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Those who belong to the second side have a second coat of fur. This is known to provide protection and allows the animal not to get dirty easily. These are some differences between the two: When it comes to the fur in a protective coat, it is softening to something rougher. The most interesting thing about this is that it can divert all traces of dirt or water, preventing it from reaching the skin. In different seasons of the year, the double layers can be of great help. In winter, they keep the dog warm, while in summer, sunlight is reflected, preventing the animal from suffocating. The inner layer serves as an insulator, and during winter, it tends to thicken. This indicates that double-coated dogs are ideal for any climate. When the dog has only one coat, the protection is only external, so these pets are not for the cold. German Shepherds are mandatory double -Coated Dogs? It is common to think that double coats are a characteristic of all German Shepherds, but they are not. These dogs can vary greatly in their coat, having very different sizes and lengths and no insulating coat on some puppies. A top coat generally looks more abrasive and even wiry. The interesting thing is that some people think the inner layers are synonymous with a healthy dog. Not having it is considered defective. The thing with coats or fur is that it is not always the same. Several types are important to mention: Short Length: These are one inch long and have an undercoat. Medium length: Its size varies between one or two inches in length. A protective layer also covers it. This is an extremely common coat, and at shows, it turns out to be a favorite most of the time. Long length along with undercoat: The minimum these coats can measure is two inches. Apart from that, they are naturally thick and have an undercoat. It is a perfect breed for cold climates, so it is perfectly protected from winter. Long length, but no undercoat: They are highly similar to long-coated dogs but lack the undercoat. Coat types and shedding Something important for the shedding of the German Shepherd is its coat. This is a determining factor, and it has several types. This breed can lose a lot of hair throughout the year, while others shed lesser amounts. Depending on the time of year, mainly in spring or autumn, dogs tend to lose their fur. These times, pet owners are somewhat delicate and even stressed due to the mess it causes at home. Interestingly, those who own dogs without the undercoat do not suffer as much with the changing seasons. This is because the animal does not shed more hair than necessary. It is a calm process that will not cause unnecessary stress. In any case, the German Shepherd must brush regularly regardless of the type of coat it has. It is recommended that it be constant and make it a habit of every day, or that kitten is done a few times. Despite being very necessary, Baths should not do very frequently as they can cause adverse damage. It is said that twice a month is more than enough for German Shepherds, although some may not agree. This is to keep the pet clean despite the uncomfortable circumstances it is in. When it comes to dogs, many of them are single or double-coated, which is quite interesting. A German Shepherd is almost always related to the double coat or coat, but this is not always the case. Even in competitions, dogs without the double coat are too underestimated, considering them defective and not pure breeds. These, in turn, do not require as much preparation in general, much less in the fall or springtime. Despite all these differences between the two classes, neither is better or more beautiful than the other. They all have incredible characteristics, and as German Shepherds, their incredible loyalty will always be there and make us feel loved no matter what. How often should you bathe your dog? When brushing occurs when the dog is slightly wet, then the coat will remove more quickly. If the animal is bathed with too much, then the natural oil will be completely removed, which is not good. This element is the one that keeps the coat shiny and matte but does not overdo it by grooming it every five months. A dog of this breed without a double coat needs less preparation in times of coat change. Interestingly, the appearance is not affected in the least, which is great in many situations. Can you shave a German Shepherd? The double coat on a German Shepherd works interestingly depending on the weather or time of year. When it is in winter, that extra coat is wonderful for the animal to stay warm and comfortable. Some people would consider the fur to be a nuisance in the summer and make them feel suffocated. It is believed that the best plan would be to shave the German Shepherd and give him a break, but this is a big mistake. These double-layers work as insulators and redirect sunlight, keeping skin cool in hot weather. It is exactly these characteristics that confirm that these pets are ideal for any season of the year due to their resistance. Having a German Shepherd means getting a great deal of responsibility and advocating for their well-being the indispensable. Keep your coat healthy through proper nutrition and grooming habits. When you have attitudes that benefit the dog, it will feel happier and more confident and look beautiful. You may also like:. Hair is close to the body Hair is slightly longer than short coat Hair is longer and thicker Minimal feathering on legs and tail Feathering on legs and tail Feathering on legs and tail is more pronounced Easier to maintain and groom Can be more prone to matting and tangling Requires more grooming and maintenance Shedding can be more noticeable Shedding can be moderate Check Out Our YouTube Video on German Shepherd Coat Type Lengths… Short vs. Medium vs. They shed continually throughout the year, albeit at a varying rate as the amount of fur shed by the undercoat is heavier during the fall and spring seasons. The fur around the neck is slightly longer and thicker, and they have marginally longer hair on the rear of the hind legs to the hock and the rear of the forelegs. This type is a safer purchase for anyone unsure about the show circuit. They are also the preferred choice as working dogs. Medium-haired varieties qualify for shows as well but can be more expensive. The type at a glance: Has a double coat and a topcoat with 1 inch or shorter hair. Most common coat type. Often used in working roles such as police, military, search and rescue, and service dogs. Commands a medium-to-high price. Can enter dog shows depending on color acceptability. This entails brushing him two to three times a week. This will help remove loose fur trapped in his coat and simultaneously form a mutual appreciation bond. Brushing and de-shedding will need to increase to three to four times a week in the spring and fall seasons because the undercoat shedding increases. I like it because it reaches safely through the topcoat and removes the loose undercoat with ease. Generally, a German Shepherd needs no more than two to three baths a year. They have a fuller look, and they combine the most desirable traits of both the short-haired and long-haired types. Longer topcoat fur makes a dog look aesthetic. My German Shepherd is medium-coated, as you can see in the below photo. My German Shepherd Willow is medium-haired Plush coats have a topcoat length somewhere in between the short and long-coated varieties. They also have an undercoat which allows them to take their beautiful appearance to dog shows. On average, a medium-coat German Shepherd has a topcoat length between 1 and 2 inches. Since the greatest driver of the medium-haired dog price-hike is his ability to get into and win dog shows, you should pay extra only if you want to enroll him in one. Having said that, many owners, including myself, will purchase a medium-haired German Shepherd having no intention of showing. They appreciate the look and temperament of this type. The type at a glance: Has a double coat and a topcoat with 1 to 2-inch hair. Coat type is not common but not uncommon either. Commands premium price, especially if they have a qualifying color. Also used in various working roles such as law enforcement and service dogs. However, they will also require regular brushing. Again two to three times a week is a good practice. Shedding in plush-coated dogs also increases in the fall and spring when they shed their undercoat ready for the new season ahead. Regular brushing also fluffs up the coat for the best appearance. Before using the de-shedding tool mentioned above, I use the FURminator grooming rake , also from Amazon. This is better for thicker fur, such as the plush coat, and I use it for extra undercoat care. Medium coats should also be bathed times per year as over bathing will dry their skin and remove natural oils. However, their undercoat is often missing, which makes them unfit for AKC conformation events. The hair is often shiny and may form a parting along the back. Feathering occurs on the ears and legs, and they will have longer and thicker fur around the neck, which looks like a mane. On average, the topcoat features hair of at least 2 inches in length. In fact, in many instances, their missing undercoat requires a longer topcoat cover for temperature regulation. Ruskin House of Shepherds Long-haired varieties are considered objectively beautiful. However, their absent undercoat disqualifies them from a competition where said beauty would be rewarded. Because the long-haired variety cannot usually enter conformation, you can buy one much cheaper than a short or medium-coated dog. The least common coat type. Usually commands a lower price. Cannot enter a dog show unless double-coated. Friendlier temperament due to lack of working drive. Shedding is consistent throughout the year in single-coated dogs, without the massive increases in the fall and spring. You will still need to brush them frequently to prevent knots and tangles in the long fur. I recommend a good slicker brush, such as the Hertzko self-cleaning brush from Amazon. This brush is excellent for getting rid of tangles and knots without hurting your doggo, as the fine bristles do not scratch. They also retract back into the brush to avoid getting damaged when not in use. Looking at the appearance of long-coated GSDs, one would assume they require a lot of washing. The lack of an undercoat makes it too risky to wet the topcoat as the dog can get cold. Double Coated or Single Coated? The only German Shepherds with a missing undercoat are the long-haired ones. In some rare instances, a short-haired German Shepherd might have a very thin undercoat and might be disqualified from the show ring for the same reason. You can afford to have a single-coated pet if you live in a warmer climate. With the absence of an undercoat, they are more vulnerable to extreme temperatures. That said, you should not pay a premium price for an open coat since such a coat type is considered a fault. Open Coat at a Glance Technically has an undercoat; however, it is practically non-existent as it is extremely thin. Cannot enter dog shows. It is considered a fault, the same as a single coat by the AKC. Should cost less than the average German Shepherd. Temperature Regulation Open coat German Shepherds with longer topcoats are simply called single-coated. If your dog has an open coat, he is vulnerable to the elements. Making sure your dog is sufficiently protected from the cold and heat is one of your key responsibilities. Better insulation against weather extremes Temperature Sensitivity More sensitive to temperature changes Better adaptability to various temperatures Shedding Intense shedding, especially during shedding seasons Grooming Needs Higher maintenance, regular brushing required Variation Less common, seen in show lines or mixed ancestry More common, especially in working lines Tabulated comparison of Single Coat and Double Coat German Shepherds. German shepherd dogs are often seen in 2 types of coats that is a single coat or short coat and a double coat or long coat. The coat would shed off after the 1st month and the puppy looks like a normal single coat but the fur will again come back after the 5th month. This is useful because it prevents mud on their skin or unnecessary bacterial infections. Double coats with a guard coat can provide dual performance at different seasons of the year. During the winter season, dogs will be able to hold the heat generated naturally close to the skin. In the summer, the foamy coat will be able to reflect sunlight, which will help the dog from getting too hot. Dogs with double coats also have an undercoat. This undercoat serves as an excellent insulating coat in winter, the undercoat which we call a Guard Coat is thicker and stronger. This, coupled with the second coat, makes the double-coated dog well-suited for all types of weather. Double Coat German Shepherd Single-coated dogs, on the other hand, only have an outer, protective coat. These dogs are generally not suitable for living in cold weather like Antarctica, Canada, Kazakhstan, Mongolia which are considered the top coldest countries in the world, and in most cases, they are bred in areas that do not require an insulating undercoat. So it is better to adopt a double-coated or long-haired German shepherd in the coldest places. German Shepherds are generally considered double-coated. However, they are not all the same. There are different lengths and sizes of their coats. There is no insulating undercoat in all coats. The underlying coats are specifically for the official race that can compete. In the United States, if a German Shepherd does not have an undercoat, it is considered a defective dog by the American Kennel Association. They are not allowed to participate in exhibitions. However, not all German Shepherds have these undercoats. There are different types, including: Short-length coat: 1 Inch with an Under Coat A medium-length coat: Covered with an undercoat, commonly known as a Guard coat. The coat you see in the German Shepherd is very frequent and it is essential for the Show lines. This coat is usually between one and two inches long. Long coat with undercoat: These long coats are at least two inches long, usually very thick with an undercoat, and make an excellent breed during winter. Long coat without undercoat: Long coat GSD which looks quite similar but the undercoat will be missing. Coat Types and Shedding One of the factors that affect the amount of shedding your dog does is their coat type. German shepherd dogs are often called German Shedding dogs. These dogs shed a lot throughout the year, regardless of their coat. However, some types of German Shepherds may have less shedding and so if you are adopting one, you need to be prepared. If you brush only when your dog is slightly damp, it will help to remove more hair. It is best not to bathe the German Shepherd every months. Can You Shave a German Shepherd? German Shepherds Undercoat is an excellent insulator, and you will probably feel that it keeps them warm during the colder months. But layers of fur keep them cool in the summer and insulate them from the warm air. It is therefore a very bad practice to shave a double-coated German shepherd. If you have one of these puppies or planning to adopt one, it makes sense that you want to do everything you can to keep its coat healthy and shiny. Proper nutrition and grooming habits are great ways to make sure your dog is happy and looks good! Is a single-coat German shepherd suitable for a cold climate? That said, many people believe that single-coated German Shepherds are generally better suited for colder climates than German Shepherd double coat, as their shorter coat is less likely to become matted and heavy when wet or covered in snow. German shepherd Single coat image What is the price of a German Shepherd double coat? The price of a German Shepherd double coat is typically more than a single coat German Shepherd because the double coat German Shepherd has more hair, which provides more insulation. The extra hair also protects the dog from rain and snow and can make the dog look bigger. Some people may pay more for a German Shepherd double coat because they believe the extra hair will protect their dog better from the elements. Why do German Shepherds have a double coat? The German Shepherd has a double coat because it is a breed that was originally bred for working in cold climates. The outer coat is thick and long, and the undercoat is soft and dense. This combination of coats helps to keep the dog warm and protected from the elements. A double coat offers the dog increased protection from the outdoors and assists it in maintaining an appropriate internal temperature. What are the benefits of a Double Coat? Also, it provides the dog with increased protection from dirt and other particles. What are the disadvantages of a German shepherd Double Coat? In addition, maintaining its appearance may be more challenging and may call for the use of specific equipment. In addition, if the double coat is not properly cared for, it may be more prone to matting and tangling than a single coat would be. Is a Double Coat appropriate for use in all weather conditions? Even though the double coat offers increased defense against the chilly weather, it is possible that it is not appropriate for all climates. Are there any health benefits to having a single coat German Shepherd? The answer is yes, single-coated German Shepherds shed less, have less dander, and are typically less susceptible to obtaining fleas and ticks than double-coated German Shepherds. Additionally, single-coated German Shepherds do not need to be brushed or groomed as frequently as double-coated German Shepherds, and they are less likely to develop matted fur. Are there any specific requirements that need to be met for single-coated German Shepherds? Though single-coated German Shepherds do not require as much grooming and brushing as double-coated German Shepherds, it may be beneficial to give them showers and brush them on occasion. In addition, they might need to be watched more carefully in colder areas because they are more likely to be affected negatively by the low temperatures there. What are some of the advantages of owning a German Shepherd with a single coat? Having a Single Coat German Shepherd can be advantageous in terms of grooming and upkeep because the fur is not as dense as that of a Double Coat German Shepherd and therefore does not require as much brushing or clipping. In addition, the Single Coat is more suited for warmer areas and can assist in maintaining a cooler body temperature for your German Shepherd during the hotter months of the year. Conclusion In conclusion, the coat of a German Shepherd is an important aspect to take into consideration while choosing a breed of dog. Even though double coats are more typical for this breed, single coats can still provide the dog with a wonderful appearance and texture. Both types of coats have benefits and drawbacks, and ultimately, it is up to the individual dog owner to decide which type of coat would work best for them and their canine companion. German Shepherds, regardless of the sort of coat they have, are known for being extremely loyal and loving friends. If properly cared for and trained, a German Shepherd will make an excellent pet for many years to come.

