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By Chris Lab puppies are the definition of cuteness. But they are not always the angels they seem! What can you do when your Labrador puppy develops a biting habit? How to stop a Lab puppy from biting? These adorable little guys possess some not-so-good behaviors, especially during the first few months of their lives, a major one being biting. At first, it may seem cute, but it can be irksome, especially when your pup starts destroying things around your house or even begins biting you. Read on to learn some valuable tips on how to train your Labrador puppy to stop biting. What Causes Puppy Biting? Teething in puppies often starts when they are approximately three weeks old. By the time they are six weeks old, these little guys will have all 28 deciduous teeth. When your pup is around 12 weeks old, it will start shedding these teeth, paving the way for the permanent teeth to grow. You may notice these teeth around your home, but most likely, your furry little friend will swallow these teeth while eating. Your puppy tends to chew on everything because the teething process is quite uncomfortable and painful. That is why it will bite and nip on anything to try and relieve that pain. You may also notice your pet drooling excessively and not eating much during this phase. Even strong swimmers like Labs need a break every now and then Your Puppy Is Exploring Its Surrounding During the socialization stage which is from 4 to 12 weeks of age , puppies tend to bite and nip as a way of exploring their environment. At this stage, your pup will chew anything out of curiosity and to test its social boundaries. Separation Anxiety Puppies and older dogs who suffer from separation anxiety mostly exhibit destructive behaviors such as excessive biting. Separation anxiety is basically when your puppy becomes agitated, anxious, or depressed when you prepare to leave, or you have already left. Typically, puppies require between 16 to 18 hours of sleep every day. When they do not get enough sleep, they may begin exhibiting destructive behaviors such as excessive biting. Puppies who have the zoomies tend to show behaviors such as barking and biting excessively, running and spinning around, and so on. A lack of exercise is the leading cause of dog zoomies. These destructive behaviors are a way for your puppy to release that pent-up energy it has held in for quite some time. Here are a few ways on how to train your puppy to stop biting. Labradors are huge fans of babies as they age. Active families love a Lab! Try Bite Inhibition Bite inhibition is one of the most common methods puppy owners use to train their pups to stop biting. This is simply training it on how to control the force of its bites. Of course, you cannot entirely train a puppy to stop biting because it is part of how they socialize. Usually, puppies nip at each other while playing with their littermates or mothers. When your pup bites another puppy too hard, it will yelp, scaring your puppy enough to let go. You can take advantage of this behavior and teach your dog how much biting is acceptable. When it releases you, try ignoring it for approximately 10 to 20 minutes, then continue petting and playing with it. Another way to train your puppy to stop biting is by using positive punishment. Apart from yelping when it bites, you can also use a calm but firm voice to make it stop that behavior. Unlike humans, yelling at your puppy makes it more hyperactive and excited, making the habit even worse. When your puppy is biting excessively, you can gently place it in its cage for a couple of minutes until it calms down. However, it is essential to use this method sparingly to prevent your dog from developing negative responses. This may lead to your pup acting up when it sees someone walking towards it, which can be dangerous. It is also essential to reward your puppy when it calms down and stops biting, as it will help reinforce that positive behavior. If your pup tries biting your finger or hand, you can pull it away quickly before it does and provide a chewy toy for it to nip on instead. Do Labs like water? However, there are many things to consider when shopping for the ideal chew toy for your puppy. If you notice that your puppy shreds or destroys something it bites on within minutes, you should get a chew toy made of rubber or hard plastic. When choosing a chew toy for your furry little pal, make sure it is a good size for your puppy. Go for a toy that is not too big for your pup to carry and not too small that it can swallow and get lodged in its throat. It is also recommendable to get a treat-toy for your puppy. These toys allow you to stash some treats in them to elicit more interest. Such toys will help keep your puppy engaged enough to stop chewing on things around your home. Allow Your Puppy to Socialize With Other Puppies Arranging a playdate with other puppies is also a great way to train your puppy to stop biting. Like we mentioned earlier, puppies bite and nip at each other when playing. When one pup bites the other one too hard, it yelps, making the puppy stop nipping. This response helps your dog learn how much force of a bite is unacceptable. Is your dog a Prince or Princess? A Hero or a Pauper? Jasmine or Aladdin type? Would you give your puppy a Disney dog name? Conclusion While puppy biting is normal, it can become dangerous and uncomfortable as they grow older. 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. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. You turn your attention back to your computer screen and suddenly feel little teeth grabbing at your sock! You look down. Your once-angelic puppy is now having a full on game of tug-of-war with your pant leg! This cute baby is now more like a furry little monster. You get up and try to walk away, but the fur alligator is still attached, munching away at your trousers and having the best time! If this sounds like your life, read on to learn how to stop a puppy from biting. Why Do Puppies Bite? Believe it or not, this scenario is actually very common! Biting is one of the most natural things in the world to a young pup; and they do it for many reasons. You would be left with your feet and mouth to interact, taste and feel your environment. Now, what if you had puppy paws — incapable of grasping anything? That leaves you with one final way to interact — your mouth. For good measure, add in the incredible curiosity of a child. How many times do you see a baby grab things with their hands and pop them into the mouth? Puppies have that same mindset. Your mouth strength and play bite helped you communicate and determine your rank in society. Your mouthy mojo gave you respect in canine culture. Puppies interact with their surroundings largely through their mouths. Labradors, like most sporting breeds, have the drive to chase after prey, put it in their mouths, and bring it back to you. This translates into a strong need to chew. They will try this same tactic with their human pack members. If ignored, one bite on the toe is often enough to get the focus back on them. Remember, to a puppy even negative attention is still attention. Terrible Teething When you add teething into the mix, you have the recipe for a furry gator. Most pups will have an increased need to chew while teething , which can begin at 6 weeks and last to 8 months of age. Unlike teething, there is no magical age that puppies grow out of a learned mouthing behavior. Thankfully, with positive training, most dogs eventually lose interest in chewing on their owners. Types of Biting: Aggression or Play? Puppies use their teeth in many ways. However, this is actually just very intense play. Play biting can be accompanied with growling and snarling. This is just part of the fun to a young pup. Instead, we will look into how we can prevent playful mouthing. However, it is important to recognize the signs of aggression. Pay attention to the timing of the biting as well. If so, the motive behind the bite may be more aggressive. Could it be Resource Guarding? Some dogs also aggressively bite when they are guarding a toy or food item, commonly called resource guarding. With resource guarding, you will see the same behavior as aggressive biting, but they will also stand over an object and defend it from any perceived threat. If you think your puppy is behaving aggressively, seek professional help to learn how to actively manage this issue. In contrast to this, playing puppies will be relaxed and have a wiggly body. They will be bouncy, easily roll onto their backs and often be panting with open mouths. Even if they are growling, a relaxed face and body mean a happy puppy. What Can Trigger Biting? Do you really want your pound Labrador to target your hands as a toy later? Children Little kids tend to excite puppies more than adults. Children move erratically, run around, make strange sounds and have a lot more energy. Puppies can easily associate them with toys. Ankle Biters Puppies target fast moving objects that excite their prey drive. Your feet moving by at their eye level can be irresistible. After all, what self-respecting puppy would snub shoes with those floppy laces that are perfect for playing tug? How do we do this? Redirection with Hands When training your puppy, always have a toy to offer. Remember, puppies are like babies. Your job is to redirect them to fun toys instead of human skin. You must do everything possible to make toys extremely attractive so the puppy chooses them over your clothing, hands or feet. Redirection with Kids You can also use redirection around children. First, teach your puppy to use interactive toys and then show your child how to play with the puppy correctly. In the event that your dog forgets, teach your kids to be a tree when their puppy begins to bite them or their clothes. This position makes them less interactive to the puppy. They look boring and the puppy will lose interest. Most bites occur because the child is running or moving erratically. Remember, dogs have the same prey triggers as wolves. If something is running away, it looks like prey. Your job, therefore, is to have an even more amazing toy than your feet. You can take a toy, tie it to a rope, and then tie the rope to your belt so that you are dragging the toy whenever your pup is out. If your puppy is coming for your feet, stop moving them and wave the toy around excitedly instead. Once the pup is attached to the toy, you can start walking again. This way, they will pounce on the toy instead of you! Bite inhibition simply means that the puppy learns not to apply too much force behind their teeth. They apply gentle, but firm, pressure to their greeting. Puppies also learn to limit this pressure with their mouths by feedback from pack members. When puppies are little, they learn bite inhibition through play with their siblings. If two pups are tussling, and one bites down too hard, the other puppy yelps loudly. This startling sound usually causes the offending party to let go. The play stops for a few minutes, as the first pup nurses his wounded ego. Play then resumes, but with less brutality. Instead, let the puppy release your hand and then simply get up and and move away from your pup while ignoring them. Your job is to teach them when they bite down on you, the fun stops. Ignore them for about a minute, then return and resume the play and praise them when they focus on the toy. If they bite you too hard again, repeat this process. You can either step over a puppy barrier or go into another room and shut the door. Just make sure they are in a puppy-proof area, as they may take out their frustration on inappropriate household items. You can also keep the puppy on a leash while playing with them. If they bite you, you can calmly tether them to something and then walk out of their reach. Your goal is to correct the puppy only by taking away your fun presence. You should not be threatening or angry. Give them the appropriate time out from the fun interaction to settle down, and then come back with a toy to redirect their energy. Once they understand they have to be gentle, you can then start to ask more of them by ending the game with lighter and lighter pressure on your skin. Finally, you can take the game to the highest standard — no teeth on human skin at all. If you slowly progress to this over weeks, you teach your pup to have a soft mouth. If they do feel the need to put their teeth on a human, they know not to put much pressure into their bite. You need to teach your puppy that human skin is fragile and requires a softer touch than a canine interaction. Your goal for this exercise should be to help your puppy understand that the play and fun things continue as long as they keep their teeth on their toy and not on you! More Ways to Stop Your Puppy Biting While the yelp and time-out method works for most pups, there are additional ways to reinforce good behavior. When your puppy bites your hand, they get a terrible taste. You can use anti-chewing sprays like Bitter Apple to make your hands less appealing. When your puppy bites you, be still and wait for them to react to the bitter taste. When they let go, praise them and redirect them onto a treat or toy. You want the crate to always be associated with only good things. Crates also should be in the middle of the household, with the rest of the pack — not isolated. This is the same way other canine pack members would isolate them. A laundry room or puppy pen works well for this exercise. Make sure the room is comfortable and safe for your puppy. When the puppy is too stimulated, calmly put him in the room with some teething toys and leave. Teaching them interactive games like fetch or bringing you a toy to tug helps show them that they can have even more fun when they play by your rules. Positive play helps develop a bond with your dog. You never want to avoid it, you just want to show them how to play without biting you. Teaching puppies to retrieve objects helps to tire them out, gives them something positive to chase, and focuses their bite on an appropriate item. Plus, most Labradors are pretty good at retrieving! Remember, anytime we ask a puppy to stop a behavior, it should be because they are rewarded in an even more exciting and positive way for doing something else and things our way. The following video shows how. Video: How to Stop a Puppy from Biting This video shows how to use clicker training to stimulate a puppy in situations where they normally would bite; and then reward them when they choose a closed mouth and calm interaction. Dominant Puppies Dogs are individuals. However, as puppies mature, there may be the rare pup that uses biting as a way to take charge. Dominant puppies may bite to show you that they want to be the boss as they mature. This happens naturally among littermates, as all packs have a pecking order. This reinforces to them that you are backing down and that they are the leader in the relationship. Always remain calm and assertive with your puppy, but end the game as soon as they begin vying for leadership instead of playing. Remember, the alternative to not training your dog is a large animal putting his mouth on people. Be patient with your puppy. Remember, mouthing and biting are normal parts of canine culture. If you stay patiently positive, train consistently, and redirect and reward good behavior, you will soon see a puppy that learns to bring you a tug toy instead of shredding your trousers. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative to 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. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. Lab puppies are incredibly cute, but their teeth really hurt when they are puncturing your skin every time you try to play. No one likes to be bitten, so how can you get a lab puppy to stop biting? The best way to stop a Lab puppy from biting is through a combination of proper exercise, training, redirection, and the use of positive affirmation. Most owners attempt at least one of these methods, but it is the combination and use of all of them that will effectively curb unwanted biting. Keep in mind that before you can stop it effectively, you should know why Labrador puppies bite so much. Additionally, know when they tend to naturally stop biting. Only then can you effectively begin to work on preventing them from biting. Lab puppies use their mouths to explore their environment and gather important information. When puppies are growing their adult teeth, they will often chew to soothe the ache along their gums. Labs may also bite to play or out of fear and aggression. Biting for Sensory Information When a puppy bites something, they learn how hard they can bite it, what it tastes like, how it feels, and if they can bite it again. All of this information is stored in a mental catalog your dog looks back on when encountering a similar object. This learning process is very important for puppies to become well-socialized dogs. When a puppy bites another puppy too hard they will lose their playmate. Biting too hard can have negative repercussions! Biting for sensory information is a totally normal behavior for puppies and even adult dogs. Since they don't have hands to explore with, their mouths are the only option. However, if you don't want your dog's mouth on you or your belongings, there are ways to stop this biting but we'll get to that later! Biting for Teething As your Lab matures, their mouths will start to change. Once their adult teeth begin to push up through their gums, the teeth they were born with begin to fall out one by one. It is the same process humans go through when their baby teeth come in and are later replaced with adult teeth. Just like with humans, this process is somewhat painful and incredibly uncomfortable. To help quicken the process, puppies will chew on things to wear down the gum between the new tooth and their mouth. This practice is also very soothing for puppies, especially if they chew on something cold. Biting for Play vs Biting for Aggression In the wild, dogs and wolves play by wrestling around and biting one another. Since your dog sees you as a member of its pack, they will try to play with you in a similar way. Of course, this biting still isn't ideal, but it's important to know the difference between play and real aggression. When a dog bites out of aggression, it is because they are scared, or you are asking them to do something they really don't want to do. Biting out of aggression is important to watch and fix at a young age so you don't end up with an aggressive dog. The most significant indicator of aggressive biting is body language. When a puppy is being playful, their body and facial muscles are relaxed. When a puppy is biting out of aggression, their body will be stiff or frozen, their face will have a lot of tension in it, and their lips may be pulled back in a snarl or growl. If you are seeing a lot of aggression in your puppy, you should contact your Veterinarian to make sure they are not in pain. When a dog suddenly becomes aggressive, they may have an unseen condition that is causing them to lash out. If you get a clear bill of health, you should seek the help of a professional trainer to help you. As we said earlier, as your Labrador matures, they will start to develop adult teeth. This change usually occurs around 12 to 16 weeks of age; the process will reach its end at about 7 months. Therefore, if your Lab is biting to soothe its gums, then the biting should end around the same time their teeth have fully grown in. If your puppy is biting for sensory information and play, it will lessen as your Lab matures and begins to slow down. While there is no magic number that says when your Lab will calm down , it usually happens between the ages of 2 and 4. First, don't hit your puppy as punishment. They aren't doing anything wrong in their mind because biting is natural. You also can't decide when it is and isn't okay to bite. Doing so can cause great confusion. When trying to prevent your Lab from biting, a few tips can help you. Exercise, training, redirecting, and positive affirmations are your secret weapons against those adorable, tiny, sharp teeth. Exercise Exercising your Lab daily will cause them to be too exhausted to do anything but sleep, let alone bite you. You can exercise your Lab by playing fetch, going on walks, or using enrichment toys. Training First, I recommend formal fundamental training before attempting anything specialized. Training your Lab not to bite sounds complicated, but it can be as easy as slapping some butter and seasoning on. If your Lab is biting YOU, put some butter on your arms and clothes wear they like to bite you. Show the butter to your Lab, and when they lick at it, say "yes, kisses, yes. This associates the word "kisses" with the act of licking and the yummy taste your dog gets. The next time your Lab tries to bite you, say "kisses," they should start to lick you instead as they try for the yummy taste. If your Lab is biting furniture or shoes, there is another approach. Grab a spicy seasoning, like paprika or taco seasoning, and sprinkle it on the places your Lab chews. Then, the next time they go to chew it, they will get a nasty taste in their mouth and leave the thing alone! Redirecting Redirecting your dog to things they are allowed to chew on when playing is another way to avoid being bitten. Have some good chew toys handy whenever you are playing with your Lab. When your Lab starts to bite you, show them a chew toy and try directing the bite towards it. After a while, your puppy should go after its toys instead of you. This type of training takes time , but is proven to be very effective. Positive Affirmation When your dog does what you want, whether it's licking or going for a proper toy, make sure you give them lots of praise. Tell them how good they are and even provide them with a treat or two! Final Thoughts Biting is a natural part of a Lab's life, but it is crucial to decipher playful nips and aggressive ones. Playful body language is loose and relaxed Aggressive body language is stiff and snarling If you are seeing a lot of aggressive body language in your Lab, make sure they are healthy and contact a trainer A Lab will probably stop biting after they stop teething If your Lab doesn't stop biting after teething, they should stop upon reaching maturity between 2 and 4 years of age Exercise, training, redirecting, and positive affirmation are the best ways to stop biting NEVER hit your dog to stop biting. This awful biting time with puppies seems like it will go on for ever, but actually it only lasts a few weeks - mostly by the time the new teeth have come through, at about four to five months, the biting stops, and soon you will find you have a dog with a gentle mouth. You may not realize it, but your puppy is already being careful to some extent - if you have ever fed a puppy a raw chicken wing, for instance, you will know that he would be completely capable of biting right through your fingers, if he really wanted to. He is already pulling his punches, and now just needs your help to learn that human skin is more delicate than the thick fur of his mother and siblings. Your puppy sounds like he gets wound up and overtired the mad running around the house. This is the time a crate or quiet area can work wonders. Stay calm, keep giving him toys and chews to chomp on instead of your hands, refuse to interact with him when he bites you - even a