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Does my golden retriever need a sweater? To find out why they need a sweater or a coat, how they handle the temperature, and everything else you should know about your dog and the cold weather, keep on reading… Does My golden retriever need a sweater? Goldens are pretty good in handling cold weather, but they also have their own limitations. When it drops below that they may need help staying warm with the help of a sweater, coat, or blanket. But the temperature alone will not tell the whole story, and you need to keep an eye on your dog and watch for any signs that they are not cold such as shivering or looking for cover. As for at night, you can learn when do golden retrievers need blankets here, and you will find 7 very useful tips on keeping your golden warm at night in general, so make sure to check it out when possible. Does My Goldendoodle Need a Sweater? The case for Goldendoodles is very much the same as it is with Golden Retrievers, and you can apply the same guidelines discussed above. They also should not be exposed to that weather without anything to protect for more than 30 minutes. A golden retriever that has recently had a haircut will not be as well insulated from the cold as a golden with its coat at full length. This is just one of the reasons you should never shave your golden, but you can discover all the reasons for shaving a golden is a terrible idea here. Should dogs sleep inside or outside? It is best to keep them inside in cold weather, and do not leave them unattended outside for extended periods if they are puppies. Do not leave them outside for more than 30 minutes in the cold, and do not let them sleep outside. Just like puppies, short-haired dogs, and small dogs should not sleep outside. If your dog is cold at night they will do some of these signs Lifts paws off the ground Shaking or shivering. By Tom Massey Jul 07, Have your socks ever mysteriously disappeared? However, these brilliant minds failed to consider our fluffy canine pals — notorious stealers of socks. Sure, losing socks in the wash is common, but what if your sock never made it to the wash in the first place? All it takes is a mischievous Golden Retriever with access to dirty laundry. Shirts and pants are too large to fit comfortably in their mouth, but socks are small, soft, and stinky, making them perfect for hiding and retrieving when dogs need comfort and a familiar scent. These dogs were highly intelligent and eager to please their owners. On the hunt, the Wavy-Coated Retriever could seek out the wounded game and softly carry it in its mouth. One day, a man named Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks found a rare yellow Flat-Coated Retriever and set out to create a hunting companion that would rival the renowned black Wavy-Coated Retriever. The product of his dog breeding was the Golden Retriever. But why socks? As hunting dogs, Golden Retrievers love to carry things in their mouths. When you look back into the history of the Golden Retriever, it makes sense that socks would be attractive to this dog breed. But why do they behave this way? Well, it all goes back to your personal scent. It must be important because it smells just like you! However, if your dog ruins your clothes, it might be time to change your routine and reinforce a different behavior. How to Avoid Losing Socks to Your Golden Retriever If you find yourself in a losing battle with your dog over socks, it may be time to change your routine. Our canine friends have an acute sense of smell, up to 10, to , times better than people. Not only that, but dogs can intensely miss their owners while away and will even ignore food to greet their humans. Your dog can munch on this toy while channeling its natural instinct. Also be sure to supervise your golden retriever as they can chew off pieces that could cause blockage. Indestructible chew toys: If you discover socks with mysterious holes, your dog may be chewing on them. When you purchase indestructible chew toys, your dog can keep calm and chew without destroying a toy or clothing. Squeaky toys: Golden Retrievers were bred as hunting companions, and squeaky toys channel this instinct. When owners can keep dogs amused with toys that respond to their bite, the chance of stealing socks will decrease. Try to play fetch with a squeaky toy and see how crazy your Golden Retriever goes! Puzzle toys: These toys will keep your Golden entertained for long periods of time. Puzzle toys dispense treats periodically during play, so your dog spends time trying to obtain treats rather than scouring your bedroom for socks. Providing a Golden Retriever with ample toys can help prevent sock stealing since your dog will be too busy with their belongings to retrieve yours. Step 3: Praise Good Behaviors Dogs thrive off attention — especially our loveable, fluffy Golden pals. If dogs learn that bad behavior yields more attention from their owner, they will begin acting out more frequently. There is a whole field of science dedicated to behavioral training for pet owners. So if your Golden gets attention from chewing on socks, they will continue to do so until they find a better way to grab your awareness. If this becomes a serious problem, consider employing a trained behavior specialist to work with your dog. When you get a Golden Retriever from a reputable breeder, your pup will likely receive some level of behavioral training before entering your household. At Snowy Pines, every English Cream Retriever puppy learns simple commands such as sit, stay, yes, and no , socializes with other pups and humans, and gets basic crate training before going home with you. When you invest in a Golden Retriever puppy with behavioral training, they enter your home eager to please and receive praise. Crates can be a great place for dogs to relax, sleep, and hang out until their owner gets home. White Cream Retriever puppies from Snowy Pines will enter your home with basic crate training, so pups are already accustomed to the space. All you have to do is incorporate your human scent into their crate. Conclusion These hunting dogs are extremely loyal animals, bred specifically for their high intelligence and soft mouth. You may need to invest in some new chew toys and incorporate your personal scent into blankets or bedding. When you adopt a White Cream Retriever puppy from Snowy Pines, your new buddy will enter your household with prior behavioral training. Contact us today to learn more! Share on.

Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic Australian Retriever Highlights Australian Retrievers are mixed breed dogs. They are not purebreds like their Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever parents. The main colors that the coat of the Australian Retriever comes in are black, brown, and white. Some can be more golden like their Retriever parent. The Australian Retriever is a highly energetic and active dog and will require around an hour of exercise every day. Ideally, this will be split up into two separate sessions. The Australian Retriever is a great fit with kids. You should still supervise all play time between kids and dogs. In general, Australian Retrievers are also fine around other household pets, although they can show herding instincts. Breeders continued to produce these mixed breed dogs as demand climbed. Turning attention to the parent breeds, the Golden Retriever was originally developed in Scotland, where they very quickly became in-demand pups due to their very high intelligence and impressive ability to carry out agility and obedience-based tasks. When it comes to the Australian Shepherd, this is a breed that was actually developed in the United States. Despite their unfortunate start as a designer breed, some Australian Retrievers end up in rescues and shelters. Look out for them and adopt if you decide this is the right dog for you. As is always the case with newer mixed dog breeds, exact size standards might vary. Most weigh in at 25 to 60 pounds and range in height from 19 to 23 inches. Female Australian Retrievers are sometimes smaller than their male counterparts. The dog will bond strongly and quickly with you and your children and will desire to be part of your daily life. This mixed breed requires a lot of energetic exercise and playtime, and will also benefit from regular training sessions to help stimulate their natural smarts. Australian Retriever Health Australian Retrievers are generally considered to be healthy dogs, although the breed can be predisposed to some of the same conditions that the Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever face. Some of the more common health problems Australian Retrievers suffer from include: Bloat Hip Dysplasia Australian Retriever Care The Australian Retriever is a highly energetic and active dog and will require around an hour of exercise every day. When out and about, your Australian Retriever will flourish in safe off-leash conditions, especially if they can break out into long runs or take a swim. Ideally, the dog will live in a situation that features a fenced-in yard. Also, adding fetch and retrieve games to the daily exercise routine is imperative with this mixed breed. Australian Retriever Feeding An ideal Australian Retriever diet should be formulated for a large dog with high energy. In terms of climate, the Australian Retriever is quite an adaptable dog that can live happily in most weather conditions. But remember to dress your pooch in a dog coat if it gets very cold outside, and always make sure adequate shade and fresh water is provided when the temperature spikes. So be sure the boundaries between the dog and existing household pets are laid down properly. Ultimately, early socialization really pays off with this mixed breed. Make sure to reward your Australian Retriever for good behavior and adhere to a proper training regimen when you bring them home to your family. Australian Retriever Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for Australian Retrievers because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try Australian Shepherd or Golden Retriever breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try:. This dog is naturally healthy, and thus free from genetic-based illnesses. However, there are also reports of this kind of breed getting cancer, hyperthyroid, allergies, and many more. The best way to avoid these scenarios is by getting a breeder. With that, we recommend brushing it on a daily basis if you want to maintain its luscious and shiny coat. Otherwise, cleaning the coat at least once or twice a week will do. It is known to have moderate shedding periods as well, but there are two seasons where they drop more hair than usual. With that, you might also want to invest in a vacuum. Not only will this make your dog cleaner, but it will also save you the trouble of doubling your cleaning chore from time to time. In line with that, you need to create hygienic routines for the dog. As much as possible, give it a bath once a day. Not only that, but you also need to trim the nails, clean the ears, and brush its teeth on a daily basis. Ears that are in this position are more prone to acquiring infection due to the absorption of moisture. If not cleaned and treated properly your dog might be prone to ear mites and other infections. You can also rent grooming services. If you do this, you will only have to take your Golden Retriever with Australian Shepherd breed for a bath when it is visibly dirty. For more information regarding this, it would be best to discuss it with your dog breeder. This is due to the flexibility and genetic variety of this particular breed. Reports have shown that the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix is also capable of acquiring diseases such as cancer, hyperthyroidism, deafness, allergies, and epilepsy. Aside from that, some dogs of this kind are also known to be sensitive to drugs. But among all the illnesses this dog is prone to having, the ones you need to watch out for are pigmentary uveitis, heart diseases, eye conditions, and hip dysplasia. Overall, however, you can expect your Golden Retriever crossbreed with Australian Shepherd to be a healthy and athletic dog. A Golden Retriever can live from years. An Australian Shepherd, on the other hand, has an average lifespan of years. With these numbers in mind, you can expect your Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever to live for about years. A dog nutritionist will tell you to engage your dog in routine meals on a daily basis. This will provide it with the standard amount of energy and nutrients to rejuvenate the ones that it lost running around and playing in your house. Meanwhile, here are our top suggestions for dog food. Merrick Grain Free Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe Seventy percent of this dog food is made out of meant nutrients, which can help build lean muscles. With this dog food, you can also be sure that your pup eats corn, soy, and wheat free. You might also be thrilled to know that the company is known to be a manufacturer of locally produced dog food, which crosses out the possibility of some ingredients coming from China. One of the best features of this dog food is its 34 percent crude protein paired with 16 percent crude fat. Its top ingredients are deboned turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, potatoes, and peas. Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage This is probably the best dog food for your Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever crossbreed while he is still in his puppy stage. Earthborn has been known to produce one of the best dog foods for adult dogs, but the company recently released one variety that was specially made for Golden Retriever with Australian Shepherd race puppies. This dog food aims to give your pup a healthy brain and good eye development. Your doggo deserves to have the best care and nutrition you can give them. If you come across some of the worst dry dog food in the market, just keep going. Puppies should get food that will give them enough proteins, which you can find among best puppy food brands. Dog-grandpas should get only the best senior dry dog food to make them feel young and strong. Also, if you stumble upon best dry dog food brands for Pugs give it a go these pups have refined taste buds and your doggo might, too. Your cutie carries the genes of super-unique and distinctive parents, so you can always opt for best dry dog food for small dogs or best large breed dry dog food. Golden Retriever Australian Shepherd Mix Exercise Requirements Many dog owners are disappointed with having dogs contribute to mischief around the house. Little do they know that this mischievousness is just a result of high energy levels. Such is the case with the Golden Retriever with Australian Shepherd race. The dog is quite energetic. In line with that, if they do not get sufficient amount of exercise, it will try to release their energy through other means. This is why some owners find their Mix of Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd chewing and biting their shirt, slippers, or socks. You can schedule a session where the dogs can socialize with each other. Despite being a crossbreed, this dog also needs to socialize with its kind because it has a natural desire to be part of a herd. Socializing with other dogs of its kind will teach your puppy how to play nice with other animals. Still, these two things are done separately. The first thing you need to do is let the dog become acquainted with the environment since these types of dogs have hunting instincts. If you have other pets at home, it would be best to let your Golden Retriever crossbreed with Australian Shepherd mingle with them. Let them play with each other. This will give the animals sufficient time to get to know each other. You might even want to walk your dog around the neighborhood. The reason for this is to familiarize your dog not only with the surroundings but also your neighbors so that when someone visits your home, your puppy will not think of them as trespassers. Once you have done that, you should invest your time in teaching these simple training tricks: Walk. Spotted Golden Retriever Aussie Mix Temperament There is no exact way of predicting the personality and temperament of any mixed-breed dog, and the same is true for Australian shepherds. Intelligent As soon as you bring an Australian shepherd and golden retriever mix home, you will notice they are an exceptionally intelligent dog. Needless to say, this mix is very easy to train and will pass potty training and obedience training with flying colors. Keep in mind that, as such an intelligent canine, your Australian shepherd golden retriever mix will probably outsmart you more than once. Highly Energetic The Golden Aussie is a highly energetic dog that needs a lot of exercise , playtime, and training sessions to stay on top of his game both mentally and physically. If you have a more active lifestyle, this mix will fit right in with your schedule and be a great jogging, hiking, or swimming companion. However, if you are more of a couch potato, your Golden Aussie will behave a bit like a drill sergeant with a goal to get you in shape! Your Aussie retriever mix will need at least an hour of exercise every day ideally spread out over several play sessions to stay physically and mentally stimulated. If not provided with an appropriate outlet for their energy, your golden retriever Aussie mix will use destructive chewing, barking, and digging to prevent boredom. The Australian shepherd and golden retriever mix bonds strongly with its family and seeks out human companionship at all hours of the day and night. This mixed breed loves to be close to its people and is always in the mood for cuddles or petting sessions. Your Golden Aussie will have a strong desire to be close by and involved in everything you are doing and might feel unwanted if ignored or left alone. Thus, consider how much time you have to spend cuddling and interacting with your dog before you bring your Golden Aussie home. Hard-Working Since both Australian shepherds and golden retrievers are working dogs, their offspring tend to inherit a strong work ethic and be the happiest when they have a job to do. Depending on how much your mix takes after its Aussie parent, they might try to herd and nip at your family members, children, and smaller pets. This sort of behavior will work in your favor if you live on a farm; otherwise, you should discourage it with training. You can use these working skills while training and exercising your mix, like having him or her fetch and retrieve balls and freebies. This way, your pooch will feel like they are doing important work and get a workout at the same time. However, this mix is prone to certain health problems that are often seen in Australian shepherds and golden retrievers. The most common health problems seen in this mix are: Hip dysplasia Cancer Bloat The best way to avoid these issues from arising is to get your Australian shepherd golden retriever mix from a reputable dog breeder. You should also meet both parents and ask the breeder to show you their hip, elbow, and eye scores, as well as any other tests that he has had done. Compared to other dogs of their size, Aussie retrievers have a fairly long life span and on average live from 12 to 15 years. Be prepared for a long-term commitment and at least a few vet bills down the road before you ultimately decide to bring this mix into your home. Feeding An Aussie Golden Mix The ideal diet for the Australian retriever is one that consists of a lot of protein, fat, healthy carbs, and all other essential vitamins and minerals. Your mix should primarily eat dog food formulated especially for large dogs with high energy. Since they are prone to bloat , you should feed your Australian retriever two equally spaced smaller meals, once at the beginning of the day and another in the evening, and avoid free-feeding your dog. As a puppy, your mix will need calorie-dense puppy food suitable for large breed dogs and have to eat four small, evenly spaced out meals per day. To start, you should continue using the same dog food the breeder was feeding them and wait a month to slowly transition your pup to a different formula. To stay on top of all of that loose hair, you should brush your mix two to three times a week. The coat will shed to some extent all year round, and your mix will go through a heavy shed every spring, at which time you might need to brush your dog every day, using a dog brush that fits its coat best. Bathing once every other month will suffice unless your mix likes to roll in the mud and has to be bathed more often. After reading through our complete description of the Aussie retriever, you might still be unsure whether this wonderful crossbreed is right for you and your lifestyle. We suggest that you ask the following questions to help you decide. These dogs are both large and energetic, which means they thrive when they have a bit of extra space to exercise. An apartment will feel both feel small and confining to them and be inconvenient for you when such a big dog is wandering around in it. Even a small outdoor area that they can play around in will make a big difference to their overall health and happiness. Aussie retrievers love companionship and always want to be in the thick of things. If they are left at home on their own for several hours a day, perhaps when everyone is at work, they are likely to develop anxiety and depression. Not only is this bad for them, but it also often manifests in destructive behaviors like chewing, scratching, and digging. These dogs do best in households when there is generally someone around most of the time. How Energetic Are You? These dogs need lots of exercise. As well as at least an hour a day, they thrive when taken on regular weekend adventures like hiking, camping, or swimming. In addition, their daily exercise needs to be more than just a casual walk. Australian shepherd golden retriever mixes have lots of energy that they will need to burn off daily to stay happy and healthy. Will this suit your lifestyle? Are you going to be able to keep up with this dog? If not, this particular breed might not be the right choice for you. Are You Experienced With Dogs? These lovely crossbreeds are highly trainable and very personable, so even first-time owners should be able to teach them the necessary commands. However, bear in mind that they are also large dogs, and they respond best to a strong alpha. How Old Are Your Children? If you have young children at home, you might want to wait until they are a bit older to bring home one of these dogs. Not only do Australian shepherd golden retriever mixes have a tendency to herd younger children, but their size and energy can also be overwhelming for smaller kids. They will want to play quite energetically and confidently with your kids, who might be too small to control the situation. Also, these dogs are quite a lot of work, and you might not want to be running around after one of them while also running around after a toddler. Older kids, however, will find it rewarding to help you care for this personable pup. As with most designer pups, their cost varies greatly depending on where you are in the country and the subsequent supply and demand. You may also find some of these desirable pups looking for homes in a local shelter, so be sure to call around these shelters as your first option. Can Australian retrievers be golden? Australian retrievers can inherit the gold coats of their golden retriever parent, but a pure golden coat is relatively rare, as they usually have a mix of color markings like their Australian shepherd parent. Wrapping Up… It should be no surprise that golden retriever Aussie mixes are quickly becoming very desirable dogs, as they combine two of the most popular breeds in the United States. They are a stable crossbreed, as their parents have similar temperaments. They are both friendly and intelligent, which means their offspring are sure to be the same, no matter how their characteristics mix. Overall, these dogs are: Best suited to having constant company around the house Highly intelligent and need plenty of mental stimulation The Golden Aussie is ideal for active families who have lots of time to spend with their pup and enjoy getting active with them. While they need lots of love and attention, the unconditional loyalty and affection that they offer in return make them well worth the investment. Do you have experience with Golden Aussie mixes? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. You May Also Like. Temperament: Energetic, affectionate, and intelligent. Australian Retriever Appearance Depending on which genes they inherit these pups can look more like either the Golden Retriever or Australian Shepherd. This will impact their size with those with more Golden Retriever being larger. Most of the time these dogs will be well-muscled with a bushy tail and friendly alert eyes. These dogs are one of the most popular breeds for a reason — they are not only friendly but stunning dogs. They have powerful and athletic builds that make them good for hunting, obedience, and guide dogs. Height and Weight These dogs are a medium to large breed that can weigh anywhere from 30 to 60 pounds. They should stand between 19 to 23 inches — which is the perfect height to pet them! Colors and Coat You can expect these dogs to come in a variety of colors including black, brown, white, and golden. They can also come in merle, speckled, and spotted variations of many different colors. Your pup will have a waterproof double coat that is flowing and wavy. Many Australian Shepherd and Golden Retrievers are used as guide dogs to help the visually impaired. These dogs make great watchdogs since they are protective over their people. These dogs would be great as farmhands and herding dogs because of their high herding and protective drive. Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Personality and Temperament Since these are mixed breed dogs they tend to have personality traits from both parents. They are very even-tempered and loving dogs that truly want to please their owners. These dogs are best known for their gentle disposition — they are outgoing, confident, and trustworthy dogs that make a great addition to the family. The Australian Shepherd is known for their intelligence, determination, and energy. They are dogs that need a job and have a high impulse to herd and a strong work drive that will need attention. Australian Retrievers have personality traits from both of these breeds which means they should be loyal, affectionate, eager to please, and energetic. Since these are an intelligent breed they are going to need a lot of exercise and training to keep them motivated. They have high energy levels and remain puppy-like throughout their lives. If their energy is not directed in the correct ways or they are not stimulated enough they will find a way to keep themselves entertained. This means that they can have some destructive behavior if not properly trained. They can be protective over certain items in the house so they will need to be properly socialized. Overall they will want to be with their owner every part of the day and love to be loved. They are amazing dogs that are ready to do whatever you want especially if that means outdoor activities. Australian Retriever make great family dogs — they love children and form close bonds with their human family. These dogs need exercise, mental stimulation, and some grooming to keep them happy. Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mixes need to be socialized from a young age and like to be with their owners most of the day. They are an amazing addition to an adventurous and outgoing family that have the right amount of time and energy that these dogs need. Exercise Requirements This breed needs a lot of exercise. They are always ready and waiting for the next fun adventure to go on. Golden Retriever Australian Shepherd mixes need at least an hour of exercise a day whether that is through long walks, a game of fetch, or running around outside. A great way to help these dogs get exercise would be a game of fetch or as a running partner. While running with your dog you could also have them heal next to you for some extra obedience training — this would be a good way to keep them mentally stimulated as well. They enjoy being outside as much as possible, so weekly hikes with your dog will help. Number of Walks Per Day: .During the seasonal changes they will need to be brushed daily. As these dogs love to be outside they will most likely come back in dirtier than they left. Giving baths once a month and brushing them to get excess dirt out of their fur will help to keep them clean. Checking their ears for dirt is a must as well. Make sure to also check their paws for damage that could have happened while playing outdoors. Feeding and Diet Looking for food that is specific for their size, stage in life, and exercise level is a must for these dogs. Their energy needs will change throughout their lives so finding food perfect for these different stages is important. Sticking to food that avoids fillers and concentrates more on high protein since these dogs can be prone to overeating and gaining some unwanted pounds. The high protein diet also helps to keep up their caloric intake for their high energy needs. They should be fed 2 times a day with equally weighted meals. Getting your dog from a reputable breeder that has checked their dogs for these traits is a good idea. The Golden Retriever is known for certain health issues such as cancer. This can also be a problem for the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever mix. The most common health problems include: Eye cataracts. Despite their name, they are not Australian but it is thought that they are called Australian Shepherds because of their association with the Basque Shepherd Dog. The Pyrenean Sheepdogs are also thought to be ancestors of the breed. Whilst they remain great working dogs, they are now becoming a popular domesticated breed too. As serious working dogs, they were once used for doing fieldwork and hunting. Due to their intelligence, this breed is a commonly recognized service dog that has impressive obedience and agility capabilities. Emerging as a fairly new designer dog, this hybrid was first registered in .This breed is often referred to as the Australian Retriever. The Temperament and Personality of an Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Identifying the temperament of a mixed breed dog can be quite a challenge. As a breed, Australian Shepherds are known to be smart and determined with a natural instinct to herd. Aside from this, they are also affectionate, easy-going, and make great family pets. Golden retrievers are intelligent and confident dogs with a kind and friendly nature. Recognized for their gentle manner, they are even-tempered and devoted to their owners. Aside from this, they are excellent additions to active families and because of their intelligence, they are easy to train. Australian Retrievers have personality traits from both parents. As such, you should expect them to display loving behaviors and form strong bonds with their owners. Because both dogs are energetic breeds, you must make sure that they are exercised daily to keep them stimulated, though they will find ways of entertaining themselves if need be. This dog is also an obedient breed that is very sociable and thrives when surrounded by comfort and love. As the Australian Shepherd was originally bred for protective purposes , you may find that the mix still displays these tendencies. For this reason, it is important to ensure that you set boundaries to make sure that they behave appropriately. You should expect this breed to be easy to train and willing to do whatever you ask of it. The appearance of an Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix Golden Retrievers are sturdy dogs with a head and muzzle that are evenly proportioned. Usually, their eyes are brown and round. As implied by their name, they come in a few different golden-toned varieties, some of which are a lighter shade and others that are darker. When raised their tails are equally level with their head and they are also quite thick and bushy. This breed comes in many different color variations and this including merle, blue merle, red merle, black, and tricolor. The appearance of this mix will be influenced by the genes that it inherits from each of its parents. As such, it can be difficult to determine exactly what the dog is going to look like. For example, golden retrievers are larger so if the mix inherits more genes from this breed it is going to be bigger built. Generally, they are an equal mix of both dogs. Typically, they tend to have an athletic build with friendly bright eyes that are either blue, brown, or hazel. Aside from this, they also tend to have bushy tails with a merle coat and a large head. An Australian Retriever can also come in several colors. This includes brown, black, and golden, although there are now spotted varieties available too. Like the majority of breeds, the females are typically smaller than the males. On the whole, the height of the breed can fall anywhere between 19 to 23 inches. Weight of an Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix The majority of male Australian Shepherds weigh between 25 and 32kg whilst the females weigh around 16 to 25kg. Generally, Golden Retrievers weigh between 25 and 34 kg, of course, there are differences between the weights of male and female golden retrievers. As such, this mix will typically weigh between 50 and 65 pounds. Training and Exercise Demands of an Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix It is important to make sure that you socialize your Australian Retriever from the early stages as this will help to make it more confident. Because this breed is so active, your dog will need plenty of exercise. As such, you will find that they are always eager to engage in an adventure. Separation anxiety is an issue that affects many Australian Retrievers. If you are likely to be leaving your dog home alone at any point during the day, you may feel more comfortable putting them in a crate. Positive reward training is also effective. When in the process of training your dog it is important to recognize good behavior so that they know to continue this in the future. If they are being rewarded by treats, you will find that they are more likely to pick up the tricks that you are teaching them sooner. As a breed, an Australian Shepherd is a fairly easy breed to train, however, you may still benefit from taking your dog to obedience classes to keep them stimulated. If possible, you should try and take your dog for at least two walks a day. They also enjoy burning off some energy by running outdoors. Ideally, you should bathe your dog around every 8 weeks. Their additional care demands are pretty much the same as any other breed. Alongside bathing and grooming your Australian Retriever, you will need to dedicate sufficient time to clean its eyes and ears, trimming its nails, and also brushing its teeth. Because this breed has a coarse coat , it is pretty adaptable to both warm and cold climates, however, if the temperatures drop quite significantly, you may choose to put a coat on your dog before taking it outdoors. The lifespan of an Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix You should expect your Australian shepherd to live for between 12 to 15 years. When compared to the lifespan of other breeds, this is fairly lengthy. Of course, the exact lifespan will depend on whether the dog has any health problems. Health Problems Many breeds are known to suffer from health problems. The most common issues that affect this mixed breed are hip or elbow dysplasia, however, on the whole, they are deemed to be fairly healthy dogs. It is worth noting that because the Australian Retriever is a mixed breed, there is an increased chance of it inheriting health problems that affect either of the parent breeds. Golden retrievers in particular are known to suffer from cancer. To minimize the risk of your dog suffering from any severe health problems, it is important to get your pet from a reputable breeder. Furthermore, it is also important to take your dog to the vet for wellness visits. Besides the health problems that we have mentioned above, both parent dogs are known to suffer from eye problems such as cataracts and retinal atrophy. This breed may also experience issues with bloating. If you suspect that your dog is ill or is showing visible signs that it is suffering from a health problem, you must act accordingly by taking it to a vet for professional advice. Dietary Requirements As an energetic breed, Golden retrievers have a ravenous appetite and are known to eat their food quite fast. Normally, this breed will eat around three to four cups of food a day. It will also depend on which parent it has inherited the most genes from. Remember that this mixed breed is typically full of energy so their diet must provide them with all of the nutrients that they need to fuel this. As they are prone to bloating, you should give them smaller meals and avoid overfeeding them or feeding them leftover scraps of food from your plate. Also, you should try and avoid foods that contain a lot of fillers. Base the amount that you feed your dog on the necessary factors that we have mentioned above. Make sure that you choose a food that is intended for larger dogs because it will be more effective in keeping your dog feeling fuller for longer. Now that you have a better understanding of the breed, it is time to determine whether it is right for you. Because the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix is an active breed, they are best suited to energetic families who will be able to meet their exercise needs. Whilst they are excellent family dogs, they are great companion dogs too. This breed is friendly, affectionate, and good with other children and pets. Similar to many other breeds, the Australian Shepherd Golden Retriever Mix is known to suffer from some health issues. Aside from this, they are also known to be enthusiastic eaters so you will need to ensure that their mealtimes are regulated as this will help to prevent them from overeating. Feeding them equal amounts at mealtime is also important.

Learn more about our puppies When you bring home a Prairie Doodles puppy, your puppy has already received hours and hours of important socialization. We introduce each puppy to a wide variety of people, sounds, smells and scenarios, which helps to create balanced dogs who are inquisitive, adaptable and social. We begin introducing them to a crate at five weeks old, so by the time they join your home they are well on their way to being crate trained. In addition, all of our puppies are litter box trained to eliminate on wood pellets. We love raising balanced, happy dogs. They're hand-whelped and brought up inside our homes, alongside our children, because we believe dogs are an important part of the family. Meet us What people are saying about us "Gail at Prairie Doodles has been wonderful. She has always been available to answer questions, and now, even years after we brought our dogs home, I know that she really cares about the families who have her dogs. I recommend her to everyone who asks me where my dogs are from — and lots of people ask! He loves outdoor activities, and is often hiking or snowshoeing in the mountains on weekends. He has a gentle and loving temperament, and is so great around his little human brother, Aiden. We receive so many compliments and questions about Enzo. Thank you to Prairie Doodles for our beloved puppy! Gail is a wonderful match-maker; we couldn't have asked for a better puppy. He has the most easy-going, calm and goofy personality that charms everyone who meets him. Our friends and family fight over who gets to babysit him when we go away. Family raised with love and laughter for a happily ever after. We are not a kennel. Aside from being intelligent, smart, and loyal, this coat quality is often why they are so highly sought after. Many families will find success with this breed, where other breeds have failed. Puppy Selection I am proud to be a breeder that allows families to choose their own puppy. After raising puppies for more than 13 years, I have never felt the need to allocate puppies to families. On occasion, a family will ask me to pick their puppy for them and I always provide guidance as to personality differences between puppies within a litter. If I feel that a chosen puppy will not be a good fit for a family, I will tell them. Health Guarantee Davidson Doodles is proud to be able to offer a 3 year health guarantee on our Australian Labradoodles and a 2 year health guarantee on our Bernedoodles. Meet the Davidson Family! As a family, Australian Labradoodles were love at first sight for us. Labradoodles have proven to be the ideal family pet for us. I currently live in SW Edmonton. I am dedicated to raising healthy and sound Multigenerational Australian Labradoodles and Australian Bernedoodles. Dogs have always been a huge part of my life. Growing up our family had a maltese poodle, Sam. When I began living on my own, I got my first dog, Jamie. Bailey joined my small family shortly thereafter. My first experience with an Australian Labradoodle was as a guardian home. And the love was instant. Their non-shedding, allergy friendly coats make them ideal family pets. Their goofy personality, loyalty, intelligence, and gentle demeanor were traits that needed to be shared with dog lovers everywhere. But it had to be done right. She just celebrated her 4th birthday on February 1. She is smart and cuddly and loved by everyone who meets her. We absolutely love her and she makes us laugh every day. She weighs 25 lbs now and 19" at the shoulder. The picture was taken Christmas Day with our kitten, Tika — they are the best of friends. Thanks again for our wonderful puppy. He is my shadow all day while it's just us :. We have so much love for our goofy guy! His best days are when it has snowed. We sure love him, and he is growing so much, I look forward to the days when he has grown out of his puppy habits though, LOL. Anyways, all is well and he is doing wonderful. Take care. Ron Calgary, Alberta What a gentle and exceptional doodle Casta that we have enjoyed as part of our family every day! Tim Medicine Hat, Alberta Hello! My husband surprised me with one of your pups last May .He has blessed our life so much! Here's William! Judith Calgary, Alberta We bought our fabulous dog from you Farley and today is Farley's 8th birthday. He remains a healthy 31 pounds and is happy and healthy. The amount of love he accepts is astounding and our lives are so much richer because of him. Thank you for helping to bring him into our lives. There are two of us here at Puppy Love. This enables us to have several dogs in our breeding program and still ensure that each one gets the love and attention they deserve. We raise our dogs in our homes where they are part of our busy families. We both have five kids each who help to love and train our dogs and socialize the puppies. When we purchased our first Australian Labradoodle about 12 years ago, we were surprised to find that everything we had been told about this wonderful creature called the Labradoodle was true! They are friendly and fun loving, making them a wonderful family pet for children as well as adults. They are highly intelligent, easy to train and very intuitive, making them great for animal assisted therapy. We have sold many puppies over the years for therapy purposes to families who have kids or adults with special needs and also for therapy use in health care or educational settings. They truly are amazing animals and they will have you wrapped around their little paws before you know it. We breed only true Labradoodles or the Australian Multigenerational Labradoodles. We do not breed any early cross labradoodles or any labs to poodles as we have found that there is not enough consistency in temperament as well as coat. We like to be able to ensure that all of our puppies will have great personalities combined with fleece or silky soft coats that are allergy friendly. Not all Labradoodles are Created Equal! Our labradoodles are members of our families and have really enriched our lives. We want to bring them, a wonderful family pet and companion to your home. If you have allergies and have previously been unable to enjoy a dog for a pet, our puppies are the perfect choice for you. We only breed pure Australian Labradoodles. Because these are multi generational dogs, they have a much better, hypo allergenic, very little to non shedding coat. Most of the early crosses have a tendancy to shed. With multigenerational Labradoodles you get the benefit of may years of selective breeding by the breeders that started it all in Australia. In terms of Labradoodles, you really do get what you pay for! We are not a kennel. Our Australian Labradoodle puppies are hand whelped in our home and spend the first weeks of their lives in our Master Bedrooms where they and the moms feel the most safe and secure. At 3 weeks they move into the main living area of the house. From here they can see and hear just about everything that goes on in our homes on a day to day basis. Our children, who range in ages from toddler to young adult help to love and socialize the puppies until they are ready to be adopted and go home with you. Puppies raised in this environment make the best pets because they have been given the best possible start. They will enjoy running with you, swimming with you, they are great at fetch, highly intelligent and easily trained. When you are all done playing, what the Labradoodle enjoys the most is a nice, warm cuddle with you! Start your summer off in the best way possible by adding a new puppy to your family. Get out and enjoy the beautiful season with your new best friend! Contact us for details. Testimonials Our experience with Puppy Love Labradoodles has been a very good one. Right from our first call from Darice asking us all kinds of questions about our home life so that she could decide if we were the right people to purchase one of their puppies. We could not be happier with Darice and her family's professional and caring help. No questions have gone unanswered. We would not hesitate to buy another puppy from them. Contact Details. Showing 1 - 28 of 28 resultsPage 1 - 28 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Strathcona County Ready to go home this week!!! You can follow us on Instagram at thedoodlefamily57 or check out our website at thedoodlefamily. He is a cuddly lovable delightful , miniature Labradoodle-Cockapoo puppy! Mom's parents are both miniature.We also have a beautiful double doodle female ready to go now! She is an absolute sweetheart that loves people and other.Rosie has had her ultrasound and there are alot of puppies in her belly! This litter will due the second.Join our waitlist for future litters Ready October by completing a puppy.Calgary Born on June 10th and ready for their fur-ever homes Aug 5th. Dam is our Chocolate Labrador, weighing 60lbs. She has been DNA tested and cleared for health and prescreened for.Edmonton Born on June 10th and ready for their fur-ever homes Aug 5th. I was holding onto the last 2 pups from a litter of 10 for someone while they moved to Edmonton. Sadly they can no longer take the puppies. Both male, Edmonton Ready to go Sept 8 Males remaining Pic 1 has small umbilical hernia that will likely resolve on its own. Mother is our F1 Labradoodle whom we have raised since birth Father is our standard poodle. There are 2 girls and 5 boys! We are accepting reservations for these stunning.We have 4 handsome boys and 4 beautiful little girls. Dad is a purebred yellow english labrador retriever and comes from a.Labradoodle Puppies Clyde Two sweet pups left!!!! Both our doodles are girls; they're friendly, confident and socialized. They have met other people and children. We've raised them alongside our cats and horse. We've taken.Bird Dogs! Rocky View Exceptional Pedigree and top-quality puppies. We have high expectations for these litters! The moms comes from hunting lines has tones of natural instinct and is an excellent retriever. Bo a master.The puppies are here!!! Shade and Kacie Neilly's Felicity have blessed us with 3 beauties and we have space for one family that is interested in a boy. These babies are.Fairview We are excited to offer non shedding, family friendly, healthy and well-socialized puppies to families who want the very best! Shes so sweet and snuggly. She knows most of her tricks and is mainly housetrained. She is looking for a home that has the room and time for her. Lego is a 3 year old Labradoodle. He is fully housetrained and knows how to fetch, sit, paw, play dead and is.Two females and one male. Born August 9, .These cuties will be available to go early October. These are multigenerational and will be.High Park Doodles is proud to announce that Noah and.This is Buddy. He was born March .He has had 3 sets of.His name is Arlo. He is going to be a year old on July 17th. He has all his vaccinations, including his Rabies, and kennel.Must be loving family with large backyard. Lakeahore Labradoodles Instagram and Facebook pages. Breeder was hoping to keep him but due to.Browse other categories in Pets in Alberta. Showing 1 - 32 of 32 resultsPage 1 - 32 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. He is a cuddly lovable delightful , miniature Labradoodle-Cockapoo puppy! Mom's parents are both miniature.Strathcona County Ready to go home this week!!! You can follow us on Instagram at thedoodlefamily57 or check out our website at thedoodlefamily. We also have a beautiful double doodle female ready to go now! She is an absolute sweetheart that loves people and other.Rosie has had her ultrasound and there are alot of puppies in her belly! This litter will due the second.Join our waitlist for future litters Ready October by completing a puppy.Pets for sale Lethbridge 6 month old Male labradoodle. Has shots and deworming. Awesome puppy, loves to play with everyone, cats and dogs and children. Free to good home. Hate to give him away, I just don't have the time to.Calgary Born on June 10th and ready for their fur-ever homes Aug 5th. Dam is our Chocolate Labrador, weighing 60lbs. She has been DNA tested and cleared for health and prescreened for.Edmonton Born on June 10th and ready for their fur-ever homes Aug 5th. I was holding onto the last 2 pups from a litter of 10 for someone while they moved to Edmonton. Sadly they can no longer take the puppies. Both male, Fully adjustable. No tools required. Will fit just about any SUV. Not suitable for 70 pound male labradoodles that want to sit in the front seat. We need to find.Edmonton Ready to go Sept 8 Males remaining Pic 1 has small umbilical hernia that will likely resolve on its own. Mother is our F1 Labradoodle whom we have raised since birth Father is our standard poodle. There are 2 girls and 5 boys! We are accepting reservations for these stunning.We have 4 handsome boys and 4 beautiful little girls. Dad is a purebred yellow english labrador retriever and comes from a.Is good with horses, cows and cats. Needs to grow up on a big yard and loves water. Only reason for.Labradoodle Puppies Clyde Two sweet pups left!!!! Both our doodles are girls; they're friendly, confident and socialized. They have met other people and children. We've raised them alongside our cats and horse. We've taken.Bird Dogs! Rocky View Exceptional Pedigree and top-quality puppies. We have high expectations for these litters! The moms comes from hunting lines has tones of natural instinct and is an excellent retriever. Bo a master.The puppies are here!!! Shade and Kacie Neilly's Felicity have blessed us with 3 beauties and we have space for one family that is interested in a boy. These babies are.Fairview We are excited to offer non shedding, family friendly, healthy and well-socialized puppies to families who want the very best! Shes so sweet and snuggly. She knows most of her tricks and is mainly housetrained. She is looking for a home that has the room and time for her. Lego is a 3 year old Labradoodle. He is fully housetrained and knows how to fetch, sit, paw, play dead and is.Two females and one male. Born August 9, .These cuties will be available to go early October. These are multigenerational and will be.High Park Doodles is proud to announce that Noah and.This is Buddy. He was born March .He has had 3 sets of.His name is Arlo. He is going to be a year old on July 17th. He has all his vaccinations, including his Rabies, and kennel.Must be loving family with large backyard. Lakeahore Labradoodles Instagram and Facebook pages. Breeder was hoping to keep him but due to.Purchased new, used once on our labradoodle and decided to use local pet grooming business instead. Contains both electric and battery-operated cutters. Browse other categories in All Categories in Alberta.

