english bulldog puppies for sale phoenix

Lifespan Sociability Finding a breeder can be difficult when looking into acquiring one of these dogs. Be sure also to check out the local shelters. Although they have not become as popular as other designer dog breeds, there is still a possibility that one of these dogs needs a forever home. The best way to budget if you are on the lookout for a Golden Bulldog is to look into the average prices for the parents and lower it. The price of each batch of puppies depends on the breeder, as well as the heritage the parents have. The Golden Bulldog is an easier dog to train than many other intelligent breeds. The mix of these two breeds can produce quite a variety of different sizes and overall appearances since they look so different. However, they share many traits, so the pups are typically quite similar when considering their potential personalities. Even though its history is a gruesome one, the English Bulldog has grown into a lovable and sweet dog with a gentle disposition and loads of patience. The Golden Retriever is reputably one of the gentlest dogs out there. They are loving and intelligent. They have been trained as companion dogs and guide dogs for the blind for many years because they are so reliable. The pups will have gentle hearts, be big on cuddling and personal time, and have outgoing and fun-loving personalities. These puppies can inherit serious health issues. Unfortunately, the English Bulldog is known to have quite a few serious health issues that they can inherit and then pass down to their puppies. These health issues are typically why English Bulldogs are crossed with other dogs: breeders attempting to gain hybrid vigor. English Bulldogs have been bred and maintained for many years. Although it has created long lines of pedigreed pups, it has also led to a lack of genetic diversity. The inbreeding and the typical physical traits associated with these dogs can lead to debilitating diseases and health issues. If you are looking for a healthier version of a Bulldog, there are many hybrid crosses to consider, including the Golden Bulldog. Both of the parents originated in the United Kingdom. The Golden Retriever comes from the Highlands of Scotland. The breed originated in the s. It quickly became popular around the world and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in .The Retrievers were bred for just that purpose: to retrieve and hunt waterfowl. Since they often spent quite a bit of time in the water, webbed feet were bred into them to make it easier for them to swim, even with all their hair. The origin country of the English Bulldog should be easy to guess from their name. They were initially bred in England and are also called a British Bulldog. They were considered a classic type of dog and were recognized by the AKC in .Their compact size and thick, muscular stature can be explained by their initial purpose, to be the perfect bull fighting dog. This sport is where the pup receives its moniker: Bulldog. They were meant to be powerful yet short enough to attack the bull from underneath. In the 19th century, the grisly sport was outlawed in England. The popularity of the English Bulldog had spread, so the breed was maintained as a family pet and sometimes a working dog. Both of the dog breeds are intelligent. Combining this with their general lack of stubbornness makes them an incredibly easy dog to train in most cases. Both of the parents are known for a desire to please their people. Loyalty is another shared trait. The devotion and attachment they show to their family cannot be outmatched in many other dogs, since this pup has a double dose. Both of these dogs show up on lists of being some of the most affectionate dog breeds. They like to spend as much time as possible around people, trying to get close to you for cuddles as often as possible. Together, this makes them a loving mix. Are These Dogs Good for Families? Both of the parental breeds have practically boundless patience. Golden Retrievers have been used as emotional support dogs and guide dogs for many years. This patience and adaptability keep them behaving well, with no aggression, even if they start to get annoyed. With any dog breed interacting with young kids who might not understand how to behave around dogs, it is a good idea to continue to monitor their time together until they get older. The best thing to do for your pup is to socialize them early on if you want their interactions with other animals to be positive. Make sure they get used to and know how to behave around strangers. Bring them to dog parks to understand social aspects within the puppy community. If you have a cat, introduce them carefully. You may like: Corgi golden retriever mix. What exactly is a Golden Retriever Bulldog mix? They look very different from one another and, as such, when combined as designer breeds, There is a broad range of looks. The crossbreed is renowned for its versatility as a dog. They are a loyal and friendly breed that can be found with pets and children. Therefore, to learn more about Golden Bulldog, we need to know more about the parent dogs: The Golden Retriever and the English Bulldog. You may like: Golden retriever pug mix. American Bulldog. The Bulldog was initially designed for transporting cattle to markets and playing an unruly sport known as bullbaiting. It is a descendent of mastiffs who fought. The Romans introduced them to the British Isles and were involved in a bloody game known as bullbaiting. Bulldogs should not be confused with any other dog breeds. They are medium-sized dogs with the long, thick-set body. The short-muzzled head is huge and rectangular. They have wide chests and shoulders and solid, strong limbs. They were the first breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club recognized the Bulldog in .In those years, in and the s, Bulldogs were the most popular breeds. At present, Bulldogs are a popular breed. Bulldog ranks 12th of the breeds and breeds registered by the AKC, which is a testament to his reputable status as a dog companion. Golden Retriever. It is believed that the Golden Retriever is a medium to large-sized breed of dog that was bred for use as gun dogs to catch waterfowl that were shot like ducks and geese at shooting and hunting parties. They were called a retriever because they could catch the game without damage. They are a breed of dog that Golden Retriever was bred in Scotland during the s. The Golden Retriever is one of the most sought-after breeds of dogs due to their sociability and great temperament. They enjoy being with humans and can be very effective with children. Older Retrievers require a lot of exercises, including regular walks or trips into the parks. Temperament and intelligence as well as personality. The common traits that parent dogs have in common help owners determine how their pups will behave. Both breeds of dogs are smart. Their general absence of stubbornness makes them extremely easy dogs to train in most situations. Moreover, both of their parents have a determination to please their family members. Loyalty is another trait that can be shared. Both dogs end up as the most loving dogs. They love spending all of their time with their owners and try to reach out to cuddle frequently as they can. Together, they are an adorable pair. Their personalities are as varied as their physical appearance. They can be gentle and tender like a Golden Retriever or stubborn and lazy like the English Bulldog. Are these dogs good for families? These dogs are among the best breeds for families with children, even children just starting. Both breeds of parents have a plethora of patience. Golden Retrievers have been used as emotional support dogs and guide dogs for a long time. The receptiveness and patience ensure that they behave well and without aggression, even if they do be angry. You may like: Chihuahua golden retriever mix. Colour and coating. The coat and color of your Golden Bulldog mix will also be influenced by the genes they inherited from their parents. They might have a shorter fine-textured coat, similar to one of the English Bulldog, or a dense waterproof outer coat identical to the Golden Retriever. Their coats can be any shade, including cream, black, and brindle. They can also be piebald, with a gold-colored shade or white, brown, or Tan. The coat type depends on the type of coat your Golden Retriever Bulldog mix has inherited. It could be long and short hair or even something in between. The dogs shed a fair amount and need to be groomed several times a week. The primary difference is likely to be the kind of brush you use. Most often, puppies inherit wrinkled facial skin due to the facial features of Bulldogs. If you are one of them, ensure that you keep them dry and clean since these areas are susceptible to skin infections. The ears of dogs are floppy and need to be cleaned every week, at minimum, to prevent infections in the ear. Cleanse your dental teeth at least once per week, preferably every day, to maintain the best oral hygiene. You may like: Great dane golden retriever mix. The breed is classified as a medium-sized to a large dog that could grow between 18 and 24 inches tall and weigh between 40 to 80 pounds. The life expectancy of a Golden Retriever Bulldog mix is generally between 10 and 15 years. You may like: Bull mastiff golden retriever mix. The breeds of both parents are known to be particularly hostile or territorial towards other animals. The best option for your puppy is to get them socialized initially if you wish your interactions with animals to be pleasant. It is essential to start early with socialization. Introduce your dog to dog parks to learn about the social aspects of the puppy world. If you own an animal, Introduce them with care. Your Golden Bulldog mixed breed needs regular exercise. The Golden can indeed be more energetic than the Bulldog. In terms of exercising, The physique of the Bulldog can make a variety of activities difficult and even risky for this breed. You may like: Golden retriever pitbull mix. Dog health Conditions. Many of the conditions that your puppy could inherit are inherited directly from their Bulldog parent. However, if they have shorter faces with more smushed-in features and a more compact body, they are more likely to be afflicted by digestive and eating issues. Based on the Golden Retriever lineage, It is more likely that you will have a higher chance that your dog will be diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is quite common among this breed , so around 60 percent of Golden Retrievers are diagnosed at the time of their lives. Also, ensuring regular vet appointments can help identify and treat any potential health issue as early as possible. The Golden Retriever Bulldog Mix is an excellent dog for those seeking a medium-sized to large breed that is friendly and has many physical traits. Combining the traits of two patients and loving dogs is never unwise; mixing them will help to reduce their health hazards due to long periods of inbreeding. I grew up on a farm where we had all sorts of animals, from cows and horses to pigs and chickens. My love for animals led me to pursue a career in writing about them. I have been a pet care writer for over 5 years and have extensive knowledge of animal care, health, and behavior. These dogs are loyal and energetic and are famous for being one of the most versatile breeds of dogs. They are known for their trainability too. They form strong bonds with their owners and love being around people all the time. They make excellent family pets and can be trained easily to follow commands. They are mostly used for hunting, retrieving, search and rescue operations, as guide dogs and even as seeing-eye dogs. This breed is distinguished by its lovely golden coat with black markings on its face and legs. Goldens have a smooth, self-assured walk, and they move gracefully with long strides. Their average height is between 22 to 24 inches at the shoulder while their weight ranges between 55 to 70 pounds on average. They have a life expectancy of about 10 to 12 years, and their grooming needs are moderate. Male Goldens vary in height and weight depending on the gender but the average weight of a male is around 60 pounds and the average height of a male is around 23 inches at the shoulder. Females are smaller in size than males with an average height of around 21 inches at the shoulder. Bulldogs Bulldogs have been involved with humans for thousands of years and have continued to be bred for their friendly temperaments and strong bodies. These passionate and devoted friends are loyal companions for life and are great with kids. Bulldogs are distinguished from other dog breeds by their flat faces, wrinkles, large square bodies and short legs. They are also a fairly strong breed with an average lifespan of eight to ten years. Their coats come in a range colors including black, red, fawn and white. Their nostrils are mostly black, but they may have a little pink or flesh color in them. They have short coats that shed somewhat frequently and require regular brushing and occasional bathing to keep them clean. Mixed Breed Dogs Mixed breeds are the offspring of two different purebred dogs. Some of these mixed breeds are the result of intentional breeding by breeders while others are accidental mixes of two purebred parents. Some mixed breeds have a pedigree while others do not. When two purebred dogs are bred together, the offspring is referred to as a hybrid or a cross-breed dog. In other words, your Golden Bull may resemble a Golden-Bull puppy with characteristics of both parents or it may be a first generation cross breed with no resemblance of either parent breed. On average, the Golden Bulldog is a medium-sized dog and weighs between 45 to 55 pounds. Individual Golden Bulldogs may vary in height and weight due to genetic differences. Other physical traits of the Golden Bull include a thick body with a broad chest, broad head and big round eyes, a short muzzle with a curled nose, wide-set ears that stand up erect and high set tails that curl over their backs. When it comes to the coat of your Golden Bull, you can choose either to shave it or to keep it long. Health Issues Of Golden Retriever Bulldog Mix Although the Golden Bulldog is a muscular and healthy designer breed, if he inherits the majority of his genes from the bulldog side he may develop some health problems that are commonly found in bulldogs. These health issues include: breathing problems, heat stroke, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye problems such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy and skin allergies. The health of your mixed-breed dog depends on which side of the parentage he inherited more from. If more of his genes came from the golden retriever side he will more likely have few to no health problems. Proper care and regular consultation with a qualified veterinarian will help to ensure that your dog lives a long and healthy life. Temperament and Personality of the Golden Bull The Golden Bull is a smart, happy-go-lucky and friendly dog who loves human companionship. They exhibit qualities of both their parent breeds: they are fun-loving, intelligent and energetic like the golden retriever. And they are friendly and protective like the bulldog. This combination of traits makes the golden bull an excellent family pet and friend. Your Golden Bull will also be highly trainable and will be eager to please you in all that you do with him. One thing you can bet on is that your Golden Bull will be a great companion and he will be loyal and devoted to his family. This is due to the fact that both of its parents, the Golden Retriever and the Bulldog are such wonderful dogs to begin with. Aside from being a loyal canine friend, your Golden Bull will be a good watchdog too, as both the Golden Retriever and the Bulldog are known to be good watch dogs. Exercise Golden Bull, regardless of age, need daily exercise to remain healthy and happy. The exercise routine for a young golden bull is the same as that for a grown golden bull. An adult golden bull needs a daily walk of at least half an hour or an hour of vigorous play time. An older golden bull needs less exercise than an adult one but still requires regular exercise to maintain his good health. You should take your golden bull out for a brisk walk daily or at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes to an hour. You should continue tweaking until your Golden Bull has the perfect amount of fat on his frame to keep him healthy and energetic. Diet Requirements Golden Bulls are a fairly active breed and they need a diet that will provide them with the energy they need to play and work all day. Which parent they inherited their physique from determines the amount of exercise they will need: the Bulldog parent needs less exercise than the Mastiff parent. Due to their bigger size and substantially more muscle mass, the Bulldog parents need at least 1 hour a day, while the Golden Bulls only need about 30 minutes to an hour. English Bulldogs, on the other hand, will need about an hour and a half of exercise every day; however, they do not need a walk but can run and play a lot as well. They need more motivation to go and exercise than Golden Bull Terriers; therefore, walking and playing with them is the best way to get them to exercise regularly. The cross between these two breeds produced a very energetic and lively canine that is very intelligent and friendly towards people and other pets. This mixed-breed is actually a hybrid of two different dog breeds: the English Bulldog and the Golden Retriever. This dog reed has a lot of similarities with the Golden Dog, but there are also some differences when it comes to its appearance and temperament. It is also critical to give early socialization, dog training, and obedience training in order to avoid behavioral problems in the future. In the end, your Golden Bulldog may weigh anywhere between 50 to 80 pounds as an adult. You may also like:. Characteristics of the Golden Bulldog Appearance The physical qualities of the Golden Retriever Bulldog Mix might be inherited from one of the parent breeds, or they can be a blend of both. In other words, your Golden Bull may have the appearance of a Golden Retriever, an English Bulldog, or a combination of the two breeds. The Golden Bulldog is a medium-sized dog that can have the same weight and height as either of its parent breeds on average. When it comes to the Golden Bulldog's other physical characteristics, it might have wrinkled skin on its face and on its entire body. In order to protect the skin of your Golden Bull from becoming too 'wrinkly,' you will need to keep it clean and dry at all times. When it comes to the coat of this mixed breed, its coat can be anywhere between a short and a medium-length coat, depending on the individual. With markings from the English Bulldog dad, the coat is a golden tanned tone with golden highlights. So, you should clean and brush your Golden Bulldog at least a couple of times each week. This will help to keep the amount of shedding under control. Their nutritional requirements are determined by which parent they prefer. Golden Retrievers have far greater appetites than other breeds, owing to their larger size and significantly higher activity levels. In contrast, English Bulldogs are not only large and hefty, but they are also noted for being quite sluggish. They require more encouragement to get out and exercise, and as a result, their appetites have been reduced. It is preferable to consult your veterinary doctor for information on the particular daily quantities that you should give your Golden Bulldog. Exercise Golden Bull requires daily exercise in order to maintain a healthy weight, regardless of their age. Dogs, especially bulldogs, are notorious for fast gaining unhealthful weight if they are allowed to continue eating without being exercised. Pay close attention to your Golden Bulldog and his or her general requirements. You should keep adjusting until you feel like you have found the sweet spot. These dogs are very versatile, so don't be concerned about matching their requirements to yours; in fact, they can assist you in matching your requirements to theirs. In terms of personality, it would not be incorrect to claim that the Golden Bulldog has combined the best of both worlds, i. Similar to how the Golden Bull's physical appearance might vary, its personality can be influenced by either of its parents or a mix of the two. One thing you can count on from your Golden Bulldog is that he will be loyal to you. This is because both of its parents, the Golden Retriever and the English Bulldog, have a long history of demonstrating strong loyalty to their owners and pack. Besides being a devoted canine companion, the Golden Bulldog is also an incredibly loving and affectionate dog. Once again, this characteristic is inherited from its parents. As an exceedingly calm dog who is unlikely to damage anybody, the Golden Bull is an excellent mate for families with children and other pets. Besides being kind and compassionate, the Golden Bull also has excellent obedience and is ready to learn new tricks. This implies that teaching your Golden Bull basic and advanced dog skills will not be a challenging task for you. Additionally, because of this, the Golden Bulldog makes an excellent therapy dog. Aside from its easy-going and friendly demeanor, the Golden Bull is constantly eager to learn and be challenged. Proper care and frequent consultation with a competent veterinarian may help to reduce issues and guarantee that your Golden Bulldog's health is in better shape. The life expectancy of a Golden Bull can range from 7 to 9 years, and in some cases, it can even be as long as 12 years. Conclusion The Golden Bulldog is a well-known mixed-breed dog. When it comes to concerns of appearance and temperament, there is a huge variation in this dog reed due to 2 different parents. It is also essential to provide your Golden Bull with early socialization, dog training, and intellectual stimulation in order for him or her to become the best fit for you. In the end, it's possible that your Golden Bulldog will appear like a Golden Retriever or an English Bulldog, or a perfect blend of both. Keep reading:. Yes, both breeds are adorable and loving canine companions, but what about the mix? Many animal welfare and dog breed organizations are warning potential owners about these risks. Can you minimize the health problems of the English Bulldog by crossing it with another breed like the Golden? What is a Mixed Breed Dog? First, a purebred dog is descended from two dogs of the same breed that have a known