labradoodle puppies indiana rescue

So it sounds as if the 2am bathroom break went well, but at 5am, she had decide it was morning and wanted to get up. For that we'd usually recommend you set your alarm half an hour earlier to pre-empt the noise and work your way forwards from there. But it's clear that your puppy is quite muddled about night and day and doesn't feel very at home in her crate. Plus three weeks of sleepless nights has got to be taking its toll on you. And your puppy almost certainly could last six or seven hours during the night from a physical point of view at this age. So the waking and disturbing you is more of an emotional thing - she's figured out that crying gets you up. If she's peeing very frequently during the day though, do get a pee sample over to your vet to check for a bladder infection. If she doesn't have a UTI You have several options really. One is to take her back into your bedroom at night and start again with daytime crate conditioning. Getting her to love the crate and never leaving her alone in there during the day until she can settle happily in it with you in the room, whenever you put her in there. Another is to visit your neighbours with flowers or wine and chocolates and tell them there will be some noise for the next two or three nights, let her out at before she starts to cry. Then leave her to cry at 5 am and get up immediately she stops. So as to break out of the cycle of reinforcing the yelling with your very desirable company. The third option is to put a play pen around the crate with puppy pads inside the playpen outside the crate and leave her all night. Let her pee on the pads. I'd probably go for that one at this stage in the game, but it all depends on how well you can function without a decent sleep. You'll still require chocolates for option three. Most people will not object if you show you are really sorry to be disturbing them. Between 8 weeks and 10 months, your puppy has a ton of growing to do, and they change drastically from month to month. Each stage of growth requires specific attention, exercise, and diet, so there is much to learn and pay attention to these different growth stages. There may be behavioral challenges while your pup adjusts to their new life without their mother and siblings. This period of adjustment can sometimes lead to fearful and timid behavior, and your puppy will need as much attention and affection as possible. They should be eating 3—4 small meals a day at this stage. You can begin basic command, leash, and potty training at this point too. Although the schedule is not complete this is a critical period to begin socialization and making sure they are calm and friendly with other dogs, just make sure they are also vaccinated. We highly recommend making training a part of their daily activities at this age. Biting can be an issue at this stage too, as they will begin teething, and they will start exploring and chewing whatever they can find. Chew toys and consistent command reinforcement are both vital for avoiding this behavior. The good news is that your puppy will grow out of this habit at around 6 months old. Your lab should also be house-trained by this point, but there may still be the occasional accident. Remember to be gentle but firm when this happens, and your pooch will likely move through it swiftly. They will begin losing their baby teeth at this point, and biting and chewing may reach its peak. Firm but gentle commands, chew toys, and loads of patience are essential at this stage. Your puppy will be testing the limits and may start showing dominance, ignoring known commands, and asserting more independence. You can now drop their meals down to two meals per day, but be sure that they are not eating too quickly. Your puppy will start to closely resemble an adult at 6 months, but remember that mentally, they are still puppies and will need loads of direction and training. Females may enter their first heat at 6—7 months, so keep a careful watch for stray males. They will still display puppy tendencies and traits and have a ton of excitable energy, but they should be fairly obedient and well-trained by this stage. Be sure to give your Labrador plenty of exercise at this stage to help keep them from misbehavior. They will have reached their full height by now but may still gain weight and muscle mass in the coming months. Unless you intend on breeding, you should consider neutering and spaying your puppy to avoid wandering and unwanted pregnancies. While some breeders recommend that you wait until a year old, this is a perfectly suitable time to perform the procedure. They may still gain weight and muscle mass but much slower than during the past few months. They will still display puppy characteristics and even test boundaries, but all in all, they should be obedient and well-trained by now. They will have a ton of energy and still enjoy playtimes and loads of exercise. While they are at their full height at this age, some Labs may appear lanky and still have weight to fill out in the coming months. When Do Labradors Stop Growing? All dogs are unique, and the question of when they stop growing is largely dependent on the individual. Anecdotally, your Lab should have reached their full weight by 18 months and full height by 9—12 months. Most breeders agree that your Lab will stop growing at some point during their second year. Even so, any weight gain during their second year will be minimal, and they will have done the majority of their growth by their first birthday. Mentally, they are out of the puppyhood phase of testing boundaries and disobedience by their first year— if correctly trained. If you have been consistent in training thus far, your Lab should be friendly, obedient, and well-behaved from their first birthday and into adulthood. In males, neutering can sometimes result in a calmer, more relaxed dog, and this, in turn, will slow down his need for exercise and may result in weight gain. A study in showed that dogs neutered before 37 weeks may gain more weight, while dogs that had the procedure after 37 weeks had a slower growth trajectory. The difference was minimal, though, and there is no reason to assume that these procedures have much of an effect on growth rates in dogs. Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth While some puppies may grow quicker or slower than the agreed-upon average, this is usually nothing to be concerned about due to the individual and unique nature of dogs. However, if your pooch is gaining weight rapidly or not gaining enough, there may be deeper issues to look into. If your dog is from working or hunting stock, they may be smaller than average Labs and are usually lighter for work in the field. Size may also be genetic, and if your Lab comes from small parents, they will be smaller than average. The same may be true of heavier-than-average Labs—if their parents are large, they will likely be similar in size. However, larger-than-average weights may also be due to overfeeding or a lack of exercise , or a combination of both, so be sure to keep their exercise and feeding habits consistent. Image Credit: rebeccaashworth, Shutterstock Growth Distinctions of Different Labradors Although they are designated under the same breed, there are two different types of common Labradors: English and American. English Labradors tend to be stockier and more muscular than their American counterparts and have a thick, waterproof coat , while American Labs have a slender build with a slightly finer coat. English Labs are slightly shorter, topping out at around 22 inches, but their stocky and muscular build often makes them heavier than American Labs. In fact, English Labs have been known to weigh up to 20 pounds more than American Labs without being considered overweight. American Labs are known to be slightly more active and energetic than English Labs, while English Labs tend to be less excitable and more laid back. English Labs are by no means lazy, though, and they still have plenty of energy and stamina to go around. Conclusion: Monthly Labrador Growth Pictures Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the growth rate of your Labrador puppy and given you a better idea of what to expect during the different stages. See also:. Your puppy is almost 3-months old! It really is crazy how fast puppies grow and develop that first year. It feels like that for us too. Learn about training your week-old Labrador puppy. Get the full story! This is post four of a step-by-step training and socialization program for Labrador puppies. If you read our first post , you know that this series follows our training of Bubba, a female chocolate lab puppy. Bubba is already sold as one of our Custom Trained Retrievers, so it is our responsibility to raise and train her until she has progressed to the level of training the owner has requested. In this case, Bubba will be with us for almost a year and a half. Bubba Training and socialization for week-old Labrador puppy — week four home Your week-old puppy has been with your family for almost a month. Besides growing bigger each day, you should be seeing some other changes in your Lab puppy. Bubba is as feisty as she is sweet. She is testing the rules every day but is also quick to heed a command of warning. This shows me that she knows the rules, knows when something is off-limits, but just wants to check and see if anything has changed since yesterday. This is a healthy attitude and behavior for her. Here are the things we worked on this week for training. Crate training Bubba is doing great at crate training. We follow this by one hour of play time or time out on the tie out. She understands the routine and is fairly compliant with going back in her kennel after a time out. We had to move Bubba into a larger crate this week. This crate should work until she is ready for her full-sized kennel. But it is now time to expect more from her. The next step is getting her to go into her crate by herself on command. We will accomplish this in a series of steps. If Bubba moves toward the door and goes into the crate, we will praise her. Then over time we will move her further and further from the crate door until she is going into the crate by herself. At this age, you need to hover over the puppy and be ready for them to make a run for it. Looking for more information on crate training? Housebreaking Housebreaking Bubba is going well. She often sits in front of the outside door when she needs to go out, and we quickly take her out when she does this behavior. We want her to understand that outside is the right place to go when you need to go potty, so we praise and reward her for sitting in front of the door or scratching at the door with taking her outside. Looking for more information on housebreaking? Commands we use in week four We continue to use the commands from week one , the commands from week two , and the commands from week three. There are no new commands for week 4. Obedience commands We continue to work on obedience commands this week and next week we will start some formal obedience training. She sits nicely while I put the leash on her and take it off. She is also sitting quickly on command before she is given permission to eat. It always surprises me how fast dogs learn this command when it comes to food. She is starting to understand and rarely pulls when we go on walks, although she still does not prefer to walk in the proper HEEL position. No worries, that will come. This is always a struggle with young puppies, there is a lot of distractions, and they seem to forget what they are doing mid-way through running to you. One safety note. Make sure the check cord does not have a loop on the end you hold. If your puppy is dragging the check cord, that loop may get caught on something and hurt your puppy. Either buy a check cord that is simply a straight long rope or cut the loop off. The long check cord is important for teaching HERE because it gives you something to grab a hold of or step on if your puppy decides to play games instead of being obedient. Never use a HERE command if you are not in the position of being able to enforce the command. If every time your puppy comes to you, you put her away or take something away from her, soon your puppy will not want to come to you. You must work hard to make coming to you a good experience for your puppy. So, call her, praise her when she comes and release. Socialization, socialization, socialization You can never do too much socialization. Anything you can think of. The more things and situations you expose your puppy to, the better your puppy will be equipped to adjust and learn in the future. Just a few days ago I was walking Bubba and I slipped and ended up dragging my shoe along the road. Bubba jumped a foot in the air and tried to bolt away. This new noise was something Bubba was unprepared for. This is why you can never do enough socialization; you want to prepare your puppy to handle as many new situations as possible. Learn more about socialization. But not ALL hunting elements. Please do not start shooting a gun around your puppy just yet. Introduction to gun fire is the very last element that we introduce hunting dogs to. And when we do, there has been a lot of pre-work done so that we have removed much of the likelihood that the puppy will respond negatively. Learn more about how and when to introduce your dog to gunfire. Water introduction If the weather is cooperating, now is a great time to get your puppy swimming. Find a pond with a slow gradual decline into the water. Throw a puppy bumper next to shore and if your puppy retrieves it, then the next throw should be just a few inches into the water, then about a foot out and then 2 feet out, etc. Some puppies get a little panicked by the first time the ground falls away and they need to swim. Just praise your puppy and keep going. Decoy introduction Our first introduction to decoys is done very simply. We have decoys set out for training and we move them around occasionally. We simply let Bubba run around while we pick up and move the decoys from one side of the field to the other. This gives her the opportunity to smell the decoys, paw at them and learn that they are not much fun. In a week or so, we will start doing some puppy marks in the decoys, but not yet. Continuation of assistant marks Bubba will continue to get assistant marks most days from now until she is done her training. The marks will continue to increase in distance and complexity but all our marking scenarios for our afternoon sessions involved gunners out in the field. For now, we will continue marks on short grass with white plugs so that Bubba can clearly see the item on the ground. Not too far down the road we will start incorporating some other marking concepts such as crossing deeper strips of cover and longer marks, but right now we are teaching the puppy to mark, to watch where the bumper falls and to run to the bumper. If we move to deeper cover too soon or make the marks too difficult we will inhibit Bubbas learning and marking ability. Final thoughts on training for your week-old Labrador puppy Your week-old puppy is quickly growing and changing. The training does not need to take a long time, but it does need to happen on a consistent basis. Keep at it and you will reap the benefits as your puppy grows into a full -sized dog and a stable hunting companion. If you are struggling or need additional help with your new puppy, you can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time, happy retrieving. Puppy training development after 6 months It is very tempting to get carried away with puppy training. Your young do is so willing to please and such fun to be around. It is important to go at a happy pace for you both. Positive reinforcement training is the right choice for your puppy because there are no negative consequences to getting something wrong. But you can still both suffer from burnout and frustration if you try to reach the later puppy training stages without totally aceing the earlier developments. Your Puppy Training Schedule This may not be exactly the same for each puppy, especially with retrieving which is more Labrador specific. However, it gives you a rough idea. Constantly changing direction. Stopping frequently for cuddles and rewards. This means I blow the recall whistle whenever the puppy runs towards me, no compulsion, and no whistle unless the recall is already underway. Socialisation: Lots almost daily of outings to different places rural and urban carried Visits to family and friends. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow mouthing. Working with food: Learning how to take food gently without snatching or grabbing at the treat pot. I still give the puppy lots of encouragement by running away as soon as I blow the whistle. Socialisation: More socialisation, at least twice a week to busy public places. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow gentle mouthing. Retrieving: Encourage chase and pick up retrieve drive. Hand touch: I teach all new puppies to touch my hand with their noses. This is a great foundation for other skills. Recall: Puppy recall continues, reduce my run to a walk, avoid any distractions. Still frequently blow the recall whenever the pup runs towards me of her own free will. Socialisation: From ground level after vaccination. No other leash walking at all Bite inhibition: No biting, gentle mouthing allowed. Retrieving: Continue to build drive. Positions: I introduce three positions — sit, stand, down. What to expect from your 3 month old puppy Most three month old puppies will be sleeping through the night. And will be having less potty training accidents in the house. There are a few potty training problems that arise at this age, and they are all covered in 15 potty training problems solved. Biting is a big shock and a big problem for many new Lab puppy parents so do check out our complete guide to biting , and join the forum for help and support. Help encourage your puppy to stay in their bed while you are eating. I have a pot of dog treats on our kitchen table, and whenever we sit down to a meal, the puppy gets a treat each time she steps into her basket. Just a treat for stepping in there. What to expect from your 4 month old puppy Your 4 month old puppy will be pretty much potty trained, but accidents still happen if they are left alone too long. Biting is usually starting to subside now, and many four month old puppies will be able to mouth at your hand without hurting you. At this point I start to discourage all mouthing. I teach every puppy to let me touch her face or approach her with my hand, food, a leash etc while holding eye contact and not grabbing at me, or at what is in my hand. This is the age at which people often start to push forward with training. Your 4 month old puppy is capable of quite a lot. There is nothing wrong with teaching your puppy different cues and even some tricks. I recommend you still avoid long duration activities at this point as they are a common stumbling point with puppies young enough to have a short attention span. A ten second sit is ample. Add mild distractions Recall: Fade additional cues. Begin to whistle the pup and stand still. Add mild distractions. Clicker train to polish this in more mouthy puppies. No commands are needed for this. Gradual introduction of distractions. Advanced puppy training begins in earnest This is where I start a programme of sporting training with my Labs. You can begin raising your standards and expectations, asking for longer and more complex behaviors. Teaching your puppy to walk to heel nicely for longer distance and past all kinds of distractions and temptations. Or teaching your puppy to sit and stay for longer periods of time, and even while you go out of sight or while other dogs play nearby. What to expect from your six month old puppy Six months is a common time for people to have a lot of questions and to be struggling with a few challenges. This is now a very bouncy, quite powerful and rapidly maturing young dog. And you may need to patch up a few holes in his training or manners. We have a great article for owners of six month old Lab puppies. But those first weeks of puppy development are very similar whatever the breed, and these landmarks are good general rules for any dog. Puppy development week by week, changes quickly. Newborn Puppies Newborn puppies are born at the end of nine weeks of pregnancy, with their eyes and ears tightly closed. They already have a fur coat but they cannot yet control their own body temperature. They are dependent on their mother or another heat source to keep them warm. Newborn puppies may cry if cold. But they do not have the strength to cry for long. Newborn Labrador puppies snuggle together to keep warm when their mother is away How Helpless are Newborn Pups? Although they rely on mom for a lot at this stage, newborn puppies are not completely helpless. They can use their front feet to drag themselves towards a heat source or their milk supply. This means their mom, not milk alternatives like cow or goat milk. Newborn pups have no teeth yet. But they can move their heads about to search for a nipple, and they can latch on and suck strongly. Their mother leaves them only to eat, drink and for bathroom purposes. While she is away, the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat, as you can see in the photo above. They may also crawl under a heat lamp source to keep warm. In every other respect newborn puppies are completely dependent on the care of their mother. Newborn pups have little control over the rear end of their bodies. The mother dog washes them and licks their bottoms to encourage elimination, licking up and swallowing anything they produce to keep her babies and their nest scrupulously clean. In fact, he may even double his birth weight! One week later and the puppies have doubled their birth weight. Changes are taking place under his eyelids to prepare them for opening. And usually begins during the second week of life. Ears open at this point too, so your puppy will begin to hear. The Labrador puppies in this picture are two weeks olds. Two weeks old and the puppies eyes are now open! You can see that their eyes are now open and the puppies are beginning to look a little more dog-like. The breeder will be handling the puppies more now. And most puppies are wormed for the first time at two weeks old. Most 3 week old puppies can stand and sit, and are beginning to totter about. They are also starting to develop their individuality. No longer are they just a row of identical little fat furry sausages! This little three week old puppy :- Can easily be distinguished from his brother: Teething and Further Development At 3 weeks old, this is also the point at which puppies start teething — cutting their first deciduous baby teeth. Obviously the teeth are appearing for a reason! Some breeders will start to offer the first tastes of solid food at this point. Especially if the litter is a large one and putting a strain on the mother dog. It is lovely to watch a litter of 3 week old puppies beginning to interact with their brothers and sisters. They are running, playing enthusiastically, and have started to wag their little tails. The puppies will start to show bowel control as they move away from the other puppies to defecate. And solid food is becoming a major part of their diet. These little pups are tucking into some puppy food. Four week old puppies having their dinner in the fresh air If the weather is warm enough, puppies will be spending some time outdoors now. Mealtimes are a messy process, so feeding puppies out in the yard can be a good idea. Breeder Involvement Some mother dogs will lose interest in cleaning up after their pups at this point or soon afterwards. And many puppies will be wormed again this week. Vocalizations are becoming stronger at this puppy development stage. The litter will greet their mother noisily when she returns to them, and try hard to follow her out of the whelping box whenever she leaves. The puppies themselves are now eating solid food several times a day and gradually being weaned of their dependency on her milk. Puppies will still suckle ravenously when their mother returns and she will now often feed them standing up and only for a short time. She will also be teaching the puppies not to bite too hard. So, they should be increasingly spending time with humans and learning to be familiar with the sounds and sights of a human family environment. Puppies being raised in kennels must be brought into a home environment regularly from now on to ensure they develop into confident, friendly dogs. Six weeks old and full of mischief Puppies Still Have a Lot to Learn at 6 Weeks In some countries, puppies are taken to their new homes at this age. But this is not a good idea, and can result in a puppy that has poor bite inhibition and is challenging to manage. The puppies are learning not to bite too hard from the reactions of their mother and siblings. Growth is not quite so fast now. But the puppies will still grow strongly for the next few months. Many puppies will be wormed again this week. All that remains is for plenty of great socialization experiences to be packed into this week, with final checks on health. Many breeders will arrange for each seven week old puppy to have a vet check this week. And though some vets advise against it, some puppies are also given their first vaccinations before they leave for their new homes. Some breeders will now have the puppies trained to pee and poop on puppy pads or newspaper. And some will have been whistling to the puppies at meal times to get them used to coming to a human signal. Potty training is now underway and puppy socialization plans are being made. At this point, many of you will be thinking about training your puppy too. The next four weeks are vital in puppy development stages. Your main job is socializing your puppy. This means taking him to lots of new places and exposing him to lots of new experiences. So, life will be starting to get back to normal. Most puppies in the U. In the U. So, not all puppies will get their vaccinations at the exact same age. Socializing your puppy is still the most important job for you at this age. But, you cannot put your puppy on the ground outside until they have received their final vaccination. So, make sure you know exactly when their final jab is. And carry on introducing them to as many new people, things, and experiences as possible throughout this puppy development stage. Some people can suffer from the puppy blues at this stage too, as your life has completely changed! But, that does not mean socialization can stop. Puppies who are isolated at this point will soon lose that friendly fearlessness. You have an important job now, building on what has been achieved so far, and introducing your puppy to the world at ground level. This part of his education can begin once his vaccination cover is complete. He should be fully immunised at around this point. But check with your vet for confirmation of the actual date. Three months also marks the point at which many puppies will drop down from four daily meals, to three. This can cause problems for some puppies because the portions are larger If your puppy gets an upset tummy when you make this change, just go back up to four meals again for a few days, and give smaller portions for a few days when you try again. But, many will need another month before they can cope without frequent bathroom breaks and the occasional accident. Your puppy will begin to lose his baby teeth. This can also be a time at which biting can be most challenging. And try not to worry, this stage will soon be over! A few will need another month or two to complete the process. Remember, no two puppies are the same. That puppy fluffiness will have gone. For many puppies, five months is an awkward, gangly time. A five month old puppy may have shed the last of his soft puppy lines and be looking quite skinny. By the end of this month most puppies will have finished teething but an urge to chew may continue for another few months in some breeds, Labradors included. Some female dogs will have their first season during this month. But, for many, it will be another three or four months before this happens. This is a major milestone for your puppy. He is now looking very much like an adult Labrador. Still a Puppy Because he looks quite grown up, people expect a lot of their 6 month old puppy. But inside, he is still very much a puppy. The beginnings of adolescence and with it an increasing independence of spirit can bring its challenges, but also a whole lot of fun.

