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German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Welcome to our German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Different breeds like all different babies develop at different rates. There are going to be many exciting events for you to look forward to. Whether you are bringing your 8 week German Shepherd puppy home or about to be blessed with a litter of puppies. This is going to be an exciting, demanding but hugely rewarding journey. Newborn puppies are born at around days after fertilization. Newborn puppies are born with their ears and eyes tightly sealed. The reason eyelids are sealed shut is to form a protective barrier for the fragile developing eye. This helps to protect them from any foreign object, bright lights, bacteria or any other microorganism that can cause disease or damage. In the same way puppies ear canals are closed at birth to make them effectively deaf. This is a protective barrier to protect the fragile underdeveloped machinery needed to hear. In a mature ear the pressure caused by sound will mechanically move structures in the ear. German Shepherd puppies are highly dependent upon their noses. Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born. This helps them to identify their mom, the very important milk supply, siblings and surroundings. Newborn puppies are born with a fur coat however they cannot control their own body temperature yet. To keep them warm they are dependant on their mothers or another heat source. If you live in a cooler climate installing a heat lamp would be ideal to help keep the puppies nice and warm. Germans Shepherds make amazing mothers and will be relied on a lot at this stage. Mother dogs will only leave their newborn puppies to go to the toilet, eat and drink. However, when mom has gone the newborn puppies are not completely useless. They are able to use their front paws to drag themselves towards a heat source. When mom is away the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat. Along with being able to drag themselves to a heat source newborn puppies are also able to drag themselves to their mothers to locate the milk supply. They will move their heads around to search for a nipple, latch on and suck strongly. Newborn puppies are not born with teeth these will also develop in the next several weeks. Other than the above puppies are completely dependent upon the care of their dedicated mom. Newborn puppies have little control over the rear end of their bodies. To encourage their pups to pass urine and bowel movements the mom will lick their bottoms. Anything produced mom will then lick up and swallow to keep her puppies and nest clean. Some pups will even double their birth weight! Your German Shepherd puppy will still be highly dependent upon their mom at this stage. Beneath all their fur the vital organs will be working hard to mature. This includes the eyes. Your puppy will not be ready to open their eyes yet but lots of changes are taking place to prepare them for grand opening. The ear canals will begin to open around the same time as the eyes. When the ear canals do open, the ears are much more formed than the eyes are at this point in time. Their eyesight usually takes around 8 weeks to reach its full potential. When their eyes become wider, they will reveal blueish-gray eyes which are hazy in appearance. Their eyesight will continue to develop until around 8 weeks old. The ear canals will also open around 2 weeks. The puppies hearing has been developing much quicker than their eyesight and they will be able to hear most things by the time their ear canals fully open. However, their amazing hearing ability will continue to enhance over the next several weeks. At the moment your German Shepherd puppy will have cute floppy ears. Their adorable tall ears can come up anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Floppy ears are common until your German Shepherd finishes teething. By then the ear cartilage will become strong and hard enough for the ears to stand up permanently. Now is a good time to start handling the puppies and get them used to your voice. Most puppies are wormed for the first time when they are 2 weeks old. All this development has happened so quickly, but things are about to get even more exciting. Between 2 and 4 weeks your German Shepherd puppy will begin to stand up this is when the real fun begins. Puppies milky teeth will also start to develop between 2 to 4 weeks. These sharp little teeth will remain until about weeks of age. These little daggers play an important role during the weaning process. Even the most patient moms will struggle to nurse with these sharp painful teeth. This reluctance to nurse will prompt the German Shepherds to seek alternative food sources. These sharp teeth will then help to make up for the lack of jaw strength when eating solid foods. Finally, these sharp puppy teeth play an important role in teaching the pups to gauge their bite pressure when playing with their mom and siblings. This is an essential life lesson that enables our powerful German Shepherds to become safer companions as they mature into strong adult dogs. During the last few weeks mom has done an amazing job of getting her babies strong and their mobility will have come on leaps and bounds well not quite yet but by 3 weeks of age your German Shepherd puppy will begin to trotter around. Most 3 week old German Shepherd puppies can stand and sit. With their baby teeth starting to cut through a lot of breeders. Especially those with large litters will start introducing some solid foods. This helps relieve some of the pressure for the devoted German Shepherd mom. When weaning puppies, you need to start off by soaking their food in either water or puppy milk replacement formula to make it mushy and more comfortable for them to eat. As they start to interact and play with their siblings their personalities will really start to show. You may also notice them starting to playfully growl at each other. At 3 weeks old it will become easier to start identifying different members of the pack. Breeders and moms will be kept on their toes and paws over the next few weeks. As the pups start getting more confident on their feet they will be running around and playing enthusiastically. At 4 weeks old they will begin to wag their adorable little tails. With solid food becoming a major part of their diet the pups will be passing bigger bowel movements. They will be able to show more control of their bowel movements as they take themselves away from their brothers and sisters to perform their business. At this stage mom will be taking a much more relaxed approach to parenting and there will be a lot more for the breeder to clear up. By this point mealtimes are a messy process. If it is warm and safe enough to do so we would recommend taking the pups out in the yard for feeding. German Shepherd puppies are becoming a lot stronger at vocalisations by 4 weeks old. When mom returns to her babies the litter will noisily greet her. Around 4 weeks of age your puppies will need to be wormed again. From this week onwards human interaction is very important in order to form relationships with people. Including different noises and smells. This exposure will ensure your German Shepherd puppy turns into a confident, friendly individual. Mom will also be doing an important job of teaching her puppies to not bite too hard. Even an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy would have the power in their jaws to break the smaller bones in humans fingers. This is why mom teaching her puppies bite inhibition is so important. For more information on bite inhibition please see our guide on German Shepherd bite inhibition. By 5 weeks old German Shepherd puppies will be eating a lot of solid foods, several times throughout the day. Those sharp little teeth would have done their job and mom will be gradually weaning her pups of the dependency on her milk. When mom does feed her puppies, she will only do so for a short period whilst standing up. They will be eating between five and six small meals a day. Although the pups no longer rely on mom for milk, they still need her help and guidance for the next few weeks. Mom will be teaching her babies important life skills to live alongside humans. In some countries 6 week old puppies are taken away from their mothers and moved into their new home. We would not recommend this as the puppies will miss out on continued bite inhibition training from their siblings and mother. This can result in a puppy who bites too hard which can be challenging to manage as they get older. In the USA your puppy will be due their first combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccine helps to immunizes your puppy against hepatitis, parvo, distemper, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Most puppies will also need to be wormed again at 6 weeks old. Their last week together will consist of plenty of socialization and playing. Most breeders will arrange a 7 week health check up with the vet to make sure your bundle of fluff is fit and healthy to go to their new home. In the UK some breeders will arrange for the pups first 8 week vaccination to take place during this check. Although some vets advise against it. By the end of this week German Shepherd puppies are ready to leave their mothers and move into their new homes for good. The week you get to take your new puppy home. This will be a very exciting time, but you may also be feeling a bit nervous. There will be some challenged along the way for new puppy owners and your puppy will take some time to adjust to life without its mother and siblings. In the UK the first combined vaccination will help to immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. The first puppy injection in the UK typically will happen between 8 and 10 weeks. Some breeders would have trained the puppies to poop and pee on newspapers or puppy pads. From the moment you get them home it is important to show your German Shepherd puppy where to pee and poop. Puppies naturally like to pee where they have done so before so to avoid building history of peeing in your home is best if you can to avoid it. The more you can avoid accidents from happening as much as possible from the start the faster the puppy training process should be. All puppies are different, and some will get this quicker than others. The main thing to remember is not to discipline your puppy for accidents. The most successful way to potty train is to reward success and ignore accidents. Just clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Your puppy will love nothing more than being praised. For more information please see our guide on How to potty train your German Shepherd puppy. Already your German Shepherd puppy will feel like part of the family. German Shepherds puppies are always adorable but at 9 weeks they are at the age where they are still puppy-like but very clumsy,curious and keen to play with her new family, which is very cute. Your German Shepherds unique personality will make you feel very proud. At 9 weeks your cheeky German Shepherd pup will be feeling more confident, with this the need to explore everything and anything may end up getting them into trouble. Your puppy will develop new sleeping patterns and feeding routines which you will need to adapt to. Most puppies will sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day at 9 weeks old. During the day when you are with your puppy generally you will not need to shut them away in a crate to nap. German Shepherd puppies are often more than happy to sleep whilst family life goes on around them. However, there will be times when sleeping in a crate is better and safer for your puppy. You must not leave a 9 week old puppy to sleep outside the crate if you are not home to watch them if they wake. Puppies are into everything and many innocent items found in the house could be a potential hazard to your inquisitive pup. For more information please see our guide on how to puppy proof your home. Even if your puppy can barely keep their eyes open other pups and children will still want to play and your German Shepherd puppy may find it hard to refuse. After a hard day of play the peace and quiet of a crate will enable your pup to have a well-deserved nap. If your German Shepherd puppy does need to go to the toilet in the night make sure you keep it short and to a minimum. Establishing a daily routine is the best way to get your German Shepherd puppy to sleep through the night. Part of this schedule will involve mealtimes. Your 9 week old puppy will need four meals a day. Split these up throughout the day and try to stick to similar times. This is to stop encouraging your puppy to wake up earlier and earlier because they associate waking with food. You should always reward your puppy either vocally, with a favourite toy or treats for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. Puppies and dogs want to be praised so they respond very well to positive encouragement. Punishing puppies and dogs may have a short term positive effect on their behaviour but long term you could be setting them up to fail. It is very important to socialise and expose your puppy to other humans, dogs and different scenarios whilst they are young. This maybe hard before your puppy has had all its vaccines however getting many different people to come and visit you at your home will enable them to get used to visitors. Before their full vaccinations you can also, you can take you German Shepherd puppy out and about with you to expose them to the outside world as long as you can carry them. If you live in the USA, your puppy will be due their second combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 9 weeks old. In the USA a minimum of three sets of the combined vaccine are required for your puppy. Although you cannot put your puppy down outside until after their final vaccination. Puppies 10 week injection In the UK is a booster vaccination to help immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. Check with your vet what date after their jabs your German Shepherd puppy will be able to go down outside. Your puppy will then need a booster between 6 and 12 months old. If you live in the USA at 12 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be due their booster for the combined 5in1 vaccine against hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvo and coronavirus and a vaccine against rabies and leptospirosis. If you live in a high risk area, they may also need to be given the vaccination to help immunize them against Lyme. If applicable at 16 weeks your German Shepherd puppy may need to have a fourth combined 5in1 vaccine. A minimum of three combined injections are required in the USA. Check with your vet what date they will be able to be out down outside. By 10 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be able to control their bladder a lot more. Potentially up to several hours. This is great time for you to introduce them to the big wide world and develop their social skills which you have already been building the foundations. When taking your German Shepherd puppy out try to introduce them to as many other friendly dogs, humans and noises you can. This will help your German Shepherd puppy to grown into a confident well-rounded dog. At 3 months old your German Shepherd will go down from four daily meals to three. These three portions will be larger than what they are used to which may cause stomach upset. If your German Shepherd puppy does get an upset stomach, try going back to four smaller meals for a couple of days and they try the three larger portions again. This can be a challenging time as your adorable German Shepherd puppy turns into a furry crocodile. Luckily the teething stage is only a phase as with human babies and short lived. In most cases your puppy biting should stop around when they are around 7 months old and have their adult teeth. You maybe noticing your German Shepherds gorgeous ears fluctuating between floppy and pointy. By the time your puppy has finished teething their ears should tick up all the way. This usually happens around months. As they grow their cartilage becomes stronger. Some puppies need another month or so to help them cope without going out for frequent toilet breaks. Even when your German Shepherd puppy is toilet trained occasional accidents are normal. German Shepherds do have large ears but they tend to grow into them as they get older. German Shepherd puppies will begin to grow their new adult coat between 4 and 6 months old. To make way for their adult coat all the puppy hair has to go. For several weeks you will notice an increase in shedding. This is a completely normal part of growing up for your German Shepherd. Being a double coat breed German Shepherds dogs have a topcoat and an undercoat. Twice a year your pup will shed their undercoat. Usually in spring and again in fall. They also shed in general days a year so be prepared for a lot of fur! They will very much look like a smaller version of their adult selves. Although your German Shepherd may look older on the inside, they are still very much a puppy. If you are looking to get your puppy neutered or spayed the recommended age is 6 to 9 months. However, it is common for some female puppies to get spayed at 4 months old. Summary: Your German Shepherd is bound to give you so much joy and happiness throughout its life. There will be challenges along the way but remember this is completely normal. German Shepherds are such an amazing breed and you will have a loyal friend for life. Related Posts. They cannot see or hear yet, or regulate their body temperature, and they require a lot of tender