ancestry, or pedigree. A mixed breed dog is the offspring of purebred parents of two different breeds. Finally, mixed breeds differ from mutts because many mutts are born to parents that have unknown ancestries. Designer Dogs Designer mixed breeds are a relatively recent development in the history of dogs. They were created to combine the best characteristics of two different breeds. Are mixed breed dogs healthier than purebreds? You may have heard of the term hybrid vigor. This means that when two different breeds are crossed, the resulting genetic diversity will result in healthier offspring. While hybrid vigor is real, in the case of the Golden Retriever Bulldog mix, the significant health problems of the English Bulldog will play an important role in the health of the cross. English Bulldog and Golden Retriever Mix The Golden Retriever Bulldog mix often called the Golden Bulldog for short is an appealing dog that combines cute looks and a sweet personality—not a surprise given the parent breeds! The Golden has been a popular and much-loved family dog for many years. The breed is known for its handsome looks and friendly, cheerful personality. The English Bulldog is also known for its appealing temperament. The unmistakable appearance of the Bulldog is attractive to many dog lovers but can lead to some serious health issues. What kind of dog is the Golden Retriever Bulldog mix? What will your Golden Bulldog look like? Males stand between 23 and 24 inches tall at the shoulder and females are .Male Goldens weigh between 65 and 75 pounds, females weigh between 55 and 65 pounds. Goldens are known for their dense double coat that comes in that famous golden color. They are heavy shedders, especially seasonally when they shed their thick undercoat. Daily brushing is often required. Bulldog Description The English Bulldog is a sturdy, thick set medium sized dog. Males weigh around 50 pounds while females weigh around 40 pounds. They are much shorter than the Golden, with both males and females standing between 14 and 15 inches tall at the shoulder. The Bulldog coat is short and smooth. It comes in a wider range of colors than the Golden and can also have patterns and markings. Golden Retriever and Bulldog Mix Description All mixed breed dogs can inherit the physical characteristics of either parent, in any combination. Generally, the Golden Retriever Bulldog mix is a medium sized dog that falls within the Golden and Bulldog weight ranges. Height can vary, given the height differences of the parent breeds. Many Golden Retriever Bulldog mixes will have somewhat wrinkly skin on the body and face. Remember that skin wrinkles need to be kept clean and dry. Coat length can range from short to medium. Tan colored coats are often seen in this cross. Your pup may inherit the coat markings of the Bulldog parent. You can still expect to brush your dog a few times a week to keep shedding under control. Golden Retriever Bulldog Mix Temperament and Training As with physical appearance, your dog can also inherit the personality of either parent breed, in any combination. Both parent breeds have loving and loyal personalities and are known as gentle dogs that do well in families with children. Because they are obedient and eager to please, Golden Retrievers are known for their trainability. Many well trained Goldens work as service dogs. Bulldogs are also very trainable, thanks to their easygoing temperament and eagerness to please their owners. What About the Mix? Always use positive reinforcement training techniques when working with your dog. Your Golden Bulldog will require regular exercise. Speaking of exercise, the head and body structure of the Bulldog makes many activities difficult and even dangerous for this breed. Bulldog Health Sadly, the English Bulldog has several significant health issues that potential owners of an English Bulldog Golden Retriever mix should know about. English Bulldogs suffer from a lack of genetic diversity. This inbreeding, combined with the extreme physical appearance of the dog, has led to health issues so debilitating that many dog experts warn that the breed cannot survive. Signifcant Health Issues The physical structure of the Bulldog requires breeding interventions such as artificial insemination and C-section births. The flat muzzle, called brachycephaly , leads to many chronic health problems caused by restricted airflow to the lungs. The facial structure also causes dental problems. The exaggerated skin folds can lead to infections of the skin and eyes. This is only a partial list of the many health problems of the English Bulldog. Any potential owner of a Bulldog or Bulldog mix should be aware of the significant commitment of time and money required to properly care for the dog. You may also want to consider an American Bulldog Retriever mix instead. Goldens can suffer from hereditary health problems including hip and elbow dysplasia, some eye conditions cataracts and pigmentary uveitis , and heart disease subvalvular aortic stenosis. Responsible breeders will screen their Golden breeding stock for these conditions. Elevated Risk of Cancer You should also be aware of the elevated risk for cancer in the Golden Retriever breed. The most concerning cancers in Goldens are high-grade mast cell tumors, osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, and lymphoma. Researchers are conducting ongoing studies of cancer in the breed, including the genetic and environmental risk factors that may be involved. Your Golden Retriever Bulldog mix can inherit health problems from both parent breeds. How can you ensure that your puppy is as healthy as possible? Cardiac issues. Bulldogs — American, English, or French — also suffer from issues related to their short muzzle type. The pushed-in face creates an adorable infant-like facial appearance that hides concerning health issues. Among the most severe include trouble chewing and swallowing, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory and ocular issues, and BOAS. As VCA Animal Hospital explains, BOAS can cause airway obstruction, sleep apnea, respiratory difficulties, reflux, tracheal and bronchial collapse, and systemic inflammation. Mild cases of BOAS can often be controlled with medication and lifestyle modification. Severe cases often require corrective surgery. A diagnosis of BOAS also typically means the dog will not be able to travel by air. It is important to understand how purchasing or adopting a dog with BOAS may impact your lifestyle before you make the lifetime commitment to a puppy or rescue dog. Why Hybrid Dog Breeding Is Different from Purebred Dog Breeding Established purebred dog breed lines tend to consistently produce puppies with a certain appearance and temperament. This is because the genes that produce variations have been mostly weeded out. The same cannot be said of hybrid dog breeding programs, however. Because these programs are newer, it is not always easy to predict how much influence each purebred dog parent will have over the genetics of a given puppy. As Breeding Business highlights, in very early hybrid litters typically called F1 or F1b , this means two puppies from the same litter can potentially look and act quite differently from each other. For this reason, the best way to guesstimate what to expect is to take a closer look at the personality and temperament of the Golden Retriever and Bulldog parent dogs. What type of personality will your hybrid pup inherit? Will your Golden Bull be laid-back and easygoing or energetic and high-strung? The Golden Retriever is part of the sporting group of dog breeds. Bred to work as a hunting companion to humans, these dogs adore being with people. They are famously friendly, good with kids, and even good with other dogs. They do not make good guard dogs because they may fail to recognize a threat in their eagerness to greet the intruder! Bulldogs are described as friendly, calm, and courageous. They do make good but not great guard dogs with the proper training. Bulldogs love people and are good with kids. They tend to get along well with other dogs and are very social and playful. Both Golden Retrievers and Bulldogs tend to get along well with people and other dogs. They make average guard dogs at best. They are friendly and happy-go-lucky overall. So it would be reasonable to expect your Golden Bulldog to have at least some if not all of these same qualities. Golden Retriever Bulldog Mix Coat and Grooming Where you will see a lot more variation is in the coat type your Golden Bulldog may potentially inherit. Here, the variance is easy to see. The Golden Retriever has a medium to long thick wavy golden coat. The Bulldog, in contrast, has a short, flat, neat coat. Both have a double layer coat, with an insulating inner layer and a wind and water repellant outer layer. So what coat type will your Golden Bulldog grow up to have? The puppy coat is always a single layer. But once your pup passes the six-month mark, you can expect the puppy coat to start shedding out as the adult coat grows in. In either case, however, you can expect a lot of shedding, especially seasonally as the undercoat sheds out in bulk. The Golden Bulldog is definitely going to require a lot of brushing and sweeping during these times to control dead, shed hair. Golden Retriever Bulldog Mix Training and Exercise Another important aspect to consider with any hybrid dog breed is the potential for your puppy to grow up with very different exercise and training needs than what you expect. But here again, there is one thing both the Golden Retriever and the Bulldog breeds share in common. In both cases, you will need to wait until your veterinarian confirms that your puppy is done growing before allowing them to do any sustained playing or running. This is to protect the leg bones and skeletal system from harm. This is when it will be safe to let your little pup run and play more vigorously. Golden Retriever training According to the Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida , adult Golden Retrievers need at least one hour per day of moderate to vigorous exercise and play to stay happy and calm. Luckily, Goldens scores high in people-pleasing, which is a good temperament to make fast progress in dog training. Bulldog training As Castlewood Bulldogs kennel points out, Bulldogs need about half the daily exercise that Golden Retrievers do. And Bulldogs fare better when you break up the exercise into shorter increments. This helps these dogs avoid overheating and respiratory distress associated with their flattened face shape. Bulldogs can be stubborn and strong-willed. Using positive training methods with reinforcements like praise and treats is the best way to get a Bulldog to go along with training. Golden Bulldog training This gives you an overview of how much exercise your Golden Bulldog is likely to need as well as a picture of whether training will be easy or more challenging. The Golden Retriever typically weighs between 55 and 75 pounds and stands .The Bulldog typically weighs 40 to 55 pounds and stands just 12 to 16 inches tall with a stout, squat body. So you will need to be prepared for your Golden Bulldog puppy to be either a medium or a large dog breed. This gives you a great overview of the Golden Bulldog variables — height and weight, exercise and training, health issues, and temperament. Is the Golden Bulldog the right dog for you?

We do not use Australian Shepherds in our program. We introduced Merle into our program in .We are very proud of our Merle Bernedoodles. You can see several examples of our amazing Merle Bernedoodles below. Where does the merle gene come from and how it got in the poodle gene pool? I get this question all the time. I have done a lot of study of the merle gene in the poodle gene pool and believe that it was not caused by introducing another breed into the gene pool but, in fact, it is a mutation that occurred naturally. Merle is probably the most mis-understood and hotly debated dilution gene in the poodle. Many believe it must be a recessive gene because it doesn't affect the appearance of red, apricot and red or diluted colors such as blues and silvers. In addition, it can be hard to see or not evident at all on black and brown dogs cryptic. Not only is its appearance illusive to breeders but it has confused scientists and it is still not completely understood. The merle pattern has been studied many times and the last study released in emphatically stated that merle was caused by a mutation in the gene called SILV or PMEL.The research was believed to be so solid that tests were offered to breeders to identify Merle in their dogs. However, as of March the company who owned the patent for the test, Idexx, stopped offering tests as they discovered the scientists identified the wrong gene. SILV is not responsible for merle. The gene they decided was merle SILV actually turned out to be for a form of piebaldism- not merle. One theory is that piebaldism may be issue when connected to merle- or it may be piebaldism itself that is the issue. Another theory is "The Misidentification Theory. However, it is said - rightly so - that merles have often been misidentified as other colors. Then there is the "The Cryptic Merle" theory. This theory is actually a subcategory of the Misidentification Theory. Merle is what is called a "modifier. If merle acts on a black coat, the result is blue merle. If it acts on a chocolate coat, the result is red merle. And so on. The final theory I have is that that merles have been in the breed and that mere is a "natural" occuring pattern in the breed, and that merles have often been misidentified as other colors. When I called AKC to register Chuck and asked about the color code to give him they said to give him code and This refers to a a red and white dog with black markings. This leads me to believe that when looking at the color pedigree 5 or 10 generations back you would not know if the dog was actually a merle or a parti meaning merle could be in the pedigree without proper identification. Merle can affect all coat colors. The merle forms of brown and black are usually called "red" though this is not correct; red and merle are genetically different and "blue" as patches of blue are formed throughout the coat. Merle is a dilution gene just like the blue, chocolate in a traditional color but without the color of blue DNA. Merle has its own colours and DNA; a blue merle is a dog who has blue patches on its body, red and some are chocolate or "cookies and cream". Dogs who are recessive red can still be affected by merle, but the patches are either hardly seen or, if the dog is a clear recessive red, are not visible at all. Combinations such as brindle merle exist, but are rare. In addition to altering base coat color, merle also modifies eye color and coloring on the nose and paw pads. The merle gene modifies the dark pigment in the eyes, occasionally changing dark eyes to blue, or part of the eye to be colored blue. Since merle causes random modifications, however, both dark-eyed, blue-eyed, and odd-colored eyes are possible. Color on paw pads and nose may be mottled pink and black. Color on the nose may be black, blue, or red. You can see a perfect example of a chocolate merle in our stud Chuck. Merle Bernedoodles What is a Merle Bernedoodle? What are the most common Merle patterns in Bernedoodles? How is a Merle Bernedoodle produced? Merle is a term used to describe the pattern of a dogs coat. Merle is a dilution gene, that is, it lightens whatever the coat color would otherwise have been. The lightening is not spread evenly over the coat, but leaves patches of undiluted color scattered over the dog's body. Also, the lightening seems to work primarily on the black pigment in the coat. Merle refers to the pattern in the coat and is not a color as such. The white and gray patterns that appear on a black make them appear to have a blueish cast. These are called blue merles. Merle is a color combination in dogs' coats. Although most breeds that can have merle coats also typically have white markings such as around the neck, under the belly, and so on , and often tan points typically between the white and the darker parts of the coat , these are separate colors from the merle; some dogs do appear completely merled with no white or tan markings. Merle can also alter other colors and patterns besides the usual red or black. Utah Bernedoodles. If black, puppy has markings outside of the normal pattern for a parti puppy. Markings can range from silver, light tan, to dark brown, to red. These markings are found over the eyes, on the sides of the face, on the chest, on all four legs and feet, and under the tail. There is no white on the puppy or the white is very minimal. Unlike a phantom puppy, there is white present somewhere on the puppy. It is most common to only have white on the chest and sometimes the feet. These puppies most closely resemble a bernese mountain dog in their color patterns. It is more rare to get the white on the face with perfect berner markings, so please understand if leaving a deposit, you could be waiting a very long time for a puppy like this. The two non-traditional tri-colors we produce are sables and brindles. A sable is when the outer hair is a darker shade than the hair underneath. These puppies are a different color when they are shaved down. They commonly have places where their hair tends to stay darker like on the ears or tail. They may or may not have phantom markings and can have varying amounts of white. Brindle is when the puppy has stripes of different colors on their body. If all these colors werent confusing enough as it is, you can also have a sable brindle combination where the puppy has the stripes, but the hair underneath is still lighter too. These puppies will have varying sizes of patches. Several colors of hair create the "blue" and "red" color that these babies are known for. One puppy could appear to be several colors as its base coat. No two babies are ever the same!!! The phantom merles have those distinct phantom markings that we love so much! On average, these babies will appear to be three or more colors! These babies have large patches of distinct white, not just small spots of white hair mixed in which is common in merles. These puppies can appear to be five or more colors. The are the most unique color out there and are something extra special!!! A little about merles: Standard sized merle bernedoodles are especially hard to find. They are one of the few colors that are auctually harder to find in Standard size than mini. The reason being that standard sized merle standard poodles are difficult to find. The merle color is very uncommon in all poodle sizes. They can usually be readily found in toy and mini sized poodles. The toy poodle is then bred to a standard sized female to create the Moyen or medium sized poodle. This poodle as the mother cannot safely be bred to a bernese mountain dog. She will be far too small. If this moyen poodle is the father, the puppies will be a larger mini or very small standard size. These are not Large standard sized puppies that we are hoping to have. This merle moyen poodle should be bred again to a standard poodle in order to bring as much size as possible to the offspring, and then that puppy could safely breed for standard sized puppies. It takes several generations to safely and correctly breed for True Standard sized babies. It takes many years to create the perfect poodle to make these babies happen! We maintain the right to refuse sale to anyone we do not feel comfortable placing a puppy with for any reason. This right also extends to people who have already left a deposit with us, in which this is the only case that a deposit will be refunded. We want only the best for our babies and if we believe you may not be a fit home for one of our babies for any reason, we will exercise this right. Thank you for understanding. Copyright Kandissweetpuppies. All Rights Reserved. The F1 cross is considered the healthiest, as the parents have the least likelihood of contributing genes for common inheritable diseases. Low maintenance coat with wave and considered minimal to no shed. F1b is a Bernedoodle bred with a Poodle. F1b Mini Bernedoodles will have a higher success rate for no shed, and are recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies. F1b puppies are the most likely to be non-shedding and allergy-friendly. We microchip puppies prior to going home. Microchipping is a very easy, affordable process that a veterinarian can easily do. Males tend to be larger than females, but beyond that, there is not a major difference between the genders. The differences are quite subtle, and both males and females make amazing pets. We think temperament is more important than gender when matching dogs to owners. If your Bernedoodle is very active outdoors, you will likely find a shorter clip easier to maintain. But many owners enjoy the look of them in a fuller coat. A curly coat is less likely to shed but more likely to become matted if not brushed regularly. Daily brushing will be required, as well as professional grooming every weeks. So be specific and show the groomer photos of how you want your dog to look. Also Avoid bathing your Bernedoodle too often, as it strips essential oils from the coat. There is no such thing as a fully-hypoallergenic dog; Bernedoodles tend to be allergy-friendly. Most people with allergies to dog dander i. Every Bernedoodle has a different coat. The curlier the coat the less it will shed. Most Bernedoodles have the wavy type coat that is low- to non-shedding. If you are allergic to dog saliva you will most likely be allergic to Bernedoodles. You will know if you are allergic to saliva if your skin will break out in hives when a dog licks you. We always suggest that if allergies are involved, customers should meet some Bernedoodles if they can. This has happened very rarely. Yes, you can find a copy of our contract here. We live on 30 acres with a pond, 20 acres of that is fenced in to give our females plenty of room for exercise and roaming, swimming, we keep them supplied with bones from the local butcher to keep them occupied for hours! We do have a kennel area, heated and cooled, where they spend the nights and for times we leave for a few hours. Our puppies are raised in our nursery area and brought into the house or to the front yard daily [weather permitting] for playtime and socialized by any of our 6 little girls:] they also have a doggy door for outside access. They will be up to date on shots and deworming, they will have a shot record, a vet certificate, a signed health contract, and a small food kit. Our puppies will range in coat types from curly to wavy.