At what age is a Golden Retriever fully grown? As larger dogs, Golden Retrievers can take up to two years to reach their full weight. Most Golden Retrievers will be close to their adult height and weight around a year of age but may need one more year to fill out their chest fully. A six-month-old male Golden Retriever will weigh between 35 to 45 pounds, while their female counterpart will weigh around 30 to 35 pounds at the same age. As for their height, most Golden Retrievers will still need another three to six months to reach their adult height. At this age, they will likely be a few inches away from their adult height, which ranges from .Pro Tip: Check out this ultimate pet parent guide with 39 dog care tips on bonding with your pet, puppy-proofing your home, training, microchips, and more! How much bigger will my Golden Retriever get? There are a few ways you can estimate how much bigger your Golden Retriever will get. If they are less than a year old, they still need more time to reach their full adult size. Many Golden Retrievers can take up to two years to completely fill out, though their weight at one year old is usually close to their full adult weight. A puppy is rarely larger than their bigger parent, so this will also give you a general idea of their maximum weight. If their paws still look large or oversized next to their body and legs, they are probably still filling out and have some growing left to do, as this is a classic sign of adolescence in canines. What is the size of a full-grown Golden Retriever? As adults, Golden Retrievers will appear overall symmetrical and have a powerful body hidden beneath beautiful, golden fur. Golden Retrievers are stunning, sunny dogs that easily steal our hearts. Unfortunately, as a purebred dog breed, they are more susceptible to genetic diseases, which can compromise their lifespan and quality of life. However, many genetic disorders can be treated or prevented with regular veterinary care. Remember that prevention is almost always easier and less expensive than treatment. Your veterinarian may recommend a large-breed growth food to your Golden Retriever puppy to support their growth rate which can help prevent or decrease the severity of hip dysplasia in adulthood. According to the Veterinary Centers of America , Golden Retrievers are also more prone to gaining excess weight. Golden Retrievers are also susceptible to various genetic health disorders, such as oral tumors and aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis is most commonly found in large, purebred dogs, including Golden Retrievers, and occurs when the aortic valves to the heart narrow. Aortic stenosis causes the body to struggle to pump blood through the valve, creating additional stress on the body. If untreated, aortic stenosis can lead to muscle failure and even fatality. However, veterinarians can treat many genetic diseases like aortic stenosis and oral tumors through surgery and medication. Even with proper prevention and wellness care, necessary veterinary visits can be expensive, with many treatments costing thousands of dollars. Out of over 20, pet parents surveyed , only .The last thing you should be focused on when the worst happens is how to finance a needed surgery or treatment for your beloved pet. This is where pet insurance comes in. Just like people, dogs are living longer lives and will need additional veterinary care to maintain a happy quality of life. Let pet insurance help you with these costs should the worst happen to your dog. Wellness plans are also available as an add-on to help with the ongoing costs of regular veterinary care , like x-rays and exams. Act now and give yourself peace of mind knowing that your Golden Retriever is covered should anything happen. Compare top Golden Retriever pet insurance plans side-by-side with Pawlicy Advisor today! Key Takeaways On average, male Golden Retrievers weigh pounds and females weigh pounds. At full height, Goldens stand between .Although puppies groww extremely fast, the Golden Retriever breed can take as long as 2 years to reach full maturity. Owners should keep an eye on their Golden Retriever's diet because they are very prone to obesity. Pet insurance helps cover the cost of care necessary to give your Goldie a happy, healthy life. 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. The ease of training dogs varies across different breeds and the age at which they are adopted. Retrievers are typically released two months after birth and ready for training. Golden Retriever puppies are easy to train because of their high social intelligence, loyalty, and desire to please; they can understand commands and positive consequences in the first few weeks. However, if you do not teach them early on, you may need to work harder to get them to unlearn bad habits. We must remember that Golden Retrievers are acclimatized to working with people and are definitely people pleasers. They were bred as hunting dogs to retrieve shot-down waterfowl and are still used today as gundogs by sportspersons to retrieve game birds. They are also used as service, therapy, and search and rescue dogs. While training a Golden Retriever is easy, you have to start early. If the dog misses the early portion of the training, the later stages draw out perpetually. By now, you know the dangers of being too late in training your dog. But what if you are too early for the party? Not if you go by the standard release time. The average breeder releases a Golden Retriever at 8 weeks old. You should train your Golden Retriever at two months old because, by that stage, he has grown enough to take cues and is sufficiently self-reliant not to need his mother to survive. He will have already learned canine behaviors by interacting with his mother and littermates, but now he can continue to learn by association. Initial training should be kept light. As mentioned in the table, it is simply a period where you establish your authority as the source of commands and rewards. You can even go 2 weeks without giving any proper training to your freshly-released pup without impacting his progression. However, the 8 to week period from release to assimilation is important. A traumatic experience can have a negative and counter-productive effect during this period. Read further if you: Have a Golden Retriever older than seven weeks or plan to get a puppy Want an approximate schedule for training your pup Wish to train a dog using positive reinforcement and ethical training methods Want to commit to 1. At this point, you have to train your puppy to see you as an authority figure. Moreover, the puppy can only form the most obvious associations between command, response, and consequence, so it is crucial to adapt your training strategy accordingly. For example, you can start clapping if your pup runs toward you. Once he realizes that clapping and running toward you are linked, you can clap, and he will run toward you. For now, notice the following and set distinct anchors for each. Each anchor has to be hard to confuse with every other anchor. Clapping, for instance, is an anchor that can be confused with snapping your fingers. But it is hard to confuse clapping with whistling. This melts a lot of the resistance as you train your pup to understand and respond to more complex commands. Therefore, the first step should be encouraging your Golden Retriever to follow you. As you may know, dogs evolved from wolves, and wolves follow the pack leader usually a parent. Delaying gratification is easier for grown dogs. Young puppies get tired too quickly and spend most of their time sleeping. So if your puppy follows you, reward him with affection, hugs, and appreciation. You need to build a positive reinforcement loop and let your dog establish a connection between following you and receiving a pleasant experience. When your puppy knows that following you results in rewards, you can make the act of following you slightly more challenging. Things you can do may include sharp turns and sudden changes of pace. Lower Socializing Barriers Golden Retrievers are the definition of social beings. Still, their appearance and the love they receive can keep them from becoming completely asocial. But why make socialization difficult when you can facilitate it early in their lives? Visiting friends and family is one way to go about it. You can also spot a dog park and carry him there. Remember that your pup is still learning to follow directions and walk with you. You cannot expect him to cover long distances. Golden Retrievers are bundles of energy, and it would take living in a castle for one to become agoraphobic. Seeing the outdoors as soon as they are ready to take block-long walks is healthier for their social development. Start Potty Training You might wonder how long you have to wait before your Golden Retriever puppy is ready for potty training. Quite simply, your Retriever is ready for potty training the day you bring him home. Cordoning it off and adding a small fence can help him identify it more easily. Next, you need a potty training schedule, such as first thing in the morning, after mealtimes and play, and hourly for young pups. Moreover, many owners use dog crates to help with house training and I highly recommend you do this too. The earlier you discipline your Golden Retriever , the less harsh you need to be with him as he grows up. Biting is one of the behaviors that incur severe penalties for dogs. Golden Retrievers, fortunately, develop a soft mouth and are less likely to administer harsh bites. Still, nibbling must be discouraged so that kids, other pets, and your friends can be safe around your puppy. If you have ever given silent treatment to your spouse, you know it takes intelligence to know that you are in a timeout. So a timeout for a 2-month-old Retriever might not be the right punishment because he might not understand why he is in one. Often, an untrained Retriever puppy might snatch at a treat. After that, you can withhold the second treat and close off your body language. Follow up using positive reinforcement by rewarding the correct behavior with a treat. Your Golden Retriever will quickly learn that displaying good behavior reaps nice things. Puppies need to learn their bite inhibition soft-mouth by continuing the excellent work their mother and siblings taught them. Learn Bite Inhibition Training! Teach Patience You must use your best judgment when training your dog to be patient. Generally speaking, your Golden Retriever will be mature enough to learn self-control by the tenth week. How to Train a 3-Month-Old Golden Retriever Puppy Once you have established your authority and set initial anchors, it is time to progress the training of your Golden Retriever puppy to the next stage. Four weeks of light training is sufficient for setting anchors and establishing associations. That makes the 3-month mark ideal for slightly more complex commands. You can use a clicker or a whistle to teach your puppy to assume the natural heel position. He will regress to walk behind you. He already knows how to sit and stand, and you have to use the same method you used for the heel position and command to teach your Retriever how to sit or stand on command. The method is simple. The same applies to other position commands. Since your Retriever can tell words apart, he can go into different positions based on the words you say. The anchoring process involves saying something or making a specific sound while your dog is busy holding a certain position or acting a certain way. Now is the time to start saying the words you have associated with his actions in order to inspire said actions. Where you previously whistled when your Retriever ran towards you, now you must whistle so he begins his run. This is the start of his Golden Retriever recall training. It is possible that your Retriever does not respond to the commands. There will be back and forth where you will keep saying words while the dog organically acts. After a few attempts at reinforcing the commands, you can test the triggers again. So avoid forcing your dog to be perfect on the first few attempts. This helps him be social and get close to them. He must learn to be safe and social around strangers too. After all, he has to go on walks without picking fights with people, no matter how friendly Golden Retrievers are known to be. Slowly exposing him to crowds can improve his social tolerance. The less quick he is to bark at strangers, the kinder they will be to him. This triggers a positive feedback loop where he is adored for being social, which encourages him to be more social. Our Top Recommendations 1. Read ahead of time. We felt well-educated on a plan for taking care of a puppy by reading books before Emma came home. We needed to be very hands-on and involved when Emma was here, so we were happy we already had a plan ahead of time. Planning allowed us to maximize our time with her and increase success. From Day 1, we worked on very simple training tasks with her and added more skills or increased the complexity each week. Watch your puppy like a hawk. Puppies do not know right vs. Our job is to teach Emma what she should and should not do. By watching her closely, we were maximizing success for the long term. The goal is to intervene or redirect her before she starts an undesired behavior. It is easier to provide direct supervision by using puppy gates to limit her access in the apartment. Start training from day 1. Puppies need mental and physical exercise. Puppy Training We followed a five-week training plan to cover basic obedience skills and a few fun tricks. We found each week's pace of training and structure to be highly successful in building a solid foundation. I would recommend following the training in order as each week build on the previous week starting with week 1 training. Puppy Socialization Our at-home training was supplemented with puppy socialization classes at a local training facility for Emma to be around other dogs and people. We were happy we were already registered for puppy socialization classes before Emma came home. Honestly, it is one of my favorite parts of the week. Emma always came home ready for a nap. I recommend searching in your area for puppy socialization classes by looking online, asking neighbors, or asking your vet. When Emma receives all her vaccinations, we will be out and about with her more often, which will help with socialization and provide the opportunity to continue training in various environments. We plan to visit some of the pet-friendly stores in our area. Lastly, we will sign Emma up for an obedience class to continue to work toward our goal of her becoming a therapy dog to continue our mission to spread smiles. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. This was the first time we had a chance to chart puppies from birth until 8 weeks old. We tried to take as many pictures as possible so we could have a journal of our Golden Retriever puppy growth week by week. When raising guide and service dog puppies we usually bring home our puppies at around weeks old. On occasion we are allowed to see puppies before 8 weeks of age, but they need to stay with their mother and siblings during those important early weeks to get milk and antibodies from mama and learn how to interact properly with siblings, learning important behaviors like bite inhibition. During our days as a foster we raised two litters of puppies , but both were already weeks old by the time we got them home. We actually own the Puppy Culture DVD and Workbook which includes charts, lists, worksheets and other great information for raising your litter. Keep your eyes and ears open and absorb it all like a sponge! Birth To 1 Week Old Guess what? This was the first litter we ever whelped!? We got a lot of advise, but we were largely on our own. Large Puppy Dish — great for feeding the puppies when they moved to solid food. Whelping Mats — we ordered 2 of these mats and washed them several times a day. Whelping Box — We have a homemade whelping box built by my father-in-law, but if we continue raising litters I plan on purchasing an EZWhelp Whelping Box. Our homemade box lasted three litters. We ended up purchasing the Magnabox which was hellu expensive but if you plan on raising multiple litters we highly recommend it. We recently put together a whelping checklist with all the supplies we gathered together to help out with our second litter of Golden Retriever puppies. Check out our whelping supplies checklist here. However, none were overly huge and none were extra small. No runts and no beasts. It was my understanding that when the cord was chewed down to the base of the belly it was sometimes difficult to get it to stop bleeding. I took the hemostat and pinched the umbilical cord about 2 inches from the base of the pups belly then cut the cord rather than let Raven chew it off. I kept the hemostat on the cord for about 2 minutes to let it clout. The umbilical cord dries up quickly and then within a day or 2 it falls off. Raven was a good mama and took care of her poops. Puppy eyes and ears are closed at this stage and puppies army crawl around the whelping box looking for a teat to suckle. We did everything we could to make sure our pups stayed warm by adding a watt heat lamp to the whelping box and portable heating unit in the puppy room. As I mentioned Raven stayed in the whelping box most of week 1 and of course… the puppy piles! One thing I learned is if I had a puppy on my lap then do not let Raven lick those areas or be prepared for a little accident on your lap. While caring for Raven and her litter Raven was really blowing out her coat that first week, but as time went on it slowed down. I heard from other friends this is common and that Raven blew out her coat much less than other mama dogs. We got Probiotics for Raven before her first litter, but forgot to order them for her second litter. After an upset stomach for the first week or so we realized our mistake, got Probiotics, and no more upset tummy. Week 2 — Pups eyes are opening starting to waddle. Week 3 — First bark! Week 7 — The great puppy escape artists! Week 8 — Our golden puppies head to their new homes. Have you ever had a litter of Golden Retriever puppies? Tell us about your experiences with puppies in the comment section below. Are you about to raise a litter of puppies? Not raising a litter, but getting ready to bring home your first Golden Retriever puppy? Puppies for Dummies will give you the basics on how to raise and train your new puppy. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.

A little cuckoo in the best way. These are a few ways that parents of Boxer puppies might describe their pooches. The Boxer is one of the most popular dog breeds for good reason. Those adorable looks are backed up by big personalities. Do you think a Boxer puppy is right for you? Brush up on your facts about Boxer puppies before you adopt! That can make quite a mess! Boxers are known for their puppy-at-heart attitude that shines through their young adult years. Be sure to give your Boxer puppy plenty of space to exercise and play, and teach them how to settle down if need be. This stubbornness also can carry over into aggression. Some Boxers can get rough with dogs of the same size and sex. Be sure to socialize your Boxer pup early and often and set up expectations early to avoid too much drama. Your Boxer puppy will have tons of energy, but as they age, the need for snuggles and downtime will start to balance out with the need for play. Boxer puppy sitting in grass Boxer puppy looking up at camera Boxer puppy looking at camera Boxer puppy running Boxer puppy Boxer puppy lying in grass. You make it seem like puppy ownership is as simple and trouble-free as the world presented in cute puppy pictures. We can all agree that, at birth, all puppies are too adorable for words. We can also agree that raising puppies is a weighty responsibility, and never one to be undertaken lightly. Boxer puppies are not special in this regard. These caveats out of the way, it seems like no time at all between the stages of tiny, mewling infant and the first time you get the guilty look from Boxer puppies. Out of the whelping box, straight into mischief Boxer puppies start up with impish behavior from the moment they take their first tentative steps out of the whelping box. Training and socialization are key elements to a happy life with Boxer puppies. These little guys and gals, after all, become huge and physically imposing dogs. Keep an eye on this little fellow! Boxer puppies were made for the outdoors. Being outside, running about, playing with toys, and pawing at stuff — this is a top-flight day of action and adventure for Boxer puppies. When they want a snack before dinner, though, Boxer puppies will try and get sneaky. That we have such things as cute puppy pictures, of course, owes as much to human waggery as to anything Boxer puppies get into of their own accord. Boxer puppies are well known for toting things around in their mouths. No room in the house is safe from the shenanigans of Boxer puppies. Did you remember to close the bathroom door? Have fun re-rolling the toilet paper! Boxer puppies are eager, excitable, and enthusiastic friends to dog owners who are ready and willing to put in the work that training requires. Is it possible to sit Boxer puppies next to flowers and not have them inspire confidence, ease, and a sense of pervading calm? Sure, this brindle Boxer puppy seems contented, seated next to a little garden pinwheel, but be careful not to let her sit idle for too long. Boxer puppies need stimulation and interaction, so make sure she has toys to play with and things to occupy her mind! Boxer puppies love to play. Growing into solid, well-built dogs, they never really lose the joy and excitement that comes along with meeting new friends. Are your Boxer puppies naughty or nice? Every dog is different; each has her own personality and tendencies. Much depends on us, as dog owners, to train and socialize them in order to corral their wilder instincts. Do you have any experience with Boxer puppies? Share your experiences with Boxers at every stage of life in the comments!

