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English Bulldog puppy crawls with a plain background. Some breeders offer discounts if you get in line for their next litter. Aside from being in demand and somewhat rare, British Bulldogs have special medical needs during pregnancy and delivery. Since English Bulldogs have such unique body shapes, a whelping Bulldog needs assistance to remove the large puppies using a cesarean section. This extra and often exorbitant cost figures into the price of the puppies. English Bulldog puppies arrive in this world with pudgy bodies, large heads, and a wider stance. This physicality makes it difficult for the mother to bring them through the birth canal without medical intervention. Rescue British Bulldogs Although British Bulldog puppies seldom have difficulty finding a home, mature British Bulldogs end up in shelters. These fees often pay for administrative and handling costs and medical expenses. It also helps fund these rescue centers. If anyone offers you a free English Bulldog puppy, ask to see the paperwork and medical record. Unscrupulous thieves exist. They might want to shift their merchandise, so proceed with caution. Reputable English Bulldog Puppies English Bulldog puppies from good homes with papers cost a good sum. The cost is reflective of the quality of the lineage and demand. It might cost less if a puppy has a minor condition like a hernia or poor coloring. Certain breeders with outstanding reputations and champion dogs will also charge more. Again, if someone offers you bargain Bulldog puppies, proceed with caution. One of the main reasons English Bulldog pups cost more is that there are fewer of them. As we said earlier, medical costs for birthing raise the price. However, a British Bulldog should only ever be bred three times. Each time the mother undergoes a C-section puts her at risk. A pregnant Bulldog also, on average, gives birth to smaller litters. While a Rottweiler, for example, might birth 10 to 12 pups, a Bulldog only delivers three to four. The largest known litter, according to the news , is .Breeders also select the right parents to breed. They consider the bloodline and look for healthy genetics to produce a healthy litter with champion-like traits. Therefore, the papers documenting the lineage influence the price. Also, many Bulldog breeds use artificial insemination to produce offspring. This method adds to the cost of the puppies. Female puppies also cost more than males. While stud fees of British Bulldogs earn an excellent price, females warrant a higher cost for their breeding purposes. Finally, people want puppies over older, mature dogs. English Bulldog puppy sits on a blue chair. Providing the best care becomes your responsibility as soon as you bring your puppy home. Ensure any items are adequately disinfected to prevent your puppy from inheriting an unwanted disease like parvo. Depending on where you live, you may also require a dog license. Your monthly expenses include food and replacements as the puppy grows, like a collar or bedding. Dog bed should be washed at least once a week. If your dog gets ill, that cost can rise drastically. Some people have good luck with pet health insurance, but there is a monthly cost. Healthcare Costs for English Bulldogs Bulldogs are prone to certain health conditions. Choosing a pup from a good breeder helps to prevent unforeseen costs. English Bulldog sleeping with its tongue out on a white couch. Bulldogs are prone to breathing difficulties , skin issues, and ear and eye disorders. Common problems: Skin fold dermatitis, wet dermatitis, infections Cherry Eye , dry eye, inward eyelids Obstructive Airway Syndrome Mange Dental issues All dogs also need a full dose of recommended vaccines which is especially important for puppies. Proactive pet insurance is a great option. Most spayed and neutered dogs live longer and have fewer health issues. In female dogs , spaying reduces uterine, ovarian, and breast cancer. In males, it helps prevent prostate cancer. English Bulldogs are usually neutered or spayed later, at around eight months, when they mature. But discuss this with your vet. That means they might suffer from allergies or become overweight. The owner pouring dog food in a bowl. Providing your English Bulldog with a quality brand of dog food or raw food diet helps reduce medical expenses and ensure your dog is healthy. Of course, there are gourmet brands that are even more expensive. Raw food diets can be more affordable if you can access quality meat products and make your own food. An adult active English Bulldog requires about calories. A 25lb 11kg Bulldog puppy should consume roughly calories, the same amount per pound as an adult twice its size. Skincare Bulldogs are prone to skin conditions , so proactive body care and bathing are crucial. Bathe or wash the folds of your Bulldog frequently. Bulldogs also have difficulty with self-grooming. Unscented baby wipes work well to clean inside the folds and eliminate bacteria. When grooming your English Bulldog, always pay special attention to its eyes, ears, between folds, and toes. Entertainment and Exercise Bulldogs are low-keyed when it comes to exercise. A routine walk of 20 to 30 minutes is typically enough. An English Bulldog enjoys regular walking outdoors and it is good for their health Provide your dog with interactive toys, chews, and other fun toys. Bulldogs benefit from chew toys that help clean their teeth. English Bulldogs are fantastic pets for families. Expect to have monthly costs. You can save money by making high-quality protein food at home. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. Despite their ancestry, English Bulldogs are not ferocious anymore but laid back and affectionate. Bulldogs are one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world. They are medium-sized dogs with low-hanging, thick bodies. They are perfect for inexperienced owners due to their relaxed personality, moderate exercise needs, and easy grooming. Of course, there are some negatives to owning English Bulldogs, like health problems caused by their flat muzzle and their unusual body shape. This is the English Bulldog price range for a puppy from a small-scale but reputable breeder. Gasping at these numbers is an appropriate reaction, but there are multiple reasons why Bulldog puppies are so expensive. We will cover the high costs of breeding later, but the price of English Bulldogs also depends on market laws — the popularity of the breed drives the price up. Four British Bulldog puppies on a run While the adorable Bulldog is low-maintenance in terms of grooming and exercise, various health problems can make them expensive to care for. You should also avoid buying puppies from pet shops since they usually come from puppy mills. Buying a puppy directly from a reputable breeder is the best way to go. Ethical breeders provide health screenings for their puppies and answer all your questions regarding their parents, breeding, and living conditions. Bulldogs from reputable breeders cost more due to high breeding expenses. Other breeding costs include genetic testing, vet bills, and preparation expenses. On the other hand, when you adopt from a Bulldog rescue, the dog is usually spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations. Age: Caring for a newborn Bulldogs takes time, money, and energy. Older puppies or adolescent Bulldogs will cost less than newborns. Gender: The price for female English Bulldogs might be slightly higher in some cases, but the difference is usually negligible. Coat Color: Coat color can seriously affect the price of the dog because some colors and patterns are pretty rare. Standard coat colors include white, fawn, red, brindle, and their combinations. Bulldogs with these colors and patterns fall within the average range price. Meanwhile, rarer colors and patterns are more expensive. The newest colors, like merle or lilac, are even more costly. These numbers are based on the essentials like supplies, food, grooming costs, medical expenses, training costs, with microchip and license included. Replacement costs of these types of goodies will range based on how quickly your Bulldog destroys their current supply. You can also order subscription packs from many reputable companies that give your dog new exploratory items every month. Since these dogs are at risk for many health complications, save as much as you can—erring on the side of caution. The best time for obedience lessons is between 6 months to a year, but every trainer varies in preference. Depending on the treatment, you could spend thousands of dollars in one swoop. Pet sitting is more personalized care but can rack up extra fees. If you want to save as much as possible while still giving your Bulldog the care they need, look at these money-saving tips. They mainly offer spay and neuter surgeries at reduced costs, but they can also provide basic care. You can make anything from dog toys to intricate beds. Many things you can make may not even require going to the store for materials—you can simply make them from existing items at home. Auto-Ship Dog Food If you buy your dog food from certain websites, many companies offer discounted prices if you place an automatic, recurring order. Of course, you can always save on English Bulldog costs by using low-cost services and making tons of at-home projects and toys for your pooch. The English Bulldog price tag is really just the beginning of the overall cost when you bring one of these wrinkly pups into your family. English Bulldogs are one of the most expensive dog breeds out there, undoubtedly due to their popularity. This can be higher from the most reputable breeders. There are all kinds of different ways to encounter English Bulldog puppies or adults! You should weigh the pros and cons of each purchasing option to decide which is best for you and your family. Each of the routes to acquire an English Bulldog come with different price ranges as well as other pros and cons that should be considered. Not all breeders are made equal though. If you buy a pup from a careless breeder, your puppy could suffer from health problems. This can be very costly down the road. To ensure your breeder is looking after the best interests of his or her stock, request that they provide health clearances for their puppies. This will help you ensure that the breeder treats their dogs well, and takes care to breed healthy stock. Dogs purchased from breeders tend to be on the more costly end of the price scale. If the price is lower than that, beware, it could be a sign of a careless breeder. This is especially important with English Bulldogs, as they are prone to numerous health issues. Adopting a dog is also a wonderful way to give an adult dog a new lease on life! This price certainly seems like a bargain compared to that of a puppy from a breeder! Additionally, dog rescue organizations usually ensure that their adoptable dogs are up to date on vaccinations and spayed or neutered. With this in mind, adoption fees are a bargain! This may seem daunting, but rescues typically do try their best to get to know their dogs and place them with appropriate families. English Bulldog Cost of Ownership Despite being some of the most easy-going pups, bulldog breeds tend to have a higher cost of ownership than others. This inflated cost is largely due to the health problems that are commonly found in this breed. Many of the health issues that English Bulldogs experience are not life-threatening, but accommodating them can still cost a lot. English Bulldogs have a condition called Brachycephaly, which means they have a flat muzzle and an underbite. While their smushed faces are what endear them to many admirers of the breed, they do create health complications which can drastically affect English Bulldog price. Some bullies will suffer from Brachycephalic Syndrome which can result in difficulty breathing or even collapsed airways. The shape of their snout also means that these roly-poly puppies are highly susceptible to overheating in hot weather. English Bulldogs are also prone to obesity, which can cause joint problems such as Hip Dysplasia and Patellar Luxation. Also, because your Bulldog has a lot of teeth in a small jaw, he is more likely to have dental problems. As you can see, many potential health issues can crop up with this breed. Some may require ongoing medication, or veterinary visits, which result in ongoing expenses for you. Because this breed is prone to so many health issues, purchasing pet insurance may be in your best interest. You should also budget for things like: Dog walking or doggy daycare Food. Less - The English Bulldog is a wide, medium-sized, compact dog with short legs. The body and head are massive with extra skin on both the skull and forehead falling in folds. The cheeks extend to the sides of the eyes. The muzzle is wide, short and pug with a broad, deep stop. The black nose is broad with large nostrils. The dark eyes are deep set. The rose ears are small, thin and set high on the head. The jaws are massive, very broad, and square with hanging upper lips. The teeth should have an under bite. The tail is either straight or screwed and carried low. The short, flat coat is straight, smooth and glossy. Coat colors include red brindle and other shades of brindle, solid white, solid red, fawn, fallow, piebald, pale yellow or washed-out red or white or a combination of these colors. Despite its "sourmug," the bulldog is jovial, comical and amiable, among the most docile and mellow of dogs. It is willing to please, although it retains a stubborn streak. It is very good with children. Most are moderately friendly toward strangers. Although some can be aggressive with strange dogs, the breed is quite good with other pets. These dogs were bred for sheer fighting capacity, and they were famed for latching onto their prey with an iron jaw which they refused to release—they could even suffocate opponents this way. English Bulldogs are simultaneously a symbol of British tenacity and an immensely popular American pet.

Breeds The link has been copied! The German Shepherd has long been prized for its working ability. Police, military, search-and-rescue teams, and families alike have loved and used this intelligent and obedient dog for a variety of tasks. And the Border Collie is known as the smartest dog breed in the world. What happens when you put these two dogs together? Shollie Shepherd x Border Collie Main Characteristics As a cross between two intelligent working dogs, you can expect the Shollie to be a smart, energetic pup. These dogs are great for active families where they have space to run and receive adequate exercise each day. Their size can vary since German Shepherds tend to be larger than Border Collies. However, Shollies usually stand between 20 and 24 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 70 and 90 pounds. Both parent breeds come in a few different colors and Shollies can have quite a variety of color patterns. However, one thing is for sure. They will have a thick double coat that sheds twice a year — six months in the Spring and six months in the Fall. History of the Shollie The idea that crossbred dogs are inferior to purebred dogs has been waning in recent years. In fact, the popularity of designer dog breeds, the hybrid cross of two purebred dog breeds, has been spiking rapidly. One of the most well-known designer dog breeds is the Labradoodle. This Labrador Retriever Poodle mix set off the whole Doodle dog craze of crossing all sorts of dog breeds with Poodles to create more hypoallergenic versions of dogs. That and the fact that the crosses end up looking somewhat like adorable teddy bears have made these crossbred dogs extremely popular. It is unclear who decided that crossing a Border Collie with a German Shepherd would be a good idea or why. But the resulting hybrid has been making a splash in the dog community. What Does a Shollie Look Like? Border Collies are usually black and white and German Shepherds can come in a wide variety of colors though they are commonly black and brown. The Shollie can have black, brown, fawn, sable, or white hair and are almost always a mix of at least two colors. Many have an intriguing mottled pattern. Their bodies tend to be lean and athletic and they are fairly large dogs. Despite their size, they are gentle and loving and tend to be good with kids. Most Shollies have brown eyes, though they can also be hazel, blue, or amber. They usually have black noses with long muzzles. Exercise Needs Both parent breeds were bred as working dogs and needed energy and stamina for this purpose. This makes the Shollie an active dog that requires at least one hour of vigorous exercise per day. They will love having a large yard where they can run freely. If this is not available, access to an off-leash dog park would be ideal. As intelligent dogs, they love exploring new areas. They will adore accompanying you and your family on hiking adventures or participating in agility classes or other canine sports. Border Collies top the charts of Obedience and Working Intelligence. This measure looks at both how many repetitions the dog requires to learn a technique as well as how likely they are to obey a known technique. The higher their score, obviously the more trainable they are. German Shepherds are well known for their trainability. Though there is always some unpredictability with crossbred dogs, you can bet a child of these two breeds will be easy to train. Since both parent breeds are super intelligent with an eager-to-please attitude, the resulting hybrid ends up the same. But owning an intelligent dog comes with a responsibility. They need a job to do or some other form of mental stimulation. Otherwise, they will find something to entertain themselves in their boredom — which may spell disaster for your furniture! Luckily, they enjoy mental stimulation in various forms. Learning new tricks, participating in agility or canine sports, puzzle toys , playing with your kids, and even exploring areas of your large backyard count. If you have to leave them alone for a long period of time, leave them with a puzzle game or toy. This will help give them something to do and keep their mischievous streak at bay until your return. All in all, the Shollie is a fantastic dog when it comes to training and obedience. Are Shollies Independent? Some dogs are content to sit at home awaiting your return from a long day at work. The Shollie is not one of them. They are loving, sociable animals who will give you their whole heart. In exchange, they expect a certain amount of love and affection. It only makes sense, right? If you live alone and work outside the home all day, a Shollie may not be a good choice for your companion. They can become anxious or depressed and this will often come out as bad behavior like digging or chewing up shoes. On the flip side, Shollies are wonderful for families. They love playing with little children and will adore living in a household where there is almost always someone around to offer them an ear scratch. After a long day working or playing, they love nothing more than to cuddle with you on the couch or at least curl up at your feet while you relax in the evenings. They can get a little protective of their families especially their little people. If they feel threatened at all, they may display territorial behavior — even if that means protecting their little charges from Grandma! German Shepherd Surprisingly, there is one man and one dog to thank for the development of the German Shepherd breed. Max Emil Freidrich von Stephanitz dreamed of becoming a gentleman farmer. However, he was pressured by his affluent family into joining the military instead. During his time as a cavalry officer in the German countryside in the midth century, the incredible sheep herding dogs caught his eye. He was impressed by their intelligence and responsiveness and distressed by their dwindling numbers. As modernity approached, the need for sheepherding dogs was waning, but Von Stephanitz decided to do something about it. Thus, he bought a large estate near Grafath in Bavaria and set out to find the right dogs to create his formal breed. The right dog turned out to be one dog that he bought at a dog show in April of .The four-year-old dog, Hektor Linksrhein, had a wolf-like appearance and demonstrated superior intelligence and depth of character. Von Stephanitz renamed the dog Horand von Grafrath and used him to sire innumerable pups. Virtually every German Shepherd living today can be traced back to this dog. And von Stephanitz did things right. He bred carefully, looking to cultivate both beauty and brains in a time when they were mostly concerned with brains. His quest ultimately created a dog that is handsome, intelligent, obedient, and loyal. Not to mention both loving and easy to love. This medium-sized dog is descended from the old Roman sheepherding dogs and the Spitz-type herders of the Vikings. They routinely performed well in informal competitions among sheepherders back in the s. Eventually, official sheepdog competitions started running in the late s and early s. Border Collies have consistently dominated these competitions over the years. These dogs are energetic and capable of holding their own for over 50 miles in a day. Their rough, shaggy coats protected them from the elements when they spent days on end outdoors with their charges. Even the white markings on their coats serve the purpose of making it easier to spot them in the dark. As they grew in popularity, they began being exported from Great Britain all over the world to people who were looking for good working dogs. But in America, they caught the eye of obedience exhibitors. In , the North American Sheepdog Society was formed with the purpose to promote and protect the breed. Overall, the Border Collie has impressed generations of farmers with their smarts, energy, and willingness to please. Should I Get a Shollie? Now that you know a little bit about Shollies and their parent breeds, your interest may be piqued. However, as with every dog, they require the right type of home and living conditions to be happy. Here are a few things to ask yourself to help determine if your home is the right environment for a Shollie. Do You Have an Active Lifestyle? Shollies like to snuggle with you while you watch TV, but only after a long day of hard work or play. Remember, both parent breeds were developed as working dogs that needed enough energy to traverse dozens of miles in a day. Thus, Shollies require at least an hour of vigorous exercise each day. They need lots of active time and attention. Thus, a home with a large yard or a farm is a more adequate home for these pups. And they will love spending time with people who are active and on the move. The nice thing about adding a dog like this to the family is that they help encourage being active! Fi smart dog collars make it easier than ever. Shollies are very sociable, which means they want to spend time with their families. Are You Committed To Training? You still need to spend time with your Shollie teaching them what is expected of them and how they are to behave. But beyond the basics, you should continue to spend time training your Shollie. They love the mental stimulation of learning new tricks and they are so smart that they are the perfect dog for this. Do You Have Allergies or Asthma? This is a big one as Shollies have a lot of hair. If you or someone in your home has allergies or asthma, this could be a big problem. Both parent breeds have a double coat, which means there is a soft undercoat for warmth and a longer protective coat over the top. Translation — the dog has a lot of hair and they will constantly be shedding it. You can control their shedding somewhat with regular grooming sessions. But you will never get it all. Are Shollies Aggressive? Shollies are a little reticent of strangers. They love their families and can be a little protective if the occasion calls for it. However, they are not aggressive or violent by nature. The Verdict on Shollies So, is a Shollie right for your family? If you are an active family, have a large yard, and are willing to spend time training and stimulating your dog, the Shollie will make a fantastic companion for your family. If you live alone in a little apartment and spend most of your time at work, a different type of dog may be a better fit for your lifestyle. For additional pet-parenting tips, head over to TryFi. And don't forget to check out TryFi's innovative Fi Dog Collar , which offers GPS tracking, activity monitoring, and escape alerts to keep your furry friend safe. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. Border Collies are the canine superstars of training. They are superior at obedience, agility, and herding. This especially bright workaholic enjoys being trained and kept occupied with activities. Working brings them happiness, but lack of work sparks unhappiness as well. They are eager to please and work hard. If you have enough time to devote to long obedience and agility training sessions, you are in for a firmly trained companion. Border Collies need a lot of exercise. Both breeds are strong and fast, so a Border Collie and German Shepherd mix will definitely be a strong and athletic pooch. No matter which breed traits dominate, any Shollie is a dog that loves and needs exercise. In cases when the Border Collie side of the crossbreed is more expressed, the owners will need to start putting their running sneakers on more often. Mental exercise is extremely important too so make sure you have enough mentally demanding tasks and games. Border Collies are affectionate dogs, perfect for families with children on the older side. Although relaxed among people they know, strangers can make them shy a bit. They are steady, confident, and courageous. The loyalty to their families makes them delightful protectors. Being overprotective of his family can make a German Shepherd dog a bit untrustworthy towards strangers. Photo by Vivienstock on Shutterstock Does that mean that a crossbreed afraid of strangers has more Collie Traits and the one barking at them is more of a GSD? Keep in mind that any dog can be a good dog. They can be a good fit for families with children and even with other pets. Leadership Border Collies require that you show interest in their training and give a lot of affirmation and encouragement. Keeping their attention is pretty easy if you have prepared a variety of training activities. German Shepherds start their training early in their lives. Work ethic? These guys are on point. A Shollie is a dog that needs a consistent leader to show him what to train and how to do it and reward him if he does that right. If that happens there is a great chance that checking your training regimen is the best place to start. Health The biggest health concern in German Shepherds is hip dysplasia. While GSDs from 50 years ago had a lot fewer issues with their hips, due to irresponsible breeding now every fifth dog has hip dysplasia. Obesity, over-exercise, and injuries can all contribute to hip problems, but the issue is an inherited one and sooner or later it will become clinically significant. Hip dysplasia is a common disease in Border Collies as well, but the main difference is that it develops in older dogs that had pretty active lives and their joints simply wore out. The photoreceptors in the eye start dying out and what starts as night blindness can result in complete blindness within 12 months of the onset of symptoms. German Shepherds are more susceptible to cancer than most other dog breeds. Most frequent neoplasia cases in GSDs include hemangiosarcomas, melanoma, lymphoma, and osteosarcomas. The condition makes the left side of the heart become overly loaded with blood and can ultimately lead to heart failure. Generally speaking, both breeds are pretty healthy. The diseases they are recognizable for are inherited. If there is a health certificate from their parents they are free from such diseases you can be at ease. The life expectancy for a Shellie is somewhere between 10 and 14 years. In both cases, the coat consists of an outer layer and a soft undercoat. The rough type is medium length and the smooth one is a short coat. Photo by Christin Lola on Shutterstock Their grooming requirements are pretty basic. Weekly brushing is enough to prevent matting and distribute the coat oils equally all over the body. German Shepherds are dogs with a medium-length coat with a softer inner layer and hard outer layer. Brushing them every days is enough to remove loose hairs. During shedding season they need to be brushed more frequently. So basically your Shollie is pretty low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Just a medium-coat that might need an extra brush once in a while. Size Expect your Shollie to be between inches cm with a weight of around pounds kg. Border Collie is a middle-sized dog breed. Adult males have inches cm height and females have inches cm. A full-grown dog of this breed weighs between pounds .German Shepherds fall under the medium to large-sized dogs category. The breed standard for adult males is inches cm and for females is inches cm. They can weigh somewhere between 50 pounds kg. Border Collie and German Shepherd mix dogs have higher chances of being middle-sized dogs, while some male individuals with more significant GSD anatomic trains can be considered a large breed. Cost Depending on your location, it may not be so easy to find a Shollie in your local shelter. These dogs are perfect for a house in the suburbs or the farming fields. Share your experiences with your Shollie in the comments down below! Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet. Post navigation. Is The Shollie For You? The special thing about these dogs is their spectacular looks, more similar to a purebred than to a designer breed. They have aspects of a German Shepherd, with beautiful coats, large and athletic bodies, and expressive eyes. The only things that betray them are the less hairy tail and the floppy ears, both inherited from the Border Collie. Most of these dogs have a tan colored coat, but you can also find black and, in some rare cases, white Shollies. Of course, that thick, long coat will need regular brushing to avoid tangles and poor skin health. The German Shepherd is a highly active breed, developed for work and activity which means they require regular physical exercise. Thus, the combination of these two breeds results in an explosion of high energy! As an owner, you need to make sure your Shollie gets the activity and physical exercise she requires. Just take a look at these beautiful dogs and how they enjoy themselves playing: And the best way to do that would be to adapt an active lifestyle yourself no, this dog is not suitable for couch potatoes like you, Josh. While being playful, Shollies also do quite well on their own, so you can leave them alone at home for short intervals without worrying about them destroying furniture or getting too lonely. So, what activities can you give a Shepherd Collie mix to keep her happy and healthy? Something as simple as giving your dog some fresh air at regular intervals throughout the day should be more than enough to keep him satisfied. How often exactly? According to doctors of veterinary medicine like Amy Moore and Charlotte Cummings, a Shollie requires at least 2 walks every day or a minimum of 2 hours of activity on the daily. Both the German Shepherd and the Border Collie are known for their affectionate nature. A Shepherd Collie loves playing with her owners and will often eagerly await the next time you pick up the ball for a fun round of fetch. Despite being naturally loving and sweet towards their owners, however, the Shollie can manifest a wary side. How can you prevent this type of behavior in your Shollie? Exposing your pup to crowded, high activity environments early on. But it will make them more capable of controlling their impulses when a guest or visitor walks into your home. Police and military forces all over the world commonly use the aid of German Shepherds for a variety of tasks that would otherwise be impossible for people to perform! Sniffing out bombs, illegal substances, and other security threats are just some of the nifty tricks that German Shepherds can be taught. Border Collies, on the other hand, are known to be some of the smartest and most trainable dogs around. This breed quickly takes a number of tasks and jobs with simple repetition. With this type of lineage, you should know that the Shepherd Collie is just as smart. This dog breed loves mental exercise and will often look for something to stimulate her ever active mind. So as her owner, you should be ready with a few cognitive puzzles, games, and tasks that will help give your dog the mental exercise that she needs. For instance, before taking him out for your next walk, think about the place you plan to visit. Instead of going for the typical trail you always follow, consider other areas with more varied smells, sounds, and sights. Something as simple as exposing your dog to new sensory experiences can give them that well-deserved dose of cognitive training. What about dogs that are frequently left at home? As much as possible, I advise you bring your dog along with you when you run errands or go out because this can also give him a chance to stretch his mental muscles. Just hide the kibble in areas of your house where your dog is free to explore, and it will keep your Shollie thoroughly entertained for hours on end. So, how do you go about teaching your Collie Shepherd Mix to alert you in case of an intruder or threat? The first step would be to teach them to stop barking on command. Once your Collie Shepherd perfects this, you can then start teaching her when barking would be acceptable behavior by simulating an intruder or threat. Ultimately, what you want to teach your dog is the ability to discern between harmless guests and potential intruders by showing them the way that threats would behave. So your Shollie should know not to bark or alert you in these instances. Watch this video for more advanced tactics on stopping people aggression in dogs. Some dogs are more predisposed to certain health problems just because of their build and lineage. Responsibly bred Shepherd Collie Mixes will live up to 15 years of healthy life with little to no incidences of disease or illness! Of course, the parent breeds do have their own health problem predispositions that can be passed on to the mix. For instance, German Shepherds are notoriously prone to hip dysplasia. Border Collies, on the other hand, are known to be commonly afflicted with epilepsy. What a Shollie really needs is an owner who can keep up with their high energy, their wit, and their affectionate nature. About Alexandra Animalso I was raised to be a dog person. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love. To create this hybrid, the parents must be one purebred Border Collie and one purebred German Shepherd. Both of these breeds are certified by the American Kennel Club so breeders should be able to provide paperwork for both parents. This energetic, intelligent, loving breed is becoming very popular with people who want a solid working dog or a loyal companion. As they are crossbreed, the characteristics they inherit from each parent will be different in each puppy. The overall appearance of this breed tends to lean more towards the German Shepherd parent. With their muscular large bodies, they are often mistaken for purebred German Shepherds. Their floppy ears and Collie tail will give them away as crossbreeds. Although a Shepherd is their most common appearance, each puppy will inevitably be different in appearance. No matter how they look, these dogs will have strong muscles and high levels of stamina, great for herding cattle. Fully grown, they should be around 21 to 27 inches tall and weigh around 70 to 80 lbs. If they lean more towards the Collie parent, they may be shorter and weigh less as Collies generally only weigh around 40 lbs. Colors Their coat will probably be a solid tan color with black patching and points. Coat They will have a straight, dense, medium-length coat, as both parents do. If they take after their German Shepherd parent, it will be a double coat. This means that it will be noticeably thicker especially in the winter months. If they are working dogs, this double coat will be great for working in cold weather. The best way to make an educated guess about their temperament is to look at their parent breeds. Highly energetic and extremely intelligent, these dogs are very eager to learn. Despite this, German Shepherds are not naturally aggressive and are actually very loving dogs that are loyal to their families. It is true that this loyalty can lead to them being protective and so they will often bark at anything strange in their territory. Border Collie Temperament A Collie was also bred as a herding dog and is one of the most common dogs used by farmers in the United Kingdom to manage their flocks and herds. Like GSDs, Collies are also energetic and very intelligent; ranked number one across all dog breeds. The downside is that they always need something to do otherwise they get bored very quickly. They are more playful than the German Shepherd but may have more issues with separation anxiety. With both these breeds in mind, we can definitely say that this hybrid is well above average in energy and intelligence. They make fantastic working dogs as this provides them with a job to do and plenty to keep their mind active. They will want to be with someone most of the time. Leaving an energetic and intelligent dog alone is a recipe for destructive behaviour such as chewing on furniture and barking. If you do just want this dog as a companion animal, be prepared for lots of exercise, playtime, and training sessions. These dogs can be protective so plenty of socialization from an early age will help. Lots of different people coming in and out of their space is very important. This will reduce the likelihood of them becoming defensive to new people. If they are the only dog in the house, be sure to socialize them with lots of other dogs to prevent guarding behavior over you and your family. Both parent breeds are comfortable around other animals, especially livestock or cats. They can live happily with other dogs and having a doggy friend may help keep them entertained. This mix is a great family dog as long as it was socialized with its family from a young age and not left alone with young children. All family members should be consistent with training to prevent the dog from receiving mixed messages and diluting the effect of training. As with all dogs, it would be unwise to leave young children alone with them. This breed is usually a food-focused dog which makes it easy to train with treats. Some mixes may also respond to toy-focused training which would be great if your dog is going to be a working dog or even train in agility or obedience. They will require a lot of socialization with people to reduce any guarding behaviors and aloofness. Naturally, this breed is not an aggressive breed but it is always good to socialize a puppy with other puppies to teach them canine manners. The Border Collie Shepherd Mix should be easy and enjoyable to train because they are so intelligent. If they are companion animals, you should definitely look into interactive feeders, plenty of toys for chewing and other games. For games which will stimulate your mix, fetch will be an important one. They need exercising for at least two hours a day, time in the garden, playtime, and other forms of mental stimulation. If they are working dogs they may get most of this on the job but as a companion animals, they will need this provided in other forms. Grooming should be completed a minimum of two times a week; especially if they have a double coat from their Shepherd parent. They should also have all the normal care that a dog requires: Ears cleaned Claws cut Treatment for fleas and worms Checked for ticks especially if they are out in fields or long grass on a regular basis Someone best suited to owning this breed is either at home most of the day or works with this dog. These mixed breed dogs are a very high-energy hybrid. This means a fenced-in backyard is a must so they can go out when they please and work off some energy. These dogs are not suited to living in apartments or houses without gardens. If they are working as a herding dogs, they will be able to run off a lot of that energy doing their job. If they are a guard dog or companion animal, they will need to be out of the house exercising for at least two hours a day. You should walk your dog a minimum of twice a day for at least one hour each time. These dogs are great off-leash as they are highly intelligent and should master recall pretty quickly. It means they can run off steam while running circles around you. Agility classes are also an excellent way of burning off steam and excellent as a form of mental stimulation, especially for this breed as they have a great body type for agility work. Grooming and Shedding If your dog does have a double coat, you can expect seasonal shedding. This is where they shed loads of fur twice a year in the Spring and Fall to make room for the new coat growth. Even if the coat is not double, these dogs will still shed quite a bit throughout the year and so will need brushing a minimum of twice a week. With lots of treats and positive reinforcement, grooming should be a good bonding time for you and your pup. You should take your dog to be professionally groomed a few times a year, especially around shedding season if they have that double coat. This will help prevent matting and keep their coat super healthy. Feeding and Diet The Border Collie German Shepherd Mix, when fully grown, should be fed one and a half cups of good quality dry food twice a day. This can also have wet food mixed in with it. Good quality dry food will have a very high percentage of protein. Things to avoid in dry dog food are any type of food dye, rendered fats, and corn or wheat gluten. People with working dogs often swear by a raw food diet. This is where the diet is made up of unprocessed meats, bones, fruit and vegetables, some dairy, and eggs. Known Health Problems All dogs are prone to certain health conditions and age-related issues. With little planning ahead you could get reimbursed for every vet bill from now on! Applies to all dog food recalls in the U. Adopting an older dog will decrease the price tag. Lancaster Puppies in Columbus, OH. Owners will have a lot on their hands when grooming this hybrid dog. It is a heavy shedder, making it hard for owners to clean up while trying to keep their coat healthy. The German Shepherd Border Collie mix sheds more often as it grows old, so owners must brush its fur daily to remove dander and dead hair. Here are some of the most recommended grooming equipment to maintain the coat of the German Shepherd mixed with Border Collie: Slicker Brush Slicker brushes are great combs to remove tangles and mats on long-haired dogs. The slicker brush can save owners time when brushing the coat of the German Shepherd Border Collie compared to regular combs. Detanglers Before using a slicker brush, owners will notice that the Border Collie German Shepherd mix has a lot of tangled hair. Dematting sprays can relax and soften the hair to make it easier for owners to untangle the knots. Owners must resort to this solution if the tangles are hard to remove despite the use of detanglers as dogs are not fond of sharp objects. Owners must avoid buying shampoo based on the odor or the low price. Owners must be aware of its coat type and skin to help them find oils and specialty ingredients that will be beneficial for the Border Collie mixed with German Shepherd. Grooming Wipes The German Shepherd mixed with Border Collie is an energetic dog that will be dirty when it finishes playing outside the house. Wet wipes are essential for dog owners that want to prevent mud and grass inside their residence. Microfiber Towel Human towels do not absorb all of the water on a dog. Because of its heavy coat, the German Shepherd Border Collie mix will likely be dripping wet despite a heavy rinsing. Microfiber towels can help remove water on a Border Collie German Shepherd cross better than human towels. The legs and hips of Border Collie German Shepherd will deteriorate as it ages. The hybrid dog will experience problems at an earlier rate depending on its activities as well. It may also be born deaf if one of its parent breeds already have hearing problems. Epilepsy The Border Collie breed is widely known for its tendency to suffer from epilepsy more than other dog breeds. The Border Collie German Shepherd mix may inherit this health problem as well. Epilepsy happens when the dog is experiencing episodic seizures. Fortunately, it is a rare disease among dogs. Degenerative Myelopathy When owners notice that the Border Collie German Shepherd mix is starting to walk funny on its back legs, it can be a symptom of Degenerative Myelopathy. This disease currently has no cure. Irresponsible breeders are the most likely reasons for the health issues of a German Shepherd mixed with a Border Collie. Owners must make sure that they are adopting a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder to avoid dealing with a sickly puppy. If the hybrid dog is exhausted from more training than usual, owners can go for 4 cups a day. Bloat and diabetes are two main health problems that can affect a Border Collie crossed with a German Shepherd as both parent breeds may also suffer from them. It is essential for owners to avoid overfeeding this hybrid dog and prevent nutritional imbalances. In such scenarios, products such as Nutra Thrive dog food supplement can be a solution to regain the proper balance of nutrients. Dog owners and lovers must also keep in mind that they need to seek food for the best large breed dry dog food instead of best dry dog food for small dogs. Whatever you do, make sure you steer clear from the worst dry dog food. Try to learn more about the difference between poor-quality and premium-quality chows by checking our best dry dog food guide! The dog food must include joint supplements because large dog breeds are prone to hip dysplasia and other joint ailments. To avoid this, give them kibble that is rich in calcium since puppyhood. Pooches that have entered their golden years will maintain their health properly only if given the right amount of the best senior dry dog food! Dog food must also contain a moderate amount of calories to avoid obesity, which is a common problem among large breeds. The dog food chosen by owners must also have large kibble to avoid letting the dog eat too quickly, which may result in life-threatening conditions like bloat. Here are a few of the most recommended large breed dog food in the US: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula The Blue Buffalo Life dog food is perfect for the German Shepherd mixed with Border Collie because it is full of ingredients rich in antioxidants like kelp, blueberries, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Deboned chicken is also its main ingredient. This brand does not have wheat, soy, or corn. Wellness Core Dog Food The nutritious proteins included in the Wellness Complete Health dog food for large breeds is beneficial for the German Shepherd crossed with Border Collie because it has all the nutrition it needs. This brand contains deboned chicken, salmon meal, and deboned whitefish, which gives the dog food a delicious flavor. It also includes flaxseed, which is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. It also provides for different probiotics for the German Shepherd Border Collie mix. Dog for Dog contains vitamins and minerals to give your Border Collie mixed with German Shepherd the nutrition it needs. This whole-grain brand also contains glucosamine, which helps keep joints healthy. Owners on a budget will find this product affordable. It also helps prevent nutrient deficiency with its vitamins and minerals. The brand also comes with glucosamine and chondroitin, which is good for joint health. Eagle Pack Natural consists only of natural ingredients with no artificial colors and preservatives. It also includes eight probiotic strains to keep the hybrid dog healthy. Pro Plan Focus Weight Management Large Breed This brand is beneficial for large dogs because it can supply them with many complex carbohydrates to sustain their energy levels. It is also helpful for the joint because of it contains glucosamine. This brand attacks specific health issues like joint problems or bloating that a German Shepherd mixed with Border Collie may cross. This brand contains joint supplements, probiotic supplements, and fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants. It is a natural and grain-free product with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It contains antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits, as well as premium proteins. This brand is a grain-free product that will give your hybrid dog enough nutrition for its daily activities and exercises. There are a plethora of good choices for them out there, but make sure to find some of the best dry dog food , for example, Wellness Core Dog Food , Dog For Dog Food , or Nutra Thrive dog food supplement. Puppies and senior dogs have different food requirements, so go through the best puppy food brands in case you own a little munchkin and best senior dry dog food for grandpa and grandma pups. A checkup with your vet will help you opt for some of these. Both of its parent breeds are also