Boxer puppies for sale Flagstaff, Arizona Boxer puppies for sale Flagstaff, Arizona Introduction of the Boxer The Boxer dog breed originated in Germany and has been around since the late 19th century. His main purpose is for hunting large game. But this dog breed was also useful in guarding and driving livestock. It is said that he got his name due to using his front paws for just about anything. Boxer dogs look intimidating with their stern-looking faces and powerful bodies. But they are actually very loving family dogs that get along with children and other animals. They love being with their families, and being separated from them can lead them to develop separation anxiety. Since this working dog is highly intelligent but stubborn in nature, he is better suited for experienced owners. The average lifespan of the breed is 9—10 years. Look for a boxer puppies for sale Flagstaff Arizona? Here is a brief background of this protective dog with a good sense of humour. History of the Boxer The Boxer dog breed is a descendant of the now-extinct Bullenbeisser a fighting dog with Mastiff ancestry and the Old English Bulldog. He was developed in Germany in the 19th century as hunters of deer, wild boar, and bear. Later on, he was used to guard and drive cattle. The man responsible for the creation of the Boxer breed was Georg Alt, who was from Munich. He crossed a brindle-coloured female Bullenbeisser named Flora with a local dog of unknown breed. In , the first German Boxer dog named Flocki joined a dog show in Munich. After winning the dog show, he was the first-ever Boxer dog to be listed down in the German Studbook. Modern Boxer dogs were believed to be the descendants of Flocki. Boxer puppies for sale in Flagstaff AZ The Boxer dog breed slowly gained popularity throughout Europe in the late s. He was then imported to the United States in and was accepted by the American Kennel Club the following year. The American Boxer Club was established in .In both world wars, various military tasks were given to Boxer dogs including guard dogs, attack dogs, and messenger dogs. The British Boxer Dog Club was then formed in .The Boxer breed was recognised by the Kennel Club shortly thereafter and classified under the Working Group. Versatile and hard-working, these dogs are capable of carrying out different canine work. Boxers are good choices for protection dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and guide dogs for the blind. Temperament and Intelligence of the Boxer puppies Flagstaff for sale Extremely patient and gentle, the Boxer breed is good with children. But he is recommended for families with older children as he may accidentally knock over toddlers. Befriending other pets is possible if the Boxer dog is properly socialised at a young age. It will keep him from viewing small animals as prey and reduce his tendency to dominate same-sex dogs. Is a Boxer a good family dog? Yes, the Boxer breed is a good family dog. He may look noble and intimidating, but he is actually considered the Joker of the Dog World. Boxer dogs are playful and fun-loving. They love to be part of family activities and be the centre of attention. Are Boxer dogs dangerous? Boxer dogs may be tough-looking, but they are not generally aggressive. But they will stand guard and defend their families if necessary. Boxer dogs are initially wary of strangers, but they eventually warm up to them if no danger is detected. Their protective and loyal nature makes them good guard dogs as well as watchdogs. Are Boxers easy to train? Yes, Boxer dogs are easy to train if you are already experienced in handling the breed. They are intelligent but tend to be independent and stubborn. Due to this, they are not suited for first-time owners. Boxer dogs respond better to people that are firm and consistent. However, firm does not mean harsh. Instead of strict training methods, positive reinforcements are more effective in teaching this breed basic dog manners and tricks. Boxer Breed Highlights The Boxer dog breed is a loving, loyal, and protective companion. Boxer dogs are comical companions despite their intimidating appearance. The Boxer breed has low-maintenance grooming needs. As an energetic working dog, he has high exercise needs. Boxer dogs tend to be destructive when they are left alone or unable to let off steam. Are there miniature boxers? Yes, but they are rare. Miniature boxers are either a product of mating purebred runts or cross-breeding small dogs that have similar characteristics to boxers, such as Boston terriers, pugs, rat terriers, and fox terriers. While some of these minis may closely resemble their larger counterparts, they may not act similarly. Are boxers hypoallergenic? Unfortunately, boxers are not hypoallergenic. What problems do Boxers have? Boxer dogs are brachycephalic, which means they have flat faces. This trait narrows their airway and causes breathing problems. As a result, Boxers should not be out in the sun for a long time as it can lead to heatstroke. Overexercising them must be avoided too to avoid triggering breathing difficulties. How long do Boxer dogs live? The Boxer dog breed has a short lifespan compared to other dogs. He can only live up to 9—10 years, and this is due to the prevalence of health issues in the breed. When buying a Boxer puppy, look for a reputable breeder whose breeding stock and litters are health-screened. This will help you determine how likely is your chosen Boxer puppy going to develop certain health conditions. In , the city's estimated population was 75, Flagstaff's combined metropolitan area has an estimated population of , Wiki Flagstaff Drop us a line! We will not send you unnecessary notices in the future. My name is Tetyana and I am glad to welcome you on the site of the breed nursery. She may not be able to take you home after a long night but she'll definitely laugh at your dumb jokes and share her Mexican food with you! Unless it's chicken since she's allergic. Josie comes from a loving home and was the only child of her elderly owner, sadly time caught up and her owner passed away. Josie's previous family was unable to care for her after their passing and a difficult decision was made to surrender her to us and we have continued to blanket her in love just like her previous family had. Now Josie is looking for a new family to continue that warm blanket of love and cuddles. Josie is a sweet girl who is shy to new surroundings but with time will break out of her shell and cuddle under your legs. Josie is a loyal and faithful friend and wants to keep everyone she holds dear safe. When meeting new people Josie will take her time and approach new individuals when she is comfortable and does not like feeling pressured to do so, however Josie does not get along with other animals. Just like any older woman she enjoys her 'me time' and usually only wants to spend it with you over a nice warm plate of carne asada tacos. Josie would thrive best in a home where she is the only animal, and responsible owners who can slowly introduce her to any incoming guests. Hurry in before this special ends!

Some names are great in theory but tough to pronounce in everyday life. Before you lock in on a name, make sure it rolls off the tongue. Say it out loud. Can you imagine loudly calling for your dog with this name? Does it fit your dog? This is important for both you and your pup. And finally, trust your gut. All pup parents go through this scenario. Teaching your dog their name is a lot easier than you think. Here are five easy steps to take to teach your dog their name. Get some small treats and put your dog on a leash in a location without any distractions. Wait until they look away and then repeat the process times. Want to learn more about how to teach a dog their name? We have an awesome guide that makes it easy. You may find it online through articles like this guide to Pug names. Or you could find the perfect dog name in your everyday life. Here are a few ways to brainstorm cool dog names all on your own. What is your favorite hobby? Do you have a favorite activity that you love to do in your free time? That could provide excellent inspiration when naming your dog. What is your favorite sport or sports team? Sports are another great place for dog name ideas. You could give them a name based that refers to the game you love, your favorite team, player or mascot, the field they play on or another aspect of the sport. For example, our neighbors love to play hockey and named their dog Bauer after the hockey brand. Where do you live? Or where do you love to travel to? Your home state or hometown can serve as inspiration as well. Or what movie you adore. Do you have a character that sticks out? We know someone who named his dog after Dwight on The Office. He loved the show and was a huge fan of this character. The name fits his pup perfectly and pays tribute to his favorite TV show. Do you have a nickname? Have you been given a fun nickname that you could extend to your pet? Take for example a family we know with the last name Williams. What names do you like? Maybe one will be just the right fit for your furbaby! Share this post:. Despite their small stature, you can help your pooch rise from the ranks with one of these unique Pug names… Ziggy Derived from Zigmund, meaning "victorious protection" Kiki Short and unique name Zephyr Greek name meaning "west wind" Jet Referring to the color black Luna Latin for "moon" Nala Meaning "successful" or "beloved" Django Inspired by the jazz musician, Django Reinhardt Juno Roman goddess associated with protection and fertility Echo Symbolizing reflection or repetition Related article: Unique dog names Celebrity Pug names Pugs are one of the most famous pooches on earth. So, why not pick a Pug name from one of these famous two-leggers? We've completed our list of Pug names. Are they playful and mischievous? Laid-back and chill? Choose a name that best reflects their paw-sonality. We also recommend pondering their physical features. Pugs come in a variety of colors ahh, beautiful , so you can play around with Pug names that suit their coat. When it comes to choosing a name, simplicity is key. Go for a name that's easy to pronounce and to remember, both for you and your Pug and your future house sitters! Lastly, try out different names for Pugs in your backyard and see how they feel. Practice calling your Pug over for treats, walks, or belly rubs. You'll soon discover which name sounds right for your family. Travel with peace of mind with the help of a loving in-house pet sitter , who will give your precious pooch all the care and attention they need from the comfort of your very own home. Head over to TrustedHousesitters HQ today to find out more about becoming a member of our community of pet people! Pug Names Do you wonder what's a great name for a Pug dog? This breed is so unique looking, he or she's just gotta have a really cool name! Do you want to see if the name you chose is on our Exclusive List for this breed? Have a great suggestion for a name that fits the breed? Then you came to the right place! Most of the following names have been submitted by Pug owners. The most popular names are those that begin with the letter P, however others such as Mugsy and Mopsy are often chosen as well. Have fun as you read all of the cool names that owners have thought of and see below on how to submit your dog's name if it is not on this list. Choosing a Name in Multiple Dog Households When you have more than one dog, it's best to choose names for your dogs that do not start with the same sound. Canines often only pay attention to the first syllable that humans speak. If both dogs have names that begin the same way, they may become confused. An example would be "Roxanne" and "Rocky"; both Pugs may run to you when either name is called out. There are 2 things that owners should do: 1 Say the name a lot. Be sure to say it along with all of the "come here" commands. Look at your puppy and get his attention when you say it. You want your pup to associate the name with something good.So don't say it if your pup has an accident, is chewing apart your shoe or does anything else that may cause frustration. Be sure to say, "No" and show your Pug what you do want him or her to do, but refrain from using his or her name at these times Pug Names Starting with A Ab - Ad. Are Pugs Good Family Pets? Pugs are friendly, energetic dogs that need less space and exercise than many other breeds, which is what makes them so popular. However, Pugs require a deceptive amount of care. These small dogs have been selectively bred for generations to achieve the flat face they have now. They used to have a much longer snout. Their flat face is known as brachycephaly, and it causes modern Pugs a lot of health problems that you should be aware of before bringing a puppy home. Brachycephalic Ocular Syndrome This is the collective term for the various eye problems Pugs suffer from. Brachycephalic breeds have shallow eye sockets that cause their eyes to protrude out of their faces. There is no treatment for this problem. But it means you will have to dedicate time to caring for your Pug by wiping and monitoring his eyes every day. Overheating Pugs cannot cool themselves down as efficiently as other dogs, because their muzzle is so short. This means they struggle to exercise without getting too hot, and they can struggle in hot weather. Dental Problems Even though Pugs have smaller, shorter jaws, they still have the same number of teeth as any other breed. Their teeth just get crammed into a much smaller space. This makes dental decay more likely. Breathing Problems Pugs suffer from a number of breathing problems where their face shape interferes with breathing in three ways. It reduces nostril size, forces the soft palate to block their airway, and reduces the size of their airway. All of this makes it much harder for the dog to breathe, and results in the noisy snorting and snoring that Pugs make. It can even lead to fainting, especially in hot weather or when exercising. Should I Get A Pug? Pugs have a lot of serious health problems, so it may be kinder to buy a healthier puppy with a more normal face shape. If your heart is set on a Pug, you should take a look at the healthier Retro Pug. Or consider adopting an older Pug who needs a loving home. Even though many rescue dogs are a bit older, they are often just as happy and loving as puppies. And you can rename them with one of the great names on our list! Female Pug Names Girl Pug names can be fun and pretty. Here are some ideas: Tilly. Get Inspiration From The Geeks With iconic characters from movies, comics and even our history, naming your pug after your hero can be a sweet memoir for your favorite personality and add to how endearing your pug is already. You can take inspiration from multiple geek obsessions. For instance: 1. From iconic animals to loveable characters, series and movies are the best sources of inspiration. There are a plethora of names to choose from, such as Frodo, Stark, Bambi, Vanellope, and so on. Names from Famous Singers Singers stay embedded in our memories forever, and if you have an absolute favorite singer, you can name your pug after them! From group members to solo artists, these iconic names for your pups will certainly not be forgotten. Names from Superheroes and Villains Superheroes and villains both have a strong and memorable impact on our lives due to their superhuman existence. What better way to make your pug feel powerful than naming your pug after them? Names from Historical Figures You can also take inspiration from the groundbreaking historical personalities that have shaped our world today. Your little pug can change the world too! Our favorites include Aristotle, Alexander, Shakespeare, and even Bernoulli. Since pugs are lapdogs and belong to the toy breed. Names like penny and poppy are perfect considering the size and breed type of pugs. For example, if your pug is a spoiled lap dog, then names like princess and king fit for your drama queen pug. Physical Traits You can also name your pug after their dominant physical trait. For example, you may consider calling your darker colored pug, mocha or your light colored pug, cream. Pair Names If you happen to get your pugs in a pair then iconic pair names are a great route to take. Embarrassing or elongated names might be harder to shout out. This would help in choosing names that best suits your pugs. Tips for Naming Your Pugs After following the steps and shortlisting your top pug names, there are other factors you need to consider before choosing the name as well. Through our list of tips for naming your pugs, you will easily be able to finalize the perfect match for your precious pug. Choose shorter names for your pug. Two or three-syllable names are easily recognized by pugs and are easier to call out as well. Wait before naming your pug. Try to avoid commands while addressing your pugs by their name. If pugs associate their names with aggressive connotations, they might stop responding to their name. Addressing your pugs by nicknames can help to familiarize them with the concept of multiple names and learn to differentiate between them. With lists of all kinds of pug names in the world, I hope you found some names that caught your eye. While naming your pug can make you indecisive, the naming process makes you feel closer to your pug, and I hope that was the case for you too. Frequently Asked Questions What are some popular names for pug puppies? Milo, Lily, Winston, Frank, and Otis are some popular names for pug puppies. How can I choose a unique name for my pug? Get inspired by movies, songs, historical figures, or make a play on common names with a humorous twist. What inspired famous pug names in history? Famous pug names in history were often inspired by their owners or their stories. Which movie or TV character names suit pugs? Is there a way to pick a pug name based on personality traits? Names like King or Thor might suit a confident and strong-willed pug, while Oscar could be perfect for a pug with a charming personality. Can you suggest any cute or funny pug names? Cute and funny pug names include Pugsley, which is quite popular for the breed. You can also consider food-inspired names like Taco or Biscuit, perfect for a notoriously food-motivated pug. With a BSC Hons in Computer Gaming and Animation Technology, Tom has been at the forefront of the online world for the past 10 years and loves to create value for others. He is passionate about all things technology-related, and he hopes to use his talents to make a positive impact on the web. About Us It's our aim to provide you with inspiration for your next family name. We know the naming process for a new family member can be tough. Whether you are looking for a newborn, a family pet, or anything else, we are here to make the process easier and more fun! Follow Us! Legal We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Blog Of Tom is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Purebred Golden Retriever Puppies Buying a puppy is a big decision. We made that decision easy. Not knowing where your puppy has come from could lead to genetic health and socialization issues, and ultimately disappointment. There are even tons of puppy scams on the internet, some of which even try to imitate us! We believe dogs are not like family — they ARE family! Unlike other puppy adoption agencies in Ohio, we allow and actually encourage you to meet our Golden Retriever puppies for sale before you agree to take one home. Remember, too, that when it comes to getting a puppy, ultimately, you get what you pay for. You