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We appreciate your time and hope we can answer any questions you have about our English golden retriever puppies. We have a 14 acre farm located just outside of Culpeper, Virginia. Our golden retrievers are all in the house with us, although there is a dog room. This room provides the golden retrievers a safe space where they can't get into trouble if they are without supervision. A group of dogs tend to pack together and follow a leader, even in behavior they wouldn't do on their own so it's important to keep them safe when alone. As a breeder, I spend much of my day in the dog room working. More time if there is a litter of puppies for sale! I put my goldens out every hour or so and let them stay out until they ask to come in, usually 15 or 20 minutes. We both get a lot of exercise with this schedule. As the days grow longer, they enjoy staying out longer. Winter was my first breed dog and now, at five, is a pet only. Snow is the only breed female I have but this will be her last litter. She will be going to her forever home after this litter. She has another four years of breeding but I believe she will be better served by letting her find her perfect home. Reine and Summer are the future breeding couple and will be bred next year. Although we started breeding Cream Golden Retrievers in , we have been raising goldens retrievers for over 40 years. There is no better companion or family pet. All of our dogs are house pets. They share the house with us, their rescue siblings and a few old cats. Currently the money is going to Samaritan's Purse. We also donate a puppy every litter to Semper K9s Assistance Dogs. Our english golden retriever puppies are raised in our home with us, their parents, aunts, cousins and sisters. We are a small family breeder with all of our dogs and puppies living in our home with a lovely large one acre, fenced-in yard just 20 minutes southwest of downtown Richmond, VA. They are socialized with us and our other dogs in our home. Absolutely NO cages, puppy pens are used occasionally to keep order in the house, but never kennels, or runs or outdoor doghouses. Although we do not use crates as a general rule ourselves, many Shadymist puppy families and friends do with great success. We agree that crate use is highly recommended for at least the first few months as it aids in house-training, prevents boredom destruction, maintains a safe environment for the puppy from curiosity mishaps, as well as a peaceful place to nap with a toy and a blanket. Your English Cream Golden Retriever puppy is raised from birth to your home within our home with constant love, attention and interactive stimulation, all of which promote a healthy, stable people-loving personality with good basic manners! Cream and sugar? Yes, please. Our English Golden Retriever puppies are born and raised in a highly supervised and nurturing environment and are extensively integrated into our daily family life and receive lots of individualized care and affection. We have meticulously developed puppy care protocols that prepare each puppy for a successful and easy transition to their new home - including sleeping through the night and ease of potty training. Their regal physiques, jet-black pigment and lush coats make them irresistible! Our lists typically fill up very quickly, so keep this in mind when planning the ideal timeframe to contact us for bringing your new baby home. Based on your preferred timeframe for bringing your puppy home, we will contact you as soon as there is news of anticipated due dates. Pre-Reservation Contact List: This is for families who express interest in a Creekside Golden puppy at some point in the more distant future and is ordered based on the date of application submission. Families on this list are also kept up-to-date on news as it becomes available, and as time draws nearer are then transferred to the Reservation List described above. Families are asked to complete a brief application that provides information about their home environment and the physical and temperamental preferences for their puppy. We are then able to carefully consider these preferences when matching puppies with their new families. We provide our new owners with a very comprehensive puppy packet containing: Holistic Lifestyle Recommendations. Our home, here in the foothills of the Appalachian Trail and the Great Eastern Divide, is surrounded by all the beauty and wildlife that West Virginia offers. We have enjoyed every minute of these wonderful, loving, intelligent and beautiful dogs. We do not in-breed or line-breed our dogs and, our dogs eat a raw meat diet, they also enjoy fruits and vegetables everyday along with vitamins. Our puppy's health is considered long before they are born. They are a stockier dog, with big black eyes. Our dogs are very light cream and the lightest color possible for this breed. They are very pack oriented meaning they want to stay close to their own people. They have a very calm demeanor as adults and make excellent therapy dogs. They are intelligent, intuitive, loyal, travel well, and make excellent companions for all ages. They have been very popular for their overall beauty and personality, but foremost are healthier than American Golden Retrievers since they have not been so in-bred and line-bred like American Golden Retrievers a common practice with most breeders over the years. White Oak Golden Retrievers follow a holistic approach to raising dogs. We are authorities on health and diet. We want all our Golden Retrievers to live long lives in health and strive in every way to educate and support our Golden Retriever owners. Our information we share is backed up with research from leading Holistic Veterinarians all over the world. If you would like more information on welcoming a White Golden Retriever into your family contact us today: White Oak Golden Retrievers.

The Standard Poodle on the other hand is a working breed originally developed as a water retrieving dog. The Bernedoodle can have any combination of the two breeds in their appearance, behaviour and temperament. However, the Bernedoodle was first intentionally bred by Sherry Rupke of Swissridge Kennels in , as she wanted to combine the Poodles clever and goofy personality with the unfaltering loyalty of the Bernese Mountain Dog. Where the Bernedoodle is a relatively new breed, the two breeds involved in its make-up go way back. The origins of the Bernese Mountain Dog can be traced back 2, years when the Romans invaded Switzerland with their cattle drovers and guard dogs. Health and Common Issues Like most crossbreeds, the personality of a Bernedoodle depends on the parents and how they have been bred and reared. The personality of a Bernedoodle seems to be more consistent when they are first crosses F1 - and it is important that they are bred from good temperament parents. As a line is successively bred, they can be either bred back to one of the original breeds and so strengthen either the Bernese or the Poodle personalities - or breed to a smaller Poodle to reduce the size or else be bred to another Bernedoodle - in which case there is less predictability in temperament and in-breeding becomes more of a potential issue. Exercise Needs One aim with crossbreeds is to dilute or eliminate any inherited health issues that may exist within one or other of the breeds. This dilution or elimination is only likely if only one parent is the carrier of any particular condition, and where this is a first cross F1. Also, this breed takes a long time to reach maturity and is one of the shortest-lived breeds, so prospective owners should be prepared for the possibility of losing their dog earlier than they might expect. Poodle - eye tests and hip scoring should be done. The Poodle is an active working dog who needs plenty of exercise, thrives on having a job to do, and loves training and exercising their busy brains. The Bernese Mountain Dog is far calmer and laid-back and is often happy lying around watching what is going on. So, you could end up with a light-ish build dog who needs a lot of exercise and training, or you could end up with a heavier dog whose body and brain is more that of a friendly couch potato! Even an active Bernedoodle may not mature for quite some time, so short periods of exercise several times a day are far better so as not to permanently damage growing bones and joints. With this in mind, exercising first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening when the sun is cooler may be necessary. Take advice from both your breeder and your vet. We Provide We take care of our puppies and prepare them to go home with you in these ways: Three rounds of dewormer. First veterinarian visit for checkup. Final veterinarian checkup before going home. Tons of socialization and love from a family of six. List of suggestions puppy training, toys, food, veterinarian, etc. And lifetime support, should you need it. Our promise to you is simple: We provide incredible companion Bernedoodles, and we do so with integrity, forthrightness, and assistance to find the best furry family member for you. Before they become part of your household, they are part of ours, so we play with them, provide for them, and treat them as family, knowing you will do the same. Mixed breeds cannot be AKC certified, so we do not provide certification. We also believe microchipping your puppy should be your choice, so we do not microchip our puppies but strongly recommend you do. We highly recommend proper puppy training and consistent reinforcement to have the best relationship with your dog. We provide information on a partner puppy training program with lots of online videos. Bernedoodles are not sold with breeding rights. Any breeding of the Bernedoodle, whether by accident or on purpose, is a violation of the contract and will incur an immediate fee of 3x the purchase price. By instituting any step in the process, the customer acknowledges and agrees to these terms and to paying the contract violation fee in full. Bernedoodles are also sold with a list of both requirements and suggestions for the health, safety, well-being, and longevity of the dog. Customers must take these requirements, suggestions, and financial investments under consideration prior to purchasing a KC Bernedoodles puppy. Reservation Deposit Serious inquiries only. Anyone can be added to the Waiting List with a completed deposit, but KC Bernedoodles reserves the right to the first pick of all litters. Puppy reservations are made in order of cleared deposit. Keep in mind that this means if you send a check by mail, another family could move ahead in line if they pay electronically. We will make every effort to help you make the best decision for your needs. The customer further agrees that they have no recourse. Once the customer has decided they want to purchase a puppy, they must email us stating so. Customers must remit the deposit amount in either cash, check, or through digital deposit. We will provide the account information for the deposit. Cleared deposits are the only way to reserve a puppy; no cleared deposit means no puppy reservation. Deposits are nonrefundable. By instituting any step in the process, the customer acknowledges and agrees to these terms. Deposits are considered a commitment, and we understand that the puppy will have a home with your family. Final payment for the balance owed must be cleared before pickup. Unfortunately, we do not accept checks at the time of pick up for the final payment on a puppy because all payments must be cleared. Any daily boarding charges must also be settled prior to pick up. The only time a refund will be given is if KC Bernedoodles cancels the purchase due to unforeseen circumstances, otherwise deposits are always non-refundable. Puppy Selection Anyone can be added to the Waiting List with a completed deposit, but KC Bernedoodles reserves the right to the first pick of all litters. When the puppies are born, they are given a color-coded collar. Puppies are discussed by their collar color, though our kids have a tendency to name them as well. Exact puppy choice happens by video interactions, exchanging photos, or through phone conversations at week six so their personality has time to develop. We will make every effort to help you make the best decision for your individual needs. For the health of the puppies, we do not allow visitors. Exact puppy choice begins on week six. Waiting this long allows us to get to know their personalities and help guide you to make the best choice. Choosing a puppy occurs in waiting list order. To facilitate all families making timely decisions, each customer has 2 hours from when we contact you beginning on week six to choose your puppy. We make every effort to lead you through the process of choosing the best companion for your individual needs and lifestyle, so please let us know your situation and preferences. Failure to choose within that 2 hours forfeits your turn, and you will move to the end of the line. The key is to let the puppy have the time it needs with its mother and siblings, and transition the puppy to its new family as soon as it is properly able, in order to bond with them early and well. This usually happens at around 8 weeks. By pick up time your puppy will not be dependent upon its mother since it will have been weaned starting around week 4. For the health of our family and animals, we cannot take back a puppy once it has left our home, but we can help you find a new home for them. Please contact us first if the need arises to rehome your puppy. Pick up must occur in person. We currently do not ship puppies, but let us know if you have an extenuating circumstance that needs to be addressed. We love discussing our puppies but we are not a pet store, so we do not ever allow visitors. Puppies can readily catch deadly diseases, such as Parvo, kennel cough, distemper, and many others, which are easily spread from one kennel to another or one dog to another. For the safety of our own home, for the puppies awaiting their new homes, and for puppies who already have deposits on them, we cannot allow visitors. Thank you for understanding! This is not an exhaustive list. No refunds will be given and, though this is rare, we reserve the right to refuse sale of our puppies to anyone, at any time, for any reason, or no reason, based on our own judgment. KC Bernedoodles reserves the right to first pick of all litters. All decisions by KC Bernedoodles are final, as are all sales. Click on a question to learn more. Questions About Bernedoodles Are Bernedoodles hypoallergenic? Are Bernedoodles Hypoallergenic? Yes, Bernedoodles are considered a hypoallergenic breed. However, there is no such thing as a fully hypoallergenic dog, as people can also be allergic to dog saliva or urine, etc. For those with mild to medium pet allergies, doodles make a wonderful addition to the family, as they are usually low shed to no shed. For a person with severe allergies we want to ensure that the puppy you take home has as curly a coat as possible. An F1B is usually recommended for people with more severe allergy problems. If you have concerns, we suggest that you get further allergy testing done as well as take some time to interact with doodles and their humans in your area before purchasing a puppy. What are the Bernedoodle coat types? What Are the Bernedoodle Coat Types? Bernedoodle coats can vary in thickness, consistency, and color. In an F1 first generation breeding, you might get a puppy with a coat that looks more similar to a Poodle and get another puppy with a coat very close like a Bernese. Sometimes even within the same litter Bernedoodle coats are generally put into three main categories - Curly, Wavy, and Straight. Please note when looking at the examples below that the appearance of our Bernedoodles is greatly affected by whether they are groomed and how short