can we give banana to labrador puppy

Articles The Golden Retriever is considered one of the most popular double-coat doggies in the world. It is known for its long and luscious coat that looks red, amber, and sometimes golden. It is known for being lovable and trustworthy and is one of the perfect breeds for dog competitions or shows. In order to keep your Golden Retriever looking dapper but also protecting their health, you should consider giving them a trim or cut. A Full Shave is recommended for Goldies with medical conditions or severe matting, while a Kennel Cut is great at keeping a Goldie looking sharp and neat. In addition, you can try out Field Cut before bringing the Goldie on an outdoor trip. There is the option of visiting a pet salon for that extra after-trim care or trying it out yourself at home. A cut does not have to be the same boring one, and we have some cool suggestions that you can try out. Puppy Cut Image from Instagram: d. It can be done on a Golden Retriever or any other pup breed you may have at home. In addition, it ensures that little to no fur is shed on your furniture and car seat. The functional role of this cut is for doggies that are part of a show, like dog shows and competitions. This cut is neatly done around the ears, private parts, and paws. Keen attention to detail is important during trimming. This cut is all about trimming your pup, leaving it with a short coat that will not weigh it down when wet. It also helps your pup to dry up much faster. This type of cut is short enough to also protect their skin from swimming pool chemicals. If the water mass that your doggie spends time in is a natural water source, you can opt for a different cut. Summer Cut Image from Dog grooming and sitting A Summer Cut is one that is presumably designed to keep your pup cool during the hot days of the year. It is more about getting rid of the top coat and keeping a short haircut all through. It means keeping the cut to an inch or shorter and can be done around the ears and personal zones. It is also important to note that a Golden Retriever has a double coat which keeps them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. To ensure that you have the best summer trim, you should consult a professional groomer. Simple Trim Image from Instagram: gldpaws If you are looking for a cut on Golden Retrievers that does not demand too much work, the Simple Trim is the best option. It is all about doing a nice trim of the long hairs as well as any dead or unmanageable hairs. This cut is done all over the body with a focus on around the neck and chest area. It is all about keeping your pup feeling cool but, at the same time, protecting them from bites, skin irritation, or the biting cold. The style makes your pup look like a large teddy bear because you have to feather the coat for that look after the cut. You can get the help of a professional groomer for that perfect teddy bear finish. The main purpose of this cut is to get rid of any excess hair that can trap dirt and other debris or get caught on branches or bushes. This cut requires you to trim the hair short throughout the body and keep it at the same length. It is much shorter than Teddy and Puppy Cuts. In fact, they last much longer than other cuts as they will grow out evenly over time. There are a few reasons why your Golden Retriever may need a full trim, and this can be useful in treating a medical condition or dermatitis, getting rid of dead hairs, and doing away with matted fur. This means it is a cut for extreme situations that may arise. It is shaved as close to the skin as possible. It is important to note that you should resist a Full Shave on long-haired doggies because they need their fur to regulate their body temperature. The fur is also responsible for preventing bug bites or skin irritation. Yes, you need to take your Golden Retriever for a regular trim. The main role of a shave is to get rid of dead hairs while regulating the body temperature at the same time. Golden Retrievers are known for their long fur and look great in their dense coats. Their coat is known to shed naturally, which is also great. There are different cuts to choose from, so you should not feel restricted to a simple shave. After shaving, a Golden Retriever will have shorter fur, which allows them to roam freely outdoors or swim without worrying about dirt or debris. They should feel cool in the summer and also warm in the winter, depending on how clean the shave you have chosen for your Goldie. You are advised to trim or lightly shave them to prevent their hair follicles from getting destroyed. This can mean their lovely coat may never grow back. Golden Retrievers have a double coat that looks great and protects their skin from external elements, such as extreme heat, skin irritation, and bug bites. Care and attention should be a priority when trimming or shaving your furry friend. Avoid shaving below an inch to the skin, and keep the trim uniform all over. As mentioned, try not to cut too close to the skin to prevent hair follicle damage, which can prevent the hair from growing back. It may not make much difference to the dog, they will still get warm and their coat will still protect them, but they will look neater and even more majestic. Show Cut The simple trim is functional and primarily benefits you, as the owner. Trim, feather the fur, and properly trim the paws, ears, and sanitary areas. Because the show cut is for dogs that are being shown, it requires a lot more attention to detail. You will need to ensure that it follows the right shape and that you do a good job of cutting areas like the paws. It may be worth getting a professional groomer to complete this trim. Summer Cut Summertime is when a lot of owners decide to shave their dogs. It makes sense in many ways—your dog is hot. Getting rid of their double coat will reduce the temperature and even the weight that they have to carry around. The summer cut is a good alternative. It is more shaped than a puppy cut but can be as short. Keep the shape of the coat but cut it down to an inch or shorter. The Teddy Cut The Teddy Cut is a professional cut that is specifically offered to breeds like the Golden Retriever that have luscious, long double coats. It helps regulate temperature and keep them cooler during the summer months without affecting the double coat itself. The body is clipped really short while the legs are scissored to their natural shape. The tail and feet are also trimmed and curved to shape. This cut makes your dog look fluffy and like a teddy, hence its name, and it will help keep them cool and minimize the risk of damaging their natural, double coat. Golden Retriever Haircuts: Final Thoughts The Golden Retriever has a long list of recognizable attributes, but they get their name from their beautiful golden locks. Whether you exhibit your Retriever, or he is a family companion, you can provide him with a haircut that keeps him cool, ensures that he looks his best, and that will not damage his incredible double coat. Featured image credit: Olena Brodetska, Shutterstock Contents. By Yvonne Villasenor Yvonne Villasenor is a freelance writer and animal lover who just so happens to be allergic to cats and dogs. That doesn't stop her from cuddling with them! When Yvonne's not working, you can find her lounging with her charming Chihuahuas, weightlifting, or wandering around Halloween stores. The golden retriever , of course! With a heart of gold and a coat to match, it's no wonder how the golden retriever is known as one of the most popular dog breeds. Friendly, loyal, and intelligent, goldens make great family dogs and fur-ever companions. They love adventures and love to play, meaning, their medium-length locks will inevitably get dirty and have to be groomed. However, before you take any dog to get groomed, it's important to know what type of coats they have—a single coat or a double coat —as some haircuts may not be the best fit for your canine companion. Due to their upbringing as gundogs bred to retrieve waterfowl and upland game, golden retrievers have a double coat, or two layers of fur—a dense, water-repellent outer coat and a thick, soft undercoat. For this reason, golden retrievers shouldn't be shaved since their double coats keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Ready to take your playful pooch to their next grooming session? We've selected the best golden retriever haircuts to fit any pup and pet parent's preference, lifestyle, and budget. Puppy Cut The puppy cut is a fan favorite among dog parents—and for good reason! It's simple, cute, and low-maintenance. While the length can vary based on the pet parent's preference, your golden's fur is typically cut to be around half an inch in length and is trimmed to the same length all over their body, says Reda Elabd, certified master groomer and owner of Central Park Pet Spa in New York, N. Summer Cut Want to keep it easy, breezy, and beautiful for your cover dog in the summertime? The summer cut is calling your golden's name! Opting for a cut like the summer cut provides comfort for your retriever when temperatures start to rise. The summer cut keeps your dog's ears, chest, and feet well-trimmed, as well as their sanitary areas. Simple Trim If you're looking to keep your golden retriever's natural shape, the simple trim is—well, simple—and a wonderful option to keep your retriever's fur tidy. Plus, it doesn't require much cutting at all. It's a style Elabd recommends year round. The coat around the dog's neck and chest could also be thinned," he says. Show Cut Let your golden's natural beauty shine with this low-maintenance, natural cut. The show cut does not require much cutting, just trimming the fur along with the paws, ears, and sanitary areas. This cut has many small details that your groomer will be able to make to show off your golden retriever's beautiful locks. Teddy Bear Cut What does your pup have in common with a teddy bear? They're both cuddly, golden cuties! The teddy bear cut is another great haircut option for summer. Elabd describes the cut as one where the legs are kept at their natural length, the body is kept short, and the tail and feet are trimmed and curved to shape. This helps regulate your retriever's temperature with a double coat and keeps him fluffy and tidy. How to Maintain a Golden Retriever's Hair at Home If you have a golden retriever at home, you know goldens have feathery, soft coats that shed a lot as it is—but especially in spring and autumn. Chances are, your black clothes have your sweet pup's hair all over them. So, what can you do to somewhat control your dog's shedding? Golden retrievers should be brushed every day to remove dead hair and prevent matting. These pups do not necessarily require "haircuts" but more so hair trims because of their double coats. It's best to get your golden retriever on a routine grooming schedule with a professional groomer to keep their coats healthy and well-maintained. It's recommended to brush your dog's teeth at least twice a week, trim his nails at least once a month, bathe him once a month more if dirty , and check his ears frequently and clean with an ear cleaner if you notice they have an odor or are red. Happy grooming! However, with numerous grooming options available, selecting the perfect cut can be overwhelming. But fret not! So instead of shaving, consider a different haircut that keeps them cool and comfortable. Summer Cut Some dog owners may believe that shaving their dogs will help them cope with the heat during the summer. Then, trim the ears, chest, feet, and personal areas for added comfort. Puppy Cut Have you ever heard of a puppy cut? The term derives from its simple approach: the fur is cut to around half an inch and is the same length all over the body. One of the benefits of the puppy cut is that it is simple to maintain, comfy for your pet, and leaves enough hair to protect them. While it will not entirely eliminate shedding, it will help lessen the amount of fur that winds up on your furniture. It allows them to regulate their body temperature in the summer without harming their natural coat. The torso is trimmed short, the legs are scissored to shape, and the tail and foot are cut in a curved shape. This cut keeps your dog looking fluffy like a teddy bear while keeping them cool and protecting its natural coat. First, remember that their double coat acts as a natural temperature regulator and shields them from the sun and other elements, so cutting it too short may cause problems. For example, a shorter cut may be suitable for a dog who spends a lot of time outside in the heat, but a longer coat may be preferable for a dog who spends most of his time indoors or in cooler weather. For a nice haircut, look for a groomer with expertise in golden retrievers who can advise you on the ideal cut for your dog. Moreover, to keep your dog healthy and happy, ensure they are up to date on their immunizations before going to the groomer. The thickness of their coat and the length of time they spend indoors versus outdoors can all influence whether a haircut is required. One thing to remember is that a complete shave is not recommended for Golden Retrievers during the summer. Instead, a skilled groomer can trim their hair to a lower length while leaving their natural undercoat intact. Protecting Your Golden Retrievers from Overheating During Summer Golden retrievers are great dogs , but their thick double coats can make them uncomfortable in hot and humid weather. It can be harmful and even dangerous when a Golden Retriever becomes overheated. Heatstroke signs in dogs include excessive panting, weakness, vomiting, and even collapsing. Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep your pet cool and healthy during hot weather. Here are some pointers: Offer plenty of fresh water: Always provide clean water for your Golden Retriever. You can also add ice cubes to the water to keep it chilled. Avoid exercising during the hottest portions of the day: It is best to exercise in the early morning or late evening in the summer. Maintain a relaxed environment: If your Golden Retriever spends time indoors, ensure the house is air-conditioned or has sufficient air circulation. Avoid walking your dog on the scorching pavement: It can burn their paws and cause them to overheat, so take shady routes or walk during more excellent times of the day. Following these tips can help prevent your Golden Retriever from overheating and keep them healthy and happy during hot weather. Get veterinarian assistance immediately if you suspect your pet is suffering from heatstroke. Benefits Of Regular Grooming For Your Golden Retriever Regular grooming has various advantages for your furry friend, including: Increased self-confidence and socializing: Regular grooming can help pets look and smell better, leading to improved self-confidence and socialization. Healthier skin and coat: Grooming helps eliminate dirt, dead skin, and loose fur, lowering the risk of skin irritation and infections. It can also encourage healthy hair growth and reduce shedding. Bonding: Grooming allows owners to bond with their pets while also building trust and affection. Improved circulation: Grooming enhances blood flow and circulation, promoting healthy skin and coat. Grooming pets regularly can help keep them healthy, happy, and looking their best. Arranging a summer haircut ahead of time might help them stay relaxed and healthy throughout the season. Also, planning ahead is usually preferable, so you do not have to stress at the last minute. Dog grooming salons can get quite busy during the summer, so make an appointment for your dog ahead of time to prevent losing out. Be sure to schedule a summer haircut and get ready to enjoy the hot weather before your pup is panting and overheating! Proper Nutrition: A balanced diet is crucial for a healthy coat. Hydration: Keep your dog well-hydrated during hot summer days. Provide fresh water at all times and consider adding wet food or water-rich fruits and vegetables to their diet. Proper hydration helps maintain a lustrous coat and prevents dryness. Protection from the Sun: Just like humans, dogs can suffer from sunburn and heatstroke. Flea and Tick Prevention: Summer brings an increase in fleas and ticks. Protect your Golden Retriever with preventive treatments recommended by your veterinarian. Regularly check for any signs of infestation and promptly address them to maintain a healthy coat. Bathe your Golden Retriever as needed to keep them clean, but avoid excessive bathing, as it can strip away natural oils. Professional Grooming: Consider scheduling regular professional grooming sessions for your Golden Retriever. Professional groomers have the expertise to trim and shape the coat appropriately, reducing the risk of overheating and maintaining a neat appearance. Stay Active: Regular exercise helps improve overall coat health by promoting good circulation and reducing stress. Engage your Golden Retriever in outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day to keep them physically active and mentally stimulated. Remember to monitor their coat regularly for any changes or signs of skin issues, and consult with a veterinarian if you have any concerns. With proper care, your furry friend will shine under the summer sun! Conclusion In conclusion, grooming your golden retriever is essential to overall health and well-being. Regular grooming can help avoid skin irritation, matting, and discomfort associated with excessive shedding. Finally, scheduling a summer cut can help ensure your pet stays comfortable and relaxed during the hot months. So go ahead and treat your pet with a decent grooming routine! While a summer cut will not prevent all shedding, it will help reduce the amount of fur on your furniture and home. Thus, while a summer haircut may not wholly eliminate shedding, it can make it more manageable for you and your pet. Will a summer cut make my golden retriever more susceptible to sunburn? To keep your dog cool and comfortable, consider using dog-specific sunscreen and offering plenty of shade and drinks. Its double coat is essential for controlling body temperature and protecting the skin from the sun and other factors. Cutting their hair too short can cause skin irritation, sunburn, and other health problems. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Aim for an even length all over for the outer coat, and never let the clippers eat into the undercoat. Golden Retriever Haircut Styles If you take your golden to the doggy salon, there are a few other styles beyond the simple trim that can be a good choice for your dog. This draws attention to the tail and hind area, and leaves your pup looking a bit like the name suggests: a teddy bear. The cutting focuses on the paws, ears, and sanitary areas. An experienced groomer will know exactly how to do this cut for the best results. Lyme disease — Ticks enjoy the summer months as much as dogs do, as there are many more animals for them to feast on, potentially causing Lyme disease. While dogs should be protected with a flea and tick medication, they can also be vaccinated against Lyme disease. H3N2 — This type of canine influenza spreads rapidly and is always a risk when dogs get together. This happens more in the summer as dog parks fill up or vacationing owners leave their pups at the kennel. Most kennels require proof of H3N2 vaccination before they will accept dogs. Read our guide to the puppy vaccination schedule here. As well as being an irritant for your dog, ticks can cause Lyme disease, and fleas transmit heartworms through their bites. Find our recommendations for the best flea treatments here. And when you head out, carry a water bottle for them as well as one for yourself. Carry it in something with a bowl-like lid that your dog can drink out of. They will appreciate chilled water, just like you. Let Them Swim Golden retrievers love swimming, so why not let them take the occasional summertime dip to cool off. They would love a wading pool in the backyard to cool off when necessary. It can be better to give them a thorough rinse. And try to avoid chlorinated water as it can turn their beautiful golden coat a bit green. You might notice your golden seeking out places like cool bathroom tiles. When you go out with your pup, make sure to keep an eye out for shady places where they can rest. Not only will this help them keep cool, but it can give them a break from the direct sun. Dogs can suffer from sunburn and develop skin cancer just like their human pet parents. You might even be able to feel a bit of heat through your shoes as you walk on the asphalt. More than that, asphalt reflects heat, and their body and head are much closer to the asphalt than yours are. It can get very hot for them very quickly. So look for grassy strips and light-colored surfaces for them to walk on. We all know what burning hot sand feels like under the feet! Test surfaces with your own hand or foot before expecting your dog to walk on it. As a rule, never cut their outer coat shorter than their undercoat. Can you shave a golden retriever? You should never shave a golden retriever because it disrupts the balance of the double coat. They have a short undercoat that acts as insulation against both the heat and cold. Then they have their longer topcoat that protects their skin from dirt and repels water. If you shave them, they will no longer have that topcoat protecting their undercoat and their skin. Plus, when it grows back, it will just never be the same. How often do golden retrievers need haircuts? Golden needs to be groomed every weeks. But this means cutting the hair around their paws and private areas. The Verdict — Golden Retriever Haircut For Summer It is normal to be worried about your dog overheating in the summer, especially when they have a thick double coat like a golden rRetriever does. While the heat can be dangerous to your dog, their coat is not the main concern. Their double coat works like insulation that keeps them warm in winter and cold in summer. You can give it a trim if you want, but most goldens will get by fine without. Remember that if you are feeling hot, they probably are too, so give the same consideration to their comfort as you do your own. Do you have any tips for helping goldens fight the summer heat? Share them with the community in the comments section below. You May Also Like. 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. As much as we love the beautiful coat on our retriever, the constant shedding can become a bit much at times. If you own a golden, you may want to limit the shedding by cutting its hair. Here are some adorable haircuts that will keep your furry friend looking spiffy. It is an adorable option for the sizzling summer months. The cut keeps its coat neat and fluffy while regulating its temperature. The hair on the body is shortened and the feet and tail are trimmed to match its shape. The cut provides your pet with a shortened coat without the risk of damaging the undercoat. The cut is unlike shaving and protects their double coat. It is a simple cut that is easy to maintain and leaves your pet looking stylish and peppy. The length of the fur is cut to about one-half inch from head to toe. Your Goldie will still shed but the cut will help to minimize the amount of hair on your sofa and bed. This is a wonderful cut to keep your pet looking cute and fluffy but leaves it clean and comfortable. Usually, pet owners will take their dog to a professional groomer to get this cut. Especially if they have entered it into an upcoming dog show or event. The Show Cut is much like the simple trim. Once the coat is trimmed, the groomer will focus on the ears, paws, and areas that may be unsanitary. You may think it is a good idea to shave the dog in the summertime, but the double coat is what protects it from things like ticks and the hot sun and should not be shaved. The feet, ears, and chest are heavily trimmed, so the dog looks clean and polished. The groomer will also trim the private areas, leaving the dog fresh and free of germs. The groomer shapes up the coat so it is clean and tidy. The length of the hair is trimmed, and the fur is feathered. The groomer will thin the chest and neck fur to keep the coat looking well groomed while maintaining the shape of the dog. This cut keeps the coat protected so the dog stays warm and healthy. It will remove the dead skin cells and hair so the skin can breathe freely. Brushing their coat produces natural oils to keep their coat shiny and healthy. Bathing: Bath your dog regularly with a dog-specific shampoo. Ones with oatmeal will soothe their skin if it has been irritated by bug bites of debris. With a few drops of ear cleaning solution, massage the ear for 30 seconds. After the dog shakes its head, wipe the ear clean with a soft cloth. It can be extraordinarily straight, wavy, or curly. The double coat and the undercoat of a Golden Retriever are very thick. The thickness allows them to repel water Golden Retrievers have a thick coat that sheds a lot, so they are not considered a hypoallergenic breed The hair on the base of the tail, back of the legs, and under the stomach of a golden is heavily feathered The feathering of the hair is what makes a Golden Retriever look posh when they hunt and run. Conclusion Keeping the coat of a Golden Retriever clean and trimmed makes them look classy and proud. It is the shiny golden locks of a Golden Retriever that make them highly recognizable, along with their sweet and playful expressions. So, keep on loving them and caring for their coats so they look polished and healthy.

Poochon vs Shih Poo Comparison If you love small doodle breeds and want to add a fluffy and cute puppy to your family, we have just the right candidates. Meet the Poochon and Shih Poo designer doodles. They are among our favorite doodle puppies here at Premier Pups. The Poochon and Shih Poo dogs are smart, happy, and ready to love you to the moon and back. They enjoy games, cuddles, and attention, and they are more than happy to keep.Welcome to the exciting world of doodle puppies! If you're considering adding a new fur baby family member, you're in for a treat. Doodle puppies are simply amazing. They are friendly, loving, and playful dogs that are perfect for families with children. With so many different types of doodle breeds available, one more adorable than the next it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. But don't worry, we're here to help! They are loyal and devoted, have adoring personalities, and are always ready for a cuddle session. Poochon puppies are joyful little fluffs with bouncy paws and wiggly tails. They are lively and happy pups who love to jump around and they are excellent training students. Sturdy and small, Poochons have an average height between 9 to 15 inches and an average weight between 6 and 17 pounds. It is considered a designer dog breed. The mix originated in Australia and started appearing in the late s. The goal was to breed a low or non-shedding dog that was sturdy and active with a temperament for families with children. The Bich-Poo is charming, affectionate, highly intelligent, and eager to please. They tend to get along well with other pets and with children, which makes them a great fit for families. Bich-Poos are also alert watchdogs. They can be prone to excessive barking, but training and socialization as a puppy can curb this tendency. Although they will alert you as a watchdog, they are more interested in making friends, so will not make a good guard dog. Bich-Poos are highly adaptable. They do well in apartments or larger homes as long as they get enough exercise and fit right in with families with children, other pets, or both. They do well in most climates and, as with most dog breeds, caution should be taken with extreme heat or cold. With this first generation cross, many of the health issues associated with the parent breeds are often not a concern. However, there is always the potential for inherited issues. Some of the potential breed-related health concerns are allergies, patella luxation, and progressive retinal atrophy. Because they are a small dog breed, they are also prone to breaks and fractures if dropped. This designer dog breed tends to be highly intelligent. That, paired with their eagerness to please their owner, makes them quick learners and fairly easy to train. They tend to be a good fit for owners of any experience level. Novice owners may want to enroll in obedience and training classes to ensure training and socialization is going as it should. A professional trainer can also help you put a plan in place to eliminate any potential issues with separation anxiety or the nipping that can become a common fear or anxiety response in small dogs. A Bich-Poo will often have a soft and curly coat. If their coat takes on Poodle properties, then it will be low-shedding and hypoallergenic. Common coat colors are typically light, like white or apricot, but can appear in other colors like tan, brown, black, or gray. Professional grooming every six to eight weeks is also a good idea for a healthy coat. You will also want to trim their nails monthly and clean their eyes and ears regularly. Although small, these dogs are robust and energetic. They tend to have bouts of high energy and require regular exercise throughout the day. Although they are active dogs, moderate levels of exercise will be enough to tire them out. Regular exercise, like daily walks and active playtime, will help immensely when your pup gets a sudden spike of energy and starts racing. Some of their energy bursts can seem endless, but, due to their smaller size, they do tend to tire quickly, so these bouts of energy will likely be on the shorter side. After that, your Bich-Poo will likely be ready for a nap and some cuddles. Keeping your dog well-exercised and engaged is key. A bored dog is one that can become restless and start to whine, chew, or bark. This designer dog breed usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh between pounds. A Bichpoo will generally live between years. Featured Bich-poo Article. This breed is a mix between a Toy Poodle and a Bichon Frise. The Bichpoo originated in the s in Australia and was bred specifically for families that were searching for an active dog that was calm enough to be around children and other pets in the household. With an upbeat, lovable, and friendly personality, the Poochon is a joy to be around. They inherited their warm temperaments and easy-going personality from their parents. They are also very intelligent dogs, many thanks to their Poodle parent. This kid-friendly dog makes a great family pet and even does well with other pets in the home. The Poochon can be found in a variety of stunning colors. The most common are solid tan, apricot, black, grey, and cream but can also be found in different blends and variations of these colors. Making sure to take the time to properly groom the Poochon is very important. Daily coat brushing will prevent matting and knots from occurring. Should his coat begin to form knots, consider applying a small amount of dog anti-tangler spray and gently work the mat out. Bi-weekly baths will also help keep his coat looking its best. Pooches, especially when puppies, are very energetic and need a lot of energy. Feeding him high-quality dog food two times a day is a good way to properly fuel his growing and active body. Many Poochon owners tend to serve their dogs meals every twelve hours. This has shown to be a good balance of nutrition. Proper teeth cleaning for your puppy is also very important for his health and should occur three times every week. Poochons have an average height of nine to twelve inches tall. At maturity, they average weight of this breed is seven to fifteen pounds. The average Poochon has a life expectancy of twelve to fifteen years. Australia breeders bred the Poochon in the s in Australia. Pooches are considered a very intelligent dog capable of easily learning new tricks with ease. Petland is honored to offer the highest quality Poochon puppies who will be an instant in your family. How much exercise do Bichon Poos need? Every dog needs their daily exercise and the Bichon Poo is no exception. You could exercise them for 20 to 40 minutes daily. How often should a Bichon Poo be bathed? You could bathe your dog once or twice a month if you are up for it. They do need enough grooming. How long can Bichon Poos live? The average lifespan of a Bichon Poo is 12 to 15 years. What diseases are Bichon Poos prone to? One of such is the progressive retinal atrophy which is hereditary because the Poodle is susceptible to this. This disease causes progressive blindness in the eyes of the Bichon Poo. Another such disease is the patella luxation which causes dislocation of the dog bones. This could be very painful for the dog. Are Bichon Poos hypoallergenic? Yes, they are. Are Bichon Poos known for barking? The Bichon Poo mostly barks to get the attention of its owner or when there are strangers around. When will the Bichon Poo get to full size? This dog attains its full size when it is about 12 to 18 months old. Are Bichon Poos good dogs? Naturally, these dogs are friendly and affectionate and loyal too. How much food can Bichon Poos eat daily? Well, this naturally depends on the owner. You could choose to feed them 4 to 5 times daily or just twice. Are you interested in purchasing a Bichon Poo? Fill out the below form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

References 1. Clinical and pathological effects An understanding of the anatomy of the normal spine of the dog is useful in understanding this condition. Figure 1. The regions of the spine. The spine or spinal column of dogs is made up of many bones, called vertebrae and it is divided into 5 different regions. There are 7 bones in the neck cervical region, 13 in the chest thoracic region, 7 in the lower back lumbar region and 3 fused together to form the sacrum at the hips. Lastly, there are the tail coccygeal bones, and their number varies. In English bulldogs and other screw-tailed dogs there are relatively few coccygeal vertebrae. Vertebrae are numbered according to region of the spine, starting from the head and working towards the tail. Thus the first cervical vertebra is called C1, the second C2 and the first thoracic vertebra is T1 etc. Intervertebral discs are found between the vertebral bodies. The body of each vertebra is positioned ventrally towards the lower side. Dorsal towards the back of the dog to the vertebral body each vertebra forms a hollow tube of bone, called the vertebral canal. Through this tube created by the column of vertebral canals the spinal cord passes, connecting the base of the brain with peripheral nerves. This tube of bone protects the spinal cord. The spinal cord is made up of delicate nerve tissue which transmits the messages between the brain and other parts of the body excluding the head. Figure 2. Diagram showing the shape of normally-formed vertebrae in the spinal column and how the spinal cord runs through them. Each vertebral body develops in the foetus from two separate parts which fuse together and then ossify turn to bone. Hemivertebrae occur when this fusing process fails to happen correctly so that the vertebral body of one or more vertebra is malformed and wedge-shaped LeCouteur and Child .Often the fusion or ossification is asymmetrical Jeffery et al .The malformations vary, with the apex of the wedge pointing dorsally, ventrally or medially towards the middle of the animal across the midline LeCouteur and Child .These abnormally-shaped vertebrae often lead to alterations and deformities in the shape of the spine such as kyphosis curving upwards of the central spine , scoliosis deviation to the side in the central spine or lordosis curving downwards in the central spine LeCouteur and Child .This angulation of the spine is often moderate to severe and can lead to displacement of the vertebrae LeCouteur and Grandy .The deformity or instability in the spinal column can then narrow the vertebral canal, compressing and damaging the spinal cord, and this can lead to serious clinical signs LeCouteur and Child .This spinal deformity and the consequential clinical signs often progresses as the dog grows or, sometimes, happen secondary to mild trauma because of the spinal column instability LeCouteur and Grandy .Figure 3. Abnormal development of vertebral bodies results in formation of hemivertebrae. Unlike the normal shape of vertebrae shown in Figure 2, in which the opposing faces of adjacent vertebrae are at right angles to the line of the spine, wedge shaped vertebrae as shown here can lead to distortion of the spine with health and welfare effects. Figure 4. Radiograph of a hemivertebra in the thoracic region of a Pug. The wedge shaped vertebra has caused lordosis of the spine, which in turn can cause compression and damage to the spinal cord. Image property of Helen McDonald, to whom we are grateful for permission to reproduce it here. Hemivertebrae can occur in any breed but are most common in brachycephalic, screw-tailed dogs such as English bulldogs also Pugs, French bulldogs and Boston terriers. This is because the kinked tails that many find desirable in these breeds result from hemivertebrae in the tail region of the spine and these breeds have genes that tend to cause the formation of hemivertebrae elsewhere in the spinal column as well as in the tail LeCouteur and Grandy .The commonest region of the spine to be affected by hemivertebrae, in brachycephalic screw-tailed dogs such as the English bulldog is the chest the thoracic area LeCouteur and Child .Figure 5. Hemivertebrae is the cause of kinked or screw tails in some breeds of dog, such as the Boston Terrier and Pug shown here. This condition makes them prone to developing hemivertebrae elsewhere in the spinal column also. Image sourced from Wikipedia at www. Hemivertebral abnormalities commonly occur without clinical sign of disease Done et al .However, if the spinal cord becomes damaged or compressed signs appear. Signs include posterior paresis abnormal functioning of the hindlimbs , muscle wastage, an abnormal shape to the back and back pain. If the problem is severe then the dogs can lose all use of their hind legs and can have urinary and faecal incontinence inability to control passing urine or faeces. Signs can be gradual or rapid in onset and sometimes are progressive Colter .In a number of cases, however, signs may be mild and non-progressive and stabilise once the dog has stopped growing at about 9 months of age Jeffery et al , though the