get a Golden Retriever you love, vetted for good health, from a breeder you trust. He has a very fun loving spirit and has made our family complete. Marcus and his family are very gracious and great to work with. We would highly recommend them for anyone looking for a Golden! She will be turning 9 months in a few weeks. I had a wonderful experience getting her through your company! So glad I got her. All Rights Reserved. We make your puppy adoption process easy! Just follow these three easy steps and you'll have your new puppy safe and sound in no time. Step 1 Find the perfect Golden Retriever puppy! Browse through the puppies on our website or contact us if you don't see what you're looking for. Step 2 Pick up your puppy or we'll bring it to you! We can arrange a convenient meeting place or we can hand deliver your new puppy right to your home. Step 3 Bond with your new puppy. We're here to help! If you have any health-related questions or tips on getting your new puppy used to his new home just let us know! Check out some of the feedback we've gotten from our adopting puppy parents below. Christina Ortiz August 22, At first I was skeptical due to so many scans out there. Also my puppy came from an Amish family in Ohio so requested cash only and landline communication only. I drove miles and took my chances and they were so communicative and really nice family. They answered all my concerns and so did Gold Star Pups and would respond within the hour. My puppy been check by the vet and is healthy and well and super loving and sweet. I ended up changing his name from Prince to Miles because it took Miles to get this little guy. Thank you so much and have already recommended this site to others. He has been such a joy and he even goes to work with me! Easy process for purchasing. I had no issues at all. Ashley Barns August 21, thank you soooo much gold star puppies! Karen Zeigler August 14, I was concerned about buying a dog on line, but I quickly learned that Lancaster puppies only use reputable stores, not puppy mills. Gold Star was helpful, trustworthy, and did everything they promised. My puppy is smart, and healthy. She is sound minded and I absolutely love her. Sharon Secrest August 14, Gold Star puppies is the best! They walked us through each step on purchasing our forever puppy We highly recommend them! Thank-you Gold Star! The process was very easy! I had him delivered to Arizona. The delivery service guys were great on updating me when they would be arriving. Leo is been great and is adjusting well! Thanks gold star pups! Madison Chrisman June 12, We love our sweet puppy we got! Gold Star pups is a "middle man" for the Amish breeder. However, our little puppy came from a very nice farm and super nice people. She was exactly what we thought she would be. These people were very nice and professional and worked with me on price and pick up. I would definitely buy another puppy from here. Here is our sweet Rue, a mini bernadoodle! He came to us healthy and happy and we are surprised at what he knows, from fetching a ball to potty training. .Highly recommend working with them if you are looking for an awesome puppy. Janette Mac February 21, She is so adorable. .I got my 2nd fur baby from gold star pups LLC and we are so happy with everything. .Looking forward to get our next fur baby's soon!!! They made everything so easy and took care of everything needed to get our puppy home. Thank you Gold Star Pups for this adorable addition to our family. We might have another breed of puppy that would also be a perfect fit for you! Check out all our gorgeous pups and give us a call if you need any help.

In the early days of Labrador Retrievers , they were black and white. Any other colors were culled at birth. The first Yellow Labs were also rather dark and born with tinges of Red. Dog coat colors are like a fashion statement, and like any trend, it waxes and wanes with the times. We all want what is uncommon. Back in the day, solid Black Labs were all the rage, until people began desiring the lesser-seen Yellow or Red Labs. When they got too popular, Red Labs and the darker Yellows fell out of favor. Today, light Yellow Labs are more common due to an explosion in popularity around the s. This made Red Labs rare again and have now turned into a commodity. Much like their cousin, the Red Golden Retriever , Labs with these russet-colored coats are considered controversial simply because they do not meet traditional expectations. Some people claim that Red Labradors are crossed with a Vizsla , and are not actually purebred. The same claims have been made about Silver Labradors. Purists are convinced that Labradors lack the genes to be Silver naturally, and therefore must be crossed with the Weimaraner. These claims have never been proven. Furthermore, one look at their genetics will show that it is possible for these color variations in the breed. Before we delve into the exact science of a Fox Red Labrador, we must first understand how genetics work. Each dog inherits an allele from each parent which makes up a gene. This allele can be dominant or recessive. They are often written in pairs, such as BB or Bb, one for each parent. There are a few loci that determine coat color, from the A locus to the E locus. The B allele is a dominant black gene and can result in a black dog. In fact, all black dogs have at least one dominant B allele. Black Labs can carry the recessive b and when two are present, you will get a Chocolate Lab. However, the gene that controls the brown pigment lies in the E locus. To get a Yellow Lab, they must have two recessive ee alleles. This powerful little gene has the ability to completely block the dominant black color, repressing it so only the yellow comes through. Image source Now comes the genes that create the dark yellow we identify as Fox Red: the a and c alleles. The A represents the pheomelanin in your dog, it comes in various forms that can affect the coat. This part of the color genetics can be quite complicated, but different modifiers can result in different results. For example, at will produce Black and Tan Labradors. In the case of Fox Red Labradors, it often looks like as. If they inherited the allele As, the dog would be either cream or white because that is a pheomelanin-suppressing allele. The intensity of the color is expressed by the c allele, so a dog with CC will have a darker shade, those with Cc will be in the mid-range, and Labs with the cc gene are likely to be quite light. A particular type of C locus will result in a White Labrador. In order to get a Fox Red Lab, the dog will need to have both CC and ee as well as the right type of A locus, making its puppy a special little fella indeed. Therefore as per the breed standard, Labradors with this Fox Red color are eligible to compete in the show ring, as long as they are a solid color. Unfortunately, judges often favor lighter shades of yellow. Dancer was crowned champion in the United States in the year , making her the first Red Lab with this title. The American Kennel Club states that Labradors should be proportional, with a muscular build. On the contrary, breeders are fighting very hard to produce more show dog champions of the red variety. However, this is slowly changing as judges become more accepting. Since English Labs have bred for show confirmation they will mostly be in the traditional yellow, chocolate, or black. On the other hand, American Labs are field dogs and are bred for their skills more than their looks. American Labs are also much more athletic-looking. You can further compare the two types with our chart. No, Fox Red Labradors have the same height and weight as other colored Labs. These hunting dogs are a medium-to-large breed, weighing in at around 55 to 80 lbs 25 to 36 kg , depending on the gender. Male Red Labs should be between .For more info on their size, you can check out our Lab Growth Chart. Do they change color? Puppies born with a Fox Red coat might not retain that same shade of red. It usually lightens or darkens with age. It is hard to be certain of their final coat color until they are at least 20 to 24 months old. Source: joey. You can read more about our Labrador colors article. Personality: What Color Labrador is the Best? They all conform to the breed standard of being loyal, outgoing, and kind. These gentle dogs are a great addition to any household, even if you have a young child or small animal, as long as your pooch has been well socialized. Labradors are all affectionate and love to be with their humans. As with any dog, mishandled or untrained Labradors might have the potential to be fearful or aggressive. With consistent training, you should be able to teach your dog to behave the way you want them to. Red Labs are in no way harder to care for than any other color. They require the same amount of effort in training, exercise, and maintenance. The key to a good dog is to create good habits. Keep your table scraps for the trash chute instead. Another thing is, you want to keep your Labrador entertained, regardless of color. An active Red Lab fetching his toy in the water — Image source Being working dogs, they are highly active. Failure to give them the stimulation they need will end with disastrous results as they can get quite destructive. Try to spend at least an hour on exercise daily. Grooming Needs Just like any Labrador, they have a short, straight, dense double coat that sheds heavily and requires attention. You should also trim their nails regularly. Some sources say that Fox Red Labs have a stronger smell than their pale yellow cousins because they tend to produce more oils. One way to cope with this is to dry them off properly and stay away from harsh shampoos. What is the best dog food to feed a Red Lab? Since Red Lab can be prone to obesity, you might want to look into home-cooked meals or whole foods instead. If feeding kibble, choose a high-quality kibble that suits their dietary needs. This will protect them from hip dysplasia. A good kibble should be able to keep up with their caloric demands and help them manage their weight. Low-quality kibble typically does not offer the nutrients that a dog needs, resulting in them eating more. You can expect them to live 10 to 12 years on average. All Labradors share the same health concerns but it has been noted that eye problems are much more common in Red Labradors. Progressive Retinal Atrophy is an eye disorder that causes blindness and can be easily avoided through screening. Aside from that, you will need to watch out for the usual, including hip and elbow dysplasia, cancer, ear problems, muscular dystrophy, idiopathic epilepsy, and exercise-induced collapse. As mentioned, obesity is quite common in Labradors. This can be affected by a gene mutation that prevents them from feeling full. When searching for a Labrador Retriever puppy of a specific color, you should be extra careful not to be swindled. Bear in mind that respectable breeders often do not charge higher for different colors because breeding for color is largely looked down upon. Source: iron. To learn more about how much you will pay for a Red Lab puppy, read our Labrador Retriever Price article. Labrador Breeders Be very picky and particular when choosing a kennel to purchase from. Avoid buying your new puppy from someone who is unable to produce health screenings of their breeding stock. The AKC lists Labrador breeders on their site, making it accessible for you to search for these beautiful dogs. Older dogs might come with their own challenges. While some might not have any behavioral problems, many need to be retrained. Source: red. They are extremely agreeable and a joy to be around. They are best as working dogs or family pets, preferably in an active home. Further reading: Learn more about other Labrador colors. It can be rare to get this color from a labrador breed. Since this variation of the Labrador stands out in the crowd, it is more desired and rare than the traditional colored Labs. The American Kennel Club has its own category and standard for this breed variation. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a breeder that has a variety of Fox Red Labs to breed, but there are a few out there. I am here with his article to help you find a reputable breeder that sells Fox Red Lab puppies for sale. Just remember, since this is a rare version of the Labrador, you will most likely pay more for a puppy. The Fox Red Lab is one of the rarest lab colors that can be produced. Many Labrador breeders sell this color variation for much more than the traditional colors. This will all depend on the breeder and what they also include with the price of a puppy. A female can usually have between 5 and 9 puppies in a single litter. This also does not mean that all will have the perfect Fox Red Lab color, as some can have more yellow tones. Remember to pick a breeder that you can trust. Instead, try to visit the kennel and learn more about the health of the dogs that have in their home. The breeders below are some of the reputable breeders for Fox Red Labs; check them out below. Yes, the Fox Red Lab is a wonderful family dog and gets a lot of its traits from the Labrador. In addition, this breed will be very friendly around other dogs, children, and pets if socialized really well. If you get your Fox Red Lab as a puppy, you should train it from an early age; that way, it does develop that friendly personality. Overall, you should expect to get a very good family dog. Are Fox Red Labs Common? This is not a separate dog breed but actually a different color variation of the Labrador Retriever. So no, the Fox Red Lab is not very common. They started their love of the Labrador breed in , and their dog became pregnant in , which expanded their love for Labradors even more. Their goal is to provide people with dual-purpose Labradors that can work hard as well as make great family companions. In addition, their dogs show excellence in the field or a show ring. They have multiple females and male Fox Red Labradors that they have raised, and they have planned breedings a few times a year. However, they do require a deposit that goes to the total cost of the puppy to reserve a puppy in an upcoming litter. She has been breeding American Kennel Club quality Labradors since .She has also worked as a veterinarian technician for 15 years. Her passion is understanding and studying animal health and reproduction in animals. They take their breeding seriously and only have planned litters. Health screenings are done to ensure you are getting a perfectly healthy dog. This family lives on a acre farm that allows all the dogs to explore their surroundings. All of the dogs and puppies are raised right in their home. It makes for a better environment where each dog can get the proper amount of love and attention. If you are interested in getting a puppy from this breeder, they request you fill out a puppy application to learn more about you. They have a few litters a year and a very long waitlist. It is never too late to get your name on it waiting for a litter. All of their dogs are up to American Kennel Club Standards, and they produce all their puppies to be within those standards. They really focus on breeding for beauty as well as the temperament to produce very calm and friendly dogs. All puppies are born inside their home and looked after very closely. When the puppies get to four weeks old, they get to live in the puppy house, which is close to the main house. They pride themselves on the cleanliness of their facilities. They breed a few times a year, and you can make reservations for a puppy in an upcoming litter. Many dogs need homes, so a rescue is a great way to do this. You may not always be able to find a puppy from a rescue, but you can sometimes get a dog around one year old. One rescue you can check out is the LRCP group which is a Labrador rescue group that rehomes labs in need of good homes. They do want to find you the perfect rescue, so they still need you to fill out questionnaires to know if you have children or other dogs already in the home. This helps them find you the perfect rescue dog. Sometimes going the rescue route can save a lot of money as some breeders charge a lot more than people can afford. Summary This article was made to help you find your dream Fox Red Lab puppies for sale from a reputable breeder. Let us know if you have a Fox Red Labrador or are now getting one below. What Is a Red Fox Labrador? The red fox Labrador is a Labrador Retriever with a foxy red coat. They also go by the names fox red Labs or ruby Labradors. Red fox Labs do not belong to a separate color class; instead, they are officially listed as one of the darker variations of the yellow Labrador Retriever. Does this mean that red fox Labs and the yellow Labs are the same? For starters, Labrador Retrievers come in three different coat colors — black, yellow, and chocolate. According to the AKC breed standards , yellow Labrador Retrievers range in color from light cream to fox-red. This means that red fox Labs are indeed yellow Labs! It is a known fact that there are fewer fox red Labrador Retrievers compared to other colors of the Labrador Retriever. This begs the question, are fox red Labradors actually purebreds? The answer to this is a big yes! Fox red Labradors are Labrador Retrievers through and through. They are simply purebred Labs with foxy red coats. Fox red Labs are at the darker end of the accepted range of colors in yellow Labradors. Simply put, they are a sub-variant of the yellow Labrador so they are purebreds. That said, there are still members of the dog community who believe that the fox red Labs are Labrador mixes. As you will learn in the following section, these dogs have a fair share of controversies. Their unusual coat color is a common subject of debate in the dog community. But is there actually a good reason behind the controversy around red fox Labs? As established, the red fox Labrador is a variant of the yellow Labrador Retriever. While these dogs are eligible to join dog shows and other dog competitions, red fox Labs are usually marked less favorably compared to other Labs. A probable reason behind this is the stigma that red fox Labs are hybrids. Despite being unproven, these claims have tainted the image of the red fox Labs for the longest time. One belief claims that red fox Labs are descendants of a Labrador and Vizsla cross. Meanwhile, other speculators argue that these dogs are hybrids of the Labrador and Weimaraner. However, regardless of these controversies, the red fox Labs still remain one of the most desirable Labradors outside the show ring. To some, these controversies are no match to the unique coat color of these pooches. Red fox Labs are medium-sized dogs with an athletic build and a well-balanced stature. These dogs have short double coats, well-defined jawlines, and gradually tapered tails. In terms of nose color, red fox Labs always have black noses. The red fox Labrador looks exactly like other Labrador Retrievers in terms of physical features. These dogs share the same posture, head shape, and ear shape as other Labs. In fact, the only feature that stands out from these dogs is their ruby-like coat color. The coat color of red fox Labs may sometimes look similar to a red wheaten Rhodesian Ridgeback. While they are often lighter than the red Rhodesian Ridgeback, fox red Labs can easily be mistaken for a Ridgeback, especially for the untrained eye. One interesting thing about the red fox Labrador Retriever is that their coat may be lighter during their puppy years. This means a red fox Lab puppy may be mistaken for a lighter variant