocolate brown color, these Labradoodle coats lightens over time. Nose pigment is a rose or chocolate color with a tint of hazel. The eyes are generally a brown shade. Parchment: Born a milky chocolate color and turning a smoky cream color when grown up. The nose pigment color is rose or brown. Caramel: Slightly darker than a cream Labradoodle, close to the color of caramel candy. These pups have rose colored nose pigment with a hint of honey along with hazel or amber eyes. Apricot: Born with a lighter color coat, similar to the caramel colored Labradoodle, that darkens over time. Their nose pigment color is typically black. Apricot Cream: With apricot colored ears, these Labradoodles have a lightly shaded coat. The color is usually warm cream with black nose pigment. Red: The rarest color of Labradoodle coat shades, these pups have a black nose pigment. They are also the hardest to breed. Cream: When born, these Labradoodles are slightly darker. Later they turn to a warm cream color. The nose pigment is black or rose colored. Raven Black: Born in a black coat, these Labradoodles have black nose pigment with shiny eyes. Sometimes their coat color can turn more of a silvery color over time. Light Blue: These Labradoodles are like black. When these pups mature, their fur color lightens and turns to a light blue or grey color. Parti Color: Often known as Parti Labradoodles, these pups have large swatches of white color. Red, black, or chocolate spots on a white coat are the most common. Phantom: These pups have secondary color markings near their eyes, chest, and chin. The Phantom Labradoodle has a combination of two colors, ideally black with a gold phantom. This color can do some interesting things! It can fade into at least three distinct, official Labradoodle colors! Go figure!! I have had one of my chocolate girls turn completely Lavender on her body but not the head, then within a year, go completely back to dark chocolate. So, like a good Boy Scout, when you purchase a chocolate Labradoodle, be prepared for anything! All are lovely, but they are almost impossible to predict with any significant degree of accuracy. Once again, be prepared for anything! Chocolate Colors Now we get to the fun part; the color combinations! This is where things get interesting. Partis can come in any color, with either color nose. Some are mostly white, while some have lots of color and less white. The ones that are mostly white are called "Extreme" Partis. The variations are endless and unique, like a snowflake. The colors, such as chocolate, on a parti can change in the same ways that they would on a solid dog. Often confused with "Parti" is a dog with heavy white mismarks or a Tuxedo. White mismarks can be very small or very heavy, or anywhere in-between. The puppy is born either Black or Chocolate and immediately begins to lose the dark color, revealing anything from a cream to a red underneath! The tips of the fur may retain their dark cast, but the dog will present as somewhere on the cream-red spectrum. I have included her picture below showing her in the middle of the changing process. The genetics of color are absolutely fascinating!

Have a look at this little golden fluffball: 2. Goberians have been trained to take part in a range of activities, from hunting and agility to guarding and search and rescue. This means that when you set boundaries, you must stick to them. You should also start obedience training with her from a young age. In other words, think: Golden, but with your foot on the accelerator. If not exercised properly, a Golden Retriever Husky Mix will resort to destructive behavior, which will just be stressful for all involved. So, how much exercise does she need? The answer at least an hour a day, plus lots of play. This dog does well at agility, fetch games, and she makes a great running or hiking partner. This will fulfill her need for a job, too, as she will be carrying a weight like her Husky parents. Further reading Dog Backpack Dos and Donts 4. Due to their size and energy levels, they need a place to live that provides adequate space for them to move around in. The ideal home for her is a house with a spacious garden she can run and play in. Alternatively, you can get large exercise pens to provide a secure and comfortable area for your dog move around in. They love being part of a family source Goberians are often described as having the drive of the Siberian Husky mixed with the gentleness of a Golden. This quality makes them great companions for a family with children, as their playfulness is usually paired with an awareness they need to be more careful around young ones. These are truly loyal dogs who bond strongly with their family and love to be around them. Their coat needs little maintenance Remember that dense double coat I mentioned earlier? The Goberian still needs groomingtwice a week for 5 minutes. This will remove loose hairs and keep her coat looking healthy and tangle free. For this reason, these dogs find it difficult to tolerate hot weather and are better suited to living in moderate to cool climates. During the summer, you should exercise her in the morning or in the evening to avoid higher temperatures. In the hotter months, be mindful that her water bowl will need constant refills. Also, make sure she always has access to a shaded area when she is outside. Plenty of exercise and a healthy diet are an essential part of keeping your pup in tip-top shape. In fact, there are specific ingredients that you can look out for in dog foods that can alleviate and, in some cases, prevent certain health conditions. Symptoms include joint pain and stiffness, limping, and, in severe cases, lameness. The main helpers here are glucosamine and chondroitin , which are often included in foods for large breed and senior dogs. Eye problems The Goberian can suffer from eye problems, including juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy, and progressive retinal atrophy, which they inherit from their Husky parent. While none of these conditions are life-threatening, they can all lead to blindness. Some foods containing high amounts of these antioxidants include: Cold water fish e. Amazing family dog, intelligent and easy to train, good natured and silly. CONS More prone to serious health concerns, high shedding and needs lots of exercise. Appearance Since these two breeds are quite different in appearance, a mix between them can be a strikingly beautiful dog. A Goberian might look more like a Golden Retriever with just one color to its coat, or it may inherit the Husky patterning. Look at this shy Golden Retriever Husky Mix! But there are other combinations a Goberian pup can have, too. Their eyes can be brown, blue, or they can have one eye with each color. Huskies and Goldens are both notorious shedders. Especially huskies! About twice a year, though, these dogs will go through a period of especially heavy shedding. A good bath, blow dry, and brush out will help loosen these tufts of fur so they can be removed or brushed out. When they are not heavily shedding, a quick daily brush-out is sufficient to keep their coat looking amazing and have less shedding around the house. The average Siberian Husky stands between 20 and .A Goberian usually ends up weighing anywhere from 45 to 85 pounds and standing at 20 to 23 inches. They often forget their own size and think of themselves as lap dogs, too. They really just want to stick to you like glue! Goberians tend to be incredibly sweet, loving, and friendly to everybody they meet. Goofy Goberian temperaments are the best! However, factors such as size, genetics, and health conditions can, of course, also play a part. Further reading: How old is my Husky in humans years? Intelligence Both parent breeds are recognized as intelligent dogs. Despite this potential stubbornness, they are high performers in areas like agility, obedience, dock diving, hunting and retrieving, or really any athletic competition that requires some smarts! So lots of exercise and fun activities is a must for this breed! Golden Retrievers seem to have a special affinity for water, so this breed may love going to the beach or lake and going for a swim! They often perform really well with hunting and retrieving, and dock diving! Golden Retriever Husky Mixes love retrieving frisbees! Goberians are definitely considered to be family-friendly dogs. Because of their Golden Retriever heritage, they are often very sweet and patient with children. However, the Goberian can sometimes get a little too excited and play too hard, which may not be ideal around especially small children. The Golden Retriever can run both at high speeds in short increments and at moderate speeds for long distances. Many people make Golden Retrievers their running or jogging partner or even hiking partner! Because of this, the Goberian is usually an all-star athlete. Behavior Goberians can be best described as happy-go-lucky dogs who have tons of energy and love to play. Because of all this energy, they can sometimes develop or engage in some bad behaviors because of boredom. For example, instead of playing with their toys, they may decide that their brand-new dog bed looks like the perfect victim to chew and shred to pieces! Thankfully, because the Goberian is an intelligent breed, they can easily absorb good behavior training. Additionally, so long as they are kept active every day, they are less likely to develop bad habits. Boredom is one of the leading causes of behavioral problems, so it is still important to start training early on. Consider enrolling in behavioral or obedience courses with certified dog trainers. Visit our Husky Behavior hub to learn more. Funny Goberian behavior! Huskies were originally bred by the Chukchi people in northern Siberia to be working dogs. They would use them to pull sleds full of food and equipment, and even keep the families warm at night! In the early s, when the Siberian Husky started making its way to Alaska, their popularity continued to grow. Eventually, they became a favorite breed of people all across the United States. And now, decades later, they continue to be one of the most popular dog breeds in America! History of the Golden Retriever Golden Retrievers were developed by a nobleman by the name of Dudley Marjoribanks, the first Lord Tweedmouth, in the Scottish Highlands in the mids. He developed a breeding program that started with an unusual yellow-coated sporting dog and added in other various retriever-type dogs as well as the Irish Setter, the Bloodhound, and the now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniel. Over a period of 50 years, Lord Tweedmouth kept meticulous records about his breeding program to create the ideal hunting dog, which ultimately led to the Golden Retriever as we know it today. The history of the Golden Retriever and Husky is almost as old as the sun! Especially for dogs as athletic as the Goberian, plenty of protein will be important. Visit our Husky Nutrition hub to learn more. Exercise The Goberian needs lots of exercise! They have lots of energy, especially from their Husky side. While they will love a leisurely walk around the block, they will also need something a little bit more intensive to really get their blood flowing. Even just throwing a ball around in the backyard so the dog can get some sprints in will be enough to help get some of that excess energy out. A typical recommendation is for a Goberian to get at least an hour of exercise every day, if not more. Instead, a couple of half-hour sessions will be good as well! Just a Goberian doing some exercise. Remember that grooming does not necessarily mean shaving, even though it may seem tempting, thanks to all their shedding! However, shaving a double coated dog can actually make shedding worse. In fact, a Goberian should never be shaved except in cases of medical