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What is jug puppy? Six Pennsylvania dog breeders make Humane Society's Horrible. Keystone Puppies provides dog-lovers with a way to adopt puppies of all different types of breeds. Our puppies are raised in our new facility with lots of. The commercial puppy industry keeps dogs captive in cruel conditions just so they can keep making puppies. Thankfully, there are groups that work towards curbing the inhumane treatment of dogs in mills. A dozen breeding facilities on the list are in Pennsylvania, seven of which are in Lancaster County. May 9, by admin. French Bulldog-Westie-Hybrid Breeds. Lucy Martin has been a professional dog breeder for over 15 years and offers the finest quality healthy puppies. To promote the highest ideals among dog owners and breeders and aim for the continuous improvement of the breed within the framework of the approved breed standard, we pledge that: I will follow the rules of good sportsmanship which will be a credit to the breed, the club and myself in all dog. Each of our breeders complies with the necessary laws and regulations relating to the puppies they raise, breed, and the facilities they reside until they make it to your loving home. Browse thru our ID Verified puppy for sale listings to find your perfect puppy in your area. Puppy mills are inhumane high-volume dog breeding facilities that churn out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers. For over twelve years, we have proudly provided loving families with happy and…. Some of the dealers named in the report admitted to shooting dogs or puppies they didn't want. She plans to present the petition to the East Earl Township Zoning. Trees And Shrubs East Earl. We make it easy to find the perfect puppy for your family. Take a look at our available breeds below and contact us with any additional questions! Breeds Available in Pennsylvania African Boerboel. Dogs from puppy mills are often sick and unsocialized. Missouri has the most at 19, but Pennsylvania is in a three-way tie with. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help you find the puppy your whole family will love. East Earl Flights to East Earl. Pennsylvania has the second most problem puppy mills in the United States, according to a report from the Humane Society. The Amish are well-known for running puppy mills in PA. Tree Nursery East Earl. They are not the only people who have commercial kennels in the Keystone State. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of .Two Chester County dog kennels have named among the worst puppy mills in the country. Dave and Rose were wonderful throughout the process. According to published reports, Zimmerman's kennel sells about dogs a year, many to pet stores. Mini Bernedoodle Puppies For Sale. Location: East Earl, PA Phone: A dollar nonrefundable deposit is required if you want to reserve a puppy. It's time for dog lovers to fight back. We give responsible in-home family breeders a platform… 5. Puppy mills commonly sell through internet sales, online classified ads, flea markets and pet stores. A neighbor, Irene Haas of Valley View Road, said she has gathered 20 signatures on a petition against the dog kennel. East Earl, PA 2. Feel free to browse hundreds of active classified puppy for sale listings, from dog breeders in Pa and the surrounding. Lancaster County kennel included in list of 'problematic puppy mills'. All of our wonderful puppy's Mothers and Fathers have been screened and certified free of one or more genetic defects. All dogs and puppies sold are certified by licensed veterinarians as healthy and up to date on all vaccines and dewormings. Greenfield Puppies was founded in and has been helping people find their ideal puppy ever since. Are puppy mills legal in PA? Pennsylvania has a reputation for being a puppy mill state. PA Department of Agriculture. With Lancaster County's reputation as the puppy mill capital of the East , many people in search of a new pup, locals and out-of-staters alike, hesitate if they see a dog hails from a local breeder. Esther Mae Zimmerman has been breeding quality puppies for over 30 years. Help Stop Puppy Mills. For full auction info visit www. In Pennsylvania, the puppy. East Earl, PA 3. Find directions to East Earl, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more. Local kennel has animal activists howling. The following are puppy mills in Pennsylvania that have been reported to have problems such as selling underage puppies, having unsafe conditions, or not providing dogs with water: Evergreen. Lisa Weaver. Kennel plan draws protests in East Earl. A Commonwealth Court judge last week ruled that the owners of the kennel, CC Pets, Riverview Road, failed to state its name in newspaper ads as directed by the court four years ago. All members are very friendly and knowledgeable and always willing to help you. During the March 10 inspection, dogs were on the property. It is well-known that the Amish treat the dogs like crops. The Martins have over 20 years of experience working with dogs and puppies and have expertise in Dog Grooming to go along with their vast. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help. Marlin Zimmerman, Turkey Hill Kennel, East Earl, Pennsylvania Puppy mills often supply retail and online stores with dogs, many raised in cramped, squalid conditions, deprived of approved. New regulations under the state. Esther Mae Zimmerman official home page and web site. East Earl, PA .East Earl Area 6. A dollar nonrefundable deposit is required if you want to reserve a puppy. As a state licensed commercial kennel, our facility has temperature controlled heat and air conditioning throughout. The American Canine Association strives to give breeders the tools they need to be the best in America. Also, be sure to check the Dog Breeder listings in our Dog Breeder Directory, which feature upcoming dog litter announcements and current puppies for sale for that dog breeder. We can help you with everything from your siding and gutter installation, to window and door replacements, and more. Lancaster County kennel included in list of 'problematic. Ring 2 will start at am selling lots .Route Division Highway passes. Lucy Martin is located in the beautiful open countryside of rural Pennsylvania. By completing all of the requirements outlined in the program, breeders earn up to five stars and are considered the finest. It is bordered to the northwest by Blue Ball. Detailed information on every zip code in East Earl. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a healthy, playful puppy that you may enjoy for a long time. As of the census, it had a population of 1, Puppy mills harm everything near and dear to us as dog owners and as folks in the pet business. Pledge to stay informed, educate others and help us stamp out the puppy mill industry for good. We are a team of family oriented people who are driven to help people find a loving companion for the family. At the census the population was 5, Phone: Email: cedmar upwardprint. All of our wonderful puppy's Mothers and Fathers have been screened and certified free of one or more genetic. In Pennsylvania, the puppy. As of the census, it had a population of 1, All of our wonderful puppy's Mothers and Fathers have been screened and certified free of one or more genetic defects. Lancaster County kennel included in list of 'problematic puppy mills'. The following are puppy mills in Pennsylvania that have been reported to have problems such as selling underage puppies, having unsafe conditions, or not providing dogs with water: Evergreen. A neighbor, Irene Haas of Valley View Road, said she has gathered 20 signatures on a petition against the dog kennel. Browse thru our ID Verified puppy for sale listings to find your perfect puppy in your area. Dogs from puppy mills are often sick and unsocialized. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a healthy, playful puppy that you may enjoy for a long time. Missouri has the most at 19, but Pennsylvania is in a three-way tie with. At the census the population was 5, With Lancaster County's reputation as the puppy mill capital of the East , many people in search of a new pup, locals and out-of-staters alike, hesitate if they see a dog hails from a local breeder. PA Department of Agriculture. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help. Puppy mills harm everything near and dear to us as dog owners and as folks in the pet business. Lucy Martin has been a professional dog breeder for over 15 years and offers the finest quality healthy puppies. May 9, by admin. Six Pennsylvania dog breeders make Humane Society's Horrible …. Tree Nursery East Earl. Greenfield Puppies was founded in and has been helping people find their ideal puppy ever since. The commercial puppy industry keeps dogs captive in cruel conditions just so they can keep making puppies. According to published reports, Zimmerman's kennel sells about dogs a year, many to pet stores. Also, be sure to check the Dog Breeder listings in our Dog Breeder Directory, which feature upcoming dog litter announcements and current puppies for sale for that dog breeder. It's time for dog lovers to fight back. All of our wonderful puppy's Mothers and Fathers have been screened and certified free of one or more genetic. She plans to present the petition to the East Earl Township Zoning. Find your puppy for sale in East Earl, PA. Route Division Highway passes. East Earl, PA 3. A dozen breeding facilities on the list are in Pennsylvania, seven of which are in Lancaster County. For full auction info visit www. Six Pennsylvania dog breeders make Humane Society's Horrible. Feel free to browse hundreds of active classified puppy for sale listings, from dog breeders in Pa and the surrounding. Lucy Martin is located in the beautiful open countryside of rural Pennsylvania. Keystone Puppies provides dog-lovers with a way to adopt puppies of all different types of breeds. All dogs and puppies sold are certified by licensed veterinarians as healthy and up to date on all vaccines and dewormings. East Earl Area 6. Help Stop Puppy Mills. Esther Mae Zimmerman official home page and web site. They are not the only people who have commercial kennels in the Keystone State. Phone: Email: cedmar upwardprint. Puppy mills are inhumane high-volume dog breeding facilities that churn out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of .Lancaster County kennel included in list of …. Two Chester County dog kennels have named among the worst puppy mills in the country. Are puppy mills legal in PA? Pennsylvania has a reputation for being a puppy mill state. Pennsylvania has the second most problem puppy mills in the United States, according to a report from the Humane Society. The American Canine Association strives to give breeders the tools they need to be the best in America. East Earl, PA 2. Pledge to stay informed, educate others and help us stamp out the puppy mill industry for good. The Martins have over 20 years of experience working with dogs and puppies and have expertise in Dog Grooming to go along with their vast. Find directions to East Earl, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more. What is jug puppy? All members are very friendly and knowledgeable and always willing to help you. Marlin Zimmerman, Turkey Hill Kennel, East Earl, Pennsylvania Puppy mills often supply retail and online stores with dogs, many raised in cramped, squalid conditions, deprived of approved. Some of the dealers named in the report admitted to shooting dogs or puppies they didn't want. Esther Mae Zimmerman has been breeding quality puppies for over 30 years. By completing all of the requirements outlined in the program, breeders earn up to five stars and are considered the finest. A Commonwealth Court judge last week ruled that the owners of the kennel, CC Pets, Riverview Road, failed to state its name in newspaper ads as directed by the court four years ago. Demand drives puppy mills. For over twelve years, we have proudly provided loving families with happy and…. It is well-known that the Amish treat the dogs like crops. Thankfully, there are groups that work towards curbing the inhumane treatment of dogs in mills. French Bulldog-Westie-Hybrid Breeds. The Amish are well-known for running puppy mills in PA. Dave and Rose were wonderful throughout the process. East Earl Flights to East Earl. Kennel plan draws protests in East Earl. During the March 10 inspection, dogs were on the property. Six Pennsylvania dog breeders among humane society's. We can help you with everything from your siding and gutter installation, to window and door replacements, and more. Each of our breeders complies with the necessary laws and regulations relating to the puppies they raise, breed, and the facilities they reside until they make it to your loving home. As a state licensed commercial kennel, our facility has temperature controlled heat and air conditioning throughout. Detailed information on every zip code in East Earl. Puppy mills commonly sell through internet sales, online classified ads, flea markets and pet stores. Lancaster County kennel included in list of 'problematic. We make it easy to find the perfect puppy for your family. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help you find the puppy your whole family will love. Our puppies are raised in our new facility with lots of. Ring 2 will start at am selling lots .A dollar nonrefundable deposit is required if you want to reserve a puppy. Lisa Weaver. East Earl, PA .Trees And Shrubs East Earl. To promote the highest ideals among dog owners and breeders and aim for the continuous improvement of the breed within the framework of the approved breed standard, we pledge that: I will follow the rules of good sportsmanship which will be a credit to the breed, the club and myself in all dog. Take a look at our available breeds below and contact us with any additional questions! Breeds Available in Pennsylvania African Boerboel. Pennsylvania has second greatest number of problem puppy mills …. Location: East Earl, PA Phone: A dollar nonrefundable deposit is required if you want to reserve a puppy. New regulations under the state. We give responsible in-home family breeders a platform… 5. It is bordered to the northwest by Blue Ball. We are a team of family oriented people who are driven to help people find a loving companion for the family. Chronicled are dogs and puppies exposed to extreme cold or heat without adequate housing, and some living in filthy conditions, according to the report. Some of the dealers named in the report admitted to shooting dogs or puppies they didn't want. Owner: Jenn Miller. State inspectors found "multiple serious violations" during several visits to the business in .Those include dirty conditions for the animals, a dog with a mammary tumor, and dogs in need of veterinary care, one handicapped by a previous broken leg. She was cited in June for some of the repeated issues that inspectors found, according to the Humane Society's report. Owner: James Burkholder. At least four citations were issued in for refusing an inspection, interfering with inspectors and failure to keep appropriate animal records. This business had been cited for 20 violations in for poor animal care, the Horrible Hundred report says. Owner: Jennie Armstrong. Armstrong received four citations in for animal care violations, including dogs left in the sun with no shade, unsanitary kennels, and crowded cages, according to the report. Owner: Levi Kauffman. In February, the kennel was issued a cease and desist order from the state for operating without a license, according to state records. Other issues at the kennel included lack of appropriate records and failed inspections because of kennels in which dogs could be injured, according to the Humane Society's report. Owner: Sam Kauffman. The business was cited in for a housing issue by the state's Office of Dog Law. It has had repeated issues with failure to have dogs examined by a veterinarian, according to the report. Owner: Margaret Graf. It has failed state inspections repeatedly for inadequate certifications and records as well as cages that were too small, according to the report. In previous Horrible Hundred reports, Graf was called out for unsanitary kennels and inadequate shelter for dogs.

If we want to learn anything about their offspring, we must review certain genetic facts and statistics beforehand. This is the dog that carries it. The Bichon Frise looks like a vanilla cupcake or cream puff with a height of 9 — 12 inches 23 — 30 cm and a weight of 6. It has an affectionate, playful, and cheerful temperament, with a slice of feistiness and sensitivity on the side. The primary health concerns to look out for are epilepsy, White Shaker Syndrome which causes the dog to shake uncontrollably , and dyskinesia — a type of movement disorder. But the vet will be able to make a proper diagnosis. A healthy Bichon Frise has a life expectancy of 12 — 15 years. Brief Overview Of The Poodle Poodles of all sizes toy , mini, and standard have two universal crowd-pleasing traits. The height and weight of a Poodle can be broken down into three categories. Across the mini, toy, and standard growth charts, the height fluctuates between 9 — 24 inches 21 — 61 cm. The weight between 6 — 60 pounds 3 — 27 kg. All sizes are intelligent, active, and faithful, and live between 12 years. Like the Bichon Frise, the Poodle may suffer from epilepsy at some point in its life. It may also experience the following health issues. The Poodle and the Bichon Frise have identical lifespans, so their offspring are predicted to live between 12 — 15 years as well. A full-grown Bichon Poodle should be about 9 to 15 inches cm tall at the withers with a weight of 6 — 17 pounds 3 — 8 kg. The Bichpoo can also be found in cream, black, blue, and apricot. There are certain arguments in life that will never be settled. Blonde vs. When it comes to dogs, there is no definitive, black and white answer. There will always be at least one exception. Although, the point of cross-breeding is to eliminate certain health concerns. So, what predictions can we make about hybrid dogs? The first generation of the Bichon Poodle Mix is healthier than its parent breeds. The second generation is not as healthy as the first, and any issues that arise in round two will most likely carry on in round three and so forth. With alert and active parents, the Poochon will be no different. This mix needs daily exercise preferably outside for at least 30 minutes. It has a lot of energy to burn. Keep in mind that mental and physical stimulation are different, and the Bichon Poodle Mix needs both. A bored Bichpoo will bark and whine or turn your shoes into a chew toy of its own with your permission. OK, we get it. The Bichpoo is smart, but can it be taught to play dead? Or roll over? Or give a high-5? And Yes. This breed is capable of learning a solid amount of tricks. Just make sure to have plenty of treats on-hand for positive reinforcement. Watch how well this Bichpoo gives its owner a high-5 and pay attention to how she rewards her dog! Every breed comes with at least one trait we wish we could alter. This comes from the Poodle side. If your Bichon Poodle Mix is not socialized at an early age, it can develop separation anxiety when left alone for hours. The Bichpoo can show moments of mild aggression around unfamiliar dogs. The Bichon Poodle is a loving companion for adults, children, and strangers, which makes it one of the best family dogs. Haircuts every two months are a necessity to keep its coat tame. If that sounds like too much responsibility or money, you can shave your Bichpoo in the summertime. Its coat causes minimal shedding, which makes it a good option for owners with allergies or who want a clean house. The last part of grooming requires occasional teeth brushing to keep mouth infections at bay. Bichon Poodle owner Sandy Rothra recommends feeding your mix canned dog food because it contains a higher percentage of meat protein. This counts for all dog breeds: if your pup gets sick with a kidney or heart issue, you will need to change its diet. You should never feed any dog chocolate, onions, grapes, and raisins. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. Poochons have high energy and are prone to weight gain. Make sure your dog gets frequent walks and play sessions through out the day. If you keep a hanky near by to wipe their eyes when they get moist, it can help minimize the tear stains that their breed is prone to getting. Multiple dogs sometimes clean each others eyes, but dogs typically do not clean their own eyes. Check their ears for debris and pests daily and clean them as recommended by your vet. They should not be clicking loudly against the floor. Your groomer can help with this. You should brush their teeth daily, as small breeds are prone to dental issues. Poochon Feeding An ideal Poochon diet should be formulated for a small breed with moderate to high energy. They have a tendency to gain weight if they are overfed, so you should stick to a regular feeding schedule and not leave food out during the day. The main colors of Poochons are cream, tan, and apricot. Usually their coats are solid, and sometimes they have blend of colors. Less common colors are black or grey. Both parent breeds are high maintenance when it comes to grooming, and you can expect the same from the Poochon. These pups will most likely require daily brushing along with shampooing every few weeks with a mild product and monthly grooming. Poochons are prone to tear stains. If you decide to adopt a Poochon, keep a cloth tissue on hand to dab their eyes regularly. It helps manage the tear staining quite a bit. Poochon Children And Other Pets Poochons adore kids and families and the endless noise and commotion that comes with them. However, because the Poochon is a small dog, they can be easily injured by overly excited children. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child. The Poochon enjoys the company of other dogs, as long as they receive their fair share of attention from their owner. Since Poochons have a social nature, a family with lots of animals could be ideal. For an active, social person, the Poochon could be your perfect co-pilot for life. Poochon Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for Poochons because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try Poodle or Bichon Frise breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try:. The difference between these variants lies in their size, when full-grown. While the former weighs about 6 to 12 pounds, the weight of the latter is 13 to 18 pounds. By height, they stand between 9 and 14 inches. Temperament Respectively, both the cheerful, cuddly, loving personality and the playful, intelligent and charismatic characteristics of the Bichon Frise and the Poodle have been inherited by this Poodle Bichon mix. Care Exercise The moderately active, very small bichon poo do not need vigorous exercise, but taking them to a regular walk and allowing them to play, especially being crazy about reflections in the mirror, is enough. But increase the session-time if your pet lives mostly indoors. Grooming Although not much maintenance is necessary for their very little hair loss, but their hair being long and curly gets entangled easily, hence they need regular brushing to retain a smooth coat, just like a haircut is, if it is too long, but by experienced hands approximately every 6 to 8 weeks. Bathe them if only needed, but do keep an eye for ear infections and brush their teeth few times weekly to avoid tooth decay. Health Problems As a cross, bichon poo does not have much health issues, except genetic disorders and common dog diseases like ear problems and infections, PRA, epilepsy, diabetes, cataracts, allergies and other skin disorders. Training Inheriting the intelligence of the Poodle, the Bichon Poodle puppies would be difficult to housetrain. You should also impart socialization and obedience training to your pets without being harsh and intolerant. In order to make the learning process interesting and fulfilling, you can incorporate positive reinforcement tricks. Feeding Do not feed your dog with chocolate, grapes, raisins or onions. Feed them with the correct proportions of high-quality protein, carbohydrates, vegetables and fats. They also need vitamins, calcium and other minerals in their diet chart. Eliminate harmful additives or preservatives. Homemade dog foods that are cooked can contain brown rice, chicken or other types of red meats and a variety of green, yellow and orange vegetables. If you want to include raw foods, give your bichon poo skinless chicken or other lean meats, green and orange vegetables and bones as a part of their meals. Dry dog food is also readily available in the market, but that has to be high-quality, meant for small-size, moderately active dogs. Interesting Facts Bichon Poos are tolerant with other animals. They make a good companion dog and love to be around its owner and his family. Bichpoos possess double coat. The inner coat is soft and silky but the outer coat is bigger and curly. Low History of the Poochon The history of the poochon is not well recorded. Purebred dogs have been bred for generations following a special blueprint called the breed standard, which is the written description of the ideal physical and temperamental traits of the breed. The breed standard is what gives purebred dogs predictable height and weight, body structure, color, coat type, and temperament. The poochon is a hybrid and not a purebred dog, so it does not have a breed standard and it is not standardized. This means that there is a lot of variation in the way individual poochons might look and act. A poochon that is a cross between a purebred bichon frise and a purebred poodle might look more like a bichon or more like a poodle, or could look different from both breeds. That said, these parent breeds are more similar than different, both in looks and temperament, so poochons are likely to look and act in a similar manner to the parent breeds. Some might question the reasoning behind breeding together such similar breeds. Crossbred puppies have the potential of inheriting congenital diseases and disorders present in both parent breeds. The poochon is not recognized by any of the purebred dog registries such as the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club. What Is a Designer Dog Breed? Poochon Care Grooming requirements for the poochon are the same as those for the bichon frise and poodle. The curly, dense coat of the poochon sheds very little or not at all, but daily brushing or brushing every other day is necessary to remove loose hair from the coat and prevent matting. Grooming Poochons with undercoats likely need more frequent brushing than poochons with single coats. Like their parent breeds, poochons need haircuts from a professional groomer every four to eight weeks. Clean the ears with a pet safe ear cleaner if they look dirty. If you see excessive dirt or redness in the ears, or if your poochon is shaking its head or scratching at the ears, schedule a veterinary visit. Exercise Both parent breeds of the poochon are lively and energetic, but poochons are small enough to get enough exercise through one or two daily walks plus playtime with you inside or outdoors. Some poochons are athletic and might enjoy training for dog sports like agility and flyball. Training Like the bichon and poodle, poochons are extremely smart and trainable. Bichons were once famous as circus dogs performing charming tricks, and poodles are considered one of the smartest breeds. Poochons respond readily to positive training methods like clicker training along with tasty treats and other food rewards. Most purebred dogs have specific inherited health issues common to the breed. Crossing bichons with poodles means that poochon puppies are at risk of inheriting any of the genetic diseases found in either breed. The bichon frise is prone to:. What Is the History of Bichon Poodles? In order to understand what a poochon might be like, we need to know more about the history of the bichon frise and the poodle. The bichon frise hails from Tenerife in the Canary Islands and was popular among the nobility of France, Spain, and Italy from about the 13th century onward. After the French Revolution in , these little dogs lost their noble benefactors. They ended up performing tricks, first as street performers, then in circuses. Just like bichon frises, poodles found popularity amongst French nobility and even spent some time in European circuses. However, their roots have nothing to do with luxury or the performing arts. Instead, poodles were duck hunters that originated in Germany. Even today, standard poodles are used for hunting fowl. As for the bichon poodle, this mix cropped up around the late s in Australia. It is believed that breeders were attempting to create an active but affectionate pet that would make a wonderful companion for families with kids. Though poodles come in three sizes, only miniature and toy poodles are typically chosen to mate with bichon frises. Poochons are small dogs with long curly hair often clipped short , fluffy tails, and cute button noses. They can come in various colors, but some of the most popular are apricot, cream, white, and red. Most bichpoos will be toy to miniature sized. What Size Is a Bichon Poodle? Bichon poodles are 9 to 15 inches tall and weigh between 6 and 17 pounds on average. Bichpoos with a toy poodle parent are more likely to be on the smaller side of this scale, whereas those with a miniature poodle parent may be on the larger end of this range. Both bichon frises and poodles have hair that is curly and grows long. Therefore, you can expect the same from a bichon poodle mix. Bichon poodles are happy-go-lucky dogs that see everyone as their friend. They make lovely family pets as they are great with children and enjoy activity and play. Bichpoos are very affectionate with their families and enjoy cuddling and being petted. Are Bichon Poodles Affectionate? Bichon frises were bred to be companion dogs, and poodles are known to be affectionate toward their families. Therefore, you can expect a mix of the two to be an absolutely loving dog. If you want a dog you can cuddle with; there is a high chance that a bichpoo will want to cuddle with you, too. They are wonderful little lapdogs who welcome physical touch. Bichon poodles are also quite friendly toward strangers. In fact, they tend to view everyone as friends and are quick to warm up to new people. This mixed breed is both gentle and playful. That said, it is important to always supervise kids and dogs. Because the bichon poodle is diminutive, children must be taught how to safely handle and respect this breed so as not to cause injury. While bichon frises have a low prey drive, the same cannot be said of the poodle, who was originally bred for hunting. So it would not be a total surprise should they enjoy chasing squirrels in the yard. If you have small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, or the like, be aware of the possibility that a bichpoo may see them as prey. Socializing a bichon poodle mix puppy with small animals can help, but it is recommended that you exercise caution if you decide to keep small pets in a home with a bichpoo. Though small animals may be out, other dogs are not. Bichon poodles tend to be quite friendly toward fellow dogs. Are Bichon Poodles Aggressive? Though it is possible for any dog of any breed to become aggressive, this is definitely not the norm for the bichon poodle. This breed is generally very friendly and happy-go-lucky toward everyone they meet. Fear can be a cause of aggression. Do Bichon Poodles Bark a Lot? Bichon poodles are not known for being quiet. How much a dog barks will vary by individual, but it is not uncommon for bichpoos to bark a lot. This may not make them the best option if you live in an apartment with noise restrictions. However, if you are dedicated to putting in the effort, you can teach them to bark less. This training can work especially well if you start it during puppyhood, but training at any age can still be effective. Are Bichon Poodles Intelligent? Bichon Poodles are very smart little dogs. Poodles themselves are considered one of the smartest dog breeds, and we know that bichons frises are more than capable of learning complex tricks — after all, they did spend time in the circus! So a dog born of these two intelligent breeds is likely to be a smarty-pants. Are Bichon Poodles Easy to Train? Training is a joy when you have an intelligent dog that enjoys learning. This is definitely true of the bichon poodle. These little dogs are eager to please as they love