Life Span Did You Know? The Pug, or Pug Dog, is famous for its flat-faced appearance and large, soulful eyes. They are an ancient dog breed that originated in China over 2, years ago. They were originally developed as a refined pet of Chinese royalty along with the Pekingese and the Shih Tzu. During this time, the Pug was considered a national treasure that outsiders could only access if one was gifted to them. Dutch traders from the s can be credited with bringing the Pug onto the world stage when they brought some back to Europe with them. The Pug made its way to the United States in the s. Now, the Pug is a popular dog breed worldwide. They are a popular companion that provides their owners with plenty of love and laughter from their comedic and playful antics. The Pug is a playful and outgoing dog breed with a charming personality. They tend to be very loving towards children and also get along well with other pets and dogs. They are a companion breed at heart known for their gentle nature and sociable personality. They love to give love and receive it in return. Their sensitive nature makes them intuitive as well and Pugs will often sense the moods of their owners and react accordingly. They crave attention and affection from their owners and are big fans of napping. This dog breed is often described as an ideal house dog and they are moderately adaptable. They will do well in homes of any size, including apartments. The Pug also adapts well to city or country life and are a good fit for singles or families of any size. Although they are highly adaptable to various living situations, they are less adaptable to climates. Pugs are very sensitive to the heat and overexertion, so they are best-suited to moderate climates. They also love to be with their families and will not be happy if left alone for a long time. As with any dog breed, the Pug has some health conditions to be aware of. In particular, corneal ulcers and dry eye are some potential eye problems that can occur. Additionally, Pugs can be susceptible to hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and encephalitis. Asking the breeder about the genetic history of the parents and to see health clearances can help allay concerns for some of these health issues. Pugs are also big foodies. They love to eat! Their love for food means this dog breed is prone to obesity. As a brachycephalic dog, their large head and short snout often cause respiratory problems, which can limit their exercise at times and contribute to weight gain. This will cause them to quickly gasp and snort, which can sound relatively alarming. These episodes are usually not harmful as your Pug is just clearing their palate and throat. The Pug tends to be easy to train and is a good fit for owners of any experience level. They are eager to please their owners and tend to pick up on commands quickly. They are sensitive souls and their feelings can be hurt easily, so they will not respond well to harsh corrections. This dog breed responds best to consistent training that focuses on positive rewards and will benefit from participation in puppy training classes. Pugs have a smooth, glossy, and short coat. Their fur is fine and soft. Although their coat is generally low-maintenance, it will shed throughout the year. Aside from brushing, Pugs only need occasional baths on an as-needed basis. Because Pugs have ears that drop down, they can be susceptible to moisture, dirt, or debris. Checking their ears regularly and cleaning as needed helps to keep them healthy and comfortable. The same goes for their iconic face wrinkles. Daily brushing is ideal, but if your Pug is not allowing you to do that, a few times a week should be sufficient. Getting your Pug used to these grooming tasks as a puppy will help make it a positive bonding experience and a much easier process throughout their life. This dog breed has a low to moderate energy level. Generally, daily walks and some play sessions are enough exercise for this dog breed. They may have short bursts of energy as they have a very playful nature, but they will tire easily. Some Pugs can handle a little more activity and even compete in some dogs sports like agility, rally, and obedience. Make sure you check with your vet first before jumping into dog sports with your dog. A full-grown Pug will usually stand 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh between 14 and 18 pounds. This dog breed generally lives for years. The Pug was a popular pet of the Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. Featured Pug Article. A dog with the original black body was created using the Black Collie. These dogs have Black colouring as a result, giving them blue to green eyes, pure black paws, and blue to grey skin. The available Black female Pug is incredibly clever and energetic. Because they exert pressure on livestock and deter predators, this has made them well-known on farms. They enjoy playing, but they can be obstinate and need frequent praise. Black Pugs have frequently devoted friends and are helpful with kids. They might not get along with other pets in the house as well unless they were raised together since they occasionally view them as prey. Their double coat is another distinguishing characteristic of this breed. Their entire individuality and appeal are enhanced by the Black colouring, which causes differences in coat lengths and textures across the body. With their owners, they are highly affectionate, yet they can be distant from outsiders. They can live with whom? The Black Pug is a highly well-known breed. They are referred to as the clown of the dog world and like playing with other dogs. Nearby Black Pugs for sale get along well with other dogs and enjoy social interactions with people. However, if you have to leave your house for an extended amount of time, make sure someone is watching them. These Pugs for sale nearby do not enjoy being left alone. Children, other dogs, cats, and even rabbits are all acceptable housemates for our Black Pug for sale! However, due to their high requirement for care and socialisation, they are not recommended for novice dog owners. They may reside in an apartment building or a home with a yard. They thrive in households with a continual presence of people because they require constant company. Where can I find Black Pugs for sale locally? Our selection of Black Pug pups for sale is incredible, and they are all very sweet! Related products.

Our breeding program has been discontinued. We are a small, home-based kennel and boarding service near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Owning and breeding Golden Retrievers is an ongoing learning process. We credit our very first litter for giving us abundant insight and experience. Our favourite lesson learned is that the joy that these sweet puppies give us far outweighs the work. Welcome to our website. We hope to meet you one day to begin a lifelong connection through our love for Golden Retrievers. You are still more than welcome to like and follow us on our social media platforms for a daily dose of Golden Retriever love. In addition to owning and breeding Golden Retrievers, we also offer dog boarding. Puppy Interest We are happy to know you share a love for the Golden Retriever breed. Daily Dog Care Separation anxiety? Incessant barking? They put their full trust in us to take care of them and love them for life. With this in mind, we want to gain your trust. A visit also allows us to introduce ourselves and our pets to you and yours, making sure there is trust right from the start. They will be vet checked at 7 weeks, vaccinated, microchipped - comes with 6 weeks complimentary pet insurance and 1 year health guarantee. Puppies will be.Friendly with children. Great guard dogs or simple for pet. They are raised around my children, our other dogs and cats.They are well socialized, playful and have been cuddled by kids. Puppies have been vet checked, all are heathy! They had their.Visit Website Below to Order Now! Both parents are fully DNA and genetically health tested through Embark lab and cleared of over genetic diseases common to their breeds. Mommy is a.All are Healthy and Have been vet checked. They have gotten their First Shots and.The loyalty of a retriever and the intelligence of a poodle, you get an incredibly loyal and respectful dog. Very easy to train! The perfect addition to any family. She is the sweetest, The dad is a red standard Golden doodle, The mom is English Golden retriever. He was born on July 18th , he will be ready to go on September 18th. We've been raised as organically as possible, and part of that is we get to stay with our.Lincoln is 7 years old and is intact. He is very loving! Excellent with kids and other dogs! He is up to date on his vaccinations, deworming, and annual vet checks. Accepting decent offers. Kleefeld 7 gourgous pups looking for loving families. DAD is purebred golden retriever MOM is purebred black lab They are a great mixture to be excellent farm and hunting dogs. They will be both smart and.We pride ourselves in giving your puppy the utmost love, care and training it deserves. You will.We have 1 males available. The puppies are happy, healthy, and played with by children. Dad is pure bred Golden Retriever, Mom is pure bred black lab. Mom is also for sale. Mom is a lovely friend, comes.Browse other categories in All Categories in Winnipeg. They will be vet checked at 7 weeks, vaccinated, microchipped - comes with 6 weeks complimentary pet insurance and 1 year health guarantee. Puppies will be.Friendly with children. Great guard dogs or simple for pet. They are raised around my children, our other dogs and cats.They are well socialized, playful and have been cuddled by kids. Puppies have been vet checked, all are heathy! They had their.Both parents are fully DNA and genetically health tested through Embark lab and cleared of over genetic diseases common to their breeds. Mommy is a.All are Healthy and Have been vet checked. They have gotten their First Shots and.Please contact us for more details! The loyalty of a retriever and the intelligence of a poodle, you get an incredibly loyal and respectful dog. Very easy to train! The perfect addition to any family. She is the sweetest, Call for more information. These are not Rescue Dogs, the parents can be seen on site. We also have references available from other.The dad is a red standard Golden doodle, The mom is English Golden retriever. He was born on July 18th , he will be ready to go on September 18th. We've been raised as organically as possible, and part of that is we get to stay with our

We specialize in breeding Mini Goldendoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other high quality breeders that raise mini goldendoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! Not all mini Goldendoodles are equal, there are a few different versions to choose from each having a little different genetic background based on the pups parents. We will explain all the differences in Mini Goldendoodle puppies and how they are bred below. We raise all versions of the mini goldendoodle breed. F1 Mini Goldendoodle Pups. A F1 puppy is also known as a First Generation puppy. The puppies mother is a Golden Retriever and the pups dad is a Mini Poodle. This version of mini goldendoodle usually has soft wavy or curly puppy fur. They will shed until they lose their puppy fur, after shedding they will shed a lot less, but will shed. This version is partially hypoallergenic and usually requires low maintenance. F1 mini goldendoodles usually need to be groomed every 6 months along with daily brushing to keep their curly hair from matting and getting tangled. The dogs usually grow up having great temperaments similar to golden retrievers. They usually get about inches high at the shoulder and range in weight from pounds. F1b Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1b is known as a second-generation mini goldendoodle with the pups mother being already an F1 Goldendoodle and the pups dad being a mini poodle also. So the difference between F1 and F1b is that the mom is not a golden retriever but an actual F1 Goldendoodle. They also have very soft curly hair but with almost no shedding. This F1b version is semi-hypoallergenic and a better choice for anyone who has pet allergies. The F1b also should be brushed on a daily basis but will need to be groomed more frequently then a F1. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is recommended to keep their coat in perfect condition. F1b Mini goldendoodles get around 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulders and range between pounds in weight. F1bb Mini Goldendoodle Pups. An F1bb goldendoodle is also known as a third-generation mini goldendoodle. This mini goldendoodle version has a coat more similar to a poodle than of a golden retriever. This is because the pup is more of a poodle than a retriever. Making it the very best version for anyone with pet allergies. A 6 to 8 week grooming schedule is required to help prevent knots or matting. This version is super intelligent and loving, and usually seems to have more energy than the other versions of Mini goldendoodles. This version is usually smaller in size, weighing around pounds and only getting inches tall at the shoulders. The smaller size makes them a great size for smaller homes and apartments. So if you live near Greenfield Indiana and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Goldendoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Goldendoodle Pups that have been adopted! For the Kings, Dog Breeding is a wonderful and rewarding family affair. Puppies are raised having plenty of time interacting with the King children. Ruth Ann finds the Mini Goldendoodles to be very intelligent and highly trainable. Also, the benefits of a low shedding dog breed that can be hypoallergenic cannot be overstated. According to Ruth Ann and the King family, if you are looking for the perfect family pet, these breeds are a great choice for any family. His temperament is the calmest while still being a playful puppy. He received a clean bill of health at his first vet appointment. And he has such a good start on potty training! It is obvious RuthAnn and family care deeply for their puppies as it shows in every way. Were having so much fun with them. Was a pleasure meeting you as well. Thank you so much once again. They are totally Loved. I would of downloaded a picture of Kota but would only let me download one sorry. He is the best puppy and has given us such joy and love. The King family did a great job socializing him. Sending a BIG thank you to the King family! We love our dog, Jesse! And we are so grateful for the King Family! The picture I selected is from when he was a puppy to now. Thank you for being so great! And she bring such joy to our family! Such a sweet loving dog and super friendly! We adore her so much and so do our kids , which Marlo does so great with! Ruth was so nice and made everything a smooth process! Thank you. Looking forward to purchasing another one soon. Ruthann is very knowledgeable, so pleasant and answered all our questions. We love our boy Lennox formerly named Max who completes our family. He is playful, so funny and loves to snuggle. He is very intelligent and highly trainable! We highly recommend the King family! Thank you - Kristine Avila , December 11, I can not begin to express how flawless and wonderful the process with Ruth Ann was. She answered all of my questions and was very kind. It is clear our puppy was raised in a great home and is in perfect health! We would highly recommend a pup from Ruth Ann King! We have had Calvin for 8 months and he is the best. They were super sweet to work with and we could tell Calvin came from a great home. Ruth and Aquilla were amazing to work with. You can tell that they love the puppies and take excellent care of them. We are so grateful to have found such a wonderful pup. They clearly love what they do! Gus is such a sweet, loving puppy and from the moment I walked onto their beautiful farm it was clear that they raise each litter with love. If you're looking for a mini goldendoodle, I can't think of a better family to work with! Our little Rosie, named after her mother, has been a perfect addition to our family. She is very smart, loving, playful and easy to train. We are in love! Martha and Acquilla could not be more kind! Their farm is gorgeous and impeccably maintained, the puppies are beautiful and obviously loved from the start! We appreciate that they follow up on their adopted puppies to be sure all is going well. We highly recommend Martha and Acquilla King if you are looking for a sweet mini goldendoodle! We got him at 8 weeks old and he is a F1B Mini Goldendoodle puppy. We mostly dealt with Ruth Anne who was wonderful through the whole process and answered all our questions. She was flexible with us coming to see the puppies and full of information. When we arrived, Ruth Anne opened the door to let us in and all 6 of the puppies ran out to greet us, which made our hearts melt instantly. They were all very sweet and seemed to be in good health, but seeing the kids interact with the puppies and tell us all about them really helped to reassure us that they were well taken care of. We had pick of the litter and decided to adopt Landon, who we rename Copper. We took him to the vet who confirmed he is in good health. I would definitely recommend Quill and Ruth Anne King if you are looking for a puppy. Having Copper has really made a difference for us and the whole experience has been wonderful. We were so close to buying from another breeder when my wife frantically called me and said that she had found the one and the King family had the puppy that would become our Ronan and a permanent part of our family. When I pulled up their drive way, i was greeted by Ronan's father a red miniature poodle. The King's were so friendly and understanding. We were able to reserve Ronan and take him home at eight weeks. Since we picked him, he has been very healthy and is growing and maturing to be a very strong and obedient companion. What set the King family out from the rest was that I could tell that they were not only selling puppies to make money, but they genuinely care about each and every one of the puppies that leave their home. Thank you King family for the little blessing that you gave us. On a final note, I don't know about the other families that got puppies from Ronan's litter, but our puppy can jump through the roof! I'm 6'5" and he can grab a toy out my hand at my chest level! Ken and Meg Diller February 8, Our experience purchasing a puppy from the King family was quite positive. Through the Greenfield Puppies website, we contacted the family, and they responded promptly. King answered all of our questions promptly. We decided to take the 4-hour drive to pick up our eight week old and found her in great health. We would highly recommend purchasing a dog from the King family. Christine, Long Island, NY February 5, My husband and I were searching for a dog that would do well with our young children and that I would not be allergic too. The King family did a great job organizing the purchase and arrangements. King proved to be trustworthy, and true to their word. We received a healthy, well loved, and socialized puppy. Immediately upon opening the crate at Delta Airlines, Sandy immediately jumped up to kiss us, laid on her back and happily rode home on my lap. Sandy is now one year and four months old and continues to be gentle, affectionate and healthy. As nervous as we were purchasing a dog sight unseen from an unknown breeder, we are glad we did! Tasia and Michael Proulx February 3, I am so grateful I came across Greenfield Puppies, more specifically the King's litter of mini goldendoodles. Aquilla and Ruth Ann are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. They were also very patient when it came to choosing the right puppy for us. Calvin greeted us at the door with a wagging tail and has been a complete love ever since. I highly recommend the King's if you want an all around great experience. We would definitely come back in the future! Claire May 3, I wanted to leave a testimonial regarding the puppy my fiance and I purchased from Quill and Ruth Ann. We are absolutely in love with our puppy, Mumford! He is sweet and extremely smart. He stops people in their tracks as soon as they see him. He is just the cutest. He learned how to sit the second day we had him and just loves to be held. He fits in so nicely and all of our family and neighbors love him already. He gets along great with other dogs and loves playing with all his toys. We can tell he is going to be a great dog. I would recommend anyone to buy a puppy from the King family. We are so happy we did. Laura May 2, We want to thank you for the opportunity to select one of your mini golden doodle puppies a few weeks ago. It was wonderful to see the puppies interact with your children. We chose your last female puppy named Cathy. We renamed her Talisman - Tali for short. She loves people, especially children. In fact, after driving back home to CT, she experienced many firsts and was quite overwhelmed. Upon meeting our grandsons, she perked right up. Tali has visited our local vet twice since coming home and is doing very well - nice and healthy. She is full of energy and is doing as well as can be expected with house training and learning her boundaries. Purchasing Tali from you was very pleasant and we would recommend you to anyone who is looking to find a new pet for their family. She has lots of personality, energy, and was very well socialized by the King Family. Our vet has examined her twice and characterized her health as excellent. She is cute as a button and may have been the pick of the litter. It was evident how well-cared for and adjusted the puppies were. We would highly recommend Ruth Ann as a breeder of goldendoodles. By the way, our puppy Chocolate is doing well. She has the most wonderful personality and fits so well into our family. We all love her very much. Emily and Nick Aversa May 30, Hank has been great! He goes to the door to go out to use the bathroom, only had a couple of accidents. We changed his name to Berkeley. He is really sweet but feisty too. He has been a joy for our family. Alicia Compton February 8, Henry is doing great!! He is already potty trained and is growing quickly! We appreciate you guys making the buying process so easy and smooth. We would and already have recommended you guys to friends and family looking for a mini golden doodle. Bryce Burdette. Life Span Did You Know? The Goldendoodle originated in the s in North America and Australia, although it was first bred in .The idea was to create a breed with the great temperament of the family-friendly Golden Retriever along with the intelligence of the Poodle. The presence of the Poodle makes a highly trainable canine, and the Golden Retriever always aims to please. Just be cautious with stern discipline tactics, as the Goldendoodle may have a hard time letting training failure roll off its back. Always train with a positive energy using lots of reinforcement with any breed. While the Goldendoodle is somewhat hypoallergenic, every allergic person should meet the puppy before adopting to ensure that they show no symptoms. The Goldendoodle is bred to be a family dog. The combination of the gentle Golden Retriever and the highly intelligent Poodle make a wonderful companion. The breed is generally tolerant, playful, and full of personality from day one. The Goldendoodle is pretty easy to keep happy. Their coats are good protection in the winter months, while they are fairly tolerant to warmer seasons. Just be aware that no pet should be exposed to temperature extremes, either hot or cold. If you have a small apartment, the Goldendoodle may not be the dog breed for you. It is recommended that this breed has room to move and unwind, as they are very energetic. The Goldendoodle is a generally healthy Designer Dog Breed. One thing to look for is the hip health of the Golden Retriever and Poodle parents. Both breeds are susceptible to hip dysplasia, so knowing the hip history of the parents is important. Because of the high trainability of the Goldendoodle, it is not uncommon to see a first-time dog parent choose this breed. That means that grooming the Goldendoodle is not a difficult or time-consuming task. Give the coat a brush each day, clip the nails once a month, and brush their teeth once a week. Bathe the Goldendoodle when needed, but be careful not to over bathe this breed. The Goldendoodle will require lots of blow drying after a bath, and too many baths will rob them of essential oils that help the dog have a healthy coat and skin. Energetic and jovial is the best way to describe the Goldendoodle. Plenty of playtime and exercise is needed to have a well-balanced canine companion. A fenced in yard to romp around or regular trips to the dog park are highly recommended. A fully-grown Goldendoodle should be between inches in height at the shoulder and weigh between 40 and 90 pounds. Size is greatly determined by the size of the parents. Goldendoodles generally live years. A Goldendoodle is also sometimes referred to as a Groodle. Featured Goldendoodle Article. Here are some facts about Mini Goldendoodles: 1. The Mini Goldendoodle is a newer dog breed. Although it has become very popular, the Miniature Goldendoodle is a fairly new dog breed. It is a smaller version of the standard Goldendoodle. Mini Goldendoodles tend to be easygoing and highly adaptable. Due to their smaller size and moderate energy level, they tend to be a good fit for apartment living. Regular walks and some playtime will keep this pup well-exercised and happy. They love to be by your side. The Mini Goldendoodle is loyal and people-oriented. They love to be around their human and can become very attached. If not properly socialized or given things to occupy their mind while you are gone, they can develop separation anxiety. This can result in some undesirable behaviors, which can be nipped in the bud if caught early with some training, socialization, and puzzles and games. Miniature Goldendoodles are highly responsive to training. Miniature Goldendoodles are intelligent, sensitive dogs that are also eager to please. They tend to pick up quickly on training and can often respond to verbal cues based on the tone of your voice. You do have to be gentle in your tone and focus on the positive because negative tones can make them pouty or send them into a sulk. They love you and work hard to earn your praise, so they tend to take corrections personally. They are kid-friendly. Not all dog breeds are inherently kid-friendly or open towards other dogs, strangers, and pets. This is not a concern with the Miniature Goldendoodle. These dogs love to play with children and are friendly towards other dogs and strangers. They also tend to have a very low prey drive, so they are often friendly towards other pets as well. The Mini Goldendoodle is an adorable, lovable ball of fluff. Due to hypoallergenic properties, they tend to keep their fluff to themselves and require minimal grooming. That, paired with their sweet and gentle nature, makes them a good fit for families and dog owners of any experience level.