of the yellow Labrador Retriever. A full-grown fox red Labrador measures about the same as other Labrador Retrievers in terms of size and weight. On average, males will be a bit bigger than their female counterparts. A full-grown male fox red Labrador measures 22 to 25 inches in height and weighs around 65 to 80 pounds. On the other hand, a full-grown female fox red Labrador measures 21 to 24 inches in height and weighs 55 to 70 pounds. For reference, full-grown fox red Labs are about the same height as Dalmatians, Pharaoh Hounds, and Shetland Sheepdogs. Meanwhile, they weigh similarly to Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Weimaraners. Red Fox Labrador vs. Well, in case you missed it, red fox Labradors are indeed recognized. However, they do not have their own separate color class. Instead, red fox Labs are classified as a yellow Labrador. This means red fox Labs are actually yellow Labs! But how come these dogs are named differently? Moreover, are these pooches actually different? Its coat color looks nothing like a traditional yellow Labrador. How come these dogs are classified under the same color class? The difference between a red fox Labrador and a yellow Labrador is not in their temperament nor in their physical features. Similarly, their difference is also not in their size or common health problems. Instead, their only difference lies in their genetics. Red fox Labs have more prominent pheomelanin. A yellow Labrador with a more prominent pheomelanin will have a darker coat color, as with the case in red fox Labs. The entire science of canine coat genetics is beyond the scope of this guide. Luckily, you do not need to dive into the nitty-gritty to understand the genetics of the red fox Labrador. To start, the first thing to know is that the default color of Labrador Retrievers is black. This black coat color is attributed to the so-called BB genes. When these black genes are superseded by other gene pairs, a non-black Labrador is born. To get a red fox Labrador, the coat genetics of a Lab puppy should first match that of a yellow Lab. This means instead of having dominant BB genes, the coat genetics of yellow Labs are composed of either EE, Ee, or ee genes. Moreover, when a yellow Labrador has dominant A and C genes, a pigment known as pheomelanin kicks in. Pheomelanin is what causes the red fox coloration in red fox Labradors. As expected, red fox Labs have more pheomelanin compared to lighter variants of the yellow Labs. The red fox Lab, alongside other color variants of the Labrador Retriever, has a long and rich history. These dogs were originally bred as hunting dogs in Canada and were later brought to England. While it may be tempting to think that Labradors originated in Labrador, Canada, these dogs were actually from Newfoundlands. Labs are believed to be descendants of the St. The unmatched retrieval skills of Labradors proved valuable to fishermen and hunters in the early s. These dogs were arguably the most famous service dogs during their early years. However, their fame is no longer attributed to their hunting and retrieval skills. Instead, they are praised for being one of the best family pets to have. If you are a fan of the red fox Lab, you would be pleased to know that they are recognized by major kennel clubs. This means red fox Labs are eligible to join official dog competitions. Red fox Labs, as long as they do not exhibit any faults, can be registered in a kennel club. Some of these faults include a thoroughly pink nose, large white marking on the chest, and incorrect height. Fox red Labs have the same temperament as other Lab colors. They are extremely loyal, very active, and super easy to train. These dogs are also friendly and gentle so they get along with kids and other pets just fine. Moreover, they are also very intelligent. In fact, this pooch belongs to the list of top 10 intelligent dog breeds. Labs, regardless of color, remember commands easily, plus they are very attentive during training. If you are wondering if the fox red Labs would make a good family pet, you would be delighted to know that they do. Should you decide to get a fox red Lab, you can rest assured that your pet will do well as a family companion. With proper training and care, red fox Labs will never give you any trouble. The fox red Lab has an average life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. Their lifespan is on par with other variants of the Labrador Retriever such as the chocolate Lab and the black Lab. A fox red Lab that is well taken care of can sometimes reach up to 15 years old! However, similar to other dog breeds, these Labs are also at risk of some common health issues. If you decide to get a fox red Lab, be on the lookout for some life-altering conditions. Below are some common health issues of the fox red Labrador: Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: Canine hip and elbow dysplasia is a common health condition in Labrador Retrievers. These are oftentimes genetic conditions resulting from faulty breeding. Hip and elbow dysplasia is characterized by abnormalities in the ball-socket joints of the affected dog. When left untreated, PRA in dogs will eventually lead to blindness. PRA is the most common eye disorder in Labrador Retrievers. Ear Problems: There are a total of six most common ear problems in dogs. Unfortunately, fox red Labs are at risk of all of these. These ear problems usually result from worm infestation. Some symptoms include ear odor, redness of the ear canal, and vigorous scratching. This health condition is an inherited nervous system disorder. Dogs with EIC may experience episodes of collapse during strenuous activities. Remember that all of these conditions are brought about by genetics, dietary factors, age, or any combination of these. The best thing to do to keep your fox red Labrador in tip-top shape is to feed it the right kind of kibble and to keep it active. Red fox Labs are very easy to care for. They do not require anything more than the bare minimum of caring for a dog, no wonder they are the most considered dog breed to have. However, there are still a couple of things worth mentioning with regards to caring for a red fox Labrador Retriever. Feeding and Diet The diet of a red fox Lab is nothing special. All you need to do is to feed it the right kind of kibble for its age and activity level. Of course, you also have the option to make homemade meals for your pooch. You may also alternate from kibble to homemade meals from time to time. Just make sure you are not feeding anything from the list of toxic food for dogs to your red fox Lab. It is also recommended to give a strict feeding schedule for your red fox Labs. Moreover, you should always portion their meals properly. This will help lessen their risk of obesity and other health issues. Cleaning and Grooming The weatherproof double coat of the red fox Labrador Retriever is truly heaven-sent! Their coats are very easy to comb, quick to dry, and effortless to comb. To do this, make sure to get a sturdy brush for short-haired pups. In terms of bathing, it is safe to bathe red fox Labs as frequently as twice a month. However, if your dog gets dirty from outdoor activities, be sure to bathe it right away. Training and Exercise Red fox Labs are active dogs that require at least an hour of exercise every day. As working dogs, these dogs also need mental stimulation during training. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to train and exercise your red fox Lab. These include regular walking, swimming, hiking, or even a game of fetch. You may also opt to sign your dog up in agility competitions in your area. It is recommended to train your red fox Lab as early as possible. Keep in mind that red fox Labs are highly intelligent pooches. When these pups are not trained properly, they may become stubborn adult dogs. On average, the red fox Labrador cost more than other Labrador colors. The higher selling price of red fox Labs is usually due to their perceived rarity. These dogs are less common compared to lighter shades of yellow Labs, black Labs, and chocolate Labs. As a result, breeders typically hike up the price for a fox red Lab puppy. However, it is still possible to score a sweet deal when buying one of these dogs. What you can do to save a bit of cash is to find a reputable breeder who bundles their puppies with freebies. These freebies can range from dog crates, toys, dog food, and even pet insurance. Similarly, you can always look for red fox Labs in shelters and rescue organizations. Although red fox Labs may prove hard to find in rescues and shelters, it is still worth the shot. However, there are still plenty of places to get one. If you are looking to buy a red fox Labrador, make sure to only do so from reputable breeders. Puppy mills and backyard breeders do more harm than good. On the other hand, if you are looking to save a bit of cash, you may consider adopting a red fox Labrador instead. Here are some reputable breeders where you can find red fox Labs for sale: Blackfork Labradors — Established in , Blackfork Labrador has a long track record of breeding Labs. This breeder raises their pups on a acre farm in Oklahoma. Blackfork Labradors offers all variants of the Labrador Retriever including the red fox Labs. Their pups go through rigorous DNA tests before being sold. You can read their thoroughly explained breeding philosophy on their website. Here are some reliable services where you can find red fox Labs for adoption: Adopt-a-Pet — Adopt-a-Pet is an online service hosting an extensive selection of adoptable pets. Their listing includes purebred dogs and hybrid dogs from all over the country. Also, Adopt-a-Pet has a very helpful location-based search feature. This feature will help you look for red fox Labs within your desired location. Petfinder — Petfinder is another online service that aids aspiring pet owners. They have hundreds of adoptable Labrador Retrievers on their website, and some of them are red fox Labs. Make sure to check out their listings from time to time! Regardless if you are looking to buy or adopt a fox red Labrador, try to make sure that you bring home a healthy one. You can always ask for health clearances, breeder guarantees, or DNA test results from breeders or shelters. Red fox Labrador Retrievers regularly shed twice a year. Their coats are short and are fairly easy to maintain. Unless you are extremely allergic to small pollen such as dog hairs, you would not have problems with the shedding of a red fox Lab. What Is the Rarest Labrador Color? In terms of the genetic lottery, the coat color of chocolate Labrador Retrievers should be the rarest. This means if Labradors are not bred purposely, chocolate Labs would be the hardest Labrador color to find. However, since the influence of breeders comes into play, the rarest Labrador color is not chocolate. Instead, the rarest Labrador color is silver. Silver Labradors are not recognized by kennel clubs; these dogs are variants of the chocolate Labs and are mainly bred in the United States only. Yes, fox red Labs get darker as they age. However, the result will vary from one dog to another. Some dogs will be noticeably darker once they are full-grown, while others will just be a few shades darker. In general, coat color does not affect the temperament of a Labrador Retriever. However, many people believe that the yellow Labrador has the best temperament. These dogs are the most common service dogs among different Lab color variations. The red fox Lab has all the lovable traits and staple features of the Labrador Retriever — the number one best family dog breed. On top of their wits and loyalty, red fox Labs have a truly eye-catching coat color. These dogs easily stand out! If you are looking for a forever best friend with a bit of a quirk, look no further than the red fox Lab. Guaranteed, you will find joy in the company of this lovely pooch. My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. Labrador Retrievers eventually made their way to Great Britain, where breeders focused more on improving their temperaments and conformation. But in Canada and the United States, Labs continued to be a top choice of hunters to retrieve ducks , geese, and other hunted waterfowl. Some even believe that these rare red dogs may have been culled, or killed, in order to keep them out of breeding lines. Labrador Retrievers have been a popular choice of dog for over one hundred years now. Although some hunters still use Labs for their retrieval skills, most Labradors are companions, family dogs, or other types of working dogs. Fortunately, this shift in their use has allowed Labs with other coat colors to become more common. Unfortunately, some of these coat colors remain cloaked in controversy. The Controversial Red Fox Labrador Labrador Retrievers come in a variety of colors, some of which are more officially accepted than others. This very clearly leaves out the Silver Labrador and the White Labrador, both of which do exist and can be highly sought after. Both silver labs and white labs are very controversial amongst Labrador Retriever purists, the major breed registries, and judges at dog shows. There are even some who refuse to acknowledge the Fox Red Labrador as a purebred Lab. These naysayers argue that the Fox Red Labrador is actually the result of breeding a Lab with another breed, namely a Vizsla or a Rhodesian Ridgeback. However, this has been proven false over and over again. If you plan on showing your Yellow Labrador Retriever in any discipline, then you may prefer to find a Labrador with a more traditional, lighter shade of yellow, rather than a dark yellow or the darker shade of the fox red color. They are large dogs , who usually end up weighing anywhere from 55 to 80 pounds, and standing around 24 inches in height. Female Labradors are typically smaller than male Labradors, though not by much. As previously mentioned, the most common colors for Labradors are black, chocolate, and yellow, though red, silver, and white are also popular. Purebred Labrador Retrievers are almost always one solid color, with no white markings. Though Red Fox Labradors are sometimes confused with dogs of the Vizsla breed, Labradors usually have shorter ears and stockier bodies than the popular Hungarian dog. Most Fox Red Labs are eager to please their human companions. They are very loyal, and enjoy being with their humans whether the activity is playing or cuddling. Properly socialized Labs are usually very gentle with cats and other small animals, too. Along with Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers are some of the most commonly used working dogs. They are often trained for police work, or as service dogs or therapy dogs. The prominence of Labradors as working dogs has to do with the fact they are a highly intelligent breed. Fox Red Labradors are no different. Your Fox Red Labrador will likely be very easy to train thanks to its cleverness and overwhelming eagerness to please. Keep in mind, this intelligence can mean trouble, though. Their playful personalities and gentle natures make them excellent family dogs. However, Labs are strong dogs , which is important to remember if they will be spending a lot of time with people who are very young or very old. It is also extremely important that all parents teach their children how to respect dogs. Even the gentlest dog can nip or bite when it is startled awake, has its food taken away, or is hurt by a child pulling on its ears or tail. Fox Red Labradors have the same expected lifespan of any other Labrador Retriever. On average, Labs live years. Healthy Labs who are loved and sufficiently exercised are very capable of living to age 12 and beyond. Trauma, neglect, and genetic health issues are common reasons for a Labrador Retriever to live fewer than 10 years. Dogs who are well taken care of live long and happy lives. They also make happier companions! Two weeks after its final jabs, your Lab puppy will be able to touch the ground outside without the risk of catching parvo and other potentially dangerous viruses. During this time, you can also begin socializing your new puppy. Carefully introduce your Fox Red Lab puppy to as many people and animals as you possibly can. Puppies who are well socialized become friendlier, less nervous, and sometimes less aggressive dogs. This means it will shed much more than usual during the colder months. During this time, it might be a good idea to make a couple of appointments with a professional groomer. Exercise Labrador Retrievers are extremely athletic dogs. You will often see them working as hunting dogs and gun dogs, or competing in all sorts of agility tests. Usually, their ways are much more destructive to household objects, but can result in injury to your dog, too. You will want to take your Labrador Retriever for at least one long walk or run each day. Walking will allow your dog to work its muscles, while sniffing will allow your dog to work its brain. Other great ways to allow your Lab to exercise include hiking, swimming in a lake or backyard pool, or spending the day at doggy daycare. For brain exercise, search Amazon for things like treat puzzles, slow feeders, and other clever dog toys. Thus, your Lab will always be in the mood for a snack! Insist on feeding your Fox Red Lab at regular feeding times, and a daily total of about three cups of dry dog food. If you are buying your dog from a breeder, it is very important to purchase from a reputable breeder, as nearly all of the most common health issues for Labs are present in their gene pool. This is when the bone becomes malformed at the joint. At first, it will cause a little pain and an occasional limp. However, it eventually progresses into very painful arthritis. Progressive Retinal Atrophy is another malady that tends to affect Labradors. This terrible disease eventually leads to blindness, so it may be a good idea to have your Lab periodically examined by a canine ophthalmologist. This scary health problem results in the loss of muscular control following extreme exercise. Any Labrador Retriever that is being used for breeding should be tested for these three common health problems in Labs. If you have done your research and decided that a Fox Red Labrador is the right fit for your household, then you are probably wondering how much a Fox Red Lab would cost. Because those with a fox-like red coat are much rarer than, say, those with a solid black coat, you should expect to pay quite a bit more — even though many Labrador fans argue that reputable breeders should not ask more money for rarer coat colors. Speaking of, it is very important to purchase your Fox Red Lab puppy from a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders prioritize the health of their breeding dogs, their puppies, and the overall well-being of the breed. They also contribute less to the population of unwanted pets. If you are thinking of welcoming a Fox Red Lab into your home, then you are very likely to get a large and hardy dog that is incredibly loyal and gentle to all. Unfortunately, Jessup developed serious allergies to many different types of dog foods and ingredients when she was just a puppy. Meanwhile, Brody could eat seemingly anything and carry on as healthy as could be. Sarah spent hours of time researching and testing different foods and brands before finding something that worked for little Jessup. She wants Dog Food Care to simplify this experience for future dog-parents who face food allergy or tolerance issues of their own. Dog Food Care will never accept payments, bonuses, or gifts in exchange for a positive review. All Rights Reserved.