second or two of no attention will help him to realize you really don't like it. Grabbing his cheeks and pulling him obviously doesn't work, he probably thinks it's some kind of game, and the attention you are inadvertently bestowing on him in that way seems to be making the situation worse.It will help if you teach him what you DO want, which is calm, gentle behaviour. Don't forget to praise him quietly and calmly when he is being good and quiet. I found holding one end of a chew such as a bully stick , so that we were interacting without him actually hurting me, helped. I also found that working out a routine was very helpful, so that we would go outside to play, then he would have his food, go out again to pee, then I would put him in his bed in the crate or behind a gate for a rest. Don't panic, this is very normal puppy behaviour, and I guarantee it will pass. You will get there. In a couple of months you'll be telling us what a delight he is.Calm puppy behavior. Conflicting advice on how to stop your pup biting Many articles will tell you to ignore a puppy when he bites and to offer him a toy instead. Some people will tell you to punish your biting puppy. Others will tell you that you must not stop your puppy biting too suddenly, or punish him for biting, for fear of drastic consequences later. So who is right, and who is wrong? Does ignoring stop your puppy biting? Many new puppy owners try to ignore the biting puppy initially. This failure tends to be for one or more of the following reasons. Does noise stop puppy biting? There is no doubt that a sufficiently loud squeal, followed by immediate withdrawal of attention, will cause many Labrador puppies to break off from biting. Sometimes long enough for a skilled owner to then redirect the puppy into a more appropriate activity. There is also no doubt that for some puppies, this has the reverse effect, and causes them to bite harder and more fiercely. A puppy that has spent sufficient time with his Mum, may be more likely to take heed of this verbal warning, as he will expect it to be followed by a sharp click of her teeth and a fiercer rebuke if he ignores her. But there are no guarantees here. And the fact is, squealing simply does not work as an effective anti-biting strategy, for some puppies. Punishing the puppy to stop biting I have heard, even quite experienced, breeders tell new puppy owners to punish their puppy if he bites. Either by intimidating the puppy with an angry growling voice, or even with physical punishment such as a scruff shake or slap. But there are problems with this approach. This process is called bite inhibition. And the use of punishment may curtail all biting rather than just the hardest, most painful, bites. Nowadays many people like to train dogs without punishment. And there are strong reasons for joining them — check out this article — the downside of punishing dogs. Teaching puppy to stop biting Why would we want to teach dogs to bite humans gently? Why is it not best to teach them not to bite at all, right from the start? The idea of reducing biting gradually was popularised by Ian Dunbar. The theory is that a dog which learns to inhibit his bite i. You can read more about bite inhibition here: Labrador Puppies Biting. The concept is a sound one, and most canine behaviorists agree that teaching gradual bite inhibition is a good thing. The problem for many new puppy owners, is stopping those painful bites in the first place! The first step is not a technique at all, but an adjustment in the expectations that we have of a small puppy How much do Lab puppies bite? New puppy owners tend to have false expectations of puppies. They also anticipate that stopping a puppy from biting will be a fairly quick and simple matter. None of these expectations is true. Most puppies bite hard, frequently and growl fiercely whilst they are doing it. This noise is not a sign of aggression see Help my puppy is aggressive. Stopping a puppy from biting is a process, a journey. And it can be temporarily an uncomfortable one! It is important to accept that there is no guaranteed way of stopping biting immediately. Indeed, as we have seen, bite prevention rather than inhibition may be a bad thing in any case. Supervise your puppy around children Once you have got your head around the fact that this process will take some time, that it will be a gradual thing, you need to think about how you are going to protect any children that might come into contact with the puppy. This is important because small children can, both hurt and, be hurt by small biting puppies. Calm your puppy to stop him biting The next priority is to keep your puppy calm. Overexcited puppies bite harder and more frequently than less excited puppies. This will merely start the biting up all over again. There are lots of ways to interact with puppies without physically playing with them. Check out our article on playing safely with your dog. What to do when a puppy bites When your puppy bites you really hard, take immediate action. Stand up, move away from him and completely withdraw your attention. You can try the squeal thing if you want to. This works well with some puppies. Be ready for it, and repeat your actions. If the puppy chases after you, biting at your legs and feet, step over a baby gate, or pop him in his crate for a few minutes. You can read up on this process in more detail in this article: How to cope with biting. Remember, puppies enjoy chewing , and teething puppies need to chew on something. Whilst you and your clothing are not suitable chew toys, you need to provide your puppy with alternatives, like Kong toys. How to stop your puppy biting Biting is normal Biting should be inhibited in stages Training takes time The key points to take away from this are that biting is normal, and that training a puppy not to bite takes time. Stop the painful bites first, then work on putting a stop to mouthing. If what you are doing is not working, you probably just need to be more patient and persistent. If your children are suffering, you need to separate and supervise. Work hard on keeping your puppy calm — it makes the biggest difference. How to train a puppy not to bite Is it normal for puppies to bite a lot? Yes it is! Almost all puppies bite and some bite much harder than others. How long do puppies teeth and bite? With some exceptions, puppy biting will stop by the time your puppy has his full set of grown up teeth at 7 months. Fortunately, you can stop your puppy from biting long before they have cut all their adult teeth. Do puppies grow out of biting? If you do nothing at all, to teach a puppy not to bite, the biting would likely subside over the next few months. But its very easy to do the wrong thing, and actually encourage a puppy to bite more. And in those cases, play biting can become very rough and the relationship between a young dog and their family can break down. Do All Labradors Bite? Anyone who shares their home with a 10 or 12 week old puppy will tell you that Labradors bite! And I can reassure you that this applies to all Labradors in the first few months of life. Fortunately this is a phase puppies go through and not a permanent character flaw. And most adult Labradors are indeed very good natured dogs. And also at what is normal, and what is not. If your children are in tears at being bitten every time they try to play with and cuddle their new friend, you may be wondering if your puppy is becoming aggressive. You may even worry that your children might be at risk. Fortunately I can reassure you that this is not the case. While your puppy may frighten your children with his sharp teeth and growling. The way he is behaving now does not mean he will be a threat to their safety in the future. Happily, studies have shown that behavior in small puppies is not predictive of the way that they will behave as adults! Why Do Puppies Bite Children? Some breeders will not sell puppies to homes where there are small children. This is because puppies often bite children and teenagers harder and more persistently than they bite grown-ups. It is normal for small puppies to make small children cry, but before you rush your puppy off to the local shelter, bear with me a moment, because I can help with that. Children give off conflicting signals to the puppy. Fortunately there are lots of ways to make it easier on yourself and on your kids. In short, you need to be a little patient at this point, and it helps to know that this phase does pass quite quickly. And that it is completely normal for all puppies to bite a lot, and to bite children with particular enthusiasm! It has to be said, Labradors are even more bitey than some other breeds of dog during this stage in their development. In fact, retrievers generally tend to be very bitey as puppies. As can the pain of being bitten. Puppy bites do hurt. And sometimes they leave marks. Pain, bruising, scratching, little tooth marks on your toddler, these are all part and parcel of raising a puppy. Some very enthusiastic puppies will even draw blood on occasions. All this is normal, but I will explain what you can do about it. Perhaps the most serious concern that new puppy parents have, is the fear that their puppy is becoming aggressive. What really worries people is the snarling. When puppies play, they practice being fierce. They throw themselves into the whole play acting thing with huge enthusiasm. And they are brilliant at it. And the most important part of that game is to make as much noise as possible and to sound as angry as possible. So, all puppies growl or snarl ferociously when they play, while they are biting, and sometimes when they are trying to entice their poor owners into yet another game. His little face will be all scrunched up, his lips drawn back, his teeth showing. So he has no idea that he is frightening your children or that you are wondering if he is turning into a horrible aggressive and dangerous beast. Please do be reassured, that however fierce your ten week old puppy sounds. It is just a game. He is truly just playing. Normal Puppy Play Behavior So, the hard truth is, all puppies bite. And many puppy bites are quite painful. Some Labrador puppies bite more than most, and biting a lot, and growling or snarling at the same time is normal. So is biting so hard that it makes your eyes water, and even occasionally breaks the skin. Puppies bite at hands that go to stroke them, at bare feet, and happily tug away at clothing, all the while trying to sound as fierce as they possibly can. All this is normal. And you, quite naturally, will want to know exactly when it is going to stop! When Do Puppies Stop Biting? It also happens in working dog families where the dogs may be kennelled or at least are not allowed unsupervised interaction with anyone apart from their trainer or main carer. A study carried out on Guide Dog puppies in showed that simply rejecting interaction and refusing to play was enough to stop the puppies biting their adult puppy walkers. But, and it is a big but — in most young families, this is not always what happens. In many families, especially where the puppy is a novelty, everyone plays with the puppy, and often in quite a physical way. This gets puppies very excited and tends to make biting worse. Inexperienced puppy owners also tend to inadvertently prolong the biting phase by rewarding the puppy with attention when he bites. The more excited they get, the harder they bite. Rough physical play gets puppies excited, rubbing puppies tummies, chasing puppies, grabbing at puppies. All these things get puppies bubbling with excitement Noisy behavior can get puppies excited too, so children squealing, or crying, grown ups shouting or getting cross. You might not think you are rewarding your puppy for biting, but you probably are. Labrador puppies are particularly social and love attention more than most puppies do. Any kind of contact with you, or other members of the family, including physical contact, talking, shouting, even eye contact, all reward your puppy. And if you give him these things while he is biting, this will reinforce the biting behavior and he will bite more in the future Poor bite inhibition What makes the bites hurt more, is poor bite inhibition. So the next section explains what bite inhibition is and how you can help your puppy improve his. What Is Bite Inhibition? At just eight or nine weeks old , Labrador puppies are actually capable of crushing bones the thickness of your little finger, with their jaws. Your puppy has been learning to inhibit his bite since he was tiny. His mother and brothers and sisters all helped to teach him how hard he can bite without hurting them. This is where your training will come in. You can read more about bite inhibition and bite inhibition training in this article What About Puppy Teething? We mentioned teething earlier because people tend to associate biting with teething. So, is it true that puppies bite so much because they are teething? And how long will teething go on for? In fact, most problem puppy biting is simply play. Puppies may chew or mouth at fingers to help relieve the discomfort of teething, but this is not the major cause of the biting problems we find in homes with small puppies. Most puppies have their adult teeth by the time they are 7 months old, but biting does not usually last that long. He is growing fast and by 11 or 12 weeks those bites will hurt a lot more. The time to begin taking action is now! But for the time being, you need to put this image aside. Children under five are simply not capable of playing with a puppy under four months without getting bitten. So you need to supervise every interaction between them. Do put baby gates across doorways, even if you no longer need them for your children. Baby gates allow you to separate children and puppies when you are not free to supervise. Do show children how to stroke the puppy gently whilst you hold one end of a rawhide chew and let the puppy gnaw on the other end. It will end in tears. Playful Visitors It is not just children that play inappropriately with puppies. I have known grown men grapple roughly with a tiny puppy, rolling him around the floor, making growling noises, whilst the puppy gnaws on his knuckles. You can find out how to play safely with a Labrador in this article. Saving your sanity and enjoying your puppy If you were not expecting this, it can seem like a big deal, but supervision and some separation is essential if you are to keep your sanity, and your children are to dry their tears and carry on enjoying their puppy. With older children, you need to teach them how to interact with the puppy without getting him overwrought. Labrador puppies, like toddlers, are easily over-excited. And when they are over-excited they start to be silly. Your first job at this stage, is to keep your puppy calm. Your second job is to stop giving your puppy rewards for biting. Make sure the puppy gets no reward at all when he bites someone. Especially no attention. The next stage explains how you can do that. The process whereby the puppy learns to use his mouth gently on your skin — and it takes a little while. Bite inhibition is taught in stages. The puppy learns to reduce the power of his bites gradually. What to do when your puppy bites If your puppy bites and hurts you, remove your attention immediately. This is where baby gates can be really helpful. If you are playing with your puppy and he bites you, you can step over the gate, thus effectively removing all attention from him. All of a sudden his playmate has disappeared. What about squealing You may have heard that a puppy will stop biting if you yelp or squeal. And you can try this, because it does work with some puppies. But many puppies get even more excited by the yelping, and on others it has no effect. The strongest signal you can give your puppy is the loss of your presence and attention. What about punishment? Some people try and stop puppies biting by smacking them or shouting at them. There are several problems with this. Firstly, it tends to only stop the puppy biting the person who did the yelling. Which is of course the very opposite of what you are trying to achieve! You can find out more about the potential impact of punishing your Labrador here. What if you need to move a biting puppy? If you need to move the puppy away rather than stepping away from the puppy you may find he bites at your hands when you go to pick him up or take hold of his collar. Others bite when they are stroked or petted. We are fond of wiggling our fingers at puppies, petting them and rubbing our fingers in their fur, not behaviors that dogs really understand. And many puppies see fingers and toes as something to chase and play with. Hands are a particular target for puppy bites so teach your children to interact with your puppy using toys that he can tug and bite on, rather than playing with him using their bare hands. Distracting your puppy If you want to sit and pet your puppy, or your children do, use treats or hold a rawhide chew with one hand so he can gnaw on the end. Have your puppy wear a harness and houseline so that you can pick up the end of the line and move him to where you want him to go without his grabbing at your hands. Stage Four: Train Your Puppy Not To Bite This is where we teach the puppy to let us stroke and pet him, or handle him in any way we like, without him putting his mouth around our fingers. The best way to do this is with a clicker and some dog treats. But you can also use a word like YES instead of the click. And place a treat on the floor in front of him You see where I am going with this? Build up slowly so that you can touch him anywhere on his head or body, pick up his paws etc. All without him grabbing or mouthing at you. What do I do if he mouths at me? If the puppy grabs at your hand, you got too close. Make smaller hand movements further away from him until he ignores those, then bring the movements gradually closer. Stage Five: Playing Safely As puppies grow older biting can reappear. Puppies between six and nine months of age, are extremely boisterous, and may start nipping with their teeth during play. At this age, your puppy is more than half grown, and his size and weight are a significant problem if rough play is allowed. The secret to avoiding and resolving this issue is to change the way you interact with your puppy. And to ensure that children follow your example. Boisterous and excitable puppies must not be allowed to play rough games with small people. The consequences can be very unpleasant, and it is no coincidence that this is the age at which many young dogs are abandoned or given up to rescue. Here are a few more articles that you might find helpful:. But as your kids approach the puppy, he starts biting and nipping them, causing a few surprised cries. The AKC says Labradors are an affectionate breed, treating adults, children, and other animals like family without causing any trouble. Labradors are easy to train and receptive to learning new commands since their main goal is to please their families. Do All Labrador Puppies Bite? As your new puppy settles into their new home, they are many stimulants, and he needs time to get to know your family, its new surroundings, and that not all slippers are a toy. Just as when people move to a new house, city, or country, your new Labrador puppy is exploring the world. This process will take a few weeks, so be patient. But what happens when he suddenly starts biting you and your kids? Every family that gets lab puppies faces this challenge. Although your puppy is only a few pounds, Labrador puppy biting is still painful. Many owners worry that the behavior will continue into adulthood, especially when biting becomes an ongoing issue. The good news is that there is usually a short time frame that you have to experience this. So in reality, Labrador puppy biting is primarily instinctual. Reason 1: Teething Puppies Sometimes, a Lab puppy biting is simply due to teething. Teething is uncomfortable, so your pup likely just wants to relieve that discomfort in any way possible. If that means biting a chew toy or your fingers, then so be it. Once your Lab puppy has its teeth, it might stop biting and nipping. You can help ease his comfort by offering him teething toys for puppies, like frozen chew toys. Reason 2: Excitement Biting Behavior Your new Lab puppy could get excited by just about anything: Your kids squealing, shouting, or crying, and adults shouting or being angry can set off your Lab puppy biting with its sharp teeth. The solution: Deter your puppy from biting you by redirecting him to what he can bite, like a toy. Reason 3: Biting for Attention Most Labrador puppies are receptive to conditioning and positive reinforcement. Dog lovers know that dogs crave attention from their families, but Lab puppies are extreme attention seekers. They love any form of contact with their families, whether playing, petting, or even just eye contact. So if your pup gets these responses from you while biting, he will interpret them as attention. The solution: Stop giving your puppy the attention he wants when he bites so he learns not to associate the two. When puppies are with their mom and siblings, the mom teaches them how hard they can bite each other without it being too painful through play fighting. Your Lab puppy learns how to calibrate strength based on his own family experience. Do Labrador Puppies Bite Children? One major adjustment is the play-biting: A small Lab puppy has a powerful bite and can cause pain, especially to such sensitive skin. The downside is that Lab puppies are more likely to bite children and teenagers than adults. It all comes down to learning how to interact with the puppy. Children and teenagers are inherently more confusing for a Lab puppy. The great news is that you can stop your Lab puppy from biting your kids through consistent training, but the training should be on both sides. Your kids also need to learn how to play and interact with the puppy, understanding its boundaries and playing just enough to keep them from overexciting. You plan to throw a chew toy into the yard for him to chase — but before you can throw it, he suddenly starts nipping and tugging at your hands while making odd puppy sounds that sound dangerously close to snarling. You might also be worried that you have a puppy displaying aggressive biting behavior. Most of the time, they mean no harm and just need a little training to control it! Without the proper guidance and education, many of these methods might be wrong: Instead of discouraging your puppy from biting, you could unintentionally reinforce it. Puppy Biting Tip 1: Discourage Play Biting Whatever stage of puppy development your adorable pup is in, he will always crave attention. If you encourage and reward play biting, he will associate it with attention, praise, and treats, causing him to do it more. So if your puppy has entered its biting phase and is displaying rough or aggressive behavior, stop yourself from giving any reaction. Simply follow rigid training steps, and it will eventually stop. Although that might be very hard to do because a Lab puppy is so adorable, you will thank yourself in the future for doing this. In fact, it might even make things worse. When you punish your Labrador, he might learn to fear you. This can worsen the biting and lead to your puppy developing more aggressive behavior as an adult. Some people also do a light swat on their