the coats are if groomed. Be sure to consider this when looking at the pictures. Examples of a Curly Coat Curly coat — The curly coat will shed the least and is the most hypoallergenic of the three types. The curls on this coat are usually tight with a soft texture much like what you would see on a Poodle. Curly coats may still shed, but they shed the hair upon themselves rather than on your floor. Unfortunately, this shedding upon themselves is what makes it necessary for them to be brushed daily and trimmed frequently. The curly coated Bernedoodle is usually the most suitable for owners who have an allergy to dog dander. Examples of a Wavy Coat Wavy coat — The wavy coat, which is low-to non-shedding, is probably the coat most seen on Bernedoodles. This coat is very free-flowing and often has a lightly kinked or wavy appearance. Most people with allergies to dog dander i. Note, if you are unsure if this coat type will be fine for you, we suggest that you get further allergy testing done as well as take some time to interact with doodles and their humans in your area before purchasing a puppy. Examples of a Straight Coat Straight coat — The straight coats usually shed the most and are the least hypoallergenic of the three coat types. Groomed Versus Ungroomed The appearance of our Bernedoodles is greatly affected by whether they are groomed and how short the coats are if groomed. Be sure to consider this when looking at any pictures. Here is an example of the same dog with the pictures taken only several hours from each other. How you groom your dog is a big part of what gives them the look they have. What is the difference between an F1, F2 and F1B? Coats in F1s can vary in terms of the percentage of hair shedding. Some will be nearly completely non-shedding and others will have a percentage of hair that still sheds. There can be variation within this generation in terms of coat but most will be a loose wavy coat through to a curly wave. The reason someone would choose this generation is that they have a more even combination of the genetics and personality of the parent breeds- In Bernedoodles the F1s typically have the most Bernese colors, blockiness and personality. Typically, half of the litter will be have a curly coat and half will have a looser wavy coat. They are more suited to a family that may have mild allergies or that feel strongly about shedding in their dog. F2 or Multi-Generational refer to two Bernedoodle parents that are bred together to achieve a multi-generational cross. The attributes can vary, but the idea behind multi-gen breeding is to reach a consistent pairing between desirable attributes from both parents. All purebred dogs today come from many generations of breeding multi-gen crosses to achieve a consistent breed standard. There can be variation in the mix of genes that each multi-gen puppy gets, but with many generations, a predictable set of traits and looks will emerge. What are the grooming requirements for Bernedoodles? Bernedoodles are like poodles in that they have hair, not fur. This means that they will require regular brushing to keep them free from matting. Because the hair of bernedoodles are prone to matting, you must brush their hair 2 to 3 times a week with a specialized dog brush. From the time they are puppies, it is a good idea to brush your dogs hair every day to get them used to regular grooming. Bernedoodles do well being clipped every weeks. This is dependent on your preferences and your dog's activities. An active outdoor doodle will enjoy a shorter cut more frequently. Beginning the grooming process as soon as you bring your puppy home will go a long way to ensuring that grooming becomes a wonderful bonding experience between you and your pet! The curlier the coat the more professional grooming they will need. Without grooming, the dog runs the risk of getting a matted coat and may need to be shaved to prevent further issues. A wavy or straight coat can be easily groomed by brushing when you bathe your dog bi-weekly, monthly, etc. What is the size of your Bernedoodles? What is the Size of Your Bernedoodles? We have Standard, Miniature, and Tiny Bernedoodles. Our Bernedoodles come in three breed sizes - Standard, Miniature, and Tiny. Our F1 Standard Bernedoodles will usually stand inches at the shoulder and weigh or more pounds. Most standard Bernedoodles are in the pound range. Females are usually smaller than males. Our F1 Mini Bernedoodles usually stand between 17 and 22 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 25 to 65 pounds with most of them weighing lbs. Again females tend to be smaller than males. They are sized similar to our F1 Minis. F1B Tiny Bernedoodles usually stand between 12 and 17 inches tall and weigh between 15 and 25 pounds. Again, these puppies tend to be more hypoallergenic and usually less shedding than the F1 Bernedoodles. Why is the puppies nose pink? Why is the Puppies Nose Pink? All Bernedoodles are born with pink noses. As the puppies grow older, their black pigmentation sets in and the nose fully fills to a nice black nose that we all know and love. Most puppies have a full black nose by the time they are 8 weeks old. Some puppies will take longer and may not have a full black nose until they're months of age. Occasionally there is a puppy that never gets a fully black nose. Questions About Walnut Valley What is the current wait time for a puppy? We only breed our females if they are healthy and ready for pregnancy. Even then, there is no guarantee that they will have puppies, or how many they have if they do get pregnant. See more on our Reservation Page. Occasionally we have puppies become available to the public after we are thru with our waitlist selection process. Check our Available Bernedoodle page to see if we have any currently available. Is your waitlist Up-To-Date? We keep the website updated almost daily. Occasionally it may be outdated a day or two over the weekend. Our waitlist is generally updated daily! How does the puppy selection work? How Does the Puppy Selection Work? When you place a deposit for a future litter your name is placed on the list on a "first come, first pick" basis. When puppies come, we update the website within a few days with details of the litter. We take pictures of the puppies when they are several days old, at 3 weeks old, and then again when they're 5 weeks old. Once the puppies are 5 weeks old we will take updated pictures and videos of each puppy and then start on top of the Reservation List and let people pick out their puppies. If you would like to see the litter before making a decision, you will have to visit the puppies when they're between 4 and 5 weeks old Once it's your turn to pick, you can choose an available puppy OR decide to skip your turn for that litter and wait for a subsequent litter, at which time you would likely have a higher pick. We will be contacting you usually via text when your turn is getting close and if you choose to pass we will then move onto the next person s. It is imperative that you respond within 4 hours after being notified of an available puppy of your interest. Otherwise, we will have to keep moving down our list. We ask that you keep an eye on our website as well as our Facebook and Instagram pages for current and upcoming litters. In such a case we will hold your spot on the Reservation List and continue moving down the list to others waiting on their turn. This is because someone dropped off the list and that spot is now available to anyone on or off the list. Note: If someone drops off the list and chooses to have their deposit refunded, we will mark that spot on the list as available. We will make a note of it in our News For Waitlist Families section on our waitlist page. Anyone can then claim that spot if they want to move up. Any spot on the list will be available first come, first serve. Paying to move up on the list is an additional fee and will not be counted towards the cost of your puppy. If you are not on the list and would like to claim an available spot, you must first join the list at the end and then contact us about moving up. Is my deposit refundable? Is My Deposit Refundable? There is no way that you can know for sure that we will have a puppy for you in the future, and we understand that. We fully respect your decision if you find a puppy elsewhere or change your mind for any other reason. Reservations are honored in order of deposits placed. Do you provide a Health Guarantee and Warranty? Guarantee and Health Warranty: We want every puppy to go home happy and healthy. But as it is with us humans, things can go wrong in the puppy world. To ensure that all is well in its new environment, we ask that if possible you get your puppy checked by a vet within 72 hours of going home. Any normal costs incurred are the responsibility of the buyer. If there would happen to be any problems, we would need a copy of the veterinarian's invoice to reimburse you for the cost of treatment. That amount not exceeding the cost of the dog. We also offer a 2-year Genetic Health Guarantee on our puppies. There are many things that can affect the long-term health of a dog including genetics. While genetic health is an issue of concern, an equal or greater factor is diet and exercise. In this sense, we are taking a risk by giving a 2-year guarantee because we do not know how well the puppies will be taken care of. We choose to trust that they will be received into good homes. Do you remove Dew Claws? Do You Remove Dew Claws? Yes, all puppies have their dew claws removed at days of age. They will be groomed and active dogs throughout their lives, and we feel that this gives them the best chance of not having the dew claw snagged while being groomed or out playing. I live out of state, how can I pick up my puppy? Local pickup and ground shipping Local pickup is preferred, but we do sell a lot of puppies that need to be transported. If you can't pick up locally, we have several ground shipping options available. We would be happy to discuss the options with you and help you decide what option is the best for you. Any puppies picked up in Illinois are subject to 6. Flying Puppies Our Flight nanny personally carries your puppy from the Indianapolis, IN airport to the closest major airport near you. The puppy has treats, a chance to go the bathroom along the way and lots of love and snuggles from her as they travel. You will then be responsible to purchase your own airline tickets. How do I make my final payment? The puppy is considered yours once the deposit and final payment is received. We personally pay the fee on all initial deposits made with Credit Card or PayPal. Do the puppies come with spay and neuter contracts? What are the prices of your puppies? Pricing for Bernedoodles: Bernedoodles come in a variety of colors and therefore have different prices. Our F1 Mini Bernedoodles have a set price not based on color. Our top-bred Bernedoodles have personalities that are lively, loyal, and love companionship! What is a Bernedoodle? A mix between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Standard Poodle, our Bernedoodle puppies make for a smart, goofy, and loyal family dog Berenedoodles can vary in size due to size of the parents. Our Bernedoodle puppies usually range in mature weight from 10lbs to 70 lbs. They are the combination of Poodles with Bernese Mountain Dogs. There are 3 standard sizes of Bernedoodle: standard, mini, and toy. Toy Bernedoodles typically are about 12 to 17 inches tall and can weigh as little as 10 to 20 pounds. Mini Bernedoodles are between 18 and 22 inches tall and an average weight between 20 and 40 pounds. Standard Bernedoodles typically weigh between 40 and 70 pounds, and be 23 to 29 inches tall. Generally mini and toy Bernedoodles can be a little stubborn and energetic, they are affectionate and playful. These playful pals interact well with children and usually love spending most of their time with their family. Bernedoodles can be suspicious of new people if not socialized from as early as possible. Their fur can be curly, long and wayve, or straight. While straight coats may shed a little more, both are considered hypoallergenic puppies. The reason behind that is to ensure we are breeding parents that have the absolute lest chances of producing a shedding Bernedoodle puppy. How big do Bernedoodles get? Our Bernedoodle puppies are a direct result of their parents size and of course genetics. The poodles and bernedoodles we use for breeding are all on the smaller size, even our standards. Most our Bernedoodle puppy litters are in the following size range. Bernedoodles in our opinion are kind of like velcro, if you you are standing they will be leaning against your leg, if you are sitting be ready for a lap dog. The Bernedoodle is a very loyal family dog that loves to go for a hike, a boat ride or snuggle up on the couch. View Our Parents About our Bernedoodles The Bernedoodles we produce here are most importantly breed from parents who are fully health testing, allowing us to pass on a 2 year Genetic Guarentee on all our Bernedoodle puppies for sale. How do I get on a waiting list? We aim to contact all successful applicants within 2 weeks of application submission — only successful applicants will be contacted. Please note: We will do our best to match successful applicants with a puppy within months of holding deposit being placed. Deposits are non-refundable but transferrable to another litter up to 3 times only. Bernedoodles, Australian Bernedoodles and Aussie Mountain Doodles are all the perfect companions for people with allergies. We breed three types of coats Unfurnished, Fleece and Wool — all low to non-shedding. For people with allergies we will always recommend a wool coated puppy. At Bernedoodles Australia we pride ourselves on providing the best genetically sound puppies possible. We also import from Canada and USA from the best fully tested lines. Bernedoodles Australia's Guardian Programme All our breeding dogs live in a loving home with their hand picked Guardian families. We love our holistic approach to our Guardian Programme, as we believe that every single dog deserves a loving family. We believe dogs should never live in a kennelled environment. If you live near or within the Southern Highlands NSW and are interested in knowing more about our Guardian Programme please feel free to reach out. Where are the puppies raised? Our puppies are all born in our wonderful home environment with enrichment and socialisation from day one. They have constant interaction with other animals and children. We love them to be exposed to the every day sounds and environment of a normal household, with loads of love and attention. When can I socialise my new puppy? Our main concern is Parvovirus — This virus is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected dog, by indirect contact with a contaminated object and surfaces. This includes places like puppy school! Your puppy has minimal immunity to diseases like parvo until they are fully vaccinated, or at least have that second vaccination. What does my puppy come with? We use several modes of transport to make sure international and interstate families can become puppy parents to one of our beautiful pups. Due to covid, prices may vary. Transport quote and options will be provided to successful EOI applicants. We hope to be sending our beautiful babies to eager families in Hawaii, Asia and New Zealand soon. Please be patient. Do you allow visitation? Visitation is reserved for families already allocated a puppy. We totally understand how exciting it is to meet your puppy in person. However, due to high biosecurity risk mum and pups are in quarantine until a week post 1st vaccination — Then you are more than welcome to visit your pup. Bernedoodles Australia has the puppies health as our number one priority and we thank you for your understanding. Follow us on Instagram.