Search thousands of available pets from shelters and rescues in Chewy's network. This website is dedicated to the purchase and sale of pets. She has a laid-back personality but she loves to romp in the backyard with her brother. The shelter thinks I am about 4 years old. This is a filter for dogs and puppies in Los Angeles, where you can find dogs and puppies for sale, as well as different dog types and puppies in Los Angeles. Puppies for Sale near Los Angeles, California. Find a dog to adopt near Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles Dogs for Sale and Adoption. Dogs for Sale in Los Angeles. With so many low quality Chihuahua breeders in Los Angeles, as well as scammers offering unhealthy Los Angeles Chihuahuas for sale, it's super important to take your. More importantly, PawBoost has helped reunite over 1 million pets with their families. Give pets a second shot at life by providing them a secure, loving, forever home. Results can be filtered by breed. In this case, the scammer was pretending to be a military family who needed to find a new home for their dog due to deployment. Pets for Sale in Los Angeles. Lacey sleeps well and is quiet all night. That authorities in Los Angeles, California recently cracked down on a craigslist pet scammer highlights the importance of rehoming fees. Dog adoption Los Angeles. We have female akc cane corso available. Needs to be handfed at least twice daily for next days. Remember to always read the item description and ask the seller questions if you have any doubts. Los Angeles Pets for Sale and Adoption. If You Find a Pet Dogs:. We can deliver to LA or Las Vegas. Join millions of people using Oodle to find unique used cars for sale, apartments for rent, jobs listings, merchandise, and other classifieds in your neighborhood. Please text me for more information. Couple with dogs looking to share entire house. Hey there craigslist, rehoming two maltipoo young puppies blend chihuahua. Both parents are small breed and. By following the tips and tricks we've given you, you can effectively and safely use Craigslist LA. Refine your search to find the perfect match and complete the adoption process at your local shelter or rescue. Jackapoodle Twin Girl Puppies. Craigslist Los Angeles is a very useful buying and selling platform that can help you save money and make some extra cash by selling your own items. How to rehome pets on craigslist? Labrador Retriever For Sale. Puppies for sale from dog breeders near Los Angeles, California. So, if you're looking for Craigslist pets Los Angeles, you've come to the right place. A Hollywood Legend Since .Raised in our home with children. This litter has at least one dog. Discover all of our dog, cat, pet and house sits in Cunit, Spain. Cockapoos for Sale in Los Angeles. So, if you're looking for Craigslist pets Los Angeles, you've come to the right place. Last Min. Raised in our home with children. Dogs for Sale in Los Angeles. If you're searching for a low-shedding or hypoallergenic dog, a Los Angeles Chihuahua for sale might not be the best option out there. These dogs do shed on a seasonal basis. The Cargo Yellow Pages. Los Angeles Pets for Sale and Adoption. Join millions of people using Oodle to find unique used cars for sale, apartments for rent, jobs listings, merchandise, and. Schnoodles for Sale in Los Angeles. The exact amount of shedding can vary between pups, and shorthaired Chihuahuas tend to shed a little less, but they're still not suitable for anyone with serious allergies. Pets for Sale in Los Angeles. Puppies for Sale near Los Angeles, California. Pomeranians for Sale in Los Angeles. We acquired this pet from a reputable breeder located. This is a filter for dogs and puppies in Los Angeles, where you can find dogs and puppies for sale, as well as different dog types and puppies in Los Angeles. Puppies for Sale in Los Angeles. The breeders who are approved to join the Uptown Puppies network never aim to sell the cheapest puppies because cheap can often mean that shortcuts have been taken. All puppies found here are from AKC-Registered parents. English bulldog puppies for sale. It has beautiful nature, fascinating culture and delicious cuisine. Los Angeles Dogs for Sale and Adoption. Mom is poodle and dad is Pomeranian. An interactive map offers time difference from Pauh to other. Needs to be handfed at least twice daily for next days. Tags: French bulldog puppy french bulldog puppies frenchie frenchie puppies French bulldog. His shots are up to date and attractive-looking fur ball. Craigslist Los Angeles is a very useful buying and selling platform that can help you save money and make some extra cash by selling your own items. Search our free classified ads for Los Angeles for dogs, puppies for sale, and other pets. Labrador Retriever For Sale. But Padang is also the right place to splash your cash. 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Chicken is the 1st ingredient Added DHA for brain health Contains calcium and phosphorus for bone health Comes in two bag sizes — 15lb and .What to Look For in Puppy Food? When you are searching for the right puppy food, we recommend the food should consist of the ingredients found below. Fish oil supports heart health, reduces itchy and flaky skin, promotes a silky coat, and relieves allergies and joint pain. It can also strengthen their immune system and help fight cancer. Calcium and Phosphorus both aid in joint health and can help prevent joint problems later in life. Chondroitin and glucosamine also aid in joint health. These nutrients are commonly found in protein sources like chicken. So, the best puppy foods for Golden Retrievers will also have good sources of calcium, phosphorous, chondroitin, and glucosamine — whether that be added to the food or derived from protein sources like chicken. Protein and fat help puppies develop their muscles and gain energy. Therefore, the best kinds of puppy food for Golden Retrievers will not only have high protein levels, but also high protein levels from good sources. Important Note Good protein sources are chicken, lamb, salmon, beef, and turkey. It is normal for a lot of dog foods to feature some type of by-product of these protein sources chicken meal, for example. However, the main protein source in the best puppy foods for Golden Retrievers should be the actual meat, not a by-product. It is important for a puppy to start off with good sources of nutrition. Therefore, be sure to consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns about the food you choose. As owners, we want to make sure that our new puppy gets just the right amount food to grow at their pace. We do not want to overfeed or underfeed. Our wish is to make life for them as comfortable as possible. For more detail on this topic check out our article Golden Retriever Feeding Chart. If you use our recommended Purina Pro Plan, see below for the feeding chart. Feeding Your Golden Feeding Your Golden With the wide array of foods available today, it can be hard to make a good choice of what to feed your golden. Goldens are particularly sensitive to dietary concerns, and feeding them a high quality diet can help boost their health and immune system. Feeding a high quality food is not necessarily more expensive. Price is misleading: cheaper foods require more volume to be fed, up to several cups at each meal. With the wide array of better foods available today, you can make a smart choice of what to feed your golden. A golden will normally eat about two cups of premium food per day. It can be adjusted a little more or less based on activity level and metabolism. Goldens are prone to skin problems, and a poor quality diet will cause skin problems which translates into costly veterinarian bills. You will need to go to the pet store to purchase your food. Grocery store brands do not offer the nutrition goldens need for good health. Do not be persuaded by fancy advertising. Many commonly hyped foods are not high quality and maybe lacking the necessary nutritional value for your dog. For example, Grain Free foods may play a major part in taurine deficiency in Golden Retrievers and other large breed dogs. This deficiency can cause serious heart problems for your dog see Taurine and Grain Free information on this web page. Here are some guidelines: Look for food free of chemical preservatives. Some of these additives are suspected of causing cancer. Look for food preserved with Tocopherols Vitamins C and E as well as rosemary and other herbs. Make sure you have several months before this date. Frequent stores where there is a good turnover of food so you get a fresh bag. Always store dog food in a tight airtight container in a cool, dry place. If you only have one dog, consider buying pound bags instead of pounds bags so the food is fresher. Look for a food that has some form of meat as the first ingredient — such as lamb, chicken, or turkey. Avoid foods that have grain as the first ingredient. Also look for multiple meat proteins in the first seven ingredients. Protein from multiple sources is generally viewed as being beneficial such as lamb, chicken and fish , unless your dog is allergic to certain proteins. Dog food companies sometimes list several types of grains in the first seven ingredients. Beware of this — your dog needs animal protein in his diet! These are the intestines of the animal including what is in the intestines!! Most by-products are not desirable. By-products normally contain beaks, feet, feathers, heads and other slaughterhouse wastes — not the most nutritious part of the animal. Avoid foods that have sugars or artificial colors or flavors or a lot of added salt. Semi-moist dog foods are the worst — they usually are loaded with artificial colors and sugars. Added vitamins and minerals are beneficial only when applied after the baking process, because heat destroys vitamins. The best foods are made up of ingredients that would be suitable for human consumption. Most dog foods contain meat products that are not fit for human consumption. They can include meat from diseased livestock, condemned material from slaughterhouses such as tumors cut away from meat , and as horrible as it sounds, some pet foods include euthanized pets sold to rendering plants and even road kill. Is it any wonder why so many dogs die from cancer when they are being fed meat from these sources? Grains — many dog foods will contain some grains, for example, brown rice, barley, corn, wheat, etc. We have found that some goldens in our rescue program generally do poorly on a food that contains corn or soy. Many goldens are allergic to corn or wheat. So if your golden starts getting a lot of hot spots or skin problems — check his food. There is a big difference in quality of grain products. Look for whole rice or brown rice in the ingredients; white rice and ground brewers rice are much lower in nutrients than whole or brown rice. Often pet food companies take the sweepings off the mill floor and put it in pet food. Look for whole grains instead such as oatmeal, brown rice, barley, or whole oats. Grain Free foods. Grain Free foods have become increasingly available as food companies try to offer foods that are easier to digest with lower levels of complex carbohydrates and grains. One misconception is that grain free dog food is also low-carb, however, vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, green peas and tapioca often replace the grains in grain-free dog foods, especially in kibble foods, making them as high or higher in carbohydrates than grain-based dog foods. Studies have shown peas, beans, pea starch, legumes, potatoes and sweet potatoes that have replaced the grains in dog foods block the function of taurine. Taurine, a sulfuric acid, is essential for healthy cardiovascular function in Golden Retrievers. If left untreated, taurine deficiency in Golden Retrievers can cause dilated cardiomyopathy DCM , congestive heart failure and possibly death. Read all the ingredients in the food which should include taurine and check with your veterinarian before selecting or feeding any grain free food to your dog. Detailed information on dog food ingredients and taurine can be found on this web page under Taurine and Grain Free information and at: Diet Associated Heart Disease Treats — beware of many dog treats out there. They are filled with sugars, preservatives and artificial colors. Try buying biscuits at your local dog bakery or making some yourself. The dog food companies listed below have high quality treats available for your dog. Is your dog overweight? Beware of some diet dog foods, they can be loaded with fillers that provide no added nutrition. At least green beans are healthy. You can also use canned pumpkin. Typically goldens love it! DO NOT free feed your golden; instead feed a measured amount of food twice a day. Most adult goldens will eat 1 cup of premium dog food twice a day. Is your dog too fat? You should be able to feel its ribs and your dog should have a waist. We have found that we have a different view of what constitutes a fat dog than many veterinarians. They will typically allow dogs to carry more weight than is optimal. This perhaps is because they do not want to insult their clients and risk losing business. Letting your golden get too fat is like chopping years off of its life. We also see lots of hip problems with goldens, and keeping weight in check will give your dog better mobility. Fat goldens are an epidemic from our experience. We routinely get goldens into our rescue program that have to lose 30 — 40 pounds!!! Therefore we have a lot of experience at taking the weight off! It is very discouraging and upsetting when an adoptive home will let some weight creep back on. You may think you are loving your dog by giving it too much to eat, but if you really love it you will keep it at a normal weight. Remember — Ribs and Waists! Can you feel and see them on your dog? If not, break open the cans of green beans! The bottom line is read the ingredients, consult your veterinarian and research reliable resources. Making sure your dog has the best nutritional food will help to insure he has a long and healthy life. Here, from Whole Dog Journal, are some additional links for selecting best dry dog food and the best canned dog reviews. Goldens Rescued Since .They are growing quickly, so while they eat smaller quantities of food than adult dogs, they need to extract far more nutrients like protein, minerals, and vitamins, to sustain their growth and development. Different Dogs, Different Diets Nutritional needs vary from breed to breed. One only needs to look at golden retrievers to know they require a different diet than a Chihuahua! For example, joint and bone problems are much more common in big dogs than in little ones, but choosing the right puppy food can reduce the risk. Large-breed puppy food has reduced amounts of calcium and phosphorus, which helps control the rate of skeletal growth. Also, you may find puppy foods that contain glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health and mobility. By consuming too much food, your puppy will have elevated levels of the very nutrients that should be limited. Additionally, overweight puppies may develop other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. Good eating habits developed during puppyhood will lead to a healthy mature dog in the years to come. Nutrition For The Outside One of the most visible components of your dog is its fur. Nutrition plays a vital role in this area. A large percentage of the protein your puppy takes in goes towards maintaining its coat. Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential for healthy skin and fur. Which Food Do I Choose? There will always be those who buy the cheapest brand on the market. Some will opt for the most expensive, while others will simply go with a brand name they recognize. The key is to find the right food for your particular puppy. One thing you cannot afford to ignore is the nutritional content. Because they are still growing, puppies need more protein than adults. Proteins foster muscle growth and development in puppies and lean muscle maintenance in adults, so the more of it there is in a diet, the better it is for your growing retriever. Fats, too, are important for golden puppies because they provide the energy required for everyday activities. You should be careful, however, not to feed your golden excess calories because this will result in excess weight or obesity. Eventually, your dog will end up battling joint problems. For instance, less expensive dog foods typically have lower-quality ingredients. The contents are often inexpensive, low-grade animal protein sources, like by-products and fillers. Fillers are frequently things like cornmeal, rice flour, or seed hulls. In general, thoroughly review the nutritional content of your chosen diet. Are the ingredients wholesome and natural? Does the diet have controlled calcium and phosphorous levels? Is the calorie and fat content limited to manage growth? Does the label state that the diet is complete and balanced? This can lead to obesity and will certainly cause increased defecation. The latter of these two issues will make house training more difficult than it already is. By contrast, costlier dog foods usually have higher-quality ingredients. The scales will be tipped heavily in favor of high-grade animal protein sources and fillers will be few and far between. Price is not, however, a guarantee of quality. The best dog foods for a golden retriever puppy are made with high-quality natural ingredients and have high levels of protein. Make sure the food is complete and balanced for daily feeding and formulated to meet the nutritional needs of large breed puppies. At this point, golden retriever puppies have likely already been switched to dry puppy food and you should continue feeding your pup the same type of food the breeder used. From the day you bring them home until they are six months old, you should feed your golden retriever puppy three times a day. Ideally, your pup should have breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. A grain-free diet is the default meal for golden retrievers that are sensitive to grains, but if your dog is healthy, feeding her such a meal boils down to choice. A lot has been said about grain-free diets. Reports and studies have been carried out in recent years trying to establish any connection between it and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy DCM. That all starts with choosing the best puppy food for golden retrievers. Avoid low-cost foods that are more filler than substance, and look for better foods that are packed with nutrients to help your puppy grow. In particular, consider trying a large breed formula to meet the specific needs of your golden retriever puppy. Good nutrition is an essential part of any health regimen, and providing high-quality puppy food will lay the foundation for a long, and enjoyable life. You May Also Like.

Redirect Your Puppy to Appropriate Options If you find your puppy using their teeth on something inappropriate, such as the leg of a chair or your foot, redirect them to something that they are allowed to chew. They persistently want to nip your hands and clothes no matter what amazing stuff you show them. Or they keep going back to chomp the same corner of the coffee table despite your attempts to distract them with something else. This is where having good puppy management strategies comes into play. Puppy management refers to changing the environment to make unwanted behavior unlikely or impossible. This might mean putting your puppy in a playpen where they can only put their teeth on approved toys and chews. Perhaps you can put your puppy behind a baby gate so your pant leg is safe from their sharp little teeth. Puppy management is simple, yet critical to surviving a teething Golden Retriever puppy. Giving a teething puppy too much freedom is a recipe for disaster, so utilize puppy management whenever you need to. Your home and sanity will thank you! Remove Yourself From the Situation Playing with a teething puppy can be tricky. They want to interact with you, but their mouths are sore and painful, and it can be hard for them to not nip or chomp on your skin, clothes or hair. You can try walking away, though some puppies will get up and follow you so they can chomp you some more. Going onto the other side of a baby gate is a great way to show the puppy that they lose access to you if they get mouthy. If your puppy is tethered by their leash to something heavy, you can also get up and walk away if the biting gets to be too much. The tether keeps them from following their human chew toy. Remember that nipping and chewing are normal parts of puppy development. Punishing a puppy can sometimes make the biting even more intense, and it can also damage the trust between you and your puppy. This process is known as teething. The exact age at which a Golden Retriever starts teething can vary from one dog to another. On average, a Golden Retriever will begin to lose their baby teeth at around 6 months of age, as their adult teeth grow in. Some Goldens, however, can start losing their puppy teeth also called deciduous or milk teeth as early as 4 months of age or as late as 7 or even 8 months of age. What are the signs of teething? Where do the baby teeth go? How long does it take to grow new teeth? When do Golden Retriever puppies stop chewing on everything? This article may contain affiliate links and loyalgoldens may earn a commission if a purchase is made. Unlock your goldens natural intelligence and see just how quickly problem behaviors disappear. This is the best at home dog training I've ever used! Golden Retrievers have a well-known behavior of chewing almost anything and everything they come across. As a result, they are known as natural-born chewers. While chewing is a common habit in most dogs, Golden Retrievers chew more than the average dog breed. You may have already caught your puppy tearing away at your slippers or shoes, right? So why do these pups chew so much? It is a way of exploring the world testing new things out of curiosity. Dogs belong to the Canidae family that heavily rely on their teeth for tearing and chewing flesh. Adult Goldens chew a lot when they are bored or as a way of relieving excess energy and anxiety. Your Golden Retriever will insist on chewing on things throughout his entire life. Fortunately, as your Golden gets older you can direct that chewing behavior to only appropriate items like tennis balls and chew toys. What that means is that chewing is not solely part of the teething stage. This action is more of a habit. It could also be genetic, seeing as how Goldens were originally bred to be retrievers; hence they need to learn how to control their bite force in order to retrieve game without damaging it. One of the ways they do this is by chewing. So here are a few ideas on how to stop your Golden Retriever from chewing on anything harmful or inappropriate: Shouting: Shout at your pup when you catch him chewing the wrong object like slippers or shoes. Clapping your hands is another way to distract the pup from the bad behavior. Using a commanding voice: You can use firm commands to train your Golden Retriever to stop chewing on the wrong things. Your dog will notice the tone of your voice and immediately stop what they were chewing. Switching: Instead of just stopping your dog from chewing on the wrong things, introduce chew toys. They need to understand that these items are what they can freely chew on. For more effective training, give your Golden Retriever something appropriate to chew on when you take away something inappropriate. Exercise: Your Golden Retriever may be chewing things out of boredom and pent-up energy. You may also exercise him or run around in the yard to help him burn that excess energy. Remember, Golden Retrievers love to exercise and participate in outdoor fun activities. See this Golden Retriever puppy loose one of his baby teeth. Symptoms of Puppy Teething and How To Deal With It Now that you know your Golden Retriever will start losing his teeth between the ages of four and 8 months, you might be asking yourself about the signs of teething and what to do once you notice these signs. Here are some of the most common symptoms of teething: Loss of appetite: One common sign of teething across most Golden Retrievers is a loss of appetite. This should not worry you. Dry food is good for the development of strong gums and teeth. Swollen gums: Another indicator of a teething puppy is swollen gums. Gum bleeding: When your Golden Retriever is teething, you may notice blood on his toys and other chewing objects. This is a result of bleeding gums which is a normal occurrence during teething. So what do you do when you see these signs? First, rest assured that all these are normal happenings. It means your Golden Retriever puppy is growing just as he should. Consider toys with a lot of ridges and nubs on them. Have a variety of both soft and hard toys. Frozen objects and cow hooves are other good recommendations for chewing in pups during teething. Some people also give them to adult dogs. You may also put knots in a few clean washcloths and put them into the freezer. Once frozen, throw them to your Golden and watch as he chews. Discover how to train your Golden Retriever by playing games : 21 games to play with your Golden that will make them smarter and better behaved! A chew toy like the one pictured above Amazon is an excellent way to help your Golden with his painful teething issues. The nubs on the toy relieve the uncomfortable feeling in his teeth, and you can even freeze the toy to help with the pain of swollen gums. To lessen the teething pain further, you can try placing a few small pieces of ice cubes in his mouth. Not only can this help to ease the pain, it will prepare him for when you begin brushing his teeth later on. At some point you may notice some gaps in your Goldens mouth and realize that some of his baby teeth are missing. As a general rule, teething Golden Retrievers often lose their baby teeth while eating or chewing, causing them to swallow the teeth instead of them falling out onto the ground. A Golden Retriever swallowing their lost puppy teeth is no cause for alarm, as the baby teeth will harmlessly pass through their system. Your Golden Retriever will obviously not talk to let you know it has lost, or chewed and swallowed, a puppy tooth. Most dogs, Golden Retrievers included, will lose their baby teeth as they eat and swallow them together with food. Some may lose them during object or toy-chewing. Another thing to note about teething is that pups lose their baby teeth systematically. This starts with the incisors, then canine, also called fangs, and finally premolars. However, this is not a hard and fast rule when it comes to tooth loss. Molars come in with the new set of adult teeth. All dog breeds, including Golden Retrievers, will start developing baby teeth at weeks. A full set of 28 baby deciduous teeth will finally occur at around the sixth week. On average your Golden Retriever will have baby teeth for six months, then shed them for a new set of adult teeth. Adult teeth come in almost immediately after losing the baby teeth. Baby teeth come out as a result of pushing by the adult teeth coming in. The gaps are filled in very quickly by the adult teeth. In the end, your Golden Retriever will have 42 permanent teeth in his mouth, including molars. In some cases, you may notice a baby tooth that has refused to budge even after an adult tooth has fully grown behind it. If this happens, take your Golden Retriever to a vet for diagnosis. In general, a Golden Retriever puppy will want to chew on everything until they are through the teething phase at between 6 to 8 months of age. At this point, the chewing will lessen, but Golden Retrievers will continue to chew throughout their lives. By then they will have learned to only chew on appropriate items. Your Golden Retriever will lose his baby teeth between the age of 4 and 6 months, as his adult teeth are pushing through the gums. Sharp Puppy Teeth Puppies are known to have sharp, pointy baby teeth that can wreak havoc on not just your shoes but your hands, arms, and fingers too. Sharp teeth are important because their jaws are still weak. Puppy Socialization Puppies are initially unaware of how sharp their teeth are and how hard their bite can be. After that, your puppy will start learning how hard their bite can be, as their playmates will squeal and withdraw when bitten too hard. This helps your puppy understand that they need to be less rough with their biting when playing. Puppy Teething Teething is a process that starts when puppies are around two weeks old when the first baby teeth begin to come in. The process usually ends when all the adult teeth erupt around eight months. How to Survive Puppy Teething Offer plenty of safe chew toys. If not, they will find other things to bite, such as furniture. Appropriate chewing has several benefits: Helps relieve the pain and discomfort of teething Supports a healthy mental state by releasing important neurotransmitters Provides mental stimulation which is especially important with puppy energy Strengthens jaw muscles Here are some guidelines for choosing the correct chew toys: Find toys that are soft and flexible and bend easily. Choose long toys , so your precious fingers are far away from those razor-sharp puppy teeth especially if children are playing with the puppy. Long-lasting chews, such as a bully or collagen stick , should be encouraged. It is directly linked to their overall health. Therefore, start introducing them to dental care from a young age so they are comfortable with the process. This will get your puppy used to having her mouth felt and make it easier for you to brush her teeth and maintain a dental care regimen. Brush their teeth with dog toothpaste. I use this toothbrush and toothpaste by Bow Wow Labs. Bully sticks and collagen sticks are other healthy options for your dog that aids teeth cleaning, deliver nutrients, and keep them occupied by satisfying their urge to chew. I would highly recommend using a Bow Wow Buddy with bully and collagen sticks to prevent your dog from swallowing the last end of the stick, which can cause choking or intestinal blockage. Premolars, which are found in the back of the mouth, emerge. However, it may also be a difficult period for both puppies and their owners since it frequently brings with it a variety of common problems and worries. Excessive chewing Chewing is a natural habit in dogs, but teething can send that instinct into overdrive. Chewing can be a self-soothing action for teething puppies but can also endanger your belongings. Drooling Is a common problem that occurs during the development of puppy teeth. This is because teething can cause discomfort and irritation in the gums and teeth, resulting in increased saliva production and drooling. Drooling is a common and transitory side effect of teething; most puppies outgrow it when their adult teeth emerge. Discomfort Teething can be a painful and complicated procedure for puppies. Therefore discomfort is a common problem during puppy teeth development. Teething can be difficult for puppies and their owners, but there are ways to help your pet! Give your puppy appropriate chew toys , soft or moist foods, and a cold compress to relieve painful gums. Remember to shower them with love and care during this stressful period. You and your pet can work together to get through teething and emerge with healthy, happy adult teeth! It can be stressful for your dog, so ensuring they have a good and balanced diet is essential to their growth, immune system, and dental health. In addition, puppies require a lot of protein, calcium, and other nutrients to create strong bones and teeth. That is why it is essential to provide them with high-quality, nutrient-rich puppy food that fits their nutritional needs. If your dog struggles, try feeding them softer, wet foods and smaller meals more frequently. You can help set your puppy up for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums by providing the proper nourishment and care during teething. Ensure to provide them with love and attention throughout this time as well! Feeding your golden retriever the right foods and treats is crucial for preserving oral health and supporting good tooth development. Yummy wet food: Wet food is a tasty option for dogs with a softer texture or difficulty chewing dry kibble. Search for high-quality products that are manufactured with natural ingredients and are designed specifically for pups. Raw bones: For puppies who enjoy chewing, raw bones can be a fun and healthful treat! They can help promote strong teeth and gums and are also a good source of nutrition. Tasty Dental Chews: These delicious treats promote good tooth care and fresh breath. Just break them into small pieces and keep an eye on your pup as they munch. Remember to brush your teeth regularly and schedule frequent dental check-ups with your veterinarian! Golden retrievers are a popular breed known for their extroverted and friendly personalities. They are devoted and intelligent and make excellent family pets. They are, nevertheless, prone to dental problems, just like any other breed, if their teeth and gums are not correctly cared for. Dental problems in Golden Retrievers can cause many issues, including poor breath, gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease in dogs, is caused by bacteria in the mouth forming a sticky film called plaque. If plaque is not removed, it can harden into tartar, which can cause gum irritation and infection, leading to gingivitis and periodontal disease. Dogs, like humans, can suffer from dental problems that cause discomfort and pain. Fortunately, there are solutions to avoid or manage these problems! Tartar buildup, gingivitis, and periodontal disease are common dental issues in dogs and can result in poor breath, tooth damage, and even tooth loss. Daily tooth brushing, regular vet check-ups, proper dental chews and toys, and eating healthy food are all part of maintaining good dental hygiene in dogs. Your veterinarian may offer treatments such as professional teeth cleaning, dental surgery, or medication to handle the problem. Is This Due To Genetics? Poor dental hygiene, sugary or carb diets and specific health conditions can all lead to dental issues in dogs. In addition, certain breeds, such as those with crowded teeth or a higher risk of certain dental conditions, may be more prone to dental difficulties due to genetics. Here are several ways to do it: Teeth Brushing Dogs, like humans, require regular dental hygiene. Brush their teeth once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste designed exclusively for dogs. Search for solutions that promote dental health and aid in removing plaque and tartar. For example, sugary and starchy foods can contribute to plaque and tartar development. Therefore a well-balanced diet rich in high-quality protein and healthy fats is recommended. You can help your dog have healthy teeth and gums by being aware of the most common dental problems in dogs and taking steps to prevent or manage them. Regular dental checkups, daily tooth brushing, and the provision of appropriate dental chews and toys are all essential components of good oral hygiene in dogs. If their teeth and gums are not properly cared for, both male and female Golden Retrievers are equally vulnerable to dental problems. The good news is that regular dental care, daily tooth brushing, regular dental check-ups with your veterinarian, and providing proper dental chews and toys can help prevent or treat dental problems. If you own a golden retriever , you may wonder if teething affects their appetite or weight. Yes, that is doable. However, when a puppy is teething, it could experience pain and discomfort in its mouth, making them less interested in food. This could result in a decrease in their appetite and weight loss. Your golden retriever may experience discomfort as their new teeth develop during teething, which can trigger changes in its biting behaviour. To alleviate the pain, they may chew on objects more frequently or avoid specific types of food that are difficult to chew. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Premolars, located in the back of the mouth, come in. Since teething can hurt, you may notice symptoms in your Golden Retriever while they are experiencing this stage. The first symptom is usually a loss of appetite because chewing is painful for them. They seem to chew everything in sight! Doing this helps relieve their pain. Having a mix of soft and hard toys for your dog to chew on can help their gums feel better during teething. Toys with ridges and nubs can help massage the gums that are irritated, itchy, and painful. Frozen toys are also great options. The cold will help relieve the pain as your puppy chews. Even ice cubes can be a welcome chew treat during teething. Remember that this is a natural process for them, and they are trying to find relief. By providing a variety of toys and redirecting them when they start to chew other things, you can keep them occupied and entertained. Since the baby tooth is so close to the adult tooth, it creates a small space for bacteria to start growing. This can lead to a nasty infection , and the tooth would have to be removed, anyway. A surgical dental procedure will be performed to extract the tooth, and the hole in the gum line may be stitched up with dissolvable sutures. This will keep any food or debris out of it. Image Credit: Krakenimages. Usually, baby teeth fall out while a dog is chewing something. If the teeth fall out while a dog is eating, they may then swallow the teeth without even realizing it. You may come across a lone baby dog tooth on your floor sometimes, but the teeth are typically swallowed and you may never see them at all. This is nothing to worry about. The teeth will eventually pass right through their digestive systems without causing any damage. Golden Retrievers lose their baby teeth between 3 and 4 months old, and the teething process begins. It will last until the dog is around 7 months old. If you notice that your dog has remaining baby teeth after their adult teeth have completely grown in, take them to see your vet for an assessment. The baby teeth may have to be surgically removed to prevent infections and dental issues down the road. Featured Image Credit: jiayun, Shutterstock Contents.