puppies when they misbehave. When your pup starts biting, remain calm and follow positive training methods rather than negative ones. This is especially true when it comes to a nipping Labrador puppy. While a biting puppy is normal puppy behavior, without proper training and techniques, your Labrador might bite well into adulthood. Step 1: Teach Small Children Boundaries The first step in your training routine should be teaching your kids how to interact with the puppy. But if they start barking and biting out of excitement, you must stop playing with them immediately. Instead, pick up the toy and step away. Bite inhibition is when you teach your puppy how much is too much. After that time-out, you can return to the room and resume whatever activity you were doing. As your puppy learns to bite with less intensity, you can start training it not to put your hand in its mouth. This training takes time, so be patient, and you will see a positive result. Step 4: Reinforce with Additional Training You can also use other training techniques to reinforce positive behavior. Move your hand closer to the puppy and follow the same technique. If the puppy bites you, walk away from it. As you train the puppy to tolerate your hand getting closer to it without biting, you can finally keep your puppy calm and play safely without causing overstimulated biting. Puppies and dogs might go back to their bad habits if you change how you interact with them, so being consistent is crucial. Remember that children tend to take more time to learn training steps, so always reinforce the boundaries and supervise them during playtime in the early training days. Be patient and give your puppy time to learn. Seek help from professional trainers. Professional dog trainers are experienced in redirection, toy-play, and bite inhibition training to give you helpful tips and tricks. Take your puppy to puppy school. There are hundreds of puppy schools and programs that teach puppies good manners. Remember to never punish your puppy for biting. Invest in some good toys, such as different chew toys or Kong toys, so you always have something to redirect him towards. Conclusion Whether teething, scared or just excited, most Labrador Retriever puppies bite for various reasons. Unfortunately, those sharp little puppy teeth can hurt — so if you notice some unwanted biting from your Lab puppy, you should immediately start training him into different behavior. Learn more about what we do and check out our available Labrador puppies today! Share on. Print How to stop your puppy from biting your hands and feet — fast! Have you ever watched a litter of retriever puppies play with each other? They are all mouths and feet as they growl, bite and paw at each other. Over time, if left to it, each pup will naturally figure out their place in the pack. However, when you bring your Lab puppy home there are no longer littermates with whom to tussle. And the result is often that your Lab puppy will start biting and growling at you! The problem is that puppy teeth are sharp. Very sharp! And when your puppy bites you, even if they are playing, it hurts. So, what can you do to stop this behavior before it gets out of hand and you find yourself or someone in your family injured by your puppy? Before I go any further, I want to be clear about what we are talking about. You should seek professional help and evaluation. Why puppies bite and growl Puppy play is a kind of training for a dog as they grow and mature. It is also a way that dogs determine rank within a group. Remember, dogs are pack animals. In a pack there is only one Alpha lead dog. Every other dog is under the authority and control of that dog. No two dogs share the same rank. So, while biting and growling starts as play, it does not stay that way. All dogs, whether in a group of dogs or a human family, want to understand their place in the family. They need to know their place. It helps they be more mentally balanced and will help solve a multitude of behavioral problems. Once a puppy or dog understands where they rank in the pack, they often assume that place, at least for a while. Remember, they are dogs. They are not robots so occasionally they may challenge their position, but if the boundary remains clear, the challenge is short lived. Biting, nipping and playful growling at a human can become a challenge of dominance. If your puppy is young, you can quickly and easily end this behavior by establishing boundaries and consistently enforcing these boundaries each and every time your puppy shows this type of behavior. If you have let this behavior go on for a while, you may be in for quite a fight to take back your authority. Biting is not the same as chewing A puppy biting your hand or feet is not the same as a puppy chewing on a shoe, toy or other item. All puppies have a need to chew. As their puppy teeth grow and their adult teeth come in, it is common for dogs to chew on things to relieve the pain and help the new teeth to come in. This should not be discouraged, but rather encouraged on an appropriate item like a chew toy, nylabone or rawhide. And if this works, this is an appropriate solution. Instead, it is likely an issue of dominance. How to stop puppy from biting you Biting is just one puppy dominance behavior. There are many others such as jumping on you, putting a paw on your feet, and lifting and placing paws on your arms or legs. The behaviors I have listed are often gateway behaviors that escalate into more aggressive or troublesome behaviors like stealing food off your plate or the counter, pushing you out of the way when going through doors and pulling you around on a lead. Start by establishing firm boundaries The first step to stopping your puppy from biting or mouthing you is to set up firm boundaries for your puppy. You can set these up for not only biting but for all dominance behaviors. So, what is a boundary? Well, here are some examples. Some people we have worked with are okay with their puppy mouthing their hand as long as there is no tooth pressure. If you feel the same way, then make that a boundary. But if there is any tooth pressure, a swift and consistent correction will follow. This boundary is stronger and does not give the dog any room for confusion. In fact, they often will understand what your boundaries are but will test that standard against everyone else in the family. Each person needs to set and enforce boundaries. React with firm consistent corrections After you establish the boundary, you now need to react every time your puppy or dog crosses that boundary. Each and every time! There can be no room for confusion. Your corrections must be swift and consistent. Not all dogs react to the same level of pressure. For some dogs, this squeeze and strong words will be all it takes to stop the behavior. Especially if you are consistent in your correction. But some dogs have a stronger or more challenging personality. This will give your puppy a taste of his own medicine since his puppy teeth are sharp and will pinch into his lips or flews. You must be consistent. How long will it take to stop my puppy from biting me? If you are firm and consistent, the behavior should stop for the most part in a day or two. Some dogs require more pressure, some less. Your puppy should feel some discomfort. That is okay. The point is to show your puppy that biting hurts and that it is not an acceptable behavior. When nothing seems to work If you puppy is a bit older and has been getting away with biting and mouthing you for a while, you may struggle to end this behavior. Often the problem is a strong dominance issue that needs to be addressed. If your puppy continues to snap or bite at you even after a correction, you likely need to exert some dominance over your puppy. This is similar to what a mommy dog does to a puppy that is not behaving. Humans can do the same thing to show dominance over a rebellious puppy. I know, it sound a bit ridiculous but it really does work. Instead, remain calm and patient. Stay in control. Reacting with emotion can lead to strong reactions or punishment that you will later regret. The point is to show your dog that you are the Alpha in the relationship, and you can and will determine what behavior is acceptable. Biting is not love As a professional dog trainer, I am always surprised at what some of clients consider appropriate behavior. Some owners feel that setting boundaries and enforcing those boundaries means that you do not love your dog. That you need to accept all dog behaviors otherwise you do not love your dog. This is a false and faulty mindset. We have seen clients who have been injured by their dog multiple times and they still refuse to take steps to end the behavior. That is not love. What if the next person that dog bites is a child? Would you be able to live with that? A dog that is allowed to continue harming humans is only one bite away from having to be put down. It may sound harsh, but it is the sad truth. Some people may argue that the dog is unable to understand what they are doing is wrong. This is not based on reality. Dogs are very smart. They can learn to do amazing things and become incredible hunting partners and family companions. But they rarely achieve this potential without an owner who cares enough to set boundaries and enforce them. Final thoughts on how to stop my puppy biting me all the time You can stop your puppy from biting you and others if you are willing to take the steps necessary to make your dog understand that biting is not an acceptable behavior. A firm consistent correction each and every time your puppy bites will quickly teach your puppy to stop biting. These corrections will not harm your relationship with your puppy, but will, in fact, enhance it. Your puppy will quickly learn where the boundaries are and how to operate within those boundaries. We see it time and again, once a puppy is taught that there are boundaries, they quickly adjust and become wonderful loving and obedient family members. Help, my Lab puppy keeps biting me!

Adopt a Goldendoodle! At the time, they rescued and put up for adoption 24 Goldendoodles that were rescued from a breeding center that needed to be shut down. In addition to Goldendoodles, Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue also rescues and puts up labradoodles for adoption. Delaware Rescue has strict guidelines that must be followed. This is one of the largest doodle rescue and adoption centers in the world. IDOG Rescue is a non-profit organization that is headquartered in Houston, Texas, but they receive calls and entertain inquiries from around the country. They mostly rehome and set up retired Goldendoodle adults for adoption. Some pups are rescued, but they are extremely rare. Wavy coat F1b Goldendoodles are typically non-shedding while still maintaining that teddy bear look. If you want to adopt a Goldendoodle, then Doodle Dandy Rescue is a great option. They have strict guidelines for adoption that must be met. The entire adoption process is quite long and rigid so it can take some time for your adoption request to get approved. What are the best Goldendoodle rescues in the US? Norcal Poodle Rescue Adoption is a certified non-profit organization made up of people who specialize in rescuing and looking after poodle breeds like the Goldendoodle. They are currently based out of North Carolina and cater to humane societies, pet owners who have given up their poodles, and shelters. In addition to adoption applications, they also accept shelter volunteers. They have saved close to 4, doodles. They primarily focus on rescuing and nurturing labradoodles and Goldendoodles. Although they are based in California, they have over volunteers from all over the country who help rescue and get Goldendoodles adopted. They rarely have Goldendoodle puppies for adoption, but when they do, they provide transport and help the puppies find a new home. As the name suggests, the center primarily focuses on the rescue and adoption of golden retrievers and its mixes. GRIN is a non-profit organization that operates with over volunteers. Rather, they are a group of people and homes scattered all over Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio. They advise you to apply for a younger dog in advance through their website. They have rigid guidelines for adoption that must be met and their acceptance period takes anywhere between 2 to 4 weeks. They have become increasingly popular, which means finding one for adoption can be a bit of a challenge. Goldendoodle puppy plays with a toy actively outdoors. You can also reach out to your local animal shelters and rescue organizations to inquire about Goldendoodles in need of a loving home. By expressing your interest, you can be among the first to know when a Goldendoodle becomes available for adoption. Another option is to join social media groups and forums dedicated to Goldendoodle enthusiasts. These communities often share information about Goldendoodles in need of homes, upcoming adoption events, and more. Being part of such groups can increase your chances of finding a Goldendoodle that needs a loving family. Keep in mind that the adoption process may take some time, as these organizations want to ensure that the dogs are placed in the best possible homes. You may need to complete an application, provide references, and even have a home visit. Another thing to consider is offering your home as a residence for a family dog that is part of a breeders program. Many breeders offer free or very discounted dogs as long as you are okay with them having a litter or two throughout their life. It never hurts to reach out or ask the question in a local Facebook group for the Goldendoodle breed! They require a lot of attention. If you leave them alone for more than a few hours, they can be difficult to manage. A lot of people are initially enthusiastic before adopting a Goldendoodle but very quickly realize how much time they have to spend with these little canines. Goldendoodles thrive in environments where people are at home at all times. Like other smaller dogs, Goldendoodles bark as a defense mechanism. If you adopt a Goldendoodle that barks a lot, take the time to get your dog trained. We might get sick or move, and sometimes we may need to find a new job. If you know that these factors could potentially hamper the time you devote to your dog, you may have to put your dog up for adoption. Why Is Adopting a Goldendoodle Rare? Although this is a list of some of the best Goldendoodle rescue shelters and networks in the United States, most of them may not have Goldendoodles up for adoption when you check. Some adoption facilities have never received any Goldendoodles at all despite being open for their rescue. There are a couple of reasons for this. A Goldendoodle puppy needs enough sleep for best health. If these dogs get on any adoption websites or similar websites, they will likely be gone within the first day. This can lead to a puppy mill or dodgy breeder scenario where the popularity makes the breeder chase litter after litter without caring for the dog. A dog owner who adopts from a breeder must take appropriate steps to ensure it is not a puppy mill, and is in fact an ethical and reputable breeder. They form strong bonds with their owners. If owners face any problems with their dogs, they would rather find ways to work through these problems than give them up for adoption. However, Goldendoodles are one of the friendliest and most social dogs out there. Desirable Goldendoodle Personality Goldendoodles are extremely adventurous. Generally, these cute canines are outgoing, friendly, and happy dogs. They love meeting new people and dogs. One thing to remember about these dogs is that they do well in open spaces like spacious yards or country homes. Their affection, intelligence, and bubbly personalities make them great therapy and working dogs. They enjoy mentally stimulating activities. For example, Goldendoodles are known to be able to smell peanuts in foods for people suffering from nut allergies. To satiate their need for activity, you will have to take them out for walks and runs daily. Goldendoodles are also known for enjoying swimming and playing in the water. They Are Good with Children If you have children at home, then adopting a Goldendoodle is a great choice. These dogs play well with kids. They are gentle, loving, and patient around young kids which is one of the reasons they make great family dogs. You should still exercise caution and check on their behavior. You must also teach your children how to behave around dogs. Prevent your child from agitating your Goldendoodle with ear or tail pulling and other rough activities. Like any other animal, dogs are protective of their food and can become aggressive if they perceive a threat. This may not be true for all Goldendoodles, but you should still take precautions to protect your kids. These dogs are social animals and love interacting with other dogs. Wavy coat Goldendoodles are typically low shedding. However, they still need a certain amount of grooming. To prevent them from shedding, some people cut their hair short. It will take some time for the rescue dog to get comfortable around you and you may have to deal with issues like separation anxiety. Goldendoodles require a few hours of activity every day. You will have to spend time walking and playing with them daily. Active play, a visit to a dog park, or fetch are appropraite activities. Grooming Is Imperative Though your new doodle puppy will likely shed lightly, you will still need to groom their coats or have a pet groomer take care of their grooming once a month. Just remember to do your research before adopting a dog. 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. Vocality level 2 in 5 Disclaimer: While the characteristics mentioned here may frequently represent this breed, dogs are individuals whose personalities and appearances will vary. Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet. Temperament As a crossbreed, it is hard to say for sure which behavioral and personality traits each Doodle will possess. Overall, pet parents report that Goldendoodles are friendly family dogs who do well with children and other pets. Good puppy socialization is key to their development as a well-rounded adult dog. They have an average to high energy level and require roughly minutes of exercise daily. Due to their loyal, people-pleasing nature, Goldendoodles can be easy to train, and if done properly with positive reinforcement, can be extremely obedient pets. They prefer room to run around, so would thrive with a fenced yard. They may not be the greatest choice for apartment dwellers, unless you are big on daily outdoor exercise. Upkeep With an average-to-high energy level, Goldendoodles do best with more active families who can dedicate time to playing games with them. They thrive on socialization and playtime with other dogs to help to burn their energy. Mental stimulation in the form of agility or ongoing training will help keep their adventurous spirit content. If not properly occupied, they can sometimes become destructive -- another reason why they might not be the best match for a small apartment. Goldendoodles have a double coated fur that can be quite dense. Some have fur that can be left in its natural state but you should still expect to brush it out roughly once per week. Others may have fur that will require more upkeep, including professional grooming every weeks the more dense the fur, the more it will trap dirt. Otherwise, bathe your Goldendoodle as needed, brush teeth regularly, and trim nails times per month. Be sure to check and clean their ears to remove any buildup and avoid infections! The mix of the two did not appear in America until the s, but has been gaining popularity as people value a type of dog that could possess the low dander levels of a Poodle and the intelligence and happy personality of a Golden Retriever. The Goldendoodle was originally offered as a larger alternative to the Cockapoo, one of the early intentional crossbreeds. Because Goldendoodles are so popular, they certainly can be found for adoption in animal shelters and Doodle-specific rescues. If sharing your home with a Doodle is your dream, be sure to consider adoption! Related Content.

Guardian home opportunity - female Hypoallergenic puppies We carefully breed Goldendoodles who have Golden Retriever, Poodle, and a pinch of Labrador Retriever in their heritage. Poodles have non-shedding coats, characterised by furnishings long hair on face and tight curls. To do this, we carry out leading-edge DNA testing, and carefully match mother and father to ensure puppies carry the right mix of genes. She put us at ease that our puppy would be health checked and bred responsibly and socialised as well as possible before we collected her. The whole process was exciting and stress free as Becky made everything straight forward. What personalities do their parents have? His temperament is so loving and trusting. He already loves training and learning behavior cues. He already has solid a sit, down, stand and a 5 second wait using hand signals. About me After many years living and working in the South East, our family made a long-dreamt-of escape to the country - we made our home in beautiful, rural Somerset. After much careful planning, our first litter of Goldendoodle puppies was born in our farmhouse kitchen, and forever captured my heart. 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. Questions about Goldendoodle puppies for sale? We have answers. What is a Goldendoodle, exactly? Goldendoodles are a hybrid breed created by crossing Poodles with Golden Retrievers. The aim of the breed is to create the ultimate companion dog—one who shares all the best traits of its parent breeds and none of the negatives. Breeders have been pretty successful in that regard—Goldendoodles are exploding in popularity as the ultimate family pet. How much do Goldendoodles puppies for sale cost? Goldendoodle price varies from breeder to breeder, and depends on numerous factors like coat type and color, size, breeder experience, and more. Breeders in our network price their Goldendoodles fairly and competitively, and part of the MatchMaker process means matching you with pups within your budget. Do Goldendoodle breeders ship puppies out of state? How do you screen Goldendoodle breeders? We have strict guidelines to protect the health or your puppy and the integrity of our breeders—head on over to our Breeder Pledge for more information on what you can expect from your breeder. Why is Uptown Puppies different from other places? In a time when dishonest breeders are an epidemic, we just want to help fill your home with the pitter-patter of soft puppy footsteps. To put it simply, we love dogs as much as you do. What is a puppy mill? Puppy mill dogs are more likely to have behavior issues, to develop genetic diseases costing you thousands in extra vet bills , and to die far too soon. Are there any mini Goldendoodle puppies for sale near me? Looking for Goldendoodles for sale near me? What is the MatchMaker process? Simply put, MatchMaker is how we ensure that our customers live happy, fulfilling lives with their dogs with minimal headaches. MatchMaker takes into account your ideal puppy based on things like size, breed, temperament and more—saving you time on your puppy search and making sure you and your dog are a match made in heaven. Breeder Locations.