receiving praise and treats from their favorite people. Because they are smart, they can also learn a plethora of interesting cues, including complicated tricks. We always recommend that dog owners take their pups to a training class of some sort because it keeps you on task with your training, allows you to ask questions, provides socialization, and offers a new or distracting environment for your dog to learn in. However, the bichon poodle is relatively easy to train, so hiring a professional trainer, while helpful, is not necessary. Similarly, you do not need to be an experienced trainer to successfully teach your bichon poodle new skills. Do your research, be clear and consistent, and use positive reinforcement techniques. Respect your dog and remember that training should be fun, and your bichpoo will be trained before you know it. Are Bichon Poodles Energetic? The bichon poodle is considered a high-energy breed, which is no surprise since one of their parents, the poodle, was originally bred for hunting. You should definitely walk a poochon daily as well as engage in play. Bichon poodles will enjoy a romp around a yard but are also happy to play indoors. Most bichon poodles are satisfied with about an hour of exercise per day. If your poochon seems bored, then you may need to provide even more exercise. Aside from their barking habits, bichon poodles can be a great option for apartment living. They can easily get their exercise via walks or even indoor games on rainy days. Are Bichon Poodles Good Watchdogs? A bichon poodle will alert you to the presence of someone at the door or anything else they find out of place. For this reason, they can be considered good watchdogs. However, they are very friendly toward strangers and, of course, are quite small, so they cannot offer you much more than a four-legged alarm system. Bichon poodles are too small to fit every service niche for instance, they could not guide the blind , but they can make for talented service dogs in general. Their loving, affectionate nature would also make them a great option for someone who is looking to get an emotional support animal. For those who want to bring joy to others, a bichon poodle would likely excel as a therapy dog because they tend to be quite friendly and do well with children and adults. How to Care for a Bichon Poodle The bichon poodle usually requires visits to a groomer every four to six weeks to have their coat clipped. Otherwise, they require brushing at least weekly and should have their ears checked for infection regularly. Perhaps the most vital care for a bichon poodle is dental care. You must brush their teeth every single day. This is because the bichon poodle is predisposed to periodontal disease, and it is not uncommon for this breed to lose teeth because of it. This is because the bacteria growing in an unhealthy mouth can spread, often leading to systemic issues in the heart, kidneys, or liver. As their hair grows back out, you should brush even more frequently to prevent matting. Mats make it difficult for groomers to give the dog a neat clip, and severe matting is painful. Bathing once a month is enough for a poochon, but you can also choose to bathe as needed. Do Bichon Poodles Shed? The bichon poodle mix is a minimal shedder. This is because their hair grows long and continuously. This cycle of growth can take years, which is why the breed is considered low shedding and hypoallergenic. What Should a Bichon Poodle Eat? Bichon poodles should eat the highest quality small breed dog food you can afford. The best dog foods meet AAFCO guidelines, are formulated by a veterinary nutritionist, and undergo feeding trials. To determine how much to feed your bichon poodle, check the guidelines on your preferred dog food. Bichon poodles are at risk for all the same diseases for which poodles and bichon frises are at risk. Though these health risks may seem scary, there are ways to increase your chances of getting a healthy pup who will live a long, happy life. The best option is to get your bichon poodle puppy from a responsible breeder who health tests their dogs. These health tests ensure that the parent dogs do not have any identifiable diseases that could be passed on to the offspring. Responsible breeders not only health test their dogs but are also more than willing to share the results with potential adopters. Poodles live between 10 and 18 years whereas bichon frises live about 14 to 15 years. Therefore, you can expect a bichpoo to have a similar lifespan. Are Bichon Poodles Expensive? Your recurring monthly expenses for a bichpoo will mostly consist of grooming and food. How to Find a Bichon Poodle Breeder? What are your credentials? You should learn about how long the breeder has been in business and how familiar they are with bichon poodles. Have the parent animals undergone health testing? Ask to see these tests. Can I see where the dogs are kept? Can I meet the parent? How do you socialize your puppies? Socialization is important for puppies to become friendly and confident. Are the puppies up-to-date on vaccinations? Do you offer a health guarantee with a contract? Some breeders guarantee the health of their puppies: should your puppy come down with a serious illness early on, the breeder may offer to reimburse the purchase price of the dog or even take the puppy back. This will also help you avoid irresponsible breeders. What do you require of potential adopters? Many breeders want to make sure their puppies are going to homes where they will be treated well and kept for life. Therefore, breeders may ask a number of questions about you, your situation, and your experience as a dog owner. Can You Adopt a Bichon Poodle? These shelters typically rescue mixes of their designated breeds. You should also keep an eye on small breed rescues. Are Bichon Poodles Purebred? Bichon poodles are not purebred. Rather, they are the offspring of two purebred dogs: the poodle and the bichon frise. Some bichon poodles may also have two bichon poodle parents. Can You Show Bichon Poodles? Unfortunately, only purebred dogs are allowed to be shown. This is partly because purebreds have a set standard for how each breed should look and be proportioned. No such standard exists for mixed breeds like the bichon poodle, so they cannot participate in dog shows. The bichon poodle would make a great first dog for a new dog owner. The bichon poodle is a wonderful dog with many desirable traits. The Bichon poodle may be right for you if: You want a dog you can cuddle with. You have children and want a family dog. You want a dog that has low-maintenance grooming needs. Finding a Bichon Poodle puppy The History The Bichpoo originated in Australia during the s, as a loving household pet that would do well with children and other pets. This hybrid has quickly grown in popularity in recent years, as more people discover their benefits as companion animals. But their history goes way further back than that. The Bichon Frise is thought to be descendant from the Bichon Tenerife, a member of the Barbichon breed family. The Bichon got its start on the Canary Islands, specifically on the island of Tenerife. The breed has roots dating back to at least the 13th century, when they grew quite popular with European royalty as lapdogs. Eventually the breed made its way to the Americas, where it was officially recognized by the AKC in the early s. The Poodle has a storied history dating back at least years. It is thought to have originated in Germany, where it was bred for retrieving waterfowl for hunters. The Standard Poodle, the original breed, was bred down to the Miniature, which was then bred down again to the Toy variety. Today, all three versions of the Poodle — as well as their various cross-breeds — remain popular. What is the temperament of the Bich Poo? The Bich Poo typically takes on many of the characteristics of its parent breeds. Most Bichon Poodle mixes will have a lively, affectionate and active disposition. They are also quite intelligent. Typically a Bichon Toy Poodle will have an accommodating, patient nature. This makes them a good choice for households with children or other pets. They are prone to sudden bursts of energy, so you will commonly see them zooming around for short periods of time. They also tend to bark a lot. This can make them good watchdogs. But it also means that if they are not trained properly at a young age, barking can become excessive. Poochons typically do not do well if left alone. They are prone to separation anxiety and tend to bark continuously when left by themselves. Bichon Poodle puppies could take on more characteristics from one parent breed or the other. Physical Characteristics The physical characteristics and appearance of this breed can vary, just as the behavioral tendencies can differ. It depends which parent breed comes through stronger. With that said, the bulk of these dogs are small, at 6 to 12 pounds on average. They typically have a height of 9 to 14 inches when fully grown. The size of a Bichpoo dog will also vary depending on the size of the parents, and whether the Poodle parent was of the Miniature or Toy variety. Their cute button nose is the only feature to emerge from the thick curls. Their coats are typically quite soft, as long as they are properly maintained and cared for. They also inherit the Poodle tendency for very minimal shedding. The Bichon Poodle coat is typically white or apricot, with various other light shades being possible, but not common. The Bichon Poo requires frequent brushing to keep their coat soft and prevent matting. Ideally, you should brush its coat daily. Frequent Bichon Poo haircuts are a necessity. Coats should be trimmed every two months or so to maintain a manageable length and prevent matting. Shedding is very minimal with this breed, but routine brushing is still essential. Dental care is also important for this breed, as they can be susceptible to gum infections and related dental problems. They have a moderate to high energy level, and enjoy frequent walks and playtime. Because of their small size, they do better with frequent shorter walks, instead of long ventures once a day. They also tend to have quick bursts of energy, during which time they love to run around and play. As for training, this mix is typically eager to please. This is particularly true with problem behaviors like excessive barking. Health Concerns Bichon Poodle mixes are prone to many of the health concerns that are prevalent in their parent breeds. Eye problems are common, including progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Dental concerns are another common issue. Bichons, in particular, are prone to gum infections and tooth loss. Other concerns like patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, sebaceous adenitis, and Von Willebrand disease are also common. Many of these health concerns can be tested for. Reputable breeders will conduct health tests on their breeding stock to help minimize the risk of complications. Interestingly, there is some evidence to suggest that first generation mixes i. Second generations and beyond the offspring of two Bichon Poodle mixes are more likely to show health concerns common in Poodle and Bichon Frise dogs. Thus, some experts recommend specifically seeking out reputable breeders that offer first-generation puppies. As with any breed, frequent veterinary checkups are important and should be scheduled at least once a year. A good breeder will conduct health tests on their breeding stock to help reduce the risk of various inherited health concerns. To locate breeders, search the web for resources in your area. Before settling on a breeder, be sure to do some research into the background and reputation of the company or individual. Reputable breeders will not hesitate to show you health records and test results. It is considered a designer dog breed. The mix originated in Australia and started appearing in the late s. The goal was to breed a low or non-shedding dog that was sturdy and active with a temperament for families with children. The Bich-Poo is charming, affectionate, highly intelligent, and eager to please. They tend to get along well with other pets and with children, which makes them a great fit for families. Bich-Poos are also alert watchdogs. They can be prone to excessive barking, but training and socialization as a puppy can curb this tendency. Although they will alert you as a watchdog, they are more interested in making friends, so will not make a good guard dog. Bich-Poos are highly adaptable. They do well in apartments or larger homes as long as they get enough exercise and fit right in with families with children, other pets, or both. They do well in most climates and, as with most dog breeds, caution should be taken with extreme heat or cold. With this first generation cross, many of the health issues associated with the parent breeds are often not a concern. However, there is always the potential for inherited issues. Some of the potential breed-related health concerns are allergies, patella luxation, and progressive retinal atrophy. Because they are a small dog breed, they are also prone to breaks and fractures if dropped. This designer dog breed tends to be highly intelligent. That, paired with their eagerness to please their owner, makes them quick learners and fairly easy to train. They tend to be a good fit for owners of any experience level. Novice owners may want to enroll in obedience and training classes to ensure training and socialization is going as it should. A professional trainer can also help you put a plan in place to eliminate any potential issues with separation anxiety or the nipping that can become a common fear or anxiety response in small dogs. A Bich-Poo will often have a soft and curly coat. If their coat takes on Poodle properties, then it will be low-shedding and hypoallergenic. Common coat colors are typically light, like white or apricot, but can appear in other colors like tan, brown, black, or gray. Professional grooming every six to eight weeks is also a good idea for a healthy coat. You will also want to trim their nails monthly and clean their eyes and ears regularly. Although small, these dogs are robust and energetic. They tend to have bouts of high energy and require regular exercise throughout the day. Although they are active dogs, moderate levels of exercise will be enough to tire them out. Regular exercise, like daily walks and active playtime, will help immensely when your pup gets a sudden spike of energy and starts racing. Some of their energy bursts can seem endless, but, due to their smaller size, they do tend to tire quickly, so these bouts of energy will likely be on the shorter side. After that, your Bich-Poo will likely be ready for a nap and some cuddles. Keeping your dog well-exercised and engaged is key. A bored dog is one that can become restless and start to whine, chew, or bark. This designer dog breed usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh between pounds. A Bichpoo will generally live between years. Featured Bich-poo Article.

Whether you want a good family pet or an AKC show dog, this breed is the perfect choice. Our Labrador puppies in Michigan come in all three recognized colors — chocolate, black and yellow. We breed the classic English Labrador, known for its stocky appearance and otter tail, and all our adult dogs are AKC pure English lines. Because of this, many of our Labrador puppies for sale in Michigan have excelled in rally, obedience, conformation and agility. This is all on top of being loving family companions. Our available puppies are great choices for multiple needs and tasks. To learn more about the breed and breed standards of our Lap puppies, visit this helpful American Kennel Club resource. Interested in purchasing one of our Labrador retriever puppies for sale in Michigan? Check out the individual page for a specific litter. You can also contact us to be put on the deposit list for picks, and to also hold a puppy. Our puppy Price is for limited registration. Deposits are non-refundable. Full AKC Registration breeding and show rights contact us for an additional fee. Finding the right Labrador Retriever puppy can be mind boggling We here at Rozey K9 Farm provide a convenient and efficient means of selecting and purchasing the perfect Labrador Retriever puppy or Labrador Retriever puppies from your home through videos and pictures or on a visit to our farm. Take advantage of browsing our puppies or adult dogs. We are known as reputable Labrador Retriever dog breeders. Take a look at our individual Labrador Retriever puppy for sale listings with photos and detailed descriptions. We also offer shipping for our Labrador Retriever puppies for sale. As one of the trustworthy Michigan Labrador Retriever dog breeders with puppies for sale we offer a health guarantee. With several Labrador Retriever puppies for sale and numerous Labrador Retriever dog breeders, you're sure to find the perfect Labrador Retriever puppy with us. We are located close to Grand Rapids, MI. You can have your new family home soon. Check out the different Labrador litters and give us a call at to get started. The website is usually up-to-date but we do advice you to email us first to make sure a puppy spot it still available. You can do that above. Price is for limited registration. Deposits are non-refundable. All prices are for pups sold on a Spay and Neuter Contract pet price, does not include breeding and show rights. Full Breeding Registration breeding and show rights contact us for an additional fee. Why is one of Rozey Labrador Retriever puppies right for you? Ready to welcome your Chocolate Lab puppy into your home? Rozey Labrador Retrievers is the right place to come. We are committed to providing chocolate Labrador retrievers in Michigan that are wonderful household and family pets. We are an AKC recognized breeder with a great reputation, breeding the English Labs for over 10 years. Our Chocolate Lab puppies for sale are well-rounded, and will easily adapt to your family routine. All of our lineage has extensive health testing which ensure quality puppies. Our chocolate Labs for sale meet the highest standards—from birth to when they join you and your home. They are a friendly, very affectionate, and possess and extremely sweet personality. The Labrador retriever is highly intelligent, loyal, easy to train with their drive to please and love human attention. They are great with children and welcome most visitors that come to the home as well. Labradors are also known to be very adaptable. They can live most anywhere, from a large home to an apartment. They will love to go on walks with you, hiking, swimming, boating, camping or just hanging out in the back yard playing a game of fetch. Our English Chocolate Lab puppies for sale will impress you and are sure steal your heart!! Finding the right Chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy can be hard and mind boggling. We here at Rozey Labrador Retrievers indulge you in a convenient and efficient means of selecting and purchasing the perfect Labrador Retriever puppy or Labrador Retriever puppies from your home through pictures and videos or on a visit to our farm. Take advantage of browsing our chocolate Lab puppies for sale page and our adult dogs page to learn more about them and what we have available. We are known as established Labrador Retriever dog breeders and are highly respected. Take a look at our individual Labrador Retriever puppy for sale listings with photos and detailed descriptions. We also offer shipping for our Labrador Retriever puppies for sale. As one of the trustworthy Michigan Labrador Retriever dog breeders with puppies for sale we offer a health guarantee and support for the transition home. With numerous Labrador Retriever puppies for sale and several Labrador Retriever dog breeders, you're sure to find the perfect English Labrador Retriever puppy with us. All Rights Reserved. Phone: .Our puppy Price is for limited registration. Deposits are non-refundable. Full AKC Registration breeding and show rights contact us for an additional fee. Regardless of the size of your home or your age or family size, Labs will share their love. Generally speaking, though, the best homes for our chocolate Labs for sale in Michigan are those where they can get consistent attention, plenty of tender loving care, toys to chew and lots of spoiling. This can include homes with children to the elderly. Chocolate English Labradors are known to be very calm, and more laid back. They are a well- rounded dog. Labrador retrievers have many different traits that make them a wonderful addition to your family. There are just a few reasons of why we love the Labrador breed and you will too. Labrador Retrievers are intelligent and highly trainable. They are eager-to-please dogs that aim to satisfy their owners likings. Labs are loyal to their owners and understand your cues. They are smart and up to any challenge or training level with good treats in hand. Labradors also love children. They are affectionate, patient and love spending time with the older members of the family down to the smallest members. They also love to play fetch which is a game for all ages from the human world to the dog world. Labs typically live long and healthy lives. With a proper diet and regular exercise routine, they can remain a part of your family for a very long time. Labradors to not need expensive grooming. Due to their short coats they do not require long hours of grooming weekly and they only require and occasional bath. Labradors have adventurous and playful personalities. They usually welcome new people into a home and often want to be the first to greet them. They will spend time outside at the park or in your neighborhood. They love going for walks, swimming or even just curling up on the couch with you. And they also make excellent hunting companions. They love spending any time with their family members. Labs have gentle mouths. They can be taught to not play rough. Labradors were bred to retrieve downed prey such as duck, grouse rabbit etc. The labs have incredible control of their jaw muscles and can be taught to play or retrieve with a gentle mouth and not bite down. Labs are not picky eaters. Labs famously have big appetites and love to eat!! A lab owner however, does have to watch their weight as they can be prone to add the pounds quickly. With a proper diet and exercise routine your lab will live a long and healthy life though. Labrador retrievers are adorable. According to AKC, the labs otter tail, dense weather-resistant coat and friendly expression all contribute to its highly adorable appearance. No one can resist their kissable faces. Features of the Chocolate Lab Breed There are plentiful benefits that make the chocolate Lab special. These dogs are active, loving companions known for their friendly and loyal temperaments. They show great affection to their owners, are smart and highly trainable. They also welcome visitors eagerly. We specialize in providing chocolate Labrador Retrievers in Michigan that could make great household pets. This process includes extensive health testing to help ensure quality. Today, count on us for puppies that are well-rounded, comfortable with a family environment and ready to adapt to your home. All of our dogs are up to the highest standards — from conception to the day they join your home. Contact us today to hold a puppy or get on our deposit list for future picks! We are the proud parents of the smartest, sweetest, most laid back lab, Gracie. Steve Karp and family are incredible to work with and truly care for their puppies and the families who adopt from them. If I could give stars, I would! If you're searching for a lab, look no further. Kara Bunbury We cannot say enough great things about M. Steve is very hands on throughout the entire process- sending weekly updates until the pups come home and remaining in contact thereafter. Everywhere we go people ask what breeder he came from. We got many very cute updates on our soon to be little puppy. We feel honored to be apart of the Michigan Elite Labrador family! Jill Price We were looking for a pure bred lab but were very skeptical about many breeders until we found Michigan Elite Labs. We knew after our first contact with them we found the breeder we were looking for. Stan is 10 months old and we love him to pieces. If you are looking for a pure bred lab you have found the perfect breeder. We would never think of going anywhere but Michigan Elite to get a Lab. Steve is always just a phone call away if you have any questions. Steve is very knowledgeable about his Labrador Retrievers. If you want an amazing Labrador puppy check out Michigan Elite Labradors you will be glad you did! From the first contact with Steve, you are reassured with their dedication to the breed and the MEL family that you become a part of. It's said that one of the best signs of a "good product" is repeat customers. We're proud to be an example of that, with 2 MEL dogs in our home. Temperament, physical health and the characteristics of MEL dogs are perfection. The added benefit of the MEL owners group is also a great perk. We've made amazing friends through the group, which is reinforced each year at the annual reunion. I would not hesitate to recommend Michigan Elite Labradors to family and friends! We looked at all of the photos and knew we would get a beautiful pup but didnt expect all of the wonderful traits they would have. We ended up getting 2! They are beyond my wildest dreams of what a pet should be.So intuitive! When ive had issues, steve has been a phone call away with the answers. Best babies around.You wont be sorry! I believe we were part his second litter and his biggest litter with Cocco and Chopper 14 pups. Both of the parents were beautiful and on site when we went to pick out our first "Pink Collar" girl. We picked up our second "Pink Collar" girl in late .They have become best friends from the beginning. They have never fought or growled at each other and play very well together. The Karp's are very caring and knowledgeable about the Labrador breed. Any questions I have ever had Steve has always been there to guide me and teach me. His extended MEL family has been very inspiring and amusing as we all watch the pups grow into beautiful pets. Kris Thompson Michigan Elite Labradors are wonderful. We had a great experience working with the Karp family. Our little black lab has brought us so many blessings! They are the most wonderful family and breeders. They are extremely reputable and involved with every pup. Steve is always available to you. I called so many times. He is conscientious and really cares about where his puppies go. He is beyond gorgeous. As a matter of fact, I can honestly say that I have never seen better looking labs. Elite labs are very intelligent and have excellent temperaments. Jax was potty trained right away. When I got a trainer, He learned everything immediately. She was so impressed with him and shocked how well he did. She trains Leader of the Blinds dogs so it was a huge compliment coming from her. We have people stop us everywhere to ask if he is a show dog. One of them was a breeder. Another huge bonus is the all the relationships we have made amongst the Elite family. I love all the stories and pictures. Many of us got together for a Michigan Elite Lab's Reunion. All the dogs were gorgeous fun and well behaved. Even all the parents were a blast. I could go on and on about Michigan Elite Labs, but most important is the fact I would never get a dog from anyone else! Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. Today, they are some of the most popular companions that families have. Not only do they socialize well with others, but they are intelligent and easy to train. We have compiled a list of some of the top Labrador Retriever breeders in Michigan. Scan this list to find potential breeders near you. The 7 Labrador Retriever Breeders in Michigan 1. Over time, they started growing their kennel and are becoming even more dedicated to providing purebred dogs to families all over Michigan. Michigan Elite Labradors provides puppies certified through the Bred with H. T Breeders with AKC. All their dogs go through extensive health screenings before coming home with you. They were established in and focus on temperament and structural soundness that helps put their dogs into shows or simply become your new best friend. They only breed a few litters per year and often keep some dogs to show, train, or further build their breeding program. They have been a quality breeder since , and most of their dogs are successful competitors in derby, field, and hunting. Oldsquaw focuses on personality as much as they do DNA. These dogs have a reputation for being excellent companions. They pride themselves on providing people quality, champion-pedigreed puppies with recognition from the AKC. Rozey K9 Farm is known by customers for its excellent bloodlines that go through health-testing before being sold. Many of their dogs are involved in several activities and compete in dog shows throughout the year. They sell Black, Yellow, and Chocolate labs, though their yellow range from fox-red to cream. This breeder has a thorough selling process. Expect to answer in-depth questions about your experience with dogs and the environment they are going to be living in. Each dog is socialized and goes through many tests before going home. All their dogs have clearances for elbows, hips, eyes, cardiovascular health. They socialize their labs before allowing them to move to a new home and expose them to regular household living. After a few weeks, Endeavor Labradors exposes their dogs to bird wings and start to crate-train them. They are also micro-chipped , dewormed, and given vaccines as six weeks old. As the years passed, she was able to breed more generations of her champion bloodline. The great thing about this breeder is that they care for their dogs as pets should be. All dogs stay inside the home and are trained to become excellent companions and show dogs. Related Read:. Benefit from a Stronger Dollar. Save hundreds when you exchange your money We take care of everything for you so you can return to Michigan or another state in the USA with everything you need to easily cross the border with your new Lab Puppy. We have focused for the past twelve years as a chocolate Lab breeder and have experienced great success with our chocolate lab puppies in Michigan. Although our focus has been mainly on chocolate Labrador puppies , we also have black Lab puppies and silver Lab puppies for sale at times. We have a couple male studs who carry yellow and a few of our chocolate females do as well. Needless to say that yellow lab puppies for sale to Michigan will be a future topic in our home. Puppies come with a vet examination, free puppy health insurance, microchips not tattoos , and lifetime Labrador breeder support. We also provide a generous discount to the online training website www. If you do not end up getting your puppy from us, we will let you in on a little secret. So please visit the rest of our website and learn more about who we are as Professional Labrador Breeders, the services we have to offer, see pictures of our chocolate lab puppies or possibly our black or silver lab puppies, visit our Facebook page so you can look through hundreds of posts of happy families with their Labradors. We have helped many people from Michigan and the Detroit area find their new Lab puppy. Our goal is to exceed your expectations for adopting simply the best Labrador dog possible weather you are interested in Labrador puppies as a pet, a chocolate Labrador for hunting, or an adult Labrador. We breed both American Labrador retrievers, English Labrador Retrievers yes we know the difference between English and American Labs and also mixes between the two types of retrievers. Field Labradors, a lesser known third type of Lab are also available. Rather, search for the best Labrador retriever breeder in Michigan. Or if you are searching for American Lab breeders in Michigan. Or even chocolate lab puppies for sale in Michigan. We pride ourselves in our work, we love the recognition we get for being a top Labrador retriever breeder and even though we are not in Michigan, we are extremely close to the border. We are a short ferry ride across the border at Algonac Michigan, a 45 minute drive from Port Huron, or about an hour drive from Windsor Labrador Retrievers for Sale Please click the link below if you would like to visit our Lab Puppies for sale and upcoming litters. If you would like to apply you can find our puppy application form at the bottom of our home page where you will also find a map to our location.