deformity will remain. In these cases no treatment may be necessary. Skin infections and other skin problems can occur in skin folds if the tail is very tightly coiled. In severely affected individuals the only hope is major surgery of the spine to attempt stabilisation and to stop the spinal cord being compressed. This is not straightforward, needs specialist veterinary treatment and may not always be successful. Some dogs which are completely paralysed in their hind legs may not recover use of them after surgery. Paralysed dogs have long-term care needs which many owners find difficult and some dogs will be euthanized because of this. It is an ethical dilemma whether these permanently paralysed dogs should be euthanized or if their quality of life may be sufficient to justify supported living with paralysis and incontinence. Return to top 2. Intensity of welfare impact Some dogs with hemivertebrae suffer no apparent ill effects however others have major welfare problems such as pain, loss of function of the hindlimbs and incontinence. Pain from spinal cord compression can be significant and severe and difficult to control using drugs. Along with pain, the spinal cord damage in severely affected individuals leads to the need for rapid veterinary treatments including major surgery. Some animals may not recover and may need to be euthanized. Return to top 3. Duration of welfare impact The condition usually first manifests in young growing dogs and worsens as growth proceeds. In a case study by Jeffery et al , all three dogs described were less than 7 months of age. Though some may be mildly affected, all affected animals will have permanent deformity unless surgical intervention is used. The disease problems can develop rapidly over hours or more gradually. Though some dogs with hemivertebrae do not develop signs, others develop severe problems which will not improve unless surgical intervention occurs. Some dogs with severe signs may not improve after surgery and may need to be euthanized. Return to top 4. Number of animals affected The numbers affected are not known, but it is considered a common problem in English bulldogs and other brachycephalic short-nosed breeds that have screw-tails, as the deformity is connected to the screw-tail phenotype physical shape which is a breed characteristic. From data on estimates of total dog population in the UK and on the percentage of all micro-chip registered dogs that are English bulldogs Lucy Asher, , personal communication , we estimate that the UK population size of this breed may be around 50, Return to top 5. English bulldogs are considered to be predisposed to hemivertebrae because of the breed having a screw-tail Jeffery et al .The condition may be suspected in any English bulldog with spinal deformity or with the characteristic clinical signs because it is commonly seen within the breed. A diagnosis can be made using plain and contrast radiography x-rays, with or without dye, which shows up on the x-ray being injected around the spinal cord , however, Jeffery et al believe MRI magnetic resonance imaging scans are needed prior to surgery to help decide on exact surgical requirements. The presence of hemivertebrae seen on x-rays may also be a confusing finding. Older English bulldogs may have spinal disease from other causes and detection of hemivertebrae may make diagnosis of the real cause difficult. Return to top 6. Return to top 7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected? All English bulldogs are potentially prone to the problem because the breed has a screw-tail. Without x-ray images of the spine, definite absence of hemivertebrae cannot be confirmed. However, a mature animal without signs has a lower chance of developing clinical problems than a puppy which has yet to undergo its period of significant growth. Currently no advice can be given on how to ensure a healthy individual, free from the condition, is not a carrier. This may become clearer when the genetics of the condition are better understood. Return to top 8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem Not known, though whilst the breed standard includes a screw-tail the condition seems likely to persist. It seems likely, since the screw tail is caused by hemivertebrae in the tail, that out-breeding to dogs with straight tails, then selection for a straight tail might be a way forward to eliminate this welfare problem. Return to top 9. Return to top .References Colter S Congenital anomalies of the spine. However, they also have a range of health issues due to the way they are bred. One of the most common is the English Bulldog back and leg problems, also showing signs of lameness. It can be painful watching your furbaby limping or in pain from their back legs. To understand more of why this happens and what you can do, read on! English Bulldog Back Leg Problems You may have noticed that your English Bulldog has been limping from their back leg, showing signs of lameness. Sometimes, the limping would happen after sleeping or lounging on their leg for a few hours, which would wear off gradually. However, if the pain lasts for a few days, then it may be a health issue that requires intervention. Here are a few reasons why your English Bulldog is experiencing back leg problems: It can be a strain due to falls, accidents, overexertion of energy, or playing too much. This can cause strain around the tendons, ligaments, or muscles in the back leg. It mostly happens after heavy exercise, especially since English Bulldogs tire easily Your English Bulldog might have broken their claw , causing pain in their back leg. This may come in the form of a stone, gum, insect bite or sting, or an open wound. In order to avoid insect bites in future, you can use an effective pet safe ant killer. Other times, the back leg problem may be due to other serious issues, including: It may come from a break, fracture, or dislocation. English Bulldogs are more prone to injuries because of their genetics, as English Bulldogs are more prone to leg injuries because of genetics, easily hurting themselves when more active. Ligament damages can also happen if your English Bulldog would twist and jump incorrectly. Hip or elbow dysplasia is very common in English Bulldogs, as they are a brachycephalic breed. This may cause lameness and back leg pain. Treatment and Prevention of Back Leg Problems Now that you know more about English Bulldog back leg problems, the next question is how you can treat and prevent them from happening. If they have a pained reaction, gently massage it and lightly apply pressure on the spine to see if they put any resistance. If he also shows other symptoms such as broken toes or claw nails, lethargy, and loss of appetite or swelling, take him to the vet right away. Take note of all of the signs and symptoms you notice in your dog. The vet will perform in-depth diagnostic tests such as a blood test, x-ray, MRI, and fluoroscopy all as needed to see what is wrong with your English Bulldog. Fortunately, most conditions can be treated with antibiotics, medication, therapy, a cast, among other treatments that are deemed appropriate. Furthermore, make sure that your dog gets a lot of rest and drinks water, especially if the reason behind the pain is overexercise! Wrapping It Up English Bulldogs may limp at times, which is one of the different health issues they come across due to their breed. With earlier intervention, your pet can live a longer and healthier life without much pain and discomfort. Hopefully, you learned more about the English Bulldog back leg problems and how to treat them properly. If you believe your English Bulldog is suffering from such pain problems, do evaluate their situation and take them to the vet as needed. One of the more common problems can be them limping on the back leg or front paws or showing signs of lameness. Some limping happens after sleeping and it will gradually wear off. No matter what the situation, you should always call your own vet for professional advice if your English Bulldog suddenly starts limping. Why is my English Bulldog limping? Some of the more common reasons why your English Bulldog has started limping will be strains to a tendon, ligament, or muscle — this is the soft tissue injury I referred to earlier and will happen after your English Bulldog has been exerting himself; the limping will start suddenly afterwards. Given time to recuperate, rest, and stop jumping and running, your English Bulldog should be better in just a few days. That means no walkies or indoor play! Check there is no visible bleeding or cuts on the paw. Check for any splinters or foreign objects in the paw. Check to see if your English Bulldog is lethargic and not eating. Check for any visible signs of swelling. When you call your vet, make a note of what you see, if anything. This is particular important if your English Bulldog wakes up from sleeping with a limp and shows no sign of the limp going inside of 30 minutes. Your English Bulldog might start limping after sleeping, laying down and just waking up. Keep scrolling down for the more serious English Bulldog lameness symptoms. Over-exertion: Your English Bulldog could be limping after some particularly excessive exercise. English Bulldogs get worn out very easily and will be exhausted after heavy exercise of just a few minutes. The limping could be due to utter exhaustion so give them water and time to recover. Injured claws: Your English Bulldog might have broken a claw. This injury can be extremely painful, especially if the tear in the claw gets to the nerve ending. Wound to the paw or insect sting: Your English Bulldog might have a splinter in his paw making him limp. It could be an open wound, a stone, chewing gum, or even a insect bite or sting so do a thorough check. Strain or muscle injury: Your English Bulldog might have strained a leg, joint, or muscle whilst playing or even just going about his day to day business. But there are more serious health conditions that limping legs are sometimes attributed to. Breaks, fractures, and dislocations: English Bulldogs are prone to leg injuries due to their genetics and can easily hurt themselves when active. Torn ligaments: Ligament damage will occur after your English Bulldog twists and jumps. It can be very painful but can be treated easily by a vet. Hip or elbow dysplasia: English Bulldogs are prone to these health conditions, being common with brachycephalic breeds. The hip dysplasia can occur in their back leg with elbow dysplasia in the front legs and paws. Luxating patella: This is the medical for a kneecap dislocation. It occurs on the back legs and you will notice your English Bulldog skipping or limping in pain. Inflammatory disease: Also known as panosteitis, English Bulldog puppies will often have this inflammation on their leg bones. You might see your English Bulldog shifting from leg to leg to balance the weight with this lameness condition. Your vet can check for it with a simple blood test. It can be fixed with an operation surgery, and your English Bulldog might even be back and walking inside of 60 days. Arthritis: This condition is most common in older English Bulldogs, where limping is a gradual thing as the joints become more swollen over time. Vets can prescribe therapy and medication for the pain. It can be treated with antibiotics. Valley fever: This is a fungal disease found in the United States and can either make an English Bulldog puppy limp, or an older dog. It is not related to how old your dog is. Neurological disorders: This will often occur after damage to the spine where a disc will touch against the nerves, leading to potential lameness in your English Bulldog. English Bulldog limping on front leg or paws Many of the reasons I have already listed for English Bulldog lameness and limping will happen with the back and front legs. But there are some conditions which will only cause limps to one of the other. For example; elbow dysplasia front legs or hip dysplasia rear legs. Elbow dysplasia front leg limping : This is very common in English Bulldogs and happens due to bone abnormalities in the elbow joints on the front legs. It happens due to cartilage fusing to the bone resulting in an elbow joint being pushed out of place. It will be very painful to your English Bulldog, with obvious swelling. Handy Hint: To keep your Bully free from injury you should not walk them too much. Here are guidelines for daily exercise limits. How vets diagnose lameness and limping Once you have booked an appointment in with your vet, they will do a manual check of your English Bulldog using just their hands. They will press and pull to see what the cause could be. The check will go something like this: Examine the paws for obvious signs of injury. Pull the legs stretched out to check for a reaction. Do gentle massage on all four legs. Lightly apply pressure to the spine to see if the English Bulldog puts up resistance. In this article, we will be focusing on the English Bulldog. The English Bulldog is a sweet, dependable dog breed that makes a wonderful addition to the family. As with all dog breeds, Bulldogs are predisposed to certain health conditions and mobility problems. Joint conditions such as dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, and breathing issues are just a few of the medical issues impacting the English Bulldog. The bulldog is classified as a brachycephalic breed. A brachycephalic dog is any breed with a flat face and smooshed nose. Bulldogs are the most diagnosed breed with BOAS. This can lead to overheating, difficulty getting enough air into their lungs, and can cause heavy and rapid breathing. Bulldog breathing issues can range from mild to severe. Age is not always a contributing factor, although it can worsen as a dog ages. Very young dogs can also exhibit signs of BOAS. Dogs diagnosed with Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome should be cautious of any medical procedure that requires anesthesia due to an increased risk of dying. Secondary risks of BOAS include gastrointestinal issues, bronchial collapse, and even heart failure. Joint Problems Joint and ligament injuries are quite common among bulldogs. In fact, hip dysplasia is one of the most common issues among English Bulldogs. Sometimes referred to as Bulldog Dysplasia, both the elbow and hip joints can be affected. This can cause looseness in the hip joint leading to instability, joint pain, and arthritis. Both elbow and hip dysplasia are prevalent among the English Bulldogs. Simple Ways to Promote Canine Joint Health: A high-quality dog joint supplement can reduce inflammation, support joint mobility, and ease joint stiffness. Keep your pet at a healthy weight to limit joint stress. For example, an overweight bulldog is at a higher risk for developing joint issues as they age. Regular exercise. Bulldogs prone to joint problems should avoid high-impact activities such as jumping or running. A multi-modal approach through canine rehab can help keep joints healthy. Although a dog can show signs of arthritis at any age, most Bulldogs will show signs of arthritis in middle age or later. In addition, because bulldogs are prone to knee and elbow issues, osteoarthritis is also quite common among the breed. Sudden paralysis can be caused by a neurological condition, a traumatic injury most frequently when the spinal cord because compressed , or a degenerative disease. Bulldog Mobility Solutions Luckily there are mobility aids available to help your bulldog walk. Becoming paralyzed or having sudden hind leg weakness does not mean the end for your best friend. The cart will help your dog stand and walk naturally, and your dog will also get the exercise it needs. Benefits of a Bulldog Wheelchair: Ability to stay active and independent. Continued exercise encourages the natural elimination process, making it easier for dogs to pee and poop! Great for mental health, an active dog is a happy dog! Perfect for rehabilitative support during recovery Dogs get to spend more time with their family doing their favorite things! When choosing the best wheelchair for your bulldog, pick an adjustable cart. Since your dog will be moving more often, regular exercise can help an overweight dog shed extra weight and even help strengthen their legs. In many cases, mobility loss can be progressive in nature. Related Articles:. From to , it detected hip dysplasia in .Genetics and joint malformations are known to contribute to the prevalence of hip dysplasia in Bulldogs. To better understand Bulldog hip dysplasia, you must understand the function of the hip joint first. The hip joint is just like a ball fixed into a socket. In normal hip joints, the femoral head can rotate smoothly and freely within the socket. A strong ligament holds the joint together. In most cases, Bulldogs who develop hip dysplasia are born with normal hips. But because of genetic factors, the soft tissues around their hip joints do not develop normally and remains loose. When the hip joints and the tissues surrounding are too loose, the femoral head can get displaced on the edge of the socket instead of moving smoothly inside. This results in changes in size and shape of the articular surfaces — causing pain and possible formation of calcium deposits in the hip joints. This can affect either the left or right hip, or both. Bulldog hip dysplasia can be debilitating and painful. If you are able to detect the early signs of hip dysplasia in your Bulldog, appropriate measures can be taken before the disease progresses and results in partial or complete dislocation of the hip joint, arthritis, or bone degeneration. Here are some early signs of Bulldog hip dysplasia. You may notice your Bulldog taking longer to stand up from a laid-down position, especially if the surface he rests on is slippery. He may do this to avoid feeling too much pain in the hip joint area. This behavior is a very common sign of hip dysplasia in Bulldogs. Signs of Bulldog Hip Dysplasia 2: Pain and Sensitivity in the Hip Area Hip dysplasia often causes damage or the breakdown of the cartilage in the hip joint. When this happens, the contact between the pelvic bone and the femur causes friction, which later results in joint inflammation and pain. Dogs who suffer from hip dysplasia may whine or bark when the hip area is touched. Some dogs may even show aggressive behaviors. Hip dysplasia can make your pet refuse to move, jump, climb, or descend the stairs in an attempt to avoid feeling pain. Affected dogs often lose enthusiasm in doing things they used to enjoy. Is your Bulldog hopping like a bunny when he walks? Bunny-hopping is one of the early signs of Bulldog hip dysplasia. To avoid pain, your Bulldog may try to lift either of his hind legs when he has to walk or move to another location. Dogs with hip dysplasia do bunny-hop to avoid putting on weight on their painful limb. Because your Bulldog will most likely avoid using his hips and thighs, as the muscles in these areas generally shrink atrophy. As your Bulldog relies on his front body to move him from one place to another, the muscles on his shoulders and front limbs may grow large hypertrophy. If your Bulldog suffers from this problem, he may experience problems when he goes potty. Squatting and even lifting legs can be difficult for dogs with hip dysplasia. If you see your Bulldog straining, whining, or having a hard time when he pees or poops, consider having him checked for hip dysplasia. Some of them can manage to move or walk despite the pain. But they often find themselves falling over because they try to balance their weight to prevent their hip area from getting hurt. Sometimes, they slip or fall on the floor due to weakness in the hip joint. If your Bulldog has this problem, consider placing rugs or carpets on the floor. Toe grips may also help prevent him from slipping. Signs of Bulldog Hip Dysplasia 8: Frog Sit Bulldog hip dysplasia can make it hard for your pet to sit in a normal position. Dogs with hip dysplasia often slouch or sit like a frog when they rest. The position allows them to rest without straining or putting much weight on their hips. Leave a Reply: Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

