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Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. They are small to medium-sized dogs, typically weighing between 15 and 30 pounds. Cavapoos have a soft, wavy coat that can be either curly or straight. They come in a variety of colors, including black, white, brown, and cream. Cavapoos are known for being friendly, intelligent, and easy to train. They are also relatively low-maintenance dogs, making them a good choice for first-time dog owners. Cavapoos are good with children and other pets, and they make great companion dogs. Cavapoo Highlights Friendly and affectionate: Cavapoos are known for being loving and loyal dogs. They are always happy to see their owners and make great companions for people of all ages. Easy to train: Cavapoos are intelligent dogs that are relatively easy to train. They are eager to please their owners and can learn basic commands quickly. Good with children and other pets: Cavapoos are gentle and playful dogs that get along well with children and other pets. They are a good choice for families with young children. Low-maintenance: Cavapoos are relatively low-maintenance dogs. They require weekly brushing and occasional baths. They are not as high-maintenance as some other breeds, such as Poodles. Overall, Cavapoos are wonderful dogs that make great companions for people of all ages. If you are looking for a loving, loyal, and easy-to-care-for dog, the Cavapoo may be the perfect breed for you. Here are some additional things to keep in mind about Cavapoos: They are relatively expensive dogs to buy and own. They can be prone to some health problems, such as mitral valve disease, progressive retinal atrophy, and hip dysplasia. They are not suitable for homes with very young children, as they can be easily injured by rough play. If you are considering getting a Cavapoo, be sure to do your research and find a reputable breeder. Cavapoo History The Cavapoo dog breed may have existed naturally over the years, but designer breeders in Australia started intentionally mixing Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Poodles in the late s. Breeders wanted to mix the outgoing and calmer nature of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with the intelligence of a Poodle. Since Poodles tend to shed less, they were also selected in an effort to create a mixed breed for allergy sufferers. Breeders continued to create Cavapoos as demand for the mixed-breed pups climbed. Even though the Cavapoo mixed breed got its start as a designer breed, some have ended up in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. Consider adoption if you decide this is the breed for you. Check your local shelters, look up Cavapoo rescues, or check with breed-specific Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Poodle rescues, as they sometimes take in mixed-breed dogs and find homes for them. Cavapoo Size As the Cavapoo is a relatively new breed, there are few standards when it comes to size. That said, as a mix between Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle parents, you can expect Cavapoos to be small to medium, depending on the size of the Poodle parent. Most weigh in at nine to 25 pounds and range in height from nine to 14 inches at the shoulder. That said, many can be smaller or larger. Cavapoo Personality Cavapoos have boomed in popularity because they have such an amicable and winning personality. That said, the Cavapoo is not a dog that tolerates being alone very much, and they could experience separation anxiety if not properly socialized and trained. The Cavapoo is an intelligent breed and lives for your validation and praise. This makes Cavapoos fairly easy to train, as they are eager to please. Cavapoos can be athletic too, which makes them great when it comes to agility and obedience competitions. As they can be somewhat attached-at-the-hip, it is important to train your Cavapoo early so they know how to be alone. Without proper training, your Cavapoo could turn to destructive behaviors, like chewing furniture and shoes or rooting through the garbage, when they are left alone. Cavapoos tend to get along with everyone and may even greet an intruder with a wag of their tail. Cavapoos tend to thrive most in homes where they get loads of attention, be it with a family or a senior citizen. Cavapoo Health Cavapoos are generally healthy dogs, but they can be prone to some health problems that are common in both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Poodles. MVD can cause a variety of symptoms, including coughing, difficulty breathing, and fainting. Progressive retinal atrophy PRA is a group of eye diseases that can lead to blindness. PRA is a genetic condition that is not curable, but there are treatments that can slow the progression of the disease. Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the hip joints do not fit together properly. This can cause pain and lameness. Hip dysplasia is often treated with surgery or medication. Luxating patella is a condition in which the kneecap slips out of place. Luxating patella is often treated with surgery or physical therapy. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes seizures. Epilepsy can be controlled with medication, but it is not curable. Syringomyelia is a condition in which fluid builds up in the spinal cord. This can cause pain, weakness, and other neurological symptoms. Syringomyelia is often treated with surgery or medication. Dental problems are common in all dogs, but they are especially common in Cavapoos. Cavapoos are prone to tartar buildup, which can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. Allergies are also common in Cavapoos. Allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, including skin problems, ear infections, and respiratory problems. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. Cavapoos are somewhat prone to weight gain, and they can have heart issues if they do not maintain a healthy weight. Make sure your dog gets at least one good half-hour- to hour-long walk per day with a few good, active play sessions and shorter walks mixed in. Check their ears for debris and pests daily, and clean them as recommended by your vet. They should not be clicking loudly against the floor. Your groomer can help with this. You should brush their teeth daily, as smaller breeds are prone to dental issues. Cavapoo Feeding An ideal Cavapoo diet should be formulated for a small- to medium-sized breed with high energy levels. Limit their amount of treats, as well. They can be a variety of colors , including cream, fawn, chocolate, gold, chestnut, and white. They can sometimes be solid colors, but often they are chestnut and white, or they can even be tri-colored. They usually have short, soft, and wavy or curly coats. They can become quite the fluffballs, though, and require regular grooming. Because of their Poodle parent, they are somewhat less prone to shedding, which is why some allergy sufferers do well with Cavapoos. Their curly coats make them able to tolerate moderate cold and heat. Like all dogs, however, they should not be left outside in either extreme warm or cold temperatures. Cavapoo Children And Other Pets Because the Cavapoo can be on the smaller side, they can get easily hurt by overly excited children, especially younger ones. It is important that any kids in the house know how to safely approach and play with your Cavapoo. Having said that, the Cavapoo loves everyone and generally enjoys romping around with kids. When it comes to other pets, Cavapoos can get along with other animals as long as they are introduced in a calm, slow manner. Cavapoos are generally friendly dogs, and they can get along with other dogs and even cats when properly socialized. Many Cavapoos get along just fine with other dogs and cats, so it really comes down to training, socialization, and the luck of the draw. Cavapoo Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for Cavapoos because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Poodle breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try: Carolina Poodle Rescue Cavapoo Breed Organizations Finding a reputable dog breeder is one of the most important decisions you will make when bringing a new dog into your life. Reputable breeders are committed to breeding healthy, well-socialized puppies that will make great companions. They will screen their breeding stock for health problems, socialize their puppies from a young age, and provide you with lifetime support. On the other hand, backyard breeders are more interested in making a profit than in producing healthy, well-adjusted dogs. They may not screen their breeding stock for health problems, and they may not socialize their puppies properly. As a result, puppies from backyard breeders are more likely to have both health and behavioral issues. More Info For You. They were bred to be a companion dog and perfect for those with allergies because of their low shedding coat. This crossbreed is known for being friendly and sociable, making them excellent family pets. The popularity of the Cavapoo has soared recently and this is all down to their sweet nature. Gentle and cute, this the perfect dog to have in the home with children. They will happily curl up next to you on the couch, but they will also happily spend time running and playing! Read on below to find out more about this interesting small breed. More recently, they are also becoming more popular in the United States and in England, too. Because they are a hybrid breed, the Cavapoo is not currently recognized by the American Kennel Club AKC and therefore does not have a breed standard. It can be difficult to know which parent they are going to take after more and which characteristics they will inherit. Breed Origin To understand more about where the Cavapoo dog came from, we can take a look at the origins of the parent breeds. The Poodle originated from the French and German border in the 15th and 16th century and was associated with the upper class. Because they are excellent water dogs, they were used to hunt water-fowl. Later on, because of their adorable look, these pups became a very popular dog. The Toy Poodle was bred from the Standard Poodle by choosing the smallest pup from each litter and breeding with them. They were first seen in America in the 20th century. They were finally recognized by the American Kennel Club in .Characteristics Of The Cavapoo Because the Cavapoo is not a purebred breed, it can be difficult to know which characteristics they are going to inherit from each parent. One litter may take after the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent, while another little may take after the Poodle parent. However, based on past litters, we can make assumptions about many of the traits. A Cavapoo puppy is normally born in a litter size of anywhere between two and eight puppies. Always ensure you are buying from a reputable breeder. Appearance As we have stated, the appearance can differ based on which parent breed the Cavapoo takes more traits from. These pups are normally described as fuzzy faced teddy bears and are extremely cute! Poodles can come in three sizes — Standard, Miniature and Toy. This also means that there are two sizes of Cavapoos available. These dogs can stand between 9 and 14 inches tall and can weigh anywhere between 7 and 18 pounds. Coat There are three different coat types that this Poodle Mix could have. These are hair, fleece and wool. Fleece coats are most common and they have a loose wave or curl to them. They are very soft to touch and do not shed much. They are also low maintenance and only require clipping from time to time. Wool coats are also low shedding coats and have tight curls. Due to these tight curls, they trap dander which makes them the best coat type for those with allergies. However, these coats do grow, so they also require daily brushing and regular clipping. Hair coats can be wiry and rough which can give the Cavapoo a Terrier look. Color The Cavapoo can come in a range of colors. The most common colors are gold, black, white, Blenheim black and white and tricolor black, white and tan. Temperament The temperament of the Cavapoo is another factor that can be difficult to pinpoint due to the fact this designer breed is not a pure breed. Often, breeds are crossed to take the most desirable characteristics from each breed. We can take a look at the temperament of the parent breeds to get an idea of what the Cavapoo may be like. The Cavalier Spaniel is a playful and energetic dog but they are also very loyal and loving. They love to be around people and do not tolerate being left on their own. This can lead to unwanted behaviors including barking and destruction. The Cavalier Spaniel, although not a large dog, has high activity levels and likes to be outside. The Poodle is a gentle and caring dog that also loves people. Much like the Cavalier Spaniel, they do not like to be left alone and will want to be by your side all the time. Very intelligent, the Poodle is easy to train and will want to please their owner. They also have lots of energy and love to join you on walks. Crossing The Breeds It was hoped when crossing the Cavalier Spaniel with the Poodle that the Cavapoo would have the intelligence and hypoallergenic coat from a Poodle whilst keeping the energy, loyalty and playfulness of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This is mostly true! They are very loyal to their owners, too. This breed love babies and children and so will thrive in a family home, building bond with everyone in the household. They are fairly active dogs and like to be outside. Lifespan The life expectancy of the Cavapoo is 10 to 14 years. Known Health Issues Although mixed breeds are known for being generally healthier breeds due to the out-breeding of health issues, they can still be prone to health problems their parent breeds face. Unfortunately, the Cavapoo is no different. We have listed the most common health concerns below. Patellar Luxation — this is a common condition in smaller dogs and is caused when the patella is not properly aligned. This can cause lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, sort of like a skip or a hop. Progressive Retinal Atrophy PRA — this is an eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch any of these issues before they become untreatable. Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced. Trusted breeders will do health checks on both parent breeds and will not crossbreed if there is a chance of passing on any issues to offspring. Daily Life Now we have explored what the temperament and characteristics of the Cavapoo may be, we can take a look at what living with one of these dogs is actually like. We will explore their food and diet needs, their exercise needs and their grooming needs. Food And Diet These dogs are a small breed and therefore require around 40 calories of food per pound of body weight a day. This equates to between and calories per day, although you should always check the back of the food packet to see how much of a certain food you should be feeding your dog based on their weight. Unfortunately, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be prone to some weight gain and this can be passed down to their offspring. For this reason, try not to feed your Cavapoo too many treats. If you are worried your Cavapoo is overweight then you can check them. Cavoodle Description The Cavapoo is not a purebred dog. The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses. Sophie the Cavapoo "This is Lucy. She is a Cavapoo, which here in Australia we call a Cavoodle. She is 11 weeks old and the best puppy. The first night we got her I put her in a soft kennel with the flap up, but gated into the bathroom. She cried a bit and woke in the night once. By night 4, she didn't make a whimper when I put her in and didn't wake until am. She has been easy to train, picking up sit, down, leave it and touch commands by 9 weeks. She is playful, but also loves to cuddle up on the couch. She is great with the kids and has taken to our home very smoothly. She still cries in the day when we leave her.She loves to chew , but doesn't chew furniture, more fingers and plants. She is shedding a bit, but I am not sure if that is a puppy thing, and because we are exiting winter season here. She is the best puppy. He's really sweet and smart. Everything I taught him he learned that day and he was completely housetrained in two months his main problem was just finding a way to tell me how to go out, so I got bells for him. He loves houseguests, but is timid of people in the neighborhood. He's also very loyal and follows me everywhere. If I stay up late to study he struggles to stay awake until I go to bed. He's a little too attached because he cries when I'm in the bathroom and he became a submissive peer the first month; I learned how to ignore him until we went outside and quit doing it. He also is really gentle with small children. However, I noticed he is selfish with other animals. When around my mom's dog a Doberman which he is not scared of he steals her toys and hides them in areas that are too small for her to fit in. He loves burying bones in the couch, getting cheese, the dog park, beach, fetch throw the ball and he'll play for hours and cuddling. Generally the Cavalier Poodle mix has a sweet expression and sturdy little body, like both of their parents. The CKC and Poodle mix puppy will have a longish coat with some wave or curl. Poodles come in a wide range of colors so a Cavoodle puppy could be anything from tasteful, muted color tones: blues, grays, silvers, browns, cafe-au-laits, apricots and creams right through to the black Cavapoo. Or it can be come in the rich browns of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Cavapoo Grooming The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has long, silky hair that requires regular brushing and an occasional bath. They do shed, especially with the change of seasons. Poodles require even more grooming — daily brushing, in fact, to prevent matting. This is one reason that owners often choose to keep Poodle hair trimmed short. No matter what, you should brush every day or two to prevent matting, or see a professional groomer. And finally, Cavapoos may get reddish tear stains, which you might prefer to treat. Tipping the scales at 13—18 pounds, they are categorised as a toy breed. Miniature Poodles are usually about 10—15 inches tall at the shoulders and weigh 10—15 pounds. The diminutive toy Poodle is less than 10 inches tall, and weighs as little as 6 pounds, and their Cavapoo puppies are likely to be quite a bit smaller than those with a Miniature Poodle parent. Cavapoo weight and height can vary, but a general rule of thumb here is to look at the measurements of their parents. The range the parents cover is what you can expect. Temperament Traits Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are graceful, sweet, and gentle, and make good companion dogs for households of all ages. They do have some sporting ancestry, so they enjoy chasing squirrels and such. Poodles on the other hand are known for their intelligence, athleticism, and strength. These are agile dogs with great tracking instincts, and nothing less than an abundance of activity and play will do. At home, Poodles are people-oriented, affectionate, and proud. But they are prone to shyness while out and about. A Cavapoo is likely to be good with children and other pets. Some Cavapoos will be brimful of Poodle energy! Of course, how you train your Cavapoo puppy will also shape their personality. Cavapoos are great companion dogs. They are friendly and good with kids and other animals. Their playful energy means they make a great addition to family life. They are fun dogs that can be a good match for any pet-loving household, whether active or not. Even a full grown Cavapoo is a small dog, which has practical advantages in terms of how much space they need in the home and car, how much they cost to feed. Top Training Cavalier King Charles Spaniels excel at obedience, rally, and agility training, and make great therapy dogs. Poodles benefit from agility, obedience, tracking and retrieving activities to test both their mental and physical prowess. With small dogs like Cavapoo puppies, it can be tempting to skip over some areas of training. After all, when they get into trouble you can just scoop them out of it. Training and socialization helps dogs of all sizes to adjust more confidently to new social situations. Armed with this confidence, small dogs are less likely to bark or nip at unfamiliar people. Both Poodles and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are eager to please their handlers, which makes them great candidates for early training and socialization. They will respond quickly to positive reinforcement training, and learn new commands rapidly. Our puppy training guides will help you hit the ground running with the basics, like potty training , crate training , and recall. Exercise Needs Fully grown Cavapoos need minutes exercise a day. Back at home, your Cavapoo will also demand time and attention for playing games. And enclosed yard where you can play fetch is perfect for this. Besides providing fun and exercise, you Cavapoo will also rely on you to look after their diet and grooming, and look out for signs of illness. Cavapoos need a healthy balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in their diet. Our puppy feeding guide can help you with these decisions, as well as feeding schedules. Cavalier King Charles and Poodle Health Mixed breed dogs have the potential to inherit genetic diseases from their purebred parents. To ensure your Cavapoo puppy is as healthy as possible make sure that the Cavalier parent has been checked by a veterinarian as clear for syringomyelia and heart disease. They should also have good hip and elbow scores, and no family history of epilepsy. Average Lifespan Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an average lifespan of years, which closely the reflects the average life expectancy across the whole dog population. But Poodles boast some of the longest life expectancies in dogdom. Miniature Poodles live for 14 years on average, and up to .Toy Poodles live longer still — up to 19 years. A clear MRI for the Cavalier parent is the most important health screening that you should look for. Black, brown, red, apricot, cream, white Suitable for Active families looking for an affectionate pet that is also an excellent watchdog Temperament Friendly, playful, intelligent, adaptable As with other mixed breeds, the pup that you get will have varying traits, depending on which parent is dominant in a particular characteristic. Both breeds are quite popular, according to the American Kennel Club. The Cavalier ranks 17th and the Poodle sixth. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. Nonetheless, early socialization is vital to cultivate good canine manners. The same advice applies to training. The Cavapoo is no exception. However, both parent breeds have a history of health issues, which is essential to know up front. The same can be said of other intelligent dogs. How you raise your puppy will have a significant influence on their activity level. Both parent breeds are intelligent. That means that mental stimulation is vital for a good quality of life for your pup. The Cavapoo is moderately sensitive to harsh words, making positive reinforcement a better option. Are These Dogs Good for Families? You should teach them how to pick up their pet correctly to avoid injuries. The Cavapoo is dog-friendly as long as you socialize them as a puppy. They have a moderately high prey drive due to their hunting history. They may chase the family cat if given a chance. That means a time commitment to ensure they that get enough interactive time. The Cavapoo can handle cold weather better than hot, something to bear in mind when going on walks. The dietary needs of puppies differ from adults, where they need the extra nutrients and calories to support growth and development. You should offer your Cavapoo puppy three to four small meals a day. The spaced meals ensure that their blood sugar will stay stable throughout their busy day. You can scale it back to two times a day once your pup reaches adulthood. It might be due in part to their cute face. Who can resist giving them a treat? The Cavalier is more of a couch potato. A couple of daily walks will suffice and give your Cavapoo time to reinforce their leash manners and get exposure to new things. Remember that active pets are less likely to be fearful. The Cavapoo is sometimes a slow learner. We suggest limiting treats to lessons. Positive reinforcement is the best strategy for this gentle-nature pup. Praise will work wonders in a dog so eager to please. If your Cavapoo takes more after the Poodle, you might want to consider giving them a puppy cut to make grooming easier. You may have to pluck hair from their ears occasionally to prevent infections. We suggest getting a pup from a seller that does the necessary screenings. Regular veterinary care is an excellent way to prevent certain conditions from occurring or at least catch them early if they do. That can make the treatment easier and less stressful for both you and your pet. Minor Conditions.