Newborn Puppies At birth, puppies are blind, deaf and toothless, unable to regulate body temperature, or even urinate or defecate on their own. Normally, Puppies depend on their mother and littermates for warmth, huddling in cozy piles to conserve body temperature. A puppy that is fat and happy will be seen on it's back "sunbathing". Puppies first experience the sensation of being petted when washed by their mother's stroking tongue. The bitch licks her babies all over to keep them and the nest clean, and also to stimulate them to defecate and urinate. The dam may develop diarrhea, this is often from cleaning up puppy waste. Neonatal Period: Birth to Two Weeks From birth, puppies are able to use their sense of smell and touch, which helps them root about the nest to find their mother's scent-marked breasts. The first milk the mother produces, called colostrum, is rich in antibodies that provide passive immunity and help protect the babies from disease during these early weeks of life. The dam's discharge is usually gone by 2 weeks, but can last up to 8 weeks. After the birth, the dam's hair always falls out while she is raising a litter. It likely happens to help cool them; this is normal and it can come out in chunks. Sometimes you will not notice much hair at all come out. Some lose it gradually, some suddenly. For the first two weeks of life, puppies sleep nearly 90 percent of the time, spending their awake time nursing. The prolonged sleeping patterns of newborn puppies are there for a purpose; indeed, while those pups heavily snooze, they're actually growing. The pronounced twitching and jerking taking place during sleep is actually part of a deep form of sleep known as ''activated sleep. All their energy is funneled into growing, and birth weight doubles the first week. Newborns aren't able to support their weight, and crawl about with paddling motions of their front legs. The limited locomotion provides the exercise that develops muscles and coordination, and soon the puppies are crawling over and around each other and their mother. Ears and eyes sealed since birth begin to open during this period, ears at about two weeks and eyelids between ten to 16 days. This gives the furry babies a new sense of their world. They learn what their mother and other dogs look and sound like, and begin to expand their own vocabulary from grunts and mews to yelps, whines and barks. Puppies generally stand by day 15 and take their first wobbly walk by day .By age three weeks, puppy development advances from the neonatal period to the transitional period. This is a time of rapid physical and sensory development, during which the puppies go from total dependence on Mom to a bit of independence. They begin to play with their littermates, learn about their environment and canine society, and begin sampling food from Mom's bowl. Puppy teeth begin to erupt until all the baby teeth are in by about five to six weeks of age. Puppies can control their need to potty by this age, and begin moving away from sleeping quarters to eliminate. It is usual for us to remove the whelping pool and give the pups the entire apartment to explore between weeks of age. Socialization Period: Week Four-to-Twelve Following the transitional phase, puppies enter the socialization period at the end of the third week of life; it lasts until about week ten. It is during this socialization period that interaction with others increases. The most critical period--age six to eight weeks--is when puppies most easily learn to accept others as a part of their pack. Beginning at four weeks of age, the bitch's milk production begins to slow down just as the puppies' energy needs increase. As the mother dog slowly weans her babies from nursing, they begin sampling solid food in earnest. The environmental stimulation impacts your puppy's rate of mental development during this time. The puppy brain waves look that of an adult dog by about the 50th day, but he's not yet programmed--that's your job, and the job of his mom and siblings. Weaning typically is complete by weeks of age. Week Eight-to-Twelve Puppies often go through a "fear period" during this time. Instead of meeting new or familiar people and objects with curiosity, they react with fearfulness. Anything that frightens them at this age may have a lasting impact so take care that the baby isn't overstimulated with too many changes or challenges at one time. That doesn't mean your pup will grow up to be a scaredy-cat; it's simply a normal part of development where pups learn to be more cautious. Careful socialization during this period helps counter fear reactions. Puppies may be placed in new homes once they are eating well on their own, using their litter boxes and at least 10 weeks of age. Puppies tend to make transitions from one environment to another more easily at this age, too. Your puppy still has lots of growing to do. He won't be considered an adult until he goes through several more developmental periods and reaches one to two years of age. Home » Blog » What happens with your Frenchie in their first few weeks What happens with your Frenchie in their first few weeks You certainly want to know about every minute of your sweet puppy. Last year we did a documentary about our breeding program in which we showed where our Frenchies live and we also wrote about how our program has grown over the years. In this article, we share with you how we help our little puppies on the TomKings Puppies farm, from the first moments of their lives until we find a forever loving family for them. The vet checks if everything is fine and we take them home. The average birth weight of a Frenchie is 0. Their size strongly depends on the size of the litter; when there are a fewer of them they can be as big as a two-week-old puppy from an other litter. Newborn puppies are deaf and blind and absolutely helpless so we are here to assist their mother to nurture them. In the first two weeks They are breastfed every 3 hours, and then their mom stimulates them to pee and poo. Not all mothers are eager to do this, in which case we assist them with a dam, warm cotton towel. The puppies spend the rest of their time sleeping they often seem to be dreaming! Subscribe to our weekly blog newsletter: Subscribe to our blog newsletter! First name Email They are so cute as they love to huddle together, but we also keep them warm with an external source like an infra lamp. As the puppies are very small, there is a threat that the mom accidentally smothers one or more of them. In the first 4 weeks We make strict precautions to keep the newborn babies sterile to avoid the risk of them being infected. They sleep in the house with us, and only a small circle of carers are allowed to touch them who use lots of hands sanitizing. As the mother has less and less milk we gradually switch to give them milk from a bottle and then crushed food. The puppies open their eyes when they are days old, and then they are able to hear — a whole new world opens up for them. At the age of weeks, the little explorers start crawling and then the first few shaky steps. At this stage, they are already very playful and start love-biting each other. New born puppies are very helpless. They are born blind and deaf and unable to regulate their body temperatures, so we have to use an external heat source when the puppies are not in direct contact with mom. During this time period, their mothers have to stimulate them in order for them to urinate and have bowel movements. This is a very busy time for us and we are usually very sleep deprived because we assist the mothers every 3 hours around the clock to make sure that all puppies are latching on well, growing, and being stimulated to urinate and defecate. It is a critical time in which the puppies are so small that an unaware Frenchie mother could accidentally smother one or more of her pups, so we monitor them very closely. Lacey takes a video of each litter at 3 weeks of age and posts them on our website under New Puppies so that our clients near the top of the list, as well as other clients and prospective clients, can get a early look at them. They continue to gain weight rapidly over the next several months of their lives. At two weeks age their ears open and they are able to hear, and another big part of their new world opens up. Prior to this event, about all they do is grunt or mew, but afterward their vocabulary includes yelps, whines, and even little barks. At three weeks of age the more advanced puppies start taking their first shaky steps; prior to this their basic mode of transportation is basic army crawling. They are now able to urinate and defecate on their own and will move away from their sleeping area to do so. Up to this point it is strictly the mothers and us Donna, Lacey, and Bick who have handled the pups with lots of hand sanitizing before and after and they have been kept in their kennel. Even though it is hard on the kids, we do not let them or their friends handle them until 4 weeks of age. At four weeks we start introducing them to solid food initially crushed and moistened. By the end of the 4th week they are eating their crushed puppy food, with no water added, three times a day. Because they are not nursing as long or as often, we provide fresh water for them at all times. The kids are allowed to hold them now closely monitored and with clean hands and we allow the puppies to run around and explore our large main room in the house. At 5 weeks of age they are starting to run around all over the place when they are let out to play, and, when they are in their kennels, they play sometimes rather roughly with litter mates. It is during this time when some of their adult personalities will start coming out. By the end of this week their puppy teeth are all in, and they love to chew on things, including fingers if you let them. However, even at this age, they will spend most of their time sleeping, probably close to 20 hours per day, with only short times between naps when they are alert and active. By the end of the 6th week they are completely weaned from their moms and eating solid food well. We frequently take them out of their kennels to scamper around. They are full of energy and love to play with their litter-mates and the kids. This is the time that we really focus on socializing them and we even start their paper training. By 7 weeks they have already passed through most of their puppy milestones and are continuing to grow rapidly; they are generally in the 4 to 6 pound range. This is when their personalities really start coming out! It is so fun to watch them play with the kids and their litter-mates and observe their new fascination with toys. They have become somewhat accustomed to going potty on pee pads so that when they are out running around the room they often recognize them on the floor and will go potty on them. Though they are fast, active, playful little puppies at this point in their lives, they still are like babies and require lots of sleep probably over 18 hours per day and are still quite fragile. This video will show the color and conformation of each puppy, in addition to its personality. Their their third DAPP and 2nd Bordetella vaccinations are given at 12 weeks and then a yearly booster thereafter. The rabies shot can also be given at 12 weeks no later than 16 weeks. They are also regularly de-wormed and given a medication for the prevention of coccidia and giardia. Occasionally we hold onto puppies a little longer if we do not feel they are quite ready to go to their new homes. Our clients are encouraged to come to our home to meet their fur babies if this is feasible. When this is not possible, we arrange for one of our responsible puppy chaperones to hand deliver our puppies to meet their new owners at their nearest major airport. In fact, even as adults they will sleep at least half of the day in a series of long naps, and probably closer to 14 hours per day. Have More Questions?

Shots are up-to-date, Story This cutie is Ryann. What matters most is that they are adorable and are one the MOST desperate in the entire US based on statistics for where this puppy is from. Shelters in this area are having to euthanize puppies. So, this puppy needs you! If you choose a puppy from this rescue, it saves her life as well as the life of another in its place. Ryann is playful, sweet, curious, and cuddly. She loves to play with her siblings and take lots of naps. Eat, sleep, play, repeat- such is puppy life! Ryann is still young so they will need a family that can commit to training, socialization and all the dedication puppyhood requires. Her new family will need to continue with potty and crate training and daily exercise. We require a commitment from adoptive families to crate train their new puppy. When old enough, they will be perfect to go on walks and hikes or show off around your neighborhood. You will be guaranteed to get lots of kisses in return from your new best friend! Our PNW dogs are brought to you in style by a beautiful USDA licensed semi-truck, equipped with air conditioning for comfort, two drivers, and 2 onboard attendants providing 24 hour care. Our East Coast route will travel in a private, air conditioned 3LP-run van transport. Pick up day is unforgettable! You will get to follow along on their journey through a private FB Event page, where you will see photos, have the opportunity to connect with other adopters, and receive updates and constant communication along the way. One of our Adoption Coordinators can help to find the closest transport pick up location to you! Why adopt from Three Little Pitties? The stray and animal overpopulation in the Greater Houston area is the highest in the nation. Statistics show that there are over 1 million homeless animals in this region alone. Three Little Pitties Rescue is a nonprofit dog and cat rescue that partners with the community to make a difference. Our mission is to reduce the homeless pet population through community outreach, free spay and neuter services, and saving all breeds of dogs and cats from the streets or animal shelters that oftentimes have no other option but to euthanize animals for space. Three Little Pitties wants to set you and your new pet up for success! We know our dogs and we work hard to prepare them socially for adoption. We are a network of dedicated people who are heavily invested in seeing our animals thrive. We provide weekly socialization programs for our dogs through playgroups and group leash training classes available to all dogs in our adoption program, and Doggy Sleepover, Doggy Day Out, and Ambassador programs for our boarding dogs. There is a professional dog trainer on staff to provide support for our fosters and dogs, and an off-site dog trainer for dogs that need more extensive behavior modification. This helps us learn deeply about every dog, prepare them for adoption, and ultimately match them with loving families. We seek to adopt to families who understand that these are rescue dogs and will require continued training efforts, but will be well on their way to being the best dogs that they can be! We celebrated our 5 year anniversary this year! Through the combined efforts of all of our hardworking staff and volunteers, we have placed over 12, very lucky dogs and cats into amazing homes! By adopting from us, you save TWO lives! The pet you adopt, and you create an opportunity for another animal to be saved in that spot. Together, we can be heroes. Follow our rescue journey through the links below! Questions about German Shepherd puppies for sale in Utah? We have answers. How much do your German Shepherd puppies for sale in Utah cost? The price of buying a German Shepherd puppy will vary from breeder to breeder based on pedigree, coat color, and other factors. Am I limited to only using local litters and breeders to find a puppy? Your new pup will fly in style in the cabin, not stowed with the luggage. How do you screen all the breeders who apply to join Uptown? We carefully vet applicants based on their experience, their standards of animal care, legal requirements, and much more. Why is Uptown Puppies different from similar networks? We do one thing best - connect loving families like yours with the country's best - and most caring - breeders. What is a puppy mill and what goes on in them? A puppy mill is a place designed to maximise profit from churning out countless ill, bad-tempered German Shepherd puppies Utah. Puppy mills are foul places, where dogs are treated badly, conditions are filthy, and love and affection are in short supply. A German Shepherd for sale in Utah bought from a puppy mill is likely to suffer from health issues - potentially costing you thousands in vet bills. Yes we can! The companies and breeders in our network will have you covered. We make it quick, easy, and stress-free to find your dream German Shepherd puppy. Can I trust your network? When you look for Utah German Shepherds for sale, we want our network to be top of your list. What kind of health problems do German Shepherds have? This is a very active, energetic breed, so daily exercise is important for their health and wellbeing. You should also consider that a Utah German Shepherd for sale bought from puppy mills or backyard breeders are more likely to be sickly. How easy are German Shepherds to train? Like other