We have answers. The cost of your new German Shepherd for sale in Dallas will depend on several factors, including coat color white German Shepherd puppies Dallas , pedigree, coat type, breeder experience and more. Fortunately, our network offers nearly unlimited options when it comes to finding the right German Shepherd puppies Dallas TX. Will I connect exclusively with local German Shepherd breeders Dallas? Are there Dallas German Shepherd puppies for sale near me right now? With the size and scope of our network, odds are pretty darn good that your dream German Shepherd puppy is already out there waiting for you. To begin your search on the right paw, all you need to do is begin MatchMaker below. Not a chance. Puppy mill dogs can often cost owners a small fortune in extra vet bills.There are more types of German Shepherds than you think, and our goal is to match every family with the perfect puppy. We developed MatchMaker to account for all of these preferences including coat color and type , making sure that our customers are always connected with the breeders and businesses most likely to help you meet your dream dog. Our dogs are hand picked from top German breeders and are from world class West German bloodlines. We are conveniently located 40 miles from Ft. Worth and approximately one hour from Dallas TX. We are proud of our Kaiser facility and all of our outstanding dogs. Each of them is a special part of our family. It takes a great deal of experience, education, and knowledge about the breed to successfully produce world class German Shepherds. My husband Paul and I work together to ensure the highest breed standards are met. Our goal is to continue to not only meet those standards but to improve the breed. They are hand picked from top German breeders and are imported. They are from top West German bloodlines. Selective breeding program to produce superior offspring. We produce a limited number of litters each year in order to personally assure the very best care possible. Healthy puppies and adult dogs is a top priority to us. Our adult dogs have been DNA tested for degenerative myelopathy. Their hips and elbows have been certified as normal. We do a great amount of education with our new puppy owners regarding GSD growth and development, health maintenance, the importance of ongoing socialization and many other important topics about the GSD breed. We make it a practice to stay in touch with our puppy owners for ongoing education and support. We love to see our pups grow into amazing adult dogs as part of a loving family home! We also have a professional trainer available. She has worked with many of our puppies and their new families with outstanding results. She is warm, patient and loves what she does. She is careful and has a loving touch for her puppies; each one captures her heart. She has been extremely helpful to us when we have not been certain about next steps for our pup. Kaiser is not a puppy factory, but a caring, loving, thoughtful, and well read about the German Shepherd breed. So grateful for Terri and Kaiser pups!

Rest assured when purchasing a dog from us that years of breeding and training experience have gone into the development and selection of your German shepherd dog or puppy. Black, Dark Sables, as well as Red and Black German shepherd male and female puppies are available by reservation. Martin Z. Riverside is over an hour drive from me in the valley, but; the puppies that come from the breeder are worth the drive and more! My all black German Shepard "Sirius" is an absolute dream! The breeder and his family truly care for the dogs and their upbringing. Arsalaan constantly checks in to see how me and Sirius are doing and is there to answer any questions you may have. Whether it's your first dog or not give him a call! He'll walk you through the steps and be there with you for guidance. Gavin U. Arsalaan and his family are very kind, caring breeders! When I first reached out to him, he was very quick with a response and easy to communicate with. He truly takes great pride in his pups and is very helpful to answer any questions that may arise. I brought Bear home with me on Dec 16 and he was nice, clean, and healthy upon pick up. Arsalaan provided Bear's list of shots as well as his pedigree and some other additional documents. You will not be disappointed working with him, highly recommend him and his family to help you bring home your newest family member! Mitchell K. Very responsible breeder, I came from Arizona and couldn't be happier. Very helpful before and after receiving my puppy. I highly recommended. Jimmy M. I call Arsalaan whenever I have questions and he is always very helpful with training tips and advice. I get a lot compliments on her looks. Elvia B. I am so grateful for all of the help I got from Arsalaan, and we also appreciate him following up on our puppy "Rexie". He's given us great advice even before we decided to get Rexie. Although he's up north about a 90 minute drive from us, it was definitely worth it. He kept our puppy even after her 8 weeks we couldn't bring her home because it was a Christmas gift. When I took Rexie to her first vet visit the vet said " this breeder definitely knows what he's doing ". Rexie came with up to date vaccinations and AKC forms paid for just have to finish writing them up. Our new family member is a happy and healthy puppy! Plus she sleeps through the night quietly from day one. Amazing Thank you Arsalaan. Located in beautiful Southern California, we strive to breed superior quality family dogs that will not only make great companions and protectors for your family but that also represent the German Shepherd breed well with the exceptional temperament the breed is known and loved for worldwide. We breed only top German V and VA bloodlines that possess superior health and temperament through generations of hip and elbow certified and temperament tested dogs. Additionally all of our dogs are tested for Degenerative Myelopathy to be sure we are producing puppies safe from this disease. Additionally all of our dogs are DNA tested Clear for the MDR1 gene that can cause mild to severe reactions to a variety of medications. Please visit our testimonials page to read review from many of our clients through the years. Also be sure to visit our Dogs For Sale page to see retired females and males we currently have available to the right homes. Check back often as we are always updating photos of our available puppies. With keeping a small number of dogs we have time to give plenty of love and individual attention to them and the puppies when we have them. Our dogs are not kept in kennels, they live with us as part of our family, with room to roam outside on our one acre property and a warm spot inside to sleep. All puppies are raised inside our home in a clean and healthy environment. All whelpings are supervised by us and assisted as needed to ensure the best start and to protect the health of the mother and her puppies. All puppies are well socialized with small children, cats and our other dogs. Temperament is very important to us, our breeding dogs have wonderful temperaments that they pass on to their puppies. Puppies are temperament tested so that we can help you to find the perfect fit for your family and your needs. We actively show our dogs on the local, national and international level thereby striving to breed dogs of quality bloodlines and structure that adhere to the German SV standard for the German Shepherd dog. We make every effort to continue to learn and to improve our bloodlines by importing dogs of superior quality with top German VA bloodlines to bring you the highest and best quality puppy for you and your family to enjoy. Our hope as breeders is that we can provide the best quality German Shepherd puppy with an outstanding temperament that will in turn make a lasting impression on you and your family like they have in ours. I have so many customers that have been lifelong fans of the German Shepherd, that have grown up with German Shepherds and long for that companionship again with the dog of their childhood. I look forward to providing the dog of your dreams to you and your family! Call today to begin your future with a great German Shepherd Dog of your own. Call or email for an appointment to visit us and to meet our dogs and puppies.

A low-calorie diet is enough for an older dog, but it should still be full of nutrients. Moderate protein and fat content are still needed. Typically, Golden Retriever puppies need to be fed at least three times daily. Meanwhile, adult and senior Golden Retrievers are satisfied with two meals per day. A Golden Retriever puppy should be fed three times a day at scheduled intervals until it reaches six months. You may divide the three meals into breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When your Golden Retriever puppy turns six months, you can begin feeding it twice a day until it reaches adulthood. For adult Golden Retrievers, the most ideal feeding schedule will be twice a day with equally spaced meals. You can give it high-quality food in the morning and evening. The same goes for senior dogs but with fewer calories. For an easier routine, you can create a customized feeding plan based on your daily schedule or commitments. A proper routine also prevents under and overfeeding. As Golden Retrievers have a ravenous appetite, you might be tempted to feed your dog often. But you should be firm and watchful to avoid any weight-related problems. Here, we provided the optimal feeding times you can follow for your Golden Retriever: 2 to 6 months: am — am, pm, pm 7 months to 8 years and above: am — am, pm — pm Ideally, you should not feed your Golden Retriever puppy after pm. Instead, give your pup an ice cube to chew on when it gets thirsty. Your Golden Retriever puppy should also be fed in the same area daily without distractions. This way, your young puppy can focus on eating its puppy food. Allot around 20 to 30 minutes for your Golden puppy to finish its meal. Remember that some Golden Retrievers like to gorge on more food while some are finicky. Keep your pooch lean with the right feeding schedule, feeding amounts, and proper physical activity. You can also consult your vet for more insights. You may give your pooch kibbles or cold-pressed dog food. Both are packed with necessary ingredients that are filled with nutrients! It can be a bit costly, but wet dog food is still a better choice for Golden Retrievers that are picky eaters and for senior Golden Retrievers, too. You may either mix them or alternate the two at every meal. Just make sure that when you take this approach, your pooch is getting the right food with proper calorie and nutrition requirements. Complete Raw Diet: Feeding your Golden Retriever raw food should be fine after it turns three to four weeks. However, feeding dogs with this option is linked to many food safety concerns. Meanwhile, freeze-dried dog food is also a raw food that has been repacked. Both have no preservatives added and are easy to store with long shelf lives. When choosing the best dog food for your Golden Retriever, you should take into account the ingredients, nutrient details, and feeding instructions as well. Based on the general guidelines, the nutrients you should be looking for besides meat products or animal protein and fats are high-quality grains such as brown rice. Fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals are also vital. This can be ideal for dogs that are sensitive to different types of grain. But grain-free food has been controversial due to its link with heart disease. Your vet can also help you personalize a diet plan for your dog. Curious to see what a homemade meal looks like for Golden Retrievers? Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Golden Retriever Golden Retrievers are known for their strong appetite, and on top of this, they are also curious. Several foods are toxic to Golden Retrievers, such as chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, walnuts, and macadamia nuts. Alcoholic drinks and foods that contain xylitol are also dangerous for your dog. Even a tiny amount of alcohol can cause severe issues to your dog, such as vomiting, and diarrhea, among others. Meanwhile, xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is also unsafe for your pooch. If your Golden Retriever consumes too much xylitol, it can result in a dangerously low blood sugar level and even acute liver failure. This substance is usually found in sweet candies, gums, cookies, and the like, so make sure that you check what treats you give your dog. Read food labels or buy organic brands instead. Other vegetables that are harmful to your Golden Retriever are Brussel sprouts, kale, and wild mushrooms. The pits, skins, and leaves of avocados contain a toxin called persin. Meanwhile, cherries contain cyanide which can be extremely harmful to your dog. You may also consult your vet to check the safety of specific foods, especially if your pooch has allergies or sensitivities. These gradual transitions typically occur over 5 to 7 days. The range of amounts is based on the activity of your Golden for the day, either low, moderate, or high level of activity. Golden Retrievers should have scheduled times to eat daily. The scheduled times will help them with their energy levels and keep them healthy. You can schedule their eating times as to what works best for your schedule. For example, feeding them before you leave for work and then when you get home. As a puppy, they will eat three times a day, so you will need to find times in those first few months to feed them more often. When they are an adult or senior, the scheduling of feeding times will be easier because they will only eat twice daily. For a Golden Retriever puppy, the best feeding schedule is once in the morning, noontime, and in the evening. For example, you could feed their first meal at am, lunch at noon, then dinner at pm. Planning their mealtimes around your mealtimes will often make it easier for you and the puppy. Make sure to give them plenty of time after eating to got to the bathroom a couple of times before heading to bed. Hopefully, this will help them sleep for a longer period. After about six months, your Golden Retriever can go down to two daily feedings. This usually occurs once in the morning and once in the evening. They can usually last about 12 hours between meals. If it goes past 12 hours, they could become nauseated. Golden Retrievers can experience food allergies often caused from proteins in dairy or meat products. If your dog experiences symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or itching they may have a food allergy. They warn that feeding dogs any raw animal-source protein could cause illness because it has not gone through a process to remove harmful pathogens. However, a raw diet can be healthy if you are willing to go through the extra cleaning processes of the meat. This is a lot of work and difficult to do correctly and safely. We do not recommend it without expert veterinary help. Before starting a raw diet with your Golden, be sure to consult a veterinarian. Find one that is familiar with raw foods and can help with the proper handling of the foods. If you work hard to make sure your homemade foods are rich in the vitamins and minerals that a dog needs, then it might work for your Golden Retriever. It takes a lot more time to find recipes and make sure it has all the nutritional value of a store-bought dog food. If you are willing to research expertly formulated recipes internet is making it easier to do this , and take the time to cook for your golden then go for it! Consulting your veterinarian is a must before starting any homemade diet. A veterinary nutritionist should also review your plan before starting. Feeding your Golden Retriever table food is not the best practice but a small amount of dog healthy table food is fine. Some example table foods that are healthy for them are carrots, blueberries and plain yogurt. Just be aware that feeding them too much table food can throw their entire diet out of whack. They may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals like they do from their dog food. Conclusion Making sure your Golden Retriever is getting the right foods at the right amounts will help them live their best life. There are many choices of foods with all the right ingredients. Be sure to choose one that works best for you and your Golden. Consult with your veterinarian on which food will bring the most nutritional value to the health of your Golden Retriever. If your Golden is experiencing any health issues related to changing foods, visit your veterinarian. If this article was helpful, please consider sharing this post on Facebook with the button below! She is board certified a specialist in canine reproduction. In her day job, she is a leader in a small biotech where she and a team of veterinarians and scientists work to develop new medications for pets. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of this wonderful breed of dogs. She and her husband have 2 children, 3 dogs and one cat. They love camping and hiking and she can often be found with her head in a good book. Recent Posts. Read the full disclosure here. Being a large and energetic dog, your golden retriever has a ravenous appetite and can eat a lot. However, overfeeding is never good and could be avoided with the help of a golden retriever feeding chart. Knowing how much to feed your golden retriever is always tricky but essential for their well-being and health. Goldens are prone to obesity and joint problems, which can only be exacerbated with an inadequate feeding plan. So, stay with me to find the right feeding plan and meal schedule for your goldie. Most first-time owners think their puppies should be chubby. In truth, golden retriever puppies are supposed to look lanky and act like they are always hungry when fed the correct amount of food. To encourage proper growth and development without making your pup obese, you will have to know how much to feed a golden retriever puppy. For example, cheaper foods use fillers and have a smaller amount of calories, thus you will have to feed more than you would when using premium large breed puppy foods. Golden Retrievers are very food motivated. If your puppy seems to be getting fat, you may need to switch to the lower end of the above recommendations. Alternatively, if their ribs are becoming too prominent, you should work to the upper ends of the guidelines. Golden Retriever puppies have much smaller stomachs than adults. This means their daily food allowance should be split into smaller, more frequent meals. Rather than just feeding them once in the morning and once in the evening, as you might plan to do eventually, their food will need to be split into 3 or even 4 portions, like so: 8 — 12 weeks: 4 meals a day 3 — 6 months: 3 meals a day 6 — 12 months: 2 meals a day However, like the feeding charts, this should only be used as a guide. Feeding too much food at once can lead to cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, and discomfort for your puppy. How to Choose the Best Golden Retriever Puppy Food Puppies need a balance of certain nutrients and vitamins to support their growth — not just as much food as possible. In fact, simply giving as much food as possible is linked to certain joint-related health problems. So, when searching for a high quality puppy food, there are a few key ingredients you might want to search for. This includes a real meat source, and the correct amount of nutrients like calcium and iron. Commercial Food vs Homemade Food There are pros and cons to every type of puppy food available. Dry food is long-lasting and easy to use during training, but can contain filler ingredients. Wet food is palatable and easy to serve, but can be more expensive and harder to use during training. Homemade food is often very appealing in terms of taste for our dogs, but is the most likely type to contain nutritional imbalances that can lead to serious health problems. So, they will continue to grow and develop physically until somewhere between 12 and 18 months. You may want to transition your puppy to a new food when you bring them home, rather than whatever your breeder was giving them. Ideally, you want to make the change over the course of a week. Replace a very small amount of their old food with their new food at mealtimes. Over the week, you can change these amounts by decreasing their old food and increasing the new. By the end of the week, they will be eating only the new food. Changing abruptly can cause stomach upsets and symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. But, Golden Retrievers should generally look lanky rather than chubby. But, the most successful rewards in this type of training are often food, such as kibble or small chunks or meat and cheese. Doing all of your training in the morning can lead to stomach upsets if your puppy ends up eating a large amount of their daily allowance all at once. Instead, try and complete shorter training sessions before each mealtime, and give whatever allowance is left for each meal after training is done. This can also benefit your training, as a hungry dog will be more motivated to work for those treats! There is also info on how to keep your puppy and your adult at his or her optimum weight. Scroll down to find growth charts to make sure your puppy is growing at the proper rate and is within the right weight range for his age. If you are looking for information on what to feed, go to How to Choose a Dog Food. Unlike with human children, a puppy that is overfed will grow too fast before they grow too fat. A good example is where a smaller puppy at 10 weeks was overfed and his growth was compared to a puppy that was correctly fed. The growth of your puppy needs to be controlled. General Guidelines for Puppies Below are some general guidelines on how much to feed puppies. Most dog food bags suggest feeding too much. Increase to about 3 cups a day by 5 months for boys and by 6 months for girls. Golden Retrievers at this age are supposed to look lanky and all Golden Retrievers act like they are starving when fed the correct amount. If left to eat as much as they want, they will all grow too fast. In the wild, dogs do not have unlimited access to eat as much as they want. They work for their food. Caloric Needs Greatly Decrease at About a Year When puppies reach about months, their caloric needs begin to decrease. Some males might need 4 cups if active and are fed a less expensive food. Make sure you take into consideration the number of extra calories being fed as treats. You should be able to feel their ribs, but not see them even when the dog is wet. If you can see the ribs, increase their food. Decrease the food if you cannot feel them. I always tell people that it is better to underfeed than to overfeed, especially when feeding puppies. Weight Range Charts Following are charts of how puppies should generally grow in weight. Keep in mind that very few puppies need to be at the top of these ranges and if you cannot feel ribs, your dog is overweight even if she is in this weight range. If your dog is still a puppy and she is over these weight ranges, you are feeding her too much. Female Golden Retriever Weight Chart Here is a chart of how girls should generally grow in weight: 2 Months — pounds.

All dogs are unique and grow at their own rate. Pro Tip: Check out our complete guide to puppy care to ensure your Lab gets off to a great start. As a medium to large breed, Labrador Retrievers need at least one year to reach their full size. A general rule of thumb suggests your Lab should be at or close to its full size by their first birthday. However, bigger-boned Lab puppies can keep growing and filling out their chest up to 18 months old. How big should a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever be? The average Lab weight at six months old is about 40 to 55 pounds for males or 30 to 35 pounds for females. Please keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and every puppy will grow at a slightly different rate. How much bigger will my Labrador Retriever get? There are three ways to predict the size of a Labrador Retriever at maturity: Age. Labrador Retrievers typically reach their full height and weight around their first birthday. Larger Labs may need up to 18 months to fill out their chest, but any weight gain after 12 months should be minimal overall. If your Lab is less than a year old, they are likely still growing and putting on muscle to reach their adult size. Paw Size. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, then they are probably still growing, as this is a classic puppy feature. Lastly, if you purchased your Lab through a breeder, you can contact them for a more exact height and weight estimate. What is the size of a full-grown Labrador Retriever? A full-grown Labrador Retriever weighs between 65 and 80 pounds and stands about .The average weight of a full-grown female Labrador Retriever should be about 55 to 70 pounds, standing at .Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your Lab is maintaining a healthy weight for its body size. The Labrador Retriever growth rate should be indicative of its athletic body and muscular build. Did you know. ? Their webbed paws made them strong swimmers, along with their otter tail, which acts like a powerful rudder when retrieving ducks. English nobles spotted the dogs and brought them home across the Atlantic, where breeders continued to refine the breed into its own variation. Between their friendly demeanor, adaptability, and outgoing disposition, they make ideal family members. As cherished members of our families, Labs deserve the best care. Unfortunately, like many other purebred dogs, Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to various health issues. Some of the most common examples include:. Dubai Once again 'Humiiation at the Paws of your Labrador'.I know it well,many of us do! You are right at the time where your puppy training ,which has been going extremely well suddenley seems to have been completely forgotten and the Teenager version of your dog emerges. This is the time where you really need to stick harder than ever with your training. They are getting more independent at they same time as they are getting bigger and stronge and it can be really challenging. I went to a second set of basic obedience classes at this age just practice focus around distractions. We haven't got children so it was very easy to follow advice I was given about keeping temptation out of reach.When he did make off with something we didn't make a game of it,we just swapped for a treat.Sorry you were embarrassed at class but truly it's so common albeit frustrating when you KNOW they can do the excercise perfectly.Are you working with food rewards? If so I would really up the ante in the rewards ,take something super tasty and when Dexter used to decide not to cooperate I just used to move away from the rest of the dogs to where we had more space,ergo less distraction and try and get his focus back there before moving closer again. Good luck,keep,with it,she sounds a lovely dog x. Size The average female black Lab grows to a height of between 21 and 24 inches from the floor at the withers, or shoulders, although even a purebred dog can be bigger or smaller. Males reach a height of 22 to 25 inches. By the age of 6 months, most dogs reach approximately 75 percent of their full adult height, so your 7-month-old black Lab should be between 15 and 18 inches tall. Weight A healthy adult black Lab female weighs 55 to 70 pounds and a male 65 to 80 pounds. By the age of 6 months, black Lab puppies reach approximately two-thirds of their adult weight, so a dog of 7 months should be in this range or slightly heavier. At 70 percent of the average female adult weight, your female black Lab puppy should weigh from 40 to 50 pounds, while a male puppy would weigh between 45 and 55 pounds. Paws Black Lab puppies go through a stage from the age of 4 months to around 7 months, when their legs appear to grow much faster than the rest of their bodies. This gives them the look of a teenager with long, gangly legs and big paws. Her paws, though, are likely to be full adult size, which will make them look larger because they're out of proportion with the rest of her young body. As a large-breed dog, Labs commonly reach maturity at around 12 to 18 months; some take even longer to develop. A nonadult black Lab may look fairly skinny and have the appearance of slinking along like a cat when she walks: though her height is almost that of an adult dog, she has months to go before she fills out. More Articles. What commands should my six month puppy know? And much more! Average 6 month old Lab size? It seems amazing that the little fluff ball you bought home just four months ago should be so big. And bouncy! But I know you want an answer, so as a very rough guide, many 6 month old lab puppies will weigh around 50lbs. The remainder of his growth, another lbs or so will take place more slowly over the next 6 months. What should my black, yellow, or chocolate Labrador weigh at six months? People often ask if there is any difference between the different colors with regard to weight and size. The answer is kind of. Working type American or field bred Labradors are often lighter at six months than show type English or bench bred Labradors. And in the UK at least, most field bred Labradors are either black the majority or yellow including fox red. Most not all, but most chocolate Labs in the UK are show or pet bred Labradors and tend to be more heavily built. There is a softness to his features that will last another couple of months or so. How much food does a 6 month old Lab need? How much food your puppy needs will depend on how much he weighs and what condition he is in. Have a look at our puppy feeding chart and also at the instructions on the packet of food that you are using. If your puppy is a little on the skinny side give him a tiny bit more food than recommended and if he is looking a bit plump, a little bit less. Consistent overfeeding will make a puppy fat. Consistent underfeeding will see him lose weight. How often should I feed my six month old puppy? Your 6 month old Lab can drop down from three meals a day to two without any problems. This means that you will be giving the same amount of food as before, but in two larger meals instead of three smaller ones. So, if your pup gets diarrhoea when you switch to twice daily feed, skip a meal to let his tummy settle, then go back to three meals a day for a few days. When you next try going down to two meals a day, give him two small meals to begin with and increase the meal size gradually over the next few days How far should my six month old be walked every day? If you are not familiar with it, the five minute rule says that a puppy needs five minutes of exercise per day for each month of his life. Like many young Labs, adorable six month old Myles loves everyone: by Ericka from the USA Most experts would divide that into two sessions. This refers to formal walks, not playing in the garden or messing about with other dogs. And the reason for that caution is that your puppy is still growing and the growth plates in his joints are still vulnerable to damage. So my advice would be to avoid hard exercise until your puppy is well past his first birthday and then to build up gradually over a period of several weeks. Sexual maturity in Labradors Puppies become sexually mature before they are physically mature and long before they are mentally adults. Some six month old puppies are capable of breeding. And definitely should not be allowed to do so. Apart from the ethical and moral implications, it may be physically harmful to breed from such a young female. Many female Labradors will have their first season sometime between six months and a year, so this is something you need to be looking out for. Neutering Some of you will have already had your 6 month pup neutered, others will be thinking about doing so in the next few months. If you decide against neutering, this is a good point in time to review the security on your property and make sure it is thoroughly dog proof. Labradors are surprisingly agile and can often jump higher, and dig deeper, than you imagine. Beautiful Poppy at just seven months old: by Karen R from Germany Once sexually mature, many a Labrador, particularly but not only males, will make more effort to explore beyond the boundaries of your property. And if you have a female in season, other enterprising males will do their best to find a way in! Whatever your intentions, the time for breeding is a long way off right now. Bear in mind your dog is nowhere near grown up. In many ways he is still a baby. Has my 6 month old Lab finished teething? Most puppies have shed the last of their baby teeth by six months of age. And will have cut many of their adult teeth by this point too. Most will have all their adult teeth within the next month or so. This is the point at which most young dogs start to lose their fear of losing you. This has some big implications for those that exercise their young dogs off leash in open country, where there are temptations such as wild birds and animals to chase. Which brings us to the next question. As a trainer of working retrievers I can tell you that I have had six month old Labradors that were quite advanced with their training and others that had barely started. All reached the same standard eventually. However, it is important to get started with training now. And while there is no set standard your puppy should have reached, it is definitely time to get some safety cues installed. What commands should my six month old puppy know? Most six month old pups have only quite basic obedience and are not yet reliably obedient when there are lots of distractions about. While many six month olds will sit when asked, and come when called in the house and yard. And a lot the majority of six month old Labradors are still pulling on the lead. Professional or serious hobby trainers aside, this is fairly normal. Most importantly, you need to focus on proofing these cues against distraction. Come The come cue, or recall, is important so that your dog can be allowed safely off leash and recalled if any hazards appear. You can find information on teaching recall here: How to teach a basic recall Even if you have made quite good progress with recall, now is quite a good point at which to be thinking about the about turn walk this is a technique to prevent your dog from getting too far away from you on walks. This is especially important as he grows bigger. Labradors are strong and often friendly dogs. This makes pulling on the lead very common as your puppy does his best to engage every passing stranger in a game. Gorgeous Charlie enjoying a run at six months of age — he also appears in our feature at the top of the page: by Julie T from Cornwall UK I have seen grown ups pulled clean off their feet by large dogs on leash. Being pulled off your feet, or losing control of your dog at the roadside is a very real risk. Many young Labradors are very friendly and while this is a great thing overall, it can cause some problems with training at this age. I mentioned proofing earlier, and proofing is the process which teaches our dogs to come away from other dogs or people. And proofing is the way to succeed. The main problem with proofing is that it takes time and help. You might also find proofing Labrador obedience helpful. What is the best way to train my 6 month old? Training methods are changing. We are in something of a new era with regard to dog training methods and there are now plenty of good trainers who can show you how to train your dog effectively without fear or pain. Behavior problems Most six month old pups are through the housetraining phase, though there may be very occasional accidents if a your dog is left alone for a lot longer than usual. Female dogs may have an occasional accident during their first season too, but these are usually isolated incidents. What about chewing? If you are expecting chewing to stop at the same time as teething coming to an end, you may be disappointed. We look at destructive chewing in more detail in this article , but it can be at its worst between 6 and 9 months of age. Which brings us to a common question Can I de-crate my six month old Lab? It seems mean to shut him away at bedtime. Why not give him the freedom of the kitchen during the night? Well, this can work. But often it does not and results either in a bad chewing problem or occasionally, in a relapse in house training. You can find out more in this article which includes detailed de-crating instructions. The other big issue for many puppy parents with six month olds, is excitable behavior. Particularly jumping up, and sometimes nipping How do I stop my six month old Labrador from jumping up? Jumping up is a common problem in young labs. These are friendly and affectionate dogs who enjoy close contact and like to greet their friends up close! You and your visitors not only tolerate it, but actually reinforce it by petting the puppy as he does it. Or rather over- excitement. This is the age at which excitable behavior can become quite a challenge again. Partly because the dog is now physically bigger, stronger, and more difficult to control. Now, more than ever, you need your dog to listen and respond to your voice. Playing safely More often than not, excitable behavior that has got out of control, started out as a game. However, if you are struggling a bit, you are not on your own. Drop into the forum and say hello to all the other puppy parents.