The small size of our program allows our Labradoodles and Sheepadoodles to be a part of our everyday home life and not be kept in kennels. It also provides an opportunity for puppies to socialize, be nurtured, and be loved. Our puppies are socialized with people, children, and other pets. Our diligent work with young puppies contributes to an easy transition into their forever homes. At Texas Australian Labradoodles, we keep the Labradoodle and Sheepadoodle puppy adoption experience as pleasant and comfortable for you as possible. When you adopt our puppy, you become a member of our program and a part of our Labradoodle and Sheepadoodle forever family. We want to share your joy. We love pictures! We place great importance on your satisfaction with your new Labradoodle and Sheepadoodle puppy. Guided by our experience, careful assessment of each puppy, and objective aptitude evaluations we can select the best puppy for your specific needs and lifestyle. At Texas Australian Multigenerational Labradoodles, we produce 4th generation Australian Labradoodles or later generations we do not have any of the early generation Labradoodles as their temperament, coat, and comfortation can be very unpredictable. Our Doodles are selectively bred for many generations to produce allergy-friendly, intelligent, easy to train puppies with gentle temperaments and exceptional beauty. Their coat is non-shedding and odor-free and works well with allergy sufferers. Our labradoodles are loved and well-socialized, which makes them perfect dogs for families with young children and homes that have other pets. Our Doodles are also perfect candidates for service, therapy, and companion dogs due to their intelligence as well as gentle and affectionate disposition. Our Australian Sheepadoodles are carefully bred by pairing our fabulous Old English Sheepdogs and extraordinary Multigenerational Australian Labradoodles. We are the only breeders that have paired these incredible breeds to create astonishing puppies who consistently deliver allergy-friendly silky coats, calm temperaments, and overall great confirmation. Our Doodles are loved and well-socialized which makes them perfect dogs for families with young children, first time pet owners, and families with other pets. However, our small size ensures that we are able to pay close attention to each of our Doodle puppies to ensure that they get the stimulation and the attention to reach their developmental milestones. Simply put, there are no puppies left behind at Texas Australian Labradoodles and Australian Sheepadoodles. The public is slowly recognizing the value of smaller programs that do not mill their puppies and a handful of Australian Labradoodle Breeders in the US are following our footsteps and cutting the number of adult doodles in their program so that they do not have to be housed in kennels. Although all puppies are beautiful and can enrich the life of any family through their unique personality, we love the Australian Labradoodle and Australian Sheepadoodle puppies! We want to help and give your family a lifetime of sweet memories to warm your heart. If you are looking for kid-friendly, loyal, and easy to train pets or therapy dogs, please check out our therapy dogs for sale and our affordable puppies for sale! Phantom Parchment These dogs are also found with different coat textures. In some cases, a Labradoodle may have a combination of these types. There are hair-coated labradoodles, fleece-coated labradoodles, and wool-coated labradoodles. On top of all that, there are also different Labradoodle sizes. There are standard-sized, medium-sized, and miniature-sized Labradoodles. A standard-sized male Labradoodle will have a height of between 22 and 24 inches. A female of the same size type will usually be between 21 and 23 inches in height. Both males and females tend to weigh between 50 and 65 pounds. Both male and female medium-sized Labradoodles weigh between 30 and 45 pounds. Be aware that no matter what size Labradoodle you have, there may be quite a bit of variation. Additionally, Labradoodle breeders and owners notice how much difference there can be in Labradoodle faces. In some cases, the faces of two Labradoodles can be strikingly different, even if they are different breeds. With all these realities, it would be impossible for the AKC to accept and treat the Labradoodle as a purebred dog. For one thing, what standards would they use for judging the dog and evaluating its quality? There are many different kinds of Labradoodle, and their value and quality depend on how they suit and please their human companions. What are Purebred Dogs? A mixed breed Labradoodle sits on a couch next to a purebred Pomeranian. There are onerous requirements that must be satisfied in order for a dog to be considered purebred and registered with the AKC. Its father also known as the sire and mother also known as the dam must both be recognized as purebred dogs by the AKC. They must also be the same breed. So, for example, a purebred Poodle must have a purebred mother dam and father sire. To be registered with the AKC, the father and mother will also need confirmed family trees also known as pedigrees. This must be documented in detail, with nothing missing. Purebred dogs are valued for how they offer predictable characteristics. For example, the purchaser of a purebred dog can be assured that the dog will have specific physical attributes and the breed-appropriate temperament. The American Kennel Club is essential for maintaining purebred dog breed lines. Owners of purebred dogs will also find the Find a Groomer section useful. This organization has branches all over the country, and these focus on a variety of different things. There are training clubs, performance clubs, national clubs for each breed, confirmation clubs, agility clubs, and obedience clubs. In fact, this program is open to every mixed-breed dog. There are numerous advantages to taking part in this program. There are obedience and agility events, as well as the AKC Rally. Your Labradoodle will have to be neutered or spayed when it becomes an adult if you want to register it in the AKC Canine Partners Program. There are surprisingly large numbers of mixed-breed dogs, including Labradoodles, waiting to be rehomed in shelters. We should limit breeding as much as possible in most circumstances. A spayed or neutered purebred dog can still be registered, though. A proud French Bulldog Mom watches over her puppies! Should You Buy a Labradoodle? After all, puppies in this designer breed can be expensive. If you have your heart set on a purebred dog with completely predictable characteristics that you can register with the AKC, get that kind of dog. Do your research and find the breed that best suits you. If, however, you want a loving family dog that is wildly popular for a reason, the Labradoodle may be the perfect pooch for you. My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. Contact Welcome to Texas Doodles Our goal at Texas Doodles is to create healthy, intelligent, and hypoallergenic companion dogs. We are a responsible breeder with a well planned breeding program. Our puppies are raised with the puppy culture method, which places emphasis on early neurological stimulation. Our adults are often placed in Guardian Homes at an early age. We want to ensure their happiness and best start in life by placing them in a home environment that will forever be their home. To learn more and become part of our Guardian Home program, click in the box below. Available Puppies for Guardian Home Why Choose a Doodle Hybrid The Doodle breed is genetically superior due to the purposeful breeding of two unrelated breeds of the same species. Their offspring experience what is known as hybrid vigor, whereby they receive all of the parents' good traits and few of the bad. This is why we genetic test to rule out common genes for genetic defects. Whether you're a first time dog owner an experienced dog handler, or seeking pet therapy needs, Doodles are a good choice because they have an eagerness to please with an affectionate personality. They make great companions with families with children. Our Breeds What to Expect Puppies will go to their forever homes after 8 weeks of age potty trained to a doggy door, fully Vet checked and up-to-date with age appropriate vaccinations and de-wormer. Puppies are implanted with a nano microchip and registered through AKC Reunite.

Check out our French Bulldog Puppies What is included in our prices? We provide nanny service to all major US airports for an extra fee. Shipping to other countries is also possible, contact us for more info! PayPal and Stripe have payment insurance which means that they keep your money pending until you get the puppy. We get your money just after you have confirmed that your puppy has arrived in your arms safe and sound! Shots up-to-date worth USD Our pups receive all the necessary shots while they are with us: 1. Deworming worth 50 USD Our puppies are dewormed every two weeks from the age of 4 weeks old and they also get Simparica Trio against ticks, fleas and heartworms right before they leave. Anti-parasite treatment worth USD We give our puppies anti-parasite treatment against all parasites before they leave except for heart worms. Echocardiogram heart examination, worth 1, USD We do echocardiogram on our Frenchies and when we find the slightest chance of heart murmur in one of them, we rather cancel the adoption and find a loving home for them locally. Valer, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies Membership and right to post in the TomKings Frenchie Family closed Facebook group We created a Facebook group for our adopters where we answer their questions and they share their experiences with each other. We are a Family because we are connected by the love towards Frenchies and we are always there to help and support each other, as well as share valuable experiences and advice! Only TomKings Frenchie parents are allowed to post and ask from us or any other member in the group. Participation in TomKings Frenchie Meetups We organize Frenchie Meetups in major cities throughout the States where you can talk with other TomKings Frenchie owners and exchange advice while your Frenchies are playing with each other. Frenchie Love eBook worth .Lifetime Health Guarantee We give you a lifetime health guarantee on all genetic disorders which cause death, which means that we send you another puppy if your Frenchie dies. We have never had that so far since the parent dogs go through a rigorous selection process before the breeding program and our vet checks the puppies often. We know that Frenchie owners have a bunch of questions about feeding, raising, training, etc. Our goal is to have only happy and healthy puppies so we will always be there to answer your questions! Lifetime vet assistance Frenchie owners have a lot of questions about the health of their puppies and most of the time they run to their vet right away and leave a fortune there for nothing. We even tell you whether you need to visit your vet at all! Health certification TomKings Frenchies are examined strictly before they leave for their new homes and we give you a health certificate which can be used if you want to have insurance for your puppy which we highly recommend. Exceptional care We treat every puppy as a family member from the moment they are born. We believe that the secret of having socialized and healthy Frenchie puppies is spending time with them all day long and letting them run and play in the backyard. Potty training It is crucial how puppies are trained at the beginning of their lives. At TomKings Puppies we are focusing not only on their health but their proper training as well. We start potty training for them so that you have a much easier job! Ultimate Guide. Life Span Did You Know? While the name of this breed is the French Bulldog, their origins cannot be credited to only France. One of the facts about French Bulldogs is that the idea and reason for the creation of the breed originated in England. This adorable dog breed, which has always been meant to be a companion, started as a miniature version of the English Bulldog. This mini-version accompanied lace workers across the English Channel and into France during the Industrial Revolution. Once the dog breed became prominent in France, the subsequent successful crossbreeding of the English Bulldog, Pug, and Terrier led to the creation of the modern-day Frenchie. The French Bulldog we know today originally came to the United States with groups of wealthy Americans who came across them and fell in love while touring Europe in the late s. The French Bulldog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in and is a member of the non-sporting group. The French Bulldog is an easygoing, affectionate, and playful dog that loves their family and gets along well with children. They also love to make new friends, which means they get along well with other dogs, animals, and people. Intelligent and affectionate, this small dog breed certainly wins over hearts and earns its status as a popular companion dog. Frenchies are not known to bark much, unless you train them into it, but they are naturally alert and make excellent watchdogs. As long as they are well-socialized and trained, they tend to have an open and friendly nature. The Frenchie is a highly adaptable dog that pretty much adapts to any living situation that includes plenty of love and attention. Being a short-snouted, snub-nosed dog breed, they do not tolerate heat very well and are also sensitive to cold. This tends to make them one of the dog breeds that hate winter and you will want to make sure to bundle them up to stay warm while out on cold winter walks. Because Frenchies bond closely with their families and thrive on attention from them, they do not tolerate long periods of time alone. They can also be prone to developing separation anxiety if they are poorly socialized or you do not work with them on this when they are young. Potential health concerns to be aware of in French Bulldogs can include cataracts, cherry eye, and entropion. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances. Heart and joint certifications are recommended for this breed. Playful and happy, the French Bulldog is a great fit for a novice dog owner. They are sweet-tempered, eager to please, and eager to train. Occasionally, Frenchies can be stubborn and they do tend to have big personalities. Although this can sometimes be a challenge for first-time dog owners, it can usually be overcome with consistent and patient training. Puppy training classes are always an option and offer plenty of benefits aside from training. Standard coat colors for Frenchies are Brindle, Cream, Fawn, and combinations of these. They have a short coat that will shed a little year-round. Nail trims once or twice a month keep nails from growing too long and causing issues. Weekly ear checks, along with careful cleanings as needed, can help prevent ear infections. As a small dog breed, the Frenchie is more prone to developing gum disease. Daily dental care plus cleanings at the vet as needed can help prevent this and other painful dental diseases later in life. You will also need to take care of the wrinkles. Frenchies have hereditary face wrinkles and it is important to keep them clean and dry to prevent skin irritation or possible infection. The French Bulldog is an easygoing companion breed. They can be one of the laziest dog breeds that are couch potatoes. Frenchies will often be energetic when they play and will try to match their activity to yours. So, if you live a more active lifestyle, you need to be careful that your French Bulldog is not overexerting themselves trying to keep up with you. As a Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dog, they cannot cool themselves as easily and are extra sensitive to heat. They can also get winded easily, so be aware of this when playing with your dog or puppy and watch for signs of overexertion. There are safe ways to exercise flat-faced dogs and you can work with your vet on specifics for your Frenchie if needed. French Bulldogs usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Frenchies generally live for years on average. With this dog breed being so popular, there are plenty of celebrities who have chosen the French Bulldog as their companion, which also means there are plenty of famous Frenchies out there. Also, French Bulldogs cannot swim, at least without a life vest. They can be taught to swim while wearing one, but they should never be left unattended around bodies of water or swimming pools and require constant supervision while in the water. Featured French Bulldog Article.