working-dog breeds, German Shepherds for sale in Utah are smart and obedient - they were bred to be that way. That means that with the right encouragement, your German Shepherd Utah puppy should have no problems picking up basic commands, then moving onto more complex tricks and instructions. February 8, German Shepherd History German Shepherds have been around since the start of the 20th century, when the Society for German Shepherds was started by Max von Stephanitz, a dog breeder in Germany. He is credited with the creation of the breed, which he bred with the intention of developing the best possible dog for herding, particularly prizing intelligence and loyalty. These traits have led to their famous use as seeing eye dogs, as well as police or military animals, or guard dogs. The breed quickly became popular all over the world, and today is the second most common family dog in America. Of course, they also excel at their original purpose of herding livestock. Despite their fierce attitude and bold reputation, they are not overly aggressive by nature. However, they still require training, as does any breed, depending upon the needs of their owenrs. For families, they can learn to be gentle and quiet, and then are often excellent babysitters! A well-trained German Shepherd are often more than happy watching after young children and playing with them. They can also be taught to guard people or places, or to help their owners with certain tasks like seeing eye dogs. Some shepherds may not make good family dogs. Former police or military animals usually fall into this category, although sometimes they can change. Fortunately, they are incredibly smart and adaptable dogs. However, if possible and practical, obtaining a young German Shepherd who is still learning and easily trainable will be preferable, so that he or she can more readily adapt to your home. Regardless of your intended use of the dog, your German Shepherd should receive proper training from a young age. Part of this responsibility comes from their size. An untrained dog of their size could pose a danger to owners, neighbors, or other dogs. But not to worry, remember they are great learners! At about two feet from shoulder to ground, 30 inches long, and between pounds for males , German Shepherds are medium to large dogs. These sizes are the desirable measruements of a German Shepherd according to the American Kennel Club. German Shepherd Appearance German Shepherds are double-coat dogs, meaning they have an outer coat of hair and a thicker undercoat. This also means that they tend to shed considerably when the seasons change, particularly in the spring and fall. They should be groomed year round, but brushing and de-shedding is especially important during these seasons, as failing to do so could lead to matted and tangled hair, or clogged vacuum cleaners! Their notable shedding should also be taken into account for people with allergy problems, as being in a home where a German Shepherd lives and sheds could become unpleasant for them. German Shepherds should be bathed periodically if they smell, but not too often. They actually have layers of oils on their skin that are good for them, and removing these through constant baths could lead to skin problems. Choosing the Right German Shepherd When choosing a German Shepherd puppy, prioritize a dog that comes from a quality breeder and shows promise for training and socializing. Specifically, look for one which appears trustful, attentive, and willing to learn. When interacting with you, they should explore and be curious, but they should focus a lot on you as well. Being able to pick them up or roll them over without them struggling too much shows submission and obedience. If not given proper instruction, they will often get into trouble when left alone. A fenced yard is ideal to give them room to exercise without as many opportunities to cause trouble. Strictly teach them what is and is not allowed; they actually crave this, and if you do not show them the rules, they will start to assign their own order to their life. Training is easy with German Shepherds because they form close connections with their handlers and have a strong desire to please. Being so adaptable makes German Shepherds excellent for any role. From their numerous jobs in the armed forces or police forces to a simple family dog who loves kids, they can learn to fit into almost any role. Share this post.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Take back control of their behavior using these quick and easy solutions to stop German Shepherd biting that actually works. Even better, have a set of toys that are only used when you want to engage in play with your puppy. Hide these toys in a basket or box after your game of play. This makes them extra special. They are under your control and your dog must give them back to you. Special toys are more fun for your pup to bite than you. When in doubt of what special toy your dog likes, choose from this specially-curated list of what toys German Shepherds love for interactive toy ideas to keep your dog entertained. Say OUCH! When your pup bites you, say OUCH firmly. This simple technique catches the attention of many puppies when done correctly and can train a German Shepherd puppy to not bite you. You could also make a YIP sound instead, just like their little brother and sisters would make a yipping noise when playing too rough. If they continue to bite and nip, say OUCH again and then get up immediately and leave the room for a few moments. You may return to play but keep repeating this simple process until they learn to keep their teeth on their toys. This will only encourage them to continue their unwanted behavior. Use Puppy-Safe Partition Gates Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent your German Shepherd from jumping over. If your pup bites you aggressively when you and your family walk past you, then use an exercise pen or this German Shepherd-sized pet safe partition gate to contain them. Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent and discourage your German Shepherd from jumping over to continue to try and bite you. Use the items during busy times in your home to keep your dog calm and out of areas that might increase their excitement and biting and nipping you. Puppies tend to bite and chew when their teeth are coming in. They do this to relieve the pain and help soothe themselves. Freeze a durable large Kong with their favorite treats and kibble and have them on hand for times when your dog is acting out and biting you. Give them a Kong to gnaw on and bring icy relief to their gums. Plus, chewing has been shown to help relax and calm dogs. Redirections are actions that keep your pup from engaging in unwanted behavior by showing them appropriate behavior. For example: When your dog nips you, find their teething toy to bite instead. When your dog jumps on you to bite your hands or ankles, look around for a Kong to give to them to bite on. Squeaky toys like this toy that continues to squeak , even after a puncture, are ideal to distract your dog from your hand to another object. These toys differ from their special toys mentioned above because these redirection toys are ones you leave out for your pup to chew most of the time. So, be sure to have them nearby! Use Daily Leadership Skills How many times a day do you teach your German Shepherd to listen to you and offer them leadership? Use daily interactions as an effective way of teaching your dog about leadership. Have them sit before you take them for a walk or exiting a door. Ignore them altogether. Only offer them interaction and come back to them when they show you calming behaviors. Our dogs love our attention. And German Shepherds crave it! An overfed dog that is under-exercised may display destructive behaviors because of boredom and lack of energy needs being met. Get up off the couch and go outside for a walk and sniff party. Low impact activities and free-running off-leash running are best. Choose from a list of fun and gentle, age-appropriate German Shepherd puppy exercises to keep your pup healthy and better behaved. Stop roughhousing with your dog before it frustrates them. Use appropriate, puppy-safe toys instead of play sessions. This way, your pup can bite the toy instead of your fingers, hands, or arms. You may also stress out your GSD by engaging them rough of play. For your pup to either keep up with the play or stop you from too rough play, they may bite you! From day one, avoid play that involves mouthing or teeth on the skin. Use toys to provide your dog a way they can bite to release their energy… Without nipping you! And this game is great because it teaches your dog a necessary life skill. Practice the game: multiple times a day for 2 to 3 minutes at a time Your pup learns impulse control during the game and this transfers over to their ability to stop themselves from biting you. Read below for the easy-to-follow directions. If your dog gets too worked up and then bites, then teach them this Rev Up and Cool Down game. After a few running steps and before your pup gets too excited, stop running and walk slowly. Keep moving slowly until your dog also slows down. When you see them slow down, take a few more steps calmly and peacefully. Continue with steps one through three. Each time your dog should slow down sooner and quicker. If your puppy knows any of these basic German Shepherd commands , incorporate those commands to make the training more interesting and fun. The link above will also easily explain how to teach over ten commands! The point of the Rev Up and Cool Down game is to teach them to settle and stay calm without nipping and biting you. You need to keep your pup exercised, mentally stimulated, and show them what calming behavior is. Be fair and understanding. A Shepherd is a joy to own when given the direction they desire and the commitment they need. Found this helpful? Share it! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. This is especially true with dogs like German Shepherds because they have a strong prey drive, but this nipping and biting can also quickly get out of hand. This often comes out as biting and nipping, but puppies will also bite when they are teething and to taste the world around them. This can, of course, quickly get out of hand if not taken care of swiftly. In this article, we look at the reasons behind German Shepherd puppies biting and seven steps to help stop the behavior. Training The first and most important step in stopping your puppy from biting is early and focused training. Beginning training at an early age is vital for powerful dogs like GSDs, as without it, they can easily develop problematic behaviors and even become aggressive. An important part of training is socialization, and getting your GSD to interact with other dogs will help teach them boundaries, as any biting too hard will have instant consequences for them. Image Credit: AnjaGh, Pixabay 2. Toys Toys are ideal for your GSD puppy to exercise their teething. There is a massive variety of suitable chew toys available, and whenever you notice your pooch getting the urge to chew, you can gently offer them a chew toy instead. Commands Basic and simple commands should be taught to your GSD from a young age. Whenever they get overexcited and bite down too hard, you can then simply issue a verbal command that catches their attention. After you issue the commands, leave your puppy alone for a few minutes so they learn that this behavior is unacceptable. Image Credit: Jim Sluder, Pixabay 4. Redirection Redirection is a useful tool in training and can work well with biting too. This method is simple and works by keeping your pup from unwanted behavior and offering them appropriate behavior instead. Whenever your pooch bites or nips, try to offer them a chew toy of some kind instead, and this will gradually lead them to chew toys as opposed to your hands. Squeak toys are great for this type of redirection, as the noise is enticing to most puppies and dogs. Reward good behavior Positive reinforcement training methods are best for leading your puppy toward desired behaviors and away from unwanted ones. These methods involve no scolding or harsh treatment, so they are ideal for cementing the bond between you and your pup. When you offer your dog a chew toy instead of biting and they take it or you issue a command that they instantly follow, you simply reward that behavior with either a treat or praise. You ignore any bad behavior. They will swiftly associate treats with good behavior and stop the bad behavior that gets them no attention. Image Credit: Happy monkey, Shutterstock 6. Games Since GSDs are such powerful and athletic animals, they need to be mentally and physically stimulated through games and interactive play. Games are also the best time to engage and enforce training techniques and get your GSD accustomed to them before biting gets out of hand. Stick to simple games like fetch or frisbee, where you can train your pooch to give the ball back when you tell them to. Harsh treatments like hitting or shouting are highly unlikely to solve the problem and will probably just make it worse, as your dog will simply become nervous and wary of you. With a powerful dog like German Shepherds, trust is vital. They are highly intelligent and aware animals, and the smallest of sounds or movements are enough to set them off. There are several reasons for this, including: GSD puppies will begin teething as early as 2 weeks old, and this can be uncomfortable and even painful for them. This behavior can go on until your puppy is 6 months old, and they will chew on almost anything that they can find — including your hand — in an attempt to try and soothe their discomfort. Separated too young. The first 2 months of your GSDs life is vital to their socialization and learning, and if they are taken away from their mother and litter too young, this may cause a lack of understanding of boundaries. Puppies will play and learn with the rest of their littermates, where they learn to control the force of their bite. GSDs should be at least 8 weeks old before they are re-homed. Fear or overstimulation. Fear, anxiety, and overstimulation are common reasons for puppies to lose control of their bite because this can cause them to become irritable or defensive and lead them into the habit of biting. Conclusion Since German Shepherds are such powerful dogs, proper training is vital, and bite inhibition is an essential part of that training. Proper training is the vital first step and will set the tone for all other methods. With time, consistency, patience, and gentle leadership, your German Shepherd puppy should kick the biting habit in no time. Check Price on Amazon 4. Use Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement means giving something pleasant to your German Shepherd when they perform what you want them to do so that they learn to associate the correct behavior with the reward. The more this is repeated, they will remember and do it more often. The reward is a reinforcing motivation. In the above example of redirecting your GSDs biting to a chew toy, once he accepts the toy and starts to chew or play with it, you then offer lots of enthusiastic verbal praise and reward with a treat. Again, timing is important, and this must be done instantly so that your German Shepherd will recognize or associate his behavior with the correct action. You can give other rewards, but these may be more suited to older pups, adolescent dogs, or adults. Alternatives could be giving them a special toy, playing their favorite game, such as fetch, or taking them on their favorite walk. Always use lots of verbal praise in parallel to the reward you choose. You will, no doubt, soon get to learn where your dog prefers to be pet. Go here for more guidance on where to pet your German Shepherd. This is also useful when your German Shepherd starts to put his mouth around your possessions or furniture, ready to have a good gnaw! Using a time-out can effectively discipline a German Shepherd for biting and other undesirable behaviors. A great way to do this is to grab their collar, push their bum down, and make them sit. The idea is that your German Shepherd will quickly learn to associate that the fun stops when his nipping starts! As always, timing is critical, so your pup learns what he has done wrong at the precise moment. For very young puppies, you should only put them in time-out for a few seconds, between 7 and 10, and no longer than 30 seconds. At the end of the time-out, redirect your pup back to play and use lots of verbal praise or offer a training treat for good onward behavior. You must time the click at the exact moment your pet is doing what you want to reinforce. If you quickly reward your dog with a positive experience such as a treat, he will soon learn to associate the noise of the click with great things. The idea is that you condition your German Shepherd so that when he hears the sound of the clicker, he knows he has done something to please you. In the case of puppy biting, we are simply rewarding the puppy for choosing not to bite. You can achieve this by using the distraction technique described above. When the puppy makes the right choice and starts to bite on his chew toy, he hears the click and gets his treat. Look out