But those first weeks of puppy development are very similar whatever the breed, and these landmarks are good general rules for any dog. Puppy development week by week, changes quickly. Newborn Puppies Newborn puppies are born at the end of nine weeks of pregnancy, with their eyes and ears tightly closed. They already have a fur coat but they cannot yet control their own body temperature. They are dependent on their mother or another heat source to keep them warm. Newborn puppies may cry if cold. But they do not have the strength to cry for long. Newborn Labrador puppies snuggle together to keep warm when their mother is away How Helpless are Newborn Pups? Although they rely on mom for a lot at this stage, newborn puppies are not completely helpless. They can use their front feet to drag themselves towards a heat source or their milk supply. This means their mom, not milk alternatives like cow or goat milk. Newborn pups have no teeth yet. But they can move their heads about to search for a nipple, and they can latch on and suck strongly. Their mother leaves them only to eat, drink and for bathroom purposes. While she is away, the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat, as you can see in the photo above. They may also crawl under a heat lamp source to keep warm. In every other respect newborn puppies are completely dependent on the care of their mother. Newborn pups have little control over the rear end of their bodies. The mother dog washes them and licks their bottoms to encourage elimination, licking up and swallowing anything they produce to keep her babies and their nest scrupulously clean. In fact, he may even double his birth weight! One week later and the puppies have doubled their birth weight. Changes are taking place under his eyelids to prepare them for opening. And usually begins during the second week of life. Ears open at this point too, so your puppy will begin to hear. The Labrador puppies in this picture are two weeks olds. Two weeks old and the puppies eyes are now open! You can see that their eyes are now open and the puppies are beginning to look a little more dog-like. The breeder will be handling the puppies more now. And most puppies are wormed for the first time at two weeks old. Most 3 week old puppies can stand and sit, and are beginning to totter about. They are also starting to develop their individuality. No longer are they just a row of identical little fat furry sausages! This little three week old puppy :- Can easily be distinguished from his brother: Teething and Further Development At 3 weeks old, this is also the point at which puppies start teething — cutting their first deciduous baby teeth. Obviously the teeth are appearing for a reason! Some breeders will start to offer the first tastes of solid food at this point. Especially if the litter is a large one and putting a strain on the mother dog. It is lovely to watch a litter of 3 week old puppies beginning to interact with their brothers and sisters. They are running, playing enthusiastically, and have started to wag their little tails. The puppies will start to show bowel control as they move away from the other puppies to defecate. And solid food is becoming a major part of their diet. These little pups are tucking into some puppy food. Four week old puppies having their dinner in the fresh air If the weather is warm enough, puppies will be spending some time outdoors now. Mealtimes are a messy process, so feeding puppies out in the yard can be a good idea. Breeder Involvement Some mother dogs will lose interest in cleaning up after their pups at this point or soon afterwards. And many puppies will be wormed again this week. Vocalizations are becoming stronger at this puppy development stage. The litter will greet their mother noisily when she returns to them, and try hard to follow her out of the whelping box whenever she leaves. The puppies themselves are now eating solid food several times a day and gradually being weaned of their dependency on her milk. Puppies will still suckle ravenously when their mother returns and she will now often feed them standing up and only for a short time. She will also be teaching the puppies not to bite too hard. So, they should be increasingly spending time with humans and learning to be familiar with the sounds and sights of a human family environment. Puppies being raised in kennels must be brought into a home environment regularly from now on to ensure they develop into confident, friendly dogs. Six weeks old and full of mischief Puppies Still Have a Lot to Learn at 6 Weeks In some countries, puppies are taken to their new homes at this age. But this is not a good idea, and can result in a puppy that has poor bite inhibition and is challenging to manage. The puppies are learning not to bite too hard from the reactions of their mother and siblings. Growth is not quite so fast now. But the puppies will still grow strongly for the next few months. Many puppies will be wormed again this week. All that remains is for plenty of great socialization experiences to be packed into this week, with final checks on health. Many breeders will arrange for each seven week old puppy to have a vet check this week. And though some vets advise against it, some puppies are also given their first vaccinations before they leave for their new homes. Some breeders will now have the puppies trained to pee and poop on puppy pads or newspaper. And some will have been whistling to the puppies at meal times to get them used to coming to a human signal. Potty training is now underway and puppy socialization plans are being made. At this point, many of you will be thinking about training your puppy too. The next four weeks are vital in puppy development stages. Your main job is socializing your puppy. This means taking him to lots of new places and exposing him to lots of new experiences. So, life will be starting to get back to normal. Most puppies in the U. In the U. So, not all puppies will get their vaccinations at the exact same age. Socializing your puppy is still the most important job for you at this age. But, you cannot put your puppy on the ground outside until they have received their final vaccination. So, make sure you know exactly when their final jab is. And carry on introducing them to as many new people, things, and experiences as possible throughout this puppy development stage. Some people can suffer from the puppy blues at this stage too, as your life has completely changed! But, that does not mean socialization can stop. Puppies who are isolated at this point will soon lose that friendly fearlessness. You have an important job now, building on what has been achieved so far, and introducing your puppy to the world at ground level. This part of his education can begin once his vaccination cover is complete. He should be fully immunised at around this point. But check with your vet for confirmation of the actual date. Three months also marks the point at which many puppies will drop down from four daily meals, to three. This can cause problems for some puppies because the portions are larger If your puppy gets an upset tummy when you make this change, just go back up to four meals again for a few days, and give smaller portions for a few days when you try again. But, many will need another month before they can cope without frequent bathroom breaks and the occasional accident. Your puppy will begin to lose his baby teeth. This can also be a time at which biting can be most challenging. And try not to worry, this stage will soon be over! A few will need another month or two to complete the process. Remember, no two puppies are the same. That puppy fluffiness will have gone. For many puppies, five months is an awkward, gangly time. A five month old puppy may have shed the last of his soft puppy lines and be looking quite skinny. By the end of this month most puppies will have finished teething but an urge to chew may continue for another few months in some breeds, Labradors included. Some female dogs will have their first season during this month. But, for many, it will be another three or four months before this happens. This is a major milestone for your puppy. He is now looking very much like an adult Labrador. Still a Puppy Because he looks quite grown up, people expect a lot of their 6 month old puppy. But inside, he is still very much a puppy. The beginnings of adolescence and with it an increasing independence of spirit can bring its challenges, but also a whole lot of fun. Save to Pinterest The Stages of Puppy Growth and Development Month by Month The following are the stages of puppy growth and development, starting at birth and ending when your dog reaches adulthood. The Neonatal Stage 0 to 2 weeks This is the newborn puppy growth stage that lasts until two weeks of age. At this developmental stage, puppies are blind and deaf. Expect puppies at this point to sleep almost constantly and their mother will take care of everything, keeping them warm, feeding them, and keeping them clean. The Transitional Stage 2 to 4 weeks At this puppy growth stage , they will start to open up their eyes and respond to sounds, light, and movement around them. You will also notice a puppy at this point starting to get more mobile, although they will still tend to crawl instead of walking. They do, however, have enough strength to stand up, but will stumble a lot. A puppy in this developmental stage will just be starting to recognize their siblings and mother. Lab puppies open their eyes at about two weeks old. By this time, Labrador puppies will have their eyes fully open and most will be at least partly open. Ears open at this point too and your puppy will begin to hear. Period of Awakening of Senses 3 to 4 weeks At this period , a puppy develops various senses rapidly. They start to get fully alert and aware of their environment and may recognize you and other humans that are frequently around. The Socialization Period 4 to 7 Weeks Once a puppy is around four weeks old, they start to learn the most important things in life-related to social development. They will learn to not bite all the time and how to interact with their siblings. Interactions with humans are especially important between five and seven weeks. This is also the time they will start to understand discipline thanks to their mother. She will start weaning her puppies and teaching them manners, like acknowledging she is in charge. As the owner, you can start introducing food to your puppy when they are around four weeks old. Start small and begin to give them more food as the mother continues to wean them. You should also continue handling the puppy every day. However, be sure not to separate them from their siblings or mother for over ten minutes each day, since this can lead to issues with training and socialization. Dogs who are separated too soon may also be nervous and more likely to bark and bite. During this period, let the mother dog take care of discipline; you should not correct the dog for mouthing or housebreaking mistakes until later in life. To help ease them through this process, avoid traumatic events, loud voices, or harsh discipline. You should also make sure your pooch has plenty of human contact during this stage. If you want, you can start leash training and even teach simple commands such as sit, down, stay and come. In terms of development, you will notice that your puppy can sleep through the whole night and starts to develop better control of its bowels and bladder. Most vets suggest that new outings should wait until they are fully vaccinated. We rub the Calmeroos Puppy Toy on littermates and mom to get their scent. When we get home the Calmeroos Puppy Toy helps our puppy feel comfortable and adjust more quickly to his new environment. Many puppies will go to their new homes at around 8 weeks old. We recently put together a blog post on our sister site detailing what you can expect from an 8-week-old puppy. The Juvenile Stage 3 to 4 Months At this point in development, a puppy can be compared to a juvenile. They will be more independent and may ignore the basic commands that they know very well. If this happens, firmly and gently reinforce the commands and other training. You may also notice your pup starting to test your authority by play biting or similar actions. You can also redirect your dog to a toy that they can bite. Either can end up teaching your pooch that it is okay to fight with you and challenge your authority. The Ranking Period 3 to 6 Months When your puppy is between four and six months old, you should expect them to be somewhat bratty, showing more willfulness and independence. They are more likely to test your limits and may try to show dominance over children or other family members. If they fail to listen to you or come when called, it can be dangerous as it puts them at risk of injury when in public. It can also hurt future responses to you, making them less likely to listen. This is also when your dog will be teething, so give them toys like frozen dog Kong toys to relieve pressure and pain. Chewing behaviors will also start growing at this point so look for some safe chew toys to keep your dog entertained. This is when hormonal changes start to occur and is the ideal time to spay or neuter your pup. UC Davis published a study comparing the long-term health effects of neutering in Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Adolescence 6 to 18 Months After six months, your pup is already in the final stage of puppy development but is still young. This is a fun and exciting time for your pooch since they will be learning, full of energy, and exuberant. During this time, it is important to remember that even if your puppy now looks like a grown-up dog, they are still a puppy, at least in its mental capacity and emotional maturity. Work to slowly increase training and other activities. You can even work on advanced training such as agility or herding. Another option is to simply keep training them to ensure they interact in a non-aggressive and non-threatening way with other animals. It is also possible that your dog will go through another fearful period of time at some point after they reach six months. You can speed up the process with counter-conditioning and desensitization. It fits very well and is quite apt! Final Thoughts With the knowledge of how and when your new puppy will develop, you are better able to meet their needs. Provide socialization at the appropriate times and be sure to give your puppy plenty of social interactions with their siblings as well as humans and any other pets in your home. Your dog should reach maturity at some point between one and two years old with plenty of variation based on breed, Labradors are considered mature at between 2 and 2. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.

Through the acquisition of breeding stock with the highest level of standards and a Champion Pedigree our goal has always been to produce dogs that not only show the standard appearance but have the emotional and physical quality that make the French Bulldog the second most popular dog in America. Health being number one our dogs are raised in a family environment with plenty of space to run and be a normal happy dog. Through selective breeding and staying with the approved AKC color models we have produced multiple Champions and will continue to strive to improve the quality of our breed. The health of our pups is the most important aspect of our breeding program. We maintain health records from day one. Find out more A Furever Friend Finding the perfect fit for you and your next Frenchie can be time consuming and challenging. Our website is intended to help you make the right choice with informative facts and information. This link to AKC will show you the best breeders in your area and give you choices that can help you with the process. Open the link, choose find a puppy, French Bulldog breed, give your zip coded search. We post our litters with AKC as well as our website. A French Bull dog will change your life in so many ways. Thank you for looking and feel free to contact us for any information we can help you with. Our Studs Rhett Rhett is a stout and handsome blue brindle that has sired many beautiful litters of healthy pups. He is a transplant from the east coast and currently lives in Warrenton, Oregon. Both his sire and dam were AKC champions, and their amazing genetics can be seen in him and his puppies. For stud service inquiries contact Charlie Louie If a rock had a brindle coat of fur, it would be Louie. He is on the smaller side for a frenchie stud. He has a great compact body and beautiful color and comes from great breeding lines. Combined with his classic frenchie personality he is just too cute to believe. He resides in Utah at City Creek Puppies. He is a very small, compact, short, and cobby boy. Perfect conformation, muscular, blocky head, great temperament, and perfectly healthy. He is available to stud in the Denver Colorado area, but does not breed within our related female line. He carries a variety of lilac, cream, pied, red, blue and fawn with mask, black, and blue. For stud service inquiries contact Jo .She has unique tiger brindle spots and a great frenchie body and face. This girl is athletic, spunky and playful. She comes from a Breeder in the Colorado Springs area. Her grandpa is a Great Grand Champ. She resides in Denver. Eclipse Eclipse is a beautiful black brindle Frenchie with a white chest and a couple Irish spots. She is the daughter of Storm and Yogi who comes from a Great Grand champ. She has the sweetest, most mellow personality and loves affection. Nova Nova is a Lilac blue through and through. She has an amazing coat with a little brindle sprinkled through her coat. She has amazing light eyes and is crazy athletic. She is a grand daughter of Moe and comes from very healthy parents on both sides. She has a very sweet, loveable personality and is very playful. She has an amazing color panel and could produce just about anything. Zelda is gorgeous red fawn pied with dark mask. She has a beautiful short and stocky frenchie body with a perfect head. She has the sweetest playful personality and loves everyone. She resides in Denver, Co. Andi Andi has a gorgeous Black almost tiger Brindle coat with a white chest. She has a great blocky compact body and a wonderful personality. She will have a great variety of color in her litters, Creams, fawns with blue and black masks, black brindle, blue, pied and blue brindle puppies. She resides in Warrenton, OR. Nebula Nebula is a beautiful Blue cover in Cream female. The blue can be seen around her eyes, nose, pads on her feet and her skin. She has the perfect frenchie body, is a great size, and beautiful head. She is a very easy going frenchie and gets along with anything and eveyrthing. She loves to be right beside you and follows you around everywhere. She comes from very healthy lines. We could get a variety of colors from her such as, Cream, fawn, blue, variety of fawn, variety of pied, and black brindle. Retired And Well Loved Gibson Gibson is a gorgeous blue fawn, solid as a rock, and on the smaller end of frenchie sizes. He is not owned by our family, but he sired several of our females. He is a champion living in Herriman Utah. He is a fine example of the high quality lines we breed. He is now living his best life in the Denver Colorado area. Storm Storm is a beautiful all blue brindle Frenchie. When people see her they always comment on her unique coat and how sweet her personality is. She loves to play soccer with the kids and is quite athletic. She came from a very reputable breeder in Nebraska with great bloodlines. Moonie Moonie is a lovable blue brindle Frenchie with a white chest. She comes from 2 great champion bloodlines and has a beautiful coat and personality to go with it. She has a very stoic look and color. She currently resides in Denver. Normandy Retired: Normandy is a majestic Blue Brindle with no white. She has a great build and wonderful temperament. She currently resides in Utah and is happily retired. Pearl Retired: If you can look at Pearl without instantly falling in love, you might not love frenchies! She was sired by Gibson. She resides in Oregon and is happily retired. Luna Retired: Luna is a Black Frenchie with a little brindle. She has a very sweet personality and loves people. Everyone is her best friend the second she meets them. Cici Retired: Cici has a very light cream coat, and such a perfect little frenchie look. She has a great disposition and sweet personality. Moe Retired: Moe has a very unique black brindle coat with a white chest. She comes from a champion bloodline and very reputable breeder in Utah. She has a very loving and loyal personality and wants to be the center of attention. She resides in Denver and is happily retired. Siya Retired: Siya has a gorgeous Blue fawn coat with blue mask, and such a perfect little frenchie body. She also comes from champion bloodlines and has had a great variety of color in her litters. Subscribe Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Email Address.