Country Life June 21, This picture could only be improved if the puppies were using their paws to cover ears, eyes and mouth respectively.But, well, you can't have everything. Credit: Alamy If you're after a labrador — aka 'the world's favourite dog' — you'll need to take some expert advice. It is one of the most versatile breeds, capable of working in search and rescue, as a guide dog, in medical detection, as a sniffer or assistance dog and in the theatre of war. Labrador tips from the experts Go to a specialist breeder, so that you can see the different generations of a breeding line. Make temperament, not sex, your overriding factor when choosing. As soon as your puppy wakes up, take it outside. When introducing the labrador to a lead, walk it with an older dog. A yellow Labrador puppy. Possible labrador problems to look out for Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic disease, causing the abnormal development of the hip socket, resulting in pain and lameness. Listen for a popping sound when the dog walks, and look for reluctance to use stairs, as well as sensitivity when you touch the hindquarters. Labradors can also be prone to retinal dysplasia, an inherited condition that affects labradors used for field work, and results in their developing blind spots. Generally, the dog can work around this by changing head position. Reputable breeders will be able to show certification that the dog has no eye conditions, which you should ask to see when buying a dog. Head and skull: Skull broad with defined stop; clean-cut without fleshy cheeks. Jaws of medium length, powerful not snippy. Nose wide, nostrils well developed. Eyes: Medium size, expressing intelligence; brown or hazel. Ears: Not large or heavy, hanging close to head and set rather far back. Mouth: Jaws and teeth strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. Coat: Distinctive feature, short dense without wave or feathering, giving fairly hard feel to the touch; weather-resistant undercoat. No need to scroll down: we can confirm that the Golden Retriever is indeed on the list below. Credit: Alamy Which is the more popular spaniel, the springer or the cocker? Shooting Times's David Tomlinson weighs up the pros and Close up of dog. Credit: Getty Images With a silken coat, affectionate nature and boundless enthusiasm for life, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel lives up to its Credit: Getty As the dog world prepares for Crufts , we take a look at the breed of dog which has been A sprocker spaniel Picture: Alamy Whether you own labradors, springers, cockers or a mix of all three, debate over which gundog is best has raged Related. Your breeder should be concerned with breeding healthy dogs, rather than focused primarily on selling them. Visit a potential breeder and observe his interactions with his dogs; they should be friendly and relaxed. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source Look for breeders who are registered with national organizations such as the American Kennel Club [3] X Research source or with breed-specific organizations such as the National Labrador Retriever Club. Ask the breeder why these two particular dogs were bred. If they have had other litters, ask for references from people who bought those puppies. If you want a gun dog, don't choose a breeder who primarily raises cuddly pets or award-winning show dogs. These breeders will be able to assess puppies more accurately for the qualities you're seeking. Look for quantifiable measures. For example, select breeders with litters from parents who have hunt test or field trial scores if you want a puppy who will grow into a good hunting dog. These are organizations that work to find homes for Labradors who need a good home. While these organizations often have many adult and even senior dogs who need homes, they also place puppies. Charities or non-profits may offer Labrador puppies for auction as a means of raising funds. Because these auctions are often conducted without appropriate legal oversight and because they encourage rash decisions about pet ownership, they are opposed by groups such as the National Labrador Retriever Club. I am new to this forum so should introduce myself. As you can imagine its left an uneasy quietness to the house so we are looking for her successor In our home its my wife, myself and our 8 yr old daughter and 6 yr old son. He says he breeds only for good disposition only as any good breeder should and our quick meeting with parents it looked to be accurate. The dad was in a large outdoor kennel and looked to be very friendly. She did a quick snarl when we first got near which I have to give a pass as i'm sure she's just being protective, right? After the breeder told her its OK she calmed right down. Anyways, there are 4 females that we get first pick of when we go back. Of course training and exercise play a huge role in this so that we'll have covered. Does it still hold true that when you are looking at the liter to see which ones come to you and let you hold them on their back and settle after a short period to determine good nature rather than overly squirmy? Such a big decision i just wanted to make sure we do this right. We were so spoiled with our last pup its hard to compare! Selecting Your Labrador Retriever Puppy Selecting your puppy Try to restrain your emotions when you are selecting our pup. Remember that the breeder has been with the pup from day 1 to selection day at 5 weeks. At Pawlinglabs, we will ask you to forward a list of the characteristics that your are hoping for, prior to selection. When you come to select, we will ask you to observe the litter before entering and handling the pups. Labrador pups are very cute and cuddly, but when it comes time to select the right one for you there is plenty to consider. Carefully observe Labrador Retriever puppies before buying them, ensuring that the pup you select looks healthy and is to breed standard. There are some basic points to note about Labrador Retriever standards. The coat of a Labrador is their most distinctive feature. Labs have two coats, the water resistant undercoat which is unseen, and the top coat which is dense, straight and short. There is might be a slight wave in their coat, however the coat should feel rough to the touch. Labrador puppies come in three different coat colors: yellow light cream to red fox , chocolate liver and black. There must not be any other colours in the coat. Labs have a broad skull and a well defined stop. Their head is quite large but the features on the head, such as the ears, look proportioned. The ears of a Labrador should be set far back from the face. The inside skin of the ears should be a pale pink and soft without any scabs or discoloration. There shouldn't be any odour coming from them. The eyes of a Lab pup are round, either deep brown or hazel with black rims. The eyes should be friendly and express intelligence. The Labrador Retriever has a wide black and well developed nose with distinguished nostrils. The nose should be clean and without discharge. Be aware that a wet nose is not an indication that the Lab is healthy, nor does a dry nose indicate he is unwell. The teeth should be set square to the jaws with the top teeth slightly overlapping the bottom. Labrador puppies have fewer teeth than adults and they will lose their baby teeth as their adult teeth grow in. Labs have a well developed and strong chest. It has good depth and width. Their barreled ribs are well sprung and their back is level. Their loins are wide and strong. The skin of a Lab should be without scabs or bumps. It is normal for Labrador puppies to have extra skin at the back of their neck; this is how their mother picks them up. The skin color of a lab is usually pale pink but it can also be brown or even spotted. The tail of a Labrador is thick at the base and tapers towards the tip. The tail is a moderate length and has no feathering. It is as smooth like the rest of the coat with a rounded appearance. The tails is even with the back or slightly upwards. It should never be carried over the back or hang down. Labrador have long and sloping shoulders that connect to the strong front legs. The hind legs are developed well and have a turned stifle. Both the front and hind legs should be straight. The feet of Labrador pups are compact and perfectly round. Their toes are arched and pads well developed. Feet should be straight, not turned inwards or outwards. The gait of a Labrador should be carefree. Labs take long strides and walk straight. Observe your puppies as he walk. Make sure it is not favoring any leg or paw. This can be a sign of a current or future health issue. Pawling Chocolate and Black Labradors. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. That sweet ball of fluff who will be your walking buddy, later snuggling up on the couch together. After all, your pup will probably be with you for a dozen years or more. So he has to be a great fit. It should never be a hasty decision. But it should also be FUN! That brings us to the question: how to choose the perfect puppy? Read on! You picture fun romps in the field, playing frisbee, and showing little Max off to all of your friends. But before getting a puppy, there are so many practical things to review in deciding whether to even get a puppy. My first dog as an adult was a shih tzu named Cuddles. My husband and I had discussed getting a dog for a while. We both worked and knew that the pup would take up a lot of time. Not to mention the expenses associated with a dog. But I saw the little gold and white week-old ball of fluff and was smitten. Luckily, I had a family member who could take her out to potty and exercise her during the day. In choosing your new pup, the following considerations are important. Are You Active or a Couch Potato? Can You Afford a Puppy? A puppy is more than the initial purchase. That can be a drop in the bucket compared with the lifetime costs of owning a dog. There are bills for: food and treats; chews; vets; crates ; beds; collars, harnesses, and leashes; training classes; dog walkers; dog daycare; pet insurance; enzymatic cleaners ; grooming—and more. These can really add up. You may decide not to get pet health insurance and not need pet walkers or doggie daycare, but expenses can really add up over the years. Do You Have Children? Children and pets can be a great match. You want to make sure that you choose the right canine. A toy breed may not be the right choice for a toddler. A tiny dog may inadvertently be injured by such a young child. We raised puppies for years before we had kids so we had a good idea of expectations for our puppy. If you have very young kids a rambunctious Lab may not be the right choice. Do You Have Other Pets? You need to take into consideration any other pets you have. If you have a senior dog, for example, a young puppy may not be a great choice. Are you gone too many hours to take care of a puppy? A friend of mine who works hour days decided not to get a puppy. The pup would have been alone too long. A puppy needs attention and potty breaks. Of course we need to work. You may be able to have someone come in and exercise, feed, and potty the pup. And give him attention during the day. As I discussed, you may need help with the new puppy. If you have reliable relatives or friends who can regularly help out, it can make getting a puppy much more realistic. Or you can hire pet sitters or walkers to help out. If you live in small quarters, a large, rambunctious breed may not be best. As young puppies, goldens can be wild, even inside. Of course, with a sufficient amount of mental stimulation and physical exercise, you can make it work. After Dalmations came out, everyone wanted one. Dalmations are high-drive, independent dogs. I was called to work with a family who got a Dalmation puppy that was wrecking their house. The minute walk the pup was getting was just a warm-up for the dog. We set up an exercise and training program for the puppy and the family was able to keep him. Do your research. The American Kennel Club lists purebred dogs and their needs and health profiles. Before choosing a certain breed, consider the following. Large or Small? You should have an idea what size dog you want. Conversely, if you want a frisbee or jogging partner, a chihuahua would be a bad choice. Why Do You Want a Dog? This may seem like a silly question. Most people want a dog for companionship. But you may have additional things in mind. You may want a jogging partner. Or a dog to do therapy work with. Or to show in obedience. Grooming Needs Would you love spending time every day brushing and combing a dog? Exercise Needs As you know, some breeds need a lot of exercise. We also do obedience training and she plays with puzzle toys. Lifespan Of course we want our pups to live forever. But some breeds generally live longer than others. Generally, larger—especially giant breeds—have shorter lives than their smaller counterparts. Friendliness or Independence Of course within any breed and litter you can have a wide array of personalities. But there are certain breed characteristics that can help guide your choice of which breed you want. I have dogs at both ends of the spectrum. My golden retriever Riley loves everyone and would do great in any setting. But my Lhasa apso Ralphie—true to breed—is more discriminating when making friends. So Riley would be great with well-behaved children and would love to be hugged by them. Health Problems Any dog can have unforeseeable health problems. But some breeds are likely to have more health problems than others. For example, bulldogs, pekingese, and pugs are among the breeds that are more likely to have breathing problems and overheat. Breed Types Of course there are many breeds and mixes to choose from. If you get your dog from a breeder, consider what lines your puppy comes from. If from working lines, the dog will likely be more intense than if from show lines. All of the below classes of dogs can make great companions in the right setting. Herding dogs were bred to herd, of course. Popular examples are border collies, Australian shepherds, and Shetland sheepdogs. Generally, they require more exercise than some breeds like toy breeds. And they may become destructive if left to their own devices. Also, some bark excessively and may not be good in an apartment setting. Sporting dogs were bred to hunt. They have a lot of energy and need regular, invigorating exercise. Popular examples are golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, and cocker spaniels. Just like other working-type dogs, hounds have almost limitless energy. So attention to you may be an issue. Also, some bay when excited. Popular examples are beagles, dachshunds, and greyhounds. Dogs from the working group are alert, intelligent, strong, and bred to work with people to perform various tasks. Some were bred to guard property, to pull sleds, or to perform water rescue. Some popular examples are Doberman pinschers, huskies, and rottweilers. They require not only exercise and precise training so that their natural instincts are kept in check. Terriers are feisty and energetic and vary greatly in size. They were bred to hunt and kill vermin, So a squirrel they see on their walk will be very alluring to them—and, without training, they may almost pull you off your feet trying to get to it. Some popular examples are Parson Russell terriers, Staffordshire terriers, or West Highland whirte terriers. Pit bulls which is a generic name for many types of terriers are also in this group. Toy breeds were generally bred as amiable companions. They may make great lap dogs and have big personalities despite their small stature. Shih tzus, Maltese, Yorkshire terriers, and chihuahuas are some very popular examples. Nonsporting group dogs are a catch-all group with various sizes and personalities. Some popular examples are bulldogs, French bulldogs, bichon frise. There are so many options. You may want a certain breed. So a breeder or rescue of that breed should meet your needs. Just make sure that the breeder is a good one. Good breeders do so to improve their breed. Bad ones care only about making money. They do any necessary health certifications. They put a lot of time into their litters socializing them to new experiences and people. Good breeders are invested in their litters and will help you choose the right puppy for you. They stand behind their dogs for life and will readily answer your questions and take the dog back if you need to give him up. You can get referrals to such breeders through breed clubs, dog clubs, and resources such as the American Kennel Club. A reputable, good breeder also will have questions for you regarding your family, work, home, activity level, and reason why you want a dog or their breed. The pups will also have been checked by a veterinarian and been given the appropriate vaccinations for their age. There are also breed rescues that rehome dogs of their chosen breed. However, they rarely have puppies. Shelters and rescue groups can also be great places to get a puppy. Many use foster homes, where a puppy or litter of puppies are located. Foster parents get to know the puppies and can help determine whether any particular puppy is a good fit for you. Many rescue groups try to place a puppy in the best home possible. When I adopted my Aussie mix puppy Mille, the rescue group would adopt her out only to people who had experience with herding breeds. Many shelters are first come-first served. In order to place as many dogs as possible, they will adopt out a puppy to the first person who wants him—barring any obvious reason not to. How to Choose a Puppy from a Litter There are many tests that can be given to determine whether a puppy is a good fit. This assumes you have a litter to choose from. There is a range of temperaments and personalities in each litter, No puppy may perfectly meet every test below. But look at the big picture. So, in addition to your own observations, you can bring a friend along to have another opinion about the litter. Or you could hire a trainer to help you choose. Overall, as a companion, a middle-of-the-road dog usually works out best. Also, a reputable breeder or good rescue group or shelter who knows the puppy can help guide you in making your decision. See the Mother and Littermates If you can, watch the puppy and his littermates and mother interact. The puppy you choose should be able to take a proper correction and back off then re-engage. The breeder should have the mother available. Check Out the Puppy The puppy should look healthy and alert, not lethargic. Inspect his coat and skin. He should be well-fed with a little fat around his rib cage. The pup should run and walk normally, without a limp. A puppy should engage with people and be curious, not slink away or cower. A scared puppy will probably be more difficult to socialize and train. Will he follow you if you walk away? Clap your hands and make a kiss sound. Will he come towards you or run for the hills? Hold Puppy on His Back Hold him on his back for about 30 seconds. Ideally, he should briefly struggle and relax. When I had two sheltie puppies to choose from and one fought constantly when held and the other struggled briefly, then settled, I chose the latter. I had already gotten another dog from this great breeder. I wanted a dog who was a companion but who I also wanted to show in competitive obedience. My choice turned out to be the right one. Duffy was a great dog to live with and became a nationally-ranked obedience dog. He also did agility for fun and was a therapy dog who visited a hospital on a weekly basis. Hold the puppy and touch and gently open his mouth. Look in and gently rub his ears. .Gently touch each paw, even putting slight pressure on them. The puppy should be comfortable with these activities. He may slightly struggle. But a puppy who really fights against such touching, even to the point of mouthing or growling may turn out to be difficult to groom, handle, and pet. Pet the dog calmly from head to toe. He should enjoy it and relax. Pick the Puppies Up If you hold each puppy around the middle, ideally he would be relaxed and not struggle. Also, cradle the puppy up against you. Ideally, he should relax and like the attention. He may startle at first but should rebound and even go and check out what made the noise. Social Dominance Fall to the ground at least a few feet away from the puppy. He should want to come over and see what happened. Even if you like the look of a certain puppy, he may not be the right puppy for you. Consider the above factors as well as the following when choosing a puppy. The dogs live in rabbit-type hutches or dark barns. They receive no proper socialization, vet care, or human contact. There are also small back-yard breeders which, essentially, are puppy mills on a smaller scale. The mothers are bred at each heat and have horrible lives. Dogs sold in pet shops and through the internet usually come from them. Of course, do your own research because no one will admit they are a puppy mill. But two puppies may bond too much with each other. And to train, socialize, and exercise each puppy requires a lot of time, energy, and money. The dogs in shows have been highly trained and specially selected for their jobs. Then pick a great breeder, rescue, or shelter. Final Thoughts Getting a new puppy is such an exciting time! Do you have a puppy? How did you decide to choose him? Please let us know in the comment section below. 