Aggression towards people, other animals Hyperactivity Sadness, depression and being withdrawn Counter-surfing Digging …to name just the most common few! As previously stated, many of these are perfectly normal behaviors but unwanted when living with a human family. But some are real psychological or pathological problems that need to be properly researched and skillfully addressed, most likely by a vet or professional behaviorist. If the behavior problem is just one of normal canine behavior such as digging, barking, chasing small animals or pulling on the leash, natural behaviors but that are unacceptable or unwanted by an owner, then training alternative and acceptable behaviors in their place is the answer. This still takes knowledge of the particular cause and motivation of the behavior, knowledge and skill to choose and train an alternative behavior and patience and dedication to see the solution through. But these types of problems are solvable by the average owner and solutions for these problems will soon be appearing on this site. The sort of advice that can only really be given and be correct if offered by a qualified and knowledgeable professional. The first step is to see a vet to either identify or rule out any physical or pathological problems, and then be referred to a certified and reputable behavioral specialist. Many cases require a unique approach for which the only advice that can really be given is to seek professional help. We have to remember that Labradors were bred for a particular job and come with hard-wired instinctive and driven behaviors that we developed in them through many generations of selective breeding. Labs have needs and desires that have to be satisfied. They have traits and behaviors so deeply genetically ingrained that you simply cannot eliminate them. Although in most cases you can train alternative more acceptable behaviors. There are of course also more severe and worrying behavior problems, stemming from either pathological or deep-seated psychological issues. With understanding, patience, dedication, a caring attitude and a carefully planned scientific approach, almost all problems can be overcome or at least successfully managed. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Many things that we call behavior problems are just Labradors following their natural tendencies. Most bad behaviors are caused by ignorance or lack of training. When we start seeing bad habits in our Lab we need to work on redirecting him toward more acceptable behavior. Fortunately, Labradors are eager to please and are easily trained, but it does take time and consistency. Natural vs. Abnormal Behavior Natural Behavior Many behaviors that become problems are just natural tendencies for your Lab. Barking, digging, and chewing are just a few of the things that Labradors naturally do but when they become a nuisance or destructive these behaviors need to be corrected. Owners need to keep in mind the natural tendencies of the breed of dog they have chosen. Many people choose Labs because of their intelligence. You need to keep in mind that with intelligence comes a tendency to get bored if not properly stimulated mentally and physically. They also choose Labradors because they are loyal and great companions. Since they are loyal they are also protective which means they will bark at any intrusion they think may be a threat. They love your companionship, so when left alone they may get anxious and chew on things. Part of being a good owner is to teach your Labrador acceptable behaviors that still help to meet the needs of his natural tendencies. Abnormal Behavior Abnormal behaviors tend to be more psychological. Many Labs can suffer from anxiety, excessive fear, and aggression issues. These behaviors are not part of their natural inclinations. Usually, for these types of issues, you will need professional help from a dog behaviorist or your vet. You will need someone who is trained to find the root of the problem and help treat your dog. Correction Methods There are several different methods that you can use to help keep your Labrador from destructive behavior. Redirection When your Lab misbehaves he is usually bored or looking for attention. If you yell at him to correct him he still perceives this as a form of attention and this only reinforces the behavior. Remember most of these behaviors are just natural Labrador tendencies. You need to calmly stop him from the behavior and redirect him to a similar activity that is acceptable. Once he is engaged with the acceptable toy, reward him for that behavior. You will see some more examples of redirection listed in the Common Behavior Issues section below. This just means removing the objects that tempt your Lab into bad behavior. It may mean keeping items off of lower levels where he can easily reach them and chew them up, or perhaps putting up a small wire-mesh fence to protect your garden. However, basic commands give your Labrador a foundation of structure. These commands start to teach him to listen to you and obey. If he learns to follow these verbal directions you can use them to redirect his attention and guide him toward better behaviors. Keep a Schedule Labs like structure. They like to know what to expect throughout their day. If you stick to a fairly firm schedule for eating, walking, play time, and bedtime your dog will know what to expect throughout his day and will be less likely to misbehave. Exercise Labradors often partake in destructive behavior out of boredom or to burn off excess energy. A good way to deal with this is to make sure he gets plenty of exercise. Take him for walks, play fetch, or go for a jog. A tired Lab is a well-behaved Lab. Mental Exercise This one goes along with the one above. Labradors are intelligent and need to be mentally exercised as well as physically exercised. Play a game of hide-and-seek or find-the-toy with your Lab. Teach him some new tricks or let him play with some type of puzzle toy. All of these things will help him use up energy and not act out because of boredom. Keep Them Indoors Labradors are social animals and love to be near people. If you tend to leave him outside a lot he will become lonely. This can lead to issues like excessive barking, howling, and digging. It is best for Labs to be kept indoors. Nipping and Rough Play Puppies tend to nip all the time. Their mouth is what they use to explore their world. If you allow them to continue with this behavior it can become a biting issue as they get older. Puppies who stay with their litters until they are 8 or 9 weeks old tend to learn the consequences of nipping from their littermates. They learn that if they nip too hard their playmate tends to yelp and run away. This teaches them that when they nip it can lead to the end of playtime. It is important for you to reinforce this information. When your puppy nips you, yelp like a dog and walk away. Let him know that this behavior puts an end to playtime. The same training can be used for rough play. When you rough play with your puppy you are teaching him that this is an acceptable behavior. That may be fine when he is a puppy but think about a pound Labrador wanting to play rough. When your Lab starts to play too rough then end the play time. Walk away and let him know that this is not acceptable. Once your puppy learns that certain behaviors end his playtime he will stop doing them. It is your job to teach your puppy to play correctly. Chewing Your Labrador loves chewing. You need to teach him. Once you have taken the object away give him a toy that he is allowed to chew on and reward him for chewing on that. Puppies usually chew to explore or expend energy. Older dogs usually chew out of natural habit but sometimes they chew out of anxiety, boredom, or fear. If your dog is chewing when you are around this is probably a regular behavior. However, if he only chews when you are away it may be stress-related. You will need to deal with the root of the problem and find ways to relieve his anxiety before you can resolve the chewing issue. Digging Digging comes naturally to dogs. They like to dig to bury things, to create a cool place to lay, and to hunt for critters in the ground. Unfortunately, when they are doing this they are often digging up your garden or lawn. A good redirection for this is to create a digging box for your dog. All you need is a sandbox filled with soft, diggable dirt. You may want to bury some toys to encourage him to dig in this area. When he digs in the box reward him for his good behavior. Excessive Barking All dogs bark. This is a normal behavior for them. They bark to let you know that someone is outside, that they are hungry, that they want to play… and the list goes on. Constant barking is not normal and it can be quite annoying for you and your neighbors. If your Labrador is barking excessively try to figure out why. Is he lonely? Is he bored? Labs that are left outside a lot tend to bark a lot, especially at night. They are bored and lonely and missing interaction. They want your attention and are making noise to get it. The best way to end this type of barking is to bring your Labrador inside. Some other ways to curb unwanted barking are to make sure your Lab has plenty of exercise and block out things that can cause him to bark. Play soft, calming music to keep him from being anxious. When he is barking excessively redirect him to another activity. It is usually a good idea to get him to sit first and calm down. Once he is calm give him something else to do. An occasional cheese or peanut butter filled toy is a great redirection. It is hard to bark when your mouth is full of peanut butter. Jumping Up When your Labrador is a puppy you probably encouraged him to jump up on you. It was so cute to watch him do that. Labs get so excited when they see you or any other human that they can befriend. They want to jump up and meet everyone face-to-face. One way to redirect this behavior is to start when your Labrador is little. Teach him to sit when he hears someone at the door and to stay until you allow him to get up. Quietly and calmly introduce him to the new person and reward him with lots of petting. If he does jump up, politely ask the person not to pet him but to turn away. He will learn that jumping up does not get him the attention that he is looking for. Occasionally you may have to remove the dog from the situation until he calms down. Begging Labs love food! He is also an optimist. He hopes that if you have food and he keeps begging eventually a tidbit will come his way. Redirect by teaching him to sit or lay by your feet during meal times. NEVER give him anything from the table. You will only be fueling his optimism. If you want to reward him with some scraps do it at the end of the meal in his regular dinner bowl away from the dining table. House Soiling If your Labrador has been house-trained for a considerable time, but then suddenly starts having accidents, he may have a medical issue. Sometimes these issues are caused by bladder problems, diabetes, or several other medical issues. If your Lab has arthritis it may be painful for him to go outside as often as he needs to. If you think it may be a medical issue take him to the vet and have him checked over. Sometimes this is a stress issue. Has something changed in the house? Did you get a new pet? If there is a reason for his stress try to work through that and see if it ends the soiling issue. If your dog is still young he may just be regressing a little. Go through the potty training steps with him again. Take him out frequently and reward him when he goes outside. Separation Anxiety As I have said before, Labradors are highly social animals. They do not like being left alone. That said, you will inevitably have to leave the house at some point. If your dog becomes overly anxious when you leave this could lead to other destructive behaviors like chewing, barking, etc. Try to desensitize him to being left alone. Start out by leaving him alone for short periods of time, then gradually lengthen the duration. You may also want to leave the TV or music on for your dog. Crating you Lab is also an option. It helps him feel more secure and less fearful. Dogs are pack animals and having another playmate in the house can help keep him occupied. Another option is to find someone who can stop by and take him for a walk every day. If your Lab remains extremely anxious then there are medications that can help. Talk to your vet and see what she recommends. Aggression Dog aggression seems to be on the rise. About 4. Roughly 10 people are killed by dogs every year. Most people-directed aggression is caused by stress. Sometimes it is also caused by pain. If your Labrador is in pain because of arthritis or another issue he can be quite snappish. Also, if your dog is losing his sight or hearing then he can be easily startled and snap at the person who startled him. If your Lab is acting out aggressively you need to look for professional help. Talk to your vet or find a good behaviorist. If you keep him entertained, well-exercised and give him lots of attention then chances are the behavior issues will decrease. Teach him alternate, acceptable behaviors and reward him when he behaves. If you see signs of major stress or aggression then seek out professional help. Taking care of your Lab and teaching him proper behavior takes time but in my opinion, the love and affection you receive make it all worth it! Featured Photo courtesy smerikal Did you find this article helpful? Click on one of the Share Links below to share it with a friend. Related articles:. What is the hardest age for a Lab puppy? Understanding these different stages is essential for pet owners. Here is an outline of the key phases, from the birth weeks to their senior years. The Labrador puppy is completely dependent on their mother for warmth and nourishment. They spend most time sleeping and feeding, which aids in their physical development. Pet owners must ensure a safe and cozy environment for the mother dog and her litter. A warm whelping box provides a comfortable living space for newborns. From 2 Weeks To 1 Month Labrador Retriever puppies undergo significant changes during the developmental stage 2 weeks to 1 month old. These adorable pups start opening their eyes in the second week. They waddle around slightly, learning to coordinate their tiny legs for locomotion. Their natural curiosity prompts them to explore new smells, sounds, and tastes. It is normal canine behavior to set the foundation for future interactions with people and other dogs. Gradually transitioning into new experiences during this stage helps shape their temperament. These pups exhibit key traits like playfulness, intelligence, and friendliness as early as four weeks. The puppies are introduced to foundational obedience training in this phase. It includes basic commands and proper etiquette around food or toys. Rescue dogs or pups from inexperienced breeders may display destructive behavior. It happens when mental and physical stimulation opportunities are not offered during this stage. They will start to explore further from their mother and littermates. This exploration period is vital for a well-rounded labrador retriever. It helps them develop confidence in new situations. At 12 weeks old, your Lab puppy should weigh around pounds. The actual weight depends on the sex of the dog breed. Their double coat may become more noticeable at this age. From 3 To 4 Months Labrador Retriever is in the middle of the socialization period, around 3 to 4 months old. They learn about the world through exploration and interaction. Exposing them to different people, places, and things is important. Your puppy may also develop unwanted habits like biting or excessive barking. This is a part of normal canine behavior. Nothing to worry about. Address these behaviors by redirecting their attention toward chew toys. Also, provide enough mental stimulation to the labrador retriever through dog sports, brain training , fetch game or walks. Consistency is key. Regular practice will yield better results than sporadic sessions. Labrador Behavior By Age The puppy grows quickly during this stage. They understand basic commands and respond to positive reinforcement training. Provide plenty of mental stimulation through toys, various activities, and continuing socialization. This is the best time to introduce bite inhibition training for an individual dog to condition them better and remove any existent behavior problems It develops good communication skills and reduces the likelihood of aggressive behavior. From 6 To 18 Months Your energetic adolescent Labrador Retriever will test boundaries and push limits between 6 and 18 months. Due to pent-up energy, labs may display excessive barking, digging, or destructive chewing. Do not give up on training, even during this period, for it helps reinforce good habits over bad ones. Positive reinforcement techniques encourage acceptable behaviors in Labs within this age range. They benefit from regular exercise, playtime, training, or puzzle toys. Never forget to add different sets of exercises. Your Lab will enter their senior years as they reach seven years old. Exercise also slows down age-related issues like arthritis or hip dysplasia. Ensure their nutritional needs are met during these years. Go for Royal Canin Senior for their food, as this brand is specially made for a labrador retriever. You will see a gradual slowdown in their activity levels. They might experience health problems like vision impairment, joint pain, hearing loss, dryness, or itchiness. Monitor what your senior labrador eats since older dogs require fewer calories than younger ones. Switch from regular dog food to senior-specific kibble that accommodates aging needs. Can you provide enough space and financial resources for a Lab throughout its life stages? Daily Exercise : This dog breed requires at least an hour of daily exercise. Without sufficient exercise and mental stimulation, they can develop destructive behaviors. Feeding Time: Establish a feeding routine for your deep-chested dogs by setting aside specific meal times during the day. This helps with digestion and prevents overeating. Puppy Training: Puppies require patience and consistent training to learn good behavior. This takes time and effort on your part. Grooming them regularly helps. They need regular veterinary check-ups, vaccinations, and treatments for health problems. Emotional Support: As social creatures, this dog breed craves attention from their human family member. They can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long regularly. Space And Costs Consider the space and costs associated with owning a Labrador retriever. Labs require ample space for exercise and play. This includes a yard or access to a dog park where they can run around freely. Ensure the living space is safe for your Labrador retriever. Remove sharp objects out of their reach. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Time and Commitment: — Puppies require more time and attention than adult dogs. They mostly exhibit mature behavior. Space and Costs: — Puppies need space to run around and play, while adult dogs may be content with less exercise. Long-Term Relationship: — A puppy will grow into an adult dog, so consider the long-term commitment. Separation Anxiety: — Puppies can suffer from separation anxiety if not trained properly. Adults may already be accustomed to being alone for periods. This can cause bad behavior problems in a labrador retriever. Proper training is key to removing this excessive fear of being alone. Adoption Costs: — Puppies are usually more expensive to adopt than adults. But this can vary depending on the source. Training and Grooming Needs: — Most puppies require obedience lessons and socialization, whereas adults may already be trained. Other Pets in the Home: — Introducing a puppy to other pets requires careful supervision. An adult dog may adjust more easily. A puppy is spirited and has a winning personality. This dog breed is incredibly social and loves being around its family members. You should have enough time and energy to devote to their care. Take part in walks, runs, or even swimming to strengthen the bond. As they age, engaging in these activities prevents boredom or destructive behavior in many labs. If you cannot provide regular attention, it may be best not to adopt now. They form deep bonds with their family, and re-homing them is difficult. Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety is a common problem among Labradors. It can lead to certain behaviors which are unwarranted. Here are some signs indicating separation anxiety in Labs: Destructive behavior: Does your Lab start destroying things in your absence, like chewing up pillows or furniture? This is a behavior problem. Excessive barking: Labs with separation anxiety may bark excessively when left alone. This barking can be a sign of fear and distress in most labs. Trying to escape: A physically anxious dog may try to escape its crate or home when left alone. House training regression : Your Lab could suddenly have accidents when left alone. Depression: Separation anxiety can make your Labrador Retriever depressed. It leads to lethargy and a lack of energy. Gradually increase their duration. Create a relaxing environment by playing soft music or using an oil diffuser. Provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation before leaving so they feel tired. Consider enrolling your dog in obedience classes. Seek professional help if their anxiety continues. This is just one of several expenses you will incur as a pet owner. Factor in costs such as vet exams, vaccinations, and spay or neuter surgery. Purchasing a Labrador Retriever puppy from a breeder will get you guarantees and a breed certificate. Get more information from the National Breed Club and the American kennel club. Early Socialization: Labrador Retrievers require early socialization due to their friendly nature. Obedience Training: Labradors are medium to large dog breeds. Obedience lessons teach them proper behavior and manners while on or off leash. They can even make good assistance dogs. Exercise and Mental Stimulation: Labradors have high energy levels. Long walks, quality playtime, and canine sports like agility or retrieving work keep them fit. Grooming: This dog breed has a double coat that requires regular brushing. They also shed heavily twice a year which needs extra care in grooming. Bathing is necessary for keeping their coat healthy and clean. Nail Trimming: Labradors stay busy all the time. Their nails can often naturally stay short by constant walking or playing on abrasive surfaces. Regular nail trimming is needed if you hear them clicking on the floor. Brushing their teeth several times per week prevents oral diseases. They were originally bred as water dogs by early fishermen. These hardworking dogs would swim into the icy waters to retrieve fish and other items from the nets. The dog breed was later introduced to Britain in the s. They quickly gained popularity as versatile hunting dogs. According to the American kennel club, they were the most popular dog breed till when they lost the title to the French Bulldog. Size and Temperament: Consider the size and temperament of your existing pet s compared to that of a Labrador retriever. These dogs have high energy and playful nature, which may not be suitable for all pets. If you have small animals like cats , you need to know how to introduce them Introduction: Proper introduction is key when bringing a new pet into a home with existing pets. Introduce them to neutral territory and under close supervision. Socialization: Early socialization is important for the Labrador retriever puppy and existing pets. It will prevent behavior problems and promote positive relationships. Separate Spaces: Provide separate spaces for each pet to eat, sleep, and play. It will avoid conflict and promote harmony. Many labs bond well with cats and other breeds. Training: Proper training will condition your lab and prevent any labrador retriever behavior that can threaten the lab or the pet. It includes excessive licking, nibbling on objects or people, lip licking, and barking. Licking Labradors have an affectionate nature, and licking is one of the ways they show it. However, there may be various behavioral reasons behind it: Seeking attention: If your Labrador retriever feels ignored or wants to play, it may start licking you. Excitement: Meeting new people or going to a new place can cause over-excitement, leading to excessive licking. Boredom: If left alone for extended periods without enough stimulation, Labradors can lick excessively. Grooming: Licking themselves or others is also a way for Labradors to clean themselves. Stress: Licking can sometimes be a coping mechanism for stress. When this dog plays, it loves to fake bite. It often leads to nibbling behavior. While this behavior is normal in puppies, train them to stop this habit as they mature. Adult Labradors may also nibble out of boredom, anxiety, or other reasons. Lip Licking Labradors may lick their lips. It can be a way to show affection or seek attention. Boredom, stress, excitement, grooming, or habit are other reasons. Lip licking can also indicate nausea, allergies, or dehydration in dogs. Some tips to address this behavior include: Providing enough brain training to condition them over other breeds Encouraging positive behaviors through training and rewards Identify potential sources of stress or anxiety and address them with professional help if needed Ensuring that your Labrador gets enough fluids daily to prevent dehydration Barking Labrador Retrievers are moderate barkers. They may bark to greet their owner, alert them of a potential threat, or communicate with other dogs. Address unwanted barking early on through positive reinforcement training. Provide enough physical activity and playtime. Certain breeds chase prey due to their hunting background. Pet owners must understand these dogs have a retrieving ancestry, and they love chasing Barking is normal behavior for dogs but if you see abnormal barking, you must take steps to understand what is going wrong and address it. Offer enough exercise and mental stimulation, and seek professional help if needed. Encourage Positive Behavior Encourage positive behavior in your Labrador Retriever by focusing on rewarding good actions. Avoid punishing bad ones. Positive reinforcement can lead to a happier and well-behaved dog. If your Lab sits when asked, reward them with treats or praise. Give them attention and affection if they chew on an appropriate toy instead of the furniture. Consistent Training Training is important to own a Labrador Retriever, and consistency is key to success. Establish clear expectations: Set clear boundaries and rules from the beginning of training sessions. Your dog will know what is expected of them. Schedule regular training sessions : Practice training consistently or every other day. Be patient: Training takes time and patience. Keep it fun: Incorporate play into training sessions and make them enjoyable. Make them understand how to react to loud noises and faint ones. Provide Enough Exercise And Stimulation