Further information: Bullenbeisser Friedrich Robert and his boxer, The Boxer is a hunting mastiff developed in Germany in the late 19th century from the now extinct Bullenbeisser , a dog of English Mastiff descent, and Bulldogs brought in from Great Britain. Its task was to seize the prey and hold it until the hunters arrived. In later years, faster dogs were favored and a smaller Bullenbeisser was bred in Brabant , in northern Belgium. The Brabanter Bullenbeisser is generally accepted as being a direct ancestor of today's Boxer. The club went on to publish the first Boxer breed standard in , a detailed document that has not been changed much since. During World War I , the Boxer was co-opted for military work, acting as a valuable messenger dog, pack carrier, attack dog , and guard dog. Taken home by returning soldiers, the dog was introduced to a wider audience and soon became a favorite as a companion, a show dog, and a guard dog. Boxer early genealogy chart Flocki, the first Boxer German citizen George Alt, a Munich resident, mated a brindle-colored female dog imported from France named Flora with a local dog of unknown ancestry, known simply as "Boxer", resulting in a fawn-and-white male, named Lechner's Box after its owner. This dog was mated with his own dam, Flora, and one of his offspring was a female called Alt's Schecken. George Alt mated Schecken with a Bulldog named Dr. Flocki was the first Boxer to enter the German Stud Book after winning the aforementioned show for St. Bernards in Munich , which was the first event to have a class specific for Boxers. Blanka von Angertor, Flocki's sister, was even more influential when mated with Piccolo von Angertor Lechner's Box grandson to produce the predominantly white particolored female dog Meta von der Passage, which, even bearing little resemblance with the modern Boxer standard early photographs depict her as too long, weak-backed, and down-faced , is considered the mother of the breed. Our great line of sires all trace directly back to this female. She was a substantially built, low to the ground, brindle and white particolor, lacking in underjaw and exceedingly lippy. As a producing female, few in any breed can match her record. She consistently whelped puppies of marvelous type and rare quality. Those of her offspring sired by Flock St. Salvator and Wotan dominate all present-day pedigrees. Combined with Wotan and Mirzl children, they made the Boxer. Breed name[ edit ] The name "Boxer" is supposedly derived from the breed's tendency to play by standing on its hind legs and " boxing " with its front paws. Brace's Pet Owner's Guide to the Boxer, this theory is the least plausible explanation. At that time, the spelling "baxer" equalled "boxer". Both the verb boxen [English "to box, to punch, to jab"] and the noun Boxer were common German words as early as the late 18th century. The term Boxl, also written Buxn or Buchsen in the Bavarian dialect, means "short leather trousers" or "underwear". The very similar-sounding term Boxerl, also from the Bavarian dialect, is an endearing term for Boxer. These dogs were the result from mixes of Bullenbeisser and other similar breeds. Bier beer probably refers to the Biergarten, the typical Munich beer garden, an open-air restaurant where people used to take their dogs along. The nickname "Deutscher Boxer" was derived from Bierboxer and Boxer could also be a corruption of the former or a contraction of the latter. This seems improbable. Any such action would likely result in a badly bitten if not broken leg. On the other hand, a German breeder of 40 years' experience states positively that the Boxer does not use his feet, except to try to extinguish a small flame such as a burning match. But a Boxer does box with his head. He will hit not bite a cat with his muzzle hard enough to knock it out and he will box a ball with his nose. Or perhaps, since the German dictionary translates Boxer as "prize-fighter", the name was bestowed in appreciation of the fighting qualities of the breed rather than its technique. Boxer is also the name of a dog owned by John Peerybingle, the main character in the best-selling book The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens , which is evidence that "Boxer" was commonly used as a dog name by the early 19th century, before the establishment of the breed by the end of that same century. A brindle Boxer with two white socks Brindle, fawn, and white Boxer puppies See also: Dog health A healthy Boxer puppy Leading health issues to which Boxers are prone include cancers , heart conditions such as aortic stenosis and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy the so-called " Boxer cardiomyopathy " , [35] hypothyroidism , hip dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy and epilepsy; other conditions that may be seen are gastric dilatation volvulus also known as bloat , intestinal problems, and allergies although these may be more related to diet than breed. An emerging health concern among boxers is Boxer Juvenile Kidney Disease JKD , where the kidneys do not develop normally during gestation and leads to chronic renal failure. There is strong evidence to suggest JKD is an inherited condition in boxers with research being undertaken by the University of Ohio to determine the gene mutation, as well as other work separately by the UK Boxer Breeder Council. Mortality due to infection increases significantly with increases in inbreeding. The breed is particularly predisposed to mast cell tumours, a cancer of the immune system. Because of their brachycephalic heads, they do not do well with high heat or humidity, and common sense should prevail when exercising a Boxer in these conditions. See also: Dog food Boxers need plenty of exercise, which means their diet should be high in quality calories. The main source of these calories should be lean animal protein, which include lean chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish. They sometimes appear at dog agility or dog obedience trials and flyball events. These strong and intelligent animals have also been used as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs, police dogs in K9 units, and occasionally herding cattle or sheep. The versatility of Boxers was recognized early on by the military, which has used them as valuable messenger dogs, pack carriers, and attack and guard dogs in times of war. Notable Boxers[ edit ] Punch and Judy were awarded the Dickin Medal for conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving in a military conflict. There are some Boxers that appear to be black. However, a solid black coat is not indicative of the breed. So, how can this be? Read more about what markings and patterns can cause a black-like coat. Fawn- What exactly is the color fawn in regard to dogs? This sample is a typical fawn. However, as you will see, fawn is a range of hues. To the right below on mobile is a medium fawn is the standard hue when referring to this terminology. With nice white flash markings on the chest and with black on the muzzle, this Boxer meets color breed standard very well. Brindle - What is brindle? Brindle is not technically a color, it is a pattern. The base is fawn and there is striping. The stripes may be light or dark, and density of the striping can range from thin to thick. Some brindles will look almost fawn and some will appear so dark that they look black. This Boxer shows the standard brindle striping. With white on his chest, paws and ankles and black on the muzzle, this Boxer also meets breed standards perfectly. This is a red fawn Boxer. As you can see, this fawn is darker and deeper than that the common tan fawn; producing a slight shading of red. What a gorgeous coat. This Boxer is a dark brindle. As you can see, with dark brindle the black is over powering the fawn color. The black striping in this pattern is heavy; which would be called a reverse or even a seal. Which simply means that the dog is not officially a solid fawn; he is a mix of colors. Seal - The Boxer dog you see here on the left is Vesta; this color is often referred to as seal. This is a super tight brindle. Siennna, right, is a fawn. Photo courtesy of Nancy Dark Brindle Boxer. Turkish, at 7 years old, photo courtesy of Renata Boxer Dog Flash The white markings on this breed are called "flash". If a Boxer has a moderate amount, one often refers to this as semi-flashy. Those with prominent white on a good portion of the coat are called flashy. No Markings? Not all Boxers have white markings. These are known as plain Boxers, but the term is misleading, as it refers to the genes at work. Read more: Boxers without White Markings Brindle Explanation Brindle one of the colors of this breed is actually a pattern. Stripes running through the coat partial or full is brindling. These are often black hairs, but may be any color that is a darker shade than the hairs that run under it. Depending on the exact color of these brindling pattern stripes, one may refer to a Boxer using one of the following terms listed in order from a very light brindle to a heavy dark striping : Light super light. There are just two purebred Boxer colors: fawn, and brindle—with or without white markings. Different levels of these pigments determine the different colors. For example, black can produce a grey or brown coat, and red can produce a yellow or cream coat. Dogs have 8 genes that determine coat color. Each one is responsible for different types of color. Examples: an agouti gene creates coat patterns. What about the fawn color? How do experts define fawn coat color in dogs? Fawn Coat Color Boxers have variations of the red coat color pigment, not the black. The red-based fawn coloring can range all the way from light tan to dark mahogany. Brindle is dominant over fawn, but the combination of genes in an individual puppy determines its coloring. As with fawn vs. Certain colors can be linked to health conditions. The most common relationship most people know about is white color and deafness. White color and hereditary deafness are linked in many animals. This is because lack of pigment is genetically connected to inner ear degeneration. Some dog breeds, such as the Dalmatian, are more prone to hereditary deafness than others. What about a flashy fawn Boxer dog with a large amount of white coloring? Deafness Any dog, regardless of breed or color, can be born deaf or become deaf later in life. Breeds with a high rate of congenital deafness often have a significant amount of white coat coloring, but color is not the only cause of deafness. Boxers in general do not have a high incidence of deafness. If a Boxer has a large amount of white, especially on the head, then the risk for deafness does increase somewhat. What about temperament? Boxers are a much-loved breed with a long and interesting history. The Boxer dog we know today was first developed in the s in Germany. The ancestry of the Boxer can be traced to a very old breed called the Bullenbeisser bull biter. The Bullenbeisser was crossed with smaller dogs to create the modern Boxer. Boxers belong to the working dog group and have been used as guard dogs, military dogs, and even guide dogs for the blind. How large will your fawn Boxer dog get? Boxer Description The Boxer is a sleek and athletic medium sized dog. An adult male boxer weighs between 65 and 80 pounds. The breed standard calls for females to weigh about 15 pounds less than males. The Boxer has a distinctive head with an alert and intelligent face. Both the fawn and brindle Boxer dogs have short, smooth coats that require minimal grooming. Boxer Personality and Training As a working dog breed, the fawn Boxer dog has an alert and intelligent nature with a strong work ethic and a love of exercise and activity. Experts recommend that you enroll your Boxer in formal puppy training classes and socialize your dog around other dogs, animals, and people. As a working breed, Boxers enjoy stimulating and interactive organized activities like agility and obedience trials, sheep herding, and lure coursing. Boxers also make excellent therapy dogs. Boxer Health We talked about a slight risk for hereditary deafness in white Boxer dogs. What about the fawn Boxer dog? While there are no known health issues connected to the fawn coat color, there are a few inherited health conditions common to fawn and brindle boxers. Like many dog breeds, Boxers can be prone to the joint conditions hip and elbow dysplasia. Dysplasia is a joint deformity that can cause chronic pain in your Boxer. Boxers can also be prone to two genetic heart conditions: aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is an electrical conduction disorder that causes the heart to beat erratically and can also be life threatening. Other issues Boxers can also be at risk for certain kinds of cancers, thyroid problems, and a neurological condition called degenerative myelopathy. While Boxers can be prone to some potentially serious inherited health conditions. The good news is that there are health tests including genetic health tests for many of them. But before you fall in love with a particular puppy, make sure to choose a responsible breeder who follows the health testing guidelines outlined by the official breed club. Boxer health tests can take the form of blood and DNA tests, X-rays, and heart monitoring and echocardiograms. Health testing information should also be certified by an official canine health clearinghouse like the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. A healthy puppy should have clear eyes, clean ears and nose, a shiny coat, and well-formed stools. Boxers are one of the most popular dog breeds, and for good reason! They are loyal, energetic, friendly, intelligent, and brave. The Boxer is a handsome dog breed and fans can have definite preferences for what their Boxer should look like. The fawn Boxer dog can be solid colored or fawn and white. The fawn coloring can vary from light to dark and the amount of white can vary as well. Remember to take your new best friend to puppy kindergarten to ensure that your dog is well trained and socialized. Already have a fawn Boxer dog? Tell us about your Boxer in the comments! References and Resources Strain, G. The Genetics of Deafness in Domestic Animals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, .American Kennel Club. Hip Dysplasia. Veterinary Specialty Hospital. Tou, S. Aortic Stenosis. Merck Veterinary Manual. Wallner, W. Boxer Cardiomyopathy. American Boxer Club.

Like many large breeds, a German Shepherd dog is not considered fully grown until they are about 18 months old. Female German Shepherds continue to fill out until they are around two years old, while the male German Shepherd growth rate continues until they reach two and a half years of age. Males are larger and require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen. As you can see by the German Shepherd weight chart, these dogs can continue to grow until they are three years old, but the majority of growth occurs within 24 months. If your GSD is older than 36 months and continues to put on weight, contact your veterinarian to ensure weight gain does not lead to obesity. How big should a 6-month-old German Shepherd be? A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will be quite large, as many German Shepherds undergo massive growth spurts between two and five months old. By six months, a male German Shepherd will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female will weigh about 46 pounds. How much bigger will my German Shepherd get? There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get. First, check your puppy's age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog and means your pup is likely still growing! Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. What is the size of a full-grown German shepherd? An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard. The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds. Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get. Some dogs will be both smaller and larger than these weight ranges when fully grown due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Helping your dog maintain an optimal weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. Compare German Shepherd health insurance plans before they get sick or injured. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars. Dog insurance is a wise investment that can give you peace of mind by covering pet emergency expenses. Wellness plans are also available to help cover the cost of vaccinations, vet exams, microchips, and more. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Get Peace of Mind Today Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. Height: 26 inches Ratio: .This should give you their height. For example, 26 inches times 0. Using the other example, .Since each dog is going to be different, you need to look at their overall body condition rather than a weight range. Fortunately, there are body conditioning charts that you can use to figure out if your German Shepherd is at their ideal weight. Just look at them from the side and from above, feeling for ribs and pelvic bones when necessary. Younger dogs will also typically be on the thin side before they fully fill out as adults. Years of line breeding has produced several distinct types of Shepherds. Show dogs are known for a sloped back in which the back legs are shorter than the front. This unnatural formation can cause back and hip problems along with an abnormal gait. German Shepherds bred for show will also be thinner than their hardworking cousins. As you can see in this picture, this is a show-bred German Shepherd with an obvious curved back and short back legs. Working dogs, on the other hand, are bred for a sturdy, straight back so they can work long hours without getting sore. They tend to be thicker than show dogs and will, therefore, weigh more, even at the same height. As you can see in this picture, this dog has a straighter back and longer back legs, so it has been bred for working. Something else I wanted to mention here is that, according to some sources, Black German Shepherds are larger than their bi-colored cousins, despite being otherwise the same. So, if you have one of these rare and beautiful creatures, you can follow the same charts that were listed above. If your German Shepherd is diagnosed by a veterinarian as underweight or overweight for their age, then the first thing you should do is ask him or her to help you figure out the underlying cause of the problem. This will determine what should be done next. Do you have a giant German Shepherd? What about a tiny one? Comment below to tell us more about it! About Alexandra Animalso I was raised to be a dog person. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love. American German shepherds have straighter backs then German shepherds. If you have a german shepherd and their lineages are close to their German roots they will have that arch in their back. As the German Shepherd growth chart suggests, a German Shepherd dog reaches full size and adult weight after one year. A growth spurt can occur between 1. The result of this late growth is an up to 10 percent increase in height and weight. Although you can consider a German Shepherd fully grown by one year, there may be additional factors that influence the growth of German Shepherd dogs. Is Your German Shepherd Healthy? Improper development can occur for many reasons. It could be as simple as your dog responding poorly to their dog food. Your feeding schedule and portions might not be sufficient. Your dog could also have a basic nutritional deficiency that you need to correct. Yet, being underweight or overweight can signify serious health problems. Weight loss can occur when the syndrome develops. Dogs typically show signs of EPI at between six months and six years of age. Parasites Dogs are highly susceptible to parasites. Deworming medication helps to reduce the risk. Yet, almost all puppies experience a parasitic infection at least once. Upon infection, your dog is at risk of serious weight loss and other troubling symptoms. Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes mellitus can affect any breed but has an above-average occurrence in German Shepherds. These dogs need insulin daily to accommodate for the inability to metabolize sugars. If your German has diabetes, severe weight loss can occur in a short period. Diabetes typically affects canines that are four years or older. It is the most common cancer in German Shepherds. Up to three percent will develop HSA. In most cases, this condition sets in at around nine to 12 years. Dietary Deficiency Do you have your German Shepherd on a raw food diet? Puppies often run underweight when receiving their nutritional requirements through raw meat. This diet is healthy and effective but needs monitoring, as not all dogs respond the same. Review the diet plan with a veterinarian and confirm there are no digestive or metabolic issues. Also, do not forget the importance of exercise! Clear Your Concerns with Coverage You put your heart into loving your dog like a child, but some things are out of your control. Health struggles can affect canines as much as humans. Even purebreds from AKC-certified breeders are not safe from serious health struggles both early and late in life. All you can do is prepare yourself to overcome complications. What if cancer happens? What else could happen? Peace of mind is great as a dog owner. Is coverage the answer? Get pet insurance quotes and see for yourself. Get Quotes for Your Cat Charitable Giving With every pet insurance policy we generate, we do our bit to help less fortunate animals across Canada and the U. Popular Articles. How about some details regarding their feeding habits, behavior, medical needs, grooming regimen, and exercise requirements? In this section, you will find everything you need to know to keep them healthy and assist with things such as toilet training and teething. She will discipline them and make sure they learn to be independent. They then begin to go to the toilet independently and venture away from mom. At week 8, they play, can be housebroken, and bark when startled. The famous GSD ears will start to stand up, and you can begin leash and crate training. They must be handled and groomed and realize that human commands and dominance are the norm. During this time, the mother will nurse the pups until they are old enough to begin eating puppy mush , which is softened kibble. Allow puppies to eat as much as they like at each meal. At 6—8 weeks, their first shot from the vet is due. Smith, Shutterstock 12 weeks is a turning point for your pup. Their coordination will come on in bounds, as will their learning and social skills. They will be eager to learn but easily distracted, so have plenty of patience. If you become angry, it will stunt development if they become fearful of you. Your pup is officially into the juvenile period now. All of his puppy teeth should be developed by now and are normally very sharp. So, beware of your fingers when playing. At 12 weeks of age, puppies can start to eat three to four set meals a day with measured amounts. Purpose-made dog-approved chew toys are best, not teddy bears or old shoes. As they grow through this period between three and six months, GSD puppies are more juvenile than babies. They will be more boisterous and energetic. But on the plus side will feed easily, be more friendly with animals and people alike, and more than likely be housetrained if you have managed them correctly. They will be stubborn at this age when training and could ignore you, or not come when called. The best approach is to ignore any sassy attitude and only praise and fuss when back to being obedient. His internal organs and systems are fully developed and functioning as they should, while the skeleton is still growing. His full set of adult teeth should be present and correct. Your GSD is now becoming independent and will want to roam different areas and interact with their world on many more levels. Be aware that they could weigh 50 lbs at 6 months, so caution is needed with control and safety as they explore. He may also seemingly forget commands that he has been taught. It is best to ignore, not mollycoddle, any fearful reactions to new things to not reinforce the negative behaviors. By 6 months of age, you can reduce the feedings to three per day, now paying attention to the total calories consumed. Between the ages of 4—6 months, he will shed his puppy coat too. He might still be a bit goofy, gangly, and stubborn when it comes to training. German Shepherd females are reaching sexual maturity at this age. They may have their first estrus heat period. So, be mindful of letting them off the lead during this time if other dogs are around. At 9 months, your GSD can be tested for heartworm and treated if needs be. Speak with your vet about this for more detail. You can add small amounts of solid adult formula into the puppy food to get him used to the texture. Making it the optimal time to stimulate them as much as you can with obedience training and work activities. Your GSD should be comfortable in all situations, and with all types of company as their bond with humans should be well established. Their unique personality and quirks should be apparent and set them apart as your dog. They will have developed vocal and body language traits that you recognize and use for their needs. If male, he will be reaching sexual maturity and cocking his leg when urinating. He might also be looking to challenge dogs and humans for the title of pack leader. The key to cementing all your hard work so far is to be consistently firm with any boundaries he tries to push. By 12 months, they should be on adult formula only. German Shepherds stop growing between 2 and 3 years. This is when they fill out too. It starts to slow at around the age of 1, but he will continue to grow until he reaches maturity. During this time, they are considered to be adolescents. This is the same for their mental maturity too. This is the same for all German Shepherd types. Females tend to mature faster, both physically and mentally, than male German Shepherds. There are different stages within this time frame before maturity. And these are the neonatal stage 1—2 weeks , the transitional stage 2—4 weeks , the socialization stage 4 weeks to 3 months , the juvenile stage 3—6 months , and the adolescent stage 6 months to 2 years. Research has shown that neutering dogs can affect their growth. But how exactly? But early indications show that early neutering can increase the length of time that the bone grows. Meaning potentially taller dogs. But this also poses questions about whether this affects the joint alignment and whether it can cause any problems. And for the German Shepherd breed and his heightened propensity for hip dysplasia, this is a concern to be aware of. But waiting for full skeletal maturity also poses risks. Because neutering for females can reduce mammary cancer. If spayed before her first heat, it can eliminate the chances of this type of cancer altogether. As they will be able to offer you tailored advice for your German Shepherd. Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth The dangers of growing too fast can affect their skeletal development. Conditions caused by growing too quickly are joint dysplasia and osteochondrosis. By feeding him a kibble that is designed for large-breed puppies will help control the rate at which his bones grow. This is because they have the optimum ratio of calcium and phosphorus levels in the food. So, always feed him large-breed puppy food during his developmental stage. This is most common in German Shepherds, but also in some Labrador Retrievers. It is an inherited disorder of growth hormone deficiency, and it will make the affected pooch always appear puppy-like. Growth Distinctions of Different German Shepherds. Frequently Asked Questions German Shepherds German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular breeds and are my absolute favorite breed. That's why I've had five in total, three boys and two girls. From their loyal and obedient personalities to their beautiful coats and markings, they bring joy to many homes, including mine. With impressive intelligence, these puppies are easy to train and make excellent companion animals. The German shepherd is a large breed, usually weighing between pounds for males and up to 75 pounds for females. Their coats require minimal grooming but will benefit from occasional brushing. German shepherds are very active dogs who love to run around; they need plenty of exercise to stay physically and mentally healthy. They also enjoy activities such as agility training or nose work games where they can use their smarts! Factors Influencing Weight But what about their size? German shepherds can vary in size based on gender, age, nutrition, and because of their breeding. For example, a German working line shepherd is much more energetic than the more laid-back American show line dog. A puppy from working lines may weigh less than the average on the charts. Be sure to consider factors such as gender and environment when monitoring your pup's development. A good rule of thumb is that by eight weeks of age, a German Shepherd puppy should weigh between pounds, depending on the genetic factors mentioned above. By six months, most male puppies will weigh between 49lbs — 57lbs with an average weight of 53lbs, and a female will weigh between 44lbs — 49lbs with an average weight of 46lbs. For this reason, when consulting a weight chart for a German shepherd puppy, it's essential to understand the breed, lineage, and pedigree of the dog, as well as the sex of the dog. Our puppy weight charts are specific to German Shepherd Dogs and consider all these factors. It's an excellent tool for monitoring your pup's growth and health. These charts show the average expected weight range for male and female German shepherds at different ages, from puppies to adults. Knowing the expected range can help ensure your pup grows normally and stays within healthy boundaries. By six months, a male German Shepherd will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female will weigh about 46 pounds. Our chart differs from others in that you can track your puppy's weight based on his actual weight at a point in time. Many other weight charts are either for non-specific breeds, or if they are specific to a German Shepherd, they only give you the averages and a range. While this is all useful and included in our charts, what is missing from many others is what weight your puppy will likely be based on his actual weight now. Most people bring their new puppy home at 8 weeks old 2 months. The range for a female German Shepherd puppy at that age is between lbs. As you already know your puppy's weight, you can estimate how much they are likely to weigh when older using our chart. For example, if your puppy weighs 14 lbs at 8 weeks old. To estimate how much they are likely to weigh at 6 months old, you would find that weight on the chart and follow it down to the 6-month-old row and see that she would most likely weigh 46lbs by the time she is 6 months old and 68lbs when fully grown. Of course, these are just estimates, and all puppies grow at different speeds, as will yours. Another way this chart is helpful is if, using the same example, your puppy weighs 14 lbs at 8 weeks old and then jumps to 49 lbs at 6 months old, instead of the predicted 46 lbs. In that situation, you would follow that new column down and see that she is now closer to weighing 70 lbs when fully grown. They are heavier-boned, more muscular, and have deeper chests. If you know what you're looking for, you can distinguish a male from a female German shepherd by looking at their heads, as a male is larger and have a more masculine look. Using the German Shepherd Puppy Weight Charts To use this chart, find your pup's current weight along the top and go down the left side of the chart to find his age. If he is in range, you can follow that column down to see what he will likely weigh at each age milestone. For example, if your male German Shepherd puppy weighs 18 lbs at 8 weeks old, then you would find the nearest weight at that age on the chart. In this case, it's .In this instance, he would weigh approximately .Under no circumstances should you try to adjust your dog's diet or exercise to fit in with the chart; it is merely a guide. German Shepherd Weight Chart for Female Puppies Female German shepherds, on the whole, have a much narrower head and nose and have an overall feminine look, especially around the eyes. If you know what you're looking for, you can guess whether they are male or female by looking at their face. Having said that, my girl, Ava, was very tall for a female and was often mistaken for a boy, even when she was wearing her pink collar and leash! But I still think her face was much more feminine than her brother Hudson's. This breed of dog has unique growth development. During the first three months of their life, a German Shepherd's body goes through a significant growth spurt. Typically, they can double their birth weight in the first week! At 12 weeks, you can expect your pup to weigh about pounds for a male and pounds for a female. This growth spurt will continue through five months old; by the time they're six months, you'll likely have a large, goofy puppy on your hands. After that initial growth period is over, you'll find that your German shepherd will gain weight slowly from then on out until it reaches its full adult size at around two or three years old. On average, female German Shepherds reach an adult weight of pounds, while males reach pounds. German Shepherd Puppy Height Chart German shepherds come in a range of sizes, some taller than others. It can be helpful to know the different heights of German shepherds to ensure that the one you choose fits your lifestyle and needs. When looking at a German shepherd height chart, it's essential to remember that males tend to be larger than females. Depending on where they were bred, most standard-sized male adults will stand between inches, while female adult German shepherds typically reach inches in height from paw to shoulder. Below is our height chart for German shepherd puppies you can use to estimate your puppy's height at each age milestone based on his starting or current height. It also includes the average percentage of adult height reached each age milestone. If your puppy's weight is outside the guidelines, it may be less of an issue than you think. Puppy weights can vary greatly depending on breed, genetics, and other factors included on this page. While ensuring your puppy receives proper nutrition and exercise is essential, several factors can influence their weight. One way to determine your puppy's adult weight is to check with your breeder. They can make an educated guess as to what your furry friend will weigh once they reach adulthood. A reputable breeder should have a good understanding of their dog's genetics and be able to provide insight into the typical size range of their litter. This information can give you a rough estimate of what weight you can expect for your German shepherd as they grow older. Another factor to consider when determining the adult weight of your pup is their parents' size, and again the breeder can give you much more information on this. You can also speak with your veterinarian about your puppy's overall health and development, and they may be able to provide some insight into their expected adult size. It's important to avoid becoming too fixated on your puppy's weight if they fall outside the standard guidelines. Don't worry if your puppy is a little bigger or smaller than listed here, and if you still want to determine their adult weight, you can also use the puppy weight chart for a large or giant breed dog here. Conclusion In conclusion,German Shepherds are a fantastic breed of dogs, and understanding their growth and development is essential for pet owners. Knowing the average weight and height of male and female German Shepherds can help you be better prepared for your new pup's growth. With the proper diet, exercise, and vet care, your German shepherd will be healthy and happy throughout their life. Keep in mind that these charts are only a general guide — every pup is different! A 3-month-old German Shepherd should weigh between 17 lbs - 26 lbs for a female, with an average weight of .For males, it'll be between 22 lbs and 30 lbs, with an average of 26 lbs. How much does a 5 month old German Shepherd puppy weigh? A 5-month-old puppy will weigh between 40 lbs - 49 lbs for a male with an average weight of .A female GSD puppy will weigh between 35 lbs - 44 lbs with an average of .When will my German shepherd puppy stop growing? Most German shepherd puppies continue growing until they are two or three years old. You might like these. However, there are certain breeds that are easier to train than others. Thankfully, German Shepherds fit into that category because they are very intelligent and quick learners. This includes house training , crate training , basic obedience commands as well as learning tricks. We recommend attending a puppy kindergarten class as part of your German Shepherd puppy socialization strategy. Once your pup knows their basic obedience commands, you can enroll them in Schutzhund training aka IPO. Partnership and teamwork between yourself and your dog are the basis for this type of training. Note that the Schutzhund environment is not a place for dogs with aggression issues, neither towards other dogs nor people! If they pass that initial level which includes a temperament test, they can move on to IPO 2 minimum age 19 months and IPO 3 minimum age 20 months. That said, protection dog trainers recommend starting training classes that include bitework and high jumps once your German Shepherd puppy is 12 months old. Dutch and Czech are two other languages that commands are frequently taught in. Stanley, my former long-haired GSD dog walking client, started going to Schutzhund training when he was a little over 12 months old. His owners practiced commands in German with him on a daily basis, and I remember getting a print out of his German commands as they asked me to use them on our walks as well. Lots, ha! German Shepherds need a minimum of 2 hours of physical exercise per day, but generally speaking, the more exercise you can provide your GSD with, the more they will thrive. Remember, German Shepherds are high-energy, athletic dogs bred to be active all day long, especially if they come from a working line! Physical Exercise Ideas for German Shepherds As far as physical exercise, this can be a mix of walks, runs, bike rides, fetch and playtime. This is Nala, one of my former pet sitting clients. She was crazy about frisbees and balls. One of my favorite ways of increasing the energy and calories a dog burns on a regular walk or hike is by using a doggie backpack. Mental Stimulation for German Shepherds Besides providing a good physical workout, dog backpacks also burn mental energy. As you probably know, bored dogs can quickly become destructive as they figure out ways of entertaining themselves. For example, chewing up your furniture and shoes, scratching doors, raiding your kitchen trash can or digging up your flower beds. So do yourself a favor and make sure your GSD gets plenty of exercise on a daily basis. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog, and that applies to German Shepherds as much as it does to any other dog breed! Former GSD client Remi pooped after a long walk. Bottom Line So, how big does a German Shepherd get? Well, German Shepherds are medium to large size dogs, so they can weigh anywhere between lbs. That said, the average expected weight for a male GSD is between lbs, and the average expected weight for a female GSD is between lbs. Both reach sexual maturity somewhere between months and are considered fully grown at about the 2 year mark. Keeping that in mind, your GSD breeder should be able to give you a good general idea of how big your German Shepherd puppy will grow to be! Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Barbara is a trilingual, something dog lover, e-book author, founder, copywriter, dog nutrition blogger and editor at K9sOverCoffee. Post navigation.

This dog was normally kept for his prowess as a hunting dog and was also a good fighter. The Boxer was also kept because he was a great working dog and assisted the soldiers during the World Wars. Generally speaking, the Boxer was also very playful, not very aggressive but very loyal to its owner. If your Jack Russell Boxer Mix gets some of his traits from the Boxer, he will be a great companion and protector of your children. He acquired a tiny female Terrier in and made it the foundation of his breeding plan, which resulted in the present-day Jack Russell Terrier. John standardized his dogs to be white and effective in hunting foxes. The modern Jack Russell Terrier is normally white in color with brown patches. He has a strong body measuring 10 to 15 inches in height. He weighs around 14 to 18 pounds. These dogs tend to be tough and courageous. They have a great stamina, and also show a great sense of independence. However, they are also loyal and easy going around people. Both the Boxer and the Jack Russell are breeds that are strong and powerful. They have a very strong prey instinct as well. If you socialize the Jack Russell Boxer Mix puppy well , he is likely to get along well with other animals and new people he encounters. Jack Russell Terrier Boxer Mix puppies are capable of being independent and love to have their own alone time when it is a full house. Like all other dogs, this breed also responds very well to positive reinforcement. They are generally social and have a very warm temperament. Generally, the Jack Russell and Boxer Mix is an amazing companion and very protective of their owners hence will be a great addition to your family. Want to train your dog without spending hundreds of dollars? Click Here to check out the brain training for Dogs course now! Therefore, what this means is that the Jack Russel Boxer mix may have features that vary depending on the genes that were inherited from the parent breeds. There are some Jack Russell Boxer Mix puppies that inherit more features from the Boxer than the Jack Russell terrier and the vice versa is also true. It is only until the Boxer Jack Russel mix puppy gets older that you will be able to tell the characteristics it inherits form each parent breed. They may have gained a special liking for your living room carpet — as the perfect place to go for a wee. Apologies to your neighbor too; we heard their favorite pair of trousers were left muddy after your Jack Russell puppy showed such enthusiasm to say hello. Never apologize to the neighbors again. Download Zigzag! What you do need to know is that everything will be just fine — only happy days lie ahead of you What age can I start to train my Jack Russell puppy? As soon as you get them home. Like doing a backflip. What do I need to train my Jack Russell Puppy? It might look like a long list. A 2-meter training leash A piece of non-slip vet bed or a soft mat Treats: The more smelly, the better. Two identical toys: Great for swaps A soft grooming brush A crate and playpen: Optional, but pretty handy if you ask us. Persistence: The puppy training journey becomes a lot less of a labyrinth and more of a yellow brick road when you are consistent with your training practices. Time to practice: In line with being persistent — allowing time to practice their training everyday is key for a bright, trained puppy. Good to know about training Jack Russell puppies Now we know a dog is a dog is a dog. But breed differences actually do matter for how we train them…did you know that? Now you do. We think of them as ratters, and their job was to be an effective controllers for vermin on farms, and they are excellent hunters. Their original job was actually to hunt foxes. In , they finally got recognition from the UK Kennel Club, and the show type retains that true working terrier spirit we all love. You can read more about the fascinating history of the Jack Russell Terrier here. Are Jack Russells hard to train? This means they will need time and patience given to them during the training process. Although the Jack Russell terrier is notorious for being hyper, as they grow older, they do calm down, slightly. They will still be hyperactive. No, Jack Russells are not difficult to potty train. It does take some dedication and consistency as with any puppy. However, Jack Russells tends to excel in this area of puppy training, much faster than other breeds. Many Jack Russell puppies can be potty trained within one week of training. Can Jack Russells be left alone? A Jack Russell puppy can be left alone for hours during the puppy stage. Once your Jack Russell is of adult age, they can be left for up to 6 hours, as a maximum. Jack Russells have some classic behaviors associated with the job they were bred to do. Barking — They sure like to have long, loud conversations. Digging So, the question now is, what can you do to give them an outlet for these things? Enrichment activities can help enormously to help them get rid of the itch to do many of these things. Fun games are generally the best and easiest way to get to it: like these ones here: Hol-ee Ball Dissection Should I really encourage dissection, you might ask? To keep them wanting to do this with toys and not actual rats now that would be terrible to clean up , this game can provide them with a safe outlet to this very normal doggy behavior. Cut some old blankets or fleece jumpers into strips. Roll some treats inside the strip, and feed them through the holes in the ball. Hand it over to your puppy, and watch them go bonkers. Make the game even more fun: Stick some extra treats inside. Dehydrated meat strips are absolutely delicious for them! Problems you might run into: If you have a dog who is likely to rip the fleece to shreds or consume it rather than go for the treats, simply use strips of food or large treats instead. Some just like the taste of fabric better, I guess. Build a digging pit Jacks love to dig. They love getting their paws in the mud and scratching the earth away. By giving them a special place to do so, you can save your flower beds! Have fun trying to pull your kids from them too. If your dog likes this, you might also like: To take them to a beach! Building a foraging box will bring them back to the old days; back to the historical way of eating by foraging for food. It makes meal times last longer, will make them less bloated, and is a great way of getting them to problem solve. Make the game even more fun: Size matters — make the box bigger! What does this have to do with how I train my Jack Russell? As we mentioned before a dog is a dog is a dog right? But knowing the context and breed characteristics might help you train your Jack Russell Terrier puppy better and understand why they do certain things the way they do. Here are a couple things to keep in mind: Jack Russells are workaholics and are extremely trainable — lucky you. Lack of stimulation WILL encourage self-employment — give them things to rip up and dissect to prevent them getting into trouble. Give that digging behavior an outlet — either a digging pit in your yard or one you make indoors to save your flower beds! They will also adapt perfectly well to city life, as long as you remember every day is a school day for them to learn new things, and provide plenty of mental stimulation. They will love impulse and self-control games that you can teach them. Given their love for sports and adrenaline filled bodies, they will be quite happy going out in all weathers and getting filthy in the mud. But you can certainly make it work better when you know what makes your dog tick. Do you need high value treats, or can you get away with something lower for those eager beaver food-motivated Jack Russell puppies? Perhaps your puppy prefers toy rewards? Asking yourself these questions will help positive reinforcement training work much better. Almost like a magic spell. Here are easy ways to socialize your Jack Rusell puppy: Find out what the breeder did with them Find out what your breeder is doing to socialize your puppy before they leave them — good examples puppy socialization programs to send them are Puppy Culture and Avidog. Read our full article on socialization here. Use a bag or a puppy stroller for your Jack Rusell puppy — they look super cute too. Definitely insta-worthy. Shift to some play, let them have a nap and go back to what you were doing later — we want training and other activities to be associated with fun, and not something they begin to dread. They are small in size, but their attitude and strength says otherwise. Jack Russells are extremely alert, bold and loyal. They have amusing personalities and their cleverness will astound you. Jack Russell Terriers make a great companion, becoming extremely loyal to their owner s and insist on entertaining everyone. They also require much affection and attention, as well as firm boundaries. The Jack Russell has won the hearts of many dog lovers all over the world. The Jack Russell Terrier is extremely friendly, playful and boisterous. They have remarkable intelligence, and require the proper dominance training. In fact, their intelligence, while one of their more favorable characteristics, can also make them difficult to control at times. Being a terrier, Jacks naturally enjoy the great outdoors, and love to hunt. However, they also love to play games inside, and are just as happy playing fetch as they would be chasing after a squirrel. Due to their limitless energy, the Jack Russell Terrier can be a handful, and this is another reason why properly training the JRT is an absolute must. Furthermore, although they have a gentle and friendly temperament, they will not tolerate any abuse, even that which is unintentional, from children. Jacks enjoy playing with children, but the child needs to understand how to play with the dog. Their greatest attribute is their working ability, closely followed by their excellent qualities as a companion. The unique personality of this feisty terrier is rapidly gaining popularity, but they are not a dog for everyone, especially first time dog owners. While adaptable to a variety of environments, they are first and foremost bred to hunt. These dogs come in three different coat types; smooth, broken, and rough. All coats shed, however, the hairs are heavy and do not tend to float around. Jack Russells are adaptable to most climates, and usually handle the cold fine, although some dogs will need a dog blanket or sweater if it is really cold. Height can be between 10" and 15", with a proportionate body length. They should be compact and balanced, always in solid, hard condition, while also being supple and flexible. Jack Russells have a short, upright tail, about 4" long. Within three days of birth, the front dewclaws are removed and the tail is cropped to result in an adult tail just long enough for a human hand to grab and pull the Jack out of a fox hole. Our pups' tails are cropped by a veterinarian, and with the additional cost to us for anesthetic pain blockers. The Jack Russell Terrier was bred for fox hunting, particularly the European red foxes as Jacks could also hunt them underground. Their official name came from Reverend John Russell, a famous British huntsman who was renowned for his use of terriers for his passion of fox hunting. That is how his terriers that he bred earned the name Parson Russells. The Parson Russell Terrier has several distinctions that make them a cut above the average terrier. He has a compact chest that is long and flexible, a strong muzzle and head to hold the fox, and lengthy legs that allow him to keep up with hounds on the hunt. He is a rough coat. The puppy in the RCA commercial. More recent has been a terrier in an MCI commercial. Also, the Nissan commercial has a JRT in it, and there is a pizza commercial where a JRT and a shaggy dog lick sauce off a giggling child's face. Are Jack Russell Terriers as energetic as they seem? Jack Russell Terriers are very energetic dogs, with a big need for regular exercise. They are working dogs, and need to have a job, whether it be keeping your yard free of rodents digging is normal and common, since they are bred to dig after quarry , chasing a ball, or going for a run or long walk with its owner. Sitting alone on the couch peacefully all day is not in a Jack Russell's agenda. They require more of a time commitment than some breeds. Will a Jack Russell be happy in an apartment situation? Given the exercise requirements of the Jack Russell, a home with a large, fenced yard is more appropriate. Until they reach old age, they do not take well to inactive, sedentary lifestyles. However, if you are at home during the day or are able to provide regular exercise, it may work. They need a foot high fence, since they are known to jump, climb, and even dig under fences. Many of the Jack Russells in the Rescue are there because the owner underestimated the attention requirements of the terrier. Will a Jack Russell Terrier get along with my cat, other pets, and children? Cats and other small pets rodents will usually not work with a Jack Russell because these dogs are first and foremost hunting dogs. This is not true for all Jack Russells, and if brought into the household as a pup, most could be trained to live with a cat. Jack Russells will not put up with abusive behavior from a child, and may react defensively if a crawling or toddling child makes growling sounds or grabs the dog's toys or treats. This should be carefully considered, particularly with children under six. Are Jack Russell Terriers aggressive? Of course, a male and female pair get along with each other regardless of status. Obedience, agility, and search 'n' sniff are also being included more often in these events. Conformation classes are judged much like any other dog show. The winner is the dog that most closely matches the breed standard. In addition to conformation and movement, the dog is judged on temperament; as in all things having to do with Jack Russells, the best working dog is being sought. Go-to-Ground consists of wooden liners placed in a trench dug in the ground. They are made to resemble as closely as possible natural earth where a dog might encounter fox or other prey. At the end of the course is a cage with two or three rats. The terrier is judged on how quickly it gets to the liners and finds the rats, and on how it "worries" its quarry. The judge wants to see the Jack Russell bark, growl, dig, and whine. The Racing division is probably what first attracts and most excites both terriers and owner at these trials. A sanctioned track is at least feet long, and is a straight course sometimes with jumps added with a starting box at one end and a stack of hay bales with a hole in the middle the finish line at the other. A lure usually a piece of scented fur is attached to a piece of string that is pulled along by a generator. The dogs are muzzled for safety because of the excitement. The first dog through the hole in the hay bales is the winner--and the winner, despite the impediment of the muzzle, usually has the lure clamped firmly between its teeth. The idea is to get them used to chasing a lure so that when they are in a real race, they will know what to do. Run away from your terrier with the lure trailing behind you. Let your terrier catch the fur so that it will be a satisfying experience for it. Repeat these steps several times. Hurdles: Build simple hurdles from inexpensive PVC piping. Drag the lure over the hurdle to get your terrier to jump. It works! The best practice for racing is to actually run your terrier in a real race i. Start your terrier racing at a young age 4 months. Don't let them race over large hurdles since their joints are still growing! Don't let your terrier overheat. Normally they either sit in the starting box, play with their muzzle, or run the wrong direction. Don't quit after the first failure. Jack Russells are smart and catch on quickly. At Jack Russell terrier races the dogs run after a scented lure to a 'wall' usually made of straw bales or something where there is a small hole that's big enough for only one dog to go through. The first to the wall isn't necessarily the first through the hole and sometimes the dogs get a little competitive. If your terrier starts a fight, work to stop this behavior immediately. Fighting terriers are dismissed since they can disrupt the outcome of the race and are a danger to the other terriers and the catchers. Cool down your terrier after each race some owners will "dunk" their terriers in a large barrel of water after each race. You can use a mist spray bottle and offer your terrier plenty of water. Great book on hunting with JRTs, with training tips and more. It also contains poems, humorous stories, and advice, as well as listings of JRT trials throughout the country and shops which carry JRT items. Like other terriers they may bore easily and are capable of inventing their own entertainment. Jack Russell Terriers are a tough little dog who is clean and a convenient size for a companion. Height: 12 - 14 inches.The traits and skills that make them excellent hunting dogs i. They have the same need for exercise as a much larger dog.Rough coats maintain the guard and dead coat, requiring manual shedding a few times a year. The broken coat is an intermediary coat, between the two types. Sources: Important post-natal checks of your Jack Russell Terrier and her puppies It is important to check the puppies regularly every few hours in the first few weeks, especially with a first-time mother, to ensure they are all feeding well, are not trapped somewhere in the whelping box and are warm and content. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands before interacting with your puppies to help reduce the risk of them getting sick from any bacteria that might be on your hands. Within the first forty-eight hours of birth, it is important to book an appointment with your veterinarian. The vet will also check the puppies for birth defects like a cleft palate that may require a supplemental feeding regime. Your vet will discuss treatments, medications or injections that may be needed during this visit. Weigh your Jack Russell Terrier puppies regularly Most Jack Russell Terrier puppies will double their birth weight in the first seven to ten days. It is important to monitor the growth of your puppies because any weight loss in a puppy is a cause for concern. Recording daily weight gain allows you to monitor their condition and progress. Recording these increases will help you identify any changes as soon as possible. Sometimes it can be challenging to tell the puppies apart, especially if they have similar markings. There are also puppy ID collars made of soft Velcro you can purchase for this purpose. They also need to be checked frequently to make sure they are not being pushed away by the other puppies. Puppies that fail to gain weight or begin to lose weight may perish within 48 hours if the condition is not reversed, so you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. It might be necessary to take over and bottle-feed them for a short period of time. Keep your Jack Russell Terrier puppies warm! This is extremely important as newborn puppies are still developing and cannot regulate their body temperature effectively. The temperature inside the pen or whelping box should be kept between 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for the first five days. Then from day five through to ten, the heat can be reduced to 80 degrees. Each week after that the temperature can be reduced slightly until by the end of their fourth week it is at 75 degrees. You can use a puppy safe heat pad that is designed to provide warmth without getting too hot to help the pups stay warm. To avoid overheating there should also be a cooler corner of the whelping box that the pups can crawl to if needed. Jack Russell Terrier puppy health Intestinal Parasites Puppies are especially susceptible to intestinal parasites. Treating puppies for worms can begin as early as two weeks of age and then two weeks apart after that up until three months of age. Accurate weights of the puppies are needed so that the proper dose of medication can be calculated. This is another reason why recoding their weights is so important. Eye problems Jack Russell Terrier puppies, like all puppies, are born with their eyes closed. After one to two weeks they should begin to open their eyes. If there is any swelling or bulging under the eyelids, discharge or pus, or any other abnormalities, it is critical to contact your veterinarian immediately. If the eyes have not opened by two weeks of age it is also important to seek immediate veterinary care. As weaning commences and the puppies nurse less from their mother, these antibodies are reduced. It is important that your puppies receive their first round of vaccinations at six weeks of age to help protect them from illness. A purposely built whelping box is ideal so that the mother is able to come and go freely while keeping the puppies contained. Once the puppies open their eyes and become more mobile, usually around the second or third week, the cleaning will require more of your attention. Ensure that the bedding is changed daily to maintain a hygienic environment for the puppies and reduce any smells. When should your Jack Russell Terrier puppies start to move around and explore their surroundings? Around the two-week mark Jack Russell Terrier puppies are opening their eyes and trying to stand. By the three-week mark, they should be moving around and perhaps trying to climb out of their whelping box and by four weeks they will be able to walk, run, and play. A Jack Russell Terrier puppy who fails to meet these developmental milestones is at great risk for death or permanent impairment. It is important to speak with your veterinarian if you observe any abnormal development in your puppies. Weaning my Jack Russell Terrier puppies When… Weaning typically begins around three weeks of age, however, if the litter is unusually large, weaning can begin a little earlier to prevent the mother from becoming overly fatigued. Jack Russell Terrier puppies that are hand raised can begin the weaning process sooner and can be offered soft foods from the moment their eyes are open. Around the three-week mark Jack Russell Terrier puppies start to develop teeth. Puppy teeth are sharp and tend to irritate and hurt the mother when she feeds her puppies. The mother initiates the process and begins moving away from her puppies, leaving them for longer and longer periods of time. This process should be repeated two or three times a day until the pups begin to drink the milk replacer on their own. It typically takes one to four days. Avoid using goat milk or cow milk as these can upset their tummies. After successfully introducing a puppy milk-replacement formula, a puppy mush can be offered to your Jack Russell Terrier puppies. Puppy mush is made from dry puppy food or canned puppy food that has been mixed with water or puppy milk. Dry puppy food needs to be crumbled and soaked for about 30 minutes to soften it before being given to the puppies. You are aiming for a porridge-like consistency