care from their mom. The new mom is usually very excited and concerned about each newborn, and sometimes overly enthusiastic about chewing off the umbilical cord, which may later result in an umbilical hernia that will take a little longer to close, but is no danger to the puppy. We record the ribbon color and weight of each puppy so that, when we weigh the pups throughout the next days and weeks, we can make sure that each one is gaining weight. Normal weight for a newborn German Shepherd puppy ranges from g to g 0. We take great care to ensure that our newborn German Shepherd puppies have the best chance for a healthy start. A German Shepherd female can be in active labor for 6 to 18 hours, sometimes even longer if she takes a break while having a large litter, and we of course do not leave her side during this time. I stay up making sure that the whelping box which is always in my office or bedroom is clean and dry after each puppy is born, and that the temperature stays constant 86 - 88 F in the room. We keep the temperature at this level for about 2 weeks, gradually reducing it down to normal F by the end of the third week. Someone is always present with the puppies during the first 5 days. I handle the puppies several times a day, as well as weigh them every other day during this period, to make sure that everyone looks and acts healthy, nurses well, and is gaining weight. I usually buy a dozen fluffy cotton towels, and use two at a time as bedding for the whelping box. I change these towels twice daily at this stage to make sure the puppies are always clean and dry. Starting from day 3, and until day 16, I follow The "Super Dog" Program for our puppies - an early neurological stimulation program described by Dr. Carmen Battaglia. It has numerous benefits later in life for puppies. Often, puppies that were born the smallest overtake the bigger ones. Even at this tender age strong individual differences can be noted among German Shepherd puppies. Also, there is difference in their color and markings, and long-hair German Shepherd puppies can often be identified at this age. The new mom is very attached to her puppies at this age and is very reluctant to leave them even for the shortest time. She spends a lot of time sleeping with the puppies nursing peacefully, and is also very happy to be busy cleaning each puppy several times a day and flipping them around gently with her nose. At about 2 weeks of age German Shepherd puppies actually start looking more like puppies, and not just fat black sausages with feet attached. We use undiluted evaporated goats milk from a can, warmed up to be pleasant to the touch. Most puppies readily accept the bottle, and we consider this to be very important bonding and social time as well. Three weeks of age is my favorite age of all. The puppies now can be recognized as German Shepherd puppies. They are alert, playful, and there is a lot of wrestling, tail-wagging, and even barking going on as they explore their surroundings and interact with each other and their mom, all of which is extremely cute. I will often just sit in the whelping box with them, letting them play with my clothes, climb up on my lap, and generally just enjoying their carefree company. We also provide them with various toys starting at this age, and make sure that they listen to loud music, banging on the door, vacuum cleaner, etc. They weigh around 1. At first, they may not have a lot of success with it, as some of them try to suckle on the meat, but in a few days they master this new type of eating very well. We also continue giving them goats milk, but in a shallow saucer pan now, and with some rice baby cereal added, so that they can practice lapping. At this age, the mom is no longer so keen on constantly staying with her puppies, and only visits them to feed them and for a clean up. We continue changing the bedding twice a day now, knowing very well that in about a week it will become times a day, as the mom will not be able to keep up with her cleaning duties any more. We wash soiled towels with a little bit of bleach and a little bit of perfume-free detergent. Four weeks of age is even more fun as the puppies keep developing, but the amount of cleaning starts to increase in geometrical progression, and it becomes a full time job to keep the puppies well fed and clean. The mom is only visiting now and then at this point, and enjoys spending her time in the office, so that she can hear and see the puppies, but not necessarily be with them. With mom visiting for a few brief feedings each day, we feed them three times a day with the following diet: 1. Cottage cheese 2 tbsp per puppy , mixed with plain yogurt 1 tsp per puppy , evaporated goats milk, rice baby cereal 1 tsp. Raw tripe, or beef liver cooked with all kinds of vegetables At about 5 weeks of age the duty of keeping the whelping box clean becomes nightmarish, and this is a good time to introduce German Shepherd puppies to the outdoors. This is a room that is a part of the house, but has free access to the outside world. This room is equipped with a wooden resting platform so that puppies do not lay on concrete, with a heating lamp above it, and the floor is completely covered with a layer of pine woodchips. The outside area is about 6 x 6 ft and the floor is made of paving stones. There is another wooden laying platform here. This is a very important period when we introduce our German Shepherd puppies to more noises, show them the way in and out of the house, introduce them to the other dogs, play tug-of-war, etc. Also, we introduce raw frozen sardines and "The Honest Kitchen" products to their diet, and will occasionally feed kibble, soaked well in warm water and mixed with green tripe from a can At 3, 5, and 7 weeks of age our German Shepherd puppies get dewormed with a high quality wormer, to be certain that they are free of intestinal parasites. At about 6 weeks of age the puppies get their first combination 5-way vaccine including Parvo and Distemper , and at 7 weeks of age we start welcoming visitors who are interested to come and look at the puppies. Often during weekends we have several groups of visitors of all ages coming to interact with the puppies, which is such a great socialization opportunity for them. Copyright .All rights reserved. Baby German Shepherds growing up! German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular dog breeds out there at the moment, with many devoted fans. They can be large and imposing as adults. But, like every breed, they have a cute puppy phase that many fall in love with. However, since most puppies are bought at weeks old, most of us miss out on this magical period of their lives. So what happens during those first important weeks? A typical German Shepherd litter consists of around puppies. The mean average, according to a study performed in , is 6. When they are first born, they will still have an umbilical cord attached and may be covered in amniotic fluid. Their mother should chew off the umbilical cord and spend the first few hours cleaning their pups. Then mom will focus on keeping her newborn pups warm while allowing them to nurse. At this stage, German Shepherd puppies will just sleep and avoid expending energy. They will frequently nurse from their mother. Newborn German Shepherds When baby German Shepherd puppies are first born, they are completely dependent on their mother. Their ears and eyes will be closed and they will be unable to regulate their own body temperature efficiently. A coat should be present, and the color will depend on the genes they have inherited from their parents. Black with tan markings is the most common for this breed. Additionally, they will be relatively immobile. They will be unable to properly support their own weight. Therefore, they will commonly crawl on their stomach to move about. They will also be unable to urinate or defecate on their own. Stimulation from their mother will be required to help them go to the toilet. One Week Old Baby German Shepherd In the first week, the puppies should bulk up significantly and double their birth weight. However, there will not be much change in their behavior. They will still primarily be focused on nursing and sleeping. To help themselves stay warm, the puppies will normally cuddle close to each other, except for when they are in a hot environment. At this stage, they will still be blind and deaf. While they are still unable to see very well, this is a big step. Eyes should open for the first time at around days of age. They will appear blue in color, but this will change into brown as they develop. They may become a little more inquisitive about their surroundings with their new-found eyesight, and may begin to crawl around a little more. We can expect to see them make some big steps at this stage. Firstly, at around days old, their ears should begin to open for the first time. They should now be able to both see and hear, though not too clearly. Their senses will continue to develop over the coming weeks. They will begin to be able to stand and support their own weight. Walking may still be tough, though! They will likely be pretty wobbly. You can also expect to see their baby teeth come in at around this time. While they still get the majority of their nutrition from their mother, they will begin to show interest in solid food. They will begin to become more independent at this age, being able to urinate and defecate on their own. Beginning Of Socialization With their sight and hearing, they are likely to show a little bit of adventure and courage for the first time, exploring their surroundings as much as their unsteady gait will allow them. This milestone also marks the beginning of the socialization period, a critical phase of their development. Things learned now can shape their personality and behavior for the rest of their lives. They may engage the other puppies in clumsy play and show body language such as tail wagging for the first time. They will form relationships with their den mates, their mother, and humans. This stage is critical in getting the puppies used to humans. This can be achieved by gently exposing the puppies to human presence and contact so that they can see that they are no threat. While their brains are still very much in development, they are still able to learn some simple concepts at this stage. Crate and potty training can begin at this age. They should now be able to walk pretty well. This mobility will allow them to further play with their family and be even more curious about their surroundings. On top of this, their baby teeth should now be fully formed and the weaning process should be fully underway. They should be offered soft but solid food. They may begin to show signs of more complex social behaviors towards their other den mates, and they should learn important skills like bite inhibition. The socialization process should continue, with the puppies gently being exposed to new people, sights, and sounds. The German Shepherd babies will also be further weaned off the mother at this time, slowly moving onto a fully solid diet. Six Week Old Baby German Shepherd At this age, you will begin to see the puppies become even more independent of their mother. Six week old puppies are gaining social skills rapidly, and love to play with people and each other. Seven Week Old Baby German Shepherd When we move into the seventh week of their life, a new significant phase of development starts to begin: the fear period. While this sounds disconcerting, it merely means that this is the time that many puppies begin to show fear towards new things, rather than curiosity. Things that the puppy may find scary or uncertain during this time can make for big changes in their personality throughout life. For example, if a puppy has a bad experience with a human at this stage, it may lead them to becoming fearful and distrustful towards people for the rest of their life. This is why gently exposing the puppies to humans and common sights and sounds beforehand is important. By preemptively socializing the puppies with humans, we can help this period run smoother. The puppies will have reached weights of around pounds and should be around inches tall. Their ears will lie flat but should begin to become erect and upright over the coming weeks. They will be fully independent of their mother at this age. They should be completely weaned, with some basic training and socialization. From here, new owners are expected to continue to train and socialize them, as they are still within a critical period of development. New owners will also need to continue to ensure the German Shepherd puppy is fed a good, nutritionally balanced diet. For more information, you can check out our full puppy development guide here. And make sure you also take a look at this guide to bathing a puppy!

Is the Boston Terrier and Pug mix the right dog for you? What is a Boston Terrier and Pug mix? But this hybrid also inherited negative traits such as its tendency to be stubborn and territorial. It does not like being left alone or separated from its family. We will be talking more about these traits later in the article. Buggs are affectionate. Buggs have short, small legs, and a short tail. But, good thing for this hybrid, its parent breeds have some similar facial features. Some endearing facial features the Bugg inherited from both parent breeds are their expressive round, bulging eyes and short flat muzzles. Common coat colors for the Boston Terrier Pug mix include shades of black, white, brindle, and fawn. Once-a-week brushing should suffice in keeping their coats looking healthy. Although its coat is non-hypoallergenic, the Boston Terrier Pug mix sheds moderately. This crossbreed may still be ideal for pet owners who have mild allergies. Your Bugg is energetic and loves playtime, but these dogs do not require much exercise. Taking them on a short minute walk or a brisk walk around the block daily is enough to keep this pup happy and healthy. Just like any dog, Boston Terrier Pug mixes need to have their teeth brushed everyday to ensure they maintain excellent dental health. Their ears need to be checked and cleaned at least once a week to avoid infection. While a Boston Terrier and Pug cross may not require too much exercise, it is not comfortable being left alone for too long. Your presence in its day-to-day life is a must for this breed. Boston Terrier Pug Mix Health Problems They are prone to some health conditions that are common in their parent breeds as listed below. Obesity — it is a known fact in the doggie world that a Pug has the tendency to overeat. The Bug dog may inherit that from its parent. Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome BAOS — This condition causes a dog with a short nose to have difficulties in breathing. You might find your Boston Terrier-Pug hybrid trying to catch its breath when they run or during any rigorous play. Snoring is also a symptom of this issue. Dermatitis — This is a skin condition that Boston Terrier-Pug crosses may inherit due to the folds on their faces and their twisted tail. You should take them to the vet if you see signs of skin irritation. Clicker training works well for them. A lot of positive praise and treats during your training sessions will be appreciated by this breed. While a Boston Terrier Pug mix might inherit positive traits from its parent breeds, it can also inherit negative tendencies that can become serious behavioral issues if not addressed early on. Here are some negative traits a Bugg can inherit from its parents, along with some tips on what you can do about these: Stubbornness — Sometimes a Pug and Boston Terrier mix just chooses not to do what you say. Obedience training while the Bugg is still a puppy can help fix this. Jealousy and territorial behavior — Early socialization with humans and other pets at home is the key to keeping a Bug dog from being territorial. Make sure to leave your dog with some toys and treats to distract it from your absence. This all sounds great! Where can I get a Boston Terrier Pug mix? You may also opt for Bugg pups who are for adoption from shelters and rescue organizations. It may be challenging to find breeders of Boston Terrier and Pug mix puppies, but you can check breeders of its parent breeds:. The designer dogs are comical at times but are genuinely affectionate, solely consecrated to their owners. They would love spending maximum time with their masters, sleeping with them or cuddling on their laps. They also have an equally tender feeling towards children, satisfying their playful instincts by spending fun moments with them. Some Buggs might inherit the territorial instinct of the Boston, thus making it difficult for them to get along with other pets. Care Exercise Your Bugg is full of energy and a strong willingness to play. Schedule for short, brisk walks, swimming which they enjoy , or mild activities once or twice a day. Indulge it in playing without a leash, making sure, its playground has a secure enclosure. Grooming The Buggs have a short coat and do not shed much. No trimming or stripping is needed. But do brush them at least once a week. Keep their facial skin folds clean to avoid allergies. Also take care that their protruding eyes do not catch debris and cause vision problems. Training Dealing with stubbornness in a Bugg is not difficult. All you have to do is give it the right signal. For instance, when you are taking your dog out of the front gate for an evening walk, keep your clicker and treats ready. Hold the leash and wait for it to look back at you, without addressing it. Once it does, click and give it the goodie. Follow a few more steps, stop again — let it look at you, and it gets one more clicking treat. Keep