Labrador retrievers are high-energy dogs that require ample exercise and stimulation. The amount of exercise varies by age. But all labs need daily walks, runs, or playtime outside. Younger labs may have more energy and require more exercise than older ones. As they age they get afflicted with hip dysplasia which is a common Labrador retriever illness Mental stimulation is equally important for Labrador retrievers. These smart dogs thrive on learning new things and solving puzzles. A veterinarian, a trainer, or a behaviorist can help. Some behaviors can signal underlying health issues that require medical attention. They include anxiety, aggression , or excessive barking. Some dogs may exhibit destructive behavior due to separation anxiety or pent-up energy. Training alone may not address these issues. Professional trainers or behaviorists can create a customized training program. If your dog exhibits aggressive behavior, seek professional help before the situation worsens. Labradors calm down between years old. Every dog is unique and may reach this stage at different times. How do you know if your Labrador is happy? A happy Labrador will display a wagging tail and relaxed body posture. They may also engage in playful behavior. They may also show affection towards their owner, such as cuddling or licking. What are the behavioral traits of a Labrador? Behavioral traits of Labradors include being friendly, loyal, and intelligent. They are also known for being good with children and other animals. They have a strong desire to please their owners. What is typical Lab puppy behavior? Typical Lab puppy behavior includes being playful, energetic, and curious. They may also chew on objects or have accidents while house training. Is a 2 year old Lab still a puppy? A 2-year-old Labrador may no longer be a puppy. But they are still young and may exhibit some puppy-like behavior. They may also have started to mature and exhibit more adult-like behavior. What are common behavior problems with Labradors? Common behavior problems with Labradors include excessive barking, digging, chewing, and jumping up on people. These can often be addressed with proper training and exercise. Labrador retrievers have a friendly, outgoing attitude and a strong desire to please their owners. They are also generally easy to train due to their intelligence. What is typical lab puppy behavior? Typical lab puppy behavior includes playfulness, high energy levels, and a love of exploring their environment. They may also chew on objects and require house training. What makes a Labrador happy? Labradors are happiest when they receive plenty of exercise, attention, and affection from their owners. They also enjoy having a job or task, such as retrieving or obedience training. Are lab puppies difficult? Lab puppies can be challenging due to their high energy levels. They need adequate attention and training. They can grow into well-behaved, loving dogs with proper care and training. Are lab puppies well-behaved? Lab puppies have the potential to be well-behaved with proper training and socialization. However, their high energy levels and curiosity require more attention and effort than other breeds. Adolescence 7 to 10 months is considered a challenging phase. However, there may be variations based on each dog. Most pet parents consider the period between 8 and 9 months peak. With extensive research and personal experiences, Aritra has become a Labrador expert, offering a rich resource on the breed. The site serves as a comprehensive resource, offering a wealth of up-to-date information for Labrador owners and enthusiasts alike. When learning how to decipher the different types of dog speak, you need to understand why your Labrador is barking so much. Labradors bark for many reasons, including alerting you of danger, such as a stranger. Here are some examples: A warning or alert bark will be quick and sharp and may become more intense. A Labrador demanding something such as food or attention will have a piercing and persistent bark directed at you. A bored dog will have a repetitive monotone bark. A Labrador suffering from distress such as separation anxiety, or panic, will have a high-pitched and highly repetitive bark. As the dog gets more stressed, the barking may become even higher pitched or howling. A fearful or suspicious bark will be fast and low. A playful bark will be high-pitched, more tonal, and modulated. Labradors are creatures of habit, thrive on routine, and are one smart cookie. So, if your Lab constantly barks at you, you may wonder why? Your Labrador will bark at you demand barking to communicate various things to you, especially when he wants to get your attention or get something specific from you, such as food, play, or to go outside. Dogs soon learn that they can get what they want, mainly if you usually give in. The secret is to try and understand why your dog is barking in the first place and prevent it from occurring, for example, by ensuring he is sufficiently exercised. When your Labrador barks at you, and notably, if he also stares at you — this is known as demand barking. He will eventually learn that when he is calm, he receives something positive. Is your dog keeping you awake at night? Other than occasionally needing a toilet break or if he is ill or in pain, if this has become a regular occurrence, you will want to put a stop to it — quickly! So, why does your Labrador bark overnight? Your Labrador might bark at night to alert you of a danger or if he is anxious, fearful, or purely wants attention. Here are some tips to prevent your Labrador from barking at night: Use a crate from the first night you bring your dog home. Choose something like the all-inclusive Midwest for Pets icrate from Amazon. It comes with everything you need, such as a divider and a removable wipe-clean tray. This one also gives you the option of a single or double door, which is handy. But should you let your Labrador Puppy sleep with you? You have to ignore him. It can be hard to do this on the first night you bring your new puppy home, but you will undoubtedly thank me for this advice! Ensure your dog is comfortable whether you leave him in a bed or crate. Have water and toys handy. Make sure your Labrador has been exercised enough throughout the day. Most well-exercised dogs are desperate to go to bed at night to enjoy a sound sleep! Why Do Labradors Howl? Most people will associate howling with the wolf-like Siberian Husky. But did you know your Labrador also manifests this wolf-ancestry behavior once in a while? Labradors howl for many reasons, such as to warn you about a danger they can sense or respond to another howling dog in the neighborhood. They may also howl when reacting to high-pitched sounds such as sirens or music, seeking attention, if in pain or distress, or if suffering from separation anxiety. Usually, howling is a form of communication that dogs use outside their usual barking, groaning, or whining. Unless it is incessant, you have a normal dog. If your Labrador is howling to get your attention, treat this behavior similarly to demand barking. You need to ignore him and teach him that howling at you will not work. When he goes quiet and stops howling for a few seconds, use positive reinforcement, such as treats, and toys, with lots of verbal praise. Why Do Labradors Whine? Have you ever taken your dog on a car trip and heard the most horrendous whining as you park up somewhere? You may wonder why your Labrador is whining. Consult your vet if stress and anxiety have become an issue for your dog, as anti-anxiety medication may help. Separation anxiety. Treatments include counterconditioning that focuses on developing an association between being alone and good things, like treats. Desensitizing techniques can also help, along with medication. Again, consult your vet or a professional animal behaviorist. Attention-seeking whining is similar to demand barking, as mentioned in the section above. You will need to teach your Labrador that remaining quiet will lead to a more positive outcome. Appeasement whining is normal canine behavior and occurs when your dog tries to appease people or other dogs when they perceive aggression or a threat. Never yell or physically punish your Lab, which only causes fear and resentment. Why Do Labradors Groan? My dog will often groan with pleasure after eating a meal and flopping down with a full belly! Sometimes, it can be really amusing. But why does your Labrador groan? Medical reasons can also be the cause, e. Behavioral groaning is of no concern and is normal canine behavior. However, consult your vet if you suspect your Lab is groaning due to a medical reason. Labrador Retriever behavior consisting of lying or sitting on your feet can be cute — but sometimes annoying! So what exactly does it mean? When your Labrador lays on your feet, it can mean a few things, such as seeking and offering protection, wanting attention, or initiating play. Other reasons are to seek or show affection, feel warm and cozy, or mark his territory by spreading his scent on you. Here are a few examples of why your Labrador may lay on your feet, sit on your feet, or even lay on you! Seek and offer protection. Your Labrador will lay at your feet to feel safe and offer you protection simultaneously. Among pack dogs, the alpha has a prominent position. So, laying at your feet shows that he recognizes you as the alpha. But he also feels safe and secure alongside you. To seek attention or initiate play. Seek and show affection. Your Labrador may lay on your feet or sit on you to seek affection or show you their devotion. Labs are very affectionate and friendly, have a warm temperament, and love to cuddle. For warmth. Have you ever wondered why pack dogs would lie close together, especially in cold weather? Most pack dogs would lie close to each other to keep warm. Territory marking. Your Labrador will communicate that he belongs to you by spreading his scent on you. So, laying or sitting on your feet, lap, or belly whenever you sit or lie down is his way of labeling you with his scent. A study of 32 dogs showed that dogs preferred to be closer to pleasant people. You may wonder why your Lab will circle his bed, an area of the carpet or rug before lying down. Dogs may also assess their laying spot for anything harmful, such as vermin, or could cause them injuries before making a comfy nest. Despite centuries of domestication, there is little scientific data to prove the above — except for the belief that dogs circle before lying down to make a comfy nest. This small study of 62 dogs suggested that dogs are more likely to circle before lying down when presented with a soft, uneven surface to make a temporary nest to sleep. OCD is a psychological condition that often has a genetic tendency. Stricken dogs will repeatedly perform normal canine behavior and often fail to respond to therapy. Dogs worried about predators and protected their bellies by sleeping on them in the wild. Sleeping belly-down also allowed them to get up quickly if needed. So why do Labradors sometimes sleep on their back? Labradors sleep on their back with their paws in the air to cool down or when they feel very relaxed with their environment and are at ease exposing their belly. This shift is the result of hundreds of years of dog domestication. One of the cutest sleeping positions of puppies is when they sleep upside down — they are just more comfortable sleeping on their backs! Adult Labradors that sleep on their back for a while are also adorable. They are trusting of you and will no doubt sleep anywhere. Labradors may roll on their back for many different reasons. This dog behavior might occur when your Lab is alone, playing with you, or when with other dogs. Labradors roll on their back when seeking attention from you, e. Or to groom or scratch themselves, mark territory, change their body smell getting rid of a shampoo aroma , show confidence or contentment, or regulate body temperature. A roll on the back is often interpreted as being submissive during dog play. However, research has shown that rolling on the back is a combat tactic, not an act of submission. Your Labrador may roll over when playing with other dogs for two key reasons: To avoid a bite on the side of the neck be defensive. To launch an attack be offensive. Labradors will often roll over to scratch their back — since they cannot reach it with their paws! This could be normal scratching, but it could also be due to a flea or tick infestation. How To Solve Scratching! Labs will roll on their back to get a rub or tickle on their tummy when playing. So, avoid it if you do not want him to always ask for it! Your dog may also roll on his back to cool down. Why Do Labradors Roll in Poop? This is one of the weird dog behaviors that we find a little difficult to understand — rolling in stinky things, such as fox and badger feces or bird droppings! Some dogs love to cover themselves in foul smells that leave you spluttering in disgust. So, why do Labradors roll in poop? Dogs like pungent scents, and they encourage rolling action. Wild dogs had to hunt to survive. Your Labrador is leaving his scent behind. Your dog might be trying to leave his scent, similar to marking or spraying behavior. Your dog is interacting with you, his pack! Other packmates would track the scent back in the wild, which helped with their hunting. So, now you know why your Labrador rolls in poop, how do you prevent him from returning with a foul, pungent stench? When out on a walk with your dog, stay alert and limit his poo-rolling activities. Learn to anticipate it right before it begins. If I notice my dog sniffing or tracking the ground with greater intensity, I know she can smell the strong scent of the fox. Excitement urination is mainly associated with puppies, and most dogs will grow out of this behavior. But why do Labs pee when excited? Labradors pee when excited due to becoming exceptionally excited during greetings and playtime. Other causes are incomplete housetraining, accidental reinforcement, genetic predisposition, or a medical condition such as urinary bladder dysfunction or incontinence in elderly dogs. I have a complete guide to potty training your Labrador if you need any help in that department. Once you have ruled out medical causes, there are some things you can do to prevent your Labrador from peeing when excited: Keep greetings low-key; stay calm and quiet. Greet your puppy outside when you return home. Take him outside to potty, and use positive reinforcement. Clean up the mess with an enzymatic cleaner. This is when dogs will pee to mark their territory. Do you find it funny when your Labrador chases his tail? Labrador Retrievers are high-energy dogs, and most behavioral issues stem from monotony and insufficient exercise. Healthy adult dogs need at least two hours of daily activity, consisting of various walking, off-leash running, fetch, frisbee, agility, or swimming — Labs love to swim! If you laugh every time your Labrador chases his tail, you inadvertently reinforce his attention-seeking behavior. Labs are eager to please you, and your encouragement acts as positive reinforcement. He will, therefore, keep doing it, especially if he needs you to notice him! Has your Labrador been keeping an eye on you? Do you sense him intently staring at you from the corner of the room? Some stares may be cute, others not so. Your Labrador stares at you to communicate with you. Examples are expressing love and devotion, seeking attention, or manipulating you to get what he wants, such as food or playtime. He may also stare at you to communicate displeasure, sense your mood, or when resource guarding. Here are some examples: Seek Attention. Labradors will stare at you to seek your attention. His stare serves to remind you that he needs his meal too! Manipulate you to get something. When your Lab stares at you with eyes of pity, he wants you to concede and let him have his way! My dog will sit in front of me every evening and intensely stare when she wants me to play. In the wolf world, staring is rude and threatening, and some dogs may retain that trait. So, if your dog stares at you intensely, without blinking, and has a stiff stance, he might be communicating some displeasure. And if the uninterrupted hard stare is directed towards a stranger, they should back away and not stare back! Resource guarding. This is often combined with a hard, aggressive stare where your Lab will guard his food or toys. Resource guarding is a behavior problem, and you may need to consult a professional dog behaviorist. Check out this article for greater insight into this topic, Resource Guarding in Labradors. Final Thoughts As you have now learned, there are many Labrador behaviors. Most are entirely natural and designed to seek attention, protect, show dominance or defensiveness, express feelings, show affection, or mark territory. However, some dog behaviors may be a sign of an underlying medical issue. But you should now be able to identify those concerning ones where you should visit your vet. Related Posts You May Like:. Let's Wrap This Up! Labradors mouth due to their ancestry and genetics. Having been bred to retrieve game for hunters, they naturally enjoy having things in their mouths. Dogs also mouth during instinctive play, when exploring, or relieve teething discomfort. Mouthing and play biting are not aggressive — and there is a significant difference between typical play biting and aggressive behavior. Adopt an immediate preventive training approach to prevent innate mouthing and play biting from becoming an aggression problem. But how? To stop a Labrador from mouthing, teach him his bite inhibition. This is where he learns to control the force of his mouthing. You should initiate bite inhibition when bringing your puppy home, typically around 8 weeks old. They soon realize if they bite their littermates too hard, the fun and play stop! The dam teaches good canine manners and disciplines her puppies when they bite too hard or misbehave. So how exactly do you do this? When teaching your Labrador puppy bite inhibition, make a sharp cry when he mouths or bites you and continue until he lets go. Quickly redirect the behavior using a chew toy, and reward him with a treat and lots of verbal praise. Continue to do this until your pup stops biting or learns to bite without hurting. You are undoubtedly on the right path when you first notice your Lab licking your hand instead of biting. Puppies chew to explore their new environment using their mouths, even before using their visual, auditory, and olfactory senses. They also chew to relieve pain and discomfort when teething, clean teeth, and strengthen jaws. But sometimes, chewing becomes abnormal or destructive, resulting in your Labrador destroying your couch, cushions, furniture, possessions, clothing, and shoes. Labradors engage in destructive chewing due to inadequate obedience training as a puppy, seeking attention, habit, easing hunger, boredom, lack of exercise, and insufficient mental stimulation. They also chew due to loneliness, fear, separation anxiety, malnutrition, or OCD. You will only cause your Lab to fear and resent you and cause confusion and aggression. As with the causes, the solutions for excessive-destructive chewing in your Labrador can be varied. To stop a Labrador from chewing everything, train him from an early age by redirecting his chewing to alternatives such as chew toys, treats, or bones. Fix incomplete training, or seek the help of a professional trainer. Essentially, you need to provide your Labrador with alternative chew toys that can also serve as bites. Consider these two from Amazon: KONG Puppy Toy is made from soft rubber designed for growing teeth and gums but durable enough to withstand the natural desire to chew. This multi-functional toy can be used as a fetch toy or treat-dispensing toy to stuff with delicious treats or peanut butter. It allows a good grip from the wishbone shape and lasts for weeks. You also have various sizes to choose from as your puppy grows. Here are some other helpful suggestions to stop your Labrador from chewing: Puppy-proof your home. You can use a playpen or baby gates to section off part of the house or use a long leash and keep him tied to your waist. Retrain your dog. If you think basic training was poorly done or incomplete during puppyhood, you may need to retrain your Labrador. Consider the help of a professional trainer. Give your Lab a bone to chew. Always supervise your dog when giving a bone. Feed frozen treats or ice cubes. These help your dog to find some relief from sore and painful gums. Try frozen strawberries or raspberries as an alternative healthy treat. Lots of daily exercise. Ensure your Lab has the recommended 2-hour exercise daily for an adult, which could consist of morning and evening walks or runs, and play and fun games at other times. Puppies should receive 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, twice a day. Consider health issues. Labrador puppies will generally stop chewing, due to teething, around six months of age once the discomfort has gone. Older puppies may also go through a chewing stage up to 12 months old. As long as you keep normal chewing behavior from becoming destructive, your puppy should outgrow this chewing. They are easy to train due to their intelligence, but also their desire for food or treats during training sessions makes training easy. Many owners find it tricky to keep their Lab at a healthy weight. Labradors eat so much and are highly motivated by food due to genetics, illness, lack of nutrients, boredom, or anxiety. Many are obsessed with food due to a specific mutated gene, the POMC. This gene, responsible for appetite, body fat, and weight, is commonplace in the obesity-prone Labrador. The only other breed to have this mutation is the Flat-Coated Retriever. Your Lab may also be eating so much food to relieve boredom, stress, anxiety, or due to a diet deficient in nutrients. You can learn more about separation anxiety in the next section. Furthermore, specific health issues can cause increased appetite and cause your dog to gain weight. Labradors are prone to hypothyroidism and may become obese despite normal or increased hunger. Pica is a disorder where dogs eat inedible objects such as rocks, dirt, wood, socks, toys, or even poop! It can is caused by nutritional shortcomings, starvation, or psychological issues such as anxiety, stress, attention-seeking, or OCD. If your Labrador is snacking on rocks and dirt, he may be suffering from pica. There are many ways to stop your Labrador from overeating. However, your priority is to find out why he is overeating or munching everything in sight, maybe with the help of your vet. You can then formulate a plan together. Here are some suggestions. To stop a Labrador from eating so much, feed a highly nutritious and balanced diet, keep a feeding schedule, monitor portions and weight, and feed alternative healthy treats. Dogs are creatures of habit and love routine. Stick to daily feeding times and monitor portion sizes and calories. Do not allow free feeding, and have your Lab regularly weighed. Ensure your dog is eating highly nutritious food. Ensure your dog has a good-quality nutritious diet. Check out my article on the best diet for Labradors for a ton of nutrition information, type of diet, and more. Alleviate boredom. Not only does he need lots of physical exercise, but lots of cognitive stimulation too. Lots of chew toys and interactive toys will keep your dog entertained. Feed alternative healthy treats. Many store-bought dog treats are full of calories and additives and offer little nutritional value. You can choose some good healthy treats, but fruits and vegetables are better options. Dog-proof your home. Muzzle your dog. If your Labrador tends to eat anything he finds while out on a walk, consider using a muzzle. Separation Anxiety Canine separation anxiety purely means the dog cannot cope with being apart from his owner or family. But are Labradors prone to separation anxiety? Labradors are prone to separation anxiety due to their temperament. They are social, affectionate, friendly, good-natured, and high-energy, and soon get bored. They love to be around their pack, which means you! If they are left alone for too long, they will suffer from separation anxiety. Dogs with separation anxiety will find something to relieve their fear, worry, and stress, so they often resort to destructive behavior. General symptoms are destructive chewing, house soiling, digging, escaping, destroying furniture, barking, and howling. Repetitive behavior, pacing, and self-harm may also occur. Keep departures and arrivals low-key to stop separation anxiety in your Labrador. Leave your dog in a relaxing and comfortable spot with his favorite interactive toys and chew toys. Train him using behavior modification methods such as desensitization and counter-conditioning. You should never leave your Labrador alone for longer than four hours, even less for young puppies. Consider alternatives to prevent or treat separation anxiety. Reduce the time that your Lab spends at home alone by hiring a dog sitter, walker, or professional trainer. Have friends and family call around, use local doggie-day care, and work from home if possible. This toy will keep your dog entertained and is great fun, especially when he finds the treats! Stay connected with your Lab. How cool is that? Use behavior modification techniques. Counter-condition your Lab by training him not to associate departure cues, such as the sound of your keys jingling. The aim is to teach him not to worry about your exit by associating the sound of your keys with getting a treat. Hold back on the doggie kisses and leave! Use desensitization techniques. Gradually teach your dog to cope with being alone by carefully exposing him to being alone in small steps. For example, start by making progressive departures of minutes when you leave your Labrador and progressively increase. Train your dog to be alone from an early age. I would leave my girl in her crate for a few minutes at a time at eight weeks old and gradually increase. Treat with medication. Both anti-anxiety medicine and natural supplements can help treat separation anxiety in dogs. Your vet can advise you of the best treatment plan for your dog. Labrador Urine Marking Behavior Does your Labrador stop on every street corner to pee a small amount? Spraying is instinctive dog behavior, but why do Labradors mark their territory? Dogs will leave their scent on new smells or near where other dogs have urinated. Urine communicates the reproductive status and status rank of the dog. So, why do Labradors mark their territory inside? Labradors mark their territory inside when sexually active, especially in unneutered dogs, or claim ownership of you, e. To stop your Labrador from urine marking inside, neuter while young, keep new and unfamiliar items out of reach, supervise your dog or use a crate. Increase bonding with new pets or family, eliminate anxiety, rule out other medical reasons, fully clean up the mess, and consult a canine behaviorist if needed. Thoroughly clean the areas your dog has marked using an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate the smell and prevent further scenting. Myths vs. Barking at Other Dogs Barking is a typical communication behavior in dogs, and Labradors are known to be naturally vocal. Nonetheless, when your Lab has developed an unfortunate habit of barking at other dogs, this may cause you to wonder why? Labradors bark at other dogs due to a lack of socialization and becoming fearful or anxious. Other reasons are insufficient or incomplete training, being protective or territorial of you, or generally being social or excited and wanting to greet or play, especially if under-exercised or stimulated. How to Stop Barking. Work on obedience training and positive reinforcement, allowing time, patience, and consistency. If your Labrador also lunges when barking at other dogs, use a comfortable front clip harness. It is reasonably priced, easy to fit, and comes in different colors and options. Avoid gimmicks such as bark collars and sprays designed to teach your Labrador not to bark, as these only tackle the symptom and not the cause of the problem. Rolling in Fox Poo Bathing your dog can be a challenging task. Their ancestors would disguise their scent to confuse their prey. Dogs also mark their territory by leaving their scent behind and communicating their rank or dominance to other dogs. They also enjoy leaving their smell around. Sometimes, prevention can be your best tactic! To stop a Labrador rolling in fox poo, try to prevent it by keeping him away from known areas frequented by foxes. If your dog suddenly puts his nose to the ground, anticipate he may have picked up on the strong scent of fox poo and quickly distract him away. Resource Guarding Resource guarding is when your Lab displays certain behaviors such as snarling, growling, biting, and lunging over food, favorite toys, or space, e. It is also known as c a n i n e possessive aggression , and your dog might growl at you if you go near their treasured possessions or run away with the item. Although resource guarding is natural canine behavior, it is not desirable. Some owners prefer to try and change the behavior in addition to the usual precautions of keeping people safe, especially children. Early and frequent training can help prevent resource guarding before it becomes a significant problem. Nonetheless, here are some steps to stop your Labrador from resource guarding: Consult a certified trainer or dog behaviorist. Use desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques. Instead, we try to redirect the behavior. Like all other breeds, Labradors have innate behavioral tendencies that are unique. Think of their overwhelming friendliness and easy-going nature. They are a good first dog but make a hopeless guard dog! Your Labrador will develop into the dog that you train him to be. So when socialization and training are not done correctly, behavior problems will inevitably occur. And as you saw in the video, the first one is a lack of structured exercise! Insufficient Exercise and Stimulation The Labrador Retriever is a high-energy dog requiring at least two hours of daily exercise. Leash walking alone will be insufficient. Incorporate a combination of swimming, agility, frisbee, hiking, fetch, and off-leash running in a safe area. Your dog will also need lots of cognitive stimulation and interactive play. Research has confirmed that less active dogs will demonstrate behavior problems than well-exercised canines. Genetic Disposition to Certain Behaviors It has been scientifically proven that dog behavior has both genetic and environmental key factors. This is documented in a study on the genetic examination of behavior traits in dogs whereby the German Shepherd breed was utilized. The research confirmed the theory that dog behaviors are complex traits influenced by multiple genetic and non-genetic factors. In simple terms, your dog may inherit genes that urge him to retrieve. Your Lab may inherit genes urging him to find and recover, just like his ancestors, who retrieved ducks from the hunt. He has a natural desire to bring you back things. Unfortunately, this can sometimes include dead birds or squirrels! However, this does not mean that you cannot subdue the behavior through training. Field-bred Labradors are typically higher energy and more boisterous. Another inherited attribute of the Labrador is their strong pack drive. Extremely social dogs with high pack drives tend to follow their owners everywhere, even to the bathroom! One drawback to this trait is that they may find it difficult when left in kennels for vacations. Poor Puppy Socialization Poorly socialized puppies grow into badly behaved Labradors. This is when the puppy acquires nearly all of his adult sensory, motor, and learning abilities. If a puppy is not socialized well, he will become a problematic and untrainable adult. This makes him more confident and calm than anxious and aggressive in unsocialized and poorly trained dogs. Incomplete Obedience Training Obedience training is crucial in helping your Labrador understand what you expect of him. Then, he can progress to more advanced training, such as sit-stay, wait, speak, roll-over, and other tricks. Many new dog owners believe a week or two of training after bringing their puppy home is enough. Not so! Consistency also means using the exact words to command specific behavior from your Labrador. Aversive Training Methods Punishing your Labrador to make him learn good behavior will only result in the opposite. Your best friend will be so confused and only grow to resent and fear you. They can also cause aggression and escaping behavior. Positive reinforcement, also known as reward-based training, creates the best behavior in dogs because you encourage your pet to repeat good conduct by consistently rewarding him. It simply means giving a reward to increase the frequency of response. Hormonal Effects and Neutering Testosterone is often associated with aggression in male dogs, but studies have proved mainly inconclusive. Neutering is the surgical removal of the male testes or female ovaries. Research results from a large sample of over 13, dogs show that neutering does not necessarily reduce aggression. This interesting study showed no significant increase in aggression in sterilized dogs , except for those between 7 and 12 months of age. Scientists can still not explain this. Additionally, this study discovered that other hormones cause aggression in dogs. Oxytocin a hormone associated with social bonding and sexual reproduction and Vasopressin which maintains the concentration of salts and glucose in the blood plasma and the volume of water in the fluid surrounding cells can negatively impact dog behavior. Letting Your Labrador Run The Show What if you heard a Labrador owner say his dog never badly behaves, only to discover that the owner allows the dog to have the upper hand? Would you call that a well-behaved dog? Failing to set boundaries can be another reason your Labrador has behavioral issues. Dominance aggression is when the dog will try to be the alpha or single out one particular member to dominate. I can certainly relate to this, as my dog tried for months to boss me. Although I was as firm as the male family members, she never wanted to dominate them! Spoiling your dog is one of the major factors leading to dominance aggression in dogs. Medical Conditions or Malnutrition Your Labrador may show behavior problems due to medical issues, either physical, psychological, or both. For example, dogs with obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD may show tail chasing, circling behavior, vocalization, pica, self-directed aggression, and self-mutilation through biting. In this study , the most common clinical features of OCD in dogs were self-mutilation or grooming. Other medical conditions include injury and post-operative pain, which can trigger aggressive behavior. A hungry or malnourished Labrador can also cause behavior problems such as destructive chewing. Sometimes a history of starvation experienced by rescue dogs may leave them with an eating disorder in which they seek nourishment from non-food items known as pica. Owning a Labrador Retriever is exciting and rewarding for most owners. However, behavior problems associated with the breed can sometimes make it a challenge. What is most encouraging is knowing that you can manage these behavior problems. Exercise, training, eliminating triggers, and seeking a canine behaviorist are helpful and constructive ways to help your Labrador overcome his behavior shortcomings. You must practice patience and consistency every day and work at it. Good luck! Behavior Article Links Some of these problems might seem trivial to others. But when it is you that is losing sleep, dealing with complaints from neighbours or repairing destroyed furniture, it is not trivial at all. In this section we take a look at common Labrador behavior problems. We will begin by giving you some general behavioural information and taking you through an FAQ of common Labrador behaviour problems and their solutions. We will then give you links to our most popular Labrador Behaviour articles where you will find detailed answers to your behavior questions. Bad Behaviour or Bad Training? Others are more complex and require deeper investigation. Knowing why a dog behaves as it does, and what caused the problem in the first place is not always helpful. Sometimes it is simpler to just treat the symptoms in front of you. For example, some labrador puppies will become quite aggressive around food at an early age. Others will let anyone take their dinner. At other times, a good understanding of what causes a behavioural problem, and steps may need to be taken to manage the dog, perhaps avoiding the fear trigger. Resolving behavioral problems Treating Labrador behavior issues is normally tackled in one of two ways Training Management Problems such as jumping up, running away, night-waking, dragging you along on the lead, and food guarding, are all best resolved by training. At other times a management approach may be more appropriate. For example, a rescue dog that has developed a deep seated fear of children may simply need to be kept away from kids. The trauma to the dog of trying to desensitise it, and the time factor required to do so may be too great. It may be simpler to keep the dog muzzled in public and rehomed away from small children. Analysing Labrador behavior Our understanding of dog psychology has improved greatly in recent years, but perhaps there is sometimes a tendency to take an analysis of individual dog behaviour too far. If a problem with Labrador behaviour is disrupting your family life, it needs fixing, no matter what the root cause. Not only for the benefit of the dog, but also, in order that peace and harmony can be restored. Dogs do not fare well in households where everyone is stressed and upset. Not a problem dog? Whilst we cannot help loving our dogs, if we can avoid labelling them as having this problem or that problem, and just deal with any behavior that arises in a practical and appropriate way, I suspect their lives might be easier. Behavioral problems in Labradors can normally be successfully resolved. How do I stop my dog jumping up? Jumping up is quite cute in puppies, and of course many of us allow them to do this until they start knocking people over. Curing jumping up is not too difficult, but it requires patience and persistence. My dog is nipping my arms and it hurts! There is a lot of information on biting in small puppies on this website. But it can be very worrying when this behaviour persists, or reappears in an older dog. This is a common problem in families with a young dog aged between 6 and 18 months. At this age, your dog is still mentally a puppy, but he is now a very big puppy, and the biting really hurts. Most biting in older puppies is associated with over-excitement and inappropriate play rough housing with the dog. Check out these two articles for further information as well as the biting information link above. How to play safely with a Labrador How can I stop my dog whining? Dogs often learn to whine when they are crated or left. Happily, there is quite a straightforward training programme to teach your dog to be quiet in his crate. You can find the instructions here: click for quiet. Labradors love to carry things around in their mouths. This is partly because they are natural retrievers, but also partly because they soon learn that picking up your stuff gets them a whole load of attention! Avoid chasing your dog whilst he is carrying something as dogs love being chased, and this will only encourage him to run faster. So keep a little pot of yummy left overs in the fridge for this purpose. You may find your dog is less inclined to pick up your cushions etc, if you give him some soft cuddly toys of his own. Or you may need to pop a baby gate across the sitting room, to keep him away from the sofa and chairs until you are there to supervise. Help us stop our Labrador raiding the trash can! Some behaviours are so common as to be normal, and bin raiding is a universal problem for Labrador owners. And of course, he has all day to figure out how to get in there, whilst you do not have all day to figure out how to stop him. And punishing the dog when you return home and find the contents strewn across the kitchen floor, will only serve to make the dog fearful of you on your return. The best solution for bin raiding is therefore to place the can where the dog cannot get at it, or purchase a Labrador proof bin. How can I stop my Labrador running after other dogs? Most Labradors are very friendly indeed. And one of the biggest problems for many young Labrador owners, is getting them to come back when there are other people around, or other dogs to be played with. Teaching a dog to recall in the real world, where there are lots of temptations, is a skill. And it is one that you can teach to any dog provided you do so in a structured way. Check out our recall training centre for lots more information on recall in general, and this article: Proofing your recall which will help you teach your labrador to recall away from other people and other dogs. You might also find it helpful to read: Why has my recall broken down? My Labrador wakes up too early Early morning waking, or night waking is another annoying problem behaviour that may start in spring or summer as the lighter mornings set in. Sometimes there is a clear trigger for night waking to begin, but the waking carries on after the trigger is removed. In other cases, the early waking puppy just carries on early waking, with the addition of some increasingly demanding barking to hurry you downstairs. We look at night waking in some detail in this article. Night waking — how to restore the peace How can I stop my dog eating poo? This horrible habit is surprisingly common. We have devoted an entire article to what you can do to prevent or cure it. You can check it out here: Why dogs eat poop and what you can do about it. Eating poo is not the only horrible habit that Labradors may indulge in. Take a look at this article: Why do Labradors eat rubbish for more information and help. My dog is over a year old and still chewing up our home! We all know that puppies chew stuff. Especially when they are teething. But many people do not realise that Labradors can be particularly destructive towards the end of their first year, long after they are firmly in possession of a full set of adult teeth. This article: How to stop your Labrador chewing things takes a close look at chewing and other destructive behaviours, and what you can do to resolve them. My dog is so naughty… We all like a well-behaved dog. The answer to that is with a structured training programme. Behind every well behaved Labrador, lie many hours of training. Getting your dog trained may seem like an effort at times, but training brings huge rewards. A trained dog responds to your commands or signals without hesitation, not just at home, but when you are out and about, or visiting friends too. Getting to this point takes time, information and some effort. Check out How to cope with a naughty Labrador before you start. Then skip over to our training section. Once you make a plan and get going, training is actually a lot of fun. For you and for your dog. Getting started with Labrador training The pleasure of a well-trained and obedient dog are immeasurable. So do join the forum where you can chat with other labrador owners all at different stages of the training process. It is great to start training whilst your dog is young, but remember that a dog of any age can be trained. It is never too late to begin. There are many hundreds of articles on this site about Labrador behavior, why not check out the comprehensive list below for further help:. The Labrador Retriever is, first and foremost, a working dog. Some breeders breed dogs not for looks but for work, and the Lab is one of those dogs. You need to give your Lab the opportunity to use his considerable intelligence for good, or he will instead use it for mischief. For instance, a bored Lab will dig, bark and pull the wash off the line — all of those boredom-related behaviors we dislike so much. This type of dog temperament is ideally suited for dog obedience and agility training. Your Lab will not only enjoy the sport, but he will also enjoy working with you as part of your team. A Lab needs a competent trainer who is a firm, consistent leader. I prefer to see them in a home with someone who has owned dogs before. You may be able to find some retrieving trials near where you live. This is ideal for your dog because it gives him the opportunity to do what he does best. As with other working dog temperaments, the Labrador can be extremely focused on whatever catches his attention. He will follow a scent until he finds its source, which can encourage him to escape from his yard to continue the hunt. Today, Labs still enjoy using their mouths to carry things around or to chew. You may find that your Lab also likes to chew lightly on your hands. The best way to manage this behavior is to give your dog plenty of chew toys to gnaw on. Some examples are stuffed Kongs or nylon Denta-bones. If he starts to mouth your hand, turn his attention to something he will like better, like the Denta-bone. You can also take him for a run every day to keep his energy levels under control. A dog after my own heart! Labradors will eat just about anything, and plenty of it. This means that they are likely to gain excess weight. Ultimately, you're the one who controls how much your dog eats. Not only that but if you avoid excess weight gain, your Lab can live up to two years longer than if he was overweight. It isn't always easy to identify the right dog temperaments for your lifestyle, but it's easy to see the type of home that best suits this breed. The happy and outgoing Labrador Retriever temperament is the ideal canine companion if you are an active person or family, and he will love to share all your outdoor adventures. Training The Lab is a strong dog, and he also has a high energy level, so early socialization and obedience training is a must. Not only do obedience classes mold him into the dog he should grow up to be, but it also gives him the chance to socialize with other dogs, so, two birds with one stone! His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog. Grooming The Lab has a thick double coat which is also water-resistant. Brush him weekly to keep him looking his best. They come in yellow, chocolate, or black. Exercise Because the agile Labrador Retriever temperament comes with a bundle of energy, you need to give him daily exercise. In fact, Labs thrive on the kind of hard work that pulls the marrow from your bones. Two of the things a Lab loves most are retrieving hence the name and swimming. If you can combine some kind of water activity with his daily exercise, you will have one happy Lab on your hands. He also enjoys participating in hunting or canine sports. Here are some of the more popular mixed breeds:. All in all What causes common Labrador behavior problems? The causes of Labrador behavior problems often depend on what kind of behavior problems your Lab displays, their personality, genetics, as well as experiences in life. This is especially true when you consider that there may be differing Labrador behavior by age. However, there are a handful of common causes of behavioral issues in Labradors. Boredom, for example, is a very common cause. Labradors have lots of energy and are very smart. If they feel like they have nothing to do, they may start chewing up pillows, being where they should not be, or digging holes in your backyard, among other things. These instances may be so problematic for you that you may end up wondering how to discipline your Lab puppy. Another huge reason why your Labrador is acting differently may also be because of a lack of exercise. Labradors are big, energetic dogs that need to burn their energy. Otherwise, you may find yourself asking at what age do Labradors calm down. When your Lab does not get enough exercise, they will be more likely to break things or disobey you. It may also result in a Labrador biting problem. Stress can also make your Labrador have a sudden change of behavior. They may start to look scared, shake, hide, or display other Labrador behavior problems that they normally do not show. Another reason behind your Labrador Common Behavior Problems May also be a traumatic or scary experience that your Labrador Retriever has had. This experience may have led to them having depression , post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety, and the like. For instance, your Lab may have been involved in an accident that would cause them to be scared of and react violently to loud, sudden, or high-pitched noises. These may include sudden dietary changes that they may not be comfortable with, lack of sleep, feeling pain, or an underlying illness. Additionally, one other possible reason for your Labrador behavior problems may be that your you have too high expectations for your dog. It may only be that their general sense of fun gets them into trouble that they may mean common Labrador behavior problems for you. What type of Labrador common behavior problems may your dog develop? Scavenging It would not be unusual if your dog sniffs the kitchen floor to look for fallen pieces of food while you cook. However, it can be a problem if your Lab starts to dig through the trash and make a mess to look for food. However, you can curb this habit and decrease it. First, you have to make sure that you never let your dog eat off of the floor. Whenever you feed them, make sure their food is in their bowl. When you hand them food like treats, do not drop it onto the floor. Instead, hand it directly to their mouths. Additionally, you will want to try preparing some preventative measures. For example, if your Labrador always goes through the trash, you can get a trash can that has a cover that you can clip shut. You can also hide your trash can in a cupboard so they cannot reach it. Aggression While Labs normally have sweet personalities, it is possible for them to show symptoms of aggressive behavior. Common symptoms of aggression include growling , barking , biting, and showing their teeth. Typically, it comes from abuse , trauma, and past experiences. How you deal with it will normally depend on the severity of their symptoms and what caused it. Positive reinforcement and establishing dominance is an excellent way to help treat mild symptoms. However, you may need to see a specialist if your Lab shows severely aggressive behavior. Chewing Chewing will be a very common Labrador behavior for nearly all dogs, especially when they are puppies. Sometimes, it may only be that they are teething , as they often stop this habit when they have their adult teeth or when you train them. However, uncontrollable chewing that wrecks your furniture and other belongings is going to be a common Labrador behavior problem that you will have to learn how to deal with. You can control their chewing by showing them what are the acceptable things they can chew, such as their toys. Whenever they chew the right things like toys, you can give them treats to reward them. You can also make sure they get enough exercise. If your dog has too much extra energy, they will find other ways to release it, like chewing your stuff. Getting them enough exercise every day can help get rid of the temptation to chew. Excessive barking Dogs bark to communicate. However, excessive barking can be an issue for you, your family, your neighbors, and more. Your Lab may bark whenever they want your attention. Therefore, they might bark excessively if they lack attention. A simple way to help them feel more loved is by keeping them inside more often. Dogs that are outside the house and alone often feel lonely and will bark to grab your attention. You can also close your curtains if your dog barks at people walking down the street. Begging Labradors are hungry dogs that love food. However, that makes them more likely to beg for food every time you try to eat, which can be bothersome. To stop them, you should never give them food that you are eating. If you give them bites to eat while you are at the table, they will always come back for more. You should also redirect them when they beg to sit near you or lay down next to your feet. Digging Remember how Labs are smart? Well, they get bored quickly and will find a way to keep themselves entertained. Luckily, keeping them indoors with lots of toys can easily stop them from wanting to dig in your yard. Jumping up You may have found it extremely cute before when your Lab puppy would jump on your legs to get your attention and bite or nip your hand. However, it may be a lot more painful and bothersome now that they are fully grown adults. First, you should make sure to stay calm and not get mad at your Lab when you tell them to stop. Otherwise, they may think that you do not appreciate their greetings. What you can do instead is to redirect their behavior. This method is especially good to start teaching them when they are young. When they see you enter a room, tell them to sit and stay until you let them get up. Once they get up, you can pet them and hug them. If they try to do this to other people, tell the person to turn away and to discourage their behavior. It will help your Lab learn that they do not need to jump on people to say hello. Your Lab may just be acting the way they do because they do not know what is right or wrong until you teach them. For instance, scavenging and digging are natural instincts for dogs. So, if they start to do that, you have to teach them that it is wrong. Otherwise, they will not realize that they should not do it. More importantly, it is your job to teach them what they can and cannot do. Labrador Retrievers are generally very easy to train, so you can easily rectify any common Labrador behavior problem. All you need is a little patience. We have suggested some tips above that you can take note of to know how to stop common Labrador behavior problems when they arise. If you need these behavior problems in your Lab changed, you have to make sure that you train them out of it. Post navigation.