very active. This hybrid dog does not do well indoors and needs to have a lot of time running and playing with its owners. An owner of a German Shepherd crossed with Border Collie must commit their time to engage this dog in activities if they want to avoid it from becoming bored and destructive. This dog will become aggressive and timid if it does not participate in mental and physical activities. Its daily exercise requires about 60 minutes of running and playing outside of the house. If you happen to raise a Border Collie German Shepherd mix as a calm and independent dog, 2 hours of separate walks daily can keep it satisfied. Where did the German Shepherd Border Collie mix come from? So their history is the combined history of those two breeds! Based on their heritage, it may be assumed that the hybrid was the result of a desire for the ultimate large dog. One that has athletic ability, agility and a protective yet playful nature. There, early Collies were bred to do much the same thing that they do today. Herd and protect livestock. Sheepdogs such as the Border Collie have been in existence for centuries. Modern Border Collies are still excellent working dogs, especially on ranches. Formed to create the ultimate herding or guide dog. In a climate where working outside often meant braving cold weather and damp conditions, the Shepherd dog had to be tough. The GSD eventually became a refined herding breed known for its stamina and work ethic. The AKC formally recognized the breed in .Later, Shepherds became associated with military, police, and service work. All sectors in which you can find them working in today. Nor what color or length their coats will be. Along with the standard colors that are associated with the parent breeds. Adding another level of possibility is the fact that hybrids may look like a mix of their parents. Height and Weight The German Shepherd and Collie mix has the potential to be a medium or large-sized dog. If the pup takes after its GSD parent, then it may mature to somewhere between 80 and 90 pounds. If she takes after her Border Collie parent, then she may only get to about 40 pounds or so. Most pups will fall somewhere in between. You can expect German Shepherd Collie crosses to reach roughly inches at the shoulder. This is a soft undercoat is below a rough top coat. Or it may come out somewhere in between! No matter which parent it resembles more, a Shollie will require weekly brushing. These needs will increase when seasonal shedding occurs. This is a high shedding dog, that will leave fur and dander around your home. They are unfortunately not suitable pets for a home with human dog allergy sufferers. Bringing a hybrid dog into your home, especially a large one such as the German Shepherd x Border Collie? Are German Shepherd Mixes Aggressive? German Shepherds are often found in the police and military sectors. This line of work has made the breed a bit notorious for being aggressive, and unfairly so. German Shepherds should not all be viewed as aggressive dogs. Police and military dogs are highly trained and intelligent animals. Border Collie German Shepherd mixes are naturally very inquisitive dogs. They do not enjoy sitting without a job to do or a game to play. This can sometimes result in destructive behavior. Especially if a Collie is kept cooped up and without toys or other enrichment activities. With all of this in mind, it is likely that a German Shepherd Collie mix will need to be kept as a working or sporting dog. Unless you will be able to exercise him frequently and provide him with things to keep his busy brain focused. Although a hybrid puppy may be an equal mix of its purebred parents. There is also the possibility that the puppy will take after one parent more so than the other. German Shepherd and Border Collie Health Any type of dog, purebred or hybrid, may be afflicted with inherited or age-related health conditions. Such as hip or elbow dysplasia, eye diseases, allergies, and skin irritations. German Shepherd and Border Collie mixes, however, are particularly prone to the conditions that their parent breeds often develop. One thing to note is that both German Shepherds and Border Collies are both prone to hip dysplasia. So Shollies may be especially at risk of developing this condition. This can help to determine what health problems their offspring may be afflicted with. Additionally, be sure that the breeding stock have good hip scores. Shollies can make great family pets for active homes that are interested in positive reinforcement training. For starters, Shollies are medium- to large-sized working dogs that have pretty high exercise requirements. Weight gain is especially concerning for this hybrid, as it is prone to developing hip dysplasia. They need to have something to occupy their intelligent minds, or they may turn your home into a giant chew toy! Border Collie German Shepherd Mix Puppies There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding whether to bring a Shollie puppy into your home. Absolutely not! If you get a Shollie puppy, their naturally intelligent and highly trainable nature means that you can socialize it to other animals and people. Make sure you meet both parents and are happy with their temperaments and health tests carried out by the breeder. Socialize your pup thoroughly and you could end up with a wonderful companion for many years to come. German shepherds were initially bred in Germany in the 19th century and were officially recognized as a breed in .Border collies are primarily sheepdogs that were officially recognized in the British Isles in the 19th century. Both dog breeds are considered highly intelligent, trainable, and agile. This is why German shepherds have been widely adopted as working dogs and are often seen in military and police roles. Border collies frequently compete with great success in sheepdog trials and are considered among the top sporting dogs. Exactly when the Shollie emerged and precisely what breeders were trying to achieve with the new breed is unclear. But the result tends to be a relatively large and athletic dog that is highly intelligent and protective. Thanks to these traits, the Shollie makes an excellent family dog. It is important to remember that, unlike with purebred dogs, when you mix dog breeds, the results are always a bit unpredictable. Shollie Appearance You can expect Shollies to be fairly large dogs with a lean and athletic physique. According to the breed standard, German shepherds tend to measure 22 to 26 inches tall, with males generally an inch or two larger than females. Border collies are a bit smaller, measuring from 18 to 22 inches. Nevertheless, you will rarely see a Shollie that measures less than 20 inches. They typically weigh around 70 to 90 pounds. While these big dogs are gentle, their substantial size means they can misjudge their strength and could accidentally hurt children or older, more fragile individuals. Shollies can be almost any color combination of their parents, including black, brown, golden, and white, and they are almost always a mix of at least two different colors. They often have attractive mottled patterning. Border collies have a warm undercoat with a protective outer coat that tends to be longer and can be either smooth or shaggy. German shepherds also have a warm undercoat with a longer overcoat. You can expect a Shollie to have a similar double coat, probably with quite long hair. This puts them at a fairly high risk of overheating in hot temperatures. They also tend to shed a lot, and their hair can easily become matted if not brushed regularly to remove shedded hairs that have clung to their coat. Shollies look their best when they receive daily brushing. Most Shollies will have brown eyes and a face with a fairly long muzzle. They can either have the pointed ears of a German shepherd or the floppy ears of a border collie. Shollie Temperament: Athleticism Both German shepherds and border collies are working dogs bred for herding, so they are bred to be active. You can expect their Shollie offspring to have a lot of energy and need quite a bit of exercise. Shollies need a minimum of one hour of exercise per day, preferably split into two or three shorter sessions throughout the day. They will appreciate being taken to off-leash dog parks where they can run around without being restricted by the leash. In addition to this, these dogs will love to accompany their family on outdoor adventures, such as hiking trips and walks. They are agile and intelligent and will be able to look after themselves on hiking trails. Shollie Temperament: Trainability Both border collies and German shepherds are highly intelligent, and their offspring tend to inherit this characteristic. They learn quickly and are highly adaptable. Shollies can generally figure out what is needed from them quickly in new situations. Bred as training dogs, Shollies also tend to be easy to please. More independent and stubborn breeds might know what you want but still not give it to you; this is not the case with the Shollie. They can easily become bored if they do not have tasks to keep them occupied. This is why it is always a good idea to teach them tasks, even if they will be living as a family pet. They will also benefit from complex toys like puzzle games to keep them occupied when left alone. If they are left alone for too long without something to stimulate their brain, they may just find their own entertainment. This tends to be the destructive sort of chewing and digging. Shollie Temperament: Independence Shollies tend to want to be part of the family. They will quickly bond with the people they spend a lot of time with and become protective of them. They will often be on alert when other people or animals approach and can display territorial behavior if they feel threatened. They tend to have an affinity for children and enjoy playing with them, though they should always be supervised around small children. Threats to their little people, in particular, can bring out their protective instinct. Are you worried your dog is overly possessive? Watch out for these important signs. These dogs have a tendency to become anxious or depressed if they are left alone for long periods of time. They are not the type of dog you can leave alone at home for several hours while you are at work. Considering a day care service for your dog? Read our tips for choosing the best day care for your dog. When you are at home, be prepared for plenty of love and affection from your Shollie. These dogs will love to be close to you, whether that means sitting at your feet or snuggling up with you on the couch if you let them. They can live anywhere from 13 to 15 years, which is an impressive lifespan for such a large dog. But, as is the case with many large dogs, they can also suffer from joint issues, in particular hip and elbow dysplasia, which is when the joint socket becomes malformed. The best way to avoid this problem is with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. Ensuring that their calorie intake matches their energy output is key. Overall, Shollies are among some of the healthiest dogs that you will come across. Should I Get A Shollie? Whether or not a Shollie is the right dog for you depends on a variety of different factors. Consider the following questions when determining whether or not to adopt this crossbreed. Where Do You Live? They will do better in a place with a large backyard where they can keep themselves occupied. Shollies need a lot of exercise. They need a minimum of one hour of exercise each day, preferably spread out over a number of short sessions throughout the day. Do you have the energy to walk your dog every day? Shollies are very social animals, and they can become depressed and anxious if they are forced to spend a lot of time on their own. Is there generally someone at home at your place, or is the house empty for several hours at a time when everyone goes to work? Will your dog get the companionship that they need in your house? If not, be prepared for lots of destructive behavior when your Shollie is left alone. Are You Committed To Training? Luckily, Shollies are intelligent and eager to learn, which means even new dog owners should be able to train them fairly easily. But Shollies are also working dogs, and they often need the mental stimulation of having a task to do to keep them occupied. This means training them is not just about controlling their behavior; it is also about keeping them occupied. This is why it can be useful to teach your Shollie tricks. Is this something that you will be willing to do? If not, perhaps a smaller and more passive breed is better suited to your lifestyle. Do you live somewhere that is likely to be too hot for them? There is no escaping the fact that Shollies are shedders, and dealing with dog hair is a fact of life when you have one of these dogs. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you might want to consider a different dog. Do you have someone who can take in your Shollie when you travel? Alternatively, do you have access to a large kennel that gives them plenty of room? Your dog will suffer if they need to stay in a small cage for a few weeks while you are away. Can You Afford A Shollie? Dog ownership, regardless of the breed you choose, can be surprisingly expensive. While you may already realize that the cost of their food will add up, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Yes, Shollies are excellent dogs, as they are intelligent and trainable pups with a friendly temperament. They are high-energy dogs that need lots of exercise, love, and affection, so they are a big commitment in terms of time, but otherwise they are relatively low maintenance. Are Shollies aggressive? Any dog that has been through traumatic situations can become aggressive. So, if you are adopting an older Shollie that may have come from a difficult home, speak to the adoption agency about any behavioral issues that they might have and how to properly handle them. How much is a Shollie puppy? How much a Shollie puppy costs will depend largely on where you get them from. You may be able to find a Shollie at a local shelter, in which case you may only need to cover the administrative costs of the service. Do Shollies bark a lot? They can be trained not to bark when it is not necessary, for example, when people pass your home. If your dog starts barking a lot for no apparent reason, it can be a sign that there is something wrong health-wise. Which is better, male or female Shollies? Whether you should get a male or female Shollie depends on your priorities. Females tend to be a bit smaller, and they are also more focused on tasks if you want a working dog. Males tend to be more easygoing and less likely to engage in excessively protective behavior. The Verdict On Shollies When you are a first-time dog owner, you are often told to steer clear of the more athletic dog breeds, as they tend to be a handful and need an experienced hand. But if you are looking for a pup to accompany you on all of your adventures, this can be disappointing. If the above sounds like you, then a Shollie, a border collie and German shepherd mix, might be the right pup for you! Shollies are very energetic and athletic dogs that will quickly become part of the family. You will probably want to take them with you on all of your weekend adventures. What you do need, however, is the time and space in your home to take on this boisterous new member of the family. Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist.

He was the wild one in the group. In fact, he came into his life just in time. I just figured at some point some dog would arrive in my life and it was him. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. But for as much success Bones has had in his professional life, the Arkansas native has long talked about the troubles he has had in the romance department. In years past, Bones has been linked with country music artists Rachel Reinert , formerly of Gloriana, and guitarist Lindsay Ell. I have had trouble with commitment and with a dog, you just love them and they love you back. The only reason he may leave is if he sees a hot dog or something. And while a girlfriend might not be in the cards at the moment for Bones, he does say he is quite content with Stanley by his side, even though the two have had their share of growing pains. At first, it was every four hours that he had to go out because his bladder is so small. I do have to make sure he is taken care of. Has the dog been fed? The only thing that freaks me out is that I just have to meet a girl. I have a dog now! Maybe that will change things. The Bobby Bones Show is nationally syndicated weekday mornings on country stations across the United States. Ice is a 5-year-old English Bulldog. He is playful and active, requiring much more than the breed data stated 20 minutes of exercise a day. Ice was diagnosed with Peripheral Lymphadenopathy late November. Peripheral Lymphopathy, is a lymphoma that affects all lymph nodes. Ice was diagnosed in the early stages; therefore, he has not experienced any secondary complications of the disease. His age, attitude and his amazing owners have made his Chemotherapy treatment practically textbook perfect. There are NO obligations to complete the course of the treatment. We conduct weekly checkups to allow us to evaluate the patient as well as run a CBC complete blood count to ensure the health of their blood cells. Here is an example of the treatment protocol we use at the Riverview Animal Hospital: Chemotherapy treatment includes the use of 4 different drugs. These drugs are rotated in week cycles over the course of 5 months. This might seem like a lot, but given in lower doses it minimizes the side effects and maximizes the efficacy by targeting different sites of the tumour cells. Drugs used:.

All other colors are deemed undesirable. Brindle French Bulldogs have a dark-colored coat with lighter strands mixed in. Fawn — This is usually a light, yellowish-tan color that can have several different shades. The coat is uniform and the head is typically a bit darker than the rest of the body. Pied — A French Bulldog with a pied or piebald coat is mostly white with prominent patches usually in brindle or fawn. To the eye, this color looks grey or gray. Some French Bulldog coat colors are linked with genetic health conditions. Blue is often avoided even though the bad health links are disputed by many. Health problems recorded in this color such as alopecia have also been found in dogs of other colors. A Fawn French Bulldog has a yellowish tan coat and the shade can vary from light fawn to red fawn. Fawn is present in many other Frenchie coats. A fawn French Bulldog typically has a black mask. Black and White As the name suggests, the black and white French Bulldog has black and white markings. This Frenchie coat can also be referred to as pied or piebald. White is the predominant color and there are no white markings breaking up the black patches. Beautiful as this pattern is, black and white French Bulldogs are not considered an official breed standard and are not eligible for shows. A French Bulldog of this color often has a dark mask and ears with some brindled areas. Brindle This is a French Bulldog with a predominant fawn-colored coat with dark brindle. The intensity can change but the nails, nose, eyelids, and lips should always be dark. Brindle and White Even with the Brindle and White Frenchie, the base color is still fawn — even though you may think that the coat seems mostly white. Cream The cream French Bulldog is similar to the white French Bulldog but with more of an eggshell color. Cream is dominant over the whole body with no other patches of color. You might also here this color referred to a platinum. White and Brindle White and Fawn With the white and fawn French Bulldog, the white dominates the fawn and where you see the fawn color, it should be even. Cream and White. Life Span Did You Know? While the name of this breed is the French Bulldog, their origins cannot be credited to only France. One of the facts about French Bulldogs is that the idea and reason for the creation of the breed originated in England. This adorable dog breed, which has always been meant to be a companion, started as a miniature version of the English Bulldog. This mini-version accompanied lace workers across the English Channel and into France during the Industrial Revolution. Once the dog breed became prominent in France, the subsequent successful crossbreeding of the English Bulldog, Pug, and Terrier led to the creation of the modern-day Frenchie. The French Bulldog we know today originally came to the United States with groups of wealthy Americans who came across them and fell in love while touring Europe in the late s. The French Bulldog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in and is a member of the non-sporting group. The French Bulldog is an easygoing, affectionate, and playful dog that loves their family and gets along well with children. They also love to make new friends, which means they get along well with other dogs, animals, and people. Intelligent and affectionate, this small dog breed certainly wins over hearts and earns its status as a popular companion dog. Frenchies are not known to bark much, unless you train them into it, but they are naturally alert and make excellent watchdogs. As long as they are well-socialized and trained, they tend to have an open and friendly nature. The Frenchie is a highly adaptable dog that pretty much adapts to any living situation that includes plenty of love and attention. Being a short-snouted, snub-nosed dog breed, they do not tolerate heat very well and are also sensitive to cold. This tends to make them one of the dog breeds that hate winter and you will want to make sure to bundle them up to stay warm while out on cold winter walks. Because Frenchies bond closely with their families and thrive on attention from them, they do not tolerate long periods of time alone. They can also be prone to developing separation anxiety if they are poorly socialized or you do not work with them on this when they are young. Potential health concerns to be aware of in French Bulldogs can include cataracts, cherry eye, and entropion. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances. Heart and joint certifications are recommended for this breed. Playful and happy, the French Bulldog is a great fit for a novice dog owner. They are sweet-tempered, eager to please, and eager to train. Occasionally, Frenchies can be stubborn and they do tend to have big personalities. Although this can sometimes be a challenge for first-time dog owners, it can usually be overcome with consistent and patient training. Puppy training classes are always an option and offer plenty of benefits aside from training. Standard coat colors for Frenchies are Brindle, Cream, Fawn, and combinations of these. They have a short coat that will shed a little year-round. Nail trims once or twice a month keep nails from growing too long and causing issues. Weekly ear checks, along with careful cleanings as needed, can help prevent ear infections. As a small dog breed, the Frenchie is more prone to developing gum disease. Daily dental care plus cleanings at the vet as needed can help prevent this and other painful dental diseases later in life. You will also need to take care of the wrinkles. Frenchies have hereditary face wrinkles and it is important to keep them clean and dry to prevent skin irritation or possible infection. The French Bulldog is an easygoing companion breed. They can be one of the laziest dog breeds that are couch potatoes. Frenchies will often be energetic when they play and will try to match their activity to yours. So, if you live a more active lifestyle, you need to be careful that your French Bulldog is not overexerting themselves trying to keep up with you. As a Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dog, they cannot cool themselves as easily and are extra sensitive to heat. They can also get winded easily, so be aware of this when playing with your dog or puppy and watch for signs of overexertion. There are safe ways to exercise flat-faced dogs and you can work with your vet on specifics for your Frenchie if needed. French Bulldogs usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Frenchies generally live for years on average. With this dog breed being so popular, there are plenty of celebrities who have chosen the French Bulldog as their companion, which also means there are plenty of famous Frenchies out there. Also, French Bulldogs cannot swim, at least without a life vest. They can be taught to swim while wearing one, but they should never be left unattended around bodies of water or swimming pools and require constant supervision while in the water. Featured French Bulldog Article.