necessity. Both the Siberian Husky and the Golden are double-coated, meaning that their coat has two layers. One that is a bit more coarse and thick on the outside, and the inner layer, which is more soft and downy. Having a double coat actually provides protection from sun damage as well as protection from extreme cold and heat. Shaving makes it more difficult for double-coated dogs to regulate their body temperature, and it can cause the fur to grow back coarse and even somewhat sharp to the touch. That aside, grooming for a Goberian will entail taking the pup to the groomer to get a bath and a good brush out. Or you can do it at home! Groomers will often be able to use an awesome deshedding shampoo and conditioner, which helps reduce shedding in the long run! They are also great at trimming their nails short and even smoothing them with a grinder or file. In addition to trips to the groomer, regular brushing will be incredibly important for maintenance. This Goberian is going to need some good grooming! Image from konathegoldenhusky Training Goberians are eager to please most of the time, thanks to their sweet Golden Retriever nature. However, they can sometimes act quite stubborn, thanks to their Husky background. Despite this, Goberians can be used for tracking, police and military work, and therapy work. Start training early for puppies. But do remember to keep it fun, no matter the age, and train in short increments. Puppies undoubtedly will lose interest and start getting distracted if training is longer than 10 minutes at a time, but bigger dogs can focus for longer. But usually, if you have a treat in your hand, a Goberian will follow you to the ends of the earth! Visit our Husky Training hub to learn more. Goberians are quick learners when training! They love to play and explore, and that can often lead to them getting into trouble. Try your best to stick to a routine for potty training and sleep time. Also, try to incorporate lots of play sessions in between nap times! That will help keep your puppy happy and out of trouble. Look at this cute Goberian puppy! Unfortunately, though, they are at an increased risk of developing certain health concerns. Hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, and osteosarcoma are just a few of the cancers that Golden Retrievers are more susceptible to than other dogs. A few other health problems that Goberians may be more prone to developing include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, bloat, retinal atrophy, and hypothyroidism. A good, nutritious diet and regular veterinarian check-ups will help ensure that these pups remain in good health. Visit our Husky Health hub to learn more. Golden Retriever Husky Mix Price The price for a Goberian puppy from a breeder usually lands somewhere between to 1, dollars. Since these mixes are sometimes the result of an accidental litter, they can sometimes be found in shelters or rescues. Depending on the shelter or rescue, the price could be as low as dollars for a senior dog to as high as dollars for a puppy. Visit our Siberian Husky Price hub to learn about the maintenance cost of Huskies. Cons: More prone to serious health concerns, high shedding and needs lots of exercise. Here are some Husky mix alternatives:. Confidence Protectiveness Husky Golden Retrievers are inclined to enjoy their alone time. They are not prone to having separation anxiety. However, it is not recommended to leave them alone for too long. You could find them trying to escape the house. Because of their nature, it is advisable to have this pet when you have a large backyard. This mixed puppy is known to be friendly and gentle to the family members. They usually get along with all the members and are affectionate to children too. They can be fans of cuddling. Golden Retriever Crossed with Husky puppies can be excellent watchdogs. With proper training and sufficient bonding with their owners, they are obedient and alert to suspicious people. They are quite protective of the family members when there is a threatening situation. Husky Mixed with Golden Retriever pups tends to have independent thinking. This trait comes from their Husky origin. At times, they may come off as obnoxious and act on their volition. They may be disobedient to your commands. When dealing with this behavior, it is crucial to remember that you need patience in caring for them. This mixed breed dog has a strong prey drive. They tend to chase smaller creatures. Be sure to keep an eye on other small animals such as cats and squirrels. Backyard Breeders Rescue Shelters Professional Breeders If you will spend money, I highly advise buying from professional breeders among these options. These people take good care of the dogs and prevent inbreeding to guarantee minimal health problems. Reliable breeders can provide you with results of genetic testing for the parent dogs and offspring, as well as records of vaccination and other pertinent documents. They also provide health clearances for the parent dogs. However, before buying from professional breeders, you can also consider visiting your local shelters to check if there is an available Golden Retriever Husky puppy and if you can adopt it. There are also rescue-centers that are breed-specific and non-profit. However, it is remarkable that the mixed breed of Golden Retriever and Husky do not shed much, and it is considered part of the low shedders. Aside from the aesthetic purpose of grooming, there are a lot more reasons to accomplish this activity. Developing a more intimate relationship Maintaining the cleanliness and physical health Bringing out the natural oil on the coat Avoid issues like bug infestations Checking anomalies and possible health problems Here is a list of the tools and equipment you will need for grooming this pup: Slicker Brush Cotton Ball Nail Clipper A regular grooming routine is essential in keeping the shiny and healthy coat of your Husky Golden Retriever Mix puppy. A fundamental step in the grooming routine is regular brushing using a slicker brush. Other steps include giving a bath, trimming the nails, and cleaning its ears. The use of a slicker brush over a pin brush is advisable due to its purpose of untangling mats or knots in the fur. Also, it helps in removing debris and loose hair. It can run through the thick layers of the double coat and facilitate effective grooming. Another advantage of this brush is its massaging quality since it has long pins. Massaging the skin of your pup will stimulate the production of essential oils for moisturizing the coat. Also, this will increase the blood circulation and promote health for the dog. This activity should be done at least once a week to decrease the amount of shedding and avoid matting of fur. In brushing the whole coat, you need to brush places of matting and thicker fur more diligently. If your dog has a collar, remove it when brushing the coat, and do not leave out the neck area unkempt. Cutting matted fur should only be done when you cannot brush out the mat. The next step is bathing your pup, especially when it is smelly and dirty. Some people proceed to trim the coat of the puppy before bathing it. It is your discretion if you will follow the steps to the dot. After lathering with shampoo and then rinsing the coat, you can opt to blow-dry the coat. The frequency of bathing will also depend on your decision, based on the smell and sanitary condition of the Golden Retriever Crossed with Husky puppy. After the bath, you will proceed to brush the coat again. Then, you will initiate the trimming process. In trimming, you should avoid trimming the entire coat. The double coat of your puppy functions as an insulation against the fluctuating weather. It also traps warm air on a cold day and cool air on a hot day. Usually, groomers use clippers for this process. However, you may opt to use thinning shears for cutting parts of the coat. You need to trim the fuzzy hair growth around the edges cleanly. You will trim the fur between the toes next. For cracked dog pads, you can apply Vaseline as a regimen. In trimming the legs, you will cut the unkempt fur to achieve symmetry and balance. The fur on the front of the legs is shorter than that on the back. The hair on the back of the legs should flare out slightly behind the dog. Similar with the legs, trimming the chest and neck should aim to remove the unkempt fur. It should be noted that you will move the thinning shears with the direction of hair growth. After the neck and chest areas, you will trim the fur around the ears. This step will help fend off parasites. Lastly, you will trim the tail. For this step, you will trim the length by tapering the tail, starting from the base to the tip. Part of the grooming process is checking for wax buildup in the ears and signs of an ear infection. You can clean their ears with a cotton ball and a dog-specific ear solution. You should never use a cotton swab for their ears. You can also use a cotton ball with mineral oil or microfiber cloth with mineral oil to remove debris from the eyes. The frequency of this activity depends on the rate of its toenail growth. Long names may break, and cause irregular gait and infection. If you do not have this much time in your hands, you should schedule appointments with trustworthy groomers around your neighborhood. Husky Mixed with Golden Retriever Puppies Health Problems Most of the Husky mixed with Golden Retriever dogs are free of fatal and congenital diseases, primarily because of their enlarged gene pool. Their average life span is 10 to 13 years. One condition you need to prevent is heat stroke. Since this breed has a dense and double coat, they do not tolerate heat as much as they tolerate cold weather. You should protect your puppy from overexposure to the sun and keep it well hydrated. Even if there is a reduced risk for the usual health conditions from the parent breeds, it is important to know the possible diseases your puppy may acquire, especially when it gets older. One these health problems is a cataract, an opacity of the eye lens. When your dog acquires this disease, its eyes will appear cloudy. One of the possible health problems is hip or elbow dysplasia. This is an inheritable disease wherein the thighbone does not attach properly with the hip joint. Elbow dysplasia involves joint laxity due to different growth rates of the bones of the elbow. Vaccinations are weapons against fatal diseases. There is a generally accepted guideline of puppy vaccination. Some of the recommended vaccinations are measles, rabies, and DHPP which is the combination of vaccines for distemper, adenovirus, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. By knowing the possible serious health issues of this mixed pup, you can be more watchful when your pup manifests some warning signs related to these possible conditions. Golden Retriever Mixed with Husky Food Requirements The following factors determine the amount of food you will give to your Golden Retriever mixed with Husky puppy: Age—choose a chow that is age-appropriate; our essential guides to the best puppy food brands and the best senior dry dog food will help you find the right one! Size—depending on the size, some pups will thrive on the best dry dog food for small dogs whereas others will be better off with the best large breed dry dog food Metabolism Level of activity The kind of food recommended for this mixed breed is dry food, preferably one of the brands featured in our best dry dog food guide. Commonly, medium to large dogs is given three to four cups of nutritious dog food, divided into two meals. Just like with human food, there are brands you should avoid at any cost. For your convenience, we singled out some of the worst dry dog food brands. Meanwhile, Golden Retrievers have a big appetite and are at risk for obesity. This classification means that you should