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Easiest Dog to Take Care of: Top 10 Breeds for a Happy Home Do you ever dream about having a furry best friend who loves to play fetch, gives the warmest cuddles, and greets you with the happiest tail wags every time you come home? A friend who is not just any dog, but the easiest dog to take care of? We know, it sounds like a dream come true, right? But we also understand that bringing a new puppy home is a big step. It's like adding a new member to your family, a little brother or sister.Top 30 Smartest Dog Breeds In The World If you're a dog lover, you've probably heard the age-old debate: which dog breeds are the smartest? While all dogs have their own unique intelligence and personality, some breeds have proven to be consistently brilliant over time. In this guide, we'll explore the top 30 smartest dog breeds ranked, from problem-solving whizzes to trainable and intuitive pups. We've done our research to provide you with an updated and informative.These pooches are joyful, lively, eager to please dogs. They are adventurous, kind, family-oriented pups who love hiking, swimming, canine games, sports and any, and all, family activities. These puppies are merry and bouncy little marshmallows. They are cuddly and sweet pups who love running around, playing, making friends and are very enthusiastic learners. The breed is divided into 3 recognized categories: Toy Poodle; Mini; Standard. Although they differ in size, one thing is for sure: they are glamorous companion pets. Originally from Germany, they were used as hunting dogs because of their sharp minds and quick responses. Poodles do not shed and are hypoallergenic. People who have allergies to dogs and cats can usually own a poodles without difficulty. Because poodles have no body dander, fur or odor, they are perfect gentlemen and ladies in your home. Mild mannered, yet protective, they are great family watchdogs, yet wonderful with children. Poodles come in three sizes: Standard Poodles , Miniature Poodles and Toy Poodles ; no other breeds were used to obtain these specific sizes. They come in a variety of colors:? In order to be in the conformation show ring, poodles must be one color. Choosing a Poodle Being a conscientious breeder means breeding to continually improve quality of the dogs, not for financial gain. The study of genetics is very important in selecting breeding dogs. Knowing the backgrounds of the bloodlines in your dog's pedigree is essential in order to do as much as possible to prevent genetic disorders, such as such as hip dysplasia. Keep this in mind when acquiring a puppy, for only a healthy companion, full of vitality, can give you many years of shared happiness. A puppy mill is where dogs are bred only for financial gain, without concern for their health and the conditions in which they are raised. The genetic health and temperament do not matter, as long as the pups can be sold for cash. If you buy from a pet store, you are only getting a puppy, secondhand, from a puppy mill. In most cases, a broker for an out-of-state puppy mill sends the pups to the pet store. These brokers acquire the pups long before they should be taken from their mothers. Normally, no shots are given and these animals are prime candidates for serious canine diseases, such as parvo and distemper. Well-intentioned people may sometimes buy from puppy mills or pet stores because they feel so sorry for the puppy. Please don't. All this purchase does is allow these terrible practices and unhealthy environments to continue, and it contributes to the profit these unscrupulous people make from mistreating dogs. Backyard Breeders You may pay a cheaper price for a pup from a backyard breeder, but you will not have solid information about the health and temperament. In most cases, these people do not know anything about the genetics of their breeding pair or how to produce a healthy puppy. The cheaper price is not worth the gamble you are being asked to take. Responsible breeders will provide each buyer with a written genetic health guarantee - not a 3 to 90 day guarantee. They will want to know about you and your family in order to match you with the pup that is best suited to your lifestyle and your home environment. These breeders are educated professionals who are concerned about keeping the breed as healthy as possible for the next generations. With a deep love of the breed, in general, and their dogs, in particular, they will offer references, including giving you their vet's name and phone number. In addition, they will be there for you should any unforeseen problems arise, or to answer questions, share new knowledge and provide advice for years to come. You get what you pay for. When the purchase price is too cheap, it may mean large vet bills and an ill puppy, or a temperament problem, down the road ahead. If you cannot afford to purchase a puppy or an older dog from a reputable breeder, please adopt from your local Humane Society, rather than from a puppy mill, pet store or backyard breeder. Our high ethical standards require all puppies being placed into pet homes will be spayed or neutered. Application If you would like to own and care for one Ash's Mystical Poodles, you must complete the application that appears when you click here. Life Expectancy Breed Facts Poodles were originally bred in Germany as hunting dogs who worked with their owners in retrieving waterfowl. The Poodle is widely known to be the most intelligent dog breed in the world. They train with ease and enjoy one on one engagement with their human best friend. There are three types of Poodles that the American Kennel Club recognizes. The most common and well-known is the standard Poodle, followed by the Miniature Poodle, and then the Toy Poodle. Poodles are social and outgoing dogs that tend to have a warm demeanor. They are mentally alert and very observant of their surroundings. Poodles have a very eager-to-please personality and enjoy the praise they receive after mastering a new trick. This breed is an exceptional family dog and gets along well with children and other animals in the home. They also easily adjust to apartment-style or conventional-style homes. It comes in nearly one dozen colors which include white, black, apricot, cream, and brown to name just a few. This makes routine grooming very important. Using a pin brush, gently brush its fur and work out any knots. A bi-weekly bath is also suggested, which will keep him looking and feeling his very best. Poodles younger than four months in age should be provided with four meals a day. When they reach five months in age, they do best with three meals per day. At six months old, they should have two meals per day spaced apart in twelve-hour intervals. Poodles also require thorough and routine teeth cleaning. It is suggested that they have their teeth brushed at least three times every week. The largest Poodle is the Standard Poodle who stands between fifteen and twenty-two inches tall. The Standard Poodle weighs forty-five to seventy pounds. The mid-sized Poodle, also known as a Miniature Poodle, tends to stand eleven to fifteen inches tall. The Miniature Poodle weighs between fifteen and twenty pounds. The third type of Poodle, known as the Toy Poodle, generally grows to about ten inches tall. The Toy Poodle weighs a mere six to nine pounds. Each of these Poodles has an average life expectancy of twelve to fifteen years. Fact: Poodles were originally bred in Germany, not France, as many believe. Fact: This breed is considered to be the most intelligent breed of dog in the world. Fact: Poodles are excellent swimmers. Poodle Puppies For Sale. We have answers. If you're looking for a puppy, Uptown Puppies is the perfect place to start your search. Our network of elite Poodle breeders in Las Vegas, NV includes professionals who are experienced in doggy transportation. Many families have their puppy flown to their closest major airport, like Harry Reid or McCarran, which is a comfortable option for your pooch. How do you screen Poodle breeders near NV? Our team only accepts breeder applications that meet our high standards. This way, we can exclude puppy mills and dishonest breeders. Only the best for your puppy and your family. What makes Uptown Puppies so different from other puppy finders? Looking for a new pup can be hard, but our puppy finder makes it easy. We only work with the best breeders, so you can be sure you're getting a quality pup. Plus, our network takes care of all the transportation details, so it's hassle-free. Why are puppy mills a breeding ground for unhealthy Poodles? Puppy mills are a huge problem in the U. They breed puppies for quantity over quality, which means that many of the puppies they produce are sick or have genetic disorders. This is incredibly cruel and heartless, and it needs to stop. Are there any Poodle puppies online that I can adopt right now? Looking for a Poodle puppy? You're not alone! These dogs are some of the most popular pets around. But beware - demand is high and litters are often scooped up within hours of being listed. If you see your dream pup, don't hesitate to reserve them right away! What type of dogs are Poodles? Poodles are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, and for good reason. They are intelligent, obedient, and make excellent companions. Poodles excel at all types of dog sports, and their agility makes them perfect for assistance dog work. But above all, poodles love humans and make wonderful furry friends. How do I know these breeders are trustworthy? Dishonest breeders are unfortunately all too common. But you can rest assured that all of the breeders on Uptown Puppies are thoroughly vetted and only the best of the best are accepted onto our site. This means that you can feel confident knowing that your new puppy will be healthy and happy, and comes with a year health guarantee. So why wait? Find your perfect pup today! Las Vegas Poodle for sale Las Vegas! Are Poodle puppies Las Vegas easily trainable? Poodles are not only intelligent, but they also love learning! Poodles pick up new tricks quickly and enjoy mental stimulation. Start professional training with your poodle early on, or stick to your own training routine. With patience and hard work, you will be amazed at how smart your puppy can be. Looking for a Poodle for sale in Las Vegas? How do I groom my Poodle? Poodles are one of the most popular dog breeds. They are known for their intelligence and their elegant appearance. Poodles don't shed very much, which is a blessing for many dog owners. However, this also means that your Poodle will need to be groomed regularly. Poodles should be trimmed every weeks, and they will also need to be bathed on a regular basis. Poodles are known for being one of the most popular dogs to use in hybrid breeds. This is because they have a lot of positive qualities that can be passed down to their offspring. For example, Poodles are intelligent, have a good temperament, and are low-shedding - three qualities that are often desired in a hybrid dog. How much exercise do Poodles need? Poodles need plenty of exercise to stay healthy and happy. An hour per day is a good rule of thumb, but some owners like to split that time into shorter sessions throughout the day. No need to run your Poodle for an hour straight — just get out there and have some fun! When you get Poodle puppies for sale Las Vegas, NV, it is important to talk to your breeder and your family veterinarian about the best diet for your pup. All dogs are different and may have different dietary preferences. However, don't worry - it's not rocket science! Exercise Grooming Looking at the life of a miniature poodle today, the jewelry, the bright-colored coats and the luxury they live in, one may be shocked that these pooches used to accompany hunters many years ago. They were developed in Germany but developed into their own distinct breed in the country of France. They were developed especially for waterfowl hunting. They are believed to be a hybrid of different water dogs from Europe. They are believed to be a result of crosses between Spanish, Russian, Hungarian, Portuguese, French and German water dogs. There are also different theories that link its ancestry to different parts of the world like Africa and Asia. One thing however clear is that the Miniature Poodle is a very old breed. There are illustrations of this breed on Egyptian and Roman artifacts and tombs. Many believe Miniature Poodles came hundreds of years later after the Standard Poodles. They are intelligent, loyal, loving and mischievous. Poodle enthusiasts describe them as having an air of distinction. Miniature Poodles have a daffy streak and love to play. They can however often get leery with strangers. They are shy and if not socialized with new people and animals at an early age, will grow up a little laid back. The Miniature Poodle is very protective of his family and is quick to bark whenever strangers approach your home. They are highly trainable and have high energy. Miniature Poodles require an environment of care and discipline. They can be raised in apartment homes because of their small stature. Early socialization is critical to their development. Without this, they will get scared easily and be aggressive at strangers. Take your Miniature Poodle for walks of about an hour. Play games of fetch with them, they love tasks that challenge them mentally. They were working dogs historically, so it is no wonder that they want something to occupy their bodies and minds. The Miniature Poodle is a safe choice for people with allergies. They are a non-shedding breed and they have been found to give allergic people no reaction at all. Their coat comes in several colors. Their colors include blue, black, white, gray, silver, brown, cream, etc. They are high maintenance dogs. Their beautiful coat can be trimmed, clipped, curled and generally manipulated into different lovely shapes. They require grooming every three to six weeks to keep their coat in good condition. They need to be bathed every three to six weeks. Poodles have weepy eyes and you will need to wipe the hair under their eyes often to get rid of this stain. Make sure you check their ear often to spot any developing infection for quick treatment. Our Miniature Poodle puppies for sale come from either USDA licensed commercial breeders or hobby breeders with no more than 5 breeding mothers. We only purchase puppies from the very best sources, and we stand behind every puppy we sell. No, they are not. Miniature Poodles are smaller than standard poodles but are bigger than Toy poodles. Do Miniature Poodles shed? You do not have to worry about shedding with Miniature Poodles as they do not shed at all. Are Miniature Poodles a hypoallergenic breed? They are highly hypoallergenic. Studies show they are the easiest to live with for people with allergies. When should your Miniature Poodle be spayed? Vets recommend that they should be spayed between the ages of four to nine months. Are Miniature Poodles good with kids? Miniature Poodles are great with kids if trained to socialize with them at an early age. Their looks give them the advantage of being treated nicely by kids which creates a good relationship between them and kids. Are Miniature Poodle easy to train? Yes, they are one of the easiest breeds to train. What are Miniature Poodles average life expectancy? Miniature Poodles live for as long as 15 years. Can Miniature Poodles become overweight? Like any other dog breed, if overfed, Miniature Poodles will become overweight if overfed and encouraged to lounge around for hours. This will cause them to joint problems. How big are Miniature Poodles? Miniature Poodles stand between 11 to 15 inches tall and weigh 15 lbs. Are Miniature Poodles particularly liable for any disease? Miniature Poodles are generally healthy. Are you interested in purchasing a Miniature Poodle? Fill out the below form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Contact Us for litters and reservations for litters. The success of Vom Banach K9 dogs out in the world, and the happiness of Vom Banach K9 owners, is due in part to the effort we make to ensure that you have the absolute right puppy for your situation, whatever it is. We literally spend hundreds of hours with our puppies from the moment they are born in our home until the time they are ready to leave for their new home with you. Whether you seek a devoted family pet, or a prospect for SAR, detection, Shutzhund, Police K9, competitive obedience and agility, or nose work, we will help select the right puppy for you. An important part of the process is speaking to you to learn about you and the dog that will best meet your needs and expectations. In advance of that conversation, please fill out the form below and click on Submit when completed. Thanks very much. Vom Banach K9 German Shepherd puppies are happy, healthy, well-socialized and confident. Our German Shepherd puppies are known for their loyalty, affection, eagerness to please, work ethic, and rich dark black sable, sable, and solid black coats. Shipping by air is fast, safe, convenient, and cost-effective. We use only airlines that have demonstrated a solemn commitment to animal travel over the last 26 years. Vom Banach K9 uses only certified airline-approved crates. For information on our current litters please Contact Us. Your browser does not support the video tag. What is the Rarest Color of German Shepherd? However, did you know that this breed comes in a wide range of different colors, and one of the ones we are listing here is the rarest color of all? Genes are Behind the Colors and Patterns of Dogs Genes play a role in the colors and patterns that all dogs sport. Meanwhile, German Shepherds that have rare colors get them as the result of recessive genes. Many rare-colored varieties are produced by specialty-designed breeding programs, but they do sometimes show up in litters of regular breeding programs. Since these types of dogs are so hard to come by, you will unlikely find one at a rescue center or shelter. These colors are most common because they come from dominant genes. Black and silver German Shepherds carry a recessive gene, but they are still a popular selection among pet owners. If you wanted to see some of the different coats our dogs have you can visit our adult dogs page here. Black and Tan The original color of this working dog is black and tan, and they represent the most common color for German Shepherds. Their lineage comes from their ancestor Horand von Grafrath, who was a little darker than the modern black and tan GSDs. Black and tan is a very popular combination that has been favored by many dog owners for years. This type of GSD has a rich brown underbelly with a black overcoat. The paws and tail tip can also be found in this color, too. These dogs typically have a brown nose and eye rims that match their coat color. Black and red German Shepherds have a black base with rich, rust-colored markings on their back, front legs, ears and even around the muzzle area. Their underbelly is usually cream or tan in color. Black and Silver The black and silver is a genetically recessive color because it only occurs when breeding two dogs that carry the same genes for this type of coloring. This variety of German Shepherd can come in many different shades of gray, ranging from nearly white to a deep charcoal color. They also get their coloring from the gene that produces pheomelanin. Black and Cream As their name suggests, these dogs are black with a cream-colored underbelly. If you see two German Shepherds that look nearly identical, except for one does not have any rust coloring around its ears, then it is probably a black and cream. Pure White Although you may not expect it, pure white German Shepherds descended directly from the same German Shepherds that black and tans did. The recessive gene that causes them to be white has been present in the genetic makeup of their original German Shepherd ancestor. Not to be confused with albinos, these dogs, with their luxurious white coats, look similar to Golden Retrievers with erect ears. Many German Shepherd owners, including U. S Army soldiers serving overseas, have purchased these dogs to use as guard dogs because of their strength and intimidating appearance; however, the white color makes it difficult for them to blend into surroundings as dark colors can do. Because of this, many people today erroneously believe that these snow-colored dogs are flawed genetically. They are so named because they have black fur with a rich bluish hue, and this bluish-black coat extends all the way down to their paws. While all types of animals get a bad rep from being black really, they are one of the last colors of animals to be adopted at the pound! In fact, those who own black German Shepherds will tell you that they are very smart and loyal. While blue-black shepherds are extremely popular among pet owners, they only represent only 6. Liver One of the rarest colors for German Shepherds is liver, and only a few genetic combinations can produce them. Liver GSDs have a black nose and eye rims just like the standard black and tan coat does. They have a deep reddish-brown coat, and amber-colored eyes and are extremely eye-catching. They are mostly solid-colored but they also come in liver and white and liver and tan colors. Blue Blue-colored German Shepherds are extremely beautiful dogs, and with their golden-brown to amber-colored eyes, they look almost magical. The blue or grey of their coats comes from a recessive dilution gene, but they are not predisposed to any health problems any more than the prevalent black and tan variety. Their pigment is the result of the recessive combination of blue and liver that comes from their parents. Isabella GSDs have a dilute coat color, and the liver gene blocks all of the black pigment that the parents pass on to their offspring. Isabellas will typically have light blue or hazel eyes. They both are double coats, having a denser guard layer over a softer undercoat. Medium coat dogs: The medium-coat German Shepherds have a shorter undercoat and a longer topcoat that is stiffer than the long coats. This type of GSD sheds year-round, but they typically do not shed heavily. Long coat dogs: The long-coat shep has a dense undercoat that is shed once or twice per year in addition to their topcoat being lost around this same time. These dogs have more difficulties tolerating hot or humid climates because they will overheat quickly if their topcoat is too thick. As part of their genes, they shed and blow this part of their coat. It will really mess up this process if you shave them. You can see the longcoats we currently have available for sale here. Often, black and tans are seen in working lines and black and reds are seen in Showline. The club adds that strong, rich colors are going to be favored, and washed out off-colors, blues, livers and pale coats are serious faults. White dogs are disqualified. They point out that German Shepherd dogs come in many colors, including white. Regis Regal German Shepherds: Beautiful on the Inside and Out While color is interesting and desired by many, bear in mind that German Shepherd dogs are working dogs that are mainly bred for a specific purpose. At Regis Regal, we breed, raise, and train German Shepherds that are not only beautiful on the outside but also have a good temperament and intelligence that makes them anything from a great family pet , to a therapy dog to service dogs for veterans and more. Our GSDs are gentle and kind, highly intelligent and have been immaculately educated. If you are in the Chicago area and would like to find out more about our world-class German Shepherd puppies , adults, therapy dogs, estate dogs and service dogs, please contact us at .The utmost care will be taken with them during the journey by the courier. I've been breeding German Shepherds of sound body and mind for over 30 years and specialize in providing families with loving companion dogs, and dogs for emotional support therapy, for veterans suffering PTSD, and for other special needs. I'm trying to share my extensive knowledge on breeding and training the perfect German Shepherd with the wider community. We offer lifetime guarantees on health and temperament. Our bloodlines started out of the top 2 bloodlines in the world, Vom Arlett and Bad-Boll. As I continue this blog I will help you learn how to assure you are picking a healthy and happy pup for your next family companion. Recent Posts. Acceptable and desirable German Shepherd colors are black and tan and all shades of black and tan except any dilution. The black is a result of eumelanin which is a black-to-brown pigment produced by melanin. The black blanket in German Shepherd Dogs varies in its degree of extension throughout the body. On the other hand, the tan markings or colors in German Shepherds are actually produced by the pigment pheomelanin which is golden yellow to reddish-brown pigment produced by melanocytes. The black mask which again varies in the degree of coverage or extension throughout the face and front head region is highly important and is one of the most important desirable features in a good breed and well-pigmented GSD. The depth and the patterns of German Shepherd colors have been categorized into 4 distinctive categories, in the order from highest to lowest dominance, viz. The final color of a young dog can only be ascertained when the outer coat has developed. Quite unfortunately, the variations in the range of GSD colors and patterns