According to Global News , Rhys and Mosher's three-year-old valley bulldog, Freya, gave birth to seven healthy puppies, one right after the other, on Jan. Shortly after Freya sat down to rest with her new puppies, the bulldog gave birth to one more puppy. This young canine was born surrounded by a black sac, distinctly different from the translucent sacs the other puppies had. As the married couple cleaned the last puppy off, they realized the canine's light fur had a bright green tint. Audra Rhys Audra Rhys "So we googled it, 'my puppy is green, what's wrong,' and apparently it is very rare, and it has happened a few times all over the world," Mosher told Global News. If the Name Fits: 'Forest' the Green Puppy Born to Golden Retriever According to CNN , light-colored dogs are born green on rare occasions, likely after contact with biliverdin — a green pigment found in bile — while in the womb. The pigment dyes the fur before the puppy is born, and the color fades after the puppy enters the world. Rhys told PEOPLE that Freya's healthy green puppy, who she shares with American bulldog Loki, is already starting to lose her odd coloring and is now "a light lime green. Deafness is quite often caused by what they call the Merle gene. Mila the crazy white deaf dog is white with spots like a dalmatian. She is one of eight puppies. We never had her genetically tested but through research we are pretty sure that is why she is deaf. She listens better than some of the other Bullies we have had. Click to expand.Very interesting. Thank you for sharing. I know with Great Danes, it's very discouraged to breed "merlequin" colored Danes due to genetic issues they pass to their pups. I was told don't know it it is misinformation or not that white or mostly white dogs with both white ears are usually deaf. I had somehow obtained a jack russel pup that had both white ears and he was deaf. At the time, my life and the people in it were not prepared to handle a small deaf little puppy and for the lil guy's safety people kept letting him out of the yard when he was outside, no way to call him back since he couldn't hear and keep him out of the street , I ended up placing him with a single mother who's son was also deaf. I know my alphabet and a few words in sign language, I was able to sign enough to the boy that the dog was just like him and the boy immediately began using sign language to the puppy. I have never in my life seen a little boy so happy! Was soooo adorable! Had my life been less chaotic and the people in my life more respectful and responsible I would have been able to keep the lil guy. Learning more and more about my Shirley Wigglebutt and the bulldog breed characteristics and stubbornness, it doesn't surprise me that your Mila listens better than some of your others! What a treasured gem. She's a beauty for sure! Share on Whatsapp via Getty The owners of a bulldog got quite the shock when she gave birth to a bright green puppy. Trevor and Audra Mosher who live in Canada were left in shock when one of the eight puppies born in the litter had green fur. Sharing an image of the newborn pup on Facebook, Trevor wrote, "Our lil green puppy apparently is a rare thing to see. Our lil green puppy apparently is a rare thing to see. Everything I find is attached to a news article. She will.Posted by Trevor Mosher on Sunday, January 30, According to Tyla, the rare occurence happened due to a process which occurs in the womb, when light-coloured puppies come into contact with a green pigment found in bile, known as biliverdin. The couple explained to Global News that unlike her brothers and sisters, the green pup was born in a black sac, as opposed to transparent. As rare as it seems to be, I feel very lucky to have witnessed it and be a part of it. I know you hear stories about things like that but to be there and witness it, it was good" he said. Dr Bronwyn Crane, a veterinary reproduction specialist from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, suggested that the probability of having a green pup is less than one in 10, Rare English Bulldog Puppy Facts So for those of you that don't know, English Bulldogs are short faced puppies with beautiful wrinkly bodies. These puppies are amazing because they come in extremely rare color combinations, perfect for those looking for something just a little different. These English Bulldog Puppies, are the ideal companions for any household. Not only are they extremely loving, but they are extremely therapeutic. Many people will live their entire life, never having seen anything like these amazing puppies. Reproducing these colors consistently is extremely difficult and requires preparation and research; Which is exactly what we do prior to every breeding at ManMade Kennels. For years, The English Bulldog has been loved all across the world because their amazing temperament, and the fact that they show extreme gentleness towards everyone makes them that much better of a puppy. If you decide to get an English Bulldog Puppy you can expect a mellow companion that is great with your kids' and an ideal best friend. Rare English Bulldog Puppies are Instantly recognizable by their Rare Colors, wrinkled brow and ropes, hanging jowls and rolling gait, your Bulldog will also have a tough guy look and a teddy bear attitude. Their bodies are thick, muscled up, and extremely cuddly. Honestly, you can never go wrong with an English Bulldog.

YBFGoldens Thank you for your interest in our dogs. Our dogs have been companion dogs, obedience dogs, show dogs, St John's First Aid therapy dogs, special needs helper dogs, seizure sensing dogs, cancer finding dogs and most importantly, family members to their owners. All of our dogs are listed on k9data. From time to time, when I place a dog with a family, it becomes impossible for the owner to keep the dog. In this case, we want the dog back. No matter how many years it has been, or what the circumstances are. I take the responsibility of placing dogs into others' homes very seriously. They have no voice, and I am their representative. I am their advocate and it is my responsibility, having brought them into the world, to ensure their life is filled with all the joy that it can hold. I do not sell our dogs to homes that think of them as an "outside dog" or cannot or will not spend the necessary training time with the dog. What you put in, in training, you get out tenfold in a well socialized member of your family that you can take anywhere. Over the 20 past years, we have needed to take back 6 dogs. Sandie was re-trained and became a hearing impaired helper who attended Harvard University with her new owner! Quinn was re-socialized, and was given a new name to start out his new life, re-named "Murphy" and given some basic obedience lessons, then went to Toronto to live out his life there with his new family! Jasper came back to us, an untrained and scared puppy, he found his forever home near us and lived his life out going to work everyday with his owner, greeting people and playing ball. Yoda came back to us, still intact and an expert fence climber. He had gotten into trouble so many times at the Humane Society, that they knew him by name. After a name change to "Dakota", a neutering, and some basic manners training he found his forever home where they continued working on his training. They also added a sister for Dakota and he was able to learn some new tricks from Andi as well. WallE was returned as a nervous and untrained puppy. He was getting himself into trouble chewing things left in the backyard. His family were busy doing activities that didn't include him and he became bored and destructive in the backyard. When he came to us, he received some one on one training with Deb L. Slowly but surely, he grew to trust her and his behaviour improved dramatically. Nothing was shredded at her home the whole time he was there training! He was then placed in his forever home and re-named "Joey". And finally, Boss.He was very timid and unsure of himself when he returned home on the plane. He went to live with Fiona, who worked tirelessly teaching him over sign language signs, encouraging him to try new things, and training him. Later the next year, Boss, who was renamed "Golden Opportunity" repaid her kindness and love by finding that she had cancer. They truly are a heaven sent team and the story does not end there. Years later, Opportunity showed Fiona a spot on his leg. It turned out to be cancer and with chemo treatments at the U of S we are optimistic that the story does not end there. Please give them a second chance, if you find you cannot be their forever home! I was the founding member of the Golden Retriever Club of Saskatchewan in and served as President of the Club which was everything from President, Fund Raising Co-ordinator, Editor of our email newsletter, and merchandise sales , which was dismantled in after the National that we hosted in Saskatoon, September .I have been involved in Conformation Show since .Sadly, there was not a lot of interest in keeping the club going after the National, and the new board dismantled the club. It takes many interested and involved volunteers to keep it going. Recently, we have added a new member to the operations side of it, Austin Van Cryenest, my son, joins me in the venture. Austin has been showing dogs for me since he was a junior and has trained and finished Matrix during his limited show career. We had the opportunity, to show our dogs at the National, with me, Ethan and Austin piloting our crew. It was very shortly after my first cancer diagnosis and treatments, and was more of a bucket list item than a competition as it was thrust upon us when a handler didn't show up for us. Turned out that was the best, disappointment we could have had since we were all able to take the dogs in together for Best Brood Bitch and Get, and it is a feat that will not likely happen ever again. Running barefoot in the outdoors ring with my boys and dogs will always be a highlight in my life, even if others don't understand the importance of this for us, we do. Sometimes, it is about seizing the moment and enjoying what life throws at you. Austin is stepping back in the ring to show our new puppy, Porsche and will try his hand at some of the other dog sports with her as well. Watch for Austin and Porsche, strutting their stuff in a few local shows. Austin has also added his name to the Kennel Registration and will function as Co-owner. Any puppy inquiries should still be directed to me. It is truly an honour to share my passion with my son. We strive to ensure that instead of just breeding dogs, that we are improving the breed. It is with that in sharp focus, that we selectively breed only the best of the best We hope you enjoy your virtual tour, meeting all of our dogs and others we have produced that now live with others. If you have any questions about our dogs, or us please contact us. References available upon request. The loyalty of a retriever and the intelligence of a poodle. These puppies are very easy to train and are an absolute JOY to have. They are also Hypoallergenic! Bella and Timber are our family dogs, well-mannered gentle with kids, are friends with cats, intelligent and healthy. And they are looking for their furever homes. We Have 6 Girls still looking for new homes. We have two handsome boys that need to find their furever homes. All are healthy and thriving! The puppies are born and raised at home; well loved by our kids, and have.Pink collar female is looking for either a working home or an active family home. This girl is smart. Ready to go with 1st shots and vet check Oct. Mother is red retriever, father is blonde retriever. They have that well known, calm, loving, patient, and willing attitude. They're intimating in size for lots of people, but they're actually just big and cuddly. Pups are ready to go! Mom has a mix of English cream and golden retriever and dad is a mix of golden retriever and chocolate lab. Sire is pure golden retriever and dam is pure King Charles Cavalier.Amazing references available. Recommended breeder from top dog trainer in Saskatchewan. Only 6 remaining from this litter .He is great with kids. He has a lovely, gentle temperament, with the typical playful retriever personality. Hidden zipper easy to remove easy to clean Shipping by seller Collie and golden retriever cross puppies for sale Saskatoon Pups were born on July 16 and are 8 weeks old. We have two handsome boys that need to find their furever homes. All are healthy and thriving! The puppies are born and raised at home; well loved by our kids, and have.Pink collar female is looking for either a working home or an active family home. This girl is smart. Ready to go with 1st shots and vet check Oct. Mother is red retriever, father is blonde retriever. The hook hangs down from the metal plate in the back and is about 2. They have that well known, calm, loving, patient, and willing attitude. They're intimating in size for lots of people, but they're actually just big and cuddly. Pups are ready to go! Mom has a mix of English cream and golden retriever and dad is a mix of golden retriever and chocolate lab. Sire is pure golden retriever and dam is pure King Charles Cavalier.Amazing references available. Recommended breeder from top dog trainer in Saskatchewan. Only 6 remaining from this litter .He is great with kids. He has a lovely, gentle temperament, with the typical playful retriever personality. Mixed Breed Puppy for adoption Yorkton This healthy, beautiful girl is twelve weeks old. Dad is Border Collie and Golden Retriever. We are located near Togo, SK. We are willing.We raise golden retrievers on our acreage with our young family. Kim is a registered veterinary technologist and applies her skills and knowledge to raising well rounded pups. The pups are born in our living room and are handled every day since birth. Our preschool boys enjoy supervised time playing with the pups. Once the pups are confidently moving around, we move them to our heated kennel building where there is more space to run, play, and explore. We are constantly exposing them to new experiences to help them learn to take everything in stride. They enjoy playing in a cat tunnel, climbing over obstacles, and romping around our sq ft building. Our dogs are super easy to train and just want to please. Annie, one of the mothers, earned 6 CKC titles in obedience and rally. Our dogs love water and retrieving and have been successful hunters. When outside, they have lots of energy and are ready for an adventure. But when coming inside, they settle right down to have a nap. They love people and especially children. Our pups come with CKC papers, a vet check, health guarantee, first vaccine and dewormer, microchip, puppy training manual, and puppy training phone consultation. They also come with a sample of the high quality food we feed. Feel free to call with any questions. Upcoming Litters Maggie had puppies on May 7, .They are ready to go the first weekend of July. See our Facebook page for pictures of these pups. We are currently taking reservations for these puppies. Please contact us for more info.

They are one of the most recognizable breeds on the planet, are known for their excellence in military and are often fed like a canine athlete depending on the workload. On average, a German Shepherd dog lives about 12 years. In order to extend their lifespan as long as possible, you need to pick the best dog food for German Shepherds that will cater to this canine's individual needs, ensure preventative health care plan is in place, and have a general plan for their physical and mental stimulation. There are a lot of best German Shepherd dog food reviews online, but the problem with some of those is that they do not address the specific requirements of this breed, which is mostly due to their resting metabolism and activity level as working dogs. As with any breed, you'll have to update your German Shepherd's diet depending on his age, activity level and health condition. German Shepherd puppies require much different nutrients than senior dogs, and GSDs that are working dogs need to eat more calories per day with a specific protein to fat to carbohydrate ratio with added vitamins and minerals. The best thing that you can do for your GSD is to work with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist, which will help you find not only the best German Shepherd dog food, but a brand of pet food that's perfect specifically for your individual dog. This is an ongoing process. Your pet's diet will likely change numerous times over the course of his life. While food is one of the keys to a healthy GSD, play time and exercise are especially important for this dog breed. Dog owners looking to adopt a GSD should know is that a German Shepherd is a very high energy animal that requires daily exercise; it's non-negotiable if you want to have a healthy dog. The GSD will keep you on your toes, ready for anything. And you better be game! With this out of the way, let's talk about how to feed a German Shepherd for health, what is the best dog food for a German Shepherd dog, and what are their nutritional needs. Remember that no article on the internet, including this one, can replace a consultation with a vet. German Shepherd dogs tend to require more calories than the average large-breed dog. This is attributed to their high energy level which we've discussed above. However, it is possible for some German Shepherds to be lazy and prone to obesity. This is especially true if the dog is older or has an underlying health condition that causes excess weight gain. It is important to not overfeed GSDs and feed the best dog food diet for German Shepherds that is appropriate for their life stage and health condition. Below, I will take a look at the three life stages and two common health conditions of German Shepherds and the type of dog food they will require at that point. These are my most recommended brands, but we'll also take a look at the best German Shepherd dog food reviews from pet owners to see what they have to say after switching to a new diet. German Shepherd Puppies Large-breed German Shepherd puppies are more susceptible to malnutrition and developmental orthopedic disease compared to small-breed pups. Many GSD owners are familiar with diseases that are common to German Shepherds, which can include: hip dysplasia panosteitis hypertrophic osteodystrophy HOD While there is a genetic component to these diseases, there are significant nutritional risk factors that play a part during puppyhood in GSDs. In particular, these risk factors are rapid growth and excess dietary calcium intake. It is important to find the best dog food for German Shepherds that provides just enough of the right balance of nutrients — not too much, and not too little. Because German Shepherd is a large working dog, large-breed specific puppy dog foods are a great safeguard to help prevent these issues in GSDs. Here are my two favorite choices to recommend to owners: 1. GSDs are a more slowly maturing breed, and it is recommended to feed this puppy food until your German Shepherd puppy is 15 months of age. The calorie content and mineral balance in Royal Canine's German Shepherd puppy food are optimal for preventing developmental orthopedic diseases. It's easily one of the favorite of German Shepherd owners and my top recommended best dog food for German Shepherd puppies. Reading the reviews of this dog food, it's clear that a large majority of GSD owners are satisfied with the results from this dog food, but not all. This is why it's important to consult with your vet beforehand. Their large-breed puppy formula has been tweaked over the years, but provides consistent quality nutrition to promote healthy growth in German Shepherds puppies. It's one of my favorite best dog food for German Shepherd puppies because it's fortified with omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA to promote healthy brain, joint and skin development. I've previously talked about Hill's Science as one of my best vet recommended dog food brands in general due to their dedication to precise nutrition and the large variety of formulas they offer to dog owners. Looking at the opinions on this brand, it appears that most dog owners are also very satisfied with this popular dog food brand. Adult German Shepherds If you are looking for the best dog food for an adult German Shepherd dog, or are transitioning from puppy food to adult dog food, I especially recommend consulting with a veterinarian in this case. Then, you can decide which Maintenance adult diet is best. Some possible high-quality dog foods for adult German Shepherds are: 3. It is designed to help maintain lean, strong muscles and healthy bones. Additives and vitamins in this formulation support healthy joints. It promotes nutrient absorption and healthy digestion in large breed adult dogs like GSDs. It's a reasonably priced dog food for German Shepherds, and the nutritional balance is perfect for them. The brand is popular among GSD owners, with a large majority praising the formula. However, as I'm reading more responses , some owners seem to have switched to the below mentioned Royal Canin brand due to changes in the dog's coat. Their different dog food formulas meet the nutritional needs of some of the most popular breeds. This food is specially designed for GSDs over 15 months of age, and it's one of the best dog foods for German Shepherds. The unique design of the kibble has a harder texture than most similar dog food brands, and the size and shape encourage GSD to chew. This is ideal for the German Shepherd because they have a long snout, strong teeth and extremely powerful jaws. This food is also formulated to support proper digestion and maintain the health of the skin, coat, bones and joints. As a GSD ages, their nutritional requirements change as well. Joints start to ache and mental function can start to decline. Active ingredients in my top best dog foods for senior German Shepherds should help your dog go strong for as long as possible. However, additional supplementation such as fish oil for dogs may be a good idea as well. They aren't the cheapest best dog food for German Shepherds, but this manufacturer has a great track record for quality products and high quality control standards. Lamb is the first ingredient in this formula, as the protein amino acids helps to maintain strong muscles and bones in seniors. This dog food brand also contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for healthy joints, and a high level of antioxidants, which can help support proper cell function in aging dogs. However, be mindful that while glucosamine and chondroitin are helpful for senior dogs' joints, the amount added in any dog food is very small, which probably doesn't have a big impact; additional dog joint supplementation may be good. That said, the reviews of this dog food brand have been glowing so far. Royal Canin German Shepherd Breed Health Nutrition Adult This adult formula for health nutrition is not the same as the one I've mentioned above from Royal Canine, but it's one of the best dog foods for German Shepherd that's aged between 15 months of age to years of age. Royal Canin provides the right balance of nutrients to optimize a lean body condition over a lifetime. Once again, the unique design of the kibble has a harder texture than most other similar dog food brands, therefore, its shape and size encourages chewing in German Shepherds. Similar to the above mentioned Royal Canin formula, this dog food is also formulated to support proper digestion and maintain the health of the skin, coat, bones and joints. Underweight German Shepherds Some German shepherd dogs tend to be on the thinner side and may have digestive issues from time to time. This unique formulation is easy to digest and contains helpful ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA and Vitamin E as well as other antioxidants to promote a healthy gut and healthy skin. Chicken, apples, carrots and cranberries make this diet tasty for most dogs — tempting even for the pickiest of eaters. This diet does not contain any artificial colors, preservatives or flavoring, obviously, and the reviews of this popular dog food brand are largely positive , particularly when it comes to German Shepherds that are picky eaters and thus, underweight. German Shepherds with Sensitive Stomachs The German Shepherd dog, like many pure-bred dogs, can be predisposed to certain diseases. Some of these diseases may require a special diet for the GSD. Specifically, if you have concerns about his digestive health, work closely with your veterinarian to make sure your dog gets what he needs and hopefully, a proper diagnosis. Notable diseases that are prevalent in this breed and which may affect the type of best dog food for German Shepherds you choose include: inflammatory bowel disease IBD exocrine pancreatic insufficiency