provide them with lots of mental and physical stimulation. The duration of physical activity would be enough to maintain its weight and protect them from lifestyle diseases. I recommend walking, running, playing with Frisbee or tennis ball for your Golden Retriever Crossed with Husky puppy. If the Golden Retriever Husky mix puppy does not get enough physical and mental stimulation, it may exhibit behavioral problems. These problems include inappropriate barking, chewing, and causing property destruction. This breed is intelligent and fast learners. However, their independent side may antagonize your directions if training started late. An effective way to facilitate the training is by initially having short training sessions. To avoid possible destructive behavior that can be traced to their Husky origin, you should employ obedience training and leash training. You need to assert yourself as the leader by having consistency and clarity. A reliable way to do this task is making the puppy wait for its food. This act will establish your role as the provider and keeper of all the resources, such as the treats, food, toys, and other assets. During training, it is possible to encounter mischief and fluctuations in concentration. A way to prevent this situation is keeping the sessions short. However, you should be cautious and never leave your child and the dog alone. This action could aggravate and provoke the pet. Aside from the appropriate training for the dog, you should teach your child to avoid disturbing or playing with the pup when it is eating or sleeping. Golden Retriever mixed with Husky pups are affectionate to families. They have an innate loyal character, and they enjoy being around people. This trait is probably attributable to its Golden Retriever parent. Up to inches tall Between lbs Up to inches tall Between lbs Coat This Husky Mix has a double coat that is medium in length. Regular grooming can help with shedding, although we will go into more detail about that later on. Color The Goberian has a golden coat that is mostly taken from their Golden Retriever parent. However, it can also be different shades of gold or even to dark and white tinted colors, which can resemble the Husky more closely. Temperament The Goberian is a friendly, loving and outgoing dog that loves to be around people. This pup took the most desirable traits from both parents and is still affectionate and family orientated like the Golden Retriever, but is also very outgoing and playful like the Husky. Due to the fact that they are so active, they love to be around people and will thrive in an environment where they can exercise a lot. They make great playmates for children, but also love to spend time cuddling with their owners. Unfortunately, they can be prone to separation anxiety and do not like to be left alone. This is something to keep in mind if you are out for hours at a time. The Husky is quite a protective breed and often the Goberian can inherit this. They are not aggressive at all, but will feel they have dominance over strangers. Lifespan The average life expectancy of the Goberian is between 10 and 15 years. Known Health Issues Crossbreeding dogs often helps to eliminate health problems that the parent breeds are predisposed to. We have laid these out below. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. This can be passed down from both the Golden Retriever and Husky parents. Cataracts — you might suspect your dog has cataracts if they are constantly bumping into furniture. Fortunately, cataracts can be cured with surgery. Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch any of these issues before they become untreatable. Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced. Trusted breeders will do health checks on both parent breeds and will not crossbreed if there is a chance of passing on any severe issues to offspring. Daily Life Now we know all about the traits and characteristics of the Golden Retriever Husky Mix, it is time to take a look at what daily life with one of these dogs is actually like. We will cover their food and diet, their exercise needs and their grooming needs. Food And Diet As an active breed, the Goberian requires quite a lot of food. They need around 1, calories per day, which equates to around two to three cups of food, and should be split into two meals a day. Of course, you should always check the back of the dog food packet to confirm how much you should be feeding them of a certain food based on their exact weight. Ensure you feed your Goberian high quality kibble. Due to their exercise needs, they also require a lot of protein to keep their muscles lean. You can also buy a food that is formulated specially for large breeds. Take a look at the food we recommend below. As the Goberian is an active dog, they need a lot of protein in their diet. With chicken as the number one ingredient, this food is easy to digest and helps to promote nutrient absorption. Even better, this food is manufactured in the US so you can be sure it is safe for your pooch to eat. Exercise The Goberian dog is a very active breed with high exercise needs. You will need to make sure you can dedicate at least an hour of your day to walking this pup, although more would be preferable. They love to accompany you on hikes and walks and would benefit from a family who is constantly out exercising. If you overexercise them before this, then it can lead to health issues. They are an intelligent breed that like to be kept busy and entertained. An extremely active breed, they will thrive in an active household where they can accompany the whole family while you are out exercising. This breed loves children and makes an excellent playmate, loving to play games and engaging with humans. However, you should be careful when young children play with the Goberian — often these dogs can get frustrated. Due to their loving and affectionate nature, this hybrid dog fits well into many different types of home. This can be fixed with socialization, but you must make sure you give them toys to play with to keep them mentally stimulated while you are not at home. This will help to alleviate boredom and stop unwanted behaviors. Goberians are quite big animals with high energy and therefore need space to run around. These dogs are not suited to apartment living and benefit from a large backyard. If they do not have enough space, they may start to exhibit destructive behaviors. It is also worth noting that you and your family must be able to dedicate time to this dog for exercising every day, otherwise they will have a lot of built up energy and become very frustrated! Training The Goberian is not a difficult breed to train, but it does take time and patience from you. Because of their Husky parent, the Goberian can be a little cheeky and mischievous in training, so you must persevere. This is why training is so important — the older they get without training, the more mischievous they will get! All dogs respond well the positive reinforcement training, such as reward based training. This includes verbal praise and treats. You should never get angry at your Goberian because they will not understand and it will make them not want to learn. Socializing Socialization is important for any dog breed. You must be able to show your pup that there is nothing to be afraid of, so socialization should start at a young age. You should introduce them to new sights, sounds, places, smells, people and animals in a safe and controlled environment. This way, they will grow up to be a much more well-rounded and friendly dog. Grooming Due to their thick coat, you may think that the Goberian sheds a lot. However, they actually do not shed as much as their Husky parent and only require weekly grooming to keep their coat neat and not tangled or matted. Luckily, Goberians do not require much grooming and will only need a bath once a month, particularly when they are dirty. You can take them to the groomers if this is easier. The groomers will also be able to help you trim their nails, which should be done when necessary. This will prevent dental decay and disease. You can always use dental sticks if needed. Goberian Breed Traits. Because they are a cross between two dog breeds, the Goberian can have any mix of characteristics from the parent breeds. They may take on more traits of one parent or have a combination of both. Goberians are a relatively new designer dog breed that tends to be friendly, affectionate, and gentle. Because they are a mixed dog breed, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club. They tend to have a gentle and loyal nature. Goberians tend to get along well with children and other dogs. They can get along with other pets in the house, but may need to be introduced and socialized for it if they inherit the Siberian Husky prey drive. The Goberian is a moderately adaptable dog breed. Because of their energy, they are best suited for larger homes with a securely fenced-in yard where they can run. They can adapt to apartment living if they get enough exercise and attention. They tend to prefer cooler climates, but they do well in just about any climate. As with any dog breed, they are sensitive to extreme heat or cold. Despite the occasional independent streak, a Goberian thrives on affection and loves to be near their families. Plus, they tend to be easily bored, so they do not tend to do well with long periods of alone time. As with any hybrid dog breed, a Goberian can inherit all, a mix, or none of the potential health problems common to the parent breeds. Talking to the breeder about the genetic history of both of the parents and asking to see any health clearances can help ease potential concerns you may have. In general, the Goberian is intelligent and learns quickly, but the overall trainability of them will vary. They can be moderately easy to train or more difficult depending on the mix of characteristics from the two parent breeds. If the Goberian puppy takes more after their Golden Retriever parent, they will be easier to train and eager to please you. However, if they take after their Siberian Husky parent, they will be more difficult to train as they will be more stubborn and independent. Regardless, you will want to plan for puppy training classes, especially if you are a first-time dog owner. Plus, the classes offer opportunities for early socialization, which is also important. Because the Goberian is a mixed dog breed, their coat can come in a variety of coat colors. Their coat tends to be long and dense and may be straight or slightly wavy. They can range from light to moderate shedding year-round and may have two heavier shedding sessions as the seasons change. Bathing is an occasional requirement as needed and many Goberians only need a bath every months. Trimming nails on a monthly basis is usually sufficient. You want to make sure their ears are not trapping moisture, dirt, or debris that could lead to an ear infection. Thankfully, you can help prevent dental disease in your dog by implementing a good dental care plan. You can also supplement your efforts with vet-approved dental hygiene treats and chews, and even a specially-formulated dental care diet. The Goberian is a high-energy dog breed. They require a lot of daily exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. In addition to daily walks and some playtime, your Goberian is likely to enjoy running with you, going on a hike , and maybe even swimming. A fully-grown Goberian usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between pounds. A Goberian generally lives years. Goberian Puppies for Sale Thanks for visiting our Goberian page! Currently, we do not have any Goberian puppies available, but we can alert you when new Goberian puppies are available! Just enter your email address and click submit! Please enter a valid email address!