Lifespan Sociability If you have come across a Labraheeler puppy, you know how adorable they can be. This designer hybrid breed comes from one Labrador Retriever parent and one Australian Cattle Dog parent. Together, these two purebreds create a puppy that is sweet, affectionate, super-active, and adorable. Even at such a young age, a Blue Heeler Lab Mix puppy will require a lot of your time and energy. Not only is it important that they are trained and socialized right away, but they are more active than most and will require a lot of your time and energy outside. To give you a little more background, the Labrador Retriever has been in existence since the 17th century. They originated from Canada where they were used as hunting, hurting, and retrieving animals. During the s, the breed was brought to the UK where they gained a lot of popularity. Today, they are the most popular family dog in the United States. On the flip side of the coin, the Australian Cattle Dog originated during the s in its namesake country. This dog has enjoyed many different positions over the years; however, they were originally bred to assist ranchers with their herds. They were particularly apt at this job as they would nip at the heels of the cattle but would not bark and scare them into a stampede. The offspring of these two purebreds gained the best traits of both. Not only is the Blue Heeler Lab Mix a loyal and family-oriented dog, but they are ready to get down and dirty outside and frolic in the mud. Net Pulling One of the first responsibilities of the Labrador was to assist fishermen by pulling their fishnets into the shore. Like a long game of tug-of-war, the dog drags one end and pulls the net full of fish onto the bank. Part Dingo The Labraheeler is also part Dingo. The Dingo was then bred with a few other breeds to perfect what is now known as the Australian Cattle Dog. The Dingo ancestry still rings true even into this designer breed. Webbed Feet As an avid swimmer, the Labraheeler has webbed feet. This is something that has been passed down to them from their ancestors and allows them to be very comfortable in aquatic situations. If you are a beach person yourself, this pooch will fit right into your lifestyle. This is a sweet, affectionate, and loyal dog that is very family-centric. They are active, curious, and even make great guard dogs. This breed also has very high intelligence and has been engaged in many different careers such as police work, agility training, hunting, guarding, search and rescue, and tracking. This is outside of the normal herding, retrieving, and fishnet pulling activities. Due to their high intelligence and high activity level, the Blue Heeler Lab Mix is at home in rural settings with either very large yards or fields to run around in. They spend a good portion of their day active, yet they benefit from mental activities, as well. Whether it is swimming, rolling around in the dirt, or jogging by your side, this pup is at its happiest when in movement. The Labraheeler is also a great guard dog. They can be cautious around new people, and it can take a bit of time for them to warm to newcomers. Once they do, however, they are a very friendly and social breed. That being said, this pooch tends to become stubborn as they age. This is one reason why training them as a small puppy is extremely important. They prefer to be around the hubbub of the family or even with one person as a companion. When left alone, they can resort to destructive behavior such as chewing, barking, and sometimes digging. Not only do they become attached to the entire family as a unit, but they are also great with kids and seniors. That being said, the puppy must be brought up around smaller children or at the very least socialized well. Labraheelers tend to bite if they are handled roughly or mistreated. Due to this, accidents can happen when small children are too rough. It is important that you teach your kids how to properly engage with the dog, as well as, teaching the dog how to socialize with smaller children. Other than that, the Blue Heeler Lab Mix thrives on large families with a lot of activity. As this dog is more likely to wear you out than the other way around, they do very well in homes where there are multiple active people to keep them engaged for most of the day. Also as mentioned, they do not do well with a lot of alone time and will, at the very least, require some activity to keep them occupied when they are not able to be out running. Labraheelers are well able to rub along with other dogs or other pets in general. Introducing your puppy to as many sites, sounds, smells, and faces as possible at a young age will help them interact with other animals. In general, the Labraheeler tends to be a bit wary of other dogs. Again, this can also depend heavily on the individual animal. Even if you live on a farm with a large family and are active from dawn to dusk, there still may be aspects of this breed that do not fit in with your lifestyle. For that reason, we will provide you with some care guidelines for the Labraheeler below. This can provide some holes in issues such as dietary restrictions and food sensitivities that the breed may have. The current research shows that the Labraheeler does not have any dietary restrictions outside of the norm, however. Time may tell, though. Keep in mind, they should be fed a nutritious and healthy diet that is recommended by your vet based on their age, weight, health, and activity level. Nonetheless, there are some basic dietary guidelines that you can follow for a highly active dog. For example, providing them with food that is high in lean protein is a good place to start. It is what fuels their muscles and allows them to be active. After protein, you want to look at fat and fiber. Unlike us, dogs benefit from healthy fats. They break them down and turn them into energy, which also fuels their active lifestyle. Fiber, on the other hand, is important for their gut health. After those nutrients are taken care of, there are other things you should look at like secondary ingredients such as grains, vegetables, vitamins, minerals, and supplements. All of these things combined will create a nutritious meal to keep your pet healthy. It is perfectly healthy to provide your pet with treats and snacks throughout the day as long as they are low in sugars and other unhealthy ingredients. A post shared by Rosie miss. They are on the go for the majority of the day and spend little time lazing about. This breed does well with a wide range of activities, but it is important that they get at least two to three minute walks per day. Whether that is chasing a frisbee, herding cattle, or pulling in fishnets, it should still be an activity that helps them release some of their energy. Your Labraheeler will also benefit from mental exercises. Things like agility courses, tracking, and other games that will teach them tricks or commands are also very helpful. The Labraheeler tends to engage in destructive behavior when they have excess energy. In this case, excess energy builds up a lot quicker than it would in other breeds. Be that as it may, life can get in the way of normal daily activities. This is why it is also a good idea to provide your pet with stationary toys such as chewing bones , puzzles , and other entertainment that can hold their interest. Socializing, obedience, housebreaking, and behavioral training should be started right away. This breed tends to get a bit stubborn as they get older, but if they are properly trained at a young age, their stubbornness will show in other ways that will not affect their safety or your frustration level. Like most dogs, this pup responds well to positive reinforcement. They are eager to please and to be a part of the activity, so they will throw themselves into training with energy and enthusiasm. Persistence and consistency typically pay off along with a few well-deserved treats and rewards. Just remember, dominance and anger are things that will have the opposite effect with this canine. They do not handle being mistreated very well, and they can lash back out. They have short to medium-length straight fur that is averagely thick. They also have moderate to heavy shedding depending on the season. It is recommended that you brush your pet with a pin brush weekly to get rid of any excess fur. This can be done more often during the heavy shedding season. Their teeth should also be cleaned a few times a week if not daily to keep their oral hygiene in check. Their nails should also be trimmed once a month or every 3 weeks depending on the need. Bath time is also something that can be done based on need. It is important to note that this dog loves to swim and also enjoys a good romp in the dirt so bath time can vary. Some Labraheelers can have skin sensitivities, so it is important to use a gentle shampoo that is alcohol-free and will not irritate any sensitive spots. Of course, their lifestyle, diet, age, and genetics can all play a role in whether or not they will develop any of these issues. Take a look below at some of the serious and minor conditions that could develop. Minor Conditions. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. If you are looking for an energetic, fun-loving dog you can bring along on all of your outdoor adventures and teach to do amazing tricks, you might be looking for a Labraheeler, a blue heeler, and a Labrador mix. Both parent breeds are intelligent, energetic, and loving, so you can be sure to get these desirable qualities in this medium-sized crossbreed dog. Read on as we look at what else you can expect from a Blue Heeler Labrador Retriever mix. Remember, unlike with purebred dogs, the characteristics of a crossbred dog are never entirely predictable. With crossbreed dogs, the passing on of traits is less consistent. While breeders have techniques to control for desirable and undesirable traits in crossbred dogs, the reality is that you never know what you are going to get until you take the dog home, get to know them and watch them grow. The herding dogs brought over from England were known as Smithfields, and they were crossed with wild Australian dingoes, Scottish Highland collies, Salmations, and black and tan Kelpies, eventually evolving into the perfect mix to create the blue heeler. Today, blue heelers, also often just called Australian cattle dogs, are intelligent, energetic, and independent dogs that learn quickly with appropriate training, but they truly thrive when they are working on their own. They are loyal and protective and can have the tendency to herd children with an occasional nip in the same way they herd cattle. Labrador retrievers also emerged in the early s after Englishmen visiting Newfoundland in Canada saw the local St. Today, Labradors are considered among the most intelligent and friendly dog breeds. This is why they have become incredibly popular as working dogs, particularly in roles such as guide dogs for the blind, but they are also one of the most popular family pet breeds in the United States. Labraheeler Size Blue heelers are sturdy, muscular, and compact dogs that typically measure between 17 and 20 inches at the withers, with the males being slightly larger than the females. They generally weigh between 40 and 55 pounds. Labrador retrievers are slightly larger dogs that usually measure between .They have a similar muscular and athletic build, so you can be sure that blue heeler Lab mix pups will have this trait, too! The size difference means mixed breed pups will almost certainly have a Labrador mother and a blue heeler father. Pups can be as small as a blue heeler or as big as a Labrador, but they generally will be smaller than their mother, even if they are male dogs. Labraheeler Appearance Blue heelers tend to have a medium-length pointed muzzle with pointed, upright ears. In contrast, Labs tend to have a broader forehead and a square muzzle with ears that flop downward. It is very difficult to predict which of these characteristics will be dominant in their crossbreed pups and how they will combine. Labraheeler Coat Color And Texture Labradors tend to have a short, dense double coat that is highly water-resistant and can keep them warm in winter. It also sheds—a lot! They should be one solid color, such as black, yellow, or chocolate. Blue heelers have a similar short double coat, but their coloring is very different. Heelers are classified as blue, though red heelers are also common. It is usually mottled or speckled with tan coloring on the legs and chest and white markings and a black patch or mask on both sides of the head. Interestingly, blue heeler pups are actually born white, with the exception of any solid face markings, and their true coat color only starts to grow in at about four weeks of age. Labraheelers can be almost any color, but one thing is certain: they will be high shedders, and regular brushing is required to keep their coat under control. Labraheeler Temperament You can be sure that your Lab blue heeler mix will be an intelligent pup, as both of their parent dogs rate among the most intelligent breeds. They are also typically highly trainable. Labradors are known for being eager to please and driven by reward, which makes them easy to train. Heelers also love to learn, especially if something is challenging, so they will soak up any training like a sponge. However, while Labs will continue to be obedient once they have received their training, blue heelers are a bit more independent. They are still loyal and obedient, but if they think you are making the wrong call, they may just ignore you and follow their own judgment. Hopefully, your mixed pup inherits the obedience of their Lab parent but has enough heeler independence to give them a bit of an edge. Both parent breeds are playful and affectionate and quickly adopt their people as part of their pack. Both breeds love to play with children, but while Labrador retrievers are naturally careful with small ones, Australian cattle dogs can have a tendency to want to herd small children and may give them a nip to get them to do what they want. This tendency can be trained out of them, but it should be done from a young age for best results. While Labradors tend to be comfortable with new situations and strange people, blue heelers tend to be cautious and on the protective side. They might bark at people that they see as threats, making them excellent guard dogs. You will have to wait and see whether your blue heeler Lab pup is laid back like a Lab or more alert like a heeler. Thankfully, neither breed tends to bark for no reason, and this will be true of their pups as well. Labraheeler Energy Levels Dogs that are bred to work are also bred to have high energy levels. Both Labradors and blue heelers tend to have lots of energy to burn. In addition to needing 60 to 90 minutes of structured exercise each day, they also generally need ample space to keep active throughout the day. For this reason, they do significantly better in a house with a spacious backyard than in an apartment. Both breeds and their crossbreed offspring thrive if they can go out on family adventures on a regular basis. Hiking and swimming are ideal activities, and Labraheelers will more than keep up with the rest of the troop. These dogs do best with owners with an active lifestyle. It is also important to remember that while adult Labrador blue heeler mixes need lots of exercise, it is easy to over-exercise energetic pups. This can lead to abnormalities in the growth patterns that can have painful effects in later life. As a general rule, exercise pups for just five minutes a day for each month of their age. For example, a six-month-old pup should be getting 30 minutes of exercise a day. Read more about how much exercise dogs need here. Neither breed copes well when left at home alone for extended periods of time. Labrador retrievers crave companionship and can become stressed when left alone for too long. This can result in destructive behavior as they try to manage their anxiety. Blue heelers are intelligent and energetic, which means they get bored easily. They will become frustrated and anxious, and you are likely to end up with a troublesome dog on your hands. Labraheeler Health Concerns The hope with mixed breed dogs is that you get a pup that is less likely to be affected by the genetic health problems common to their purebred parent breeds. This is often the case, but they can still sometimes be susceptible to all the different medical problems that are common among their two parent breeds. When you have a blue heeler Lab mix, watch out for signs of the following health concerns. Progressive retinal atrophy — this condition can lead to loss of sight. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia — a painful joint deformity. Osteochondritis dissecans — abnormal cartilage separating the bone. Hereditary myopathy — a general muscle weakness. Heart disorders While your dog may find themselves affected by one of these conditions, Labraheelers are generally considered healthy dogs and have a lifespan of around 12 to 14 years. Now that we have gone through the main characteristics of a blue heeler Lab mix, hopefully, you know whether this is the right dog for you. If you are still unsure, ask yourself the following questions to make a more informed and responsible decision. Lab blue heeler mixes need to be active most of the day, so they need lots of space to move around at home. These dogs do best if they have a bit of outside space to call their own. In order to thrive, these dogs need 60 to 90 minutes of exercise a day, which means lots of short runs and games of fetch. In addition to this, you need to take the time to train them to do new and interesting things on a regular basis to keep them mentally stimulated. Do you have time to commit to that? Is there generally someone at home at your place, or is everyone out for most of the day at work and school? Also, what do you like to do on weekends? Blue heeler Lab mixes shed a lot, which means no one with an allergy should adopt one. If you generally have a problem dealing with shedding dog hair on a regular basis, you may wish to reconsider adopting one of these dogs. As a result of their blue heeler traits, these mixed pups can have a tendency to be territorial with other animals and to want to herd young children with a bit of a nip. While these are behaviors you can train and socialize out of your dog with some effort, are they characteristics that you want to deal with? However, blue heelers can be protective and may respond to a threat. They can also have a tendency to want to herd small children and other animals, which might involve giving them a small nip. These behaviors can manifest in Labraheelers and can be misinterpreted as aggression. Proper socialization and training is required to curb these instincts. Are Labraheelers good with children? Labraheelers love children and will enjoy playing with them and taking on protective roles. However, they can be a bit challenging with small children. Their energy levels and desire to play can overwhelm small toddlers. They can also have a tendency to want to herd small children, which often involves nipping at their heels. This can, understandably, scare smaller children. Are Labraheelers cuddly? Labraheelers love their humans and will be happy to curl up with their owners—to a point. Also, as a result of their heeler parentage, they sometimes need their own space and may avoid you for no apparent reason on occasion. Do Lab blue heeler mixes lick a lot? Blue heelers have a tendency to lick people a lot as a sign of affection. While this is not common in Labradors, your blue heeler Lab mix may still inherit this excessive licking trait. The Verdict If you want an energetic companion who can join you on your adventures, then you might want to consider adopting a blue heeler Lab mix. There is no stopping these high-energy dogs; they are highly intelligent and can learn almost anything, so they are the type of dog that can go with you everywhere. If that sounds like what you are looking for, why not adopt a Labraheeler? Do you have any experience raising a Lab blue heeler mix? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. As such, the Blue Heeler Lab Mix is not recognized by most major breed clubs. With that being said, this is a dog that is rising quickly in popularity. In fact, many families have found that this is an excellent dog with older children and that they enjoy having this intelligent, active and outgoing canine as a part of their family. With that said, the Blue Heeler Lab Mix does come with its pros and cons, not to mention that there is some controversy surrounding the fact that he is a hybrid. But what should this mean for you? Keep reading to find out. Designer dogs are nothing new. But there are so many other hybrid combinations you may come across, with the Blue Heeler Lab Mix being one of them. Although humans have been cross breeding dogs for centuries, this is a trend that has hit the mainstream population hard just recently, most notably over the past twenty years. The problem with newer generation crossbreeds like the Blue Heeler Lab mix is that they are considered less predictable than their purebred counterparts. This is especially true when it comes to traits like health, temperament and physical appearance. You see, it takes generations of breeding and perfecting before a dog can be considered a purebred. Most dogs were originally crossbreed for working purposes by breeders or enthusiasts taking care to implement responsible breeding practices along the way. One of the problems with modern-day crossbreeding is that some breeders do it quickly, turning out dogs in an effort to make a quick buck without implementing responsible breeding practices. This could lead to dogs that develop serious health and behavioral issues down the line. The good news is that more and more breeders today are taking their jobs very seriously, especially when it comes to breeding crossbreed dogs. Health, for example, could be one of the most attractive things about a crossbreed dog. One of the downsides of purebred dogs today is that they have been so overbred that their gene pools have dwindled down. This means they are more likely to suffer from some genetic health issues. Crossbreed dogs, on the other hand, have a widened genepool which can make them less likely to develop certain genetic ailments. On the flip side, crossbreed dogs may also have a longer list of health issues to contend with as they now have two different purebred parents in their DNA. These are all things you should consider when you are considering investing in a crossbreed dog like the Blue Heeler Lab mix. In fact, he is a very unique dog with wild Dingo ancestry. This combination has made for a clever, rugged and hard-working dog that was ideal for manning the rough terrain of the Australian Outback. Versatile working dogs, The Blue Heeler is still a famous ranch dog today. He was bred to help drove cattle and livestock for miles on end, as well as protect his territory from predators. The Blue Heeler also makes a good family dog. He does well with older children when properly raised, trained and socialized and thrives with active, outgoing families. However, without proper training, socializing and consistent exercise, the Blue Heeler can be problematic in the wrong hands. He can be prone to destructive behaviors and territorial instincts that could lead to aggression if his energy is not harnessed properly. It was their duty to dive into the chilly Canadian waters and help their masters bring in their catch. Labs are made for water. Today, most Labradors have left their fishing work behind in place of being revered family companions. They are still employed as versatile working dogs, however, and are some of the top service dogs in the United States. Blue Heeler Lab Mix dogs are friendly, athletic and intelligent. The Blue Heeler and the Labrador are pretty different dogs with vastly different origins. The Blue Heeler Lab Mix is also going to be high energy, athletic, intelligent and family-oriented. When it