During sleep a German Shepherds brain, central nervous system, immune system and muscles develop. Since German Shepherd puppies grow quickly it is necessary for them to get a lot of sleep so that they are able to direct their energy towards growing. With that being said, if your German Shepherd puppy sleeps for more than 20 hours per day and it is lethargic when it is awake then it may be cause for concern and it would help to take it to a vet. Other things that can cause a German Shepherd puppy to sleep a lot While it is normal for a German Shepherd puppy to sleep a lot there are also a number of other factors that could be contributing to it sleeping so much. Additionally, if it is more than 16 weeks old, it should be starting to sleep much less than it used to. If it is sleeping for more than 14 hours per day then it could be that there is something else contributing to it. Below, I will mention a number of things that could be causing your German Shepherd puppy to be sleeping a lot. Heat Heat can also contribute to a German Shepherd puppy becoming sleepy. German Shepherds are designed to thrive in colder environments which is why they have double coats. As a result of this, when the weather starts to heat up, it can cause them to be more sleepy. Heat would be much more likely to be the reason why your GSD puppy has been sleeping a lot if it suddenly started to sleep a lot more when the weather became hotter. If that is the case, it would help to make sure that it has access to shade, cool areas and water throughout the day. It would also help to avoid letting it out in direct sunlight when the sun is directly overhead. Illness Illness can also cause a German Shepherd puppy to be more sleepy. This would be more likely to be the reason if your German Shepherd puppy suddenly started to sleep a lot more than it used to. It would also be more likely if its behavior changed suddenly or if it became lethargic as well. If you think that it might be sleeping too much due to illness then the best option for you would be to have it checked up on by a vet. Boredom It might be the case that it has been sleeping more than usual due to boredom. German Shepherds are highly active, while they are awake, when they are young. If they do not have things to stimulate them in their environment then it can cause them to become bored. German Shepherd adults require a lot of exercise. However, the amount that you should be exercising your German Shepherd puppy will be a lot less since their joints are not fully developed yet. Instead, you can keep it occupied, while it is young, by training it to behave the way that you want it to when it is older. It is important to take the time to train it while it is young since it will be easier to change its habits and you will be able to avoid behavioral issues when it gets older. Diet A poor diet could also be why your German Shepherd puppy sleeps a lot. This would be especially likely if it started to sleep more at around the same time that you changed its diet. You can look at this website to see what you should and should not be feeding your German Shepherd puppy. If you are unsure of what food to get for your German Shepherd, consider getting dog food designed specifically for German Shepherds. You can get dog food specifically designed for German Shepherd puppies on Chewy here. Too much exercise While it could be the case that your German Shepherd puppy gets bored, it could also be the case that it is getting too much exercise. Since German Shepherd puppies grow rapidly it is important not to exercise them too much otherwise it can damage their joints. According to the Kennel Club , a good rule of thumb is to give your German Shepherd puppy 5 minutes of exercise per day for every month of age. So, if it is 3 months old, it would be recommended to limit its exercise to 15 minutes. If your German Shepherd puppy is lethargic when it is awake then it would be a sign that you are giving it too much exercise. Related post: Ways to exercise your German Shepherd. Consider if it suddenly started sleeping a lot more If your German Shepherd puppy has slept a lot right from the start but it is lively when it is awake then it is likely that it sleeps a lot naturally. Whereas, if it has suddenly started to sleep a lot more than it usually does then it would be more likely that there is something wrong. The list mentioned above could all be reasons why your German Shepherd puppy suddenly started sleeping a lot. It would help to consider what else changed at around the same time that it started to sleep more than usual. If it has also become lethargic when it is awake or its behavior has changed then it would likely be worthwhile for you to take it to the vet. What to do about your German Shepherd puppy sleeping a lot There are a number of things that you can do about your German Shepherd puppy sleeping a lot that I will mention below. Allow it to sleep as much as it needs to As mentioned above, it is natural for a German Shepherd puppy to be sleeping a lot. With that being the case, one of the best things that you will be able to do is to allow it to continue to sleep as much as it needs to. You should find that it will, gradually, begin to sleep less as it gets older. Make its sleeping environment comfortable Seeing as they are meant to be sleeping a lot, it would help if you can make its sleeping environment as comfortable as possible. You can do this by ensuring that it is not too hot where it sleeps, it is comfortable for it and that it has access to water when it wants it. Ensure that its diet is right Seeing as its diet could be contributing to it sleeping so much it would help to ensure that it is getting the right diet. Give it access to cool and shaded areas If you live in a warm area then it would likely be helpful if you can ensure that your GSD puppy has access to cool and shaded areas when it wants it. It would also help to avoid taking it outside when it is hot out and to do it in the morning or evening instead. Take it to a vet If you are unsure of why your German Shepherd puppy is sleeping so much or you think that there might be something wrong then the best option for you would be to have a vet look at it. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. This article covers everything you need to know as a german shepherd owner about GSD puppies and their sleep schedule. German Shepherd puppies sleep 15 — 20 hours a day. Yes, they sleep a lot. The bodies of GSD puppies go through a cycle of development in the first 12 months of being born, and hence the long nap time. Of course, understanding your puppies sleep schedule is crucial to taking good care of it. So that your puppy can grow healthy, and happy. In the beginning, the schedule is absolutely random. Once you have the schedule figured out, you can work around it to make things easier for yourself. When you first bring your puppy home, it might confuse you with the odd sleeping hours. Your pup might wake you up during the middle of the night, for bathroom breaks. A lot of german shepherd dog owners even get woken up 2 or 3 times. But, after a few weeks, your german shepherd puppy will get used to the schedule and not wake you up at night at all. Here are the causes behind the lengthy nap schedule of GSD puppies. Some are natural, while others can stir up concern for the owner. And a lot of this growth occurs during nap time. Most sources recommend 5 minutes of exercise for every month of age. So a 20 minute exercise session should be good for your 4 month old gsd puppy. However, the problem might be solved just by doing these. While others may prefer feeding them a home made diet. Raw diets are also becoming popular. It can cause problems later on. Your best bet is to check in with your vet, and ask for diet recommendations. So how much exercise should they do regularly? According to most of the sources, a 5 minute long walk at a time for every month of age should suffice. This means that if the puppy is 2 months old, then the exercise routine should be a 10 minute walk at a time. Here are the pointers that indicate when to stop exercising. Your puppy slows down. Your puppy starts panting. Your puppy starts laying on the ground. Age also plays a role in the intensity of workouts. Do not make it run excessively. Do not make it exercise on hard surfaces like sidewalks. Grass is the best area for your GSD puppy to exercise. Do not let it jump from the couch, furniture, or obstacles. Light fetch is also fine, after a few weeks. So you have to make sure that their brain stays engaged in their waking hours. Get your puppy their favourite toys. Take time training your puppy. Play a variety of games with your puppy. Get your puppy contraption toys that make the puppy do something with their paws, or sense of smell, instead of static toys. Give your puppy small healthy treats once they complete a task. Take Your Pup to the Vet This is the first option you should be considering if your puppy is sleeping too much or too less. Lack of sleep may cause your German Shepherd puppy to become aggressive , or even worse, not grow healthy. Give it a quiet and comfortable room to sleep. Let the puppy sleep whenever it wants or as much as it wants. No interruptions, just let it have its much deserved peace and quiet. Make Sure Your Puppy Has Comfortable Environment To Sleep You may not want your puppy to sleep on the bed, or the couch, due to various reasons like danger of falling or maybe hair fall. Buying a small dog bed or crate for your puppy is ideal. Make sure the crate or bed has soft material for your puppy to sleep. German shepherds are hardy animals. Just make sure their bed is soft and comfortable. Neither too hot nor too cold. Refrain your puppy from going into direct sunlight. Keep it in cool or shady areas. Make sure it has access to cool to cold water. Similarly, anything below 40 degree Fahrenheit or even 50 degree Fahrenheit is too cold for the puppy. If winter in your location hits hard, install heaters or a central heating system. Prepare cozy blankets for your puppy. Make sure your puppy is sleeping comfortably 15 — 20 hours a day. Have fun with your cute little puppy! Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. They need to go to the toilet How to stop a german shepherd puppy crying at night? There are many different reasons that your pup may be crying at night. Fortunately, there are also lots of ways to help him sleep better at night. Here are a few of the ways you can stop your german shepherd puppy from crying at night: Exercise to tire your German Shepherd puppy out: Your puppy should be taken out for 5 minutes for however many months old they are. For example, a 3-month-old puppy would be taken out for 15 minutes. Make sure you tire them out enough to help them sleep better at night. Let your German Shepherd puppy outside before bed: Make sure you let your puppy outside to relieve himself before putting him to bed. Surround your German Shepherd puppy with familiar objects: Bring clothing with the scent of the home or the breeder next to him while he sleeps. This will help give him something familiar and help him ease into the transition to his new home. Play soothing music: Playing classical music before and during bedtime can help alleviate whining and anxiety as well as drown out other noise or unfamiliar sounds that may upset or rouse your puppy. The average dog sleeps for only 45 minutes at a time, while human sleep cycles are much longer, lasting 70 to minutes. Dogs can only experience two sleep cycles during that time period. Dogs also differ from humans in that they are polyphasic sleepers, which means they sleep on and off throughout the day. Humans, on the other hand, are monophasic sleepers. Most humans receive their 7 to 9 hours of sleep all at once. While humans spend most of their waking hours awake and alert, dogs dedicate up to 5 hours of their day to simply resting. Dogs who rest more during the day tend to seem happier and more relaxed. Do dogs dream and what about? Dreaming occurs mainly during this REM phase of sleep. And dogs do cycle through REM during their sleep. So its make sense to believe that dog do dream. A puppy will spend more time in dream sleep than an adult dog as they fall asleep more often. So just what are our furry friends dreaming about? Anything your dog does during the day is being processed while they sleep and relived in their dream. This can be observed by their twitching whiskers, the whimpering, and the running paws while they are sleeping. Chances are that your dog may also be dreaming about you if you spend enough quality time interacting with them. They will be dreaming about your play session, walks, and cuddle time together. Where should my German Shepherd puppy sleep? German Shepherd puppies should sleep inside with comfortable beddings. This is because if your puppy has too much space to roam, it will be harder to get them potty trained as they will just find a spot to do their business away from where they are sleeping. You can place the crate beside your bed or in an area close to you. In this way, your new furry friend can smell you. And it gives him a sense of security. Should I sleep with my German Shepherd puppy? You should not sleep with your German Shepherd puppy during the first few months home. Yet you can let your pup sleep beside you in a crate or a dog bed. Your puppy needs to get used to a regular schedule, work on their independence, and see you as the dominant figure. Once your GSD has become an adult months-old to 2-year-old , it will be fine for you to sleep with him. Can I let my German Shepherd puppy sleep with me? A new dog may need some time to adjust before they are ready to sleep in your bed. If they show interest in sleeping with you and are well-behaved , you can always let them on the bed later on down the road. What are the benefits of sleeping with dogs? If you are still reading, chances are you might like to sleep with your dog at night. Pets offer comfort and security, but they may affect sleep quality or trigger allergies for some people. Petting dogs in particular has proved to reduce blood pressure and heart rate. If touching your pet is part of the key to gaining health benefits, cuddling up together at night is only to make it better. Sleeping with dogs promotes creativity Studies have shown that when dogs are with their owners their heartbeats sync up. This experience promotes theta brainwaves which can be seen in connection with creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing and is a repository for memories, emotions, sensations. Theta waves are strong during internal focus, meditation, prayer, and spiritual awareness. Sleeping with dogs boost your mood Studies have found that people who spend time with dogs reported fewer depressive symptoms. Not only is it fun to be with your furry friends, it also helps us relax and increases our flow of oxytocin, the love chemical. Sleeping with dogs makes you feel safe Think about it — your GSD is hard-wired to protect. Many people and having the dog protecting them helps them feel more secure and sleep more soundly. Sleeping with dogs is comfortable That furry, cuddly animal is likely to love lying with you just as much as you enjoy laying with them. The level of comfort a dog brings to the bed helps put you at ease and makes you feel cozy. Sleeping with dogs promote immunity Many people have hygienic concerns when it comes to sleeping with their dogs. However, one study found that infants who slept with their pets were less likely to develop allergies later on in life. After all, your new furry friend will sleep for at least 15 hours per day during their short lives. And the better they sleep, the healthier and happier they are. Further reading. Final Thoughts When your German Shepherd is a young puppy, it needs a lot of sleep to get enough energy for physical and mental growth. When it is awake, it will be more active, exploring new things and experiencing new sensations after a good, comfortable, and secure sleep. The time of German Shepherd sleep routines varies depending on the age. When it is a puppy, it needs hours, but as an adult, your doggy may sleep for hours per day and feel great. The Shepherd deprived of good sleep can develop behavioral disorders and get sick easier. The most commonly asked questions about the German Shepherd puppy sleep schedule relate to its early age. Your puppy needs about 18 hours of sleep per day, and some young doggies may even need a bit more. So, hours per hour period is considered a norm. As your furry friend gets older, the sleeping time reduces. Your 4-month-old puppy may even sleep 11 hours per day and feel perfect. Meanwhile, adult dogs sleep for hours per hour period. You need to keep in mind that your pup will not sleep the whole night before its 6-month mark soundly. The reasons are missing the littermates and mother and feeling insecure surrounded by new smells and noises. However, the most important reason is the small size of its bladder that does not allow it to retain from potty for such a long time. So, it may start whining and crying if it wants to go potty. The latter issue is vital for potty training — you need to go out to potty times per night before your doggy reaches months old to avoid accidents. You may even need to wake up your puppy at night to do without unexpected occasions. Your little pup may also start crying at night for other reasons, for example, if it is scared or feels lonely or hungry. You can try to help it sleep better in several ways. First of all, ensure that your pet is tired enough before going to bed. Take it out for 5 minutes to walk during its first month and add the next 5 minutes for every month of its life. For example, your 4-month-old puppy can walk for 20 minutes. If your puppy is very young, let it sleep in your room when you first get it home. Put the crate beside your bed to comfort it easily during the night. You also need to offer your new pet familiar objects, for example, clothes or toys with the scent of its previous home. Arrange a comfortable sleeping place equipped with blankets, stuffed toys, and snacks. You may even play soothing music during bedtime, eliminating anxiety and preventing whining. Classical music is a good choice for this purpose. Comfortable bedding is essential. The space should not be large because they may attempt to do their business right where they are sleeping if they find a vacant spot. However, move the crate out of your bed when it gets older. Do it gradually, moving it farther and farther every night. Then, the time will come to take it away from your bedroom, and your puppy will feel comfortable with it. The difference between human and dog sleep cycles is dramatic. They are much shorter in dogs. Dogs have only two REM cycles at a time. They last 6 minutes. Dogs are polyphasic sleepers because they can also go to bed in the daytime. People are monophasic, sleeping hours at night. That is why while people spend their daytime working and alert, dogs need about 5 hours of rest per day. They do not necessarily sleep fast during this time. There has been a discussion on whether dogs can dream. Yes, dreaming can occur during the REM phase. Puppies may dream even more than adult dogs because they sleep more and their nervous system is not stable at all. So, they may dream about their daily activities, food, playing with you, and other things that are processed in their brain. When you notice that your pup moves its limbs as if running or murmurs something while sleeping, it is evidence of its dreaming. What do they mean? The most widely observed position is sleeping on the back. The reasons for this position are the following: Your pet feels entirely comfortable. This position provides complete relaxation. The pup feels safe and protected. Your dog trusts you if it exposes its vulnerable stomach to the outer world. It does not expect attacks from any enemies or predators. That is why canines rarely sleep on their backs in the wild. Your doggy wants to express submission. It does not mean challenging your authority or confronting other animals in the house. The German Shepherd may just want to feel colder. Its thick plush coat, especially if it is long-haired, does not allow it to cool down easily, so it lays on its back to let the air circulate around its body, over the belly, and paws. In this case, you may notice your dog lying on its back on the cold tile or even near the open window. German Shepherds also sleep in many other positions. The most popular of them include the following: Close to their owner. It is pretty pleasing when your doggy sleeps by your bed or is somehow close to you. Shepherds like to feel a part of a pack, so if they sleep like that, they feel more secure. Tightly curled up. This position allows a German Shepherd to maintain the heat efficiently. These dogs usually sleep like that in cold weather or if they feel something threatening to protect their neck and stomach against unexpected attacks. With the tail on their nose. A German Shepherd has a very sensitive nose, and it wants to protect it from rain, snow, or wind. It happens when your dog sleeps outdoors, especially in winter. On the side. This position allows the doggy to extend its muscles and joint as much as possible. It also means that the Shepherd feels comfortable and confident in this environment and does not expect any enemies or unwanted encounters. This position can also be observed if they sleep next to another animal — a cat or a dog — they consider their friends. On the belly. If your doggy feels comfortable, this position is uncommon. Moreover, it is neither comfortable nor relaxing. However, it can easily and quickly stand up and jump or run from it if it is needed. They mostly depend on their personality. The question of sleeping with your German Shepherd puppy is essential for many dog owners. The common advice is not to do that during the first months of your pup in your home. Instead, you can put its dog bed or crate next to your bed to soothe it quickly if it feels uncomfortable or scared. Moreover, your young doggy may have accidents at night, and you need to potty train it first. However, when your dog is an adult, you can do it, and it will bring a lot of positive moments to both of you. When your doggy is well-behaved and trained