Our extensive collection features hundreds of stunning photos of these adorable canines in various poses, settings, and backgrounds. Type of Images Available Our collection of German Shepherd puppy images features a variety of different types of photos, including portraits, candid shots, outdoor and indoor images, and more. From close-ups of their expressive faces to action shots of them running and playing, our images capture the energy and character of this amazing breed. Our images can be used for a multitude of purposes, including websites, blog posts, advertisements, social media, books, magazines, and more. Whether you're sharing photos of your own German Shepherd puppy or you need images for a commercial project, our collection is a great resource. Tips for Choosing the Right Image Choosing the right image can make all the difference when it comes to creating a compelling design or message. Here are some tips for selecting the perfect image: Consider the mood you want to convey Think about the context in which the image will be used Look for images with high resolution and clarity Take into account the color scheme of your project and select images that complement it Choose images that have a clear focal point and aren't cluttered Why Choose Our Images? Our collection of German Shepherd puppy images offers a unique combination of quality, variety, and affordability. We pride ourselves in providing images that are visually stunning while still being accessible to a wide range of individuals and businesses. Plus, we offer flexible licensing options, including Royalty-free and Extended licenses, to fit your specific needs. With our images, you can create compelling projects that capture the essence of this beloved breed, no matter what your design or marketing goals may be. So why wait? Browse our collection today to discover the perfect German Shepherd puppy image for your next project! These pups are incredibly intelligent and capable canines who are ready to work. And German Shepherd puppies are too cute! Advertisement Remember, you can get any kind of dog, including a GSD, from shelters and rescues, so always adopt! They tend to be one-family pets, meaning they can be suspicious of strangers. They will help you redecorate your floors Do you have a hardwood floor? Although absolutely gorgeous, Shepherds are shedders to the max. Prepare for a snow globe of hair to poof off your pup any time you give them a big snuggle, which will be more often than not. Playing around is no game The German Shepherd is a very active breed and needs lots of physical stimulation and playtime. When you first get your puppy, playing may consist of nipping due to their herding background. When your GSD is fully grown, they may love to wrestle around and forget how big they are. These pups are always up for snuggling with others, including kids and other pets. Softies who are also busy bodies If you want a German Shepherd puppy in your life, you have to really want your dog to be a part of every little bit of your daily routine. Morning showers? Your pup will want to sit right outside to make sure you rinse off the soap. Your bed? Highly intelligent and curious, Shepherds want to know what is going on all of the time. German Shepherds will attach at the hip and make the right person the happiest dog parent on the planet. Remember, you can find just about any breed of dog you are looking for at a shelter or rescue. Though size varies between individuals, a standard German Shepherd weighs about 60 pounds. Whether you already own a German Shepherd pup or are looking into it, be prepared for a hefty lap dog! Continue to 7 of 16 below. They were originally bred for their striking good looks and intelligence, making for a great working dog on the police force and in the military. They were so cute that dog-lovers in other countries soon caught on and began breeding them themselves. Continue to 8 of 16 below. These dogs are very protective of their homes and family and make excellent guard dogs. Continue to 9 of 16 below. They need stimulation, even if they are a family pet and not a trained deputy. This can be in the form of playful games, puzzle toys, tricks , and obedience training. Otherwise, German Shepherds may show off some unpleasant behavior, like chewing. Continue to 10 of 16 below. Continue to 11 of 16 below. Continue to 12 of 16 below. They perk up as they grow older, making them look extra tall and important. Continue to 13 of 16 below. Beautiful all black and all white German Shepherds are out there, too. Continue to 14 of 16 below. Continue to 15 of 16 below. This breed is inherently athletic and courageous—nothing can stop them, not even water. Continue to 16 of 16 below. Their calm, confident demeanor paired with their recognizable looks makes them wonderful family pets and undeniably cool sidekicks. One even lives in The White House , so you know they're a big deal. Whether you're celebrating National German Shepherd Day May 10 or just need a pick-me-up with some smiling pups , you've come to the right place! Luna the Longhaired German Shepherd Luna's long mane looks absolutely stunning against the rocks. Plus, with a smile like that, this pup can steal anyone's heart. Who doesn't want to be lounging by the pool with a cup of coffee and getting some online shopping, er, work done? Just look at her stunning black coat and long tongue! Duke Enjoying a Pupsicle This German shepherd knows how to do summer right with a delicious homemade dog popsicle. Save some for us! Krut the Adventure Doggo What's more relaxing than hiking with your dog next to a beautiful waterfall? Krut's Instagram page is full of gorgeous pictures of his mountain adventures that have us itching for a weekend camping trip. Cliff's Boop-able Nose Now this is a snoot we need to boop! Cliff's Instagram always shows the smiling pup on tons of outdoor adventures. No wonder he's one of the happiest German shepherds we've ever seen! Koa's Beach Day This has everything you need in a cute German shepherd picture: a gorgeous background, floppy ears, and an adorably fluffy puppy with her tongue out. What more can you ask for? After only a few short minutes of brushing , it's like you have enough fur for a whole new dog! German shepherds have thick, double layered coats that are prone to shedding , so it's even more important for their owners to keep a regular grooming routine. You may just need to book an afternoon for the task. Sebastian the Birthday Boy Time to light the candles! Sebastian's first birthday bash included a matching bandana , banner, and birthday hat, as well as some adorable custom cookies. All he needs left for his big day is a dog-approved birthday cake. Flash's Floppy Ears German shepherds are known for their signature perked-up ears. But in their first few months, German shepherd puppies sport floppy ears until around the time they finish teething. So German shepherd puppy owners: take all the photos with those adorable floppy ears while you still can! But Odin here is clearly proud to be a German shepherd K.And based on his Instagram posts, this good boy gets the job done right. These good boys are clearly enjoying their day outside at the park and we couldn't be happier for them. Ace the German Shepherd Service Dog German shepherds are incredibly smart, making them wonderful service animals! When your job includes going to Disney, how could you not look as happy as this guy? Apollo Soaking up the Sun Apollo might be the coolest dog we've ever seen. From the effortlessly stylish sunglasses all the way down to his customized shoes, we know this good boy is living his best life. Was this page helpful?

Your puppy will be born and raised in our busy household. Our passion is to produce wonderful family pets with gentle loving temperaments that will bring a lifetime of happiness. We are extremely proud that the foundation of our lines have been trained as canine partner dogs and many of our puppies are therapy dogs and visit schools regularly. We have been breeding for a number of years and over these years we have seen many clubs come and go and we have been a member of some of them. We breed authentic Australian Labradoodles with lines that have been verified. We are content to follow our own path with strong ethics. We have an excellent reputation and we adopt the highest standards so you can be assured your puppy is an authentic Australian Labradoodle with bloodlines and health testing that has been verified. We follow a socialisation programme and temperament test all of our puppies before puppy pick day so we can help you make your choice. Temperament and health is always our first priority. We purchased our first Australian Labradoodle in and have been hooked ever since. Our dogs are our much loved family pets or live with their guardian families. Please contact us via email for more information. Access to our private puppy family area. A WhatsApp group for your litter. Both parents have been fully health tested with certificates available to view. Been bred in our family home by a 5 star council licensed breeder. Temperament tested and advice provided at puppy viewing. Call us today on Health Guaranteed All our puppies leave us with a full vet health check and a 2 year genetic health guarantee. Health Tested All our breeding Australian Labradoodles are fully health tested. We give our puppies the best start by following a tried and tested programme. Ethical Breeding We have the highest welfare standards which is why we hold a 5 star council licence. We believe every dog deserves a good life and this starts with the breeder. What our customers say.We travelled far to find her, and her knowledge, expertise and love for all things ALD is exceptional. After only a few days, Willow is already a huge part of our lives and so we are very glad that we chose Judy and RIpley's. Our dogs are very much our family pets. We are not a kennel, all our Australian Labradoodles have wonderful fulfilling lives either with us or our guardian families. Our dogs are for life and not just for breeding. The health and temperament of Australian Labradoodles is our number one priority, of course we breed exceptionally lovely puppies but our puppies health and temperament will always be our first priority. The Australian Labradoodle breed originated in Australia in the 's. The focus has always been on temperament, coat and quality through good health testing and planned matings. Our Australian Labradoodles are multigenerational, meaning both parents are Australian Labradoodles. Australian Labradoodles are very people focussed, they have a strong desire to please. Australian Labradoodles come in 3 sizes, miniature, medium and standard. Within my breeding programme I concentrate on miniature and mediums. Our Australian Labradoodles are extremely clever, sociable , comical and joyful. They are energetic when free and quiet in the home. We test their hips, elbows, eyes and genetics. When you purchase a Ripley's Australian Labradoodle you can be assured we have tested everything possible. We provide a 2 year health guarantee but we ask that our puppy families not give ingestible flea and worming treatments. Order of list is in order of deposits received. We have regular open days for people to come visit us and meet our dogs. We also arrange puppy meet ups in local areas. Once puppies are born they are allocated in order of list. Puppy pick day is held when puppies are around 6 weeks old, we find this is the best time for you to make an informed decision, their personalities are developed by this time. Puppy pick is done in reserve list order. We temperament test the puppies beforehand to help you in making your decision. Puppies go home at 8 weeks, vaccinated, microchipped and with a full puppy pack which includes, food, scent toy, shampoo and a comprehensive guide to help you through the first few weeks. We also offer a lifetime of support. We sell our Australian Labradoodles for a pet price, this price is for an Australian Labradoodle that has been permanently neutered or spayed before reaching 12 months of age. Intact or un-neutered and un-spayed dogs reaching over 12 months of age cost more. We are planning quite far out and once a place has been reserved we do not accept deposits from elsewhere. The commitment is on both sides. However I do understand that circumstances change therefore you may choose to switch litters up to two years away for a maximum of 2 litters. However, if my prices have risen in the meantime, your deposit will be deducted from the higher price. Our dogs are our much loved pets and live in our family home on our small holding in East Yorkshire with us. We have 9 acres with an acre of lake which they share with our goats, sheep, cats and chickens. Our puppies are born and brought up in our home with us, we make sure they are handled lots by our children, family and friends and are exposed to all the sights and sounds of a lively, loving family environment so when they leave for their forever homes, they are developing into sociable, well rounded, confident little dogs. At Lakeside Labradoodles, all our puppies leave at 8 weeks old after their first