so that puppies can easily lap up the mixture. If the puppies have trouble lapping up the mush, experiment with the amount of liquid to achieve the desired consistency. Puppies prefer their food at body temperature, so if possible, it is best to have the puppy mush at a lukewarm temperature. It is also a good idea to feed the puppies away from their mother and other animals and also away from their sleeping area. An area inside where they can be contained would be a good place to feed them. As the puppies get older, slowly decrease the amount of milk replacer or water until they are eating the puppy mush with little, or no moisture added. This process should be completed by four to six weeks of age at which time they can transition onto canned or dry puppy food. Socializing your Jack Russell Terrier puppies Poorly socialized Jack Russell Terrier puppies can develop behavioral problems like hyperactivity, over reactivity, emotional rigidity, anxiety, fear, and aggression. Puppies need to be socialised so they learn how to communication and relate to other dogs and humans and develop into happy, well-adjusted dogs. Practical ways to socialise your puppies include: Three to six weeks Allow them to become accustomed to different surfaces like carpet, smooth floors, tiles, cement, etc. Take the puppies outside to start exploring the natural environment. It is best to supervise this to begin with. Ensure all members of your family hold and play with the puppies so they are used to being held and touched. Six to twelve weeks see here for more information , wearing collars, walking on a lead and different grooming tools. Begin separating the puppies one at a time in a crate for short periods of time to get them used to being alone. Putting Together a Puppy Starter Pack Regardless of whether it is the new owners first Jack Russell Terrier puppy or not, it is a good idea prepare a puppy starter pack to accompany each puppy to their new home. This helps the new owner familiarize with the puppy, its routine, normal care, as well any comforts to help the puppy settle in. Sources: Caring for your Jack Russell Terrier mom immediately after delivery After whelping giving birth , use warm water and washcloth to gently clean the mother as much as possible without upsetting her. It is important to avoid using any soaps or disinfectants unless your veterinarian has advised you to do so. Remove any soiled newspaper or bedding from her whelping box after the birth and then ensure this is changed daily after that. This will ensure the whelping box stays clean, hygienic, and safe for her and the puppies. It is normal for your Jack Russell Terrier to have some greenish-black colored discharge from her vulva after giving birth. This discharge may be quite significant if she has not expelled all the afterbirth, however it should decrease substantially after twenty-four to forty-eight hours. It is important to monitor this and check for any excessive discharge that does not decrease in this time. If you find anything abnormal, call your veterinarian. Her milk should be a white color, and not contain any blood or pus. If you find anything abnormal, speak with your veterinarian as soon as possible. It is quite normal for your Jack Russell Terrier to want to spend most of her time with her puppies and for the first few days it may be difficult to get her to leave the whelping box, even to go to the bathroom. You may need to lead her outside for a short period if she refuses to go on her own. It is important that she continues to urinate and defecate normally. A content litter of fat puppies is the best indication that the mother is producing adequate milk. If the mother does not produce enough milk or she has developed mastitis an infection in the mammary glands the entire litter of puppies will not be properly nourished, cry constantly and fail to gain weight. If just one or two puppies appear restless or whimpers frequently, they may be being pushed away from the milk by the other puppies. Putting these puppies onto the fullest nipples for feeding may help them get the nourishment they need. Puppies that fail to gain weight or begin to lose weight for whatever reason may perish within 48 hours. Supplemental feeding with milk replacement products several times a day may be necessary. Your veterinarian can supply the necessary food and feeders special puppy nursing bottles and advice on how to do this. For more information on caring for new puppies, What is the difference between Mastitis and Eclampsia? This causes the mammary glands to become increasingly swollen, inflamed, and discolored frequently red or purple. The most common pathogens that cause mastitis are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp. Nursing puppies are the most efficient at removing the milk from the glands, however, if the mother is too sore to allow nursing, or if there is a concern of antibiotic treatment transferring to the puppies, supplementary feeding may be needed. Eclampsia, or milk fever, occurs when blood calcium levels of the mother are depleted due to heavy milk production. It is not an infection. Eclampsia occurs most commonly when the mother is producing the most milk, usually around the three-to-five-week mark. Eclampsia is an emergency and if you suspect eclampsia is developing, prevent the puppies from suckling and contact your veterinarian immediately. This is normal and she should regain her appetite after a couple of days. Once she regains her appetite, her food requirements increase further because she is producing milk for her puppies. It is important to increase the frequency of feeding rather than the volume per meal and avoid any sudden changes in the type of food you feed her. Peak milk production occurs approximately three to five weeks after whelping and at this time it is not unusual for her to be eating three to four times her normal maintenance diet. This amount of course will vary according to the size of her litter and her physical condition. It is important to ensure your Jack Russell Terrier consumes plenty of water particularly if she is on a dry diet. It is not necessary to feed her milk or any milk substitutes while she is lactating. Feeding your Jack Russell Terrier a specially formulated commercial dry food for lactating mothers will provide her with a decent calorific amount of healthy fats and proteins to meet the nutritional needs of growing puppies. Eating the afterbirth helps to stimulate milk production and provides her with the minerals and nutrients she needs and assists her body to recover quickly so she can take care of her puppies. It is important to be aware that eating the placenta can also cause diarrhea. Around the week four mark is the time to begin slowly transitioning the mother dog back to her maintenance diet. Then by week seven or eight when her puppies are completely weaned, her milk production will cease. What shall I do if the mother refuses to stay with the puppies? Newborn puppies cannot maintain their own body temperature for a week or two after whelping but so long as the puppies stay close to their mother and each other they will get the warmth they need. Sometimes pets that are closely attached to their owners choose not to stay with their puppies. If the mother will not stay with her puppies, it might be worth relocating the whelping box and puppies nearer to you or installing an external source of warmth in the whelping box. You can use a puppy safe heat pad that is designed to provide warmth without getting too hot. To avoid overheating there should also be a cooler corner of the whelping box that the pups can crawl to if needed. Is it necessary to keep my Jack Russell Terrier and her puppies in subdued light? It depends. Instinctually some Jack Russell Terrier females will become anxious and start carrying their puppies around the house looking for a secluded spot to hide them like they would in the wild. If the mother does not like the place you have selected for the whelping box, try placing a blanket over part of the box or providing an enclosed crate to give her feelings of safety. Stress can affect her milk supply and may cause problems with the puppies so if this does not work and she is still unsettled, contact your veterinarian for advice. Why do some Jack Russell Terriers kill and eat their puppies? This could include killing and eating one or more of her puppies as a way of avoiding this perceived danger. Other times mothers will kill a puppy that fails to thrive, has a birth defect, or appears sickly. Caring for you Jack Russell Terrier while weaning her puppies The weaning process begins around three weeks of age. It is a gradual process where the puppies feed less and less from their mother and her milk supply starts to dry up. It is important to monitor the mother during this process to ensure that there is no discharge from her vulva and that her mammary glands except for her prominent nipples are going back to their normal size. It is also important to regularly check the mammary glands for any abnormal discharge, inflammation, tenderness, or hardness. By the conclusion of weaning there should be no obvious signs that she has raised a litter of puppies. Once the puppies are removed, sometimes several mammary glands still hang down, indicating that the mother did not dry up well. One way of correcting this is to reduce her food intake slightly below maintenance level for a few days before removing the puppies. For a mother with a lot of milk, it may be wise to completely remove her food for 24 hours prior to removing the puppies to help her milk supply dry up. Mastitis can occur quickly if the puppies are removed and she still has a good supply of milk.

When you bring a new puppy home, it's important to keep feeding it the same food that it has been eating at its previous home. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source Talk to the person or organization that you are adopting your puppy from to see what food they are feeding it. They should willingly provide that info and they may even send you home with some if you can't find any to buy. If you can't find the right food in your local pet supply store, consider ordering it online. However, you would need to order it ahead of time so that you have it on hand when the puppy comes home. If you want to feed your puppy a different food from what it has been eating, you will need to switch its food over the course of several days. Feed that mix for several days. Finally, you can give the puppy all new food. If you are content to give your puppy the food it was originally eating, it's fine to do that. Every puppy will have different nutritional needs. Because of this, it's a good idea to discuss proper nutrition with your vet. They can suggest great foods to give your puppy and how much it should be eating. Go to source The right portion size depends on the size of your puppy and its metabolism. Ask your vet to teach you how to body score your puppy. This will allow you to do a quick visual check to see whether your puppy is losing or gaining weight. Tip: If your vet suggests a specific food but doesn't tell you how much to give your puppy, follow the instructions on the packaging. Doing 3 or 4 feedings per day allows your puppy to get enough nutrients without overwhelming its digestive system with a huge amount of food at once. This is especially important when your puppy is under 6 months old, as they have delicate systems. Go to source Don't just leave the food out all day. Take the food away after the puppy eats for about 10 or 15 minutes. Lab puppies should always have access to fresh water so that they can stay adequately hydrated. Put out a dish of water and dump it out, clean the dish, and refill it daily. Some puppies are really messy with their water dishes. To prevent a mess, try putting the water dish on a tray, so that spilled water won't go right onto the floor. How does it feel to be a new puppy parent? You must be chuffed. Take a look at these first few articles. All the ingredients you need for a happy home. But for now, beside your bed is the best place for your puppy to sleep — it will help them feel safe. Puppies like their crates rather cave-like; we suggest covering it with a blanket to block out light, but keep the front open so that they can see outwards. Make sure to make it snug inside with something like a vet bed or a blanket, or why not take it up a notch with a heat pad or hot water bottle to recreate the feeling of their mother. Nothing feels more comforting than that. Before you head to bed, take your puppy out for one last round of loo-going. Set your bedtime at a later time too — midnight sounds about right. Come back calmly, and place your puppy in the crate and turn out the light. Stuff you should know about Sleep Training your Labrador Your puppy will wake up several times in the night and will need the bathroom at least once! Be prepared for not-so-deep sleeps and tired mornings — just for the first few weeks. Having them sleep next to you is only temporary. Consistency is key! As for you, full nights of sleep will start getting closer and closer. Alone Training How can I teach my Labrador puppy to be ok on their own? Start by feeding your puppy in their crate during meal times. If they seem worried by you leaving, stay in view, and just pop right outside their confinement area. Keep it short and sweet: No need to stay away for long, 60 seconds tops will do for now. Repeat: Do this at least once a day to make progress go steady and smoothly. Socialization Exercises To Do this week Letting your Labrador puppy explore the yard Besides the gnomes and questionable yard furniture you may have, letting your puppy explore your own yard is a great and safe way to start showing them the sounds, lights and wonders of the outside world. Exploring different surfaces exercise Make sure that the surfaces you use are safe — nothing too crazy just yet. Gather surfaces such as An oven tray with a small layer of water A piece of astro turf A carpet tile A large piece of tin foil, cardboard or something crinkly PRO TIP: Set up for this exercise in the room your puppy spends most of their time in — it will help them to feel safe and confident. Pop the surfaces out safely on the floor and allow your puppy to investigate them. Nobody has ever enjoyed walking on those. Remember to be patient! Lucky for you — teaching them their name is easy peasy. Say their name in a happy jolly tone and reward with a treat. Repeat five times, 5 and take a break. Practice this 2 or 3 times a day so they get the hang of it. Teach your puppy to sit Teaching your puppy how to sit is a popular one. The first two are far more common though. Keep using this word when they do the right thing, and then follow it up with a food reward. In puppy logic, stinky means yummy. How to do it Start at home; where there are no distractions. Just make sure to shut off Gogglebox in the background. Recall — How to teach our Labrador puppy to come back when called Your puppy already knows their name at this point, so this should be a walk in the park. How to do it Treats and a cheerful voice will be what works here. Do these exercises before meal times so your puppy is more motivated. Practice this 5 times a day and in 3 different places in your house and yard to get them used to coming to you in all settings. How to do it Show your puppy that you have their favorite toy, and start to get them excited about it. When they show interest, throw it a little bit away from you. They will likely follow it and pick it up. If they do, encourage them back to you with your voice, so remember to sound happy! Swap the toy for a treat or another toy and do the process again. Repeat this about 5 times. Instead create more distance and excitement sounds to get them to come to you — spaniels like to show off, so they will likely want to parade what they have! Always swap the toy for something when they have it, this could be a treat or another toy. Resource guarding occurs when we force puppies to give up items or snatch things out of their mouths. For breeds like Labradors who are designed to want to hold things in their mouths, this is pretty important! Resource guarding is when a dog protects a resource from being taken by someone else — dog or human. For some reason, there is a solid list of things puppies find irresistible: Socks. Fact checked by Emily Estep Emily Estep is a biologist and fact checker focused on environmental sciences. Emily has been a proofreader and editor at a variety of online media outlets over the past decade and has reviewed more than articles for The Spruce Pets for factual accuracy. These smart, social dogs are known for their amiable temperaments and their patience. Traditionally bred as hunting dogs, Labs also are among the most popular service dogs, acting as guide dogs for blind people and as therapy dogs. By socializing these dogs early, you can tap into their natural instincts as protectors and companions. Socialize Puppies Labs are natural born people pleasers. Introduce your Lab puppy to as many new people and places as possible during the early months of its life. Keep each new meeting and experience positive and upbeat. Doing this will reinforce your Lab's natural tendency to be friendly and accepting of everyone. If you have young children in the home, be sure to socialize them to the animal as well as the reverse. Although Labs are patient and tolerant, they may still nip at a child who teases or hurts them during play. Make sure everyone knows the boundaries and rules. Exercise Every Day Labrador retrievers are high energy dogs, which is part of the reason they are such great pets for active families. But if Labs aren't given sufficient exercise, they can quickly become bored. This often leads to destructive behavior and other common behavior problems , such as barking, chewing, and digging. It's also why Labs are not well-suited for apartment living; they're too big and too active. Plan on giving your Lab an hour or more of exercise each day. Most Labs love long walks or a game of fetch. These are the perfect way to burn off your Lab's energy. Take advantage of their innate trainability by starting an obedience program as soon as you bring your Labrador retriever home. You can work on basic obedience commands on your own, or sign up for a dog obedience class with a local dog trainer. Classes are a great way to train your Lab while socializing at the same time. Since Labs get to be fairly large and have a tendency to pull on the leash, make walking on a loose leash your first priority. You should also teach your Lab to "come," "drop it," and "fetch," so you can take advantage of its natural tendency for retrieving. Use Positive Reinforcement Training Their eagerness to learn, playfulness, affectionate natures, and their love of treats make Labrador retrievers fantastic candidates for positive reinforcement dog training. Reward their good behaviors with a small treat, a game, or some cuddle time with you. You'll find your Lab is soon offering you the behaviors you like with little prompting. If you decide to use treats in your training, remember that Labs have a tendency to become overweight. Plan on a Long Adolescence One of the most endearing qualities of Labrador retrievers is that they remain very puppy-like long after they've reached adulthood. The downside is that their energy level and tendency to get into mischief continues well into adulthood as well. Therefore, it pays to have behavior management tools handy. The training to become a service animal will vary depending on what the dog will be doing; some are trained to be animal companions to sick children and adults in the hospital, while others are trained to serve as seeing-eye dogs. Others may provide assistance to people with mental illnesses, or behavioral problems. Check the requirements for licensing and training where you live; some places have more strict rules and requirements for service dogs than others. Problems and Proofing Behavior Many Labrador retrievers are happiest and the most well-behaved when they have a job to do. Consider getting involved with a dog sport or training your Lab as a service animal or pet therapy dog. Crate train your Labrador so it doesn't have the run of the house when you're not there to supervise Provide your Lab with a variety of interesting toys and chews to keep it from getting bored. Continue practicing basic obedience commands; it reinforces your Lab's training and provides mental stimulation. No matter what training you decide on, keeping your Lab busy and active is sure to keep one of those famous Lab smiles on its face. Article Sources The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. McGreevy, Paul D et al. Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. Canine genetics and epidemiology vol. Learning to be alone Happiness is a Balancing Act Your job is a bit of a balancing act. Keeping your little one happy, while ensuring that he is educated in the ways of our curious human world, and that he learns to behave himself Here are a few tips to help you along the way. This is natural and normal. It makes them feel safe. Puppies also feel safe if they have a den, a place of safety, like the whelping box or nest where they were born, to rest in when they are on their own. But you can hurry that process up by leaving the door open all day and leaving food and nice toys in there for your puppy to find. If you or your children are very excited, your puppy will get excited too. He may get very overexcited, which is when biting can get very out of hand. Of course, there are bound to be times when, despite your best efforts, your puppy gets a little too over-excited. But, learning how to deal with this can help calm things back down. Outdoor Time To Potty I get a lot of questions from people that are struggling with potty training because they are expecting a new puppy to go too long without a wee during the day. Sometimes two or three hours. Some eight week old puppies will empty their bladder in the garden, come indoors and wee again just 15 or 20 minutes later! This is very annoying, but it is a short-lived phase. Restricted Access Many people find it hard to cope with their puppy simply because they are giving him access to too large an area of the family home. He has no chance of learning to be clean if he cannot be watched constantly by a family member and is far more likely to have accidents on carpets, than on hard floors. He will also be constantly in trouble for chewing things he should never have been able to reach. Baby gates are a brilliant way of restricting very small puppies to a fairly small designated part of your home with washable floors. The puppy can then be gradually introduced to more rooms as they mature. The Right Feeding Routines Puppies often have sensitive tummies. Especially in the first few days and weeks in their new home. Most Labrador puppies are greedy and will eat large meals. The quantities on food packet are daily rations and should be divided into at least four portions to begin with. And the result is can be a nasty attack of diarrhea, although of course there are other causes of upset stomaches too! Puppies need to be out and about. There is a small period of time during which puppies can easily accept new experiences. And after which they become fearful of strangers, strange objects, and strange experiences. This unique time slot is called the window for socialization, and it is all but closed before the puppy is 14 weeks old. So you need to get your puppy out and about, meeting all kinds of people, vehicles, shops, machinery, and so on. Positive Reinforcement Leads To Happiness! Nowadays we train dogs using positive reinforcement. Essentially this means with rewards. These rewards can be anything he enjoys, from toys, to food, to simply running around. But puppies need to be shown how to earn rewards the right way. So that we get the right responses from them. It is all too easy to reward your puppy for doing the wrong things. Lots of puppies learn to bark to get attention for example or to jump up to get a stroke. There are lots of games you can play with puppies to help them learn how to earn rewards. Let the puppy know what you like them doing with a marker word like YES and follow it up with a treat. You can start rewarding your puppy like this, for making eye contact with you, right from the very first day. Learn To Be Happy Alone? All companion dogs need to be alone at times. And the best time to learn this skill is when he is small. As soon as your puppy has settled in to his new den, after the first few days it is time to start leaving him alone for short periods of time. Pull up a chair and start by getting the puppy used to being shut in the crate with you next to him. When he is happy to be crated while you are there, you can start leaving him for very short periods of time. Just a few seconds to begin with. Time Off The Leash! Small puppies have a powerful following response — I call this the safety response because they do it to feel safe. If you put and eight week old puppy on the ground and walk away, he will follow you. If you keep your puppy on a leash for the first six months of his life, when you let him off he will no longer have this following reflex, and you will have wasted a great opportunity to establish this good behavior. Check out below for a demonstration, on teaching the puppy recall. So that he can learn to follow in your footsteps as you lead the way in exploring the great wide world. Obviously this needs to be done in a very safe space. Later on when you take your puppy into a more distracting environment, you should attach a trailing line to their harness for safety. If your little one is allowed on the sofa today, he may think he is allowed on the sofa tomorrow. Decide what your rules are, and work out how to achieve them. Find out everything you can about how puppies learn so that you can teach your puppy how to live in our world, with love and kindness. However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on. Labrador Retriever pups are working dogs. This means they live to please you for a treat. The more you engage them with different puppy training behaviors the happier they will be. Of course, Labs will be Labs, and this means that dogs do dog things unless they are trained to follow your expectations. Potty training your puppy is just the beginning of you making clear expectations for your Lab. Puppy training from long leash training to potty training, to not nipping is discussed in greater detail along with clear, easy to follow videos at www. But we will give you an expert training tip summary below. For this reason, you need to become an expert on puppy training. Contact us for a discount on the Puppy Trained Right positive reinforcement training program. Expose your puppy to as many different people and situations possible. Teach dog to dog manners when required. Use Positive Reinforcement. Allow for Play with Other Puppies. Play with other Lab Puppies not only allows your pup to get some exercise it is a form of puppy socialization. Bond with your Puppy. Once a strong bond is formed your Lab Puppy will want to please you even more. Potty Train Right Away. Learn how Dogs Learn. Training a Lab puppy is easy if you understand how to go about it. Give your Lab Puppy Play time to Explore. Labs need this as part of their natural development. Spend more time with your puppy when young. This is the time when your expectations should be clearly outlined and can decrease as she gets older. Begin Training day 1. This happens weather or not you intend it to. Every action and reaction is something your puppy uses to form new habits. So ignoring them jumping up as an 8 week old puppy is training them to jump up and will be much more difficult to un-train once they are 70 lbs. Relax and make learning fun. Your pup needs you happy and enjoying yourself! Use Positive Training Methods because they work. This means reward what you desire. Ensure most Experiences are Positive. Imagine a training session of No, No, No, No! Expose them to as Many Human Situations possible. One cause is that there was not adequate socialization with different men. Be Patient. You are building an amazing K9 personality. The window is between 8 and 20 weeks old. Make the most of it. The better your Lab is socialized the happier they will be. Anxiety in dogs comes from many things. The more things your dog is comfortable with the less chance for anxiety and therefore the happier they are. Prepare yourself, your family and your home before your puppy comes home. It is too late once you meet your puppy as simply interacting with her is training. Allow for Safe Experiences both in the home and outside. Seek professional trainers to help guide you when faced with a problem. Be consistent. Clear expectations are easiest to learn. Focus on Guiding not controlling. Best Start Training or Training Classes are beneficial for both you and your puppy. Expect Success. We tend to move in the direction we believe we will travel. Reward the Behaviors you want to see even something as simple as 4 paws on the ground if you are trying to train your Lab not to jump up on you. Become Well informed. You are teaching a skill like reading that takes clear expectations and builds upon last session. Lab Puppies need constant supervision either human, a crate, a fenced area or a baby gate across a doorway. Encourage a soft mouth. Keep your training up or it will be forgotten. Begin Walking on a Loose Leash Right away. This is always easier for your Lab when they are 12 lbs not 70lbs. Change direction before the leash tightens so they are followers not leaders. This is much easier to train before it happens than correct. Allow alone time for your Lab. Know when to end a training session. End training before your puppy quits. Make time for a few shorter training Sessions. Three fifteen minute sessions are better than one 45 min one. Teach your Lab to respond to their name. Teach your Labrador basic obedience before tricks-come, sit, stay, down, leave it. Have all humans learn the commands and be consistent. Ignore undesirable behaviors. Ignoring includes not saying no, bad dog, touching your dog or making eye contact. Find rewards that your Retriever loves and use them when you have breakthrough training moments. Adjust your expectations as your Lab puppy matures, the older more experienced the higher the expectation. Set Realistic Expectations. Minimize distractions when you begin training. Be aware of your Body Language, Labradors pick up cues from you. Be aware of your leash tension. A tight leash says anxiety from the handler. Know when to get Help .Have fun! Understand that Labs do Lab things. Make them work for food and treats. Exercise your Retriever properly for both intensity and duration. Learn some exercise games Labs love. Give lots of repetition. Stop before they get bored. Establish a Pattern by Praising. Redirect undesired behavior. Accept partial actions at first and gradually increase your expectations. When treats end Verbal treats and chin scratches rule. They will know. Enjoy your well balanced purebred Lab puppy for many years. Purebred Lab Retrievers, are they easier to train? The answer to that is definitely maybe! Not all purebreds are bred for intelligence. For example, if a Labrador Retriever breeder chooses to breed their dogs for a certain look then they may overlook intelligence as one of the important characteristics in order to get a specific Lab look. We however breed for intelligence, health and temperament. So in our case, yes, our Purebred Lab Puppies are easier to train than many because we choose the parents and their puppies specifically for their smarts!