And lastly, the ticked pattern is when spots or flecks of black fur are scattered on a mostly white-colored Bulldog. This is actually not on their coat but a pigment on their skin and it may worry some dog owners that their dog is developing an allergy or a skin affection. It is not considered a disease but a reaction to some conditions. The black spots on their skin may be a result of hyperpigmentation that may appear as they grow older. The color may vary from light brown to black and develops in rough areas of thickened and hairless skin. The common cause of this is sun exposure and aging. Constant friction can also cause dull patches in regions like the armpits and under the legs. Black White and brown English Bulldog English Bulldog Black and White and brown There are also English Bulldogs that have brown-colored fur combined with the black and white coat color. This is usually called the Black tri-color Bulldogs. Their eye rims, paw pads, and nose are usually black and the black color is usually interspersed throughout their body. The Black tri-color Bulldog also has some tan color on its face, legs, and chest. For some, the brown color is mixed with black and white brindle patterns. Save Big On Dog Essentials! Welcome to our pack! Black And White English Bulldog temperament and personality In spite of having a bad reputation, the English Bulldogs Black and White coat do not have any aggressive bones in their bodies. Black And White English Bulldogs despite being notorious for their stubborn personalities are calm, good-natured, and people-oriented. Yes, they are lazy but they make up for it by giving lots of affection to their human families. Yes, the English Bulldog White and Black coats can be a great addition to a family with kids and have a proven track record as great companions. And, because of their tendency for having a maternal instinct, the Black And White English Bulldogs are gentle and patient even with rowdy kids. Be it a game of tug-of-war or boisterously running around, they can tolerate whatever young children throw at them. However, the story is different when it comes to other pets. The best way to deal with this problem is to expose them to animals and other pets at a young age so they learn how to be more accepting of the presence of other pets and animals in the house. Black And White English Bulldog training White and Black English Bulldog is not the smartest, in fact, it is ranked number in the smartest dog breed category and 2nd in the most stubborn dog category. Thus, training can be a huge challenge. This is why patience, consistency, and lots of positive reinforcements doggie treats and hugs are essential for training. And, for training to be effective, short but sweet is the key. That means 5 to 10 minutes twice a day is enough. Black And White English Bulldog exercise requirement Belonging to the brachycephalic dog breed category, the Black and White English Bulldog does not need too much exercise. A 20 to 40 minutes walk is sufficient to prevent them from getting obese. Due to their small snouts, they can easily overheat or shiver with cold. Brushing with a soft bristle brush is enough to keep the coat looking fabulous. Size Low to Medium Hip Dysplasia: This is a life-threatening genetically inherited disease caused by a defect in the joints of the hip bones. Fractures can also lead to hip dysplasia, and this state can be painful. There are therapies to cure this, but the dog might get lameness or arthritis if the condition worsens. Flatulence: Black and White Bulldogs respire through their mouths, so they possess high levels of flatulence. Dogs are prone to obesity, and so food intake has to be observed. This would generate a problem in breathing to even total obstruction in breathing. Patellar Luxation: Patellar luxation is the slipping of the knee cap from the position in their legs. Some obvious signs include the dog kicking to set the knee cap back in its place while walking or running. Patellar luxation can be cured if the indications are mild or only one leg is affected. Juvenile Renal Dysplasia: This is a deficiency in the functioning of the kidney, transmitted genetically. There are no tests to identify this condition. Still, you can find symptoms such as frequent urination, weight loss , vomiting, excessive thirst, and lethargy in your dog. Dry Eye: Dry eye is a severe condition caused due to the deficient production of tears. The affected eye might look dry or have a blue haze. Therapies include teardrops or medication. Cherry Eye: The gland below the eyelid will swell, looking like a cherry. This situation might need surgery to eliminate the infected gland. Entropion: Eyelashes turn inward and your pet rubs his eyes incessantly due to irritation. Your Bulldog will need surgery to cure entropion. Portosystemic Liver Shunt: This is where the liver does not get a blood supply to filter it. As the name suggests, the blood that flows to the liver will be shunted. You can cure this disease through surgery. Glaucoma: Glaucoma is an eye condition that affects both dogs and humans and needs medical attention. Signs such as squinting, pain, watery eyes, and redness can indicate glaucoma, leading to blindness. Regular health tests can aid in recognizing and curing glaucoma at an early stage. However, Bulldogs are prone to obesity, including Black and White Bulldogs. Treats can be an essential benefit in training, but giving in large amounts can cause obesity. It would be ideal for feeding a puppy thrice a day and reducing it to twice daily as the dog matures. Make sure to keep track of their treats and calories intake to avoid being obese. They are not fit for severely cold climates either. However, they can adjust well to apartment living, and a backyard is not a necessity. A Black and White Bulldog is the most suitable option if you can spend sufficient time with them, even by sitting or sleeping together. Because of their narrow hips, they face problems in giving birth naturally. Most of the Bulldogs will require a c-section for delivery without any significant danger. A pregnant Bulldog needs proper supervision, care, and attention regularly with a special diet. Life Span Did You Know? The loving and gentle English Bulldog is one of the most well-liked companion dog breeds around the world. A breed of English origins, the Bulldog was first recognized as a non-sporting dog by the American Kennel Club in .The original use of this breed was Bull baiting, which was eventually outlawed with the establishment of the Cruelty to Animals Act of .This legislative act made the act of Bull and Bear baiting both illegal. The current role most suitable for the English Bulldog would be as a companion or family pet, given their sweet demeanor. The English Bulldog is relatively easy to train but definitely takes some work for more complicated commands. If you are looking for a breed to sit, stay, and play dead for treats, this is the breed for you. While they may not be the sharpest tool in the shed compared to some of the other highly intelligent breeds, they are easy going and apt to please their owner. Training this breed will be accomplished with less difficulty if you make the training reward based. Can you say Sweetheart? While this dog breed makes an above average watchdog because of their courage, this breed is a loving companion at heart. The Bulldog is excellent with kids when socialized and should be very agreeable with guests of the house. The English Bulldog breed as a whole is heralded as one of the most well liked companion breeds in the world. The Bulldog should do well with other family pets as long as properly introduced and socialized. They need to be socialized early and often to curb any negative feelings towards strange dogs. This breed is generally agreeable to most environments. Although they easily adapt to a noisy and chaotic household, they are not very tolerant of extreme weather, whether it be hot or cold. Although they are well liked and very popular, one must be aware of the potential health pitfalls with this breed. Some of the potential issues you can see with the English Bulldog is Cherry Eye, Entropion, or dysplasia. This breed also has a high risk for weight gain, so this should be monitored. An average Bulldog life span is between 8 and 12 years. You do not need to be a professional dog trainer to own an English Bulldog. They are good for most novice owners because they are passive by nature. The English Bulldog is an average shedder, so brushing him twice a week with a firm brush will be a good idea. Also, they can have a tendency to drool, so making sure you wipe their face off everyday can help ensure they do not suffer irritation on their faces and between their wrinkles. Because of the amount of wrinkles they have, it is recommended that you clean between the wrinkles fairly often to avoid irritations. The English Bulldog is a generally low energy breed. They do not require a lot of exercise, but when they do play, they play hard! Because they can be intense when they do have an energy burst, an owner must be aware of overexertion. They can be very playful, but do tend to tire out quickly. The English Bulldog is a short, stocky breed that should weigh between pounds. This dog breed generally lives for years. Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Warren G. Harding both owned English Bulldogs. Featured English Bulldog Article.

And, along with all the joys, you may have a few new puppy jitters too. I get it! In other words, I am over the moon for Doodle dogs. Now what? Choose your veterinarian and make a new puppy appointment. As your Goldendoodle becomes a senior, your vet may suggest twice yearly well check visits. Your veterinarian is an essential part of helping your puppy live the happiest, healthiest, and longest life possible. But how do you choose a veterinarian? For a veterinary clinic to become AAHA accredited, they are assessed on standards for veterinary care. Also, you can ask friends, family, and other dog parents for recommendations on vets, check out veterinary websites, and visit the veterinary offices. Schedule a new puppy vet visit. When we called our veterinary office, the care team asked for some basic information about the puppy so they could get her records set up. This way we could rest assured that our puppy was in good physical health, on track for vaccinations, and had the proper testing for parasites and worms. For example, our new puppy had hiccups. Finally, we could ask our vet about the proper nutrition for our puppy, how much to feed each day, and get expert answers on puppyhood — everything from tips on potty training to puppy socialization. The list of veterinary specialty services sounds much like the specialty services that we receive as humans. Why do I bring this up? With so many advanced veterinary resources available—much like humans use insurance to cover the healthcare costs—you may want to investigate pet insurance. Since there are so many insurance options to research, doing your homework ahead of time makes sense. Also, from my research, the younger your puppy is when you enroll, the lower your monthly payment will be. Alternatively, if you are unsure about insurance, you may want to consider putting money aside each month to cover unexpected emergencies or life-saving procedures that may be down the road. Start planning your new schedule. What will your schedule look like when your new puppy comes home? Who will be available to care for your puppy? Every family has different daily routines, so arranging a schedule looks different for everyone. If there is more than one family member in the household, perhaps you can flex your schedules. Prepare your home and start new habits. Dropping backpacks by the door or leaving socks on the floor is real life. Yes, many Goldendoodles—and other Doodle dogs—are notorious sock thieves. Scratch grapes and raisins off the shopping list because they are a hazard for dogs. Clear the coffee table a. Buy the lidded trash cans for the bathroom that are dog-proof. Make sure your kitchen trash cans are not where puppies can get them. In addition to preparing your home, you may want to puppy proof your car too. I know a lot of people put packs of sugarless gum in their car console. Order your new puppy supplies. Crates and puppy toys and water bowls and leashes and collars. The list of puppy supplies is long. For a complete list of new puppy supplies, please check out my new puppy check list. You can also visit our Goldendoodle Supplies store. Here you will find puppy supplies that we have used and recommend. Determine you puppy space—a designated puppy area. This one was big for us. When our new puppy first came home, we thought we had a puppy space the family room with puppy gates to block off the other rooms determined. So we MacGyvered a solution by sectioning off a smaller area of the family room using our new three-panel wooden dog gates and our L-shaped couch to make a play area. For example, we could easily observe when our puppy started to wander away from us, lost interest in toys, or started sniffing. These were all her signs that she was just about to go potty! Set up your puppy supplies. For example, if you bought a new crate, assembling it now will be easier than when you have a curious puppy helping you. Rest up! New puppies have tiny puppy bladders and need to go out at night to go potty. Choose a designated area outside for puppy potty training. Determine where your puppy will sleep. More than likely, your puppy is used to sleeping next to puppy siblings, listening to puppy sounds, and feeling the warmth of her mom and puppy brothers and sisters. Since dogs are so social, for our puppy, we wanted to provide reassurance that we were nearby. We decided that our new furry family member would be safest in a crate. But the crate would be placed next to the bed so that our puppy could feel close to us—her new pack. Plus, we could comfort her with the sound of our voices or a gentle touch. Also, we placed a Snuggle Puppy in the crate. I thought our puppy might see the Snuggle Puppy as a play toy rather than a calming toy, but no! Our puppy loved it! This is a day for heaps of love and time and attention. Here are some tips to help the day go smoothly. Before going into your home, allow your puppy the opportunity to go potty. Before you walk through the door with your new puppy in your arms, allow her a little time to explore her new puppy potty spot in your yard or green space. Even as a puppy, our week-old Goldendoodle was a little speedster, so we knew we had to keep her on leash. Start small. As mentioned earlier, rather than giving our puppy the ability to roam our home immediately, we started small. So on her first day home, we created an even smaller area using our couch and our dog gates. This allowed us to be able to sit with our new Goldendoodle puppy and also let her explore and sniff within a small space. Also, we could watch her like a hawk as well as enjoy spending time with her. We had a couple of puppy toys for her to play with and a small dog bowl of water in her improvised play area. Bond with your fur baby! Give your dog heaps of your love, attention, and time. If you take away just one tip from this article, this is the one! In fact, multiple research studies have shown that when you bond with your dog, your dog releases oxytocin—the love hormone. Our puppers are counting on us to protect them from canine diseases like parvovirus.Expect your puppy to need you. Your puppy is going to need you, want to be with you, and count on you. Puppies have years of biology telling them that being part of a pack is security. They want you. Before that big day, you can plan ahead by puppy-proofing your home, getting the puppy supplies bought, and more. I hope that even one or two of these tips will help make your day even happier. And, by being prepared, I hope any new puppy jitters quickly become new puppy joys. Make sure everyone knows the rules that your puppy will be expected to follow, and how to properly train your puppy. Doing this ahead of time will help you create a structured and consistent environment for both your family and puppy. Some examples of rules to set for children include: Small children should not pick up your puppy and carry him or her around. Allowing your children to hold the puppy while sitting is okay, but puppies like to squirm and jump out of your arms and it's possible to accidentally injure the puppy while trying to carry it around. Puppies should not be unattended on couches, chairs, and beds. They will jump off and potentially break a leg. Puppies need to feel that they can eat in peace without having to defend their food, making it important that children know to leave your new puppy alone while eating. Children bothering your puppy during a meal could lead to defensive behavior. Your puppy may be tired already as there have been lots of changes to its environment. However, a short little play session before bed never hurts. Two hours before bedtime, take away your puppies water so he or she will not have to get up to go to the bathroom during the night. Puppies should have access to water all day until this time. Your puppy will most likely whimper and cry the first few nights. This is normal. Follow the guide provided here and your puppy will be happily crate trained in no time. For night-time crate training, listen to the video I post on your Marco Polo litter group. Welcome to my first puppy blog! His expected weight as an adult is between 40 and 50 pounds. Before bringing Henry home I did months of research on puppies. I wanted to make sure I knew as much as possible. I grew-up with a shih-tzu and now my parents have a havenese. My parents used potty pads with both dogs and they were difficult to house train. I researched different breeds, breeders and also considered adoption. However, most of my research was focused on crate and house training. I am not a dog expert and have no education as a dog trainer, but I thought it would be helpful to share what has worked well for us. In our home we created a designated puppy room. For about his first two weeks home he rarely left this room. He has a tiny, weak bladder and is easily confused in his new home. You can create a puppy room or space anywhere in your home, I think it just helps to do-so close by to an exterior door. It is key that this area is very close to the puppy room. Fortunately, he went potty right away on that first day. We gave him lots of verbal praise then took him inside. Each time he comes inside we wipe his paws with a wipe because he does not have all of his vaccine boosters. I have spoke with a few veterinarians on this topic and suggest everyone do the same. Taking Henry outside to go potty was the right choice for us. When Henry entered his room his crate was setup with the door open. Inside we had a crate pad and the towel he sat on in the car during his ride home. I was a bit nervous about the crate situation because neither of my family dogs took a liking to their crate. We let him explore his new room for a bit and before we knew it, he walked into his crate on his own to lay down. From that moment on, he loved his crate! I originally planned to move his crate into our bedroom next to my side of the bed. Since Henry easily went in and out of his crate on his first day home we decided not to move his crate. I totally understand that this is not the case for every pup! When we took Henry home he was about 9lbs and he started with a 24 inch crate. As most sites suggest, he had enough room to turn around, but not enough room to play. Too much extra space in the crate may cause puppies to go potty on one side and sleep on the other. The crate should only be big enough for relaxing — not relaxing AND potty. Tip 4 Stick to a schedule. Day and night. We brought Henry home on a Sunday afternoon and I was able to stay home the following two days. Starting on the first night we set alarms to wake up every two hours to take Henry outside. I know that some sites suggest not waking your puppy up, but this is the method that we chose and it worked very well for Henry. We chose this method because we wanted him to understand that night time is for sleeping and going potty — not playing. By waking him up we felt were inconveniencing him, not the other way around. For the most part, he was always sleeping when we took him out until he woke up for good around 5am. We followed the 2 hour approach for about five days then increased to 3 hours. After about another five days we increased to 4 hours. He has never had an accident in his crate and can hold it for hours at night. Henry eventually started sleeping later util about 6 and am. For the first two weeks, we also wrote down every time Henry ate, drank and went potty. During the first two days, we peed 14 times before dinner. Patience is not my strongest venture. My husband on the other hand, has the patience of a saint. Brining home a puppy is without a doubt stressful and exhausting. The first few weeks are especially tough, but hang in there! I promise it gets better. Your little guy was taken from his mama and siblings then placed in whole new world. It is going to take some time for him to learn, but he will learn. During the first two weeks Henry went nuts for food and water. Here we are 5 weeks out and he plops his little butt down when we bring his food over. The calmer you are, the calmer he will be too. Our next goal is to tackle puppy biting — check back soon! Share this:. Things we recommend when preparing for your goldendoodle puppy Food All of our puppies are on Royal canin med size puppy food, we transition them to Royal canin med adult food at 1 year of age. Theese are a few of our favorites! Lean treats that you get from your vet. Crates We highly recommend crate training. We like the black metal crates with a front and side door. We consider the side door a must, the crate can go so many more places in the house and car. A collar puts pressure on their developing tracheas. Here are a few that we have found that are great and long lasting! Red or black Kong - not the pink or blue that says it's for puppies - they can chew them up in no time. We put peanut butter in the Kong and give it to them in their crates; they love it! Nylabones - These are great when they are really teething, and even our older dogs like to chew on them. We have found the Dinosaur one to be a favorite for both Puppies and Adults! The Just for puppies ring bone dog teething chew toy is also a puppy favorite Chuckit - for playing ball. These are awesome! If you get a medium size, any tennis ball will fit! Just don't let your puppy have the tennis ball to chew on, it will wear down their teeth. Go Dog has fun soft toys, we aways get the ones with the chew guard! Brush The Soft Slicker brush by Safari is great for puppies, as they get older and their coat gets longer the Chris Christianson slicker brush works great! The best way to make sure your Doodle isnt matted is a metal comb. You can find it on Amazon or at a farm feed store. DVD Because our puppies are raised with the puppy culture program and come to you happy, confident, and ready to learn, we ask that all our families who get one of our puppies also watch the puppy culture dvd or vod so you can follow along with what the puppies are learning and continue it after you get your puppy home. For Heartworms Your vet will have their recommendations; but if given a choice we use heartgard or sentinel. We would NOT use trifexis as it has many side affects. We also do not recommend Lepto vaccine for puppies. Find the Rest of Our Reccomendations in the link below. Preparing for a Goldendoodle Puppy Preparing for a Goldendoodle Puppy Preparing for a new puppy is an exciting endeavor, but when the breed in question is a goldendoodle, the experience becomes an extraordinary one. However, as with any new furry addition, preparation is key. From learning more about this breed to choosing a vet and puppy-proofing your home, getting everything ready for your new goldendoodle addition can make the transition easier for you and your pup. What You Need To Know About Goldendoodles A fairly newer crossbreed that emerged in the late s, these pups are hybrids of golden retrievers and poodles. Likely inspired by the successful crossbreeding of Labrador retrievers and poodles resulting in the popular labradoodle, the goldendoodle mix has also proven a resounding success. Goldendoodles come in four size variations: petite, mini, medium and standard. This is a highly intelligent, nonaggressive breed that thrives on pleasing their humans. Goldendoodle puppies can have different coat curl patterns, from tight coils to looser waves. Doodles are quiet, typically only barking when they feel threatened. Goldendoodle puppies love to swim, a trait inherited from their parental breeds. Prepare Your Home for a Goldendoodle Puppy Anytime you bring home a new goldendoodle puppy, some preparation is needed to make the transition easier for you and your furry addition. From puppy-proofing to training tips, it might seem a little overwhelming at first. When you set up your doodle den, make it as comfortable as possible. Introduce it to the crate in as positive a manner as possible to get your puppy accustomed to the idea of sleeping there. Goldendoodle Puppy Housing Training Tips Getting your doodle accustomed to certain behaviors at home will help make the transition much smoother. The key to proper home training, even outside of what you learn in a more structured training environment, is consistency. If there are certain behaviors you plan to implement from the outset of bringing your goldendoodle puppy home, make sure that you — and your family members — remain as consistent as possible. It takes puppies time to learn, so keep in mind that like a small child, your puppy is bound to make mistakes. This is one of the reasons you should enforce anything you do with a structured training protocol with your new pet. Remember to always use positive reinforcement for your new pup and take the time to learn its body language. Tips for Puppy-Proofing Puppy-proofing is as important as baby-proofing, as your new doodle may let its curiosity lead it to investigate anything and everything. The best thing you can do to combat any unwanted shoe or furniture damage is puppy-proof before your new puppy arrives. Being proactive in puppy-proofing will save both you and your new family member a great deal of stress when you bring your puppy home. Use puppy gates to block off any dangerous areas of the home. Get Family Members Ready for a New Furry Friend In addition to preparing your home for a goldendoodle puppy, you may need to prepare your family members as well. It can be challenging to give any new puppy space to acclimate, especially one as cute as a baby doodle. Kids especially may have issues respecting boundaries where your new pup is concerned. A daily schedule and plenty of conversations about not overwhelming your new family member are key