for other symptoms such as drooling more than usual, bad breath, loss of appetite, or sneezing. If you are consistent and patient with your methods, you will achieve great results. Be firm but fair, which also helps to strengthen the loving bond between you and your dog. It leads to fear, avoidance, hurt feelings, guilt, stress, anxiety, and lack of trust. Owners should use positive reinforcement methods as much as possible. In another year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that using confrontational or aversive methods to teach aggressive dogs did not work. The dogs continued to be aggressive until the training methods were changed. The same study found that punishing techniques and dominance-based training, such as hitting or kicking, growling, or yelling at your dog, can cause aggression, as stated by Meghan E. An even more recent study in companion dogs suggests that using even mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out more than dogs taught using reward-based training. This stress causes negative consequences and poorer welfare. Alpha rolling is a controversial and outdated technique that physically puts your dog on his back or side in a submissive position to show that you are dominant or the Alpha. This old-fashioned technique is a form of positive punishment and was often used to house-train pups. Many people will have used this method decades ago without success, but at the time, they believed it was the right thing to do. For a positive punishment to work, the problem is that it has to be administered during or immediately after the act within 2 -3 seconds ; otherwise, the dog will not make the connection. Sometimes puppies naturally get over-excited and overtired. When this happens, instead of using the crate as a punishment, lure him into the crate with a treat offering lots of praise and letting him go down for a nap. If you feel sorry for your German Shepherd after disciplining him, you must never reward him out of guilt. Again, this only confuses your dog. Remember to be firm but fair. While a muzzle can prevent your dog from biting, it is not a solution to the underlying behavior issue. Muzzling your German Shepherd without addressing the root cause of their biting can lead to further behavioral problems and may even make the situation worse. Is it ever too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting? It is never too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting, but it may take more time and effort to modify their behavior if the biting has become a habit. Start with identifying the root cause and then take the guidance of an expert to set boundaries and train better to eradicate unwanted behavior. Final Thoughts Puppy biting is natural in all dogs. However, you now know the importance of disciplining your German Shepherd as soon as he starts to exhibit biting, nipping, and chewing behavior and how to do it. This is especially important with the German Shepherd breed as they quickly grow into big strong dogs. That could end in disaster for all concerned. No matter what you are teaching your German Shepherd, try to train him when young; 8 weeks old is a great time to start. Make sure you properly socialize him and give him lots of exercise and training will be much easier. Related Posts You May Like:. Puppies Have you ever reached down to play with a German Shepherd puppy, only to have that adorable little fur-ball pierce your skin with its razor-sharp puppy teeth? When I brought Allie into the family, she was fully in the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — so that first month was tough! Unfortunately, biting is an inevitable phase of puppyhood — it comes with the territory when you decide to be a puppy parent. My goal with this guide is to get you through the biting stage with as few battle scars as possible. Why do German Shepherd Puppies Bite? Up until this time, your puppy was with its littermates, and playtime meant lots of mouthy, nipping fun. Accordingly, this is the only way your GSD knows how to play! A German Shepherd puppy also uses their mouths to explore different things like toys — or hands, ankles, furniture… pretty much anything they can get their mouth around. Your puppy could also be teething, which can increase their mouthy behavior. Just be patient as you work through the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — give your pup time to learn to be gentle when playing or seeking your attention. Nothing is worse than an ankle-biter! I was very lucky not to have this problem with Allie. Why does your German Shepherd puppy target the ankles? Because your GSD is a working dog trying to do its job — herd you around the house like livestock. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding flocks of sheep. Your furry pal may also think heel nipping is just a really fun game. Using a toy as a distraction and keeping your pup active will help nip ankle nipping in the bud! Because she was too busy biting hands! There are lots of reasons why a pup may decide to start biting your hands. For one, good things treats, toys, love, attention come from hands. Also, hands are almost like swinging toys from the perspective of a playful pup — too enticing to pass up! How to Discourage Biting Behavior While the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is a rite of passage, there are some ways you can discourage bad biting behavior without harsh discipline. This is one of the most effective ways to teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition — or how to be gentle with her teeth. Think about when your pup was rolling and playing with their brothers and sisters — if your GSD was too rough, their sibling would let out a yelp. This trick worked great with Allie! Just make sure to be consistent until your pup gets the idea and learns to master the power of her jaws. Puppies will be puppies! Redirect the biting to an appropriate toy. For example, when your fuzzy friend latches onto your ankles, give a little puppy-like yelp, and then whip out a toy and encourage your dog to chew on that instead. Tug-of-war is the perfect game for the puppy biting phase. Socialize your puppy as much as possible. Other dogs are great at teaching your puppy that they playing too rough and biting too hard. Try a deterrent to prevent your dog from chewing or biting. If all else fails, there are lots of products designed to deter your dog from bad biting behavior. How do they work? Well, they taste awful. But if used correctly, they can definitely work. This is still attention — your puppy bites, your puppy gets attention. Otherwise, your pup may see this as a fun new game, kind of like tug-of-war but with your hands or feet as the toy. You want your furball to love playing with you! The goal here is to encourage your German Shepherd to play as much as ever but to play gently. As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping — kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control. But trust me, it got old quickly. Be proactive. If I knew someone was coming over, I would put Allie in another room or in her crate. Once our visitor was in the house and the initial excitement had passed, I would let her out. By keeping her from greeting people right when they walked through the door, I could minimize her overzealous behavior. This is a simple command that teaches your dog to stay in her place until you give a release command. This is another way to allow the initial excitement to pass and your German Shepherd to calm down a bit before greeting anyone. Redirect attention to a toy like I talked about earlier. Fold your arms and turn away. Keep turning until your GSD stops jumping, then praise them and use a treat as a reward. What to Do If Biting Becomes Aggressive Although puppy mouthing is normal, there can be cases where biting can signal problems and possibly even aggression. Look for physical differences in your pup. If your puppy is having a moment of aggression, their body may stiffen when snarling, and bites will typically be more painful than during regular play. Also, if your GSD puppy is biting out of fear or frustration, you may need to take action. These types of behavior are not something your pup will just grow out of. While the biting phase will inevitably end, you may find yourself asking the infamous question — when do German Shepherds calm down!? I asked myself and our vet this question more than once! It honestly just depends. Sure, she had her calm moments thanks in part to her training , but she was still very hyper especially in more excitable moments. The type of German Shepherd dog is yet another variable that plays a role in its energy levels. So when do German Shepherds calm down? It really depends on your individual German Shepherd. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is something all GSD puppy owners will go through, but it will pass. Try the tips above to help keep your sanity during this phase. Or any tips to help the rest of us? Please share! An aggressive pound dog pouncing on you can get quite ugly fast. Think broken bones, damaged muscles, deep lacerations, bruises, scars, and expensive medical bills. German Shepherds have a bite force of PSI pound-force per square inch, or the measure of strength that a bite inflicts on the victim , compared to humans with a bite force of PSI. In fact, the American Animal Hospital Association lists the German Shepherd as one of the six breeds with the most dangerous bites, based on a US study. Therefore, training your GSD to inhibit her bite is mandatory as it not only rewards you with a well-behaved dog, but also ensures your safety as well as the safety of the people around you. A crucial step towards correcting this nasty behavior is to first understand why German Shepherd puppies bite. Nipping or biting stems from various reasons. Understanding the root of the behavior will equip you with the proper corresponding countermeasures to correct it. German Shepherds Have a High Prey Drive One of the primary and distinct characteristics thatmake a German Shepherd a popular choice for police and military work is their high prey drive, coupled with their intelligence and high trainability. Take a look at the video below showing what GSDs were originally bred for. GSDs also have a natural inclination to chase almost everything that moves in their surroundings. They Are Teething As early as two weeks old, the baby teeth of pups start to come out. Puppies use their mouth to explore their environment, so nipping is to be expected. This behavior, called teething, can last until the puppy is six months old when all her adult teeth have started showing. Teething is very uncomfortable for puppies and can lead to sore gums, so puppies turn to anything to chew to soothe the discomfort. Unfortunately, this can include biting you! They May Be Taken From the Litter Too Early Young puppies learn to naturally inhibit their biting through socialization with their mother and their siblings. A puppy does not quite understand yet the force of her own bite unless she bites too hard and the recipient reacts by yelping out of pain. Taking a puppy away from her mother prematurely will therefore deprive her the chance to learn important socialization skills. As a rule of thumb, the American Kennel Club AKC recommends that you take home a puppy that is no less than eight weeks old. By this time, the puppy should have had ample time to interact with her playmates and learn bite inhibition. We concur that you should never take home a puppy that is less than 8 weeks old. In fact, more than half of the states in the U. This does not mean, however, that your puppy will completely stop nipping. As the new parent, it is your job to continue training the dog so that any subsequent bites should be gentler. For more on selecting the right German Shepherd puppy from a litter, including additional information on the proper age, what to look for in a puppy, and what to expect from ethical breeders, be sure to check out the 2 articles linked below: How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy: A Step-by-Step Guide The Puppy Might Be Overstimulated, Fearful, or Anxious Sometimes puppies lose control of their bite because of overstimulation. Overstimulation can happen during playtime, or when your puppy has become cranky due to teasing. Your GSD puppy may also bite out of fear. Your puppy has but 2 defenses — to run away or to bite. If your puppy feels cornered, then biting is the defense that she will most often resort to. Because biting is normal canine behavior and GSDs are a breed that is more prone to it, the goal here is to inhibit the bite, not completely stop it. Do Start Training Early We keep mentioning throughout this site that training and socializing your GSD as soon as you get her home is crucial. Although training older dogs is not impossible, it is true that it is easier to train younger puppies, when habits are still new and can be easily corrected. If left untrained, adult German Shepherds can be prone to aggression towards other animals and humans, which can result in tragic situations. To get a better understanding of what is involved with these necessary steps, be sure to read these 2 excellent articles: German Shepherd Training Guide: All You Need to Know Do Use Toys as Alternative Items to Chew Puppies will nib on your hands or your feet especially during the teething stage. Train this behavior away by offering the puppy a toy whenever she starts biting your hand or your ankles. This teaches her what is acceptable to bite and which is not. It is good practice to always keep a chew toy nearby in anticipation of the biting behavior. She needs to understand that biting ends playtime and that it does not give her anything in return. In the Alpha Roll , the human pins down the dog on the floor on his side or back and holds that position to exert dominance. Besides, it has also been proven in many studies that dogs have very different behavior from wolves. Pinning your dog will cause him to freeze out of fear, which can also turn into aggression. It also teaches your dog that physical touch is something to be feared. Nobody wants to be punished by hand, not humans and certainly not dogs either. Do Reward Good Behavior Dog trainers and experts agree that positive reinforcement using rewards are highly effective in forming and keeping desirable behaviors as a puppy matures into an adult dog. If her nose touches your fingers without biting them, give her a treat and praise generously. Hold off the treat if she bites. Do this repeatedly until she associates the treat the reward with not biting your hand the good behavior. In fact, most dog bite cases in children occurred because of teasing! Instead, teach your child to be gentle with your pet , as even unintentional rough play can result in unwanted events. Dogs get cranky too, especially when they get hurt or feel that their privacy is being invaded. Never leave your child alone with your puppy unattended. Supervise their interactions at all times. Studies show that parents trust their dog around their kids too much that they overlook the signs that the dog is in distress. For tug games, keep in mind, however, that your dog must be calm and not overstimulated before playing. Otherwise, your puppy may get too serious and hold on to the rope too much. The AKC recommends that for breeds that are prone to aggression such as German Shepherds, tug-of-war can be safely carried out if the puppy knows you are in control and follows your commands. Once this has been established, a game of tugging can be used both as an exercise and as a reward for your dog. When playing, always remember to be gentle with tugging as your puppy still has baby teeth! By doing this, you are also socializing your puppy with other animals — an essential skill to learn for a well-rounded behavior. That being said, do not completely write off playing with your puppy! Playtime is still an excellent opportunity to bond with your dog, but make sure to keep it safe and fun by establishing boundaries. This method, however, is a matter of trial and error. Some puppies respond to this positively. On the other hand, many puppies get aroused by this and become even more aggressive. If you yelp and she stops biting without expressing any signs of aggression, the method has perhaps worked. You are then free to continue doing so until the puppy learns to stop biting hard. On the other hand, temper tantrums, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , are characterized by a stiff body, lips pulled back to show teeth, and growling. Biting will be more forceful and painful, since the behavior is typically caused by fear or anger. A German Shepherd puppy may be more prone to displaying this behavior, especially around unruly children. Bite inhibition is crucial especially among German Shepherds, a breed that is widely reported to be the culprit of many dog bites in America. Bite inhibition is simply one of the many important skills that your GSD must learn during her training. It can spell the difference between gentle playing and aggressive biting that leads to serious injuries. Always remember that dogs have feelings, too. They are not perfect little angels that never get angry. Even the most well-mannered dog in the world will snap out of irritation.