clicking and treating it, as and when you see the leash becomes tight. Your Bugg will get the message that looking at you before contriving to stubborn would help it get it treats. Right from puppyhood, teach your Bugg not to lose temper in situations related to territoriality, especially if you get the slightest hint. Train your puppy not to run boundaries when you keep them outside. Rather, treat your dog every time it accepts your approaching guests or other pets, and stay relaxed. If you are also a cat or bird lover, give your puppy socialization training to help with grow with fellow pets in a hassle free manner. Take extra care that this does not happen, or else it might end in obesity issues. Keep it limited to 0. He is my baby, He has to be in sight of me or on my lap, laying on me or next to me at all times. I could not ask for a better boy, most of the time. I know better. Besides this gross habit however I have never had a pet like him. And will rgun over and chase him away from the food dish if he believes he has had more than his share. Which sometimes can be 1 mouthful of food. But all in all he gets along with him. They are best buds and are always close to one another. He has an underbite, many fatty tumors on him and has mid stage cataracts as well as heart issues. I know he is getting to the end but as my vet says his quality of life is still extremely well considering his age. He likes to go for rides, loves attention but is very protective of me when people are visiting only barks at them nothing more if they move he is very funny about when he gets into the garbage. By then I already know. He now helps me pick it up. But cuddles always make it better. My point is regardless of his quirks I love him so much and am so grateful he is part of my family. He speaks with his eyes and expressions, loves ear rubs and massages. Nope he is not spoiled at all! My only regret is that I wish I would have been able to have him from puppyhood. If you have misfortune finding a trustworthy breeder for this hybrid, you can either ask a local veterinarian if they have anyone which they can refer to you or ask breeders of both parent breeds, instead: Our Brindle Bostons OK Weywood Showdogs PA Celestial Pugs CA A legitimate breeder should let you have a visit to their facility or kennels to meet the puppy before finalizing the purchase. This way, you can observe the living conditions of their animals. A visitation would also help make certain that your puppy is a good match for you. It is naturally glossy and can repel most of the dirt or water. You would only need to brush them once or twice every week to make sure that their shedding is kept to a minimum. Brushing using a slicker brush or comb will also help in maintaining the fur healthy and free of dirt or loose hair. This mixed breed does not have a doggy odor, so you can reduce their regular bathing to once a month or only when it is needed. Aside from that, you will also need to clip their nails every few weeks mainly because they will not break off naturally as they mostly stay indoors. You should also regularly clean their ears and check their eyes for any signs of infection. Boston Terrier Mixed with Pug Health Problems Pug Boston Terriers are known to live a long healthy life of 10 to 15 years, with proper care and a healthy diet. Like any other breed, they can also be prone to some health issues that are quite common in their parent breeds. It is important to remember to be cautious as their round bulging eyes are susceptible to injuries and debris could easily get in them. Obesity — Like their Pug parent, these dogs are also voracious eaters. The problem is, they are prone to obesity which can have adverse effects on their health and may even shorten their lifespan. It is very common in old age as their physical activities decrease or become lethargic. Owners should pay close attention to their diet as well as limit the number of treats. Fold Dermatitis — This occurs due to the moisture and heat that builds up in the folds of their skin. These areas become a breeding ground for fungi, yeast, and bacteria. It is much common during summer or hot weather. Brachycephalic Respiratory Syndrome — Also known as congenital obstructive airway disease, it is a common condition among flat-faced dogs. They can suffer from abnormalities like narrowed nostrils, an enlarged tongue, elongated soft palate, Hypoplastic Trachea, and Everted Laryngeal Saccules. Watch out for symptoms like snoring or if they often seem to try to catch their breath. These upper respiratory obstructions cause the dog to work harder to get some air through their airways resulting in distress, over-heating, and exacerbate obstructions. Abnormal Eyelid — This is a genetic condition where the eyelid folds inward. It causes the eyelash or hair to scratch and irritates the eye, which can lead to corneal perforation or ulceration. It is non-preventable and can only be corrected through surgery, especially in severe cases. They love to eat, and they would keep eating as much as they can. The first step in preventing this malicious disease is staying away from the worst dry dog food and limit their food intake to 0. Their diet should consist of high-quality dry dog food with a formula that is best suited for small dog breeds like themselves. The Boston Terrier combined with Pug will thrive on one of these best dry dog food for small dogs. Bigger dogs have different dietary needs and are better off with best large breed dry dog food For your convenience, we singled out these two premium dog foods: Wellness Core Dog Food — This brand is formulated with a high level of animal protein and has a product made specifically for small breeds like the Boston Terrier mixed with Pug. It contains ingredients that have balanced protein, fats, and calories designed to promote a healthy weight. Dog For Dog Food — Chicken meal, brown rice, leafy vegetables, eggs, and fruits are all found in this kibble. These carefully mixed ingredients support the health of the skin and coat while providing the dog with enough energy for the day. From an early age, you should give your furry pal only food that is age-appropriate. For whelps, this means best puppy food brands are the way to go. Wise, old doggos, on the other hand, need the combination of nutrients found in the best senior dry dog food to help maintain their health throughout the senior age. Dietary supplements such as Nutra Thrive dog food supplement can contribute to replenishing essential foodstuffs in the body and promoting the health of coat, skin, or teeth, as well as heart, brain, and other vital organs. Boston Terrier Pugs Exercise Requirements The Pug Boston Terrier mix is not the most energetic breed, but it is still very important to keep them active and healthy. Keeping your dog in good shape helps with their health and temperament. Give them at least a total of 40 minutes of activities daily. If you have yard space, you can teach them how to play fetch or let them play on their own with interactive toys. They have a few sizes available, but small would suit them best. You can choose from either chicken, bacon, or peanut butter flavors which also helps in keeping them interested. Zogoflex Tux is another toy that doubles as a fetch toy and a chew toy. You can stuff it with treats and kibbles. It will surely keep them engaged for long periods, perfect when you have to leave your dog alone. It comes in a dinosaur, hedgehog, or lion. It has multiple layers to make sure they are soft, durable, and non-toxic. It can withstand daily chewing and is very easy to carry. Pug Boston Terriers Training Dogs of this mixed breed are smart and very eager to please, which makes them fairly easy to train. They respond well to praises and treats. It is important to start them on their training at an early age to help instill discipline and discourage their negative tendencies. The Boston Terrier mixed with Pug may inherit some traits that can become behavioral issues if not addressed early on. You have to be firm, but remember that these are very sensitive dogs, so you also need to be careful not to hurt their feelings. Using gentle corrections and offering incentives seems to be the best way to train this pup. Here are a few other tips for effective training: How to Deal with Stubbornness — All you will need is a clicker, a few treats, and their leash. Best time to do this is before you take them on a walk. Before leaving the house, take time to hold the leash and wait for your dog to look back at you without calling their attention. Once they do, just click and hand them a treat. Take a few steps forward, stop, and repeat. This method sends a message to your dog that by looking at you, they would get a treat. It is a great stepping stone to teaching them other tricks in the future. Keep in mind that you have to remain patient, consistent, and committed in their training. Teaching Your Dog to Stay Calm — These dogs can quickly lose their temper when they feel territorial — socializing them while still young helps them get used to the presence of strangers including other animals. You also can train your dog to stay calm and relaxed around other people or pets by giving them treats when they do. They are known to be goofy dogs and gets into mischief quite often. Funny and affectionate, this crossbreed loves playing, receiving attention and cuddling with their owners. They are the perfect companion, family dog, and watchdog. These small dogs are amazingly gentle around children. Their size also makes them easy to manage for new pet owners. They would do well in an apartment. Like most other dogs, they inherit traits that are very common in their parent breeds. In this case, they can have few health and behavioral issues, which are easily remedied with proper care and training.

You make it seem like puppy ownership is as simple and trouble-free as the world presented in cute puppy pictures. We can all agree that, at birth, all puppies are too adorable for words. We can also agree that raising puppies is a weighty responsibility, and never one to be undertaken lightly. Boxer puppies are not special in this regard. These caveats out of the way, it seems like no time at all between the stages of tiny, mewling infant and the first time you get the guilty look from Boxer puppies. Out of the whelping box, straight into mischief Boxer puppies start up with impish behavior from the moment they take their first tentative steps out of the whelping box. Training and socialization are key elements to a happy life with Boxer puppies. These little guys and gals, after all, become huge and physically imposing dogs. Keep an eye on this little fellow! Boxer puppies were made for the outdoors. Being outside, running about, playing with toys, and pawing at stuff — this is a top-flight day of action and adventure for Boxer puppies. When they want a snack before dinner, though, Boxer puppies will try and get sneaky. That we have such things as cute puppy pictures, of course, owes as much to human waggery as to anything Boxer puppies get into of their own accord. Boxer puppies are well known for toting things around in their mouths. No room in the house is safe from the shenanigans of Boxer puppies. Did you remember to close the bathroom door? Have fun re-rolling the toilet paper! Boxer puppies are eager, excitable, and enthusiastic friends to dog owners who are ready and willing to put in the work that training requires. Is it possible to sit Boxer puppies next to flowers and not have them inspire confidence, ease, and a sense of pervading calm? Sure, this brindle Boxer puppy seems contented, seated next to a little garden pinwheel, but be careful not to let her sit idle for too long. Boxer puppies need stimulation and interaction, so make sure she has toys to play with and things to occupy her mind! Boxer puppies love to play. Growing into solid, well-built dogs, they never really lose the joy and excitement that comes along with meeting new friends. Are your Boxer puppies naughty or nice? Every dog is different; each has her own personality and tendencies. Much depends on us, as dog owners, to train and socialize them in order to corral their wilder instincts. Do you have any experience with Boxer puppies? Share your experiences with Boxers at every stage of life in the comments! Page 8 Hurley the Boxer puppy at 4 months old; Hurley looks a lot like Bruno. On one of the first warm days of the spring season Bruno the Boxer enjoys sitting outside in the sun. Later Bruno decides it's time to also warm up his underside. His father is a very tall, confident male and his mother is a very gentle and attentive female. Ramsey is very attached to his family and whines at the window when my husband goes to work or when my daughter gets on the school bus. He is also very gentle to my year-old daughter. He often falls asleep with the children on the rug in the family room. He needs to be out! He loves to play fetch and leaps over fallen trees in the woods. He walks 3x a week and plays with the kids or ball for the remaining week days. Ramsey loves people and children. He becomes excited when extended family members visit and sits in their lap so that they won't leave. We love him very much. He also doesn't realize that he's 70 pounds of pure muscle and tries to be a lap dog like a Yorkie! Sadie loves this football; she plays tug-o-war with it. In this picture she had been holding it in her mouth for the longest time. Lacy Ann Price the Boxer at 11 years old Frank the white Boxer 7-month-old Daria with her tongue hanging out Caesar the brindle Boxer at 9 months old Simba the white Boxer puppy at 4 months old Simba the white Boxer at 7 months old. A little cuckoo in the best way. These are a few ways that parents of Boxer puppies might describe their pooches. The Boxer is one of the most popular dog breeds for good reason. Those adorable looks are backed up by big personalities. Do you think a Boxer puppy is right for you? Brush up on your facts about Boxer puppies before you adopt! That can make quite a mess! Boxers are known for their puppy-at-heart attitude that shines through their young adult years. Be sure to give your Boxer puppy plenty of space to exercise and play, and teach them how to settle down if need be. This stubbornness also can carry over into aggression. Some Boxers can get rough with dogs of the same size and sex. Be sure to socialize your Boxer pup early and often and set up expectations early to avoid too much drama. Your Boxer puppy will have tons of energy, but as they age, the need for snuggles and downtime will start to balance out with the need for play. Boxer puppy sitting in grass Boxer puppy looking up at camera Boxer puppy looking at camera Boxer puppy running Boxer puppy Boxer puppy lying in grass. Our stock photo library contains a vast collection of images featuring these adorable canines. Our collection boasts everything from playful puppies to majestic adult dogs, and they come in a range of styles, including black and white, color, and more. When selecting an image, it's important to consider the purpose of your project. For example, if you're creating a website or social media platform aimed at promoting boxer dog fitness, you may want to use images of active dogs running or playing. Alternatively, if you're creating a blog post or article about the breed's history, an image of a statue or painting could be a good fit. No matter what the purpose of your project, our boxer dog images are sure to fit your needs. All of our images are available in high-quality JPG, AI, and EPS formats, meaning they can be used for print or digital marketing initiatives, social media posts, websites, and more. Suitable for Every Project Our boxer dog images are not just limited to pet-focused projects. These furry companions are versatile and flexible, and their images can be used across a range of industries. If you're in the pet industry, images of boxer dogs could help you attract more customers, as the breed is incredibly popular. Alternatively, you could use these images for non-pet related projects like book or album covers, greeting cards, or calendars. Make your Project Stand Out In a world of digital noise, it's essential to make your projects stand out. One of the best ways to do that is by incorporating high-quality images, and our boxer dog images will surely do the trick. They're not just cute and lovable; they're also expressive and full of character, making them perfect for a wide range of projects. Take your project to the next level with our boxer dog images, and you'll definitely make a lasting impression. Nothing Beats Authenticity When choosing the perfect photo for your project, you want to make sure that it's authentic and reflects the desired tone and mood. Our boxer dog images are real photographs of these lovable dogs, meaning you can trust that they are genuine and free of any awkward or stiff poses that sometimes come with posed photoshoots. With our boxer dog images, you'll get pictures that genuinely reflect the breed's personality, making them ideal for projects that require authentic, natural-looking visuals. Conclusion Our boxer dog images offer endless possibilities, designed to suit projects of all kinds. With high-quality images available in various formats and styles, our collection is an ideal selection for web and print design, social media, and other projects that can benefit from their irresistible charm. Selecting the right images for your project can seem daunting, but with our straightforward and vast stock photo library, you can choose the perfect image for your project in no time. Get your hands on these fantastic boxer dog images for your project and watch it come to life with the perfect visuals.