EPI antibiotic-responsive diarrhea ARD formerly known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth SIBO These diseases tend to cause GSDs to lose weight or not be able to gain weight effectively. There's also an article listing 15 best sensitive stomach dog foods , and a lot of these can be applicable for GSDs with a stomach upset or diseases. Bring those names up with your vet. The Doggy Bag — A Take Home Message German Shepherds tend to live the longest, healthiest lives when they are kept in a leaner body condition, receive life-stage-appropriate balanced nutrition, plenty of exercise and routine veterinary care. This is why working with your veterinarian to find the best dog food for German Shepherds is so vital to your pet's overall health and well-being. UKC Classification: Herding Dog To prevent over-guarding and aggressive behavior, German shepherd dogs should have socialization and obedience training at a young age. German shepherd dogs reach a maximum of about 25 inches in height, and they weigh up to about 95 pounds 41 kilograms. He is a well-proportioned dog. The head is broad and tapers handsomely to a sharp muzzle. The ears are rather large and stand erect. The back is level and muscular, and the tail is bushy and curves downward. The coat is thick and rough and may be black, tan, black and tan or gray. The coat should be harsh and of medium length; however, long-coated individuals occur often. The breed lives about years. Personality: German shepherd dogs get along well with children and other pets if raised with them, but in keeping with their guarding instincts, they tend to be leery of strangers. The breed is considered to be smart and easy to train. Some poorly bred German shepherd dogs can be high-strung and nervous. Coupled with poor socialization and inadequate training, over guarding and aggressive behavior are risks. Living With: Because German shepherd dogs are large and powerful and have strong guarding instincts, great care should be taken to purchase German shepherds from reputable breeders. Poorly bred dogs are more likely to be nervous. To prevent over guarding and aggressive behavior, German shepherd dogs should be carefully socialized from a young age and be obedience trained. They should be with the family and continually exposed under supervision to people and other pets around the neighborhood; they should not be confined to a kennel or backyard either alone or with other dogs. German shepherd dogs are active and like to have something to do. They need ample exercise daily; otherwise, they can get into mischief or become high-strung. The dog sheds heavily about twice yearly, and the rest of the time sheds a lesser amount continually. To control shedding and keep the coat nice, brush at least a few times a week. History: German shepherd dogs are, as their name implies, a breed that originated in Germany. They were developed beginning in the late s by crossing various herding breeds. The breed was subjected to stringent selection and it progressed quickly. In the United Kingdom, the dogs are known as Alsatians because fanciers of the breed there wanted to protect the dog from anti-German sentiments after World War I. German shepherd dogs were introduced in the United States by soldiers returning home from World War I. The breed caught the public eye because of movie stars Strongheart and later, Rin Tin Tin. The first guide dogs were German shepherd dogs. Today, they are one of the most popular dogs in America. The German shepherd dog is a herding breed known for its courage, loyalty and guarding instincts. This breed makes an excellent guard dog, police dog, military dog, guide dog for the blind and search and rescue dog. For many families, the German shepherd is also a treasured family pet. Related Pet Care Articles. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. This post may contain links to products that I may receive compensation for at no additional cost to you. View my affiliate disclosure here. You being here means you are having the same problem. In this article, we will not only help with the best food for German Shepherd puppy, but we will also discuss some essential factors that might help you to ensure proper physical and mental growth of your little companion. You will have to feed your puppy three to four small meals every day until your pet becomes six months old. Once the puppy reaches this age, you will have to split the food into two big meals. Be sure to follow the instructions on the manufacturers packaging. A German Shepherd puppy needs more food than an adult as they will be in a growing phase. Puppies always remain busy and spend most of their time playing and exploring the environment. Their diet needs to be rich in protein to ensure muscular development and healthy mental and physical growth. In brief, you can say that you should consider a diet that adds protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Minerals and vitamins are required for growth. However, be mindful not to go overboard on minerals and vitamins. Dry food and wet food are both considered suitable for German Shepherd puppies. You can combine them both. But you need to start with wet food once the German Shepherd puppy is weaned from its mother. The digestive system is used to milk. So, dry food can cause digestive issues initially. Start with wet foods, and then you can gradually move to dry food. You can start offering dry food when your puppy becomes 12 weeks old, which is about the age a puppy is when you bring it home. Once you introduce dry food, you can make it the prime source of food since dry food ensures better energy and strength. Is Organic Worth the Extra Money? Yes, organic is worth it, and you can consider organic if your budget allows it. Organic food can ensure the overall well being of your German Shepherd puppy. With organic food, you can expect shiny and luscious coats. They can thrive and live longer if you always provide them organic food. Non-organic foods come with trace amounts of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and unhealthy fillers. These are toxic and can be harmful to your pet. Organic food is the best food for German Shepherd puppies. Best Food for German Shepherd Puppy 1. Therefore, you can expect this high quality food to avoid any kind of complications in the early weeks of your puppy's life. You can continue with this food until your puppy becomes twelve months old. It is an excellent source of calcium to ensure proper bone health. The food can be effective in preventing many health complications, including dysplasia as well. In addition to the calcium, it has chondroitin and natural glucosamine. These ingredients will make your puppy's muscles and joints healthy and strong. Your German Shepherd puppy will get the required amount of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. All these are going to boost the immunity of your puppy. Also, it will not contain flavorings, colors, and preservatives. The key ingredients are whole grain millet, blood meal, chicken fat, yeast culture, and chicken meal. It is free from gluten and can be the best for puppies since it gives the required energy to be active throughout the day. The food is appreciated for high-quality nutrition, and that makes it an excellent choice for young puppies. In addition to the protein, it is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids. If you are looking for the best dog food to boost immunity and improve your puppy's digestive system, this may be the way to go. It offers exceptional health support to your puppy. The food will be gentle on the digestive system and can be the best choice for puppies in their early weeks. The core ingredients are ground brown rice, lamb meal, and chicken meal. All of them are natural and will not harm your puppy in any manner. Also, it adds omega 3 fatty acids that will ensure a healthy coat and skin. There are probiotics, taurine, glucosamine, and antioxidants to ensure the overall growth of your puppy. The key ingredients are pea protein, tapioca, dried egg, peas, and bison meal. All these are natural ingredients and can be perfect for their immature and delicate digestive system. The great balance of nutrients will help with proper growth and energy. The flavor is also excellent. The above ingredients contain L-carnitine, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and nutrients rich fruits and vegetables. All these will help your puppy to thrive. These ingredients can boost immunity, as well. The key ingredients make it an outstanding food choice for German Shepherd Puppies. It contains novel proteins such as the roasted bison, roasted venison, nutrient-rich legumes, K9 strain probiotic blend, and natural antioxidants to improve the digestive system of your puppy. Also, it adds boar, lamb, and fiber. The best thing about this dry puppy food is that it does not contain corn, grain, wheat, artificial flavors preservatives, wheat, and color. Your puppy will need a balanced and rich diet to get the required energy and strength to be active throughout the day. It contains chicken meal, duck, egg products, Turkey meal, and peas to boost your pet's immunity. It is a grain-free formula and can support optimal growth. In addition to the above, there are omega-3 acids, probiotics, and antioxidants. As it is a natural food, there are no preservatives, flavors, and artificial colors. Best Grain-Free Choice - Merrick Grain-free Puppy Food If you are looking for a great combination of peas, chicken meal, deboned chicken, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, you should not look beyond Merrick Grain-free Puppy Food. Almost all of the large breed puppies, including the German Shepherd, need a grain-free and high-protein diet to really thrive. Merrick combines nutrients, protein, fibers, minerals, and natural ingredients to become an ideal food for your puppy. With Merrick Grain-free Puppy Food , you can expect a complete balanced diet. Gary's Holistic German Puppy Food may be the best food for German Shepherd puppies since it is specifically crafted for this breed. The key ingredients are brown rice, oatmeal, chicken meal, chicken fat, and beet pulp. Most of these ingredients are highly digestible and can ensure maximum nutrition absorption. Your German Shepherd is going to love the delicious blend. In addition to the above ingredients, it contains chicken, eggs, and fish to promote muscle development and overall well being. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids will make the coat shiny and luscious. There are also quality fibers to improve the functioning of their digestive system. Its grain-free and high-protein ingredients will maintain the muscle mass and motivate your little friend to enjoy all the activities. It contains chicken meal, peas, menhaden fish meal, and pea protein as well. This specific food can be a great choice both for puppies and adult German Shepherds. Antioxidants and healthy crabs will make your puppy physically and mentally active. You can expect the ultimate development with regular consumption. Blackwood Dry Puppy Food may be the best food for a German Shepherd puppy if you are looking for a regular balanced diet without hurting your budget. It contains lamb meal, millet, oats, chicken meal, and brown rice. Blackwood can help to improve digestion and keep your puppy active throughout the day. Wrapping Up These are the best food choices for your German Shepherd puppy. You can add them to your puppy's diet slowly to avoid any digestion issues. Whatever you choose, make sure that it comes as a great blend of protein, fat, fibers, carbohydrates, and nutrients. Welcome to the Pack! If you haven't purchased a harness for your new German Shepherd Puppy, take a look at our article on 5 of the best harnesses for German Shepherds here. This is a question that many German Shepherd owners ask, as they want to make sure their beloved furry friend is getting all the nutrients they need. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy dog food options out there for German Shepherds. You should eat foods that include high-quality animal-based protein sources like lamb, beef, pork, chicken, fish, eggs, and legumes. In addition, the meal should be plentiful in fats, vitamins, and minerals. Are eggs good for German Shepherds? Yes, eggs are a great source of protein for German Shepherds. In fact, they are one of the healthiest foods you can feed your dog. Eggs are packed with nutrients that are essential for a German Shepherd's diet, including vitamins A, D, and E. They also contain omega-three fatty acids, which are important for a dog's coat and skin health. What is the best food for German Shepherds with allergies? If your German Shepherd has allergies, it's important to find a hypoallergenic best dog food for German Shepherds that will not trigger their symptoms. There are many brands of hypoallergenic dog food on the market that use alternative protein sources, such as duck or venison. These foods are often grain-free as well, which is ideal for German Shepherds with allergies. What is the best food for German Shepherds with sensitive stomachs? If your German Shepherd has a sensitive stomach, you'll want to find a dog food that is easy on their digestive system. There are many brands of dog food that offer formulas specifically for dogs with sensitive stomachs. These foods often have limited ingredient lists and use easily digestible ingredients, such as chicken or potato. What is the best food for German Shepherds with joint problems? If your German Shepherd has joint problems, you'll want to find a dog food that is rich in omega-three fatty acids. These essential nutrients help to reduce inflammation and pain in the joints. There are many brands of dog food that offer formulas specifically for dogs with joint problems. These foods often contain ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin, which are known to help relieve joint pain. Now let's chat in more detail about the best dog foods for your furry friend. It is made with all natural ingredients and has no fillers or preservatives. The kibble is also enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for dogs' skin and coat health. The addition of zinc proteinate and other chelated minerals to the formula is a plus, as it leads to better absorption and nutrition. We also note the inclusion of various probiotics for better digestion and salmon oil, which is beneficial to both skin and coat. Highly suggested! All of their recipes are made with whole ingredients and cooked in small batches. The meals are portioned according to your dog's weight and activity level. Wilderness is a grain-free and protein-rich product with over a dozen options and recipes, which makes it ideal for people who want to rotate their diets. It's reasonably priced, and it gets high marks from consumers. Probiotics, high-quality fiber, and digestive enzymes are included in this formula to aid your dog's digestive health. These components create mouth-watering, healthy food that will sustain your canine companion throughout the day. The foods in this recipe include multiple probiotics for improved digestion, chelated minerals for maximized absorption, and nutrient-dense food. It's inexpensive to buy as well as simple to suggest. Eagle Pack Power Adult Dog Food Image courtesy Eagle Pack The majority of the animal protein in Adult takes the form of fresh chicken and pork meal, as confirmed by the nutritional label. The all-time classic, fully grain-inclusive design that is free of legume concentrates. Antioxidant preservatives are used in a safe and natural manner. There's no BHT or ethoxyquin. It has high animal protein levels, as well as vitamins and minerals that have been boosted through the use of freeze-dried raw pieces. It's designed to unleash your dog's potential to thrive and put the advantages of raw nutrition into every bowl, using cage-free duck as the first ingredient for powerful, lean muscles. It also contains a probiotic boost for digestive health, greater amounts of omegas for healthy skin and coat, and more antioxidants for immune health—all from the highest-quality ingredients from all over the world. This high-protein, low-carb diet is designed for sporting dogs and plush animals with rigorous exercise requirements. It's also perfect for growing pups and pregnant or nursing females. This formula has DHA to support cognitive development, as well as calcium for strong bones and teeth. Iams ProActive Health also has 22 essential vitamins and minerals to keep your puppy healthy and strong. It's nice to discover a Southwest Canyon recipe that includes natural preservatives, which implies the food does not contain any BHA, BHT, or other harmful chemicals. A major brand and a healthy all-age option for any German Shepherd. Champion Petfoods, the well-known maker of Orijen, has long promoted a meat-based "biologically appropriate" diet. This is a tried and true design that makes this particular dish an excellent choice for developing Shepherd pups. This natural dry food is developed to give complete-body nutritional support for puppies of all sizes. It's made with high-quality proteins and whole grains, all of which are complemented by omega fatty acids—such as DHA—necessary vitamins, antioxidants, glucosamine, and probiotics. This balanced, nutritious dry dog food is intended to promote teeth and bone strength, healthy brain growth, general health, energy and vitality, optimal nutrient absorption, and healthy muscle development. It's free of GMOs, by-products from processing animals into pet food ingredients meat meal , fillers, or artificial preservatives to ensure that your dog gets the healthiest food possible. This is a tried-and-true approach that has been developed and studied for decades. It includes controlled calcium and phosphorus ratios, making it ideal for German Shepherd puppies. This large-breed dry food is made with high-quality proteins and whole grains. It's free of chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives. This recipe is designed to support the health of large breed puppies with an optimal balance of calcium and phosphorus for bone growth. It also includes DHA from fish oil for healthy brain development. This recipe includes DHA for brain development, calcium and phosphorus for bone growth, and antioxidants to support the immune system. It's also free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. You can feed your dog either dry or wet food, and he may sample two distinct flavor profiles: rice and oatmeal for salmon. Because it contains no allergens like wheat, corn, or soy, there's less of a chance that your dog will suffer an upset stomach. It also includes omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, which help to promote skin, coat, and joint health. Image courtesy Blue Buffalo If you're searching for high-quality, all-natural wet dog food, Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a wonderful alternative. This dog food is high in protein and low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for an entourage diet. It's made with real beef and chicken, can be served as a delicious treat, or blended into your dog's regular dry food. The Blue Buffalo puppy food contains no chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors or preservatives; making it a healthy choice for your dog. All dishes are prepared in collaboration with veterinarians and come in a variety of delicious flavors, including beef, lamb, and turkey. All of the meats are imported from the United States, although only lamb comes from Australia. It's also gluten-free, so if you're allergic to grains, you'll be safe. There is a large selection of carbohydrates, which are mostly in the form of potatoes, and there are numerous healthy vegetables and superfoods including lentils, peas, salmon oil, and flaxseed. It's made with real meat, vegetables, and fruit. This recipe is grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It's also high in protein and low in carbohydrates. It's made with real beef, vegetables, and fruit. It also contains sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil, and flaxseed. This formula provides your German Shepherd puppy with the high protein diet they need for proper development and growth. Taste of the Wild is one of the most popular brands among dog food reviewers. It's included as our last on this list but has ranked high among some of the best dog foods for German Shepherds because it's high in protein and free of grains. What foods are German Shepherds allergic to? German Shepherds are known to be allergic to a variety of things, including wheat, corn, soy, and even some meats. If you're not sure what your German Shepherd is allergic to, it's always best to consult with your veterinarian. They will be able to recommend the best food for your dog based on their specific allergies. If your German Shepherd is having any sort of adverse reaction to their food, such as scratching, biting, or licking themselves excessively, then they may be allergic to something in their food. Consult with your veterinarian if you're not sure what's causing the reaction. What is the best dog food for German Shephard puppies? Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, so it's important to find a food that's specifically designed for puppies. Look for a food that has high levels of protein and fat, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. Puppies also need more calories than adult dogs, so make sure the food you choose has a high calorie content. As your puppy grows, they will need less calories and protein, so you'll need to switch to a food that's designed for adult dogs. Consult with your veterinarian to find the best food for your German Shepherd puppy. What is the best food for an adult German Shepherd? The best food for an adult German Shepherd is a diet that is high in protein and fat. This breed of dog is known for its high energy levels and need for exercise, so a food that can help them maintain their energy levels is important. A diet that is too low in calories can cause your German Shepherd to become overweight or obese, which can lead to health problems. When choosing a food for your German Shepherd, it is important to read the label carefully and choose a food that is right for their age, weight, and activity level. Can a German Shepherd drink milk? Yes, German Shepherds can drink milk. Milk is a good source of calcium and other nutrients that are important for this breed of dog. However, it is important to choose a low-fat or skim milk to avoid adding unnecessary calories to their diet. What is the best way to feed a German Shepherd puppy? The best way to feed a German Shepherd puppy is to start them on a diet that is high in protein and fat. Puppies need more calories than adult dogs, so it is important to choose a food that will give them the nutrition they need without making them overweight. As your German Shepherd puppy grows, you can slowly transition them to an adult dog food. It is important to make sure that they are getting the right amount of calories and nutrients for their age, weight, and activity level. What are some common health problems German Shepherds face? Some common health problems German Shepherds face include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and allergies. This breed of dog is also susceptible to obesity, so it is important to choose a food that will help them maintain a healthy weight. German Shepherds are also prone to joint problems, so a food that is rich in glucosamine and chondroitin is important for this breed of dog. What is the life expectancy of a German Shepherd? The life expectancy of a German Shepherd is between nine and thirteen years. This breed of dog is known for being a healthy and hardy breed, but there are some health problems that can shorten their lifespan. It is important to feed your German Shepherd a diet that will help them maintain their health and keep them at a healthy weight to help ensure a long and happy life. Is it OK to put a raw egg in dog food? The answer is complicated. While some experts believe that raw eggs are perfectly safe for dogs, others believe that they can be dangerous. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. If you decide to feed your dog raw eggs, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, make sure the eggs are fresh. Second, only feed your dog eggs that have been properly refrigerated. Finally, don't forget to wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw eggs. If you're still not sure whether or not to feed your dog raw eggs, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you make the best decision for your pet. What are the benefits of raw eggs for dogs? There are a few potential benefits of feeding raw eggs to dogs. Some people believe that raw eggs can help increase a dog's energy levels, improve their coat, and even help with joint pain. While there is some anecdotal evidence to support these claims, there is no scientific evidence that raw eggs offer any health benefits for dogs. Our Criteria for Ranking the Best Dog Food Choosing the right dog food is essential for your pet's health and well-being. With the plethora of options available in the market, it can be challenging to determine which dog food is best for your furry friend. To simplify this process and help you make an informed decision, we have established a set of criteria for ranking the best dog food products. These criteria are based on scientific research, expert opinions, and the specific nutritional needs of dogs. Ingredients Quality: High-Quality Protein: The primary ingredient should be a high-quality animal protein source, such as chicken, beef, or fish, to support your dog's muscle development and overall health. Whole Grains and Vegetables: Whole grains and vegetables should be included to provide essential carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Absence of Fillers and Artificial Additives: No Fillers: The best dog food should not contain fillers like corn, soy, or wheat, which offer limited nutritional value and may cause allergies. No Artificial Additives: It should be free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, which can harm your dog's health over time. Meat Meal vs. Whole Meat: Preference for Whole Meat: Whole meat sources are preferred over meat meals or by-products, as they are less processed and retain more nutritional value. Digestibility and Allergen Consideration: Hypoallergenic Options: For dogs with allergies or sensitivities, hypoallergenic options that avoid common allergens like poultry or grains should be available. High Digestibility: The dog food should be highly digestible to ensure your pet absorbs the maximum nutrients from each meal. Life Stage Appropriateness: Age and Size-Specific Formulations: The best dog food should offer formulations tailored to your dog's life stage puppy, adult, senior and size small, medium, large. Transparency and Sourcing: Transparent Labeling: Brands should provide transparent information about ingredient sourcing and processing methods. Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing: A commitment to sustainable and ethical sourcing of ingredients reflects a brand's responsibility toward animal welfare and the environment. Health Benefits and Special Considerations: Support for Special Health Needs: The best dog food may offer formulations to address specific health concerns, such as joint health, dental care, or weight management. Customer Feedback and Reviews: Positive User Experiences: Customer feedback and reviews are valuable indicators of a product's performance, safety, and palatability. Price and Value: Affordability: The cost of the dog food should be reasonable and commensurate with its quality and ingredients, offering good value for pet owners. Recall History and Safety: Safety Record: Brands with a history of recalls or safety issues should be viewed with caution, as the safety of your pet is paramount. But with our list of the 25 best dog foods for German Shepherds in , you can rest assured that you're giving your furry friend the best possible chance at a long and healthy life. When choosing dog food, consider factors such as your dog's age, size, activity level, any allergies or sensitivities, and consult your veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations. What is the difference between dry and wet dog food? Dry dog food kibble is convenient, has a longer shelf life, and can help with dental health. Wet dog food contains more moisture and can be more palatable for picky eaters. Some owners choose to feed a combination for variety. Is homemade dog food a good option? Homemade dog food can be an option but requires careful research and balance to ensure your dog gets all the necessary nutrients. Consulting with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist is recommended. How can I tell if a dog food is of high quality? Look for high-quality protein sources, whole grains and vegetables, minimal fillers and additives, and adherence to AAFCO guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition. Checking customer reviews and consulting experts can also help. Should I choose a dog food based on my dog's breed? While some breed-specific formulas exist, it's more important to consider your dog's individual needs, age, and size when selecting dog food. What should I do if my dog has food allergies or sensitivities? If your dog has allergies or sensitivities, consult your veterinarian for advice. They may recommend hypoallergenic or limited-ingredient dog foods. Is grain-free dog food a better choice? Grain-free dog food isn't necessarily better. While some dogs may benefit from grain-free options, it's essential to ensure the food still provides balanced nutrition, as some grain-free diets have been associated with certain health issues. How often should I feed my dog, and in what portion sizes? Feeding frequency and portion sizes depend on your dog's age, size, and activity level. Puppies typically require more frequent meals. Follow the feeding guidelines provided on the dog food packaging and adjust based on your dog's needs. Can I mix different brands or types of dog food? Mixing different brands or types of dog food can be done, but it should be done gradually to avoid digestive upset. Consult your veterinarian for guidance on the best way to transition your dog to a new diet. Should I be concerned about recalls when choosing dog food? Yes, it's important to stay informed about recalls. Check the FDA and manufacturer websites regularly for recall information. Brands with a history of recalls may be worth avoiding. What is the role of my veterinarian in selecting dog food? Your veterinarian can provide valuable guidance on selecting the right dog food based on your pet's specific needs, health conditions, and dietary requirements. How can I ensure my dog stays hydrated when feeding dry dog food? Always provide access to clean, fresh water. Wetting the dry food or incorporating wet food into the diet can also increase moisture intake. Can I give my dog human food as part of their diet? While some human foods are safe for dogs, it's essential to know which ones are and to avoid potentially toxic foods. Always consult with your veterinarian before adding human food to your dog's diet. Remember that each dog is unique, and their dietary needs may vary. Regular check-ups with your veterinarian and open communication about your dog's diet are key to ensuring their health and well-being. Related Content. It is also a vital element for brain and eye development. Fresh chicken meat in the diet provides protein with high biological value. Natural Prebiotics to boost the overall digestive process. The benefits of Orijen Puppy Large: A calorie limited diet to promote a healthy weight and to put less pressure on joints. Rich in protein for making German Shepherd pups healthy and strong. Highly delicious chicken and turkey liver tempt the pickiest of eaters. The crusty and crunchy kibble texture of this food promotes good periodontal health and helps in curbing problems like Tartar and Plaque buildup. An essential fatty acid like Omega 3 has been added in the diet for boosting the overall skin health of the dogs. A natural antioxidant like Vitamin E fortifies the natural immunity of the pups, keeping them strong and healthy. You can feed your adult German Shepherd 2 times a day. You should avoid feeding them synthetic preservatives. High in Fibres: Natural fibres maintain superior digestive health and also an ideal body weight. Vitamin C: Vitamin C keeps the joints healthy, preventing problems like hip dysplasia and arthritis. Natural fibres promote excellent digestion and maximum nutrient absorption. The benefits of Fidele Adult Large Breed: Contains a substantial amount of protein for enhancing strength and endurance in grown up German Shepherds. Omega fatty acids boost skin health and also maintain good eyesight. It consists of Real Chicken meat as the main constituent which is favourite for German Shepherds. It has a good combination of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids that significantly improves the skin health of the dogs. They do not contain any fillers or preservatives which makes this diet completely safe for German Shepherds to savour. Breed Specified Recipe specially made for German Shepherds Real Chicken meat offers good protein content for supporting strong muscle mass Excellent blend of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids endow the dogs with good skin health. This dog food has a rich protein content that fortifies the muscle mass in the dogs. Moreover, the crusty texture of this food helps in removing Tartar and Plaque build-up. Ideal dog food for a large breed like German Shepherd Consists of Calcium and Phosphorus that boosts bone density Glucosamine and Chondroitin provides anti-inflammatory effect to the dogs Beet Pulp and FOS prebiotics boosts overall digestive health of the dogs Crusty kibble texture of the food eliminates Tartar and Plaque build-up 5 Hills Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dog A highly nourishing meal that has Chicken and Barley as its primary constituents, the Hills Science Diet Adult Large Breed is an easy-to-digest meal offering a nutritional profile that suits an adult German Shepherd. Omega 6 and Vitamin E promote beautiful skin and coat in German Shepherds. Ample amounts of protein maintain lean muscle mass and endurance. They need foods that are low in protein and fat content while richer in fibres. However, an overall moderate diet with all the components is also considered healthy, provided your dog trains and exercises regularly. A senior German Shepherd consumes around calories daily. They can be fed 2 times a day. Fish Oil Omega 3 : Fish oil is an excellent source of Omega fatty acids that provides a good anti-inflammatory effect to senior dogs. Fewer Carbs: As elderly German Shepherds are quite vulnerable to obesity and diabetes, a diet that has a low glycemic index is most preferred to them. A combination of Vitamin E and C, builds a stronger immune system. Devoid of artificial flavors and preservatives. Fresh meat and freeze-dried liver make the meal highly delectable. A biologically appropriate diet that nurtures your older German Shepherds according to their biological and evolutionary needs. Thus, when you adopt a German shepherd pup, make sure that you provide it with a fully nutrition loaded diet and maintain a lifestyle with lots of physical activities. A comprehensive diet including all the above parameters will lead to a healthy and long life span of your little beasts. An avid nature and animal lover, Akhil likes to read and watch anything related to wildlife. He also has a great interest in athletics, mainly track and field events and is a big Masala Dosa fan. More like this.

We breed Superior Quality Miniature, Medium and Standard Australian Labradoodles throughout the year in varying colours from chocolate, black, cream, red, apricot and gold. We have imported some of the very best Australian Labradoodles in the world for our breeding program offering top quality puppies from fully health tested parents. Please enjoy browsing through our Website which will give you a good idea of the look and feel of the Genuine Australian Labradoodle. Find out about our current litters , and our planned litters here. You can also find out about the purchase and reservation process here. What our customers say Brought our puppy to Belgium. Davina made the whole process very easy and our fur baby is so calm and loving Brought our puppy to Belgium We bought our puppy November .What a Fantastic dog he has turned into. Dianne Liptrot We love our Fudge from Courtlands. She is perfect!!! I got in touch with Davina and she had 2 puppies I could choose from. I liked the fact that we had a good conversation about why I wanted a dog, whether I worked and how the pup would live. Thankfully Davina thought a was a suitable owner and I brought Poppy home. I remember so clearly, hearing myself laugh properly, for the 1st time in 5 years. Poppy taught, teaches me, to enjoy simple pleasures. So much so that 9 months later I brought home Poppy's half sister, Truffle. Total joy and Courtlands, Davina, is amazing. I would recommend to everyone and thank you from Poppy and Truffle. Liz Bauer Gaia has been with us for 8 years and she is a fantastic girl. Thank you Davina for allowing this beautiful meeting. No shedding, super calm, good with everyone and patient!!! Michelle Burgos We are so happy with our new puppy Huey. Davina has been so helpful and supportive all along and her step by step guides make everything so easy to follow and understand that it takes any stress away. He is the most perfect little bundle of joy you could ever ask for! Marley-Blue comes to school work with me every day to support children as a therapy dog. He has a perfectly calm temperament with a cheeky mix of playfulness. Courtlands were great, we picked our puppy from a beautiful litter, we were sent regular updates until he was ready to live with us. We got lots of information to take away and digest too. On his first visit to the vets for immunisation, the staff were vey impressed by the paperwork I had from the breeders. Shareen Bailey If Carlsberg made dogs xxx. He is a fluffy little bundle of joy and great with our children. Davina knew he had a long drive home to Scotland and had good advice to give us. He was great and not bothered at all. Collection was easy and all paperwork was in order and gone through with us. A delightful addition to our family. Thank you! Suzanne Thom Our puppy came to live with us at the end of July. Davina had clearly done an excellent job with early socialisation. Obi is a delight every day. He is such an easy puppy and such a joy to have around. Behind us in this picture are loads of people flying kites. Kim Hewlett We picked up our new puppy on Saturday from Courtlands. We were recommended Davina by friends who had one of her beautiful puppies 6 years ago. Ours is called Digby and is 10 weeks old. The whole buying process was made easy by Davina. She kept us informed and my endless questions did not phase her at all! Digby is gorgeous we all adore him already. Tess May Welcomed our handsome, bundle of fluff, in May, into our family. Constantly complimented on his appearance. Just been such a wonderful calm dog, super mannered and I put it down to his breeding. Davina made the process of buy Cooper very simple and was happy to answer all our questions. Both our vet and ourselves were very impressed with the pack of documents and advice sheets Cooper came with. This has helped us a lot in the first few days. Kerry Stanners Wow. What a fabulous experience. The knowledge we left with when we picked our Freddie up at 9weeks old was superb. Totally professional with the best interest of our puppy paramount. We have a healthy happy puppy. Thank you Davina. Communication was really fast and Devina was very professional throughout the process. Our puppy is absolutely stunning, healthy and very happy! Our pup, lotti, is just such a delight and so easy to train. She is great with our children, other children and just anyone she meets! Thank you so so much Davina! Many people keep asking where we got Lotti from so I think you can expect some Northumbrian customers in the future? Geno Arthur Pessers Hamish is fourteen months old now and is an absolute joy! Really happy with all the support Davina gave us in making the right choices and her advice has been absolutely spot on. I look forward to finding a brother or sister for Hamish very soon?? Matt Beard. Phone lines open everyday from 8. We're a happy, friendly team and would love you to come and visit us at the centre to see our fantastic facilities and all the waggy tails of our doggy guests. Everything at the centre has been designed with dogs in mind, from the fully equipped grooming suite, to each of its 74 kennels, with underfloor heating so that our dogs can be cosy or cool all year round. We also have an airy training hall, perfect for teaching dogs of any age new tricks! Alternatively, take bus route 1 or 2 grey. By road: Follow signs to Nettlefold Road and it's right at the end of the industrial estate - for use of sat nav, it's better to type in Nettlefold Road rather than the postcode. Local supporter relations If you are interested in donating In Memory, have questions about our Canine Care Card service, leaving a Legacy or if you would like to book a guest speaker for your Community Group, then please get in touch with your local Supporter Relations Officer Andrew Upton , or call on .Supporting us Donate your pre-loved items. Signage outside will make it clear where you can drop off your donations. We rely on your kind support to continue our vital work, please donate today. How rehoming works. By neutering this puppy you are basically destroying its future Would you consider neutering this puppy? The RSPCA spays and castrates at this age, and apparently believes it is ethically and morally acceptable to do so. As do some breeders, rescue centres and a few vets. There is a breeder in Cardiff called Lisa Carson that neuters her Labradoodle pups, both standard and minis, at six to seven weeks of age. Please remember that name and never buy any animal from her. The day she can show me scientific proof this has a long-lasting benefit to these poor pups she and her vet have to my belief abused and caused future medical problems. Then I will apologise. She is not the only one. I want the names of breeders and vets that are doing this and I intend to name and shame every single one of them. I personally believe what the vets are doing is unethical. The KC and nearly every other rescue organisations have condemned it. She states it is a contractual obligation from the Australian Labradoodle Association. Simply do not be part of an organisation that suggests this horrific practice. There are only a few members in the UK. She is not the only breeder in this country to follow this disgraceful practice. I really hope she can sleep at night. However, I know of no other breed other than Australian Labradoodle where this is happening on a regular basis. She has stated it is to keep the bloodline pure? Unless I am sadly mistaken, Labradoodles are not pedigree dogs, they are what is euphemistically known as mongrels. The two main kennels involved in the breeding of the dogs in Australia have apparently been discredited. And I believe are no longer operating. Why is it only Australian Labradoodle breeders do this? If I was a cynic, I would say they did it to limit the number of Australian Labradoodle puppies on the market. Thereby keeping the vastly inflated prices artificially high. More profit for the breeders. How dare they? Is that why these dogs are so ludicrously priced? Some for breeding purposes have been sold for far higher amounts. Choose a puppy who has been neutered at this age at your peril. See what the leading rescue charities and the Kennel Club have to say about this disgusting practice at the bottom of this page. I wrote this article in and this woman is still peddling her bundles of misery in .Neutering is one of the reasons this is happening. Read below 2 What The Angry Vets have to say about neutering. In nearly all cases aggression increased with neutering in both male and female dogs. The opposite of what we have regularly been told. If they imagine that it has no effect on the young pups then why is it that my records show that early neutering is the cause of very high-levels of medical and behavioural problems. We breed Superior Quality Miniature, Medium and Standard Australian Labradoodles throughout the year in varying colours from chocolate, black, cream, red, apricot and gold. We have imported some of the very best Australian Labradoodles in the world for our breeding program offering top quality puppies from fully health tested parents. Please enjoy browsing through our Website which will give you a good idea of the look and feel of the Genuine Australian Labradoodle. Find out about our current litters , and our planned litters here. You can also find out about the purchase and reservation process here. What our customers say We are so happy with our new puppy Huey. Davina has been so helpful and supportive all along and her step by step guides make everything so easy to follow and understand that it takes any stress away. A great service and amazing dogs Louisa Johnson Wow. What a fabulous experience. The knowledge we left with when we picked our Freddie up at 9weeks old was superb. Totally professional with the best interest of our puppy paramount. We have a healthy happy puppy. Thank you Davina. Xx Pamela Dawne Holt Hamish is fourteen months old now and is an absolute joy! Really happy with all the support Davina gave us in making the right choices and her advice has been absolutely spot on. I look forward to finding a brother or sister for Hamish very soon?? Matt Beard Welcomed our handsome, bundle of fluff, in May, into our family. Constantly complimented on his appearance. Communication was really fast and Devina was very professional throughout the process. Our puppy is absolutely stunning, healthy and very happy! He is a fluffy little bundle of joy and great with our children. Davina knew he had a long drive home to Scotland and had good advice to give us. He was great and not bothered at all. Collection was easy and all paperwork was in order and gone through with us. A delightful addition to our family. Thank you! Our pup, lotti, is just such a delight and so easy to train. She is great with our children, other children and just anyone she meets! Thank you so so much Davina! Many people keep asking where we got Lotti from so I think you can expect some Northumbrian customers in the future? Geno Arthur Pessers Brought our puppy to Belgium. Davina made the whole process very easy and our fur baby is so calm and loving Brought our puppy to Belgium We picked up our new puppy on Saturday from Courtlands. We were recommended Davina by friends who had one of her beautiful puppies 6 years ago. Ours is called Digby and is 10 weeks old. The whole buying process was made easy by Davina. She kept us informed and my endless questions did not phase her at all! Digby is gorgeous we all adore him already. Tess May We love our Fudge from Courtlands. She is perfect!!! He is the most perfect little bundle of joy you could ever ask for! Marley-Blue comes to school work with me every day to support children as a therapy dog. He has a perfectly calm temperament with a cheeky mix of playfulness. Courtlands were great, we picked our puppy from a beautiful litter, we were sent regular updates until he was ready to live with us. We got lots of information to take away and digest too. On his first visit to the vets for immunisation, the staff were vey impressed by the paperwork I had from the breeders. Shareen Bailey Gaia has been with us for 8 years and she is a fantastic girl. Thank you Davina for allowing this beautiful meeting. She illuminates our life and I hope for a very long time yet Fabrice Poirot Probably the best place to get your good natured Australian labradoodle Ian 'Iggy' Joynson Our puppy came to live with us at the end of July. Davina had clearly done an excellent job with early socialisation. Obi is a delight every day. He is such an easy puppy and such a joy to have around. Behind us in this picture are loads of people flying kites. Kim Hewlett I decided to get a dog after much encouragement ,following the loss of my eldest daughter. I got in touch with Davina and she had 2 puppies I could choose from. I liked the fact that we had a good conversation about why I wanted a dog, whether I worked and how the pup would live. Thankfully Davina thought a was a suitable owner and I brought Poppy home. I remember so clearly, hearing myself laugh properly, for the 1st time in 5 years. Poppy taught, teaches me, to enjoy simple pleasures. So much so that 9 months later I brought home Poppy's half sister, Truffle. Total joy and Courtlands, Davina, is amazing. I would recommend to everyone and thank you from Poppy and Truffle. Liz Bauer We bought our puppy November .What a Fantastic dog he has turned into. No shedding, super calm, good with everyone and patient!!! Michelle Burgos We have now had Cooper home with us in Scotland for a week. Davina made the process of buy Cooper very simple and was happy to answer all our questions. Both our vet and ourselves were very impressed with the pack of documents and advice sheets Cooper came with. This has helped us a lot in the first few days. Kerry Stanners If Carlsberg made dogs xxx. Just been such a wonderful calm dog, super mannered and I put it down to his breeding. Henry Gittins.