properly, you may get a lot of benefits from sleeping with it. They are the following: you will increase your comfort and security; your overall health condition can improve; the risk of sudden death will decrease; the cholesterol and triglyceride levels will go down; the blood pressure will become lower; this kind of sleeping can promote creativity; it will regulate your heartbeat rates; your memory will improve; you will wake up in a great mood due to the flow of oxytocin; you will feel absolutely protected and safe; the furry and cuddly friend will make you feel cozy and comfortable; the immunity will boost. Of course, close and continuous contact with animals can provoke allergic reactions. However, recent research shows that children who sleep with their pets are less likely to develop any allergies when they grow up. You may wonder why your doggy sleeps so much or has just changed its sleeping habits dramatically. Generally, an adult German Shepherd sleeps hours per day, but puppies and senior dogs sleep longer, which is normal. You can consider different causes if your pup sleeps too much and decide what you can do after talking to your vet. Your doggy needs this time to develop or restore its brain, central nervous system, immune system, and muscles. It uses so much energy during the day that it needs to compensate for it while sleeping. However, if your grown-up German Shepherd sleeps more than 14 hours and is apathetic all the other time, you may start to be concerned and take your pup to the vet. Excess heat. German Shepherds are bred to feel comfortable in colder environments. That is why they have double-layered coats. When the weather is very hot, they become sleepy to cool down. Just give it access to shade and cool areas and provide it with good amounts of water during the day. Never let it stay in direct sunlight. Your pup does not feel well. If your German Shepherd started sleeping more for no reason, it might be a sign of some health issues. So, you need to have it checked by the vet immediately. Your doggy is bored. German Shepherds are working dogs with a lot of energy and drive. You should exercise your pet a lot. At least one hour of intense exercise per day is vital. However, be careful not to overexercise your pup when it is little. Add 5 minutes of walking and training per every month of its age, or you can damage its bones and joints. Pick out an appropriate diet. Poor diet may be a cause of extensive sleeping. Talk to your vet to choose the diet your Shepherd needs, or opt for one meant specifically for German Shepherds. Age is a crucial factor. You know now that little puppies need a lot of sleep, and it is normal when your fluffy cub sleeps hours per day. The same is applicable to senior dogs. Older animals need more sleep to restore their muscles and brain activity. Moreover, they get tired easily and need a lot of rest. To make your pup sleep according to its age and environment, you may need to make some changes and deal with different factors. Consider the weather conditions too. If your pup sleeps more when it is cold or hot outside, it is also a normal reaction to temperature changes. If it gets to sleep immediately after feeding , you may need to adjust the diet a bit. If not, make some changes. Always check whether it has constant access to fresh water. Underhydration can be one of the reasons for a long sleep. Of course, when you notice abrupt changes, you must take your pet to the veterinarian. Long sleeping time may be the first sign of some unpleasant health disorders. Little puppies can sleep hours per day, while adult dogs usually need hours of sleep round-the-clock. If your German Shepherd starts sleeping too much, it may be a sign of a minor illness. The excess sleeping may also be a result of heat, boredom, or a poor diet. Older German Shepherds can also start sleeping a lot. Why does my German Shepherd sleep on its back? When your dog sleeps on its back, it always looks cute. The reasons for it can be different, but the main one is that it feels comfortable and absolutely trusts you. It can also show submission in this way, or it is too hot, and your doggy wants to cool down. Why is my German Shepherd breathing so fast while sleeping? Breathing faster means that your doggy is in its REM phase of sleep, which is accompanied by a high amount of brain activity. So, your pup needs more energy and starts breathing faster to get an additional amount of oxygen for the brain. Breathing fast helps it transfer this oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream, converting it into energy. How many hours does a German Shepherd sleep? The number of hours your German Shepherd pup can sleep is pretty individual. There are no strict standards. Little puppies sleep hours daily, while adult dogs reduce this number to .Senior dogs can sleep more — hours is normal. Ill doggies can sleep most time because sleeping helps them recover. Final Thoughts Remember that comfortable and safe German Shepherd sleeping is key to its healthy and happy life. All sleeping habits are pretty individual. If your German Shepherd sleeps well, you will enjoy long years together. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. As mentioned, German Shepherd puppies have short bursts of energy followed by long, restful naps. When playing or on a walk, it may seem like your puppy has a limitless store of excitement. Once they wear out, however, they tend to fall into a deep sleep—and may even snore! On average, a German Shepherd puppy will sleep between 15 and 20 hours each day. During growth periods, they may only get up to eat or go for a walk. Once fully grown, a German Shepherd will sleep around 12 or 14 hours a day. German Shepherds will take naps throughout the day, then sleep while their human sleeps for 6 or 8 hours. You can ensure your German Shepherd gets adequate exercise by taking it for long walks or hikes, playing fetch, or engaging it with agility workouts and puzzle toys. German Shepherds are intelligent dogs and need mental and physical stimulation for health and happiness. German Shepherds are naturally alert and protective , making them ideal for farm, police, military, and guard work. If you live in a busy area, you may want to provide your German Shepherd with a dark, quiet room to sleep in. If you use a crate or kennel, you can drape a blanket over it to shut out some light and sound for restful sleep. This is especially helpful with young puppies that may experience separation anxiety. Cars, buzzing insects, appliances, televisions, and cell phones can all make noises that put your dog on alert. German Shepherds usually live between 9 and 13 years. During this stage, your German Shepherd may sleep a bit more than the expected 12 or 14 hours a day, just like an older human. Along with the change in sleep patterns, your senior German Shepherd may show some graying around the eyes and muzzle, less interest in playing, and less energy for walks and hikes. If your German Shepherd is sleeping more than 14 hours as an adult, should you be worried? In some cases, longer sleep or more frequent sleep could indicate that your dog is experiencing a minor illness. If your German Shepherd is sleeping excessively for several weeks, however, you may want to take it to the vet for a checkup. Conditions like diabetes , hypothyroidism , Lyme disease , and arthritis can lead to increased sleep and may require treatment. Related Reads:. By Retriever Pets Ever wondered why your german shepherd sleeps a lot and is in weird positions? While asleep, your body can fix what has been injured or depleted, improving your mind, health, and general wellbeing. This is not only true for human beings but also for German Shepherds. But how much should a german shepherd puppy, adult, or senior sleep? A German Shepherd should have hours of sleep on average. This pattern may change with the kind of lifestyle the dogs end up living. For instance, older and younger German Shepherd tend to sleep more, while working or active German Shepherds tend to sleep less. You may have a German Shepherd that is quick to nap and you may have one that looks like it is a night owl. In this article, we talk about German Shepherds and their sleep patterns. We also discuss lifestyles that prevent German Shepherds from sleeping well and the dangers of such lifestyles. Read on and find out more about naptime and German Shepherds. Importance of Sleep to a German Shepherd German Shepherds are some of the most active and energetic dogs. They are highly intelligent maintaining a strong reputation as loyal and protective dog breeds. Initially bred as herding dogs, they portrayed strong guarding and protective instincts and have over the years become the preferred guard, guide, military, police, search and rescue dogs. What a resume!!!! But to have all these possible, German Shepherds have to be in tiptop shape. They have to be trained, fed, protected and constantly shown attention. Like all mammals, sleep is a very important element in the well-being of German Shepherds. Through sleep, German Shepherds can attain the following benefits: For better brain function — German Shepherds face many mental challenges on a typical day. For the dog to be highly effective in both mental and physical activities during the day, it has to have a certain period of mental and physical inactivity to rejuvenate brain function. This keeps the dog alert throughout the day. For Memory Retention — German Shepherds are intelligent and can often be taught a variety of lessons throughout their day. To ensure that these lessons stick, sleeping plays a key role. A well-rested German Shepherd can perform and remember certain tasks better than a fatigued German Shepherd. Strengthens the Immune System — Sleep-deprived German Shepherds are more prone to sickness and infections. For Physical Recovery — Sleep is a naturally rejuvenates. A German Shepherd is extremely active and, by the end of any day, could be extremely exhausted. By Sleeping, German Shepherds can rest and recover from physical exhaustion. German Shepherd puppies need to sleep for hours if they are to grow well. Sleep deprivation can suppress the release of this hormone, among others, that are critical for proper mental and physical development. Sleeping Habits of a German Shepherd Puppy Young German Shepherd puppies require more hours of sleep so that they may grow and develop. Typically, these puppies require hours of sleep per day. They require adequate food and rest as they easily get tired, especially during training and play-time. Due to its guarding and protective nature, you may find an adult German Shepherd sleeping lesser hours due to how active it is during the day. Additionally, the need to protect forces the German Shepherd to remain alert; hence, they end up becoming light sleepers. Their bodies are slowly deteriorating. Just like young German Shepherds, these senior citizens will sleep from hours. Do you own a German shepherd and want to get a cat and want to know if they get along? Why does my German Shepherd sleep so much? You may be wondering why your German Shepherd sleeps a lot. Several reasons could explain this behavior. German Shepherd puppies sleep for hours a day. This allows them to grow well, developing a healthy immune system, bones, and muscles. Adult German Shepherd sleep for hours a day. Depending on the kind of lifestyle they are living, adult German Shepherd needs to be alert and hence will sleep less. When they do sleep, they are extremely light sleepers keeping an ear out for danger. Senior German Shepherds sleep for hours. Their body organs are slowly deteriorating and they are becoming less and less energetic. At this age, German Shepherds tire out more quickly and end up sleeping more often. As the adult German shepherd grows older, it will certainly start sleeping more often. Nature Unlike human beings who require hours of sleep a day, a German Shepherd sleeps for hours a day Coile, .This is an important process as a German Shepherd is quite active and energetic. During the day, you will find the dog playing and roughhousing. Heat The current temperature can also greatly affect how much a German Shepherd sleeps. German Shepherds were initially bred to thrive in cold environments hence why they have double coats. However, in regions where the weather is hot, German Shepherds become sleepy sleeping for more than 14 hours a day. If you live in a warm or hot area, ensure your German Shepherd has access to shade, cool areas, and water throughout the day. Also, ensure that you take your German shepherd on walks when the sun is not directly overhead. Illness When a German shepherd is sick, it can also sleep longer than it is used to. If you notice that your German shepherd sleeping suddenly, more often and exhibiting certain behavioral changes, such as being lethargic, it is likely they are sick. Check-in with your vet if you suspect this. Boredom German Shepherds sleep because they are bored. With such an active and energetic personality, German Shepherds need a lot of physical and mental stimulation throughout their day. They also require a lot of attention from their owner. When German Shepherds are not mentally stimulated, they can easily get bored and sleep more often. You must consider increasing the number of activities that your German Shepherd is exposed to in a day. If it is a puppy, limiting the amount of exercise is critical for its growth as it can end up hurting its joints. Diet The diet you are feeding your German Shepherd also contributes to how long it will sleep in a day. Your German Shepherd requires a healthy and balanced diet to ensure it has a normal sleeping pattern. However, if you change its diet and it is not balanced, your German Shepherd may start sleeping more than usua Research on the best German Shepherd diets to follow to ensure you do not end up giving your pup an unbalanced diet. German Shepherds sleep problem Yes, German Shepherds can have sleeping problems if their state of mind is affected. Certain mental conditions or diseases could lead to the development of sleeping problems. They often act out the dreams they are experiencing with vocal sounds, sudden violet leg movements, twitching, and other bodily movements. In extreme cases, the German Shepherd can attack objects violently and run wild. When they wake up it is as if nothing happened and they continue with their life as normal. This is most common in obese German Shepherds whose airways have been narrowed by fat deposits. Such dogs will often snore loudly to the point of being startled by their own snores. They will wake up sluggish and tired. In extreme cases, Chronic Sleep Apnea can be fatal where the dog is unable to breathe properly when asleep. Insomnia — When German shepherds have certain health and mental issues, such as depression, stress, flea infestation, anxiety, chronic pain, and pent-up energy, they may experience insomnia. Narcolepsy Sleep Disorder — It is a sleeping disorder that causes a German Shepherd to suddenly collapse and sleep when it is excited or during physical activity. The German Shepherd does not experience any pain. Sleeping positions You may find your German Shepherd sleeping in a weird position, one that looks as though it is defying the laws of nature. This is typical of all German Shepherds. The sleeping position your German Shepherd chooses often spells out the kind of life they are living and the influence the surroundings may be having on them at that particular moment. Let us check out a few sleeping positions and understand what they mean. Sleeping upside down This is one of the weirdest and hilarious positions to find your German Shepherd taking a nap. The legs are usually suspended in the air, and the dog practically looks like it is playing dead. Finding your German Shepherd sleeping in this position could mean one of three things: The pup is relaxed and comfortable with its paws facing up. The dog is submitting to its owners The dog feels very safe and does not have to worry about being attacked by enemies The dog is trying to cool down Sleeping on the side A German Shepherd sleeping on its side normally has its paws outstretched before it. This is one of the most common sleeping positions for German Shepherds and is evident when the dog wants to stretch its legs so that they are more relaxed. Also, if you find them sleeping in this position, it signifies that the dog is feeling comfortable and safe in that environment. Sleeping while curled up like a ball This is also one of the weird positions you may find a German Shepherd sleeping, especially where the pup chooses to cuddle up in a small space, such as a basket or box. Typically, your German shepherd sleeps in this position to keep warm. You will often find the puppy curled up this way in colder months. Sleeping on its front This is one of the most natural sleeping positions for German shepherds. It is a position that allows them to stay alert and attack in case of anything. This position gives them an added advantage as they can quickly rise to their feet and charge. Tail wrapped over its nose This position is not as common. A sleeping German Shepherd will want to protect the most exposed part of its body, being the nose, from any injuries or flying elements. You will find a German Shepherd sleeping in this position during seasons where the weather is harsh, for instance when it raining, snowing, or windy. Sited but Upright Picture a Kangaroo sitting down. Yes, this is a legitimate sleeping position for a German Shepherd. It is hands-down, one of the weirdest and uncommon sleeping positions. The pup sits on its tail with its hind legs stretched before it, and the upper body rests either on a wall or back of a chair supported on either side. Such a position just shows how comfortable and safe your dog feels. Also, it allows the pup to cool off. These are some of the most common German Shepherd sleeping positions. They communicate a lot about their current situation and the influence the environment may be having on them. For instance, if you find your German Shepherd sleeps while curled up during extremely hot days, it may be an indication that the pup is coming down with something. Where should a German Shepherd Sleep? Now that we have covered the reason a German Shepherd sleeps and its sleeping habits, let us talk about where it should sleep. We all know that a good bed or sleeping structure highly contributes to how well we rest. Is this true for Germans Shepherds as well? Yes, providing a safe and comfortable environment where a German Shepherd sleeps is important. Most German Shepherd owners provide a doggie bed; however, this is not enough. Ensure that the bed is placed in a suitable location. Place the doggie bed in a location that not too hot. Also, ensure that the dog has access to clean water from where it sleeps. This will give the dog a comfortable sleeping environment. Since you are part of their flock, they will want to sleep next to you. Its Protective instincts German Shepherds have very strong protective instincts. At night especially, they would rather sleep next to you and protect you, than in the other room. Separation Anxiety Genetically, German shepherds were bred as herd animals. They will want to spend every waking moment with members of their flock. As a member of its flock, expect the German Shepherd to get quite anxious and angry when you leave it behind. This is why it is attached to you and may also want to sleep in your bed at night. They are trained to sleep next to people Your German Shepherd may have been trained to sleep next to people as a puppy. If you allowed your German Shepherd to sleep in your bed, or if its previous owners allowed the pup to sleep with them, then sleeping with you even in old age is normal. This is the most likely reason for their behavior. In summary: German Shepherd sleep Position, Habits and quantity An adult German Shepherd should have hours of sleep each day, while puppies and senior German Shepherds sleep for hours. Of course, the amount of sleep highly depends on the lifestyle and health of the German Shepherd. A Healthy German Shepherd will get its beauty sleep, and most times, the sleeping position will communicate how comfortable, safe, and rested the dog is. However, if the pup is battling any sort of health condition, whether mental or physical, sleep patterns may likely be affected. You may find that your German Shepherd sleeps less or more depending on the kind of illness it is battling. Therefore, if you want a healthy German Shepherd, be sure to check on its habits and conditions. Ensure you provide the most comfortable option for the pup, be it sleeping on its own bed or yours. Human beings require hours of sleep per day, but do German shepherds need more or fewer hours? You might notice that your German shepherd is sleeping most of the time or he is ever alert and awake. So, how much sleep is healthy for your GSD? A German shepherd should sleep for around hours per day. Different lifestyles will greatly affect the number of hours a German shepherd will sleep. An Active GSD will sleep less compared to puppies, and senior dogs. Contents How much sleep is normal for a German shepherd? An adult German shepherd can sleep for hours. He will not sleep for 14 consecutive hours but they will be small naps in the day and some continuous hours at night. How long should I expect my German shepherd puppy to sleep? German shepherd puppies sleep for around hours per day. They spend most of their time discovering their environments and they easily get exhausted. Their bodies are in the growing process and need a lot of rest and food. The more a German shepherd ages, the more sleep he will need. An old GSD can sleep for hours. Effects of different lifestyles on the sleeping time A dog that works as a sniffing dog, in rescue missions, or the military services tend to work tirelessly. They do not have a fixed sleeping schedule. German shepherds are loyal and easy to train, they will readily work without ceasing to please the owner. A German shepherd that lives in the house will tend to sleep more than a working dog. He will have lots of time on his own except the training hours. German shepherds can learn to adapt to any sleeping schedule that the owner will introduce. If your adult dog is sleeping for more than 