Here are the top 3 Labradoodle Breeders in San Diego. Shadow Mountain Labradoodles The main aim of the Shadow Mountain Labradoodles is to provide people with physical impairments with a lovely service dog. These breeds are also hypoallergenic in nature which makes them an ideal choice for people with allergies. They begin to train their dogs at a very young age so that they can develop their socialization skills and other skills. These dogs are also a good choice if you already have a pet at home. Labradoodles are extremely social with people and other animals too! This is one of the best shelters in San Diego if you are considering adopting a furry Labradoodle companion! The main aim of this shelter is to find a loving home for all their adorable little puppies. They have a puppy nursery complete with dog toys and accessories to help them socialize and play well with the other Labradoodle puppies. They also have their own personal veterinarian who regularly monitors the pups. We also practice regular vaccinations and breed testing in order to make sure they are not prone to any genetic diseases. They also give you a complete experience. Even before your pup is born, the Moo Cow Labradoodles keeps you updated with regular X-Ray pictures and pictures of when they were born to help make you feel included. This will also help you develop a connection with the pup right from the early stages! Their puppy nanny will bring them right to you! These pups are well-behaved, well-trained, and lovable animals and make for an ideal companion for your home. Contact Information Email address: moocowlabradoodles gmail. Rosebud Labradoodles The Rosebud Labradoodles is a small shelter run by a family of dog lovers. They have years of experience in breeding Australian Labradoodles, and they consider their dogs to be a part of their family. The main goal of Rosebud Labradoodles is to provide homes with healthy, happy little Labradoodle puppies in San Diego! They start training at a young age, as most breeders do. However, they use a unique approach to training these adorable canines. Since these puppies love listening to their masters, they are very easy to train. As a result, you get a highly disciplined dog for your home. They also recommend that the owners continue training the puppies this way so that they will retain this knowledge and stay well-behaved and disciplined. That being said, Rosebud Labradoodles still retain their rights of breeding and will handle all the expenses needed for breeding purposes. If you are interested in adopting your furry friend from Rosebud Labradoodle, all you need to do is simply fill out an application form and submit it. You will automatically be put on the waiting list, and if your application is selected and approved, the team at the shelter will reach out to you. Every pup has its own needs and requirements. It is known for its ability to assist people who are physically impaired. This makes them an ideal companion for those who have allergies and are looking for low-maintenance dogs. Temperament These dogs are known as very friendly, social dogs with people and other animals as well. So if you want to adopt a dog that will also get along with the other animals in your house, this is the perfect choice for you! They are also very gentle animals who require a lot of exercise and simulation. They have a lot of energy in them, and in order to release it, they constantly keep themselves active. They also require a lot of attention and leaving them by themselves for an extended period of time can cause them to become very restless. They are very easy to train as they love to please you. Training them from young ages will further help in improving their skills. Fitness Requirements As mentioned earlier, these dogs are highly energetic, and they require some form of physical activity to keep themselves healthy. A maximum of 2 hours of exercise is required every day for these animals. Possible Health Issues Labradoodles are usually less prone to catching diseases, unlike the parent breeds. However, there are a few diseases they can catch despite their immunity. Hip Dysplasia This is a genetic condition that can be acquired from one of the parent breeds of the pup. The ball and the socket of the hip do not join properly. This can cause them a lot of discomfort, especially when walking as the ball and the socket constantly rub and grind against each other. They can treat it with surgery, hydrotherapy, or pain medications. Infections Of The Ear Labradoodles usually have very droopy ears, making it very easy for them to get ear infections. The moisture in the ears can often get trapped easily because of the droopy ears, which attract many bacteria. You can easily identify that your pup has an ear infection just by the way they contact, shake and itch their ear. It is best recommended to take your doctor to a vet at this point and get it treated as soon as possible. Allergies Of The skin Labradoodle puppies in San Diego are pups extremely prone to allergies, especially those of the skin. A skin allergy to your Labradoodle can be triggered by fleas, dust, pollen, plastic, and so on. There is no specific cure for an allergy. But your vet will definitely prescribe your dog medication that can help ease the symptoms of an allergy. Retinal Atrophy Retinal Atrophy is a condition where the retina of the puppy starts to slowly deteriorate, which further leads to blindness. Initially, your Labradoodle might have only night blindness, but if this is left untreated, it can further into blindness during the daytime as well. Although there is no cure for Retinal Atrophy, Labradoodle puppies in San Diego can easily adjust to their surroundings. They will learn how to navigate around the room as long as the furniture remains unchanged. You need to find a puppy that is friendly with your children, animals, and other unfamiliar faces. Adopting an adorable little Labradoodle is the ideal choice in this scenario, but they are also an expensive long-term investment. In order to find your ideal dog, you need to look for quality breeders. There are plenty of Labradoodle puppies in San Diego. We hope our list of the three best Labradoodle breeders in San Diego helps you find the perfect companion for your home! These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near San Diego Country Estates California and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted. Learn more The last destination we recommend on our rundown of the best Labradoodle breeders in San Diego is Pococreek Labradoodles. Cindy and Ron Stickney are reputable breeders who offer quality Miniature, Medium, and Standard size Australian Labradoodle puppies to anyone in California and other surrounding states. Their coats have wavy or fleecy textures. They come with up-to-date vaccination and deworming records, a microchip registration, a month of pet insurance, pedigree forms, and a puppy starter pack with food samples, grooming equipment, and toys. However, these prices can differ from breeder to breeder. They can also charge extra for shipping them with a puppy nanny or meeting a family at the airport. Some questions you should ask a breeder about before purchasing a Labradoodle from them include: Their experience with the breed The types of health and temperament checks they perform for their breedable dogs and future litters. Inhumane breeders operating puppy mills prioritize selling their litters for profit without focusing on producing healthy pups or improving the breed. If your Labradoodle is prone to food allergies, consider reaching out to your vet about potential ingredients your pup might react to before switching to an alternative kibble formula. Create a chart for whenever you feed your Labradoodle or let them use the toilet to keep track of their daily routines. The number of times they eat and go throughout the day changes as your pup ages, so keep that in mind if you need to update their charts. Be sure to take your Labradoodle to the vet within the first few days of taking them home. Although your pup goes home with up-to-date deworming and vaccinations, additional blood and fecal testing can identify hidden issues early. Consider compiling a shopping list of supplies to pick up before taking your dog home, including puppy food, toys, a size and age-appropriate crate, and brushes for maintaining a non-shedding coat. Leave us a comment to share your thoughts. Meet our writer Jen Clifford is an animal behaviorist and veterinary technician with more than a decade of hands-on experience working in small animal and specialty veterinary clinics. Leave a Comment. Testimonials As a veterinarian I work with multiple breeders. Charl and Jerry Beauchat have been clients of mine for several years. Their dogs are always kept in great condition. Every puppy is health checked and micro-chipped prior to going to its new home. Providing healthy family members remains a priority of mine as well as theirs Jonathan CortezDVM We can not say enough about the integrity of your program. Pete and Jiffy …head and shoulders above the pack when it comes to a quality breeder…. Do yourself a favor and visit Charl and Shadow Mountain Labradoodles if you are considering a new puppy. We have made a full time commitment to our program. Three of us work full time with our dogs, puppies and families. Charl and Jerry are in Southern California, our daughter Jena, has branched out and is now carrying on our work in Oklahoma! We are also currently training 10 new Australian Labradoodle Breeders in California, Oklahoma, Washington, Texas, Utah, Colorado, Missouri and Ohio to bless families and to protect this wonderful breed! Shadow Mountain Australian Labradoodles are bred with love and care in a home environment. We work hard to place our puppies in an environment where both the families and the puppies are set up for success. Quick Links. We have answers. In comparison, American Labradoodles are typically a cross between Poodles and Labs only. How much are Labradoodles San Diego? The price you see online for Labradoodle puppies will be different depending on the breeder. There are many factors that can affect price, including coat color and type, size, gender, and breeder experience. Will you only connect me with local San Diego Labradoodle breeders? How do you screen Labradoodle puppies for sale in San Diego? Our team processes loads of partner applications from prospective breeders and businesses, both near LA and elsewhere in the nation. There are so many puppy scams online nowadays, and the situation is frankly ridiculous. What is a puppy mill? Puppy mills are basically factories for dogs. These are places where profit takes precedence over ethics and animal care, and where dogs are treated like objects instead of living animals. Are there any Labradoodle puppies in San Diego available now? All you need to do to begin is start your MatchMaker process below, tell us a little about your dream dog, and our team will take care of the rest. MatchMaker is our process that we use to connect the right families with the right puppies, breeders and businesses. MatchMaker takes into account your preferences—like size, breed, temperament and more—and helps you match with current and upcoming Labradoodle litters we believe to be the best fit for your family.

Jaimie meets clients for 1-on-1 training, group classes owners only, no dogs , as well as live video classes. Jaimie has published videos, blog articles, and eBooks to share tips for training and his personalized insight into dog behavior. There are 24 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 74, times. Poodles are a popular breed of dog in many places around the world, loved for their active demeanors and sharp intelligence. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source They're excellent hunters, trackers, trick-dogs, and even excellent watchdogs that will alert you whenever there's an intruder or something amiss in the household. Learn how much and what kind of food, exercise, and grooming you should provide your poodle in order to keep it healthy and happy. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. There are many kinds of wet and dry dog food on the market, with prices and flavors varying across a diverse spectrum. Don't get overwhelmed by the variety, though. Avoid foods with a grain or other filler listed as the top ingredient. There are many recipes for homemade dog food, but all of them should have 3 fundamental ingredients: meat, vegetables, and a filler carbohydrate such as rice. For example, keep your poodle away from raw meat, dried fruit, fried foods, and allium vegetables, such as onions and garlic. There are 3 sizes of poodles: standard, which weigh between 40 and 55 pounds 18 and 25 kg , miniature, weighing between 12 and 15 pounds 5. The size of your poodle determines how much food you should give it, so make sure to follow recommended guidelines in order to avoid weight-related problems in the future. That being said, there are some rough guidelines you can use if such information is temporarily unavailable. Keeping your dog hydrated is essential to good health and nutrition: water lubricates and facilitates practically every function in your dog's body, including joint cushioning, temperature maintenance, and digestion. If you use wet food, your dog can get quite a lot of its daily hydration requirements from its food, but you should still provide a large bowl of clean water at all times. Although many of these devices were created for cats who are attracted to running water, they perform multiple functions which are also beneficial to dogs, such as inhibiting bacteria growth and filtering out carbon. You've probably seen images of show poodles displaying what looks like a wacky, poofy grooming style. While you don't need to mimic this look in your pet's style, you still need to follow a fairly strict grooming regimen in order to keep your poodle's coat from matting. In addition to weekly brushing at home, you should get your poodle professionally groomed and trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks. You should brush your poodle's teeth daily with a vet-approved canine toothpaste and toothbrush. If you've adopted an adult poodle who hasn't had prior daily dental care, get a professional cleaning done before beginning your daily regimen. This is especially important for toy and miniature poodles, as they tend to have more problems with receding gums. Just be sure to select a rawhide variety which contains no added flavor and is made in the U. Poodles don't need as much exercise as some other energetic breeds, but you should still strive to walk them at least twice a day for no less than 20 minutes per walk. Go to source This is particularly important for standard poodles, as they are the largest sized poodle and the most active. Toy and miniature poodles require less physical activity, but you should still make sure they get enough exercise to maintain a healthy cardiovascular and digestive system. A standard poodle can develop superior endurance and speed—some people have even trained for marathons with this boisterous breed! But, you should amp up activity gradually in order to avoid overheating. Scan your fences carefully for any holes or weaknesses before letting your dog run around, and don't let your dog be outside when you're not home to supervise. Poodles were originally bred in Germany to be trackers and water retrievers, so they have innately excellent senses of smell and intelligence. Field events, hunting, tracking, and agility exercises are all excellent options which let the poodle use these natural skill sets and interests while keeping it mentally engaged and physically active. Tracking training involves getting the dog to follow a tracklayer's scent over an extended distance, navigate obstacles in the terrain, and find and retrieve an object such as a glove or hat carrying the tracklayer's scent. If you're not familiar with the procedure, you can get help with this kind of training through local poodle organizations, obedience classes, or American Kennel Club chapters. Poodles are loving, giving dogs, but this also means they need tons of attention in return. They prefer to be with you at all times, so include your dog in anything you can. For example, take it with you to your kids' baseball game, out on your morning jog, and to your friends' barbecue. Otherwise your poodle will act out and keep its mind occupied through other, often destructive behaviors, such as chewing on furniture or shoes. Originally bred as a working dog, specifically a water