to getting everyone on the same page. A daily puppy schedule will help everyone get acclimated and will set expectations in terms of crate training, meal and playtimes and potty breaks. One of the biggest adjustments you may have to make is that goldendoodles need lots of time for play and exercise. Try to allot at least 30 minutes a day to spending time outdoors, playing with toys, running around and learning new tricks. These dogs enjoy the mental stimulation as much as they do the physical activity. House training may be a slow-going process in terms of potty training and breaks, so you may have to be patient here as well. A new goldendoodle puppy is going to have accidents — this is a fact of life. If you plan to be away from home for long periods, consider hiring a dog sitter for the first few weeks. So once you get your puppy established with a vet and integrated into your household, consider daycare if you spend a lot of time away from home each day. Shop for a Few New Puppy Essentials One of the most fun parts of bringing home a new puppy is shopping for the essentials. This is true of toys, treats and even some types of collars and leashes. This goes for toys, food and even more expensive bedding options. Similar to their human counterparts, puppies develop their own likes and dislikes over time. What To Know About Caring for Your New Doodle Caring for your doodle puppy requires consistency and attentiveness to everything from the food you choose to the vet you feel most comfortable with. Choose a Veterinarian With Goldendoodle Experience Preparing for a goldendoodle puppy also means finding a veterinarian to care for your new puppy. When you start the search for a veterinarian, look for one with experience with this breed. Doing so ensures your local vet is more likely to be proactive with any health or genetic issues that may crop up down the road. New Pup Food Facts Anytime you bring home a new puppy, choosing the right dog food can be a matter of trial and error. If you do opt to transition to another brand, discuss it with your vet first. It may take time — and lots of patience — to transition your puppy to another food, so keep that in mind before you make the switch. This also applies to puppy treats. Any food or treat changes should be implemented slowly and with care. Keep in mind that puppies have sensitive tummies and may not take to a new food brand or type very well. So be prepared to go back to the food they were eating before the switch if the new option causes them stomach issues. Brush your pup daily and schedule a grooming appointment every six weeks or so. Failure to properly groom your doodle can result in matting, which is both painful and unsightly. Keep the at-home grooming to daily brushing and find a professional you can trust for the more extensive process. Doodle Training Is Crucial Like any puppy, your new doodle addition will likely require dog training at first to stop bad habits from forming. Finding a professional dog trainer is as essential as settling on the right veterinarian. Once you find the right person for the job, create a consistent training schedule to cover the basics. Decide if you want to engage in training at home or at a training facility. This allows it to associate certain behaviors with specific areas of the home. For instance, if part of the training process deals with meals and food access, initiating it around its own bowl might be more beneficial than doing so at another location entirely. Goldendoodle puppies are lovable and ideal for dog lovers of all types. They make for an ideal choice for families with small children and individuals who just want a canine companion to make a family of two. If there is a behavior your puppy exhibits that you may think is cute while your puppy is small, you need to think ahead and determine if this behavior will be acceptable from an adult dog. Consistency is the most important tool for training a puppy in their first year and beyond. Each family member needs to use the same techniques and commands so as not to confuse your puppy. It is important to remember that a puppy associates a reward or a disciplinary action with its behavior in the past 3 seconds. Waiting longer than 3 seconds to reward or discipline is very confusing to a puppy. You cannot stop this behavior, but you can certainly direct your puppy to chew upon acceptable items until this phase passes at about a year of age. The only way puppies know how to play is the typical wrestling, biting, chasing, tackling, pulling, and nipping they do with littermates. In the absence of littermates, you and your family suddenly become the littermates. Repeat this same disciplinary action a total of three times in a row. Every now and then, a particularly feisty puppy will become more excited by this disciplinary action and need a more distinct disciplinary measure. This next action needs to be initiated quickly. This will be uncomfortable for your puppy. When behavior meets with uncomfortable consequences, the behavior will stop. With all this being said, the absolute best remedy is for you to arrange daily play dates with other puppies or young dogs. The bottom line is that your puppy needs to have active playtime each day. Jumping — Your puppy will jump on you to get your attention. This may seem innocent while your puppy is small, but Grandma may not appreciate being knocked over by the full grown untrained dog. Make sure you do not reward the puppy for the act of getting down as this will enforce the behavior of jumping up only to be told to get down for a reward. This is not a sign of aggression unless you allow this to go undisciplined over time. You need to actively discourage any and all growling directed at you. If your puppy growls at you when you get close to the food bowl, immediately remove the food bowl and feed the puppy out of your hand. Do not stop brushing until the puppy accepts this without growling. Each puppy needs to learn its place in the pecking order of a family. Obviously, they need to be the lowest on the totem pole. If allowed to be boss, growling is a normal thing for a puppy to exhibit when showing its dominance. Each family member must establish they are boss. This includes young children who are timid or fearful of the puppy. Remember that any behavior you allow as a puppy is then extremely difficult to curb later in life. If you do not wish to have your adult dog on the furniture, do not sit on the sofa holding your puppy. If you do not want your grown dog to grab your pant leg, etc. Leash Training — Training your Goldendoodle puppy to walk on a leash without pulling will take some time. Be patient and read our complete guide to leash training here. Buying a Trained Puppy — You can opt to have your puppy purchased at Fox Creek Farm trained by a professional trainer. Buying a trained puppy can save you a lot of time and benefit the entire family. Please visit our board and train services page for more information. Pet Insurance — We always recommend that any dog owner have a good quality pet insurance. Choosing the best pet insurance will take you a bit of time to learn about the coverages and fees associate with the brand and your particular dog. Spend some time with our blog articles on pet insurance linked above to determine what is right for you and your furry friend. In the first week you've probably already introduced your new little guy to the family, offered a tour around the new digs, made some key introductions with other housemates in their furrever home and maybe even said hello to a neighbor or two…but now what? Many new goldendoodle owners are often unprepared for what comes next and find that the honeymoon period is not always as glamorous as imagined. This is a HUGE transition both for you and for them! Many new owners will buy the best food money can buy or, more commonly, offer the same food the breeder has been using. It is very common for puppies to have a transitional period where eating is suppressed. Different factors can be at play here — homesickness, stress, or even intimidation by other household pets. We encourage you to be patient, supportive and just keep offering food — especially during those down times when things are quiet and pup is feeling settled. Eventually, your little guy will come around! This is the first night your pup has been away from littermates so he or she may spend a lot of time whining in the crate spare a tear for sibling bonding. This can last for several nights, but usually decreases with each passing night. At JLDD, we start all pups on crate training by the time they are just two weeks old. At JLDD we introduce a potty area at around three weeks old and encourage the pups to use puppy pads throughout their time with us. The smaller the area, the more likely your pup will be to use the puppy pad. In fact, confining them to just a room or two of your house at first is often a good idea in general to make things less overwhelming for them. Bonus points if your predesignated area is within direct eyeline to the outside door…that way your little guy can quickly get familiar with the way outside. Be prepared…young pups have to pee A LOT! This aspect of owning a new pup takes time and is sometimes a 2-steps forward, 1-step back process.At night, you can expect your pup to be able to go around hours at first without needing to potty…some of our bigger pups can go 8 hours from night one, but it just depends on the pup. Most will need a potty break at some point in the middle of the night for the first couple weeks—it can be tough, but fortunately they are usually able to stretch it out pretty quickly. To review, when raising a goldendoodle puppy, the best tools you can have in your belt are patience, a good sense of humor and consistency. Puppies thrive on schedules and predictable expectations, and lots of snuggles and chew toys! Doodles are very smart and learn fast, so you should see marked improved by the week, meaning that each progressive week is generally easier than the last. The transition in the first week with your goldendoodle is tough for them, but remember, they are learning that YOU are their new pack. This is a critical phase for bonding to humans and you are about to have a profoundly loyal best friend for life. You got this!

How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level. Many owners also want to know when they can switch to adult food formulas for their German Shepherd puppies. Switch your GSD puppy to adult food when they are around 12 to 18 months old. Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to 18 months old as long as they are not putting on excess weight too quickly. If you want to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, keep reading. Finding the best food to feed your German Shepherd puppy is overwhelming at times. This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating! Follow this feeding guide when you need to know what to feed German Shepherd puppies. I understand! The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition. Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed. Packed with nutrients to help limit inflammation of the joints and uses fresh ingredients. Easily digestible formula for puppies prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs. Rich aroma with DHA fish oil to entice puppies to finish every last bite while giving shine to their coats. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet. Most GSDs are healthy and fit on commercial dog foods that are high quality. These balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature. There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food. Now, consider what to feed a German Shepherd puppy based on their age. These feeding charts and guides will help keep your new companion growing strong and athletic. Tiny portions of canned, wet foods are introduced. Meals per day: 4 or more Puppies should stay with their mom for to keep them healthy. Nutrition Warning! At 8-weeks-old a GSD pup is eating more solid foods and develops a better appetite for kibble and other foods. Add in only a couple of small spoonfuls of canned plain pumpkin, unsweetened Greek yogurt, or cooked oatmeal to entice your pup to eat. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue feeding the same as the 8-week-old diet. Treats are not only enjoyable for your German Shepherd, but help you to eneterain and build a positive relationship with him. Be sure to keep their zoomies under control by playing plenty of fun German Shepherd games for puppies. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue to feed the kibble. Watch for excessive weight gain during this growth time as their bones cannot take extra weight! Too much weight gain too quickly can cause joint issues as an adult and prevent healthy development. Use their mental energy to help keep them more relaxed throughout the day by playing brain-boosting mind games for German Shepherd puppies. Meals per day: 3 to 4 Week-Old Puppy Keep your puppy trim and athletic by monitoring how much you feed your puppy and their body condition. You can write how much they eat and track this over time, and adjust how much your feed your German Shepherd puppy to keep them at a healthy weight. Try using fresh, raw, cut-up pieces of carrots as healthy treats or small, deseeded cubes of fresh apple as part of their training treats. Keep your eyes open for a growth spurt about to begin! Meals per day: 3 Week-Old Puppy Around 4 months old, you might notice your puppy finish their meal quickly and look for more food. Be sure to watch how many treats you give them throughout the day. You can do this by holding them safely in your arms and weighing them with you on the scale. Then, place them on the floor and step onto the scale without them to weigh yourself. Remember, around 16 to weeks old your German Shepherd puppy begins to rapidly grow. Instead, when looking overhead at your puppy their waist should look trim and not rounded outwards. German Shepherd puppies should appear sleek in their waistline. Meals per day: 3 Week And Older Puppy Continue to feed your German Shepherd puppy dry kibble with a small amount of healthy foods mixed in. You can lessen the healthy food you mix in gradually if you prefer. But, even as adults, German Shepherds love a bit of tasty toppers on their kibble. Around a year old, begin feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals a day. Two meals, one in the morning and evening, are not only safer but also provide your German Shepherd with sustained energy to fuel their high-energy lifestyle. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips: Always offer fresh water during their meal times. Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle. I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. Feed your German Shepherd at the same time everyday. The best time to feed a German Shepherd puppy is in the morning, before you leave for the day, and in the evening, about 2 hours before you put your dog to bed. Allow them to potty after eating to ensure their comfort. Your dog also needs to eat at other times of the day for their health and growth. How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat. Every dog is different. Keep in mind the number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each puppy food company has a different amount of calories and size of the kibble. Here are a few things that might affect how much your German Shepherd puppy should eat. The more active a German Shepherd puppy is, the more calories he needs to eat to replace lost energy. For example, puppies need nearly twice the amount of calories as compared to adults. And older or senior German Shepherds who are less active need less food. Health Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to feeding your German Shepherd. Simply put, you can prevent some medical conditions and health problems by monitoring their waistlines. Instead follow the healthy way to bulk up a German Shepherd. To see if your German Shepherd is at the right weight you can find the average weight depending on their age. Blankets, pillows, and towels. The mother GSD and her litter need a quiet place to stay. It should be spacious, clean, and comfortable. If money is not an issue, you may purchase a commercial whelping box and a washable vet bed. But if you want to be thrifty, you can just make use of a clean cardboard box. Just make sure that the box is big enough for your GSD to stretch out comfortably. You may also buy a heat pad. It will provide warmth to the litter. Instead, put the heat pad under the whelping box, with one end on top of the box. Cover it with a towel to avoid overheating. The whelping box should be close enough to an electrical outlet so you can easily plug in the heat pad once you need more warmth for your Litter. Make sure they stay warm by providing a heating pad and lamp. You may add blankets, pillows, towels, or even old newspapers and a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. Be careful though because puppies might get entangled and suffocate if the blanket, pillows, and towels are not taut. Puppy milk replacer, baby bottle, or feeding syringe If the litter is abandoned or orphaned, ask your vet to prescribe milk formulated for German shepherd puppies. Purchase a baby bottle or syringe for feeding. If you leave newborn German shepherd puppies with their mother, give her the first two days to bond with her litter and feed them. Once you see that your GSD has accepted her litter and is feeding them, you can put the puppies in a box beside their mother. She will take care of cleaning and nurturing her pups while continuing to feed them with her milk. But if she still refuses to take care of her pups, you must take matters into your own hands. To do this, place a clean towel or a washable vet bed inside a cardboard box. Keep the box beside your GSD but make sure that she cannot get in touch with her pups. Plug the pad into an electrical outlet and adjust the heat to maintain its temperature at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The pups can get hypothermia if their body heat drops below 94 degrees Fahrenheit. See also How long should a puppy chew on a bully stick and when to take the bully stick away? Now, put your German shepherd puppies under the warmth of the heating pad at 95 degrees F and wait for them to feed. Only put three puppies per towel or one puppy per section of the vet bed for ease in feeding and monitoring. A mother GSD can produce about 4 to 5 cc of milk every hour. This means that she will need someone to feed her pups every 2 or 3 hours. To correctly use the eyedropper, put your puppy on its stomach and tickle its throat to induce swallowing. Repeat this process until you see that the pup has emptied the eyedropper. Pups will probably fall asleep after feeding. To avoid suffocation, place rolled-up newspapers in their box the pups can use them as pillows when they sleep. These are only temporary until the mother GSD starts to take care of them by licking them clean and keeping them warm with her presence. Weighing scale To make sure if the German shepherd puppies are gaining enough weight, monitor their weight by using a weighing scale at least 4 times a week. If the puppies are not gaining enough weight, they may not be getting enough milk or nourishment so consult your vet right away. Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth to massage or rub gently the anal region. A mother GSD can give birth to 4 to 9 puppies in one litter, 6 as the average. Newborn German Shepherd Puppies Newborns especially 1 to 3-day old German shepherd puppies are vulnerable so before you do anything, consult with your vet especially if you are inexperienced. Right after your GSD gives birth, check the 1-day old German shepherd puppies if they are breathing. If you notice a puppy having breathing difficulties, use a suction bulb syringe to suck out the blockage and clear its airways. Most of the time, they just sleep or eat. They usually eat every two hours during their first week of life. If the puppies are orphaned, you may wash them gently using a warm and moist cloth. Avoid over-bathing the pups because it can cause dehydration. You will notice some of them wagging their tails as well which is adorable to look at. The puppies will gradually open their eyes for the first time in 2 weeks. They will be curious so expect them to move around to inspect their surroundings. Instead of crawling, they attempt to use their legs even though their legs may shake. Check their weight to see if they are gaining well and continue keeping them warm and clean. Their ears will open so they can hear the sounds around them. Though their legs still shake when they attempt to walk, they can finally stand on their own. They will begin to socialize and explore their surroundings more so you should not separate the puppies from each other. They will start teething so they tend to bite everything. They will also be interested in eating solid food. The puppies can walk well at 4 weeks so they will continue socializing with their siblings, their mother, and their handler through playing. They can begin eating solid foods for the first time now that their teeth are fully developed. The puppies can be fully weaned when they reach 6 weeks because they become independent of their mother. They also improve their social skills by playing not only with each other but also with people. Not to worry because this is just a normal phase. This is a good time to expose the puppies to various sounds, places, and people. Teach them basic commands but focus on socialization and bite inhibition. If the puppies are not fully potty trained , train them now. At 9 weeks, the weight of male German shepherd puppies normally ranges from 9 to 10 kg while the females would be from 7 to 9 kg. Their height ranges from 12 to 15 inches. See also How to Crate Train a German Shepherd Puppy When the German shepherd puppies reach 10 weeks, their ears will become pointy but sometimes the ears are floppy. Their height and weight will continue to grow as long as they are adequately fed. By this time, your puppies should already know how to gently use their mouth in dealing with humans so you can enhance their training by teaching other basic commands. When they are done, let them play so that they learn how to do this on their own. Be patient because it takes time before they get the hang of it. If after 24 hours it still refuses to eat, use a baby bottle or feeding syringe to feed the puppy. Prepare a milk replacement formula using evaporated milk mixed with egg yolk, using two egg yolks for every half cup of milk. To avoid bacteria growth, boil the water first before mixing everything and store any leftover formula in the fridge. Gradually increase the proportion of milk replacement formula and decrease the proportion of puppy chow until you wean them off milk replacement completely. Your GSD puppy may have parasites because stools may look like pebbles or tan-colored, small balls which can be a sign that they have swallowed something in their litter box. This is particularly common when they are still with their mother because they tend to eat the feces of the other pups. Diarrhea can also be caused by stress, which is common for a newborn GSD puppy that has been removed from its mom. If this happens, make sure you give them enough attention and place your hand gently on their body to calm them down. Conclusion German shepherd puppies are truly a sight to behold from birth to adulthood. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Welcome to our German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Different breeds like all different babies develop at different rates. There are going to be many exciting events for you to look forward to. Whether you are bringing your 8 week German Shepherd puppy home or about to be blessed with a litter of puppies. This is going to be an exciting, demanding but hugely rewarding journey. Newborn puppies are born at around days after fertilization. Newborn puppies are born with their ears and eyes tightly sealed. The reason eyelids are sealed shut is to form a protective barrier for the fragile developing eye. This helps to protect them from any foreign object, bright lights, bacteria or any other microorganism that can cause disease or damage. In the same way puppies ear canals are closed at birth to make them effectively deaf. This is a protective barrier to protect the fragile underdeveloped machinery needed to hear. In a mature ear the pressure caused by sound will mechanically move structures in the ear. German Shepherd puppies are highly dependent upon their noses. Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born. This helps them to identify their mom, the very important milk supply, siblings and surroundings. Newborn puppies are born with a fur coat however they cannot control their own body temperature yet. To keep them warm they are dependant on their mothers or another heat source. If you live in a cooler climate installing a heat lamp would be ideal to help keep the puppies nice and warm. Germans Shepherds make amazing mothers and will be relied on a lot at this stage. Mother dogs will only leave their newborn puppies to go to the toilet, eat and drink. However, when mom has gone the newborn puppies are not completely useless. They are able to use their front paws to drag themselves towards a heat source. When mom is away the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat. Along with being able to drag themselves to a heat source newborn puppies are also able to drag themselves to their mothers to locate the milk supply. They will move their heads around to search for a nipple, latch on and suck strongly. Newborn puppies are not born with teeth these will also develop in the next several weeks. Other than the above puppies are completely dependent upon the care of their dedicated mom. Newborn puppies have little control over the rear end of their bodies. To encourage their pups to pass urine and bowel movements the mom will lick their bottoms. Anything produced mom will then lick up and swallow to keep her puppies and nest clean. Some pups will even double their birth weight! Your German Shepherd puppy will still be highly dependent upon their mom at this stage. Beneath all their fur the vital organs will be working hard to mature. This includes the eyes. Your puppy will not be ready to open their eyes yet but lots of changes are taking place to prepare them for grand opening. The ear canals will begin to open around the same time as the eyes. When the ear canals do open, the ears are much more formed than the eyes are at this point in time. Their eyesight usually takes around 8 weeks to reach its full potential. When their eyes become wider, they will reveal blueish-gray eyes which are hazy in appearance. Their eyesight will continue to develop until around 8 weeks old. The ear canals will also open around 2 weeks. The puppies hearing has been developing much quicker than their eyesight and they will be able to hear most things by the time their ear canals fully open. However, their amazing hearing ability will continue to enhance over the next several weeks. At the moment your German Shepherd puppy will have cute floppy ears. Their adorable tall ears can come up anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Floppy ears are common until your German Shepherd finishes teething. By then the ear cartilage will become strong and hard enough for the ears to stand up permanently. Now is a good time to start handling the puppies and get them used to your voice. Most puppies are wormed for the first time when they are 2 weeks old. All this development has happened so quickly, but things are about to get even more exciting. Between 2 and 4 weeks your German Shepherd puppy will begin to stand up this is when the real fun begins. Puppies milky teeth will also start to develop between 2 to 4 weeks. These sharp little teeth will remain until about weeks of age. These little daggers play an important role during the weaning process. Even the most patient moms will struggle to nurse with these sharp painful teeth. This reluctance to nurse will prompt the German Shepherds to seek alternative food sources. These sharp teeth will then help to make up for the lack of jaw strength when eating solid foods. Finally, these sharp puppy teeth play an important role in teaching the pups to gauge their bite pressure when playing with their mom and siblings. This is an essential life lesson that enables our powerful German Shepherds to become safer companions as they mature into strong adult dogs. During the last few weeks mom has done an amazing job of getting her babies strong and their mobility will have come on leaps and bounds well not quite yet but by 3 weeks of age your German Shepherd puppy will begin to trotter around. Most 3 week old German Shepherd puppies can stand and sit. With their baby teeth starting to cut through a lot of breeders. Especially those with large litters will start introducing some solid foods. This helps relieve some of the pressure for the devoted German Shepherd mom. When weaning puppies, you need to start off by soaking their food in either water or puppy milk replacement formula to make it mushy and more comfortable for them to eat. As they start to interact and play with their siblings their personalities will really start to show. You may also notice them starting to playfully growl at each other. At 3 weeks old it will become easier to start identifying different members of the pack. Breeders and moms will be kept on their toes and paws over the next few weeks. As the pups start getting more confident on their feet they will be running around and playing enthusiastically. At 4 weeks old they will begin to wag their adorable little tails. With solid food becoming a major part of their diet the pups will be passing bigger bowel movements. They will be able to show more control of their bowel movements as they take themselves away from their brothers and sisters to perform their business. At this stage mom will be taking a much more relaxed approach to parenting and there will be a lot more for the breeder to clear up. By this point mealtimes are a messy process. If it is warm and safe enough to do so we would recommend taking the pups out in the yard for feeding. German Shepherd puppies are becoming a lot stronger at vocalisations by 4 weeks old. When mom returns to her babies the litter will noisily greet her. Around 4 weeks of age your puppies will need to be wormed again. From this week onwards human interaction is very important in order to form relationships with people. Including different noises and smells. This exposure will ensure your German Shepherd puppy turns into a confident, friendly individual. Mom will also be doing an important job of teaching her puppies to not bite too hard. Even an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy would have the power in their jaws to break the smaller bones in humans fingers. This is why mom teaching her puppies bite inhibition is so important. For more information on bite inhibition please see our guide on German Shepherd bite inhibition. By 5 weeks old German Shepherd puppies will be eating a lot of solid foods, several times throughout the day. Those sharp little teeth would have done their job and mom will be gradually weaning her pups of the dependency on her milk. When mom does feed her puppies, she will only do so for a short period whilst standing up. They will be eating between five and six small meals a day. Although the pups no longer rely on mom for milk, they still need her help and guidance for the next few weeks. Mom will be teaching her babies important life skills to live alongside humans. In some countries 6 week old puppies are taken away from their mothers and moved into their new home. We would not recommend this as the puppies will miss out on continued bite inhibition training from their siblings and mother. This can result in a puppy who bites too hard which can be challenging to manage as they get older. In the USA your puppy will be due their first combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccine helps to immunizes your puppy against hepatitis, parvo, distemper, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Most puppies will also need to be wormed again at 6 weeks old. Their last week together will consist of plenty of socialization and playing. Most breeders will arrange a 7 week health check up with the vet to make sure your bundle of fluff is fit and healthy to go to their new home. In the UK some breeders will arrange for the pups first 8 week vaccination to take place during this check. Although some vets advise against it. By the end of this week German Shepherd puppies are ready to leave their mothers and move into their new homes for good. The week you get to take your new puppy home. This will be a very exciting time, but you may also be feeling a bit nervous. There will be some challenged along the way for new puppy owners and your puppy will take some time to adjust to life without its mother and siblings. In the UK the first combined vaccination will help to immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. The first puppy injection in the UK typically will happen between 8 and 10 weeks. Some breeders would have trained the puppies to poop and pee on newspapers or puppy pads. From the moment you get them home it is important to show your German Shepherd puppy where to pee and poop. Puppies naturally like to pee where they have done so before so to avoid building history of peeing in your home is best if you can to avoid it. The more you can avoid accidents from happening as much as possible from the start the faster the puppy training process should be. All puppies are different, and some will get this quicker than others. The main thing to remember is not to discipline your puppy for accidents. The most successful way to potty train is to reward success and ignore accidents. Just clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Your puppy will love nothing more than being praised. For more information please see our guide on How to potty train your German Shepherd puppy. Already your German Shepherd puppy will feel like part of the family. German Shepherds puppies are always adorable but at 9 weeks they are at the age where they are still puppy-like but very clumsy,curious and keen to play with her new family, which is very cute. Your German Shepherds unique personality will make you feel very proud. At 9 weeks your cheeky German Shepherd pup will be feeling more confident, with this the need to explore everything and anything may end up getting them into trouble. Your puppy will develop new sleeping patterns and feeding routines which you will need to adapt to. Most puppies will sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day at 9 weeks old. During the day when you are with your puppy generally you will not need to shut them away in a crate to nap. German Shepherd puppies are often more than happy to sleep whilst family life goes on around them. However, there will be times when sleeping in a crate is better and safer for your puppy. You must not leave a 9 week old puppy to sleep outside the crate if you are not home to watch them if they wake. Puppies are into everything and many innocent items found in the house could be a potential hazard to your inquisitive pup. For more information please see our guide on how to puppy proof your home. Even if your puppy can barely keep their eyes open other pups and children will still want to play and your German Shepherd puppy may find it hard to refuse. After a hard day of play the peace and quiet of a crate will enable your pup to have a well-deserved nap. If your German Shepherd puppy does need to go to the toilet in the night make sure you keep it short and to a minimum. Establishing a daily routine is the best way to get your German Shepherd puppy to sleep through the night. Part of this schedule will involve mealtimes. Your 9 week old puppy will need four meals a day. Split these up throughout the day and try to stick to similar times. This is to stop encouraging your puppy to wake up earlier and earlier because they associate waking with food. You should always reward your puppy either vocally, with a favourite toy or treats for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. Puppies and dogs want to be praised so they respond very well to positive encouragement. Punishing puppies and dogs may have a short term positive effect on their behaviour but long term you could be setting them up to fail. It is very important to socialise and expose your puppy to other humans, dogs and different scenarios whilst they are young. This maybe hard before your puppy has had all its vaccines however getting many different people to come and visit you at your home will enable them to get used to visitors. Before their full vaccinations you can also, you can take you German Shepherd puppy out and about with you to expose them to the outside world as long as you can carry them. If you live in the USA, your puppy will be due their second combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 9 weeks old. In the USA a minimum of three sets of the combined vaccine are required for your puppy. Although you cannot put your puppy down outside until after their final vaccination. Puppies 10 week injection In the UK is a booster vaccination to help immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. Check with your vet what date after their jabs your German Shepherd puppy will be able to go down outside. Your puppy will then need a booster between 6 and 12 months old. If you live in the USA at 12 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be due their booster for the combined 5in1 vaccine against hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvo and coronavirus and a vaccine against rabies and leptospirosis. If you live in a high risk area, they may also need to be given the vaccination to help immunize them against Lyme. If applicable at 16 weeks your German Shepherd puppy may need to have a fourth combined 5in1 vaccine. A minimum of three combined injections are required in the USA. Check with your vet what date they will be able to be out down outside. By 10 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be able to control their bladder a lot more. Potentially up to several hours. This is great time for you to introduce them to the big wide world and develop their social skills which you have already been building the foundations. When taking your German Shepherd puppy out try to introduce them to as many other friendly dogs, humans and noises you can. This will help your German Shepherd puppy to grown into a confident well-rounded dog. At 3 months old your German Shepherd will go down from four daily meals to three. These three portions will be larger than what they are used to which may cause stomach upset. If your German Shepherd puppy does get an upset stomach, try going back to four smaller meals for a couple of days and they try the three larger portions again. This can be a challenging time as your adorable German Shepherd puppy turns into a furry crocodile. Luckily the teething stage is only a phase as with human babies and short lived. In most cases your puppy biting should stop around when they are around 7 months old and have their adult teeth. You maybe noticing your German Shepherds gorgeous ears fluctuating between floppy and pointy. By the time your puppy has finished teething their ears should tick up all the way. This usually happens around months. As they grow their cartilage becomes stronger. Some puppies need another month or so to help them cope without going out for frequent toilet breaks. Even when your German Shepherd puppy is toilet trained occasional accidents are normal. German Shepherds do have large ears but they tend to grow into them as they get older. German Shepherd puppies will begin to grow their new adult coat between 4 and 6 months old. To make way for their adult coat all the puppy hair has to go. For several weeks you will notice an increase in shedding. This is a completely normal part of growing up for your German Shepherd. Being a double coat breed German Shepherds dogs have a topcoat and an undercoat. Twice a year your pup will shed their undercoat. Usually in spring and again in fall. They also shed in general days a year so be prepared for a lot of fur! They will very much look like a smaller version of their adult selves. Although your German Shepherd may look older on the inside, they are still very much a puppy. If you are looking to get your puppy neutered or spayed the recommended age is 6 to 9 months. However, it is common for some female puppies to get spayed at 4 months old. Summary: Your German Shepherd is bound to give you so much joy and happiness throughout its life. There will be challenges along the way but remember this is completely normal. German Shepherds are such an amazing breed and you will have a loyal friend for life. Related Posts. They cannot see or hear yet, or regulate their body temperature, and they require a lot of tender care from their mom. The new mom is usually very excited and concerned about each newborn, and sometimes overly enthusiastic about chewing off the umbilical cord, which may later result in an umbilical hernia that will take a little longer to close, but is no danger to the puppy. We record the ribbon color and weight of each puppy so that, when we weigh the pups throughout the next days and weeks, we can make sure that each one is gaining weight. Normal weight for a newborn German Shepherd puppy ranges from g to g 0. We take great care to ensure that our newborn German Shepherd puppies have the best chance for a healthy start. A German Shepherd female can be in active labor for 6 to 18 hours, sometimes even longer if she takes a break while having a large litter, and we of course do not leave her side during this time. I stay up making sure that the whelping box which is always in my office or bedroom is clean and dry after each puppy is born, and that the temperature stays constant 86 - 88 F in the room. We keep the temperature at this level for about 2 weeks, gradually reducing it down to normal F by the end of the third week. Someone is always present with the puppies during the first 5 days. I handle the puppies several times a day, as well as weigh them every other day during this period, to make sure that everyone looks and acts healthy, nurses well, and is gaining weight. I usually buy a dozen fluffy cotton towels, and use two at a time as bedding for the whelping box. I change these towels twice daily at this stage to make sure the puppies are always clean and dry. Starting from day 3, and until day 16, I follow The "Super Dog" Program for our puppies - an early neurological stimulation program described by Dr. Carmen Battaglia. It has numerous benefits later in life for puppies. Often, puppies that were born the smallest overtake the bigger ones. Even at this tender age strong individual differences can be noted among German Shepherd puppies. Also, there is difference in their color and markings, and long-hair German Shepherd puppies can often be identified at this age. The new mom is very attached to her puppies at this age and is very reluctant to leave them even for the shortest time. She spends a lot of time sleeping with the puppies nursing peacefully, and is also very happy to be busy cleaning each puppy several times a day and flipping them around gently with her nose. At about 2 weeks of age German Shepherd puppies actually start looking more like puppies, and not just fat black sausages with feet attached. We use undiluted evaporated goats milk from a can, warmed up to be pleasant to the touch. Most puppies readily accept the bottle, and we consider this to be very important bonding and social time as well. Three weeks of age is my favorite age of all. The puppies now can be recognized as German Shepherd puppies. They are alert, playful, and there is a lot of wrestling, tail-wagging, and even barking going on as they explore their surroundings and interact with each other and their mom, all of which is extremely cute. I will often just sit in the whelping box with them, letting them play with my clothes, climb up on my lap, and generally just enjoying their carefree company. We also provide them with various toys starting at this age, and make sure that they listen to loud music, banging on the door, vacuum cleaner, etc. They weigh around 1. At first, they may not have a lot of success with it, as some of them try to suckle on the meat, but in a few days they master this new type of eating very well. We also continue giving them goats milk, but in a shallow saucer pan now, and with some rice baby cereal added, so that they can practice lapping. At this age, the mom is no longer so keen on constantly staying with her puppies, and only visits them to feed them and for a clean up. We continue changing the bedding twice a day now, knowing very well that in about a week it will become times a day, as the mom will not be able to keep up with her cleaning duties any more. We wash soiled towels with a little bit of bleach and a little bit of perfume-free detergent. Four weeks of age is even more fun as the puppies keep developing, but the amount of cleaning starts to increase in geometrical progression, and it becomes a full time job to keep the puppies well fed and clean. The mom is only visiting now and then at this point, and enjoys spending her time in the office, so that she can hear and see the puppies, but not necessarily be with them. With mom visiting for a few brief feedings each day, we feed them three times a day with the following diet: 1. Cottage cheese 2 tbsp per puppy , mixed with plain yogurt 1 tsp per puppy , evaporated goats milk, rice baby cereal 1 tsp. Raw tripe, or beef liver cooked with all kinds of vegetables At about 5 weeks of age the duty of keeping the whelping box clean becomes nightmarish, and this is a good time to introduce German Shepherd puppies to the outdoors. This is a room that is a part of the house, but has free access to the outside world. This room is equipped with a wooden resting platform so that puppies do not lay on concrete, with a heating lamp above it, and the floor is completely covered with a layer of pine woodchips. The outside area is about 6 x 6 ft and the floor is made of paving stones. There is another wooden laying platform here. This is a very important period when we introduce our German Shepherd puppies to more noises, show them the way in and out of the house, introduce them to the other dogs, play tug-of-war, etc. Also, we introduce raw frozen sardines and "The Honest Kitchen" products to their diet, and will occasionally feed kibble, soaked well in warm water and mixed with green tripe from a can At 3, 5, and 7 weeks of age our German Shepherd puppies get dewormed with a high quality wormer, to be certain that they are free of intestinal parasites. At about 6 weeks of age the puppies get their first combination 5-way vaccine including Parvo and Distemper , and at 7 weeks of age we start welcoming visitors who are interested to come and look at the puppies. Often during weekends we have several groups of visitors of all ages coming to interact with the puppies, which is such a great socialization opportunity for them. Copyright .All rights reserved. Baby German Shepherds growing up! German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular dog breeds out there at the moment, with many devoted fans. They can be large and imposing as adults. But, like every breed, they have a cute puppy phase that many fall in love with. However, since most puppies are bought at weeks old, most of us miss out on this magical period of their lives. So what happens during those first important weeks? A typical German Shepherd litter consists of around puppies. The mean average, according to a study performed in , is 6. When they are first born, they will still have an umbilical cord attached and may be covered in amniotic fluid. Their mother should chew off the umbilical cord and spend the first few hours cleaning their pups. Then mom will focus on keeping her newborn pups warm while allowing them to nurse. At this stage, German Shepherd puppies will just sleep and avoid expending energy. They will frequently nurse from their mother. Newborn German Shepherds When baby German Shepherd puppies are first born, they are completely dependent on their mother. Their ears and eyes will be closed and they will be unable to regulate their own body temperature efficiently. A coat should be present, and the color will depend on the genes they have inherited from their parents. Black with tan markings is the most common for this breed. Additionally, they will be relatively immobile. They will be unable to properly support their own weight. Therefore, they will commonly crawl on their stomach to move about. They will also be unable to urinate or defecate on their own. Stimulation from their mother will be required to help them go to the toilet. One Week Old Baby German Shepherd In the first week, the puppies should bulk up significantly and double their birth weight. However, there will not be much change in their behavior. They will still primarily be focused on nursing and sleeping. To help themselves stay warm, the puppies will normally cuddle close to each other, except for when they are in a hot environment. At this stage, they will still be blind and deaf. While they are still unable to see very well, this is a big step. Eyes should open for the first time at around days of age. They will appear blue in color, but this will change into brown as they develop. They may become a little more inquisitive about their surroundings with their new-found eyesight, and may begin to crawl around a little more. We can expect to see them make some big steps at this stage. Firstly, at around days old, their ears should begin to open for the first time. They should now be able to both see and hear, though not too clearly. Their senses will continue to develop over the coming weeks. They will begin to be able to stand and support their own weight. Walking may still be tough, though! They will likely be pretty wobbly. You can also expect to see their baby teeth come in at around this time. While they still get the majority of their nutrition from their mother, they will begin to show interest in solid food. They will begin to become more independent at this age, being able to urinate and defecate on their own. Beginning Of Socialization With their sight and hearing, they are likely to show a little bit of adventure and courage for the first time, exploring their surroundings as much as their unsteady gait will allow them. This milestone also marks the beginning of the socialization period, a critical phase of their development. Things learned now can shape their personality and behavior for the rest of their lives. They may engage the other puppies in clumsy play and show body language such as tail wagging for the first time. They will form relationships with their den mates, their mother, and humans. This stage is critical in getting the puppies used to humans. This can be achieved by gently exposing the puppies to human presence and contact so that they can see that they are no threat. While their brains are still very much in development, they are still able to learn some simple concepts at this stage. Crate and potty training can begin at this age. They should now be able to walk pretty well. This mobility will allow them to further play with their family and be even more curious about their surroundings. On top of this, their baby teeth should now be fully formed and the weaning process should be fully underway. They should be offered soft but solid food. They may begin to show signs of more complex social behaviors towards their other den mates, and they should learn important skills like bite inhibition. The socialization process should continue, with the puppies gently being exposed to new people, sights, and sounds. The German Shepherd babies will also be further weaned off the mother at this time, slowly moving onto a fully solid diet. Six Week Old Baby German Shepherd At this age, you will begin to see the puppies become even more independent of their mother. Six week old puppies are gaining social skills rapidly, and love to play with people and each other. Seven Week Old Baby German Shepherd When we move into the seventh week of their life, a new significant phase of development starts to begin: the fear period. While this sounds disconcerting, it merely means that this is the time that many puppies begin to show fear towards new things, rather than curiosity. Things that the puppy may find scary or uncertain during this time can make for big changes in their personality throughout life. For example, if a puppy has a bad experience with a human at this stage, it may lead them to becoming fearful and distrustful towards people for the rest of their life. This is why gently exposing the puppies to humans and common sights and sounds beforehand is important. By preemptively socializing the puppies with humans, we can help this period run smoother. The puppies will have reached weights of around pounds and should be around inches tall. Their ears will lie flat but should begin to become erect and upright over the coming weeks. They will be fully independent of their mother at this age. They should be completely weaned, with some basic training and socialization. From here, new owners are expected to continue to train and socialize them, as they are still within a critical period of development. New owners will also need to continue to ensure the German Shepherd puppy is fed a good, nutritionally balanced diet. For more information, you can check out our full puppy development guide here. And make sure you also take a look at this guide to bathing a puppy!