have not yet been listed separately by any club or organization. When it comes to GSD colors, desirable is that the breed must have rich, strong colors. Diluted colors in German Shepherds are not desirable. Amongst the solid colors in German Shepherds, i. Solid Black and solid White, both are pure breeds. It is to be remembered that the black gene is also recessive to all German Shepherd colors. Sable German Shepherds Varieties of Sable German Shepherds German Shepherd has an original wolf color, with a pale ground color, covered by the mantle of a hard black-tipped guard coat. In a sable German Shepherd, this ground color is usually tan, having a heavy overlay that seems to be black when viewed from distance. Malcom B Willis Dr. Willis — a senior lecturer in Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne had discussed the existence of two alleles for sable that are grey and yellow. It is to be remembered that similar variations in German Shepherd colors can also be found in Black Tan dogs. A Sable German Shepherd can be identified quite easily. Sable German Shepherds also known as agouti or wolf gray, in various colors of comparatively paler shades usually have multi-colored individual hairs throughout the body. The Agouti gene actually determines if the coat color of the German Shepherd is banded agouti coat color or solid non-agouti coat color. Studies on mice have shown that the Agouti gene gives the mice pale coats accompanied with having a tendency towards obesity, which may or may not hold good for dogs. Sable German Shepherds may also be masked by dark or black guard hairs. In a sable German Shepherd Dog, the sable color is dominant over all the other German Shepherd colors and patterns. The variation of shades in sable German Shepherds can be categorized into Rich saddle sable, black sable, and faded sable. Sable may not improve the pigmentation in breeding just because the subjects are sable German Shepherds. In a Sable German Shepherd Dog, possibilities are there that the sable can be as poorly pigmented as other patterns. If a sable German Shepherd is comparatively more melanistic darker than an average Blach and Tan GSD, it will appear equally dark, which in turn brings forth relatively better pigmentation to breeding than a less melanistic subject, because the dog is genetically more melanistic darker. Sable German Shepherds are known for their multi-colored individual hairs, though they may have good dark masks or black guard coats as well. The color different blends of colors in the individual hairs consequently lead to a range of shades of colors and patterns that may largely vary from sable German Shepherd to sable German Shepherd. The Sable German Shepherd Dogs appear in many shades ranging from silver, gray, gold, or mahogany colors. Most often sable German Shepherds have the dark mask, although at times masks tend to to be fade or sometimes almost absent. Agouti or Sable German Shepherds usually undergo many stages of coat color development — towards both the lighter side as well as the darker side, until they become fully matured i. Sable German Shepherds are born all tan. The typical black tipping starts showing up as they reach a few weeks of age, followed by a continual process of change — either lightning or darkening until the puppy reaches an age of around three years. Sable German Shepherd puppies hence undergo a dramatic change of coat colors during their growth process. Most of the time the Sable German Shepherd puppy ends up with either a darker or lighter shade. The saddle is a pattern typical to the German Shepherd breed and is characterized by the typical appearance of black blankets made up of guard hairs over the back. The Black and Tan GSD also exhibit exceptional tan grounds, but usually have black saddles or blankets. It is desirable that the black mantle should cover the neck nape, shoulders, almost the entire back up to the region of croup and tail, and sides up to the region of belly. With saddle back any GSD coat color shade is acceptable, but its rich markings have always been preferred in the GSD breed. Washed-out shades — that means pale colors for instance blue and liver are serious faults and are barred out from the rings in GSD breed shows. The poor saddle is not desirable in this breed. Deep dark nails are the indication of general mantle pigmentation. It is to be noted that dogs without rich saddle backs usually have pale, fleshy colored nails, although it is acceptable to have less amount of saddle coverage, but must not be poor in the depth of color. Saddle German Shepherds can come in a wide variety of coat colors and patterns that may range from a very little amount of black to almost extreme black, which may apparently look like a solid black GSD. Some German Shepherd Dogs exhibit few markings with a lot of dark colors in the back and side, for instance, the bi-color saddle back German Shepherds have a lot of dark blankets with less amount tan. In such cases, it is usually considered blankets instead of a saddle, although they are actually Saddle back dogs. On the other level, many GSDs display traditional saddleback colors with more tan or red, or silver and less of saddle parts. A saddleback black and tan or black and red German Shepherd puppy is almost totally black and as they reach adulthood they develop the original saddle-back pattern. As they grow up the lighter ground color tends to spread throughout the entire body, including the legs, chest area, abdomen, and around the face and ears, only leaving the back as a saddle or blanket. It is to be noted that the saddleback marking can get considerably faded as the puppy grows. Black and Tan German Shepherds Varieties of Black and Tan German Shepherds The black and tan German Shepherds also show a rich tan marking but have black saddles or blankets which are black varying in intensity. It is noticed quite often that the tan or grey markings show at the region of the neck and down the tail. At the same time, if this is noticed over the croup or along the sides of the dog or if the tail does not end up with a black tip, it is an indication of pale color in German Shepherd Dogs. This is very common in German Shepherd females and is sometimes found even in darker females too. This pattern is found, although not too frequently, in faded male German Shepherd Dogs. At times the black and tan German Shepherds tend to be so faded in pigmentation that judges usually consider them faulty. Very dark black and tan German Shepherds are often confused with bi-color and may come up with nearly solid black heads, necks, and bodies. Melanistic black and tan German Shepherds look quite similar to bi-color ones. They usually show a few tan markings around the base of the ears and have very few or no black hairs down the region of pasterns, and on the toes and hock portions. The black and tan German Shepherd puppies are born all black. Bi-color German Shepherds are typically black dogs with tan points very similar to Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers. The tan markings in a bi-color German Shepherd Dog are actually very less, and sometimes for melanistic bi-color Shepherds, the mask is strong black, accompanied by a wider extension of the black with a black undercoat and with only very little amount of tan markings on the feet. It is due to this heavily wider extension of very strong black that the melanistic bi-color German Shepherds appear to be almost solid black at times. However, bi-color GSD usually exhibits a good amount of tan around the vent and feet, but quite a lot of evidence is there to prove that strongly melanistic bi-color German Shepherd Dogs have only very little tan — just enough tan marks to say that it is actually a bi-color GSD and not a solid black dog. A paler version of a bi-color German Shepherd Dog, on the other hand, looks much like a black sable, exhibiting a wider extension of black over a ground of light grey undercoat. The pale bi-color German Shepherds usually exhibit tan or gray along the lines of the harness, as well as over the nape of the neck, and black markings on the legs and feet. These pale bi-color German Shepherd Dogs have the gene that governs the fading of the black mantle and still can appear quite dark. In bi-color Shepherds, the color intensity can vary to a great extent exhibiting a wide range of tan and black shades and can be categorized into three broad categories viz. The tan points of lighter markings are often seen in the bi-color German Shepherds that are categorized as faded bi-color German Shepherd Dogs, which however, genetically exist in almost all patterns in GSD. In the case of the brindle pattern in GSD, the bi-color shepherds could have shown dark stripes —just like brindle boxers — over the tan ground. Seemingly black color German Shepherds are really very striking, perfectly solid black GSDs are seldom seen. Most back German Shepherds have a little bit of tan around their toes and beneath the tail. In some cases, the solid black German Shepherds also exhibit gray undercoats over the areas like shoulders and neck. Experienced breeders like Maur Ray kennels the s , an American show line GSD kennel specializing in blacks documented that black GSD bred of blacks only for many generations would show fewer and fewer light hairs until they were absolutely pure black, born without any tan. There are different schools of thought in regard to pigmentation in the German Shepherd Dog breed, alike any other breed. Some of the contemporary well-versed GSD breeders do not recommend breeding blacks to blacks in order to improve the richness of black pigments unless the pedigree of the dogs consists of a history of dark dogs of other patterns. Quite a lot of instances are there to prove that pale Black and Tan German Shepherds can also throw solid black puppies, and these puppies, on maturity, may produce pale Black and Tan puppies. In the solid black German Shepherds, the specific gene controls the formation of black pigment in the GSD — not the hair color. In the German Shepherd Dogs, alike any other canine breed, the dominance orders of coat colors is as follows: Black pigment including the leather color of the nose, the rims of the eyes and pads; Carrier for liver color; Liver color — brown black colors, brown or faded black nose, non-black rims of the eyes and pads. The recessive gene that governs the coat color in GSD, alike other dog breeds — be it black or non-black coat color can be carried for several generations before the right coloration is achieved. There is no difference in temperament, behaviors, and working ability between a solid black German Shepherd and that of any other coat color. Owing to its unparalleled beauty, many people have seriously devoted themselves to breeding All Black German Shepherd Dogs staying focused chiefly on coloration. May backyard all-black GSD breeders have ended up with mediocre quality dogs, while really serious breeders have earned a great deal of repute as Black GSD breeders. White German Shepherds White German Shepherds Spanning back to the history of the German shepherd Dog breed, documentation has shown that the white recessive gene had been an integral part of the breed since its very inception of the making of the breed. Contrary to the myth, the White German Shepherd Dogs are NOT albino, as long as they have normal dark body pigment that can be assured by the jet black color of the nose leather, eye rims, nails, paw pads, and leaps. To stand against the myth again, the correctly bred white German Shepherd Dogs are anatomically, behaviorally, and medically not different than German Shepherd Dogs of any other colors and patterns. It was due to the lack of adequate knowledge of genetics that the White GSD had been considered disqualification, following the myth that they were albino. Sometimes in the past, the gene for albinism had been the only known white gene, which consequently made dog lovers show the wrong attitude towards the white GSD. Studies have shown that there can several variations of White GSD. For the German Shepherd puppies to be white it is essential that both the dam and sire have to carry the white recessive genes, although it is not necessary that the parents have to be white. To put this in a simpler way, the non-white German shepherd dam and sire can be capable to produce white German Shepherd puppies, if they are the carriers of a white recessive gene. Since this particular gene is recessive it can skip off generations — not showing up for several generations. The White Recessive gene — irrespective of the breed is a gene that is entirely different from the genes that are responsible for albino and white spots in non-white dogs. It is worth enough to mention that on very rare occasions white spotting can be found even in German Shepherd Dogs, due to Irish White Spotting Gene resulting in puppies with a white muzzle, which is considered as the deviation from the standard and hence considered at fault. White German Shepherds are not at fault anyway. Reasons for decreasing popularity of White German Shepherds It is due to the myth that most people are not intended to buy white German Shepherd puppies. As a matter of fact, White German Shepherd puppies can descend from two pure-breed GSDs carrying a white recessive gene. Unfortunately, the White Recessive gene has been kept untouched due to the lack of knowledge about the white gene. It is due to ignorance that the white German Shepherd puppies used to be considered at fault. Also partly owing to the political wrinkles the white recessive gene had been overlooked and neglected. White coat color in the German Shepherd Dog breed was disqualified in the breed standard of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany in the year , when the club went under the control of the Nazi party of Germany that took over almost the entire German society in February when Hitler declared a state of emergency. Brindle German Shepherds Brindle German Shepherd Acceptable colors in the shepherd coat are in fact a wide range of variations of black and tan. The color Black is due to the presence of the eumelanin pigment and varies in its degree of extension over the body. The Tan, on the other hand, is due to the result of phaeomelanin pigment and varies in richness or depth of color. The richness may vary in the degree of depth of the color and may range from Golden to deep Mahogany marks. Read more: Brindle German Shepherd: A Complete Breed Guide As a matter of fact, the genes and alleles controlling the coat colors and patterns in the German Shepherd Dog breed or any other canine breed have not been clearly understood yet, which is why it seems that much of this subject is still in the dark, although breeders, researchers, and genetic scientists have explained a good deal stuff in this regard. Here are the explanations of the Blue and Liver genes in German Shepherds. This means, for a dog to exhibit blue coat color, both of his parents have to carry this color gene. The blue German Shepherd puppies at birth will be blue and will not turn out to be the regular black that we usually find in German Shepherds. On maturity, this blue will change to grey or silver coat color or maybe any shade in between. This will give the impression that this color has diluted the black coloration… and this is a fact. The blue gene is a dilute gene, which dilutes the entire black pigment, which consequently results in a grey-dusted look, which is grayish nose leather. A blue German Shepherd Dog will have light eye color that is usually blue during puppyhood. With maturity, the eye color generally turns yellow or faded brown. The blue gene causes the black pigmentation in the skin and coat to turn into steel grey, often very dark. The tan ground on the other hand remains much the same or may cause a slight silver tone. The Liver gene, being a dilute gene, dilutes all black pigments just like the Blue gene, which results in brown nose leather color, brown coat color, and faded brown eyes pigments that may come in a wide range of color shades. The liver gene, alike the Blue, causes the black pigmentation in the skin and coat to turn brown. The liver gene in GSD produces a wide range of liver shades starting from faded liver brown to dark chocolate brown. Blue, Liver, and Silver are indications of diluted or paling pigmentation, which is not desirable. It is important to identify if the dog is the carrier of the diluted color gene, which is easily identified in the case of a dog with a faded mantle and paling. In the dogs with strong dark mantle and dark masks, having the ground with silver coat color may probably carry the gene for partial albinism, which is not again desirable. Pink toenails indicate the presence of an undesirable white spotting gene. Toenails with fleshy and dusky look may come out with the poor saddle and gives an indication of poor pigmentation and is hence undesirable. Dark black nails indicate good mantle pigmentation. According to variations in shades and patterns, there can be different versions of diluted genes — Blue and Liver. This difference in patterns can be categorized into four distinctive types. Read more: Liver German Shepherd: Gorgeous and Companionable Dog Note: The colors of the eyes and toenails are not related to the coat color and patterns. In very melanistic dogs even the skin under of black coat region will be ice blue-white and the part under the tan marking is usually pinkish-white. Almost all regions of the skin should be black in melanistic dogs except for the vent and ear flaps. A very melanistic GSD comes with gums partially brownish black and a black spot in the tongue are quite commonly found. Nails have to be jet black. She especially enjoys combining her lifelong love of dogs with her passion for writing. Read more about her. Black and Tan This is the color most of us think of when we picture a German Shepherd dog. With a rich tan undercarriage and a black face and back, this color of GSD has been around since the very first was officially registered back in Germany at the end of the 19th century. Although Horand von Grafrath was a little darker than the modern black and tan GSD, the ancestry is evident. With their luxurious white coats, these pale dogs look more like Golden Retrievers with erect ears. Despite their popularity, like the white German Shepherd, the blue has been a cause of controversion in the Shepherd world because recessive dilution gene comes with inbreeding practices and health issues. Blue German Shepherds may appear gray or even silver and are sometimes mistaken for a Blue Belgian Malinois. Isabella This unusual coat color variation is another washout as far the AKC is concerned, which is a shame given how striking it is. It originates from genetically combining liver and blue dilution genes. Like the liver and blue German Shepherd dogs, Isabella GSDs often have unusual eye coloring and different colored noses. Liver German Shepherds will usually have a brown nose. Blue German Shepherds have a blue nose. There is no evidence that the Isabella coloration makes the dog more susceptible to health issues. However, Isabella is a recessive trait. Selecting for recessive traits always limits the gene pool and makes dogs more susceptible to genetic conditions. Grey Not to be confused with the silver, black, or blue German Shepherds, the gray variety look more wolf-like with their dark coats. Some breeders specialize in producing dogs of this unusual color. Silver Similar to the gray German Shepherd, silver is nevertheless recognized as a distinct color. Often grouped together, however, the gray and silver colors are produced by the same genes. Finding a breeder that specializes in silver German Shepherds is a lot easier than finding one that focuses on the grey, so this might be your best bet if you want a more exotic-looking companion. Silver is an uncommon color for GSDs, possibly because it is a recessive gene. Similar to the dilution gene, this gene influences black pigment. While you also get silver sable German Shepherds, the patterned coats mean they are categorized as sable rather than silver. However, silver German Shepherds are often seen in military work or the police force. The red color is the result of the color gene pheomelanin. It can have any shade of red, ranging from strawberry blonde to a deep mahogany red. Alongside black and tan, the black and red combination is preferred over others by German Shepherd breeders. As black and red are both produced by dominant genes, this color combination is easier to breed for, and many breeders focus on producing purebred dogs with deep red coloring. Sable A classic color for the German Shepherd, a sable comes in a variety of colors but each hair sports a black tip. Sable GSDs can be black, gray, red, silver, or tan and are also known as agouti. Agouti is a type of coloring also present in other dogs, like the Agouti Husky. In this coloring each hair has several bands of brown and black, leading to a typical wolf-like coloration. Some founding members of the German Shepherd breed believed this should be the only color present in German Shepherds. Black sables are born as all-black pups and tri-colored sables are born as black and tan puppies. As the puppy ages, their coloring changes. Some GSDs may take as long as three years to develop their final sable coloration. As every sable GSD is different, with the color and pattern both varying, it makes for an eye-catching and unique dog. Sable is a dominant color that is easy to breed for. If you breed a Sable German Shepherd to any other color, you will likely get sable puppies. Black and Silver Much like the black and tan GSD, a black and silver German Shepherd usually has a silver saddle across its back, although the pattern and hue both vary from dog to dog. Like the silver GSD, the black and silver coloration occurs only when the recessive intensity suppression gene is present. This color is not common in the AKC show ring and can mostly be found in working dog lines. Because these dogs are not visible in the dark, it is highly advisable to only walk them on a light-up dog collar in the evenings and at night. Bicolor Bicolor German Shepherds appear almost completely black and, to fit the breed standard, must have black heads, back, legs and tail. Even if their paws are brown, the heels need to be black by the color standard definition. However, the AKC accepts bicolor as a recessive color in the breed. Though technically allowed in the show ring, these dogs are mostly found in working lines. Black and Cream The last official color on our list, the black and cream GSD remains true to its origins as a lighter version of the common red and tan coloring. There is some controversy surrounding the black and cream variation. Most AKC breeders do not want them to participate in the show ring. They strive to breed darker dogs that do not show the light cream coloring. The color does little to change their character, however, and black and cream GSDs excel obedience, nosework, rally and agility and are as loyal and brave as their black and tan cousins. Her DNA proved them wrong, although the Panda coloration remains unrecognized by some kennel clubs and breeders. The Panda GDS is created by a rare genetic mutation. The genes responsible for an all-white body and the patchy white are two different ones. This does not stop them from being popular however! There is a large demand for Panda-colored German Shepherds. Unfortunately, this inflates the price and leads breeders to focus on the color mutation rather than genetic health, so be sure to only source a puppy from a reputable breeder. Albino An albino German Shepherd is incredibly rare. An albino of any species or breed lacks any pigmentation, including of the skin, hair, and eyes as well as the blood vessels, resulting in a pinkish tinge. You can distinguish an albino German Shepherd from a white one by checking his eyes and nose. A White GDS will have some pigmentation resulting in brown eyes, whereas albinos always have red or pink eyes. An Albino GSD, should one exist, may experience other health problems associated with the condition. They may, for example, be photosensitive, requiring protection from direct sunlight. What is the Rarest Color of the German Shepherd? The rarest color of German Shepherd is the isabella due to the recessive combination of liver and blue. You will have to search for a long time to get such a puppy — and his price will likely be high as well! What is the Best Color for a German Shepherd? The best color for a German Shepherd in the show ring is black and tan, followed by sable. If you are not planning on showing your dog through the AKC, you can pick any color you like. This is not based on any actual working abilities though and more of a myth that has been passed on through generations. What is the Original Color of a German Shepherd? As German Shepherd dogs were bred as working dogs, the original breeders focused on temperature rather than appearance. The original color of working German Shepherds was sable. The most traditional color in the show ring is black and tan. While you should pick the coloring you like the most, make sure to not just choose your dog based on his looks. German Shepherds are prone to developing back and hip issues. Before buying a puppy for his color, make sure that his breeder selects for health first and color second! Otherwise you might end up with a puppy with great color but poor health … which is never a good thing. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.