retriever, poodles tend to be active, intelligent and, usually, good-natured. Poodles also tend to be good with children and other pets, including cats, if you introduce the animals slowly and carefully. Bear in mind that a poodle needs a fair amount of grooming and, especially the standard poodle, plenty of exercise. Step 1 Walk your poodle daily for an hour or so. Toy and miniature poodles need walking just as much as the larger standard. If you have a standard poodle, also provide access to a securely enclosed yard or garden so he can exercise whenever he wishes. Smaller breeds can run around your home; larger ones need more space. Step 2 Brush your pet once or twice a week, if his hair is clipped short. If some of the hair has been allowed to grow long, brush daily. Also, wipe the inside of his ears with a slightly damp cotton ball. Step 3 Socialize your poodle by providing him with contact with other dogs and with people. This is especially important with a miniature or toy poodle, which might be shy and sensitive around strangers. Training classes can be a good way for him to interact with other dogs, as well as being helpful to you if you are new to dog care. Step 4 Take him to a professional dog groomer for clipping every six weeks. Unless you show your poodle, it is best to get an all-over, short trim, which is the most comfortable for the dog and the easiest to groom. Step 5 Take your dog for regular veterinary check-ups, especially important if he is a standard poodle. Your vet may recommend a series of tests. Tips If you have a toy or miniature poodle and live in an area with cold winters, acquire a suitably sized dog coat for walks. Dog clothing is not always whimsical -- jackets provide extra warmth to small dogs that might otherwise suffer in cold weather. A standard poodle might also appreciate a winter coat, especially if he is elderly, the winters are especially cold or he spends a lot of time outside. Acquire the basics before bringing a pet home. For a poodle, you need, at minimum, a sleeping cushion, a good quality dry food, food and water bowls, a dog harness and leash, toys, chews and the aforementioned coat. If you are unsure about any aspect of grooming your pet, such as trimming the nails or cleaning the ears, ask your vet or dog groomer to show you the procedure. Items You Will Need. She is a joyful and clever companion that enjoys being the center of attention. The Standard Poodle is one of three Poodle varieties, all of which share the same breed standard and differ only in size. Poodles originated in Germany and were bred to hunt waterfowl. Poodles are quick to learn and have comical personalities; the Standard Poodle tends to be calmer than the two smaller varieties. Standard Poodles are obedient, lively, and loyal family companions. The Standard Poodle is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of years. That is why we have summarized the health concerns we will be discussing with you over the life of your Poodle. By knowing about health concerns specific to Standard Poodles, we can tailor a preventive health plan to watch for and hopefully prevent some predictable risks. That does not mean your dog will have these problems; it just means that she is more at risk than other dogs. We will describe the most common issues seen in Standard Poodles to give you an idea of what may come up in her future. This guide contains general health information important to all canines as well as the most important genetic predispositions for Standard Poodles. At the end of the article, we have also included a description of what you can do at home to keep your Poodle looking and feeling her best. Unfortunately, your Standard Poodle is more likely than other dogs to have problems with her teeth. Dental disease starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and progresses to infection of the gums and roots of the teeth. Infections Standard Poodles are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections — the same ones that all dogs can get — such as parvo, rabies, and distemper. Many of these infections are preventable through vaccination , which we will recommend based on her age, the diseases we see in our area, and other factors. Obesity Obesity can be a significant health problem in Standard Poodles. It is a serious disease that may cause or worsen joint problems, metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain, and heart disease. Instead, give her a hug, brush her fur or teeth, play a game with her, or perhaps take her for a walk. Everything from fleas and ticks to ear mites can infest her skin and ears. Hookworms, roundworms, heartworms , and whipworms can get into her system in a number of ways: drinking unclean water, walking on contaminated soil, or being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some of these parasites can be transmitted to you or a family member and are a serious concern for everyone. Spay or Neuter One of the best things you can do for your Poodle is to have her spayed neutered for males. In females, this means we surgically remove the ovaries and usually the uterus, and in males, it means we surgically remove the testicles. Spaying or neutering decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers and eliminates the possibility of your pet becoming pregnant or fathering unwanted puppies. Performing this surgery also gives us a chance, while your pet is under anesthesia, to identify and address some of the diseases your dog is likely to develop. Routine blood testing prior to surgery also helps us to identify and take precautions against common problems that increase anesthetic or surgical risk. Genetic Predispositions for Standard Poodles Bloat Gastric dilatation volvulus, also known as GDV or bloat, usually occurs in dogs with deep, narrow chests. This means your Poodle is more at risk than other breeds. When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas. The twisting cuts off the blood supply to the stomach and sometimes to the spleen. Left untreated, the disease is quickly fatal, sometimes in as little as half an hour. Your dog may retch or heave but little or nothing comes up , act restless, have an enlarged abdomen, or lie in a prayer position front feet down, rear end up. Preventive surgery in which the stomach is tacked down or sutured in place so that it is unlikely to twist is an option. If you see symptoms, take your pet to an emergency hospital immediately! Heart Disease Standard Poodles are especially prone to a life-threatening heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, in which the heart becomes so large, thin, and weak that it can no longer effectively pump blood to the body. As this problem advances, he may act weak or tired, faint or collapse, breathe in a labored way, or cough. Unfortunately, Standard Poodles can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful! We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs for concern. Glaucoma, an eye condition that affects Standard Poodles and people too, is an extremely painful disease that rapidly leads to blindness if left untreated. Symptoms include squinting, watery eyes, bluing of the cornea the clear front part of the eye , and redness in the whites of the eyes. Pain is rarely noticed by pet owners though it is frequently there and can be severe. People who have certain types of glaucoma often report it feels like being stabbed in the eye with an ice pick! Glaucoma is a medical emergency. Cataracts are a common cause of blindness in older Poodles. Many dogs adjust well to losing their vision and get along just fine. Surgery to remove cataracts and restore sight may also be an option. Left untreated, hypoadrenocorticism can be fatal. Symptoms often mimic many other diseases, but we can run a specialized blood test to check for this specific condition. Though this disease can occur in any type of dog, Poodles are more at risk. This is a common problem in dogs, and your Poodle is more likely than other dogs to be affected. The condition usually develops slowly, and the early signs are easily missed. Symptoms include drinking and urinating more than normal, increased appetite, and reduced activity level followed later by a potbelly, thin skin, and hair loss. Treatment usually includes oral medications and requires close coordination with us to ensure correct dosing. Bleeding Disorders There are several types of inherited bleeding disorders that occur in dogs. They range in severity from very mild to very severe. Many times a pet seems normal until a serious injury occurs or surgery is performed, and then severe bleeding can result. Standard Poodles are particularly prone to some relatively rare diseases of the blood. If the immune system destroys red blood cells, your dog quickly becomes anemic, weak, and lethargic. His gums will look whitish or yellow instead of a normal bright pink color. Sometimes an emergency transfusion of red blood cells or platelets is needed. Bone and Joint Problems A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in Standard Poodles. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. This is called patellar luxation. You might notice that your pet, while running, suddenly picks up a back leg or skips and hops for a few strides. He might then kick his leg out sideways to pop the kneecap back in place. These are common signs of patellar luxation. If the problem is mild and involves only one leg, your friend may not require much treatment beyond arthritis medication. When symptoms are severe, surgery may be needed to realign the kneecap to keep it from luxating further. Both hips and elbows are at risk for dysplasia, an inherited disease that causes the joints to develop improperly and results in arthritis. You may notice that he begins to show lameness in his legs or has difficulty getting up from lying down. We can treat the arthritis—the sooner the better—to minimize discomfort and pain. Surgery is also sometimes a good option in severe and life-limiting cases. And keep in mind that overweight dogs may develop arthritis years earlier than those of normal weight, causing undue pain and suffering! Epilepsy There are three types of seizures in dogs: reactive, secondary, and primary. Secondary seizures are the result of a brain tumor, stroke, or trauma. If no other cause can be found, the disease is called primary or idiopathic epilepsy. This problem is often an inherited condition, and Standard Poodles are commonly afflicted. If your friend is prone to seizures, episodes will usually begin between six months and three years of age. An initial diagnostic workup may help find the cause. Lifelong medication is usually necessary to help keep seizures under control with periodic blood testing required to monitor side effects and efficacy. Note the length of the seizure, and call us or an emergency hospital. Diabetes Diabetes mellitus is a fairly common disease in dogs. Any breed can be affected, but Poodles have an above average incidence. Dogs with diabetes are unable to regulate the metabolism of sugars in their bodies and require daily insulin injections. Diabetes is a serious condition and one that is important to diagnose and treat as early as possible. Symptoms include increased eating, drinking, and urination, along with weight loss. If he shows signs, we will conduct lab tests to determine if he has this condition and discuss treatment options with you. Treatment requires a serious commitment of time and resources. Well-regulated diabetic dogs today have the same life expectancy as other canines. Allergies In humans, allergies to pollen, mold, or dust make people sneeze. In dogs, rather than sneezing, allergies make their skin itchy. The feet, belly, folds of the skin, and ears are most commonly affected. Symptoms typically start between the ages of one and three and can get worse every year. Licking the paws, rubbing the face, and frequent ear infections are the most common signs or allergies. The good news is that there are many treatment options available for these conditions. Skin Conditions Poodles are prone to a variety of skin problems, including sebaceous adenitis. You may notice that your dog has dry, scaly skin with patches of hair loss along the top of his head, back of the neck, and along his back. This condition typically develops when your dog is between one and five years of age. The earlier the skin is checked out, the better the results. Early detection leads to a happier pet and an easier, more affordable treatment plan. We may also recommend a special diet as part of his therapy. Cancer Cancer is a leading cause of death in older dogs. Your Poodle will likely live longer than many other breeds and therefore is more prone to get cancer in his golden years. Many cancers are curable by surgical removal, and some types are treatable with chemotherapy. Early detection is critical! Dental Abnormalities Teeth abnormalities are often genetically induced and are relatively common in dogs, especially in purebred dogs like your Poodle. An overbite or underbite is called a malocclusion or a bad bite. Oligodontia is a condition in which only a few teeth are present. Misaligned teeth can also occur and cause lots of problems, but can usually be corrected with braces or extractions. Yes, dogs can get braces! Signs can include dry skin and coat, hair loss, susceptibility to other skin diseases, weight gain, fearfulness, aggression, and other behavioral changes. Treatment is usually as simple as replacement hormones given in the form of a pill. Taking Care of Your Standard Poodle at Home Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for her. Another very important step in caring for your pet is signing up for pet health insurance. There will certainly be medical tests and procedures she will need throughout her life and pet health insurance will help you cover those costs. Routine Care, Diet, and Exercise Build her routine care into your schedule to help your Poodle live longer, stay healthier, and be happier during her lifetime. We cannot overemphasize the importance of a proper diet and exercise routine. Supervise your pet as you would a toddler. Keep doors closed, pick up after yourself, and block off rooms as necessary. Regular brushing and grooming is needed to keep her coat beautiful. Clean her ears weekly, even as a puppy. She loves the water, and swimming is a great form of exercise for your Standard Poodle! She is an athletic dog that excels at dog sports like obedience, agility, and even hunting. Feed a high-quality diet appropriate for her age. What to Watch For Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your Standard Poodle needs help. Proper care for the Poodle will involve many aspects that will all work in combination to maintain excellent health and promote learning and good behavioral habits. It is important to establish a foundation of proper care during the puppy stage that will carry over throughout the Poodle's life. We will discuss: The items that you should have to care for a Poodle puppy Details on the 5 most important tips for proper care - Feeding, house training, offering the right amount of exercise, grooming and how to offer a healthy environment. Toy Poodles and Mini's will be puppies for the 1st year; standards mature at a somewhat slower rate and are considered to be puppies until the age of 2 years old. During this time, much care is needed for both physical growth and mental development. Bringing your new Poodle home is not as simple as just picking up your new family member from the breeder. Good care involves planning ahead. It helps to have all needed items well in advance so that you can focus on the puppy without having to rush out for a needed supply items. One of the most important elements to be aware of is that no matter what the puppy has been fed since he or she began eating solid food, you should have the exact same brand on hand. Quickly switching foods can cause upset stomach and other issues…and in the case of a puppy it can be the cause of hypoglycemia. A slow change must be made. If you opt to go with a different brand or to home cook, have enough of the 'old' food on hand for several weeks, as well as the 'new' so that that you can make gradual changeover. A quality dog bed — A new puppy will feel stress going to even the best of new homes. This is why making sure that you have a nice, soft, comfortable dog bed is important. You should show your Poodle that this is the area in which he can rest, sleep or just get away from noise when things seem to overwhelming. If you will be leaving your puppy home alone during the day, it is