Photo by Shane Guymon on Unsplash Why do puppies eat stones? Puppies eat stones to investigate their taste and texture, to chew on while teething, to strengthen their jaw muscles, due to a lack of calcium, nutritional or dietary deficiencies, boredom, or because they are a breed that likes to have something in their mouth, such as Spaniels and Retrievers. Puppies will often put everything in their mouths , including rolling stones no not Mick Jagger or holding pebbles in their mouth. Most will spit them out, but some will try to swallow them too, which is dangerous! How do I get my puppy to stop eating stones? To stop your puppy from eating stones, ensure that their nutritional needs are met, that they are not bored, that they have ways of expressing breed-specific behaviour, teach them to leave it and drop, and stop any punishment-based techniques that you may have been tempted to use. Check out our puppy nutrition , raw feeding for puppies and home cooking for your dog guides. Prevent boredom by using enrichment toys Brain games and puzzle toys w ill all help to prevent boredom in your dog, and give them something better to do than entertain themselves with stones. Provide Breed Specific Outlets If you have a Gundog or retrieving mixed-breed, such as a Labrador , Cockapoo , Cocker or Springer Spaniel, then they are genetically engineered to find carrying things around in their mouth rewarding. The Zigzag app is specifically written to work with breed differences because retrievers gonna retrieve, German Shepherds want to work and Terriers gonna rag and tear! Teach them to leave it Teaching your dog to leave it if they start to go towards stones can be a really useful way to stop your dog from eating stones. They need to learn this one before you start using it on high-value things like pebbles and stones, so teach them to leave food and toys with the help of our article on leave it or the more detailed leave it lessons in the Zigzag app. Teach your dog to drop Teaching a dog to drop things on cue, is a good idea for lots of reasons, and not only to teach your dog not to eat stones. It will help prevent your dog from swallowing the stone and prevent you from having to go in and fish the stones out, which can lead to resource guarding if not handled correctly. Teach your pup with Zigzag today! Avoiding getting cross! Muzzle if necessary Muzzles can be a good management tool to prevent your dog from picking up and eating stones. Photo by Emy Nguyen on Unsplash What happens if my puppy swallows a stone? Stones can cause intestinal blockages; symptoms of this can include diarrhoea , constipation and lack of appetite. When you take your puppy to the vet , they may suggest an X-ray in order to make an informed decision as to what to do next. In some cases, if the stone is large, your puppy may require surgery to have the stone removed. If you have a puppy who is a gravel grazer or a stone scoffer, there are things you can do to stop your puppy from eating stones. This can range from an increase in enrichment to dietary changes, and positive reinforcement training to teach them to leave the stones alone. Head on over to our leave it guide to stop the stone eating, or how about learning why does my puppy eat everything? It will be fun they said. We go the extra mile for you. If you want a stress free puppy experience, get this downloaded! Worth every single penny! This app is very helpful. It helps you to understand and gives you a path to follow. The coaching support is excellent and super speedy. Download the app now. Rock tasting is not a hobby we want our dogs to try, and eating them can be a sign that something serious is going on. She is passionate about human-animal interactions, having founded the nonprofit Animal Assisted Professionals, which provides animal-assisted interventions, including animal-assisted therapy and activities. She has held roles in the pet industry that have included service and therapy canine training, rescue and shelter management, veterinary care, and animal behavioral consultation. In her free time she is passionate about providing animal-assisted interventions, training and preparing therapy dog teams, and spending time with her wonderful husband, charismatic daughter, two glorious dogs, and two very fluffy cats. Daily Paws' Editorial Guidelines Published on April 8, Our dogs do all sorts of strange things … some are even quite dangerous. Live with an adolescent dog, or any breed that has pent up energy, and you will likely experience serious heart pounding as your dog tries to chase not-so-cuddly critters, jumps off unsecure pieces of furniture, or of course attempts to scarf down weird things that are not considered food. They certainly want to keep us on our toes! Sometimes the things dogs consume even when we don't want them to are not cause for concern. And other times, well, they may require a trip to the emergency vet you didn't want to save that stimulus check, did you? If your dog is eating rocks, that happens to be one of those things that needs immediate attention. We examine four reasons why your dog might decide to sample them and what you can do about it. Canines are connoisseurs of strange things to eat. Whether it's dirt, socks, undergarments, or yes, rocks, our dogs find ways to eat things that at best make us gag and at worst make us call the emergency vet. Puppies may bite , chew, and even swallow random objects accidentally when they are investigating their curious world. Adult dogs may find rocks an appetizing treat or interesting hobby for a variety of reasons—including they just like their taste and texture, boredom, behavioral issues and disorders, or an underlying medical concern. Rocks can quickly do damage to a dog's body and when your dog is constantly trying to eat them, you need to seek immediate help from a veterinary professional. Here are four common reasons your dog might become a rock collector. A hand? Put their mouth on it. A squeaky toy? Lick it. Your new pair of jeans? Bite it. And for some pups, and adult dogs, too, a rock can be just one more thing to test out with their mouth. If this is the case for your dog, using positive reinforcement to teach them a " leave it " cue can be really helpful and extremely useful in many contexts. Avoid just grabbing something from your dog's mouth—-not only does this increase the chances of your dog resource guarding things in the future, it can also increase the chances of eating rocks becoming a fun game. To prevent resource guarding and accidentally reinforcing rock eating, teach your dog helpful cues like " give " and "drop. When they go for that thing instead, you then remove the rock from their line of sight and move your dog to a different area. Your Dog is Bored Boredom is a common culprit for myriad reasons our dogs do things. From chewing on furniture to ingesting odd things in your yard like dirt or plants, a dog that is not mentally and physically enriched will find ways to alleviate boredom. And if a dog is constantly bored, meaning his environment doesn't offer much mental stimulation, he may ingest things that pique his interest more than a dog that is simply bored at random times. This can lead to a significant behavioral and health concern, as dogs that lack consistent opportunities to engage their brain will soon become frustrated and anxious and look for ways to soothe those feelings. To prevent this, make sure you're providing your dog daily chances to use their canine smarts to investigate and learn. You can help prevent boredom in your home and yard by offering up new toys and puzzles , rotating old ones, and adding safe chew toy options. Take your dog for walks and hikes every day and let them sniff. Play games, offer up daily sessions that teach them new skills and tricks , and go out and discover the world together. Your Dog Has a Behavioral Concern When your dog is overly stressed or nervous, and conflicted with how to handle a situation, eating non-food items like rocks can act as a displacement behavior. These are behaviors that appear odd given the context and seem as though they would not do anything to help alleviate the negative feelings your dog is experiencing. Common displacement behaviors include excessive panting , lip licking, shaking off when not wet, excessive self-grooming, and yes, eating unusual things quickly. Some dogs may have a significant behavioral concern that leads to their desire to consume rocks. General anxiety and compulsive disorder like OCD can quickly become serious, causing a dog to engage in obsessive behaviors like spinning, tail chasing, licking , or even consuming lots of odd things like pebbles and rocks. If you think your dog could have severe anxiety or a compulsive disorder, seek help from a veterinary behaviorist. Your Dog Has an Underlying Health Issue It's not uncommon for dogs to consume odd things, even rocks, when they are feeling an upset stomach or having problems with digestion and are looking for relief. Eating things that are not considered food, like dirt or rocks, can also indicate that your dog's diet needs adjusting. When a dog's diet is lacking in the vital nutrients they need, they may seek those vitamins and minerals elsewhere. In severe cases, the nutritional deficiencies come from a serious medical issue like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency EPI or rickets. Pica , a condition where an animal constantly eats non-food items can result from other medical issues or anxiety and OCD. These can all become serious conditions that need treatment. Signs your dog's rock eating is becoming a serious problem can include: Excessive thirst. Your German Shepherd eats rocks due to one or more of the following reasons: boredom, anxiety, stress, they like the smell and taste on rocks, or they may be suffering from a medical issue. Why does my German Shepherd puppy eat rocks? German Shepherd puppies may be eating rocks simply because they are curious. They are natural explorers and may be drawn to many things, including rocks. Some puppies may also be teething and they chew rocks to alleviate the pain, while others just have nothing else to do. Perhaps you have not been paying them too much attention. While other dogs are okay with lounging around the house all day, German Shepherds were bred to work as livestock herders. This means that they require a lot of simulation. Has your dog been spending most of its time indoors? Do you take them out for a walk, exercise or just to play? Bear in mind that your German Shepherd is an intelligent animal and they will need to be stimulated. If left on their own and without enough stimulation, they would definitely look for some form of entertainment. This may include eating rocks or other objects, or even destroying things. Reading tip: Why does my German Shepherd eat poop? The first is fear. There are several things that dogs can be afraid of. It can be their environment or a person. Some are afraid of storms or other loud sounds. The next reason for anxiety is related to their age. Older dogs may have a condition called cognitive dysfunction syndrome which can be the reason for feeling anxious. The University of Lincoln has published research that identified 4 root causes of separation anxiety in dogs. Aside from eating rocks, your German Shepherd may also be doing any of the following: too much barking, aggression, and urinating or defecating all over the house. Perhaps the rocks are under your grill and your dog can smell the grease. They proceed to eat the rocks because the smell reminds them of tasty food. Or they could just be curious. Puppies in particular, love to explore. Smelling and tasting the things around them actually allows them to understand their environment better. Warning: The problem is that rocks pose a choking hazard. They can also cause gastrointestinal obstruction. But dogs are not wired the same. There are even dogs who like to chew and eat grass. It not only tastes good for them, but it can even provide them some nourishment. Also, if your German Shepherds are not getting enough nutrition, they may feel hungry all the time. This may be the reason that they will just start eating whatever is near them including rocks! According to PetMD , it is a condition where dogs crave for something that is not edible. Those who are afflicted with pica may eat anything from rocks, socks , and the like. Pica affects all kinds of breeds, regardless of their age or gender. There is no specific test that can determine whether your German Shepherd has pica. After the diagnosis however, it is still important to find out what exactly caused the pica to manifest. The underlying cause could again be a medical issue. Your German Shepherd might have parasites in his body, or suffering from hormonal imbalance or even diabetes. Other times it can be due to stress and fear. Dogs are social animals and when left for long periods of time, it may make them do things they have never done before. Perhaps the rock-eating is just their way of acting out and getting your attention. Make sure to shower your German Shepherd with lots of love and attention. Go for a walk with them daily. Play with them and talk to them, and make them a part of your family. This could lead to health issues that will not only cost you money but could also put their lives in danger. Some of the possible complications include: Chipped teeth. A perforated stomach. A blockage in their intestines. For more information, follow these tips: 1: Go to your veterinarian Once you see your German Shepherd eating rocks, take them to the veterinarian right away. Your dog may have already swallowed some rocks. In this case your vet can run an X-ray to determine if there is any blockage. Even if there is no blockage, your vet may also help you find the reason why your dog is eating rocks. Aside from getting a medical history, some blood tests and even fecal analysis may also be required. Once a diagnosis has been made, your veterinarian can easily address the issue. That could be the reason why they have started eating rocks in the first place. Make sure that they are getting enough vitamins and minerals in their food. There are nutritional guidelines that you can check out to see if you are feeding your German Shepherd the proper food. Some of the important ingredients that must be present in their food are: Fats. Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might be doing it and the signs to look for. You can also read about what you should and should not feed a dog here. Boredom German Shepherds are a breed that was bred to be extremely active where they would work with their owners doing intensive tasks for hours on a daily basis. This means that they need a lot of exercise to be properly stimulated. If they do not get a lot of exercise then they will look to make their own entertainment which could include trying rocks or gravel. Generally, it is recommended that a German Shepherd get at least an hour of exercise daily. It could be that this is a trait that dogs still have today which is why they occasionally choose to eat gravel. This could be why wild dogs are often seen eating small rocks. Illness One proposed reason why German Shepherds eat small rocks is that they do it to ease an upset stomach. One way this happens is where the small rocks can cause it to be sick causing its stomach to feel better. If you think that sickness could be the reason, the rock eating will likely have come on suddenly and it should stop after a few days. It likes the taste It could simply be because it likes the taste of the small rocks or gravel. To reduce this from happening you can make sure that your German Shepherd is getting a lot of exercise and you can give it things to divert its attention away from the rocks such as toys to chew on. It smells food Another cause that your German Shepherd might be eating small rocks could that it smells food there. This could be the case when the gravel is where there has been food such as below a barbeque or where some leftovers might have been thrown. If your German Shepherd recently had something happen that could be causing it to be stressed such as a change of environment, a change of owner or if one of your other dogs died then this could be the reason. Related post: Why is my German Shepherd afraid? Things to consider Before trying to get your German Shepherd to stop eating rocks it would help to have a better understanding of why it is doing it. Below, I will mention a couple of things that you can consider. When it started eating rocks It would help to consider when it first started eating rocks. It would help to consider what happened at around the same time that it started eating rocks. When it eats rocks, stones or pebbles It would also help to consider the timing of when it does it. Whereas, if it does it when it has not eaten for a while then it could be the case that it is hungry. How to get your German Shepherd to stop eating rocks There are a number of things that you can do to reduce how much your German Shepherd eats rocks that I will mention below. Make sure its diet is right Giving your German Shepherd a good diet could help to reduce its rock eating. You can read on nutritional guidelines at petswebmd here. If you are unsure of what food to get for your German Shepherd, consider getting dog food designed specifically for German Shepherds. Give it exercise Since boredom could be what is causing it to eat rocks it would help to make sure that it is getting enough exercise provided that it is definitely not ill. Generally, it is recommended to give a German Shepherd an hour of exercise daily. You can do so by teaching it to play fetch, letting it swim, walking it for an hour or having a dog walker do it for you. Give it other things to chew on Another option you have is to distract your German Shepherd from eating gravel. You can do this by giving it other things that will keep it occupied such as by giving it lots of toys to play with and by giving it lots of toys that it can chew on instead. Train it to come to you You can also train your German Shepherd to come to you when you call it. That way when you see your German Shepherd eating rocks or when it is about to eat them you can call it to come to you which will help you to reduce the number of rocks that will be able to eat. To do this do as follows: Get some treats that it likes and a long lead if you have one Tell it to sit then reward it with a treat. You then repeat the process each time getting it to keep its attention a little longer. Then you tell it to stay then walk a few steps back then if it stays you walk back and reward it. Continue to do that each time walking back a bit further and, when it gets good, wait for a few seconds before walking back to it. This would be especially important if it has been acting unusually in other ways as well. Reduce its access to rocks It would also help to reduce its access to rocks whenever possible. You can do this by preventing it from being able to access certain areas of the yard or by monitoring it when it is in the yard. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. What is that all about? Why do some dogs like rocks so much? We explore some common reasons why dogs eat rocks, risks associated with eating rocks and finally how to stop your dog from eating rocks. This will help you get to the root of why your dog is engaging in this strange behavior and how to help them stop. Why Do Dogs Eat Rocks? The most common reason your dog might be eating rocks is a medical condition called Pica. The classic signs of pica are eating non-food items. In addition to rocks, dogs with Pica might also eat dirt, trash, plastic, metal or articles of clothing like socks. There is no known cause as to why dogs get Pica, but it is often linked to nutritional deficiencies. Another reason your dog may start eating rocks is that he or she has a behavioral issue. Stress or anxiety in your dog may manifest into your dog eating rocks. Your dog might be seeking your attention when he puts rocks in his mouth or he could be anxious or bored. He or she can do an exam and run diagnostic tests to check for nutritional deficiencies or parasites. They may also ask some lifestyle questions about your pet to determine if the issue is behavioral. Risks associated with dogs eating rocks Eating rocks is not a safe behavior for your dog for many reasons. It can lead to illnesses or injuries that result in the need for costly surgery or medical care. Intestinal blockages If your pet ingests a large enough rock, it can cause a blockage that will require surgery to remove. Intestinal blockages prevent dogs from getting adequate nutrition and can cause your pet to vomit or become lethargic. If you think your dog has swallowed something and it is causing a blockage, see your vet immediately to confirm with an X-ray and have it removed. If your dog is in pain or showing any signs of perforation you will want to take them to the vet for treatment. Chipped or broken teeth If your pet is chewing on hard stones or rocks they can chip or damage their teeth, resulting in the need for dental work or even having an impacted tooth removed. Dog dental work is done under anesthesia and therefore poses some additional risks. Try changing where you walk your dog. You can also look for dog training facilities that allow you to rent space to exercise your dog indoors in extreme instances. Use behavior modification Offer your dog an alternative like a favorite treat or a tug toy for dropping the rock. For some breeds of working dogs, leash walks are not enough mental stimulation. You can add training exercises or even give them puzzle toys to help stimulate their minds. Some dogs even enjoy learning tricks or tasks around your house. You may wish to consult a trainer, especially if your dog is a working or herding breed like a Border Collie or Husky. Give your dog ample amounts of attention Similar to ensuring your dog has enough physical and mental exercise, if eating rocks is a behavioral issue, you will also want to ensure that your dog is getting enough attention. If they are eating rocks to get attention from you, being proactive with your attention may lessen their desire to eat rocks in the first place. It might take some time and patience on your end, as change does not happen overnight, especially with dogs. By ensuring your dog is getting adequate nutrition, providing physical and mental exercise, attention and opportunities for behavior modification you will be helping them live their happiest and healthiest lives. The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.