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Click here to add your own text and edit me. Welcome to the Sergeant's Boxers website! Thank you for stopping by! We are Cassie and Luke! First off, Boxers are the absolute best family members imaginable. Luke and I gained our first boxer family member in .From the very beginning, we were hooked! We then gained our newest addition, Diva and boy does her name fit her well! We were overjoyed with our family fur-members and wanted to provide joy to other families. That is when we decided we wanted to breed Boxers and bring love and happiness to other families, just as our Boxers brought love and happiness into ours. Our family continued to grow, as did our happiness and joy! We now have 8 boxers and one spayed boxer mix. All are our fur-kids come first and foremost! Diva and Sergeant had their first litter in .Since then, we have learned so much about the breed and about producing healthy puppies. A lot of thought and research goes into each and every breeding. In the early part of , we started showing. This was such a new experience for us, but we enjoyed it so very much! Bailey was our first girl to show and she had a blast! Her face would light up when trotting around the ring. She obtained her International and National Champion Title that weekend and we were so very proud of her! Remington and Diva were a little hesitant at first, but ended up doing very well by the end of the weekend. By the 4th run, they were so excited to get out there and perform! They ran their hearts out and smiled while doing so. It also helped that daddy was there the second day and waiting at the finish line for them : Captain and Benelli went to their first show in June of .Benelli was just 3 months old and competed in the baby class. She did so very well! She gained great ratings that first day and caught the eyes of everyone there! Captain also did very well! He strutted around the ring and smiled the entire time! It was not hard to see that this was something he enjoyed so very much! We couldn't wait to get them back out there for the next show! In September of , we went to 2 shows! The first show was a UKC show. Captain and Bailey competed and had a blast. Captain obtained his UKC Champion. Bailey obtained all of the points needed and is now only waiting for her competition wins. We cant wait to call her a UKC Champion too! Captain gained his National, International and Honors Ch. At only 3 months old, Dawn made it to Best of Show during this show! It is the best feeling in the world to see the smiles on their faces and their eyes lighting up! They all had a blast! Captain obtained his Honors Bronze Champion Title. Both girls did well. They both won first in each of their classes and Dawn won Reserve Best of Breed in all four shows. We were unable to attend due to puppies being at home, but didnt want the girls to miss out on a great weekend of showing! Dawn got first in class for all three shows. Benelli got first in class all three shows. Benelli also got Reserve Best Female in two show and Best female in one show. For being at a show without mama and dad, the girls did so good! Im so proud of them and a special thanks to Angie for talking the girls! We look forward to the upcoming shows and we are so very excited!! Benelli gained another competition win and many points to add towards obtaining her UKC Champion Title! I have no doubt she will obtain the rest of the needed points and competition win needed to obtain her title soon! The girls did great, even with the judges all wearing masks! We can not wait until the next show!! This was Sergeant's first show and he surprised us all!! We had a blast! Results will be posted in each of their files. Sergeant, Harley, Captain and Dawn participated and did very well! Captain even made it to the Best of Show on Sunday! Dawn and Remi did absolutely wonderful! Harley struggled a bit. She wanted to catch the line instead of the lure! Anyways, they all had a great time and we will certainly be back for more! Harley and Captain got to attend the Norman show! Harley won Reserve Ch x3 shows. Captain and our friend Junior handler Alicia Hood won x1 best Junior class! They both did great! Can't wait until the next show! Remi also came out to the show for her very first time! Dawn and Harley also attended and both did well. Captain, of course, tagged along too! Results will be posted once they are posted on UKC site, as I completely forgot to write down results while at the show! Such an exciting sport. Watching them be so excited to chase the lure is absolutely fun times!! We traveled all of the way there to be a part of this amazing show! We earned a total of 9 titles in both Dock Jumping and Precision Coursing! Harley showed in a couple of shows there, but did not place she was too busy worrying about diving and Captain got to strut around in the TOP 10 Boxer ring! Huge Congratulations to these girls!! Information to come! This means that for every litter, Sergeants Boxers will go down the list and offer puppies to the families in order of deposits received. The family may choose a puppy from the current litter or may pass to wait for a later litter. Even if the family initially expressed the desire for a puppy from a future litter early in the conversation, they will still be asked if they would like to select a puppy when the current litter selections start. Selections start at each litter's 6 weeks of age mark. This allows the families to not only pick from color, but also from personality. Please know that these can change at any time and are only listed for reference. This is non-negotiable. For the complete list please see our Breeder Listings page. The price of a Boxer puppy varies depending on the breeder and where you are located. Boxer puppies usually go fast because this is such a popular breed of dog, so make sure you act quickly once you find one that interests you. The price of Boxer puppies in Texas might vary because of where you live and the reputation of the breeder. There are certain things you should consider when looking for a breeder like their location, reputation, and costs. The best way to research your breeder is by asking around for recommendations from other pet owners in the area. Word of mouth is often the most effective way to find a good breeder. Make sure you ask about costs and any guarantees or warranties that they offer. Visit Your Texas Boxer Breeder in Person Whether you physically searched for a Boxer puppy in Texas or found a breeder online, once you find one that interests you, the most important thing to do is visit them in person. It will also let you see their facilities first hand which can give you a better idea of what your puppy will be like. If possible, ask if they can let your future pup run around with other young boxers while you wait. This dog-to-dog interaction will help socialize him and make sure he grows up healthy and happy. Questions to Ask Ask for References from Your Boxer Breeder in Texas If you feel comfortable with your boxer breeder in Texas, ask to see references from other people who have purchased their puppies. If they are reluctant to give you any names or contact details of other customers, this might be a sign that there is something fishy going on. If previous customers had any issues with the company or their puppies, you should probably find another breeder. These people could also give you lots of helpful advice about your specific dog and what kind of personality he might have based on his parents and genetics. Meeting past customers will also give you the chance to ask them questions about their experience with your breeder. If they had any problems, this is your chance to find out all about it. Remember, even one bad review should be enough for you to walk away from a breeder. Even if your Texas Boxer Breeder has nothing to hide, they should still have a good veterinarian that they use regularly. The best way for you to find out is to ask them what type of veterinary care their dogs receive and who your puppy will be seeing. The general rule of thumb is that the longer the warranty period, the better the policy will be for you and your pet. The minimum amount of time usually given by breeders is 1 year but reputable breeders like those listed here at PuppySpot offer 2 to 3 years. Some lifetime warranties against certain genetic diseases. First of all, if the prices seem too good to be true…they probably are. Often times they just want your cash without caring about whether or not their breeding practices result in healthy, happy pets which could lead to expensive health problems down the road. Unethical breeders will also try to make you feel like they are doing you a favor by selling you their puppies, but this is just another tactic used to put pressure on the consumer. Finally, if the breeder says that only cash is accepted as payment…move on. Any refusal of credit cards should be an immediate red flag. Most reputable breeders will be honest with you and tell you if there are any issues or history of disease in either the parents or other relatives. The truth is that no one is perfect and every dog has some sort of health concern or another. Reputable breeders will know about these issues before they sell their puppies to you which means they will provide documentation for proof. How to Prepare Your Home for Your Boxer Puppy Before you actually bring your new boxer home, the first thing that you should do is make sure to set up a safe and comfortable area for them. First of all, you will need to find a way to confine your boxer while you are away at work or school. The good news is that there are many different options available for everyone whether they live in an apartment or have acres of land. You also want to make sure that the bathroom has been properly puppy-proofed before your boxer comes home. This will typically involve covering up anything sharp, electrical or poisonous items that could pose a problem for your new pet. Finally, if you have any valuable items on hand such as a TV or laptop, make sure to put them out of reach. In addition, whenever you bring them back inside from playing around in the backyard make sure to immediately put them on a leash so that you can quickly grab them if they need to go to the bathroom. Once again, this will be a lot easier if you have a fenced-in area for outdoor playtime but it can still be accomplished using an electronic fence if necessary. Boxers are incredibly intelligent dogs which means that most of them pick up on things very quickly. In fact, many boxer puppies learn how to properly eliminate outside all on their own within just a few days of being home with you. If they have any accidents inside, never scold them because this will only lead to confusion and mistrust. Instead, always use positive reinforcement by either praising them when they do something good or by giving them a treat whenever they go potty out in the yard. Continue doing this until they understand that going outside is the only acceptable place to have a bowel movement. I love animals and love helping people adopt a pet. It all started when attending Missouri State University and I began volunteering at an animal shelter.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Take back control of their behavior using these quick and easy solutions to stop German Shepherd biting that actually works. Even better, have a set of toys that are only used when you want to engage in play with your puppy. Hide these toys in a basket or box after your game of play. This makes them extra special. They are under your control and your dog must give them back to you. Special toys are more fun for your pup to bite than you. When in doubt of what special toy your dog likes, choose from this specially-curated list of what toys German Shepherds love for interactive toy ideas to keep your dog entertained. Say OUCH! When your pup bites you, say OUCH firmly. This simple technique catches the attention of many puppies when done correctly and can train a German Shepherd puppy to not bite you. You could also make a YIP sound instead, just like their little brother and sisters would make a yipping noise when playing too rough. If they continue to bite and nip, say OUCH again and then get up immediately and leave the room for a few moments. You may return to play but keep repeating this simple process until they learn to keep their teeth on their toys. This will only encourage them to continue their unwanted behavior. Use Puppy-Safe Partition Gates Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent your German Shepherd from jumping over. If your pup bites you aggressively when you and your family walk past you, then use an exercise pen or this German Shepherd-sized pet safe partition gate to contain them. Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent and discourage your German Shepherd from jumping over to continue to try and bite you. Use the items during busy times in your home to keep your dog calm and out of areas that might increase their excitement and biting and nipping you. Puppies tend to bite and chew when their teeth are coming in. They do this to relieve the pain and help soothe themselves. Freeze a durable large Kong with their favorite treats and kibble and have them on hand for times when your dog is acting out and biting you. Give them a Kong to gnaw on and bring icy relief to their gums. Plus, chewing has been shown to help relax and calm dogs. Redirections are actions that keep your pup from engaging in unwanted behavior by showing them appropriate behavior. For example: When your dog nips you, find their teething toy to bite instead. When your dog jumps on you to bite your hands or ankles, look around for a Kong to give to them to bite on. Squeaky toys like this toy that continues to squeak , even after a puncture, are ideal to distract your dog from your hand to another object. These toys differ from their special toys mentioned above because these redirection toys are ones you leave out for your pup to chew most of the time. So, be sure to have them nearby! Use Daily Leadership Skills How many times a day do you teach your German Shepherd to listen to you and offer them leadership? Use daily interactions as an effective way of teaching your dog about leadership. Have them sit before you take them for a walk or exiting a door. Ignore them altogether. Only offer them interaction and come back to them when they show you calming behaviors. Our dogs love our attention. And German Shepherds crave it! An overfed dog that is under-exercised may display destructive behaviors because of boredom and lack of energy needs being met. Get up off the couch and go outside for a walk and sniff party. Low impact activities and free-running off-leash running are best. Choose from a list of fun and gentle, age-appropriate German Shepherd puppy exercises to keep your pup healthy and better behaved. Stop roughhousing with your dog before it frustrates them. Use appropriate, puppy-safe toys instead of play sessions. This way, your pup can bite the toy instead of your fingers, hands, or arms. You may also stress out your GSD by engaging them rough of play. For your pup to either keep up with the play or stop you from too rough play, they may bite you! From day one, avoid play that involves mouthing or teeth on the skin. Use toys to provide your dog a way they can bite to release their energy… Without nipping you! And this game is great because it teaches your dog a necessary life skill. Practice the game: multiple times a day for 2 to 3 minutes at a time Your pup learns impulse control during the game and this transfers over to their ability to stop themselves from biting you. Read below for the easy-to-follow directions. If your dog gets too worked up and then bites, then teach them this Rev Up and Cool Down game. After a few running steps and before your pup gets too excited, stop running and walk slowly. Keep moving slowly until your dog also slows down. When you see them slow down, take a few more steps calmly and peacefully. Continue with steps one through three. Each time your dog should slow down sooner and quicker. If your puppy knows any of these basic German Shepherd commands , incorporate those commands to make the training more interesting and fun. The link above will also easily explain how to teach over ten commands! The point of the Rev Up and Cool Down game is to teach them to settle and stay calm without nipping and biting you. You need to keep your pup exercised, mentally stimulated, and show them what calming behavior is. Be fair and understanding. A Shepherd is a joy to own when given the direction they desire and the commitment they need. Found this helpful? Share it! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. German Shepherd puppies , like all puppies, go through a teething phase, and their biting behavior can continue until they are around 4 to 6 months old when their adult teeth have fully grown in. But how do you get German Shepherd puppies to stop biting, and when should you seek out more help? We dive into everything that you need to know here. German Shepherds are herding dogs, and as such, they love to go after anything that moves. This could be cats, kids, hands, fingers, or just about anything else. The more they get away with it, the more acceptable the behavior seems in the future. Addressing the problem early and consistently is vital. Just like babies need something to chew on when their new teeth are coming in, your German Shepherd needs something too! First, it stops when they get their adult teeth. Second, if you try to redirect them to something that they can chew on, most German Shepherd puppies are receptive. At this time, they should have all their adult teeth, which means no more teething to worry about. But at least you know the root of the problem and can start implementing the necessary strategies to address it. Instead, get them a few chew toys, bones, and other acceptable things to chew on as they teethe. You can also throw a few of these toys in the fridge or freezer to cool them down, and this will offer even more relief for your pup when they need it! While there are plenty of techniques to try, we recommend redirection and positive reinforcement. The method is simple. If and when they start chewing on the toy or other appropriate object, give them praise. German Shepherds love to please their owners, so this is typically an effective way to train your puppy. Therefore, you should have levels of concern. If they are still chewing and nipping at the 9-month mark, you should seek obedience training or talk to a vet to see what you can do. So, get on it early and often, and stick with it! Because with just a little work and dedication you can get your German Shepherd puppy to stop biting in no time. Check Price on Amazon 4. Use Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement means giving something pleasant to your German Shepherd when they perform what you want them to do so that they learn to associate the correct behavior with the reward. The more this is repeated, they will remember and do it more often. The reward is a reinforcing motivation. In the above example of redirecting your GSDs biting to a chew toy, once he accepts the toy and starts to chew or play with it, you then offer lots of enthusiastic verbal praise and reward with a treat. Again, timing is important, and this must be done instantly so that your German Shepherd will recognize or associate his behavior with the correct action. You can give other rewards, but these may be more suited to older pups, adolescent dogs, or adults. Alternatives could be giving them a special toy, playing their favorite game, such as fetch, or taking them on their favorite walk. Always use lots of verbal praise in parallel to the reward you choose. You will, no doubt, soon get to learn where your dog prefers to be pet. Go here for more guidance on where to pet your German Shepherd. This is also useful when your German Shepherd starts to put his mouth around your possessions or furniture, ready to have a good gnaw! Using a time-out can effectively discipline a German Shepherd for biting and other undesirable behaviors. A great way to do this is to grab their collar, push their bum down, and make them sit. The idea is that your German Shepherd will quickly learn to associate that the fun stops when his nipping starts! As always, timing is critical, so your pup learns what he has done wrong at the precise moment. For very young puppies, you should only put them in time-out for a few seconds, between 7 and 10, and no longer than 30 seconds. At the end of the time-out, redirect your pup back to play and use lots of verbal praise or offer a training treat for good onward behavior. You must time the click at the exact moment your pet is doing what you want to reinforce. If you quickly reward your dog with a positive experience such as a treat, he will soon learn to associate the noise of the click with great things. The idea is that you condition your German Shepherd so that when he hears the sound of the clicker, he knows he has done something to please you. In the case of puppy biting, we are simply rewarding the puppy for choosing not to bite. You can achieve this by using the distraction technique described above. When the puppy makes the right choice and starts to bite on his chew toy, he hears the click and gets his treat. Look out for other symptoms such as drooling more than usual, bad breath, loss of appetite, or sneezing. If you are consistent and patient with your methods, you will achieve great results. Be firm but fair, which also helps to strengthen the loving bond between you and your dog. It leads to fear, avoidance, hurt feelings, guilt, stress, anxiety, and lack of trust. Owners should use positive reinforcement methods as much as possible. In another year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that using confrontational or aversive methods to teach aggressive dogs did not work. The dogs continued to be aggressive until the training methods were changed. The same study found that punishing techniques and dominance-based training, such as hitting or kicking, growling, or yelling at your dog, can cause aggression, as stated by Meghan E. An even more recent study in companion dogs suggests that using even mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out more than dogs taught using reward-based training. This