Read more about the pups that are currently up for adoption. Read More… Foster Dogs FBRN is being faced with an increasing number of dogs who are ill, handicapped, or need expensive veterinary care before being placed. Meet our Foster Frenchies and please consider sponsoring one of them to ensure that they receive the care that they need. Read More… Surrender a Dog Life has thrown you a curve ball and you must surrender your French Bulldog… we are here to help! Read More… Volunteer We welcome you to join us in our efforts to rehabilitate and rehome needy French Bulldogs. We have many options for you to choose from, depending on your circumstances, time and resources. Our organization is composed solely of volunteers who nurture and foster these dogs as well as provide education and training. Our goal is to place healthy and happy French Bulldogs into forever homes. Read More… Contact Us Learn about the many ways that you can get in touch with us. He has a Staffie sister, Lettie, who he adores and who has taught him so much with her gentle patience. He has doggie friends at daycamp he sees once a week. He is the best snuggler ever! He used to be a resource guarder, but will now bring you his toys for a treat! He loves our daily walks and meeting people. Thank you FBRN for picking us to be his family- we love him so much! Despite being mostly blind and deaf, Ham is thriving in his golden years, especially with his folks now working from home. Thank you FBRN for our goodest good boy! We are so grateful for every day with him. She had cherry eye surgery in March right before Covid quarantine and the surgery was a success. A gigantic thank you to FBRN for allowing me to adopt this perfect little nugget. All Rights Reserved. A c 3 Non-Profit Organization. Tax ID: .Powered by Geeks4Rent. Bulldogs Need You. Bulldog Haven NW was founded by a group of experienced Bulldog and Frenchie rescue people and owners from the Pacific Northwest region. All of our members are unpaid volunteers who love animals so much they give their time to help the dogs and the cause. Whether a Bulldog finds itself at a shelter where they feel it has needs before placement, is found by someone in the community, goes missing from their home, a puppy mill is shut down, or an owner finds themselves facing the need to find their Bulldog help outside of what they are able to give. .Our team also consists of caring shelter staff who alert us of dogs who need our resources and care, Veterinarians and Veterinary Clinics who care for our dogs as if they were their only clients, Businesses who donate supplies and food for your foster dogs, and the public who donate to our program. Federal Tax Exempt Organization When adopting any dog who may have a difficult past, you need to let go of your pity and guilt before bringing the dog home. Instead, make the dog feel secure by providing the calm and balanced energy of a pack leader. This way, the dog can relax, knowing that you have things under control. Call Vic Kasser or Email! Our French Bulldog puppies are given a wonderful start in life that provides them with the love, socialization and training they need to become ideal pets. We also believe that nutrition is an essential component of raising healthy, well-mannered French Bulldog puppies and dogs. For this reason, all of our dogs are fed food and supplements that are free of wheat, corn, and glutens and are optimized for canine nutrition. Furthermore, all French Bulldog puppies under our care receive regular exercise, play, and affection. We are more than happy to provide references - in fact, we insist. Our references include not only folks that have purchased French Bulldog puppies from us, but also our Veterinary and County Licensing info. Checking references is an important part of your homework on any breeder you are considering purchasing a French Bulldog puppy from! We invite you to check out our website and see for yourself how beautiful, healthy and happy our French Bulldog Puppies are! Among our pages, you will find a virtual tour of our clean, spacious, and well-kept kennel and state-of-the-art nursery. After you've looked over our website, give us a call and let us help you with your quest to find the perfect French Bulldog Puppy or Dog companion. We welcome visitors 7 days a week, by appointment, from 10am to 3pm. We are available by phone 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm Pacific coast time. Policies and Procedures provide clarity to you that are of critical importance to us. After you've looked over our website and become familiar with our Purchase Procedures, give us a call and let us help you with your quest to find the perfect French Bulldog Puppy or Dog companion. We are located in Drain, Oregon. We are not and have never been affiliated with any other individuals or kennels. We do not and have never co-owned any dogs with any other individuals or kennels. French Bulldog Puppies for Sale Buying your first French Bulldog puppy can be a daunting task, but we are here to help. Always write down your questions in advance of the interview when choosing the right French Bulldog puppy.Internet fraud is on the rise, protect yourself when buying French Bulldog puppies for sale online. Arm yourself with information, preparation and buy with confidence! Remember: It is up to both the French Bulldog puppy buyer and the French Bulldog puppy breeder to be comfortable with one another and to ensure that the French Bulldog puppy has been and will be treated properly. Full grain leather dog collars and leashes, bite tugs and toys. Stylish collars, multifunctional harnesses and durable muzzles for Labrador breed. Handmade training and daily walking dog equipment. Hard training, pulling, tracking harnesses, hand painted muzzles, firm collars and leashes and lots of other things for your Pitbull breed. Need professional dog training equipment for your Doberman - Go Here! Wide assortment of top quality German Shepherd muzzles, harnesses, collars, leashes, bite tugs and toys. Suitable collars, harness and muzzles for your Rottweiler. Great choice of dog toys and different training tools. Specially designed dog collars, harnesses, muzzles, leashes, and other dog supplies for Gentle Giants. You dream to have quality dog leash? Visit our store and you will find best leather, nylon or chain leashes for different goals! Need a harness for your doggy? Considered design harnesses for pooling, tracking, training and decorating your four-feet friend. Puppies for Sale on PuppyFinder. Offers a comprehensive online directory of dog breeders, stud service providers, dog related products and services, dog friendly hotels and airlines, and many useful tools and resources for finding and raising a puppy. View my Puppies for sale at PupListings.

Illness The reason that your German Shepherd puppy has been crying a lot could be that it is ill or injured. It would also be more likely if something recently happened that might have caused it to become ill or injured. If you think that illness or injury might be the cause then the best option for you would be to take it to a vet. Fear The reason that your German Shepherd puppy has been crying a lot could be that it gets frightened. This would be more likely if it only seems to be crying when things happen that might frighten it. Related post: Why is my German Shepherd always afraid? It wants attention It could be the case that your German Shepherd puppy cries a lot because it wants to get attention from you. In this case, it would be likely that it has learned that crying gets it the attention that it wants so it cries more. To stop it you could try giving it more attention throughout the day and to stop giving it attention when it starts crying and then to carry on giving it attention when it is not crying. Boredom Another reason that it cries a lot could be that it is bored. This would be more likely if it tends to cry more when it is not doing anything and if it tends to cry at around the time that it usually gets to do something. German Shepherds are meant to be very active dogs and it is generally recommended that they get at least an hour of exercise per day. If your German Shepherd is not getting an hour of exercise per day then making sure that it does would likely be a good start. However, German Shepherd puppies are not supposed to get as much exercise since their joints are still developing. Generally, it is recommended to give a German Shepherd puppy 5 minutes of exercise, per day, for every month of age. So, a 2 month old puppy should get about 10 minutes of exercise daily. Other ways that you can reduce its boredom would be to spend time training it or to give it toys to play with. Excitement It could also be the case that it seems to cry when it becomes excited. This would be more likely if it only seems to cry when things happen that would cause it to get excited. Examples could be: When it is about to go out for a walk When you are playing with it Related post: How to tell if your German Shepherd loves you Nature It is not unusual for German Shepherd puppies to cry a lot. Sometimes they will cry without any apparent cause. It is likely that it will begin to cry less as it gets older. However, if it is crying constantly then it would help to take it to a vet to rule out illness or injury. Things to consider Before trying to get it to cry less it would help to know exactly what is causing it to cry so much. Below, I will mention a few particularly helpful things that you can consider. What is different when it cries A useful thing to consider would be when and where your German Shepherd puppy tends to cry. If it tends to only cry in certain situations then it would be very likely that it has something to do with the crying. If your German Shepherd puppy started to cry more, suddenly, then it would make it more likely that it has started to cry more due to things such as stress, fear, being mistreated, illness or injury or a change in its lifestyle. It would help to consider what happened at around the time that your German Shepherd puppy started to cry more. Things that you could think about would include: If someone left home If another pet passed away If something happened that might have caused it to get injured If someone was mean to it If you moved home If it did start crying a lot more, suddenly, then it would help to take it to a vet to rule out illness or injury. How to get your German Shepherd puppy to stop crying all the time Below, I will mention a number of things that you can do about your German Shepherd puppy crying all the time. Avoid punishing it It might be tempting to punish your German Shepherd puppy by shouting at it or even hitting it. However, it is very important not to do so. If you do then you will likely cause it to become fearful, it will develop behavioral issues and it will not be trusting of you. Avoid encouraging the behavior If your method of getting it to stop crying is to give it things that it wants, it could be the case that you have inadvertently encouraged it to do it more. Instead, try to avoid giving it attention or rewards unless it is necessary and then to reward it when it is being well behaved. Take it to a vet If you are unsure of why your German Shepherd puppy cries, it has started doing it suddenly or it has been acting unusually then it would help to get the expert advice of a vet. Ensure that its diet is correct If it is not getting the nutrients that it needs in its diet it could be causing your German Shepherd puppy to cry. If you want to get your German Shepherd to cry less and for it to be as healthy as possible it is important to make sure that it is eating correctly. You can look here to see what you should be feeding it. If you are unsure of what food to get for your German Shepherd, consider getting dog food designed specifically for German Shepherds. You can find dog food specifically designed for German Shepherd puppies on Chewy here. Give it things to be distracted with such as a chew toy If you think that boredom could also be the reason that your German Shepherd puppy keeps crying then it would be an option to give it things to keep it distracted. Things that you could do could include giving it toys to play with, puzzles for dogs to complete or chews to chew on. You can watch the video below to see more tips on what you can do to get your German Shepherd puppy to cry less. You can watch the video below for more tips on what you can do to get your German Shepherd puppy to cry less. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. Aug 3, Share As a dog parent, you know that German Shepherds tend to whine at the most inopportune times. It could be several things, including the dog being sick or in pain. However, before calling the veterinarian, you can examine our list of seven reasons German Shepherds whine and how to stop it. Your Shepherd Needs to Go to the Bathroom The reason your German Shepherd is whining could be as simple as the dog needing to go outside to potty. The dog might whine, then run to or stare at the door, trying to tell you it needs to go outside. This whining usually happens right after your dog wakes up from a nap or just a few minutes after it eats. The dog could be whining because it wants your attention and is ready to cuddle or play. Image Credit: Happy monkey, Shutterstock 3. You can cure this by ensuring your dog gets at least 2 hours of physical exercise daily and providing it with many challenging games and toys. A hyperactive, bored German Shepherd will become destructive, aggressive, and whiny, so make sure your dog gets the exercise and mental stimulation it needs to be healthy and happy. The Dog Is Happy to See You Dogs, including German Shepherds, are usually happy to see their pet parents when they walk through the door in the evening. Your German Shepherd may whine when it first sees you out of sheer excitement. If the whining is accompanied by a lack of appetite, drowsiness, or other signs of sickness, you must take the dog to the vet for an examination. Until your appointment, it will help to comfort and love your pet to make it feel better. An illness or injury should never be ignored because it can cause other health issues if not addressed by a veterinarian and treated promptly. Your Shepherd Is Stressed Although German Shepherds are known for being fearless dogs , they get scared, anxious, and stressed. If your German Shepherd is whining and none of the reasons above apply, your dog may be stressed or afraid of something. Some events that could be stressing your dog and making it whine include storms, fireworks, and even a stranger in the home. Image Credit: Pxhere 7. There are a few other signs of a dog trying to apologize, including keeping its ears flat, its tail between its legs, and a droopy body. Ask your vet for recommendations Ignore the whining unless your dog needs to go potty Give your dog plenty of attention Train your pet not to whine professionally if needed Distract the dog Image Credit: Sam Wordley, Shutterstock Final Thoughts German Shepherds are known for being courageous, loving, protective, and loyal pets. However, they do tend to whine a bit. However, you should make an appointment with your vet if the whining continues to ensure your dog is not suffering from an injury or illness. How can we tell if a German Shepherd puppy is crying for real or attention? While the whining and crying might be aggravating, you can do things to lessen the whining and this guide will show you how. Why does a German Shepherd puppy cry? German Shepherds are known to whine more than other dogs. Attention German Shepherds love getting attention from their owners, which could bring whining. If the dog is near you, has toys, and their body language looks good, they probably want your attention. Boredom German Shepherds are high-energy dogs and need a lot of exercise to get that energy out. If the dog is whining out of boredom, create a play and exercise routine for them. Fear Similar to people, dogs get scared. They may begin to while around storms, new people, or stressful situations. In this case, they are seeking comfort for their owner. If possible, minimize the citation and comfort the dog. Give them a calming area to relax when if a scary situation. There will also be other signs of illness, like lethargy, lack of appetite, or reduced interest. Take your dog to the vet ASAP if you suspect they are in pain or sick. Hungry German Shepherds are intelligent dogs and will let you know when dinner time has been skipped. We get busy too, so pay attention to the time to see if a meal was accidentally skipped. They are in a new environment, away from all they know and love, and it can be scary. Below are some tips on how to get past the crate-crying phase. This can help indicate if the whine is because of something terrible or less wrong, like boredom. Each German Shepherd has their own unique cry; this is just a reference point. Complaining whine This is not yet a cry. What to do if a German Shepherd puppy cries? Like a baby, they will cry for no apparent reason, and the older they get, the better it will get. If your puppy is safe, fed, and not ill, it is best to ignore it and not reinforce bad behavior. If you gave them constant attention with each whine, you could create a bad habit. What to do if a German Shepherd puppy cries in the crate at night? Crate training is hard, and it will result in your German Shepherd puppy crying at night. Below are a few tips to make the night easier, according to Wag. Make the crate a place your puppy wants to go: Add their favorite toys and blankets, give them treats, and make it a positive area. Place the crate where your German Shepherd is near you: it can be a calm and quiet area but make it accessible to the outside since the puppy will need potty breaks. Let them get used to the crate for a moment. When they wake up, grab them before the whining starts and take them potty, this will help make them less scared. Repeat and practice: Crate training takes time and can be challenging, especially at 3 am. Ensure that they are okay and rule out if a vet is needed. The most important thing is not to encourage the behavior. Can a German Shepherd puppy be trained to not cry? Yes you can work on your German Shepherd puppy not to cry. The easiest way to do this is to create an exercise and play routine to burn out energy and make them tired. German Shepherds love playing outside, and it can give them the stimulation they need to be happy. Crate training your puppy correctly will also train them not to cry in the crate. You are tired from being up at night and might lash out. Remember a few things not to do when the puppy cries. Punishment Punishment is the worst possible thing to do when your puppy cries. This can instill fear in your dog and make matters worse. We hate seeing our dogs upset and will do anything to help them. Instead, try to redirect the behavior. Allow them to go outside to play, chew on a toy, or relax in their crate until the whining subsides. What is normal crying vs abnormal crying? Puppies will cry for a lot of reasons. This is all normal for a puppy and how they communicate. If you notice your puppy is crying more and suddenly, what some would say is out of the blue, you might want to see why. Check for signs of illness or pain. Take a moment to reassure yourself that your dog is okay and allow them their moment to whine before redirecting them. Further Questions How do you stop a German Shepherd puppy from crying for its owner? The easiest thing is to set up a routine for them to play and exercise. Crate training is also a great option. Is it normal for a German Shepherd puppy to whine a lot? Yes, a German Shepherd puppy will often whine, just like a baby cries a lot. Should I ignore my puppy when it cries? No, the whining could indicate there is a problem. Always make sure they are okay, then redirect the dog. More posts on German Shepherd Puppies Recommended post. They do it to get the attention of their carers, the same way a human baby cries out for attention when they need something. Learned Crying Learned crying is the bad kind of crying. So what are the common reasons your german shepherd puppy may be crying at night? This is most common in new puppies. However, their parents are never going to arrive so they end up crying throughout the night. In the first few months of their life, their body is going to grow at an extraordinary rate. The extra energy is only going to cause them to make them more hyper, which could ultimately end up in barking or crying anyway. Do you know how much a german shepherd puppy should eat? They Need To Go To The Toilet Another extremely common reason behind a german shepherd puppy crying at night is that they need to go to the toilet. However, while holding it, they may end up whining and crying because of the discomfort. Just make sure you leave an area for them that they can use as a toilet. Fortunately, there are also lots of solutions! Your puppy should be taken out for 5 minutes for however many months old they are. For example, a 3-month-old puppy would be taken out for 15 minutes. Pre-emptively Let Them Outside If you think that your puppy is crying through the night because they need to go to the toilet, then you may want to pre-emptively let them out. This is good for two reasons. While you should never let a new puppy sleep in your bed, it is okay to let them sleep in your room. So, the first night, you could place their bed or crate down next to yours. The second and third night you can edge it closer to your door. And then every day you just have to keep moving the bed a little bit more. Find out why your german shepherd puppy is barking. Some great toys to use are Kongs and Nylabones. However, any toy or bone will do. Find out more about german shepherd teething and the best toys you can give a teething puppy. Putting all these things in their crate as well as covering it in a blanket is a great way to make them feel comfortable and safe. This will help them feel like a big animal is going to keep them safe through the night. Use An Adaptil Diffuser Some people have reported success using an Adaptil diffuser near their puppies crate. When you plug one in by your pup it releases the same pheromones as a nursing dog. And the best part is you can pick them up quite cheap off Amazon! Find out how to discipline a German Shepherd the right way! Just like there are lots of great things you can do to stop your german shepherd crying at night, there are also things you can do that are going to make problems worse. Here are the things you should definitely avoid doing unless you want to cause more behavioral problems in your german shepherd pup. While in the short term this will stop them crying at night, long term it can come with a whole bunch of behavioral problems that will need to be addressed. Instead of comforting make sure they have everything they need to comfort themselves such as toys and a place they can feel safe. However, remember, even this should be done gradually, and not massive changes all at once. You should never hit your dog, but also avoid using corrective collars as well. Remember, you never want to incite fear in your dog, but rather teach them through positive learning. The amount of time your puppy takes to be quiet in the night depends on the individual. Some of them are quick learners, while others take a little while to realize. Either way it can range from a day to a couple of weeks, however, both ends of the spectrum are extremely rare. Likewise in most cases, at some point in the night, your puppy will tire itself out and go to sleep instead of crying all night. However, there are times when your puppy will cry right through until the morning. Cheaper than replacing everything they might break. And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone. Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to take your pup for a walk without them barking at everyone. And the best part is it also has a day money-back guarantee! You can also check out a full review here , to learn exactly what the course has to offer! Recap When your German shepherd puppy is crying at night it often makes you want to go down and comfort them. It can take a day to a couple of weeks for your puppy to stop crying, however, the most common amount of time is 3 or 4 days. Brain Training For Dogs is the most effective way to teach your dog how to act appropriately, including how they should act at bedtime. If you have any more questions make sure you leave them in the comments below, otherwise, have a great day! Some other articles you might find interesting include what to do when your puppy is crying in their crate, how to deal with teething, and how to deal with chewing. Related Posts:. The service dog and guide dog to the blind Canine therapy dog work Search and rescue and nose work Hunting and tracking Canine athletics such as agility and dock diving In each one of these job descriptions, you can visualize two partners: a human partner paired with a canine partner. Any working dog breed that has been developed and bred specifically to work closely with a human partner is going to be intelligent, perceptive, and extremely sensitive. German Shepherds fit this description perfectly. As WagWalking. The German Shepherd is actually not known to be a barker, but barking will increase if your dog becomes lonely or bored. In the same way, German Shepherd crying, whimpering and whining can turn from simply attempts to talk to you into pleas for attention, time and affection if not enough of that is readily available. There is really no way to train your German Shepherd dog to be a different type of dog than the GSD breed is known to be. But there are some ways to keep the natural vocalizations of your German Shepherd from turning into real problem behaviors of the type that may get you into hot water with neighbors or housemates or even the local community. Tips to Train German Shepherd Not to Cry So Much Whenever you are dealing with a very smart dog breed that is highly attuned to their human carers, you can bet your dog will notice what gets your attention fastest. Then your dog will do more of that. After all, your German Shepherd loves attention from you! So anything your GSD can do to keep your attention on them is a good thing to do more of. This means you will need to start paying more attention to the things your dog does that send you running to them. When your GSD starts whimpering, whining, or crying, for instance, you will have to stop yourself from immediately responding. In this section, we will look at specific tips to train your German Shepherd not to cry so much. We will look at tips for GSD puppies, adult dogs, and rescue dogs. Train your German Shepherd puppy not to cry so much One of the most common issues new German Shepherd puppy keepers face is trying to crate train a new GSD puppy. Crate training can be an invaluable addition to your training protocols! Yet, as PetMD points out, your puppy is often already dealing with a lot of changes when crate training begins. Your GSD puppy is trying to learn to sleep apart from mom and littermates for the first time. Your puppy is in a strange new place with a new family and new surroundings. Suddenly there are lots of rules and regulations, potty training issues, leashes and collars to get used to, veterinary visits, and then…. This means that regardless of what breed of puppy you are crate training , some crying and whining are just going to come with the territory. So here are expert tips to help your GSD puppy understand that whining and crying will not get them out of crate training. Do not respond to the crying behavior when it first starts — wait until your puppy quiets down before approaching the crate. Make sure the crate is puppy-sized — your GSD puppy should be able to stand up and turn around, but if you can fit two GSD puppies inside it, it is too large. Take time to get your GSD puppy familiar with the crate structure itself — practice going in and out the door, do short sits at first, offer lots of praise and rewards. Put the crate in a place where you are still visible at first so your puppy will not feel abandoned and start to cry in a panic. Train your German Shepherd adult dog not to cry so much When it comes to training an adult GSD dog not to cry or whine so much, it is all about setting reasonable expectations, as this VetStreet owner thread highlights. After all, you have chosen a vocal dog breed with a high need and drive to be near you and in constant communication with you. But if you set a goal to simply reduce the amount of crying or whining, you are likely to have a much better chance of reaching your goal. Here are some tips to help encourage your German Shepherd to stop seeing crying or whining behavior as an effective way of getting your attention quickly. Make a list. Start making a list of each time your German Shepherd whines and what was going on just before the crying started. This can help you identify certain issues that may cause your GSD to whine more — is it just before dinner time? Is it time for the evening walk? Is there some other routine your dog remembers that you have forgotten? This will also help you identify when crying might be prompted by discomfort, illness, boredom, loneliness, or some other reason. Stop responding to the crying right away. Crying or whining can be an auditory irritant — no doubt about it. No matter how much you love your dog, having to listen to constant crying can get on your nerves! So instead of responding right away to try to make the sound stop, task yourself to take several deep breaths and count to 10, or 15, or .Wait until the whining at least lessens or ideally stops before responding. Train your German Shepherd rescue dog not to cry so much German Shepherds are so sensitive that being relinquished and re-homed can be especially hard on this dog breed. You may get your new GSD rescue pup home only to discover your dog develops a full-blown case of separation anxiety whenever you are not clearly visible and available to your dog. As All Shepherd Rescue charity explains, separation anxiety can be a much bigger problem to address than simply removing social reinforcement for the behavior. Your GSD is panicked! Making use of a dog walker, doggie daycare, or a friendly dog-loving neighbor or friend when you have to be out can spell you during the re-training process. Ideally, no one would choose a German Shepherd dog without knowing in advance that these dogs tend to be naturally vocal. Yet it happens every day. There is so much to learn about the German Shepherd dog breed that sometimes the vocalization habits just get overlooked. Now that you understand your experience with GSD crying is not unique to you and your dog, you can start taking steps to reduce the crying behaviors. This is normal and natural. It is simply that your puppy is learning how to sleep alone for the first time. Rather, the goal is to ease the crying and the feeling of being alone for your puppy. If you can do this, the crate will no longer be an issue. Otherwise, you are just putting off the introduction of the crate. And you are likely to be listening to a crying puppy all night anyway because everything is so new. It might be tempting to just let your new GSD puppy sleep with you for the first night or few nights, or a week, or month…. Persisting with crate training can pay off if you know what to do. You are used to sleeping in a huddle with your littermates all snuggled together around your mom. Suddenly, your sleeping arrangements are changed. Mom is gone. Your littermates are nowhere to be found. In place of the comfy dog bed or blanket, or whelping bed there is a cold steel or plastic box. So the first order of business that is urgent is to get your new GSD puppy comfy in their new crate! Here are seven expert tips to make the crate look and feel and smell homey and safe for your puppy: 1. Cover the crate partially for naps and bedtime but not so much that there is no ventilation. Aim for protecting your puppy from drafts and light but still allowing for sufficient airflow. Add in a comfortable puppy blanket so your dog can snuggle up in it. Ease Into Extended Crate Time With Short Training Sessions When you first bring your German Shepherd puppy home, it may be late in the day and you may not have time for a bunch of crate sessions right away. This means you may have to deal with some whining and crying the first night. It can help to place the crate in your bedroom if possible. This way your dog can at least see and smell you. And if your new GSD puppy needs to potty, which they likely will, you can take care of it right away. But starting the following morning, you should begin proper crate training for your German Shepherd puppy right away. And you should establish reasonable expectations for the outcome. As PetMD points out, even the best crate training in the world may not completely stop your puppy from whining, crying, or barking. This is because you have chosen an intensely people-oriented dog breed! All dogs are oriented towards people to some degree, but the German Shepherd dog breed is particularly people-focused. Your puppy just wants to be with you. You want to start with very short and sweet sessions just to get your German Shepherd puppy used to being in the crate. Start with just 10 or 15 minutes at a time at timed intervals throughout the day. As you do this, make sure the crate is in a quiet place, but not a place that is far away from you and your family. The more easily your puppy can sense your presence, the less likely they are to get very lonely and start crying loudly. A Sample German Shepherd Puppy Crate Training Schedule As you learned earlier here, crate training under the best of conditions can be stressful for a puppy. This is especially important while your puppy is also going through potty training! Noon: Lunch! What should you do if this happens? While some amount of crate whining and crying is normal when a new puppy is first getting used to the crate, sometimes crying and whining can have other meanings as well. It is always smart to have your new GSD puppy checked out by your veterinarian right away anyway — ideally in the first 24 to 48 hours. But if your puppy keeps whining and crying, there may be another reason. Your dog might be sick or injured and need treatment. It is much better to talk with your veterinarian and know for sure than to worry and wonder and get no sleep at night. Sometimes puppies may develop separation anxiety and get very frantic about trying to get out of their crate. When this happens, self-injury becomes possible. It may be helpful to ask your veterinarian for a referral to a dog trainer so you can address the separation anxiety before it leads to self-harm or an ingrained behavior pattern. By understanding the most common reasons your German Shepherd puppy might cry in their crate and what to do to ease loneliness and fears, your new puppy will soon settle into your family. If you looking to buy a new crate for your dog, here is a list of our recommendations. Recommended reading:.

Is the weight you entered accurate or an estimation? Don't worry, you can opt out at any time. And in case you missed it, our interactive Doodle puppy weight calculator is just above, which predicts how much your Doodle will weigh when full-grown with an interactive growth chart, so be sure to scroll back up and give it a try! Our Doodle weight calculator is above, but you can also use Puppy Weight Calculator for over other dog breeds! This unpredictability might be leaving you feeling worried, anxious, or simply just curious. They generally reach their maximum height by one year old but can spend a little longer gaining girth and weight. They generally finish growing anywhere between years of age. Due to this rapid growth, it is extremely important for your Doodle to get the nourishment he needs through specially formulated food for puppies. Check out our Doodle puppy food review articles here. Our Doodle puppy growth chart calculator references data from this study. This weight range is typically associated with Toy Doodles. A Toy Doodle will then plateau at its full adult weight between 7. This weight range is typically associated with both Mini and Medium Doodles. This weight range is typically associated with Standard size Doodles. A Standard Doodle will then plateau at its full adult weight between .We hope this article gave you good insight into the different growth patterns for each size of Doodle and which formulas you can use to predict their adult weights. If you have a full-grown Doodle, let us know in the comments below if this calculator was accurate for you! Interactive Puppy Growth Chart for Doodles At the very top of this page, enter the type of Doodle, size, current age in weeks, and current weight in lb. It is not intended to be a substitute for qualified professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified animal health provider with any questions you may have. You Might Also Like. What kind of diet do we give our pooches for a healthy weight? What you should never overfeed a dog? You should never ever overfeed your dogs too much carbs as they get stored as fat in the body if they are not used. Unfortunately, carbohydrates are much cheaper an ingredient as compared to the other nutrients like protein. Hence, they are often used by major large dog food manufacturers to make up the weight of dog food whilst keeping the prices of the dog food low. This is the main reason why pets all over the United States are getting obese. And, ironically, this became the driving forces behind the rise of these healthy pet food startups , as their founders seek to provide their own proper and much healthier alternatives. The high fiber content will make your dogs feel content faster and thus eat less. And since fiber does not get stored in the body like carbs do, it can be promising measure to keep your pooch's weight under control. Mathematically, eating less will reduce weight gain. However, it can easily lead to malnourishment if your dog is not given the proper nutrition. We are talking about nutrients beyond the common proteins and carbohydrates. They include omega fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, amino acids and many more! The key here is not to eat less. The key here is to maintain a balanced diet. And what constitutes a balanced diet? That requires a deep understanding and a wide study in the field of pet nutrition to truly determine it; so much that it warrants a university degree. To get the most balanced, holistic and healthiest dog foods , it is often better to leave it to the experts. Have you been scheduling your dog's meal time wrongly? And does it really matter? Scheduling your dog's meal time will tune their stomach to become hungry only at their meal times. Combining this with the right amount of dog food given to them, it will keep your dogs from becoming hungry out of meal hours. In turn, this will maintain their metabolism rate and utilize all the food they consume fully and appropriately. As a bonus, regular meal time will also discourage them from scavenging around the house like little vacuum cleaners as they grow accustomed to the amount of food they are given and to be used for the intervals between meal times. These food brands are not your typical corporate pet food manufacturers. These are pet food startups fueled by the passion from their pet enthusiasts founders who only want the best for all dogs under the sky. Each of them have came up with their own unique formula that will surely satisfy your dogs' taste buds without compromising their health. Click here or the button below to learn more about these bespoke food brands. Underweight and undernourishment is as real an issue as obesity among dogs. Underweight dogs appear thin and frail. And before you know it, they will start to lose all the hair on their coat and look like anything but a dog. These cases created a market of specialized dog food that help your dog to gain weight healthily. Here are 7 of the best dog foods for weight gain that can help your underweight dog get back its glory. Read more by clicking the button below. July 25, 0 Comments WorldAnimalFoundation. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Typically, there are four main size categories for dogs: 1. X-Small or Toy Breeds: Toy breeds are typically smaller in size, often weighing less than 12 pounds. Examples are Chihuahua and Toy Poodles. Small Breeds: Small dog breeds generally weigh between 12 to 22 pounds. Examples include French Bulldogs and Yorkshire Terriers. Medium Breeds: Medium dog breeds usually weigh between 22 to 57 pounds. Breeds like Doberman Pinschers and Siberian Huskies fall into this category. Large Breeds: Large dog breeds typically weigh between 57 to 99 pounds. Giant Breeds: Giant dogs can weigh over 99 pounds. These factors include: 1. Breed: Different dog breeds have specific size ranges. Smaller breeds tend to reach their full size earlier than larger breeds. Nutrition: Proper nutrition is crucial for healthy growth. You can use our dog dood calculator to estimate the right serving size for your furry friend in order to avoid obesity or malnutrition. Regular exercise and check-ups with a vet ensure any health issues are addressed promptly. Gender: In some breeds, male dogs tend to be larger than female dogs. Spaying or Neutering: Spaying and neutering can increase the likelihood of puppy weight gain if their diet is not adjusted accordingly. The decrease in sex hormones makes way to reduced energy needs, often necessitating a decrease in food portions to avoid getting overweight. Some puppies may experience growth spurts, and their final size may differ slightly from the breed standard. Additionally, some dog breeds have longer growth periods and may continue to develop and fill out for a couple of years after reaching their full height. It starts from the neonatal stage as helpless puppies and progresses through crucial socialization, juvenile, adolescent, adult, and senior stages. Proper care, nutrition, and training during these phases are vital for their physical and behavioral well-being, ensuring they grow into happy and healthy companions. What will be the Weight of your Dog Knowing the body weight of your dog offers several benefits. Just follow these simple steps: 1. FAQs How big is a 33 lbs dog? Generally, a 33 lbs dog would be considered a medium-sized dog, but it can vary depending on its breed or mixed breeds. For example, some medium dog breeds that typically reach a maximum height of 25 inches to the shoulders include Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, and French Bulldogs. The average brain-to-body ratio for dogs is about , indicating their intelligence and cognitive abilities. How big will my puppy grow if he is 8 lbs in 10 weeks? According to our dog size calculator, your 8 lb puppy might grow to approximately 41 lbs by 12 months, but actual adult weight and size can vary based on dog breed and several factors. At which age do puppies stop growing? Generally, a puppy stop growing and reach their full adult weight and size between 9 months to 1. However, the exact age at which a puppy stops growing can vary depending on the dog breed and environmental factors. Smaller dog breeds tend to mature earlier, often around months, while large dog breeds may continue growing and filling out until 18 months or even up to 2 years of age. Conclusion Knowing the future adult weight of your puppy with the puppy weight calculator allows for proper nutrition, space planning, and training. It helps make travel arrangements, monitor their health, and build a strong bond with your pet. Editorial-Team WAF editorial team is a passionate and diverse group that includes animal experts, researchers, writers, editors, and devoted pet owners. Our main goal is to share valuable insights about the animal kingdom and strengthen the special bond between humans and animals. Our eclectic and ever-growing team is committed to bringing you accurate and informative content to promote animal welfare and foster positive interactions with the wonderful world of animals. Join us on this exciting journey as we explore and celebrate the beauty and importance of our animal companions! Leave a comment Your email address will not be published. Post Comment. All puppies start out so small and cute that it can be difficult to imagine how big your puppy will be when he is fully grown. Thankfully there are ways for you to determine how large your dog will be as an adult. The first is to use a Labradoodle puppy growth chart. This works based on averages to see where your pup is now compared to where he will be fully grown. Another way to work out how big your puppy will be is to look at his parents, if you have access. Paws that look oversized on a small puppy means that you are going to have a large dog as they are going to have to grow a lot to fill out their paws. Finally, you