This is a training method whereby good behavior is rewarded and so the dog wishes to repeat it to get a treat. Bad behavior, on the other hand, is either ignored or acknowledged with a brief verbal rebuke or other non-violent means of showing your displeasure. The idea behind this is to provide your dog with information that it chose the wrong action. This might be food, a special toy, or just praising it. Even fussy eaters have something they love to eat that is a special treat for them. The trick is to find this treat. Try morsels of different foods, such as cheese, hotdog sausage, steak, chicken, or a commercial training treat, until you find one the dog really loves. You are going to use this treat as your pup's reward. Pippa Mattinson. This way you will be ready to reward the dog's good behavior throughout the day. Be careful not to overfeed the dog however. When using treats, cut back on your pup's daily food ration at mealtimes so as to compensate for the extra calories represented by the treats. Another factor to be aware of is that giving treats every time the dog does good can make it lazy, as the dog assumes it will get a treat. Once it learns to work for treats, make the reward intermittent, such as every fourth or fifth rewardable action, so that the dog stays on his or her best behavior to earn that reward. Training your dog to be a good canine citizen means helping it to be confident in different places, and with different people and other animals. This will help make your pet well-adjusted and able to adapt to various situations without displaying anxiety. Puppies have a socialization period where they learn more rapidly, so take advantage of this by taking your puppy to visit other people and carry the puppy alongside roads so she can get used to the sound of traffic and the such like. This window of opportunity closes at 18 weeks, after which the dog continues to learn but more slowly. Bonnie Beaver. Saunders Though adult toy poodles are trainable, it is much easier to teach younger dogs before bad behavior issues arise. Maintain this schedule for at least three weeks before decreasing the number of potty breaks. Establishing good habits takes time, but consistency will teach your pup to trust and depend on you. Use a Leash Using a leash during potty training kills two birds with one stone. But, you can also use these short sessions to reinforce leash training by giving treats for staying close, not pulling, and for walking in a straight line. Pro tip: Even if you have a fenced-in backyard, teach your dog to go potty along the fence line or near bushes. Pooping in low-foot traffic areas will save you and houseguests from stepping in poop in the future. While praise is a reward in itself your dog just wants to make you happy, after all , treats are an excellent motivator. Take your pup to a dog-friendly indoor place. Common dog-friendly locales include: Pet stores Farm supply and feed stores Breweries and wineries Make sure to bring clean-up supplies in the event of an accident poop bags, paper towels, and Clorox wipes. Let your pup relieve themselves outside before you go inside, walk your pup around the store while reinforcing and rewarding good leash behavior , and take them back outside just in time for another potty break. Plus, you can get in some valuable leash training and socialization time. A chocolate Toy Poodle eating from a ceramic bowl Potty Pads are Your Friend During the first few weeks of puppy parenthood, accidents are inevitable. In the meantime, place potty pads in strategic locations around the house. Regular treats can be high-calorie, and even cut into small pieces, they can still be pretty calorie-dense. Create and Maintain a Safe Space Before you bring your pup home for the first time, make sure they have a safe space to sleep, get comfortable, eat, and play with their toys in peace. Provide treats for going inside, and begin closing the door for short periods to acclimate them to the space. This early reinforcement is critical for: Reinforcing that their crate is a safe space That being alone is okay Start small: Leave your pup in their safe space for five minutes three times per day and at bedtime on the first day. Repeat this for a second day, and increase the sessions by five minutes every other day until your dog can calmly and without accidents stay in its crate for an hour. But, the time spent is worth every minute: After a few weeks of intensive training, your pup will be a seasoned master of outside potty breaks! 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. Keeping Your Home Healthy and Clean These two objectives require that your pet or toy poodle be house-trained. It may take a little time, but you can potty train your dog so that your home remains healthy and clean all the time. To learn how to achieve this goal, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know about so you can effectively train your pet and keep your house nice and clean. Tips to Potty Train Your Poodle 1. Create a Potty Schedule— Make sure to have this schedule reach at least four times and keep strictly to the schedule so your dog will learn what it is supposed to do. These 4 sessions should last between 15 and 20 minutes. Since a dog can hold their bladder one hour for each month of life approx. You should expect some accidents to happen from time to time. Try a Litter Box— This method is not that hard, and you can put the litter box in a small room so that your pup does not have a lot of options available other than that box. Make sure to praise and reward your pet when they successfully use the litter box. Use a Bell— Because the poodle species is very intelligent, you can teach them to ring a bell every time they need to go outside. That way you can hear the bell and respond quicker than if they just whined or sat by the door. Just be ready to hear that bell ring often as your poodle may use it to tell you they want to go outside and play or go for a walk. Use the Same Command- This is essential to potty train your pet. They will associate that command with the exact spot they are to go to the bathroom. Use the command when you take them to the same spot every training session. Make sure to reward him or her when they obey and do this task right. Go Potty is a Good Command to Use— Keep the command simple and one your pet can understand and learn quickly. Then when he or she responds correctly, praise and reward them with a nice treat and a few good boys or good girl words. Just be patient as potty training is not an overnight task or something that will be done in a day or two. Use Praise and Rewards— This is vital when you are training your pet to go outside or in a litter box. Rewarding them reinforces positive behavior and lets them know they did it right. The key here is not to give him or her lots of rewards at one time. You want them to remain slim and healthy. Walk Your Dog— This is to be done after they have had their meal or have taken a drink. They will get used to this activity and learn where they are to go to the bathroom and when. You may have to wait about 20 or 30 minutes afterwards as it does take your toy poodle some time to process their food and water. Use a Crate— This is a trick used by many dog owners and it seems to be very effective in training your dog to go potty where they are supposed to. Dogs, especially poodles, do not like going to the bathroom near their beds so this is a handy tool too. Make sure to take them to their designated bathroom area for them to relieve themselves. Stay Consistent— You do not want to do random training, use random commands, or random bathroom areas. You need to remain consistent, use the same commands, the same spot, and the same time frames to effectively train your pet. If a mistake is made in the house, show him or her where they are supposed to go. Be gentle but firm in your punishment. You need to kill those odors so that your puppy does not return to the same spot and use it again. Use odor-killing products to eliminate those smells and teach your pet to go in the right spot. Some Final Words Like anything else worth doing, you will need to take your time, be patient and reinforce your training. Do not overly punish when mistakes happen but teach them that those areas are not to be used. Then remind them where they are supposed to go. Be consistent and use the same technique every training session until your pet learns what they are to do. Once they learn, your efforts will be rewarded. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more » Bringing home a new poodle, whether an adult or a puppy, is an exciting and life-changing adventure. Potty training is a long process that requires patience and commitment. The key to successfully housebreaking your new puppy is positive reinforcement and consistency. With a little help from your friends here at Hepper, your poodle can be fully potty trained in just a few months. Keep reading to find our tips on how to make the potty training process as easy as possible for both you and your pooch. Before 12 weeks, puppies are still developing the muscles they need to hold their urine and feces. After your poodle reaches 3 months of age, you can increase the intervals to the same number of hours as their age in months. Your goal for potty training should be to go above and beyond by instilling in them the importance of eliminating in a designated area. Choose somewhere in your yard where your pup can feel safe and somewhere that will be accessible in all seasons. The corner of your lot by the fence might be okay in the summer, but will your poodle want to wade through the snow to get there in the winter? Take them to the same spot every time you take them outside to go potty. Put your dog on a leash whenever you take them outside to the bathroom. Reward, Never Punish Praise and rewards go a long way with any animal. While praise and words of encouragement are rewards themselves, treats are one of the best training tools you should have in your potty training arsenal. When your poodle eliminates in the appropriate place, offer praise and a reward immediately. You can also begin implementing clicker training at this point by marking the positive action urination or defecation with a click and then a treat. Punishment is never an acceptable training method. Outdated techniques recommend hitting your dog with a newspaper, raising your voice at them and telling them how bad they are, or rubbing their face in their own urine or defecation. Dogs do not associate these harmful behaviors with doing something wrong. All punishment does is teach your puppy to be afraid of you. You may not be able to smell the remains with your human nose, but you can best bet your pup can. These can be purchased from any pet store and will be your best friend as you wade through the challenges that potty training a puppy can present. You can even try creating your own at home with ingredients you probably already have on hand, like white vinegar and baking soda. Not only does it permanently remove the very worst smells and stains yes, everything you can imagine! Click here to get yourself a bottle. Approach Potty Pads Carefully Potty pads can be a useful potty training tool in some situations. Allowing your puppy to use a potty pad inside your home can cause confusion about where it is appropriate to eliminate, dragging out the potty training process. If you must use potty pads, designate one area of your home where your puppy can relieve itself and put the pads there. You might put down several pads at first but then begin to reduce the number you lie down as your puppy gets used to this area being their spot to eliminate. Make sure you take them to the potty pads often to help them connect the dots that they are to be used for peeing and pooping. Constant Supervision Constant supervision is one of the essential parts of successful potty training. Some dogs will be able to hold it longer than others, and some will need to go to the bathroom whenever they play or get too excited. The most common signs your dog needs to pee or poop include: Sniffing around. Poodle Puppy House Training Overview While housebreaking a puppy may feel like a huge obstacle that is time-consuming at best and an undertaking that may fail at worst, there are definitely things that you can do to set your Poodle puppy up for success for potty training. There are 2 main elements: Having a clear plan in mind that will encourage a pup to learn quickly Having reasonable expectations based on the age of your Poodle In this section, we will go over all of the important steps for effective and fast training. Age to House Train This is most certainly not something that you will want to put off. Whether you have a brand-new Poodle puppy or an older, adopted dog that needs to learn, it is best to begin right away. Every day that this is not taught, is another day that the dog has wrong information about what to do and this just in and of itself will make housebreaking harder. Keep in mind that new puppies should not be brought outside to public areas or even your yard if there is a chance that other dogs have been there until the full rounds of puppy vaccinations are complete. Each vet schedule is slightly different; however, in general this is done by about the 4 month mark. If you are not sure, check with your vet. Having a Housebreaking Plan It's not uncommon for a puppy to pee or have a bowel movement with very little warning. And without a plan in place, this is when you'll see owners scrambling and picking up the pup while he dribbles urine as he's being carried out the door. While you will not catch every accident, you really will have much better success when you and all members of the family have a clear potty training plan in place. We would suggest reviewing what is needed, obtaining all of the necessities to be properly prepped, and then beginning. What is Needed Before You Begin There are a few things that you will need in order for housebreaking to be successful: 1 A supervision method. This is vital. Puppies or dog that have free rein in the house will be exceptionally hard to train. When you are home and are able to have your Poodle right by your side, use the tethering method. This means that your Poodle will be wearing a harness not a collar, since this can cause neck injury and will be on leash. The leash should be short and it should have a soft-looped handle, so that you can weave this through your belt loop or slip it over your wrist. When you are not home, or if you are home but cannot keep your Poodle near you, you'll need to keep your puppy or dog in a defined, secure area. Crates are not recommended; these are terribly confining and can cause a dog to feel both physically and emotionally stressed. Furthermore, they do not help with housebreaking; a dog will pee and poo when they need to. Gating off an entire room is also not recommended. This is too large of an area to do really do anything, and therefore there will still be pee and poo everywhere. One of the best methods is to use an indoor canine playpen. These are sturdy, open-top pens that allow a Poodle to move around, play, have all his favorite belongings food, water, toys, bed , but also keep messes contained. As a side note, these are great for separation anxiety, as they offer a secure 'den' that keeps all of a Poodle's aids right by them. And, these are perfect for the teething phase to keep a Poodle puppy from chewing apart the house. Recommended playpens to help with house training are below. These can be found with or without doors, and range from 24" ideal for toy and miniature Poodles to 48" better for standards, especially if continued to be used as the puppy grows. If you do not see the images, try a refresh. And on mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4. Giving a Poodle incentive to do something applies to potty training, perhaps, more than it does with any other single action. Once something is a learned behavior, it become automatic though it is still nice to reinforce good behavior now and again. For housebreaking to happen quickly, you need to 1 give super-happy praise and simultaneously 2 offer the right type of reward. The training treat should be: New - It should not be something that you give to your Poodle for regular snacks. If you've found a great, all-natural and healthy snack that you'd like to keep giving, see if it comes in a different flavor. Small - House training treats need to be small. A puppy needs immediate satisfaction, and you cannot achieve this with something that a dog needs to sit down to chew on. Extra flavorful - It should be appealing to a Poodle sense of smell and sense of taste, offering a burst of flavor that will encourage the desire for more. And 'more' can only happen when the Poodle goes to the bathroom in the right area. Below are our top recommended training treats. And on mobile, you may need to turn the screen horizontal to see all 4. Dogs that are simply brought 'outside' for bathroom needs rarely have a good, clear understanding of what is expected. If they are out there long enough, they may very well go to the bathroom. However, your goal should be going above this and instilling the full concept of having one area for urination and elimination needs. Choose the area wisely; what may seem like a great spot in the summer may not work well in the winter. The bathroom area should be close to the home, not a spot that is used for anything else play area, gardening, etc. Within the chosen area, allow your Poodle to choose the exact spot that he prefers. Dogs that have a choice learn much faster and are more eager to follow the rules. It is best to stand in the middle of the area with your puppy on a 6 to 8 foot leash. Allow him to circle around and, sniff. Some will then need time for the bladder to relax or for the bowel muscles to push out stool. Since young puppies have weak bladder and bowel muscles, they can often pee or poo with very little warning. Whatever you need in order to bring your Poodle outside should be ready at the exit door. This will include a pair of shoes, an appropriate coat or jacket depending on the weather, clothing for your Poodle - should there be a need, an umbrella in case it is raining, a leash and even a book or magazine to thumb though while you wait. For the times that you are home, you will want to bring your Poodle to the designated area at the following times: First thing in the morning Any time right after the puppy wakes up from a nap Every 2 hours for a 2 month old, every 3 hours for a 3 month old, every 4 hours for a 4 month old, etc. It would certainly make things easier if dogs understood what we were saying when we spoke full sentences after they did something that we didn't approve of. However, puppies that are rewarded for good deeds and quietly forgiven for accidents are able to pick up what the owner wishes for without any scolding. Please remember that you want your Poodle to respect you, not fear you. And while it may feel good to release a bit of steam if you find a puddle of pee, yelling or acting frustrated will only confused and stress a puppy that really has no idea why you are upset. Dogs learn best when they can associate a word with an action. So, you'll want everyone in the house to be in agreement as to which word s will be used for housebreaking. It's best to keep it short, and have it be something that you do not feel uncomfortable saying in public. You will use this as you head outside 'Do you need to go potty? While some puppies will instantly pee or poo, others need time. Owners that only give the pup only a few minutes may have trouble with the training. Since 5 minutes can feel like 20 if you are bored, cold or otherwise uncomfortable or antsy, plan ahead. Have an outdoor chair located right in the middle of the bathroom area and plan ahead to check your mail or email during these times. It is recommended to give the puppy a good 15 minutes and if you just know that a bowel movement is due, give it .While on this note, one of the biggest problems that owners encounter is when a puppy won't pee in his spot no matter how long there, but will pee as soon as being brought back inside. A good tip to fix this, should it happen often, is hold him after you come back inside he won't pee on you ; then head back out in about 10 minutes. While young Poodles need to be taken out often see above , if they are kept on that schedule as they mature, they will not have an opportunity to learn to hold their needs and bladder and bowel muscles will not strengthen as they otherwise would. As you puppy grows older, stretch out the periods of time in between taking him out. While the carpet may look clean after you scrub it with dish soap and a sturdy brush, soap does not eliminate enzymes that are in urine. And those lingering enzymes you won't smell these, but your Poodle will essentially scream 'This is the bathroom area! So, all areas that have been pee'd or poo'd on need to be cleaned with an enzyme cleanser. Puppies are terrific at making whining noises and barking in the middle of the night, without letting us know if they need to go to the bathroom or are just bored and wanting some attention. If a puppy pees and poos before bedtime, it is far more likely that he wants your company as opposed to having a real need. However, it is always best to be safe than sorry. The important element is that this be done in a very serious manner without any play or other interaction. Keep lights low, bring your Poodle puppy directly to his spot, wait the allotted time without speaking other than praise if the deed is done and then bring him right back. A puppy will soon learn that barking for attention at night does not bring about any interaction that would seem worthy of making a fuss but that alerting you in regard to bathroom needs does result in praise and a quick treat. It's a common occurrence for owners to bring their Poodle for a walk in the neighborhood and just let the puppy go to the bathroom along the way. However, this is a missed opportunity for a house training lesson. Bring your Poodle to his spot first and then bring him for his exercise. Housebreaking Exact Steps This is exactly how to bring your Poodle out, what to say, and what to do: 1. Head outside with your Poodle on leash and harness, saying your chosen phrase Let's go potty , and with the training treats in a small zipped plastic bag, kept in your pocket. Lead your Poodle directly to the designated bathroom area, repeating the phrase. Stand in the middle of the designated area, allowing your Poodle to roam within the diameter and sniff around. Allow 10 to 15 minutes. If your Poodle pees or poos, without completely distracting your pup, mark the action with your chosen word said in a happy tone, You're going potty. During this time, be reaching for the training treat. As soon as your Poodle is done, bend to his level, give great praise in a super-enthusiastic voice Good potty, oh, you are such a good dog! If your Poodle had a bowel movement, and you believe that there may be a urination need, remain outside for an additional 5 minutes. A Final Word While you will need a bit of patience during this time, with a good plan and lots of enthusiasm from you, your Poodle puppy should be completely house trained with a few months. After you feel that he is fully trained, be sure to still bring him out often enough, and continue to offer praise to reinforce the lessons that have been learned. How to Stop a Poodle From Marking - Both males and females may display territorial marking, and this is a separate issue than housebreaking. Learn why dogs do this, and exactly how to stop it. The Best Type of Toys for a Poodle - If you think of toys as tools, you'll see that certain ones can help with a range of issues. See the top toys for teething, treat-release, chewing, boredom, and as aids when home alone. Giving a Poodle a Bath - Great tips and advice for successful baths that are beneficial to skin and coat. All rights reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Share Us. Related posts: 1. Start by putting the toy poodle on a strict potty schedule: A schedule is one of the most powerful tools when it comes to training your toy poodle. You want to go for at least 4 training sessions per day, with each session lasting about minutes. Give your toy poodle some time in between each session to rest and eat, but make sure that he will be able to hold his bladder during all 4 training sessions. On average, a toy poodle can hold its bladder for up to one hour depending on its age and health condition. However, you have to be prepared for accidents at any time while your dog is still young and learning. Toy Poodle Litter Box Training: The easiest way to teach your toy poodle where to potty is by using a litter box in the beginning. You can teach your toy poodle to use the litter box by taking him to the same spot in your garden or backyard every time before you let him out. Use a bell system for toy poodle potty training: Toy poodles are very smart and will quickly learn to ring a bell when they want to go outside. You can put a bell on your door so that your toy poodle knows where to go when he wants to get out of the house. You can buy an actual dog doorbell that attaches to your front door for this purpose. Once your toy poodle learns how to ring the bell, he will most likely start doing it on his own when he needs to go outside and potty. Start by taking your toy poodle to the same spot in the garden every time before you allow him to potty. Each time, take one of his toys or a treat and present it to your dog when he finishes his business. Slowly, over the course of several weeks, increase the distance between yourself and your toy poodle. This will teach him that when you have a treat or a toy and go to the same spot, he is expected to eliminate it. When he finally decides to eliminate, praise him loudly so that he associates the command with the appropriate action. By establishing a strict schedule, using a bell system, and gradually training your toy poodle to understand the go-potty command, you can effectively teach your dog where to potty. Give your dog plenty of praise and treats for going outside to go potty: When your toy poodle finally makes the right decision, remember to reward him with praise and tasty treats. Make sure you are praising your dog every time he eliminates in the correct spot so that he associates this behavior with receiving attention. Reward your toy poodle regardless and he will learn to make the right decision on his own instead of waiting for punishments. Always take your dog out for a walk after eating or drinking: Once your toy poodle has learned where to go potty, you should still take him out for a walk after he has either eaten or drank water. This helps your dog eliminate a little more and can speed up the process. Use a crate for toy poodle potty training: Some toy poodles will do better if they have their own space to go potty in, even before you teach them where exactly that spot should be. A crate is a good way to quickly teach your dog that this is his potty space. After you have accumulated enough positive experience going outside with your puppy, try giving him a small treat before you let him out of the crate and take him to the same spot in your garden or backyard. Most toy poodles will quickly learn where to go potty and will stop making mistakes. If your dog makes a mistake in the house, immediately take him outside and show him where he should eliminate. Clean up accidents as soon as possible: Toy poodles are clean animals and will do their best to avoid going potty in the same spot twice. If your dog does make a mistake, immediately clean up the area with an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate any traces of odor that might encourage your dog to go again in this spot. Conclusion: Toy poodles are naturally clean and will not soil their living space. For this reason, they can be litter box trained relatively easily with a few strategies to help them learn where to go potty outside the house. Our experts at Dog Training and Behavior have compiled tips from professional trainers in order for you to successfully teach your pup all about going outside instead of inside! Related posts:.