stress causes negative consequences and poorer welfare. Alpha rolling is a controversial and outdated technique that physically puts your dog on his back or side in a submissive position to show that you are dominant or the Alpha. This old-fashioned technique is a form of positive punishment and was often used to house-train pups. Many people will have used this method decades ago without success, but at the time, they believed it was the right thing to do. For a positive punishment to work, the problem is that it has to be administered during or immediately after the act within 2 -3 seconds ; otherwise, the dog will not make the connection. Sometimes puppies naturally get over-excited and overtired. When this happens, instead of using the crate as a punishment, lure him into the crate with a treat offering lots of praise and letting him go down for a nap. If you feel sorry for your German Shepherd after disciplining him, you must never reward him out of guilt. Again, this only confuses your dog. Remember to be firm but fair. While a muzzle can prevent your dog from biting, it is not a solution to the underlying behavior issue. Muzzling your German Shepherd without addressing the root cause of their biting can lead to further behavioral problems and may even make the situation worse. Is it ever too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting? It is never too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting, but it may take more time and effort to modify their behavior if the biting has become a habit. Start with identifying the root cause and then take the guidance of an expert to set boundaries and train better to eradicate unwanted behavior. Final Thoughts Puppy biting is natural in all dogs. However, you now know the importance of disciplining your German Shepherd as soon as he starts to exhibit biting, nipping, and chewing behavior and how to do it. This is especially important with the German Shepherd breed as they quickly grow into big strong dogs. That could end in disaster for all concerned. No matter what you are teaching your German Shepherd, try to train him when young; 8 weeks old is a great time to start. Make sure you properly socialize him and give him lots of exercise and training will be much easier. Related Posts You May Like:. Puppies Have you ever reached down to play with a German Shepherd puppy, only to have that adorable little fur-ball pierce your skin with its razor-sharp puppy teeth? When I brought Allie into the family, she was fully in the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — so that first month was tough! Unfortunately, biting is an inevitable phase of puppyhood — it comes with the territory when you decide to be a puppy parent. My goal with this guide is to get you through the biting stage with as few battle scars as possible. Why do German Shepherd Puppies Bite? Up until this time, your puppy was with its littermates, and playtime meant lots of mouthy, nipping fun. Accordingly, this is the only way your GSD knows how to play! A German Shepherd puppy also uses their mouths to explore different things like toys — or hands, ankles, furniture… pretty much anything they can get their mouth around. Your puppy could also be teething, which can increase their mouthy behavior. Just be patient as you work through the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — give your pup time to learn to be gentle when playing or seeking your attention. Nothing is worse than an ankle-biter! I was very lucky not to have this problem with Allie. Why does your German Shepherd puppy target the ankles? Because your GSD is a working dog trying to do its job — herd you around the house like livestock. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding flocks of sheep. Your furry pal may also think heel nipping is just a really fun game. Using a toy as a distraction and keeping your pup active will help nip ankle nipping in the bud! Because she was too busy biting hands! There are lots of reasons why a pup may decide to start biting your hands. For one, good things treats, toys, love, attention come from hands. Also, hands are almost like swinging toys from the perspective of a playful pup — too enticing to pass up! How to Discourage Biting Behavior While the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is a rite of passage, there are some ways you can discourage bad biting behavior without harsh discipline. This is one of the most effective ways to teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition — or how to be gentle with her teeth. Think about when your pup was rolling and playing with their brothers and sisters — if your GSD was too rough, their sibling would let out a yelp. This trick worked great with Allie! Just make sure to be consistent until your pup gets the idea and learns to master the power of her jaws. Puppies will be puppies! Redirect the biting to an appropriate toy. For example, when your fuzzy friend latches onto your ankles, give a little puppy-like yelp, and then whip out a toy and encourage your dog to chew on that instead. Tug-of-war is the perfect game for the puppy biting phase. Socialize your puppy as much as possible. Other dogs are great at teaching your puppy that they playing too rough and biting too hard. Try a deterrent to prevent your dog from chewing or biting. If all else fails, there are lots of products designed to deter your dog from bad biting behavior. How do they work? Well, they taste awful. But if used correctly, they can definitely work. This is still attention — your puppy bites, your puppy gets attention. Otherwise, your pup may see this as a fun new game, kind of like tug-of-war but with your hands or feet as the toy. You want your furball to love playing with you! The goal here is to encourage your German Shepherd to play as much as ever but to play gently. As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping — kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control. But trust me, it got old quickly. Be proactive. If I knew someone was coming over, I would put Allie in another room or in her crate. Once our visitor was in the house and the initial excitement had passed, I would let her out. By keeping her from greeting people right when they walked through the door, I could minimize her overzealous behavior. This is a simple command that teaches your dog to stay in her place until you give a release command. This is another way to allow the initial excitement to pass and your German Shepherd to calm down a bit before greeting anyone. Redirect attention to a toy like I talked about earlier. Fold your arms and turn away. Keep turning until your GSD stops jumping, then praise them and use a treat as a reward. What to Do If Biting Becomes Aggressive Although puppy mouthing is normal, there can be cases where biting can signal problems and possibly even aggression. Look for physical differences in your pup. If your puppy is having a moment of aggression, their body may stiffen when snarling, and bites will typically be more painful than during regular play. Also, if your GSD puppy is biting out of fear or frustration, you may need to take action. These types of behavior are not something your pup will just grow out of. While the biting phase will inevitably end, you may find yourself asking the infamous question — when do German Shepherds calm down!? I asked myself and our vet this question more than once! It honestly just depends. Sure, she had her calm moments thanks in part to her training , but she was still very hyper especially in more excitable moments. The type of German Shepherd dog is yet another variable that plays a role in its energy levels. So when do German Shepherds calm down? It really depends on your individual German Shepherd. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is something all GSD puppy owners will go through, but it will pass. Try the tips above to help keep your sanity during this phase. Or any tips to help the rest of us? Please share! Since puppies lack the dexterity that you and I have, they use their mouths to explore the world around them. By understanding the behavior of biting itself, you can begin to see just how normal biting is in German Shepherd puppies. Just because biting is a normal behavior in a puppy does not mean we should tolerate it or promote it. Since biting is a form of communication for German Shepherd puppies, there are many things our puppies could be trying to say! So why do Shepherd pups bite? Puppies often communicate with their siblings through biting and pawing, especially when they are trying to incite a play session. Your pup may gnaw on your hand as if it were a chew toy, especially when you are a moving target. Puppies play and bite their siblings from the moment they are old enough to do so. This is why the behavior is so common, and why our Shepherd pupswill need to learn how to transition to playing with appropriate chewing options. Not only are our hands and feet tempting enough, but even more so when a puppy has a high prey drive. A prey drive is an ingrained need to chase after moving objects, whether it is appropriate or not. A swinging hand as we walk by can be extremely tempting for a growing pup, causing them to jump up and nip. If it seems like your Shepherd puppy is always biting you when you are in motion, it may be due to their high prey drive! They Are Curious As we mentioned above, German Shepherd puppies use their mouth to explore the world around them. Biting can help them examine and understand an object, and our hands and feet can fall into that category as well! If you catch your puppy gnawing on everything around your home, it may be their curiosity getting the best of them! A dog quickly learns what behavior gets a reaction, causing them to do it over and over again. Even if their bites result in a negative reaction from you, it still counts as attention. They Are Teething Similar to teething babies, a German Shepherd puppy experiences teething pain as well. If your Shepherd pup seems to find relief when chewing on objects, they may be biting you due to teething discomfort. They Are Herding You If your German Shepherd puppy is constantly biting at your ankles, they may be displaying some herding behaviors. German Shepherds are ingrained with a need to work, especially in dogs with a working bloodline. If your German Shepherd is always nipping at your feet, running to your side when you are moving, or showing signs of anxiety or frustration when you are moving around your home; it may be herding behavior. So how can you stop this normal puppy behavior? Redirect The Behavior One of the most effective ways to stop your German Shepherd puppy from biting is by redirecting the behavior. An effective distraction is a wonderful way to end the behavior without punishment, and show them how much fun the alternative to biting can be. The next time your Shepherd pup is displaying undesirable nipping, try to pull out their favorite toy. Since this will need to be a toy that your dog enjoys, be sure to offer them the option that they find most exciting. This can be a Kong toy , rope, bone, or any other chewing option that your dog loves. By doing this each time your Shepherd puppy begins to bite you, they will begin to understand that they would much rather play with an acceptable chew option. Having a variety of chew toys can alleviate their need to bite our hands and feet, and offer them the relief they seek in this uncomfortable transition. There are so many toys created for teething puppies, that it should be easy to fill your home with plenty of appropriate options. One of our favorite chew toys is the Kong Teething Binkie. Any attention can validate the behavior, causing them to make it a habit. This shows them that the behavior is unacceptable, and does not involve any harmful negative reinforcement. Our attention is important to a puppy, and they do not want to be ignored. By showing them that biting will only result in us pulling away, they will learn to ditch the undesirable behavior. Interrupt The Behavior Sometimes a Shepherd puppy needs a sharp and sudden sound to pull them out of a bad habit. By giving a quick interrupter cue ouch, yip, eek , you can pull your puppy away from the action and gain their attention. Because of this, it is so important to offer plenty of mental and physical activities throughout your home. For example, if your puppy nips at strangers each time they walk in the door, it may be best to limit their time around the guest and send them to a separate play area. Once they begin to understand that biting is unacceptable, you can refrain from using their separate play area as often. Similar to what we discussed above about being proactive, a separate play area can help them calm down and collect themselves. Once your German Shepherd puppy begins to mature and understand that biting is unacceptable, they should require less time away. Just as there are effective methods in canine training, there are counterproductive actions as well. Do Not Hit Or Yell Since biting is a normal behavior that puppies must learn to grow out of, it is not productive to hit or yell at your puppy when they bite. Doing this can show them from a young age that interaction with you results in something negative, and can hinder your training process. By using other distractions and training methods when they bite, you can turn every bite into a learning experience for your pup! This can seem like a fun game to your pup, and can actually encourage the behavior. Try your best to go limp when they bite you, and pull your attention away from the pup. By doing this, you show them that this behavior does not offer them any extra fun. Extra attention can validate their undesirable behavior, making it challenging to break. Try your best to refrain from reacting to a bite outside of your interrupter cue, and pull your attention away from your furry friend afterward. Biting is a normal behavior in puppies of all kinds. Puppies begin to bite their siblings from the moment they can move, and will continue this behavior until they learn otherwise. A biting German Shepherd puppy is to be expected, and should not result in any discouragement on your part. As long as you are following the tips we mentioned above, your puppy should shy away from this behavior in no time! Biting in puppies is not usually a sign of aggression. Mild biting is usually a form of play, and should be easily corrected. However, there are some rare cases where biting in German Shepherd puppies is a sign of something more. If your pup is displaying any snarling, growling, ears pinned back, stiff posture, or any other signs of canine aggression, your pup may be biting in reaction to fear or pain. If you are unable to make any progress within a month of implementing the tips we discussed above, it may be time to contact a dog trainer. A trainer can not only help your pup refrain from biting, but offer other obedience training as well. Final Thoughts As you can see, biting is a normal behavior for our beloved German Shepherd puppies. Be sure to review the tips we discussed above on proper canine training, and you can banish puppy biting for good! Hopefully, we will have the answers to all of your questions in this guide. But, all that cuteness quickly disappears when the biting phase starts. Puppy biting is normal in all breeds, including the German Shepherd. And, luckily, we have some great tips and tricks to minimize the painful biting period. In fact, it could have a number of causes. Here are a few of the most common reasons, in a little more detail. Teething One reason why puppies of all breeds may bite is teething. This stage often starts at around 3 or 4 months of age — only a few weeks after your puppy will arrive at their new home. Luckily, it only takes a few months for your puppy to have their full set of adult teeth. So, biting from teething is not permanent. If your puppy is biting or chewing because of teething, you may notice other symptoms like drooling, irritability, and going off their food. Boredom or Getting Attention Bored puppies may learn that biting gets some fun responses from you! Just like barking can. If your puppy has learnt that they can get some attention from you when they bite, they may do it to alleviate boredom. This can explain why puppies concentrate most of their biting on one family member — the person who gives the most fun response. Natural Play Biting is a natural part of puppy play — as much as some owners might not want to hear it! German Shepherd puppies, just like any other breed, will bite whilst they are playing with you or with other dogs. If this behavior continues into adulthood, the biting can be more problematic. Responding to Rough Play Some people like to play with German Shepherd puppies in quite a rough manner. This can include pushing them, or rolling them over. Behaviors like this can make puppies very excitable, and encourage biting during play. Encourage calm play between your family members or friends and your puppy. Herding Instincts The German Shepherd breed has a history as a herding dog. The creator of the breed, Captain Max von Stephanitz, bred the German Shepherd in an attempt to create the ultimate all-round herding breed. This was all the way back in the late s. Although the history of the breed has changed over time, from herding to working dog, their origins remain the same. Many herding dogs are prone to natural chase instincts. They may chase small children or other animals — particularly those that are making lots of noise. And, these herding behaviors can include nipping at heels. Once again, your behavior can minimize biting from this cause. Exploration Another common explanation for young German Shepherd biting is their natural curiosity. And, they may do this partly with their mouths. What you really want to know is, when will it stop? However, you can minimize the period by making a few easy changes to your behavior when biting occurs. The best ways to stop puppy biting and minimize the biting period are training and prevention. This means training your puppy to be gentle with you and other people, and taking away opportunities for your excited puppy to bite humans. You may need to go as far as to completely separate your GSD puppy from small children and people who insist on rough play with puppies. We know that this can only encourage biting. Remove Yourself Calmly If your puppy starts to bite you, during play or any other time, the best solution is to calmly and quietly remove yourself. You can use tools like baby gates to keep your German Shepherd in a puppy-safe room. In fact — your puppy will learn that biting during play or cuddles only results in you leaving, and them ending up on their own! Not only will this help to show your puppy that biting is not an acceptable part of playtime, but it can also help your own sanity to remove yourself from those sharp teeth occasionally. Think About Clothing You should also think about the type of clothing you wear around your puppy. Loose, hanging clothing can be appealing to your puppy, and provide something easy to grip on with their sharp teeth. Wear tight fitting clothing to minimize the number of things your puppy can bite at. Use Distractions If you, or young children in your household, are keen to pet your puppy without being bitten, you should make the most of distractions like treats or toys. You can hold a chew for your puppy to keep their attention and mouth distracted whilst someone pets them! Often, puppy owners only think about biting whilst their puppy is actively gnawing on them. One method is to reward them with treats when you are petting them and they are not biting you. Another is to reward them for calm behavior around the house. This way they learn that acting calmly and letting you touch them without biting will earn them good things! One popular method to stop puppy biting is to squeal, squeak, growl, or make another loud noise. Some people claim that this method replicates natural puppy play and tells your GSD when they are being too rough. For some owners, this may work. If this is the case, making a noise when your puppy bites will act as a reward, and encourage your German Shepherd puppy to bite you even more. This is one reason why puppies biting children is so common. Many children will make lots of noise, especially if a puppy bites them, which can lead to further nipping. This is similar to the method above, if used alone. This is why training has to be done in small stages — first you must teach the puppy what action you want, and then you can give the action a name, or command. Punishment Methods The best methods to stop your puppy from biting involve positive rewards for the behaviors you want. Studies on dog training and behavior have shown that punishment based methods are often associated with an increase of problematic behaviors. Punishing your puppy for biting can lead to distrust and fear from your puppy. The causes of puppy biting that we looked at earlier in this guide apply to all GSD puppies. In fact, they apply to all puppies of any breed. Biting and chewing is a normal puppy behavior, and a normal part of play. As long as you react to this behavior in the right way, it is a period that will pass. The biggest fear for most German Shepherd puppy owners is that their puppy is aggressive when it bites. German Shepherd puppy biting can be accompanied by ferocious growls or snarls. It can even draw blood. So are behaviors like snarling and growling. And, if your puppy is biting hard enough to injure you, they may not have learnt proper bite inhibition yet. This is the process where your puppy learns to be gentle with his teeth on your skin. The positive reward methods we discussed earlier in this guide are the best way to teach your puppy bite inhibition. Remove yourself calmly and quietly whenever your puppy bites. And make sure to reward any calm behavior — including when your puppy lets you pet it without biting. Speak to a Behaviorist If you think your puppy is exhibiting aggressive behaviors, such as guarding their resources, you may want to speak to a behaviorist. They will be able to look at your puppy as an individual case, and analyse their behavior properly. Do Adult German Shepherds Bite? The German Shepherd breed is known for being aggressive in some circumstances — they make popular guard dogs, and are number one candidates for working dog roles in the police and military.