can use a DNA test to see what the breed makeup of your pup is and get an idea of how big he can get. When a puppy is born, his eyes will be shut. He will open them within the first couple of weeks, but will stay by his mother the entire time. At 3 weeks, your Labradoodle will still be very small and rely on his mother for nutrition. Puppies tend to begin to move around at this point, gradually exploring their world. At 12 weeks, you will have a much bigger puppy looking for trouble. Your puppy will begin to lose his teeth. If you have a larger Labradoodle you will see a high rate of growth still at this point. If you have a smaller Labradoodle, you will see a slowdown in growth during this time period. Puppies get into a lot of trouble chewing at this age as well as they combat their teething. Most Labradoodles still have some growing to do, so will not be finished growing at this point, but the speed at which they are growing will definitely slow down. Food-wise, this is a good time to drop your dog down to only two meals a day but keep him on puppy food until his first birthday. Use the Labradoodle growth chart as a guide to see when your puppy will likely reach his final height. At 12 months old, you can transition your puppy from kibble to regular dog food. Even if there is still a little bit of growing to do, puppy food is much higher in calories. Adult Labradoodles should be done growing by their first birthday, regardless of the type of Labradoodle that they are. If you have a larger Labradoodle, you should not see any more gains in height, but you will continue to see some weight gain for a while yet. Some dogs are done gaining weight at 12 months, while others may take 18 or even 24 months. Factors That Affect Labradoodle Puppy Growth Genetics Genetics is the key factor in all breeds of dog as far as what affects their growth, but Labradoodles are especially affected by this. It is because the Poodle mix in their breed can come in so many different sizes. Labrador Retrievers are more consistent and predictable, but Poodles are not. Looking at what size of Poodle has been bred with the Lab will help you know how big your pup will get and how quickly that will happen. A Labradoodle is more likely to fall in between his parents in size, since he is a mixed breed, making genetics the biggest indicator you have. Most puppies will be well taken care of, naturally, but sadly that is not always the case. Puppies who live on the street or who are neglected by their owners will not receive the proper nutrients that they need to grow healthy and strong. In this case, the growth defects are likely internal and will not appear until your dog ages. Puppies need exercise to stay fit and healthy, but a puppy that is overexerted will have too much strain put on his body and he will not grow as well as a puppy who was allowed rest. Also, puppies that are sickly cannot grow as much as healthy dogs, because their bodies are working hard on their health, leaving growth on the backburner. It has long been the standard to spay or neuter your puppy as soon as possible. It usually happens at the 6-month mark, in order to ensure that they are large enough to withstand the anaesthesia and not so mature that they have reached sexual maturity. The purpose of this was to stop a female pup from going into heat and having an unwanted pregnancy or to stop a male from reproducing. Puppies that mate too young also have their growth at risk, so the idea was to save them in the long run. Unfortunately, there is new information that has come out in recent years. Studies have shown that dogs, especially larger breeds, which are spayed or neutered before they have finished growing are more likely to have joint issues when they are older. This is because altering their bodies during their growth will affect other parts of their bodies as well. The dogs do have a lot of similarities, but the Bernedoodle is a little bit larger than a Labradoodle is. Much of their size is based on the type of Poodle that has been mixed with the Labrador or the Bernese Mountain Dog, but in all of the cases, the Bernedoodles will be bigger, weighing as much as 90 pounds. What If My Labradoodle Is Not The Right Weight If you have been following your Labradoodle growth chart and you see that your pup is not growing at a consistent weight, you might be a little concerned. Since growth spurts can be unpredictable and you will not necessarily know when they happen, sometimes a puppy will stray off of his expected weight and size. The concern is when your puppy has completely fallen off of the growth curve, whether in being too large or too small. If it was a one-time occurrence, that is one thing, but if your puppy is simply not growing at the right pace, it is best to speak with your vet to make sure there is nothing else going on. You should be weighing your puppy routinely to get a good idea about how fast he has been going and these records will help your vet immensely. Feeding your Labradoodle puppy the right amount of food can be easy as long as you stick to a schedule. Given their curly fur, the regular visual check that you can do to monitor the size of other breeds is incredibly difficult. To know how much you need to feed your Labradoodle, you will need to focus on his age. Puppies between the age of 8 and 12 weeks need about 4 equal meals a day. Between 3 and 6 months, this can be reduced to 3 meals a day, dropping to 2 meals at 6 months. The quantity of food will depend on the type of food that it is as well as the type of Labradoodle that you have and his activity level. Take your pup in for regular weight checks with the vet and ask her what food recommendations she has. How To Choose A Labradoodle Size Since there are three different types of Labradoodles, you will need to choose which type of Labradoodle is right for you. The ultimate factor to help you decide is which size is right for you. A Standard Labradoodle is between 22 and 24 inches in height for males and between 21 and 23 inches for a female. Their weights range between 50 and 65 pounds. This is the biggest size. The medium Labradoodle is between 18 and 20 inches for a male and 17 and 19 inches for a female. They weigh between 30 and 45 pounds. The smallest Labradoodle is the mini Labradoodle that stands between 14 and 16 inches for either sex and weighs between 15 and 25 pounds. Weighing your Labradoodle puppy consistently is essential to his overall health. This can help you be certain that your puppy is growing as much and as quickly as he should be. Ideally, weighing your puppy twice a month will give you a good amount of data to go with. To weigh your puppy, you can weigh yourself while holding the puppy, note the weight. Then, weigh yourself again without the puppy. If your puppy is too large to hold, you should be able to take him into the vet to have a weight checkup. Labradoodle Genetics And Common Health Problems All dog breeds are more prone to certain genetic conditions than others. One of the most common genetic conditions that Labradoodles face is hip dysplasia. This happens as the dog ages and will result in mobility issues. Labradoodles can also suffer from epilepsy, but this can typically be controlled well with the right medicine. An eye condition that Labradoodles are at risk of is progressive retinal atrophy PRA , which can ultimately result in blindness. Your vet should be able to keep tabs on your pup and screen for these possibilities. If untreated, a dog can experience trouble with the kidneys and circulatory system. Even though a Labradoodle is a mixed breed, it runs the risk of genetic conditions of both Labrador Retrievers and Poodles. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. Some of these may be genetic, while others can be environmental. Here are some factors that affect labradoodle puppy growth. Genetics No matter what breed of dog it is, genetics plays a very important role in the growth of a puppy. Labradoodles are a mix between Labrador Retriever and Poodle. These dogs share genetic traits from both parents. The size of a labradoodle depends on its Poodle parent. For example, if the Poodle parent is a toy or miniature, you will get a mini and medium-sized labradoodle. However, if the Poodle parent is standard size, you will get a standard-sized labradoodle. Nutrition Selecting a nutritious diet for your Labradoodle puppy is essential to his well-being and development. Giving him all of the nutrients he needs to flourish and grow. Puppies are in a period of rapid growth, so they require more nutrients for bone and joint development than adult dogs. Puppies who receive adequate nutrition grows to their full potential. When feeding your pup, make sure the food contains all essential nutrients as well as the right levels of fat and protein. Your veterinarian can advise you on the ideal food to provide them with. Physical Activity Labradoodles are high-energy dogs that need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy. If not given enough exercise, they could develop health issues such as obesity, diabetes, or heart disease. When your puppy is young, it is best to limit their exercise as excessive physical activity can cause joint damage that will impact their development later in life. Walking and jogging are two activities that puppies enjoy doing, but these should only be done in small amounts in order to protect their joints. Health The growth of Labradoodle puppies also depends on their overall health. Labradoodles may suffer from health conditions that hinder their growth, such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. These conditions make it difficult for them to walk or lead an ordinary life. So, make sure you buy a Labradoodle puppy from a reputable breeder and screen them for any health issues. It is also advisable to take them for regular vet visits. Many new pet parents often wonder what size their Labradoodle will be when they grow up. For Labradoodle puppies, puppyhood lasts from birth until about five or six months old. During this stage, you will see a massive growth spurt in Labradoodles. They will keep growing until they reach adulthood. However, this may not always be the case; some may need additional pounds to gain before reaching this milestone. Conclusion A Labradoodle is a designer hybrid dog created by crossing two breeds — Poodles and Labrador Retrievers. As such, these dogs possess high energy levels, are friendly, and are highly affectionate. If you are planning to get a Labradoodle puppy or already have one, it is essential to monitor their growth, as their size can be drastically affected by certain factors. With some simple formulas, these charts may even allow you to predict their future weights. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. These days I have two adorable fuzzy rascals around me, that ensures I get plenty of exercise and laughter throughout my day! Legal Information The owner of this site, LabradoodleHome. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Labradoodle Home does not intend to provide veterinary advice. All articles and posts are aimed at giving users a better understanding of their dogs. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Amazon OneLink. In order to understand Labradoodle size, we must first understand Labradoodle genetics. And that means exploring the genetics behind a crossbreed. You can click the links above to jump straight to a section, or keep reading for a complete guide to Labradoodle size. Understanding the Labradoodle Crossbreed Though wildly popular, Labradoodles are still relatively new to the canine kingdom. Mixed breed dogs can inherit any combination of traits from their parents, which is why it can be so hard to accurately predict Labradoodle size. First or second generation mixes are particularly tough to predict. This is because these are the direct offspring of two different purebred parents, or the offspring of two first generation crossbreed parents. But luckily, Standard Poodles and Labradors are both relatively large dogs. So, the adult size of their offspring will usually also be quite large. Looking at the Parent Breeds Adult Labrador Retrievers typically range from 22 — 24 inches in height and can weigh between 55 — 79 pounds once fully mature. Females are generally smaller and lighter than males, and you may find dogs that fall outside of this range at either end of the spectrum. Poodles can come in three sizes, but unless specified you can assume that a Standard Poodle has been used. Standard Poodles will grow to over 15 inches tall, weighing somewhere between 40 and 70 pounds as adults. Similar to Labradors, females are often smaller and lighter than males, with some dogs exceeding these figures altogether. Generally, Labs are also stockier than Poodles. Plus, like both parent breeds, female Labradoodles are usually smaller than males. Can you Predict Labradoodle Size? But, the average size of a Labradoodle is often around 22 to 24 inches tall and 30 to 45 pounds. You can look at the parent dogs to get an idea of how big your puppy may grow, but remember this is only a vague guess. Your puppy could surprise you. So, what does this mean for Labradoodle size? Well, it means that Labradoodles are most often a little smaller and less stocky than their Lab parents. And that their size could vary greatly depending on the type of Poodle bred with the Labrador to create your dog. But, this is only a rough guideline. Mixed breeds are unpredictable, and even puppies from the same litter can have extremely different appearances! But, there are three different types of Poodle that can be part of the Labradoodle mix. So, it is possible for Labradoodle dogs to come in different size varieties, with smaller ones often referred to as Miniature Labradoodle dogs. The average size of a miniature Labradoodle is around 14 to 16 inches in height and 15 to 25 pounds. Just remember that a puppy can often fall outside of these guideline mesures. This is only an average. How Labradoodle Size Impacts Diet No matter what their size, your Labradoodle should be on a quality dog food specified for his age, weight and activity level. Choose a dog food that is rich in real meat protein, fatty acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. Pick one that is high in iron-rich animal protein like chicken or beef to help promote healthy bone and muscle development. Bear in mind that standard Labradoodles will eat a lot more than miniature and toy varieties. The cost of feeding a larger breed may be key in choosing which size Labradoodle is best for you. Regardless of your Labradoodle size, your dog is going to require a certain amount of exercise each and every day to stay happy and healthy. Remember, the Labradoodle is a mix of two large and energetic working dog breeds. As such, Labradoodles will do well with active owners who have the time to exercise them every day. A good walk once or twice a day should suffice, as should plenty of playtime in the backyard or dog park. Out of the three types, standard Labradoodles need the most exercise. But, be wary of over-exercising them as puppies. This can impact their joint health, and is linked to problems like hip dysplasia. Luckily, most experts agree that Labradoodle dogs are generally healthy. That said, they can be prone to a number of serious genetic health issues, some of which relate to their larger size. More commonly referred to as Bloat, Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus is a life-threatening condition that can come on suddenly. It is caused when gas or air fills the intestines, causing the stomach and other organs to flip. Bloat requires emergency care from a medical professional. A good diet can help combat bloat, as can proper feeding accessories like puzzle feeders. Large dogs like Labradoodles can also suffer from increased risk of joint problems like hip and elbow dysplasia and arthritis. Choosing the Right Labradoodle Size for You The standard Labradoodle is a large dog who requires the right diet, routine exercise, lots of mental stimulation and moderate grooming. All Labradoodles get along well with children and pets, if properly socialized. So long as his exercise needs are met and he is kept properly mentally stimulated, the Labradoodle dog can do well in smaller spaces. That said, he will appreciate having a well-fenced yard to play in and an owner who is around often. Labradoodle dogs become very bonded with their people and can be prone to destructive behaviors if left on their own for too long each day. Smaller dogs generally cost less, and have lower requirements in terms of exercise needs. But, Miniature and Toy Labradoodles need just as much mental stimulation as their larger counterparts. Choosing the right Labradoodle size for you will generally depend on your space, living circumstances, and the time and cost you have to dedicate. Labradoodle Size The standard Labradoodle is a large dog, but if you love the Labradoodle and need a smaller dog, Miniature and Toy varieties also exist. So, is the Labradoodle right for you? Let us know what you think about the Labradoodle size in the comment section below. He is now 55 lbs full grown! Puppy weight estimates are most effectively understood by looking at both the dogs parents wherever possible. Ask your breeder about past puppies from the same parents if possible. Double Up: Generally, an adult dog will weigh about twice as much as he did when he was 4 months of age; giant breeds will double what they weighed at 5 months. Four Fold: The weight of your puppy at 8 weeks is a quarter of his adult weight. Divide the current weight, i. It gives 0. It means that your puppy will grow 0. Now, multiply the growth rate by 52, which is the number of weeks in one year. Gonna be best for medium size breeds. Most of you might not like to do math, which is where the Puppy Weight Calculator will come in handy. Our Standard size Labradoodle puppies range between lbs at 8 wks and as adult lbs depending on the parents and sex. Our males are almost always bigger then our females. Our Labraoodle puppies reach full grown by months old. Our Mini Aussiedoodles are usually lbs at 8 wks and are lbs full grown. So somewhere between teacup and small according to the chart above. Dogs of this kind of size and weight typically stop growing somewhere between 6 and 8 months of age, but the vast majority of their growth is complete by around six months of age. Small and medium dogs The chart given of a small dog is based on a Miniature Schnauzer. The medium dog is an English Springer Spaniel. Small to medium sized dogs tend to have completed their growth by around the end of the first year. With close to their adult height reached by around nine months. Again, this is not set in stone. Just a rough guide. Large Dog In this chart the growth rate of the large dog is based on the growth rate of a moderate sized German Shepherd Dog. Most larger breeds will finally complete their growth somewhere between 18 and 24 months, though they may be close to their adult height by their first birthday. Some giant breeds reach even greater weights than this and grow for even longer. Some giant breeds will continue growing for up to three years. Again, these are just general guidelines. But the general rule is this: the larger the dog, the longer they grows. Are you tempted to bring home the smallest puppy from a litter in the hope they stay petite into adulthood? For example, a Labrador might be a bit too big for your home, but a little Labrador would be a great fit? Very bad but common logic. If the Labrador is too big for you. .Size is based on genetics not puppy size. Indeed, online dog forums are awash with anecdotes from owners who brought home the smallest puppy in the litter, then watched in disbelief as they reached the highest weight ranges for their breed. You have been warned. One of my Smallest Labradoodle Puppies Runt in comparison to her littermate sister — She was actually adopted by one of my other Females who had a much smaller litter around the same time and she was able to catch up with her littermates by 4 wks old. Our puppy growth chart and calculator has your answer! Size is largely determined by genetics. Size is inherited in non-linear ways in dogs and other animals. Some puppies stay much smaller than both parents, some become much bigger, and some are in the middle. While size is already hard to predict in purebred dogs, it becomes even more erratic when two breeds are crossed such as in any Doodle mix litter. Labradors are large dogs. They can have a heavy build with deep chests and a wide rib cage. Poodles on the other hand are rather dainty, even though they are tall. Especially in the first generation of a Labradoodle litter that means a generation whose parents are a purebred Poodle and a purebred Labrador , there will be a greater variation of size. The smallest and the tallest puppy of the litter might be as much as 20 pounds apart in weight! That being said, most Labradoodles weigh somewhere between 45 and 65 pounds and are inches tall. Because they are a mixed breed, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club and have no breed standard that requires a certain size. At what age is a Labradoodle fully grown? As a large dog breed, Labradoodles grow past their first birthday. The smaller a dog, the sooner he is finished growing. Some very small breeds can stop growing around months. Since the Labradoodle is tall, expect him to continue growing until about months of age. At 12 months, most tall dogs are lanky teenagers! By the time your Labradoodle is 2 years old, he will definitely be done growing. How big is a 6 month old Labradoodle? At 6 months old, your Labradoodle will weigh about pounds. He is definitely not fully grown yet — expect him to become quite a bit taller and heavier in the coming months. As your Labradoodle puppy is growing up, his coat will become longer and thicker as well! Make sure you bathe and brush him regularly. Trimming his coat regularly with a good set of clippers will be very important as well! Ensuring healthy growth Here is what you can do to set your Labradoodle up for a healthy growth and solid adult weight: Nutrition and feeding Without the right nutrition, your pup cannot grow well. You need to feed your Labradoodle a high-quality food with a lot of protein. Protein is what our bodies are built of — your growing pup needs a lot in order to grow tall and strong. You can choose from a variety of different foods, such as: Dry food.