They have diarrhoea, constipation or have been vomiting. Thankfully this is not a common occurrence but I like to have some home remedies on hand should any of them occur so a vet visit is not required every single time. Fasting Fasting is always the first point of call for an upset tummy that results in either diarrhoea or vomiting. It is not recommended to give your pug small amounts of food after vomiting to see how they go, even if you feel they may be hungry. Fasting is important as it allows for the digestive tract and stomach to have a break and heal. From the time they first vomit or have diarrhoea, you should fast them for around hours before considering introducing liquid or small amounts of food. Fasting means no water or food to ensure their digestive system has a good break. Note: Watch for dehydration during the fasting period and provide small sips of water when needed. Do not fast puppies as they require much more regular sources of nutrition as they are growing. Bone Broth Bone broth is a good way to introduce some nutrients back into your pug after fasting. It is gentle on the stomach, flavoursome for your pug and will provide some great nutrition to your pug as their digestive system recovers from being unwell. Start with a small bowl of warm bone broth and monitor how they handle the bone broth. If they have been vomiting and can keep the bone broth down after fasting then you can start introducing small amounts of food. You can also continue to give the bone broth in small amounts before feeding them again and once they are back onto solid foods. Learn more about the benefits of bone broth and how to make it here. Turkey is another protein that is gentle on the stomach and much less likely to be an allergy problem. Pumpkin instead of rice is great as it is full of fibre and beta-carotene which converts to vitamin A. Whether it is part of a bland diet or added for extra fibre, pumpkin is great for your pug to help settle their stomach, ease diarrhoea and constipation. Pumpkin should always be cooked before feeding. Canned pumpkin is good to as long as it is plain and not sweetened or pie pumpkin. Slippery Elm Bark Slippery elm is an extraordinary herb that soothes the digestive and respiratory systems. It also has lubricating effects and anti-inflammatory properties which makes it perfect for helping with constipation, diarrhoea and even coughing. Slippery elm is available from health food stores and comes in powder, capsules or syrup form. For easy administering, powder is an easy option. Just mix into some water, food or even yoghurt. Mix into some water, food or even yoghurt. Adding a probiotic to their meals will help to restore the good bacteria and get them back to good health. You can add a probiotic supplement, fermented veggies, raw goats milk and our favourite, kefir. You can include natural prebiotics such as garlic, banana, apple, asparagus and dandelion. A combination of probiotics can be given for variety. Dosage varies between each probiotic. Supplements: follow instructions on the bottle. If you ever suspect there is something more going on besides a tummy bug or there are other symptoms besides just diarrhoea, constipation or vomiting, it is definitely a trip to the vet for a check up. Under no circumstances does any of this advice replace veterinary advice. The following two tabs change content below. Preventing Puppy Diarrhea Puppy diarrhea is, unfortunately, a reality of pet ownership. Puppies do not have fully functioning immune systems, so they can be a little more sensitive to changes and potential sources of infection than their adult counterparts. Mild cases of diarrhea may go away quickly on their own, but other causes—including infections and parasites—can be a sign of a serious problem. Here's what to watch for and how to know what your next steps should be when your puppy has diarrhea. Some of the most common reasons for diarrhea in puppies include environmental factors, infections, and parasites. Hopefully this helps you find answers to "Why does my puppy have diarrhea? Moving into a new home, meeting new people and animals, learning to walk on a leash , vet visits and vaccinations , that first encounter with the Roomba. All of these experiences can cause stress, and your puppy may get diarrhea because of that. Diarrhea related to stress usually occurs within hours to a day of the stressful event, and generally resolves quickly on its own. Ask your puppy's breeder or previous owner what brand and formula of food she is used to eating, and start off by using that same diet. If you want to switch to a different food, do it gradually over several days, starting with just a little of the new food mixed in with the old and increasing the ratio of new food over time. Some dogs may have food intolerances or, less commonly, allergies to specific ingredients. These can also cause diarrhea. Identifying a food allergy or intolerance is a time-consuming process and will require guidance from your veterinarian. Some common parasites that can infest puppies include roundworms, hookworms , whipworms, tapeworms , coccidia, and giardia. Parasites are most commonly transmitted through poop a dog with worms poops out eggs and larvae, a puppy sniffs poop and inhales them. But some, such as roundworms, can be transmitted from mother to puppies through the placenta. As well as having diarrhea, puppies with parasites may have distended bellies, bloody diarrhea, appear thin, or be lethargic. Sometimes you may be able to see worms in the poop. Your veterinarian can c heck your puppy's stool for worm eggs and other parasites. Always bring a sample along if your puppy is having diarrhea. Once the offending parasite is identified, your vet can prescribe the best deworming medication to resolve the issue. Being treated for worms or other parasites does not prevent your puppy from getting them again, however. Remember how parasites are often spread through poop? Be sure to thoroughly clean your yard, removing all poo to minimize the number of parasitic worms living in the soil and environment. Otherwise, your puppy can reinfect herself from her own poop. All puppies should be on a regular deworming schedule starting while they are with the breeder. Most veterinarians recommend continuing regular, long-term deworming, such as with a monthly product. Dietary Indiscretion and Toxicities Like toddlers, puppies love to put their mouths on anything and everything. Eating the wrong thing can cause diarrhea in a couple different ways. This could range from feasting on the garbage leftover from your cookout to swallowing a chewed-up tennis ball or munching on your amaryllis plant. Eating an excessive amount of rich or fatty foods can cause stomach upset. In cases like these, your puppy may vomit or appear uncomfortable as well as having diarrhea. If your puppy has eaten something toxic, exact symptoms will vary depending on what and how much she ate. If you suspect your puppy has eaten something toxic, or are unsure about the potential threat of her illicit snack, contact an animal poison helpline such as the ASPCA Poison Control Center or the Pet Poison Helpline , , immediately. These services do charge a fee, but it's well worth it to have access to the most up-to-date information on toxicities in dogs. Even nontoxic non-food items can be problematic if they get stuck in your puppy's gastrointestinal tract and cause a blockage. Besides having diarrhea, a puppy with an obstruction may vomit, be lethargic, refuse to eat, and have abdominal pain. Viral and Bacterial Infections Parvovirus, often referred to as simply "parvo," is a diagnosis that strikes fear in any puppy owner's heart. This virus is highly contagious and wreaks havoc on your puppy's immune system and body, causing severe diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, anorexia, fever, and lethargy. Treatment consists of supportive care to help your puppy fight the disease and target symptoms. A puppy with parvo will likely be admitted to the hospital for intravenous fluids to keep her hydrated, medications, and round-the-clock supervision from her veterinary team. Parvo is often fatal, especially if treatment is started too late. Thankfully, there is an effective vaccination for parvo, and it is included in the routine puppy series. Your puppy will receive several rounds of the vaccine depending on her age. It's essential to get your puppy to her booster appointments on time; even one missed vaccination can leave her unprotected. Once she has finished her puppy series, the following year she can either get a one-year or three-year vaccine. Avoid places with other dogs, such as dog parks, boarding kennels, and popular dog-walking spots until she is fully vaccinated. Only allow her to interact with dogs who you know are vaccinated. If your puppy does get parvo, she will need to be kept away from unvaccinated dogs and puppies to prevent spreading it to them. Besides viruses such as parvo, your puppy can also get bacterial infections in her G. Common culprits include clostridium, E. Your puppy can pick these up from eating rotten food or poop from an infected animal. As she matures and her immune system finishes developing, she will be less susceptible to these tiny invaders. Puppy Vomiting and Diarrhea Vomiting and diarrhea are a dangerous combination. Both cause your puppy to lose water from her body, leading to dehydration. Dehydration can cause permanent damage to her internal organs in a matter of days. If your dog is experiencing this one-two punch of vomiting and diarrhea, you'll want to call your vet right away. When to Call Your Vet If your puppy has diarrhea but is still playful and normal, there is no need to panic. It will likely resolve on its own. Here are the signs to call your veterinarian to schedule an appointment: Diarrhea that lasts more than a day Bloody or black stool. Pug Dog Diarrhea Overview There are very few health issues that cause such immediate concern than when a Pug puppy or dog suddenly gets diarrhea. And, due to the serious issues that can accompany this condition such as rapid dehydration, treating this as soon as it begins is prudent. This section will cover all of the important details about Pugs with diarrhea including: Signs and symptoms Acute vs chronic vs intermittent diarrhea What causes a Pug to develop diarrhea Home remedies and treatment Red flags that a vet visit is needed Signs and Symptoms of Diarrhea Diarrhea with dogs is the same as with humans. This term is given when bowel movements: 1: Hold more liquid than normal. If you were to pick it up, it would hold its shape and a piece may slowly break off. But, when a Pug has diarrhea, the stools will be runny and much more watery, making it impossible to pick up. In severe cases, diarrhea may be pure liquid. Normally, a Pug will have 1 to 3 bowel movements per day. However, when sick with diarrhea, a dog may squirt out runny or liquid stools 5, 10, or even 20 times in a day. There may also be 3: Lack of control. Even dogs that are very well house trained may have little to no control over the expulsion of diarrhea. Acute Vs Chronic Vs Intermittent Diarrhea Acute diarrhea is a short episode typically lasting 2 to 5 days that responds to at-home treatment and does not reoccur again within the next 3 months. Chronic diarrhea lasts more than 5 days. It may appear to get better once a dog is treated at home, but resurfaces soon afterward. For this, diagnosis and treatment at the vet's is needed. Intermittent diarrhea involves bouts of diarrhea often throughout the year. It comes and goes. It may be a week or a month between occurrences. What Causes a Pug to Develop Diarrhea In many cases, diarrhea will come on suddenly, out of the blue, though in some cases this can be a chronic problem caused by an underlying issue. Causes of diarrhea include: 1 A food intolerance. Dairy products are at the top of this list including ice cream, milk, and cheese. But, it should be noted that large quantities of cheese can have the opposite effect and cause constipation. Other foods that can cause runny stools are table scraps including fatty meats or greasy foods. Though many instances of food-related allergies involve allergic reactions to chemical additives that manifest as skin rashes and itchiness, food allergies can also cause upset stomach and diarrhea. Canines can catch a 'stomach bug' just like people can. In many cases, this is contracted when coming into contact with another dog that is sick in doggie daycare, when kenneled, etc. Overwhelming stress can trigger a Pug to have diarrhea. This may be acute or chronic stress often revolving around a chaotic or negative environment loud noises, yelling, domestic upset, etc. Also, certain situations may cause temporary intestinal distress such as being home alone when not accustomed to it, moving to a new home, the introduction of a new pet, or being transported or traveling. This is a catch-all term that is given for chronic episodes of diarrhea linked to one of several conditions including allergies, parasitic infection, lowered immune system, diseases such as colitis. This is diagnosed with a combination of blood testing, urinalysis, stool testing, and other tests. Treatment may include antibiotics, corticosteroids, and medications to protect the lining of the intestines. In many cases a change to a different food which includes a switch in both protein and carb sources can help. This can cause diarrhea, among other symptoms. Toxic substances that dogs are sometimes known to get into include cleaning products, antifreeze, insecticides, fertilizer, and medications for humans Advil is among the top 10 reported toxins leading to pet poisoning. This includes roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia, and giardia. All newborn puppies should be properly de-wormed by the veterinarian and fecal testing should be performed during yearly wellness visits to check for intestinal parasites. Most of these parasitic infections are treated with multiple treatments of de-wormer medication, along with owners sanitizing both the indoor and outdoor areas of living space. Both coccidia and giardia are treated with antibiotics and also a cleaning of both environment and the dog, since these can shed onto the coat. How to Treat Acute Diarrhea with Pug Dogs Since diarrhea can quickly cause a Pug to become dangerously dehydrated, it is important to treat for this right away. There are several steps to take: 1 Make an assessment. Many cases of diarrhea can be effectively treated at home; however, if your puppy or dog has any of the following, this warrants immediate veterinary intervention and treatment: Diarrhea along with projectile vomiting - Vomit is expelled from the mouth, and sometimes the nasal passages, with extreme force Explosive diarrhea liquid stools expelled with force Bloody diarrhea. Liver or kidney disease Intestinal cancer But how do you know if you should be bringing your dog to the vet for diarrhea? When To Visit Your Vet If your dog has just had one episode of diarrhea and is otherwise behaving normally, it's usually not a cause for concern. Keep an eye on your canine companion's bowel movements and see if things clear up. If your dog has more than 2 episodes then there might be a problem, so it's a good idea to call your vet if your pup has two or more bouts of diarrhea. If your pooch is straining to pass a stool but is only passing small amounts of watery diarrhea, they could be experiencing a painful blockage due to the ingestion of a foreign object such as a toy. This is a very serious condition that requires immediate veterinary attention, call your vet or go to the nearest emergency animal hospital for treatment. Recurring bouts of diarrhea over a short time period can be a sign of a very serious health issue, especially if your furry friend is very old, very young, or has a compromised immune system. Infections such as parvovirus are extremely serious, contagious, and life-threatening. Contact your vet right away if your pup is experiencing repeated episodes of diarrhea or chronic diarrhea. If your dog is showing other symptoms as well as diarrhea they should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If your dog has any of the following symptoms contact your vet immediately to book an appointment: Weakness. Change in treats or overall diet Ingesting poisons or toxins Ingestion of foreign objects such as fabric, bones and toys Viral infections such as distemper, coronavirus or parvovirus Liver or kidney disease Parasites — Giardia, coccidia, whipworms, roundworms or hookworms Bacterial infections, including salmonella With all these potential causes, how do you know whether your dog will need to visit the vet? When should you contact your vet? If your dog has had a single episode of diarrhea but is otherwise acting normal, it's likely not a cause for concern. Track your dog's bowel movements to see whether your pup starts to feel better on his or her own. More than two episodes might be cause for concern as these could indicate a health problem, so it's a good idea to contact your vet if your pooch experiences two or more bouts of diarrhea. If your pup is straining to pass a stool but only passing small amounts of watery diarrhea, they could be experiencing a painful blockage due to the ingestion of a foreign object such as a toy. This is a veterinary emergency and needs veterinary attention right away. Contact your vet or head to the nearest emergency animal hospital for care. Recurring bouts of diarrhea over a short period of time could be a sign of a very serious health issue, particularly if your pup is very old, very young, or has a compromised immune system. Infections such as parvovirus are extremely serious, contagious and life-threatening. Contact your vet right away if your pooch is experiencing repeated episodes of diarrhea. Dogs showing other symptoms as well as diarrhea should also be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If your dog has any of the following symptoms, contact your vet right away to make an appointment: Lack of Appetite Signs of dehydration Sunken dry-looking eyes, dry nose, or dry, sticky gums Unusual drooling Weakness Vomiting If your pooch is displaying any symptoms that cause you concern, contact your veterinarian. Your vet will let you know whether your pet's symptoms indicate that an examination is necessary. How can you stop diarrhea in dogs? When it comes to treating diarrhea in dogs it's essential that you never give your dog medications formulated for people before consulting your vet. Many human medications are toxic to dogs and could cause further health complications for your pooch. If your pup has had one or two runny or soft stools, you may want to give your dog some time to recover by simply fasting for 12 to 24 hours. A bland diet for 24 to 48 hours may help to resolve your pup's issue. Plain-cooked white rice with a little chicken and some canned plain pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling may help to make your pup's tummy feel better. Once your pooch feels better, gradually reintroduce their regular food. Other things that might help to soothe your dog's upset tummy include natural yogurt, probiotics, peeled boiled potatoes, cottage cheese, egg with no oil added, specially formulated dog foods, and medications prescribed by your vet. When it comes to your pup's health it is always best to err on the side of caution. By taking your pooch in for an examination you give your vet the opportunity to determine the underlying cause of your pup's diarrhea and recommend the most effective treatment. Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet. Chronic diarrhea in dogs is a serious health issue. If your pup is suffering from diarrhea, contact our Baltimore vets today to schedule an appointment. We can treat your dog's diarrhea and help your pooch feel better. It could also be an allergic reaction. Most of know the popular ones, like chocolate and onions. But I accidentally gave Benji grapes one time and his stomach did not like that! If you have a pug, then you know that they can be prone to issues with their digestion. One of the most common causes of diarrhea in pugs is diet. This will help keep them healthy and give them the energy for all those snuggles and zoomies! One potential cause can be stress or anxiety, so making sure your pup has a calm and relaxed environment is key. If you notice any changes in their poo, seek out professional advice from your vet immediately. It is also beneficial for pugs to practice regular exercise and get plenty of rest as this can help maintain a healthy digestive system. Infections and parasites can be the root cause of pug diarrhea, so treating and testing for those underlying health issues is necessary in order to provide effective care. This means that you should avoid switching up their diet too often, as the sudden change could cause digestive distress and potentially lead to diarrhea. With the right diet and plenty of playtime, your pup will stay happy and healthy! Drinking lots of water will help them stay hydrated, and this can also help relieve their symptoms as dehydration can worsen the effects of diarrhea. Moreover, pug diarrhea can be an unpleasant experience for both the pup and its owner. If the problem persists, it is important to speak with your vet who may suggest additional supplements or medications to help regulate it. Proper medical advice from a professional is key in making sure that your pup has a healthy and safe life! Make sure your pug has enough fresh water and a balanced diet so they can stay healthy. Look into specialized food designed for their breed that has digestible ingredients that provide the necessary vitamins and minerals they need. If your pug has diarrhea, you should look for the underlying cause before taking any action. This is important to prevent the condition from becoming more severe or even recurring. Common causes of pug diarrhea can include dietary indiscretions or reactions to medications, infections, allergies or parasites. Once the underlying cause is addressed, you can then treat the diarrhea accordingly and get your pup back to feeling their best! In some cases, dietary modifications or probiotics may be recommended. However, if necessary, you can provide them with over-the-counter medications designed specifically for treating pug diarrhea. With the right care and attention, your furry friend will soon get back to their happy and healthy self! When to Seek Veterinary Care for Pug Diarrhea If your pug has had diarrhea for more than 24 hours, it is highly important to seek veterinary care as soon as you can. Diarrhea is never something to take lightly, as it can be an indication of a serious illness such as pancreatitis or even an infection. Sometimes the cause of diarrhea in dogs is due to dietary changes, but it could also be triggered by stress or a parasite. If your pug has diarrhea, it could be a sign of something more serious than just an upset stomach. Make sure to check for other symptoms like vomiting, appetite loss, or lethargy — if any of these are present then the best course of action is to take your pug to the vet immediately. Similarly, for pugs with diarrhea that contains bloody or mucus-filled stools, it is important to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible in order to identify any potential underlying medical conditions. Foods to Avoid When Treating Pug Diarrhea If you have a pug, then you know that occasional bouts of diarrhea can happen. All in all, investing in good quality food for your pug will be beneficial for their tummy troubles. If the diarrhea contains mucus or blood, it is imperative to take your furry friend to the vet as soon as possible. Sometimes dietary changes can be helpful in alleviating symptoms, so it is best to stick to a bland diet with easily digestible proteins such as chicken and rice until the diarrhea has cleared up. Quality food that is higher in fiber and lower in fat can help regulate their digestive system and improve the situation. Regular exercise is one important way to help prevent your pug from having diarrhea. Taking your pug for a walk or a jog every day will help keep their stomach happy and healthy and reduce the chances for that dreaded pug diarrhea. By discussing all options with a professional, you can ensure that your pug receives the most appropriate treatment based on their individual needs.