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. I had wanted a female red lab, none were available. A trainer near me was getting a second dog from a renowned breeder in Ireland and she asked if he had a puppy for diabetic service dog work. Both her pup and my pup flew over from Ireland together. A pup with a desire to work, a willingness to please, and a calm demeaner. I received a cute ball of fluff, a male yellow lab pup with red ears and red highlights. A good breeder is able to match you with a dog that will meet your needs, give them all the information you can. I never met the breeder, but my pup arrived at 10 weeks old already already on his way to being well socialized, exposed to sounds, not nervous, liked the vacuum, fireworks are not a problem, loves the motorcycle sounds, handled all sorts of traffic noise at 3 months. We started his public training at 3 months old and he handled it like a champ. I had to buy a motorcycle with a sidecar as he always wanted to go out when the bikes were started up, so at 9 months he was in the sidecar with Rex Specs goggles. Did I mention he loves to travel and meet me people, when his tail wags which is all the time his whole body wags. Tweet on Twitter Buying your first dog can be a life changing decision. Choosing the right dog will help to ensure that your life changes in a good way. There are some wise precautions you might like to consider before viewing any litter of Labrador puppies. Or choosing which one to bring home with you. Buying a Puppy from a Friend It is often tempting to buy a puppy in an opportunistic moment of enthusiasm. Perhaps because you happen to hear of a friend who has a litter that will be ready to go to their new homes soon. Or a neighbour who has a gorgeous litter of puppies that you fall in love with when you pop over to admire. But the puppy that lives just around the corner, and the puppy that is going to bring you years of pleasure, may be two very different things. It is a really good idea to put your sensible hat on at times like these, and to approach the whole business of selecting your puppy in business-like way. The first decision to make is to choose what type of Labrador you wish to end up with. Which characteristics are most important to you, and will help him to fit into your family best. Choosing a Working or Show dog? Those bred for work, and those bred for the show ring. The working bred dog is generally very responsive and easy to train. But he may also fall short of what you expect in appearance. If you are hoping to get involved in gundog fieldwork, or agility at some point it is important to purchase a field or working bred labrador. Of course choosing a dog is so much more than just weighing up the pros and cons. There are now a number of hereditary diseases in labradors that can be tested for. Routine testing under these schemes is gradually growing in popularity for a number of conditions. These include hip dysplasia, elbow displasia, and a number of inherited eye diseases. However, there are still many puppies available for sale in the UK whose parents have not been tested, or that have been tested and fall below the necessary standard for breeding. Amazingly, in the UK, the Kennel Club will still register puppies from parents that have poor hip scores. Hopefully this will change in the future. You will need to read up on these to make sure you understand what you are looking for. Finding the right dog breeder Knowing where to look for a breeder is not easy. Labrador breeders come in all shapes and forms. At their best breeders are dedicated experts on their breed, who produce a few litters each year of top quality puppies for their own kennels show or field and sell any surplus to quality pet homes. At their worst, breeders are simply puppy farmers who churn out litter after litter with no thought to the health and welfare of either the puppies or their mother. Telling the difference is not always straightforward. In some cases these may be excellent puppies, in other cases they will not. The key to a good litter is a quality female dog with excellent health clearances, put to a compatible quality dog with equally excellent health clearances, and given quality care throughout pregnancy and beyond. The female dog must have a purpose beyond producing puppies, whether that is as show dog, working dog or highly treasured family pet. On the whole, this is more likely to be achieved by an experienced breeder. The Kennel Club in the UK run an accredited breeders scheme, and members agree to meet certain minimum standards. However, there are many excellent breeders who are not members of this scheme so do not dismiss a breeder on these grounds alone. The scheme is not perfect yet, and its standards are not necessarily enforced, as the KC prefers a voluntary approach. If you are inexperienced it is very important that you get some help in finding a breeder. Choosing one from a newspaper advert or from the internet when you know nothing of the source can be a risky decision. If you want to buy a pup from top working parents, then you may find the pups are all spoken for very quickly, long before they are eight weeks old. It can be disheartening to phone advert after advert only to find all the pups are gone. It pays to plan ahead. If you do some research, locate a really nice female dog, and book one of her pups before they are born, you may find the whole process a lot smoother. You may also be able to enjoy visiting and photographing the puppies whilst they are growing. Check the ancestry of the dog If you are buying a Labrador for gundog work, or agility, make sure the parents of the litter you want to view are from working stock, look for a few FTCH and FTW field trial champion and field trial winner in the pedigree. If you are hoping for success in the show ring, you should be looking for CH and SH CH title SH CH is show champion, CH is a show champion with a working certificate which is not a demanding or difficult test of working abilities. Viewing the puppies Some puppies will be raised in the home with the family. This can be ideal, as the pup will have been accustomed to people and the hustle and bustle of family life from the very beginning. Be aware though that not everyone who has a litter of puppies knows what they are doing. Look at how the pups are handled and how clean their quarters are. The pups should smell nice, and look bright and healthy. The litter may have been whelped and raised in kennels. This is also perfectly acceptable provide the breeder has accounted for this. An experienced breeder will have made sure that the pups have had plenty of human contact regardless of where they are living. Again look at the surroundings. A responsible breeder will run a clean and tidy kennels. Always see a puppy with its mother. If possible see the father too. The parents should be friendly and relaxed. The mother may not look her best seven or eight weeks after giving birth, but she should look healthy. Again, if you doubt your ability to make a judgement on a puppy or his parents, take an experienced person with you. Dog or female dog? Until fairly recently male dogs were more popular than female dogs. Fashions come and go, and at the moment, female dogs seem to be in favour. You will hear various claims as to the differences in temperament between them, but most of these contradict each other and it really is a matter of personal taste. The main disadvantage of a female dog is that she will come into season twice a year each year from the age of months until the end of her life. This can be inconvenient. Having your female dog spayed will prevent her coming into season, but the procedure is a major and expensive operation, and recent research has shown a few problems associated with spaying that you will want to consider before making your choice. Because female dogs are currently fashionable, you will probably pay more for a female dog, but as the price of a puppy is such a tiny fraction of what you will spend on her over her lifetime this is probably the least relevant factor. The appearance of a male dog may be more pleasing to some. Males tend to develop a squarer, more chunky head which some owners prefer. The average male will also grow a little taller and weigh a little more than a female. These differences are however fairly minor ones. If you are not sure whether you want a dog or female dog, keep an open mind. At least you will have a wider choice of puppies. Which puppy? If you have booked a puppy in advance from a reputable breeder, there may be little or no choice as to which puppy you have. It is not unusual to find that all puppies due in popular kennels have been booked before birth. If you are keen to buy a dog with plenty of red ink on the pedigree, you may need to do some research and book the pup as soon as the female dog has been mated. If you do get the chance to choose your puppy out of several in a litter, how should you go about it? Puppy Health Having made sure that the parents of the puppy you are viewing have good health clearances is a good start. You still need to make sure your puppy is healthy. A thorough check up by your own vet soon after you get him home will help put your mind at rest. But how can you be sure the puppy you are viewing is not sickly even before you bring him home? Some puppies may be more lethargic than others when you visit, but this may be a reflection of how hard they have been playing before you arrived, rather than how healthy they are. A good breeder will not try and sell an unhealthy puppy and if relevant, will point out any minor defects to you. Puppies are sometimes born with slightly misaligned jaws for example, which may not matter to someone who has no intention of breeding from the puppy or working him, but such a defect should not be concealed from the buyer. Umbilical hernias are not uncommon and can be troublesome. When you go to view a litter of pups it is really important to take someone with experience with you. This is especially important if the breeder is unknown to you and does not come recommended by anyone. Arrange to visit your vet within a day or two of bringing the pup home, and try not to form an attachment until he has been given a clean bill of health. If you have any doubts about the health of the puppy or the litter in general, ask for time to think. This dog will be with you for the next 12 years or more. You will become deeply attached to him or her and serious health problems can be cripplingly expensive to fix. Not to mention very distressing for you both. This needs to be the right decision for you and your family. Whilst health problems in puppies can be devastating the majority of puppies are robust and healthy and providing you take the precautions outlined above, you are unlikely to have any problems. More information on puppies Check out our Labrador Puppies section for more help and advice on choosing your new friend. Published in April , the Happy Puppy Handbook covers every aspect of life with a small puppy. It will help you prepare your home for the new arrival, and get your puppy off to a great start with potty training, socialization and early obedience. This article was first published on 21st November , and was updated to include new information in March .Readers Also Liked. No doubt, selection of the right pup to meet one's particular expectations is extremely important. Making a correct choice can improve the odds of producing an excellent retriever with the least amount of frustration and perhaps even avoid disappointment. The first and most important point to consider is that one must approach puppy acquisition as a genetic selection process rather than trying to utilize methods to select a promising prospect from a particular litter. Focus not so much on picking a pup, rather pick litters. The way to pick potentially successful liters is to pick a breeder who has proven brood stock and a credible reputation for producing healthy pups genetically predisposed to perform in a manner you desire. Carefully consider your expectations for your future gundog. What are the desirable traits? What will the dog's primary functions include? What breeds interest you and why? Once you decide on a breed and the desired traits are defined based upon your intended uses, then seek a reputable breeder who has experience producing pups which exemplify the traits that best suit your purposes. Genes determine the reaction of the dog to its environment, as well as, confirmation and soundness. Genes are the building blocks of heredity and are passed from parents to offspring in a predictable manner. The topic of genetics can quickly progress into a lengthy discussion unsuitable for this article but one can count on knowing this-like begets like. Total outcrosses, matings of unrelated genetics, may produce the occasionally exceptional offspring, but this is an unpredictable undertaking. The only way to gain predictability of traits is to seek an experienced breeder with proven bloodlines which produce successful progeny. This will usually involve some form of line breeding. The mating of similar genetic relationships line breeding is conducted to intensify qualities within the line and to improve upon the predictable traits within litters. Line breeding is successfully practiced in all forms of livestock. Line breeding itself produces nothing, good or bad, it merely intensifies what is genetically there in the bloodline. Most professional breeders use some form of line breeding as soon as they find a successful combination. In other words, outcrosses, random matings, despite the parents' apparent abilities and or titles, will not assure that the traits of the parents will be passed to the offspring. Only line breeding can offer this possibility. Consider, too, there is often as much difference between litter mates in ability, temperament, and tractability as one might find between separate litters within a breed. The chance factor remains, but the odds improve if the buyer: 1. Buys from established, reputable breeders who know their business. Buys pups from breeders who specialize in producing the type retriever they desire. Buys pups produced by excellent gundog parents who have produced proven progeny from previous matings. Select litters with strong mother lines. Dams should be trained hunting dogs and she should possess the qualities you desire in your dog, not just in the sire. Dams project more influence on the litter than the sire. Good bitches are seldom mated to poor dogs, yet the opposite frequently occurs. A poor bitch is unlikely to produce good pups despite the virtues of the sire. Look closely for desirable traits and strength in the trailing bottom line of the pedigree That is the dam, granddam, great granddam, etc. Excellent mothers are important. Don't pick litters based solely on the number of titles in the pedigree. These are impressive achievements to be sure, but they are not indicators of natural tractability, temperament, and gamefinding ability. Nor do titles indicate whether the traits may be passed successfully to the offspring. Evaluate parents of pups based upon gundog standards important to your needs and their demonstrated ability to produce good pups. Seek out sires, dams and grandparents that project strong genetic traits that can be passed through to their offspring. Research has indicated grandsires and granddams prove to have more genetic influence upon the litter than the sire and dam. Genetics can influence natural gifts, such as: calm temperament. Normally Lab puppies travel well, find more on this here. For many people it can be stressful not knowing how to pick or why you should pick any specific puppy. We will try to clear things up here so that you have a few criteria to select with. For the most part, the genetics of the purebred Lab puppies in the litter are set once the parents mate. When we choose to keep parents to breed we are choosing the best specimens and mating them with the hope that we are going to be creating even better puppies through the combination of their genes. Improving on weak areas with each litter is what professional breeding is all about. Now that you understand the genetic potential is set, you will work within your litter to try to narrow down the puppy who goes home with you. Keep in mind, that all of the puppies in the litter are of high quality. So, standing over the puppy box containing the puppies have a look without saying anything or doing anything. The puppies will either have different colored collars or different colored ribbons on them to identify them. Each different color corresponds to a unique microchip number implanted in that puppy. What are you looking for? Well, observe which puppies are the most active and the least active. Observe which puppy is bossy and more of a leader, and, which is more of a follower. Are there any outgoing puppies? Are there any shy ones? Please understand that puppies and all dogs for that matter will feed off of the energy of the animals and the humans around them. So, if you bring your children and they are full of energy, talking loudly, excited, etc… then the puppies will pick up on that and imitate their behavior to an extent. We love to see the kids! The vet bills, training, the poop cleaning, nail clipping, taking out to go pee at 6 am, trips to the vet, and so on are yours. All yours! So unless you feel your children have better skills to choose the puppy than you, try to leave them out of it. You want to use the criteria here to select the lab puppy that fits your family the closest. Ok, there are a couple of things I need to say first. On your pick up day and depending on how many puppies are in the litter, your puppies may be sleeping. The good news to this issue is that there will not be a bad puppy in the litter. As professional Labrador Retriever Breeders our primary goal is to create better Labrador Retriever puppies with each litter we produce. Depending on what the issue was with the puppy we would care for them or home them with a person who fully understood any issue present and was willing to care for them. Getting back to selecting your puppy. As you watch over the litter try to narrow it down to two puppies you are interested in and watch them. Look for any excitement, playfulness, shyness, active or lying around, or differences in color, size, or other physical attributes such as tail size, ear size, forehead and snout size, etc…. This means that these dogs are super smart, even tempered, loving and willing to please all because of the Labrador Retriever breed and the selections we make in our breeding program. Training is key to having a well behaved Purebred Lab Retriever puppy. On the day you pick up your puppy it will be normal for the puppies to be on the shy side. Though they have been socialized by 5 or 6 of us they get use to us. So the new sights, smells, sounds etc… that you bring will all be a brand new thing for them. At 8 weeks old they are unsure if these new stimuli are safe and they may be cautious coming to you. Again, all normal. On the other hand, a puppy who comes right up to you with no apprehension may be the one you want. Especially if you are a hunter and you need your dog to work to retrieve game. You should also know that if a puppy runs from its pack to see you it is not choosing you! It could be the more dominant or most curious puppy and it would approach anyone coming to see the litter not just you. Can we pick your lab puppy? Sure we can! The latest research we have read on the topic indicates that how a puppy behaves at 8 weeks old when with its litter has no bearing on the puppy it becomes after you train it properly. This means that for most people the training and socialization you provide is much more important than which puppy you choose. We always suggest picking the most easily trainable puppy and we will be happy to do this for you. For the best explanation on setting yourself up properly to lead your puppy to becoming a well behaved dog, please sign up for the www. A generous discount is available for our clients to help you understand how to use positive reinforcement to train your puppy. So we are happy to offer advice and can absolutely choose your puppy in the event you cannot make it, but doing so on your own would be the best scenario. Another method we frown on is the breeder evaluating a puppy with a tool to grade their personality and then comparing that to a marking tool that you complete to grade yourself. Remember when I said puppies respond differently to different people? Well they have basic emotions similar to that of a two year old. If you are not in the room, and I am evaluating the puppy remember my experience with puppies and your lack of , then how can a score sheet be used to match the two of you together effectively? You need to see the puppy behave with you. So you have it narrowed down to two puppies, compare similar personality traits and physical features as I mentioned earlier. Toss in the fact that they have medium energy and poof! Please understand what you see the puppies doing on pick up day are not how they are going to act for the rest of their lives. Puppies are not born with any knowledge of these things and rather need to be trained to understand your boundaries. For this reason we have focused on breeding smarter puppies generation after generation. At least you have some guidelines to use when you arrive. For example, the largest puppy is not necessarily going to be the biggest one when full grown. At 8 weeks old the biggest puppy has been the one who is the pushiest at the food bowl and eats the most at feedings. This is why 8 weeks is the best time for your Lab puppy to go to bond with their human family. As some puppies get larger in size they can push the other smaller puppies around so size then becomes another factor in the development of your puppy. Take your puppy home at 8 weeks old and you have provided them time with their litter to learn puppy to puppy manners weeks 4 to 8 and you have eliminated the possibility of them being bullied by the larger pups after week 8. The larger pups also will not learn to become overly dominant because there are not smaller ones around them to boss around. What about people who want the runt? The first group feel that because the runt is smaller they will listen better when truly listening is a skill learned through training. And the second group feel that a smaller puppy is sick and weak and will not thrive. Again this is not the case as smaller puppies simply do not have as strong of a food drive than their siblings. The larger issue surrounding the runt is this. Professional Lab Retriever Breeders breed for consistency. It is this consistency in our breeding program that ensures the first picked puppy is of the same high quality as the last picked. So before you arrive to choose your Purebred Lab Puppy, have a couple behavioral qualities in mind and a couple physical qualities. Observe quietly and try not to bring too many people with you so that the puppies only pick up your energy and not the energy of the group. This is the best way to truly observe how the puppy will react to you alone. Narrow it down to a couple and compare them together measuring them against your list of traits. If you make a choice to not train you have to be ready to deal with whatever your Lab decided to become. And one final note. Some people have heard to wipe a blanket where the puppy sleeps or on the mother because the scent will calm the puppy in your home. Think of it this way, if your puppy smells the mother or one of its littermates what does it do next? So a blanket with this scent on it will cue your puppy to look for someone who is likely not coming back. Imagine the frustration of a puppy newly separated from its litter being able to smell them but not find them. We suggest you do not do this to your puppy. Our suggestion to help settle the puppy only if you need to is to put a t shirt into the crate with the scent of the person who they bonded the most to. This is their new pack. Get them accustom to their new pack and the quicker they forget their old pack the easier it will be for them. Love them, set clear guidelines, and enjoy them for years to come. Chocolate Lab with pumpkin.