comes to family life, the Blue Heeler Lab Mix could be more playful like his Labrador parent or more work-focused like his Blue Heeler parent. There is no real way to tell for sure. This could be overwhelming for children and frustrating for parents, so we recommend working with your dog early on to help nip those behaviors in the bud, so to speak. Like all dogs, the Blue Heeler Lab Mix will need to be properly raised, trained and soclied, especially if he is growing up in homes with children and other pets. In the right hands, this is a dog that can do well with families and is highly adaptable to a number of living environments so long as his needs are routinely met. Blue Heeler Lab Mix dogs can be prone to destructive behaviors, unfortunately, and this is especially true if they are not kept physically and mentally stimulated. We would recommend considering crate training your Blue Heeler Lab Mix and ensuring you do not leave him alone during the day for longer than 5 hours at a time. This is a dog that requires at least an hour or so of exercise every day on top of routine free playtime. Blue Heeler Lab Mix dogs can be quite energetic , especially into their first few years of life. Without proper exercise, the Blue Heeler Lab mix can become depressed, anxious and destructive. The proper exercise for this dog could include a variety of activities such as swimming, hiking, jogging, frisbee, fetch, and free playtime in a securely fenced yard where he can run and play. If properly socialized and trained, the Blue Heeler Lab Mix could also be a great candidate for dog park days. When you do walk your Blue Heeler Lab Mix outside, remember that this is an athletic dog. He may be prone to pulling, but we advise against investing in aversive walking equipment like prong collars or choke chains. Instead, consider a front clip no-pull dog harness, like the Easy Walk Dog Harness listed below. However, this harness gently redirects your dog back to you if he does get ahead. This is not only much safer and more comfortable for your dog, but it actually helps to teach your dog better walking manners along the way. Remember, the Blue Heeler Lab Mix is a working dog at heart, and he will be happiest when he has a job to do. Because the Blue Heeler Lab Mix is so smart, you may find that you will be successful in teaching him to help out with routine chores around the home. These chores could include bringing in the mail, sorting the laundry or helping load the dishwasher. KONGS filled with treats can help keep your dog busy and occupied, which can help reduce destructive behaviors. You can also invest in puzzle toys specifically designed for intelligent dogs like the Blue Heeler Lab Mix. Because Blue Heeler Lab Mix dogs can be prone to describe behaviors if left alone, you might consider crate training your dog, as we mentioned above. When done properly, crate training a Blue Heeler Lab MIx can help reduce anxiety and help calm your dog while you are away. Midwest ICrate Starter Kit. English nobles visiting Newfoundland, Canada spotted the St. A number of St. British breeders refined and standardized the breed in the latter half of the 19th century. The Australian Cattle Dog stands from 17 to 20 inches and weighs between 35 and 50 pounds. These dogs are strong, agile. They are compact but muscular. All puppies are born white. But their short, smooth coat will turn either blue-gray or red with distinctive mottling or specking patterns. This breed resembles the Australian Dingo with an intense gaze and erect ears. Labradors are a larger dog, standing from .The Lab is also an athletic breed with a well-balanced conformation. There are actually two types of Labradors. The American or field type. And the English show type, which is shorter and stockier with a wider head and thicker tail. Both types have kind, expressive eyes, ears that hang close to the head. And they both have a wide muzzle. They come in black, yellow, and chocolate colors. The Blue Heeler Lab mix tends to have a lighter frame, short coat and long muzzle. This means you can expect their offspring to shed a lot. Regular brushing will remove dead hair and help to keep it off your clothes and furniture. The Blue Heeler Lab mix will also require an occasional bath to keep him clean. Trimming nails and brushing teeth should also be a part of their grooming regimen. This can make them protective and suspicious of strangers. Some Blue Heelers have been known to show aggression towards people. Therefore, your Blue Heeler Lab mix that needs to be well socialized. They need to be introduced to a wide variety of people and pets from an early age. But with a mixed breed, there are no guarantees. As with appearance, there can be some temperamental differences between the working and show lines of the Labrador breed. Working or field types tend to be more sensitive and serious. Show type Labs are more outgoing and playful. Training The Labraheeler has two parents known for being intelligent and easy to train. This mixed breed will want to please you, but may also be independent and stubborn. However, both breeds are receptive to clicker training and positive reinforcement methods. Use encouraging words and tasty treats as rewards. Consistency is important. And you should start training and socialization early. Boredom will be the biggest obstacle for your Blue Heeler Lab mix to overcome with this smart and energetic hybrid breed. Exercise The Blue Heeler Lab mix combines two supremely energetic breeds. The Australian Cattle Dog in particular needs a job to keep him fit and happy. Without enough physical activity and mental stimulation to exhaust excess energy, they will likely turn to destructive behavior. The Blue Heeler Lab mix will not be satisfied with a leisurely walk in the park. Obedience, herding, tracking, or agility training are recommended to channel their natural instincts. Fun activities such as swimming, retrieving games, and other sporting activities are also good options. This is not a dog to keep in an apartment. As with all breeds, both parents are at risk for genetic health problems. In many cases, these health issues can be avoided by breeders doing proper health testing of their breeding stock. Problems that Affect Both Breeds There are a few conditions that affect both breeds: Progressive retinal atrophy , which causes loss of vision. Hip and elbow dysplasia , an abnormal formation of the hip socket, which can lead to arthritis. You should also be aware of and test for the health issues for each parent breed listed below. It occurs when abnormal cartilage separates from the bone. This inflammatory condition can affect the shoulder, elbow, hip, or knee. Deafness is a significant problem for the breed. This study of dogs found that .And 3. A congenital portosystemic shunt is an abnormal connection. Labrador Health Responsible breeders will screen their breeding stock for the following conditions: Hereditary myopathy , which is characterized by muscle weakness. Labradors are also at risk for lymphoma and epilepsy. Labradors are usually large and sport a double coat of either yellow, chocolate, and black fur. They can be as tall as 24 inches and weight up to 80lbs. On the other hand, Blue Heelers are usually medium sized, sporting either a blue or red fur. Blue Heelers are shorter and lighter than Labradors, with an average of 20 inches in height and 50 pounds in weight. Labrador Heeler mixes will most likely have both the color and patterns of either breed. Labradors are known for being friendly, loving, curious, and pleasing personalities, especially around children. They have a good laid back nature and love to work and are extremely intelligent. The Blue Heeler displays personality just as great as the Labradors, and they are highly loyal, smart, and protective. A Labrador Heeler mix may show a combination of a resilient and laid back personality. You can start with: Do a quick search online of who the reliable breeders in your area or someone is already selling one. Ask your friends for recommendations because at least you know the likelihood of you getting a good source is higher than getting the information from a stranger. Most often than not, a reliable breeder is more than willing to answer your questions, in order to give you peace of mind, and help you resolve any pre-existing conditions the pup may have. Breeders should be fully acquainted with the parents of the pup, and they should be aware of the health problems which your pup will most likely have because of their parents. Check out the breeding environment of the puppies. If it looks unclean and horrifying, run. You want to buy from someone who knows how to take care of dogs, and not from someone who runs a puppy mill. Ask for documentation. Any healthy dog requires a good grooming regime, and most often than not its physical manifestations is an indication of their health within. Moreover, this will also prevent extreme shedding which is most often than not an extreme inconvenience. Give baths as frequent as every other week to keep the coat clean and eliminate unwanted smells. A good bath helps to obtain a healthy skin and coat. Trim their nails in other to prevent unnecessary scratching incidents, especially on children. Brush them regularly to eliminate loose furs. Grooming your dog has a lot of benefits, and their outward appearance says a lot about how you take care of them. A dog such as the Labrador Heeler mix requires a good brushing, as they have a complex and beautiful coat color. You can expect that your Heeler Labrador mix will most likely have a life expectancy somewhere a long life span. Despite being healthy breeds, the health of a Labrador Heeler mix can be unpredictable. Applies to all dog food recalls in the U. In order to discover what the Labrador Heeler Mix health will be like, and understanding of the individual health conditions of their parent dog is necessary. Labradors are known to suffer from obesity, which often leads to other health problems like diabetes, arthritis, and thyroid problems. Blue Heelers, on the other hand, are more known to suffer from joint conditions and bone problems. Here are some health problems you need to watch out: Hip and Elbow Dysplasia — this is common among medium to large size dogs, and Labrador Heeler mix falls under this category size. Luckily, Dysplasia is preventable by feeding your dog a special diet to promote bone development. Lymphoma — this is one of the most common tumors in dogs, and is mostly seen in middle to older aged dogs. With this in mind, you need to be aware of the symptoms following the condition, such as the following: Anorexia or extreme weight loss; Difficulty in breathing; Abnormal thirst and excessive urine; Fever and inflammation of the body. Muscular Dystrophy — this is illness is usually inherited, and seen in newborn dogs. Hunched back or sway back. Heeler Lab Mix Food Requirements One of the best ways to keep your Labrador heeler mix healthy is by feeding them the right amount of the best dry dog food. You want to get that perfect balance because too little food and your pups may suffer from nutritional deficiencies, while overfeeding them may, later on, result in obesity and other health problems. This can also be the case if you serve your furry pal any of the worst dry dog food brands we found in the market. For a breed like the Blue Heeler Lab Mix, you want to stay away from overfeeding them as the breed is medium to large in size, and is prone to suffer from dysplasia. As a start, you can ask yourself these questions to guide you: What type of foods do you intend to feed them? Most products usually come with a serving guide to help you. How many times a day do you plan on feeding them? Some feed their dog as often as twice to four times a day. In general, most adult dogs eat at least two meals in a day, while puppies require three or more feedings. How much exercise in a day do they get? Whelps need more fat as they burn it faster due to higher levels of physical activity and growth so opting for some of the best puppy food brands would be the way to go. As they grow older, dogs should get more calories from protein and less from lipids, which is exactly what these best senior dry dog food brands provide. Feeding a medium to large size dog such as the Blue heeler lab mix requires special attention in their diet, most active medium breeds require a calorie dense and high protein diet to keep their energy. Food high in essential Omega 3 and 6, as well fatty acids are always a good place to start with their feeding. Here are some rules which you can subscribe to in feeding your Blue heeler lab mix. Feed them with quality or breed appropriate dog food. You can also start introducing them to a raw diet, which is healthier for your dogs in the long run. If you think that your dog is not getting enough macro- or micronutrients, talk to your vet and determine whether a food supplement would be a good idea. Thanks to carefully selected nutrients, food boosters such as Nutra Thrive dog food supplement can: Improve immunity Help the dog make the most of protein and fiber they consume. Here are some of the best selection of dog food to raise a healthy pup: Blue Buffalo — they offer high-quality dog foods and are made with ingredients for large breeds including proteins, grains, and fruits and vegetables. The ingredient is comprised of vitamins and minerals to ensure your dog gets all the nutrition he needs and contains glucosamine to support joint health. Dog For Dog Food — this brand offers a healthy and balanced diet as well as a range of tasty snacks your pooch will love to munch on between meals. Lab heeler Mix Exercise Requirements The Labrador Heeler mix is a highly energetic dog, and they require tons of exercise and activities to exhaust their energies. Bring your pups along for a quick run, and not just a brisk walk. The breed requires more than just a walk, and its best to expose them around dogs who they can play around with and tire themselves. Moreover, this is also a good idea for your pups to exposed to other dogs, to help them socialize and practice their instincts. If not, utilize their traits and get them involved with a task or work around the home. Blue Heelers are known to be stubborn, which is why having a firm and dominating hand will help with their training. Expose them through socialization with other people and dogs, to get them acquainted with other behaviors. Socializing is also a good component for your pups to learn how to temper their independence, stubbornness, and toughness. Be consistent during training and make sure to reward them for their good behavior or achievements. Do more than just obedience training and utilize their natural instincts. Instead of training them to be obedient dogs, train their great traits, such as their herding ability and their agility. Doing so helps promote and maintain their natural instincts. Some people make the mistake of training their dogs while being first time owners. Blue Heelers require training and exposure around children and families, in order to make them comfortable around children. Unlike Labradors, Heelers are better off with experienced dog owners. However, breeding the Heeler with Labradors may temper its personality, and make it a perfect family companion. On a lighter note, the Heeler Retriever mix shows the potential of being a great company for active families, as long as the proper training is provided. Us, too! This mix combines the outgoing friendliness of the Labrador Retriever with the tenacity of the Blue Heeler. Want to know more? Read on! To learn about the debate over purebreds versus mixed breeds, visit this page. A mixed breed dog can take after either parent, so look at the characteristics of each parent breed. So they needed good herding dogs for raising cattle. Thus, stockmen started breeding a quieter herding dog that could work in that hot, rough climate. They crossed Smithfields with dingoes and other breeds to create the right working dog. A Queensland man bred blue merle Scottish Highland Collies with dingoes. The resulting dog was later mixed with Dalmatians and the Black and Tan Kelpie. There, its ancestor, the St. Johns water dog, retrieved ducks and waterfowl. In the s, English nobles brought the dogs back to England to be standardized and refined. Labs were cross-bred with other dogs in a way that threatened their existence, but English aristocrats stepped in again and saved them. Blue Heelers are ranked .Labs make great therapy and service dogs because of their mellow, eager to please nature. Bluey, the oldest dog that ever lived, was a Blue Heeler. He was 29 when he died in ! Blue heelers are very hardy. One, when thrown off a boat, swam five miles to shore and hunted feral goats to survive on an island for four months! And yet another in Utah hang-glides with his owner. Sometimes, the mix is called a Labraheeler. Labs reach up to .Blue Heeler Appearance Blue Heelers are medium dogs that appear strong and compact, with pointed ears and a broad head and neck. Their color is blue, blue-mottled, or blue speckle without other markings. They may have black, blue, or tan markings on the head. Blue speckle means that light hair is clustered together evenly in the coat on a darker background. And blue mottle is made up of very small dark spots against a light background. Heelers may also be red, or red speckle, with darker red markings on the head. Tails are white, solid colors, ringed or patched. Blue Heelers range from inches in height. They weigh from lbs when grown. In a mixed breed pup, the whole range of parent weights and heights is possible. Many Blue Heeler Lab mix coats show the colors and patterns of both breeds, alternating, and perhaps with eye patches. They are loving and curious. Labs love people and are good with children because of their laid-back nature. They enjoy working, and they are active and intelligent. Blue Heeler Temperament Blue Heelers are smart, loyal and protective. They are naturally reserved. They are also sturdy and active dogs with a strong herding instinct. This means they may not be quite as good for families, especially less energetic ones. Blue heelers do better with experienced dog owners who can offer a yard for running. They can get very destructive if bored. A Blue Heeler Lab hybrid may be a bit more relaxed than the Blue Heeler but may show signs of headstrong behavior. Your Lab X Blue Heeler will benefit from running time with you! A quick walk will not cut it with this combination. Show strong, positive leadership to this mix, as it may take some of its temperament from the Blue Heeler side. Socialization is very important. Consistency is key. Your dog will want to please you, but can be a bit stubborn. Consider more than obedience training. Herding and agility activities are recommended to utilize their natural instincts. This not only helps your dog expend some energy but creates a dog-owner bond. Socialization is also key, so that their independence and toughness can be tempered. So expect a lifespan of years. Both are generally healthy breeds, and the good news is that they do not share a large number of congenital health issues. Nevertheless, the mixing of breeds always leads to some unpredictability. Lab Health Labs are prone to obesity and related issues such as diabetes, arthritis, and thyroid problems. Labradors can suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia, which affect the joints, and can get cancers such as lymphoma. Other genetic issues that may affect them include centronuclear myopathy canine muscular dystrophy , patellar luxation, exercise-induced collapse, and idiopathic epilepsy brain seizures. They may experience vision problems, including progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. They may also develop skin problems due to allergies. Blue Heeler Health Blue Heelers may suffer from joint conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, and osteochondritis dessicans, which causes excess cartilage and deficient bones. They can also suffer from a congenital portosystemic shunt of the liver, which causes failure to thrive. Blue Heelers may also experience different cancers and may develop orthopedic problems. They are prone to congenital hereditary sensorineural deafness. They may get eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy as well. Labradors are, by nature, good with families that have small children. Blue Heelers, however, are not, especially when not properly trained or socialized. They have been known to herd and nip children while using natural behaviors. Plus, a Blue Heeler requires a fair amount of experienced attention. Not only can this dog be destructive if left alone, it needs validation and activity from its pack that some busy families cannot provide. So, we cannot recommend the Blue Heeler to families. But mixing it with a Labrador might temper those guardian tendencies somewhat. Be patient. Try a breed specific shelter, which sometimes takes mixes as well. And you may not have the option of adopting a puppy. Ask your friends and social networks for recommendations, as well. Just make sure to fully vet organizations you contact through the Internet! If you can do so, visit. Avoid pet stores and puppy mills. If you want some advice on how to search for puppies, visit our category page on the subject. If so, check out our guides on the subject. We have lots of resources to help with specific training issues. In the Blue Heeler, biting is a natural behavior, so you might want to know about this. Check out our Puppy Training category for more! First, the cons. Blue Heelers need a lot of activity and are herders by nature. So your pup may have high exercise requirements and may nip as a natural herding behavior. This makes them less desirable for families. Additionally, these dogs require experienced dog owners who can handle their needs. But then, there are the pros. The Lab side may temper some of the Blue Heeler side, making for a more easygoing nature. Both are relatively healthy breeds, without too many inherited overlaps, which makes the mix hardy and likely to live long. We recommend first that you look at the parent breeds — Labrador Retrievers and Blue Heelers both make good pets for different kinds of people. Labradors especially are better for families and for less experienced dog owners. Also, look at other Lab mixes with similarly sized dogs, such as the Labradoodle or the Boxador. American Lattle Description The Labraheeler is not a purebred dog. The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses. He loves to steal your spot, lay his head on pillows and run loose in the country. The vet considers him a chocolate merle. I adopted him when he was five months old; he is 8 months old in this picture. He is a very smart animal. Within 1 week of having him he already knew sit, stay and lay. He also took to housetraining very quickly. Cannon is very energetic and loving. He loves to go romping around in the pasture and play with the other dogs. He has done very well with children; he won't nip or jump on them. I would say all in all, he is a very good dog and I wouldn't trade him for anything. In the picture above she is 8 months old, she is very loving, playful and full of energy. She needs to be taken out on walks at least twice a day , and have somewhere to run around. This kind of mixed breed needs to have lots of toys or they will chew things up bad quirk. Cannot be left alone!! Very good guard dog. Has a very big appetite. Does very well with children. I would have to say she is a bird or small animal chaser. Loves to chase squirrels and birds. Piper was very easy to train , she is very smart and has no problem following commands. She is about two years old in this picture. She can be very friendly but she can also act aggressive. Despite her barking and crazy behavior she is a sweet dog. She doesn't like male humans as much as she likes female humans. Sadie is very athletic but doesn't compete in anything because she doesn't get along well with other dogs. Eventually, she gets along with the dogs and will play with them. Sadie is an awesome dog!