Prices for Labrador Retrievers may be influenced by several things. Expect some to be more expensive than others because these canines are grown and raised differently by each breeder. The following are some typical elements that influence the price of a Labrador Retriever puppy. Physical Appearance The yellow Labrador Retriever often commands a more excellent price than the chocolate or black Lab. Labrador Retrievers are available in various hues, including red, yellow, black, chocolate, and Dudley. They can also be categorized as English or American Labradors; the latter is the more reasonably priced canine. Due to their different uses, American Labradors are more commonly employed for fieldwork, whereas English Labs are primarily utilized as show dogs. Click here to learn more. Purebred puppies sprung from a show championship bloodline are unavoidably more expensive than a Lab puppy of pet quality, even though this has little influence on their ability to be loving companions. Although younger canines will cost more, you will get to enjoy them while they are still puppies. On the other hand, an older dog will likely be calmer and cost less money but may have behavioral problems that need to be addressed. Training A puppy will cost more than the usual price if the breeder has previously trained it. Raising a well-behaved dog is also more likely a result. Different breeds require different amounts of sleep, but how much sleep do Labradors need? Even though it is more expensive, this is a better and more ethical choice than purchasing a dog from a backyard breeder or a puppy factory. If you want your puppy to have this certification, be prepared to pay more for a Labrador Retriever. Health Health problems can arise in Labrador Retrievers. The most frequent conditions are progressive retinal atrophy, which causes blindness, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. Therefore, you should always ask the breeder if they have checked the parents for hip, elbow, or eye issues before purchasing a Labrador puppy. The cost of the puppy will be lower if the pedigree has a history of hip or elbow dysplasia. A reputable breeder will provide health records and certificates for both parents. The puppy will be protected from inheriting progressive retinal atrophy and will have a higher likelihood of having healthy hips and elbows. Because unskilled owners misunderstand how much exercise these working dogs require and cannot exhaust them, American Labradors are more likely to wind up in shelters. An English Lab is unusual to come across at a shelter. That is because they are show dogs and frequently have more seasoned owners. They are also much less energetic, making them a good choice for young families searching for their first dog. Although labs are generally calm and easygoing, a rescue Labrador may not be the best choice for new parents. They may require special attention and instruction because of behavioral problems brought on by previous neglect. Other Factors In general, service dog-trained Labrador Retriever puppies cost much more than regular Lab puppies. An assistance dog must undergo considerable training, which adds significant expenses to its upbringing. To avoid unforeseen costs, ask the breeder specific questions about what is included in the bill. How Much Is a Labrador Puppy? This becomes particularly true if the Lab puppy you intend to buy comes from a line of champions. Labrador Retrievers are a friendly, devoted breed that gets along well with kids. Additionally, labs are very clever, driven, and simple to teach. They are, therefore, excellent dogs for new owners. Particularly in America, it is not difficult to discover Labrador pups for sale. A Labrador can be adopted in various ways, including from dog shelters and breeders. For instance, there are several blends, colors, and types of labs. Click here to find out. However, getting a black Labrador puppy from a top-notch retriever could be pricey. Although yellow labs are not uncommon, because of their high level of popularity, adopting one of these puppies can be expensive. It is less expensive to adopt than to purchase from a breeder. When you purchase from a reputed breeder, you also increase your chances of receiving a healthy puppy. They prepare to move to a permanent home when they are eight weeks old. Before this age, no Chocolate Lab should be sold. Make sure the breeder you choose to get your puppy from is reputable. Avoid puppy mills and pet retailers when purchasing pups at all costs. You must be prepared to pay a little bit more if you want a Silver Lab or charcoal or Champagne. Despite their growing numbers, they are still uncommon, particularly in the UK. This fact has led some people to conclude that breeders only chose to breed this uncommon gene for this purpose. Prices will probably decrease as they grow more widespread, but they might never get to the point where they are comparable to regular labs that adhere to AKC rules. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives. How Much Does a Labrador Cost? And, this is just the upfront cost of the puppy. This includes the cost of food, veterinary bills, grooming, bedding, and so on. Labrador puppy costs depend on a few factors. Quality of the breeder Quality of the parent dogs Type of Labrador eg. For instance, puppy prices tend to be higher before Christmas, so buy a puppy in the spring, instead. Originally, black Labs were favored above other colors. Brown and yellow Labs were extremely uncommon, and were not at all desirable. Over time, this opinion changed and brown and yellow Labs became more accepted. Shooting communities still tend to prefer the black Lab, but yellow Labs are very common in other working roles, like as therapy dogs and guide dogs. On the whole, each official Labrador color will cost a similar amount. But, yellow and brown Labs may cost slightly more than black Labs, since the genes that cause their coloring are recessive and therefore are less common. Non-Standard Colors Labrador costs can be hugely increased or reduced by non standard colors or patterns. For instance, dilute shades or mismarks. Dilute coloring is recessive and highly controversial in the Labrador community. The genes that cause these shades will dilute pigmentation, turning black Labs into charcoal Labs, chocolate Labs into silver Labs, and yellow Labs into champagne Labs. Some believe this color results from cross-breeding. But, others believe the recessive genes simply remained hidden over generations, like original yellow and chocolate coloring. Dilute colors are not accepted in the official breed standard. So, many breeders will not adjust their price, and may even lower it for unexpected dilute puppies. The same is the case with mismarks. Mismarks can include white patches and spots, brindling, and even tan markings. Extensive mismarks will disqualify a Lab from show. Show type Labs are bred to fit the Labrador breed standard. They are usually slightly stockier and less active than field types. Field types are more often bred for their working ability than for any specific appearance. Labradors cost more when they are bred to show standards. Field Labs tend to be cheaper than Labradors bred for show. But, you should consider which type is best for you, rather than just going for the cheapest Labrador you can find. Field type Labs can be much more energetic and active than show types. First time owners may find the English Lab slightly easier to raise and train! Conversely, Labrador costs can be highest with field trial champion bred dogs that are likely to win awards. Labrador Costs From Breeders vs Shelters Labrador puppies from reputable breeders will cost more than dogs from a rescue center. Whilst Labs from breeders can cost thousands of dollars, Labradors from rescue centers can only be a few hundred dollars. A major difference between Labs from a breeder and Labs from a rescue center is the history of the dogs. Puppies from a breeder will stay with their mom and siblings until 8 weeks old. At 8 weeks, puppies can go to their new home. Rescue center dogs can have unknown histories, or even histories that involve abuse. Labs from rescue centers are usually older, and have often lived with other families. However, many Labs are given up for non-behavioral reasons. They can be just as wonderful pets as puppies from a breeder. And, many dogs from rescue centers will have basic training, including house training, obedience, and potentially recall. Why Are Breeders So Expensive? Reputable breeders tend to cost more than any other puppy source. Breeders have to spend a lot when breeding a litter, and all of this will lower their profit margins. Labrador breeding costs include: Health testing and certificates. Are they good family dogs? Labrador Dog Price — The Costs Involved Buying a Labrador is not just a question of the purchase price of a Lab puppy, though of course that is important. There are other costs involved, both financial, emotional and in terms of time and effort. So we need to look at those too. You may be wondering whether you will have the time for a dog, and if you have the space and energy for a large and lively breed? But this page will take you back to the fundamental considerations, to help you to make the right choice for you and your family. Do you have time for a dog? Can you afford a dog? What about your lifestyle? Will a dog fit in with your family? Is a Labrador the right dog for you? These questions all apply regardless of the type of Labrador you are looking for. The needs of a black Lab, yellow Lab or chocolate Lab are all the same in these respects. The same goes for an English or American Labrador too. Dogs need space, both indoors and outside. Even small breeds need room to stretch their legs and run about. And Labradors as fairly large and lively dogs need quite a lot of space. This means you need a decent sized backyard if you plan on buying a Labrador puppy. Somewhere that your Lab dog can run around, play and enjoy training sessions with you. Labradors can be quite silly during adolescence, bouncing and cavorting in the home. Their tails are long and thick, easily knocking any fragile decorations you might have from shelves. If you have lots of ornaments then you will need to move them to higher shelves to avoid them getting damaged. You will also need to move anything that could be easily damaged by chewing. With small puppies this will be very often indeed. Perhaps every 15 to 20 minutes during their first few days with you. If you live in a flat, or do not have a garden, this will be difficult for you. These are helpful but do take up a lot of space. Although this will take up a lot of space indoors, it can work very well for larger apartments with no easy outside access. Ideally however you do need to have a garden, and a part of the garden which your dog can use as a bathroom, along with a good system for clearing up after him hygienically. Space is key for a Lab dog! The right space for a Labrador includes large clear rooms in the house, with no breakable or fragile objects within his grasp. And ideally access to a garden where they can easily be let out to the bathroom and have room to play. Keeping a single Labrador permanently outside however is not usually a good idea, even with adequate shelter and security. Labs are very sociable dogs and prone to separation anxiety if they lack company. This means your dog may be both sad and noisy. It is always sad to hear from new puppy owners that are struggling to juggle the needs of a puppy with their need to work. These articles will help you to deal with this common issue. Even with a visit at lunch time. An older dog may cope with being left for up to four hours in row on a regular basis, but puppies need more attention than this. Contented Labradors are fairly quiet dogs and unlikely to disturb your neighbors. Nor are they very good guard dogs. However, lonely dogs bark and wreck things. If you work all day, can you afford to pay someone to come in and let him out to stretch his legs and empty himself? Or do you have a relative or friend that would be prepared to do this on a regular basis. Bear in mind that this is quite a lot to ask of anyone in the long term. The biggest long term time commitment in owning a dog is in the form of training and exercise. Training Takes Time All dogs need training in order that they can rub along in human society without being a complete nuisance. This means a regular daily commitment of ten to twenty minutes from you, in addition to your regular interaction with the dog. Training cannot be saved up for the weekend, your dog will have forgotten most of what he learnt the weekend before, and he does not have the attention span to concentrate on you for an hour and a half. You can find out more about training your Labrador puppy here. Staying Fit Exercise is required on a regular basis, for some breeds of dog this means at least an hour a day of walking or jogging to keep your dog fit and healthy. You can find out more about the exercise requirements of a Labrador puppy here. Whilst your dog will not come to any harm if you miss a day occasionally, a daily routine is often the best way to ensure that you build this important habit. Can You Afford A Dog? Dogs can be quite expensive to run. You need to consider not only how much a Labrador will cost you to buy, but also how much it will cost you to keep. How much do Labradors cost from breeders? The price of a Labrador puppy will vary from breeder to breeder, and from place to place. Perhaps you know a friend that has a litter of puppies and they are going to let you have one for free. However, the purchase price of a dog is almost irrelevant. It is such a small part of the final cost. The cost of keeping a Labrador The reality is, you are also going to need to fork out a chunk of your wages each week on keeping your pooch happy and healthy. Obviously you will have taken the cost of a good brand of Labrador puppy food into consideration. It is a good idea to budget for veterinary insurance too. Not because it is unreasonably priced, but simply because it is now so advanced. You can fix a lot of problems these days. We can do open heart surgery, mend complex fractures, treat cancer with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Pretty much anything you can treat in a human, you can now treat in a dog. And the catch? It costs. The more comprehensive your insurance package the more it will cost. Watch out for very cheap deals, as they may not provide continuing cover for long term ailments. You will also need to vaccinate your dog against common canine illness , and this will probably need to be done each year too. Especially if you are wanting to occasionally leave them in boarding kennels when you go away, as they require up to date vaccination certificates. Labrador Puppy Costs There will be a few other one-off costs such as a puppy crate and puppy play pen for your home for when your dog is young, another for your car if you have one. Then there are bowls, bedding, collar, leash etc. But you may be able to borrow a crate or get one second hand. Here are some of the items you will need for your new Labrador puppy, and reviews on the best options for Labradors:. The cost of a Labrador Retriever puppy can vary significantly, depending on where you get your dog. If you decide to adopt a dog instead of buying a puppy from a breeder, you may get your dog for free or only be looking at a couple of hundred dollars, which will offset the rescue costs. These dogs are extremely popular, being the most registered dog in America and England since , and thus finding a Labrador Retriever to call your own is not a challenging task. A beautiful black Labrador Retriever dog Should you buy a Lab puppy or an older dog? There are pros and cons to buying both puppies and older Lab dogs. Labrador puppies are more expensive and require more vaccinations initially; however, older Labradors may have health issues or require intensive training to iron out negative habits. They are some of the cutest in the doggie kingdom. A Labrador Retriever is a large dog and this is going to cost more in the long run, than say, buying a Chihuahua. Large breed dogs like Labradors eat a lot, and this expense can be pretty significant, depending on the brand of dog food you buy. For instance, a Labrador Puppy will consume around pounds of dry puppy food a year, whereas an adult Lab will eat about pounds of food each year. That said, be sure not to overfeed your Labrador Retriever, as these food-obsessed dogs are prone to developing obesity. Dogs that are bred to be show or field-quality dogs can be significantly more expensive. How to find a reputable Labrador breeder and avoid puppy mills Be very wary of Lab puppy mills and backyard breeders when looking for your new dog. These parent dogs are often not health screened and sometimes live in very poor environments where their sole purpose is to have more and more puppies. To this end, a Labrador dog that is too cheap should be seen as a red flag. A breeder who generally cares for their pet will undoubtedly charge more, but then you have peace of mind knowing that the parent dogs are happy and healthy and well looked after. These fees often already include spaying or neutering costs, vaccinations, and microchipping. These include the following: Two adorable yellow Labrador Retriever puppies staying warm 1. Age Generally, the older the dog, the cheaper the initial purchase price. Young eight-week-old Lab puppies are going to be the most expensive choice. The double coat of the Labrador Retrievers comes in three main colors, namely chocolate brown , black, and yellow Labrador which is a creamy color. Black Labradors are generally the most expensive of the three. Silver Labradors are also a possibility but are pretty rare and also costly. Read our article here to learn more about Labrador Retriever colors. Purebred or mixed Labrador Retrievers are commonly mixed with other breeds to create interesting crosses like the Borador , Bassador , and Boxador. Mix breed dogs are generally less expensive than purebred Lab puppies and have fewer health issues, so they can also be cheaper in the long run. Parents that are champion or show quality dogs are going to produce more expensive puppies. Labrador dogs that have been specifically trained for specific roles like service dogs, guide dogs, and search and rescue dogs will also be more expensive than those destined for a life of leisure as the family pet. Labrador type Did you know there are two types of purebred Labradors? The most common pet Labrador is the American version, whereas English Labs are more common amongst show dogs. American Labradors are generally more athletic compared to the fluffy, broad-chested English Labs. Labrador puppies registered with the AKC are more expensive. Gender Female Labrador dogs will typically cost more than male Labs because they have breeding potential. That said, dogs that have already been spayed or neutered and are not bred for subsequent litters should cost around the same. These should include screenings for hip and elbow dysplasia as well as progressive retinal atrophy PRA. A DNA test for exercise-induced collapse is also sometimes performed. In addition, most reputable breeders will bear the costs of the first worming and vaccinations as well as tick and flea treatments and microchipping your pet. As mentioned, Labs are one of the most popular dog breeds, and being so in demand can push the price of puppies up, especially if you only have limited breeders where you live. Training and socialization Some breeders take the time to train and socialize their Lab puppies. There are grooming, exercise, food, training, and health