Facial swelling Difficulty breathing If you notice any of these adverse reactions, call your vet immediately or head to a local animal hospital. It it may lead to anaphylactic shock, an emergency medical condition that's potentially fatal without expedient treatment. Is milk bad for dogs? Many dogs are lactose-intolerant to at least some degree, but it should still be offered very judiciously to dogs that have stronger stomachs with no dairy sensitivity. Though they may be able to tolerate the sugar and protein, whole milk has a high fat content that could trigger vomiting and diarrhea nonetheless. It's also high in calories due to the fat and sugar content, so if dogs drink milk or eat dairy frequently, they could develop obesity or pancreatitis. Aside from the possible long-term health consequences, dogs can drink milk safely so long as they don't have a dairy allergy and it's fed in small amounts. How much milk can dogs have? With your vet's approval, dogs can drink a few sips of milk as an occassional treat. What kind of milk can dogs drink? There are several different types of milk beverages, and as plant-based sources become increasingly available, many pet parents wonder if their pups can also drink almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, and similar lactose drink replacements. Can dogs drink almond milk? Almond milk is one of the most popular plant-based types of milk, but can dogs eat almonds? Almonds are also high in fat, which can result in weight gain and pancreatitis if consumed in big amounts. However, small amounts of almond milk a couple of tablespoons should be fine if offered as an occasional treat. Make sure to read the ingredient list of almond milk to check if it contains added sugar or xylitol, an artificial sweetener that's very harmful in dogs. Can dogs drink oat milk? Oat milk is another plant-based dairy alternative that is safe for dogs to drink in small quantities, as it could be difficult to digest in large volume. Oats are not toxic to canines, so this could offer a good lactose substitute for weaning puppies who like the taste as well as dogs who need additional calories to meet their nutrition requirements. Can dogs drink coconut milk? Dogs can eat coconut for the many different benefits it offers - from a softer, shinier coat to alleviated skin irritation - but keep in mind, coconut contains oils that could cause GI upset and diarrhea if dogs consume too much. Can dogs drink soy milk? In general, dogs digest soy products well, so soy milk in moderate quantities is not harmful to dogs. In fact, many commercial dog foods contain soy-based ingredients. This non-dairy, plant-based milk alternative contains proteins called isoflavones that are known to reduce cholesterol in humans and, according to anecdotal evidence, can help with urinary incontinence in dogs. Some vets might even recommend supplements containing isoflavones. Can dogs drink goat's milk? As with all dairy products, moderation is key. What dairy products are safe for dogs to eat? Dogs can eat cheese in most varietals thanks to its low lactose levels, and yogurt is often beneficial in dogs with stomach upset because it contains prebiotics that can alleviate gas or diarrhea. It may be tempting to give your dog a bite of ice cream, but be very careful and make sure to check the label for chocolate and xylitol beforehand. These two toxins are very common and extremely dangerous in canines, so exerise caution wherever it may be present. What to do if your dog drinks milk If your dog gets their paws on a large helping of milk, monitor for symtpoms of abdominal distress. Gastric upset will generally occur within about 12 hours after a dog drinks milk but can last for much longer, so prepare for frequent trips outside so your poor pup can relieve themselves. If you notice these signs of lactose intolerance, or a change in behavior possibly caused by dairy's adverse effects, call your vet right away. Key Takeaways In general, milk served in small amounts should not cause any harm to dogs. However, many dogs are lactose-intolerant, so it is best not to give your pet milk without testing for lactose intolerance first. Both normal milk and lactose-free milk, as well as other dairy products like cheese and ice cream, contain fat and should only be given occasionally in small amounts as treats. Pups can also safely consume small amounts of plant-based milk such as soy milk, coconut milk, and almond milk. Talk to your vet before feeding any new human foods, and seek veterinary care if your pet starts to show signs of lactose intolerance. 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. Dehydration Weight loss An upset stomach resulting from lactose intolerance will also lead to more potty incidents inside the house. Which can cause a lot of discomfort and embarrassment for an adult dog. A Golden retriever enjoying a Puppiccino! If the symptoms disappear, it is likely your pup is lactose intolerant. This whipped cream is not made with regular milk and is, therefore, safe for your dog. Lactose exists in many forms, and is found in a wide range of products, both solid and liquid. However, if your dog loves cheese, you should be able to find low-lactose alternatives on the market, like Muenster and Limberger. As for yogurt, organic yogurt is the best option. Yogurt also includes certain enzymes that aid the digestive system, so a yogurt snack every week or two should keep your dog happy and healthy. Opt for plain yogurt, rather than any flavored yogurts. Typically, human foods given to your Golden retriever is the cause of the problem. Most products specifically made for dogs, will not contain any milk, dairy, or lactose. Your Golden retriever can usually tolerate products that are made for humans who are lactose intolerant. This includes milk and cheese, among other items. Your dog will only eat what you put in front of them. Again, the issue of lactose intolerance in your Golden retriever can be solved by not feeding them much, if any, in the way of human food items. Your dog will be healthier and happier, and you will have lower vet bills! Discover how to train your Golden Retriever by playing games : 21 games to play with your Golden that will make them smarter and better behaved! Instinctually, your Golden retriever is a born-and-bred hunting companion. Recommended Reading: How Much To Feed a Golden Retriever Daily Puppy, Adult, Senior Final Thoughts From all the information given above, our final takeaway is this: your Golden retriever could potentially be lactose intolerant, so you should refrain from adding milk to their diet as a precaution. With the right food source, and an eye for avoiding those potentially triggering ingredients, your Golden retriever can remain a happy and healthy dog throughout their lifetime. As a result, feeding milk to the dog can lead to obesity and other health problems. In addition, giving milk to a Golden Retriever can also encourage bad eating habits. When fed milk as a regular part of the diet, it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal upset. In addition, feeding milk to dogs can also cause tooth discoloration and softening of the bones. Instead of feeding dairy products to your Golden Retriever, try using treats such as dog food or dog treats as incentives when training your dog to perform specific tasks. Also, try to wean your Golden Retriever off milk slowly; gradually reduce the number of dairy products in its diet over time. However, there are also risks associated with giving milk to a Golden Retriever, such as milk allergies, salmonella poisoning, and stomach stasis. It is vital to consult with a veterinarian before giving milk to a Golden Retriever to understand the risks and minimize them. Doing so can provide your beloved dog with the nutrition and hydration it needs without causing any harm. If you suspect your Golden Retriever is allergic to milk, consult a veterinarian immediately. The main symptoms of an allergic reaction to milk are diarrhea, vomiting, and rash. If your dog experiences any of these symptoms after consuming milk, they are likely allergic to milk. Avoid giving dairy products to your dog if they develop diarrhea, vomiting, or a rash after consuming dairy products. You can minimize the risk of your Golden Retriever developing an allergy to milk by avoiding exposing them to raw or unpasteurized milk. This includes not feeding dairy products from a bowl used for dairy products, not allowing your dog access to dairy products left out for too long, and ensuring that your dog gets adequate exercise and sunlight exposure each day. Unfortunately, lactose intolerance can often go undetected in dogs and may lead to excess milk consumption without realizing its harmful effects on their health. If you suspect that your dog has lactose intolerance, it is best to consult with a veterinarian who can determine the best treatment options for your dog. If your dog consumes too much milk, you may want to reduce its intake until the symptoms abate gradually. Additionally, providing your dog with food containing lactose may help reduce its overall lactose intake. However, if your dog shows lactose intolerance, you should consult a veterinarian to determine the best course of treatment. Is Milk Bad For Dogs? Milk is a natural food for dogs and can provide many health benefits. It can help with allergies, bone health, dental health, and skin issues. However, milk can also be harmful if your dog ingests it in large quantities or if they need to properly dilute it. There are risks to giving milk to a dog, such as licking windows or door handles, getting into fights, or becoming sick. When feeding milk to your dog, always keep an eye on them and have preparations to stop the feeding if they seem to have any adverse effects. Also, be sure to consult with your veterinarian before giving milk to your dog. Overall, milk can be a beneficial addition to the diet of dogs but you should only give it in moderation and under the supervision of a veterinarian. Can Dogs Drink Almond Milk? Milk is indeed bad for dogs. Milk contains lactose, a sugar that can be dangerous for dogs. Additionally, milk contains calcium, which can be toxic for dogs. Instead, they should stick to dog-friendly milk options like almond or soy milk. These are safer for dogs and can provide them with the nutrients they need to lead a healthy life. Can Dogs Drink Oat Milk? Oat milk is a good source of essential nutrients for dogs, but be sure to keep in mind dairy products can contain harmful bacteria that can cause health problems in dogs. Additionally, if your dog has any medical conditions, be sure to consult with your veterinarian before adding oat milk to their diet. Can Dogs Drink Coconut Milk? Dogs can safely drink coconut milk as long as the milk is diluted with water. Coconut milk is a good source of nutrients for dogs, including protein, potassium, and magnesium. Drinking coconut milk may help to keep dogs hydrated and healthy. However, dogs can experience adverse effects from drinking too much coconut milk. Overindulging in coconut milk can lead to diarrhea and dehydration. Dogs can benefit from milk in many ways, providing them with essential nutrients. Milk can be beneficial to dogs in several ways, including providing them with essential nutrients that they may not get from other sources. Dogs often benefit from milk due to its high nutrient content, which can help support their growth and health. However, milk is not without risks for dogs. There are some precautions you should take to avoid any potential risks. If you decide to give your dog milk, be sure to discuss the benefits and risks with your veterinarian first. Can Dogs Drink Soy Milk? There are a few benefits to giving your Golden Retriever milk, but there are also a few risks associated with feeding your dog milk. While milk can provide essential nutrients for dogs, it must be given in moderation and with caution. Soy milk is safe for dogs to drink but may not be optimal if your pet is lactose intolerant. Dairy products are a good source of protein for dogs. Dairy products should not be given to puppies or pregnant women, as they may not be able to digest them properly. Dogs are carnivores, and as such, they need meat in their diets to get the nutrients they need. One of these risks is that cow milk can contain high levels of lactose which can be difficult for dogs to digest. Conclusion While milk is a nutritious food for dogs, more of it can be beneficial. Too much dairy can cause diarrhea , vomiting, and pancreatitis. So always keep an eye on how much milk your dog is drinking and try to limit the amount. If they gain weight without any signs of illness, then dairy may not be the problem. But have you ever wondered on you can give milk to golden retriever dogs to drink? Well, the answer is yes. Here are a few tips that might help you. Frequently Asked Questions: 1. There are several benefits to giving milk to a golden retriever, including providing the dog with essential nutrients and vitamins. However, there are also risks associated with milk consumption by golden retrievers. However, golden retrievers are very sensitive to dietary changes and can become dehydrated if they do not receive enough water. There is no harm in giving milk to a golden retriever. The milk will provide the golden retriever with the essential nutrients it needs, and it is advisable to consult with a veterinarian before providing milk to a golden retriever. It is important to be mindful of the calories and sugar content in milk, as it can be harmful to dogs if consumed in large quantities. Golden Retrievers are natural milk drinkers, and they will usually drink around two cups of milk per day. Giving your golden retriever too much milk can lead to obesity and health problems down the line. If you do not give your golden retriever enough milk, he may develop lactose intolerance. Always consult with a veterinarian before giving your golden retriever milk. Yes, it is generally safe to give dogs human milk. Human milk contains certain nutrients that are beneficial for dogs, such as calcium, phosphorus, and lactose. There are a few risks associated with feeding dogs human milk, but they are generally minor. For example, puppies may develop diarrhea if they drink too much human milk at once, and older dogs may be more susceptible to calcium deficiency if they consume large amounts of human milk regularly. It is always best to consult with a veterinarian before giving your dog human milk, as they may have other advice that you may need to be made aware of. If you click on a link and choose to make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. Often navigating the world of what is acceptable for our Golden Retrievers to eat and what is not can be challenging at times. Milk is one of those products that Golden Retriever owners are often unsure of. After all, puppies drink milk from their mothers, and milk is often touted as a healthy food option. So, is milk a yes, no, or maybe food? Specifically, can you give a Golden Retriever milk? However, milk can cause intestinal problems if given in large amounts or to those Golden Retrievers that are lactose intolerant. However, if the dog shows any signs of stomach distress, then the answer is no. However, watch the amounts given. Beware that large quantities of milk may cause symptoms similar to lactose intolerance. However, there are other reasons you want to limit the quantity of milk given, even if your Golden Retriever has no issues consuming it. How much milk you can give a Golden Retriever and why is discussed next. Milk is not toxic, so there are no worries about poisoning your Golden Retriever if given milk. However, even if your dog can tolerate milk well, you should limit the amount given. As a whole, one or two tablespoons of milk given as an occasional treat is fine, provided your Golden Retriever has no intestinal issues with milk consumption. However, milk is high in fat, calories, and sugars. Too much may increase their risk for obesity or pancreatitis, so keep milk amounts low. So, even milk tolerant dogs must be cautious — both in terms of it being both a high calorie and fat-dense food. Consider whole fat milk. One cup has roughly calories and 8 grams of fat and protein. Beware that too much milk can significantly increase calories, putting your Golden Retriever at risk for obesity. And obesity in dogs predisposes them to a host of potential health issues. Hold up. Whole milk, ice cream, sour cream, and most cheeses are very high in fat, and a high-fat diet can lead to pancreatitis in dogs. Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas and commonly occurs in dogs. It can be acute or chronic and mild, moderate or severe. However, it may be triggered in some cases by a fatty meal or corticosteroid administration. So, what about lower-fat milk options? Skim milk, in contrast, has 89 calories and 0. So, while low or skim milk helps reduce calories and fat for Golden Retrievers, the amount should still be limited. Consider that milk products are one of the primary food intolerances in dogs. Plus, skim or no-fat milk still has plenty of lactose. Cheese and yogurt can make better options in SMALL quantities, as some dogs can better digest those dairy products. However, cheese is still high in fat and calories, so be cautious with how much you feed your Golden Retriever. However, plain yogurt and cheese can still contain higher fats, sugars, and salt, which may not be the healthiest options for the reasons discussed earlier. In the table below, I list the most common dairy products with fat, calories, and lactose. Whole milk leads the list for containing the highest amount of fat and lactose. Please note that these are estimates only. Actual content can vary by product, brand, or recipe. The intent is to illustrate how most common dairy products contain high calories, fat, and lactose. Vomiting Diarrhea Whittenburg adds, "[Milk] is high in fat and calories but isn't filling, so it is not a great option for dogs and may cause excessiv e weight gain if included in their diet. While it must be pasteurized to feed, Whittenburg says it's not recommended because goat milk is not a complete or balanced milk. Instead, use a newborn puppy formula if you need to bottle-feed your pup. As for adult dogs, goat milk is not filling or needed—and it could give them an upset stomach. With that said, it's probably OK to let Fido have a small amount of milk every once in a while, assuming he can tolerate it. Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream? Notice your dog straining as he tries to go potty? Canine constipation , while not necessarily common, can be extremely uncomfortable for your furry friend. Whittenburg says to avoid giving your dog milk to treat constipation because it can lead to diarrhea and stomach upset. Instead, try taking your dog out for some exercise or consult your veterinarian to see if over-the-counter medications might help your dog get back on track. Plant-based milks are made without any dairy. So, does that make them safer for dogs to drink? It may come as a surprise, but they're not any better for pooches, Whittenburg says. Like cow's milk, plant-based milks are not toxic to dogs, but the same issues exist … which is why Whittenburg doesn't recommend giving any milk to dogs. Whittenburg adds that plant-based milks—just like cow's milk—don't give dogs a sense of fullness but are high in fat and calories, which leads to unwanted weight gain if given often. An additional concern with plant-based milks, she says, is that "the sweetened versions may contain artificial sweeteners that may be toxic to dogs. Whittenburg says almond milk is high in fat and calories and often contains artificial sweeteners like xylitol that can poison your pup. Oat Milk Oat milk is a tasty milk alternative that's become a popular choice for us humans. While made with safe ingredients like rolled oats and water, oat milk is not recommended as a part of your pup's daily diet because of its high fiber content, Whittenburg says. It may give your dog an upset stomach. Coconut Milk Coconut milk is yet another human fan-favorite, but it should generally be avoided because it could be an allergen, doesn't have any major nutritional benefits, and can lead to an upset stomach in our canine companions. Can Dogs Eat Coconut? Are Dogs Lactose Intolerant? If you're a lactose intolerant pet parent, you know just how your body reacts when you indulge in milk, cheese, or ice cream. But did you know dogs can't digest lactose like we do—making them even more sensitive to dairy? It's true: Our four-legged friends can be lactose intolerant, too! Cow milk contains more lactose and fewer nutrients when compared to dog milk. This, along with the fact that dogs' ability to produce lactase the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose decreases as they grow older, is why dogs have more trouble digesting non-canine milk. Your dog may be lactose intolerant if you notice signs like: Bloating. Best Starter Foods for Golden Retriever Newborn month old : After your Golden Retriever puppy completes 1 month, they should be introduced to a good starter dog food which is an ideal transition from maternal milk to solid foods. These foods meet both the energy and dietary needs of the pups during their weaning phase. The starter foods can also be served to lactating mothers, fulfilling their high energy demands during the nursing period. Here are a few starter food options: 1 Royal Canin Maxi Starter Imperial Royal Canin Maxi Starter is healthfully complete starter nourishment meant exclusively for a large breed dog like Golden Retriever. It has all the significant components for keeping great wellbeing in both the lactating bitch and her little puppies. The benefits of Royal Canin Maxi Starter: The kibble rehydrates rapidly into porridge-like consistency, making it very delicious. Supports excellent digestive health. Strengthens the natural defence of both the mother and pups. Contains essential vitamins and minerals which improve cellular health and immunity. Prebiotics and probiotics in the diet assist gentle and healthy digestion. Contains lean proteins to build strong muscle mass. Consists of natural ingredients that support a higher nutrient absorption and a healthy bowel activity. Consequently, they should be fed at least three times each day. A typical Golden Retriever Puppy consumes around calories a day. Nutritional Requirements of Golden Retriever Puppy 1. Having a good measure of fats in their diet gives them a consolidated energy source for keeping up a functioning way of life. The unsaturated fats too help to brace their skin health. Omega Fatty Acids: Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids are vital elements in their diet for keeping strong bones and joints. It also offers good anti-inflammatory effect, that reduces pain and swelling in the joints. The kibble size and shape perfectly adapts to the jaws of a puppy Golden Retriever. Consists of natural fibres to promote excellent digestion in pups. Anti-oxidants build a strong defence mechanism in the pups. The benefits of Orijen Puppy Large Breed: Biologically appropriate food that maintains supreme health and wellbeing in pups. Infusions of freeze-dried chicken and turkey liver make the food highly palatable. Natural sources of Glucosamine and Chondroitin keep strong muscles and joints. Clinically proven anti-oxidants maintain a strong immunity in puppies. Unlike puppies, most grown up Golden Retrievers are satisfied with 2 meals per day. Taurine keeps good cardiac function and also healthy eyesight in the dogs. Contains dietary fibres that keep healthy gut and excellent digestive functioning. Extensive protein content to enhance muscle