vaccination and full vet health check. Our vet has one of our puppies which is testament to us and all the time and love we put into our dogs. We are proud to be council licenced and follow the 5 star rating system that the government has set out in the new Animal Welfare Regulations brought out in .New posts will not be retrieved for at least 5 minutes. There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time. Click here to troubleshoot. Tilly is probably the nicest temperament dog we've had. Such a perfect dog. Nellie is our first dog and she is beautiful. She is such a character and we wouldn't be without her. Lottie has bundles of energy lots of character and is the kindest most loving dog and is amazing with our children. She is the best and we wouldn't be without her she's amazing xx. Site by Weborchard. Australian Labradoodles are dogs that have a very interesting history. They were first bred in the s by a member of the Australian Guide Dog Association who set out to produce a hypo-allergenic guide dog, for a blind woman who was allergic to dogs. They can be considered to be six in one, as six different breeds were used to create what I believe is the ultimate dog. They are gentle, smart, loving, playful and obedient. An extra bonus is that they have an allergy friendly coat and do not shed! Tootsie is a cuddly and very loving dog who adores children. She is very intelligent and has proved easy to train. Her gentle temperament means her puppies will be perfect for first time dog owners! She is an exceptionally pretty dog with a gorgeous thick and curly coat. Tootsie comes from my breeder friend from Poland, a wonderful lover of dogs who is respected and well known all across Europe. The dad of both sets of puppies is Miles, our amazing stud who comes from Spain. He is a wonderfully calm and gentle boy! He loves to play with other dogs, whether they are smaller, bigger, older or younger! Miles adores his family and enjoys learning new tricks as he is extremely obedient. He is a very pretty boy with a luxurious, thick brown coat. The Pups are now ready to go home! A deposit is required to reserve your puppy, please do get in touch for more details : - All of our dogs are extensively health checked, having passed all their hip, elbow and annual eye tests. As well as having extensive genetic DNA tests. We have done extensive remodelling to suit the needs of the little puppies as well as the mums! The puppies have an outdoor area built and designed exclusively for them and their needs. They are also potty trained and know basic commands. I will always be reachable for any questions! Please feel free to contact me or any of my other extremely satisfied customers who have welcomed one of my puppies into their homes. These organisations contain the most amazing group of breeders who only pick the best dogs to breed. Please check out my website which has links to all the popular social media!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Do you want to know how to fatten up a German Shepherd to make them gain weight in a healthy way? Are you worried that your German Shepherd is thin and underweight and want to know how to bulk up a German Shepherd for safe weight-gain? Is Your German Shepherd Underweight? Your dog should have a trim, athletic appearance. They are large breed dogs with fast metabolisms that are active and energetic in their daily lives. Fit German Shepherds may at first seem slightly underweight. They are lean, athletic dogs with a strong, firm figure and you should avoid learning how to make a German Shepherd fat. Instead, you want to bulk-up your German Shepherd to make them fit. But if you see their ribs protruding or their hip bones raised and easily felt when petting, this is a sign of being underweight. You should first check with your vet for possible medical issues. You want to know if they are gaining weight, losing weight, or remaining the same. This helps you to decide if your weight gain plan is working — or if you need to adjust your plan. If your dog continues losing weight or if you see a lack of progress, take your dog back to your veterinarian. You need to see this as a long term plan and not an overnight fix to get your German Shepherd fat and by fat, I mean bulk-up not obese or overweight. Look for foods that have a higher percentage of fat and protein than your current food. Adults and seniors should eat about 20 to 25 percent of their daily calories from protein and 25 to 50 percent from fats. The rest of the calories should come from carbohydrates. This is anywhere from 8 months to a year or longer. Change to Puppy or High-Performance Food If you have an adult dog, switch them to a puppy or high-performance dog food to help them gain healthy weight. Both puppy and high-performance also known as a working breed food is higher in calories to support complex energy needs and sustained growth. Puppy foods generally have added nutrients to support puppy growth which can help your underweight German Shepherd gain weight and fatten up in a controlled manner — which is what you want. Mixing regular adult and puppy or high-performance food helps your GSD gain weight and fat in a regulated manner. For More Calories Feed Dry Kibble Dry kibble dog food generally has more calories if you want your dog to gain weight. Dry kibble is denser and contains more calories than wet food because the moisture has been removed from dry foods. Therefore, dry food has up to 4 times the number of calories as the same amount of wet food — dry kibble is a weight gaining powerhouse! If your dog is currently eating wet meals, then try mixing in some dry food with their wet food to help stimulate weight gain. Wet foods may taste better to your dog, so mixing in the dry foods with the wet still encourages your dog to eat in order to not lose more weight. Look for dry food with higher protein and fats to encourage weight gain in a healthy manner and go with one of the foods mentioned above for fat gain that is healthy. Begin by feeding your dog a bit more of their current food spread out over one more meal per day. Add a quarter to half a cup of extra food per meal. You can also take their regular feeding and the additional food and increase their feeding schedule to four times per day, splitting the food equally at each feeding. If your German Shepherd is picky about when they eat, then it may help to leave food out for them all the time. This is called free feeding. Dogs who can free feed tend to gain more weight than dogs fed on a schedule. Free feeding allows your dog the chance to eat a little whenever they are hungry or bored. This type of feeding may help them eat more overall. But only use free feeding with dry food, since wet foods spoil when left out for more than a couple hours. They may follow you around rather than eat when you offer their food bowl — this may be especially true of Shepherds since they tend to get fixated on their caretaker. But, just keeping your dog company while they eat may stimulate their appetite. Find a comfortable spot to sit and wait on your dog while they eat. Bring a book or do a quiet activity while they eat close to you. Simply sit with them and enjoy your time together while they eat. Keep the treats handy and offer them to help get extra calories into your dog. Adding these foods into their regular kibble may also entice them to eat more of their dry dog food, which can help an underweight puppy or adult. They also add extra calories which are healthy and nutritious. To get your dog more interested in their food, try sprinkling on a topping to their usual meals. You can even buy healthy toppers that are easy to add. Seniors, adults, and puppies all have various nutritional concerns. Most commercial and pre-made dog foods specify their intended age range on the packaging and state what groups the food is aimed at feeding. Underfeeding a German Shepherd puts your dog at a serious health risk. You need to make sure they get enough food for their age and energy needs. Puppies generally eat almost double the number of calories an adult dog needs, so be sure to check out this post on what amount to feed a German Shepherd puppy to keep them healthy. While a senior GSD may eat significantly fewer calories, if they are losing weight or underweight and a vet has been consulted, they may need extra feedings or food to help them gain the weight back. German Shepherds thrive on consistent physical activity. Walking and swimming are activities that build muscle and are lower impact and less intense on their joints and bones. They can be done every day to keep your dog active and help them to maintain their muscle mass. But these two exercises can be performed at a lower intensity so that even older dogs and puppies can enjoy their benefits make sure your puppy can swim first. Keeping muscle mass is important to prevent wasting and help maintain their health and mobility, as well as their athletic appearance. Try walking up hills to improve muscle growth or a gentle game of tug using a spring pole in which your dog can start and stop on their own. Some of the herbs used to increase human appetite are also safe for use in dogs. Dandelion is available in this for-1 multivitamin , along with other herbal supplements to make your GSD gain weight. B vitamins are natural appetite stimulants and are readily available over the counter and online. Visit Your Vet Regularly Always see your vet regularly. Regular vet appointments are especially important for your underweight German Shepherd. Your vet will use your notes to help make medical adjustments, as necessary, and to give you the right tips and advice. Helping Your German Shepherd Gain Weight Knowing how to fatten up a German Shepherd can help you and your dog achieve their ideal weight and maintain this healthy condition. There are many reasons why your dog or puppy may not be gaining weight. But there are also ways to help your dog at home to become healthier and have more energy. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. If you normally feed your dog once in the morning and once in the evening, add in one more meal right before bed. Start by feeding them the same amount spread out over more meals. If this does not help them gain weight, you may need to give them more food, adding a quarter to half a cup per meal. This type of feeding schedule allows your dog to nibble a little whenever they are hungry or bored, which may help them eat more overall. Keep in mind that free-feeding may not work for your dog. For some dogs, the excitement of getting their food at certain times during the day makes them eat more than if it was available to them all the time. Treats should not be a primary calorie source for your dog. Giving them a few extra treats throughout the day, though, can help your German Shepherd gain some weight. Some dogs find treats from your fridge to be more appealing than treats from a bag. Give your German Shepherd small amounts of cooked chicken mixed with rice, a spoonful of peanut butter, a scrambled egg, or some apple slices every day in addition to their normal food. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. A sprinkle of rice, a couple heaping spoonfuls of pumpkin, a bit of wet food, or a big spoonful of peanut butter mixed in with dry food could intrigue your dog into eating. Coconut oil has a lot of calories, and it's easy for dogs to digest. It can be a minor issue or flat-out hazardous. So, we applaud you for trying to learn why you have a skinny German Shepherd. Excessive Exercise It could be likely that your skinny male German Shepherd is overly active and getting a lot of exercise. More work means more food, not just any food but those high in calories. Dental Issues We often let dental problems in our dogs go unnoticed. It can be a sore, abscess, ulcer, or even broken teeth and gum infections. It can cause weight loss over time or even spread to other areas in the body if not treated quickly. Health problems that affect their weight can range widely. Parasites and worms are common issues in many dogs, while more severe problems like cancer and heart disease also cause unusual weight loss. Look for other symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and dizziness as they usually accompany weight loss when the dog suffers from a serious health issue. Your dog can get undesirable effects too. Not getting enough attention, training , exercise, or not socializing enough can lead to anxiety in your dog. Other causes include moving to a new home and bringing home a new pet. Think about what might be causing stress in your dog and consider how you can improve its overall living quality. Genetics Sometimes, the reason for a skinny German Shepherd can be as simple as its genetic factor. Most working German Shepherds are lean, so your dog will most probably be skinny because it is from this bloodline. Try to recollect how it looked when it was younger. Aging causes dental problems and appetite loss, which makes them skinny. However, it can also be because of deeper health problems brought about by aging, like cancer. Here are some effective options you can consider: Visit the Vet The foremost thing to do when your German Shepherd is suddenly losing weight is to see a vet. Consider Puppy Food Puppy food contains ingredients that help puppies grow rapidly and healthily. Try feeding puppy food to your older dog to let it gain weight. However, consult with the vet before implementing this step to ensure safety. Try Wet Food German Shepherds with dental problems will benefit tremendously from wet food. It is much easier to consume, making your pet want to eat more. Let Them Eat When They Want German Shepherd parents who cannot make time to give them multiple meals daily should consider leaving the food out for them to eat anytime. Leave dry food instead of wet food, as they will remain fresh for longer. Homemade Treats Might Help Making treats for your dog at home ensures a healthier diet. Cheese and peanut butter are great options. While buying them, make sure to look for those high in calories. Note: Steer clear of grapes and chocolates while preparing homemade treats for your GSD. It can also relieve you to know that your pooch is gaining weight, even if slowly. The Takeaway Whether you have a skinny female German Shepherd or a male one, seeing them lose weight can be disheartening. While some breeds are lean by nature, a variety of underlying health issues might be causing it. Take it to the vet to rule out all possibilities, or treat them ASAP. You can also help your dog gain back weight by following the above measures. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. Cutting back on treats. Take your dog for a walk before mealtime. If your dog is not eating after min, take the bowl away and allow her to skip the meal. Feeding your pet on a regular schedule, usually at least twice a day. Let your dog eat in a quiet corner without distraction. Make mealtime fun, such as letting her play with a food dispenser or rewarding your dog with food for doing a trick. You might even put a few pieces of food on the floor. But be careful GSD are can get bloat with an elevated eating position. Switch to a different kind of food, such as wet food if you normally feed your dog dry food. Why do dogs become overweight? On the other hand, being overweight can also lead their other health issues such as arthritis, diabetes, joint injuries or high blood pressure. So you also need to be aware of your dog is overweight. Although German Shepherds are active dogs, they still can become overweight for many reasons. The obvious ones are: Overeating: Too many calories, or the wrong type of calories Aging: As dogs age, they lose muscle mass over time, which leads to slower metabolism and weight gain. Osteoarthritis: This frequently causes hip pain. The more overweight your dog is, the greater the strain placed on their joints. Unfortunately, the pain caused by osteoarthritis makes it harder for your dog to exercise. Hip dysplasia: Your dog may experience pain when the hip is touched, which eventually deters them from moving around. Here are our top tips for how you can help your dog lose weight: Cut back on the snack or treats Choose high-quality dog foods Reduce processed carbs; replace them with healthy proteins and vegetables. They may have food recommendations for overweight dogs, and your vet can help ensure your dog is getting adequate nutrition. How do I know if my German Shepherd is healthy? Much like humans, preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best ways you can do to ensure your dog is in top shape. Health costs for a big dog like a German Shepherd are more expensive than their smaller dogs. Treatment for many conditions can cost thousands of dollars. Dog insurance or cost-sharing service is certainly a good investment to prevent you from breaking the bank, by covering the medical expenses in the worst-case scenario. Some plans are also available to cover the cost of vaccinations, vet exams, congenital conditions, and more. Conclusion Helping your dog maintain a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. At the end of the day, keeping your GSD at a healthy weight will ensure a lifetime of health and joy for both of you. More on German Shepherd Health and Care. So too will a GSD that is consuming low-quality food in general. Getting the calories right! Moderately active German shepherds need around calories per day, whereas highly active German shepherds need around calories per day. Highly active working GSDs may even need upwards of calories. Either the quality of the food is fine, but the portion sizes are too small too few calories , or the quality of the kibble is lacking. Again, this ties into calorie consumption. If your GSD is super active over 3 hours of exercise a day , she will likely need calories per day. Health issues In most cases, health issues are the cause of sudden weight loss. Health issues that affect weight can range from harmless and treatable all the way to serious, even fatal issues rarer. Common problems like worms and parasites particularly in puppies can cause weight loss. Rarer and more serious things like heart disease and cancer can also cause weight loss. Health problems usually always come with multiple symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness, or any noticeable change from her normal self. If this is the case, then it would be evident right from puppyhood. If you were lucky enough to see the mum and other puppies in the litter, they would have all been similarly skinny. Some GSDs are just smaller than others. Stress and anxiety Just as stress can have many undesirable effects on us, it can do the same with our furry friends, too, weight loss being one of them. Common reasons include spending too much time alone, not receiving enough exercise, attention, or training. Additionally, it could be down to a change in their environment like moving homes, new neighbors, or even the addition of a household pet. Consider your GSDs overall quality of life, basic needs and think about the possibility of them being stressed. Bad eating habits Fussy eating is something many owners have to deal with at some point. The issue is that this could be the cause of weight loss. Once again, it comes back down to the calories in versus the calories out. I have an entire article dedicated to why your GSD might be refusing their food. Dental issues If your GSD is suffering from any kind of dental complaint, this could cause them to refuse their food and lose out on calories. So I think it deserves its own section. In fact, this was actually what happened with my GSD when she was 7. After refusing her food and simultaneously losing weight, I checked her mouth to find some serious gum irritation thankfully not gum disease. We got that resolved with the help of our veterinarian, and her appetite came back right away. Aside from using the scales, one of the best ways to know if your GSD is underweight or not is to simply feel them and look at their waistline. Ribs Run your hand along their side with light pressure. You should be able to feel their ribs a little this is normal! Waistline Waistline abdominal tuck should be noticeable but not extreme. Check out this chart from Petcarerx source. If the weight loss has happened suddenly for no obvious reason, it is advised to see a vet. Important note: If you suspect your GSD is losing weight for an alternative reason like stress or dental issues, the best solution would be to address those issues instead of adjusting their diet. Always consider the cause first. Add wet dog food My all-time favorite way to stop fussy eating while adding a boost of nutrition and calories is to mix in a small amount of wet dog food to their kibble. This is a known and safe method that veterinarians recommend to help with weight gain. Mix in some wet dog food preferably the same brand , and your GSD will likely benefit from this greatly. Add it once a day or every other day. This will enhance the flavor and beat most cases of fussy eating. Just ensure the meat broth you use is a healthy option without a high salt content or artificial flavorings or additives. Increase portion size Assuming you are already using a high-quality kibble and your GSD is getting on well with it no digestive issues or diarrhea , then it could be a simple matter of increasing the portion size. Be sure to check the back of the bag and work out how many calories you are adding. This is a noticeable difference for a dog, so you should see some changes in weight over weeks. Avoid giving too many treats Although we are trying to add calories and encourage weight gain, treats are not the solution to this. Especially if your GSD is refusing the food anyway. These brands focus on high-quality ingredients that are fresh and close to their natural state. Brands like these also prioritize protein and fat over carbohydrates, which is an instant sign of higher quality. Inferior brands are known to use carbs to bulk out their food while keeping prices cheap. In addition to this, canines, in general, are better adapted to eating a wild diet. Wild diets are high in protein and fat while low on carbs. This results in better digestion and absorption of the food they are eating. Just remember to change foods gradually over the course of days, phasing out the old and incorporating more of the new. This should prevent stomach upset. Additional articles that may help:. So as well as checking for a loss of weight you should also look for the following. Dull, Lifeless Coat A dull lifeless coat is also another sign of an underweight german shepherd. Once again without the proper nutrients in their diet, their body will begin to suffer. In a lot of cases, the quality of their fur will suffer first. On top of this, when the body gets too starved of energy it will begin to eat itself. And muscles are the first thing to go. This might show itself in a loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. And it can also be a sign of a serious health issue. Ribcage Showing In extreme cases, an underweight german shepherds ribcage will show. You should never allow your dog to get to this point, however, if you do then you need to take them to the vets immediately. Looking Down At Them When your german shepherd is standing up, stand over them and look down. They should look bulky and full. Slimming at the waist is to be expected as well. Feeling Their Ribs Another great test is to run your hands along their ribs. In a healthy dog, you should be able to feel their ribs ever so slightly under a small amount of fat and muscle. However, if your german shepherd is underweight his ribs will feel like skin and bone. And if it is, are you feeding them enough? On top of this food also has different calories. Check out the best food for german shepherd puppies. This is one of the reasons you need to take your dog for frequent check-ups at the vets! Dental Problems A lot of the times dogs have dental problems that you may not even be aware of. For example, one of my labradors had a tooth that chipped and went rotten. However, if it was, it would have only been spotted by accident. As well as having a broken tooth there are also other dental problems that may be causing your german shepherd to stop eating. Diabetes One symptom of diabetes in dogs is weight loss. However, as well as weight loss you may also notice symptoms such as excessive thirst, urination, and urinary tract infections. If you think this is the case then you can try changing their food and leaving them to eat by themselves. You Have An Old Pup! As your german shepherd enters their senior years they may begin to eat less and less. Things that seem small to you could be stressful to your german shepherd, and their weight loss could be caused by this. Find out more common reasons your german shepherd may not be eating or what to do if you have an overweight german shepherd! How To Fatten Up A German Shepherd When you notice your german shepherd is underweight then your best choice is to consult a vet and make sure nothing is wrong with them. However, if your vet has given them the all-clear, then here are some great ways you can help your german shepherd gain weight. If this is the case, then you should consider swapping to a different type of food. You should look for foods that are high in protein and fat. Check out the 5 best foods you can feed a skinny german shepherd. Try Puppy Food As well as using high-calorie dog food you could also give your german shepherd food made for puppies. This type of food is designed to sustain a puppy when their growing. If you do plan on feeding your german shepherd puppy food make sure you consult your vet first. Two big meals and one small meal have the added benefit of already being similar to the routine they have now. Secondly, if your German shepherd realizes they can eat whenever they want, they may end up eating even less than before. If you feed your german shepherd to many treats then they may end up being too full to eat their regular meals. Apples, bananas, peanut butter, eggs, and strawberries are all great choices! Giving them peanut butter and cheese is a great way to introduce excess calories in small amounts. However, when giving your german shepherd home-made treats remember there are