best to have the bed placed in the area where he will be staying. A gated off section of a room or inside a canine playpen works well. The entrance to this can be left open when you are home with your puppy can of course, closed off when you are away. In this way, the puppy will become accustomed to the area. If you will be home with your puppy, place this in the corner of room that is frequently used but not chaotic. Dogs like to have their own quiet spot, but not feel isolated. Walking and ID accessories — Along with a retractable leash and a collar for ID purposes, it is highly recommended to have a harness for your puppy. Toy Poodles no matter what the age and all Mini and Standard puppies should have on a harness and not a collar when they are on a leash. When a leash is connected to a dog collar, this can create too much tension on the neck, which can cause collapsed trachea. The trachea windpipe is protected by rings of cartilage…when this happens, those rings collapse in, causing pain and breathing problems. These can be purchased at a pet supply store and come in many unique and interesting designs so that your Poodle always looks stylish. If you are not sure which harness would be best for your Poodle puppy, you may wish to look to both 'Accessories' and 'Clothing- Harness' in the Poodle Specialty Shoppe. A Car Safety Seat - Long ago cars did not even have seat belts for humans. But now, of course, we all know how many lives they save. The very same is true for dogs. Even if you are a conscientious driver, you cannot be in control of those who are driving near you. Be sure to secure your Poodle into a canine car safety seat. All it takes is 1 second of you having to quickly brake for your Poodle to go sliding off of the seat, completely unprotected. These are also great for dogs that are prone to car sickness. A raised booster seat will assist a puppy in being able to look out of the window which reduces motion sickness. However, choosing high quality toys that can stand up to continual chewing and hold a puppy's interest is better. Puppies are full of energy and filled with curiosity; having a good supply of toys at all times will be very helpful. Puppies that are in the teething phase will be experiencing discomfort and teething toys will help to sooth sore gums and offer a chewing outlet See also: Poodle teething Grooming Supplies - Poodle care certainly involves proper grooming. This includes nails, dewclaws, bathes, drying, wrapping, trimming, clipping and topknots. See also: Bathing a Poodle Clothes - Particularly for tiny toy Poodles, protection against the elements should be implemented as needed. During cold, icy winters the use of canine shoes or paw wax helps protect paw pads from ice melt chemicals and aids with traction. A sweater or cute vest can keep a small Poodle puppy from becoming chilled. During hot months, shoes help protect sensitive paws from hot surfaces. Bowls - Plastic bowls often contain heavy dyes that can cause staining on a Poodle's coat. In addition, tiny scratches that easily develop in plastic bowls can also harbor dangerous bacteria. It is best to use stainless steel or ceramic bowls for both food and water. Dishes should shallow so that a puppy can easily reach both food and water without bumping their heads or straining to reach. Toys and Mini's may like raised bowls. However, Standards - who are prone to bloat- should only eat and drink from bowls that are at floor level. Free feed until 3 months old leaving food out at all times and then give your puppy 3 meals per day plus healthy snacks. Please choose your food wisely; cheaper foods with fillers will not offer the proper nutrition needed to aid with the rapid growth that is associated with the puppy phase. You will find that if you reserve snacks and treats as rewards for training, housebreaking and command training will go smoother. Read more: Feeding a Poodle 2- Start house training right away, keeping in mind that it is your commitment to the process that will bring about success. Generally, housebreaking takes 2 to 3 months. If your Poodle puppy will be expected to use an outdoor area, do not focus too much on indoor training when the pup is home along, since it is difficult for puppies to learn 2 different methods. Do keep in mind that young puppies should not be over-exercised since it can interfere with growth plate development; however a daily 20 to 30 minute per walk is perfect. Walks allow a puppy to release pent up energy, it expands their view of the world and is a good staring point for socialization techniques and learning proper heeling. Poodles are generally very active dogs. Aside from a walk each day, this breed loves to run , jump and show off their agility capabilities. Playing catch, Frisbee or training your Poodle to jump through hoops will keep them in good health, both physically and mentally. See also: Poodle Exercise Requirements 4- Begin a routine of grooming and care. While many puppies will balk at the idea of being brushed or having teeth cleaned, doing these tasks on a regular basis allows a puppy to become accustomed to being touched and taken care of. Taking care of the teeth during the puppy stage is important since dental hygiene will affect the adult teeth that have not yet erupted. Read more: Poodle dental care 5- Limit stress, focus on fun. One of the most important elements of Poodle care is to offer a loving, safe environment. Puppies and dogs are sensitive to their owner's moods and the atmosphere of the house in general. Puppies can become easily stressed in noisy, chaotic homes. Puppies should be given a designated area to retreat and rest if feeling overwhelmed. Often, a gated off area that is secured when a pup is home alone, but the entrance is open when owners are home works best. Speak to your pup in a pleasant voice and remember that positive reinforcement for good behavior works much better than scolding for bad behavior. Take time to puppy proof the home, clearing the floors of any small items and stowing away shoes and other objects to higher ground. This should be done before bringing a puppy home but also on a regular basis. See also: What it means when a Poodle puppy shakes - If a Poodle is suddenly shivering, you'll want to look to these top reasons. Poodle Winter Care - Everything you need to know about caring for your Poodle during the wintertime. Other Articles: Apricot Poodles - This is a super popular coat color. Details and photos. Black Poodles - Another gorgeous color. Poodle tear stains - Putting to rest the old myths on what works. A list of the most effective at-home treatments to remove stubborn stains. Poodle hair tangles - Due to the nature of the curly coat, tangles are not uncommon yet should be removed as soon as possible with a method that does not affect hair growth. Are You a Member Yet? When you sign up to become a Member of the site, this allows you to receive a friendly notice when new pages of information have been added. Always something to help keep your Poodle happy and healthy. All rights reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Share Us.

Life Span Did You Know? The Shih-Poo has an adorable, alert expression and small, sturdy body. They can take after the Poodle parent, the Shih-Tzu parent, or be any combination of the characteristics of both parent breeds. Shih-Poos tend to be friendly, playful, and affectionate. They love their families and are avidly devoted to them. They tend to be friendly to other dogs, strangers, other pets, and children. They tend to do better with older children who have been taught how to carefully handle a dog. Due to their small size, a Shih-Poo can be easily hurt by rough play or accidental falls. They can do well in families with younger children as long as any time with them is closely supervised. The Shih-Poo tends to be a courageous little dog. They make excellent watchdogs because they are very alert. However, they can become territorial and barking can become a nuisance if left unchecked. Early socialization and training can help curb these tendencies and help your Shih-Poo puppy grow into a well-behaved, confident dog. This designer dog breed is highly adaptable. They do well in apartments as well as in larger homes and tend to do well in most climates. They are sensitive to extreme heat or cold, so they do best in moderate climates. Due to their small size, they may need to layer up for short trips outside when winter rolls in. Because Shih-Poos crave affection and love their humans, they do not like being left alone for long periods of time. The Shih-Poo is a generally healthy designer dog breed. Although the genetic mix can sometimes result in winning the genetic lottery, a mixed dog breed can still be susceptible to health conditions common in one or both of the parent breeds in the cross. By talking with the breeder about the health and genetic history of the parents and asking to see any health clearances, you can allay several of these potential health concerns. This designer dog breed is highly intelligent and can be easy to train. However, they can also have a stubborn streak that can cause some difficulty for first-time dog owners. This is often easily remedied with the help of some puppy training classes. They can also be difficult to housebreak, but it can be done with plenty of training, consistency, and patience. Crate training can also help. Shih-Poos respond best to positive, reward-based training. Whether with praise, treats, or play, you can reward your Shih-Poo for the behavior you like, which will encourage them to do more of it. Coat types and colors can vary greatly in your Shih-Poo. They can have the long, silky, and straight coat of the Shih Tzu, the short, curly, and non-shedding coat of the Poodle, or a combination of both. Most Shih-Poos end up with a curly or wavy, low or non-shedding coat. However, you should be prepared for your Shih-Poo to exhibit either coat type of the parent breeds. This coat looks its best with a combination of brushing a few times a week at home and then professional grooming every four to six weeks. This will help remove tangles and loose hair and prevent matting. Regular dental care is also important. Small dogs are more prone to dental disease. Drop down ears, or floppy ears, are more prone to ear infections because they can trap moisture, dirt, or debris. Daily walks and some indoor playtime will give this dog plenty of exercise. Beyond that, most of them can keep up with you on longer walks and can even compete in dog sports like rally, obedience, and agility. Be sure to check with your vet first and get your dog cleared before taking on any rigorous activities or training for dog sports. A Shih-Poo will generally stand 8 to 15 inches tall and weigh between 7 and 20 pounds. The size of the mother dog can give you a good idea of what to expect in your dog. This designer dog breed usually lives for 15 years or more. Some have even been known to live for 21 years! Featured Shih-Poo Article. The Shih poo is one of many named Poodle crossbreeds, bred in an attempt to combine the characteristics of the Poodle, such as its high intelligence and low-shed coat, with the desirable traits of another breed, in this case, the Shih Tzu. Some Shih-poos may have a longer, more Poodle-like muzzle than their Shih-Tzu parent, alleviating many breathing problems that Shih-Tzus can experience, such as Brachycephalic syndrome. The size varies and depends on whether the Poodle parent is of the teacup, miniature, or standard breed. Typically, a shih-tzu and a miniature poodle are chosen for the parents, which results in average adult weights of pounds. A shih-tzu and standard Poodle mix are extremely uncommon. Shih-poos come in a wide variety of colors, such as all black, all white, cream, sable, and any mix and combination thereof. Shih-Poos are playful and energetic dogs. They love to chase after balls, play with squeaky toys, or drag stuffed animals around the house with them. Generally, the Shih-Poo makes a great playmate for older, respectful children but won't tolerate harsh handling or hair pulling. Because the Shih-Poo is a crossbreed, some are accepting and affectionate toward strangers while others are reserved or shy around them. They love to cuddle with their owners and expect to sleep in bed with them at night. Although energetic, the Shih-Poo doesn't require a lot of vigorous exercise. Short but brisk walks in the morning and evening are all that is necessary to keep this spunky little guy fit. He will happily run around the home playing with a ball or other toys. Romping and playing in a grassy backyard with children or racing around a dog park with his canine pals is also appreciated by the Shih-Poo. This is not a hybrid breed that will enjoy jogging or hiking with his owners. Find Your Puppy Not seeing what you are looking for? The following pictures are examples of our past Shihpoo pups, they are not for sale. What is a Shihpoo? The Shihpoo is a mixed breed dog, generally a cross between a Toy Poodle and a Shih-tzu. The Shihpoo coat is always delightfully soft and can be either straight or a bit curly though never quite as curly as a Toy Poodle. Shihpoos can be any color, including black, black and white, gold and white, gold and black, brindle. Temperament Mari May Shihpoo dogs are very intelligent, warm natured, extremely loving, affectionate and easy to train. Their parents are non-terrier types which gives the Shihpoo a gentle, self-content, non nervous personality. They love people especially children! Mari May Shihpoos make excellent lap dogs. Delightful, very amusing and extremely clever, our Shihpoos are energetic, affectionate, playful and alert. Shihpoos make great companions and family pets. A Shihpoo dog is usually a cross between a Shihtzu and a Toy Poodle. The best way to determine the temperament of a Shihpoo is to look up both breeds and know that you can have a mix of any of the characteristics or traits. Height and Weight This widely depends on the size of the parents, and even grandparents. Mari-May Shih-poos are the result of the careful selection of both parents after a complete evaluation of health and temperament. Our Shih-poo parents are always small usually between 6 and 8 pounds. Our pups can range anywhere between 6 and 13 pounds and we do occasionally have very tiny tea-cup and Imperial sizes, under 6 pounds. Health Concerns Unknown as no research as been preformed on this mix, however mix breeds tend to be healthier than pure breeds, as the breeding lines are wider spread and there is limited opportunity for inbreeding. At Mari-May Kennels, there are no inbreeding practices. Our extensive experience indicates that Shih-poos in our breeding lines are vigorous in health and long lived. Exercise Shih-poos enjoy a daily walk, and love play sessions off the leash. Life Expectancy About 15 years or more. A natural, whole foods diet greatly extends the life of a Shih-poo. Grooming Shih-poos should be brushed weekly and clipped every 6 to 12 weeks. Keep theiur nails trimmed. Trim hair around bottom and eyes as needed. Shih-poos do not shed and they make a good choice for allergy sufferers. Group Companion The Mari-May Difference Mari-May Shih-poo puppies are the result of a very careful breeding program that considers not only the outstanding health of both parents but their exceptional personalities as well. This helps ensure that our Shih-poo pups are gentle, extremely social, sound minded and non agressive - wonderful family dogs in every way! Mari-May puppies are raised in an educationally enriching environment. Our weaning process is carefully planned to minimize separation anxiety. We firmly believe in the positive benefits of constant association between mothers and pups and wean much later than most dog breeders. All pups are weaned onto an exceptionally excellent diet of natural whole foods to give them the most healthy start possible. We believe in the careful socialization of each Shih-poo pup. Our special environmentally controled nursery features many extras including classical music! Mari-May Shih-poo pups are started in our special early Puppy-Kindergarten program before they leave for their new homes. Early training includes collar and leash conditioning, crate training, introduction to other types of animals including cats and much, much more. The Mari-May Code of Ethics is a very high standard which encompasses our entire breeding program and the dogs and puppies we sell. We believe in the integrity of the work we do and know that our ethical commitment is important to our customers, our dogs and our pups.