mass and strength. High quality meat and rice offering greater taste and nutritional value. The low glycemic index of the food eliminates obesity and diabetes in the dogs. Pumpkin as an ingredient regulates intestinal motility. They become less active and therefore a little vulnerable to obesity. It is critical to nourish them with low-calorie sustenance as it keeps an ideal body weight and consequently puts less pressure on the joints. Also owing to their low exercise requirements, they only consume around Calories daily. Low Carbohydrate Content: A diet that has low carbs keeps a healthy blood sugar level in the dog, thus eliminating diabetes and obesity. High Fibre Content: Nature Fibres are essential for Senior Golden Retrievers for keeping an ideal body weight and excellent digestive health. Glucosamine and Chondroitin: Having traces of Glucosamine and Chondrotin in the diet of a senior Golden Retriever, alleviate pain produced in bones and joints. Best Foods For Senior Golden Retrievers 1 Orijen Senior Food In case you are searching for organically proper sustenance that has a low glycemic record that keeps diabetes and obesity at bay in your senior Golden Retrievers, you can have Orijen Senior Food which is effectively the best eating regimen for senior Golden Retrievers. A low carb content keeps an ideal weight and a healthy blood sugar level. Highly delicious meal having fresh Free Run Chicken and Turkey tempts the fussiest of eaters. It comprises of edible protein supporting pure osmosis of supplements and furthermore has L-Carnitine which consumes the abundance of fat stores in the body. The ideal ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 controls blood clotting and maintains the health and sheen of the coat. Essential vitamins and minerals keep a robust immune system. Below are some of the foods that should not be given to a Golden Retriever: 1. Raw Eggs. They are famously loving and playful family pets, always eager to jump in the pool or snuggle up with you on the lounge. They are patient and energetic dogs who are easy to train, making them excellent service animals as well as loyal companions. If you are bringing a Goldie into your family, you might also be aware of their reputation as food lovers. Your Goldie might want to eat anything and everything you put in their bowl — and maybe even anything left on an unattended plate. In this Golden Retriever feeding guide, Hypro Premium will take you through everything you need to know when it comes to food options for your pup. The best food for most young puppies is milk. If you are weaning a puppy, you can start to mix in a little dry kibble with their puppy milk to create a paste. You can feed this mix to your puppy up to four times a day, slowly reducing the amount of milk you mix in. Over time, your Goldie puppy will get more comfortable with solid foods, until you no longer need to include any milk in their diet. While chubby little puppies are cute, your Goldie should not build up too much excess fat once you start feeding them solids. Goldies go from a small 4kg puppy at 7 weeks old to an almost 30 kg adult dog in the space of only 10 months. At six months old your puppy will still be growing, but more slowly as they reach most of their body development milestones. This is why appropriate feeding in the first year of their life is vital to the overall health of your Goldie for years to come. Over time this can increase to up to 4 cups a day at 10 months old, though females should usually only need 3 cups a day. The amount you feed your puppy is often dependent on their size and sex. While they may have some growing left to do, it depends on your dog. Some Goldies will continue to experience growth spurts before their second birthday, while others will stay the same size. Large breeds can be at risk of growing too fast, which can make them more vulnerable to skeletal and weight problems when they get older. Golden retrievers are especially prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, which can be avoided through diet control. You should feed your Goldie between 3 — 4 cups of food per day over two meals. Adult dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs. This is important to take into consideration as you are establishing a feeding schedule for a Golden Retriever puppy. Puppies require more calories to support their rapid growth than adult dogs, but they also have much smaller stomachs, which means they get fuller faster. Because of this, puppies can easily overeat, especially Golden Retrievers. You can help your puppy avoid overeating by allowing them a short amount of time to eat, and then removing their bowl. All puppies grow a lot during their first year, but large breed puppies are more likely to suffer from negative health consequences as a result. In order to provide your Golden Retriever puppy with the most appropriate food to support their rapid growth, consider choosing a large breed puppy food. Goldie puppies need lots of protein, fibre, and fatty acids to support the development of their bodies and provide them with energy. These foods also take into account the difference in nutrient digestion between small and large breeds. Too much of these nutrients can cause your large breed puppy to develop skeletal abnormalities. So how much do you feed a Golden Retriever? Your adult Goldie could need anywhere between and 1, calories per day. The amount of food you feed your dog will be determined by a few important factors. The first thing to consider is the sex of your dog. On average, your male Golden Retriever will need slightly more food than a female dog. Senior dogs will usually be less active and so will need less food. Goldies in particular can have a lot of variation in the amount of food they need on a daily basis. No matter how much you feed your dog, it is ideal that you feed your adult Golden Retriever two meals a day at evenly spaced time intervals. Feeding your dog twice, once in the morning and again in the evening, can be useful for establishing a routine and avoiding overfeeding. This routine can also include exercise, and is useful for encouraging healthy behaviour around food and toilet training. Special Considerations Your Golden Retriever could be predisposed to several health conditions that are important to consider when you make decisions about their diet. Firstly, Golden Retrievers are known for their beautiful coats, but their skin can often become infected. Goldies love swimming, but this can cause problems if water irritates their skin. They can also be susceptible to atopic dermatitis, which causes extreme itchiness, resulting in licking and biting behaviours in dogs that can cause even more damage. For dogs prone to skin and coat issues, a fish-based diet can help alleviate symptoms. Fish contains plenty of fatty acids, which support coat and skin health, and rarely triggers any allergic reaction in dogs. Goldies often benefit from healthy grains in their diet, especially as avoiding them can actually leave your dog more vulnerable to nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy, or nutritional DCM. This heart disease is common in Golden Retrievers, and can be triggered by consuming too much grain-free pet food that contains legumes like lentils and peas. You should consider feeding your Golden Retriever foods that are full of grains and proteins like chicken or fish. These are the benefits and drawbacks of the three most popular options — wet food, a raw food diet, and dry food. Wet food can be a great option for dogs that need plenty of protein and fat, like working dogs or dogs with certain health conditions. It also hydrates your dog while they eat, which can be useful for dogs suffering from any illness. For dogs with highly restrictive diets, raw food prepared by you can be a great way to avoid allergens. You can have complete control over a raw diet, which does require a lot more work on your part, but can have great results. For instance, a Golden Retriever with heart issues should eat a low salt diet, which can be easier to achieve if you are preparing their meals from scratch. However, low quality kibbles tend to be made up of a lot of low quality fillers, which can be hard for your pup to digest. Whatever option you choose for your Goldie, make sure it is suitable for large breeds and contains high quality ingredients. This will help prevent degenerative health disorders in the long run. Your Golden Retriever will probably love food, and will probably try to eat anything you put in front of them, which means you need to help them avoid the negative consequences of overeating. Golden retrievers, like other large and active breeds, need plenty of exercise. Not only is this vital to their physical health, but it also ensures they grow up well socialised and mentally stimulated. As your Goldie grows from a puppy to an adult dog, the amount of meals they need a day will reduce as their digestive systems become more developed. Your dog will need two meals a day, once in the evening and once in the morning, from the age of 6 months.

July 12, If you are looking for the perfect French Bulldog puppy to add to your family then this list of French Bulldog breeders in Virginia should get you started down the right path. Before contacting any Virginia Frenchie breeder I highly recommend reading these tips to find a reputable French Bulldog breeder. Below is a list of some of the Virginia French Bulldog breeders to begin your search with. You want your puppy to be healthy, happy, and safe as possible and proper breeding practices can ensure you get a great Frenchie to add to your home. Their kennels are located in Virginia, and they have a large selection of beautiful French Bulldogs that are all well-socialized, up-to-date on vaccines, and ready to go home with you. They offer various options regarding the type of French Bulldog puppy you want such as color or temperament and the gender s you wish to breed your puppy with. They also have an online store where you can purchase some items for your new puppy. Their goal is to produce healthy, happy puppies with excellent temperaments and personalities. They breed for temperament, health, and longevity. They also breed for longevity by including hip dysplasia screening on all their dogs. They have various options for their future customers: black, blue, chocolate, and white pups; males and females; short coats or long coats; short legs or longer legs; healthy hips or not; the list goes on. The Kaigan Kennels team takes its time to ensure that every puppy leaves their home with proper care instructions and socialization tips. They also offer a lifetime support program that includes training classes held every month at their house, allowing customers to come to watch puppies grow up from birth while they develop. They can help you find the perfect puppy for your lifestyle and needs. Brick House Bulldogs breed only French Bulldogs—they have no other breeds of dogs on their roster. If you want a great-looking French Bulldog that will be a joy to own, this is the breeder for you. Their focus is on quality over quantity when it comes to breeding Frenchies. They only have 15 puppies per year, so they can spend time preparing them for their future homes without sacrificing quality control or consistency. They also strive to maintain an environment that promotes healthy relationships with humans and dogs—they will only sell fully vaccinated puppies and microchipped at 8 weeks old or older depending upon what vaccine was given. They specialize in breeding Frenchies with health problems such as hip dysplasia or blindness, which makes them easy to adapt to families looking for a companion or therapy dog. They offer several options for choosing what type of puppy you want: boy or girl; black or white; short-haired or long-haired; purebred or mixed breed; Labrador Retriever mix or standard poodle mix this option is only available if you live outside VA. The McCoy family started with two dogs—a male named Mac and a female named Piper. Their first litter consisted of three puppies: One male and two females. The second litter was a bit larger, with six puppies: Two males and four females. The third litter had seven puppies total: Four males and three females. Some are females only, others both male and female; some are purebred French Bulldogs, while others are crossbreeds mixing other breeds. Throughout all this time, Jackie McCoy has always focused on finding the right mix of personality traits in her dogs so they can be loved by everyone who comes into contact with them. The owner has been breeding Frenchies for over 20 years and has no other French bulldog breeders Virginia. They have had many litters of puppies over the years but are currently only breeding one litter per year. They do not open up for tours or meet visitors as more extensive facilities might, but they let visitors see the dogs at their homes or in a local park. The dogs are all born to parents registered with the American Kennel Club since birth and have been DNA tested to ensure that they are purebreds. The dogs are raised indoors in a free-range outdoor area with fencing so they can safely roam around when outside is too cold or too hot for them. However, most people purchase them as pets right away so they can start training immediately instead of waiting months after being purchased before training begins. They are located in Virginia and currently have two litters on the ground at any time. Their current focus is on Frenchies, but they can also take in other breeds. They only use certified genetic parents who have been tested for every health condition their puppies could inherit. This includes hip dysplasia and eye conditions like patellar luxation, which can affect the quality of life for your puppy if not caught early enough. The owner, Sueann Merrick, has been breeding Frenchies for over 20 years and has been thrilled with the results. Shenandoah Valley Bulldogs is located in Virginia but serves clients from all over. The dogs they raise are always kept indoors, where they can get plenty of exercise and playtime with each other. Shenandoah Valley Bulldogs also offers puppy training classes so owners can learn how to train their new pup without having to do it themselves this helps them avoid any potential accidents at home or in public. Shiloh French Bulldogs breed healthy and happy puppies of all sizes. They focus on producing well-balanced puppies in all aspects: health, temperament, conformation, and movement. The dogs at Shiloh are all purebred French Bulldogs, meaning they all share the same genetic makeup and bloodline. The owners do not use any other breeders or kennels for their dogs; instead, they only use them for breeding purposes. Shiloh French Bulldogs offers two different types of dogs: Standard and Miniatures. Both breeds are 25 pounds or under, making them perfect for families with children or small apartments. The Standard is a medium-sized dog, while the Miniature is smaller than the Standard but more significant than its companion breed, the Toy Poodle. Proper breeding practices and care is essential in order to get the French Bulldog your heart desires. Questions about French Bulldog puppies for sale in Virginia? We have answers. How does French Bulldog puppies for sale in Virginia work? You might have noticed that the prices from Virginia French Bulldog breeders tend to be a little higher than they would be with other breeds. The reason for this is that breeders of Frenchies have to spend more money to raise these dogs due to their unique skeletal structure. The females have to have C-sections in order to deliver their litters safely, leading to higher expenses for both breeders and buyers. What are some health issues associated with Frenchies? French Bulldogs for sale in Virginia can live for 14 years or more in some cases, but they are also at risk of several health issues. Their snub noses make it hard to breathe, so they can snore and wheeze quite a lot, and they often develop bone and joint issues too. Be sure to buy your Virginia French Bulldog puppy for sale from a trusted breeder to have the best chance of a happy, healthy dog. How do you vet businesses selling Frenchies? Trying to find the best French Bulldog breeders Virginia can feel like quite a challenge, and it can be hard for a typical person to tell breeders and businesses apart from one another. At Uptown, we have lots of experience when it comes to finding top tier breeders, and we've developed one of the strictest screening processes around to help our users find French Bulldog puppies Virginia from only the best sellers. How does Uptown work for finding a Frenchie pup? Ready to begin your journey to find French Bulldog puppies for sale in Virginia? It all starts here, and the first step is to browse through the various pups that are currently available from our listed breeders and businesses. Speak with the sellers to learn more about any pups that catch your eye and then make arrangements to bring one home. It's as simple as that. Can I find the cheapest Frenchies here? If you're trying to find the cheapest possible French Bulldog for sale Virginia, we urge you to reconsider. There are many scammers and bad breeders out there who sell their pups at super low prices, tricking people into buying unhealthy, socially difficult dogs and then having to spend way more money later on for vet bills and socialization training. You'll find fair, competitively priced pups on Uptown. Why shouldn't I buy my dog from a shelter instead? For example, if you're looking for a specific breed, like French Bulldogs for sale Virginia, you might not be able to find the right pup at local rescue centers. How do I know that my French Bulldog will be healthy? The vetted breeders and businesses of the Uptown Network always carry our nose-to-tail veterinary checks of their French Bulldog puppies in Virginia, providing you with full health reports and giving you all the details you need to know. This way, when you buy a Virginia French Bulldog for sale from one of our featured sellers, you won't have to worry about any hidden health problems Is it enough to walk my Frenchie, or do they need more exercise? French Bulldog puppies for sale Virginia aren't the most energetic dogs around, and they can get by with a single moderate-length walk each day, but they still need regular playtime and other forms of physical and mental stimulation in order to lead happy, fulfilling lives. If a French Bulldog for sale in Virginia doesn't get enough exercise, it might start gaining weight and developing health issues. How do I know I can trust Uptown? Looking for a French Bulldog Virginia online can feel quite intimidating, and it's hard to know which sites you can trust. At Uptown, we strive on a daily basis to be your No. What type of dog is a French Bulldog? Virginia French Bulldogs for sale are all unique, with their own little quirks and personality traits, but most Frenchies tend to be very fun, affectionate, inquisitive animals that like to spend time with people of all ages. They're super friendly and like to learn new things too, so can be quite active around the home, but also appreciate a good nap and lots of cuddles on their best friend's lap.

Royal Canin knows what makes your German Shepherd puppy magnificent is in the details. These highly intelligent and playful puppies have big nutritional needs as they develop into faithful watchdogs. They can benefit from the right large breed growth formula to provide immune system support and bone and joint health as well as support digestive health all of which is important for the breed during puppy hood. Royal Canin German Shepherd dry puppy food is tailor-made nutrition created just for your pure breed puppy. Whether you call them a German Shepherd or an Alsatian, this exclusive breed-specific diet is uniquely formulated to your puppy, with the specific nutrients to help them thrive. An exclusive mix of antioxidants and vitamin E supports their developing immune system and keeps their body growing strong. Highly digestible proteins and specific fibers maintain digestive health since this breed has a tendency to have poor stool quality. And glucosamine and chondroitin support healthy bones and joints as your puppy grows to be a big dog. Once your German Shepherd puppy is over 15 months old, transition them to Royal Canin German Shepherd Adult dog food for precise nutrition into their adult years. This diet contains kilocalories of metabolizable energy ME per kilogram or kilocalories ME per cup on an as fed basis calculated. Aids digestive health with highly digestible proteins and specific fibers to promote optimal stool quality. An exclusive kibble for each breed: a concentration of scientific and nutritional expertise born from the unique knowledge of Royal Canin combined with the practical experience of Breeders. The size, shape and texture of the kibbles in German Shepherd formulas are designed to be easy for this breed to pick up and encourage him to chew. Digestive Performance Digestive health is essential during the puppy's growth period: the digestive system is not yet fully developed and cannot absorb nutrients in the same way as adult dogs. The German Shepherd Puppy formula takes into account the German Shepherd puppy's digestive sensitivity. This exclusive formula also helps maintain ideal weight. Natural Defenses During the growth period, the puppy's natural defenses are not yet fully developed. An exclusive complex of antioxidants vitamins E and C, lutein and taurine contained in the German Shepherd Puppy formula helps to maintain the German Shepherd puppy's natural defenses. Ingredients: Brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, brown rice, oat groats, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten, chicken fat, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, fish oil, sodium silico aluminate, vegetable oil, pea fiber, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, monocalcium phosphate, psyllium seed husk, L-lysine, salt, fructooligosaccharides, sodium tripolyphosphate, taurine, hydrolyzed yeast, DL-methionine, vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate source of vitamin E , inositol, niacin supplement, L-ascorbylpolyphosphate source of vitamin C , D-calcium pantothenate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride vitamin B6 , riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate vitamin B1 , vitamin A acetate, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement], choline chloride, glucosamine hydrochloride, marigold extract Tagetes erecta L. Guaranteed Analysis:. These highly intelligent and playful puppies have big nutritional needs as they develop into faithful watchdogs. They can benefit from the right large breed growth formula to provide immune system support and bone and joint health—as well as support digestive health—all of which is important for the breed during puppyhood. Royal Canin German Shepherd dry puppy food is tailor-made nutrition created just for your pure breed puppy. Whether you call them a German Shepherd or an Alsatian, this exclusive breed-specific diet is uniquely formulated to your puppy, with the specific nutrients to help them thrive. An exclusive mix of antioxidants and vitamin E supports their developing immune system and keeps their body growing strong. Highly digestible proteins and specific fibers maintain digestive health since this breed has a tendency to have poor stool quality. And glucosamine and chondroitin support healthy bones and joints as your puppy grows to be a big dog. Once your German Shepherd puppy is over 15 months old, transition them to Royal Canin German Shepherd Adult dog food for precise nutrition into their adult years.