some foods that are fine for humans but not for dogs. Stay away from chocolate and grapes and make sure you check before introducing anything new to their diet. Add Home-Made Food To Their Meals Chicken and rice is a staple for my dog whenever they have an upset stomach, however, it can also be used as an addition to their regular dog food. As well as chicken and rice you could also try adding egg and pumpkin. Wet food is going to be a lot easier for them to eat, and once they can eat easily they should start gaining weight again! FAQ Here are the answers to your frequently asked questions in relation to a skinny german shepherd! They grow at different rates and oftentimes they may end up being skinny and gangly. You should be able to feel your german shepherd spines, however, you should also be able to feel skin and muscle around it too. A male german shepherd should weigh between lbs and a female german shepherd should be between lbs. This should also be in proportion to their size though. So they do definitely tend to have sensitive stomachs. Cheaper than replacing everything they might break. And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone. And the best part is it also has a day money-back guarantee! You can also check out a full review here , to learn exactly what the course has to offer! Recap As you can see there are plenty of things you can do to help your german shepherd gain weight. There are also plenty of things that may be causing them to lose weight. Give them puppy food as it supports growth. Try feeding them more meals a day or letting them free feed. Give them more treats and try making homemade treats. Add homemade food to their meals such as rice and chicken, peanut butter and pumpkin. Lastly, journal their meals and weigh them regularly. If you liked this article or have any more questions leave them in the comments below, otherwise have a great day! Related Posts:. Your veterinarian can check for worms with a stool sample. Certain types of worms such as roundworms can be fatal in puppies if left untreated, so it is crucial that you take your puppy for regular checkups. Has your Puppy Been Traveling Regularly? If you feel that your GSD puppy is too skinny, consider if you have been taking it along for car rides on a consistent basis. Many puppies experience motion sickness. This does not necessarily mean that they will vomit or have an upset stomach only. Some puppies will do neither, and instead, decrease their eating to the point of losing weight. If this is the case, limit the amount of time your puppy spends traveling in a car. This will allow your puppy to have you as a reference point and a distraction. Provide a small puppy bed on the seat. Make sure that the temperature in the car is neither too hot or cold. Pay attention to how you drive. Often times we take our driving for granted without considering the comfort of our passengers. Puppies can be especially sensitive during car rides, so be sure to take turns gently, and do not brake or accelerate suddenly. A change in the environment is a common cause of a longer-term loss of appetite and weight loss in puppies. A change in environment for your puppy does not just mean that it has moved from one physical location to another. They learn and function well with routine. This can sometimes result in a long term lack of appetite and weight loss. You may likely find that if one or more of the above changes are addressed, that your puppy will resume a normal eating schedule and quickly bounce back from being underweight. Your GSD puppy needs adequate nutrients in its diet for growth and to maintain a healthy weight. GSDs are considered medium to large-sized dogs, and they need to be fed the appropriate breed-formulated dog food, especially as puppies. If you are not feeding it the right formulation for its breed size, this can result in undernourishment and a skinny puppy. Tweet We get a lot of questions from German Shepherd owners about how to keep weight on their pups. Chronically skinny, underweight Shepherds can be heartbreaking for an owner who is desperate to put weight on them. What do I do? Schnauzers can have this problem too. So what is it? Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or EPI is a condition in which the pancreas is not able to produce adequate enzymes to digest and absorb food properly. To determine if this is the case with your shepherd, make an appointment with your veterinarian and request some blood testing. Shepherds are also susceptible to pancreatitis so it's important that you think preventatively! So what can you do if your shepherd has EPI? Your first line of defense as a pet owner is choosing the type of food and supplements you put into your shepherd. Try the following: Provide as many dietary enzymes as possible. Our recommendation is by feeding a raw diet. Raw meat, bones, organs, and juiced veggies combined will contain all the necessary enzymes for better digestive function. By relieving the pancreas of having to produce additional enzymes you can prevent pancreatic inflammation Pancreatitis. Shepherds that are fed only processed or cooked diets are often missing these vital nutrients. Suggestion: A rotation of our 3P veggies 1 and 4 is a great way to give natural-source vitamins and minerals as well as metabolic support for a dog suffering from a pancreatic disease. This may be a bit gross for some, but excellent for your pup! Add a good portion of raw, green tripe to the diet. Green tripe, an animal stomach that smells horrible, but it works! If fed raw not canned it contains the highest levels of digestive enzymes available in a natural form. Wild canines eat the stomach of their prey first because of this fact. Your shepherd will benefit too. Us it as a supplement on top of regular food portions. Ensure you are purchasing freshly frozen, grass-fed tripe. Provide a canine-specific digestive enzyme supplement that includes ox bile and a variety of other digestive enzymes. This will also provide some extra digestive support. Start slowly and build up to a full dosage if your shepherd is experiencing regular diarrhea. Keeping the gut flora in good working order will help your dog to absorb as many nutrients as possible. Good bacteria in the gut will also help with enzyme production, so don't leave the good bacteria out! Look for canine-specific, high potency, multi-strain probiotics with a pre-biotic added. Feed a lean, low-fat raw diet. High-fat diets can overwork the pancreas and the liver and are not recommended for shepherds with EPI or other pancreatic dysfunction. High-quality lean protein will help pack on the pounds for shepherds having difficulty gaining weight. Steer clear of lamb, duck, and other naturally high-fat meats. Cook yams or squash to add as low-glycemic carbohydrates. Cooked yams and squash are more nutritious and easier to digest than other forms of carbohydrate, such as rice or oatmeal. Also yams and squash pair better with the digestibility of raw foods. Remove the skin, unless vegetables are organic then you can keep the skins on. Make all dietary changes slowly and add one thing at a time.

When you bring a new puppy home, it's important to keep feeding it the same food that it has been eating at its previous home. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source Talk to the person or organization that you are adopting your puppy from to see what food they are feeding it. They should willingly provide that info and they may even send you home with some if you can't find any to buy. If you can't find the right food in your local pet supply store, consider ordering it online. However, you would need to order it ahead of time so that you have it on hand when the puppy comes home. If you want to feed your puppy a different food from what it has been eating, you will need to switch its food over the course of several days. Feed that mix for several days. Finally, you can give the puppy all new food. If you are content to give your puppy the food it was originally eating, it's fine to do that. Every puppy will have different nutritional needs. Because of this, it's a good idea to discuss proper nutrition with your vet. They can suggest great foods to give your puppy and how much it should be eating. Go to source The right portion size depends on the size of your puppy and its metabolism. Ask your vet to teach you how to body score your puppy. This will allow you to do a quick visual check to see whether your puppy is losing or gaining weight. Tip: If your vet suggests a specific food but doesn't tell you how much to give your puppy, follow the instructions on the packaging. Doing 3 or 4 feedings per day allows your puppy to get enough nutrients without overwhelming its digestive system with a huge amount of food at once. This is especially important when your puppy is under 6 months old, as they have delicate systems. Go to source Don't just leave the food out all day. Take the food away after the puppy eats for about 10 or 15 minutes. Lab puppies should always have access to fresh water so that they can stay adequately hydrated. Put out a dish of water and dump it out, clean the dish, and refill it daily. Some puppies are really messy with their water dishes. To prevent a mess, try putting the water dish on a tray, so that spilled water won't go right onto the floor. Helpful tips for caring for your puppy About the Labrador Retriever The Labrador Retriever originated in Canada in the 19th century and is now a world-wide beloved dog breed. These dogs are medium-sized dogs, females have a height of .Their average weight as an adult is pounds for females and pounds for males. They have a life expectancy of years. When it comes to their temperament, Labrador retrievers are very loyal, friendly and affectionate companion dogs. They are known for being very social towards strangers and other dogs. Labrador retrievers also come in three colours : black, brown or yellow. These dogs are very active as they need plenty of walks, play time and affection. They are great with children and make a great companion dog. If you're thinking of adopting a Labrador retriever puppy, keep reading as we go through how to care for them! Learn more about the Labrador Retriever in our breed sheet. When to collect your Labrador puppy You can adopt and collect your Labrador puppy once they are 8 weeks old. This way, you make sure that they have had enough time to socialize with their family, mother and siblings. It also makes sure that they have developed good bite moderation before being adopted to their new family. Other advantages are that they have had time to drink their mother's milk and properly wean off. They will also feel more independent and will transition better to their new home after being 8 weeks old. We also encourage you to check out your local animal shelter before buying from a breeder. Where your puppy should sleep the first night When it comes to sleeping at night, your puppy will have some difficulties. This may be due to the new environment and new people. They may feel unprotected and disoriented. For this reason, it's normal to hear them cry as they may be calling their mother for guidance and company. Now that you've adopted this puppy, this is your job as their human companion. When they call out, try to be there for them as they are scared and lonely. Be understanding as your puppy learns to adapt to their new home. As a puppy is very dependent and on their first night they will feel scared and disoriented, it's best they sleep near you on their first night. Remember that puppies tend to sleep with their siblings and their mother. Being alone in a new place for the first time will be difficult for them. The best option for your new puppy is to sleep in their own bed inside your room, near you. So that if they feel scared or lost and cry, you can let them know that you are there with them. Once they feel more oriented and safe in their new home, you can move their bed to another location where they can sleep. Learn more in our article where we elaborate on how to prepare for your puppy's first night in their new home. What to feed your Labrador retriever puppy When feeding your Labrador retriever puppy, you will need to provide them with a rich and balanced diet. Keep in mind that puppies begin weaning when they are around weeks old. This means that they will slowly transition from their mother's milk to a solid food canine diet. A natural canine diet mainly consists in essential fatty acids and meat-based protein. The protein should have two or three types of protein from meat. For example: whole chicken, lamb, beef and fish. For fat sources, you can opt for chicken fat. Good fat sources can solute some of the most important vitamins a dog needs. When it comes to carbs, it should be kept in a low amount as dogs thrive on meat. If you are cooking for your dog, then we recommend to include low amounts of whole carbs, such as sweet potatoes. Lastly, you can offer some fruits and vegetables that provide good vitamins and minerals to help your dog's over-all health. Training your Labrador retriever puppy Labrador Retrievers are very active and intelligent dogs. Other