Comfortable for dogs with sensitive skin Cons: Can be more expensive than other collar types Not the best option for puppies prone to chewing May require regular maintenance to keep the leather in good condition Martingale Collars: Secure and Adjustable Martingale collars , also known as limited-slip collars, are designed with a unique loop that tightens when the dog pulls on the leash. This feature provides more control for the owner and prevents the dog from slipping out of the collar. Martingale collars can be made from various materials, including nylon and leather, and are suitable for both adult and puppy golden retrievers. Pros: Provides more control and prevents dogs from slipping out of the collar Adjustable for a perfect fit Suitable for adult and puppy golden retrievers Available in different materials, such as nylon and leather Cons: May not be suitable for dogs with respiratory issues Not ideal for off-leash play or swimming, as the collar may tighten unintentionally Choosing the Right Accessories and Customizations for Your Dog When selecting accessories and customizations for your dog's collar, it's essential to keep their comfort and safety in mind. Avoid anything that may be too heavy or cumbersome, as this can cause discomfort or even injury to your dog. Additionally, ensure that any personalized information, such as ID tags or nameplates, is clear and easy to read. By exploring the various collar accessories and customization options available, you can create a collar that is not only functional and comfortable for your dog but also a true reflection of their personality. Take the time to consider which options would best suit your dog's needs and style, and enjoy the process of creating a unique collar that your furry friend will love. Maintaining and Caring for Your Dog's Collar Now that you have chosen the perfect collar with accessories and customization options for your dog, it's essential to maintain and care for it properly to ensure its longevity and effectiveness. Here are some tips on keeping your dog's collar in top shape: Regular Cleaning Depending on the material of your dog's collar, it may require periodic cleaning to keep it looking fresh and free of dirt and grime. For fabric or nylon collars, you can often hand-wash them with mild soap and water or even toss them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle. For leather collars, use a specialized leather cleaner and conditioner to maintain the material's suppleness and prevent cracking. Inspecting for Wear and Tear Regularly inspect your dog's collar for signs of wear and tear, such as fraying, broken stitching, or damaged hardware. If you notice any issues, it's important to address them promptly to ensure your dog's collar remains safe and secure. Replacing Collars as Needed Even with proper care and maintenance, dog collars will eventually need to be replaced. Keep an eye on the overall condition of your dog's collar, and be prepared to replace it when necessary. This is especially important for growing puppies or dogs that are particularly active or rough on their collars. Storing Collars Properly When not in use, store your dog's collar in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. This will help preserve the material and prevent any damage that could occur due to exposure to harsh environmental conditions. The Importance of Collar Maintenance and Care Proper collar maintenance and care are essential to ensure your dog's safety and comfort. By regularly cleaning, inspecting, and replacing your dog's collar as needed, you can keep your furry friend secure and stylish while enjoying your walks and adventures together. Selecting the right collar for your dog, along with suitable accessories and customization options, is crucial for their comfort, safety, and overall well-being. By taking the time to measure your dog's neck size, explore various collar styles and features, and maintain the collar properly, you can provide your furry companion with the perfect accessory that meets their needs and showcases their unique personality. Teaching Your Dog to Wear a Collar and Leash Once you've chosen the perfect collar and accessories for your dog, it's important to teach them to wear the collar and leash comfortably. This will ensure a positive experience for both you and your dog during walks and other outdoor activities. Here are some tips to help your dog become accustomed to wearing a collar and leash: Start with the Collar Before introducing the leash, allow your dog to become comfortable wearing the collar. Put the collar on your dog for short periods, gradually increasing the duration as your dog becomes more accustomed to the sensation. Remember to use positive reinforcement by offering praise, treats, and affection when your dog is wearing the collar. Introduce the Leash Once your dog is comfortable wearing the collar, it's time to introduce the leash. Attach the leash to the collar and allow your dog to explore their environment while dragging the leash behind them. Supervise your dog closely during this process to ensure they don't become tangled or injured. Practice Walking Together As your dog becomes comfortable wearing the collar and dragging the leash, practice walking together. Start in a quiet, familiar environment, such as your backyard or a quiet park. Hold the leash and encourage your dog to walk by your side, using praise and treats as positive reinforcement. Gradually Increase the Challenge As your dog becomes more confident walking on the leash, gradually increase the challenge by introducing new environments, distractions, and longer walks. Remember to be patient and consistent, offering plenty of praise and rewards as your dog progresses. Address Leash Pulling If your dog tends to pull on the leash, consider using a no-pull harness or headcollar to help manage this behavior. Training techniques such as "red light, green light" or "turning in the opposite direction" can also be effective in teaching your dog not to pull on the leash. You can even start with teaching your dog to heel. Final Thoughts Understanding your golden retriever's neck size is crucial for ensuring their comfort and safety. By measuring your dog's neck and choosing the appropriate collar size, you can avoid discomfort, injury, or even choking hazards. Additionally, it's essential to monitor your dog's weight and adjust their collar size accordingly. As with any pet-related matter, consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns or questions about your golden retriever's neck size. With proper care and attention, you can help your furry friend live a healthy, happy life. Get more expert advice on pet-parenting by visiting the Off Leash blog at TryFi. TryFi's The Fi Dog Collar is a must-have for any pet parent, it's a GPS tracking collar that helps you keep tabs on your dog's location, activity, and sleep patterns, and alerts you if they escape your backyard. Try the Fi Dog Collar today! The link has been copied! You might also like. This is appropriate if you intend to replace a worn-out or damaged collar and are certain that the replacement will be the same size. Measure from the center of the buckle to the current sizing hole for the most accurate results. If your dog has had not any collars before, use measurement tape. If you lack a loose tape measure, you can use any available string, yarn, or ribbon. Now, let go and mark the location on the string where your finger met the end of the string. Then, use a tape measure to determine the length of your string measurement. Not only will a puppy require time to adjust to their new collar, but you will likely need to replace it multiple times to accommodate its growth. You want your dog to develop a bond with their collar and view it as a normal, comfortable part of their life, so take care to select the proper size to facilitate this. Choose The Right Materials Of The Collar Collars for dogs are constructed from a variety of materials that prioritize comfort, aesthetics, and longevity. Golden Retrievers are medium to large dogs who put their collars through the wringer, so durability should be a top priority. The widest variety of designs, colors, and widths can be found in nylon and polyester, the most popular materials. Polyester and nylon are highly flexible and relatively simple to clean fabrics. Cotton Fabric Cotton is highly durable, insulating, and capable of controlling moisture. In addition, they are simple to clean, cost-effective, and simple to maintain. Numerous collars are made of cotton in a variety of patterns and hues. Some collars have an inner fabric sleeve wrapped around a nylon band to increase their durability. Bio Thane Some dog collars are made of the waterproof material Bio thane. Bio thane is composed of polyester and polyurethane and polyvinyl layers. Its waterproof qualities make it ideal for Golden Retrievers, who are likely water-loving canines. Leather Leather is an organic material that is both durable and versatile. They are an excellent option for Golden Retrievers with allergies or sensitivities, despite being more expensive. In contrast to collars made of synthetic materials, it is easy to clean and can be used for years without fading. Neoprene Neoprene is a rubber-based material that has a wide range of applications. It has exceptional water resistance and does not retain moisture, which can lead to odors or mildew growth. Neoprene dog collars combined with nylon or polyester are extremely sturdy and long-lasting, able to last for years. Polyester Or Nylon Due to their popularity, nylon or polyester collars typically have the greatest variety of styles, colors, and sizes. Polyester and nylon are highly flexible synthetic fabrics that are also easy to clean. Different types of collars are necessary for thick and thin furs. The collar size and style are influenced by factors such as hairstyle. These are some tips for selecting the appropriate collar for your puppy. Little Fields Farm is the place to go if you want to find additional dog collar options. This list is not exhaustive, but it does contain some examples. Rope Collars: Rope collars are both comfortable and durable without irritating the skin. Flat-Front Dog Collars: These are the most common collars that are used daily. They consist of a flat, fabric-based collar with a plastic or metal buckle. Safety Considerations When it comes to choosing a collar for your pet, safety should be a top priority. Here are some safety considerations to keep in mind: Choose a secure buckle or clasp: The collar should have a buckle or clasp that is secure and will not come undone easily. This will help prevent your pet from escaping and getting lost or injured. Avoid choke chains and prong collars: These types of collars can cause pain and injury to your pet, especially if they are not used correctly. Check for proper fit: A collar that is too loose or too tight can be dangerous for your pet. Make sure the collar fits snugly but not too tightly, and can be adjusted if needed. Consider breakaway collars: If your pet spends time outdoors or unsupervised, a breakaway collar can be a good option. These collars are designed to come apart if they get caught on something, reducing the risk of injury or strangulation. Choose a collar made of safe materials: Some materials can be harmful to pets, such as those that contain toxic chemicals or are easily chewed or swallowed. Choose a collar made of safe materials, such as nylon or leather, and avoid those made of cheap or unsafe materials. Your dog should wear a flat collar at the base of its neck. Golden Retriever puppies will grow quickly, so get a collar that can be adjusted, is easy to put on and take off, and, ideally, has a place for a nametag. It would be enough to have a flat collar with a buckle made of soft, long-lasting materials. No matter whatever option you go with, your four-legged companion needs plenty of exercise and opportunities to run around and play in order to remain healthy and content. Best Collars for Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers 6 min read If you are considering a Labrador or a Golden Retriever pup, then the best collars for these breeds are flat leather collars that are .A 1 inch wide leather collar would suit a long haired golden retriever, while a 1. In comparison, they do seem to be very much alike. They grow to a similar weight and size, they both love water and strive to please their owners so grooming and bath time will be easy with either dog and they both shed year-round. Not only will the amount of hair on the Golden be a greater aggravation to sweep up, but the hair does also play a big part in picking a collar that will suit your dog's needs. However, the hair is only one difference to consider when determining the collar of choice for your best friend. The second thing to consider is the temperament of the dog. Both dogs are playful, but the Labrador seems to be more apt to play than the Golden, who has a medium playful attitude and needs longer rest periods. The material and how the collar is made will come into play when outdoors in the dog park. Labradors will need a wider and stronger leather collar than the Golden, who can get away with a narrower leather collar that won't matte their long hair. And as they grow in weight and height, you could determine how thick their neck would grow and the size of collar they would need. Since they both love water, our line of waterproof leather collars are the perfect compliment to your Goldie or Lab. When considering what size to get, we recommend a collar at 8 weeks in which the puppy would probably be able to wear with little to no adjustment until the 16th week. Then, going to the next collar up in size at roughly 32 weeks, which would become their full-grown collar, and should continue to fit them as they grow to be around 75 - lbs. Healthy Growth As much as we pet owners say we will not feed our dog's too many treats or table scraps and stick to a diet plan recommended by the Veterinarian, some of us will look into those sweet puppy dog eyes and give in to our temptation of just one cookie. This is where the danger of obesity also plays a part in keeping the right collar that will fit on our dog. When it comes to the fit of any collar, keep in mind that when you adjust your dog's collar, put one or two fingers in between your dog's neck and the collar. If your fingers have enough room, then your dog can breathe well, and the fit is perfect. You will need it for training and taking them for walks. A 1 Inch wide leather collar is the best choice for a Golden Retriever who has long hair, as the narrower collar will prevent matting. The added width will help disperse the pressure around their neck as they pull on the leash. In order to avoid confusion with the Newfoundland Dog, he used to be called the Small Water Dog, since the Lab was most commonly used to retrieve the cork floats of fishing nets and swimming them ashore so that fishermen can pull in the fish-filled nets. The Labrador Retriever was often used to retrieve game and fish, pull small fishing boats through icy water, and help fisherman in swimming tasks. As the years went by, the breed population decreased and died out in Newfoundland in large part because of a heavy dog tax. It was in England where the breed earned its reputation as an extraordinary retriever of upland game, and the breed continues to grow in population. The popularity of the Labrador Retriever has been growing steadily to become the most popular breed in America by , and remains so today. Although they where employed as retrieving dogs in the past, today, he is held in high regard as a guide dog, sniffer dog detecting drugs and explosives, and a popular companion. Appearance The Labrador Retriever is easily recognizable. He is a moderate dog, not extreme in any way, with a stocky build. He is square or slightly longer then tall, of fairly large bone and substance. He stands at 21 to .His coat is short and hard to the touch. It is drip-dry and is entirely weatherproof to protect him from icy waters. A black coat was the most popular known colour for the Labrador, but yellow became more widely seen as of 50 years ago. The yellow coat ranges from light cream to red fox. Today, there is quite a trend for chocolate, also known as liver. He has a broad head and strong medium-sized jaw, which allows him to carry the largest game birds, such as Canadian geese. His heavy set and strong legs enable him to swim and run powerfully. He has a relatively short, thick-coated tail, which is known as an otter-tail. He has kind and intelligent hazel-brown, medium-size eyes which express a gentle temperament. He has a broad backskull with a moderate stop. His forelegs are well-boned, and straight from shoulder down to the ground. His paws are round and rather compact. His chest has good depth and width with well-sprung ribs. The Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever are regularly cross-bred to utilize their combined skills. When the Labrador is well trained, he is obedient, amiable, and tolerates well with the acts of children, other dogs and others pets. He does not seem to take offence at any insult. He is good tempered and very agile. He is a calm house dog, playful yard dog, and intense field dog. He is eager to please, enjoys learning, and excels in obedience. Lab Upkeep If you are the type of person who enjoys activities and spends most of your days in the outdoors, then the Labrador is for you. This breed needs daily exercise, preferably in the form of retrieving and swimming. If you have a swimming pool, you should either fence your Lab out, or be prepared to share the pool with him. Although, he can live in town surroundings, he should not be deprived of regular, long walks. He can consume any quantity of food; however, sensible feeding is important to prevent this breed from carrying too much weight. Retriever Health Issues Unfortunately, many Labradors do not live up to the image they carry. Living up to 10 to 13 years old, some suffer from hereditary cataracts, hip and elbow arthritis and even wayward temperaments. Major health concerns for this breed include: Canine Hip Dysplasia CHD : An abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its most severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. Elbow Dysplasia: A condition involving multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow joint, specifically the growth of cartilage or the structures surrounding it. Obesity: A medically relevant nutritional disease which is defined by an excess amount of body fat. Pattelar Luxation: Occurs when the dogs kneecap is dislocated from its normal position in the groove of the thigh bone. Before any of these major and common health issues develop, Lab owners should always get their dog tested to see if they have issues with their hips, elbows, eyes, and knees. We all know that the Labrador Retriever is one of the most reliable, smartest and friendliest dogs in the world. Despite all of these great qualities, there are still things about them that need to be taken care of. If you enjoy long walks, a long swim in the lake, a game of fetch or perhaps a day of hunting, the Lab is your perfect dog and will remain your loyal companion for years to come. Recent Articles. When it comes to puppies, particularly short-haired breeds, you should look for a soft collar made of a non-abrasive material. Fabric collars are a good option, and collars made from a breathable fabric that is also machine washable are even better. When should a puppy wear a collar? Even if your puppy is still too young to go outside for walks, getting them used to wearing a collar is a good idea and will prevent any tiny tantrums further down the road! Collars should be worn most of the time, even around the house, but taking it off every so often to let the skin breathe is recommended. Try leaving the collar off for a couple of hours every time you brush or bathe them. Can