This article gives guidance on how to crate train an older dog. A List Of Dog Crates Highly Recommended By Labrador Training HQ A high quality, durable crate of the correct size and type is essential to guarantee safety, comfort and to get the best out of the crate training experience. But with so many styles, types and sizes available, selecting a suitable crate is no easy task. So we at Labrador Training HQ have taken the hard work out of the hunt by putting together a hand picked selection of the best crates available that you can see by reading this article. Travel safety — A crate is a very useful tool to confine your dog safely during travel by car or by air and reduces the stress they feel due to being in a comfortable and familiar crate. Security — A dog learns to view their crate as a special place all of their own, where no human ventures and they can get away from it all to be alone when they desire. A crate is the one tool that can be used to dramatically speed up the time needed to train your lab to toilet outside and to improve their bladder and bowel control. Protecting your possessions — A crate is a useful tool in teaching your puppy to be fixated on chew toys and not your furniture and shoes. A quick note about boarding and kennels. When our Linus got sick he had to stay in the kennel at the vets office while he recovered. Thank goodness he was crate trained. When I came in to stay with him he was comfortable in his crate with an IV hanging out of his leg. These are just some of the benefits you and your Labrador can enjoy if you take the time and trouble to crate train your dog. Is Crate Training Always Successful? Sadly not. Dogs are individuals and come with their own likes and dislikes. So although a crate can be used to benefit the vast majority of dogs, there will always be a select few that just will not enjoy or accept being crated. It helped our last 3 puppies Charlie, Doni, and Downey get used to their crate in only a few nights. This is particularly true for the occasional adopted dog for which their background is unknown. Dogs up for adoption may have had bad and traumatic experiences with crates earlier on in their lives, where owners used a crate as a form of punishment or misused a crate amounting to imprisonment. Obviously in these cases, a crate should not be used. These cases though are the exception and not the rule. The vast majority of dogs learn to love and enjoy spending time in their crate. I believe everybody should at least educate themselves on the subject and give it a go. By soaking up the knowledge in this guide and following the steps I outline for crate training, you and your Lab can enjoy the rewards that using a crate provides. Your Lab will be happier, safer, more secure, less likely to engage in destructive behavior and from these facts you can enjoy a greater peace of mind that you are doing the very best for your dog. One of our favorite features is the crate comes with a divider that allows you to adjust the size of your crate as your puppy grows. I will always try my best to respond to every one of them. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Material This is a polyester product, which is great for moving Labrador puppies. In theory, you can use this crate even as a dog home as long as your puppy is young, but that would make it harder for your Labrador to accept a metal crate later on. The harder potions of this crate are made of PVC, which is sturdier than polyester but is a nightmare to clean. Other Features While the product will last a much shorter while than its metal counterparts, it does present its own advantages. The key features include the breathability of polyester, lack of stimuli, and a fleece pet bed. It is pretty easy to carry and comes with a strap to help manage this. Convenience With this product, the convenience is dictated entirely by how well-trained your dog is. This travel crate defies that principle and presents a spacious way of housing your Labrador on your travels. Material This crate incorporates both metal and plastic, which is great for travel but inconvenient for home use. Opaque plastic on the side reduces this stimulation, while the metal wire window keeps your dog from feeling claustrophobic. The crate dimensions stand at 48 inches x 32 inches x 35 inches, comparable and even more spacious than many metal options. Instead, you should compare it to other portable options. The plastic sides are better than polyester panels commonly used in travel crates. The metal wire window alongside the ventilation holes at the back allows air to circulate properly. It features metal bars and a wooden roof, panels, and flooring. Material The product features wood which can be a concerning aspect because of the rivalry between dogs and wooden posts. However, this is plastic wood and is not as scratchable. According to the manufacturer, the wood is non-toxic and recycled. The stainless steel bars are obviously strong enough to make sure the crate boundaries are actual boundaries and not suggestions like they are with travel crates. Size The crate is .With a .Other Features The only prominent feature is the style and aesthetic appeal of this crate. While most crates look like jailhouses, this one looks like a luxurious house arrest destination. It comes in black, white, grey, espresso, and russet colors, of which I only knew three. Espresso is a fancy way of saying brownish-grey and russet, reddish-brown. This variety allows you to pick the crate that complements your furniture. Convenience Despite looking like a complicated piece of carpentry, the crate is easy to assemble and requires no tools. It also doubles as furniture making it more convenient for you to make room for the crate, especially if you live in a studio apartment. All in all, I love the look of this crate and the great choice of colors which will fit any decor. You can also use it as an effective time-out during training. Material The playpen is made of materials not disclosed by manufacturers, but I can convey it best by describing the feel. The exterior of this water-proof playpen feels like canvas, while the bottom feels like the outside of a tent. The material is sturdy but is no match to plastic or metal. Size This is one of the most spacious items on this post because it serves a different purpose. It is not meant to be the sleeping place of a dog or a traveling carry-case. It gives an inspiring environment for your Labrador and spans 61 inches in length and breadth across its octagonal shape and 30 inches in height. Other Features and Convenience The product comes with a carry mechanism that makes it look like a large laptop bag and features outer pockets and even a water bottle holder. Best Metal Playpen MidWest Homes for Pets Foldable Metal Playpen Click HERE to check the latest price on Amazon This product brings together the spaciousness of the previous option with the sturdiness of the first item in this post, making the perfect environment for your Labrador to relax or play within a relatively confined space. I love this idea as it gives your Lab loads more room whilst keeping him in a safe environment and allowing a positive experience. Material This playpen features metal wire panels and has an open top and bottom. In other words, the flooring could be grass or carpet, depending on the place where you assemble the playpen. Size Each panel is 24 inches wide, and there are eight panels. You can determine the width of the playpen by assembling the panels closely or even attaching extra panels. Convenience The most convenient thing about this playpen is that it takes your hands off of babysitting your dog. This also is the thing you must be most concerned about because leaving your Lab in his playpen for extended periods might make it easier for you to slack off on your responsibility to socialize with your best friend, take him out on walks, and play with him. Labradors need a inch-size crate, so their size is well-accommodated in it. The crate should also be 27 inches tall at minimum, so the dog can safely stand without hitting his head and 28 inches wide so that he can move around, lie on his side, and comfortably stretch out his paws. The best crate size for a Labrador puppy is 42 inches. A wire crate with a divider is perfect as you can start your pup off in a small enough space by setting the divider a few inches away from his full length and continue to adjust as the dog grows. This also speeds up potty training. Which Crate Should I Pick? Labradors are very social and strong enough to rip apart delicate boundaries that cordon them off from their favorite pastime: playing with people. Related Posts You May Like:. Print Crate training your Lab puppy, why you should and a guide on how Labrador puppies are so cute and cuddly, it almost seems wrong to put them in a crate. But crate training is one of the best things you can do for your new puppy and for yourself. There are many benefits to crate training your retriever puppy, but it is a process. Learn how to properly crate train a Labrador puppy and why you should start crate training as soon as possible. Why should I crate train my Labrador? While some people think putting a dog in a crate is cruel, experts disagree. Most veterinarians, trainers, and breeders recommend crate training dogs from a young age. Dogs are den animals and often feel most safe when they are in a tight, confined area. A crate can represent this den-like experience for your puppy and give them a place to retreat when they feel stressed, confused, or just need some time alone. Dogs that are crate trained properly do not fear the crate, in fact, they love it and will often seek it out for a nap. Easy and safe transport Crates are the safest way to transport dogs. A dog contained in a crate cannot move around within your vehicle, get in your way while driving or create distractions. In addition, you can buy crates that are 5-star crash tested , possibly giving your dog superior protection if you are involved in an accident. Crates help with housebreaking As discussed in our post on housebreaking your Labrador puppy , crate training can make housebreaking easier and quicker. Crates allow you, as owner, some off-time — time when you do not have to be constantly watching your puppy for potty accidents. In addition, crates help encourage your puppy to hold it, to wait a little longer before going potty, since most puppies hate to mess their bed. Note: My husband and I are professional retriever trainers, so any products listed here are items we use on an almost daily basis. We only recommend products we know are good quality and will stand the test of time. When possible, I include links to the product. Some of these links may be affiliate links in which I am paid a small commission, but all opinions and recommendations are my own. Learn more. Can help hunting dogs with blind manners and patience Hunting dogs often need to sit still and quiet for hours on end. Sometime in dog huts or MoMarsh stands. Crates can help hunting dogs by teaching them there is a place that they should simply lay down, rest and keep quiet. Better dog to family relationships and more control Crate training your puppy can provide many benefits for your entire family. Crate training your puppy at a young age means that when you need to put them in a crate they will go in willingly and without a fight. As professional retriever trainers, we crate train all the puppies we raise as custom trained dogs. We also crate train all our own dogs. We find that it makes for a better adjusted puppy all around. Choosing the right crate for crate training Lab puppy Getting ready to crate train your puppy means you need to buy a crate. And the size and type of crate do matter. Size of crate for crate training retrievers You want the crate to be large enough that your puppy is comfortable laying in the crate, but not so big that your puppy can walk around. The puppy should feel snug and protected, but not uncomfortable. The unfortunate thing about crate training this way, is that it means that as your puppy grows, you will need progressively larger crates. While inconvenient and bit more costly, this really is the best way to crate train your puppy. But if you do not wish to buy multiple crates, there are other methods. Some people buy a large crate, the size their dog will need as an adult and then section off some of the crate. Blocking off a portion of the crate will give the puppy that tighter, den-like, experience and ensure that the puppy cannot walk around inside the crate. While this can work, be careful what you use to section the crate off. You would not want to use a material that can be chewed or ingested by your puppy. Puppies are naturally chewers, so keep this in mind. Type of crate for crate training retriever Technically, any kind of crate will work for crate training. But over the years we have found that some crates just simply work better. Plastic crates seem to be the best option. They can be found easily at a local pet store, superstore, or even bought online. There are some inexpensive options that provide the protection and privacy of a den-like experience for the dogs. In addition, they have a solid bottom so should your dog get sick, or if you are in the process of housebreaking, cleanup is rather easy. Wire crates , the kind that you can see right through do not seem to work as well as plastic crates. Wire crates are wide open, they do not provide dogs the opportunity to get away and relax. The wire offers little protection and privacy, and many dogs do not like them as dens. We discuss crate options in more detail here. How to crate train a Lab puppy? Crate training is easiest when done with young puppies. We recommend starting crate training the day you bring the pup home from the breeder. Often this is at around weeks old. The sooner you start, the easier the process will be. Crate training can be done with older dogs, but it may take more effort and patience on your part. Step 1 — Let puppy explore the crate The first step is to place the crate in an area that is frequented by the puppy. Prop the door open in some way, a small bungee works well and let your puppy explore the crate on his own. Puppies are naturally curious, so often they will walk right into the crate on their own. It is best if you do not move the crate around the house. Instead, find a place for the crate where the dog will spend a majority of their time and leave it there. The crate should not be right next to a bed or a bedroom. Your puppy will be sleeping in their crate and your puppy will make more noise and wake up more if the crate is close to you. Also, your puppy is bound to make some noise the first few nights in the crate. Step 2- Establish a routine Develop a routine of putting your puppy down to nap inside the crate. You can put one or two small toys in the crate if you wish and a small towel that you do not care if it gets ruined. I know this sounds self-explanatory, but I have seen it. Also, do not put a dog bed in the crate. A dog bed is too big and bulky to fit into crates well and your puppy will simply chew it to pieces or accidently have a potty accident on it. Once that happens, the bed will have the scent of potty and will work against your housebreaking efforts. That is natural and nothing to be worried about. Simply walk away from the crate and allow the puppy to settle down. Depending on the nature of your puppy this may take a few minutes to an hour or more. It is vital that you stay away from the crate during this time. If you follow this advice, your puppy will quickly learn to be content in the crate and over time the noise will become less and less until they finally understand they must stay in the crate. Step 3 — Watch the clock While I suggest you do not take your puppy out of the crate while they are making noise, you do need to keep an eye on how long your puppy has been in the crate. You do not want your puppy to have an accident in the crate if you can help it. With week old puppies, I start by leaving the puppy in the crate for 1 hour at a time followed by playtime. As the puppy gets older, they can naturally hold their bladder longer. This should go without saying, but you should never leave your dog in a crate 24 hours a day every day. Socialization of young puppies is vital. Block the crate door open again. The door should be blocked open anytime the puppy has not been placed in the crate for some quiet time. The puppy will see or smell the toys and go inside the crate to get them. Some people play crate games. They will throw a toy inside the crate so that the puppy must go inside the crate to retrieve it. These games can help your dog become extremely comfortable with their crate. Over time you will notice that your puppy is not afraid to go inside their crate while the door is open. Sometimes, they will even go inside the crate and lay down when they are tired. This is the reaction you are seeking. How long does it take to crate train a dog? There is no set amount of time it takes to crate train a dog. Each dog will progress on their own schedule. But if you continue to place your puppy inside the crate on a routine basis and make the crate available to your puppy at all times, you will reap the benefits of having successfully crate trained your puppy. Final thoughts on how to crate train a Labrador puppy Crate training is a greatly beneficial thing for Labrador puppies and other retriever breeds. It can mimic a den for these beautiful animals and give them a safe and secure place where they can rest without stress or fear. This helps them with emotional stability and can curb behavior issues. It also makes for a more enjoyable home life with less dog induced strife. How to crate train a Labrador puppy. You can find a summary of these in my crate training schedule chart below Stage 1 Introduction to crate training for puppies from 8 weeks old This stage covers the first week that you bring your puppy home. Your objective at stage 1 is simply to get the puppy used to being in and around the crate with the door open. Leave the door open Start by placing puppy in his crate frequently and each time you place him in there drop several little edible treats through the roof for him. Just let him come straight out again when he has finished his treats. This introduces the crate as a fun and enjoyable place to be. He will soon come to associate this phrase with going into his crate for a treat Closing the door briefly The next step is to close the crate door momentarily and then open it again. Leave it shut only long enough for the puppy to finish his treat and notice that the door is closed. Then let him out. Do not wait until he gets upset or cries. Repeat many, many times during the course of the next day or two. If he is left alone at night whilst he is still homesick he is likely to howl, and howling in his new crate is not a habit we want to establish. Tending to your puppy during the night If the box is right up against the side of your bed, you can put your hand in and comfort him if he cries. Moving your puppy downstairs at night After the first three or four nights, or by the end of the first week, your puppy can be placed in his crate in the kitchen before you go up to bed at night. So if you put him to bed at midnight, you will probably need to get up around 5am to let him out for a wee to begin with. If a puppy has fallen asleep in his crate and slept for more than a couple of hours then you will need to let him out if he wakes up crying. Getting more sleep! If all goes well, you can stretch this five hours out by 15 minutes or so a night until you are getting seven hours sleep. If he wets the bed you will need to get up earlier the next night. And some puppies will be 12 to 14 weeks before they can cope this long. You can find lot more information on teaching your puppy to be clean and dry in our potty training sections. Crate training during the day There is no immediate need to crate your new puppy during the day for more than a few minutes at a time. The main purpose of crating a puppy during the day is to Help the puppy learn to hold onto the contents of his bladder for a bit longer. To keep him safe when you are busy for short periods, or if you need to leave the house for a while. To give him chance to calm down or a break from small children. However, you do need to get the puppy used to spending longer periods in the crate in preparation for being left alone from time to time when he is older. So gradually, you will accustom the puppy to a few longer spells in his crate. These