16 hours, it can be termed excessive sleeping. If your GSD is almost heading to his prime years it can be the cause. Your German shepherd can sleep excessively because of an underlying health condition. Setting a fixed sleeping schedule can help in regulating his sleep. You should exercise him and give him chew toys to engage his mind. If your dog continues to sleep excessively, consult a vet. Your German shepherd might be sleeping less because he has so much energy in him that needs to be released. This can be solved by exercising him for not less than two hours a day. If your GSD does not sleep as he should after exercises, you should take him to a vet. The vet might prescribe some medicines like melatonin. Melatonin assists dogs to sleep better, the dose to be prescribed will be determined by the size of your dog. It is not recommendable to give your dog drugs before consulting your vet. It is not advisable to let your German shepherd sleep with you until he is potty trained. Once your dog can wake up on his own for potty breaks, you can sleep with him. It is not conditional to sleep with your GSD but a matter of choice. Providing your German Shepherd with good sleep conditions When you first take your German shepherd puppy home from a breeder or adoption center, he will have difficulties sleeping. The scent makes the puppy think that the mother is around he sleeps comfortably. If the above methods are not applicable, you can buy a spray bottle of Dog Appeasing Hormone. This helps them to relax their feet and it shows that they feel safe in the environment. Sleeping On Its Front This position helps them to be alert while sleeping. Curled up tightly This position is common in German shepherds in the cold seasons. It helps them to decrease the amount of heat getting lost to the environment. It also helps them to protect the belly and neck from any attack. Tail covering its nose This is another common sleeping style in winter. It protects their noses from cold, wind, and rain. Close to the owner Dogs love companionship, by sleeping next to you they feel safe and comfortable. Conclusion Sleep is a fundamental need for a GSD. The amount of sleep your German shepherd gets affects his well-being. You should know the required sleeping hours for German shepherds as per their ages so that you can know when your GSD is oversleeping or not getting enough sleep. Carol is a paw parent, and her love for dogs started when she was just 5. She adores her two German Shepherds and a Bengal cat, who she says, "life would be incomplete without" Recent Posts. Puppies are similar to babies, they eat, poop, play and sleep. This article will answer those questions and give you some insight into German Shepherd puppy sleeping habits. Yes, German Shepherd puppies sleep a lot. A GSD pup will normally sleep upwards of 18 to 20 hours a day. They are usually asleep unless you are engaging with them in some way. It is normal for German Shepherd puppies to sleep up to 20 hours a day. GSD puppies sleep so much because their bodies are still developing and growing fast so they need to sleep to fuel that process. As they get older, they will sleep a little less. German Shepherd puppies should sleep in a crate when really young and not yet trained. This is because if your puppy has too much space to roam, it will be harder to get them potty trained as they will just find a spot to do their business away from where they are sleeping. Some of the best crates for German Shepherd puppies are ones that can grow with your pup and come with a divider. This is not to say your pup has be crated forever, think of this as a tool to help them get house-trained faster and to keep them safe. As mentioned above, it is too easy for them to find a spot to do their business if they have free access to the whole room at night. However, once your puppy knows how to wake you up for their bathroom break, it is really a personal decision as to whether you want your pup to sleep in your bed. German Shepherd Puppy Sleeping Habits As mentioned above, German Shepherd puppies will usually sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day, which is totally normal. It is also normal for a puppy to not be able to sleep through the night. Just like newborn babies need to get on a schedule so does your new puppy. When my GSD puppy first came home, she usually woke me up two or three times each night for potty breaks. Final Thoughts German Shepherd puppies sleep a lot because their bodies are developing and going through a lot of growth when they are really young. It is normal for a puppy to only be awake for 6 hours a day when you first bring them home. Unless they are playing with toys , eating, drinking, or going outside, they will probably be sleeping. If you feel like your GSD puppy is sleeping too much you can check with your vet to make sure all is ok just for peace of mind. Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might sleep so much and the signs to look for. Nature It is natural for a German Shepherd to sleep for between 12 and 14 hours per day source. Since German Shepherds use up a lot of energy it is necessary for them to get a lot of sleep so that they are able to direct their energy towards growing and repairing the muscles. With that being said, if your German Shepherd sleeps for more than 14 hours per day and it is lethargic when it is awake then it may be cause for concern and it would help to take it to a vet. That is unless it is a puppy or it is old in which case it would be normal for them to sleep for more than 14 hours per day. Heat Heat can also contribute to a German Shepherd becoming sleepy. German Shepherds are designed to thrive in colder environments which is why they have double coats. As a result of this, when the weather starts to heat up, it can cause them to be more sleepy. Heat would be much more likely to be the reason that your GSD has been sleeping a lot if it suddenly started to sleep a lot more when the weather became hotter. If that is the case, it would help to make sure that it has access to shade, cool areas and water throughout the day. It would also help to avoid letting it out in direct sunlight when the sun is directly overhead. Illness Illness can also cause a German Shepherd to be more sleepy. This would be more likely to be the reason if your German Shepherd suddenly started to sleep a lot more than it used to. It would also be more likely if its behavior changed suddenly or if it became lethargic as well. If you think that it might be sleeping too much due to illness then the best option for you would be to have it checked up on by a vet. Boredom Boredom could also be the reason that your German Shepherd has been sleeping a lot. German Shepherds are meant to be working dogs which means that they are designed to be very active when they are awake. Generally, it is recommended that a German Shepherd should get an hour of exercise per day. If your German Shepherd is not currently getting that much exercise then it would help to make sure that it does. However, if it is a puppy then it is recommended that you limit the amount of exercise that it gets to 5 minutes per month of age each day. This is because too much exercise might damage their joints. Diet A poor diet could also be why your German Shepherd sleeps a lot. This would be especially likely if it started to sleep more at around the same time that you changed its diet. You can look at this website to see what you should and should not be feeding your German Shepherd. If you are unsure of what food to get for your German Shepherd, consider getting dog food designed specifically for German Shepherds. If it is young or old As mentioned above, the age of your German Shepherd will have an impact on how much it will naturally sleep. German Shepherd puppies need to sleep a lot since it is when they are sleeping that they grow and they grow fast. This is why it is normal for a German Shepherd puppy to sleep for between 15 and 20 hours per day source. On the other hand, when a German Shepherd gets older it will sleep a lot then as well. This is because they tire out more easily. Things to consider Before trying to get your German Shepherd to sleep less it would help to consider a number of things. If it suddenly started to sleep more If your German Shepherd has always slept a lot but it is lively when it is awake then it is likely that it sleeps a lot naturally. Whereas, if it has suddenly started to sleep a lot more than it usually does then it would be more likely that there is something wrong. The list mentioned above could all be reasons that your German Shepherd suddenly started sleeping a lot. It would help to consider what else changed at around the same time that it started to sleep more than usual. If it has also become lethargic when it is awake or its behavior has changed then it would likely be worthwhile for you to take it to the vet. When your German Shepherd sleeps a lot It would also help to consider when it seems to sleep a lot. For example, if you notice that it only seems to sleep a lot when it is hot outside then it would likely be because of the heat. Whereas, if you notice that it sleeps shortly after feeding it then its diet might have something to do with it. What to do about your German Shepherd sleeping so much Below, I will mention a number of things that you can do about your German Shepherd sleeping so much. Allow it to As mentioned above, it is natural for a German Shepherd to be sleeping a lot. With that being the case, one of the best things that you will be able to do is to allow it to continue to sleep as much as it needs to. Make sure that it is able to sleep comfortably Seeing as they are meant to be sleeping a lot, it would help if you can make its sleeping environment as comfortable as possible. You can do this by ensuring that it is not too hot where it sleeps, it is comfortable for it and that it has access to water when it wants it. Make sure that its diet is right Seeing as its diet could be contributing to it sleeping so much it would help to ensure that it is getting the right diet. Keep it cool Seeing as its diet could be contributing to it sleeping so much it would help to ensure that it is getting the right diet. Take it to a vet If you are unsure of why your German Shepherd is sleeping so much or you think that there might be something wrong then the best option for you would be to have a vet look at it. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. They are the second most popular breed in America. German Shepherds are an active breed that requires extensive physical and mental training to stay engaged. Their bites have lbs of force, which is close to 3 times the force of a human bite. Make sure train to your pup not to bite unless the person is an intruder. A German Shepherd puppy can adopt the same routine as a human baby. Incorporate enough time throughout the day for a rotating schedule of eating, potty breaks, playing, and sleeping. Providing a balanced and engaging schedule for your puppy will get him or her more able to become accustomed to sleep training. Your new puppy will be getting used to their new home with you and adjusting to your sleep schedule as well. When the pup is not playing, eating, or taking potty breaks, he or she may squeeze in a day time nap. Their bladders are not fully developed yet, so they are always in need of a potty break. Be prepared for your puppy to wake you up in the middle of the night the first few weeks of bringing him or her home for midnight potty breaks. If you have multiple adults in the house, create a rotating schedule of who will take out the dog for a midnight potty break based on the day of the week. If you have yourself and two others in your home, try a schedule like this: You: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday Significant other, roommate, or another family member: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Your older child or teenager: Saturday nights only What Are Other Reasons for Sleeping a Lot? There are other contributing factors as to why your German Shepherd puppy is sleeping a lot. When they are just months old, their normal sleep schedule will be for normal growth and development of their brain, immune system, and joints. Keep an eye on the other factors that could be reasons as to why he or she is sleeping more and adjust their environment accordingly. Poor diet, excessive exercise, sickness, heat, and boredom could be other reasons for your puppy sleeping more than usual. If your pup is not eating the right nutritious food, he or she could become sleepier throughout the day. Your pup should eat protein-rich nutritious dog food specially formulated for German Shepherds. According to Pet Care Rx , the age, activity, and general health of your pup will decide how much calories it needs throughout the day which is anywhere from to per day. Pet Care Rx suggests giving your pup one of the following for a balanced diet. Young puppies are still in the process of developing their bones and joints. Excessive exercise will only tire your German Shepherd puppy out faster and repeated instances of too much exercise could mess up their sleep schedule. The German Shepherd Shop recommends the following exercises to help your pup stay healthy. Limit tug of war activities to only minutes at a time. Take your puppy on small walks around the block for optimal exercise. Play fetch for about 5 minutes at a time which could be a good throws. Encourage normal puppy free play with their toys at their leisure. German Shepherd Shop discourages doing the following high-impact exercises with your pup. Prolonged games of fetch or tug of war Long hikes or walks Agility training that is not aged appropriately for your pup Sickness If your German Shepherd puppy is sick, he or she may sleep more to fight off the bad bacteria and viruses. If your puppy is acting differently and not as active as usual, take note of this for repeated occurrences. A common German Shepherd sickness is hip dysplasia which could lead to arthritis because of the continuous inflammation in the hips. Degenerative myelopathy, bloating, blood disorders, and epilepsy are also common health issues in German Shepherds. If your German Shepherd puppy continues to act abnormally than how he or usually behaves, schedule a visit with the veterinarian to be on the safe side. This breed naturally thrives better in colder climates and a high amount of heat outside or inside the house can cause more sleepiness. In the summer, be sure the air conditioner is at a comfortable temperature so your puppy feels comfortable. Consider placing a waterproof dog mat or bed and a dog bowl of water at this area for your pup to stay properly cool and hydrated. If your puppy loves the snow during winter, only give him or her a few minutes of snowy playtime so they do not get hypothermia. Your Pup is Bored Naturally, boredom leads to sleeping more. Refer to German Shepherd Corner for some of the best toys for German Shepherds to get ideas of what toys to get for your curious pup. Purchase a few toys as a start and observe your pup. Does he or she like to chew, tug, or fetch more? Maybe get one toy each that encourages these activities and see which toy your German Shepherd puppy loves most. Once you have figured that out, you can stock up on their favorite toy for when the original one becomes worn out. Related Posts.

Request Barking One reason your Golden Retriever may bark is to communicate a need or desire to you. Meals, potty time , fetch, ear rubs, access to the yard, walks , car rides, bully sticks , etc. A dog who is request barking may stare at you intently between barks, and their feet may be a bit dancey. They may also run between you and the thing they want while barking, such as trotting to the door and then back to you to bark. Your dog might bark in the direction of the thing they want, rather than at you. Sometimes a request bark is accompanied by some whining and tail wagging as well. An owner might unintentionally reward a dog for barking, which then can result in more barking. For example, your Golden starts getting antsy because they know dinner time is soon, and they let out a few barks in your direction. This prompts you to get up and feed them. You can bet your bottomless pit took note of that and will be barking more to try to get you to feed them. If a bark works to get what they want, they will keep barking because it has been proven effective. One way to approach request barking is to stay a few steps ahead of your dog. If you know your dog will need to go potty a certain amount of time after a meal, for example, take them out before they can start barking at you. This prevents your dog from practicing the barking behavior and avoids you unintentionally rewarding the barking by giving them what they want. Another way to address request barking is to give them an alternative consequence. If your Golden Retriever starts asking for dinner through barking, you can put a leash on them and bring them over with you while you finish up your emails, or put them in a covered crate. Wait until your pup is chilling on their bed, then pick up their favorite toy for some playtime. This will teach your dog that if they act in calm, quiet ways, good things happen. Alarm Barking Some Golden Retrievers will bark to announce the presence of something, usually a person or animal, near their house or property. Alarm barks can vary by dog, but are usually a sequence of one or two barks, a pause, and then more barks. Some dogs may bark incessantly while the object in question is within sight outside the house, and others may mix in some growls too. Many dogs will run to the door or window where the potential threat is located, and some pace around a bit too. Alarm barking is a natural behavior for dogs, but if you prefer your dog respond in a calmer way to the daily occurrences outside your home or yard, there are some things you can do. An easy fix is to put up some frosted window film on windows where your Golden Retriever plays neighborhood watch. Another solution is to train a positive interrupter. This can work well for dogs who alarm bark at things they see, and also for dogs that alert to noises. Repeat a few times in a row. Step 3: Practice this in different rooms at different times of day for a couple of days. Step 7: Now that the cue is well-established, it can be used to interrupt alarm barking! As they show success, you can call out from further away in the house. With time, you may notice your Golden Retriever skipping the barking and simply coming to find you when they see or hear something. If they do, be sure to reward them with some treats! Follow all the steps and be generous with the rewards before using it in a real-life situation. Excitement Barking You may notice that your Golden Retriever starts barking when they get excited. A Golden Retriever who is barking out of excitement shows wiggly, loose body language. A pup who is carrying their favorite ball or stuffed toy is unlikely to bark. Keep a stash of toys near locations where your dog tends to bark out of excitement so you can help calm them down. You can also train your dog to go find a toy, which creates a positive new routine in exciting scenarios. Rather than barking like a happy fool, they know to grab a puppy pacifier. If your dog is overexcited, a short time-out can also help them learn to be quiet. Calmly guide them to their crate, your car, a mat, or just further away until they can show some self-control. This helps them understand that calm and quiet behavior is what gets them back to having fun. Another solution for excitement barking is to teach your dog to focus on you. Step 2: Toss a treat a couple of feet away, let your dog eat it. Toss another treat to repeat the pattern. Step 3: Take the game to new locations, starting with low distraction spaces and building up to more challenging places. Step 4: Add in other distractions. Instead of tossing a treat, use an easy distraction to play the game, perhaps a family member walking by, or a toy set on the ground at a distance. Step 5: Build up to more challenging distractions. Practice this focus game in increasingly hard situations, working up to the situation that causes them to bark out of excitement. You can reward at a high rate for their focus. Getting a golden retriever puppy? Check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook! Fear Barking Sometimes Golden Retrievers will bark out of fear. There may be something in their environment, such as a person, dog or object, that causes them concern or stress. Golden Retrievers are known for being very friendly dogs, but some may be more sensitive than others and will exhibit fearful barking. Barking that comes from fear can look differently depending on the dog. Some dogs may lunge forward while barking at whatever is causing them discomfort. Others may retreat from the scary or weird thing while looking back and barking. Fearful barking may also be accompanied by growling, bared teeth, and raised hackles. Is it men with beards? Kids on bikes? Large dogs? There are two games you can play to help your fearful dog feel more calm and confident: Look at That and Treat and Retreat. Simply give them a treat. Repeat this ten times. Repeat this another 10 times. Play steps one and two a few times at home. You can use different people or dogs that your dog is comfortable with to start. Keep your dog at a distance where they can be successful as they learn how the game works. Step 3: Take the game on the road. Perhaps you can chill in a quiet corner of the park where your dog can spot a trigger without reacting. Find a way to create more distance and try again. As your dog shows success, you can gradually get closer to the trigger. As you progress with this game, your dog will begin to point out triggers they see in their environment and then check back in with you, rather than reacting. Step 1: The person throws treats away from your dog. Give the person a supply of treats. Ask them not to make direct eye contact with your dog. When they enter your house, or your general vicinity if doing this outside, have them toss a treat behind the dog. The dog will have to move away from the person to get the treat. Not only do they get a yummy snack, but they also get more distance from the person. And that