Boxers require daily exercise in the form of walks with their owner, as well as time to run and play outdoors. These dogs have a naturally large appetite so they usually gain weight easily. Their high level of energy helps keep boxers at a healthy weight. However, some boxers may require weight gain due to illness, pregnancy or other reasons. When this happens, fattening up your boxer is important to maintain its health. Take your boxer to a veterinarian if it is underweight to determine the cause. If there is an underlying cause, treat it and ask the veterinarian what your dog's goal weight should be. Boxers are a stocky, medium-sized breed of dog weighing about .Feed your dog a wet food diet; wet food contains less carbohydrates than dry food and is more substantial. Increase the amount your dog eats daily by 25 per cent of its current diet. Supplement your dog's food with daily vitamins available through your veterinarian or from a holistic pet store. Feed your dog treats between meals after good behaviour. This will add calories to your dog's diet and reinforce its training. Satin balls are a good choice for dog snacks; they are balls of meat and grains that you can make at home. Exercise your dog every day by taking walks, gradually adding more exercise to its daily activity. Boxers are muscular dogs and building muscle helps them gain body mass. As a side note, be sure to use a proper toy cleaner to scrub out the gook and gunk that will accumulate inside Kongs and other treat-release toys. Homemade Snack to Help Boxer Dog Gain Weight: Since this involves routinely giving a mix of calorie dense food that is higher in fat than recommended for canines, run this by your vet first. Please note that these are not for meals. Feeding this for full meals could lead to upset stomach, diarrhea and very fast, unhealthy weight gain. Mix very well. Form into teaspoon sized balls. Please on a cookie sheet and freeze. Once frozen, store in airtight containers like Tupperware. Give thawed balls as snacks. When he was quickly growing in height, he was eating a lot. Now, in this 'skinny limbo' the Boxer has a stall of growth and his body doesn't need as much food. His appetite may not increase again until the body breaks free from the skinny phase and starts to grow in width and thicken up. Again, you don't want to force a Boxer to eat. With that said, adding a drizzle of warm low-salt chicken or beef broth can make a meal a bit more tempting. Alternatively, serving the entire meal warmed up can make it more appealing. Using the microwave is just fine; but be sure to mix it up well and test it with your inner wrist to make sure it's not too hot before scooping it into your Boxer's food bowl. While daily walks are an important part of care, allowing your Boxer a space to run is great for the body. Taking a weekly walk in the sand beach shoreline or lakeside is a great way to help the Boxer dog find his power. In conjunction with the food that you feed your Boxer, this can be just the boost that dog needs. You can learn more in the Boxer Dog Supplement section. The End of the Boxer Dog Skinny Phase If you have had health issues ruled out and you are feeding your Boxer well and providing enough exercise opportunities, all you will need now is some patience. Your adolescent Boxer is a slimmed version of the adult he or she is soon to become. Keep in mind that this breed is a lean dog and Boxers will vary; some will have wider chest than others. Some will have thicker legs and thicker necks than others. With most adults, the ribs will not show, however they may be slightly visible when the dog turns or positions himself a certain way. At a healthy, adult weight, you will be able to feel the ribs, but not clearly see them. With good food and care, that will be maintained until the senior years at which time there will be a gradual muscle loss which makes a Boxer's body look less well-defined and a just a bit softer. Black Boxer Dogs Is there such a thing as a Boxer with a solid black coat or a black coat with flash? There are some dogs that appear to be purebred Boxers with this coat color. Let's take a look at what this is. Sorting through the facts and myths that surround the solid or parti white Boxer. Stats on health issues, deafness and more. Large Males can weigh up to 75lbs Boxers will typically have reached their full height by months but will continue to slowly fill out in until around 16 months of age. Those weight averages are just that, averages! Underlying health issues can go unnoticed for some time! Unfortunately, a loss of appetite is a common symptom of a wide range of health problems. Ruling out health problems with a trained veterinarian is always the best thing to do first. The 5 Best Tips To Help Your Boxer Dog Gain Weight Assuming health issues have been ruled out with your veterinarian the following 5 tips will help your boxer gain weight by either increasing calories or making his current food more palatable. The best ways to increase weight on your boxer include mixing in wet dog food with their kibble, adding unsalted chicken broth to their food, using dog food seasonings to tackle fussy eating, adding peanut butter, or increasing their portion sizes. Mix in wet dog food with his kibble Add unsalted chicken or beef broth Use dog food seasonings Add peanut butter to his kibble Increase portion sizes 1. Wet dog food is higher in protein, higher in natural fats, fewer carbohydrates, fewer preservatives, and chemicals, and will act as a meaty gravy to the dry kibble. The addition of wet dog food nearly always works to stop fussy eating. Just ensure you mix the wet dog food into the kibble thoroughly otherwise your boxer may eat the wet and leave the dry! If you have some leftover broth from your own dinner be sure to save it for your Boxers meal time. Be careful with broth from stock cubes, as they usually have a lot of salt, additives, or preservatives in them. Broth from real, cooked meat is the ideal option. Use dog food seasonings There are a range of brands that make food toppers and seasonings for our canine friends. They are a fun and healthy way to quickly add flavor to your Boxers kibble. The company that we recommend is called Shake it Pup. One bottle provides up to 60 servings so if your boxer is currently fed twice a day, one bottle will last an entire month. Not bad for the price. You can check out the full range of flavors and seasonings by Shake it Pup here on Amazon. Source PetMD Peanut butter is high in healthy fats and therefore contains a lot of calories per tablespoon. Always test a tiny amount of peanut butter with your Boxer first before giving him a full tablespoon with his meal. Test first. To keep it interesting you could alternate days between using chicken broth with his kibble, then peanut butter, then dog food seasonings. It could be that the particular dog food you are using is low in calories per cup , or that your boxer is more active than usual. Never the less, if you think the food your boxer is consuming is high quality and digesting well, then simply add half a cup extra to meal times. If you choose to do this method then do not do other things like adding peanut butter or wet dog food, as that would be a huge increase in calories. Watch over the course of 2 weeks to see if his weight progresses. But what if your boxer IS already eating his full meal, and is still underweight? Rule out health issues: Just like before, ruling out health issues should ideally be done before trying any tips and tricks. Give your veterinarian a call to explain the situation and you may be required to schedule an appointment. This type of food will have more protein, fat, and calories compared to other regular adult dog food. Check the portion sizes: It could be that his portion sizes that are too small. Refer to the packaging to double-check the portions. Change the brand to a premium dog food brand: Not all dog food is made equal. To get the best nutrients and ingredients you need to opt for a premium brand like Orijen, Taste of The Wild, Wellness, or Acana. These brands are expensive, but you can rest assured that your Boxer is receiving real nutrition through real ingredients. Cheap brands use a lot of fillers that provide little nutritional value. So take an honest look at how much exercise you give your Boxer and be prepared to increase it. Exercise is so important to this breed that their overall health really depends on it. There may be nothing wrong with your Boxer or his food, he may just need more exercise to get his appetite to the correct level. Final Thoughts So there you have it, you now have a good idea of what weight your Boxer should be at depending upon his age, how to rule out health conditions, what you can do to help him eat his food and gain weight, and how exercise plays an important role in keeping his appetite healthy. Recommended Reading.

fine labrador puppies - The Golden Retriever-Poodle crossbreed is adorable, loyal, and a great option for allergy sufferers. Thinking about adding a Goldendoodle puppy to the family? Here is everything you need to know about the Goldendoodle puppy personality. Here are some facts to help you decide. Typically, they come in three sizes : standard, miniature, and toy. The standard Goldendoodle is the most common. They are usually taller than a Golden Retriever and weigh somewhere between pounds. Mini Goldendoodles are often the result of a Golden Retriever being bred with a smaller Poodle. A Mini Goldendoodle puppy will grow to be somewhere between 30 and 45 pounds. Toy Goldendoodles are roughly 15 — 20 pounds. While you may find a standard or mini Goldendoodle at your local rescue organization, toy Goldendoodles often require specific breeding standards and can only be acquired from a reputable breeder. Given that a puppy of this breed can grow to be anywhere from 15 to 70 pounds, it is no wonder that they can also be found in a variety of colors. Depending on the parents, the puppies can be tan, white, ream, red, black, tawny, or somewhere in between. A straighter coat can come from the Golden Retriever parent. A curly coat will likely be the most hypoallergenic, as it comes from the Poodle. They are not invincible and can get ill just like any other dog. Some Goldendoodles can be prone to Golden Retriever health issues , like hip and elbow disorders. If you are looking to rescue a Goldendoodle from your local shelter, chances are they will not have their entire lineage on file. They have a great desire to please and to learn. Both the Golden Retriever and the Poodle have very loyal personalities. They are both quick to bond with their humans and thrive on human affection. They are both also fairly tolerant of the occasional rough-housing regarding children. The Goldendoodle puppy is also a smart one, just like mom and dad. Canine psychologist Stanley Coren ranked the top ten smartest dog breeds. The Golden Retriever is placed at the fourth smartest breed. Coren ranked the Poodle the second smartest breed. The trend likely started thanks in large part to the creation of the Labradoodle , the Labrador Retriever and Poodle designer crossbreed. This is true in some capacity, but maybe not for what you think. Goldendoodles are often touted as a hypoallergenic dog breed. No dog breed is technically hypoallergenic. If you are allergic to dogs, there is a chance your Goldendoodle could set you off sneezing. Before you run out and bring home a Goldendoodle from your local rescue, though, be sure that the allergy sufferer in your home spends time with the dog before you take them home. Dogs, like people, are individuals, and while someone with allergies may be fine around one Goldendoodle, another one could potentially set off an allergic reaction. Since they are so popular, finding a Goldendoodle at your local shelter might take a while. You could always come across the perfect Goldendoodle for you at your local shelter or rescue group, as well. If you are really hoping to quickly add a Goldendoodle to your life, a breeder may take just as long. Many reputable breeders have waitlists for people who want a Goldendoodle puppy. Here at DogTime, we are strong believers in adopting your pets. If you really want get your own Goldendoodle, check at your local shelters and rescues before speaking with a breeder. Are you thinking of getting your family a Goldendoodle puppy? If you are a Goldendoodle owner, do you have any advice for folks who want one? Let us know in the comments below! Even in the heat, she still pesters to walk and we walk about two miles a day. She also loves to ride in the car and she just sits there and watches. She will sit on our front porch real nice and watch as well. As you can tell, not much goes on that doesn't interest her. She owns the yard and chases rabbits and birds out. She has an obsession with balls and we play catch nearly every day, which she loves. She watches the ball with such intensity. She often looks like the horse in the dean's office in 'Animal House' legs extended up. Even the tough young guy in the neighborhood coos, "Just the cutest little puppy in the world" as we walk by. At Petsmart, she was being groomed last week. We stuck around waiting in the wings as they were finishing up her haircut. It is a 3 to 4 hour event. It was incredible to see the amount of people who would stop by the window, grab their spouse or friend, and point and talk about our dog. Some even were brave and went in to ask about her or to pet her. I bet 30 people stopped and about a half dozen went in in the half hour we watched. Had it not been for your website, we would not have known that Goldendoodles existed! We are so happy with ours and thank you very much! Standard Goldendoodles can weigh anywhere between 50 and 90 pounds. Personality The place where the Goldendoodle puppy really excels is its personality. Its breed is known for being simultaneously intelligent and adoring. A Goldendoodle puppy is very sociable, which makes them perfect animals for households with children and other animals or pets, even cats. Just like the Labradoodle, this breed requires correct socialization to ensure they get used to different sights, sounds and smells during puppyhood. This means taking your Goldendoodle to plenty of doggy-friendly parks so they can meet canine friends and introducing them to other people. Our Goldendoodle puppies for sale are fully trained Doodles, so you can focus on the fun bits, like bonding, eating food and playing. These dogs prefer to live in a house with a gated backyard where they can get regular exercise breaks. Do They Like to Play? Goldendoodle Puppy Training These clever dogs are perfect for first-time dog owners because Goldendoodles love to please and take great pride in learning new skills. Are Goldendoodles Intelligent? Both of its poodle and golden retriever parent breeds are known for their intelligence and trainability, and Goldendoodles have inherited this breed trait. This means the person training a Goldendoodle needs to be strong-willed, firm and consistent — but never harsh or aggressive. Much like a poodle, Doodles are sensitive dogs, and positive reinforcement is a must to bring out the best in them. How Obedient Are They? Goldendoodle pups adore human company, and making their pet parents happy brings them genuine satisfaction. As such, correct puppy training produces a highly obedient and loyal adult Goldendoodle. Older adults, people with disabilities and individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders can benefit significantly from the warmth and sweetness of these adorable Goldendoodle pups. Are They Easy to Train? Doodle puppies can be mischievous and cheeky, but aggression is practically unheard of. So as long as you treat them with the same gentle respect they offer, a Goldendoodle is one of the easiest dog breeds to train. Goldendoodles have loads of energy and require regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight and calm temperament. A Goldendoodle need a moderately high level of outdoor activity — usually a minimum of 30 minutes, but ideally one hour, of moderate to vigorous exercise per day will keep Goldendoodle puppies at their best. Unlike puppy mills, all good puppy and dog breeders provide a certificate that shows health clearances. At Pride and Prejudoodles, our tests cover common health conditions. As such, you have peace of mind when purchasing your new puppy from us. How Long Do Goldendoodles Live? Goldendoodles live for between 10 and 15 years. We hope you found our guide informative. Please contact us with any other questions you have about our Goldendoodle puppies for adoption.


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fine labrador puppies - Labrador Genetic Tests Over the last few years a range of genetic tests have sprung up. These tests were created to help Labrador breeders determine whether their breeding stock is likely to pass on one or more diseases to their puppies. These tests have been a fantastic development. Enabling us to make better choices about which Labradors to include in a breeding programme. Certificate of recent eye exam They may also have had a test to rule out skeletal dysplasia, a form of dwarfism that can occur in Labs. Simple inheritance Some diseases are passed on by a simple process. In one straightforward type of inheritance each dog inherits a pair of genes one from each parent that is related to the disease in question. And these genes can either be good do not cause the disease or bad can cause the disease if they are paired with another bad gene. An example of this type of disease is Progressive Retinal Atrophy which affects many of our dog breeds and cause blindness. The problem with this old test was that dogs may show signs of the disease until after they have produced puppies. The gene test enables us to prevent these dogs from being mated. One of the best things about some of these genetic tests is that not only do they help us exclude affected dogs from the gene pool, but that they also enable us to include Labradors that would have been excluded before these tests emerged. Excluding dogs from the gene pool With this simple type of inheritance only a dog with two bad genes can get sick, but a dog with one good and one bad gene can pass the bad gene on to its puppies. If a dog has two bad genes, we can exclude it from our breeding programme. We can also make preparations in advance to help care for the dog when symptoms of the disease arise. If in doubt, the dog would be excluded from breeding. We could not risk mating a carrier a dog with one bad gene and one good with another carrier, because some of the puppies would then be affected get sick. With the new gene tests, we can include carriers in a breeding programme provided that they are mated to dogs which are clear of the disease two good genes. None of the puppies from this mating will be affected, though some may be carriers. All will therefore need to be tested in turn before breeding Why would we breed from a carrier? The problem is, that in many pedigree breeds, the gene pools are quite small. After many years of closed registry breeding, and because certain breeding practices involve the over-use of certain individual dogs, the dogs within the breed are often quite closely bred and share many relations. Excluding more dogs from the breeding programme would be disastrous. We badly need more genetic diversity, and these simple tests give us that opportunity. More complex inheritance Of course some diseases are not so obliging. Some are polygenic. Many genes probably contribute to the disease, and we have not identified them. Sometimes the environment plays a part too. Hip dysplasia is an example of such a disease. And to only mate animals with the healthiest looking joints. Are Labrador genetic tests necessary? Yes, but only if you hope to have the dog mated. Many tests are expensive and some are quite involved. For the most part, there is no need to have your dog tested unless you intend to breed from him or her. If you do, it will help you to decide whether making puppies from a certain pairing is a good idea or not. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. After seeing images of such fuzzy bliss, many owners of labs think it would be fun to create little mini versions of their favorite pet. However, breeding is a lot of work, time and expense. People who attempt it should be well informed of the risks and rewards. If you are looking for a puppy, you need to understand the process in order to ask the right questions. You need to ask for the correct paperwork to ensure your puppy has the best chance of growing into a healthy adult. The 1 Motto For Responsible Breeding With so many dogs available for adoption in shelters, there are millions of pups that need homes. The only reason that two Labradors should be bred is to further the breed standard. The best way to do this is to show your dog and have an objective person compare them with other Labradors. A judge is an expert on what to look for in the breed, and can tell if your dog stands out as the ideal specimen. Even if your dog looks healthy, they may be a carrier for several very serious diseases found in Labs. With any purebred dog, you will find common genetic problems. Without proper understanding of breeding lineage and possible issues that could arise, you could produce puppies that add to the genetic diseases instead of fighting against these debilitating issues. Genetic traits, including those that cause disease, are found to be either dominant or recessive. Dominant Genes: If any diseases are found on dominant genes, they will only need one gene to show up in the puppies for the problem to develop. Recessive Genes: Diseases from recessive genes need both parents to carry the genes and pass them to their offspring before the issues develop. While this seems fairly straightforward, there are also polygenic disorders that result from the cumulative actions of multiple genetic combinations. They can also mimic both dominant and recessive genes depending on the make up. Finally, genetic diseases also spring from chromosomal abnormalities. Normally, dogs have 39 chromosomes. However, a change to the number or structure of these chromosomes can cause genetic disorders including down syndrome. Genetic Issues in Labradors Genetic defects can show up in any breed and impact any system in the body. However, there are certain common genetic issues that are seen more often in the Labrador breed. Here are the main genetic tests that should be performed to ensure your dog is fit to breed. Hip Dysplasia Hip dysplasia is common in many large dog breeds, and Labs are unfortunately not exempt. It is an abnormal formation of the ball and socket of the hip joint that eventually leads to painful arthritis. Excellent hip scores are a must for both parents. Elbow Dysplasia While most people are aware of hip dysplasia, they are often less aware of an equally important test. Elbow dysplasia is also commonly found in Labradors. Dogs used for breeding should first be cleared by a cardiologist veterinarian to ensure they are free from this issue. Centronuclear Myopathy CNM CNM, which is similar to muscular dystrophy in humans, results in weight loss, loss of tendon reflexes, awkward gait and exercise intolerance. Make sure to clear your dog of this genetic issue before breeding. Exercise Intolerance and Collapse EIC EIC is a condition where dogs become weak in their hindquarters and collapse after 5 to 20 minutes of high-intensity exercise. Narcolepsy NARC This disease runs in large breeds and can either cause the dogs to suddenly fall asleep or look like they are having a seizure. For example, a Chocolate Labrador would be a silver color if they had this diluted coat trait. Additional Testing Additionally to the above, there are further additional tests available to eliminate some less frequently seen diseases in Labradors. And of course, both parents should also be checked thoroughly by a veterinarian and given a clean bill of health. Responsible breeders want to ensure their dogs are fit for breeding and will invest in these tests before bringing new pups into the world. With the help of genetic testing, breeders have all the tools necessary to have the best shot at producing the healthiest puppies that replicate the breed standard. Video of a Responsible Breeder Discussing Genetic Testing Here is a video where Labrador breeder Donna Stanley talks about the genetic testing that she does for her dogs before breeding to produce the most healthy and happy pups possible. Commit to Being a Responsible Breeder As you can see, responsible breeding is not for the faint of heart! There are many other factors to consider, such as breed confirmation approval from judges in the show ring, the time and expense of breeding and raising the puppies, and the necessity to ensure that the next generation is an improvement on the last. After all, no one wants the heartbreak and expense of treating a sick puppy whose suffering could have been prevented if the proper preliminary testing had occurred with the parents. Buyers are also becoming more aware of these genetic tests, and savvy puppy purchasers will ask to see certifications and paperwork proving that the parents are ideal candidates for breeding. Breeding quality Labradors can be very rewarding and fun, but make sure you are truly prepared for the amount of research, money and time involved before taking on this awesome responsibility. Disclaimer All content on this site is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative for seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. Any thoughts? If you are under the impression that she somehow must have a litter to improve her health, think again. You should have a good reason for wanting to breed from her; for example, to keep a puppy, carry on desirable characteristics, improve the breed generally or produce a puppy for a friend. Before considering the multitude of testing that should be carried out on a prospective mum, please consider her suitability for Labrador breeding. Is her conformation of an acceptable standard? Is she too fat or are her legs too short? Do you look at her through rose-tinted spectacles? Is she affected by any of the health issues that are inherited but for which there is no test available? I Is breeding from her likely to be detrimental to her welfare, especially her temperament? Also take into account your circumstances: do you have the time, the place, the financial ability and, most importantly, the stomach? A fail here stops you in your tracks without further expense or risk. Testing should be carried out annually, so one should be done in the 12 months preceding the mating. Hip and elbow dysplasia are multifactorial abnormalities of development of the hip and elbow respectively. Both have a strong inherited element, especially elbows, though diet, exercise and luck also play a part. Dogs must be one year old or over. Each hip is scored from 0 to 53, so that the best hips have a score of 0 0 and the very worst 53 .Beware of just being quoted a total score. The Elbow Dysplasia Scheme requires lateral X-rays of both elbows, taken at and degree angles. Your vet would normally do this at the same time as the hip X-rays. Each elbow is scored from 0 to 3. DNA testing will flag up whether your dog has any inherited conditions DNA testing So your eye test is clear and your hips and elbows are looking good, now it is time for some DNA testing. Some conditions are caused by mutation of only one gene, so their inheritability is predictable. For Labradors, these are: Centronuclear myopathy CNM , a defect of the formation of muscle fibres that results in weakness, fatigue, difficulty eating and collapse. Exercise-induced collapse EIC , a genetic disorder that generally affects otherwise fit dogs that deal with normal exercise without a problem. Strenuous activity, however, especially when associated with excitement, produces hind and sometimes foreleg collapse lasting 15 minutes. The problem lies with a protein that is involved in neurotransmission. Hereditary nasal parakeratosis HNPK , an abnormality that causes the nose to dry out, leading to crusting, irritation, secondary infection and, over time, loss of pigment. Progressive retinal atrophy PRA. The retina is the light-sensitive part of the posterior eye. Progressive rod-cell degeneration leading to PRA is one of a group of retinal disorders that start with loss of night vision and eventually result in blindness. Affected dogs show symptoms from three to nine years old, so potentially after they have been bred from. Retinal dysplasia is similar but causes abnormal development of the rod cells, so that blindness occurs early in life, at around two to three months. Skeletal dysplasia 2 SD2 , a form of dwarfism, known as mild disproportionate dwarfism, where the body is normal but the legs especially the front legs are too short. It