are tough hollow rubber toys that you fill with mushy food and freeze. You can freeze several Kongs at once by standing them on a baking tray in the freezer. Each time you put the puppy in his crate for more than a couple of minutes, you will leave a frozen food filled Kong in there to keep him company. Puppies love these and will soon grow to associate the crate with the pleasure of the frozen Kong. How to get the puppy used to longer crate times Once you have got to the end of the first week and the puppy has accepted the crate as a nice place to be, the next task is to get the puppy to accept the closed door for longer periods of time. This may take a day or two. Place him in the crate with his frozen kong and close the door for 30 seconds. The idea is to leave the door closed for a few seconds longer each time you crate the puppy. But it is very important only to open the door when the puppy has been silent for several seconds. What to do if the puppy cries in his crate If the puppy starts to whimper or howl you will need to turn away from the crate and ignore him. Wait for the silence as he stops crying and gets to work on his puppy kong. Tell him what a good dog he is. Let him out immediately and go back to much briefer periods of closed door for a while. Try ten seconds or five. Build up again gradually, but do not be tempted to avoid crating him because it upsets him. Once the puppy is happy in his crate, you can use it to help with his potty training. Until then, make sure that you crate him for very short periods when you know his bladder is empty. Otherwise he will wet himself when he gets upset. Puppies that cry need crating more often! If your puppy whines in the crate, you need to crate him more often not less, and for shorter periods. Check out our in-depth article on coping with a crying puppy for more information Just make sure that each time he is crated is very, very brief to begin with. That way he will learn that being crated is not a big deal Warning: if you open the crate door whilst your puppy is howling, he will howl longer and harder next time! Build up slowly to a minute, then two minutes, then three, five, seven, ten, fifteen minutes and so on. How long can a puppy be left in a crate People often ask how long a puppy can be left alone in his crate. For puppies three to six months old I think two hours is a maximum, and for puppies under three months, one hour. If you need to leave your puppy for longer than this, then you need to consider a puppy proof room or pen where water and puppy pads are always available, or even a weatherproof outdoor kennel and run. This involves putting puppy pads down in a large puppy pen or puppy proofed room so that your puppy always has access to a toilet area. You can find out much more about overcoming the problems of being a working puppy parent in this article: combining a puppy with full time work. Stage 3 Training your puppy to go into his crate on command! As your puppy grows bigger, picking him up and putting him in his crate becomes more of a physical event! Provided you are not leaving your puppy alone for too long, he should be happy to go willingly into his crate. This can be achieved through training. This will probably take a couple of weeks. Maybe more if your puppy really does not like his crate at the moment. Have several training sessions each day — at least three. And do 20 or 30 repetitions of the following exercise in each session. This will take you about five minutes. If you are have never used one before, check out this article before you begin: Charging your clicker. Imagine a zone around the crate. It should not be so small that the dog avoids it altogether. A couple of feet in each direction is fine. The object is to get your puppy to choose to enter this zone. You are teaching him to chose to approach the crate. EXERCISE 2 entering the crate doorway In this exercise, you are going to click and treat the dog for putting a nose, or a paw through the opening into a crate. For some dogs this is too big a jump and you will need to work on a smaller crate zone first. We are moving the goalposts and the dog will be surprised when you do not reward him for entering the zone. He will quickly try something different. Have the dog in the room with you Make sure the crate door is wide open Click and treat each time the dog enters the crate zone Repeat five times Throw the treat outside the zone so that he has to re-enter to get the next reward. The next time he enters the zone, wait for him to go closer to the crate and put his nose in the opening What if he fails to do this? Repeat from step 3 until the dog repeatedly puts his nose through the crate door. Now you can stop rewarding him for simply entering the zone. It just takes longer with some dogs than others. Use his entire food ration if necessary. Remember, if you have to go out, scoop him up without a word, and place him in there bodily. Do not use the clicker or any other part of this process, or attempt to lure him in. You going out is a punishment in his mind. Behavior that is punished will diminish. When you click, he will come dashing out again for his treat. Again, we begin the exercise with something we know he can already do Have the dog in the room with you Make sure the crate door is wide open Click and treat each time the dog puts his nose through the crate doorway Repeat five times Throw each treat outside the zone so that he has to re-enter to get the next reward. The next time he puts his nose through the doorway, withold the click. Wait for him to go further in Repeat and gradually raise the criteria you are setting so that more and more of the dog must be through the doorway to get a reward. The exercise is done when the dog repeatedly goes right inside his crate. With a dog that is not crate-shy, you can often work through these three Exercises in a day or two. EXERCISE 4 spending time in the crate Have the dog in the room with you Make sure the crate door is wide open Click and treat each time the dog goes inside the crate Repeat five times The next time he enters the crate withold the click and treat for two seconds If he remains in the crate click and treat If he leaves the crate wait for him to re-enter Repeat from step five until he can wait 2 seconds in the crate and then increase to 3 seconds Work your way up to ten seconds When the dog can cope with ten seconds waiting in the crate, you are ready to close the door. To begin with this will be momentary EXERCISE 5 closing the door Have the dog in the room with you Make sure the crate door is wide open Click and treat after 10 seconds, each time the dog goes inside the crate Repeat five times The next time he enters the crate close the door and immediately open it again Wait a few seconds then If he remains in the crate click and treat If he leaves the crate wait for him to re-enter Repeat from step five until he will go into the crate, watch you open and close the door, and remain in the crate for a few more seconds after you have opened the door. We are nearly there! Use the cue you have chosen. You know the procedure now. We want him to have absorbed the association between this cue and the act of entering the crate. Now it is time to use the cue in advance of the behavior. Once the dog is repeatedly racing into the crate on your cue, we need to make sure he can distinguish this command from other commands. In this case the dog is not discriminating between different cues, but rather making assumptions about what game you are going to play. So the next step in training is to mix in another cue. If he is confused, and he may be, show him what you want, just like before. You now have a dog that actually understands the meaning of In Your Crate and happily complies with your command. It is time for him to adapt to being confined after being told to go in there. Start slowly and build up EXERCISE 9 adding duration Place a Kong with food in it, or some treats on a slow feed bowl into the crate without your dog spotting you Cue the dog into the crate call him into the room first Shut the door and leave it closed for one minute Open the door again and ignore the dog. It is up to him if he stays in the crate or comes out Repeat from step 1 gradually increasing the time you wait before opening the door Vary the length of time you keep the door closed. Sometimes two minutes, sometimes as much as fifteen minutes. Now you can begin to send the dog into his crate for longer periods, such as when you go out for an hour or so. Maintenance tips Send the puppy into his crate often, not just when you need to. Make sure there is always a tasty treat or a Kong in there waiting for him Sometimes when you send him in, close the door If you know you are going to go out shut him in at least ten minutes before you start getting ready to leave If you know you are going to go out always leave him with a Kong full of frozen food When you are not going out, vary the times he is shut in from two to thirty minutes Send him in from time to time without closing the door Provided your dog is not left overly long in a crate on a regular basis, this should overcome any shyness he has about going in there. Dogs of any age can be trained to crate on cue using this system. For more information on using a clicker check out : Ten great reasons to start clicker training Stage 4 Growing up By twelve weeks or three months old, many puppies will be sleeping 7 hours or more at night and going happily into their crates on cue, if they have been taught to do this. When to let your puppy out of the crate at night If all goes well, by about six months of age, your Labrador puppy should be clean and dry in the house, and sleeping soundly through the night in his crate. At this point, many puppy owners breath a big sigh of relief and start to look forward to the prospect of removing this massive and annoying crate from their kitchen for good. So, at what age is it OK to start leaving a puppy loose in the kitchen overnight? And how do you get your dog used to a basket or dog bed, rather than sleeping in his crate? Age related crate training schedules Most people are reluctant to give out information on how long a puppy should be crated, or what to expect at different stages, because puppies are so different from one another. So, I have included a rough guide or puppy crate training chart above. It really is just a rough guide. Your best approach is to simply follow the four stages outlined above, from start to finish, and not worry too much about where your dog is at the moment. Dogs love having a small den to sleep in, and once trained, will find comfort in tucking themselves away in a crate. But Labs come in many different shapes and sizes, and grow quickly as a pup. Benefits of Crating a Dog There are many benefits to using a crate for a new puppy or dog. Safe Sleep and Relaxation Space A crate offers a safe space for your dog to relax and rest in. This is the most important use of a crate and should be your first priority when crate training. House training your puppy will be significantly easier if they are confined to a small space. Puppies innately know not to eliminate in their sleeping area. Using this innate knowledge to your advantage can mean only a few days of accidents in the house. This avoids them chewing on furniture or getting into kitchen cupboards. Labs are an intelligent breed who love to chew. They will quickly work out how to open kitchen cupboards and help themselves to your food. This space is only safe if you have correctly and fully trained your Lab to be relaxed and calm in the crate. Ensure you read over our crate training guide before you attempt to secure your Lab inside the crate. Preparing for Future Travel If you plan on traveling with your dog in the future, then it is wise to crate train them while they are young. This will minimize the stress they feel when they are inside a crate. If they are familiar with sleeping in a crate, they will be able to relax. Dogs will be put into crates at the vets if they ever need surgery or an overnight stay. Again, you can minimize their stress by crate training from day one. Untrained or nervous dogs are a danger to themselves inside a crate. Crating can cause a welfare issue if the dog is stressed inside it. However, most puppies and dogs will get used to and even enjoy the crate once they are trained. What Size Crate for a Lab? As a general rule, your Lab should be able to stand up fully, turn around and lay outstretched in the crate, without too much spare room. Depending upon the individual Lab, they can vary in height and weigh between lbs. Males will be on the larger side and dogs from the showing line will be bigger than working Labs. Measuring Up Since your Lab needs enough room to move around, you can measure them to see exactly what size crate they need. Measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail while they are standing. Add 4 inches to this measurement. Also, measure from the floor to the top of their head while sitting. Add 2 inches to this measurement. This will give them enough room to move around, but not too much room to do themselves any harm. It is easy to set up and comes with roller feet to protect your flooring. The plastic tub style base will contain any accidents and is easily washable. Depending on the size of your Lab, purchase a inch crate or inch crate with the divider. A divider is good for puppies, as you can make the crate space as big or as small as you need to. We recommend the extra-large size to contain an adult Labrador. This would not be suited to young Labs that still chew. What Size Car Crate for a Labrador? Your Lab will need the same sized car crate. They should be able to move around in the crate comfortably, without extra space. If you plan on having the crate in the trunk of your car, you will likely require an SUV or truck as crates take up a lot of space. Crates vs Playpens for Lab Puppies I always use a full sized adult crate with a divider for my puppies. It saves a lot of time and hassle. If you need to confine your puppy or dog to an area for extended periods of time, then it is best to use a playpen instead of a crate. A Lab will require a inch playpen to keep them contained. Playpens can be used indoors and outdoors to keep your dog contained. If you want an even larger contained space, purchase 2 or 3 playpens of the same brand and size and join them together. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own. Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. From potty training to behavioral training , a new dog owner has a ton of responsibilities—sometimes more than they can keep up with. Crate training benefits both you and your dog in significant ways. There are more dog crates for sale than you can count, and they come in all different shapes and sizes. Here are some of the top benefits of crate training your lab: Benefit 1. Dog Crates are Cozy and Relaxing Labs love their crate because they offer a safe place to rest, relax, and sleep. Image Source Some labs feel so attached to their crates, they may choose to eat their food inside or halfway in and out. For you, this can also reduce the stress of dealing with anxious dogs. Benefit 2. So here is one of the best training tips: crate your lab puppies to help them become house trained. A crate can help a puppy remain within a smaller area. Benefit 3. Essentially, having labs feel comfortable in their crate gives you options when it comes to transportation, house training, calming a stressed dog, and so much more. Buy an Adult Crate and Section It Off Crate size is really important because adult labs need to be able to get into the crate and turn around. There should be enough space for them to do this, but no more. This is also why a divider can give labs the right fit and adapt to their growth. Besides these tips, all you need to figure out is the size of your lab. Your lab might be taller when sitting upright than he is standing on all fours, so have your dog sit on its behind and look up towards you. Four Types of the Best Dog Crates In addition to different dog crate sizes, you can choose different builds that might suit your lab depending on their age and rambunctious nature. Image Source Type 1. Wire Crate Wire dog crates are the most popular type of dog crate and their construction makes them quite durable. The wire design allows for air to circulate around your pet, which can help cut down on odors. They also allow for handy slide-bolt latches that let you quickly open and close the crate while keeping it secured. Wire dog crates are best for a puppy that is extremely active. The wire construction allows your dog to look out of the crate and see what is going on around him. This is best for dogs that like to be able to see what is going on. Type 2. Plastic Crate The main advantage of plastic dog crates is the fact that they are lighter than metal wire ones. This makes them very portable and easy to move around. You can move them from one part of the house to another depending on where you want the dog to sleep. Plastic crates are often made of high-quality polyurethane, which makes them easy to clean and sanitize. This usually means buying plastic products with a carry handle. Many plastic dog crates have a divider panel, which can be taken out to enlarge the crate and create more room for a growing pup or adult dog. One of the advantages of using plastic dog crates is that they can be used for several different purposes. For example, the bottom of the crate can be used as an open dog bed if the crate is no longer wanted. Type 3. Type 4. Wooden Dog Crate Wooden crates are a great way to get the functionality of a metal crate, but with the luxury appeal of nice wooden furniture. Of course, this is also a much more eco-friendly material than metal. Wood is porous and absorbs urine which means that if your dog has an accident while in the crate, the pee will soak into the wood and leave a stain. You also need to factor in the amount of space in your home and how well you can travel with your crate. Each type of crate comes with its pros and cons. Buying the right size crate is only one of many steps in responsible labrador ownership , so make sure to check out our other training tips for raising a labrador puppy to give your new best friend a long, healthy, content, and happy life. Share on. Crate of the correct size for your dog Treats Blanket or dog bed According to the American Kennel Club, Labs are one of the most popular breeds in America , and for good reasons. Many love to play fetch, and others are glad to be your running buddy. You have a long fun life ahead of you with your Labrador retriever puppy. Should that life include crate training? Crate training a Lab puppy is actually a good idea. Image used with permission by copyright holder Are Labs easy to crate train? You may have some pet-parent guilt about putting your fur baby in a crate. The good news is that Labs often make crate training easy on their parents. They love making their humans happy, so they take to all kinds of training well, including crates. Every puppy is different, though. Your veterinarian or a trainer can help you through any troubles that may arise. Crate training a Lab puppy is one of the best ways you can help them thrive in their new home. Experts say your new pup will reap many benefits from having a crate, including: Easier potty training. Housebreaking can be one of the tallest tasks new pet parents have to work on with their Lab puppies. Crate training makes it a little easier and less messy. Reduced stress. Labs tend to be adaptable, but a new home can be stressful for anyone. Even social pets need to chill sometimes. Consider it a space for self-care, kind of like your bedroom may be for you. Safer car rides. A crate is one of the safest spots for a pet in the car. Image used with permission by copyright holder How to crate train a Lab puppy Though Labs tend to take to training quickly, they still need some guidance from you. Step 1: Select the correct crate size for your puppy. Labs will generally grow to weigh 55 to 80 pounds. You want a space your pet can move around in comfortably. They should be able to sit , lie down, stand, and turn. The puppy may soil the space if they have enough room. Most crates will have height and weight specifications on them, and once you have that information, you can purchase one. Step 2: Make the crate comfy. You probably made your bedroom into a comfortable spot for you to sleep at night. Make it a cozy hangout spot by putting some blankets or a bed in there. Toys keep it fun.