an 8-week-old puppy wear a collar? Responsible breeders recommend puppies should not be brought home until 8 weeks old, and you can start getting them used to their collar shortly after this. It may be a good idea to let them settle into their new environment before introducing something new, but getting them used to their collar in their second week at home is a good idea. Should puppies wear collars at night? Most dog collars are designed to be non-abrasive, and perfectly safe for pups and older dogs to sleep in. This can also help puppies get adjusted to wearing a collar for the majority of the time. However, many vets also recommend including a contact telephone number, in the event your dog goes missing. Although microchipping has been mandatory for pet dogs since , tags are still a legal requirement and provide a quicker way to get in contact with you if your dog is found, without their microchip needing to be scanned first. We hope our puppy collar size guide has been helpful, as well as our dog collar FAQs! If you enjoyed our puppy collar size guide, you might like our other article, What do I need for a New Puppy? The idea of a lost puppy is terrifying, but an ID tag will help them return home. Although this silicone ID tag is more expensive than standard tags, I love that it is silent and attaches right to the collar. Crate and or containment gate Puppies are curious creatures that often need boundaries. You can accomplish this with a crate and containment gates. Crate training can be a lifesaver, and most dogs fall in love with having their own space. I recommend a crate with an adjustable divider so you can give your puppy more room as they grow. Another option is to use a Cumbor containment gate to limit access to certain areas of your home. Food and water bowls There are endless options of food and water bowls. If your dog eats fast, I recommend adding slow feeder attachment. These aids in proper digestion and reduce overeating behaviors. Food and treats Your vet is probably your best source of information for selecting the right food. They create personalized plans for your dog and deliver the food right to your door. I shared my journey of picking the right food in this blog and video. Toys and chews All dogs have slightly different preferences in toys, so I would start with a variety of items to see what interests your puppy most. Ellie still has her first toy, Dino, from 5 years ago! The safest way to deliver bully sticks is to use a Bow Wow Buddy safety device so they cannot swallow or choke on the last end. Check out this blog for all things grooming. Bonus Recommendation! Online Access to Dog Training We recognized the need for convenient and effective dog training solutions, which is why we created The Hapco. Within our app, you'll discover a wealth of resources, including: video tutorials. Small to Medium 1. Dog collars are made from a variety of materials that are built for comfort, aesthetics, and durability. Golden Retrievers are medium to large dogs that can put their collar through the wringer, so durability should be one of the top things on your list! Nylon or polyester are the most popular materials and offer the greatest range of designs, colors, and widths. Nylon and polyester are highly flexible fabrics that are also relatively easy to clean. Cotton Fabric Cotton offers great durability, insulation, and the ability to control moisture. Many collars are made of cotton in a number of different designs and colors. Some contain a cloth sleeve on the inside around a nylon band to increase the longevity of the collar. Biothane Some dog collars are made of Biothane , which is a waterproof substance. Biothane is made of polyester and layered with polyurethane and polyvinyl. Its waterproof properties make them ideal for Golden Retrievers that are more than likely, water-loving dogs. Leather Leather is a durable, organic material with plenty of styles. Although they are more costly, they are an excellent choice for Golden Retrievers with allergies or sensitivities. Unlike collars made of synthetic materials, it is simple to clean and may be used for several years without fading. Neoprene Neoprene is a rubber-based substance that is used for a variety of applications. It has exceptional water resistance and does not retain moisture, which can lead to the development of odors or mildew. Neoprene dog collars combined with nylon or polyester are incredibly strong and durable and able to last several years. Polyester or Nylon Nylon or polyester collars often have the greatest range of designs, colors, and sizes due to their popularity. Nylon and polyester are highly flexible, synthetic fabrics that are also relatively easy to clean. However, unlike slip or choke collars, you can set the limit to which the collar can close. Rope Collars: Rope collars are both comfortable and long-lasting, without being abrasive on the skin. Flat Front Dog Collars: These are your everyday collars that are the most commonly found. They are a flat, fabric-type collar that fastens with a plastic or metal buckle. Training or Aversive Collars This group of collars includes: Shock collars Prong collars Slip collars or choke chains They are designed to give a firm correction in the form of discomfort or pain when an undesirable behavior is displayed. A shock collar delivers an electric shock, or vibration which is controlled remotely. This is a form of correction to a specific behavior, and while their use is justified in some adult dogs that have aggression, they are not suitable for use on puppies that need positive reinforcement. And the most common training collar is the slip collar or choke chain. It does exactly that if used incorrectly, choke the dog. When it comes to puppies, there are a lot of things that people get wrong. These collars are not meant for beginners and should be used with care by experienced trainers only. You should avoid using them on young pups and only use this as a last resort when all other training methods have failed. If your pup is exhibiting behavior severe enough to warrant a stern correction, it might be better for you to seek help from a professional. Click Here For Price This soft leather golden retriever collar comes in black or brown with a cream inner. In size large, this collar is 1. Click Here For Price This stylish collar is made from extremely durable nylon, with comfortable padding on the inside. It comes in three colors: a nice coyote brown, ranger green, and black, and has badass metal buckles and reinforced holes, making it stand up to plenty of wear and tear. Another feature is a panel that you can embellish with patches and whatnot to make the collar unique. The large size fits necks of between .Click Here For Price This neoprene dog collar from Blueberry Pet is tough and extremely durable, while still being soft and comfortable for your dog. The interior is even padded to provide extra comfort. Although this is a fairly basic collar, what we like about it is the choice of colors in an attractive jacquard pattern and the fact it has some reflective stitching, which makes it great for late-night walks. Click Here For Price This golden retriever collar is handcrafted using premium leather and a comfortable padded lining. The hardware is also sourced in the USA, and is tested for durability. It is easy to clean, sturdy, and just plain gorgeous. The large size of this collar is 1. Click Here For Price Because ID tags can be lost or damaged, this personalized dog collar is easily one of the best for goldens — or any other dog, for that matter! This custom collar comes in five popular colors and is personalized with details that make it easier for a lost pet to find their way home. Fourteen different thread choices let you customize even more. With a comfortable, fully adjustable design, a simple side-buckle release, and a D-ring for attaching tags, reflectors, and more, this collar is available in sizes to fit both puppies and adult dogs. Click Here For Price Golden retrievers are active dogs known to be very energetic and playful, which is great, but this can be frustrating when you lack a collar that can help you control your dog. When your golden tries to pull, the collar will tighten to prevent them from escaping or slipping out. And when your pup finally stops, the collar will loosen and stay on comfortably. Different sizes are available, but for your retriever, I would recommend the large option with a to inch neck size. Polyester was also thrown into the mix to add to the comfort. You also have a buckle that is made of steel and very quick to fasten and release, which is exactly what you want for those moments when you are in a hurry. As for the neck size, the range is wide enough to accommodate your golden. Neck size ranges from 18 to 26 inches, and to ensure it fits your retriever properly, the manufacturer has made it adjustable. You also have lovely color options to choose from. But the favorite feature for many is the stylish design, with two color options: brown and black. When it comes to size, I recommend a large, which is 1. Click Here For Price Embark does not disappoint. Looking at this colorful dog collar, you can clearly see its unmatched craftsmanship, design, style, and functionality. You can buy it alongside a matching harness or leash to complete the look and style. What is a dog collar for and why do they need one? One of the primary purposes is to attach a leash for walking their dog. However, not everyone walks their dog with a collar. Many pet parents opt to use a dog harness or halter to walk their golden, as it can offer more control or increased comfort for the dog. So, does your pup still need a collar? In short, yes. Choose a dog collar of an appropriate size and weight. The exact choice will depend on your pup. Pick a regular flat or rolled dog collar. We absolutely would not recommend using any sort of correctional collars, such as a choke chain or prong collar. Select your fastening of choice. Most collars have either snap or buckle fastenings. That said, for a puppy, snaps can be better as they make it quicker and easier to get the collar on and off. Make sure you get a well-fitting collar. Frequently Asked Questions Should your golden retriever have a flat or rolled collar? When it comes to regular snap or buckle collars — which we believe are the best, safest and most humane options for your canine companion — there are two main types: flat and rolled. So, which is best for a golden? Some people claim that rolled collars are the best option for long-coated dogs because flat collars can rub long fur and cause breakage. The more collar in contact with the coat, the higher the chance for fur damage. However, other people use flat collars on long-coated dogs and report no rubbing away or breaking of fur whatsoever. In which case, choose whichever variety you prefer. As a large breed, goldens need fairly wide collars. This is for reasons of both strength and comfort. When choosing a flat collar, pick one that is at least 1 inch wide, but probably no more than 1. Again, a width of between 1 and 1. What size collar is best for a golden retriever puppy? Bear this in mind when doing the measuring so that you get a good fit. Is a collar or harness better for a golden retriever? Both are great for your dog. But as I told you earlier, a harness does more. You could use it when going for walks, hikes, or jogs with your dog and also for training. Collars, on the other hand, are mostly great for walks and very convenient to use when your dog is already trained. Are shock collars good for golden retrievers? Shock collars can help to suppress unwanted behaviors, but not all of them can do this in the right way. If you are eager to learn more about shock collars, how safe they are for your dog, and which options to buy, speak to your vet. Which is the best collar for a dog that pulls? For a dog that pulls, the best collar is the one you can fasten more securely around their body without hurting them. Make sure it is also made of materials that are tough yet soft and comfortable enough not to irritate or injure your pup whenever they try to yank the leash from your grip. Any from the above list of 10 best dog collars for golden retrievers would do nicely, and there are also more good options out there. As long as you follow our buying tips and make sure the collar is sturdy enough for your golden and fits them nicely, you should have a good dog collar on your hands. You May Also Like. We use the 8mm size for our dogs. Alvalley is a high quality brand for all lengths. For an adult dog, use an 8 mm or larger. For a young puppy, an 8 mm leash works fine, but I prefer the smaller 6 mm Alvalley Snap Lead one for ease of use when working at home. This size fits easily into the outside pocket of a treat bag. If going for a walk, use a more substantial leash such as the 8 mm Alvalley leash. For at-home use, a 6 mm collar is fine. I like to attach a snap lead permanently to a martingale collar for ease of use. The collar and leash can easily be slipped off and on as needed. Puppies and even some dogs like to chew the plastic ones. At 10 weeks of age, we are using very small bowls for ease of use during training. Golden Retrievers tend to act like they are starving and eat too fast, even at their correct weight. These bowls slow them down so that they will come closer to chewing their food than inhaling it. I like to use buckets instead of bowls for water. Puppies love to dig in their water which makes a mess out of it. Hang the bucket on the outside of the crate by the handle that is on the bucket. Then attach the clip for security by using only one side of the clip to attach the handle to the crate. Leave the other end of the clip just hanging. Never put water inside a crate with a dog. I recommend the 2-quart size for one or two big dogs. This size is also a good size for a puppy. I use two snaps to stabilize the bucket. Though wire crates usually have a divider so that you can size the crate down, we recommend that you go ahead and purchase a 24 inch wire crate along with the correct size for your dog when he is grown. Most puppies can use the 24 inch crates for about 2 months after they are weeks of age. It is also helpful to have a smaller crate when traveling. If you want this option with a Summer Brook puppy, you can have a small icrate shipped to our home address for you to pick up when you get here. The best size crate for adult girls is a 36X24X27 inch wire crate. For an adult boy, use either a 42X28X30 or 36X24X27 inch wire crate. We prefer wire crates in most cases because they give more ventilation and Golden Retrievers like it to be cool. Midwest Life Stages : These are heavy duty and come in both double or single door options. I prefer the crate with the double door because you will have the opportunity to use it turned sideways with the entrance on the side as well as the end. The Icrates are also two inches shorter and two inches narrower than the Life Stages crate. They are larger at the bottom than the top so they fit better in the back of an SUV or van. They are crash tested and have excellent safety records. These crates are a bit difficult to set up and take down so we only recommend them for those that want a crate that stays in a vehicle most of the time. They are perfect for families that take their dogs with them a lot and want a somewhat permanent fixture in their vehicle. This crate is very lightweight and sets up and folds down quickly and easily. We love these crates for motels and dog shows. Wood Crate Denhaus Townhaus : I recommend this crate if looks are important to you. This crate looks just like a nice end table. Though it was expensive, mine has held up well for several years. Crate Pad Primo Pads: These are my favorite crate pads. They are made of a heavy-duty vinyl and I have yet to have a dog chew one up. The vinyl is cool so that my dogs like them even in the summer. They come in a big variety of sizes so that they will fit your crate like a glove. These pads are not sold anywhere except from the manufacturer. Order your Primo Pads here. This is a raised cot-like bed that is cool and comfortable. There is a new Kuranda Bed that we have not tried ourselves but it looks amazing. It is a raised cot like the aluminum bed that we have loved for years but it is sized to fit perfectly into a crate! We have purchased both the aluminum as well as the less-expensive PVC Kuranda beds. Our aluminum beds still look brand new but our PVC beds are starting to warp a little after a few years. We like the Ballistic Nylon fabric which has held up for us for several years. The large is the correct size for both boy and girl Goldens. We have two of them and they are as comfortable as many human beds. We have the extra-large size but a large would be plenty big enough for a girl. At first, your puppy will have to be watched almost every minute when they are out of the crate or pen in order to establish good potty habits and also to teach them not to chew. Until you teach them otherwise, some puppies will try to chew everything, including the furniture and even the woodwork on the walls so I have found the pen to be a huge help. If you get a pen, you need to begin training your puppy not to jump on the sides right away. Never pet your puppy or let him out while he is jumping. Reward him for sitting. They open and close easily and in both directions. The Richell Pens look really super nice. They also can be set up as room dividers. We own at least a dozen sets of these pens and have used them in a large number of configurations. However, like most exercise pens, many puppies will eventually learn to climb or jump out of them. Families must be on top of training their puppy not to jump on the sides. Unlike the Richell pen, most, if not all pens have doors that open in only one direction. If you get one of these pens, set your pen up so that the door opens to the outside. If you are getting your puppy from a breeder other than Summer Brook, plastic pens are a good option for a 7 to 10 week old puppy. It is easier to house train if you start off not allowing your puppy in too large of an area. It also has the added convenience of being able to be easily removed by simply pushing a button that locks it in place. However, this gate must be mounted to the wall. Baby Gates that are Mobile Regalo Extra WideSpan Walkthrough Safety Gate : This gate can span a space inches For a pressure-mounted gate, the Regalo gates do very well and are a good simple solution if you only want a gate for a few months until your puppy is house-trained and can be given the full run of the house. However, understand that many puppies cannot be totally trusted in large areas until they are over 6 months of age. It takes some until they are close to a year. Doggy Door Why to Use a Doggy Door If you are able to put a doggy door in, this is by far the easiest way to house-train a puppy. Also, it provides an ideal way to leave a dog when they have to be alone. I teach our puppies to use a doggy door before they go home. In the last days before they go home, I section off a small area inside next to our kitchen with free access to a doggy door that leads to our side yard. When I keep a puppy past 8 weeks, I gradually increase the size area of the indoor area as they show dependability. I reserve the times when they are free in the house to the 30 minutes right after they have pottied. We highly recommend it. If you have a particularly aggressive chewer then I would buy the Extreme Kong but if your dog is average then I would use a Classic Kong. Bob-a-lot : You can fill this toy with a lot of food; the dog has to work at getting the food out by pushing it around. JW Pet has other great toys too. If you have a particularly aggressive chewer then I would buy the Extreme Kong but if your dog is an average chewer then I would use a Classic Kong. Puppies love them and they keep our puppies happy in their crates. Toys for Month Old Puppies.