care costs to consider. Vet expenses are one of the most significant cost considerations. These include regular vet checkups, vaccines, deworming, spaying or neutering, and attending to any health issues that may arise. Some common health concerns with this dog breed include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, ear infections, and eye problems. It is a good idea to add pet health insurance into your budget as this will help pay for any emergency medical treatment or health problems should the need arise. Seven yellow Labrador Retriever puppies indulging on their meal A quick search on Amazon will yield thousands of Labrador dog food options to choose from with various price tags. Be sure to check out our article on the best dog foods for Labs to help make your selection. Professional groomers will usually bathe and shampoo your Lab dog and also clean the teeth and the ears. Introductory obedience group sessions can be a good idea to socialize your puppy and learn a few basic skills. Another cost is a dog license. Two newborn Lab puppies getting as much sleep as they can There are some essential things you need to take into consideration before getting a Labrador puppy. Do you have the right space for your Labrador Retriever? Labrador Retrievers are big dogs that need space. They will need a house with a yard where they can expel their excess energy. Do you have time for your Lab dog? Labs are not couch potatoes, especially when they are puppies. These dogs require active owners who can dedicate time to exercise and play with them. They need to be walked at least once a day and may also enjoy a good swim. Can you afford a Labrador dog? As mentioned, the cost of buying a Labrador dog is just the first step. There are many other factors to consider to keep your pet healthy and well-looked after. You need to keep these in mind when asking yourself if you can afford a pet. Will a Labrador suit your lifestyle? Also, if you like a clean house, then a Labrador Retriever is not the best dog for you. These messy pups like to swim, and they shed a lot. A new Lab puppy is also likely to make a mess in the house a few times while being potty trained. Will a Labrador Retriever dog fit in with your family? Labrador Retrievers are known to be excellent family dogs. Just be careful with bringing a tiny puppy into a home with young kids. Labs, however, are very gentle dogs and so make excellent family pets when your kids get a bit older. What are great names for a Labrador Retriever? There are so many great dog names that you can choose for your Labrador Retriever. A good name should be easy to call and preferably just one or two syllables as it will be easier for your dog to learn. These names could include options like Max, Rover, Ace, or Buddy. Other popular Labrador Retriever names are inspired by coat colors such as night, shadow, onyx, or raven for a black Lab and sunny, blondie, goldie, or summer for a yellow lab. Conversely, chocolate Labs could go by the name Hershey, brownie, brandy, cookie, or muffin. Labrador Retrievers are some of the most loving, intelligent, and fun dogs out there. There is a reason why they are one of the most popular breeds in the world. That said, getting one of these puppies is a significant investment. If you can afford the cost of buying a Labrador Retriever and the monthly expenses that incur looking after a pet, then no doubt a Lab will be a fantastic addition to your home and possibly your most loved family member. Do you already have a Labrador Retriever at home? How much did you pay for your Labrador dog, and is there anything you wish you knew before bringing your new pet home? Be sure to let us know in the comments below. Further reading: The Cost of Popular Pooches. Your Labrador puppy will need a bed, collar, leash, poop bags, food bowls, food, treats, toys, grooming supplies, and a dog crate. It is important to get any dog licensed to avoid legal issues. Training Labrador Retrievers are easy to train and do not require professional training. But, some keepers choose to take their Lab to puppy school. Because they are highly motivated, Labradors also do great in agility training. This is also a great way for them to use up their energy. Owners can either build their own agility course or pay to put their dog in agility classes. Vet Fees and Insurance One of the most expensive parts of owning a dog is all the vet visits. This includes all of their shots and monthly checkups. A way to help reduce the cost of veterinary bills is through buying pet insurance. It is best to start paying for a pet insurance policy when your Labrador is a puppy. Senior dogs are more expensive to cover since they are more likely to develop health problems. Food When it comes to feeding a Labrador, they are not cheap. Labradors eat a lot of food. They are medium to large-sized dogs and weigh around 70 pounds. These prices are based on feeding a high quality kibble. Wet food can easily cost several hundred dollars more. Backyard Breeders One important thing every potential owner should remember is to avoid backyard breeders and pet shops. It is true that these places sell dogs for a much lower price. But, that does not mean they will be cheaper over their lifespan. Backyard breeders do not screen their dogs to determine if they have inheritable health problems. This results in Lab puppies being born that are more likely to develop health issues such as hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy. These breeders also do not provide proper veterinary care for their puppies. Many are sold while having worms or fleas and having received no socialization. Ethical Labrador breeders ensure their breeding stock is screened and their puppies are healthy and socialized before placing them into their new homes. Labrador Retrievers can develop diseases of the eye. The form of this disease that is very common is Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration. Caused by an inheritable genetic mutation, it ultimately leads to blindness. Screening will help to prevent you from buying a puppy that may become blind later on in life. Dogs with this disease will lose their sight between one and eight years of age. Hip and Elbow Scores Another health problem that Labradors are prone to is hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a genetic skeletal disease that causes the hip joint to not form properly. This results in the femur grinding against the hip causing deterioration and loss of function. Many Labradors with this condition end up having to undergo surgery to reduce pain and regain function in their hips. The average hip score for a Labrador retriever is 12, so any score below that is considered good. Ideally, good breeders will only breed dogs with hip scores under .This will prevent you from purchasing a Labrador puppy that will require expensive surgery later on in its life. Purpose American Labradors are best suited for active families. Families that enjoy activities such as swimming, running, and hiking. They are great for families with older children who can engage and play with them more. American Labs would also do best with owners who can dedicate more time to them because they require a lot of exercise every day. People who work from home or part time would be ideal. English Labradors would make great pets for quieter families because they have a calmer personality. They are also gentler and would do well with a family that has young children. Since they are less active, they are suitable for a busier family who has less time to exercise them. Their docile, patient attitude also makes them excellent candidates to be service dogs so they would be a great dog for people who need one in their life. Summary The price of a Labrador can vary depending on if you get one from a breeder or rescue. Its color, pedigree and health will also influence the price. All Labradors are prone to health conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy and hip or elbow dysplasia. Make sure the breeder screens for these health conditions before breeding. This will help to ensure your puppy is healthy. The cost to keep a Labrador healthy, exercised and happy can get pricey. But, if an owner has done their research and prepared themselves, then Labradors make an excellent addition. What Lab do you prefer? American, English, or mixed? Let us know! He has spent decades training working dogs and spends most of his spare time studying, reading and learning about their behavior and welfare. Outside of Marvelous Dogs, he enjoys trail running and agility work with his working Labrador Retriever. You May Also Like.

Choose a name that is one or two syllables long. Your dog will learn it quicker, which means that it will be useful for training. But remember, if it is the nickname that you will actually be using, best put some serious thought into it as well. Plus, any human with a complicated name will tell you how annoying it is when people mispronounce your name all the time. You can help your dog distinguish their name from ambient noise by choosing games that start with a sibilant consonant or blend, such as an S or a SH, or a hard commanding consonant, like a K or C. So, for example, if you call your dog Shay, she may have trouble learning the stay command. This means that rude names, which may seem funny, soon become problematic. Overly cute names can also become a bit of an embarrassment especially if your son is walking the dog. First, be wary of names that are too trendy. If you are going to name your dog after a celebrity, pick a timeless celebrity like the ones on our list rather than someone who is currently popular. Imagine if some dark secret comes out of their closet as seems to happen these days and you have to have that association with your beloved dog forever. Draw inspiration from how your dog looks. What color are they? What breed? Are they big, small, or sausage shaped? Do they have any distinctive features like particularly sad eyes, very floppy ears, or feet that are a different color from the rest of their body? You can take a while to get to know their personality and see if that helps with inspiration. Perhaps an even early in your relationship will provide a but of inspiration, and a happy memory every time you say or hear their name. How else will they know that you are talking to them? Training your dog to recognize their name is like most forms of training — it requires positive reinforcement. So, have treats on hand when training: these could be edible, cuddles, or a fun game. First — familiarize your dog with their name. When they respond to you, give them a treat. Repeat this several times over the space of a couple of minutes, and every day for a few weeks. Second — teach your dog to respond to their name when they are not already paying attention to you. Take them out on the leash even if it is only to the yard and let them explore. Call their name, and if they turn and give you their attention, give them a treat. If they do not turn, lightly tug on the leash to get their attention while saying their name again. When they do turn, say their name yet again and give them a treat. With this kind of training your dog will quickly associate their name with good things. They will want to give you their attention when you call because they will be expecting something good. Wrapping Up Picking the right name for your dog is a big responsibility. This is going to be something essential about them for the next 10 to 15 years. It is something that you and your family will be using every day. You want to get it right. Sometimes inspiration just strikes. Other times, you hear a name and you just know that it is perfect for your pooch. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, nothing seems right. If you are struggling to find a good name for your female dog, the best thing that you can do is expose yourself to as many names as possible until you come across one that speaks to you. You can also ask yourself questions about how they look and their behavior that can give you ideas. Not too long ago we named our female Golden Retriever, Raven. Why Raven? We went with one of those reverse names like we mentioned earlier. Raven is an English Cream Golden Retriever almost white in color and of course a Raven is black…get it? So, what about you all? Did you already choose a name for your dog or do you have one in mind? 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Keep in touch. Pet names by coat color Finding female dog names that are both appealing to your family, and a little unusual, can be quite a challenge. From flowers to candy, and from colors to celebrities, in one of these lists is the perfect name for your new puppy. And a way to communicate with her and help her understand her human friends and new home. Two syllable names are easy for dogs to remember and respond to, so if you choose a long name, think about a nickname or shorter version that appeals to you too. Brainstorming Ideas By using simply brainstorming techniques, you can put together a shortlist of girl animal names that put you back in control of your search. Ideas that will stand you and your little puppy girl apart from the crowd, in a really good way! Grab a sheet of paper, a whiteboard or the inside of a magazine. Anything with space to write — wait for it — by hand! You are going to make what is essentially a mood board for words. Just pick up a pen, and go. Starting with a theme can help. I knew I liked floral names, but when I started to run through some ideas this extended in some more original directions. As you scroll down now through our list of creative female dog names, when you see one you like try to think why it appeals. And start a new mood board of names just around that topic. Top Girl Dog Names Common female dog names are an excellent beginning point for any pet naming journey. Starting with the most popular female dog names we will take a look at girly names that any female puppy would rock. Then move on to some more unique, cute and interesting ideas too.

Instagram About Us First and foremost we breed for health. We breed standard both standard and fancy color AKC miniature poodles. Expect to see both solid and parti poodles, reds, blacks and phantom coloring. We are not a kennel. All our dogs live with us in our home, or in Guardian homes so they can lead happy normal lives. We are a family run operation. My husband and I pour our heart and soul into these dogs. We are proud of our program and how we raise and care for our dogs. All our miniature poodle puppies are raised with a curriculum of enrichment and a diet that is designed to promote health and longevity. We believe in feeding a robust, diverse diet of fresh and raw foods. Although kibble is cost effective, it is hardly the best thing for your puppy. We will help you navigate the world of dog foods so that you can continue to promote good health for years to come. Please check out our Upcoming Litters page to see our availability. It was part of what is known as the "Super Dog" program. By working the puppies from day 3 to 16 through 5 exercises they found they could significantly improve their health as adults. ENS has the following life long benefits: Improved cardio vascular performance heart rate Stronger heart beats More tolerance to stress Greater resistance to disease We are also working with the puppies on Early Scent Introduction ESI. Dogs who receive ESI not only are able to preform scent work and compete in scent challenges earlier and with more accuracy than those who did not receive ESI but perhaps more importantly ESI actually improves the temperament of the dogs as adults when compared to puppies who did not receive ESI. These little exercises, done each day, make the biggest difference in your puppy. Welcome to TrustedPuppies. Utica is a charming and historic city that offers a welcoming environment for you and your new furry friend. Our goal is to connect you with the most reputable Miniature Poodle breeders and puppies for sale in the area to ensure that you find the perfect companion for your family. Our Utica Miniature Poodle breeders are dedicated to raising the highest quality puppies and providing them with all necessary vaccinations and veterinary checkups to ensure they are healthy before they go to their forever homes. They also offer ongoing support and advice to ensure a smooth transition for both you and your new puppy. In Utica, you can enjoy quality time with your furry friend. The city features several dog-friendly parks and outdoor spaces, such as the Roscoe Conkling Park or the Erie Canalway Trail. Additionally, if you are interested in connecting with other Miniature Poodle enthusiasts, events such as the Mohawk Valley Kennel Club Dog Show provide a chance to appreciate the beauty and charm of Miniature Poodle canines. If you cannot find a local Miniature Poodle puppy in Utica, most of our reputable breeders provide safe and affordable flight delivery, complete with a dedicated flight nanny who accompanies your new pup throughout their journey, ensuring their safety and comfort as they travel to their new home in Utica. Some breeders also offer affordable vehicle delivery, utilizing specialized pet delivery services. Begin your search for the perfect Miniature Poodle puppy on TrustedPuppies. Questions about Poodle puppies for sale in New York? We have answers. Give me an overview of Poodle puppies for sale in New York. Mini Poodle puppies for sale NYC prices change according to a lot of factors. It is so special to work with Uptown as we not only pair you with great NYC Poodles, that are the cutest around, but that fit your budget, too! Do your breeders arrange travel for New York Poodles out of state? Our network is huge, so we might even have NYC Poodle breeders close by! How do you screen miniature Poodle breeders in New York? Only a small percentage of those applicants will end up taking the Breeder Pledge. We implement very strict standards regarding locations where the puppies are bred, their care, breeder experience, and more, so that we know your puppy is healthy. Although the internet allows easy access to puppies, it is also very easy for breeders with bad intentions, and puppy mills, to do no good. We just want to assist the good-hearted miniature Poodle breeders NYC to connect with people like you, who love dogs, so that Poodle pups can have a good life. What is a puppy mill like for miniature Poodle New York? A professional breeding center is like a puppy paradise, but a puppy mill is more like a prison for dogs where countless sick puppies are born. Puppy mill dogs come with serious health and behavioral problems that cost owners thousands and tend to die much sooner than average. A miniature Poodle NYC that comes from a puppy mill could be a very sad dog indeed. Are there any miniature Poodle puppies New York for sale now? You want your miniature Poodle puppies NYC for sale right now? Well now is the perfect time for you to look. All you need to do is look underneath! What kind of dogs are mini Poodle puppies New York? Poodles are found everywhere in the world but originate from Germany as well as France. Poodles are also found at many dog shows once they are trimmed and fluffed because they look so pretty. The Poodle is intelligent and can express many human emotions. They also are very intelligent and playful. As you read this, online miniature Poodle puppies in NYC scams are as common as financial scams. Through many strict processes, we just want to create long-term relationships with both our customers as well as our dog breeders, companies and businesses. One look at our reviews and you will know that Upwork is the place to find your new wonderful Poodle pup!