Initial speculation[ ] The Easter egg was revealed by one of Jagex's banner ads in early September .It informed players about the Knowledge Base, and the search feature included in it. The word "bulldog" was typed in, and the search button was clicked. Search results were not shown in the banner ad. However, this sparked many players' curiosity, and those who actually searched for "bulldog" were greeted with an article saying "Thanks for using the Knowledge Base! Summoning Teaser[ ] Jagex hinted that the Summoning update would include bulldogs. In the "Summoning: Part 1 - Concept" Development Diary , it said that the bulldog animation was "previously released as a teaser linked from a banner advert for the Knowledge Base". This hint was indeed true as bulldogs can be obtained from the Pet Shops in Taverley and Yanille at level 4 Summoning. This is a non-combat pet and the bulldog simply follows your character around. It has two stages, puppy and adult. The bulldog eats raw meat. At level 14 Summoning, you can talk to the bulldog. Now, if only I could find another hundred Stock Animal Diet : Bones can be fed to your Dalmation despite the fact dogs can't or at least shouldn't eat bones in real life. Giant Crab Red and green variant. In order to receive the baby crab players must first receive a "Crunchy Claw Token" which is dropped by Mogres and later traded with the Mogre Nungnote To reach Nung players need a Diving Apparatus and Fishbowl Helmet to go underwater at Port Khazard. Power Pincers : Presumably since it's a crab, though like most pets it can't fight. You Know I'm Black, Right? Dat not right, right? A dog that can be purchased at a Pet Shop with level 4 Summoning. Three different variants of coat exist for this pet such as brown, grey and dark brown. Raw meat and bones are also used to feed it. Once the player reaches level 14 in Summoning the player can understand the Greyhound. Canine Companion Dog Stereotype : As is sometimes typical in portrayals for the breed the Greyhound is speed personified, which can be seen in its examine text and in many conversations with it. Stock Animal Diet : Bones can be fed to your Greyhound despite the fact dogs can't or at least shouldn't eat bones in real life. Labrador Yellow variant. Three different variants of coat exist for this pet such as black, grey and yellow. Raw meat is used to feed it. Once the player reaches level 14 in Summoning the player can understand the Labrador. Canada, Eh? This is likely a reference to the eastern Canadian province Newfoundland and Labrador. Fun Personified : It's made very clear through many of the conversations with the Labrador that all it really wants to do is play. A pet that can be caughtnote Need to be at level 48 Hunter. As a baby it is fed either raw fish or ground fishing bait, while as an adult it is fed regular fishing bait. Gender Reveal : Possibly, since only male platypuses have venom. See Poisonous Person below. High-Class Glass : Seems to think so and implies to have one in a conversation. Poisonous Person : Before the Platypus becomes your pet it is capable of poisoning the player with their "webbed feet of doom". Puzzling Platypus : Its examine text describes it as "A most unlikely creature. The Smart Guy : Seems to enjoy the arts, doing math, philosophy and using big complex words. A pet that may be received from Apprentice Clerval at the Mage Training Area after completing the quest Rune Mechanics were the player helps Clerval discover how to make one. Color Motif : Aside from it's original grey color a Rune Guardian can have its color changed to another color, one that relates to the Runecrafting Altar it's used on. Family of Choice : Despite being some sort of Golem ; thus having no biological family, and being a relatively recent creation of the apprentice wizard Clerval it sees the older Entrance Guardian as a sibling. Gem Tissue : Its eyes are emeralds. Proverbial Wisdom : Speaks like this quite a bit. Three different variants of coat exist for this pet such as grey, black and yellow. Raw meat is also used to feed it. Once the player reaches level 14 in Summoning the player can understand the Sheepdog. Sheepdog: "I say. It's not on, stealing someone else's coat. It's from a sheep, not a sheepdog. How terribly embarrassing. Three different variants of coat exist for this pet such as tan, grey and black. Once the player reaches level 14 in Summoning the player can understand the Terrier. Canine Companion Heroic Dog : Based off of conversations with the player it wants to help the player save the world. Jumped at the Call : Based off of the conversations the player can have with the Terrier it is very eager to join the player on their Adventures. Stock Animal Diet : Bones can be fed to your Terrier despite the fact dogs can't or at least shouldn't eat bones in real life. Tooth Creature Healthy adult. Decayed adult. Owning one completes the Milky Teeth achievement, which is also a requirement to own "Master Quest Cape". Canine Companion : Surprisingly this seems to be the case due to its similar appearance to the Tooth Creature named Gnarly, who's implied to have been grown from the tooth of a Terror Dog. Hellhound : Surprisingly this seems to be the case due to its similar appearance to the Tooth Creature named Gnarly, who's implied to have been grown from the tooth of a Terror Dog. The Tooth Hurts : The decayed variant is likely this since it's acknowledged as being made of teeth. Trademark Favorite Food : Milknote Feeding the Tooth Creature regular milk will result in it becoming a healthy adult while chocolate milk will result in it becoming a ''decayed adult. Unreliable Illustrator : Despite being implied to have been grown from the tooth of a Terror Dog the Tooth Creature looks more like a goat or sheep. Interface Pets Penguin Blue variant. A penguin that can be hatched from an egg received from the Penguin Keeper at the Ardougne Zoo, once the player reaches level 30 Summoning. Three different variants exist for this pet such as the blue, brown and grey. Raw fish is also used to feed it. Once the player reaches level 40 in Summoning the player can understand the Penguin. Gameplay and Story Segregation : For some reason you need to be at level 40 Summoning to understand this pet, despite the fact there are no requirements for speaking with other penguins. Orc Raised by Elves : This pet is the offspring of the penguins from the Cold War quest who want to take over Gielinor. Raven Blue variant. With crest. A raven that can be hatched from an egg once the player reaches level 50 Summoning. Six different variants exist for this pet such as the black, blue and red, along with their own crested variants. Raven chicks are fed ground fishing bait while adults eat regular fishing bait. Once the player reaches level 60 in Summoning the player can understand the Raven. The Bard : Is a bit of a poet, though the player doesn't seem to understand or enjoy it. The Eeyore : Is perpetually depressed as an adult, which is noted by the player. Play with me! In General Pets players can get through the daily activity Treasure Hunternote Though some pets can now be gained through other means. Bribing Your Way to Victory : Unless you're lucky, players will probably need to pay to increase their chances of getting these pets. Promotional Powerless Piece of Garbage : Many of these pets are hard to get and don't help you at all in the game itself. Revenue-Enhancing Devices : Most of these pets are completely useless in game and getting them requires a lot of luck or money, which is used to buy the keys needed in the game. After the 16th of September the pet was removed from the game when its promotion ended, though on October the 2nd an alternate version of this pet could be acquired at Solomon's General Store. Much like other breeds of Chinchompa the Golden Chinchompa can explode only in its case it rewards the player that raised it with various items. Having a Blast : Like most other Chinchompa breeds they can explode. Solid Gold Poop : Possibly since the Golden Chinchompa claims that it will turn into a chinchompafly and leave behind lots of gold for the playernote Though other items can be gained from the chinchompa exploding as well. Temporary Online Content : This version of the pet was completely removed from the game after the 16th of September, though a lookalike became available in a Solomon's General Store shortly after. Follower Pets Hype Train Choo choo.A rare prize from Treasure Hunternote Though it can also now be purchased with Oddments in the Marketplace. Originally the Hype Train was as object based pet, but in late May the Hype Train was converted into a Follower interface pet. Cool Train : It's a little train that follows the player around. Living Toys : Due to its small size, the fact it appears to be completely made of wood and the fact it's completely autonomous it's likely one of these. Real Time : Becomes more active as the system update time counts down. The Speechless : Though capable of making noise as a train it doesn't talk, though the player does talk to it. Skully Misses his body. Originally when won if players don't want him had the option of having him converted into , coins. Skully according to some of his dialogue owes his undead nature to a curse that was placed upon him. Originally Skully was as object based pet, but in late May Skully was converted into a Follower interface pet. Black Comedy : Every conversation with him has this. Curse : Is apparently cursed to live forever. Dem Bones : Just a skull and spine. Glowing Eyelights of Undeath : As one can see in his image his eyes glow green. Skully: "Can we slow down? I don't have the legs I used to. Actually, how do you even get around? The player also has some in another conversation. Tumbleweed The pet for the lonely. Not much is known about the Tumbleweed's history, but some removed examine text suggests it likes the player's jokes. Originally the Tumbleweed was as object based pet, but in late May the Tumbleweed was converted into a Follower interface pet. Actually Pretty Funny : Its examine text in the player's inventory; back when it was a object pet, suggests this. Tumbleweed: "! I'm going to have to train you better. Misc Path of Glouphrie error The yellow, blue, and indigo circles from the Path of Glouphrie were never obtainable until the logic of the puzzle was updated sometimes in .It is still impossible to get the yellow circle due to a math error. Debug texture On 28 December , a debug texture was added into the cache. Source: Polar in the RuneScape Preservation Unit discord, in the general-osrs channel on 28 December Hidden examines Some subjects have have an "hidden" examine that can only be seen if by packet-editing as they have no examine option in-game. Locations Shop. More bridge. Why not the hindquarters? Source: Polar and Hlwys in the RuneScape Preservation Unit discord, in the general-osrs channel on 02 January Unused examines Some unused examines: "" : "test", "" : "test", "" : "'Hope is the thing with feathers. D", "" : "'Nostalgia is a side effect of dying. Spirit kalphite chathead - Bull ant chathead - Early pak yak - Penguin pet - Baby penguin pet - Early arctic bear - Penguin pet chathead - Baby penguin pet chathead - Gecko - Spotted gecko - Gecko chathead - Undead chicken familiar prototype - , Dreadfowl - Spirit wolf - Greyhound puppy - Dalmatian - Dalmatian puppy - Labrador puppy - Bulldog puppy - Labrador - Bulldog puppy - Sheepdog puppy - Terrier puppy - Terrier - Greyhound - Sheepdog - Saradomin owl - Macaw - Arctic bear - Wimpy bird - Source: Wahi in the RuneScape Preservation Unit discord, in the general-osrs channel on 02 January Unused Elena chathead There exist an unused variant of Elena's chathead in the cache. Source: Wahi in the RuneScape Preservation Unit discord, in the general-osrs channel on 17 Janurary Toned down Spongebob reference During a cutscene in the Guardian of the Rift minigame, a pinapple model is shown is the background. The final model has a recoloration config that toned down the Spongebob reference. It is defined in location id .Source: Wahi in the RuneScape Preservation Unit discord, in the discoveries channel on 31 May Unused Wimpy bird An unused model for Wimpy bird was added in the cache in the update "Rejuvenating the Wilderness: More risk, more reward".