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We start clipping puppy nails at 5 days old and continue every week thereafter. Our puppies associate clipping and brushing with attention and treats, and love it! Continue to make grooming a good time; be patient, reward with treats and praise while you clip nails and brush. Continue to clip nails every weeks, just a little tiny bit off each time! SUPPLIES Even if you plan to have your dog professionally groomed you will want to keep the following on hand: a good brush, comb, de-matting comb, nail clippers and blunt tip and thinning scissors. See our Puppy Prep Supply List page for links to our favorites. The hair that grows up from the bridge of the nose can cover your puppy's eyes and begin to obstruct his vision. You can trim this back using thinning scissors preferred or blunt tip scissors. Trim an inverted V shape across the nose on a diagonal. The thinning scissors will give a softer, less choppy look. Trim around the feet in a large circle, to keep the floppy look but remove the extra hair that your puppy is stepping on. While the adult coat is establishing, you will need to brush multiple times a week, this is the best time for your puppy's first professional trim. During this transition staying ahead of matting can become a challenge and you will see some shedding of the puppy coat as well. The Australian Labradoodle has beautiful furnishings that are unique to the breed and lend to its floppy, teddy bear like appearance. These furnishings should not be trimmed too short, and this is what gives some groomers trouble. Talk with your groomer and ask if they are familiar with the Australian Labradoodle groom as opposed to a regular Labradoodle, Poodle or Schnauzer groom. A picture is worth a thousand words so share pictures and the instructions below with your favorite groomer. Use scissors and thinning scissors only, never use clippers when trimming the head and face. The top of the head should round off to the ears, but be long and floppy 3. Outside of the eyes should be long. This is a part of the eyebrow and should taper down to meet the length of the front tip of the ear at the leather. The muzzle should be trimmed vertically, no horizontal lines should show. The entire muzzle should have a layered round shape if you are looking straight at it-like the base of a fat pineapple! Chin should be trimmed as part of the round muzzle no long beard 6. Ears should be trimmed to the leather around the edge and layered long and natural looking. Fur inside and just under the ear should be trimmed short to promote air flow. Fur in between the eyes should be trimmed to have a soft, natural look - not choppy. The body should be trimmed to loosely follow the dog's shape, to create a free flowing and natural look. Legs should be trimmed to look like a column, so the foot is not seen. The fur around the legs may be longer than the rest of the body to create this appearance. Fur underneath the foot should be trimmed flat against the bottom of the foot. TAIL 1. The tail should be brushed out and trimmed to match the coat on the legs; long, neat, and full. Sep 8, Share The Labradoodle is a hybrid breed, a cross between the loyal Labrador and the posh Poodle, and has become a popular designer breed in the last few decades. They were first bred in Australia in the late s in an effort to produce a hypoallergenic guide dog and sparked a designer breed revolution. While they are low-shedding dogs, their thick coats still need regular grooming and brushing, plus a haircut every few months. Here are seven of the best haircuts for Labradoodles this year that your pooch will love! The cut is named for its resemblance to the coat that it would have naturally as a puppy. It not only looks great but is also functional, and your pooch can go for a few months without any knotting, matting, or needing another haircut. This cut gives them an adorable Teddy Bear look. It takes a fair bit more maintenance, though, and will need to be done fairly regularly, as the coat is left slightly longer. This cut was originally designed for Poodles and other breeds with curly coats but works great with Labradoodles too. The coat on their legs is left slightly long and fluffy, while the body and head are sheared short. The ears are left long, giving your pooch an adorable lamb-like appearance. This cut requires slightly more skill to perform but is a great low-maintenance style to keep your Labradoodle knot-free. It is also the go-to style if your pooch is covered in matting and knots that cannot be brushed out. It is a head-turning cut for sure and has become a popular choice among Labradoodle owners. It will keep your Labradoodle cool but still allow for an adorable wavy and curly coat to comb through. Similar to a Kennel Cut but slightly longer, the Short Clip is also ideal for warmer weather. Your Labradoodle is shaved all around to about 1 inch long, except the ears, in some cases. This cut is great for summer and minimizes the need for brushing and grooming, and your pooch will be knot-free for several months. Can you groom a Labradoodle on your own? With the correct equipment and time and patience, you can take grooming your Labradoodle into your own hands. Make sure their eyes are free from hair so they can see properly, and keep their ears fairly short to prevent matting. Be sure to take care around these sensitive areas, especially with scissors. Some dogs love to be groomed, while others will run a mile. This has nothing to do with breeds or genetics and everything to do with correct training. For dogs that have long coats that need regular grooming, try and get them accustomed to the process from as young an age as possible. Make the process something to forward to, with treats as rewards and tons of praise! Do Labradoodles Need Haircuts? You might be interested in these products:. Teddy Bear Cut The Teddy Bear cut is the most popular Labradoodle hairstyle and is the basic haircut that lots of Labradoodle parents choose. If you choose a short clip, it will last longer and is more practical if your dog enjoys swimming or running through undergrowth. Also, the shorter the cut , the less laborious it is to brush. This style of haircut includes a clipped, non-feathered tail cut, a round feet trim, and a face and ear trim. This short, practical hairstyle is ideal for preventing matting and can help to save daily brushing time for a busy pet parent. Summer Cut Image Source: www. This style of clip is ideal for dogs that suffer from severe tangles and matting. Short hairstyle options are often chosen at the start of the summer months when the weather starts to heat up, and the dog is more susceptible to overheating. Pet parents usually allow the coat to grow out over the summer so that the fur is long and thick by the time the cooler weather arrives. Ideally, you need a special table that the dog can stand on while you clip him and a good quality set of clippers. Again, this is a hot weather haircut that you need to do only when the warmer weather arrives. Also, if you have a Labradoodle with a high activity level, a short summer cut can be the best choice of clip for your pet. To maintain this cut, you need to brush it every couple of days or more frequently if you decide to leave the coat longer. Puppy Haircut Image Source: thegroomersspotlight. This style of hairdo includes a round feet trim, a face and ear trim, and a clipped feathered tail cut. When it comes to coat care, you need to brush your dog every day. Mohawk Image Source: www. The head hair is left 2 to 4 inches in length. Kennel Cut Image Source: www. Basically, the Kennel cut is an all-over clip where all but 1 inch of the hair is removed. That makes grooming and bathing your dog quick and easy. Lamb Cut The Lamb cut is another extremely popular Labradoodle hairstyle. Lion Cut Image Source: www. Labradoodle Hairstyle Ideas Here are a few more Labradoodle hairstyle ideas for you to consider next time you take your furry friend to the professional groomers. Short Cuts Just like both their Poodle parent and retriever parent, Labradoodles are active dogs that enjoy an outdoorsy lifestyle. These pups are born swimmers and love nothing more than to dive into a muddy pond or lake. Follow that with a few hours romping along trails and chasing squirrels through the undergrowth, and you quickly have a stinky, filthy dog! Long Hair Cuts Image Source: www. Wavy Hair Cuts There are plenty of hairstyles that suit Labradoodles with wavy coats. Curly Hair Cuts Curly coats are super-cute! If you have a Labradoodle with a curly coat, the world is your oyster when it comes to choosing a suitable hairstyle for your pet. Of course, we advise taking professional groomer advice, as curly coats do need lots of regular brushing to keep them tangle-free and looking tidy. Tail Styles A beautifully coiffured tail provides the ultimate tail-wagging, finishing touch to every Labradoodle clip. Here are the two most popular choices of tail trim that you might want to try. Flag Tail Image Source: www. The tail is trimmed so that it looks like a waving pennant with the hair long close to the base and shortest at the tip. Plume Tail Image Source: www. Basically, the hair is left to grow naturally from the base of the tail to the tip and is combed out so that it looks like a plume. Face Styles Every Labradoodle suits a different haircut, just like people! This kind of hairstyle generally suits Labradoodles that have curly or wavy coats, effectively forming a kind of doggy afro! Clean Face Image Source: www. Also, this face trim can be used with most other styles of body clip. Mustache And Goatee The Mustache and Goatee is a really cute look that many Doodle owners opt for when having their pets clipped. With this cut, the face is shaved clean, but the beard and mustache are left on. Different Types of Labradoodles So, a Labradoodle is a mixed dog breed. But did you know that an Australian Labradoodle is a different dog altogether from its American cousin? A Breeding Challenge Although first created in , the Labradoodle was made popular in the s. A client needed a sight dog, but he also suffered terribly from pet allergies. Now, the Labrador retriever had long been used as the go-to dog for visually impaired people, but these dogs are not hypoallergenic. Although every dog sheds dander, which causes allergies in sensitive people, Poodles shed much less than other breeds. So, Conron came up with the idea to cross a Labrador with a Poodle and thus created the first modern Labradoodle. Australian Labradoodle Vs. Like other Doodle crossbreeds, Labradoodles have one pure Labrador parent and one pure Poodle parent. These dogs are referred to as first-generation or F1 Labradoodles. In contrast, Australian Labradoodles can be made up of a mixture of up to six different breeds, including: Labrador. While the adult coat is establishing, you will need to brush multiple times a week, and I find this the best time to give your pet his first trim. It will be difficult to keep up with the matting in the longer coat, but with a trim, it is very manageable, and the beauty of the adult coat is better realized. Once your dog gets to 12 to 14 months, the adult coat will be fully established, and this is the coat you can expect to work with for your dog's adult life. I find that the picture to the right will help to clarify the instructions you will need to convey for your dog's face. It is best to print this picture and take it with you to the groomer. A three-fourths inch blade don't go shorter than one-half inch will keep your dog's coat nice and full but give a smooth consistent length all over. If you like your dogs coat longer, your groomer should have a guard they can use to achieve this. The legs are typically just a little longer than the rest of the coat if you trim the coat to three-fourths inch. FEET: The feet will need a "slipper" cut to achieve the floppy, full leg look. The leg will look like a column. TAIL: The tail needs to be de-matted and trimmed. It is also important to have the hair removed, either trimmed or pulled, inside the dog's ears. Click the grooming picture for an enlarged, printable version and take it with you to your groomer! If you click and purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn More Australian Labradoodle grooming does not differ much from other Doodles. Like any other Doodle breed, Australian Labradoodles can be rather high maintenance when it comes to maintaining their beautiful, luscious locks. Naturally, keeping up with the brushing and haircuts can take up quite a considerable amount of time, and of course, money. These are the most popular Australian Labradoodle haircut styles that you can try out on your Doodle. Different groomers may have different ideas of what the following types of cuts are. If any of these pictures represent what you want your Australian Labradoodle to look like, be sure to bookmark this page for easy access when dropping them off at the groomer! Shorter on the body while slightly rounder and longer on the face and legs, the Australian Labradoodle teddy bear cut gives your pup the signature Doodle look. The key similarities are shorter hair on the body while the face and ears are kept longer. On the other hand, the puppy cut is usually easier to achieve and maintain. How do you brush an Australian Labradoodle? The good thing is that you can absolutely groom your Australian Labradoodle yourself! At home grooming sessions are a great way to bond with your four-legged friend. Not to mention, grooming your Australian Labradoodle at home is a lot less expensive than taking your pup to a professional groomer every month or two. The costs can add up pretty quickly! However, it is worth mentioning that Australian Labradoodle grooming does require a little bit of practice, patience, and technique. To make the process a lot smoother for you, here are a few useful tips: Have your grooming tools at hand. You can typically expect to spend around hours on grooming. Naturally, Mini Australian Labradoodle haircuts will take you less time than grooming a larger Doodle. Always thoroughly brush your pup before and after giving them a haircut. If possible, leash your dog to keep them still and sound. Groom outside, in a garage, or bathroom, where you can easily clean up all the loose hair. This applies to everything — brushing, hair trimming, and nail clipping. Set the mood and tone. Always use positive reinforcement, praise your pup and talk to them, you can also have a few treats close by to keep them occupied. Additionally, you might want to put on some relaxing tunes to calm your Doodle. Introduce the grooming tools by letting your dog smell them beforehand. This is a great method to reduce anxiety and fear. We recommend you brush your Dood daily or at least every other day. Doodles like the Australian Labradoodle are inevitably high maintenance, as their hair is prone to matting. Most Australian Labradoodles come with either a wool or fleece coat. The first one is usually non-shedding, while the second one might shed very little or none at all. However, some Australian Labradoodles can inherit the hair coat, which is typically straight or with slight waves, and tends to shed more than the other two coat types. Otherwise, you might notice that your pup leaves around a trail of dead hair. In addition to that, poor nutrition and stress can also contribute to shedding in Australian Labradoodles. You should also regularly bathe your Doodle. If necessary, use an anti-shedding dog shampoo. Haircuts Haircuts are an important part in the Australian Labradoodle grooming routine. Their hair can grow rather quickly, which can result in a dull, unkempt look. Additionally, we also recommend you trim the hairs inside the ears to avoid ear infections. For instance, when using a clipper, always make sure that the clipper blades do not get too hot. This also applies to scissors. A comb is also great for brushing the hair on those hard-to-reach and more delicate areas like eyes, ears, face, and paws. Here we have reviewed the best dog scissors for Doodles. Tool 5: Thinning Shears — Dog shears a. With this handy tool, be prepared to give your pup salon-quality haircuts at home, as they will seamlessly blend in the different lengths of hair while avoiding that unprofessional choppy look. These will help you brush through thick Australian Labradoodle hair with no fuss. Tool 7: Shampoo — A great shampoo is your best ally for scrubbing that thick Australian Labradoodle coat clean from the roots. There are lots of different dog shampoos available on the market to choose from — for skin sensitivities and allergies, to dander and odor control. Our guide on the best vet approved dog ear cleaners features lots of products you can use at home. Although it might seem like a stretch, a grooming table actually has many great purposes. Mainly, to keep you pup safe and still while you groom them, and to provide you more comfort during the process. How often does an Australian Labradoodle need a haircut? When is it time to groom an Australian Labradoodle? Similarly to other Doodles, taking care of the infamous Australian Labradoodle coat is not for the faint-hearted. Irregular brushing will most definitely lead to matted hair. This in turn can lead to painful spots, skin irritations and infections. And so on. ! Teeth Brushing: once or twice weekly. There are a few brushes that we recommend for grooming an Australian Labradoodle. You should opt for a slicker brush, a pin brush, or both! Arguably, the most popular brush for Australian Labradoodle grooming is a high quality slicker brush, which has many purposes. We absolutely love the Chris Christensen slicker and pin brushes, which we talk more about in this article. Thanks to their signature Doodle looks, Australian Labradoodles can often grow super long eyebrows. Some Australian Labradoodles do come with a shedding coat, which mostly comes down to their genetics and coat type. Oftentimes, Australian Labradoodles with straight or slightly wavy hair might shed some. However, shedding can also be caused by rarely brushing, bathing too little, poor diet, or stress. To conclude, we hope you learned some interesting new tips and tricks on how to groom your pup at home. Australian Labradoodle grooming is not as difficult as it sounds. You just need to learn the know-how, have some patience, and get some practice. Hopefully the Australian Labradoodle haircuts we showed you in this article will inspire your next at home grooming session! Parents of Australian Labradoodles: What are your best kept Australian Labradoodle grooming hacks you implement at home? Let us know in the comments below! The information on this page is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional groomer advice. Always seek the advice of your groomer, veterinarian, or other qualified animal health provider with any questions you may have. You Might Also Like.

Imagine you could come home to a lovable, dedicated, companion for life! If you knew what to look for when buying a German Shepherd puppy, you could find your next best friend. Before you buy your new best friend, read this information so you know what to look for in buying a healthy, quality German Shepherd puppy. I group them into major categories. Will you show him in conformation? Do you want to work with him in Schutzhund or herding? Or do you want a confident and alert companion? Know exactly what you want from your puppy. These dogs are the least costly since they have a trait that prevents them from winning in conformation competitions. These flaws rarely matter to most pet owners. And many minor faults like flat withers or slightly smaller offset ears will probably go unnoticed by most owners. The vast majority of GSDs are family pets. These dogs make great pets as long as they have sound temperaments! They breed some dogs for certain traits that are highly desirable but considered a fault. For example, long-coat or plush-coat GSDs. Show-quality dogs have good temperament and health. You usually buy them for their breed standard qualities that make them able to compete in confirmation or show events. A show-quality dog may cost significantly more if they have the traits desirable to win at a show. This group comes from Championship show lines with a long history of winning. If you plan on showing your Shepherd this is the quality you want. Beware of any breeder who claims they only raise competition-quality dogs. Even the best breeders produce many pet-quality dogs and if a breeder says they only breed perfect dogs, this is a red flag to not buy from them. The GSD is a herding breed, and the working-quality dogs excel at working trials such as scent competitions and Schutzhund. Other work includes climbing and jumping competitions or searching and tracking. They need mental stimulation to keep them occupied and take a lot of time to handle properly. These dogs are better with experienced handlers since you use them for high drive working and competition. They require hours and years of training and preparation for you to have total control during competition. We base this decision on preference. With the correct upbringing and training, both sexes are loyal companions and good with children. They may grow into more dominant dogs, so a confident handler is more desirable. Males may hike their back legs to mark their territory. This can occur on any object — chairs, walls, couches or even your leg. I suggest an extra bout of socialization during this stage, especially with other well-behaved dogs. So they may be better for the first-time owner. Unspayed females come into season every 6 months, so they must receive monitoring and watch to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Their season time can vary from as little as every 4 months to every 9 months. They can attract males to your property and on walks that will harass them if not spayed. Certain breeders and organizations will deal only in a certain coat length and color. The standard coat length is a short coat with double layers. Guard hairs on the top cover a softer underlayer of hair that provides warmth and protection. But there are many coat lengths available depending on your liking. Look online at the different GSD coat lengths to get an idea of what type of fur you want your dog to have. The longer the fur the more grooming involved. The color you choose is a matter of individual taste. Keep in mind the color of many Shepherds alters from their puppyhood to around 2 years of age. Your dog may become lighter or darker. Perhaps they will lose some of their markings as the color fades into the adult pattern. The best way to know what color and patterns your dog grows into is to see the parents of the litter. If the father is unavailable, then ask for photos. Why should you care where your dog comes from if you only want him as a pet companion? You want to get a dog that will live a long and healthy life from a source that has quality puppies. These tips will help you make the best decision on what type of pup fits in your life. Newspaper and Internet Classified Ads Newspaper and internet ads are in abundance. Many backyard breeders hide behind ads online or in local papers. But some breeders who use newspapers and classified ads are reputable and knowledgeable. The problem is you need to visit them to find out, and this can take time to sift through them all. Try the following more reputable suggestions to save yourself time. Dog Care Professionals Ask dog professionals for recommendations. Check with your local veterinarian, groomer, and boarding kennel personnel if they know reputable breeders in town. These professionals are good sources of quality leads. Use the same caution that you will for a classified ad. Verify their suggestions. Many of these organizations regularly receive puppies they need to re-home. While you might not know the full pedigree of the dog, purebred GSDs find themselves in shelters and rescues from no fault of their own. These organizations are a good resource for your first pup. Before adopting, find out as much information as you can. Was the puppy exposed to children? Did he live with other dogs or cats? A well-organized shelter or rescue helps you choose a German Shepherd match for your lifestyle. Start with looking online for GSD rescues and local shelters. Dog Clubs Dog clubs are local and national. These groups put you into contact with registered breeders through their own programs. They can give you the name of the GSD club contact closest to you for breed contacts. Dog clubs also have dog shows open to the public. This is a good time to watch the breed in action and to ask around for quality breeders. While using a dog club to connect you with a reputable breeder is not the only choice, it is one of the more reliable. If you are using a breeder to choose your German Shepherd puppy, this section will help you know the good from the bad. Use these tips to stay safe. Are selling overpriced or under-priced dogs. Lie to you and say you can make money off your new puppy by breeding them, despite them having flaws. Tells you that the GSD is a dog for everyone, with no disadvantages. Breeds multiple types of dogs and claims to be an expert on them all. If a breeder lets their mothers get pregnant more than once a year, this affects the quality of the puppies, so ask how many litters the mother has. These breeders selling unhealthy puppies also will refuse to take bag their dogs if you need to return them for any reason and have no contracts. They have healthy puppies and will answer your questions and have you make multiple visits. Openly show you where the mother and pups spend their time, including their garden or yard. Tells you the up and downs of owning the breed. Have all pedigree and vet paperwork on hand for your review. Specializes in breeding only GSDs source. They openly share this information with you. They have screened their dogs for health issues and can confirm this with documentation which they proudly give you a copy. Healthy mothers are given rest from breeding, and a reputable breeder gives their mothers time off from reproduction. Ask if your breeder if they are willing to take back their dogs if you cannot keep them, as this is standard for a quality breeder with a good reputation. Make sure your breeder has a written contract with detailed information and health guarantees. These are expected for safe breeding practices. How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy Following this guide gives you the best chance of buying a German Shepherd puppy that suits your lifestyle. Know what you want from your GSD and where to find quality dogs. Learn what to look for when buying a German Shepherd puppy to stay safe from a sick pup and a bad breeder. German Shepherds have their own unique set of challenges. They are a large, active, and intelligent breed that requires an understanding owner who is willing to train their GSD using positive techniques. Devote yourself to their overall health to see the best results and help give you and your dog a lifetime of happiness. Remember, your pup will need mental stimulation to keep their brain active , a gentle exercise program , and need daily love and affection. Buying a German Shepherd puppy is a choice for your whole life that will bring you many years of joy and excitement! Found this helpful? Share it! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Are you at home to devote time and training to their growth? What open space environment is your home? German Shepherds are on the no dog list in apartment buildings. Do you have a family with other pets? Also, a good breeder will ask you why do you want this particular breed? The breeder should be concerned that a German Shepherd puppy is being placed within the best living environment. Here are some insights to help you bring home the perfect German Shepherd puppy: Types of German Shepherd Puppies Pure-bred German Shepherd puppies are available in a variety of colors and built. The typical description is light brown and black. Black: Rare and beautiful. Their coloring is either all black or a deep dark bluish hair tint. Panda: their coloring consists of black, white, and tan. This is their natural coloring, not contributed to being a mixed breed. Sable: A unique coloring of this breed consists of light black, grey, tan, or gold. As puppies, the Sable German Shepherd puppies are fully tan. As they age, fur begins to develop stronger natural colors. White: No, this German Shepherd breed is not due to albino coloring. Though rate, white is their natural coloring. This German Shepherd puppy will be smaller in size, whether male or female. The reason for this question is that German Shepherds are intelligent and engaging breeds. They can be trained to thrive in any situation and climate. Their ability to cope in any situation is amazing. German Shepherds make great companions, protective family pets, and they are hard workers. Knowing how to choose a German Shepherd puppy, you are wondering what things you should look for. In other words, you are looking to see if it has a good temperament. German Shephard puppies demand and exhibit affection rather aggressively. Parental Traits If you are choosing a puppy from a kennel or a breeder, inquire about its parental background. You want to know if both parents were healthy and friendly. Carefully Examine the Puppy You want to look again for a puppy that is active and healthy. To choose the best German Shepherd puppy, you must become an amateur canine detective and examine the puppy closely. Here are things to look for: A German Shepherd puppy should not look thin. Instead, they should look full-bodied. Their eyes should appear bright and clear. Also, you must invade their personal space by examining their butt area to make sure it is clean. Their nose should be clean and not runny. Their teeth and gums look healthy. Their hair coat should not have bald spots and should not be matted. Your German Shepherd puppy should be free from odors. Pick a puppy that has a good gait, and their tail is up and actively wagging. All puppies need their mothers when they are very young. A German Shepherd puppy can be purchased when they are between the ages of eight and twelve weeks old. If you decide on an older puppy, just make sure that it has retained its socialization skills with both people and other animals. Make sure that the puppy has gotten all its vaccinations and deworming medication. However, within 48 hours of purchase, take your German Shepherd puppy to your vet for a complete exam. The Kennel or Breeder Environment Whether you are purchasing your German Shepherd puppy from a kennel or a private seller, look at the conditions of both. How does the kennel look to you? Both kennels and private breeder yards should be clean, and all puppies should have clean water. Please do not buy a German Shepherd puppy from a breeder where the conditions are unclean. How Instinctive Are You? Many potential dog-owners state that they knew that this was the one when they first saw their puppy. We all have instincts; therefore, you will know what the right buying environment is when you look at the puppies. If you get a feeling that something is not right, leave and find a different breeder. When you purchase your German Shepherd puppy and bring that bundle of joy home, you want to feel confident that you have made the best decision. After all, the relationship with your German Shepherd puppy can last easily for up to thirteen years. Male vs. Female German Shepherd There are many people who only choose a German Shepherd puppy because of their gender or appearance. What is most important in purchasing any puppy is their physical and mental stability. Gender and looks should never be a deciding factor when choosing a dog that will live in your family for the next 12 years or more. Please perform thorough breeder research so that you can choose the right German Shepherd puppy that will fit into your living lifestyle for years to come. Do you want to select a female puppy for future breeding? If not, both your male and female German Shepherd puppy should be spayed and neutered. Female German Shepherds are found to have a sweeter temperament than their male counterparts. Male German Shepherds are more territorial. They also are a little more stubborn and proud. Male German Shepherds are generally larger than their female counterparts. The male can grow to a height range of up to 26 inches. Meanwhile, the female can grow to a height of up to 24 inches tall. Their weight will range from a full-bodied 75 to 95 pounds. When you are trying to decide whether to purchase a male vs. They make excellent watchdogs. Socialize Therefore, if you are going to be around other individuals each day, your German Shepherd puppy must be trained to accept people outside their family unit. Introduce your German Shepherd puppy to strangers so that they will feel comfortable in front of people. By introducing them to strangers, will help them stay calm. They do not like to be left alone for too long. Because they were originally bred for herding, German Shepherds have high energy and thus require physical and mental stimulation. Make sure you have the time and patience to own a German Shepherd puppy. In patiently taking time with their active habits, it will work out to your benefit. They become loyal and loving breeds, especially when raised in a family setting. Remember the TV show Dog Whisperer? The host always referred to a dog requiring a pack leader. German Shepherds must learn that you are the pack leader. If not, they will take the dominant lead, and this is not good. They must be trained and actively exercised to be happy. German Shepherds love to explore and investigate everything. If you live in an area where there are porcupines, lookout. Young German Shepherd puppies will probably come home with quills all over their body. Well, you would be wrong. A German Shepherd puppy will want to correct this wrong and approach another porcupine! Grooming a German Shepherd puppy is simple and easy. Yes, they do shed year-round, so brush them occasionally. But mostly keep their nails trimmed, their teeth and ears cleaned. Dog breeders believe that to help your new German Shepherd puppy adjust from a litter to your new home, they should be crate trained. They need to feel safe and comfortable. Crate training is a learning experience for a German Shepherd puppy, but it eventually helps them get used to a family who perhaps must go off to work every day. Further Reading. Do further research into these local German Shepherd breed clubs in your area. Whether you get information from their websites or contact them directly for help, local breed clubs are a great way to get the names of reputable breeders in your area. Veterinarians come into contact with a lot of different types of animal care-givers, from breeders to shelters to individual owners. Because they know so much about animal issues in the community, it's a good idea to talk to a few vets in your area for ethical breeder recommendations. Also consider speaking to other German Shepherd owners, dog groomers, or dog trainers. If you visit a breed show, talk to owners and trainers about who they've had good or bad experiences with. A good breeder won't have a variety of breeds available for adoption. Look for a breeder who specializes only in German Shepherds. Your best option is to find a breeder who has years of experience with the German Shepherd breed. They should be able to answer your questions about development, temperament, and training easily and without hesitation. A key marker of a good breeder is the amount of effort they put into early socialization. Puppies need to be taught from an early age to live harmoniously with humans. If a breeder keeps litters isolated away from the home, the puppies will not be used to the sights and sounds of a normal household, and won't be used to human interaction. This can become a problem by the time they are old enough to be adopted. Make sure the puppies spend at least some time in the breeders' home with them. The more time they spend with humans, the more you can trust the breeder. An ethical breeder will never try to breed a female who hasn't reached sexual maturity — about 2 years of age. Mothers should also be given enough time to recover from pregnancies and being separated from their litters as they get adopted. Females should be healthy and alert. Never adopt a puppy from a breeder who breeds a young or unhealthy female, or who doesn't give mothers time to recover before breeding them again. Puppies should never be sold or separated from their mothers before 8 weeks of age. The breeder should have begun the puppies' vaccination and deworming processes before adopting them out. Make sure that's happened, and ask about any health problems the vet may have reported in these early checkups. Ask if the breeders have their dogs tested for the Degenerative Myelopathy DM gene. This can determine whether a common inherited disease in German Shepherds is present in the litter's bloodline. Dogs with DM suffer from progressive paralysis, particularly in the hind legs. Note that being AKC-registered does not mean that you are getting a healthy animal. It means that the owner paid money to the AKC to register the dog. While experts recommend against breeding animals with known genetic problems, an OFA certification will give you proof. Be aware, though, that there's no guarantee of health in any animal. There's always a chance that two dogs free of known genetic diseases can still produce a puppy with genetic problems. The breeder should be evaluating you as a potential owner, just as you're evaluating him or her as a breeder. No good breeder will just hand over a puppy without being sure that the new owners will be able to provide it with a good, healthy life. Ask the breeder what they look for in a good owner, and whether they've ever turned potential owners away. The breeder should be able to answer these questions without even having to think about it. You might also ask the breeder for references so you can contact other families who have dogs from previous litters. A reputable breeder should ask questions about your dog background and experience, your lifestyle, and your family to guide you in making the best decision. As difficult as it may be, a good breeder will be willing to turn you away if they think you're a bad fit for their particular puppies. For example, if the litter has particularly inactive parents, the puppies may not be a good fit for your highly active lifestyle. If you get turned away, ask if the breeder can point you to other options and litters so you can expand your search. Also ask if they have any unborn litters coming up that may be a better fit for you. Be patient and don't get discouraged. With enough patience and legwork, you'll find the right puppy. Don't lie to a breeder just to get a puppy, though. Trust the breeder's decision-making process. You don't want to end up with a dog who doesn't fit your needs. Avoid any breeder who offers to cut you a "deal," who has unclean or smelly kennels, or who acts suspiciously in any way. Trust your instincts. A breeder who's in it just for the money has the wrong motivation, and likely isn't interested in the welfare of their dogs. Make sure the dogs are not crowded into cages. They should have plenty of room to stumble around and explore their surroundings. Part of the time, puppies should be kept in the home to expose them to household environments. There should be adequate food and water for all animals on the premises. Kennels should be cleaned daily. Although it may be that a dog had an accident just before you arrived, be suspicious of a kennel that looks like it hasn't been cleaned recently. If a breeder doesn't have a return policy, it suggests they don't really care what happens to their dogs once they leave their property. That's not a good sign! Also find out what kind of documentation you would get with your puppy. Would you get registration papers and pedigree papers? Negotiate for what you want if it's not included in the contract. Be very wary of a breeder who will not discuss the chance that a puppy may need to be returned. Does the contract require you to take the puppy for a vet visit within a set time? Does it cover hereditary issues for life? For only a certain period of time? What does the breeder agree to offer? Trade for another puppy when one is available? Are there restrictions on the activities you can do with your dog that will invalidate the contract or guarantee? Are you purchasing a show prospect puppy or a pet quality animal? Does the breeder have strong feelings or even bans about the vaccinations, foods or supplements for your puppy? Are these opinions based on solid science? Of course, you have already read a lot of books with advice on how to choose the right puppy of a German Shepherd, east European, as well as a Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Spaniel, or Spitz puppy. You understand what is the fundamental difference between these breeds and why a Retriever puppy will never become a VIP bodyguard, and a black terrier will hardly ever pass for a draft husky. Why Opting For a German Shepherd Puppy Is a Good Choice The German Shepherd is prone to learning from a very young to deep old age, while many other breeds cannot boast of this, even if their appearance is more perfect than that of a German Shepherd. The most well-known characteristics that a German Shepherd owns are: pronounced protective and guarding instinct; the ability to make independent decisions, and active actions, and at the same time be completely submissive to the owner; sociability, playfulness, and curiosity; lack of aggression signs towards others and deep affection for the owner; a willingness to happily take on tasks, learn, and remain completely fearless when faced with unfamiliar surroundings or unforeseen difficulties; In addition, the Shepherd dog is calmly confident and features strong nerves, combativeness, and assertiveness which are the main qualities of a good service dog. Perhaps, due to this set of breed characteristics, few larger and more ferocious breeds can compete with a GS, both for guarding the house and as a personal protector. It is not recommended to take puppies under 4 weeks old from their mother. This applies not only to GSs but other breeds. At the age of one month, the baby has already been given all the necessary vaccinations. However, only a person who can devote a lot of time to raising a puppy can afford to take a Shepherd at such a young age. In addition to 6 meals a day, and socialization, the new owner will need to complete 1, different tasks, which require, above all, a lot of time. If there is no time, it is worth finding a puppy aged 4 to 6 months. And it is advisable to take such a teenager from a nursery that focuses on breeding German Shepherds and not all the breeds at once. It happens that a puppy stays in the nursery because the money deposit was given for it but, for some reason, people could not pick up the reserved puppy. If the grown-up German Shepherd puppy constantly lived in an aviary and was deprived of close contact with people and the outside world, owners who have not previously dealt with this breed should not choose such a youngster. These young dogs are for experienced cinologysts. Lack of socialization can be corrected but it cannot be fully eliminated. Testing for the Puppy and Its Future Owner You may already know how to choose a purebred German Shepherd by external signs under the age of 3 months. Simple tests will help you choose a puppy with the desired character. Visit the breeder at a predetermined time when the puppies do not sleep or, conversely, are not hungry. You are taking a future friend for life, and enthusiastic emotions with such a choice are inappropriate. When buying a new friend, inspect the litter meticulously. Pay attention to the following: eyes do not water; traces of diarrhea under the tails are not observed; wet noses are without purulent crusts; legs are straight and strong; fur is clean, reminding of the plush; on the skin under the coat, there are no signs of peeling and scabs; all puppies are active and well-fed; the body is elastic and strong to the touch; the puppy has a pleasant dog smell; the mother is not exhausted; bowls and bedding are clean; there is enough heat and light. Of course, the owner of the dog mother has already taken her to the next room. Those who paid attention to the unusual sound are yours. Throw carefully, of course a tennis ball at the puppies. Those who were not afraid and did not try to escape are yours. Those who, having scouted the situation, did not begin to whine , pressing themselves onto the floor, but hurried towards the bedding are yours. Pay attention to those who have shown interest in a new object. The best are those who took and dragged it. Keys and money are the dirtiest household items. This testing method was used 20 years ago. Today, it is dangerous for the health of puppies! Invite those who dragged the rubber duck to pull a piece of fabric. If the baby dog willingly starts the fight, not letting the cloth go when you pull it towards you, they are good boys or girls. Turn the puppy you like on its back and hold it with an open palm for a few seconds. A clear alpha leader is easy to identify by its non-calming behavior for seconds, and even trying to bite you in this position. It may not be your choice! You will get too many problems associated with the puppy, or it will never be possible to completely subdue it. The puppy that squealed, pulled back its paw, and did not lose its interest in you is yours. The one who barks trying to drive brothers and sisters away from the bowl is not for you. The one who gives up its place at the feeder is also not yours. Yours is the one who, regardless of the obstacles, has taken its place and calmly devours food, without moving from its point, snapping, and running around the bowl. Now, you have at best 2 or 3 puppies left in front of you. You need to select the fat-footed one who will try to get out through the opening without panic and squealing. The tests are simple, but they will allow you to select a good puppy and raise a real working German Shepherd from it without unnecessary costs and nerves. Talk to the breeder. Such puppies are sold at a more reasonable price, but the puppy card for them is mandatory to be filled out as well. If you are given puppies for free, in the absence of their mother, there is a reason to seriously consider whether it is a Shepherd dog at all, even if their mother has pedigree documents. This is not a dog of one owner! The versatility and flexibility of this breed are proven by the fact that GSs accept a new family and a new environment without any problems. The main thing for it is to have its own business — to serve a human! Of course, parting with the former owner seriously affects the condition of the dog, but it will not have a destructive effect on its psyche. And the sooner you engage the German Shepherd in work, the more chances you will have to become a new God for it. If the German Shepherd was properly brought up and grew up surrounded by people, it has working characteristics in good conditions, and the reputation of its previous owner is beyond all questions, such a dog will be quite useful to your family. Finding out the previous story and background of an adult GS why it is refused, what the complaints about its behavior are, and other prompting questions is a must! The reason may be the saddest and most trivial — the previous owner died, and relatives are not able to either support or care for the dog. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. November 8, In search of a new forever best friend? Not sure what puppy breed works best for you and your family? The German Shepherd Dog, one of the top ten popular breeds in the United States, is known for their regal appearance, bravery, intelligence, and noble character. They are hard-working dogs that fit into a variety of service jobs, but can also be amazing family dogs, making them an all-around great breed for dog lovers! How do you know if the German Shepherd Dog is the right fit for you and your family? German Shepherd Dogs are a younger breed that started in Germany in by Captain Max Von Stephanitz who sought to create an unmatched herding dog. But as Germany became more and more industrialized, the breed shifted from herding work to police and military training. Hundreds of these dogs made their way to the United States during WWI, one such being a small five-day-old puppy that was rescued from a destroyed kennel in France and brought home to the states to Los Angeles. This puppy later grew up to be one of the most famous four-legged movie stars, Rin Tin Tin, starring in 26 movies, forever making the German Shepherd Dog breed a popular choice in the nation! If you are looking for an attractive dog, look no further! German Shepherd Dogs have beautiful coats, strong muscular builds, a square muzzle, long bushy tail, and a black mask. Some colors like red and black, or tan and black, have distinct markings such as saddle or blanket on their back. However, German Shepherd Dogs come in a variety of colors: sable, silver, liver, panda, solid black, and solid white. What are German Shepherd Dog Personalities like? German Shepherd Dogs can be reserved, often appearing aloof toward new people, but this very loyal breed loves their families and can be very affectionate. While they can be wary of new people and protective of their family, with the right socialization, German Shepherd Dogs can be friendly and easy-going. They are an intelligent and high-energy breed that thrives with a job to do. Due to this, without the proper or consistent amount of stimulating work, they can easily become bored and frustrated. Those feelings could translate into behaviors like barking, howling, or chewing. As they get older, they'll equally enjoy relaxing with you at home and getting up with you to do the next fun activity! If you are a lover of going for long walks or runs, enjoy hiking on the weekends, or trips to the beach depending on where you live, a German Shepherd Dog will gladly trot alongside you! German Shepherd Dogs while they can be independent, do crave to be with their family and offer great companionship. With crate training, your German Shepherd puppy will learn to adapt to being left alone for periods of time without developing separation anxiety, however, this breed thrives with interaction and will do best a puppy parent that can provide them with a balanced amount of alone and accompanied time throughout the day. Like many large breed dogs, German Shepherd Dogs can suffer from some common illnesses including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, degenerative spinal stenosis, and Von Willebrand disease. Thankfully, responsible breeders today have bred out many of these and improved the health of the breed significantly! When you bring home your new German Shepherd puppy, schedule their first veterinarian visit to discuss appropriate health care, proper nutrition and supplements, and exercise. German Shepherd Dogs tend to shed regularly and heavily twice in the year during the Spring and Fall season. With soft undercoats and harsher topcoats, they would do best with regular brushing once a week will help remove their dead fur and maintain healthy skin! Note: When looking for a reputable German Shepherd Dog breeder, go through an accredited website such as AKC for their breeder locator. Additionally, many pure-breed and mixed German Shepherds are available in rescues and shelters for adoption! German Shepherds are smart and hard-working, so puppy training will not only provide them with the stimulation they crave but also solidify your communication, trust, and overall relationship! Early puppy training Lay the foundation for good behavior the day your puppy comes home, introducing them to basic obedience. Keeping your puppy on a leash at home while under supervision will help to build their focus on you as their leader and also help keep them from darting away. Soon, build up to more obedience training commands, work on their focus through distractions, and start to introduce training in different locations such as your yard, or neighborhood to solidify their communication with you in any situation. Also, check out the rest of our Puppy Training and Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners series to guide you through what to train your puppy next, how to troubleshoot, and other important topics every puppy owner should know! Going back to their wilder instincts, puppies will naturally avoid soiling where they sleep. Crate training your German Shepherd Dog puppy will help boost their confidence and resilience while learning to be alone at home. Socialization is a must German Shepherd Dogs are natural protectors and benefit greatly from being socialized with other dogs, people, new places, textures, and sounds. When done correctly, s ocialization helps teach your puppy the proper way to greet people, other dogs and create boundaries. During socialization sessions, you can work with your puppy on barking or jumping, which are common puppy behaviors when they are excited or over-stimulated when meeting strangers. And if you're not sure how to do this on your own, hire a local puppy trainer to help set you up for the best success! Consider advanced training to keep them engaged German Shepherd Dogs are very intelligent and have high-prey drives which mean they love to work! Along with basic obedience, dog sports like agility are a great way to motivate them and help your puppy work out their energy. Agility helps establish a stronger communication bond through body language while your puppy is participating. Developed as part of K9 and military dog training, this is a perfect activity for your German Shepherd to burn off some mental and physical steam! Did you recently bring home a German Shepherd Dog puppy? Are you still planning and not sure what breed fits your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments! Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more! This guide will help you learn how to select the best German Shepherd puppy to add to your family. Is a German Shepherd right for me? This is the first question you should ask yourself before you even consider bringing home a new German Shepherd puppy. You need to evaluate your personal and family lifestyle by asking yourself the following questions: Where do you live? German Shepherds are often on the restricted breed list for apartments. Do you spend much of your time at home, or do you have an active work and social life? Are you willing to spend more time at home on the weekends and evenings during puppyhood, even if it means missing social events? Do you love traveling a lot? If so, will you take your puppy with you? If not, do you have someone or someplace you trust to watch your dog when you travel? Is your whole family excited about the idea of a new German Shepherd puppy? Are you already active or willing to become more active? Do you have time in your schedule to devote to training? Knowing the answers to those questions will help get you a couple of steps closer to deciding whether or not a German Shepherd is the right choice for you. Important things to know about German Shepherds: German Shepherd dogs are sometimes affectionately known as German shedders. German Shepherds shed all year long , however, they blow their coats twice a year during which time they will shed exponentially more. When considering getting this breed, you should be comfortable having a dog that sheds. Trimming their nails , cleaning their ears, brushing their teeth, and brushing their coat regularly is sufficient. Of course, during the shedding seasons more frequent brushing will be needed. German Shepherds were originally developed for herding sheep. Accordingly, they have the desire to work and respond best to proper training from a young age, and an active lifestyle. German Shepherds are known to be clingy, so be prepared to have a shadow following you around the house and maybe even in the restroom. German Shepherds are good with kids and are great family dogs. However, they need proper socialization and training at a young age so they can learn how to behave around both kids and adults. German Shepherds require a lot of mental stimulation and have high energy levels, especially as a puppy. As much as I love Allie, she was more than a handful as a puppy. I have seen instances where people underestimate the time, energy, and training a German Shepherd puppy requires and get overwhelmed after bringing their puppy home. These people end up giving up their puppies. It breaks my heart to know these awesome dogs are given up because of a lack of knowledge when selecting a breed of dog. Although they are a handful if you are willing to put in the effort they are in my opinion one of the best breeds of dog to own. German Shepherds are too smart for their own good. They learn things scary fast and sometimes get themselves into trouble because of how smart they are. They learn your routine and habits, and they also learn when and how they can get away with mischief. German Shepherds are incredibly loyal and become very connected to their owners and family. German Shepherds are typically loving and affectionate. From the second I met Allie she greeted me with a wet tongue to the face. That is still her favorite greeting she will kiss anyone that will allow her to get close enough. German Shepherds need training. They need to know that you are the leader and in charge. If not, they will quickly take over the role of being in charge and that is where problems arise. A bored, untrained, not active German Shepherd can become one of the stories you sometimes hear on the news about a GSD being aggressive. In most of those cases, the problem was with the owners and not the dog breed as a whole. Adoption or Breeder? First, you need to decide if you are going to adopt a German Shepherd puppy or buy one from a breeder. Here are some of the benefits of adopting: Rescue puppies are often already sociable, at least partially trained, and loving dogs. Therefore, you will save a lot of time on house training your new puppy. Older puppies or dogs are likely to be calmer than a younger puppy. You are saving the life of a dog that might not have otherwise found a home. The cost of adopting is typically much cheaper than buying a puppy from a breeder. If you decide to get a German Shepherd puppy from a breeder, here are a few things that can help you identify a good, ethical German Shepherd breeder: Ethical breeders care about the health and wellbeing of the puppy and are not just in the business for money. Ethical breeders always make sure that only healthy dogs breed together and follow a strict breeding program where they ensure that breeding and puppy spaces are clean. They should also have papers showing the age of the parent and the family tree of the puppy. Ethical breeders will happily show you around their entire setup; they should have nothing to hide. Ethical breeders will happily answer as many questions as you have to ask. You want to select one that will be compatible with you and your family. Consider the following when picking a puppy from the litter: Choose a puppy that is sociable around you and other puppies. Pick a puppy that walks confidently with its head high and tail up and wagging. Choose a puppy that has clear eyes, ears , and teeth, walks evenly, and appears clean. Basically, choose a puppy that looks healthy. Look at the personalities of the puppies. Choose a welcoming puppy that wants to greet you as opposed to one that retreats or appears shy. Ask to interact with each puppy one by one after seeing them with their littermates. That way you can get a better sense of how the puppy responds to you without distractions. If possible, visit the litter at least three times before making a final decision, this will allow you to determine the personalities of each of those little fluff balls, and see which would best fit into your family. How old should a German Shepherd puppy be when you take it home? Any puppy should be at least 8 weeks old before being separated from their mother. By this timeline, their sensory organs will have also developed fully which will help you to spot any deformities or medical issues. Be wary of any breeder that will allow you to take your puppy home before 8 weeks old. How do you puppy proof for German Shepherds? German Shepherds are naturally active and tend to explore the world with their mouths, especially during their adolescent period. So, before you can bring your new puppy home, there are a few things you can do to puppy-proof your house: Get rid of any poisonous plants or put them out of reach of your new puppy. Cover electrical cords with cable wraps or PVC pipes. Buy a new laundry basket that has a lid, no holes, and is tall. Make sure both your kitchen and bathroom trash cans have lids. Your new puppy will dig around for anything to bite, like chicken bones, diapers, used hygienic products, or even a disposable razor. If possible, you should buy new trash cans that only open when a button is pressed. Store all the chemicals in secured cabinets or even better on high shelves. German Shepherd puppies have strong teeth and can open plastic containers by biting through even the toughest of plastic! Put away any small items or toys that are small enough for your puppy to swallow. Think of small kid toys like Legos or dollhouse furniture that could be dangerous for a curious puppy. Find a safe spot for your shoes. Whether in a closed closet or in the laundry room behind a closed door. I remember losing a pair of brand-new shoes because I forgot to put them away and Allie thought chewing them was a fun idea. Bringing home a new German Shepherd puppy The period of bringing a new German Shepherd puppy home and introducing them to your home and family takes time and above all, patience. If possible, plan to take off work for at least a few days after bringing your puppy home. I picked up Allie on a Saturday, and then took most of the following week off to spend time getting her adjusted to her new home. Remember, your new puppy has been taken from the only family it knew, and you are now their new family. That first week home was a good week of bonding with Allie. It helped her feel comfortable with her new life and allowed me to really get to know my new beautiful energy filled puppy. The best tip for a smooth transition when bringing your German Shepherd puppy home is to begin crate training and potty training as soon as possible. As a breed prone to separation anxiety , you want to give your GSD a zone to feel safe, comfortable, and content to be on their own. While the initial steps of crate training can be time-consuming, it can make the difference between a dog that is a joy to own, and one that can never be left on their own — so, be the dog parent your pooch deserves and put the time in! New German Shepherd puppy checklist and things to buy It is important that your new puppy feels welcomed into their new home. Some items are ok to be left with your puppy, and other items are more dangerous or will be destroyed. This checklist will help you to know what to buy when getting a puppy. New German Shepherd Puppy Checklist. Final thoughts Where do I start? The first thing that you have to do before you can pick out the best puppy, is to pick out the best breeder. This may come easily, as you may already have a breeder in mind that you trust and who has a good reputation. But chances are that you will have to do your research. And there is also a good chance that you may need to travel some distance to the right breeder. Even if the breeder is several states away, consider making the trip. Getting a new GSD puppy is a significant life commitment. The effort and time that you invest now in going about this properly will pay off for years to come. Here are some important things to look for in a breeder once you locate one that you are interested in pursuing. Call the breeder and have a conversation The first thing to do is call the breeder and have a conversation. A quality German Shepherd breeder will actually require this. They will not permit someone to just show up and purchase one of their dogs and take it home. They will ask you questions such as: Why do you want a GSD puppy? This will aid them in helping you choose. Where do you live, in an apartment or in a home? They will want to ensure that the puppy will not be in a cramped space. Do you have a yard, and is it fenced-in? They will want to make sure that the puppy will have adequate room to exercise as it grows. Do you have children in your home? They will want to make sure that you understand the importance of socialization and training to keep your family safe. Do you have other pets in your home? They will want to make sure that you know how to properly introduce the puppy to other animals, and whether any other pets you have may actually be a danger to the puppy. What type of work do you do, does it require you to be away from home for long periods of time? Because GSDs do not do well alone, they will want to make sure that you have adequate time to devote to your dog. Are you financially prepared to take on a GSD? While this may be a bit of a personal question, it is important to know that you are financially able to care for a GSD. They are expensive to care for, and it is fair for a breeder to ask this question. If a breeder does not ask you some form of these questions, then perhaps think twice. It may be an indication that they are more interested in profit than raising a quality puppy that they care will go to a quality home. Questions for you to ask the breeder: How many different types of dogs do you raise? Can you provide me with a pedigree of all of your puppies? A pedigree is essentially a family tree for your puppy. A good breeder should have a detailed pedigree for any dog they sell. Beware of any breeder that wants to charge for this or says that they will provide it at a later date. Do you have references? They should provide you with several without thinking twice. All reputable breeders will offer this guarantee in the form of a written contract. Do you breed your females more than once a year? Female GSDs should not be bred more than one time per year. This allows for adequate recovery time and maintains good health. Can you provide me with a detailed medical history for your puppies? Health screenings are essential for puppies, and a reputable breeder should be able to provide proof of these. Can you explain any potential health issues for GSD which may come up later in life? A knowledgable breeder should be able to clearly explain conditions like hip dysplasia and other health issues more common in GSDs than other dogs. If the answer to any of these questions comes up as unsatisfactory, move on. It is simply not worth the risk of pursuing the breeder any further. Unfortunately, there are far too many unethical breeders who take a lot of shortcuts which results in dogs prone to both health and behavioral issues. Why is this? You should never take home a puppy that is less than 8 weeks old. More than half of the states in the U. And out of those states, only 3 permit a puppy to be offered for sale under the age of 8 weeks. The reason for these laws is primarily so that puppies are properly weaned from their mothers and able to eat on their own. In addition to weaning, puppies need to be initially socialized by their mothers as well as their siblings. So a puppy will be taught that these things are bad during these 8 weeks. If you remove a puppy from the litter too early, they may not learn these lessons and develop behavioral problems as they get older. Much like a spoiled child that never learns, often times the source of an ill-behaved puppy can be traced to a lack of discipline at a young age. So to ensure that you have a healthy puppy, that is also sold in accordance with state laws and regulations, understand that it must be 8 weeks old see link above for exceptions — regardless of state law exceptions, waiting 8 weeks is good practice. Decide whether you want to male or female You may have a personal preference for either a female or a male German Shepherd puppy. It is important however to not necessarily just go with your gut on this one. Take a moment and understand some general differences between the two genders. I will explore this issue more in-depth in another post, but here are some important general points to consider. Territorial: Males are naturally more territorial than females. This may give them more of a tendency to wander off in an effort to broaden their territory. Very possessive: Male GSDs are generally more possessive than females. They may be possessive over food and bones, toys, and you! Dominance: Male German Shepherds tend to be more dominant than females. This may result in more of a proclivity towards aggressive bullying behaviors to make sure that it is understood that they are the boss. Dominance requires training to keep it in check. Singular bonding: Male GSDs tend to bond more closely with one person rather than a group of people like a family. Territorial: Females are therefore more welcoming and less territorial than males. They are also less likely to wander off as they have no desire to expand their territory. Dominance: Females display less dominant behaviors than males. Non-singular bonding: Females are more likely to bond with a number of people in a family rather than an individual person. So, how do I choose between the two? This question comes down to the purpose for which you want a German Shepherd. If you are looking for a dog to have trained in protection and are looking primarily for a four-legged security system for your home, then a male is a good choice. However, if your primary interest is to just have a family pet that socializes well with others, then a female is probably right for you. Testing the puppy There is no better way to determine whether or not a specific puppy is the right one for you than to actually get hands-on and doing some investigating. However, even before you begin any interactions with a puppy, make sure that you are testing the correct one. Never try and force any interaction, begin with puppies that are naturally drawn to you. Just like with people, you cannot force a match and expect fruitful results. So be patient and make sure at very least that the puppy is not aversive toward you before you being. The tests: Clap your hands: Does it run away or does it come? A more timid dog may, however, be apprehensive to approach. Make eye contact: When the puppy is looked at, does it stare back at you? If the puppy looks directly at you, it is showing confidence. Vocally call the puppy over to you: Does it come to you right away? If it does how not, however, this could show a behavioral issue or hearing problem, or it could be an indication of another illness as well. Pet the puppy: How does it respond to your touch? However, if it meets your touches with biting or growling, then this is likely an indication of an uneven or bad temperament. It will not just grow out of this, it will have to be trained out of it. Bring a ball with you to test with the puppy: Roll the ball and see what the puppy does. Does it follow it and then bring it to you? Or does it take it away for itself. A more dominant puppy will just take the ball and keep it for itself, reluctant to give it back to you. On the other hand, a more independent puppy may show no interest at all. And one that is submissive may actually be frightened. If you are looking for a very sociable puppy, look for the one that brings the ball right back to you to play some more. The puppy that brings it right back is also an ideal candidate for training in retrieving and other exercises. An even-tempered puppy will show interest in and play with the toy, but it will also allow you to participate and take the toy back without showing you any aggression. Roll the puppy over: Once the puppy comes over to you, gently roll it onto its back and hold it in place. Do not be forceful but be firm. See how the puppy reacts. Is it resisting, or is it just relaxing? A puppy with a more dominant personality will take the path of most resistance, and it may growl or attempt to bite at you. And the even-tempered puppy is the one that may resist for a short time but then submit to what you are doing. Pick up the puppy: Physically pick up the puppy by gently holding it underneath its chest with an open hand. Lift it up high, even above the height of your head and hold it there. What does the puppy do? Does it struggle, or does it stay relaxed? A puppy that struggles may be fearful or dominant. On the other hand, a puppy that stays absolutely relaxed is displaying confidence in itself and trust in you. Hold on to a paw and press it gently: This is somewhat similar to holding it on its back. If there is a response to be had, it will happen immediately. Resistance or pulling the paw away may show dominance and temperament towards aggression. The even-tempered puppy will be you curious as to what you are doing. It may investigate a little and might even lick you. Make an unexpected noise: Whether it is banging a pot and pan together or just yelling, create an unexpected noise. See what the puppy does, does it show fear, interest, or aggression? A fearful puppy may run away or even whimper. While an aggressive-tempered puppy may actually growl and try to bite you. An even-tempered puppy will simply look surprised, and may even want to investigate a little bit further. Meet the parents A lot of breeders will have both the father sire and the mother bitch of the puppies on site. However, some of them will only have the mother because sometimes the father is on loan as a stud from a different breeder. But the mother for sure should be on site, and you should get an idea of what she is like. In the case of my last German Shepherd, I was able to meet both parents. His mother was very kind and sociable and eager to be petted. While on the other hand, his father was clearly dominant, and not a dog to be messed with. Because of my prior experience and knowledge, my GSD turned out exactly as I thought he would — fairly sociable yet wildly protective of me. This was all right because I knew what to expect and I was able to train my dog properly to take the edge off of some of his more dominance behaviors. However, my choice was an informed decision based on years of experience. If you are new to owning a German Shepherd, this may not be an ideal combination. I would recommend for a new German Shepherd owner to consider making sure that both parents are more docile, and possibly even lean towards acquiring a female for your first German Shepherd. Visit the puppy on more than one occasion Just like people, puppies have their on days and their off days. You will not be able to get a very accurate picture of how your puppy will be on one short visit. In fact, with my last dog, I visited him at least 4 times and stayed for at least 30 minutes with him each time prior to taking him home. A good breeder will have no issue with you doing this, and in fact, will prefer it. They want their dogs to be well-matched with their new owners, so this is common practice. The puppy should become accustomed to the people it will soon be spending its entire life with. So the more familiarity that you build now in this phase, the easier that puppy will transition to home life with you and your family. All of these steps are positive reinforcement for your new puppy and will build familiarity and a bond even before you arrive home. Also, bring a small blanket or clothing item and ask the breeder to leave it with the puppy. This will allow your puppy to become familiar with the scent of you and your home. Making for a better transition. So by default, this knowledge enables the breeder to be very good at placing the proper puppies with the proper personalities. Remember to stay focused and not lose sight of your primary objective, which is to select the right puppy for you and your family. If you take the time and care to do your research and ask the right questions, you will come together with the right puppy for you. But remember, this is just the beginning of a major life commitment. So take this step of choosing the right GSD puppy seriously, and you will have laid the foundation for a loving and rewarding relationship for years to come. May not even be aware of the breed standard. Breeds to any convenient dog. Strives towards the ideal. Often helps to define it. Does not need to promote establishment; sells to brokers, pet shops, etc. Often rescues only to attain more stock. Rarely attends shows or trials. Shows and trials to objectively test breeding stock. Often judges, provides seminars, writes articles, and willingly mentors serious Hobby Breeders. Knowledge Often pretends to know some. May share false or incomplete information. Studies continuously. Impacts the breed for many decades with knowledge of dogs over many generations. All pups sold have full breeding rights. Yes, and diligently follows up on progeny. Keeps up with health and temperament issues affecting the breeding and provides in-depth guarantees No need to; mostly supplies brokers and pet shops. Meets minimum standards as required by state law. May refuse to acknowledge most problems. Maintains a solid support system — accepts full responsibility for every puppy produced. Performs health testing for all breeding stock for genetic diseases affecting the particular breed. No interest, may offer papers as proof of quality. Papers alone are not proof of quality. No interest. May provide undocumented paperwork for appearances sake. Is unfamiliar with health testing usually statements of good health are stated to impress consumers. Intensive testing always a priority. Often initiates club sponsored seminars and clinics. Maintains records on all dogs in gene pool including progeny. Often supplies brokers and pet shops, records unavailable. Dogs and puppies are often auctioned off in lots, records unavailable. Focuses mostly on current dogs, no records or knowledge of genes. Attempts to continuously track every puppy produced. Bases entire breeding program on extensive gene pool data. Clean environment always maintained Minimum standards vary greatly in cleanliness. Minimum standards maintained for state inspections. Conditions may vary greatly depending on available income, usually makeshift accommodations. Clean, healthy and mentally stimulating environment. Expected longevity with any particular breed Will continue as long as the sales are coming. Depends on popularity of specific breeds. Unrealistic expectations — easily disillusioned. On a mission-plans to stay for the long haul. Health guarantee provided No, it cuts into profits. No health guarantee beyond proof of first set of vaccines, if that. Not qualified to give advice if a problem arises. Offers written guarantee and is available to answer questions to new owners. Good knowledge of history in dogs. Extensive knowledge of health history, offers replacements to owners of genetically affected dogs. Ability to meet the parents of the litter If available, may be in poor physical condition. If available, dogs are not used to contact with people. May or may not be well loved and cared for companions, often unwilling to show entire litter or parents to buyer. Shows friendly mother and entire litter in clean environment; stud dog too, if in residence. Helps buyer choose appropriate puppy. Can explain how breeding was planned to emphasize specific qualities and can speak at length about how puppies compare. What you can expect after purchase Nothing, may not be able to contact at all. No concern for dog after sale is final. Available for questions, and wants to keep in touch. Will take back dog or puppy at any time. After purchase will help with training and grooming, available for all questions and knows the answers. Price Priced according to market, but is marked up from original source for profit. Mid-range to move puppies quickly. High end of mid-range. Price will not reflect all that is invested. Use only physically sound, mature dogs of stable temperament for breeding. These characteristics are rarely, if ever, determined before the age of two for females. Continue to educate themselves regarding genetic diseases pertinent to the breed including, hip and elbow dysplasia. Documentation of hip and elbow screenings should be available to prospective puppy buyers. Apply the same high standards to outside bitches sent to their stud dogs as they apply to their own breeding stock. Temperament testing of a litter before puppies are offered for sale is encouraged. Take appropriate steps to have each puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian for general health prior to placement. Each puppy should be vaccinated and de-wormed by a veterinarian. Endeavor to gain personal knowledge of the temperament and health of every dog they breed, or to which they breed, in order to gather information on which to base future breeding decisions. They share this information fully and honestly with other breeders and with prospective buyers. Sell breeding prospects to knowledgeable, ethical and experienced persons or are willing to help educate and guide novices. Do not engage in misleading or untrue advertising and do not use GSDCA membership as a marketing tool. Do not sell, supply, donate or surrender any dog for which they are responsible to a pet shop, catalogue house, wholesale dealer in dogs, Humane Society or to a laboratory. They should have reasonable assurance that each individual receiving a dog will provide a home with appropriate shelter, restraint, control and responsible care. Encourage puppy buyers to go to puppy obedience classes to help their puppies to become better canine good citizens. The achievement of a Canine Good Citizen certificate should be encouraged. Since homeowners insurance and local laws vary greatly, a refusal to let you visit the kennels may not, in and of itself, be a bad sign. You should ask for and receive a satisfactory explanation. The puppies are not social or look sickly. How to read those ads. A few more things to look out for. Anyone can buy a puppy from a champion, but it does not mean that they have any other interest in the breed but to bank on the name and make money. Having a Champion in a pedigree is like having a billionaire relative. AKC registration does not guarantee quality. AKC papers are much like the title of a car; papers are issued to the junked Chevy on blocks in your yard just as easily as they are on a brand new, shiny Jaguar. AKC does not control breeding, approve litters, or guarantee temperaments. AKC Registration is automatic if you buy from a reputable breeder — they will provide all necessary paperwork when you buy a puppy. There are several groups that are registering dogs, even mixed breeds, for a fee. This registration means nothing, and is of no value to you. Are there too many defects for the animal to be bred? Shop with care. Rarely will a good breeder have the luck to own both dogs for the perfect litter. There are some good and very reasonable reasons to have both parents on site. However, you need to ask the right questions and understand why this is true. They might be, they might not. Are they too big to be cute anymore? Need more money? Is there a problem? Usually because there are more on the way. Be very wary of this one. Will a Breeder Ask Me Questions? Conscientious breeders want the best available home for their puppies. This determines the amount of time you will have available for your new addition. There are very important items that should be supplied by the breeder. Breeders will typically give you the following items: A signed pedigree A current Health Record; including de-wormings and vaccinations. American Kennel Club registration papers or application Sales contract. The type of contract varies and must be mutually agreeable to the breeder and buyer. Much depends on what you expect from the puppy show, pet, or performance. Feeding schedule including the type and amount of food. Copy of OFA certification of sire and dam, if available.