seems its origin can be traced back to a single male labrador, born in .You should have a good reason for wanting to breed from your dog For further advice I would suggest a few hours perusing the Kennel Club website. Remember that when agreeing to these tests being carried out, you also sign to allow the results to be published on the Kennel Club website. You can, therefore, check out the health status of any prospective sire, discover the world of Estimated Breeding Values and generally further muddy the waters by poring over pedigrees. Do not breed from untested dogs. Oh, and speak to your vet before committing to breeding Labradors. By Tom Massey Oct 09, It may seem counterintuitive, but the more popular and in-demand a puppy breed is, the more likely it is that these dogs will be sold to families without the proper health clearances. Greater scrutiny makes it seem like breeders will conform to high standards and practices of breeding, but the reality is that popular breeds tend to attract pseudo-breeders looking to make a quick buck. While some health issues for Labs are genetic, others are developed through their lifetime. Even if your Labrador is predisposed for particular genetic conditions, there are ways that you, as a responsible owner, can make decisions that will positively affect the long-term health of your Labrador Retriever. In other words, what an individual breeder does or fails to do affects the health of all future generations and stock of dams and sires from other breeders. Health guarantees are not synonymous with health clearances, so make sure to ask for records of health certificates and pre-breeding examinations. Every breed of dog is more prone to a particular set of diseases and less likely to develop some others. Breeders who do genetic testing pre-breeding can ensure that their puppy is at a lower risk of developing these genetically-predisposed diseases. What Is a Health Clearance? While the results of pre-breeding examinations are strictly confidential, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals does post clear results from the OFA tests. Pre-breeding exams for dams and sires typically include the following tests: Dams: General physical examination, checking for vaginal abnormalities or strictures, as well as testing for brucellosis Sires: Checking the testicles, prostate, and penis for abnormalities, a general physical examination, and brucellosis testing Health clearance tests differ from breed to breed. Labrador Retrievers, for example, benefit from further genetic health screening tests. Dominant and recessive genes in Labrador Retrievers play a role in everything from behavior, coat color, and ear length, to more serious issues like PRA blindness which an Optigen test looks for. They could just be a carrier for the gene, which remains unexpressed, and it tells the breeder that some portion of their offspring may inherit this gene — either expressed or not. These first years of their life should not be bogged down with health issues. These documents will guarantee that the puppy is healthy and free of any serious infectious diseases. Families should take their puppy to the vet within hours of bringing their new bundle home and double-check these assurances and vaccinations with their family vet. These are the most common issues Labradors may face as they age. Any large breed of dogs can present with an abnormal formation of the hip joint and socket. Both the dam and sire must have excellent hip scores, and this is where OFA tests and certifications can tell you whether this is truly the case or not. It presents in a variety of ways, including lameness, abnormal gait, holding the elbow at odd angles, and a reticence to play and move. Your dog could become easily tired, experience stiffness when standing, and may experience inflammation of the joint. The tricuspid valve in a dog with TVD is malformed and, as a result, the heart cannot pump blood as effectively as in healthy dogs. A Labrador with TVD will experience fluid or swelling, stunted growth, and loud breathing. Tests include a urinalysis, a complete blood count, and a chemical blood profile. Dogs with CNM experience weight loss, gradual loss of tendon reflexes, an awkward gait, and eventually display exercise intolerance. Known as EIC, exercise intolerance is a gradual weakness and decline in Labradors because of related diseases. Labradors with NARC issues could fall asleep suddenly or experience sudden shaking that resembles a seizure. Like previous diseases, narcolepsy in Labradors is a recessive condition. Depending on the severity of the issue or the genetic dominance, these tests provide awareness and information for both the buyer and the breeder. That way, if any related health issue comes up in the future, owners who buy Labrador puppies from reliable breeders have a clear family history. Conclusion Health guarantees and health clearances should give you, as a potential owner, more than just peace of mind. Health clearances help to ensure that all future generations of puppies are healthy, happy, and a part of a diverse genetic pool. At Snowy Pines White Labs, we encourage our families to look for health clearances based on two guarantees: Firstly, that your chosen puppy is currently healthy and is without any infectious diseases. Secondly, breeders should also offer a clearance that guarantees against the presence of major congenital defects and other genetic issues for quite some time after bringing your puppy home. Snowy Pines White Labrador puppies are a special part of our family and we treat them as such. Dogs from our dams and sires have produced generations of healthy, happy, and high-quality puppies with a formidable family history. Learn more about the lineage of our Labrador puppies or about how one-on-one care and individual attention for our puppies makes all the difference. Health screening for Labrador diseases is important. It enables us to know whether mating two adult Labradors will result in puppies less likely to suffer from inherited diseases. Ones which could give them a life of discomfort, and their owner a whole lot of stress and heartache. Not to mention putting them seriously out of pocket in the process. Within the Labrador gene pool, lurks a range of unpleasant inherited diseases. Understanding these diseases and learning to detect and prevent them, is an important part of improving Labrador health on a national basis. Health screening for Labrador diseases involves testing dogs. To see whether they carry the genes which could cause them or their future offspring to suffer from an inherited disease. A good deal of research has gone into these Labrador diseases. As a result there are now a number of screening tests available to Labrador Breeders. In most cases these screening tests are applied to the parents that are about to be bred from, rather than the puppies that are being sold. The most commonly applied screening tests offered by the BVA are Labrador hip scores and eye tests. All responsible breeders now test their breeding stock for these two conditions. There are also a range of further tests now available to breeders. And many responsible breeders are testing for these additional Labrador diseases too. You could be forgiven for assuming that a pedigree Labrador must have undergone some form of health screening, or come from health tested parents. Sadly, there are still many Labrador puppies available for sale in the UK whose parents do not have even the most basic health clearances. Puppies bred from unscreened parents can at the time of writing, still be legitimately registered with the Kennel Club. A genuine pedigree does not offer you any health guarantees. It is up to you, the buyer, to determine whether or not the parents of your puppy have been screened. You also need to know that the results of the screening meet your requirements. You must check that this score was better than the average result. You should only view a litter of Labrador puppies if both the parents have good hip scores and clear eye tests. You should ask in advance for hip and eye test certificates of both parents to be available for your scrutiny when you visit the puppies. Or better still, for copies to be emailed to you in advance of your journey. If certificates are not forthcoming, you should walk away. Labrador Eye Problems Labradors are susceptible to a serious eye disease that causes blindness, sometimes at a young age. And pronounced free from disease at the time of the examination. It does NOT mean that the dog does not have the inherited condition, just that he or she displays no sign of it at this time. These basic eye tests should be carried out on an annual basis. Labrador Hip Scores Hip dysplasia is a crippling disease of the hip joints. After examination, each hip is allocated a score. The lower the score, the better the hips. A perfect hip has a score of zero. But this is fairly unusual. The score is expressed by two numbers — one for each hip. In this example, .What we are looking for in good breeding stock is a Labrador hip score that is better than average. This greatly reduces the chances of the puppies inheriting severe hip problems. However, it does not guarantee your puppy will have good hips. Hip scores vary from breed to breed, and from year to year. You can find the latest data on the BVA website. In Labradors, the current five year mean is .Most Labrador breeders should be aiming to breed from stock with a hip score that is lower than average and balanced. This should result in gradual improvement in the breed over time. A good hip score for a Labrador is probably anything under 6, made up of even numbers on each side. Labrador Elbow Dysplasia Elbow dysplasia in Labradors is similar to hip dysplasia, but affecting the elbow joints of the dog. It occurs when abnormal growth causes a malformation or degeneration of the elbow. This can lead to lameness, loss of range of movement and severe pain. Elbow scores are rated differently to hip scores, being given a rating of 0 to 3. Where 0 is a perfect elbow and 3 is one that is very affected. The range of scores is small, which means that there is not a lot of scope to clearly separate the range of potential problems. Health Screening Labs There are some additional tests now available to Labrador breeders, and these have been developed by independent organisations. The Optigen test is becoming popular, and many breeders are now testing their stock. These tests are relatively recent developments and the more breeders that support them, the better our chances of eradicating these unpleasant diseases. If you have been told that your Labrador puppy is a carrier for a nasty disease you might be concerned. Imagine you have picked out your beautiful labrador puppy and horror of horrors your breeder responsibly tells you that this puppy could be a carrier for a serious inherited disease. What should you do? Is it safer to back out and look for another puppy? Or should you go ahead and purchase a puppy that carries a serious disease? In most circumstances where the mechanism of inheritance is clear cut, it is perfectly safe for you to purchase a puppy that is, or might be, a carrier for a known disease. Labrador Genetics Genes come in pairs, one from each parent, and each pair works together to determine one aspect of your dog, coat colour for example, ear length. And then of course the millions of less obvious features that go to make your dog what he is, and which in some cases, may make your dog prone to illness. The gene for black coat for example, is dominant. So even if it gets paired with a gene for a chocolate coat, the labrador will still be black. Check out this link for more about labrador coat colour inheritance. Thus the chocolate Labrador always has two chocolate genes. Obviously this is an oversimplification of genetics! But it is helpful to understand. Because there are many diseases that we now test for in pedigree dogs, and some of these diseases are autosomal recessive in nature. If the faulty gene is paired with a normal gene, it will be switched off and lie hidden there inside the dog. Without causing any problems. There are genetic tests now which can determine whether a dog is clear, normal or a carrier, for a number of diseases. Only if both genes are faulty will the puppy develop the disease. The pup gets one gene from each of his parents to make up the pair of genes. He will never get the disease nor can he ever pass it on to his puppies. So if the puppy gets one faulty gene from his Mum and one normal gene from his Dad or vice versa he will still be healthy. If he is mated he will pass a faulty gene on to about half of his puppies. Provided that each of these Labrador puppies inherits a normal gene from its other parent, they too will be healthy. This is how diseases can sometimes skip generation after generation. If your breeder has had a litter of puppies blood tested for a particular disease then you may be informed that your puppy is a carrier. With autosommal recessive conditions, if the puppy gets two faulty genes we know that he will definitely develop the disease at some point because there is no normal gene to switch it off. Obviously we all want to avoid affected puppies being born, and most of us would want to avoid purchasing an affected puppy. Remember that the clear dog has no faulty gene and gives a healthy normal gene to every single pup so none of the pups can ever get sick from this disease even when the other parent is a carrier. Worse still if one parent is a carrier and one is affected, half the puppies will be affected. This is why buying from health screened stock is so important. The smaller the gene pool, the greater the chance of more diseases appearing. It is important that we do not eliminate perfectly healthy dogs from this gene pool for no good reason. With the development of so many available tests, breeding from carriers is not only possible, it is actually a good thing. Because it helps to keep that large and healthy gene pool. One of the beauties of widespread testing is that it allows us to breed from carriers because we can ensure that they are always mated to a clear dog. The more people that test, the more clear dogs that will be available, and the bigger our gene pool will be. I hope I have shown that there is nothing wrong at all in a breeder offering for sale puppies that may be carriers for a disease inherited in this straightforward way. To find out if this is a case of straightforward inheritance of the sort described here you should get the details from your breeder and check with your vet. It is important that the disease in question is not one that can affect carriers. However, in most cases is absolutely no need to avoid a puppy who is genetically a carrier unless perhaps you are intending to found your own breeding line. Even then you should not discount a carrier if all else is right. You will obviously need to be careful when choosing a mate, but as more and more dogs are health tested, this is becoming easier. To sum up: carriers of an autosomal recessive disease of the type described hear do not get sick. At least not from the disease that they are carrying! Carrier puppies are not necessarily substandard, and the breeder is perfectly within their rights to sell a puppy knowing that it is, or might be, a carrier of this type. She is also doing the responsible thing by providing her puppy buyers with this information. Genetic testing is not cheap. But these statements are misguided, as two healthy dogs can be carriers for an inherited disease and therefore produce puppies who are born to suffer. You would never know without the health tests. As long as there is no obligation on breeders to test their stock, there will be breeders who do not bother. It is therefore up to the public to put pressure on breeders to carry out these tests by refusing to purchase puppies from untested parents. You can help encourage breeders to carry out these tests by enquiring about them whenever you contact those offering puppies for sale, and by choosing puppies whose parents have been tested. More Help and Information. By Lisa Peterson The Labrador Retriever is a large, double-coated breed with a weather-resistant coat that comes in three colors — black, yellow, and chocolate, according to the AKC breed standard. From English fishing and hunting stock, this active, hearty breed was developed in Canada. Easily trained and a great swimmer, this breed excels in a variety of jobs from search-and-rescue and guide dogs to hunting dogs and family companions. Genetic health testing is an integral part of a sound dog breeding program. When using genetic health testing it is important for breeders to educate themselves about concepts such as modes of inheritance, penetrance, prevalence, and phenotype for a specific variant mutation in your breed in order to apply test results. Breeders also need to know which variants are causing health concerns in their breed, and which health conditions currently have no genetic test available. This handy search function by breed or by health condition can show breeders which DNA tests Embark provides. The health condition percentages based on clear, carrier, and at-risk status presented on common, rare, and very rare genetic risk factors are based on a subset of dogs within the Embark database and do not necessarily represent all dogs of this breed. While we are not able to provide specific population numbers at this time, we believe the data provided here to be sufficient to inform on current trends within the North American population of Labrador Retrievers. In the neuron, dynamin trucks neurotransmitter-filled vesicles from the cell body, where they are generated, to the dendrites. The mode of inheritance is recessive. Citations: Patterson et al Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd PRA-prcd is a retinal disease that causes progressive, non-painful vision loss. The retina contains cells, called photoreceptors, that collect information about light and send signals to the brain. There are two types of photoreceptors: rods, for night vision and movement, and cones, for day vision and color. This type of PRA leads to early loss of rod cells, leading to night blindness before day blindness. The gene is SUV39H2 and affects the skin and connective tissues. The gene is TTC8 Exon 8 and the mode of inheritance is recessive. The gene is COL11A2 and the mode of inheritance is recessive. The cornea is the surface of the eye. The gene is CHST6 and the mode of inheritance is recessive. In most dogs, uric acid is converted to allantoin, an inert substance that is then excreted in the urine. Dogs with HUU have defects in the pathway that converts uric acid to allantoin. As such, uric acid builds up, crystallizes and forms urate stones in the kidney and bladder. Uric acid is an intermediate of purine metabolism. While hyperuricemia in other species including humans can lead to painful conditions such as gout, dogs do not develop systemic signs of hyperuricemia. The gene is SLC2A9. This mutation was first described in the Dalmatian. This mutation is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner; that is, a dog requires two copies of the mutation to show signs of the disease. Affected dogs will show no clinical signs of disease in the early stages. As stones form, dogs will often urinate more frequently, urinate in inappropriate places, and possibly have blood in their urine. If a urinary obstruction forms, they are unable to urinate despite frequent straining. This is a medical emergency. Most dogs are adults before they show any signs of urinary issues years on average. Urate stones are invisible on X-rays and must be diagnosed by a veterinarian via ultrasound or urine sediment analysis. If left undiagnosed, bladder stones can lead to urinary obstruction, which can be life-threatening. If caught early, it is responsive to dietary management. Surgical intervention is often required when stones or an obstruction forms. Loss of PTPLA function is thought to cause muscle fiber damage and death, leading to replacement of the muscle mass with scar tissue. This type of PRA leads to early loss of cone cells, causing day blindness before night blindness. Affected dogs also exhibit episodes of cataplexy, a sudden complete loss of muscle tone in response to strong positive emotions. Hypocretin is a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of appetite, arousal, and wakefulness. Cone cells not only register color, they allow the dog to adjust their eyes to bright light. Dogs with this disease constantly feel like us when we step out of a movie theater. Night vision remains completely unaffected. The gene is COL6A3 and the mode of inheritance is recessive. Astrocytes, named for their characteristic star-like shape, are supportive cells of the central nervous system. Astrocytes surround neurons, the functional unit of the central nervous system, nourishing, protecting, and repairing them from stress or injury, as well as enhancing their function. In Alexander disease, astrocyte function is compromised. Loss of myotubularin causes muscle fiber damage and death, leading to replacement of the muscle mass with scar tissue. Dogs affected with PKD have red blood cells that have impaired ability to produce energy, leading to breakdown of important cell processes that contribute to form and function. Citations: Gultekin et al b With 18 known conditions in Labrador Retrievers, this is evidence that genetic disorders are of concern within the breed and other conditions are likely to be identified in the future. By DNA testing your Labrador Retriever with Embark you can help accelerate more novel discoveries to help your breed and all dogs. Canine Health and Breed Resources. Responsible breeders test their dogs for diseases that are known to be hereditary prior to arranging a mating. Each breed is prone to a certain number of hereditary illnesses — but by ensuring only healthy, certified animals are bred, breeders can reduce or eliminate hereditary problems, and greatly increase the odds that their puppies live long happy lives. Interested puppy buyers should ensure that the breeders they select are performing all necessary health tests suitable for their breed — this gives you the best possible chance for a healthy pup. This page contains information on testing and clearances that Labradors should have done prior to being bred. Health Tests for Labrador Retrievers According to the Canine Health Information Center, all Labrador Retrievers being used in a breeding program should have their hips and elbows tested for dysplasia and their eyes checked against genetic defect by a canine opthamologist. However, there are other conditions that are found in Labs that should also be considered even though they may occur less frequently. Two Types of Tests There are two basic types of health testing available to Labrador breeders. Both are important and the differences are explained below. These are: Phenotypic Tests Genetic Testing In order to understand genetic testing, it is helpful to have a little bit of a background in how genes are inherited. Here is a very brief explanation that you can use to help you more readily absorb the information about testing that will follow. A gene is a sequence on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait, in whole or in part. For each gene, a dog gets one allele from each parent. For each trait, there may be several possible alleles, and because the dog gets one from each parent, he is potentially carrying two types of genetic material for each trait. Recessive alleles are only expressed if both are matching at that specific gene. In Labradors, there are several diseases that have been identified as the result of a specific mutation to a certain gene. So, a dog who has one normal copy and one mutated copy of the gene will appear normal, but could pass the mutated allele to offspring. If a puppy receives a mutated allele from BOTH parents, they will be affected and will show symptoms of the disease. Genetic testing is important because for these conditions where a genetic mutation has been identified, it is possible to run a DNA test to determine if the dog is clear, carrier or affected. This allows breeders to plan matings so that NO puppies affected for that condition are born. A breeder doing proper testing can definitely guarantee that their puppies will not be affected by those diseases. It is NOT enough to see that both parents appear healthy because they could potentially each have a mutated allele that could be passed on to the puppies- testing is the only way to know for sure. The diseases in bold print are the most likely of those listed in field type Labs. Some of the other conditions are much more common in show-type labs and some are equally infrequent in both types of labs. However infrequent, the fact that we can definitely and completely prevent them makes the testing worthwhile. Phenotypic testing checks for outward signs of the disease. Breeders also use testing information to avoid breeding healthy dogs who have many relatives who show symptoms of the disease. It has been proven that breeding dogs who are free of clinical OR subclinical signs of the following diseases helps reduce the odds of disease in the puppies, but cannot eliminate the chance completely. For all of these conditions, BOTH parents need to be tested free of disease- Hip Dysplasia — Hips are x-rayed and films sent to specialists for evaluation and grading. The most common certifying body is the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals OFA Hips are graded as either dysplastic affected by hip dysplasia — not suitable for breeding , fair, good, or excellent. Because these films look at the actual bones of the dog, it is important for the dog to be done growing to get an accurate evaluation. The OFA will examine x-rays on a preliminary basis in younger dogs but only offers an official grade to dogs over 2 years of age. Another certifying body is PennHip. This organization uses a combination of x-rays and measurements to determine hip quality and looseness. The measurements determine if the hip is better or worse than other dogs of the same breed and it is recommended to breed only dogs who are rated as better than average. Elbow Dysplasia — these are also x-rayed and films are sent to the OFA. Elbows are graded as various grades of dysplasia or normal which means no dysplasia. In Labs, only dogs with normal- rated elbows are recommended for breeding. Eye diseases — Dogs who are intended for breeding should have their eyes examined annually, or at minimum, within 12 months prior to breeding. Eyes are examined by a canine opthamologist and checked for cataracts, lens and retina irregularities, and any other sign of disease. Several types of eye diseases are believed to be heritable in Labs but few have genetic tests available so having eyes examined helps identify issues as soon as they arise to eliminate affected dogs from breeding. Results from the exams are sent to OFA for recording and dogs who pass the test no disease found are issued a certificate good for one year. Heart Diseases— Testing for heart disease involves a color flow ultrasound performed by a skilled cardiologist. This echocardiogram looks for congenital and adult-onset diseases in the formation of the heart structure and in the blood flow velocity and volume, which may be a concern for the dog as an individual, and as a breeding candidate. A dog who is clear of all observable defects is issued a certificate from the OFA. Dogs without a normal rating should not be used for breeding. There are all kinds of other conditions that can be examined phenotypically for signs of potential disease, such as shoulders, knees, and thyroid. We are proud of the fact that our dogs have been objectively evaluated in this way. Another way to check testing results is to search online. So, you are able to verify test results there. The key point is this: As a puppy buyer, you have the right AND obligation to check test results either by using an online option or seeing copies of the actual health test results. You deserve a healthy puppy so take the time to make sure you are sourcing your pup from a knowlegable breeder who will do everything they can to produce only healthy puppies. In this case, because neither parent had any mutant alleles to pass along, it is safe to say that we know that their offspring are also clear of mutant alleles. For example, you should expect that each and every Labrador used in a breeding program has had their hips tested for hip dysplasia. Hips, elbows, and eye exams must be done on each dog because they are not DNA tests, so there is always the possibility that a particular dog could be affected even if both parents are clear. We know this can be a confusing topic but we urge and BEG you not to give up. Study this page and email me if you have questions. Share this:.