Learn more » Golden Retrievers are known for their long, silky, golden coats. Golden Retrievers can develop dry, flaky skin as a result of a number of conditions—one of them being ichthyosis. What Is Ichthyosis in Golden Retrievers? Ichthyosis is a genetic disease affecting the skin of Golden Retrievers. Other breeds can be affected by this condition as well, however, they tend to develop a more severe form of the disease. Ichthyosis is caused by a genetic mutation. Scientists have identified two genetic variants that are associated with the disease. It is hypothesized that, as a result of the mutation, the cells in the outermost layer of skin, known as keratinocytes, do not form properly. This causes scaling and peeling of the skin. Ichthyosis shows an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. Therefore, the disease is not related to the sex of the dog, and both male and female Golden Retrievers can be affected. Therefore, for a dog to show signs of the disease, both its parents must carry the gene. The parents may have two copies of the mutated gene and, therefore, show signs of the disease and appear scaly. Althernatively, they may have one normal gene and one mutated gene, therefore appearing normal. A puppy may get one mutated gene from each parent and develop scaly skin, or it may get one mutated gene and one normal gene from each parent and look normal. In the latter scenario, the puppy becomes a carrier of the disease and it may pass on the mutated gene to its own puppies in the future. Golden Retrievers with ichthyosis have mild to moderate scaling of the skin , predominately on the trunk. The head, limbs, paw pads, and nose are usually not affected. There is no sex predilection for ichthyosis—both male and female dogs can be affected. The scales range in size from small to large, and vary in color from white to grey. The scales tend to be white in young dogs, and progressively blacken and become rough and dry with age. Affected dogs sometimes appear dirty, especially as the pigmented scales shed and adhere to the coat. The skin is usually not itchy or inflamed, but affected dogs may develop secondary yeast or bacterial infections as a result of the disease, which may result in inflammation and itching. Scaling may be seen within the first 3 weeks of life, but can also take up to 3 years for dogs to show any symptoms. The majority of affected dogs are diagnosed with this disease by one year of age. What is the Treatment for Ichthyosis in Golden Retrievers? Treatment is tailored to the individual dog depending on its symptoms, and usually includes frequent brushing, medicated shampoos to remove scales, and moisturizing rinses. A diet rich in fatty acids may also be beneficial to reduce symptoms of the disease. If there are any secondary skin infections present, the dog will also need to receive treatment for those. Oral isoretinoin may also be effective at treating this disease. A study published in looked at the the effectiveness of oral isoretinoin in the treatment of ichthyosis in Golden Retrievers. Retinoids are a class of chemicals that are structurally and functionally related to vitamin A. Retinoids offer several benefits, including decreasing thickening and scaling of the skin, and are used to treat a form of ichthyosis that occurs in people known as Autosomal Recessive Congenital Ichthyoses ARCI. The study showed that oral isotretinoin was effective in improving ichthyosis in Golden Retrievers without any side effects. What is the prognosis? Although ichythosis is an incurable disease, it can be managed with commitment to the treatment plan. How is ichthyosis diagnosed in Golden Retrievers? The diagnosis can be confirmed with a biopsy of the skin. A biopsy is a procedure to remove a small section of tissue so that it can be examined under a microscope by a veterinary pathologist. Genetic testing is also available to identify the mutation responsible for the disease. The test will be able to tell if your dog is a carrier of the disease, even if it looks normal. My Golden Retriever has scaly skin. Does this mean they definitely have ichthyosis? There are many causes of scaling skin in Golden Retrievers other than ichthyosis. These should be ruled out before a diagnosis of ichthyosis is made. Image Credit: pixels, Shutterstock Final Thoughts Ichthyosis is a hereditary skin condition affecting Golden Retrievers that is caused by a genetic mutation. This mutation prevents the outer layer of the skin from developing properly, which causes the skin to scale and flake. Ichthyosis is an incurable disease but it can be managed with a combination of brushing , medicated shampoos , moisturizing rinses, and a diet high in omega 3s. Oral isoretinoin shows promise as a potential treatment for this disease. Additional Details Ichthyoses are a group of genetic skin disorders characterized by defects in the formation of the stratum corneum the outer layer of the epidermis that result in scaling of the skin and desquamation shedding of the outer layer of the skin, or more colloquially, skin peeling. In the Golden Retriever, symptoms of a breed-specific ichthyosis include mild to moderate, and in some cases severe, generalized scaling on the body, usually excluding the head, extremities, paw pads, and nose. The scales are initially a whitish color but becomes pigmented, progressing to gray or black, and they range in size from small to large. Age of onset is generally early: clinical signs have been detected as early as weeks of age in some dogs, although in others, the signs may not become readily apparent until months or even years later. Early symptoms of the disease may go unnoticed by owners due in part to their subtly and the less severe symptoms noted in the Golden Retriever when compared to other dog breeds. In humans, over 30 different genes that result in various ichthyoses have been identified. In dogs, at least 12 different breed-specific types of ichthyosis have been described, but genetic mechanisms have only been identified in a few breeds. An insertion-deletion variant often referred to as an indel in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 1 PNPLA1 gene was identified as perfectly correlated with the congenital ichthyosis disease in Golden Retrievers. In total, Golden Retrievers were evaluated in the initial study and this variant was perfectly concordant with disease status, providing evidence that this variant is responsible for disease. Additionally, this variant was absent in healthy dogs from 25 other breeds. It is predicted that this variant also denoted as c. Though the exact consequences of this protein truncation are currently unknown, it is hypothesized that this defective PNPLA1 protein causes lipid defects and does not allow the proper formation of keratinocytes the cells in the epidermis that produce keratin in the outermost layer of skin. A study published in looked at 14 Golden Retrievers diagnosed with congenital ichthyosis that did not have the PNPLA1 variant and identified a second genetic variant strongly associated with congenital ichthyosis in the breed. The variant identified in the ABHD5 gene consists of a 14 bp deletion denoted as c. The study showed that the variant was only present in North American Golden Retrievers, being absent in over Golden Retrievers of European origin. The clinical and histological presentation of ICH2 is similar to that seen with ICH1, although the researchers noted that breeders reported more severe and adherent scaling with ICH2. Both types of congenital ichthyosis in the Golden Retriever are inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. Two copies of either variant must be present for the disease to manifest, and both sexes are equally affected. Testing for this variant can assist veterinarians with diagnosis and helps breeders identify carriers among breeding stock to select appropriate mates that will reduce the risk of producing affected offspring. To avoid the possibility of producing affected puppies, matings between known carriers is not recommended. However, with the reportedly high frequency, it is advisable to select away from this mutation over several generations to assist in maintaining diversity. This assay does not detect the ichthyoses variants found in other breeds Type of Sample. Add To Cart Search Tests Common Symptoms Ichthyosis golden retriever type is an inherited condition of the skin affecting golden retrievers. The age of onset and severity of disease are highly variable, however most affected dogs present before one year of age with flaky skin and dull hair. Over time the skin develops a grayish color and appears thick and scaly, especially over the abdomen. While the prognosis is generally good for affected dogs, they are at increased risk for skin infections. Ichthyosis golden retriever type is inherited in an Autosomal Recessive manner in dogs meaning that they must receive two copies of the mutated gene one from each parent to develop the disease. In general, carrier dogs do not have features of the disease but when bred with another carrier of the same Mutation , there is a risk of having affected pups. Reliable genetic testing is important for determining breeding practices. Because some affected dogs exhibit very mild symptoms, genetic testing should be performed before breeding. In order to eliminate this mutation from breeding lines and to avoid the potential of producing affected pups, breeding of known carriers to each other is not recommended. Golden retrievers that are not carriers of the mutation have no increased risk of having affected pups. There may be other causes of this condition in dogs and a normal result does not exclude a different mutation in this gene or any other gene that may result in a similar genetic disease or trait. PNPLA1 mutations cause autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis in golden retriever dogs and humans. Nat Genet. Clinical, histopathological and genetic data of ichthyosis in the golden retriever: a prospective study. J Small Anim Pract. Autosomal recessive ichthyosis in golden retriever dogs: distribution and frequency of the PNPLA1 mutant allele in different populations. Ames eds , Advances in Veterinary Dermatology, 7th ed. Toggle navigation My Cart. It does not cause itching, scabbing, or hot spots. Ichthyosis is not the same thing as allergies. In Golden Retrievers, it is usually very mild. However, in other breeds it can be much more severe. The Golden Retriever Club of America says that it is a rare condition even though a high percentage of dogs are testing positive for it. A few breeders are making a big deal out of it. We, along with a growing number of other breeders are taking a middle of the road approach. We do the test and use the results in making good breeding decisions. At the same time, we feel that this is a minor issue and that there are many other concerns that are more important. Ichthyosis is doggy dandruff. When a dog has symptoms, those symptoms are usually a light flaking of skin. There can, however, be a wide range of possibilities with regard to the severity of the condition. Many I would venture to say most dogs that receive DNA results that indicate that they are affected with Ichthyosis have no flakes or any other kind of skin problem. Some dogs with Ichthyosis have a light flaking of skin, most noticable when brushing. It does happen at times, however, that Ichthyosis is bad enough for there to be a constant flaking of skin. Even then, it is more of a nuisance to the owner than a bother to the dog. A severe case could cause a dog to leave flakes of skin wherever he sits or lies. These cases are not common. By far, the majority of Golden cases are very mild. Ichthyosis is a Cosmetic Issue. It Is Not the Same as Allergies. Ichthyosis is not anything like allergies that many Golden Retrievers suffer from. Ichthyosis very rarely bothers a dog. Ichthyosis in Golden Retrievers whether in its mildest form or its most severe is simply dandruff or flaky skin. However, brushing, mild shampoos and conditioners, and a diet high in fatty acids usually controls Ichthyosis well. I have heard of several affected dogs who had flakes to totally disappear after just a change in diet. They type dog food being fed greatly affects the expression of Ichthyosis. Ichthyosis is a recessive trait. This means that both parents have to carry the Ichthyosis form of this particular gene for expression of it. If either parent is clear, there is no chance of any puppies being affected. The DNA test can yield three different results: affected, carrier, and clear. This means that a DNA test will show them to be carriers of 2 copies of the gene. They could have clinical symptoms. A dog that is a carrier will have no chance of having the condition, either by DNA test or clinically. A carrier is simply a dog with only one copy of the defective allele for the gene. Statistics and Frequency of Ichthyosis in Golden Retrievers The statistics on the percentage of Goldens with Ichthyosis according to the DNA test would be quite disturbing if the statistics for the number of Goldens with actual symptoms matched those DNA statistics. There is, a huge difference between the two. What a difference in the statistics! There are links at the bottom of this article to the GRCA and to Antigene where you can read these statistics for yourself. Also, dogs with a positive DNA test but with no symptoms tend to produce symptom-free puppies. Keeping this fact in view is key in wisely using the DNA test. The more prudent approach to breeding away from Ichthyosis is to breed unclear dogs in lines who have clinical cases of Ichthyosis only to clear dogs, to pursue a goal of eliminating the condition all together over 6 -8 generations, to use the DNA test in making good breeding decisions, to continue doing the test and using the results wisely, to be open and honest to the public about what you have, and to use good common sense about it realizing that there are other issues in our breed that need greater attention. Ichthyosis in the Breed Over the Past 10 Years Starting 10 years ago when the test first came out, we at Summer Brook decided to test for Ichthyosis, but to not make it a priority. An affected diagnosis did not always or even usually mean a dog has a skin problem. Also, the number of English Goldens who had been tested that were clear made it unwise to put so much importance on this cosmetic issue. When the test first came out and I went looking for a suitable stud for my own Ichthyosis carrier, I found only 7 clear males in the entire country. Then, as I checked into these 7 males, I found that ALL of them were either too closely kin to my own girl or had other health issues that were far more problematic than ichthyosis. At that time, there were too many other more important considerations in deciding on a breeding. Ichthyosis Will Not Affect Summer Brook Puppies However, starting in , we had bred it out of most of our dogs and had mostly clear dogs with a few exceptions that were carriers. These carriers will never be bred to anything except a clear. Because Ichthyosis is carried on a recessive gene, there is no chance of a puppy being affected as long as at least one parent is clear. All of our breedings involve a clear parent. We have had two dogs with an affected DNA diagnosis in the past. Neither of these two past Summer Brook affected dogs had symptoms that anyone except for me was aware of. I saw a few flakes on one dog one time when she was pregnant and only saw them when I was grooming her. The other dog never had any symptoms whatsoever to my knowledge. However, since then, I have talked to many breeders who know of dogs with significant issues. All Summer Brook puppies are inside companions. Almost All Good Breeders Incorporate Ichthyosis Testing in Their Programs As testing has become more prevalent over the past years, more and more breeders are slowly weeding it out of their lines. Currently my advice for those looking for a Golden Retriever puppy is to only look at breeders that test for it and only from breedings where at least one parent is clear. As recently as sever or eight years ago, it was difficult to find such breedings. Today, most good breeders are including Ichthyosis as part of their normal testing protocol. Links for Further Reading On Ichthyosis If you would like to do further reading on Ichthyosis in Golden Retrievers, click on any of the underlined links below. View Larger Image Ichthyosis in golden retrievers Excessive scale or dandruff flakes Several breeds of dog, notably the Golden Retriever, Jack Russell Terrier and Bulldog, can be affected by excessive flaking of the skin. This is present from birth, but may be very mild, so is not noticed until later in life. The belly may also have darkly pigmented, dry skin. It does not tend to be itchy unless there is also infection present with bacteria and yeast. The changes in the skin make it easier for infections to take hold. Owners typically notice large flakes of skin present in the fur when brushing their dog, or on the floor in areas where they spend time. Golden Retrievers typically have a very mild form of this disease, whereas other breeds can be more badly affected. How do dogs get Ichthyosis? This disease is inherited and multiple puppies in a litter may have the disease. It has what is called a recessive mode of inheritance, which means that both parents must carry the gene for the puppies to show signs. The parents may have two disease genes and so are scaly themselves or one normal gene and one diseased gene, so they look normal. If the puppies in the litter get one disease gene from each of their parents they will be affected with the scaling disease, which can be seen when you look at them. Alternatively, if they just get one diseased gene and one normal gene, they will look normal but will be at risk of passing the disease on if they have puppies in future. Testing for Ichthyosis? There are many other causes of scaling in dogs, so these should be ruled out by a veterinarian before a diagnosis of ichthyosis is made. In Golden Retrievers there is a genetic test available, which is recommended if you are planning to breed your dog. This will tell you if your dog is a carrier of the disease, even if they look normal. By responsible testing and breeding, this disease can be avoided in future generations of puppies. Results are normally back in weeks. Treatment for Ichthyosis? Treatment is tailored to the needs of each individual dog. The scaling cannot be cured, but in many mild cases can be managed by conscientious bathing and moisturising. In more severe cases oral medication may be needed which can help but not cure the problem. Related Posts. It is an autosomal recessive genetic mutation; which means that when genetically tested a dog must have both recessive mutation traits to be affected. Symptoms Affected dogs cannot form the outer layer of the epidermis properly; this results in excessive flaking, discoloration, greasy spots and possible hardening of the skin. The darkening of the skin and flaking makes it appear dirty. Symptoms can exhibit in forms from mild to severe, as well as cycle depending on hormones and stress. Treatment Treat Ichthyosis with special shampoos, diet, and stress management. We have found keeping the skin dry and clean improves symptoms. Additional issues associated with Ichthyosis such as fungal infections and yeast overgrowth. If your dog is affected, see a veterinarian to help come up with a specific treatment plan for your dog. Carriers of Ichthyosis and Breeding A dog can have an Ichthyosis trait but not have symptoms. Carriers should only be bred to clear dogs; this guarantees that they only produce other carriers or clear dogs. Responsible breeders will not do this. However, it can be challenging to manage, and uncomfortable for the dog. With the genetic testing available responsible breeders should never knowingly produce an affected dog. Spread the word.