distance is what they want. So they are getting double rewards! Step 2: The person alternates tossing the treat behind the dog, and between them and the dog. Start with a treat toss behind the dog. Then have the person toss a treat in front of the dog. The dog will have to move toward the person to get it. Then another toss behind the dog. Go back and forth between these two treat placements. Again, repeat this with different people and environments. You want to see your dog looking happy and confident with this. Loose body language and easy movement are good signs. As they show success, the person can toss the treats closer and closer to their feet. Aggression Barking Some Golden Retrievers may bark out of aggression in certain situations. Aggression is a broad term to describe a wide variety of dog behavior, but in general can be defined as threatening or intentionally harmful behavior directed toward another dog or human. Goldens are notorious for their friendly demeanors, but aggression can show up even within this typically social breed. Aggression is complex, and sometimes a dog may bark aggressively in an attempt to avoid a potential conflict, rather than trying to start one. A dog may bark aggressively if someone infringes upon what they perceive as their territory, such as a home, yard or vehicle. Your Golden may also bark aggressively at other dogs due to a social conflict. Pain can also result in aggressive barking, as a dog may not want to be touched or approached out of fear of making the pain worse. Typically an aggressive bark is loud and deep, though it can vary from dog to dog. You can usually hear a difference in an aggressive bark compared to other kinds of barks — it sounds more intense and serious. A Golden Retriever who is barking aggressively may also growl, show their teeth, lunge, snap or bite. Their body may be stiff and they may give a hard stare in the direction of the person or other dog. Your Golden may also pin their ears back and quickly flick her tongue or lick her lips. The first thing to do in order to stop barking due to aggression is to prevent the behavior from happening. If you know your dog acts aggressively in a certain scenario, do everything you can to avoid putting them in that situation. Then, get help from a certified professional, such as your vet or a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. Aggression needs to be taken seriously, so that you, your dog and the public remain safe. You can find a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant here ; many work virtually, so even if there is not a professional in your city, you can get the help you and your dog need. If you, another person, or another dog approaches the valuable thing or reaches for it, your dog may bark and show other signs of aggression. Resource guarding is a normal, natural behavior for dogs, but it can become dangerous. Your Golden can escalate from a bark to a bite if the behavior is not properly handled. A resource guarding bark will look like an aggressive bark described above in the Aggressive Barking section. You may see body stiffness, growling, snapping, and other aggressive behaviors accompany the barking. You might also see your Golden Retriever bark and then pick up the item if they are guarding a bone or toy, for example and take it further away. Your pup may put themselves in between the valuable thing and whoever they think may be trying to take it away while they bark. Resource guarding is a serious issue and can put your safety, as well as the safety of family members and other pets, at risk. First, do what you can to prevent the guarding behavior from happening. Perhaps that means not giving your dog a bully stick, or putting toys in a cabinet. Then, get help from a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, which you can find here. A very common solution that is recommended for dogs who guard their food bowl is to feed the food from your hand, or to stick your hand in the food bowl so they learn to tolerate your hand around their food. Not only is this not an effective solution, but it can actually make resource guarding worse! Always let your Golden Retriever eat in peace, without touching them or their food. Your Golden is the same way. You might think that punishing your dog will get them to stop barking. Resorting to physically punishing a dog is not recommended by dog behavior experts. It can really damage the relationship between you and your dog, and can create other behavior issues. Some dogs will actually bark more if you start making noise too. And if your dog is barking out of aggression or resource guarding, trying to punish your dog may very well make the behavior worse and put you at greater risk of a bite. You got your Golden Retriever because you want a loving, loyal companion, not because you want to intimidate or scare them. Getting help from a certified, professional trainer or a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant is also a great resource to help you work through the barking. How much and what kind of exercise are they getting? Are they getting quality sleep? Are they receiving appropriate mental stimulation? Are they eating a healthy, balanced diet? Are they experiencing pain or chronic health issues? Is your home a stressful living environment? A Golden Retriever whose needs are not met is more likely to resort to barking. If your Golden is in pain or sick , they may bark more. If your pup is living with a lot of stress or anxiety , barking may become their go-to behavior. Have any questions about golden retriever barking? Let us know down in the comments! Related articles:. By Tom Massey Jan 25, Known as a friendly and devoted family dog, the Golden Retriever has been one of the most popular breeds for 30 years. These energetic animals come in various golden shades and make excellent pets, working dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, and more. The Golden Retriever is a remarkably intelligent dog and learns quickly when properly trained as a puppy. They are active animals who love to play, seeking attention from their owners to expend physical and mental energy. Most Labrador and Golden Retrievers are not known to engage in excessive barking and any dog owner of a Golden Retriever will tell you that this is not an aggressive animal. This is a genuinely happy-go-lucky dog breed, and if it starts barking without stopping, something is clearly amiss. Some speculate that the lack of excessive barking is because they were bred to help hunters, so barking would scare the prey away. Golden Retrievers are also friendly dogs and are not known to behave aggressively. They will let out several usual dog sounds , including howling, growling, chortling, whimpering, yelping, and fear or alarm dog barks. Sometimes, you will encounter dogs who simply like the sound of their voice and will bark for fun or attention. Then, you can take the appropriate training measures to reduce barking. Why Do Golden Retrievers Bark? A Golden Retriever bark can signify multiple things, but there are a few general feelings your dog may be trying to communicate. And they will start barking when they feel ignored. Repeated barking, which could get louder as time passes, is a sign that your Golden insists you pay attention to it, whether to play, feed, or pet it. They might start barking when you mention dog parks or pick up a toy and start playing with your dog. A Golden Retriever might also indicate that they want to play or visit the dog park by using body language and barking. These fears can range from being scared of thunderstorms and fireworks to acting terrified around the vacuum cleaner. Whether the fear is legitimate or not, your Golden Retriever is bound to release some extra barking when stressed or scared. And, as your puppy grows, you can reduce these stressors in its life. You can also train it to let go of irrational fears—for example, showing your dog that it has nothing to worry about when you run the vacuum. Their frustration can result from several things: their squeaker toy is too loud, they want more water in their bowl, or they want you to play. When they are frustrated, Goldens might repeatedly bark at the object of their frustration. They might also become a bit aggressive or destructive. They love their owners and are eager to please them. So when the time comes for its owners to leave for work, the dog might start experiencing separation anxiety and express it through barking. Addressing separation anxiety is crucial to having a healthy Golden Retriever. Your dog will not only be loud because of its anxiety, but it can also engage in destructive behavior, like chewing your belongings in the house. Training to help it overcome such anxiety from an early age is key to good behavior in the future. This type of barking is also accompanied by different body postures that make your Golden seem more threatening. According to the American Kennel Club, you can use a variety of training methods and strategies to reduce barking and promote good behavior. It should all start with determining why your Golden Retriever barks a lot, identifying any other stressors in its life, and then spending time to correct this behavior through training or working through stressors. There are different ways to train your Golden pup to reduce the different types of barking. Reducing Boredom and Attention Barking Most of your barking problems will be solved by mental and physical stimulation. Spend more time playing with your dog and stimulating it physically or mentally. A tired dog is less likely to have the energy to bark, so whenever you feel like your Golden Retriever is barking a lot, try playing with it. A better way to address playfulness barking is to create a fulfilling play schedule. If you follow a routine of playing with your Golden a few times per day, it will learn that schedule and know when it can expect to have fun. If even after setting a play schedule, your Golden is still barking, you need to increase the frequency of play. Reducing Alarm and Fear Barking If you hear your Golden barking out of fear or alarm, you should go to them and acknowledge the object of their fear. Then, wait until the dog has stopped barking to give it a treat. They need to know you are confident in the situation so they do not feel like they have to handle it. Once the dog understands that these sounds are not a threat, it will have no cause for alarm or fear. If you find it challenging to train your dog, you should look to get your Golden from a reputable breeder who has invested time into socializing and training it. They are trying to get something from you by barking, so if we acknowledge their barking, it shows them they are getting what they want. Reducing Aggressiveness Barking When your Golden is becoming aggressive or territorial, you need to train it to understand that you are the one who takes care of threats. When you hear loud barking with growling and see your dog in a protective stance, immediately step in to reassure it that you will deal with it. Golden Retrievers are particularly smart, and they can learn how to behave the way you want them to without punishment. While you should avoid rewarding them for bad behavior, punishment is not a solution. Spending time with your dog and giving it the attention and stimulation it needs is key to addressing unwanted behavior. Ask yourself the following questions: Is there anything scaring or alarming your Golden Retriever? Have you played enough with your Golden Retriever? Has your Golden Retriever received enough attention and pets? Are you establishing a regular training schedule for your dog? Does your Golden Retriever feel threatened? Conclusion Golden Retrievers are loyal companions, and they are an ideal dog breed for families. And to avoid buying a puppy that could have barking problems, you can get your Golden Retriever from an experienced breeder who has spent time training the dog and teaching them healthy behaviors. We train our purebred puppies so they form healthy habits at a young age. We also feed them the best diet to maximize their well-being. Get one of the most popular dog breeds in the country with the passionate and loving team of breeders at Snowy Pines today. Share on.

Teaching Puppie to Sit Excellent Companion Perfect Hunting Dog The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-couple dog that possesses a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a retrieving gun dog. It has both the substance and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for long hours under difficult conditions. We believe the 10 lab puppies inherited these traits also. Obviously, Labrador Retrievers are the most popular breed in America. Because of their even temperament and trainability, millions of Americans own Labrador Retrievers as pets. In addition, Labradors are well-suited as disability-assistants in many countries; for example, Labradors are frequently trained to aid the blind and those who have autism. They also work as therapy dogs, as well as perform screening and detection work for law enforcement and other official agencies. Additionally, they are prized as sporting and hunting dogs. The Lab is such a versatile and family-friendly breed. From hunters to sportsmen, pet owners, and event competitors, Labradors are the dog of choice for the best of reasons. Labradors are a loving breed that make excellent furry family members, are wonderful with children, adults, and animals alike, and offer years of unconditional love and support to the right owner and caretaker. I purchased my lab puppy from them in .Grover is a wonderful pet. We are very pleased, and would purchase another lab pup from them again. Larry called me to ask for a recommendation, and I said I would gladly give him one. Zeva my yellow female lab is 12 years old now, and she is getting up there in age. If the time came, and I wanted another dog, I would call Larry for certain. We have been very pleased with Zeva through the years. She is a wonderful companion!! Laura Bein Larry, and Tracey are my next door neighbors. We purchased Lacy combo of Larry, and Tracey in .We know what kind of dogs they had, and how they cared for their dogs. It was an easy decision to purchase Lacy from them. She passed away this year, and we dearly miss her. My sister is getting a black female from Larry when the puppies are available. I will also purchase my next lab from Peoples Choice Labs when I am ready for another lab. I am just not quite ready to pull the trigger yet. Contact info. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. Fortunately, you have plenty of options for finding the right puppy for you in Texas. The state hosts many breeders, most with impressive credentials and years of experience. Many show their dogs and have a keen eye for the best in conformation and performance. Molly Bogan Check oasislabradors. She specializes in yellow and black Labs for hunting, conformation, and therapy animals. Her pups are adorable, with full faces and stocky bodies well-suited to their tasks. She offers a written guarantee with breeding stock that is well-screened for health issues. LaRena Phillips Check phillipsfarm. Phillips is no stranger to the show ring, entering her pups in performance, obedience, and conformation competitions. The Lab puppies get plenty of exercise on the Phillips farm, where the family also raises and shows horses. Her dogs include pups from championship lines. Stacey Green Check greenstonelabradors. They have 40 champion dogs to their credit. The Greens go the extra mile to get the recommended health screenings done on their puppies. The pups are also socialized and go to their new homes with the necessary vaccinations and deworming. Fernando Somoza Check watercrosskennels. He breeds both conformation quality and hunting dogs. He also shows both horses and cattle. His tagline says everything you need to know about his puppies. Susan Malone Check bearpaw labradors. Her emphasis is on show and performance quality dogs. Many of her pups are also certified through Therapy Dogs International. Malone raises both yellow and black Labs. All pups have received the recommended health screenings. Maria Anderson Check kevmarlabs. Anderson competes in the show circuit for conformation, performance, and obedience of her dogs. Puppies are home-raised and socialized. Susan Yates Check rebellandlabradors. Worth Labrador Retriever Club. Yates shows her dogs, too. Gina Roidopoulos Check saddlecreeklabs. Her specialty is yellow Labs. All pups receive the necessary certifications and health screenings. Roidopoulos shows her dogs for conformation. Stacey Hall Check swanmountainlabs. Her dogs also participate in field training in hunting. Hall breeds yellow, chocolate, and black Retrievers. Puppies come with their first series of vaccinations and deworming. They also have a health guarantee. Angela McElroy Check southtexaslabs. All dogs receive DNA testing and the recommended health screenings. Puppies are also microchipped. Read more Advertisement. They answer any and all questions you might have in a timely manner, before and after you leave with your puppy. The right breeder is everything and Angie will exceed your expectations when it comes to Labradors. We are absolutely in love with our yellow lab and will never go anywhere else!! We love Pilot!!! Jackie Klinski Longo We adore our pup Ruby! She has an amazing temperament and with three kiddos that was so important to us. She is a true companion. My parents have their puppy Finley from Alder Creek as well and we adore him so much too! Amy Forks I am beyond excited to meet my new yellow lab puppy this weekend! I already have a beautiful chocolate lab from AlderCreek, and I know that I will be getting the best in quality, beauty, and disposition with my 2nd lab from AlderCreek. Angie does a wonderful job of matching puppies to their new human families. I have no… Sallie Broaddus Angie is the best at what she does. Her preparation and organization for that change was a game changer for me as a new pup parent as well as for the young lab…. Matthew Dueser Where to begin?! Our family now has two incredible labs from Angie Brown. We began with Angie in December of .I have recommended her to people every chance I get! Angie is extraordinarily thorough. She has a vast array of experience in the world of Labradors. Angie loves hearing from us and seeing all of our many lab… Elizabeth Kuper Make A Puppy Inquiry We know finding a genetically sound puppy with the right temperament takes a lot of time and research.

No need to wonder anymore, thanks to videos on social media where animals talk back to their owners with attitude, like this dog caught chewing up a roll of toilet paper. You tripping over toilet paper. I chew toilet paper. I didn't even chew it all. You could use some of that. Now his full-time job is watching about pet videos a day submitted by animal lovers all over the world. He watches with the sound turned down and looks for animals that seem to be saying something with their body movements, like this sassy Chihuahua. You just sit here pushing the buttons on this stick. And we don't do nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. Say something. I came across a puppy dog bouncing in a box video and was like, hey, that could be a song. It's like it's - it has rhythm to it. That's nasty. Puppy dog bouncing in the box like this. It was reposted by like, Colin Hanks and Missy Elliott, and it just blew up. He leaves the owner's voice in. I'm going to be Jack. I said get out now. Live your life for me. Bounce it, puppy, like you tryna get free. Bounce it, puppy. Bounce it, lil puppy. Bounce it for me. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. Continue Reading About Us We are a group of young people trying to make the best out of the short time we have with our dogs on this planet. We believe in making pet parenting easier, so everyone can spend less time on problems and more time bonding with their best friends. We are always trying our best to provide the highest-quality content to all pet parents around the world that can help solve all of their problems. Glamorous Dogs Team has been selectively chosen according to their passion for pets and extraordinary knowledge about pet-related topics. They are all pet owners who totally understand pet owner's needs and they want you to live the best experience with your dog around. We all like dogs. And Pizza. And sometimes, Burritos, if they are really well-made. S: This is Joey in the picture, he is the best, awesomest boy we have in office. Reach us! GlamorousDogs is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Sign up for our awesome newsletter! Well I wanted to make it absolutely clear whatever you take, it wasn't going to be my dog. Puppy Dog Bouncin in the Box So this is the song that started it all. I saw the meme of a dog bouncing in a box and thought to myself, "that pup has rhythm, let me put a beat to it". The Rest is History. I Know This is one of my personal Favs because every Dog Person knows all the little emotions running through their Dog's head when you leave, when you come back, when you have company and when you're feeling a certain way. My Doggy Style So I have a bunch of kids Bouncin to the Pup so I had to put my spin on the fun life of a dog from it's perspective of course. Let's Take a Walk This is for that one buddy. That ride or die doggo. If you know what I'm talking about then you know what those walks mean to your BF and vice versa. My Best Friend Just a tribute to my best friend my best friend, best friend my best friend my best friend. Beautiful and Emotional at the same time. Smell Up That Butt You already know! Smell Butts. You Me and My Dog This was made to be a date night song. Easy way to break the ice and make someone feel comfortable knowing that you and them will always have a plus one in yall's lives. It's My Doggy's Birthday Why not? Every thing else has a Birthday Song. It was long overdue and time to make one for your favorite Best Friend. Doggy Bounce Challenge So it started with a dog in a box and ended up with a bunch of humans posting themselves dancing to the song so I threw in a Dance Challenge verse for the humans. Remember, just like any Music Artist or Group, We live off of the content we create! Thank You!