than daily exercise, they will need basic dog training. Yes, even as a puppy! You can begin training your dog with paper training. Learn more about that in our article about paper training for puppies. You can then begin to teach them basic commands, such as to sit, stay, or even to play fetch. Remember to always train them for short amounts of time each day, not exceeding 15min, and always through positive reinforcement. This way, training will be enjoyable for them and will help you create a greater bond with them. To learn more, read our article about when to start training your puppy. Exercising your Labrador retriever puppy Your Labrador retriever puppy will needs plenty of exercise. Due to their small size as a puppy, this will mostly be at home. They will begin by playing with their siblings and walking or running around the house. Then, after their first round of vaccinations, usually around the age of 7 weeks old, puppies will begin to go outside. This is a very important part of their puppyhood as they will learn to go out on walks with their caregivers and will begin their socialization period. During this period, they will meet and interact with new people and other dogs. They will also explore new places. It's very important that during this period they have good interactions and don't get traumatized. When a puppy is well socialized from a young age, they will have a balanced temperament as adult dogs. Learn more in our article about socializing puppies. Hygiene care Next, we're going to talk about maintaining our puppy's hygiene. As Labrador puppies haven't grown their full coat, they won't need to be brushed regularly just yet. A bath is only necessary when they get very dirty on their outdoor walks. Dental hygiene is also important when it comes to caring for a puppy. You can opt for a dog tooth paste or a dental canine treat. Talk to your veterinarian to see which would be best for you puppy, and learn more in our article about dental hygiene for dogs. Other than that, we must make sure that their everyday environment is also clean and that we refresh their water bowl everyday. This way, our puppy will have great personal hygiene and we can help them prevent certain health issues from a young age. Health care Lastly, we're going to talk about your Labrador retriever's health. The Labrador Retriever is a relatively healthy and long-living dog, especially if they stay in shape. However, the lack of genetic diversity resulting from breeding programs makes them prone to certain hereditary diseases and conditions , which are usually manifested as the dog grows old. For instance, Labradors tend to suffer from hip dysplasia. When your Lab is a puppy, you must ensure they get the necessary vaccines, and you must follow their vaccination schedule during the rest of their lives. This will prevent them from suffering very serious diseases that tend to affect dogs. If you want your dog to stay as healthy as possible, go to the vet for check-ups every 6 months. You can prevent the development of common diseases by watching your Lab for symptoms and caring for them as best as you can. Labrador Retrievers are prone to obesity - they love treats, and if they don't get enough exercise they will soon become overweight, with the related muscular and joint problems. Helpful tips for caring for your puppy We hope that this article has given you great insight when it comes to caring for a Labrador Retriever puppy. Here are some other helpful articles for caregivers that are adopting puppies:. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Well-bred Labradors are relatively low maintenance, fit and healthy dogs. But your Labradors continuing health and well-being does depend entirely on you. A nutritious diet, regular exercise, grooming, preventive measures and regular visits to the vet are the real key to maintaining a high level of wellness and good health. All these actions are your responsibility and solely under your control. Daily routines will be diet control, exercise and physical inspections. Weekly routines will be grooming, ears, eyes, teeth and nail care. Quarterly routines could be shared between visits to the vet, a canine dentist and bathing. And the annual routine will be vaccinations. Just remember that prevention is always better than cure, so doing your best to prevent any illness and catching problems at the earliest possible stage is the goal to aim for. The following are all areas where you only need a little knowledge to effectively take care of your Labrador well. And if you cannot dedicate this time and effort, then in the nicest possible way, you might be better suited to a pet with less demanding care requirements such as goldfish. Making Safe Your Home and Garden Labradors are a lively and inquisitive breed, especially during their first three years so you need to keep dangerous household items out of their reach. Conceal electrical wiring…we all know of their infamous love for chewing. Sharp teeth and electricity do not mix! A Labrador can easily choke on wrappings or trash that may be swallowed along with edible scraps. Labs are smart and opening cupboards and drawers soon becomes easy for them. Be mindful of the toxicity of certain plants — Over plants have been identified as toxic to dogs , so be sure to research any plant before bringing it into your home. Fence of any ponds or pools in your yard. These are just a few points to consider around your home and garden, there are many more. Just try to put yourself in your Labradors shoes and take a good look at his environment as he would see it. Try to see how he could get into trouble and take measures to prevent it. Click here for a more detailed guide on puppy-proofing your home and garden. Brushing also helps to shake loose dirt out of and spread the natural oils throughout their coat for that desirable, healthy glossy look we know and love. Related article: The Best vacuums for removing pet hair from your home. Frequent baths will strip their oils, leaving them prone to wet and cold in winter, causing dry skin and making their coat look dull and not shiny. Keeping Nails Trim Most Labradors will need a nail trim every 2 to 3 months, although some may never need it. Regularly walking your dog on hard ground, especially sidewalks and roads, will have a natural filing effect and keep your dogs claws in order. This can make them sore and bleed. Ear Care What with a Labradors slightly drooping ears and their love of water, the inside of their ears can sometimes retain too much moisture, causing bacteria to build up and infections to form. I shall be writing an article on this very soon. Just some of the problems a Labrador may have with its teeth are gum disease, loose teeth, cracked or broken teeth, root abscesses and a build up of tartar. These can be very uncomfortable for your dog and can lead to further problems if neglected. Therefore, you need to inspect their teeth regularly, take measures to clean their teeth and even visit a professional canine dentist every 6 months or annually for a thorough check up and any necessary treatments. Treat their teeth like you would your own. Dealing with Parasites Controlling fleas, ticks and other parasites is essential for keeping your Labrador healthy. Immediate problems include extreme irritation and skin sores, but extreme infestations can lead to more dangerous problems including Lyme disease and tape worms. If you stick to a regular grooming schedule as you should! Simply brush your hand against the lie of your Labradors fur and watch for any small moving dots and check for any clearly visible ticks. There are many safe and effective over-the-counter flea control products , many of which contain formulations to prevent ticks at the same time. Finally, depending on where you live in the world, you may need to put your Labrador on medication for heartworm. Where mosquitoes are a problem, they can pass on heartworm and this can be fatal. Even the medicine for heartworm makes your dog very ill so prevention is definitely better than cure! Diseases such as distemper, rabies, hepatitis and parvoviros to name just a few. Your puppy will have had his first shots at five or six weeks before you got to take him home, and he will need a few further shots over a period of up to 18 weeks. A rabies shot usually follows at 6 months of age or so. After this, your adult Labrador will need just a single booster each year to stay protected. For many facts on vaccinations and the schedule you should follow when vaccinating your puppy, please click here. Dogs need a balance of vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins different to that of a human and feeding them on human leftovers can lead to malnutrition, as can a diet based on cheap filler packed dog food. You should perform a little research to find and use a recognized healthy brand of dog food that will cater to your Labradors needs. To help with this, please see our articles that list 4 of the best foods for Labrador puppies opens in new window or the best dog foods for adult Labradors opens in new window …yours really will thrive on these handpicked, quality foods! Additionally, the best thing you can do is set up a feeding schedule for your dog, twice per day being the recommended, and be mindful of any extra treats. Your Lab should always be well fed but not over-fed. I shall discuss this more in a later article. An Important Note On Drastic Changes In Eating And Drinking Habits If your dog is off their food, drinks way too much or way too little for a period of time more than 36 hours, you should call your vet as this is almost surely a sign of an underlying problem. They are voracious eaters and will eat just because they can, not because they need it. Excess weight can lead to all sorts of issues including arthritis and heart problems. To prevent this, control their diet and give them plenty of exercise for them to burn off those calories. They really do need very little exercise of just a few short minutes a couple of times per day. Too much exercise for a puppy can cause skeletal formation issues and plays a large part in joint problems. Take it easy until your puppy is at least a year old. Bedding and Shelter A Labrador should always have a soft surface to lay upon. To prevent this you should get your Lab a large sized dog bed or line a crate to offer a soft and comfortable place to rest. If your Lab spends any amount of time outside, you must provide shelter to offer an escape from the sun in summer, and preferably the shelter should have a raised floor so the wet and cold is kept away in winter. If your Lab puppy gets used to sleeping in a bed of yours or your children, it will be a hard habit to break and will more than likely end in separation anxiety and night-time whining. You want your Labrador to be comfortable alone for periods of time and should start forming this habit ASAP. Training The importance of training your Labrador cannot be overstated. A dog is a dog and not a human. You need to teach your dog how to behave and what your instructions are asking them to do. Before a puppy can become a trusted, well-behaved dog they have a lot of learning to do…and you a lot of teaching! To learn from the written word, I am part way through building the ultimate resource in the form of this site. Routines for feeding, exercise, grooming and visits to the vet are all easily managed with a little knowledge and by planning a schedule in advance and sticking to it. Spending quality time with your Lab is also key, especially regular grooming sessions. You should also attempt to learn your dogs normal living habits, how much he eats, drinks and sleeps. Anything To Add? As always, if you have any questions, would like to offer feedback, suggestions or further advice on the subject, please do so in the comments section below. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative for seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. They help you find the information you need right now. You might also want to check out our sections on Labrador Puppy Training. Do let us know what you would like to see added to the site. We are always happy to have your comments and suggestions. When To Collect Your Puppy We highly recommend that puppies are not removed from their breeder until they are 8 weeks old. There are lots of good reasons for this. It helps puppies develop good bite moderation skills before they are adopted into a family, ensures that they are ready to adapt quickly to their new life. And it helps to reduce the sad numbers of puppies bred for a quick profit. Puppies sold under seven weeks old often have health problems and need special care, and extra veterinary attention. Check out the following articles for further information: When can puppies leave their mother Your first puppy Your first puppy is a huge adventure. You have so much fun ahead. Labradors are generally very friendly dogs, but they can also be very distractible. So do start daily training games, using plenty of food. You can get regular training tips from Pippa by email, using the box below. However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on.