Thank you! And that is exactly what one German Shepherd did for a couple of lion cubs at a Russian wildlife park. The two cubs were rejected by their mother and the dog took them in as her own. The two cubs had been born to their mother, a lioness named Sirona. The cubs were then handed over to the care of Sandra, a German Shepherd living at the park. She immediately took the two lions in as though they were her own puppies. The lioness even seemed to fly off the handle while around her own babies. DailyMail even reported that the lioness bit her own cubs, and Agafonov shared that one of the cubs even had a small wound. However, she was more than happy to be a foster mom for these two wild felines, perhaps because she was feeling very maternal following the birth of her own puppies. The park director noted that Sandra first came to the wildlife park after a request was put out to the public. They really needed a caring mom and it seems that they have gotten that in Sandra. Hopefully the three will continue to strengthen their bonds. Grasslands, open woodlands, scrublands, and dry savannas throughout Africa, India, and Asia They are found worldwide in domesticated settings Weight: Males weigh around pounds while females weigh pounds. Social Structure Live together in groups called prides Social animals and thrive on human interaction Lion Lions are undoubtedly iconic animals, known for their majestic appearance and impressive hunting skills. But aside from these surface-level characteristics, lions are complex creatures with fascinating physical and behavioral traits. Physical Characteristics Lions are the second largest cat species, with males being much more significant than females. Males can grow up to pounds, with females being slightly smaller, weighing around pounds. Their distinctive manes are a defining feature of male lions, with the color and thickness of the mane varying depending on the age and health of the lion. Lions have short, tawny fur and a tail tipped with a black coat that helps them navigate in the dark. Habitat and Distribution Lions are native to many countries in Africa, as well as some parts of Asia although there are only a few hundred Asian lions left. They typically inhabit savannahs and grasslands. Here they have access to ample prey and can easily traverse the terrain. Unfortunately, human encroachment and habitat destruction have put many lion populations at risk. According to estimations only around 20, wild lions remain in the world. Diet and Hunting Habits Lions are carnivorous predators that feed primarily on large animals like gazelles, antelopes, wildebeests, and zebras. Once a kill has been made, lions will often gorge themselves on the carcass. A single group is capable of consuming up to 50 pounds of meat in one sitting. Within these prides, there are a few large, dominant males, along with several females and their cubs. Also, Lions are known for their unique breeding habits, with females coming into heat only once every two years. During this time, the males within the pride will fight for access to the females. Only the most assertive and dominant males able to mate. Interaction With Humans As mentioned earlier, lion populations have taken a hit in recent years due to human activity, such as hunting and habitat destruction. In addition to these dangers, lions are sometimes considered a threat to human life in areas where they come into contact with humans. As a result, they are often shot and killed. Despite this, lions have long been a symbol of strength and power in human culture. There are numerous depictions of them in art and literature throughout history. As humans continue encroaching on lion habitats, finding ways to coexist with these impressive creatures will become increasingly important. German Shepherd Originally bred in Germany as a working dog, the German shepherd has now gained global popularity. It is now commonly used as a police or military dog, as well as a family pet. Physical Characteristics German Shepherds are a large breed of dog, standing at about inches tall at the withers and weighing between pounds. They have a muscular build and a thick coat that comes in a variety of colors, including black, tan, and sable. They have a distinctive, wolf-like appearance with erect ears and a pointed snout. Habitat and Distribution German Shepherds are a versatile breed that is found worldwide. They are commonly found in both urban and rural areas and can adapt to different climates. While the breed originated in Germany, they are now found all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Diet and Hunting Habits As a working breed, German Shepherds have a high energy level and require a nutritious diet to maintain their health and stamina. They are primarily carnivorous and thrive on a diet that includes high-quality protein sources such as meat, fish, and eggs. Their diet should always be adjusted according to their energy levels and age. Although they were originally bred for herding and protection, they are not typically used for hunting. Social Structure and Breeding Habits German Shepherds are a social breed that thrives on companionship and attention from their owners. They are intelligent and trainable, making them a popular choice for working roles such as police dogs or search and rescue dogs. In terms of breeding, German Shepherds typically have litters of puppies. They are known for their protective nature towards their offspring. Interaction With Humans German Shepherds have a long history of interaction with humans and are known for their loyalty and affection towards their owners. They have a protective nature and are excellent guard dogs. However, German shepherds also have a calm and playful side that makes them fantastic family pets. While lions can captivate onlookers with their majestic behavior, German shepherds offer loyalty and intelligence and, of course, cuddles. The lion is also an apex predator that hunts prey much larger than itself. Meanwhile, any domesticated dog breed, including the shepherd, relies on it human parent to provide it with its food and hopefully snacks too. Thank you for reading this article on the lion vs.

By Chris Labradoodles are amazing dogs, and Labradoodle colors are just as interesting! Labradoodles come in many different shapes, sizes, and coat shades. Labradoodle Images — our favorite Labradoodle photographs Some Labradoodles have black coats with white spots on their chest or paws. Others have brown coats with golden highlights around their eyes. But no matter what color labradoodle you have, they all make great companions for all! A chocolate medium Labradoodle enjoying a park visit Labradoodles with chocolate coats are such pretty dogs! There is a Labradoodle with a chocolate coat that lives in my neighborhood pictured above on a walk with my Labradoodle Max that I see every day walking all over the place. When he sees me, he actually jumps up on me and starts licking my face! He is a medium-sized Labradoodle dog. There are three sizes of Labradoodles, standard, medium, and miniature. Occasionally you will find a LAbradoodle that does not take to the water — but they are few and far between. The golden-brown coat of a tan Labradoodle enjoying the beach Labradoodles are more than just pets, they become part of our family. Labradoodles are friendly, social animals that love to play and run around with their human friends. Some Labradoodles like to be outdoors, and you will find them rolling in the grass, chasing butterflies, or just plain relaxing. This wavy coat white Labradoodle has very long hair. White coat Labradoodles can get pretty stained and dirty. White Labradoodles are especially prone to this. My labradoodle gets dirt all over his coat after she plays outside! Luckily basic grooming and shampoo do the trick. This rich black coat is a fairly common Labradoodle shade. Black Labradoodle puppies normally have black eyes too see the photo above. This actually makes it quite difficult to capture photographs of them. Labradoodles are loyal and bond closely with their primary family members Labradoodles are amazing friends! Australian Labradoodles are a different breed the Labradoodles although similar! Labradoodles come in all shapes and sizes. Some Labradoodles are thin while others are more stocky. A Red Miniature Labradoodle looks happy in the studio. Friendly, energetic, playful, social, cuddly, smart. AKA — the Labradoodle. Two Labradoodles sniff each other out at a dog park. Labradoodles get on well with other dogs. It is important to introduce your puppy to other dogs as soon as possible. If you live in a city, this will be easy because there will be lots of dogs everywhere. You can find out about off-leash dog parks and dog walking groups in your area and try going along to meet the Labradoodle owners and their Labradoodle friends. This can be done in a professional setting, but many owners prefer to take the job on themselves at home. You will need a Labradoodle-specific brush, labradoodle shampoo, scissors, and nail trimmers. Before you start brushing your Labradoodle put, it in a comfortable position in front of you on the floor or sitting on your lap. Brush their fur from head to tail with a Labradoodle-specific brush picking up any tangles as you go. Labradoodle playing in a water fountain. What a way to cool off on a warm day! Even though they have long coats, Labradoodles can still get sunburn or suffer from sun damage. Give them plenty of opportunities to cool off away from the sun. A Parti Labradoodle in this cause black and white Some Labradoodle will have two shades in their coats. Black and white two-shade Labradoodles are common. A Labradoodle dog running in the snow. Labradoodles love running through the snow, playing with their family, rolling around in the white stuff, barking at the sound of someone nearby, or just relaxing. Labradoodles are also found in many climates. The Labradoodles can be found living on islands such as Hawaii or Australia or on the cold mountainsides of Europe. It will help make bath time easier for life. It can even save money because some Labradoodles shed a lot of hair and need to be groomed more often and DIY grooming saves a bunch. A Labradoodle sits on a couch next to a Pomeranian. Non-shedding small dogs are popular. So are shedding small dogs like Boxers, Bulldogs, Pomeranians, and more A rich Apricot coat Labradoodle at the groomer. Miniature Labradoodles Images This Apricot Mini Labradoodle is looking up at the camera, because he thinks he might get a treat he did. My Labradoodle Max wearing his party hat. POV: You are walking my Labradoodle Max wearing his usual harness Labradoodle Max looks at a toilet paper wall obstacle Labradoodle Max enjoys a cuddle in a towel after a shower and bath Giving a labradoodle puppy a bath can be challenging. Bath time is much easier if Labradoodles are groomed early on. Labradoodles, like other dogs, need to be brushed often. A non-shedding dog coat still needs regular brushing, even when it is cut short like the photo above we shaved our Labradoodle Max before a beach holiday to help prevent coat knotting with daily swims. Before taking a puppy to the beach be sure you have a plan, and safety in mind. My Miniature Labradoodle Max wearing a stylish raincoat Dogs rarely need raincoats. We got one just because it looks great. It does help during walks in cold rain or when there is wind and I am worried that Max will get a chill. An Apricot Mini Labradoodle my puppy Max! Labradoodles will often hang out with their tongues out. A Red Labradoodle enjoying time in the snow. 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. He does not have the gene to make a rose-nosed puppy. They display slightly smaller curls than some pups, but it is still not a tight curly fleece. As adults, they will have a coat similar to Tilly, their mom. This coat is easy to care for, does not mat easily, and is easy to brush out regularly. The first two pups pictured have a different dad, they are out of Riley, and the other four are from Sam. Also, note that Riley's pups have a rose nose, and the others have a black nose. These two display tight fleece. Keep short for easy management, or brush regularly to avoid mattes. The first pup had a slightly curlier coat than the others and was fluffier as an adult. You can also see the rose nose on the caramel pup 3 versus the black nose on the apricot pup 6. The black pups range in colors; the first black Australian labradoodle puppy is solid but already showing signs of silver showing through around his nose and will likely silver out as he matures. The other two black pups are phantom or sable, with adorable brown eyebrows—two caramel pups with rose noses and one apricot pup with a black nose. You can see three of each type in this litter. The pups in positions 1, 3, and 6 are tight curls, and the other three are loose. An equal distribution of rose noses, 3 rose and three black. Gypsy makes a wide range of sizes in her litter. In this litter, the Australian labradoodle puppies range in weight, at age 1, from lbs.