Shih poos are a cross between a shih tzu and a toy poodle. While some shih tzu breeders breed a poodle to a shih tzu to create first-generation shih poos, it's also common practice to breed shih poos to one another to create multigenerational dogs. As cross-breeds, shih poos are not an officially recognized breed, and there is no breed standard regarding appearance or temperament. Even shih poo puppies born to the same litter may take after one parent more than the other and appear vastly different in coat texture and coloring, says PetGuide. Shih poos fall in the small to tiny range, typically standing between eight and 18 inches at the withers and weighing anywhere from eight to 18 pounds. Their coat may be long, straight and silky like that of the shih tzu, shorter and curly like that of a poodle or it may fall somewhere in between. Despite the appearance, the shih poo's coat barely sheds, making these dogs a good fit for someone with mild pet allergies. Coloring can take after either parent breed. While poodles have solid coats that are typically black, white, gray, brown or apricot, shih tzu coats may be solid or come in various color patterns and combinations. Shoodle coats may mimic the coloring pattern of either parent. Personality: Often, mixed-breed dogs develop a temperament that balances the qualities of their parent breeds. Shih tzus tend to be highly affectionate and extremely charming, but possess a stubborn streak that can make them difficult to train. Poodles, on the other hand, while equally charming with playful and comedic personalities, are highly intelligent dogs who are more eager to please and easier to train. Shih poos, as a result, are often playful, affectionate and quick-witted little charmers, although they may inherit their shih tzu parent's willfulness. Because of this, they often need a firm but patient guide in training, and might not be the best choice for first-time dog parents. What shih poos may lack in trainability, they more than make up for in love and affection. They love to play with toys and get along wonderfully with older children, although due to their small size and hair that's easy to grab and pull, they should be closely supervised around small children. While friendly and great at getting along well with other pets, especially if introduced as puppies, older shih poos might not love having other dogs around. They often do well as only dogs. Even so, these fluffy pups love being close to their people and don't tolerate being left alone for long periods of time. If work or school takes you away from home for long hours, you may need to consider doggie daycare to keep your shih poo happy. Living With: Shih poos are generally versatile dogs that can do well in small apartments as well as larger homes. They need up to 30 minutes a day of play and exercise, which can be satisfied with two or three short walks each day or minute sessions of vigorous playtime twice daily. The rest of the time, they'll be content to curl up in your lap or to cuddle up next to you on the sofa. Shih poos are highly social and love to be around people, so expect them to stick close as you move around the house. While shih poos tend to be long-lived, with some living 17 years or more, they can be predisposed to the same health problems as their parent breeds. These include allergies, patellar luxation , vision problems and endocrine disorders such as Addison's disease, hypothyroidism and Cushing's disease. Shih poos that inherit the shorter snout of the shih tzu may also be prone to respiratory issues, reverse sneezing and snoring. Extra care should be taken to prevent overheating and heat stroke, says Dogtime. And like many small breeds, these dogs may be prone to dental problems and will benefit from regular dental cleanings and daily tooth brushing. Regardless of the length or texture of your shih poo's coat, it will be thick, fast-growing and prone to matting. Daily brushing and monthly visits to the groomer are recommended to keep the coat under control. Limit baths to a few times a month to prevent the skin from drying out. When bathing, be sure to prevent water from getting in the ear canals to prevent ear infections from developing. Shoodles have healthy appetites and will overeat if given the chance, which will lead to unhealthy weight gain. It's best to keep them on a consistent feeding schedule rather than allowing them to graze on kibble throughout the day. Feed your pup a high-quality food dog formulated for small breeds , and keep treats to a minimum. History: Not much is known about the backstory of the shih poo. Unlike other boutique breeds, no breeders have come forward to take credit for introducing the shih poo. Most likely this cross-breed came about unintentionally, with breeders in the U. As a cross-breed, shih poos are not recognized as an official breed by the American Kennel Club, although they are recognized by various designer breed registration clubs, including the American Canine Hybrid Club and the International Designer Canine Registry. Related Pet Care Articles. The main problem is the marginal response to training by both of the parents. Photo by Mary Swift on Shutterstock Shih-Tzus are quite stubborn and that can make training them a hustle. If you want to achieve something, grant them a lot of attention. On the contrary, Poodles enjoy having their minds and bodies tested so will learn everything there is to know very fast. Your Shih-Poo might not be the best training candidate, especially with dominant Shin-Tzu traits. However, starting the training early and implementing consistency and positive reinforcement will eventually provide results. Their ideal exercise time is approximately half an hour walking daily, possibly in two separate sessions. Sometimes additional exercises can be added if you want them to lose weight. At least an hour of exercise is what can keep your poodle satisfied. This hour can be filled either with intense walking, a game of fetch, or other rousing games. Lack of physical and mental stimulation in Poodles can result in destructive behavior. Excessive barking, digging, and chewing are signs of boredom and excess energy. Obesity can mean that your dog is more of a Poodle in means of exercise and needs to spend time out a lot more. Shih Poos are not inherently aggressive at all. However, as with many small dog breeds, training is often neglected at the expense of a wildly barking and untrained dog. There is no doubt that a Shih-Poo can be madly in love with his family and all life regardless. Whether they are friendly with other animals and people can also reflect their early socialization. Shih-Tzu dogs are very affectionate and there is nothing more they love than following their owners from place to place even the bathroom. They are made to be companion dogs and are generally happy beings. If they think there is something out of the ordinary ex. After the stranger comes in they will be best friends with the dog in a matter of minutes. Poodles strive toward the protective temperament. They are wary of strangers and will let you know that strangers approach their house. A Poodle is an affectionate dog too, but it can take a while to get used to new people, or not get used at all. Without any distraction, they are calm when their family is around. Shih-Tzus are a bit contradictory when it comes to the following leadership. Being stubborn they might decide not to do something or go someplace. In the meantime, they are dependent on their owners and cannot spend a minute without them. When they misbehave if you try to yell at them or punish them will make things even worse because they have very sensitive feelings. Beware of their jealousy especially when you are playing with other pets or children. Provide enough stimulation early in their lives and take the leadership badge. You will need to show you Shih-Poo that you are the leader by using positive reinforcement. Make your dog feel safe around you, give a lot of attention, work on socialization, and no matter what traits are dominant, you will have an obedient furry friend. Health Because of their sensitive skin, Shih-Poos can be prone to skin and ear infections. A contributing factor can be the frequent cases of allergies within the breed. Some bad anatomical formations can produce musculoskeletal abnormalities such as patellar luxation or hip dysplasia. Retained baby teeth, gum disease, and periodontal disease are also a result of anatomical abnormalities in Shih-Tzus. Another hormonal disease Poodles often develop is Diabetes. Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus or simply called bloat is common in deep-chested dogs such as the Poodles. The condition is very serious. You can reduce the risk of developing if you limit exercises after meals and give smaller and frequent portions of food and water. If the Shih-Poo inherits the Shih-Tzu anatomy there is a big chance for the dog to suffer from dysplasia, retained baby teeth, and any other breathing problem brachycephalic dogs have. Both Poodles and Shih Tzus have a life expectancy of around 13 years and Poodles. A Shih-Tzu cross-breed dog can live years. Depending on factors such as genetics, nutrition, and lifestyle dogs of this breed can live even longer. Do Shih Poos Shed? Yes, Shih Poos do shed and there are a lot of varieties of Shih-Poo coats. Some dogs get the straight fur from the Tzu parent while others are curly like their Poodle predecessor. In most cases, the crossbreed will be a combination of both. Shih-Poos have to be brushed daily and groomed on monthly basis. Along with bathing when necessary, you can prevent their coat from getting dry , matted, and irritated. Both Poodles and Shih-Tzus are considered to be hypoallergenic dog breeds. Their hair is less likely to shed and cause allergic reactions in people. An interesting thing about Shih Tzus is the way their hair grows in all directions — this granted them the moniker Chrysanthemum Dog. Regarding color, they can be in all variations and combinations — brindle, black, brown, white. Size Shih Tzu Poodle mixes are usually inches cm and weigh between pounds kg , assuming the dog is crossed with a smaller Poodle. Standard Shih Tzu dogs have an adult height between 8 and 11 inches cm and weigh pounds kg. There is also the Imperial Shih Tzu that can weigh less than 5 pounds 2. In most countries, they are classified as a toy dog breed. Adult Toy Poodle is about 10 inches 25 cm tall with pounds kg of body weight — Standard Poodle stands are 15 inches 38 cm in height and pounds kg weight. There are 4 different types of poodle — toy, miniature, medium, standard. The shelters across the globe are filled with Shih-Tzu and Poodle crosses. The dog is perfect for both larger and smaller homes and families with children if socialized properly. Let me know if you have any questions left regarding this crossbreed or share your experiences with the Shih tau Poodle mix! Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet. Post navigation. 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. They are not purebreds like their Shih Tzu or Poodle parents. Shih-Poo coats can be curly like their Poodle parent, straight like their Shih-Tzu parent, or a combination of the two. They are generally considered hypoallergenic. Shih-Poos can come in black, white, brown, brindle, and all variations and color combinations. Like most small dogs, Shih-Poos can be prone to dental health issues. Maintain proper dental hygiene for your Shih-Poo. Shih-Poos are pretty versatile and can live in just about any kind of home. Shih-Poos come from the loyal, adorable Shih Tzu, and the intelligent, sophisticated Poodle. Unfortunately, like any other breed, these little cutie pies wind up in shelters, from people not wanting a long-term commitment. If you keep your eyes out for a Shih Tzu or Poodle rescue, in your area, that is most likely where you will find a Shih-Poo awaiting adoption. They are not acknowledged as an official breed at the present time. That said, as a mix between Shih-Tzu and Toy Poodle parents, you can expect the Shih-Poo to be on the small side Most weigh in at eight to 18 pounds and range in height from eight to 18 inches. As Poodle and Shih Tzu size can vary between teacup, miniature and standard, the size of the Shih-Poo will also vary. Shih Tzus can be stubborn, but what they lack in trainability, they make up for in personality ten fold. They are incredibly friendly, attentive, and cute, while Poodles are intelligent, trainable, and active. Shih-Poo personalities can vary but typically will fall in the middle of parental traits. Most Shih-Poos are described as friendly and playful. While Shih-Poos enjoy a good siesta, they also enjoy walks and thrive on playtime. They may not be eager to learn new tricks but do enjoy interaction and attention. Shih-Poos may not be as barky as their Poodle parent, but may alert you to any displeasures, such as a missed meal, with a single bark until every few minutes until needs are met. Training and socialization should be established early on. Consistency and positive reinforcement are the ways to go with Shih-Poos. Shih-Poo Health While many designer crossbreeds have improved overall health, they can inherit health issues their parents are prone to. That said, Shih-Poos can typically live approximately 16 years on average in relatively great health. Watch for signs of heat stroke if your dog happens to have a shorter snout. As a small dog, they can be prone to dental problems. Maintain good dental care and have their teeth regularly checked and professionally cleaned. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. Make sure Shih-Poos are kept on a dietary schedule. Do not allow free-feeding as they will overeat and rapidly gain weight. They will need regular potty breaks and one or two ten-to minute walks a day for optimal health. Dental issues can be problematic. Regular teeth cleanings are recommended, as well as systematic dental chews and teeth brushings. Your vet should be able to help you establish a routine. Shih-Poo ears should be kept clean and dry. After bathing, take extra steps to ensure this. If your pup gets a smelly, pungent odor, they may have an ear infection. Ear cleaning solution can help keep your pup from getting infections and unnecessary trips to the vet. Shih-Poo Feeding An ideal Shih-Poo diet should be formulated for a small-sized breed with medium energy. High quality food is recommended, as they do tend to have dental issues. They should not be allowed to free feed as they may gain weight. A feeding schedule is ideal with a minimum of treats. They can get the curly fur from their Poodle parent, the straight fur from their Shih-Tzu parent, or a combination of the two, which is most likely. The color will vary, as well. They can come in black, white, brown, brindle, and all variations and color combinations. Daily brushings, as well as monthly groomings, will help keep your pup looking and feeling their very best. You may also want to give them a few baths in between, but not more than weekly, as their skin and coat can get dry and irritated. Shih-Poos prefer to be mostly around adults or older kids who know how to play gently. That said, for children who learn early how to properly approach and play with a small dog, the Shih-Poo can make a great companion. When it comes to other pets, Shih-Poos can get along with other animals if they are introduced slowly and calmly, and early socialization will help this go smoothly. Shih-Poos can be left alone for short periods of time, but a second dog could be ideal for them, especially in their later years. However, you may want to try Shih Tzu or Poodle breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try:. If possible, arrange to meet them and spend some time with them. This will give you some idea of their characteristic traits and, while there is no guarantee that these traits will pass on to your puppy, you should look for friendly, alert, and happy parents. Shih-Poos Are Considered Hypoallergenic Shih-Poos, like their Poodle parent breed , are often described as being hypoallergenic which prospective owners take to mean that they will not affect those with allergies to dogs. However, those with dog allergies are allergic to the dander that the dog produces, and not to a specific coat or hair. All dogs produce dander, which is effectively just dead skin cells. However, while there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog breed, the Poodle is one breed that is known to cause fewer allergic reactions in sufferers, lending some credence to the claim. If you are allergic to dogs or have a condition like asthma, try spending some time with these breeds to see how you react and whether they trigger allergic reactions. Although they are best known as a Chinese breed, they actually originate from Tibet and it is believed that the nation sent dogs to Chinese royalty as gifts, and they were then bred with Pekinese or Pugs. Although the breed has long been popular in China, it was at its most popular in the 19th century. The Empress was so taken with the breed that she considered the dogs to be sacred. This popularity stems from the fact that the little lion dogs have a face that looks like a lion and Buddha was said to have ridden to Earth on the back of a lion. There is some debate surrounding its origins but the breed was either first bred as a water dog in Germany or from the French Barbet. On balance, even though the dog was once named the royal breed in France, it seems most likely that they are a German water dog by origin. Even their fancy hairstyle stems from their early working lives. Today, there are dozens of hybrid Poodle breeds available, including the Shih-Poo. However, they have been bred from two very well-known breeds that we can take information from. Shih-Tzus and Poodles both tend to be friendly and outgoing, and they should not be shy or nervous. This breed is known to get on well with people of all ages, especially those that show them love and adoration. They are very happy to be stroked and loved. This can be further encouraged through positive and continuous socialization at a young age. However, they do not always get on well with dogs outside the family unit but can make companions for existing dogs when bought as a puppy. Small dogs are known for being a bit yappy. They vocalize their feelings, to make up for the fact that they are small. While this is common in a lot of small breeds, it is actually less common in the Shih-Poo, which adopts the quieter nature of the Poodle. Are These Dogs Good for Families? He will happily curl up on your lap for hours if allowed, and he will get on with all family members. He will also enjoy playing, so he is a good dog for older children. As ever, it is not recommended that families with very small children have this dog. Babies and toddlers tend to grab at things when concentrating on them, and this can lead to injury or cause the dog to nip. However, if you want your dog to live with cats or other dogs, it is better to introduce them slowly and at a young age. Shih-Poos do not cope well with being left alone for extended periods of time, so having another dog as a companion can help to alleviate loneliness, prevent boredom, and stop any negative habits that might form. He can make a great family pet for those with older children that know how to play calmly with a dog. He can also be integrated into an existing family consisting of other dogs and even cats. He will benefit from being fed high-quality dry kibble, and you should expect to feed approximately one cup of food a day. This is best served as two small meals and you should avoid free-feeding because this breed, like so many other dog breeds, has a tendency to overeat which can lead to weight issues like joint pain. This is thanks, in part, to their diminutive size. A short, brisk walk in the morning and another in the evening is ideal, and you can supplement this throughout the day by playing with a ball or small toy. He will, however, perform well in agility classes and these can be a great way to exercise his mind as well as his body. This means that you need to offer training at a young age to ensure that they are learning desirable traits and behaviors. Although they are intelligent, the Shih-Poo can be headstrong and stubborn, and they do not always take well to training. The short attention span means that your dog will benefit from short and relatively simple training sessions. You will need a lot of patience to get the desired results, so be prepared to put in some time and effort. Socialization should be considered an important part of training any dog, especially this breed. Good socialization teaches the dog how to behave around strangers and when meeting new people. It also introduces them to other dogs and helps prevent them from being nervous and unhappy. A nervous dog is always on edge and can become nippy. A good way to ensure socialization is with puppy classes. Your Shih-Poo might not want to learn new tricks or other behaviors but is likely to want to meet new people and make new friends, so they will usually relish puppy classes. You can also take walks at your local dog park, which will offer further socialization. Brushing their coat is vital, and you should do this twice a week. You may also need to trim the coat every year, especially around the eyes and face to help ensure that your dog can see properly. Small dogs are especially prone to dental problems, so brush two or three times a week, more often if your dog will let you. In general, you should avoid bathing dogs because it can strip them of natural, protective oils, but it is recommended that Shih Tzu and Poodle Mix owners bathe their dogs every month or two. This can help prevent skin problems that are otherwise prevalent in this breed. Brush at least twice a week, ideally three times, and potentially every day if your dog will let you. The breed also has the potential to suffer from skin and coat complaints. Regular and thorough grooming will help to prevent these problems and can provide them some relief if they are suffering any kind of insensitivity or rash. They can also become teary-eyed, and this can prevent them from seeing properly and may lead to them scratching and rubbing at their eyes, causing further problems. Wipe the tears away when you see there is a buildup and this will prevent your dog from having to do it and potentially irritate the area further. As such, you should be prepared to take them for regular veterinarian checkups and make sure you have good pet insurance because the costs can quickly mount. Despite these potential problems, the Shih-Poo has a life expectancy of between 12 and 15 years with some dogs living much longer than this. Minor Conditions. Although purebred dogs are carefully bred over generations according to the breed standard the written description of the ideal physical and temperamental traits of the breed , hybrid dogs like the shih tzu—poodle mix have no official standard. This means that characteristics like height and weight, body structure, color, coat type, and temperament are less predictable than they are in purebred dogs. Different breeders may have different ideas of what constitutes the perfect shih tzu—poodle mix. Additionally, shih tzu—poodle mixes are not recognized by any of the reputable purebred dog registries such as the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club. Shih Tzu—Poodle Mix Care The low-shedding coats of both shih tzu and poodles require of upkeep, and the grooming requirements for shih tzu—poodle mixes are similar. Brush daily or every other day to keep the coat untangled and to prevent mats from forming. Like poodles and shih tzu, shih tzu—poodle mixes require regular haircuts from a professional groomer. Also trim the nails every two weeks and check the ears once a week, cleaning them with a pet safe ear cleaner if they appear dirty. Excessive dirt or redness in the ears means a veterinary visit is in order. Shih tzu—poodle mixes are smart, but how trainable they are depends whether they inherited more the eager-to-please personality of the Poodle or the more stubborn nature of the shih tzu. Regardless, positive-reinforcement methods like clicker training using tasty treat rewards gets great results from any dog. Despite being indoor dogs, shih tzu—poodle mixes still need some exercise. Aim for two walks a day or one walk and one play session in a safely enclosed space like your fenced yard. More energetic shih tzu—poodle mixes with trainable personalities might also like training for fun dog sports like agility, flyball, and obedience. Each breed has certain inherited health disorders in their family background, and those health issues can be passed on to the puppies in a litter. Breeding shih tzu to poodles means the puppies could potentially inherit any of the genetic diseases common to either breed. Shih tzu are prone to hip dysplasia , patellar luxation slipped kneecap , and various eye problems including cataracts , progressive retinal atrophy, retinal detachment, and eyelid abnormalities. Responsible breeders start with healthy, well-bred adult purebred shih tzu and poodles and test them for the genetic diseases common to their breed before breeding them together. Responsible breeders should also test their adult shih tzu—poodle hybrids before breeding them to decrease the odds that the puppies will inherit genetic issues. Responsible breeders also offer a health guarantee on their puppies that protects the puppy buyer in case the puppy develop a genetic disease later in life. Many shih tzu—poodles will overeat if you keep the bowl filled, so instead serve measured meals twice a day. Ask to your veterinarian for a recommendation for a healthy food for your shih tzu—poodle mix, as well as an ideal healthy weight for your adult shih tzu—poodle. Life Span Did You Know? The Shih-Poo has an adorable, alert expression and small, sturdy body. They can take after the Poodle parent, the Shih-Tzu parent, or be any combination of the characteristics of both parent breeds. Shih-Poos tend to be friendly, playful, and affectionate. They love their families and are avidly devoted to them. They tend to be friendly to other dogs, strangers, other pets, and children. They tend to do better with older children who have been taught how to carefully handle a dog. Due to their small size, a Shih-Poo can be easily hurt by rough play or accidental falls. They can do well in families with younger children as long as any time with them is closely supervised. The Shih-Poo tends to be a courageous little dog. They make excellent watchdogs because they are very alert. However, they can become territorial and barking can become a nuisance if left unchecked. Early socialization and training can help curb these tendencies and help your Shih-Poo puppy grow into a well-behaved, confident dog. This designer dog breed is highly adaptable. They do well in apartments as well as in larger homes and tend to do well in most climates. They are sensitive to extreme heat or cold, so they do best in moderate climates. Due to their small size, they may need to layer up for short trips outside when winter rolls in. Because Shih-Poos crave affection and love their humans, they do not like being left alone for long periods of time. The Shih-Poo is a generally healthy designer dog breed. Although the genetic mix can sometimes result in winning the genetic lottery, a mixed dog breed can still be susceptible to health conditions common in one or both of the parent breeds in the cross. By talking with the breeder about the health and genetic history of the parents and asking to see any health clearances, you can allay several of these potential health concerns. This designer dog breed is highly intelligent and can be easy to train. However, they can also have a stubborn streak that can cause some difficulty for first-time dog owners. This is often easily remedied with the help of some puppy training classes. They can also be difficult to housebreak, but it can be done with plenty of training, consistency, and patience. Crate training can also help. Shih-Poos respond best to positive, reward-based training. Whether with praise, treats, or play, you can reward your Shih-Poo for the behavior you like, which will encourage them to do more of it. Coat types and colors can vary greatly in your Shih-Poo. They can have the long, silky, and straight coat of the Shih Tzu, the short, curly, and non-shedding coat of the Poodle, or a combination of both. Most Shih-Poos end up with a curly or wavy, low or non-shedding coat. However, you should be prepared for your Shih-Poo to exhibit either coat type of the parent breeds. This coat looks its best with a combination of brushing a few times a week at home and then professional grooming every four to six weeks. This will help remove tangles and loose hair and prevent matting. Regular dental care is also important. Small dogs are more prone to dental disease. Drop down ears, or floppy ears, are more prone to ear infections because they can trap moisture, dirt, or debris. Daily walks and some indoor playtime will give this dog plenty of exercise. Beyond that, most of them can keep up with you on longer walks and can even compete in dog sports like rally, obedience, and agility. Be sure to check with your vet first and get your dog cleared before taking on any rigorous activities or training for dog sports. A Shih-Poo will generally stand 8 to 15 inches tall and weigh between 7 and 20 pounds. The size of the mother dog can give you a good idea of what to expect in your dog. This designer dog breed usually lives for 15 years or more. Some have even been known to live for 21 years! Featured Shih-Poo Article.