YouTube Frenchie Woes: French Bulldog Diarrhea Explained Even a healthy French bulldog may get diarrhea, but when it's a constant issue, there may be something else going on. Knowing the most common causes and treating minor problems with diarrhea can help your bully in the short-term, but you may want to seek the help of a vet if you feel it's more persistent and debilitating. Basically, your bully may have IBS problems due to chronic food allergies. They tend to have food allergies and sensitivities that lead to diarrhea episodes. In most cases, it's just gas. French bullies are known for their flatulence, in fact. There are several reasons that your pup may have diarrhea, but in a French bulldog's case, it's typically due to food allergens. There are also parasites, gastrointestinal diseases, and other issues that could be triggering this response. This is why it's important to monitor your bully and see if they are eating well, drinking water, and generally up to their old tricks and happiness levels. Symptoms of French Bulldog Diarrhea The symptoms will range depending on whether the problem is due to allergies or a medical condition. You may see a loose stool, watery discharge, constipation, or frequent need to defecate. You may also notice that your pup's stomach is groaning, and they'll typically be a bit gassy. You should also look out for other changes in your bulldog's stool, such as different colors like light green or even near-white diarrhea. They may display a lack of appetite and show signs of a fever. Here is a full list of symptoms to check for that require a more serious visit to the pet doctor: Bloody stool that appears black Very rotten smelling stool No energy, laying around for multiple hours with no want to get up Nausea Persistent diarrhea over 2 days Pus from eyes, genitals, or nose There are certain conditions in a frenchie's history that may also trigger diarrhea. You should look for the following conditions: Pancreatic disease Addison's disease Ehrlichiosis tick-borne illness If it's a more serious issue, you'll likely notice other symptoms about your pup, such as hanging, loos skin with a very tight, round stomach. This is a sign of bloating in autoimmune liver diseases, and your pup may need to be drained before switching to another diet. What Diet Should French Dogs Eat to Avoid Diarrhea French bulldogs, unfortunately, have a predisposition for different allergens in food, which is why they aren't supposed to eat the following: Corn. Featured French Bulldog Diarrhea. Its not the most exciting topic, but something we have all dealt with at least once. It seems Frenchies have extra sensitive stomachs, especially at puppy age. Many families bring their puppy home at 8 weeks old when they have recently been weaned from breastmilk and are still getting used to eating kibble. Add on top of that the stress from separation anxiety, and its highly likely to result in diarrhea. Separation anxiety is a whole other topic, so very briefly, it is a side effect of being separated from everything your puppy has ever known in his short life. The familiar faces, siblings, mother, sounds, smells, food, and area are all gone in once instant when coming home to his fur-ever family. The stress from this tremendous transition in life can cause many things, including diarrhea, and can even depress the immune system. This is one cause of diarrhea I have seen over many years of breeding and experience with my French Bulldogs. They need a stable, loving environment first and foremost. Another cause of diarrhea can be sudden change in food, eating table scraps, eating rancid food, an intolerance to any specific ingredient, or food poisoning. If you think your French Bulldog might be intolerant allergic to an ingredient, ask your vet for an allergy test. If you are thinking about switching foods, do so slowly to avoid causing diarrhea. Mix the new food into the old food, each day decreasing the amount of old food, and increasing the amount of new food until you are only using the new food. Next likely cause is parasites. Dogs like to lick their behinds, some lick other dogs behinds. Some dogs even eat feces that they find outside. No matter how clean you keep your beloved pet they are most likely carriers of parasites. Giardia a single celled parasite can be found in the water, and even on the grass. It will live for months in moist conditions so all it takes is your Frenchie going on a walk outside, coming home, and licking his paws. Your vet should have your French Bulldog on a regular deworming schedule. I personally deworm once or twice a year preventatively with fenbendazole for five days following my vets recommendation for dosage which depends on weight. Its very important to remember you must follow up with a second treatment in two weeks. This is because many dewomers only kill the live parasite, but not the eggs. Not all dewormers target the same kinds of parasites. The transmitter of tapeworms are fleas. So if your French Bulldog has fleas, treat the fleas at the same time as tapeworm. If you see blood in your dogs poop they are likely infected with coccidia another type of parasite. Your vet can take a poop sample to test for parasites and give you medicine if you are not sure what they might be infected with and what to treat with. I deworm my French Bulldog puppies preventatively with fenbendazole and albon before they come home to their fur-ever family. However, giardia particularly can be resistant to treatment and persist in the right conditions. The right conditions would be including stress, very young or very old age, during pregnancy, active disease or condition which depresses the immune system. I mentioned earlier that separation anxiety can cause so much stress to a newly rehomed puppy that it depresses the immune system. Only tender loving care, and time can help with separation anxiety. However there are other things you can do to strengthen the immune system for example feeding super premium, easy to digest food, and probiotics to help the gut. I also feed my French Bulldogs ground raw pumpkin seeds which are a natural dewormer and help to make the poop solid. Yet another cause of diarrhea can be from a virus. Parvovirus and distemper both cause diarrhea and can be fatal. It is transmitted through contamination with infected feces and can be very difficult to treat in young puppies. Your vet can quickly test for parvo with a poop sample. My puppies come home with a minimum of their first set of vaccinations including parvovirus, distemper, parainfluenza, and adenovirus. That being said, the puppy will still need booster shots so talk to your vet about what vaccines your puppy might be due for. If your French Bulldog continues to have diarrhea despite ruling out anxiety, food related issues, parasites, and virus I would talk to your vet about ordering a lab to check for pancreatitis. A friend of mine ruled this out in his Frenchie. It was an expensive test, but after finishing the meds his dog finally stopped having diarrhea. Also ask your vet for more recommendations, especially if the diarrhea is accompanied with vomiting and other symptoms you need to act fast. Please comment down below if you think there is something I missed or if you have an experience that you would like to share. As always, sending our hugs and our love from NW Frenchies. There are so many different causes of diarrhea in Frenchies. It may be something that causes stomach upset like stale food, inedible objects, or poisonous substances. Common issues that produce runny poop include changes in diet or parasites. Underlying conditions or diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease IBD can also cause diarrhea. IBD can go unnoticed for years until more serious symptoms appear. Inflammation of the small intestine enteritis and colon colitis are examples of IBD. Chronic allergies to certain food products like dairy or wheat are very common in French Bulldogs and can be a cause of diarrhea. Cleaning products are another culprit. Diarrhea can even be a symptom of potentially deadly viral infections like distemper and parvo. Or kidney or liver problems can also produce loose and watery stools. How do I treat French Bulldog diarrhea? Most cases of diarrhea can be treated with a change in diet or medication. Your Frenchie may have eaten something to trigger diarrhea. You can watch for other symptoms and withhold food for about a day. In the meantime, be sure to provide plenty of water and encourage frequent drinks. You can also provide chicken broth, beef broth or Pedialyte as well. A small portion of boiled chicken breast and white rice is a good substitute meal while your Frenchie is recovering. If the suspected cause is a food allergy, your doctor can prescribe a special diet. Other foods can be gradually reintroduced over time. Wrap Frenchie ownership requires time and patience. There are a variety of health conditions that can affect Frenchies. Pet insurance can help to defray the cost of medical bills, but certain conditions may not be covered. This should be about once a year for healthy adult dogs. Their health problems are manageable with a good vet and proper care. Motion Sickness my frenchie has diarrhea and vomiting One of the most common culprits for diarrhea in your French Bulldog, especially in a puppy or younger dog, will be a diet change or dietary indiscretion, such as eating garbage or another item not meant for consumption by canines. Puppies and young dogs are not unlike human babies and have a penchant for exploring the world through their mouths. While this is relatively normal behavior, it can lead to the occasional consumption of rotten food or items that cause stomach upset in your French Bulldog. Dogs usually require several days for their digestive tracts and systems to adjust to a new diet. French Bulldog owners should also be mindful of the amount of food their puppy or dog is consuming, as overeating can also cause acute diarrhea in dogs. Some dogs suffer from motion sickness, the result of which may be episodes of diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea during or after travel. Dogs that are not well adapted to travel, and only travel for instances such as veterinary visits, may find that the increased stimuli and stressful experiences that follow traveling severely impact their digestive systems. Dogs with medical issues, such as inner ear infections may also suffer from motion sickness, leading to diarrhea. Loose stools are generally the first sign or symptom of diarrhea in your dog. Diarrhea stools may be soft, like mush, completely liquid, or in some state. In that case, retrieving a sample to bring to a veterinarian for testing may be necessary. Dehydration is a primary concern for your French Bulldog if it has an episode of diarrhea. Still, if their gums are tacky or sticky, your dog is dehydrated and needs to be seen by a vet immediately. Several other symptoms to look out for requiring veterinary attention in a more severe case of diarrhea, such as lethargy, vomiting, or bleeding. How to prevent diarrhea in your French Bulldog or French Bulldog puppy: Preventative measures can be taken to avoid or decrease the number of times your French Bulldog or French Bulldog puppy has diarrhea. This means being particularly vigilant about watching what your dog eats and has access to for puppies and young dogs. Making sure garbage and trash bins or containers have secure lids or are not easily tipped over is crucial. Strictly enforcing rules against feeding human food to your French Bulldog or puppy is also important. A puppy or young dog requires constant and careful watch to ensure they do not ingest anything that could make them sick. When transitioning your French Bulldog or puppy to a new diet, it is important to do so gradually. Introduce new foods a little bit at a time, usually over one or two weeks. Also, ensure that the amount of food being given to your French Bulldog is appropriate for its age and size. To prevent diarrhea in your Frenchie while traveling, it is best to introduce your French Bulldog or puppy to travel at a young age. Attempting to make travel both frequent and pleasant for your dog will reduce the anxiety that your dog may feel during car rides and other travel experiences. Committing to the comfort of your French Bulldog or puppy through its environmental experiences will significantly reduce potential unexpected and unpleasant instances of diarrhea. Are there any natural or at-home treatments for my French Bulldogs diarrhea? Suppose your French Bulldog or puppy is afflicted by an acute or non-serious bout of diarrhea. In that case, it is important to keep them hydrated and to drink small amounts of fluids throughout the day. What can I give my french bulldog for diarrhea: Most cases of acute diarrhea can be handled at home and without veterinary care. Home remedies for Frenchie with diarrhea: Allowing your dog to fast or go without food for 12 to 24 hours is a popular method to treat diarrhea in dogs at home; however, French Bulldogs are a smaller breed that requires nutrients during illness and would not benefit from this method. Smaller dogs, puppies, and older dogs cannot handle a fast of this nature and should be given other forms of at-home treatment. Treating your French Bulldog or puppy for diarrhea at home can be achieved by doing something as simple as boiling some rice. Boiling rice, then removing the grain and feeding the creamy rice broth to your dog will keep your French Bulldog hydrated while also providing some nutrients. A bland food diet of plain rice, plain chicken without skin, or plain eggs may also be suitable for providing your French Bulldog with essential nutrients while recovering from diarrhea. When should I take my French Bulldog to the vet for diarrhea? Some instances of diarrhea are more severe than others and require veterinarian attention. Suppose your French Bulldog or puppy is presenting signs of dehydration. In that case, you should see a veterinarian immediately as this can lead to several system imbalances and cause severe illness. Take your French Bulldog or puppy to the veterinarian immediately if it is vomiting, presenting pain, weakness, or fever. Suppose your dog continues to have worsening diarrhea for more than a couple of days, or the issue becomes chronic. In that case, you should take your dog in for examination by a vet. How will the vet treat my French Bulldog Puppy with diarrhea? A veterinarian will treat your Frenchie following the seriousness of its symptoms. Some cases are easily diagnosed with certain bacteria or parasites and do not require further testing, resulting in a simple prescription of medication and dietary care instructions at home as diarrhea passes. For cases of diarrhea that have become severe, a veterinarian will run a series of tests first to determine the cause of diarrhea and how ill it has made your dog. These tests may be as minimal as fecal examination, X-rays, fecal DNA tests, or as invasive as an intestinal biopsy, endoscopy, or even exploratory abdomen surgery. Such cases of diarrhea are considered acute or sudden and are often treatable at home. Natural and home remedies can be effective but will also vary depending on the age and breed of your dog. French Bulldogs require slightly different care than larger breeds. Though rare, severe cases of diarrhea in your dog can occur, a veterinarian should be contacted immediately in such cases. The question of why your French Bulldog has diarrhea may have many answers. Still, the question of when your French Bulldog will get diarrhea is only a matter of time. Home » Blog » What to do if your pup has diarrhea? As we get a lot of questions about diarrhea, we take a closer look at what could cause that and how you can help your pup and when to ask for help! Why does my Frenchie have diarrhea? Common reasons why your poor pup has the misfortune of diarrhea could be: Eating leftovers causing a viral or bacterial infection. This is why we always recommend you regularly scan your kitchen and dining room, remove leftovers, and ask your family members to do the same. A sudden change in their diet. Make sure you check with the breeder what meals, which type of food your pup has been eating so that this could be continued. Unknowingly providing them with an abrupt change in their diet can cause a reaction that triggers diarrhea. We always tell the puppy parents what we fed their puppy with on the farm, and give recommendations on their future diet. Swallowing a small object. Back to being curious! Your pup may stumble upon small objects left on the ground or at home such as a small plastic toy, which can cause them to have an upset tummy and diarrhea — understandably! An allergy. Pups can have allergies, particularly to dairy or wheat, which can make their system react adversely. Allergies are hard to prevent, this is why we carefully select every TomKings parent puppy from an award winning bloodline so that we build the healthiest and most Frenchie-authentic gene pool for our TomKings babies. It would be loose stools that are watery in consistency and your pup would have frequent bowel movements. Chronic diarrhea — this is associated with more long-term issues such as an allergic reaction or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which can be worsened by a change in their diet. Subscribe to our weekly blog newsletter: Subscribe to our blog newsletter! First name Email OK, so what do I need to do to help my poor pup? Make sure your Frenchie has plenty of water to drink — this is to avoid any dehydration. As harsh as this may sound — do not feed your pup for up to 12 hours so that their body has time to adjust and flush out the issue. Do provide them with a mild and low-sodium soup like a chicken or beef broth to have as a meal replacement. This still provides your pup with all the necessary water and nutrition they need to get back to bouncing health. After this, — depending on whether or not your puppy has vomited again during this time — do feed them in small doses a few times a day with bland food such as rice or plain, boiled white-meat like chicken. If their health is improving; gradually start to include their usual meals in their diet. Normally, diarrhea is not a serious issue and often gets better over a hour period. However, please do look out for more serious signs such as: A lack of appetite. Diarrhea in Frenchies can be messy, smelly, and downright frustrating. What causes dog diarrhea? And what can you do to help your best friend right now? The bottom line is there is no one size fits all cure for dog diarrhea, but there are some techniques that can help to calm things down literally. There are numerous different causes for a French bulldog dog having diarrhea we will discuss them and also focus on treating your French bulldog diarrhea naturally. Portrait of purebred dog bulldog isolated over studio background in neon gradient pink purple light. What are the causes of diarrhea in French bulldogs? There are many causes of diarrhea in French bulldogs. The most common ones are food allergies, dietary indiscretions, intestinal parasites, and bacterial infections. Food allergies can cause diarrhea in French bulldogs because they trigger an abnormal immune response that results in inflammation of the intestines. The most common offenders are beef, chicken, fish, and dairy products. Dietary indiscretions can also result in diarrhea in Frenchies. Eating any type of food that is not normally consumed by dogs can cause them to have loose stools as their system tries to process this new type of food. This includes chocolate, bones, and raw potatoes which are toxic if ingested in large quantities or over a long period of time longer than 10 days. These foods should be avoided at all times due to their high toxicity levels which can cause severe health issues such as organ failure or death if consumed regularly over long periods of time longer than 10 days. Intestinal parasites are another cause of diarrhea in Frenhies. Here are some common home remedies that can help in treating your French bulldog diarrhea naturally. Put your dog on fasting If your French bulldog is suffering from diarrhea, you may be tempted to feed them something to get the problem under control. One thing that you should do is put your Frenchie on fasting if they are suffering from diarrhea. This will help prevent further dehydration and allow their body to focus on healing itself instead of digesting food. You should only fast your Frenchie for 24 hours before reintroducing food slowly over the course of several days or weeks depending on how severe their condition is. When your pooch has diarrhea, they can be thrown out of whack and their immune system can get compromised as a result. French bulldogs with diarrhea may also have an upset stomach, which could cause them to have a decreased appetite. If this is the case, they may not be getting enough nutrition and vitamins through their food. These enzymes break down food so that nutrients can be absorbed into their body. This will help them feel better faster! Probiotics also help to build up their immune system, which can become weakened due to stress or illness like diarrhea. This means that pups who are suffering from diarrhea will be able to fight off infections quicker than before! The next thing to consider is whether or not you should give your Frenchie prebiotics. If you find that your dog has a lot of loose stools, it may be a good idea to try giving them prebiotics for about two weeks and see if that helps with their symptoms. Give bland diet If your Frenchie is suffering from diarrhea, the last thing you want to do is give him a bland diet. The best way to recover from diarrhea is to feed him foods that are high in protein and fat. The nutrients in these foods will help repair the lining of his intestines, which may have been damaged by whatever he ate that caused diarrhea in the first place. Feed pumpkin When your Frenchie has diarrhea, you may be tempted to give him a pumpkin. It also helps relieve gas, bloating, and constipation. The best way to feed your Frenchie pumpkin is to give him tablespoons mixed with his regular dog food. You can also add it to a small portion of water for him to drink if he prefers. Pumpkin can be used as an occasional supplement for dogs with chronic diarrhea or those who suffer from frequent bouts of loose stool. Conclusion Diarrhea is one of the most common stomach problems that a French bulldog can get. It can be the first sign of illness or it can develop and suddenly attack your dog without warning. Either way, you must treat it as soon as possible to make sure your dog gets better, in the same way, you would for any other stomach problem.