Conformation indicates what the animal appears to be. But performance indicates what the animal actually is. We are passionate about demonstrating the versatility of the Poodle. Our dogs excel in a wide variety of performance sports, conformation, and service work. Our program has produced many titles in obedience, conformation, rally, dock diving, Fast CAT, lure coursing, nose work, disc dog, trick dog, etc. The Poodle is one of the most versatile breeds of dogs. Athletic and energetic, they make a wonderful outdoor friend. Calm and intelligent, they make the perfect indoor companion. Their warm, loving nature makes them excellent with children. Poodles are recommended by the AKC for allergy sufferers because they do not shed and have very low dander. We are also passionate about bettering the brown Standard Poodle as there is a limited gene pool of quality dogs compared to other Poodle colors. We love their fun personalities! We have been certified as an AKC Breeder of Merit because of our dedication to the Standard Poodle breed, performance show achievements, and commitment to fully health certifying all breeding dogs. We are a member of the Better Bred breeder community that works toward maintaining diversity while decreasing complex genetic disorders within the Poodle breed. All our dogs are fully health certified by the OFA and CHIC for numerous orthopedic and genetic diseases by a multitude of genetic tests and physical examinations so our puppies come from a healthy background. As a member of the Better Bred community, all our dogs have also been tested at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory as part of the Canine Genetic Diversity project which helps breeders to improve the health of breeding programs. An increase in genetic diversity decreases the likelihood complex autoimmune disorders and other complex diseases. We fully support this research which helps reduce complex genetic disorders within the Poodle breed. All our puppies come with a written 2-year genetic health guarantee. Life Span Did You Know? Although the Poodle is the national dog of France, they actually originated in Germany over years ago where they were commonly used as a duck hunter. Their curly coat protected them from the elements and they were bred for their excellent swimming skills, high intelligence, and incredible retrieval skills. The Poodle comes in three sizes — Standard, Miniature, and Toy. Throughout history, this dog breed has served many purposes. From living in the lap of luxury as companions to nobility to working out in the field as a valuable hunting companion to entertaining people in circuses around the world, the Poodle is right at home. Although they are more popular as a companion dog, the Poodle still maintains their athleticism and working dog instincts. Poodles are known for their intelligence, cheerful disposition, and sensitive nature. They are versatile dogs that make great family companions. They tend to get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. Due to their sensitive nature, they tend to be a better fit for older children who understand how to approach and interact with a dog appropriately. These dogs prefer peace and harmony in the household, so very young children that are too loud or rough can stress them out. The Standard Poodle also tends to be quite energetic until they are about two years old and may be prone to knock over small children in their excitement. Standard Poodles also tend to make great watchdogs and have some protective instincts. Without proper socialization, they can become skittish, nervous, and wary of strangers. Making sure any puppy is socialized early and often helps them grow into a confident, well-rounded dog. Standard Poodles are highly adaptable dogs. Their energy level tends to make them better-suited for larger homes with room for them to run. But, they can adapt well to apartment living as long as they receive the exercise, mental stimulation, and affection that they need. They tend to do well in most climates. As with most dog breeds, they are sensitive to very hot and very cold weather. These dogs are in-tune with their owners and thrive on human companionship and affection, so they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. Poodles are a relatively healthy dog breed, but there are some potential health concerns to be aware of. Because of their larger, barrel-chested body type, the Standard Poodle is also at risk for bloat. Responsible breeders will screen and test their stock to ensure the genetic propensity for breed-related conditions is not passed along to the puppies. Poodles are highly intelligent, sensitive, and eager to please their owners. They are highly trainable, pick up things quickly, and are a good fit for owners of any experience level. Because they are sensitive and in-tune with their owners, they respond best to consistent, positive training techniques focused on rewards and praise. Poodle coats are curly or corded and come in a wide variety of colors. Although Poodles are known for their low-shedding, hypoallergenic coats, their coats still require a lot of maintenance. Keeping your Poodle in a short clip can help reduce daily maintenance, but still requires regular professional grooming every four to six weeks to maintain it. A longer coat requires daily brushing in order to prevent matting in addition to professional grooming every four to six weeks. Regular professional grooming often helps with this as nail trimming should be done monthly, at least, to keep nails from growing too long. Dental care for dogs , like brushing their teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day, is essential to protecting them from painful dental diseases like gum disease and tooth decay. You, your dog, and your groomer will thank you for it! Who knows? If you ensure these experiences stay positive, they could even become a bonding time that your dog enjoys. These are high energy dogs that require a good amount of exercise and mental stimulation every day in order to be happy and healthy. They love to stay busy and may enjoy running with you, going for a swim, taking trips to the dog park , hiking with you, and more. They also tend to be a good fit for several dog sports, such as agility, dock diving, obedience, flyball, tracking, and more. A fully-grown Standard Poodle usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between pounds. They can be slightly smaller than the usual as the Standard size is denoted by being more than 15 inches tall at the shoulder. A Standard Poodle generally lives years. Featured Standard Poodle Article. What to consider before bringing your poodle home Our Philosophy We believe that standard poodles are loving members of the family. They are excellent companions who are devoted to their people. Poodles have a range of personality traits with varying levels of play drive, retrieve drive, prey drive, and, of course, couch-potato-ness. Most poodles love to play. Average, well-socialized poodles love to go everywhere with their family. The hallmarks of the standard poodle personality are well-rounded athleticism, intelligence, and a will-try-anything attitude that makes for a can-go-anywhere kind of dog. Standard poodles don't shed, are good with with children, and generally interact well with other pets. Just like people, each is unique and comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. Whether it's one of many solid colors, spotted or parti, a brindle, tuxedo, sable, or a phantom pattern, there's a standard poodle for everyone. Poodles need quality time with people and other animals, physical exercise and mental stimulation, quality food, medical care and grooming. Poodles are not outdoor dogs to be left tied up, away from people. Due to their high intelligence and athletic abilities they need something to do, someone to play with, and someone to guide them. If you have any questions about how best to care for your new family member, just ask. We're happy to help! Heart Song Standard Poodles is located just outside of Huntsville, Alabama on 4 acres where the poodles can watch our horses, bark without fear of bothering the neighbors and enjoy the natural outdoors. We strive to improve the breed with each puppy we bring into the world. We focus on temperament, health, diversity, and the breed standard. We carefully select our mothers and fathers, producing happier, healthier dogs in a range of colors. As advances in genetics improve our understanding of health issues, we continually adapt and modify our breeding program to take advantage of the latest science. As professional breeders we breed red, apricot, black, creme, white, brown, parti, phantom, sable, solid colored and brindle standard poodles. This is not written by us but it's how we do things. I thought of you years before you even realized. I planned for and cared about your baby long before you started thinking of adding to your family. I worried about your future with that puppy before you knew there would be one. There were hours upon hours spent researching lines for the parents of your puppies. Going over breeder after breeder, choosing not only my pet but looking for a dog that will make you your pet. Worrying if you'd be happy, if I had chosen correctly and your puppy would grow up healthy and happy. Going over puppy after puppy with fellow breeders, running over my program with as many knowledgeable breeders as I can, determined to not miss anything. Tracing lines back as far as I could, learning the ins and outs not only for my knowledge but so that I was informed, prepared to go over every detail with you, to answer the questions that sometimes you don't even ask. Then there's years of watching your puppies parents grow. Loving them and enjoying them as part of my family. Taking them every where I can, training them, socializing them, watching how they fill out. Asking myself I had made the right choice in both of them. Scrutinizing their conformation, how they move, and their temperament. There was the stress of health testing. Praying not only that my babies were healthy but that they had the genes to make your baby healthy. Finally came the time to put your puppies parents together. For the next 63 days I worried, I obsessed, I grew excited. I watched your puppies mom like a hawk. Making sure my baby was ok, monitoring her diet better than I do my own. Concerned that she was getting enough of the right nutrients and that your growing baby was getting the best start possible. I spent hours on the couch, floor, and dog bed with her watching her tummy grow and anxiously waiting. As your baby and mine grew I laid my hands on her tummy and felt the first movements of your puppy. As the time grew close I spent most nights in the nursery with her. Making sure she didn't go into labor without me knowing, in case something went wrong and one of our babies needed help. When labor started my whole life stopped. I spent every second with her. Your baby was born into my hands and I held my breath as I cleaned them up, watching for movement and breathing, cleaning them up, checking them over, and wondering if you'd love them as much as I already did. I helped your babies brother when mom got tired and he was stuck. I cried when your babies sister didn't make it. For the first 8 weeks most of my life was filled with your baby. Watching them grow and making sure I was doing everything possible to make sure they started their lives the right way. Making sure each one was getting enough to eat, enough socialization time, that they were de-wormed and given their shots. I was the first person they saw when they opened their eyes. I spent my weeks playing with them and keeping them safe. I searched for you and interviewed you. As you spoke I tried to read your character. Would you love them as much as I do? Would you bring them in as part of your family? Would you care for this tiny life that I brought into this world that I am responsible for? Some of you were turned away but some of you were welcomed into our family. The day you took your baby home was harder than I'd ever let on. I was excited for you but I was also terrified. Had I chosen correctly? Were you who you seemed to be? My love and worry didn't end there. I thought about your baby regularly, saddened when I didn't get updates, ecstatic when I did. I hoped you were caring for your baby the way I care for mine. I answered your questions happily and answered them again just as happily to your babies siblings new parents. When your puppies sister ate a couch I stayed up that night she was at the vets, waiting to hear that she was ok. When their brothers parents decided he no longer fit in their life I welcomed him home, sorry that I had chosen wrong for him and promised him it wouldn't happen again. I loved your baby first and I will never stop. Our puppies have been placed all over the United States. They adapt easily to any environment and travel well. We have puppies happily living in downtown Atlanta, Nashville, Miami and other large cities. Some of our puppies live in typical suburban homes, others in a rural setting or on the beach. You must fly with your puppy or drive to pick them up in person. We do not ship puppies. The poodle is also regarded as the national dog of France, where it was once commonly used as a retriever. Many poodles love water starting from a young age. Poodle puppies often play in their water bowls. Poodles also drink from the hose and frolic in the rain. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the poodle who doesn't want to get their feet wet, walks on the sidewalk, and refuses to go out in the rain. This poodle stands in the doorway, sniffs the rain in the air, and looks at you to say, "Do we really need to go out today? Sometimes, a poodle's size is described as teacup or royal standard. These terms are used to describe a very small toy or a large standard poodle, but are not official size categories of poodle. In Europe, there is a fourth size, known as a moyen in France meaning medium or a klein poodle in the rest of Europe. Moyen or klein poodles range between 15 and 20 inches at the shoulder. In the United States, a moyen or klein is considered a small standard poodle. At Heart Song Standard Poodles, we breed standard poodles. A standard poodle is a poodle that is 15 inches or over at the shoulder. Standard poodles can range from the smaller 15 inch to the larger 27 inches or more. The majority of standard poodles are between 45 and 60 pounds. Standard Poodles come in a variety of colors and patterns, including red, black, white, creme, apricot, silver, blue, brown, silver-beige, cafe-au-lait, parti, phantom, tuxedo, abstract, brindle, and sable. Some poodles are solid colored, while others are multi-colored. Multi-colored poodles include parti poodles, phantoms, brindles, and sables. AKC does allow both multi-colored and solid-colored poodles to participate in all other events including obedience, agility, rally, and more. Poodles are classified in the non-sporting group in the AKC. UKC allows both solid colored poodles and multi-colored poodles to be shown in conformation. They allow all poodles to compete in all events. Poodles in the UKC registry are classified in the gun dog group. Dogs that are advertised as merle poodles are not full blooded poodles. The poodle breed has no gene for the merle color. Dogs that are merle colored must have been mixed with another breed, even if it was many generations back. Be careful when anyone claims to have merle poodles. Unfortunately, unsuspecting buyers may purchase a merle puppy thinking it is a purebred poodle. They often pay a premium price because it is advertised as a rare color. Heart Song Poodles Blog Everything poodles, articles and tips on how to care for your poodle. Read our latest news. See More Available Standard Poodle Puppies for Sale When our Standard Poodle puppies are born they are individually identified with a small bit of different colors of nail polish, applied to the rump for the males and between the shoulders for the females. We have found in the past 25 years this to be the safest method of identifying our babies. In the past we have tried using, yarn which could be ingested and cause a blockage in the puppy. From the day they are born and for the first three weeks, all our Standard Poodle puppies are weighed every day. This process lets us know that each puppy is healthy, because a puppy should gain weight every day at this young age. If there is any weight loss, it is a warning that something could be wrong. Every other day, we feed the four to eight week old puppies an appetizing mix of chicken broth and kibble. Any puppy slow to dive into this tempting treat is weighed and examined and watched closely for several days. The first sign of a puppy not feeling well, is a loss of appetite. Our Standard Poodle puppies are well socialized and are exposed to horses, four wheelers, golf cart rides, car rides and more. They have had their faces and tails trimmed, nails clipped and ears cleaned multiple times before they reach seven weeks. We use the Dr. It was developed by the military and featured in an article in the May issue of the AKC Gazette. We felt this was a very encompassing socialization program and soon incorporated it into our program. Our Standard Poodle puppies are accustomed to being inside in a smaller climate-controlled area at night and have access to the outside and a large grassy yard and play area all day by the use of a doggie door. All age appropriate vaccines and de-wormers are administered to our Standard Poodle puppies. When you take your Standard Poodle puppy home you will receive a sample of the food that we use. You will have lots of questions about what to do about grooming, feeding, crating and other things related to taking your Standard Poodle puppy home. You will also have our assistance available to you throughout the life of your puppy. We also offer our own personal ground delivery service. All through the years we have also had great success shipping our Standard Poodle puppies by plane to their new families. Please take the time to read the fees charged and how both the shipping and personal ground delivery process works. Below, you will first see individual Standard Poodle puppies that are ready for their forever home now. You will be able to view photos of the Standard Poodle puppies available and under each photo will be a link to the video of the Standard Poodle puppy in the photo. Next you will see the younger Standard Poodle puppies that will be ready for their forever homes in the near future. You will see a slideshow of the Dam and Sire of each litter as well as a video of the litter itself. The date of birth, available pick up and available shipping date of litter will be listed.